Amylase Activity In Germinating Barley

Amylase Activity In Germinating Barley Amylase is a calcium dependent enzyme which hydrolyzes complex carbohydrates at alpha 1,4-linkages to form maltose and glucose. Amylase is an enzyme found in the germinating seeds. Imbibition process causes the release of growth plant hormone gibberelin which stimulates the synthesis of amylase. The activity of the amylase enzyme is affected by many factors such as temperature, pH, enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, and the presence of any inhibitors or activators. In germinating barley, the food reserves are stored in the endosperm. The cotyledons store food for the use of embryo in the form of starch. Amylase enzyme breaks down starch into maltose, a chain of two glucose molecules Maltose then breaks down into glucose by the enzyme glucosidase. Glucose then enters the glycolytic pathway where it is used for the production of ATP and carbon molecules for biosynthesis. Glucose is used for the growth of plumule and radicle. This process is also known as the germination pro cess. The emergence of plumule and radicle indicate that the seeds have germinated. In germinated seeds, the blue colour of the Benedicts solution change to brick-red precipitate indicating the presence of glucose while maintaining the yellowish-brown colour of the iodine solution indicating the absence of starch. However, in non-germinated seeds, the yellowish-brown colour of the iodine solution change to blue black indicating the presence of starch while maintaining the blue colour of the Benedicts solution indicating the absence of glucose. Most of the time, when all the starch have been used up, the seedling capable of undergoing photosynthesis to produce energy and carbon. Hypothesis The higher the amylase activity, the higher the rate of seed germination. This is observed by a higher change in length of plumule and radicle. Hence, when performing the Benedicts test, the concentration of brick-red precipitate is higher seedlings and the solution remains blue for the dormant seed. Aim The aim of the experiment was to extract amylase from barley and to use it for the catalysis of a biochemical reaction hence investigating the amylase activity during seed germination. Materials and methods Ten germinating seeds were taken and using a paper towel, the germinants were patted dry and the weight of the germinating seeds were recorded. Next, using a mortar and pestle, the 10 germinating seeds were crushed into a puree. Slowly adding 10 ml of buffer, the germinating seeds were further crushed for two minutes. This will allow the amylase to go into the solution. The crushed seeds was filtered into a 100 ml beaker and the amylase extract was poured into a measuring cylinder. The volume of amylase extract was recorded. A five-fold dilution of the latter was done by pipetting 5 ml of the amylase extract and adding 20 ml of buffer to make up a total volume of 25 ml. This mixture is called the diluted amylase extract. A control was then done by adding 5 ml of the diluted amylase extract in a test tube and placing it in a water bath at 80o C for 10 minutes. When the 10 minutes have elapsed the control was removed and allow to cool to room temperature. Next the activity of amylase per mass of germinating barley tissue is to be determined. For this, onto ceramic plates, one drop of iodine was placed into 21 wells. A reaction mixture was then prepared by adding 5 ml buffer and 1 ml of 0.5% starch solution in a test tube. Then using a pasteur pipette, one drop of the reaction mixture was removed and added to one drop of the iodine. The iodine turned blue black. This was done to ensure the presence of starch in the reaction mixture. The previously made diluted amylase extract is thoroughly remix and 1 ml of the latter was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture is called amylase reaction mixture. (As soon as the amylase reaction mixture was prepared, reaction started. Amylase started to break down starch into simple sugars). Immediately, starting with well 0 on the ceramic plate, one drop of amylase reaction mixture was added to the iodine using a pasteur pipette. At one minute interval, another drop of the amylase reaction mixture was added to another well. This was repeated until the achromic point was reached. When the achromic point had been reached, the time elapsed was recorded. Once the achromic point was reached, the amylase reaction mixture was kept for the determination of maltose. (Note: Benedicts reagent gives a red-yellow precipitate of cuprous oxide when boiled with maltose. This reaction does not occur with starch.) In a test tube, 2 ml of the amylase reaction mixture and 2 ml of Benedicts reagent was added. A control reaction mixture was also prepared by adding 5 ml buffer and 1 ml of 0.5% starch solution but without the amylase extract. 2 ml of the control reaction mixture was then added in a test tube along with 2 ml of Benedicts reagent. Both the Benedicts reagent tubes were placed in a water bath at 80oC for 10 minutes and then examined for presence of cuprous oxide precipitate. All of the above steps were then repeated but with dormant seeds and seedlings. All data were then recorded for further investigation.

Terri Schiavo A Case Study Of Euthanasia Philosophy Essay

Terri Schiavo A Case Study Of Euthanasia Philosophy Essay Euthanasia is a life-terminating process with means to end pain and suffering. However, sometimes the way euthanasia is performed can be painful in itself. Terri Schiavos case was a very high-profile one for many reasons, one of them being because of this particular issue. She was 26 years old when she collapsed in her home in Florida in 1990 from what seemed to be lack of oxygen. She was in a coma for two and half months before entering a vegetative state. What came after would prolong into a 15-year dispute between Schiavos husband and her family in trying to figure out what would be the most ethical thing to do. After Terri Schiavo entered the vegetative state, there were two different paths she could have continued onto. The first being death through euthanasia, while the second being living life and surviving with constant assistance and through artificial means. According to Diana Lynne in her article at http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=29516, however, the path to euthanasia was absolutely unnecessary. Schiavo was not drooling, which meant she was able to control her saliva and therefore would not need feeding tubes. She was not in a PVS, or a persistent vegetative state, because she very well recognized her environment and was able to interact with it. Nurses reportedly could distinguish her words through her difficulty to speak as she would say help me and Mommy. Herein laid the biggest argument- would Terri want to live a life like this? Her husband, Michael Schiavo, reported that Terri had stated herself that she would never want to live her life as a vegetable and would rather have someone put a stop to her suffering. There was, however, no written proof, or any at all for that matter, of this claim. Terris parents insisted that she would not want to be euthanized due to her religion-they said she was a devout Roman Catholic and was very religious. There was no evidence to support this claim either. Michael Schiavos intentions for Terri had been questioned since he lost all hope in her survival in 1992. His intentions were also suspicious because he had claimed that her reason for collapsing that night was due to her bulimic eating disorder-an issue that no one as aware she was dealing with. Another suspicious piece of evidence from the case was the fact that Terri had neck injuries when she was brought to the hospital that night she collapsed; her parents, the Schindlers, believe that Michael tried to strangle her that night. The first time he petitioned for Terris food tube to be removed in 1998, Michael Schiavo was already engaged to another woman whom he had had two children with. He was still married to Terri and was legally her guardian. The court ruled in favor of Michael Schiavo and decided to remove Terris feeding tube in April of 2001. Three days later the feeding tube was put back in due to appeals made by the Schindlers which led to a hold in his case. There was videotaped evidence that Terri Schiavo was indeed responding to her familys interactions and was not brain-dead or vegetative. Unfortunately, Michael Schiavos consistent efforts finally came through. On March 13th of 2005, the feeding tube was removed from Terri Schiavo. This would lead to her death on March 31st, 2005 from dehydration and starvation. For 18 days Terri was parched and starving, and this is how she was killed. I believe that Terri Schiavo was killed in a harmful, thoughtless act and there a quite a few moral theories present in ethics that can support this. In Immanuel Kants ethical theory, the categorical imperative states that we should not use people as a means to an end. Killing a person to put a stop to their suffering through euthanasia would be using them to another end. Also, Kant believed that what seems to be an act out of kindness could lead to a bad thing; Kant was not interested in acting through compassion but rather what were the right thing and the best thing to do for the best possible outcome. Kant also believed that the value of a human being was above all price. He was extremely against suicide because of this belief of the human life and its worth. Especially in this case, in which Terri Schiavo was not brain-dead and could rationalize and think, I believe Kant would agree with allowing her to continue her live and not euthanize her. John Stuart Mill would state that euthanasia was just because he believed that as long as no other being is hurt, a person can do anything he or she pleases. However, I would interpret this utilitarianistic view as one that could go against euthanasia. I believe that the death of any being can and will hurt another. The death of Terri Schiavo devastated her family and friends. Through her starvation and dehydration, her closest loved ones were also in pain because of what she had to go through. Another moral theory that would go against euthanasia is the natural law. This ethical theory states that the end never justifies the means. This theory is evidently against euthanasia because it clearly insinuates that doing evil is not justified simply because the outcome will be good, even if the intentions mean well. This theory would suggest that killing an innocent person is never morally right to do because the main intention of this natural law is to protect and preserve the innocent. Natural law also insists that God gave life and it is up to him whether or not it is a persons time for that life to end or not and he will take that life away when he pleases; natural law very much believes in the sanctity of life. The natural law theory is very much closely related to Christian ethics which would also be against euthanasia for many of the same reasons. This portion of ethics believes that humans do not have any right to take away life because it is up to God because he gave us life. It believes that euthanasia is murder and we are not to kill. Life is sacred and is meant to be lived until the persons natural death and is therefore taken away naturally by God. In terms of what is just, I do not believe Polemarchus would agree with the removal of Terri Schiavos feeding tube or any other incident involving euthanasia for that matter because of his belief of tit for tat. This belief of justice will overlook an act of evil if this kind of act was already done to that person committing it. This belief is also known as an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. People in vegetative states in situations where they may be euthanized should not be if they are innocent people. Terri Schiavos case involved an involuntary euthanasia which means the person is not in a position to ask whether or not they want to die; the method of euthanasia in her case was passive, although the clear intention was for Terri to die. There are two other types of euthanasia: voluntary and nonvoluntary. In a voluntary case, the person asks to die and in a nonvoluntary case, the person does not want to die. The two types of methods in which euthanasia is performed are either passive or active. A passive method of euthanasia involves the cutting off of a treatment that the patient is on for a natural type of death while an active method of euthanasia is the opposite in which something is added in order to specifically end the patients life. This was the wrong thing to do especially because it was involuntary and it was therefore not certain that Terri Schiavo wished to die. It is reported that Terri Schiavo did not feel any pain during her 18 years in the hospital and because of th is, any argument supporting euthanasia using Terri Schiavo as an example is not reasonable. In any case, however, I believe that there is no such thing as a life not worth living. Its evident that every person would like to die with dignity and likely does not want to spend the last years of their life in a hospital but even though it is rare, it is possible to come out of a vegetative state. Also, according to all the philosophers and moral theories mentioned above, life is too sacred to not live, no matter what the circumstances

Science Behind Dreams Essay -- Scientific Research

Did you ever wonder why you dream? Or if your dreams mean anything? Dreams can tell you many things. Dreams are a mental activity associated with rapid-eye movement or REM period of sleep. REM is in sleep, which the eyeballs dart back and forth under closed eyelids. When awakened from REM sleep, people frequently report they had just been dreaming.(Lemonick) They are made up of visual images, scenes or thought expressed in terms of seeing rather than in those of the other senses or in words. During dreams the blood pressure and heart rate increases, and breathing is quickened, but the body is still immobile. Science has uncovered the purpose and meaning of dreams. While they were looking for their answer, they researchers are probing the minds of cats, sleepwalkers , and stroke survivors. They found it is a mix of personal stories and fascinating study results keep the show moving at a lively pace. The dreamworld affects both mental health and problem solving in our waking lives.(L. K.) Electroencephalography studies electrical; activity of the brain during REM sleep. They have shown that young adults dream for 1 Â ½ to 2 hours of every 8-hour period of sleep. While infants spend an average of 50% of their sleep in the REM phase. They are believed to dream more often than adults, and it will decrease steadily with age.(Hobson) Research shows that infants in the womb spend nearly all their time in REM sleep and scientist think they’re using that time to develop brain circuitry, which suggests that the very structure of our minds may be something we have dreamed up. While extensive experiments on maze-running rats and video game playing humans, along with studies of people experiencing failing relationships and depression, have demons... ...Dreams are complex and confusing to understand. There are a lot more questions to be answered about dreams, and why we dream. I don’t think we will ever completely understand the dream world and the questions that want answered. Works Cited Coeman, Bennett. (2012): n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012. . Greengroos, Gil. "Why Do Memories of Vivid Dreams Disappear Soon After Waking Up?." June 3, 2011. n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012 Hobson, J.A. "The Dreaming Brain." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 6. 11/1/11. n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012. JackWh, . "What Cause Dreams?." 3/17/12. n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012. Kasschau, Richard. Understanding Psychology (2008): 188-189. Web. 20 April 2012.z Lemonick, Michael D. "Time International (Canada Edition)." 163.10 3/8/2004. 44. Web. 20 April 2012. Tyrrell, Mark. "Why Do We Dream?." n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012.

Between Logic and Heuristic :: Calculus Mathematics Essays

Between Logic and Heuristic* ABSTRACT: This article aims to construct a new type of logical calculi-logical heuristic calculus which contains the means of reducing complete search. Such a heuristic component of calculus is reached with the help of meta-level means. The principal means for reducing search is structural information about information about contrary literals of formula. There are two major approaches to studying the process of reasoning ( «problem-solving »). On one hand, it is necessary to discover and investigate correct modes of reasoning in which the property of  «truth » is preserved. This task which can be formulated as the question  «what is a correct reasoning (proof)? » is considered in Logic. In order to decide this problem, Logic is based upon the concept of  «logical form ». There is a special syntactical method to deal with this concept—the method of construction of a logical calculus. In this respect, the calculus in question is a  «black box » which guarantees the  «true » conclusion under the  «true » premisses. Thus, Logic (logical form) gives the answer for the question about correct reasoning—  «the correct reasoning is a proof ». But logical syntax, as a  «black box »Ã¢â‚¬â€ calculus, isn’t interested in the real process of derivation building, in studying the question about methods of proof-search, in studying and construction a more manageable and efficient machin ery of  «truth » preserving. Availability of any method of exhaustive (complete) search, e.g.  «British museum algorithm », is quite enough for Logic (logical form). On the other hand, the process of  «problem-solving » can be investigated in the light of the following question:  «how is it possible to build a piece of correct reasoning? ». This task is considered in Heuristic. Heuristic investigates general principles and methods of  «problem-solving ». Computer Heuristic (computer heuristic method) is a system of rules (a rule) for essential reducing the complete search, i.e. heuristic methods are opposed to exhaustive search methods. The area of intersection of Logic and Computer Heuristic is proof-seach theory (PST), which investigates possible methods of  «problem-solving » ( «how is it possible to build a proof? ») in some calculus. PST deals with the heuristic component of proof systems. More precisely, the aim of proof-search theory can be defined as follows:  «discovering, on the basis of a calculus and an entity in the calculus in question of the structure of a possible derivation of this entity, a derivation which is interesting in some respect ».(1) Thus, proof-search theory can be included into the logical pragmatic (look at Fig.

Menard’s Yard

The assignment that I was given is about ethnographic observations. The topic that I chose was the Outside Yard team members at Innards. I work there In the receiving department. I am an â€Å"inside guy† so I barely go outside to help guests, but when I do, I see that the workers outside act much differently than anyone else in the store. I believe that the Merman's Outside Yard Receivers are strange and unusual because they act differently than everybody else in the store, wear different clothes, and feel like they have their own department but they are really part of Receiving.First of all, the Outside Yard Receivers wear deferent clothing. They can wear anything that Is from Innards. The Inside people can only wear a certain kind of clothing that they get for their departments. They are also the only ones who can wear hats. Innards does not allow anyone else to wear hats. Also, they do not do anything that the inside Receivers do. They actually have a lot harder job to do outside. I would not want to be outside. It is hot in summer and freezing in winter; inside there Is air conditioning so I like that, but they still like being outside.Most of he things they do is slide lumber, or cut It, or anything with lumber. It Is tiring to do this every day. I have slid lumber before. It is no fun, but when I ask them if they like it out there, they say they love it. I am still wondering and not understanding why they like it out there so much. A lot of them use pretty basic English. They swear all the time. All of them are not educated yet or they are in college like me. The ones who have finished school are usually the managers.Some older guys Just did not ever finish school so they are stuck there working their butts off for little pay, but for he younger people, It Is a really good Job and I would recommend It to anyone. There is just so much experience that someone can get and I know that if I ever went looking for another Job I would have a better chance than someone who was working in a fast food place or something. Next, I think they are crazy sometimes, pretty often actually. They really get into their Jobs.Like they try to do everything as fast as they can. That is good though, but sometimes It's just too much. They make a huge mess In the warehouse and It Is sometimes hard for guests to move around or get anything because everything Is In he way, but at the end of the day they always manage to make the warehouse look perfectly clean and organized and everyone is happy. There is this guy who comes few times a week; his name is Bob. He drives a truck. He picks stuff up from Innards and delivers Otto guests so he is like a delivery man.I am not sure if he Just works for this Innards or Just overall for all the Innards around the state or country, but every time he Is there, there are always these funny conversations that they have with the Outside Yard Receivers. Nick, one of the workers outside, is really loud when it comes to w orking with Bob. Nick: â€Å"Hey Bob, long time no see! † Bob: â€Å"Shut the hell up and help me get this table off the truck. † Nick: â€Å"I'm busy! Get someone else to help you. † Bob: â€Å"Busy my ass. Let's go! † Nick: ‘You're not my boss! This is really how every meeting with him is, usually a lot more swearing and yelling, but they Just Joke around. Everyone is really nice there. They Just swear, yell, and argue for fun really. I Just do not understand some workers. Like they are over their heads driving recklessly on the forklifts, throwing things. Some should have been fired a long time ago and I do not get why they are still there. They maybe do a good Job out there, but they are Just crazy and what are the guests going to think of them?It is actually somehow pretty hard to get fired there. In conclusion, I believe that the Merman's Outside Yard Receivers are strange and unusual because they act differently than everybody else in the sto re, wear different clothes, and feel like they have their own department but they are really part of Receiving. I think that they are good workers and will help guests in any way possible, so I recommend Innards as your choice of store for buying products for your projects that one could be working on.

Quantitative Research Process Essay

1. Research problem and Purpose is the area where research is needed to close the gap between knowledge and nursing practice. Purpose identifies the specific goal of the study (Burns & Grove 2011). 2. Literature Review identifies the known and the unknown of a particular study and documents what needs to be conducted. 3. Framework is the basis for the study or a theory that has been developed consisting of concepts and statements that define a particular study. 4. Research Objectives, Questions, and Hypotheses narrow the gap beteween research problem and purpose and identify the relationship between the variables and indicate the population to be studied. 5. Study Variables that are measurable, manipulated or controlled in a study. 6. Assumptions are statements that are considered true and implanted in thinking and behavior. 7. Limitations are restrictions that decrease credibility of findindgs. 8. Research design is the blueprint for the study that increases control over factors that may interfere with the desired outcomes. 9. Study Population include all elements that meet qualifications for the study and the sample are subsets of the population selected. 10. Method of Measurement is the process of assigning numbers to objects. Levels of measurement include nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio level of measurements. 11. Data collection is the systematic gathering of information important to the research purpose in which permission must be obtained for the agency where the researcher conducts the study. 12. Data analysis gives meaning to the study. Analysis techniques include descriptive and inferential analyses. 13. Research Outcomes involves examining results from the research process and considers implications for further studies. References Burns, N.,Grove, Susan. (2011). Understanding Nursing Research: Building and Evidence Based Practice. (5th ed.).Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier Saunders.

Explain Each of the Terms Essay

Explain Each of the Terms: Speech, Language, Communication and Speech Language and Communication Needs. Explain each of the terms speech, language, communication, speech, language and communication needs. EYMP5 (1. 1) The dictionary explanation of speech is â€Å"The expression of or the ability to express thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds† or â€Å"A person’s style of speaking† To speak is to physically be able to produce the individual sounds and sound patterns of our language, or articulate, to be able to produce speech with appropriate rhythm, and free of stuttering behaviour, and to produce speech with an appropriate vocal quality for age and sex. While speech involves the physical motor ability to talk, language is a symbolic, rule governed system used to convey a message. In English, the symbols can be words, either spoken or written. We also have gestural symbols, like shrugging our shoulders to indicate â€Å"I don’t know† or waving to indicate â€Å"Bye Bye† or the raising of our eye brows to show that we are surprised by something. Language can be defined as being made up of socially shared rules that include the following: †¢What words mean (e. g. , â€Å"star† can refer to a bright object in the night sky or a celebrity) †¢How to make new words (e. g. , friend, friendly, unfriendly) †¢How to put words together (e. g. , â€Å"Peg walked to the new store† rather than â€Å"Peg walk store new†) What word combinations are best in what situations (â€Å"Would you mind moving your foot? could quickly change to â€Å"Get off my foot, please! † if the first request did not produce results) You can have language without having speech. Though speech and language are related, you do not have to have speech to have a language. How? The best example of this is the use of Sign Language. Communication is the process of conveying a message or meaning to establish a shared understanding to others. You don’t need speech or a shared language to communicate. How? Let’s say you decide on a trip to Rome, but you don’t speak one word of Italian. You get off your plane, and you want to pick up your†¦ [continues]