What is your specific research interests in finance Scholarship Essay

What is your specific research interests in finance - Scholarship Essay Example My research interest in real estate financing stems from the challenges facing the real estate industry—high interest rates. Increased interest rates have negative impact on investors and buyers, who may be reluctant into making meaningful investment options. Often, some investors have to contend with high interest rates that reduce the ability to repay their mortgages with time. Despite this scenario, I am interested into finding factors that influence interest rates on real estate products. Equally important, I will focus on how this research will provide guidance to investors interested in avoiding burdens from mortgages. With this goal, I am confident being awarded scholarship in finance will enable me to learn the tools and concepts that will allow me to conduct this study. Without doubt, awarding me this scholarship will enable me deriver immense insight on financial trends in the real estate arena. Ultimately, I see myself graduating and providing significant solutions on how investors can take make sound investment, despite challenges high interest

Analyze any two themes in Edgar Allan Poes short story, The Tell Tale Essay

Analyze any two themes in Edgar Allan Poes short story, The Tell Tale Heart - Essay Example It is quite difficult to ascertain a particular genre onto the story because as Reilly puts it, this is an ‘ultimate mystery story’; however, the reader will immediately notice the discrepancies between the classical detective genre and Poe’s work. In a classic detective story, the plot is centered around guessing who the murderer is, however, Poe’s stories are not whodunits, rather, they are concentrated on the psyche of the murderer. ‘If there is a mystery in these tales, it is the mystery of motive: not who did it, but why. Poe’s fascination with the idea of a crime without a clear motive has proved to be one of his richest bequests to later writers.’ (Benfrey, 29) One of the themes in Poe’s story is of a murder sans motive. It is closely interconnected and interwoven with the theme of madness and obsession that leads to this murder, inexplicable to a ‘sane’ person. The topics of insanity and guilt are dominant in many of Poe’s works like in ‘Berenice’, ‘The Black Cat’, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’, ‘Metzengerstein’, ‘William Wilson’, and are very often developed by the writer from an unexpected angle. To begin with, it is necessary to take a quick look at the plot of the story in order to understand the themes of the story. ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ is a story told along the lines of a monologue narrated by an unnamed character – an aspect dominant in many of Poe’s works. The narrator of the story is often referred to as ‘unreliable’ – his credibility is questioned due to his clear mental disorder. This may be understood as a ploy to puzzle the mind of the reader (Benfey 30) and to create that special mixture of suspense, absurdity and fatality, peculiar for Allan Poe’s short stories. The main character (traditionally considered to be a man, though there are no evidences that this could not be a woman) confesses that he murdered an old man to an

A Study On Theoretical Perspectives In Maladaptive Behavior

A Study On Theoretical Perspectives In Maladaptive Behavior Maladaptive behavior is known as behavior that is different than normal. There are many ways to define behavior that is unusual. Antisocial Disorder is also known as abnormal. There are many perspectives known to help define and explain these behaviors. Scientific theories have been created to organize our thoughts and our beliefs to explain what it all means (Sarason, 2005). Biological Perspective explains the relationships between our brain and our behavior (Sarason, 2005). This would also cover heredity and genetics (Sarason, 2005). This perspective assumes that our bodily maladaptive behavior is due to a problem in our body (Sarason, 2005). Behavior genetics is known as a study of the effects of our genetic inheritance of behavior (Sarason, 2005). Psychodynamic Perspective is the idea that thoughts and emotions are important causes of behavior (Sarason, 2005). In most cases biological factors are important in the diagnosis of a patient. Most medical conditions require biological factors, (Sarason, 2005). Equipment such as the position emission tomography scan and the computerized tomography (CT scan) are starting to be used to demonstrate studies between the brain and behavior, (Sarason, 2005). In research of genetics and heredity it has shown that chromosomal defects are the cause of metabolic disorders that may lead to mental retardation, (Sarason, 2005). Phenylketonuria is an example of such a condition, (Sarason, 2005). Body refers to organs, muscles, bones, and the brain; mind refers to attitudes and feelings or thoughts, (Sarason, 2005). The separation between the two is intellectual intervention (Sarason, 2005). Although many people believe the separation to be complete. Cognitive and bodily functioning are closely working together (Sarason, 2005). It is known that maladaptive behavior is because of a dysfunction in the body and the way it functions (Sarason, 2005). Maladaptive behavior is a joint product of three major components; in the body or a hormonal deficiency, in physiological functioning or a tendency towards shyness, and in a social environment (Sarason, 2005). Chromosomes are threadlike that are present in the cells that make up our DNA (Sarason, 2005). Anomolies in the chromosomes are likely to cause abnormalities in our brain (Sarason, 2005). Someone with Down syndrome usually has 21 of these chromosomes as opposed to the usual 2 (Sarason, 2005). Each of these genes contains their own characteristic positions (Sarason, 2005). 60% of these genes are responsible for brain functions, (Sarason, 2005). 4,000 diseases are caused by abnormalities in these chromosomes, (Sarason, 2005). Psychologists study these genes; this is called behavior genetics (Sarason, 2005). As humans we inherit behavior (Sarason, 2005). This study is called pedigree studies. Here are some of the common studies of genetic research: Gene- Parts of your DNA that contain proteins that carries out tasks in your body (Sarason, 2005). Alleles- Variants of the same gene in a species(Sarason, 2005). Genome- All DNA processed by a person (Sarason, 2005). Genotype- the DNA makeup at the moment of conception (Sarason, 2005). Phenotype-Characteristics resulting from environment and genetics (Sarason, 2005) Heritability- A statistical estimate of characteristics affected by genetics (Sarason, 2005). Nervous System and the Brain The nervous system and the brain are also affecting who we are as humans. The nervous system is the brains control area and very important in the functioning of the brain (Sarason, 2005). The nervous system consists of neurons which have very special purposes (Sarason, 2005). The brain is now known as the most complex structure in the entire world (Sarason, 2005). The nervous system is split into two parts: the central nervous system, including the nerve cells or neurons, brain and spinal cords (Sarason, 2005). The Peripheral nervous system includes all the neurons that connect the central nervous system with the glands, muscles, and sensory system (Sarason, 2005). The Peripheral nervous system has two parts; the somatic system and the Autonomic system (Sarason, 2005). The somatic system transmits information from sense organs to the muscles that help us move (Sarason, 2005). Autonomic system directs activity of the glands and our internal organs (Sarason, 2005). It is said that the brain has a lot to do with our behavior. The way it functions and the way we perceive things when the brain is trying to transmit the information can also get lost in translation. There are so many ways that information can be misinterpreted when the brain is not correctly functioning. The behavioral state of a human is usually best observed through an EEG machine. This machine can measure alertness through tracings of the brain and its activity. It can measure if someone is alert or awake, resting, eyes closed, light sleep, deep sleep, or dreaming (Sarason, 2005). A healthy brain will also react to new experiences where a damaged brain might not react (Sarason, 2005). This can also be measure on an EEG machine. Freuds Theory of Personalities Sigmund Freud was a great neurologist from 1856-1939 (Sarason, 2005). He was also one of the most influential writers in the twentieth century. Freuds theory of Personality is also one of the most influential writings. It seems very complex to some. One of Freuds theories consists of psychic determinism. This states that behavior is determined by prior mental events in ones life (Sarason, 2005). Freud believed that there are two levels of consciousness. One is consciousness itself and the other is precociousness (Sarason, 2005). This means that if someone were thinking of one thing, they could easily store this in mind and move back to a previous thought. Freud found that this had a lot to do with overt behavior. He also believed that the greater the mental conflict in the conscious stayed there, the greater the stress would become (Sarason, 2005). Behavior Perspectives and Genetics The behavioral perspective focuses on behavior as a response to stimuli in the environment of the organism, (Sarason, 2005). An American psychologist names John B. Watson created was the founder of behaviorism (Sarason, 2005). Watson created this as a thoroughly mechanical affair, (Sarason, 2005). The complete personality was created for overt behavior and was built up out of the conditioning process (Sarason, 2005). Many psychologists did not believe Watson. They believed that behavior was much more complex. They believed that it is truly a hard process. Watson just believed that a little time would bring on a dynamic behavioral change. Behavioral Perspective was also created because psychologists found that Freuds ideas about the mind were too complex enough and very vague (Sarason, 2005). Psychologists believed that this could be explained in an easier way to understand. Many of them were having problems understanding so this led them to creation of their own theories. Both the psychoanalytical and behavioral approaches are deterministic but can be found in different places, (Sarason, 2005). Psychologists that use this type of behavioral perspective focus on what the patient is learning (Sarason, 2005). They view any type of behavior as stimuli-response and relationships (Sarason, 2005). In the process of changing someones behavior, they concentrate on altering the environment and rewards (Sarason, 2005). Early behavioral perspectives lacked certain elements. In the process of classical conditioning psychologists are watching for a response that an organism is automatically stimulated and transferred to a new one through an association between the two (Sarason, 2005). Ivan Pavlov was one of the most famous classical conditioning experimenters. Pavlov placed a hungry dog in a harness and turned on a light at certain intervals (Sarason, 2005). The dog did not salivate in response to the light making the light conditioned stimuli (Sarason, 2005). After a few times of trying this, meat powder was delivered after the dog was stimulated. Since the dog was hungry, he salivated an unconditional response (Sarason). Pavlov found that although there was no food delivered at certain points of the experiment, the dog was still salivating. Pavlov also tried the ringing of a bell as a stimulus (Sarason, 2005). In some cases there are unpleasant, avoidant or escape responses (Sarason, 2005). For example, the experiments that entails a mouse moving through a maze to find food. They use the electric charge to pulse through the mouse to help them find the food. Eventually the mouse is able to get to the food every time without the stimuli of the electric charge to show him the way. When these conditioned responses are reinforced during the process of conditioning, these responses dissipate (Sarason, 2005). The disappearance of early responses is called extinction (Sarason, 2005). Many students of maladaptive behavior begin to become fascinated with classical conditioning when they realize it explains a lot about many types of emotional responses (Sarason, 2005). There is also such a thing as accidental conditional responses For example, I almost drowned when I was 4 years old. Since that day I have been terrified of any body of water. If I were to tell a psychologist this, they might recommend systematic desensitization (Sarason, 2005). Here is a diagram of how this might work (Sarason, 2005). Unconditional Unconditional responses Drowning Fear Conditional Stimulus- Conditional response Pool or another body of water Fear Breaking down the steps of stimuli between the conditional stimuli and conditional responses could alleviate the fear of water or drowning. Operant response is also called instrumental conditioning, when the organism must make a particular response to the actions before the reinforcement starts to take affect (Sarason, 2005). The organism reflects its environment (Sarason, 2005). B. F. Skinner was the first psychologist to demonstrate this type of conditioning and its effectiveness (Sarason, 2005). He was also one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century (Sarason, 2005). Skinner created an experiment named Skinner box where a rat will press a bar repeatedly if this activity is reinforced by pellets of food falling into a dish (Sarason, 2005). Operant conditioning is responses that occur less prior to being reinforced (Sarason, 2005). Reinforcement, punishment, and extinction are all steps of operant conditioning (Sarason, 2005). A reinforce is an event that increases the possibility of a stimulus responding in a certain way (Sarason, 2005). A positive reinforce increases the possibility of the outcome being something good (Sarason, 2005). A negative reinforce increases the outcome being something negative (Sarason, 2005). Punishment is another way of changing behavior that is hit or miss. Sometimes it will be effective and other times it will not. Here are a few examples of a schedule of reinforcements used to research learning. Continuous reinforcement schedule- every response of a particular type is reinforced (Sarason, 2005). Partial or Intermittent reinforcement schedule- only some of these responses are reinforced (Sarason, 2005). Fixed-ratio schedule- reinforcement is given after a fixed number of these responses (Sarason, 2005). Variable-ration schedule-reinforcement varies around an average 10 responses (Sarason, 2005). Fixed-Interval schedule- reinforcement follows the first response that occurs after certain time intervals (Sarason, 2005). Variable-interval schedule- reinforcement occurs after a variable interval of time (Sarason, 2005). Psychodynamic Perspective The psychodynamic perspective the idea that thoughts and emotions are important causes of behavior, (Sarason, 2005). Many psychologists believe that rational thinking will produce personal and social adjustment (Sarason, 2005). In the 19th century this began to attract more and more attention. People were drawn to the fact that maladaptive behavior was not normal. The organic approach to psychological behavior is influenced by physiological and the anatomy of a human being (Sarason, 2005). Mental disorders are a direct reflection of what is going on in the brain and how we function with this (Sarason, 2005). People began to believe that brain cells were what were making us unhappy (Sarason, 2005). The bad thing about this belief system is that there is much more to it. We needed to dig deeper to figure out what the stem of the problem was. Psychologists were finding it harder to convince people that there was really something wrong as opposed to someone just being crazy. People wanted to believe what they wanted to, making it difficult for psychologist. Psychologists hope to find evidence that behavior was a reflection of the brain (Sarason, 2005). An interact ional or biopsychological approach currently directs the work of most clinicians and researchers, (Sarason, 2005). Coping, skills due to this perspective result in stress and vulnerabili ty (Sarason, 2005). Think of these as a coping mechanism (Sarason, 2005). Antisocial Disorder Anti-social disorder is typically associated with violence, delinquency and violence ( Sarason, 2005). Critical features of this disorder would be: Failure to conform to social norms, (Sarason, 2005) Deceitfulness or being manipulative (Sarason, 2005) Failure to plan ahead or being impulsive (Sarason, 2005) Irritability or being aggressive (Sarason, 2005) Disregard for other; being reckless (Sarason, 2005) Consistently being irresponsible (Sarason, 2005) Lack of remorse for their actions (Sarason, 2005) Anti-social disorder is inherited and it is not yet clear how (Sarason, 2005). Impulsive physical violence is related to low levels of serotonin and one of its metabolites in spinal fluid, (Sarason, 2005). Anxiety has also been studied. It has become a very consistent component of Anti-social disorder (Sarason, 2005). People with anti-social disorder lack the ability to feel for others and will most likely hurt the people that are closest to them without remorse (Sarason, 2005). People with anti-social disorder are very difficult to diagnose and help. Their tendencies and personalities are very hard to understand (Sarason, 2005). In conclusion, our behavior is not only altered by genetics but is also altered by our brain and our nervous system. It is very difficult to find a direct diagnosis of a person without all medical history. There are numerous things that could affect a humans train of thought and the ability to cope in day to day life. Freuds theory shows that people are able to be aware of their ability to consciously think. We are constantly thinking on two levels, giving us the ability to make choices. We are able to think on a level of good or bad. We are able to capacitate many types of brain alterations. The brain is so complex making it very difficult for us to truly understand. We have the basis of how behavior can affect us. We can chose to listen to our preconscious as opposed to the conscious that is telling us to do the wrong thing. Or we can run through life with reckless disregard for others. We have the ability to make these choices for ourselves, given that we are aware of the malfunct ioning of our brains. Despite this, technology and diagnosis will continue to expand and diagnosis will become easier and easier.

Themes of Diceys Song by Cynthia Voigt :: essays research papers

There are several themes in the story Dicey?s Song by Cynthia Voigt. Some examples of them are the attraction of the unusual, the connection between reaching out and receiving, letting go by holding on and holding on by letting go, which all play an important role in this novel. The attraction of the unusual would refer to the appreciation of others to Dicey and her unusual ways. Dicey was used to rejecting the conventional and breaking traditional roles. She was annoyed with the predictability and shallowness of her classmates and others around her. She didn?t care about how she looked or what she wore or even how polite or impolite she was. Instead, she devoted her concern to her family. The people who were considered outcasts and were shut out from conventional life were the ones who reached out to Dicey. From this, we see they were attracted to the unusual. In the novel characters learn how to reach out to one another. For example, in the beginning Gram completely secluded herself from the community and also her family but in the end opens herself up to the rest of the Tillerman children and also to others such as Mr. Lingerie, Maybeth?s obese piano teacher. Dicey learns how to except a helping hand from others such as Mina, a classmate who defends her when accused of plagiarism, and a ride home from Jeff a guitar-playing loner. From this, it shows the connection between reaching out and receiving. Throughout her entire stay in Crisfield, Dicey practiced letting go by holding on and holding on by letting go. She eventually lets Gram take control as the parental figure in the house and through this is able to hold on to her family. Also, in the past Dicey tried to hide her feelings about upsetting events in her life, but when Momma dies she reflected on those memories and was finally able to let go. In other words, Dicey learns how to let go but also hold on.

Twilight 16. CARLISLE

16. CARLISLE He led me back to the room that he'd pointed out as Carlisle's office. He paused outside the door for an instant. â€Å"Come in,† Carlisle's voice invited. Edward opened the door to a high-ceilinged room with tall, west-facing windows. The walls were paneled again, in a darker wood – where they were visible. Most of the wall space was taken up by towering bookshelves that reached high above my head and held more books than I'd ever seen outside a library. Carlisle sat behind a huge mahogany desk in a leather chair. He was just placing a bookmark in the pages of the thick volume he held. The room was how I'd always imagined a college dean's would look – only Carlisle looked too young to fit the part. â€Å"What can I do for you?† he asked us pleasantly, rising from his seat. â€Å"I wanted to show Bella some of our history,† Edward said. â€Å"Well, your history, actually.† â€Å"We didn't mean to disturb you,† I apologized. â€Å"Not at all. Where are you going to start?† â€Å"The Waggoner,† Edward replied, placing one hand lightly on my shoulder and spinning me around to look back toward the door we'd just come through. Every time he touched me, in even the most casual way, my heart had an audible reaction. It was more embarrassing with Carlisle there. The wall we faced now was different from the others. Instead of bookshelves, this wall was crowded with framed pictures of all sizes, some in vibrant colors, others dull monochromes. I searched for some logic, some binding motif the collection had in common, but I found nothing in my hasty examination. Edward pulled me toward the far left side, standing me in front of a small square oil painting in a plain wooden frame. This one did not stand out among the bigger and brighter pieces; painted in varying tones of sepia, it depicted a miniature city full of steeply slanted roofs, with thin spires atop a few scattered towers. A wide river filled the foreground, crossed by a bridge covered with structures that looked like tiny cathedrals. â€Å"London in the sixteen-fifties,† Edward said. â€Å"The London of my youth,† Carlisle added, from a few feet behind us. I flinched; I hadn't heard him approach. Edward squeezed my hand. â€Å"Will you tell the story?† Edward asked. I twisted a little to see Carlisle's reaction. He met my glance and smiled. â€Å"I would,† he replied. â€Å"But I'm actually running a bit late. The hospital called this morning – Dr. Snow is taking a sick day. Besides, you know the stories as well as I do,† he added, grinning at Edward now. It was a strange combination to absorb – the everyday concerns of the town doctor stuck in the middle of a discussion of his early days in seventeenth-century London. It was also unsettling to know that he spoke aloud only for my benefit. After another warm smile for me, Carlisle left the room. I stared at the little picture of Carlisle's hometown for a long moment. â€Å"What happened then?† I finally asked, staring up at Edward, who was watching me. â€Å"When he realized what had happened to him?† He glanced back to the paintings, and I looked to see which image caught his interest now. It was a larger landscape in dull fall colors – an empty, shadowed meadow in a forest, with a craggy peak in the distance. â€Å"When he knew what he had become,† Edward said quietly, â€Å"he rebelled against it. He tried to destroy himself. But that's not easily done.† â€Å"How?† I didn't mean to say it aloud, but the word broke through my shock. â€Å"He jumped from great heights,† Edward told me, his voice impassive. â€Å"He tried to drown himself in the ocean†¦ but he was young to the new life, and very strong. It is amazing that he was able to resist†¦ feeding†¦ while he was still so new. The instinct is more powerful then, it takes over everything. But he was so repelled by himself that he had the strength to try to kill himself with starvation.† â€Å"Is that possible?† My voice was faint. â€Å"No, there are very few ways we can be killed.† I opened my mouth to ask, but he spoke before I could. â€Å"So he grew very hungry, and eventually weak. He strayed as far as he could from the human populace, recognizing that his willpower was weakening, too. For months he wandered by night, seeking the loneliest places, loathing himself. â€Å"One night, a herd of deer passed his hiding place. He was so wild with thirst that he attacked without a thought. His strength returned and he realized there was an alternative to being the vile monster he feared. Had he not eaten venison in his former life? Over the next months his new philosophy was born. He could exist without being a demon. He found himself again. â€Å"He began to make better use of his time. He'd always been intelligent, eager to learn. Now he had unlimited time before him. He studied by night, planned by day. He swam to France and -â€Å" â€Å"He swam to France?† â€Å"People swim the Channel all the time, Bella,† he reminded me patiently. â€Å"That's true, I guess. It just sounded funny in that context. Go on.† â€Å"Swimming is easy for us -â€Å" â€Å"Everything is easy for you,† I griped. He waited, his expression amused. â€Å"I won't interrupt again, I promise.† He chuckled darkly, and finished his sentence. â€Å"Because, technically, we don't need to breathe.† â€Å"You -â€Å" â€Å"No, no, you promised.† He laughed, putting his cold finger lightly to my lips. â€Å"Do you want to hear the story or not?† â€Å"You can't spring something like that on me, and then expect me not to say anything,† I mumbled against his finger. He lifted his hand, moving it to rest against my neck. The speed of my heart reacted to that, but I persisted. â€Å"You don't have to breathe?† I demanded. â€Å"No, it's not necessary. Just a habit.† He shrugged. â€Å"How long can you go†¦ without breathing?† â€Å"Indefinitely, I suppose; I don't know. It gets a bit uncomfortable – being without a sense of smell.† â€Å"A bit uncomfortable,† I echoed. I wasn't paying attention to my own expression, but something in it made him grow somber. His hand dropped to his side and he stood very still, his eyes intent on my face. The silence lengthened. His features were immobile as stone. â€Å"What is it?† I whispered, touching his frozen face. His face softened under my hand, and he sighed. â€Å"I keep waiting for it to happen.† â€Å"For what to happen?† â€Å"I know that at some point, something I tell you or something you see is going to be too much. And then you'll run away from me, screaming as you go.† He smiled half a smile, but his eyes were serious. â€Å"I won't stop you. I want this to happen, because I want you to be safe. And yet, I want to be with you. The two desires are impossible to reconcile†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He trailed off, staring at my face. Waiting. â€Å"I'm not running anywhere,† I promised. â€Å"We'll see,† he said, smiling again. I frowned at him. â€Å"So, go on – Carlisle was swimming to France.† He paused, getting back into his story. Reflexively, his eyes flickered to another picture – the most colorful of them all, the most ornately framed, and the largest; it was twice as wide as the door it hung next to. The canvas overflowed with bright figures in swirling robes, writhing around long pillars and off marbled balconies. I couldn't tell if it represented Greek mythology, or if the characters floating in the clouds above were meant to be biblical. â€Å"Carlisle swam to France, and continued on through Europe, to the universities there. By night he studied music, science, medicine – and found his calling, his penance, in that, in saving human lives.† His expression became awed, almost reverent. â€Å"I can't adequately describe the struggle; it took Carlisle two centuries of torturous effort to perfect his self-control. Now he is all but immune to the scent of human blood, and he is able to do the work he loves without agony. He finds a great deal of peace there, at the hospital†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Edward stared off into space for a long moment. Suddenly he seemed to recall his purpose. He tapped his finger against the huge painting in front of us. â€Å"He was studying in Italy when he discovered the others there. They were much more civilized and educated than the wraiths of the London sewers.† He touched a comparatively sedate quartet of figures painted on the highest balcony, looking down calmly on the mayhem below them. I examined the grouping carefully and realized, with a startled laugh, that I recognized the golden-haired man. â€Å"Solimena was greatly inspired by Carlisle's friends. He often painted them as gods,† Edward chuckled. â€Å"Aro, Marcus, Caius,† he said, indicating the other three, two black-haired, one snowy-white. â€Å"Nighttime patrons of the arts.† â€Å"What happened to them?† I wondered aloud, my fingertip hovering a centimeter from the figures on the canvas. â€Å"They're still there.† He shrugged. â€Å"As they have been for who knows how many millennia. Carlisle stayed with them only for a short time, just a few decades. He greatly admired their civility, their refinement, but they persisted in trying to cure his aversion to ‘his natural food source,' as they called it. They tried to persuade him, and he tried to persuade them, to no avail. At that point, Carlisle decided to try the New World. He dreamed of finding others like himself. He was very lonely, you see. â€Å"He didn't find anyone for a long time. But, as monsters became the stuff of fairy tales, he found he could interact with unsuspecting humans as if he were one of them. He began practicing medicine. But the companionship he craved evaded him; he couldn't risk familiarity. â€Å"When the influenza epidemic hit, he was working nights in a hospital in Chicago. He'd been turning over an idea in his mind for several years, and he had almost decided to act – since he couldn't find a companion, he would create one. He wasn't absolutely sure how his own transformation had occurred, so he was hesitant. And he was loath to steal anyone's life the way his had been stolen. It was in that frame of mind that he found me. There was no hope for me; I was left in a ward with the dying. He had nursed my parents, and knew I was alone. He decided to try†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His voice, nearly a whisper now, trailed off. He stared unseeingly through the west windows. I wondered which images filled his mind now, Carlisle's memories or his own. I waited quietly. When he turned back to me, a gentle angel's smile lit his expression. â€Å"And so we've come full circle,† he concluded. â€Å"Have you always stayed with Carlisle, then?† I wondered. â€Å"Almost always.† He put his hand lightly on my waist and pulled me with him as he walked through the door. I stared back at the wall of pictures, wondering if I would ever get to hear the other stories. Edward didn't say any more as we walked down the hall, so I asked, â€Å"Almost?† He sighed, seeming reluctant to answer. â€Å"Well, I had a typical bout of rebellious adolescence – about ten years after I was†¦ born†¦ created, whatever you want to call it. I wasn't sold on his life of abstinence, and I resented him for curbing my appetite. So I went off on my own for a time.† â€Å"Really?† I was intrigued, rather than frightened, as I perhaps should have been. He could tell. I vaguely realized that we were headed up the next flight of stairs, but I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings. â€Å"That doesn't repulse you?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"I guess†¦ it sounds reasonable.† He barked a laugh, more loudly than before. We were at the top of the stairs now, in another paneled hallway. â€Å"From the time of my new birth,† he murmured, â€Å"I had the advantage of knowing what everyone around me was thinking, both human and non-human alike. That's why it took me ten years to defy Carlisle – I could read his perfect sincerity, understand exactly why he lived the way he did. â€Å"It took me only a few years to return to Carlisle and recommit to his vision. I thought I would be exempt from the†¦ depression†¦ that accompanies a conscience. Because I knew the thoughts of my prey, I could pass over the innocent and pursue only the evil. If I followed a murderer down a dark alley where he stalked a young girl – if I saved her, then surely I wasn't so terrible.† I shivered, imagining only too clearly what he described – the alley at night, the frightened girl, the dark man behind her. And Edward, Edward as he hunted, terrible and glorious as a young god, unstoppable. Would she have been grateful, that girl, or more frightened than before? â€Å"But as time went on, I began to see the monster in my eyes. I couldn't escape the debt of so much human life taken, no matter how justified. And I went back to Carlisle and Esme. They welcomed me back like the prodigal. It was more than I deserved.† We'd come to a stop in front of the last door in the hall. â€Å"My room,† he informed me, opening it and pulling me through. His room faced south, with a wall-sized window like the great room below. The whole back side of the house must be glass. His view looked down on the winding Sol Duc River, across the untouched forest to the Olympic Mountain range. The mountains were much closer than I would have believed. The western wall was completely covered with shelf after shelf of CDs. His room was better stocked than a music store. In the corner was a sophisticated-looking sound system, the kind I was afraid to touch because I'd be sure to break something. There was no bed, only a wide and inviting black leather sofa. The floor was covered with a thick golden carpet, and the walls were hung with heavy fabric in a slightly darker shade. â€Å"Good acoustics?† I guessed. He chuckled and nodded. He picked up a remote and turned the stereo on. It was quiet, but the soft jazz number sounded like the band was in the room with us. I went to look at his mind-boggling music collection. â€Å"How do you have these organized?† I asked, unable to find any rhyme or reason to the titles. He wasn't paying attention. â€Å"Ummm, by year, and then by personal preference within that frame,† he said absently. I turned, and he was looking at me with a peculiar expression in his eyes. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I was prepared to feel†¦ relieved. Having you know about everything, not needing to keep secrets from you. But I didn't expect to feel more than that. I like it. It makes me†¦ happy.† He shrugged, smiling slightly. â€Å"I'm glad,† I said, smiling back. I'd worried that he might regret telling me these things. It was good to know that wasn't the case. But then, as his eyes dissected my expression, his smile faded and his forehead creased. â€Å"You're still waiting for the running and the screaming, aren't you?† I guessed. A faint smile touched his lips, and he nodded. â€Å"I hate to burst your bubble, but you're really not as scary as you think you are. I don't find you scary at all, actually,† I lied casually. He stopped, raising his eyebrows in blatant disbelief. Then he flashed a wide, wicked smile. â€Å"You really shouldn't have said that,† he chuckled. He growled, a low sound in the back of his throat; his lips curled back over his perfect teeth. His body shifted suddenly, half-crouched, tensed like a lion about to pounce. I backed away from him, glaring. â€Å"You wouldn't.† I didn't see him leap at me – it was much too fast. I only found myself suddenly airborne, and then we crashed onto the sofa, knocking it into the wall. All the while, his arms formed an iron cage of protection around me – I was barely jostled. But I still was gasping as I tried to right myself. He wasn't having that. He curled me into a ball against his chest, holding me more securely than iron chains. I glared at him in alarm, but he seemed well in control, his jaw relaxed as he grinned, his eyes bright only with humor. â€Å"You were saying?† he growled playfully. â€Å"That you are a very, very terrifying monster,† I said, my sarcasm marred a bit by my breathless voice. â€Å"Much better,† he approved. â€Å"Um.† I struggled. â€Å"Can I get up now?† He just laughed. â€Å"Can we come in?† a soft voice sounded from the hall. I struggled to free myself, but Edward merely readjusted me so that I was somewhat more conventionally seated on his lap. I could see it was Alice, then, and Jasper behind her in the doorway. My cheeks burned, but Edward seemed at ease. â€Å"Go ahead.† Edward was still chuckling quietly. Alice seemed to find nothing unusual in our embrace; she walked – almost danced, her movements were so graceful – to the center of the room, where she folded herself sinuously onto the floor. Jasper, however, paused at the door, his expression a trifle shocked. He stared at Edward's face, and I wondered if he was tasting the atmosphere with his unusual sensitivity. â€Å"It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch, and we came to see if you would share,† Alice announced. I stiffened for an instant, until I realized Edward was grinning – whether at her comment or my response, I couldn't tell. â€Å"Sorry, I don't believe I have enough to spare,† he replied, his arms holding me recklessly close. â€Å"Actually,† Jasper said, smiling despite himself as he walked into the room, â€Å"Alice says there's going to be a real storm tonight, and Emmett wants to play ball. Are you game?† The words were all common enough, but the context confused me. I gathered that Alice was a bit more reliable than the weatherman, though. Edward's eyes lit up, but he hesitated. â€Å"Of course you should bring Bella,† Alice chirped. I thought I saw Jasper throw a quick glance at her. â€Å"Do you want to go?† Edward asked me, excited, his expression vivid. â€Å"Sure.† I couldn't disappoint such a face. â€Å"Um, where are we going?† â€Å"We have to wait for thunder to play ball – you'll see why,† he promised. â€Å"Will I need an umbrella?† They all three laughed aloud. â€Å"Will she?† Jasper asked Alice. â€Å"No.† She was positive. â€Å"The storm will hit over town. It should be dry enough in the clearing.† â€Å"Good, then.† The enthusiasm in Jasper's voice was catching, naturally. I found myself eager, rather than scared stiff. â€Å"Let's go see if Carlisle will come.† Alice bounded up and to the door in a fashion that would break any ballerina's heart. â€Å"Like you don't know,† Jasper teased, and they were swiftly on their way. Jasper managed to inconspicuously close the door behind them. â€Å"What will we be playing?† I demanded. â€Å"You will be watching,† Edward clarified. â€Å"We will be playing baseball.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Vampires like baseball?† â€Å"It's the American pastime,† he said with mock solemnity.

Microbiology Chapter 1 Study Guide

Chapter 1 Notes * Robert Hooke * Discovered Cellulae (Cells) * Formed Basis of Cell Theory * 1. Cell basic unit of life * 2. All living organisms are made of cells * 3. Must have living cells to make more cells * Anton Von Leeuwenhoek * Father microbiology & microscopy * Discovered microorganisms (animalcules) * Disproved microorganisms were heaven sent * Put clean bowl out during rainstorm & no microorganism * Let sit * Days later microorganisms formed from air * Ferdinand Cohn Discovered endospores (enable some bacteria to survive adverse environmental conditions) * Why growth occurred in experiments that disproved/proved SG * Louis Pasteur * Definitive experiment that disproved SG * Fermentation * Pasteurization: heat liquid to temp. that kills the most heat resistant pathogen but NOT all (milk) * Vaccination against Rabies (Rhabdovirus), anthrax (bacillusanthracis), Chicken Cholera (bacterium) * Silkworm industry * Disease (protozoan) was killing silk moths * Developed a method t o detect diseased moths and separate * Lady Mary Montagu * Wife British Ambassador to Turkey * Developed Smallpox Observed Turkish women engrafting * Spread mild small pox to other by injecting into their veins * Patient would then be immune to smallpox * Reject because she was woman & not doctor/scientist * Carl Linnaeus * Developed science of taxonomy * Scientific Nomenclature * Binomial nomenclature * Process of giving all organisms 2 scientific names * Genus species * Edward Jenner * Discovered process of vaccination * Worked with cowpox & milkmaids * Milk cowpox scrap pustal scratch skin w/ needle develop mild cowpox immune to smallpox * John Snow * First epidemiologist Traced Cholera epidemic to common H2O pump that was contaminated * Ignaz Semmelweis * Puerperal Fever (child bed fever) major cause of mortality to mothers and infants * Death in midwife ward = low ; death in doctor/med student ward = high * Doctors/med students contact w/ cadavers that previously died from dise ase * Spread disease to living mothers * Required hand washing with chlorite of lime * Joseph Lister * Concerned with incidence of infection and mortality from surgery * Aseptic Surgery = used carbolic acid (phenol) on incision site, instruments, and bandages * John Tyndall Boiling was not sufficient to sterilize broths and agar * Tyndallization Process: * Liquid is heated to boiling (100Â °C) allowed to sit and cool for 24hours * Liquid is reheated to boiling (100Â °C) and then allow to cool and sit for another 24 hours * Repeat * Robert Koch * Developed concept of causative agent of disease (MO cause disease) * Germ Theory of Disease – developed many microbiological techniques, media and procedures * Tuberculin – thought founded vaccine (incorrect) .. use as first step to determine if person has TB * Fanny Hesse * Worked for Robert Koch Used Agar to convert liquid brother to slid medium * Koch’s Postulates (Identifying which bacteria causes which disease) * MO must be present in every case of the disease. Every host must have the same signs and symptoms of the disease * Isolate the microorganism and grow it in pure culture outside the host * Pure culture must be inoculated into a healthy susceptible host. Experimentally infected host must exhibit the same signs and symptoms of the disease * The Microorganism must be reisolated from the experimentally infected host and shown to be identical to the original MO * Paul Ehrlich Concept chemotherapy * Syphilis – Treponema palladium * Compound 606-Salvarsan (Arsenic containing compound) * Alexander Fleming * Accidently discovered antibiotics * Antibiotics = naturally produced compounds that inhibit the growth of other MOs * Working with Staphylococcus aureus (opportunistic pathogen- must be proper conditions to cause infection) * Most antibiotics produced by bacteria, followed by fungi * Martinus Beijerinck * Concept of Viruses * Soil microorganisms-isolated the first soil MOs * Sergei Winogradsky * Sulfur metabolism by microorganisms * Concept of nitrogen fixation * Biochemical cycles Symbiotic relationships * Barbara McClintock * Transposons – cause Maize (jumping genes- genes move themselves and create different color kernals) * James Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins * Structure of DNA * Molecular biology and genetics * Thomas Brock * Thermophilic microorganisms (high temperature loving microorganisms) * Thermus and Sulfolobus * Lynn Margulis * Endosymbiont Theory * Big prokaryotic cell engulfs little prokaryotic cell * Little survives insides but loses many functions (energy conversion, protein synthesis) * Little becomes mitochondria or chloroplast Eukaryotic Cell evolved * Carl B. Woese * Molecular systematic based on 16sRNA * Improved ability to identify MO * Stanley Prusinier * Discovered Prions * Protenaous Infectious Particles * Luc Montagnier * Discovered human immunodeficiency virus * Barry Marshall and Robin Warren * Causative agent of gastric & peptic ulcers * MO colonize in stomach * Disbelieved b. c stomach is so acidic and has enzymes * Antibiotics cure ulcers * Demonstrated effect pharmaceutical industry & practice of gastroenterology against 2 men