Platypus Envenomation :: Australian Animals Wildlife Essays

Platypus Envenomation Abstract The duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), order Monotrema, can be found throughout river systems in eastern Australia. The males have a retractable spur located on each of their hind legs. The spurs are attached to venom glands that produce a toxic cocktail of at least four different classes of peptides. These four compounds (Hyaluronidase, OvCNP-39, OvNGF, and defensin-like peptides) are highly selective enzymes and polypeptides that work together to inflict excruciating pain and edema that can last for months. The first compound identified, Hyaluronidase, lowers viscosity to allow for a deeper penetration of the venom into tissue. A C-type natriuretic peptide called OvCNP-39 contributes to edema. OvNGF is a nerve growth factor that is responsible for extreme sensitivity to heat and pressure. The role of Defensin-like proteins is not well known, but it is believed that they contribute the pain and edema associated with the venom. An unknown compound has been found to induce Ca++ dependent current in root ganglion cells, which may also contribute to the feeling of pain. Research is being done to identify the roles of these compounds and the possibility of them being used in medicine. Introduction The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a unique animal that is found only in Australia. It is in the class Mammalia and the order Monotrema. Monotremes are phylogenetically the oldest of the mammals and can only be found naturally in Australia and in nearby New Guinea. They are quite different from placentals and marsupials and are believed to be the link between the reptiles and the other mammals. This is most noticeable though their means of reproduction and waste elimination. Montremes have a cloaca, which is a single opening for passage of solid and liquid waste, where the transfer of sperm takes place, and in females, the laying of eggs. This feature is shared only with birds and reptiles. Platypuses live solo, except during the breeding season. They feed on worms and freshwater crayfish (Cheerax destructor) in eastern Australian rivers (Sutherland, 1983). They have low average body temperature compared to other mammals, which further supports their reptilian evolution (Torres et al., 1999). They can live about 16 years and grow to be 40-50 cm long, with males being larger than females (Jackson, 2003). Venom: Production & Delivery A characteristic that helps add even more to the platypus ¡Ã‚ ¯ uniqueness is the males ¡Ã‚ ¯ ability to produce and deliver venom.

Administrator Challenges

Criminal justice administration is not a position that should be taken lightly given that it involves an enormous responsibility and occasionally very stressful environment. As such, people in administrative positions are expected to be ethically upright and boast fitting behavior in view of the fact that they serve as examples to their co-workers and the community.The administrators are often confronted with challenges in criminal justice management as well as challenges that are very well associated with the modern government (University of South Florida, n.d.).Today’s society is continually in transition; and as a result, fundamental and major changes are equally taking place in the social and economic field. In order for the criminal justice administration to be successful, it must necessarily keep pace with the changing times. It is important therefore that administrators must have an advanced analytical skill, as well as the capacity to use the aforementioned attribute i n designing and evaluating solutions to the ever evolving challenges.Challenges of the Criminal Justice AdministrationBasic is the rule in criminal justice that serious inadequacy in the administration of justice is considered denial of justice. More often than not, breakdowns take place in the administration of criminal justice. Delay and incompetence in apprehending, deciding court cases and in providing appropriate correctional programs have become recognizable and unending to the system.This observable fact is not restricted to the United States alone, but it is rather worldwide and historical; it is inherent in every judicial system, which in reality should be guarding against any injustice made to a person. The causes of delays and inefficiencies in the administration of criminal justice are profound and diverse, arising as a result of factors equally inside and outside the system (Asian Legal Information Institute).Nevertheless, it has always been the primary concern of every civilized society to deal with the challenge of incompetence in the system with a view to find ways of eliminating substandard and insufficiencies in the administration.Court AdministratorGenerally, every court employs a court administrator who is placed to administer court operations including the management of finances and appointment of personnel. However, other than managing employees, there is more to being a court administrator.Court administrators’ responsibilities involves personnel management, signing of judgments and orders, fiscal responsibilities, case flow management, records management, issuing summons, and statistical analysis, in addition to designing and putting into practice within the pre-existing court guidelines a number of significant procedures.Aside from managing their department and the court system’s financial expenses, court administrators are also expected to make forecasts as to the future needs of the system.The court administratorsâ€⠄¢ responsibility is one that cannot be taken without due consideration, since they are in charge for numerous responsibilities within the department. As such, they must be competent enough to think on their feet without delay.Court administrators must be capable of evaluating and interpreting the necessities of the organization, and must constantly assess the latter’s development in order to properly determine indispensable changes. The satisfying part of being a court administrator is that the position often builds encouraging relationships with the community, co-workers and employees.In addition, the position is satisfying in view of the fact that administrators are granted with the authority to execute courses of action that they believe to be advantageous to court employees as well as to the public.However, despite the fact that the role of court administrator generates numerous rewards, there are evidently several aspects which can and will complicate the role. Like any other profession, there are issues that would make the court administrator’s work multifaceted and obviously exhausting.Issues in the areas of public relations, budgeting, meeting deadlines and on the whole encouraging people, are continually being encountered by the justice system. Consequently, because of the unremitting traditional direction of justice, many observers suggest that court administrators are becoming inefficient and ineffective in the performance their duties.Experts believe that in order to become an efficient and effective court administrator, one must have: (1) proper support systems, together with case flow systems and administration information systems; (2) sufficient resources, together with adequate resources for the adjustment process; (3) effective procedures, tactics and strategies, as well as an operational plan; (4) an appropriate management and organizational structure; (6) a set of objectives and collective vision; and (6) strong management ski lls (Fraser, n.d., p.6).Unfortunately, some observers believe that there are still a few court administrators these days that are deficient with some of the abovementioned requirements.Outcome of the CourseIn addition to the fact that the course enhanced my researching skills, I learned a number of additional useful knowledge, particularly on the administration and administrators of criminal justice. The course has provided me information on some challenges affecting the aforesaid administrators, aside from the issues and satisfaction associated with the position.Taken as a whole, the criminal justice administration class has helped improve my awareness of what the specific duties of the justice administrators really are.The class has enlightened me on the large number of new opportunities as well as several long-established career opportunities in criminal justice. For that reason, I am now taking into consideration careers in the criminal justice system, especially in court admini stration.ReferencesAsian Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Criminal Justice System. Retrieved February 6, 2009, from   http://www.asianlii.org/pk/other/PKLJC/reports/22.htmlFraser, C. (n.d.). Modernizing Models of Court Administration: A Time for Change. Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice. Retrieved February 6, 2009, from http://www.ciaj-icaj.ca/english/publications/2004/684Fraser.pdfUniversity of South Florida. (n.d.). Criminal Justice Administration. Retrieved February 6, 2009, from http://criminology.usf.edu/faculty/data/certificate_brochure.pdf

Laboratory Techniques & Measurements Essay

Laboratory Techniques & Measurements Objectives: Become familiar with several important laboratory techniques. Gain proficiency with some of the common measuring devices used in a chemistry laboratory. Determine the volume, mass, length, temperature, and density of objects and liquids 1. Length Measurements: Object Length (cm) Length (mm) Pop Can 12.0 120.0 iPhone 11.7 117.0 TV Remote 16.3 163.0 2. Temperature Measurements: Hot water from tap (⠁ °C) –  47 Boiling Water (⠁ °C) –  61 Boiling Water after 5 mins.(⠁ °C) –  73 Cold water from tap (⠁ °C) –  15 Ice Water (⠁ °C) – 6 Ice Water after 5 mins. (⠁ °C) – 4 3. Volume Measurements: Test tube volume (mL) – 10 Number of drops in 1 mL – 9 Pipet volume (mL) – 4 4. Mass Measurements: Object Estimated Mass (g) –  7.8 Actual Mass (g) –  9.2 5. Density Measurements: Mass A Mass B Mass A-B Object Graduated Cylinder + Substance Hypothesis on Salt Compared to Water: The salt solution will have a greater density than pure water as the substance mass is lager. 6. Densities of Irregular Objects: Mass A Mass B Mass B-A Object Graduated Cylinder Volume (mL) Graduated Cylinder + Object (mL) Object Volume (mL) Object Mass (g) Density M/V Metal bolt Water Displacement Method Questions: A. Some reasons for the water not boiling at 100⠁ °C could be: different temperature settings, not allowing enough time to fully boil and experimental error. B. 102⠁ °C-100⠁ °C 99.2-100 100⠁ °C 100 2-0.8 100⠁ °C 100⠁ ° 0.02 X100%-0.008X100 =2=-0.8 C. Height= 3.6, Base=4.21, Width= 1.17 Volume = bXh/w 4.21X3.6/1.17 = 13.31 Density= mass/volume 21.3/13.31 = 1.6 D. Density= mass/volume 19.30=26.15/V -26.15X19.30=V -504.69=V V=504.69 Conclusion: Some new things that I learned from this lab are experimental errors can drastically effect the outcome and adding a substance such as salt to water will increase the density of water. I believe I did meet the lab objectives because in result of this lab I became familiar with lab techniques, gained experience using lab measuring devices and I learned the volume, mass, length temperature and density of some objects and liquids.