Friday, October 25, 2019
Adolescent Suicide Essay -- Death Depression Papers
Adolescent Suicide Joseph Connelly Gazzola used to be a Northeastern University football star. He has since taken his own life, and it has hit everyone he knew very hard. As reported in the Boston Globe, ââ¬Å"Mr. Gazzola, known as Joe, was born and raised in North Attleborough, showing a love of football and a tolerance of all types of people. ââ¬ËHe didn't care much about differences,ââ¬â¢ said his father. ââ¬ËHe could relate to anyone. He was the kind of kid who could walk with princes and paupers and never see a difference.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ Gazzola is not alone. There have been a numerous suicides on college campuses as well as among teens in the same age bracke. It is a real proble and it is time to take note. On October 7, 1999, a student at Ramapo College killed himself reportedly due to a break up with his girlfriend, similar to what allegedly caused the fourth NYU student, Diana Chein, 19, to commit suicide by jumping from the top of her boyfriendââ¬â¢s apartment building after a break up on March 10, 2004. The cycle of depression and self destruction is apparent in all cases. There have been many instances of suicide that have occurred in the past years at universities across the country, and since it is such a sensitive subject, there have not been nearly enough coverage as this topic deserves, considering this issue does not seem to be going away. When collecting data about suicide statistics, the age range is broken down as people ages 15-24, which spans most developmental years. Within this bracket are college-age students and this age-group has by far the most troubling statistics around it. In a study released by Brown University, their psychology department shed some light on common myths and facts surrounded suicide. These m... ...s there is a higher awareness level,â⬠said Hayes. ââ¬Å"There are still far too many suicides but now they are much better prepared.â⬠When Gazzola died at NU, the counseling center team dealt with Gazzolaââ¬â¢s teammates, roommates, and friends who were left bewildered at this misfortune. Also, with Northeasternââ¬â¢s less than perfect record this academic year, the unfortunate deaths of James Grabowski during the Super Bowl riots (although he wasnââ¬â¢t an NU student, his brother is), and Walter Dedrick found dead in his apartment, (still unexplainable) for example are just a few disasters that demonstrate just how real the problems are and that something needs to be done. It is time for everyone to step up and pay attention to the people around you. Some may not even realize they have a problem, but you can end up making all the difference to a friend in need if you are aware. Adolescent Suicide Essay -- Death Depression Papers Adolescent Suicide Joseph Connelly Gazzola used to be a Northeastern University football star. He has since taken his own life, and it has hit everyone he knew very hard. As reported in the Boston Globe, ââ¬Å"Mr. Gazzola, known as Joe, was born and raised in North Attleborough, showing a love of football and a tolerance of all types of people. ââ¬ËHe didn't care much about differences,ââ¬â¢ said his father. ââ¬ËHe could relate to anyone. He was the kind of kid who could walk with princes and paupers and never see a difference.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ Gazzola is not alone. There have been a numerous suicides on college campuses as well as among teens in the same age bracke. It is a real proble and it is time to take note. On October 7, 1999, a student at Ramapo College killed himself reportedly due to a break up with his girlfriend, similar to what allegedly caused the fourth NYU student, Diana Chein, 19, to commit suicide by jumping from the top of her boyfriendââ¬â¢s apartment building after a break up on March 10, 2004. The cycle of depression and self destruction is apparent in all cases. There have been many instances of suicide that have occurred in the past years at universities across the country, and since it is such a sensitive subject, there have not been nearly enough coverage as this topic deserves, considering this issue does not seem to be going away. When collecting data about suicide statistics, the age range is broken down as people ages 15-24, which spans most developmental years. Within this bracket are college-age students and this age-group has by far the most troubling statistics around it. In a study released by Brown University, their psychology department shed some light on common myths and facts surrounded suicide. These m... ...s there is a higher awareness level,â⬠said Hayes. ââ¬Å"There are still far too many suicides but now they are much better prepared.â⬠When Gazzola died at NU, the counseling center team dealt with Gazzolaââ¬â¢s teammates, roommates, and friends who were left bewildered at this misfortune. Also, with Northeasternââ¬â¢s less than perfect record this academic year, the unfortunate deaths of James Grabowski during the Super Bowl riots (although he wasnââ¬â¢t an NU student, his brother is), and Walter Dedrick found dead in his apartment, (still unexplainable) for example are just a few disasters that demonstrate just how real the problems are and that something needs to be done. It is time for everyone to step up and pay attention to the people around you. Some may not even realize they have a problem, but you can end up making all the difference to a friend in need if you are aware.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
How to Become a Professional Nurse Essay
Becoming a professional nurse, a nurse must self-regulation with knowledge to practice standards and code of ethics. One of the first stepping stone is reflecting in journal of experiential learning. ââ¬Å"Knowledge of yourself is gained from reflecting on your experienceâ⬠(Cooper, 2001, p. 22). In the course Development of self as nurse I have learned how to be a professional nurse practicing the standards and code of ethics in a working environment. Also how the tools of communication is affective towards patients. When walking into a patientââ¬â¢s room for the first time, a Nurse is expected to examine the patients view and to provide the best quality of care. Personally I found the lesson Way of Knowing most engaging to learn because it teaches a nurse student how to approach the patient and communicate with them. There are many different types of ways of knowing which are empirical, ethical, aesthetical, personal and emancipatory. I found this topic most interesting because each one creates the principle and foundation of patient care. During one of the group activities we read a case study of a patientââ¬â¢s chart and discussed her condition and how we would approach and make a connection to her. This made me feel engaged to the subject as if I was standing next to the patientââ¬â¢s bed. Professionalism is one of many characteristic of being a nurse, with a responsibility of their actions, attitude and display the code of conduct to provide the best practice. How the media views affect nurses image has a negative impact on the professionalism aspect of nursing. In this activity we pulled pictures off of the internet of nurses and most were Halloween costumes or cartoons and we discussed how this affects the perspective of professional nurse. I found this most engaging because all the images of nurses on the internet are not what nurses thrive for in a professional view. A professional nurse is responsible for self regulation and to follow the code of ethics, this topic I was least engaged. Reading history of nursing creates an understanding of the past to enhance the present and is the foundation of structure with economics, consumer demand, family structure, science and technology, demography and the women movement. Without an activity and just reading about history of nursing I was least engaged with this topic. The most important lesson I have learned in Development of Self as Nurse is human relationships regarding the tools of communication and ethic, values regarding beliefs, attitude and spirit. Verbal, nonverbal, electronical, interpersonal, and therapeutic are tools of communication. I believe these two concepts are important to my personal development as a professional nurse by understanding the principle of providing proper socialisation processes which starts by approaching, communicating and connecting to a patient creating a positive patient-centered environment. ââ¬Å"Sometimes a patient will tell us something over a cup of tea that may seem trivial, but that we can use to help make their stay more comfortable. â⬠says Julie Thompson, Head Nurse of Burton Hospital. ââ¬Å"Relative feedback that suggested nurses over look the little things that can make a huge difference. The Initiatives are small, but they are having a big impact. â⬠Finding time to sit down with a patient and talk breaks down the barrier between the professional and patient enables real dialogue to take place (Friend, B. , 2013). In order to understand others beliefs, morals and values a professional nursing must have knowledge of one self. ââ¬Å"Therefore, understanding oneself results in ethical practice. Applying this practice when a patient is uncertain about their values by helping them clarify their values by listing alternative, examine possible consequences of choice, choose freely and feels good about the choice. Kozier et al (2010), p. 75 Various forms of communication are practiced by having knowledge of interpersonal skills and professional communication. Using the tools of communication influences effective communication skills, a professional attitude, respect and dignity. Expectations and issues can become present when communicating with patients or other health care professionals. I am wondering how to overcome situations where an issue has occurred during communication with a patient and how to practice standard procedures to solve the issues, different influences including gender, culture, and illness. Nonverbal communication can be expressed such as a gesture or touch and is crucial to nurse-patient relationship. This often shows how a person is feeling then what is actually said. ââ¬Å"Research shows that touch is the best way to comfort, generally from the shoulder down to the hand is the only acceptable areas for touch professionally. â⬠Chillot, R. (2013). Many facts influence effective communication and I question how to apply and gain effective interpersonal skills? Having knowledge of critical thinking is very important in the role of nursing which identifies awareness of personal thinking skills and styles. Always asking yourself in any situation or scenario why? What else? And what if? This leads me to question how to apply critical thinking from the classroom to practice. Turning errors into learning opportunities is the key to skill development in critical thinking. Throughout the course Development of self as nurse I believe it has taught me how to figure out my own morals, values and beliefs and to successes in helping others to find theirs. Tools of communication open up a range of affective nurse-patient relationship and professional environment.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
The Roles of Queens, Drones and Worker Honey Bees
The Roles of Queens, Drones and Worker Honey Bees Honey bees are social creatures that enlist a caste system to accomplish the tasks that ensure the survival of the colony. Thousands of worker bees, all sterile females, assume responsibility for feeding, cleaning, nursing, and defending the group. Male drones live to mate with the queen, who is the only fertile female in the colony.à The Queen The queen bee is the dominant,à adult female bee that is the mother of most, if not all the bees in the hive. A future queen bees larva is selected by worker bees to be nourished with a protein-rich secretion known as royalà jelly so that it can sexually mature.à A newly hatched queen begins her life in a duel to the death with any other queens present in the colony and must destroy potential rivals that have not yet hatched. Once she accomplishes this, she takes her virgin mating flight. Throughout her life, she lays eggs and secretes a pheromone that keeps all other females in the colony sterile. Drones A drone is a male bee that is the product of an unfertilized egg. Drones have bigger eyes and lack stingers. They cannot help defend the hive and theyà do not have the body parts to collect pollen or nectar, so they cannot contribute to feeding the community. The drones only job is to mate with the queen. Mating occurs in flight, which accounts for the need of the drones for better vision, which is provided by their large eyes. Should a drone succeed in mating, he soon dies because the penis and associated abdominal tissues are ripped from the drones body after sexual intercourse. In the fall in areas with colder winters, worker bees mind the food stores and prevent drones from entering the hive since they are no longer needed, effectively starving them to death. Workers Worker bees are female. They accomplish every chore unrelated to reproduction, which is left up to the queen bee. In their first days, workers tend to the queen. For the remainder of their short lives (just a single month), workers keep busy. Newly hatched worker bees are larvae, unable to feed themselves. Worker bees feed their larvae a liquid called worker jelly, and they eat as many as 800 times a day to build up fat stores. After eight or nine days, larval worker bees spin cocoons and enter the pupal stage. Three weeks later, fully-formed worker bees chew through their cocoons; just a few hours later theyre ready to go to work. There are many jobs for workers to do, such as preservingà honey, feeding drones, building the honeycomb, storing pollen, removing the dead, foraging for food and nectar, carrying in water, fanning the hive to maintain the proper temperature, and guarding the hive against invaders such as wasps. Worker bees also make the decision, when necessary, to relocate the colony in a swarmà and then rebuild the new nest. Maintaining proper temperature for the hive is crucial for the survival of the eggs and larvae. The brood chamber for the bees young must remain at a steady temperature to incubate the eggs. If it is too hot, the workers collect water and deposit it around the hive, then fan the air with their wings causing cooling by evaporation. If it is too cold, the worker bees cluster to generate body heat.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Why Homeschooling Is on the Rise
Why Homeschooling Is on the Rise Homeschooling is an educational choice surrounded by many myths and misconceptions. Even though this method continues to provide high national test scores and well-rounded, diversely educated children, many people still do not see the virtue of the choice. They often have preconceived notions about what goes on in homeschooling. History and Background of Homeschooling Homeschooling is defined as instruction in an educational program outside of established schools. Homeschoolingà dates back to the 1960s with a counter-culture movement that soon fizzled out. The movement was rekindled in the 1970s after the Supreme Court upheld the decision that removing school prayer was not unconstitutional. This decision sparked the Christian movement to homeschool although, at the time, it was illegal in 45 states. Laws slowly changed, and by 1993 homeschooling was recognized as a parentââ¬â¢s right in all 50 states. (Neal, 2006) As people continue to see the benefits, the numbers continue to grow. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Education reported that the number of homeschooling students had climbed from 850,000 in 1999 to 1.1 million in 2003. (Fagan, 2007) Reasons People Homeschool As a homeschooling mother of two I am frequently asked why I homeschool. I believe that Mariette Ulrich (2008) best summed up the reasons why people homeschool when she said: I prefer to make those [educational] choices myself. Not because I think I know ââ¬Ëbetterââ¬â¢ than all those professional educators, but I do think I know my own children best, and consequently which programs and methods would benefit them. Homeschooling is not about rejecting other people and things; itââ¬â¢s about making personal and positive choices for your own family. (1) While statistics do not show that violence is on the rise, it is hard to ignore stories in the news relating violent school events on a regular basis. Because of these perceptions of school violence, it isnââ¬â¢t difficult to understand why some parents want to educate their children at home. However, this is sometimes viewed as an attempt to shelter their children. Homeschoolers understand that sheltering their children would not do any good. They will still be exposed to the violence in the world through other mediums. Nevertheless, homeschooling does help to keep them safe by keeping them away from the current trend of school violence. While school violence is now a leading factor in many parentsââ¬â¢ decisions there are many different reasons for choosing to homeschool. The statistics state that: 31.2 percent of home-schooling parents say that ââ¬Å"concern about the environment of other schoolsâ⬠was their primary reason for home instruction16.5 percent stated ââ¬Å"dissatisfaction with the academic instruction in other schoolsâ⬠29.8 percent said ââ¬Å"to provide religious or moral instructionâ⬠6.5 percent was ââ¬Å"because the child has a physical or mental health problemâ⬠7.2 percent said ââ¬Å"because the child has other special needsâ⬠8.8 percent gave ââ¬Å"other reasonsâ⬠(Fagan, 2007). For my family it was a combination of the first three reasons- academic dissatisfaction being top- along with specific incidents that led us to decide to homeschool. How Homeschooled Students Perform Academically People might have their own preconceived ideas about who exactly homeschools. Homeschoolers initially consisted of white, middle-class, and/or religious fundamentalist families, but is no longer limited to this group. (Greene Greene, 2007) In fact, the number of African American homeschoolers has steadily grown in recent years.à (Black, 2006,) You can understand why when looking at national statistics. A significant discovery in the study Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across America stated that there was no difference in homeschooling scores based on the studentââ¬â¢s race, and that scores for both minority and white students in grades k-12 averaged in the 87th percentile. (Klicka, 2006) This statistic is in sharp contrast to the public school systems where 8th grade white students score in th e 57th percentile on average, while blacks and Hispanic students score in the 28th percentile in reading alone. (Klicka, 2006) Statistics do not speak favorably only about minorities but all students who homeschool, regardless of their demographics. The study ââ¬Å"Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across Americaâ⬠completed in 1997, included 5,402 students that homeschool. The study verified that on average, homeschoolers were performing higher than their public school equivalent ââ¬Å"by 30 to 37 percentile points in all subjects.â⬠(Klicka, 2006) This seems to be the case in all studies performed on homeschoolers; however, due to the lack of standard test practices in each state and no unbiased collection of these scores, it is hard to determine the exact average score for homeschooling families. In addition to flourishing standardized test scores, many homeschool students also have the benefit of fulfilling graduation requirements and going to college earlier. This is attributed to flexible nature of homeschooling.à (Neal, 2006) Studies have also been made to compare homeschool and public school settings in cases of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. The studies showed that homeschooling parents provided educational settings yielding more ââ¬Å"academic engaged time (AET)â⬠in comparison to the public school settings, making homeschooling more beneficial for the childââ¬â¢s development and learning. (Duvall, 2004) Due to this increase in academic performance it is no wonder that colleges are attempting to recruit more homeschoolers because of their high test scores coupled with their self-discipline for completing work. In an article sent around to college personnel about the benefits of making special efforts to recruit homeschoolers Greene and Green say, ââ¬Å"We believe that the homeschool population represents fertile ground for college enrollment efforts, consisting as it does of many bright students with a wide array of educational, personal, and family experiences.â⬠à Homeschool Teacher Qualifications Beyond the statistics, when someone talks about homeschooling, usually two points come up. The first is whether the parent is qualified to teach their child, and the second and possibly biggest question asked ofà homeschoolers everywhere is about socialization. Qualification is a big concern because opponents of homeschooling believe that parents do not have the ability to teach children like a certified teacher does. I do agree that teachers have accreditation beyond what typical homeschooling parents do, but I also believe that parents have the ability to teach a child any class that they would need, especially in the elementary years. Children have an ability in homeschool that is not available to them in a traditional classroom. If a student has a question in class, it might not be the appropriate time to ask the question, or the teacher might be too busy to answer. However, in homeschool if a child has a question, time can be taken to answer the question or look up the answer if it is unknown. No one all of the answers, not even teachers; after all they are human as well. Dave Arnold of the National Education Association (NEA) stated, ââ¬Å"You would think that they might leave this- the shaping of their childrenââ¬â¢s minds, careers, and futures- to trained professionals.â⬠(Arnold, 2008) Why would it make more sense to leave these important factors in a childââ¬â¢s life to a person who with be with him for only a year? Why leave those factors to someoneà who does not have time to develop the childââ¬â¢s strengths and weaknesses and provide one-on-one time with him? After all even Albert Einstein was homeschooled. However, there are resources for parents who arenââ¬â¢t confident about teaching higher level classes. Some options include: online or correspondence coursesco-opscommunity college classes (Fagan, 2007) With these classes- usually utilized in math or science but available in all subjects- students have the benefit of a teacher knowledgeable in the subject. Tutoring and access to the teacher for specific help are usually available.à While I do disagree with the statement that parents are not qualified to teach their children, I believe that there should be end of year testing. This requirement is on a state to state guideline, and I believe that it should be made mandatory so that a parent can prove that homeschooling is effective for her child. If public school children are required to take these tests, then so should homeschoolers. Virginia law states that all families must register [with their local school district] on a per yearly basis and submit results of professional standardized testing scores (similar to SOL) although there is an option of ââ¬Å"religious exemptionâ⬠that does not require any end of year testing. (Fagan, 2007) The study ââ¬Å"Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across Americaâ⬠also found that students ranged in the 86th percentile ââ¬Å"regardless of state regulation,â⬠whether a state had no regulations or a large amount of regulations. (Klicka, 2006, p. 2) These statistics show that state regulations on testing, on what degree of certification a parent has (which can range from no high school diploma to certified teacher to holder of a non-relational bachelors degree), and compulsory attendance laws all have no significance in regards to scores achieved on tests. Homeschool Student Socialization Finally the biggest concern amongà those questioning or outright opposed to homeschooling is socialization. Socialization is defined as : ââ¬Å"1. To place under government or group ownership or control. 2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable. 3. To convert or adapt to the needs of society.â⬠The first definition is not applicable to education but the second and third are worth looking into. People believe that kids need socialization with other children in order for them to be productive members of society. I completely agree with that. I believe if you have a child who is homeschooled and is rarely in public, interacting with others, then I agree that you will have a problem with that child in years to come. That is just common sense. However, I do not believe socializing is fitting in with other children their own ages that have no moral compass, no sense of right, or wrong and no respect for teachers and authority figures. When children are young and impressionable, it is hard for them to tell which children to steer clear of, often until it is too late. This is where peer pressure comes into play, and children want to mimic their peer groupââ¬â¢s behavior in order to fit in and receive group acceptance. Dave Arnold of the NEA also speaks about one specific website that says not to worry about socialization. He says, ââ¬Å"If this website encouraged homeschooled children to join after-school clubs at the local school, or participate in sports or other community activities, then I might feel different. Maine state laws, for example, require local school districts to allow home-schooled students to participate in their athletic programsâ⬠(Arnold, 2008, p. 1). There are two problems with his statement. The first untruth is that most homeschoolers dont want to participate in elementary and high school sports like this. There arent legal requirements in each state allowing them to so in states without laws it is based on the individual school board. The problem with this is that school boards sometimes do not allow homeschoolers to participate in their organized sports, whether due to lack of funding or discrimination. The second untruth in his statement is that homeschoolers do encourage these types of activities. Homeschoolers in general know that their children need interaction with other children (of all age ranges not just specific to their own grade) and do everything possible to ensure their children receive this. This comes in the form of: team sportsco-ops (groups of homeschoolers who get together weekly to exchange classes to allow for socialization and taking advantage of the parentsââ¬â¢ strong teaching points)support groups (homeschoolers that get together on a regular basis for the children to play or participate in activities such as bowling or roller skating)clubs such as 4Hà and scoutslessons such as dance and karate. Manyà public libraries, museums, gyms and other community groups and businesses offer programs and classes, catering to the growing number of homeschoolers. (Fagan, 2007) This usually allows more avenues for education as well as opportunities for homeschooling families to get together. Socialization is a very important aspect in every childââ¬â¢s life. However, homeschool graduates that have been exposed to these avenues of socialization have shown just as much ability to survive in and contribute to society as their public school counterparts. Homeschooling is a viable option to those who feel that their children arenââ¬â¢t learning enough, are falling prey to peer pressure, or are exposed or susceptible to too much violence in school. Homeschooling has statistically proven over time that it is a method of education that succeeds with test scores surpassing those in public schools. Homeschool graduates have proven themselves in the college arena and beyond. The questions of qualification and socialization are often argued, but as you can see have no solid facts to stand on. As long as the test scores of those students whose parents are not certified teachers remains higher than public school children, no one can argue for higher qualification regulations. Even though the socialization of homeschoolers does not fit in the standard box of a public classroom setting, it is proven to be just as effective if not better in providing quality (not quantity) socializing opportunities. The results speak for themselves in the long run. I am often asked why I homeschool.à There are so many answers to this question- dissatisfaction with public schools, safety, the state of society today, lack of religion and morals- that I would end up going on and on. However, I think my feelings are summed up in the popular phrase, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve seen the village, and I donââ¬â¢t want it raising my child.â⬠References Arnold, D. (2008, February 24). Home schools run by well-meaning amateurs: schools with good teachers are best-suited to shape young minds. National Education Association. Retrieved March 7, 2006, from nea.org/espcolumns/dv040220.html Black flight- to homeschool (2006, March-April). Practical Homeschooling 69. 8(1). Retrieved March 2, 2006, from Gale database. Duvall, S., Delaquadri, J., Ward D. L. (2004, Wntr). A preliminary investigation of the effectiveness of homeschool instructional environments for student with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. School Psychological Review, 331; 140(19). Retrieved March 2, 2008, from Gale database. Fagan, A. (2007, November 26) Teach your children well; with new resources, home-schooling numbers grow (page one)(special report). The Washington Times, A01. Retrieved March 2, 2008, from Gale database. Greene, H. Greene, M. (2007, August). Thereââ¬â¢s no place like home: as the homeschool population grows, college and universities must increase enrollment efforts targeted to this group (Admissions). University Business, 10.8, 25(2). Retrieved March 2, 2008, from Gale database. Klicka, C. (2004, October 22). Academic statistics on homeschooling. HSLDA. Retrieved April 2, 2008, from www.hslda.org Neal, A. (2006, September-October) Excelling in and out of the home, homeschooled kids are thriving across the country. Students demonstrating exceptional academic honors are capturing top slots at national competitions. Saturday Evening Post, 278.5, 54(4). Retrieved March 2, 2008, from Gale database. Ulrich, M. (2008, January) Why I homeschool: (because people keep asking). Catholic Insight, 16.1. Retrieved March 2, 2008 from Gale database. Updated byà Kris Bales
Sunday, October 20, 2019
AIDS and YOU (May 1987) Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers
AIDS and YOU (May 1987) Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers AIDS and YOU (May 1987) By Martin H. Goodman MD (this essay is in the public domain) Introduction: AIDS is a life and death issue. To have the AIDS disease is at present a sentence of slow but inevitable death. I've already lost one friend to AIDS. I may soon lose others. My own sexual behavior and that of many of my friends has been profoundly altered by it. In my part of the country, one man in 10 may already be carrying the AIDS virus. While the figures may currently be less in much of the rest of the country, this is changing rapidly. There currently is neither a cure, nor even an effective treatment, and no vaccine either. But there are things that have been PROVEN immensely effective in slowing the spread of this hideously lethal disease. In this essay I hope to present this information. History and Overview: AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Defficiency Disease. It is caused by a virus. The disease originated somewhere in Africa about 20 years ago. There it first appeared as a mysterious ailment afflicting primarily heterosexuals of both sexes. It probably was spread especially fast by primarily female prostitutes there. AIDS has already become a crisis of STAGGERING proportions in parts of Africa. In Zaire, it is estimated that over twenty percent of the adults currently carry the virus. That figure is increasing. And what occurred there will, if no cure is found, most likely occur here among heterosexual folks. AIDS was first seen as a disease of gay males in this country. This was a result of the fact that gay males in this culture in the days before AIDS had an average of 200 to 400 new sexual contacts per year. This figure was much higher than common practice among heterosexual (straight) men or women. In addition, it turned out that rectal sex was a particularly effective way to transmit the disease, and rectal sex is a common practice among gay males. For these reasons, the disease spread in the gay male population of this country immensely more quickly than in other populations. It became to be thought of as a "gay disease". Because the disease is spread primarily by exposure of ones blood to infected blood or semen, I.V. drug addicts who shared needles also soon were identified as an affected group. As the AIDS epidemic began to affect increasingly large fractions of those two populations (gay males and IV drug abusers), many of the rest of this society looked on smugly, for both populations tended to be despised by the "mainstream" of society here. But AIDS is also spread by heterosexual sex. In addition, it is spread by blood transfusions. New born babies can acquire the disease from infected mothers during pregnancy. Gradually more and more "mainstream" folks got the disease. Most recently, a member of congress died of the disease. Finally, even the national news media began to join in the task of educating the public to the notion that AIDS can affect everyone. Basic medical research began to provide a few bits of information, and some help. The virus causing the disease was isolated and identified. The AIDS virus turned out to be a very unusual sort of virus. Its genetic material was not DNA, but RNA. When it infected human cells, it had its RNA direct the synthesis of viral DNA. While RNA viruses are not that uncommon, very few RNA viruses reproduce by setting up the flow of information from RNA to DNA. Such reverse or "retro" flow of information does not occur at all in any DNA virus or any other living things. Hence, the virus was said to belong to the rare group of virues called "Retro Viruses". Research provided the means to test donated blood for the presence of the antibodies to the virus, astronomically reducing the chance of ones getting AIDS from a blood transfusion. This was one of the first real breakthroughs. The same discoveries that allowed us to make our blood bank blood supply far safer also allowed us to be able to tell (in most cases) whether one has been exposed to the AIDS virus using a
Saturday, October 19, 2019
History of My Surviving in Math Classes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1
History of My Surviving in Math Classes - Essay Example Second grade, third grade and fourth grade passed and I struggled to at least survive in math class. I felt isolated from the rest of the class by just the mere sight of them participating in recitations, taking a look at each other's satisfactory score, whilst I hardly pass any quiz or seatwork at all. Whenever I get a grade that was barely passing, I felt happy while my classmates frown upon looking at theirs, despite the wide gap their scores possess over mine. I thought I was never meant to go to college if my math malady was not going to be resolved. I was a bright student in other subjects and my classmates sounded upset whenever I told them my math problems. I thought I was the only one who had it - excellence in other subjects and a loser at math. I approached my Math teacher and told her that I feared to flunk the subject and that it would not be unfair if she were not to give me any consideration; I deserved a failing grade. She had that look on her face that looked as if she understood my situation right away, as though she had also been through a struggle exactly like mine. "In the first place, why did you not come earlier I was more than willing to boost your spirits up.à When I saw you, I saw myself.â⬠à Right there and then, she had told me her story; she not only hated math when she was my age but failed a number of times, then got encouraged by her teacher.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Public Relations - interview with a facility manager of the nursing Essay
Public Relations - interview with a facility manager of the nursing home - Essay Example So I presented myself in Mr. Russell's chamber in the nursing home. He appeared to be an amicable man of perfection and he answered all my questions with patience. According to Mr. Russell, Mother Mary Nursing Home was very small as its former infrastructure is concerned. There were just 20 beds and 2 chambers for doctors. Today the whole scenario presents above 200 beds and 15 private chambers for the doctors. Like any other nursing home or hospital there are both outdoor and indoor facilities. People can come for personal check ups by the physicians who attend the outdoor section. On the other hand, there are also facilities for the patients who are directly admitted in the nursing home. As a Facility Manager, it is Mr. Russell's duty to look after whether the patients are getting all the facilities for which the authority has promised to them. He mentions some of the facilities that are unique in this nursing home and he further adds that these unique features have helped the nursing home to ensure its popularity. First of all there is an insurance facility every patient, which is very rare in the nursing homes. The patient can apply for the insurance with a certain amount of money that has to be deposited in the nursing home bank. This also helps the patients to get facilities in case they are admitted in future. Insurances are also helpful if someone from their families is admitted there. Mother Mary Nursing Home keeps all the tracks of the past records of the patients who are admitted here. These computerized records are very helpful to the doctors in case someone is admitted again in the future. Physicians can get all the details about the medical history of the patient and this helps in the process of diagnosis. There is free breakfast in every morning for the patients and tea and coffee for the visitors. The nursing home authority makes it a point so that no issue regarding the hygiene of the patient can be raised. The foods are healthy and applicable for all the patients no matter what disease they are suffering from. There are also special arrangements for the patients whose conditions are more critical than the others. All the patients are kept in separate rooms and there is no dormitory in the nursing home where privacy of the patients may get disturbed. Attendants are very regular in their job. All the rooms are cleaned up from time to time. Hygiene is in the culture of the nursing home and this is why patients are highly satisfied with the kind of services they are provided with in this organization. Politeness and cooperative nature of the attendants is focused so that the patients never feel lonely in this building. This homelike situation is the main thing which has brought success to Mother Mary Nursing Home. When asked about the financial expenditure of the nursing home Mr. Russell clearly said that they always try that services from this organization should be within the reach of the middle class people who arrive here for treatment. Of course some of the bills may seem to be expensive to them but when someone looks back to the kind of atmosphere and extra facilities which he/she had
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