William Goldings Lord Of The Flies Essays (645 words) -

William Golding's Lord Of The Flies In a group of people there are always ones who come out having better qualities to be a leader than others. The strongest people, become the greatest influences in which others follow. Although sometimes the physically strongest person is not the best choice. In William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, Ralph, not the stronger person, demonstrates a better understanding of people than Jack which gives him better leadership qualities. In this novel Ralph demonstrates many different characteristics that make him a better leader than Jack. Ralph displays useful human qualities as a leader by working towards making a better society on the island for the boys. He knows the boys will need stability and rules on the island to keep them calm and together. He creates a simple form of government. Raplh treats all the boys with equal respect and dignity, where Jack does not. This shows Ralph is a better leader as he is able to acknowledge that he is not superior or better than any of the boys on the island. Ralph keeps the boys in order through the meetings he holds. At the meetings there is a sense of order given to the boys as they must wait for their turn to speak. When Ralph says, I'll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he's speaking. (Golding. 34) he enforces his role of a leaderby insisting rules and gives the boys an authority figure. By doing this he wins the respect of the boys, as well as confidence in his leadership qualities. Ralph realizes he possesess power and authority and he uses it in an attempt to better the society of the boys. By building shelters he demonstrates his knowledge of the boys needs. When he says to Jack, They talk and scream. The littluns, even some of the others, (54) he is referring to why the boys need shelters. The boys are frieghtened, and Ralph understands that by building the shelters, the boys will feel more safe and secure. Ralph demonstrateshis knowledge of human nature in the way he treats the boys. Where Jack thinks of himself as inferior to the rest of the boys Ralph sees them as equal. Ralph's leadership qualities are reflected in his constant defence of Piggy. Piggy is treated very unfairly. When Jack breaks his glasses Ralph calls it, A dirty trick (76). This shows Ralph's compassion and understanding of people. When Jack gets meat from hunting, he gives some to everyone but Piggy. When Piggy asks for some, Jack says, You didn't hunt. (78). Ralph and some of the littluns didn't although Piggy is the only one not fed. Jacks contempt for Piggy shows his inability to understand people, as a good leader would take care of all his followers. Ralph understands this and therefor is better leader. A good leader should be able to look into the future and plan accordingly. Ralph does this. The choices he makes aren;'t popular as most of the boys rather follow Jack and goof off. When Piggy says, Which is better to be a pack of painted niggers like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is? (197), this demonstrates that by not following the besr leader their chances of getting rescued from the island are growing slimmer. The boys make the wrong choice to hunt and play games rather than keep the fire burning and build good shelters. Ralph's clear understanding of people and needs make him a far better leader when compared to Jack. Jacks societ was barbaric and savage and met none of these needs. Jack treats the boys as slaves. A good leader may not be as charismatic as a poor one, it isimportant to choose the leader which will meet the needs of people. The popularityof an English Essays

Guns in america essays

Guns in america essays For my discursive essay I have chosen Guns in America and will look at the licensing laws and some reasons behind all the gun-related deaths. America is in a deadly love affair with firearms which kill nearly 35 000 people every year. Many blame the blood soaked statistics on the worlds weakest gun laws, while others blame it on the guns, the culture or even just bad parenting. America is one of the worlds richest countries but it has the worlds weakest gun laws. Some people blame this for all the gun-related deaths. Gun related deaths in Great Britain and Australia have decreased dramatically as a result of stricter gun laws following the Dunblane and Port Arthur massacres. This shows that countries not as rich and powerful as America have done something to prevent it from happening again where as one of the richest and most powerful countries has done nothing to prevent massacres happening again. It took 12 years after President Regan narrowly escaped an assassination attempt for Congress to pass the Brady Bill (A 5-day waiting period and background checks of prospective pistol purchasers). As a result of the Brady Bill it has prevented some 250 000 people from purchasing handguns and probably prevented a lot of fatalities. If it took this long after the president narrowly escaped an assassination attempt to devise this law how long will it take to sort out simple everyday shootings across the nation? Most Americans want stricter gun laws as a recent Harris poll found out that 69% of all Americans and 57% of the nations gun owners WANT stricter gun laws. With around 200 250 million guns in America and 10 times as many licensed gun dealers as Mc Donalds restaurants, it is no wonder, they want stricter gun laws and want to reduce the number of gun fatalities. But all of America is not as obsessed with guns as Kennesaw in Georgia has ...

Urban Sociology Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Urban Sociology - Article Example Based on the article written by Mousseau & Mittal (2006: 66), stakeholders who greatly benefit from food aid are not really the less benefit individuals who live in developing countries but the U.S. food manufacturer, U.S. shipping companies, the NGOs, and relief organizations. In the case of food manufacturer, Horizon Milling – a U.S. based company that produces wheat and flour products (Horizon Milling, 2008) sold as much as $1.09 billion worth of grain for food aid operation since 1995. By establishing a strong ties with the U.S. government, the company was able to earn significantly large amount of profit without having to worry about potential competitors that could offer the U.S. government with cheaper prices of similar food products. Since most of the U.S. food aid is given to developing countries in the form of ‘in-kind’, U.S. based manufacturing companies that produces food, seeds, and other farming related products are the ones that earns profit out of the food aid program. The same is true in the case of the U.S. shipping companies since the 1985 Farm Bill requires 75% of the U.S. food aid to be shipped solely by U.S. vessels. (Mousseau & Mittal, 2006: 66) Given that the United States is considered a developed country, the volume of food products that is shipped to developing countries under the said food aid program is significantly less because of the high prices of U.S. food products and the shipping cost via U.S. vessels. For this reason, it is arguable that the U.S. food aid program is not really focused on minimizing the global hunger but a way of strengthening its own economy by allowing the food manufacturing and U.S. shipping companies to earn more profit from the said program. The main focus of the U.S. food aid program is to increase the sales and profitability of its local food manufacturers and shipping companies rather than

Mark Mazower's After the War was Over Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mark Mazower's After the War was Over - Essay Example rience of its brief life as a nation-state’{p.21}) to restore justice and prosecute collaborators were undone by the resurrection of the anticommunist right wing faction. Eleni Haidia’s essay â€Å"The Punishment of Collaborators in Northern Greece, 1945-1946† (Chapter 2 of the book) is a composition of studies of trials of collaborators in Thessaloniki. It explores how at first there was widespread determination to mete out strong punishment, a determination that eventually broke down and vanished after encountering malignancies such as improper administration practices, corruption, lack of funding and the new, sudden and unforeseen political crisis that resulted after the civil war. Procopis Papastratis’ essay â€Å"Purging the University after Liberation† (Chapter 3 of the volume) explores the efforts carried out with the aim of cleansing Athens University of those persons who had collaborated with the Germans and the pre-war Metaxas regime. The University used academic and political tactics to successfully repulse the threat of purging it; in the process, ironically, the University also succeeded in expelling several of its professors who supported the EAM (National Liberation Front). Susanne-Sophia Spiliotis’ essay â€Å"An Affair of Politics, Not Justice: The Merten Trial (1957-1959) and Greek-German Relations† (Chapter 14 of the book) reveals how Max Merten, a Nazi official mainly responsible for the deportation of Thessaloniki’s Jews, escaped justice. She highlights this trial to show that not only collaborators, but even German war criminals escaped Greek justice, an evasion made possible by the late 1950s â€Å"mutual interest† move by the Greek and West German governments to turn a blind eye to past wartime events, and look ahead with a view to boost mutual political and economic relations. Polymeris Voglis’ essay â€Å"Between Negation and Self-Negation: Political Prisoners in Greece, 1945-1950† (Chapter 4 of the volume) is a valuable study

Critical Summaries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Critical Summaries - Essay Example Mimics and gestures are also predetermined by culture. At the same time, some facial expressions are universal. Russell (1991) considers different points of view and recognizes limitations of his study. Provided literature review clearly explains different approaches to emotion categorization. Significance of culture and language in emotion cognition become clear when Russell (1991) supports them with examples and observations. This article becomes the point of departure for further research in sociocultural aspect of emotions. The article The Construction of Emotion in Interactions, Relationships, and Cultures by Boiger and Mesquita (2012) presents the main argument that emotions are constructed in the process of social interactions. Authors list three main contexts of interactions which can be moment-to-moment, ongoing relationships and sociocultural. Moment-to-moment interactions motivate emotional responses in people which become parts of ongoing relationships that exist in bigger sociocultural context. All these contexts define uniqueness and character of emotional response people express in the process of communication. Boiger and Mesquita (2012) oppose naturalist models which define emotions as universal, invariant and innate programs. Their line of reasoning relies on developmental psychology which studies emotion formation in infants and adults. For instance, infants develop their in the process of interaction with their caregivers. Being in relationships, people do not only express their emotions, but share them. As a result, their emotions adapt to the kind of relationships they have. Finally, sociocultural context often defines expected emotional responses in particular situations. Overall, Boiger and Mesquita (2012) back their argument referring to other relevant research with makes their article persuasive. They present enough facts and examples to apply their theory practically and show how it works.

Heart Disease In Women Health And Social Care Essay

Heart Disease In Women Health And Social Care Essay Heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in women across the world Rollini. In the United States, cardiovascular disease Carey, specifically coronary heart disease, is the leading cause of death among both men and women [nih coronary heart disease, Rollini]. Death from a cardiac-related event is more common than death from all forms of cancer combined. However, even though more women than men die from coronary heart disease [Carey], heart disease itself is still commonly considered to be a male disease. Historically, medicine has utilized the man as the standard, even when treating women [xhyheri]. Therefore, there is the likelihood that it is under-diagnosed in women. This is because women suffer symptoms and respond to diagnostic testing differently than do men. Women also experience outcomes that are different than those men experience following intervention. Heart disease is a term that is frequently used interchangeably with the term cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease commonly refers to those conditions that involve blocked or narrowed blood vessels that can subsequently lead to heart attack, stroke, or angina. There are other heart conditions that can affect the hearts muscle, beating rhythm, or valves, such as infections, that are also thought of as heart disease [mayoclinic]. Much of heart disease can be treated or prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as a healthy diet, exercise, not smoking, and watching how much one drinks. As of present, few studies specifically examine heart disease in women. Women in fact represent less that 30% of study population in the majority of clinical trials [Rollini]. The research that has been conducted has indicated that women are less likely to be diagnosed or treated as well as men [xhyheri]. Additionally, studies have indicated that women react differently to drugs typically prescribed to cardiovascular disease. Additional research involving women, along with gender-specific analysis is needed. This would include the incorporation of more women into cardiac trials as well as into observiational studies, and the usage of statistical techniques that enable testing for certain sex interactions and provide information about differences in response to treatment that are sex-specific. Heart disease in women Heart disease is the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality in women. However it is often under-recognized by both patients and providers, as women believe that the major killer and therefore the disease they need to be on the lookout for is cancer. Additionally, heart disease is still in large part considered a male disease, and the main emphasis in heart disease research and clinical practice has gnereally focused on men (Stranges). However, a major shift has occurred recently, with greater recognition of the clinical significance of cardiovascular disease in women [1,5 in Stranges]. The realization of the importance of cardiovascular disease in women has also been accompanied by a growing awareness of differences in risk factors, treatment, preventative strategies, and prognosis of the disease [1, 5, 12-15 in Stranges] between the genders. Some cardio-metabolic risk factors are either unique or more prominent in women than they are in men [5]. For instance, preeclampsia is lined to an increased risk of various cardiovascular outcomes later on in life [17]. Additionally such conditions as autoimmune diseases and depression can contribute in a disproportionate way to cardiovascular risk in women [5, stranges]. The prevalence of a number of traditional risk factors are also different for women than they are for men. For example, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is greater among women in the U.S., primarily as a result of a decrease of level of physical activity as well as a difference in longevity between the genders [2, 5,18 in Stranges]. In fact, type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance are recognized as very strong risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women [19]. Additionally, type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance may increase the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events following the first acute myocardial infarction, particularly in women [20 stranges]. Hypertension also tends to be higher in older women, which contributes to the greater morbidity and mortality in women from stroke than in men [2, 21 Stranges]. Additionally, atrial fibrillation is a primary risk factor for ischemic stroke in women [5, 21], which has led to the development of management guidelines designed to prevent stroke in women [22]. Epidemiology Heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality across the world. In the United States, a woman dies from a heart related episode every minute [Rollini], and despite declining trends seen in many countries over the past 40 years in both men and women, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of mortality in both men and women [1-3 stranges]. Cardiovascular disease in fact is the cause of a greater number of deaths than all other chronic conditions combined, including cancer, neurodegenerative and respiratory diseases, and accidents [2]. Approximately 1 in every 3 women (34.9%) in the U.S. has some kind of cardiovascular disease. The percentage for men is slightly higher at 37.6% [zhang]. Approximately 1 in every 2.7 women will die of a cardiovascular disease; this is compared with approximately 1 out of every 4.6 women who will die of cancer [1 in zhang] Although age-adjusted mortality rates of cardiovascular disease are higher in men than in women, the total number of cardiovascular disease related deaths has been consistently higher in women than in men for the past two decades, primarily due to a longer life expectancy as well as a larger proportion of elderly women [1,2 stranges]. Additionally, in the United States more hospitalizations occur for heart failure and stroke in women as compared to men [2] Recent evidence indicates an increasing trend in coronary heart disease mortality in younger women. In U.S. women ages 35 44 years of age, coronary heart disease mortality rates have increased an average of 1.3% each year since 1997 [4]. These trends are most likely driven in part by the obesity and diabetes problem in the U.S., but other contributors include a decrease in physical activity and an increase in the prevalence of hypertension [4]. The escalation in prevalence of large scale cardiovascular disease risk factors in younger adults, primarily hypertension and obesity, as well as the leveling off or possible reversal of cardiovascular mortality trends is happening in the U.S. as well as in areas around the world, including the Mediterranean and Asia. These regions are classically associated with healthier dietary choices and lifestyles (6 -11 stranges] Specific to the disease burden and the specific aspects of cardiobascvular disease in women, the American Heart Association developed evidence-based guidelines specifically for women [12 15 stranges]. The most recent update of these guidelines was published in 2011 [12] and represented a major contribution to the field of cardiovascular disease management. The focus of the guideline shifted from evidence based to effectiveness based, and considered both harms/costs and benefits of preventive intervention [12]. This shift indicates a major evolution from the guidelines revised in 2007, which were based mainly on the clinical benefits of intervention for cardiovascular disease prevention in women [15]. Additionally, the 2011 guidelines introduced ideal cardiovascular health as the lowest risk category, meaning that the presence of ideal levels of cardiovascular risk factors and adoption of a healthy lifestyle is most likely to be associated with favorable outcomes and a nicer quality of life, as well as increased longevity [50]. However, only a very small percentage of U.S. women will be classified as being at ideal cardiovascular health [51]. Differences in short term prognosis and clinical presentation between men and women are evident with cardiovascular disease. Especially in younger women, higher fatality rates have been seen during the 30 days first following an acute cardiovascular event, as compared with younger men [31, 32 stranges]. There has also been an ongoing debate on the reasons cardiovascular disease is managed differently in men and women [33-35], although there has been an improvement in the quality of care and in outcomes for women in recent years who have been hospitalized for cardiovascular disease [36 stranges]. There is some belief that gender disparities are the result of lower awareness of cardiobascular disease risk in women, as well as a delay in emergency services access. However, the gender gap has been reduced over time [37 stranges]. There is still work to be done, though, since very few clinical trials publish results that are sorted by sex. Additionally, researchers frequently utilize historical data in comparing clinical characteristics and treatment in both men and women, and many early trials had an upper cutoff age of 65 years, which excluded many women, since women develop cardiovascular disease on average ten years later than do men. Also of concern is that the demographics of the U.S. and in fact the world are changing, which will mean that practitioners must consider a greater diversity of patients. Added to the well-known classifications of race and geographic origin as well as ethnic origin, there are other facets of diversity that must be considered. These include age, language, literacy, disability, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, occupational status, and culture. Not only do these factors affect how cardiovascular disease presents and progresses, they also often affect the level of care the individual receives. A report done by the Institute of medicine states that differences in treatment in women do exist even when controlling for such factors as comorbidities and insurance status [52 from mosca]. Pervasive disparities in the treatment of cardiovascular problems are a serious public health issue in the U.S. in spite of the marked declines in mortality that have been observed on a national scale over hthe past several decades. These disparities in particular have an adverse impact on the clinical outcomes and quality of life for African American and Hispanic women, a fact which must be recognized by practitioners. Care that is sensitive to cultural difference includes the revision of healcare delivery to meet the specific needs of a patient population that is incredibly diverse. Tehrefore diversity in this context of healthcare means that all individuals must receive equitable care, regardless of any barriers that may exist [57=59 mosca]. The main cause of these barriers to equitable care includes lack of understanding about patients health beliefs, cultural values, and frequently the inability to communicate symptoms accurately in what to many of these women is a foreign language [53-55 mosca] General guidelines for diagnosis and treatment apply across all groups of women; however, it is important to note that risk factors such as hypertension are more prevalent in African American women. Also, diabetes mellitus is more prevalent in Hispanic women [6 from Mosca]. Most notably, the most coronary heart death rates and the greatest overall cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality occur in Aftrican American women. This means that mortality from cardiovascular events in these women is more similar to those seen in men than those seen in other groupings of women. This simply underscores tat need for greater preventative efforts in some groupings of women as well as a different approach taken to diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, an approach more tailored to each specific grouping. Deaths from cardiovascular disease have decreased in all groupings of women. However, Hispanics have the lowest percentage of deaths from cardiovascular events (21.7%) as comared with non-Hispanics (26.3%) [62 mosca]. Hispanics also have a longer life expectancy at 83.1 years compared with the 80.4 year life expectancy for non-Hispanic white women and the 76.2 years for non-Hispanic black women [63 mosca]. This means that cardiovascular complications due to age are a greater consideration for Hispanic women. Age is not only a consideration for Hispanic women, however. The life continuum of women frequently reflects different events that are approached with different levels of stress both physical and mental than those that affect men. These events include such conditions as pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to consider all facets of diversity when practitioners care for women with cardiovascular disease, to avoid a disparity in care [64-66 mosca]. Etiology Cardiovascular disease is largely caused by risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyle choices. Many of the causes for most forms of cardiovascular disease can be treated or prevented by making healthy lifestyle changes. These causes include: Pathophysiology of heart disease It is of utmost importance for the practitioner to recognize that womens hearts are different from mens hearts. Whiel this area of study is somewhat new, it is known that women have smaller herats as well as smaller arteries than men. Researchers from Columbia University and NY Presbyterian also believe that women have a different internal rhythmicity to the pace of their hearts, which in general causes the heart of a woman to beat faster than the heart of a man. The researchers also belive that a womans heart may take longer to relax following each beat. Additinoally, some surgeons have hypothesized that the reason that women have a 50% higher chance of dying during heart surgery as compared to men may be related to a fundamental difference in the way a womans heart works. These differences may also be linked to the fact that women are more likely than are men to die after their first myocardial infarction [Ricciotti]. Approximately 25% of men die in the first year following their f irst myocardial infarctino, compared with 38% of women [Krupa online]. Women are also approsimately twice as likely to experience a second myocardial infarction within 6 years of the first. Additionally, women are approximately twice as likely to die following bypass surgery. From Ricciotti online Heart disease itself therefore affects the hearts of women in different ways than it does men. Following a heart attack, a womans heart is more likely to sustain its systolic function effectively. C. Noel Bairey Merz, the Director of the Womens Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Heart institute, has suggested that this reflects that cardiovascular disease affects the microvasculature in women, while in men it affects the microvasculature [Krupa]. Conventional research has indicated that the most prevalent form of cardiovascular disease is coronary artery disease, where plaques narrow or block the major arteries of the heart, which in turn cuts off the supply of oxygen to the heart. The duration and severity of the impairment determines the severity of the acute event unstable angina or myocardial infarction can result. This ultimately affecst the hearts ability to pump blood correctly. However, Bairey Merz found that womens hearts were much less likely than were mens to lose the ability to pump blood following a myocardial infarction. Additionally, women were much less likely to present with coronary artery disease that was obstructive. This led Bairey Merz to conclude that in women the oxygen deprivation to the heart and the ensuing damage is more likely to happen when the small blood vessels become dysfunctional, as opposed to the major arteries [Krupa-online]. Bairey Merz further believes this is a major reason why women are misdiagnosed or suffer adverse heart events, beause practitioners typically look for the patterns of cardiovascular disease progression that are present in men as opposed to searching for patterns that are present in women. The Womens Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study concurred and has indicated that women may experience chest pain and abnormal stress testing even when there is no critical, flow limiting lesion (>50% luminal stenosis in a coronary artery) present in one of the major arteries. In this study, 60% of women who underwent coronary angiography did not have a lesion present. Even without experiencing critical blood flow problems, women in the study without lesions experienced persistent symptoms. The persistence of the symptoms, combined with abnormal stress testing results was therefore attributed to endothelial dysfunction and disease affecting the microvasculature. A number of factors may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and disease affecting the microvasculature. Hypertension, LDL cholesterol, diabetes, the chemicals in tobacco, circulating vasoactive amines, and infections can all contribute. Women are not beyond danger regarding plaque and disruption of forward blood flow in the arteries, however. This is primarily because women have smaller coronary arteries than do men, even after correcting for total body surface area [7 Kusnoor]. Therefore, anything that affects flow may prove to be critical. Additionally, women are two times more likely than men to have plaque erosion with subsequent blood clot formation [8 kusnoor]. From Kusnoor online bookmarked Risk Factors From Schenk-Gustaffsen Risk factors for heart disease are roughly the same for both sexes; however, gender specific differences are present (Rollini). There are some unique risk factors that exist for women; older age at presentation is a major risk factor, as women are more likely to suffer from comorbities, including diabetes and hypertension. Given the fact that 6 out of every 10 deaths [schenk] from cardiovascular disease in women can be prevented, it is extremely important to understand the risk factors associated with the disease in women. According to the InterHeart study [2 schenck] there are nine factors that are responsible for 90% of all cardiovascular disease cases. These factors are: Smoking Stress Dyslipidemia Diabetes Hypertension Obesity Poor diet, particularly one that does not include sufficient intake of fruits and vegetables Physical inactivity Consumption of alcohol in excess The same cardiovascular risk factors have been used in risk calculations for the past 40 years, despire increasing knowledge regarding gender differences and the disease. Ridker et al [schenck, find ref] suggested in 2007 to use the Reynolds scoring system for women. This suggestion is based on a 10 year study of data from the Womens Health Study for cardiovascular events in 25,558 women, all over 45 years of age. The conclusion was that this scoring system predicted cardiovascular disease risk in women better than classical scoring systems. Modifiable Diabetes mellitus is one of the most important risk factors, and coronary heart disease mortality is 3 5 times higher in those women who are diabetic as compared to those who are not diabetic. In contrast, the risk is only 2 3 times higher in men who are diabetic. Women also have a 3 5 times higher chance than men of developing cardiovascular disease to begin with [30 schenck]. Higher glucose levels as well as insulin resistance serve to counter the protective effects of estrogen, which places women at this higher risk [Johnson]. Cardiovascular events are the primary cause of death, particularly in type II diabetes. The Nurses Health Study indicated that coronary heart disease mortality in women who have diabetes was 8.7 times higher than non-diabetics [31 schenck]. An additional danger is that women who are diabetic develop cardiovascular disease earlier, at approximately the same age men do. Why this is the case is currently unknown [33]. Diabetes is largely preventable or well- controlled through making healthy dietary and fitness decisions, sometimes in tandem with medication. Cigarette smoking is a very significant risk factors for coronary heart disease in women. Smoking in women prompts more negative cardiovascular and lung consequences than does smoking in men. One potential reason for this may be that the dimensions of the coronary arteries and the lungs are smaller in women than in men; therefore, a woman smoking the same amount as a man would do more damage to her body. Women who are less than 55 years of age have 7 times increase in risk attributable to smoking than do men, and the increase in risk depends on dose. It is undisputable that smoking predisposes the individual to atherosclerosis [24, 25 schenck]. The Nurses Health Study, which examined more than 120,000 haelthy nurses, indicated that only 4 5 cigarettes a day nearly doubled the risk, and 20 cigarettes a day compounded the risk 6 times [26 schenck]. Smoking has declined a bit in men; however smoking in women has not declined at the same rate, particularly in younger women. This can lea d to significant vascular problems later on in life. Further, individuals who are routinely exposed to second hand smoke see a 25% increase in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is not simply direct smoking that causes the problem. Additionally, smoking combined with other factors such as use of contraceptives containing estrogen multiplies risk for cardiovascular events and for clot formation [ROllini]. Hormonal contraception is in fact contraindicated for women over 35 years of age who smoke as a result of the multiplied risk. Refraining from smoking lessens the risk of developing heart disease and helps reduce potential cardiovascular risk factors. Alcohol consumption poses a risk for the development of cardiovascular disease. A moderate intake may be protective to the heart, but too much alcohol is harmful [45, 46 schenck]. The type of alcohol consumed is not as crucial as are the drinking patterns. Low to moderate daily intake may be protective, whereas conversely binge drinking can be harmful to the heart. If a patient has already experienced a first myocardial infarction, it is not necessarily a bad thing to continue drinking moderately. However, it is also not necessarily recommended that patients start drinking in search of the protective benefits of alcohol consumption following a first myocardial infarction [schenck]. Light to moderate drinking is defined as defined as one standard drink for women per day and two per day for men. The difference exists because men and women metabolize alcohol differently; specifically women metabolize slower than do men. A standard drink is defined as 12 grams of alcohol; this is equival ent to 15 cl of wine. It is well established that there is an association between LDL cholesterol and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Individuals who reduce their LDL cholesterol also reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease. Further, this reduction in combination with raising their HDL cholesterol serves to further reduce risk. A study conducted by the Lipid Research Clinic indicated that low HDL cholesterol in women was the most significant predictor of death from ischemic heart disease [12 schenck]. It has been shown that having low HDL levels affects women more than it does men [16 schenck], so it is important that practitioners encourage the reversal of low HDL. Hypertension is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A meta-analysis that included data from more than 1 million adults ages 40 69 indicated that an increase of 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic in an individuals normal blood pressure doubles the mortality from coronary heart disease [22 schenck]. There is a 3 times increase in coronary heart disease as well as stroke in women with >185 mmHg systolic when compared to women who are less than 135 mmHg systolic [23 schenck]. The way hypertension is treated is currently the same in both emn and women. Most of the time, pharmacotherapy and lifestyle changes is the preferred treatment. A sedentary lifestyle and obesity pose a significant risk as well. Obesity is more common in women (35.5% ) than in men (32.2%), and 27% of women are obese [1 schenck]. People who are active and regularly exercise their heart muscle are at a much lower risk of developing heart disease. In particular, obese women are more likely to also have metabolic conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome or Syndrome X than are lean women, which multiplies risk [Johnson]. Exercise and physical fitness play a big role, and lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. One study found that less fit individuals experiences a 4.7 times increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction, independent of other risk factors [37 schenck]. The beneficial effects of exercise are not as great in women as they are in men; women experience smaller increases in HDL resulting from similar exercises as men [38 schenck]. The Nurses Health Study has indicated though, that two aspects are particularly beneficial to women, namely that brisk walking delivered the same benefits as did vigorous exercise, and women who had previously been sedentary experienced benefits that were similar to those who had exercised earlier in life. This means that it is better to exercise late than to never do so. The recommended amount of exercise is 30 minutes of exercise daily. Diet. A poor diet is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to have beneficial effects on alleviating cardiovascular disease risk. The diet has a high proportion of fruits and vegetables, and has a positive impact on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and myocardial infarction [47 schenck]. One study of 600 men and women who were randomized into either a group using the Mediterranean diet or a control group indicated that after 27 months a marked difference was found in mortality and morbidity for cardiovascular disease as well as total mortality in favor of the Mediterranean diet [48 schenck]. The mechanisms behind this are multiple, with the recommendation that diet always be combined with other changes to lifestyle, such as exercise or medication. The effects are likely the same in women as in men, but there has not been much gender specific research into why the Mediterranean diet proves beneficial [49, 50 schenck] Depression serves as a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, particularly if the patient is also taking antidepressant medication. Mood in general is a risk factor, particularly if the individual experiences a high level of stress on a consistent basis. As compared to other risk factors, psychosocial variables are much more difficult to define or to measure objectively. Nonetheless, there are several different aspects within the broad definition of psychosocial factors that are currently associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction. These aspects include work and family stress, lack of control, low socioeconomic status, negative life events, and a poor social support system. These aspects, along with depression, affect the risk of ischemic heart disease as well as the prognosis. There are several studies that show a clear correlation between stress and cardiovascular disease. One study indicated that family stress including marital stress increases t he risk of ischemic heart disease [41 schenck]. Another study indicated that work stresses as well as home stresses were more common in those patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction, and that stress represented 30% of the individuals total risk [42 schenck]. Where depression is involved, it has been found that both women and men tend to get more depressed following myocardial infarction [43, 44 schenck]. This increases the risk of a second myocardial infarction. It is important to note regarding depression that more women experience depression than men, and it is therefore a more important risk factor in women. Recent evidence indicates that sleep deprivation and disturbances may be associated with cardiovascular disease, particularly in women [23 stranges]. Three independent studies have indicated an association between increased hypertension and sleep deprivation. This phenomenom occurred only in women [24 26 stranges]. These findings are particularly significant because sleep disturbances and deprivation are more common in women than in men in both developed as well as developing countries [27, 28 stranges] Non-modifiable Genetics. Congenital heart disease is something the individual is born with. However, an individual may also have a genetic predisposition to develop certain cardiovascular problems, as seen through examining family history of heart disease. In the latter, a predisposition does not mean the individual is guaranteed to develop the specific cardiovascular problem they are predisposed to; healthy lifestyle choices such as eating well, not using alcohol to excess, not smoking, and exercising regularly can go a long way toward fighting genetic predisposition. It is interesting to note that simply having a family history of the disease can lead to stress and disruption in mood for some individuals, both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In one study that examined data collected from 60 women and 31 men who averaged 21.4 years of age it was found that a family history impacts stress responsivity, which can contribute to future heightened cardiovascular disease risk [wright]. Menopause poses a risk for coronary heart disease in women because the reduced production of estrogen leads to worsening of coagulation, vasculature, and the lipid profile. Early menopause in particular is a known risk factor; results of a study utilizing the Womens Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) indicate that estrogen deficiency poses a very strong risk factor for coronary heart disease [8, from Rollini] Endothelial dysfunction frequently occurs post-menopause. Its detection can precede more overt diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. One study indicated [13 Rollini] of women without hypertension development of endothelial dysfunction was linked with hypertension. Over the next four years. Another study indicated [14 Rollini] and examining a cohort ofeuglycemic women who were not obese, marked endothelial dysfunction at the baseline was linked with development of diabetes. Also over the next four years. Further, in postmenopausal women with hypertension changes in endothelial function that occur as a result of antihypertensives may be used to identify women who have a better prognosis [15 Rollini]. Metabolic syndrome is a complicated condition that involves hypertension, low HDL levels, elevated LDL levels, abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and elevated triglycerides. Metabolic syndrome has a marked roll in increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly in menopausal women. Further, there is a strong link between metabolic syndrome and depression. Depression is a commonly known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Age. As women advance in age, they are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, and in particular it is more likely that women will have one or more comorbidity associated with cardiovascular disease risk, such as diabetes or obesity. Kidney disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in women more than men. Resting heart rate is an independent risk factor for patients who have known cardiovascular disease as well as for those with acute myocardial infarction [133-135, 136-140]. Women possess a lower resting sympathetic output than do men, but after an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, women have greater sympathe

voltaire :: essays research papers

Voltaire said that â€Å"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him† and I concur. Voltaire was trying to say that civilizations need a â€Å"higher power† to successfully work. Throughout history, every civilization (with the exception of those developed in the twentieth century) has had a god, or gods to explain the wonders of the natural world and provide guidance. From the ancient cultures of the Middle East and Asia to modern day western civilization, gods have played a major role in daily life. Voltaire more than likely knew that a civilization without order and a governing force would most certainly fail. As much as people turn to these gods for direction and explanation, they also turn to those same gods for discipline. What could possibly keep a person form committing wrong more than a person or thing with the capability (or fabled capability) of striking them down where they stand? Gods stand as method of â€Å"keeping people in line† so to speak. I know that as a child in a semi-devout roman catholic family, the â€Å"fear of God† idea may very well have stopped me from performing terrible atrocities (that is, atrocious in the scope of being a small child). No matter what, that â€Å"fear of God† has, and may very well always stand as the one supreme police force in the world. There have even been examples of godless societies throughout this century in literature, and even reality. Orwell’s classic 1949 novel 1984 depicts a twisted dystopia in which the government has eradicated gods and any other non-governmental aspect of life. The book, in one of the many sub-concepts of the work, shows the quality of life of the broken-spirited souls who have nothing to turn to for hope, or an end after the means. Orwell, like many other authors including Aldus Huxley in A Brave New World, shows that a society without god will imminently dissolve to failure.

Dispatches Paper Essay

As I read Dispatches by Michael Herr, there is an overwhelming sense of fear and horror. His dispatches are populated by soldiers called ‘grunts’, whose enemy was everywhere and nowhere. Their maps were blank; their names for the enemy, ‘Charlie’ or ‘VC’, told them nothing. How do you recognize them? They all wear black pajamas; they are all alien to us. They are everywhere. That’s where the paranoia began. Herr’s dispatches are disturbing because he writes from inside the nightmare, with all the tension and terror that turned these young men into killing machines. It is all the more frightening because, emptied of any concerns for justice, or ethics, or solidarity, they opened fire anywhere, everywhere. After all, who could know where or who the enemy was? Herr’s use of brutal imagery absorbed me into his savage surroundings. From the soldier who can’t stop drooling as a result of a particularly dreadful gun battle, to the scenes of the dead, American and Vietnamese, adult and infant, on battlefields and village streets. The characters are real people in a situation that most of them neither like nor understand. They are young men who invoke the same shortcomings we all have. They are professional soldiers and act that way despite their misgivings. They push past the boundaries of fear and into the realms of heroism or insanity or death. Everyone that he introduces is individual. There are no carbon copy soldiers here. They are funny or musical or religious or delusional. I felt as though I was being introduced to people I knew throughout the book. From time off in Saigon and Hong Kong to his time spent in a bunker during the siege of Khe Sanh, Herr covers every aspect of the war. He shows how so many soldiers were so drastically affected by the war. He describes the strange, fearful moments when at night the jungle suddenly goes silent. Herr tells tales of Marines throwing themselves on top of him with incoming fire, people he has only just met minutes or hours before that are risking their lives to protect his. This book is very descriptive and one of the best examples of this is this sentence, â€Å"Every fifth round was a tracer, and when Spooky was working, everything stopped while that solid stream of violent  red poured down out of the black sky.† In this sentence Herr is retelling the feelings felt by everyone as they watched the gunships flying overhead, unleashing the fury of gatling-guns that could fire thousands of rounds per minute. Not only does Herr convey the impact of such a sight; he does it in such a manner that a vivid image is formed in the reader’s mind. One of the more disturbing and insightful quotes in the book comes when a Marine at Khe Sanh learns that his wife is pregnant, but not with his child. Herr retells with this account, â€Å"†Oh don’t worry,† Orrin said. â€Å"There’s gonna be a death in my family. Just soon’s I git home.† And then he laughed. It was a terrible laugh, very quiet and intense, and it was the thing that made everyone who heard it believe Orrin.† This quote shows how badly some soldiers were transformed during the war. A man who used to be very peaceful and calm would now snap at the slightest provocation. He would now plan the death of his wife for cheating on him. With these examples I would definitely say that one of the strengths of this book is its vivid descriptions. The other strength of this book is probably how it covers the emotional and physical aspects of the war. Still it is difficult to reconcile Herr’s disregard for the grunts’ brutality and his apparent admiration that surfaces. Herr feeds on the death and carnage of the battlefield. It is difficult to grudge a person for their attachment to the most exciting times of their life. Herr’s is almost an addiction to the life of the thrill seeker, but as he frequently mentions, unlike the grunts, he could always take the next chopper back to an air-conditioned hotel room in Saigon, or leave altogether. (Not that an air-conditioned room in Saigon would be necessarily safer than Khe Sahn†¦) He describes Vietnam as a jumbled, confused, mess of a living hell. Herr also wrote the narration for â€Å"Apocalypse Now,† so what more do you need to know? It is crucial to understand that this book is not a political or military history of the war. Instead, Herr tried to portray the â€Å"experience† of what it was like to be in Vietnam; you won’t find a handy map and glossary in the back. (If you honestly don’t know what words like di di, zip, grunt, 16, and DMZ mean, I suggest you bone up on your history.) There are two major downfalls to this book: rambling and fiction. His writing style, disjointed and confused, makes the book a little hard to get used to. But when you do get used to it only then can you see that Herr is trying to give the reader an accurate account rather than a moral lecture. In terms of fiction the problem with writers is that they are writers. As such they are basically dishonest. This is not Vietnam as told by a soldier. This is Vietnam as told by a journalist who is â€Å"in-country† to the precise extent he cares to be and hotfoots it out of there when the going gets rough. In the beginning of the book Herr describes the horrors of night patrol by describing his own fear. He then informs the bewildered reader that this is a bit too much for him and therefore takes his journalistic eye somewhere else. The difference between a journalist and a soldier is that the soldier can’t leave when he feels like it and so he doesn’t have the luxury of drama. Unfortunately, most of this book is drama.

Why Americans Vote the way they do.

Why Americans Vote the way they do. The American population defiantly made a huge statement in this year's presidential elections. There are many reasons why the race was so close between Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush. Both candidates appealed to many different groups of people. One great example of why President Bush turned out to be so successful in this year's election can be read in the November 3rd edition of The New York Times. The article "Living Poor, Voting Rich" discusses how the Republican Party has created and maintained a great connection with the American Heartland. They have grabbed the middle-class on issues that rely on strong efficacy, not actual issues that will benefit them. The article discusses how the middle-class is voting for tax-breaks for the rich blindly. The article stated, "They (the Democrats) come across in much of America as arrogant and out of touch the moment the discussion shifts to values."English: Bush in Concord, New Hampshire signing to...This is why Bush has wo n the election, strong personal values. The American population loves this about him, it can be seen as his greatest strength by many, but to many that oppose him see it extremely different, he is forcing his religious beliefs on them. John Kerry clearly stood against this. People saw John Kerry as a flip-flopper because he stated that he has strong beliefs against moral issues, such as abortion, but he believes that being President of the United States involves not letting your personal beliefs effect decisions. Most people did not see it that way. America wants a father figure, a truly stern and "morally sound" leader. To just over half of the population Bush is that leader.The Wilson book has a large section discussing Presidential Character. "Every President brings a distinct personality to the White House." The book discusses several different...

12 Angry Men Essays

12 Angry Men Essays 12 Angry Men Paper 12 Angry Men Paper Essay Topic: 12 Angry Men Play This essay will be discussing the methods used to increase and decrease tension by the playwright Reginald Rose in the play 12 Angry Men. The play takes place on a blazing hot day in the middle of July, and begins as some Jurors enter the jury room to discuss a murder committed by a young man. The jurors begin light conversation as they enter the small, hot and cramped room and find their seats. They begin discussing the murder, and soon it is clear that the majority of the jurors believe the young man to be guilty and that they have no desire to sit and deliberate, they would rather talk about a baseball game, which starts at 7pm that evening. Although they seem keen to dismiss the case with a guilty verdict, Juror 8 stands up and declares that there is room for reasonable doubt. He would like to examine the evidence thoroughly. Eventually this Juror persuades the others that the accused is not guilty. Throughout the play, the playwright uses this conflict to inflame and reduce the tension. Reginald Rose uses a few methods to increase and decrease tension. We can firstly tell by the little things he uses. Some of these consist of the room being cramped and stuffy, the fan not working, and the weather. The different moods of the characters also make tension. Small things like these cut the tension in noticeable ways. The weather changes at one point into lightning, thunder and heavy rain and the fan starting to work. These examples break the tension that has been building in the room. Whilst this is happening the mood of the jurors change too. As we know, this scene is set on a very hot day; coincidentally, we see that there is going to be tension because Juror 7 says, This is the hottest day of the year. To make even more tension, we see that in this tiny room, a juror is sweating and tries to turn on the fan, which doesnt seem to work, making the already blazing hot room even hotter. The atmosphere is unstable because the heat makes the jurors insecure. The hot weather continues to make an impact on the mood. In Act 1, Juror 6 says, What a murderous day, which is commenting on the weather and is a pun on the case itself being about murder. In Act 2 the weather turns bad, the vote is still guilty, so they take another vote. The vote is even: 6-6. At the same time the weather gets cool again and the foreman says Wow! Look at that come down, will ya? Think itll cool things off? Juror 8 replies Yeah, I guess so. This signifies to the audience and the reader that the tension has broken. When the play ends the rain stops and the skies clear showing that the tension has been released and they have succeeded in breaking it. The jury room is set in a random way There is a bathroom which is used to release tension; there are also other objects about the room which are used to increase and decrease tension. For example, the fan only works after the tension is released as the weather becomes cooler and the vote becomes 6-6. This can all reflect the jurors calm. The knife that Juror 8 leaves jammed in the table is a reminder of the tension that has been. It is revealed that the jurors are all different types of people with totally different backgrounds. They are regular Americans, representing different strands of opinion in 1950s America. Tension increases in the play as each characters personality and nature are revealed. However, this brought out the truth everyone as they all displayed their true emotions throughout the play. In conclusion, I think that the author used successful methods to increase and decrease tension. In the first half of the play there is much tension and emotion as the jurors fight and contradict Juror 8. At the beginning of the play, the use of weather increases tension and this breaks when the group votes 6-6. You can see this reflected in the jurors: for example, Juror 3 is dark with rage after he shouts Ill Kill him, Ill Kill him! at the end of Act 1. The jury room also adds to the tension when the guard outside locks the door. A juror says, I never knew they locked the door. This creates a feeing of panic and claustrophobia. Objects in the room itself play their part, such as the water cooler, where jurors go to cool down after an argument. This decreases tension as well. Overall, the playwright is successful in his aim.

The Divine Spark and What It Means to be Human Essay

The Divine Spark and What It Means to be Human - Essay Example Yet, I have to at least try and give an answer. What is "The Divine Spark" The most likely explanation for this, I believe, would be that sudden spark of life. It is that sudden gift of life from the divine creator. In the context of the novel though, I believe that the divine spark is the dawning of a realization for a person. That sudden understanding that whatever it was that he was questioning in the past has, when he least expected it, finally found an answer. The novel posed a serious question before me. After reading the passage in the book where the professor from the University of Virginia discussed his view of a Negro as a man with Chamberlain, I knew that I had a question to ask myself. Chamberlain said: A Negro was not a man Why wasn't he to be considered as such Regardless of race and color, he lived, breathed, and existed in the same space as his landlord. I am of the opinion that this was said because, at the time a Negro was not human because he was unlearned. That was not entirely his fault as it was illegal to teach your slaves to read in some states during that time. There were still some whites during this period that could not read or write yet nobody ever thought that he was less of a man because of his illiteracy. Is being a man based on skin color No. That is shallow and totally unacceptable. To illustrate my point, these days, the Latin Americans living in the USA have taken the place of the Negroes.

Assignment 5.2 Visual Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assignment 5.2 Visual Argument - Essay Example However, the dictionary’s definition gives more details because union is a multi-faceted term. The dictionary adds a few examples too related to different aspects of union. Formation of unions has been a common way to achieve common goals and objectives. Unions provide many considerable benefits to the members. Some of those benefits include achievement of goals, platform for raising voice, better working conditions, and better salary packages. There are different types of unions that serve their respective members. Some common examples of unions include labor unions, trade unions, and political unions. Labor unions are usually formed for getting better salary packages and labor rights. Trade unions are formed for getting better working conditions. On the other hand, political unions are formed for government formation, as well as for getting political benefits during