Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Duckweed Free Essays
Feed Industry Overview: Duckweed feed has been found to be a very nutritious feed source for many types of livestock. The fact that duckweed can be fed to animals in its wet form or dried for a more concentrated food source make an efficient, cost effective, harvester a possible attractive product for this market. Traditional Harvesters are economically unfeasible and manual harvesting is very labor intensive for medium to large scale operations. We will write a custom essay sample on Duckweed or any similar topic only for you Order Now Feed prices can vary drastically due to crop yields, gas prices, and product demand. After the initial investment of the Proskimmer the costs for producing this feed additive would be minimal. There is opportunity for duckweed to be used more as a feed source in coming years to alleviate increasing demand on corn and soy yields. Analysis According to North Carolina Reasearchers: ââ¬Å"Duckweed holds great promise as an alternative feed supplement. One of the smallest plants known to man could help us produce cleaner water while at the same time providing a high quality feed for domestic stock animals (poultry, swine, and cattle). The nutrient uptake ability possessed by duckweed along with its fast reproductive rate and environmental requirements make it easy to manage. The problem with duckweed is in the harvesting of the small plants and removing the excess water. Assuming that can be done efficiently, we will be well on our way to making new strides in the supplemental feeding of duckweed. â⬠These statements are made by some of the leading duckweed researchers in the feed/fuel/watstewater. A duckweed harvester is a natural fit to solve the harvesting needs of the market. Recent studies have confirmed duckweedââ¬â¢s potential as a valuable high-protein, vitamin-rich feed supplement. A two acre pond surface with duckweed yields as much as 30 tons of dry matter or approximately 12 tons of protein per year. This protein is of very high quality for feeding to animals (or human beings). Experiments show that the quality of this protein for ducks and hens is similar to that in soybean meal. As protein is currently priced at approx $500 per ton as a stock-feed ingredient, the protein yield of a hectare of duckweed is worth in the order of $6,000 per year. Although inexpensive to produce, duckweed contains a range of vitamins, pigments and minerals. These include those normally added to dietary formulations for livestock such as poultry and pigs in the form of commercial mineral-vitamin premixes. Duckweed has particular value as a poultry feed. It typically contains high concentrations of calcium (which is required in the diet of laying hens) equal to 10-25 g/kg dry matter. Duckweed contains relatively large amounts of xanthophylls and carotene, which result in a rich yellow/orange color to the egg yolks. In comparison, the synthetic yolk pigments usually included in mineral-vitamin premixes for layers are a costly component of commercial poultry diets. Dried excess duckweed can be pelletised and sold as animal feed. At approx $6000 dollars the Proskimmer would be economically viable in this arena. Feeding trials reported in the literature and carried out recently in Peru have demonstrated that duckweed can be substituted for soy and fish meals in prepared rations for several types of poultry: broilers, layers, and chicks. Cultured duckweed can be used as the protein component in poultry diets. Acceptable levels of duckweed meal in the diets of layers range up to 40 percent of total feed. Duckweed-fed layers produce more eggs of the same or higher quality as control birds fed the recommended formulated diets. Levels of up to 15 percent duckweed meal produce growth rates in broilers which are equal to those produced by control feeds. Diets for chicks, consisting of up to 15 percent duckweed meal, are suitable for birds under three weeks of age. Duckweed meal will almost certainly find as large a range of animal feed applications as soybean meal. Duckweed meal may also have great potential to blend with non- conventional diets based on inexpensive carbohydrate sources that can be used by poultry and hogs. Today pork production offers perhaps an unprecedented opportunity. Due to economic expansion and population growth in Asia, demand for pork is increasing like never before. In fact, experts predict that in the next 35 to 40 years, weââ¬â¢ll have to quadruple, or more, the approximately 875 million hogs now on Earth. Thatââ¬â¢s why new and expanded hog production facilities are being built in Australia, Canada, Mexico, South America, and, when opposition is overcome, in the U. S. And as theyââ¬â¢re built, new jobs and economic growth are being created. A major limitation to fish farming is that meals high in protein with high biological value are expensive and often locally unavailable. Supplementary feeds can take up to 60% of fish production costs. Duckweeds have a high protein content (around 40%) of high biological value. Fresh duckweed is highly suited to intensive fish farming systems and duckweed is converted efficiently to liveweight by certain fish including carp and tilapia. Drying duckweed presents the largest current challenge to the plant being traded as a commodity. No conventional drying technology has been able to produce dried material without incurring signifigant loss. Several solar methods are showing promise however we feel they would be for large scale operations and not relevant to our market. The leading researchers in North Carolina have paired with a company called Aeroglide who makes industrial drying technologies for the feed industry. We feel Proskim should focus on the wet applications for land livestock and fish farming opporunities. http://www. lib. ncsu. edu/theses/available/etd-05242004-103543/unrestricted/etd. df Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Str. 10, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany 24 February 2010; http://www. aeroglide. com/aquafeed-dryers-coolers. php SWOT Analysis Feed: Strengths: Low cost in relation to other mechanical harvesters/low labor intensity when compared to manual techniques. Currently manufactured product with little to no customization for many harvesting needs. Duckweed has be en proven to be a breakthrough feed alternative to corn and soy based feeds. Weaknesses: Little to no current marketing strategy in the Bio arena. Lack of marketing material directed to Bio arena. Less developed nations will use manual techniques. Company physical location is not in areas which promote rapid duckweed growth. Opportunities: Feed supplement for fish, swine, poultry needing effective harvesting techniques. Market directly to these farmers. Academic researchers using grants to study duckweed in the Bio arena. Government grants and foundations in the Bio arena. Threats: Other harvester inventions and trial inventions to harvest duckweed. Less demand for corn ethanol due to regulations or opportunity costs could lower prices and in turn corn feed prices. How to cite Duckweed, Papers
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Marijuana A Gift From Mother Earth Essay Example For Students
Marijuana A Gift From Mother Earth Essay When and where will the senseless persecutions of Americaââ¬â¢s Marijuana users end? These Marijuana smokers are typically middle class males, between the ages of 17 and 39, and one in three have no prior felony charges on their records. (HRW World Report) However, each year, hundreds of thousands of them are arrested and thrown into jail, alongside murderers, rapists, and child molesters. The ââ¬Å"Marihuana Tax Actâ⬠was passed in August 1937, and took effect on October 1, an incident which would forever change the country. The main reason behind the ban placed upon Marijuana was the same as most other drug prohibitions ââ¬â the oppression of minorities. Case in point, the first anti-drug law on record in the United States was passed in San Francisco in 1875. Opium was outlawed at that time due to concerns that Chinese immigrants who used the drug were ââ¬Å"ruiningâ⬠white women by associating with them in Opium dens. (Schaffer sec. 1) Cocaine was outlawed soon after when concerns were raised of what even newspapers of the time deemed ââ¬Å"Negro Cocaine Fiendsâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Cocainized Niggers.â⬠These allegations came about when African-Americans used the drug and allegedly raped and murdered white women. (Schaffer sec. 1) As a matter of fact there were no officially recorded incidents such as those that were suggested. Marijuana was outlawed to target Mexican immigrants who used the drug recreationally. According to Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry J. Anslinger, Marijuana had a ââ¬Å"violent effect on the degenerate races.â⬠As you can see, the main reason most drugs are outlawed is not for health concerns or actual crimes related to the drug, but instead because egotistical white males got the idea that they could hurt minorities with their laws. Today, the racism continues, with drug laws that target minorities ââ¬â specifically young African-American males. Although white drug users outnumber blacks by 5 to 1, and blacks only make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, over 62 percent of prisoners incarcerated for drug related charges are black. (ABC) This alarming statistic shows the blatant racism of the ââ¬Å"War on Drugsâ⬠, which is more a war on blacks than drugs. Between the years of 1970 and 1998, over 11.5 million people were incarcerated for acts ranging from simple possession of Marijuana, to sale and manufacture of Marijuana ââ¬â a category that encompasses all charges related to growing, distribution, and cultivation. 87 percent of all arrests were for possession, while 13 percent of arrests were for sale/manufacture. (NORML)Our prisons are so overcrowded that approximately 24 states are under Federal orders to set some prisoners free. There are over 1.5 million people in Federal, State, and local correctional facilities at the time of this paperââ¬â¢s writing. Yet, the War on Drugs continues, and if its ââ¬Å"ultimate goalâ⬠is reached ââ¬â the incarceration of every drug user, dealer, and grower, there will be approximately 30 million more people in our prisons. This is more people than the combined populations of California, Arizona, and New Mexico. To incarcerate every drug user in the country, we would have to spen d over 15 trillion dollars, a figure that would not only bankrupt the country and destroy the working force, but would also leave no money to run the prisons that we worked so hard to fill. (Schaffer sec.7)So why, you may ask, is this country seemingly obsessed with clearing the streets of our ââ¬Å"violentâ⬠, ââ¬Å"degenerateâ⬠Marijuana users? The answer is simple. If you tell a horse over and over that it is a donkey, eventually the horse will believe it. The amount of propaganda that has been flooding the country for all these years, misinformation from top government officials, and blatant lies from our countryââ¬â¢s health ââ¬Å"expertsâ⬠has instigated a furious ââ¬Å"warâ⬠that has divided the country in half. This war has no winners ââ¬â the country is not even coming close to ridding the country of the ââ¬Å"problemâ⬠, and the drug users are growing in numbers as more and more people see the beauty of the drug as a social tool, a medica l marvel, and a bridge that crosses racial and social boundaries. .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c , .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .postImageUrl , .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c , .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c:hover , .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c:visited , .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c:active { border:0!important; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c:active , .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u194e68d9a650bbe0c483257c6b3db60c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Dead Sea Scrolls (1545 words) EssayAnother question raised is whether or not Marijuana is harmful. That is easy to answer ââ¬â yes and no. Yes, it has some detrimental effects on the brain, as any chemical would. However, compared to other drugs and substances, both legal and illegal, the harmful effects seem miniscule. For instance, out of all the drugs available to us today, tobacco remains the number one killer, as it has been for years. Over 390,000 people die each year from this potent, deadly, and very legal drug. Nicotine is also one of the most addictive drugs known to man, easily surpassing Marijuana and alcohol, and just edging out heroin ââ¬â yes, heroin.Alcohol is a distant second, killing 80,000 people annually, and is one of the most popular drugs among young males. Its withdrawal symptoms are severe, and once hooked, some people are never sober again. Sidestream cigarette smokes kills another 50,000 people, bringing the grand total for tobacco-related deaths to 440,000 people. Cocaine claims 2,200 lives a year, followed closely by two drugs that are completely unrelated, but kill the same number of people ââ¬â heroin and aspirin. Marijuana, on the other hand, kills a staggering number of people each and every year. Zero. There has never been a death officially tied to Marijuan a. Altogether, illegal drugs kill 4,500 people ââ¬â 8.3 percent of those claimed by tobacco and alcohol. Having been a Marijuana smoker for five years now, I do not consider myself a junkie, a drug addict, or a detriment to society. I smoke to meet people, and my closest friends were met through Marijuana. The wonderful and mysterious plant we call Cannabis should be embraced, not shunned, as it is today. Bibliography:Works CitedABC News. ââ¬Å"War on Drugs, by Race?â⬠Associated Press. 8 Jun 2000Basic Facts about the War on Drugs. Schaffer, Clifford A. 8 Sept. 2000HRW World Report. ââ¬Å"Drugs and Human Rights.â⬠10 Sept. 2000NORML. ââ¬Å"Portland NORML Newsâ⬠24 Nov. 1998
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
James Baldwins Going To Meet The Man Essays - Going To Meet The Man
James Baldwin's Going To Meet The Man One Never forgets What They are Taught James Baldwin, an African American author born in Harlem, was raised by his violent step-father, David. His father was a lay preacher who hated whites and felt that all whites would be judged as they deserve by a vengeful God (Klinkowitz and Pritchard, p.1999). Usually, the father's anger was directed toward his son through violence. Baldwin's history, in part, aids him in his insight of racism within the family. He understands that racists are not born, but rather racists' attitudes and behaviors are learned in the early stages of childhood. Baldwin's Going to Meet the Man is a perfect example of his capability to analyze the growth of a innocent child to a racist. Every child is born with innocence. During the flashback to Jesse's childhood, where he witnesses the mutilation and torture of a blackman, Jesse's innocence is apparent. Jesse has a black friend named Otis who he hasn't seen for a few days. When he asks his father where Otis is, the father replies, I reckon Otis's folks was afrad to let him show himself this morning(Baldwin, p. 2006). Jesse naturally responds, But Otis ain't do nothing. His father explains, We just wanna make sure Otis don't do nothing, and you tell him what your Daddy said(Baldwin, p. 2006). This statement implies that because Otis is black, he is eventually going to do something wrong. The father has subconsciously put negative thoughts inside of Jesse's head. Baldwin's own father also acted in this way when he stereotyped all whites as being bad and claimed they would be punished by a vengeful God. In the midst of all the commotion, Jesse is unable to sleep the night before the lynching. Within another flashback to that night, Jesse feels a strong need to have his mother close to him but he knew his father would not like this(Baldwin, p. 2006). He wanted to call his mother and becomes very frustrated and angry with his father because the father is the reason that he could not got to his mother. He knows that they are going to have intercourse and this bothers him. He heard his mother's moan, his father's sigh; he gritted his teeth(Baldwin, p. 2006). Sigmund Freud's Edipus Complex explains Jesse's reaction. The Edipus Complex is a son's sexual longing for his mother. Jesse becomes jealous and his father's breathing seemed to fill the world(Baldwin, p. 2006). As result of the longing for the mother, a resentment toward the father arises because the father has the mother all to himself. Jesse, in this situation, would like to replace the father so that he may experience the mother in a sexual manner. Jesse does not shake this feeling until he replaces the longing of his mother with a clossnes to the father, a common effect of the Edipus complex. Jesse's innocence disappears completely during the flashback of the day of the lynching. The father is getting Jesse excited about the violence to come as he assures him, We're going on a picnic. You won't ever forget this picnic(Baldwin, p. 2007), Jesse replies, Are we going to see the bad nigger?(Baldwin, p. 2007). He uses the adjective bad, revealing the influence of the father 's previous comments about the black man. They arrive at the lynching and Jesse's father shows concern toward how Jesse is feeling, you all right?(Baldwin, p. 2009). Then, the father reached down suddenly and sat Jesse on his shoulders, making Jesse feel like he was bonding with his father. He felt secure. They watched the relentless burning of the negro together and Jesse last thought of innocence arouse, What did the man do?(Baldwin, p. 2010). After asking himself he looked to his mother and felt, she was more beautiful than he had ever seen her before and he began to feel a joy he had never felt before(B aldwin, p. 2010). After the Negro genitals were mutilated he was left to slowly die, the father looked to Jesse with peaceful eyes and said, Well, I told you, you wasn't ever going to forget this picnic(Baldwin, p.2010). It is as this moment that Freud's Edipus complex is once again displayed.
Friday, March 6, 2020
About the U.S. Department of Labor
About the U.S. Department of Labor The United States Department of Labor is a cabinet-level department in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government headed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor as appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the U.S. Senate. The Department of Labor is responsible for workplace safety and health, wage and hour standards, racial diversity, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and maintenance of key labor-related economic statistics. As a regulatory department, the Department of Labor has the power to create federal regulations deemed necessary to implement and enforce labor-related laws and policies enacted by Congress. Department of Labor Fast Facts The United States Department of Labor is a cabinet-level, regulatory department in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government. The Department of Labor is headed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor as appointed by the President of the United States with the approval of the Senate.The Department of Labor is primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of laws and regulations relating to workplace safety and health, wage and hour standards, racial diversity, unemployment benefits, and re-employment services. The purpose of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment. In carrying out this mission, the Department administers a variety of federal labor laws guaranteeing workers rights to safe and healthful working conditions, a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, freedom from employment discrimination, unemployment insurance, and workers compensation. The Department also protects workers pension rights; provides for job training programs; helps workers find jobs; works to strengthen free collective bargaining; and keeps track of changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. As the Department seeks to assist all Americans who need and want to work, special efforts are made to meet the unique job market problems of older workers, youths, minority group members, women, the handicapped, and other groups. In July 2013, then Secretary of Labor Tom Perez summarized the purpose of the Department of Labor in stating, ââ¬Å"Boiled down to its essence, the Department of Labor is the department of opportunity.â⬠Brief History of the Department of Labor First established by Congress as the Bureau of Labor under the Department of the Interior in 1884, the Department of Labor became an independent agency in 1888. In 1903, it was reassigned as a bureau of the newly-created cabinet-level Department of Commerce and Labor. Finally, in 1913, President William Howard Taft signed a law establishing the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce as separate cabinet-level agencies as they remain today. On March 5, 1913, President Woodrow Wilson appointed William B. Wilson as the first Secretary of Labor. In October 1919, the International Labour Organization chose Secretary Wilson to chair its first meeting, even though the United States had not yet become a member nation. On March 4, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed Frances Perkins to be Secretary of Labor. As the first female cabinet member, Perkins served for 12 years, becoming the longest-serving Secretary of Labor. Following the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the Department of Labor made the governmentââ¬â¢s first concerted effort to promote racial diversity in the hiring practices of labor unions. In 1969, Secretary of Labor George P. Shultz imposed the Philadelphia Plan requiring Pennsylvania construction unions, which had previously refused to accept black members, to admit a certain number of blacks by an enforced deadline. The move marked the first imposition of racial quotas by the U.S. federal government.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Investigating the molecular basis of oligomerisation specificity using Essay
Investigating the molecular basis of oligomerisation specificity using coiled coil peptides - Essay Example The studies have identified that there is unexpected and general correlation between trigger sequences (Indispensable elements for coiled coil formation) and coiled coil oligomerization state specificity .Through the use yeast archytype coiled-coil domain transcriptional factor activator GCN4 as a model system, it was found that oligomerization state determinants that are trimer specific and well established ,switched the topology of the peptide to a trimer from a dimer, only after being inserted into the trigger sequence. The results were confirmed with 2 other coiled coil dimmers that is not related (cortexillin-1 and ATF1).It is further indicated that multiple topology determinants have the capacity of co-existing in the same trigger sequence, and this reveals a delicate balance of the resultant oligomerization state through forces that are position dependent (Steinmetz et al., 2007). Due to the simplicity of this leucine zipper, the alpha helical coiled coil has been traditionall y used in a broad number of studies that have targeted the key principles of protein stability, oligomerization and folding (Steinmetz et al., 2007).In this case, the coiled coils currently are exploited as multipurpose tool in various applications seen to be increasing steadily as well as ranging from basic research to medicine. It is well known that what is referred to as trigger sequence plays a critical role in controlling coiled ââ¬âcoil formation. The distinct feature of several trigger sequences is that they have a capacity of folding into several reasonable stable monomeric helices before the formation of the coiled coil structure (Kammerer et al.1998) Recently, the NMR structures of peptide spanning the GCN4 trigger sequence was solved and indicated that the structure is stabilized by electrostatic interactions and a network of hydrogen bonds (Steinmetz et al., 2007) The trigger
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Analysis argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Analysis argument - Essay Example These are just two examples; there are countless similar occasions in the article where statements have been made without evidence. Andersonââ¬â¢s article is more of an essay than an argument since throughout the article, he has just expressed personal opinions without providing evidence for them to enhance the credibility of his argument. Anderson has basically used the article as a means to express his personal opinions. Basically the article is a reflection on the authorââ¬â¢s personal experiences that have led him to developing certain views that he has shared in an organized way. This makes the article informative rather than argumentative. Although the articleââ¬â¢s credibility is little because of lack of references, yet the views Anderson has shared are sensible and seem to be coming from a learned and experienced author. I particularly agree to the fact that playing video games may be one of the risk factors that play a role in making the youth criminals, yet it is too subtle and ineffective a factor to have such a large negative effect on the psychology of the children as to make them killers. One factor that is particularly out of place in the article is that although Anderson has cited no study, yet he has gone to such lengths as comparing different studies and the underlying factors as sample sizes, as he says, ââ¬Å"Why have different researchers found different results? Well, part of the problem is that many studies have used a sample size that is much too small to produce consistent resultsâ⬠(Anderson cited in Ramage, Bean, and Johnson 447). Greenberg has started his argument with a strong point saying that Yee had Sen. Leland Yee did not have robust grounds to impose restriction on childrenââ¬â¢s access to violent video games since it was essentially an outcome of the ban on substance abuse which in no way compares to the video games. I find Greenbergââ¬â¢s argument very convincing that violent books and movies do not prov ide the audiences with a room to respond whereas violent games do, but the same power of interactivity that the video games provide the audiences could be held as a strong reason why they should be banned. Although Greenbergââ¬â¢s example was good, but in effect, it counteracted his own argument that was in favor of expression of violence in video games, though the examples Greenberg has given regarding how video games enhance the critical analysis and decision-making skills of the audiences are entirely convincing. These examples also indicate the potential ways in which violent games serve as mediums of free expression for the players, thus providing Greenberg with a firm basis for his argument. One thing that makes Greenbergââ¬â¢s article superior to Andersonââ¬â¢s is that Greenberg has not indicated studies anywhere and accordingly he did not need to cite them, whereas Andersonââ¬â¢s article was mostly based on the results of past studies without mentioning any in pa rticular. Greenbergââ¬â¢s examples in support of his argument were such that they did not require much citation or referencing, and the examples were plentiful as well. When the examples did require referencing, they were included. For example, when Greenberg discussed the Supreme Courtââ¬â¢s ruling that school boards are not allowed to ban books in the libraries of the schools even if they are accessible outside
Monday, January 27, 2020
Quantification of Chicken Egg White Albumin
Quantification of Chicken Egg White Albumin Standard curve Preparation for Quantification of Chicken Egg white albumin using Bradford assay Quantifying protein concentration is a very significant process for analyzing protein. It is essential in order to identify, characterize, and purify proteins, and this can also be use in medical researches by aiding in diagnosis of certain diseases. There are several of methods that can be use for protein quantification. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. One of which is the Bradford assay, which is commonly used because of its simplicity, wide estimated working range, and sensitivity to molecules of interest. Chicken egg white albumin was used as a protein source. Different concentrations of albumin were prepared and their respective absorbances at 595nm were obtained. This assay uses Coomassie Blue G-250 dye that forms a complex with certain amino acids. A standard curve was created from the raw data of absorbance reading. From the Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho correlation, it was shown that the absorbance and concentration has a strong positive relationship. The chemical react ions involve in this assay was also analyzed and understood. INTRODUCTION Proteins are very important in an organism for growth and preservation. Before analyzing a protein, it requires to determine the quantity of proteins present. The result of this will be useful in characterization and purification of proteins, in identification and in diagnosis of diseases, since some illnesses affect the level of proteins. There are different methods in order to quantify protein concentration. It is important for an assay to be able to be applied to a wide range of concentrations. It would also be good for the assay to be sensitive enough to detect even the smallest protein content in order to have an accurate result. The assay should also be specific to the component that is to be quantified. This is to avoid contaminants to be detected, such as cell components, macromolecules like carbohydrates, nucleic acid and lipids. There are different methods on quantifying proteins. One of which is the Non-colorimetric procedures. This includes determination of nitrogen deriv ed from proteins, analysis of amino acids, and find out of dry matter material of protein. The one that is common in this modern time is the Colorimetric methods of quantitation. This is because of the technological advancements available like usage of spectophotometers (Ninfa et al., 2009) In biuret assay, cupric (Cu2+) ions are being reduced to cuprous (Cu1+) ions by the proteins. This cuprous ions forms a complex with the peptide bonds yielding a blue colored complex. This assay requires high concentration of proteins since it is quite insensitive (Dennison, 2003). Lowry assay starts with a protein-copper complex just like the product in the Biuret assay. In Lowry assay it is then followed by the reduction of Folinââ¬âCiocalteu reagent under alakaline conditions. Cuprous ions are the ones involve in the process of reduction, resulting to a intense blue color. Lowry assay is more sensitive unlike the biuret assay; however, since itââ¬â¢s very sensitive, it can detect other components that are not of interest just like detergents (Dennison, 2003). BCA Assay is the same as the Lowry assay, but bichoninic acid (BCA) is the one being reduced by the protein instead of Folinââ¬âCiocalteu reagent. BCA assay is sensitive but not to other contaminants. It is more sensitive to carbohydrates, lipids and other substances (Dennison, 2003). Bradford assay, which is the most commonly used colorimetric method, uses Coomassie Blue G-250 dye. This dye forms a noncovalent bond with proteins primarily basic amino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine). This complex results to a blue form in color. This assay is sensitive, accurate and can be done quickly (Redmile-Gordon et al., 2012). The source of protein for this experiment is the chicken egg white albumin. Studies consisting of iron-chelation, protease inhibition, immunoregulation, etc. uses chicken egg white albumin as well. Purification of the albumin is very much needed before doing any experimental procedure with the protein (Geng et al., 2012). In fact the albumin is consisting of 385 amino acid residue (Alleoni, 2006). In determining the protein concentration, it is very important to make a standard curve in every assay perfumed. Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho correlation is used to verify the linear relationship between the two variables involve in this experiment, absorbance and albumin concentration (Statstutor, n.d.). This study aims to verify how the concentration of proteins can affect the absorbance of the sample. It is also to make a standard curve for Chicken egg albumin and to know the Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation. It is also very important to understand the processes involved with protein quantification. This experiment also makes one to be extra careful with the laboratory procedures so that accurate data can be obtained. In a higher concentration, there are more particles involved, and so when a UV light strikes, more particles will be able to absorb it and higher absorbance value will be obtained. MATERIALS AND METHODS Before anything else, the UV/VIS Spectrophotometer was turned on before starting the procedures in order for the machine to warm up and function properly this avoids interfering with the data reading. Enough amounts of Chicken egg white albumin 10mg/mL, Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) pH 7.4, and Bradford reagent were obtained in a beaker from the reagent bottle. The beaker which contained the Bradford reagent was covered with paper since the the reagent is very light sensitive and might affect the data. With the use of micropipettors, albumin, phosphate buffered solution and Bradford reagent with known concentrations were transferred to six different microfuge tubes respectively. The concentrations of the reagents were the following: Table 1: Volume of stock solutions for the preparation of different albumin concentrations Standard no. Bradford Reagent (ul) Phosphate Buffered Saline (ul) Chicken Egg White Albumin (ul) Concentration (ug/ul) Blank 500 500 0 1 500 420 80 0.8 2 500 340 160 1.6 3 500 260 240 2.4 4 500 180 320 3.2 5 500 100 400 4 The solutions were vortex one at a time for 10 seconds. It settled for 10 minutes. After that, the solutions were again vortex for 5 seconds. Then the solutions from the microfuge tubes were transferred to the cuvettes individually. The cuvette was not touched on the flat side panel. The cuvettes were gently placed in the spectreophotometer. The absorbance of each concentration was read at 595 nm. The procedures were done for two trials. The standard curve and determination of Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho correlation were made from the raw data of absorbance readings. RESULTS Table 2: Series of known concentrations of Albumin Standard no. Bradford Reagent (ul) Phosphate Buffered Saline (ul) Chicken Egg White Albumin (ul) Concentration (ug/ul) Blank 500 500 0 1 500 420 80 0.8 2 500 340 160 1.6 3 500 260 240 2.4 4 500 180 320 3.2 5 500 100 400 4 From the volume of the stock solutions, different concentrations of albumin were made. The albumin concentration of the standards ranges from 0.0- 4.0 ug/ul and have an increment of 0.8. Table 2: Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation of the Absorbance readings at 595nm and Albumin Concentrations Trial 1; (b) Trial 2; (c) Mean absorbance of the two trials A. Standard no. Concentration (ug/ul) Trial 1 (A) Blank 0.0000 0.0000 1 0.8000 0.7170 2 1.6000 0.6750 3 2.4000 0.3790 4 3.2000 0.7190 5 4.0000 0.8640 Pearsons r Correlation 0.679886127 B. Standard no. Concentration (ug/ul) Trial 2 (A) Blank 0.0000 0.0000 1 0.8000 0.0510 2 1.6000 0.5480 3 2.4000 0.7740 4 3.2000 0.7990 5 4.0000 0.4250 Pearsons r Correlation 0.710839544 C. Standard no. Concentration (ug/ul) Mean absorbance (A) Blank 0.0000 0.00 1 0.8000 0.3840 2 1.6000 0.6115 3 2.4000 0.5765 4 3.2000 0.7590 5 4.0000 0.6445 Pearsons r Correlation 0.84783844 The absorbance value of the five albumin concentrations were measured twice. With regards to the Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation of each, Trial 1 shows that the Albumin concentration and Absorbance at 595nm has a strong positive relationship. While trial 2 and the mean of the two trials show that the two variables exhibit a very strong positive relationship. Figure 1: Trial 1 Absorbance at 595nm vs. Concentration of Albumin (ug/ul) In trial 1, the Peasonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation value is 0.679886127 showing a strong positive relationship between the two variables. From the absorbance value of the standard no.1, there is a decrease in the absorbance in standard no.2 and standard. No.3. Then a sudden increase in absorbance in standard no.4 and standard no.5. And also from the line equation, the slope has a positive value giving an upward direction and a direct correlation between absorbance and concentration of the albumin. Figure 2: Trial 2 Absorbance at 595nm vs. Concentration of Albumin (ug/ul) Trial 2 shows a very strong positive correlation between the two variables since the value of the Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation value is 0.710839544. Standard no.1 until Standard no.4 shows that the absorbance at 595nm is increasing with the albumin concentration. But for standard no.5, the absorbance of 4.00 ug/ul Albumin went down very quickly. Based on the line equation of the best fit line of this graph, the slope has a positive value giving an upward direction and a direct correlation between absorbance and concentration of the albumin. Figure 3: Mean Absorbance of the two trials at 595nm vs. Concentration of Albumin (ug/ul) The mean values of the absorbance at 595nm for the two trials were obtained and graph. The mean absorbance and albumin concentration shows a strong positive correlation, having a Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho correlation of 0.84783844. The graph shows that there are two outliers, standard no. 3 and standard no.4. A direct correlation between mean absorbance and concentration of the albumin is also shown based on the slope of the line equation. DISCUSSION Bradford assay utilize Coomassie Blue G-250 dye that forms a complex with the basic amino acids and thus having a blue form in color as the outcome (Redmile-Gordon et al., 2012). The concentration of the chicken egg white albumin ranges from 0.0 ug/ul, which is the blank , up to 4.0 ug/ul. This shows an increasing concentration of the albumin, and to have an accurate data, there is 0.8 so that the gap between the concentrations is equal. With this, the absorbance at 595nm can be compared to see the relationship between the two variables. In Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation, the closer the value to 1 or -1, the strong is the linear correlation for the two variables (Statstutor, n.d). In trial 1, the Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation value is 0.679886127, and since the value ranges from +.40 to +.69, the Albumin concentration and absorbance value has a strong positive. The graph shows that the absorbance readings are not consistent. Standard no.2 and standard no.3 shows a sudden decrease. The Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation value for trial 2 is 0.710839544. This shows that the relationship between the two variables is a strong positive relationship. This is because for a correlation to be strongly positive, the value must be +.70 or higher. For this trial, standard no.5 is the outlier. For the mean of the two trials, it could be seen that Standard no.3 and Standard no.5 are the outliers (Fig 3), although there is a strong positive relationship between the two variables based on its Pearsonââ¬â¢s Rho Correlation value, 0.84783844. One reason for having a result with outliers is that the solutions containing chicken egg white albumin, phosphate saline buffer and Bradford reagent were already exposed to light even before it was placed in the spectrophotometer. The particles already absorbed an amount of light thatââ¬â¢s why the light they absorbed in the spectrophotometer became less than expected. Temperature can also affect the Bradford assay. Since the temperature of the environment of the solution may vary throughout the experiment, like the temperature of the hands holding the cuvettes, the place where the solutions were settled, inside the cabinet, it might experience a change in temperature that affected the data. Lowering the temperature can increase the absorbance and vice versa (Steinke Shepherd, 1992). The basic and aromatic amino acids are the interest of the Bradford assay (Dennison, 2003). Some other amino acids present in the protein may not be detected by the assay. Different assay for protei n quantitation have own advantages and disadvantages that why there is no a standard assay. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Bradford assay for standard curve preparation is very suitable for this experiment since its easy to perform and at the same time good data were gathered. However, it would be better if at least two different assays were performed in order to verify the standard curve for the chicken egg white albumin and to further understand how the other assay works. Ensuring the consistent temperature in the working place can improve the outliers in the absorbance reading. And lastly being extra careful on the solutions being not exposed to light and any contaminants may improve the data. To conclude, this experiment verifies the positive relationship between absorbance and correlation base on the Pearsonââ¬â¢s r correlation, since positive value denotes positive linear correlation.The slope from the linear equation for the two trials and the mean also shows a positive one indicating a correlation between the two variables involve. LITERATURE CITED Alleoni, A. Albumen protein and functional properties of gelation and foaming. Scienceà Agricola[Internet]. 2006 [cited 2014 January 20];3(3). Available fromà http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162006000300013 Dennison, C. 2003. A guide to protein isolation [Internet]. The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 2003 [cited 2014 January 20]. Available from: http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=SuXi2WtHnwQCdq=lowry+assaysource=gbs_navlinks_s. Also available in paper copy from the publisher. Doss, D., Sumrall III, W., McElreath D., Jones D. 2013. Economic and financial analysis forcriminaljustice organizations [Internet]. Florida: CRC Press; 2013 [cited 2014 January 20]. Available from: http://faculty.quinnipiac.edu/libarts/polsci/statistics.html. Also available in paper copy from the publisher. Geng, F., Huang, Q., Wu, X., Ren, G., Shan, Y., Jin, G., Ma, M. Co-purification of chicken egg white proteins using polyethylene glycol precipitation and anion-exchange chromatography. Separation and Purification Technology [Internet]. 2012. [cited 2014 January 20];96:75-80. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2012.05.021 Oyong, G. 2012. Basic and advanced techniques in cell and molecular biology. Experiment 1, Standardà curve preparation for determining protein content.URCO. Redmile-Gordon, M., Armenise, E., White, R., Hirsch, P., Goulding, K. A comparison of twoà colorimetricassays, based upon Lowry and Bradfordtechniques, to estimate total protein in soil extracts. Soil Biology Biochemistry [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2014 January 20];67(100):166-173. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.08.017 Statstutor [Internet]. Pearsonââ¬â¢s correlation. [cited 2014 January 20]. Available fromà http://www.statstutor.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/pearsons.pdf Steinke J., Shepherd A. Effects of temperature on optical absorbance spectra of oxy-, carboxy-, and deoxyhemoglobin. Clinical Chemistry [Internet]. 1992 [cited 2014 January 20];38(7):1360-1364. Available from: http://www.clinchem.org/content/38/7/1360.long Ninfa, A., Ballou, D., Benore, M. 2009. Fundamental laboratory approaches for biochemistry andà biotechnology [Internet]. New Jersey: Wiley; 2009 [cited 2014 January 20].Available from:http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=k6_XQwAACAAJdq=fundamental+lab ratory+appoaches+for+biochemistry+and+biotechnologyhl=ensa=Xei=ajbdU uxo2tB7jTgEAved=0CC4Q6AEwAA. Also available in paper copy from the publisher.
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