Tuesday, August 25, 2020

antigun control essays

antigun control papers I. Intro. - Imagine you are sitting home one night with nothing to do. Your folks have left for the end of the week and there is definitely nobody around. So you lounge around that late evening sitting in front of the TV for some time yet discover nothing on worth viewing. You go on upstairs to your room and prepare for bed. Mood killer the lights, set down, and close your eyes. Out of nowhere you here an accident of glass in your kitchen. You hurry to your feet and put your ear to the entryway tuning in to whats going on ground floor. You start to hear the voice of two men as they begin experiencing the parlor, advancing toward the steps, directly outside your room. What do you do? You arent going to stand up to them since its equitable you-recollect you thought you heard two of them right? Well you are truly stuck in your room and everything you can do is stay there trusting that they leave soon and dont hurt you. Presently on the off chance that it were at my home things would be somewhat extraordinary. First off I would get out my shotgun from my storage room and start to perceive what is gin on down steps. When those criminals saw me strolling around with a weapon, you better accept they would mull over staying any more. A. 39% of criminals prematurely ended a wrongdoing because of the casualty being furnished B. 74% state they maintained a strategic distance from residences all together in the event that they believed they may be shot. One of the significant contentions against the hypothesis that weapon control would spare lives is that albeit 66% of all manslaughters are submitted with guns, gun controls would have no impact on crime, since human instinct is the thing that it is. Regardless of whether weapons vanished from the wrongdoing scene, hoodlums would supplant them with blades, clubs, tomahawks, or even clench hands. Weapons dont execute individuals, individuals slaughter individuals. Expressed essentially, these wrongdoings happen in light of the fact that a few people have come to abhor others, and they will keep on happening in some structure as long a ... <!

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The eNotes Blog Does AP stand for Absolutely Pointless

Does AP represent Absolutely Pointless My 12-year-old child started his first semester in middle school this year. In July, we all guardians were gathered together for a three-hour data class. We visited every one of the Pre-AP educators rooms,  a aggregate of seven diverse potential course contributions. In each meeting, the message was the equivalent: you selected your child in ALL Pre-AP classes if your kid isnt a total sham. Pre-AP, it was (here and there not) calmly clarified, was vital for your youngster with the goal that the individual in question could take AP courses in secondary school, and afterward be qualified to skirt starting courses in school. The point, obviously, was to set aside us a little cash and to (it was suggested) feel somewhat predominant about our posterity. Similar instructors who educate Pre-AP classes additionally show normal courses. Despite the fact that our data course should disclose to us the distinction between the two sorts of classes, for all intents and purposes none  of the instructors even referenced the normal classes. The Pre-AP was pushed so hard it caused a parent to feel like conceding your child was as on par mentally with the Honey Boo faction for basically getting some information about the distinctions. As the night rambled endlessly, I started to ponder: Whatever happened to training understudies at the genuine level they are at, mentally, inwardly, and socially? I pondered as well, as a school educator myself, if AP is pushed so vigorously, can any anyone explain why I discover my rookies so not ready for the rigors of a school course? This week, the Atlanticâ published an article by John Tierney, a resigned educator and secondary school AP instructor. Like me, Tierney pondered something very similar. So why this tremendous drive into AP?  Probably the most compelling motivation is that the College Board, which sets the gauges and distributes the AP educational plan, acquires over portion of its income from AP courses. Which may be okay with everybody if secondary schools genuinely were turning out improved and propelled students. Be that as it may, in Tierneys experience, and my own, they are not doing any such thing. Tierney examined the numerous purposes behind the disappointments of the AP projects, and some disarray about their guarantees. For example,â while AP courses in secondary school may let a school first year recruit quit a starting course, they frequently don't get genuine school acknowledge for AP classes true to form. What's more, when they do get the opportunity to skirt an introduction class, numerous understudies find that their AP classes in secondary school don't remotely take after the difficulties of a genuine school class, and many wish they HAD taken the customary early on school course. Another substantial contention is Tierneys resistance to open enlistment for  AP classes.  This was the situation in my children new school. There was no legitimacy base.  No one was solicited to join on the grounds that from high scores in primary school or an educators proposal. What we were fundamentally told is that Pre-AP was do or die. Tierney contends that, 66% of the understudies taking my class every year didn't have a place there. Also, they hauled down the course for the understudies who did. What's more, what of the children who neglect to swim? Its entirely troubling, as per Tierney. He says that those classes get always full as the years wear on and a few children simply cant hack it, however they are not given the most grounded educators. Those educators, obviously, are saved for the AP program. A great deal of these non-swimmers are minorities, who will presently confront much more impediments to advanced education. At last, and fortifying what I have just found in my own home, the push to cover so much material so quick prompts unbending stultification a sort of careless genuflection to an endorsed arrangement of study that crushes innovativeness and free request. No big surprise when I took my Freshmen out on a radiant day and we as a whole sat idle however read Thoreau for all to hear to each other, they all looked paralyzed then they gradually started to unwind, grin, and appreciate the joys of learning. Tragically, secondary teachers can't bring their understudies down fascinating ways of learning. After all theres a test coming up.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Hearing Girls Non-Fiction About Girls, Women, and Feminism

Hearing Girls Non-Fiction About Girls, Women, and Feminism When Im not reading YA fiction, Im consuming non-fiction, especially of the pop psychology or sociology variety. What tends to check all my boxes with non-fiction is what falls into the category of work about girls and women. Some of it is explicitly feminist in leaning and others are not, despite discussing the very things feminists care about. Some of it follows a narrative while others tend to fall into the essay category a realm of writing I not only love but that I think women are able to really find and share their voices. I dont believe you have to agree with everything in a non-fiction book for it to be good. In fact, I think a non-fiction book can become really good for me when I find myself disagreeing with many points; the more my mind wants to think about things, the more Im interacting with the book. Books that last the longest for me are the ones that have some sort of intellectual or emotional impact. Heres a look at a handful of recent and forthcoming books that fall squarely into the category of non-fiction about girls, women, and feminism worth checking out. Ive read each of these and recommend them for the thought fodder, even though I wouldnt say I agree with everything they each say. Im a firm believer than teenagers are able to read what interests them in adult non-fiction when theyre ready to do so, same as they would with fiction, so the books here which arent marketed for YA would still be perfectly suitable for teens who have an interest. I have a feeling, perhaps from experience, that many teen girls are interested in reading work thats focused exclusively on them or about them in a way where their voices are the ones being discussed. These descriptions come from Goodreads, so its worth noting theres a bit of sensationalism with a few of them. Im always a bit surprised to see how copy to describe a book can twist whats going on with the book in ways that seem to disagree with what the books actually saying. In books like these, theres sometimes an inadvertent blame/causation placed upon girls for behavior, rather than the bigger issue of social or cultural politics. Id love any recommendations from others of books on similar themes and topics, especially as they relate to girls and women of color. Its worth noting that the two essay collections in here share voices of women of color, and the two research-based books make clear their research involved voices from girls of color (and they acknowledge where their blindspots are, which I think is as important). American Girls: Social Media and The Secret Lives of Teenagers    by Nancy Jo Sales (Knopf, February 23) With extraordinary intimacy and precision, Sales captures what it feels like to be a girl in America today.  From Montclair to Manhattan and Los Angeles, from Florida and Arizona to Texas and Kentucky, Sales crisscrossed the country, speaking to more than two hundred girls, ages thirteen to nineteen, and  documenting a massive change in the way girls are growing up, a phenomenon that transcends race, geography, and household income.  American Girls provides a disturbing portrait of the end of childhood as we know it and of the inexorable and ubiquitous experience of a new kind of adolescenceâ€"one dominated by new social and sexual norms, where a girl’s first crushes and experiences of longing and romance occur in an accelerated electronic environment; where issues of identity and self-esteem are magnified and transformed by social platforms that provide instantaneous judgment. What does it mean to be a girl in America in 2016? It means coming of age online in a hypersexualized cul ture that has normalized extreme behavior, from pornography to the casual exchange of nude photographs; a culture rife with a virulent new strain of sexism and a sometimes self-undermining notion of feminist empowerment; a culture in which teenagers are spending so much time on technology and social media that they are not developing basic communication skills. From beauty gurus to slut-shaming to a disconcerting trend of exhibitionism, Nancy Jo Sales provides a shocking window into the troubling world of today’s teenage girls. Girls and Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape by Peggy Orenstein (Harper, March 1) With casual hookups and campus rape relentlessly in the news, parents can be forgiven for feeling anxious about their young daughters. They’re also fearful about opening up dialog. Not Orenstein. A contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine and the New York Times best-selling author of books like Cinderella Ate My Daughter, Orenstein spoke to psychologists, academics, and other experts in the field and, yes, 70 young women to offer an in-depth pictures of “girls and sex” today. The V-Word: True Stories About First-Time Sex  edited by Amber J. Keyser An honest and poignant collection of essays by women about losing their virginity in their teens. The V-Word captures the complexity of this important life-decision and reflects diverse real-world experiences. Includes helpful resources for parents and teens. Losing it. Popping your cherry. Handing in your V-card. First time sex is a big unknown. Will it be candlelight and rose petals or quick and uncomfortable? Is it about love or about lust? Deciding to have sex for the first time is a choice that#8217;s often fraught with anxiety and joy. But do you have anyone telling you what sex is really like? In The V-Word seventeen writers (including Christa Desir, Justina Ireland, Sara Ryan, Carrie Mesrobian, Erica Lorraine Scheidt, and Jamia Wilson) pull back the sheets and tell all, covering everything from straight sex to queer sex, diving-in versus waiting, and even the exhilaration and disappointment that blankets it all. Some of their experiences happened too soon, some at just the right time, but all paint a broad picture of what first-time sex is really like. Funny, hot, meaningful, cringe-worthy, gross, forgettable, magnificent, empowering, and transformative, the stories in The V-Word are never preachy, but provide a map for teens to chart their own course through the steamy waters of sex. (Full disclosure: I am one of the seventeen writers included in this collection but Ive read this cover-to-cover and think it is invaluable). You Dont Have To Like Me: Essays on Growing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding Feminism  by Alida Nugent Nugent is a proud feministâ€"and she’s not afraid to say it. From the “scarlet F” thrust upon you if you declare yourself a feminist at a party to how to handle judgmental store clerks when you buy Plan B, You Don’t Have to Like Me skewers a range of cultural issues, and confirms Nugent as a star on the rise. This book hit my mailbox recently and though I havent read it yet, it sounds absolutely like it fits my reading interests to a T. Ive heard Hurley speak before and know she shares a language with me on a number of topics. The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley (Tor, May 31) The Geek Feminist Revolution is a collection of essays by double Hugo Award-winning essayist and science fiction and fantasy novelist Kameron Hurley. The book collects dozens of Hurley’s essays on feminism, geek culture, and her experiences and insights as a genre writer, including “We Have Always Fought,” which won the 2014 Hugo for Best Related Work. The Geek Feminist Revolution will also feature several entirely new essays written specifically for this volume. I picked this book up recently but havent gotten to it yet, in part because its got the same title as a YA novel I just finishedwhich tackled a very similar topic. Asking For It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It  by Kate Harding Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s arrest. Congressman Todd Akin’s “legitimate” gaffe. The alleged rape crew of Steubenville, Ohio. Sexual violence has been so prominent in recent years that the feminist term “rape culture” has finally entered the mainstream. But what, exactly, is it? And how do we change it? In Asking for It, Kate Harding answers those questions in the same blunt, bullshit-free voice that’s made her a powerhouse feminist blogger. Combining in-depth research with practical knowledge, Asking for It makes the case that twenty-first century Americaâ€"where it’s estimated that out of every 100 rapes only 5 result in felony convictionsâ€"supports rapists more effectively than victims. Harding offers ideas and suggestions for addressing how we as a culture can take rape much more seriously without compromising the rights of the accused. And finally, I am waiting anxiously to get my hands on a copy of this. Knowing Wests voice and perspective, I suspect its going to be outstanding: Shrill: Women Are Funny, Its Okay To Be Fat, and Feminists Dont Have To Be Niceby Lindy West (Hachette, May 19) Lindy West is ferociously witty and outspoken, tackling topics as varied as pop culture, social justice and body image. Her empowering work has garnered a coast-to-coast audience that eagerly awaits SHRILL, her highly-anticipated literary debut. West has rocked readers in work published everywhere from The Guardian to GQ to This American Life. She is a catalyst for a national conversation in a world where not all stories are created equal and not every body is treated with equal respect. SHRILL is comprised of a series of essays that bravely shares her life, including her transition from quiet to feminist-out-loud, coming of age in a popular culture that is hostile to women (especially fat, funny women) and how keeping quiet is not an option for any of us. Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Monday, May 11, 2020

Franz Kafka s Metamorphosis An Interpretation - 958 Words

Franz Kafka’s â€Å"Metamorphosis†: An Interpretation The very first line of one of the most famous novellas of the 20th century, Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, is puzzling. It tells us that the main character awakes one day and finds himself turned into â€Å"ungeheueren Ungeziefer† (Gooderham par. 4). It has proven difficult to translate the line into English, as there is no precise translation. Meaning some â€Å"enormous or monstrous kind of unclean vermin† (Gooderham par. 7), it denotes â€Å"something nasty, but not specific† (Robertson 2:31). The meaning of the whole story remains similarly uncertain, and numerous readings of it have emerged in literary criticism. In our paper, we will make an attempt to give a possible interpretation of the novella, supporting it with some arguments, and then we will discuss the story’s ambiguity further. In our opinion, â€Å"Metamorphosis† can be understood as a metaphor for the great weakness and disease of the elderly. Only here, the disease comes suddenly and harshly, and all the changes following it are also rapid, much stronger and more obvious. When Gregor turns into the creature, his family quickly forgets about all the good he has done. They lock him in his room, and all of his human features are forgotten. The only person who visits the protagonist is his younger sister, who has accepted the responsibility of cleaning up after him and feeding him. She does her chore quickly, feeling disgusted. Gregor’s family mainly sees him as a useless andShow MoreRelatedThe True Metamorphosis.. Franz Kafka Owns A Part Of The1448 Words   |  6 PagesThe True Metamorphosis. Franz Kafka owns a part of the human emotional spectrum, which the world can now call the Kafkaesque, a term for someone who exhibits nightmarish qualities of Kafka’s fictional world (Franz Kafka). Kafka’s twisted world is in no way pleasant, very Kafkaesque. It feels like a nightmare, and yet it is a place where many people, if only for a moment, will end up. Kafka’s most appreciated piece of literature, â€Å"The Metamorphosis,† creates an extension of Kafka’s life throughRead More Mental Isolation in Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis Essay1428 Words   |  6 Pagesin Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis The metamorphosis very possibly was written by Kafka as an outlet for his feelings of isolation and helplessness. In it, the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, awakens one morning to find himself spontaneously transformed in his bed into a monstrous vermin. The story continues from there in a most realistic fashion: his family rejects him, and he stays cooped up in his room until he dies. Although interpretations of the story differ, my opinion is that Kafka wroteRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The metamorphosis,† is a story by Franz Kafka, published in 1915 is a story divided in three chapters: transformation, acceptance, and the death of the protagonist. There are many interpretations that can form this tale as the indifference by the society that is concerned with different individuals, and isolation pushing some cases to the solitude. Some consider The Metamorphosis as an autobiography of the author, which tries to capture the lonel iness and isolation that he felt at some pointRead MoreFranz Kafka s The Metamorphosis Of My Existence1096 Words   |  5 PagesThe Metamorphosis of Franz Kafka A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night†. — Franz Kafka The Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung 1912), Franz Kafka’s best known short story, is a master work of incredible psychological, sociological and existential malaise. Although his points are simple and straightforward, this richly layered and texturedRead MoreAnalysis Of Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1166 Words   |  5 PagesKafka is ranked among the most important writers of the twentieth century for works that express modern humanity s loss of personal and collective order. His writing describes the situations of psychological, social, political, and physical instability and confusion that defy logical explanation and which typify Kafka s conception of humanity s absurd relationship with the universe (Kafka, 2013). Although Kafka s work has elicited various critical interpretations, he himself characterized hisRead MoreAnalysis Of The Metamorphosis1501 Words   |  7 PagesBeveridge, A. (2009). Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Advances in psychiatric treatment, 15(6), 459-461. This brief article is written from the psychiatric perspective, pointing out that Kafka has always been of great interest to the psychoanalytic community; this is because his writings have so skillfully depicted alienation, unresolved oedipal issues, and the schizoid personality disorder and The Metamorphosis is no exception to this rule. While this writer tends to think that psychiatrists shouldRead More The Metamorphosis Essay1716 Words   |  7 PagesThe Metamorphosis The longer story The Metamorphosis, first published in 1971, was written by Franz Kafka. He was born in Prague in 1883 and lived until 1924, and he has written many other stories along with The Metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis appears to be a fantastic piece. After reading The Metamorphosis, I do believe that there are many similarities between magical realism and fantastic literature. Kafka showed many fantastic issues in The Metamorphosis. While reading The MetamorphosisRead MoreThe Trial And The Metamorphosis2538 Words   |  11 Pagesand The Metamorphosis are the two foremost works Franz Kafka has ever written. By doing this, Franz makes the similarities and differences very obvious, yet each text is complex in their own way. In The Trial and The Metamorphosis, Kafka uses unique aspects to compare the characters in each novel. Each character is being forced by anonymous forces. They both go through loneliness to find the meaning behind their suffering. Each similarity and difference in The Trial and The Metamorphosis, come alongRead MoreThe Cherry Orchard By Anton Chekhov And Metamorphosis2447 Words   |  10 Pageswas written by Anton Chekhov and Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka. As a class we first read the plays and then explored these plays through a series of workshops and as a result this helped deepen my understanding of the plays and help develop and strengthen my acting skills. Social Cultural Historical and Political The Cherry Orchard Social: Social change is one particular theme that is mentioned throughout the play. In one workshop we looked at Ken Johnson s idea on status to deepen our understandingRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Life1811 Words   |  8 Pagesphilosophy that is often analyzed through literature. Franz Kafka is a key example of the limitless nature of this theme as his many works are divisive in how they connect with existentialism. Kafka is a unique storyteller and his stories have captivated generations since their publications. His background is important in understanding his seeming detachment from his writing. Kafka’s life is described by Ritchie Robertson in â€Å"Biography of Franz Kafka† as â€Å"strikingly ordinary† with the only notable commentary

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Molecular Mechanisms, Symptoms and Treatments in Cystic Fibrosis Free Essays

string(121) " to act quickly and maybe prevent other more serious problems, related to cystic fibrosis developing later in life\[7\]\." Introduction Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder currently affecting over 9000 people living in the United Kingdom alone, with millions of people carrying the faulty recessive gene responsible for the disease. This essay is split into 4 distinct sections, firstly looking at the faulty gene and its effects on the organs of the body, followed by an in-depth look at the symptoms of patients suffering with cystic fibrosis, whereas the third section will look at the treatments available to sufferers. The forth section will contain potential future cures and treatments for the cystic fibrosis. We will write a custom essay sample on Molecular Mechanisms, Symptoms and Treatments in Cystic Fibrosis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Molecular Mechanisms The faulty gene that codes for cystic fibrosis affects organs such as the lungs and pancreas. This fault causes high mucosal build up in these organs. Noticeably with regards to the lungs as the high volume of mucous can cause severe breathing difficulties. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein is coded for by the CFTR gene, in chromosome 7 of the human genome. CFTR is a glycoprotein made up of 1480 amino acids consisting of 5 domains. The CFTR protein is responsible for a variety of functions in the apical membranes of cells including the transport of chloride ions, regulation of the sodium ion channels and the regulation of hydrogen carbonate ion transport across the apical membrane[3]. However, it seems that the main contributing factor to cystic fibrosis is the transportation of chloride ions across the apical membrane and sodium ion regulation. Mutations in the CFTR gene can be categorized into 6 classes; depending on the effect they have on the production of the CFTR protein. The mutations are listed below in Figure 1, with the consequence of the mutation on the CFTR protein. Mutation NumberConsequence of Mutation INot synthesised IIInadequately processed IIINot regulated IVShows abnormal conductance VPartially defective production VIAccelerated degradation Figure 1 – Table showing the Mutation Number and the Consequence of the mutation on the CFTR protein The mutations stated in figure 1, either cause the CFTR protein to become ineffective or prevents synthesis altogether. Classes I and III prevent synthesis of the CFTR protein, whereas other mutations cause problems in the production of the protein. Class II mutations effects can vary from the CFTR protein being completely dysfunctional to significantly reduced function depending on the patient. Class IV and Class V mutations do not cause the CFTR protein to cease working, but do have a derogatory effect on their function. Class VI mutations cause before-time degradation of the protein meaning reduced function. One of the consequences of the CFTR protein not functioning in cystic fibrosis patients is a high concentration of chloride ions developing in the intracellular space, as well as little regulation of sodium ions entering the cell. Under normal circumstances water would diffuse out the cell and contribute to the airway surface liquid as the concentrations of chloride and sodium ions would be higher in the extracellular space. However with a defective CFTR gene the osmotic gradient is reversed. Thus leading to a high ion concentration within the cell and depletion in the airway surface liquid. Cilia are small hair like projections in the respiratory tract which are responsible for wafting the mucous up the respiratory tract so it can be swallowed and infection averted. Mucous is one of the body’s primary physical defences against bacterial infection. Pathogens capable of causing respiratory disease are caught on the mucous in the respiratory tract and eventually swallowed with the aid of cilia thus avoiding the entry of pathogens into the lungs and causing bacterial infection. Airway surface liquid also prevents infection by facilitating the movement of mucous up the respiratory tract. However when there is depletion in airway surface liquid, the cilia are also affected. The mucous therefore needs to be of low viscosity so it can be easily moved up the respiratory tract. However, due to the lack of airway surface liquid in a patient with cystic fibrosis the mucous becomes static and more viscous leading to bacterial infections in the lungs. Cystic Fibrosis does not just affect the lungs in some cases. Occasionally, the pancreas and in the case of men, reproductive organs can be affected. This all depends on which class of mutation of the CFTR gene the patient has as patients with Class I, II and III are prone to pancreatic insufficiency3. In normal pancreatic exocrine secretion, the digestive enzymes secreted from pancreatic gland cells, are mixed with a bicarbonate-rich fluid, secreted from duct cells and released into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of food. The function of the pancreatic gland cells remains fairly constant, but there is a noticeable difference in secretion of the bicarbonate-rich fluid from the duct cells. Thickening secretions causes the duct releasing fluids into the small intestine becomes blocked by enzymes precipitating as well as mucosal build up. With the ducts becoming more blocked, the pressure inside the pancreas increases and as the pancreas lacks structures aiding in support i s therefore very prone to damage. Symptoms Cystic fibrosis effects different organs around the body and therefore gives rise to a vast range of symptoms. The organs most heavily affected by cystic fibrosis are the lungs and the pancreas, and in males, the reproductive organs are affected. The most obvious indication that a patient may have cystic fibrosis would be a family history of the disease. As cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder, the faulty recessive gene can be passed to children. Due to the gene being recessive, it is possible for parents to be a carrier for cystic fibrosis but not express any symptoms themselves. Therefore if both parents are carriers of the gene, then there is a 25% chance of the offspring having cystic fibrosis. From 2009 onwards it is required for new-born babies in the USA to be screened for genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis. If positive, it gives doctors an opportunity to act quickly and maybe prevent other more serious problems, related to cystic fibrosis developing later in life[7]. You read "Molecular Mechanisms, Symptoms and Treatments in Cystic Fibrosis" in category "Essay examples" Other common symptoms that are shown by most ages are salty tasty skin, clubbing of the fingers and toes, coughing with sputum production, mucoi d Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from airway secretions and hypochloraemic metabolic alkalosis[8]. The symptoms shown by the patient are also different depending on their age. Figure 2 shows a table listing the symptoms by age they become prevalent. NeonatalInfancyChildhoodAdolescence and Adulthood Meconium ileusPersistent infiltrates on chest radiographs Chronic pansinusitis or nasal polyposisAllergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis Protracted jaundiceFailure to thriveSteatorrhoea Chronic pansinusitis or nasal polyposis Abdominal or scrotal calcificationsAnasarca or hypoproteinaemiaRectal prolapseBronchiectasis Intestinal atresiaChronic diarrhoeaDistal intestinal obstruction syndrome or intussusceptionHaemoptysis Abdominal distentionIdiopathic recurrent or chronic pancreatitisIdiopathic recurrent pancreatitis CholestasisLiver diseasePortal hypertension Staphylococcus aureus pneumoniaDelayed puberty Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (vitamin A deficiency)Azoospermia secondary to congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens Haemolytic anaemia Figure 2 – Depending on the age of the patient, different symptoms for Cystic Fibrosis will be apparent shown in the table above8 As shown in Figure 2, cystic fibrosis has a big effect on many parts of the body. However, the main problem for a patient with cystic fibrosis remains pulmonary disease and the effect of the gastrointestinal problems which arise. Innate defence mechanisms like the physical barrier provided by the mucous, lining the respiratory tract, is inefficient at its function in a patient with cystic fibrosis. This therefore leads high levels of bacterial infection and inflammation. The bacterial infections begin soon after birth with Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus in?uenzae usually being the pioneer bacteria causing primary infection in the lungs of a patient. It has been suggested that these bacteria are responsible for damaging the epithelial surface cells and therefore aiding other bacteria bind to the surface, however this is still under debate by scientists. However, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the organism responsible for the later, fatal infections that cause the highest mortality rate in patients with cystic fibrosis. The CFTR protein not only has functions transporting ions, but it is also thought to have a role in binding molecules of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In a normal individual, Pseudomonas aeruginosa binds to the CFTR protein, and a rapid and self-limiting in?ammatory response9 occurs removing the infection from the respiratory tract. This explains why Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the main causative agent of pulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis sufferers. Symptoms of cystic fibrosis caused by gastrointestinal problems are mainly caused by the inability to digest food. As mentioned above the ducts leading to the small intestine, which would carry a liquid, containing digestive enzymes is blocked. This causes the pancreas to come pressure and gets damaged. The symptoms caused by this inability to digest food are greasy stools, flatulence, abdominal bloating, and poor weight gain8. At the time of its discovery, malnutrition was the main cause of death due to the inability to produce the enzymes in the pancreas to digest food. Malnutrition can now be treated using pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy8, however other factors like the poor adsorption of fat soluble vitamins can lead to acrodermatitis, anaemia, night blindess, neuropathy, osteoporosis and bleeding disorders8. A high percentage of Cystic fibrosis patients can develop Cystic Fibrosis related Diabetes Mellitus (CFRD) due to the pancreatic damage that is done by the blocking of the ducts within in the pancreas. The Islet of Langerhans produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose concentrations. Insulin stimulates the formation of glycogen, removing glucose from the blood stream whereas glucagon stimulates the breakdown of glycogen. With the pancreas undergoing autolysis, it is inevitable that these cells will become damaged and unable to produce a sufficient amount of insulin. However, CFRD is different to diabetes mellitus I and II. The specific symptoms affected by cystic fibrosis are glucose metabolism, acute and chronic infection, glucagon deficiency, liver dysfunction, decreased intestinal transit time, and increased work of breathing8. Cystic fibrosis also affects male reproduction. In the male reproduction organs, the vas deferens is responsible for the transfer of sperm from the epididymis in anticipation of ejaculation8. Male patients with cystic fibrosis lack this muscular tube and therefore there is no sperm in their ejaculate. Women however are fertile, but careful control of nutritional intake must be taken to ensure the full term of pregnancy and subsequent birth can be achieved. I can be possible for parents to pass the gene for cystic fibrosis onto their children. As a man expressing the disease being infertile the recessive gene must come from a carrier of cystic fibrosis but not expressing any symptoms. If the female sufferers from cystic fibrosis then there is a 50% chance that the child will also have the disease. However if the female is also a carrier of the recessive gene then there is a 25% chance that the child will have cystic fibrosis. Current Treatments As it stands at the moment, cystic fibrosis cannot be cured. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease, and therefore there is an error in the DNA of cells of an individual apart from their gametes. This means that the only available option to sufferers is to find drugs to treat the various symptoms. However in recent years there have been successful attempts to find drugs to resolve the original defects. Patients with cystic fibrosis often suffer from severe pulmonary infections, as they are less efficient at swallowing mucous containing pathogens. The airway surface liquid and cilia, as discussed above are responsible for the movement of mucous up the respiratory tract in a normal individual. Cystic fibrosis sufferers lack the required volume of airway surface liquid. One such treatment, looking to solve the problem caused by the faulty gene is hypertonic saline. Hypertonic saline is the current drug used to bring about an increase in the volume of airway surface liquid in the lungs of the patients. It has been shown by researchers that in vitro, hypertonic saline is effective with rehydrating and providing more airway surface liquid8. If from an early age there is aid with mucosal clearance from the respiratory tract, it would reduce the chances of the patient developing severe bacterial infections from pathogens such as pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotics are also important to control pulmonary bacterial infections that occur from poor mucosal clearance. Macrolide antibiotics are cheap antibiotics used to treat cystic fibrosis sufferers. They work by inhibiting the bacteria protein biosynthesis; however the precise mechanism they use is currently not fully understood. Macrolides have a dual function in the cystic fibrosis treatment. They affect cytokine production of many cell types and are therefore effective as anti-inflammatory agents8. One study showed that taking azithromycin three times a week reduced the virulence factor production, decreased biofilm production, bactericidal effects on pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in stationary phase8. Patients with gastrointestinal symptoms brought about by cystic fibrosis require other forms of treatment, as they unable to produce enough enzymes to digest their food. Enzymes are usually secreted from the pancreas into the small intestine, allowing the individual to digest their food. However a patient with pancreatic insufficiency is unable to secrete the enzymes into the small intestine due to the intrapancreatic ducts being blocked. This needs to be treated as patients are at risk of severe malnutrition if food cannot be fully digested. Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Theory (PERT) is used to treat this problem. The enzymes used in PERT are taken with every meal to aid in the absorption of food in the small intestine. This does not solve the underlying problem caused by cystic fibrosis, and can only treat the symptoms. This is because the enzymes do not last for a great deal of time in the body; the reason why enzymes must be taken with every meal. Chest physiotherapy can aid in the treatment of a sufferer as it can help in mucosal clearance from the pulmonary tract[11]. Some methods focus on the way the patient breathes which include active cycle of breathing techniques, and autogenic drainage11. However some techniques focus on actual mucosal clearance like positive expiratory pressure (PEP) oscillating positive expiratory pressure11. The final and most severe treatment used to use the chronic pulmonary disease is lung transplantation. This procedure comes with high risk with only 50% children surviving 5 years after the transplant and 50% of adults surviving 6 years after the transplant8. Future Treatments As of yet there is no cure for cystic fibrosis, however there are promising new drugs on the horizon which could one day all but cure the genetic disease. A drug that is combatting the â€Å"basic defect† of cystic fibrosis is VX-770 made by Vertex pharmaceuticals. This drug is currently undergoing trials in the United States of America and is showing promise for improving lung function in those affected by cystic fibrosis. The drug itself targets the chlorine channels in the apical membrane, opening them to allow chlorine to leave the epithelial cells. Results from the recent Phase 3 clinical trials showed that there was a 10% increase in lung function in people aged 12 and above, and a 12.5% increase in lung function for those from ages 6 to 11. The drug also decreased the concentration of chlorine in sweat and allowed the patients taking the drug to gain on average 7 pounds12. Pancreatic insufficiency usually makes it hard for the cystic fibrosis patient to gain weight, meaning the drug has an effect on gastrointestinal symptoms as well as respiratory symptoms. The idea of gene therapy is a concept that has been around for a while. The Cystic fibrosis gene therapy consortium was set up in 2001 to focus on developing new ways to combat cystic fibrosis and the symptoms. In February 2009, the consortium made a step closer to find a â€Å"gene therapy cure† for cystic fibrosis. They managed to insert successfully, a working CFTR gene into a viral vector, which was then transported into the lungs of a cystic fibrosis patient. Whereas the idea itself is good, there are some drawbacks. The viral vector itself comes under attack from the immune system as well as viral vectors being poor at inserting DNA into epithelial cells8. Therefore the The Cystic fibrosis gene therapy consortium has been looking at using lipid vectors currently with little success. They have reported that currently gene expression in the cells that do take up the gene is currently temporary and they are looking into methods to provide sustained gene expression in the ep ithelial cells. Not all mutations cause the CFTR protein not to be synthesised. Some mutations cause the CFTR protein to be marked for degradation as the chaperones, aiding with folding the protein, do not dissociate from the protein8. There have been tests in labs using chemicals such as phenylbutyrate8, however any further developments in this field of research. Conclusion It is remarkable how such a small difference in the DNA of an individual can have so much effect on the patients’ health. However the future looks bright for those patients suffering with cystic fibrosis. There is a huge amount of research taking place in order to find new treatments and potential cures for the disease. Recently, research has shifted from looking for ways to treat the symptoms, to methods of treating the underlying problems behind the disease. For example a drug called VX-770 made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, focuses on the inefficient chlorine channels in the epithelial cells. If cystic fibrosis remains a continually financially backed area of research, there is no reason why significant progress cannot be made sooner rather than later. How to cite Molecular Mechanisms, Symptoms and Treatments in Cystic Fibrosis, Essay examples

Friday, May 1, 2020

The Food Safety Measures in Australia †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Food Safety Measures in Australia. Answer: The main cause of food contamination in Australia is the microbial contamination. The microbes can grow and multiply in different foods that they consume. The increased compliance of microbial contamination will bring in the most leading microbe the Salmonella. The causes and effects of the different microbes Salmonella This particular microbe is mainly associated with the livestock and the chicken food, poultry. The food poisoning is associated with the not well cooked food or not adequately cooked eggs, unpasteurized diary and raw milk and cheeses. The effect of Salmonella infection is that it will lead to gastro flu like disease. The disease is called the Salmonellosis. Prevention will include the exclusion of the people bearing the Salmonella infection. The food should be well cooked. There should be strict measures in handling the food (Zwietering et al, 2016). Campylobacter This bacteria cause food poisoning called the campylobacteriosis. They are also the common cause of diarrhea in Australia. They are often found to be poisoning the food that is undercooked. The supermarket chickens are mainly contaminated with this type of bacteria. People should be extra care while handling the cooking stuffs. The hands should be well cleaned and sanitized while chopping or using the utensils. Listeria Listeria monocytogenes comes from the cooking place. The pregnant women and the children who have less immune system gets more chance to be affected by the disease. They mainly contaminate the seafood, precooked deli meats, premixed raw vegetables. To promote safety from this microbe one should see to the maintenance of the workplace with hygiene maintence and. The raw materials that is to be well washed (Luning et al, 2015) Golden staph They infect the persons through the cut in the skins and the symptoms of the disease may cause sore throat and swelling, blisters and impetigo. The poultry, eggs and diary are mainly contaminated with this microbe. The people who are touching food must continuously wash their hands and also use sterile disposable gloves. Clostridium perfringens Not appropriate cooked food and refrigerated food are the main source of C. perfringes cells that cause food poisoning. They cause Diaarhea and abdominal disorders. The older people and infants are highly susceptible to this. The preventive measures will include well cooked food. There should be use of the food thermometer. The food should be kept hot after cooking and then should be consumed. Bacillus cereus It causes abdominal disorders. These bacteria produce toxins that lead to the food poisioning. The main safety measure that can be taken is that if the food is stored for longer than 2 hours or if the food is cold about 400F they should be well heated before consuming (Keuckelaere et al, 2015) Case studies Risk Reason of risk prevention The casual staff in the hotel had cut in the hand The food left for hours The food left in the refrigerator The staff if infected with any microbes than the other persons consuming it will be affected. This could be another reason for food poisoning due to microbes as the long hour time is enough for the microbe to grow The cold condition is favorable for the microbes to grow. These will include proper handling of the food and the food should be heated before it is consumed (Mcauley et al, 2014). References Keuckelaere, A., Jacxsens, L., Amoah, P., Medema, G., McClure, P., Jaykus, L. A., Uyttendaele, M. (2015). Zero risk does not exist: lessons learned from microbial risk assessment related to use of water and safety of fresh produce.Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety,14(4), 387-410. Luning, P. A., Kirezieva, K., Hagelaar, G., Rovira, J., Uyttendaele, M., Jacxsens, L. (2015). Performance assessment of food safety management systems in animal-based food companies in view of their context characteristics: a European study.Food Control,49, 11-22. Mcauley, C. M., McMillan, K., Moore, S. C., Fegan, N., Fox, E. M. (2014).Prevalence and characterization of foodborne pathogens from Australian dairy farm environments.Journal of dairy science,97(12), 7402-7412. Zwietering, M. H., Jacxsens, L., Membr, J. M., Nauta, M., Peterz, M. (2016). Relevance of microbial finished product testing in food safety management.Food Control,60, 31-43.