Monday, January 20, 2020

The Party from Hell :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My birthday fell on the 21st of July, but it was only the 18th. My parents were out of town, so this had to be the weekend I threw a huge birthday bash. I made up flyers, 50 of them, and my neighbors didn’t seem to mind too much, so things seemed to be set. I took the 16th and 17th off of work so I could get anything of value safely locked away in secured rooms. I hoped that things would work out well and nothing would go wrong. I made sure that the flyers were only handed out to the people that I actually wanted there, in efforts to keep away the â€Å"trouble makers†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The day of the party was finally here, and I spent it setting up my very expensive stereo system so that no one could break it. Everything seemed to be in place and the people started rolling in. Things were going great. People were dancing and playing pool and just having a good time. There were a few people over by the snack bar eating their hearts out, and that is where the first signs of trouble caught my eye. I noticed a couple of people sneaking drinks. This was exactly what I had tried to prevent. In my past experience, whenever there was alcohol at a party, bad things happened. I didn’t want to spoil the fun people were having so I decided as long as it was contained to those few people, nothing would go wrong. As the night continued, things only seemed to get better. My friends were there and we were having a great time. No one had complained about the noise, and the drinking had kept itself to those few people, or so I thought.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A couple of hours after I noticed the alcohol, I spotted a crowd around one of the bathrooms. Apparently there was a girl in there, throwing up. As I began to walk over, she pushed through the crowd, completely out of control. I didn’t know how to react; it seemed like anything anyone did just made her more upset. She was screaming that she needed to go outside, so we let her out onto the back porch. I tried to calm her down, along with about five of my other friends, but nothing seemed to work. She began running down the street yelling that we were trying to attack her.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Expressions of the self through the body Essay

Within the framework of the 21st Century, western society is increasingly exposed to images and ideologies of the embodiment of ‘success’ and ‘happiness’. The media is rife with these conceptualisations and affects us all on varying levels of influence and intensity. The very basis of the study of the social sciences (that various spheres of the expression of societal values are interconnected and incomplete apart) is the foundation for the claim that ideologies associated with the modern capitalist value system strongly and wholly affect the understanding and expression of our identity through the management and aesthetics of our bodies. To understand the origin of this claim, and to further explain the phenomenon it identifies, several steps need to be taken. Firstly, the values of the modern capitalist framework have to be identified and adequately compared to the contemporary understanding of the body and of sexuality. Secondly, expressions of the body and sexuality will be explored, to adequately assess the influence these values have through visual media. Finally response to these values and images will be considered, in order to critically analyse the true degree of agency that has been successfully exercised within this complex association of cause and effect. As established throughout the second section of this course, the complex and influential structure of capitalism lies in the celebration of the individual, and not of the society. (Loy 1997). Characteristics inherent in capitalism are the importance of the individual; the necessity for competition among these individuals to justify the importance of the individual; and the desire to embody wealth, success and happiness through financial means. Also pivotal to the success of capitalism is the illusion of freedom of choice and agency within society for the individual to construct a unique identity (Loy 1997, Cox 1999). What is perhaps most important in terms of the relationship between capitalism and the expression of identity and sexuality through the body is the concept of commodity aesthetics, the beautification of any object to increase it’s desirability to the consumer. (Sarup, 1997) The relationship between these values and the understanding and expression of our bodies can be explained in terms of the research done by Rohlinger (2002), whereby a complex study into the representations of men in advertisements was conducted to assess the ‘objectification’ of men that he identified as prominent. While the implications of this study are more in-depth than the conclusions discussed here, the results belie, in part, the beautification of men in the media to create desire for not only the image, but also the product associated with the image. The biggest category of depiction of men he identified was the so-called ‘erotic male’, whereby a male, of often indeterminable sexual preference, was portrayed sexually, thereby appealing to both straight and gay men, thus following the dual advertising method (Rohlinger, 2002). It would thus appear as if men have been ‘beautified’ in order to increase desire for the product associated with the model. While it may seem to be a leap in logic to equate the ‘erotic’ male with the ‘beautified’ male, the reasoning behind this premise lies in the conceptualisation of beauty in modern society. While it can be argued that advertising affects these values, and that the values in turn affects the advertising, I would suggest that the attractiveness of a male or female lies wholly in terms of sexual appeal, and thus by an erotic portrayal, the beautification process – however atypical – occurs. If the example of Rohlinger’s research is further employed and employed as it was intended, it becomes clear that through advertising techniques, the capitalist framework has blatantly influenced media portrayals of the body and sexuality, and thus has direct influence on our own expression of sexuality and identity through our bodies. Within the work of Susan Benson (1997), the degree of identity expression through the body is discussed. The capitalist influence has (seemingly) autonomously decided what bodily images determine varying aspects of an identity. (Benson, 1997) In order to appear healthy and in control, a well-toned and slim body is essential. Bodies that do not conform to these characteristics thus display an out of control and unhealthy person, negatively reflecting on his or her identity. In terms of the influence of structure and agency and the way in which symbols are given value to construct an identity (Jenkins, 1996), the outward display of an identity and any agency in play, is manifested in the aesthetics of the body through the use of symbols that appeal to the senses of those who would validate the identity. These symbols can be clothing, fragrances, language and body language. It is for this reason that the media – ironically, a manifested construct of the very society it attempts to influence and control within a capitalist framework – seeks to associate a type of identity with various commodities to be marketed, increasing not only the desirability of the product, but of the identity as well. If the claim that gender and sexuality have long been two of the few certainties in one’s identity (Segal 1997), then evidence to suggest increasing blurring of the line of distinction between what expresses the embodiment of being a man or a woman, would indicate a critical turning point in social history, emphasising a shift towards the androgynous and sexual ambiguity. Rohlinger’s research further identified the depiction of men in advertisements as having an ‘unknown’ sexual orientation (2002) thus fulfilling appeal to both a heterosexual and homosexual male community, yet in very different ways. This type of depiction allows for the viewer of the advertisement to identify with a particular interpretation of the male model – further developing the idea that the agency it appears we are exercising is indeed limited within the structures we find ourselves in. This eroticising effect on the male image – and similarly on the female image – in the media is thus adopted by those who find the identity and image desirable (which returns us to the circle of desirability between the product and the identity associated with the product) and is then outwardly displayed through the appearance of the body. This adoption of a particular identity extends to the sexuality that may or may not be displayed within the advertisement as well, causing the blurring of distinction between male and female sexuality. The portrayals of men and women have become increasingly similar in society (Benson 1997) and thus too have the expressions of masculinity and femininity, weakening previous concepts of gender roles (Hearn 1999). The by-products of these influential depictions of men’s and women’s identities in contemporary society range from liberal movements gaining acceptability within a sexual context, to the increase in eating disorders, body building, and the supplement industry in an attempt to achieve a ‘healthy’ body, thereby conforming to the acceptable and desirable identity of contemporary society. The increase in support for the gay and lesbian right’s movements, as well as the continued evolution of the feminist movement, are all examples of responses to the effects of capitalism on society through the media. As in the previous section, the manifestations of various identities increasingly depict an androgynous sexuality, appealing to hetero- and homosexual members of society. (In part due to the increasing wealth of the homosexual consumer) With this subconscious validation of homosexuality in the media, it appears it has become increasingly socially acceptable to either be homosexual, or support the movement and to adopt its value system. (Rohlinger 2002; Hearn 1999; Benson 1997) This type of liberal movement, while an apparent display of agency in the determination of an identity, appears to be yet another type of conformity to the current desirable identity. Thus the response – albeit in later years – is not one based in agency, but in passive acceptance of a contemporary trend. Similar criticism can be levelled at the development of the feminist movement in current culture. While the view of Rohlinger (2002) may be considered somewhat sensationalist and one-sided, her idea that even feminism and women’s liberation has been commodified and a purchasable identity to the movement ascribed, is one that contains some validity. So far reaching is the grasp of capitalism, that it is able to commodify that which inadvertently opposes the values of capitalism, by advocating freedom of expression and a resistance to the values of the patriarchal society in existence today (Bhasin, 1993). An example of this trend would be a television advertiseme nt for a popular drink with the tag ‘Girls Night. No Boys Allowed’. This blatant commodification of the independent and liberal woman as an identity, critically wounds the credibility of the movement it seeks to ascribe itself to. The increased phenomenon of female and male eating disorders prevalent among teenagers (certainly the most influential target group in modern society) further illustrates the growing trend in conformity to the desirable body image in at attempt to embody a certain identity. At the other end of the scale (so far removed, it has perhaps come full circle) is the bodybuilding trend: whereby men and women seek to become the pinnacle of strength, power and fitness. This trend identifies not only the blur in distinction between masculinity and femininity (â€Å"active/passive† – Segal, 1997) as women attempt to embody a previously masculine identity, but also seeks to display, perhaps, a resistance (Castells, 1997) to the threat of androgyny and supposed equality of men and women in society, as men attempt to over-emphasise their physical – ergo societal – strength and dominance. In perhaps the most obvious sign of a symbiotic relationship within these two forces, the dietary and health supplement industry is booming, as it convinces millions each year that the healthy body – therefore identity – is contained within a capsule or a milkshake. In this brief and general exploration into the relationship between the capitalist society and the expression of identity through the body image, it appears clear that the values of capitalism have directly affected the expression of identity and sexuality in modern society. So influential is the media that social actors feel compelled to conform and duplicate these images in order to maintain a sense of acceptance within society. It is also evident that very little real resistance has developed to this trend, and that even those who do not physically manifest their response to this trend, appear to have adopted the ideology in more subtle ways – tellingly, purchasing products associated with the identity they subconsciously want to adopt. Thus the construction of our identity and sexuality is clearly outwardly displayed through the expression of our body, and the media of capitalism is singularly successful by directing it’s influence on our continuing desire to expres s our identity through outward appearances and symbols.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

A Multicultural Education - 956 Words

The statics in the Kim article were staggering. Being in education for 17 years I have personally seen the change in the student demographics. However Kim summarizes the truth that the demography of the educators has not changed. The introduction focuses on the state of crisis in education involving the achievement gap. This study is focused not just on ethnicity, but also socioeconomic status. From this study the cause to look at multicultural education is very evident. The main area of the paper will explore the varied approaches to dealing with multiculturalism and the critiques of all the misconceptions and the impact of whiteness. Kim relays the four phases of multicultural education: incorporating ethnic studies into school curricula, total school reform for educational equality, inclusion of other minority groups by incorporating their history and culture into the curriculum, and analyzing the differences of race, class and gender. In order to move forward with the implementation of multicultural education, educators most be made more aware of integrating content, building a diverse knowledge base which is delivered equitably in the classroom, and making the culture part of the every day educational routine. According to Kim, in order to feel successful with the implementation, there are several approaches which schools can take. The contribution approach is simply identifying with the icons and holidays of the culture. The additive approach is embeddingShow MoreRelatedMulticultural Education And Multicultural Schools1210 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction There have been multiple definitions for Multicu ltural definition which has become so imperative. Multicultural education alludes to any form of education or teaching that incorporates the histories, texts, values, beliefs, and perspectives of people from different cultural backgrounds (Bank).America is considered to be a â€Å"melting pot† because of the many people who have immigrated in search of a better life. Immigrants have brought with them their own unique cultures. Different gendersRead MoreMulticultural Education : A Multicultural Classroom960 Words   |  4 PagesAn additional aspect to a perfect education system would be the use of multicultural education in schools. Multicultural education creates a comfortable environment for students of all races and ethnicities to learn in by combining a variety of ideals about teaching. According to Geneva Gay, the creator of multicultural education, one of these ideals is understanding the cultural characteristics and cultural contributions of different ethnic groups, su ch as the values of different ethnic groups,Read MoreMulticultural Education : A Truly Multicultural Mosaic1259 Words   |  6 PagesMulticultural education incorporates the idea that all students- regardless of their gender, social class, and ethnic, racial, or cultural characteristics- should have an equal opportunity to learn in school, (Banks Banks, 2010, p. 3.) For centuries our country, the United States of America, has been known as the â€Å"melting pot† in a sense that our world was moving towards multiculturalism. Some see the old metaphor, the â€Å"melting pot† fading away within the last decade and has grown into a new term(s)Read MoreMulticultural Education And Educational Education770 Words   |  4 Pagesthe definition of multicultural education is defined in sociopolitical context and relates to comprehension of school reform. Namely, the multicultural education works in reforming schools and providing an equal and excellent education for everyone. Likewise, the author gave a definition of multicultural education based on her experience surrounding education environment. She divides multicultural education into seven basic characteristics: antiracist education, basic education, important for allRead MoreIssues in Multicultural Education900 Words   |  4 PagesIssues in Multicultural Education Effective instructors must understand the issues that impact multicultural education in the United States. The significance of providing an eminence instruction in an unbiased approach to all of their students is essential. The tide of demographic changes in the United States has affected most classrooms in our schools. As a result, some classroom teachers realize they must quickly acquire a comprehensive understanding of ethnic, cultural, and social-class diversityRead MoreEssay on Multicultural Education1681 Words   |  7 PagesMulticultural Education History/Past Challenges: One of the major goals of the American school system is to provide all children with equal educational opportunity. However, with regard to minority students, meeting this particular objective has presented a real challenge to educators as they have been confronted with the task of reshaping education in the multilingual, multicultural society that characterizes the United States. Many significant events contributed to the needRead MoreThe Importance Of Multicultural Education901 Words   |  4 Pagescurriculum is critical to achieving a multicultural school setting for students. The implications of my findings for teaching and learning are that educators need to better evaluate their texts and curriculum that they use with their students. In Becoming a Multicultural Educator, author James Banks explains that every student should receive an education of high quality and with that they should attain skills that will help them to flourish in a multicultural world (196). Also on page 196, authorRead MoreThe Problem Of Multicultural Education Essay1682 Words   |  7 PagesProblem in Multicultural Education The common topic of the three articles is multicultural education. In the article, â€Å"Faculty perceptions of multicultural teaching in a large urban university,† the authors believe that â€Å"lack of understanding of multicultural teaching is evident in spite of the growing literature on theories of multicultural education and data documenting best practices† (Bigatti, S. M., et. al, 2012, p. 78). The authors of this article defines the meaning of the multicultural teachingRead MoreMulticultural Education And Its Importance1205 Words   |  5 PagesMulticultural Education and Its Importance in Schools and Society. Multicultural education is a term used to describe a wide variety of programs and practices. Multicultural instruction may be a thought alternately an idea that know understudies ought to have an rise to good fortune to take in over class in any case about their gender, social class, Also racial/cultural qualities. Multicultural training will be likewise a instructive change development. It includes downright one school alternatelyRead MoreMulticultural Education Essay1031 Words   |  5 PagesMulticultural education refers to applying various aspects of different learning styles and techniques to reach children of different racial, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Because the extent of these variations is so diverse, educationists have begun to integrate material within the classroom to ensure each child is efficiently and equally benefitting scholastically. There are some Americans however, who disagree with multicultural education; these people think that multicultural education

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Introduction. The Rising Unemployment Has Generated...

Introduction The rising unemployment has generated challenges in low income communities. Unemployment involves a situation where people in a particular community are actively seeking employment but the employment rates are low. The increased rates of unemployment are contributed to by factors such as recession periods that adversely affects the economy. Impacts on the economy in turn affect the labor force leading to loss of employment and reducing the rates of employment opportunities in the country. The United States has experienced cases of recession periods and has caused significant negative impacts on the communities and economic growth of the country. The prevalence of high unemployment rates in low income communities in the U.S†¦show more content†¦The New classical economists’ theory states that structural unemployment is a reflection of the government failure to address the unemployment issue. Studies reveal that the Great Depression that occurred in America and Europe i n 1930s led to development of high levels of unemployment that adversely affected the American economy. The classical theory of economics argued that the effects of Great Depression on the economy would correct itself if the government does not cause any interference. It resulted in low levels of productivity in businesses that contributed to loss of employment and reduced income rates. The effects of Great depression facilitated the development of these theories to address the rampant rates of unemployment in America. These theories argue the market mechanisms are effective in addressing unemployment. Consequently, studies indicate that high unemployment rates contribute to increased levels of violent and higher property crimes in low income communities. The individuals in low income communities may become violent and move to cities or other wealthy residential areas in America and steal properties and obtain money for survival (Burkeman, 2009). Keynesian theory explains on the cyclical unemployment where individuals in society lose their jobs as a result of decrease inShow MoreRelatedThe Health Care System Of The Special Population1483 Words   |  6 Pagesof insurance because of the cost or some employers simply do not offer insurance. The American Indiana culture has been fortunate enough to receive coverage and support through the Indiana Health Services. In the meantime, the declining of traditional sources has affected the economic stability. The United States at this point is trying to resolve the complex challenges that are rising in health care. For example, the veteran population is an entity one of its own. Many veterans return home onlyRead MoreThe Revolution Of Rio De Janeiro2132 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction In 1565, the Portuguese discovered Sà £o Sebastià £o do Rio de Janeiro, and was named after St. Sebastian, who was the namesake and patron of the Portuguese Monarch D. Sebastià £o. In the late 1600s, the Bandeirantes, fortune hunters, discovered gold and diamonds nearly Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, the city became more convenient for the Portuguese exportations. During 1800s, many Portuguese fled to Rio in order to escape Napoleon’s invasion of Portugal. There were hundreds of noblemen whoRead MoreThe Education Sector Of Bangladesh, And The Drivers Of Changes Behind Its Sustainability Essay2185 Words   |  9 PagesINTRODUCTION: Lower developed or developing countries heavily rely on political analysis of different aspects of their country, in order to maintain and stabilize their development. Investment agencies also rely on these analyses to plan their investments. In this paper, we will conduct a political analysis of education in Bangladesh and provide a small range of recommendations to support our statement. Since its independence, Bangladesh has been a country that has gone through many ups and downRead MoreFdi Impact to China Economy2583 Words   |  11 PagesContent 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. The impact of FDI on China 4. Human Resource Management (HRM) in China 1. HRM in China before reform 2. Impact on reform of Chinese HRM 5. Conclusion References 1. DeMeyer, Williamson, Jurgen Richter and Mar. 2005. Global Future: the next challenge for Asian Business. Singapore: John Wiley Sons 2. Min Chen, 2005 Asian Management Systems, 2 nd Edition: Thomson, Chapter 20 3. Tony Edwards Chris Rees, (2006) InternationalRead MorePestel Analysis for Spain2937 Words   |  12 Pagespharmaceuticals, medicines, and other consumer goods Imports : Machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semi-finished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments Map of Spain [pic] Introduction The country analysis report on Spain provides a wide array of analytical inputs to analyze the country’s performance, and the objective is to help the reader to make business decisions and prepare for the future. The report on Spain analyzesRead MoreJapan s Foreign Capital Liberalization4006 Words   |  17 PagesINTRODUCTION In the several decades after the Second World War, the foreign countries took means of the direct investment to Japan, but it present the general trend of the low jumping-off point and limited progress. At the early period of 50s, there are merely two to three million dollars in each year’s scales. The Japanese government formally revealed a large scale of introducing the foreign capital once it implemented the first capital liberalization in 1967. During 1981 to 1986, the total amountRead MoreWhat Are the Main Changes Occuring in the Australian Labour Market? What Are the Main Causes of These Trands? What Effect Are These Changes Having on the Nature of Employment in the Australian Economy?2531 Words   |  11 PagesINTRODUCTION This paper focuses on 3 current trends occurring in the Australian labour market, analysing their causes and effects. The chosen trends are structural unemployment, gender pay gap and skill shortage. The main causes of the first trend are increase demand for services and technological change, which have led us into a new era where highly skilled labour force is needed to operate more complex machineries and computer systems. The rapid technological change has caused structuralRead MoreCompany, Industry, Labor, and Employment Analysis of Whole Foods Market4102 Words   |  16 Pagesnutritional supplement and body care. Whole Foods Market also produces educational products such as books, and other products such as pet products, floral, and household products. In September 2010, the company has 299 stores in the United States, Canada and the UK. The rapid growth of Whole Foods Market has been attributed to the selective products that the company offers and its dedication to the qualit y standard. The company was formed in 1980 and completed its public offering in 1992. The Whole Foods MarketRead MoreEssay about Free trade2287 Words   |  10 Pagesimport of products or services in international markets without tariffs or duties (Sinn, 2014:8). Since the father of economics, Adam Smith proposed that international trade could promote economic growth, the effects of free trade on economic growth has been argued by many scholars (Singh, 2010:1517). In addition, free trade could affect global prosperity, which includes various aspects, such as environmental quality, social welfare, sustainable development and human well-being (ibid). Due to freeRead MoreThe Global Context of Hrm and Hrd5106 Words   |  21 Pagesthrough significant flows of foreign direct investment and other forms of financial capital.’ (Lane.P) Ireland has enjoyed the successes of being a nation state since its break away from the then British colonies in 1922. Until then Ireland led a life of protectionism, which made working life difficult and increased emigration. Ireland was indeed the ‘Sick man of Europe’ but this has since changed and now Ireland as a nation state can exert more power and influence to European policy making than

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Discussion on Generalized Anxiety Disorder-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Generalized Anxiety Disorder. What are the Symptoms and Causes of GAD? Answer: Introduction: The paper introduces us about generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD is a common anxiety disorder that affects quite a number of people around the world. The difference between GAD and natural anxiety is that the people suffering from it go through exaggerated and chronic worrying phase on a day-to-day basis. The paper also discusses about the symptoms and causes of GAD. Through data, there is an explanation about the frequency of the disease and its diagnosis. The paper also gives us an idea on treatment of GAD and if there is any side effects of the treatment. Here the paper also discusses about what other people think of people with GAD and the measures and control taken for preventing the disorder. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a kind of disorder that arises from anxiety related to nervousness, tension and chronic worrying. In contrast to phobia where fear is a response to a particular thing or situation, GAD has a diffused state meaning that it involves a general feeling of dread that becomes a part of everyday life (Lader and Malcolm). Though less intense in nature, but the disorder has longer effects thereby making life difficult and relaxation an impossible notion. Thus, what makes a person with GAD different is the fact that he gives his worries a different level rather than keeping it normal. For instance, a colleagues casual comment about the economic status enhances the fear of termination of ones job. Similarly, an unattended call from a friend might instigate the fear of any trouble in the relationship. Sometime, a simple thought about proceeding through day creates anxiety for a person with GAD where activities filled with unnecessary tension even without any reason. This is a situation where people consider their anxiety more intense than actually needed for a situation and at the same time have the belief that worrying protects them in some way or the other. Therefore, they never turn off their unnecessary thoughts and they continue to make their rounds with endless repetition. The Symptoms of GAD GAD has a direct impact on a persons thought process. There are various symptoms to understand that a person is suffering from GAD. Recognizing the symptoms is important because not all people with GAD have the same symptoms. Therefore, in most cases people experience a combination of physical, behavioral and emotional symptoms that most often fluctuates and become worse at stressful times (Hlzel et al). Symptoms That Are Physical Therefore, the physical symptoms of GAD are as follows: Insomnia is common as anxiety captures the mind throughout There is body aches and tightness of the muscles due to constant anxiety There is a feeling of restlessness at all times Intensity of the anxiety may trigger stomach problems, diarrhea and nausea. Symptoms That Are Behavioral Therefore, the physical symptoms of GAD are as follows: The constant worry does give one much time to relax or be thyself Problem arises when there is need to concentrate or focus on things There is a feeling of joy that allows one to put other things at bay Usually one tries to avoid situations that make them all the more anxious. Symptoms That Are Emotional Therefore, the emotional symptoms of GAD are as follows: There are constant unnecessary worries that run through ones head One feels that there is no end to his/her anxiety and nothing can help them overcome it Trying to avoid intrusive thoughts that enhances anxiety but to no help The inability to handle uncertainty and therefore the constant assurance about a positive future There is a constant feeling of dread and apprehension The Causes Of GAD The exact causes of GAD are still unknown. However, the factors that lead to its growth mentioned below: Family History: There have been several research studies on the causes of GAD that have found that genetics/ family history plays a decisive role in determining the tendency to develop GAD. Therefore, GAD may be a family inheritance (Watkins et al.). Inefficiency of Brain Function: GAD may also develop due to inefficient functioning of some nerve cell pathways that connect regions of brain associated with emotion and thinking. This may lead to problems associated with anxiety and mood thereby resulting in cases of GAD (Shalev et al.). Surrounding Factors: GAD may also happen in case of stressful events and cases of trauma like death of loved person, sudden change of schools or job and divorce. The withdrawal from addiction like alcohol, caffeine or nicotine can also be a reason for this chronic anxiety disorder (Marganska et al.). How Often Does GAD Happen Statistics have found that about 3 to 4% of the population is a victim of GAD and it is a more common phenomenon amongst women compared to men. GAD can be a part of a person life from his either childhood or adolescence or can play a role in his adulthood. However, this is the most common illness found in US affecting some 40 million adult populations (Paxling et al.). Therefore, as per The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders, cases of anxiety disorders cost more than $42 billion which is one-third of countrys total mental health bill of about $148. Treatment of GAD: The symptoms of GAD often treated through a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. The medication includes anxiety drugs also called benzodiazepines prescribed to the people as per his/her requirement mostly on a short-term basis as they can become addictive and interfere with memory and attention (Cuijpers et al.). The medicines also referred to as minor tranquilizers as they are responsible for taking care of acute anxiety. The cognitive theory therapy however, is a kind of therapy especially designed for people with GAD to ensure recognition and change of thoughts and behavior that leads to anxiety. The therapy also gives a realistic look to the worries and moulds distorted thinking positively (Enright et al.). Measures to Control GAD: However, there is not much to worry about this chronic illness of anxiety disorder, as there are proper measures to control it. Thus in order to diffuse anxiety, social interaction with someone who cares is most important (Andersson et al.). In this context, it is important that the concerned person must sit for a face-to-face interaction with the one of his liking on a regular basis. The chosen person can be some to whom can be spoken to for hours with any interruption and at the same time who would not be judgmental and avoid all sort of distraction while interaction(Ball et al.). However, the person chosen can be anyone from the family or can be someone from closed group who cares. Conclusion: The paper here concludes in the light that though generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is chronic but controlled with proper care, medication and therapy. However, medicines recommended on a short-term basis taking into care that they do not become an addiction. The paper also discusses about the various symptoms and causes that leads to GAD. There is also a brief about how GAD is different from normal anxiety disorder. The anxiety disorder can be a part of someones life from his/het very childhood to adulthood. Therefore, one must take care to avoid tensions, worries and situations that can lead to anxiety disorder. US have been a victim of GAD for a long time. Thus, proper measures can not only enhance the population but also enable lesser cases of chronic anxiety disorders. References: Andersson, Gerhard, et al. "Internet-based psychodynamic versus cognitive behavioral guided self-help for generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial." Psychotherapy and psychosomatics 81.6 (2012): 344-355. Ball, T. Manber, et al. "Prefrontal dysfunction during emotion regulation in generalized anxiety and panic disorders." Psychological medicine 43.7 (2013): 1475-1486. Cuijpers, Pim, et al. "Psychological treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a meta-analysis." Clinical Psychology Review 34.2 (2014): 130-140. Enright, Robert D., and Richard P. Fitzgibbons. Forgiveness therapy in anxiety disorders. American Psychological Association, 2015. Hlzel, Britta K., et al. "Neural mechanisms of symptom improvements in generalized anxiety disorder following mindfulness training." NeuroImage: Clinical 2 (2013): 448-458. Lader, Malcolm. "Generalized anxiety disorder." Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2015. 699-702. Marganska, Anna, Michelle Gallagher, and Regina Miranda. "Adult attachment, emotion dysregulation, and symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety disorder." American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 83.1 (2013): 131. Paxling, Bjrn, et al. "Therapist behaviours in internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy: analyses of e-mail correspondence in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder." Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy 41.3 (2013): 280-289. Shalev, Idan, et al. "Internalizing disorders and leukocyte telomere erosion: a prospective study of depression, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder." Molecular psychiatry 19.11 (2014): 1163. Watkins, Lana L., et al. "Association of anxiety and depression with all-cause mortality in individuals with coronary heart disease." Journal of the American Heart Association 2.2 (2013): e000068.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Silicon Essays - Prosthetics, Biomaterials, Medical Technology

Silicon Silicon is an essential element in humans, found in significant concentrations in hair, bone, epidermis and dental enamel. It is also the second most abundant element on the earth's crust, constituting about 28% by weight.(cite) Many foods and beverages, including certain vegetables, grains, rice, and beer have been shown to contain significant amounts of silicon. Silicone is a synthetic form of silicon and includes 40% silicon by weight. The silicones are synthetic polymers and are not therefore found naturally. They have a linear, repeating silicon-oxygen backbone akin to silica. However, organic groups attached directly to the silicon atoms by carbon-silicon bonds prevent formation of the three-dimensional network found in silica. These types of compound are also known as polyorganosiloxanes. Certain organic groups can be used to link two or more of these silicon-oxygen backbones and the nature and extent of this cross linking enables a wide variety of products to be manufactured.(cite) The most important materials used in medical implants are fluids, gels and rubbers (elastomers) whose physical and chemical properties include, amongst others, a high degree of chemical inertness, thermal stability and resistance to oxidation. Silicone is used by many prosthesis, medical devices, and pharmaceutical products. The many silicone containing medical devices include artificial heart valves, artificial joints, Norplant contraceptive implants, pacemaker wires, and dialysis tubing. Of course silicone is probably best known for its use in breast implants. In 1992 the FDA pulled silicone-gel filled breast implants off the market as they were alleged to cause "connective-tissue disorders such as systemic lupus erthematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma, a hardening of the skin."(cite) Recent studies have disproven this, showing that connective-tissue diseases were no more common in women with implants than those without. Also a study by the U.S. National Cancer Institute showed a lower cnacer risk amoung women However, tests looking with "reliable, validated analytical techniques for the dissemination of silicones from implants in the body, including breakdown products of the polymers, have shown either no dissemination, or the presence of only very small amounts at distant sites following rupture of gel-filled implants, or after deliberate injection of the gel."(cite) The risks of these implants, as shown in laboratory studies as well as in real life, are local inflammatory and scarring reactions, and local infection, as around any foreign body in the tissues. If a silicone fluid is released from a ruptured gel-containing implant, the inflammatory and fibrotic reaction will affect a wider area. There is no evidence of any type of"systemic reaction, or of abnormalities of the immune system in subjects who have received implants."(cite) Perhaps one of the best known biomaterials today is titanium and its alloys. Commercially pure titanium, also known as F67, is non-magnetic, and there is no harmful additives or alloying. The most common alloy used is called F136, or Ti-6Al-4V. This alloy is an alpha-beta alloy, meaning the properties will vary depending on treatments. However usually this alloy is corrosion resistant but not ware-resistant and has a higher strength than when in its pure form. The major drawback of this alloy is in its long-term usage. The vanadium is biocompatible only in the short term.(3,pg. 2) There are four grades of titanium, 1-4 with four being the strongest but least ductile. The amount of oxygen in the CP titanium is a major force on how strong the yield and fatigue strengths will be, and also determines the grade of the alloy. Titanium demonstrates exceptional resistance to a broad range of acids, alkalis, natural waters and industrial chemicals. It also offers superior resistance to erosion, cavitation or impingement attack. Titanium is at least 20 times more erosion resistant than the coppernickel alloys.(cite) The low density of titanium makes it significantly lighter when compared to the stainless steels and cobalt-alloys. The densities of titanium-based alloys range between .160 lb/in3 and .175 lb/in3. Titanium also has a higher fatigue strength than many other metals. Yield strengths range from 25,000 psi commercially pure(CP) Grade 1 to above 200,000 psi for heat treated beta alloys. (cite) The combination of high strength and low density results in exceptionally favorable strength-to-weight ratios for titanium-based alloys. These ratios are superior to almost all other metals and become important in such applications as the surgical implants in the plastic and reconstructive surgery fields of medicine. Titanium's higher strength permits the use of thinner walled equipment. Due to the difficulty in electropolishing titanium, it is anodized, this is an electrochemical process which increases the thickness of the oxide film that lies on titanium. Here is where the colors that are associated with titanium, most often gold, is