The, The Gray Ghost, By Harper Lee - 1366 Words

Completing the Puzzle Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel about a young girl growing up in the racist South, tests one’s ethics and delves into some of the more profound human principles. The story of Maycomb, a sleepy Southern town, is rooted with the values, lessons, and symbolism of Harper Lee. Throughout the novel Harper Lee pays attention to even the smallest details, making sure that all writing has a purpose. That said, there are three books that Harper Lee mentions: Ivanhoe, The Gray Ghost, and Blackstone’s Commentaries. Although seemingly insignificant, the books that appear in To Kill a Mockingbird have symbolic and very much significant meanings, reinforcing what has been written, revealing parts of the novel, and†¦show more content†¦Mrs. Dubose won†¦ She was the bravest person I ever knew† (149). Atticus is subtly telling the story of Ivanhoe, reinforcing the struggles of both Mrs. Dubose and Wilfred of Ivanhoe. Ultimately, these characters act courageously, and despite not being accepted originally, regain the respect of their doubters as their true nature shows through. Blackstone’s Commentaries, one of the most important books on British Law (as well as an important influence on American Law), was written by Sir William Blackstone in an attempt to allow common folk to read and understand the law. Calpurnia briefly mentions the book while Jem and Scout are wondering how she and her son, Zeebo, learned to read and write, explaining that Blackstone’s Commentaries is influential in her ability to speak â€Å"proper† English., â€Å"Jem was thunderstruck†¦ ‘That’s why you don’t talk like the rest of ‘em’† (166-167). Jem comes to this realization after Calpurnia’s explanation, and understands what distinguishes her speech from that of other African-Americans of Maycomb. Although not made explicit in her writing, Harper Lee intends for Blackstone’ s Commentaries to be interpreted directly as an object symbolizing the law. As a result, the factor that differentiates Calpurnia and Zeebo from other African-Americans is not that they are literate and have the ability to speak proper English, but that they know the law. However, the importance of this does not stopShow MoreRelatedThemes Found in Harper Lee ´s To Kill a Mockingbird843 Words   |  3 Pagesto confront the challenges, paradoxes, problems and painful reality of an insecure world.† In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper lee sends many messages to the reader. Set in a fictitious town in Alabama in the 1930’s, one obvious theme is racism. However, while racism was the most obvious theme, it wasn’t the only one; other themes included innocence, understanding and growing up. Harper Lee also suggests how a person should react to problems around them. She shows us this through herRead MoreExamples Of The Gray Ghost In To Kill A Mock ingbird1116 Words   |  5 PagesOver forty million copies of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, sold globally since it was published in 1960. The Finch family live in the county of Maycomb, and life seems normal until their father, Atticus, takes on a controversial court case. Tom Robinson, a black man, is being accused by a white man named Bob Ewell for a crime that Tom did not commit. The Finch children have to adapt to the rising racist actions and allegations throughout the book. There is a symbolicRead MoreThe Sin in Ideology1395 Words   |  6 Pageshis children after they are gifted with air rifles for Christmas. Notably, the title of this American classic, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is taken from a seemingly insignificant excerpt. However, if read carefully, the reader begins to understand that this is just one other example out of a plethora of symbolism. Set in a Depression-era Southern town, Lee features various themes, though the novel focuses on various forms of prejudice. It brings forth the idea that prejudice, in any form isRead MoreMaturation: Once a Child, No More in To Killing a Mockingbird by Harper Lee1112 Words   |  5 Pagesand knowledge. Three characters, Jem, Scout, and Dill in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee living during the Depression-era in Maycomb County, deal with the harsh reality of Maycomb’s racism and prejudice while maturing through gaining knowledge, experience, and courage. The kids grow up learning many lessons from Atticus or from their own experiences. In her depiction of Jem, Scout, and Dill, Lee reveals their maturation from being the children they are to having a thorough understandingRead MoreThe Forms of True Bravery800 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom success and achieving our dreams or what we believe is right to us, but it is weak and thin when standing against courage, and once it is defeated, those barriers dissipate. But the main question i s how can we conquer fear and in what form? In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, it illustrates the forms of courage that exist in the main characters through the conflicts and barriers they constantly come across, and how they try to approach them and solve them. Therefore, it is clear, andRead MoreTo Kill a Mocking Bird Essay example620 Words   |  3 PagesThrough the course of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Jem encounters a series of events that cause him to grow up. During Tom Robinson’s trial, Jem’s eyes were opened to the racism and prejudice of the South: loss of innocence, a major theme in the novel, is a realization of the cruelty and injustice in the world, and that one must develop a tolerance for it. Jem is young and carefree in the beginning of the novel. He is just starting to take on the responsibilities of an older brother:Read MoreHow Empathy Is Important And How It Will Affect Society2045 Words   |  9 Pagesperson: in a word, empathy. The arts enable us to put ourselves in the minds, eyes, ears and hearts of other human beings.† Empathy can change a person. They have a better attitude towards others and allows them to put themselves in another s shoes. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird shows how empathy is important and how it will affect society. The novel, which takes place in Alabama in the 1930s, is narrated by a young girl named Scout who lives with her older brother Jem, and her father, AtticusRead MoreMaturity of Scout in to Kill a Mockingbird2181 Words   |  9 Pagesare’† (James, Boy Assaults Gay Student as Cellphone Captures Attack). In a perfect society, everyone would accept each other and not judge others based on appearance or social status. However, today many people still face the problem of acceptance. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, illustrates how others can learn to be accepting from the characters in the novel. Scout leaves her naà ¯ve childhood behind and changes to into an accepting young adult through with the help of Boo Radley, Tom RobinsonRead MoreJem Character Analysis1101 Words   |  5 PagesWho was Jeremy (Jem) Finch or in other words, who had he become towards the end of the novel? In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Jem was one of the most important character throughout the novel.In my perspective, Jem was a noble and brave kid and grew up way too fast for his age. In the beginning of the novel, he was barely 10 years old and in the end, he was nearly 13 years old. He had experienced difficult life time events that changed his life and he understood how life was backRead MoreThe Great Divorce and The Divine Comedy3095 Words   |  13 Pagesthe rhym e for the first and third lines in the following tercet† (Poetic Form). Lewis’s text however is written in prose, presenting various places ranging from the â€Å"gray town† to â€Å"the valley of the shadow of life†, which are Lewis’s depictions of hell and the foothills of heaven respectively. Nevertheless, Matthew Swift, citing Alan Lee Brewer’s dissertation states that, â€Å"Despite radical structural differences, Lewis’s afterlife seems to mirror Dante’s afterlife as the direct product of continued choice

Attention Deficit-Hyperactive Disorder - 640 Words

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also known as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), is a neurodevelopment,1 psychiatric disorder, which is characterized as impairments of the growth and development of the Central Nervous System—particularly the brain.2 An individual diagnosed with ADD exhibits issues with attention, hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, or a combination of all three. 3 Such symptoms are likely observed between ages 6-12 and must persist for over six months prior to imposed diagnosis.4 According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, section 4 (DMV- IV), currently 12% of the American pediatric and young adult populations suffer from one form of ADD.5 Despite ADD prevalence, growing incidence, and being the most studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in the pediatric population —several unknowns of the complex condition remain. In North America, potential ADHD cases are confirmed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition, endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association as a primary resource. The Manual defines and categorizes ADHD into three subtypes: †¢ Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, predominantly inattentive (ADHD-PI),4 and more commonly referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This form of ADHD is observed in individuals who are easily distracted, continuously daydreaming, severely disorganized, poor concentration, and considerable difficulty finishing tasks.Show MoreRelatedAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder790 Words   |  3 PagesIt is estimated that roughly 11% of children and 4.1% of adults are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is a 40% jump in diagnoses in the past decade. Stimulants such as amphetamines are prescribed to treat ADHD to increase focus and as college students are becoming more overwhelmed by workloads, stimulants are becoming very commonly abused to make it through an all-night study session. Because of this there are several instances of students exaggerating symptomsRead MoreAttention Deficit / Hyperactive Disorder1071 Words   |  5 Page s Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, ADHD, has become a topic of debate amongst psychologist, and doctors throughout the years. Withstanding its questionable beginnings and maintaining its place in the DSM-V, ADHD has become one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in children today. ADHD is believed to have first been mentioned as a disorder in children during the early 1900’s. It had been described as an â€Å"abnormal defect of moral control†, a problem with the child’s ability to controlRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder802 Words   |  3 PagesII. SYMPTOMS According to the case report, Jason displayed hyperactive and impulsive behavior. In many social circumstances he was restless, easily agitated and very fidgety. Jason could not pay attention in the classroom. He was unable to focus properly and it affected his academic work at school. Jason is diagnosed with Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or known as ADHD. It’s relevant to explore symptoms because it’s important to evaluate the patient and determine their proper diagnosisRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ( Adhd )1145 Words   |  5 Pages Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder To Medicate or Not to Medicate with Adderall? Meghan L. Gonzales National University Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder To Medicate or Not to Medicate with Adderall? The medical world has noticed several changes and improvements during the past century, but maybe none that s as economically rewarding afterward the prescription drug business. New medications turn-up regularRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ( Adhd ) Essay1355 Words   |  6 Pages Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder is a neuro-behavioral disorder typically seen in children. Over the past several years’ attention-deficit hyperactive disorder seems to be on the rise. Since 2011, eleven percent of children ranging from ages four to seventeen were diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (Children with ADHD et. Al. 2016). Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder is a difficult disorder to diagnosis, but once the disorder is diagnosed there are ways to manageRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ( Adhd ) Essay1139 Words   |  5 Pagesreasons are simple: Kids get bored easily. This, however, is only mostly true. Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is a disorder that causes a lack of attention in those who have it, including adults. Though it is easily spotted in children due to abundant mounts of energy and a high lack of focus, many adults who have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder don’t know they have it. Althoug h Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is growing more and more common among teens and children today, throughRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ( Adhd )1162 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is ADHD? â€Å"Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood† (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). ADHD in real terms is the inability to focus. Several people have describe people with ADHD as skirmish, talkative, and have trouble waiting. ADHD has been previously described as ADD (attention deficit disorder) but the only difference is the â€Å"H†. This â€Å"H† describes how this disorder deals with hyperactivityRead MoreAttention Deficit / Hyperactive Disorder ( Adhd )1166 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) has become one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders in children and adolescent. â€Å"ADHD is defined as a chronic condition marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity.† (Disney, 1999) There is concern about the possible connection between ADHD to substance use and abuse, during childhood and adolescence, since it is such an important developmental stage in life. â€Å"Substance abuse disorder is definedRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder1936 Words   |  8 Pagestheir attention behavior until they go home. Today there is a great argument regarding the diagnosis and treatment of ADD/ADHD and who has the right to decide what happens. ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in young children. This is also one of the most common public health problems that we have today. There is an extreme rise of the prescription medicine Ritalin that doctors are prescribing to help with this specific type of disorder. ManyRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ( Adhd )963 Words   |  4 Pages Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Mizeldrick K. Marshall Holmes Community College Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder most commonly diagnosed in children. Children can be diagnosed as early as the age of 7. Boys and girls can be diagnosed with ADHD but this disorder is seen more in the behavior of boys. Adults can also develop symptoms and be diagnosed as well. It was originally called hyperkinetic

Relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s Thoughts in Management Education Free Essays

Management education is a great beneficiary of Indian economic reform, where transformation from state controlled market to free market is imperative. In India, MBA degree has been perceived as a way of achieving assured careers and sound wages at early stage of life. The ambition of Indian youth today is to get a job in the business, industrial or service sectors and settle down well as early as possible. We will write a custom essay sample on Relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s Thoughts in Management Education or any similar topic only for you Order Now No doubt management education is needed an infusion of professional ability but the given value to society is equally important. Unfortunately, Management education in India has been so distorted and diluted in its execution as to lose nearly all the social intent. In whole spectrum, the role of intuition, value and social recognition gets short shrift in the Management education. Emphasis is only on the knowledge content, on which examination is conducted. All other useful knowledge areas and skills are vastly neglected. Like spiritual knowledge does not find an appropriate place in the curriculum. Therefore students have no opportunity to know about their faith, culture and values. The knowledge they gain is mainly bookish and is not backed by practical experience. About a century ago, Swami Vivekananda had envisioned a vision on education and had categorically pointed out that true education is not the amount of information that is put into one’s brain. The human mind is not a bottomless dry well, which has to be filled in with buckets of information by the teacher. He had said that education has more to do with assimilation of ideas and developing ‘a mind of the same material as that of which the thunderbolt is made’. He suggested, was to be done with the help of ‘Western science coupled with Vedanta †¦ and faith in one’s own Self’. What type of management education will provide this enlightenment? According to Swamiji, ‘The training by which the current and expression of will are brought under control and become fruitful is called education’. He wanted a man-making education ‘by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet’. Swamiji emphasized need of following points in education system. * Role of teacher * Spirituality * Accessibility of knowledge * Plural attitude Role of teacher Both the teacher and the student are active participants in the teaching-learning process. The teacher should look upon the student not as a mere physical being but as a living and dynamic mind that struggling to manifest the light of the infinite soul. The teacher should facilitate this process of self-discovery. Teacher should not try to fill the mind with information and knowledge only. Instead he should attempt to unfold the creativity within by stimulating and strengthening the mind. The teacher has to carefully nurture the conviction and faith in the mind of the students. Needless to say, teacher requires faith, patience, perseverance and firm conviction. This ideal of faith in oneself, or Atmashraddha, would be greatest gift of a teacher to the student. Spirituality Swami Vivekananda brings this out very clearly in his immortal works. He said: If there is any land on this earth that can lay claim to be the blessed Punya Bhumi †¦ the land where humanity has attained its highest towards gentleness, towards generosity, towards purity, towards calmness, above all, the land of introspection and of spirituality—it is India. †¦ the Indian race never stood for wealth. Although they acquired immense wealth, perhaps more than any other nation ever acquired, yet the nation did not stand for wealth. It was a powerful race for ages, yet we find that that nation never stood for power, never went out of the country to conquer. Quite content within their own boundaries, they never fought anybody. The Indian nation never stood for imperial glory. Wealth and power, then, were not the ideals of the race â€Å". Swami Ji enlightened that human peace and happiness depends not on the wealth they possess, or the power they wield, or the scholarship they have acquired, but by living a life of renunciation and having the awareness that they are part of the entire universe and that all constitute one family, V asudhaiva Kutumbakam. Accessibility of Knowledge Swami Ji emphasized on accessibility of education . He said: If the mountain does not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. If the poor cannot come to education, education must reach them at the plough, in the factory, everywhere. How? You have seen my brethren. Now I can get hundreds of such [all-renouncing sannyasins], all over India, unselfish, good, and educated. Let these men go from village to village bringing not only religion to the door of everyone but also education†. Students must also be educated about the social world—the nature of the society he lives in, the laws that guide it, and the culture it has evolved. Plural Attitude In era of globalization people are coming closer than ever to each other. People of different languages, beliefs, religious faiths, political convictions and ways of life have come to live closely. Everyone has a right to his way of life. Dogmatism and bigotry have no place in globalized world. Therefore management education must instill these qualities in students. Thus, Swami Ji’s thoughts on education are like an ocean. The more we ponder the more we get. We have to pursue the ideas of Swami ji with a deep sense of commitment to achieve objectives of education. How to cite Relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s Thoughts in Management Education, Papers

American Idiot by Green Day free essay sample

Another great CD I have bought is American Idiot by Green Day.It is the first of Green Days rock operas about the fictional character the Jesus of Suburbia who runs away.The track list is as follows 1. American Idiot 2. Jesus of Suburbiai. Jesus of Suburbiaii. City of the Damnediii. I Dont Careiv. Dearly Belovedv. Tales of Another Broken Home 3. Holiday 4. Boulevard of Broken Dreams 5. Are we the Waiting 6. St. Jimmy 7. Give Me Novicane 8. Shes a Rebel 9. Extraordinary Girl 10. Letterbomb 11. Wake me up when September Ends 12. Homecomingi. Death of St. Jimmyii. East 12th Streetiii. Nobody Likes Youiv. Rock and Roll Girlfriendv. Were Coming Home Again 13. Whatshername The three songs you probably already know are Holiday, Wake me up when September Ends, and Boulivard of Broken Dreams.The main story of the CD starts with the American Idiot the Jesus of Suburbia.He leaves home and meets up with a drug dealer known as St. We will write a custom essay sample on American Idiot by Green Day or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Jimmy.Shortly after he meats the Extraordinary Girl who remains nameless.By track 12, St. Jimmy is dead by suicide and the Jesus of Suburbia goes home.Three years later he wants to find the rebel girl but he can only call her whatshername. 10/10 great CD Ill do a blanket cover of all of Green Days songs for a Greatest Hits soon

Types of Cardiac Arrhythmia Resulting From Centrifugal Acceleration

Abstract Cardiac arrhythmia is one of the many health conditions that form the basis of aviation medicine. The absence of adequate information around the condition necessitates studies to that effect. The current paper sought to determine the types of cardiac arrhythmia that result from aviation related movement.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Types of Cardiac Arrhythmia Resulting From Centrifugal Acceleration specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The study relied on findings made in centrifugal training experiments, where subjects are usually placed in a human centrifuge. The objective was to expose the subjects to +Gz forces, which are similar to the ones in a military jet or a commercial flight. During such exercises, the tolerance level of the subjects was determined relative to the G-forces. It was found that sinus arrhythmia, premature atrial contraction, premature ventricle contraction, and atrial fib rillation are the common cardiac arrhythmias during such exercises. Introduction Aviation Medicine An Overview There are certain health-related problems that are unique to the aeronautical and aviation industry.[1] Rayman points out that aviation medicine can also be referred to as flight or aerospace therapy.[1] The idea behind this kind of healthcare is the need for a medicinal approach in tackling the wellbeing of people in aerospace industries. Pilots and astronauts are good examples of individuals who are covered by aviation medicine. The principle behind this field is the fact that the patients find themselves physiologically affected by aviation-related factors, such as gravity. Advancement in the aerospace and aviation sectors imply that most of the aforementioned factors will increasingly affect the persons in the industry. Hanada, Hisada, and Koichiro affirm that progress is inevitable in the aviation industry.[2] An example is the case of air force pilots. The need to dev elop faster and effective jets means that the aerodynamic factors will be modified. Consequently, the pilots end up being affected by some of these forces. The advancements made in aviation medicine rely on its relevance to the world of aerospace. Whinnery indicates this importance by outlining the fact that the United States Air Force (herein referred to as USAF) has a School of Aerospace Medicine.[3] Such institutions justify the reasoning that research in aviation medicine is important. In a study to determine the state of affairs in Singapore in relation to this field, Gan, Low and Singh focus on the military and commercial flight areas.[4] In these fields, there is constant development of new and state-of-the-art machinery. However, as aforementioned, the same comes with consequences like increased arrhythmia.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Technological innovati ons in medicine are required in such fields as aviation physiology and performance maximization.[4] Other areas in which advancement is required include the selection of medical standards and protection of aircrew from communicable diseases, which may arise during a flight. However, for the purposes of this paper, discussions will revolve around the physiology aspect of aviation medicine. G-Forces in air planes Airplanes are constructed in such a manner that they respond to the laws of aerodynamics.[1] The operation of these laws relies on gravity and how to overcome it. Whinnery brings out the understanding that gravity, as a force, is observed as acceleration.[2] The implication is that there is motion involved. Going by the arguments made in Newton’s laws of motion, it is evident that gravity is characterized by several forces. The study restricts itself to the forces exerted on an aircraft due to gravity, which is referred to as ‘g-force’. According to Gan et al.,[4] g-forces are considered as accelerations, as previously indicated. As a result, one can determine these forces on the basis of their respective weights. By virtue of the acceleration nature of gravity, the g-forces appear to multiply the weights of a given mass. In the context of an airplane, these factors tend to reproduce the weight of the unit mass of the persons in the jet. To appreciate how a pilot will experience this multiplier effect, one ought to obtain the sum of the non-gravitational forces acting on them. The aforementioned non-gravitational forces are considered as the proper accelerations.[1] Their effects include stress and strain on persons in an aircraft. In their study, Whinnery[3] makes the claim that high amounts of g-forces are destructive to the aircraft and to the people. Effects of g-forces on human anatomy G-forces cause strain and stress on the bodies in an aircraft. In line with this, the elements have a physiological effect on human bodies.[1] Ha nada et al.[2] affirm this hypothesis in their study on the effects of g-forces on military pilots. Most of the components of the human anatomy have mass. As such, the effects of stress and strain on them vary. Hanada et al.[2] indicate cerebral perfusion as a major impact of these forces. In such cases, the patients tend to suffer from a condition known as G-induced loss of consciousness (herein referred to as G-LOC). Such conditions are common among military pilots during the maneuvers displayed by the fighter jets. Arrhythmias is another common phenomenon resulting from the g-forces, especially in instances where flight crew are taken through centrifuge training.[4] In such cases, the pilots are subjected to the same conditions as those of a plane in the air. Consequently, the developments tend to alter the rhythmic patterns of an individual’s heartbeat. The effects of g-forces are so serious on the human anatomy to the extent that Hanada et al.[2] propose the presence of specialists during centrifuge training.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Types of Cardiac Arrhythmia Resulting From Centrifugal Acceleration specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Effects of G-Forces on the Heart General effects An analysis of g-forces makes it apparent that human anatomy is severely affected by stress and strain, as illustrated in the previous section. Advances in aerospace technology imply that human body will continue to be subjected to such forces to determine its tolerance.[1] For the purposes of this study, it is important to understand the effects of g-forces on the heart as an organ in human anatomy. Cardiac arrhythmia The functioning of the heart is largely attributed to its electrical properties.[1] The stresses and strains brought about by the g-forces tend to affect the organ’s electrical attributes. As a result, the heart beat is altered. Conditions of this nature are what are referred to as cardiac arrhythmia. The condition is not age or gender specific. Whinnery[3] points out that the condition if often not fatal. However, studies illustrate that cardiac arrest is associated with arrhythmia.[2] Cardiac arrhythmia can occur in one of the compartments of the heart.[1] The same explains why there are different types of the said condition. Rayman[1] points out the existence of four types of cardiac arrhythmia. The first is supraventricular arrhythmia, which is characterized by a fast heart rate.[1] Secondly, there is bradyyarrhytmias. The condition arises when the heart beat is extremely low. In such cases, the blood hardly reaches the brain. The third type is ventricular arrhythmias. The occurence is associated with the lower chambers of the heart.[1] Finally, there is premature beats. It is a type of arrhythmia associated with the upper atria of the heart. The ‘premature beats’ are an indication of a mild form of arrhythmia, whose symptom s are not easily noticeable.[5] Cardiac arrhythmia in aviation medicine The aviation industry is a sensitive area, which involves out of space explorations and normal flights. The machines involved are quite complex. The sophistication requires the complete application of the pilot’s cognitive abilities. Within the broad spectrum of aviation medicine, cardiac arrhythmia falls under the physiological effects. The heart plays an important role in human anatomy.[6] As such, studies have been conducted to illustrate how best to overcome the condition. Factors influencing g-force provoked arrhythmia During centrifugal training, the participants are subjected to +Gz forces. The procedure leads to stress that affects human anatomical functions. It is evident that cardiac arrhythmia results from the effects of the G-force on the heart. The rhythms are distorted from their normal patterns.[7] It is important to appreciate the factors that influence the occurrence of arrhythmia due to the G-forces. Over the years, aviation medicine has relied on centrifugal training to obtain information about cardiac arrhythmia. Such information includes the various types of the condition and their influencing factors.[7] Experiments carried out to determine this rely on the use of human centrifuges, which are found in special units. The most common areas where such apparitions are found include special aviation medical departments in military wings.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the factors that influence cardiac arrhythmia during centrifugal training is the magnitude of the +Gz. Ewalina and Lech[7] proved this in a study in which they sought to determine hemodynamic changes resulting from centrifugal acceleration and the corresponding cardiovascular responses. The study reveals that an acceleration of 1Gz is responsible of acute hemodynamic changes. The same magnitude of acceleration was found to be an activator of cardiovascular responses, arrhythmia being one of them.[7] Anti-G straining maneuvers (herein referred to as AGSM) are other factors that influence g-force-provoked arrhythmia. Ewalina and Lech[7] point out that the same has a direct effect on the nervous system, which impacts on the heart’s electrical properties. Such measures are seen as an attempt to reduce the effects of g-forces. They limit the impacts of +Gz on the electrical characteristics of the heart. Other factors include the health status of the subject and the duration of exposure. Latent cardiac medical histories give mixed results. Exposure durations increase the chances of cardiac arrhythmia, which further aggravates the severity of the conditions. Materials and Methods Introduction The current study is hinged on the hypothesis that centrifugal acceleration results in cardiac arrhythmia.[1] The research relies on a series of peer reviewed articles, which provide a detailed discussion of the topic. More importantly, the articles relied on address the issue of g-forces and their effects on human subjects. They illustrate the various types of arrhythmia and their relationship with g-forces. +G Acceleration and Corresponding Detection of Cardiovascular Responses In an experiment, Vettes, Viellefond, and Auffret[6] determined that g-forces have a corresponding cardiovascular response from the heart. The researchers deduced this by carrying out detailed studies on the issue. The subjects used were all male and individually volunteered for the exerci se. The studies were carried out in a laboratory in France. The location, known as the Aerospace Medicine Laboratory of the Flight and Test Center, contained the equipment necessary for this research.[6] The male volunteers had an average age of 37 years.[6] After the preliminary medical check-ups were concluded, all the subjects were found to be medically fit for exposure to g-forces. Preliminary tests carried out at the Central Medical Examination Centre for Flying Personnel, which is situated in Paris.[6] Thirteen of the participants did not have prior exposure to centrifugal acceleration. According to Vettes et al.,[6] +Gz g-forces were required for the study. The said forces are attained when a human centrifuge is rotated longitudinally. The specific centrifuge used in this research had a vertical rotating axis, whose arm was six meters.[6] A gondola is attached at the arm’s extreme end. Human subjects occupy this space. The centrifugal acceleration in this regard is obt ained by means of a perpendicular rotation of the arm relative to the gondola. During this rotation, the apparatus moves along the axis, exposing the subject to the +Gz forces arising from acceleration. To ascertain the responses, certain cardiac parameters are taken into account.[6] Such parameters as the subjects’ rate of heartbeat and arterial pressure were are determined. The study by Vettes et al.[6] required the stoke volume and the subjects’ visual fields to be recorded as part of the preliminary medical analysis. Each of the electrocardiographs was analyzed by means of a special electrode. The electrodes are placed on 3 locations on the subjects’ body. The first two are placed on each of the axillae, while the third is placed on the lumbar spine. In so doing, the researchers minimize the noise that would otherwise be present due to the muscle-related contractions. The arterial pressure on the other hand is obtained by means of a syphgamanomter.[6] The sa id machine is normally inflated by means of an electrovalve that is remotely controlled. To obtain the actual pressure in a subject, a curve on the machine is needed.[6] In addition, there is a microphone placed at a strategic point to detect specific noises. In the study, the researchers were able to record their patients’ rates of heartbeat using a phonocardiograph. However, there are exceptions where the heart rate is determined by taking measurements of 10 systoles from the machine. Safety Criterion The study by Hanada et al.[2] sought to develop a safety criterion for centrifugal training. The study relied on pilots from the Japanese Air Self-Defense forces. Each of the subjects was conversant with F-4, F-15 and F-2 fighter jets.[2] Such familiarity was a requirement to be part of the study. It was meant to ensure that the subjects were all familiar with increased G-forces due to the aircrafts’ high rates of acceleration. As expected, there was a preliminary medic al examination carried out on each of the participants.[7] In addition, the subjects were taken through a pre-determined duration of centrifugal acceleration to obtain specified results. The study created several profiles to analyze the effects of different +Gz forces. The data analysis phase was characterized by anonymity. The names of the pilots were not included in the profiles. G-Force Tolerance In their study, Blue et al.[5] examined levels of tolerance associated with g-forces during centrifugal training. The study revolved around subjects with an interest in spaceflight. The participants were part of Virgin Galactica crew and would- be passengers. An equipment referred to as a ‘Space Training Simulator’ was used in the study. The machine operates like a human centrifuge. Prior to the experiment, a medical examination was carried out. Afterwards, the subjects were taken through an anti-G straining procedure. There was a descriptive representation of the data colle cted in the study. Cardiac Arrhythmias in Flight and Centrifuge Simulations In their article, Ewalina and Lech[7] argue that centrifuge acceleration has an effect on cardiac arrhythmia. Consequently, their study analyzed the two scenarios in which such acceleration is achieved. They examined the rhythm balances when the subjects are in centrifuge training and in actual flight. Ewalina and Lech[7] point out that the two instances have similarities and differences. Ultimately, the research sheds more light on cardiac arrhythmia resulting from centrifugal acceleration. In the study, Ewalina and Lech[7] relied on 20 experienced pilots and 20 students. The student pilots were selected from a group of 3rd and 4th year cadets in the Polish Air Force Officers’ College. According to Ewalina and Lech,[7] the average age of the experienced pilots was 35.3 years. There was an allowance of 4.9 years in the positive and negative extremes. The average height was 176.6 cm, while body mass wa s 79.3kg.[7] The average flying hours of the experienced pilots was estimated at 2620. The trainee pilots, on the other hand, had an average age of 21.9 years and median height of 178.2 cm.[7] Their mean body mass was 78.7kg. They had an average of 252 flight hours on their records.[7] One of the requirements for participation in the experiment was that none of the pilots should take any form of medication. Ethical issues were also taken into consideration, where the participants were required to submit a written consent. The approval to conduct the study was granted by an ethics committee constituted by the ‘Polish Air Forces Institute of Aviation Medicine.’[7] The study required the subjects from the two groups to carry out flight protocols in pairs, where one acted as a pilot, and the other as a passenger.[7] Each of the subjects was required to make 2 flights. In the first flight, the subject was required to act as a ‘pilot’ (herein referred to as AF). The second flight demanded that they act as a passenger (herein referred to as PF). According to Ewalina and Lech,[7] the participants were required to take a break in-between the flight schedules. The study gave an allowance of 1 hour as the duration of time that each pilot should take before taking part in the next flight. To attain consistent results, all the subjects made use of the same TS-11 ISKRA Jet.[7] Once all the pilots had made their required flights, the researchers took a break of two days. During the break, the subjects underwent human centrifuge tests. It is important to note that the subjects did not wear G-suits during the study. The omission was meant to allow the +Gz effects to be conclusively examined. The forces were generated from the maneuvers carried out in the flight program. They ranged from 0.57 G.s-1 to 4Gz when the maneuver involved three successive turns.[7] With regards to the split S maneuver, the acceleration was recorded between 1.7G. s-1 and 5.6 G z.7 The ‘two-successive loop’ maneuver was characterized by an acceleration of 1.4G.s-1 to 5.0Gz. The other maneuvers carried out were the immelman and the one turn. The former had an acceleration of 5.6Gz, while the latter gave results identical to all the other maneuvers.[7] The results from the flight protocols were recorded separately. As aforementioned, the study carried out a centrifuge test. The same was realized using a centrifuge with a radius of 10 meters.[7] The equipment was provided by the Acceleration Tolerance Laboratory, which is situated within the Institute of Aviation Medicine. The latter is a department of the Polish Military. At the resting level, the acceleration was +1.4Gz. Thereafter, it was increased by 1G.s-1 to a maximum of 7Gz. When the human centrifuge was involved, the accelerations were set at levels similar to the aerobatic maneuvers.[7] +GZ and the Electrocardiographic Response Whinnery[3] sought to establish that the g-forces experience d during centrifuge training have an effect on an individual’s electrocardiographic (herein referred to as ECG) response system. The study involved a total of 59 subjects. According to Whinnery,[3] the research relied on the responses of the flight surgeons that developed the acceleration profiles of the subjects. The participants were drawn from the United States Air Force and the United States Navy.[3] The two training profiles developed for the study included the gradual and the rapid onsets. According to Whinnery,[3] observation of the subjects was carried out based on their respective ECG dysrhythmias. The first profile was developed when the participants were allowed to put on a standard anti-g suit. Whinnery[3] points out that the suit was not inflated. There various reasons why inflation was omitted. The major objective was to ensure that the subjects were relaxed and that their loss of peripheral vision was gradual. The maximum limit of +Gz was estimated at +9Gz. It is important to note that the tolerance levels during the centrifuge training were recorded from 2 extremes. There was the relaxed and the straining levels of tolerance.[3] In both cases, the aim was to obtain the proficiency of the anti-g element in the experiment.[3] The researchers analyzed the various symptoms exhibited by the subjects. To achieve this, the results were computed in terms of the average, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum.[3] Whinnery[3] used the ages of the subjects to estimate the results. Of particular interest was the comparison between the ectopy occurrences among the subjects. The incidences were analyzed by means of a correlated proportions test referred to as McNemar.[3] An elaborate outline of the results is discussed in the subsequent sections of this paper. The objective, as already mentioned, is to build on the hypothesis of the current study. The discussions will involve results from studies similar to the ones referred to in this section. Resu lts Introduction to the Results From the materials and methods discussed in the previous sections, it is apparent that there is enough evidence to support the hypothesis made in this paper. The evidence suggests that cardiac arrhythmia is caused by g-forces that result from centrifugal acceleration.[5] The results of previous studies conducted in this field highlight the various types of arrhythmias and the effect of centrifugal acceleration on the rate of heartbeat. In addition, the findings made illustrate the various cardiovascular parameters related to arrhythmia. In line with this, analysis of this condition in relation to centrifuge is outlined in this section. Types of Arrhythmias As aforementioned, there are multiple types of arrhythmias. Each of them has unique characteristics that set it apart from the others.[6] In a study to determine the safety measures needed to be put in place during g-flight training, Hanada et al.[2] found out different types of this condition. The findings are illustrated in Table 2 below: Table 1: Types of cardiac arrhythmia Number of Participants Percentage of Occurrence (%) Type of Arrhythmia 114 58.5 Single PVC 95 48.7 Sinus Arrhythmia 63 32.3 Single PAC 19 9.7 Paired PVC 5 2.6 Ventricular tachycardia 3 1.5 Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia 3 1.5 Repeated PAC 1 0.5 Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation 1 0.5 Ventricular bigeminy or trigeminy Adapted from: Hanada et al.[2] The study by Hanada et al.[2] reveals 9 types of cardiac arrhythmia associated with centrifuge acceleration. The figures listed in table 1 above were obtained from a research conducted by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (herein referred to as JASDF). The most common condition recorded during the study was single premature ventricular contraction (herein referred to as PVC) at 58.5 percent. The occurrence of both Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and ventricular bigemny or trigemny was recorded at 0.5% in one of the participants, maki ng it the least common of all. Centrifugal Acceleration and its Effects on the Rate of Heartbeat As previously mentioned, centrifugal acceleration has an effect on human anatomy. The effects of this phenomenon on human body vary between different organs. Studies reveal that centrifugal acceleration gives rise to g-forces. As such, it follows that their effects on the heart touches on its rhythms, leading to cardiac arrhythmia.[7] In their study, Whinnery[3] affirms that g-forces affect an individual’s heart rate. Table 2 below illustrates results of the study by Whinnery.[3] The effects of the forces on the human heart are documented in the table. Table 2: G-force exposure and corresponding heart beat rates Lown grade Ectopy Definition Subjects with highest Lown grade 0 Absence of ventricular premature depolarizations 12 1 5 PVC 31 2 5 PVC 3 3 Multiform PVC 1 4A Paired PVC 8 Source: Whinnery[3] In this research, Whinnery[3] relied on one type of cardiac arrhyt hmia. As illustrated in table 2 above, the study examined the rates of heartbeat in relation to the effects of exposure to +Gz forces. The analysis is based on a Lown grading system. Such a system is used to classify heartbeats with regards to cardiac arrhythmia.[8] Whinnery[3] selected a cluster from the known classifications, as shown in table 2. The experiment analyzed results from a total of 59 participants. It was found that +Gz forces affected an average of 11 subjects. The same is inferred from the data in table 2. Cardiovascular Parameters Studies aimed at examining the effects of centrifugal acceleration rely on specified cardiovascular parameters. Vettes et al.[6] posit that the +Gz forces arising from centrifugal acceleration rely on such factors. They determine such responses as cardiac arrhythmia. The said parameters include an electrogram and the visual field of the subject. In addition, the heart rate and humeral arterial pressure of the participants are factored in t he study. They make up the cardiovascular parameters recorded during such experiments.[6] Vettes et al.[6] point out that increased exposure to g-forces was followed by a corresponding increase in the rate of the individual’s heart beats. The results from their experiments illustrated that peripheral loss of vision among the subjects was an indicator of the effects of the +Gz forces. The latter is regarded as a key symptom indicating the onset of cardiac arrhythmia. The study by Vettes et al.[6] revealed that the highest recorded heart beat per minute was 113, whereas the lowest was 84. In terms of pressure, Vettes et al.[6] illustrated that increased exposure to these forces (up to levels of +3 Gz) resulted in a corresponding rise in arterial pressure. To this effect, blood pressure is treated as an essential parameter in understanding cardiac arrhythmia. The same explains the effects of exposure to g-forces. The scenario is similar to electrocardiographic recordings, which vary depending on the accelerations. In their study, Vettes et al.[6] point out that increased heart pressure was the cause of arrhythmia. The reason is that the pressure led to atrio-ventricular dissociation. Effects of Centrifuge Training on the Heart The major focus of this study is centrifugal acceleration and its effects on human anatomy.[9] Aviation regulations require pilots (and in some cases passengers) to undergo some level of centrifugal training. Such trainings simulate the acceleration likely to be experienced in fast moving aircrafts. An example of such instances involves commercial space-crafts.[5] The high acceleration associated with such crafts requires some training to acquaint the persons with the g-forces. Blue et al.[5] carried out a similar study in which occupants of a spaceflight were subjected to centrifugal-stimulated sub-orbital flight. The objective was to create conditions similar to those in a fast moving aircraft. The participants in the study by Blue et al.[5] were all healthy. The simulation was expected to provide information on how g-forces affect the heart. It was also expected to shed light on the influence of the forces on the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmia. Their study used a total of 81 participants[5]. The research by Blue et al.[5] required healthy individuals. As a result, all the participants were subjected to medical screening.[6] Consequently, the initial number was reduced to 77 subjects. Out of this, 65 were men, while 12 were women. Another batch of 21 participants was subjected to cardiac examinations to check for any latent complications. The medical examinations revealed that 16 had histories of hypertension, while 5 had diabetes. Another 5 had undergone a coronary heart bypass. In addition, 17 participants had a history of hyperlipidemia. Prior to the simulation, there were 2 individuals who were found to have severe cases of peripheral vascular disease. The objective of these tests was to obtain exact re sults from the simulations. The aim was to ensure that the findings made were due to g-forces from centrifugal acceleration and not from latent conditions. The participants with medical histories had little complaints from the centrifugal acceleration in comparison to those without backgrounds of medical conditions. However, both sets of participants complained of nausea. The same is common in cases where subjects are exposed to high centrifugal acceleration. Another effect of this development was greyout. To this end, participants complained of incidences of mild greyout. Interestingly, none of the participants experienced any form of G-LOC. There were, however, incidences where the participants would perform head movements with the sole objective of self-inducing sensations similar to coriolis. Discussion Overview From the various experiments highlighted in the current study, it appears that cardiac arrhythmia is caused by g-forces associated with aerodynamics.[10] The various stu dies made reference to centrifugal acceleration. It is not possible to obtain results from the specific aircrafts that the researchers used to generate centrifugal acceleration. As a result, most studies depend on simulations of conditions found in an aircraft.[11] During such instances, the subjects are rotated at speeds that are almost equivalent to those in an aircraft The objective of such simulations is to expose the subjects to g-forces from acceleration.[12] The specific elements observed are the +Gz forces. The designation ‘z’ implies that on a 3 dimensional plane, the said forces act on the z axis. Their effects on the subject are longitudinal. In addition, they are the most common forces that affect the rhythm of an individual’s heart when in flight.[13] The different levels of exposure to g-forces are a contributing factor to the occurrence of the various types of cardiac arrhythmia. The study by Hanada et al.[2] highlighted three types of arrhythmia c ommon among pilots, especially in military jets. The three were identified as PAC, PVC, and sinus arrhythmias. According to Hanada et al.,[2] the three occurred due to the variant levels of exposure to +Gz. For instance, sinus arrhythmia occurs in instances where subjects are exposed to high g-forces. In such cases, the resulting levels of stress are high. The same has an effect on the heart rate. It distorts the rhythm of these rates once the subject comes to rest. It is noted that PVC and PAC are the most common types of arrhythmia that result from interactions with high-G training.[14] Hanada et al.[2] addressed this issue by pointing out that the two are common in normal day-to-day exercises. The researchers found it prudent to do away with centrifuge in cases where subjects exhibited PAC and PVC.[2] The argument is strengthened by the assumption that the two arrhythmias are a normal occurrence among subjects. The study by Hanada et al.[2] introduced the element of grading the r ate of heartbeat rhythms among subjects. The system is essential in determining the degree or severity with which arrhythmia exhibits itself.[15] In this grading system, arrhythmias that are recorded at a grade of three or higher are regarded as severe. It is noted that 10% of the subjects in the study by Hanada et al.[2] exhibited a paired condition of PVC. The researchers argue that the condition is a direct physiological response to the stress experienced during the centrifugal acceleration in training sessions. The Lown grading system for ectopy was developed against the backdrop of the need to characterize the different types of arrhythmia. The same explains why, in the study by Hanada et al.[2], PAC and PVC are graded according to the degree of exposure to +Gz. An example is in the case where there is paired PVC and PAC, while at the same time single cases of PAC and PVC are noted. In both cases, the Lown format becomes vital in highlighting the severity of the different types of arrhythmia. The Lown system is one of the advancements made in aviation medicine. It is used to determine the types of arrhythmias that are permissible in centrifugal training. An example is evident in the study by Hanada et al.[2], where the system is used to sanction centrifugal training in cases where subjects exhibit paired PVC. However, training sessions are terminated in cases where the arrhythmias go beyond a specific threshold.[2] In such cases, the severity of the condition is determined by such factors as proaxysmal atrial fibrillation. Hanada et al.[2] posit that there are certain tachycardiac arrhythmias that reduce tolerance to G-stress resulting from centrifugal acceleration. In such cases, the subjects exhibit PSVT and VT. Their study revealed that PVST is possibly a major cause of loss of consciousness during centrifugal training.[15] The findings made in the current study are best understood from the perspective of a detailed discussion of centrifugal accelerati on and its effects on the heart. In so doing, the researcher aims to prove that cardiac arrhythmia is a result of centrifugal acceleration. In this section, the specific types of this condition are analyzed in detail. Protocols for Centrifugal Acceleration The findings in this study reveal that centrifugal acceleration is an important component of aviation medicine.[16] The process creates an environment that is similar to that experienced in fast moving aircrafts like fighter jets. Such individuals as military pilots and astronauts are the most affected by the G-forces arising from the acceleration of high speed aircrafts. It follows that such individuals require some form of training to acquaint themselves with the strenuous conditions and to help them bear with the stresses brought about by the forces. Centrifugal training, as already indicated, is the process through which pilots and other crew members are subjected to controlled conditions of G-stress. During such sessions, avi ation medical personnel examine individual subjects’ tolerance to G-forces.[2] It is important to take the subjects through certain protocols. Such a move is necessary as it helps in the attainment of accurate results from the exposure to the said forces. Several studies are used to elaborate the importance of these protocols as indicated in the ‘methods’ section of this paper. The first and most important protocol to follow in centrifugal training is preliminary medical check-ups.[1] The procedure is evident in the studies by Hanada et al.[2] and Whinnery[3], where the subjects are screened for heart related complications. The objective of such preliminary medical examinations is to ensure the effects of G-stress exposure are not confused with the symptoms of latent medical conditions. The second protocol during centrifugal studies is the exposure levels.[3] During the training exercises, the subjects must be exposed to varying levels of +Gz so that a proper com parison can be arrived at. For instance, Whinnery and Hickman[8] sought to study mitrial prolapsed and thus relied on centrifugal acceleration. Their subjects were exposed to stress levels of 1G.15s-1 which were gradually increased. There was also another exposure referred to as the rapid onset exposure in which the subjects experienced g-forces of 1 G.s-1. The initial tolerance level is essential in evaluating cardiovascular reflexes.[8] On the other hand the second tolerance level are useful in determining the subjects’ tolerance in terms of the hydraulics. During these exposure levels, in centrifugal training, it is expected that the subjects end up experiencing total loss of their peripheral sight. The aforementioned protocols are key in ensuring that the results are obtained as expected.[8] Arrhythmia Resulting from Centrifugal Training Overview From the findings in this paper, it is apparent that the rhythm of the heart is distorted by the G-stresses during centrifugal training.[17] As previously mentioned, centrifugal training involves rotation of subjects in a contraption referred to as a human centrifuge. The objective is to expose the participants in such exercises to +Gz forces.[3] Consequently, the individuals in such studies are observed to determine how the G-forces affect their human anatomy, of which the heart is a vital component. The contents of the articles referred to in the current paper reveal that there are 4 major types of arrhythmias that result from centrifugal acceleration.[4] The four include sinus arrhythmia, premature arterial contraction, arterial fibrillation, and premature ventricular contraction.[3] In order to categorize each of the mentioned arrhythmias, the author of the current study made observations depending on the levels of +Gz exposure. A detailed discussion is provided in this section. Sinus arrhythmia According to Rayman,[1] the heart has a specific rhythm to which it beats. Consequently, any external force l ike g-stress tends to distort the normal pattern of this organ, resulting in what is now known as cardiac arrhythmia. From the articles reviewed in this study, subjects in centrifugal training experiments were found to exhibit sinus arrhythmia among other complications known in aviation medicine.[9] The study by Hanada et al.[2] revealed that this complication is common during centrifugal training, where the subject’s heart rate normalizes immediately after a rapid heart-beat rhythm. Interestingly, there were subjects who exhibited this particular kind of arrhythmia prior to centrifuge acceleration and the subsequent exposure to the +Gz forces. As illustrated in table 2, the occurrence of the SA in the participants was recorded at 48%. It is important to appreciate that the high occurrence rate is not really due to the centrifugal acceleration. Hanada et al.[2] argue that the condition is a normal occurrence, especially among persons involved in physical training. Studies ill ustrate that the normal rate of a healthy adult lies between 60 to 100 beats every minute.[1] However, some studies indicate that the pattern varies between the genders. A normal female’s heart rate, for instance, is estimated to fall between 47 and 103 beats for every minute.[17] In men, the estimated rhythm is placed at the range of 43 to 102 beats per minute. Alterations in heart beat rhythm due to sinus arrhythmia are not fatal. There are cases where the condition cannot be detected. As such, members of a flying crew who are found to have the condition are not in danger. Premature arterial contraction (PAC) The human heart is fitted with a pace maker that has electrical characteristics.[1] as a result, when this part is exposed to external forces, there are distortions in its normal functioning. Centrifugal acceleration, as aforementioned, has an effect on the organ. The resultant +Gz forces give rise to G-stress. As mentioned earlier, these stressors tend to affect the n ormal workings of the human anatomy. The pacemaker is among the body parts affected. As a cardiac arrhythmia, premature arterial contraction is a phenomenon where the heart’s pacemaker emits signals before the ‘stipulated’ time.[18] The maker is located above the ventricles, meaning that these chambers respond to the distorted signals. As a result, the heart’s rhythm is altered by the ventricle’s ‘irregular’ response. An arrhythmia of this kind is usually common when an individual is stimulated either through exercises or as a result of such beverages as coffee. However, the same is also true when an individual undergoes centrifugal training.[2] In the study by Hanada et al.,[2] PAC exhibited itself in a number of the subjects used in the experiments. Despite the fact that the condition is not lethal, it can present itself in a manner that would require a discontinuation of the training. In such cases, it is considered as clinically sev ere. Hanada et al.[2] point out that repeated PAC is quite severe and advices intermittent discontinuation of centrifugal training among subjects who exhibit the condition. Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) The heart’s functions rely on the electrical impulses of the pacemaker.[19] In cases where +Gz forces are introduced into the human anatomy, the said impulses are interfered with. When such interferences occur, the functioning of some of the compartments of the heart is impeded, resulting in a distorted rhythm of heart beat. As an example of cardiac arrhythmia, PVC is characterized by the contraction of the heart’s ventricles before the expected electrical signal. The name ‘premature’ is sourced from this irregular contraction of the ventricles. The diagram below is an ECG representation of this condition: Graph 1: Premature ventricular beats Source: Vettes et al.[6] The study by Hanada et al.[2] points out that PVC can exhibit itself in differen t degrees. There is the occasional premature ventricular contraction, which is a mild version of the condition. Subjects who present the said condition are allowed to continue with centrifugal training owing to the fact that it is not harmful. The harmful case of PVC involves repeated PVC and Bigeminy, Trigeiny PVC. However, in spite of the fact that it is more harmful in comparison to occasional PVC, the latter case calls for the termination of centrifugal training after some time. A look at the study by Hanada et al.[2] reveals that 19 pilots exhibited the paired PVC condition. The number of subjects who presented the condition in subsequent training sessions kept on decreasing. The same indicates that despite being a common occurrence due to centrifugal training, PVC is only severe when a subject is exposed to High G-Stress over a long period of time without a break. A case in point is a pilot who travels in an aircraft at speeds that result in a stress of 5Gz.s-1 without taking a break. Such an individual is likely to experience a severe case of PVC, which might lead to cardiac arrest.[18] Artrial fibrillation Exposure to +Gz requires some form of tolerance from the persons participating in the centrifugal acceleration exercises.[19] Increased exposure and the resultant stresses affect the heart’s electrical functions. The atrial happens to be another region of the heart that is affected by the G-forces. According to Rayman,[1] the +Gz forces can increase the rate at which the pacemaker emits electrical impulses. When this happens, the ventricles contract in an irregular and erratic manner, leading to arterial fibrillation.[20] Whinnery[3] points out that exposure to G stress in such centrifugal exercises is characterized by atrial ectopy. As is the case with the other arrhythmias mentioned in this paper, this condition can be mild or severe depending on levels of exposure. For instance, Vettes et al.[6] suggest that the complication is regarded as normal when subjects are exposed to +2G for about five minutes. However, the researchers point out that the condition becomes severe in cases where the G-force is increased to +5G and the subjects exposed to the same for a period of more than five minute. Conclusion Vettes et al.[6] point out that centrifugal training, and by extension centrifugal acceleration, has a direct impact on cardiac arrhythmia. In the context of this study, centrifugal acceleration is regarded as an avenue of generating G-forces to create stress on human anatomy. Aviation medicine makes use of centrifugal training to effectively understand cardiac arrhythmia. In essence, this condition is caused by the distortion of the normal heart beat. Whinnery[3] introduced the element of human centrifuge in their study. The contraption is used in aviation medicine to conduct experiments on centrifugal acceleration. During such experiments, two main factors determine how G-forces give rise to cardiac arrhythmia. The two include the degree of +Gz and the duration of exposure. Intensity and duration are crucial elements in explaining the various types of arrhythmias. Hanada et al.[2] point out that centrifugal acceleration in centrifugal training exercises gives rise to 3 main types of arrhythmias. The analysis points out that sinus arrhythmia, premature atrial contraction, and premature ventricular contraction are the most common conditions. Atrial fibrillation is another type of arrhythmia associated with the exercises. Each of the conditions above is graded on their severity depending on the magnitude of +Gz. in addition, the duration in which the participants are exposed to the forces adds to the severity of the conditions. As such, it is important to pay attention to the degree of these conditions among individuals taking part in centrifugal training. The aim is to avert cases of cardiac arrest. Such occurrences are fatal, especially when the subjects are exposed to real time flight conditions. References Rayman BR. Clinical aviation medicine. New York: Castle Connolly Graduate Medical Publishing; 2000. Hanada R, Hisada T, Koichiro O. Arrythmias observed during high g-training: proposed safety training criterion. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 2004; 75(8):689-91. Whinnery EJ. The electrocardiographic response to high +Gz centrifuge training. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1990; August:716-21. Gan WH, Low R, Singh J. Aviation medicine: global historical perspectives and the development of aviation medicine alongside the growth of Singapore’s aviation landscape. Singapore Med J. 2011; 52(5):324-329. Blue SR, Riccitello MJ, Tizard J, Hamilton JR, Vanderploeg MJ. Commercial spaceflight participant G-force tolerance during centrifuge-simulated suborbital flight. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 2012; 83(10):929-34. Vettes B, Vieillefond H, Auffret R. Cardiovascular responses of man exposed to +GZ accelerations in a centrifuge. Av iation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1980; April:375-78. Ewelina KZ, Lech HK. Cardiac arrhythmias during aerobatic flight and its simulation on a centrifuge. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 2012; 82(6):599-691. Whinnery JE, Hickman JR. Acceleration of asymptomatic aircrew with mitral valve prolapsed and significant +GZ induced ventricular dysrhythmias. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1988; 59:711-717. Jeffrey RD, Johnson R, Stepanek J, Fogarty AJ. Fundamentals of aerospace medicine. Baltimore: Lippincot Williams Wilkins; 2008. Whinnery JE. Acceleration-induced ventricular tachycardia in asymptomatic men: relation to mitral valve prolapsed. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1983; 54(1):58-64. Johnston R. Clinical aviation medicine: safe travel by air. Clin. Med. 2001;1:385-8. Rayman RB, MD, MPH, DavMed, et al. Rayman’s clinical aviation medicine. New York: Castle Connolly Graduate Medical Publishing; 2013. Kennealy AJ, Kirland SJ, Sn eider ER. Bradycardia induced by negative acceleration. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1976; 47(5):483-4. Ewelina KZ, Lech HK. Centrifuge breaking effects on cardiac arrhythmias occurring at high +Gz acceleration. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 2004; 75:458-60. Whinnery JE. Acceleration-induced atrioventricular dissociation: hemodynamic consequences. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1982; 53(4):432-4. Grossman A, Wand O, Harpaz D, Prokupetz A, Assa A. Acceleration forces and cardiac and aortic indexes in jet fighter pilots. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 2011; 82:901-3. Whinnery JE. Post-acceleration chaotic atrial rythm. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1982; 53(4):390-2. Leverett DS, Burton RR. Physiological effect of high sustained +Gz forces on man. Life Sci. Space Res. 1979;17:171-85. Kopka L, Dabrowa R, Bojenko S. Relationship between the value of the Wenckebach point and +Gz tolerance. Aviation, Space, and Envi ronment Medicine. 1984; 55:607-70. Gradwell D, Rainford JD. Ernsting’s aviation medicine. Florida: CRC Press; 2006. This research paper on Types of Cardiac Arrhythmia Resulting From Centrifugal Acceleration was written and submitted by user Samuel Heath to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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VLSI and Video Over IP essays

VLSI and Video Over IP essays Research papers provide a valuable summation of information to an audience. Through research papers, the intended reviewer is able to grasp the concept being relayed by the writer. In order to substantiate his/her research, the writer will incorporate information from other accepted sources, such as books, journals, and web pages. In addition, research papers are usually in a certain format. Depending on the instructor, a widely recognized format will be selected and followed. This assignment will introduce information pertaining to VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) and Video over IP. The information will be corroborated with books, journals, and web pages. The selected format for this paper is MLA (Modern Language Association of America). VLSI or Very Large Scale Integration is the process of placing hundreds of thousands of transistors onto a single chip. This type of technology was discovered in the early 1980s as a part of the semiconductor and communication technologies that were being researched at the time. The first semiconductor chips held one transistor each. Through more research, subsequent chips held more and more transistors and as a result, more and more process became integrated over time. This continual integration led to the production of the microprocessor, which utilizes VLSI technology. The first processor to utilize VLSI was the 4004 introduced by Intel in 1971. VLSI chips are designed and tested using CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools. VLSI chips are the essential building blocks of modern digital electronic systems ranging from computers to consumer goods. The design of these integrated chips requires sophisticated CAD software to manage the complexity of design and verify the functionality of the chip. Current research in the development of VLSI, mainly involves development of CAD tools. Through the development of more advanc ...

Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Argument - Essay Example For example, CI requires that a rational individual is moral if the end of their actions is to promote the good of all. Therefore, CI is the best theory in precisely articulating human reasoning and decision making, and relating these to free human will compared to other decision theories. Moral actions are indicative of rationality, with an immoral action indicating irrationality in an individual. A moral action has to be universal in that it has to stand true in any event anywhere. For example, stealing is immoral; it causes pain to the owner while it may result to pleasure in the one stealing. Causing pain is immoral as it leads to suffering, implying that such an act when committed by a rational being would be immoral. Stealing is thus a crime universally as it violates CI theory, which is a universal law of morals. Being a universal law, Kantian CI becomes the best theory that explains why individuals have to decide in a certain way. For example, considering the relational Diale cts theory in a similar case, the theory requires us to consider issues around us, which help people to construct meaning in any relation. Thus the theory is based on specific circumstances as it requires one to consider cultural and social rational systems. This implies the theory applies to multicultural diversity (Turner, 2004). Thus stealing according to this theory may be justified in some cases as it directs people to construct certain meanings in a specific setting of relationships. On the other hand, the how we decide theory is largely based on observable behavior from outside as one cannot access the mind of the individual. For example, asking why does a an individual steal would lead to detailed examinations of their behaviors and history in finding elements that may explain such behaviors in deciding if the individual is actually on the wrong. Such an observation may sometimes be inaccurate and may lead to a wrong conclusion. Therefore, the advantage of CI theory is that it is based on a universal law and is not relative as the other two theories, which depend on specific circumstances. The issue of personal freedom in making a decision is of much importance, and precisely bestows the responsibility of an action on the particular individual. As Kant’s CI theory explains, freedom is an important element in reasoning, whose function cannot be ignored. Thus, without assuming freedom, an individual cannot act (McCormick, 2005). In other words, an individual is not a robot or causal agent that only serves to implement orders. Thinking in such direction would deny humanity its own existence and purpose. Freedom is thus a central focus in decision making and reasoning; an individual is at will to decide in any direction. In this theory, Kant places the consequence of each action on the specific individual, and not on a system of events that may be explained to be the causal agents behind such an action. However, considering the how we decide theory, the major limitation is the assumption that humans are not rational. Thus, the theory traces human action not from the specific individual, but from a system of factors and history that plays to shape and define human actions. This would relegate humanity to being a causal agent that is not responsible for

HR Policy Manual Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

HR Policy Manual - Assignment Example They provide automobile and hybrid-electric batteries and systems engineering. Johnson Controls vision statement is simple: to provide a more "comfortable, safe and sustainable world" (Johnson Controls Website "Vision Statement"). They are located in Glendale, WI and have another office in San Francisco. Johnson Controls is structure as a Corporation. The Equal Employment Opportunity statement tells employees and people outside the organization how the company feels about employing a diversity of people. These statements often include not only the legal definitions of diversity like race, ethnicity or disability, but they also involve statements that are important to the company like sexual orientation, amnesty, marital status or age. Each company will have a different idea of what they should put into their EEO statements. Johnson Controls is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We believe that in order to be sure that our products and services are doing their jobs that we need to be a part of the community. We provide products and services that represent the diversity in the workplace. We look for people in every region who will work well as a team and who are involved in the global marketplace. We are dedicated to attracting, training and developing the best talent that we can find all over the world. Affirmative action is similar to EEO in that it tells what the business plans to do about discrimination. This statement will generally tell the groups of people that the company will cover under their anti-discrimination clause. According to Wordnet, an affirmative action policy is "a policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities". We work to eliminate discrimination and harassment in all its forms, and we are committed to providing equal opportunity in all of our employment practices. By valuing diversity, all our employees can fully

Marketing the New Product of IMMO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing the New Product of IMMO - Essay Example The product should be differentiated and branded differently and it should target different segments of the market as well as well as be priced differently. Further in terms of forecasting demand for the product, it is advisable that the organization obtains orders from the law enforcement agencies as well as from retailers before deciding on the number of units that should be manufactured at launch and in the four quarters of the first year. The objective of this report is to help the management of the organization to decide on the different strategies that it should undertake to ensure that it is meets its full potential in profitability and market penetration. Throughout this document the author has carried out an in depth analysis of the organization, its products, the markets that it wishes to penetrate and the current economic conditions and makes the necessary conclusions and recommendations. In this report the author first analyses if IMMO Tech should proceed with its plans to market the new product, and then the if the organization should enter into any international markets and if so which ones in particular. ... alyses if IMMO Tech should proceed with its plans to market the new product, and then the if the organization should enter into any international markets and if so which ones in particular. Further the author also analyses which market segments and target markets should they focus on, who the target consumers are and which social demographic and lifestyle characteristics they have to share. Once the author studies the different demographic groups in and their similar characteristics the author then goes on to advice the organization on the importance of standardizing or differentiating the products according to the market segments that are targeted and how this can be done to suit the different markets. Next the author analyses the pricing strategy and which strategy should be adopted at the early stages of the product's life cycle, the retail price that should be recommended to the stockists. Since the pricing strategy has been recommended the author then goes on to study and analyze the implications of charging different prices in different markets and the extent to which exchange rates play a role in the context international business. In the final sections of the document the author then analyses if IMMO should develop a range of accessories, if the organization does decide to produce accessories then, how will they add value to the brand and the profitability of the organization. How will it be done in a manner that it rivals can copy Then the author goes on to analyze how and where IMMO should promote and advertise its smartphone, how many units should IMMO Tech manufacture in the run up to the launch And finally how many should be produced in the first four quarters after the launch Once all of the above has been analyzed in detail the author then draws

Advice To A Young Man English Literature Essay

Advice To A Young Man English Literature Essay Benjamin Franklin, Founding Fathers of the United States, was born on January 17, 1706 and died on April 17, 1790 aged 84. Franklin was a lead author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a significant figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries as well theories regarding electricity. He invented the glass armonica, the Franklin stove, bifocals, a carriage odometer, and the lightning rod. At the age of 24, Franklin publicly acknowledged an illegitimate son named William. In June 25, 1745, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter Advice to a Friend on Choosing a Mistress. In this he is advice to a young man on how to channel his sexual urges. He states that a remedy for sexual desire is unknown. His advice would be to take a wife. Having doubts that the intended reader will finally get married; the speaker outlines several advantages of marrying. That the intended reader would succeed in his industry if he gets a healthy wife. According to Franklin, a prudent wife is economical and she is sufficiently a fortune. The author is able to portray a woman as very important in any family (McGovern 10). Incase the above arguments fails; Franklin lists seven explanations why an older mistress is better than a young one. Advantages include greater caution in conducting an intrigue, less risk of unwanted pregnancy, and better conversation. The author advised the young man that his reputation will be safer with the commerce of woman. According to Franklin, a woman is able to safeguard her familys reputations incase of an affair. She is capable of forming a mans manners by her good counsel. Born in St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda on May 25, 1949, as Elaine Cynthia Potter Richardson, Jamaica Kincaid is an American Caribbean gardener, author and novelist. Throughout the academic year she teaches at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, resides with her family in North Bennington, Vermont, in the summers. In St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda she was brought up by her mother and stepfather, who was a carpenter, until 1965 at age of 19 where she moved to America, New York to work as an aupair. She changed her name to Jamaica Kincaid since her family criticized her writing, in 1973. She has given birth to a son, named Harold, and a daughter, named Annie, with her former husband Allen Shawn. She recently converted to Judaism a minority religion with minority of Black people. She writes extensively on women and their relationships with one another, especially mother to her daughter to be precise as depicted in her works such as Annie John, Lucy, The Autobiography of M y Mother, and Girl which a collection of stories and was first published in 1983 in At the Bottom of the River. In her poem Girl she talks about the morals and norms imposed on women by the humanity, and at times, their own community and social group as well. Here, the major theme of conflicts between a mother and her daughter and traditional and Western or modern values are portrayed by her effective illustration of daughters relationship with her mother. The literary work was done when St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda was moving from a colonial state and my people were at crossroads on whether to keep African-based Obeah culture or be assimilated in the British or Western ways (Gioia and Kennedy 379). The speaker in Girl employs the use of constant command which makes obvious that she feels as if she ought to be ruthless and simple with the girl in order for her to be taken seriously. The orator desires the girl to know how to behave, and the only approach she finds in which to do so is by authorizing the girl to do specific chores and making it look like there is alternative way in which to perform them. The orator tries to teach the girl by replicating fine points for instance how to set a table in five diverse circumstances. By demonstrating that there is a great deal to be learned to adequately carry out a simple task such as setting the table, the orator shows the girl that she ought to pay attention and put effort to succeed as a woman. In this way, the speaker acts as a role model as well as a counselor to the girl. The speaker shows that a woman has various roles as well various ways of performing the same task (University of Delhi 88). In both the literary works the writers portray the fact that women are expected to obtain and maintain clothes and are responsible for mens clothing. This is depicted in Kincaids Girl where it begins with laundry: Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap; wash the color clothes on Tuesday and put them on the clothesline to dry; After this the mother comes with demonstration on how you iron your fathers khaki shirt so that it doesnt have a crease; this is how you iron your fathers khaki pants so that they do not have a crease. In Benjamin Franklin, Advice to a Young Man on the Choice of a Mistress prudent healthy Wife is supposed to take care of her husband well so that he succeeds in his profession. This is also seen where the Girl is taught how to prepare and grow different foods. In this family a girl is expected to learn how to fish and to soak salt fish overnight before you cook it. Thus, in the two literary works the women are supposed to be caring of the husband and the rest of the family in terms of general wellbeing of the family. Being economically savvy is a virtue implied by both writers in their works. In the Girl she learns how to shop for bread grow root vegetable, okra and dasheen, and prepare pumpkin fritters, doukona (a coconut, banana and cornmeal pudding) bread pudding and pepper pot. These are humble dishes which are supposed to make ends meet. In Benjamin Franklin, Advice to a Young Man on the Choice of a Mistress a wife is supposed to be with her good Economy, and the husband will be a Fortune sufficient. The art of nursing is required of women in these literary works. This is whereby, as in the case of Girl, she has to learn how to make a good medicine for a cold and in the Benjamin Franklins work the lady has to learn to do a 1000 Services small and great, and are the most tender and useful of all Friends when you are sick. Therefore, the two societies though centuries apart, this knowledge was mandatory for all women and girls who are about to become wives. Behaving well in public places especially in front of men was greatly emphasized whereby the Girl is told this is how to behave in the presence of men who do not know you very well, and this way they wont recognize immediately the slut I have warned you against becoming. The mistress in Benjamin Franklins work Advice to a Young Man they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. Thus both women and girls are supposed to carry themselves with decorum to avoid tainting their images. Being beautiful despite the age and chores that one does is not expected of women in the two literary works. In Advice to Young Man the lady learns how to maintain her attractiveness by having confidence in her by not leaning on looks. The Girl has to be smart even if it means washing with her own spit. In the Girl the mother tells the daughter how to how to bully a man; this is how a man bullies you Thus the woman has a role to play in introducing her daughter to complicated dating world. The mistress in the Advice to Young Man knows how to seduce effortlessly young boys by knowing how to kindly take care of a young Man, form his Manners by her good Counsels. Therefore, dating roles in both works are antagonistic whereby girls are expected to be chased by boys while old ladies seduce the young boys. Therefore, from the above roles of women in both the Girl by Jamaica Kincaid and Benjamin Franklins Advice to a Young Man on the Choice of a Mistress have significant similarities and disparities as also evident in the world today. Both authors represent a different period in time as well as station in life. Franklin is a man of status offering advice to someone he wishes to succeed in life. Franklin appreciate the roles of a healthy woman whereas Kincaid depicts the nurturing the roles of a well behaved woman.

Causation and Moral Responsibility for Death Essay -- Euthanasia Physi

Causation and Moral Responsibility for Death ABSTRACT: The distinction between killing and letting die has been a controversial element in arguments about the morality of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. The killing/letting die distinction is based on causation of death. However, a number of causal factors come into play in any death; it is impossible to state a complete cause of death. I argue that John Mackie’s analysis of causation in terms of ‘inus factors,’ insufficient but non-redundant parts of unnecessary but sufficient conditions, helps us to see that moral responsibility for death cannot rest on causation alone. In specifying the cause of death, some factors can be considered alternatively as either causal factors or merely parts of the presupposed background conditions. If a factor is moved from the background field into the causal field, the result is a changed background field. Comparisons of cases of killing and letting die often do just this; hence, the cases depend on different pres uppositions and the causation cannot be directly compared. Moral judgments determine how to apportion factors to the causal and background fields. The distinction between killing and letting die has been used by many to condemn euthanasia and assisted suicide while giving approbation to withdrawing life-support systems in at least some patients. In the recent United States Supreme Court decision which denies a right to physician-assisted suicide, Chief Justice Rehnquist writes that "when a patient refuses life sustaining medical treatment, he dies from an underlying fatal disease or pathology; but if a patient ingests lethal medication prescribed by a physician, he is killed by that medication." (1) It is doubtful, ho... ..., no.3 (1976): 15-16. (7) John Mackie, The Cement of the Universe: A Study of Causation, paperback edition (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980). (8) Ibid., 60-62. (9) Ibid., 63. (10) Ibid., 66-67. This statement of a "gappy" universal is fundamentally the same as Mackie’s, but I have altered the formulation for consistency. (11) O.H. Green, "Killing and Letting Die," American Philosophical Quarterly 17 (1980): 195-204, and Helga Kuhse, The Sanctity-of-Life Doctrine in Medicine: A Critique (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1987). (12) Kuhse, 50-51. (13) Ibid., 67-68. (14) Ibid., 68. (15) President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, Deciding to Forego Life-Sustaining Treatment: Ethical, Medical, and Legal Issues in Treatment Decisions (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1983), 69.

Bite Me: A Love Story Chapter 14

14. The Samurai of Jackson Street II Katusumi Okata had lived among the gaijin for forty years. An American art dealer, traveling through Hokkaido in search of woodblock prints from the Edo period, had come into Katusumi's father's workshop, seen the boy's prints, and offered to bring Okata to San Francisco to create prints for his gallery on Jackson Street. The printmaker had lived in this same basement apartment since. He'd once had a wife, Yuriko, but she had been killed in front of him on the street when he was twenty-three, so now he lived alone. The apartment had a concrete floor covered by two grass mats, a table that held his printmaking tools, a two-burner stove, an electric kettle, his swords, a futon, three sets of clothes, an old phonograph, and now, a burned-up white woman. She really didn't go with anything else, no matter how he arranged her. He thought he might make a series of prints of her-her blackened, skeletal form posed about the apartment like some demon wraith from a Shinto nightmare, but the composition wasn't working. He walked up to Chinatown and bought a bouquet of red tulips and put them on the futon beside her, but even with the added color and design element, the picture wasn't working. And she was making his futon smell like burned hair. Okata was not used to company, and he wasn't sure how to keep up his end of the conversation. He had once made friends with two rats who came out of a hole in the brick wall. He had talked to them and fed them on the condition that they not bring any friends, but they hadn't listened and he was forced to mortar up the hole. He figured they didn't speak Japanese. To be fair, however, she wasn't doing very well holding up her side of the conversation, either-lying there like a bog person dipped in creosote, her mouth open as if in a scream of agony. He sat on a stool next to the futon with his sketch pad and a pencil and began to sketch her for a print. He had very much admired the great cape of red curls that streamed out behind her when he'd seen her on the street, and he was sorry that all but a few strands had burned away in the sun. A shame. Perhaps he could draw the red curls in anyway. Make them swirl around the blackened rictus like one of Hokusai's waves. He knew what she was, of course. He was still healing from his encounter with the vampire cats, and it took no little bit of sketching to fill in the details, especially as her fangs were pointing prominently at his ceiling right now and they were far too long and sharp to be those of a normal burned-up white girl. He filled three pages with sketches, experimenting with angles and composition, but on the fourth page he found that a sadness had overcome him that he could not chase away with the moment created in making a drawing. Katusumi retrieved his wakizashi short sword from the stand on his work table, unsheathed it, and knelt by the futon. He bowed deeply, then put the point of the sword on the pad of his left thumb and cut. He held his thumb over her open mouth and the dark blood dripped over her teeth and lips. Would she be like the cats? Savage? A monster? He held the razor-edged wakizashi ready in his right hand, should a demon awake. But if he'd been able to raise his beloved Yuriko, even as a demon, wouldn't he have? All the years that had passed, kendo training, drawing, carving, meditating, walking the streets unafraid, alone, hadn't they all been about that? About making Yuriko live? Or not living without her? When the burned-up girl jerked with a great, rasping intake of breath, cinders cracked off her ribs and peppered the yellow futon and water began to flow from the swordsman's eyes. RIVERA AND CAVUTO Marvin the cadaver dog took them to the Wine Country. There they found Bummer and Lazarus, the Emperor's dogs, guarding a Dumpster in an alley behind an abandoned building. Marvin pawed the Dumpster, and tried to stay on task while the Boston terrier sniffed his junk and the golden retriever looked around, a little embarrassed. Nick Cavuto held the lid, ready to lift it. â€Å"Maybe we should call the Wong kid and see if our sunlight jackets are done, then open it.† â€Å"It's daylight,† said Rivera. â€Å"Even if there are, uh, creatures in there, they'll be immobile.† Rivera still had a very difficult time saying the word â€Å"vampires† out loud. â€Å"Marvin says there's a body in there, we need to look.† Cavuto shrugged, lifted the lid of the Dumpster and braced himself for a wave of rotten meat smell, but there was none. â€Å"Empty.† Bummer barked. Marvin pawed at the side of the Dumpster. Lazarus chuffed, which was dog for, â€Å"Duh. Look behind it.† Rivera looked in. Other than a couple of broken wine bottles and the rice part of a taco combo plate, there was nothing in the Dumpster, yet Marvin still pawed at the steel, which was the signal he had been trained to give when he'd found a corpse. â€Å"Maybe we should give Marvin a biscuit to reset him or something,† said Rivera. â€Å"No corpse, no biscuit, that's the rule,† said Cavuto. â€Å"We all have to live by it.† At the mention of a biscuit both Bummer and Marvin stopped what they were doing, sat, looked dutiful and contrite, and gave Rivera the â€Å"I need and deeply deserve a biscuit† look. Frustrated with what biscuit whores his cohorts were, Lazarus went to the side of the Dumpster and started pawing the space between it and the wall, then tried to stuff his muzzle in behind it. Cavuto shrugged, pulled on a pair of form-fitting mechanics gloves from his jacket pocket, and pulled the cement blocks from under the Dumpster's wheels. Rivera watched in horror as the realization hit that he was probably going to get Dumpster schmutz, or worse, on his expensive Italian suit. â€Å"Man up, Rivera,† Cavuto said. â€Å"There's police work to be done.† â€Å"Shouldn't we call some uniforms in to do it? I mean, we're detectives.† Cavuto stood up and looked at his partner. â€Å"You really believe the movies when James Bond kills thirty guys hand to hand, blows up the secret lair, gets set on fire, then escapes under water and his tux doesn't even get wrinkled, don't you?† â€Å"You can't just buy one of those off the rack,† Rivera said. â€Å"It's a high-tech fabric.† â€Å"Just give me a hand with this thing, would you?† Once the Dumpster was in the middle of the alley, the three dogs more or less dogpiled in front of the boarded-up window, Marvin doing his highly trained, â€Å"There's a dead guy in here, give me a biscuit† paw scrape, Bummer barking like he was announcing the big sale event down at Yap-mart and everything had to go, and Lazarus rolling out a long, doleful howl. â€Å"Probably in there,† said Cavuto. â€Å"Ya think?† said Rivera. Cavuto was able to work his fingers between the sheet of plywood and the window frame and pulled it out. Before he could even set it aside Bummer had leapt through the window into the darkness. Lazarus pawed the windowsill, then leapt after his companion. Marvin, the cadaver dog, backed away, then ruffed twice and tossed his head, which translated to, â€Å"No, I'm good, you guys go ahead, just give me my biscuit. I'll be over here-well, would you look at that-those balls definitely need some tongue attention. No, it's okay, go on without me.† Marvin had a nose that could distinguish as many different odors as the human eye could colors, in the range of sixteen million distinct scents. Unfortunately, his doggie brain had a much more limited vocabulary for giving name to those scents and he processed what he smelled as: dead cats, many, dead humans, many, dead rats, many, poo and wee, many flavors, none fresh, and old guy who needs a shower; none of which would have given him pause. The smell that he couldn't file, that he didn't have a response for, that stopped him at the window, was a new one: dead, but not dead. Undead. It was scary, and licking his balls calmed him and kept his mind off the biscuit that they owed him. Rivera shone his flashlight around the room. The basement appeared empty but for piles of debris and a thick layer of dust and ash over the floor, textured with the paw prints of hundreds of cats. He could see the movement of Bummer and Lazarus just at the edge of the flashlight's beam. They were scratching at a metal door. â€Å"We'll need the crowbar out of the car,† said Rivera. â€Å"You're going in there?† asked Cavuto. â€Å"In that suit?† Rivera nodded. â€Å"There's something down there, one of us has to.† â€Å"You're a goddamn hero, Rivera, that's what you are. A real, dyed in the worsted wool and silk blend hero.† â€Å"Yeah, there's that, and you can't fit through the window.† â€Å"Can too,† said Cavuto. Five minutes later they were both standing in the middle of the basement, fanning their Surefire ballistic flashlights through the dust like they were wielding silent light sabers. Rivera led the way to the steel door that the hounds were going at as if someone had duct taped it to a fox. â€Å"You guys, shut up!† Rivera snapped, and much to his surprise, Bummer and Lazarus fell silent and sat. Rivera looked back at his partner. â€Å"That's spooky.† â€Å"Yeah, and praise Willie Mays that's the only spooky thing going on here.† Cavuto was a deeply religious San Francisco Giants fan and genuflected whenever he passed the bronze statue of Willie Mays outside the ball park. â€Å"Good point,† said Rivera. He tried the door, which didn't budge, but it was clear from the arc plowed into the dust and ashes that it had been opened recently. â€Å"Crowbar,† he said, reaching back. Cavuto handed him the crowbar and at the same time drew his gun from his shoulder holster, a ridiculously large Desert Eagle.50-caliber automatic. â€Å"When did you start carrying that thing again?† â€Å"Right after you said the v-word out loud at Sacred Heart.† â€Å"It won't stop them, you know.† â€Å"It makes me feel better. You want to hold it while I pry the door?† â€Å"If there's a-one of them-in there, they'll be dormant or whatever you call it. It's daytime, they can't attack.† â€Å"Yeah, well, just in case they didn't get the memo.† â€Å"I got it.† Rivera fit the crowbar in the door jamb and threw his weight against it. On the third push, something snapped and the door scraped open an inch. Bummer and Lazarus were up instantly, with their noses in the gap. Rivera looked back at Cavuto, who nodded, and Rivera pulled the door open and stepped away. A pile of shelving and junk blocked the doorway, but Bummer and Lazarus were able to thread their way through it and were in the room, barking in frantic, desperate yelps. Through a gap in the junk, Rivera played the beam of his flashlight around the small storeroom, over barrels, shelving, and piles of dusty clothing. â€Å"Clear,† he said. Cavuto joined him in the doorway. â€Å"Clear, my ass.† The big cop kicked his way through the barricade, holding his flashlight high in one hand and the Desert Eagle trained on a row of barrels on the right side of the room, where Bummer and Lazarus were currently indulging a hurricane-level doggie freakout. Rivera followed his partner into the room, then approached the barrels while Cavuto covered him. Beyond the barking, he heard a faint metal tapping coming from one of the barrels. The barrel was upside-down and had held some kind of solid, the label said something about water-filtering mineral. It was sitting on its lid, which was only partially crimped on. â€Å"Something's in there.† â€Å"Plug your ears,† said Cavuto, cocking the hammer on the Desert Eagle, and aiming for the center of the barrel. â€Å"Are you high? You can't fire that thing in here.† â€Å"Well there's can't and there's shouldn't. I probably shouldn't fire it.† â€Å"Cover me, I'm pushing it over.† Before Cavuto could answer Rivera grabbed the edge of the barrel and shoved with all his might. It was heavy, and fell hard. Bummer and Lazarus rocketed around to the exposed lid and were pawing at it. â€Å"Ready?† said Rivera. â€Å"Go,† said Cavuto. Rivera kicked the edge of the lid and it clanked off, then landed with a dull thud in the thick dust on the floor. Bummer rocketed inside while Lazarus frisked back and forth outside. Rivera drew his weapon and moved to where he could look into the barrel. He was met first by a gray storm of hair, then two crystal blue eyes set in a wide, weathered face. â€Å"Well that was unpleasant,† said the Emperor, around the sloppy bath of dog spit he was receiving from Bummer. â€Å"I'll bet,† said Rivera, lowering his weapon. â€Å"I may require some assistance extricating myself from this container.† â€Å"We can do that,† said Cavuto. Cavuto was fighting back a very bad case of the empathy willies, imagining himself spending a night, maybe longer, upside-down, shoved inside a barrel. He and the Emperor were about the same size. â€Å"You in pain?† â€Å"Oh no, thank you, I lost the feeling in my arms and legs quite some time ago.† â€Å"I'm guessing you didn't get in there on your own, did you?† said Rivera. â€Å"No, this was not my doing,† said the Emperor. â€Å"I was roughly handled, but it appears to have saved my life. There wasn't enough room in the barrel for any of them to become solid. There were hundreds of the fiends around me. But you saw them as you came in, I'm sure.† Rivera shook his head. â€Å"You mean the cats? No, there are tracks everywhere, but the place is empty.† â€Å"Well that's not good,† said the Emperor. â€Å"No, it's not.† Rivera was distracted. He'd been playing his flashlight beam around the room, looking for something to help them get the Emperor out of the barrel. He stopped the beam on a spot by the shelves where the dust hadn't been stirred by their rescue efforts. There, as clearly as if it had been made in plaster of Paris to send home for Mother's Day, was a single human footprint. â€Å"That's not good at all,† he said. From outside the window Marvin barked three times quickly, which Rivera thought was a warning, but translated from dog to: â€Å"Hey, can I get a friggin' biscuit out here, or what?†