Research Project on Buddhism

I was never open-minded to learn about different religions, because there was still much about my own Catholic religion that I have yet to learn. I never had the erg to find out and research different cultures and religions, so when I was faced to pick which topic I would research I was stuck. What does it matter to me what other people believe? I picked a religion that sounded different and unique, Buddhism. What pops into your mind when you hear the word “Buddhist”? For myself I think of a little fat man crossing his legs and praying, yet Buddhism is much more than that. It’s a religion that is often misunderstood and a culture people are not interested in learning about.

 

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Siddhartha Gautama is known as the original Buddha. During the sixth century B.C. he left his royal lifestyle to pursue new things and venture out. From here on he preached that there should be ‘balance in ones life’, and he taught that a portion of human suffering is caused by roots of moral evil. Gautama stated that only destruction of greed, hatred, and delusion roots would cure someone of moral evil (Drummond 56). This belief is a main element in Buddhist religion. Buddhism holds many important values, yet the most important comes from the teaching of the Buddha. This is that ‘the ultimate goal is the conquest of the miseries of existence,’ basically saying that the first and foremost truth about life is its unsatisfactories. You must decide what is unpleasant and unsatisfied in your life, and once you establish your weaknesses, then you can live a healthier life (Coleman 98).

One symbol of the Buddhist religion is the Ritual Mandala. This is a mediation device used to enter ones mind and ride the ‘evil’. It is a visual aid for concentration leading to the attainment of insights and to supernatural forces (Drummond 123). Buddhist use hand gestures to communicate with others of their same religion, and chant when they are not able to meditate. Chanting is a way to express ones confidence, and helps Buddhist feel calm and peace within the body (Gross). I feel the most important fact that I learned about this religion is that they have very little value to all material riches that ordinary folk usually have. Buddhist do not value money, homes, jewelry, etc. like ordinary people cherish. They refer to Buddhism as ‘voluntary life of few wants’ (Coleman 112).

As I found information on Buddhism, I came across many shocking customs to this culture. The one that I found most shocking was that Buddhist do not pray to a Creator God, instead they dedicate the goodness of one’s life to the benefit of all living beings. Usually each religion believes in a Creator, yet Buddhism only believes in benefiting living humans any way possible (Erwitt 35).

Another interesting fact I found was in order to be a Buddhist; you must provide four items for your family. One must be able to provide food; to prevent from hunger and maintain a healthy body, clothing; to appear socially decent, housing; to provide safety and security, and medicine; to cure and prevent diseases. Buddhists look down upon families that are not able to provide these four requirements (Gross).

Now that I have learned more about the Buddhist religion, I feel differently towards learning about new cultures. Buddhism has opened my mind to new thoughts and feelings toward their customs. I often thought Buddhism was pointless and weird only because it isn’t my own religion. After reading books, journals, and Internet sites, I understand the importance of the Buddhist religion in India and throughout the world. I also look at material riches differently than what I did before; this made me realize that you don’t have to be wealthy or popular to live a spiritual life. Buddhism has changed the way I look at other religions and will impact me for the rest of my life.

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This is a free research project on Buddhism topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Buddhism topic for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Aging

In a society that is continuously renewing itself and making advancements at every turn, much is left behind; old technology and outmoded ideas. For example; the advancements in the television. It first started as simply black and white, then replaced with full color and then the appearance began to change drastically. When living in a Canadian society, a individuals value is measured by their productivity. When looking at the aging population it seems that their value is decreasing. Why do people fear aging? Is it because we fear being obsolete? Is it because we fear financial difficulty? Perhaps it is because we fear depending on the youth to take care of us once our time on this planet draws to a close. It is obvious that most humans so in fact fear aging.

Everywhere you look, there are advertisements for anti-aging cream, healthy lifestyles and herbal treatments, all designed to keep death an extra few steps behind us.

 

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We live in a youth-oriented society where being "young" is preferred to being "old" and "getting old" is not something individuals want to happen to them. Researchers have shown that all of society share a negative attitude toward aging and also the aged. The negative attitudes towards aging not only affect that "old" themselves and how they feel but also the younger people and how they approach the aging process. It's important for individuals to have positive attitudes toward older people and toward aging itself. Many people fear growing old, and try to hide their signs of aging.

While aging is not a pleasant subject for most people, the fact remains that all people, eventually must grow old. Some people may think of growing old as an exciting and exhilarating experience in which they live each day to the fullest. On the other hand, some people think of growing old as a very frightening experience.

First, many people fear growing old because of the thought of being all alone. This idea of being without someone to share the latter part of life with, can be very sad for someone. Many older individuals become depressed because they feel as though nobody cares about them when they become older. Second, there are people who fear growing old because of the fact that they may not be able to continue doing that things they love to do. For example; one who plays in many sports during his or her younger years may not be able to participate when the old age sets in on them. Finally, people fear aging because they do not like the idea of someone having to take care of them someday. Becoming a burden to other people or family can really make one afraid of becoming old. These people may not mind helping their elders; however, some elderly people do not like to feel dependent on others. In fact, some become quite reluctant about needing help.

The baby boomers were supposed to be the generation that took growing old and becoming gray, and turned it into something sexy. Most of them however, are still not content with their aging bodies and have fallen for the anti-aging epidemic. It is not that they are trying to exercise and eat their way to a longer, healthier life but are cheating and using age-fighting products ranging from wrinkle creams to collagen injections to cosmetic surgery. It may come as a big surprise, but the users are not only women. According to Roper Worldwide survey, six percent of men nationwide actually use such feminine products as bronzers and foundation to create a more youthful appearance.

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This is a free research project on Aging topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Aging for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Leukemia

Research Project on Leukemia (ALL)

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) is a disease that occurs in the blood-making system of the body. ALL begins when the red blood cells are overcrowded by the white blood cells. This overproduction of white blood cells can cause Immune Hemolytic Anemia. Immune Hemolytic Anemia is a stronger and more destructive disease that affects the body’s immune system by prematurely destroying red blood cells and weakening the body’s infection fighting abilities. If Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is found early enough it can be cured and sent into remission in almost all children and in many adults.

Causes and Incidence

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia results from a few different genetic factors. The genetic defect known as Ikaros may be responsible for a great deal of the ALL cases in infants. This defect causes an abnormality in the lymphocyte development. The genetic defect known as the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome is also responsible for about 20 percent of the ALL cases in adults and 5 percent in children. There have also been cases of ALL caused by a genetic defect called TEL-AML1. This defect is easily treated with chemotherapy.

 

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The largest contributor to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and all other Leukemia’s is genetic rearrangement, called translocation. Translocation is responsible for 65 percent of Leukemia cases. This is when some of the genes are changed or shuffled between a pair of chromosomes. 20 percent of ALL patients have a translocation of the 12 and 21 chromosomes which is the most least threatening case. Younger patients who have translocations in the 4 and 11 chromosomes and the 9 and 22 chromosomes have a very severe case.

Signs and Symptoms

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia can be very difficult to recognize because its early signs are similar to those of the flu. Things like persistent fever, frequent infection, bone and joint pain, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes are all common to ALL. In children symptoms are also things like changes in energy and appetite, short attention span, and irritability. All of these symptoms often happen abruptly and intensely, they can also be present one day and then appear to be gone the next. These symptoms begin because there is not enough healthy mature leukocytes to allow the immune system to work properly. There are not enough healthy platelets to stop bleeding and the amount of red blood cells is extremely low causing the body to be low in oxygen. Anemia begins to develop, the body begins to have poor color and bruise easily. Uncontrolled bleeding and even getting extremely tired easily are also good signs of ALL. Thrombocytopenia is another symptom; this is when small red dots begin to appear on the skin.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is extremely difficult and it is not uncommon for it to go misdiagnosed for a long time. ALL has symptoms very similar to the flu and people wait sometime before even going in for a intensive diagnostic. ALL also has very similar symptoms to diseases like acute myelocytic leukemia, hairy-cell leukemia, and malignant lymphoma which makes it difficult to make a proper diagnosis.

When a child is found to have disease in the bone he or she may be misdiagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or osteomyelitis. There are three steps that the patient goes through in order to be diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. First the doctors complete a complete blood cell count. This test will show the amount of both red and white blood cells. A patient with ALL may have test results showing either high amounts of white blood cells or low levels of red blood cells. There is not always a presence of leukemia cells and sometimes the results are perfectly normal even though the patient does have ALL. The next step in the diagnosing process is a bone marrow biopsy. The doctor inserts a needle in the patient’s hip or sternum bone and removes a bone marrow sample. This sample is examined under a microscope for signs of uncontrolled cell growth. A normal or healthy patients bone marrow contains 5 percent of growing cells, but a leukemia patients bone marrow contains anywhere from 30 to 100 percent of growing cells. The final step before giving the diagnosis is complete is testing for certain physical characteristics of the cells or morphology. The bone marrow sample is combined with staining solutions to dye certain parts of the cell. The cell line is examined to differentiate myeloid or lymphoblastic leukemia. Then if the levels of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) are elevated it usually is a positive sign of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. At this point if ALL is found to be present then a few more genetic tests are conducted to determine the severity of the case and the treatment method. Also at this point if ALL is confirmed doctors would perform a spinal tap which removes a sample of cerebrospinal fluid to determine if the leukemia has spread to the central nervous system.

Treatment

Treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia takes place in four stages, induction therapy, central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis, consolidation, and maintenance. The goal of treatment is to send the ALL into remission or where there are no signs of leukemia in the body and the bones have a 5 percent or lower level of growing cells. Chemotherapy or radiation is the main form of treatment in each stage of the treatment. The different stages just determine the intensity of the therapy, the amount of drugs administered, and the focus of the therapy. The Induction Phase is the most intense and is the hardest on the body. Here the objective is to rid the body completely of leukemia cells in order to prevent spreading to the brain or spine. Hospitalization is necessary for some of the blood-administered drugs. Usually remission is achieved during this phase of therapy. Only severe patients and those patients over the age of 60 are not in remission after this stage. The next stage is called central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis and is for the more serious cases. At the point doctors are focusing more on sanctuary disease areas like the brain, spine, and testes. Chemotherapy is again administered in different amounts to these areas in order to remove and prevent leukemia cells from spreading. All patients go through the next stage called consolidation therapy. This is simply smaller doses of radiation to the entire body in order to remove any lingering leukemia cells. This goes on for about six months after remission is achieved and it is simply a preventative measure to make sure the leukemia does not relapse.

The last stage, maintenance, is similar to the consolidation stage where the patient is simply attempting to prevent the leukemia from relapsing. The patient takes medication and has fewer weaker doses of radiation therapy. There is no exact length to this stage because there is no definite cure for leukemia. However, children usually continue the maintenance stage for 2 to 3 years after remission. Adults maintain themselves a little longer than children, but they also have to keep an eye on their blood count by taking tests on a given schedule.

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This is a free research project on Leukemia topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Leukemia for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Mark Twain

There were probably few events in Mark Twain's life that gave him as much discomfort as his short stint as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. His account in "The Private History of a Campaign That Failed" emphasizes the physical torments and climaxes with the moral dilemma raised by the shooting of a stranger on a dark night, but that he rarely mentioned his experiences during the war until many years later is an indication of the problems participation in the war presented for a Southern writer.

 

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Mark Twain was piloting steamboats on the Mississippi in late 1860 and early 1861 as southern states seceded from the Union. Shortly after the war began in April of 1861, the river trade was brought to a close and he returned to Missouri. Missouri did not secede from the Union, but Governor Claiborne F. Jackson called for militia volunteers to protect the state from a Union invasion. Mark Twain and fourteen others from Hannibal responded by forming the Marion Rangers. The Marion Rangers stayed together for only two weeks. Fortunately for Twain, it disbanded during such an early phase of the war that formal charges of desertion were not levied against him.The appointment of his brother Orion as secretary of the Nevada territorial government provided an opportunity to avoid any further military involvement during the war. In July he and Orion left for Nevada and he remained in the West until 1866. It was while he was working as a journalist for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise that he first used the name "Mark Twain," and it could be argued that had the Civil War not forced him from his prestigious career as a steamboat pilot, Sam Clemens might never have achieved literary fame as Mark Twain.

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This is a free research project on Mark Twain topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Mark Twain for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Ku Klux Klan

Facts about the Ku-Klx-Klan:

• formed in May or early June 1966 in Pulaski, Tennessee by a small group of Confederate veterans (only 6 men)
• the name Ku-Klux-Klan was derived from the greek word kyklos, circle
• principal organization for underground resistance to Radical Reconstruction after the Civil War (they wanted to fight against the civil rights movement that freed the slaves after the American Civil War)
• Klan was supposed to be a social club ( former Klan members were riding through the country to scare black people)
• The Klan was quickly populated by Southeners after military defeat -> spread throughout the former Confederate states
• During Reconstruction: 12,000 members in Alabama (mainly young men joined the KKK because they thought they had missed out on the war and easily because of the physical nature of Ku kluxing)
• The KKK define themselves as a political party

Aims and general belief:

• they believe that the USA was founded as a white, Christian nation and should be brought back to it
• other religions, homosexuals or other races have to be segregated and transported out of a purified country
• they also wanted to abolish Martin Luther King day
• they wanted to be stricter with law punishment and with international funding and finance
• their main aim was to take back America 

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The first Ku-Klux Klan:

• alot of eleborate secret rituals
• officers consisted of a “grand cyclops“ (president), a “grand magi“ (vice president), a “grand Turk“ (marshal) and a “grand exchequer“ (treasurer)
• Klan members wore a white mask with holes for the eyes, a high cardboard hat and long flowing robes (picture)
• At the beginning organization existed for amusement -> spread through the Southern states and became opposition to Republican rule
• By the late 1860s principal forms or opposition to Reconstruction -> dens had to support the supremacy of the white race, to oppose the amalgamation of the races, to prevent carpetbaggers (someone who trys to become active in the political life expecially someone from the North active in the South) of becoming active in the political life and to gain white control of the government
• The Klan was no single organization -> several different Klan-like organizations existed in various parts of the South, e.g. the Knights of the Red Hand, the Pale Faces, the White Brotherhood, the Constitutional Union Guards and the most importand group the White Camellia in Texas
• In March 1868 the Klan spread to Texas
• group`s activities: parades
• publications of cryptic newspaper notices
• midnight meetings at graveyards (Republican newspapers made jokes about this happenings but then they took this all very seriously)
• in May the Klan began to murder and frightened freedmen and white Republican
• poorly organized in many ways, they tried to coordinate the activities but the local groups acted autonomously with no central direction
• local groups used terrorist acts such as steeling horses or burning crops but most of their victims were Republicans
• Klan violence closely followed politics
• In 1969 the Klan was disbanded by its leader because of the excessive and violent methods of the spread groups
• Local groups continued their terrorist activities -> Congress passed the Force Act in 1870 and the Ku Klux Klan Act in 1871 -> now the president was authorized to suppress terrorist organizations and to impose harsh penalties on them

The second Ku-Klux-Klan:

• founded in 1915 by William J. Simpson, an ex-minister
• wider program than its forerunner: white supremacy
• anti-Catholism
• anti-Semitic
• it spread rapidly throughout the North as well as the South
• mid-1920s about 5 million members
• it provided an outlet for the militant patriotism (which was interesting and important because of WWI) and stressed fundamentalism in religion
• The Klan controlled politics in many communities (e.g. in Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana)
• In the 1920s its power in the Midwest was broken when a major Klan leader was convicted of second-degree murder and evidence of corruption led to the governor of Indiana and the mayor of Indianapolis (both supporters of the Klan)

The KKK after World War II:

• southern civil-rights activities during the 1960s led to revivals of the Klan organizations
• those new Klans were resonsible for violent attacks against blacks and civil-rights workers throughout the South -> Klan was not really strong
• only about 1000 members

Rituals:

• KKKs victims were castrated and tortured very sadisticly
• They cut pregnant womens` stomaches open, hung alot of people and set horses on fire
• From 1866-1875 KKK killed about 3500 black people in the USA
• They also persecuted Jews, Native Americans, immoral women and Catholics
• Members of the KKK set crosses on fire to scare blacks or other minorities and walked around on the streets with banners in their hands threatening their victims

There are still about 70 organizations in the USA -> about 70,000 members -> alot of people ignore this problem because they think the KKK has no chance to gain more power. But there are many anonymous dens, who are willing to spend money to improve KKKs financial situation.

But still it will be hard for such a conservative radical group to get encouragement because of the general acceptance and the idea of the “melting pot”.

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This is a free research project on Ku Klux Klan topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on KKK for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Earthquake

General

An earthquake is a shaking or trembling of the crust of the earth caused by underground volcanic action or by the breaking and shifting of rock beneath the surface. The volcanic action and shifting rocks create strain which continues to build to a sudden release of pressure resulting in a shock wave. The vibrations produced in the crust can vary from barely noticeable to enormously destructive. Shock waves can be classified into two broad categories. Waves that send particles oscillating back and forth in the same direction as the waves are traveling are called primary. Primary waves, sometimes called compressional waves, travel through the earth beneath the crust. Secondary waves cause vibrations which move perpendicular to the wave. These waves travel on the surface of the earth and move much slower than primary waves. Thus, when an earthquake occurs, seismic centers throughout the world record primary waves before the secondary waves arrive.

Historical Overview

Earthquakes have captured the imagination of people living in earthquake prone regions since ancient times. Ancient Greek philosophers thought quakes were caused by subterranean winds, while others blamed them on fires in the bowels of the earth. About AD 130, a Chinese scholar named Chang Heng reasoned that waves must ripple through the earth from the source of an earthquake.

 

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By 1859, an Irish engineer by the name of Robert Mallet proposed that earthquakes occurred by either a sudden movement of flexible materials which formed the earth's crust, or by their giving way and fracturing. In the 1870s, an English geologist called John Milne invented the forerunner of today's seismograph. The name comes from the Greek word "seismos," meaning earthquake. The modern seismograph was invented early this century by a Russian seismologist, Prince Boris Golitzyn. This device made possible the modern era of earthquake research.

Although earthquakes have occurred and affected mankind for as long as humans have been around, historical records are either lacking or considered unreliable before the middle of the 18th century. However, some records do exist and date major earthquake events back to 425 BC when one occurred off the coast of Greece resulting in an island named Euboea. Another occurred in Asia Minor about AD 17 and another leveled much of the Roman city of Pompeii in AD 63. During the Middle Ages, severe earthquakes struck England, in 1318; Naples, Italy, in 1456; and Lisbon, Portugal, in 1531.

Casualties from major earthquakes have resulted in the greatest disasters in history. The worst occurred in 1556 in the Shannxi (Shensi) Province in China and killed an estimated 800,000 people. During the 18th century, the Japanese city of Edo (site of modern day Tokyo) was struck and killed 200,000. Earthquakes in Sicily in 1693 and Lisbon in 1755 each killed about 60,000 people. In 1797, approximately 40,000 died when Quito, Ecuador was struck.

Historically, the most powerful earthquakes to strike North America occurred in 1811 and 1812 in southeastern Missouri. However, the most famous earthquake to strike in North America was the one that hit San Francisco in 1906, killing 700. The Northridge earthquake which struck Southern California during the early morning hours of January 17, 1994, was mild by comparison but resulted in 72 deaths and injured 11,846. The estimated 30 billion dollar loss makes it the most expensive disaster in the history of the United States.

Types of Earthquakes

All earthquakes may be classified as one of three types, tectonic, volcanic or artificial. Tectonic earthquakes are caused by movements of the plates which make up the crust of the earth. These earthquakes usually occur far below the surface of the earth (as much as 400 miles) at the boundaries of the plates, where they slide against one another causing a buildup of friction and pressure until a sudden release of energy results in an earthquake. Infrequently, these types of earthquakes can occur in the center of a plate when pressure builds and ruptures the plate. One such earthquake, which occurred around 1811, was powerful enough to change the course of the Mississippi River. Of the three types, tectonic earthquakes are the most devastating and account for almost half of the world's destructive earthquakes and as much as three-quarters of the earth's seismic energy. Volcanic earthquakes are generally much smaller and less intense than tectonic ones. They are caused when magma flows upward and fills the chambers beneath a volcano. The sides and tops of the volcano swell and tilt with pressure and result in numerous small earthquakes. Volcanic earthquakes are seldom destructive, but have particular interest because they are often the forerunner for volcanic eruptions. The eruption of Mount Saint Helens in Washington in 1980 is only one example.

Sometimes, earthquakes occur as a result of human actions such as when atomic explosives are detonated underground or when new reservoirs are filled. These artificial earthquakes are rare and relatively harmless when compared with the earthquakes caused by nature One such series of earthquakes occurred in the early 1960s near Denver, Colorado, when waste fluids were pumped into deep wells just east of the city. When the pumping stopped, so did the earthquakes.

Effects of Earthquakes

The most common damage and the greater amount of injuries caused by earthquakes is a result of falling objects. Much of the world's population live in densely populated urban areas which make them particularly vulnerable to building collapse and being struck by falling objects. Earthquakes can also topple bridges, towers and dams as well as trigger large landslides. Each of these present unique problems and can result in floods and fires which may be more devastating than the direct effects of the earthquake.

Besides the trembling and shaking of the earth caused by earthquakes, other consequences can result in tremendous destruction. When shock waves from an earthquake strike some types of soil, they result in a condition called liquefaction. Liquefaction occurs when these soils lose their ability to bear weight and behave much like quicksand. Buildings which have been constructed on these soils quickly topple and may even be swallowed up. This phenomena was observed in the big earthquake which struck San Francisco in 1906.

Subsea tremors may result in a tsunami. A tsunami is another name for a tidal wave but because tides have nothing to do with the creation of these waves, the term tsunami is used instead. These waves move with tremendous speed and power and can devastate coastal communities where the sea bottom "lifts" the water as it rolls up on the land.

Measuring the Intensity of Earthquakes

The most well-known method of measuring the intensity of an earthquake is the Richter scale. The Richter scale is named after an American seismologist named Charles Francis Richter, and measures the amount of energy released at the focus of a quake. It uses a logarithmic scale that runs from "1" to "9." Because this scale is logarithmic, each number is actually an increase of ten times than the number which precedes it. Thus, a 7.0 earthquake is ten times more powerful than a 6.0 and 100 times more powerful than a 5.0. To allow a greater degree of precision, a decimal equivalent was provided. At one time it, was believed that an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.5 was the most powerful possible but new seismic measuring techniques have revealed that it is possible to reach 9.5.

Another method of measuring the intensity of earthquakes was developed at the turn of the century by an Italian seismologist by the name of Giuseppe Mercalli. The Mercalli scale measures shaking with gradations from I to XII. Since the effects of the earthquake diminish with the distance it is from the focus of the quake (epicenter), the Mercalli rating depends upon where the measurement is taken. The lowest rating (I) is one which is felt by very few people and the highest (XII) is one which causes total destruction. An earthquake with a magnitude of 3 to 4 on the Richter scale is roughly equivalent to II to III on the Mercalli scale and a magnitude 8 to 9 on the Richter scale is roughly equivalent to a XI to XII on the Mercalli scale.

Predicting Earthquakes

Earthquake prediction has met with mixed results, however some success has been reported in recent years. Several countries, most notably the United States, China, Japan and Russia, are actively supporting research in this area. In 1975, just two days before a magnitude 7.3 earthquake destroyed the city of Haicheng, the Chinese government evacuated 90,000 residents. The evidence used to support the prediction was a series of foreshocks occurring in the area five years earlier. Other possible clues being investigated are water levels in wells, changes in the earth's magnetic field and the behavior of animals. So far though, no reliable method exists for predicting when and where an earthquake will occur nor how strong it is likely to be.

Earthquakes in Southern California

Southern California has been plagued by numerous earthquakes which have not only caused death and destruction, but have resulted in the most stringent building codes anywhere in the world. Buildings and other structures erected under these new laws have resulted in safer and more durable construction than ever before. Because of the frequency of earthquake tremors, the people living in and around the greater Los Angeles area are among the most knowledgeable of this subject in the United States. Earthquake mitigation and preparedness is an ongoing process and each tremor brings new information on how to deal with the next one. Children are taught earthquake drills in elementary school. Police and Fire Departments practice building rescues. Municipalities conduct table top disaster management exercises. Freeway overpasses, bridges and dams are reinforced. The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena is regarded as one of the foremost earthquake research centers in the world.

One of the most active earthquake fault systems anywhere on the globe runs through Southern California. The San Andreas Fault emerges from the Pacific Ocean and runs through more than 600 miles through California. The fault marks the boundary where the North American and the Pacific tectonic plates meet. This boundary is easily visible from the air and is the most well known fault system in the United States.

At 0431 hours, on the morning of January 17, 1994, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck near the City of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. By 0500, the Los Angeles County Emergency Operations Center was staffed and operating and thirty minutes later, initial damage assessments were compiled. The earthquake, which came to be known as the "Northridge earthquake," collapsed freeway overpasses, damaged roadways, shut off power, started fires, closed and evacuated hospitals and resulted in at least 72 deaths and an estimated $30 billion in damages. The relief effort was orchestrated by the County's Emergency Operations Center and required the efforts of all local police and fire departments, many public utility companies, the California National Guard, the American Red Cross and a host of other agencies. Tent cities were erected, food and water dispersed, fires put out and numerous buildings searched and evacuated. Although this earthquake earned the title of "the most expensive disaster in the history of the United States," the preparation and training of all concerned proved to be highly effective and greatly contributed to limiting the amount of death and injury.

As the next century looms near, Southern California prepares for the "big one." Despite the tremendous impact of the Northridge earthquake, no one believes that it is the last nor even the largest which will strike the greater Los Angeles area. A new 36,000 square foot Emergency Operations Center has been constructed in East Los Angeles. A series of laws and procedures entitled the "Standardized Emergency Management System" has continued to make the Mutual Aid System even more effective. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has taken a leading role in establishing courses in crisis action planning, crisis decision making, command and control, operations, logistics and intelligence. Liaisons and working groups with other agencies and disciplines has provided additional insight and contributed to a high state of readiness as they prepare for the next major earthquake.

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This is a free research project on Earthquake topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Earthquake for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Gandhi

Gandhi was born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1869 in a coastal town of Porbandar, now part of the Indian state of Gujarat. Gandhi’s father was the chief administrator and member of the court of Probandar. His Grandfather was the same in the tiny state of Junagadh.

 

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Gandhi grew up in a largely devoted Hindu cult of Vishnu or Vaishnaites. He was also exposed to Christian missionaries but this made no significant presence in his childhood.

Gandhi was a shy and mediocre student, and completed his school education with average results. He was married to Kasturbai when they were both 13 years old.

Gandhi left for England in 1888 to train a lawyer after he had given his mother a pledge to keep away from women, wine and meat. He began his life in England as an English gentleman but as his money ran out better sense prevailed and Gandhi turned to more serious English life. Yet Gandhi’s career failed as he was too shy and began work as an application drafter. In 1893 he was asked to move back to India to work for a Muslim lawyer firm. He was intending to spend 1 year there but instead spent 21.

South Africa changed Gandhi’s life. When Gandhi arrived in South Africa and he was on a train to Pretoria he was thrown off it in the middle of the night and was left shivering in the waiting room for the rest of the night.

In April 1894, the legislate of Natal was debating the Indian Franchise Bill, which would have taken away Indians’ voting rights. Gandhi was going to move to India bit his employer urged him to stay and lead the fight, and he agreed. He founded the Natal Indian Congress and his campaign succeeded in partially reducing the harshness of the Bill. Yet his constitutional pressures, petitions, and rational persuasion were not making any impact on prejudiced minds. He needed a something else that made an impact on people. Gandhi used his well-known method of satygraha which is a form of non-violent resistance and involved peaceful picketing of registration centres, burning registration cards, courting arrests, and gracefully accepting punishments. Gandhi’s protests resulted in the Indian Relief Act in 1914.

The 21 years in South Africa affected his thoughts. Thought came to no meaning unless it was lived out. This meant that when he came across a new idea he thought whether it was worth living out, and if not he would take no further interest in it. But if the answer was yes then he integrated it into his way of life.

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This is a free research project on Gandhi topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Gandhi for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Cancer

Cancer is defined as a malignant growth that tends to spread indefinitely and to reproduce itself. According to the American Cancer Society, 50 percent of American men and 33 percent of American women get cancer in their lifetime. Though cancer differs in onset, growth rate, level of fatality, and cause, all cancers arise from cells that lost their normal growth controls. Normal cell growth is controlled by a variety of different growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Cancer cells grow independent of normal growth signals.

Most cancer treatments aim to destroy the cancer cells using radiation (radiation therapy) or toxic chemicals (chemotherapy). Chemotherapy drugs interfere with the ability of a cancer to divide and reproduce it's self. The name Chemotherapy literally means chemical therapy. Often if doctors can discover a tumor before metastasis occurs, doctors can try and remove the growth with out using cytotoxic drugs; immunosuppressive, immunomodulating chemicals.

 

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There are many negative effects of radiation and chemotherapy. These treatments cause general weakness, weight loss, and hair loss. The administration of these drugs at high dose affects patients' red, white, and platelet cell levels in the body, the cells required to fight infection and to heal wounds. Therefore, a patient may not be able to recuperate from the treatment. To help patients survive high dose treatments, they might receive a bone marrow transplants from appropriate donors. A syringe withdraws a small amount of bone marrow from a donor's pelvic bone, and this gets injected into a patient whose ability to make new blood cells has been impaired by the cancer treatment. Many of these cancer therapies are themselves carcinogenic, a material or substance that produces or stimulates cancer. Yet, the drugs get used because of their ability to also control cancer. The probability of attacking a malignancy in ones body using these treatments proves much higher than the likely hood of developing a new cancer after effective treatment.

Some individuals who receive radiation therapy or chemotherapy and kill the malignant cells, some years latter develop a second cancer. The cause for this particular reoccurrence of malignancy is not known. This unknown fact, leads to a simple question: is there anything unusual about the population of individuals who develop the second malignancy? Is their development of cancer random or are people susceptible to cancer induction?

A wide variation exists of cancer rates exist in individuals. In other words, individuals have varying chances of developing cancer. Because of an underlying alteration in their genome, some individuals find they are more inclined to get cancer. An alteration could be a mutation in a specific cancer gene, or it may be an alteration that affects the cells ability to repair damage to its DNA. All cancer cells hold mutations in genes that define a cells growth control factors.

Exposure to agents like radiation or chemicals that cause mutations can increase the probability of cancer. Individuals who are more sensitive to radiation or chemicals may be more likely to get cancer after exposure. In my project, I will test the hypothesis, that people who develop cancer following chemotherapy have sensitivity to the cancer-causing effects of the treatment. I will look at the chemosensitivity of cells from patients who developed cancer after chemotherapy, and compare that sensitivity to patients who were treated with the same drugs but did not get cancer. If one finds that the cells from patients who developed cancer are more sensitive to chemotherapy, then the hypothesis is correct. I will study 15 lines from patients who developed a second malignancy after treatment with cytoxan prior to bone marrow transplantation, and an equal number from patients who received the same treatment but did not develop cancer. These cell lines are immortal B cells derived from the blood of patients before any treatment.

I look at the effect of cytoxan on these cells. Cytoxan is used to decrease a patientsбж natural immunity before receiving a bone marrow transplant. Cytoxan causes a decrease in the number of all types of blood cells in a patients bone marrow. Bone marrow depression appears usually 9-14 days after individuals get treated with cytoxan.

Cytoxan:

Cytoxan, which is a brand name for cyclophosphamide, causes a decrease in the number of all types of blood cells in a patients bone marrow.

In the lab, I will use two assays to measure sensitivity. The first will look at cell growth inhibition following treatment. Cells that are more sensitive to cytoxan should grow slower after treatment than cells that are resistant to cytoxan. The other assay, a chromosome assay, consists of looking for exchanges between sister chromatids (SCE) on the same chromosome following treatment with cytoxan.

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This is a free research project on Cancer topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Cancer for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Stress

Introduction

The current era that we live in is termed in various ways by different scholars belonging to different disciplines. Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, describes it as 'the age of discontinuity.' An eminent economist, John Galbraith, calls it age of uncertainty.' Alvin Toffler, the author of two celebrated works, namely, Future Shock and The Third Wave, refers to it as 'the age of future shock.' These different descriptions are acceptable, as they come from the excellence and erudition of celebrities in different branches of knowledge. But the one offered by Dr. Karl Albrecht, an organisational development consultant from San Diego, California, seems to be the most appropriate. He describes the present age as 'the age of anxiety' - the age of stress.

Whosoever you happen to meet - at your workplace or at home or in the market - be he rich or poor, mighty or meek, superior or subordinate, educated or illiterate, adult or aged, male or female- is suffering from stress of one kind or the other. An airconditioned chamber does not ensure peace to the executive seated in it; he is found constantly strained and stressed by a host of organizational problems.

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An eminent behavioral scientist Hans Selye in his book The Stress of Life defines stress as a 'non-specific response of the body' to any demand made upon it. Stress is widespread. It is estimated that 75% to 90% of visits to doctors are stress-related. In a study undertaken by Byrum & Robinson in 1993 (San Diego, CA), it was found that insurance claims for payment of stress-related illnesses were about twice those paid for normal physical injury and cost about $200 billion annually!

Causes

The causes of stress are not always very serious. Stress emanates from the day-to-day dealings and disturbances. A petty issue in a family creates altercation amongst the members and causes stress. A small skirmish between husband and wife makes both of them jittery, which when oft-repeated, result in divorce.

For parents, their children's disobedience and their falling prey to bad habits like drug addiction, alcoholism and other vices are major causes of stress. Waiting for a bus, train or a plane for long hours can become a cause of stress. As school exams approach, both parents and children start developing anticipatory stress. Once the results are out, they are again worried about admissions. Even during festivals, if the arrangements are ill-provided or inadequate, people who attend it get upset and angry.

The causes of stress may be minor or trivial, but if not properly handled, their consequences could be grave. On the basis of some global studies, evidence shows that stress is a major factor causing ulcers, heart attacks, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, migraine, kidney failure, digestive disorders, etc. Even mental faculties are impaired by stress.

Classification of Stressors

Behavioral scientists have tried to classify the stressors. The classification suggested by them is as follows:

(a) Organic Stressors

Nutritional factors, genetic factors (metabolic, allergies, etc.), physical fitness and level of resistance, etc.

(b) Personal Stressors

Marriage, new job, transfer, change of occupations, retirement, etc.

(c) Family Related

Marital discord, harmony-disharmony amongst the members, problems with elders, children, siblings, in-laws, etc.

(d) Situational

It occurs in situations which are threatening and wholly or partially beyond one's control. For example, when stuck in traffic one becomes increasingly irritated as the delay lengthens. Exams and interviews are also situations which raise stress levels. Formula I racing drivers tolerate much physical discomfort and forces many times g as they negotiate turns at speeds of upto 200 mph. However, when questioned they felt more stressed during their seven to eight pit stops - despite being stationery. The reason - in the pit, they are not in control, they are dependent on their crew.

(e) Encounter Stressors

This emanates from dealings with individuals or groups of people who are perceived as potentially unpredictable or unpleasant.

(f) Time Stressors

It stems from the general feeling that time is running out or an anxiety of meeting deadlines.

(g) Workplace Related

Relationship with subordinates, superiors, colleagues, office politics, rivalry, lack of support, insecurity of job, lack of status, job dissatisfaction are the prime stressors.

h) Environmental

Air pollution, noise pollution and congestion are some of the environmental stressors.

(i) Change Related

Keeping pace with rapid technological change, acquiring newer skills are also factors that cause stress to people.

(j) Anticipatory Stress

When unexpected things happen, stress is raised.

During World War II, the Germans regularly bombed London. Each time there was a raid, sirens sounded to warn the public to run for shelter. A survey shared that one particular area was always bombed, whereas another part of London was only occasionally bombed. Surprisingly the people of the latter area felt more stress since they did not know what to expect. Whereas in the former area, they knew what to expect and were mentally prepared for it.

This type of anticipatory stress is experienced when people watch their favourite sports teams in action. In tense matches, where the outcome is in doubt or contrary to expectations, they resort to nail biting, gum chewing, smoking, alcohol and other sinister habits to calm their nerves.

Managing Stresss

There are ways and methods to manage stress. Behavioral scientists have developed various strategies to cope with stress:

(a) Design a low-stress lifestyle

Try to strike a balance i.e., maintaining a proper proportion of work and play, challenge and ease, stress and relaxation, exercise and rest, self-restraint and self-indulgence. Design your lifestyle in a manner that your needs and wants are fulfilled in a balanced way. Be content, otherwise there is no end to desires and greed.

(b) Raise Your Adaptation Level (ADL)

In difficult or discomforting situations try to tolerate and bear as much as you can. With such repeated effort, you will learn to live with it. Raising your ADL will make you less distraught and more composed and comfortable. Imbibing Yogiji Maharaj's oft-repeated message of learning to put up with situations, no matter what they are or wherever they be, will help raise your ADL. Once you have raised your ADL, even gross inconvenience is incapable of shaking you.

(c) Develop the ability to unwind

In any adverse situation, if you try to unload the burden caused by it, you feel relaxed. Of course, it calls for the ability to monitor your immediate reactions in such situations. The ability to let provocations pass away is the ability to unwind. It helps one, to a marked extent, to cast off the effects of the episodic stress.

Once, in the village of Chachana, Yogiji Maharaj and his associate sadhus were beaten severely by some wayward local sadhus. They were also verbally abused, "How could you dissidents dare enter here?" The local devotee, Darbar Jilubha, came to their rescue. Despite all the commotion, Yogiji Maharaj defused the situation by saying, "My body has been blessed by their blows."

Once, Yogiji Maharaj was travelling with a group of sadhus in a horsecart enroute to the village of Malia Hatina. On the way, the wheel broke and the cart toppled and turned upside down. Everyone inside turned heels over head. Yogiji Maharaj abruptly stood up, shaking off the dust he happily said, "Oh, it is a miracle. Maharaj has saved us." And, truly, it was as stated by Yogiji Maharaj, because each one of them came out unscathed- nobody had even received a bruise.

(d) Appraise your own strengths and weaknesses

Mostly, we wink at our weaknesses. Our anxieties are mainly due to our own identifiable weaknesses. Once we become aware of them and make sincere efforts to remove them, we will experience our anxieties diminish.

(e) Behavioral self-control

Once you decide to undertake a major step, you should do it with full knowledge about its implications, focusing on long term objectives to be served by it. You can accomplish this task with self-control, self-restraint and self-discipline.

(f) Networking

The social psychologists suggest 'networking' as a strategy to cope with stress. Networking means forming close associations with trusted, empathetic workers and colleagues who may share your pains and pleasures and help build up your confidence.

The importance and stress-reducing effect of networking is emphasized by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. He has advocated daily ghar-sabha (family assemblies) to discuss and share troubles and worries among family members. This helps reduce one's mental burdens. Also, regular attendance to weekly satsang assemblies is a form of networking that has helped many to tackle their problems.

(g) Thought Stopping

When you are confronted with some troublesome thoughts, you can apply the technique of 'thought stopping' to calm your mind. When such thoughts occur, simply 'hear' the word 'stop' being shouted in your mind. This will cause your mental machinery to come to standstill for a moment or so. Immediately substitute a new, more productive thought for the old one. Shift the subject in your mind to something more constructive and meaningful.

(h) Visualisation

The technique of visualisation will enable you to reduce the anxiety you feel about certain impending situations. Say, for example, you have to make a speech in school or presentation before the board of directors of your company. A mental rehearsal of every step from preparation to entering the board room, presenting your topic and answering queries, will dissolve your fears and boost your performance.

(i) Prayer and Meditation

Prayer and meditation has the effect of calming the mind. Such faith in God relieves one of unnecessary tension and burden. In Vachanamrut Sarangpur-18, Shriji Maharaj says, "(when a person becomes depressed) he either goes to sleep, cries, takes his frustrations out on someone else, or he may even fast... And if he becomes severely depressed, he may even resort to committing suicide." Having described the classical symptoms of the person under stress, He gives the solution to the problem by prescribing spiritual understanding. Through faith and spiritual understanding an individual becomes happy.

Living With Stress

In this age of anxiety, with newer and newer causes of stress being added every day, the list of stressors continues to increase. Coping strategies do work, but to a limited extent. Once you know that it is not possible to alter or avoid a stressful situation, at the best, what you can do is to change your attitude towards that situation.

Hans Selye in his book Stress Without Distress says, "Stress is the spice of life, complete freedom from stress comes only in death." Therefore, by effecting change in your attitude, raising your adaptation level (ADL) and following the precept of 'simple living and spiritual thinking' as preached and practiced by our gurus, then, even if we can not resolve it, we would certainly be inspired to learn to live with stress.

In his capacity as the President of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Pramukh Swami Maharaj encounters many situations which would make others tense and anxious. However, Swamishri is able to negotiate all his duties to remain stress-free and at ease. The secret, he says, is that he places all his problems in the hands of God and believes staunchly that whatever happens in any given situation is due to God's will and is ultimately beneficial.

An example of this is the case for the proposed mandir in Harrow. Before the shikharbaddh mandir in London was built in Neasden, many suitable sites were considered. One was in Harrow. However, several problems made the task of getting the necessary permissions difficult. Much time, effort and money was spent in getting these permissions. However, when the final decision came, it was a disappointing refusal. Many were dejected when they heard the decision. Swamishri, who was in Bochasan, heard the disappointing news as he prepared for his rest at night. Convinced that it was the will of Shriji Maharaj, and that the eventual outcome would be beneficial, Swamishri promptly fell asleep. Thus, Swamishri's faith in God is the key to his ability to remain stress-free.

Though we live in an age of anxiety', it is upto us to manage and defuse our stresses and create a life of joy and happiness.

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This is a free research project on Stress topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Stress for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Smoking

Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. With an increase in public awareness and research, prevalence of smoking is slowly making a decline. (Quit Victoria, 1995)

Interventions are used to aid people with the cessation of smoking, and through either independent quitting or using the help of programs around 150,000 Australians successfully quit smoking each year. Looking at a case study of a twenty five year old office manager Ellen we can consider whether she is likely to have the qualities to categorise her as a typical smoker. These factors include her age, gender and motivation for beginning to smoke which can all help to determine the best cause of action and possible suitable interventions to aid Ellen in successfully quitting smoking.

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Australian statistics indicate that the prevalence of smoking amongst women is lower than it is for males, but the difference between the two sexes has considerably lessened over recent years. (Allen, F, 2000) These statistics suggest that gender plays only a small role in the likeliness of taking up smoking, which means that Ellen's sex is irrelevant in her behaviour of smoking. Ellen is now twenty- five years old but began smoking when she was only eighteen. Statistics suggest that young people who have gone on to complete a tertiary degree are less likely to take up smoking than those who did not finish year twelve or who went straight into the workforce after school. (Evans, M 2000) Ellen entered the workforce at a young age suggesting she could be more likely to take up the act of smoking than someone who went on to further studies.

The reasons that people begin smoking and continue to smoke are varying from each individual to the next. (Brannon, L. 2000) With an increase in public awareness of the risks and potential life threatening diseases associated with smoking a majority of young people begin smoking very much aware of the potential risks.

People begin smoking for an abundance of different reasons. The most popular reasons are associated with rebelliousness, social pressure and tension control.

(Allen, F. 2000) Television often portrays images of smoking being associated with young people who are being rebellious and cool. This imagery can appeal to some children making the behaviour of smoking seem desirable. Social pressure is also a factor that contributes to why people begin smoking. Ellen clearly feels pressured to continue smoking in social situations because her friends do so, thus making quitting harder. Peer pressure to try cigarettes or to be accepted are also reasons children often turn to smoking. Tension control uses cigarettes as a way of dealing with anxiety, stress and worry. Smoking may be used to calm or relax after some sort of tension or anxiety has been experienced. (Allen, F. 2000) Ellen's case seems typical of others smokers as she initially began using smoking as a way of dealing with the confrontations she has with her co-worker. Ellen found that smoking had a calming effect on her after the stress of an argument, therefore smoking became a way of controlling tension.

Interventions are used to provide individuals wanting to quit with the best possible strategy for successful cessation. The most common and well - known intervention is Nicotine Replacement Therapy. (Evan, M 2000) This method if used for Ellen would involve using either a nicotine chewing gum or a nicotine patch that releases a small continuous dose of nicotine into the body. The aim of the patches or the gum is to gradually decrease the amount of nicotine entering the body until the individual is no longer dependant. (Ellen, F. 2000) This type of therapy is generally used for heavily addicted individuals and is generally quite successful.

Although Ellen has tried unsuccessfully before to use this type of intervention, her consumption of a packet a day of cigarettes suggests that this type of intervention could be potentially successful. Psychological based Interventions to aid the cessation of smoking include different strategies such as behaviour modification, cognitive- behavioural approaches, group therapy, social support, relaxation therapy and stress management. (Brannon, L. 2000) Behavioural approaches involve changes in behaviour, such as avoiding certain situations that act as cues for people to light up a cigarette. Emotions such as stress and anxiety can be related with the behaviour of smoking and these stressful situations also provide cues for someone to desire a cigarette. (Brannon, L. 2000) In Ellen's situation she originally began smoking due to a particularly stressful day in the office and an argument with a co-worker. Assuming this approach for Ellen, She would need to be taught that such stresses initiated the act of smoking for her and contributed to her addiction. Group Therapy is aimed at people who wish to quit smoking with the assistance and encouragement of others in similar situations. These groups can be successful in helping people to quit cigarettes but generally are more successful if a nicotine replacement therapy is used as well. (A.C.O.S.H, 2001) Relaxation Therapy and Stress management are interventions that allow individuals to control their stress levels and reduce their need for smoking. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visual imagery are used as stress coping skills that divert the attention off smoking and on to the underlying problem. (Ellen, 2000) Ellen became stressed resulting from an argument with a co- worker and turned to smoking, when the same situation arose she repeated the behaviour of smoking to relax her. Using this type of intervention would allow individuals to self manage their stress without the use of cigarettes. This type of intervention is generally successful if used with another approach, such as Nicotine Replacement therapy. Social support encourages smokers to inform their family and friends of their intentions to give up cigarettes. This sort of support may be as simple as friends not smoking while they are around you, or encouraging you to stay on track. The support of close friends and family gives the individual the best chance at successfully quitting. (Brannon, L 2000) Ellen's friends are smokers and one possible form of social support would be ensuring that they are aware of her desire to quit and respecting her decision by not smoking around her. Ellen had previously tried using Nicotine Replacement therapy and was successful in her attempt for three months before going straight back to a full pack a day. This type of intervention although unsuccessful on the first attempt for, could potentially help Ellen successfully quit if teamed with another Intervention. The behaviour of smoking for Ellen was induced by stress, and she found that cigarettes had a calming effect on her nerves therefore she began to smoke after any stressful situation. Relaxation therapy and stress management could also potentially aid Ellen in the cessation of smoking. Learning this type of management would teach Ellen the coping skills to deal with anxiety without turning to a cigarette. With the aid of both of these approaches and the social support of her friends and family, Ellen can learn to use relaxation to cope in stressful situations while nicotine patches or gum dulled the cravings, until she could decrease her dosage and no longer be dependant on cigarettes. Previous attempts at quitting proved to be unsuccessful for Ellen. Nicotine Replacement Therapy was successful for three months and on her second she attempt completely cut out any intake of cigarettes which proved to be successful for only three weeks. Although Ellen generally believes that cigarettes are unhealthy, she is optimistic in believing that these risks and dangers will not apply to her but rather other smokers. This belief does not positively reinforce Ellen to change her behaviour thus making cessation of smoking more difficult. (Brannon, L. 2000) Ellen's behaviour of smoking is cued when she endures stressful situations at work. Without dealing with the underlying issue, which is Ellen's stress and anxiety, it will be hard for her to successfully give up cigarettes. According to Australian statistics Ellen is what society would call a “typical smoker”. Her age and career path make her more susceptible to begin and continue smoking. The stress placed on Ellen from her workplace and peer pressure from her social circle, are all negative reinforcers to the continuance of smoking. Interventions such as Nicotine Therapy replacement, stress management and social support are therapies that would be of the most potential for Ellen's lifestyle. These Interventions team together to give Ellen the best chance for cessation of smoking.

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This is a free research project on Smoking topic. Keep in mind that all free research project samples and research paper examples are taken from open sources – they are plagiarized and cannot be used as your own research project. If you need a qualitative custom research project on Smoking for college, university, Master's or PhD degree – you are welcome to contact professional research writing company to have your paper written online by academic research writers.
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Research Project on Marijuana

War Against Marijuana A total of 3,470,545 Americans have been arrested for marijuana offenses. In 1997 state and local law enforcement arrested 695,200 people for marijuana violations. That number is the highest ever recorded by the FBI. Of the 682,885 arrests made in 1998, approximately 88% were for simple possession. The remaining 12% were for sale and manufacture. Every 52 seconds, a marijuana smoker is arrested in America. This is truly a waste of law enforcement and a waste of our tax money. These people getting arrested are generally responsible adults capable of making their own decisions.

Marijuana was made illegal in 1937, but hemp was kept legal to use. Hemp provides from four to fourteen tons of dry fibers per acre per year. It can be made into paper, cloth, and cellulose for plastic. If drug laws would allow hemp farming, we’d have an alternative resource for paper, which would save our trees. When you look at the one-dollar bill, you are looking at a hemp farmer, George Washington grew hemp. The US Drug Enforcement Agency is ignorant to realize that there is a big difference between hemp and marijuana. Hemp can not be used to get high, and it never was used for that, but it still was put in the same category as heroin. Our tax dollars go to feed all the people that are held in prison on marijuana related charges. Those people are now struggling to feed their children, knowing that they won’t get much help, because they are “criminals” according to a good percentage of society. Our society thinks marijuana isn’t acceptable because it is illegal. Marijuana was made illegal because congress put up a fight, and went against narcotics. It was found a narcotic when it was classified along with opiates. It was deemed too dangerous to allow research, and dismissed all attempts to argue over it.

 

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We know that the legal drug addictions present now, do not cause any crimes. The actions from them, but not the use. You can’t baby all alcohol users, making sure they don’t drink too much. You can’t tell someone that they can’t smoke marijuana, when their beliefs are otherwise. On June 21, 2000, Val Walton a news staff writer for The Birmingham News reported that a 46 year old man could face life in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to running a drug operation that sold thousands of pounds of marijuana. The man pleaded guilty to his charges of continuing a criminal enterprise and drug trafficking. Since this is a federal offense, he is not provided with parole as an option. He could face 20 years to life in prison. Now this man is not innocent, he was carrying an illegal firearm to engage in money laundering. His home was searched and authorities found at least 40 weapons, $30,000 worth of jewelry and more was found in a safety deposit box. This man should spend some time in prison for these offenses with no doubt. But the 20 years to life is for the marijuana, and the added 5-year sentence is for the weapons charge. This is just one of the thousands of cases, and not the usual, most are just for marijuana offenses.

Marijuana is classified as a minor psychedelic drug. If it is used in large amounts, it could lead to a psychedelic effect. So can medication and alcohol, and it is okay to drink alcohol. This is not a new drug either; it dates back to 4,000 years ago in China. The emperor smoked it, and promoted its use for an all-purpose medication. It spread to India and other neighboring countries. Early Hindus used it for a variety of purposes as well. We have used it as a medical aid for thousands of years, and still are used for a variety of purposes, just not legally in most cases.

There are many myths about Pot used to discourage use. One is that Pot is nearly ten times more potent and dangerous than in the sixties. This is based on government data, and samples from the 70’s recently compared to domesticated marijuana of today show that it’s potency has increased moderately by a factor of two or so. The government ignores that it was available in premium varieties in the sixties, like Acapulco Gold, as well as hashish and hash oil, which is every bit as strong as today’s marijuana. Another myth is that Pot kills brain cells. This myth came from animal experiments in which changes, not actual cell deaths were observed when animals were exposed to high doses of pot. There is no physical evidence that it causes permanent brain damage. User’s should know that it does cause short-term memory loss has been found in chronic smokers, after about 6 to 12 weeks of abstinence. This is probably what makes people think it will damage you brain cells. Other drugs including alcohol have been noted to cause brain damage though. People try to say it will cause you to become sterile and lower testosterone in males. In contrast to alcohol use, there is more of a chance you will become impotent or have low testosterone levels from drinking alcohol. In females it has been shown that it may temporarily lower fertility or increase risk of fetal lost, even mildly disrupt ovulation. Again, if you drink alcohol the same risks are at stake, even worse ones.

Experts generally recommend that drugs not are used during pregnancy, but there is little evidence that marijuana use implicates fetal harm, unlike alcohol, cocaine, or tobacco. A variety of studies indicate that THC may exercise reversible immune-suppressive effects by causing the activity of the immune system cells to be inhibited. It is dubious whether they are of import to human health, since it is based mainly on theoretical laboratory animal studies. Chronic pot smokers have been shown to suffer damage to immune cells, the ones that are defense mechanisms. It is unclear how much damage is caused due to THC, as opposed to all the other toxins that occur in smoke. Water pipes and other devices can filter out many of those toxins. Many AIDS patients smoke marijuana to help stimulate appetite and reduce nausea. Cannabis doesn’t actually damage T-cells, which are depleted in HIV patients. Some studies even found that exposure to marijuana increased T-cell counts in subjects who were not AIDS patients, but had a low T-cell count. Laboratory studies have suggested that high doses of THC might interfere with cell replication, Producing abnormal numbers of chromosomes. There is no evidence that it damages cells and chromosomes.

A review done by Dr. Leo Hollister from the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs said: “The evidence on immune suppression has been contradictory and is more supportive of some degree of immune-suppression only when one considers in vitro studies. These have been seriously flawed by very high concentrations of drugs used to produce immune-suppression. The closer that experimental studies have been to actual clinical situations, the less compelling has been the evidence.” Another popular myth is that one joint equal about 4 cigarettes. Critics have exaggerated the dangers if pot smoking. Dr. Tashkin found that daily pot smokers experienced a “mild but significant” increase in airflow resistance in large airways. This is greater than persons smoking 16 cigarettes per day are. What examiners ignore is that marijuana smokers did much are better than tobacco smokers in aspects of lung health. Dr. Tashkin himself says that the notion that one joint equal 16 or maybe just 4 cigarettes is not true. An estimate that marijuana smokers consume four times as much carcinogenic tar as cigarette smokers per weight smoked. The average joint usually contains 0.4 grams of pot, a bit less than one-half the weight of a cigarette. A joint is equal to two cigarettes, which isn’t an exact equivalency, but is more accurate. Marijuana affects different parts of the respiratory tract than cigarettes; tobacco tends to penetrate smaller passageways of the lungs. One consequence of this is that pot, unlike cigarettes, does not appear to cause emphysema. Most experts agree that occasional or moderate use of marijuana is innocuous, they agree that excessive use can be harmful. Research shows that the two major risks are respiratory disease due to smoking, and accidental injuries due to impairment. A survey from the Kaiser Permanente Center found that daily marijuana-only users have a 19% higher rate of respiratory complaints than non-smokers do. Marijuana contains virtually the same toxic gases and tars as tobacco. The hazards of marijuana can be reduced by various strategies. One is to use higher-potency cannabis, which can be smoked in smaller quantities, use of water pipes and other smoke reduction technologies, and ingesting pot orally instead of smoking. People can use marijuana as a tea, or bake it into foods, but you must use about three times as much marijuana for the effect.

There is no scientific evidence that marijuana is a “gateway” drug. Cannabis is used by cultures in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America shows no propensity for other drugs. The theory of marijuana leading to other drugs came from the sixties, when it became the leading recreational drug. Events in the eighties showed cocaine abuse exploded at the same time marijuana use declined. There is evidence that cannabis may be a substitute for other drugs such as alcohol and hard drugs. A survey by Dr. Patricia Morgan or the University of California at Berkeley, found a significant number of pot smokers and dealers switched to met amphetamine “ice”, when Hawaii’s marijuana eradication program created a shortage of pot. Marijuana doesn’t lead to other drugs for the reason it is illegal, but because dealers are likely to deal other illicit drugs as well. Whatever the risks are when someone smokes pot, the laws make matters worse in several ways.

Paraphernalia laws impede the development and marketing of water pipes, and all other advance technology that could reduce the harmfulness of marijuana smoke. Prohibition encourages sale of pot that has been contaminated or adulterated by insecticides, or mixed with other drugs such as PCP, crack, or heroin. By raising the price of marijuana, it makes in uneconomical to consume it orally, which is the best way to avoid the smoke exposure all together. When you eat it, it typically requires two or three more times as much marijuana as smoking.

There has never been a controlled scientific study showing that a drug urinalysis improves work place safety. The largest survey to date, covering 4,396 postal workers nationwide, found no difference in accident records between workers who tested positive. Random drug testing of transportation workers was enacted by a reaction to a single 1987 train collision in which 16 Amtrak passengers were killed by a Conrail train that didn’t stop. The engineer and brakeman of the Conrail train were found to have recently smoked marijuana, though it could not be proven that it caused the accident. The engineer had extensive record of speeding and DUI. He was known by management to have drinking problems. Congress mandated that random drug testing be done on the entire transportation industry. Marijuana is less of a road hazard than alcohol. Surveys have found that half or more of fatal drivers have alcohol in their blood, as opposed to 7-20% with THC, the major component of marijuana.

The combination of marijuana and alcohol is a hazard. Some research suggested that low doses of marijuana alone might sometimes improve driving performance, but not true in most cases. Marijuana appears to produce greater caution, because users are more aware of their state, so the become more alert. Even though this is true in some cases, no one should drive when they are high. It should be noted that these results might not apply to non-driving related situations, where forgetfulness or inattention can be less important than speed and safety in a vehicle. There has never been a single commercial passenger airline accident attributed to marijuana abuse. Drug tests on railroad workers found no elevated incidence of drug use among workers involved in accidents. In surveyed blood samples from 1982 drivers killed in a car, truck and motorcycle accidents in seven states during 1990-91 found that 51.5% of specimens as against 17.8% for all other drugs combined. Marijuana, the second most common drug, appeared in just 6.7% of accidents. Two-thirds of the marijuana using drivers also had alcohol. Drivers who use alcohol are especially vulnerable to fatal accidents when the are at the wheel. Marijuana alone had no indications to cause fatal accidents when not combined with other drugs. The Kaiser study also found that daily pot users have a 30% higher risk of injuries, mostly from accidents. These figures are pretty accurate, and not nearly as high as comparable risks for heavy drinkers or tobacco addicts.

Marijuana can cause accidents isn’t surprising since it has been shown to degrade short-term memory in chronic pot smokers. It can also impair concentration, judgment, and coordination at complex tasks including driving. There have been numerous reports of pot-related accidents, some fatal; saying it is a myth that no one has ever died from marijuana. A survey of 1,023 emergency room trauma patients in Baltimore found that 34.7% were under the influence of marijuana, more than alcohol, but almost all were combinations with alcohol use and pot.

The Partnership for a Drug-free America did a survey among teenagers from 13-15 years old. Only eight percent believed that people who use marijuana are popular. From this study they found that fewer teens agree many rock and rap stars make drug use look tempting, but few believe it glamorizes drug use. Teens thinking that most people use marijuana at least once or twice, declined to 35 percent in 1998 and 41 percent in 1997. 11 percent of teens think it is difficult to say no to reject invitation to try marijuana. Statistically, drug use among teens has declined significantly. So why do we continue to say we have a marijuana problem, when indeed it has gotten much better? Teens are people too, which make decisions just like adults. There are more teenagers out there than we think that make smart choices and act responsibly. One would not condone a child to use marijuana; we don’t allow them to use tobacco products and alcohol. This is a must in keeping them safe, because children are not mature enough to handle responsibility with drugs. That is where marijuana gets its bad reputation. Children who are involved with the drug are “curious” and want to try new things. Adults don’t turn to crack when they are out of alcohol, so what makes us think that marijuana, a drug, would lead to the same thing?

Knowing the positive side is always nice, but to be logical, you need the negative side as well. The short-term effects of marijuana use include: problems with memory and concentration, distorted perception (sight, sound, time, and touch) trouble with problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety. These effects are even greater when other drugs are mixed with marijuana, but it has been proven that every persons body is different and some effects may appear and some may it depends on the person. Long-term effect is cancer, which is still in question and not known whether or not it can be caused by marijuana. To determine whether or not it leads to cancer is hard to find out because so many users smoke cigarettes too. Pot smokers suffer lung damage just like tobacco users, and reported evidence shows that pre-cancerous cells are found in pot smokers. Overall, people who smoke marijuana have the same effects with the respiratory system as tobacco smokers.

Unlike tobacco, marijuana is not addictive from chemicals, it is mostly psychological. When people smoke marijuana, they may get depression, fatigue, and carelessness with appearance, hostility, and deteriorating relationships with family and friends. This is not effects from all users, but for some it can lead to this. Smoking marijuana can also cause change in sleeping patterns.

When we realize the problems that occur from smoking marijuana, it is easier to argue the point of why it remains illegal in the United States. Nearly all the health risks can be compared to those risks with smoking tobacco. When a person smokes a cigarette, the body responds immediately to the chemical nicotine in smoke. Nicotine causes short-term increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and blood flow from the heart, and causes arteries to narrow. Carbon monoxide reduces amount of oxygen carried in the blood, which creates an imbalance in the demand for oxygen carried by cells. Smoking can cause chronic lung disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke, as well as cancer in various parts of the body. It is a known fact that smoking tobacco causes cancer, but marijuana is not known for sure to cause it. Women who use tobacco during pregnancy are more likely to have difficult birth, low birth weight, and risk of infant death. Nearly 300,000 infants suffer from lower respiratory tract infections, due to exposure to cigarette smoke. We all know that smoking is almost a definite “no” for pregnant women. You see the warnings on the side of every cigarette pack. Studies done to prove marijuana doesn’t harm a fetus are criticized for obvious reasons. A woman named Nancy Day specializes in prenatal care. She did a study that was well controlled; finding that cannabis use had a positive impact on birth weight during the third trimester of pregnancy. Cannabis use is not recommended in pregnancy, it may be of medical value to some women in treating morning sickness or helping in childbirth.

Another drug that causes concern among many Americans, but remains legal is alcohol. Alcohol is absorbed in the stomach, enters the blood stream, and goes into all tissues. The effects from drinking are different depending on a person’s size, weight, sex, as well as food and alcohol consumed. Effects from drinking can cause dizziness, nausea, thirst, slurred speech, disturbed sleep, and vomiting. Alcohol impairs judgment and coordination, causes aggressive acts like domestic violence and child abuse. Prolonged use of alcohol can also lead to addiction, producing withdrawal symptoms. Drinking can cause tremors, hallucinations and convulsions. Permanent damage to vital organs can occur in the brain and liver. Mothers who drink during pregnancy may give their infants fetal alcohol syndrome, causing mental retardation and other irreversible physical abnormalities. These drugs are legal for adults, but yet have caused a lot of damage to millions of Americans. Theses people are generally adults, that are suppose to be responsible. They aren’t making wise choices when they abuse the drug, but the ones who are wise aren’t effected. The same goes for marijuana. It is illegal to use because of the people who once abused it, which led to suspicion of it’s use. The health dangers steaming from marijuana use are less or equal to smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol.

Everyone in this country is born with the right to make decisions. We all have choices, but how we make them is important. If we continue to doubt others, or even discriminate against them, we will always be in constant battle. The word “freedom” is suddenly followed by thousands of rules and exceptions. If we make things that can harm individuals illegal, is it really stopping it. Are we really thinking about what is out there now to legally screw up lives isn’t doing the job already? Let it be our choice, let it be our right, make it legal to be free to make our own choices. If we could just take a moment to think about all the madness in our world, the freedom to smoke pot is just a tiny seed. That is what marijuana comes from, a seed. It is a natural plant, which somehow along the way got miss-understood.

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