Applications of Biochemistry Essay Example for Free

Applications of Biochemistry Essay Blood is one of the most important fluids in the human body. It helps carry nutrients such as oxygen to the cells in the body and transports out wastes like carbon dioxide and other metabolites from these cells. Since blood is the medium through which the different organs and tissues in our body communicates, keeping a close eye on the constituents of a blood sample would provide a good indication of the functioning of the human body. Blood gas tests are ordered for patients who might have symptoms of pH imbalance, extreme levels of oxygen/ carbon dioxide, or in order to evaluate the functioning of organs such as the kidneys and the presence of disorders such as diabetes. The latter tests are measured through the analysis of electrolytes and metabolites in the blood. Patients who are on a â€Å"ventilator† in a hospital may have their treatment procedures also monitored using a blood gas analysis test. In the Core Laboratory of University Hospital in London, Ontario, the Gem Premiere 3000 Blood Gas Analyzer is used in order to perform tests on patients. There are two analyzers present in this laboratory. Both machines can run tests for levels of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, Na+, K+, Ca++, and hematocrit (Hct). One of the machines however, is also capable of running glucose and lactate tests as well. One other final blood constituent that is also analyzed in this analyzer is for carboxyhemoglobin. If a sample is to be tested for carboxyhemoglobin, the sample must be injected from the syringe into the GEM cuvette. The cuvette is then inserted into another analyzer in order to test carboxyhemoglobin levels. The samples collected for blood gas analysis tests can be arterial, venous, or capillary blood. Reference Range values of measurements in the â€Å"normal range† using the Gem Premiere 3000 (UCSF Medical Center, 2011). All samples are delivered to the laboratory in syringes or capillaries from the bedside of the patient in the hospital. A sample that arrives from the Operation Room can only be stored for and has to be analyzed within 15-20 minutes. Samples that are delivered to the laboratory on ice can be stored for one hour while all other samples must be analyzed within half an hour. Unlike other samples that are analyzed in the lab, these samples are not archived after analysis. All samples must also be warmed between the hands before being analyzed in order to mix the contents thoroughly. All syringes with samples contain a coating of heparin sulfate in order to avoid the clotting of blood samples. Once the source of blood sample (arterial, venous, capillary) has been selected on the display screen of the analyzer, the sample is checked for clots. This is done by testing a drop or two onto a gauze pad. The barcode on the sample syringe is then scanned in order to read the patient ID and store the results. A message then appears on the screen of the analyzer that reads â€Å"Present sample now†. The tip of the syringe can then be inserted at an angle, into the needle that protrudes from the Analyzer. The results will then appear on the screen and be saved on the patient’s profile according to their ID that was scanned. The maintenance conducted on the Gem Premiere 3000 is very minimal. The Gem Premiere 3000 contains a cartridge that has electrodes with all the calibration measurements for the machine. The analyzer is checked daily for printer paper. Every week, quality control tests are run in order to ensure the accurate working of the Gem Premiere 3000. The two control tests administered are the ‘Critical Care QC ContrIL9’ and the ‘GEM critCheck’. The first control tests for the proper analysis of of pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, Na+, K+ and Ca++, while the second control tests for hematocrit low and normal levels (UCSF Medical Center, 2011). The cartilage with electrodes for calibration measurements expires every three weeks. However, if there is a power cut or an issue with the analyzer, the cartridge must be changed immediately before any other tests are conducted. Once the cartridge has been replaced, it takes half an hour for the cartridge to warm up after the CVP control has been run and before tests can be run again. Once all the tests are run, they are saved on the patient’s profile and are available for access by all physicians and hospital staff throughout the hospital.

Alcoholism and Drinking - Alcohol and Personality :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Alcohol and Personality    Alcoholism is a road often traveled yet there is no light at the end. The road only leads to a life of depression, anxiety, anger, stress, and much more. These are all common unwanted personality traits that we experience at one time or another. However, alcoholics exhibit these traits day in and day our as the likelihood that they act in these types of manners is nearly doubled when alcohol is involved. Alcohol inhibits not only our daily bodily functions but our mind as well. Alcoholism leads to times of withdrawal, low self-esteem, and an overall unwillingness to be part of society. It can turn the gentlest person into a raving psychopath without them even knowing it or if they do know, they refuse to admit it. Alcoholism manipulates the way we think and the way we react in common everyday situations. Minor problems are blown out of proportion while major problems are faced with anger, resentment, and often physical force. Alcoholism does nothing positive for an individual. It has many harmful effects and its effects on one's personality is one of the most harmful of all.    Our personality is who we are and who we are known as. Alcoholism takes that personality, corrupts it, and turns us into the person we never thought weà ¾d become. As the alcohol becomes more important and necessary in an alcoholicà ¾s life he will find himself unable to any longer answer the question of who he is but will rather find himself asking questions such as who he has become. At first, an individual may enjoy an occasional beer or two to à ¾take a load offà ¾. This does not have a permanent adverse effect on his personality. However, as time goes on, if this same person finds himself relying on alcohol to make it through the day, the problem has started. Before he knows it he will find himself psychologically dependent on alcohol and stages will develop. First, he may need a drink before he goes to bed to make him sleep better. Next, he may need to have a beer or two during his lunch break at the office because he has a lot on his mind. Finally, heà ¾ll find himself dr inking as a means of solving the simplest problem or needing a drink before he can even feel comfortable in public. Once this point in the alcoholic cycle is reached, his personality will begin to change as it takes on a new, distorted shape.

El Nino Phenomenon

El Nino has been a reoccurring phenomenon for centuries. What exactly is El Nino? â€Å"The term El Nino refers to a massive warming off the coastal waters of Peru and Equador that frequently extends more than 90 degrees of longitude. It is related to the Southern Oscillation, the atmospheric component of this phenomenon†¦ † (Gottschalk, 1998). Because El Nino and Southern Oscillation are often coupled, the term ENSO is used. (Garrison, 1999) This event usually last up to a year but can last up to three years. El Nino occurs every several years. The areas that are most affected by this event are all ocean areas at tradewind latitudes in both hemispheres. (Garrison, 1999) El Nino has been linked to flood and droughts all over the world. El Nino causes significant changes in biology and weather when it occurs. During an El Nino cycle there are many biological changes. During an El Nino thermocline is low and therefore there is less photosynthetic activity following in a decrease in the primary life forms. The warmer waters that are brought by El Nino hold less oxygen demanding the fish to go somewhere else. Cook 1998) â€Å"Although upwelling may occur during an ENSO event, the source of upwelled water is nutrient-depleted water in the thickened surface layer approaching from the west†(Garrison, 1999). This does not help the fisherman to make money or eat during an ENSO event. This biological decrease also hurts the economy because the fishermen in the areas affected are not catching the right amount of fish to make money. Biological change is due to the climate and weather change during El Nino. The surface winds that move the ocean currents are a major controller in weather. During El Nino when the easterlies weaken and retract eastward during the early stages, the upwelling slows and the ocean warms along with the moist air above the ocean. The change in the ocean temperatures causes a major rain section over the western Pacific to move eastward. In this way small changes in the ocean and wind currents continue to magnify each other until a full-blown El Nino occurs. † The increased evaporation intensifies coastal storms, and rainfall inland may be much higher than normal†(Garrison, 1999). The impacts of El Nino upon climate in temperature show up most during wintertime. Most El Nino winters are not that cold over western Canada and parts over the United States, and wet over the Southern United States and from Texas to Florida. (Whipple, 1998) According to Helvarg (1998), El Nino occurs at irregular intervals ranging from two years to a decade, and no two events are ever exactly alike. The 1982-83 El Nino was a surprise because it was not proceeded by a period of stronger easterlies on the Equator. It also occurred late in the calendar year. The economic impact was large. The Equador and Peru fishing industries suffered heavily. Up to a hundred inches of rain fell in Equador and Peru. The new vegetation swarmed grasshoppers, which increased the toad and bird population. Further west they found abnormal wind patterns and this shifted typhoons and sent them to Hawaii and Tahiti, which was unaccustomed to severe weather. The total amount of damage was $8 billion. â€Å"This years El Nino [1997-1998] has been the strongest ever recorded† (Helvarg, 1998). This El Nino drought had more of an impact than its rains. El Nino also infuriated tornado and storm activity in the Southeast. † In Alabama 34 people were killed and some 5,000 acres of trees knocked down in April when deadly tornadoes struck† (Helvarg, 1998). This record braking tornado event was spawned by the collision of warm, moist air that lingered over the warm Pacific and a polar front that had dropped from the north. (Garrison, 1999) In parts of Northwest U. S. there where massive clear-cut logging operations have to take place on mountain slopes, El Nino†s rains and big surfs contributed to what has become a pattern of landslide and flooding. In the Hawaiian Islands El Nino weakened the tradewinds that normally bring rain, resulting in a three month long winter drought. This damaged crops and sparked wildfires that depleted hundreds of acres of endangered native species. (Helvarg, 1998) Conditions from this year El Nino did not return to normal until late spring of 1998. (Garrison, 1998) â€Å"Estimates of worldwide 1997-1998 damage exceeded $25 billion†(Garrison, 1999) According to Garrison(1999), the contrasting colder events that occur are known as La Nina. As conditions to the east cool off, the ocean to the west warm rapidly. The renewed thrust of the trade winds piles this water upon itself, depressing the upper curve of the thermocline too more than 100 meters deep. According to Whipple (1998), weather from El Nino and La Nina are not symmetrical. Scientists have only recently recognized La Nina events. Since World War II there have been only one La Nina for every three El Ninos. Delivered along with El Nino†s wrath has been increased emphasis on the need to understand this often destructive weather phenomenon† (Gottschalk, 1998). If we understand El Nino we can better prepare and find better equipment to predict it. Buoys were arranged in the ocean to understand and predict ocean currents better. These buoys were placed between New Guinea and the Galapagos Islands. Each buoy measures surface wind, air temperature, humidity, sea surface temperature and subsurface temperature down to 500 meters. The data is then transferred to weather centers all over the world. The data is then analyzed and used for climate forecasting. Scientists are also trying to predict El Nino by National and Oceanic Administration weather satellites. From these satellites they have been able to track shifting patterns of sea surface temperatures. NASA satellite images also help us to see the shifting patterns of storms over the equator. NASA†s EOS provides ocean sea-surface vector winds. This will be launched in the year 2000. This is called SeaWinds microwave radar. â€Å"Adding to the El Nino data pile will be MODIS with its sea-surface temperature and ocean color sensors, Jason 1 for sea-surface height, and TRmm for tropical rainfall. On the ground, the EOS Data and information System (EOSDIS) ground will focus on processing, analyzing, and disseminating information gathered by this orbiting army of satellites† (Gottschallk, 1998). Over the years, several NASA missions have studied the effects associated with El Nino. Earliest efforts at mapping sea surface temperatures and cloud cover were done using two different satellites in 1978. Since then there have been many improvements made. The number of channels was increased from 4 to 5. These channels allow the instruments to view in parts of the electromagnetic visible and infrared spectrum. This increases the amount of readily available information on El Nino. All these things above help to better predict El Nino and to allow the countries the will be affected to prepare for it. This is important for the developing countries because the economy is very sensitive to climate change. Rice and cotton are two primary crops of Peru and are highly sensitive to rainfall (Encyclopedia). Therefore, if the farmers were told that El Nino were coming they would know whether to plant more rice or cotton in a year. Tropical countries have the most to gain from predictions but non-tropical countries require a more accurate prediction of El Nino. Countries such as Japan and United States will benefit in the strategic planning in areas such as agriculture, the management of water resources and the reserves of grain and fuel oil. Scientists and governments are working together to design and build a global system for predicting El Nino and other irregular climates. Governments should make climate predictions available daily like they make weather forecasts available to the public today. The ability to prepare how climate will change leads to better management of agriculture, water supplies, fisheries and other resources. By doing all these things people are going to become better adept to all irregular rhythms of climate.

Analysis Of Barlow s Declaration Of The Independence Of...

What rhetorical strategies do you see at work in Barlow’s Declaration of The Independence of Cyberspace, and why does Barlow employ them? In what ways does the piece constitute as a manifesto? In Barlow’s Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace, Barlow uses pathos or an emotional argument in order to persuade the readers to think that the government does not have any control over cyberspace. Barlow also uses logos, or a logical argument by appealing to the reader’s logic by helping them to understand that if the government was not invited to govern cyberspace, they are not welcome. Barlow is making the argument that the government does not have jurisdiction over the in and outs of cyberspace. But with this, he makes a key assumption that is the backbone of his argument. This assumption is that cyberspace does not fall under the government’s reign because they were not invited and given the consent to join nor were they involved with the initial creation. If the reader agrees with this assumption, then they will agree with Barlow’s argument, and if they do not then they would appose his argument. He also uses phrases like â€Å"we† a nd â€Å"you†, we meaning anyone who uses the internet and you meaning the government. By making the reader feel as if they are a part of the argument he appeals to their emotions. Barlow uses these rhetorical strategies in order to make his audience feel empowered. There are always issues that each generation fights for, and our generation’s issue