Judaism and the Jews in New York Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Judaism and the Jews in New York - Term Paper Example American Jews are American citizens having Jewish faith and Jewish ethnicity and whose origin also is from other countries. A wide range of Jewish cultural traditions and a full spectrum of Jewish religious observance are apparent in the Jewish community of America. The Jews of America live overwhelmingly in the suburbs of the largest American cities. The American Jews by every measure constitute to be one of the highest socio economic groups of the United states and they share almost all the characteristics of the upper middle class urban Americans. Depending on demographic studies and religious definitions, the United States is home to the world’s second largest Jewish community. This paper in particular intends to describe Jews in New York and their religion ‘Judaism’. Who is a Jew? The Jews represent a group of people having some unique characteristics rather than a distinct race or ethnic group. Although the Jews originally came from the Middle East, many a n umber of races and people have joined together in Jewish communities over the centuries, especially after Jews were forced out of Palestine in the second century A.D. In America, they engaged in marriages with Christians and formed a mixed community. It is evidently, a common Jewish heritage that passed down from generation to generation that binds the group together. And for the Jews in New York also, the binding element is their religion. Although most often, Judaism is used as a term referring to the Jewish religion, sometimes it is used to refer to all Jews. In other words, one does not have to be religious to be Jewish. In general, one is Jewish if one is born of a Jewish mother or converted to Judaism. Unlike Christians, they are still waiting for the arrival of a Savior who would integrate all the Jews who have been scattered and gone astray. Advent of Jews to America There is no unanimous opinion among the historians as to when the first Jews came to America. Although many b elieve that Jews reached America in the ancient period either when they were attacked by aliens or when they faced persecution from the Christians, no solid evidences are available to prove this argument. As Adler and Huhner point out, still it is believed that the first Jews came to North America in 1654 and settled in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam which was later renamed as New York. Most of those who came were refugees from Recife, a Dutch colony in Brazil. It was when the Portuguese attacked the colony the Jews left Recife and headed to Holland. But as they ran out of money they were forced to settle at the Dutch colony of North America (Adler and Huhner). The newly came people were granted permission to inhabit in the American soil and to practice their religion and customs and this marked the beginning of a new community and religion in the land of America. The migrant Jews assimilated into the culture of Native Americans in all aspects of life. In other words, they had to imbibe the basic characteristics of the American community as forming distinctiveness was not possible challenging the customs of the natives. All together, the modern Jewish culture in America embodies an international culture of secular communities of Jewish people and the indigenous practices of the natives. Jews continued migrating to America on realizing it was a secure place for them. During the middle decades of the 19th century, there were considerable

Leonardo Da Vinci Biography And Artwork Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Leonardo Da Vinci Biography And Artwork - Essay Example c contributions of Davinci; and the image of the angel has evoked controversy with regard to its pose, complexion, and non conventional form (Scaramella). The Baptism of Christ One of the most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa an oil painting painted on a poplar wood. This was created between 1503 and 1519, and is the most parodied piece of art till date. According to critics, Da Vinci kept a long held mystery that loomed over her eyebrows. The image in the painting is believed to be the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. Mona Lisa is painted in a realistic scale. It has a complete volume typically seen in sculpture in the round. The painting is believed to have been created between 1503 and 1506. Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is the earliest Italian portrait to focus so clearly on a passenger in a half-length portrait. Mona Lisa is highly realistic and that is attributed to the technique of sfmuto he used to blend and shade the contours from his light to dark work and to soften the image to make it more lifelike. As Botton points out, Christianity maintained the Aristotle’s concept that ‘miseries of works were an appropriate means of expiating the sins of Adam’; and it was since the advent of Leonardo and Michelangelo that ‘new notes began to be heard’ (106). Mona Lisa Evidently, monalisa as a wonderful work of art has been the topic for reseac over centuries. Although researchers are at odds regarding various aspects of the painting, they all converge at the point that Da Vinci’s art worth great appreciation for ever. Recent studies conducted on the painting have brought out amazing findings about the secrets the painter had employed in the creation of his masterpiece. According to Cotte, the founder of Lumiere Technology... Da Vinci’s relationship with the Roman Catholic Church itself is a topic for debate. Many believe that da Vinci was not a staunch believer of Catholic Church despite the fact that many of his paintings are based on biblical themes. For instance, as Rosci's notes, Leonardo "adopted an empirical approach to every thought, opinion, and action and accepted no truth unless verified or verifiable, whether related to natural phenomena, human behavior, or social activities."And hence, according to this observation, da Vinci did not believe in the Catholic dogma and was an insurgent seeking to over through the false beliefs of the society in which he lived. Evidently, as compared to Michelangelo, da Vinci got only a nominal support from the Catholic Church in his pursuit. In the same way, Leonardo’s relationship with his contemporary Michelangelo also was not very substantial, the reason for which is still not sure. However, he was an exceptional figure in the history that prove d his part in almost all branches of art and science. In total, Leonardo Da Vinci is considered to be an artist, an inventor and an eminent scientist whose ideas were centuries ahead than the time he lived. More than five hundred years Da Vinci’s reputation as a famous painter rested with a number of paintings which is considered to be the ultimate masterpieces in the world. Da Vinci’s exceptional draftsmanship is clear in his larger body of drawings which were later seen in a number of European art works and in art galleries.

Impact of the Chronic Illness in Patients Lives

Impact of the Chronic Illness in Patients Lives Client Focused Study This assignment will focus on the patients journey and the impact of the chronic illness in their lives. Firstly a rationale for the chosen client and the health deviation will be explained. Secondly, how the deviation has an impact on the patients journey throughout the health care will be highlighted and potential influences of on long term well being of the patient and their family will be explored. Finally, the knowledge gained from the assignment and how it can be helpful in the future practice will be addressed. In accordance with the NMC Code of Professional conduct (2010), the patient chosen for this essay will be named Miss X, to protect her identity and maintain confidentiality. Informed consent will be attached as appendix I. Miss X is a 58 year old patient who had been diagnosed 3 years ago with COPD related to Emphysema. She had been smoking for 40 years and gave up smoking 3 months after her initial diagnosis. She has currently been admitted care to specialised Respiratory ward in a local London hospital, following an exacerbation of COPD. Her current symptoms are chest pain and shortness of breath. The rationale for choosing Miss X for this assignment is because during my placement in the respiratory ward, I found the patient having difficulties to perform physical activities due to the breathlessness. As a result, I developed an interest in learning how breathlessness occurs and its affect on the patients daily life. Further rationale of The Nice guidelines for COPD (2010) reported that COPD is the 5th biggest killer in the U.K. and also Worldwide. In addition, evidence reports that the main cause of developing COPD is due to smoking. The national statistics General Lifestyle Survey (2008) reported that at least 21% of the U.Ks population smoke which means COPD will remain to be endemic in this Country. The annual cost of COPD to the NHS is estimated at more than  £980 million and the figures are rising every year. Beraden (2011) reported that incidence of breathlessness in patients with diagnosed COPD is approximately 65% and 90%. These statistics highlights that it is impo rtant to be aware of the health deviation of COPD such as breathlessness in order to ensure the patient receives a quality of life. Evidently, the pathophyisology of breathlessness caused by emphysema is noted to be a physical development of airflow obstruction and impaired gas exchange. Blackler (2007) explains emphysema as a progressive chronic lung disease where the airways are inflamed and the tissue of the lungs and the alveoli are destroyed. The inflammation in the airway obstructs the flow of air in to the alveoli. In addition, the alveoli lose their elasticity and during breathing this loss can lead to the alveoli collapsing and causing breathlessness. The main factor causing these characteristics of Emphysema is Smoking. Mc Cance, (2010) informs that smoking cigarette activates the neutrophils which subsequently release the enzymes protease and anti protease. As a result of the toxins from cigarette smoking, the chemical activity of the protease and anti protease is imbalanced. The author further explains that a balance is required in order to maintain normal lung function and the derangements of this balance may result in increased destruction and inappropriate repair of the lungs. Inappropriate repair of the lungs can lead to the alveoli being eliminated of the pulmonary capillary bed, causing mismatching in ventilation and perfusion. As a result there is less surface area for the gases to exchange causing decrease of the oxygen levels in the blood (Mc Cance, 2010). Thus any mild form of exercise can raise oxygen requirement leaving the patient breathless. This is evident in Miss X whenever she performs any type of physical acti vity. In addition, Damjanov (2006) explains that the destruction in the alveoli and the bronchiole wall also contribute in the reduction of elastic recoil of the airway. This leads to difficulty in expiration as the loss of elastic recoil reduces the volume of air that can be expired . As the air is not effectively exhaled, air trapping occurs causing the chest to expand. Long term air trapping in the lungs causes the chest to have a barrel like appearance. This is because the lungs are over inflated with air and the ribcage mostly remains expanded which gives the chest its barrel shape (Damjanov, 2006). Barrel chest is very noticeable in Miss X. People who smoke do not necessarily develop Emphysema therefore inherited genetics disorders are believed to contribute to the development of this disease. McCance, (2010) explains that emphysema mainly occurs with patients who have Alpha 1- antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD). In A1AD enzymes such as elastase destroys the elastin and the tissue of the airway which again leads to mismatching of perfusion of gas exchange and ventilation. Furthermore, Pryor and Prasad (2009) describes the sensation of breathlessness originates when the sensory system activates within the lungs, chest wall and the respiratory muscles raise awareness of breathing discomfort. However, psychological factors can also be associated with breathlessness. It is regarded as a subjective experience in COPD anxiety act as an trigger when the patient sense discomfort in breathing. Some studies show the following sequence of events; aggravation by anxiety and panic attacks leads to breathlessness and so forth a continuous cycle is created (Robert and Stockley, 2007) The patients journey starts when the patient says so or from diagnosis to the end of life. Three years ago before her diagnosis, Miss X went to see her GP when she started noticing breathlessness whilst performing physical activities. The GP diagnosed Miss X based on her clinical features and other tests; Chest Ct Scan, her Blood test and her spirometry reading which was FEV1/FVC The GP also referred her to Smoking Cessation Clinic along with a prescription of nicotine patches which helped her quit smoking after 5 months of her first screening date. The NICE COPD Guidelines (2010) highlights that Smoking Cessation should be recommended to newly diagnosed patients. As stated by the Department Of Health the government targets to reduce the smoking population further than its current 26%, which was achieved successfully by 2010 (DOH, 2010). Despite the governments efforts, literature reviews shows that not all of the patients fully recover from smoking addiction. The study conducted by Zhou et al (2009) found that out of 2431 patients who managed to quit smoking after Smoking cessation, 80% were reported to relapse after 3 to 18 months. The data may not be reliable enough to completely prove this high number of relapse because not all the subjects observed carried on for the whole duration of the study. Despite the slight drawbacks of the studies, it has helped the government back up for the funding of smoking cessation clinics. Along with the Smoking cessation clinic miss X was also referred to have annual Influenza vaccination, Pneumococcal vaccination and was encouraged to regular exercise. Miss X is also seen by the community Respiratory Nurse specialist and community nurse on a regular basis for medical checkups. Miss X has had few hospital admissions since her diagnosis due to her exacerbation of COPD. On her recent admission she was brought in by an ambulance as she was not able to breathe due to her breathlessness and chest pain. She was immediately admitted to AE where they diagnosed her with exacerbation of COPD. Miss X was assessed and was stabilised by oxygen therapy and nebulisers in AE. She was then transferred to the Respiratory ward for further investigation and treatment. The ward respiratory doctor requested her for chest X-ray, ECG, Arterial Blood Gases test, blood test, urine dipstick test and sputum culture. The investigation confirmed that she had chest infection. Her oxygen saturation was also maintained by oxygen therapy. Miss X was then started on nebulisers, I.V. antibiotics and for a 7 day course she was on oral prednisolone (Steroids). Jong et al (2007) suggest that oral prednisolone is recommended than I.V prednisolone because there was no difference on treatment and helps reduce patient to be prone to infection. During the stay in the ward Miss X was noticed to be underweight and was referred to the dietician who prescribed her to nutritional drinks and given advice on healthy eating. She was also seen by the Physiotherapist for breathing techniques and mobilising with the breathlessness. As Miss X has had few admissions due to her exacerbation she was also referred to pulmonary rehabilitation after her discharge. The NICE (2010) highlighted that pulmonary rehab illation improves the patients quality of life and therefore, any COPD patient of grade 3 on the MRC scale (Medical Research Council) should be referred to the programme after being discharged. Currently the government suggests that the standard population for rehabilitation up take of the programme should be 230 patients per 100,000 of a normal population in a trust per year. This is a very small number of uptakes in relation to the COPD population; such limitation can create restrictions to access the rehabilitation programme. The deviation can have an impact on the long term well being of Miss X and her Family. COPD is a disease that progress over a long time along with severity of its symptoms. ( 20) confirms that COPD over time results in fatigue, depression, anxiety, reduced exercise tolerance and poor nourishment. Firstly, the effort to maintain normal ventilation, all the energy of the patient is consumed causing tiredness and fatigue restricting the patients ability to perform everyday activities. Miss X interprets her breathlessness has restricted her to perform physical activities and therefore retired from her waitress job at the age of 56. This has led to her being financially dependent on her 22 year old son and government disability financial support. She also relies on her son to help her with household chores as she is not able to perform certain activities by herself such as shopping, cleaning, washing, cooking, paying bills etc. Furthermore, Lahaije et al (2010) proved that COPD patients do eliminate their daily activities due to physiological limitation caused by breathlessness. The study was conducted on 21 COPD patients and ten healthy subjects living in Netherlands. The study measured the performance time for daily living activities; where COPD patients were involved less whereas healthy subjects were higher. The study consisted of only 21 COPD patients and 10 healthy subjects which is a very small sample therefore cannot be generalised. However, the study conducted by Szarm (2010) on a survey of 20693 patients residing in England who were aged between 51- 60 year old were reported to also have an impaired work performance due to breathlessness mostly caused by COPD. The finding from Szram (2010) is more reputable than Lahaije et al (2010) with regards to generalising COPD patients limiting breathlessness as the sample size was much larger Miss x also suffered from urinary incontinence. Literature reveals that patients with COPD do suffer from stress incontinence of urine due to increased abdominal pressure whilst coughing (Tozun et al, 2009). However, some authors forget that inability to reach the toilet in time due to breathlessness could be the factor influencing urinary incontinence in COPD patients. Secondly, the disability caused by Miss Xs breathlessness has also had an impact on her psychological state. Numerous studies have proved that the symptoms of COPD can cause patients to be depressed and affect the quality of life. Stage et al (2009) literature review highlights that depression is common in COPD patients and about 40% of the COPD diagnosed suffer from either severe or clinical depression. The literature review also noted that mortality rate was lower in non depressed COPD patient than the depressed. In addition, she feels that she is a burden to her son and feels embarrassed on having sudden panic attacks in public whilst she is out shopping or socialising. Miss X reported that she felt devalued as she experienced being treated differently by others and also feel socially isolated. The qualitative study conducted by Berger et al (2010) confirms that COPD patients do experience stigmatisations which are triggered by self blame related to smoking, being a burden, embarrassment. Stuenkel and Wong (2009) highlight the Goffmans theory of support groups in which the patients shares similar stigma. The support group evidently has helped to feel accepted, gain moral support. The Breathe Easy support group programme Miss X attends every fortnight has helped her to reduce her stigmisation. In light of all this, Miss X does have a positive attitude to cope with her condition. She is aware that her condition is not curable but can be managed if she complies with the treatment. She is adherent to her medication and her treatment plan. Naidoo and Wills (2010) explain that the Health locus of control (HCOL) is divided into two controls; internal where people are in control of their condition and external where people are beyond control of their condition. Miss X falls under the internal HCOL as she controls her condition very well. Lastly, Miss Xs son is very worried about his mother going to have an emergency admission to the hospital again. The patients son is psychologically stressed and fells socially isolated due to financial and household commitments. However, he has been accessing support and advice from the doctors, nurses and special support groups. Moreover, the review of qualitative studies conducted by Spence et al (2008) explored the specific care needed of care givers of patients with COPD. The review confirmed that restricted activities of daily living and emotional distress were identified by the 7 subjects studied. This assignment has helped me to understand the impact COPD has on the patient, family and health care system. The skills and knowledge gained to care for the COPD patient will ensure an evidence based care will be delivered to the patient and the family. In future, whilst nursing a patient with breathlessness I will follow the guidelines as directed by the NICE guidelines as care required. I will also consider the psychological and social state of the patient on planning the care as these are the main aspects of the disease which impact the patients quality of life. To overcome any issues if countered, social issues will be referred to the social services and any psychological issues should be referred to the clinical psychologist. Finally, I have learned that educating patient and the family of services available and the disease itself is the key to aid them cope and comply with the treatment. In conclusion, the assignment overviews a journey of a patient diagnosed with emphysema with the health deviation of breathlessness. The NHS has been providing treatment and therapies to reduce the risk of patients developing emphysema. Literature reviews indicate that breathlessness can contribute to several psychosocial issues in the patients life. Word Count 2499 References List Beraden,K. (2011). Recent advances in the management of breathlessness. Indian Journal Of Palliative Care. 17 (4), 29-32. Szram et al. (2010). Breathlessness and work performance in older adults in Kent. Thorax. 65 (4), 78-79. Stuenkel, D and Wong, V. (2009). Stigma. In: Larsen,P and Lubkin,I Chronic illness: impact and intervention . 7th ed. USA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 57. Jong et al . (2007). Oral or IV Prednisolone in the Treatment of COPD Exacerbations* A Randomized, Controlled, Double-blind Study. American College of Chest Physicians. 132 (1), 1741-1747. Tozun et al. (2009). Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence among Women and Its Impact on Quality of Life in a Semirural Area of Western Turkey. Gynecoloicand Obstetric Investigation . 67 (1), 241-249. Berger et al. (2010). The Experience of Stigma in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Western Journal of Nursing Research. X, 1-17. Spence et al. (2008). Active carers: living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. International Journal of Pallative Nursing. 14 (8), Stage et al. (2006). Depression in COPD- Management and quality of life considerations. International Journal of COPD. 1 (3), 315-320. Department of Health. Consultation on a Strategy for Services for COPD in England. London: Department of Health, 2010. British Thoracic Society. Burden of Lung Disease 2006. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (update). (Clinical guideline 101.) 2010. http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG101. Last Accessed 20/02/2011 Office for National Statistics. (2010). 12. General Lifestyle Survey 2008: Smoking and drinking among adults,. Available: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/GLF08/GLFSmokingDrinkingAmongAdults2008.pdf. Last accessed 20th Feb National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2006). Pulmonary Rehabilitation service for patients with COPD. Available: http://www.nice.org.uk/usingguidance/commissioningguides/pulmonaryrehabilitationserviceforpatientswithcopd/pulmonaryrehabilitationservicecopd.jsp. Last accessed 20th Feb 2011. McCance et al (2010). Pathophysiology, The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. 6th ed. Missouri: ELSEVIER. 1286-1289. Nursing Midwifery Council (2008) The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives NMC, London Blackler et al (2007). Managing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. England: John Wiley and Sons LTD. 1-12. Damanjov Pryor,J and Prasad,S (2008). Physiotherapy for respiratory and cardiac problems:. 4th ed. UK: Elsevier. 227- 228. Mahler,D. (2007). The Physiology of breathelessness. In: Robert,A and Stockley,I Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Oxford: Blackwell Zhou et al . (2009). Attempts to quit smoking and relapse: Factors associated with success or failure from the ATTEMPT cohort study . Addictive Behaviors. 34 (4), 365-373. Naidoo and Wills

Managing the Fire Service Essay example -- Fire Chief, Fire Department

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin Various organizations fail to plan and which in most cases causes unnecessary stress on the entire organization. In order to be successful an organizations must set organizational controls. Organizational controls assist managers in their daily operations. Furthermore, Fire Chiefs must understand the essentials of organizational control. Jones & George (2011) suggested, â€Å"It helps managers obtain superior efficiency, quality, responsiveness to customers, and innovation-the four building blocks of competitive advantage.† (p. 261) In regards to superior efficiency, the Fire Chief and management staff must evaluate the organization as a whole. In other words, ensuring that the department is equipped with the best resources i.e. equipment, protective clothing, and fire stations. Secondly, the quality of service provided to the community. In essence, the fire department is look upon to respond wh en a crisis happens. However, with operating budgets being reduced this concept is affecting the overall responsiveness to customers. For instance, many fire departments are struggling to maintain there quality service. Another example, city mangers are instructing the Fire Chief to continue to operate with less money. However, city managers do not realize that restricting the budget they are reducing the standard that the community is use. Every year in October fire departments nation wide are required to conduct a Fire Prevention Month. During this time, the Firefighters promote fire safety education. Consequently, fire departments are being forces to limit education efforts. In fact, various departments are reducing the month to a week because of budget ... ... differentiating that employees have different motivations. On the other hand, I have learned different concepts such as SWOT to name a few. My leadership style has evolved through out my career. Every year I have grown in my leadership ability. For instance, communication even when it is not popular has served me well personally and professionally. Through the years, I have learned from supervisors good and bad traits that have molded me into the Fire Chief I am. Works Cited Beck, Klaus, (n.d.) Organizational Learning, Retrieved February 06, 2011 from http://www.sfb504.uni-mannheim.de/glossary/orglearn.htm Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. (2011). Essentials of contemporary management (4th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Smith, M. K. (2001) 'The learning organization', the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/biblio/learning-organization.htm. Managing the Fire Service Essay example -- Fire Chief, Fire Department "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin Various organizations fail to plan and which in most cases causes unnecessary stress on the entire organization. In order to be successful an organizations must set organizational controls. Organizational controls assist managers in their daily operations. Furthermore, Fire Chiefs must understand the essentials of organizational control. Jones & George (2011) suggested, â€Å"It helps managers obtain superior efficiency, quality, responsiveness to customers, and innovation-the four building blocks of competitive advantage.† (p. 261) In regards to superior efficiency, the Fire Chief and management staff must evaluate the organization as a whole. In other words, ensuring that the department is equipped with the best resources i.e. equipment, protective clothing, and fire stations. Secondly, the quality of service provided to the community. In essence, the fire department is look upon to respond wh en a crisis happens. However, with operating budgets being reduced this concept is affecting the overall responsiveness to customers. For instance, many fire departments are struggling to maintain there quality service. Another example, city mangers are instructing the Fire Chief to continue to operate with less money. However, city managers do not realize that restricting the budget they are reducing the standard that the community is use. Every year in October fire departments nation wide are required to conduct a Fire Prevention Month. During this time, the Firefighters promote fire safety education. Consequently, fire departments are being forces to limit education efforts. In fact, various departments are reducing the month to a week because of budget ... ... differentiating that employees have different motivations. On the other hand, I have learned different concepts such as SWOT to name a few. My leadership style has evolved through out my career. Every year I have grown in my leadership ability. For instance, communication even when it is not popular has served me well personally and professionally. Through the years, I have learned from supervisors good and bad traits that have molded me into the Fire Chief I am. Works Cited Beck, Klaus, (n.d.) Organizational Learning, Retrieved February 06, 2011 from http://www.sfb504.uni-mannheim.de/glossary/orglearn.htm Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. (2011). Essentials of contemporary management (4th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Smith, M. K. (2001) 'The learning organization', the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/biblio/learning-organization.htm.

Love at First Sight- Personal Narrative

A moment in time where two people feel a powerful connection towards one another is classified as â€Å"Love at First Sight. † To most, love at first sight is true and can happen to anybody, however, to others, it is just a myth and can be simplified as a problem that can be solved through science or a belief they have. I myself did believe in this theory, but with time I began to understand that it could have easily just have been a sham. But then again, it also could have just been â€Å"Teen Love. † As I grew up, I would spend a great amount of time watching television.Normally, you’d expect a child to grow up watching cartoons and progressing from that point, but I had preferred to watch a teenage or adult program. Within these programs, I had noticed that there were many cases in which two people, whether it’d be boy to boy, girl to boy, or girl to girl, caught eyes for the very first moment in time and they went through a series of twist and turns un til the end where they finally end up happily together with a strong and powerful bond. Just about a year ago, I met the love of my teenage life.His name was Alec and he was a very handsome and interesting young man. The first time I met him was an unforgettable moment. I was with my friends at the movies and we were just standing there ordering our tickets to The Uninvited, when I feel a smack from behind me. â€Å"Sorry,† he said. I looked at him and had a sudden moment of silence. He spoke again, â€Å"Can I buy your ticket? † â€Å"No, that’s okay. † I told him. â€Å"Well can I at least get you some popcorn or something? † I laughed, â€Å"I really don’t like popcorn, but you can get me a slushy? He laughed, â€Å"Okay, just as long as you let me join you and your friends,† he paused for a minute, â€Å"if you don’t mind of course. † â€Å"We would not mind at all,† I said as I tried to hold back the biggest smile ready to come out. We stood there for a while, just looking at each other and smiling. â€Å"Well after you †¦ What was your name again? † he said with a smile. By the end of the movie, I was able to truthfully say that that was the greatest event of my life. â€Å"So, can I have you number? † he continued, â€Å"You know, to call you later tonight. † I gave him a big smile and said, â€Å"Yeah, totally! After I gave him my number get gave me a hug and said, â€Å"It was really great meeting you here. I’m glad I smacked you. † We both laughed as we said our goodbyes. It had been six months that we’ve gone out and I couldn’t help but think we might end up having the relationship just like the program’s I’ve seen on the television. Then I noticed a sudden change of affection. It wasn’t a bad affection as to where he ignored me and tried to avoid talking to me, but it was the affection in where he wouldn ’t leave me out of his sight as if he were hiding something and the guilt was caving in.After my birthday, he invited me to spend the night at his house because his parents wanted to have a special birthday dinner just for me. I was really excited, I didn’t know that him, or his parents would go through the trouble of doing this for me. As soon as dinner was over, Alec took me to his room and sat me on his bed. He gave me the plan on what we were going to do for the rest of the night. I was very excited on what he had planned. â€Å"But there’s one thing I need tell you,† there was a long pause. â€Å"What is it? † I replied. â€Å"I just wanted to let you know that I really do love you.And I hope our relationship is strong enough to withhold anything. † he said with a shaky voice. Many things were popping in and out of my head after he had said that. â€Å"I did cheat on you, this one time and it was never meant it to happen. † When he finished his sentence, I was in complete shock. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to stay there and let out all my feelings at him. So I went with his sister and told her everything. I practically dumped out all my feelings and confusion into our conversation. It was the most horrible day I had ever experienced.On the very first day I was with Alec, I did think it was love at first sight. No matter how much I would like to experience that moment again, I know that I will never trust that feeling again. I now know that â€Å"Love at First Sight,† is just a belief system to where people want something to fall back on or some romantic story they want to tell their children. Whether it was â€Å"Teen Love† or â€Å"Love at First Sight,† that one little spark, that determines your affection towards one another, will never return due to the experience that I went through.

The effect of temperature on respiration

Every living thing respires in some way. There are two forms of respiration, aerobic and anaerobic. Areobic respiration only takes place in the presence of oxygen and is a far more efficient way for complexed organisms to convert carbohydrates into energy. There are four stages in aerobic respiration, Glycolysis, the link reaction, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Anaerobic respiration is far less efficient than aerobic, but can produce low yields of energy quickly. T6he overall equation for respiration is; C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy A respiratory quotient (RQ) is used to show what substrate is being used in respiration, it can also show if anaerobic respiration is occurring. The following equations can be used to calculate RQ: RQ = Volume of carbon dioxide given out in unit of time Volume of oxygen taken in unit of time Or RQ = moles or molecules of carbon dioxide given out Moles or molecules of oxygen taken in Prediction I predict that an increase in temperature will increase the respiration rate. The increase will only take place until a certain temperature is reached, the respiration rate will then start to decrease after that temperature. I think that the respiration rate will start to decrease after 50 C. This is because as the temperature increases, the enzymes and substrate molecules involved in respiration will gain more activation energy. This means that the enzymes and substrate are more likely to collide, and a reaction to take place. I think that respiration will reach its optimum rate at about 40 C, this is because enzymes work best at about this temperature, that is only providing that another factor, such as oxygen available, does not become a limiting factor. Preliminary work To test the effects of temperature on respiration a respirometer wil be used. A respirometer consists of two test tubes, an experimental test tube and a control tube, and a capillary U-tube. The experimental tube contains soda-lime solution with a wire gauze platform over it, with non-vertebrates in it. The control tube also contains soda-lime, with a wire gauze above it, with glass beads in it. Both tubes are sealed and attached to the u-tubing containing manometer fluid. A respirometer is suitable for measuring the rate of oxygen consumption of small terrestrial invertebrates. The Carbon dioxide produced in respiration is absorbed by a suitable chemical such as soda-lime or Potassium Hydroxide solution. The amount of oxygen used can be measured by reading the level of manometer fluid against the scale. Using a water bath alters the temperature. We did a test run using this equipment; germinating peas were used instead of small invertebrates. Only one test was completed, this was at room temperature no repeats were made. This was due to time restrictions. This test run taught us how to set up the equipment. We compared our results gained to reference book values and decided that they were reasonably reliable. Variables: * The surrounding atmospheric temperature of the water bath must remain constant to prevent anomalous results being obtained. * The atmospheric pressure must remain constant; this is ok because the experiment will take place in the same room all of the time. * A control tube is used to compensate in small changes in atmospheric pressure. * The same volume and concentration of NaOH must be used in every experiment; this is to prevent more or less CO2 being absorbed. * The mass of the invertebrates and the number of invertebrates must remain constant to prevent differences in respiration rates occurring. Five different temperature inputs will be used, these temperatures will be 10 C, 20 C, 30 C, 40 C and 50 C. These temperatures provide a good range for which varying respiration rates can occur. The enzymes involved in respiration will be working very slowly at both 10 C and 50 C. The optimal temperature for respiration can also be found using these temperatures. These changes in temperature will not do any harm to the invertebrates, by over heating them. Each test will be repeated three times to gain an average result and to remove any anomalous results as far as possible. Apparatus * Two large test tubes * Sodium Hydroxide solution * Two test tube bungs, with two holes in each * 4 capillary tubes * 1 capillary u-tube containing manometer fluid * 1Cm syringe * 8 maggots * Glass beads * 2 small pieces of wire gauze * 1 screw clip * 1 three way tap * Stopwatch Method 1. Set up the equipment as shown in the diagram above 2. Using the syringe, adjust the level of manometer fluid in the u-tubing to ensure that it is the same level at both sides 3. Seal the screw clip and record the level of manometer fluid every two minutes, over a period of 10 minutes. 4. repeat step 3 for the temperatures of 10 C, 20 C(room temperature), 30 C, 40 C and 50 C. These temperatures can be reached by using either a water bath or crushed ice 5. Each test must be repeated 3 times. 6. Record each result in a table and work out the average. Use the results to calculate the RQ values. Risk Assessment * The NaOH is corrosive, so it must be kept away from the invertebrates. Saftey goggles and a lab coat must be worn to protect eyes and clothes from NaOH. * Living creatures must be treated with respect * Any spillages must be mopped up immediately to prevent accidents occurring.

Poison Dart Frog Facts

Poison Dart Frog Facts Poison dart frogs are small tropical frogs in the family Dendrobatidae. These brightly colored frogs secrete mucous that packs a powerful poisonous punch, while other members of the family camouflage themselves against their surroundings and are nontoxic. Fast Facts: Poison Dart Frog Scientific Name: Family Dendrobatidae (e.g., Phyllobates terribilis)Common Names: Poison dart frog, poison arrow frog, poison frog, dendrobatidBasic Animal Group: AmphibianSize: 0.5-2.5 inchesWeight: 1 ounceLifespan: 1-3 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Tropical forests of Central and South AmericaPopulation: Stable or decreasing, depending on speciesConservation Status: Least Concern to Critically Endangered Species There are over 170 species and 13 genera of poison dart frogs. Although collectively known as poison dart frogs, only four species in the genus Phyllobates were documented as used to poison blowdart tips. Some species are nonpoisonous. Description Most poison dart frogs are brightly colored to warn potential predators of their toxicity. However, nontoxic poison dart frogs are cryptically colored so that they can blend in with their surroundings. Adult frogs are small, ranging from half an inch to just under two and a half inches in length. On average, adults weigh one ounce. Habitat and Distribution Poison dart frogs live in the tropical and subtropical rainforests and wetlands of Central and South America. They are found in Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Suriname, French Guiana, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, and Brazil. The frogs have been introduced into Hawaii. Diet and Behavior Tadpoles are omnivorous. They feed on debris, dead insects, insect larvae, and algae. Some species eat other tadpoles. Adults use their sticky tongues to capture, ants, termites, and other small invertebrates. Poison Dart Frog Toxicity The frogs poison comes from its diet. Specifically, alkaloids from arthropods accumulate and are secreted through the frogs skin. The toxins vary in potency. The most toxic poison dart frog is the golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis). Each frog contains about one milligram of the poison batrachotoxin, which is sufficient to kill between 10 and 20 people or 10,000 mice. Batrachotoxin prevents nerve impulses from transmitting the signal to relax muscles, causing heart failure. There are no antidotes for poison dart frog exposure. Theoretically, death would occur within three minutes, however, there are no published reports of human deaths from poison dart frog poisoning. The frog has special sodium channels, so it is immune to its own poison. Some predators have developed immunity to the toxin, including the snake Erythrolamprus epinephalus. The golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is the most poisonous poison dart frog. Paul Starosta, Getty Images Reproduction and Offspring If the climate is sufficiently wet and warm, poison dart frogs breed year-round. In other areas, breeding is triggered by rainfall. After courtship, the female lays between one and 40 eggs, which are fertilized by the male. Usually both the male and the female guard the eggs until they hatch. Hatching depends on species and temperature, but usually takes between 10 and 18 days. Then, the hatchlings climb onto their parents backs, where they are carried to a nursery. The nursery is a small pool of water between the leaves of bromeliads or other epiphytes. The mother supplements the nutrients of the water by laying unfertilized eggs into it. The tadpoles complete the metamorphosis into adult frogs after several months. In the wild, poison dart frogs live from 1 to 3 years. They may live 10 years in captivity, although the tri-colored poison frog may live 25 years. After the eggs hatch, poison dart frogs carry the tadpoles to a nursery formed by water in bromeliad leaves. kikkerdirk, Getty Images Conservation Status The poison dart frog conservation status varies widely, depending on the species. Some species, such as the dyeing poison frog (Dendobates tinctorius) are classified by the IUCN as least concern and enjoy a stable population. Others, such as Summers poison frog (Ranitomeya summersi), are endangered and decreasing in numbers. Still other species have gone extinct or have yet to be discovered. Threats The frogs face three major threats: habitat loss, collection for the pet trade, and death from the fungal disease chytridiomycosis. Zoos that keep poison dart frogs often treat them with an antifungal agent to control the disease. Poison Dart Frogs and Humans Poison dart frogs are popular pets. They require high humidity and controlled temperatures. Even when their diet is changed, wild-caught poisonous frogs retain their toxicity for some time (potentially years) and should be handled with care. Captive-bred frogs become poisonous if fed an alkaloid-containing diet. The toxic alkaloids from some species may have medicinal value. For example, the compound epibatidine from Epipedobates tricolor skin is a painkiller that is 200 times more powerful than morphine. Other alkaloids show promise as appetite suppressants, heart stimulants, and muscle relaxants. Sources Daszak, P.; Berger, L.; Cunningham, A.A.; Hyatt, A.D.; Green, D.E.; Speare, R. Emerging infectious diseases and amphibian population declines. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 5 (6): 735–48, 1999. doi:10.3201/eid0506.990601La Marca, Enrique and Claudia Azevedo-Ramos. Dendrobates leucomelas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T55191A11255828. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T55191A11255828.enSpeed, I; M. A. Brockhurst; G. D. Ruxton. The dual benefits of aposematism: Predator avoidance and enhanced resource collection. Evolution. 64 (6): 1622–1633, 2010. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00931.xStefan, LÃ ¶tters; Jungfer, Karl-Heinz; Henkel, Friedrich Wilhelm; Schmidt, Wolfgang. Poison Frogs: Biology, Species, Captive Husbandry. Serpents Tale. pp. 110–136, 2007. ISBN 978-3-930612-62-8.