...Biological Warfare: Effects on USA Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the response of the American public to the growing threat of biological warfare which has been amplified by the war on terrorism. The study focuses on various news items, government researches, public responses and independent researches to gauge the effects of the perceived biological threat. The research shows clear linkages between rising terrorism in the world and an increase in public knowledge of the sort of threats these terrorist organizations pose, especially the risk of a biological attack which could lead to a catastrophe. The research also sheds light on the rising voices in the media and public which demand concrete strategies to prepare for any and all eventualities. We also see how these demands shape public policy and scientific research. Lastly, we conclude that there is a definitive causal link between people’s perception of the biological terror threat and their public and private behavior. Introduction The primary research question we have is that in what ways has the use or threat of biological weapons of mass destruction affected the lives of US citizens in recent history? America has been on the receiving end of terror attacks and the year 2001 is still fresh in everyone’s minds. The terror attacks on the world trade center were soon followed by the anthrax attacks which were perpetrated by a lone, disturbed scientist. The fact that a single man, without any proper...
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...Biological Debridement Biological debridement is a procedure where a doctor suggest the use of living organisms to remove dead tissue so the healing process of the wound can begin. The living organisms are live blow fly larvae (maggots). The maggots are sterile and have been disinfected in a controlled lab. Biological debridement has been around for many years. William Baer was one of the first in the northern hemisphere to deliberately administer larvae to a patients wound. In the 1920s he discovered this specific organism while working at the John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He then went on to treat many children with osteomyelitis and soft tissue infections. During the 1930s maggot therapy was effectively...
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...Why Biological Weapons Shouldn’t Be Used The question has arisen whether or not biological weapons should be used in warfare or should be gotten rid of completely. To answer this question, an in-depth analysis should be conducted as to the cost and benefits of said weapons. On one hand, the benefits of these weapons are numerous with the cost of the weapons being low and the potential loss of life high. On the other hand, using these weapons in times of war could prove to cause problems for the side that unleashed them with potential outbreak of disease not only affecting the target, but eventually spreading across the world like a plague. Both sides of the argument present valid points as to why they feel the way they feel about the weapons, but I feel that the side that has the best viewpoint is that these weapons should be discontinued and destroyed. I will first start with the benefits to using biological weapons in warfare. One of the biggest benefits in using these weapons is the cost in which these weapons can be produced. In comparison to many of the other weapons being produced, no other weapon comes close. According to Raymond Murray Dawson and Chun-Qiang Liu, a 1969 expert United Nations panel “estimated the cost of operations against civilian populations at $US1 per square kilometer for biological weapons, versus $600/km2 for chemical weapons, $800/km2 for nuclear weapons, and $2000/km2 for conventional armaments” (89). As you can see by the statement,...
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...Rudimentary forms of chemical and biological weapons have existed for thousands of years, and in the last century there has been an explosion of chemical and biological weapon technology and development. World War I was the infancy of modern chemical weapons and since then they have become an even more deadly and systematic form of killing. Many nations, including the United States, still have thousands of tons of chemical agents that lie in storage. In the hands of the wrong person, they could wreak absolute havoc on the environment and population. The United States, along with all other nations should not continue to stockpile and produce biological and chemical weapons because the use of them is immoral, and totally inconsistent with the policies of a country that is a leader. The destruction and loss of innocent lives...
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...Elizabeth Fenn’s “Biological Warfare in Eighteenth Century North America: Beyond Jeffrey Amherst” is a paper that looks into the history of germ or biological warfare in the eighteenth century in North America, mainly during the colonization and Revolutionary War periods. They used Smallpox, a disease that has been cured in today’s world, but back then caused hundreds of deaths. When the colonists and British gave blankets and clothes to the Indians they came from Smallpox treatment centers and spread the disease to the Native Americans killing most of the natives. Fenn structured this paper by breaking it down into smaller chapter like sections that explain the history of biological warfare, how it was executed, the result of their actions,...
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...Assumption 1- Behaviour can be explained in terms of neurotransmitters (electrically excitable cells) these sends messages across the synapse. Dendrites make the synapse flexible. Neurotransmitters inhabit or excite other neurons. For example dopamine stimulates other neurons. Assumption 2-Behaviour can be explained in terms of hormones (biochemical substances) which travel around the blood stream and target certain organs, for example Adrenaline targets such organs as the heart and increases heart rate. Hormones are slower than neurotransmitters but they are more effective. GAS- General Adaption syndrome- Its called general because its how the body reacts to all stressors, Its adaption because its adaptive (it helps people survive by flight or fight) and its a syndrome because there are many symptoms to stress. Selye had a 3 stage model which has 3 stages Alarm- this is when the SAM and HPA pathways both open up, SAM is when the endocrine system releases adrenaline that increases heart rate, dilutes eyes and makes blood vessels constricts, The HPA creates more energy by releasing cholesterol that turns protein into glucose for extra energy. The second stage Resistance- This is when the body appears normal and heart rate reduces ect but its having a big effect on the body. The last stage is Exhaustion- This is when the body has been depleted of protein and can cause long term illnesses that are stress related (CHD) Chemotherapy- The use of antipsychotics to treat mental illnesses...
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...The human experience involves five general perspectives on human behavior, each of which emphasizes different factors. These are the biological, learning, sociocultural, cognitive, and psychodynamic perspectives. This paper will outline how each of these perspectives explain the beginning, development and maintenance of a stable marital relationship. Relationships are probably the happiest feelings and the most complicated feelings known to man .During the early stages of the relationship , the feeling of elation is ever present . Love is said to be biological for there is the innate need to be close to someone , to share our feelings and see them reciprocated ,to be cared for , to be touched and to be loved in return . But did you know that it takes sometime for humans to love? When a couple meets for the first time, the attraction can be instantaneous. They may describe the meeting as “electric”. When interviewed, men usally say “Everything else in the room wasnt important all I could see was her. The woman may say “I looked around the room, and when we locked eyes, I realized I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.” One of the main structures involved with falling in love is the limbic system. The particular system is well known as being the part of the brain involved in emotional response. The limbic system is actually several structures combined, including the basal nuclei, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus. While all of these structures are vital, the hypothalamus is directly...
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...necessarily correct. The term sex is a biological term that refers to the physical differences between males and females. If sex is the term that encompasses male or female, then what exactly is gender? Gender is a psychological term that refers to the awareness and reaction to the biological term of sex. It also is a term that can construe more than one meaning. Gender is determined by biological, psychological, and sociological factors. Gender consists of three elements: gender role, gender identity, and sexual orientation or preference (Kenyon, 1994-2006). Gender role, is defined as the outward manifestations of personality that reflect the gender identity. Basically, it occurs when someone adopts the masculine or feminine behavioral traits that are associated with each sex. Gender role is manifested within society by observable factors such as behavior and appearance (Ghosh, 2009). Gender identity refers to a person’s personal sense of whether he or she are male or female (or rarely, both or neither). Gender identity, in nearly all instances, is self-identified, as a result of a combination of inherent and extrinsic or environmental factors (Ghosh, 2009). And sexual orientation or preference is whom a person is physically and sexually attracted to. In this paper the topics of discussion will be the interaction between hormones and behaviors in addition to how these interactions affect determining gender identity. It will also explore the biological factor, and how it influences gender...
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...spills fails to report to the housekeeping about the health hazard that can be caused by the chemical (human error). The housekeeping who is assigned to clean the spill has A maintenance supervisor calls in a temporary worker from third-party recruiting company to handle housekeeping tasks for a day. The temporary worker is assigned the task of mopping the floors. The supervisor assigns him the list of rooms to be cleaned that also includes a research laboratory, where the staff work on chemical and biological agents (situational factor). The supervisor provides required instructions and provides a PPE, which is an overalls and a pair of gloves that is to be used while cleaning the laboratory. The worker follows the instruction and cleans the laboratory but doesn’t dispose off his overalls and gloves properly instead he keeps it back in the room where housekeeping things are stored (human error). Now, anyone that is going to wear it again is at a risk of exposure to biological and chemical agents that could pose a health risks (environmental...
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...Running head: BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS Biological Foundations in Psychology Lisa Dickens University of Phoenix Biological Foundations The study of psychology emerged in the eighteenth century. Many psychologists, from the past and present have made arguments over the correct meaning of the word ‘psychology. One thing is certain, and that is they agree to disagree. The term psychology derives from the Greek words psyche meaning ‘mind’, and logos meaning ‘reason’. Therefore, the true meaning of psychology is reasoning of the mind. Biological psychology is the branch of science that attempts to explain behavior in terms of biology. This is basically the study of the brain and how it causes or relates to behavior (Wickens 2005). The first people to realize that the brain was an organ of the mind were the Ancient Greeks. Plato (429-348 BC) said that the brain was the organ of reasoning. Aristotle believed that the heart served this particular function and the brain was there only to cool the blood. Galen believed that the heart was the crucial organ of the body, because it contained the vital spirit that gave the spark of life to the person (Wickens, 2005). These are just a few of the grates in history that contributed their thoughts on the human mind. Comparative Psychology focusing on the development of the human mind through the life span,...
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...Biological Psychology Paper Biological psychology is a vital part of psychology; without it psychology would not be considered a science, rather it may still be considered an art. Biological psychology has an extensive history, and each step has brought us closer to the reality that the brain is our main power source, and how much it affects our behavior. There have been many scientists and theorists that have contributed to the field of biological psychology, each having their own beneficial impact. As stated, biological psychology is vital to psychology, as well as other fields in psychology and neuroscience. Biological psychology seems to bring to mind many assumptions when it is thought of, and we will evaluate those assumptions as well as the subjects afore mentioned. Definition and Historical Development Biological psychology is defined as being “the study of the brain and how it causes or relates to behaviour” (Wickens, 2005, p. 3); it is often referred to as biopsychology or psychobiology. The past of biological psychology has been a colorful and descriptive past, thanks to the many theorists and scientists in the field. The ancient Greeks were one of the first to propose that the brain was related to the mind. “Plato (429 – 348 BC) proposed that the brain was the organ of reasoning” (Wickens, 2005, p. 4). An important physician during the Roman Empire was Galen (AD 130 – 200); he was “one of the first writers to propose a theory of brain functions based on the ventricles”...
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...Essay plan: ‘Discuss the biological approach to psychopathology’. PARAGRAPH 1- A01: Intro- explain the biological approach including key assumptions. • Biological approach regards abnormality as an illness or disease. • Assumes all mental disorders are related to some change in the body. • Mental disorders are related to the physical structure and functioning of the brain. • Seen people with psychological abnormality as ‘patients’ who are ‘ill’ and require ‘treatment’ to ‘cure’ them of disease. • Four possible factors that cause abnmormality: 1. Genetic Factors 2. Biochemistry 3. Infection 4. Brain Damage PARAGRAPH 2- AO1/2: Explain one cause of abnormality according to the biological approach and give supporting evidence. Brain damage. • Suggests that mental illnesses are caused by abnormal brain structure due to genes, development, illness or trauma. • Damage to the structure of the brain can lead to abnormal behaviour. • Once brain damage has caused mental illness there is little to be done to stop it. Examples • Alzheimer- a type of dementia caused by the malformation and loss of cells in a number of areas of the nervous system. • Alcohol and drugs can also damage the brain, which may result in korsakoffs syndrome – prefound impairment of memory most commonly caused by alcohol. Evidence. • Lawrie showed that an average schizophrenic lateral ventricle were 40% bigger than controls. This suggests that brain damage has caused schizophrenia. PARAGRAPH...
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...Biological Weapons: Threat of the 21st Century Michele Tallman Ashford University Principle & Theory of Security Issues CRJ433 Alicia Dembowski January 12, 2014 Biological Weapons: Threat of the 21st Century Biological Warfare is morally and inhumanely wrong, it is the wrongful killing of men, women, and children and it should be stopped no matter what the circumstances are. For the past 50 years or so the world has lived under the shadow of atomic weapons, threatening a “nuclear nightmare” that would bomb us back to the Stone Age. Now in the 21st Century, there is a new nightmare, called Biological Weapons. These types of weapons deliver toxins and microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, so as to deliberately infect disease among people, animals, as well as the destruction of crops leading to food shortages. The way that a biological weapon is used depends on several factors, these include the agent, its preparation; its durability in the environment, and route of infection. Some agents can be disbursed as an aerosol, which can be inhaled or can infect a susceptible spot on the skin, like a cut or wound. With the recent revolution in molecular biology, this may have incidentally unleashed a new threat to a peaceful night’s sleep. Even though there has been talk concerning the disarming of certain countries from nuclear weapons, terrorist factions and "nations of concern" have sought ways to continue their wars, by using biological weapons. Asymmetric...
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...people by measles, plague, small pox, influenza, and typhoid (Magner, 2009). Although there has been some response to such epidemics in the recent past, naturally occurring infections still remain the Achilles’ heel of today’s health systems. 2. Terrorism Versus Bioterrorism Despite the dark past in healthcare systems, current issues of the use of biological agents as means of mass destruction is alarming. Most of the countries across the globe are now faced with the daunting task of terrorism control, since this is one area where biological agents find a lot of use. According to Forst, terrorism may be defined as a “premeditated and unlawful use of violence [on] non-combatant populations having symbolic significance….” (Forst, 2009). Forst mentions that the premeditated and unlawful use of violence usually has an aim of inducing or influencing changes in existing political landscapes; this is normally done through intimidation as well as destabilization of the populations in question. Such populations are identified as enemies by perpetrators of this form of violence. Bioterrorism, then, refers to a form of terrorism where biological agents...
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...The basic criminology for biological positivists has been biological inferiority, which is indicated by physical or genetic characteristics that distinguish criminals from noncriminal. Past policy implications of biological theories of crime allowed the use of isolation, sterilization, or even execution for individuals deemed to be the vagrant part for these theories of crime. Modern biosocial theories of criminology focus on identifying and understanding the unique qualities or characteristics of individuals. These new age theorist attempts identify how the presence or absence of some chemicals, hormones, or physical brain structure is related to criminal activity. Biological theorists advocate that drug treatments, improved diets, and better...
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