Physiology of Aging Essay Example for Free

Physiology of Aging Essay Aging is a process that all humans must go through, and as life expectancy increases it becomes more important to understand the intimate details to normal aging process. Maintaining health is very important to this process, the older a person becomes the more medical services is needed. Since aging is a process that begins when you are conceived and continues for as long as we live out life span, our body reflects genetic components and environmental experience. So in a genetic way our bodies has the capacity to adapt and repair as well as collect damages from disease process. In this society, we now think of 65 to 74 years old as â€Å"young old†, 75 to 84 as â€Å"middle old† and 84 plus, as â€Å" old old†. With the our age advancing all of our body’s systems eventually reduce to a slow rate while everyone’s aging experience is different, there are some generalizations that can be seen in each of the body’s systems. Skin, the primary function of the skin is to protect the organism from the environment. But as we age our skin looses it is thickness by about 20 percent. The skin becomes thin and fragile and can no longer retain internal heat. For the Musculoskeletal, muscle mass is a primary source of metabolic heat. When muscles contract, heat will generate. The heat that the muscle puts out maintains body temperature, to require normal body function. Around the third decade of person’s life span, the muscle tissue reduces in size, elasticity and strength. As a result the body gets older and muscular activity becomes less takes more to complete a task. As for the respiratory function the lungs lose elastic recoil in the lung tissues. These changes can reduce the efficiency of gas exchange and lake hard to exercise. The cardiovascular function usually shows a slowdown in the autonomic nervous system, but is usually good enough to allow moderate physical activity, throughout their lives. As for the metabolism and Endocrine with old age comes the reduction in hormone production. This reduction affects the metabolism, water, electrolyte, carbohydrate, protein, lipid and vitamins disorder is common with the aging process. Like other systems, the nervous system also changes with age. There is loss of neurons and in the spinal cord and hearing, slight, and touch is reduces depression can easily be the result of this. All and all-elderly people are at a disadvantage when it comes to generating metabolic heat. They have less muscle structure. And their skin provides less protection from heat loss. They have impaired neurotransmissions that then make them less active. This is life and its aging process, which need to keep healthy and take it â€Å"one day at a time†.

BigBrother Big Sister Essay -- essays research papers

The main two types of mentoring are natural mentoring and planned mentoring. Natural mentoring occurs through friendship, collegiality, teaching, coaching, and counseling that is formed from un-constructed planning (Newman, 1990, p. 41). In contrast, planned mentoring occurs through structured programs in which mentors and participants are selected and matched through formal processes (Newman, 1990, p. 43). There are many different ways to describe mentoring, but they all boil down to one thing: a positive, supportive relationship between a young person and a caring adult. The most compelling data that we have shows the change in our American family structure. Day there are alarming number of children with mental disorders and children being raised in single parent homes has increased. In both areas it is shown that we need more preventive care (Petersmeyer 1989). Other statistics are equally troubling: each day in the United States, 3,600 students drop out of high school, and 2,700 unwed teenage girls get pregnant (Petersmeyer 1989). As a society we have a responsibility to our youth to help them become strong adults. My grandmother was always telling me that it takes more then the immediate family to raise a child well, if a child is to be rear well it takes a whole community contribution. This paper is a comparison of two agencies, Big Brother Big Sisters of America and Compeer. Big Brother Big Sister of America focuses on youth that are from single parent homes. Compeer focus is on children with a mental disorder. The reason why I have chosen these agencies are to show how the success of both and how each is similar to each other but also how each agency focuses on a different area. I do believe that it shows as a member of society and being a mentor we can make a difference in our youth today and our future leaders of tomorrow. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was started over ninety years ago. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) agencies have provided supportive, one-to-one relationships between adult volunteers and youth living in single-parent homes. Today, BBBSA provides about 75,000 young people with one-to-one supports (Public /Private Ventures, 1995a). In a presentation of the BBBS services, Public/Private Ventures (1995a:4) stated the following: Volunteer screening is a must and is a very strict procedu... ...ntaged High School Students. New York: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, 1990. ERIC Number ED 325598. Flaxman, E. Evaluating Mentoring Programs. New York: Institute for Urban and Minority Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1992. Haensly, Patricia A., and James L. Parsons. (1993) â€Å"Creative, Intellectual, and Psychological Development Through Mentorship: Relationships and Stages.† Youth and Society. 25(2), 202-221. Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). (1993). Springfield, MA: Merriam Webster. Newman, Michael. Beginning a Mentoring Program. Pittsburgh, PA: PLUS (Project Literacy U.S.), 1990, pp. 34-43. Petersmeyer, C.G. "Assessing the Need" in M. Newman, Beginning a Mentoring Program. Pittsburgh, PA: One Plus One, 1989, pp. 5-25. Public /Private Ventures. (1995a) Grossman, Jean Baldwin and Joseph P. Tierney. Making a Difference. September 2000. Philadelphia. Public /Private Ventures. (1995b) Morrow, Kristine and Melanie Styles. Building Relationships with Youth in Program Settings. May 1995. Philadelphia.

We The People

â€Å"We the People†¦ † Marked the opening of the country of America. These three words are the first three words written on the constitution which is known to be the framework of which this country is run. A country that gives all the promises of â€Å"liberty†, â€Å"justice†, â€Å"property†, and â€Å"life† through this document. This Is a document that has said they will give all in a secular manner. All matters that involve religion will not govern the country.If this said to be true, than certain practices such as Insuring Justice, does not come into agreement with their secular statement. This does not account for all forms of Insuring Justice but only for parts. The classification of crime Is divided Into two parts, the misdemeanors and the felony, Misdemeanors are punished with the use of temporary Isolation from society gall), mandatory aiding of the society (community services or reprimanding the Individual from the liberties of lif e.On the other side of crimes, a felony could also be punished using any of the methods mentioned afore, but In the case where one's life or liberty has been harmed. The methods are taken to a level of punishment higher than that of a misdemeanors; â€Å"death or imprisonment in excess of one year† (Defenestration. Com). Sentencing a person convicted of a felony to death is legal in some states and illegal in others.The death penalty is decided for those who commit crimes such as â€Å"First-degree murder with special circumstances; sabotage; train wrecking causing death; treason; perjury causing execution of an innocent person; fatal assault by a prisoner serving a life sentence† in some state or in the case of most states as long as en has committed capital murder with a certain number of aggravating circumstances. Some states have abolished the death penalty while others are in pending state where advocates of abolishing this form of punishment state that it is â₠¬Å"too costly and time consuming† (Death Penalty Information center).The removal of the death penalty is not an argument of whether or not it is moral or constitutional, but if is financially efficient. The death penalty is service of Justice in which the problem that has harmed not only those involved directly but the community as a hole is removed. The only goal that has been reached by this conclusion Is that the problem is no longer evident. Has Justice really been served to the one that has been deceased? Using the bases of the Constitution to run this country on the subject of legality, religion is not involved but the factual evidence of science would.Scientifically speaking, after the human passes away, the human body decomposes underground (â€Å"What Happens to Our Body After Death†) and this would leave the true victim and the defendant on the same level. Neither would suffer more than the other since both are no longer living, the only ones that would gain f rom the situation Is those who are alive. If the law of the land promises all what they were given from birth, this Is a form of justice that will not make the mark. The law should stick to that which it has promised not only benefiting those who are alive but those who left as well.Knowing what the one that has left is impossible but that person should not be made of equal to the one that has caused the misfortune. The correctness is punishment of the written. The Constitution is a secular document free of religious attribution since â€Å"the U. S. Government derives from people, as it clearly states in the preamble: â€Å"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union†¦. â€Å"† (Walker, â€Å"The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense founded on the Christian religion†). Works Cited â€Å"Crimes Punishable by the Death Penalty. † Death Penalty Information Center. We The People â€Å"We the People†¦ † Marked the opening of the country of America. These three words are the first three words written on the constitution which is known to be the framework of which this country is run. A country that gives all the promises of â€Å"liberty†, â€Å"justice†, â€Å"property†, and â€Å"life† through this document. This Is a document that has said they will give all in a secular manner. All matters that involve religion will not govern the country.If this said to be true, than certain practices such as Insuring Justice, does not come into agreement with their secular statement. This does not account for all forms of Insuring Justice but only for parts. The classification of crime Is divided Into two parts, the misdemeanors and the felony, Misdemeanors are punished with the use of temporary Isolation from society gall), mandatory aiding of the society (community services or reprimanding the Individual from the liberties of lif e.On the other side of crimes, a felony could also be punished using any of the methods mentioned afore, but In the case where one's life or liberty has been harmed. The methods are taken to a level of punishment higher than that of a misdemeanors; â€Å"death or imprisonment in excess of one year† (Defenestration. Com). Sentencing a person convicted of a felony to death is legal in some states and illegal in others.The death penalty is decided for those who commit crimes such as â€Å"First-degree murder with special circumstances; sabotage; train wrecking causing death; treason; perjury causing execution of an innocent person; fatal assault by a prisoner serving a life sentence† in some state or in the case of most states as long as en has committed capital murder with a certain number of aggravating circumstances. Some states have abolished the death penalty while others are in pending state where advocates of abolishing this form of punishment state that it is â₠¬Å"too costly and time consuming† (Death Penalty Information center).The removal of the death penalty is not an argument of whether or not it is moral or constitutional, but if is financially efficient. The death penalty is service of Justice in which the problem that has harmed not only those involved directly but the community as a hole is removed. The only goal that has been reached by this conclusion Is that the problem is no longer evident. Has Justice really been served to the one that has been deceased? Using the bases of the Constitution to run this country on the subject of legality, religion is not involved but the factual evidence of science would.Scientifically speaking, after the human passes away, the human body decomposes underground (â€Å"What Happens to Our Body After Death†) and this would leave the true victim and the defendant on the same level. Neither would suffer more than the other since both are no longer living, the only ones that would gain f rom the situation Is those who are alive. If the law of the land promises all what they were given from birth, this Is a form of justice that will not make the mark. The law should stick to that which it has promised not only benefiting those who are alive but those who left as well.Knowing what the one that has left is impossible but that person should not be made of equal to the one that has caused the misfortune. The correctness is punishment of the written. The Constitution is a secular document free of religious attribution since â€Å"the U. S. Government derives from people, as it clearly states in the preamble: â€Å"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union†¦. â€Å"† (Walker, â€Å"The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense founded on the Christian religion†). Works Cited â€Å"Crimes Punishable by the Death Penalty. † Death Penalty Information Center.

Venomous Sea Snake Facts (Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae)

Sea snakes include 60 species of marine snakes from the cobra family (Elapidae). These reptiles fall into two groups: true sea snakes (subfamily Hydrophiinae) and sea kraits (subfamily Laticaudinae). The true sea snakes are most closely related to Australian cobras, while kraits are related to Asian cobras. Like their terrestrial relatives, sea snakes are highly venomous. Unlike terrestrial cobras, most sea snakes are not aggressive (with exceptions), have small fangs, and avoid delivering venom when they bite. While similar to cobras in many respects, sea snakes are fascinating, unique creatures, perfectly adapted to life in the sea. Fast Facts: Venomous Sea Snake Scientific Name: Subfamilies Hydrophiinae and LaticaudinaeCommon Names: Sea snake, coral reef snakeBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 3-5 feetWeight: 1.7-2.9 poundsLifespan: Estimated 10 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Coastal Indian and Pacific OceanPopulation: UnknownConservation Status: Most species are Least Concern Description Yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis platurus), illustrating the body shape of a true sea snake. Nastasic / Getty Images Aside from analyzing its DNA, the best way to identify a sea snake is by its tail. The two types of sea snakes have very different appearances because they have evolved to live different aquatic lives. The true sea snakes have flattened, ribbon-like bodies, with oarlike tails. Their nostrils are on top of their snouts, making it easier for them to breathe when they surface. They have small body scales and may lack belly scales entirely. True sea snake adults range from 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 5 feet) in length, although a length of 3 meters is possible. These snakes crawl awkwardly on land and may become aggressive, although they cannot coil to strike. You can find both true sea snakes and kraits in the sea, but only sea kraits crawl efficiently on land. A sea krait has a flattened tail, but it has a cylindrical body, lateral nostrils, and enlarged belly scales like a terrestrial snake. A typical krait color pattern is black alternating with bands of white, blue, or gray. Sea kraits are somewhat shorter than true sea snakes. An average adult krait is about 1 meter in length, although some specimens reach 1.5 meters. Habitat and Distribution Sea snakes are found throughout the coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. They do not occur in the Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean, or Caribbean Sea. Most sea snakes live in shallow water less than 30 meters (100 feet) deep because they need to surface to breathe, yet must seek their prey near the sea floor. However, the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus) may be found in the open ocean. The so-called California sea snake is Pelamis platurus. Pelamis, like other sea snakes, cannot live in cool water. Below a certain temperature, the snake is unable to digest food. Snakes may be found washed up on shores in the temperature zone, typically driven by storms. However, they call the tropics and subtropics their home.   The so-called California sea snake is actually the yellow-bellied sea snake. Auscape / UIG / Getty Images Diet and Behavior The true sea snakes are predators that eat small fish, fish eggs, and young octopuses. True sea snakes may be active during the day or at night. Sea kraits are nocturnal feeders that prefer to feed on eels, supplementing their diet with crabs, squid, and fish. While they have not been observed feeding on land, kraits return to it to digest prey. Some sea snakes host the sea snake barnacle (Platylepas ophiophila), which hitches a ride to catch food. Sea snakes (kraits) may also host parasitic ticks. Sea snakes are preyed upon by eels, sharks, large fish, sea eagles, and crocodiles. Should you find yourself stranded at sea, you can eat sea snakes (just avoid getting bitten). You can tell this is a krait because it has nostrils on either side of its snout. Todd Winner/Stocktrek Images / Getty Images Like other snakes, sea snakes need to breathe air. While kraits surface for air regularly, true sea snakes can remain submerged for around 8 hours. These snakes can breathe through their skin, absorbing up to 33 percent of needed oxygen and expelling up to 90 percent of waste carbon dioxide. The left lung of a true sea snake is enlarged, running much of its body length. The lung affects the animals buoyancy and buys it time underwater. The nostrils of a true sea snake close when the animal is underwater. While they live in the oceans, sea snakes cannot extract fresh water from the saline sea. Kraits may drink water from land or the sea surface. True sea snakes must wait for rain so they may drink the relatively fresh water floating on the seas surface. Sea snakes can die of thirst. Reproduction and Offspring Olive sea snake two days old, Reef HQ Aquarium, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Auscape / UIG / Getty Images The true sea snakes may be oviparous (lay eggs) or ovoviviparous (live birth from fertilized eggs held within the females body). The mating behavior of the reptiles is unknown, but it may be linked to the occasional schooling of large numbers of snakes. The average clutch size is 3 to 4 young, but as many as 34 young may be born. Snakes born in the water may be nearly as large as adults. The genus Laticauda is the only oviparous group of true sea snakes. These snakes lay their eggs on land. All sea kraits mate on land and lay their eggs (oviparous) in rock crevices and caves on shore. A female krait may deposit from 1 to 10 eggs before returning to the water. Sea Snake Senses Olive sea snake, Hydrophiidae, Pacific ocean, Papua New Guinea. Reinhard Dirscherl / Getty Images Like other snakes, sea snakes flick their tongues to gain chemical and thermal information about their environment. Sea snake tongues are shorter than those of regular snakes because its easier to taste molecules in water than in air. Sea snakes ingest salt with prey, so the animal has special sublingual glands under its tongue that allow it to remove excess salt from its blood and expel it with a tongue flick. Scientists dont know much about sea snake vision, but it appears to play a limited role in catching prey and selecting mates. Sea snakes have special mechanoreceptors that help them sense vibration and movement. Some snakes respond to pheromones to identify mates. At least one sea snake, the olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis), has photoreceptors in its tail that allow it to sense light. Sea snakes may be able to detect electromagnetic fields and pressure, but the cells responsible for these senses have yet to be identified. Sea Snake Venom Sea snakes bear close observation, but may bite if threatened. Joe Dovala / Getty Images Most sea snakes are highly venomous. Some are even more venomous than cobras! The venom is a deadly mixture of neurotoxins and myotoxins. However, humans rarely get bitten, and when they do, the snakes rarely deliver venom. Even when envenomation (venom injection) does occur, the bite may be painless and initially produce no symptoms. Its common for some of the snakes small teeth to remain in the wound. Symptoms of sea snake poisoning occur within 30 minutes to several hours. They include headache, stiffness, and muscle pain throughout the body. Thirst, sweating, vomiting, and a thick-feeling tongue may result. Rhadomyolisis (muscle degradation) and paralysis ensue. Death occurs if the muscles involved in swallowing and respiration are affected. Because bites are so rare, antivenin is next to impossible to obtain. In Australia, a specific sea snake antivenin exists, plus the antivenin for the Ausatralian tiger snake may be used as a substitute. Elsewhere, youre pretty much out of luck. The snakes are not aggressive unless they or their nest are threatened, but its best to leave them alone. The same caution should be applied to snakes washed up on beaches. Snakes may play dead as a defense mechanism. Even a dead or decapitated snake may bite via reflex. Conservation Status Habitat destruction and over-fishing are threats to sea snake survival. Hal Beral / Getty Images Sea snakes, as a whole, are not endangered. However, there are some species on the IUCN Red List. Laticauda crockeri is vulnerable, Aipysurus fuscus is endangered, and Aipysurus foliosquama (leaf-scaled sea snake) and Aipysurus apraefrontalis (short-nose sea snake) are critically endangered. Sea snakes are difficult to keep in captivity, due to their specialized diets and habitat requirements. They need to be housed in rounded tanks to avoid damaging themselves on corners. Some need to be able to exit the water. Pelamis platurus accepts goldfish as food and can survive captivity. Animals That Resemble Sea Snakes Garden eels look a bit like snakes. Mark Newman / Getty Images There are several animals that resemble sea snakes. Some are relatively harmless, while others are venomous and more aggressive than their aquatic cousins. Eels are often mistaken for sea snakes because they live in the water,  have a serpentine appearance, and breathe air. Some species of eels can give a nasty bite. A few are poisonous. Some species can deliver an electric shock. The sea snakes cousin is the cobra. Cobras are excellent swimmers that can deliver a deadly bite. While they are most often found swimming in freshwater, they are at ease in coastal saltwater, too. Other snakes, both on land and water, may be confused with sea snakes. While the true sea snakes may be recognized by their flattened bodies and oar-shaped tails, the only visible trait distinguishing sea kraits from other snakes is a somewhat flattened tail. Sources Coborn, John.  The Atlas of Snakes of the World. New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications, inc. 1991.Cogger, Hal.  Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney, NSW: Reed New Holland. p.  722, 2000.Motani, Ryosuke. The Evolution of Marine Reptiles.  Evo Edu Outreach.  2: 224–235, May, 2009.Mehrtens J M. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp., 1987