Saturday, December 28, 2019

The Role of DPP-4 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

As the incidence of type 2 diabetes is steadily increasing, the demand for treatment options is increasing. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4) are a new class of oral anti-hyperglycemic medications that target the incretin system found in the gut. Evidence has shown that treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors has shown significant reductions in HbA1c and increased pancreatic ÃŽ ²-cell function without an increased risk of hypoglycemia. In this document, the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and incidence of adverse effects will be reviewed in an attempt to target a patient population that would benefit the most from treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors. The role of DPP-4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes mellitus management INTRODUCTION Type 2†¦show more content†¦In a study conducted by Herman et al in 2005, single oral doses of 1.5 mg to 600 mg were evaluated based on pharmacologic properties. Results of the study showed that plasma levels of sitagliptan are increased in relation to the dose administered. The half-life of sitagliptan ranges from 8-14 hours and peak levels are reached between 1-6 hours, also in a dose-dependent fashion. The percentage of inhibition of plasma DPP-4 levels was also increased with higher doses; however, 80% or more inhibition of DPP-4 was observed over a 24 hour period starting with a sitagliptan dose of 100 mg taken once daily. Additionally, the results of this study demonstrated that sitagliptan can be taken without regard to food.7 A summary of the results of the study can be found in Table 1. Sitagliptan is well-absorbed when taken orally and is primarily excreted through the renal system where approximately 80% remains unchanged in the urine.7,8 Therefore, circulating l evels of sitagliptan are increased in patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency.7,8 The FDA has recommended that all patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency who are considering starting sitagliptan should have a full assessment of renal function before starting the drug.9 Only minor increases in plasma drug levels8 and no increase in liver enzymes9 have been recognized in clinical trials of type 2 diabetic patientsShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Diabetes And The Treatment Of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus921 Words   |  4 PagesReview Article Introduction: Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which body produces little to no insulin due to autoimmune destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas. Patient with Type 1 diabetes are mainly treated with subcutaneous insulin injection, along with dietary and lifestyle modification. Purpose of this article is to evaluate the role of DPP-4 inhibitors in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes mellitus. DPP-4 inhibitors inhibit the degradationRead MoreInternational Conference On Harmonization Guidelines1612 Words   |  7 Pagesis available in Canada as Apo-Metformin but Vildagliptin (Glavus) is not available in Canada and is needed to shipping from US under the Health Canada Regulations (Part C, Division 5). 1.1 Background Diabetes mellitus is a common diseases in the world and Canada is diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus has been starting to grow all over the world. It is anticipated that the incidence of this disease will be increased dramatically in the next decade. The main reasons of this event are obesity, increasingRead MoreClass V : Kmt 4 Inhibitors1876 Words   |  8 PagesCLASS V: DPP 4 INHIBITORS The DPP 4 inhibitors come in the class of incretin based therapies for type 2 diabetes. The incretin effect is generally blunted in type 2 diabetes patients.16 The two main incretin hormones responsible for blood glucose regulation are GLP-1 (glucagon like peptide-1) and GIP ( glucose dependent insulinotropic peptide). These two hormones are secreted when carbohydrates and fats are consumed and they result in increased glucose dependent insulin secretion or postprandialRead MoreThiazolidinedione Essay1010 Words   |  5 Pageseffect on cardiovascular system, its role in the management of T2DM is in danger. Based on the safety profile, several markets have withdrawn rosiglitazone in compare to pioglitazone, which has shown a beneficial cardiovascular profile [22]. Mainly, combination therapy with insulin and TZD causes heart failure. TZD has also been associated with bone fracture and bladder cancer in a several clinical trials [36]. DPP-4 Inhibitors Dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors do not cross the blood-brain barrierRead MoreDrugs For The Patient That Has Diabetes Mellitus919 Words   |  4 Pagesavailable drugs for the patient that has diabetes mellitus. In December 2012, it was reported that there are merely 26.9 % of people aged 65 and above living in the United States has been diagnosed with diabetes. Also, it is stated that there are about 13.7 % of American ages 45-64 and 2 million people ages 20 and older have the disease. There are two types of diabetes; Type 1 depends on controlling the blood glucose and an insulin doses while people with Type 2 can be controlled by diet and exerciseRead MoreDiabetes Mellitus ( Dm )1897 Words   |  8 PagesDiabetes mellitus (DM) exists in 29.1 million people, or 9.3% of the United States population, and of these 29.1 million people, 65% will die from a form of heart disease. DM adds incremental risk to the development or subsequent exacerbation of heart failure; this holds true even after adjustment of common risk factors such as ischemic heart disease and hypertension. Furthermore, the prevalence of heart failure in patients with DM is between 10% and 22%; this is four times higher than the generalRead MoreDiabetes Of Diabetes Mellitus ( Dm )1175 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. With symptoms including increased urination, thirst, and hunger, diabetes is mainly due to loss of insulin production in the pancreas or lack of response to insulin produced. As of 2015, nearly 415 million people worldwide have diabetes with the three main types being Type 1, Type 2, and gestational. 90% of all diabetes cases are Type 2 (T2D) which isRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Diabetes1390 Words   |  6 PagesFTVN036 Diabetes Mellitus Ms. Evelyn Sadsad August 21, 2015 As America’s 7th leading cause of death, Diabetes is steadily rising as a consequential result to the contagious sedentary lifestyle involving a very poor diet lacking in nutritional value and an increase in sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Many contributing risk factors are prevalent and attribute to the expanding number of the population who acquire diabetes. Signs and symptoms of Type I and Type II diabetes canRead MoreThe Best Practices, Guidelines, And Clinical Pathways For Management Of Diabetes1442 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction This essay will inform readers about the best practices, published guidelines, and clinical pathways for management of diabetes. Diabetes is a serious issue that affects millions of people. Unrecognized pre diabetes is also a growing concern that is increasing dramatically. Diabetes is not diagnosed for most homeless people, because they do not do have a yearly physical check-up. Published guidelines are useful to patients and practitioners because they focus on the improvement of careRead More Diabetes Mellitus Essay examples1745 Words   |  7 PagesDiabetes mellitus (DM) or simply diabetes, is a chronic health condition in which the body either fails to produce the amount of insulin needed or it responds inadequately to the insulin secreted by the pancreas. The three primary types of diabetes are: Diabetes Type 1 and 2, and during some pregnancies, Gestational diabetes. The clichà © for all three types of diabetes is high glucose blood levels or hyperglycemia. The pathophysiol ogy of all types of diabetes mellitus is related to the hormone insulin

Friday, December 20, 2019

Is It Morally Sound To Create The Perfect Human Being...

Is it morally sound to create the perfect human being using genetic changing technology? Think about a time where a mother can go to the doctor when she is pregnant and the doctor explains to her that her baby has down syndrome, however for a certain price the medical team can go in and change the makeup of the DNA and the baby come out fine. Now think to a time where a mother can go into a doctor office and tell the doctor that she wants her baby to be 6’5† and the most athletic and smartest person in that babies school. Is the outcome of the first situation, worth the second option being available to everyone? This is an option that is coming in the near future, with the technology that is being invented in todays society. The idea of†¦show more content†¦The future of genetic enhancement is upon us, they already have the idea of sperm and egg donors, but there is another way to actually enhance babies to be exactly what the parents want them to be. It has bee n said that there may be a day where there is a computer, and you select the height you want your baby to be, the sex, how smart they are, and how athletic they are. The idea that there may be a day where people can do this is despicable. What parent would not want their son or daughter to be the top of their class, or a 5 star recruited athlete? The problem with this is that it would even out the playing field too much, every single kid would be this absolutely perfect human being with no flaws, and all the athletic abilty, and IQ anyone could ever want. One of the reasons it has taken so long to figure out how to change the genetics, is actually trying to find out what genes to figure out the pathways and make up of genes, 150 years to be exact (Kwok 229). By Roberta Kwok stating this, it shows that many peple have wanted to see this come into reality, if people have been working on uncovering it for 150 years. So there is no doubt people want this to be an option in the pregnancy process, however some people do not believe it would be right for it to beShow MoreRelatedCorporate Social Responsibility10163 Words   |  41 PagesCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY By Lori S. Mohr-Corrigan, For The Paper Store -  © October 1999 VISIT www.paperwriters.com/aftersale.htm -- for more information on using this paper properly! Because society is fundamentally based upon performance and profit, it is not unusual to find that it is necessary to impart a sense of corporate social responsibility with regard to contemporary commerce. The ethical approaches of purpose, principle and consequence are integral components of business social performance;Read MoreLas 432 Research Paper: Gmos20901 Words   |  84 PagesModified Organisms and the technology involved with it. Genetically Modified Organisms and its technology, although highly debated and a topic of discussion in recent years, has been around for decades. Within this report it details the history, and processes of this technology. A process that was once done naturally through nature and deliberate actions of farmers is now being taken to new levels with scientists in a controlled scientific environment. This innovative technology is not without its legalRead MoreOrganizational Behaviour Analysis28615 Words   |  115 PagesORGANISATIONAL ANALYSIS: Notes and essays for the workshop to be held on 15th - 16th Novemeber 2007 at The Marriot Hotel Slough Berkshire SL3 8PT Dr. Lesley Prince, C.Psychol., AFBPsS University of Birmingham November 2007  © Dr. Lesley Prince 2007. Organisational Analysis: Notes and Essays Page i Page ii Please do not attempt to eat these notes. CONTENTS Introduction to the Workshop Topics And Themes The Nature and Scope of Organisation Theory Levels of Analysis The MetaphoricalRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesdowden@csus.edu. iv Praise Comments on the earlier 1993 edition, published by Wadsworth Publishing Company, which is owned by Cengage Learning: There is a great deal of coherence. The chapters build on one another. The organization is sound and the author does a superior job of presenting the structure of arguments. David M. Adams, California State Polytechnic University These examples work quite well. Their diversity, literacy, ethnic sensitivity, and relevancy should attractRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesrelevant for understanding contemporary organizational dilemmas. The book engages in an imaginative way with a wealth of organizational concepts and theories as well as provides insightful examples from the practical world of organizations. The authors’ sound scholarship and transparent style of writing set the book apart, making it an ingenious read which invites reflexivity, criticalness and plurality of opinion from the audience. This is a book that will become a classic in organization studies. MihaelaRead MoreOverview of Hrm93778 Words   |  376 PagesHuman Resource Management (MGT501) VU MGT - 501 T his subject/course is designed to teach the basic principles of Human Resource Management (HRM) to diverse audience/students, including those who are studying this as a supporting subject for their bachelor degree program. This course is designed to provide you the foundations of HRM whether you intend to work in HRM or not, most of these elements will affect you at some point in your career. Either you will be working with some organizationsRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesUnderstanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management 577 Appendix A Research in Organizational Behavior Comprehensive Cases Indexes Glindex 637 663 616 623 Contents Preface xxii 1 1 Introduction Read MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pages mymanagementlab is an online assessment and preparation solution for courses in Principles of Management, Human Resources, Strategy, and Organizational Behavior that helps you actively study and prepare material for class. Chapter-by-chapter activities, including built-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Aztec Empire Essay Example For Students

Aztec Empire Essay The Aztec Empire was a Native American state that ruled much of what is now Mexico from about 1427 until 1521, when the empire was conquered by the Spaniards. The empire represented the highest point in the development of the rich Aztec civilization that had begun more than a century earlier. At the height of their power, the Aztec controlled a region stretching from the Valley of Mexico in central Mexico east to the Gulf of Mexico and south to Guatemala.The Aztec built great cities and developed a complex social, political, and religious structure. Their capital, Tenochitlan, was located on the site of present-day Mexico City. An elaborate city built on islands and marsh land, Tenochtitlan was possibly the largest city in the world at the time of the Spanish conquest. It featured a huge temple complex, a royal palace, and numerous canals.After the Spanish conquest, the empire of the Aztec was destroyed, but their civilization remained an important influence on the development of Mex ican culture. Many present-day Mexicans are descended from the Aztec, and more than 1 million Mexicans speak Nahuatl, the native Aztec language, as their primary language. In Mexico City, searches continue to uncover temple foundations, statues, jewelry, and other artifacts of the Aztec civilization.Aztec refers both to the people who founded the empire, who called themselves Mexica, or Tenochca, and, more generally, to all of the many other Nahuatl-speaking ethnic groups that lived in the Valley of Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest. The name Aztec is derived from Aztlan, the mythical homeland of the Mexica; according to tradition, Aztlan was located northwest of the Valley of Mexico, possibly in west Mexico. The name Mexico is derived from Mexica.Long before the rise of the Aztec, the Valley of Mexico was the center of a highly developed civilization. A fertile basin, the valley was located 7800 ft above sea level. In its center lay five interconnected lakes dotted with ma rshy islands. From about AD 100 to 650 the valley was dominated by the city of Teotihuacan, center of a powerful religious, economic, and political state.After the decline of Teotihuacan, the Toltec people migrated into central Mexico from the north and established a conquest state there. The Toltec civilization reached its height in the 10th and 11th centuries. In the 13th century wandering bands of Nahuatl-speaking warriors, often called Chichimec, invaded the valley. They took over Toltec cities, such as Atzcapotzalco, and founded new ones, such as Texcoco de Mora. The Chichimec combined their own cultural traditions with those of the Toltec to form the early Aztec civilization, whose social structure, economy, and arts would reach their height under the rule of the later empire.The group that eventually founded the Aztec Empire, the Mexica, migrated to the Valley of Mexico in the middle of the 13th century. As late arrivals, the Mexica, a hunter-gatherer people, were forced by o ther groups in the valley to take refuge on two islands near the western shore of Lake Texcoco (one of the five lakes in the area). The Mexica believed in a certain legend, which held that they would establish a great civilization in a marshy area, where they would first see a cactus growing out of a rock with an eagle perched on the cactus. After the Mexica arrived at the swampy site on the shore of Lake Texcoco, their priests proclaimed that they had seen the promised omen. The site turned out to be a strategic location, with abundant food supplies and waterways for transportation.The Mexica began farming for a living, and in 1325 they founded the city of Tenochtitlan on one of the lake islands. For the next 100 years they paid tribute to stronger neighboring groups, especially the Tepanec of the city-state of Azcapotzalco, whom they served as mercernaries.As the Mexica grew in number, they established superior military and civil organizations. Gradually, they revolted against the Tepanec and won control of some territory on the mainland. In about 1427 the Mexica of Tenochtitlan formed a triple alliance with the city-states of Texcoco and Tlacopan (now Tacuba). Under the Mexica ruler Itzcoatl, his successor Montezuma I, and the Texcocan ruler Netzahualcoyotl, the three states began a series of conquests. They eventually established an empire that extended from central Mexico to the Guatemalan border and included many different states and ethnic groups, who were forced to pay tribute to the alliance. Tenochtitlan became the dominant power within the alliance.Aztec society was highly structured, based on agriculture, and guided by a religion that pervaded every aspect of life. The Aztec worshipped gods that represented natural forces that were vital to their agricultural economy. Aztec cities were dominated by giant stone pyramids topped by temples where human sacrifices were dedicated to the gods. Aztec art was primarily an expression of religion, and even wa rfare, which increased the empires wealth and power, served the religious purpose of providing captives to be sacrificed.The basic unit of Aztec society was the calpulli, sometimes, at least for early Aztec history, thought of as a clan, or group of families who claimed descent from a common ancestor. Each calpulli regulated its own affairs, electing a council and officers to keep order, lead in war, dispense justice, and maintain records. Calpulli ran schools in which boys were taught citizenship, warfare, history, crafts, and religion. Each calpulli also had a temple, an armory to hold weapons, and a storehouse for goods and tribute that were distributed among its members. Within each calpulli, land was divided among the heads of families according to their needs. Each family had a right to use the land but owned only the goods that it produced.In Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, calpulli fulfilled the same functions but somtimes took a different form. As the city grew large and c omplex, the calpulli were no longer based on family relationships, but became wards, or political divisions, of the city. Each calpulli still had its own governing council, school, temple, and land, but its members were not necessarily related. There were 15 calpulli in Tenochtitlan when the city was founded in 1325; by the 16th century there were as many as 80.In Tenochtitlan and other Aztec city-states, the most capable leaders of each calpulli together composed a tribal council, which elected four chief officials. One of these four officials was selected as the tlatoani (ruler). After Tenochtitlan became the center of Aztec civilization, its ruler became the supreme leader of the empire, to whom lesser rulers paid tribute. This ruler was considered semidivine, a descendant of the Aztec gods, and served as both military leader and high priest. His title was huey tlatoani, meaning great lord or great speaker.The ruler was supported by a noble class of priests, warriors, and adminis trators. Below these nobles were the common people, including merchants, artisans, soldiers, peasant farmers, and laborers. Aztec merchants formed a hereditary class, called pochteca. They lived in special quarters in the cities, formed guilds, and had many privileges.Aztec rulers and nobles owned land on private estates. Most land for commoners was owned by a calpulli, which assigned its members plots to use. Landholders paid tribute to the empire in agricultural products, which were used to finance public projects. All able-bodied men owed military service to the empire. Citizens could also be drafted to work on public lands or build temples, dikes, aqueducts, and roads.Although Aztec society had strict classes, a persons status could change based on his or her contribution to society. Commoners could improve their rank, especially by performing well in battle, and become prosperous landowners. Young people of some classes could study to become priests or warriors. Warriors who ca ptured many prisoners gained prestige and wealth and might be admitted into one of several elite military orders. A person who committed a crime or did not pay his debts became a slave; however, such slaves could eventually regain their freedom, and their children were born free.Tenochtitlan was the center of the Aztec world. The marvels of the island city were described at length by the Spanish conquerors, who called it the Venice of the New World (in reference to Venice, Italy) because of its many canals. At its height, the city had a population of more than 200,000, according to modern estimates, making it one of the most populous cities in the ancient world.Tenochtitlan was connected to the mainland by three well-traveled causeways, or raised roads. During the rainy season, when the lake waters rose, the causeways served as protective dikes. Stone aqueducts brought fresh drinking water into the city from the mainland. Tenochtitlans canals served as thoroughfares and were often c rowded with canoes made from hollowed logs. The canoes were used to carry produce to the public market in the citys main plaza.At the center of Tenochtitlan was a ceremonial plaza paved with stone. The plaza housed several large government buildings and the palace of the Aztec ruler, which was two stories high and contained hundreds of rooms. The most important structure in the plaza was a large, terraced pyramid crowned with two stone temples dedicated to the most important Aztec godsthe sun god (also the god of war) and the rain god. A surrounding enclosure contained buildings for priests and elite military groups, courts for sacred games, and smaller pyramids topped by temples where incense and sacrificial fires burned before enormous idols. Other temple pyramids were built in every section of the city.Residents of Tenochtitlan lived in houses built around open courts, or patios. Houses of the nobility were made of plastered brick or stone and painted bright shades of red or whit e. The houses of the common people were smaller, made of interwoven twigs and mud, and thatched with grass.Farming provided the basis of the Aztec economy. The land around the lakes was fertile but not large enough to produce food for the population, which expanded steadily as the empire grew. To make more land suitable for farming, the Aztec developed irrigation systems, formed terraces on hillsides, and used fertilizer to enrich the soil. Their most important agricultural technique, however, was to reclaim swampy land around the lakes by creating chinampas, or artificial islands that are known popularly as floating gardens. To make the chinampas, the Aztec dug canals through the marshy shores and islands, then heaped the mud on huge mats made of woven reeds. They anchored the mats by tying them to posts driven into the lake bed and planting trees at their corners that took root and secured the islands permanently. On these fertile islands they grew corn, squash, vegetables, and fl owers.Aztec farmers had no plows or work animals. They planted crops in soft soil using pointed sticks. Corn was their principal crop. Women ground the corn into a coarse meal by rubbing it with a grinding stone called a mano against a flat stone called a metate. From the corn meal, the Aztec made flat corn cakes called tortillas, which was their principal food. Other crops included beans, squash, chili peppers, avocados, and tomatoes. The Aztec raised turkeys and dogs, which were eaten by the wealthy; they also raised ducks, geese, and quail.Aztec farmers had many uses for the maguey plant (also known as the ), which grew in the wild to enormous size. The sap was used to make a beerlike drink called pulque, the thorns served as needles, the leaves were used as thatch for the construction of dwellings, and the fibers were twisted into rope or woven into cloth.In the Aztec empire, some manufactured goods were produced for the ruler or sold in the local markets. These included pottery , tools, jewelry, figurines, baskets, and cloth. Other goods, especially prized luxury items such as lake salt, gold ornaments, and rich garments, were carried by traveling traders to distant peoples in the lowlands along the Gulf coast and south toward what is now Guatemala. There they were exchanged for luxury items native to those regions, such as tropical-bird feathers, jaguar skins, cotton, rubber, and cacao beans for chocolate. The Aztec had no metal coins. They used cacao beans, cotton cloth, and salt as a form of money.The Aztec had no wheeled vehicles or draft animals, so trading goods were carried by canoe or on the backs of porters, who marched in long caravans led by merchants. In dangerous areas, Aztec warriors would protect the caravans. Merchants would often act as spies for the empire when trading in towns that had not been conquered by the Aztecs.As an agricultural people, the Aztec depended heavily on the forces of nature and worshiped them as gods. Most important was their patron deity, the sun god, Huitzilopochtli, who was also considered to be the god of war. Other important gods were Tlaloc (the god of rain) and Quetzacoatl, the plumed serpent (the god of wind and learning, also associated with resurrection). The Aztec believed that the compassionate gods must be kept strong to prevent the evil gods from destroying the world. For this purpose they conducted human sacrifices. Victims of sacrifice were usually prisoners of war, although Aztec warriors would sometimes volunteer for the more important sacrificial rituals. The god Tlaloc was believed to prefer children as sacrificial victims.The sacrificial rituals were elaborate in form, calculated according to the stars to please specific gods at specific times. A victim would ascend the steps of the pyramid. At the top, a priest would stretch the victim across a stone altar and cut out the victims heart. The priest would hold the heart aloft to the god being honored and then fling it into a sacred fire while it was still beating. Often many victims were killed at once. In 1487, according to legend, Aztec priests sacrificed more than 80,000 prisoners of war at the dedication of the reconstructed temple of the sun god in Tenochtitlan.Aztec priests sought to win favor with the gods by fasts and self-inflicted bloodletting. Some of them ran schools called calmecacs in which they taught religious rituals to boys studying for the priesthood. One of the most important functions of the priests was to determine which days would be lucky for engaging in activities such as war and baptism. A religious calendar of 260 days provided this information. The dates of ceremonies to honor the gods were determined by a solar calendar of 365 days. Variants of both calendars were developed by earlier Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Olmec, Maya, and Zapotec. The meshing of the two calendars produced a 52-year cycle, at the end of which the Aztec would let their hearth fires go out. T o begin the next cycle, they would hold the important new fire ceremony, in which priests lit a sacred fire in the chest cavity of a sacrificial victim, and the people rekindled their hearth fires and began feasting. Most of the art produced by the Aztec expressed aspects of their religion. Brilliantly colored paintings, done mainly on walls and amatl (paper made of pounded bark), depicted religious ceremonies and stiff, angular gods. The Aztec carved freestanding idols and bas-relief wall sculptures on their temple-pyramids. Stone sculptures were often made to represent gods and sacrificial victims.One of their most famous surviving Aztec sculptures is the so-called calendar stone, which weighs 22 metric tons and measures 3.7 m (12 ft) in diameter. The calendar stone represents the Aztec universe. The face of the Aztec sun god is carved in the center. Surrounding it are circular bands of designs that symbolize the days and the heavens. The Aztec also carved small, realistic figures of people and animals out of quartz, obsidian (volcanic glass), and jade.The Aztec wrote in pictographs, or small pictures symbolizing objects or the sounds of syllables. They also used pictographs in their counting system, which was based on the number 20. A picture of a flag indicated 20 items; a fir tree represented 20 times 20 items, or 400; and a pouch indicated 400 times 20 items, or 8000. Pictographs could not express abstract ideas but were useful for recording history, conducting business, and maintaining genealogy and landholding records.Although the Aztec had only simple hand tools to work with, they were expert craftspeople. Women spun cotton and maguey fibers into thread by twisting them onto a stick weighted by a clay spindle whorl. They dyed the thread in vivid colors and wove it into cloth with elaborate geometric designs. From this cloth they made clothingloincloths and capes for men and long skirts and sleeveless blouses for women. Specially trained craftsmen knot ted feathers into webs to make mantles (cloaks), headdresses, and banners.The Aztec layered strips of clay to make storage jars, griddles, goblets, and other kinds of vessels, which were fired in open kilns. These clay vessels were generally red or white, with finely drawn black-and-white geometric designs. Unlike the early civilized peoples of the Middle East, the Aztec had no iron or bronze. Their cutting tools were made of obsidian and chert, and by the time of the Spanish conquest, they had begun to experiment with tools made of copper. The Aztec fashioned jewelry using gold, silver, copper, emerald, turquoise, and a kind of jade that they prized above all other materials. They cut stone for use in construction using rawhide cord and an abrasive of sand and water. Axes were made of blades of stone or copper, set in wooden handles. Drills were made of bone or reed.In 1519 Spanish explorer Hernan Cortesand more than 500 Spaniards landed in eastern Mexico in search of land and gold . Advised by Malinche, his Native American mistress, Cortes formed an alliance with one of the rivals of the Aztec, the Tlaxcalans, and set out for Tenochtitlan. After wavering about how to respond to the Spanish force, Aztec ruler Montezuma II allowed Cortes to enter the city in order to learn more about him and his intentions.Finding large amounts of gold and other treasure, and fearful that the Aztec would attack his vastly outnumbered Spanish force, Cortes seized Montezuma as a hostage. The Spaniards melted down the intricate gold ornaments of the Aztec for shipment to Spain and forced Montezuma to swear allegiance to the king of Spain. The Spaniards remained in the city without opposition until about six months later, when, in Cortess absence, Spanish officer Pedro de Alvarado massacred 200 Aztec nobles who had gathered for a religious ceremony. After Cortes returned, the Aztec rebelled, fighting to drive the Spaniards out of Tenochtitlan. The Aztec warriors tore up the citys b ridges and chased the Spaniards into the canals, where three-fourths of them, weighted down with stolen gold, quickly drowned. Montezuma was killed during the revolt. Montezumas successor, Cuitlahuac, ruled only a few months before dying of disease. Montezumas nephew Cuauhtemoc, who had helped lead the revolt against the Spaniards, became the next Aztec ruler.Cortes retreated to Tlaxcala and gathered more Native American allies for a siege of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs crude weapons were no match for the iron, steel, and gunpowder of the Spaniards, who also had the advantage of a large number of indigenous allies. After five months of desperate and bloody fighting, Cuauhtemoc surrendered in August 1521. Cortes tortured and hanged him while on an expedition to Honduras in 1525. The Spaniards conquered the remaining Aztec peoples and took over their lands, forcing them to work in gold mines and on Spanish estates.The fall of Tenochtitlan marked the end of the Native American civilizatio ns that had existed in Mesoamerica since the first human settlement of the region. On the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the Spaniards built Mexico City. The citys present-day cathedral rises over the ruins of an Aztec temple, and the palace of the Mexican president stands on the site of the palace of Montezuma cap punishment Essay

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Argument paper free essay sample

Towards the end of her article wills also gives the Americans opinion on late term abortions. She gives reference to national polls on this topic in favor of the ban. She goes into detail of how the view of abortion has changed in America. This article brings into light a very grotesque kind of abortion that needs to be banned. Under no circumstance should a fetus at twenty-seven weeks be partially delivered and cruelly murdered. In this article Wills gives many details and facts that define what exactly a late term abortion is. There are many supporting details and the information is accurate and fair. There are also supporting statements from doctors, nurses,and Judges along with the opinion of America that there is Just something unsettling about late term abortions. Wills has provided very reliable information in this article. This article is effective. In Wills article, she provides adequate information. We will write a custom essay sample on Argument paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She give the readers an idea of how and what exactly the procedure involves. Wills states, In March 1996, in riveting eyewitness testimony to congress, a nurse gave partial-birth abortion (as it came to e known) a face-specifically the most perfect angelic face of a baby boy at 26 h weeks gestation age. Dr. Haskell delivered the boy alive, feet-first, up to his neck, then stuck scissors into the base of his skull, inserted a suction tube and vacuumed out his brain. The testimony from this nurse gives a stomach turning account as to the details of late term abortions. The information Wills provides in this article is sure to to make people consider the need for a ban on late term abortions. Wills uses good logic in her article. According to Wills, The late senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, for example, called it not Just too close to infanticide; it is infanticide, and one would be too many. A person could understand an abortion in a situation of the mother or fetus health in Jeopardy. However there is absolutely no logic in late term abortions being done in the second and third trimesters on healthy persons. As the late senator stated these abortions are much to close to infanticide and are not medically necessary. There is significant information in this article. According to Jour nalist from American Medical News, They did their own research and discovered that thousands f partial-birth abortions were being done annually, primarily on healthy mothers and healthy babies. Obviously with the Journalist exposing this information the public will begin to wonder what the reasoning is behind these procedures. not only have doctors, nurses, and Judges become concerned with this procedure, it seems America along with skeptical Journalist all agree that these types of abortion cross a moral line. Wills also gives convincing evidence to support her stand on this issue. Wills states, So for many Americans, the fact that abortions are being done in the second nd third trimester of pregnancy, and are legal throughout pregnancy, came as shocking news. When this information is brought to the public, America is shocked and begins to ask questions. Wills says there are shifts in American public Opinion. In the past it seemed many people were pro choice however recent polls h ave now shown a shift in opinion. The current polls have shown significant amounts of people have shifted their views to pro-life. All this information from the eyewitness accounts, journalist exposed information, and the general opinion of the public seems to be onvincing. In this article, Wills also uses very credible sources. In the beginning of her article she gives a statement of an eyewitness account of the truth about late term abortion. When a credible source such as the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan is so obviously oppose this issue, it definitely becomes an eye-opener. The people Wills uses in her article are all people who have done their research on this issue. The nurses and doctors are medically credible. The senators, Judges, and congress are all legally credible. The statistics from Americas polls are all verifiable. Susan E. Wills article is written in a very organized way. She gives a fair interpretation of all information provided, and the article is easy to understand. She gives a brief description on her stand on late term abortions. She divides the article into a block format. In each section of her article Wills has a topic including different views and opinions, followed by statements from credible sources, and examples to support each statement. The article is very convincing because she obviously has done her research on late term abortions. She does not make any statements that re not verifiable or supported by a credible source. She includes information on the opposing argument as well as her own. In closing this article was very convincing. The author made an argument and supported everything in the essay. This issue of late term abortions has obviously become a significant issue in the country. There is plenty of evidence supporting the need for a solution. Although there is a great amount of controversy over late term abortions, it seems the general conscientious among people is, that there is indeed something unsettling about this type of procedure.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Person I Admire the Most Essay Example

The Person I Admire the Most Paper The person that I admire the most Why my sister is my role model? She is not a world famous or a multimillionaire, but she is very important character in my life. I save my admiration for her because she is a special woman. I admire my sister because of her personality and for all she has done for me in my life. I grew up with my sister and she has always been my best friend. My sisters name is Ana. She is 25 years old and lives her in Miami. Ana is studying at FIU University and is working too. Looking at her, it is not difficult to see why she relates so successful. She has beautiful black hair and large round brown eyes. She also has charming smile that makes her face is radiant. She is quite tall and slim. She wears fashionable and elegant clothes that highlight her perfect figure. All the features of her appearance show how beautiful she is. She has many positive character traits. Firstly, my sister has a lot of friends, because she has a reputation as a friendly and sociable person. She is extrovert and communicative. Secondly, she is very helpful and loving. Therefore, you can always rely on her. If I am having a bad day she is always there to help make it better. That is why Ana has never failed me. At the same time, she is very determined and knows what she wants to achieve in her life. She is very ambitious and always reaches her goal. She is also a great leader, a natural born leader. Thanks to this ability she can work in a group and distribute the work among others. She enjoys when she is working with people. The above description of her personality only confirms that Ana is a wonderful person. We will write a custom essay sample on The Person I Admire the Most specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Person I Admire the Most specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Person I Admire the Most specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Difference Between Dragonflies and Damselflies

The Difference Between Dragonflies and Damselflies No other insects symbolize summer quite like the group of colorful, primitive-looking predatory insects we generally call dragonflies. In the late summer garden, they resemble tiny animal fighter jets, fierce-looking but also beautiful and fascinating.   In reality, these members of the insect order Odonata include not only the true dragonflies but also a closely related group known as damselflies. The order includes roughly 5,900 species, of which about 3,000 are dragonflies (suborder  Epiprocta, infraorder  Anisoptera), and about 2,600  are damselflies (suborder  Zygoptera). Dragonflies and damselflies are both predatory flying insects that look primitive and ancient because they are: fossil records show prehistoric species that are quite similar to modern species, although considerably larger. Modern dragonflies and damselflies are most prevalent in tropical regions, but some species can be found in almost every part of the world except for the polar regions.   Physical Characteristics Taxonomists divide the  Odonata  into three suborders:  Zygoptera, the damselflies;  Anisoptera, the dragonflies; and  Anisozygoptera, a group somewhere in between the two. However, the  Anisozygoptera  suborder includes only two living species found in India and Japan, which are rarely encountered by most people. Dragonflies and damselflies are often confused with one another because they  share many characteristics, including membranous wings, large eyes, slender bodies, and small antennae.  But there are also clear differences  between dragonflies and damselflies, outlined in the table below. In general, dragonflies are studier, thicker-bodied insects, while damselflies have longer, thinner bodies. Once the obvious differences  are learned- eyes, body, wings, and resting position- most people find it fairly easy to identify the insects  and tell them apart. More serious students of the odonates may want to examine the subtle differences in wing cells and abdominal appendages. Both dragonflies and damselflies are seen in a wide range of sizes and colors. Colors may be dull or brightly metallic hues of greens and blues. Damselflies have the widest range of sizes, with wingspans ranging from about 3/4 inch (19  mm) in some species to 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) in larger species. Some fossil Odonata ancestors have wingspans of more than 28 inches. Life Cycle Dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs in or near water. Hatched larvae go through a series of molts as they grow, and begin predatory feeding on the larvae of other insects and on small aquatic animals as they move toward the adult stage. The Odonata larvae themselves also serve as an important food source for fish, amphibians, and birds. Larval dragonflies and damselflies reach adulthood in as little as three  weeks or as long as eight years, depending on species. They go through no pupal stage, but near the end of the larval stage, the insects begin to develop wings, which emerge as useable flight organs after the last molt of the larval stage. The adult flying stage, which can last as long as nine  months, is marked by predatory feeding on other insects, mating, and finally laying eggs in water or moist, boggy areas. During the adult stage, dragonflies and damselflies are largely immune to predators, except for some birds. Not only do these insects pose no danger to humans, but they consume large quantities of mosquitoes, gnats, and other biting insects. Dragonflies and damselflies are visitors we should welcome to our gardens.   Differences Between Dragonflies and Damselflies Characteristic Dragonfly Damselfly Eyes Most have eyes that touch, or nearly touch, at the top of the head Eyes are clearly separated, usually appearing to each side of the head Body Usually stocky Usually long and slender Wing Shape Dissimilar wing pairs, with hind wings broader at the base All wings similar in shape Position at Rest Wings held open, horizontally or downwards Wings held closed, usually over the abdomen Discal Cell Divided into triangles Undivided, quadrilateral Male Appendages Pair of superior anal appendages, single inferior appendage Two pairs of anal appendages Female Appendages Most have vestigial ovipositors Functional ovipositors Larvae Breathe through rectal tracheal gills; stocky bodies Breathe through caudal gills; slender bodies

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Contributions To The History Of Josef Stalin Essay

Contributions To The History Of Josef Stalin - Essay Example Stalin died in the year 1953 after having lived fifty-six years full of both challenges and failures (64). The accomplishments of Stalin As a leader of the Soviet Union, Stalin made numerous mistakes, but his tenure in office is also remembered for having been of immense importance to Russia. According to the research compiled by Kaplan, the accomplishments of Stalin cannot be ignored (93). First, Boobbyer states that Stalin is remembered for his contribution to driving the country towards economic stability, which would only be possible through the process of industrialization (58). This, according to analysts and researchers of the history of the USSR, Stalin did due to his inferiority complex. His major aim was to match the standards of the other industrialized countries. In the long run, the country was subjected to rapid industrialization processes so as to have a share of the ‘big muscle’ as well. With the construction of the industries, as Boobbyer indicates, a gr eat percentage of the sectors in the economy were heavily mechanized – agriculture, for instance (62). In the long run, the industrialization process boosted development in the country despite the depression that was faced in the capitalist countries. Though taxpayers were forced to pay more for the success of these industries, the country is reported to have immensely gained from the industrial revolution. In relation to World War 2, Roberts indicates that Stalin drove his armies towards the defeat of Germany in the course of the war (255). This created a very huge impact of the Soviet Union in the world at that particular time. With his ability to dodge Roosevelt, Stalin managed to confiscate all the war equipment that would lead to his success against Germany.