Discuss the biology of Alzheimers disease
Discuss the biology of Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD), a form of dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder, which involves memory and cognitive deficits as well as deterioration of intellectual functioning including language, visual spatial skills, judgment and intellectual abilities. Although the etiologies of Alzheimer's are largely unknown, researchers believe that biological factors and genetic factors contribute to AD. Firstly, there are pathological characteristics associated with the disease, including brain atrophy, neuronal cell loss in the hippocampus (Mayeux, R, 2006). Secondly, extracellular amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are believe to contribute to the development of AD. Finally, it is widely believed that genetic factors contribute significantly to AD. While at present there are no cures for AD, some second-generation drugs have the ability to slow the progression of the disease (Irons-George, 1995). However, much of the etiology of Alzheimer's still remains inconclusive. In 1907, Alois Alzheimer first discovered the neuropathological changes that are found in the brains of Alzheimer affected patients. According to Khachaturin & Radebaugh (1996), Alzheimer found clusters of proteins in the brain and also noticed brain atrophy, the shrinkage of the brain caused by neuronal death (Paladino, 1997, p.276). These
Personal Response for "The Other Drug War".
Personal Response for" The Other Drug War" After watching the video "The Other Drug War", I was deeply surprised by "The Other Drug War" debate. I never noticed the battle between the consumers and pharmaceutical companies before. Prescription drugs and medical services are extremely expensive in the United States, but I didn't know the true reasons behind it. Because of expensive drug prices, I bought a lot of drugs (including Vioxx) from China when I visited. In China, we don't need doctor's prescription to buy drugs. We can buy any drugs with lower price, because we have a price control system. United States has different medical system; here is a free market system. We have to pay high price for the drugs. After watching the Frontline video and researching, a couple of reasons behind the highest prescription drugs price are coming out. As Maine Senator Chellie Pingree said, "Drug industry was not any other business. This is something that keeps people alive." I think government and pharmaceutical companies both have responsibilities to reduce the prescription drugs price to an affordable price. I agree with the thoughts expressed by some of the speakers in the interview. Mr. Sidney Taurel, CEO of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, argues that they need a high profit margin to fund the research and development of new medicines and compensate for failed research. However,
Isolation of a natural Product and Purification and Infrared spectrum of trimyristin
Experiment 3: Isolation of a natural Product (trimyristin) Experiment 4: Purification and Infrared spectrum of trimyristin Introduction Trimyristin is one member of a class of triglycerides which is found in animals' fatty tissues and vegetable or marine oils. It can dissolve in organic compound such as hot acetone readily as it is a non-polar compound. After the isolation of tirmyristin from nutmeg seed by solvent extraction followed by recrystallizaiton, the present of functional groups in organic molecules can be identified by infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectroscopy is one of the most useful tools available to the organic chemist as only small quantity of sample is needed, the cost of the spectrometer is relatively small and the application of this method is wide. A molecule is constantly vibrating. Changes in vibrations of a molecule are caused by absorption of infrared light. A particular part of the infrared spectrum is referred to either by its wavelength or its frequency. Therefore, infrared spectrum is a highly characteristic property of an organic compound and can be used both to establish the identity of two compounds and to reveal the structure of a new compound. Small amount of activated carbon is added to during the recrystallization in order to absorb the colour inside the solution. After that, it can be filter out by the fluted filter paper.
Biochemistry Notes: Lipids; Saturated/Unsaturated Fats; Phospholipids; Steroids
Biochemistry Notes Outcome 1. LIPIDS Lipids are diverse compounds grouped together because they share the one physical properties of not mixing in water. Some important families of lipids are fats, oils, phospholipids and steroids. NOTE: fats are solid at room temperature and oils are liquid at room temperature. Fats are larger molecules constructed from glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol is an alcohol with three carbons, each bearing a hydroxyl group. A fatty acid has a long carbon skeleton most often 16 to 18 Carbon atoms in length. At one end of the fatty acid is a "head" consisting of a carboxyl group. attached to the Carboxyl group is a long hydrogen "tail" with their nonpolar C-H bonds. The tail of fatty acid accounts for fate being insoluble in water. With the help of enzymes dehydration synthesis links a fatty acid to glycerol by an ester linkage (the term for a bond between a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group. Glycerol now has two remaining hydroxyls and each can be bounded to a fatty acid, the product is a fat (triglyceride). Saturated/Unsaturated Fats Fatty acids vary in length and the number of double bonds. If there are no double bonds between the carbon atoms then the carbon skeleton is bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms. This is therefore saturated. An unsaturated fatty acid has one or more double bonds formed by the removal of hydrogen
Why Do Students Drink?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For several decades, binge alcoholic drinking on college and university campuses have been a huge problem. It has caused a huge increase in college deaths and sexual assaults. No effective solution has been made to help decrease these incidents. Instead of trying to ban alcohol on college and university campuses, enforcing alcohol awareness programs for all students will help decrease the number of deaths and sexual assaults. Why Do Students Drink? The main reason to why students drink is to "relieve the stress of school and their personal lives" (Scrivo, 2001). In addition, students drink to get drunk. Students who binge drink have difficultly with their academic performance (Pierce, 2002). On the other hand, to students, alcohol might be consumed in a way to socialize with friends. Fraternities and Sororities Studies have shown that school fraternities and sororities, who "are often viewed as responsible students in positions of authority," have "the highest incident of heavy drinking" (Arenson, 1997) compared to other students who are somewhat and not involved in these groups. About three-fourths of members binge drink every two weeks (Arenson, 1997). Deaths and Alcohol Approximately one-thousand-four-hundred students die every year from alcohol and eighty percent of that is resulted from traffic accidents (Angelo, 2004). Sexual Assaults and
A letter to The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison.
March 26, 2003 The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison United States Senate 284 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-0001 Dear Senator Hutchison: Prescription drug companies are gouging the American consumers by charging them the highest prices in the world. Many front-page stories tell how our country is turning to buying its prescription drugs from across its borders. Stories include the group of upset seniors who filled a bus and drove to Canada, as well as the thousands of American citizens obtaining their prescriptions from Mexico. Of course, large buyers of prescription drugs, HMO's, and the federal government use their buying power as leverage to negotiate lower prices for their constituents. However, the 70 million Americans with no or inadequate prescription drug coverage are still paying too much. According to Dr. Alan Sager, Ph.D., Professor of Health Services and Director of Health Reform at Boston University School of Public Health, one must compare some of the many myths to reality: * "Myth - To protect all Americans against the high cost of prescription drugs, we will have to spend much more. Reality - We can re-shape Americans' payments to drug makers to protect everyone without spending appreciably more money. Almost all of the required money is already being spent. * Myth - If government interferes with today's
Contact cues are an effective substitute for the loss of vestibular function
McGill University PHGY 314 Integrative Neuroscience Presented to: Professor Doug Watt Contact cues are an effective substitute for the loss of vestibular function Paper written by: Hasmitaben Patel (260114948) Date: December 1, 2006 The vestibular system is the sensory complex that contributes to body orientation and spatial localization.1 A person without a functional vestibular system will lack sensory information about head movement, which is important for stable locomotion. This deprivation leads to poor balance control.1 Sensory systems that can compensate for vestibular loss include hearing, vision, and touch. If one of these senses is compromised, the use of another can partially compensate for the deficit. Recent investigations demonstrate how the use of tactile inputs can partially compensate for the loss of vestibular function. Postural stability can also be artificially improved by the use of vibrotactile inputs. The results and evidence of many studies indicating these facts will be summarized in the following paper. A loss of the vestibular system results in impairment of one's ability to maintain a quiet stance, and to move about in darkness, on uneven surfaces, or in low light levels2. Individuals affected by such a loss often demonstrate different head and body control patterns than normal2. Many patients with a vestibular dysfunction use a cane
Experiment on Spectrophotometer
Experiment on Spectrophotometer Determination of Cytochrome C: Preparing a Calibration Graph Introduction This is an experiment to determine the concentration of a colored compound in a solution by comparison of its light absorption with the light absorption of a standard solution of a known solution. This experiment will be done by using spectrophotometer, as it will determine the amount of light that will be absorbed by the solution. Also by using the Gilson pipette it enables you to accurately make sure solutions have been measured correctly, also when using the Gilson pipette you should change the tips to stop contamination of the solution. Objectives o Learn to use a spectrophotometer o Determine the degree of light absorption by a colored compound o Plot a spectrum of light absorption against wavelength is best to use for peak wavelength o Make a standard solution of known concentration, and then plot them to a graph o Understand calibration graphs o Measure the concentration using a graph o Writing a experimental report Method Refer to manual Results (Nm) (ABS) 380 0.285 385 0.307 390 0.380 395 0.479 400 0.608 405 0.681 410 0.606 415 0.423 420 0.255 The table above shows the results for the determination of peak wavelength. Tube No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Stock Solution (0.1mg/ml) (ml) 0 2 4 6 8 Deionized Water (ml) 10 8 6 4 2 0
The control of information in Science - A One World Essay on Biotechnology.
The control of information in Science A One World Essay on Biotechnology by: Nikita Malik 10R As President Roosevelt once said, "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." In today's society, however, not only do we have a lot to fear about, but we have plenty of reason to be fearful itself. What is unsettling is that the discovery and practice of biological weapons can destroy the lives of millions of people in a matter of mere seconds, and further disturbing is the fact that the key decisions made about the use of this technology is placed in the hands of someone else. That, to me, is something to be scared about. But science and its discoveries, unfortunately, play a major part in the making of our present and future anxieties. "Molecular bio-technology will transform agriculture, energy production, health care, and microelectronics; however, it will also pose significant military and strategic challenges." (Venter, www.pbs.org) One of the main problems we are facing today is the utilization of biological weapons. A boundless debate goes on about whether or not the use of this technology should be restricted. By controlling bio-technology, less developed countries will miss out on several opportunities, for this equipment can eradicate poverty, lack of crops, serve as assistance after natural disasters (or for that matter, after social or economic disasters), and
"Many firms have outsourced their payroll systems, while hardly any are "buying" R&D services. Explain why this is generally true, and why Monsanto followed a different strategy."
INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGY Question (b) "Many firms have outsourced their payroll systems, while hardly any are "buying" R&D services. Explain why this is generally true, and why Monsanto followed a different strategy." Many firms outsource different functions of their business, such as payroll systems, IT services etc, where these are auxilliary functions to the firm i.e. they are functions which help the firm in day-to-day operations. I will here contend that it is possible to reduce a "make-or-buy" dilemma to a simple dichotomy between functions or competencies which are strictly auxilliary to a firm and others which constitute its very "core". The discipline of Transaction Cost Economics frames the dilemma as a range of trade-offs where the firm should make the "make-or-buy" decision based on the most cost effective alternative. By outsourcing a firm exposes itself to transaction costs such as the costs of negotiating and enforcing contracts with licencees. These costs must be evaluated with regards to "ownership costs" - the extra costs the firm incurs by performing the functions themselves. Such costs involve the extra bureaucracy needed and the draining of resources which could have been used more profitably elsewhere. Finally the firm must evaluate where the function can be produced most cheaply, in direct costs1. Summing up this simplefied problem will give