Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral...

Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A Journal Article Beatrice St.Surin Liberty University COUN-506 September 23, 2012 Abstract According to the article Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, published in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity in 2007, Siang-Yang Tan talked about how prayer and scripture can be incorporated into the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Lately, in the field of CBT, there have been an increased on a suggestive awareness regarding a two-component model that involves self-regulation of attention in order to preserved on instant knowledge, centers on present circumstances, and implements an orientation to the acceptance of a person’s†¦show more content†¦As Christians, we understand that absolute truth comes only from the Scriptures and that God alone is truth. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). I believe Christian counselors should, therefore, make positive use of what God has given them in their attempts to reconstruct an individual’s thought processes. Subsequently we all have bad thinking sometimes and are in need to reframe the mind. For instance, according to the word, Jesus died for all of our sins (John 3:16, 1 John 2: 1-2), but after we accepted Jesus Christ in our lives, most of us struggled with self- forgiveness. We can only count on the Holy Spirit to change our thoughts and reveal the truth through the Scriptures to replace all the lies and misconceptions, we formulated from old traumatic experiences. The knowledge I accrued from this article are similar to what I went through myself last year around this time; but, I would say I found it very encouraging that experimental studies are beginning to demonstrate the benefits of incorporating prayer and scripture into CBT, and that the scientific community is beginning to take notice. After reading this a rticle, I was inspired to look for more information on this subject, and see what others are doing in this area to help people who profoundly brokenhearted. It’s acknowledged that in CBT a therapist with the best intentions canShow MoreRelatedUse of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy989 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Liberty University Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive Behavior-Therapy Summary Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy can be found in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity. The author, Stan Yang-Tan, covers the apposite use of applying prayer and scripture to the 30-year-old process of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (p.101). With an array of psychologicalRead MoreUse Of Prayer And Scripture On Cognitive Behavioral Therapy1160 Words   |  5 PagesUse of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Summary Siang-Yang Tan, a psychologist that has been in the field for over 25 years wrote a journal on the Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. This journal â€Å"covers the appropriate and ethical use of prayer, including inner healing prayer, and Scripture in a Christian approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy† (Tan, 2007). In this journal he expounded on the methods he used through his experience to ethically provideRead MoreA Review of: The Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy816 Words   |  4 Pagesof: â€Å"The Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy† Summary In Tan’s article, â€Å"The Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy† published by the Journal of Psychology and Theology in 2007, he discusses integrating prayer and scripture with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Tan uses examples of integration from real-life counseling sessions that he has been involved in, as a counselor. Tan’s article first discusses the usefulness of CBT and other behavioral techniquesRead MoreUse of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Essay638 Words   |  3 PagesReview of Journal Article â€Å"Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy† Review of Journal Article â€Å"Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy† Summary This article talks about Cognitive-Behavior therapy and using prayer and scripture appropriately, how to approach using biblical/ Christian values in therapy. The journal also talks about an historical overview of behavioral therapy, throughout the years. The commentary discusses the two component of mindfulnessRead MoreJournal Of Psychology And Christianity868 Words   |  4 Pagesand Christianity, â€Å"Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy† by Siang-Yang Tan discusses how prayer and scripture can be incorporated into the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Expanded CBT described a historical process of behavior therapy that was divided into three generational movements and consisted of a gradual transition from traditional behavior therapy known as; Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and (DBT)Read MoreThe Relationship Between Regenerate And Unregenerate Thought Processes Essay1089 Wo rds   |  5 Pagespeople are fundamentally born imperfect; one of the major goals of the therapy assists people to learn to accept their personalities as well as others unconditionally. God s unconditional love for humanity regardless its imperfection is an all-encompassing recurring theme in the Bible. For example, God demonstrated his love for us through the death of his son Jesus when humanity plunged into sin. Similarly, cognitive-based therapy promotes a more realistic view of the self and others, which is in agreementRead MoreUse of Prayer and Scripture in Coginitiv- Behavioral Therapy1247 Words   |  5 PagesUse of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Integration of Psychology and Theology Tamala Rivers February 16, 2012 Summary This article focuses on the use of prayer and scripture in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). First you must focus on the biblical approach which you acknowledge Gods love and deal with past hurts in a proper manner. You also must focus on Gods Holy Spirit and his scriptures. As the therapist you should not be in self, you have to focus on your clientRead MoreReview of Interventions That Apply Scripture in Psychotherapy1048 Words   |  5 PagesApply Scripture in Psychotherapy Summary Garzon (2005) seeks to describe ways in which a therapist may use Scripture within psychotherapy interventions and to increase the awareness of therapists in these techniques. He bases this description by utilizing a case study by the name of George. Garzon contemplates issues surrounding scripture interventions. The article proceeds to relate interventions that use implicit scripture, psycho educational, theo educational, behavioral, cognitive, and affectiveRead MoreThe Cognitive Behavior ( Cbt ) Method2182 Words   |  9 PagesThe Cognitive Behavior (CBT) method is suitable for case study Andrea Conceptualization and Treatment Plan 2; I find this technique to be most applicable to the client’s case. The paper will discuss a summary of the case study to provide clarity as to why this particular process would result in aiding Andrea in focusing on what is going on in her life at this time. The focus of the paper is how CBT is beneficial to the client to bring change. It wil l convey how this method of treatment will be assistingRead MorePsychology, Theology And Spirituality1267 Words   |  6 Pagesbackground when it comes to providing effective and helpful service to their client. McMinn shows his interest in scripture, prayer, confession and sin in this book and even emphasize on ways to try to keep religion out of the sessions while at the same time using your knowledge and word to make the right decision while providing services to a client. McMinn feels that even if you use this form of attitude it can still lead to negative consequences because the majority of disturbances when dealing

Mini-Case †Finance Free Essays

In order to decide on an IPO price, we must look at the current financial position of the company, as well as make projections for possible future scenarios. From the data given, we know that Prairie Home Stores (PHS) has a current book value of $80,000,000. With 400,000 outstanding shares, the book equity per share is $200. We will write a custom essay sample on Mini-Case – Finance or any similar topic only for you Order Now There are two possible paths for future performance to consider. The first, a constant growth scenario, assumes that PHS will continue on its current trajectory of paying out 2/3 of its earnings as dividends, and retaining the other 2/3 to grow the business. In this scenario, we will continue the company’s growth rate of 5%, with no change in plowback or dividends. In this scenario, price per share is determined by the current dividends, divided by (r-g) The value of the company will be equal to the present value of all future cash flows ( i. e. dividend payments) that investors expect to receive. Constant growth scenario: EPS 2013 = $ 12,000,000 / 400,000 shares = $ 30. 00 Book equity per share in 2013 = $80,000,000 / 400,000 shares = $200. 00 per share Dividends paid out per share in 2013 = $ 8,000,000 / 400,000 shares = $ 20. 00 per share Payout ratio in 2013 = $ 20. 0 (DIV2013) / $ 30 (EPS 2013) = 0. 67 Plowback ratio 2013 = $10. 00 (RE per share 2013) / $ 30. 00 (EPS 2013) = 0. 33 Sustainable growth rate = 0. 15 (rate of return) x 0. 33 (plowback ratio) = 5 % Price per share 2012 = DIV2013/(r-g) = $20/(11%-5% ) = $ 333. 33 $ 333. 33 price per share x 400,000 shares = $ 133,333,333 – value of the company in 2012 P/E rat io = $ 333. 33( price per share) / 30 (EPS) = 11. 11 Rapid Growth Scenario: Since Price = DIV / r-g, and there are no dividends paid in the years 2013 – 2016, we can calculate the value of the company in 2016 and discount it to obtain the Present value in 2012. EPS 2017 = $21,000,000 / 400,000 shares = $52. 50 Book equity per share 2017 = $139,900,000 / 400,000 shares = $349. 75 Dividends paid out per share 2017 = $14,000,000 / 400,000 shares = $35. 00 Payout ratio in 2017 = $ 35. 00 (DIV per share 2017) / $ 52. 50 (EPS 2017) = 0. 67 Plowback ratio in 2017 = $ 17. 50 (RE in 2017) / 52. 50 (EPS in 2017) = 0. 33 Sustainable growth rate = 0. 15 (rate of return) x 0. 33 (plowback ratio) = 5 % Price per share in 2016= $35. 00 (DIV 2017) / 0. 06 (r – g)= $583. 33 Let’s discount it to 2012 value: Financial calculator: FV = 583. 33 N = 4, I/Yr = 11% PV = 384. 5 – price per share in 2012 384. 25 x 400,000 shares = 153,700,000 – value of the company in 2012 under rapid growth Conclusion: Rapid growth scenario promises higher stock price, so it should be chosen. PVGO between the previous example and this one: 153,700,000 – 133,333,333 = 20,366,667 Under both scenarios, current price per share is more than $200. Now h ere’s my calculations: Constant growth scenario: Assuming a 15% required return: P0 = DIV1 / (r-g) = $20 / (. 15 – . 05) = $20/. 1 = $200 Assuming an 11% required return, we’ll have: P0 = DIV1 / (r-g) = $20 / (. 11 – . 05) = $20/. 06 = $333. 33 In the constant growth scenario, the stock is valued at $200 if we assume a 15% expected return, and $333. 33 if we assume 11% expected return. Now, in the rapid growth scenario, things get even more exciting. I think that 2017/2020 is the horizon year, because it’s AFTER that point when the growth goes down to 5%. In paragraph 6, the problem states â€Å"†¦ would require reinvestment of all of Prairie Home’s earnings from 2016 to 2019. After that the company could resume its normal dividend payout and growth. † your book’s years:20122013201420152016201720182019 my book’s years:20152016201720182019202020212022 year #01234567 arnings growth from previous year—4. 6%15%15%15%15%5%5% dividend0000$35$36. 75$38. 59 todayH NB: neither book shows 2019 or 2022, but we know that the beginning of the year figures are the same as the end of year figures for the previous year, so that’s where I got those. Ultimately, it doesn’t really m atter – I’m just reinforcing the point that we turn into a constant growth scenario beginning with year 6. Our non-constant growth model says this: PV = D1/(1+r)1 + D2 / (1+r)2 + †¦ + DH / (1+r)H + PH / (1+r)H and we get PH with this formula: PH = Dt+1 / (r-g) The dividends for the foreseeable future (years 1 – 4) will all be 0, so hose first numbers will add up to 0. We know that the dividend at the horizon year – year 5 – is $35. The expected future price of the stock at year 5 will be: P5 = D6 / (r-g) Plugging in numbers there, we have: P5 = $36. 75 / (. 15 – . 05) = $36. 75/. 1 = $367. 50 Again, that’s assuming a 15% required return. Then the third part of the process is to add up all of those numbers, discounting them to the present value: P0 = D1 + D2 + D3 + D4 + D5 / (1. 15)5 + P5 / (1. 15)5 = 0 + (35 + 367. 5) / (1. 15)5 = 402. 5/(1. 15)5 Or on the calculator: FV = 402. 50, I/YR = 15, N=5, PV = $200. 11 Then we go to the 11% required return. There, we’ll see that: P5 = D6 / (r-g) = $36. 75 / (. 11 – . 05) = $612. 50 And then: P0 = D1 + D2 + D3 + D4 + D5 / (1. 11)5 + P5 / (1. 11)5 = 0 + (35 + 612. 50) / (1. 11)5 = †¦ (Calculator: FV = 647. 50, I/YR = 11, N = 5, PV = $384. 26) In the rapid growth scenario, the stock is valued at $200. 11 if we assume a 15% expected return, and $384. 26 if we assume 11% expected return. This is the point where I defer to you, or we can talk about this more tomorrow. Our math says to price the stock somewhere between $200 and $384, but how do we choose? I get the sense that you understand that better than I do, so I can use your input for sure. We believe that Prairie Home Stores should value the stock at $384. xx because we should choose the We recommend choosing the rapid growth scenario, plowback more earnings into growing the company, and set the IPO price as $384. whatever. Our prospectus will show that we intend to invest more of our earnings into growing the company over the next 4 years, and as a result investors and the market will support a price of $384. We chose to use 11% as our expected rate of return, because this is the rate shown in the Journal of Finance as being the rate offered by other, equally risky stocks in the same industry as Prairie Home Stores. The PVGO is $153,700,000 – 133,333,333 = $20,366,667. This indicates that the company has room to grow, which will be attractive to investors. Investors believe that under the rapid growth scenario. According to our calculations, Mr. Breezeway was wise to counsel his son( ) to not sell the stock for $200, as we believe that the company is worth more than current BOOK VALUE PER SHARE – include something about this. $200 per the current values (this is what the whoever dude offered the son), but our calculations show that the company is more valuable than the $200 price indicates. How to cite Mini-Case – Finance, Papers

Significant Life Events - Solution is Just a Click Away

Questions: 1.1 Explain the impact of significant life events on individuals? 1.2 Analyse possible group responses to significant life events that occur to one of its members? 1.3 Analyse the impact for others in health and social care when an individual experiences significant life event? 2.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of organisational policies and procedures in supporting indviduals and their social networks affected by significant life events? 2.2 Explain how others in social networks may provide support to individuals experienceing significant life events? Does The Intricacy of The Topic Intimidate You? Tame Your Fear with Unmatched Assignment Help Services from Professional Writers. 2.3 Evaluate the suitability of external sources of support for those affected by significant life events? 3.1 Analyse possible organisational responses to the need to support individuals experiencing a significant life event? 3.2 Reflect on own personal contributions to the support of individuals experienceing significant life events? 3.3 Make recommendations for improving tge support available in a health and social care organisation for individuals and their social networks when affected by significant life events? Answers: 1.1: Impact of Significant Life events on individuals Life events can be considered as changes that occur in the life of an individual in a sudden and sometimes in an abrupt manner for which the individual may not have been ready and thus may take some time to deal with it(Cook, 2006). But it is not compulsory that a life event has to be bad and therefore have negative effects on a particular individual. A significant life event can be a positive one too where the individual in whos life the particular event occurs may be positively influenced by the event altogether. Thus in this context some life events can be desirable while others may not be desirable. Therefore, different events can have different type of impact on the person and can be understood and explained in various ways. The classification of life events are done on the basis of judging exactly how much stressful they are to one. This method had been attempted by Holmes and Rahe in the year 1967. On the basis of this model or type of classification, the life events can be cl assified or categorized into 40 different classes. For example, the passing away of a loved one is very undesirable and can end up having a very bad impact in an individuals life. This is a kind of negative life event and it has the potential of creating a lot of stress or tension in ones life(Eldredge, 1998). Another example of this type can be getting fired from the professional field and thus becoming jobless which would result in a great amount of tension in ones life. But, on the other hand, the life events like that of getting married, or being promoted, or having a baby is quite desirable and may have a very positive influence on ones life. Thus the overall impact of a life event on a specific individual is very much dependent on the type of life event taken under consideration and thus may vary from one to the other (Burton, Forsyth and Obel, 1989). 1.2: Analysis of Group Responses to Significant Life Events In case of a group responding to a life event that has happened in the life of one of its members, there are different responses to different life events (Buto, 2004). But it is but a common part of the behavior and response of the group, that the group always tries to support its member and tries to make the situation as normal as possible for him or her. In case of the undesirable life events, the group tries to empathize with the member is directly affected by this life event and the ways in which different undesirable events are treated is to be noted. For example, the group may conduct many different sessions to improve the mental or psychological state of the concerned person who is affected by it(Redfield, 2013). For example, if in case a person has lost a loved one that person may feel very lonely and vacant for the occurrence of such a life event and this vacancy is needed to be filled by the group. Moreover, they need to engage the affected person in different activities, so that he may be distracted for a while and with time therefore can return to the normal mode of life as soon as possible. Either one or more hobbies of the affected person is encouraged or the group in itself initiates some group activities which will help the affected person in one way or the other. One method or way that is adopted by the different groups is that of singing together. Since music already has a calming effect on the mind of a person, so this way is quite helpful for those who need to come out of a really stressful period in their life(Podany, 2003). But at the same time there are many other different ways which can be taken up by the group in order to aid or help one of its members who is being negatively affected by the life event to come out of it in a smooth and easy way. On the other hand, in case of the desirable life events, the group responds in a very positive way and encourages and congratulates its member for entering into this much desirable phase of hi s or her life.Getting married and having a baby are the life events which will fall in this particular category. 1.3: Impact on Others in Health and Social Care The impact on the other people present in the Health and Social Care organization can be different from one another on the basis of the type of the life event that one is undergoing (Erratum: Can Adolescents Predict Significant Life Events?, 2008). But the workers being of responsible in nature tend to give importance to such factors and thus help out the other individual in each and every way that they can. In such an organization, the other members try to find ways in which they can help out an individual as the needs and requirements of one individual differs from the other(Coty, 2011). Thus the main factor actually lies in understanding an individual. Only if a person is able to understand the other person in a proper way, he or she will be able to help and aid the other individual who is going through a significant life event. 3.1: Analysis of Organizational Responses to the need to Support Individuals Different organizations where a particular individual facing a significant life event need to be more concerned about supporting the individual under each and every situation (Golemon, 2006). A general awareness needs to be created regarding the need of having to support the individuals in an organization who are going through some life events in their life. Since an individual has the tendency of losing out on the normal balance in their lives, thus it is required for the people around him to support him in the way that is required by him. This will aid the person in getting back to his normal life and thus he can work in a better way too(Cranwell-Ward Abbey, 2005). For example, if a person is suffering because of the occurrence of an utterly undesirable life experience, then he must be very stressed out and would not have the mental strength to cope up with his emotional breakdown and the pressure of his professional field at the same time(Norgaard, 2011). Thus as a result of it, the performance and the productivity of the individual will keep on detoriating and this will eventually be reflected in a recurrent way in his own work. The individual will not be able to work in a proper way as long as he is not back in his normal life where he can balance out everything. This is what the organization needs to understand and thereby support the individual in the needed manner (Tidd and Hull, 2003). In cases of desirable life events too, the individual is in need of the support of his organization. For example, if a lady is pregnant this is a very desirable event but the organization needs to support her by giving the required leaves so that she can do her work in a better way without any physical discomfort or other distractions (Kronenfeld, 2010). 3.2: Reflection on Personal Contribution In my case, I have always tried to be there in a proper way beside those who are experiencing any kind of significant life event in their life. One of my very close friends had gone through a very bad phase in his life after he lost his mother in a car accident (McIntosh, 2007). He was very close to his mother and thus her passing away in such a sudden and tragic manner had shaken him up in a very bad way. He had felt lost and there was a point of time when he did not even want to continue with his own life. This is the time when I knew that he had to be made to come out of this depression that he had gone into. So I tried to cheer him up and encourage him in looking at life from a different perspective altogether (Starr, 1982). I would take him out to a lot of seminars on spirituality and awakening of the soul so that he could feel a bit less attached to anything earthly and thus find a sense of fluffiness within himself(Ainsworth, 2000). Since he was a fan of music I would listen t o various types of songs and keep him company as much as I could. This had a positive effect in his life but he was still a bit aloof from everybody and that is how he likes it. Then I took him to a trip of trekking as he had always wanted to go. All these eventually helped him to come out of his deep depression and thereby get on with his life eventually. The loss of his mother may never be fulfilled but he knew how to be strong and move on (McVea, Gow and Lowe, 2011). This has been a learning experience for me too and I have a better understanding of how to deal with myself as well as any other individual who is going through a significant event in his own life. 3.3: Recommendations More than any technical training or other similar learning experience, what is really required is a sense of humanity and a fellow feeling for the people around. This will serve to help others in a much better way and thus aid and support them in the way that is actually required(Harper, 2007). But to apply this in a more professional way, one can be given the required training to understand the ways in which different situations are to be dealt with. Thus if professionals and experts on this field lend their knowledge to the common workers of the health and social care organization, then it would be a bit easy on their part to contribute to the life of other individuals in an effective manner who are facing some crisis in their life due to the occurrence of a significant life event (Moreno, Fuhriman and Hileman, 1995). The training program needs to be such so that the methods and techniques shown to the workers can be executed and applied in the practical field as well rather than j ust bordering and bounding itself in theoretical field. It is of utmost importance as the way in which the life of an individual functions depends on it (Sim and McKee, 2011). References: Ainsworth, P. (2000). Understanding depression. Jackson, Miss.: University Press of Mississippi. Cook, R. (2006). Crisis. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. Coty, D. (2011). Too blessed to be stressed. Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour Publishing. Cranwell-Ward, J., Abbey, A. (2005).Organizational stress.Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Eldredge, N. (1998). Life in the balance. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Harper, J. (2007).Chairing the board. London: Kogan Page. Norgaard, K. (2011). Living in denial. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. Podany, S. (2003).Life in the fast lane. Newport Beach, CA: Energy Pub. Redfield, P. (2013). Life in crisis. Berkeley: University of California Press. Burton, R., Forsyth, J. and Obel, B. (1989). Organizational responses to the new business conditions. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Buto, K. (2004). Strengthening community. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Social Insurance. Erratum: Can Adolescents Predict Significant Life Events?. (2008). Journal of Adolescent Health, 42(3), p.309. Golemon, D. (2006). Event. New York: Thomas Dunne Books. Kronenfeld, J. (2010). The impact of demographics on health and health care. Bingley, UK: Emerald. McIntosh, I. (2007). Learning from analysis of significant events. Independent Nurse, 2007(2). McVea, C., Gow, K. and Lowe, R. (2011). Corrective interpersonal experience in psychodrama group therapy: A comprehensive process analysis of significant therapeutic events. Psychotherapy Research, 21(4), pp.416-429. Moreno, J., Fuhriman, A. and Hileman, E. (1995). Significant events in a psychodynamic psychotherapy group for eating disorders. Group, 19(1), pp.56-62. Sim, F. and McKee, M. (2011). Issues in public health. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press. Starr, H. (1982). Thrilling events. College Station, Tex.: Creative Pub. Co. Tidd, J. and Hull, F. (2003). Service innovation. London: Imperial College Press.

Soil Physical Properties Flashcard

Soil Physical Properties

Gender Essays - Gender, Gender Role, Sociology Of Gender, Feminism

Gender Essays - Gender, Gender Role, Sociology Of Gender, Feminism Gender English 112 section 096 March 29, 1999 An in Depth Analysis of Gender Relationships Throughout history and in all cultures the roles of males and females vary. Relating to the piece of literature Girl written by Jamaica Kincaid for the time, when women's roles were to work in the home. By examining gender roles, then one may better understand how women and men interact and how better to build relationships at home and in the world of business. At the time that this work was written, women mainly stayed at home and did housework while few of the very poorest households required the woman to work in an industrial job. Kincaid wrote of the specific roles and responsibilities that a mother would tell her daughter. By what she wrote, one can fully understand what was expected of a woman at that time and in that particular culture. The object of examining gender roles is to answer the question why should women and men be equal and Are there populations in which men and women are absolutely equal? Are there societies in which women dominate men? (Gender 238) By understanding the culture in which this piece of literature is written, the gender roles and the rules of behavior for a woman, then the relationships between genders can be realized. The general myth about women and their gender role in the American society is that the mother works in the home and supports her man in every way. For each relationship, the people in that relationship must decide the particular roles that they will play. In the literary work Girl, Kincaid shows clearly that the woman's role in this work was to serve the family and to work mainly in the house. The mother writing this story tells her daughter that this is how you iron your father's khaki shirt so that it doesn't have a crease (Kincaid 489). In this marriage, it is understood that the wife is to do the laundry for the husband. Today's society does not always provide these clear roles since many women work a full time job and the house chores are a responsibility for both to handle. Though the woman is still mainly held responsible for the home. There should be a constant search for equality in gender roles. Kincaid explains how the man is working to bring home the money and the wife supports his work. By her ironing his khaki shirt, he is better prepared for work to support his family. Though men and women are supposedly equal, the roles they must play in a particular relationship may be unequal. Even though this work does not show a conflict, the girl to whom the mother is speaking may have a conflict with her husband by the time she is married. This mother also may have an internal conflict that is not revealed in the work. Meaning that she may hold in problems that she has with the relationship because women were not supposed to reveal their feelings. Women are usually the ones who are more open in a relationship, but at this time in history women were to keep quiet in relationships (Gender 238). The conflict that will be revealed in the future is the desire to have the status that is already gained by men. One can understand that men already have a status since the world of business is geared for typical male roles. That is apparent by how many of the mainstream blue-collar jobs and management positions are held by men. The girl to whom this mother is speaking must make sure that she seeks to make a name for herself and to help other women gain status. This is stated in Humanity: Gender: If so, then modern feminists will need to work to alter this key factor, and in the long term our societies will develop greater equality between the sexes (Gender 238). Since the purpose of examining gender roles is to create equality, then the conflict is that both sexes are trying to make their particular roles closer to equal than they were before. In this piece of literature, the mother speaks directly to her daughter telling her what she is to do in order

Profile of Pope Clement VI

Profile of Pope Clement VI Pope Clement VI is an important figure in Medieval History. Key Facts Pope Clement VI was also known as Pierre Roger (his birth  name). Accomplishments Sponsoring a naval crusading expedition, buying land for the papacy in Avignon, patronizing arts and learning,  and defending the Jews when pogroms flared up during the  Black Death. Occupation: Pope Place of Residence and Influence: France Important Dates: Born:  c.  1291Elected pope: May 7, 1342Consecrated: May 19, 1342Died:  1352 About Pope Clement VI Pierre Roger  was born in Corrà ¨ze, Aquitaine, France, and entered a monastery when he was still a child. He studied in Paris and became a professor there, where he was introduced to Pope John XXII. From then on his career took off; he was made  abbot of Benedictine monasteries at Fà ©camp and La Chaise-Dieu before he became archbishop of Sens and Rouen and then a cardinal. As Pope, Clement  was strongly pro-French. This would cause difficulties when attempting to broker peace between France and England, who were at that time engaged in the decades-long conflict that would come to be known as the Hundred Years War. Unsurprisingly, his efforts saw little success.   Clement was  the fourth pope to reside in Avignon, and the continued existence of the Avignon Papacy did nothing to lessen the problems that the papacy  had with Italy. Noble Italian families disputed the papacys claim to the territory, and Clement sent his nephew,  Astorge de Durfort, to settle matters in the Papal States. Though Astorge would not be successful, his use of German mercenaries to aid him would set a precedent in papal military matters that would last another hundred years. Meanwhile, the Avignon Papacy persisted. Not  only did Clement turn down an opportunity to return the papacy to Rome, but he also purchased Avignon from Joanna of Naples, whom he absolved of her husbands murder. Pope Clement  chose to stay in Avignon during the  Black Death and  survived the worst of the plague, though a third of his cardinals died. His survival may have been due, in large part, to his doctors advice to sit between two huge fires, even in the heat of summer. Though it wasnt the doctors intent,  the heat was so extreme that plague-bearing fleas couldnt get near him. He also offered  protection to the Jews when many were persecuted under suspicion of starting the pestilence. Clement  saw some success in crusading, sponsoring a naval expedition that took control of Smyrna, which was given to the Knights of St. John, and ended its pirate raids in the Mediterranean. Spurning the idea of clerical poverty, Clement  opposed extremist organizations like the Franciscan Spirituals, who advocated absolute rejection of all material comforts, and became  a patron of artists and scholars. To that end, he enlarged  the papal palace and  made it a sophisticated center of culture. Clement was a generous host and a magnanimous  sponsor, but his lavish spending would deplete the funds his predecessor, Benedict XII, had so carefully amassed, and he turned to taxation to rebuild the papacys treasury. This would sow the seeds of further discontent with the Avignon Papacy. Clement died in 1352 after a short illness. He was interred as per his wishes at the abbey at  La Chaise-Dieu, where 300 years later Huguenots would desecrate  his grave and burn his remains. More Pope Clement VI Resources Pope Clement VI in Print Clement VI: The Pontificate and Ideas of an Avignon Pope (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series) by Diana Wood Pope Clement VI on the Web Pope Clement VI, Substantial biography by N. A. Weber at the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Early childhood. Fundemental movement skills and behaviour Assignment

Early childhood. Fundemental movement skills and behaviour - Assignment Example Observation Techniques The observation techniques that were selected for this opportunity were anecdotal record, checklist, and photo observation, which means antecedents, behaviours, and consequences. The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children includes articles 12, 13, and 14 which pertain directly to the observation of children. Article 12 states that â€Å"children have the right to say what they think should happen adults are making decisions about them, and to have their opinions taken into account† (Hobert & Frankel, 2004, p. 2). Article 13 supports the right for children to have information as long as it is not harmful to them. Article 14 says that rights to privacy should be afforded to children (Hobert & Frankel, 2004, p. 2). Keeping this framework in mind, the observational techniques were used in non-invasive and inclusive methods. The advantages of using the anecdotal record is that it allows for an opportunity to use the humanistic approach in order to provide for values to be placed on the nature of what occurs. The disadvantage is that the anecdotal record can be subject to bias and might not reflect the true picture of what has been observed. The checklist provides for a series of milestones to be placed on a list and they can be checked off as they are observed has having been accomplished. The disadvantage is that a checklist does not provide for context to be placed into the checklist and it is a bit removed from the child. Antecedents, behaviours, and consequences is a comprehensive way to look at what is observed and puts the entire experience into context with the time that has passed. The Rogerian Approach provides for looking at what occurs objectively so that it can be objectively evaluated. The disadvantage is that it might be difficult to interpret progress if not enough changes before and after the event. Introduction of Child and Context The child that was chosen for this observational opportunity has been given the name ‘Alice’ for the purposes of this discussion and to protect her identity. Alice was four years and two months old at the time of observing her. She was included in a small group of four other children she played with frequently in the part. Their age range was 3 to 5. The children was included in the games and was intended to extend on the skill of balancing. Interpretation Alice was observed being able to balance using different strategies. The FMS was observed through three games in order to determine if the task was consistently possible for the child. Alice had been observed having some balance issues in the past, but it had not been decided whether or not they indicated a developmental delay, so the three gamers where developed to extend this skill. During the three games, the second game of her balancing on beam was successful as she was balancing alone however the other games disrupted by laughter and not concentrating due to her focus being on oth er children and not on the task. Recommendation for Planning Table The skill was broken down into a series of skills that were needed to accomplish the task. During the time period between the ages of 2 and 6 there are great strides in fundamental movement skill development and a child should be able to stand on one foot or balance by the age of three (Rathus, 2006). The skills for balancing as follows:

Racism in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Racism in Australia - Essay Example Prejudices include bias and negative attitudes towards other culture or a cultural group based on negative stereotypes and different value systems. In Australia, racism and prejudices are caused by different racial origin and geographical location. Country of birth is significant because it quite often coincides with some or all of the factors mentioned but this clearly need not be the case. People may be born outside a country or a nation-state yet still identify with it; boundaries and borders change (Almaguer, 1994). The world history of migration and the general movement of peoples have made any simple approach to culture and to ethnic identification not possible or viable. Individuals identify multiple ancestries, as evidenced by responses to the 'ancestry' question included in the 1986 national census; the 'cultural background' of many people is diverse. To take one example, there are people in Australia who were born in Eastern Europe, emigrated with their families to Central America when they were children, and then emigrated to Australia as adults with children of their own (Banks, 1996). Underlying many of these pressure points is the conflict which arises for families from collectivist-oriented cultures when confronted with the individualism which predominates in Australia (Pattel-Gray 1995). Achieving security and prosperity may be the only fundamental Chinese family value that has not been weakened in Australia, because western societies also value achievement. Language plays a crucial part in the ethnic identity of many communities, although its importance in this regard seems to vary across cultures In Diaspora, such as the Chinese, it has served to unite people from very different countries. Maintaining the first language and the learning of English have key roles in settlement, family experience and acculturation of immigrant groups. There is also a lack of tolerance or understanding for 'unusual' family arrangements which had arisen through th e disruption of the lives of many Eastern European immigrants and for the many men who remained single. The focus for a sense of belonging may be on common physical characteristics, the possession of a distinct language or dialect, a particular religion, a sense of geographical and historical continuity through living in a particular place, or a distinct lifestyle (Donald and Rattansii 1992). Discrimination Discrimination is a direct result of prejudices and cultural differences take place in Australian society. In spite of great changes in social structure, Aboriginal people are discriminated in education, healthcare and employment (Pattel-Gray 1995). Complete cultural assimilation did not take place. However, the predominance of Anglo-Celtic values, in all Australian institutions but particularly in the workplace and the schools, often placed great pressures on immigrant families, created conflict between family members and sometimes threatened positive identification with their own cultures. The failure of cultural assimilation, the threat to Australian living standards with the onset of the recession and world economic restructuring, and social segmentation linked to gender, ethnicity and race led to a new national approach to diversity and to the development of policies

True Blood vs Twilight Essay Example for Free

True Blood vs Twilight Essay The year 2008 saw the book-to-screen translation of two human/vampire love stories: Twilight and True Blood. True Blood, a television show on HBO, is a single volume of the book series Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Twilight is an adaptation of the book series by Stephanie Meyer that has transformed into multiple motion pictures. Twilight is set in Forks, Washington where vampires are merely a myth to humans, and True Blood is set in the fictional town Bon Temps, Louisiana, where vampires have come out of hiding to try and cohabitate themselves into human society because of the invention of synthetic blood. When considering the legend and lore of vampires, the characters, and the actual production value of the story, True Blood and the Twilight series run as two dynamically opposite tales. The mythology of vampires puts forth the notion of the undead and their supernatural abilities. True Blood respects the original vampire culture by never straying too far from it’s familiar conventions, such as having fangs, requiring blood for nutrients, burning when exposed to sunlight or silver, and having the ability to fly. As for the under-played Twilight version, the mocking ability of a vampire’s skin sparkling when they step into the sun is almost as threatening as â€Å"My Little Pony†, and taking away the monstrous quality of having fangs completely destroys the classic horror theme. Another over-dramatic trait of Twilight’s vampires is that they do not require sleep, yet they have an immeasurable amount of strength. True Blood holds the more logical approach that vampires must rest during the day or else they will get weak and develop a condition known as â€Å"the bleeds,† where they bleed out of the orifices of their face. Besides the physical characteristics, Twilight has stunted the belief that vampires are an â€Å"equal race†, by giving each of their characters a different ability. For example, in the Cullens family (Twilight), Jasper has the ability to calm a room, Alice can predict the future, and Edward can read humans’ minds (except for Bella’s). Despite these enchanting traits of a rather vicious creature, True Blood keeps it simple and understandable by all of their vampires having the same ability to â€Å"glamour† a human, or mesmerize them, and have super speed and strength (when well rested). Twilight’s â€Å"glamour vamps† lack excitement and originality while True Blood’s vamps wear their entire being on their cold, lifeless sleeves. A crucial component for building hope and suspense for a reader would consist of having well-suited characters that add spark to the story. Twilight tells the viewers about the potential plot that could unfold, leaving no suspense, whereas True Blood’s viewers have a visual component, making it easier to connect and empathize with the characters. Twilight’s Bella Swan is a self-conscious, introverted human teenager, while True Blood’s Sookie Stackhouse is an independent, strong-willed human waitress. Both heroines seem to find themselves fascinated with the vampires they each encounter and eventually struggle with their lovers’ â€Å"dark side†. When Bella first sees Edward, she is instantly attracted to him but does not outwardly express it and does not initially insert her interest in any way, unlike Sookie who strikes a conversation with Bill as soon as she sees him and later saves his life all within the first episode. Twilight’s Edward Cullen seems to be an egotistical snob that talks a big talk but takes action demonstrating his â€Å"vampire† abilities, especially when compared to True Blood’s Bill Compton, who will use his supernatural powers to any extent when it deems necessary to him, even though his being a vampire shames him. Edward only speaks of being a threat to his lover, Bella, while on the other hand, Bill stakes another vampire in the second season to save Sookie’s life (a criminal act worth the death penalty in the vampire world). Both vampires demonstrate their love, but Bill clearly acts on his feelings and instincts as a supernatural creature rather than Edward, who basically sits and complains about his negative self image. True Blood, being a television show of three seasons, has had the luxury of thirty-six hours of run-time to shape their story, describe their world, and add depth to their characters, whereas Twilight has had less than eight hours (including all three motion pictures) to evolve it’s repetitive love story. While Meyer’s story revolves around teenage angst, True Blood caters to a more mature audience by giving them heaping doses of adult content, like: sex, violence, and tons of blood. By True Blood integrating vampires into a modern-type society, it allows the show to tackle things that are normally controversial like racism, segregation, and religion. In contrast, Twilight simply keeps vampires hidden away from the human race, spending most of their budget on special effects and young, attractive actors, serving to the youth culture. Twilight strains its ability to genuinely connect with the audience by having one of the main characters, Bella, narrate the movie from a first-person perspective, limiting the audience to her emotions and point-of-view. Although Sookie Stackhouse is the main character of the story, the plot is not limited solely to her perspective; True Blood makes sure that there is plenty of time spent developing the other main characters’ story lines that solidifies the show’s strong ensemble cast that includes: Sookie’s younger, air-headed brother Jason, her strong best friend Tara, Tara’s gay cousin Lafayette, Sam the bar-owning shapeshifter, and Eric the vampire sheriff of Louisiana. When diving into possibilities of a fantasy on screen, there is always a pinch of realism needed in the story in order keep the viewer grounded in reality. By basing the series on the possible outcomes of vampires and humans incorporating their worlds, True Blood stays true to the egregiousness of the vampire reputation. Twilight minimally does the same thing every year or so, while lacking the excitement that True Blood gives it’s viewers on a weekly basis. True Blood is a fiendishly fun and breath-takingly baleful series featuring insane characters filled with life and thrill, while Twilight is a teen centric sulk-fest filled with silence and shame.

Does King Lear Play The Tragic :: essays research papers

Does King Lear Play the Tragic Hero, or the Autocrat? It is quite possible to make an argument in favour of either answer, an argument that would prove to be quite a debate, although one answer would weigh in favour of the other. To prove this, certain elements would have to be analysed thoroughly, all aspects taken into context and sufficient research done into the matter. This is the only method in which a fair debate of the argument can be taken into consideration. We can only find the answer to this question if we know what the two arguments mean; this will provide a solid base onto which the rest of the debate can rest, a foundation of fact. Aristotle, a great founder of the definition of tragedy used the word catharsis to describe the effects of true tragedy on the spectator. Aristotle stated that the purpose of tragedy was to invoke pity and terror, and thereby effect the catharsis of these emotions. Other critics see tragedy as a moral lesson in which fear and pity are excited by the tragic hero’s fate serve to warn the spectator not to similarly tempt providence. This interpretation is generally accepted that through experiencing fear vicariously in a controlled situation, the spectators own anxieties are directed outward, and, through sympathetic identification was the protagonist, his insight and outlook are enlarged. Also, as importantly and significantly, Aristotle introduced the term hamartia, the tragic flaw, or an inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero of a tragedy. Aristotle casually described the tragic hero as a man of noble rank and nature whose misfortune is not brought upon him by villainy or corruption, but by some error of judgement. This imperfection later became known, or interpreted as a moral flaw, although most great tragedies defy such a simple distinction of the term. We could say that in many cases of tragedy the hero is never passive, but struggles to resolve his tragic difficulty with an obsessive dedication, that he is guilty of presuming that he is godlike, attempting to surpass his own human limitations. The need, or lack of order in a society, could be a reason why the tragedy came to be, and is known in Greek terms as hubris. This ethical and religious thought portrays the resulting implications of impious disregard of the limits governing human action in an orderly universe. It is the sin to which the great and the gifted are most susceptible, and in Greek tragedy is usually the hero’s tragic flaw.

“Piano Lesson” Analysis Essay

A title of a work is carefully chosen to not only strike interest but also to give some sort of clue as to the significance of the work. In the case of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, the title, though a play on words, reveals how important the piano is to the message Wilson is trying to convey. The piano, as an object, moves the plot of the play along since the conflict is the two main characters fighting over it. On the other hand, the piano, as a symbol, represents the perseverance of history in an individual’s lives. It’s presence and symbolism work hand in hand to communicate the lesson that family history remains with a person and it’s their responsibility to decide how to use it. Looking at the different character’s and their views on the piano provides evidence of this message. The play begins with Boy Willie barging into the house where his sister, Berniece, lives with his uncle, Doaker. Boy Willie’s purpose for being there is to sell the piano that Berniece keeps so that he can buy the land from his relative’s former slave owners. He knows the importance of the piano but views it as an object and a means for achieving his own success so that he can prove that he deserves as much respect as the white man. He says, â€Å"The only thing my daddy had to give me was that piano†¦I ain’t gonna let it sit up here and rot without trying to do something with it† (1.2). In his mind, keeping his family’s legacy isn’t with remembering them through the piano but using the piano as a means of making money, which to him will honor them in the long run. He tells his sister, â€Å"I’m supposed to build on what they left me†¦now the kind of man my daddy was he would have understood that† (1.2). He does acknowledge though that the past is something to be proud of. He lectures Berniece, â€Å"You ought to mark down on the calendar the day that Papa Boy Charles brought that piano into the house†¦and every year when it come up throw a party. Have a celebration. If you did that [Maretha] wouldn’t have no problem in life† (2.5). Boy Willie’s sister, Berniece, takes an entirely different approach when it comes to her choice of how the piano is used. Berniece is a character that lives in the past in an unhealthy way. The past has hardened her and it shows in the way she raises her child, Maretha, telling her not to go off â€Å"showing [her] color† (1.1). When Doaker comments on Berniece keeping the memory of her deceased husband saying, â€Å"she still holding onto  to him† (1.2) is further evidence of her clinging to the past but not using those memories in a productive manner. Unlike Willie, she views the piano as a symbol of her family’s heritage but fears it. She scolds Boy Willie for trying to sell it when she says, â€Å"You always talking about your daddy but you ain’t never stopped to look at what his foolishness cost your mama†¦cold nights and an empty bed†¦For a piano? To get even with somebody?† (1.2). She shows her resentment to the past by refusing to play the piano and refusing to tell her daughter of it’s history. Berniece is also afraid of the piano because of those who died because of it. Her mother died honoring it and her father died trying to get it. She explains to her suitor, Avery, â€Å"I don’t play that piano cause I don’t want to wake them spirits† (2.2). She faces that fear when Boy Willie comes to the house bringing a ghost with him; however, the ghost isn’t their dead relatives but Sutter’s. The presence of the ghost forces Berniece to face the past and Boy Willie to acknowledge that the past matters just as much as the future. The play concludes when Avery, who is a preacher, comes to the house to get rid of the ghost. The ghost protests and â€Å"fights† with Boy Willie. It is then that Berniece plays the piano to call on the spirits of her dead relatives singing, â€Å"I want you to help me† (2.2). By doin g this she learns the lesson that the past isn’t there to burden her but to give her strength for the future. Boy Willie also learns the lesson that the past is alive and that using it doesn’t have to be materialistic. It can simply be used to remember who you are. The lesson that the two characters learn is Wilson’s way of communicating to the audience how important family legacy is. The character’s growth in terms of their views on the piano display how easily one can lose sight of what is important in terms of being a person. Boy Willie thinks being somebody is materialistic while Berniece hides from being somebody at all. Though the main characters take a big part of the play the piano’s reoccurring presence and symbolism is the central focus of the play since it is through it that the conflict comes together, through it that the characters learn their lessons, and through it that family history is brought to life.

My Life Unleashed Essay

Life is all but a matter of constancy, with the altering seasons and the varying tides vigorously wavering the enduring days of the lives of men. The evolution of the life of being a student remains a noteworthy space in my thoughts as my memories as a child will always be learned by heart, if not by everybody else, at least by myself. Or so I think at least by myself, lest I fail to remember that I had the companionship of good friends along the way, by no means abandoning me in times when I need them most. To be there for them when they, too, need someone to be with is only a portion of what sum of good deeds I must or feel to give them in return. And this is what I liked by being a child, apart from everything else that contributed to my identity to who I am today. It is my friends—my real friends that make me strong. College has been tough on me. I had to weigh several options as to what field to take—those were the nights where I could barely sleep thinking if I am to make the right decision. It was my friends who helped me decide. The primary reason why I chose [insert course here] is because the course in itself is competitive in today’s world. The course, moreover, reflects the scholastic principles of providing a major benefit to students in the [insert field of study] by putting a premium emphasis on the recent trends and advancements in today’s world of global competitiveness. The course is also one that seeks to refine the skills and knowledge of the students through a competition in [insert field of study] among its students just to name one. Moreover, the course is well-handled by faculty members who are very much qualified and are very much capable of instilling the necessary knowledge to the students inasmuch as the faculty as a whole is composed of teachers with reputations well beyond what one might expect. I am a flexible person, a jack-of-all-trades if you may consider. I love joining competitions. I love being challenged though I know for a fact that in every contest there is always a winner and a loser. I am a sport. I rise when I fall. But to tell you, losing for me is a hard thing—hence, it was through these unfortunate experiences that I was able to know myself. Not only did my refined skills and attitude became useful to us during times of dilemmas and crucial moments of getting into a halt on my fulfilling my dreams, but these factors also became a part of what I was able to impart to my friends. In a way, I have inspired them to do the same thing, to acquire the enhancements in their positive characteristics, and to use their meaningful experiences to have full control of their abilities and gifts—to encourage them to move forward after a downfall. I am fortunate to have friends who I can lean on. Part of my career thinking and objectives is that, after obtaining my degree I will bring forth the knowledge and skills that I have acquired into the far more practical planes in the world of [insert field of study]. However, prior to achieving such an end, I will put my best efforts in refining my comprehension on the field that I have chosen to pursue and in expanding my thoughts that revolve around the [field of study] arena. Apart from all these, I also intend to employ the vital information that I will learn through the course to the society at large. That is, I intend to contribute to a deeper understanding not only to the course but also to the generation that we have today and the generations to come through my scholarly contributions. All of these experiences and aspirations that I have shared a great fraction in my life in the sense that these served as the factors upon which I was able to steward my gifts and talents, refining these two along the way as my level of experience proportionally increase day after day. With the daily encounters that come across my way, I am able to contemplate on my personality and realign myself with these meaningful experiences so that I become guided as to what decisions I ought to pursue in my life. Such an understanding is of great use and help, as it has been back in the days when I was just starting in the science and math club, and, as far as I see it, nothing is as potent and as equally practical than having a wide range of experiences upon which one can be able to base his or her crucial decisions in life. These meaningful experiences have taught me a lot in my existence in the society at large and in stewarding my abilities and gifts. The Essence of Values The daily life experiences that every individual in this world comes across with contribute to the development of the self (Achebe, 1994). These experiences do not only come in a single strand nor pattern. Quite on the contrary, what makes these experiences contributive to the welfare of humanity is because these encounters come in various forms and in differing content. A well-rounded personality, then, can be achieved, though strictly limited, to the variety in the experiences that individuals get to have in their lives (Miedaner, 2000). Determination and decisiveness I believe, craft a person to become successful in one’s ordeals. A person who is determined builds confidence within. Believing that a person can do anything and surpass everything is a guarantee towards success as fear is out of the picture. Most people have fear and fail because they are indecisive. Being able to know what you want is a good start of taking challenges. Life is full of choices—and to reach a goal is to decide which path to take (Friedman, 2005). As much as I strongly believe in the idea that experiences shape the personality of a person in many different ways, these experiences can serve as a meaningful chapter in our lives as much as they have been significant to on my part. As far as my memory would not fail me, I do attest to the idea that experiences teach the individual person about being a steward of the gifts and talents that the self possesses. By having the full knowledge that these experiences contribute in a large part in the molding of the ability of the individual in bringing forth a rather full control or, at least, a strong grasp on one’s abilities to his or her advantage, their meanings would be far clear enough. References Achebe, C. (1994). Things Fall Apart: Anchor. Berger, K. S. (2005). The Developing Person, Through Childhood and Adolescence (7th ed. ). New York: Worth. Friedman, T. L. (2005). The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (1st ed. ). New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Miedaner, T. (2000). Coach Yourself to Success : 101 Tips from a Personal Coach for Reaching Your Goals at Work and in Life (1 ed. ). London: McGraw-Hill.

Differences Between Explanatory and Response Variables

Differences Between Explanatory and Response Variables One of the many ways that variables in statistics can be classified is to consider the differences between explanatory and response variables. Although these variables are related, there are important distinctions between them. After defining these types of variables, we will see that the correct identification of these variables has a direct influence on other aspects of statistics, such as the construction of a scatterplot and the slope of a regression line. Definitions of Explanatory and Response We begin by looking at the definitions of these types of variables. A response variable is a particular quantity that we ask a question about in our study. An explanatory variable is any factor that can influence the response variable. While there can be many explanatory variables, we will primarily concern ourselves with a single explanatory variable. A response variable may not be present in a study. The naming of this type of variable depends upon the questions that are being asked by a researcher. The conducting of an observational study would be an example of an instance when there is not a response variable. An experiment will have a response variable. The careful design of an experiment tries to establish that the changes in a response variable are directly caused by changes in the explanatory variables. Example One To explore these concepts we will examine a few examples. For the first example, suppose that a researcher is interested in studying the mood and attitudes of a group of first-year college students. All first-year students are given a series of questions. These questions are designed to assess the degree of homesickness of a student. Students also indicate on the survey how far their college is from home. One researcher who examines this data may just be interested in the types of student responses.  Perhaps the reason for this is to have an overall sense about the composition of a new freshman. In this case, there is not a response variable. This is because no one is seeing if the value of one variable influences the value of another. Another researcher could use the same data to attempt to answer if students who came from further away had a greater degree of homesickness. In this case, the data pertaining to the homesickness questions are the values of a response variable, and the data that indicates the distance from home forms the explanatory variable. Example Two For the second example we might be curious if number of hours spent doing homework has an effect on the grade a student earns on an exam. In this case, because we are showing that the value of one variable changes the value of another, there is an explanatory and a response variable. The number of hours studied is the explanatory variable and the score on the test is the response variable. Scatterplots and Variables When we are working with paired quantitative data, it is appropriate to use a scatterplot. The purpose of this kind of graph is to demonstrate relationships and trends within the paired data. We do not need to have both an explanatory and response variable. If this is the case, then either variable can plotted along either axis. However, in the event that there is a response and explanatory variable, then the explanatory variable is always plotted along the x or horizontal axis of a Cartesian coordinate system. The response variable is then plotted along the y axis. Independent and Dependent The distinction between explanatory and response variables is similar to another classification. Sometimes we refer to variables as being independent or dependent. The value of a dependent variable relies upon that of an independent variable. Thus a response variable corresponds to a dependent variable while an explanatory variable corresponds to an independent variable. This terminology is typically not used in statistics because the explanatory variable is not truly independent. Instead the variable only takes on the values that are observed. We may have no control over the values of an explanatory variable.

From Atlas to Atlanticists

From Atlas to Atlanticists From Atlas to Atlanticists From Atlas to Atlanticists By Mark Nichol Intrigued by a reference to the political term Atlanticism, heretofore unbeknownst to me, I researched the history of the name of the ocean that separates the western and eastern hemispheres. This post defines and discusses these and related terms. Atlanticism, a term coined in 1950, refers to the concept of cooperation between the United States (and, to a lesser extent, Canada) and the countries of Europe, an idea that developed during World War II and was codified in the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949. An advocate of the belief that this relationship is fundamental to geopolitical stability is an Atlanticist. The term, of course, is based on the name of the Atlantic Ocean, the body of water that separates North America and Europe. But where does Atlantic come from? That word, in reference to the seas beyond the Pillars of Hercules (a poetic name for the portal of the Mediterranean Ocean), dates to the classical Greek era and derives from the name of Atlas, a Titan who is said to have been condemned by the Olympic gods to hold up the heavens in perpetuity. (Titan is often depicted bearing Earth on his shoulders, but this image is based on confusion of the sky as a celestial sphere with a planetary globe.) This myth is associated with the Atlas Mountains, located in northwest Africa and flanking the southern side of the Pillars of Hercules, which metaphorically brace the sky. Because illustrations of Atlas were often prominently featured on illustrated maps during the Age of Exploration (starting in the fifteenth century), bound collections of maps came to be called atlases. (The origin of Atlas’s name is disputed; it is said to be either from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning â€Å"uphold† or a Berber word for mountain.) Another name derived from Atlas, by way of Atlantic, is Atlantis. This was the name Plato gave to an imaginary island employed allegorically in one of his philosophical commentaries. Unfortunately, later readers misinterpreted this fictional location as a real one, and pseudoscientific speculation has run rampant ever since, to the point that Atlantis is held up as a psychically and spiritually fueled utopia that tragically met its end by divinely caused inundation. (The name for an inhabitant of Atlantis is Atlantean.) Transatlantic (compare transpacific) describes something pertaining to a connection between the western and eastern hemispheres. Atlanta, the name of the capital of Georgia, resulted from the originally suggested designation Atlantica-Pacifica, inspired by the names of the oceans bordering the United States. (The name of the Pacific Ocean is from the adjective pacific, meaning â€Å"peaceful,† ultimately from the Latin word pax, meaning â€Å"peace.†) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Using "a" and "an" Before WordsSocial vs. SocietalThrew and Through

Argument Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Argument Paper - Essay Example Dry weather caused the bad droughts and the wildfires. When people have enough water they do not think about water. But when people do not have water they suffer. When people do not have water they do not have a good life. In some countries business is in charge of water. Privatization is when a business is in charge of the water in a community. Public water management is when the government has control of the water in a community. Some communities have a combination of business and government in charge of water management. Governments cannot control climate change but they should manage water because then water will not be too expensive, it will be easy for people to find, and people will be healthier. This paper argues for government management of the water industry. the paper identifies the need for affordability, hygiene, and equitable distribution as the major reasons why government should manage the industry because the private sector cannot guarantee the factors. Argument for public water management One of the arguments in favor of public water management is that with public management, water will be cheaper to the consumer. Shah Anup argues that water is the most fundamental of all human rights and should not be treated as a commodity. Private companies should not manage water because they have self-interest in making profits than fulfilling the public’s interest. ... Essie Solomon from Environment Probe shares the opinion that water is essential and is a fundamental right. The author explains that water is one of the â€Å"inalienable rights†; and â€Å"do not come from a government† but must be protected by the government (Solomon 1). Consequently, the government must take the responsibility of water management to ensure that people’s right to access water is protected. Such protection ensures availability and a subsequent affordability of water to all economic classes of people (Solomon 1). Macdonald Nancy argues that it has a great success story, with increased efficiency, quality, reliability, and affordability. She explains that â€Å"privatizing water services is bad for the poor, bad for the environment, and leads to inequitable distribution of water† (Macdonald 1). This is because the poor becomes the most vulnerable due to the profit orientation of the private sector that focuses on delivering quality services to the rich who can promote the sector’s profit motive. According to industry’s track levels, privatization has often led to private companies’ violation of operational standards of water services. These have resulted in high prize fixations which often lead to the poor people consuming contaminated water. In Britain, for example, after privatization, water and sewage bills increased by 67% and water disconnection because of lack of payment rose by 177%. A report by the French government showes that consumer fees increased by a whopping 150% after privatization (Shah 1). Currently, 90 per cent of the world’s water distributions are controlled by the state and records indicate that they are well managed. The

The Disease Process of Cardiomyopathy Term Paper

The Disease Process of Cardiomyopathy - Term Paper Example It is included in the list of diseases that has the highest morbidity rate in the world’s aging population. The degree and the time course of the disease vary and do not coincide with the linear expression of symptoms. People suffering from such disease normally have asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction or both. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the state of the disease that is expressed when the balance between malfunction and compensation is disordered such that cardiac output can no longer be maintained at normal left ventricular filling pressures. (Giles & Sander, 1988, p 16) Types of Cardiomyopathy There are three types of cardiomyopathy; dilated, hypertrophic and unclassified cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common among the three types. In this type, the heart’s main pumping chamber – the left ventricle, coming from the term ‘dilated’, grows bigger than its normal size. Th e ability to pump blood throughout the body becomes less forceful, making the blood flow uneasily. (Giles & Sander, 1988, p 24) Although as mentioned above, Cardiomyopathy 3 cardiomyopathy can occur to people of any ages; this is most commonly seen in middle-aged people and is more often to occur in men. Some people who have this type of cardiomyopathy acquire the disease hereditary. The second type of cardiomyopathy is hypertrophic. This type of the disease entails the abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, affecting the main pumping chamber of the heart – the left ventricle. As the thickening occurs, it affects the blood circulation in the body due to the stiffening and the shrinking of the heart’s pumping chamber, which affects the ability of the heart to deliver blood to the entire body. Just like any other types of this disease, this may develop in any ages but it becomes more visible during childhood. (Giles & Sander, 1988, p 33) Normally, people who acquire th is disease have a family history and more often than not, linked to some genetic mutations. Affected patients of this type of cardiomyopathy may be asymptomatic or may have signs of hindlimb paralysis or acute dyspnea. Examinations demonstrate abnormal heart sounds; from soft to prominent systolic cardiac murmurs and gallop heart sounds. The last type of cardiomyopathy is unclassified or better known as restrictive cardiomyopathy. The heart muscles of people who develop this type of disease become rigid and less elastic, which tends the heart to not expand properly to be able to contain blood between heartbeats. This is common in older people although it can develop in any ages just like the other types. This type is the least common among the three and can occur without known reason – idiopathic. (Giles & Sander, 1988, p 41) This can also be caused by other diseases that affect the heart. This type includes patients with visible abnormalities in the myocardium on echocardiog raphy that do not fit into the other two types. This type of disease is also seen in cats. As mentioned above, Cardiomyopathy 4 restrictive cardiomyopathy have unknown causes. Nursing Intervention The disease is defined as ventricular dilation, systolic contractible dysfunction, low cardiac output and other congestive heart failure symptoms (crackles, edema, etc.) The decrease in the blood supply comes hand in hand with the decrease of amount of oxygen supply in the body. This can lead to kidney

Personal essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Personal - Essay Example This paper aims to define what is important to me and how I realized the significant role of it in my life. Moreover, it provides an account of the event that helped me realize the actual worth of it in the life of other people. I always knew the importance of money and its power in the modern world. I have always been conscious about having the best thing out of the list. Of course, nothing can be bought without spending money today. I used to spend a lot on shopping, eating, gaming and partying. However, I always knew that it is ‘money’ that buys me everything. I used to be a spendthrift and was not much conscious about the amount that I used to spend on things and friends. I never thought that there might be some people living in bad circumstances who might not be able to meet their necessities even. I being a person of a selfish nature did not ever pay enough heed to the necessities of other people and went on living my life so that i made the most of it. Once my friend commented on my way of leading life by saying ‘Do you ever think of saving money as you would not be left with anything when you’d need this money later onwards in your life? And i sarcastically replied ‘T he best way of saving money is to forget who you borrowed it from’ A group project to slum (bad housing) in 11th grade brought a great twist in my life. During the project, I met people who were facing severe difficulties and were fighting everyday to get access to food, clothing and other needs. The places in which these individuals resided were in such a bad condition that a disease would spread with the speed of light in the vicinities. Sanitation and health facilities were not adequate enough to provide them with the basis of a healthy life. Education was yet another factor in that area as the children there could not even get to study. Their situation made me realize the importance of money and resources which i possessed. This

Quantification of Opiates in Hair Samples

Quantification of Opiates in Hair Samples The analysis of controlled drug abuse has been primarily been carried out using urine samples. This is then complemented further with use of other biological fluids such as blood, sweat and saliva. There are many advantages as to why urine is a better biological fluid to use in comparison to the other biological fluids. Some these include: Less invasive No needles required to obtain the sample. Little medical supervision required Cost of conducting the test is lower Urinalysis however also has some limitations, some which are The drug detection window (DDW), the time frame in which the drug can be detected is somewhat short. It is typically 1-3 days. The sample can be easily contaminated; therefore testing is carried out on an altered sample. The sample can be easily changed if it is diluted. [2] There are also safety issues, if improper care is taken when handling the sample then sin contact may lead to infections. Abstinence can also provide inaccurate readings. If prior knowledge of when the test is going to be carried out, the user may abstain from using the controlled substance a few day prior to the test being carried out. Consumption of excessive water the user excessive amount of water are consumed then the sample given may be diluted, therefore providing an inaccurate concentration of the drug abuse. The cut off point- Urinalysis tends not to have a low enough of a cut off point. This will mistake controlled drug abuse with other possible metabolites of food. An example of this is the consumption of poppy seeds. This can be mistaken for morphine abuse. With further developments analytical techniques such as GC/MS hair samples are now the preferred sample to for the analysis of controlled drug abuse. This is then complemented with urinalysis and blood analysis. The advantages using hair include Drugs are commonly found in hair samples. Hair tends to be more of a qualitative test rather than a quantitative. It measures the concentration and frequency of the abuse, not just its presence. [3] A longer DDW measures the abuse the abuse over months and years, as appose to days. The chart above shows the concentration of a drug present urine and hair over a period of 12 days Hair is easier to handle poses no threat of infection if skin contact is made [4]. Hair is a more stable specimen it has a stable protein structure which cannot be easily contaminated [5] Little medical supervision or surgical intervention is required when obtaining the sample and is therefore seen to be less invasive. 1 HAIR 1.1  Anatomy of Hair Hair is made up of two distinct compartments, the shaft and the follicle/root. The shaft is the visible outer part, which comes out of the skin on the scalp. This part is often referred to as the dead part of hair. The reason for this is that the compartment within the skin, the follicle has a bulb shaped ending. Within the centre of the bulb there are cells, which are constantly dividing. As new cells are produced the older one are pushed up. As they are moving up they die slowly, which then form the hard shaft. Each strand of hair is made up of protein fibres called keratins. The chemical composition of keratin includes long chains of amino acids. One key example of these amino acids is cysteine, which contains sulphur. One key ability of sulphur is its ability to form bonds with other sulphur molecules, disulpher bridges. This is type of chemistry is present in hair. Adjacent keratin proteins link together to form disulphide bonds. The molecular interactions between these bonds are quite strong, and therefore it is quite hard to break the bond between them. The disulphide bonds can be broken using an alkali solution, as acidic solutions generally have no effect. Each strand consists of three layers the cuticle, cortex and medulla. The medulla is made up of cells that are quite large and hollow. The middle layer is the cortex, which makes up the majority of hair. The cells in this layer are tightly packed due to cross links between the keratin chains. The characteristic of hair are predominantly determined by this layer. This includes the colour of hair. Other characteristic determined by the cortex are the flexibility and strength of hair and the also the texture. The cuticle is the outermost layer and is formed by a single layer of overlapping tightly packed cells, which are transparent in appearance. This layer provides protection for the cortex and the medulla. This layer also characterises the strength of hair, as its strenuousness it is able to take the effects of any impact. Within the root is the follicle, this is a multilayered bulb like structure. Where each layer has its own function. At the base of the bulb is the dermal papilla. This is fed by small blood vessels. The function of these vessels is to provide essential nutrients and oxygen to the growing hair, it also removes any waste products. This is also the site of where signals are received, instructing hair to grow. [7] This is done by the presence of hormones and adrenogens. The adrenogens determine when hair grows and also the size of the follicle. Therefore influencing the physical properties of hairs, i.e. thickness. The hair follicle is covered by two sheaths, the inner and outer. The function of these sheath is to provide protection to the hair shaft. The inner sheath coats the follicle up to the opening of the sebaceous gland. The outer sheath coats the follicle all the way up to the gland. 1.2  The Hair Cycle Each strand of hair grows in a repeated three stage cycle, starting with the Anagen phase continuing to the Catagen phase and concluding with the Telogen phase. [8] Anagen phase: Hair growth phase Occurs with 85 % of hairs at any one time Duration: 2-6 Years Activity: Stimulus received at dermal papilla → Rapid reproduction of  keratinocytes within the bulb → Upward movement of keratinocytes → Formation of hair shaft Catagen Phase: Regression phase Duration: 1-2 Weeks Activity: Mitosis cycle ends and reabsorption occurs → The old keratinocytes  cells are then preceded by the new ones → Death of the previous  keratinocytes → Hair follicle size reduced by 1/6 → Degradation of  the lower part → Hair follicle becomes detached → Keratinocytes  cells attached to the follicle and the dermal enter the next phase. Telogen Phase: Rest phase Occurs with 15% of hairs Duration: 3 Months Activity: Dermal papilla is in a resting state → Towards the end of the stage,  the hair and follicle become detached from one another → a new  connection made between the lower part of the follicle and the dermal  papilla → Once the connection has been made, the cycle will start  again → Anagen phase → Formation of a new hair, if the previous  hair is still attached to the follicle then the new one will push out the  old hair [8] 1.4  Integration of Opiates Into Hair There have been several studies carried out that look into how drugs and their metabolites are integrated into hair. These studies have proposed some simple mechanisms as to how this is done. However an in depth explanation would require further studies to be carried out. As hair has a protein structure, it is able to trap the metabolites present in the blood into hair whilst the structure is being synthesised. This is auctioned whilst the hair is attached to the follicle, i.e. whilst the hair is growing. As the hair fibre is being formed, the drug and its metabolites become integrated. This will result in the drug and its metabolites to be stabilised within the keratin structure. The basic model proposes a mechanism that a drug and it metabolites may be integrated by passive diffusion. This is where the drug is passively diffused from the dermal capillaries into the growing hair cells. The point at which this passive diffusion occurs is when the hair is follicle length is at a length of approximately 1.2 1.5 mm long. This is the length between the hair matrix area and the area of the keratinised area. This suggests that if the hair is 1.2 1.5 mm long then drug exposure of about three days is available for analysis. A more detailed model can also explain how drugs and their metabolites can be integrated into hair. This takes into account different mechanisms occurring various times of the hair growth cycle, and at a number of different locations. The research into this multi-compartment theory was initiated by Henderson [10], but has since been backed up by further studies. An example of this is, the movement of the drugs and its metabolites from sweat and Sebum. The integration of the drugs and their metabolites occurs once the hair has been formed. Studies have shown that the concentration of drugs in sweat is higher than the concentration found in blood. This would therefore explain the high concentrations if drugs found in hair. [10] Drugs can also be integrated into hair from the external environment, i.e. from air, water and hair treatments such as hair dying, and perming. As well as the external environment drugs can also be integrated with hair by intradermal transfer. This happens deep within the skin compartment, where highly lipid soluble drugs can penetrate into the skin layer and then become integrated into hair. [11] Also melanin content may have some influence on the drug being transferred. The drug may associate with melanin sites that are present in the skin. This will result in the transfer of the drug and its metabolites as well as melanin pigment molecule. The actual properties of the drug being integrated will also ultimately influence which mechanism is used for the drug to be integrated with hair. Examples of these properties include the structural, chemical, and physical properties. When looking specifically at the structural properties, there are three factors that will influence the mechanism undertaken to integrate the hair. [13] These include: The melanin content of the hair The lipophilicity of the drug The basicity of the drug The influence of melanin on the integration of the drug with has been examined in several studies. A sample of grey hair was analysed. It can be seen that the sample contains white hair and pigmented hair. It was found that even though the root had been placed under the same conditions, i.e. the same concentration of the drug and its metabolites in the blood the pigmented had ten times the concentration of the basic drug compared to the hair sample that was not pigmented. [14] This study carried out by M. Rothe et al prompted further studies to be carried out. These looked at the difference in drug concentration between black, brown, blonde and red coloured hair. The results obtained from this study also found the correlating results. The integration of uncharged organic i.e. lipophilic drugs can infiltrate the membrane with ease, as well as being able to diffuse along the concentration gradient. This however is not the case with lipophobic or charged drugs. When they try to infiltrate the membrane a drug resistant barrier is formed, therefore restricting the drug from entering the membrane. Also basic and acid drugs, are highly ionised can enter the membrane if the charge they have is neutralised. This is achieved by deprotonation or protonation. This suggests that the pkA of the drug is an important factor, when it is trying to enter the melanocyte cells so it can be integrated with hair. Studies have also found that the intracellular pH of melanocytes typically ranges from 3 to about 5. Due to this chemical property, there is an increase in the accumulation of drugs at pigmented sites. However this is not the case for all acidic drugs, so this is why they are often found in lower concentrations. [13] 2. Opiates and Opioids 2.1  Derivation and active component The opiates are derived from opium. Opium is released from immature seeds that grow within the poppy plant, also known as papaverus somniferum. The active component from which the opiates are synthesised, is known as the latex. This is a white milk like emulsion fluid that is released, when an incision made on the green wall of the poppy plant seed. The latex is removed typically between 1-3 weeks after the poppy plant has flowered. The white latex is then dried, leading to the formation of brown coloured opium. They are a group of about twenty opiate alkaloids. An opiates can however is a synthetic chemical/drug that can be synthesised using an opiate as starting material, or be fully synthesised to mimic the action of an opiate. Morphine is the most prominent opiate present within opium, making up 10%. Codeine is second, which makes up approximately 5% of opium. The other main constituents of opium include thebaine, noscapine and papaverine. Some of the twenty alkaloids can be synthesised further in laboratories They can be synthesised using an opiate as starting material, or be fully synthesised to mimic the action of an opiate. An example of this is the synthesis of heroin from morphine. There are also opioids that can be synthesised fully in a laboratory. An example of this type of opioid is methadone. 2.2  Classification The opiates can be classified into three main categories, natural opiates, semi synthetic opioids and fully synthetic opioids. 2.2.1  Natural Opiates These are chemical/drugs that are synthesised directly from the latex that is produced from the seedlings of the poppy plant. Once the latex has been dried it is now known as opium. The natural opiates are then extracted from the dried opium. The most abundant chemical/drug present in the opium is morphine, accounting for 10 % of opium. The second most abundant natural opiate is codeine, account for approximately 5 % of opium. Thebaine is the third most abundant opiate, accounting for approximately 3% of opium. Thebaine The chemical composition of morphine and codeine is quite complex. This is why it is not feasible to synthesise them in a laboratory. This therefore means that the best method of obtaining these opiates is through direct extraction from the poppy plant. 2.2.2  Semi Synthetic Opiates These types of opiates are synthesised using the natural opiates, such morphine as starting points. There are a vast amount of semi synthetic opiates. One example of a natural opiate being used to synthesise a semi synthetic opiate is the production of heroin from morphine. HEROIN The reaction of morphine with acetic anhydride results in the formation of diacytylmorphine, also known as heroin. Morphine as well as the other natural opiates are the starting material for many semi synthetic opiates. The table below shows examples of these semi synthetic opiates. Semi Synthetic Opiate Also Known As Starting Natural Opiate Chemical Structure Hydromorphone Dihydromorphinone and Dimorphone Morphine Hydrogenated ketone Hydrocodone Dihydrocodeinone Codeine and Thebaine Oxycodone Dihydrohydroxycodeinone Thebaine The structure is similar to codeine, but differs in 3 ways 1 -hydroxyl group at C-14, codeine has a H 2- has a dihydro between C 7,8, codeine has double C bond 3- carbonyl group present instead of a hydroxyl group Oxymorphone 14-Hydroxydihydromorphinone Thebaine or Morphine Esterification of the hydroxyl groups Desomorphine Dihydrodesoxymorphine Morphine Remove 6-hydroxy group Saturation of the 7,8 C double bond Heroin Diacetylmorphine Morphine- Addition of acetyl ester groups at C 3,6, therefore diacetyl ester of morphine Codethyline Ethylmorphine Codeine or Morphine the OC2H5 group substituted for an aromatic 3-OH 2.2.3  Fully Synthetic Opiates The fully synthetic opioids are completely chemically different to opiates, however the mode of action on the body. The fully synthetic opiates are able to mimic the way morphine acts on the body. The first type of fully synthetic opiates that was synthesised was called meperidine. This was then with the production of methadone. Some other examples of fully synthetic opiates are fentanyl, pethidine, tramadol and dextropropoxyphene. The advantages of synthesising these synthetic opiates are that the potency of the chemical/drug can be rapidly increased, in comparison to that of morphine. 2.2.4  Endogenous Opiates These are natural substances that are produced within the brain. The characteristics of the endogenous opiates are similar to that of the alkaloid opiates that derived from the poppy plant, commonly known as exogenous opiates. The endogenous opiates interact with opiates receptors in the same way as the exogenous opiates i.e. causing analgesia and euphoria. Examples of these endogenous opiates are Endorphins Enkephalins Dynorphins 2.3 Mode of Action of Opiates Opiates are chemicals that act on the body in two ways. The first is by reducing or stopping chemical signals, therefore having sedative effects. This will result in a reduction reaction time in which the body reacts to pain, also helps to decrease the awareness of pain and finally helps increase the tolerance of pain. The second way in which the opiates act within the body is to create a feeling of elation. The mechanisms that allow the opiates to behave this way is achieved by the interactions that occur at the opiate receptors. The opiate receptors are located mainly in the central nervous system, i.e. the brain and spinal cord and also within the respiratory centre. The body also produces it own natural opiates, known as endogenous opiates. Some examples of these endogenous opiates are endorphins, enkephalins and dynorphins. They are all released naturally to interact with the opiate receptors. The endorphins are located in the hypothalamus, and are released in response to stress. The enkephalins are present within the central nervous system, and act on the pain pathways. The dynorphins are also located in central nervous system, the spinal cord. They are also associated with the pain pathways. These natural opiates interact with three main opiate receptors mu, kappa and delta, which are g-protein coupled. The opiates that are derivative of the poppy plant are called exogenous opiates. They also interact with the mu, kappa and opiate receptors. If the use of the exogenous opiate s is abused, adverse effects. As well as the opiates being able to block pain, they also make the user feel elated. This is the result of the opiates reacting with mu opiate receptors. The same receptor that the endogenous opiates, endorphin reacts with. Due to these properties it is often the case that opiates are used recreationally as appose to medically. 3. Extraction of Opiates from Hair 3.1 In order to determine the presence of in a hair sample, the drugs need to be extracted from the hair structure. The reason for this is that there have not been any developments in analytical techniques that analyse the hair and drug when they are combined in one structure. This is why extraction steps are taken to analyse the drug separately from the hair structure. The choice of solvent used for the extraction process must take into consideration the chemical structure of the drug, and what response they will have to the solvent. 3.2  Division of hair in to segments Hair must be divided into segments prior to the opiates being extracted. As hair grows at a rate 0.5 inches per month [ref -see notes], it provides a timeline of when and at what concentration the opiates we consumed. The hair sample must be all be of the same length prior to being analysed. It is quite difficult to quantify at which period of time the opiate was consumed if a clump of hair is used as appose to a single strand of hair. it is generally get harder the longer the distance from the root. This is why it is beneficial to analyse the hair sample in sections. [25-22] Studies carried out, have found the following divisions of a 45 cm length provide the optimum analysis. Staring from the root the following divisions are made: 4 x 0.5 cm 3 x 1.0 cm 2 x 2.0 cm 2 x 3.0 cm 2 x 5.0 cm 2 x 10 cm 3.3  Decontamination of hair Prior to any extraction techniques being carried out on hair, any external contaminants must be removed. Although the analytical techniques analyse the opiates that are incorporated within the hair structure, sometimes other substances may be detected if the decontamination process is not actioned correctly. The results of the analysis may account for surface contaminants that may have made contact with hair, i.e. if the user has touched a substance and subsequently touches their hair. This will result in a positive result eng obtained even though the user has not consumed the substance. Other possible sources of these contaminants may be from hair care products such as shampoos and conditioners. Also any hair styling products, such waxes and hair sprays also need to be removed. As well these sweat and any fatty sebum released from the sebaceous glands need to be removed. Also environmental contaminants such dust need to be discarded. If the sample prior to being cut was exposed to any drugs in the environment, this step will remove this source of contamination. The reason for decontaminating the hair sample is to prevent any background noise when the sample is analysed. The choice of the decontaminant has to have specific properties. This is because it has to remove any external contaminants, however not be able to remove any of the drugs and its metabolites from the hair sample. [15] Non protic solvents such as dichlormomethane and acetone are good decontaminates as they do not swell the hair, so extraction will not occur. Using a 300mg sample of hair is used. It is placed into an ultrasonic bath, There are series wash cycles performed on the hair sample, and are usually initiated with two washes with dichloromethane. A typical experiment conducted in [16], which tried to determine the opiate content in hair carried out four different wash cycle, on four different samples of hair. 20 ml of dichloromethane, 15 ml of acetone, 15 ml of methanol, 10 ml of methanol. 20 ml of isopropanol, 15 ml of acetone, 15 ml of methanol, 10 ml of methanol. 20 ml of dichloromethane, 15 ml of isopropanol, 15 ml of methanol, 10 ml of methanol. 20 ml of n-hexane , 15 ml of acetone, 15 ml of methanol, 10 ml of methanol. This experiment showed that a mixture of solvents could be used to wash the hair samples. 3.4  Disintegration of opiates from hair structure As there are currently no analytical techniques that test for opiates whilst they are integrated within the hair structure. This means that the hair structure must first of all be digested and then the drugs and its metabolites are extracted, to determine which drugs are present. There are various solvents used to extract opiates and its metabolites from hair. 3.4.1  Extraction with Methanol Methanol is a good solvent used to extract opiates from hair. It is hydrophilic, so it can enter the hair structure quite easily. The action of methanol is that it causes the hair to swell up. This will result in the drugs integrated within the hair structure to be released. This is done by the opiates diffusing out. This extraction is carried out in an ultrasonic bath. This helps to degrade the hair structure. There are some impurities still present once this methanol extraction has been carried out. So a secondary clean up is still required. [17] There are some disadvantages to this extraction method. This is because the amount of drug obtained from the extraction procedure, is quantitatively less than other extraction methods used to derive opiates hair from hair. However the main disadvantage of using is that using methanol extraction, this is that the opiate extracted can sometimes be hydrolysed. An example is the conversion of 6-monoacetylmprphine (Heroin) to morphine. This results in the non detection of monoacetylmprphine (heroin). [13] Therefore when trying to detect the opiate Heroin, it can be hydrolysed to morphine. Therefore resulting in the heroin present in hair to go undetected. [21] 3.4.2  Extraction with a buffer solution This extraction procedure is widely used to extract opiates and their metabolites from hair. It generally seen to be one the more successful methods. A typical buffer solution would be a phosphate buffer, at a pH of approximately 6.4 7.6. [18] In comparison to methanol phosphate buffer are seen to be a cleaner approach of extracting opiates. In addition to use the phosphate sometimes additional enzyme are added to help to determine intricate metabolites. A typical enzymes used are combination of glucuronidase and arylsulphitase. 3.4.3  Supercritical Fluid Extraction This method uses a supercritical fluids such carbon dioxide (CO2) to extract opiates from hair. It is seen to be advantageous over other extraction methods, as supercritical fluids have specific properties that allow them to be more efficient in extracting opiates and their metabolites from hair samples. Some examples of these properties include that physically, supercritical fluids are less viscous than other solvents. This in turn allows them to move more freely. [19] They have an increased speed of extraction, in particular with opiates. Research carried out into the extraction of opiates from hair using supercritical fluids by Edder et al. It was found that use of the supercritical fluid carbon dioxide, not only speeded up the extraction process but also retrieved a high yield. It was found that 100 % of the morphine that was present in the hair sample was extracted, along with 98.2% codeine, and 92% of methadone. This was all done in a 25 minute procedure. [20] Other advantages of using supercritical fluids to extract opiates from hair samples are that it has been found that supercritical fluids tend not to contaminate the samples, in comparison to solid phase extraction and liquid liquid extraction. The efficiency of this method also allows the procedure to be more automated in comparison to other extraction techniques. 3.4.4  Enzymatic Digestion of the Hair matrix This method primarily uses the enzymes pronase and protein kinase A to break down the hair structure. The procedure requires the hair sample to be placed into the enzyme mixture at temperature between 40 -60oc for approximately 6 12 hours. [22] The action of these enzymes is to breakdown the disulphide bonds that are present within the hair structure. Often dithiothreitol is used to aid pronase and protein kinase A, by decreasing the time taken to extract the opiates and their metabolites from the hair sample. Other enzymes used to breakdown the hair structure include glucuronidase and arylsulphitase. The disadvantage of using this method in comparison to other extraction techniques is that some of the sample may be altered prior to them being for the analytical tests. An example is the antibodies that are required for radio immunoassays, may be denatured by excessive heating required by this extraction process. 3.4.5  Digestion with Sodium Hydroxide. The use of alkaline solutions such as sodium hydroxide in digesting hair for the extraction of opiates has proven to be very compatible. This is because unlike acid solvents the constituents of the opiates are not hydrolysed along with the hair structure. An example of study conducted by Aldo Polettini et al found that in some case hair samples of heroin users, when digested in methanol hydrolysed the heroin to morphine. Whereas the hair sample that was digested in sodium hydroxide successfully hydrolysed the hair structure but did not alter the opiate and its constituents. [ref] Typical experiments digest hair samples in a 2M concentration of sodium hydroxide, set at a temperature of about 79 °c for 60minutes. 4. Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Hair Samples 4.1  How GC/MS works Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry are two separate analytical techniques that are used together to quantitatively detect low concentrations of opiates. This analytical technique has exceptional specificity to the detecting in opiates in hair, with levels ranging from nanograms to picograms. 4.1.1  Gas Chromatography The gas chromatograph is a heated unit that has thin silica capillary columns, which have a cross linked silicone layer. The opiate sample is injected into an inlet and heated. The sample is heated until the boiling point of the last part of the opiate sample has been exceeded by approximately 20 ËÅ ¡C. This is typically between 200 260 ËÅ ¡C. This leads to the vaporisation of the opiate sample. The vaporised opiate sample will move to the beginning section of the silica capillaries. This is aided by an inert gas, typically helium. The temperature is somewhat reduced at the silica capillaries, typically 120ËÅ ¡C. This will result in the condensation of the opiate sample. The reason for this condensation step is to ensure that all of the constituents of the opiate sample commence forward from a uniform point. The opiate molecule will start to disintegrate as it moves along the capillary column. This disintegration is caused by varied physiochemical interactions that occur with the different constituents of the opiate molecule, during the stationary phase. The time taken for each constituent or metabolite to move of the opiate sample to move through the capillary tube, from the point of injection is referred to as the retention time. [28] 4.1.2  Mass Spectrometry Once the separate constituents of the opiate sample leave the capillary column, they begin to enter the mass spectrometer. The compartment between the gas chromatograph and the mass spectrometer is under high vacuum, which have quadrapoles that cover the end of the silica capillary. Now that the sample is moving along from the GC they are met by a beam of electrons, resulting in the sample to become ionised. The quadrapoles split the different constituents of the opiate samples, in relation to their electrical charge and their molecular weight. An electrical pulse is generated as the ion detector acts on the charged opiate constituents. This is all recorded on to library computer, which generates a spectrum of the opiate constituents behaviour within the mass spectrometer. [29] A Typical GC/MS A capillary tube COMPUTER 4.2  A typical GC/MS procedure on hair samples of opiate abusers. 4.2.1  Typical GC Conditions The type of capillary column used to quantification of the opiates is a HP 5MS, 5% phenyl methyl siloxane, with dimensions of 30m x 0.25m x 0.25 µm film thickness. The temperature of the inlet is set to 230 °c. The inert gas used was 99.999% helium, which flows at a rate of 1ml/min. The temperature of the oven is held at 150 °c for 1 minute. The GC is then programmed to increase the temperature in the following increments. [30] 4.2.2  Mass spectrometry Conditions The mass detector was set up to operate at voltage of 70eV. The temperature at the quadrupol