Category: Sciences 2502

This case study is a discussion on the microbiology course that touches on Candida Albicans and Staphylococcus Aureus as the two leading and especially dangerous conditionally pathogenic and bacterial microorganisms. Due to their special design and mechanisms, they can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Below is a brief description of these types of microorganisms, as well as a detailed description of their structure and characteristics.

Thus, Candida Albicans is a yeast-like fungus, the cell wall of a two-layer structure. According to photos from the recent study, these fungi have a yeast, rather small and round-oval shape, and, as a rule, they bud and multiply singly. Moreover, Candida Albicans has several specific, unique sets of distinctive characteristics. For example, this fungus can repeatedly and spontaneously jump between different phenotypes. Moreover, fungi of the genus Candida are dimorphic, and under various conditions, they form blastospores and pseudomycelia. They are widely distributed in the environment and are found in soil, drinking water, food, and on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and animals. Also, favorable conditions for the growth of Candida fungi are considered to be the temperature of 21-37 ° C, and the mediums acidity is 5.8-6.5 pH.

On the other hand, Staphylococcus Aureus also has a fairly wide range of features, signs, and functions. According to the photos, the structure of Staphylococcus Aureus has a spherical, rounded shape (cocci) without flagella and appears in the form of clusters. The microorganisms characteristics differ from others in the following features. Firstly, some bacterial strains are resilient and resistant to various environmental influences, antibiotics, and other medications. Secondly, this type of microorganism is often found in soil and water and often pollutes products. Thirdly, Staphylococcus Aureus is quite maneuverable capable of damaging all tissues and organs of a living organism.

The article Why Mountains Matter in Canada by Graham McDowell sheds light on the essence of mountains in Canada and why it is vital to advance initiatives that protect mountain ranges and the biodiversity that survives on these landscapes. According to the author, mountains form spectacular scenery, providing a prelude to one of the greatest shows in the universe. However, mountains play a more critical role as they sustain human life, are a source of the worlds major water bodies, and offer food and shelter to diverse wildlife (McDowell, 2020). Unfortunately, the author also argues that human activities have adversely affected mountain ranges due to their contribution to climate change. Therefore, the author suggests working with environmental groups and shareholders in the community to create awareness and replace the value of Canadas mountain ranges.

Mountain ranges cover the whole of Canada with a long-standing relationship with its indigenous people. Indigenous people in Canada have resided in the mountains for centuries and have fabricated a mutual connection, allowing everything to thrive. Unfortunately, paving the way for the railway construction was one of the main factors that interfered with settlement around mountain areas. Nonetheless, most mountain ranges are currently filled with expensive hotels and modern infrastructure. Although tapping on mountain resources to facilitate economic development is crucial in contemporary society, shareholders should stop to consider their impact on the development of natural landscapes (McDowell, 2020). Climate change is one factor that has highly affected fauna and flora around mountain areas because of their sensitivity to weather patterns. The author suggests that mountains are invaluable due to their role in facilitating human survival resources and spiritual well-being. Therefore, he recommends collaboration between researchers, the community, and environmental activists to develop solutions to co-exist with mountains and promote positive changes.

Reference

McDowell, G. (2020). Why mountains matter in Canada. Canadian Geographic. Web.

There are 23 bones in the skull, some of which come in pairs. In general, the skull, excluding the mandible, appears as a single unit of joint bones (Seeley et al., 2002). Newborns skull consists of 45 bones, which gradually begin to fuse due to the process of osteogenesis.

The skull bones are subdivided into two groups: the facial skull and the cranial skull. The cranial vault has 8 bones that protect the brain, while the 14 facial bones form the structure of the face (Seeley et al. 2002). Facial bones named orbit, supraorbital margin, and supraorbital foramen, and infraorbital foramen provide bone support for the eyes.

The maxillary sinuses are considered to be the largest of the paranasal sinuses. Their name is based on the bones where they are located  the maxillae. (Seeley et al., 2002). They occupy the area below the orbits, are located in the right and left maxillary bones, and are paired.

The area behind the third maxillary molar is the maxillary tuberosity. On it, two or three small openings are distinguished, which lead to the alveolar canals (Seeley et al., 2002). Through these canals, the nerves pass to the posterior teeth of the upper jaw.

The mandible is divided into two parts: a curved, horizontal portion, or body, and two perpendicular portions, the rami. These parts connect with the body at almost perpendicular angles (Gallucci et al., 2011). The perpendicular portions of rami serve to form the temporomandibular joint and attach the chewing muscles.

To major landmarks of the maxillae belong labial fraenum, labial vestibule, buccal fraenum, buccal vestibule, hamular notch, and the posterior palatal seal area. The major landmarks of the mandible are mental foramen, external and internal oblique ridges, mandibular canal, submandibular fossa, and the lower border (Chen et al., 2020). Among all 22 bones, the mandible is the only movable bone.

The entire maxillae bone develops from 6 ossification points, which merge at the sixth month and form a whole bone. Foundations or so-called buttresses are of great functional importance, as they serve as conductors of chewing pressure. According to Di Ventura et al. (2019), the new occlusal contacts (the intercuspation between the maxillary lingual cusp of upper first molars and the vestibular cusp of the mandibular first molars) during chewing can also promote torque variations in the mandibular arch (p. 42). The mandible is located and developed around the Meckels cartilage. There are two main points of ossification on either side of the mandible, as well as several additional ones which appear during prenatal development. The maxillae and mandible arcs also differentiate in landscape and internal structure.

Reference

Chen, G., Al Awadi, M., Chambers, D. W., Lagravère-Vich, M. O., Xu, T., & Oh, H. (2020). The three-dimensional stable mandibular landmarks in patients between the ages of 12.5 And 17.1 years. BMC Oral Health, 20(1).

Di Ventura, A., Lanteri, V., Farronato, G., Gaffuri, F., Cossellu, G., Lanteri, C., & Beretta, M. (2019). Three-dimensional evaluation of rapid maxillary expansion anchored to primary molars: direct effects on maxillary arch and spontaneous mandibular response. European Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, 20(1), 3842.

Gallucci, M., Capoccia, S., & Catalucci, A. (2011). Radiographic atlas of skull and brain anatomy. Springer.

Seeley, R. R., Stephens, T. D., & Tate, P. (2002). Essentials of anatomy and physiology. McGraw-Hill.

The topic of pesticide contamination is of paramount importance for humanity today. Getting into the soil, these substances find their way into vegetables and plants, with which they get into animals and eventually into humans through the food chain. The entry of pesticides into the soil happens during planting and fertilizing the land. In the processes of hydrolysis, oxidation and demethylation, pesticides decompose, sometimes with the formation of toxic products. Chemicals such as atrazine, paraquat, methyl bromide, chloropicrin, chlorpyrifos, abamectin, bifenthrin, oxamyl, tefluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and diphacinone can lead to the death of insects and illnesses in animals and people (Donley). That is why it is essential to put a stop to the accumulation of pesticides in the soil and promote ecological farming. Therefore, urgent action must be taken to solve the consequences of pesticide overuse, spills, and improper disposal by adopting safer and more sustainable policies.

Pesticides get into the soil with fertilizers and have a toxic effect on different animals. Many fertilizers reduce the number of ground beetles and ants to a greater extent; carbamates destroy ticks and millipedes. Secondary poisoning has been cited as the cause of spider deaths after eating toxic insects. Insecticides on soil fauna are manifested in a decrease in the number of species living on agricultural land. Thus, insecticides that are directly introduced into the soil, especially in large doses, have a more toxic effect on representatives of the soil biota. These can lead to the death of soil fauna and even to the end of entire populations, while herbicides and fungicides have a less toxic effect (Veres et al., 2020). Birds can die when picking up pickled seeds that have been contaminated. In case of environmental pollution with pesticide residues, fish-eating and predatory birds located at the end of food chains may die first. During chemical plant protection, animals are exposed to danger due to poisoning of their food or directly from the negative effects of pesticides, leading them to flee from the affected areas.

The toxicity of pesticides to humans varies and depends on many reasons. Pesticides are hazardous, characterized by high resistance in the external environment, pronounced cumulative properties, and the ability to be transferred with the milk of nursing mothers. The adverse effect of pesticides on the human body can manifest itself in acute and chronic poisoning. These manifestations are most often accompanied by diseases of the digestive system and cardiovascular systems.

Many countries are now adopting a policy of gradually reducing the number of pesticides used. For example, organic farming has recently become an acclaimed alternative to the use of pesticides. This type of farming presupposes increasing productivity of soil with the use of natural fertilizers, gradually abandoning pesticides. The industry is now producing preparations that enrich the soil with fungi, algae, and bacteria necessary for its normal functioning.

Another method used to replace pesticides in farming is agricultural biological protection. Biological methods can be divided into two large groups, direct use of living creatures that can be bred and then released into fields or greenhouses and the use of substances derived from them as pesticides. Such natural pesticides are much more environmentally friendly than synthetic ones since they do not contain anything difficult for wildlife to recycle. They also favorably differ in a significant selectivity of action. More and more attention has been paid to the natural presence of entomophagy in the fields in recent years. Modern plant protection measures are based on the utmost preservation of wild populations of entomophagy.

While pesticides increase soil fertility and have protective properties against harmful insects, they can cause severe damage to people and wildlife getting into their bodies with water and food. The notion of ecological farming, which presupposes giving up on pesticides, is becoming more and more popular. Alternative methods which can help to increase the fertility of the soil are the use of organic fertilizers and the breeding of entomophagy. Therefore, more effort should be invested into solutions that do not harm the environment and its inhabitants.

Works Cited

Donley, Nathan. Toxic Hangover. Center for Biological Diversity. January 2020, Web.

Veres, Andrea, et al. An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic pesticides. Part 4: Alternatives in major cropping systems. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 27, 2020, pp. 29867-29899. Web.

Bacteria are one of the organisms used in bioremediation to degrade pollutants that jeopardize environmental and human well-being. Pseudomonas putida is a bacterium that plays a significant role in the bioremediation process. According to Weimer et al. (2020), the bacterium is gram-negative and rod-shaped which is found in different ecological habitats. Additionally, Pseudomonas putida is characterized by its rapid growth rate, undemanding and opportunistic nutritional capabilities, and the ability to withstand toxic chemicals as well as oxidative stress. These features make the organism an essential agent for bioremediation.

Pseudomonas putida is commonly used in the bioremediation of pollutants found in pesticides and several heavy metals found in industrial waste. Medfu Tarekegn et al. (2020) indicate that the bacterium has a considerable biosorption capability because of its high surface-to-volume ratio. Pseudomonas putida cell wall has potential active chemisorption sites. It is also stable, and its ability to survive increases when in mixed cultures. Pseudomonas putida breaks down pollutants into non-toxic metabolites when applied to contaminated environments.

Although Pseudomonas putida is a useful agent for bioremediation, its excessive usage can be associated with negative impacts. Application of the organism in bioremediation results in its release to the soil and aquatic environments. Therefore, the bacteriums opportunistic nature can cause infections in immunosuppressed individuals (Weimer et al., 2020). The bacterium can also develop resistance to antibiotics, limiting effective treatment for infections it may cause. Nevertheless, the risks to environmental and human well-being from Pseudomonas putida are significantly low when used as instructed and considering all precautions. Therefore, utilization of the bacterium in bioremediation is an effective way of ensuring a safe environment for both human beings and animals.

References

Medfu Tarekegn, M., Zewdu Salilih, F., & Ishetu, A. (2020). Microbes used as a tool for bioremediation of heavy metal from the environment. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6(1), 1-20. Web.

Weimer, A., Kohlstedt, M., Volke, D. C., Nikel, P. I., & Wittmann, C. (2020). Industrial biotechnology of Pseudomonas putida: Advances and prospects. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 104(18), 77457766. Web.

Artifact 1. Data Collection Instrument

Description of the Artifact

The first artifact is a table for collecting data. The purpose of the artifact is to evaluate the learners grasp of the key concepts and tools of inquiry. It was meant for 5-year old children and was to engage the learners in an outdoor activity in subjects that focus on everyday life. Specifically, the learners were to visit a garage and fill the chart. They were to apply their numeracy skills in a practical environment, which not only provide opportunities for learning but also an interesting way to internalize knowledge.

Key Element

This artifact targets element 5a of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) code. It emphasizes on understanding essential content knowledge, especially in numeracy and mathematics. In addition, the artifact targets element 5b by evaluating the learners understating of the various inquiry tools and concepts (NAEYC, 2021). Lastly, it demonstrates the practical application of element 5c, which shows the instructors effective application of knowledge to design meaningful and challenging learning experiences for each child.

Demonstration of Competence

The artifact demonstrates the instructors competence in each of the three elements of the NAEYC standard. Firstly, it demonstrates the instructors content knowledge in mathematics and specifically in data collection. The learners familiarize themselves with data collection and classification, which is a key requirement for learning mathematics. Secondly, it demonstrates the knowledge and application of inquiry tools to solve problems. Lastly, it shows how instructors can apply their knowledge to develop meaningful and interesting learning opportunities for each learner. It shows that the instructor can use common tools and available resources to create strong foundation for acquisition of numeracy skills for the young learners in future.

Artifact

Artifact 2. Five Senses Fieldwork

Description of the Artifact

The second artifact was a chart for assessing the childrens appreciation of the five common senses. It was to be filled after a field tour within the school compound. In addition, the artifact targeted young learners aged below six years of age. Its main purpose was to develop self-awareness among the learners in a friendly and educative way.

Key Elements

This artifact focused on element 5a, which tests the instructors understanding of content knowledge in teaching young learners. Moreover, it tested the educators knowledge of key concepts and tools of inquiry needed to achieve effective learning as provided in element 5b. Lastly, the artifact tested the practical application of knowledge in designing meaningful and practical learning outcomes for the children.

Demonstration of Competence

The artifact demonstrates competence in each of the three elements in NAEYC standards. To begin with, it demonstrates the instructors awareness of content and resources by engaging the learners in age-appropriate self-discovery, which forms a critical part of early learning. Further, by engaging in field work, the artifact offers the children the tools needed to observe, experiment, question, and to ask questions that clarify their understanding of the personal senses. Lastly, the artifact and the practical field experience demonstrate the instructors effectiveness in developing an interactive session for learning the functions of common senses, their application, and their role in everyday life. Notably, the exposure to real-life experiences presents unforgettable learning opportunities and creates an interesting environment for learning and building social relationships. The relationships further strengthen the learners bonds and create effective teams for future learning.

Artifact

Reference

NAEYC professional preparation standards. (2021). NAEYC. Web.

Lifespan development is the complete process of the human beings development from conception until the time of death. It is also referred to as a holistic approach to better understand all the physiological, emotional, cognitive, and fundamental social changes that normal human beings undergo. Therefore, this discussion will extensively look at the declines that occur in late adulthood, the measures and techniques of curbing these effects, and most importantly, the appropriate method of dealing with these changes.

Aging is a gradual, continuous process of the natural changing of the body that begins in early adulthood. In the Middle Ages, most human body parts gradually declined as aging is often associated with dynamic biological and even behavioral changes. In most cases, getting old leads to the loss of memory, poor intellectual function, decreased mobility rate, and higher rates of disease infection. Late adulthood is the stage of life where an individual is 60 years and above, and it entails the last phase of the physical changes (Santrock, 2019). During this stage, the skin loses its elasticity, the bodys reaction becomes much slower, and the muscle strength also diminishes or fades away.

Nonetheless, at around 20s, the hearing and vision are so sharp, but it also begins to fade away at this stage. Furthermore, changes in the brain are also noticeable and there is a high probability of a human encountering or facing memory loss and a further decreased intellectual function. Nevertheless, the most appropriate way of curbing these changes and declines is by encouraging the affected individuals to act physically active and functionally maintain their minds. They should also practice eating healthy foods, and, most importantly, stay connected with social activities (Santrock, 2019). However, reducing the risk of cognitive decline with age can be achieved by involving the aged individuals taking enough sleep, actively enjoying their leisure, and getting an early start in their lives.

In conclusion, it is clear that during the old age stage, there is a loss or decline in memory that arises from the decrease of the speed that encodes the storage and the retrieval of the memory. However, most old-age adults tend to struggle with shame, guilt, and depression, especially in the areas where old-age adults are perceived as burdens. This condition can be curbed by having enough sleep, being physically fit and getting enough rest.

Reference

Santrock, J. W. (2019). Lifespan development (17^th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

The meiosis and mitosis modes of cell division are critical to the survival of living organisms. The two processes are slightly similar in their molecular mechanism but also exhibit significant differences in a wide range of aspects. According to Sato, Kakui, & Toya (2021), mitosis and meiosis differ in purpose, types of cells, number of daughter cells, genetic variation, and recombination. This paper reviews the process of meiosis and mitosis and exemplifies critical differences between the two types of cell division. Mitosis occurs in somatic cells and aims at promoting growth or regeneration, whereas meiosis (reduction division) occurs in gametes and involves the production of germ cells (Sato et al., 2021). Somatic division entails chromosomal duplication in the S phase to generate sister chromatids, which undergo four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, without DNA crossover between the chromatids.

In gamete division, however, DNA replication precedes chromosomal recombination. The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes only occurs in reduction division. For that reason, meiotic daughter cells exhibit genetic diversity, while mitotic end cells emerge as clones of the parent cell (Sato et al., 2021). Meiosis also involves two division cycles in that there is a repetition of the four critical phases of mitosis (Sato et al., 2021). This results in four haploid daughter cells instead of two diploid daughter cells, as in mitosis. The length and events of each phase also differ according to the type of cell division. For instance, the prophase is longer in meiosis than mitosis and involves chromosomal recombination, absent in somatic division (Sato et al., 2021). Considerable differences exist between the processes of mitosis and meiosis; nevertheless, the two modes of cell division work parallel to sustain life.

Reference

Sato, M., Kakui, Y., & Toya, M. (2021). Tell the difference between mitosis and meiosis: Interplay between chromosomes, cytoskeleton, and cell cycle regulation. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 9(660322).

Color blindness, or color deficiency, occurs when an individual is unable to distinguish between certain colors and belongs to the most widespread genetic disorders. This happens in an X-linked recessive pattern, as the genes, and mutations that are responsible for the defect, OPN1LW, OPN1MW, and OPN1SW, reside in the X chromosome (Color vision deficiency, 2020, para. 11). Males, who have only one, consequently are more probable to develop the disorder because a single genetic change is sufficient to cause it. Meanwhile, in a female, mutated genes need to be present in both of her X chromosomes to result in a color deficiency.

The above genes encode the so-called opsins, the sensitive-light proteins that form retina cones. Each of them responds to a particular wavelength of light and transmits the appropriate signal to the brain that combines the input into the normal perception of colors (Color vision deficiency, 2020). The three genes bear the instructions for synthesizing three opsin pigments, which is an example of gene expression. Meanwhile, a mutation in whichever of them interferes with the process, causing defects in the cones of a certain type or their complete absence, which, in turn, makes adequate color perception impossible. Such an effect exemplifies gene suppression, as it limits expression up to its inactivation. It needs clarifying whether this is hypothetically correctable with medical intervention, in other words, whether an artificial reactivation of expression is possible, and if not, why.

Reference

Color vision deficiency. (2020). Medicine Plus. Web.

Paradigmatic Commitment

The research paradigm that forms the foundation of this study is constructivism, which seeks to create meaning based on qualitative data. Constructivism was selected as the most appropriate paradigm for the study since the research considered the participants perspectives and their decision-making process. Hence, constructivism was more relevant to the goals of the study than positivism or other paradigms.

Epistemology

In accordance with the selected research paradigm, knowledge comes from constructing the meaning of information drawn from subjects experiences. Hence, the study will produce knowledge by collecting information from participants on their Medicare decision-making process and influencing factors and analyzing this information to identify central themes and relate them to one another in a conceptual model.

Ontology

The research paradigm applied here posits that reality is constructed based on how humans process information. The research will seek to offer a view of reality based on the information collected from the participants.

Axiology

The study seeks to assist scholars and institutions in understanding the decision-making process of Medicare beneficiaries. This could help to improve offers available to them and develop new services.

Purpose and Rationale

Although Medicare insurance plans serve over 64 million seniors and disabled persons in the United States, there is limited data available on the factors that influence their decision-making during the annual open enrollment. Collecting information and constructing a theoretical view of this decision-making process will help to improve service quality and access. Hence, the purpose of the study is to identify factors that beneficiaries consider when selecting a plan and describe a decision-making process when deciding to enroll in a plan.

Research Questions

There are two research questions that the study will focus on:

1. Which factors influence Medicare beneficiaries decision-making during the annual open enrolment, and why?
2. How do Medicare beneficiaries make choices during the annual open enrolment?

Positionality/Subjectivity

As the scholarly knowledge on the topic is limited, I do not have a clear position in relation in relation to the subject of this research. Nevertheless, based on my experience with Medicare customers, I believe that fulfilling the purpose of this study and answering the research questions would help to improve the service they receive and contribute to public health in the United States.

Methodology

The study will draw on qualitative methodology, which aligns with the selected research paradigm. Specifically, qualitative narrative methods were selected for the study since they allow analyzing the participants perceptions and decision-making process, thus helping to fulfill the goals of the research.

Study Boundaries

In order to overcome the limitations imposed by the qualitative methodology, the study will focus on collecting in-depth data during interviews. The study will be conducted in (Location) from (start time) to (end time) 2020. The sample will include 20 participants who receive benefits under Medicare insurance programs. Hence, the population will mainly include seniors and disabled persons who are current users of Medicare and will participate in the next annual enrollment.

Recruitment Methods

The appropriate participants for the study will be identified through a healthcare facility providing services under Medicare. The research will be advertised in the facility, and people who respond to the advertisement will be admitted based on whether they are current Medicare beneficiaries. The participants will also be asked to provide information regarding their general health status to verify that they can participate in interviews and provide informed consent to be part of the study.