Impact of Social Relationships on Health

Impact of Social Relationships on Health There is considerable evidence that social relationships can influence health, but only limited evidence on the health effects of the personality characteristics that are thought to mold peoples social lives. We asked whether sociability predicts resistance to infectious disease and whether this relationship is attributable to the quality and quantity of social interactions and relationships. Three hundred thirty-four volunteers completed questionnaires assessing their sociability, social networks, and social supports, and six evening interviews assessing daily interactions. They were subsequently exposed to a virus that causes a common cold and monitored to see who developed verifiable illness. Increased sociability was associated in a linear fashion with a decreased probability of developing a cold. Although sociability was associated with more and higher-quality social interactions, it predicted disease susceptibility independently of these variables. The association between socia bility and disease was also independent of baseline immunity (virus-specific antibody), demographics, emotional styles, stress hormones, and health practices. Along with human population, the inequality in the distribution of global income has grown in recent decades (7). In 1992, 15% of people in the worlds richest countries enjoyed 79% of the worlds income (8). In every continent, in giant city systems, people increasingly come into direct contact with others who vary in culture, language, religion, values, ethnicity, and socially defined race and who share the same space for social, political, and economic activities (9). The resulting frictions are evident in all parts of the world. Ecologists and population biologists have long used the logistic model of population dynamics as a way to understand the cause and effect relationship between carrying capacity and population size (Wilson Bossert, 1971; Gotelli, 1998). As Malthus (Petersen, 1979) and Darwin (1859) understood, in the absence of limitations on resources, i.e., space and food, populations will grow exponentially. However, if resources are limited, the growth rate begins to decelerate well below the maximum population size that the environmental resources can support. Deceleration continues until a more or less equilibrium level is reached. This equilibrium occurs near the asymptote of environmental limits. When plotted, the resultant growth takes the form of a sigmoidal or S-shaped curve. Typically, in the laboratory and field. The second evolution refers to the industrial revolution, which took place mainly in the 18th century alongside the global agricultural revolution (Cohen, 1995). The third evolution is the advancement of public health and medicine which began in 1945. This led to a stark rise in the population as the development of vaccines and antibiotics increased life expectancy in the countries with access to them (Butler, 2004). The final evolution, per Cohen (1995), is the fertility evolution which began in the 18th century and has still not emerged in some developing countries (Cohen, 1995). Contraception and education for women have contributed to a fall in fertility rates among more developed countries (Butler, 2004). The end of the Second World War marked a fifth turning point in human population growth (Hibbard et al., 2006). No one had ever lived through a doubling of the population until after the Second World War and now, some of us have lived through a tripling of the population (Cohen, 2003). Today, the human population is distributed unevenly around the globe; with 60 percent residing in Asia, 16 percent in Africa, 10 percent in Europe, 9 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean and the remainder living in North America and Oceania (Cohen, 1995). Not only are we unevenly distributed, but so are our resources. In 2015, 795 million people do not have enough to eat (FAO, 2015). Simmons (2000) describes this phenomenon as a logistical distribution problem. We produce plenty of food on Earth, enough to feed everyone, yet millions starve to death every year (Simmons, 2000). Global life expectancy is expected to increase to 83 years by 2095 and by then, the human population will have at least doubled (UNDP, 2015). This will put further stress on our resources. If we struggle to feed everyone today, we will certainly struggle to feed a longer-living, doubled population in the future (UNEP-GEAS, 2012). How has carrying capacity been estimated? Many concepts have been used to try and decipher a limit to the human population. These include optimum population, carrying capacity and limits to growth (Van den Bergh Rietveld, 2004). What these concepts have in common is that they all acknowledge the basic requirements for a human being to survive; water, land, food and other resources from nature (Van den Bergh Rietveld, 2004). These resources have a limit and so it follows that the human population also has a limit (Van den Bergh Rietveld, 2004). Thomas Malthus theory about human population growth provided the basis for the concept of carrying capacity in relation to humans (Seidl Tisdell, 1999). The infamous theory was put forward in 1798. Malthus proposed that it was in built into the population curve for the population to run out of resources, causing a decline in the population by positive checks (e.g. disease, famine, war) or by preventative checks (e.g. marriage restrictions) (Butler, 2004). Malthus theory, though flawed, became so influential partly due to the attitude of Victorian England in the 18th century (Seidl Tisdell, 1999). During this time, disease and poverty was rampant among the lower classes as they moved into cities (Seidl Tisdell, 1999). The concept may have been relevant at Malthus time, but the human population has moved far beyond these limits now (Seidl Tisdell, 1999). Verhulst (1838) epitomized Malthus theory through the omnipresent logistic equation (Figure 2) (Lima Berrymand, 2011).

Mind Over Matter Essay -- essays research papers

Mind over Matter Out of the myriad of religions that encompass the earth, one of the least understood is Buddhism. In the pursuit of a higher plane of existence, a Buddhist monk will renounce his worldly secular life, instead embracing a life of meditation and study. While attempting to achieve enlightenment, and therefore nirvana, a Buddhist must first come to eradicate his sense of self, effectively destroying his ego. By doing this, "durkha," (pain and suffering), end and one can be at peace and harmony with the world and all who reside in it. A practice that helps monks achieve this enlightened state is meditation. By clearing the mind of mundane clutter and distractions, a monk can become in tune with his inner being and body, which results in a greater understanding of the barriers that need to collapse before nirvana can be achieved. This practice of meditation was the Buddhist practice that I participated in, with the intent on a greater understanding of what being a Buddhist means. This exercise taught me the inherent difficulty in calming the mind, along with the negative effects outside influences like other people have on the practice. The first place I attempted to meditate was outside my dorm next to a tree. This proved to be a comfortable place, yet full of distractions. I have meditated before in my martial arts classes, yet it was difficult calming my mind. While concentrating on my breathing, I was easily distracted by outside occurrences such as leaves falling and people walking by. The more I attempted to shut out the outside world, the more my mind focused on the little things around me. I gained immediate appreciation of the Buddhist monk's ability to shirk the outside world and focus on his inner self. When I had meditated before in my dojo, it was as a group and in silence. This greatly helped the exercise and I can see why this is the modus operandi at most temples. The second place I attempted to meditate was in the basement of Reid Hall. I hoped that the familiar surroundings would calm the mind easier and allow me to concentrate on clearing my mind. While not an ideal setting, it was better than outside. As I concentrated on my breathing and felt myself unwind, I was able to tune into the sound... ...lp guide and direct the learning of the monks. They offer subtle forms of encouragement, often disguised in hardship, that aid the monks in their struggle toward understanding. This is a boon, allowing enlightenment to occur quicker than in the solitary meditation I experienced. A Buddhist way of life is a lot harder than one may suspect, for while they are released from the worries of everyday life, the mental tasks assigned to them are far greater than worrying about what to cook for dinner tonight or paying one's electricity bill. Furthermore, a Buddhist lifestyle is not very conducive to an American lifestyle. I give a lot of credit to the founders of the Zen Mountain Center in San Francisco, creating a microcosm which can support the solitude necessary for personal growth is a daunting task. From my limited venture into the life of a Buddhist, I learned that controlling one's mind and then harnessing this power to delve out truths and desires from oneself is a feat almost inconceivable by the normal mind. Those who accomplish this task are truly Buddha's, master's of the world and therefore outside the grasp of time, free at last.

Environmental Laws Essay

The constant North South divide over enforcement of international environmental law plagues the operationalisation of many international treaties. Most developing countries are caught in a cleft stick. Whilst understanding the need for environmental action, they also require increasing industrial activity for achieving economic growth and poverty alleviation objectives, activities that entail definite enhancements in greenhouse emission. They are additionally constrained by their lack of resources and do not wish to divert what is available from developmental needs. Many developing countries also suffer from lack of necessary infrastructure and underdeveloped legal and judicial systems to be able to carry out treaty obligations in an organised and systemic manner. (Bell & Russell, 2002) Whilst many international agreements are worded to ensure their legal binding on signatory nations, these treaties do not become enforceable within a country until their enactment into domestic law is complete. Australia, for example, has signed on the Montreal Protocol and the World Heritage Convention and carried out appropriate domestic legislation. Apart from taking these legislative measures, the nation has enacted several laws for environmental regulation. (Lyster, 2004) The Environment protection and Biodiversity Act, 1999, is a key legislation that gives effect to the country’s international law obligations. Numerous other enactments like the amended Fisheries Management Act, 1991, The Maritime Legislation Amendment (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act, 2006, the Protection of the Sea (Harmful Anti-fouling Systems) Act 2006 also work towards enhancing environmental protection and bringing the domestic legal system in line with its international treaty obligations. (Australian Legal Information Institute, 2007) Domestic enactment of new laws, (as well as amendment of existing laws) is necessary because it makes the country’s commitment towards international environmental laws concrete and their provisions enforceable. In the absence of specific domestic legislation little action can be taken against environmental offenders and controlling environmental degradation becomes well nigh impossible. Compared to the Australian approach, which involves legal enactment and resolute enforcement of international law obligations, the actions adopted by a developing country like Bangladesh appear to be significantly inadequate. The country, (which became independent only in 1971), drafted a broad ranging environmental policy in 1991 but is still to enact any of its major features into law even though sixteen years have passed since. Factors like internal strife, lack of developed legal systems, and scarce resources, have prevented the country from moving forward on environmental action. Whilst economies like India and South Africa have been able to make significant progress on the environmental front, many developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America share Bangladesh’s problems and are thus unable or unwilling to abide by international environmental law obligations. (Mastny & French, 2002) 3. Conclusion The inherent weaknesses in rules of international diplomacy render many environmental treaties practically pointless. Seeing the abject non implementation of most environmental treaties by developing nations, international organisations are seeking new ways to toughen these agreements. While most such laws impose few penalties, peer pressure is emerging as a potent tool for this purpose. Some treaties also ask nations to report on the progress of promises made at the time of agreement. Beyond persuasion and embarrassment, trade incentives also help in securing compliance. Members of the Montreal Protocol, for example, are forbidden to purchase CFCs or products containing them from nations that have not agreed to the treaty, a condition that has led many nations to join the treaty and take action to reduce ozone depletion. (Bell & Russell, 2002) International agencies, sympathetic nations and NGOs can encourage soft laws through funding decisions and public campaigns. Soft laws tend to establish certain expectations-or create an international mindset-that can then form the basis for more permanent agreements. A large part of the inability of developing nations to act on accord occurs because of their poverty and constrained resources. Redressing this imbalance will depend largely on providing financial and technical assistance to developing nations-and ensuring that funds are well spent. References ASEAN Ministers Okay Agreement on Environmental Laws. (2006, November 12). Manila Bulletin, p. NA. Australian Legal Information Institute, 2007, Retrieved September 25, 2007 from www. austlii. edu. au Barrett, S. (2005). Environment and Statecraft: The Strategy of Environmental Treaty-Making. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

William Shakespeare s Prospero, Miranda s Father And...

Every historic event can be boiled down to a conflict between those who have power and those who do not. Power can be defined as whomever has the upper hand in a situation, or as something as simple as a parent-child relationship. We often think of those who hold power as great world leaders, politicians with unchecked political and social aptitude, casting aside the one who records this display of prowess and skill. The writer of any great tale has an unprecedented amount of power that many tend to overlook. For power doesn’t only lie in the hands that hold it, but the pen of the one who reports it. The character who undoubtedly holds the most power in the play is Prospero, Miranda’s father and former Duke of Milan. Prospero begins the play by revealing that he was the reason the ship perished, due to a storm made by his servant, Ariel. Not only does Prospero possess great magical powers, he also has swiftly decided the fate of every soul on board the ship, although still keeping them alive, he nonetheless delays their safe returns home at the very least. After elaborating on his motives behind orchestrating the shipwreck, he promptly puts Miranda to sleep. Prospero has revealed that he wishes to exact his revenge on his brother and company who overthrew him as the Duke of Milan twelve years ago and caused him to resettle on the island. Prospero’s treatment of his servant Ariel is another prime example of his misuse of his power. Not only does he have Ariel binded toShow MoreRelatedThe New World s Tempest3495 Words   |  14 PagesNaples to the prince. Prospero, the former Duke of Milan uses his sorcery to conjure the very storm that bombards the nobles in order to bring them to the island. Frey interjects, â€Å"In 1808, Edmond Malone argued that Shakespeare derived the title and some of the play’s incidents from accounts of a storm and shipwreck experienced by Sir Thomas Gates and other Jamestown colonists on the Bermuda islands in 1609† (Frey 29).The play entails the romance of Ferdinand, Alonso’s son and Miranda, Prospero’s daughter;Read MoreLove And Marriage In Shakespeares The Tempest1681 Words   |  7 PagesLove and Marriage in The Tempest William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest (1610-11) includes two important themes: love and marriage. Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays love as a force that brings people together, but also as a thing that people take advantage of. Prospero is the main manipulator of love in this play. By using his daughter Miranda’s feelings and having her marry Ferdinand, he manages to strengthen his own political power. Also, most of the instances of love in this play areRead MoreReview Of Charlotte Bronte s Jane Eyre 10879 Words   |  44 Pagestuberculosis at Cowan Bridge. Bronte s brother, Patrick, became addicted to drugs and alcohol before he died. Similarities: She, along with her three sisters, was sent to the Clergy Daughters School at Cowan Bridge. Charlotte Bronte lost her mother when she was five years old, and was raised by her aunt. Jane rejected two offers of marriage, but took one later; Charlotte rejected four offers of marriage, but accepted one later as well. Bronte based Jane s physical features off her. They are both