Young,+Braden

Polymers in the Field- August 31, 2011

This article has brought a new light to the track and football field that we are all so familiar with. Some things that definitely surprised me were a such rapid increase of the temperature of the turf over such a short amount of time, and the fact that the turf, in a way, cultures the bacteria that comes in contact with the field. I think I can say that I learned about the intricate design and strategic structure of the track, given its multiple layers and numerous amounts of material. I think something from the article that is pertinent to our class, would be the molecular structure of the vulcanized rubber and how is related to its physical characteristics and why it was used in the manufacturing of the track.

Braden, Very solid post! Well done. 5 stars. MW

Braden Young

Organic Compounds Research Project

Digitalis or 'Foxglove'


 * Digitalis, more commonly know as foxglove, is used to extract many medicines that are an anti-arrhythmic agent used to regu **** late heart beats. Digitalis is particularly used in controlling an irregular atrial fibrillation. William Withering, first extracted digitalis in 1785, to utilize the cardiac glycosides in the compound. Digitalis is a biennial flower that was introduced to him by a gypsy woman after seeking a cure for an unusual heart condition. The chemical formula for digitalis is C41H64O14 and the molar mass is 781 grams/mole. Digitalis can be seen as a crystal or crystalline powder when it is extracted from its plant. Even though Digitalis is insoluble in water, the partial solubility in alcohols and propylene glycol allows for commercials injections of Digitalis in a 40% propylene gly **** col and 10% alcohol solution. The structure of the compound contains three benzyl rings, one pentyl ring, and four other rings. Mechanically, Digitalis works as a cardiac glycoside, a sugar based compound that works to inhibit sodium-potassium ATPase. With a series of reactions and catalytic and osmotic interactions, in short, decreases the conduction velocity of the AV node. This reduction of conduction can slow down an irregular heart to point of normality and can even stop a normal heart. **



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