Saturday, January 25, 2020
The Biology of the Venom of Hapalochlaena Maculosa :: Poisonous Australia Wildlife Essays
The Biology of the Venom of Hapalochlaena maculosa Hapalochlaena maculosa, commonly known as the blue-ringed octopus, is a golf ball-sized cephalopod inhabiting the waters around Tasmania and southeastern Australia with a highly potent neurotoxin that it uses as a predatory and defensive mechanism. H. maculosa does not actually synthesize its venom, but rather, the neurotoxin (known as maculotoxin) is produced by a bacterial symbiont of the octopus that lives in its salivary glands. While not overly aggressive, H. maculosa has been known to bite humans when they disturb the usually reclusive octopus. Tetrodotoxin (TTX), the principle component of maculotoxin, inhibits the nervous system by binding to sodium channels on nerve cells to prevent the flow of sodium and release of neurotransmitters. Recent findings have shown that there are sodium channel variants that are either immune or resistant to tetrodotoxin. In most humans, however, victims of the blue-ringed octopusââ¬â¢s neurotoxin will enter into increasingly dangerous s tages of paralysis, which will often end in death of the victim without medical assistance. Sustained medical care for the duration of the toxinââ¬â¢s effects will improve the likelihood of a victimââ¬â¢s survival, but mortality rates are still staggeringly high despite current medical efforts and attempts to find an antidote. Introduction Australia is home to many of the most venomous animals in the world. Many people know that the bites from many of Australiaââ¬â¢s snakes and spiders or the stings from its jellyfish and scorpions can be lethal, and oftentimes images of a person writhing in agony as a toxin courses through his or her body come to mind. However, one of Australiaââ¬â¢s deadliest creatures has a toxin that works in a very different way. The venom of Hapalochlaena maculosa, or the blue-ringed octopus, causes relatively little pain, but its effects are much more terrifying for the victim. This venom, known as maculotoxin, is an unusual venom both in how it has come to be the weapon of the blue-ringed octopus and in how it works. Physical Biology H. maculosa is a member of Class Cephalopoda and Family Octopodidae. The octopus is made up of a main body, or head, in which there is a well-developed brain, a mouth region that houses the beak, and a pair of eyes. Surrounding the mouth are eight or ten tentacles which are lined with suckers. Within the mantle cavity are the visceral organs, including the venom apparatus (Halstead et al.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Democracy In Queensland Essay
Democracy is a form of government wherein the regime that would be formed or was formed in a certain nation is based on vox populi (ââ¬Å"voice of the peopleâ⬠) and or the rule of the majority. Furthermore, in this type of government, the consent of the governed is still based on the majority with an assumption of a free and fair election conducted, on the goal or objective of protecting for the political minorities, fair and just treatment or execution of the law and basic human rights, and political pluralism (Camp, 1841). We can say that the people or individuals electing the government and its government officials, has the power to alter, accept or reject some decisions made by the elected rulers. In the modern-day world of political views, beliefs and principles, the definition of democracy seems vague and for others, it is ambiguous having different meanings depending on the nation having this type of government (Dunn, 2005). The article published Last February 1, 2007 in the editorial section of The New Zealand Herald, which was entitled ââ¬Å"Sometimes, democracy can stink,â⬠talks about Queensland regarding public consultations, government rule and in general, democracy. It was said that Queensland is under a critical situation of having the worst condition when it comes to water shortage during the summer. So the government of Queensland asked the opinion of the majority about a proposed use of recycled water. Since Queensland is a nation under a democratic government, as much we could say that Australians (in Queensland) live in democracy, having a political system wherein they have the power to vote for or choose through their ballots their government and government representatives, therefore, it was a proper action for them to consult the majority first. The problem was that the state premiere announced the cancellation of the said referendum. The people of Queensland or the majority would have to drink or use the recycled water whether they like it or not. Democracy in this aspect was bypassed, but if you would look at the problem or the crisis which Queensland would have to suffer in the future, the decision of the state was just and necessary. The author of the article carefully looks at some instances wherein democracy in a nation sometimes becomes a problem. The author may not be a government official, but it seems that he or she has good political and social background and knowledge. He or she is able to show that with or without democracy, the people of Queensland and its government officials would have to do their own parts and that they have the responsibility in taking steps for the development or progress of their nation. The author sees the action taken by the state or the government officials regarding the issue was just and shows that the ruling class has the capacity for good governance. The action which they took might not have been a democratic one, but it was a lesson regarding a good government. Democracy, lying on the principles such as the sovereignty of the people, government based upon consent of the governed, majority rule, minority rights, guarantee of basic human rights, and the others, lies on a divine fact that within its hearts, is freedom (Thayer, 1919). This freedom is possessed by the individuals, either the rulers or the individuals ruled. This freedom, that they posses should be enough to create ways or implementations that would benefit the majority. I think that democracy is not truly bypassed even without the consent of the majority as long as the rule or law implemented benefits the majority most, and does not cause harm of any form or in any way. In the case of the implementation of the use of recycled water in Queensland, it was a right decision, and that it does not harm the majority but rather help them survive longer. Individuals who are very attached to the ââ¬Å"definitionâ⬠of democracy or those who are lovers of democracy would see this act of the state of Queensland as preposterous. They would argue that the majority was neglected and that due process was not done. But this is not the case. The government and the government officials of Queenslandââ¬â¢s decided or implemented the use of recycled water because they considered and thought of the majority and it was just a fair decision. It does not matter whether the referendum results was a ââ¬Å"yesâ⬠or a ââ¬Å"noâ⬠from the majority. Through public consultations or the referendum, the government could receive a majority of ââ¬Å"noâ⬠or a majority disagreeing with the use of recycled water, but later on as the water crisis worsens, the state would implement it, thus, leading to an inconsistency in the government, decreasing the hope or trust given to the state by its people. Thus, the cancellation of the referendum was justified. If the government of Queensland did not implement the use of recycled water, then Queensland would be approaching its end. It is a situation wherein the people of Queensland do not have a choice. They have the option of drinking or not drinking the recycled water because of certain reasons such as unpalatability, but ultimately, they have to or else, they would die of thirst. The problem was addressed by the government as to ensure the needs and the safety of the majority living in Queensland. The referendum, through the questionnaires, public polls, public interviews and other statistical measures may not be enough to ensure a firm or the best decision that has the most benefit. The government of Queensland, more specifically its officials, had taken great depth in studying the best solution to address both the problems being undertaken and the inhabitants of Queensland. Furthermore, in their government website, the recycled water which was to be given to the majority is wastewater which highly purified and treated to an extent that it reaches the highest quality or standard. They even promote safe, environmentally sustainable, cheap source and enough water supplies through purified recycled water. The recycled water also passes a strict series of processing and guidelines to ensure the safety of the majority and for the progress of the society. The article regarding the democracy in Queensland, ethically shows that sometimes, democracy may not be fulfilled or followed strictly or thoroughly. Socially speaking, the government of Queensland performs its duties under due process for the protection of the political minorities and for the benefit or sake of the majority. A good government has a central role of performing plays or actions that would ensure a progress or development of the country or nation, economically or socially (Slinn, 2004). Furthermore, the referendum might have been cancelled or what the majority has to say might not have been legally considered in the actions that the state has taken, but it does not mean that democracy in Queensland is dead and the majority no longer has the power. It only means that the actions taken shows that the majority was in power and that the action taken was for their benefit, and not for the benefit of the ruling body. In addition to this, the government or the state was also at risk regarding the cancellation of the referendum, because they could be perceived to violate the democracy in Queensland, when in fact, they do not. The democratic law of giving benefit to the majority is the sovereign entity in this issue (Oswald, 1986). The author does not mislead people in stating that democracy sometimes stink. He or she does not generalize democracy to be a burden and he or she does not imply that democracy is a weak type of government. From the title of the article, he or she initially states ââ¬Å"sometimesâ⬠, implying that it democracy is not always that bad, but in this case regarding the crisis in Queensland, it was.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Negative Effects Of Technology On Society - 1326 Words
ââ¬Å"When girls wake up in the morning after sleepovers [they] donââ¬â¢t even talk to each other for a good 20 minutes. [They] just sit on [their] phones.â⬠- a quote found on social media. Technology has made life easier, more convenient, and even boosted the economy- but has it made humans more alone? Instead of talking to a person that might be two feet in front, humans stare at their phone. Technology, especially social media has impacted society, and not for the better. The crucial, still developing, generation such as children and young adults are impacted negatively. Growth in technology has lead to dependence on devices, a growing conformation to societys definition of perfect, and a fear of missing out- creating an isolated society.â⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦A study on college students highlights the dependence on technology, ââ¬Å"...38.3% of students are Internet addicted in general, 43.8% had mild dependency, 15.9% depended to medium and 2% had severe depen dencyâ⬠(Hamissi 3). Many young adults believe they need technology to survive. Young adults are ââ¬Å"...a generation built on the Internet, [they] have been psychologically primed to crave a validation that often feels more tangible and comfortable online than in real lifeâ⬠(Rosenberg 5). A reliance on smartphones and technology has expanded humanââ¬â¢s virtual lives and isolated them from the real world. Who would need the real world if a fake virtual world was perfect? Dependence on technology has lead to a warped self worth. In todayââ¬â¢s society self worth is dependent on the number of likes a picture on social media gets or the number of retweets a tweet receives. Humans have become ââ¬Å"...used to the perfectly edited, filtered versions of [themselves] and others that [theyââ¬â¢re] losing [the] concept of whatââ¬â¢s real and what isnââ¬â¢t. Itââ¬â¢s been said that teenagers [currently] are on social media around nine hours a dayâ⬠(Sarah S mith 9). Forbes tells of how ââ¬Å"Recent studies have found that despite being more connected than ever, more people feel more alone than everâ⬠(Warrell 2). The things that humans have told themselves will make them happy, such as fame on social media or being viewed asShow MoreRelatedThe Negative Effects Of Technology On Society1201 Words à |à 5 PagesIn recent discussions of technology in general, a controversial issue whether the social media provide a net good for the society, has raised wide concern. That is due to the fact the technology has developed so fast and affected our society in various aspects, such as the way of communication and self-assessment. On the one hand, some argue that technology makes our life easier and more convenient. That is definitely true. 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