Aging population in Japan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aging population in Japan - Research Paper Example Despite the challenges, the aging population seems to create new opportunities because people will have longer healthier lives hence extended working years besides different capacities and needs (Lutz 34). The key to survival depends on adaptation on individual, organisational and societal levels. Japan is facing the population-aging crisis now. It is a resource-poor island hence changes in population size and structure tends to present a serious problem. Japan faced a problem of a large not-working population until the 1950s. From 1600-1868, the Edo period, Japan opted to hold down its population through extremely desperate means such as infanticide as well as negligence of the old people (Coulmas 5). Towards late 19 century, the population rose and it was unlikely that japan would ever face a shortage of births. However, that is what Japan is experiencing and has experienced over a couple of past decades. Over the last half century, death rates have reduced and the life span has increased by about 30 years. For women, life expectancy is currently at 82 whereas for men it is 76 (Uhlenberg 134). The number of those aged 65 and above was 14% of the population in 1994 and by the 2010; Japan was among the leading in the world in this measure. In Japan, people in their seventies and eighties are prevalent and even centenarians have increased in number. The difference in population structure is due to factors such as fertility and mortality(Coulmas 25).Women in Japan are no longer in a hurry to get married like in previous generations and when they marry, they sire fewer children. In Japan, unmarried women rarely have babies hence the slow rate of marriages contributes to the decreased young population. Women in japan have also opted on continuing with their education to get better job opportunities compared to those of earlier years. In addition, unmarried men are more than unmarried women hence

Discuss Nathanael Greene's Southern campaign. Why do some historians Essay

Discuss Nathanael Greene's Southern campaign. Why do some historians view Greene as being second only to Washington in importance in winning the war - Essay Example Greene was handed the responsibility of leading the then weak Revolutionary southern army that had already been led by three commanders who failed in their duties (Golway, 2005). He was given the duty of commanding the war against the British occupation of the south. With a small and poorly trained army, he was up against a more established and experienced British army. With the awareness that his troops were not able to win large and decisive wars, he planned brief and sudden attacks against the prominent British army. He took a bold step to divide his army into smaller groups, forcing the British troops to do the same (Tucker, 2009). He then ordered the Continental army to retreat, and the British, without realizing the tactic used against them, followed the Continental army. This drove the British army further away from their supply base, making them weaker and eventually losing the battle (Tucker, 2009). Some historians view Greene as second to Washington in the importance of winning the war because he was appointed by Washington and took orders from him (Carbone, 2008). He also succeeded where three other commanders had failed. In the same way like Washington, he was gifted with the ability to use small means to a significant advantage (Carbone,

Developing a Conservation Plan for Pinery Park in Ontario, Canada Essay

Developing a Conservation Plan for Pinery Park in Ontario, Canada - Essay Example The management plan of the park should consider the region that surround the park in general. The overall effort of the management will be of future benefit to the parks and the surrounding environment as a whole. Proper management of the park will highly contribute to the increase in the social tact among the local programs. The realization of conservation goals for Pinery Park requires strategic plans for easier management of the whole landscape that includes the areas that are set aside for either production or protection. Reserves alone are not sufficient for life conservation but they are the real basis mostly on which national plans are constructed on. Reserves have two main roles. They should be the real sample or either they should represent the biodiversity of every section. On the other hand they should detach this biodiversity from any of the processes that intimidate its diligence. Existing reserve systems like the PINERY Park contains prejudiced sample of biodiversity, u sually that of remote places and other areas that are unsuitable for viable activities. A more systematic approach to locating and designing reserves has been evolving and this approach will need to be implemented if a large proportion of today's biodiversity is to exist in a future of increasing numbers of people and their demands on natural resources. The extent to which the park will achieve and fulfill its goals is when they meet two main objectives that will lead them to their success the objectives are a long-lasting goal and representativeness these are the two main keys that are needed for full variety of biodiversity. The Pinery park management needs to set 1.2million dollars. The money should be allocated to a control program that will see different species in the park that require different amounts of space to complete their life cycle. A finding of the most reserves in the world clearly indicates that most of the worlds well known reserves contain very rear species. that would not persevere as inhabitants even for a single generation if in any case or to some extent they became secluded like for the oak tree that is found in the park. This tree is not found in most parts of the world the demand of the products is endangering the species making it rear in the forests. Many other reserves, without supplementation by unreserved habitat, would be likely to lose species in the long term through a variety of chance events. Thus, the long-term persistence of some taxa requires sustainable populations across entire landscapes or regions as predicted. Many species exploit chronological dissimilarity by moving between dissimilar habitats, requiring targets to distinguish key habitat combinations where these can be identified. The focal species approach attempts to amalgamate patterns and processes by identifying those species in a landscape that are most demanding of resources and then targeting them for organization. The kinds of resources needed by crucial species may be, for example, big areas, connectivity flanked by environment patches and multifaceted assorted habitats. However the other confronts that the park need to look at is the protection of river Ausable. The area around the river is currently being occupied slowly making the shows to deteriorating since the occupants are using the land for housing. This river is the

Discuss Nathanael Greene's Southern campaign. Why do some historians Essay

Discuss Nathanael Greene's Southern campaign. Why do some historians view Greene as being second only to Washington in importance in winning the war - Essay Example Greene was handed the responsibility of leading the then weak Revolutionary southern army that had already been led by three commanders who failed in their duties (Golway, 2005). He was given the duty of commanding the war against the British occupation of the south. With a small and poorly trained army, he was up against a more established and experienced British army. With the awareness that his troops were not able to win large and decisive wars, he planned brief and sudden attacks against the prominent British army. He took a bold step to divide his army into smaller groups, forcing the British troops to do the same (Tucker, 2009). He then ordered the Continental army to retreat, and the British, without realizing the tactic used against them, followed the Continental army. This drove the British army further away from their supply base, making them weaker and eventually losing the battle (Tucker, 2009). Some historians view Greene as second to Washington in the importance of winning the war because he was appointed by Washington and took orders from him (Carbone, 2008). He also succeeded where three other commanders had failed. In the same way like Washington, he was gifted with the ability to use small means to a significant advantage (Carbone,

Define consumer benefit, market segment and market size of a theatre Case Study

Define consumer benefit, market segment and market size of a theatre (for a real ) - Case Study Example Consumer Benefit Consumers of a particular product seek to identify products that would benefit them and satisfy their needs through knowledge of product attributes, which include brand image, brand perceptions, brand personalities, and brand characteristics (Whaling and Michigan State University, 2007). Consumers are constantly seeking products that would satisfy their unlimited needs with the maximum outcome benefit they can get from the product. The outcomes however vary from satisfaction of needs to getting solutions to particular problems and reduction if not elimination of frustrations. The attributes of a product are meaningless to a consumer if the outcome benefit they are seeking cannot be achieved from purchase of the product. The outcome benefit that the consumers are seeking to benefit from usually carries the rational and emotional component. The purchaser may at times not be the end user of the product but still goes ahead to seek a product that will help him or her ach ieve price and solution benefit. Hopgood have regular customers such as the local council and other companies who hire rooms for meetings and training of their staff. The company representatives responsible for hiring focus on the outcome benefit to their end users rather than just hiring a room. Market segmentation is basically based on the product benefit, and customer characteristics relation. Customers with specific needs and characteristics seek to benefit from specific products that match their situations (Evans, O'Malley, Maurice, and Patterson, 2004, pg 179). The functional benefits that consumers of Hopgood theatre achieve from their products are measured in terms of time and place with which the product is available, the duration that the services last and the prices with which the products are purchased. The shows being offered by Hopgood may be repeated in other theatres in other countries and the prices are normally the same although Hopgood may charge slightly higher i n venues located in the cities as compared to regional venues. Purchasers of goods achieve higher degree benefit with lower prices as compared to products with slightly higher prices although the venue of the shows levels up the price factor. Shows of its own kind are desired by many consumers of Hopgood considering the fact that the shows may not be repeated elsewhere. A variety of shows offered are highly appreciated by Hopgood product purchasers who have the opportunity of choosing from a list all current shows with prices charged for each show that is available on their website. Psychological benefit is also an important outcome that customers of Hopgood seek for when purchasing a product. This benefit enables the purchaser to achieve a pleasant feeling of acquired value for money and self worth. Customers seek to purchase goods that will enable them achieve the highest level of psychological satisfaction to build their own self-esteem and boost value for the products. The outco me is the benefit of the products they use and consume to satisfy their needs. Market Segment Market segment focuses on particular customer characteristics that differentiate one group of customers from another group. Customer profile is the determining factor that differentiates market segments of Hopgood theatr

Galileo Galilei Essay Example for Free

Galileo Galilei Essay Galileo Galilei is an Italian astronomer, physicist, philosopher, and mathematician. He ranks with Archimedes, Newton, and Einstein as one of the greatest scientists of all time. His discoveries, made with the crudest of equipment, were brilliant examples of scientific deduction. Galileo’s studies of natural laws laid the groundwork for the experimental scientists who followed him. Galileo was born at Pisa, the son of a musician who planned a medical career for him. He began studying medicine at the University of Pisa. According to legend, Galileo made his first major discovery at this time. He is said to have used his pulse to time the swinging of a suspended lamp in a cathedral; he found that, no matter how far the lamp swung, the timing has always the same (Drake, 2002). In later life Galileo established the fact that a free-swinging object, or pendulum, moves in uniform time intervals. Pendulum clocks are a common application of this principle. Thesis Statement: This paper scrutinizes the life and contributions of Galileo Galilei. II. Discussion Galileo constructed the first telescope used for astronomical observations; the observations he made supported Copernicus’ theory that the sun is the center of the solar system. In physics, Galileo discovered the principles of motion followed by swinging pendulums, falling bodies, and flying projectiles. Galileo used his heartbeat to time the period of a pendulum. He realized that a pendulum could be used as a standard of time for a clock (Rose 2004). Pendulum clocks are still sold today, more than three hundred years after their invention. Moreover, changing from the study of medicine to that mathematics and natural science, Galileo conducted experiments on gravity that brought him to public attention. In 1589, he became a lecturer on mathematics at the University of Pisa, and began his studies of falling bodies. According to legend, as mentioned earlier, he dropped objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to prove his theory that bodies fall at the same speed and with the same acceleration regardless of their weight and size. He also demonstrated that projectiles follow a parabolic path. These discoveries were contrary to the teachings of the ancient Greek scientist and philosopher Aristotle, many of whose ideas had for centuries been accepted without question. Galileo aroused such opposition that in 1951 he was forced to resign from the university (Rose 2004). The next year Galileo obtained a professorship in mathematics at the University of Padua, where he remained for 18 years. This was a period of successful research, acclaim, and prosperity for Galileo. In 1609, Galileo received news of the invention, in Flanders, of a device that made a distant objects appear larger. He immediately set out to build such a device for himself. The final result was a 32-power refracting telescope, with which he made series of major discoveries (Poupard 2005). He found by observation that the moon shone only from reflected light; that the Milky Way was formed of a multitude of stars; and that the planet Jupiter was circled by several moons. His discoveries caused great excitement among astronomers; he was besieged with orders for telescopes. In 1610, Galileo left Padua for Florence to become official mathematician and philosopher to Grand Duke Cosimo II de’ Medici. By the end of the year his telescopic discoveries included the rings of Saturn, the phases of Venus, and sun spots. His observations clearly confirmed the theory of the Polish astronomer Copernicus that the earth and planets revolved around the sun. The church, however, had accepted as conforming the Bible the earlier idea of the planets and sun revolving around the stationary earth. When Galileo visited Rome in 1611 he was given a welcome by Church officials befitting one of the greatest astronomers of all time, as he was then acknowledged to be. This gave him the courage to announce his support of the Copernican theory of the solar system. Controversy flared. Although warned by the Church to avoid religious interpretation of his theory, Galileo attempted to prove it by quoting the Bible. He was told by the Church in 1616 to abandon the Copernican theory because it contradicted the Bible. In 1632, however, he published Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World, in which he revived his argument in favor of the Copernican system. Galileo was then summoned to appear before the Inquisition and forced to renounce the view that the earth moves around the sun (Poupard, 2005). Although sentenced to imprisonment, he was permitted to retire to his home, where he continued his studies. III. Conclusion As a conclusion, Galileo Galilei made great contributions to our society through his invention and discoveries. His works are highly acclaimed and made significant impact in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy, and in sciences. Reference: Drake, Stillman (2003). Cause, Experiment, and Science: a Galilean Dialogue (University of Chicago) Poupard, Paul (2005. Galileo at work: Toward a Resolution of 350 Years of Debate, 1633-1983 (Duquesne University). Rose, Sidney (2004). Galileo and the Magic Numbers (Little, Brown).

Qualitative Tests Used For Carbohydrates Biology Essay

Qualitative Tests Used For Carbohydrates Biology Essay Carbohydrates are an essential component of our diet and an important source of energy for us. Most of the things generally included in our diet have a large ratio of carbohydrates present. Also the patients suffering from Diabetes excrete huge amounts of sugar in their urine which needs to be estimated. The purity of carbohydrates can also be checked by methods which can qualitatively estimate particular sugars. Hence the need for carbohydrate estimation arose. We have been estimating carbohydrates qualitatively since school time but it was just confined to observing a colour change or a coloured precipitate to detect the presence of a carbohydrate. None of us ever thought that these qualitative tests are highly sensitive and provide much more information than just detecting the presence of a sugar. In this study conducted, two qualitative tests used for carbohydrates were studied: Benedicts test and Seliwanoffs test. Benedicts test is a test used for detecting the presence of Reducing Sugars. The test was performed using Glucose which is the most common reducing sugar. Sucrose was used as a negative control. Different concentrations of glucose were tried ranging from 1.6 M to 1.6 mM and from 4% to 0.25%.Also along with concentration the amount of sugar was varied to find the sensitivity limits and the limitations of the test. The result of Benedicts test is usually a brick red precipitate but with some modifications different colours of solutions and different amounts of precipitate could be observed with slight variation in the concentration and amount of sugar. This suggests that this test being Qualitative is not only an indicator of the presence or absence of a reducing sugar but can also be used to roughly estimate the concentration of sugar present. It can be very useful in estimation of the concentration of sugar present in the urine of diabetic patients. Seliwanoffs test is a qualitative test used for distinguishing between Aldoses and ketoses. Ketoses form a cherry red condensation product whereas Aldoses react to form a blue-green condensation product, which may further change to a peach product. The test was performed using fructose as the sample sugar. Various concentrations of Fructose were used ranging from 4% to 0.01% to find the sensitivity limits and the limitations of the test. The test appeared to be sensitive even at 0.01% showing a very faint red colour. There was a huge variation in the intensity of colour obtained at different concentrations of sugar. But the drawback of the test was that the red colour of the solution was not stable. It intensified with increase in the duration of time. 2. INTRODUCTION Carbohydrates are the most abundant bio molecules on Earth. Each year, photosynthesis converts more than 100 billion metric tons of CO2 and H2O into cellulose and other plant products. Certain carbohydrates (sugar and starch) are a dietary staple in most parts of the world, and the oxidation of carbohydrates is the central energy-yielding pathway in most non-photosynthetic cells. Insoluble carbohydrate polymers serve as structural and protective elements in the cell walls of bacteria and plants and in the connective tissues of animals. Other carbohydrate polymers lubricate skeletal joints and participate in recognition and adhesion between cells. More complex carbohydrate polymers covalently attached to proteins or lipids act as signals that determine the intracellular location or metabolic fate of these hybrid molecules, called glycoconjugates. .Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones, or substances that yield such compounds on hydrolysis. Many, but not all, carbohydrates have the empirical formula (CH2O)n; some also contain nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulphur. There are three major size classes of carbohydrates: monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides Classification Carbohydrates can be classified on the basis of the various characteristics they possess. They can be classified on the basis of the number of carbon atoms in the sugar chain, the terminal functional group in the chain, the number of sugar subunits and the reducing activity of the sugar units. Depending on various basis they are of several types: A. According to the number of carbon atoms in the sugar chain: 1. Trioses: contain 3 carbon atoms (e.g. glyceraldehyde). 2. Pentoses: contain 5 carbon atoms (e.g. ribose). 3. Hexoses: contain 6 carbon atoms (e.g. glucose). B. According to the terminal functional group in the sugar chain: 1. Aldoses: contain terminal aldehyde group (-CHO) (e.g. glucose). 2. Ketoses: contain terminal ketone group (C=O) (e.g. fructose). C. According to the number of sugar subunits: 1. Monosaccharides: Monosaccharides, or simple sugars, consist of a single polyhydroxy aldehyde or ketone unit. The most abundant monosaccharide in nature is the six-carbon sugar D-glucose, sometimes referred to as dextrose. 2. Oligosaccharides: Consist of short chains of monosaccharide units(2-10) joined by characteristic linkages called glycosidic bonds. The most abundant are disaccharides, with two monosaccharide units. e.g. sucrose (cane sugar), which consists of the six-carbon sugars- D-glucose and D fructose. 3. Polysaccharides: The polysaccharides are sugar polymers containing more than 20 or so monosaccharide units, and some have hundreds or thousands of units. Some polysaccharides, such as cellulose, are linear chains; others such as glycogen, are branched. Both glycogen and cellulose consist of recurring units of D-glucose, but they differ in the type of glycosidic linkage and have different properties and biological roles. . D. According to the reducing activity of the sugar unit: Carbohydrates that can undergo oxidation are called reducing sugars. This depends on the presence of an exposed carbonyl group. 1. Reducing sugars: Certain sugars with a free carbonyl carbon can be oxidized by oxidizing agents such as ferric (Fe3) or cupric (Cu2) ion. The carbonyl carbon (anomeric carbon) is oxidized to a carboxyl group. Such sugars capable of reducing ferric or cupric ion are called Reducing sugars. e.g. lactose, maltose. 2. Non-reducing sugars: Sugars like sucrose contain no free anomeric carbon atom since the anomeric carbons of both monosaccharide units are involved in the formation of glycosidic bond. Therefore it is a Non-Reducing sugar. 2.1 Biochemical Tests for Carbohydrates The biochemical tests for carbohydrates can be divided into two categories: Qualitative Tests- These tests are performed to detect the presence of carbohydrates in a test sample. They are also used to detect the type of carbohydrate present. There are different types of qualitative tests for different types of carbohydrates. e.g. Fehlings and Benedicts test for reducing sugars, Seliwanoffs test for ketoses, Iodines test for starch,Bials test for detecting pentoses etc. They are not very sensitive as compared to quantitative tests and cannot estimate the exact amount of carbohydrates present but show some difference in the observation with variation in the amount of carbohydrate hence, can be used to make a rough estimate of the amount of sugar present. Quantitative Tests- These tests are the advanced form of qualitative tests and can be used to estimate the amount of carbohydrate present in a given sample. These tests use particular chemicals which form coloured complexes with sugars which can then be read at certain wavelengths using a spectrophotometer. Their absorbance can then be used to estimate the exact amount of carbohydrate present in the sample. e.g. Anthrone test, DNS Method, Phenol- Sulphuric Acid Method etc. 2.11 Qualitative Test Flow Chart for classifying an unknown carbohydrate A. Molisch Test Molisch test is used to distinguish between carbohydrates and non- carbohydrates. It is the preliminary test used to detect the presence of carbohydrates in a sample. Principle It uses concentrated sulphuric acid as a Dehydrating acid which dehydrates all carbohydrates to form Furfural or 5-hydroxymethylurfural from reaction of sulphuric acid with pentoses and/or hexoses. These products condense with ÃŽ ±-naphthol to yield a purple condensation product. B. Iodine and Potassium Iodide Test This is a test used particularly to detect starch and glycogen. Starch gives a blue-black colur with potassium iodide whereas glycogen gives reddish-brown colour. Principle Starch contains ÃŽ ±-amylose, a helical saccharide polymer, and amylopectin. Iodine forms a large complex polysaccharide with the ÃŽ ±-amylose helix, producing a blue-black colour. Simple Oligosaccharides and Monosaccharides do not form this complex with Iodine. Thus, the I2/KI test can be used to distinguish starches from other carbohydrates. C. Bials Test Bials test is used to distinguish between pentoses and hexoses. Principle This test uses concentrated hydrochloric acid as the dehydrating acid and orcinol with a trace of iron(III) chloride as the condensation reagent.. Pentoses subjected to the test yield a blue or green condensation product, while hexoses yield a muddy brown to grey condensation product. Pentose Dehydration Product Blue or Green condensation product (Furfural) Hexose Dehydration Product Muddy brown-Grey condensation product (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) D. Seliwanoffs Test Seliwanoffs test is used to distinguish between aldoses and ketoses. Principle This test uses 3N hydrochloric acid as the dehydrating agent as resorcinol as the condensation reagent. When mixed with Seliwanoffs Reagent, Ketopentoses react within 2 minutes to form a cherry red condensation product. Aldopentoses react after 2 minutes to form a blue-green condensation product, which may further change to a peach product. Fructose Hydroxy-methyl Cherry-Red Complex Furfural Identifying Reducing Sugars All mono and disaccharides with a free aldehyde or keto group act as reducing agents in alkaline solutions. The reducing properties of sugars are dependent upon the presence of actual or potential aldehyde or ketone groups. The enolization of sugars under alkaline conditions is an important consideration in reduction tests. The ability of a sugar to reduce alkaline test reagents depends on the availability of an aldehyde or keto group for reduction reactions. A number of sugars, especially disaccharides or polysaccharides have glycosidic linkages which involve bonding between each group, and hence there is no reducing group on the sugar; such as the case for sucrose, trehalose, inulin, glycogen, starch, and dextrin. In the case of reducing sugars, the presence of alkali causes extensive enolization especially at high pH and temperature. This leads to a higher susceptibility to oxidation reactions than at neutral or acidic pH. These sugars, therefore, become potential agents capable of reducing Cu+2 to Cu+, Ag+ to Ag and so forth. Reducing sugars can react with many different oxidizing agents. Fehlings test, Benedicts test and Barfoeds test have been used to distinguish between monosaccharides and disacc harides Monosaccharides fluctuate between a ring open form and a ring closed form. The ketone (-C=O) group, for Fructose and the aldehyde group (-CHO), for Glucose in the ring open forms can be reduced using these tests. Some sugar units in disaccharides also fluctuate between a ring open form and a ring closed form. These disaccharides are also reducing sugars because the ring open form has a ketone or aldehyde to react. Sucrose is one of the few disaccharides that do not have a ring open form so it is a non-reducing sugar.  ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­ Ring Open Fructose and Ring Closed Fructose Ring Open Glucose and Ring Closed Glucose Reducing Sugars are oxidized by copper (II) ions. Benedicts reagent and Fehlings Reagent are mildly basic solutions whereas Barfoeds Reagent, a mildly acidic solution. The presence of red copper (I) oxide precipitate indicates that the saccharide has reduced the copper (I) ions. E. Fehlings test Principle Fehlings test uses a mixture of fehlings solution A and B. Fehlings solution A consists of copper(II) sulphate dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid. Fehlings solution B is sodium potassium tartarate dissolved in dilute NaOH. Both the solutions are mixed in equal proportions and used as fehlings reagent. This reagent is used as a general test for detecting reducing sugars. A reducing sugar reduce copper(II) ions to copper(I) oxide, forming a red precipitate. CuSO4Cu++ + SO4 2 Cu++  + Cu+ Glucose (Reducing Sugar) Cu+Cu2O (red precipitate) Cuprous Oxide F. Benedicts test Principle Benedicts test uses a mixture of copper(II) sulphate, sodium citrate, and sodium carbonate in a mildly basic solution. This reagent is used as a general test for detecting reducing sugars. A reducing sugar reduce copper(II) ions to copper(I) oxide, forming a red precipitate. CuSO4Cu++ + SO4- (Copper Sulphate) (Cupric Ion) (Sulphate Ion) 2 Cu++  + Cu+ Glucose (Reducing Sugar) Cu+Cu2O (red precipitate) Cuprous Oxide G. Barfoeds Test Benedicts test gives positive test results for all reducing sugars. However, not all reducing sugars react at the same rate. With different oxidizing agents, disaccharides are considerably less reactive compared to monosaccharides. A positive Barfoeds test result is similar to that observed with Benedicts solutions. Monosaccharides give positive Barfoeds test results within 2-3 minutes, while disaccharides do not react under the same conditions. Principle Barfoeds test uses copper(II) ions in a slightly acidic medium. If the reaction time is carefully monitored, this test can be used to distinguish reducing monosaccharides from reducing disaccharides. Reducing disaccharides cause the formation of copper(I) oxide after approximately 10 minutes. (CH3COO) 2Cu + 2H2O 2 CH3COOH + Cu(OH)2 Cu(OH)2 CuO+ H2O 2CuO  +Cu2O (red precipitate)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Glucose) Reducing Sugar 2.12 Quantitative Tests A. Determination of Total Carbohydrate by Anthrone Method Principle Carbohydrates are first hydrolysed into simple sugars using dilute hydrochloric acid. In hot acidic medium glucose is dehydrated to hydroxymethyl furfural. This compound forms with anthrone a green coloured product with an absorption maximum at 630 nm. HCl anthrone Carbohydrate furfural/hydroxymethyfurfural Green product (630 nm) B. Phenol Sulphuric Acid Method for Total Carbohydrate Principle In hot acidic medium carbohydrates are dehydrated to furfural/hydroxymethyl furfural. This forms a green coloured product with phenol and has absorption maximum at 490 nm. H2SO4 phenol Carbohydrate furfural/hydroxymethylfurfural Green product (490 nm) C. Determination of Reducing Sugars by Nelson-Somogyi Method The Nelson-Somogyi method is one of the classical and widely used methods for the quantitative determination of reducing sugars. Principle The reducing sugars when heated with alkaline copper tartarate reduce the copper from the cupric to cuprous state and thus cuprous oxide is formed. When cuprous oxide is treated with Arsenomolybdic acid, the reduction of molybdic acid to molybdenum blue takes place. The blue colour developed is compared with a set of standards in a colorimeter at 620 nm. Cu2O+ Arsenomolybdate Molybdenum Blue (Cuprous Oxide) (500 nm) D. Estimation of Reducing Sugar by Dinitrosalicylic Acid Method This method is an alternative to Nelson-Somogyi method. It is a simple, sensitive and adoptable method during handling of a large number of samples at a time. However,  enzymatic  methods are usually preferred to DNS due to their specificity. Principle 3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid   is an  aromatic compound  that reacts with reducing sugars to form  3-amino-5-nitrosalicylic acid, which absorbs  light  strongly at 540  nm. 3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid 3-amino-5-nitrosalicylic acid E. Determination of Glucose by Glucose Oxidase Method Glucose is a widely distributed simple sugar with an active aldehyde group. Estimation of glucose by glucose oxidase gives the true glucose concentration eliminating the interference by other reducing sugars. Principle Glucose oxidase catalyses the oxidation of alpha-D-glucose to D-glucono-1, 5 lactone (gluconic acid) with the formation of hydrogen peroxide. The oxygen liberated from hydrogen peroxide by peroxidase reacts with the O-dianisidine and oxidises it to a red chromophore product. Glucose + O2 H2O2 + Gluconic Acid (glucose oxidase) H 2O2 + O-dianisidine Red-coloured product (peroxidase) (540 nm) 3. MATERIALS REQUIRED I) Stock Solutions Glucose 1.6 M Glucose 4% (w/v) Sucrose 0.1 M Fructose 4% (w/v) II) Reagents Benedicts Reagent Step 1-Dissolve 173 g sodium citrate and 100 g sodium carbonate in about 500 mL water. Step 2-Heat to dissolve the salt Step 3-Dissolve 17.3 g copper sulphate in about 100 mL water and add it to the above solution with stirring and make up the volume to 1 L with water. Seliwanoffs Reagent Dissolve 0.05 gm resorcinol in 3N hydrochloric Acid. III) Miscellaneous Water Bath Test Tubes Clamps Conical Flasks Beakers Containers Test tube holders 4. METHODOLOGY 4.1 Benedicts Test Step 1- Pipette out 1 ml of glucose solution in some test tubes so that there is a triplicate for each set. Step 2- Pipette out 1ml of Distilled Water in one test tube which serves as blank and 1 ml of Sucrose solution (0.1M) in another which serves as a negative control. Step 3- Add 2 ml of Benedicts reagent in all the test tubes. Step 4-Transfer all five tubes to the boiling water bath provided and record the time for the appearance of precipitate. Step5- Make a subjective analysis of the colours observed. A scale of + to +++++ can be used to record the depth of the colour, from lightest to darkest. 4.11 Effect of variation in Carbohydrate Concentration (in M) The concentration of glucose was varied from 1.6 M to 1.6 mM keeping the reaction volume constant to 3 ml. The upper and the lower sensitivity limits and the optimum molar concentration of glucose was found for the test through subjective analysis. 4.12 Effect of Reaction Volume The reaction volume was reduced from 3 ml to 1.5 ml for all the concentrations of glucose ranging from 1.6 M to 1.6 mM to find any difference in the sensitivity range and the optimum molar concentration of glucose for the test. 4.13 Effect of variation in Carbohydrate Concentration (in %) The concentration of glucose was varied from 4% to 0.25%. Also the reaction volume was changed and the analysis was performed in two sets. The volume of reagent used was 5 ml whereas the volume of samples all concentrations in Set A and B were 50ÃŽ ¼l and 25ÃŽ ¼l respectively. 4.14 Effect of variation in Sample Volume The volume of glucose was varied for the same concentrations 4% to 0.25% to see the changes in the colour of solution obtained and at the same time find the upper and lower limits at which the test still remains sensitive. The analysis was performed in 6 sets with the following volumes of glucose: 200ÃŽ ¼l, 100ÃŽ ¼l, 50ÃŽ ¼l, 25ÃŽ ¼l, 12.5ÃŽ ¼l and 6.25ÃŽ ¼l. 4.15 Effect of Reaction Volume on the results obtained. Of the various sets tried 5 ml of Benedicts reagent and 200ÃŽ ¼l of sample gave the best results. To verify the consistency of results obtained the reaction volume was reduced. The analysis was performed in two sets. Set A with 2.5 ml of reagent and 100ÃŽ ¼l of sample and Set B with 1.25 ml of reagent and 50ÃŽ ¼l of sugar sample. 4.2 Seliwanoffs Test Step 1- Pipette out 1 ml of fructose solution in test tubes so that there is a triplicate for each set. Step 2-Pipette out 1ml of Distilled Water in one test tube which serves as blank. Step 3- Add 2 ml of Seliwanoffs reagent in all the test tubes. Step 4-Transfer all tubes to the boiling water bath for 2.5 mins. Step 5- Make a subjective analysis of the colours observed. A scale of + to +++++ can be used to record the depth of the colour, from lightest to darkest. 4.21 Effect of variation in carbohydrate concentration (in %) The concentration of fructose was varied from 4% to 0.015% keeping the reaction volume constant to 3 ml. The upper and the lower sensitivity limits and the optimum concentration of fructose were found for the test through subjective analysis. 5. OBSERVATIONS 5.1 Benedicts Test 5.11 Effect of variation in Carbohydrate Concentration (in M) A brick red precipitate was observed for all the concentrations of sample ranging from 1.6 M to 3.125 mM. But the last concentration of 1.6 mM showed a negligible amount of precipitate. Also once centrifuged the supernatant was found to be colourless for concentrations ranging from 1.6 M to 0.1 M. The supernatant was observed to be blue in concentrations ranging from 50 mm to 1.6 mM. Glucose (M) Colour Intensity 1.6 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.012 0.006 0.003 0.001 +++ ++++ ++++ +++++ ++++++ +++++ ++++ +++ ++ + 5.12 Effect of variation in Reaction Volume A brick red prcipitate was observed for all the concentrations of sample ranging from 1.6 M to 6.25 mM. Concentrations 3.125 mM and 1.5625 mM showed a negligible amount of precipitate. For concentrations 6.25 mM to 0.1 M there was an increase in the amount of precipitate observed with the highest amount formed in 0.1 M of sample. For the next two concentrations i.e. 0.2 M and 0.4 M the amount of precipitate formed was almost equal but again reduced for 0.8 M and 1.6 M glucose sample. Also after centrifugation the supernatant was found to be colourless for concentrations ranging from 1.6 M to 0.1 M. The supernatant was observed to be increasingly blue in concentrations ranging from 50 mm to 1.5625 mM. Glucose (M) Colour Intensity 1.6 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.012 0.006 0.003 0.001 +++ ++++ +++++ +++++ ++++++ ++++ +++ ++ + 5.13 Effect of variation in carbohydrate concentrations (in %) There was a brick red precipitate observed in for all the concentrations of sample ranging from 0.25% to 4% in both the sets. The highest amount of precipitate was observed for 1% sample but there was no consistency in results seen. Glucose (%) Set Set B 4.0 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.25 +++ + ++++ + ++ + +++ 5.14 Effect of variation in Sample Volume There was a variation in the colours obtained at different concentrations and volumes of sugar sample used. But sets with 12.5ÃŽ ¼l and 6.25ÃŽ ¼l of sugar did not show any noticeable changes in colour. Glucose (%) Set A Set B Set C Set D Set E Set F Set B Set C Set D Set E Set F 4.00 2.00 1.00 0.50 0.25 reddish brown brown green greenish blue dull blue brown green greenish blue dull blue green greenish blue dull blue blue blue greenish blue dull blue blue blue blue dull blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue 5.15 Effect of reduction in the reaction volume There was no change in the observations due to reduction in the reaction volume. Glucose (%) Set A Set B 4.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 0.25 reddish brown brown green greenish blue dull blue reddish brown brown green greenish blue dull blue 5.2 Seliwanoffs Test 5.21 Effect of variation in carbohydrate concentration (in %) A cherry red colour is observed for all the concentrations of fructose used but the intensity of colour obtained decreases with decrease in concentration. The lowest concentration used (0.015%) has a faint red colour. Also the colour of the solution intensifies with time if kept after boiling. Fructose (%) Colour Intensity 4.00 2.00 1.00 0.50 0.25 0.12 0.06 0.03 0.01 +++++++++ ++++++++ +++++++ ++++++ +++++ ++++ +++ ++ + 6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 6.1 Benedicts Test 6.11 Effect of variation in Carbohydrate Concentration (in M) It can be observed that 0.1 M is the optimum concentration of sugar for Benedicts reaction with the reaction volume of 3 ml since the highest amount of precipitate is formed at 0.1 M. Also the supernatant obtained after centrifugation is colourless which suggests that the reaction is completed and there is no unused reagent left. Concentrations less than 0.1 M show decreasing amounts of precipitate and the colour of the supernatant is also increasingly blue. This suggests that as the concentration of sugar is lowered the amount of unreacted Benedicts reagent increases which leaves the solution blue even after the reaction completes. 1.6 mM sugar sample shows a negligible amount of precipitate formation which suggests that the reaction is not sensitive for concentrations lower than 1.6 mM. For concentrations higher than 0.1 M the amount of precipitate formed again decreases with increase in concentration which suggests that the concentration is too high as compared to the amount of reagent used and hence no more precipitate is formed after the reaction completes. 6.12 Effect of variation in Reaction Volume The reaction volume was reduced to half but has no effect on the results of the experiment. 0.1 M is the optimum concentration of sugar for the reaction with the reaction volume of 3 ml since the highest amount of precipitate is formed at 0.1 M. Also the supernatant obtained after centrifugation is colourless which suggests that the reaction is complete and there is no unused reagent left. Concentrations less than 0.1 M show decreasing amounts of precipitate and the colour of the supernatant is also increasingly blue. This suggests that as the concentration of sugar is lowered, the amount of unreacted reagent increases which leaves the solution blue even after the reaction completes. 3mM and 1.6 mM sugar samples show a negligible amount of precipitate formation which suggests that the reaction is not sensitive for concentrations lower than 3 mM with a reaction volume of 1.5 ml. For concentrations higher than 0.1 M, the amount of precipitate formed again decreases with increase in concentration which suggests that the concentration is too high as compared to the amount of reagent used and hence no more precipitate is formed after the reaction completes. 6.13 Effect of variation in carbohydrate concentrations (in %) The highest amount of precipitate was formed in 1% sugar sample but there was no consistency in the observations due to incorrect preparation of reagent. During the preparation of reagent instead of mixing Sodium citrate and Copper Sulphate together in hot water they were dissolved separately and then mixed. Also the solution was not made up to 500 ml with distilled water rather measured amount of water was added to the solution to make it 500 ml which made the solution dilute and hence gave incorrect results. 6.14 Effect of variation in Sample Volume Different volumes of sugar were tried for all the different concentrations. There was a variation in the colours obtained. 200ÃŽ ¼l of sugar reacted with 5 ml of reagent showed maximum variation in colours at different concentrations: Reddish Brown, Brown, Green, Greenish blue and dull blue obtained at 4%, 2%, 1%, 0.5% and 0.25% respectively. Sets with 12.5ÃŽ ¼l and 6.25ÃŽ ¼l of sugar volume did not show any noticeable changes in colour which suggest that the volume of sugar solution was not enough for the reaction to take place. 6.15 Effect of reduction in the reaction volume Reduction in the reaction volume made no difference to the variation in colours obtained at different concentrations of sugar which suggests that Benedicts reagent and glucose can be reacted in this ratio in any volume to estimate the concentration of glucose present in an unknown sample. 6.2 Seliwanoffs Test 6.21 Effect of variation in carbohydrate concentration (in %) A cherry red colour is observed for all the concentrations of Fructose used but the intensity of colour obtained decreases with decrease in concentration. The highest intensity is observed at 4% sugar concentration. 0.015% which is the lowest concentration of sugar used gives a very faint red colour which cannot be taken as pos