Escherichia coli and antibiotic resistanceIntroduction:Escherichia coli, short E. coli is an important bacteria that are
Escherichia coli and antibiotic resistance Introduction: Escherichia coli, short E. coli is an important bacteria that are found in the lower part of intestines of warm blooded animals, including human. People's feces for a day usually contain about 100 million or 10 trillion individuals of E. coli. E. coli is a major component of a bacterial system that helps to digest food particles. E. coli also has commercial uses. For instance, is used as an organic indicator for the sewage treatment to indicate the level of the concentration of poop pollutions in the water. However, uncontrolled growth of E. coli bacteria or the allocation of E. coli to other parts of the human body can be dangerous or even fatal. E. coli is also used in many laboratory experiments because they are cheap to acquire and easy to culture. When people are referring to bacteria that are resistant against penicillin, for instance penicillin resistant E. coli, these people are referring specifically to the ability of this bacteria population to produce an enzyme called penincillinase. Penincillinase is a general term describing a wide variety of enzymes that are capable of deterring penicillin invasion. A common type of penincillinase is plasmid-mediated extended-spectrum b-lactamases (ESbl) (bacteria can transfer genetic material through replication or plasmid). Plasmid-mediated means that the enzyme is
An Investigation into the effect of caffeine on reaction times
An investigation into the effect of caffeine on reaction times and short term memory Aim To investigate the effect of varying doses of caffeine on performance in simple reaction time and short term memory tests. Research and Rationale Having carried out the core practical on the effect of caffeine on the heart rate of Daphnia, I wanted to investigate the effect of caffeine on other functions of the body, and how this effect comes about. Caffeine is a natural pesticide, found in the leaves, beans and fruit of over 60 plants1, however in humans it acts as a central nervous system stimulant, reducing fatigue and restoring alertness2. It is said to be the most widely used drug in the world, with an average intake of 241mg per person, per day according to a Bristol survey3. I therefore decided to explore how it could affect reaction times and the extent of short term memory, as these are two factors involved in alertness. It has a similar structure to adenosine, meaning it binds to adenosine receptors in the brain. Caffeine and adenosine - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Caffeine_and_adenosine.svg - 22.10.08 When a nerve impulse travels through the synaptic knob, opening the Ca2+ channels, it triggers the release of adenosine, which is synthesised and stored inside the synaptic knob. Normally, the adenosine acts as a neurotransmitter when it is released into the
Should Cannabis be legalised in the UK?
Should Cannabis be legalised in the UK? Most people have their own opinion on whether or not Cannabis should be legalised but the reasons behind these opinions are not always correct and justifiable. Cannabis is now a class C drug after it was dropped from being a class B in 2004. It is illegal to have, give away or deal in Class C drugs, and to grow cannabis plants. The maximum penalties for being in possession is 2 years in jail plus an unlimited fine, for supplying or dealing cannabis you can get 14 years in jail plus an unlimited fine and if you are caught in possession with intent to supply cannabis you could get up to 14 years in jail plus an unlimited fine. Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK, with up to 3 million consumers per year. It is most commonly smoked, usually by mixing it with tobacco and rolling it up with cigarette papers into a cannabis cigarette (called a 'spliff', 'joint', 'jay' etc.). However, it can also be smoked with or without tobacco in various forms of pipes or smoking devices such as 'bongs' or 'water pipes'. Smoking Cannabis produces fairly instant intoxication, the effects lasting from 1 to 3 hours depending on the strength of the drug and the amount used. Cannabis can also be taken orally, either eaten direct or mixed with food preparations, such as cakes, biscuits (hence 'hash cookies') or hot drinks. Taking Cannabis
The effect of drugs on the nervous system
The effect of drugs on the nervous system A drug is defined as a substance that, when absorbed into the body, alters a normal bodily function. Some are able to do this, as they are capable of producing an array of different effects on the nervous system. The reason why affecting the nervous system of an organism is potentially so significant is due to the nature of it. The fact the nervous system directs the functions of all the tissues of the body demonstrates its considerable role within the body. It can therefore be assumed that taking substances which affect how it works may lead to a distortion in the way your body is run, producing unsafe side effects. The term nervous system is actually used to describe two divisions. The central nervous system (CNS) is the part which contains the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) however, consists of all the sensory neurones used to detect stimuli. The PNS receives thousands of sensory inputs and transmits them to the brain via the spinal cord. The brain will then process this information, discarding around 99% of it as unimportant. After this sensory information has been processed, areas of the nervous system generate nerve impulses to organs or tissue and form a suitable response. As influences from chemicals are able to affect how the nervous system functions, it can be assumed that chemicals such as
should cannabis be legal, YES & NO
Should Cannabis be Legalised? Yes... No... Legal Cannabis would promote responsible use and safe supply and would stop many people's futures being needlessly destroyed Legalisation would encourage use of cannabis and other drugs, creating more problems and increasing the profits of drug barons. * There are at least 21/2 million (perhaps 7 million) cannabis users in the UK. * More police are needed, with greater powers to stop this widespread flaunting of the law. * People convicted of drug offences have their future prospects massively hampered. * People who choose to break the law must accept that they will be severely punished for doing so. * Cannabis is often contaminated with inert or toxic components which cause more harm than the cannabis. A legal supply would be pure and therefore safer. * Pure cannabis still has dangers. * Prohibition alienates a huge number of youths. * Most parents disapprove of all drug use - legal or not. * Legalising does not mean glamorising - cannabis use should still be discouraged even if it were legal. * Legalisation could make cannabis socially acceptable, and so encourage use. * Countries which have experimented with decriminalisation have not encountered massive increases in use. * Legalisation could encourage use of cannabis, which in turn could encourage the use of more dangerous drugs such as ecstasy. * Minors can
Short Story: Suspicious bed. I would always be the root of a practical joke. But I was prepared this time. I had my eyes open and alert.
I was nervous as I approached the hotel's restaurant. I had just arrived at one of those old rustic cabin type hotels in the countryside. My friends and I were spending the weekend at Mt. Hood, Oregon, to get away from the busy city life of Portland. It would be a nice retreat, and a great time to relax and enjoy the outdoors. And I was nervous as I entered the old restaurant. I could smell the sweet scent of maple syrup lingering in the air. And the warmth of the crackling fire was almost comforting. I was still nervous. My friends, all loved playing practical jokes on me. It was as if they did it for a living! Every time we would get together for any occasion, I would always be the root of a practical joke. But I was prepared this time. I had my eyes open and alert. Throughout the entire evening, their mirth was excessive, far too great. Synthetic smiles were slapped on everyone's faces. Every cheerful action they did screamed, "FAKE!" I smelled a practical joke in the air. But what was it? I was watchful, restless. I did not let a single word escape my ears. Nor did I let a single movement escape my vision. Everyone seemed to me, an object of suspicion. I didn't even trust the waiters and waitresses. I ate my dinner cautiously as well, examining every piece of salmon steak before taking a bite. I could sense the joke getting nearer, and nearer. I was extremely alert.
Discuss issues with biological therapies
Discuss issues with biological therapies Biological therapies arise from the medical model of abnormal behaviour: mental disorder is an illness which results mainly from a chemical imbalance. Biological treatments are designed to redress this imbalance, through the administration of chemical drugs known as chemotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and, in rare cases, psychosurgery. As well as mental disorders, the biological approach also gives an explanation and treatment for stress and the role of stress management. This approach also shows the link between stress and the immune system. Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are also explained by the medical model. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to treat mental disorders. For example anti-anxiety drugs consist of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines and minor tranquilliser designed to reduce levels of anxiety. These include Librium and Valium which were introduced in 1950s, and soon became the most prescribed drug in the world. However, the side-effects include drowsiness, dependence, withdrawal and toxicity However, benzodiazepines have been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and panic. Gelernter and found them to be more effective than a placebo for social phobia and Lecrubier found that 60% of patients with panic disorder remained free of panic while on medication. Antidepressant drugs are
Discuss two or more biological therapies for schizophrenia
Discuss two or more biological therapies for schizophrenia (9 + 16) Biological therapies for schizophrenia come in two forms: antipsychotic medication, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Considering the eclectic nature of schizophrenia as a disorder, the debate over appropriate and effective treatment is heated, and many psychologists are still unclear over which is the ideal method for tackling the disorder. Antipsychotic medications are commonly divided into two categories: conventional and atypical. Conventional antipsychotics bind to dopamine receptors but do not stimulate them, blocking the way for displaced dopamine to cause a chemical imbalance in a schizophrenic's biology. By reducing the effects of dopamine, positive symptoms such as hallucinations can be reduced, in line with the view of the dopamine hypothesis. Whilst atypical antipsychotics also act on the dopamine system, it is debated whether the drugs' ability to reduce negative symptoms such as avolition stems from a varying way of dealing with the dopamine system, or, alternatively, the additional effect of blocking serotonin. Kapur and Remington suggested in 2001 that whilst conventional antipsychotics block dopamine receptors long-term, atypical medication does so temporarily, before dissociating to allow normal transmission of the chemical. The differing ways in which the drugs work is central to the
Why Did The First World War Break Out in 1914?
Why Did The First World War Break Out in 1914? The First World War was the most terrible war ever known due to the number of deaths that took place each day on the gory battlefields of the war. Altogether eight million soldiers lost their lives fighting in the trenches. The system of trenches stretched across Europe from the English Channel to Switzerland and soldiers faced their foe across a few hundred metres of churned up ground with barbed wire known as 'No Man's Land'. The grounds in and around the trenches were turned into a huge ocean of mud because of the rain and exploding bullets. It was impossible to attack the other side's trenches effectively because they were so greatly secured. Twenty million people were wounded and there was an extensive destruction, which ravaged cities and their civilian populations. The First World War lasted for four whole years and broke out in 1914 due to a number of reasons. The reasons that led the nations of Europe and later the world to go to war in 1914 are complex, and it is impossible to say the war started because of one single cause. There are a series of events, which derived in the early 19th century, which engulfed most of Europe by 4th August 1914. Some causes of the war were long-term whereas others were short term. One reason for the outbreak of the war in 1914 was the competition for colonies between the European
Hardware and Software -IT
Hardware The system requires certain pieces of hardware in order to run properly. These include the following areas of hardware: I have used Excel to create the project. For the actual system for the party planners I would specify the use of a more up-to-date PC system such as a dell vostro 1525 with an Intel core i5 processor system running Windows 7 as the quality of the output will be better and the planner may need to run several versions at the same time. A monitor is required for the system as an output device to display images. CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors are big but have strong screens with glass screens that don't get damaged easily. However, they make quite a lot of heat and noise. They also take up a lot of space due to their size. The more common monitors are the thin TFT (Thin Film Transistors) monitors that take up less space as they are smaller than CRT monitors. They also make less heat and noise than them, but these monitors are more sensitive and a sharp object can permanently damage the screen. Even the colour and contrast isn't as good, which has dull pictures. For JJ party Planners, the best monitor would be a TFT because it takes up less space and makes less noise. The sales assistants won't damage the screens or need high quality pictures so a TFT monitor would be fine as it doesn't cost too much now. The system is more than fast enough,
