Monday, August 19, 2019
Archimedes :: essays research papers
                                        Archimedes S. Romano      Archimedes was a native of Syracuse, Sicily. Some authors have said that he visited Egypt and invented a device there now known as Archimedes' screw. This screw is a pump, still used in many parts of the world. When Archimedes was a young man, he studied with the descendants of Euclid in Alexandria. He was familiar with the mathematics used there, and he knew personally the mathematicians working there and he sent his results to Alexandria with personal messages. He regarded Conon of Samos, one of the mathematicians at Alexandria, very highly for his abilities as a mathematician and he also regarded him as a close friend.      In the preface to â€Å"On Spirals†Archimedes told a story about his friends in Alexandria. He said that he was in the habit of sending them statements of his latest theorems, but without giving proofs. Some of the mathematicians there claimed the results as their own so Archimedes said that on the last occasion when he sent them theorems he included two which were false. Other than in the prefaces to his works, information about Archimedes comes to us from a number of sources such as in stories from Plutarch, Livy, and others. Plutarch tells us that Archimedes was related to King Hieron II of Syracuse. Evidence of his friendship with the family of King Hieron II comes from the fact that â€Å"The Sandreckoner†was dedicated to Gelon, the son of King Hieron.      There are many of references to Archimedes in the writings of the time. He was probably the only mathematician of his time with such a high reputation. This is because he was not interest in new mathematical ideas but had invented war machines. They were particularly effective in the defense of Syracuse when it was attacked by the Romans and Marcellus. Plutarch writes in his work on Marcellus, the Roman commander, about how Archimedes' war machines were used against the Romans in the siege of 212 BC; â€Å"... when Archimedes began to ply his engines, he at once shot against the land forces all sorts of missile weapons, and immense masses of stone that came down with incredible noise and violence; against which no man could stand; for they knocked down those upon whom they fell in heaps, breaking all their ranks and files. In the meantime huge poles thrust out from the walls
Free Essays - A Farewell to Arms as Historical Romance :: Farewell Arms Essays
A Farewell to Arms - Historical Romance The novel "A Farewell to Arms" should be classified as a historical romance. Many people in reading this book could interpret this to be a war novel, when in fact it was one of the great romance novels written in its time. When reading this book you notice how every important event of the war is overshadowed by the strong love story behind it. The love story is circled around two people, Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley. Frederic is a young American ambulance driver with the Italian army in World War I. He meets Catherine, a beautiful English nurse, near the front of Italy and Austria. At first Frederic’s relationship with Catherine consists of a game based on his attempts to seduce her. He does make one attempt to kiss her, and is quickly slapped by an offended Catherine. Later in the story, Frederic is wounded and sent to the American hospital where Catherine works. Here he finds a part of him he has never had before, the ability to love. This is where his feelings for Catherine become extremely evident. Their relationship progresses and they begin a passionate love affair. After his stay in the hospital, Frederic returns to the war front. During this period, Hemmingway heavily indicates the love Frederic has for Catherine. It is evident that Frederic is distracted by his love for Catherine. During a massive retreat from the Austrians and the Germans, the Italian forces become disordered and chaotic. Frederic is forced to shoot an engineer sergeant under his command, and in the confusion is arrested by the Italian military police for the crime of not being Italian. Disgusted with the Army and facing death, Frederic decides he has had enough of the war; he dives in to the river to escape. After swimming to safety, Frederic boards a train and reunites with Catherine. She is pregnant with their baby. With the help of an Italian bartender, Catherine and Frederic escape to Switzerland, and plan to marry after the baby is born. When Catherine goes into labor, the doctor suddenly discovers that her pelvis is too narrow to deliver the baby. He attempts an unsuccessful Cesarean section, and she dies in childbirth with the baby. To Frederic, her dead body is like a statue; he walks back to his hotel without finding a way to say goodbye, seemingly lost forever.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Global Credit Availability Essay -- essays research papers fc
Global Credit Availability:      In today’s world of personal finance and economics, with the global perspective being the primary focus. Corporations, just like individuals, are looking at expanding their horizons and saving or making as much profit as they can. How do they accomplish this gigantic and often expensive proposition? The answer to this is through credit. However I poise a question to everyone. Is the ease of which to receive credit today a hindrance and detriment to all of us, or is it the answer we have all been looking for? I will show you both sides of this situation and you are the judge.      The term credit according to the 1992 issue of New Webster’s Dictionary is; a transfer of goods, etc†¦in confidence of future payment, to enter on the credit side of an account; to procure credit or honor to (â€Å"Credit†). The term domestic credit in the Dornbusch Microeconomics book is the monetary authority’s holdings of claims on the public sector – government debt – and on the private sector – usually loans to banks (â€Å"Domestic Credit†). According to our Personal Finance book;      â€Å"Consumer credit dates back to colonial times. While credit was originally a priviledge of      the affluent, farmers came to use it extensively. No direct finance charges were imposed;      instead, the cost of credit was added to the price of goods†¦ All economists now      recognize consumer as a major force in the American economy†¦ To paraphrase an old      political expression, as the consumer goes, so goes the U.S. economy (164).†These terms all mean one thing, as we the public, government, and businesses receive credit, we must be responsible with it and ensure that we repay our obligations.      In today’s global economy credit is the single most important tool most consumers and businesses have. Credit when used properly allows us to grow and purchase items we might not otherwise have the funds for. The United States has had credit reporting information and accounting since 1956, and with all of this available information global models are now being created for other countries to follow. It is said that without the use and availability of credit the global econo... ...l. Macreconomics. 9th ed. Ed. Lucille Sutton. New York: NY, 2004. Kapoor, Jack R., Les R. Dlabay, and Robert J. Hughes. Personal Finance. 7th ed. Ed. Michele Janicek. New York: NY, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2004 References Cole, R., â€Å"The importance of relationships to the availability of credit.†Journal of Banking and Finance. 1998 Fisman, R., â€Å"Trade credit, financial intermediary development and industry growth.†Journal of Finance. 2003 Kennickell, Arthur B., Martha Starr-McCluer, and Brian J. Surette, â€Å"Recent Changes in U.S. Family Finances: Results from the 1998 Survey of Consumer Finances,†Federal Reserve Bulletin. January, 2000, pp 1-29. Scott, J., â€Å"Small business and the value of community financial instituations.†Journal of Financial Services Research. 2004 United States. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. 10 Nov. 1999      http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/general/1999/19991110/default.HTM United States. Federal Reserve Board. 10 Sept. 2003      http://www.federalreserve.gov/BoardDocs/Press/bcreg/2003/20030910/default.htm.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Food Critique History Essay
Food history is an interdisciplinary field that examines the history of food, and the cultural, economic, environmental, and sociological impacts of food. Food history is considered distinct from the more traditional field of culinary history, which focuses on the origin and recreation of specific recipes. Food historians look at food as one of the most important elements of cultures, reflecting the social and economic structure of society. Food history is a new discipline, considered until recently a fringe discipline. The first journal in the field, Petits Propos Culinaires was launched in 1979 and the first conference on the subject was the Food & History is a multilingual (French, English, German, Italian and Spanish) scientific journal that has been published since 2003. Food & History is the biannual scientific review of the European Institute for the History and Cultures of Food (IEHCA) based in Tours. It publishes papers about the history and culture of food. The review Food & History is the biannual scientific review of the Institut Europeen d’Histoire et des Cultures de l’Alimentation / European Institute for the History and Culture of Food (IEHCA) in Tours, France. Founded in 2003, it is the first journal in Europe, both in its vocation and concept, specialised in the specific field of food history. Food & History aims at presenting, promoting and diffusing research that focuses on alimentation from an historical and/or cultural perspective. The journal studies food history (from prehistory to the present), food archaeology, and food culture from different points of view. It embraces social, economic, religious, political, agronomical, and cultural aspects of food and nutrition. It deals at the same time with questions of food consumption, production and distribution, with alimentation theories and practices (medical aspects included), with food-related paraphernalia and infrastructures, as well as with culinary practices, gastronomy, and restaurants. Being positioned at the cross-roads of the humanities and social sciences, the review deliberately promotes interdisciplinary research approaches. Although most contributions are concerned with European food history, the journal principally also welcomes articles on other food cultures. Food & History is a fully-fledged academic journal which applies the usual methodical instruments for assessing incoming articles, i. e. a double-blind reviewing process by external referees, recruited from a large and ever-growing intercontinental pool of experts in the field of social and cultural food studies. Food & History belongs to a decreasing spectrum of journals which openly expresses its European and international character by accepting manuscripts in five European languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German). Food & History gains official recognition from the Institut des Sciences Humaines et Sociales of the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and is indexed by the European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH) of the European Science Foundation (History category B). Food & History can be published thanks to the financial support from the Ministere de l’Education nationale, Ministere de l’enseignement superieur et de la recherche, Universite Francois-Rabelais de Tours, and the Conseil Regional du Centre. [edit] History Food and History was created by a network of academic researchers and students, with the help of the French Ministry for National Education and the University of Tours. The journal is sustained by the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)[1] and is cited by the European Science Foundation in its European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH)[2]. The launch of Food & History was on the one hand a logical fruit of the foundation of the European Institute for the History of Food in December 2000 in Strasbourg (redefined in 2005 as European Institute for the History and Culture of Food), and on the other hand a clear manifestation of the gradual breakthrough of social and cultural food studies as an independent field of research during the first decades of the 21st century. The emergence of this sub-discipline had, of course, been anticipated in an impressive record of food-related research, conducted by scholars from adjacent fields, such as e. . economic history, agricultural history, history of the body etc. However, the scholars behind these pioneering works were generally operating on a rather individual base and they would not have defined themselves as food historians. It was only with the foundation of the journal Food and Foodways in 1986 and of the International Commission for Research into European Food History (ICFREH) by Hans-Jurgen Teuteberg in Munster 1989 that a first infrastructural framework for social and cultural ood studies was provided. In the decades around the turn of the century, a lot of new food-related research initiatives became visible, thus demonstrating the vitality of this research area. In 1997, the Department of History at the University of Adelaide established a Research Centre for the History of Food and Drink. In 2001, a new web-journal The Anthropology of Food was launched and in 2004 the American Association for the Study of Food and Society re-launched a journal, entitled Food, Culture and Society. Around the turn of the century, due to – amongst others – new appointments in the editorial board, the research interest of the journal Food and Foodways changed in a two-fold sense: on the one hand â€Å"it shifted away from familiar disciplines (history, sociology, ethnology) toward ‘unexpected’ones (communication sciences, linguistics, tourism)†, on the other hand it became increasingly dominated by Anglo-Saxon input, especially from scholars from the USA, whereas the influence of the traditional French research schools significantly diminished. Some scholars argue that this ‘exotic’ publication strategy of Food and Foodways may have led to the launch of the new food history journal Food & History. Be that as it may, it was from the very start of the European Institute for the History of Food obvious that this new Europe-wide food research initiative should be accordingly accompanied by the launch of a new publication platform. And so happened: three years after its foundation, the IEHA announced the introduction of a new journal, Food & History, which still appears under the aegis of IEHCA, represented by its director Francis Chevrier (series editor). It started with a 7-persons board, consisting of four historians, one sinologist, one sociologist and Secretary Christophe Marion. As from volume 4. 2 (publication year 2006), the editorial board was almost doubled, with the addition of a philologist, archaeologist, classicist, and three historians. After a transition period and the appointment of a new secretary in 2007, the journal has been increasingly professionalised, amongst others by the introduction of a new uniform style sheet (link) and by the application of a comprehensive peer reviewing system (starting with volume 5. 1). These assessments are usually carried out on an entirely honorary base. However, by way of acknowledgement, the names of external referees are regularly published, usually in the last issue of each volume. Another development that bears witness of the increasing professionalisation of the journal was the change in its direction. During the initial period, Massimo Montanari had served as editor in chief, but in 2008 the editorial board declared itself openly in favour of a new dual leading structure, which rotates among the board members, giving each tandem a triennial turn (which is once renewable for another turn of three years). During a transitional year (2009), Montanari was accompanied by Allen Grieco and Peter Scholliers, who in the subsequent year took over the torch of the journals direction. Yet another step towards further professionalisation was the introduction of a group of corresponding members as from 2010, with the aim to represent the journal’s interests in different world regions and to establish a permanent flow of food research related information between these regions and the journal’s â€Å"headquarters†.
Friday, August 16, 2019
The Teachings of Christ For Christian Education
In my opinion I feel that the biblical basis of educational ministries are four basic ideas that teaching should be seen as a light of the world, it should bring out old as well as new feelings in people, be an example to all mankind, and be followed always. There are many more biblical basis for Christian education, but in my eyes I find these the most important. In Proverbs 6:23 the Lord states, â€Å"For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light.†Teaching should not feel like a burden of the church, or of the parents. Look at teaching the word of Christ as a gift and teach this gift wholeheartedly. As a Christian one of our duties of the Lord is to pass down His teachings as well as His faith. God has given you a wonderful gift and it would be no less then sinful to hoard it all for yourself. (Note: This was described perfectly by Lou Foltz today in chapel.) A teacher has the hard task of not only teaching the gospel but also bringing out each of the students individual strengths, so that they may use them to serve Christ. Matthew 13:52 says †Therefore every teacher of the laws who has been instructed about my kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a home who brings out his storeroom new treasures as well as old.†This is where imaginative, dynamic, analytical, and common sense learners come into play. You must cater to every type of learner so everyone has a chance to shine and become all God wants them to become. When the students have finally learned the Christian walk of life they must submit their lives to Jesus Christ. They cannot only talk the talk; they must also walk the walk. Deuteronomy 5:1 gives us an example when Moses summoned all Israel and said: â€Å"Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.†This shows that it is not good enough to just learn the word; we must follow the word as well. Otherwise, we are no better off then where we started. The final basis I have is that you must spread the word of Christ. What good does it do when twenty people know about Christ and do not share this with others? Nothing. Christianity would cease to exist without teachers training new Disciples of Christ. John 13:14-15 states †Now that I, your God and Teacher have washed your feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.†Jesus taught twelve disciples the word of Christ and it is now our job as potential teachers to keep this cycle going. All of these principles I have talked about all together create my biblical basis for Christian education. These ideas show basic rules to live by as Christian educators. If I ever do teach Christian education I will do my best to live by these rules for teaching as well as life itself.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Drug Abuse in Africa Essay
Apart from cannabis abuse in northern and southern Africa and khat chewing in north-eastern Africa, the history of drug abuse in Africa is relatively short. The abuse of drugs in Africa is nevertheless escalating rapidly from cannabis abuse to the more dangerous drugs and from limited groups of drug users to a wider range of people abusing drugs. The most common and available drug of abuse is still cannabis, which is known to be a contributing factor to the occurrence of a schizophrenic-like psychosis. The trafficking in and abuse of cocaine and heroin are the most recent developments in some African countries that had had no previous experience with these drugs. Efforts should be made to design and implement drug abuse assessment programmes to determine the real magnitude and characteristics of the problem and to monitor its trends. A lack of funds and a shortage of adequately trained personnel have made it difficult to implement drug abuse control programmes. In addition to formal drug control involving the implementation of legislation, there is an informal system of drug abuse control operating through the family, church, school, neighbourhood and work environment, as well as healthy recreational activities. It is suggested that efforts in African countries should be directed towards strengthening not only the formal drug control system but also informal control in order to compensate for the insufficient funds and the shortage of personnel trained in implementing formal drug control measures. It is very likely that the drug problems in African countries will worsen in future unless more effective measures are implemented to arrest the current situation. Introduction Drug abuse is defined as â€Å"†¦ excessive or inappropriate use of a [psycho-active] substance by a person ; such use being considered or judged to be illegal (immoral) by the culture and resulting in harm to the person or society†[ 1] . In defining the phenomenon , therefore , the key determinant is the perception of society of what constitutes drug abuse. It may be stated in general terms that the socio-cultural values and standards relating to drug abuse in Africa have been weakened by the influence of international developments relating to drug abuse , which have given rise to the change in what society considers abuse. Historical background The irresponsible use of drugs and alcohol by college students has always been an issue for university campuses, but the problem has become more and more frequent and has grown in familiarity with every passing generation. In past years, the problem has not only multiplied in frequency, but has also grown in danger. Now students are abusing not only recreational drugs like Marijuana and Cocaine, but also prescription drugs like Ritalin and others like it such as Adderall. â€Å"As many as 20 percent of college students have used Ritalin or Adderall to study, write papers, and take exams†¦ †(Jacobs 2). Medications like Ritalin are used to provide energy and concentration when a person cannot achieve them through regular means. Students take medication like Ritalin to help them deal with loss of sleep so they can stay up all night to cram and still do well in class. Students are now using similar medications like Adderall that are released over long periods of time so they can keep an energy high throughout an entire day instead of just one or two class periods. On some campuses, if you’re not using Ritalin or Adderall, you are just increasing your risk to fall behind. As one Columbia student said, â€Å"If you don’t take them, you’ll be at a disadvantage to everyone else†(Jacobs 3). This previous statement is unfortunately all oo true, these types of prescription medications are so popular and commonplace that students attending certain universities believe that â€Å"now it’s almost cool to take them†(Jacobs 2). Many college students have come to believe that these drugs are essential to their success, many believe that it can expand their intelligence and give them a learning advantage in classes they find difficult. This is false because these medications were only created to help people suffering from A. D. H. D. to maintain concentration and focus on tasks they previously found overwhelming. The rise in occurrence of disorders such as A. D. H. D. and A. D. D. in past years may have a link to this problem, many teens are diagnosed with attention disorders and the commonplace use of medications like Ritalin and Adderall may have led a lot of students to think that taking these drugs is normal. At Columbia University, a student even went as far as to say that â€Å"the culture here actually encourages people to use stimulants,†(Jacobs 2) Doctors have been seeing a rising amount of young adults who have claimed to have an attention deficit disorder in order to obtain medications to help them in college. Another leading cause of drug abuse is â€Å"the belief that drug abuse or the non-medical use of any drug will not have long-lasting effects on their health. †(Health Services 2) Campus health providers frequently see students who have over extended themselves by taking too many pills at once or too often and end up wandering in because they cannot function any further. Surveys and reports have confirmed that these forms of drug abuse have more than doubled in the last decade or so. â€Å"†¦ T]he number of teenagers†¦abusing prescription medications tripled from 1992 to 2003†¦ †(Jacobs 2). The ready availability of these drugs has also led to an increase in their wide-spread use, the â€Å"[T]he abuse of prescription drugs†¦has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s†(Leinwand 1). The majority of abused prescription drugs are either received from a friend or acquaintance that has been prescribed the medication or sold by someone on campus. Although prescription drug use has indeed increased â€Å"Alcohol remains the favored substance by far†¦ (Leinwand 1). Reportedly around 50 percent of college students consume alcohol on a regular basis. Although campus authorities have increased their efforts to put a lid on drinking in recent years, â€Å"in 2005, 83% of campus arrests involved alcohol†¦Ã¢â‚¬ So despite regular efforts, drinking on college campuses has continued to become progressively more common over the years, it is pretty much expected. Drinking is the college norm; almost every college student will consume alcohol before their graduation. Once a student becomes overly dependent on a substance, like alcohol or Ritalin, they can obtain help and possible treatment through their University’s health services and offices. Some of the treatments may be medical or involve a rehabilitation center or a student can seek help through a support network like AA or with a group of supporting family or friends. A student can also opt to go speak with a counselor or possibly a professor about their problems in class or their reliance on a substance that they feel is keeping them from failure in their schooling. Substance abuse can terribly interfere with a students ability to attend class and to achieve any type of learning, students should not let themselves be caught in the use or abuse of any such substance and should always be able to turn to a university advisor for help or support. Fellow stdents, advisors, and professors should always make an effort to reduce substance abuse on campuses every time they get the chance, because even if it does not end a life, substance abuse can and will destroy a life if it is given the chance and not stopped before it begins. With the exception of north Africa, where cannabis resin (hashish) has traditionally been used by members of the Sufi sect , east Africa, where the use of khat has been institutionalized , and perhaps southern Africa , where cannabis (dagger) has been widely used [ 2] , there is no evidence to support the view that the abuse of drugs has been part of the African heritage [ 3] , [ 4] . Other psycho-active substances currently being abused do not have historical antecedents in any part of Africa. Africans, though deeply religious, have not used drugs as a medium in religious rituals, and none of the indigenous herbal psycho-active substances have been used in ceremonies [ 2] . The situation in Africa and the life-styles of the Africans have drastically changed over the past years under the influence of industrial and urban developments. These developments have, in turn, changed the way in which he Africans achieve ataraxia ; at present, the easiest way to achieve it is to resort to psycho-active substances. Khat (Catha edulis), a plant grown mainly in southern Arabia and eastern and southern Africa [ 5] , first received international attention in 1935 at the League of Nations [ 6] . The psycho-active effects of khat chewing , which are derived from cathine and cathinone [ 7] , are similar to the effects produced by using amphetamines. Within the African region, khat has been grown and used in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia and the United Republic of Tanzania. The fact that the pleasurable , stimulating and euphoric effects of khat chewing can only be derived from the fresh leaves and shoots of the plant may have contributed to the low popularity of khat as a substance of abuse beyond the local areas of cultivation The plant Cannabis sativa, from which cannabis preparations such as marijuana and hashish are derived, grows wild in Africa. Certain evidence suggests that the cultivation of cannabis and its use as a drug of abuse were introduced into Africa from India [ 8] – [ 10] by the Sufi sect and by Asian traders and travellers [ 9] , [ 11] . One study indicated that the cannabis plant and its use could have been spread across the Sahara to west Africa around the sixteenth century [ 8] . There is also evidence suggesting that soldiers returning from the Second World War were responsible for the increased incidence of cannabis abuse in west Africa, particularly in Nigeria [ 2] , [ 4] . This is supported by the fact that in west Africa there is no known indigenous name for cannabis, nor has it been used there for mystical purposes. This is also supported by research findings indicating that cannabis is an important factor in the occurrence of mental illness in Africa [ 12] , [ 13] ; this factor is much less known in cultures where cannabis has for a long time been consumed [ 14] . Another possible route was across the Indian Ocean. This may have been the route by which travellers from India brought cannabis from India to east, central and south Africa as early as the second century, but there is no evidence to suggest that the use of cannabis spread at that time from there to the west coast of Africa. Current drug abuse situation in Africa Because of the lack of information on the subject, an assessment of the extent, patterns and trends of drug abuse in all the countries of Africa is not an easy task. There are no systems for collecting and retrieving data on drug abuse in African countries, and drug abuse assessment projects are urgently needed for all African countries. This article has, to a large extent, been prepared on the basis of data provided by various workshops and seminars held on the subject in the course of the past 12 years. The following paragraphs summarize the drug abuse situation according to the most commonly abused substances. Cannabis Cannabis grows wild in most parts of Africa but it is also illicitly cultivated. It is the most widely abused illicit drug in the region. It appears to be less abused in countries of east Africa, such as Ethiopia and Somalia, where the abuse of khat is prevalent. Although cannabis is not indigenous to west Africa, it is illicit ly cultivated and widely abused in that part of the continent. In Nigeria, cannabis is predominantly abused by teenagers, who begin using it at the age of 14. The situation in other west African countries is similar. * In particular, the 1974 Workshop of the Association of Psychiatrists in Africa (held at Nairobi, Kenya), the African Seminar on Problems of Drug Dependence (held at Lagos, Nigeria, in 1980) and the World Health Organization Workshop on Prevention and Management of Drug Dependence through Primary Health Care (held at Lagos, Nigeria, in 1985). Khat The chewing of khat has been practised for years and is, to a large extent, socially accepted in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Somalia ; some of these countries are introducing control measures to discourage the cultivation and use of khat. Apart from the habitual use of khat, Workneh [ 15] reports that it is used by students to improve their academic performance, by truck drivers to keep themselves awake and by labourers to supply the extra vigour and energy they need for their work- It is interesting to note that the same reasons have been reported by cannabis users in west Africa. Amphetamines Amphetamines are imported into Africa, although there is no significant medical justification for using these substances. They are often illegally smuggled into African countries, where they eventually find their way into open markets and patent medicine stores. A few countries, such as Somalia, the Sudan and Togo, have not reported any amphetamine-related problems, but there is general consensus that the abuse of amphetamines in Africa is a problem mainly among adolescents and unskilled labourers, such as drivers and farmers. Opium Opium is reported to have been abused, sometimes in combination with cannabis or alcohol, in Mauritius, mainly among the Chinese ethnic group. Cocaine, heroin and lysergic acid diethylamide These drugs are not manufactured in Africa but have been increasingly present in Nigeria and other west African countries, as shown by recent seizures and arrests- The evidence suggests that African, and especially west African countries, are used by drug traffickers as transit points for heroin trafficking from South-East Asia to Europe and North America. It has recently been reported that some Nigerians have been used as carriers of drugs and some have invested in the illicit drug trafficking [ 16] . Cocaine and heroin have recently been seized for the first time in the Sudan. An increasing abuse of cocaine and heroin has been reported in Nigeria [ 13] . The abuse of these drugs has also been reported in other African countries such as Kenya, Liberia and Mauritius. Sedative-hypnotic For the purpose of this article , sedative-hypnotics include barbiturates, benzodiazipines and other substances, the abuse of which presents similar problems. These substances are imported for legitimate medical purposes, but reports from various African countries indicate that they have also been abused, especially by women. A study in Nigeria has shown that, in order of magnitude , the abuse of these substances is second in rank following alcohol abuse [ 13] . Mandrax (methaqualone and diphenhydramine) was commonly abused in Nigeria in the early 1970s, but since it was banned, its abuse has abated [ 13] . However, some other African countries, such as Swaziland, have reported an increase in the trafficking and abuse of Mandrax. Glue and petrol sniffing An increase in the abuse of benzine by inhalation has been reported among Sudanese children [ 17] . Recent reports from Kenya, Somalia, SwaziIand and Zambia indicate the abuse of glue and petrol by sniffing, though the extent of such abuse varies from country to country. Pela and Ebie [ 13] highlighted the potential for abuse of volatile solvents in some occupational groups in Nigeria. Most recent reports from Ethiopia indicate that the abuse of glue and petrol is prevalent among juveniles.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Alternative Treatment Educational Course for Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Targeted Audience: The course will serve as a learning process for the parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This will help parents deal with their child and will teach the parents methods that will assist in the treatment of their child.Goal: This will provide significant information that will highlight factors and appropriate treatment methods related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It will also discuss the effects of different treatment method and treatment method appropriate to an individual’s age.Objectives: At the end of this course, parents must be able to: 1. understand causes and symptoms of ADHD 2. know how ADHD is diagnosed 3. determine behavioral elements that may indicate mental health conditions among children 4. learn treatment methods and programs 5. apply the different treatment methods INTRODUCTION Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as hyperkinesis, is a mental disorder that is common to child ren. It affects three to five percent of the children’s world population having a boy to girl ratio of 2:1 or 3:1 (NMHI, 1999).The disorder is characterized by persistent inattentiveness which results in significant functional impairment. It hinders the individual’s capability to do task and exercise age-appropriate behavior. Healthcare professional diagnosed 4. 4 million youth ages 4-17 years old have ADHD. As of 2003, it was found out that 2. 5 million youth ages 4-14 years old are under medication for the disorder. Also, 7. 8% of parents of school-aged have reported to have an ADHD (CDC, 2005). ADHD is a disorder that has an effect to an individual throughout life.The symptoms are pervasive which means that it occurs in various setting. Researches found out that the distinct characteristics of ADHD are inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity. This paper aims to provide alternative treatment for parents of children with ADHD. In order to achieve this, one must first understand the causes, symptoms, and effects of the disorder. The educational treatment educational course will aid parents of children with ADHD on treating the disorder of their on child and on taking care of their children acquiring such disorder.Specifically, this paper aims to determine if the gender and educational background of parents influence the consideration of alternative treatment procedure for ADHD. CAUSES OF ADHD The causes of ADHD are still undetermined but medical professionals have come up with assumptions that might have caused the disorder. The causes may be neuroanatomic, genetic, environmental, social, and prenatal factors (The Healing Center On-line, 2008). The Neuroanatomic Factor The neuroanatomic sources are the fontal lobe lesions, anterior and medical to the pre-central motor cortex.Studies on cerebral blood flows have found central hypoperfusion in the frontal lobe and decreased blood flow to the caudate nucleus. The Healing Center On-line further wrote that: The positron emission topography of parents of children with ADHD who have symptoms with the disorder have shown that there were decreased metabolism in left frontal and parietal regions which suggest that the prefrontal cortex, which governs auditory attention, is less active among those with ADHD.Also, persons with ADHD have an abnormal low rate of activity in brain areas responsible for motor control and attentiveness. Genetic Factor It is found out by studies that children with ADHD also have close relatives with ADHD. It shows that ADHD can be acquired genetically. Researches also showed that one-third of the fathers with ADHD during their youth will bear a child with ADHD. Also, identical twins share the same trait (NMHI, 1999). Environmental and Prenatal Factors Researches have shown a potential relationship between smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol during pregnancy.Behavior problems are also affected by high carbohydrate and high sugar diet during pregnanc y. Lowering of blood oxygen caused by smoking, high carbohydrate and high sugar diet is critical in fetal development, specifically in the development of fetal brain cells (Healing Center On-line, 2008). Some factors that may lead to ADHD are exposure to toxins such as lead, traumatic experiences, imbalance of neurotransmitters and abnormal glucose metabolism in the central nervous system. Psychosocial FactorsADHD can be caused by social conditions, family stability and marital conflict, psychiatric disorder, parental approach, and family interactions. SYMPTOMS OF ADHD The symptoms of ADHD are seen at an early age. The main symptoms of the disorder are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Children with ADHD are usually impulsive, forgetful, restless to the point of disruption, prone to fall, unable to follow instructions, unpredictable, and moody (Healing Center On-line, 2008). But some of these are normal to children at young age.According to the American Psychiatric Associ ation (2005), ADHD can be identified by the following behavior: (a) playing with hands or feet or wriggling in their seats, (b) difficulty to stay in their seats when needed, (c) difficulty to maintain attention and waiting for a chance in games or group activities, (d) Answering before questions are completed, (e) difficulty to follow instruction and to do task properly, (f) changing one unfinished task to another, (g) failure to prevent careless mistakes, and (h) difficulty to listen. DIAGNOSIS OF THE ADHDParents observe indications of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity at young age before entering school. But because maturity of children comes different rates, it is important to ask for the opinion of medical experts if the behavior of a child is appropriate at a certain age (NMHI, 2008). According to the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual in 1997, as written by The Healing Center On-line, there is no existing test to detect ADHD but recommended steps in diagnosing the disorder. The first step is a to interview parents. The interview must include family background, presenting problem, and developmental history.Second is asking the child about home, school, and social functioning. Third is completion of the behavior-rating scales illustrating the role of home and school. The fourth step is to gather data from school like grades, achievement test scores, current placement and, relevant information. Fifth is psychological IQ test and Learning Disability screening. The final step is to give physical and neurological examinations. Parent Interview The parent interview is important in establishing relationship between the parents, the child, and the examiner.This will prove invaluable parental support with the assessment and treatment. The interview will also be a source of descriptive information about the family especially parent’s specific observation on child’s obvious problem. It will also expose the degree of distress the childâ€⠄¢s problems affecting the family, particularly the parent and the overall psychological integrity of parent. The interview will also help in formulating a diagnosis and to recommend possible treatments (Barkley, 2007). Child Interview Barkley (2007) also emphasizes the importance of child interview.The length of time required for the interview depends on the age, intellectual level, and language abilities of the children. For preschools, the interview will be a time to be familiar with the child’s appearance, behavior, and development characteristic. For older children and adults, they can be questioned regarding family relationship and status, problem encountered, performance in school, and social and peer acceptance. Teacher Interview The interview with teacher will determine the behavior and performance of the child in school. This will help in evaluating the child’s over all behavior and assessing the development of the child.
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