mqpham's blog

Alcohol, in recreational terms is a component of fermented fluids such as beer and wine. It is produced through fermentation. Fermentation for producing alcoholic beverages is done by microbes, specifically yeast. The yeast break down the sugar in juices or grains and turns it into carbon dioxide and alcohol. However, there the chemical mechanisms behind alcohol production is so precise that presence of oxygen from the air during the production of alcohol could result in ethanoic acid rather than alcohol. In the US, statistics reveal that 52.2% of the population 12 years of age or older were alcohol drinkers, of which 6.3 percent were heavy drinkers (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2013). It is the most common abused drug in the US. Affects of alcohol include alteration in cognition, which includes abnormal or confused thinking. Most recreational users however, do recover. 

Since its establishment in 1872, Yellowstone has kept records of its bird sightings. In their documents include almost three hundred bird species. Among the birds are raptors, shorebirds, waterfowl, and songbirds. Half of those species next within Yellowstone itself though many of the birds are also migratory. The species reproduction, habitat use, and abundance are monitored in effort to inform the park's caretakers of climate change's effect on the ecosystem. Birds are therefore also good indicator species of the shifts in rising temperatures and seasonal changes. For example, climate change has led to changes from population size, to timing of reproduction and migration patterns.

There are four components of NMRs to consider when determining the structure of a compound. In H-NMR, the four components are number of signals, relative areas of the signals, position of shifts, and multiplicity of signals. The number of signals indicates the number of different hydrogen environments in a molecule while the relative areas of the signals indicate the number of hydrogen in each of those environments. The position of the shifts indicate the different functional groups within the molecules. Lastly, the multiplicity of the signals indicate the number of neighboring hydrogens each hydrogen in the molecule has.

Evolutionary development is a branch of biological study. Two lines of research in the field have developed across a span of twenty years since its conception. One branch of evolutionary development focuses on discrete and qualitative changes in phenotype. The other focuses on research done through investigating complex phenotypes though quantitative developmental phenomena. However, there is potential for the two to be used together in explaining processes and mechanisms of evolutionary development over time. In recent years, evolutionary development offers insight on specific molecular connections between genotype and morphology. Still, the importance of how the morphology interacts with the environment will make the final determination on the fitness of the genotype. Therefore, evolutionary development has a greater potential if it is broadened from the fine details of the genotype all the way to how those genotypes affect resource use (Irschick, Albertson et al, 2013).

Cichlids are a family of fish that include over 2000 species. They come in a variety of sizes with a range of habitats across continents from South America to Africa. Many of them are kept in aquariums as they are usually duable fish that come in a variety of colors. The species are known to take care of their eggs and incubate them and even take care of their fry. Depending on the species they have a variety of diets, some being herbavores while others are carnivorous. They are known to be able to adapt to environmental changes very quickly, making them good models for studying evolutionary development.

Problems that arose during research was the lack of literature associated for each category of inasive species assessment. Solid quantifiable data such as the ratio of inasive plant species abundance to native species abundance was non-existant. For this, more research in the field is neccessary. Figures such as cost was uncertain, in terms of annual investment, there was no data, only potential costs of implication of herbicides and protective barriers. Still some insight was drawn from the minimal data that was provided. Future assessment methods can draw on the bioecomic framework, but the devised numerical value of threat determined for each invasive species is perhaps insignificant to the threats of all the invasive species combined.

We do not just memorize all the information that is presented to us. We have to use the information we know to evaluate the problems and solve them based on the information we have. That information could be sets of laws. For example, in physics (Physics 131) we have very few laws like F=ma, or Sum of torques = 0, that are used to solve numerous problems and likewise, in organic chemistry, the mechanisms behind reactions are the laws that determine the outcome of countless reactions. Likewise, in a biology course, like BIO152, although there a lot of information, the general patterns we observe in nature may be applied to behaviors of different species and we can therefore accurately predict the causes of certain behaviors or problems in nature.

Evolutionary development is a branch of study that began about 20 years go. Since then, two lines of research have diverged. One focuses on typological, focusing on descrete and qualitative changes in phenotype. The other is research done through investigating complex phenotypes by quantitative developmental phenomena. However, there is potential for the two to be used in explaining processes and mechanisms for evolutionary development over time. In recent years, evolutionary development offers insight on specific molecular connections between genotype and morphology. Still, the importance of how the morphology interacts with the environment will make the final determination on the fitness of the genotype. Therefore, evolutionary development has a greater potential if it is broadened from the fine details of the genotype all the way to how those genotypes affect resource use (Irschick, Albertson et al, 2013).

In an optometrist's exam room, one might find several pieces of equipment, all used to observe different parts of the eye. Commonly found in the examination room, is the phoropter, which is used to measure refractive error of the eye and helps to determine a patient's glasses and contacts perscription. Another common piece of equipment is a slit lamp, which is a microscope that allows light to enter the eye and the optometrist to view internal structures of the eye including the iris, lens and cornea. The tonometer is another tool that allows the optometrist to measure the pressure of the eye, used to detect glaucoma. It provides a more accurate measure of eye pressure, and is an alternative to the air-puff tonometer.

The extent of harm each of the invasive species had on the environment and economy was assessed. To do so, research was conducted on each herb’s effect on specific criteria regarded as highest concern to least concern granted a multiplier, with a range from 1X for least concern to 2X for most concern. The criteria were split into parameters that defined the plants’ effect in that category as high (3 points), moderate (2 points), or low (1 point) threat. The summation of points was used to quantify the threat of each herb.