Human Biology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Human Biology - Assignment Example Based on the significant evolutionary development that have taken place in on earth, the organisms that have contributed a lot the evolutionary changes are the simple organisms. According to Darwin’s theory, multi-cellular and high organisms are thought to have evolved from simple organisms (Darwin, 1859). Indeed, it could be argued that such simple organisms continue to undergo evolution, considering the emergence of new strains of viruses and bacteria that threaten human health. For example, it is widely concurred that Malaria causative agents have noticeably evolved to become drug resistant. The new exotic organisms are accompanied by far-reaching implication on the ecosystems. In the most common way, these organisms have altered food chains and food webs through increased competition, as well as their harmful activities on the environment. The impact of such organism to human beings can also be speculated based on the food web relationships. If one component on the food web is altered or threatened, the impact is transferred to the rest of the organisms in the ecosystems, including human beings. The impact may always be direct, but comes with profound consequences, such introduction of toxins to the environment, which gets to the human body through the food chains (Cronon, 2005). Becoming a vegetarian has also some implications on the environment. One is that vegetable dependency deprives the ecosystems the primary producer capacity to cater for the ecosystem needs, such as carbon dioxide recapture. Secondly, over-reliance on vegetables could harmful because it concentrates only certain form of energy in the body, which could be harmful. Lastly, vegetables alone are not adequate for a balanced diet. One misses out essential nutrient such as animal proteins that are crucial for the body functioning. The most convenient sources of energy are hydroelectric power. Currently, a lot of emphasis is being laid on green energy

British and American Comedy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

British and American Comedy - Essay Example Bridget gets stuck between Daniel’s attractive personality and Mark’s close associations with her. This dilemma of Bridget gets solved through the information she learns from her mother about the real truth of the conflict between Daniel and Mark. Bridget learns that Daniel owing to his flirting character had contributed to breaking the relationship between Mark and Mark’s wife. Thus successfully coming out of the dilemma she decides to stay on with Mark (Maguire, 2001). Dilemma to Comedy In my perception, Bridget Jones’s Diary is truly a romantic comedy. Bridget in her relationship with the two people Daniel and Mark shows a reflection of good amount of emotion and romance, which culminates to putting her into dilemma. The movie in the midst of a romantic whirlpool becomes successful in portraying a comedian character of Bridget Jones. Bridget who frequently takes into alcohol and cigarettes takes the pledge to reduce her overweight. The way Bridget recor ds the same in her diary attracts attention in making it as one of best comedy films. Further, the film has employed many funny dialogues, which owing to their simplicity and straightforwardness made it have a comedy appeal. The flirting activities, which Bridget carries on out of her fantasy for her boss, Daniel Cleaver, also encourage a sense of comic actions. The comedy is best exposed in a boat scene where Daniel in an endeavor to balance himself between two boats one run by him and the other by Bridget loses balance and eventually falls into water. Bridget Jones Diary earns success in becoming a comedian film also because of the way the characters are portrayed in the movie. Bridget’s character enacted by Renee Zellweger has become the main... This essay stresses that  Bridget Jones is stuck in a real dilemma for the existence of two men in her life, Daniel and Mark. Daniel turns out to be her boss and Mark is the person whom she meets at the Christmas Party hosted by her parents. Bridget Jones in the initial stage in more busy involved in a relationship with Daniel Cleaver who also reflects a kind of possessiveness over girls and woman. Bridget despite knowing the fact that Daniel is an occasional flirter continues to share a strong relationship with him by going to dates.  According to the paper findings  the main roles in the movie Some Like It Hot is played by Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in the movie play the roles of two musicians who were struggling to settle their career and earn a better livelihood. The names of the musicians, which Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon portray in the movie, are that of Joe and Jerry. However, these people in a search for a better life and h ave become the center of chase having seen a murder make an endeavor to flee to Florida. The uniqueness in the portrayal of their character involves the turnaround where these two persons, Joe and Jerry decide to hide their original identity and join a musical band group maintained by girls. Joe and Jerry in their disguise name themselves as Josephine and Geraldine respectively. Marilyn Monroe on the other hand known as ‘Sugar Kane’ in the movie plays the role of a principal vocalist and plays a musical instrument for the band.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy (PRES)

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy (PRES) Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy (PRES): A Rare Presenting Feature of Pheochromocytoma Abstract Hypertension in young is mostly due to secondary causes and one of them is pheochromocytoma. These are catecholamine secreting enterochromaffin tumors causing paroxysmal hypertension. Adrenal pheochromocytoma presenting as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is very rare and has not been described in literature so far. Here, we report a case of previously healthy adolescent boy, who presented with acute onset severe headache, blurring of vision, generalized tonic clonic motor seizure and altered sensorium. His blood pressure was 234/126 mm Hg. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain showed hyperintense signal on T2-weighted and fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images in bilateral parietal and occipital regions. High blood pressure and classical MRI findings were consistent with the diagnosis of PRES. Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) revealed a right adrenal mass. A diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed by abdominal triple phase contrast- computed tomography (CT) and 24-hour urinary metanephrine assay. After the blood pressure was stabilized with alpha and beta blockade, adrenal tumor was surgically excised. Histopathologic examination of tissue confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The MRI brain showed complete resolution of hyperintense signals (T2-weighted and FLAIR images) on two-months follow-up. He was symptom free at six months and one year follow-up. Key words: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES); Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy (RPLE); Pheochromocytoma; Hypertensive Encephalopathy; Hypertension Abbreviations: ADC: apparent diffusion coefficient; CT: computed tomography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; DWI: diffusion-weighted imaging; PRES: posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome Introduction Hypertension in young is mostly due to secondary causes which include renal diseases (chronic renal failure, renal artery stenosis, polycystic kidney disease), coarctation of the aorta, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and endocrinopathies. Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine secreting enterochromaffin tumors. The patients of pheochromocytoma usually present with spells of headache, sweating and palpitations due to excessive catecholamines. The cerebral manifestation of pheochromocytoma are uncommon. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) as a presenting feature of pheochromocytoma is rare. Case Report A 14-year-old previously healthy boy presented in emergency department with acute onset severe holocranial headache, blurring of vision, generalized tonic clonic motor seizure followed by altered sensorium. There was no previous history of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flushing, excessive sweating, migraine, autoimmune and connective tissue disorders, drug abuse, toxin exposure, hypertension or diabetes mellitus. He had no similar illness in past and family history was negative. His pulse rate and blood pressure were 130 beats per minute and 234/126 mm Hg, respectively. He was confused but followed simple commands. The pupillary size and light reaction were normal on both sides. Fundus examination showed bilateral papilledema. He was moving all the four limbs equally without asymmetry on painful stimulus. Plantars were bilaterally extensor. Signs of meningeal irritation (neck rigidity and Kernigs signs) were negative. Complete hemogram, serum electrolyte, renal function tests and other biochemistry including thyroid function tests were normal. Serum anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double-stranded DNA antibody (anti-dsDNA) and ELISA test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were negative. X-ray chest was normal. Electrocardiography (ECG) showed tachycardia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain showed hyperintense signal changes on T2-weighted and fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images in bilateral occipito-parietal regions. No restriction was seen on diffusion-weighted images (DWI) [Figure 1]. CT angiography of brain vessels was normal. High blood pressure and classical MRI findings were consistent with the diagnosis of PRES. On further evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography (USG) showed right adrenal mass. An abdominal triple phase contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed heterogeneous, contrast enhancing adrenal gland mass lesion measuring 32 x 26 mm suggestive of pheochromocytoma [Figure 2]. The diagnosis was confirmed by 24-hour urinary metanephrine assay. The plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and plasma renin activity (PRA) ratio (PAC/PRA) was 10.4. The 24- hour urinary normetanephrine was 31,572 Â µg/24 hour (normal: 63-402 Â µg/24 hour), urinary metanephrine was 1,524 Â µg/24 hour (normal: 32-167 Â µg/24 hour) and plasma noradrenaline level was 18,635 pg/mL (normal: 0-400 pg/mL). Patient was managed intensively with nitroprusside infusion to reduce blood pressure. Injectable phenytoin was administered according to body weight to control seizures. Once patient was stabilized, he was started on oral alpha-blocker prazosin (20 mg/day) followed by beta-blocker propranolol (40 mg/day). After adequate alpha and beta blockade, patient was planned for surgery and resection of adrenal mass was done. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma without invasion of the adrenal capsule [Figure-3]. The MRI brain showed complete resolution of hyperintense signals (T2-weighted and FLAIR images) and 24-hour urine metanephrines were normal on two-months follow-up. He was asymptomatic at six months and one year follow-up. Discussion Pheochromocytomas are neuroendocrine tumors arising from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal paraganglia. The classical features like holocranial headache, palpitations, hypertension, hyperhidrosis, hyperglycemia and hypermetabolism are due to excessive catecholamines production in these tumors. The cardiac complications such as arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and sudden deaths are associated with cardiotoxic effects of high blood catecholamines levels. Pheochromocytoma is a rare cause of secondary hypertension and accounts for 0.5% to 2.0% of all causes of hypertension in children. The neurological complications (ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke) are related to increased platelet aggregation, hypertension and vasospasm due to high catecholamines levels. The various potential triggers of pheochromocytoma crisis leading to hemodynamic instability are stress, blood loss, surgery and anesthesia. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is confirmed by 24-hour urinary meta nephrine and normetanephrine levels. Clinical features of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES) are acute onset headaches, vision loss, seizures and altered sensorium. It is mostly due to hypertension, however other common causes are chronic renal disease, uremic encephalopathy, ergot alkaloids, steroids, chemotherapy, vasculitis and tumors. Pheochromocytoma is one of the rare cause of PRES due to secondary hypertension. However, to the best of our knowledge, acute, life-threatening initial presentation of pheochromocytoma as PRES has not been described in literature. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) of brain typically shows hyperintense signal changes on T2-weighted and fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images due to vasogenic edema. It mostly involves the cortical and subcortical white matter of the parietooccipital, frontal and temporal regions. Cerebral hemorrhage, cytotoxic edema and contrast enhancement are atypical imaging findings of PRES. The parietooccipital cortex and subcortical w hite matter were affected in our case. Classically, these signal abnormalities are reversible on antihypertensive therapy. The pathophysiology of PRES is still poorly understood, however, various hypothesis have been proposed. Severe hypertension causes deranged autoregulation of sympathetically mediated cerebral arterioles. It leads to increased permeability in the blood-brain barrier and causes vasogenic edema. Sympathetic innervation of the vertebrobasilar system is not as extensive or as complete as that of the anterior circulation. Therefore, PRES predominantly affects parietooccipital cortex and subcortical white matter. Other possible mechanism may be endothelial dysfunction due to circulating toxins or chemotherapy agents. There may be cerebral infarction or hemorrhage due to compromise of the microcirculation by pressure from surrounding vasogenic edema. The exact etiology of the seizure remains unknown, but may result from effects of the pheochromocytoma on reducing seizure threshold via its actions on metabolic or hypertensive parameters. Our patient had high levels of circulating catecholamin es, produced autonomously by tumor. Once vasogenic edema subsided with antihypertensive therapy, all the abnormal MRI findings vanished. Clinical topography (acute onset headache, visual blurring, seizure and altered sensorium), high blood pressure and typical MRI findings suggested diagnosis of PRES. In our patient, other differential diagnosis such as thrombocytopenic thrombotic purpura (TTP), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), encephalitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), brain mass lesions and drug toxicity were ruled out by appropriate clinical and laboratory investigations. In our patient, hypertension was detected for the first time on hospital admission and before that he never had any symptoms like headache, palpitations, perspiration or diarrhea. Our patient is of clinical interest as pheochromocytoma presented with life-threatening hypertensive encephalopathy. Management of pheochromocytoma requires aggressive approach including fluid resuscitation and antihypertensive therapy (both alpha and beta blockade) followed by surgical resection of tumor. Conclusion Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine secreting enterochromaffin tumors causing paroxysmal hypertension. Our patient is of clinical interest as an acute, life-threatening hypertensive encephalopathy (PRES) as a presenting feature of adrenal pheochromocytoma has not been described in literature so far. Pheochromocytoma should be ruled out in every young patient with acute hypertensive encephalopathy. Figure Legends Figure 1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain showing hyperintense signals on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images in parieto-occipital region. No diffusion restriction is seen. [ T1-weighted axial (A), T2-weighted axial and sagittal (B,C), FLAIR (D), diffusion weighted (DWI) (E) and corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) (F) images]. These abnormal signals completely vanished on follow-up MRI after six weeks. Figure 2. Triple phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of abdomen showing heterogenous enhancing mass lesion measuring 32 x 26 mm in right adrenal gland. [Axial CT: Arterial phase (A,B), Venous phase (C) and Delayed phase (D)]. Figure 3. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained microphotographs showing large pleomorphic nuclei, abundant basophilic cytoplasm and cell-nesting pattern (zellballen pattern). [HE stain 40x view (A), 100x view (B,C)]. 1

The Enlightenment- Attitudes of Society Essay -- Essays Papers

The Enlightenment- Attitudes of Society The Enlightenment brought about fundamental changes of thought in society.1 Philosophes such as Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau sought changes in society for the good of humanity. In addition to basic changes in society, the enlightenment brought about changes in thought in the areas of religion and science, the government, and the view of women. During the enlightenment, basic changes occurred in society. The philosophes helped bring about freedom of thought and speech, two freedoms which we often take for granted today. People became more educated, as a "print culture" emerged. Journals, newspapers and books were beginning to be widely available to the general public. This had both negative and positive impacts. The literate and illiterate became divided, and the illiterate poor only became poorer. However, the "print culture" did create the influential social force of public opinion. Writers wrote what their audiences wanted to hear, and that translated into a governmental awareness of public opinion. Governments tried to regulate and censor books, but they could not ignore the public’s criticisms of the government. The changes in society created a general sentiment of self-interest. People wanted to promote their happiness and welfare, and they were "confident and optimistic that they could discover natural law and perfect worlds." Sometimes, there was an "exaggerated belief in the perfectibility of man," such as in the sciences, which were still in early stages.2 The conflict between religion and science was one of the major issues of the enlightenment. New theories were being developed (like Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation) which went against the teachings of the c... ... thought were developed, governments were changed, and even though the philosophes were not really feminists, society’s views of women were changed, with the help of Mary Wollstonecraft. End notes 1. Snyder, Louis L. The Age of Reason. (NY: VanNostrand Reinhold Co, 1955), 13. 2. Snyder, 8. 3. Snyder, 8-11. 4. Scheider, Isidor. The Enlightenment: Culture of the 18th Century, (NY: George Braziller, Inc, 1965), 19. 5. Cody, David. "Deism." The Victorian Web. http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/religion/deism.html. (10 April 00). 6. Susan Gubar, "Feminist Misogyny: Mary Wollstonecraft and the Paradox of 'It Takes One to Know One," Feminist Studies, 20 (Fall 94): 455. 7. D.R. Woolf, "A Feminine Past? Gender, Genre and Historical Knowledge in England, 1500- 1800." American Historical Review, 102 (June 97), 667-668.

Is the Global expansion of architectural practice a result of style?

The research effort will investigate: – the risk of intellectual property – the expansion of computer networks, because they are infiltrating daily life – the development   of CAD (computer aided design) on 27/7 basis and development of virtual design – the impact of Internet communications on architectural design – the expansion of architectural practices in recent years – the advantages of architectural profession due to computer developments – the working environment of architects and its differences depending on the either country or region – the adaptation of architectural practice to the requirements of the new country – the impact of globalization on architectural firms and changes caused –   the new ideas, typologies and innovations proposed by the architects in sphere of urban patterns and building types –   the import of Dutch style and its implementation in the USA –   the physical, emotional and social growth of cities in terms of responsibility and problem-solving – the expansion of architectural firms internationally – the economic and social changes caused by globalization – the opportunities for non-traditional architectural design – the role of architectural design in modern society – the danger of homogenization Bibliography Artifice, Inc.(2005, April 20). Retrieved November 6, 2006, from http://www.architectureweek.com/2005/0420/index.html   

Computer Evolution Essay

?Explain the evolution of computer describing the technologies used in different generations. The evolution of computers started way back in the late 1930s. Binary arithmetic is at the core of the computers of all times. History of computers dates back to the invention of a mechanical adding machine in 1642. Abacus, an early computing tool, invention of logarithm by John Napier and the invention of slide rules by William Oughtred were significant events in the evolution of computers. Evolution of computer technology can be divided into five generations. First generation computer consisted of vacuum tubes and they were used from 1943-1958. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) computer is an example of first generation computer. Second generation (1959-1965) computer consisted of transistors i. e. vacuum tubes were replaced by transistors. Thus the size of the computer got reduced considerably. Third generation (1966-1973) computer consisted of integrated circuits (IC) i. e. many transistors in single silicon chip. A single IC has many transistors, registers and capacitors built on a single thin slice of silicon. With the invention of microprocessor (1971), fourth generation of computer evolution started and present day computers are also categorized in the fourth generation. The fifth generation computers are under development. They are going to be based on principles of artificial intelligence and natural language recognition. Developers are aiming at computers capable of organizing themselves. The evolution of computer continues. Generation Duration Memory device First (1943-1958) Vacuum tubes Second (1959-1965) Transistor Third (1966-1973) LSI (Large Scale Integration) IC Fourth (1974-1990) VLSI (Very large Scale Integration) Microprocessor. Fifth (1990 onwards) Biochips (concept of AI) Table: Time period and its device used in evolution of computer.