Monday, September 30, 2019

Infectious Diseases

The only means of recovery is rest and drinking a lot of fluids. Taking cold medications will only help relieve the symptoms. Hepatitis, Viral Hepatitis can either be acute or chronic. That means, it can either be a temporary illness, or it can be a permanent condition Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver ND other tissues.It can be caused by a viral Infection. The onset of hepatitis can also be caused by drug abuse or overexposure to a chemical The treatment for viral hepatitis, acute or chronic, is rest. Influenza Influenza, commonly known as â€Å"the flu,† Is also caused by a virus. Its symptoms are more severe than the common cold Influenza only needs to be treated with bed rest and fluids. Non-linctuses Diseases: Possible Causes Cancer Cancer Is caused by the transforming effect of carcinogens on normal cells.Characterized by the unrestrained growth of abnormal cells on or in tissues of the body. Treatment for cancer usually involves surgery and some form of radiati on therapy or chemotherapy. Coronary Heart Disease Coronary heart disease is the most common circulatory system disease. Damage to the heart is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart resulting from blocked or narrowing coronary arteries. Coronary heart disease usually goes unnoticed until chest pain is felt or a heart attack occurs.Its symptoms can be treated with drugs or surgery. Diabetes, Type I It is a disease of the pancreas in which insulin is not produced in the correct amounts so that glucose (sugar) can be converted into energy or stored as fat. Include excessive thirst and urination. Type I diabetes is mainly treated with regular insulin injections. Diabetes, Type II It is a disease of the pancreas in which insulin is not produced In the correct Type II diabetics are treated with a similar routine of diet and exercise.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Catcher in the Rye- ‘Holden’s Hatred of Everything’ Essay

‘Holden’s hatred of everything is shallow and indicates his own unrealistic and confused attitude.’ Discuss. J.D. Salinger’s novel Catcher in the Rye depicts a teenager struggling through an identity crisis during the 1950’s. Salinger promotes the themes of growing up and adolescence through the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Holden’s attitude towards life is bitter and contemptuous which prevents him from successfully interacting with other people. His transition from childhood to adulthood is blurry and unclear as he lacks the skills needed to shift from one to the other. Furthermore, he is unable to overcome the obstacle, as he sees it, of growing up as he is finding it difficult to accept the responsibility that comes with it. Holden exposes his idea of the shallowness and hypocrisy in the world by describing them as ‘phony’. Holden recognizes that phoniness is all throughout society. Whether it be in reference to his old school principal at Elkton Hills only conversing with the upper class families, or to his hatred of movies as it involves actors pretending to be something they’re not. Although Holden holds this pessimistic attitude, it seems to be evident that this outlook appears only to be evoked by sympathy, either for the families that looked down upon at Elkton Hills or for his own dysfunctional family. Holden also sees the insincerity in the publication of Stradlater, his roommate who is able to hide his ‘secret [slobbery]’ behind his ‘sexy’ appearance and fake charm. In this sense, Holden may also be jealous of how easily Stradlater can shield his insecurities as he has a strong sense of self-imposed ego. Holden describes his older brother D.B. as a phony because Holden perceives him as a ‘sellout’ for being a ‘prostitute in Hollywood’. Though Holden used to look up to his older brother, his now believes D.B. is compromising his talents for an audience. Similarly, with Ernie who plays piano at the nightclub, Holden is frustrated when the audience claps for him, claiming that ‘people always clap for the wrong things’. Holden is often found disapproving of particular elements in society, however is able to justify to himself the reasons of his actions based on his own experiences and perceptions, which may clash with the expectations of society and it is this that confuses Holden. Holden’s idea of reality is found to be altered due to hurtful experiences and therefore he has difficulty with interactions, forming connections and approval of society. At the beginning of the text, the reader is informed that Holden is narrating from a mental institution, which enables the reader to conclude that Holden’s views of reality are somewhat unstable. Moreover, Holden is unable to let go of the past, as he believes childhood is the only place he will find happiness. Holden’s perception of childhood consists of unconditional love, simplicity and safety from the corruption of the outer world. To Holden, this genuineness existed only when Allie was alive. It is here that the reader is led to believe that the reasons behind Holden’s inability to deal with complexity and intimacy stem from the death of Allie which he has failed to properly grieve for, resulting in confusion and lack of the closure he needs to move forward. In regards to his sexuality and lack of knowledge or experience in the matter, Holden notes that it doesn’t really apply as ‘in [his] mind, [he’s] probably the biggest sex maniac you ever saw’ which implies that Holden has already created his own world in which he has isolated himself to. Holden’s fantasy is to be the ‘catcher in the rye,’ ‘catching’ kids from falling off a cliff into the pretentious world of adulthood. This metaphor indicates that Holden wants to be the person to save the children before they fall out of their innocent knowledge into the repulsive world of adults. His desire to remain in of childhood is implied when he explains that the ‘best things about the museum is everything stayed where it was’ which shows that he longs for a world that remains frozen and unchanged, as he fears the unknown. Also, when watching Phoebe on the carousel, Holden mentions that ‘the nice things about carousels were that they always played the same songs.’ The reality of the world cannot be accepted if the meaning is unknown, and this applies to Holden as his ignorance to explore this unknown prevents his from being the man he truly wants to be. Furthermore, Holden finds difficulty in accepting the concerns and responsibilities that are required in the adult world. His childishness and immaturity, whether deliberate or not, is evident when Holden ‘left all the foils and equipment and stuff on the goddam subway’ and instead of accepting that he made a mistake, he blames it on that he ‘had to keep getting up to look at this map so ‘[they’d] know where to get off’. Holden’s responsibility as an adolescent teenager was to finish school with good grades however unable to do that, he transfers to different schools repeatedly, only to fail again. Holden’s inability to accept responsibility may also be due to a fear of success. Holden’s childishness is also noticed throughout the novel when Holden refuses to go home and confront his parents about ‘flunking out of Pencey Prep’ in fear of the criticism and consequences that will result. Holden dislikes responsibility, as he believes that with it comes expectations, and if he doesn’t live up to those expectations, then the unconditional love he received through childhood will subside. ‘Catcher in the Rye’ explores the tension and confusion between Holden’s aspiration to observe and isolate with his need to converse and connect. Holden displays characteristics of a secluded mentality and is victim of his own isolation, which in turn prevents him from conforming to society’s expectations. Through Holden, the contrast between childhood and adulthood and the process of transitioning from one to another are examined closely. As the novel progresses, the reader is able to understand what events Holden has experienced that have lead to his unrealistic and confused attitude about fearing change, resenting adulthood and growing up.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

High School Educational System in Contrast

Name: Lily High School Educational System in Contrast between Canada and China With the development of a progressive and civilized society, education becomes a greater priority. In separate countries, there are distinct differences in the systems and methods by which education is practiced. The Canadian secondary school educational system is different from the Chinese education system in four main areas: the subjects offered for study, requirements for graduation, the authority of the teachers and the physical aspects of the institutions.The first obvious difference in the education system between Canada and China is in the subjects that are offered for study. In China, there are two systems for students to choose in high school: a departmental system consisting of liberal arts and science. The students who choose liberal arts will study Mandarin, English, History, Mathematics, Politics, and Geography. For those who choose science, the preferred courses will be Chinese, English, Math ematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. According to BC Ministry of Education (2008), in Canada, there are two ways for students to choose: required and elective courses. For instance, required courses are planning, language arts, mathematics, fine arts and applied skills, social studies, science and physical education and are offered as the students only choices. Furthermore, elective courses have more flexible options. Surely, choosing any courses that interest students is important, as long as their electives are over twenty eight credits.The second difference between China and Canada is in the requirements for graduation. In China, students have to take college entrance examinations, which are the most important academic exams in China. In addition, students will receive placings that are arranged from the higher to the lower grades. The marks they get will influence whether they are able to graduate, to repeat the courses or to leave school and enter the workforce as only part ially skilled. Conversely, in Canada, the requirements for graduation are easier than they are for students in China.Students in Canada are required to obtain just forty eight credits from the required courses, twenty eight credits from the elective courses, as well as four credits from graduation transitions (BC Ministry of Education, 2008)2. Other noticeable differences between Canada and China involve issues of the authority possessed by teachers. In China, teachers are like parents, in contrast, teachers are more like friends or mentors in Canada. Chinese teachers always emphasize the importance of rote learning and the value of marks.However, Canadian teachers give students more freedom and offer the opportunity to develop their interests. Furthermore, Chinese teachers are much stricter than Canadian teachers. Sometimes, a teacher in China can punish a student by assaulting them, which is due to the fact that teachers in China are held as being above question, while by law. Can adian teachers are not allowed to physically attack their students in any way. (Farran, S. , 2009)3 The final distinct area of difference between Canada and China is the physical aspects of the learning environments.For instance, the sizes of the classes in China usually are composed of approximately sixty people, but classes in Canada normally are a maximum of about thirty people. Statutory holidays are different, too. Chinese students are free from January to February for one month to celebrate Spring Festival and in July and August for two months because of the extremely hot weather. Canadian students are free during a part of December to celebrate Christmas during Winter Break, and this holiday is usually about three weeks without school.In China, students have to go to school in the evening to study; however, Canadian students have the choice of taking extra classes or tuition, but this is optional. In conclusion, the subjects offered for study, the requirements for graduation, the authority of the teachers and the physical aspects of the institutions are the main contrasts between the Canadian and the Chinese secondary school educational systems. Education is an essential component of a successful and potentially prosperous life, and a definitive part of the core competency of a nation.Therefore, how to form a more innovative yet completely effective system of education requires constant exploration, development and implementation of methods that maintain high standards and improve to the highest quality for the students of the world’s future. Reference: 1 BC Ministry of Education (2008). At a Glance Requirements – What You Need to Graduate. Retrieved 2012, from BC Ministry of Education 2 BC Ministry of Education (2008). At a Glance Requirements – What You Need to Graduate. Retrieved 2012, from BC Ministry of Education 3Farran, S. (2009). CAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADES BE TRUSTED?. MacLean’s, 122(44), 92-96

Friday, September 27, 2019

Abraham Lincoln and the Telegraph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Abraham Lincoln and the Telegraph - Essay Example For instance, in 1962, the president of the United States telegraphed a military general in the battlefield of second Manassas (Bull Run). Abraham Lincoln was exhausting the new mode of automated communications in an unparalleled manner to modernize the nature of state leadership. Since information moved at much greater rates than on foot, the military became more convoluted and facilitated the transformation of the medium industry to an entirely new level. Abraham Lincoln was the first President to use this technology in a time of crisis, putting the fate of the nation back in the hands of the nation’s leaders and allowing for instantaneous strategic modifications. This essay seeks to discuss how Abraham Lincoln's use of the telegraph revolutionized warfare by revolutionizing national leadership in the Civil War. The Telegraph and Abraham Lincoln Before telegraphy, the urgency for communication was not so much complex. Telegraphy revolutionized communication in long distances since it beat the physical exchange of letter. With this, Abraham Lincoln made great strides in his national leadership through the use of this technology. Through this, he revolutionalised national leadership and secured his status during the civil war ear in the United States. When Lincoln reached the 1861 inaugural, there were no current telegraph networks to the War Departments and even in the White House (Allen et al. 112). This situation did not prevail for long since rapid changes were implemented. Wires were mounted in the War Department and other related important installations virtually straightaway. During this time, the telegraph room in the war department was considered Abraham Lincoln’s favorite. He spent much of his time in this room strategizing the war and doing his personal time. Interestingly, the white house had no telegraph system and Lincoln made numerous visits to the war department’s cipher room. It is in this quiet seclusion that Lincoln did h is introspection about the war, brewing new ideas and strategies. Here, he would have some quiet, undisturbed and undivided attention while thinking of the way forward for the war. In the telegraph room, he awaited inpor6ant news and messages from the ground. The forecasts and messages gave him the exactness of the activities of this dragging war. Clearly, this was a challenging time for Lincoln, the translation of these cyphers, the development of the new type of communication and the dynamism of the war, the loss of lives in battle and the little victories. All this he had to take in at the same time. This needs a real heart to take in without feeling overwhelmed. With this influx of information, Lincoln pondered on every little communications he received without leaving anything to chance. All these military and political messages needed to be addressed for the good of the public. The telegraph turned out to be a tool to triumph the war and the symbol that will move the country t o the declaration of emancipation. Importance of the Telegraph Communication The setting up and use of telegraph communication was essential, during the American Civil War. Despite the rising interest for the new technology, during that time, the telegraph's potential was acknowledged with uncertainty and was not that much appreciated. The commencement of the work was not easy because personnel had to be assembled to attend to its use and implementation. However, Lincoln used this opportunity to tap and capitalize on electric communications. This is seen as something significant because it is used without preference and was majorly used, during in a time, where war was waged, during the Civil War (Hochfelder 231). Through telegraph communi

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Discuss the reasons why activity-based costing may be preferred to Essay

Discuss the reasons why activity-based costing may be preferred to traditional absorption costing in the modern manufacturing environment - Essay Example This paper discusses the various reasons why most firms use activity-based costing methods over the tradition absorption method. There are mainly two costing methods used by companies in different manufacturing environment that include absorption and activity-based costing techniques (Needles, Powers and Crosson, 2011). The Modern Manufacturing Environment involves the use of modern technology in the manufacturing industry. The use of technology enables organisations to reduce the cost of labour and increase production rates. In addition, modern manufacturing environment entails production of large volumes of goods at a cost, which promotes the companys profitability. The primary characteristics of a modern manufacturing environment include the following. First, the manufacturing environment entails an intense competition internationally. Most of the firms that operate on modern manufacturing environment experience high levels of competition on an international platform. For example, companies operating in the automobile industry experience great competition internationally, which require them to reduce production cost in order to initiate cost, based competition strategies (Lembersky and Lembersky, 2005). Secondly, the modern manufacturing environment involves rapid innovation in production. Production innovation is essential in establishing cost effective production methods such as automation of the production line and use of digital systems to reduce the cost of power and labour (Frost, 2005). Thirdly, the environment involves the use of automated machinery, which minimises the cost of labour. Automation of the production line ensures that most of the operations of the company rely on technology, which reduces the cost of production (Lembersky and Lembersky, 2005). Finally, production in a modern manufacturing environment involves

Discuss why and in what ways young people have been treated Essay - 2

Discuss why and in what ways young people have been treated differently in the criminal justice system - Essay Example There are several reasons for treating younger people differently by the court of law. According to a leading researcher of United States National Institute of Mental Health; Jay Giedd, during adolescence the brain is not completely developed for making any kind of organizational or strategic decision making processes. Hence it is unfair to expect juveniles having adult levels of decision making or organizational skills. Human brains do not develop completely before 18 years. According to latest researches, it has been observed that teenagers are susceptible to surroundings. It is very clear that younger people have a sharp brain and they have the potential to learn things quickly compared to other age group people. Northern Ireland has a different and separate justice system for children between age group 10 to 17. Similarly many other countries have separate jurisdiction system for children and young people. It is believed that children and teenagers can obtain proper correction in rehab centres than in prison. Researchers have also mentioned that if young children are put to prison with adult criminals either they will become the victims in prison or else they will become worse depending on the surroundings they are exposed. This essay will discuss about the difference of criminal justice system and the reasons with respect to children. The public prosecution system and the police; both play important role during the execution of a criminal justice system. Police and prosecution system are responsible for providing substantial evidence before the court in order to prove whether a convict is guilty. In case of children the system and the procedure remains same however the liberty is more compared to adults. In many countries it has been observed that children and young convicts are allowed to speak in order to know their intentions. After the diversionary youth conference and the decision from PSNI in the year 2003, PPS have been given the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Kantian Philosophy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Kantian Philosophy - Term Paper Example Conversely, the standards were either only based on desire and the tools of rationality or were emphasized on sui generis rational instincts. Kant also approved the basic principles described by his predecessors that were an examination of the practical reasons which will disclose the obligation that the rational mediators must rely on to believe in instrumental principles (Guyer, 2006). However, he said that a non-instrumental principle called CI should be complied with to grasp the moral requirements there in, and should be visible to basic rational agency. The argument was based in the premise that outstanding doctrine must be considered as sovereign and self regulating, or free from the restrictions of self-sufficient will. Therefore, in Kant’s moral philosophy, the idea was to conceal the reason which outreaches the practical reasons that go beyond the Human ‘slave’ to his desires. Additionally, a self regulating reason in the life of every person could be based on the crucial grounds for reviewing the worthiness of equal respect and also equal importance. The most significant of Kant’s positions are compiled in The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals’ which was later just called as ‘Groundwork’ but was a much more enriched and developed version (Wood, 2005). Later books such as ‘The Metaphysics of Moralsà ¢â‚¬â„¢, ‘The Critique of Practical Reason’ and many others were based on the principles of Groundwork, but in recent years many scholars have not been happy with the findings of Kant which will be described later in this text. Kant maintained a deontological view, one where individuals should be considered an end, rather than a means to an end. Kant believed that a legitimate act, one that is good, must meet with ethical imperatives to justify it. Thus, the highest good is to act from duty. Kant rejected a measure of conducting goodwill toward others when the motivation behind that act did not stem from moral constructs of legitimate and ethical principles. When an act is motivated by self-gain, regardless of the contribution to serving humankind, it is not justified morally by universal values (Guyer, 2006). The doctrine of responsibility of Kant began with the following perspectives: If the aim of aim was to get happiness, then all we will ask for will be gratificati on and pleasure and optimism that would lead our way to ultimate happiness. But, happiness is not in our control to accomplish, and happiness is basically a chance of luck. Furthermore, if we want to eschew skepticism and nihilism, and our ethics tell us to work that Kant believes that ethics must be universal, appropriate for all human race, and unconditional, which means no exceptions allowed (Wood, 2005). II. Opponents of Kant Philosophy The opponents of Kant’s Philosophy are many and are divided into three categories. The first and most important ones are the Ethical Relativists- who belief that there is no reason or logic that could be established for moral principles and universal ethics. These critics support the possibility that as Kant states virtue results from a realistic reasoning, it should not be the case. Schopenhauer and others believe that virtue has nothing in relation to rational life and on the contrary it can be based on emotions as the Machiavellian rati onal expediency believes in. (Janaway, 1999). The Utilitarianists are the people who consider providing utility as their first priority for the masses with little stress on the means to accomplish it. Kant began with the abstract concepts that in an attempt to know the real insights, he began from the abstract judgment

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Continental Airlines, Inc and McDonnell Douglas Corporation Article

Continental Airlines, Inc and McDonnell Douglas Corporation - Article Example The case was submitted to the jury. On the basis of Continental’s theories of fraud, it was taken as evidence by the jury. Supreme Court ruling Hauter v. Zogarts (1975), it was held that the promises of safety were not statements of â€Å"opinion† or just â€Å"puffing† but representations of facts. Thus, the four representations of the brochure were not opinions but statements of facts. Further, the statements made by McDonnell Douglas were material. There is substantial evidence that Douglass statements regarding Landing Gear Breakaway were material and that Continental rightly trusted them in deciding to clinch the DC-10 deal. The court viewed the evidence in the light most well disposed to the judgment, taking all reasonable inferences and not taking conflicting evidence. There was evidence as quoted in section F that the landing gear was designed to break away from the wing without rupturing the wing fuel tank, which was material and rightfully trusted by Co ntinental. It is further proved by Douglass argument that Continental must prove that a clean landing gear breakaway was a condition of its decision to purchase the DC-10, rather than the L-1011, proving that Continental trusted the statements of McDonnell Douglas. California law is quite clear about whether it constitutes fraud making reckless false representations without any consideration to the truth. It states that â€Å"[s]ince direct proof of fraudulent intent is often impossible, the intent may be established by [in]ference [216 Cal.App.3d 412] from acts of the parties.' [Citation]† Another established law is that if evidence is applicable for any purpose it must be taken into consideration, even if it may not be proper for another purpose.   California law is quite clear

Monday, September 23, 2019

Self care deficit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Self care deficit - Essay Example Though self-care desire is common in patients across healthcare facilities in the country, certain patient conditions cannot allow self-care to be possible. This is specifically common among aged patients who also suffer from other conditions, which affects their coordination and self-reliance. Self-care deficit symptoms in the elderly should be clearly identified before the decision to allow patients to be independent can done (Taylor & Renpenning, 2011). Neuromuscular impairment is common among elderly patients suffering from cerebrovascular accidents. Others include musculoskeletal disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, cognitive impairment and lack of enough energy to carry out various self-care responsibilities. In such cases, self-care deficit symptoms can be identified and used to inform the decisions of the nursing department. Lacking the ability to independently feed and dress are common signs of deficit in self-care. Such patients must be provided with an assistant to help them dress and feed well without facing the threat of malnutrition (O’Shaughnessy, 2014). Lacking the ability to bathe and groom among the elderly is also a common symptom of self-care deficit. Such patients must be bathed and groomed by nurses to ensure high patient hygiene. Other symptoms of the deficit include inability to perform toilet task, move from bed to wheelchair, ambulate independently, perform other tasks such as make telephone calls, or write letters. Identification of such deficits will improve the nursing environment and decision making especially within elderly care facilities (Orem, Renpenning & Taylor, 2003). Self-care in patients can be associated with cultural behavior and practices in some environment and this affects the process of addressing the deficit. With the increasing number of male nurses, certain cultures and religion have found it difficult to embrace such caregivers due to cultural reasons. This has affected the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

A Doll’s House Essay Example for Free

A Doll’s House Essay The play, A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen, showcases a traditional marriage of a middle class couple in the Victorian Era. The marriages in the late nineteenth century were severely confining; the woman’s role was to be nurturing and submissive, while the man’s was to be powerful in both his work and domestic life. Similarly to these traditional matrimonies, the marriage of the protagonists, Nora and Torvald, emphasizes the implausibility of individuals to both meet the society’s expectations and achieve personal happiness. Hence, Ibsen exhibited this principle and inadvertently shocked society by exhibiting what most people believed to be â€Å" a kind of godless androgyny; women,† such as the rebellious Nora, â€Å"in refusing to be compliant, [a]re refusing to be women† (Templeton 13). Since men and women in the patriarchal society are conditioned to only accept women as daughters, wives, and mothers, both Nora and Torvald are submissive to society’s will; and so Torvald perpetuates this societal attitude without recognizing its injustice while Nora challenges it, thus reversing their traditional roles in society. Initially, the protagonist in A Doll’s House, Nora, is portrayed as an immature and pretentious woman. Meanwhile, her husband, Torvald, is characterized as an intelligent and generous man. However, as the plot unfolds, evidence suggests that their dispositions are actually in reverse, due to their preoccupation with fitting into the molds that society has created for them to fit into. In reality, not only are their personalities opposite, but their positions in the household are as well. Consequently, Nora plays the part of the childish wife and Torvald plays the part of the dominating husband, but ultimately, Nora is empowered whereas Torvald is desperate to regain control. Additionally, because society constantly reinforces the man’s supremacy and the woman’s subordinacy in a relationship, both Nora and Torvald uphold the pretense of having an ideal marriage; however, they are living an illusion. Initially, both Torvald and Nora seem to highly value appearances; however, obeying societal rules regarding appearance does not give either of them  powera reality that solely Nora is able to comprehend. Unaware that he is living in a household that is based on lies, Torvald treats his wife the way that society has taught him, because he seeks authority not only in his professional life, but in his personal life as well. He believes that women’s purposes only include housekeeping and amusement, so he wants his wife’s appearance, and thus his public front, to be immaculate. Accordingly, Torvald gives Nora money so that she can buy new clothes and presents for herself and their children, subsequently beautifying his family. Also, Torvald affectionately calls Nora his â€Å"skylark and â€Å"squirrel,† and is amused by her immaturity. He enjoys her inability to think for herself, so he doesn’t â€Å"wish [her] anything but just what [she] is, [his] sweet little lark† (Ibsen 46). In order for him to constantly feel powerful, Torvald does not want his child-wife to mature, but instead desires that Nora remains dependent on his guidance and wealth. Furthermore, by calling her by animal nicknames, he dehumanizes her and makes it easier for himself to not acknowledge her as an actual person who needs his emotional, rather than financial support. Even Nora realizes that â€Å"when [she is] no longer so attractive† Torvald will â€Å"love [h]e[r] less than now† and will â€Å"stop enjoying [her] dancing and dressing up and reciting for him† (Ibsen 55), illustrating that although Nora realizes that Torvald does not appreciate her intelligence, rather than speaking up ab out her objectification, she desires to ignore it for the time being. On the other hand, while Torvald is objectifying Nora in order to maintain his authority, he is being manipulated even more than she is. Because society has taught him that appearances are more important than emotional substance, â€Å"Torvald with his sensitivity has such sharp distaste for anything ugly† (Ibsen 81). However, he is unable to recognize impurities beneath the surface, such as his wife’s dishonesty. Contrarily, because Nora cares more about her family’s emotional wellbeing than Torvald does, she recognizes the lies that are present within her and Torvald’s marriage and chooses to block them out of her mind, while he is oblivious to them. In addition, Torvald understands that society views women as being incapable of dealing with important matters, so he chastises Nora for getting involved in financial and work related issues, since they put his authority at risk.  Although he enjoys invoking Nora’s excitement by giving her money to spend, he does not take responsibility for her frivolous spending habits. For instance, when Nora comes home with newly purchased items he asks her, â€Å"Has the little spendthrift been out throwing money around again?† (Ibsen 44) He then continues to patronize her by saying, â€Å" Nora, Nora, how like a woman!† (Ibsen 44), demonstrating his belief that women are incapable of dealing with serious matters and that they are men’s burdens. Moreover, Torvald berates Nora about the importance of money when he tells her â€Å"No debts! Never borrow! Something of freedom’s lostand something of beauty, toofrom a home that’s founded on borrowing and de bt† (Ibsen 44), displaying the importance he places on not owing anything to others and thus, not being subservient. Through his controlling behavior towards Nora, such as appeasing Nora with money after she begs him for it, Torvald demonstrates his disbelief that these qualities should not pertain to women. Also, not only does he want to preserve his family’s appearance, but he also desires to preserve his own at work. Similarly to his domestic status, his professional one is based on the amount of power that he holds, which is demonstrated by his ability to command others. For this reason, Torvald feels threatened when Krogstad acts more friendly than professionally towards him. Also, when Nora later beseeches him to not terminate Krogstad’s job, Torvald is afraid about â€Å"it[being] rumored around that [he] [i]s vetoed by his wife† and inadvertently â€Å"make[ing him]self ridiculous in front of the whole office† (Ibsen 78), since being easily influenced by a woman, a supposedly inferior being, would cause Torvald to lose the respect of his coworkers. Therefore, â€Å"the necessity of moneyits crucial connection to respect figures importantly in A Doll’s House† (Templeton 7), since wealth is the foundation of the social hierarchy, which consists of domineering men at the top and submissive women, who are not even able to make purchases or take out loans without their husbands’ consents, at the bottom. Even though Nora subtly rebels against her husband and the patriarchal society as a whole, she still attempts to conserve her appearance as a submissive wife. In order to maintain a shred of dignity as a child-wife, Nora disobeys Torvald’s and society’s rules by taking on men’s attitudes and duties. For example, she asks â€Å"Dr. Rank† if he wants â€Å"a little macaroon,† because he â€Å"c[an]not possibly know that Torvald had forbidden them, and [she] also ha[s] one,† in an attempt to reject Torvald’s control over her. Next, â€Å"there [i]s just one last thing in the world that [she] ha[s] such a consuming desire to say so Torvald could hear.† This desire of hers is to say, â€Å" to hell and be damned!† (Ibsen 59), since cursing is considered an unladylike act. Later, another one of Nora’s secrets is revealed during her conversation with her childhood friend, Mrs. Linde. Firstly, Nora wants them to only discuss her happiness with Torvald, which displays that Nora acts self-centered at times; much like men who were solely focused on their own problems, not women’s in the Victorian Era. Plus, â€Å"[Mrs. Linde] think[s that] Nora is incapable of anything serious[;]† however, Nora’s â€Å" secret[,]† which is her â€Å"joy and pride† (Ibsen 55), affirms otherwise. Not wanting to humiliate Torvald, but also not wanting her power to be limited by him if he were to find out and stop her actions, Nora secretly saved his life when he was sick once, by borrowing money from Krogstad in order for Torvald to attain medical help, resulting in Nora needing to earn money in order to pay her debt to Krogstad. â€Å"Her criminality is thus both a result and a defiance of her exclusion.Nora, who as a married woman cannot borrow without her husband’s consent, is forced to go outside the law. To acquire money on her own is to reject her lowly status† as well as a sexist law, â€Å" for it means operating in the world† (Durbach 140), an activity that society only allows a woman to do with her husband’s guidance. Unfortunately, though, Nora had no choice but to forge her father’s signature in the process. Not only had Nora committed this crime in order to protect Torvald from feeling indebted to her, and consequently, to allow him to maintain his masculine pride, but she enjoyed the process of it because â€Å"it was wonderful fun, sitting and working like that, earning money. It was almost like being a man† (Ibsen 55). Although one may argue that her decision to break the law is an act of selflessness, in reality, her desire to attain the qualities that men are supposed to possess demonstrates that Nora’s main motivation to help her husband was not love, since she realizes that she is being oppressed, but the prospect of attaining more power, even if it is kept secret for the time being. In addition, her responsible actions showcase that people including Torvald and Nora’s friend, Mrs.  Linde, underestimate Nora’s maturity, since although Nora exhibits the stereotypical female qualities of being immature, as demonstrated by her inability to empathize with Mrs. Linde, she is also hardworking; a presumed quality of men exclusively. Moreover, because in the traditional Victorian society the oppression that she faces is seen as acceptable for women, Nora attempts to deny her restrictions for as long as possible. By buying â€Å"new clothes for Iver a sword [and] a horse and a trumpet for Bob[,] and a doll and a doll’s bed here for Emmy† (Ibsen 45), Nora is passing down the knowledge of gender stereotypes to her children. Also, Nora’s definition of freedom is â€Å"to know you’re carefree; to be able to play with the children, and to keep up a beautiful, charming home,† illustrating that Nora attempts to ignore the injustice of her only purpose in society being to take care of domestic duties and making â€Å"everything just the way Torvald likes it† (Ibsen 56). Plus, this depicts that Nora does not even have the freedom to make her own decisions about how the house should be arranged. Also, Nora â€Å" transforms the tree fantastically until it begins to radiate an appal ling sense of false and misleading gaiety, becoming an emblem of the deceptive values generated in the doll’s house,† since she hides her intelligence and rebellions behind her girly vulnerability and pretty purchases (Durbach 54). Thus, her adornment of the tree showcases her â€Å"masquerade† and â€Å"duplicity,† since â€Å"the tinkering with the tree is clearly emblematic of Nora’s assumption of a disguise in a manic attempt to shore up a house on the verge of collapse† (Durbach 54). Plus, during her conversation with Mrs. Linde, Nora is shocked to discover that her old friend is happy without a husband, and accordingly learns that â€Å"some women indeed, do not love their husbands† (Durbach 102). As a result, Nora begins to understand that women are not obligated to constantly rely on men for support and that it is possible for women to achieve happiness for themselves, not solely for their husbands. â€Å"When [Nora] realize[s this],the truth needs cushioning from the awful implicationsthe instability of domestic values, the shattering of the roles that have given her status, purpose, and function in the doll’s house† (Durbach 102), because all of the former values that society has implemented into her mind  have suddenly become obliterated. â€Å"Her strategy, therefore, is to maintain appearances even if it means living a lie. But she will not go along with this subterfuge forever. Timing is all† (Durbach 102), suggesting that although Nora realizes that the society is deceiving her by instilling the belief that a woman’s only option in life is to adhere to her husband’s demands, Nora is betraying Torvald in the same way, since he does not question her honesty. Meanwhile, Nora also understands that her only means of attaining authority as a woman is by manipulating men with her sexuality; however, she comes to realize that her power hurts others as well as herself. In order to receive what she desires from men, such as Dr. Rank and Torvald, Nora seduces them and pretends to be a stereotypically helpless woman. Not only does Nora flirt with Dr. Rank in order to attain money to pay off her loan to Krogstad, but also to prove to herself and to society that she is able to have power over men. â€Å"She has learnt to coax her husband into giving her what she asks by playing all sorts of pretty tricks. Now she naturally takes the same line with her husband’s friend (Shaw 226). After Dr. Rank explains to Nora that he believes that a terrible occurrence is imminent and then continues to explain that he is sick and will die soon, Nora is visibly relieved because he is not referring to the likelihood of Krogstad revealing her crime to Torvald. Instead of being sympathetic towards Dr. Rank’s plight, Nora then flaunts her â€Å"flesh colored† stockings and asks Dr. Rank, â€Å"Aren’t they lovely?† (Ibsen 82) â€Å"She treat[s] Dr. Rank not as a dearly loved and respected friend, but as the cliche of her fantasiesa male doll,† whom she is able to control for her own benefit (Durbach 49). â€Å"Her illusion of the male doll is as humiliating as the doll role she has trained herself to play† (Durbach 49), and her manipulative behavior exhibits her inability to not do onto others what both society and Torvald have done onto her: treat her like a subordinate being. In addition, it is ironic that the only way for Nora to feel powerful within her marriage is to act childishly in front of Torvald and to use her feminine sexuality. For instance, while preparing to perform a dance, Nora attempts to distract Torvald with her helplessness, because she does not  want him to open a letter from Krogstad, which outlines her forgery. She then proclaims to Torvald, â€Å"I’ve forgotten the whole [dance] completely.Yes, take care of me, Torvald, please!† (Ibsen 91), demonstrating that Nora knowingly abuses her sexual power by promoting her vulnerabilitya quality of hers that she knows Torvald is infatuated by. Plus, she lets him dress her up in a â€Å" fancy dress from Capri† that he had bought for her. It â€Å"is all sex and sexuality, a device that transforms Nora into the kind of ethnic doll† (Durbach 45) that one can purchase and then use for his own enjoyment. â€Å"The costume represents her role as a living sexual fantasy in the bourgeois bedroom,† since she does not even dress herself, but instead dresses up in order to be a suitable plaything for Torvald (Durbach 45). Her marriage, thus far, has shown her that in order to get others to listen to her and do things for her, she needs to use her sexuality and female characteristic of fragility, so â€Å"Nora acts the sexual doll, even to the extent of allowing Torvald to choose the costume and the [tarantella] dance (Durbach 45), thus causing him to think that he has full control of her, while in actually, she is the schemer who has the greater control in their relationship. Because of her subservience to males, Nora faces consequences at the hands of both Dr. Rank and Torvald that eventually lead to her awakening to her lack of free will. Although Nora has succeeded in manipulating Dr. Rank, she realizes that what she has done is wrong and then decides against asking him for a favor. Dr. Rank tells Nora that â€Å"[Torvald i]s [not] the only one who [woul]d give up his life for [her]† (Ibsen 84),† suggesting that he loves Nora. Because she â€Å" now ha[s] the knowledge that [his] body and soul are at [her] command† (Ibsen 84), as a result of her seduction of Dr. Rank, Nora feels guilty for giving him false hope of her reciprocating his feelings, especially because Nora is married and still feels loyal towards Torvald. Also, Nora finally abandons her plan of manipulation because she does not wish to hurt a man who, as a result of his affection for her, seems weaker than most men, such as Torvald. â€Å"Nora now becomes â€Å"aware of her own tendency to reduce living substance to the empty forms of perverse fantasy† (Durbach 49). Furthermore, the tarantella dance, which represents Nora and Torvald’s power struggle, between not only each other, but also each of them individually and society, causes Nora to visibly rebel against Torvald, rendering him desperate to gain back his control. Nora’s rampant dancing is a discernible rebellion against Torvald, thus rendering him desperate to gain back his control over her. As her dancing becomes increasingly crazed, Torvald yells to her, â€Å"Slow down.Not so violent, Nora! No, no, that won’t do it at all† (Ibsen 91-92). Her refusal to abide by his commands â€Å"reveal[s] the hoydenish mistress beneath the angel in the house† (Durbach 45), since for the first time, Nora is disobeying Torvald while he is aware of her defiance. Overall, the tarantella represents â€Å"the dance of the victim of the tarantella spider, and the delirious attempt of the body to rid itself of the poison. (Durbach 52). In this case, Nora and Torvald are both the victims and society is the metaphorical spider that spreads its venom through their marriage, causing them to fight for their freedoma concept that Nora grasps better than Torvald does. As a result, Nora fights with Torvald for the presumedly powerful role of the man in their relationship. Later, Torvald takes on Nora’s previous role of seduction, because he believes that he has the right to â€Å"look at [his] dearest possession† in an objectifying way, because â€Å"all [of her] loveliness [i]s [his] alone (Ibsen 100). Torvald sees that the freeness of the tarantella â€Å"is still in [Nora’s] blood and it makes [her] even more enticing. (Ibsen 100). Plus, he finds Nora’s trembling attractive because as a man, it gives him an opportunity to protect her from harm, and it also demonstrates her vulnerability, which society has taught men to be infatuated with† (Ibsen 100). However, when Nora tells Torvald that she does not want to see him at this moment, he is shocked. Torvald does not understand what â€Å"[Nora] mean[s,] and thinks that Nora [is] teasing [hi]m† (Ibsen 101) because as her husband he thinks that he is entitled to have control over her body. This â€Å"sexual attitude [is] conditioned by a determination to see Nora as a dancing, singing, and reciting doll, created for his leisure moments, the maintenance of his household economy, and the convenience of his bed† (Durbach 53). Nora’s encounters with Mrs. Linde, Krogstad, Dr. Rank, and finally withToravald all lead to her disillusionment, and incidentally, Torvald’s as well. Her encounter with Krogstad, a lawyer and Torvald’s coleague, because he is a window into Nora’s future, in which she is ostracized because of the crime that she has committed; Mrs. Linde because she helped Nora realize her potential to break female stereotypes, and Dr. Rank because he is an honest man whom Nora regretted hurting. In particular, the tarantella dance is the turning point in Nora and Torvald’s relationship. Once Torvald commands her to dance in a more proper manner, Nora more fully comprehends that her freedom of expression as well as her right to have control over her own body is being oppressed. For this reason, she decides to allow Torvald to read the letter from Krogstad about her crime, as she is no longer controlled by her fear of how society will view her. Although Nora realizes t hat the illusion of her utopian family will shatter after Torvald finds out about her secret, she does not expect him to react as angrily as he does. While Nora understands her oppression more clearly after revealing her forgery to her husband and later decides to abandon her family, Torvald has also been rendered powerless and is unable to comprehend his wife’s decision to leave their household. While Nora had earlier decided to act selflessly in order to save her husband’s reputation, Torvald responds to the revelation of her forgery by attempting to preserve his authority and reputation for societal reasons. Even though Nora is cunning at times, society has constantly reinforced the quality of selflessness to females, so she believes that because she is willing to sacrifice herself for her husband, Torvald should be willing to do the same. Since as a wife, Nora realizes that it is her duty to unconditionally love her husband, â€Å"if anything awful [were to] happen, then it just wouldn’t matter if [she] ha[s] debt or not† (Ibsen 44), because the wellbeing of her husband is more important to her than riches and societal status. Initially, Nora fools herself into believing that â€Å"Torvald loves [her] beyond words (Ibsen 75). She does not acknowledge the warning signs of his over-protectiveness, such as the fact that he is extremely jealous at times and â€Å" [woul]d like to keep [Nora] all to himself (Ibsen 75). Moreover, similarly to her relationship with her father, Nora’s marriage is characterized by a need to meet society’s standard of happiness, not her internal one. For instance,  Nora believes that â€Å" [she] loved Papa most (Ibsen 85). However, she does not believe that love leads to happiness, since â€Å" [she] always thought it was so much fun when [she] could sneak down to the maids’ quarters, because they never tried to improve me. [And w]ith Torvald it’s just the same as with Papa† (Ibsen 85), demonstrating that Nora and Torvald’s marriage is based on attaining necessities, like a beautiful family appearance, from one another, not true love o r friendship. However, Nora still expects that because she has saved Torvald’s life he would do the same for her; a belief that had earlier made her willing to sacrifice herself for his reputation. When Krogstad threatened to expose her criminality, â€Å" such a certainty filled [her]:[she] was utterly sure [that Torvald would] say to [Krogstad]: [‘]go on, tell your tale to the whole wide world.[’] And when he’d done that.[Torvald woul]d step forward and say: I am the guilty one† (Ibsen 112). Nora had solely desired that Torvald would offer to sacrifice his reputation for hers, since she even â€Å"ha[d] the courage† (Ibsen 87) to commit suicide in order to free Torvald from the responsibility that she presumed he would take for her forgery. Nora believed that she â€Å"must die† because â€Å"her death w[ould have] be[en] conclusive proof of her blame, conclusive evidence in the face of Torvald’s ‘miraculous’ assumption of resp onsibility of her moral delinquency.† (Shaw 226), illustrating that she would do anything that is necessary in order to ensure that her husband’s reputation is conserved. In reality, after finding out about Nora’s crime, Torvald wants to protect the family’s appearance as well as protect his children from the criminal, whom he perceives his wife to be. Although Torvald wants Nora to be his helpless wife, when her life is truly in danger, he is unwilling to give up his pride to protect her. For example, before finding out about Nora’s crime he tells her that â€Å"time and again [he has] wished [that she was] in some terrible danger, just so [he] could stake [his] life and soul, for [he]r sake† (Ibsen 104). However, once that terrible danger occurs, he is unwilling to protect his wife if a consequence of aiding her is losing his reputation as a powerful man. Thus, he wants â€Å" everything between [them to be] just as it wasto the outside world, that is† (Ibsen 106). He wants  Nora to â€Å"go right on living in th[ei] house, (Ibsen 106) since he does not wish to approbate his personal misfortunes to become public knowledge, since society’s perception of himself and his family is more important than the family members’ relations with each other. â€Å"From now on[,] happiness does n[o]t matter [to him]; all that matters is saving the bits and pieces, the appearance† (Ibsen 106), because society has instilled the necessity of materialistic items, not feelings of love in most men. In addition to wanting to keep up appearances, Torvald wants to protect his children from the criminal whom he believes Nora to be, since he has been taught by society that parents’ flaws are passed down to their children. For this reason, he believes that Nora â€Å" can[no]t be allowed to bring up the children; [he] do[es no]t dare trust [her] with them† (Ibsen 106). Like many people during the Victorian period, he believes that moral attributes as well as disabilities or illnesses are hereditary. For instance, Torvald believes that the reason that â€Å" Dr. Rank suffer[s] from tuberculosis† is that â€Å"his father was a disgusting thing who kept mistresses† (Ibsen 74). Hence, because Torvald thinks lowly of Nora’s father, he believes that Nora broke the law because â€Å" [he]r father’s flimsy values have come out in [her]† (Ibsen 105). Also, since he thinks that â€Å"It [i]s usually the mother’s influence that [i]s domin ant† (Ibsen 70) in the household, he does not want Nora’s criminality to influence their children’s morality and health in the future. However, once he learns that his family’s reputation is no longer in danger, Torvald wants Nora to continue to be his doll-wife, but she decides to leave him; thus abruptly shattering his illusion of having a perfect marriage. Because Torvald has never truly understood Nora, he is initially unable to comprehend Nora’s decision to leave their seemingly happy doll-house, which is why Nora has decided to leave him in the first place. Similarly to how Nora earlier attempted to deny her oppression, Torvald wants to pretend that his marriage is not in ruins. Firstly, Torvald proclaims that â€Å"this ugliness all has to go[, and he] want[s] the whole thing to fade like a dream† (Ibsen 107), showcasing that he does not understand the negative consequences, such as a furthering of Nora’s disillusionment, that his  inability to protect her in her time of need has had on their marriage. Next, he tells Nora, â€Å"You don’t seem to realizeit’s over† (Ibsen 107), yet while he believes that a tremendous hardship has terminated, in Nora’s point of view, an end to their marriage is imminent. When Nora gives him a â€Å"frozen look,† Torvald thinks that â€Å"[she] can[no]t believe [that he has] forgiven [her]† and that she should â€Å"just lean on [hi]m† (Ibsen 107); however, Nora has learned to not expect him to aid her when she is in trouble. Contrarily, Torvald believes that forgiving Nora for a crime that she committed primarily for his benefit is a noble act. Additionally, her seemingly â€Å" feminine helplessness make[s her] twice as attractive to [hi]m† because he can now â€Å"keep [her] like a hunted dove [that he has] rescued out of a hawk’s claws† (Ibsen 108), thus again comparing Nora’s vulnerability to that of an animal. Also, â€Å"it [i]s as if she belongs to him in two ways no w: in a sense he’s given her fresh into the world again, and she [ha]s become his wife and his child as well† (Ibsen 108), thus allowing Torvald to hold even more power in their relationship. On the other hand, Nora is finally willing to admit that Torvald has never truly loved her, so she is able to leave the doll house. Because Torvald wants their marriage to continue as it has previously, except with her in an increasingly subservient role, Nora realizes that â€Å"[Torvald] do[es no]t understand [her] and [she] never understood [him] eitheruntil tonight. (Ibsen 109), demonstrating that they have never taken the time to talk about anything â€Å"serious† and that both of their lives have been governed by decisions that they made in order to fit the set characteristics of their genders. Overall, â€Å"[Nora has] been wronged greatly,first by [her father], and then by [Torvald, who] thought it fun to be in love with [her] (Ibsen 109), yet did not care enough about her to take care of her, since she mainly cared for them. Essentially, â€Å"[Nora] sees that [her and Torvald’s] whole family life [is] a fictiontheir home a mere doll’s house in which they have been playing at ideal husband and father, wife and mother† (Shaw 225), and not discovering who they truly are as individuals. Plus, although some may think that â€Å" the woman with her children, her presents, her nicknames, her extravagance, her pleasure in the thought of ‘heaps of money’can be a suitable candidate for liberation†Ã‚  (Hardwick 240), since Nora possesses all of the luxuries that many women desire. However, although Nora has been able to achieve many of the qualities that women are expected to have, she is yet to discover the characteristics that she wants to acquire for her own wellbeing. Further, in addition to never truly knowing Torvald, Nora has yet to understand who she is as well, thus leaving her children and embarking on a journey to mature and become an independent woman, but not without hurting Torvald in the process. In a society in which happiness relies on outward appearances, Torvald is unable to comprehend why Nora is willing to sacrifice her seemingly perfect family life. Primarily, he thinks that â€Å"there [i]s no one who gives up honor for love† (Ibsen 113), so he is confused as to how Nora could have expected him to take the blame for her crime. However, Nora’s self sacrifices assert that â€Å"millions of women have done just that† (Ibsen 113). Also, Torvald thinks that by desiring to leave his household, Nora is acting â€Å" unfair and ungrateful† (Ibsen 109-110). Because â€Å" [their] home [ha]s been nothing but a playpen† (Ibsen 109-110), Torvald expects Nora to be contented. Most importantly, he does not understand how Nora’s Conscience permits her to â€Å" run out on [he]r most sacred duties[,]† which are â€Å"to [he]r husband and children[,]† since â€Å"before all else, [she is] a wife and a mother† (Ibsen 111). While Torvald severely oppresses Nora, he is unaware of alternative actions to take. Thus, unlike Nora’s gradual awakening to the problems of the society, Torvald is given no time to process them, nor his wife’s unhappiness, which renders him a powerless doll as well. Next, in order not to pass on the belief of female stereotypes to her children and to educate herself, Nora fearlessly leaves the doll house, thus taking on the male role of protecting her family, while Torvald desperately wants her to stay. â€Å"She begins to perceive that the happy way in which she plays with the children and the care she takes to dress them nicely, are not sufficient to constitute her a fit person to train them† (Shaw 226), so Nora figures that abandoning her household is advantageous for both her own wellbeing, as well as her children’s. Most importantly, Noraâ€Å" ha[s] other duties equally as sacred† as being a wife and a mother: â€Å"duties to  [her]self.Before all else, [she i]s a human being, no less than [Torvald]† (Ibsen 111). As a human being, â€Å"[she] ha[s] to try to understand† (Ibsen 111) more about society and decide for herself which conditioned morals she wants to implement into her future journey. Thus, â€Å"Nora famously slams the door as she leaves the home. [This] action caused shock waves throughout the world, for it challenged firmly held ideas, such as the sanctity of marriage and the absolute authority of the man in the home† (Saether). Torvald attempts to convince Nora to stay, even proposing that they engage in a brother-and-sister-like relationship, revealing his desperation and ultimately, his lack of complete control over Nora’s decisions, which has been constantly prevalent within their marriage. In the end, Nora and Torvald’s illusions of each other collapse, along with their metaphorical dollhouse. Therefore, their positions in society are in reverse: Nora is free to discover who she is while Torvald is abandoned and assumes the responsibility of raising his and Nora’s children. In addition, Nora has a better knowledge about the causes of their separation, while Torvald still needs time to completely understand why Nora has left his household. Moreover, Nora believes that a â€Å"miracle† needs to occur for them to ever reunite. Mainly, Nora means that Torvald would need to be less objectifying and more understanding towards her. However, Nora does not recognize that the larger and far more unlikely miracle that would have to occur would be society loosening its control over the positions of both genders.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Mutagenicity of Makahiya (Mimosa Pudica) Decoction

Mutagenicity of Makahiya (Mimosa Pudica) Decoction Chapter I BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Plants have been a valuable source of natural products for maintaining human health, and the use of herbal plants as pharmacological treatments of diseases began long ago. A lot of people who are below the poverty line cannot afford the high cost of commercial synthetic medicines from drugstores and thus opt to use local plants within their reach since these can be obtained readily, cheaply and entail easy preparation and application (Racadio, 2008). Mimosa pudica Linn, which is known as â€Å"Makahiya† in Filipino, is a popular ornamental plant, as its leaves fold up when stimulated by touch, heat or wind (Balag-ey, 2009). It is considered as a common weed that abundantly grows here in the Philippines. Aside from ornamental purposes, local folks use the decoction of the plant for relief from common illnesses, such as asthma, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, cough, fever, sore throat and a lot more (Castillo, et. al. 2005). One of the major concerns these days on the safety of plant extracts, is their mutagenicity. Mutagenicity refers to a chemical or physical agent’s capacity to cause mutations or genetic alterations. The identification of plant extracts with chemicals or compounds capable of inducing mutations is crucial since mutagenic compounds can potentially induce cancer (Ming, 2014). Makahiya has been discovered to contain mimosine. Mimosine is a toxic alkaloid that possesses an antimitotic activity that blocks the cell cycle and inhibits DNA synthesis (Xuan, et. al., 2013) thus might cause genomic instability. This may be a factor that leads to the onset of genetic mutations. So far, a study done by Jadhav et.al in 2013 shows that Mimosa pudica seeds, after S9 metabolic activation were found to be mutagenic and significant. Based on this premise, the researchers conducted a similar study, but instead of focusing on just the seeds of the plant, the researchers used the whole plant. Most importantly, this study utilized the decoction extract of the plant since this is the one being used by the local folks. Furthermore, the Muta-chromoplate kit was used instead of the standard Ames test used by Jadhav et.al. Objectives of the Study This study aimed to identify the mutagenicity of Makahiya (Mimosa pudica) decoction and fresh ethanolic extract using Muta-ChromoplateTM kit. Specific Objectives 1. To determine the number of wells with color change per plate of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain using: a. decoction with S-9 activation b. decoction without S-9 activation c. fresh ethanolic extract with S-9 activation d. fresh ethanolic extract without S-9 activation 2. To interpret the number of wells with color change per plate of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain utilizing 0.05 level of significance in the following preparations: a. decoction with S-9 activation b. decoction without S-9 activation c. fresh ethanolic extract with S-9 activation d. fresh ethanolic extract without S-9 activation Null Hypothesis No Hypothesis No Hypothesis Significance of the Study This study is essential and beneficial to the following: Society. The people will be equipped with more information and be aware of the mutagenicity of Makahiya as herbal medicine. Most specifically, they will be aware of the safety of the decoction preparation of the said herb as it is commonly used in a decocted form. Department of Health. With the understanding of the study, the Department of Health will be able to utilize the findings and disseminate information to the people in the City of Davao regarding the mutagenicity of the usage of Makahiya. Researchers. The study may serve as an avenue in enhancing the skills of the researcher, specifically on scientific inquiry. Moreover, this study may guide the researchers to explore further studies on the mutagenicity of Makahiya. Future Researchers. This study may provide invaluable knowledge, values, and expertise in performing research studies among future researchers if and when they plan to conduct a similar study. This study will be helpful when conducting a scientific inquiry on the problems or issues related to the mutagenicity of Makahiya. Scope and Limitations The scope of this experimental study was the determination of the mutagenicity of the decoction and fresh ethanolic extract of Makahiya. The herb was gathered in Davao City and the extracts were prepared in Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. laboratory, Dr. A. Gahol Street, Bajada, Davao City. There was no utilization of animals as testing subjects. Rather, Muta-Chromo Plate Kit with Salmonella tyhimirium TA100 strain, which was based on the reverse-mutation test, known as â€Å"Ames Test† was used and provided by the EBPI Company. Also, the S9 enzyme activation was through the use of a crude liver extract provided in the kit. Theoretical Framework The theoretical framework of this study was based on a test developed by Bruce Ames, commonly known as the Ames test. In the study conducted by Ames et al. in 1975 (as cited in Razak et al, 2007) they used a test that utilizes a bacterial strain of the Salmonella typhimurium as tool to detect mutations. These S. typhimurium strains also have other characteristics that enhance their ability to detect mutations. Mutation in the histidine biosynthesis gene makes the cell wall of the bacteria more permeable to large molecules. Mutation in a gene responsible for proper excision and repair of DNA damage increases their sensitivity to mutagens. The strains of S. typhimurium are known as auxotrophs which mean that they are unable to produce a required nutrient. The test organism cannot synthesize the amino acid histidine, thus, it will not grow unless the nutrient is supplied in the growth media.Auxotrophs are usually produced as a result of a mutation that occurs in a prototroph, a bacterium that is able to synthesize the particular nutrient. The Ames’ test determines the ability of a tested substance to cause a reversal, also called a back-mutation of these auxotrophs to the original prototrophic state. During the test, auxotrophs are grown in glucose-minimal salts agar plates that contained all required nutrients but only trace amounts of histidine and biotin. The auxotrophs are able to grow for several generations until the histidine in the media was exhausted. This time they will stop growing unless they have sustained a back-mutation that has restored their ability to synthesize histidine. Suspected mutagenic substances were tested for their ability to stimulate back- mutations by placement set on the surface of the minimal agar plates previously inoculated with the auxotroph. The test substance diffused into the surrounding media and, if mutagenic, would induce back-mutations which would then allow growth into visible colonies. The more revertants observed near the test substance, relative to experimental controls, the more mutagenic the substance was likely to be. Conceptual Framework The study aimed to determine the mutagenic activity of decoction and fresh ethanolic extract of Makahiya on Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain which involved substitution, addition, or deletion of one or a few DNA base pairs. The independent variables were the decoction and fresh ethanolic extract of Makahiya. The dependent variable was the number of wells with color change per plate of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain, with and without the addition of the S9 activation enzyme. Independent Variables Dependent Variables Makahiya (M. pudica) Decoction Fresh Ethanolic Extract Number of wells with color change per plate of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain: With S-9 enzyme activation Without S-9 enzyme activation Figure 1.1 Conceptual Framework of the study Definition of Terms Ames test.  A test used to determine the mutagenic potential of a substance based on the mutation rate of bacteria that were exposed to the substance. Decoction.  A method that involves boiling in order to extract a plant substance. Fresh ethanolic extract. Extract collected from M. pudica through the use of dilution with 95% ethyl alcohol followed by rotary evaporation process. Makahiya.  Scientific name,Mimosa pudica. The plant sample used in this study. Muta-ChromePlateTM. A 96-well micro-plate version of the Salmonella typhimurium â€Å"Ames Test Mutagenicity.  The capacity to induce mutation. Salmonella typhimurium.  The strain used for the Ames test. It carries mutant gene that prevents them from synthesizing the essential amino acid histidine from the ingredients in standard bacterial culture medium S-9 enzyme. S-9 is a crude liver enzyme extract utilized to mimic mammalian metabolism. This enzyme is purchased together with the kit.