Dogs Chomp On More Than Four Million People A Year. Essays

Dogs Chomp On More Than Four Million People A Year. Dogs chomp on more than four million people a year. Dont be one of them. Dog bites on the rise Megan Boger of La Belle, Pa., returned from shopping with her mother and ran into the yard to greet the family pet, a part-cocker mutt named Blaze. Seconds later, her mom, Elena Boger, heard a snap and then shrieks from three-year-old Megan. There was blood all over her face from tooth punctures under an eye and around her mouth, she recalls. Elena and her husband rushed their sobbing child to a local hospital. But the injuries were severe enough that the Bogers were sent to Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, where a plastic surgeon stitched the gashes. Little Megan is far from alone in having been the victim of a dog bite. According to a 1994 survey (the most recent) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, some 4.7 million people were bitten by dogs. About 800,000 required medical treatment. Many bites are to children, and most are from family pets or familiar dogs, not strays. Many bites are treated at home or in a doctors office, and as a consequence are often not reported to authorities. Meanwhile, there is no ongoing national system for counting dog bites, says the CDCs Dr. Jeffrey Sacks. In some locales bites are reported to the police, in others to the animal-control folks or the health department. Some counties dont collect data at all. Whatever the exact numbers, medical, veterinary and insurance experts agree: dog bites are on the rise. One reason may be that more people are getting larger, more powerful dogs than in the past. The CDC considers dog bites a serious public-health problem for children. A Pennsylvania study found that 45 percent of children had been bitten. And not only children are at risk. Dog bites are no joke for letter carriers and delivery people. Dog attacks account for a whopping one-third of all liability claims under renter or homeowners insurance policies. The Insurance Information Institute says that dog-bite-related medical treatment costs $1 billion a year. Homeowner-liability claims paid about $250 million of that in 1996. One provider of liability coverage, MetLife Auto & Home, refuses coverage to many homeowners who have dogs with a history of biting or to those who own a breed they believe most prone to bite, including German shepherds, pit bulls, Doberman pinschers, Rottweilers, chows, huskies and Alaskan malamutes. Although any breed can bite, these breeds tend to be responsible for the most bites, the worst bites, and many of the dozen or so dog-bite fatalities every year. How can you protect yourself and your children, and prevent your pet from becoming part of the problem? Some common sense will help: Family Friendly. Bad matches between a dogs temperament and a familys personality are sure to cause trouble. People can fall in love with a cute puppy, then find out six months later that they got more dog than they bargained for or one whose personality is different from what they imagined. Have you ever seen an Akita puppy? asks Diane Allevato, executive director of the Marin County, California, Humane Society. Theyre gorgeous! But chances are that puppy will grow up to be an aloof, one-person or one-family dog. Its the way the dog is supposed to be. So if you wanted a dog the whole soccer team could love, dont choose a loyal-to-one-person dog; he could become a biter. The solution? Find out about the breeds youre interested in before you even glance at a puppy. And consider getting a mixed breed. We promote adopting mixed breeds because you often get the best of both parents, says Allevato. Sit...Stay. In the excitement of picking out a new pet, many people underestimate how much time it takes to train it. Yet experts say any dog requires a continuing commitment to training if theyre going to be under control around people. Thats especially true for more aggressive and bigger dogs. Take Rottweilers, says Pat Hubbard, director of operations at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. They can make very sweet, loyal family dogs. But you have to be

Second Chances to Make a Sure Thing Essays

Second Chances to Make a Sure Thing Essays Second Chances to Make a Sure Thing Essay Second Chances to Make a Sure Thing Essay Essay Topic: Sure Thing The symbolism of the bell signifying a fresh start, a true chance to have a clean slate and create your own destiny, was brilliant in my eyes. One of my favorite lines in the play was definitely when Bill said, You have to hit these things at the right moment or its no good (1121). Sure Thing by David Ives The Play Sure Thing from David Ives examines the endless variations of boy meet girl and the ensuing pick up lines. The central theme throughout the play displays a few varieties of a possible conversation that end with a ringing bell that symbolizes a fresh start and a second chance to make a good impression. The swift conversations begin in a coffee house with the two main and only characters are Bill and Betty. From the beginning till the end of the play one can see a series of pick up lines, from a man to a woman sitting in a coffee shop reading. The lines start out short and rapid with an equivalent short response from the woman. Similar to a boxing match, two people on a date consistently bounce around calculated prose between each other, trying to figure out the opponents â€Å"weaknesses. This notion manifests itself in literature in such works as David Ives play Sure Thing, a piece employing rapid-fire lines between a guy and a girl getting to know each other. However, this theme is not always prevalent in positive dialogue, as in Tennessee Williams A Street Car Named Desire, Blanche and Stanley do not go on a date or enjoy any romantic dialogue, but fight each other for supremacy of the house and Stellas affection. Although a boxing rhythm is being imposed on Sure Thing, the per sistent fighting between Stanley and Blanche in A Street Car Named Desire can be interpreted to have a similar rhythm. Although these two texts are seemingly opposite in mood and plot, the â€Å" boxing rhythm† bridges this chasm through the rhythm of the dialogue between these characters. In Ives’ Sure Thing, a guy, Bill, and a girl, Betty, â€Å"duke it out† in an attempt to get to know each other and, ultimately, fall for each other. In order to do this, they deliver quick one-liners between each other, similar to the spasmodic jabs of a boxing match. Of course, there is no observable or salient evidence of boxing within the text, but the rhythm of the dialogue can be inferred to mimic the motions of a boxing match. The dialogue is quick, decisive and succinct, similar to the jabs and steps a boxer uses in a fight. There are several questions repeated as well, as the guy or girl has, in effect, stopped the rhythm and said the wrong thing. For instance, in one vignette Betty asks Bill about his love life and the dialogue is punctuated by the sound of a â€Å"bell† which further reinforces the boxing theme: Bill: That’s a very nice offer, but†¦ Betty: Uh-huh. Girlfriend? Bill: Two, actually. One of them’s pregnant, and Stephanie- (Bell). Betty: Girlfriend? Bill: No, I don’t have a girlfriend. Not if you mean the castrating bitch I dumped last night. (Bell). (Ives 13) In this excerpt, the dialogue is quick and succinct, like the punches thrown in a boxing match. This couple takes â€Å"jabs† at each other through discourse instead of physical punching. Every time a round is over, the bell rings, illustrating a dead-end for the dialogue between the Bill and Betty. Theses â€Å"rounds† are prevalent in A Street Car Named Desire between Stanley and Blanche, despite not being a couple or mutually interested in each other. With the apartment serving as the backdrop for this â€Å"fight†, Stanley and Blanche box it out while the rest of the characters are sometimes relegated to spectators throughout the story. Similar to Sure Thing, there is no tangible â€Å"boxing ring† or anything having to do with boxing. Instead, Williams injects this rhythm within the dialogue between these characters, creating a stylistic counterpoint of aggression, violence and adultery. In fact, Stanley and Blanche drive the Streetcar Named Desire through the play, dishing out vitriol, lust and suspicion at each other. Blanche is a glamorized though disillusioned woman. She creates fabrications and chimeras of a grandiose life around her to supplant her actual circumstances. Stanley is the epitome of machismo, interested in only the basic pleasures, which are parallel to what a simple animal enjoys. Stella, Stanley’s wife, is the mediator between Blanche and Stanley, though she ultimately fails in preventing these two from verbal or, later, physical violence. Essentially, Blanche instigates the â€Å"fight† by entering the apartment and trying to usurp Stanley’s reign, which is partly comprised of Stella’s love and attention. Without even seeing Stanley, Stella immediately sizes him up and subscribes to the idea that the Polish areâ€Å" not so-high-brow† (23). There is a dialogue between Stanley and Stella about Stanley, stating: Stella: Stanley is Polish, you know. Blanche: Oh, yes. They’re something like Irish, aren’t they? †¦Only not so-highbrow? †¦Is he so-different? Stella: Yes. A different species†¦He’s on the road a good deal. Blanche: Oh. Travels? Stella: Yes. Blanche: Good. I mean-isn’t it? (Williams 23-25) Blanche already throws a â€Å"low punch† at Stanley’s credibility without him even knowing. She is even more motivated by the fact that he travels sometimes, which could give her many opportunities to sulk to Stella about her problems and slowly disintegrate Stanley’s control of the apartment. Throughout the play, she continues to harp on Stanleys qualities, for instance, pointing out that she has not â€Å"noticed the stamp of genius even on Stanleys forehead† (Williams 50). However, Blanche has suffered a loss of wealth and of dignity, all the more reason why she would look for comfort in her â€Å"precious little sister†, who is given the task of maintaining peace between the two. Before Stanley is due to meet Blanche, Stella becomes a â€Å"referee†, asking her husband to â€Å"Try to understand her and be nice to her†¦and admire her dress and tell her she’s looking wonderful. That’s important to Blanche, its her little weakness† (Williams 33). Like any good referee in a boxing match, Stella can anticipate harmful friction between Stanley and Blanche, so she has prepared several â€Å"rules† for Stanley to follow. She has already told Blanche to view Stanley as he is and to not contrast him to other men. Since the rules have been told to each fighter, what remains to be seen in the play are the actual punches thrown between these two passionate characters. In the first match between these two, Stanley confronts Blanche about the documents of her lost estate, Belle Reve. However, Stanley starts by noticing the expensive furs that are in Blanche’s suitcase: Stanley: It looks like you raided some stylish shops in Paris†¦What does it cost for a string of fur-pieces like that? Blanche: Why, those were a tribute from an admirer of mine! †¦Oh, in my youth I excited some admiration. But look at me now!.. I was fishing for a compliment Stanley. Stanley: I don’t go for that stuff†¦Some men are took in by this Hollywood glamour stuff and some men are not. Blanche: You’re simple, straightforward and honest, a little bit on the primitive side I should think. (Williams 38-40) Stanley begins to interrogate Blanche about her assets but Blanche counters with shifting the focus onto his primitive side. She delves into his personal life, scrutinizing every piece for something to hold against him. Blanche wins this round because she avoids talking about Belle Reve, circumventing the issue by changing the focus several times from Stanley to her lost love. In focusing through the imposed â€Å"boxing† lens used in Sure Thing, an innovative perspective can be formed. The boxing rhythm is evident through the dialogue, as Blanche and Stanley swing one-liners back and forth at each other, which are tantamount to the small jabs thrown at the start of a fight. In this case, the â€Å"bell† that breaks up the fight is a combination of the sultry blues piano outside and Stanley leaking out the news that Stella is having a baby. The second round, though brief, illustrates who dominates the apartment and Stellas love. While Stanley is playing cards with his friends, Blanche decides to turn on a radio. Stanley angrily turns it off, but Blanche has the audacity to turn it back on. Similar to an boxing match already a few rounds in, both fighters go back and forth at each other until one of them is able to break the repetitive chain of â€Å"punches† and take a different approach. Stanley chucks the radio out the window, and charges after Stella. Blanche is defenseless as she is shocked at this display of â€Å"lunacy†. Stanley defeats Blanche in this round because he dictates the rhythm of the house through controlling the radio. In the same instance, he takes control of the match between himself and Stella, reminding Blanche who rules the apartment. Any pleasure that Blanche could have enjoyed in the apartment is thrown out the window along with the â€Å"radio†, the only other piece of evidence of an outside world in the apartment. Blanche has a penchant for music, so when Stanley discards the radio and slightly damages it, he is also inadvertently â€Å"knocking out† Blanches hope for an invigorating, or at the very least peaceful, stay at the apartment. Blanche bemoans her sisters submissiveness to Stanley and tries to entice her sister to leave Stanley, stating: Blanche: Weve got to get hold of some money, thats the way out. Blanche: Stella, I cant live with him! You can, hes your husband. But how could I stay here with him, after last night, with just those curtains between us? Stella: Blanche, you saw him at his worst last night. Blanche: On the contrary, I saw him at his best! What such a man has to offer is animal force and he gave a wonderful exhibition of that! But the only way to live with such a man is to- go to bed with him! And thats your job not mine! I have to plan for us both, to get us bothout! Stella: You take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of. Williams 68-69) Blanche assumes that how she feels about Stanley is tantamount to how Stella feels. Although Blanches arguably has good intentions since she loves her sister Stella, Blanche has only lived in the apartment for a day and does not take into consideration that Stella enjoys her life with Stanley. Blanche cannot believe that the â€Å"referee† is allowing this display to go on, of which Blanche did no t expect to encounter when she entered â€Å"the ring†. As a boxer, Blanche feels that she is â€Å"against the ropes† in the boxing ring, which is Stanleys apartment. She has nowhere to run and is trapped within the confines of an apartment, which entertains drunken rages and violent fighting, all of which are orchestrated by Stanley. The final round between these two passionate â€Å"boxers† comes when Stanley and Blanche are left alone in the apartment, as the opportunity to privately â€Å"duke it out† rises when Stella is about to have the baby. Since these â€Å"boxers† are beginning to understand what instigates the other, Stanley goes right for Blanches weakness, which are the web of lies and illusion she spins around herself and the apartment: Stanley: As a matter of fact there wasnt no wire at all! Blanche: Oh, oh! Stanley: There isnt no millionaire! And Mitch didnt come back with roses cause I know where he is- Blanche: Oh! Stanley: There isnt a goddamn thing but imagination! Blanche: Oh! Stanley: And lies and conceit and tricks! (Williams 127) Stanley gives blow after blow to Blanche, while her only defense is an â€Å"oh†. Stanley has reached up and dragged Blanche down from the skies of disillusionment and shaken her back down on the very grounds of reality from which she recoils. As illustrated, Blanche consistently dreams out alternative lives she feels she could have had or may still have the potential to live out. This emotion is similar to the rapid-fire dialogue in Sure Thing, which Williams employs to hasten the emotions between the two principal â€Å"boxers†. The blue piano sneaks into the dialogue to provide an ironic romantic quality to this dispute, as throughout the play it romanticizes certain scenes but arguably serves as a device for escalating passion. With the â€Å"blue piano† playing softly in the background, Stanley decides that Blanche would not â€Å"be bad tointerfere with † (Williams 129) and Stella is raped by reality, as Stanley takes control of her and the illusions in the house, dispelling the lies through this vulgar act. Blanches dreams and faculties are â€Å"knocked out† by Stanleys animalistic desires and fervor for reality. Between these two texts, a â€Å"boxing rhythm† can be construed and used as a lens to dissect the two principle relationships from each piece. In Sure Thing, this rhythm is tossed with finesse between two people who ultimately go on a date. However, in A Street Car Named Desire, diametrically opposed events occur, as Stanley and Blanche’s rhythm escalates the aggression between the two of them. The jabs become more calculated and result in a rape, which leaves Stanley seemingly the winner of the match. Nonetheless, while Blanche does go away to a mental institution, Stanley is left with a beleaguered wife, suspicious neighbors, poor living conditions, a baby, and no one to come and save him. The Purpose of the Bells in Sure Thing by David Uploaded by sls465 on Apr 18, 2007 The Purpose of the Bells in Sure Thing by David Ives David Ives’ Sure Thing is a play in which comedy and fantasy is combined to entertain the reader in a way never done before. A typical, everyday conversation between two strangers is taken to new possibilities through a neat device that Ives has concocted. It is through this stroke of genius that gives the reader a sense of fantasy and comedy all at once. By use of a bell, Ives reroutes his characters conversations so that they can be played over and necessary changes may be made. It is this thought of a bell, which takes the characters â€Å"back in time†, that makes this play what it is. Imagine being able to go back in time whilst in the middle of a conversation in order to make a correction in something that was said. Now think of the power that one could obtain by simply changing their response to a statement posed. The outcome would be that of enjoyment from both sides. There would be no arguments and nobody’s feelings would get hurt. Now lets get back to real life. Ives takes this otherwise common place, and makes it funny and satirical by throwing bells into the mix. These bells, during the occurrence of the characters conversation, represent a wrong answer, if you will. They refer to a statement that was made that might have turned the other person â€Å"off†, and, after a bell sounds (Bell. ), the characters are back into their conversation as if nothing has happened. So what is being said about the characters by the constant ringing of the bell? If the characters in the play represent your everyday boy and girl, then this play might be warning people to not go out and try to find love any time soon. The constant ringing of the bells is funny in a satirical way. It is pretty much stating, in a sense, that people are too picky. If this play was set in real life, then the two people in that cafe would have never got past the first five minutes of their conversation. It is pointing out the fact that in this day and age there are so many variables that can be the deciding

Nursing Agency in Nova Scotia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Nursing Agency in Nova Scotia - Essay Example These are just some of the professional problems faced by nurses. Add to them some of the economic and political problems of their country, and you come up with a perfect recipe of a nursing headache faced by hundreds of nurses. These pose a huge challenge to government agencies and to the health care sector of a province. The nurses of Nova Scovia have taken up the challenge of an ever-challenging health care system. Through conjoined efforts of various sectors, the province was able to recognize problems faced by the nursing profession and to pose a strategy to combat these challenges. It is the foremost objective of the paper to present how the province of Nova Scovia has responded to the issues of nursing agency. A brief background of the province will set the mood for a more comprehensive discussion of the nursing profession in the province. The development of the nursing agency in the province will also be discussed. Current issues and trends in the health care system with focus on nursing agency will be discussed. Implications of the issues will also be tackled. Finally, future directions of the nursing agency in Nova Scovia will be discussed. Recommendations will also be presented in the last part of the paper. Nova Scotia is a Canadian province located on Canada’s southeastern coast. It is he second smallest province of Canada. The total land area of the province is 55,284 square kilometers. In 2006, the population of the province is 934,405. As such, it is the fourth least populated but second most densely populated province of Canada (Canadian Population, 2006). Between 60% to 75% of the population lives in rural areas. Nova Scotia is considerably more rural than Canada as a whole and more rural than most other provinces and territories. Only two provinces (New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island) and the three northern territories have a greater percentage of their

The Importance of Coffee in the Brazilian Economy Essay

The Importance of Coffee in the Brazilian Economy - Essay Example This paper demonstrates the importance of coffee production in the economy of Brazil. There is two figures in the essay which graphically illustrates the production of coffee over the recent years. Brazil is not only the largest producer of coffee and produces an estimated one third of world’s total coffee produce, and is also the world’s second largest consumer of coffee behind USA. Coffee is a key ingredient of the economy of the country on three main counts – a key economic activity contributing to the GDP, a major export item, and an important industry for employment. Agriculture accounts for 36% of Brazil’s exports, with coffee being the biggest exported agricultural item at $4.7 billion, by value. Coffee contributes to 0.27% of the total economy in Brazil and 2.1% of total exports. Brazil has 2.1 million hectares of land under coffee cultivation (ICO) with an estimated 350,000 producers spread through 14 states, and 160 firms exporting coffee. The production and processing of coffee is highly labor intensive industry and the coffee industry provides direct and indirect employment to nearly 8.5 million people in Brazil. This translates to almost 5% of the total population working in the coffee industry in Brazil. Historically, coffee has been an important component of the economy in Brazil. Brazil was the largest producer of coffee in the world and it accounted for 75% of Brazil’s total exports. Although this weight has reduced significantly over time, the contribution of coffee to the economy is still significant. In the 1990s, coffee was a key pillar of the economy in Brazil by supporting it in four ways – contribution to the economic activity, contribution to exports thereby increasing the foreign reserves, contribution to employment, and a key area of foreign investment. The coffee market was under government control until the 1990s, when the government decided to convert it to free market. This led to a lot of foreign investment in the sector and therefore helped the economy build its foreign reserves. The production and export trend of coffee is shown in Figure 1 below. It is evident that the coffee production overall has been increasing over the years. Also, the exports of coffee have been increasing constantly in accordance with the production. The peak production reached was in 2002 when it reached 2.65 million metric tons (MMT). However, although the coffee exports have been generally increasing, the weight of coffee in exports (by value) has been generally decreasing over the years, and over the last few years has stabilized at 2.1%. This is evident in Figure 2 where it is seen that the weight of coffee in exports has continuously reduced from a peak of 5.2% in 1997 to 1.8% in 2004 where after it has almost stabilized to 2.1%. Coffee is clearly a key part of the Brazilian economy - it forms a large part of the agricultural produce of the country and is a major export item for Brazil. It provides employment to nearly 5% of the Brazilian population and has historically been an important driver for foreign investments. Over the years, its relative weight in exports has been decreasing indicating that the dependence of the Brazilian economy on coffee is decreasing slowly; however, coffee still continues

Biodiversity and The Endangered Species Act of 1973 Essay

Biodiversity and The Endangered Species Act of 1973 - Essay Example It is vital to put the ESA in a universal environment of species biodiversity and extinction loss. A majority of biologists and ecologists take high biodiversity to be a sign of a healthy environment. Species in an ecosystem rely on one another as food and shelter sources in order to survive. Species create symbiotic relations, operate in a complex chain, do away with one species from the chain, and the repercussions are not easy to foretell. An ecosystem that counts on a few species is more susceptible to infection, famine, and other types of destruction. The more the species the more the possibility that several of them are well prepared to endure a transformation in the environment (Glen, 2006). Owing to habitat loss, contamination, hunting, invasive species, and other causes, many species are quickly becoming extinct. Some of the extinction is a part of the ordinary course of nature, the United States of America geological Survey approximates that without human interference extinction would occur 100 times less and that this rate over time goes on to speed up. Subsequent to the passing of the ESA in the USA, the global community came up with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora that facilitates the preservation of species around the world (Minteer & Collins, 2005). The ESA should not be by any chance be rewritten to benefit commercial interests. It is however important to ensure a sense of balance in the need for economic growth and development with the need for ecological protection and conservation, as well as become accustomed to universal principles to local conditions however, this is extraordinarily tricky. By serving commercial interests such as mining, the already alarming rates of extinction will only be higher. Mining for example destroys habitats that are homes to some of this endangered species and therefore mining would only serve to fasten the process of extinction of some plant and

Gluconeogenesis: Fructose 1, 6 Bisphosphatase Deficiency

Gluconeogenesis: Fructose 1, 6 Bisphosphatase Deficiency Ashley Woodin Introduction Fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate is a key regulatory step in gluconeogenesis, as well as many other intracellular metabolic pathways. During gluconeogenesis there is an important process in which there is a conversion of glucose to pyruvate which is known as glycolysis. This process will require three irreversible steps that have a very high negative free energy that is in the forward reaction. So, in order to have a conversion from pyruvate into glucose, the pathway will require the use of enzymes, which will allow the bypassing of these irreversible steps. One of the enzymes that is used in this process is called Fructose 1, 6-bisphosphatase (Kelley, 2006). This step is a very important step in gluconeogenesis, being that it needs to have fructose bisphosphatase to catalyze the conversion of fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate into fructose 6-phospahate, and inorganic phosphate, that without it can block the pathway. Its activity is high regulated by the levels of Adenosine Monophosphate, fructos e 2, 6-bisphosphate and also citrate (Kelley, 2006). When deficiencies are present in this pathway and devoid of this conversion, glycerol into glucose, it will lead to fasting hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis and other physiological conditions. This enzyme is highly active within the liver and the intestines. Therefore, when the liver glycogen stores are no longer available, the physical properties of the body will fight for its homeostasis (Eren, 2013) by converting a three carbon based molecule such as non-carbohydrate precursors, like lactate, glycerol as well as pyruvate, in order to maintain blood glucose levels (Eren, 2013). There is a physiological change in the body there is a need for glucose to be synthesized. When there is a high demand upon glucose synthesizes, the gluconeogenic pathway is increased exponentially. This demand typically occurs during high cardio, pregnancy and lactation (Wallace, 2002). There can also be an increase demand upon gluconeogenesis when the body is in a fasting state (Wallace,2002). Hypoglycemia has a high dependence upon gluconeogenesis formation, because it is the key metabolic pathway which will protect this physiological problem. Moreover, hypoglycemia is a very life-threating situation. Within the gluconeogenesis metabolic pathway, Fructose 1, 6-bisphosphatase is very crucial; as it aids in biochemical reactions and many of the physiological functions of the body. Structure and Properties Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate with six carbon sugar molecules is also known as the Harden-young ester, it has fructose sugars which are phosphorylated on the C1 and C6 (Diwan, 2006). However, before this step can be achieved it needs to start from the beginning in gluconeogenesis. It is important to note that glycolysis and gluconeogenesis are not reversed pathways. It’s clear to see that glycolysis and gluconeogenesis will have a lot of the same enzymes embedded within each other; however these two functional pathways are not the reverse of each other. Moreover, the irreversible steps, that are high exergonic, in glycolysis are bypassed in the gluconeogenesis pathway (Berg JM, 2002). In fact, each of the pathways is so tightly controlled by the intercellular as well as the intracellular signals, and they are highly regulated so that glycolysis and gluconeogenesis will not occur in the same cell at the same time (Berg JM, 2002). Looking at the glyconeogenic pathway the ability to see that there is a conversion of pyruvate into glucose (Berg JM, 2002). These conversions are achieved by Non-carbohydrate precursors of glucose, in which they are either first being converted into pyruvate, or they will enter the pathway at later pathway intermediates like oxaloacetate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate . There are currently three major non-carbohydrate precursors that are looked at, and they are lactate, amino acids, and glycerol. The first (1) precursor stated above is lactate, it has a formation that is by the active skeletal muscle, this occurs at a when the rate of glycolysis has reach its maximum of the oxidative metabolism (Berg JM, 2002). The amino acids with a carbon skeleton (Brandt, 2003) are derived from the amount of proteins that are in the diet, as well as starvation, from the breaking down of the proteins that are housed within the skeletal muscle (Berg JM, 2002). Lastly, the glycerol will obtain fat cells by the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols which wi ll yield glycerol as well as the lipids (Berg JM, 2002). As stated above, before looking at fructose-1,6-bisphosphate the beginning steps in gluconeogenesis needs to be looked at. Biosynthesis. We began synthesis by looking at the glycolysis pathway, there are a lot of enzymes that are used to synthesize glucose from a pyruvate stage. There are three reactions in glycolysis which we termed irreversible (specifically those catalyzed by pyruvate kinase, phosphofructokinase, and hexokinase) are not used in gluconeogenesis synthesis (Selinsky, 2002). These three (3) reactions of Glycolysis have such a large negative delta G in the forward direction that they are essentially irreversible, which is why bypass is used by enzymes in order for them to be synthesize. The delta G will make a determination of the proper direction of the carbon flow through the pathway (Brandt, 2003). Gluconeogenesis needs to be more exergonic, so in order to make that happened six ATPs are consumed (Miles, 2003).The first step or bypass, is by converting 3 carbon pyruvate into 4 carbon intermediate oxaloacetate , biotin-requiring reaction catalyzed (King, 2014), this is called pyruvate carboxylate (Sel insky, 2002). This mitochondrial enzyme will convert the pyruvate into oxaloacetate. Pyruvate carboxylase is a mitochondrial. The biotin is interconnected heavily as it is bound to the amino group covalently on the lysine side chain of the pyruvate carboxylase (Brandt, 2003).   Pyruvate carboxylase catalyzes formation between the biotin (Biotin has a 5-carbon side chain whose terminal carboxyl is in an amide linkage to the e-amino group of a lysine of the enzyme (Diwan, 2007)), and carbon dioxide carbonate by having a covalent bond. When there is a reaction that is ATP- dependent, the carbonate will then be put into action and transferred to the pyruvate substrate, in order to make a molecule oxaloacetate (Brandt, 2003). the high and low amount of concentration of acetyl CoA and ATP will ultimately decide is the oxaloacetic acid will survive or diminish (Ophardt, 2003). If there is a lower amount of acetyl- CoA and higher concentrations of ATP than the pathway will continue (Ophardt, 2003). A Transport of oxaloacetate out of mitochondria Oxaloacetate Malate NADH + H + NAD + Malate Oxaloacetate NADH + H + NAD + Inner mito are seen in this first bypass step. The Using a specific enzyme the Oxaloacetate will now be able to be converted into phosphoenolpyruvate , by the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Selenski, 2005). This Mg ²+ enzyme will require is GTP being the donor for when there is the possibility for a phosphoryl transfer reaction, thus losing the loss of a CO ² molecule. Therefore, within this first step bypass synthesis, the reaction has gone from, phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate, and overall one (1) ATP is gained. In returning to phosphoenolpyruvate from pyruvate, the equivalent of 2 ATP must be consumed (Selinsky, 2002). Note that the CO ² that was gained in the pyruvate in the beginning of the pyruvate carboxylase step, has now been loss in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The second (2) bypass Now, to go from phosphoenolpyruvate to fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate into 6-bisphosphate, with this reaction the same reaction can be used, entirely by the concentrations of substrates and products (Selinsky, 2002). Because the reaction being exponentially endergonic, thus irreversible, the transition from the fructose 6-phosphate uses a catalyst from a different Mg ² + enzyme called the dependent fructose 1, 6-bisphosphatase, (Lehninger, ) This will promote an irreversible hydrolysis at the C-1 phosphate (Lehninger,). This is the third (3) bypass of gluconeogenesis which is the final step and in most tissues gluconeogenesis would end at the fructose 6-phosphate which was generated by fructose 1, 6 bisphosphatase being converted into glucose 6-phosphate. So, basically instead of having free glucose being generated, glucose 6-phosphate would be converted in glycogen ( Tymoczko, 2013). In this final step of gluconeogenesis, free glucose is will take shelter in the liver. Glucose 6-phosphate is then transported into the lumen if the endoplasmic recticulum, thus it is then hydrolyzed to glucose by the glucose 6-phosphatase (Tymoczko, 2013). Note that each of the step reactions that have been achieved, to the formation of glucose from pyruvate is considered energetically unfavorable, unless there are coupling reactions which are favorable (Tymoczko, 2013). In the end of this biosynthesis there are six (6) nucleoside triphosphate molecules that have been hydrolyzed in order to achieved a synthesize of glucose from pyruvate (Tymoczko, 2013). Regulation Gluconeogenesis is highly regulated by a series of regulations. The steps are broken down and now they have to be a regulation in gluconeogenesis. It is obvious that it’s going to have a direct correlation contrast to glycolysis. Consider the first stage in which energy is needed (Tymoczko, 2014). The main site of regulations is seen when the there is a regulation in the activity of PFK-1 and F1,6BPase and this would be the most important site for the controlling of the flux which is toward glucose oxidation or even when there is glucose synthesis. As described in control of glycolysis, this is predominantly controlled by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, F2,6BP which is a powerful negative allosteric effector of F1,6Bpase activity (King, 2004). â€Å"Acetyl CoA is an allosteric effector of both glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Acetyl-CoA inhibits pyruvate kinase and reciprocally activates pyruvate carboxylase (Miles,2003). Second, insulin and glucagon are very important when regulating pathway (Wallace,2002). There will be a decline in the response to the glucagon stimulation, when the level of Fructose 2,6 bisphosphate decline in the hepatocytes (King, 2014). Once these signals are stimulated the signals will be excited through an activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (King, 2014). Both the PFK2 and fructose bisphosphatase are present in the 55-kd polypeptide chain (Tymoczko, 2013). here is a substrate enzyme which is bifunctional (King, 2014) which contains a N-terminal regulatory domain (Tymoczko, 2013) being responsible for the synthesis of the hydrolysis of fructose 2, 6- bisphosphate and that is the protein kinase a phosphatase domain. Therefore once the PFK-2 is phosphorylated by PKA it will start to dephosphorlate, by acting as a phosphatase (King, 2014). â€Å"AMP will ultimately enhances the inhibition of Fructose-2,6-BP. Note that these allosteric effectors of fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase all are allosteric effectors of phosphofructokinase (Miles, 2003). These effectors reciprocally regulate both enzymes. Furthermore, fructose 1, 6-bisphosphase once it’s active, its activity will be highly regulated by the ATP to ADP concentration (Tymoczko, 2014). When this is high then gluconeogenesis can proceed to its highest potential. PROKARYOTES VERSUS EUKARYOTES Gluconeogenesis conversion happens in both the eukaryotic and prokaryotes, however it is very important to know its difference. In eukaryotes the lactate that is formed anaerobically within the muscles will be converted to glucose in liver and kidney, thus being stored as glycogen or even being released as blood glucose (Davis, 2014). In prokaryotes the production of the G3P product of photosynthesis will be converted in a starch form and then further stored in the chloroplasts or even being converted into glucose and sucrose, where it is then exported to the other tissues for starch storage (Davis, 2014). As stated above when it comes to the biosynthesis of all eukaryotes, it is an requirement for survival, because so much of the homeostasis of the body (e.g., the brain and the nervous system),glucose from the blood as the primary fuel source ( Nelson, 2012). Just alone the human brain will require as much as 120 g of glucose with a one day period (Nelson, 2012). When considering eukaryotes gluconeogenesis will primarly occur in the liver and also in the kidney but not much. In prokaryotes the seedlings, will find that it stores the fate and proteins, which are then converted into disaccharide sucrose foe the ability of transport throughout the plant that is developing (Nelson, 2012). â€Å"The glucose and its derivatives are precursors in the synthesis of plant cell walls, nucleotides and coenzymes, and a variety of other essential metabolites† (Nelson, 2012). There are many small organisms that are capable to grow on what are plain organic compounds like acetate, lactate, and propionate. They then will convert to glucose by gluconeogenesis (Nelson, 2012). Defects Pathway Although the pathway may be highly regulated, there are still possibilities for defects to occur. As stated in the beginning of this paper fructose 1, 6-bisphosphatase is very crucial; as it aids in biochemical reactions and many of the physiological functions of the body. In the mechanism of fructose 1, 6- bisphosphatase, there is the Glu98 which will activate a molecule consisting of water. That water molecule will than attack the phosphorus atom on the 1-phosphate of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Kelly, 2006).â€Å"The hydrolysis of a phosphate ester can proceed through an intermediate of metaphosphate (dissociative mechanism) or through a trigonal bipryamidal transition state (associative mechanism)† (Kelly, 2006). Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase which catalyzes the hydrolysis of D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) to D-fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and inorganic phosphate (Pi), it is the very key to the eyzamatic process of gluconeogenesis (Sato, 2004). phosphofructokinase is also an important catalyze reaction, because it will catalyze the reverse reaction, â€Å"the phosphorylation of F6P during glycolysis, the unidirectional FBPase regulates the flux of sugar metabolism† (Sato,2004). Furthermore, the enzymatic block can lead to the high amount of accumulation of gluconeogenic precursors (e.g. certain amino acids, lactic acid, and ketoacids) (Kelley, 2006). Therefore, when there is a fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase deficiency is an inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder and a person would have what is called a severe lactic acidosis and also with a diagnose of hypoglycemia. Disease Population in the United States In the United States alone about 10 percent of this nations population is diagnosed with hypoglycemia, from the defect in the enzyme fructose 1, 6, bisphosphatase. This disease affects those who are typically obese and or have type 2 diabetes. In order to try and control the diseas population treatments are use, like Metformin. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic reagent that has been used in the patients for over the past several years, in obese patients or overweight patients whose blood glucose levels cannot be controlled non-pharmacologically (Salpeter, 2010). â€Å"Fructose 1,6-BPase is a target for the development of drugs in the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes, which afflicts over 15 million people in the United States† (Kelley, 2006). Today it is still unknown on how fructose-1, 6 bisphosphatase is genetically inherited, there are still ongoing studies. Some of the ongoing studies that were seen is if Reye syndrome and sudden infant death, have a direct correlation to a defect in this enzyme, however the research still continues. As stated above, the primary target for hypoglycemia is still heavily looked upon in the obese community, and overweight community, because they are more susceptible to getting diabetes. As see fructose 1, 6 bisphosphatase is the key precursor for the gluconeogenesis pathway to occur. It is very important that the sugar intake is watch closely, when children are at a young age. According to a recent study, it is shown that fructose intolerant is seen in late infancy stage and only after they have a dietary ingestion of foods that are containing fructose or sucrose. Foods such as such as fruits, juices are the primary transportantion. The organs commonly affected by fructose bisphosphatase deficiency are liver, kidney cortex and intestinal mucos (Frazier, 2013). Overall Pathway of Gluconeogenesis Now, putting the metabolic pathway all together, Conclusion Fructose 1, 6 bisphosphatase is a very crucial enzyme to the continuance of gluconeogenesis regulation. With the literature that has been conducted, it lays out step by step why this metabolic biosynthesis pathway is vital to eukaryotic and prokaryotic. There are ways to combat this disease, and that is by maintaining a healthy diet. This entail will work to defeat the affects that this has on the population. BIBLIOGRAPHY Brandt, M. Amino Acid Breakdown. 2003. Retrieved from https://www.rose-hulman.edu/~brandt/Chem330/Amino_acid_breakdown.pdf. (Accessed December 5, 2014). Berg JM, Tymoczko JL, Stryer L. Biochemistry. 5th edition. New York: W H Freeman; 2002. Chapter 16, Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis. Diwan, J. Gluconeogenesis: Regulation of Glycolysis Gluconeogenesis. Retrieved from http://www.rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb1/part2/gluconeo.htm#intro. (Accessed December 5, 2014). Frazier D. Glycogen Storage Disease Laboratory. 2013. Retrieved from http://pediatrics.duke.edu/divisions/medical-genetics/biochemical-genetics-laboratory/glycogen-storage-disease-laboratory/tes-8. (accessed on December 5, 2014) 2014). King, M. Gluconeogenesis: Endogenous Glucose Synthesis. 2014. Retrieved from http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/gluconeogenesis.php#. (Accessed December 5, 2014). Kelley, M. Fructose 1-6 Bisphosphatase. Retrieved from http://faculty.uca.edu/mkelley/4121 Web pages/Student_Webpages_2006/Aanu ogunbanjo web things/The webbie.html. (Accessed December 5, 2014). UC Davis. 2013. Gluconeogenesis. Retrieved from http://www-plb.ucdavis.edu/courses/bis/105/lectures/Gluconeogenesis.pdf. (Accessed December 5, 2014). Lehniger, Nelson, and Cox. Principles of Biochemistry. 2002. Retrieved from http://www.irb.hr/users/precali/Znanost.o.Moru/Biokemija/Literatura/Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, Fourth Edition David L. Nelson, Michael M. Cox.pdf. (accessed on December 5, 2014). Miles, B. Gluconeogenesis. 2003. Retrieved from https://www.tamu.edu/faculty/bmiles/lectures/gluconeogenesis.pdf. (Accessed December 5, 2014). Ophart, C. Glycogenesis, Glycogenolysis, and Gluconeogenesis. 2003. Retrieved from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/604glycogenesis.html. (Accessed December 5, 2014). Selinsky, B. Biosynthesis: Gluconeogenesis. 2005. Retrieved from http://www22.homepage.villanova.edu/barry.selinsky/CHM%204622/Carbohydrate%20II%20M16%2005.pdf. (Accessed December 5, 2014). Salpeter SR. Risk of fatal and nonfatal lactic acidosis with metformin use in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Retrieved from http://www.bibliotecacochrane.com/pdf/CD002967.pdf. (Accessed December 5, 2014). Wallace C., Barritt G. Gluconeogenesis. 2002. Encyclopedia of life sciences: p:1-8. (Accessed December 5, 2014).

The Alaskan wilderness :: Environment, Fishing, Hunting

The Alaskan wilderness is one of the most controversial topics discussed in the United States today. There are many different opinions and regulations pertaining to certain topics affecting the natural landscape of Alaska. One such topic is hunting for brown bear. While these massive animals face no current danger of being wiped out as a result of hunting, it is still a controversial and constantly debated issue. Over ninety-five percent of the United States’ brown bear resides in Alaska. Brown bears are one of the more appealing attractions for visitors to Alaska. According to the Alaskan Outdoor Journal, there are places all throughout Alaska that are designated brown bear viewing areas (Alaska Outdoor Journal, 2010). However many who come to Alaska for the brown bear don’t simply come to observe. Instead, they come for the hunt. These animals are constantly hunted for sport, and since they reproduce at a very low rate, this has the potential to jeopardize the total p opulation of the brown bear. Overall, I believe that brown bear hunting should remain legal. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the brown bear is located all throughout Alaska, mostly in areas that allow them to seasonally hunt salmon (Alaska Fish & Game, 2010). This allows them to become larger and live in higher concentrations than the grizzly bear. The traditional brown bear and the grizzly bear are actually both classified as brown bears, despite having several differences in appearance. Brown bears are one of the most fascinating and powerful species in the Alaskan wilderness. Cubs are usually born during January or February, usually in groups of one to four (Alaska Fish & Game). A fully grown, male brown bear can weigh up for 1,500 pounds and be over 10 feet in stature (Alaska Fish & Game, 2010). Brown bears also have the ability to run at speeds up to 40 mph for short bursts of time (Alaska Fish & Game). All of these unique characteristics make many people upset that it is legal to hunt them. There are several groups that are working to conserve the brown bear population, particularly in Alaska, such as The Northern Forum’s Brown Bear Working Group (Fish & Wildlife Journal, 2010). The bear population in Alaska is thriving and is classified as a status of least concern, by the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2010). Overall, the brown bear population faces no danger whatsoever.