6 Helpful Physical and Chemical Change Examples

6 Helpful Physical and Chemical Change Examples SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In your science class, you may have heard of chemical and physical changes. But do you know how to tell the difference between the two? The answer lies in whether or not a change to a substance results in its molecules being rearranged. In this article, we will define chemical and physical and changes. Then we’ll take a look at specific chemical change examples and physical change examples to better understand their differences and similarities. So let’s get started! When ice cream melts (and goes from a solid to a liquid), it undergoes a physical change. Physical Change Definition First, let’s talk about physical changes in chemistry. A physical change occurs when a substance or object changes its appearance, phase, or is used in a mixture. More importantly, a physical change does not change the molecular structure of a substance. And you can reverse a physical change to recover all of the original matter, even if it doesn’t look exactly the same. In other words, in physical changes, the molecules from before and after the change stay the same! What is an example of a physical change? Things like cutting a piece of paper in half, freezing water into ice or bending some of your mom’s favorite silverware (don’t do that!) are all physical changes. That’s because physical changes only affect a substance’s physical properties, not the composition of their molecules. Still not sure about what constitutes a physical change? Don’t worry: we’ll dig into more physical change examples in just a minute. When logs burn, they undergo a chemical change. Chemical Change Definition In contrast, a chemical change takes place when the original substance’s of molecules are taken apart and put back together into new combinations that are different from the original combinations. Furthermore, the original matter cannot be recovered. And unlike physical changes, these changes usually use a lot more energy, such as heat and light, because the molecular bonds need to be broken in order to rearrange them. What is an example of a chemical change, then? Some chemical change examples include a piece of paper burning, a nail rusting, or baking a cake. Like physical changes, it’s pretty clear that the way these things start and end are quite different: a shiny nail turns orange with rust, and wet dough becomes a delicious dessert. The reasons these are chemical changes is that the change happens on a molecular level. Put another way, the object you begin with and the object you end with are completely different substances. So, let’s look at some more examples of physical and chemical changes to better understand the differences and similarities between the two. When this mallet hits the egg, the egg will undergo a (very messy) physical change. (P.S: Don't try this at home!) Physical Change Examples Earlier we talked about some examples of physical and chemical changes. But sometimes telling a physical change from a chemical change can be hard. This is especially true when physical changes require or expend energy. The important thing to remember is that in a physical change, the molecules remain the same. Let’s look at three different physical change examples to better understand this idea. Example 1: Phase Changes iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W8CTuj78RbY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen/iframe Phase changes involve changes in size, volume, and density. For instance, when you turn water into ice or vapor, this is called a phase change. This is because water has 3 phases: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (vapor or steam). It may seem like some of the water molecules are lost during each phase change: the ice cube gets smaller, and steam seems to disappear into the air. However, in each of these three stages, the water molecules stay the same. And if you were to cool down the vapor, it would reform into water. Cool it down enough, and it would turn back into ice. There would be the same amount of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the ice cube as there were in the steam, and these atoms will stay in the same molecular shape in all stages. Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening on a molecular level. Vapor is made up of H20 just like the ice cube. The only difference between vapor and ice is that the individual molecules have spread apart in vapor due to the application of heat. Meanwhile, in ice, the molecules group closer together because of the absence of heat. Though these phase changes require energy to be expelled (exothermic reactions) or applied (endothermic reactions), the number of atoms and the shape of the molecules in the substance remains the same. That’s what makes it a physical change! Example 2: Changes in Size and Shape iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/30pdXVaJpzSO9vttAd" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen/iframepa href="https://giphy.com/gifs/universalafrica-umgsa-umusic-universamusicsouthafrica-30pdXVaJpzSO9vttAd"via GIPHY/a/p Like we mentioned earlier, physical changes are all about whether molecules stay the same or not. When an object undergoes a physical change, it can become a different size and shape as long as its composition stays the same. Here’s what we mean: if you have ever dropped a piece of glass on the floor, you know that it will break apart, exploding into a million pieces. If you really wanted to, once you swept all that glass up into your dustpan, you could probably fit it all back together (even though it would take a lot of time and patience). This is also a physical reaction because the glass stays glass. When it shatters, the glass changes size and shape, but its molecules don’t change. This is a physical change that only involves a change in size and shape. While energy helped shatter the glass into pieces, no energy was used to rearrange the molecules. Example 3: Mixtures Solutions iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Tck943uH2o" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen/iframe Imagine you are on a day out at the beach. The sun is shining, the sand is warm, and the seagulls are trying to steal people’s lunches. After playing in the waves for a bit, you decide to make a sandcastle. You fill your bucket up with sand and plop it upside down. The sand comes out but it doesn’t stick together. You forgot to add water! You try again, this time with water and voila, you’ve created your first tower like a master sandcastle architect. But why didn’t the sand stick together the first time? It has to do with a physical property called surface tension. Surface tension refers to how strong the bond is between a substance’s molecules. Water has a strong surface tension, so adding it to the sand creates a strong enough bond for the sand to cling together instead of falling apart. What makes this different from a chemical reaction is that the sand and the water, though mixed together, do not change their molecular structure. The water stays water and the sand stays sand. And if you were to measure the water that will eventually evaporate once the sandcastle dries, you will find that the amount of evaporated water is equal to the amount of liquid water you added to the sand originally. This is called a mixture because both substances (the sand and the water) retain their own physical properties. The same is true if you add salt or sugar to water. It seems like the salt and sugar dissolve and form new molecules. But if you were to wait for the water to evaporate, you would find that the salt or sugar molecules get left behind in the glass. This is called a solution. Solutions differ from mixtures in that they are homogenous. A single drop of saltwater would have the same number of salt molecules (NaCl) per water molecules (H2O) as another drop taken from the same solution. In a mixture, you might have more sand than water in two different handfuls, even if they were taken from the same bucket. These physical change examples should help you recognize the difference between a physical and chemical change. Especially when you compare them to the chemical change examples below. Dough turning into bread is a tasty example of a chemical change. Chemical Change Examples Both physical and chemical changes result in one thing turning into another. Whether it’s a glass breaking or burning a piece of paper, the original item becomes something different. So how can you tell the difference between a physical and a chemical change? It all comes down toyou guessed it!the molecules. In a physical change, the molecules stay exactly the same throughout the transformation. In a chemical change, however, it’s the molecules themselves that transform! Here are three examples of chemical changes to help you spot the difference! Example 1: Combustion iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xd1alir07q4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen/iframe Combustion is a chemical reaction between substances, usually including oxygen, that creates heat and light. The energy released by the reaction (in the form of heat and light) is caused by the breaking of molecular bonds. As a result, the original substances transform into entirely different substances because of the rearrangement of molecules, which is an example of a chemical change! For instance, if you mix oxygen (O2) with a type of hydrocarbon called methane (CH4), the molecular bonds of both substances are broken, which creates the heat and light. The bonds then reform to create two different molecules: carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). Combustion reactions can occur at different rates, too. An example of a slow reaction is a match burning. A fast reaction would be dynamite exploding. The amount of energy released in any combustion reaction depends on how much energy is needed to break the molecular bonds. The harder it is to break the bonds, the more energy is released overall. But regardless of whether the reaction is fast or slow, combustion is a chemical change. Example 2: Decomposition iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ocQhkHw_MM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen/iframe Decomposition is rather straightforward. A decomposition reaction is a reaction in which a compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances. For instance, when an electric current is passed through water (H2O), it can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen or H2 + O2. In this example, water is broken down into its two elements. The result is a chemical change because the starting and ending molecules are different. You’ll notice that this chemical reaction needed electricity to happen. Decomposition reactions usually require the application of heat from an outside source, making it an endothermic reaction. Keep in mind that not all decomposition reactions have to break down into their elemental forms. More complicated substances with longer molecular chains may break down into smaller compounds instead of elements. An example of this is when 2Fe(OH)3 (also known as ferric oxide) is exposed to heat. Instead of breaking into its individual molecules, it turns into two compounds: Fe2O3 + 3H2O. Example 3: Combination iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w2ydd9rJHws" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen/iframe Combination reactions, also called synthesis reactions, are the opposite of decomposition reactions. These reactions occur when two substances (called reactants) are added together to create one new substance. And because this is a chemical reaction, the result is a molecular change! One example of this would be a nail rusting. While this may seem like a decomposition reaction because it seems like the nail is decomposing and falling apart. But actually, it’s a chemical change! Iron (Fe) and oxygen (O) combine to create the compound iron oxide (Fe2O3), which is rust. And as you can see, it also results in a completely new molecule. What's Next? Understanding chemical and physical reactions in only one part of what you need to know in order to succeed on either the SAT Chemistry Subject Exam or the AP Chemistry Exam. Here’s a complete syllabus for AP Chemistry to show you what you need to know, and here’s an SAT Chemistry study guide, too. Are you in IB Chemistry? We’ve got you covered, too. Here’s the complete syllabus, a comprehensive study guide, and some examples of past papers from the IB Chemistry exam. If chemistry has you stumped, it’s a good idea to check out some books that can explain challenging concepts in an easy-to-understand way. This post will help you find a guidebook that’s right for you. Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Ashley Robinson About the Author Ashley Sufflà © Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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18th Century European Enlightenment Essays - Age Of Enlightenment

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China 2000 essays

China 2000 essays What is China? Is it maybe the image of the ancient times with the glorious old dynasties, the powerful emperors, the wondrous temples, the fascinating winding gardens...? Or is it maybe a strict communist world with uniformed people wearing Mao suits and living in dreary gray concrete apartment blocks...? Or perhaps it is the skyscrapers of Hong Kong and Shanghai, the horrendous traffic, the buzzing commotion, ultra modern electronics and plate glass buildings...? In reality, China is all this in one. It is a land that intertwines a miraculous ancestral heritage with a capitalist reality blooming in the heart of a still surviving communist system. In todays China, the gigantic population (1,300,000,000 people) is experiencing an extremity gap between the very rich and the very poor. The still existing Chinese communist system provides "cradle to grave" caretaking for its citizens. All major services like housing, education and medical treatment are currently supplied by the government; however, they are accessible only according to area registration in the community in which people are born. Lack of such registration or change of area of residence leaves people on their own. The majority of people in the cities still reside in old Russian type "one-window" flats composed of a single room with a single window, home for an entire family, which usually have communal kitchens and toilets and no bathrooms (showers are taken at public bathhouses). The newer apartments, though still housing four to five people in a single room, usually have separate facilities. However, both old and new government subsidized housing is scheduled to end by the year 2002 which will inevitably threaten the very old and those "born and bred within the communist system". This termination is bound to annihilate the life of security of the majority of Chinese population. Life in rural China, on the other hand, is less dependent on government housing sc...

Job Spotlight Clinical Nurse

Job Spotlight Clinical Nurse in keeping with our recent examination of specialized health careers, this week we’re looking at clinical nurses, who specialize in coordinating patient care and monitoring protocols and standards in clinical settings. what do clinical nurses do?according to o*net online, these are the main job responsibilities of a clinical nurse:collecting medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionalsdiagnosing medical conditionsprescribing medicationsexamining patients to assess general physical conditionpreparing reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activitiescollaborating with health care professionals to ensure optimal patient careproviding consultation in areas such as patient discharge, patient care, or clinical proceduresdeveloping and maintaining departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or patient care standards based on evidence-based practice guidelines or expert opinionevaluating the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systemsdeveloping, implementing, or evaluating standards of nursing practice in specialty areas such as pediatrics, acute care, and geriatricsdirecting or supervising nursing care staffdesigning patient education programsproviding care to inpatients and outpatients within a designated specialty such as obstetrics, neurology, oncology, or neonatal careobserving, interviewing, and assessing patients to identify care needsessentially, it’s a dynamic role that involves collaborating with other practitioners, training nurses and evaluating staff performance, and educating patients on treatment options and procedures related to their care.what training will you need?most clinical nurses have a bachelor’s or associate’s degree; and the vast majority are registered nurses, or have degrees in nursing administration, nursing science, family practice nursing, or another specialty.hiring landscapemedian salarywho’s hiring?as of this post, there are almost 2,500 direct employers for clinical nurses. the top employers include:carolinas healthcare system (517 jobs)community health systems inc (305 jobs)consulate health care  (288 jobs)tandem health care of cheswick (259 jobs)baycare (254 jobs)providence health services (226 jobs)unitedhealth group (212 jobs)wakemed (209 jobs)indian health service (207 jobs)hca: the healthcare company (193 jobs)sample job postingcardiac/telemetry unit – clinical nurse specialist/clinical nurse leader/aprnfull time position available, primarily days, 8-hour shifts, evenings, some weekends and holidays as required.responsibilitiesexciting opportunity for motivated clinical nurse specialist to work across the spectrum of clinical services in caring for cardiac/telemetry patients to provide educational resource and leadership support. must have a strong clinical base as well as an interest/background in customer service, quality assurance, care management, orientation, and continuing educati on. main areas of focus will be working at the bedside with staff with focus on orientation, in-services, competency development and documentation.excellent interpersonal and communication skills a must. 3-5 years experience preferred, ms degree required.qualificationsrequires a master’s degree in nursing or related field and an active new york state license in good standing. applicants will have 5 years experience as an rn with one to three years of leadership experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. the clinical nurse specialist influences the quality and delivery of care in various roles including consultant, researcher, mentor, and practitioner. this role may be unit, program, or service based and is involved in continuous quality improvement initiatives.apply here:  hot clinical nursing jobs

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER MUHAMMAD YUNUS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER MUHAMMAD YUNUS - Essay Example The value that Grameen Bank gives to the people offers it the breathing ground to permit itself to look at the potential and capability of an individual to improve his/her life. No longer is it limited to Bangladesh but also to other parts of the globe. The reliance it gives to the people becomes a leeway for the building of confidence of the people it serves. By giving them the capital to start with they are entrusted with their own fate. In such they are empowered to rise above their current situation. â€Å"Every single individual on earth has both the potential and the right to live a decent life. Across cultures and civilizations, Yunus and Grameen Bank have shown that even the poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own development† (Yunus Centre, par. 4). What Yunus has done is virtually unthinkable in a capitalist perspective. No corporate bank in its right mind would lend money to someone who has little to no liquidable asset, much more, someone who is without euphemism ‘dirtpoor.’ It is basically like having your cake and eating it too, being able to capitalize while doing something good is just an idea in the corporate world. But this is the essence of how Yunus goes about his advocacy. Besides the core principle of making a machination of money, Grameen Bank is aimed to improve the lives of people before anything else. A radical concept that is pushed further into fruition through the merger of Danone, a French food company and the Grameen Group which will sell healthy and enhanced yogurt to underprivileged children. These investors immediately gets reimbursement for their preliminary stake as soon as it delivers profit which is fundamentally the money reverting to help others. Through this there is no pressure on t he shareholders, a ‘social business’ on a multinational scale (Kiviat, par. 1-2). The organization boasts of a number of testimonials from people who were able to successfully have their own small business through

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French Mousse Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

French Mousse - Research Paper Example The target market for French Mousse is the people in urban area who prefer to spend on food. The main strength of French mousse is its cost. It is moderately cheap to purchase and thus affordable by many consumers. The other strengths are its rich taste and easy availability. The French Mousse is delicate, fresh and wonderful dessert which is prepared with traditional French ingredients and it can be available at any gourmet restaurants and corner cafes. Customer will never be disappointed in finding French Mousse. The main weakness of French Mousse is its calorie. It is avoided by many young and aged people who are quite health conscious and don’t prefer food having calories. However, there are opportunities for French Mousse in the sense that, if the people of France accept it and the product becomes success in food market, then it can expand in other areas besides France. The biggest threat of French Mousse is the consumer spending on food. People of France had shown less i nterest in spending money on food and beverages, besides there is a probability that certain retailer can sell fake French Mousse in market. This can negatively affect the willingness to purchase French Mousse. Sales Promotion Advertising The advertising through television in France had shown good record. According to statistics of 2005, France spent total 1208.23 Euros for food advertising through television. Thus, advertising through television will be beneficial for French Mousse to promote their products because it is the most preferable advertising technique for food promotion. Advertising Media Television Newspaper Magazine Outdoor Radio Cinema Expenditure (Million Euros) 1208.23 12.37 113.5 21.68 61.83 2.58 Source: (EACA, â€Å"EU Advertising Spend Statistics†). Source: (EACA, â€Å"EU Advertising Spend Statistics†). The advertising for French Mousse will be shown on one popular channels of France which is â€Å"TF1†. TF1 possess the largest audience shar e in France which was accounted as 23.1% in 2011 (Mediametrie, â€Å"Mediamat Weekly†). For television advertising 30 second’s time will be purchased at 8 PM in TF1 at Sunday. The cost of one advertisement in TF1 is 550000 FFR. The advertisement of French Mousse will be shown once in a week for three weeks. Therefore, the budget for advertisement in TF1 channel will be 550000 ? 3 = 1650000 FFR = 369383 USD (approximately) (SBG Companies Limited, â€Å"Tf1 Had 52 Mln FFR Ad Receipts for World Cup Final†). Magazine & Newspaper The magazine contributes second highest portion for advertising in France. The French Mousse product will be shown on the monthly magazine of France for example in ‘France Magazine’. It can increase the awareness of the French Mousse. The reason for choosing this magazine is that it has good audience of about 75,000 readers. The cost for one advertisement in the â€Å"France Magazine† is 4500 USD. French Mousse will be sh own in this magazine for about 3 times in a year which will cost 4500 ? 3 = 13500 USD (Gaebler Ventures, â€Å"France Magazine - Magazine Advertising Costs†). Newspaper is another popular advertising media of France which can contribute to significant brand awareness. For advertising of French Mousse the â€Å"France-Amerique - NY – Newspaper† is chosen. The ad for French Mousse will be shown once in a week for four weeks. The cost for advertising is 23 USD per advertisement. So the budget for newspaper advertisement for French Mousse is calculated as 23 ? 4 = 92 USD (Gaebler Ventures, â€Å"France-Amerique - NY - Newspaper Advertising Costs†) Radio Advertising For advertising French Mousse radio will be used as third medium. The reason for choosing radio as promotional media is that it offers the opportunity to make big splash around an area. Since French Mousse will enter in France, thus the most cost effective method to promote French Mousse will be th rough radio. One radio station had been chosen for advertising in France which is France Inter. The estimated cost of radio advertising is estimated

The War On Drugs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The War On Drugs - Research Paper Example Despite of intense crack the border remained closed for only twenty days. US also worked with the government of Bolivia and Peru to reduce drug supply by spraying plant killing chemicals on million of acre of drugs and compensating farmers to grow other crops instead. With this move coca production was reduced to half. But the production of drug moved from those countries to Colombia, looking at the situation US government came up with the plan Colombia. Plan Colombia was an effort on behalf of US government to combat against war on drugs. Millions of dollars of military aid was given to Colombia in order to combat against guerilla groups who are involved in drug trafficking. Colombian military personnel also took training from US military and other law and enforcement agencies. But this effort of US government was criticized by many analyst and congress men as according to them US is keeping focus only on south side whereas ignoring drug trafficking from the North part of the countr y. One of the most evident signs of the failure of this war appears in 2006, when Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against drug cartels in which 40,000 people were killed and media named this event â€Å"drug Violence† 40,000 people include not only cartel members ,police officers and many US citizens. However billion dollar support package was sent to Mexican government to fight against cartel but as the aid delivered the death rate have risen with 15,273. According to the Department of Justice, the illegal drug market in US is dominated by 900,000 criminally active gang members affiliated with 20,000 street gangs who have their setup in more than 2500 cities of US as explained in Law Enforcement against Prohibition (2011) This illegal drug market affected countless US communities, as it was fought in US streets with law and enforcement agencies who imprisoned many US citizens. Number of citizens who were imprisoned increased in the last three decades. This was due to anti drug abuse act of 1986 which created serious minimum sentencing laws for drug abuse. Due to which drug arrests tripled between 1980-1997 and according to Whitehead(2012) in every 19 seconds at least one person was arrested in US for violating the laws against this war and in every 30 seconds a person arrested for violating marijuana law, thus making it fourth most common cause of arrest in US. Drug abuse has severe emotional and financial strain on families in addition to other reported domestic abuses. It was also observed that the offense of drug abuse has also affected subsequent percentage of women and children. Women in prison are more likely than men who have convicted of a drug offense. In 2005 there were 29% of women and 19% of men and two third of children under age of 18 who had convicted drug offense. Federal welfare legislation of 1996 imposed lifetime ban on welfare benefits for anyone convicted drug abuse. This created another challenge for the people when they return back to the society especially for women. Also only one in seven among the prisoners was given treatment for drug. Graph below shows the comparison between the percentages

Duties and Responsibilities Essay Example for Free

Duties and Responsibilities Essay As everybody know, to be responsible and accomplish with your duties, is one of the most important things around the world in the labor area. Without being responsible and do whatever you are supposed to do, practically, you are out of your job. As and future officer of the United States Army, we must know which ones are our duties and responsibilities in order to accomplish them and make our team look sharp and right. Due to constants changes in the army, we never know which position we or our fellow soldier are going to occupy. Thus, here you will see the duties and responsibilities of leadership positions from company commander to squad leader in order to make the reader understand why is so important to know what, when, where and why is your position so important. The company commander or CO is one of the most important positions in a company. The CO is responsible for everything the company does or fails to do, as an all. The CO is responsible for the training, discipline, administration and welfare of the soldier/ cadets in the company. He or she is the one who will receive the warning order (WARNO), formulates operation order (OPORD), creates plan and time line for every activity to do, supervise all trainings and coordinates with the cadre for detailed instructions. The CO leads by personal example and influence others to accomplish their duties and responsibilities. The executive office or XO is the second in command in a company. He or she primary role is to assist the commander in mission planning and accomplishment. The XO frees the company commander from routine details and passes pertinent data, information and insight to the commander and ensures suspenses are met by the platoon leaders. In addition to that the XO is responsible for the safety and risk assessment of all company events, thus, prepare OPORDs safety paragraph. The XO performs all other duties as assigned by the company commander. The first Sargent or 1SG, just like the company commander is the responsible for everything the company does or fails to do. Usually is the most experienced soldier/ cadet in the company. The 1SG is the commanders primary tactical advisor and expert on individual and NCO skills. The 1SG helps the commander plan, coordinate and supervise all activities that support the company or unit mission. He or she writes and presents paragraph IV (Service and Support) of the company OPORD, makes necessary announcements at PT and at lab, responsible for gathering all accountability and sending it up the chain of command, keeps company training running according to the time line, makes sure all information is disseminated to the PSGs and has accountability at all times and supervises PSGs and SLs. The platoon leader or PL is the responsible for the entire platoon does or fails to do. In the conduct of duties, consults platoon Sargent in all matters related to the platoon. The PL leads platoon in supporting higher headquarters missions, looks ahead to the next move for the platoon, requests and controls supporting assets and issues accurate and timely reports. In addition to that the PL places self where most needed to accomplish the mission and understands the mission and commanders intent two levels up. The platoon sergeant or PSG is usually a senior NCO in the platoon and second in command. The PSG sets the example in everything and is the responsible for the care of personnel, weapons and equipment in platoon. As second in command, the PSG assumes duties as assigned by the PL. In addition to that, ensures platoon is prepared to accomplish mission, prepares to assume the role and responsibilities of PL, acts where best needed to help mission command the engagement, organize platoon formations and control movement of the platoon. The squad leader or SL is the responsible for all the squad does or fails to do, directs team leaders and leads by personal example. The SL has authority over subordinates and overall responsibility for those subordinates actions and is responsible for the care of personnel. In addition to that, the SL ensure the squad is in proper uniform with proper equipment for training,  lead a supervise the squad, personally prepare and inspect the squad for all missions, keep squad accountability and report to the PSG, control movement of the squad, prepare and submit reports and prepare and issue the squad OPORD. In conclusion, it does not matter what position we are going to occupy, we need to make that our fellow soldiers are doing what they have to do. The duties and responsibilities of every single leadership position is based on take into consideration that a leader is supposed to know and understand their people. He or she knows their strengths and weaknesses as well as what motivates and frustrates them. So, in order to be successful and accomplish all our obligations, first, we need assume our position, always seeking for the welfare of our team.

The Decline of Education in America

The Decline of Education in America The United States is the greatest country in the world is a clichà © asserted everywhere. One would reasonably expect the greatest country in the world to have the worlds most educated citizens-except just one thing: that simply is not true. Author Mark Bauerlein in his book The Dumbest Generation lays out a compelling argument backed with a dizzying number of statistics that America is on the decline educationally, threatening the future of our country. How can United States be the greatest country in the world when it is ranked 29th in math and science? Or when 53% of high school seniors scored below basic in historical knowledge on an NAEP history exam (Bauerlein 17)? Think of what will happen when those high school seniors meet the real world. They will be the voting block and pool to draw from to become our elected officials who make life and death decisions for our country, and what will happen then? Bauerlein blames these seemingly terrifying statistics on the digital age mil lennials were born in, and how students today no longer feel the need to retain as much knowledge when they can just flip out their iPhones and go look it up online when they need to. This is a symptom of the declining social and political potency Neil Postman talks about in his book Amusing Ourselves To Death, and that the value of knowledge on the decline. The generation of today does not care as much today about the Arts, Science, History, and Math; they are more interested in things like what Kim Kardashian is doing today, or when Beyonces new album is coming out. You can ask almost any millennial who the Kardashians are and they will almost always give you the correct answer, however when you ask serious questions such as what powers the executive branch holds-many will draw a blank. This is because the millennial generation requires advanced stimuli due to our digital age. The human brain has plasticity in the sense that it will adapt to the environment it is placed in, and the millennial brain has molded to the instantaneous access of knowledge from our computers, televisions, and phones; because of that millennials demand that same level of stimulation everywhere else in their lives. In Steven Johnsons book Everything Bad Is Good For You, he argues for what he calls the Sleeper Curve: that the digital age of popular culture and w ith it the internet, movies, tv, and video games are actually intellectually nutritional (9). The technological popular culture of today can be very beneficial, such as how videogames can improve problem solving, or how television dramas can improve critical thinking. That probably seems like it is in stark contrast to what was said previously, however the arguments of all three authors are not mutually exclusive. Bauerlein, Postman, and Johnson all ultimately represent extremes. They do however get a few things right; Bauerlein is correct in stating there is a growing overall knowledge deficit, Johnson is correct in saying popular culture has positive benefits, and Postman is right about our increasingly connected society diminishing the value of information. Reality is within a happy medium of all three. In short, the digital age is not necessarily bad for you; however, it is impossible deny the educational decline in our society. In Mark Bauerleins book The Dumbest Generation, one of his dominant pieces of evidence to show our decline in knowledge is how fewer people today read than ever before, and he is partially correct; according to Pew Research the percentage of Americans who read at least one book in the last year fell from 79% in 2011, to 71% in 2015. Not only that, 27% of the people polled had not read a single book in the last year (Raine). These statistics seem troubling, book reading is declining, however overall reading is not, rather it has increased. Reading does not necessarily have to come from a book, and this is what Bauerlein misses. Young adults in 2015 spent twenty seven hours and thirty six minutes a week online a week on average, triple the mere ten hours and twenty four minutes a week recorded in 2005 (Anderson). To be a proficient user of the internet you have to be reading constantly; the main reason reading of traditional books is declining is because books are being supplemented by other forms of reading. Mark Bauerlein is incorrect in stating reading as a whole is declining, however the fact people are steering away from books is in itself a serious concern. Even Steven Johnson, the author by far most supportive of digital media out of the three of them, says in his book Everything Bad is Good For You: The very fact that I am presenting this argument to you in the form of a book and not a television drama or video game should make it clear that I believe the printed word remains the most powerful vehicle for conveying complicated information (21) Johnson is one hundred percent correct; books are the best medium for conveying complex ideas, as well as strong detail and content. Not only that, the ease of access to books cannot be matched as of yet by any other form of media. For movies, television, video games, and the internet you need to buy all kinds of hardware and services which limits the potential recipients of those forms of media. With books, all you need to know how to is read; even money is not necessary to read, anyone can go to their local library and check out a book for free. Books are still ultimately the heart and soul of culture, without them the other forms of media would not be possible; somebody had to write a book on how to make movies, television, video games, and how to code for the internet. While books are still the best medium for passing on information to the next generation, other mediums are getting more advanced to the point where they can be true fulfilling compliments to books, rather than a re placement for books, such as video games. Video games are the newest medium to enter our digital age, and what started as a simple a few pixels on the screen bouncing around in virtuality like in the game Pong, has blossomed into a full fledged new form of media capable of endowing knowledge, and cognitive benefits such as improving problem solving, attention, memory. This is the narrative Johnson supports; Bauerlein and Postman would balk at that assessment, saying video games infringe upon a proper education or that the information in games has no real world use and is a pseudo context. However, a study done by RMIT University lends a great amount of support to Johnsons claims. The results of the study indicate that online gaming can sharpen math, science, and reading skills amongst teenagers. RMIT Associate Professor Alberto Posso investigated the study results, stating: Students who play online games almost every day score 15 points above the average in math and 17 points above the average in science When you play online games youre solving puzzles to move to the next level and that involves using some of the general knowledge and skills in math, reading and science that youve been taught during the day. (Science Daily) Going even a step further, he said Teachers should consider incorporating popular video games into teaching so long as theyre not violent ones. This is a rather stunning assessment which supports Johnsons Sleeper Curve argument that television, movies, and video games are in fact good for you after all (9). Video games can stimulate the mind in similar ways books do, and perhaps in some ways far more than books. Video games tend to have a non linear structure in the sense that you can go from point A to point B however you want, unlike books you are fully immersed in the experience not just mentally, but audibly and visually as well, and you must make choices that affect the outcome of the game. This is the key as to why video games have all of these positive benefits. Let us take a look at a strong example of a video game series that truly stimulates the mind: Metal Gear. The Metal Gear storyline is one of the most complicated in any game, rivaling many books, movies, and TV shows; the lore stretches from 1964 to 2014 taking place in a slightly alternate reality across nine canonical games, each of which take many hours to complete in addition to hours devoted to cutscenes explaining the story. One of the games, Guns of the Patriots, has a guinness world record breaking seventy hours of cutscenes and over 400,000 words in the script, more words than some books; to fully comprehend the depth of the story, the characters, the factions and all the relationships between them, the player has to think very critically and very deeply. The games deal with complex and serious themes such as race, revenge, language, nuclear proliferation, genealogy, global politics, etc. to name a few and the games pull off those themes in meaningful ways. Not only is the s toryline mentally stimulating, so is the gameplay. In the newest iteration, The Phantom Pain, players are placed in an open world sandbox and are tasked with missions to complete, ranging to everything from collecting intelligence on the enemy, to rescuing prisoners of war. The open world nature and the plethora of weapons and tools gives the player freedom to conquer any objective as they see fit. Should the mission occur during the day or at night? Is going in silent with suppressed weapons and choosing a path of least resistance best, or is going in and out as fast as possible guns blazing preferable? These are all questions posed to the player. To achieve desirable outcomes the player must exercise his or her brain and think critically to employ an effective strategy. As Steven Johnson says in his book, this critical thinking exercises the brain similar to how algebra does and translates to reality in the form of improved planning skills, problem solving, attention, logic, and m ore (40). It is clear that video games do offer meaningful benefits, though video games are not always totally beneficial in nature. To give an example, a hot topic of debate that has gone on for many years is whether or not violent video games contribute to violence, aggressive behavior, and desensitization to violence in the real world. The American Psychological Association came out with a report in 2015, stating: The research demonstrates a consistent relation between violent video game use and increases in aggressive behavior, aggressive cognitions and aggressive affect, and decreases in prosocial behavior, empathy and sensitivity to aggression (Calvert) In all fairness, the report does not link video games to criminal behavior, and does not include outside factors such as pre-existing psychological conditions and the environment the person playing the game lives in, all of which may have been influential to the outcome of the report However, it establishes a link between violent video games and aggressive behavior, though indirect at best. Another important factor not included in the study is the age of the player. Children are very easily influenced; a child growing up is learning important skills like how to determine right from wrong, empathy, and moral values. It is fairly easy to see how incredibly violent games like Grand Theft Auto where a player can go carjacking and run over as many pedestrians as possible in a crowded city on a whim can have a negative effect on a child growing up. To reduce this effect, young children should not play video games, and video game developers should be careful in how they utilize violence. Th at being said, violence can have a positive impact on a storyline if there is a good reason for it to be there, such as to make the death of an allied character more impactful; unlike games such as Grand Theft Auto and Mortal Kombat which have violence for the sake of violence with no real purpose to it other than for pure shock value. The deciding factor as to how video games will benefit society depends on how they are utilized, the medium in itself is not foredoomed. One of the mediums that preceded video gaming was television, and it provides many of the same benefits video games do such as improved planning skills, problem solving, attention, logic etc.. Television engages the viewer to think with its programming with everything from documentaries, to dramas. In talking about the television drama 24, Steven Johnson argues in his book you have to focus to follow the plot, and in focusing you are exercising the part of the brain that maps social networks (115). Again, this is much like algebra in a sense; most people will never need to know things like the quadratic formula in their lifetime, however those things are still required material in high school because they are a mental exercise, improving reasoning skills, problem solving, and more. It isnt so much about the content of these shows as it is about the cognitive exercises involved in watching them. Mark Bauerlein does not acknowledge these benefits, arguing essentially that television is merely a distraction from real educational subject matter. Neil Postman has a similar view, stating in his book Amusing Ourselves to Death: televisions way of knowing is uncompromisingly hostile to typographys way of knowing; that televisions conversations promote incoherence and triviality; that the phrase serious television is a contradiction in terms; and that television speaks with only one persistent voice-the voice of entertainment. (80) Perhaps this is a correct assessment regarding some televised media like reality shows and cable news, though the blanket assessment that all television is incoherent and trivial is wrong. Sure it is true one of televisions goals is to entertain, however so are literary works of fiction that have been around for millennia. What makes novels sold for profit not incoherent and trivial? For the most part, excluding programming like news and sports, television is just literature put on the screen. Think of how many shows and movies you could rewrite as a book; in fact, many of the greatest works of television originated from books. For example, the 1962 novel The Man in The High Castle by Philip K. Dick was adapted as a television drama by Amazons streaming service in 2015, and it is far from being incoherent or trivial. The show takes place in alternate reality 1962, where the Germans and Japanese win World War Two and conquer the United States, with the victorious axis powers splitting up the country between the Greater Nazi Reich and the Japanese Pacific States. The show goes to great lengths to display the brutality of the Germans and Japanese people have come to expect with no political or personal freedoms, torture, summary executions, persecution of minorities, etc. brilliantly showing the struggle for everyday Americans to survive. It punches the viewer right in the gut reminding people of what could have been, and the harrowing path fascism leads us by drawing out our emotions. Sure all of it is done for entertainment, however the messages are nutritional, positive, and even educational. The underlying message is coherent and never trivial: be grateful for the world we live in, even with all its problems. Television can be an incredible tool to provide people with knowledge, though it can just as easily be a poor influence. The entertaining tint of television can have negative effects depending on the content, Neil Postman was not entirely wrong in his assessments. Take for instance reality television with shows like Keeping Up with The Kardashians, these shows are marketed as being reality unlike shows such as 24 which any viewer knows is entirely fictional.An article from Scholastic Scope had this to say about some of the false stereotypes propagated by reality television: And then there are the stereotypes. Are all girls obsessed with clothes and spray tans? Are all boys obsessed with getting toned abs? Thats what many of the most popular shows would have you think. Plus, some experts say these shows send a dangerous message: that being stupid and selfish is fun. It can make you rich and famous! (Scholastic Scope) This is the reality of reality television. Now what happens when your average teenage girl sees the plastic surgery laden figures of the Kardashian sisters? They can get the false ideas on how the female body is normally supposed to look, contributing to things like eating disorders and other psychological issues: the very same issue modeling magazines have struggled with for years. This is just one of many examples of how television can be dangerous and send the wrong messages when used improperly, especially to our youth. So if technology is ultimately not the cause of our downhill spiral in knowledge, what is? The answer is our millennial generation is so seemingly dumb because they feel they can afford to be dumb. Neil Postman, Mark Bauerlein, and Steven Johnson all miss the larger historical context; they focus too heavily on immediate societal trends. Our decline in knowledge and education is merely a small part of a generational cycle of societal moods in what is called The Strauss-Howe Generational Theory; a theory of generational phases called turnings in American history outlined in the book The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe. According to the authors, there are four turnings each lasting an average of twenty years; the high, the awakening, the unraveling, and finally the crisis, after which the cycle is reset and an enlightened high generation is born. To see how this ties into our educational decline, let us go back in American history to The Great Depression and World War T wo. Due to a series of poor political decisions building on themselves and outright ignorance to the issues of the world, The Great Depression and World War Two came to be; life was tough with people crowding soup kitchens, shortly followed by men going off to Europe and the South Pacific to fight and die- a crisis. The generation who lived through those hardships vowed never again, and valued knowledge and culture as a means of never repeating the mistakes of the past- a high . Next, the baby boomers were born, and they were raised having not experiencing just how terrible life can be like their parents did; this ended up becoming an era of peace and enlightenment. We know this generation best for the hippie movement, John Lennon, Woodstock, the civil rights movement, etc.- an awakening; a time of spiritual exploration and rebellion against the now-established order (Hines). These baby boomers had children, whom we now call generation x. An unraveling began, with an increasingly tr oubled era in which individualism triumphs over crumbling institutions (Hines). The very foundations of our culture were questioned with ignorance and political extremism on the rise. Today with the millennial generation, Strauss and Howe claim we are now entering the fourth turning- the crisis, a time of turmoil and uncertainty. We saw a glimpse of this play out most recently in the 2016 presidential elections, one of the most hotly contested elections in American history; both sides of the political aisle spewed ignorance, and extremism with the result dividing our nation further apart to an almost unprecedented level. In short, hard times create strong people, strong people create good times, good times create weak people, and weak people create hard times; and perhaps Bauerlein would agree that the millennial generation is weak. The strength and educational ethic of every society in the world is directly tied to the hardships that society has had to endure, and the lessons learn ed from them. There may be no better example of this than with the Jewish People; a people that have quite possibly endured more hardship than any other culture over the course of thousands of years. Today less than .02% of the global population is Jewish, yet 22% of Nobel Prize winners are Jewish (Schuster), and the tiny country of Israel puts out more engineers and scientists per capita than any other country in the world (Florida). As a Jewish person myself, I was taught from a young age that education and respect for the past is ingrained in our culture because if it werent, the consequences could be catastrophic. History shows us that education is essential for the continuity of any society. Perhaps Strauss and Howes ideas are somewhat simplistic; however they do show an unmistakable pattern in history, and how these cultural and educational declines form. Bauerlein was correct when he said in his book If you ignore the traditions that ground and ennoble our society, you are an incomplete person and a negligent citizen(233). Respect for history and culture is an integral part of any healthy society, and we are ignoring the past and the cultural traditions that grounded our United States. As the hardships of history seem more and more distant, we end up feeling entitled, and with that sense of entitlement the drive to do better and learn more decreases. Ultimately our digital age is not the cause of our decline in knowledge, as the cycle will manifest itself in any way it sees fit. That is not to say our downward spiral in knowledge is uncorrectable; Neil Howe when asked of the implications of the turnings on education, offered his solution as to how education should chan ge for the millennial generation: The answer lies in getting away from at-risk and damage control in education, and moving to a new model based on confidence and teamwork and mastery of the future. Thats what young Millennials want. Thats where we all should want to go. (Howe) Perhaps this is the basis for our happy medium between Bauerlein, Postman, and Johnson. An educational system tailored for the specific needs of the millennial generation, in which basic academics such as the arts, math, science, and history are sustained and taught while keeping in mind the technologies of today so we can be the masters of our future. One thing however, is clear: if we do nothing, our societal knowledge deficit will only increase, and therefore our hopes and dreams for a prosperous future will decrease. Works Cited Anderson, Elizabeth. Teenagers Spend 27 Hours a Week Online: How Internet Use Has Ballooned in the Last Decade. The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 11 May 2015, www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/11597743/Teenagers-spend-27-hours-a-week-online-how-internet-use-has-ballooned-in-the-last-decade.html. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. Bauerlein, Mark. The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future: or, Dont Trust Anyone under 30. The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future: or, Dont Trust Anyone under 30, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, New York, NY, 2009, pp. 17-233. Calvert, Sandra, et al. APA Review Confirms Link Between Playing Violent Video Games and Aggression. American Psycological Assosiation, 13 Aug. 2015, www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/08/violent-video-games.aspx. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. DeSilver, Drew. U.S. Students Academic Achievement Still Lags That of Their Peers in Many Other Countries. Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 15 Feb. 2017, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. Florida, Richard. The Worlds Leading Nations for Innovation and Technology. CityLab, The Atlantic Monthly Group, 3 Oct. 2011, www.citylab.com/tech/2011/10/worlds-leading-nations-innovation-and-technology/224/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. Hines, Andy. Generational cycles predict a coming crisis. The Futurist, July-Aug. 1997, p. 14+. Academic OneFile, libproxy.pcc.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.pcc.edu/ps/i.do?p=AONEsw=wu=pccv=2.1it=rid=GALE%7CA19980267asid=38e088024faf67596109c7bf0061be90. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017. Best-selling generations author: Neil Howe to speak and release new book at ACTE Orlando Convention. Techniques, vol. 78, no. 6, 2003, p. 50+. Academic OneFile, libproxy.pcc.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.pcc.edu/ps/i.do?p=AONEsw=wu=pccv=2.1it=rid=GALE%7CA107896862asid=07a32adf7390680b62b43a336c026119. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017. Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Popular Culture Is Making Us Smarter. Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Popular Culture Is Making Us Smarter, Riverhead Books, New York, 2005, pp. 9-115. Schuster, Ruth. Why Do Jews Win so Many Nobels? Haaretz.com, Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd., 9 Oct. 2013, www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/1.551520. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. Postman, Neil. Chapter 5: The Peek-a-Boo World. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Showbusiness, Penguin Books, New York, 1985, p. 80. Rainie, Lee, and Andrew Perrin. Slightly Fewer Americans Are Reading Print Books, New Survey Finds. Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center , 19 Oct. 2015, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/10/19/slightly-fewer-americans-are-reading-print-books-new-survey-finds/#. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. RMIT University. Online gaming can boost school scores: Video games sharpen math, science and reading skills among 15-year-olds, but social media reduces test results. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 August 2016. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160808115442.htm. Is Reality TV Making You Stupid?. Scholastic Scope, vol. 59, no. 3, 11 Oct. 2010, pp. 14-15. EBSCOhost, libproxy.pcc.edu/login?qurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ebscohost.com%2flogin.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26db%3daph%26AN%3d54315625%26site%3dehost-live.

Identity in Hurtson’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, Kingston’s Woman Wa

Identity in Hurtson’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, Kingston’s Woman Warrior, and Spiegelman’s Maus Despite being a very diverse literature genre in terms of influence and inspiration, North American literature encompasses many works that share some very common thematic elements. Though there are several themes shared, one in particular can be found in most any work – the importance of identity. Particularly in some selected pieces yet to be named, identity is a very important element, not only because it is a necessity for a main character in any work of literature, but because these works express ideas about identity as being very individualistic – as opposed to being a mere result of cultural surroundings. Zora Neal Hurtson’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, Maxine Hong Kingston’s Woman Warrior, and Art Spiegelman’s Maus; these three works illustrate identity in this manner – a development of self, influenced yet not controlled by elements of relevant cultures. Hurtson’s tale tells a fictional account of Janie Crawford, a middle-aged black woman who goes through a search, and a struggle through opposing forces in her surrounding culture, in her quest to celebrate her own individual identity. The opposing cultural influence begins right from her childhood – her grandmother who raises her, whose cultural views are influenced by the common ideas of the outside world, seeks out to find a man she can marry to secure her a strong social status. She marries her off to a man name Logan Killicks, a successful farmer, and Janie begins to realize that the role that culture sees fit for her makes her very unhappy. Logan does not treat her very respectfully, and sees her as a mere fixture in the household, such as was the common cultur... ...dual identities sought by their respective protagonists. These identities all become realized and celebrated through these stories in some way shape or form. Not only are these expressions of who they are, but they show a desire to go against cultural backdrops that dictate their identities to be something they do not want them to be. Identity is a necessity in literary works, but it does not always take on this kind of thematic meaning. In these stories, identity is a struggle that culminates with a celebration of self; that very struggle makes these stories what they are, and radiate the ideal of individuality. Works Cited: Hurston, Zora Neale. (1937). Their Eyes Were Watching God. J.B. Lippincott Inc. Kingston, Maxine Hong. (1975). Woman Warrior. New York, Toronto: Random House, Inc. Spiegelman, Art. (1973). Maus. New York, Toronto: Random House, Inc.

West Nile Virus :: Biology Health Medical Essays

West Nile Virus Life History West Nile Virus, WNV, was first isolated in 1937 in the West Nile section of Uganda. It was the found in Egypt in the 1950's. It was first found to cause meningitis and encephalitis during an outbreak amongst elderly people in Israel in 1957. It was first found to infect other vertebrates (equine species) in France in the early 1960's. It did not cross over to the US until 1999 and has now spread to 44 states. There have been 8219 cases in the US since then with 182 deaths. Connecticut has had 12 cases without a death. Microbial Characteristics WNV belongs to the virus family arboviruses, so called because they are arthropod-borne. The virion is about 40 nm in size. WNV is a +ssRNA virus. It is also an enveloped, icosahedral virus. Incubation period is about 3-14 days. Transmission WNV is transmitted by the female mosquito of the Culex species and can be transmitted to many vertebrates including birds, horses, dogs, cats, and humans. WNV has not been found to be transmitted through person-to-person contact or between any of the secondary carriers (i.e. birds to humans, etc.). It can be spread through blood transfusion, but this has only happened twice in the US. Symptoms Most people who are infected with West Nile virus either have no symptoms or experience mild illness such as fever, headache and body aches before fully recovering. Some persons may also develop a mild rash or swollen lymph glands. In some individuals, particularly the elderly, West Nile virus can cause serious disease that affects brain and spinal tissue. Severe illness may include encephalitis, meningitis, and acute flaccid paralysis. Symptoms may include: headache, high fever, stiff neck, confusion, coma, tremors, convulsions, and muscle weakness or paralysis. At its most serious, West Nile virus cancause permanent neurological damage or death. The fatality rate is 10-15% of t he only 1% that develop the more severe condition. Diagnosis Diagnostic testing is usually only done on patients that acquire the more severe meningitis or encephalitis. A MAC-ELISA test is performed on the CSF to detect any virus specific IgM. A MAC-ELISA can also be done on serum samples to confirm viremia. Like many other new viral diseases, this test is done when all other infections, bacterial or otherwise, are ruled out as the causitive agent. Diagnosis is based highly on clinical suspicion.

Chacter Sketch Miss Brill Essay

Katherine Mansfield illustrates in the story the protagonist Miss Brill as a middle aged women with no family that believes she has a social life, which consists of watching other people interact with each other. Mansfield parallels Miss Brill with the fur she keeps wrapped up in a box until Sunday. She demonstrates a dynamic character that receives a reality check from the â€Å"real† world where she belongs rather than in a chimerical world she made up. Mansfield creates a colorful character who symbolizes her old, worn fur and lacks the reality of the outside world. Mansfield’s parallelism between Miss Brill and her fur shows the reader that Miss Brill stays in a box in a dark closet until Sunday when she â€Å"acts† in the play of the outside world. Mansfield describes the fur’s eyes asking â€Å"what has happened to me?† as Miss Brill had to â€Å"rub some life back into its dim little eyes † after it sat in the box for some period of time. Just like the fur Miss Brill stays bottled up in box in her apartment until Sunday when she goes to watch the band play. Both the fur and Miss Brill have aged and do not leave their perimeter until Miss Brill’s cue to enter the stage of the world. The outside world helps to sculpt Miss Brill into a dynamic charter. The realization of the outside world and her view change on the world around her allows her to wed the name of a dynamic character. Miss Brill forms a world of her own that she lives through. She sees all of the people she observes as â€Å"just coming from dark, little rooms or even- even cupboards. † In reality Miss Brill is the one that hides in the cupboard from the outside world until Sunday when she liberates herself from the dark room. She lives her social life through the lives of the people around her. She believes she interacts with the outside world and that she had a vital role in the play that the world undergoes. Miss Brill soon learns that her presence does not have a great impact on her peers as their presence does on her. During the performance of the band Miss Brill pays more attention to the conversations of the people she sits next to then the performance. As she ease dropped on a young couple she over heard them mocking her. Miss Brill realizes that she does not have the same importance to them as they do to her. Her chimerical world bursts as she becomes exposed to the real world and the realization of  her importance. The comprehension of the real world has a severe importance to Miss Brill. If Miss Brill did not come to a realization of the outside world she would follow the footsteps of Willy Loman from A Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman lacked realization of the real world just as Miss Brill did. His delusional behavior and lack of connection with the real world lead to his suicide. If Miss Brill did not understand her mirage of the world she might have landed in the grave just as Willy Loman had. The protagonist Miss Brill faces the antagonist of reality. She comprehends that she has lived in a fantasy world that revolved around her having the same impact on everyone as they do on her. If she did not come to an understanding she would have followed in the footsteps of the delusional Willy Loman who committed suicide. Mansfield parallels Miss Brill and her fur because both have aged and do not leave their boxes until Sunday. The story informs the reader that sometimes elderly and lonely people live in made up world and when welcomed back into reality have a hard time cooping with it.

Depression and Suicide in Native American Adolescents Essay

Depression and Suicide in Native American Adolescents Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United States records the highest number of both successful suicides as well as attempted suicides on an annual basis. According to studies, 80 people commit suicide on a daily basis whereas emergency departments receive thousands of visits with cases of self-inflicted injuries (Ginsburg et al., 2008). Teenagers aged 15-24 report the highest cases of successful suicide and suicide attempts. Native American teenagers make the largest percentage of these suicides. According to Gary (2005), stress is the main reason why suicide related cases are ever on the rise in the US. This stress normally results from depression, which comes in different forms such as self-doubt, uncertainty about the future as well as strains of being successful. Apart from providing an analysis on the high rate of depression and suicide among Native American adolescents, the study talks about necessary measures that ought to be taken in a move to curb these suicide cases. Depression   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to studies, depression is the act of feeling sad, this occurs when one is not satisfied with a certain outcome (Walls et al., 2007). Depressions could be disastrous if not handled in the right manner. For instance, a person experiencing depression is likely to commit a heinous act if appropriate measures are not taken to curb the situation. Lack of proper attention is the reason why most Native American youths are committing suicide in the United States. According to studies, many Native American teenagers become depressed due to a number of reasons, for instance, frequent family disputes as well as poor performance in schools (CDC, 2010). Native Americans have incurred a number of problems throughout their lives. For instance, apart from exploitation, Native Americans have lived in adverse poverty for decades. This level of poverty has made it difficult for most parents to offer their children quality education since most of the m live in poor and unhealthy lifestyles (Listug-Lunde, Vogeltanz-Holm & Collins, 2013).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   High rate of poverty is the main reason why many Native American adolescents end up becoming depressed. Due to poverty, youths are forced out of school, hence; they spend most of the time working for the family in addition to seeking low paying jobs in major cities. Since these youths spend most of the time outside the classroom, this result to poor performance, hence, low self-esteem (Gary, 2005). Dropping out of school is more devastating for girls compared to boys. This is because, these girls are likely to become pregnant and this makes life even more difficult for them, hence, this is the reason why girls are the most affected with depression compared to boys (NAMI, 2014). Due to the unhealthy lifestyles, Native American parents have higher chances of divorce compared to other races. Conflicts and separations among Native American parents also play a major role when it comes to depression among youths. When a family files for a divorc e, life becomes even more difficult compared to how it was before the separation. It is through these challenges that most adolescents gradually develop the feeling of depression, making them commit inhumane atrocities such as suicide. Suicide   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to studies conducted by Balis and Postolache (2008), suicide comes third among the leading causes of deaths in adolescents residing in the United States. The reason why most American Native adolescents contemplate suicide is because they tend to believe it is the only solution to the challenges they incur. There are different methods in which suicide attempts are made. For instance, apart from suffocation by hanging, other common forms of suicide include the use of poison as well as firearms (CDC, 2010). According to studies, most boys tend to use firearms when committing suicide whereas girls opt for poison or the suffocation method. According to Gilder and Ehlers (2012), most teenagers contemplate suicide after undergoing major disappointments. Apart from strained interpersonal relationships, other factors that have contributed to high incidences of suicide cases among Native American teenagers include high level of stress. Acc ording to studies, Native American adolescents are likely to undergo high levels of stress that come as a result of divorce by parents. Girls opt to commit suicide after being victims of sexual or physical abuse (Listug-Lunde, Vogeltanz-Holm & Collins, 2013).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The reason why Native Americans have the highest reports of suicide incidences is due to the lack of good relations, which are of great importance especially during emotional changes (Gary, 2005). A good support network is essential since it acts as an outlet that helps them deal with the inner feeling. It is evident that people that are depressed commit most suicide attempts. According to studies, depression is usually considered a mental health disorder since it causes chemical imbalances within one’s brain. These imbalances result to lethargy, despondency as well as general apathy towards one’s life, hence, causing one to contemplate suicide (NAMI, 2014). Substance abuse is another main cause of suicide among Native American adolescents. Most youths start using illegal substances due to numerous challenges they undergo. Through peer pressure, youths are made to believe that drug abuse and consumption of alcohol will reliev e them of their problems (Faye, 2005). Risk factors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Suicidal incidences never occur out of blues, these victims display a number of signs. The reason why most of the suicides are successful is that most people notice these signs but they never take any precautionary measures. Studies show that firearms are the most used weapons among teenagers that commit suicide (CDC, 2010). The reason why guns are the most used weapons is due to their easy accessibility. Apart from firearms, adolescents have access to other items such as alcohol and motor vehicles. Some of the signs shown by people contemplating suicide include sudden withdrawal from peers or family members as well as the loss of interest in activities that were pleasurable in the past. According to studies, people contemplating suicide tend to be more aggressive than usual (Gilder &Ehlers, 2012). Hence, it is the responsibility of family members and close peers to monitor people displaying such behavioral changes. These behaviors are rar ely considered among the Native Americans and it is the reason why this tribe records the highest rate casualties.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When it comes to risk factors associated with suicide attempts, one’s genetic factor also plays a major role. According to Theodora and Teodor (2008), some suicidal thoughts are usually genetic. Hence, the suicidal history of one’s family also needs to be put into consideration. Apart from behavioral changes, other factors that need consideration when focusing on risk factors includes gender, ethnicity one’s and socioeconomic status. For instance, in the case of gender and ethnicity, boys are five times likely to commit suicide compared to their female counterparts. As for age, teenagers above 20 years are more likely to commit suicide compared to those aged 12 and below. Geographically, most cases of teenage suicide and usually experienced in the western states such as Alaska (Theodora & Teodor, 2008). Intervention/Treatment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In order to reduce the rate of suicide incidences among adolescents, appropriate intervention measures ought to be considered. For instance, families and peers need to monitor each other in a move to identify any behavioral changes that might arise. Early identification of behavioral changes is quite beneficial since it minimizes chances of successful suicidal attempts. Apart from monitoring behavioral changes, identification and minimization of risk factors is also of great importance. For instance, limiting the access of firearms as well as alcohol and drugs will result to a reduction in suicidal attempts (Theodora & Teodor, 2008). Youths need to be encouraged to participate in physical activities since it tends to reduce one’s thoughts of contemplating suicide. Youths under the influence of drugs require proper attention since they are likely to commit heinous acts such as committing suicide. Such people ought to be placed under psychological or clinical care where they are to undergo rehabilitation programs (NAMI, 2014).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Family support plays a major role when it comes to minimizing the rate of youth suicidal attempts. Through family support, youths feel wanted and this results to minimal suicidal thoughts. Lack of family support increases the chances of suicidal attempts since these youths tend to believe that they are not wanted; this is because they do not feel the parental love (Gilder & Ehlers, 2012). Another intervention measure is by educating youths about religious believes. Teaching teenagers about the Bible and God’s teaching will minimize suicidal attempts (Theodora & Teodor, 2008). This is because adolescents will realize that they are the children of God who loves them and will not be happy when they commit suicide since he has good plans for them. Though the Bible, teenagers will also learn how to pray to God and ask for strengths in times of temptations. Similarly, urgent medical attention needs to be sought on youths that are undergoi ng depression (NAMI, 2014). Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cases of teenage suicide in the US are ever on the rise. According to studies, 80 people commit suicide on a daily basis, most of them Native American teenagers. Stress is one main factor that causes most youths to contemplate suicide. Most American Native youths become stressed after they drop out of school due to poverty, physical and sexual abuse as well as family wrangles such as divorce. Apart from suffocation by hanging, other common forms of suicide include poisoning and the use of firearms. In order to minimize the rate of youth suicide, a number of risk factors ought to be put into consideration. For instance, apart from behavioral changes, family members need to look out for other traits such sudden withdrawal from family members and peers in addition to the sudden loss of interest in activities that were pleasurable in the past. Some of the intervention measures required in a move to curb youth suicide include the monitoring of behavioral changes, limiting the access of firearms and alcohol and seeking medical attention of youths experiencing depression. Finally, educating youths about the Bible and how to pray whenever they are faced with temptations will also reduce youth’s suicidal attempts. References Balis, T. & Postolache, T. (2008). â€Å"Ethnic Differences in Adolescent Suicide in the United States.† NCBI. 1(3): 281–296. Retrieved on 9 December 2014 from http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Portals/0/Families/Suicide%20Prevention/Native%20American%20Males/Reports/Suicide_in_Native_American_males_FINAL.pdf Gary, F. A. (2005). Perspectives on Suicide Prevention among American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Adolescents: A Call for Help. Online Journal of Issues In Nursing, 10(2), 170-211. Retrieved on 9 December 2014 from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=daf42f13-b168-42b7-b4388b238c57fed4%40sessionmgr4005&vid=37&hid=4104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=17356288 Gilder, D.& Ehlers, C. (2012). â€Å"Depression Symptoms Associated with Cannabis Dependence in an Adolescent American Indian Community Sample.† NCBI.21(6): 536–543. Retrieved on 9 December 2014 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3498983/ Ginsburg, G. S., Baker, E. V., Mullany, B. C., Barlow, A., Goklish, N., Hastings, R., &Walkup, J. (2008). Depressive Symptoms Among Reservation-based Pregnant American Indian Adolescents. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 12110-118. doi:10.1007/s10995-008-0352-2 Listug-Lunde, L., Vogeltanz-Holm, N., & Collins, J. (2013). A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment For Depression In Rural American Indian Middle School Students. American Indian &Alaska Native Mental Health Research: The Journal Of The National Center, 20(1), 16-34 NAMI. (2014). Mental Illness. Retrieved on 9 December 2014 from http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness Walls, M. L., Chapple, C. L., & Johnson, K. D. (2007). Strain, Emotion, and Suicide among American Indian Youth. Deviant Behavior, 28(3), 219-246. doi:10.1080/01639620701233100 Source document

Alternatives to Incarceration Essay

In today’s economy keeping people in prison is becoming an ugly, expensive mess. There are now so many alternatives to incarceration that we need to explore and start using. Johnny Cash wrote a song called â€Å"Folsom Prison Blues† describing the angst of inmates, permanently immortalizing them in the publics minds. However, now that prisons across the country are running out of resources and space, it is the prison officials who are feeling the blues. There are a number of alternatives that are used for offenders who have committed non-violent crimes. The options can range from probation all the way to public shaming. For those who have been convicted of drunk driving, public shaming might have the most impact. In some states, convicted offenders will be made to drive around with signs put on their cars stating that they have been convicted. No one convicted of this sort of crime runs around announcing what they have done because its embarrassing. In general most prefer to keep it a secret because it is humiliating. With signs pasted to their vehicles, there is no way to escape the public knowing what they have done. Another option used for drunk driving is the use of a breathalyzer. This device is installed into the offenders car and the car is actually programmed not to start if they are intoxicated. This could put a definite damper on party habits. Another alternative that has popped up is based out of Texas. Texas is one of the last few states that enforces the death penalty and also has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Ironically, a state with such an â€Å"iron fist† reputation, has started to put offenders on probation and sentence them to read as opposed to prison time. This trend has slowly started to spread across the United States. Offenders and repeat offenders are ordered to attend a specific reading group where they get into discussions over classics like â€Å"Of Mice and Men† and â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird.† A study was done from 1997 to 2008 and it was discovered that only 6% were either sent back to jail or had their probations revoked. Another perk of this program is that it only costs taxpayers $500 a year as opposed to the $30,000 a year it takes to keep an inmate imprisoned. This programs seems to work best for those who have been convicted of crimes involving robbery or drug abuse. It gives them a chance to have a voice and even a sense of identity and confidence. Another tough crime to address as far as sentencing goes, is when a person is arrested and that individual is mentally ill. For the longest time when someone was arrested for drug possession, trespassing or any other non-violent offense, they were automatically sent to jail or probation, regardless of their mental instability. Now it seems, there is a new option of an alternative court type setting where attorneys, mental health organizations, and the judge work together to coordinate a treatment option that will ensure the offender will stay on the right path. So many people are incarcerated who have mental illnesses, yet have never had the opportunity to be officially diagnosed and continue to go untreated. Providing treatment is the right thing to do, it is humane, and is even more cost effective then incarceration. Overall the criminal justice system needs to really start to change the way certain offenders are handled and then pretty much lost in the system. It effectively helps to create more and more offenders and even encourages repeat offenders. Financially for taxpayers it makes more sense. It is cheaper to provide outpatient options and treatments then to pay to keep an offender confined in prison. Aside from all of this, the criminal justice system needs to remember these low level offenders are still human beings. We all make mistakes and deserve to do the appropriate punishments, but a lot of these mistakes might just benefit more from appropriate treatment programs and interventions. Hard prison time is not always the best answer. References: 1) The Economist, July issue, 2010 2) Nolo.com 3) American Psychological Association 4) The Guardian, July, 2010

Chekhov essays

Chekhov essays Chekhov wants us to see the conflict between authority and freedom, as portrayed by two characters, Nikolai Ivanich and Ivan Ivanich. They are siblings who have differences of values, desires, and personality. Nikolai is a representative of authority while Ivan is a representative of freedom. Nikolai is too obsessive with his definite desire of having his own estate. As we see, Nikolai keeps thinking all the time about obtaining country-dwelling; he always reads advertisements of the sale of so many acres of arable and meadowland, with residence attached, a river, an orchard, a mill, and ponds fed by springs and he also makes plans for his estate which show same features:(the main residence, the servants wing, the kitchen-garden, and gooseberry bushes.) Moreover, he is so ambitious that he can do everything like living thriftily, dressing like a beggar, and saving up all money in the bank, in order to succeed his dream. His marriage with an ugly widow only to gain her money and not considering himself guilty of her death caused from his regime show his selfishness. Nikolais purpose in yearning for the estate is to uplift his social status, wanting to be a gentry as we see that he likes to act in the most ministerial manner, he also repeats that we the gentry, or spe aking as a gentleman, and seems to have quite forgotten that his grandfather was a peasant, and his father a common soldier. These express that he has aristocratic values and doesnt want to return to the state of poverty, being the peasant as the time after his fathers death. Besides, his taking offence if the peasants dont call him Your Honour and his saying that I only have to lift my finger, and the people will do whatever I want show his authoritative figure. Ivan Ivanich is a romantic character; he likes to ...