Title the Outsiders- by Se Hinton Why Gangs Portrayed in...

Gangs. This is what is portrayed in SE Hinton s novel, The Outsiders. Two different gangs from opposite ends of the social ladder clash in this epic novel of social tension between two rival groups, the Socs and the Greasers. The main character, 14-year-old Ponyboy, is a Greaser who lives under the cycle of poverty and endless pressure from the Socs. They are the upper class Westside crowd who are accepted in society. The Greasers, in contrast, struggle to put food on the table and are social outcasts. SE Hinton has mentioned about gangs several times in her novel. But what really defines a gang? According to some, it is, A group of young people who spend time together for social reasons. While others define gangs as, A group of people†¦show more content†¦Turfs, are the areas in which the gangs dwell. They can be marked, but are usually known by word of mouth, as in The Outsiders. When Ponyboy and Johnny came across the drunken Socs, Ponyboy commented how this was their gro und. The Socs also acknowledged that it indeed was. The fear, or more respect, factor also applies here. The residents within a certain gang s turf usually respect the gang, or fear them. An example was when the two gangs had a showdown, Steve commented that no one would dare call the cops, because there would be a manhunt from both sides. Though they didn t urinate to mark their territory, turf is essential for a gang. The rivalry between other gangs is made prominent at the beginning of the book when Ponyboy gets jumped by a group of Socs. The feud between the Greasers and the Socs is long lived, though they are merely divided by social classes. The Greasers get jumped by the Socs for their endless amusement. When Johnny puts a Soc out of his misery, the tension increased. There are many different reasons why the rivalry may occur. One is to obtain the territory. In the text, when the Socs came to pummel Ponyboy and Johnny, Pony questioned them about being on their terrain. Another one could be just to prove themselves, which could be another rivalry established. A Social named Randy asked Ponyboy about what the fighting would prove, and Ponyboy realized that nothing was really to be proved by all

Reflective Report on Group Work Essay - 2909 Words

Reflection on group work Project |Content |Page | |Content |2 | |Introduction |3 | |The Group |3 | |My role in the Group |4 |†¦show more content†¦At this stage emotion was shown and excitement expressed towards the work we had to do. A timetable for regular meetings was given to each individual of the group by the project director and at each meeting’s ‘minutes’ were taken by one member of the group in order to keep track of the work that had been done. Then comes the performing where the team knew each other and structure and guideline were clear and cohesive. The team now focused on a common goal of developing the ideas for the ‘Lush’ event. At the beginning of this stage, all members of the group were getting together regularly and were constructing and expanding ideas for the project as well as for the presentation. However, unfortunately the group did not stay this way for very long. Distraction and lack of interest emerge d bringing the whole group down to anxiety and disagreement. I as group leader was rather unsuccessful in putting the team together and in demanding more of a serious commitment from them. At this stage, the group should have been able to have delivered a successful project in the form of a presentation. Instead, all the hard work that had been done was diverted into a lack of interest and commitment resulting in a negative consequence. The final stage is the adjourning, where ‘Essence Events’ group disbanded. 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Organic Chemistry for Chemical and Physical Data - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theOrganic Chemistry for Chemical and Physical Data. Answer: Introduction The boiling point is defined as the temperature at which a pure substance under normal pressure of 1 atmosphere changes from liquid phase to gaseous phase (Ophardt, 2003). The molecules of a liquid are packed closely and held together by inter-molecular forces of attraction. When a liquid is heated, the molecules acquire kinetic energy resulting to increased vibrations. As more energy is supplied, the vibrations become intense enough to overcome the intermolecular forces and the molecules break free becoming a gas (Ophardt, 2003). Gas molecules are not in contact with each other. The boiling points of organic compounds depend on the strength of the inter-molecular forces between the molecules. Stronger intermolecular forces require a lot of energy to overcome resulting to higher boiling points. Among the common inter-molecular forces include hydrogen bonds, dipole-dipole interactions and Van der Waals (London dispersion forces) (Reusch, 1999). The strongest intermolecular forces are Hydrogen bonds while the weakest are London dispersion forces (Clayden, 2012) The nature of inter-molecular forces of attraction between molecules is dependent on the polarity of the molecules (Ophardt, 2003). Highly polar molecules are held together by very strong intermolecular forces of attraction (Hydrogen bonds and dipole-dipole interactions) leading to high boiling points while non-polar molecules have very weak intermolecular associations (London dispersion forces) leading to low boiling point. The degree of polarity of a molecule is determined by the nature of the functional group present (Ophardt, 2003). Comparison of the boiling points of given compounds .The boiling points of 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 2-pentanone and 1-hexanol together with their formulae and molar masses are as tabulated in table 1. Table1: formula, mass and boiling point of given organic compounds (Lide, 2005; ONeil, 2001; Haynes, 2014) Compound Molecular formula Structural formula Molar mass (g) Boiling point (0C) 1-pentanol C5H12O CH3(CH2)3CH2OH 88.15 138 2-pentanol C5H12O CH3(CH2)2CHOHCH3 88.15 119 2-pentanone C5H10O CH3(CH2)2COCH3 86.134 102 1-hexanol C6H14O CH3(CH2)4CH2OH 102.177 157 The boiling points of the four compounds increase in the order: 2-pentanone2-pentanol1-pentanol1-hexanol. 2-pentanone has the lowest boiling point while 1-hexanol has the highest boiling point. The differences in the boiling points arise due to differences in the molecular structures of the compounds (Brown, 2000) and the type of intermolecular forces existing between the molecules of each compound (Carrey, 2001). Boiling points of organic compounds increase with increase in molecular mass (Brown, 2000). For compounds with comparable molecular masses, the boiling points depend on the nature of the inter-molecular forces between the molecules. The molecular structures of the four compounds are as shown below. 2-pentanol 1-hexanol 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol and 1-hexanol are all alcohols. In alcohols, the oxygen atom is directly bonded to a hydrogen atom. Because O is highly electronegative, it attracts the electrons of the O-H bond, acquiring a partial negative charge and the H acquires a partial positive charged. The positive H attracts lone-electrons from O atom of neighboring molecules resulting to the formation of hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds are the strongest intermolecular forces and this explains why alcohols have unusually high boiling points when compared to other organic compounds of comparable molecular size (Solomons, 2008). Among alcohols, the boiling point increase with increase in molecular weight. As the carbon chain increases, the van der Waals dispersion forces between the molecules become stronger due to additional electrons and these results to increased boiling point for longer chain alcohols (wade, 2014). 1-pentanol and 2-pentanol have same molecular mass (88.15 g) because they both have 5 carbon atoms. 1-hexanol on the other hand, has 6 carbon atoms and a higher molecular mass (102.177 g). The boiling point of 1-hexanol (157 0C) is higher than that of both 1-pentanol (138 0C) and 2-pentanol (119 0C) due to stronger van der Waals arising from the increased length of the carbon chain. For alcohols with the same molecular weight, the boiling points vary with the strength of hydrogen bonds which is directly impacted by the extent of exposure of the O-H bond. Generally, primary alcohols have higher boiling points, followed by secondary alcohols and tertiary alcohols have the lowest boiling points (Wade, 2014). In primary alcohols, the O-H is more exposed and can readily interact with other molecules leading to stronger hydrogen bonds and higher boiling point. 1-pentanol and 2-pentanol have the same molecular mass. However, 1-pentanol is a primary alcohol and 2-pentanol is a secondary alcohol. In 1-pentanol, the O-H group is located at the terminal end of the chain and linked with only 1 alkyl group. The O-H group is more exposed and can interact with the O-H of many neighboring molecules leading to strong hydrogen bonds and this explains why the boiling point of 1-pentanol is higher than that of 2-pentanol. In 2-pentanol, the O-H is linked to two alkyl groups. The presence of many alky groups hinders the interaction of the O-H group with many adjacent molecules, leading to relatively weaker hydrogen bonds as compared to those formed by 1-pentanol. Consequently, the boiling point of 2-pentanol is relatively lower than that of 1-pentanol. 2-pentanone has the lowest boiling point when compared to the rest of the compounds which are alcohols with comparable masses. 2-pentanone is a ketone with 5 carbon atoms. In 2-pentanone, carbonyl bond (O=C) is highly polar. Since O is more electronegative than C, it pulls the electrons of the bond towards itself, making the O end of the bond partially negatively charged and the C end partially positive. This results to the formation of a dipole. Positive end of one molecule attracts the negative end of neighboring molecules and thus, the molecules are held together by dipole-dipole forces of attraction between the molecules (Solomon, 2008). Dipole-dipole attractions are relatively strong and this gives 2-pentanone the significantly high boiling point (102 0C). The boiling point of 2-pentanone is lower than that of the corresponding alcohols because the dipole-dipole attractions are not as strong as the hydrogen bonding found in alcohols. Conclusion The boiling points of the given compounds are in the order: 2-pentanone2-pentanol1-pentanol1-hexanol. 2-pentanone has the lowest boiling point while 1-hexanol has the highest boiling point. Alcohols have high boiling point because of the hydrogen bonding between O and H of neighboring molecules. Primary alcohols have higher boiling point than secondary alcohols because the O-H is more exposed in 1o alcohol forming stronger hydrogen bonds. Ketones have lower boiling point than alcohols because they lack hydrogen bonds. References Brown,W.H., Iverson,B.L., Anslyn,E.V., Foote,C.S. (2000). Organic chemistry. Carey,F.A., Giuliano,R.M. (2001). Organic chemistry. New York: McGraw-Hill Education. Clayden,J., Greeves,N., Warren,S.G. (2012). Organic chemistry. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Haynes, W. M. (2015). CRC handbook of chemistry and physics. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press. Lide, D. R. (2005). CRC handbook of chemistry and physics: a ready-reference book of chemical and physical data. Boca Raton, Fla, CRC Press. Bottom of Form Oneil, M. J. (2001). The Merck index. Whitehouse Station, N.J., Merck Ophardt,C. (2003). Polarity of Organic Compounds. Retrieved from https://chemistry.elmhurst.edu/vchembook/213organicfcgp.html Reusch,W. (1999). Virtual textbook of organic chemistry. Retrieved from https://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/reusch/virttxtjml/intro1.htm Solomons, T. W. G., Fryhle, C. B. (2008). Organic chemistry. Chichester, John Wiley Sons. Wade, L. G. (2014). Organic chemistry. Harlow, Pearson Education.

Pitfalls Of Relativism Essays (2294 words) - Relativism,

Pitfalls Of Relativism Pitfalls of Relativism The year was 1943. Hundreds of Jewish people were being marched into the gas chambers in accordance with Adolf Hitler's orders. In the two years that followed, millions of Jews were killed. Only a fraction survived the painful ordeals at the Nazi German prison camps. However, all of the chaos ended as World War II came to a close: the American and British soldiers had won and Hitler's Third Reich was no more. A certain ethical position would state that the anti-semantic Nazi German culture was neither right nor wrong in its actions. In fact, it is this view of the cultural relativist that assume all actions considered right in a culture to be good for that culture alone. Moreover, the relativist claims that these actions can not be judged according to their ethical correctness because there is no absolute standard by which they could be compared. In the above case, this position would not allow for the American and British soldiers to interfere with the Nazis; the relativist would claim that the Allies were wrong in fighting the Germans due to a cultural disagreement. In truth, it is the relativist position, which has both negative logical and practical consequences, and negligible benefits. The first logical consequence of relativism is that the believer must contradict himself in order to uphold his belief. The view states that all ethics are relative while putting forth the idea that no absolute standard of rightness exists. If this is the case, then what is cultural relativism relative to? From a purely logical point of view, this idea is absurd, for in assuming that something is relative one must first have some absolute by which it is judged. Let the reader consider this example to reinforce the point. A young woman is five feet tall, and her older friend is six feet tall. The younger female considers herself short because she looks at her friend and sees that her friend is taller than she is. It would be illogical to say that the first woman is short if she were the only female in existence; if this were the case then there would not be anyone for her to be relative to in height. However, this logical fallacy is what the relativist assumes by stating that there is no standard of rightness for relativity. Quite simply, the cultural relativist is stating that he is relative to an absolute, which he considers non-existent. Another logical error that the relativist makes lies in his Cultural Differences Argument (Rachels p.454). The premise of this argument is that different cultures have different moral codes (Rachels p.454). The conclusion that the relativist derives is that there is no objective 'truth' in morality, [and therefore] right and wrong are only matters of opinion [that] vary from culture to culture (Rachels p.454). The main logical problem with this argument is that the stated conclusion does not necessarily need to be the case if the premise is given. The premise states what different people believe to be true, and the conclusion jumps to the assumption that this belief must necessarily be the case. Let the reader consider this instance, which closely follows the form of the above given argument. Assume that there is a society that believes that sunning as much as possible in the nude can only benefit a person. Due to scientific study, it has been experimentally shown that overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer. Being in the American culture, people know this to be true and therefore would disagree with sunning too often. According to the relativist, since the two cultures disagree concerning the practice of sunning there is no objective truth about it. However, this is a faulty conclusion because empirical evidence shows that the first culture would be wrong in its beliefs. In truth, one cannot derive a substantive conclusion about a subject (morally) from the mere fact that people disagree about it (Rachel p.454). Having discussed the logical consequences of relativism, it is necessary to expound upon the effects of its practice. The first of these repercussions is that culture determines what is functionally right and wrong. This means that the individual has

Racial Profiling Ges MAinstrea essays

Racial Profiling Ges MAinstrea essays Eighteen years ago a 12 year old witnessed members of his family, neighbors and school friends slaughtered from a distance. He saw an army take on people with rocks and stones. As he watched this, he thought, why cant Reagan [Ronald Reagan, president of the U.S. at that time] just take over the world...then the entire world could be at peace, there would be no more war, for there would be nothing to fight for. This thought came from a Palestinian boy who witnessed the massacre that took place in his hometown in Palestine. His name is Yassir Khaluf, who is now a quite wealthy business owner in Lexington, Kentucky. Back then Yassir saw a world full of hate. Yet, I could not understand why border lines could be so important, so important that people could kill people, and hate one another(Khluf interview). When we see what has happened in our country in the last months it is hard not to hate, it is almost impossible not to be angry, and these emotions have merit. If you are an American citizen you should be angry, you should be upset, these are our fellow citizens, our fellow freedom loving brothers and sisters that died for what? But in the midst of all of this why should we turn and accuse people of committing a crime due to their race or religious affiliation? Should our law enforcement agencies use racial profiling as a tool to fight terrorism? When I sat down for a few minutes with Mr. Khaluf, I was probing for a different point of view. Looking for an angle on our country that we dont normally hear. I got just that. According to Yassir, Right now is a horrible time to be Arab in America. I am afraid to purchase a house because I am afraid it will be taken from me. I feel great compassion for what has happened, yet I wish that Americans would understand that not all Arabs are bad (Khaluf interview). When Yassir refers to Americans, he means those who are being r...

Average National SAT Scores for 2015

Average National SAT Scores for 2015 SAT Score Frequently Asked Questions    In 2015, you registered  for the SAT  and took it along with  1,698,521 of your closest high school friends, which is a pretty sizable feat considering your complete aversion to all things standardized tests, right? And now, youre sitting there with your SAT score report in hand, wondering how all of those other college applicants fared on this test.  Am I  right? If youre anything like students before you, and maybe even those students who come after you, youre going to want to know how your SAT score compares to other SAT scores. Below, youll read several fun facts about the average national SAT scores for 2015 according to gender, ethnicity, and even household income.   If youre interested in knowing the average SAT scores for students entering the top public schools in the country and those for the  top private schools, then check out the links. Otherwise, keep reading.   Overall SAT Scores for 2015 Heres where we talk mean. And Im not talking about being a jerk. Im referring to the mathematical mean, which is the average of a set of numbers. In this case, the mean is the average SAT score of every student who took the test from the fall of 2014 through June of 2015.   Here are the mean scores for all testers by section: Overall: 1497Critical Reading: 495Mathematics: 511Writing: 484 SAT Scores By Gender It isnt often fun to find out that people of your gender are performing worse than people of another gender, but here you have it in black and white. Males, youre leading in Critical Reading and Math. Females, youre ahead in Writing. Next year, these numbers will be dramatically different, considering the Redesigned SAT has an entirely different scoring system.   Critical Reading:Males: 497Females: 493Mathematics:Males: 527Females: 496Writing:Males: 478Females: 490 SAT Scores By Reported Annual Income I hate to say it, but it appears as though the kids with the wealthiest parents are the smartest kids in the universe. Just kidding, just kidding. Lets screw on our thinking caps and consider what these numbers imply. Perhaps kids with wealthier parents are just graced with above-average test-taking skills, OR, these statistics could  mean that kids with a little bit more cash have  parents who are more willing to purchase SAT prep  or  shell out the moolah for retakes. I dont know. We could conjecture all day on this subject, but the stats do not lie; parents making more money produce kids with higher SAT scores. Look: $0 - $20,000Critical Reading: 433Math: 455Writing: 426$20,000 - $40,000Critical Reading: 466Math: 479Writing:454$40,000 - $60,000Critical Reading: 488Math: 497Writing: 473$60,000 - $80,000Critical Reading: 503Math: 510Writing: 487$80,000 - $100,000Critical Reading: 517Math: 526Writing: 501$100,000 - $120,000Critical Reading: 528Math: 539Writing: 514$120,000 - $140,000Critical Reading: 531Math: 542Writing: 518$140,000 - $160,000Critical Reading: 539Math: 551Writing: 526$160,000 - $200,000Critical Reading: 545Math: 557Writing: 534$200,000 and moreCritical Reading: 570Math: 587Writing: 563 SAT Scores By Ethnicity Although there is definitely no causal relationship between ethnicity and SAT scores, it can be interesting to take a peek at the differences among us when it comes to test-taking. Here are the mean overall scores by ethnicity. American Indian or Alaska Native: 1423Asian, Asian-American or Pacific Islander: 1654Black of African-American: 1277Mexican or Mexican-American: 1343Puerto Rican: 1357Latin-American, Central-American, South-American or Other Latino: 1345White: 1576Other: 1496 2015 SAT Scores Summary So, it would appear that if really interested in getting a fantastic SAT score, you should sign up to be in a family that brings in more than $200,000 per year, ensure that youre male, and become (or remain) Asian. If that doesnt work, theres always free SAT practice quizzes, free SAT apps, and the best SAT books out there.   SAT Scores for 2012SAT Scores for 2013SAT Scores for 2014

Public Health and the Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Public Health and the Law - Assignment Example Any person who tests positive to alcoholic or drug influence or intoxication and driving at the same time, such a person is incapable of driving safely is guilty of an offence which is liable for a sentence as well as a fine. Such offences may be converted to serious criminal charges that may attract long sentences such as life imprisonment. Furthermore, the laws also concern observance and respect for traffic signs. This includes traffic signs concerning turning, stopping, starting, changing of lanes, speed limits, among others. The federal and local states ensure that there are requisite gadgets to ensure that there is surveillance to enable law enforcers to effectively monitor road use. In Illinois, for example, the court may order suspension of driver’s license in the event the user does not follow traffic signs. Federal and local states furthermore ensure that all vehicles in use are adequately insured. This will ensure that passengers and other road users are protected. Furthermore, the insurance also covers maintenance of vehicles in case of damage. Besides, the rules cover the speed limits allowable in given areas, and the use of safety belts. Finally, the laws too cover the action or procedure to be followed in the event of an accident. For example, from 1st January 2013, the Illinois laws allow victims of an accident to remove vehicles from the main way if the accident did not result to an injury. This serves to reduce further accidents that may result from road blockage (Olson & Dewar, 2002). Road safety rules are administrative laws. This is because they involve formulation, enforcement and regulation. Furthermore, there is an agency or agencies, at local or federal levels that ensure that the laws are adhered to. In addition traffic laws are a branch of public laws whose concern is to ensure public road safety. These laws are closely related to public health services since they concern the wellbeing of the whole public while

Event's i had it and improve my english language Essay

Event's i had it and improve my english language - Essay Example One day we agreed to invite some of our neighbors at our apartment for dinner. This differ offered us a chance to know each other; in fact, we also had a chance to familiarize with our cultures. They were teachers of English, layer, photography, and nurse. When I met my neighbors during this dinner, I did not know how to communicate eloquently in English; in fact, I had to rely on using body language. They were laughing at me when I tried to express my opinions and thoughts in a conversation. Three months later, I began to develop comprehensive sentences and gained ability to express my ideas in English. My neighbor, who taught English, assisted me significantly. She brought particular story books written in English, and several cards that had English vocabularies. Apparently, this contributed significantly to my body of knowledge and acquisition of numerous vocabularies that I utilize during my conversations. Joe is a photographer from United State of America; I joined him in a trip to the Missaipy River, which is nearby to our residence. We took certain pictures with him for a nearby waterway; in fact, it was during summer, and we were enjoying the pleasant weather. We discussed several objects about our culture and theirs. First qu estion that I asked him was ’do I have an oil at my home?’ he laughed at me because he was surprised at the question. After two months, I decided to transfer from the St. Paul Seattle, WA, and the reason this decision was to settle with my friends; in fact, they had told me about the weather, which was enjoyable over there. I enrolled to the same college for English, which is ESl, and made friends from difference’s countries. Our instate start from 9 at morning until the 3 clock at noon. So after that we hanged out at the malls, coffee shops, and friend’s apartments; besides, walking at the sea. For instance, I vividly

R.E Coursework Religion and Medical Issues Essay Example for Free

R.E Coursework Religion and Medical Issues Essay Ai) Infertility is when a couple cannot naturally conceive a child. There are many treatments to get around infertility; some of these, may however raise moral issues. There are many treatments available; Fertility drugs are one of these, this is where an infertile woman is given drugs, which stop infertility and make a woman capable of carrying a child. These are recognised by the church, as the sacredness of life is not threatened. AIH (artificial insemination by the husband), is another of these treatments. The sperm of the husband is taken and artificially put it in the wife. AID (artificial insemination by the donor), this is for if the man does not produce sperm. An anonymous donor donates his sperm, which is then artificially put into the woman. Gamete storing, is a fairly new process where the gametes are frozen, this means that if one of the parents has a treatment which makes them infertile, they can use the gametes which are stored. Surrogacy. This is where an alien hostess carries the baby. The sperm of the man is artificially inserted into the hostess. This is not recognised by the church because it is very similar to adultery. Aii) Roman Catholics have the view that life is sacred and therefore the sacredness of life must be protected. The church believes that no one has the right to children; if someone is infertile it is because it is supposed to be that way. Any of the treatments, which involve the destruction of embryos, are banned because this is the same as abortion and that is banned in the Catholic Church. The Church bans any of the treatments, which involve artificial insemination by the husband, as this involves masturbation, which is a sin in the eyes of the church. In AID and surrogacy the child does not get to know their biological parents, the church believes that the child has a right to know their biological parents. All forms of fertility treatments involve procreation outside of sex; God intended procreation to be part of the sex act. Other Christian churches allow IVF and AIH as they believe it is a good use of technology to provide families with the happiness of children. God intended families to have children, if IVF or AIH is the only way to do that it should be done. The egg and sperm are from the husband and wife and so it is not counted as adultery and therefore it is still a pure loving act. Some of the embryos are destroyed in these processes; embryos, which are not yet foetuses, so therefore it is not considered murder. The other churches still have major concerns about the other treatments; they have not banned them, however. All churches encourage childless families to adopt as they believe all children should have a loving happy family. iii) Generally Christians believe in transplant surgery and think that it is a good thing. Some Christians have some ethical issues, however. They believe that it would be wrong for rich people to pay for organs. It is well known that some wealthier 1st world citizens would be more than willing to exploit uneducated, 3rd world citizens to save themselves. This is known as the black market. The people in Africa may not be well educated and therefore do not realise that it is dangerous. It could be dangerous as the surgeon in Africa may be using dirty equipment and therefore the African would be vulnerable to infection. It is also exploiting the poor which is condemned by the bible. Some Christians are opposed to using organs from the dead but support using those of the living. They believe that organs such as the heart are an intrinsic part of the individual created by God. Transplanting organs from the dead into the living is usurping the role of God, and humans do not have the right to play God. This is a sin and is condemned by the Bible. Jesus taught us to love thy neighbour. If an organ can be transplanted while someone is alive then it is not vital and transplanting it would be, ‘loving thy neighbour.’ Some Christians believe all transplant surgery wrong and condemn it. They believe that transplants ignore the sanctity of life. This is a great sin in the eyes of the church. They believe that transplanting organs is ‘playing God’ and this is one of the great sins. They also believe that it is very expensive and requires very skilled people of which there are few. It raises the question of when someone is considered dead, as the heart needs to be removed when it is still beating. It diverts recourses from less expensive treatments which could help far more people than transplants. Most Muslims believe that transplants are wrong. They believe that it is against God’s will to remove anything from the body after death this means that none of the organs can be removed. They believe that God created each person and so to remove something from one and put it in another is to act as God which is the greatest sin in Islam. They believe that life is sacred and only God has the right to give and take it.

The Importance of the Mare in Anton Chekhov’s Misery Essay -- Anton Ch

The Importance of the Mare in Misery  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Iona Potapov, the main character in Anton Chekhov’s short story, "Misery," is yearning for someone to listen to his woes. Every human he comes in contact with blatantly ignores his badly-needed-to-tell-story by either shunning him or falling asleep. There is, however, one character in this story that would willingly listen to Iona, a character who is with Iona through almost the entire story. This character is his mare. Renato Poggioli describes the story as being built "around two motionless figures, an animal and a man" (316). Iona and the mare are very much alike. They appear to be each other’s only companion, and they also act a lot alike. When Iona sits quietly, covered in snow that has recently fallen on him, his little mare is described as "white and motionless too" (17). Neither man nor mare cares move; both are still, frozen in time, waiting. Another example of the similar behavior between the two occurs when "the sledge driver clicks to the horse, cranes his neck like a swan. The mare cranes her neck, too" (18). As the story opens Iona sits in his sleigh desperately waiting for his first fare, and when that fare arrives he immediately starts to talk of his son’s death (18). Although his best possible friend – the mare – is already present to listen to his story, Iona does not come to this realization until much later in the story. At the beginning, he still believes that what he needs, and will be able to find, is another human being with whom to share his woes. The fare’s response to Iona’s story is, "have you gone cracked, you old dog? Look where you are going" (18). Iona, upset at this, continues to look around at the fare, in hopes of starting his story o... ... no longer keep silence about the death of his son. He speaks to the air, and the mare is listening. She doesn’t shun him, abuse him, or ignore him. She just listens, as any good animal would do. Works Cited Beck, Alan, M., and Aaron Honoria Katcher. "Animal Companions: More Companion Than Animal." Man and Beast Revisited. Ed. Michael H. Robinson and Lionel Tiger. Washington: Smithsonian P, 1991. 265-66. Chekhov, Anton. "Misery." The Harper Anthology of Fiction. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. 17-21. Hildebrandt, Sherri. "Another Kind of Grief." St. Paul Pioneer Press 13 Sept. 1998: 1-4. Poggioli, Renato. "Storytelling in a Double Key." Anton Chekhov’s Short Stories. Ed. Ralph E. Matlaw. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1979. 316-317. Royal Bank of Canada. "Pets and Human Beings." Montreal: Royal Bank Letter, July/Aug. 1989.   

Management Case study Essay

Case Study 1. How do information technologies contribute to the business success of the companies depicted in the case? Provide an example from each company explaining how the technology implemented let to improved performance. Information technologies are imperative to businesses and organizations that want to be successful. In this case, there were three companies that demonstrated how information technologies helped their business. The first company was eCourier. eCourier delivers packages around London and wanted to â€Å"keep real-time tabs on customer satisfaction†(Textbook, pg 5). eCourier used SeeWhy software to help give them customer data faster. This software allowed eCourier to see when client’s accounts were going dormant or if there were changes in the bookings. With this new data, eCourier saved money by not having to add extra staff to monitor who was happy with service and who was not. The second company was Cablecom. Cablecom was also interested customer satisfaction. They used statistical software to look through customer data and filter out trouble. They also found that using survey research in combination with statistical software gave a more accurate look at customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. These two information technologies allowed Cablecom to see which customers were unhappy and helped them retain those customers. Finally, the third company was a law firm called Bryan Cave. Bryan Cave needed an alternative to the hourly fee normally charged by law firms. Clients wanted â€Å"fixed pricing and pricing that was adjusted during a project† (Textbook, pg 6). The law firm had spreadsheets to help breakdown the collection of fees and how much profit was being made but these spreadsheets were difficult and confusing. The company used business intelligent tools to help â€Å"lawyers track budgets in real time so that they could quickly make adjustments†(Textbook, pg. 6). The use of this technology led to improved profitability for the law firm and also improvement in hours worked by fee earners in the law firm. 2. In the case of law firm Bryan Cave discussed above, the use of BI technology to improve the availability, access, and presentation of existing  information allowed them to provide tailored and innovative services to their customers. What other professions could benefit from a similar use of these technologies, and how? Develop two different possibilities. Many professions can use business intelligence tools just like in the case of Bryan Cave law firm. The banking industry can use BI tools to stay competitive. With competition nature and increasing due regulatory legislation surrounding financial institutions, it is imperative that financial institutions monitor customer’s behaviors related to consumption of banking products in an effort to retain the customers. Business intelligence tools are being developed and marketed to banks to help monitor, analyze accounts, and determine customer profitability. This type of business intelligence tool would help the banks market to current customers based on their propensity to purchase products based on transaction behavior and other products the customers currently utilize. Additionally, a business intelligience tool that performs an analysis of the current fee structure charged for existing products in relation to the competition in the marketplace would help the bank determine if their pricing structure is competitive and in line with the competition. This technology would also help financial institutions identify which customers are profitable and whether or not fees should be increased or reduced. Currently, Chemical Bank has implemented a business intelligience tool that commerical lenders will utilize by cross rreferencing their loan portfolio and any prospect against to determine the profitability of the customer in relation to the company’s return on equity. The business intelligience tool will help the commerical lenders determined if the loan rate is in line given certain parameters such as the market, financial statements, and the customer’s business plan. Additionally, the tool will help determine if packaging a suite of products would benefit the customer if more products and services of the bank were utilized. Finally, Chemical Bank is investigating an innovative business intelligence tool called data cube is being considered for implementation. The data cubes would be developed from different reports for regional sales managers allowing them to manipulate the data to be more useful strategic planning and determining staffing solutions. BS&A software  company could benefit from business intelligence tools. BS& A provides tax software and assessing software to many Michigan townships and cities. Each platform communicates with any of the other BS& A platforms. From personal experience it is a wonderful program. To help retain current clients BS& A could use survey research to see what needs to be enhanced for each client or what needs to be simplified for each client. This would allow the company to then tailor its software to fit each customer’s needs. At the township I work, we needed a way to enter credit card payments into our tax program from BS & A. The only payments accepted in the software were checks and cash. By filling out the survey and sending it back via internet I was immediately contacted and the program writers made the necessary changes that allowed me to enter when a client of the township paid with a credit card. I was very satisfied with the results and BS & A retained my township as one of their clients. Case Study 3: Cablecom developed a prediction model to better identify those customers at risk of switching to other company in the near future. In addition to those noted in the case, what other actions could be taken if that information were available? Give some examples of these. Would you consider letting some customers leave anyway? Why? Cablecom used two softwares, SPSS’s statistical software and SPSS’s Dimensions survey research software, to study customer dissatisfaction. SPSS’s statistical software tells: 1. How many times problem occurred 2. How long does it took to fix the problem Drawbacks of this software: This may or may not tell what the problem was. SPSS’s Dimensions survey research software tells: 1. After how many months of service customers gets dissatisfied- 9 months 2. When customers switch most- between 12-14 months Drawback: why to wait till 7-9 months to find the problem? Actions to prevent switching: Find the problem, fix the problem: Send monthly satisfaction surveys to find the problem areas. If people are not responding very well then add some incentives to it like lucky prizes from the drawings of responders. Be PROACTIVE 1. Keep customers engaged by prroviding some money saving tips to customers with their monthly bill. Some 2. examples of tips that may improve customer retention are: family plans over individual plans that would allow for a cost savings; Explain the benefit of texting if it’s cheaper than making phone calls; explain the benefits of bundled plans over individual plans for phone, cable and TV; tips to increase the life of the products that Cablecom provides. Newsletters about new products and services, explaining how these are useful to customers and how they are better than competition. Brining a value added benefit to customers on a monthly or quarterly basis will create an affinity for the services a company provides. I will not consider letting some customers leave anyway, unless those are financially unsustainable on long-term basis. There are different reasons for this: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. If customer is there then job is available. It takes lots of advertising resources to get one customer. One satisfied customer brings more customers by word of mouth. One unsatisfied customer talks bad about company more loudly than a satisfied  customer talks good about company. Your competitor is getting your business. Question 9. In what major ways have the roles of information systems applications in business expanded during the last 40 years? What is one major change you think will happen in the next 10 years? The roles of information systems applications in business evolved in following order during the last 40 years: ï‚ · ï‚ · Technical changes or Data Processing: Until 1960 information systems was used for transactions, processing, record keeping, accounting. Managerial changes (1960s to 80’s): 1. Management reporting (1960’s): MIS helped in making managerial decisions from pre defined managerial 2. reports. Decision Support System (1970’s): Introduced to help management make decisions from the available raw data using unique inputs and style. ï‚ · Corporate Activities (1980’s to 2000’s): 1. Strategic end user support (1980’s): This includes end user computing, executive information for critical 2. 3. decisions, use of artificial intelligence for strategy building, expert systems for providing knowledge to end user and strategic information on how to place products and services in competitive world. Enterprise Resource Planning (2000’s): It includes every aspect of business ranging from manufacturing, supply, sales, HR, Inventory management, marketing etc. This also uses business Intelligence for better insight into competitor activities. Enterprise beyond vendors and customers or global Networking (1990’s): Introduction of e-commerce, ebusiness, development of internet, intranet and extranet. In future 10 years, speed and integrity of Information system will be crucial. This includes solving the problem of ethics in business, storage of personal information and data, missing or incorrect information. Some examples of the challenges include insider trading in stock market, corruption in news corporations, credit card and insurance companies. P.S.: I am having a hard time in fixing bullets and numbering on this page editor. It inserts numbers automatically when not needed and does not accepts bullets when needed. So proper formatting is a challenge unless I type on this page. Any suggestions or ideas to fix this problem are welcome. Gubir, I had the same problem with formatting so related to indenting. Insead of typing this editor, I have been typing in a Microsoft word document, to copy and paste the text over. It allows me to do a better spell and grammar check as well. ~Lisa Question 1 How can information technology support a company’s business processes and decision making and give it a competitive advantage? Give examples to illustrate your answer. As stated in the textbook, â€Å"information technology can help support all types of business by improving efficiency and effectiveness of businesses processes and decision making† (Textbook, p.4). Incorporating information technology early in the decision making process and working collaboratively with the different business units will provide opportunities to strengthen a company’s competitive position by creating innovative solutions to deliver in the marketplace. Additionally, it’s imperative to involve information technologist specialists or strategists  (depending on the title designated by companies) at the very early stages of decision making processes. Understanding the role of IT in the managerial decision making process will help the manager make better decisions that provide a competitive edge. For example, a manager of retail store deciding which product line to add to a store may analyze computer generated reports to support his or her decision as the goal is to remain profitable and have an edge over the local competitor. The manager would demonstrate poor decision making and leadership by reviewing reports after purchasing the product line. Carrying a product line that customers will not purchase does not make good business sense. Further, managers involved in a company’s strategic planning process should seek the knowledge and support of information technology specialists as well to determine the role information technology will play in developing and implementing the company short term and long term strategic initiatives. Information technology systems can be an essential ingredient in business processes such as product development, customer support processes, and ecommerce transactions (Textbook, pp. 8-9). For example, as a Retail Sales Manager for Chemical Bank, information technology representatives work collaboratively with me and other teams we develop new initiatives and projects to support the company’s strategic plans. Most recently, the company embarked on a mission to increase the services and products of the current customers at penetration rate of 70%. A manager is sought the support IT as I created training of my staff to achieve the goal and also to develop the reporting of data to monitor progress toward the goal. Without a robust product line and customer service centers to meet the needs of the customers, financial institutions are not profitable or competitive. Information technology helps financial institutions stay in tune with the customer’s needs, wants and pulse of the industry. Question 2. How does the use of the Internet, intranets, and extranets by companies today support their business processes activities? The Internet, intranets, extranets, and the technologies that support the  applications have changed the business processes, the productivity and communication of employees, and helped companies participate in a global marketplace. As a starting place, it’s imperative to evaluate how the Internet, intranets and extranets have revolutionized the work environment and productive of the employees driving businesses. Employees now ability to work virtually and collaborating with different work groups or teams from across the company via e-mail, videoconferencing, e-discussion groups without geographic barriers. By utilizing intranets (networks within the company or enterprise), employees can support business applications from anywhere they have access or connectivity to an intranet. For example, employees at the financial institution I am employed, Chemical Bank, can access loan documents needed to close a loan for customer instantly from a cue on their desktop instead of waiting for an inter-office mail delivery from the loan department. All 142 branches have equal access in real time for loan documentation. Obviously, the speedier process of delivering loan document supports the bank’s profitability by getting the loans on the book quicker as well as providing better customer service because there is less wait time for the customer. Additionally, employee work more efficiently and the exchange of ideas flows better with the use of the intranet for internal projects and the extranet for interfacing and exchange of ideas with customers. The extranet (the network or enterprise between the business and the customers/vendors) provides for the business and the employees the infrastructure to support business applications vital to many companies and the ability to collaborate among workgroups. (Textbook, p.12) Further, the Internet has benefits and supports businesses today by establishing a medium for the exchange of not only ideas but also goods and services. E-Commerce is defined by the book as â€Å"the buying, selling, marketing, and servicing of products, services, and information over a variety of computer networks†. (Textbook, p. 13) Businesses utilize the Internet in every step of the process involved in selling a service or good. Businesses advertise and market the goods and services on the Internet to promote the brand loyalty. Additionally, the ability to purchase goods on line and make payments increases the sales and profitability of companies. For example, Kohl’s department stores now have kiosks placed in their stores. Customers who cannot find a size of a particular item or merchandise that is no longer in  stock at one location utilizes the kiosk for service. The kiosk is an internet based selling system that allows customers to purchase items using their Kohl’s charge with all applicable discounts and the item will be sent to the customer’s home within a very short period of time. In years prior, customers would try to locate a sales representative who would contact another store to locate the item wanted which could take up to twenty minutes. Then, the option is given to the customer to pick up the item at another store that has it or have the merchandise delivered to a local store requiring another trip by the customer. The process was cumbersome and didn’t provide the customer with an exception customer service experience. The kiosk on the other hand provides instant service and creates customer loyalty. Finally, the market research and data that the Internet provides can support a company all the way from product development and innovation to the level of service being delivered by the employees on the front line. All of which is very important to businesses in making managerial decisions and deciding business processes. For example, financial institutions such as Chemical Bank are employing marketing firms to conduct Internet research to determine the brand loyalty of banking products or conducting online surveys to capture data about the customer’s experience in the branch as well as what products are missing from the bank’s current suite of products. Businesses can know how many â€Å"clicks† on their website to the feedback about the business’ service by monitoring Facebook and Twitter. 4. Why do big companies still fail in their use of information technology? What should they be doing differently? Big companies still fail in their use of information technology because they do not follow the right strategies to apply this technology to work effectively. Efficiency and effectiveness are the keys to a successful company. Companies have to be aware of the implications and abilities of f their information technology and how to apply it to their daily business  practices. They must be knowledgable and remain aware of the latest innovations in the technological machineries as well as its functions as well as its business applications. Many large companies do not realize the potential of the technology their current possess that contributes to them not seeing the value in the information technology because they are only measuring the information in terms of effeciency when they actually should be looking at effectiveness in supporting the organization’s buiness processes. Management of large companies fail to use information technology because they don’t realize how it enhances the organizational structure and culture of the company and it’s potential to increase customers and business value of the organization. Management has to play the biggest role in the change and take decisions accordingly to assist business and customer. Another important characteristic for big companies not to fail and do differently is to offer proper training for employees on the new technologies, to be able to work them in the appropriate way to deliver the right services. For example, Jackie Barretta, vice president and CIO of Con-Way, Inc. was able to benefit her cooperation from the changes she has made in adopting Agile development practices. Her actions have benefited the business as well as her employees, especially the IT department. There was less time to develop projects and a greater communication with IT as they worked jointly and determined priorities. â€Å"I made the case for change in IT by explaining how the business would benefit if we delivered the highest priority functionality faster. I also kept reiterating what was in it for them- and there was a lot† (Textbook p19) When companies’ presidents take change in consideration to benefit the company, therefore, they profited the company, the employees and the customers. 5. How can a manager demonstrate that he or she is a responsible end user of information systems? Give several examples. Managers have to be responsible end user of the information system. They have to be accountable for all aspects of corporation and take the right decisions at the right time to promote the business and its employees. Managers will have to be in charge and work thoroughly with the employees on the information system to make sure to deliver the benefits of the system. While doing so, managers have to secure the system and use ways to protect it through passwords for example to forbid the access to sensitive information. Also, if manager are working from computers not based in the company, there will be a great chance of viruses and spam that will put the information system in danger. Therefore, securing the work on the IS is a great deal before taking action or creating any change. Managers will have to monitor the work of their employees as well as the affectivity of their jobs on the system they are working on. When a manager knows of their duties and the responsibilities that are to be made for an efficient business then there will not be a problem delivering these liabilities through the information system. Being end users, managers will have to identify flaws and mistakes that take place and not over look them. When these strategies are used, it makes the job easy on both manager and employees as they work cooperatively and the security of the information system will not be likely jeopardized.

Teoryang Feminismo

I. What is Calculus? Calculus is the branch of mathematics that deals with the finding and properties of derivatives and integrals of functions, by methods originally based on the summation of infinitesimal differences. a. Differential Calculus – concerned with the determination, properties, and application of derivatives and differentials. b. Integral Calculus – concerned with the determination, properties, and application of integrals.II. Brief History of Calculus Calculus was created by Isaac Newton, a British scientist, as well as Gottfried Leibniz, a self-taught German mathematician, in the 17th century.It has been long disputed who should take credit for inventing calculus first, but both independently made discoveries that led to what we know now as calculus. Newton discovered the inverse relationship between the derivative (slope of a curve) and the integral (the area beneath it), which deemed him as the creator of calculus.Thereafter, calculus was actively used to solve the major scientific dilemmas of the time, such as: a. calculating the slope of the tangent line to a curve at any point along its length b.determining the velocity and acceleration of an object given a function describing its position, and designing such a position function given the object's velocity or acceleration c. calculating arc lengths and the volume and surface area of solids d. calculating the relative and absolute extrema of objects, especially projectiles For Newton, the applications for calculus were geometrical and related to the physical world – such as describing the orbit of the planets around the sun. For Leibniz, calculus was more about analysis of change in graphs.Leibniz's work was just as important as Newton's, and many of his notations are used today, such as the notations for taking the derivative and the integral. III. Applications of Calculus With calculus, we have the ability to find the effects of changing conditions on a system. By stud ying these, you can learn how to control a system to make it do what you want it to do. Because of the ability to model and control systems, calculus gives us extraordinary power over the material world. Calculus is the language of engineers, scientists, and economists.The work of these professionals has a huge impact on our daily life – from your microwaves, cell phones, TV, and car to medicine, economy, and national defense. Credit card companies use calculus to set the minimum payments due on credit card statements at the exact time the statement is processed by considering multiple variables such as changing interest rates and a fluctuating available balance. Biologists use differential calculus to determine the exact rate of growth in a bacterial culture when different variables such as temperature and food source are changed.This research can help increase the rate of growth of necessary bacteria, or decrease the rate of growth for harmful and potentially threatening ba cteria. An electrical engineer uses integration to determine the exact length of power cable needed to connect two substations that are miles apart. Because the cable is hung from poles, it is constantly curving. Calculus allows a precise figure to be determined. An architect will use integration to determine the amount of materials necessary to construct a curved dome over a new sports arena, as well as calculate the weight of that dome and determine the type of support structure required.Space flight engineers frequently use calculus when planning lengthy missions. To launch an exploratory probe, they must consider the different orbiting velocities of the Earth and the planet the probe is targeted for, as well as other gravitational influences like the sun and the moon. Calculus allows each of those variables to be accurately taken into account. A physicist uses calculus to find the center of mass of a sports utility vehicle to design appropriate safety features that must adhere t o federal specifications on different road surfaces and at different speeds.An operations research analyst will use calculus when observing different processes at a manufacturing corporation. By considering the value of different variables, they can help a company improve operating efficiency, increase production, and raise profits. A graphics artist uses calculus to determine how different three-dimensional models will behave when subjected to rapidly changing conditions. This can create a realistic environment for movies or video games. Obviously, a wide variety of careers regularly use calculus.Universities, the military, government agencies, airlines, entertainment studios, software companies, and construction companies are only a few employers who seek individuals with a solid knowledge of calculus. Even doctors and lawyers use calculus to help build the discipline necessary for solving complex problems, such as diagnosing patients or planning a prosecution case. Despite its my stique as a more complex branch of mathematics, calculus touches our lives each day, in ways too numerous to calculate.

Free Essays on The Effects Of Music On Juvenile Criminal Behavior

Effects of Music 1 Running head: JUVENILE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR The Effects of Music on Juvenile Criminal Behavior Effects of Music 2 Abstract The purpose of the experiment was to determine what relationship, if any, music had with the criminal behavior of juvenile offenders. A questionnaire was distributed to young males ages 12 to 17 who were convicted of a felony offense. This questionnaire focused on preferred genres of music, listening patterns and perceived influence on their criminal behavior. While hip-hop music was favored predominantly by the young offenders, heavy metal was shown to be the choice of a smaller number of participants. The study revealed that 72% of the juvenile males believed that music had partial influence on their feelings some of the time. However, only 4% exhibited the belief that music and listening patterns had direct correlation to their criminal activities. Effects of Music 3 The Effects of Music on Juvenile Criminal Behavior Music has vastly become somewhat of a scapegoat for violence among today’s youth and even the overall demoralization of American society. The blame has been put less on family values, parental leadership and general family structure and more on music, movies and television. What is being shown at the local movie theatre or what is being played on a young person’s CD player has become the leading source of negativity as far as criminal activity associated with juvenile offenders. Music, more often than not, has been under scrutiny from everyone from parents to politicians and has been labeled by many as the reason for the steady decline of adolescent behavior. Jazz and rock n roll of the 1940’s and 1950’s were believed to have contributed to the moral disintegration of teenagers. This trend has grown through decades of musical expansion and expression. Aside from rock n rol... Free Essays on The Effects Of Music On Juvenile Criminal Behavior Free Essays on The Effects Of Music On Juvenile Criminal Behavior Effects of Music 1 Running head: JUVENILE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR The Effects of Music on Juvenile Criminal Behavior Effects of Music 2 Abstract The purpose of the experiment was to determine what relationship, if any, music had with the criminal behavior of juvenile offenders. A questionnaire was distributed to young males ages 12 to 17 who were convicted of a felony offense. This questionnaire focused on preferred genres of music, listening patterns and perceived influence on their criminal behavior. While hip-hop music was favored predominantly by the young offenders, heavy metal was shown to be the choice of a smaller number of participants. The study revealed that 72% of the juvenile males believed that music had partial influence on their feelings some of the time. However, only 4% exhibited the belief that music and listening patterns had direct correlation to their criminal activities. Effects of Music 3 The Effects of Music on Juvenile Criminal Behavior Music has vastly become somewhat of a scapegoat for violence among today’s youth and even the overall demoralization of American society. The blame has been put less on family values, parental leadership and general family structure and more on music, movies and television. What is being shown at the local movie theatre or what is being played on a young person’s CD player has become the leading source of negativity as far as criminal activity associated with juvenile offenders. Music, more often than not, has been under scrutiny from everyone from parents to politicians and has been labeled by many as the reason for the steady decline of adolescent behavior. Jazz and rock n roll of the 1940’s and 1950’s were believed to have contributed to the moral disintegration of teenagers. This trend has grown through decades of musical expansion and expression. Aside from rock n rol...

Details to Give Recommendation Letter Writers

Details to Give Recommendation Letter Writers If you have someone writing a recommendation letter for you, what information do they need to make it stand out? First, assume that your letter writer will not remember all the details about your credentials that you will want to highlight in the letter. That said, you will need to provide all the information that you think may be helpful or that you would like to see in the letter of recommendation. It makes it easiest for the writer, who is donating their time to do you a huge favor, so putting together comprehensive information is completely worth it. Making this information easily available for your recommendation letter writer can go a long way to produce a dazzling, youre in kind of letter. What Goes Into a Recommendation Letter Create a folder or include these details in an email to the person writing your rec letter.   The Correct Spelling of Your NameYour GPAList of Relevant Courses Taken- note if you were a member of a class or project togetherTitles and Abstracts of Any Research Papers You Have WrittenHonor Societies to Which You BelongAwards That You Have WonActivities in Which You Have Participated (professionally relevant only)Relevant Work ExperienceService Activities such as Volunteer WorkA Description of Your Professional GoalsA Curriculum VitaeCopies of Admissions EssaysInformation About Your Experiences with the Letter Writer (e.g., courses taken, copies of papers, etc.) Sometimes that person may not remember you until you refresh their memory. Who Makes a Good Recommendation Letter Writer? Sometimes it can be difficult to choose someone to write you a recommendation letter. You may want to choose a professor you clicked within the past, but it also pays to vary the pool of writers. Perhaps a supervisor from a job or volunteer opportunity can attest to your strengths and ability to balance multiple tasks just as well as a professor. A guidance counselor, or advisor from an extracurricular activity is also a great choice. You dont want to pick a friend; instead, stick to people who are familiar with your academic and related skills. The best person to write a recommendation letter for you is someone who knows you well and can provide a glowing testimonial of your ability to perform well. Some of those sources can be: An undergrad professor youve worked withSomeone who has earned the degree which you are seeking in your graduate workA person with an advanced degree who has supervised you in a job or internship that relates to the program in which you are applyingA source who has academically evaluated you in an upper-division class

Boas 610 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Boas 610 - Essay Example It is not only important, but at times, it is necessary as well, since the proof and evidence at hand is not sufficient enough to draw appropriate conclusions (Boas 610); at such times, it becomes a necessity to make use of the historical or the present forms of the culture in order to solve the puzzle (Boas 610). When dealing with the historical aspect of anthropology, there is often a tussle between the social and economical factors that have helped shape the historical and the present conditions and cultural practices (Boas 611). Sociologists tend to make the field of sociology as the central theme of anthropological discussions (Boas 611), claiming that the human mind and its interactions with its surroundings, as discussed in sociology, is the key component of cultural evolution (Boas 611). Whereas this might be true, it is not the sole player in the game (Boas 611). Sociological factors shape the long term designs of culture (Boas 611); indeed, some cultural practices which for m the core of the society take a long time to change, if at all, and it is only the radical changes that can truly be identified (Boas 610), with the more subtle and gradual changes often hard to recognize or overlooked (Boas 610). Sociology alone can not account for the short term and immediate social decisions which shape the day to day cultural activities of the populace (Boas 611). Such decisions are often strongly dictated by the economic conditions of the place (Boas 611). Economists, likewise, tend to emphasize completely on the economic factors that govern the evolution of a society, neglecting or undermining the psychological and social bearings of the process (Boas 611). Economy is helpful only for studying the short term effects, as pointed out previously; it can not explain the general decisions of the masses which span entire societies and centuries, with such decisions often being static or very slowly changing (Boas 610). This is because economic conditions are dynami c, and do not remain the same over extended periods of time (Boas 611). Therefore, they can only account for periodic changes. Long term practices like religion, art, and language are beyond the parameters of economics to define (Boas 611). Therefore, it follows that sociology and economics are mutually dependent to mold the society and are equally responsible for the growth of the culture the people who practice it (Boas 611). Part I: Q1: Although Frank Boas is not a theorist, he is considered to be am important figure in anthropological thought and study. This is because of his important contributions in the anthropological study of the relation of the individual with the society (Boas 610), and the effects and reactions of individual to the practices of the society and the established culture (Boas 610). In turn, according to Boas, this reaction has some effect on the culture and how it develops and changes (Boas 610). The importance of Boas’ work can only be fully appreci ated if the importance of the topics that he has worked on is recognized. The relation of the society and the individual and their mutual cause and effect (Boas 610) cycle is often overlooked, for the favor of the population mass as a whole (Boas 611). Whereas Boas does admit that the overall functioning of the society is not effected to an appreciable degree by the psychology of an individual (Boas 610), and that society is home to many varied human minds (Boas

Gendered Movements of the 1960's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gendered Movements of the 1960's - Essay Example is contrary to the past whereby most of them postponed marriages or relationships fearing extra responsibilities that remerged with being sexually active (Golson & Carlisle 170). Therefore, â€Å"The Pill’s† approval gave them liberty meant to plan how they needed their lives. This is especially to those who felt they could adequately handle both education as well as have families, because the latter would not weigh them down, hence prompting women compromise their dreams (Golson & Carlisle 170). Women’s realization that they were capable of reaching high heights in their lives prompted them to embark on guest to have equal elevation in the society, hence the â€Å"The Feminine Mystique† emergence (Kranson, Kohn & Diner 237). This was a publication chronicling numerous predicaments and injustices experienced by the female gender especially in the past that were still evident during the mid 20Th Period despite regimes claiming to believe in gender equality (Kranson, Kohn & Diner 237). Hence, questioning regimes whether motherhood and housework roles were still gratifying goals for the female gender owing to the then prevailing gender based segregation (Golson & Carlisle 159). In her book, Betty Friedan purpose entailed awakening of the female gender besides challenging the then and coming regimes about their perception concerning women’s position (Kranson, Kohn & Diner 230). The author contended what the women experienced during the mid 20Th period was in comparable and lacked name to expound it, hence her book acted as the â€Å"start of all† (Kranson, Kohn & Diner 237). The â€Å"Start of all† encompassed instilling the necessary momentum meant for the women to agitate for their privileges and equal their male counterparts. Therefore, this yielded to the enactment of numerous and key gender related acts, for instance, Civil Rights Act Title VII (Wolbrecht 152). The 1964 Civil Rights Act Title VII interpretation and amendment encompassed shunning segregation

Understanding Personality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Understanding Personality - Essay Example Personality can be described as the combination of attributes such as behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental traits that make a person an unique individual. Ones personality typically derives from a combination of externalities such as environment, and educational level combined with internalaties such as gender, and ethnicity. Ones personality made up of their various characteristics operate to influence ones overall behavior which can be described as personality dynamics. An individuals personality dynamics are also molded by cognitive processes and culture. Ones cognitive processes describes how one interpret situations and their concluded answer to their interpretation of the thought process. This can vary by culture as culture is a sense of connection to a social group and since thought process is a variable, culture influences on ones thought process may create that variable as attitudes and feelings of a group may differ from culture to culture. For instance, the police beating Rodney King which incited a riot in Los Angeles, California in 1991. The police officers were acquitted of the usage of excessive force by a predominantly white jury that consisted of only 2 minorities which neither were from Black descent. The jury found that Rodney King resisted arrest inspite of the visual and physical evidence that insinuated excessive force. The outrage from the verdict infused folks from the Black culture as their cognitive perception of the interpretation of the visual evidence differed greatly from the jury. The cognitive process of the Blacks in that area had preconceived ideologies about police brutality that differed from other cultures which in turn incited a riot. The preconceived belief about police brutality had an influence on the personality dynamics of the Blacks that participated in the riots.

The General Adaptation Syndrome Psychology Essay

The General Adaptation Syndrome Psychology Essay Stress is inescapably present in the lives of every living organism. While some stress can be beneficial, too much of it is almost always disadvantageous. Frequently the word stress is used to describe the imposition of an undesirable psychological or physical state through uncontrollable or overwhelming circumstances. We tend to think of stress as a burden that we carry around with us. One individual might perceive that they are under an enormous amount of stress because of multiple impending deadlines, while another might feel stressed out because their house is not clean and unexpected guests are on their way. Despite the predominantly negative description above, stress itself is not necessarily bad. In fact, stress is an adaptive process without which our survival would be seriously compromised. Moderate stress can even have beneficial effects, such as improving cognitive function to facilitate meeting multiple deadlines and increasing energy supply to muscles to quickly clean th e entire house in a matter of minutes. However, too much or prolonged stress can result in a variety of detrimental effects on both physiological function and cognitive processes. Definition In order to properly understand the effects of stress on cognition, as measured by performance in a variety of mazes, we must first come to an understanding of what stress is. At its core, stress is can be defined as the response to a threat (or perceived threat) against homeostasis, the tendency of a system to maintain a stable internal environment. Living organisms, including humans and rodents, are open systems which work to maintain homeostasis despite being constantly bombarded by numerous external environmental insults. Homeostasis The concept of homeostasis was initially conceived by the French physiologist Claude Bernard in1854. He used the term milieu intà ©rierur to describe the ability of the internal environment (primarily the blood in Bernards time) of the body to compensate for and re-equilibrate in response to the external environment [1,2]. However, it was Walter Cannon who developed the concept of homeostasis. He proposed that the body maintained steady state conditions through multiple cooperative self-regulating mechanisms. One phenomenon observed by Cannon was that organisms respond to a threat by releasing epinephrine (aka adrenaline) from the adrenal medulla thereby increasing the bodys heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure while mobilizing glucose stores and inhibiting non-essential functions such as digestion and reproduction. This phenomenon is the prototypical sympathetic nervous system (a branch of the autonomic nervous system) response, for which Cannon coined the term fight-or-flig ht response [3]. Simply put, when confronted with a threat, an organism, through the narrowing of bodily functions and mobilization of available energy, is primed to respond actively, whether through fleeing or fighting. Thus, the primary contribution of Walter Cannon to the definition of stress was that in response to an environmental insult threatening the internal steady stated, the body initiates the sympathetic response to maintain homeostasis and ultimately increase survival. General Adaptation Syndrome The second major contributor to stress research was endocrinologist Hans Selye. Selye was working to discover a new hormone by injecting ovarian extracts in to rats and observing the physiological effects. He noted several changes after injection of this extract, including the 1) enlargement of the adrenal gland, 2) the atrophy of the thymus and lymph nodes and 3) the presence of gastric ulcers [4]. While he initially thought these effects were direct effects of a novel hormone, through additional control experiments he discovered that the injection of numerous agents, physical injury or even excessive exercise produced the same reliable effects [5]. Emphasizing the non-specificity of this response, Selye called these effects the General Adaptation Syndrome initially and later used the term stress to describe it. He further defined stressors as the factors or agents that triggered the stress response. In addition, Selye established the role of glucocorticoids, steroid hormones excret ed from the adrenal cortex, in the stress response. Furthermore, Selye described that prolonged exposure to stressors (and the stress response) can lead to illness or disease. Summary The combined work of Walter Cannon and Hans Selye formed the basis of stress research. Both agreed that when confronted with disruptive environmental factors, the body generated an adaptive response aimed at re-establishing homeostasis within the internal environment. Cannon focused on the sympathetic branch of this response, while Selye focused on the hormonal (i.e., endocrine) branch of this response. Modern thinking has modified the conceptualization of stress, as it turned out to be not quite as simple as originally thought. Importantly it is no longer thought that stress is non-specific as the magnitude and more subtle characteristics of the stress response are varied based on the type of stressor, the individuals perception of the stress and ability to cope. The following basic features of stress can be gleaned from this historical work: Stressors are any event, experience or environmental insult that threatens or is perceived to threaten homeostasis Stress is an adaptive response to re-establish and maintain homeostasis Stress is ultimately mediated by two branches: The sympathetic nervous system via release of epinephrine from the adrenal medulla The endocrine system via release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex These definitions and characteristics are more conducive to scientific study than the layman use of the term stress which does not distinguish between the trigger and the response, as described in the opening of this section. Thus, the definitions above will be utilized in the following sections. This chapter will further develop these basic concepts and present 1) an overview of the stress response, 2) descriptions of the different types of stressors, 3) the effects of both acute and chronic stress on learning and memory and 4) practical details on how to deal with the nuances of stress in behavioral testing. THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE ACUTE STRESS RESPONSE When a stressor is encountered, the brain triggers a physiological response, aimed at coping with the stressor and restoring homeostasis [6]. This response is governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Both of these systems are always actively engaged in maintaining homeostasis, but when posed with a disruption to an organisms internal environment, the HPA axis and SNS go into overdrive. When stressors are encountered several central nervous system (CNS) structures are activated to initiate the stress response, including the preganglionic sympathetic neurons of the spinal cord in addition to several brainstem and limbic forebrain structures [7]. These structures then recruit neural and neuroendocrine systems to initiate a stress response, culminating with the secretion of adrenal glucocorticoids (GCs) and epinephrine, the principle mediators of this adaptive response. The Sympathetic Nervous System Two primary pathways are activated by stressors within the SNS, the brain norepinephrine neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) and the sympathetic adrenomedullary circuitry. Many, but not all stressors result in norepinephrine release from the LC, which ultimately contributes to the majority of circulating NE levels as well as numerous adaptive behaviors [8,9]. Activation of the sympathetic adrenomedullary circuitry via preganglionic neurons results in the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) onto postganglionic neurons and the adrenal medulla. Sympathetic postganglionic neurons primarily release of norepinephrine directly onto various target organs. On the other hand, activation of the adrenal medulla results in the synthesis and release of epinephrine into the circulation and indirectly onto target organs. Target organs activated by these catecholamines neurotransmitters correspond directly to the symptoms of the fight-or-flight response, including increased heart rate, blood pressure and respiration, pupil dilation, and inhibition of digestion, liver, kidney and gall bladder function. The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (Figure 1: HPA axis from Lupien 2009 Review) The present chapter will focus on the endocrine branch of the stress response. While the activation of the sympathetic nervous system is a key part of stress, many of the effects of stress on learning and memory have been shown to be dependent on GCs. The secretion of adrenal GC hormones is under the stimulatory drive of the medial parvocellular neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. In response to stressors, brainstem and limbic forebrain regions activate these neurons to secrete corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and vasopressin into the hypophysial circulation to stimulate the anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) into the peripheral circulation which ultimately results in the release of GCs from the adrenal gland [10]. GCs are carried to every organ via the circulation to allow for a coordinated adaptive response between the brain and bodily functions. GCs mobilize energy, suppress immune and inflammatory responses, inhibi t bone and muscle growth and reproductive function as well as increase attention and impact learning and memory processes [11]. GCs also regulate further CRH and ACTH release via negative feedback loops by binding receptors in the pituitary, PVN, hippocampus (HPC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) to inhibit further GC release and to return the homeostatic balance of the HPA axis [10] (Fig. 1). While these are the primary targets of GCs, virtually every neuron in the brain has receptors for these hormones. Thus, GCs are an important enabler of normal brain function in addition to their role in HPA axis function. Corticosterone (CORT), the primary GC in the rat, is the ligand for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), steroid hormone receptors that function as transcription factors and regulate neuronal gene transcription. GR and MR have different affinities for CORT in the brain. GRs are expressed ubiquitously in the brain, and are most concentrated in the CRH neurons of the PVN and ACTH releasing neurons in the anterior pituitary and also in the HPC [10]. The highest expression of MRs in the brain is in the HPC, though they are expressed in other forebrain regions [10]. MRs are saturated by modest levels of CORT, such as those generated during circadian oscillations, and thus mediate daily changes in HPA axis activity. On the other hand, GRs are saturated by more extreme levels of CORT, such as those seen following a stressful experience, and mediate negative feedback to restore homeostasis [12,10]. Time Course of the Acute Stress Response (Figure 2: rise and fall of CORT) The typical stress response begins within a very short period of time. The SNS response occurs more rapidly than the HPA axis response, due to direct neurotransmitter release on target tissues vs. indirect hormonal release into the circulation, respectively. Within seconds, the post-ganglionic neurons of the SNS release norepinephrine and the adrenal medulla releases epinephrine into circulation. Also within seconds, CRH is released from the PVN of the hypothalamus, followed quickly by the release of ACTH into peripheral circulation from the anterior pituitary [13]. Within 3-5 minutes, the adrenal cortex releases CORT into the circulation, by which time peak plasma ACTH levels are reached. While peak levels of GCs vary according to stressor type and duration, circulating CORT levels typically reach peak levels15-30 minutes after stressor initiation [14]. At this time ACTH levels have also returned to baseline [14]. However, the effects of GCs on target tissues do not occur until abou t an hour after stressor initiation [13]. After peak CORT levels are reached, negative feedback mechanisms shut down further CORT secretion so that circulating CORT levels recover to near baseline levels within 60-120 minutes after stressor initiation [15,14]. The time required to reach baseline levels also varies depending on stressor type and duration. Circulating levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine follow a similar trajectory, but with more rapid increases and decreases [16]. Biological Rhythms Plasma levels of CORT are not static, but follow a circadian rhythm that is closely aligned with the sleep-wake cycles. In both humans and rodents, plasma GCs rise as the sleep cycle (inactive phase) ends and peaks upon waking up. From this peak, GC levels fall during the active phase and eventually reach the circadian trough or nadir (the lowest point in the cycle) [17,18]. However, as nocturnal animals, the active phase for rodents is during the dark period and the inactive phase occurs during the light period. Thus, in laboratory animals, peak CORT levels are found just after the lights are turned off and nadir CORT levels are measured when the lights are turned on. In addition, within this circadian rhythm GCs are released in an ultradian (cycles repeated within the 24 hour period) pulsatile pattern which rises and falls according to the circadian rhythm [19]. Basal levels of CORT measured in rats can typically range from 0-200 ng/mL in adult male rats or 100-500 ng/mL in adult f emale rats [18]. In response to acute stressors, peak stress levels of CORT generally range from 200-600 ng/mL in adult male rats and 500-1000 ng/mL in adult female rats. Both basal and peak stress levels of CORT can vary depending on the sampling time within the circadian rhythm. Sex, Age and Strain Differences As noted above, sex differences in HPA axis activity and responses to acute stressors are well documented. Female rodents exhibit higher basal and stress induced levels of both ACTH and CORT [20,21]. Sex differences in CORT secretion are primarily mediated by estrogen, with higher levels of ACTH and CORT found during proestrus, when circulating levels of estrogen are high [20,18]. Much of the research on gonadal steroid regulation of the HPA axis suggests that estrogen has excitatory effects while androgens have inhibitory effects [22-26]. In addition, females have higher levels of corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG), which partially buffers the higher levels of CORT [27,24]. CBG binds circulating CORT and renders it biologically inactive [28,29]. However, CBG levels take several hours to increase after exposure to a stressor, resulting in higher levels of biologically active CORT in females in response to stressors [30]. Acute stress responses can also vary across the lifespan. After birth, from day 2 to 14, rats experience a stress hyporesponsive period (SHRP) wherein circulating basal CORT remain very low and neonatal pups fail to show an elevation in CORT in response to stress or ACTH administration[31-33]. Adolescence is the next developmental epoch, which includes three stages: pre-pubescence/early adolescence (21-34 days), mid-adolescence (34-46 days) and late adolescence (46-59 days) [34,35]. During early adolescence, rats exhibit an exaggerated HPA axis response to both acute and chronic stress compared to adults [36,37]. In addition, sex differences in HPA axis function mature over the adolescent period [38,39]. The acute stress response has also been investigated in aging animals, though a great deal of heterogeneity, particularly with respect to the aging model has been found [40]. However, the general consensus, based on earlier studies, is that aged animals exhibit elevated baseline (or basal) CORT and a prolonged stress-induced elevation in CORT release, possibly due to decreased GR-mediated negative feedback [41,42]. It should also be noted that aging is associated with increased variability in the acute stress response [40]. Sex differences in acute HPA axis responses are not frequently examined in aged rats. However, since estrogen decreases with age, and males demonstrate increased basal CORT, it would be expected that sex differences would become less robust [43,44] Robust strain differences in both basal and peak stress levels of CORT also exist. In general, the in bred Fischer 344 (F344) strain of rats secrete higher levels of both basal and stress induced CORT levels compared to both the inbred Lewis (LEW) strain and the outbred Sprague Dawley (SD) strain (Dhabar 1993). Interestingly, both F344 and SD rats show increased basal CORT levels at the end of the inactive period, while LEW rats did not show a robust circadian rhythm (Dhabar 1993). As mentioned above, strain differences can also interact with age differences to further complicate the picture of a normal HPA axis stress response across the lifespan. CHRONIC STRESS Exposure to chronic stress can result in long term elevations in GCs and has been shown to alter the structure and function of the brain regions involved in regulating the HPA axis as well as learning and memory and numerous other behaviors [7]. Two general responses in HPA axis function occur as a result of chronic stress, namely habituation and sensitization. Habituation typically occurs following repeated exposure to the same (homotypic) mild stressor, with the magnitude of the HPA axis response (i.e. CORT secretion) diminishing with each subsequent exposure to the stressor [45,46]. On the other hand, repeated exposure to different (heterotypic) and unpredictable stressors can diminish the habituation of the HPA axis response [47-49]. Interestingly, both chronic homotypic and heterotypic unpredictable stressors cause sensitization of the HPA axis response to a novel stressor, resulting in increased ACTH and CORT secretion [45,48]. The most frequently studied brain regions that are vulnerable to chronic stress are the HPC, amygdala (AMG) and PFC [50]. In both the HPC and PFC, chronic restraint stress results in dendritic atrophy and decreased GR expression, which facilitates decreased HPA axis feedback and impaired memory [51-54,7]. In addition, chronic stress can also lead to altered hippocampal excitability, neurochemistry and neurogenesis (refs from Conrad 2010 review if needed?). On the other hand, chronic stress causes dendritic hypertrophy and increased CRH expression in the AMG as well as dendritic hypertrophy in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), which facilitate HPA axis excitability and anxiety and habitual behavior, respectively [7,55-58]. Sex, Age and Strain Differences Sex differences in response to chronic stress exposure are less frequently examined. The above-mentioned effects are well documented in males. However, chronic stress does not appear to have the same effects in females. For example, females appear to be resilient against chronic stress induced dendritic atrophy in the HPC and spatial memory impairments [59-63]. In the PFC, females exhibit dendritic hypertrophy, whereas males demonstrate dendritic atrophy in response to repeated stress exposure [64]. In addition, chronic stress is associated with sex-specific PFC-mediated behavioral effects. Chronically stressed males show impairments in recall of fear extinction, possibly reflecting decreased behavioral flexibility [65-67]. However, chronically stressed females demonstrate impaired memory for the acquisition of fear conditioning, which is more dependent on the AMG [68-70]. Interestingly, males show dendritic hypertrophy and increased activation of the AMG and an associated increase i n the acquisition of fear conditioning following chronic stress [67]. Thus, in females, chronic stress causes more moderate morphological and behavioral outcomes that may be related to sex-specific changes in AMG function. Chronic stress also has differential effects across the lifespan. In general, earlier exposure to chronic stress (i.e. prenatal and neonatal) have protracted and irreversible effects compared to adult chronic stress. Exposing pregnant rat dams to chronic stress increases circulating CORT which crosses through the placenta and reaches the developing fetus to alter brain development and HPA axis activity [71]. The long-term effects of prenatal stress include increased basal and stress induced CORT secretion as well as learning impairments, increased anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and sensitivity to drugs of abuse [72,73]. Postnatal stress is typically induced by disrupting the maternal-pup interactions (i.e., maternal separation or daily handling of pups). The long-term effects of early postnatal stress include altered anxiety-like behavior and stress-induced HPA axis activity in adulthood though the direction of these effects are varied and highly dependent on the age of the p up, as well as the type and duration of the manipulations [72,74,75]. Chronic adolescent stress can result in enduring effects in adulthood, including decreased hippocampal volume, impaired spatial learning, and increased anxiety-like behavior adulthood [76-79]. However, there is less evidence for adolescent stress exposure to result in depressive behaviors in adulthood [80,81]. Studies of long lasting effects of adolescent stress exposure on HPA axis function are mixed, while most report no effect on basal or stress-induced CORT or ACTH secretion, some studies find increased basal and stress induced CORT secretion in adulthood [82,78,76,83,84]. Chronic stress exposure during adolescence can lead to long term behavioral and neuroendocrine effects, depending on the timing of exposure, the sex of the animal and the type of stressors used [82,84,85]. In aged animals, chronic stress has differential effects compared to young or middle-aged adult rats. For example, following 3 weeks of c hronic restraint stress in aged males and females, stress-induced sex differences were no longer evident on spatial and non-spatial memory tasks and chronic stress either facilitated or did not impair performance in aged male rats [86,87]. In addition, in aged animals sex-specific effects of chronic stress are reversed [86,87]. Furthermore, chronic stress in aged rats may potentiate stress-induced neurotoxicity, particularly in the HPC [72,88]. Strain differences are also noted in the effects of chronic stress. Interestingly, and in line with acute stress strain differences, the inbred F344 strain do not demonstrate habituation of the plasma CORT response to chronic stress with a repeated homotypic stressor, while SD and LEW rat strains do [46]. F344, but not SD and LEW, rats also exhibit adrenal gland hypertrophy after 3 sessions of restraint over 10 days [46]. F344 rats also exhibit a lack of HPA axis habituation following 14 days of restraint compared to SD rats [89]. Consistent with these findings, robust differences between SD and LEW rats were not found in either male or female rats in HPA axis response to an acute stressor after chronic exposure to unpredictable heteroptyic stressors [90]. TYPES OF STRESSORS Acute Stressors (Figure 3: Equipment/Stressors) In addition to being a threat against homeostasis, stressors can be described as any event or environment that is novel, unpredictable, poses a threat to well-being or ego, or creates a sense of loss of control (Lupien 2007). Acute stressors are stressors which occur on a single occasion with varying durations. Typically acute stressors last anywhere from 5 minutes to upwards of 6 hours, but in general for a period of time less than 24 hours. Acute stressors of longer durations are sometimes referred to as single prolonged stressors. Essentially the purpose of an acute stressor is for the experimental subject to mount a single stress response, or activation of the HPA axis. There are many different types of stressors and categorization of these stressors is attempted by many, though not all stress researchers agree. Stressors can vary in the type of perceived stress such as physical or psychological (or some combination of the two) as well as intensity and duration. Depending on the type of stressor used, differential effects on the HPA axis and SNS responses will occur. Physical stressors are stressors that are predominantly identified or perceived through the senses or involuntary (autonomic) mechanisms. Examples of physical stressors include extreme temperatures, loud noise, chemical exposure, extreme activity, metabolic or immune system disruptions, hemorrhage and pain. The most extreme physical stressors are necessarily limited to short durations due to discomfort. Many physical stressors can be administered in multiple ways or in combination with other stressors. To manipulate temperature, rodent subjects can be place in a standard cold room (~4-6 °C) or a hot room (~30-40 °C) or in cold (~18-20 °C) or hot water (~25-35 °C) as part of a forced swim stressor (forced exercise) [91-93]. Loud noises stressors are most effective at a range of ~90-110 dB [94]. Chemical stressors include exposure to ether vapors, hypoxic conditions, and injection of formalin or other noxious substances [93,95]. Stressors involving extreme activity include forc ed swim and on the opposite end of the spectrum, immobilization, wherein the subject is splayed out on a board with all its limbs and head secured to prevent movement. Metabolic disruptions can include fasting or food restriction, injections of insulin to induce hypoglycemia or lipopolysaccharide to induce an immune reaction. Hemorrhage or hypovolemia is induced by removing a percentage of blood volume with a moderate hemorrhage consisting of removal of ~20% estimated blood volume [96]. Finally, pain can be induced via numerous methods. Frequently used stressors include tail pinch with clothespins or hemostats. Another common stressor associated with pain is mild ( Psychological stressors are perceived threats against homeostasis or well-being. Important qualities of psychological stressors include loss of control, unpredictability and novelty. Identification of psychological stressors can also be experience or species dependent, in that the anticipation of the event itself can be a stressor, even in the absence of the actual event. Psychological stressors may also induce fear, anxiety or other behavioral changes. The effectiveness of psychological stressors is primarily under the control of limbic brain regions such as the HPC, AMG and PFC [7]. Several types of psychological stressors are used, including those that activate innate and species-specific behaviors and fear, inescapable/uncontrollable stressors, and social stressors. Activation of innate fear (based on a threat to safety/survival) in rodents can be accomplished with exposure to a predator (i.e. a cat or snake) or to a novel or unfamiliar environments particularly those with are op en and brightly lit (i.e. open field or elevated plus maze). Inescapable and uncontrollable stressors include inescapable foot or tail shock, forced swim and restraint. Rodent restraint is the most frequently used and well-documented stressor. It can also be combined with other physical stressors such as being placed in a rotating platform or in combination with tail pinch. Interestingly, even animal handling can be categorized as this type a stressor. Social stressors make up their own entire subcategory. Many researchers believe that social stressors are the most translationally relevant because the primary source of stress in humans comes from social interactions, expectations and even trauma. Rats are by nature social animals, but too much or too little can elicit a stress response. Two of the least effortful social stressors are isolation housing and high density housing (i.e. crowding). Interestingly males show a greater stress response to crowding while females show a greater stress response to single (i.e. isolation) housing [98]. A popular social stressor is social defeat, utilizing the resident intruder paradigm. This paradigm consists of using aggressive male rats (i.e. retired breeders or reared in isolation without handling) as the resident rat. The experimental rat (i.e. the one which will mount a stress response) is the intruder and is placed in the home cage of the resident rat. Typically the rats are allowed contac t with each other until the intruder demonstrates defeat behaviors (i.e. submissive supine posturing). In one modification of this paradigm, the intruder remains in the home cage of the resident rat but is separated, and therefore protected from physical harm, by a wire mesh enclosure [99,100]. A novel socially based stressor that is less labor intensive is to place a male rat in the dirty cage of another male rat. Thus the male rat is in an inescapable territory of another male rat, without physical contact [101]. Chronic Stress Paradigms Chronic stress is prolonged stress that typically occurs for at least 5 days, typically 1-3 weeks and sometimes up to 6 weeks or more. Many different types of chronic stress paradigms can be used, depending on the desired outcome measures. An additional variable to consider with chronic stress paradigms is the likelihood of habituation of the stress response over time, as mentioned above. Examples of chronic stress paradigms include chronic restraint, chronic mild stress, chronic unpredictable stress, chronic variable stress, chronic social stress, and chronic intermittent stress. Chronic restraint stress and chronic mild stress have historically been the most frequently used chronic stress paradigms. Interestingly, these paradigms have different phenotypic outcomes. Chronic restraint stress is frequently carried out with daily 6 hour restraint sessions for 3 weeks (Conrad XXXX). However, because chronic restraint stress is repeated exposure to a single homotypic stressor, habituation of the stress response after the first few days likely occurs as evidenced by blunted CORT and ACTH release in response to restraint following completion of the chronic restraint paradigm [102,103]. This paradigm is well characterized with regard to spatial learning and memory deficits as well as altered dendritic morphology, particularly dendritic retraction in the hippocampus [104]. Interestingly, spontaneous recovery of both altered dendritic morphology and spatial learning and memory deficits has been observed [105]. Chronic restraint stress also alters anxiety- and depressiv e-like behaviors, impairs response inhibition, facilitates fear learning and reduces motivation for food reward [106-108,53] Chronic mild stress (CMS) is typically used to induce an anhedonic (i.e. depressive-like) phenotype [109]. This paradigm typically involves exposure of the subjects to one mild stressor a day, typically for 6-8 weeks [109,110]. Stressors are administered on a set weekly schedule and include wet bedding, cage tilt, mild footshock, alterations in the light-dark cycle, food/water deprivation and cage changes [109,110]. Anhedonic effects of CMS, which can last up to 3 months, include decreased sucrose consumption, increased threshold for intracranial self-stimulation and decreased locomotor activity in the absence an anxiety-like phenotype [109]. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) is essentially an iteration of CMS, which lasts for a shorter period of time (~2 weeks) and presents mild to moderate stressors once a day in a more randomized order and time of day [111,112]. Depressive-like phenotypes are seen after CUS exposure in addition to anxiety-like phenotypes and cognitive deficits [1 12,91]. Chronic variable stress (CVS) is yet another more severe iteration of a repeated administration of heterotypic stressors. More recently, CVS paradigms have differentiated themselves from CMS paradig