Greece defaulting on its payments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Greece defaulting on its payments - Essay Example They asked for help from European countries and the IMF for the release of the appropriate kind of the funds. This was done to avoid the defaulting on the debts. The connivance of this cross was at the top of the agenda for most of the nations. This threatened to spread to the other nations of the Euro zone, like that of Italy and Spain (Shumway, 2004). Greece has been at the centre of the costs of the Euro zone. It has accumulated one of the highest levels of the public debt. It has also got one of the largest amounts of the deficit in the budget. This is one of the qualities of the budget and as been at the forefront of the financial pressures. It was the first member to ask for the assistance from the other Euro zone members for the financial assistance. This has been the status of the development of the diverse form of the response to the debt. There have a been a lot of initiatives on the part of the IMF( International Monetary Fund),the European officials, the ECB( European Cen tral Bank) and the officials at the Euro zone have bee trying to alleviate the levels of the financial crisis, by undertaking a number of steps. At the persuasion of the various European leaders, the holders of the Greek bonds have been read to do be sold the off at lower prices to ease the pressure on the Greek economy. The way that the things are progressing, Greece could be the first economically advanced country in the world to default on payments. The developments of Greece are of interest to the whole world as the crisis has chances of â€Å"spilling over â€Å"the other economies. This shall impact the functional aspects of many countries over a sustained period. The Greece government has a long history of the public dent. Since the independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832, the economy is in default. The economists have been pointing to a number of the factors that have affected this kind of the change, the main among them being the extreme levels of the control of the state economy, the public administration in a very bad shape, the tax evasion is at the highest levels in the recent times and the large degree of the political clienteles have been the primary factors causing the problem. The large scale flow of the capital at the low rates in 2000 and the economic crisis of 2008-2009 further increased the problems. These have been one of the main reasons for exacting this inflexion point. BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM The preparation of the Euro as the national currency was preceded by a number of the specific factors. One of the primary factors was the fact that the costs of the borrowing dropped in a very dramatic manner. The use of the different kind of the resources was established for the dropping of the rates of the bond. This had a great impact on the complete process of the development of the economy. There was a thought process that the convergence would be high among the different members. This was re-iterated by the different countries whil e going the Euro zone (Korablev, 2010). The new kinds of the leverage on the payment of the taxes were not used for the level of the government funding. The qualities of the important were not increased; the amount of the public spending was increased. This led to an increase of the amount of the deficit, causing the rise of the problems. This had an impact on the different kinds of the government processes. The

Health Economics Comparison Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Health Economics Comparison Paper - Essay Example British health care is categorized into four sections that is: the Central Government, the National Health Service (NHS), Local Government and finally, Independent sector (Baggott, 1994). The chain of command flows from the Central Government through the Health Department to the NHS authorities. This flow continues down to the Local Government level where the Department of Health is seen to play a highly active role in the workings of the local authorities in terms of health matters, which includes provision of resources to the local authorities. The system is different In the U.S. Here, the system is more liberal, and the government’s role is more supervisory. WWII had deprived the country of funds thus a system that encouraged private companies to play the major role in this industry was evolved (Niles, 2010). There were, however some attempts made to protect the welfare of the vulnerable members of the society such as the elderly as well as orphans through the passing of the Social Security Act of 1935 as well as the formation of Medicaid and Medicare in 1965. Further improvements include the Children’s Health Insurance Program of 1997 which was further improved in 2010. On March 23, 2010, Obama signed the law of the Patient Protection an Affordable Care Act which was aimed at providing healthcare coverage to all Americans. However, the law received a lot of opposition from different quarters especially the opposing Republican Party, as shown in the current campaigns where his challenger Mitt Romney is against it. The Obama camp has gotten a further boost when the country’s Supreme Court upheld this policy whose opponents termed as too expensive for the country to maintain. This has meant that for now all Americans are covered though this may change should the Republicans come into power. Though this has not yet started being felt all over the country, it means that even minorities are going

Functionalism in Family Essay Example for Free

Functionalism in Family Essay It wasn’t until I was eight years old that I was finally adopted. My adopted family, who I consider to be my real family, taught me a lot. They help shape and mold me into the person that I am today. According to our class textbook, â€Å"the family, in its many varying forms, is present in all human cultures† (Schaefer, pg. 306). The family is impacted by all three sociological theories. In my paper I will discuss the impact that all three of the theories. Functionalism, Conflict and Interactionism, have on the social institution of family. I believe that the social institution of family is what makes us who we are. It helps to form our personality and our lives when we become adults. My family taught me how to make moral decisions in my life, how to become an independent individual in society and how to manage a family of my own. I pretty much do not follow one exact theory. I agree with many of the different aspects of all three theories. The first theory I will discuss will be the Functionalist theory. As outlined by William F. Ogburn, the family is meant to perform six paramount functions as follows: * Reproduction Protection * Socialization * Regulation of sexual behavior * Affection and Companionship * Provision of Social Status I agree with Ogburn on many of these functions. I think that the family teaches you companionship and how to form an affectionate relationship with someone. I also agree tone of the main functions of a family is Reproduction. God says in the Bible that we are to be fruitful. It is our duty to reproduce to make more beings on earth. My family also serves as a security blanket for me. I know when all else fails my family will always be there for me and take me back with no questions asked. The functionalist theory affects the views of an individual in a family in many ways. To me it makes them a more stable person, with more traditional views. Functionalism does not leave too much room for social change within a family. Usually units of a family have a set of beliefs that they were raised on and consider the norm for them. TO stray from this would be abnormal and not right. Functionalism was a strong belief years ago when things were more traditional. This was just the way of life. This theory to me would be one of the main reasons why many people are against things such as gay marriage, unmarried couples having babies and shacking up and unwed mothers. On the other side of the spectrum we have the Conflict theorists. â€Å"Conflict theorists view the family not as a contributor to social stability, but as a reflection of the inequality in wealth and power that is found within the larger society† (Schaefer, pg. 292). Although I do agree with many of the aspects of the Functionalist theory, I agree with some of the points that the Conflict theory makes as well. I know for a fact when I was a child, my brother got away with murder. There were things that I couldn’t do that my brother could do because he was a boy. I had a friend who parents wouldn’t allow her to go anywhere, she had to go to High School down the block from her home, she couldn’t go to the mall until she was 18, and she was forced to go to college near home. Going away to college was a no- no for her as far as her parents were concerned. However, her younger brother went to a High School way across town from their house, he was hanging out at the age of 13, and he went away to college hours from their house. Many families in many cultures tend to be male chauvinistic, and bring out about inequality between the sexes. This was the way of life in the United States at a time. The man was the one who went out and worked and brought home the bacon. There were things that a man could do that woman couldn’t. The man was the sole provider and the authoritarian. Nowadays, women have just as much say so as men do. I have much power and authority in my family. My kids consider me and their stepdad to be equals. We make decisions and compromises on many things such as the bills, household needs and the children. Although there has been great change in this shift of power from man to woman in a family, there are still some situations where things have not change as much. Studies have shown that â€Å"for every stay-at-home dad there are 38 stay at home moms† (Schaefer, pg. 292). The conflict theory affects the views of individuals in a family because the man a sense of power and authority. It makes the women out to be subservient to her husband or to man period. It lends to situations such as Domestic Violence. I came across an article by Kathryn Yount and LiLi, it discusses Egyptian women’s justification of Domestic Violence. In a study done, â€Å"5,450 women in Egypt, they found that one half justified wife hitting or beating for some reason† (Yount, 2009). It is the conflict theory that leads many women to believe and justify Domestic Violence. There is little change for social change with the conflict theory. As described in our textbook, â€Å"conflict theorists al so view the family as an economic unit that contributes to social injustice† (Schaefer, pg. 292). Society view women as subservient and believe their role to be that of a woman in the kitchen cooking, barefoot and pregnant. Last but not least we have the Interactionalist theory. Unlike the conflict and the functional theory, this theory observes the relationship between individuals in the family and how they interact with one another. â€Å"In a study of both black and white two=parent households, researchers found that when fathers are more involved with their children (reading to them, helping them with their homework, or restricting their television viewing), the children have fewer behavior problems, get along better with others and are more responsible (Schaefer, pg. 293) The relationship between family members can determine the outcome of one’s behavior. This theory provides a lot of knowledge on fixing problems in a family. My son was acting up in school and I could not figure what his problem was. When my fiancee and I became more involved with him and his work, having join Boy Scouts, and talking to him one on one, his behavior changed. I received less and less calls from his teacher about him acting up in school. In family matters: the importance of mattering to a family in adolescence, Gregory Elliott, â€Å"demonstrated that the lack of mattering in one’s family contributes to the degree of connectedness one feels to the social order (Churchill, 2010). Relationships between family members matter a lot. I have a friend who had a horrible relationship with her mother. In turns she had a bad relationship with her daughter, and her daughter has a bad relationship with her daughter. Tough love was a major problem in their situation. The Interactionist has the greatest affect on family member’s views. It makes one more open-minded and understanding. It leaves plenty of room for social change within a family. By studying the relationships between family members we will be able to substantiate behaviors and why certain things happen. Society will in turn change their views on family life and accept change and different forms of families. Many people find it strange that it doesn’t matter to me that my kids biological farther refuses to pay child support and I still want him to see his kids as much as possible. I came across a study done by Yoshi Sano, Leslie Richards and Anisa Z’vonkovis in the Journal of Family Issues. I found that â€Å"Contrary to some father’s claims that mothers gate keep their access to children, the majority of mothers in the study just wanted increased father involvement. The mother’s desire for active father child interaction was not dampened by their frustration at the lack or irregularity of child support payment, which mothers tended to accept given the lack of economic opportunities in rural communities† (Sano, Richards, et. al, 2008). I believe that out of all three theories interactionism teaches one the most and has the greatest impact on family. We can learn from our interactions with one another and others as well. Functionalism is different from all three because it just basically believes that the family has basic functions. It doesn’t go on any evidence or studies. The Conflict theory believes that family brings about conflict. Its sole purpose is to cause inequality between the sexes. The social institution of family is affected by all three of the theories. I feel that and truly believe that it would benefit best form the interactionist theory. This can be backed up by studies and research. It will help to make society more understanding. References Churchill, C. (2010, February). Family matters: the importance to family in adolescence. Choice, 47(6), 1168.

UV Visible Spectrophotometry and Solution Absorption

UV Visible Spectrophotometry and Solution Absorption All molecules absorb light at certain wavelengths.   The absorption of light by a solution may be used to determine the concentration of a solute or a mixture of solutes in solution. The Beer-Lambert law refers to the linear relationship between absorbance (A), and concentration (C) of an absorbing species. According to the two fundamental principals that govern the absorption of light by a solution, the absorption of light passing through a solution is exponentially related to the number of molecules of the absorbing solute, and thus the solute concentration, and the length of the absorbing solution. These principals are combined, and when working in concentration units of molarity, the Beer-Lambert law is as follows: For part A of this experiment the ÃŽÂ µ value at the à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max for Vitamin B12 was determined by measuring the absorbance of a known concentration of Vitamin B12 and by using the above Beer-Lambert formula. Vitamin B12 is a compound of significant nutritional and clinical importance. Assaying and understanding absorption of vitamin B12 helps with diagnosis of defects in humans that can lead to hematological and neurological complications. For part B of this experiment chlorophyll concentration of a leaf extract was calculated. In context to the experiment, eukaryotic green plants and algae, and prokaryotic cyanobacteria contain chloroplasts which have several pigment types, the most abundant of these being chlorophyll a. Green and blue-green coloured chlorophyll a absorbs maximum light energy at the photosynthetic reaction centre (during the light reaction of photosynthesis) at wavelengths in the blue (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max 420 nm) and red (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max 663 nm ) regions of the visible spectrum. The green-yellow coloured chlorophyll b is also present in all green plants and has an absorption spectrum (red à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max 645 nm and blue à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max 435 nm) slightly different from chlorophyll a. Normally the ratio of chlorophyll a:b is 3:1. As with most biological molecules chlorophyll is synthesised by biochemical pathways, and one intermediate molecule in the synthesis pathway is protochlorophyllide (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max 626 nm) which is eventually converted into chlorophylls a and b. The amounts of chlorophyll and other pigments in plants can be determined using a spectrophotometer following extraction with various organic solvents. Based on the Beer-Lambert Law and a knowledge of absorption coefficients of pigments dissolved in particular solvents, equations have been derived to directly determine the concentrations of common pigments following extraction by measurement of the absorbance (A) of the solution at a given wavelength (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max) in a cuvette.   For part 3 of the experiment, protein concentration was determined by use of UV and Visible spectrophotometry, and Construction of a Standard Graph.   The estimation of protein concentration is an important measurement in biological sciences. For pure samples of proteins absorbance measurements at 280 nm can be used to directly determine protein concentration; all proteins absorb in this region of the spectrum due to their aromatic amino acid residues (tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylalanine).   For protein mixtures, very dilute solutions, or for proteins with interfering chromophores, colourimetric methods must be used. These involve subjecting a pure protein standard of known concentration to a colourimetric reaction, and measuring the absorbance of the coloured end product. The sample protein of unknown concentration is subject to the same colourimetric reaction. The concentration of the sample protein can be read directly from a standard curve.   The Lowry assay involves the production of a blue (phosphomolybdate-tungstate) chromophore, from a copper-protein complex.   In this part of the practical, Lowry and direct absorbance methods were compared for the determination of the concentration of lysozyme in solution. The first of the methods makes use of a ÃŽÂ »max in the UV part of the spectrum and the other in the visible part of the spectrum.   Aims   To competently use a spectrophotometer and accociated cuvettes (cells) To relate absorbance of a solution to concentration using the Beer-Lambert law To determine the molar absorption (extinction) coefficient of vitamin B12 and compare its value with that from a standard reference table. To calculate the chlorophyll concentration in a leaf extract using absorbance values at defined wavelengths and a formula applicable to the solvent extraction medium. To measure protein concentration using direct absorbance and, following construction of a calibration curve, by a colourimetric method. Methods Part A To begin the experiment, the spectrophotomer was calibrated in accordance to the information given in the instrumentation booklet (p. 35, viii). Using distilled water in a plastic cuvette at a wavelength of 550 nm the spectrometer was then placed on zero. Using the provided Aqueous Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) solution at a stock concentration of 0.15 g dm-3 (relative molecular mass = 1.355 x 103 i.e. 1,355 Daltons ), The A value was measured and recorded at ÃŽÂ »max at 550 nm. The A value was Placed on the results sheet. The vitamin B12 solution concentration was converted from g dm -3 to mol dm-3 and then using this data the ÃŽÂ µ value for Vitamin B12 was calculated (see calculations). Part B For the second part of the experiment a sample of pigments extracted from dandelion leaves homogenized in an aqueous acetone extraction medium (80%) was provided. A clear pigment solution was needed for the test and so a check was carried out to ensure that there was no plant debris that may have interfered with light passage before the absorbance of the sample was measured. Using a Pasteur pipette, the clear extract was transferred into a clean quartz cuvette. The spectrophotometer was placed on zero using a quartz cuvette filled with an aqueous acetone mixture (80%) set at a à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max wavelength of 663 nm and the absorbance of the pigment solution was measured at 663 nm. The spectrophotometer was again placed on zero using the acetone solution (80%), however it was set at a à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max wavelength of 645 nm before the absorbance of the pigment solution was measured. The spectrometer was placed on zero for a third time and set at à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max wavelength of 626 nm. The absorbance of the pigment solution was again measured and all three sets of data were recorded. Part C (a) Direct absorbance A quartz cuvette was filled to the level with H20 and used as a standard to set the spectrophotometer at zero. Using another quartz cuvette the A value of the lysozyme solution of unknown concentration was measured at a ÃŽÂ »max of 280 nm. The value obtained was recorded. Having measured the A280 value of the unknown lysozyme sample, the concentration of lysozyme was calculated taking into consideration that ÃŽÂ µ280 of lysozyme = 3.65 x 104 dm3 mol-1 cm-1 and using the Beer-Lambert Law. The concentration of the lysozyme sample was then changed from mol dm-3 to à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­gcm-3. (b) Colourimetric Lowry Assay (Preparation and Use of a Standard Curve) Using a stock reference standard BSA solution containing 250 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g cm-3 protein, a series of dilutions of the stock were prepared accurately, as per the table below: Tube No: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 BSA stock (cm3) 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 5.0 H2O (cm3) 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.0 Note that the dilution factors for each tube were used to enable calculations for final concentrations of BSA in tubes 1- 8 inclusive (see calculations). These values are then used to plot a standard curve. Standard solution (1.0 cm3) prepared in the above table was placed in 8 clean, dry test tubes. unknown lysozome sample (1cm3) was placed into test tube 9, and H2O (1.0 cm3) was placed in test tube 10 as a water/reagent blank control. A solution of Lowry C (alkaline copper reagent) was made up by mixing Lowry B1 (0.5 cm3) with Lowry B2 (0.5 cm3) and lowry A (50 cm3). A solution of lowry D (Folin Ciocalteus phenol reagent) was then made up by diluting Folin reagent (5 cm3) with distilled H2O (10 cm3). Lowry C reagent (5.0 cm3) was added to all ten test tubes. The solution was mixed and left for 10 minutes. Lowry D reagent (1.0 cm3 ) was then added to each test tube and mixed well. All tubes were left for 30 minutes at standard temperature (37oc) for reaction and colour development to occur, after which time the test tube contents were thoroughly mixed. For test tubes 1-9, the A value at à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬max 750 nm was measured. Test tube 10 was not measured as it was used as a H2O/reagent blank to zero the spectrophotometer. Calculations Part A Due to the fact that a known amount of solute has to be dissolved in a given volume of solvent to obtain a solution of the required concentration, the number of moles of the solid can be calculated from the following equation: n = Mass of solute Relative molecular mass To convert the Aqueous Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) solution from g dm -3 to mol dm-3 one must consider that the stock concentration is 0.15 g dm-3, and the relative molecular mass of Vitamin B12 is 1.355 x 103 . 0.15 / 1.355 x 103 = 0.11 x 103 To find the ÃŽÂ µ value (wavelength absorption coefficient) of vitamin B12 the Beer-Lambert law must be applied: A= 0.827 L= 1cm C= 0.11 x 103 dm3 mol-1 cm-1 at ÃŽÂ »max of 550 nm ÃŽÂ µ = unknown As A= ÃŽÂ µLC, the equation can be rearranged as follows to make ÃŽÂ µ the subject: ÃŽÂ µ = A/C Therefore: ÃŽÂ µ = 0.827/0.11 x 103 = 7.51 x 103 Part B Chlorophyll Concentration determination The following formula was used to calculate the concentration of pigment in the extract. Chlorophyll a = 12.67A663 2.65A645 0.29A626 Chlorophyll b = 23.6A645 4.23A663 0.33A626 Protochlorophyllide = 29.6A626 3.99A663 6.76A645 The absorbance (A) is the respective wavelengths obtained directly from the spectrophotometer with the use of a 1cm light path length cuvette. Chlorophyll a = (12.67 x 0.934) (2.65 x 0.390) (0.29 x 0.321) = 10.71 ug cm-3. Chlorophyll b = (23.6 x 0.934) (4.23 x 0.390) (0.33 x 0.321) = 20.29 ug cm-3. Protochlorophyllide = (29.6 x 0.934) (3.99 x 0.390) (6.76 x 0.321) = 23.92 ug cm-3. Part C (a) Direct absorbance Concentration of lysozyme was calculated using the Beer-Lambert law as follows: A = 0.177 ÃŽÂ µ = 3.65 x 104 dm3 mol-1 cm -1 L = 1cm C = Unknown The Beer-Lambert law can be rearranged, making C the subject of the equation. Therefore the value of C can be calculated as: C = A / ÃŽÂ µ C = 0.177 / 3.65 x 104 = 4.84 x 10-6 mol dm-3   The concentration of the lysozyme sample was then changed from mol dm-3 to à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­gcm-3 Using the following formula: n= M / RMM 14.31 x 103 x 4.84 x 10-6 = 0.069g To change this from g to à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g it must be multiplied by 1000,000 as follows: 0.069 x 1000,000 = 69000 To then change this calculation from dm-3 to cm-3 it must be divided by 1000 as follows: 69000 / 1000 = 69 à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g cm-3 (b). Preparation and Use of a Standard Curve for Lowry Assay: Concentration (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g cm-3) was calculated using the below figures: Tube No: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 BSA stock (cm3) 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 5.0 H2O (cm3) 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.0 Test tube 1. BSA stock (cm3) = 1.0 H2O (cm3) = 4.0 1.0 + 4.0 = 5 1.0 / 5 = 0.2 0.2 x 250 = 50 Test tube 2. BSA stock (cm3) = 1.5 H2O (cm3) = 3.5 1.5 + 3.5 = 5 1.5/5 = 0.3 0.3 x 250 = 75 Test tube 3. BSA stock (cm3) = 2.0 H2O (cm3) = 3.0 2.0 + 3.0 = 5 2.0 / 5 = 0.4 0.4 x 250 = 100 Test tube 4. BSA stock (cm3) = 2.5 H2O (cm3) = 2.5 2.5 + 2.5 = 5 2.5 / 5 = 0.5 0.5 x 250 = 125 Test tube 5. BSA stock (cm3) = 3.0 H2O (cm3) = 2.0 3.0 + 2.0 = 5 4.0 / 5 = 0.6 0.6 x 250 = 150 Test tube 6. BSA stock (cm3) = 3.5 H2O (cm3) = 1.5 3.5 + 1.5 = 5 3.5 / 5 = 0.7 0.7 x 250 = 175 Test tube 7. BSA stock (cm3) = 4.0 H2O (cm3) = 1.0 4.0 + 1.0 = 5 5.0 / 5 = 0.8 0.8 x 250 = 200 Test tube 8. BSA stock (cm3) = 5.0 H2O (cm3) = 0.0 5.0 + 0.0 = 5 5.0 / 5 = 1 1 x 250 = 250 Results 1. Molar absorption coefficient of vitamin B12: Absorbance reading at ÃŽÂ »max of 550nm (A550nm) 0.827 2. Absorption Pigment type A Value Absorption Concentration Chlorophyll a A663nm 0.934 10.71 Chlorophyll b A645nm 0.390 20.29 Protochlorophyllide A626nm 0.321 23.92 Fig. 1. a table showing the A value of three different pigment types found in a leaf extraction, and the measured absorbance and calculated concentration of each. 3. Lysozyme Concentration Determination: (a) Direct absorbance reading at ÃŽÂ »max of 280 nm (A280nm) 0.177 (b). Preparation and Use of a Standard Curve for Lowry Assay: Discussion Part A A). Using the data collected, the experimental the ÃŽÂ µ value (dm3 mol-1 cm-1) calculated during this experiment was compared to that of an ÃŽÂ µ value obtained from  commercial standard references data. ÃŽÂ »(nm) ÃŽÂ µ(dm3 mol-1 cm-1) Standard ÃŽÂ µ value 550nm 8.55 x 103 Experimental ÃŽÂ µ value 550nm 7.51 x 103 Fig. 4. a table to show a comparison between standard and experimental ÃŽÂ µ values. As the above data indicates, the experimental ÃŽÂ µ value obtained during this experiment differs from that of the standard ÃŽÂ µ value. B). Other than human and experimental errors, one possibility that could explain the differences in the ÃŽÂ µ values is that to a certain degree different spectrophotometers in the laboratory give different readings. If the standard ÃŽÂ µ value was recorded using a different spectrophotometer this could cause anomalies within the results. A second possibility is that the solution used to find the experimental ÃŽÂ µ value was not at a stock concentration of exactly 0.15 g. This would affect the calculations and hence a different result would be obtained to that of the standard ÃŽÂ µ value. Part B 1(a).The % of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and protochlorophyllide in the leaf extract can be calculated in the following way: chlorophyll a concentration = 10.71 ug cm-3 chlorophyll b concentration = 20.29 ug cm-3 protochlorophyllide concentration = 23.92 ug cm-3 10.71 + 20.29 + 23.92 = 54.92 Percentage of chlorophyll a = 10.71/54.92 x 100 = 19.5% Percentage of chlorophyll b = 20.29/54.92 x 100 = 36.9% Percentage of protochlorophyllide = 23.92/54.92 x100 = 43.6% 1(b).It can be seen from the above percentages that 43.6% of the leaf extract is composed of protochlorophyllide. This is the largest percentage present within the leaf extract and therefore it can be considered as the predominant pigment type. 2(a). The percentages obtained can also be used to calculate the ratio of chlorophyll a:b in the leaf extract. In the case of this experiment the ratio of chlorophyll a:b in the leaf extract was 2:1. 2(b). The determined value to be expected when calculating the ratio of chlorophyll a:b in the leaf extract was 3:1. One would expect this as there are three pigments in the leaf extract, that ideally should contribute evenly. However, The results from this experiment vary from the standard data as they show a ratio of 2:1 between chlorophyll a and b. The most probable reason for this variation is not due to anomalies in results or calculations, but the fact that not all leaf extracts will contain the standard amount of pigments. In some cases pigments may be present in a higher percentage of one than the other, as is this experiment where protochlorophyllide was the predominant pigment type. 3). Although the above ratio is only dealing with percentages of chlorophyll a and b present in the leaf extract, one must consider that the presence of protochlorophyllide must be allowed for in the formulae and hence in the calculations. This is because there are three pigment types involved in the leaf extract and so one must consider that the ratio of the whole leaf extract is actually 3:2:1 where the ratio of chlorophyll a:b is 2:1. 4). The use of a formula related to a given extraction solvent is a convenient method for determining the concentration of chlorophyll. However, making use of the Beer-Lambert Law the concentration of chlorophyll could also be found by preparation and use of a standard curve. Part C Determination of Protein Concentration by UV and Visible Spectrophotometry, Construction of a Standard Graph Proteins have aromatic side chains such as tryptophan tyrosine and phenylalanine which absorb light at 280nm. The Lowry method is based upon a combination of the biuret method and the oxidation of tyrosine and tryptophan residues. The biuret reaction involves the binding of Cu2+ under alkaline conditions to nitrogen found in the peptide bonds of proteins. This reaction gives off a deep blue colour. The folin reagent contains phosphomolybdotungstate acids which are reduced to tyrosine, tryptophan and polar amino acids. This creates an intense blue-green colour. (a). The data collected was used to create a graph, plotting a standard curve of A (Y axis) against BSA concentration (X axis) in à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g cm-3 (See fig.3). This graph, shown in fig.3., was effectively constructed assuming that the relationship between absorbance (A) and concentration (C) must be linear to satisfy the Beer-Lambert law. However, the Beer-Lambert relationship between absorption and concentration deviates from lineariy in the case of more concentrated solutions. Linear BSA standard curves are only obtained at low protein concentration and so therefore to decrease possible anomilies in the results, timing of both residue addition and mixing were crucial. Using the A value from test tube 9, it was possible to use the graph to determine the concentration of the unknown lysozyme sample in à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g cm-3. Results from the graph show that. (b) By examining the lysozyme concentration results obtained (in à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g cm-3), it is possible to make a comparison between the results for the colourimetric assay and the direct absorption technique. Results show that Lysozyme concentration for colormetric assay were (m/rmm thing) Lysozyme concentration results for direct absorbance technique were..(graph) These results are same/different. Due to the fact that different proteins have widely varying characteristics, there may be considerable errors within the data. With the colormetric assay any non-protein component of the solution that absorbs UV light could interfere with the assay, resulting in the production of colour by substances other than the analyte of interest. This would cause the results to vary from that of the direct absorbance technique. (c). For this experiment three different methods were used for concentration determination, each of which had different strengths and weaknesses with respect to their sensitivity, accuracy and convenience. The first of these methods was the use of a formula, to determine chlorophyll concentration. Using a formula gives a very accurate theoretical result but it is not particularly convenient as for calculations to be correct it can take a great deal of time and effort. Obviously with such calculations, they are not sensitive as there is no outside interference to affect results. Direct absorbance is not as sensitive as the colormetric method, but as it requires the use of a spectrophotometer, it is an accurate assay method. This also makes the method relatively convenient for determining the concentration of lysozyme present in a given solution as changes in absorbance of the lysozyme could be clearly seen and recorded using the spectrophotometer at a particular wavelength. The colourimetric method was also used to determine the concentration of lysozyme during this experiment. One benefit of using the Colormetric method is that it is extremely sensitive (down to a protein content of 20ug ml-1) and it is also moderately constant from one protein to another. However, with respect to accuracy, this method is subject to interference from a wide range of non-protein substances including many organic buffers. The choice of an appropriate standard is important as the intesnsity of colour produced for a particular protein is dependant on the number of aromatic proteins. As different proteins have a different number of aromatic residues, the Lowry assay is considered more of a qualitative measure of protein content more than quantitative method of determining protein concentraion. This method is not as convenient as the direct absorbance method in that it takes a lot longer to perform and there is a higher frequency of anomalies that must be accounted for. (d). The measurement of protein levels is of significant diagnostic importance in both clinical and veterinary medicine. In clinical medicine there are a wide variety of biomedical tests involving the measurement of protein levels, such as the detection of abnormal protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), suggesting that there is an abnormal process occurring in the central nervous system. Protein levels in urine samples are tested to monitor and evaluate kidney function, and essentially to detect and diagnose kidney damage and disease at and early stage. Serum protein tests are also important as they concern measurement of protein levels of albumin and globulin in the blood. Such tests are also important in veterinary medicine. According to reports from Cornell universities college of veterinary medicine, protein tests have been developed to accurately indicate canine liver failure caused by the toxin aflatoxin. (e). Another way in which protein concentration can be measured, other than by the use of a formula or a spectrophotometer is gel electrophoreses. This technique uses charged protein molecules to separate physical properties, as they are forced through a gel by an electrical current.

Y2K Bug :: essays research papers

THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAND BUG   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is the world going to end at the year, two-thousand because of the Y2K computer virus? Absolutely not. The Y2K bug might cause a little bit of disorder with our digital-life when the clock strikes twelve because we might not have any stock market, electricity, or savings in the bank.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In every mainframe and super-computer, that most every large business owns, there is a little glitch when it tries to compute the year two-thousand. It simply is unable to do so because it has a two digit year entry. The computer is unable to set the first two numbers in the date because in computer does not need to because the computer code in the software says it is always the twentieth century or 19--. If it is not corrected by the time the year two-thousand rolls around, the computer will read: 01/01/1900.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So, what does all this mean to me? Well, when the monthly heating bill comes, the computer will think the heat was on for ninety-nine years because it cycles back to 1900. Let me put this way, if the normal bill is $75 for December, then it will be $89,175! The same goes for the electric bill and telephone but only if the phone is being used between 1999 and 2000. In my personal opinion, the Y2K bug will not have any effect because everything will be fixed up and ready to run properly by the deadline. Maybe I’m just a little to dependent and taking these enterprises for granted.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the other hand, there are numerous companies making a huge profit on this potential crisis. Software tycoons are making fortunes for selling software that makes people’s personal computers Y2K equipped. The thing is, that PC’s do not use dates as often and are not nearly as important to them as large to corporations because I have already stated in paragraph two and three. An even worse fact, is that most PC’s are already Y2K compliant so the software is totally non-essential for it to adjust! PC’s just need a few â€Å"tweaks† in the settings to make them ready.

The Devestating Effects of Popcorn :: essays research papers

One of the biggest threats to freedom in our world today is the ever-looming possibility that someone will realize the true power of popcorn and bring world leaders to their knees. Popcorn holds a power that to this point has remained untapped. However, if placed in the hands of a terrorist organization, the true power of popcorn could be unleashed to wreak havoc on innocent men, women and children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Millions of people each year have the luxury of eating popcorn freely. Each night in this country alone, thousands of people flock to movie theaters to enjoy a large tub of popcorn while watching a new movie. Month after month the movies on the screen continue to change, following and sometimes affecting world trends, beliefs and styles. Through it all, the popcorn remains the same. It continues to draw the movie patrons back to the theater with the bitter taste of salt mixed with a golden layer of liquid butter. Already, many around the globe have been blindly enslaved to the irresistible experience of leisurely consuming a tub of popcorn while tucked within the dark confines of a crowded picture show.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Large snack corporations have manufactured their own plans to cash in on the subconscious popcorn craze that is sweeping the globe. They perpetuate the popcorn security risk by delivering taste variations. With a light dusting of cheddar cheese or a quick dip into a caramel pool the popcorn is transformed, bringing new tastes to life that now fill the isles at every grocery store. In doing so, a whole new generation of popcorn lovers are captured who couldn’t possibly know the grave position they are placing themselves in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And proving that every movement has a following determined to do things their own way, some have taken to popping their own popcorn in the comfort of their homes. These renegades have tried to free themselves from a herd mentality by refusing to follow the crowd to a central location to partake in their favorite snack. They have still unknowingly resigned themselves to the same fate by falling under popcorn’s powerful spell.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A terrorist organization armed with this knowledge could potentially seize control of the world’s supply of popcorn and do so without much trouble. Our world leaders are unaware or choose to ignore this threat, and refuse to protect the supply lines of popcorn with the world’s finest armies.

The Relationship between Faith and Reason

â€Å"Faith and Reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth† Explain the dangers for a theologian when faith and reason are divorced from each other. Use at least one example of a Christian teaching that shows the harmony of faith and reason The harmony of faith and reason are the grounds upon which many Christian teachings are built. This relationship enhances elements of both constructs, however the danger of separating reason from faith is that reason will endeavour to prove literally and most logically which would cause the ultimate goal and question to be lost in deliberation and, on the other hand, separating faith from reason would cause faith to be viewed as mere fable or superstition. The two must cooperate in equal conjunction in order for the human spirit to rise to the contemplation of truth as proposed in the encyclical letter ‘Fides et Ratio’ by the late supreme pontiff Pope John Paul II. Reason could be simply defined as the logical conclusion drawn from literal occurrences or the confirmed nature of a tradition or practise. However more elements of Reason hold true in addition to the prospect of something that can be ‘proven’. Reason is generally understood as the principals for a methodological inquiry, whether intellectual, moral, aesthetic or religious. 1 Any acquisition of intellectual knowledge, through either direct understanding or argument is a representation of ‘reason’ The Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy Hebrews 11:1 states that â€Å"faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see†. The basis of faith is usually adapted from the authority of revelation whether that be direct (God speaking directly to a person), or indirect (books of the bible, sermons by priests, etc). Faith depicts a trust in God and his promises to his people. Pope John Paul II stated that through Christian teachings, what humans cannot see or touch is confirmed by faith2 Pope John Paul II, not only addresses the fallacious assertions of modern philosophers, but offers a remedy by demonstrating the truth of the Aristotelian or Tomistic worldview, showing that faith and science are by no means contrary to one another, but that it’s essential for the progression of humanity—of any kind—that faith and science (or reason) be used together. 3 The separation of the two cause a confusion, previously experienced by philosophers, that sections faith and science/reason as two detached entities. Viewing this detachment in its simplest formation, the human thinker surmises that for one to be faithful to God, and a religious being, they must reject all elements of reason and commit solely to the concepts of faith. Alternatively, one who would believe in a greater percentage of reason must be atheist as any rejection of God is inherently a rejection of faith itself. As the world develops and humans become more knowledgeable, it becomes impossible to deny certain facts; however this becomes a danger to all religious communities as by simplest thinking, trusting in any evidence is perceived as a rejection of trust in God. Herein lies the dangers for theologians; prior of course to John Paul II’s Fides et Ratio 2 3 Fides et Ratio, John Paul II Catholic Champion that acknowledges that â€Å"reason and faith cannot be separated without diminishing the capacity of men and women to know themselves, the world and God in an appropriate way †¦There is thus no reason for competition of any kind between reason and faith: each contains the other, and each has its own scope for action† As individuals, we must affectively reason within our own contexts and founded understandings of the world which we live, thus this will help us engage in our faith to make sense of the world we observe. 4 Noticeably it can be understood that faith, tradition and reasoning are intertwined within one another, you cannot have one without the other and all 3 elements are essential components in understanding and living ones faith. The harmony of faith and reason is best seen through the story of creation. â€Å"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible†5. This passage highlights the significance of the contributions from both faith and reason through Genesis and the early books of the bible to the validity of belief. Plato tried explaining man’s position in the world and the beginning of our time through the allegory of the windowless cave. In the simplest form, the cave presents the backdrop upon which a play of shadows takes place. The men in the cave watch this play being executed from a light source as the only reality they know. While rumours flare of an outside ‘world’ the play continues, and ‘reason’ creates speculation over what is about to happen next and theories are developed regarding the purpose. Over time, reason will explain most aspects of the show, but would only hold 4 5 Fides et Ratio, John Paul II 94 Hebrews 11:3 vidence enough to understand the earliest moments of the show. To reach full truth, faith needs to be introduced to actually believe in the initial source of light. Furthermore to the prospect, faith and reason question what happens if the light sources goes out; for the play will not â€Å"die† as death is merely an understood element of the play. No one was around at the time of creation and no one has a direct knowledge of what happened; so reason cannot c onfirm whether or not God did it. But reason does suggest that the universe is operating and therefore must have had a beginning. It is very intricately designed, from the basic laws of physics to the incredible complexity of the human brain. Whether a person looks at the beauty and exclaims, â€Å"There must be a God! † or whether that person has to sit down and calculate the probability of these things happening by chance, the conclusion of the honest seeker is that nature does not explain itself. Furthermore the reasonable belief in Genesis 1:1, â€Å"In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth† is a sheer step of faith rather than an uninformed stab in the dark. The ideas and theories of past philosophers have greatly affected the divorce between faith and reason however John Paul II’s Fides et Ratio has significantly helped the church and her people understand and feel comfortable with the concept of a ‘circle’ holding both entities together in a strong union where on e feeds off the other. Theologians face a danger when thinking opposed to the late pope’s discussion as the concept draws contradictions and confusion from believers that leads to the assumption that they are less than faithful in the eyes of God for considering reasonable and proven evidence. Olsen, Ross Faith and Reason: What is the Relationship?