The spinal cord Essay Example

The spinal cord Essay Example The spinal cord Essay The spinal cord Essay The spinal cord, which connects the brain and the peripheral nervous system, contains millions of neurons responsible for sending information throughout the body. Included in these nerve cells are those for balance and movement. When the spinal cord is injured, the organism may suffer paralysis and recovery from this can be aided by nerve growth factors also called neutrophins. This study aims to demonstrate the effect of spinal cord transection to test animals and the recovery of these animals with the aid of neutrophins (Coumans, et al.).MethodsSpinal cord transection was done using the procedures of Bregman and McAtee (1993) except that the tissue transplantation part was not performed. The test organisms are adult female rats, around 6-8 weeks old, with a weight of 200-250 grams before surgery. The spinal cord was transected with iridectomy scissors. Neutrophin was then administered to the animals subcutaneously. A gel foam soaked in saline solution was placed on top of the trans planted tissue and the muscle and skin covering the transection area were stitched back in place.   Ten rats were used in this set-up. For comparative purposes, ten rats were subjected into the same transection surgery procedure, but were not given neutrophins. Ten rats were used as a control, which did not undergo transection and neutrophin administration. The 30 rats were given 20 cc/d of D5 lactated Ringer’s solution for hydration. The test animals were given antibiotics [sulfamethoxazole (4  mg/100 gm)-trimethoprim (0.8  mg/100 gm)] to prevent infection. They were also given food and water inside their cages. The locomotor behavior of the animals was observed   to determine the recovery of their spinal cord after the injury (Coumans et al., 2001).ResultsBehavior of the test animals which were subjected to transection only, transection with neutrophin administration, and not subjected to both transection and neutrophin administration (control) were observed and rec orded. Observation of movement and locomotor functions to determine the recovery of the rats were started right after the surgical procedure. The results agreed with those of Coumans et al. (2001). All the rats exhibited no voluntary movement of their hind limbs while taking steps. The animals dragged their extended hind limbs passively while being supported by their forelimbs. However, their locomotion functions started to vary 3 to 4 weeks after the transection. The animals which received transection only did not show improvement of their hind limb function. On the other hand, those which received neutrophin together with trasnsection showed improvement of hind limb weight support, nearly showing a pattern similar to that of the control rats. The test animals’ limb movements were further observed using stairs. The control animals (C) showed full support of their weight using their limbs in each step. The animals which were subjected to transection only (T) dragged their hin d limbs while climbing. Those which were subjected to transection and were also administered neutrophins (T+N) exhibited improved hind limb function, with their weight supported in each step while climbing (Fig. 1).Fig. 1. Comparison of the mean total of steps with supported weight of the test animals. Control animals (C) showed 100% weight support, rats which received transection only (T) showed no weight support, and those which were transected and given neutrophins showed increased weight support in their steps.T  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   T+N  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   CDiscussion/ConclusionsIn the experiment, rats were used as models as they provide consistency or results when it comes to spinal cord injuries (Adamson, 2000). Results show that the test animals were able to recover well with the aid of neutrophins. These also agree with the established fact that neutrophins are important requirements for the survival neurons. These neurons are especially developed in the v estibular ganglia. Since these neurons are located in the inner ear, they are of particular importance for the sense for motion and balance. Since neutrophins are nerve growth factors (NGFs), they help in the recovery of the injured spinal cord (Lodish, et al., 2000).When the spinal cord is damaged, cytokines are induced in response to the damage. Together with this, growth factors which would function for recovery are also induced.   One example is neutrophin, which aided the administered test animals to regain a considerable improvement in their locomotor functions. This would explain the poor recovery of the rats which were subjected only to transection and did not receive neutrophins. Since they are not given the growth factor, their neurons and spinal cord tissues did not improve after the injury promoted by the transection. As opposed to those which received neutrophins, their hind limbs did not heal enough to provide weight-supported steps (Friedman, 2000).The improvement o f locomotor functions of the hind limbs of the test rats can be correlated to the restoration of the neuron connections present in the spinal column. This restoration is further supported by the administered neutrophins (Coumans, 2001).Results derived from this study as well as from other recent studies on neutrophin receptors, apoptosis, and spinal cord injury can provide mechanisms on how to prevent degeneration of neurons. This would aid in the discovery of therapeutic means to help an injured spinal cord recover (Friedman, 2000).

Jimmy Hoffa, Legendary Teamsters Boss

Jimmy Hoffa, Legendary Teamsters Boss Jimmy Hoffa was the controversial boss of the Teamsters Union when he became nationally famous for sparring with John and Robert Kennedy during televised Senate hearings in the late 1950s. He was always rumored to have substantial organized crime connections, and eventually served a sentence in federal prison. When Hoffa first became famous, he projected an aura of a tough guy who was fighting for the little guy. And he did get better deals for the truck drivers who belonged to the Teamsters. But rumors about his links to the mob always overshadowed whatever legitimate accomplishments he had as a labor leader. One day in 1975, a few years after his release from prison, Hoffa went out to lunch and disappeared. At the time it was widely believed he was planning a return to active involvement in the Teamsters, and it was widely assumed that he was the victim of a gangland execution. The search for Jimmy Hoffa became a national sensation and searches for his body have periodically popped up in the news ever since. The mystery about his whereabouts spawned countless conspiracy theories, bad jokes, and enduring urban legends. Early Life James Riddle Hoffa was born in Brazil, Indiana, on February 14, 1913. His father, who labored in the coal industry, died of a related respiratory disease when Hoffa was a child. His mother and Hoffas three siblings lived in relative poverty, and as a teenager Hoffa left school to take a job as a freight worker for the Kroger grocery store chain. In Hoffas early union days he showed a talent for exploiting an opponents weakness. While still a teenager, Hoffa called a strike just as trucks carrying strawberries arrived at a grocery warehouse. Knowing the strawberries wouldnt keep for long, the store had no choice but to negotiate on Hoffas terms. Rise to Prominence The group Hoffa represented, known locally as the Strawberry Boys, joined a Teamsters local, which later merged with other Teamsters groups. Under Hoffas leadership, the local grew from a few dozen members to more than 5,000. In 1932, Hoffa moved to Detroit, along with some friends who worked with him at Krogers, to take a position with Teamsters locals in Detroit. In the labor unrest during the Great Depression, union organizers were targeted for violence by company goons. Hoffa was attacked and beaten, by his count, 24 times. Hoffa picked up a reputation as someone who wouldnt be intimidated. In the early 1940s  Hoffa began to establish links with organized crime. In one incident, he enlisted Detroit gangsters to  run off a rival union from the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Hoffas connections with mobsters made sense. The mob protected Hoffa, and the implicit threat of violence meant his words carried serious weight. In return, Hoffas power in the union locals let mobsters intimidate local business owners. If they didnt pay tribute, the truckers who made deliveries could go out on strike and bring business to a standstill. Connections with mobsters became even more important as the Teamsters amassed a vast amount of money from dues and payments into pension funds. That cash could finance mob ventures, such as the building of casino hotels in Las Vegas. The Teamsters, with Hoffas help, became a piggy bank for organized crime families. Sparring With the Kennedys Hoffas power within the Teamsters grew in the early 1950s. He became the unions top negotiator in 20 states, where he famously fought for the rights of the truck drivers he represented. The rank and file workers came to love Hoffa, often clamoring to shake his hand at union conventions. In speeches delivered in a gravelly voice, Hoffa projected a tough guy persona. In 1957, a powerful U.S. Senate committee investigating labor racketeering began to hold hearings focused on the Teamsters. Jimmy Hoffa came up against the Kennedy brothers, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, and his younger brother Robert F. Kennedy, a counsel to the committee. In dramatic hearings, Hoffa tangled with the senators, parrying their questions with streetwise quips.  And nobody could miss  the particular dislike Robert Kennedy and Jimmy Hoffa had for each other. When Robert Kennedy became attorney general in his brothers administration, one of his priorities was to put Jimmy Hoffa behind bars. A federal case against Hoffa finally did convict him in 1964. After a series of appeals, Hoffa began serving a federal prison sentence in March 1967.   Pardon and Attempted Comeback In December 1971, President Richard Nixon commuted Hoffas sentence and he was released from prison. The Nixon administration included a provision with the commutation that he not become involved with union activity until 1980. By 1975, Hoffa was  rumored to be exerting influence within the Teamsters while officially having no involvement. He told associates, and even a few journalists, that he was going to get even with those in the union and the mob who had betrayed him and helped send him to prison. On July 30, 1975, Hoffa  told family members he was going to meet someone for lunch at a restaurant in suburban Detroit. He never returned from his lunch date, and he was never seen or heard from again. His disappearance quickly became a major news story across America. The FBI and local authorities chased down countless tips, but actual clues were scant. Hoffa had vanished, and was widely assumed to have been the victim of a mob hit. Disappearance As a peculiar coda to such a tumultuous life, Hoffa became eternally famous. Every few years another theory of his murder would emerge. And periodically the FBI would receive a tip from mob informant and send crews to dig up backyards or remote fields. One supposed tip from a mobster grew into a classic urban legend: Hoffas body was rumored to be buried under the end zone of Giants Stadium, which had been built in the New Jersey Meadowlands at roughly the time Hoffa had disappeared. Comedians told jokes playing on Hoffas disappearance for years. According to a New York Giants fan site, sportscaster Marv Albert, while broadcasting a Giants game, said a team was kicking toward the Hoffa end of the stadium. For the record, the stadium was demolished in 2010, and no trace of Jimmy Hoffa was discovered under the end zones.

Public Enemy' Film Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Public Enemy' Film Review - Essay Example The playwright portrays Joan, Mae Clarke and Jean as persons who can fight in order to achieve high lifestyle through prostitution (Greatest Films n.d.). Tom has an intense desire for wealth. The urge pushes him to steal items and sell them to raise money. By comparison, Putty-Nose buys things from the boys in order to settle his bills. The acts are aimed at acquiring wealth and fitting into a lucrative class in the society. Mike is conscious of his future. He works throughout the day and attends school at night in pursuit of his career objectives for a better future. He goes to war as an army man to earn a living and reputation in the society. Wealth pushes Tom and Matt to accept Putty Nose’s offer to rob a fur warehouse (Aquila 26). Initially, Tom and Mike are seen seeking other opportunities in life. They become truck drivers with the aim of making money. The owner of a liquor store decides to sell all his liquor before midnight following the prohibition of the product. All vessels get filled with bottles of beer. The prohibition is perceived by many as an avenue into multi-billion dollar profits arising from illegal bootleggers. Paddy lures Tom and Matt into the lucrative liquor business. Paddy uses Tom and Matt to loot liquor and buys it from them. They sell the looted beer making huge profits. The film glorifies wealth to the extent that people steal in order to acquire money and positions in the society. The two boys on acquiring wealth change their lifestyle. They change their clothes to smart looking tailor made clothes and as well as enjoy the pleasures of life. They become conscious of their class as they acquire flashy roadster cars and make merry at profligate nightclub. In the club, they dance with the most attractive women. Tom and Matt continue with their criminal escapades and become even more conscious of their class. They acquire a new boss, who not only sell

Economic Influences of Korea Wave Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economic Influences of Korea Wave - Essay Example Chinese Journalists coined the term ‘Korean wave’ on the realization that there was a high appetite for Korean television programs in China. This trend has continued to the present days with the likes of Psy whose music Gangnam style, released in 2012 gained worldwide recognition. What started as just television programs and music has gone beyond to include other aspects of Korean culture, including food, clothing and creative imagery and video games. This created an economic benefit for the people of Korea. This paper will discuss the economic influences of the Korea wave. The Korea wave started in the mid-1990s and late 1990s in East Asia. It all started when two programs, â€Å"Winter Sonata† and â€Å"What is love† gained popularity in Japan and China respectively in the mid and late 1990s. These two programs created a high appetite for the Korean programs in these two countries. Within a short time, the wave spread to the neighboring East Asia countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Consequentially, the Korean television programs spread to the rest of Asia, including Islamic countries like Iran. The Korea Wave became a force to reckon with and influenced major film industry countries in Europe and the United States.The Korea wave became common among all people, including the old politicians and the young studying youths. Sun Jin Lee shows the way East Asia regions accepted the Korean television series. According to Sun Jin Lee, when the Vietnamese government delegation visited Korea for a bilateral meetin g, the Vietnamese delegations requested a certain woman to sign their menus at a luncheon. It later emerged the woman asked to sign the menus was Kim Hyun-Joo of the popular Korean television program â€Å"Yuri Gudu† meaning.

Black Boy :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Richard Wright writes Black Boy. It is a story of a boy, Richard Wright living in a racist world. He is exposed to many things such as fear, death, discrimination, moving from place to place, and hunger. By reading this book I understand more about the lives of the blacks, back then.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Richard Wright fought to survive in a world of prejudice. He tried everything to get away from hate, he would run away from home, and he went to drinking at a point. Prejudice affected his family in bad ways. His family began to hate also, they would take out their anger on others and it was difficult living with one another. As time went on they learned to deal with their prejudice world better.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Richard Wright learned to hate because that’s what he was exposed to. He didn’t have the life that people have today. He was beat for things he didn’t do and was falsely accused of. There were times when he would get aggressive, one time he took out a knife so he wouldn’t get beaten.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hunger played a big role in Richard Wright’s life. He lived without food for a while. Then there were times when he rejected food because he believed it wasn’t right. He grew up poor so food was something he didn’t have much of. Then he did survive, and he kept on going with his life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some examples of Discrimination laws are that they have to sit in separate places than the blacks, and they don’t have to the right to do or say what the white people don’t like. The blacks get abused and killed for the pleasure of the whites, which is wrong. I think that Richard Wright still wouldn’t be one hundred percent pleased with the American society today, but he would have liked it more than the society from then.

Inrtoductiontolegal Research-Unit7.Doc

Unit Seven Assignment John Mathis Kaplan University Professor Scripps April 16, 2013 Unit Seven Assignment John Mathis – Paralegal April 16, 2013 Mike Jones Town Manager Dear Mr. Jones, Regarding your town’s concern that the drinking water may contain too high of lead levels, please be advised that the federal law designed to make sure drinking water is safe is the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) which enabled the Environmental Protection Agency to establish drinking water standards. The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for Lead and Copper, 40 CFR  §141 and 40 CFR  §142 which regulates lead in drinking water.The main parts of this regulation are Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) as well as Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs). A PDF file of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for Lead and Copper, 40 CFR  §141 and 40 CFR  §142 may been downloaded or viewed at: http://www. gpo. gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-13/pdf/2012-31205. pd f Today, the majority of the nation’s water systems comply with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for Lead and Copper. The majority of systems that do not are small town systems in rural areas.The regulations are enforceable standards for public water systems. According to the E. P. A. public water systems â€Å"provide water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances to at least 15 service connections or serves an average of at least 25 people for at least 60 days a year. † Therefore, NPDWR applies to your towns water system serving a population of approximately 20,000. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours truly, John Mathis – Paralegal

John Stuart Mill And Utilitarianism - 1202 Words

Furthermore, Despite Walter Glannon’s second argument against genetic enhancement for personal gain, I contend that the philosophy of John Stuart Mill and Utilitarianism can be used to show that society should will that genetic enhancement be morally acceptable if the adverse cognitive or emotional effects are outweighed by the benefits. Glannon argues that gene enhancement is morally objectionable because â€Å"there would be the unacceptable social cost of some people suffering from adverse cognitive or emotional effects of the enhancement.† Under Utilitarianism, society would likely deem that genetic enhancement is acceptable even though there is a risk of adverse cognitive or emotional effects. This is because the consequences of the†¦show more content†¦While manipulating the genetic structure of plants and animals has led to an increase in obesity, pollution, and long-term health problems in humans, it has benefited the human population overall in that it has decreased the cost of food, improved the efficiency of civilization, and has solved the problem of hunger in areas of the world where agricultural genetic modification has been implemented. At this moment in time, it can be contended that Mill would have agreed that the costs of genetic engineering have outweighed the benefits to society. Genetic engineering has produced the most overall utility for civilization, even though it may have produced less utility for some individuals who suffer from some of its adverse effects. Accordingly, these adverse effects will likely decrease over time as scientific discoveries continue. Moreover, I contend that Emmanuel Kant’s Second Formulation also undermines Glannon’s third argument against genetic enhancement since it holds that people should not be viewed as a means to an end. It states that one should â€Å"act to treat humanity always as an end and never as a mere means.† Even if humans were to undergo genetic enhancements to become more homogenous in terms of their genetic makeup similar to that of farm animals, individuals would still retain a personal sense of identity. For example, the genetic makeup of dairyShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill And Utilitarianism880 Words   |  4 Pagessometimes hard to define, but with John Stuart Mill and Utilitarianism it is a little bit easier. Utilitarianism is an easy one, for the reason that it is defined by the greatest happiness for everyone involved. Sometimes it does not always make everyone content, but if you look at it as a whole it makes sense. Mill says that we have t o look at the bigger picture. One person’s happiness affects another’s and so on. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that John Stuart Mill, the philosopher, formulated toRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill1365 Words   |  6 Pages In John Stuart Mill’s book Utilitarianism, he argues for the defense of utilitarianism, an age old theory originally developed by Jeremy Bentham that states the proper course of action is the one that maximizes happiness. The course of action that maximizes general happiness is also the only true standard for moral assessment. 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The right course of action is determined as being right if it maximizes the total benefit and happiness gained, while at the same time reducing the greatestRead MoreThe Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill984 Words   |  4 PagesDecriminalize Drug use Utilitarianism as an example of consequentialism is a moral theory generally considered to have started in the late eighteenth century. In the book Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill he defined the ethical theory stating that â€Å"†¦actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness†(7). The idea behind the theory is that people seek happiness, and that the ultimate goal of all human beings is to be happy.Read MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill854 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Stuart Mill, among other things, was an English philosopher and economist who lived from 1806 to 1873. Mill grew up being immersed in the principles of utilitarianism. Mill’s essay on utilitarianism, titled Utilitarianism, was written to debunk misconceptions of and to provide support for the ideology. Mill’s essay and argument span five chapters, where his discussions range from definitions, misconceptions, re wards, methods, and validity. Utilitarianism is generally held to be the view thatRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill And Utilitarianism983 Words   |  4 PagesIn Utilitarianism actions are judged right and wrong solely on their consequence, and in order to assess this consequences, the only thing that matters is the amount of happiness and unhappiness caused and by calculating happiness and unhappiness caused, nobody’s happiness counts any more than anybody else’s. Utilitarian ethics is the most common form of ethics used today, it has thrived because two needs have been met by it. Firstly, end-based thinking is common and people have sought to improveRead MoreUtilitarianism By John Stuart Mill930 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis Paper 2 In the essay â€Å"Utilitarianism† by John Stuart Mill, he explains his support for utilitarianism and argues any misconceptions of it. In his essay he talks about the difference between higher and lower pleasures and what significance they have in his utilitarian moral theory. His theory is based on the rule that â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.† Many people experience different kinds of pleasureRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill2436 Words   |  10 PagesUtilitarianism is an ethical speculation that communicates that the best movement is the one that expands utility. Utility is portrayed in various courses, frequently to the extent the success of mindful substances, for instance, people and diverse animals. 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