Can you help me consider Gabriel Conroy's role as a family patriarch in "The Dead" by James Joyce?

In James Joyce's "The Dead," Gabriel Conroy presents an interesting patriarchal figure. On the one hand, he is shown to be an important person in his own family, the classic male patriarch; on the other, he is shown to be ineffectual and weak, a subversion of traditional patriarchal modes.

Aunt Kate and Aunt Julia, the hostesses of the party that most of the narrative outlines, hold their nephew Gabriel in high regard. Upon meeting  Gabriel, it becomes apparent that he's a well-educated fellow of privileged social standing. Each year he has the distinguished honor to both carve the goose at the party's dinner table and give an after-dinner speech. In these ways, Gabriel becomes something of a classic patriarch: he wields a certain level of power and prestige, and he presides at the head of the table when his family and friends meet for important social gatherings.

In many ways, however, Gabriel is also the opposite of the traditional patriarch, and his character subverts this masculine ideal. He doesn't seem to fit in with most of his friends and family, and it seems that some of them even dislike him and view him as misguided or ineffectual. Most importantly, it becomes apparent that he doesn't even control the loyalty of his wife, as her true love was the romantic and deceased Michael Furey from Galway. Indeed, juxtaposed with the romantic and dashing figure of his wife's first love, Gabriel becomes a ridiculous figure, one who does not have the importance, influence, or power that he thought he did.

All in all, while Gabriel at first appears to have some traditional patriarchal traits (such as power and authority), the end of the story reveals much of these perceived traits to be nonexistent. Gabriel is revealed to be ineffectual and weak, and so he becomes an inversion of traditional patriarchal modes.

How can metamorphic rocks be turned into sedimentary rocks?

There are three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. These rocks can be transformed into each other by long-term processes and are part of the rock cycle. 

Metamorphic rocks can be converted into sedimentary rocks by the processes of weathering and erosion. Metamorphic rocks can be broken down into smaller fragments by weathering agents such as water, ice, acid, salt, and plants. These small rock fragments can then be transported over a short or long distance by erosion. Agents such as air, water, ice, etc. can cause this transport. These transported fragments are deposited over each other and over time, a large number of such fragments are deposited. The weight of overlying fragments causes the spacing between the fragments to reduce and over time, fragments get cemented to each other, thus forming sedimentary rocks.

Such a transformation process can take millions of years. 

Hope this helps. 

In Chapter 18 of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the identity of the boy Tom licked in Chapter 1 is finally revealed. What is his identity and how...

In Chapter 18 of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom has just returned to normal life in town after he and his friends made their grand reappearance at their own funeral.  He is the hero of all the children.  They are all insanely jealous of him and they all want his attention.  One person who wants his attention is Becky Thatcher.

If you remember, in Chapter 3, Tom met Becky, though he did not know her name at that time.  He promptly “falls in love” with her.  Later, they become boyfriend and girlfriend and they agree that one day they will get married.  However, she ends the relationship after a few minutes when she finds out that he had previously been engaged to Amy Lawrence.  After Becky is ill for a while, Tom tries to make up with her but she is mean to him.  This is what causes Tom to run away to the island with Huck Finn and Joe Harper.

When Tom comes back, Becky wants him again, but he snubs her to punish her for doing the same to him earlier.  To retaliate against him, Becky starts paying attention to the boy that Tom licked in Chapter 1.  We learn that his name is Alfred Temple.  The two of them sit close together at lunch, looking at a picture book.  Alfred is in love, but Becky is just using him to hurt Tom.  When Alfred finds out what Becky is doing, he hates Tom even more.  He gets back at Tom by pouring ink all over a page of Tom’s spelling book, knowing that the teacher will beat Tom because he will believe Tom did it himself.

So, the boy’s name is Alfred Temple and he gets back at Tom by pouring ink all over Tom’s spelling book.  (You could say that he gets even with Tom by being with Becky, but the evidence in the book suggests that he actually likes Becky and is not doing that to get even with Tom.)

Is WWI an important factor leading to the Russian Revolution?

World War I was absolutely an important factor leading to the Russian Revolution of 1917.  We can even argue WWI is the most important immediate cause of the revolution, but that does not mean the war caused the revolution.  Instead, the war acted as a catalyst to speed up the move towards revolution.

The Russian Revolution was really caused by the backwardness of the Russian economy and the unresponsive nature of its political system.  Economically, Russia was the least modern major country in Europe.  Its peasants were very poor and not very productive.  Its factory workers had low pay and bad working conditions.  Politically, Russia was also weak.  The Tsar ruled very much as an autocrat.  There was a legislature, the Duma, but it was weak and the Tsar dissolved it frequently.  Therefore, the people, many of whom were unhappy for economic reasons, had no way to persuade the government to do anything about their problems.  These were the root causes of the revolution.

Nonetheless, it was WWI that caused the revolution to happen right when it did.  Russian civilians suffered during the war, as most of what the economy produced went to the soldiers.  This led to shortages among the civilians, which resulted in bread riots.  During the war, the Tsar’s administration also did not perform well.  The Russian army was not very effective and did not seem to care much about the terrible number of men that it was losing in battle.  For these reasons, the Russian people became even angrier than usual.  Their anger over the war pushed them over the edge into rebellion.

WWI, then, is an important factor leading to the Russian Revolution.  It was not the root cause of the revolution, but it was the main factor that caused the revolution to begin when it did.

What is the feminine perspective in the "Penelope" episode of Ulysses by James Joyce?

It’s important to note here that although I’ll attempt to discuss the feminine perspective in this episode, we would really need an entire book (or at least a master’s thesis) to give this material the attention and depth it needs.

The Penelope episode illustrates the emotional complexity of marriage and faithfulness; the tension between romance, intimacy, and sexual desire; and the struggle for status, beauty, and control over one's own body.

All of these issues run through Molly's mind throughout this episode, undimmed by her apparent lack of education, and her internal voice provides a meaningful and insightful feminine perspective as she dwells on thoughts, memories, and plans for the near future throughout Episode Eighteen.

She juggles her various identities (as a mother, a wife, a lover, and both a physical and emotional being) and ultimately reveals that the feminine experience is a constant stream of internal and external negotiations.

Let’s look at some of the details as this struggle plays out in Molly’s interior monologue.

1. On the emotional complexity of marriage and faithfulness:

All of Molly’s thoughts run through her mind while she shares the bed with her husband, Bloom, and yet she’s often thinking of her lover, Boylan, as well as other men she’s been with long before she was married.

She thinks of how Bloom has been unfaithful to her and how they once loved each other, and of how unskilled and awkward he is in bed, but at the same time, she ponders how manly he is and how handsome he used to be.

Molly struggles to balance her own desires with society’s demand that she be a faithful wife.

2. On the tension between romance, intimacy, and sexual desire:

Molly craves romance and intimacy and reflects on previous sexual and emotional experiences that pleased her and those that failed to satisfy her. Her memories and desires run together in a confusing stream, and she’s unsure from one moment to the next what or who she wants. Her husband seems to turn her off in the present time, but her memories of him and how attractive he once was seem to stir more desire in her. But she hopes that her lover will send her a romantic letter.

Molly invariably objectifies men (thinking about their ridiculous-looking body parts) even as she is annoyed by their objectification of her, a hypocrisy which characterizes Molly as complex and both frustrating and frustrated. Men see her as fragments of a body: as breasts, as fetishized feet, or as a bottom: “and then the usual kissing my bottom was to hide it.”

She’s not sure how to engage in a meaningful, intimate relationship and yet her feelings of desire are incredibly strong: “…and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes.”

3. On the struggle for status, beauty, and control:

Keep in mind that up until Episode Eighteen, we’ve thought of Molly as having an unsavory reputation—other characters think of her as sexually loose or, in plainer terms, a whore. But Molly’s own thoughts reveal that her reputation has been exaggerated. She’s only had one lover outside of her marriage, and it was after years and years of being trapped in a marriage that lacked love and intimacy. The fact that her reputation is negatively affected by hearsay and exaggeration is a common feminine struggle.

But again, Molly reveals her hypocritical standards as she thinks ruthlessly of other women’s poor reputations:

• “…I hope Ill never be like her a wonder she didnt want us to cover our faces but she was a welleducated woman certainly and her gabby talk about Mr Riordan here and Mr Riordan there I suppose he was glad to get shut of her…” 


• “…take that Mrs Maybrick that poisoned her husband for what I wonder in love with some other man yes it was found out on her wasnt she the downright villain to go and do a thing like that…”

Molly struggles not just for her own reputation but also for status within her own marriage. She’s irritated, at the beginning of this section, that her husband wants her to bring him breakfast in bed, as if she’s the subservient member of the marriage: “Yes because he never did a thing like that before as ask to get his breakfast in bed with a couple of eggs…” By having her affair, she’s asserted her right to do as she pleases in her marriage, but the request to be served breakfast really rattles her and makes her feel insecure about how much power she has in her relationship with her husband.

She struggles, too, to project an image of feminine beauty, and worries that she doesn’t have enough money to dress nicely enough and that she needs to lose some weight.

4. On the coexistence of various identities (mother, wife, lover, physical/emotional being):

Molly briefly steps into her role as a mother as she recalls her deceased son with bitter sadness and seems to purposefully try to stop thinking about him, wrapped up as she is in her thoughts of more immediate desires and plans.

She thinks of herself as Bloom’s wife and Boylan’s lover at the same time and thinks of what she’ll do with each of them soon.

Physical concerns often intrude on Molly’s thoughts; she interrupts her own thinking to focus on her body’s demands to expel gas (“…that was a relief wherever you be let your wind go free…”) and to menstruate (“…I bet the cat itself is better off than us have we too much blood up in us or what O patience above its pouring out of me like the sea…”) and she is worried about whether or not she can become pregnant again. Her physical self is in tension with her emotional self, as her thoughts return immediately to more mundane emotional concerns after her bodily concerns are addressed (“… I dont want to ruin the clean sheets I just put on I suppose the clean linen I wore brought it on too damn it damn it…”)

In sum, though we’ve barely scratched the surface here, Molly’s thoughts reveal the complexities and tensions of the feminine experience. The fact that her thoughts are presented under the title of “Penelope” is probably the author’s way of ironically comparing the uneducated, unfaithful Molly to the intelligent, faithful Penelope from Homer’s Odyssey, emphasizing Molly’s human, feminine faults and the unrealistic standard against which people probably judge her.

How did Reconstruction impact the lives of African-Americans both politically and socially?

Reconstruction had a significant impact on the lives of African-Americans both politically and socially. After the Civil War ended, African-Americans were free to move about the country. They were able to officially get married. They were able to search for their family members from whom they had been separated. They were able to build their own schools and their own churches. They were able to go to work for whoever they wanted. The federal government also provided help by giving African-Americans food, clothing, and medical care when necessary.

Politically, there were important changes made. African-Americans were considered citizens if they were born in the United States as a result of the 14th Amendment. They had the same rights as citizens, and those rights couldn’t be taken away without due process of law. African-American males couldn’t be denied the right to vote because of their race or because they had been slaves as a result of the 15th Amendment. African-American males began to vote, and some African-American males got elected to office.

After the Civil War ended, African-Americans benefited from Reconstruction both politically and socially.

What are ephedra's therapeutic uses?

Overview

The Chinese herb ma huang is a member of a primitive family of plants that look
like thin, branching, connected straws. A related species, Ephedra
nevadensis, grows wild in the American Southwest and is widely called
Mormon tea. However, only the Asian species of ephedra contains the active
compounds ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

Ma huang was traditionally used by Chinese herbalists during the early stages of respiratory infections and was also used for the short-term treatment of certain kinds of asthma, eczema, hay fever, narcolepsy, and edema. Japanese chemists isolated ephedrine from ma huang at the turn of the twentieth century, and it soon became a primary treatment for asthma in the United States and abroad. Ephedra’s other major ingredient, pseudoephedrine, became the decongestant Sudafed.

Therapeutic Dosages

The dosage of ephedra should be adjusted according to the amount of the ephedrine it provides. For adults, no more than 25 milligrams (mg) should be taken at one time, and a total daily intake of 100 mg should not be exceeded. However, a survey of ephedra-containing dietary supplements found that ephedrine content as listed on the label was frequently incorrect. In addition, other chemicals were often present that could increase safety risks. For this reason, experts recommend against the use of herbal ephedra.

Therapeutic Uses

Although it can still be found in a few over-the-counter drugs for asthma and sinus congestion (in a safer form than the banned dietary supplements), physicians seldom prescribe ephedrine anymore. The problem is that ephedrine mimics the effects of adrenaline and causes symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, agitation, insomnia, nausea, and loss of appetite. The newer asthma drugs are much safer and easier to tolerate.

Meaningful evidence suggests ephedrine/caffeine combinations can assist in weight loss. However, because of safety risks, experts strongly recommend that individuals seek a physician’s supervision before attempting to lose weight with ephedrine/caffeine combination therapy. Experts also recommend not using herbal sources of ephedrine, which are now banned, for weight loss.

One highly preliminary study has been used to claim that ephedrine is helpful
for women with sexual dysfunction. However, this trial was very small, enrolled
women without sexual problems, and only examined sexual responsiveness to visual
stimuli; at this time, experts recommend that women with sexual dysfunction avoid
using ephedra. Another study examined the possible benefits of ephedrine for
treatment of female sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants in the selective
serotonin
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) family, such as Prozac.
Ephedrine failed to prove more effective than placebo.

There is no meaningful evidence that ephedra enhances sports performance. It
should also be noted that persons taking ephedra or ephedrine may test positive
for methamphetamine (speed) on drug screening.

Scientific Evidence

Evidence suggests that ephedrine/caffeine combinations can aid weight loss and help keep the weight off for up to six months. However, the benefits are modest.

For example, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 180 overweight
persons were placed on a weight-loss diet and given either ephedrine/caffeine (20
mg/200 mg), ephedrine alone (20 mg), caffeine alone (200 mg), or placebo
three times daily for twenty-four weeks. The results showed that the
ephedrine/caffeine treatment significantly enhanced weight loss, resulting in a
loss of more than thirty-six pounds, compared with only twenty-nine pounds in the
placebo group, a seven-pound difference. Neither ephedrine nor caffeine alone
produced any benefit. Contrary to some reports, participants did not develop
tolerance to the treatment. For the entire six months of the trial, the treatment
group maintained the same relative weight-loss advantage over the placebo
group.

A few side effects were seen in this study, primarily insomnia, dizziness, and tremor, but they tended to fade away after a few weeks. Keep in mind that participants were screened prior to the study and were eliminated if they had high blood pressure or any other serious disease, or if they used medications or illegal drugs that might interact with stimulants.

Another study compared ephedrine/caffeine with the no-longer-available drug dexfenfluramine (Redux), related to fenfluramine of fen-phen fame. A total of 103 overweight individuals were enrolled in this fifteen-week, double-blind trial. All were placed on a weight-loss diet. Half were given ephedrine/caffeine at the usual dose, while the others were given 15 mg of dexfenfluramine. The results showed comparable weight loss in both groups.

Finally, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 225 heavy smokers who wanted to quit but were afraid of gaining weight. At twelve weeks after quitting smoking, individuals taking ephedrine and caffeine had gained significantly less weight. At that point, the dosage was gradually reduced, and the difference between the groups declined. Contrary to the hopes of the experimenters, ephedrine/caffeine use did not help individuals quit smoking. Benefits have also been seen in smaller studies using herbal sources of ephedrine.

Experts do not know exactly how ephedrine/caffeine works. However, caffeine has actions that cause fat breakdown and enhance metabolism. Ephedrine suppresses appetite and increases energy expenditure. The combination appears to produce synergistic effects, with appetite suppression probably the most important overall factor.

Safety Issues

On December 30, 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
issued a consumer alert regarding the safety of dietary supplements containing
ephedra. The FDA determined that consuming these supplements poses an unnecessary
risk of illness or injury, and that consumers should stop buying and using ephedra
products immediately. The FDA also notified manufacturers and marketers of these
dietary supplements that effective sixty days (March, 2004) after the publication
of its final ruling, the sale of all products containing ephedra in the United
States would be banned. This ruling was temporarily overturned in April 2005 but
was later upheld the following year, making it illegal to sell these products.

While ephedra is an herb with a long history of use in Chinese herbal
medicine, Chinese tradition attaches numerous warnings: It
should be used only by very robust people, for certain specific purposes, and only
for a short period of time. These ancient warnings seem to have been disregarded
in the transition of ephedra use from Asia to the United States, where it was
often sold for continuous use by overweight, relatively unhealthy people. Herbal
products containing ephedra caused the majority (64 percent) of reported adverse
effects from herbs in the United States. This proportion is particularly
impressive given that less than 1 percent of all herbal products sold in the
United States contain ephedra. On a per-use basis, for example, ephedra has 720
times as much risk of causing harm as ginkgo biloba.

There are many reasons for this high rate of risk. While it is possible for
healthy individuals under physician supervision to use ephedrine or
ephedrine/caffeine combinations safely, in individuals with heart
disease, and even occasionally in those with no known heart
conditions, ephedrine can cause serious disturbances of the heart rhythm and
possibly sudden death; strokes have also occurred. Use of herbal ephedra, as
opposed to ephedrine, may present additional dangers. There is no ready way to be
sure what dose of the drug ephedrine individuals are getting when they purchase
the herb ephedra, which creates a potential risk of overdosage. In addition, some
ephedra products contain potentially more toxic chemicals related to ephedrine,
such as (+)-norpseudoephedrine.

Besides heart problems and strokes, use of ephedra has been associated with severe inflammation of the liver (in at least one case requiring a liver transplant) and of the heart. In these cases, it appears likely that ephedra (or an unidentified contaminant in the herb) triggered an autoimmune reaction.

In addition, people taking ephedra or ephedrine may develop an unusual form of kidney stones that actually contain ephedrine. Temporary psychosis has also been linked to use of ephedra. Finally, there are indications that certain preparations of ephedra may be toxic to the nervous system.

Based on the known risks of ephedrine and on the evidence described in the foregoing paragraphs, ephedra should not be taken by persons with cardiovascular disease, including angina, abnormalities of heart rhythm, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, intermittent claudication, myocarditis, vasculitis, or history of stroke; enlargement of the prostate; diabetes; hepatitis; diseases of the nervous system; glaucoma; or hyperthyroidism.

Ephedra may be particularly risky for young children, pregnant or nursing
women, people with kidney disease, and people with liver disease. Furthermore, one
should never combine ephedra with monoamine-oxidase (MAO) inhibitors,
such as Nardil (phenelzine), or fatal reactions may develop.

Important Interactions

Persons taking MAO inhibitors should not take ephedra, and persons taking any stimulant drugs, including caffeine, should not take ephedra except under physician supervision.

Bibliography

Bent, S., et al. “The Relative Safety of Ephedra Compared with Other Herbal Products.” Annals of Internal Medicine 138 (2003): 468-471.

Boozer, C. N., et al. “Herbal Ephedra/Caffeine for Weight Loss.” International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders 26 (2002): 593-604.

Chen, W. L., et al. “Effects of Ephedra on Autonomic Nervous Modulation in Healthy Young Adults.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130, no. 2 (2010): 563-568.

Coffey, C. S., et al. “A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of a Product Containing Ephedrine, Caffeine, and Other Ingredients from Herbal Sources for Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in the Absence of Lifestyle Treatment.” International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders 28, no. 11 (2004): 1411-1419.

Levisky, J. A., et al. “False-Positive RIA for Methamphetamine Following Ingestion of an Ephedra-Derived Herbal Product.” Journal of Analytical Toxicology 27, no. 2 (2003): 123-124.

Meston, C. M. “A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study of Ephedrine for SSRI-Induced Female Sexual Dysfunction.” Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 30 (2004): 57-68.

Samenuk, D., et al. “Adverse Cardiovascular Events Temporally Associated with Ma Huang, an Herbal Source of Ephedrine.” Mayo Clinic Proceedings 77 (2002): 12-16.

Shekelle, P. G., et al. “Efficacy and Safety of Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance.” Journal of the American Medical Association 289 (2003): 1537-1545.

Skoulidis, F., G. J. Alexander, and S. E. Davies. “Ma Huang Associated Acute Liver Failure Requiring Liver Transplantation.” European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 17 (2005): 581-584.

Walton, R., and G. H. Manos. “Psychosis Related to Ephedra-Containing Herbal Supplement Use.” Southern Medical Journal 96 (2003): 718-720.

Name the precipitate formed when an aqueous solution of sodium sulphate and barium chloride are mixed.

The reacting species are sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and barium chloride (BaCl2) and the chemical reaction between these species can be written as:

`Na_2SO_4 (aq) + BaCl_2 (aq) -> BaSO_4 (s) + NaCl (aq)`

In this reaction, sodium sulfate reacts with barium chloride, both in aqueous phase, to produce barium sulfate and sodium chloride. 

The above mentioned equation is not balanced, for example, in terms of sodium (1 versus 2 atoms on reactant and product sides). The well-balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

`Na_2SO_4 (aq) + BaCl_2 (aq) -> BaSO_4 (s) + 2 NaCl (aq)`

Here, the only solid is barium sulfate and hence this is the required precipitate of this reaction. 

We can also use this reaction to determine the amount of the precipitate formed when certain amounts of the reactants are used. Using the stoichiometry, 1 mole of sodium sulfate reacts with 1 mole of barium chloride to form 1 mole of barium sulfate precipitate and 2 moles of sodium chloride.

Hope this helps. 

Which characters die in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Two characters die during Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird: Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell. Tom Robinson is shot while trying to escape the prison yard in which he's held after the trial, and Boo Radley kills Bob Ewell when the latter attempts to kill Scout and Jem in the school yard. Of the two, Tom's is the more tragic death. It's implied that he doubts that the white justice system will ever find him innocent, and so he tries to escape as a last effort to win his freedom. One of the most heartbreaking points in the book, Tom's death succinctly symbolizes the brutally unjust oppression of racism. Bob Ewell's death, on the other hand, is a little easier to handle. Ewell already proved himself to be a villain on the witness stand during the trial, and his attempt to murder Scout and Jem to wound Atticus solidifies his antagonistic status. As such, his death at the end of the novel seems relatively just, even if it's still grim.  

How would a Georgian during the Antebellum period likely have earned a living?

The antebellum period in the United States refers to life in the South prior to the Civil War.  Those living in the southern state of Georgia earned their living in different fields based on where they lived.  A Georgian living in Atlanta, for example, may have earned their living as a banker, doctor, politician, lawyer, merchant, or other profession.  In more rural areas, many people were plantation owners or farmers.  Some were overseers who worked on plantations.  Both small towns and large cities needed teachers, merchants, doctors, and other professionals.

While men were the primary workers in the antebellum south, women also held jobs in some fields.  Women served as teachers, midwives, and nurses.  The need for women in the workplace grew once the South entered the Civil War, as men were needed to fight as soldiers.

What is back pain?

Causes and Symptoms

Most back pain is caused by disk problems, but the disk problems themselves have a
wide variety of causes and manifestations. Annular bulge, disk herniation,
muscular spasms, and strain from overexertion are just a few of these causes.
Among these manifestations are sudden and persistent attacks of sharp,
debilitating pain that exaggerate spinal kyphosis, may
create scoliosis, and make standing up or bending over without
assistance either impossible or very difficult.

The more the lumbar spine approaches either kyphosis or scoliosis, the more out of
alignment the natural curvature of the whole spine becomes and the more pain
results. Scoliosis or uncontrollable listing to one side is a frequent symptom of
disk damage, usually either annular bulge or herniation.

Referred pain may appear from any lumbar radiculopathy, but the two most common presentations are in the
thigh, from pinching the femoral nerve between L2 and L4 vertebrae, and as
sciatica, from pinching the sciatic nerve between L4 and the
sacrum. Shooting pains elsewhere in the leg, genital dysfunction, or incontinence
and other urinary or bowel complications may result from radiculopathy of any of
several other lumbar, sacral, or lower thoracic nerves. In very severe cases,
partial paralysis or constant, intolerable pain may occur.

Treatment and Therapy

Many ways of treating back pain exist, and the program of treatment must be adapted to the particular situation of each patient. Good posture is always essential. Learning to sit up straight, perhaps with a lumbar support roll, or a change of habits, such as learning to lift with the legs rather than the back, may be advised. Sometimes drug therapy with painkillers or muscle relaxants, or physical therapy with manipulation and exercises, is the only additional treatment required. As a last resort and in extreme cases, including emergency cases of incontinence or paralysis, surgery to repair a disk may be indicated.

Treatment options come not only from regular medicine but also from alternative,
complementary, or allied systems of health care. The McKenzie method of bending
the spine backward, thus emphasizing lumbar lordosis, has proved successful.
Techniques drawn from chiropractic, osteopathy,
yoga, acupuncture, and other styles of
therapy have sometimes provided either temporary or permanent relief.

Perspective and Prospects

Low back pain seems to be equally prevalent in all eras and in all countries. Despite socioeconomic improvements in the lives of physical laborers, and despite the fact that a decreasing proportion of people worldwide make their living from physical labor, no concomitant decrease in new low back pain cases has been observed. If anything, there may be a slight increase in the percentage of low back pain cases in industrialized nations since the mid-twentieth century. People with desk-bound occupations and sedentary habits are at great risk for developing low back pain, especially if they slouch in their chairs or fail to protect the natural lordosis of the lumbar spine.

Physicians no longer consider typical low back pain either an injury or a disease.
Since the late twentieth century they have understood it as a natural degenerative
condition that can usually be delayed by good posture habits and managed by
physical therapy, strength-building exercises, painkilling drugs, and lifestyle
changes.

Bibliography

Borenstein, David G.,
Sam W. Wiesel, and Scott D. Boden. Low Back and Neck Pain:
Comprehensive Diagnosis and Management. 3rd ed. Philadelphia:
Saunders, 2004. Print.

Brennan, Richard.
Back in Balance: Use the Alexander Technique to Combat Neck,
Shoulder, and Back Pain. London: Watkins, 2013.
Print.

Burn, Loic.
Back and Neck Pain: The Facts. New York: Oxford UP,
2006. Print.

Cailliet, Rene.
Low Back Pain Syndrome: A Medical Enigma. Philadelphia:
Lippincott, 2003. Print.

Chevan, Julia, and
Phyllis A. Clapis. Physical Therapy Management of Low Back Pain: A
Case-Based Approach. Burlington: Jones Bartlett Learning, 2013.
Print.

Fishman, Loren, and
Carol Ardman. Back Talk: How to Diagnose and Cure Low Back Pain and
Sciatica. New York: Norton, 1997. Print.

Hasenbring, Monika I., Adina C. Rusu, and
Dennis C. Turk, eds. From Acute to Chronic Back Pain: Risk Factors,
Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
Print.

Hodges, Paul W., Jacek
Cholewicki, and Jaap H. Van Dieën. Spinal Control: The
Rehabilitation of Back Pain—State of the Art and Science. New
York: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2013. Print.

Hutson, Michael A.
Back Pain: Recognition and Management. Boston:
Butterworth-Heinemann, 1993. Print.

McGill, Stuart.
Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and
Rehabilitation. Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics, 2002.
Print.

Twomey, Lance T., and
James R. Taylor, eds. Physical Therapy of the Low Back. New
York: Churchill Livingstone, 2000. Print.

Waddell, Gordon
The Back Pain Revolution. 2nd ed. New York: Churchill
Livingstone/Elsevier, 2004. Print.

Who is Edward in "A Scandal in Bohemia"?

I’m somewhat confused by your question since there is no character named Edward in “A Scandal in Bohemia.”

The characters are:

 Sherlock Holmes, the iconic detective.

 Dr. John Watson, his close friend and narrator of the story.

Irene Adler, whom Holmes referred to as ‘the woman,’ with respect.

Count Von Kramm, the alias for the future king of Bohemia when he first arrives at Holmes’s residence.

Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, the real name of the future king of Bohemia.

Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, the woman to whom the king is currently engaged.

Godfrey Norton, Irene Adler’s fiancé.

There was an actor named Edward Hardwicke who played Watson in many installments of a BBC series of the Sherlock Holmes stories. There is also a mention in the story of an Edgeware Road.

I hope this information helps clarify the story for you!

Why doesn't Scout fight Cecil in Chapter Nine of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout does not fight Cecil because Atticus has told her to refrain from fighting. Cecil has repeatedly tried to provoke her by taunting her about the fact that her father is defending a black man, Tom Robinson. Cecil tells Scout his father said that Tom should hang for the alleged crime. This incident is only a hint of the difficulties Scout and Jem will face as Atticus takes on this difficult case. Atticus, in fact, warns Scout of this in the chapter, urging her to keep her cool and avoid fighting whenever possible. When Scout is tempted to fight Cecil, she remembers his words, and resolves to obey him, even if it means being called a coward. She does not want to let her father down. Unfortunately, she abandons her promise to her father when her cousin Francis also mocks Atticus in the same chapter. She punches the boy in the mouth, splitting his lip.

What might be separated using a flotation process?

Flotation or froth flotation is a process used to separate hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic materials. Hydrophobic materials are those that have little affinity for water. Oil is a very common example of a hydrophobic material. Hydrophilic materials, on the other hand, have a great affinity for water. Alcohols are common examples of hydrophilic materials.

The froth flotation process is commonly used in the mining industry to separate out minerals from other materials. Here, the material is first crushed and then mixed with water and flotation agents. Air is passed through the mixture and bubbles form. The hydrophobic matter attaches to these bubbles and is easily removed from the top. Hydrophilic materials, on the other hand, are part of the solution and hence get separated out. 

Froth flotation can also be used in the wastewater treatment process to remove fat, oil and grease from wastewater.

Hope this helps.

What do you predict would have happened if the Berlin Airlift had failed and West Berlin had been left on its own?

If West Berlin had been left on its own, it would quickly have fallen to the communists.  West Berlin was isolated inside of East Germany and could never have held out. The question, then, is what impact this would have had.  As in any “what if” situation, there are many possible answers and we can never know which would have actually happened. Let us look at two possible scenarios.

In one scenario, very little would have changed.  West Berlin would have fallen, but that would have had no impact on the Cold War as a whole.  West Germany would still have not wanted to become communist.  It would have remained in the Western camp. Communism would still have been a bad economic and political system and its shortcomings would have caused its people to hate it, just as they did in real life.  The US would have won the Cold War because capitalism and democracy clearly give people better lives (and allow countries to be stronger and more stable) than communism.

In the other scenario, the fall of Berlin would have had tremendous consequences. When Berlin fell, people across Europe would have lost faith in the US.  They would have felt that the US was unwilling or unable to help its allies. This would have made them more likely to go to the Soviet side.  In addition, the communists would not have looked as bad as they did in real life. In real life, the presence of West Berlin made the communists look bad because people in East Berlin could see how much better things were in the West.  They fled East Germany in such large numbers that the communists eventually had to build the Berlin Wall.  This became a tremendous symbol, showing that communism was so bad that it had to build walls to keep its people from escaping.  Without West Berlin, this would never have happened. In this scenario, more of Europe would have gone communist, or at least would not have allied strongly with the US. Communism would have been strengthened, the US weakened. The Cold War, in this scenario, might still be going on today because the US would not have seemed clearly superior to the communist bloc.

Either of these scenarios is possible, but we cannot know which one (or what other scenario not mentioned here) would have occurred.

What does Lily's question and Rosaleen's answer about the Civil Rights Act reveal about them?

In Chapter 3 of The Secret Life of Bees, Lily and Rosaleen are fleeing and looking for a place to stay for the night. After Lily suggests they rent a room at a motel, Rosaleen looks at Lily and says, "there ain't gonna be a place that takes a colored woman. I don't care if she's the Virgin Mary..."

After this response, Lily asks the question, "Well, what was the point of the Civil Rights Act?" and goes on to assume that the law fixed all the discriminatory practices in the South. Lily's assumptions reveal her naïveté, which is one of the primary themes of the novel.

Rosaleen responds that many white Southerners will have to be dragged "kicking and screaming" to follow the anti-discrimination law. Again, this response reveals a major characteristic of Rosaleen. She's not only literally beaten down in this part of the novel, but she's emotionally beaten down. She does not expect anything from white folks in the South except discrimination. However, she doesn't seem angry about it, particularly when you consider she's helping Lily run away from home.

Rosaleen's world-weariness and Lily's innocence are important motifs that run throughout The Secret Life of Bees, and this exchange is just one example of that.

What is a paradox that helps describe Macbeth from the play Macbeth? (Adjective/Noun. One word used in a positive sense, the other in a negative...

Macbeth is a suffering villain. While he responds to his "vaulting ambition" and attains what he so desires through bloody deeds, unlike most villains, who delight in their crimes, Macbeth suffers from the pangs of his conscience, from his fears, and, most of all, from the horrors of his imagination.

Not content to wait on the witches' prediction that Macbeth will be king, Lady Macbeth scolds her husband when he has misgivings about killing his kinsman, King Duncan, in order to become king. Berating him, Lady Macbeth calls him cowardly and urges him on until he commits the crime. But, before he does, Macbeth suffers from the workings of his fears and imagination as he thinks he sees a dagger before him:

A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?....
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There’s no such thing.
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes (2.1.39-40, 47-50)

Then, after he commits the bloody dead, the horrors of Macbeth's imagination torture him more:

Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more!

Macbeth does murder sleep” (2.2.35)

Further, in Act III, Macbeth continues his bloody path since he feels that, having killed Duncan to become king, he must prevent anyone else from taking this kingship from him after he reflects,

For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;
Put rancors in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! (3.1.68-73)

Macbeth feels that he may as well eliminate Banquo and his heirs in order to hold his kingship as long as he can since no further crime is of real consequence. Thus, he will rule by terror, and he will be "bloody, bold, and resolute." However, the horror of his imaginings prevent him from such boldness and resolution. Consequently, Macbeth becomes paranoid and suffers from hallucinations and sleeplessness. Lady Macbeth, his doppelgänger, suffers the same fate.

The more that Macbeth sinks his arms into blood, the more horrific his imagination becomes. In Act III, for instance, he speaks of "the affliction of these terrible dreams/That shake us nightly...(3.2.18-19). Further, he suffers emotionally as well, feeling terrible guilt when he sees Banquo's ghost, and he is burdened with deep despair after Lady Macbeth's death.

In contrast to many villains, Macbeth suffers because he cannot conquer the psychological consequences of his crimes; so, he is consumed with guilt and self-doubt. He also suffers because of the conflict of his ambition, which propels him to murder, with his conscience, which cannot be content with his being a murderer.

The ________________ is a region of hot, slow-flowing, solid rock between the core and the crust.

Earth can be divided into 3 different layers: the crust, the mantle and the core. 

The crust is the outermost covering of our planet and is the region where we live. It has a thickness of 5 km (under oceans) to 60 km (under continents). The mantle is the layer underneath the crust. The mantle is a region of hot, slow-flowing, solid rock between the core and the crust. The mantle has a thickness of about 2,900 km and has a lower temperature near the crust and a higher temperature as one goes towards the core. The core of the planet is about 3,000 km thick. 

The mantle is generally divided into three layers: the upper layer, the transition zone and the lower layer. The upper layer of the mantle, along with the crust, forms the lithosphere of Earth.

Hope this helps.  

Which solids display a solubility similar to a gas?

Solubility of any solute, in a solvent, is a function of the temperature. As the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the molecules of solute increase and more and more molecules break free from the intermolecular bonds holding them together. In the case of solids, intermolecular forces are very high (as compared to liquids and gases) and an increase in temperature generally results in increased solubility. This is due to the increased kinetic energy of molecules, which enables them to escape the solid phase. In comparison, intermolecular forces are very weak in the case of gases and an increased temperature causes molecules to achieve greater kinetic energy and thus escape from the solvent. Hence, the solubility of gases decreases with an increase in temperature.

Among the given solids, the solubility of all but one decreases with an increase in temperature. Only `Ce_2(SO_4)_3` has a decrease in solubility for a temperature increase initially, before its solubility stays constant. Among the given choices, this is the only solid that behaves somewhat similar to gases. 

Hope this helps. 

What did Brian finally do to get food in Hatchet?

When Brian grows desperate for food, he thinks of his teacher who used to tell him that he was his biggest asset in any situation. Then he began to consider that there had to be berries somewhere. He eventually found some and even though they were bitter, he ate enough of them to fill his belly. Later that night, they made him terribly sick and he began to call them "gut cherries" from then on.

Later he found other, sweeter berries and these didn't make him so sick. The next thing he found to eat was turtle eggs, which he ate raw. These were significantly more nourishing and helped him gain some more energy.

The great discovery he makes several days later is that of remembering that water refracts light so once he leaves the tip of his arrow in the water, he finds himself able to get fish with it and he finally sates his hunger with all the fish he can cook on the fire.

He also goes on to figure out how to kill birds and he takes great pride in that kill, the day of first meat. The last thing he finds is of course the survival pack in the plane and he has all kinds of food ready to eat when the bush pilot lands on the lake to rescue him.

What was an obstacle James Madison faced?

James Madison faced the events that eventually led the United States to war during his presidency.  According to his beliefs, he preferred to take a diplomatic approach, especially in regards to the Orders in Council.  The Orders in Council were decrees from the government of England.  The Orders in Council greatly impacted trade because they set blockades in place.  Public opinion began to shift and some thought that Madison should declare war on England.  He still preferred a diplomatic route to address the blockade issue.  Despite this emphasis on diplomacy, Madison requested that Congress expand the United States military.  This was not in alignment with Madison's beliefs, which were to deemphasize the military.

England was at war with France.  The British wished for the United States to avoid trade with France.  The British sometimes used the power of their Navy to stop the Americans from trading with France.  This occurred in spite of American neutrality and caused tensions to grow.  The British Navy also gave weapons to Native Americans with the goal of them attacking American settlers.  The United States government and citizens were divided about whether or not they should go to war against Britain.  James Madison had to abandon his preference for diplomacy and for a deemphasis on military action.  The United States entered the War of 1812 under his leadership.  This was an obstacle he had to face.

What are genetic diseases?

Causes and Symptoms

Hereditary units called genes determine the majority of the physical and biochemical characteristics of an organism. Genes are composed of a chemical compound called
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and are organized into rod-shaped structures called
chromosomes that reside in each cell of the body. Each human cell carries forty-six chromosomes organized as twenty-three pairs, each composed of several thousand genes. Twenty-two of the chromosome pairs are homologous pairs; that is, similar genes are located at similar sites on each chromosome. The remaining chromosomes are the sex chromosomes. Human females bear two X chromosomes, and human males possess one X and one Y chromosome.

During the formation of the reproductive cells, the chromosome pairs separate, and one copy of each pair is randomly included in the egg or sperm. Each egg will contain twenty-two autosomes (non-sex chromosomes) and one X chromosome. Each sperm will contain twenty-two autosomes and either one X or one Y chromosome. The egg and sperm fuse at fertilization, which restores the proper number of chromosomes, and the genes inherited from the baby’s parents will determine its sex and much of its physical appearance and future health and well-being.

Genetic diseases are inherited as a result of the presence of abnormal genes in the reproductive cells of one or both parents of an affected individual. There are two broad classifications of genetic disease: those caused by defects in chromosome number or structure and those resulting from a much smaller flaw within a gene. Within the latter category, there are four predominant mechanisms by which the disorders can be transmitted from generation to generation: autosomal dominant inheritance, in which the defective gene is inherited from one parent; autosomal recessive inheritance, in which defective genes are inherited from both parents, who themselves may show no signs of the disorder; X-linked chromosomal inheritance (often called sex-linked), in which the flawed gene has been determined to reside on the X chromosome; and multifactorial inheritance, in which genes interact with each other and/or environmental factors.

Errors in chromosome number include extra and missing chromosomes. The most common chromosomal defect observed in humans is
Down syndrome, which is caused by the presence of three copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two. Down syndrome occurs at a frequency of about one in eight hundred live births, this frequency increasing with increasing maternal age. The symptoms of this disorder include intellectual disability, short stature, and numerous other medical problems. The most common form of Down syndrome results from the failure of the two copies of chromosome 21 to separate during reproductive cell formation, which upon fusion with a normal reproductive cell at fertilization produces an embryo containing three copies of chromosome 21.

Gross defects in chromosome structure include duplicated and deleted portions of chromosomes and broken and rearranged chromosome fragments.
Prader-Willi syndrome results from the deletion of a small portion of chromosome 15. Children affected with this disorder are prone to intellectual disability, obesity, and diabetes. Cri du chat (literally, “cat cry”) syndrome is associated with a large deletion in chromosome 5. Affected infants exhibit facial abnormalities, are severely intellectually disabled, and produce a high-pitched, catlike wail.

Genetic diseases caused by defects in individual genes result when defective genes are propagated through many generations or a new genetic flaw develops in a reproductive cell. New genetic defects arise from a variety of causes, including environmental assaults such as radiation, toxins, or drugs. More than four thousand such gene disorders have been identified.

Manifestation of an autosomal dominant disorder requires the inheritance of only one defective gene from one parent who is afflicted with the disease. Inheritance of two dominant defective genes, one from each parent, is possible but generally creates such severe consequences that the child dies while still in the womb or shortly after birth. An individual who bears one copy of the gene has a 50 percent chance of transmitting that gene and the disease to his or her offspring.

Among the most common autosomal dominant diseases are
hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. These disorders result in elevated levels of lipids and cholesterol in the blood, respectively, which contribute to artery and heart disease. Onset of the symptoms is usually in adulthood, frequently after the affected individual has had children and potentially transmitted the faulty gene to them.

Huntington’s chorea causes untreatable neurological deterioration and death, and symptoms do not appear until affected individuals are at least in their forties. Children of parents afflicted with Huntington’s chorea may have already made reproductive decisions without the knowledge that they might carry the defective gene. They risk a 50 percent chance of transmitting the disease to their offspring.

Autosomal recessive genetic diseases require that an affected individual bear two copies of a defective gene, inheriting one from each parent. Usually the parents are simply carriers of the defective gene; their one normal copy masks the effect of the one flawed copy. If two carriers have offspring, those children have a 25 percent chance of receiving two copies of the flawed gene and inheriting the disease and a 50 percent chance of being asymptomatic carriers.

Cystic fibrosis
is an autosomal recessive disease that occurs at a rate of about one in two thousand live births among Caucasians. The defective gene product causes improper chloride transport in cells and results in thick mucous secretions in lungs and other organs.
Sickle cell disease, another autosomal recessive disorder, is the most common genetic disease among African Americans in the United States. Abnormality in the protein hemoglobin, the component of red blood cells that carries oxygen to all the body’s tissues, leads to deformed blood cells that are fragile and easily destroyed.

X-linked genetic diseases are transmitted by faulty genes located on the X chromosome. In the case of X-linked recessive diseases, which are by far the more common, females need two copies of the defective gene to acquire such a disease, and in general women carry only one flawed copy, making them asymptomatic carriers of the disorder. Males, having only a single X chromosome, need only one copy of the defective gene to express an X-linked disease. Males with X-linked disorders inherit the defective gene from their mothers, since fathers must contribute a Y chromosome to male offspring. All male offspring of a carrier female will have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the defective gene and developing the disease. In the rare case of a female with two defective X-linked genes, 100 percent of her male offspring will inherit the disease gene and, assuming that the father does not carry the defective gene, her female offspring will be carriers. There are more than 250 X-linked disorders, some of the more common being Duchenne
muscular dystrophy, which results in progressive muscle deterioration and early death; hemophilia; and
red-green color blindness, which affects about 8 percent of Caucasian males.

Multifactorial inheritance, which accounts for a number of genetic diseases, is caused by the complex interaction of one or more genes with each other and with environmental factors. This group of diseases includes many disorders that, anecdotally, “run in families.” Representative disorders include cleft palate, spina bifida, anencephaly, and some inherited heart abnormalities. Other diseases appear to have a genetic component predisposing an individual to be susceptible to environmental stimuli that trigger the disease. These include cancer, hypertension, diabetes, schizophrenia, alcoholism, depression, and obesity.

Diagnosis and Detection

Most, but not all, genetic diseases manifest their symptoms immediately or soon after the birth of an affected child. Rapid recognition of such a medical condition and its accurate diagnosis are essential for the proper treatment and management of the disease by parents and medical personnel. Medical technology has developed swift and accurate diagnostic methods, in many cases allowing testing of the fetus prior to birth. In addition, tests are available that determine the carrier status of an individual for many autosomal recessive and X-linked diseases. These test results are used in conjunction with genetic counseling of individuals and couples who are at risk of transmitting a genetic disease to their offspring so that they can make informed decisions about their reproductive futures.

Errors in chromosome number and structure are detected in an individual by analyzing his or her chromosomes. A small piece of skin or a blood sample is taken, the cells in the sample are grown to a sufficient number, and the chromosomes within each cell are stained with special dyes so that they may be viewed with a microscope. A picture of the chromosomes, called a karyotype, is taken, and the patient’s chromosome array is compared with that of a normal individual. Extra or missing chromosomes or alterations in chromosome structure indicate the presence of a genetic disease. The analysis of karyotypes is the method used to detect Down, Prader-Willi, and cri du chat syndromes, among others.

Defects in chromosome number and structure can also be identified in the fetus prior to birth. Samples may be collected from the fetus by
amniocentesis or by
chorionic villus sampling. In amniocentesis, a needle is inserted through the pregnant woman’s abdomen and uterus, into the fluid-filled sac surrounding the fetus. A sample of this fluid, the amniotic fluid, is withdrawn. The amniotic fluid contains fetal cells sloughed off by the fetus. The cells are grown for several weeks until there are enough to perform chromosome analysis. This procedure is performed only after sixteen weeks’ gestation, in order to ensure adequate amniotic fluid for sampling.

Chorionic villus sampling relies on a biopsy of the fetal chorion, a membrane surrounding the fetus that is composed of cells that have the same genetic constitution as the fetus. A catheter is inserted through the pregnant woman’s vagina and into the uterus until it is in contact with the chorion. The small sample of this tissue that is removed contains enough cells to perform karyotyping immediately, permitting diagnosis by the next day. Chorionic villus sampling can be performed as early as the eighth or ninth week of pregnancy. This earlier testing gives the procedure an advantage over amniocentesis, since the earlier determination of whether a fetus is carrying a genetic disease allows safer pregnancy termination if the parents choose this course.

Karyotype analysis is limited to the diagnosis of genetic diseases caused by very large chromosome abnormalities. The majority of hereditary disorders are caused by gene flaws that are too small to see microscopically. For many of these diseases, diagnosis is possible through either biochemical testing or DNA analysis.

Many genetic disorders cause a lack of a specific biochemical necessary for normal
metabolism. These types of disorders are frequently referred to as “inborn errors of metabolism.” Many of these errors can be detected by the chemical analysis of fetal tissue. For example,
galactosemia is a disease that results from the lack of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase. Infants with this disorder cannot break down galactose, one of the major sugars in milk. If left untreated, galactosemia can lead to developmental disabilities, cataracts, kidney and liver failure, and death. By analyzing fetal cells obtained from amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, the level of this important chemical can be assessed, and, if necessary, the infant can be placed on a galactose-free diet immediately after birth.

DNA analysis can be used to determine whether a genetic disease has been inherited when either the chromosomal location of the gene, the chemical sequence of the DNA, or particular DNA sequences commonly associated with the gene in question (called markers) are known.

Genes are made up of sequences of four chemical elements of DNA: adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), and cytosine (C). Sometimes the proper DNA sequence of a gene is known, as well as the changes in the sequence that cause disease. Direct analysis of the DNA of an individual suspected of carrying a certain genetic disorder is possible in these cases. For example, in sickle cell disease, it is known that a change in a single DNA chemical element leads to the disorder. To test for this disease, a tissue sample is obtained from the fetus, and the DNA is isolated from the cells and analyzed with highly specific probes that can detect the presence of the defective gene that will lead to sickle cell disease. Informed action may then be taken regarding the future of the fetus or the care of an affected child.

Occasionally a disease gene itself has not been precisely isolated or had its DNA sequence determined, but sequences very near the gene of interest have been analyzed. If specific variations within these neighboring sequences are always present when the gene of interest is flawed, these nearby sequences can then be used as markers for the presence of the defective gene. When the variant sequences are present, so is the disease gene. Prenatal testing for cystic fibrosis has been done by looking for such variant sequences.

Individuals who come from families in which genetic diseases tend to occur can be tested as carriers, so they will know the risk of passing a certain disease to their offspring. For example, individuals whose families have a history of cystic fibrosis, but who themselves are not affected, may be asymptomatic carriers. If they have children with individuals who are also cystic fibrosis carriers, they have a 25 percent chance of passing two copies of the defective gene to their offspring. DNA samples from the potential parents can be analyzed for the presence of a defective gene. If both partners are carriers, their decision about whether to have children will be made with knowledge of the possible risk to their offspring. If only one or neither of them is a carrier, their offspring will not be at risk of inheriting cystic fibrosis, as it is an autosomal recessive disease. Carrier testing is possible for many genetic diseases, as well as for disorders that appear late in life, such as Huntington’s chorea.

Many of the gene flaws of multifactorial diseases, those that interact with environmental factors to produce disease, have been identified and are testable. Individuals who know they have a gene that puts them at risk for certain disorders can incorporate preventive measures into their lifestyle, thus minimizing their chances of developing the disease. For example, certain cancers, such as colon and breast cancer, have a genetic component. Individuals who test positive for the genes that predispose them to develop cancer can modify their diets to include cancer-fighting foods and receive frequent medical checkups to detect cancer development at its earliest, most treatable stage. Those with genes that contribute to arteriosclerosis and heart disease can modify their diets and increase exercise, and those with a genetic predisposition for alcoholism can avoid the consumption of alcohol.

Perspective and Prospects

The scientific study of human
genetics and genetic disease is relatively new, having begun in the early twentieth century. However, there are many early historical records that recognize that certain traits are hereditarily transmitted. Ancient Greek literature is peppered with references to heredity, and the Jewish book of religious and civil laws, the Talmud, describes in detail the inheritance pattern of hemophilia and its ramifications for circumcision.

The Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel worked out many of the principles of heredity by manipulating the pollen and eggs of pea plants over many generations. His work was conducted from the 1860s to the 1870s but was unrecognized by the scientific community until 1900.

At about this time, many disorders were being recognized as genetic diseases. Pedigree analysis, a way to trace inheritance patterns through a family tree, has been used since the mid-nineteenth century to track the incidence of hemophilia in European royal families. This analysis indicates that the disease was transmitted through females (indeed, hemophilia is an X-linked disorder). In the early twentieth century, Archibald Garrod, a British physician, recognized certain biochemical disorders as genetic diseases and proposed accurate mechanisms for their transmission.

In 1953, Francis Crick and James D. Watson discovered the structure of DNA; thus began studies on the molecular biology of genes. This research resulted in the monumental discovery in 1973 that pieces of DNA from animals and bacteria could be cut and spliced together into a functional molecule. This recombinant DNA technology fostered a revolution in genetic analysis, in which pieces of human DNA can be removed and put into bacteria. The bacteria then replicate millions of copies of the human DNA, permitting detailed analysis. These recombinant molecules also produce human gene products, such as RNA and protein, thereby facilitating the analysis of normal and aberrant genes.

The recombinant DNA revolution spawned the development of DNA tests for genetic diseases and carrier status. Knowledge of what a normal gene product is and does is exceptionally helpful in the treatment of genetic diseases. For example, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is known to be caused by the lack of a protein called dystrophin. This suggests that one possible treatment is to provide functional dystrophin to an individual with this disease.

Ultimately, medical science seeks to treat genetic diseases by providing a functional copy of the flawed gene to the affected individual. While such gene therapy would not affect the reproductive cells—the introduced gene copy would not be passed down to future generations—the normal gene product would alleviate the genetic disorder in the individual.

Bibliography:

Cooper, Necia Grant, ed. The Human Genome Project: Deciphering the Blueprint of Heredity. Rev. ed. Mill Valley, Calif.: University Science Books, 1994.

GeneTests. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/GeneTests

Genetic Alliance. http://www.geneticalliance.org

Gormley, Myra Vanderpool. Family Diseases: Are You at Risk? Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007.

Hereditary Disease Foundation. http://www.hdfoundation.org

Jorde, Lynn B., John C. Carey, and Michael J. Bamshad. Medical Genetics. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Mosby/Elsevier, 2010.

Judd, Sandra J., ed. Genetic Disorders Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Information About Hereditary Diseases and Disorders. 4th ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2010.

King, Richard A., Jerome I. Rotter, and Arno G. Motulsky, eds. The Genetic Basis of Common Diseases. 2d ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Lewis, Ricki. Human Genetics: Concepts and Applications. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012.

McCance, Kathryn L., and Sue E. Huether, eds. Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. 6th ed. Saint Louis: Mosby/Elsevier, 2010.

Marshall, Elizabeth L. The Human Genome Project: Cracking the Code Within Us. New York: Franklin Watts, 1997.

Milunsky, Aubrey, and Jeff M. Milunsky, eds. Genetic Disorders of the Fetus: Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment. 6th ed. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.

Springhouse Corporation. Everything You Need to Know About Diseases. Springhouse, Pa.: Author, 1996.

Wingerson, Lois. Mapping Our Genes: The Genome Project and the Future of Medicine. New York: Plume, 1991.

In Perry Anderson's Passages from Antiquity to Feudalism (pg. 229-264), how did feudalism in Eastern Europe differ from the Western European...

According to Anderson, feudalism arose in Eastern Europe for mainly economic reasons, without the intermediary step of what he calls "antiquity" (which included slavery and the development of urban areas). Instead of feudalism arising naturally in Eastern Europe, it was transported there from Western Europe and imposed on what was a very primitive agrarian society. Slowly, these societies produced an agricultural surplus and developed political hierarchies and urban centers. The formation of states in the East arose as a result of outside influences from Western Europe and from the Church. In several places, such as Poland, tribal and clan structures remained in existence until much later than in Western Europe. As Western Europe exercised its influence on Eastern Europe and Russia, feudalism developed in these lands in a somewhat different way than it had in the West. As Anderson states, there was at first "greater mobility and equality" (page 243). The peasants had a better status than they did in the West.

However, the crisis that struck feudalism had different effects in the East than in the West. Feudalism was imposed later in the East than in the West and was at first less structured than in the West; therefore, the crisis that struck Western feudalism, in the form of peasant revolts, struck the Eastern areas less severely, in part because the eastern areas were less populated. However, the effects of these revolts and agrarian crises were in some ways more lasting in the East than in the West, as the Eastern states resorted to instituting policies of strict and rigid serfdom that tied peasants to the land. 

What does the term "coming out" mean?

"Coming out" is a figure of speech that refers to the process of openly identifying as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) person. Coming out is not a single event. Rather, it is a lifelong process of learning to understand and acknowledge one’s sexuality and feeling comfortable expressing it in private and public.

In the past, coming out was prohibited due to social prejudices and laws against homosexuality. Due to the efforts of gay activists, many Americans have become accepting of LGBT people and homosexuality. The experience of coming out is very personal and can be difficult.

Overview

Historically, society has discouraged LGBT people from coming out. In twentieth-century America, every state with the exception of Illinois had laws that expressly prohibited homosexual behavior. Homosexual activity was punishable by fines and prison sentences, even if such acts occurred in private homes. Additionally, the American Psychiatric Association classified homosexuality as a mental disorder, cementing the idea that LGBT behavior was inherently wrong. Mainstream religion almost universally condemned homosexuality. As a result, LGBT people were often harassed, tormented, or imprisoned. Coming out safely was not an option during this time.

Gay Rights Activism

The Stonewall riots are widely regarded as the spark for the LGBT civil rights movement and gay acceptance in the United States. The riots began on June 28, 1969, when police raided a popular gay bar in New York City called the Stonewall Inn. Although police actions against gay bars were common at the time, the bar’s patrons were infuriated by the invasion. They resisted arrest and fought with the police. The fighting spilled into the streets of Greenwich Village and became violent. Protests and demonstrations lasted for the next six days.

The riots inspired LGBT people in America to organize to support the rights of gay people, sparking the gay rights movement. The first gay pride march was held in New York City in 1970 to commemorate the riots. This became an annual event that eventually spread to other major cities. Within two years, gay rights groups had organized in nearly every large city in the United States. From the 1970s onward, these organizations helped to keep gay rights issues at the forefront of the media and government. Eventually, these groups paved the way for acceptance of civil protections, same-sex marriage, and a widespread—but not universal—acceptance of LGBT people in America.

A Deeply Personal Process

Although much of American society has become tolerant and accepting of LGBT people, coming out is still a deeply personal process and carries a risk of rejection. All LGBT people must decide if and how they will come out. It is important for an individual to feel that he or she is in control of the process. Additionally, LGBT people can choose to come out only to certain people or in certain groups. It is not necessary to be "out" in all places at all times. For example, one person might choose to come out to his or her family but not to coworkers. Another might feel comfortable living openly in all areas of his or her life.

For some people, coming out is a positive experience. These individuals feel confident in their sexual identity and have the support of their loved ones. They have no problem opening a conversation with family and friends and find comfort and understanding with them.

Not everyone finds the process easy, however. Some LGBT people may be confused about their sexual identity and unsure where they fit in society. They may feel undermined or dismissed by parents or teachers who try to convince them they are in a "phase." They may worry about being bullied by their peers or be concerned about risking their professional careers. All of these factors can impact the experience of coming out.

Why Come Out?

Most people who come out do so because they are tired of hiding their true selves. They want to express their real identities openly and honestly. They want the opportunity to explore and develop meaningful relationships with others, both platonically and romantically. They feel it is important for other people to know who they really are. This is a very natural feeling.

Coming out can have many benefits, such as feeling like part of a larger community. Additionally, coming out often reduces the stress that LGBT people feel about hiding the truth about themselves, stress that shows LGBT individuals are at a higher risk for mental health issues.

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Dealing with the Risks

Coming out has risks, too. Although many Americans say they are tolerant of LGBT people, that tolerance is not universal. Not everyone will be accepting or supportive. Some people may be hostile. Physical safety may even be a concern in certain environments. Sometimes close friends or family members may react negatively. They may be shocked or confused. They may refuse to acknowledge or accept the truth. Some families may withdraw financial support or even ask their LGBT children to move out of their homes. This situation can be painful and dangerous for the LGBT individual.

Some LGBT people experience bullying, harassment, or discrimination when they come out. These incidents can occur anywhere and can be problematic at school or in the workplace.

Resources

Many resources are available, both online and offline, to help LGBT people, especially young people, learn about coming out safely. National movements, such as the Human Rights Campaign and the It Gets Better Project, provide information about the process and can help LGBT people decide if coming out is right for them. Professional counseling can also be helpful, especially when family members or friends are not be supportive or in cases of bullying or discrimination.

Bibliography

"Coming Out." Gender Equity Resource Center. UC Berkeley Gender Equity Resource Center. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. http://geneq.berkeley.edu/lgbt_resources_coming_out#1

"Resource Guide to Coming Out." Human Rights Campaign. Human Rights Campaign. Apr. 2013. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/resource-guide-to-coming-out

"Introduction: Stonewall Uprising." PBS. WGBH Educational Foundation. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/introduction/stonewall-intro/

Please list some disadvantages of democracy in detail.

Someone once said, “Democracy is the worst form of government there is, except for all the others.” (Winston Churchill once uttered the words, but it is believed that he was quoting someone else—we aren't sure who.)

Democracy has been around for a long time, but it has not always been as common as it is now.

Depending on the source you use, about one-half to two-thirds of the world's 192 countries are democracies. But even once you have identified a country as democratic, there is still a wide variation in how those democracies function. Some are left-leaning, with socialistic aspects, such as Norway. Others, like the United States, are more conservative (although the U. S. has its socialistic aspects also).

Although democracy appears to have become the preferred form of government in a world that has become more educated and technologically advanced, it is certainly not without its share of problems.

Political gridlock: Democracies have competing political parties that often oppose each other on key issues. When the two (or more) parties are relatively equal in power, it can be difficult to get things done, as one party continually blocks the efforts of the other. We see this happen in the U. S. when one party controls Congress (or at least a part of it) and another controls the White House.

Apathy: Typically, only about one-third of eligible voters actually take the time to cast votes. That means a minority is making decisions that will affect the majority.

Pressure to win votes: Politicians generally have to face re-election pressures every two to six years. This means they have to keep their constituencies happy. Sometimes that means sacrificing what might be best for the entire country in an effort to appease their own voters. 

Power of money: Winning elections in first-world democracies means spending a lot of money on campaigns and campaign advertising. Candidates who do not have access to large campaign war chests are at a considerable electoral disadvantage. But, in order to amass campaign cash, candidates have to make promises—promises about policy and political appointments. As always, money talks, so donors who have money are able to influence policy behind the scenes.

All of these problems could theoretically be avoided with a totalitarian government that did not have to worry about elections and money. But the prospect of tyranny would soon rear its ugly head, no doubt. Democracy, at the very least, forces leaders to at least maintain the appearance of good public stewardship. After that, it is up to the voters to educate themselves well enough to shove the government in the right direction.  

When water freezes and becomes solid ice, the hydrogen bonds create a crystal structure and there is fixed space between each water molecule. This...

Density is the amount of mass per unit of volume. Most substances are more dense in their solid state than in their liquid state. This is because the particles of most substances become more closely packed in their solid state. 

Water particles are held together by intermolecular forces called hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds occur between the positively charged side of one water molecule and the negatively charged side of another water molecule. When liquid water changes to a solid state, the hydrogen bonds between the water particles result in the formation of a crystal structure with spaces between the water particles. The additional space between the water particles cause solid water to be less dense than liquid water. Because ice is less dense than water, it floats on water. 

Therefore, the answer is b.

I'm having difficulty understanding the specifics of the cathode ray experiment conducted by JJ Thomson. Thomson placed two oppositely charged...

Prior to Thomson's experiment, scientists were aware of how charged particles behaved in electric fields. They knew that a charged particle in an electric field would follow a parabolic path. They also knew that the size of the parabola was dependent on the particle's mass, charge, and speed. The speed of a particle in an electric field could be indirectly determined. 

The cathode ray in Thomson's experiment behaved exactly like scientists would expect it to behave if it contained particles of negative charge. He was able to conclude that the cathode ray contained particles based on previous knowledge of how known particles behave in an electric field. 

Further experiments by Thomson led to the determination of the charge to mass ratio of the particles in the cathode ray. This value indicated that the particles in the cathode ray were much smaller than a hydrogen atom. 

Prior to Thomson's experiment, John Dalton had developed several postulates that he thought described atoms. One of his postulates was that atoms are indivisible. Thomson's experiments showed that this postulate was incorrect. 

In the book The Cay, why does the narrator tell Henrik a fib?

The narrator, Phillip, tells his friend Henrik a fib as a way of gently fighting back against his friend's slight arrogance. To be more specific, Henrik was annoying Phillip by acting like he had privileged information, so Phillip said something untrue in order to make it seem like he, too, knew a lot about what was going on.

This happens in Chapter 1, on page 12:

Henrik said, "My father told me there is nothing left of Aruba. They hit Sint Nicolaas, you know."

"Every lake tanker was sunk," I said. I didn't know if that were true or not, but Henrik had an irritating way of sounding official since his father was connected with the government.

Phillip's fib reveals that he's someone easily annoyed, and someone who doesn't like to be left out of the loop. The whole war seems exciting to him rather than frightening, and he's eager to know everything about which islands have been attacked, which ships have been torpedoed, and so on.

In a way, Phillip's reaction to his friend's statement shows how immature Phillip is; it shows us how he has a long way to go before he can understand why friends deserve respect, and why war should be perceived as something terrible rather than adventurous. The events of the novel will ensure that Phillip learns these lessons well.

What does the large stone represent in Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery"?

While the picking up of the large stone by Mrs. Delacroix during the stoning of Tess Hutchinson can be interpreted in many ways, let us look at what Helen Nebeker, a critic, writes in her article " 'The Lottery': Symbolic Tour de Force," which was published in American Literature (vol. 46, no. 1) in 1974.

The Delacroix family, whose last name is French for "from the cross," already has a symbolic name which elicits thoughts of martyrdom, such as the one experienced by Jesus on the cross. Ironically, the family  shows none of the signs of goodness that often come with the view of a martyr. In fact, the collective attitude of the Delacroix clan, based on their reaction to the lottery, is that of making martyrs out of others, namely, whoever is picked during the drawing. Proof of this is the fact that they are the first family mentioned in the story that is fully engaged in the process of collecting stones, for what will become a macabre and bloody activity later in the day.

Mrs. Delacroix, a friend of Mrs. Graves, speaks quite candidly to Tess before the lottery starts, during it, and always shows kindness toward everyone. When Tess is finally revealed to be the "winner" of the lottery, the Delacroix children quickly step up to the stoning, as they had been collecting rocks from the start. Mrs. Delacroix, however, picks up a stone so large that she needs both hands to lift it. 

The Lottery--Shirley Jackson

...the pile of stones the boys had made earlier was ready; there were stones on the ground with the blowing scraps of paper that had come out of the box Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs. Dunbar. "Come on," she said. "Hurry up."

So: Based on the analysis of the Delacroix clan, we can infer a few things. First, that the large stone was picked on purpose by Mrs. Delacroix so that she WOULD NOT be able to hurt Tessie. If she cannot lift it, how can she possibly throw it?

Second, that the large stone is meant to hurt Tessie in the worst way possible because Mrs. Delacroix, like her family, may have psychopathic trends. Weren't they all collecting stones more than avidly from the very beginning?

Third, that the large stone represents duality: Mrs. Delacroix follows and obeys the status quo of the village by participating in the lottery. However, she really does not intend to fully participate and makes herself almost unable to carry the stone. This may show a fragment of humanity still left in her character. 

Therefore, the large stone represents doubt. When one is sure to do something, and do it well, one does not use the hardest or more difficult tools to accomplish a mission...unless one is not fully sure on whether that mission should be accomplished or not. 

In Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, what are some examples of Gatsby being a liar?

When Nick is riding in Gatsby's big roadster in the opening pages of Chapter IV, Gatsby seems determined to make a favorable impression and to dispel any of the dark rumors that have been circulating about him. Gatsby knows that his biggest weakness is in his shady background.

"Look here, old sport," he broke out surprisingly, "what's your opinion of me anyhow?"

In a couple of pages, Gatsby tells Nick an obviously made-up story about his life. He claims to be the son of wealthy parents in the Midwest. But when Nick, who is from that region, asks, "What part of the Middle West?", Gatsby answers, "San Francisco." This answer in itself shows that Gatsby is telling him a bunch of lies. San Francisco is as far west as anyone can go in the Far West.

In one paragraph of fanciful dialogue Gatsby tells Nick about his life after he says his family all died and he came into a good deal of money.

"After that I lived like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe--Paris, Venice, Rome--collecting jewels, chiefly rubies, hunting big game, painting a little, things for myself only, and trying to forget something very sad that had happened to me long ago."

Nick almost laughs at this story because it sounds like something out of a cheap novel. Venice, of course, is not a capital of any European country, and it would be hard to hunt lions and elephants in Europe. Nick is baffled when Gatsby supports his story with two pieces of evidence: a war medal from Montenegro and a photo of himself with a group of friends at Oxford.

The truth about Gatsby doesn't really come out until Tom Buchanan exposes him in front of Daisy at the Plaza Hotel in Chapter VII. What Tom has to say about Gatsby is completely incompatible with the story Gatsby has told Nick about himself in the car. All that remains unshattered is that Gatsby really did go to Oxford--but only for five months after World War I ended. Tom's uncontested exposure of Gatsby as a criminal is the climax of the novel, the death of Gatsby's dream.

What are some instances that illustrate that Bruno is young and naïve in Chapter one of John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno's naiveté is demonstrated in his first reaction when he sees his things being packed and he believes that he has done something wrong. Then, he does not realize that they are leaving Berlin, nor the reason for this move. 

In addition to these examples of Bruno's naiveté, he seems to only know that his father wears a "fantastic" uniform. His knowledge of the man and woman who visit their home--the "Fury" and the pretty blonde woman who waved good-bye to him as he was sent from the room one day--is very limited, as well.

Further, as he speaks with his mother, Bruno suggests that they need to return soon because he has "made plans" for the summer with his three friends, Karl, Daniel, and Martin. Then, he is shocked when his mother tells him that they are making a rather permanent move and he should say good-bye to the three boys, "as if the making of a boy's three best friends for life was an easy thing."

In Of Mice and Men, what does the death of Curley's wife foreshadow?

Lennie's final isolation is foreshadowed by Curley's wife's death. The young woman who shares her faded dreams with Lennie and her sense of frustrated solitude dies at the hands of a man who has his own dreams. As Candy realizes right away, that dream dies when Curley's wife dies and, for Lennie, this death will result in being cut off from society for good. 

We can see the idea of Lennie's impending exposure to a world outside of society at the end of the death scene in the barn. After Lennie partially covers Curley's wife with hay, he hears the sound of the horseshoe game and "For the first time Lennie became conscious of the outside." Immediately, he begins to recall the escape plan and tell himself to go hide in the brush, evoking his early notions of running away to live in a cave. Lennie is no longer part of society.

While this ultimate isolation takes the form of actual death for Lennie when he is killed by George, part of the power of this turn of events is in its surprise. So, although Curley's wife's death foreshadows Lennie's fate, it does not explicitly indicate Lennie's death. Rather, the murder foreshadows the death of a dream in a way that lets us see Curley's wife's "disappointment speech" as applying perhaps to the whole cast of characters in the tale. 

When she is killed, we know immediately that Curley's wife's death will trigger a few predictable responses and will shape Lennie's doom. The reader understands that George was aware something like this could happen. That is why the he and Lennie make a contingency plan early in the story, agreeing to meet by the Salinas River if anything should go wrong. 

Curley's animosity toward Lennie now is provided with legitimacy, making Lennie a real target of violence.

Lennie himself realizes that the hope for owning a ranch with George and Candy is now lost. This is what he worries about as he reaches the river and waits for George. 

In the odd conversation that Lennie has with himself in his fright (as he talks to a giant hallucinatory rabbit), Lennie worries that George will be upset with him and beat him. 

The rabbit speaks to Lennie's harsh, socialized awareness of what he has done, warning Lennie of the worst. 

"If you think George gonna let you tend rabbits, you're even crazier'n usual. He ain't. He's gonna beat hell outa you with a stick, that's what he's gonna do."

Lennie replies with self-reassurance, saying that George wouldn't do that because "he ain't never raised his han' to me with a stick. He's nice to me."

In this instance, we have a complex and ironic piece of foreshadowing that suggests George will do what is "nice" or right for Lennie when he arrives. In shooting Lennie, George is arguably proving Lennie right and proving the giant rabbit right as well. 

There is no more safe place for Lennie in society now. And this is effectively what Curley's wife's death means for Lennie.