Deception Point Page 104

Where's Michael? She didn't see him. Her panic lasted only an instant as a new fear descended. Overhead, the Triton's shredded winch cable let out an ominous whipping noise as the braids unraveled. Then, there was a loud snap, and Rachel felt the cable give way. Momentarily weightless, Rachel hovered above her seat inside the cockpit as the sub hurtled downward. The deck disappeared overhead, and the catwalks under the Goya raced by. The soldier trapped in the claws went white with fear, staring at Rachel as the sub accelerated downward. The fall seemed endless. When the sub crashed into the sea beneath the Goya, it plunged hard under the surf, ramming Rachel down hard into her seat. Her spine compressed as the illuminated ocean raced up over the dome. She felt a suffocating drag as the sub slowed to a stop underwater and then raced back toward the surface, bobbing up like a cork. The sharks hit instantly. From her front-row seat, Rachel sat frozen in place as the spectacle unfolded only a few feet away. Delta-Two felt the shark's oblong head crash into him with unimaginable force. A razor sharp clamp tightened on his upper arm, slicing to the bone and locking on. A flash of white-hot pain exploded as the shark torqued its powerful body and shook its head violently, tearing Delta-Two's arm off his body. Others sharks moved in. Knives stabbing at his legs. Torso. Neck. Delta-Two had no breath to scream in agony as the sharks ripped huge chunks of his body away. The last thing he saw was a crescent-shaped mouth, tilting sideways, a gorge of teeth clamping down across his face. The world went black. Inside the Triton, the thudding of heavy cartilaginous heads ramming into the dome finally subsided. Rachel opened her eyes. The man was gone. The water washing against the window was crimson. Badly battered, Rachel huddled in her chair, knees pulled to her chest. She could feel the sub moving. It was drifting on the current, scraping along the length of the Goya's lower dive deck. She could feel it moving in another direction as well. Down. Outside, the distinctive gurgling of water into the ballast tanks grew louder. The ocean inched higher on the glass in front of her. I'm sinking! A jolt of terror shot through Rachel, and she was suddenly scrambling to her feet. Reaching overhead, she grabbed the hatch mechanism. If she could climb up on top of the sub, she still had time to jump onto the Goya's dive deck. It was only a few feet away. I've got to get out! The hatch mechanism was clearly marked which way to turn it to open. She heaved. The hatch did not budge. She tried again. Nothing. The portal was jammed shut. Bent. As the fear rose in her blood like the sea around her, Rachel heaved one last time. The hatch did not move. The Triton sank a few inches deeper, bumping the Goya one last time before drifting out from underneath the mangled hull†¦ and into the open sea. 126 â€Å"Don't do this,† Gabrielle begged the senator as he finished at the copy machine. â€Å"You're risking your daughter's life!† Sexton blocked out her voice, moving back to his desk now with ten identical stacks of photocopies. Each stack contained copies of the pages Rachel had faxed him, including her handwritten note claiming the meteorite was a fake and accusing NASA and the White House of trying to kill her. The most shocking media kits ever assembled, Sexton thought, as he began carefully inserting each stack into its own large, white linen envelope. Each envelope bore his name, office address, and senatorial seal. There would be no doubt where this incredible information had originated. The political scandal of the century, Sexton thought, and I will be the one to reveal it! Gabrielle was still pleading for Rachel's safety, but Sexton heard only silence. As he assembled the envelopes, he was in his own private world. Every political career has a defining moment. This is mine. William Pickering's phone message had warned that if Sexton went public, Rachel's life would be in danger. Unfortunately for Rachel, Sexton also knew if he went public with proof of NASA's fraud, that single act of boldness would land him in the White House with more decisiveness and political drama than ever before witnessed in American politics. Life is filled with difficult decisions, he thought. And winners are those who make them. Gabrielle Ashe had seen this look in Sexton's eyes before. Blind ambition. She feared it. And with good reason, she now realized. Sexton was obviously prepared to risk his daughter in order to be the first to announce the NASA fraud. â€Å"Don't you see you've already won?† Gabrielle demanded. â€Å"There's no way Zach Herney and NASA will survive this scandal. No matter who makes it public! No matter when it comes out! Wait until you know Rachel is safe. Wait until you talk to Pickering!† Sexton was clearly no longer listening to her. Opening his desk drawer, he pulled out a foil sheet on which were affixed dozens of nickel-sized, self-adhesive wax seals with his initials on them. Gabrielle knew he usually used these for formal invitations, but he apparently thought a crimson wax seal would give each envelope an extra touch of drama. Peeling the circular seals off the foil, Sexton pressed one onto the pleat of each envelope, sealing it like a monogrammed epistle. Gabrielle's heart pulsed now with a new anger. She thought of the digitized images of illegal checks in his computer. If she said anything, she knew he would just delete the evidence. â€Å"Don't do this,† she said, â€Å"or I'll go public about our affair.† Sexton laughed out loud as he affixed the wax seals. â€Å"Really? And you think they'll believe you-a power-hungry aide denied a post in my administration and looking for revenge at any cost? I denied our involvement once, and the world believed me. I'll simply deny it again.† â€Å"The White House has photos,† Gabrielle declared. Sexton did not even look up. â€Å"They don't have photos. And even if they did, they're meaningless.† He affixed the final wax seal. â€Å"I have immunity. These envelopes out-trump anything anyone could possibly throw at me.† Gabrielle knew he was right. She felt utterly helpless as Sexton admired his handiwork. On his desk sat ten elegant, white linen envelopes, each embossed with his name and address and secured with a crimson wax seal bearing his scripted initials. They looked like royal letters. Certainly kings had been crowned on account of less potent information. Sexton picked up the envelopes and prepared to leave. Gabrielle stepped over and blocked his way. â€Å"You're making a mistake. This can wait.† Sexton's eyes bored into her. â€Å"I made you, Gabrielle, and now I've unmade you.† â€Å"That fax from Rachel will give you the presidency. You owe her.† â€Å"I've given her plenty.† â€Å"What if something happens to her!† â€Å"Then she'll cement my sympathy vote.† Gabrielle could not believe the thought had even crossed his mind, much less his lips. Disgusted, she reached for the phone. â€Å"I'm calling the White-â€Å" Sexton spun and slapped her hard across the face. Gabrielle staggered back, feeling her lip split open. She caught herself, grabbing on to the desk, staring up in astonishment at the man she had once worshiped. Sexton gave her a long, hard look. â€Å"If you so much as think of crossing me on this, I will make you regret it for the rest of your life.† He stood unflinching, clutching the stack of sealed envelopes under his arm. A harsh danger burned in his eyes. When Gabrielle exited the office building into the cold night air, her lip was still bleeding. She hailed a taxi and climbed in. Then, for the first time since she had come to Washington, Gabrielle Ashe broke down and cried.

Human Genetic Engineering Is It Good - 1242 Words

Human Genetic Engineering: Is It Good? Ciabhan Moore Bellevue Big Picture Student s-moorec@bsd405.org Abstract – Human Genetic Engineering has always been an idea to enhance humans, whether that is to remove life-threatening diseases or give humans different abilities. To accomplish these tasks at hand, one needs to know the science behind what it takes to modify a human and both the positive and negative effects To know how Human Genetic Engineering works, one needs to know specific topics such as: †¢ What mitosis is †¢ What is DNA †¢ What is a chromosome †¢ The structure of DNA †¢ What meiosis is †¢ What a punnet square is in-depth †¢ What a mutation is †¢ Positives of it †¢ Negatives of it The data will also address the ethnics of Human Genetic Engineering and other subjects associated with Human Genetic Engineering. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. SCIENCE BEHIND 3. RECOMMENDATIONS 4. CONCLUSIONS 1. INTRODUCTION Throughout history humans have always had an ongoing battle between them and plague. Science has now found a possible way to defeat the ugly monster by the name of Cancer. Cancer takes lots of lives each year, now that there is a possible way to cure it, what are the positive and negative effects that it could have one humans. To start, what is cancer? Cancer is defined as unregulated cell growth. This means that cancer cells keep dividing without a limit. This dividing process is called mitosis. Mitosis is the last phase in the cell growth phase. During thisShow MoreRelatedGenetic Engineering : Medical Perfection Or Playing God1280 Words   |  6 PagesThesis Statement â€Å"Genetic engineering differs from cloning in key ways. Whereas cloning produces genetically exact copies of organisms, genetic engineering refers to processes in which scientists manipulate genes to create purposefully different versions of organisms—and, in some cases, entirely new living things†, duplication of genetic cells is known as human cloning. Development of genetic engineering biotechnologies undermines the natural autonomy of life. Does genetic engineering interfere withRead MoreWhy Genetic Engineering Is Morally Good Essay1251 Words   |  6 PagesDetermining if genetic engineering is morally good is only half the battle with this ethical issue. Regardless of whether morally good reasons are used to justify it, genetic engineering is an attempt to use human intelligence in order to try to overthrow God’s original creation or plan for humans. Scientist are trying to perfect his creation or change it. God has laid out the way things should happ en naturally and humans are attempting to overthrow it. A key word to note is â€Å"attempt† because ScotusRead MoreUtilitarianism and Genetic Engineering1581 Words   |  7 PagesUtilitarianism and Genetic Engineering In the past thirty years, humans are witnessing a huge revolution in the genetic engineering industry. Having identified most of the Human Genome, gene sequencing has become programmed and extremely fast, and laboratory techniques in molecular biology allow for in-vitro fertilization and transfer of genetic material. Gene therapy and repair based on stem cells research allows for replacement of a defected allele in the DNA, and even a whole damaged tissue inRead MoreThe Importance of the Wise Use of Genetic Engineering1025 Words   |  4 PagesHuman species has been suffering at the hands of disease since their genesis. Our relation with each other is such that if one suffers in pain, his suffering and pain touches rest of the humanity. It is now in our domain to use this new technology called Genetic Engineering to ameliorate human suffering and pain. We should make sure that this technology is only used for the betterment of human species and not selectively. It is indeed horrifyi ng to know that someone wants to use this as a toolRead MoreGenetic Engineering : The Field Of Human Biotechnology1490 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is a set of techniques for isolating, transforming, multiplying and recombining genes from different organisms. Simply put, it is the process of manually adding new DNA to an organism. Genetic engineering originated in the 1970s as a result of the discovery of several key techniques in molecular genetics. It is also referred to as recombinant (rDNA) technology. 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What more and more individuals in the early 21st century are coming to realize is that Genetic Engineering has already exceeded our wildest imaginations in a dark corner of a lab, outside of the view of the main stream public. Indeed, in 2017, genetic engineering is in full swing on both plant an d animal life. Only from hearingRead MoreEssay on Genetic Engineering is Unethical1154 Words   |  5 Pagesmaking money need not set the human condition ahead, neither does every scientific advance automatically make our lives more meaningful; (Wald 45). These words were spoken by a Nobel Prize winning biologist and Harvard professor, George Wald, in a lecture given in 1976 on the Dangers of Genetic Engineering. This quotation states that incredible inventions, such as genetic engineering, are not always beneficial to society. Genetic engineering is â€Å"altering the genetic material of cells and/or organismsRead More Genetic Engineering: Our Key to a Better World Essay1128 Words   |  5 Pages What is genetic engineering one might ask and why is there so much moral controversy surrounding the topic? Genetic engineering as defined by Pete Moore, is the name given to a wide variety of techniques that have one thing in common: they all allow the biologist to take a gene from one cell and insert it into another (SS1). Such techniques included in genetic engineering (both good and bad) are, genetic screening both during the fetal stage and later in life, gene therapy, sex selectionRead MoreEssay about Should Genetic Engineering Be Controlled by Law?992 Words   |  4 PagesShould Genetic Engineering Be Controlled by Law? â€Å"Just as the success of a corporate body in making money need not set the human condition ahead, neither does every scientific advance automatically make our lives more meaningful† ( Professor George Wald, Noble Prize winning biologist, The Dangers of Genetic Engineeering 1976, p.45) . Genetic engineering is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genes. It uses the techniques of molecular cloning and transformation to alter the

The History Of Soccer - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 568 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/04/04 Category Sports Essay Level High school Tags: Soccer Essay Did you like this example? Do different surfaces affect the way a soccer ball bounces? Have you ever wondered if different surfaces affect the way a soccer ball bounces? Three types of turf (or surface) will be used to test the bounciness of a soccer ball. Energy and physics will be examined. Kentucky bluegrass, sand and artificial turf will be used to find out which surface allows the ball to bounce the most. Read more to discover the physics and energy of the soccer ball when dropped on different surfaces. Soccer is played in many places in the world, it has been played for over three thousand years. In Europe and the Americas soccer is one of the most popular sports played. In China, during the second and third centuries people described soccer as, dribbling a leather ball into a small net. In 1815 soccer became popular in Schools and Universities. Soccer is called football in many places around the world. Throughout history, soccer has become one of the most popular sports in the world. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The History Of Soccer" essay for you Create order Soccer is a game played all around the world. The game is played in to teams of eleven. You use a round ball called soccer ball. The object of the game is to get the soccer ball down the field and kick it in the goal. You can not use your hands. The only person on the field who can use their hands is the goal keeper. This is the player who tries to stop the other team from scoring a goal. The team at the end of the game with the most goals wins. Soccer is a sport that can be played indoors or outside. The game soccer is called football in most places around the world. But the word soccer is believed to have originated in Britain around 200 years ago. The sport became very popular in the U.S. Britain started to part from the term soccer because it had become too American. In the U.S the term soccer just stuck and everyone liked it. As the sport grew, more rules were made. Teams could earn a penalty kick beginning in 1891. Referees began giving out red and yellow cards in 1970 during the World Cup finals. Yellow or red cards are given to a player for serious fouls or unsportsmanlike behavior. A player may receive a yellow card for things like delaying the game, breaking rules or subbing without the referees permission. Red cards come with things like violence, spitting, using nasty language or receiving a second yellow card in a game. Soccer is a world renowned sport. Famous players come from places like Russia, Holland and Brazil. With the acception of the Olympics, the World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events viewed internationally. In 2010, more than three billion people watched at least part of the World Cup. Since 2006, the number of Americans participating in watching the World Cup has increased steadily. Locally, since 2015, Louisville, KY has enjoyed a Division 2 U.S. Soccer team called Louisville City. Just recently, the team made history by winning two conference championships in a row (2017/2018). In summary, soccer is a sport enjoyed by all ages around the world. There are many rules of the game, including penalty calls. Soccer includes famous players from around the globe. Not only can soccer be played at any age, it is a sport that brings communities together to cheer on their favorite teams.

Absinence Is the Only Way - 965 Words

Abstinence is the only sure way that you will not get pregnant or STDs. Teenagers only think of sex as being a pleasurable thing. Most teenagers do not realize that there is a great responsibility and consequences for being sexually active. Abstinence has expended in this society and because our country and culture has clinch to loose morals, the result have been demolish. Teens are developing diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis and AIDS and they are having unwanted pregnancy before marriage. Condoms as we all know are not one-hundred percent accurate, therefore abstinence should be practiced in our country. Abstinence should be a regular course taught in school because of these important reasons: to prevent pregnancy, to prevent STDs,†¦show more content†¦Contraception only guard against some STD’s. Abstinence is a guaranteed form to prevent unwelcome disease and pregnancies. Most people lack self-esteem and struggle to overcome the physical desires, however once a person realizes all of the danger and consequences sex can bring to one’s life, abstinence should be put into practice. One of the best ways to stay safe is to wait until after marriage before being sexually active, this will also decrease the rate of disease. According to the Center of Disease Control in 2010 â€Å"about 65 % of STD’s contracted this year will occur in people under the age of 24†. Abstinence-Only Education focuses on the risks to avoid and help youth so that they would not be vulnerable to harm. The program teaches teenagers to wait before having sex until after marriage and remaining faithful afterward is the best choice for physical health and a healthy, happier relationship. Abstinence-Only Education educates us about the realities of STD’s and the best way to prevent them. Most teen mothers who give birth outside marriage live with the childs father at the time of birth. Wedlock childbearing does not occur due to the young parents’ lack of knowledge about birth control or condoms. Wedlock childbearing, in most cases, happens because young people are unable to develop committed, loving marital relationships. Abstinence programs, therefore focus on developing loving and bear hardship relationships andShow MoreRelatedMotivation and the Brain Paper1098 Words   |  5 Pagesmajor impact on the brains functioning and emotional disarrays. Drugs are chemicals, which access the brains communication system and interfere with the method nerve cells send, receive and process information. â€Å"Some drugs can change the brain in ways that last long after the person has stopped taking drugs, maybe even permanently. This is more likely when a drug is taken repeatedly† (NIDA, 2011,para 6). Some drugs can copycat a natural neurotransmitter sending abno rmal messages through the brain

Operant Conditioning free essay sample

Operant conditioning can be used in the work place to help modify behavior of employees through a negative or a positive experience following their actions (___). There are a number of ways to take care of undesirable behaviors as well as enforce good behavior in the workplace. Management can use reinforcement, punishment, and extinction to try to mold their employees into performing better and being better workers all around (_____). Studies have shown that people work better and learn better when reinforcement, punishment, or extinction is used in the workplace. Managers can apply these techniques to their employees actions, rather they be positive or negative actions, which will influence the employ to react in a way that the management is wanting. It is the management’s responsibility to realize which method to use depending on the different situations that can occur on a daily basis. Its important that management is trained to deal with the different situations so that they can be sure to use reinforcement, punishment, and extinction appropriately. We will write a custom essay sample on Operant Conditioning or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One way for managers to influence their employees would be by using a method called reinforcement after certain actions they do. Reinforcement is a way in which managers either use negative or positive consequences on an employee following a certain action the employee or employees were involved in (_______). By the managers taking away something or supplying the employee with something as a result of their actions they can begin to mold them into a better worker. For instance, management could use just a simple type of reinforcement on an employee by simply complementing the employee and telling them that they are doing a great job if they are always arriving to work on a timely basis. Sometimes when workers are just acknowledged for their work they are more likely to continue working hard. Managers could also reinforce an employee’s good behavior by offering them promotion for their dedication. Receiving a promotion could motivate them to continue performing to their best ability in order to keep advancing in the workplace and to possibly receive more promotions in the future. Management could also discipline an employee if they are constantly showing up to work late by warning them if they are late again that they will have to fire them. By using reinforcement the employee might be scared to lose their job and would no longer show up to work late. If the employee still shows up late then management would fire the worker, showing others that being late does have consequences. After losing a job the worker would be more inclined to perform better at their next job and to make sure and always be on time so that they do not risk losing their job again. Management could also offer positive reinforcement by offering the employees who always show up to work on time a pay raise. This pay raise would also be a great motivation for other employees to show up on time so that they could be rewarded for their work and dedication and possibly receive a raise as well. By management noticing the good work as well as the bad work it makes for a better environment that motivates employees to work to their best abilities. Another way management could use operant conditioning would be through punishment to their employees. Punishment is a way of discouraging undesirable behavior of an employee by following an undesirable behavior with a negative consequence or following a positive behavior with a positive consequence (_______). Management could use negative punishment on their employees by taking away a bonus that was offered for them to receive if they completed a specific goal. At times punishment can possibly cause a negative effect back onto the manager by the employee. The employee might want revenge for not receiving the raise that they believe they deserved even if they were not performing at their top ability. Sometimes when managers enforce punishment onto their workers, the workers will commit workplace deviance in a way to get back at management for punishing them. However, along with a negative effect, positive effects also occur due to management using punishment. Employees may also use the punishment as a learning experience to make sure that they complete their work tasks to their full capability and they try to work harder in order to not be punished again by their managers. Another way in which management can try to change an employee’s behavior is through a process called extinction. Extinction is used to weaken the workers behavior by not applying any consequences to their behavior (______). Using extinction may not always have as quick of results on the employees that management might want however, over time it usually is very effective. Without receiving a consequence over time the behavior will eventually weaken. Extinction is not used in all circumstances but in certain ones it is the best way of dealing with the workers behavior. Some individuals do certain things just to get a reaction out of someone else. They depending on the reaction they receive from others. Using the extinction method can revolve these actions from people. For instance, when you are dealing with someone who makes rude comments quite often you can ignore the rude comments and act as if you do not even acknowledge what they said. You can even make the extinction more noticeable by making sure complement the coworker when they make nice or constructive comments. Over time they will learn to not even say the rude comments by getting no response from others, and will stick to only making helpful comments. As long as the situation does not seem too dangerous extinction would be a good way of dealing with it. However, if extinction is still not working after some time or if the situation elevated to something dangerous management needs to be trained to know to start taking a different action to resolve the problem. Operant Conditioning is a great way of being able to modify employee’s behavior in the workplace. Operant conditioning can be used in the work place to help modify behavior of employees through a negative or a positive experience following their actions (___). By using reinforcement, punishment, or extinction management has to ability to mold their employees into better and harder workers if done correctly. Simply complementing an employee for doing a good job at work can use reinforcement. By the manager simply acknowledging the employees work they are more inclined to continue to work hard because they know that the manager is watching. Punishment could also be used by taking away a reward or supplying an employee with extra work for example. By taking away a proposed raise for instance the worker would then be motivated to work harder in the future in order to try to earn back the raise. By supplying the worker will a promotion they would be motivated to continue working hard for another promotion in the future. Extinction can take more time to see result then punishment or reinforcement. Extinction is a way to weaken the employees behavior by showing no consequences to their actions. Over time the employees would drop the actions due to getting no feedback from them. Using these three ways to modify behavior in the workplace can make work a more enjoyable environment as well as a more productive place.

Waste and Pollution Essay Example

Waste and Pollution Paper More recently research has revealed that many chemical pollutants, such as EDT and Pubs mimic sex hormones and interfere with the human bodys reproductive and developmental functions. These substances are known as endocrine disrupter. See Occupational and Environmental Diseases. Pollution also has a dramatic effect on natural resources. Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and rivers perform many important services for Earths environment. They enhance water and air quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, and provide food and medicines. Any or all of these ecosystem functions may be impaired or destroyed by pollution. Moreover, because of the complex relationships among the many types of organisms and ecosystems, environmental contamination may have far-reaching consequences that are not immediately obvious or that are difficult to predict. For instance, scientists can only peculate on some of the potential impacts of the depletion of the ozone layer, the protective layer in the atmosphere that shields Earth from the Suns harmful ultraviolet rays. Another major effect of pollution is the tremendous cost of pollution cleanup and prevention. The global effort to control emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas produced from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal or oil, or of other organic materials like wood, is one such example. The cost of maintaining annual national carbon dioxide emissions at 1990 levels is estimated to be 2 percent of the gross domestic product for plopped countries. In addition to its effects on the economy, health, and natural resources, pollution has social implications. Research has shown that low-income populations and minorities do not receive the same protection from environmental contamination as do higher-income communities. We will write a custom essay sample on Waste and Pollution specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Waste and Pollution specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Waste and Pollution specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Toxic waste incinerators, chemical plants, and solid waste dumps are often located in low-income communities because of a lack of organized, informed community involvement in municipal decision-making processes. TYPES OF POLLUTION Pollution exists in many forms and affects many different aspects of Earths environment. Point-source pollution comes from specific, localized, and identifiable sources, such as sewage pipelines or industrial smokestacks. Nippon-source pollution comes from dispersed or uncontaminated sources, such as contaminated water runoff from urban areas or automobile emissions. The effects of these pollutants may be immediate or delayed. Primary effects of pollution occur immediately after contamination occurs, such as the death of marine plants and wildlife after an oil spill at sea. Secondary effects may be delayed or may persist in the environment into the future, perhaps going unnoticed for many years. EDT, a nondurable compound, seldom poisons birds immediately, but gradually accumulates in their bodies. Birds with high concentrations of this pesticide lay thin-shelled eggs that fail to hatch or produce deformed offspring. These secondary effects, publicized by Rachel Carson in her 1962 book, Silent Spring, threatened the survival of species such as the bald eagle and peregrine falcon, and aroused public concern over the hidden effects of nondurable chemical compounds. I A. I Air Pollution I Brown Smog Over Phoenix, Arizona I Smog is caused by industrial and automobile pollution. It is compounded by imperative inversions, which cause the air pollution to be kept in a particular area for extended periods. Continued exposure to smog can result in respiratory problems, eye irritation, and even death. Incarnate Encyclopedia Eric Camp/Photostat NYC Human contamination of Earths atmosphere can take many forms and has existed since humans first began to use fire for agriculture, heating, and cooking. During the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, however, air pollution became a major problem. As early as 1661 British author and founding member of the British Royal Society John Evelyn ported of London in his treatise Fumigants, the weary Traveler, at many Miles distance, sooner smells, than sees the City to which he repairs. This is that pernicious Smoke which fullness all her Glory, superconducting a soot Crust or Fur upon all that it lights. Urban air pollution is commonly known as smog. The dark London smog that Evelyn wrote of is generally a smoky mixture of carbon monoxide and organic compounds from incomplete combustion (burning) of fossil fuels such as coal, and sulfur dioxide from impurities in the fuels. As the smog ages and reacts with oxygen, organic and lobular acids condense as droplets, increasing the haze. Smog developed into a major health hazard by the 20th century. In 1948, 19 people died and thousands were sickened by smog in the small C. S. Steel-mill town of Donors, Pennsylvania. In 1 952, about 4,000 Londoner died of its effects. A second type of smog, photochemical smog, began reducing air quality over large cities like Los Angels in the sass. This smog is caused by combustion in car, truck, and airplane engines, which produce nitrogen oxides and release hydrocarbons from unburned fuels. Sunlight causes the nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons to combine and turn oxygen into ozone, a chemical agent that attacks rubber, injures plants, and irritates lungs. The hydrocarbons are oxidized into materials that condense and form a visible, pungent haze. I Smog over Santiago I Set in an enclosed valley between the coastal range and the Andes Mountains, Santiago, Chile, experiences high levels of air pollution. Vehicular and industrial emissions, street dust, thermal inversions and the citys location all contribute to the problem. Since 1 993 the Chilean government has been working with an agency in the United States to improve air quality in Santiago. I Incarnate Encyclopedia I Robert Fierce/Woodwind Camp and Associates, Inc. Eventually most pollutants are washed out of the air by rain, snow, fog, or mist, but only after traveling large distances, sometimes across continents. As pollutants build up in the atmosphere, sulfur and nitrogen oxides are converted into acids that mix with rain. This acid rain falls in lakes and on forests, where it can lead to the death offish and plants, and damage entire ecosystems. Eventually the contaminated lakes and forests may become lifeless. Regions that are downwind of heavily industrialized areas, such as Europe and the eastern United States and Canada, are the hardest hit by acid rain. Acid rain can also affect human health and man-made objects; it is slowly dissolving historic stone Statues and building facades in London, Athens, and Rome. One of the greatest challenges caused by air pollution is global warming, an increase in Earths temperature due to the buildup of certain atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide. With the heavy use of fossil fuels in the 20th century, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have risen dramatically. Carbon dioxide and other gases, known as roundhouse gases, reduce the escape of heat from the planet without blocking radiation coming from the Sun. Because of this greenhouse effect, average global temperatures are expected to rise 1. 4 to 5. 8 Celsius degrees (2. 5 to 10. 4 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. Although this trend appears to be a small change, the increase would make the Earth warmer than it has been in the last 1 25,000 years, possibly changing climate patterns, affecting crop production, disrupting wildlife distributions, and raising the sea level. Air pollution can also damage the upper atmospheric region known as the stratosphere. Excessive production of chlorine-containing compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CIFS) (compounds formerly used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and in the manufacture of polystyrene products) has depleted the stratospheric ozone layer, creating a hole above Antarctica that lasts for several weeks each year. As a result, exposure to the Suns harmful rays has damaged aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and threatens human health in high-latitude regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. I B. Water Pollution Major Oil Spills Throughout the World I The demand for fresh water rises continuously as the worlds population rows. From 1940 to 1990 withdrawals of fresh water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other sources increased fourfold. Of the water consumed in the United States in 1995, 39 percent was used for irrigation, 39 percent was used for electric power generation, and 12 percent was used for other utilities; industry and mining used 7 percent, and the rest was used for agricultural livestock and commercial purposes. I Polluted River in the united Kingdom I I Polluted River in the united Kingdom The pollution of rivers and streams with chemical contaminants has become one Of the most critical environmental problems of the 20th century. Waterborne chemical pollution entering rivers and streams comes from two major sources: point pollution and Nippon pollution. Point pollution involves those pollution sources from which distinct chemicals can be identified, such as factories, refineries or outfall pipes. Nippon pollution involves pollution from sources that cannot be precisely identified, such as runoff from agricultural or mining operations or seepage from septic tanks or sewage drain fields. It is estimated that each year 10 million people die worldwide from drinking contaminated water. I Incarnate Encyclopedia I Ben Osborne/Oxford Scientific Films Sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides are the main causes of water pollution. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (ERA) reports that about 37 percent of the countrys lakes and estuaries, and 36 percent of its rivers, are too polluted for basic uses such as fishing or swimming during all or part of the year. In developing nations, more than 95 percent of urban sewage is discharged untreated into rivers and bays, creating a major human health hazard. I Industrial Water pollution I I Industrial Water Pollution I Industrial pollutants that run into streams, rivers, or lakes can have serious effects on wildlife, plants, and humans. In the United States there are strict rules for the amount and composition of substances that factories can release into bodies of water. These rules are not always enforced, and much industrial water pollution comes from accidental chemical or oil spills. I Incarnate Encyclopedia I Sigma/Corgis I Water runoff, a Nippon source of pollution, carries fertilizing chemicals such as phosphates and nitrates from agricultural fields and yards into lakes, streams, and rivers. These combine with the phosphates and nitrates from sewage to speed the growth of algae, a type of plantlike organism. The water body may then become choked with decaying algae, which severely depletes the oxygen supply. This process, called transportation, can cause the death of fish and other aquatic life. Agricultural runoff may be to blame for the growth of a toxic form of algae called Pastries pesticide, which was responsible for killing large amounts of fish in bodies of water from the Delaware Bay to the Gulf of Mexico in the late 1 9905. Runoff also carries toxic pesticides and urban and industrial wastes into lakes and streams. Erosion, the wearing away of topsoil by wind and rain, also contributes to water pollution. Soil and silt (a fine sediment) washed from logged hillsides, plowed fields, or construction sites, can clog waterways and kill aquatic vegetation. Even small amounts of silt can eliminate desirable fish species. For example, when logging removes the protective plant cover from hillsides, rain may wash soil and silt into streams, covering the gravel beds that trout or salmon use for spawning. The marine fisheries supported by ocean ecosystems are an essential source of protein, particularly for people in developing countries. Yet pollution in coastal bays, estuaries, and wetlands threatens fish stocks already depleted by overfeeding.

Phobic Disorders

Phobic Disorders Phobic disordersClinical CharacteristicsA phobic disorder involves extreme, persistent and irrational fear with lack of control, which is strongly out of proportion with the danger.‚Â ·The feared situations are avoided or responded to with great anxiety‚Â ·Possibly recurrent, unexpected panic attacks‚Â ·Individual recognises the fear experienced is excessive‚Â ·The phobic reactions interfere significantly with the individuals working or social life‚Â ·Exposure to the feared stimulus nearly always produces a high level of anxietyDiagnosisWith panic attacks, substance abuse should be ruled out as a cause.Categories‚Â ·Agoraphobia - Fear of open spaces or public places. Panic disorder starts first; fear of having another attack makes the individual feel insecure.‚Â ·Social Phobias - extreme concern about one's own behaviour and the reactions of others‚Â ·Specific phobias -e.g. zoophobias (animals).BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF PHOBIC DISORDERSGenetic Twin StudiesThe "Little Miss Muffet" scenario explained by Den...Torgersen (1983) - 31% concordance for panic disorder with agoraphobia in MZ twins versus zero concordance in DZ twins. None of the MZ twins shared the same phobias.Family studiesSolyom et al. (1974) - 45% of phobic patients had a family history of the disorder compared with 17% of 'normal' controls.Ost (1989) - 64% of blood phobics had at least one close relative who also suffered from it.Evaluation‚Â ·Related individuals may acquire phobias through imitation‚Â ·Genetic explanations suggest that some individuals are predisposed to form phobias but life experiences are important too.Biological preparedness - Selligman (1971)People have an innate predisposition to develop certain fearsResearch evidenceDe Silva (1988) - 88 phobic patients in Sri Lanka tended to exhibit biologically based fears.EvaluationCan't explain fears of harmless situations or things, such as slugsPSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF PHOBIC DISOR DERSPsychodynamicFreud (1909) - phobias arise, when anxieties are displaced on to the phobic object. Symbolises initial...