Sunday, December 22, 2019

Climate Analysis On Climate Archives - 1612 Words

There is significant evidence from studies based on climate archives that the Earth’s climate about 10 000 years ago was very different from the present climate; it has changed a lot since the last glacial period which ended about 10 000- 12 000 years ago (Chappell, 1998). Hence, about 10 000 years ago the Earth was buried under ice sheets and it was much cooler than present temperatures (see Figure 1, Appendix) (Chappell, 1998). The Earth that has been cycling between cold and warm climates for ages and is currently in the interglacial period where it has slowly become warmer along with a rise in sea level (Watts, 2009). There are many climate archives which can help scientists study past climates and their development over time. Climate†¦show more content†¦Corals were first discovered about 200 million years, however most have grown over the last 10 000 years. Therefore, corals are great climate archives to use in order to study the climate from the last 10 000 yea rs. Corals also have a wide array of climatic history stored within them (Introduction: Coral Reefs, 2015). They have a long lifetime and rapid growth which makes them ideal climate archives for studying the past climate (Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics, 2015). Along with the corals there is the foraminifera; also referred to as sea floor fossils. These sea floor fossils are often found in sediment cores and can reveal a variety of things about the past climate through ocean currents, temperature and oxygen ratios. Also these fossils are the most common source of paleoceanographic proxies, making them easily available (Kucera, 2007). Hence, foraminifera or sea floor fossils are an ideal climate archives for studying the past climate from about 10 000 years ago alongside corals. Information about the past climate can not only help us understand our present climate but can also help predict our future climate trends. Corals, which are one of the climate archives been discussed, are living organisms who produce a calcium carbonate skeleton to make themselves look like rocks. The calcium carbonate bands found in corals help form permanent records of seasonal and annual climate changes. Corals are a type of biotic proxy; which are proxies based on the

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Nursing Homosexuality and United States Free Essays

And the Band Played On University of Central Florida Question #1 Based on what you observed in the film or read in the book; clearly articulate and delineate at least three of the sociopolitical factors that influenced public health policy development for HIV/AIDs prevention and control in the United States. Then discuss separately each of the three sociopolitical factors each factor and discussion is equal to three points each. The three sociopolitical factors that influenced public health policy development for HIV/Aids prevention and control in the United States were identifying early possible ways of spreading the disease, how it affected our blood supply and that to acknowledge the social implications that it could be everyman’s disease. We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing: Homosexuality and United States or any similar topic only for you Order Now Initially, in the movie there were signs of the disease but they were not sure even what it was. People were dying from a type of pneumonia that was not common; one man had Toxoplasmosis which is a cat’s disease. Other patients had a low or no T-cell count. As the movie progressed they found a connection with â€Å"Patient Zero† and this concept that they called the GRID which stood for Gay Related Immune Deficiency and this term was coined by Bill Kraus who was speaking on behalf of the gay rights in Washington, D. C. in 1980. In the connection with patient zero it is ultimately discovered that there was a flight attendant who was gay who had sexual intercourse with many men who then had sex with others and the doctor’s were able to make the connection with this information. They were able to trace back to the flight attendant who was patient zero and who he slept with and who all of those people had slept with, so on and so forth. The flight attendant had given him names and they were able to talk to several men who gave names of other men that they had sex with. (Spelling, Vincent Spottiswoode, 1993). The second factor that helped to form public policy and help with control and prevention was regarding our blood supply. It was discovered that there was an older man who was a hemophiliac who had received many blood transfusions at the University of Colorado Medical Center. There was also a woman who was an IV drug user who had contracted AIDS. This helped to dispel the myth that it was only a gay disease, but was transported through the blood; therefore our blood supply was at risk. The CDC in Atlanta met in 1983 and motioned to change the name from GRID to AIDS which was Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. However, because of expense the blood banks refused to change testing procedures. Eventually, the blood banks finally agree to test but many people were affected with AIDS virus before that finally took place. (Spelling, Vincent Spottiswoode, 1993). One of the big factors early on is that no one wanted to be associated with AIDS due to the fact that it was considered a homosexual man’s disease. There was a lot of fear, denial and anger surrounding this disease. In 1981at the CDC Dr. Guinan asks that a report about an epidemic with gay men had broken out and he wanted it published in the medical journal. The fear of the word â€Å"homosexual† was marked off and not used for that article. It took a long time for the realization that this disease could affect everyone from homosexual males, IV drug users, blood transfusion patients, women and even babies. Even though it was initially considered the disease came from gay men and their sexual practices it crossed all borders as time went on. Still today there is some prejudice regarding AIDS. (Spelling, Vincent Spottiswoode, 1993). Question #2 How were early victims and contacts identified and located? One example was from a gay flight attendant who had by his own admission had at least 250 partners and that was a conservative number of partners, when he was a patient at NYU Medical Center. Later, the doctors make the connection and tracked him down to ask for names of other men he had slept with. He gave Dr. Darrow 73 names which at least was a beginning for them to contact other men and from there they could get them names of men or women that they too had slept with. The doctors began to see a common thread of patients who had low T cell counts, rare pneumonia, Kaposi’s sarcoma and other signs/symptoms that they were looking at and trying to make the connection with what this disease entailed as they were sharing information with each other of their findings. (Spelling, Vincent Spottiswoode, 1993). Question #3 Describe how the events in the film compare with the steps in the epidemiological process described in Maurer and Smith. There are three types of epidemiological studies that include descriptive, experimental and analytic. (Maurer Smith, 2009). I think that the descriptive would be the closest to the film. The reason is that the movie talks about those who are affected and different scenarios. One such scenario would be Dr. Francis when he was seeing a woman on her death bed, and she spits blood on his hand and he is scared. He was a key player in that he saw some symptoms and tried to go back and put together pieces of the puzzle of what that meant with other findings, different populations, ages, sex, blood etc. What was difficult were how many hurdles the medical community had to try and overcome. There was little funding, discriminatory attitudes and a basic belief it did not belong in their back yard. The government was inefficient and slow and much of the red tape left many to suffer and die. They believed that it was a lifestyle choice and that their punishment was just. (Spelling, Vincent Spottiswoode, 1993). The people who were most affected early on were homosexual men. It did seem to be more prominent in San Francisco where there was a high population of gay men. The first case was in Copenhagen in 1977, various countries and finally the United States. This disease affected everyone from gay, straight, IV drug users, babies and hemophiliacs. (Spelling, Vincent Spottiswoode, 1993). It is worthy to note that the homosexual men were engaging in very risky behaviors such as in the bathhouses they were with multiple partners and also engaged in the use of poppers. Gay men also engaged in sex often without protection and even when they tested positive they would still engage in risky behaviors. Kalichman SC; Cain D; Simbayi LC, (2010). What was your overall reaction after viewing this film/reading this book with respect to the impact on the health care system in the United States? I had never seen the film before so I found it very interesting. Knowing what I know now I look at that film in disbelief that we had to go through all of those hurdles and how many lives were lost. It was a failure to act from the CDC, blood banks, government; the doctor’s fighting with their egos for credit and even those fighting with each other and the politicians who don’t want their careers ruined. I don’t remember it affecting me much because I am a straight, heterosexual female, but I do remember thinking how scared I was when it first came out. It does not mean however, that I am safe because I am female. I do know that. The money that it cost in the aftermath of inefficiency is probably numbers I can’t imagine. I applaud Dr. Francis in standing up for what he believed was right in the face of his colleagues who fought him the whole way. It must have been a lonely path for him but I believe when you are passionate about something that is when you will prevail, and he did. I hope that history doesn’t repeat itself and that as humans we can learn from our errors. One impact that I can have as a nurse is to dispel myths and teach the facts about having HIV and living with it. There are still many misconceptions surrounding HIV and since we are in a position to educate, it is our duty to do so. Ojebuyi B. (2009). References Kalichman, S. , Cain, D. , Simbayi, L. (2010). Behavioral changes associated with testing HIV-positive among sexually transmitted infection clinic patients in Cape Town, South Africa. American Journal of Public Health, 100(4), 714-719. oi:10. 2105/AJPH. 2009. 162602. Maurer, F. A. , Smith, C. M. (2009). Community/public health nursing practice: health for families and populations. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elselvier Ojebuyi, B. (2009). Increasing people’s knowledge about HIV/AIDS: an investigation into the effectiveness of reading as a communication strategy. Journal of Health Management, 11(3), 473-488. Retrieved from CIN AHL Plus with Full Text database Spelling, A. , Vincent, E. D. , (Producers). Spottiswoode, R. (Director), (1993), And the band played on [Motion picture]. United States: Home Box Office. How to cite Nursing: Homosexuality and United States, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Culture and Obesity free essay sample

They should not write their names on the sheets. 2. Collect the Classroom Activity Sheet: Three Women. Select one or two students to tally students’ responses on the Classroom Activity Sheet: Tally of Students’ Perceptions of Body Shape and Size . 3. While these students tally the responses, ask the class why you presented the survey without any introductory discussion. Responses will vary, but most students will suggest that you are trying to gauge attitudes toward overweight and thin people. 4. Have students present the survey results, and discuss them with the class. Typically, the thin women (A and B) receive the most positive responses, while the heaviest woman (C) 1 receives the most negative responses. Discuss how students came to their conclusions. Students’ comments may include the following: â€Å"Woman C is heavy, so she must be the most unhealthy. † â€Å"Since woman C is heavy, she can’t be making wise decisions consistently, because fat people eat too much, and they eat bad food. † â€Å"Woman C isn’t attractive because she’s too big. She should lose weight. † â€Å"That woman needs to work out. † Conclude the discussion by summarizing students’ responses. 5. Divide students into four groups. Ask each group to consider how society influences our perceptions of overweight and obese people. Encourage students to consider the many ways we get information, including family and friends, television, movies, music, literature, and advertisements. Have each group prepare a presentation that includes the following: A paragraph focusing on the group’s ideas about how these factors influence our perceptions of overweight and obese people. It should state the factors that have the most influence and why. A summary, based on research, of the factors that influence society’s perceptions of overweight and obese people. Research material may include pictures from magazines, advertisements, examples from movies and books, and any other resources about body perception. A conclusion about the group’s original ideas: Were they supported by research, or did they change? Students should explain how and why any of their ideas changed. 6. Suggest that students use magazines, newspapers, and resources from the library and the Internet, such as the following Web sites: http://www. atlantaparent. com/First%20Page%20APRIL%2001. htm http://www. nhlbi. nih. gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk. htm http://www. cornell. du/food/expfiles/topics/sobal/sobaloverview. html http://webmd. lycos. com/content/dmk/dmk_article_40062 7. Have each group share its presentation. Do the groups agree on how society influences our perceptions of overweight and obese people? Do they believe that one factor is more significant than others? If so, which one? Why do they think that factor is so important? 8. Conclude the lesson by asking students whether their opinions in the original survey have changed as a result of their research. Would they answer the questions differently now? What information has changed their perceptions of overweight and obese people? 9. Assign the Take-Home Activity Sheet: Your Opinion About Weight and Body Image. If time permits, discuss students’ responses during the next class period. What have students learned about their feelings about overweight and obese people? What have they learned about their feelings about their own bodies? 2 Adaptation for younger students: Focus on the survey and tally sheet. Have a discussion about students’ feelings about overweight and obese people. Do they have prejudices? Are these prejudices fostered by the media? You may use the questions on the Take-Home Activity Sheet as a guide for class discussions. Discussion Questions: 1. Men in three Matsigenka villages in southeastern Peru were shown six drawings of women that differed only in body weight and waist size. The men chose a drawing for each of these categories: healthiest, most attractive, and best potential spouse. The overwhelming winner in every category was the drawing of the heaviest woman with the thickest waist. Why might the Matsigenka men perceive heaviness as attractive? 2. What is the difference between being overweight and being obese? Can an individual be healthy and overweight? Explain. 3. In the 1990s, more than 5 million American women suffered from eating disorders. This may be evidence that many American women have difficulty accepting their bodies. In your opinion, what must be done to help Americans accept their own bodies? 4. We usually think of fat as negative, but fat serves many purposes in the human body. Why do our bodies contain fat? What happens if a person’s body fat is too low? 5. Some health risks are associated with having too much body fat. Research and explain three such risks. 6. How much body fat is healthy for a teenage girl? How much is healthy for a teenage boy? Why do you suppose that a healthy girl has more body fat than a healthy boy? Evaluation: Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students’ group work during this lesson: Three points: cooperative work; accurate completion of the research assignment; demonstration of a clear understanding of the relationship between culture and weight; demonstration of a heightened realization of the need for more sensitivity toward people who are overweight or obese Two points: somewhat cooperative work; completion of most of the research assignment with some level of accuracy; demonstration of some understanding of the relationship between culture and weight; emonstration of some understanding of the need for more sensitivity toward people who are overweight or obese 3 One point: trouble working cooperatively; completion of a small portion of the research assignment with some accuracy; demonstration of little or no understanding of the relationship between culture and weight; demonstration of little or no understanding of the need for more sensitivity toward people who are overweight or obese Extensions: Genes and Obesity Some people are overweight or obese because they have a condition they cannot control. Have students research and write a short paper about one of the conditions listed below. They should include the following information: A description of the condition and its effect on body weight Information about the prevalence of the condition Other problems associated with the condition The relationship between genes, diet, and lifestyle How people with this condition try to control their weight Cushing’s syndrome. This syndrome is a hormonal disorder in which the hypothalamus or adrenal gland malfunctions: pituitary tumors may appear, cortisol levels increase, and the person gains weight. About 10 to 15 million people are affected annually. Web site: http://www. niddk. nih. gov/health/endo/pubs/cushings/cushings. htm Prader-Willi syndrome. This is a complex disorder in which the hypothalamus is malformed or damaged because of genetic factors, injury, or brain surgery. The sufferer never feels full after eating, leading to morbid obesity. It is estimated that 1 in 12,000 to 15,000 people suffer from PWS, the most common cause of genetic obesity identified. Web site: www. pwsausa. org/basicfac. htm Hypothyroidism. Underactivity of the thyroid gland slows the body’s normal rate of metabolism. The condition occurs in 2 of every 100 people; many cases can be treated successfully. Web site: www. thyroid. org/patient/brochur5. htm Weight and Entertainers Divide students into small groups. Ask them to name as many chubby performers (living or dead) as possible in the categories of music, film, and television. Students can research periodicals or the Internet. Have students compare the number of female performers on their lists with the number of male performers. Is there a difference in the numbers of male and female performers? (There should be more men. ) Ask students why they think this discrepancy exists. Then ask them to analyze each performance category. Are some more likely to contain overweight performers? (A group might say that there have been many overweight male and female comedians. ) Ask students why they think one category seems to have more heavy performers. Finally, ask students whether they believe there is more prejudice against overweight women than there is against overweight men in the entertainment industry. Make sure students support their answers with specific examples. 4 Suggested Reading: Fat: Fighting the Obesity Epidemic Robert Pool. Oxford University Press, 2001. Using information gleaned from decades of research into appetite, metabolism, body fat, diet, and weight control, this book describes the latest understandings about obesity and the interplay of genes and behavior. Lots of case histories illustrate the struggle to control one’s weight and where the battle is being waged today. Chapter notes are included. The Adonis Complex: The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession Harrison Pope, Jr. , Katherine Phillips, and Roberto Olivardia. The Free Press, 2000. There are many books on the market about female body image, but here’s a different view. Men can be as obsessed with their appearance as women and resort to any number of unsafe behaviors to try to mold themselves in a particular way. Chapters discuss excessive weight training, steroid use, eating disorders, and distorted body image. Lots of case studies, diagnostic questionnaires, and suggestions for treatment make this an absorbing book. Vocabulary: morbid obesity Definition: Weight gain that interferes with breathing and other vital functions. Context: If a person’s weight is 50 percent or more over the maximum desirable for his or her height, then that person is considered to suffer from morbid obesity. besity Definition: Weight that is 20 to 25 percent more than the maximum desirable for a person’s height. Context: There are multiple causes for the development of obesity, including a genetic propensity and overeating. overweight Definition: Weighing more than 25 to 35 pounds over the maximum desirable for a person’s height. Context: Karen was co nstantly frustrated because no matter how little she ate and how much she exercised, she remained overweight. prejudice Definition: A negative attitude or prejudgment toward a particular group.