Adult Mental Health And Professional Practice Social Work Essay

Adult Mental Health And Professional Practice Social Work Essay Within my assignment I will demonstrate my understanding of mental health and the direct correlation to my professional practice. I will clearly define and critically evaluate two of the dominant perspectives which are significant in mental health theory and practice, the biomedical and the social causation perspective. By explaining my practice with regards to the case scenario 1 Ahmed, I will substantiate my understanding of both perspectives, examining the advantages and disadvantages of each by considering how I might undertake and assessment and how I might address issues identified from the case scenario including the impact of discrimination and the importance of anti oppressive practice. I will evidence my knowledge and understanding of relevant issues including reflecting the perspective of the individual, by drawing up an intervention plan, including identifying clearly my understanding of the legal framework within which I would practice. Issues of mental health are approached from a variety of different perspectives and using a variety of different terminologies. Many have the greatest confidence in scientific or biological approaches, whilst others prefer more holistic or social approaches. The biomedical medical model of mental health has been dominant simply because the dominant profession is psychiatry. Psychiatrists are medically trained and therefore tend to see the main purpose behind their work as the diagnosis and treatment of illness or disorder (Rogers and Pilgrim,2005).The simplistic view of cause and effect whilst beneficial if you have broken your leg or have diabetes, is not the same for mental illness. There are organic brain diseases or illnesses such as epilepsy and huntingdons chorea which may manifest in symptoms often associated with mental illness (Rethink,2007) and therefore it is vital that the possibility of underlying physical causes are examined. The bio medical model utilises ideas of a single underlying cause and therefore treatment of the cause will lead to a return to the pre existing state(Wade and Hallingan,2004).Another assumption is of a normal existing state, and therefore an ability to measure evidence of abnormality thus concluding w ith a diagnosis. Traditional bio medical models focus on the pathology of the illness rather than understanding the illness whether it is biological, social or psychological. Criticism of the biomedical model is that it is a simplistic model in a very complex arena. Reductionist explanations of mental health reduce mental health issues to the smallest possible factors, simplistic but clearly flawed (Crossley,2006). One of the most predominant arguments is the involvement of environmental factors in shaping our behaviour. A persons environment can shape their behaviour and this is a constant process. An individual may be born with certain genes but environmental factors such as society and a persons family can shape further behaviour (Nettleton, 2006). In reducing a concept to its component parts and simplest terms many important aspects are overlooked. Individual factors are hard to explain under reductionism, because reductionist explanations generalise behaviour. Each individual is unique and responds differently. A reductionist explanation would be genetics, but the same behaviour in two people could be caused by separate environmental and biological f actors and therefore limiting the reductionist explanation (Crossley,2006). Reductionist explanations can be useful, by reducing complicated concepts to their component parts but sometimes this offers a simple solution to an otherwise more complicated problem. For example giving anti-depressants to someone who is depressed may seem like the most favourable solution, but this may overlook the real problem such as bereavement, financial or work problems. Iatrogenesis is another arena that is problematic for the bio medical model. Iatrogenisis is often associated with adverse effects resulting from medical interventions (Heller et al, 1996) but can and is viewed as the direct result of the intervention which impedes a persons recovery, and therefore could include psychiatry which is the predominant force in the bio medical model. Labelling with regards to mental health diagnosis is another criticism of the bio medical model. Scheff (1999) understands mental illness as a result of societal labelling. Simplistic put, society has views on what is socially norm and acceptable, any deviation from these norms, results in a label of mental illness. The social causation model suggests links between social disadvantage and mental health problems. These social disadvantages are prevelant in many areas education, health, employment, income and social inclusion. Poverty and social class have been determined as the two significant factors of social causation and the link to mental illness (Murali and Oyebode, 2004). Lynch et al (1997) found people living with financial difficulties on a long-term basis, were much more likely to suffer from clinical depression than those who did not. Studies into mental health suggest there are stressors associated with low status and this creates an environment for increased risk of developing mental health problems. Payne(1999) in the 1999 PSE study provides evidence that people who live with various aspects of poverty, deprivation, unemployment and social exclusion are more likely to have mental health problems, although the relationship between poor mental health and these aspects are complex. I will examine employment in more detail. Research shows that less than 40% of employers would consider employing a person with a mental health issue (Rethink, 2009).Consequently the prejudice and discrimination people face as a result of a mental health diagnosis presents problems in itself. In 2002/ 2003The Citizens Advice Bureau conducted research regarding social exclusion and mental health and their results were stark. 60% of people with mental health problems gave up work as a result of discrimination, prejudice and stigma. 61% per cent of male adults with a psychiatric disorder are in full-time or part-time employment. Whereas the figure is 75% of men with no psychiatric disorder (Mind,2010b). If an individual has maintained a job or found employment then if they are affected by relapses this again impacts financially. With these statistics in mind it is clear to see that many who experience mental health issues will also be affected by economic hardship. Living on state benefits and sometimes less, as a result of an inflexible benefit system, can also result in a vicious circle of deprivation and poverty in all aspects of their lives, not only economic but in health, social activity and participation. The social causation model defined within the social model needs to be understood by practitioners as it acknowledges the experiences of individuals, as well as being the springboard for challenging the socio political environment which contributes to social problems, which in turn impact on an individuals mental health. This is fundamental for practitioners as one of the key roles of social workers is to challenge and champion social and political change (Horner,2006).According to Rogers and Pilgrim (2006) race, gender and age are all areas of disadvantage than can be investigated via social causation. This would support the findings of several studies which highlight the relationship between some of the identified areas and poor mental health. Examples to illustrate these links are, Irish men have three times higher psychiatric admission rates than the general population (Fitzptrick, 2005); women are more likely to be treated for mental health problems than men (Mental Health Found ation, no date) and in research by Beecham et al (2008) it was identified that fewer than 10% of older people with clinical depression were referred to specialist mental health services compared with about 50% of younger adults. These stark differentials question the basis of these statistical differences and one explanation is social causation. In recent years there has been a shift in Mental Health legislation. Although the Mental Health Act 1983 remains the primary legislation, there has been the addition of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which provides a legal framework to protect individuals who lack, or may lack capacity. The Mental Health Act 2007 amended the MHA 1983 and the MCA 2005. Along with these amendments to legislation there has also been a radical shift in policy documents from central Government. These policy shifts demonstrate the need to understand mental health in a more holistic context. The emphasis is shifting from purely medical perspectives with a recognition of how the social perspective has an impact on a persons mental health well being. A plethora of policies from government such as Tackling Health Inequalities (DOH, 2001); Working Together UK Action Plan on Social Inclusion(DWP, 2008) and Child Poverty Review(H.M. Treasury,2004) have been designed to tackle social inequalities such as health, in come, work and education as well as a recognition for the need for more person centred approaches to delivering services. This does not detract from the clear message from legislation that risk and public safety are of paramount importance. The debates about care or control and rights versus risk are ever present particularly with high profile cases such as Christopher Clunis and Michael Stone were pivotal in the changes to the Mental Health Act in 2007. The Mental Health Alliance (2006) maintain that legislative reforms which enables individuals to access services within the mental health arena when they need it, as opposed to imposing treatment, would be a more viable option and address the issue of risk in a more proactive way. The Mental Health Act 1983 still remains the overarching legislation regarding mental health in the England today and is the only piece of legislation that permits the detention of an individual before they have committed an offence and purely on the basis that they might pose a threat to themselves or others(Golightly,2008).The changes in 2007 allowed for approved mental health professionals rather than the traditional approved social workers. One could argue that if this is eradication of the social worker role and the move to further medicalise mental health (as the approved mental health professional can be health background rather than social care). The Mental Capacity Act 2005 might be viewed by some as contradicting the Mental Health Act 1983. After all a person suspected of having a mental illness may fulfil the section 3 test of capacity under the Act, and under the principles of the act is able to make unwise decisions, but the Act makes no stipulation regarding these unwise decisions. Clearly committing a criminal offence is an unwise decision and a person committing the offence could clearly know and understand their action and face consequences laid down under criminal justice legislation. Under the Mental Health Act a person is not required to have committed an offence to be detained, a suspicion of possible harm to self or others is enough to warrant a section 2 assessment for involuntary admission. This arena has been addressed with and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 amendment to the Mental Health Act 1983 whereby an individual cannot refuse treatment if that treatment is deemed necessary under the conditions of the Men tal Health Act in that the MHA effectively overrides the MCA if the person is or deemed to be mentally ill. This is a contradiction regarding any other forms of medical treatment for a physical condition such as treatment for cancer or radical surgery(if a person meets the capacity assessment criteria), a person can refuse treatment for any other physical health condition but not for mental illness as a person can be detained to compulsory treat. New Horizons is a cross government programme which was launched in 2000 which identified not only the need of improved mental health services but the recognition the importance of maintaining good mental health and well being for everyone and covers childhood to old age (DOH,2009). It clearly recognises the impact of social factors aiming to address social inequalities identifying health, education and employment as important factors in an individuals well being and the impact on mental health. The Mental Health Act 1983 is the primary legislation which covers the assessment, detention, treatment and rights of people with a mental health condition. Following the psychiatric model the practitioner would need to make an assessment of Ahmeds functioning identify the signs and symptoms which he is exhibiting for Ahmed these would be his day to day functioning he has rent arrears, utilities have been cut off; personal care evidence suggests he lives on takeaways; social functioning he is a loner and he goes into the town centre shouting apparently aggressive; thoughts he appears to be having delusions that his mother is not his real mother, and possibly hallucinations evidenced with him shouting, but not directed at anyone. The psychiatric model uses judgements of normal which are not objective, but on agreed standards of normal within a cultural and social context (Esyenck,1994 and Giddens,1997). But the question has to be who is the predominant force in that society and how does this impact on individuals from differing cultural backgrounds in the teat of normality. Although the case study has not specified Ahmeds cultural background it is an area which needs due consideration. There are discussions regarding psychiatry as being colour blind and culture blind. Fernando(2002) examines the rationale for these concepts in relation to hearing voices, and explains perhaps cultural stereotypes which do not consider multi cultural dimensions are responsible. Fernando(2002) draws upon the studies relating to high proportions of British African Caribbean men being labelled as aggressive, perhaps due to the appearance or interpretation of symptoms leading others to define the symptoms within the mental health arena (Nazroo and King, 2002). Fernando (2002) expounds further by explaining this could also be related to society norms. The norms are dictated by the predominant forces within society. When individuals do not conform to social norms they are subject to sanctions in order to ensure conformity this is evident within the legal justice system a person commits a crime a punishment a fine or community service order or prison sentence is served. The parallels for m ental health could be seen that if a person does not conform then admission to hospital, intervention and treatment may be viewed as the sanctions to deviating from those perceived norms. Risk management is a highly politicised area with the primary objective in the political arena to manage risk, whilst improved outcomes for individuals appears to be in secondary (Holloway,1996). Holloway(1996) goes on to say in order to understand and therefore manage the risk then as a practitioner you need a very detailed understanding of the individual. Good practice regarding risk management is about a clear foundation for the decision and an expectation for the proposed outcome, as well as provision for change if the intended outcome does not occur (Petch,2001). A discussion with Ahmed regarding voluntary admission for assessment and treatment would be deemed appropriate given the assessment. The Mental Health Act 1983 clearly states in section 131 that voluntary admission should always be used if the person is willing. Should Ahmed resist treatment and admission to hospital then it would be necessary to address the need for detention under section 2 of the act. This provision is made with the agreement of 2 doctors ideally one who knows Ahmed perhaps his GP, and an approved mental health professional (AMHP). Under the Mental Health Act 1983 section 2 allows involuntary admission to hospital for assessment and treatment. Under section 2 Ahmed does not have the right to refuse treatment. Once Ahmed is admitted to hospital then assessment for a diagnosis would be paramount. The two diagnostic and classification tools used in modern psychiatry are the DSM IV codes and ICD 10 codes (Bolton, 2008). Although there are differences in these codes, the premise for these codes and outcomes are the same. These codes represent the bio medical model, the reduction of the illness to signs and symptoms to which a psychiatrist can determine a diagnosis and treatment based on that diagnosis. Whilst this may be useful for organic brain disorders for the majority of mental health problems where there is no definitive biological condition, the diagnosis simply reflects the individuals reflections on how they think and feel. The treatment plan would be developed based on the assessment outcome (diagnosis). Often treatment ranges are limited with a high emphasis on drug interventions, where the primary objective is to stabilise Ahmeds mental health condition in an effort to return him to a functional state. This medicalised response and the use of drugs could be viewed as a means of social control (Rogers and Pilgrim, 2005). By drawing on the theory of social causation this would enable me to support Ahmed to analyse the issues he is facing in a non judgemental way. Oppression and discrimination is observed in the lives of people from marginalised groups (Dalrymple and Burke,1995) and as practitioners we have an obligation to challenge discrimination and oppression. Personal experiences are clearly associated with social, cultural, political and economic divisions and therefore understanding these areas in context to the individual is vital in understanding and challenging the oppression and discrimination they may encounter (Adams et al, 2002). The stigma attached from having mental health problems cannot be underestimated. Research by the Department of Health Attitudes to Mental Illness in 2007 showed that whilst many of the negative pre conceived ideas and beliefs held by society about people with a mental health illness were diminishing, but the changes year on year were not significant. This may be due to education and understanding of mental illness and the understanding of the effects of discrimination and stigma. The Time to Change Programme (2008) is by its own admission, nationally and globally the most ambitious plan to stamp out discrimination faced by people with mental illness. Stigma poses a threat to all aspects of an individuals life if diagnosed with a mental illness, they contribute to social isolation, distress and difficulties gaining and maintaining employment. In a survey by Crisp and Gelder (2000) discovered there were consistent themes of perceptions of people who had a mental illness. Some views were common amongst the several diagnoses, namely they were difficult to talk to and they were unpredictable to assumptions of being dangerous. Completing a Community Care Assessment in accordance with the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 would be necessary in order to identify Ahmeds needs and how those needs would be best provided for. The assessment would include information from Ahmed as well as significant others where applicable and determine need on a short and / or long term basis (Sharkey, 2007). The assessment does not detract from the need of some immediate intervention, to work directly with Ahmed to address some of the immediate issues such as his rent arrears (which would immediately reduce the threat of eviction) and getting his utility services back in place. Acute and crisis services and intervention were designed to offer support in a less restrictive and stigmatising way than traditional formal of intervention such as compulsory admission (Golightly,2008). Crisis intervention is a model of intervention which ideally prevents the situation from deteriorating further and builds on existing resources and strengths in order to improve the situation (Ferguson,2008). This could assist Ahmeds mental health and well being as well as his environment and other social factors i.e. relationship with mum and neighbours. The intervention allows a recent Cochrane review found that home care crisis treatment, coupled with an ongoing home care package, was a viable alternative to hospital admission for crisis intervention for people with serious mental illnesses and probably more cost effective (Joy at al, 2006). Working directly with Ahmed using a task centred approach would be ideal as it is a very practical based approach. The work is time limited, structured and problem focused(Parker and Bradley, 2007, p.93). An example for Ahmed might be: Outcome : Pay off rent arrears so no longer in debt. Rationale: this would immediately reduce the risk of eviction as well as encouraging Ahmed to take responsibility for his situation in a supportive and empowering way. Steps: Agree a payment plan with Ahmed that is manageable within current budget ( £10 every 2 weeks) Once plan agreed Ahmed to visit housing provider to agree payment plan and request an update every month on arrears. Pick up benefits every 2 weeks, on a Tuesday, and immediately pay 2 weeks rent at paypoint in post offices along with agreed  £10 arrears and obtain receipt. For the purpose of this assignment I have listed some of the actions which could be identified in order to support Ahmed. Pay off rent arrears. Benefits assessment to ensure Ahmed is claiming his benefit entitlement. Tenancy support worker in order to support with tenancy related issues such as rent, utilities and maintaining a tenancy agreement. Support worker to assist with increasing his contact and reduce social isolation. This could be simply going out for a coffee or some other activity which Ahmed identified. To explore if Ahmed has concerns regarding psychiatry, and his reluctance to meet with the psychiatrist this is vital it may simply be he forgot about the appointment or further issues regarding his concept of psychiatry. To work with Ahmed to explore his thoughts regarding his mother and assess the foundation for his thoughts that she is not his mother. To gain understanding on any other significant relationships in the past (there is mention in the case study of children) and the possibility of re-connection with his children and wider family connections. Re-connection with community whether this would be utilising self help groups, classes which may hold a particular interest or active engagement in community/ voluntary projects to build self esteem and confidence and develop a sense of purpose and engagement. Explore training / employment options To support Ahmed to begin a life story book or consider psychology intervention. To offer support to examine Ahmeds current strategies of coping recognising his abilities through the strength model and supporting him to identify any patterns and how to deal with them. To develop a contract for future work in order to be clear of professional boundaries and expectations from both parties and how intervention might look in the future should this be required. Should the circumstances not improve or continue to deteriorate then there is a possibility of seeking hospital admission either, voluntarily or in accordance with the Mental Health Act 1983. More people than ever are being detained in hospital under compulsory orders. Admissions to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 have risen by nearly 30% in the past decade in England. According to a report from three national mental health charities, Rethink, Sane and the Zito Trust, this figure is a worrying reflection of the care for people with mental illness (Kmietowicz, 2004). A sobering thought for any professional. As a practitioner I have learnt that causes of mental health issues are often complex and can involve a combination of biological vulnerability, environmental factors, social stressors, social networks, supports and relationships, psychological orientations and learned behaviour. Coppock and Hopton (2000) state: each perspective on mental distress and therapeutic intervention has its own internal logic(p.175) and stress the importance of recognising the alternatives, otherwise, practitioners are in danger of becoming a rigid in their practice, not work in a pe rson centred way. Having a critical perspective and understanding of the variety of theoretical perspectives and approaches regarding mental health is beneficial. It is clear that these perspectives whether biomedical or social have added to our understanding of mental health. The relative merits of the various perspectives are constantly argued, most characteristically by pointing out the limitations of the differing perspectives. Such critiques can be productive but are only a step in a larger task to develop broader perspectives that can be productively incorporate the different useful insights reached from each of a variety of different points of view. A person centred approach to mental health would seem the optimum approach when examining mental health issues. It recognises the uniqueness of individuals and accounts for all the possible variables and their interactions from social causation, stress vulnerability, gender etc. which would enable practitioners to examine issues within a broader holistic context, instead of rigid simplistic processes of bio medical model (Freeth, 2007). Word Count : 4007

The Financial Cost of Technology in Education Essay -- essays papers

The Financial Cost of Technology in Education Think about how much it costs you or your family to keep up with the latest computer technology. Also think about about how much you pay at home for a high speed internet connection. Not to mention, the security, adware, and virus protection software you must purchase to ensure your computer keeps working properly. Consider how much it costs to outfit a single classroom with this technology, or even an entire school. Schools are still expected to provide books, pencils, and paper; however, they are now also expected to budget in computers, scientific calculators, and DVD players. Computers cost up to one thousand dollars a piece; scientific and graphing calculators cost around one hundred dollars a piece; in addition wiring the schools to accept this new technology can cost thousands. The cost to implement technology into our schools is enormous, tens of thousands per school, and millions per school system. In the 21st century, people are becoming more and more dependent on technology. We rely on computers and cell phones more than books and meeting people face-to-face. The internet is becoming a main source of information and communication. Schools, as the primary educational source, must then teach children at a young age how to use technology as an efficient and effective tool. In schools’ haste to update and modernize everything, many concerns are overlooked; most notably, the necessity of additional technology and the amount of time and money required for the new technology. In many instances, the cost of technology is far greater than the rewards. The Washington Post reported that D.C. public schools lost $25 million and five years on a failed project to insta... ...aste.† The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. May 23, 2004. News; Pg. 1A. Retrieved from Lexis Nexis Academic on 10/18/04. 6. Hare, Mary Gail. â€Å"School officials explain rising cost of programs; County must pay the bills for state, federal initiatives.† The Baltimore Sun. August 6, 2004 Friday CARROLL Edition. LOCAL, Pg. 5B. Retrieved from Lexis Nexis Academic on 10/18/04. 7. King, Wayne D. â€Å"Taxpayers don’t have to be strangled by the cost of technology in schools.† (1998) New Hampshire Business Review. Vol. 20 Issue 23, p9. Retrieved from MasterFILE on 10/18/04. 8. Fickes, Michael. â€Å"How much does technology really cost?† (May, 2004.) School Planning and Management. Vol. 43 Issue 5, Pg. 16. Retrieved from Ebsco on 10/18/04 9. â€Å"The Price is Wrong.† (Nov/Dec 1997) Learning journal. Vol. 26 Issue 3, pg. 7. Retrieved from Ebsco on 10/18/04

Frog Heart Lab, Animal Physiology

Chemical and Environmental Effects on the Heart Introduction The heart is the centerpiece of the circulatory system, its muscular contractions allow for the timely delivery of essential gases and nutrients to virtually all cells of the body. The pressure created by the heart also plays a vital role in eliminating wastes through organs such as the kidney, thus the heart delivers and helps maintain nutrient and waste composition throughout the body. The heart, like all muscle cells, releases ionic calcium when stimulated which binds to troponin which in turn causes tropomyosin to uncover the myosin-actin binding sites on the muscle.Temperature has effects on the metabolism and activity of all cells. Warmer temperatures increase the kinetic energy of molecules in cells, providing more energy which allows metabolic processes to proceed more quickly. Cooler temperatures, on the other hand, decrease molecular kinetic energy and cause slower metabolic rates in cells and tissues, hence when a bear hibernates, its body temperature is some degree lower than it is during the bear’s active periods.The heart is also susceptible to certain molecules for which are able to bind to its receptors or diffuse across its membrane and affect intracellular activity and consequently have effects on the overall homeostatic condition of the organism. The Sinoatrial Node (SA Node) acts as the pacemaker of the heart by providing a small, autorhythmic electrical pulses that travel to the atrioventriclar node (AV node) and through the Bundle of His and Purkinje Fibers through gap junctions at the intercalated disks which stimulate the cells of the heart to contract via calcium release.This contraction is similar to a neuron in the sense that a threshold stimulus is needed to cause a contraction, a refractory period follows contraction at which time a new contraction cannot occur. Drugs that have an effect on the tissues of the heart, especially those where the SA Node resides can hav e an effect on the frequency and strength of muscular contraction via causing a stimulus to occur and lowering the threshold needed to cause a contraction. The heart is under both nervous and hormonal control.The brain is constantly receiving information from the body such as pH, CO2 levels, and many others that the hypothalamus and medulla play a role in translating and reacting to via the release of hormones such as epinephrine which affects the SA node, either by stimulating or inhibiting contraction rate. Removal of the heart from the body would result in eventual cessation of beating as these sources are depleted from the immediate environment, not to mention the absence of the appropriate ion levels needed to maintain resting cellular electrochemical gradients.All of the aforementioned aspects of heart control coordinate with Starling’s Law of the Heart, which relates to stroke volume, contractions strength, and frequency of heart contraction. This paper is interested i n investigating what the effects of the alteration of temperature, chemical environments, and physical obtrusion have upon the strength and frequency of cardiac muscle contractions. Decreasing the temperature of the heart’s environment should hypothetically result in a decrease in both frequency and strength of contractions due to the decreased ability of calcium ion channels to open and cause contraction.Various chemicals such as epinephrine and calcium ion solutions should correlate to both and increase in frequency and strength of the resultant contractions due to direct effects on the hearts mode of activation (SA node stimulus) and increasing the levels of available calcium needed to cause a contraction. Other chemicals such as Atropine should indirectly increase heart rate via the blocking of the effects of the parasympathetic system resulting in a predomination of sympathetic activity.Acetylcholine, which acts on the muscarinic receptors of the heart, should display in hibitory effects on the heart by decreasing available cAMP levels, which results in fewer phosphorylated Protein Kinases which are needed to open the calcium channels which result in contractions of all muscles of the body. Additionally, chemicals such as nicotine should have little to no effect on the effects of muscle contraction due to lack of receptors on the heart for such substrates as well as lack of nicotinic receptors on any body tissues that indirectly affect heart rate such as the brain.Methods Procedure 1: The Heart Rate The dissected frog, whose heart was left attached and embedded in the frog, was connected to a string at the most basal aspect of the heart, and wrapped around an electrical stress sensor located 15cm above the heart to detect changes in pressure on the apparatus caused by heart contractions. Unless otherwise stated, all subsequent procedures will have the same setup to minimize variability in the results obtained. The resting heartbeat was then recorded via the described instrumentation. Procedure 2: Effects of Cold TemperatureInitially, 10mL of room temperature Ringer’s solution was applied directly to the heart and allowed to contract freely for 15 seconds. The data obtained from the contractions was recorded. The heart was allowed 1 minute to recover from exposure to the solution. Next, 10mL of chilled Ringer's solution was applied directly to the heart and allowed to contract freely for 15 seconds. This data was recorded. Procedure 3: Effects of Drugs Thirty seconds of normal heart contractions were recorded at which time 2mL of epinephrine was dropped onto the heart itself.Contractions were allowed to proceed for 60 seconds during which time data was recorded. Following exposure to epinephrine, the heart was allowed to return to its resting state determined in procedure 1. This same procedure was repeated with the following chemicals: 1) Acetylcholine, 2) Atropine, 3) Calcium solution, 4) Nicotine solution, and 5) Caff eine solution. Procedure 4: The Refractory Period of the Heart Resting heart contractions were recorded for thirty seconds until the heart rate was less than 60 beats per minute. A stimulator electrode to be used was set to the following states: Amplitude of 4. 0 Volts, a stimulus delay of 50ms, stimulus duration of 10ms, a frequency of 1. 0Hz, and a pulse number of 30. The electrode was then placed in direct contact with the heart for 30 seconds at which time the data was observed and recorded. Procedure 5: Effects of a Ligature on the Heart A 30cm piece of thread was placed around the heart at the Atrioventricular groove (AV groove) and tied in a knot but left loose so as to not interrupt the normal function of the heart. The heart was allowed to beat for about 15 seconds with no pressure.After 15 seconds the knot was slowly tightened while taking care to stay on the AV groove while tightening. Data was observed and recorded. Results Procedure 1: The Heart Rate This experiment was carried out as noted about in Procedure 1. The resting heart rate was established and used as a baseline value from which to compare all future deviations. While data could not be exported from the computer to be definitively known, the relative rate and strength of the contractions were noted on a visual basis from which to compare the following experiments.Procedure 2: Effects of Cold Temperature As noted above in Procedure 1, technical data could not be obtained from this experiment and visual analysis had to suffice for data. Upon addition of room temperature Ringer’s solution, no notable change in contraction strength or frequency could be noted. Time was allowed for the heart to recover from the effects of the initial exposure. The application of cold Ringer’s solution resulted in a clear and observable slowing of the heart rate, though no change in strength of the contractions could be detected.Procedure 3: Effects of Drugs Upon addition of epinephrine directly to the heart, the contraction rate showed a considerable increase in frequency. The strength or magnitude of each contraction also significantly increased as the heart actually was lifting itself off of its resting place. Exposure of the heart to acetylcholine had clear effect on the heart as well. A substantial decrease in heart rate was noticed upon exposure; however the magnitude of contraction seemed to remain somewhat constant.Addition of Atropine to the heart resulted in an increase in heart rate. The magnitude of each contraction showed a minor, but noticeable, increase in strength. A calcium solution was applied to the heart and showed a mild increase in contraction rate with the magnitude of each contraction seemingly remaining constant. The addition of both nicotine and caffeine had negligible effects on the rate or strength of heart contraction. Table [ 1 ]. Applied Chemical and Its Effect on Heart Contraction Rate and Strength Chemical| Heart Rate| Contraction Strength| Normal Ringers| Control Rate| Control Magnitude| Cold Ringers| Decrease| No change| Epinephrine| Increase| Increase| Acetylcholine| Decrease| Slight Decrease| Atropine| Increase| Increase| Calcium solution| Increase| No change| Caffeine| No change| No change| Nicotine| No change| No change| Procedure 4: The Refractory Period of the Heart Upon exposure to a mild electric current, the heart rate was altered from the normal resting heart rate. While it definitely slowed, the contractions were sporadic at best.The heart lost its regularity and showed random contraction intervals, some ranging shorter than normal while others had greater time gaps between contractions. Procedure 5: Effects of a Ligature on the Heart After the knot had been tied around the AV groove, no noticeable alterations were noticed to heart contraction. Upon tightening of the thread however, the heart appeared in clear distress. Beat irregularities ensued with an increase in magnitude of each pulse. The heart cease d functioning before the allotted time period had elapsed.Discussion Procedure 1: The Heart Rate The resting heart rate of the frog was perfectly normal. Steady, rhythmic contractions around 60 beats per minute were observed and used as a baseline for other experiments. The frog appeared healthy, showing no signs of beat irregularities or any other defects that may have impacted the experiment’s validity. Procedure 2: Effects of Cold Temperature The slowing of the heart in the presence of chilled Ringer’s solution was to be expected.All metabolic processes decrease in all cells upon exposure to cold due to the nature of chemical interactions. In the case of the frog heart, the cold solution probably decreased the rate at which calcium channels were able to open and thus, decrease the rate at which contractions were likely to occur since calcium entry to the cytosol initiates the cascade of reactions that leads to muscle contraction. Thus, the experimental hypothesis wa s correct given that the rate at which the heart contracted decreased and the magnitude of each contraction also lowered.Procedure 3: Effects of Drugs Exposure to epinephrine increased both the rate and strength of each muscular contraction as was expected. The heart contains many adrenergic receptors which are responsive to epinephrine, especially near the SA node, which initiates the contractions of the heart. Epinephrine acts to increase the release time of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via a cascade of reactions. The fact that epinephrine had a positive impact on the heart indicates that the heart was healthy and responsive to normal physiological chemicals and pathways.Addition of acetylcholine predictably lowered the heart rate of the frog. Acetylcholine blocks the cAMP cascade pathway that ultimately leads to calcium release, thus the frequency at which calcium is released is lowered and as a result, the contraction rate follows suit and lowers as well which is what you would expect from a fully functional heart. This part of the experiment was a success. The presence of Atropine, a parasympathetic system inhibitor, acted appropriately and increased the heart rate of the frog.The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system act antagonistically to one another and as a result, decreased activity in one serves to act as if an increase in the other had occurred. Addition of Atropine, in effect, should have had similar effects as the addition of epinephrine which it did. Exposure resulted in an increase in the rate of contraction and a mild but noticeable increase in the strength of contraction compared to the resting heart rate and magnitude which was what the response was predicted to have been.Neither caffeine nor nicotine had any visual effect on the hearts rate or strength of contraction. This was expected as both of these chemicals exert their effects by activating the release of neurotransmitters and hormones in the hypothalamus, specific ally epinephrine, which then affects the heart. Because these tested chemicals were applied directly to the heart and not placed in the bloodstream where they could produce an indirect effect, it is reasonable that no effect was noticed from the heart upon exposure to these chemicals. Procedure 4: The Refractory Period of the Heart The SA node is the pacemaker of heart.It is produces electrical currents that travel to the AV node and through the Bundles of His and the Purkinje fibers and stimulates the cells of the atrium and ventricles to contract. This is electrical conduction that is carried through gap junction of the intercalated disks separating heart cells and thus it is reasonable to infer that applying an electric current directly to the heart would interfere with the steady, rhythmic contractions normally observed in a healthy, undisturbed heart. Accordingly, as we applied a current to the heart, the cyclic contractions of the heart became erratic and unpredictable.No stea dy pattern was detectable in the muscular contractions. Some had longer periods between contractions while others had shorter time gaps between beats. This was expected as the heart would be receiving constant signals to contract along with the rhythmic electrical signals from the SA node itself and would result in interference and overlap of contraction signals which is exactly what was observed. This leads us to believe that both the electrical apparatus and the heart were working exactly as designed. Procedure 5: Effects of a Ligature on the HeartAfter placing the thread around the AV groove and tightening, the heart was clearly under a great deal of strength. Both the anterior and posterior segments of the heart swelled considerably, no doubt as a result of restriction of blood flow and buildup of pressure within the atriums and ventricles themselves. The AV node is a particularly sensitive portion of the heart to constriction as blood flow through the heart itself occurs at thi s junction. The heart contraction magnitude increased considerably while the contraction rate decreased substantially.Over the course of time when the thread was tightened, the heart appeared to get weaker and weaker until it finally gave out itself. Using the electrical apparatus, we tried to revive the frog and succeeded, however, a steady and consistent heartbeat was never again established and was much weaker and slower than before the thread was utilized. This indicated that heart damage had occurred and it was unlikely that any more significant and reliable data could be obtained from the frog’s heart and the experiment was finished as a result.Overall, the experiment can be considered a success as the appropriate responses to all the varying conditions were observed. While the experiment can be considered a success, the conditions with which the experiments were carried out were far from ideal. The experimental apparatus used was sufficient but hardly the equipment of choice. Far from accurate and precision, as well as the lack of ability to export numbered data from the labs computers, it is difficult to really analyze the data and produce concrete results that reflect the true magnitudes of effect each experimental variable had on the heart.

Analysis Of The Movie Real Women Have Curves - 1152 Words

Josefina Lopez writer of the play and co-screenwriter of the movie â€Å"Real Women Have Curves† created two important characters, Ana and Carmen, to demonstrate real life issues in the Mexican-American culture. In the movie Carmen becomes the antagonist that constantly torments Ana. Several identities were pushed onto Ana, forcing her have to break through her family’s old-fashioned cultural beliefs as well as her community’s stereotypes. Ana remained resilient regardless of what her mother put her through which led to her own self-love and comfort. Common stereotypes about women in the Mexican-American culture include that women are uneducated, good housewives, and very fertile. Many parents still believe it’s the woman’s job to stay home and be the homemaker. The concept of gender, which is socially constructed, is reinforced since birth. (Sociology Lecture 08/24/2015) Ana was caught in the middle of gender politics. Her mother oppressed her daughter so she can become a grandmother. The film â€Å"Real Women Have Curves† deals with gender stereotypes and struggles of poor women living in East LA. Carmen was trying to have Ana chained to the notion of women being inferior to men. Carmen believed men to be superior, whereas Ana thought differently. However Ana strived to liberate herself from traditional cultural norms by pursuing her college education. Her mother’s negative influence only caused Ana to rebel. Carmen, Ana’s mother, was the root to all the problems Ana had. On a dailyShow MoreRelatedThe Media And Diversity, Semiotics And Textual Analysis2185 Words   |  9 PagesIn this essay, it will present an analysis of the media and diversity, semiotics and textual analysis. The text I will be looking at is a short excerpt trailer from the Disney movie, â€Å"Tangled† (Rapunzel) which was released on 24th November 2010 in United States of America. The analysis will then relate to the issues on gender stereotypes and differences reinforced by Disney. I have chosen this topic because Disney has been very relatable to my childhood and Rapunzel is my favorite Disney princessRead MoreFemale Sterotypes in the Media Essay1728 Words   |  7 Pageswith the media is the sublimation of, and reaffirmation of, stereotypical female gender roles. â€Å"The media treats women like shit† (Cho). Which is a serious issue because of Marshall McLuhan’s famous words, â€Å"Th e Medium is the Message† (Warwick). The medium up for discussion is the media, which can be fundamentally defined as the most significant â€Å"single source of information that people have today (Katz). Therefore, in order to understand â€Å"what’s going on in our society† (Katz) it is â€Å"absolutely imperativeRead MoreAre There Actual Female Characters? Sci Fi?2012 Words   |  9 Pagesmale characters. When women are shown in heroic female roles, they are still belittled for not being a man. Seiter claims that â€Å"Many of the more stereotyped features of the portrayal of women†¦are also accurate reflections of the sexist reality of our society† (21). It is unfortunate that this claim is accurate, but it is. Science fiction is a fictional genre, providing an opportunity to break all stereotypes and create a world from scratch. But gender stereotypes have been ingrained into theRead MoreExercises for Microeconomics17876 Words   |  72 Pageseconomics ââ€"Ž Positive economics ââ€"Ž Rational person ââ€"Ž Sunk cost ââ€"Ž Opportunity cost ââ€"Ž Absolute advantage ââ€"Ž Comparative advantage ââ€"Ž Attainable point ââ€"Ž Unattainable point ââ€"Ž Efficient point ââ€"Ž Inefficient point ââ€"Ž Production possibilities curve REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. The most you would be willing to pay for having a freshly washed car before going out on a date is $6. The smallest amount for which you would be willing to wash someone else’s car is $3.50. You are going out this evening, andRead MoreBusiness Economics Solutions Mba12192 Words   |  49 PagesQUESTIONS 2-1 Explain this statement: â€Å"If resources were unlimited and freely available, there would be no subject called economics.† If resources were unlimited and freely available, making choices would not be necessary. Every person could have as much as they wanted of any good or service. Economics, the science of choice, would be unnecessary. 2-2 Comment on the following statement from a newspaper article: â€Å"Our junior high school serves a splendid hot meal for $1 without costing theRead MoreA Cultural Analysis Of Reproduction By Emily Martin4155 Words   |  17 PagesTowghi GWS 111.2 11 August 2016 The Woman in the Body: A Cultural Analysis of Reproduction Emily Martin Anthropologist Emily Martins book† â€Å"The Woman in the Body: A Cultural Analysis of Reproduction† is an ethnographic study of male-oriented metaphors for women s reproductive processes and women s real thoughts about those processes through interviews. Martin and her assistants interviewed 165 African American and white women, regarding three stages of life starting with the earliest in woman’sRead MoreMazda Case Study3391 Words   |  14 Pagesprevious units (eg, consumer behaviour, market research, the marketing mix etc) should be incorporated into the analysis. The seminar is of 15 – 20 minutes duration. MAZDA CASE STUDY You have been hired by the strategic marketing manager of Mazda, and you have been assigned to investigate their company’s integrated marketing communications in the case attached. Present your analysis for the following questions. 1. Analyze the role of integrated marketing communications in the marketing ofRead MoreAdvanced Placement Microeconomics23462 Words   |  94 Pagesmodels) √ Task of analysis is to systematically arrange, interpret, and generalize upon facts √ Principles and theories bring order and meaning to facts by tying them to together, putting them in correct relationship to one another and generalizing. √ Principles are expressed as the tendencies of typical or average consumers, workers, or business firms √ Generalizations †¢ â€Å"Other things equal† assumption—controlling all variables except one †¢ Abstractions—do not mirror the complexity of real world †¢ GraphicRead MoreConsumer Behavior for Mobile Phones7103 Words   |  29 PagesDECISION 23 PLACE PREFERRED FOR BUYING 24 BRAND RECALL 25 NEW FEATURES 29 FACTOR ANALYSIS 32 INTERPRETATIONS 40 SUGGESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS 41 LIMITATIONS 42 ANNEXURE-1 43 ANNEXURE-2 44 ANNEXURE-3 - QUESTIONNAIRE 45 REFERENCES 48 ABSTRACT My project that is â€Å"Consumer behavior for mobile phones† is basically is a market research project. The nature of the research is Exploratory that is I have not done this to find out the solution of a specific problem rather it is just a preliminaryRead MoreSymbolic Meaning of the Land in Gone with the Wind6993 Words   |  28 PagesReviewÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…...4 2.1 Brief Introduction of Margaret Mitchell and Gone with the WindÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…4 2.2 Previous Researches of Gone with the WindÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â….4 2.3 The Views about Sociology of NovelsÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…..5 Chapter 3 Narrative Analysis of the LandÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…...7 3.1 Contextual Meaning of the LandÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…..7 3.2 Social Emotions of Novels of the LandÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…8 3.3 Social Function of Novels of the LandÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…...Â…..9 3.4 Living Circumstances