Nuclear Power As A Green Energy Source Environmental Sciences Essay

In today ‘s society, atomic energy is a high demanded beginning of energy. It provides electricity to families and concerns with electricity expeditiously for it to be able to run. It is viewed by assorted political and non political groups as risky, menace to climate alteration such as planetary heating, and non a sustainable beginning of energy. Their position of bring forthing electricity and other beginnings energy is to be produced from renewable beginnings such as air current turbines and solar power. Many research workers argue that the menace to environment from the production of atomic energy is non the instance and in fact less harmful to the Earth and produces less nursery gases ( Dawson 2003, 34 ) , some like to see that atomic energy has a nothing C emanation. Nuclear energy is viewed as a cost effectual manner of bring forthing electricity compared to char firing which was seen to be expensive and immense menace to the environment. 1.1 Purpose The intent of this study is to see whether or non atomic power can so be seen as a green and sustainable green beginning of energy. 1.2 Scope This study considers what atomic power is, the hereafter energy demand in relation to planetary heating, the advantages of atomic energy, disadvantages of atomic energy such as the effects of the environment, whether it can be seen as a green solution in bring forthing energy, and a sustainable beginning of energy.1.3 Beginnings and MethodsInformation was collected from books, scholarly journal articles, green peace and greenies internet web site.Nuclear PowerNuclear power is energy that is produced for the intent of turn outing electricity for domestic, industrial, and other industry usage ( Hodgson 1999, 51 ) . The rhythm of bring forthing energy involves mining the U ores, change overing for fuel, enrichment, fiction, the production of a power works, operating, uranium processing, and waste disposal ( Fthenakis and Kim 2006, 2552 ; Lillington 2009, 94 ) . It is made up of a stuff called U which goes through a figure of procedures until is it stacked inside fuel rods. These fuel ro ds are so used to bring forth heat and steam which allows the atomic reactor to bring forth energy ( Fthenakis and Kim 2006, 2552 ) . Nuclear power is seen as a risky procedure of bring forthing electricity ( Hultman 2008, 41 ; Greenpeace. 2010 ; The Greens 2010 ) . Others view as a manner of scheme to cut down nursery gases ( Pasztor 1991, 98 ) and supplying economic stableness ( Green 2008, 15 ) . As mentioned before, environmental groups such as Greenpeace and political parties for illustration the Australian Greens party have fought against administrations in the affair of atomic power and have impeaching them of being the chief job for planetary heating. However society to a great extent relies on atomic power and sees this as a demand or merely a necessity for them to utilize in their day-to-day lives. Nuclear power is easy to bring forth, it can supply a big supply of electricity atomic power and sees this as a demand or merely a necessity for them to utilize in their day-to- day lives. Nuclear power is easy to bring forth, it can supply a big supply of electricity atomic power and sees this as a demand or merely a necessity for them to utilize in their day-to-day lives. Nuclear power is easy to bring forth ; it can supply a big supply of electricity, and is really efficient if supplying the demand for electricity ( Sovacool 2008, 3 ) . The usage of renewable beginnings of energy from solar and air current would non be plenty to supply energy to a house. In fact it can non power two 60 Ws light bulbs for a whole twenty-four hours.Future Energy DemandNuclear power is considered to be a future energy demand in footings of C emanations which is related to planetary heating ( Pasztor 1991, 105 ; Kessides 2009, 323 ) . With the high demand for electricity to better life criterions, many states are still building and runing atomic workss to bring forth atomic energy ( Pasztor 1991, 105 ; Green 2008, 15 ; Hodgson 1999, 119 ) . This is due to increase of populat ion, a rise in incomes in states which develop increases the energy demand. During 2008, the United States had approved another 30 reactors to be built ( Green 2008, 15 ) . States such as Germany, France, and Japan have made investings to better their processing activities in which this will ensue in lower measures of Pu and U needed to bring forth atomic power ( Pasztor 1991, 103 ) . As of 2005, there were 20 states that depended on atomic energy for the usage of electricity. It is seen as a reliable beginning of energy that has no emanation of C. This besides includes the phase during the processing with fossil fuels ( Lorenzini 2005, 33 ) . In the context of planetary heating, research conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) show that atomic power should be retained because it is seen as a production of energy that is carbon free ( Dawson 2003, 34 ) .AdvantagesLooking at the component Uranium, one lb of it contains the same energy of one 1000000s of coal ( Lorenzini 2005, 33 ) . This means less excavation activity for Uranium and necessitating less energy. It is seen as been a low C emitter, harmonizing to Pasztor ( 1991, 98 ) it â€Å" can be considered as an alternate beginning of energy in nursery gas decrease schemes † . During the production of atomic energy it is show that little sums of air pollution along with acidic gases are created during the burning phase of the fossil fuels ( Pasztor 1991, 98 ) . It which this can be a better option for bring forthing electricity so coal. However harmonizing to Mortimer ( 1991, 76 ) â€Å" atomic power is found to offer less than its advocators imply. This is when it ‘s looked more into it. Again we can besides take into history Jan Murray who represented the Uranium Institute who supports the fact the C dioxide is non produced by atomic power ( Mortimer 1991, 76 ) . The sustainable development committee references that the production of atomic energy can be seen as a low C emanation ( Kennedy 2007, 3710 ) . Many administrations are presently puting in improved atomic energy production which can be seen as a positive position, in which this will take to a lessening in C emanation ( Kennedy 2007, 3710 ) . Constructing more atomic workss can see a decrease of gas ingestion. At times when there is a deficit, big industries can take advantage of the decrease of gas for their benefit. This means a low impact on the environment, this leads to salvaging energy and necessitating less excavation, conveyance, and geographic expedition ( Kennedy 2007, 3711 ) . When it comes to atomic waste, the coal waste is seen to be more risky. It includes been risky to the environment and to our wellness. However atomic power is less harmful and better for the environment ( Lorenzini 2005, 34 ) .DisadvantagesFor atomic power to be produced, foremost a atomic station demands to be constructed. Constructing requires concrete, aluminum, steel, Diesel to run machinery, and Cu. In which they do necessitate a big sum of it ( Fthenakis and Kim 2007, 2553 ) . The stuffs required for the building is gathered from chiefly mining activities. In which it is seen that excavation does play a function in environmental pollution and emanation of nursery gases ( Kennedy 2007, 3711 ) . As from 2006 cost analysis study, it is estimated to be 2.8 billion lbs to build a works ( Kennedy 2007, 3708 ) . The usage of Uranium to fuel the atomic power works are seen as extremely radioactive, fuel is either fain or reprocessed in storage casks or in pools. However the United States as holding the bulk of bloomerss in the universe ( ) , it does non see recycling fuels. Some claim to hold less emanation and non a subscriber to planetary heating ( Mortimer 1991, 76 ) . However during the enrichment, operation, and production phases of the atomic rhythm. It requires a batch of energy in order for the phases to map ( Fthenakis and Kim 2007, 2553 ) . The terminal of the life rhythm is s till accounted for nursery pollution. All power Stationss and industries that relate to it hold an consequence on the environment ( Hodgson 1999, 117 ) . These effects are seen as a immense impact on our wellness and landscape that is used for mining which can take to destruction to the land ( Hodgson 1991, 119 ) . As mentioned before, we produce more energy to better our life, but pollution is produced during the rhythm of the atomic power which brings our life of standard down ( Hodgson 1991, 119 ) . Coevals of atomic power green goodss waste which is unsafe and seen as a planetary job. Normally wastes are buried belowground and has a mass consequence to the Earth. Care is non normally taken ( Hodgson 1991, 123 ) in which the consequence of radiation pollution can happen.6.1 Chernobyl and Three Mile IslandLooking at the Chernobyl and the Three Mile Island incident ( Greenpeace International 2010 ) these incidents lead a immense taint to the H2O supply and cause of deceases in Ukra ine due to radioactive pollution. The people of Ukraine have besides suffered from birth defects and other cancerous unwellness due to the proper attention non taken into topographic point ( Adamantiades and Kessides 2009, 5160 ) .Green EnergyThe inquiry is raised earlier one is whether atomic power can be seen as green beginning of energy. The universe has witnessed tragic incidents such as the Chernobyl and Hiroshima in which atomic power had made a immense consequence to the Earth ( Tilson 1996, 63 ; Damian 1992, 597 ) . To some certain countries, it can be considered as a green beginning of energy. Adamantiades and Kessides ( 2009, 5151 ) reference that atomic power has shown that it can avoid effects of fossil fuel pollutants. Extinguishing coal and replacing with U would set less injury to the environment and lower the nursery gas emanations. The more atomic power used to bring forth energy can assist to cut down the usage of such minerals such as brown coal, difficult coal, a nd oil. As these minerals are harmful for the environment it would intend less used in exchange for atomic power. Lorenzini references that atomic power is better for the environment and wellness compared to other minerals such as coal ( Lorenzini 2005, 34 ) . However political groups such as The Australian Greens Party argue that atomic power is non a solution to cut downing nursery gas emanations ( The Aussie Greens 2010 ) . Besides Greenpeace international claims that the usage of atomic power is a hazard to humanity and the environment ( Greenpeace International 2010 ) but Lorenzini ( 2005, 38 ) argues that the ends of atomic power is ease the force per unit area on land usage along with the environmental jobs that ‘s occur and extinguish emanations that contribute to climate alteration and human wellness issues. The argument on whether atomic power is green is hard to reply as the positives positions are equal to the negative positions.Sustainable EnergyThe inquiry whethe r atomic power can be seen as sustainable beginning of energy has been. As Lorenzini references ( 2005, 36 ) â€Å" sustainability of atomic power depends on an equal attack to atomic waste † . This is frequently hard due to the troubles in looking for a suited site for waste to be deposed. However the atomic industry has faced this job of waste disposal on whether it should disposed or reprocessed ( Adamantiades and Kessides 2009, 5166 ) . Nuclear waste is either placed in ceramic or glass containers and so taken to an appropriate country for disposal. Due to the Hazardous radiation, Uranium needs to be disposed directly after electricity is produced to in order to hold a less consequence on the environment ( Greenpeace 2010 ) . This is five old ages after the power works has cooled down the waste in its pool in order to forestall it from runing down. Nuclear power can seen as non been sustainable, due to the fact that there is no manner safe manner of disposing it.DecisionT o reason this study, we have chiefly identified the advantages and disadvantages of atomic power in today ‘s society. A batch of betterments have been made on atomic power in footings of its public presentation and injury to the environment. We can see that atomic energy is a measure to been green and is replacing usage of coal to supply electricity. However atomic power is non a sustainable beginning of energy. As it is hard to happen storage topographic points and the consequence it has on the environment one time its transferred for chilling. Many groups such as The Australian Greens Party and Greenpeace International are wholly against this step and see this as load to the environment and to our wellness. But one inquiry that is raised is that why that is these groups target atomic power when other beginnings of generators such as coal are to a great extent used to supply electricity. Overall atomic power is a beginning of energy that we to a great extent depend on ( Sovac ool 2008, 2 ) . Renewable beginnings of energy from solar and weave demand to be improved in order to supply the needed sum of electricity that a family would necessitate.

Words That Wound

Brian Kobel Take Home Quiz Lynn Classon English 1510 1The essay â€Å"Words that Wound† by Kathleen Vail shows how bullying effects today’s youth. The essay shows how tragic bullying can be on kids, and how it has lead to suicide and even accidental murder. I think that bullying can lead to such tragedies, but at the same time, bullying is just a part of life. I feel that bullying toughens up kids, and gets them ready to deal with people in the real world, and if they cannot handle the bullying, I feel they won’t make it in the real world.You have to ignore kids giving you a hard time, and know you won’t be around them for the rest of your life. 2The essay shows the influences bullying has on kids by telling stories of tragic stories that have led to young kids committing suicide or even being murdered. â€Å"Death was the only relief he could imagine† William Head said after his son committed suicide because he was bullied. This should definitely r aise bully-awareness. No kid should ever feel so poorly about themselves that they feel the only way out is taking their own life.Someone should step in the way if the bullying is going that far. 3But, for the most part, bullying is a part of life. I was bullied in school, my roommate was bullied, my little brother was bullied, and my older cousin was bullied. At one time or another, every kid gets bullied. It is part of human nature to try and feel dominant. †They feel it’s a normal part of growing up, that it’s character-building. † Head also said about the school board. Being bullied, unfortunately, a normal part of growing up, but you need to experience it, and learn how to react to it.Bullying really is character building. 4Kids need to learn how to handle bullying so that they can deal with people in the real world. People push you around just as much in the real world as they do in school. â€Å"It’s your problem—you need to learn how to deal with it yourself† The supervisor of the school said on the issue. I agree with the quote completely. You need to learn how to deal with your problems, not have someone else take care of it. Mommy and daddy won’t be there at work, they won’t be there at college.Learning how to stick up for yourself is a huge life lesson. 5In the essay â€Å"Words that Wound† by Kathleen Vail, the author showed how bullying can effect kids in a negative way. It showed how bullying leads to kids committing suicide or even dying. It did not really touch on what bullying teaches kids. With dealing with bullies, kids also learn to stick up for themselves. Which in the end I feel is a much better experience to have in the long run.

Residential Property Managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Residential Property Managment - Essay Example The studies for compilation may include the payments of mortgage, maintenance and costs of management. Advertising is another consideration wherein writing and inserting a classified ad in the newspaper that includes the mentioning of internet including the details which will be most effective enticing the rent as prospective. The property which was being rented may also handle the cancellation of the ads as well. RPM may provide the professional "For Rent" signing the place at the rental property. The handing out to the prospective tenants with free sheets of vacancy is for the purpose of availing the privilege of touring the vacant homes. The screening of tenant may thoroughly screen all the property replies and tenants' screening to pull the credit report and at the same time verify the employment that includes the income as well as interviewing with the last two landlords for verifying the prospective tenant which was considered a good tenant as well as leaving with the last property rental in its good standing. Much screening of the tenants considerably prospective is a very hard activity but the most important in RPM is the placing of good people into the property of investment. Such early Residential Property Management P 4 personal contact, the tenant may receive the establishment of RPM in terms of good relationship which is also considered as dependable. Maintenance is referring to the answer in terms of the complaints in terms of maintenance as well as arranging with the repair work. Most tenants are having access with the emergency number that is twenty-four (24) hours, whenever there may be problem that may occur in the... This paper approves that maintenance is referring to the answer in terms of the complaints in terms of maintenance as well as arranging with the repair work. Most tenants are having access with the emergency number that is twenty-four hours, whenever there may be problem that may occur in the middle of the night. This is adding security to all the tenants as well as the investor with the property to be watched within twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. Regarding inspections the tenant may even check with the property in terms of conducting with a walk which is through the inspection on such property. This is the way of recording the property condition when the said tenant moves in. This essay makesa conclusion that there is right in receiving the rent for the property’s usage and the right may have the property returned with the not damaged at the rental agreement. This should be returned in the same condition which was received that is in exception of the normal wear and tear. In exchange for the rights, this is the responsibility providing that is habitable and making the repairs when needed. The residence is equipped with smoking detector and the provision which is the batteries’ set and at the same time battery operated. The rights may include the peaceful possession wherein the rent of property may be free from such interference. This means that the entrance is in frequent with odd hours that are without the legitimate reason or such without notice. Such typical right may protect for the property with such reasonable inspection making the repairs and showing the property to the possible buyers.

American Dream for Slaves, Indians, and Puritans Essay

American Dream for Slaves, Indians, and Puritans - Essay Example Over time, they establish their communities, and become a part of the cosmopolitan society of America. These people had dreams that pushed them to leave their original homes, and settle in America. In trying to analyze the truth in George Carlin’s comment, it is imperative to consider facts from such groups. In the colonial era, slaves, Indians, and puritans all had dreams; and this paper intends to examine the interpretation of these groups of the American dream. This paper will also consider the obstacles they encountered in their mission, and whether or not they pursued their course. Colonial Era In looking at American history, slaves were of African origin. They Africans could only be referred to as slaves, after they had been bough officially by a planter or an owner of a plantation. The first slaves arrived in America in the early 1500s1. Slavery was oppressive, and colonies with produce specialization relied heavily on slaves. The slaves had no rights, were not allowed to accrue wages, and they were given only what was enough for their survival. Slaves came mainly from West, and Central Africa. By 1700, the number of slaves in America was about 20, 000. The slaves were forcibly brought to America. Between 1700 and 1750, an additional 250, 000 people had been involuntarily brought to British to serve as slaves. At the time that Europeans arrived in America, there were between 10 and 90 million American Indians. This native population appreciated the resources that nature placed at their disposal. The respected it, and used it accordingly. When Europeans landed in America, the American Indians were accommodative of their visitors since they were fascinated by the tools they brought with them. As the number of Europeans grew, they wanted to conquer the land, and make it theirs. Though they tried to coexist with the Europeans, the American Indians were quickly overtaken by events. The Europeans took over the land, pushed them to the side, imposed thei r ideals on them, and became their rulers. The European governments laid claim on the land, and divided it amongst themselves2. The American Indians were even enslaved by the Europeans. The period between 1500 and 1776 is characterized, in American History, by the colonization of America by Europeans. Puritans were immigrants from England to America. The Puritans were established in America by 400 settlers. These settlers in 1629 began the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their numbers grew in leaps and bounds, and by 1640, their population had reached 1640. They extended their region of coverage to Connecticut, Saybrook, and New Haven3. American dream As time went by, the African population grew to outnumber that of the whites. The African slaves bore children who were born into slavery. These children knew no other home other that the fields in which they worked. To them, slavery was their destined way of life, and some of them did nothing to go against this. But as time passed, some sla ves were able to earn enough to buy their freedom4. They turned around to become advocates against slavery. They convinced their fellow Africans who were still bound in slavery that there was a better way of life. Though brought in captivity, the slaves dreamt of freedom in America. The American Indians, being a people who had respect for nature, found themselves in the midst of

Scholarly Writing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Scholarly Writing - Assignment Example Through critical reading (Douglas, 2000) and analysis of the author’s reasoning using one’s purpose, information presented and conclusion (Paul & Elder, 2003, Spring), it can be deduced that the increase in use of personal computers does not reflect the current status of â€Å"digital divide†. The issue of â€Å"digital divide† or its non-existence has been over-generalized by the author. There are governments that restrict the use of computers in their countries or censor certain information. With the current technology, access to digital information from the computer or internet can be connected other gadgets. Thus, the divide can be perpetrated by the government according to its internal policies, such as the ban imposed by UAE (access of internet and sending of messages) and Saudi Arabia (on sending of instant messages) on some Blackberry functions because the government cannot monitor them (Walls, 2010, August 2). The author has also cited the 2001 Bu siness Week release that more than 80 percent of secondary students are â€Å"plugged in†, meaning, that they are constantly using the computer and the internet. Being â€Å"plugged in† may refer not only to personal computer use at home since there are public places and internet cafes that allow computer use for a certain fee.

Discussion board quantitive methds and analysis common assessment Essay

Discussion board quantitive methds and analysis common assessment - Essay Example The method has many advantages and disadvantages. One of its advantages is its flexibility that allowed for data collection at research participants’ convenience. This could have also facilitated response rate. Another advantage of the phone interview method is its speed in data collection relative to other methods such as written interviews because it offers instant response. Phone interviews are also cheaper than other methods because its cost is limited to phone call rates. Other advantages of the method are ability to record responses without negative implications on research participants, ability to explain research requirements to the interviewees, and eliminated need of research assistants (Kothari, 2004). There are, however, challenges of limited time for data collection and limited scope of a study to individuals with phones. The method may also be restricted in geographical scope due to call rate factors. Phone interviews are also not suitable for interviews that require comprehensive responses and are susceptible to interviewer bias. The method may also dictate that interview questions are brief due to cost (Kothari, 2004). Qualitative data was used for the study and the study’s objective informed the data type. The study aimed at understanding people’s beliefs, which are subjective, and therefore require qualitative approach and measure (Kothari, 2004). Stratified random sampling was used for recruiting research participants. The method involves identification of participants in groups with similar and distinguishing characteristics and then generating participants from each of the groups. In the study, participants were grouped by counties and then by age groups, adolescents and adults. Samples were then dawn from each sub groups (Kothari, 2004). The method was used because of anticipated cultural differences across generations and across geographical

Ethics in Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics in Financial Management - Essay Example In today's world, organisations and workplaces have become extremely diversified and have adopted varied stance s in terms of job processes and the general outlook. What is striking in such a scenario, is the prevalence of organizational or work ethics. Ethics has evolved to become an important aspect of organizational functioning, since it deals with the self-esteem and the very importance attached to employees in an organisation. Is it but well known, that an employee is the building block of an organisation and the importance attached to ethics in today's organisations are a reflection of the same. Financial Code of Ethics is important for the smooth functioning of any organisation. One of the important aspects of financial code of ethics, is to maintain integrity in the generation of accounts. One must ensure the hierarchal accountability and must also adhere to strict confidentiality and secrecy. It is also important to make use of the independence given and to maintain high levels of honesty and transparency. The Enron scandal was something that rocked the business world and also inspired books and movies based on it.

Electronic commerce Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Electronic commerce - Assignment Example The US government is against internet gambling because it leads to gambling by minors, may be dangerous for compulsive gamblers, has potential for fraud, potential for organized crime, also money laundering. It is illegal for an unregistered pharmacy to sell prescription drugs to citizens over the internet. Prescription drugs must only be distributed under the professional supervision of a physician; otherwise it is considered as ‘misbranded’. Online pharmacies that provide these drugs without a prescription, therefore, operate illegally. Online pharmacies that provide diagnosis, prescription and distribution of drugs have to make a valid prescription; otherwise they will be considered as having distributed misbranded medication, which is illegal under the FDCA. The US government also does not approve the sale of prescription drugs over the internet, from countries whose quality and standards of the drugs are not the same as the US’s. The United States government stance on this is that a consumer should be given protection equivalent to that which he/she would have if dealing in the physical transaction. A buyer should also be made aware that some of the legal protections which he/she enjoys on off-line transactions may not apply on online transactions. Government should be at the forefront in protecting consumers through coordination with FTC at national level, and other locally oriented task

Protecting and Improving Quality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Protecting and Improving Quality - Assignment Example s, equity in the provision of health services, efficient utilization of resources, effectiveness, timeliness, and focusing on patients needs (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Joint effort may be required to help organization achieve its goals. As a leader, measures that will be taken to improve the quality include implementing IT because it will revolutionize service delivery in the health sector. It is also important to bring all stakeholders on board for them to be involved in the search for quality services. Sensitive issues about the sector should be resolved amicably to avoid deadlocks which may hamper the delivery of improved service delivery (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Medication errors arise because of negligence from health practitioners. Controlling risks and putting safety measures in place needs a serious focus on the systems will aid in making errors severe. Medication safety refers to preventing accidents to patients who have come to seek medication. Lack of safety measures can make health institutions to be sued because of failure to comply with the set safety standards. Legal suits may interfere with operations of the facilities (Lewin, Altman, & Institute of Medicine, 2000). In order to improve quality service in the health sector, performance of professionals in this sector needs to be evaluated frequently. Such evaluation may help to ensure health practitioner improves their performance (Institute of Medicine of the national academics,

Combating Compassion Fatigue Essay Example for Free

Combating Compassion Fatigue Essay The nursing profession is a complex field that can challenge you mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. People who go into the field of nursing have daily interacts with patients’ and families in need of medical help and guidance. Nurses face numerous challenges on a daily basis and must be able to handle not only their patients’ issues, but remain strong and healthy to avoid compassion fatigue and burnout. Compassion fatigue is defined as emotional, spiritual, and physical exhaustion resulting from â€Å"witnessing and absorbing the problems and suffering of others† (Wisniewski, 2013). Compassion fatigue can lead to burnout with one’s professional career and affect home life. Caregivers can also be affected by compassion fatigue and burnout from the roles that they play with their loved ones. It is vital to be able to identify the warning signs of compassion fatigue and burnout. This is a battle that can be â€Å"fought with a commitment to personal health and well-being† (Chapman, 2007). Health care professionals and caregivers need to be able to find a balance and maintain health in their own spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional lives to assist patient’s to optimal care. Strategies on stress management, healthy lifestyle choices, and resources available will be discussed to help prevent and manage these issues. â€Å"Nurses are the backbone of the medical system and act as the first line of patient medical care† (Chen et al., 2009). Dealing and coping with stress is vital for nurses to maintain to provide adequate care. Compassion fatigue is a feeling of hopelessness and a loss in the sense of meaning in one’s life. Symptoms can be â€Å"strong feelings of anxiety, difficulty concentrating, being jumpy or easily startled, irritability, difficulty sleeping, excessive emotional numbing, and intrusive images of another’s traumatic material† (Portnoy, 2011). These symptoms need to be recognized to receive help or they can progres s to long-term effects and  complications. There are five concepts of compassion fatigue that need to be addressed to help with prevention and burnout. The first concept is cognitive; symptoms can be apathy, disorientation, trouble concentration, and harshness. The second concept is emotional; signs can be anxiety, fear, helplessness, feelings of powerlessness, depression, having bad dreams, and shock. The third concept is behavioral which can be lack of sleep, moody, change in appetite, withdrawn, and repeatedly having bad dreams. The fourth concept is spiritual. This area can lead the individual to question their role in life and their profession, feelings of being lost, and questioning faith and personal beliefs. The last concept is somatic, meaning affecting one’s voluntary nervous system. This can cause rapid heartbeats, trouble breathing, headaches, aches and pains, trouble staying or falling asleep, and sweating (Portnoy, 2011). There are numerous factors that can lead up to and cause compassion fatigue. Triggers can be issues with management such as nursing acuity, patient to nurse ratios, overworked nurses, personal issues, lack of support from coworkers or bosses, and loss of the feeling that the nurse is making a difference. To combat these factors in nurses and other employees in health care, managers and organizations need to be aware of this dynamic issue and offer help (Portnoy, 2011). Creating an open environment along with education and training on how to deal with these complex issues is the first step to addressing compassion fatigue within the workplace. Group meetings within the workplace will offer the nurses a chance to share their thoughts and feelings, realizing that they are not alone. Building bonds with coworkers and sharing patient experiences will help to encourage positive healthy habits. Self-care is vital for nurses to maintain to keep life in balance and to adequately take proper care of our patients. Everybody has stress, learning how to deal with it is the key to happiness and a healthy well-being. Nurses are constantly educating our patient’s on lifestyle changes needed to maintain health such as a proper diet, exercise, and a strong support system. We in turn need to practice what we preach and maintain our health to be at our best to help our patients achieve their best. Burnout and compassion fatigue are sometimes talked about as one, but there are differences. Burnout is â€Å"state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress† (Preventing Burnout, n.d.). Signs of burnout can be depression or  detachment, emotions are rigid, loss of hope and motivation, and a feeling of not worthy of living. Burnout can be caused by lifestyles or work-related issues. Working in an environment that you feel like you have no control or lack of resources can lead to burnout. Self-care is needed to maintain positive outlets to express one’s stress to avoid burnout in one’s personal life. There are physical, emotional, and behavioral signs of burnout. Physical signs are feelings of being tired all the time, being sick a lot, change in sleeping habits, body aches, and frequent headaches. Emotional signs can be loss of motivation, feelings of helplessness, feelings of detachment, sense of doubt, and an increased negative outlook in life. Behavioral signs can be isolation from others, avoidance of responsibilities, drug or alcohol abuse, missing work, and anger directed at others (Preventing Burnout, n.d.). There are several ways to help prevent burnout. Learning how to manage stress and adopting a positive healthy eating, sleeping, and exercising habits are good examples to start with. It is important to know when you need help and that it is available. Burnout can lead to compassion fatigue within your professional career. Nurses who are tired, overworked, and stress out over time without help can suffer from burnout and in turn fall into compassion fatigue. Nurses need compassion to help guide patients in their medical situations, if the nurse is stressed out and needing help herself then how can she guide the patient? Burnout can be healed, addressing the issues and finding â€Å"your balance by reassessing priorities, making time for yourself, and seeking support† (Preventing Burnout, n.d.). There is a three â€Å"R† approach when dealing with burnout; recognize, reverse, and resilience. Recognition of burnout, reversal of the damage caused from stress, and building resilience to deal with the stress by taking care of one’s emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health. Identification is one step into addressing compassion fatigue and burnout. One can recover from burnout. There are three strategies that one should remain mindful of, slow down, get support, and reevaluate your goals and priorities (Preventing Burnout, n.d.). When dealing with job burnout there are a few options that you can do to improve the circumstances. Taking time off, asking for a new assignment, speaking with management about issues, and clarifying your job duties are a few suggestions to start with. Caregiver burnout can happen to anyone at any  given time. The roles of caregivers are equally important like that of nursing. Caregivers are responsible for the direct care of a loved one and can experience compassion fatigue as well as burnout. Being involved with a loved one’s care can cause physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual distress. The health of the caregivers is important for the success of the one who is receiving the care. Promoting policies and interventions that will help the caregivers to avoid emotional exhaustion is the goal. Caregivers need to remain aware of their needs and beliefs and know when to ask for help should they need it. Education is the start to helping patients, families, and caregivers; talking about compassion fatigue and burnout allows people to see that they are not alone and that help is available. There are numerous resources available to assist those seeking help such as The Gift from Within organization that specializes in helping people deal with trauma and stress. There is also a Compassion Fatigue organization that aims at educating people on how important self-care is and how vital it is to know the signs and symptoms (Portnoy, 2011). In conclusion, compassion fatigue is the loss of self and burnout is the emotional exhaustion that one can feel. Nurses and health care professionals are at higher risks of having these issues come up; however caregivers can suffer from these issues just as easily. The goal to combating these topics is to bring awareness to them and to continue educating people on the ways to handle them. Sometimes asking for help is hard, but it is the first step in the right direction to becoming a healthy well-being who can handle stress. Seeking guidance from professionals will benefit the person in distress as well as their families. To be emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually sound one must take care of themselves in all aspects of life. One must have compassionate caring, empathic boundaries, self-awareness, spirituality and hope, and self-forgiveness to succeed in life (Bush, 2009). References Bush, N. (2009). Compassion fatigue: are you at risk? Oncology Nursing Forum, 36(1), 24-28. doi:10.1188/09.ONF.24-28 Chapman, E. (2007). Radical loving care: Building the healing hospital in America. Nashville, TN: Vaughn Printing Chen, C., Lin, C., Wang, S., Hou, T. (2009). A study of job stress, stress coping strategies, and job satisfaction for nurses working in middle-level hospital operating rooms. Journal Of Nursing Research (Taiwan Nurses Association), 17(3), 199-211. doi:10.1097/JNR.0b013e3181b2557b Portnoy, D. (2011). Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Watch for the Signs. Journal of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, 47-51. Retrieved January 20, 2015, from http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/healthprogress.pdf Preventing Burnout. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2015, from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/preventing-burnout.htm Wisniewski, L. (2013, February 5). What is Nursing Stress, Burnout, or Compassion Fatigue? Retrieved January 20, 2015, from http://www.nursetogether.com/what-is-nursing-stress-burnout-or-compassion-fatigue

Effects of Physiological Reproductive Events on Ovary

Effects of Physiological Reproductive Events on Ovary Chapter one Introduction Background The two majors function of the ovary is the differentiation and release of female gametes (oocyte), which can then be successfully fertilised and ensure the survival of species. The ovary is also an endocrine organ that produces steroid hormones that allow the development of female secondary sexual characteristics and supports pregnancy. The mammalian ovary is covered by a single layer of epithelial cells (surface epithelium), which vary in type from simple squamous to cuboidal to low pseudostratified columnar (Anderson et al. 1976). Directly underneath the surface epithelium there is a layer of dense connective tissue known as the tunica albuginea. The mammalian ovary is a heterogeneous organ containing follicles and corpora lutea at various stages of development. The ovarian follicle is the fundamental unit of the ovary, each follicle consists of an oocyte, surrounded by granulosa cells and outer layer of theca cells ( 1.2 Folliculogenesis During embryogenesis, primordial germ cells (PGCS) migrate from the yolk sac through the dorsal mesentery of the hindgut, to the genital ridge. The germ cells then undergo extensive proliferation, and lose their motile characteristics, in addition, somatic cells derived from the mesenchyme of the genital ridge, proliferate as well (Hirshfield 1991). The germ cells cease mitotic division and form association with small numbers of pre-granulosa cells to form primordial follicle (Telfer et al. 1988). The germ cells undergo the first meiotic division and are now called primary oocytes. The oocytes then become arrested in the diplotene stage of prophase I of meiosis until the primordial follicles start to grow and finally reach the ovulatory stage. In the diplotene stage, the oocyte may prepare itself for rapid mitosis and implantation, by producing large amounts of mRNA and ribosomes (Picton et al. 1998). Primordial follicles may be observed from week 22 in the human (Faddy and Gosden 19 95) and week 13 in the cow (van den Hurk and Zhao 2005). The pool of primordial follicles develops during fetal life in some species (e.g primates, ruminants), but in others it develops during the early neonatal period (e.g rodents, rabbits) (Marion et al. 1971). The number of primordial follicles present at birth represents the total population of germ cells available to mammalian females during their entire reproductive life (Kezele et al. 2002), and is believed to serve as the source of developing follicles and oocytes (Eppig 2001). Although recent studies have suggested that postnatal oogenesis may also occur in female mammals (Johnson et al. 2004), they suggested that germline stem cells can repopulate the postnatal ovary and renew the primordial follicle pool. This group subsequently went on to suggest that these cells were derived from bone marrow (Johnson et al. 2005). This has attracted a great deal of attention as well as criticism (Gosden 2004; Byskov et al. 2005; Telfer et al. 2005). This is an ongoing debate but the balance of evidence suggests that renewal is not a major factor in ovarian development (Eggan et al. 2006). In mammals, the number of primordial follicles in the ovaries at birth varies enormously between species, ranging from tens of thousands in mice to millions in humans and domestic species (Gosden and Telfer 1987). These follicles must develop through primordial, primary and secondary stages before reaching the preovulatory stage, and subsequent ovulation (Figure 1.1). Proper follicle development involves maturation of the oocyte, which is surrounded by variable layers of granulosa cells, enveloped by theca cells (Drummond 2005). Granulosa cells provide physical support of the oocyte and mediate signals between the oocyte, outer theca cells and endocrine hormones. Once the pool of primordial follicles has been established, follicles gradually and continually leave the resting pool to begin growth. However, less than 1% of primordi al follicles present at the time of birth of an animal will ever proceed to ovulation (Erickson 1966), with the majority of follicles degenerating by atresia. 1.3 Regulation of early folliculogenesis A critical process in ovarian biology is the transition of the developmentally arrested primordial follicle to the developing primary follicle. Follicular growth may begin at any time during the females life. The primordial follicle contains an oocyte arrested in meiosis I surrounded by flattened somatic cells termed the pregranulosa (Kezele et al. 2002). During onset of primordial follicle growth, flattened pregranulosa cells become cuboidal and begin to proliferate. The enclosed oocyte begins to grow at the same time (Anderson et al. 2000; Clark and Eddy 1975). The growths of both the primordial follicles with oocytes characterize the initiation of the growing phase. The oocytes within the primordial follicles remain quiescent for months to years until they receive the appropriate signals to initiate folliculogenesis and primordial to primary follicle transition. So far, little is known about the molecular mechanisms and extracellular signalling factors that regulate this process. These processes directly affect the number of oocytes available to a female throughout her reproductive life. Once the pool of primordial follicles is depleted, ovarian steroidogenesis ends and the series of physiological changes called menopause begins (Richardson et al. 1987). It is unclear whether the signals originate from the oocyte, or/and from surrounding somatic cells, or from outside the ovary. It is also unknown if it is an inhibitory factor preventing resting primordial follicles from leaving the stock or a stimulus acting on the resting primordial follicles store that stimulates some follicle to leave it (Gougeon and Busso 2000). A multitude of factors may act locally to regulate early folliculogenesis by promoting growth (Bennett et al. 1996) or by inhibiting growth (Bukovsky et al. 1995). The initial growth signal appears to be independent of the pitui tary gonadotropins (Peters et al. 1975) (Figure 1.3). Primordial follicles do not possess receptors for FSH hormone (Oktay et al. 1997). Despite some studies suggesting that gonadotropins are involved in the initiation of follicular growth in immature rodents (Lintern-Moore 1977; Neal and Baker 1973), nevertheless, during natural hypopituitary conditions in both animal species and humans, the initiation process is not completely abolished (Howe et al. 1978; Halpin et al. 1986). Although follicles at early stages of development have been shown to express follicle stimulating hormone receptors (FSH-R) (Bao et al. 1998), in the absence of gonadotropins during the early stages of follicle growth, follicles can still develop to the early antral stage (Awotwi et al. 1984; Gong et al. 1996). Knockout mice who are null mutants for either FSH receptor or LH receptor are able to undergo the primordial to primary follicle transition (Zhang et al. 2001; Abel et al. 2000). Several local factors have been found that can regulate the primordial to primary follicle transition. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) has been shown to promote the primordial to primary follicle transition and to increase granulosa cell proliferation (Lee et al. 2001). Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has also been shown to promote the primordial to primary follicle transition and to up-regulate granulosa cell expression of kit ligand (KL) (Nilsson et al. 2002). Bone morphogenic protein-15 (BMP-15) is a growth factor expressed in the oocytes of developing follicles that plays a role in early follicle progression (Dube et al. 1998) and stimulates granulosa cell proliferation (Otsuka et al. 2000). Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) has been localized inthe oocytes of mouse (Dong et al. 1996) rat (Jaatinen et al. 1999) and human (Aaltonen et al. 1999) primary follicles. Nilsson and Skinner (2002) have shown that GDF-9 promotesthe development of primary follicles in neonatal r at ovaries,but it has no effect on the growth of primordial follicles (Nilsson and Skinner 2002).Studies by Wang and Roy (2004) have provided the first evidence that GDF-9 can promote the formation of primordialfollicles and their subsequent growth in neonatal hamster ovaries (Wang and Roy 2004) . Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is a member of the transforming growth factor- ÃŽ ² (TGF-ÃŽ ²) is considered as a negative regulator of the early stages of follicular development. AMH is produced by the granulosa cells of developing preantral and small antral follicles which inhibits the primordial to primary follicle transition (Durlinger et al. 1999). AMH is never found in primordial follicles, theca cells or oocytes (Ueno et al. 1989; Hirobe et al. 1994; Baarends et al. 1995). Examination of ovarian follicles in AMH-deficient female mice revealed lower numbers of primordial follicles and more growing follicles compared with wild-type mice, these findings revealed that, in the absence of AMH, ovaries are depleted of their primordial follicles earlier than they are in control mice and these observations led to the propsal that AMH inhibits primordial follicle recruitment (Durlinger et al. 1999). Results were obtained from another in vitro experiments on the bovine ovarian cortex sugges ted that, at least in nonhuman species, the presence of AMH acts as a brake on the activation of primordial follicles and the growth of preantral follicles (Gigli et al. 2005). It has been demonstrated that oocytes from early preantral, late preantral and preovulatory follicles up-regulate AMH mRNA levels in granulosa cells, in a fashion that is dependent upon the developmental stage of the oocyte (Salmon et al. 2004). These findings suggest that oocyte regulation of AMH expression may play a role in intra- and interfollicular coordination of follicle development. ; kit ligand (KL) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) secreted by pre-granulosa cells and oocyte respectively, have mutual stimulatory effects on oocytes and granulosa cells; they also promote recruitment of theca cells from the surrounding stromal/interstitial cell population. Stromal/interstitial cells and theca cells secrete BMP-4 and BMP-7, which promote follicle activation and survival. GDF-9 and/or BMP-15 secreted by the oocyte of the activated follicle promote granulosa cell proliferation, KL expression and theca formation. Granulosa cells of growing follicles secrete AMH that appears to act as a ‘brake on primordial follicle recruitment (Knight and Glister 2006). Foxo3a (FKHRL1), a member of the FOXO subfamily of forkhead transcription factors, has been implicated in the regulation of follicle activation. It has been indicated that Foxo3a functions at the earliest stages of follicular growth as a suppressor of follicular activation (Castrillon et al. 2003). It was suggested that Foxo3a serves an essential role by suppressing the growth of primordial follicles, thereby preserving them until later in life (John et al. 2007). It was shown that Foxo3a -/-ovaries contained markedly elevated numbers of early growing follicles, and this extensive of follicular growth in Foxo3a -/- females resulted in the progression of increased numbers of follicles to more advanced stages of follicular development and this misregulation of this process can lead to premature ovarian failure (Castrillon et al. 2003). Kit ligand (KL) is produced by the granulosa cells of developing ovaries (Manova et al. 1993; Ismail et al. 1996) and KL receptors (c-kit) are present on oocytes and theca cells (Manova et al. 1990). C-kit is expressed at the surface of mammalian oocytes at all stages of follicular development in postnatal ovaries of the mouse, the rat and humans (Driancourt et al. 2000; Horie et al. 1991; Manova et al. 1990; Orr-Urtreger et al. 1990) and its only known ligand, Kit-ligand (KL), which is also referred to as stem cell factor (SCF). KL acts to recruit theca cells from surrounding ovarian stroma during folliculogenesis (Parrott and Skinner 2000). Therfore, KL is thought to act as a signal from the granulosa cells around primordial follicles to the oocyte and surrounding stroma to promote the events of the primordial to primary follicle transition (Parrott and Skinner 1999). In this study (Parrott and Skinner 1999), treatment of in vitro cultured follicles from postnatal ovaries from 4 da y old rats, with KL dramatically induced the development of primordial follicles, but was completely blocked by the Kit antibody ACK2. 1.4 Follicle development Follicular development is regulated by both endocrine and intraovarin mechanisms which co-ordinate the processes of somatic cell proliferation and differentiation (Moley and Schreiber 1995). The basic functional unit in the ovary is the ovarian follicle that is composed of somatic cells and developing oocyte. The two primary somatic cell types are the theca cells and granulosa cells. These two somatic cell types are the site of action and synthesis of a number of hormone that promote a complex regulation of follicular development. The prolifetation of these two cell types is in part responsible for the development of the antral ovarian follicle. At the same time, the oocyte is undergoing developmental changes necessary to allow the resumption of meiosis after the preovulatory surge of gonadotrophins (Montgomery et al. 2001). This regulation occurs according to endocrine principles, involving hormones such as pituitary gonadotropins , ovarian steroids and locally produced factors that act either on the cell that produces them (autocrine) or on neighbouring cells (paracrine) (Salha et al. 1998). Ovarian follicular development is a long process which can take around 6 months from the initiation of growth of primordial follicles until development of a preovulatory follicle in humans, cattle and sheep (Lussier et al. 1987; Cahill and Mauleon 1980) and around 4 months in pigs (Morbeck et al. 1992). The majority of this time is spent in the pre-antral stages of development. Already at this stage, a considerable proportion of growing follicles fail to survive and they degenerate through a process termed follicular atresia. Observations in humans and in animals suggest that apoptosis is the mechanism of follicular atresia (Tilly 1996; Kaipia and Hsueh 1997). In women, the dominant follicle orginates from primordial follicle that was recruited to grow almost 1 year earlier Folliculogenesis can be divided into two stages: the gonadotropin-independent (preantral) and gonadotropin-dependent (antral or Graafian) periods (Erickson and Shimasaki 2000). Locally produced growth factors are critically involved in controlling preantral follicle development during the gonadotropin-independent period. After antraum formation, the follicle becomes dependent on FSH stimulation for continued growth and development. Interestingly, it was discovered that the process of folliculogenesis is controled by growth factors secreted by the oocyte (Matzuk 2000). Five growth factors have been identified in mamalian oocytes: growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) (McGrath et al. 1995), bone morphogenetic protein -15 (BMP-15) (Dube et al. 1998; Laitinen et al. 1998), bone morphogenetic protein -6 (BMP-6) (Knight and Glister 2006), transforming growth factor -ÃŽ ²2 ( TGF-ÃŽ ²2) (Schmid et al. 1994), and fibroblast growth factor-8 (FGF-8) (Valve et al. 1997). Experiments with knockout mice have demonstrated that in the absence of GDF-9, folliculogenesis is blocked at the primary to preantral stage (Dong et al. 1996). Consequently, there are no Graafian follicles, no ovulations, and no pregnancies. 1.4.1 Follicular cell types and follicle classification The two primary somatic cell types in the ovarian follicle are the theca cells and granulosa cells. These two somatic cell types are the site of action and synthesis of a number of hormones that are involved in the complete regulation of follicular development. 1.4.1.1 Granulosa cells Granulosa cells are the primary somatic cell type in the ovary that provides a physical support of the oocyte and mediated signals between the oocyte, outer theca cells and endocrine hormone. Regulation of granulosa cell differentiation during folliculogenesis requires the actions of a number of hormones and growth factors. Specific receptors have been demonstrated on granulosa cells for gonadotropins follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (Richards and Midgley, Jr. 1976). In addition, receptors have been found for factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF) (Adashi 1998) epidermal growth factor (EGF) (Vlodavsky et al. 1978) and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) (Josso et al. 2001). Actions of these hormones and growth factors on granulosa cells vary with the stage of differentiation. Follicular growth and steroidogenesis are dependent on the coordinated actions of FSH and LH with their receptors on granulosa cells and thecal cells of ovarian follicles. Both granulosal and thecal cells are involved in production of estradiol-17ÃŽ ² (two cell/two gonadotropin model which is well accepted for many species). 1.4.1.2 Theca cells Another important cell type in the ovary is the ovarian theca cell. These are differentiated stromal cells that surround the follicle and have also been termed theca interstitial cells (Erickson and Case 1983). The thecal cells can be distinguished as two distinct layers, the inner layer of cells, the theca interna has a basement membrane separating it from the outmost layer of granulosa cells. The theca interna is a highly vascular layer. One of the major functions of theca cells in species such as the cow, human and rodent is the secretion of androgens (Fortune and Armstrong 1977). At the primordial stage, no theca cells are present; however during the transition to the primary stage, theca cells at this stage of development are gonadotropin and steroid independent and non-steroidogenic (Braw-Tal and Roth 2005). Theca externa which is less vascularized layer and merges into the stromal tissue without clear boundaries. The ‘two-gonadotrophin, two-cell model of follicular estradiol biosynthesis According to the two-cell-two-gonadotrophin theory, the ovary has two cellular compartments that are driven independently by LH and FSH to produce ovarian steroids. Androgen production by theca cells is a function of LH, whereas aromatization of these androgens to oestradiol by granulosa cells is controlled by FSH (Gougeon 1996) (Figure 1.5). Androgen synthesis occurs in the theca interna regulated by LH, by expressing P450c17, the rate-limiting steroidogenic enzyme in androgen synthesis (Sasano et al. 1989). Theca interna are capable of synthesizing all the steroids from cholesterol to testosterone and are the major source of follicular androstenedione. In contrast, granulosa cells are the major source of follicular estradiol. Granulosa cells are intrafollicular sites of androgen metabolism (Ghersevich et al. 1994) and express aromatase P450arom (Whitelaw et al. 1992) this enzyme converts androgens to estrogens. FSH also induces granulosa cell LH receptors that are functionally coup led to aromatase. Thus, uniquely in the preovulatory follicle, both the synthesis of androgen (in theca cells) and its aromatization to estradiol (in granulosa cells) are directly regulated by LH (Fortune and Armstrong 1977). . In the theca, under the influence of LH, cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone and metabolised through a series of substrates ending in androgen production. The two-cell, two-gonadotrophin model comes into play with androgens produced by the theca cells transported to the granulosa cells where they are aromatised to oestrogens (Drummond 2006). 1.4.2 Classification of follicle stages In sheep, the stages of follicular development have been classified on the basis of the number of granulosa cells in the largest cross-section of follicles (McNatty et al. 1999), 1.4.3 Follicular development in primates 1.4.3.1 Oocyte growth and maturation Once follicles have been initiated to grow, the granulosa cells proliferate to form the different stages of follicular development (Telfer et al. 2000). During follicular activation and early development in mice, for example, the oocyte growth occurs rapidly with an approximatly 300-fold increase in volume during the 2-3 week growth phase (Wassarman and Albertini 1994), which is also accompanied by a 300-fold increase in RNA content (Sternlicht and Schultz 1981) and a 38-fold increase in absolute rate of protein synthesis (Schultz et al. 1979). These events are indicative of a period of cell growth with high metabolic activity (Wassarman and Albertini 1994). Oocytes complete most of their growth phase before the formation of a follicular antrum (Wassarman and Albertini 1994), and the increase in oocyte diameter and volume during antral follicular growth is relatively small (Eppig 2001; Wassarman and Albertini 1994). If the oocyte is to be capable of fertilization and subsequent embry onic development, it must acquire the ability to resume meiosis. Oocytes from immature follicles are unable to resume meiosis (Iwamatsu and Yanagimachi 1975) however, by the time the follicles have reached the antral stages the oocytes of most species have acquired the ability to resume meiosis (Mattioli and Barboni 2000; Telfer 1998). 1.4.3.2 Follicular growth Early in oocyte growth, a homogenous glycoprotein layer called the zona pellucida (ZP) is secreted shortly after initiation of follicular growth (Epifano and Dean 1994). It forms a translucent acellular layer separating the oocyte from the surrounding granulosa cells. However, contact between granulosa cells and the oocyte is maintained via cytoplasmic processes, which penetrate the zona and form gap junction at the oocyte surface. Progressively, follicles become secondary follicles. In addition to oocyte growth and granulosa cell proliferation, the preantral follicle also increases in size through formation and growth of ovarian stromal cells on the outer membrane of the follicle forming the theca layers of the follicle. The thecal cells can be distinguished as two distinct layers: highly vascular theca interna, surrounded by a fibrous capsule, the theca externa. The granulosa cells continue to proliferate, resulting in a further increase in follicular size. The formation of the follicular antrum marks the beginning of the antral phase of development. The appearance of an antral cavity starts with the development of small fluid-filled cavities that aggregate to form the antrum. As the follicular antrum grows, the oocyte, surrounded by a dense mass of granulosa cells called the cumulus oophorus which become suspended in fluid. It is connected to the rim of peripheral granulosa cells only by a thin stalk of cells. Attached to the zona pellucida, which surrounds the oocyte, is a small ring of granulosa cells called the corona radiata, these cells will be expelled with the oocyte during ovulation. In humans and monkeys, follicles pass from the preantral to the early antral stage at a follicular diameter between 180 and 250 ÃŽ ¼m (Koering 1983; Bomsel-Helmreich et al. 1979). Further, growth of the follicle is under the influence of follicle stimulating hormone (Gougeon 1996). The follicle is then termed a Graafian follicle. When the proper ho rmonal balance is present, normally one Graafian follicle in mono-ovulatory mammals (e.g. primates, ruminants, equine) and several ones in poly-ovulatory animals (e.g. rodent, porcine) fully develop and the oocyte matures and ovulate (Hafez 1993). 1.4.4 Regulation of follicular development 1.4.4.1 Oocytes somatic cell communication Oocyte growth is dependent on signals, growth factors and nutrients from granulosa cells; at the same time oocytes play an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells. Communication between oocytes and somatic cells have a crucial role in ovarian follicular development (Albertini and Barrett 2003; Eppig 2001). Several studies have shown the importance of oocyte-derived factors such as growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) and bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) in female reproduction. GDF-9 and BMP-15 promote the proliferation of granulosa cells from small antral follicles (Hayashi et al. 1999; Vitt et al. 2000; Otsuka et al. 2000). Mutation of the GDF-9 gene in mice prevented the development of somatic cells beyond the primary follicle stages (Dong et al. 1996). C-kit receptor or (Kit) is expressed at the surface of mammalian oocytes at all stages of follicular development in postnatal ovaries of the mouse, the rat and humans (Driancourt et al . 2000b; Horie et al. 1991; Manova et al. 1993). An in vivo study by (Yoshida et al. 1997) has indicated the requirement for C-kit in development of the ovarian follicle in mice. In this study, postnatal mice were injected with Kit-blocking antibody ACK2, and the first wave of follicular development was studied. The blockade of Kit signalling was found to disturb the onset of primordial follicle development, primary follicle growth and follicular fluid formation of preantral follicles (Yoshida et al. 1997). On the other hand, primordial follicle formation, ovulation and luteinization of the ovulated follicle were not affected by ACK2 (Yoshida et al. 1997). 1.4.4.2 Gonadotropins Before the onset of puberty, the normal fate of growing follicles is atresia. After puberty, stimulation by cyclic gonadotropins allows the survival and continued growth with only a limited number of antral follicles that will reach the preovulatory stage. Activation and maintenance of normal follicular function is dependent on gonadotropins secreted by the pituitary. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH) are glycoprotein, secreted by gonadotrophs in the anterior pituitary under the influence of hypothalamic GnRH (Gonadotrophin releasing hormone) neurones, which regulate the synthesis and secretion of those hormones). Gonadotropins are probably not involved in the initiation of follicle growth (Wandji et al. 1992; Fortune et al. 2000; McNatty et al. 1999). Whilst there may not be an absolute requirement for FSH at these early stages the presence of FSH receptor (FSHr) in granulosa cells of immature follicles in cow (Wandji et al. 1992), human (Zheng et al. 1 996) and sheep (Eckery et al. 1997) suggests an involvement. A role for LH in the early stages of development has not been described, although expression of LH receptor (LHr) mRNA is first detected when the theca interna forms around the granulosa cells (Bao et al. 1998; Bao and Garverick 1998). FSH and LH are involved in endocrine control of follicle development, FSH stimulates granulosa cell division and the formation of glycosaminoglycans that are essential components of antral fluid (Hillier 1991). FSH is vital for the formation of the antral cavity (Nayudu and Osborn 1992) in mouse ovarian follicles cultured in vitro. Granulosa cells are the only cells in the female body possess FSH receptors, and binding of FSH to its receptor on the cell surface altered expression of multiple genes crucial to cytoproliferation and differentiation (Richards 1994). Granulosa cell genes that are responsive to FSH include: aromatase (P450arom) the steroidogenic cytochrome P450 crucial to estrogen synthesis (Simpson et al. 1994); cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P450scc) (Richards 1994) and LH receptors (Segaloff and Ascoli 1993). FSH and LH are important factors for the proliferation and survival of follicular somatic cells and the cyclic recruitment of antral follicles. Suppression of serum gonadotropins after hypophysectomy leads to atresia and apoptosis of developing follicles (Nahum et al. 1996). Whereas FSH treatment of cultured early antral follicles prevents the spontaneous onset of follicular apoptosis (Chun et al. 1996). Although FSH is the central regulator of dominant follicle survival and development, LH signalling pathways play fundamental physiological roles. LH-dependent signal pathways in the theca interstitial cells induce changes in gene expression that are critical for estrogen production (Erickson et al. 1985). Activation of the LH receptors in theca cells leads directly to the stimulation of high levels of androstenedione production. The major physiolog ical significance of this LH response is to provide aromatase substrate to the granulosa cells where it is metabolized by P450 aromatase to E2. Additionally, the preovulatory surge of LH is responsible for ovulation and corpus luteum formation. Also, LH is essential for P4 and E2 production by the CL during the early and midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The hypothalamus produces and secretes luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) into a system of blood vessels that link the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. LHRH stimulates the pituitary gland by attaching to specific molecules (i.e., receptors). After the coupling of LHRH with these receptors, a cascade of biochemical events causes the pituitary gland to produce and secrete two hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). LH and FSH are two of a class of hormones commonly known as gonadotropins. They are secreted into the general circulation and attach to receptors on the ovary, where they trigger ovulation and stimulate ovarian production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Adapted from (Kanis 1994) 1.4.4.3 Growth factors A number of locally produced growth factors are known to be important for follicle development, they exert paracrine communication within follicles. During preantral follicle development, growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factors (TGF) may influence folliculogenesis (van den and Zhao 2005). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Danforth et al. 2003) and mullerian inhibitory substance (MIS) (McGee et al. 2001) have been reported to stimulate preantral follicle growth. It has been demonstrated that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) can alter bovine granulosa cell steroidogenesis and proliferation in vitro (Glister et al. 2004). Transforming growth factor-ÃŽ ² (TGF-ÃŽ ²) superfamily contains a range of proteins, including inhibins and activins. The precise roles of these factors are not known, but it is likely that they are involved in follicular differentiation by enhancing the action of gonadotropins (Campbell and Baird 2001; Knight and Gli ster 2001; Montgomery et al. 2001). Insulin growth factors (IGF) and their receptors play important role in follicle growth and development (Poretsky et al. 1999). The IGF family comprises of IGF peptides, IGF receptors which are family of proteins called insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) that regulate the availability of the IGF to their target cells, and IGFBP proteases (Giudice 1992). The IGFs affect biosynthetic processes in granulosa and theca cells and have an influence on mitotic activity in the granulosa cells (Giudice 1992; Poretsky et al. 1999). Additionally, a functional link between the IGF system and FSH action has been demonstrated by the finding that IGFBP-4 is a potent inhibitor of FSH

The Unconscious Mind of Mrs. Drover in Bowen’s The Demon Lover :: Demon Lover Essays

The Unconscious Mind of Mrs. Drover in Bowen’s The Demon Lover To some degree, literature is analogous to the human mind: both literature and the thought systems of human beings operate on multifarious levels. The human mind functions both consciously and unconsciously; while the conscious exists superficially, the unconscious governs most human actions. The superficial level of literature is gleaned by rendering a literal interpretation of the words on the pages. Yet, a piece of literature—like the human mind—also contains a recondite element that governs the actions contained within the work. Sigmund Freud suggested that â€Å"like the iceberg, the human mind is structured so that its great weight and density lie beneath the surface† (Guerin et al. 127). Similarly, the â€Å"great weight and density† of Elizabeth Bowen’s â€Å"The Demon Lover† also lies beneath the surface. While a literal interpretation reduces the work to a simple yet disturbing ghost story, trenchant analysis reveals the inward pilgrimage of the protagonist, Kathleen Drover. Although it is unclear whether or not Mrs. Drover’s return to her house in London is a physical journey, it is, with certitude, a psychological one. Mrs. Drover’s journey is one into her battle-scarred psyche, damaged by her failure to achieve a balance between two opposing forces—the Id and Superego. The terms id and superego, along with ego, comprise Freud’s tripartite model. The id is the portion of the psyche that generates â€Å"our instinctual physical, especially libidinal, desires. The id itself is often described as insatiable and pleasure seeking† and it does not consider the consequences or implications of its actions (Murfin and Ray 164). Conversely, the superego â€Å"operates according to morality principal and serves primarily to protect society and us from the id† (Bressler 151). The ego is the â€Å"rational governing agent of the psyche†¦the ego serves as intermediary between the world within and the world without† and it helps â€Å"keep us healthy human beings by maintaining a balance between these two opposing forces† (Guerin et al. 130-1). Externally, Mrs. Drover is described as a â€Å"prosaic† woman whose normal expression was that of â€Å"controlled worry, but of assent† (Bowen 661-2). She was a simple, ordinary woman—perhaps even a bit dull—whose movements were â€Å"circumscribed.† Internally, Mrs.

Creating a Writing Technolgy :: Invention Inventing Writing Essays

Creating a Writing Technolgy This paper is an analysis of the assignment given to "create" a writing technology. The attempt must be made to write a twenty (or fewer) word text using natural materials only, that is, materials that have not been processed, produced, or man-made. The goal is to create a writing technology that uses natural materials, that has permanence, that is legible, and finally, that is creative. I stumbled onto my "paper" when I found large pieces of bark that had fallen off tall trees on campus. The piece I collected was approximately three feet long by one foot wide. The condition of my "paper" was rather poor. The exterior surface was rough and gnarled - impossible to write on - and the interior surface, though while overall it was smooth, was rusty brown with various discolorations and had slight raises and bumps in its surface. The bark was cracked along the length of it in many places and ready to break apart if it were to be dropped. With such a unique surface, I found it interesting that I had taken the quality of good paper for granted. Mark Twain describes his experience of buying a new writing device - a typewriter. Yet he makes no comment on the paper he used (500-3). No doubt the paper he used was of much poorer quality than the paper found today, yet Mark Twain makes no mention of how the typewriter worked on the paper of his day. Perhaps it was a nonissue, that in the same way that I take for granted the good quality of paper today, Mark Twain also took for granted the paper he had available. This experience is consistent with Dennis Baron's view that "we have a way of getting so used to writing technologies that we come to think of them as natural rather than technological" (51). Whether it was paper produced today or in the day of Mark Twain, respectively we were so familiar with the quality of the existing writing mediums that little consideration is given to the materials themselves - as long as they work. Now faced with a project of writing on a piece of bark, my assumptions were suddenly removed and I was able to examine writing as a truly laborious process. In choosing my "ink", I desired a fruit or vegetable that would be easily obtainable, and that would permanently stain the bark.

Rite of Encounter :: encounter

Rite of Encounter Rite of Encounter is, initially a very dry and imposing story. The reader is given same information repeatedly, as if it were not received the first time. This redundancy is an insult to the reader. For instance, in the very first line of the story the narrator tells the reader that, "In the third week of his fasting, Singing- Owl found the white man" (258). This information is given quite clearly, yet later the narrator repeats himself by saying, "A dog meant white men" (259). It is not necessary for the narrator to remind the reader. This "spoon-feeding" is insulting to the reader. The narration was also rather dry. There is little description. The story is conveyed to the reader without any details, and quite plainly, the story is simply reported. The omniscient third person narration is also, at times, confusing. The narration occasionally dips from third person to first without any explanation. For example, when Singing- Owl is suffering of dehydration, fatigue, and hunger the n arrator is reporting the condition of the character. Suddenly, the next line reads, "Water. Must get water" (258). It is unclear who says this. Not suprisingly, Bates, employs this strange tactic again to demonstrate Singing- Owl's exhaustion. The narrator comments on Singing- Owl's declining condition, then says, "Perhaps I'm tired. All right. I am tired" (261). Again, the reader is left unassured of who is speaking. This intentional alteration of narration only robs the story of unity. There is, however, one manipulation of the characters which is interesting. Smallpox is characterized beautifully. Giving life to a disease gives life to a story, which, from the beginning, is dragging on without such animation. Smallpox mocks our "hero", Singing- Owl. This tormenting by a naturally inanimate character saturates the story with fantasy and mysticism. The conclusion of the story, unfortunately, leaves the reader with the same sense of disappointment with which it was started. Singing- Owl, rather than becoming a hero, becomes a marionette for Smallpox to control. Singing- Owl breaks down and agrees to bring Smallpox back to the tribe. Even though Singing- Owl does not completely understand the methods of Smallpox, he does understand the negative repercussions. Yet, Singing- Owl grants Smallpox's wish. This event is disappointing to the reader and degrades the main character. Singing- Owl gains some redemption by trying to infect his enemies, but is not effective and is going to die a dishonored man.

How Does Junk Food Affect Developing Teenagers

The teen years are a time of rapid physical and emotional growth. The nutrients in food serve as the fuel for this development, making a nutritious diet vital for good health during the teen years. â€Å"Junk food† includes items like candy, chips and soda that are high in fat and calories but low in nutrients. Understanding the impact of junk food on developing teens helps highlight the importance of a healthy diet. Weight Gain Overweight and obesity are a threat posed by Junk-food consumption. More than Just a superficial issue, childhood obesity increases the risk for several serious diseases, ncluding heart disease and type 2 diabetes.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of obese kids observed in one study had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. Junk food causes weight gain by filling the diet with calories and fat rather than nutrients, while large portion sizes make it easy to overindulge in these foods. Sponsored Links Diabetes Penyakit Diabetes bisa dihindari, Hitung Skor Anda disini. www. meetdoctor. com Nutrient Deficiencies Junk food is a poor source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients teens need for roper health.Filling up on the empty calories in Junk food makes it difficult to obtain nutrients from healthier foods like fruits and vegetables. The University of Minnesota School of Public Health reports that a person's nutrient needs are higher during their adolescent years than at any other time. Failure to consume adequate nutrients during this period can result in delayed physical growth and sexual maturation. Poor nutrition during the teenage years may also lead to increased risk for cancer, osteoporosis and other diseases later in adulthood. DepressionFor some kids, being overweight or obese can have a negative impact on self-esteem and well-being. But there is some evidence that Junk food itself can contribute to poor mental health. Prel iminary research suggests that an unhealthy diet may increase the likelihood of depression in some individuals, dietitian Katherine Zeratsky wrote for MayoClinic. com in 2010. While more studies are needed in this area, a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and other nutrient-rich foods is a teenager's best bet for a healthy mood. Prevention/SolutionLimiting Junk food rather than avoiding it altogether is usually sufficient to prevent serious health consequences. When eating high-fat or high-sugar foods, limit the amount of calories and fat from other sources that day. Make fresh fruits and vegetables a staple in the diet and keep plenty of healthy snacks in the home to feed hungry teens. Replace soda with skim milk or water and choose whole-grain foods over refined products like cereal, bread and pasta. You and your teen should also discuss proper diet and nutrition with their doctor. How Does Junk Food Affect Developing Teenagers? By alipol

A treatise On Ulcers

Peptic ulcers (gastric and duodenal) are defects in the gastrointestinal mucosa that extend through the muscularis mucosa. Ulcer results when the balance between the aggressive forces (Helicobacter pylori, acid, pepsin, bile, drugs) and the mucosa defense: (microcirculation, Prostaglandins, apical cell restitution, hydrophobicity, HCO3, genetic) is disrupted. In the USA, the lifetime prevalence is 10% and for men it is 12% and 9% for women.The one point prevalence for new PUD is 2% and duodenal ulcer occurs five times more than gastric ulcer. To differentiate gastric from duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer is uncommon before 40 years, the pain is often increased by eating food and relieved by fasting. The acid secretion is normal, there is possibility of weight loss and hematemesis i.e. blood in the vomitus may occur.In the case of duodenal ulcer, most occur between 25 and 75 years of age and pain is usually temporarily relieved by food intake and antacids, the pain is often nocturnal and there is acid hyper secretion, there is no associated weight loss and blood may be present in the stool.Other factors implicated as theory of the aetiologic of ulcer include smoking, Calcium, Alcohol, Caffeine, Red pepper. The genetic theory implicates familial cluster ring. Other possible etiologies are Blood group O, AB (H) antigen, pepsinogen, HLA B5, Rheumatoid arthritis,COPD, Liver cirrhosis, CRF, renal transplantation, Herpes simplex, CMV, Hyperparathyroidism, Mastocytosis.Sex hormones and psychological factors may also play some minor role.Clinical presentation of PUD may be 1) asymptomatic or 2) Symptoms may vary.   A high index of suspicion is therefore needed .It is more likely if: there is   Ã‚   Pain,  Ã‚  Ã‚   Anemia, heavy smoking,  Ã‚   Use of NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.The cardinal symptoms are nocturnal pain, as well as epigastric pain relieved by food and vomiting. And the signs include -The pointing sign in 70% -commonest, epigastric te nderness or discomfort only. Signs of outlet obstruction can also be elicited and also signs of other complications.Treatment includes the use of Proton pump inhibitors include lansoprazole and omeprazole. They are remarkably safe drugs which have so far been used only to treat ulcers and other conditions where there is excess gastric acidityIn conclusion, one should therefore visit his or her doctor ones there is abdominal pain and the person has recurrent and refractory symptoms, the patient is more than 40 years old or has a family history of ulcer or the risk factors mentioned above are present in alarming proportions.ReferencesElsevier (2009, April 24). Commonly Used Ulcer Drugs May Offer Treatment Potential In Alzheimer's Disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com ­ /releases/2009/04/090422103556.htUppsala University (2008, May 9). Nitrates In Vegetables Protect Against Gastric Ulcers, Study Shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com ­ /releases/2008/05/080507105601.ht

Ways to Keep the the Neighbourhood Clean

Ways to keep your neighborhood clean and green Good morning to†¦. Today, I would like to talk about â€Å"Ways to keep your neighborhood clean and green†. It is important to keep our neighborhood clean and green. There are many ways to do this but they need to be done correctly. Some jobs we can do are to make sure we clean up our garbage and recycle items around the house. I love my community and I do not like to see it littered and dirty. We need to do our best to keep our community looking clean.Everyday, plants and animals become extinct as their habitats are destroyed by human influence. At this rate, our world will become extinct quickly. Picking up trash when people are out in public would greatly help this situation. It is not hard to find a trash can in parks. Making sure people clean up would benefit everyone. If people see trash which is not theirs, they could pick it up themselves knowing they did something to help the world. You can make your neighborhood a c leaner and safer place by organizing a neighborhood cleanup.Another great way to make sure we keep our neighborhood clean and green is to pick up garbage we find in ditches and highway. This purposes is keeping our Earth healthy. Ways to keep the highways clean are being cautious trash is not thrown out of car windows and going outside to clean up the ditch. Always keep a litter bag in your car so you won’t be tempted to toss unwanted trash out the window. Going out once a week to clean up ditch would not only make it look nicer, but also keep the neighborhood healthy. The litter found in ditches can harm our environment.People need to do their best not to pollute. Prevention is an important step, so set a litter-free example for your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors to help keep your community. Each year, each person uses almost a 100-foot tall Douglas Fir Tree in paper and wood products. There is a great importance for recycling to reduce the amount of trees cut do wn. It is not a hard task to separate your recyclable items from trash items. Recycling would save about 75,000 trees. Recycling is a great way to keep your neighborhood clean and green.Besides that, growing trees and other plants in your community is a healthy step toward keeping your neighborhood beautiful. Take part in an effort to plant a tree along residential streets. These ways about are simple jobs which can make a big difference in our world. If everyone does their part, then we will live in a cleaner and greener neighborhood. Doing these can give people the opportunity to make their neighborhood clean and green so get started today in making your neighborhood clean and green. Thank you.

Integrative Running Case Study: Starbucks Essay

Starbucks A case analysis of Starbucks can provide a much closer look at the company, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the company’s ability to do business on a global scale. In order to best analyze this company, a SWOT analysis, along with answers to the case study questions is provided below. Furthermore, a few recommendations are included that are brought to light by reviewing the facts of the Starbucks case study. This thorough investigation of the Starbucks company adds a rather complicated â€Å"flavor† to my favorite caramel macchiato that had never before been considered. Starbucks has been serving coffee domestically since the early 1970’s. After experiencing success in the domestic market, Starbucks entered the global marketplace, including opening its first stores in China in 1999. (Lamb, p.139) The company entered the Chinese marketplace knowing the vast opportunities that were available, but quite aware that many factors had to be accounted for in its marketing mix and product offering strategies. Cultural, political, and economic factors played important roles in discovering the best plan for delivering a lucrative coffee business to a land where the majority of consumers had never even had a cup of coffee. Partnering with local developers provided a safer market-entry strategy that Starbucks was ready to relinquish in 2006. After gaining several years of experiencing in the business environment of China, Starbucks embraced the chance to try its own hand at delivering a lucrative business operating in an environment that had many similarities to its domestic marketplace in the United States. A discussion of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,  and threats for the Starbucks company is provided to further understand its success in the global marketplace. Strengths: The decision Starbucks made to enter the Chinese marketplace wasn’t without extensive research. Starbucks had an already-existing marketing mix that was working well and generating large profits in its homeland. The knowledge and expertise found in the existing Starbucks employees were an important strength for the company as it planned its business venture in China. As a successful domestic coffee-seller and cafe business, Starbucks had funding and financial resources to work with when entering the foreign Chinese market. Furthermore, the reputation of Starbucks and its business growth and success certainly attracted additional funding from shareholders when taking the Starbucks brand globally. Weaknesses: Though Starbucks was a well-tested brand in its domestic market, Starbucks faced new market-entry obstacles. The idea of entering a foreign market on its own was not a wise decision, and therefore, Starbucks would have to rely on foreign partnerships to expand its brand globally. (Lamb, p. 140) This reliance on a partnership could be costly as profits are shared even though market-entry risks are lowered. The expense of making mistakes and learning from them, as well as creating a whole new marketing mix for Chinese consumers was certainly a costly investment. Opportunities: Even though entering the Chinese market would prove to have some obstacles, the company certainly realized the many opportunities that existed for creating its brand in China. Entering a market that consisted of consumers who had very little experience with coffee would leave Starbucks as a unique product with potential for elasticity in its pricing with very little competition from other â€Å"coffee† shops. Furthermore, changes in the Chinese youth’s view of collectivism was drastically changing as they focused more on individuality. (Lamb, p.139) This offered a similar environment to the domestic market in the United States. Additionally, the research Starbucks initiated would show that a specific need for a place for  people to gather together was in high demand in China. Starbucks knew that providing that experience combined with the distribution of â€Å"coffee† (a symbol of the modernizing of China) could provide a whole unique experience that youth would be quick to embrace. Similarly, economic success in the region proved the needs for disposable income for expensive coffee drinks could be met easily by the growing and expanding economy. Threats: Just as there are many opportunities when a company enters a whole new marketplace, there can also be many external threats as well. A booming economy that may at first seem ripe for market entry could change at any time, and prove devastating to the Starbucks China operation. Furthermore, political and legal factors could change just as swiftly and cause many problems for Starbucks as the company has no influence over these external factors. Similarly, social factors can always pose a threat as well. With a business focused on mainly the Chinese youth, any trend that in some way denounces or disqualifies Starbucks as a meaningful experience to the youth would cause a dramatic breakdown in the Starbucks marketing mix. A further analysis of Starbucks’ entry into the Chinese marketplace can be accomplished by investigating the questions at the end of the case study. 1. Many of the same environmental factors, such as cultural factors, that operate in the domestic market also exist internationally. Discuss the key cultural factors Starbucks had to consider as it expanded into China. Several cultural factors impacted Starbucks entry into the Chinese market. One such factor was the cultural reliance on mostly â€Å"tea† as a drink of choice among the Chinese. Starbucks knew that entering the market with a strategy of simply trying to sell various facets of coffee would be a challenge if not carefully executed in a way that would inspire and empower the consumers to actually stimulate the desire for coffee. A second cultural factor that enabled Starbucks to overcome the obstacle of the tea vs. coffee concern is that the Chinese people do not have much space in their homes etc. for gathering with their interest groups. Starbucks quickly determined that providing a need (such as space to â€Å"hang out†) would be an excellent way to offer its products in an environment that would be  providing a solution to the problem of having limited spaces to just be with friends. (Lamb, p.139) 2. Discuss the key political and legal factors Starbucks had to consid er in the Chinese marketplace. What are the risks of entering a country with these factors? What changes have occurred in China’s political and legal structure to the advantage of foreign companies? China is a communist country, and politically this type of government can be volatile. Any changes to the government and/or its officials could have fast and devastating effects on businesses operating in China. (Lamb, p.140) Legislation could be created overnight that may involve the removal of foreign businesses or simply make it impossible for them to compete in the Chinese market by placing restrictions on their allowable business practices. Although there are risks associated with entering a foreign market with uncontrollable political and legal factors, China has proven to have a political and legal structure that has been very conducive to foreign companies. Beijing entered the World Trade Organization in 2001, and since has provided economic stability as well as political stability to businesses. (Lamb, p.140) Legally, China has mandated that each family is allowed one child. This mandate has resulted in a shift of the normal â€Å"collective† view of communist consumers to a more â€Å"individualistic† view for young consumers, creating a very ripe environment for businesses that provide modernistic, Western-individualism style products and marketing mixes. 3. What demographic factors were important for Starbucks to understand in China? What were the demographics they decided to target? In order to enter the Chinese market, Starbucks had to consider demographic factors such as age and population in order to be successful. According to Lamb Starbucks initially focused on the economically upwardly mobile population, including 20-40 year olds. (Lamb, p.139) Finding much success there, Starbucks wanted to grow that success over time, and is strategically focused on the youth of the Chinese population since they have the economic backing of their families to support disposable needs, such as pricy cappuccinos. 4. What was the initial global-market strategy Starbucks employed to enter China? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages to this early strategy. How has their strategy changed since then and why? According to Lamb the initial global-market strategy Starbucks entered China with involved partnering with other businesses as a joint venture, along with authorizing local developers to use their brand. (Lamb, p.140) This strategy had an advantage of entering the market in a gradual way, and gaining the trust of the Chinese while simultaneously avoiding the added risk of entering the market on its own. The disadvantage of this style of market entry is seen in the profit margin for Starbucks. Joint ventures and partnerships do not share equally in profits (and Starbucks would need to work hard to find a management position in such ventures to make sure it could hold onto its profit margin as sales increased). Since then, Starbucks has bought out its partners and now individually owns its own stores. While this strategy is drastically different from its market-entry strategy, the company is now much more confident in how to do business effectively in China. Furthermore, the fact that Beijing entered the World Trade Organization has had a securing and positive economic and legal affect on foreign companies doing business alone in the Chinese marketplace. In lieu of the facts provided in the case study, it is possible to recommend additional ways in which Starbucks can continue to successfully operate in China. One such recommendation is for Starbucks to keep a very close watch on social media trends among the Chinese youth. Knowing that the Asian community is very embracing of social media, it is imperative that Starbucks maintain its reputation as â€Å"modern† and â€Å"forward-moving† by participating in the social media trends of the youth. A second recommendation for Starbucks is to provide social benefits to the communities in which it operates. Providing benefits to surrounding communities can help to establish a successful business relationship with local government officials as well as encouraging the trust of the local people. Furthermore, these philanthropic efforts can have an impact on the consumers of Starbucks products domestically as well. Domestic patrons can find value in these efforts of â€Å"doing good† for global communities and become encouraged to support the company with more purchases. In conclusion, the review of the Starbucks case study has been both  informative and interesting as I am a consumer of Starbucks myself. The knowledge gained here has certainly changed my thoughts from salivating for a simple caramel macchiato when I pass the Starbucks logo, to wondering where and how they do business elsewhere. References Lamb, C.W., Hair, J.F., Jr., McDaniel, C. (2011). Marketing (11th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western.