Computers And Biology Essays - Bacteriorhodopsin, Photosynthesis

Computers And Biology By Jack Brown Computers have enhance the study of Biology tremendously, as well discoveries have enhance the progression of computers. Without computers, Biology would be no where. We would not have the high tech microscopes. We would not be able to process information at lighting speeds. Finally, we would have no place to store all the information that we gathered. Can you imagine all the paper we would use to record all the information that we gather? Computers have not only helped us with experimenting; they have helped us to educate students. There has been tons of software developed to educate students about science and in particular Biology. They have allowed students to create experimental 3D models, collect research and now students can even use computers to dissect ?Virtual Creatures? Aimed at middle school and high school students, Virtual Creatures is the creation of a group called SUMMIT (Stanford University Medical Media and Information Technologies Group). SUMMIT was founded eight years ago to create computer-based teaching tools for the Stanford University School of Medicine and has expanded to provide educational multimedia for medical students and doctors. This program will allow students to dissect frogs without the scalpels, probes or formaldehyde. Without touching the frog, you can rotate it to view it from any angle and study its external anatomy. On command, the skin turns transparent. You can even zoom through it to view the muscles, or peel the muscles back to expose the internal organs and skeleton. The Virtual Creatures team used virtual reality technology to create a rich environment -- called Frog Island -- with many opportunities for interactive learning. After being greeted by a ranger who explains how to get around the island, students can visit, in any order, a series of huts, each focusing on a different aspect of frog biology: muscles, organ systems, bones, nerves, habitat and so on. With this virtual reality model students don't have to worry about real-life constraints. For instance, you can take a frog apart in any sequence. You could start with the digestive system and then put it back together. This as you would expect does require a lot of processing power and high-end graphics. But the speed of innovation in the computer industry should soon make the necessary technology affordable for many schools. The SUMMIT team is also looking at ways to transfer most of the processing work to a central computer, which students and teachers could access by logging on from a cheaper computer. This is where biology has actually helped computers develop. Biology and the study of proteins and molecular biology have helped scientists develop new ways of building computers. They have helped reduce the size and cost of creating components for a computer system. Imagine if we could create a storage medium the size of a sugar cube that stores a terabyte of information. Imagine if I said that it would not be based on silicon transistors, but would be based on protein molecules that change their shape when exposed to light. This enables them to store and transfer massive amounts of data. This technology is called Nanotechnology. It is leading to the development of electronic components at the molecular and atomic levels. Single bits are going to be represented by single atoms. Chip sizes have been shrinking at an incredible rate. If they continue at the current pace now, it will so be more expensive to shrink then it's worth. This new technology may provide the answer in protein-based computing. Researchers are currently studying several molecules to find a possible ?biology standard? for designing computers. The most popular molecule is a protein called bacteriorhodopsin. Although we are just hearing about it now, Soviet scientists have been interested in this protein since the early 70's. They recognized the potential of the molecule to act as a switch with on and off positions. This is basically how the silicon transistors work today. While silicon transistors alter its state when a current of electricity excites the electrons in it, a protein changes its shape when it absorbs light. A laser beam is used to control the switching in a matrix of memory cells. Bacteriorhodopsin is a complex protein found in most salt-marsh environments. It contains a light-absorbing component called a chromophore. When this chromosphore is exposed to light, such as a laser beam, it absorbs the rays and causes a series of internal processes to occur with in the bacteriorhodopsin. This changes the electrical character. Scientists can then translate these resulting electrical changes into the binary

Long and Short term Memory

Long and Short term Memory According to psychology, memory is the ability of a human being to store, retain, and recall information and experience that characterize life. Although Lewandowsky, et,al,(2004) notes â€Å" several intermediate states are less well understood, short-term and long-term memories are accompanied by different biological states and mechanisms of retention and therefore there are two distinct forms of memory†. Human beings have two types of memory to hold information: the long term and short memory.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Long and Short term Memory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Long-term memory (LTM) stores information for a longer time than short memory: It is different from the STM in structure and function. â€Å"Biologically, short-term memory is a temporary potentiation of neural connections that can become long-term memory through the process of rehearsal and meaningful association† Parmentier, et al (2005). There is no researcher who is sure of the process but they say that it results in the transformation of the configuration of the neurons but the time that it takes is also debatable. The short term memory is also referred to as active or primary memory as it holds minute quantity of data at a particular time and it only remains obtainable for a short duration. The duration is estimated in seconds and research has it that the short term memory keeps information for 7 seconds plus two or minus two depending on an individual because its length is about seven bits. The memory works like a computers RAM memory; it provides a operating space then transfers the details to the other memory or discards it if its not necessary and the information is also vulnerable to interruption and interference. â€Å"Biologically short term memory involves the firing of neurons which depletes the Readily Releasable Pool (RRP) of neurotransmitter vesicles at presynaptic termin als. The pattern of depleted presynaptic terminals represents the long term memory trace and the depletion itself is the short term memory† (Nairne, 2002). The short term memory The short term memory has three major operations: the iconic memory, the acoustic memory and the working memory. The iconic memory memorizes the visual images, the acoustic grasps the sounds and it more effective that the iconic. Information can be easily recalled by this memory depending on the length, phonological effect, semantic categories and words familiarity. Short-term memory relies generally on an acoustic code than the visual code for accumulation of information because People always find it difficult to remember a series of words that are acoustically similar for instance, dog, hog, and log).Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Davelaar, et, al, (2005) notes â€Å"short-term m emory is supported by transient patterns of neuronal communication, dependent on regions of the frontal lobe (especially dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and the parietal lobe†. The working memory stores the information until it is used and not until it’s moved to the long term .For example, when memorizing a telephone number it keeps the digits until one dials the numbers. It therefore keeps information for immediate use and not for latter use. The procedure of conveying information from STM to LTM entails the encoding and consolidation of information: it is not a task of time; the more the data resides in STM it increases the chances of it being transferred into the long term memory but multifaceted data is sorted out in the STM ahead of it being programmed into LTM. The Long-Term Memory Information is stocked up on the origin of sense and significance and it also has a huge capacity. Information from the short term memory is transferred to it through rehearsal and als o information learnt over a period of time is transferred to the long term memory and can only be removed by interfering with it or through decay . The information we store in it has to do with our understanding and views concerning issues around us. Significant information gained is also stored there and is retrieved according to need; for example learning new technology and applying the knowledge every time one needs it. Information is stored in mental models known a â€Å"schemas† the schemas are arranged in a manner that they are related through networks depending on the information that each contains. One schema therefore activates the other which also does so to the next hence creating a link and therefore enabling people to remember the required information when similar data is presented. The schemas guide our minds to the relevant information while ignoring the irrelevant .Therefore for one to easily remember something it’s advisable to use questions or graphic al presentations to activate the schemas. The brain does not put everything together in a single compartment like it is in computers hard disk drive but instead there are different parts for storage. The long term memory is divided into two main regions: declarative memory and implicit memory also known as procedural memory. â€Å"Declarative memory comprises of all memories that are consciously available such as: the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and perirhinal cortex, but consolidated and stored elsewhere in the cortex† Scruggs, Mastropieri, (1997). The region also has further subdivisions: the episodic memory (precise events) and the Semantic memory which holds general information about outside issues. The other main region is the procedural memory: it involves knowledge involving use of objects and body movements and it is stored by the cerebellum and the striatum.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Long and Short term Memory specificall y for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is another type of memory that is found in both of the above regions that is, the emotional memory: these memories are knowingly accessible, but they draw significant, unconscious physiological response. Luck, Vogel(1997) note â€Å"they also have a unique physiological pathway that involves strong connections from the amygdala into the prefrontal cortex, but much weaker connections running back from the prefrontal cortex to the amgydala.† There are also other types of memories that researchers claim that they exist but have not proven it, such as: Prospective memory and retrospective memory. â€Å"LTM also has a strong influence on perception through top-down processing our prior knowledge affects how we perceive sensory information. Our expectations regarding a particular sensory experience influence how we interpret it and it is the source of bias† (Brown, ET, al, 2007). Factors affecting memory efficiency To remember information one has to retrieve it from an unconscious level and take it to the conscious at will; most people always assume they have a physical problem with their memory when they do not remember things but actually it is a part of the memory system that is usually inefficient. A well functioning memory system must register, retain and retrieve information efficiently and thus so as to remember things the three processes must take place. Failure to register or encode information can be due to distractions such as noise, stress, multi tasking or poor concentration. Retrieving issues usually occur if there is a problem in matching retrieval cues and the encoding of the information you searched. There are two categories of information retrieval: recall (information is sourced from the memory) and recognition. When information has been presented and knowledge showing that it has been encoded appears, then that is recognition. Recognition is less complex because the information is provided as a cue while in recall retrieval cues have to be provided to ensure quick access of information. Other issues causing memory problems are: old age, emotional factors, traumatic brain injury leading to, anterograde, amnesia and partial retrograde amnesia; or a neurodegenerative diseases such as; Alzheimers Disease, Dementia, Huntingtons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons Disease, and Schizophrenia and currently they are not curable. Emotional factors also affect long-term memory but there have been arguments on whether the information gets lost or it only becomes difficult to access and as mentioned earlier: Information can sometimes be difficult to recall but can be recognized, or may be recalled only with prompting.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As people age the efficiency of their memory deteriorates leading an experience known as memory loss: this can be minimized at an early age by adjusting our lifestyles. People can also enhance their short term memory so that they remember more even information that was acquired two minutes ago. All of the above can be achieve by use of some methods and techniques recommended by psychologists and biologists. First, one has to identify the factors that largely affect memory efficiency, some of which are: â€Å"stress, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and lack of proper nutrients essential for proper brain functioning† Davelaar, ET, al, (2005). It is essential to avoid stress or deal with it especially if ones’ lives or works within a stressful environment. Regular people find themselves mostly around these two surroundings and therefore if they are stress inducers they can have a big effect on ones psychological health. People therefore need to get rid of that stress by u se of: â€Å"De-stressing techniques such as; body massages, long baths, hanging out with friends. Consumption of vitamins such as B-complex, zinc and foliate will also be very helpful in such situations† Cowan (2001). Another factor affecting memory efficiency is sleep; one of the core functions of sleep is to process information gained in the long term memory. Sleep also improves memory by ensuring proper functioning of the brain and eight hours of sleep are recommended for this. Sometimes people may not sleep due to stress, warm milk or chamomile tea can help in such situations. Another method of enhancing the brain’s performance is by exercise because it increases oxygen circulation in the brain. The current working surroundings often are characterized by doing several jobs simultaneously hence the brain is forced to focus on many things at once. The best way to handle such work is to remember it in the short term memory for efficiency and the only way of achieving this is by being alert. One of the mostly recommended strategies in enabling the short term memory to perform is use of mnemonics especially if a large amount of information is involved. It is vital to note that the memory makes use of mnemonics to activate definite physiological responses which are mostly related to senses. These senses are: images, sounds, colors, tastes, smells, touch, language and emotions. Miller, (1956) notes â€Å"associating a pleasant, frightening or funny image, color or sound to certain information also helps people to recall better† After the mnemonics are well understood, steps to improve the short term memory starts and the first step should be memorizing new information, then teaching that information to others follows, this enables one to know what information has been stored and that which has not yet. The next step is to re-organize the information so as to strengthen the short term memory; â€Å" it involves writing down information, read ing out loud, listening, and Writing down information; seeing also helps to engage more than one sense at the same time† Oberauer and Kliegl (2006). In addition, use of graphical information as said earlier increases the brain’s speed to process information. Another strategy is use of chunking: â€Å"it has been proven to be a significant aid for enhancing the STM transfer to LTM because the STM’s capacity is limited to about seven items, regardless of the complexity of those items† Jonides, et, al, (2008).Chunking permits the brain to routinely assemble certain items simultaneously, consequently enhancing the ability to remember and learn better. It usually involves organizing information in groups before encoding it in the memory. For example, when trying to memorize a phone number it is advisable to divide the seven digit number into twos or threes and may be depending on their meaning: Such numbers have the area codes, then six other digits which can b e divided into threes hence making it easier to remember the separated digits instead of 10 of them. Regular use of information in the long term memory also increases the efficiency of memory: Nairne, (2002) notes â€Å"In one testing session, an American cross-country runner was able to recall a string of 79 digits after hearing them only once by chunking them into different running times for instance, the first four numbers were 1518, a three-mile time.† There are many other ways of improving memory efficiency this include; taking medication and some drugs that should be recommended by a physician for instance, nicotine has been previously recommended but it has to be legally prescribed. Critical thinking can also improve the memory’s efficiency while also accompanied by making rational decisions. Another activity that would be suitable is writing; people can make a habit of writing down information directly from their minds; small, simple journals would be appropria te. People facing traumatic experiences that are affecting their memory should seek psychiatric help to assist them deal with the problem. The short term memory can only keep information for about seven seconds but depending on the individual it can be plus or minus two. The information then decays after that, but it can be kept longer by rehearsing or saying aloud. Researchers have not yet discovered the real reason as to why the information decays and yet the memory can take new information a second after the other has been deleted. The long term memory is said to keep information permanently but it also depends on the importance of the information and its utilization. Important information and frequently used information is easily recalled while that which is not really important can get lost over a period of time. The long term memory can however keep information for the entire life time of a person’s existence with the help of a protein known as kinase. In conclusion the human memory is divided into two as said earlier; the two memories have their specific functions and they are interdependent since information has to pass through the short term memory before it goes to the long term and it is the duty of the latter to store it. Memory efficiency varies in human beings depending with everyone’s daily experiences. However everyone should ensure that their brain is functioning properly because it is the core organ determining memory efficiency. People should also avoid stress, feed on a balanced diet and exercise regularly to keep the brain healthy and active. Reference List Brown, G. D. A., Neath, I., Chater, N. (2007). A ratio model of scale-invariant memory and identification. Psychological Review, 114, 539-576 Cowan, N. (2001). The magical number 4 in short-term memory: A reconsideration of mental storage capacity. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24, 97-185. Davelaar, E. J., Goshen-Gottstein, Y., A., A., Haarmann, H. J., Usher, M. (2005): The demise of short-term memory revisited: empirical and computational investigation of recency effects. Psychological Review, 112, pp. 3–42. Jonides, J., Lewis, R. L., Nee, D. E., Lustig, C. A., Berman, M. G., Moore, K. S. (2008). The mind and brain of short-term memory. Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 193-224. Lewandowsky, S., Duncan, M., Brown, G. D. A. (2004). Time does not cause forgetting in short-term serial recall. Psychonomic Bulletin Review, 11, 771-790. Luck, S. J., Vogel, E. K. (1997). The capacity of visual working memory for features and conjunctions. Nature, 390, 279-281. Miller, G. A. (1956). The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information. Psychological Review, 63, 81-97. Nairne, J. S. (2002). Remembering over the short-term: The case against the standard model. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 53-81. Oberauer, K., Kliegl, R. (2006). A formal model of capacity limits in working memory. Journal of Memo ry and Language, 55, 601-626. Parmentier, F. B. R., Elford, G., Maybery, M. (2005). Transitional information in spatial serial memory: path characteristics affect recall performance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 31, 412-427. Scruggs, T. E., Mastropieri, M. A., â€Å"Mnemonic instruction for students with learning disabilities: What it is and what it does,† Learning Disabilities Quarterly, 1990, vol. 13, 271-280.

Animals in Visual Arts Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Animals in Visual Arts - Assignment Example The aim of the discourse is to proffer pertinent ideas of the type of filmmaking that one finds interesting. Currently, I actually have five ideas in mind that has been thought of as virtually interesting. These ideas are categorized as follows: (1) seeing animals in fantasy; (2) cultural and social influence and impact of social networking sites, particularly Facebook; (3) the claw game; (4) life within the womb; and (5) exploring the dark. For the first idea, one finds illustrating animals in fantasy as thought provoking and would entail a lot of innovative and creative talent. For the wild animals, I have envisioned them being transformed to tame animals: taking away everything that makes them wild or the strength that helps them attack. For instance, one sees the lion opening his mouth and his teeth are like baby teeth; the elephants will be petite; the eagle flying without sharp claws and brick; the frog without a long tong to catch the insects; and the bear without sharp nails and sharp teeth. What one believes that it would be an interesting concept for the human being ability to approach these previously wild animals and accept them as regular part of everyday life. On the other hand, I see parallel transformations for the tame animals as well as evolving into free and independent animals: for example the turtle will be free from its shell and will be able to move without it faster - not needing to be hidden anymore; so as the snail and the deer would not need to worry if the lions are around. And other animals won’t be hiding under a rock or in a cave and at the end of this short animation, there is a scene when a deer is running and escaping from a lion who is trying to attack and suddenly what the lion really wanted was to lick the deer’s face. Wonder of all, the deer opens its eyes and realizes that it was all a dream; but a dream that came true. The wild and tame animals are not anymore segregated and start running and playing with ea ch other in a unified world. For the second idea, the source for the plot is one’s cultural background and experience. I think it would be interesting to depict the social anxieties and struggles contemporary generation face from social networking sites, particularly Facebook. This idea focuses on cultural response and reaction to social networking. One envisions a local community where each member lived in a tranquil environment. A simple teen-ager in her own room posts pictures of favorite celebrities on her wall (a wall very similar to Facebook) where friends’ updated statuses, memorable events, places that were visited could be viewed as frequently as one intends to. However, since she considers this a magical wall, she covers it and hides it from people. Somehow, the secret is revealed and people coming knocking on the door and they come just to look at the wall. This girl’s wall is then compared to other girls within the community who has not discovered th e secret to the magical wall. Their lives could be seen as conservative, boring, but not subject to prying eyes. People who discovered the magical wall have posted all things about them and their friends which were revealed in their entirety to the community. There are diverse reactions ranging from awe, amazement, curiosity, embarrassment, frustration, hate, anger and eventually despair and being isolated.

Ragamuffin War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ragamuffin War - Essay Example These two army generals succeeded in making the war big because of the support they got from Giuseppe Garibaldi who was an Italian fighter. The war ended came to ending on March 1, 1845 after there were negotiations that led to the signing of the Ponche Verde Treaty. The Ragamuffin War was a big war that took place in the Brazilian Empire. The cause of the war was that there had risen a difference between the status of the economy in Rio Grande do Sul as opposed to the other states within the Brazilian Empire. The main issue with the economy was that there was an over focus on the internal market as opposed to the external market; this means that the income that came from the exports was relatively low. The internal market was going through hard times after the products that came from region faced much competition from commodities from outside the state, especially from Uruguay and Argentina, where dried and salted beef came from. The taxes imposed to the gauchos (the residents of Rio Grande do Sul) were relatively higher than that which was imposed in other states. The goods from the two highly competitive countries were tax free, an aspect that forced the local goods to suffer a big blow. The outburst of the war came immediately after a presidential election. In the elections held the same year the war began, Antonio Rodrigues Braga was elected the president of the Rio Grande do Sul. As expected by many, the president would make changes that would see that the state benefit more from its production after the heightened competition from products outside the state. Despite being impressive in the first days of his appointment, he began having resistance from the farming community. The perceived unfairness in trade caused general Bento Goncalves to initiate a revolution that would see the overturning of the government. This took place in September of 1935, where the General took captive of Porto Alegre and

Economics Trumps Ideology week 3 dissc 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economics Trumps Ideology week 3 dissc 1 - Essay Example As a result, the Populist movement was launched in 1890s with the aim of resolving the hardships confronted by the peasants and the working class. It was organized to seek financial assistance and to aid the farmers and laborers in improvement of their work activities (Wormser, 2002). The formation of Populist movement was based on economics as the farmers and the working-class faced paucity of finances to run their work operations effectively. This was attributed to the prevalent economic recession in USA in early 19th century, which lowered the revenues, and dragged the farmers and laborers in losses. Thus, it is difficult to separate the economic and ideological principles while defining the Populist movement. This is because the economic concepts of slump and recession and falling prices are explained as a major reason of the problems faced by the working laborers leading to organizing Populist movement. Likewise, the ideology of the working class and the Republican and Democratic parties is emphasized while explaining the tussle between these two classes. James Weaver was the head of the Populist movement or the People’s Party. Initially, the party met with success under his presidency and formed coalitions of white and black laborers against the federal government. This coalition managed to take over the state of North Carolina in 1896, which was an initial victory for the party. However, the success was transitory. The reliance on traditions made it difficult for the members of Populist movement to cope up with the transformations taking place in the business environment. The racial discrimination found between the black and white laborers blocked the chances of success, and ultimately led to failure of the Populists. The role of economics in killing the Populist movement was evident. The financial crisis arising from the racial discrimination between the

The bystander effect

The bystander effect And of Clay We Are Created, written by Isabel Allende, explores what social psychologists refer to as the bystander effect. In the story, Azucena is a little girl who is trapped in the mud, and needs help if she is to survive. While the girl suffers and was filmed by countless reporters, no one actually comes to save her. The reporters are more concerned with filming the girl than with saving her life. The bystander effect is a psychological phenomenon where persons are less likely to lend assistance in an emergency situation when other humans are present than when they are alone (Myers, 463). Throughout the story, Allende uses voyeurism as a critical dramatic device as she connects Eva Luna to Rolf and Azucena. Through the interactions between the characters, Allende is able to investigate how voyeurism can lead to social apathy and act as a desensitizer in a crisis. Allendes And of Clay We Are Created describes how a host of reporters and cameramen become desensitized and apathetic towards Azucena as she is dying a preventable death. The situation clearly characterizes the bystander effect. Studies by John Darley, a social psychologist at Princeton University, Allan I. Teger, and Lawrence D. Lewis, his colleagues, demonstrated this psychological phenomenon in the laboratory. The most common explanation of this phenomenon is that, the more people present, the more likely the individual observer will pass off the responsibility to help the victim, unfortunately believing that there is bound to be someone who is helping already or is going to help soon (Darley, Lewis, and Teger 395). As more reporters arrive on the scene, each individual reporter feels less obliged to actually, help the girl. Although in the story Allende does mention, Soldiers and volunteers had arrived to rescue the living, the reader is made aware that much of the rescue effort is ineffective and cumbersome (47). In this way, Allende poignantly criticizes the government for not responding appropriately, when she points out geologists had set up their seismographs weeks before and knew that the mountain had awakened again (47). She goes on to say that the geologists had predicted that the heat of the eruption could detach the eternal ice from the slopes of the volcano, but no one heeded their warnings (Allende 47). The immediate thought that strikes the reader is that this completely ghastly episode could have been thwarted entirely if only the villagers had been either directly forewarned or even forced to relocate by the authorities. Interestingly, Allende seems to point out that the villagers themselves did not heed the warnings of the geologists, perhaps to mitigate any blame on the government and the media. Adding to the frustration and ignorance, the leaders of the government and military are unable and/or unwilling to help secure a pump that could have drained the mud water, which could have effectively saved the little girls life. Although it is granted that Azucena is not the only person in dire need of rescuing, the fact that she became the symbol of the tragedy (47) while never receiving help is truly heartbreaking. Instead, the entire world must watch the girl die a slow, agonizing death in front of the cameras. What makes the situation so horrifying is that this event closely parallels an actual incident that occurred in Columbia in 1985 (Picture power). A volcano had erupted (as in the story), and vomited debris and catalyzed mudslides that engulfed the towns near the mountain. A photojournalist who proceeded to take her photograph, which made headlines throughout the world, found a 13-year-old girl. Many who saw the photographs were appalled how technology had been able to cap ture her image for all time and transmit it around the globe, but was unable to save her life (Picture power). In fact, Allende seems to explicitly question the integrity and value of human technology as she describes how more television and movie teams arrived with spools of cable, tapes, film, videos, precision lenses, recorders, sounds consoles, lights, reflecting screens, auxiliary motors, cartons of supplies, electricians, sound technicians, and cameramen, yet how they were not able to secure one life-saving pump (50). It is almost unbelievable how so much advanced technology and machines are brought to film the disaster as opposed to the amount of materials and supplies that are needed to help save the victims of the calamity. Allende is almost begging someone to help the girl as Rolf keeps pleading for a pump (50). Allende also masterfully foreshadows that the attempt to save Azucenas life will inevitably fail as she tells how anyone attempting to reach her was in danger of sinking [themselves] (48). When a rope is thrown to the girl, she tries to grab the rope, but ends up sinking deeper into the mud (Allende, 48). At this point, the reader must also ask whether Azucena actually wants to be saved. She must have been in the mud for some time now, and the pain and shock would have been eating away at her will to survive. In fact, when the rope is thrown at her, she makes no effort to catch the rope (Allende, 48). Has Allende doomed Azucena to death already? For a while, the reader is given little rays of hope that the girl will eventually be rescued and that there will be a happy ending, but in all honesty, most of the signs point toward certain death for the girl. Another attempt to rescue her by tying a rope beneath her arms is also thwarted when the girl cries out in pain from them pulling on the rope (Allende, 48). She is stuck in the mud and is only kept from being totally consumed by the mud when she is given a tire as a life buoy (Allende, 48). Allende skillfully blends fact and fiction, by creating her own stories from events that have transpired in the real world. She creates characters that tell a gripping story, and become very believable. In the story, Rolf is a reporter who finds Azucena, the girl trapped in the mud and debris. Samuel Amago, a literary critic writing in the Latin American Literary Review, asserts that [Rolf] tries to give [Azucena] the inspiration to live while the impersonal television cameras look on without helping (54). He has become battle-tested through his work as Allende explains: For years, he had been a familiar figure in newscasts, reporting live at the scene of battles and catastrophes with awesome tenacity. Nothing could stop himit seemed as if nothing could shake his fortitude or deter his curiosity. Fear seemed never to touch him, although he was not a courageous man, far from it. (47) Through Azucenas struggle, he ends up undergoing a personal transformation by abandoning his aloof stance as a reporter that had served him so well in previous episodes, and by passionately embracing the girls fate personally. This is where voyeurism comes into play. This is not the kind of voyeurism confined only to the sexual fetish of receiving gratification from observing a sexual occurrence or object, but as Elizabeth Gough, a literary critic writing in the Journal of Modern Literature, states that it also includes any kind of intense, hidden or distant gazing (93). Eva Luna is not physically present with Rolf and Azucena, but she is able to see everything that is occurring through the news. She is in a way, spying on the two people. The intensity of her gazing is noticeable as the reader finds that Eva is emotionally, connected as she witnesses the events on television. The first aspect of voyeurism we find is the camera in the story. Rolf is a reporter and sees everything through a lens. Allende describes how the lens of the camera had a strange effect on him; it was as if it transported him to a different time from which he could watch events without actually participating in them (47-48). The mechanical tailoring of the cameras rolling as a human life is slowly failing portrays the media as impersonal, cold, and heartless. To Rolf, the camera lens acted like a desensitizer and promoted a sense of separation between Rolf and his surroundings so that while he was physically at the scene, his mind was in another safe, secure place. Eva Luna realizes that for Rolf, the fictive distance [between the lens and the real world] seemed to protect him from his own emotions (321). Rolf had erected a psychological self-defense mechanism in response to his traumatic experiences as a young child. His trauma mostly stems from his guilt for not protecting his sis ter, Katharina, from their abusive father. Allende suggests that Rolf could not forgive himself for not saving his sister, but through his efforts to save Azucena- and through his subsequent emotional revelations- he could finally weep for her death and for the guilt of having abandoned her (328). Through this act of acceptance, Rolf finally realizes that all his life he had been taking refuge behind a lens to test whether reality was more tolerable from that perspective (Allende 328). Allende suggests that Rolfs voyeuristic approach to life had led to shallow success as a reporter, and weakened his ability to trust his own emotions as well as other humans. Why else did it take him so long to accept that Azucena was going to die? It was because he was too afraid to feel the pain of loss again, just like when he lost his sister. One of the most memorable turning points in the story occurs when Azucena helps Rolf break down his emotional barriers and to come to terms with own past. Azucena accomplishes this not by saying much, but by listening to Rolfs stories until he could not hold back the unyielding floodgates that had contained Rolf Carles past (Allende, 327). In a classic reversal of roles, Azucena takes on the nurturing role of the adult during Rolfs weak and vulnerable moments. Allende portrays Rolfs mother as an uncaring, frigid woman who would not give him emotional support or even to dry his tears (329). Azucena is the one who tells Rolf not to cry, something a traditional mother figure would have done (Allende 329). Voyeurism is also evident when Eva Luna, Rolfs lover, watches all that occurs in the news on television. The physical distance between Eva and Rolf is palpable, as Allende explains through Eva: Many miles away, I watched Rolf Carle and the girl on a television screen (324). Nonetheless, through the story we are made aware that Eva and Rolf are intangibly bound together. The reader is left in the similar plight of Eva; we see natural disasters and tragedy through the eyes of the media. Therefore, in a sense, the media helps desensitize humans to real tragedies that occur by providing a fictive, safe distance for its viewers. This is precisely the reason why actually experiencing something can leave a truly lasting impression whereas seeing something on television can seem obscure and impartial. However, in the story, this fictive distance actually fuels the reality of what is happening at the disaster scene to Eva. For Eva, it is as if she is physically present at the disaster with Rolf and Azucena. The images on the television help her visualize what Rolf is seeing and even thinking at each precise moment, hour by hour (Allende 326). It is indeed surprising and remarkable how Allende portrays the attachment of Eva to Rolf even though Eva is limited to the impersonal medium of television to keep in touch with her lover. Allende explains that Eva was near [Rolfs] world and [she] could at least get a feeling of what he lived through (324). She further clarifies that while [t]he screen reduced the disaster to a single plane and accentuated the tremendous distance that separated [Eva] from Rolf Carle; nonetheless, [she] was there with him (324). Eva and Rolf were connected in mind as well, as Eva was able to overhear the verbal exchanges between Rolf and Azucena to the point wh ere she was present with them (Allende 326). Although it can be argued that Eva is much more personally connected and involved than the general reader is to the situation at the site of the catastrophe, the reader is drawn into the conflict and struggle by the personal narrative of Eva. The reader is told the story through Evas perspective, and thus we are left with an impression that is comparable to the storyteller. The voyeurism goes many ways. Compounding this idea of long-distance interconnectedness is how Allende ties Eva to Azucena, in addition to Rolf. Through Rolfs interplay with Azucena, Eva is hurt by the girls every suffering, and feels Rolfs frustration and impotence (Allende 324). The three are enjoined together in a peculiar love triangle. Rolf tells Azucena that he loves her more than he loved his mother, more than his sister, more than all the women who had slept in his arms, more than he loved [Eva], his life companion (Allende 330). Of course, he does not mean Eros love, the kind between adult men and women, but a more intrinsically human one of neighborly love and goodwill. Eva, in her turn, expresses her love for Rolf and Azucena when she admits that she would have given anything to be trapped in that well in her place, [and] would have exchanged her life for Azucenas (Allende 330). We are then forced to analyze whether the voyeuristic qualities of the media affects the different types of l ove shown in the story. For the most part, the media helps Eva to express stronger love for Rolf and to become connected to Azucena, whom she had never met. Without the media, Eva would never have known what had happened at the disaster as well as the identity of the little girl who had tremendously affected Rolf. For Rolf, his initial voyeurism through the lens of the camera had acted as a desensitizer and emotional barricade, and when faced with the crisis, his love for Azucena is bolstered as he comes to realize he must let go of his past and obligingly accept the situation. However, Rolfs love for Eva seems to have taken a hit after he returns from his ordeal (Allende 331). A bitter question one is forced to ask is what or who exactly Allende is blaming in her story, or if she is even blaming someone or something in particular for Azucenas death. While it is clear that Rolf definitely undergoes a psychological metamorphosis, we cannot logically assume that this change is for the better. The end of the story suggests that Rolf will never be the same man again, but that he will eventually heal (Allende 331). Eva hopes that one day when Rolf return[s] from [his] nightmares, they shall be the happy couple they used to be (Allende 331). However, the ending suggests that for Rolf, the incident was as traumatic as his initial trauma as a child. Rolf is not free from his past, as Eva would like him to be. In fact, although he is freed from his childhood trauma, he is still haunted by his failure to save Azucena. Perhaps Allende is suggesting that emotional healing can only occur when the victim is ready to be healed. Then is Allende blaming the media for Azucenas death? Alternatively, is she pointing out the gross inability of the government to intervene swiftly and to protect its citizens? Probably, a bit of both. The media is clearly depicted in a heartless, cold manner. Why did anyone not helped? Nevertheless, if any one thing is to be blamed, it should be the society where this incident occurred. Allende seems to be challenging the ineptitude and unpreparedness of the government and its leaders for not mustering the resources and courage to save the girl. The villagers are also criticized as unheeding fools who only brought the calamity upon themselves by not listening to the geologists. This makes it hard to blame anyone at all. Perhaps Allende is suggesting that it is unnecessary to blame anyone, but rather to calmly accept what happened, just as Azucena does in the end. One thing is though: that Allende does not approve of the social apathy that permeates throughout the story, and claims t hat it was the unwillingness to help that ultimately kills Azucena. This makes us wonder, just how dangerous it can be to remain a bystander, instead of actively assisting those who need our help. Reference: Amago, Samuel. Isabel Allende and the postmodern literary tradition: A reconsideration of Cuentos de Eva Luna. Latin American Literary Review 28.56 (Jul-Dec 2000): 43-61. Darley, John M., Allan I. Teger, and Lawrence D. Lewis. Do Groups Always Inhibit Individuals Responses To Potential Emergencies? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 26.3 (1973): 395-399. Gough, Elizabeth (2004). Vision and Division: Voyeurism in the Works of Isabel Allende.Journal of Modern Literature,27(4),93-120. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID:801683111). Myers, David G. (2010). Social Psychology (10th Ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Picture power: Tragedy of Omayra Sanchez. BBC News 30 Sept. 2005. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4231020.stm. Rubenstein, R. Larson, C. (2002). Worlds of fiction (2nd Ed.). Isabel Allende, And of Clay Are We Created, 46-52. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall

Abraham Lincoln: Gettysburg Address Essay

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, summed up the ideals that would go on to shape one of the most powerful nations of the world. Although President Lincoln’s speech was about ten lines, in which he delivered in two minutes, he moved not just the people who had gathered for the honoring of the soldiers who bravely gave their lives in Gettysburg while fighting for freedom, but also people across the globe. In ten lines the President spoke not only about American independence, but about freedom in general. Lincoln addressed the people, by saying it was their job as a whole to continue the soldiers job to make sure this nation remains a democracy with the set beliefs on liberty and equality. He stressed the fact that liberty and equality were the core components for this rising nation; they needed to consider the lives lost in the attempt to unite the nation from what divide it and pay tribute to the brave soldiers. Lincoln emphasized on the fact that the Gettysburg Address may be forgotten in time, but not the soldiers who willingly laid down their lives for a better tomorrow. He urged the gathering to take up the cause and complete the task at hand, to make sure democracy would remain in a government â€Å"of the people, by the people, and for the people†. The speech by Abraham Lincoln, in a way defined the Civil War by centering it on the nations belief system and democracy instead of separating the north from the south. See more: Social process essay He broadcasted the struggle as one meant to witness the rebirth of freedom and people’s power over the state. The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the civil war, making the battlefield a burial ground for hundreds of soldiers. Its significance lies in the fact that Lincoln’s war effort challenged the outcome that otherwise seemed in favor of the south. The importance of the Gettysburg Address sent the individuality of the nation’s commitment to democracy like punch or blow to the opposition. Lincoln had effectively made the people aware of their rights and declared the government accountable to the people. He redefined democracy as by the citizens’ will and not some property of the state legislatures. The Gettysburg Address now finds its place on the south wall of the Lincoln Memorial. It is an inseparable part of numerous works in popular culture, designed for present-day audiences. Democracies around the world have now adopted the definition of democracyfrom the very words of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln may have passed on, but his words still live in the hearts of many, inspiring and preaching to them the values of democracy as they strive towards better futures for their nations in attempt to base them on the values stated of liberty and equality.

Prescription Drug Abuse Essay

Prescription drug abuse has had a strong hold on American society for decades and it does not appear to be diminishing. While some drugs have decreased in popularity over the years others have increased. For instance, there has been a surge in the popularity of Ecstasy and other â€Å"Club† drugs and an increase in marijuana use over the past few years. While society has taken steps in the right direction by supporting treatment programs for addicts and drug abuse prevention programs much more must be done to lower the current trend of substance abuse in our culture. For now, we will be arguing upon the abuse of prescription drugs. What Are Prescription Drugs? Prescription drugs are medications regulated by the U.S. government. These medications are helpful in treating a variety of health conditions and are only available when prescribed by a doctor or other healthcare professional. The government restricts these medications because they may be harmful if they are not taken properly or if they are combined with other medications (Firshein, 2005). Doctors and other healthcare professionals are highly trained and experienced at selecting the best medication to use for a certain condition. The type of medication and the dosage prescribed is carefully determined. It’s very important that the doctor’s directions are followed exactly to help treat the condition for which it was prescribed and to make sure the medication doesn’t cause unwanted effects (Kalb, 2001). Two recent events of deaths occurred due drug abuse. Tabloid star Anna Nicole Smith’s son Daniel died of a drug overdose, an inquest jury in the Bahamas ruled on March 31st 2008 (Reuters). Australian actor Heath Ledger’s death was an accident caused by the abuse of prescription medications, the New York City medical examiner’s office said on February 6th 2008 (Reuters). Taking prescription drugs in a way that hasn’t been recommended by a doctor can be more dangerous than people think. In fact, it’s drug abuse. Moreover, it’s just as illegal as taking street drugs. But some people experiment with prescription drugs because they think they will help them have more fun, lose weight, fit in, and even study more effectively. Prescription drugs can be easier to get than street drugs: Family members or friends could have a prescription. But prescription drugs are also sometimes sold on the street like other illegal drugs. A 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that among all youths aged 12 to 17, 6% had tried prescription drugs for recreational use. Most patients take medicine responsibly, but approximately 9 million Americans used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in 1999, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Non-medical purposes include misusing prescription drugs for recreation and for psychic effects–to get high, to have fun, to get a lift, or to calm down. Experts stress that prescription drug abuse isn’t about bad drugs or even bad people. It involves a complex web of factors, including the power of addiction, misperceptions about drug abuse, and the difficulty both patients and doctors have discussing the topic. Why? Some people think that prescription drugs are safer and less addictive than street drugs. After all, these are drugs that moms, dads, and even kid brothers and sisters use. But prescription drugs are only safe for the individuals who actually have prescriptions for them. That’s because a doctor has examined these people and prescribed the right dose of medication for a specific medical condition. The doctor has also told them exactly how they should take the medicine, including things to avoid while taking the drug — such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking other medications. They also are aware of potentially dangerous side effects and can monitor patients closely for these. Other people try prescription drugs because they think they’re not doing anything illegal because these drugs are prescribed by doctors. But taking drugs without a prescription — or sharing a prescription drug with friends — is actually breaking the law. Some people mistakenly think that prescription drugs are more powerful because you need a prescription for them. But it’s possible to abuse or become addicted to over-the-counter (OTC) medications, too. For example, dextromethorphan (DXM) is found in some OTC cough medicines. When someone takes the number of teaspoons or tablets that are recommended, everything is fine. But high doses can cause problems with the senses (especially vision and hearing) and can lead to confusion, stomach pain, numbness, and even hallucinations. A Look In The Past According to the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, in 1998, an estimated 1.6 million Americans used prescription pain relievers non-medically for the first time. This represents a significant increase since the 1980s, when there were generally fewer than 500,000 first-time users per year. From 1990 to 1998, the number of new users of pain relievers increased by 181 percent; the number of individuals who initiated tranquilizer use increased by 132 percent; the number of new sedative users increased by 90 percent; and the number of people initiating stimulant use increased by 165 percent. In total, in 1999, an estimated 4 million people – almost 2 percent of the population aged 12 and older – were using certain prescription drugs non-medically: pain relievers (2.6 million users), sedatives and tranquilizers (1.3 million users), and stimulants (0.9 million users) (oas.samhsa.gov). More Recently†¦ Data from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicate that 4.0 percent of youth ages 12 to 17 reported non-medical use of prescription medications in the past month. Rates of abuse were highest among the 18-25 age group (6.0 percent). Among the youngest group surveyed, ages 12-13, a higher percentage reported using psychotherapeutics (1.8 percent) than marijuana (1.0 percent) The National Institute on Drug Abuse Monitoring the Future survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders found that the non-medical use of opioids, tranquilizers, sedatives/barbiturates, and amphetamines was unchanged between 2003 and 2004. Specifically, the survey found that 5.0 percent of 12th graders reported using OxyContin without a prescription in the past year, and 9.3 percent reported using Vicodin, making Vicodin one of the most commonly abused licit drugs in this population. Past year, non-medical use of tranquilizers (e.g., Valium, Xanax) in 2004 was 2.5 percent for 8th graders, 5.1 percent for 10th graders, and 7.3 percent for 12th graders. Also within the past year, 6.5 percent of 12th graders used sedatives/ barbiturates (e.g., Amytal, Nembutal) non-medically, and 10.0 percent used amphetamines (e.g., Ritalin, Benzedrine) (oas.samhsa.gov). Which Drugs Are Abused? The most commonly used prescription drugs fall into three classes: Opioids Examples: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and meperidine (Demerol) Medical uses: Opioids are used to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhea. How they work: Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord), preventing the brain from receiving pain messages. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Examples: pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), diazepam (Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax) Medical uses: CNS depressants are used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks, and sleep disorders. How they work: CNS depressants slow down brain activity by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. The result is a drowsy or calming effect. Stimulants Examples:  methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) Medical uses: Stimulants can be used to treat narcolepsy and  ADHD. How they work: Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in greater alertness, attention, and energy (Vranken, 2007). What Are the Dangers of Abusing Medications? Whether they’re using street drugs or medications, drug abusers often have trouble at school, at home, with friends, or with the law. The likelihood that someone will commit a crime, be a victim of a crime,  or have an accident is higher when that person is abusing drugs — no matter whether  those drugs are  medications or street drugs. Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person’s health. This risk is higher when prescription drugs like opioids are taken with other substances like alcohol, antihistamines, and CNS depressants. CNS depressants have risks, too. Abruptly stopping or reducing them too quickly can lead to seizures. Taking CNS depressants with other medications, such as prescription painkillers, some over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, or alcohol can slow a person’s heartbeat and breathing — and even kill. Abusing stimulants (like some ADHD drugs) may cause heart failure or seizures. These risks are increased when stimulants are mixed with other medicines — even OTC ones like certain cold medicines. Taking too much of a stimulant can lead a person to develop a dangerously high body temperature or an irregular heartbeat. Taking several high doses over a short period of time may make a drug abuser aggressive or paranoid. Although stimulant abuse might not lead to physical dependence and withdrawal, the feelings these drugs give people can cause them to use the drugs more and more often so they become a habit that’s hard to break. The dangers of prescription drug abuse can be made even worse if people take drugs in a way they aren’t supposed to. Ritalin may seem harmless because it’s prescribed even for little kids with ADHD. But when a person snorts or injects Ritalin, it can be serious. And because there can be  many variations of the same medication, the dose of medication and how long it stays in the body can vary. The person who doesn’t have a prescription might not really know which one he or she has. Probably the most common result of prescription drug abuse is addiction. People who abuse medications can become addicted just as easily as if they were taking street drugs. The reason many drugs have to be prescribed by a doctor is because some of them are quite addictive. That’s one of the reasons  most doctors won’t usually renew a prescription unless they see the patient — they want to examine the patient to make sure he or she isn’t getting addicted. (Vranken, 2007) Extent of Use Data from the National Drug Intelligence Center’s 2006 National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) reveal that 78.8% of state and local law enforcement agencies reported either high or moderate availability of illegally diverted pharmaceuticals (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2006). According to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 49.8 million Americans aged 12 or older reported non-medical use of any psychotherapeutic at some point in their lifetimes, representing 20.3% of the population aged 12 or older. Nearly 7 million Americans aged 12 or older reported current (past month) use of psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical purposes, representing 2.8% of the population. In this report, psychotherapeutics include any prescription-type pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative but do not include over-the-counter drugs (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2007) Percent of U.S. Household Population 12 and Older Reporting Past Month Non-Medical Use of Psychotherapeutics, 2006, by Age    12-17 18-25 26 or older 12 or older Non-medical use of psychother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  3.3%   Ã‚  Ã‚  6.4%   Ã‚  Ã‚  2.2%   Ã‚  Ã‚  2.8%   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pain relievers 2.7 4.9 1.5 2.1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  OxyContin 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tranquilizers 0.5 2.0 0.5 0.7   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stimulants 0.6 1.3 0.3 0.5   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sedatives 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Additional data from the 2006 NSDUH show that 2.2 million people, aged 12 or older, initiated nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers within the past year. Each year, the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study asks drug use and related questions of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders nationwide. MTF provides usage estimates for alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and substances that are only legally available by prescription. The study includes data for the non-medical use of amphetamines, stimulants including Ritalin, and sedatives (barbiturates) including: methaqualone, tranquilizers, the narcotic pain relievers Vicodin and OxyContin, as well as GHB, Ketamine, and Rohypnol, which is not legal for prescription in the United States. Survey respondents were asked to exclude from their responses any use of prescription drugs that occurred under medical supervision (National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, 2007). MTF data for 2007 show that lifetime prevalence rates for amphetamine use without a doctor’s orders were 6.5% for 8th graders, 11.1% for 10th graders, and 11.4% for 12th graders. Percent of Students Reporting Lifetime Non-Medical Use of Psychotherapeutics, 2007, by Grade Drug 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Amphetamines   Ã‚  6.5%   11.1%   Ã‚  Ã‚  11.4% Sedatives n/a n/a 9.3   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Methaqualone n/a n/a 1.0 Tranquilizers 3.9 7.4 9.5 Approximately 9.6% of 12th graders surveyed in 2007 reported annual (past year) use of Vicodin without a doctor’s orders. Percent of Students Reporting Annual Non-Medical Use of Prescriptions, 2007, by Grade Drug 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade OxyContin   Ã‚  Ã‚  1.8%   Ã‚  Ã‚  3.9%   Ã‚  Ã‚  5.2% Vicodin 2.7 7.2 9.6 Amphetamines 4.2 8.0 7.5   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ritalin 2.1 2.8 3.8 Sedatives n/a n/a 6.2 Methaqualone n/a n/a 0.5 Tranquilizers 2.4 5.3 6.2 According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 21.3% of State prisoners and 16.9% of Federal prisoners surveyed in 2004 indicated that they abused depressants at some point in their lives. For this report, depressants were defined to include barbiturates, tranquilizers and Quaalude (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2006) Tips for Taking Prescription Medication What if a doctor prescribed a medication for you and you’re worried about becoming addicted? If you’re taking the medicine the way your doctor told you to, you can relax: Doctors know how much medication to prescribe so that it’s just enough for you. In the correct amount, the drug will relieve your symptoms without making you addicted. If a doctor prescribes a pain medication, stimulant, or CNS depressant, follow the directions exactly. Here are some other ways to protect yourself Keep all doctors’ appointments. Your doctor will want you to visit often so he or she can monitor how well the medication is working for you and adjust the dose or change the medication as needed. Some medications must be stopped or changed after a while so that the person doesn’t become addicted. Make a note of the effects the drug has on your body and emotions, especially in the first few days as your body gets used to it. Tell your doctor about these. Keep any information your pharmacist gives you about any drugs or activities you should steer clear of while taking your prescription. Reread it often to remind yourself of what you should avoid. If the information is too long or complicated, ask a parent or your pharmacist to give you the highlights. Don’t increase or decrease the dose of your medication without checking with your doctor’s office first — no matter how you’re feeling. Finally, never use someone else’s prescription, and don’t allow a friend to use yours. Not only are you putting your friend at risk, but you could suffer, too: Pharmacists won’t refill a prescription if a medication has been used up before it should be. And if you’re found giving medication to someone else, it’s considered a crime and you could find yourself in court (Vranken, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, abusing prescription drugs can affect your relationship with your family. It can create problems at school and with your future education. You may end up losing some longtime friendships or be forced to give up some of your favorite activities. Moreover, you could get into some serious problems with the law. Listed above are so many reasons not to abuse what can be of good use. As Albus Dumbledore said in book one of Harry Potter, â€Å"use it well†. Bibliography David Friedman. Drugs, Violence and Economics. Retrieved on May 2 2008, from http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Academic/drugs_and_violence/Drugs_and_violence.html Kalb, Claudia. (2001). Playing With Painkillers. Newsweek. 45-47 Firshein, Moyers. (2005). â€Å"Our Current Policy† PBS Home. PBS. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2007). Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-32, DHHS Publication No. SMA 07-4293). Rockville, MD. Retrieved on May 2 2008, from http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k6nsduh/2k6Results.cfm Michele Van Vranken, MD, November 2007. Retrieved on May 2 2008 from The Nemours Foundation. http://www.kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&article_set=39861&cat_id=20140& â€Å"Prescription Drug Use and Abuse† by Michelle Meadows. Retrieved on May 2, 2008 from http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/501_drug.html. U.S. Food and Drug Administration National Drug Intelligence Center, National Drug Threat Assessment 2007, October 2006 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, 2007 National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, 2007 Monitoring the Future Drug Data Tables, December 2007 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Drug Use and Dependence, State and Federal Prisoners, 2004, 2004, October 2006

Federal Policy Changes Due to September 11 essays

Federal Policy Changes Due to September 11 essays The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. illustrated how vulnerable our country really is to terrorist attacks. They also showed the lack of security and readiness in most of the nation's airports and places of entry. The Federal Government realized it must take a hard look at security policies, and create new policies to guide the nation through its' time of grieving and even fear. The government created the Homeland Security department, which is in charge of protecting the nation, as well as warning the nation of terrorism threats with their color-coded terrorism warning system. Green means the threat is lowest, and red means the threat is the highest. The Homeland Security department also created much stricter standards for inspecting airline passengers, and created the "USA PATRIOT Act," which in essence gives intelligence bureaus the right to spy and catch transmissions via phone, computer, and other areas if the agency feels they are a threat to national safety and well being. The PATRIOT Act is highly contentious because many people feel their citizens' rights are at stake. They feel the country is turning into "big brother," with far too much power and might over the people. One writer says, "It is widely held that one possessing power is potentially dangerous" (Stone, 2002). This seems to be the case with the Federal Government as the administration exercises its' control over the nation and the world. Another writer states, "We should avoid the temptation - a strong one, given the enduring emotional impact of the attacks in the United States - of telescoping all our resources, priorities, and thinking toward one worry" (Arthur, 2002). As the nation reflects on the terrorist attacks, the first and seemingly enduring reaction is to protect against more attacks while zeroing in on Al- Qaeda and other terrorist organizations around the world. This is ...

Report of Antigone Essays

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Social work and human services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social work and human services - Essay Example Critical reflection is where attention is paid to not only one aspect but one looks at the whole picture of feeling, thinking, acting and believing. In reflection, one looks at only one aspect and focuses on it fully such as the perspective of the knowledge. This leads to an in depth analysis of the area of focus and shapes this knowledge. Reflexive on the other hand is the whole process of researching the area of reflection and influencing it. During the reflexive research, questions about the knowledge are raised, examination of the consequences understood and this is almost similar to looking and understanding the whole picture as is the case with critical reflection (McMahon, 2002). In all the three aspects of reflection, the important thing to remember is to be objective when carrying out the processes. I learnt a whole lot more about values in this lecture that they are not only about the standards of behaviour which I have always known but they involve the beliefs that people may be holding valuable and they can be changed. The perfect example which I got a chance to learn is about the Australians and their values, how intrinsic there are to their own culture and needs and hence making them different from the values of for example the Americans (Dalton, et al, 1996). When dealing with values, it is important to understand how they relate to positive changes, how they influence the quality of services, the environment, the choice an individual should make their privacy or even their diversity with others. All these core values are tied up with the ethical practice and make the individual hold better choices. It is important to always ensure social justice, upholding of professional integrity as well as respecting other people in addition to upholding the other code of ethics in place (Garton, 1994). Learning about ethics has made me realize that ethics is not simply about the ethical theories alone but is tied down with the values mentioned

Book Review Essay on HR from the Heart Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Book Review on HR from the Heart - Essay Example She expresses the same gravity when she tells about the importance of the profession. She writes, â€Å"When you go into HR, you must realize that, first and foremost, you are responsible for people’s livelihood. Every day you make plans that affect individuals on the most intimate levels. Every time you choose between one candidate and another, the decision you make sets a chain of events that determines the rest of both their lives –even the candidate you never see again because they’re not right fit for your company. You decide on whether an employee stays or goes. You decide who gets promoted and who doesn’t. You decide who gets a raise and who doesn’t. By establishing the compensation guidelines or advertising management, you influence who gets a generous raise and who doesn’t. And you make all these decisions in a larger context of understanding the internal structures and secret plans of the company as a whole.† (Sartain 6) In this book the author is describing how an HR professional should make career choices and mold careers of others as well. She feels frustrated to see HR professionals as vulnerable as others in making career choices when they are capable of helping others mold careers. Sartain also shows how they can make a difference by relating passion with their career as she says, â€Å"If we, as HR professionals, can’t link career and passion for ourselves, how can we expect to be able to do it for the employees of our organization? One of the parts of HR that I get the most joy out of is helping people find the right environment in which to do the things that they enjoy doing.† (Sartain 20). In today’s business environment, HR plays a crucial role in hiring the right kind of talent and retaining them. HR professionals are supposed to power brokers who stamp ‘No’ to every new proposal and are ready to make yet another policy. However, HR is a dynamic and ever-changing profession which can make a difference