Drug Abuse, Addiction And Policy - 971 Words

Drug Abuse, Addiction and Policy Drug addiction to both, illegal and legal substances has had a significant impact on society and culture in the United States for over a century. The United States failed drug policies have helped to create an epidemic of addiction, to both illicit substances and prescription medication, that claims the lives of thousands of users every year. The film Requiem for a Dream, presents a surreal look at how illegal and prescription drugs, can destroy lives. The film focuses on a Harry, his mother, his friend and his lover, in Brooklyn, NY. Each of them discover the bleakness and unending pain that accompanies addiction. The era of the movie is indiscernible, but the tragedies are exceptionally relevant to the ongoing drug problem we face today. Culturally the U.S. has a created a problem, by mainstreaming the accepted use of alcohol and advocating the safety of prescription drugs, while demonizing the use of drugs like marijuana, the United States is faced with growing levels of addiction and incarceration. The director Aronofsky, perfectly illustrates this complex issue by contrasting Harry’s heroin abuse and downfall against his mothers’ diet pill abuse and mental breakdown. The fact that both substances are dangerous and addictive but only one is legal, perfectly thoroughly condemns the U.S. stance on drug use. All psychoactive substances can be abused, however dominant member of society determine that is culturally acceptable to get drunkShow MoreRelatedThe Ethics of Drug Use and Drug Abuse1579 Words   |  6 PagesEthics of Drug Use and Drug Abuse For any professional working in the substance abuse treatment field, they will very likely come across situations and be presented with dilemmas relating to personal beliefs, judgments, and values. Drug or substance use and abuse have been a controversial and heated topic around the world for centuries. Drug abuse, in a way, is a facet of human culture that has been present for a great deal of human history in general. Every culture handles the issue of drug abuseRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse1298 Words   |  5 PagesPrescription drugs are being taken for reasons other than the ones they are being prescribed for, fueling an addiction that impacts as many as 48 million Americans (Prescription Drug Abuse WebMD). According to MedLinePlus, an estimated 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons. This is prescription drug abuse. While a considerable amount of time, resources, and attention are focused on the problems associated with i llicit drugs, prescription drug abuseRead MoreIllegal Drug Use1378 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Illegal drug use and abuse remains a pervasive social issue despite significant efforts to quell its existence. In fact, a recent report released by the RAND Corporation (2005) notes that drug abuse has become such a prominent social issue that substantial increases in prison populations all across the United States have been attributed to the tougher sentences that have been put in place for drug users. With the realization that current social policies toward reducing drug abuse are not working—onlyRead MoreAbstinence vs. Harm Reduction1733 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Abstinence Vs. Harm Reduction† â€Å"Drug policy regarding the control of the traditional illicit substances (opiates, cocaine, cannabis) is currently moving through upbeat times in almost all Western countries. Prohibition on the basis of repressive law enforcement not only seems to fail on a large scale, but also to create vast additional costs, problems, and harm for drug consumers, who often find themselves in extreme social, economic, and health conditions† (Fischer 1995: 389). Western countriesRead MorePoverty And Poverty1559 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction One of the stereotypes dominating the issue of drug abuse cites that it is highly prevalent among the poor members of the society. The claim stands to be discredited because a lack of financial resources never appears to be linked to the problem of drug use. The correlation is a multifaceted one, and poverty causation is complicated (Sinha 107). The characteristics of poverty involve high death rates, deteriorating physical health, a high prevalence of mental disorders, a high percentageRead MoreThe Problems of Drug Addiction954 Words   |  4 PagesDrug addiction A reasonable number of people do not understand why other people get addicted to drugs. Some even associate drug abuse and addiction with lack of moral principles or willpower. People subscribing to this school of thought believe that drug addicts can stop using drugs by simply changing their behavior. They fail to realize that drug addiction is a complex disease whose eradication calls for many things other than changing habits. Drugs basically change the way a human brain worksRead MoreDrug Addiction Is A Serious Problem1032 Words   |  5 Pages Drug addiction is a serious problem in today’s society. Drug addiction is a complex disease and once addicted, it is nearly impossible to quit. There are several ways to help manage drug addiction such as help-lines, support groups, and rehab. The most controversial treatment though, is methadone treatment. Methadone, ironically, is a drug used to treat drug addicts. Methadone has been used for approximately fifty years to treat morphine and heroine addicts. Methadone is a multi-billion-dollar industryRead MoreA Report On Substance Abuse Treatment Essay893 Words   |  4 Pagessubstance abuse treatment which our company SAFE Foundation OP Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment Centre treat and educate individuals daily. The Brownsville community is associated with our facility which includes specialized treatment for our patients. Our effective treatment programs focuses on adult and youth, include several different types of interventions simultaneously, and provide int ensive treatment. This proposal concludes with comments on improving substance abuse patients inRead MoreNew Rehab Programs Should Be Introduced1420 Words   |  6 Pagesthe start of the Drug War, which was the motion to use more policing in order to end the illicit drug market, the amount of arrests have increased for drug possession. Rehab programs in state and federal prisons have helped people overcome their addiction and relapse. The same way that King Leonidas in the graphic novel, 300, went about his Spartan initiation, it portrays the way a drug addict tries to overcome their addiction. By continuing to arrest people for substance abuse, it makes it harderRead MoreAddiction And Substance Abuse : Drugs1021 Words   |  5 PagesNicolo Vitale Mrs. Martinez English 3 March 30, 2016 Addiction and Substance Abuse Addiction and substance abuse is a crime that has plagued the U.S. ever since the early 1900 s and from that point on has been an uphill battle for the U.S. to stop. But even with everything the U.S. has tried nothing that has been done has even made a dent in the drug war. Drugs just continue to hit the very streets that innocent people live on. Today people walk right outside their house and just around the corner

Turnitin Hypocrisy of Its Own Free Essays

Over the centuries, teachers and professors all have had a problem with academic dishonesty. The advancement in technology has made plagiarizing so much easier, and because of this, many professors have resorted to using software programs which detects any sort of plagiarism. One popular program many professors are enforcing their students to use is Turnitin. We will write a custom essay sample on Turnitin: Hypocrisy of Its Own or any similar topic only for you Order Now com. When a paper is submitted into Turnitin, the program compares it to previous submitted essays saved in its database and the content available on the internet.However, in recent years, there has been much controversy between the ethics of Turnitin and student’s rights. According to Merriam-Webster, plagiarizing is defined as, â€Å"to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own, without crediting the source† (1). Whenever a thought comes to mind, it is highly unlikely the first time the person has encountered this â€Å"newfound† idea. Books, classes, and conversations with others integrate and become an essential part of the thought process and the fine line between plagiarism and thought becomes slightly unclear.Every class a student takes focus on the concept of when using another’s work, you must always give credit to the owner; otherwise, you have committed plagiarism. The focus on crediting becomes stricter as students take higher level classes as they prepare for and enter the real world. Although students know that cheating has heavy consequences—receiving an F in the course, or worse, expulsion from school—some may take the risk if they believe that the benefit of receiving a higher grade may outweigh the potential consequences.Plagiarism had been limited by availability of information in newspapers, books, or libraries in the past. Today, with the advancement in technology, students now have access to the internet which contains a wealth of limitless information, making plagiarism ev er so easy, one-click-away. Because of this, many professors have felt the need to be proactive and fight back with technology in order to prevent plagiarism. One popular plagiarizing detection program many schools and universities are using is Turnitin. com.As soon as a student submits an electronic copy of their work, the website compares it with resources found online and files from its extensive database and produces an originality report. Teachers believe that anti-plagiarizing software programs such as Turnitin is a way to deter and, possibly, catch students if they plagiarized Conversely, Turnitin is a major contradiction itself. In Bill Walsh’s article, â€Å"Expect, but Respect, Original Work by Students,† he points out the hypocrisy of Turnitin lies in what it is presumably trying to prevent and teach.He states that Turnitin, â€Å"is actually infringing on the students’ intellectual property, making money from it, and violating the very copyright laws Turnitin is supposed to be protecting† (Walsh 568). Every time a paper is submitted into Turnitin, the student unknowingly fuels its database and helps the website run more efficiently. In order to make a database, Turnitin has to save a copy of the student’s intellectual work; if the student has not given authorization, then Turnitin, hypocritically, is potentially violating copyright infringement laws.Without the extensive database of submitted papers, Turnitin will be merely just a simple search engine such as Google. Every single paper that is submitted to the site gets added to the database increases the value of their product and what they have to offer. The website asserts complete ownership and access to every paper and assignment that is submitted in to their site; this allows the company to generate a revenue of â€Å"tens of millions of dollars annually† (Walsh 568) without giving the authors any compensation or credit.Without giving any credit or compensation to the owners of that intellectual property, Turnitin has contradicted its business model and has become its own hypocrite. Besides academic learning, education also teaches students about the value of academic integrity. Donald L. McCabe explains in his essay that, â€Å"integrity cannot be divided†¦ college teaches values to students by the standards they set for themselves†( McCabe 575). Since childhood, students are instilled with the negative connotation associated with cheating.They learn that it is unfair to other students around and there are heavy consequences which can include failing the course, or worse, expulsion from the school. Students also learn that when they cheat, they often they not only end up cheating themselves out of a learning experience, but they also lose their sense of academic integrity as well as their professor’s trust. However, when professors enforce their students to use Turnitin, a program that is clearly is its own hypocrite, they devalue academic integrity.When the education system place so much emphasis on the importance of academic honesty and then enforces students to use Turnitin, a business built on a foundation of the usage of unauthorized work of students, they show students that they support a business which goes against the very standards in which they value. The author suggests that, â€Å"its time to abandon [their] almost exclusive reliance on deterrence and punishment and to look at the issue of academic dishonesty as an educational opportunity as well† (McCabe 576). When professors and schools force students to use programs such as Turnitin, they are clearly sending out a message which states, â€Å"guilty-until-proven-innocent. † By asking students to use Turnitin, professors are assuming that most students are going to cheat and plagiarize their papers in some way and it creates a â€Å"culture of mistrust, a culture of guilt† (Rawe 570). Ethics in education should always include a magnitude of trust, so when professors presume students to all have plagiarized until a software program proves otherwise, it violates this code.This not only creates a feeling of mistrust amongst students and professors, this also goes against our American rights—innocent until proven guilty. Instead of using anti-plagiarizing programs such as Turnitin to catch or discourage students from cheating, schools should focus more on the ethics in academic integrity, and possibly expand the â€Å"honor code by obligating students to take action of th ey observe or hear about cheating†(Rawe 570); by doing so will ensue an ethical education formally based upon academic integrity.Plagiarism is a behavior of academic misconduct that violates the importance of academic integrity and definitely should not be acceptable. Many schools have resorted to using Turnitin as a convenient way to prevent and detect plagiarism. However, when schools decide to use a program that uses student’s intellectual work in order to make a hefty profit without offering compensation, permission, or acknowledgment to the student, they support a company which goes against all of the fundamental elements they have tried protect and instill into the education system regarding academic integrity.And when schools still choose to sacrifice student intellectual property in order to prevent plagiarism, the trust code between professors and students becomes violated, and academic integrity will cease to exist.Works Cited 1. â€Å"Plagiarizing. †Ã‚  Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010. http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/plagiarizing? show=0;t=1284692767(14 Sept. 2010). 2. Walsh, Bill. â€Å"Expect, but Respect, Original Work by How to cite Turnitin: Hypocrisy of Its Own, Papers

Mechanical Engineering free essay sample

Plain carbon steel is essentially an alloy of iron and carbon which also contains manganese and a variety of residual elements. These residual elements were either present within the raw materials used in the production process e. g. iron ore and scrap steel additions, or they were added in the production process for a specific purpose, e. g. deoxidization by means of silicon or aluminium. Hence they are called residual elements to distinguish them from alloying elements that are deliberately added according to specified minimum amounts. The term â€Å"cleanliness† refers to the amounts of various phases such as oxides, sulphides and silicates that can be present in steel. The smaller the amount of these phases, the cleaner the steel. For many years steels have been produced by casting the molten steel into moulds and allowing it to solidify into ingots which were then processed by rolling etc. steel produced by ingots is subdivided into four categories according to the deoxidization process used. We will write a custom essay sample on Mechanical Engineering or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These categories are rimmed, capped, semi-killed and killed steel. When un-deoxidized steel is cast into an ingot, carbon monoxide is evolved during solidification because the solubility of oxygen decreases as the temperature decreases. 1b) Steels that contain specified amounts of alloying elements, other than carbon and the commonly accepted amounts of manganese, copper, silicon, sulphur and phosphorus are known as alloy steels. Alloying elements are added to change mechanical or physical properties. Alloy steels are melted together in an electric furnace. This step usually involves 8 to 12 hours of intense heat. Next, the mixture is cast into one of several shapes including blooms, billets and slabs. After various forming steps, the steel is heat treated and then cleaned and polished to give it the desired finish. The semi-finished steel goes through forming operations, beginning with hot rolling, in which the steel is heated and passed through huge rolls. After the steel is formed, most types must go through an annealing step. Annealing is a heat treatment in which the steel is heated and cooled under controlled conditions to relieve internal stresses and soften the metal. Some steels are heat treated for higher strength. However, heat treatment requires careful control, for even small changes from the recommended temperature, time, or cooling rate can seriously affect the properties. 1c) Plain carbon steel is used in many industries such as in the construction of roads, railways, infrastructures, appliances, and buildings. Carbon steel is used to erect a strong and lasting frame to most modern buildings, steel beams (girders), joists and studs are engineered to create the skeleton of a building. Steel is also used in a variety of construction materials, such as pipes, tubing, plates, bolts, nails, screws and equipment like tools, bulldozers, cranes etc. 1d) In the construction industry, gears, pipes, beams, w shape beams , boilers, pressure valves and other things are fabricated from alloy steels. By coupling additional elements to the carbon and iron based building metal you can strengthen it to withstand quite a bit more. Alloy steels can be non-magnetic, high-quality, and corrosion-proof. Furthermore they can be used in highly demanding applications such as commercial steel buildings, turbine blades in jet engines, spacecrafts and nuclear reactors. Stainless steel is the most widely known alloy steel. What distinguishes stainless steel from carbon steels is that it contains a minimum of 10% chromium. As a consequence, stainless steel building metal is resistant to staining, and is rust proof, which makes it perfect for cooking utensils, cutlery, jewelry as well as aircraft parts, architectural components, and surgical implements. 2) In the production of aluminium, first the ore is mixed with a hot concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide. The NaOH will dissolve the oxides of aluminium and silicon but not other impurities such as iron oxides, which remains insoluble. The insoluble materials are removed by filtration. The solution which now contains the oxides of aluminium and silicon are next treated by bubbling carbon dioxide gas through the solution. Carbon dioxide forms a weak acid solution of carbonic acid which neutralizes the sodium hydroxide from the first treatment. This neutralization selectively precipitates the aluminium oxide, but leaves the silicates in solution. Again filtration is used for the separation. After this stage the purified aluminium oxide is heated to evaporate the water. The molten mixture is then electrolysed with a very large current and the aluminium ions are reduced to form aluminium metal The physical properties of aluminium make it a perfect material for construction. Its light weight means that the load on the bearing structure is less, and its strength makes it suitable for a great variety of solutions. Its resistance to corrosion gives it special advantages: aluminium is perfect for regions with severe weather conditions. Finally, its fluidity gives freedom to architects and designers. Aluminium extruded, rolled and cast products are commonly used for window frames and other glazed structures ranging from shop fronts to large roof superstructures for shopping centres and stadiums, for roofing, siding and curtain walling as well as for cast door handles, catches for windows, staircases, heating and air-conditioning systems, power lines and the list goes on. 3) Plastics are produced using a process called polymerization, where many thousands of monomers are joined together to form a polymer chain. Monomers are made of atoms like chlorine, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur. Monomers are easily extracted from abundant organic. There are two main types of plastics, thermosetting plastics and thermoplastics. Both are produced by pouring liquid monomers into a mould where they undergo polymerization. Thermosetting plastics are permanent once moulded, they do not deform under heat. Thermoplastics will melt under heat can be reformed repeatedly. The polymerization process increases the molecular weight of the constituent molecules, turning liquid monomers into solid polymers. (Increase of molecular weight causes the substance to undergo a phase change). During the moulding process, the monomer soup is superheated and condensed under many atmospheres worth of pressure. This causes polymerization to occur and ensures that the plastic is solid and uniform, lacking any internal air bubbles. Specialist plastic and rubber fabrications are used in a wide variety of industries including, civil engineering, medical, aerospace, military, atomic energy, marine and automotive. Many products are used to contain aggressive chemicals which could be hazardous if not properly controlled. Furthermore the uses and advantages of plastics and rubbers are endless throughout the industries, some examples of these are, sealing, jointing and finishing products, containing applications, bio-degradable applications, hoses, wheels, profiles and consumables. 4a) Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics by causing coalescence. This is often done by heating the work pieces and adding a material to form a pool of molten material that cools to become a strong joint, but sometimes pressure is used in conjunction with heat or by itself to produce the weld. This is in contrast with soldering and brazing, which involves melting a lower-melting point material between the work pieces to form a bond between them. Many different energy sources can be used for welding, including a gas flame (oxy-acetylene), an electric arc, a laser, an electron beam, friction and ultrasound. While often an industrial process, welding can be done in man different environments including open air and under water. Welding is generally the simplest, fastest, and most cost-effective method, at least in the case of structural metals. Welding doesnt require parts to fit exactly. Methods like bolts or screws require some type of flange or overlap of parts, so with welding, weight and material savings can be realized. A high quality weld can often be stronger than the parts to be joined, though this should not be depended on. 4b) Welding, without the proper precautions, can be a dangerous and unhealthy practice. However, with the use of new technology and proper protection, the risks of injury and death associated with welding can be greatly reduced. Because many common welding procedures involve an open electric arc or flame, the risk of burns is significant. To prevent them, welders wear protective clothing in the form of heavy leather gloves and protective long sleeve jackets to avoid exposure to extreme heat and flames. Additionally, the brightness of the weld area leads to a condition called arc eye in which ultraviolet light causes the inflammation of the cornea and can burn the retinas of the eyes. Goggles and helmets with dark face plates are worn to prevent this exposure, and in recent years, new helmet models have been produced that feature a face plate that self-darkens upon exposure to high amounts of UV light. To protect bystanders, transparent welding curtains often surround the welding area. These curtains, made of a polyvinyl chloride plastic film, shield nearby workers from exposure to the UV light from the electric arc, but should not be used to replace the filter glass used in helmets. Welders are also often exposed to dangerous gases and particulate matter. Processes like flux-cored arc welding and shielded metal arc welding produce smoke containing particles of various types of oxides. The size of the particles in question tends to influence the toxicity of the fumes, with smaller particles presenting a greater danger. Additionally, many processes produce various gases, most commonly carbon dioxide and ozone, and fumes that can prove dangerous if ventilation is inadequate. Furthermore, because the use of compressed gases and flames in many welding processes pose an explosion and fire risk, some common precautions include limiting the amount of oxygen in the air and keeping combustible materials away from the workplace. 4d) Pipe Cutters A tubing or pipe cutter is a hand tool specifically designed to cut pipe. It works by clamping onto a portion of the pipe and cutting through it using a small, round blade. As the tool is rotated it tightens, causing the blade to slowly dig into the pipe, eventually sawing all the way through. Tubing and pipe cutters are easy to use and provide a straight cut and edge to weld. Pipe Clamps For clamping pipelines on the outside whilst welding is taking place on straight sections, pipeline flanges or bends. Various types of external pipe clamps are suited to different applications. Chain clamps are extremely versatile for holding pipes up to 54 suitable for elbows, tees, flanges, end caps and most other pipe fittings. Ratchet Line-up cage clamps are very strong and accurate, but are also lightweight with either standard flat cross bars or no tack arched cross bars. External Hydraulic (no tack) Line-up cage clamps lines up pipe for welding to enable the maximum weld to be made without moving the clamp and comes with hand toggle or powerful hydraulic for accurate alignment. JA Type Mechanical Pipe Clamps allow efficient preparation of welding, whilst allowing easy handling but at the same time optimized working security, ensuring safety and peace of mind. 5a) Stress is the internal resistance, or counterforce, of a material to the distorting effects of an external force or load. Mechanical Engineering free essay sample Mechanical engineering, or MEs, jobs are exciting, challenging, and rewarding, but also due to there being a high demand for licensed engineers, this being a stable career with a bright future, and income being above average, this has been a popular career choice for a long time. In fact, mechanical engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines in existence, as well as one of the most respected. Mechanical Engineers, or MEs, take an idea of a product and introduce it into the marketplace with great knowledge of the materials and research (Career opportunities, 2012). Mechanical engineering is a field that takes a certain kind of person that has special skills in math, physics, and design. It is best for a student to start taking classes while still in high school. When a person starts college as a freshman there are certain prerequisites that must be taken during their high school years, such as studying algebra for two years, and one year each of chemistry, physics, and trigonometry. We will write a custom essay sample on Mechanical Engineering or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Starting these studies early on would be beneficial for the time it will take a person to earn a degree in college (Key elements, 2012). Other criteria’s should be met for the mechanical engineering program, such as the ACT scores. ACT scores should be, at a minimum of 26 in math. It is also, important to find a school that will prepare a person to earn the degree employers are looking for. At minimum, employers will be looking for in a successful student, is a Bachelor’s degree. Students can secure a job with only a two-year Associates’ degree, but finding employment could be a challenge. The only advantage to this degree would be to work under someone and get the hands on experience from it (Key elements, 2012). A more dvanced degree would be a Master’s degree, and a Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering. Out of these two degrees, a student would have higher demand in career opportunities, and a higher pay salary (Key elements, 2012). Mechanical engineering comes with many job descriptions, and the title has been around for a long time. Out of all engineering careers, mechanical offers the most opportunity (Overview, 2012). When interviewing Jim Smith, who is a Mechanical project engineer, he said, he has been in the engineering field for six years and has moved up to a design team leader. Mechanical engineering has an array of areas to concentrate on, transportation, working with the environment, computers, biomedical, fuels, and nuclear power are just a few to choose from. Being an engineer will require working one on one, or working in a team environment; Depending on the size of the company. Some areas focus on research and laboratory work. In a minimal situation, a mechanical engineer description could be just using math skills to design a product (Overview, 2012). â€Å"In 2002, mechanical engineers had around 215,000 jobs. The employment of mechanical engineers is expected to be on the rise through 2012. With all the new machinery, mechanical engineers will have further jobs available to them (Mechanical engineering careers, 2012). The earnings according to the† National Association of Colleges and Employers,† in 2003, the top earned with a PhD, was 69,904, with the lowest earnings being 48,585 a year (Employment outlook, 2012). Smith said the start ing salary at his firm, with a BS in mechanical engineering is around 55k, a year. Mechanical Engineering offers a range of advantages, such as job security, excellent benefits, advancement opportunities, and salary, but with all the advantages there are some disadvantages to the career. Long working hours, meeting high expectations in the classroom, meeting job requirements, in a time where the economy is very competitive, undergoing long training hours for at least two years , and working on projects in a team setting, where they can be more time consuming(M. E. Disadvantages, 2012). There may be some travel involved for meetings, and conferences to stay current on new things ithin the field (Employment outlook, 2012). Smith said when he advanced in his job he took on more responsibilities, but he simply accepts that work is work and eventually he will get rewarded for it as long as he does a good job. I chose Mechanical Engineering, as my topic, because the discipline of mechanical engineering is all about pushing the boundaries of technology. Creating things, d evelop things, plan structures and look into detail the advantages and disadvantages of these tools in society. Mechanical engineering, as noted earlier, is an interdisciplinary program. A person will need to a have solid background on a variety of subjects and ideas so that they can have a holistic approach when taking on a project. Another reason I chose to do my paper on this career is the fact that my son is going into this professional, and I could have a better understanding of exactly what a Mechanical engineer is. With all the research I have done, I believe this career is a perfect fit for him. Reference Andrews,N. (N. D). Mechanical engineer disadvantages. Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/info_10004398 Careers. (ND). Mechanical engineering careers, jobs, and employment career information.

Stem Cell Research An issue in American Culture Essay Example

Stem Cell Research: An issue in American Culture Essay In 2004, following the death of former United States President Ronald Reagan from the degenerative Alzheimer’s disease, a campaign led by Nancy Reagan and her family was launched to persuade President Bush to alleviate the US government-imposed restrictions on stem cell research. While other countries such as Britain, Japan and Korea have embarked on, and are now engaged in stem cell research, harvesting of stem cells from embryos remains to be a debatable issue in the United States. The future of stem cell research in the American culture remains to be uncertain in that several sides and concerns are being considered foremost of which is the moral issue on the research.   Supporters of the research spearheaded by member of the scientific community and others, like the Reagan family, see the research as a means of finding ways to treat and cure human diseases. Religious groups, on the other hand, like the Roman Catholic Church and several other conservative protestant church es belong to the other side of the debate as they see stem cell research as a means of exploiting helpless lives of human embryos.What are Stem Cells?Stem cells are unspecialized type of human or animal cells that can produce mature specialized body cells such as blood cells, heart cells and brain cells, and at the same time replicate themselves (Stem Cells, 2004). Stem cells can repair or replace damaged body tissues because stem cells are less likely than other foreign cells to be rejected by the immune system when implanted in the body (Stem Cells, 2004). They are primarily categorized into embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.Embryonic stem cells can be extracted from a blastocyst or a very young embryo, about four to five days old and comprised of 200 to 250 cells. Embryonic cells can develop to into any of the 220 cell types of the human body given the necessary stimuli. Otherwise, these embryonic cells continue to divide and the new cells retain the ability to develop in to any mature cell type.The abilities to replicate itself and to develop into any mature cell type make the embryonic cell a potential cure to a number of diseases and injuries.Adult stem cells can be extracted from the tissues of both adult and children without inflicting harm or death to the subject. Adult stem cells function to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues (Stem Cells, 2004).   Most researchers, however, agree that there are limited uses of adult stem cells such that unlike embryonic stem cells that can develop into any of the 220 types of cells, adult stem cells can only be used to produce some of these 220 human cells.Potentials of the Stem CellMedical researchers are interested in studying and pursuing their research on stem cell because of its potential to help improve human health including that of around 128 million Americans suffering from various diseases. While most of the studies are preliminary and privately funded, scientists believe stem cel ls have the potential to treat Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis (Stevens, 2003). Medical researchers also view stem cells as a potential in creating entire new organs for transplant and they can potentially repair or replace damaged tissues because they are less likely to be rejected by the immune system when implanted in the human body. Stem cells can also help diabetic patients and those whose hearts were damaged by a heart attack (Stevens, 2003).The ControversyControversy in stem cell research was commenced by studies conducted by James A. Thomson and his colleagues at the University of Wisconsin who isolated the first human embryonic stem cells from human embryos. The findings of the study was published in the journal Science where Thomson and his group reported that they have created self- perpetuating colonies in culture by harvesting embryonic stem cells from leftover embryos (Hall, 2006).While Thomson’s fi ndings were viewed by the scientific community as a breakthrough because of the embryonic cells’ medical potentials, controversy also surfaced because of bio- ethical and moral issues on destroying human embryos to start embryonic cell cultures. It also appears to violate the Dickey amendment signed by President Bill Clinton in 1995 which declares as illegal the use of federal money to fund stem cell researches that destroy human embryos. Thus, Thomson’s experiment commenced a controversy that has become an object of a political and moral debate. On August 9, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that the National Institutes of Health could issue federal research grants only for embryonic stem cell lines that had been created by that date. In July 19, 2006, President George W. Bush vetoed the stem cell research bill passed by the Senate and the House which aimed to increase the current number of existing stem cell lines. The debate on stem cell research therefore co ntinues because President Bush’s decisions have had efforts to meet halfway both of the demands and views of the supporters and opponents of stem cell research.The IssueThe use and extraction of adult stem cells in research do not pose much controversy because harvesting them does not harm cause harm to the subject.   The use of embryonic stem cells, however, has sparked controversies and debates, and became the primary issue in stem cell research. This is largely due to the technique used in creating them. At present, there are two methods of developing embryonic cell lines that will be used for research: isolation of stem cells directly from an embryo, which necessitates the destruction of the embryo where the stem cells are harvested; and cell nuclear transfer, also known as embryo-cloning (Stevens, 2003). Cloning, the second method employed to develop embryonic stem cells is in itself already a controversial issue.Scientists and researchers, however, prefer using embryo nic stem cells than adult stem cells because the latter is less versatile and have limited uses than embryonic stem cells. President Bush’s decision in 2001 that federal funds can be issued to fund stem cell research provided only the embryonic cell lines that were already created by that date has posed limitations on the research. This mandate restricted researchers to use the then existing 72 lines of stem cells but by May 2003, most of these lines had become useless and by mid 2006, only 22 remained and many of them were of limited usefulness because of DNA damage (Robinson 2006). Nevertheless, President Bush’s decision neither made pro-lifers happy such that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops called the President’s decision as â€Å"morally unacceptable (Brookhiser, 2003).Considering the potentials of stem cell research in medical breakthroughs and the limitations of the remaining stem cell lines, the senate and the congress approved the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act earlier in 2006. The bill was, however,   vetoed by President Bush   in July 19, 2006 contending that â€Å"the bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others†, and that it crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect† (Babington, 2006). The debate on stem cell research therefore continues with supporters led by medical researchers and policy makers; and opponents led by the Roman Catholic Church, several conservative protestant churches and pro- life groups.The Supporter’s ViewsCelebrities such as Nancy Reagan, Michael J. Fox, and the late Christopher Reeve, supported and campaigned for stem cell research because of the potential of the embryonic stem cells to treat many diseases and injuries. Some of theses diseases are cancer, diabetes, cancer,   heart disease and Alzheimers which are deadly and sometimes incurable; debilitating and often fatal autoimmu ne disorders like lupus, multiple sclerosis, and Crohns disease; and such others as are kidney disease, Parkinsons, spinal paralysis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrigs disease), and severe burns (Herold, 2003). It is contended by researchers that the potentials of stem cells may eradicate almost all cell based diseases. Stem cells can also give solution to age related diseases and can even alter the process of aging. According to Herold (2003), â€Å"when stem cell treatments become available to Americans, they could end up extending peoples life spans well beyond anything one could have dreamed possible a mere 10 years ago†.Aside from these, Herold relates that researchers believe that stem cell research will advance man’s knowledge on human biology in that it will enable scientists to understand what is going on in cells during, and after development which will have tremendous impact in the way genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, an d muscular dystrophy are treated and cured. Moreover, by observing what goes wrong at the very earliest stage of cell development through stem cell research, scientists will be able to get a genetic blueprint of a host of diseases and birth defects, then design interventions to cure them (Herold, 2003).As for the use of embryos used in stem cell research, supporters justify that these are surplus embryos that are taken with consent from in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. Surplus embryos from IVF clinics, according to supporters, are either frozen, or unpreserved. Some of frozen embryos, however,   die during the freezing or thawing process or because of equipment malfunction; and only a few survived and are adopted because of certain issues such as couples that produced these embryos do not want unrelated persons to raise their biological child. Unpreserved embryos ultimately die and clinics simply discard them. These surplus embryos in IVF Clinics now numbering to 400,000 in t he United States alone may either be thrown away or preferably, for researchers and supporter of stem cell research, used for further experiments and studies (Robinson, 2006). Supporters therefore contend that that instead of being discarded for nothing, it would be best to utilize these embryos as using them to learn more about human cells may lead to medical knowledge that can cure and even save the lives of millions of sick people worldwide.Opposition to stem cell research mainly comes from pro-lifers, conservative religious groups which includes the Roman Catholic Church and several other protestant churches. Most of those who oppose legal abortion in the United States also oppose stem cell research because both involves destroying what they claim as human life in its early stage of development. The opposition argues that deriving stem cell culture entails killing human embryos and as such, scientists and researchers who use them become guilty of murder. In the eyes of the oppos ition, all stem cell research, though legal, is illicit and immoral according to Sacred Scripture (Spees, 2002, p. 11). Heinrich Bedford-Strohm (2002), a minister and member of the World Council of Churches working group on bio-ethics contends that the reason why most Christian churches oppose research with embryos is because they â€Å"see the dignity of the human person violated when embryos are sacrificed for reasons outside themselves, as good as those reasons might be†.The techniques used in embryonic stem cell research, for them, are in conflict with ethical norms, because these techniques use early human life as a means to achieve an external end (Bedford-Strohm 2002). Similar with an issue in abortion, questions on the beginning of life have also surfaced in the stem cell research debate. Religious groups opposing stem cell research have cited several verses in the Bible in support of their claim that destroying human embryos for research is in contrast with teachings and values in the Bible. One of these verses is in the Book of Psalms 139:13 where the psalmist said: â€Å"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb† (Psalms 139:13 New International Version).   For the opposition, God himself has created and given importance to life even in its early stage. It therefore follows that destroying this life, in the form of embryonic stem cell testing, is disrespect to God.Another issue raised by the opposition is with regards to the technique employed in stem cell research called cell nuclear transfer, also known as embryo-cloning. This is for reason that cloning, for conservative Christian groups, is a babylonic attempt to being equal with God, the ultimate Creator of life and all things on Earth. For them, man has no right to be like God by â€Å"creating† new life through cloning technology.ConclusionControversy in stem cell research emerged because medical researchers prefer using embryonic stem cell s over adult stem cell because of their versatility and many uses, and which entails destroying the embryos where these stem cells come from. Supporters of stem cell research, mostly scientists and researchers, and those who are inflicted with diseases that are deadly and remain incurable contend that the research is necessary to treat and even save those who are dying from incurable diseases and to advance man’s medical knowledge. Those who oppose the research, however, contend that the process employed in gathering stem cells for research constitutes murder because it entails destroying the embryos, and that it is a way of destroying life that God has given. They also see the technique of cell nuclear transfer employed in stem cell research as another babylonic attempt of man to be like God. These moral and religious contentions and the status quo of stem cell research in the American culture explain why the future of the research remains uncertain in the United States.

Deregulation essays

Deregulation essays The article I chose has to with alternative energy sources and deregulation of the industry. The focus of the article is put on a company called PowerLight Corporation in Berkeley, California. This particular $10 million company designs and manufacturers solar electric products. PowerLight Corp. is a very fast growing company over past years and is expected to grow at an even faster rate in years to come. The government in California provides great aid to these alternative energy companies by just about splitting the cost 50/50 with the consumers when alternative energy products are purchased. Since PowerLight Corp. has been around for some time now they are currently offering 20-year warranties on their products. The article then brings up the issue of deregulation in the industry, leaving the reader to draw his or her own conclusions on the possible and somewhat unpredictable effects it may have when implemented. Undoubtedly, energy is a treacherous business. One can enter the market one year, and have tremendous success, and by the same time the year after they could possibly be bankrupt. Many believe deregulation is the answer to the industrys problem, while others believe it is only the answer to the alternative energy market. Alongside the article from Inc. Magazine discussing PowerLight Corp. and deregulation, I feel it is necessary to incorporate more information on deregulation to validify and clarify my assessment. I used very small clips of articles and industry news from the Electric Light The main goal of these regulatory commissions was to create a reasonable rate structure that would be appealing to both producers and consumers. While this system has worked for many years, it has recently come under heavy criticism, with many people pushing...

The Difference Between a Phase and State of Matter

The Difference Between a Phase and State of Matter The matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. States of matter are the physical form taken by the phases of matter. Although the state and phase dont mean quite the same thing, youll often  hear the two terms used interchangeably. The States of Matter States of matter are solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. Under extreme conditions, other states exist, such as  s  Bose–Einstein condensates  and  neutron-degenerate matter.  The state is the form taken by matter at a given temperature and pressure. Phases of Matter A phase of matter is uniform with respect to its physical and chemical  properties. Matter undergoes phase transitions to change from one phase to another.  The primary phases of matter are solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.   Examples At room temperature and pressure, the state of a piece of dry ice (carbon dioxide) would be solid and gas phases. At 0  °C, the state of water can be the solid, liquid, and/or  gas phase. The state of water in a glass is the liquid phase. Learn More Diagram of Phase ChangesPhases of Matter and Phase Diagrams4 The Main States of Matter

Historical aspects in Last of the Mohicans Essay

Historical aspects in Last of the Mohicans - Essay Example As such, we will analyze how Native Americans were first perceived by the original settlers at Plymouth Rock, by the government with the Trail of Tears, and later on by politicians who bargained with and swindled the Lakhota Sioux. II. The Sorrow: Plymouth Rock When the settlers arrived at Plymouth Rock, Native Americans were considered quote â€Å"savages,† as evidenced in the following sentence found in James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans: The man had â€Å"†¦a look so dark and savage, that it might in itself excite fear† (Cooper 1859, 47). This stereotype of the Native American painted as some sort of inhuman creature was only reinforced by the idea that they made them feel that there was a definite threat to their women (white women). â€Å"Notwithstanding the fearful and menacing array of savages on every side of her, no apprehension on her own account could prevent the noble-minded maiden from keeping her eyes fastened on the pale and anx ious feaures of the trembling Alice† (Cooper 1859, 373). While this was not an unmitigated fear, as some white settlers’ wives were caught and captured to be made part of the Indian tribes, this fear was largely propagated by white people—and widely-circulated as rumor that Indians were always on the prowl for some fair, blond-headed maven that they might take in search of satisfying their savage lust. Of course, that is not to say that there was not favoritism displayed even among tribes, as Cooper notes. â€Å"[T]here is but little love between a Delaware and a Mingo†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Cooper 1859, 249). Nor, can it be said, was there the absence of nepotism either. â€Å"The Hurons love their friends the Delawares. . . . Why should they not? They are colored by the same sun, and their just men will hunt in the same grounds after death† (Cooper 1859, 365). Surely, by the same token, Cooper—being a white narrator—tries to preface a racist state ment by saying the equivalent of, â€Å"I’m not racist but†¦,† thus attempting to neutralize any shred of judgmental ideas coming after that statement as not being perceived racist. Cooper writes, â€Å"I am not a prejudiced man, nor one who vaunts himself on his natural privileges, though the worst enemy I have on earth, and he is an Iroquois, daren’t deny that I am genuine white† (Cooper 1859, 36). In essence, he is saying, â€Å"Not that this really has anything to do with him being Iroquois, but this guy is the most annoying chap I’ve ever met on the planet. Oh, and did I mention he’s Iroquois?† Well, if was a fact that didn’t matter, why was the fact mentioned? The mere fact that Cooper mentions that the other person being Iroquois didn’t matter, mattered. If he had just simply said, â€Å"Well, there was this annoying guy.† But, since he mentioned that the person also happened to be of a certain race, t hat sort of tempers the statement, tinging it and tainting it in a most unusual fashion—in essence coloring the way one sees the sentence. Indubiously, one is led to believe that perhaps if one Iroquois person is an enemy, then perhaps naturally should many or all Iroquois be one’s enemy—by nature of whatever unpalatable elements the Iroquois people may possess. Although Cooper does not expressly say it, he is (yes) being racist. Although he tries to paint a dapper picture with his writer’s quill, he is has unremarkably sullied the way he will forever be remembered in history—