Monday, December 23, 2019

Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, C.J. Jung and William James...

Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, C.J. Jung and William James were all brilliant and diverse theorists who made vast contributions to the science of psychological studies. These brilliant minds fueled the psychological studies of future theorists with their contrasting theoretical approaches and discoveries. At times, they collaborated to formulate concepts and understandings but separated because of conceptual disputes. Freud’s psychoanalysis theory was at the epicenter of some studies but these men in their individuality contributed their own theoretical concepts and developed their own schools of thought from Jung’s analytical psychology, Adler’s independent school of psychotherapy, James’s theory of emotion and Freud’s psychoanalytical†¦show more content†¦These include his structural analysis of personality into Id, Ego, and Superego, and his description between anxiety, and ego defense mechanism† (pg 422). Freud’s structure of personality theory divides the mind into three parts, the Id, which centers on desires, pleasures, primal impulses, or urges. The Ego, which is concerned with the conscious, the moral, rational, and is self-aware. The Super-ego, the censor of the Id, which enforces the moral code of the Ego. He believed the Ego and Super-ego are both partly conscious and unconscious. His â€Å"structural theory† of the Id, Ego and Super-ego was detailed in the book, The Ego and the Id when Freud revised his earlier theory of mental functioning and believes repression is one of many defense mechanisms and it occurs to reduce anxiety. Freud reasons the conflict between the drive and superego as the cause of anxiety which is the root cause that inhibits mental functions, such as an individual’s intellect. Identification, rationalization and projection are three other defense mechanisms people use to protect their mind from anxiety. Freud’s theory of psychosexual development states people seek pleasure from erogenous zones and everything a person becomes as an adult is determined by their childhood experiences. An individual develops his or her psychosexual personality based on how he or she handles anti-social impulses in socially

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Critical Paper A Rose for Emily Free Essays

In the story of â€Å"A Rose for Emily†, a kind of point of view that is used was first point of view of multiple characters where the narrator is one of the characters in the story. The multiple characters narrate the actions of a group of characters while never referring to a â€Å"me† and only to a â€Å"we† of the group. It was evident that the narrator was one of the townspeople who were very objective in presenting the facts of the story. We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Paper A Rose for Emily or any similar topic only for you Order Now He told us about what the townspeople think of Miss Emily but he didn’t judge her. He clearly presented a reality, not an illusion in which Miss Emily was the one who’s really struggling with the concept of reality vs. illusion and also living one way while hiding a terrible secret (reality vs. appearance). One of the main themes of the story is that people should let go of their past, moving on with the present so that they can prepare to welcome their future. Emily was the proof of a person who always lived on the shadow of the past because she was afraid of changing. She did not accept the passage of time throughout all her life, keeping everything she loved in the past with her. The first evident was about the description of Grierson’s house which was still remained like a symbol of seventieth century while the society was changing every minute. The second evident was the event that Miss Emily declined to pay taxes because in her mind, her family was powerful and they didn’t have to pay any taxes in the town of Jefferson and the third was the fact that Miss Emily had kept her father’s death body inside the house and didn’t allow burying him. And last evident which was also the most interesting of this story, the discovery of Homer Barron’s skeleton in the secret room which can be understood that Miss Emily was afraid that he would leave her and she decided to kill him because she was afraid of losing him. Another theme of the story is that not all things, people, and events are always what they appears to be, which was associated and expressed many times throughout the story. The townspeople viewed Miss Emily as a strange old woman. Not until after her death when the men opened the secret room and found the corpse of Homer Barron, did the citizens and the reader realized that Miss Emily had gone insane. How to cite Critical Paper A Rose for Emily, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Romeo and Juliet A study of the play Essay Example For Students

Romeo and Juliet: A study of the play Essay Discuss the role of parents and parent substitutes in Romeo and Juliet. How responsible are these adults in the tragedy? Through Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare presented society a drama that touched on many aspects concerning human condition. The drama, when studied closely, deals with many universal truths including young love, the family unit, the role of fate and destiny, isolation and the effect of society on every individual. For one to judge how responsible the role of parents and parent substitutes in this tragedy, other important characters and issues must also be taken into consideration. Shakespeare established Romeo and Juliets love as the main focus in this tragic drama. Two young lovers, Romeo and Juliet, cannot understand the hatred of the older generation that keeps them apart, and choose to end their lives themselves rather than live without each other. The couple fall in love with each other at first sight, and not even the deaths of their relatives and friends put an end to the deep affections they have for each other. Through the drama, Shakespeare expressed sympathy to young lovers. Romeo and Juliet are the innocent victims of greed, macho behaviour, pride and prejudice of their parents and of society as a whole. Shakespeare wants society to be more tender when treating young lovers, to listen and to understand their points of view even if it means forgetting about ones pride or an ancient family feud: Deny thy father and refuse thy nameAnd Ill no longer be a Capulet. It is this point that the Capulets family, the Montagues family or the Friar failed to do, and as a result of this Romeo and Juliets love became their downfall. The Montague family appears early in the play. Although Lord Montague is as keen to fight as is his counterpart, Lord Capulet, there is also a seeming gentleness and caring about the parents. This is what Lady Montague has to say directly after the fight: O where is Romeo? Saw you him today? / Right gald I am he was not at this fray (Act 1, scene 1), a remark that shows her care for her son. In addition, they are both concerned about the welfare of their son, instructing Benvolio to help if possible. They then largely move out of the immediate action (with the exception of Act 3, scene 1 in which they plead for the life of their son), until the end when we hear of the loss of Lady Montague, having died of a broken heart. Lord Montague is generous at the end, as he promises to erect a statue in pure gold to Juliet an offer immediately countered by Lord Capulet: As rich shall Romeos by his Lady lie (Act 5, scene 3). In contrast to the Montagues, Shakespeare chooses to give more attention to the Capulets as parents. This is obviously a necessity in terms of the plot for Juliet must be threatened with disinheritance and expulsion from the family. However, it also highlights the process of maturation that Juliet must undergo in the course of a very short time, resulting in her setting aside the family in favour of her husband, Romeo. When we meet Lady Capulet early on in the play, she appears to be a caring mother, intent on seeing her daughter securely and (hopefully) happily married to the Count Paris: Tell me, daughter Juliet, / How stands your disposition to be married? (Act 1, scene 3, lines 64-5). It would seem she herself was married at a young age, and became a mother very soon after. This has led to a somewhat jaded outlook on love and marriage, which she sees as something of a necessity in life. She is, however, not opposed to putting her own daughter in a very similar position, should Juliet agree to the arranged marriage to Paris: Speak briefly, can you like of Paris love?. Juliets reply reflects the innocence of the character at this moment in the play: Ill look to like, if looking liking move (Act 1, scene 3, lines 97-9). As the play continues, we are increasingly confronted by a hard and inflexible woman. Her plea for the death of Romeo is vehement and impassioned: Romeo must not live and shed blood of Montague Her subsequent withdrawal from her daughter, in spite of Juliets heartfelt plea to her mother for help (O sweet my mother cast me not away!) shows her determination to see the wedding take place, with no regard for the feelings of her only daughter. Another character seemingly involved in neglecting Juliet is the Nurse. She is a foster-mother to Juliet, having been her companion since the time of her birth and is closest to the young woman, acting as the go-between in the developing relationship between the two young people. The Nurse, together with the Friar, is the caregiver in the play. She understands Juliets feelings and is attentive to her need, is motivated by her love for the young lady, going out of her way to accommodate her mistresss needs and desires. There is an earthy wisdom and common sense about this older woman. She is witty and in touch with youth. There is bawdiness about the way she deals with life and love: I am the drudge, and toil in your delight; / But you shall bear the burden soon at night (Act 2, scene 5). There is a constant reference to sexuality and the basics related to coupling. For her, sex is a vital part of existence and love if not more important than love itself! We laugh with her and admire the manner in which she deals with the fast developing love between her mistress and Romeo: I am none of his flirt-gills, I am none of his skains-mates (Act 2, scene 4). However, when Romeo is banished and Juliet faced with the prospect of marrying Paris, the more practical side of her nature emerges. Her advice to Juliet is to marry Paris. This comes from the heart and is the result of her own practical nature and experience of life. She values life above love. When questioned by Juliet as to her sincerity, Speakst thou from thy Heart? her answer is immediate and sincere, and from my Soul, / Too, else beshrew them both (Act 3, scene 5). Her role as caregiver and surrogate mother is completed. From this moment Juliet must rely on her own ingenuity and resourcefulness, without the comfort and guidance of the Nurse, who in this crucial moment in time has abandoned her. One may fell that such action led to Juliet feeling desperate, and so consequently led to the Friars plan being devised ending in the final tragedy. From this it can be said that the Nurse is very much responsible for Romeo and Juliets death, but in truth, he little status meant that she was left in a very difficult position and had no other choice but to try to persuade Juliet to marry Paris so as to make her mistress happy again: I think it best you married with the County/ O, hes a lovely gentleman! And following the severity in which Capulet treated Juliet, and the way he treated the Nurse when she tried to defend Juliet, we soon realise that Capulets aggressive reaction meant that the Nurse could not defend Juliet any longer. Expectation that Romeo and Juliet's Love is Doomed EssayThe final main character involved in the tragedy is Friar Lawrence, for he is the person responsible for Romeo and Juliets marriage and is the one who devised the plan that led to their deaths. However, to blame Friar Lawrence for being the one responsible for their deaths is misleading of the truth for his chief concern is the good of the citizens of Verona and in the love of Romeo and Juliet he sees a means to end the conflict and bring peace to the city. He thus does all he can to facilitate the marriage and ensure that it succeeds. To this end he makes plans for Romeo to wait in Mantua until Juliet can join him and, when things do go wrong, helps Juliet to the best of his ability. However, the Friar is also rendered powerless by Fate. Thus circumstances go wrong, in spite of his careful plans, ending in the deaths of both the star-crossed lovers. That this does bring together the two families is, in part, the result of the care and concern of the Friar, but again we are reminded of the great price that all have to pay for peace to be restored. The Friar is sensible and reasonable. He deals with people with respect and consideration. He puts his faith in God and believes in the power of the Church to heal and reconcile. However, he is also human. This is evident in the scene in the tomb when he fails to assist Juliet at the crucial moment when she most needs his support. There is a sense of terror and helplessness in his words to Juliet at this crucial moment: I hear some noise, lady. Come from that nest Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep. A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents Come go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay. (Act 5, scene 3) We should however also remember that it is essential for Juliet to die that order may be restored so the Friar must be temporarily removed, his strength marred by temporary caution. For purposes of character we could see his betrayal as a flaw, although it is understandable that he should be fearful at this moment in the action. On the whole, however, the character does elicit our sympathy and we admire the manner in which the Friar deals with life and those who rely on his support for comfort and direction. His honesty in retelling the events that took place in the tomb, and earlier in the play, re-establishes our belief in the basic goodness of the man. Notice the dignity and depth of feeling in his last words in the play: All this I know, and to the marriage Her Nurse is privy; and if ought in this Miscarried by my fault, let my old life Be sacrificed, some hour before his time, Unto the rigour of severest law. (Act 5, scene 3) Not only is the role of fate apparent here, but it is also reflected in Romeo and Juliets constant affirmation to the role destiny plays until their deaths, which emphasizes one of the important factors that Shakespeare wanted his audience to recognise. Romeos thoughts and feelings concerning the role played by destiny are parallel to that of Juliet. By saying, some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date, Romeo is acknowledging, from the first act, that his destiny will be of untimely death, and that he has no control over it. Juliet too recognises that their lives are completely dependent upon fate and destiny. She tries to take control, but is left to face reality at the end, when she is bewildered by the apparent contrast between what she thought she was in control of and that of reality. Her reaction when finally facing reality can be seen from the quote: All slain, all dead There is no end, no limit, measure, bound For this the two families cannot be held responsible, as from this quote it is apparent that they have no control or power over each ones destiny. In addition, the idea of fate being in total control was immediately established in the chorus as Romeo and Juliet were identified as star-crossed lovers and further emphasized by the Friars alarming warning: These violent delights have violent ends. The feeling of complete isolation felt by both Romeo and Juliet just before their tragic deaths; makes this drama increasingly more tragic. Juliet is left to defend Romeo alone when, for the first time, the nurse lacks in thought of Juliets feelings. Juliet is left to ponder her fate, alone in her bedroom, while Romeo, alone in Mantua, awaits a letter from the Friar. For this, the two families are partly to blame. However, Shakespeare, through Romeo and Juliet, feels that isolation is not only due to the lack of support by ones family but also by society as a whole. He urges every individual to play a more active role in ensuring that every person in his/her society does not feel alone, and that he/she has a sense of belonging to that particular society. The ancient feud between the Capulet and Montague households which, led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, could have been prevented from escalating and even dissolved had society played a more active role. On the whole, the role of parents or parent substitutes is an important factor in the happiness of their children. In Romeo and Juliet, the mistakes made by the Montague and Capulet households were partly to blame for the tragic ending of the play, but many other factors also contributed. For one, the role of fate and destiny, the other, the effects isolation has on an individual. Society as a whole is also to blame, as for example, the feelings of isolation and desperation that both Romeo and Juliet experienced towards the end of the play could have both been avoided had individuals in their society played a more active role in bringing the two families together and in ensuring its youth is not lost as a consequence of this ancient feud. Through this tragic play, Shakespeare wants his audience to be aware that although destiny and fate play a major role in every persons life, tragedies like the death of Romeo and Juliet can be prevented if the older generations greed, desire for wealth, self-pride and prejudice are forgotten during situations of immense importance and complexity. It is the fact that Romeo and Juliets death could have been so easily avoidable, that makes this drama the tragedy it is:

Friday, November 29, 2019

Dream and Reality in The Metamorphosis Essay Example

Dream and Reality in The Metamorphosis Essay The Samsa family around the fantastic insect is nothing else than mediocrity surrounding genius. Gregor Samsa (pronounced Zamza), the protagonist, has for his parents Flaubertian philistines. They are generally interested in the material side of life and have poor tastes in other regards. About five years back, father Samsa loses all his money, which forces son Samsa to work as a traveling salesman in cloth for one of his father’s creditors. The full responsibility of the family falls on young Samsa’s shoulders as his father would not work anymore, his little sister Grete being too young to work and his mother afflicted with asthma. Samsa also finds an apartment for the family to live in. Gregor is on the move most of the time, but does spend a few nights a day at home. It is in one such occasion that the following dreadful thing happened: â€Å"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from a troubled dream he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous insect. He was lying on his hard, as it were armor-plated, back and when he lifted his head a little he could see his dome-like brown belly divided into corrugated segments on top of which the bed quilt could hardly keep in position and was about to slide off completely. His numerous legs, which were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk, flickered and shimmered helplessly before his eyes. What has happened to me, he thought. It was no dream†¦.† We will write a custom essay sample on Dream and Reality in The Metamorphosis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Dream and Reality in The Metamorphosis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Dream and Reality in The Metamorphosis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer There is a wonderful rhythmic sound to this dreamy narrative passage. Gregor is half-asleep and gradually realizes that the transformation is indeed real and no nightmare. It also occurs to him that he still retains his human memories and human cognitive capacity, which means that the transformation is incomplete (Grunbein). â€Å"Ach Gott, he thought, what an exhausting job I’ve picked on! Traveling about day in, day out. Many more anxieties on the road than in the office, the plague of worrying about train connections, the bad and irregular meals, casual acquaintances never to be seen again, never to become intimate friends. The hell with it all!† The metamorphosis, though shocking and striking, is yet grounded in reality. For example, when we go to bed everyday in new surroundings, we are expect to feel a moment of surprise on waking up – a sudden sense of unreality, and this experience must occur repeatedly over in the life of a traveling salesman. It is the sort of thing that makes any sense of continuity in life impossible, as the sense of reality depends upon continuity, upon duration. Also, awakening as a gigantic insect is similar in effect to awakening as Julius Caesar or Benjamin Franklin (Preece 23). Kafka brings about a sardonic tone to the narrative by using a broad range of literary devices. The story involves a simple analogy between a man (probably Kafka himself) and a well-meaning giant insect, where the former is trying his hardest to fulfill the expectations of his family members yet inevitably fails due to his mental seclusion. Interestingly, Kafka never actually mentions what kind of an insect is Gregor, which is one device of refusing to acknowledge any real change in him. If Gregor’s lack of acknowledgement is symbolic of Kafka’s view of himself, it then begs the question if Kafka was mentally ill to an extent (Grunbein). Another notable aspect of the novella is the syntax, which highlights the straight-forwardness of the work, while providing the right backdrop for such a powerful and disturbing action. The optimal use of words makes sure that there is not a word too many. Yet, the author’s genius does shine through this facade of impersonal, formal prose that he committed himself to. Usage of imagery is only occasionally seen. At the same time the space devoted to describing Gregor’s authoritarian and militaristic father does appear disproportionate to the rest. (Nabokov) â€Å"†¦from under the bushy eyebrows his alert black eyes flashed penetratingly; his previously disheveled white hair was combed flat, exactingly parted and gleaming.† Such a description of his father only appears after the transformation, suggesting that such men can wear their illusionary strength only when someone weak is presented to them to bully with. The author’s clever use of atmosphere accentuates the sardonic, esoteric tone. The constricted space of Gregor’s bedroom with only a window for relief is where most action takes place. As the story progresses Gregor loses his ability to even stare out through the window. Each chapter ends with the protagonist escaping from the dungeon that is his bedroom and into the living room, but only promptly to be driven back by his family. On one such venture out of his room, Gregor decides that he cannot stay in there anymore. That moment is significant in that he immediately dies. The author is implying that when an individual loses a sense of belonging and gives up on contact with others, he perishes, both literally and metaphorically. This interpretation is all the more valid since Kafka himself led the life of a loner unable to communicate with others (Preece 112). The literary elements are rendered complex by the extremely bleak style that Kafka adopts. The depictions of most characters are quite flat and don’t offer much exploration on their own. However, the character of Gregor is laid out in much detail and depth. In a way this difference in depiction is analogous to the difference in the real depths of these characters themselves. It presents Gregor as someone at a much elevated psychological understanding of himself and the world. He also comes across as someone, whose values are grounded on more enduring aspects of life (Nabokov). This fundamental difference between him and the rest of his family proves decisive and fatal and forestalls his death. There is a moving sequence in the final chapter, when the giant insect that is Gregor becomes so human that he actually develops an ear for music. In his third attempt to escape his room, he is mesmerized by his sister’s music. At this juncture, the author interludes to ask â€⠀œ â€Å"Was he a beast if music could move him so?† The question is, of course, rhetorical and the obvious answer is – â€Å"No†. He is not really a monstrous beast after all. If anything the â€Å"humans† that are his clan are more beastly than he ever was. Works Cited: Grunbein, D., Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Vermin: Metaphor and Chiasm in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Nabokov, V., Franz Kafka:† The Metamorphosis.† Vladimir Nabokov: Lectures on Literature, The Kafka Project, Preece, J. The Cambridge Companion to Kafka, 2002, Cambridge University Press.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Welfare Reform Policy essays

Welfare Reform Policy essays Welfare is a program that was designed by the government to provide financial assistance from government funds and private organizations to those in hardship and need. These people include: The mentally ill, the neglected, delinquent children, the sick and the handicapped, as well as disadvantaged families. Welfare is a program intended to benefit all segments of society, but especially the less fortunate members who often find it more difficult to provide for themselves and their families. More specifically, social welfare policies focus on such matters as public education, income security, medical care, sanitation and disease prevention, public housing, employment training, childrens protective services, and improvements in human nutrition. Welfare is supported by many private organizations, such as The United Nations Childrens Fund, also known as UNICEF. Some states, and local governments, especially in the northeast and Midwest, administer general assistance programs that assist poor people who are ineligible for AFDC or SSI. People who are physically able but not working may receive assistance, for instance. General assistance programs receive no support from the federal government. Budgetary pressures have caused several states to cut back on their programs in recent years. The government decides how much welfare support to provide, and to whom based on measures of economic well-being. They are based on national mean income figures. Mean income is an estimate of how much a typical person earns over a given period of time, usually a year. People whose incomes are less than a determined amount below the national mean are considered to be living in poverty. Welfare programs target the people with relatively little income and few assets. This is called means-tested welfare. Welfare is needed in this country because in any free market economy such as the United States and most other nations, a certain percentage of ...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Define the term 'Constructive Total Loss' for the purposes of the Essay

Define the term 'Constructive Total Loss' for the purposes of the Marine Insurance Act 1906. What are the difficulties with this definition Use case law examples to support your arguments - Essay Example The first was in the United Kingdom Court of Appeal in two thousand and eleven namely; EWCA Civ 24 and the second was the judgment in the case of Masefield v. Amlin delivered by Lord Steel in two thousand and ten namely; Lloyd’s Rep. IR 345. The definition of Constructive Total Loss provided by the Marine Insurance of 1906 leaves gaps and raises many questions when applied in modern cases that did not exist during enactment of the law more than one hundred years ago. Complexity arises when the complainant argues that ignoring a ransom payment amounts to asserting that a total loss claim is genuine and legal. This explanation means that it is not possible to retrieve deprivation according to the Marine Insurance Act of 1906 section fifty-seven subsection one. In this case, it is against public policy to claim a ransom. It is at this point that the definition provided by the 1906 Act creates difficulties regarding finding a solution to such situations. The definition generates crucial questions covering both legal aspects and public policy formulation processes. This discourse examines the difficulties raised by defining a total loss on the background of English definition given in the marine Insurance Policy of 1906. Highlighted examples include the new wave of crimes such as piracy The introduction of the constructive total loss aimed at codifying regulations touching on marine insurance. This formed the basis of introducing section sixty of in Marine Insurance Act of 19061. A constructive total loss during reasonable abandonment of the insured property regarding the unavoidability of occurrence of a total loss depending on any direct offering in the public policy. Alternatively it occurs if it was difficult to prevent the occurrence of a total loss. The legislative Act of 19062 covering marine policy further specifies that it is not possible for the owner of the property to recover viewing the position of the case and that

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Case For, or Against, New Orleans Assignment

The Case For, or Against, New Orleans - Assignment Example 1). Expected Cost = Cost of Implementation + Cost of Major Flooding X Probability of Major Flooding Main flooding is described here as a hurricane with hundreds of approximated fatalities as a result of flooding, and the expense of key flooding consists of property destruction in addition to fatalities. The produce of the cost and the possibility of key flooding in Equation (1) comprise the anticipated loss or risk as a result of flooding: 2). Risk = Cost of Major Flooding X Probability of Major Flooding For the risk alleviation, option of bettering the levee system, procedures have been developed, and the erection cost is approximated to be around $15 billion. With a rate of discount of 5 percent and a supposed yearly cost of $0.25 billion to sustain the enhanced system, the overall cost for this option on a yearly basis is approximately $1 billion. We will presume that this option lessens the possibility of key flooding however, does not affect the cost of significant flooding if i t were to take place (Hallegatte, 2006). The anticipated yearly cost related with this choice is then: (Expected Cost) levees = $1 billion + $100 billion X (Probability of Major Flooding) levees If the possibility of significant flooding is minimized from 0.02 to 0.01 per year, then the anticipated cost for this option is similar to that for the status quo, $2 billion annually. For possibilities of significant flooding lesser than 0.01 per year, this option is favored to the status quo on the base of anticipated cost. For the risk alleviation substitute of bettering the preparation, alarming and migration system, the possibility of significant flooding is unaffected from the status quo: 0.02 yearly. As a result, the anticipated yearly cost for this option is: (Expected Cost) preparation = (Cost of Implementation) preparation + (Cost of Major Flooding) preparation X 0.02 per year. A dynamic that stabilizes the cost and gains of a selection of selections for risk alleviation, for inst ance, using up $0.75 billion annually on advancing the levees scheme and $0.25 billion annually on bettering the preparation, alarming and migration system, would probably be most favorable. In the same way, investing exclusively in the hard scheme (levees) devoid of taking into consideration the soft scheme (public preparation) would not expected to be the most favorable approach. A significant teaching from Hurricane Katrina is that the inhabitants and assets at risk are as much a segment of the Protection System of the Hurricane as the walls and levees (Hallegatte, 2006). 3). Mixtures of yearly cost and the expected cost for a significant flood related with the alleviation option of enhancing preparation, alarming and migration schemes where this option is favored against bettering the levee system (Hallegatte, 2006). The subsequent postulations are prepared in developing this plot: the cost of executing the â€Å"enhanced Levees† option is $1 billion annually, the anticip ated cost in the occurrence of a significant flood with the advanced levee scheme is $100 billion, and the odds of a significant

Monday, November 18, 2019

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 101

Summary - Essay Example The variables under investigation were the social capital and public engagement in public affairs, both of which are necessary in strengthening the responsiveness of civil societies and political institutions. These factors are necessary in maintaining healthy democracies in the society. The research method was a direct survey using online questionnaires; respondents were asked questions regarding the use of social networks to obtain news and the effects that the news obtained had on their knowledge and participation in political issues. To increase the response rate, a monetary incentive was used; participants were entered in a draw where they could win monetary prizes. The variables under investigation were social capital, offline political participation, civic participation, social demographic variables, use of media news, use of social networks for news and general social network use. In each variable, respondents were asked questions regarding their behaviors in using social net works and the effects that these had on the respondents. The research revealed that public use of news in social networks had a direct effect in increasing the social capital significantly. In other words, the use of social networks to keep up with news on issues affecting the community had a positive effect on the social capital. Moreover, the research revealed that the use of social network sites for news improved public participation in the society, which led to increased participation in political discussions, online and offline. As such, people who get informed through social sites tended to participate more in issues affecting the community, with such participation leading to new information seeking behavior. The researchers recommended the investigation of the effects of the socio-economic characteristics of the communities in which respondents live. This will lead to an understanding of the extent to which social economic differences may affect

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Test for Glucose Control Treatment

Test for Glucose Control Treatment Introduction Carbohydrate forms the principle source of energy. Usually polysaccharide (starch and glycogen) which are glucose units joined by a-glucosidic links and disaccharides (sucrose and lactose) the main dietary carbohydrate. Carbohydrate absorption must be presented to the intestinal epithelium in monosaccharide from mainly glucose and therefore digestion must precede absorption. Glucose gained a significant importance because brain cells are very dependent on it as it is sole source of energy supply. Red blood cells also depend on glucose to carry out their functions. Therefore the blood glucose concentration must be maintained within relative narrow range. After a carbohydrate-containing meal, glucose is transported in the portal blood to the liver, which takes up 60% of the glucose load. Consequently, a rise in the blood glucose concentration causes the release of insulin which will increase the entry of excess glucose into the liver where it is stored in form of glycogen. The normal plasma glucose concentration remains between 4.5 and 11 mmol/L, despite the intermittent load entering the body from the gastrointestinal tract. The maintenance of plasma glucose concentration below 11 mmol/L minimizes loss from the body as well as providing the optimal supply to the brain. Mayne, (1994). All the filtered glucose through glomeruli is reabsorbed in the proximal tubules. Therefore no glucose should be detected in urine; significant glycosuria occurs if the plasma glucose concentration exceeds 11 mmol/L. The two most important hormones in glucose homoeostasis are insulin and glucagon. Insulin is a 53 amino acid polypeptide, secreted by the ÃŽ ²-cells in the islet langerhans of the pancreas in response to a rise in the blood glucose concentration. Insulin stimulates glycogen synthesis and inhibits glycogenolysis through interaction with an exquisitely coordinated control mechanism that is central to the regulation of blood glucose concentration. Glucagon is a 29 amino acid polypeptide secreted by the ÃŽ ±-cells of the pancreatic islet. Its secretion is decreased by a rise in the blood glucose concentration. The action of glucagon is opposite those of insulin. It stimulates hepatic glycogenolysis through activation of glycogen phosphorylase, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis and ketogenesis. Marshell, (2000). The world health organization (WHO) defined diabetes on the basis of laboratory findings as a fasting venous plasma glucose concentration greater than 7.8 mmol/L and greater than 11.1 mmol/L two hours after the oral ingestion of the equivalent of 75g of glucose even the fasting concentration is normal. Mayne, (1994). Diabetes mellitus classified in two types; insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM type-1) where there is a defective insulin secretion. This condition presents in childhood or early adulthood (less than 20 years). Because of insulin deficiency, hyperglycaemia is very likely to occur. As a result glucose will leak to urine (glycosuria) because the plasma glucose concentration exceeds the renal threshold (10 mmol/l). Other consequences related to this condition are polyuria (frequent urination), glucose lost in urine draw water with it by osmosis producing osmotic diuresis characterized by polyuria. The excess fluid lost from the body leads to dehydration and thirst which is a c ompensatory mechanism to counteract the dehydration. One of severe metabolic complication that may occur in this condition is ketoacidosis; there is increased lipid and protein breakdown, enhanced hepatic gluconeogenesis and impaired glucose into cells. Marshall, (2000). In this condition insulin doses are required for the treatment. The causes of the type I diabetes can be an autoimmune where the islet cell antibodies react specifically with the ÃŽ ²-cells, or viral infection that destroy the ÃŽ ²-cells of pancreatic islet. Individual with certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types have been shown to carry a particular high risk of developing type I diabetes. In type II diabetes, non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), obesity is the biggest risk factor, 90% of type II diabetes are obese and it is occurs in the late onset. In this condition ÃŽ ²-cells of islet langerhans are normal which means that there will be a normal insulin concentration and sometimes high in the blood. Also the sensitivity of insulins target cells reduced. The cause of reduced remains elusive, recent research suggest that adipose tissue cells secrete a hormone known as resistin, which interfere with insulin action in experimental animal. This could be an important link between obesity and insulin resistance. Resistin is distinct from leptin, the hormone secreted by adipose cells that plays a role in controlling food intake. (Kumar Clark, 2002). Treatment of this condition by dietary control and weight loss, exercise, sometimes oral hypoglycaemic drugs required. Other conditions can lead to Diabetes Mellitus such as absolute insulin deficiency due to a pancreatic disease (chronic pancreatitis, haemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis). Relative insulin deficiency, can cause diabetes mellitus due to excessive growth hormone, glucocorticoid secretion, or increased plasma glucocorticoid concentration due to administration of steroids. Also drugs like thiazide diuretics can cause diabetes mellitus. Mayne, (1994). Materials and method Please refer to medical biochemistry practical book (BMS2). Result: The equation obtained fro the calibration curve used to calculate the concentration of glucose in plasma. Y = 0.018 X Where y = absorbance x = glucose concentration Patient 1: P (fasting) = 0.078 / 0.018 = 4.3 mmol/L P (2hrs) = 0.105 / 0.018 = 5.8 mmol/L Patient 2: P (fasting) = 0.113 / 0.018 = 6.2 mmol/L P (2hrs) = 0.105 / 0.018 = 8.3 mmol/L Patient 3 P (fasting) = 0.148 / 0.018 = 8.2 mmol/L P (2hrs) = 0.264 / 0.018 = 14.6 mmol/L Conclusion: Patient 1 is normal Patient 2 has normal fasting glucose level and high value after 2 hours (9.6 mmol/l), so this patient must be retested before diagnosis. Patient 3 is diabetic Discussion The glucose calibration graph showed a good linearity which means that Beers Lambert law is obeyed and the results are accurate. In glucose tolerance test (GTT) the patient is asked to eat normally in the three days leading up to the test and to be fasting for at least 12 hours. At the end of time the patient is asked to collect urine sample and blood sample is collected. After that, the patient drinks 75g of glucose in 300 ml of water within 5 minutes. After 2 hours, the patient is asked to collect anther urine sample and blood sample is collected. Normally when the patient is fasting, the glucose level should be < 5.5 mmol/L and there is no glucose in urine. After the patient is given the sugar, the glucose level in the blood will increase, but in the normal person the glucose concentration should go back to normal within 2 hours and no glucose can be detected in urine. What is happening in the normal person after given glucose is that insulin is produced in high concentration, the glucose is converted into glycogen and then the glycogen is stored in the liver. Finally, insulin concentration also decreases t o normal concentration. Whereas, in the diabetic patient the glucose level stays high because the insulin is insufficient, not produced or present but not functioning due to a defect in the ÃŽ ²-cells of pancreas. In normal condition, the filtered glucose is completely reabsorbed in the proximal tubule. In Diabetes Mellitus the blood glucose is much above the renal threshold (11 mmol/L), reabsorption becomes saturated and it starts to appear in urine. The presence of glucose in urine is called glucosuria. Glucosuria results in osmatic diuresis that increase water excretion and raises the plasma osmolarity, which in turn stimulates the thirst centre. Osmatic diuresis and theist cause classical signs and symptoms of polyuria (large volume of urine) and polydipsia (excessive thirst). In patient-1, fasting blood glucose (4.3 mmol/L) is within the normal range and no glucose in urine. After 2 hours the blood glucose level is 5.8 mmol/L, which is below 7.8 mmol/L and no glucose in the urine. These mean that this patient is normal. In patient-2, fasting blood glucose is within the normal range and no glucose in urine. After 2 hours the blood glucose level is 8.3 mmol/L which is slightly high but it is within the normal range of impaired glucose tolerance (7.8- 11.1 mmol/l), whereas urine glucose is negative. This means that this patient must be retested before ending to diagnosis of impaired glucose or any other diagnosis. Many people with impaired glucose tolerance progress to develop diabetes, but this condition can be prevented with adoption of a diabetic-type diet and weight loss (if overweight). Whitby, G, et al, (1988). Patient-3 has high fasting blood glucose level (8.2 mmol/L), and in the urine the glucose is not detected. After 2 hours the glucose concentration did not reduce and it went higher up to 14.6 mmol/L. in addition to that, the urine dipstick showed very strong positive reaction (4+), which indicate that this patient is diabetic. In this patient the glucose concentration was high before the sugar was given. This means that there is a defect in insulin secretion which can not breakdown the glucose and bring to the normal level. The high blood glucose level was due to glycogenolysis, gluconeogesis or high glucose intake. Therefore, this patient may have type-1 Diabetes Mellitus. Questions: What facts should be taken in account when interpreting the results of glucose tolerance test? The facts are: Patient should eat normal diet within 3 days before doing the test. The diet should contain at least 250g of carbohydrate. Patient should be fast over night at least 10-12 hours and does not eat during the test. The 75g of glucose should be dissolved in 300 ml of water and then ask the patient to drink it within 5 minutes after collection of fasting blood sample. A pregnant woman should be given less than 75g of glucose as it may affect the baby. If the amount of glucose given is less than recommended, it will affect the result as the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is standardized procedure. Patient should rest through the test; smoking is not permitted; drink of water is allowed. Blood sample should be collected in container that contains sodium fluoride to inhibit glycolysis. The patient must consult the health care provider if he/she is using medication that can interfere with the test result includes Thiazide diuretics (e.g. hydrochorothiazide), beta-blockers (e.g. prpanolol) oral contraceptive and some psychiatric drugs. There are interfering factors that affect OGTT. There are acute stresses for example, from surgery or infection, and vigorous exercise. Blood glucose rise with age and their renal threshold is increased. Time of sample collection is important (morning). The method we used employed glucose oxidase- name 2 other methods for glucose estimation and describe the principles used. Ortho-toluidine method (mono step): glucose reacts with ortho-toluidine in hot acidic medium to form a green coloured complex. The intensity of the final colour produced is directly proportional to concentration of glucose in the sample. UV-kinetic method: This method also measures the concentration of glucose. The reagent contains ATP, hexokinase, NADP and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzme in ethanol amine buffer (PH 7.5). Why HbA1c a better guide to long term diabetes control than glucose? The determination of plasma and urine glucose provides information about the metabolic status only at the moment. Long term control of glucose can be obtained with relative ease by measuring the amount of particular haemoglobin fraction in red blood cells. The glucose enters the red blood cells and binds the haemoglobin to a very small extent. Although some of the glucose diffuse from the haemoglobin due to formation of covalent bond, but some of the glucose will react with a particular amino acid in the haemoglobin protein. The haemoglobin/glucose complex has different chemical properties from the haemoglobin, thus it can be separated chromatographic or electrophoresis technique. The estimation of Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) depends on the mean plasma glucose concentration and the life span of red blood cells (RBCs). The normal level of non-diabetic is < 6%. Also because it depends on the plasma glucose concentration, HbA1c in diabetic patient tend to be increased over the prev ious 1- months. The extent of elevation of HbA1c indicates the overall degree of blood glucose control; in poorly controlled diabetes it may rise as high as 25%. Whitby, (1998). So the higher percentage of HbA1c indicates more glucose bound to haemoglobin and hence poor control of diabetic. Subsequently this test is used to asses the quality of the long term control of blood glucose in diabetic patient. Also it examines the patient faithfulness with which he/she followed the health care instruction and the effectiveness of the medication prescribed for treatment.