Television and Family: The Social Implications of a Mass Medium
Before the rise of the Internet and the immediacy of streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, television dominated the 20th century as the primary medium of entertainment and communication. Television was – less so than today – the center of Western culture, with blockbuster shows like Seinfeld and Friends dominating the landscape of American entertainment. In 1989, 98% of household in the U.S. own a television set, with those T.Vs being turned on for an average of 7 hours a day (Christopher, 210). Television’s mass dispersion into millions of households has also created intergenerational roots into familial standards of life. As one of the major mediums of advertising, television connects the audience directly with products and services advertisers sell. Coupled with a nation watching T.V. shows for hours on end, television holds a strong arm over consumer activity. In fact, advertising on television has been shown to influence children’s developmental behavior, making them more inclined to buy a product seen on t.v. (Fabes, 338).
Figure 1. Breakdown of television content.
Moreover, television has further implications on the psychological state of an individual and the individual’s relationship with others. In particular, familial relations have shown to be heavily influenced by the presence of television as most family gatherings (i.e. dinner time, leisure) take place around a t.v. set. The content of television shows has influence over family dynamics: drama shows have a tendency to create tension between family members while comedy achieves the opposite (Rosenblatt, 106). This cause-and-effect comes from the notion that “art imitates reality”; shows are designed to mimic and replicate real-life scenarios and even create ideal situations that viewers wish to have. There is an emotional connection that develops from watching a television show because the viewer connects the content that he or she is watching. Television shows are primarily centered around events that have either happened in real life or have the potential to happen. Historical fiction is a genre that is most common on television, with events like world wars, world cups, and commemorative anniversaries coming up frequently as topics to watch (Holdsworth, 138). Their popularity hinges on the idea of nostalgia: people want to relive potent moments of the past, whether good or bad, as a means of self-preservation.
Television is a complex, multi-layered medium that plays heavily into the human psyche. Its revolutionary way of bringing communication to the next level is why out society is heavily grounded in t.v. dictating cultural trends and displaying socioeconomic issues. Advertising has taken note of this from the get-go, and uses television’s non-stop format to consistently bombard viewers with advertisements in a way that engrains the product into our minds and everyday lives.
Works Cited:
- Christopher, F. Scott et al. “Family Television Viewing: Implications for Family Life Education.” Family Relations, vol. 38, no. 2, 1989, pp. 210–214. www.jstor.org/stable/583677.
- Ayers, Jerry B. “Elementary School Teachers’ Attitudes toward Instructional Television.” The Journal of Experimental Education, vol. 41, no. 1, 1972, pp. 1–4. www.jstor.org/stable/20157315.
- Fabes, Richard A. et al. “A Time to Reexamine the Role of Television in Family Life.” Family Relations, vol. 38, no. 3, 1989, pp. 337–341. www.jstor.org/stable/585062.
- Holdsworth, Amy. “‘Television Resurrections’: Television and Memory.” Cinema Journal, vol. 47, no. 3, 2008, pp. 137–144. www.jstor.org/stable/30136121.
- Rosenblatt, Paul C., and Michael R. Cunningham. “Television Watching and Family Tensions.” Journal of Marriage and Family, vol. 38, no. 1, 1976, pp. 105–111. www.jstor.org/stable/350554.
Leishmaniasis: What is it and What is Being Done?
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by the Leishmania parasite. There are several kinds of Leishmaniasis that can occur in people, but cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are the most common. This infection is spread by bites from phlebotomine sand flies, which can be seen Figure 1 (CDC, 2013). Visceral Leishmaniasis is the most serious infection and is prevalent in 6 countries; Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, South Sudan and Sudan. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is more common, but less serious than visceral. It is prevalent in 10 countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Peru, Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic (WHO, 2016).
With cutaneous leishmaniasis, sores appear on the skin of the infected person. These sores can get worse and become ulcers, but are usually never too serious. Usually, the sores from cutaneous leishmaniasis can heal on their own without treatment. With visceral leishmaniasis, the internal organs of the infected person are affected. When affected with this form of leishmaniasis, the person usually suffers from a fever, severe weight loss, swelling of internal organs (especially spleen and liver), low red and white blood cell count (CDC, 2016). If left untreated, visceral leishmaniasis can be fatal. According to a study by Alvar et al. in 2012, there are about 20-40,000 deaths per year as a result of leishmaniasis disease.
Leishmaniasis is a public health issue since a total of roughly 88 countries are burdened with the disease, which can be seen in figure 2. Additionally, the disease continues to spread due to large migrations of people, urbanization, and poor irrigation. The disease is also made worse by individual risk factors that occur in the affected countries. Risk factors such as HIV, malnutrition, and genetic mutations can increase the severity of the disease (Desjeux, 2004).
The saliva from non-infected sand flies might be the future in Leishmaniasis vaccines. According to a study conducted where a group of rhesus monkeys were bitten by uninfected sandflies and then were infected with leishmaniasis. When they were bitten by uninfected flies first, they seemed to have built up an immunity to the disease. The emergence of this new research is important since many people are migrating or traveling to countries where leishmaniasis is endemic. As a result, they will not have been exposed to the saliva from the sand flies, therefore are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. Additionally, there is really no effective vaccine for the disease, and since the disease is most common in less developed countries, it is crucial that an accessible and effective form of protection is offered (Oliviera, 2015).
Figure 1: Life cycle of leishmaniasis parasite (CDC)
Figure 2: Map of the leishmaniasis disease (WHO)
Works Cited:
Leishmaniasis in high-burden countries: An epidemiological update based on data reported in 2014. (2016, June 3). World Health Organization Weekly Epidemiological Record, 22(91), 285-296.
Center for Disease Control: Biology. (2013, January 10). https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/leishmaniasis/biology.html
Desjeux, P. (2004, September). Leishmaniasis: Current situation and new perspectives. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 27(5), 305-318.
Alvar, J., Vélez, I. D., Bern, C., Herrero, M., Desjeux, P., Cano, J., Boer, M. D. (2012, May 31). Leishmaniasis Worldwide and Global Estimates of Its Incidence. PLoS ONE, 7(5). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035671
Oliviera, F. (2015, July 13). Sand-Fly Vaccine Provides Protection in Monkeys Against Leishmaniasis. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
Lina Mohamed-Writing Assignment 6
Lina Mohamed Professor Kowach
MHC Writing Assignment 3
Natural Medicine Continued-Acne
One of the most common struggles that teens and young adults go through these days is acne -Acne Vulgaris and Acne Conglobata. The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine gives many reasons as to why people suffer from acne while providing natural relief and treatments. Sufferers of acne tend to turn to pimple creams, harsh face scrubs, and even pills to adjust hormone levels that may be causing acne. People do not tend to go deep and try to figure out the causes of these acne such as stress, eating habits, makeup products, hair products and tons of other causes. Most acne is caused by certain life style choices, habits and can be easily changed. For example, if one’s diet consists of too much sugar or fatty foods (foods high in trans fats and high-fat goods), this can be a major acne contributor and can be easily avoided. Limiting foods high in iodine and milk products can reduce acne incidences by a drastic amount.
Also another major tip is cleanliness and face care routines that minimize dirt and bacteria on the face, neck, shoulders and other acne prone areas. Acne can be escalated if one has clogged pores and pores that are being exposed to bacteria and other types of dirt. “P.acnes releases lipases, hydrolyzing sebum triglycerides into free fatty acid lipoperoxides, promoting inflammation” (…Handbook of Natural Medicine, 2016). Clean skin is essential to clearer skin and this can be achieved with natural methods rather than man-made products found everywhere in drugstores. For example, daily cleansing with Calendula soap.
Spot treatments for acne are also becoming prevalent in drugstores and beauty stores. However, there are natural alternatives for topical treatment of acne. For example, tea tree oil (5% to 15%) preparations can be extremely helpful to acne and act as skin disinfectants. Tea tree oil is very strong and that is why it must be used only when diluted and used with caution. However, most topical treatments are also harsh on the skin so why not use a natural method instead of a man-made chemically filled treatment.
Certain vitamins can be taken to supplement natural treatments to adjust hormone levels and work from within. Vitamin C is highly effective in improving symptoms of acne. Also, Vitamin E and selenium are great for acne treatment. Vitamin E with selenium regulates retinol levels and normalizes red blood cell glutathione peroxidase, especially in men. Their treatment inhibits lipid peroxide formation and improve acne by targeting internal problems. Vitamin A also “reduces sebum production and hyperkeratinization of sebaceous follicles” (…Handbook of Natural Medicine, 2016). All of these suggested treatments and supplements require time to work. Therefore, one must be patient when treating acne especially when trying to cure the roots of the problem and not just exterior effects. Most over the counter acne products simply try to solve exterior acne and will work for a while then stop working. Also, our bodies tend to get so used to these man-made products which is not favorable. To conclude, natural alternatives fix the whole problem and not just certain parts.
References:
–Multivalent Carbohydrate-Lectin Interactions. Molecules,2016. The Traditional Medicine and Modern Medicine from Natural Products
Haidan Yuan 1,2, Qianqian Ma 1, Li Ye 1 and Guangchun Piao 1,2,*
1-College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
2-Key Laboratory of Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain and Functional Molecules, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
Retreived from Google Scholars: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/21/5/559
–The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine
By Joseph E. Pizzorno Jr., Michael T. Murray, Herb Joiner-Bey. 2016 by Elsevier. Third Edition.
Retrieved from Google scholars: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=LYwtDAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=doctors+on+natural+medicine&ots=ADrvEz9UGN&sig=Lg6t2XZV7qEp6P0l4dYSnSDAJxs#v=onepage&q=doctors%20on%20natural%20medicine&f=false
-(NCCIH, 2008). Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved from:
https://nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/2007/camsurvey_fs1.htm
-(2011) Prescription Painkiller Overdoses in the US. CDC. Retreived from:
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/painkilleroverdoses/
-Image retrieved from : http://purelyprimalskincare.com/?hop=galus
-Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide (2nd Edition)– June 6, 2002 Retrieved from Google Scholars: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=OyrhatOdk9gC&oi=fnd&pg=PA270&dq=natural+alternatives+to+painkillers&ots=68fhOAE58y&sig=-malo2jqTO8ylS5N_CVlAN-PFSo#v=onepage&q=natural%20alternatives%20to%20painkillers&f=false
Repetition and Order: How Space Filling Fractal Curves Exhibit Aesthetics
A space filling curve is a line that can be drawn continuously, without lifting a pen if done on paper. However, when this curve is drawn infinitely, it completely fills a square without any holes [1]. One example of a curve like this is the Hilbert curve. To produce the Hilbert curve, take the n step, and using the method of producing the n+1 step, which is detailed within Figure 1., use this same method any number of times to get the desired iteration. As the iteration number increases, the curve gets longer, and when done infinitely it will completely fill the space.
Figure 1. The process of getting from the first iteration to the second of the Hilbert curve
Figure 2. The first six iterations of the Hilbert curve (Wikipedia)
The Hilbert curve, or any space filling curve, may just be a theoretical way of solving a given problem in mathematics. The mathematician Peano first discovered the space filling curve in order to disprove that a continuous curve does not have to be enclosed within a region. Yet, one may argue that these curves do hold aesthetic value, due to their composition of fractal nature.
What gives fractals this sense of aesthetic? One idea might be that of repetition. Due to the fact that fractals are self-similar, they do exhibit a form of repetition, producing the same form infinitely, growing smaller with each iteration. Ellen Levy argues two points for the general concept of repetition in art, which we can apply to repetition by fractals. Firstly, repetition “…helps defer closure in a work of art by establishing expectations of recurrence while giving pleasure to the viewer” [2]. Secondly, “Active repetition in art can evoke evolutionary processes…” which can be defined as the repetitive aspect of nature. However, we cannot use this second point to describe fractals because nature is, in fact, fractal. Gleick states that “Clouds are not spheres. Mountains are not cones. Lightning does not travel in a straight line” [3]. Defining the aesthetics behind fractals by something that is inherently composed of fractal forms creates a cyclical argument.
Instead, fractals may be considered to be art due to the concepts of chaos and order. On their surface, fractal images may appear to be complex, intricate shapes. However, there is a great deal of order and pattern to fractals. This sense of order produces a natural “subconscious curiosity to find relation, symmetry and recurrence” [4, p. 226]. Garousi and Kowsari argued that these fractals of pure order and regularity simultaneously exist with chaos and disorder, much like the outer world we live in [4]. Making sense of the complexity by using this order, we can begin to understand fractals, as well as appreciate them as an art form in this light.
Take, for example, the Koch Snowflake. The edges exhibit the fractal design, which repeat infinitely. It may be difficult to understand how the edges work by purely looking at it, but understanding the process of how to create the figure, one may be able to see the underlying structure and how to produce an infinite shape. In this way, the fractal takes a seemingly complex image and expresses it as a simple formula, step by step, giving it order.
Figure 3. The first four iterations of the Koch snowflake (Wikipedia)
Because of all this, we can begin to understand how a space filling curve can be a form of art. These fractal curves take an infinite set of points in some multidimensional space, such as a plane or space (even a hyperspace). It then connects all these points according to a specific curve, repeating a pattern until all points are on this curve. This set of infinitely is therefore simply expressed by one continuous line, producing order to a concept we cannot conceive. Fundamentally, these space filling curves contain the same artistic values as other fractals, so that we can conclude these curves are, in fact, a form of art.
References:
[1] Séébold, Patrice. “Tag-Systems For The Hilbert Curve.” Discrete Mathematics & Theoretical Computer Science (DMTCS) 9.2 (2007): 213-226. Academic Search Complete. Web. 9 Nov. 2016.
[2] Levy, Ellen K. “Repetition And The Scientific Model In Art.” Art Journal 55.1 (1996): 79. Academic Search Complete. Web. 9 Nov. 2016.
[3] Liebovitch, Larry S., and Daniela Scheurle. “Two lessons from fractals and chaos.” Complexity 5.4 (2000): 34-43.
[4] Garousi, Mehrdad, and Masoud Kowsari. “Fractal Art And Postmodern Society.” Journal Of Visual Art Practice 10.3 (2012): 215-229. Academic Search Complete. Web. 9 Nov. 2016.
[5] Arlinghaus, Sandra Lach. “Fractals Take a Central Place.” Geografiska Annaler. Series B, Human Geography, vol. 67, no. 2, 1985, pp. 83–88. www.jstor.org/stable/490419.
Open Dumpsites’s Adverse Effects to Human and Environment
Medical waste is one of the most harmful wastes being disposed and treated on landfills (Diaz and Savage, 2003). It is broadly defined as liquid or solid wastes generated from the diagnosis, treatment, and immunization of human beings and animals (Akter, 1999). Wastes from this category can have adverse effects on human health and a negative impact on natural environment and ecosystems (Akter, 2000). Hence, a proper medical waste management system should be provided immediately in both developing and developed countries to decrease the occurrence of waste related disease and adverse effects on ecosystems and the environment.
Many developing countries overlooked the importance of safe medical waste handling. According to Alter’s study, most governments have no clear guidance systems to ensure the proper disposal and segregation of medical wastes. As most wastes are collected and dumped in a common place, where it was located on roadsides, dust bins, and even resold and poured down main sewer drains (Akter, 1999). In addition, some wastes are also disposed in open fields, rivers, lakes, and ditches. This will result in potential risks of an adverse change in the natural environment. One important fact is that the majority of the people surveyed does not know what are considered as medical wastes and moreover, most of them does not have any existing idea of the damage they can cause. Due to the constant careless mishandling and disposal of these wastes, contaminants often come in contact with wild animals and the natural environment. These contaminants change the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the environment, in which could change the Earth’s temperature, toxicity in soil, and even other characteristics such as the discharge of radioactive substances (Akter, 1999). Disposed liquid medical wastes could also seep into groundwater, surface water, and also adversely affect the air quality with odors and toxins. And because of the close contact between these wastes and humans, medical wastes can also have an adverse effect on the health of humans and the wildlife.
A review done in 1999 estimated that 4 out of the 5.2 million people that died each year in Bangladesh from waste-related diseases were children (Akter, 1999). Clinical and non-clinical wastes were found in dumpsites, which poses an extremely harmful threat to ecosystems and as well as human communities. Pathogens and hazardous materials are capable of causing diseases to human and animals both directly or indirectly by contaminating soil, air, surface water, and groundwater. Wastes contain certain toxic substances that would lead to an infection when they have contact with human or living animals, and also cause air pollutant and water pollution, in which we consume on a regular basis (Akter, 1999). According to the science research study by Glenn Sia Su, she claims that the families who lived around open dumpsites in Payatas, Philippines were affected by waterborne illness due to the improper way of landfill procedures that led to water pollution. Toxic substances that caused waterborne illness from the open dumpsites seeped into the grounds and through the drinking wells in Payatas. The impact of open dumpsites was mostly influencing the uneducated people because of their unhygienic living styles which led to their higher risk of getting waterborne diseases, particularly diarrhea (Su, 2005).
Raman and Sathiya Narayanan from VHNSN College also examined the soil and water quality near open dumpsites in Chennai, India. The pH, temperature, electric conductivity, amount of heavy metal and other physical or chemical properties were tested from the samples. It was found that the groundwater quality was highly contaminated and it was unacceptable by the Indian Drinking Water Quality standard (Raman and Sathiya Narayanan, 2008). As recent as many of these kinds of research were conducted in the 2000s, developing countries are still using open dumpsites as their medical waste disposal method. The results all supported that dumpsites can have very negative impacts on their nearby families and can cause toxic contamination that leads to diseases.
Figure 1. Left is the Pallavarm landfill site. The right is Joy Nagar nearer to Pallvaram landfill site. Figure taken from Raman and Sathiya Narayanan, 2008.
In conclusion, these studies of various countries provide us important information to convince us to adopt a safer and cleaner way to dispose medical wastes. One important fact is the lack of awareness of individuals about medical wastes. Individuals surveyed were asked questions to distinguish common wastes and medical wastes, in which many failed to accomplish. They were also clueless about their environmental and health impacts. Wastes can be disposed carelessly on road sides, dust bins, open fields and even enter our air and water systems. As a result, this can cause an extremely harmful effect to our health by exposing us to illnesses and injuries, such as HIV, cancer, infections, and other related diseases. In addition, medical waste could also have an adverse effect on the environment. The waste that is leaked into the water or released into the air can potentially cause changes that have a negative impact on the chemical, physical, and/or biological properties of the environment. Which in turn, can cause more health issues and problems for humans living close to these landfill locations. Therefore, it is important for countries and its governments to implement a clear guide on how to properly distinguish and safely dispose of medical wastes.
Work Cited
Ramen, N., and Sathiya Narayanan, D. (2008). Impact of Solid Waste Effect On Ground Water and Soil Quality Nearer to Pallavaram Solid Waste Landfill Site in Chennai. Rasayan J. Chem. Vol. 1, No 4.
Full Body Scanners: New detection technologies
Full body scanners are now the norm at many US airports. Working alongside metal detectors and baggage scanners, the giant machines help make air travel safer and more efficient.
Unlike traditional metal detectors where the machines only detect metal objects such as guns and knives, these full body scanners are able to detect anything that could be a potential threat. These machines are able to detect bombs made from organic matter and illegal drugs that passengers may be carrying (Mahesh).
The full body scanners use two main systems, backscatter x-ray technology and millimeter wave detection. Both of these systems use radiation to penetrate clothing to get an image of the body. In a baggage x-ray system, the device works like that of a medical x-ray. Strong radiation is given off by the machine that is connected to a screen which the agent then inspects. Backscatter x-rays however, use far less radiation and only measure the x-rays that are bounced back from your body or objects on the person (Mehta and Smith-Bendelman). Concealed items such as liquid bombs, ceramic knives or drugs would go undetected a typical metal detector but would show up in a backscatter machine. Millimeter wave detection works on a similar principle with rays transmitted out to your body and bounced back. The machine then makes a radar image of the body without the scary x-ray technology (Moulder).
Backscatter technology exposes the passenger to very minimal amounts of radiation. In comparison, a passenger would have to pass through the backscatter system 1000 to 2000 times before experiencing the same exposure as a chest x-ray. The TSA agents operating the machines face about 100 uSv of radiation per year which is far less than the safe health limit of 50,000 uSv per year (Zanetti-Fregonara).
Millimeter wave detection, on the other hand does not expose passengers to ionizing radiation but uses a form of electromagnetic radiation called millimeter waves. These waves lie in the spectral region between radio waves and infrared to obtain images. These advanced scanners beam low powered millimeter waves over the surface of the body using two rotating antennas. The energy reflected back from the machine is analyzed to create body images and located any questionable items (Hindie).
This new technology is considered as a more efficient security measure where they are being more commonly used in US airports. They are able to quickly view a passenger’s person with barely any harmful effects.
Figure 1: Backscatter image of passenger at an airport screening
Figure 2: Shows the comparison of backscatter radiation and millimeter wave detection to common radiation exposure
References
Mahesh, 2010 M. Mahesh Use of full body scanners at airports British Medical Journal (2010), p. 340 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c993 c993
Mehta and Smith-Bindman, 2011 P. Mehta, R. Smith-Bindman Airport full-body screening: what is the risk? Archives of Internal Medicine, 171 (12) (2011), pp. 1112–1115 http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.105
Moulder, 2012 J.E. Moulder Risks of exposure to ionizing and millimeter-wave radiation from airport whole-body scanners
Radiation Research, 177 (6) (2012), pp. 723–726
Zanotti-Fregonara Zanotti-Fregonara Radiation risk from airport X-ray backscatter scanners: should we fear the microsievert?
E. Hindie Journal of Radiology, 261 (1) (2011), pp. 330–331 http://dx.doi.org/10.1148/radiol.11110983 author reply 331–332
Cannabis Use and its Relation to Psychological Disorders including Anxiety and Depression
Cannabis has become a very popular drug world wide, and has even been legalized in some countries. Avid cannabis users love the benefits that cannabis can provide, and medical professionals even prescribe it to patients as a natural pain remedy. While cannabis is widely known to calm people down and relieve physical pain, it has been shown to complicate and worsen symptoms in patients with mental disorders including anxiety and depression.
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry followed 3,239 Australian young adults from birth to age 21 and data on their anxiety and depression and cannabis use were collected over time. The study found that “those who started using cannabis before age 15 years and used it frequently at 21 years were more likely to report symptoms of AD in early adulthood (odds ratio 3.4; 95% CI 1.9-6.1)” (Hayatbakhsh et al., 2007). Furthermore, a study published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) followed 1,601 students ages 14-15 for seven years to determine if cannabis use during their adolescence would lead to higher rates of anxiety and depression later on in life. The study found that “Daily use in young women was associated with an over fivefold increase in the odds of reporting a state of depression and anxiety after adjustment for intercurrent use of other substances (odds ratio 5.6, 95% confidence interval 2.6 to 12). Weekly or more frequent cannabis use in teenagers predicted an approximately twofold increase in risk for later depression and anxiety (1.9, 1.1 to 3.3) after adjustment for potential baseline confounders” (Patton et al., 2002). Therefore, it is clear that young people who use cannabis may have a greater chance of having anxiety or depression in their lives.
A study published in the Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology consisted of analyzing data from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being that involved cannabis use and anxiety and depression rates. The researchers found that “Among those with DSM-IV cannabis dependence, 14% met criteria for an affective disorder, compared to 6% of non-users; while 17% met criteria for an anxiety disorder, compared to 5% of non-users” (Degenhardt et al., 2001). Moreover, a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that after following participants of the Oregon Adolescent Depression Project, “SAD [social anxiety disorder] at study entry was associated with 6.5 greater odds of cannabis dependence… at follow-up after controlling for relevant variables (e.g., gender, depression, conduct disorder)” (Buckner et al., 2008).
Lastly, a study published in the Frontiers in Psychiatry Journal conducted research to determine a link between cannabis use and psychiatric illnesses. As seen in the figure below, researchers found that the risk of psychiatric illness later in life is heightened when cannabis is used during adolescence (Chadwick et al., 2013).
Cannabis use during adolescence vs. risk of psychiatric illnesses (green line = cannabis-exposed, gray line = unexposed)
The amount of people who support the legalization of cannabis seems to increase every day, and supporters claim that cannabis can work wonders as a pain remedy and an all-around calming drug. However, there is a large amount of evidence that shows that cannabis can work adversely for people who struggle with psychological disorders including anxiety and depression.
Works Cited
Buckner JD, Schmidt NB, Lang AR, et al. Specificity of social anxiety disorder as a risk factor for alcohol and cannabis dependence. Journal of Psychiatric Research. Vol 42, p 230-239. 2008.
Chadwick B, Miller ML, Hurd YL. Cannabis use during adolescent development: susceptibility to psychiatric illnesses. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Vol 4, p 32-39. 2013.
Degenhardt L, Hall W, Lynskey M. The relationship between cannabis use, depression and anxiety among Australian adults: findings from the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Vol 36, p 219-227. 2001.
Hayatbakhsh MR, Najman JM, Jamrozik K, et al. Cannabis and Anxiety and Depression in Young Adults: A Large Prospective Study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Vol 46, p 408-417. 2007.
Patton GC, Coffey C, Carlin JB, et al. Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study. The British Medical Journal. Vol 325, p 1195-1198. 2002.
Causes of Traffic Accidents: Bad Driving Habits Contribute to Life-Threatening Distractions
Numerous different factors contribute to increased risks of traffic accidents and fatalities; however, the most important component is the irresponsibility of drivers. After all, the drivers’ fates are in their own hands, since, in most cases, the reasons behind one’s arrival at a “dead end” are hidden behind one’s hazardous driving habits.
It is important to recognize that unsafe driving habits contribute to distractions (Figure 1), since, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 65% of near crashes and 80% of all crashes occur due to distracted minds (Professional Safety, 2005). The first type of driver distraction is called “physical,” and it is the one most people are aware of (Professional Safety, 2013). The first element of this type is a simple human necessity – eating. Very often people would eat while driving on the highway, steering with only one hand and sharing their attention between the road and the food. This significantly increases the reaction time and impairs the ability to properly change lanes. Furthermore, when a spill occurs, the driver’s focus is rapidly shifted towards cleaning that expensive shirt, which is creating a risk of a vehicle crash and suggesting a simple alternative – spend 10 minutes eating before getting in the car.
Figure 1: Example of Driving Distractions
Source: American Automobile Association
Another important subpart of the physical factor is children. Screaming toddlers and children fighting in the back seat can distract the driver no matter how focused he/she is on the road. The best way to avoid this problem is to train children to be quiet and occupy their minds with pre-planned “in-car” activities (Sagberg et al., 2015).
Last but not least, the use of cell phones while driving contributes to a very high level of distraction. Unfortunately, the ability to easily communicate through the cellular network and many other technological innovations bring with them new reasons for distraction. Studies have shown that a driver talking on a cell phone has the same chance of crashing as a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, which is the legal limit in the United States (Sagberg et al., 2015). It is interesting that the majority of opponents of drunk driving use their cell phones while driving. Additionally, hands-free devices do not make driving any safer, since it is the conversation itself that is causing the distraction. Also, studies have shown that texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by 60 times, since, in this case, the driver’s focus is completely absorbed by the content of the message (Moser, 2011) (see Figure 2 below); therefore, texting and driving can never be justified.
Figure 2: Cell Phone Distracted Driving – Breakdown
Source: California Traffic Safety Institute
The second type of driver distraction is called “mental.” Even though the initial stage of this type of distraction is “invisible” and can’t be identified with a naked eye, it doesn’t mean that mental distraction is trivial. Very often people start thinking about their personal issues and get lost in their thoughts, which leads to daydreaming. The first source of mental distraction is road rage – reckless driving is the way a lot of drivers react to unsafe actions of other drivers, which is putting both parties at risk (Moser, 2011). Emotion control is a crucial skill required to maintain safety in this case, since desire for revenge is never worth the risk of a crash. Unfortunately, reckless driving appears to be a part of the routine for some people (Figure 3), which means that it is hard to bring them under control, and only fines or tragic events can change their unsafe ways, since crashes for them is just a matter of time.
Figure 3: Expression of Road Rage and Aggression by Drivers
Source: American Automobile Association
The next piece of the “mental” cloud is drunk driving. The reaction time of a healthy adult is about ¾ of a second; however, one drink doubles that amount, which emphasizes how dangerous it is to drive after drinking to the point of intoxication (Rivara et al., 2007). Every single year about 18,000 people die because of drunk driving in the United States (Moser, 2011). NHTSA states that 3 of every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lives (17). Moreover, the recidivism rate is 33%, which is so high that it makes drunk driving a habit for a lot of drivers (Rivara et al., 2007). That group of people believes in the existence of “experienced” drinkers, thinking that the effect of alcohol on those drinkers is reduced due to “immunity.” The best way to prevent alcohol-related crashes from occurring is to check potential drivers for previous DUI or DWI convictions and grant driving privileges based on the results of screening, since prior convictions act as an important factor given the recidivism rate.
Loss of concentration when rushing or any aggressive behavior can lead to red-light violations. This type of violation is extremely dangerous, since the majority of intersection crashes happen at 45-degree angles, and if the door is hit where a person is seated, then the body absorbs a direct transfer of energy even with advanced airbags (Professional Safety, 2005). In order to avoid “pushing” red signals all the time, drivers should be constantly scanning the intersection areas they are approaching to figure out how much time they have before the light turns red.
Most of the drivers set allowed speed limits within their minds based on where they are driving in order to drive within that limit. Nevertheless, there are drivers without this feeling of limit, which leads to a habit of speeding. Whether the driver is always running late or simply feels comfortable speeding, every additional 10 miles per hour to the speed double the forces of impact in case of a collision (Professional Safety, 2013). An increase in speed decreases and can even eliminate the driver’s ability to react and avoid an accident. In order to prevent drivers from speeding, it is critical to check motor vehicle records and take appropriate actions if aggressive driving pattern is detected. Actions can include different sanctions or training.
Fatigue appears to be the next unit among “mental distractors.” In the modern world people tend to not leave enough time in their schedules for sleeping and resting. Slapping the face and turning up the music help the driver for only a short period of time if they do. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), about 1.9 million drivers have fatigue-related accidents every year (Radun, 2006). 54% of the drivers surveyed by NSF have driven while fatigued in 2011 (Radun, 2006). The best way to avoid fatigue-related accidents is to not drive without enough sleep and plan in advance to rest before the drive. For long trips, it is important to stop and rest every two hours, even if the driver had enough sleep, since stretching, washing the face, and even drinking a beverage can energize and refresh the driver.
People have habits related to every single activity in their lives, and driving is not an exception. The way we drive affects us and other people, so we should be constantly working on removing bad habits through the process of four Rs: recognition, replacement, repetition, and retention. We have to recognize that we have bad habits, replace them with good ones, and then keep on going through the process until only the good habits are retained. We have to constantly fight the distractions while driving, and the methods can be as unusual as verbalizing what we observe while driving to stay focused on the road. Our choices matter, and we have to remember that not a lot of things can change our lives as fast as a car accident.
Works Cited (MLA Format)
Moser, Philip. “Managing Unsafe Drivers & Their Unsafe Habits.” Best Practices 56.5 (2011): 16-18.
Professional Safety. “Cintas Lists the Seven Most Hazardous Driving Habits.” Professional Safety 58.4 (2013): 30.
Professional Safety. “Drivers Urged to Follow Safe Driving Tips in Highway Work Zones.” Professional Safety 50.6 (2005): 64.
Radun, Igor, and Jenni Radun. “Seasonal Variation of Falling Asleep While Driving: An Examination of Fatal Road Accidents.” Chronobiology International: The Journal of Biological & Medical Rhythm Research 23.5 (2006): 1053-1064.
Rivara, Frederick, Annemarie Relyea-Chew, Wang Jin, Suzefte Riley, Deanne Boisvert, and Tony Gomez. “Drinking Behaviors in Young Adults: The Potential Role of Designated Driver and Safe Ride Home Programs.” Injury Prevention 13.3 (2007): 168-172.
Sagberg, Fridulv, Francesco Bianchi Piccinini, and Johan Engström. “A Review of Research on Driving Styles and Road Safety.” Driving Styles and Road Safety 57.7 (2015): 1248-1275.
Improper Medical Waste Treatment Raise Public Concern
The concern for hazardous medical waste started in the 1980s when medical waste was washed up on several east coast beaches (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). The improper management of potentially infectious medical waste posed a serious health risk to the public and health care workers. In response this, the Congress drafted the Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 (MWTA), which is a United States federal law that imposed heavy penalties for illegal disposal of blood wastes, body tissues, and other contaminated biological materials (Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1988). The law created a two-year program that was enacted in four coastal states (Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey) and Puerto Rico. After the program expired in 1991, incineration reminded as a popular method for medical waste treatment in the United States.
Before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed strict regulations on incinerator ashes emission in August of 1997, over 90% of the potentially infectious medical waste was treated by this method (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). In addition to the regulations, EPA’s Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory also initiated a study to investigate the risk of medical waste treatments and particularly focused on incineration. It was well known that medical waste contains many toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury (Hickman, 1987). During the incineration process, metals can break down into different phases when they were burned at a high temperature. Toxic metals presented in different physical phases were produced after incinerated, but these substances cannot be destroyed and can leak out of the incinerator by many ways. For example, air pollution may be resulted after incineration if the air pollution control equipment is not working properly or the appropriate control equipment configuration is not even installed. Hence, the control of metal emissions is still a remaining issue for the environment (Lee and Huffman, 1988).
Table 1. EPA’s Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory found the air concentrations for 6 types of toxic metals after incineration. Table retrieved from Lee and Huffman, 1988.
Incineration may be a decent way to kill off infectious microorganism from medical waste, but its resulting residues can cause unexpected issues. Incinerator ashes are mutagenic and can lead to respiratory problems, heart diseases, and cancer (Allsopp et al., 2001). For this reason, EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards promulgated stricter incineration emission standards. The Council State of Government strongly encouraged public education on medical waste treatments and set up a guideline on the proper ways of treating medical waste in terms of treatment technologies, disposal, and transportation (The Council of State Governments, 1992). Government and environmental researchers are still working to improve medical waste treatment. As recent as 2013, EPA is still on progress in revising the Hospital Medical Infectious Waste Incinerator to reduce medical waste incinerator ashes and improve the air quality (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016).
Work Cited
Allsopp, M., Costner, P., and Johnston, P. (2001). Incineration and Human Health. Greenpeace Research Laboratories. University of Exeter, UK.
Hickman, D.C. (1987). Cadmium and Lead in Bio-Medical Waste Incinerators. Master of Science Thesis. University of California, Davis.
Lee, C.C., Huffman, G.L. (1988). Metals Behavior During Medical Waste Incineration. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory. Cincinnati, Ohio.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Vice president of the United States, and president of the Senate. (1988). Report for H.R.3515 Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988. One Hundredth Congress of the United States of America at the Second Session. City of Washington.
The Council of State Government. (1992). Model Guidelines for state Medical Waste Management. Lexington, Kentucky.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Medical Waste. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/rcra/medical-waste
Escher’s Tessellations: Symmetry and Groups Expressed as Art
Artist M. C. Escher’s work, “Regular Division of the Plane,” extensively uses different tessellations that are altered into various drawings. These tessellations, or shapes that tile a plane, tended to be constructed out of altering various polygons, such as triangles and squares. In one technique, Escher would find polygons that tile a plane, and then alter them to give them forms of animals or patterns, which would result in a form of art.
Figure 1. A method of creating tiles that cover the plane. The base form is a square, and any changes that were done to one edge are done opposite on the adjacent edge [1]
On its surface, this may just be a technique an artist used to create his works. However, these works exhibit various mathematical concepts within. The first of these concepts is symmetry. Each of Escher’s tile drawings exhibit at least one of the four symmetries: reflection, rotation, glide and translation. He began studying the seventeen different plane symmetry groups extensively, as introduced to him by a paper from the mathematician Pólya, in order to produce many of these tilings [2, p. 708]. A symmetry group is the set of all isometries, or a translation that preserves distance, that map a pattern onto itself. The seventeen groups that Escher studied and emulated are also known as the two-dimensional crystallographic groups, as periodic patterns are classified by their symmetry groups in the same way crystallographers classify crystals [3, p. 441]. Escher’s artwork clearly displays various concepts of the symmetry groups, and as a result it has used to teach symmetry and translation concepts, as well as a source of discovery, such as when beginning to look at color symmetry groups [2, pp. 714, 716]. The deep rooted concept of symmetry shows the technical mathematical nature of the various pieces within “Regular Divisions of the Plane,” despite Escher’s personal investigations tending to focus on creating art, which is arguably a form of mathematics in its own right [2, p. 706].
Figure 2. The seventeen plane symmetry groups [3]
Beyond these symmetry groups, more general sub groups can be analyzed within Escher’s artwork. Using a fixed prototile, the symmetry group is used to produce the whole tiling. Because a symmetry group includes a number of isometries in order to produce the entire tiling, one can deduce that subgroups of this symmetry group fix certain edges or vertices of the tilings [4, p. 36]. This also applies to the colorings of the tiles, as different symmetries produce different permutations, or arrangements of a set, for a given tessellation.
The use of these subgroups is how mathematicians came up with fractal salamanders to tile a plane. Using one of Escher’s symmetry drawings that made use of salamanders, mathematicians recreated the design with self-similar fractal “salamanders” [5]. Though they may not be as aesthetically pleasing, these salamanders were systematically created by different subgroups and properties of symmetry, mathematically producing the same form Escher was working with. Even further, these fractal salamanders are self-similar, which means they are made up of themselves, as subdivisions of these sets produce the same set. Using Escher’s work as a guide, mathematicians were able to emphasize concepts of group theory to a greater extent, while preserving the artistic nature of the various tilings. Although perhaps not the original intention, Escher’s artwork has presented numerous concepts in mathematics, showing his contributions as not only an artist, but as a mathematician as well.
Figure 3. A fractal salamander, along with a depiction of its self-similarity [5]
References:
[1] Haak, Sheila. “Transformation geometry and the artwork of MC Escher.” Mathematics Teacher 69.8 (1976): 647-652.
[2] Schattschneider, Doris. “The mathematical side of MC Escher.” Notices of the AMS 57.6 (2010): 706-718.
[3] Schattschneider, Doris. “The plane symmetry groups: their recognition and notation.” The American Mathematical Monthly 85.6 (1978): 439-450.
[4] Senechal, Marjorie. “The algebraic escher.” Structural Topology 1988 núm 15(1988).
[5] Gelbrich, Götz, and Katja Giesche. “Fractal escher salamanders and other animals.” The Mathematical Intelligencer 20.2 (1998): 31-35.
