Monday, January 20, 2020

Sonnys Blues :: essays research papers

Brothers tend to grow apart yet eventually find a way to revive an old beat up relationship. These brothers grew up on the rough streets of Harlem and went their separate ways. Sonny was a drug-addicted musician and his older brother was a high school algebra teacher with a family. The way the two brothers reunite through addiction, memories and strife make their bond seem stronger than ever. Sonny’s Blues, by James Baldwin, is a story about enlightenment through brotherhood when Sonny and his brother go to the club. Sonny’s brother saw the newspaper while he was on his way to work and realized that his little brother was in trouble because of drugs. The beginning of the enlightenment started when Sonny’s brother ran into the man who got Sonny started on heroin, or how they call it â€Å"horse.† â€Å"A great block of ice got settled in my belly and kept melting there slowly all day long, while I taught my classes algebra. It was a special kind of ice. It kept melting. Sending trickles of ice water all up and down my veins but it never got less. Sometimes it hardened and seemed to expand until I felt my guts were going to come spilling out or that I was going to choke or scream. This would always be at the moment when I was remembering some specific thing Sonny had once said or done.† The fact that Sonny’s brother wanted to have nothing to do with helping Sonny made it seem that he did not care that his brother was killing himself but deep down he knew that I wa s killing him too. Sonny’s brother felt like he had to help Sonny but he should not because his brother got himself into the drug scene. Sonny’s brother and him finally decided to reconcile when Gracie, Sonny’s niece, passed away at a young age. The brothers wrote back and forth and one thing became clear to Sonny’s brother, music affected him. Sonny’s brother always saw the music/jazz scene as an unhealthy lifestyle full of drugs and scandal. The only thing Sonny would really reinforce was that it was not because of the music. Sonny came back to New York after rehab from heroin and came to see the old neighborhood in Harlem. The brothers see that they have so much to be thankful for and that they will always have each other.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Development and use of explosives over the past century

The history of explosives and propellants, also known generally as ‘energetic materials’ began with the material known as gunpowder or black powder, whether the intended use was for civil applications such as rock blasting, military uses in demolition, shell filling (bursting charges) and construction projects, or military and civilian propellant charges for short guns, pistols, rifles or artillery. The individual inventor of black powder will undoubtedly forever remain unknown, but numerous writers such as Drinker (1878), Munroe (1888), Marshall (1915), and Davis (1941, 1943), described what is known about its development and evolution.Until the discovery of nitrated explosive compounds such as nitrocellulose by schonbein and Bottger (independently of one another) and nitroglycerin by Sobrero (all occurring in 1846), the only explosive available for any purpose was black powder. 1) Solid (particulate) propellants; 2) Military explosives; 3) Commercial explosives. Propel lants Propellants may be granular, solid, or liquid. The primary focus was on granular (particulate) material since they are the most commonly encountered by the forensic chemist.Solid propellants are deflagrating materials designed to accelerate a projectile from its position of rest at the breech of a weapon to its full velocity as it exits the tube or barrel. In the ideal (and designed for case), the complete consumption of the propellant and the exit of projectile occurs at the same instant. Propellant gains are thus chemically formulated and physically designed to achieve this end. The gains burn particle to particle at speeds below the speed of sound in the material: this defined the word ‘deflagrating’. Historically such materials have been termed progressive powders.In addition to burning particle- to- particle burns from its free surface inward or, in the case of perforated grains, also from the free surface outward. This characteristic enables the propellant d esigner to size and configure the grains or particles to be totally consumed at the optimum instant. Propellant gains may be found in multitude of shapes and sizes, as might be expected given the varieties of weapons and desired pressures and projectile velocities. Black powder Black powder is the mixture of three components, generally (and originally) charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate.These are typically in the ratio of 15:10:75. Many variations to that ratio have been used: Cundill (1889) lists over 20 varieties, many with sub –varieties. Most of the differences, however, are insignificant. The one major development in the past 100 years is the use of sodium nitrate in some black powder grades. Black powder has an inherent drawback as a military propellant due to the fact that it produces a solid reaction product. Because of this, a dense black cloud is produced upon firing weapon is readily apparent, and after a number of rounds are fired the volume of battlefield sm oke leads to confusion and general chaos.For this reason the development of the ‘smokeless’ propellant charge was an objective of every governments weapons laboratory. Upon the discovery of the nitration reaction this research intensified. Smokeless powder The early history of the nitrated carbohydrates, which includes the 1833 discovery of nitro-starch (called xyloidine by its discoverer, Braconnot) and guncotton, called pyroxyline or pyroxyle be the chemist Pelouze, is thoroughly covered by Devis (1941).Guncotton, nitrocellulose of high nitrogen content (13. 35% to 13. 45%), was the first nitrated material to be tried as a replacement for black powder, but it was too prone to accidents. However its military use continued after it was found that the newly –invented mercury fulminate blasting cap would cause compressed guncotton to detonate, leading to its application as a demolition charge and shell filling. Its use was rather short lived, however due to the int roduction of picric acid.Research was continued on nitrocellulose of lower nitrogen content as a propellant material, and the first good smokeless riffle powder was produced by Vielle in 1886, for the French Government. This was nitrocellulose with either alcohol, kneaded in bread making type machine, rolled out into thin sheets, and then cut into small squares and dried (Military Explosives, 1924). This was a ‘single base’ smokeless powder (nitrocellulose only). In 1888 Nobel invented a powder called Ballistite, which was a low nitrated nitrocotton gelatinized with nitroglycerin: which came to be known as; double base’ powder.In the same year Cordite (given that name because it was extruded in the form of cord or ribbon), a mixture of high nitrated guncotton, nitroglycerine, and Vaseline, gelatinized by means if acetone was developed by an English Committee. (Marshall, 1915) Later ‘triple base’ smokeless powder were developed, containing nitro guani dine in addition to the nitrocotton and nitroglycerin of typical double base powders. Triple base powders were cooler-burning than the single or double base materials and use was mainly restricted to large caliber weapons.Developments in smokeless powder since those early days had been primarily to improve stability, decrease the erosion of the barrel of the weapon, control pressures, decrease smoke output (‘smokeless’ powders are smokeless in comparison to black powder, but still produce visible smoke), and to decrease the muzzle flash from a firing weapon. The geometry of powders may include flakes, tubes, cylinders, sticks, flattened balls, or spheres. Military Explosives As black powder was the first propellant, so it was the first military explosive too.It was used for shell filling, demolition, and military construction projects from the earliest times up until the invention of nitroglycerin. Military explosives as discussed here are those used as the shell filing or ‘bursting charge’ in artillery round and those explosives used for demolition charges. Military construction projects typically use commercial-type explosives, except in field-expedient situations. The brief use of guncotton as a military explosive was noted above. Trinitrotoluene (TNT)During and after World War I the explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT, C7H5N3O6) became the dominant shell filling and demolition charge material. TNT has the advantage of being very easy to cast, since it has a wide spread between its melting and decomposition temperatures. One disadvantage is its extreme insensitivity. In the order to conserve TNT for small caliber shells in World War I, a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate (‘amatol’) was developed. It was specified for use only in shell of $. 7-inch to 9. 2-inch diameter (Crowell, 1919) but in actual practice it was used in all sizes.For the same reason of conserving TNT, nitro starch explosives were used very successfully in that war for hand grenades and trench mortar shells (Williams, 1920). Tetryl Tetryl (2, 4, 6-trinitrophenyllmethylnitramine, N-2, 4, 6-tetra-nitro-N-methyl aniline, or picrylmethyl nitramine) was used in military boosters, but has generally been replaced by materials such as RDX and HMX. The ‘tetrytols’ are mixtures of tetryl and TNT, which were utilized in boosters, demolition charges, shells, and shaped charges. The TNT generally ranged from 20 to 35 percent of the mixture.An advantage of tetrytol is that it allows the casting of the explosive into munitions rather than requiring pressing. It is also more powerful than TNT, but not as sensitive as tetryl alone. RDX and HMX Between the world Wars a number of explosives were developed, and after the start of the second war a vast amount of explosives research took place. One of the most important and useful military explosive is RDX (an acronym for ‘Research Department Explosive’), which was discovered i n 1899, but not used until World War II.It is also called cyclonite, hexagen, and cyclo-trimethylenetrinitramine. HMX was another explosive used for military applications during and after World War II. The initials are said to stand for â€Å"High Melting Explosive’, although other sources for the acronym are sometimes cited. It is also called cyclo-tetramethylenetetranitramine or octogen. (Beveridge 1-4) Blasting and Use of Explosives Only authorized persons can handle and use explosives. No person using explosives is allowed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.Nothing which could be an ignition source, such as matches, open flames, or smokers, is to be around explosives. Accountability is required to assure that explosives are under the care of a qualified person. All blasting aboveground is done between sunup and sundown and, when blasting is done, blasters are to take special precaution near public utilities, around transportation conveyances, and near public a reas to assure safety and mitigate any damage. Care must be taken to assure that accidental premature ignition does not occur from stray electrical sources or radio transmitters.The blaster is to be considered a competent person in the use and care of explosives, and have experience with the type of blasting methods being used. The transportation of explosive and blasting materials must conform to the department of Transportation regulatory provisions. Drivers of trucks containing explosives and blasting equipment must be licensed and should be in good physical and mental condition. No blasting materials are to be transported with other cargo and blasting caps are not to be transported in the same vehicle as other explosives.These vehicles should be marked with a placard signifying â€Å"Explosives† and have a fully charged fire extinguisher. (Reese, Edison 648) Different uses of an Explosive Blasting is extremely important both to mining and the world economy. The saying is often used, â€Å"If it can’t be grown it has to be mined,† however if the ground is too hard to be mechanically mined economically, it has to be blasted. Certainly many materials, such as iron, copper and concrete to name but a few would be significantly more expensive if it weren’t for explosives and our ability to easily drill holes to use these explosives efficiently.Shock wave compression technology is not only a means of extremely high-pressure generation, but also a means of extremely high-temperature production in solids. When dynamite shock load is applied to solids by means of explosive and high-speed impact, the shock pressure and the shock temperature generated depend on the shock load and the density of the solid. Between 1985 and early 1991, there were 182 incendiary or explosive devices planted in Great Britain by animal-rights activists.This number accounted for approximately 50 percent of all explosive devices planted in all of Great Britain, ma king it numerically a larger problem in Great Britain than incidents attributed to the provisional Irish Republican Army. However, the majority of these devices were far less sophisticated and far less dangerous than the PIRA devices. In 1980 in Great Britain, the first use of high explosives by animal-rights terrorists took place. These acts appear to have been perpetrates by a small group, which had obtained a high explosive used both in military operations and in commercial applications, such as quarries.First it was used against the staff restaurant at Bristol University, where a 5-puound bomb was set off about midnight, wrecking about two floors of the building. More recently in 1990, the same explosive was used presumably by the same group in two car bobs. In one case, a passing infant was severely wounded. Conclusion During the past centuries, it has been proved that there is a beginning international acknowledgement of the future need for demolition of plants and buildings. There is also evidence of an increasing interest in demolition techniques and the re-use of building materials.There are literally hundreds of different types of explosives, varying from black powder used in pipe bombs (still a favorite of domestic bombers), to dynamite sticks, and from blocks of TNT to plastic explosives that can be molded into diverse forms, including thin sheets. A dozen or so of the most notable explosives are used by the terrorists. Of particular note are the explosives RDX and PETN which, together with plastic and other fillers, compose many plastic explosives such as Detasheet and SEMTEX.Explosives are mostly harmful (destructive) but on the other hand in many cases they are useful (constructive) too. Doctors, Engineers use explosives in a constructive way while at the same time criminals and terrorists use explosive in the destructive way. There are many uses of explosives such as Mining, Pyrotechnics, Building Demolition and even Construction. Explosives ar e also used in Carve Mount Rushmore, Avalanches and are used in backcountry for Trail Maintenance. Explosive are used in Medicines to break-up kidney-stones. Works cited Beveridge, Alexander. Forensic Investigation of Explosions. New York: CRC Press, 1998. 1,2,3,4 Kasai, Yoshio. Kenkyuio, Kenchiku, Kensetsusho. (Japan), Nihon Daigaku. Demolition and Reuse of Concrete and Masonry: Proceedings of the Second†¦.New York: Taylor & Francis, 1998. 49 Technology against terrorism: the federal effort, US: DIANE Publishing, (1992) Reese, D. Charles. Eidson, V. James. Handbook of OSHA Construction Safety and Health New York: CRC Press, 2006. 648

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Essay on How to Rev Kids Up to do What You Ask - 876 Words

How to Rev Kids Up to do What You Ask How to rev kids up to do what you ask,† is the sample to be discussed. Discussion The author, Hoffman introduces two experts, the magazine’s parenting columnist Lynn and clinical psychologist, Phelan, to advise two families, the Ashworths, father Nigel and his three young children, Ben, one, Georgia, age three, and Liam, age five; the second family consists of Angela, a single parent and her twelve year old daughter, Nina. Parent/child interactions in regards to learning and embedding lifeskills and routines are addressed. 1. The article does not introduce research findings or mention the role of research. Phelan and Lynn support two parenting skills, acknowledgement of the child’s†¦show more content†¦Extensive research is required to adequately support the findings. There are many variables: chores, routines, temperament, family dynamics, peer groups, other key players (piano teacher), social ecology aspects, just to list a few that can affect the family. 2. Advice in article compared to Course Reader and text The advice given in the article is broad. The course material concurred with the experts’ two recommendations of praising good behaviour and natural consequences. I did not find any direct discussion of natural consequences,from the dialogue on conditioning and reinforcement (Bee,18)I inferred this advice to be part of this method. Evidence to support parental discipline was found in the text on page 3, Bee informs the reader that the child’s â€Å"...temperamental patterns...can be and are modified by the parents’ style of caregiving.† Our academic materials make specific reference to identified situations and circumstances i.e. Bee gives an example on page 260, â€Å"...he (Patterson) emphasizes that what happens in a given family, for a particular child, is a joint product of the child’s own temperament or response tendencies, the parents’ discipline skills, the parents’..,† that is, Bee wants the student to understand from this description that generalizations often are over simplifications. The background assumptions and stance on basic issues of these two recommendations can be seen to have been influenced by the major contemporaryShow MoreRelatedCyber Crimes on the Internet1117 Words   |  5 Pagesnow everyone is on the internet. By the millennium the web became a world wide phenomenon. 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Gains stresses the point of the corrupt government due to racial inequalities. â€Å"A statue of a Confederate soldier stood to the right of the walk that led up to the courthouseRead MoreCalled To Social Work Essay1502 Words   |  7 PagesIn the movie The Preacher kid, Angie King is a character who plays preacher daughter. By her father been a preacher, she has values and rules that she must obey. Somewhere down the road Angie King decide that she doesn’t want to be label as a preacher child and follow her dad values and rules. Mrs. King wants to join a traveling gospel show; however, her dad doesn’t want her to join traveling gospel group. Mr. King knows that she can’t handle all the circumstances and situations that she may occurRead MoreA Slave s Burden By Frederick Douglass1741 Words   |  7 PagesA Slave’s Burden When a person thinks of education, he/she thinks of something they get as a kid growing up. 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He got ran over by a car walking to work one day. er since Daddy died, all Mama did was mope around inside. All the sadness was getting to my head so I normally went outside to play. Mama and I got in the small, beat up car we had and she drove us all the way from Sunset Beach, North Carolina (where I lived as a child up to age eighteen) to Washington D.C., toRead MoreMy Life With My Mother1634 Words   |  7 PagesGoing to visit my mother and spending time with my boys is just what I needed. I loved spending time with my family. Now my step-father on the other hand irked my soul. My mother wasn t always the best parent to live with which is the reason I lived with my grandmother. My mother at one time was a addict to not only drugs but alcohol. She met her husband right here in Kansas when was I was just thirteen years of age. He was just recently divorced from his wife and he was also a junkie and a drugRead MoreEssay1740 Words   |  7 Pages† â€Å"Okay, calm down,† commands Rice, â€Å"You may be a world renowned genius as Juan, but in here you are just Alberto, a kid from the space hood who is somehow smarter than me.† Alberto’s face goes from an ecstatic grin to a weakened smile as he realizes he won’t be meeting anybody today. Since his alter ego Juan was so well known he has to keep Alberto a secret as it would endanger his career. Alissa turns around and grabs a small contraption labeled LSC. â€Å"What does LSC stand for Alissa?† Alberto askedRead MoreA Prayer For Owen Meany Analysis1876 Words   |  8 PagesOwen’s Mystery â€Å"Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once† (Stephen King). This is present in A Prayer for Owen Meany as all the secrets aren’t given up till the end. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving is a novel categorized in the genre of mystery. 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Friday, December 27, 2019

Face Perception Human Behavior, Personality, And...

Are faces special in relation to prosopagnosia facial disorder Faces are very crucial in terms of social interactions and are an important perceptual skill. They provide information about people’s identity, personality, and characteristics. Given its importance, facial processing has also become one of the most eminent areas of research in cognitive science, this has helped advancing an enormous number of neuropsychological, neuroimaging studies as well as behaviour to assist people’s understanding of the developmental, cognitive, and neural based of face perception. Loss of visual processes can lead to many deficits; one of the major disorders is prosopagnosia. Correlations between disorders of visual recognition of object and face recognition are currently being investigated with a variety of research method. Visual processing studies initially started during infancy experimenting on infants about their visual preference and have found infants spend longer time and attention at faces compared with other outstanding visual stimuli (Richler Gauthier, 2014). This has set the ground for debate on face perception, such as is there an innate genetic predisposition responsible for face-like stimuli or by experience with faces? Whether faces processing differ with other objects processing, and if there is a difference between face and object process, are the processing mechanisms specific to faces, or they share certain properties? Therefore, the purpose of this article is toShow MoreRelatedCustomer Personality And The Product Selection Process Essay1178 Words   |  5 PagesMarket segmentation is a marketing tool that divides a large heterogeneous market into smaller homogeneous subsets of consumers with similar needs, wants and characteristics. Researchers might be able to predict customer s behavior by studying if there are any relations between customer s personality and the product selection process. A key success for any business is to communicate with its customers better than competitors by understanding who its customers are and what they want. The more preciselyRead MoreCustomer Personality And The Product Selection Process Essay1178 Words   |  5 Pages Market segmentation is a marketing concept that divides a large heterogeneous market into smaller homogeneous subsets of consumers with similar needs, wants and characteristics. Researchers might be able to predict customer s behavior by studying if there are any relations between customer s personality and the product selection process. A key success for any business is to communicate with its customers better than competitors by understanding who its customers are and what they want. 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Some people may even experience cognitive dissonance in trying to explain different stages of life, while others will be comfortable in responding instantaneously with minimal cognition. In going through this process and drawing up the ‘who am I’ andRead MorePsychoanalytic and Phenomenological Explanations of Persistent Antisocial Criminal Behavior1695 Words   |  7 PagesIndividuals personalities and overall quality of living are significantly influenced by several interrelated sources ranging from ones upbringing and quality of relationships to their own feelings of self-esteem and worth. Though this may seem relatively easy and un-complex, countless people today are engaged in persistent antisocial, criminal behavior, and seem unable to find a n alternative, legal, means of living. While many have tried to explain such behavior through various theories, theRead MoreDispositional, Evolutionary And Evolutionary Theory1283 Words   |  6 Pagesattempt to clarify the structures that influence personality, for example dispositional, and Evolutionary theory. This paper will discuss the differences that are among dispositional and evolutionary personality theories, as well as, strengths and limitations of dispositional and evolutionary and biological personality theories their bearing on human behavior. Furthermore, the Big Five personality test and what technique is used to study personality. Difference Facets relating Dispositional, andRead MoreBandura Was A Firm Believer Of Social Learning969 Words   |  4 Pagesthat Bandura would say someone was healthy or had a well-developed personality, if they grew up or only put themselves in a non-hostile environment. Bandura was concerned about social surroundings, and felt this was the way a healthy personality was molded. Bandura also believed that behaviors can affect a person’s physical environment. Bandura developed a model called Reciprocity in the Relationship between Personal Factors, Behaviors, and the External Environment. According to this model, cognitionsRead MoreDifferences Between Personality And Personality Theories Essay1153 Words   |  5 Pagesstrive for the same human nature. We all physically possess human bodies and human minds, which allows us to have thoughts and experience human feelings. However, in contrast, there are ways that we are completely different from each person we do or do not know . People do not share the same exact experiences or perspectives on life. Individuals have unique qualities and hold specific characteristics that show our differing ways of being human. This is known because personality theories explain thatRead MoreProcess of Purchase1206 Words   |  5 Pages Consumer buying behavior is the decision process and acts of people involved in buying and using products. The final purchase decision is often a result of the interaction between the final decision maker and a range of influencer. 1 The process of purchasing decision passes through five different stages 1- Needs recognition 2- Information Search 3- Evaluation 4- Decision 5- Post purchase evaluation Consumer behavior and purchasing decision is a phenomenon affected by internal and external factorsRead MoreCase Study : The Real Estate Industry1657 Words   |  7 Pagestherefore her view of management is a reflection of her desired nature and perception of management. Communication Continuing through the interview questions, I asked Bianca â€Å"what advice she has for someone looking to be a manager?† She said, â€Å"Someone who is looking to become a manager needs to be able to have extreme patience, an open mind, and good communication skills. As a manager , he or she deals with many different personalities and at times it can be difficult to manage each employee if the employee

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Cosmetic Surgery - 1507 Words

Should cosmetic surgery be encouraged to the general public? Cosmetic surgery is defined as â€Å"any medical operation which is intended to improve a person’s appearance rather than their health† (Cambridge Dictionary, 2003, p.275). By definition, cosmetic surgery is a common practice used to modify the physical outlook of people, especially for women. This is definitely a luxury, which is not necessary to the public. Starting from the 20th century, however, cosmetic surgery is no longer a luxury but a necessity to the affluent. Based on a survey carried out by Lloyd and Gordon (2004), the number of people received cosmetic surgery had increased for more than 40% between 1992 and 2002. A growth in affluence of the general public’s†¦show more content†¦With immature thinking, the teenagers may make decision without comprehensive consideration. Take risk-driven behavior into account, if the teenagers’ idols received cosmetic surgery, they would follow. Therefore, the general public should not belittl e the influence from cosmetic surgery brought up by the celebrity and put all-out effort to prevent these influence from eroding teenagers’ mind to jeopardize the society in long run. The rise of materialism in the society is another by-product of the increasing general acceptance to cosmetic surgery. An American study analyzed that materialism has been correspondently emerging as a substantial predictor of both acceptance of cosmetic surgery and desire for cosmetic surgery procedures (Henderson-King and Brooks, 2009, p.133-142). Materialism states the focus and attention on physical matter in theory. When this statement applied into the society, this world would hold another meaning which is the pursuit of physical satisfaction such as appearance. It is acceptable and normal to observe such phenomenon in the society. However it is no longer tolerable if materialism go to extreme. Purchasing brand products without considering one’s financial ability and need is a case inShow MoreRelatedCosmetic Plastic Surgery : Cosmetic Surgery994 Words   |  4 PagesOther failures related to cosmetic plastic surgery are often linked to the use of Botox. For instanc e, e all know or have seen this one person who has received an excess of Botox injections and ended up having unnaturally, protruding cheeks. Although using Botox is nonsurgical, it is still classified as cosmetic plastic surgery because it restrains our muscles from carrying out any movement. Many people believe that since this process does not involve cutting through a patient’s skin, it does entailRead MoreCosmetic Surgery : Surgery And Surgery2299 Words   |  10 PagesSydnee Mangette Cosmetic Surgery Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this statement is often ignored today. Beauty is very much valued in our society today, and to become more beautiful, people look to cosmetic surgery. There are two categories of cosmetic surgery: invasive and minimally invasive surgeries. Minimally invasive surgeries, like laser hair removal, are often called surface treatments. These procedures require little time and no cuts or actual surgery procedures are performedRead MoreCosmetic Surgery1251 Words   |  6 PagesThe Negative and Positive Effects of Cosmetic Surgery Are you considering cosmetic surgery? The numbers of individuals electing these surgeries are growing rapidly each year. Much of this rapid growth is because of advances in technology that have made plastic surgery techniques both safer and more affordable, as well as cutting down on recovery time. 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The public eye has been watching movie stars and rock stars enhance their looks by getting breast implants, nose jobs, lip jobs etc. In Gary Schaefer’s article, â€Å"Emerging From Stigma, Cosmetic Surgery Remaking Face of Japan† from the Edmonton Journal, we hear the story of a nineteen year old woman named Risa Arato. She had a makeover done on the prime time Japanese television showRead MoreCosmetic Surgery : Surgery And Surgery Essay1074 Words   |  5 PagesCosmetic surgery is unlikely to change your life; it just changes your outward appearance to others. Cosmetic surgery can be very successful, but it is not risk-free; even though laser cosmetic surgery poses fewer risks than invasive surgery. After selecting and meeting with physicians for your cosmetic surgery, you will have to pick the one that fits your budget and personality. As people grow older, certain th ings play a big role in making skin look wrinkly and old that cosmetic surgery cannotRead MoreEthics in Cosmetic Surgery1367 Words   |  6 Pagesaround the world are choosing to have cosmetic surgery. It seems to be an easy fix to problems that people perceive, even if the problems are natural, like breast size. In a sociological study done in the UK, the author found that â€Å"[T]o have breast implants requires a major medical procedure, but they are sold as a fashion accessory and the procedure is framed as a beauty treatment rather than an operation by those who sell it† (Taylor). While many cosmetic surgeries are fairly simple procedures, thereRead MorePlastic Surgery And Cosmetic Surgery1496 Words   |  6 PagesPlastic surgery has become an extremely popular trend throughout the past years of the American culture. There are many reasons why people get plastic surgery, however, our society is the first to judge an individual for getting a procedure done. The controve rsy regarding plastic surgery is extremely relevant and has received major attention through celebrities, television, and social media. However, many individuals are unaware that there is a difference between both plastic surgery and cosmetic surgeryRead MoreThe Beauty Of Cosmetic Surgery899 Words   |  4 Pagesartificial enhancement. The interest of celebrity is gazing at their body-parts, and it links the relationship between celebrity culture and cosmetic surgery. While there is a desire on being alike to the celebrity can achieve beauty, the demand of cosmetic surgery has increased in the society. As not many people could meet the standard of beauty, cosmetic surgery is the fastest way to obtain a perfect body and is generally accepted by the public nowadays. It allows the commodification of the body. SwamiRead MoreCosmetic Surgery : Plastic Surgery2001 Words   |  9 Pages In most sources about cosmetic surgery, they explain the good or bad about it and also give example s of people that have gone through cosmetic surgery. For most people that go through cosmetic surgery, it takes around 6 months for the swelling to go down and for most of the scars to heal and begin to go away. The majority of people that have an opinion of cosmetic surgery, think that it’s the worst part of the new society and feels like the people that get the procedure done are weak and are easily

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Acupuncture summary free essay sample

Acupuncture has long been used and accepted in traditional Chinese medicine. Recent studies show that acupuncture can be used as an effective intervention for psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. However, the number of studies conducted did not suffice to make the alternative treatment a recommended and essential option for treating the said disorders. According to traditional Chinese medicine, mental illness occurs whenever there is an imbalance in the body’s energy system, especially when the affected area is the Shen, which is responsible for the various mental activities of our daily living (Samuels et al, 2008). We will write a custom essay sample on Acupuncture summary or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is said that a number of etiological factors, namely improper diet, constitutional makeup, fetal trauma, and narcotic drugs, among many others can create the mentioned imbalance (Samuels et al, 2008). The studies conducted were concluded to be effective because in depressive patients, a study of first 29 and then 241 inpatients, they found out that electroacupuncture is as effective as amitriptyline for depressive symptoms (Samuels et al, 2008). For anxiety, there was a trial conducted wherein 30 patients who were to undergo colonoscopy and was said to be anxious for the procedure, showed that treatment with acupuncture decreased the patients’ demand for sedation, thus reducing both discomfort and anxiety during the procedure (Samuels et al, 2008). Â  Also, another study revealed in 91 ambulatory surgery patients that after being treated with auricular acupuncture at relaxation points, they reported significantly lower levels of anxiety than did the controls (Samuels et al, 2008). The correspondents for the substance abuse trial consisted of 82 cocaine-dependent methadone-maintained patients, and it was revealed that those assigned to acupuncture treatment were significantly more likely to provide cocaine-negative urine samples than were controls (Samuels et al, 2008). Having positive outcomes for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, acupuncture did not give a significantly positive result for schizophrenia. The clinical significance of the study for schizophrenia has yet to be correlated with clinically significant findings. Complementary and alternative treatments are becoming more and more accessible to many people seeking treatment satisfaction that was not provided by the primary medical treatment. Albeit not a lot of physicians recommend this kind of treatment, there is still no harm in trying them out as long as one can accept the science behind these alternative treatments. The studies and researches that were conducted for acupuncture as an effective treatment for psychiatric disorders namely depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and substance abuse were effective on the little number of respondents. This can be a starting point for further studies to be conducted in relation to the psychiatric disorders mentioned. However, this approach still needs more research and attention to be scientifically stated as a proven fact. But this does not mean that patients suffering from these disorders cannot try acupuncture as an alternative treatment modality. In fact, patients who deem that the usual medical treatment that was recommended by their physicians are not effective are very much welcome to try acupuncture. This traditional Chinese medicine treatment is safe and has been in existence for hundreds of years, there will be no loss in trying out this method, especially when all else fails. The patient can be advised to seek out complementary and traditional medicine when they believe that the recommended primary treatment by their physician is not effectively treating them. Acupuncture can be suggested to these patients as an alternative method, but not as the main form of treatment to be sought out for. Reference: Samuels, N., Gropp, C., Singer, S., Oberbaum, M. (2008). Acupuncture for Psychiatric Illness: A Literature Review. Behavioral Medicine, 34, Retrieved October, 14, 2008, from [insert URL here].

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

W.R Grace Libby, Montana Asbestos Contamination

Introduction Libby is a small town situated in the Kootenai Forest. It is considered the worst asbestos contamination site in the United States of America. The contamination was caused by W.R Grace, which was a mining company that operated a vermiculite mine in the town from 1963 to 1990 (Peacock, 2008, p. 23). There were asbestos fibers in the vermiculite ore that was extracted in Libby.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on W.R Grace Libby, Montana Asbestos Contamination specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The asbestos fibers were released into the air, thereby contaminating several buildings and public areas in the town. According to OSHA, asbestos is a hazardous substance that causes diseases such as lung cancer, lethal tumor, and mesothelioma among others (Peacock, 2008, p. 31). By 2000, the contamination had caused the deaths of at least 200 residents of the town. In addition, 375 people had been diagnosed with illnesses such as mesothelina. Overall, the contamination had caused at least 1,000 illnesses in the town. This paper will discuss the effects on the surrounding community from W.R Grace’s asbestos contamination, the response made by W.R Grace to mitigate the contamination, and the impact of the contamination on existing policy and enactment of new legislation. Effects on the Surrounding Community The vermiculite ore that was mined in Libby had asbestiform amphiboles, which consisted of toxic substances such as winchite, richterite, and tremolite. According to the USA’s geologists, at least 84% of these minerals were airborne (Sullivan, 2007, pp. 579-585). â€Å"At least 26% of the vermiculite ore consisted of asbestos† (Sullivan, 2007, pp. 579-585). The process of extracting minerals from the vermiculite ore led to the emission of toxic dusts. This is because 40% of the dust was asbestos. The toxic dusts settled on roofs, cars, vegetation, and play fields, the reby exposing the public to the risk of getting asbestos related-illnesses. The spread of asbestos in the town caused deadly illnesses and loss of hundreds of lives. The effect of the contamination was exacerbated by the fact that the mine had employed thousands of people in Libby and the nearby towns. The residents who worked at the mine were exposed to asbestos levels, which were as high as 182f/cc on a daily basis (Sullivan, 2007, pp. 579-585). The health effects of the contamination caught the public attention in 1999 when several residents of the town were diagnosed with asbestos related-illnesses. An investigation on the effect of the contamination by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2000 indicated that the deaths caused by malignant and non-malignant respiratory diseases had significantly increased in the town.Advertising Looking for term paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In par ticular, between 1979 and 1998, the number of deaths caused by malignant and non-malignant respiratory illnesses in Libby was 40% higher than in Montana and other parts of the United States of America (Sullivan, 2007, pp. 579-585). The number of deaths caused by asbestosis in Libby was 80% higher than in Montana and the USA. Similarly, lung cancer mortality in Libby was 1.4% higher than in other parts of the United States (Sullivan, 2007, pp. 579-585). Occupational exposure was the main cause of the increase in asbestos-related illnesses and deaths in Libby. Diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma were mainly found among the residents who worked at the mine. The contamination has since caused more than 200 deaths and at least 350 residents of the town are suffering from asbestos-related illnesses (Sullivan, 2007, pp. 579-585). Apart from the residents of Libby, the contamination also adversely affected thousands of tourists who visited the town. Libby has beautiful mountains, w hich attracted tourists from different parts of the world. The tourists were also infected by the asbestos-related illnesses since they inhaled the contaminated air in the town. In addition, most of the customers who bought W.R Grace’s products were infected by asbestos-related illnesses. Consequently, the effects of the contamination were felt in nearly all parts of the United States. Research indicates that the full impact of the contamination on the community is yet to be fully determined. This is because the symptoms associated with most of the asbestos-related illnesses can only be noticed after 20 to 40 years from the day of exposure to asbestos. In this regard, the government expects more infections and deaths to occur in Libby in the near future due to the contamination. Response made by the Company to Mitigate the Contamination Initially, W.R Grace refused to accept liability for the asbestos contamination in Libby. The cost of cleaning up the contamination was very high and the company was recording poor financial results at that time. Consequently, it was reluctant to take any corrective measures in order to rehabilitate the environment. Nonetheless, the EPA stepped in and began to clean up the contamination in 2000. This involved removing vermiculite from homes and business premises in Libby, as well as, covering the mine site. Moreover, the extent of the contamination on natural resources such as vegetation had to be conducted in order to identify the best course of action.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on W.R Grace Libby, Montana Asbestos Contamination specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since the cleaning process required a lot of financial resources, the contamination was considered for funding by the Superfund in 2000. Furthermore, W.R Grace was ordered by a District Court in Montana to pay $250 million as a compensation for the damage (Department of Justice, 2003) . The EPA used the compensation to finance the process of cleaning up the contamination. In 2009, the EPA classified the contamination as a public health emergency, thereby receiving additional $130 million from the government to clean up the town and provide medical assistance to the residents (Schneider McCumber, 2011, p. 45). At least 1,460 premises were cleaned up in 2010 by removing 900,000 cubic yards that consisted of contaminated substances. The residents have also been trained on how to identify asbestos because the contamination might remain even after the completion of the cleanup process. The EPA has also cleaned up the plant that was used to process vermiculate ore, as well as, the public areas that were likely to be contaminated by asbestos. Apart from paying the cleaning costs, W.R Grace also paid $60 million to owners of properties in Libby (Department of Justice, 2003). This compensation was paid to customers who had used the company’s insulation products, w hich were contaminated with asbestos. W.R Grace also spent $2.75 million to establish a medical fund for the Libby community (Department of Justice, 2003). This fund was used to finance the treatment of residents who were diagnosed with various asbestos-related illnesses. The fund was expected to reduce the health effects of the contamination by enabling everyone to access medical services in time. The Impact on Existing Policy and Development of New Legislation Even though the health effects of the contamination became apparent in 1999, environmentalist had begun to notice the pollution caused by W.R Grace as early as 1970. In order to protect the environment and the community, existing pollution abatement policies had to be modified and new ones had to be enacted to facilitate regulation of the activities of W.R Grace in Libby. In 1973, the company was accused of causing air pollution through the smoke and dusts that it emitted due to its mining activities (Ross Nolan, 2003, pp. 447-470). At that time, the policies that controlled air pollution did not include asbestos as a pollutant. This led to the adoption of the Clean Air Act, which included asbestos regulations.Advertising Looking for term paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The new regulations required the government to demolish unsafe processing plants that emitted asbestos into the air. Additionally, owners of unsafe plants were required to renovate their mills in order to prevent asbestos contamination. W.R Grace responded to these regulations by installing new air pollution control equipment at its processing plant. In 1987, the company produced over 150,812 tones of vermiculate, thereby raising the chances of high asbestos contamination in the town. The amount of asbestos released into the air could not be controlled at this time because there were no emission standards. Consequently, the EPA obtained information about W.R Grace’s emissions and used it to advocate for the adoption of emission standards in Montana. This led to the amendment of Section 112 of the Clean Air Act by including the national emission standards for asbestos (Ross Nolan, 2003, pp. 447-470). In 1994, W.R Grace violated the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Ai r Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations. Environmentalists believed that the dusts produced by the company did not just pollute the air, but also water bodies. Thus, Montana adopted water quality standards in order to protect its water resources. Additionally, Montana adopted a comprehensive list of air pollutants in 1996 in order to minimize environmental degradation. Conducting human health risks assessments also became a requirement for acquiring emission permits. Thus, the cost of acquiring an emission permit was determined by the level of the health risks associated with the pollution. Conclusion The mining activities of W.R Grace led to the worst asbestos contamination in Libby Montana from 1963 to 1990 (Peacock, 2008, p. 21). The health effects of the contamination emerged from 1999, when several residents of the town were diagnosed with various asbestos-related diseases. The contamination caused at least 200 deaths and 1,000 illnesses in the town. W.R Grace was ordered by a Distri ct Court in Montana to pay $250 million to cater for the cleanup of the contamination. The EPA used these funds to cleanup residential and business premises in the town in order to reduce the health effects of the contamination. W.R Grace also provided funds for treating the residents who were diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses. The contamination led to the adoption of water and air emission standards in Montana. This paper discussed the effects on the surrounding community from W.R Grace’s asbestos contamination, the response made by W.R Grace to mitigate the contamination, and the impact of the contamination on existing environmental policies. Based on the findings of this paper, hazardous air pollutants should be controlled in order to protect the lives of citizens and the environment. References Department of Justice. 2003. W.R Grace Liable for Libby, Montana Cleanup Costs. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/ Peacock, A. (2008). Libby, Montana: Asbestos and the Deadly Silence of an American Corporation. New York: Johnson Books, Boulder, Co. Ross, M., Nolan, P. (2003). History of Asbestos Discovery, Use and Asbestos Related Disaeses in Context with the Occurrence of Asbestos within Ophiolite Complexes. New York: Geological Society of America . Schneider, A., McCumber, D. (2011). An Air that Kills: How the Asbestos Poisoning of Libby, Montana Uncovered a National Scandal . New York: McGraw-Hill. Sullivan, A. (2007). Vermiculite, Respiratory Disease, and Asbestos Exposure in Libby, Montana: Update of a Cohort Mortality Study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(4), 579-585. This term paper on W.R Grace Libby, Montana Asbestos Contamination was written and submitted by user Chace Mccall to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.