How to Write a Homeschooling Philosophy Statement

A homeschooling philosophy statement is a useful tool both for your own planning and for explaining what your student has learned to schools and colleges. It is easy to be swayed by the latest and greatest curriculum on the market or to stress when your student struggles academically. A homeschooling philosophy statement can help you evaluate curriculum choices in light of your homeschools purpose and keep your overall goals at the forefront when the steps to reach them are proving difficult. When your student begins applying to colleges, it is helpful to include an explanation of your goals and methods with his applications. It is particularly helpful for parents who use a narrative transcript that doesnt include grades to explain their familys goals in designing their homeschooling courses. Sample Homeschooling Philosophy Statement A homeschooling philosophy statement may include specific goals in some subjects, such as in the area of language arts, math, science, and social studies. Read this sample statement below, and use it as a model to create your own. Our Homeschooling Goals As teacher and parent, my goal in homeschooling is to give my children the skills and information they need to become successful adults. When presenting a subject, I focus on those aspects I believe will continue to be useful once the course is done. Instead of covering large amounts of material superficially, we try to delve more deeply into fewer topics. Whenever possible, I also try to let my children incorporate their own interests into whatever we are studying. For the most part we do not use textbooks, but rely on books written by experts for a general audience. The one exception is math, for which we use traditional textbooks. In addition, we use documentaries, videos, websites, magazines, and newspapers; related art, literature, drama and movies; news stories; family discussions; and hands-on projects and experiments. We also take advantage of classes, lectures, and performances for high school students or the general public at local colleges and other learning institutions. And we made field trips to museums, studios, workshops, farms, factories, parks and nature preserves, landmarks, and historic sites. Time is also allowed for pursuing individual interests and projects that are not part of any structured homeschool program. In my childrens case this included computer game design, robotics, writing, film making, and animation. I do not issue grades, except as required for early enrollment in community college classes. Testing is limited to standardized tests as required by the state, and tests in the math textbooks. Their level of understanding is demonstrated through discussion, writing, and other projects. Where workbooks and textbooks are used, we only move ahead when material is mastered, and go back and review when necessary. Language Arts The overall goal in language arts is to foster a love of reading and an appreciation for different types of literature and informational writing, to use their own writing as a creative outlet, and to develop the skills to entertain, convey information, and express opinions to other readers. Reading is done on an individual basis, as part of homeschool book discussion groups, and as a family. Selections include a mix of short stories, novels, non-fiction works and news and analysis. Plays and films are also given a critical analysis. Writing includes essays, research papers, poetry, creative writing, blogs, journals, and personal projects. Math In math, the goal is to help my children develop number sense by showing what is going on behind the algorithms and encouraging them to employ a variety of ways to solve a problem, if appropriate. We do this with carefully chosen textbooks, hands-on manipulatives, and by using math in other school projects and everyday life. Science For science, the goal is to understand the concepts underlying the different disciplines and how they apply to the world around us. We mainly focus on new discoveries and areas of research and their effect. A large part of our studies include designing and carrying out observations and hands-on lab activities. We also learn about scientists and science hobbyists through reading, videos, lectures, and visits to museums, research centers and colleges. Social Studies In social studies, the goal is to explore interesting people, places, and times throughout history around the world, and to gain the background needed to give context to present-day events. After covering the history of the world and the United States chronologically over several years (beginning in the elementary grades), we are focusing on special topics and on current events. Every year includes an in-depth history research project on a chosen topic. These can incorporate biographies, geography, literature, film, and visual arts. How to Write a Homeschooling Philosophy Statement To craft your own homeschooling philosophy or mission statement, ask yourself questions such as: What are my basic goals for homeschooling? When my children graduate, they should be able to...What are my overall goals for each subject?Why did we decide to homeschool?Why do we continue to homeschool?What do we hope to accomplish by homeschooling that could not be accomplished in a traditional school setting?What life skills do I want my children to have?What are our familys priorities (i.e. academic success, community involvement, specific character traits)?What does the ideal homeschool day look like to me? To my children?What are our goals, short-term and long-term?How is learning accomplished in our home?What materials do we use to accomplish our educational goals? Use your answers to those questions and the sample above to craft a unique philosophy statement that captures and outlines your familys homeschooling purpose. Updated by Kris Bales

Classification Essay Computer Users - 1146 Words

We all have at least one person in our life that is crazy about computers†¦ the sound of the keyboard typing away throughout all hours of the night. With the advanced technology society has brought us, it is a normal occurrence in your typical household. Since the computer has become so accessible to mostly everyone, life has become much easier for humans. What would we do without the Internet? You can find information on any topic you choose, from the click of a button or two, right at your fingertips. You can communicate with others from across the globe, or even look up movie times at your local movie theatre. Maybe you just want to get lost in a good videogame. With the computer taking over our daily lives, everyone takes advantage of†¦show more content†¦Some prefer the option of emails over using the telephone or instant messaging. Many will give out their emails to stores or businesses so they can be added to that businesses mailing list to receive various emails about coupons or special offers. The emailers will jump with joy over an unread email in their inbox because they are so excited to reply to the sender. They will be more than happy to reply, just to have that satisfaction of receiving an email. For some included in this category of computer users, they use email to keep in touch with distant relatives whom they do not often see. Not only used for personal issues; the emailers have also depended on the email for their career. Many will send out emails to colleagues to keep in touch with what the daily schedule includes. Emailers spend most of their time on the computer replying and writing new messages to certain individuals. Many of my friends are serious gamers. They have all the game systems from Xbox to Playstation to Wii. Some computer users spend all of their time playing games. These are the people who stay up to till dawn shooting and dodging bullets from other people on the Internet. â€Å"Gamers† tend to get addict ed to games; the first things they do when they get on the computer are check for people playing online or start new games to play. Most of these gamers even have all the accessories for the wholeShow MoreRelatedIs Internet Addiction Disorder? Essay1483 Words   |  6 PagesInternet use, refers to excessive computer use which interferes with daily life. Internet overuse, problematic computer use, or pathological computer use, problematic Internet use, or Internet addiction disorder. In the most recent version of the DSM-5, Internet Gaming Disorder is the latest term to describe this problem. History IAD was originally proposed as a disorder in a satirical hoax by Ivan Goldberg, M.D., in 1995, although some later researchers have taken his essay seriously. He used this termRead MoreRegulation on Cloud to Protect User Privacy1700 Words   |  7 PagesRegulation on Cloud to Protect User Privacy This essay writes about regulation that rules cloud provider to protect privacy of data citizens within country. First of all, this essay will describe about what cloud services that used nowadays, its wide range of services, and users motivation why they would use cloud services. In the second section, it will explain more about the security threat of cloud services and going more specific into privacy issue. The next section, I will discuss about theRead MoreInformation Technology Applications For A Team Of People3014 Words   |  13 Pagesis called groupware and in this essay I would like to extend the definition of groupware to also include software that enables collaboration between teams of individuals. Groupware, collaborative software or group support systems are all a type of software â€Å"with the main objective to make the interaction between people that work together easier and helping them to become more effective and efficient† (Sarmento, Lousa, Machado, 1999). Groupware/ collaborative/ Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)Read MoreDefinition Of Function Point Analysis1584 Words   |  7 Pageswhich means mapping out complex lighting algorithms. According to Gollapudi (n.s) the definition of Function Point Analysis (FPA) can be; one method for determining the software size by estimating the system functionality which provided to the end users supported on logical design. Moreover, this method is a form of top down estimation (Larson Et al. 2014) . Furthermore, Function Point Analysis (FPA) is actually one of the strong and standardized methods for defining various functions of softwareRead MoreAnalysis And Summary Of Cloud Computing1693 Words   |  7 Pagesbrief analysis and summary of cloud computing system. Presented the definition, character and the model of could computing will be the first part. Then, analyzed several advantages and disadvantages is the major part of this report. Finally, this essay will focus on application of this technology in different areas and its future. Table of Contents Cloud Computing 1 1.Introduction of clouding system 1 1.1 The definition of cloud computing 1 1.2 The characteristic of cloud computing 2 1.3 Cloud ComputingRead MoreThe Development And Challenge Of 3d Printing1294 Words   |  6 PagesDevelopment and Challenge of 3D Printing Introduction In recent years 3D printing arouses focus of public with appearing in a huge number of areas. In this essay, it will describe 3D printing which is one important application of rapid prototyping. Rapid prototyping (RP) is general for several techniques, which read in data from computer-aided design (CAD) drawings and manufacture automatically three-dimensional objects layer-by-layer according to the virtual design (Sanna 2008). 3D printing alsoRead MoreAnalysis And Summary Of Cloud Computing1706 Words   |  7 Pagesbrief analysis and summary of cloud computing system. Presented the definition, character and the model of could computing will be the first part. Then, analyzed several advantages and disadvantages is the major part of this report. Finally, this essay will focus on application of this technology in different areas and its future. Table of Contents Cloud Computing 1 1.Introduction of clouding system 1 1.1 The definition of cloud computing 1 1.2 The characteristic of cloud computing 2 1.3 Cloud ComputingRead MoreHuman Centered Design Is The Most Popular Two Methodologies996 Words   |  4 PagesDesign, Goal-Directed Design, etc, each method has its own unique approach for creating the design. Human-Centered Design and Activity-Centered Design are the most popular two methodologies. Because of Don Norman’s Essay: Human Design Considered Harmful, the controversy between the use of User-Centered Design and Activity- Centered Design become a hot debeat. Here I want to talk about two different design theories and some ideas about how to adapt a suitable design solution. Human Centered Design Human-CenteredRead MoreOnline Exams : An Assessment For Measuring A Test Taker s Knowledge, Skill, Aptitude, Or Classification932 Words   |  4 PagesAn examination is an assessment for measuring a test-taker’s knowledge, skill, aptitude, or classification in many other topics [Ikwueze, 2014]. In the educational fields, examinations play a significant role for helping instructors understand to what extent their students grasp some knowledge, so as to facilitate the instructors to tweak their teaching and further improve their students’ learning. Paper-based examinations are inconvenient for instructors to implement in the distance learning areaRead MoreLets Talk about E-Books and Their Advantages805 Words   |  3 PagesE-books is a good idea to improve our selves in reading. E-book is a book that displayed on a computer screen or on an electronic device that is held in the hand, instead of being printed on paper. The first e-book was equipped by Roberto Busa in the late of 194os. In my essay I will talk about the history of e-books, the differences between electronic books and traditional books and the advantages of e-books. E-book is an electronic book or digital book. It was public in digital form. Its easy

Marketing Entrepreneur - Free Samples - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about theMarketing Entrepreneur. Answer: Company and product Description Advertising and promoting the products and the services has been considered as the doors to the outside world. Marketing is the concept which aids the business entity in creating awareness about the products and the services. And hence, marketing entrepreneur can be considered as the individual who is the lead authority or the owner of the entity which deals with the operations and activities associated with marketing of a product. The below-executed analysis has been made focused on the term marketing entrepreneur. The further study has been executed on Qantas Airways which is a flag carrier of Australia. The business corporation has been considered as one of the largest airlines services in the economy in terms of fleet size. The company offers a quality of services for international flights and international destinations. The business entity was founded in Queensland outback in 1920 and since then showed a hike in the growth. The corporation is Australias one of the largest domest ic and international airlines services. Originally the company is registered as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited (QANTAS). The business enterprise has been regarded as one of the strongest brand names in Australia and is also one of the leading long distance airlines (Qantas 2017). The entity has built and maintained a reputation for providing excellent services in terms of safety and security, reliability, a technology used maintenance and services offered to the customers. The business entity offers transportation services to the customers through airlines. Further segmentation has been done for the products and services offered by the company. The Qantas group majorly offers transportation services to the customers by making use of two complementary airlines brands that are Qantas and Jet-star. The business entity also operates subsidiary businesses which include other airlines and businesses in specialist markets such as Q Catering. Moreover, the busines s corporation also operates in regional, domestic and international services. The Qantas Group has a broad portfolio of secondary businesses which has been operating from Qantas Freight Enterprises to Qantas Frequent Flyer. As the business organization operates in airlines the main products or the services which are offered by the entity are the transportation services and carriage services for the national and the international travelers. Moreover, the firm also offers a wide range of additional services to the service users, such as transportation services with their largest fleets, comfortable rides to the desired designations (Qantas 2017). The entity staves to offer the customers with a sense of safety and security so as ensuring the highest level of satisfaction to the consumers. Innovation in the products and services is one of the objectives of the business organization and hence the firm keeps on introducing additional features and services for the consumers. For instance, the food provided during traveling is of good quality with the sense of hygiene, another innovation in the service by the airlines are the sky-beds which are introduced in the business class. This service allows the travelers to take a nap during the long distance traveling. Target market The target market is the segmentation of the consumers which is done on the basis of some variables such as demographic, psychographic etc. This will aid the business entity in getting a clear idea about the type of customers and their features on which the company will design the products and services (Meyerson, 2015). A proper segmentation of customers will also enable the business entity to develop and design strategies and plans so as to serve the consumers with the best quality of services which will ensure a high level of satisfaction. As the business entity has been operating the business in the region of Australia and all over the globe, it offers the wide range of service to a large number population. The target market of the entity has been segmented in the various divisions. The business entity offers a wide range of services that too at the affordable price and hence the business corporation should focus on the local and middle-income level group individuals. They should concentrate on the consumers by offering various services and additional schemes such as advance booking benefits, free stays in hotels on bookings and good food at affordable range etc. Moreover, the second segment which can be selected for the target market by the company is the business class individual. This group of consumers has a good purchasing power as their income level is high (Ciotti, 2014). This segment can easily afford products and services with premium range. So the business corporation can develop and design some products and services which are luxurious and have some lavish features. For instance, Qantas airlines introduced sky-beds for the travelers who are traveling for long durations. This feature has been added for the business class consumers. Also, there is a star class in the airlines which offer various comforts and features to the consumers. The company can also improve the existing services offered and their in-flight interior so as to make the service us ers feel more comfortable while boarding their flight. The in-flight services of the business corporation should be so built that they should be able to satisfy their targeted customers by keeping them comfortable and providing them food and entertainment (Allurwar, Nawale and Patel, 2016). Comparatively, if the business entity is offering better services than the other airlines in the industry than the customers of the competitors will try to switch over the competing brands. Marketing strategies The term can be referred to an organizational strategy which does the task of combining the marketing objectives into one inclusive plan (Winston and Cahill, 2013). A marketing strategy is said to be a good when it is drawn from market research and concentrated on the relevant product mix so as to earn the maximum revenue, which in-turn will aid the business entity in sustaining in the business environment. Moreover, the marketing strategy can also be considered as the foundation f a marketing plan. This concept plays a crucial role in developing and attaining the goals and targets of the business corporation and also aids in sustaining and competing with the rivals. As mentioned in case of Qantas Airways, marketing strategies will aid the company in developing awareness about the products and services and will also enhance the market share. A marketing strategy analyzes all the aspects of the selling activities and aids each one which plays a supporting role for the next one. A mark eting strategy aids in developing the products and services which will serve them with the best and maximum profits. This is because a marketing strategy involves research of market place, by taking into consideration the target consumers and also about the competition and the trends in the markets. There are varied ranges of benefits which are served by the marketing strategy adopted by the business corporation (Hollensen, 2015). In order to attain all the benefits, Qantas Airways can attain the below-described marketing strategies which will aid them in attaining the above-mentioned benefits: The business entity is an Australian enterprise which has aimed at providing a high range of services through the high standard of flights to Australian consumers and both a domestic and international scale (De Mooij, 2013). Through the adoption of the effective marketing mix, the business entity can make the successful implementation of the marketing strategies so as to ensure the reputation which has been maintained for offering high quality of services. The below presented is a customized marketing mix which can be adopted by Qantas Airlines for gaining competitive advantage and sustaining in the business environment: Positioning In this case, positioning refers to the image of the Qantas which is related to the competitors. The business entity has been making the varied range of positioning strategies for building and establishing the image of the brand in the market (Shaw, 2016). The business entity has launched Jet-Star, this will aid the business to sustain in the competitive environment and will also lead to attaining competitive advantage. Moreover, this strategy will also enable Qantas to bring an enhancement in the market share and by attracting the customers of the competing airlines. The further focus has been given to the business consumers. For instance, the city flyer express service, lounge upgrades (McDonald and Wilson, 2016), Qantas club services and frequent flyer survives are one of the schemes which has been introduced by the business entity while considering the business class people. Product The products of the business entity are the transportation services and other additional services are offered by the business entity so as to meet the needs of the consumers (Pearson, 2016). All the products and the services are designed and developed after determining and considering the needs and requirements of the service users. For instance, the business corporation has low budget flights with a quality of services which offers a wide range of services to the middle-class people and whereas the luxurious fleets which offer lavish features and comforts are also made available for the business class people. Price This component has been considered as a crucial element for any of the marketing plan (Belobaba, Odoni and Barnhart, 2015). The business corporation offers a wide range of pricing plans and packages for the consumers and the same are designed after considering the various segments the target market and consumers. For instance, the fares are high with additional features and facilities for the business class fleets whereas, the business entity offers an affordable range of pricing packages for the lower and middle-class people with basic features with good quality (West, Ford and Ibrahim, 2015). Moreover, competition is also one of the factors which determine the pricing policies and strategies of the business entity and is also considered as liable in stimulating the same. Place Direct and indirect are the two ways by which the business entity has gained a benefit in the distribution of the services to the potential consumers (Peck et al., 2013). Direct sales and distribution refer to the products and services offered through the retail outlet's ticket outlets, the internet etc. The Internet can be considered as the largest emerging distribution and is also easily accessible for all the service users. On the basis of the conducted research, it has been concluded 67% of domestic booking and 51% of international bookings for the business entity has been done by making use of the web page of the company. This platform is not expensive and also does not require any kind of regular maintenance and hence will be proven beneficial for the business corporation (Jarach, 2017). Promotion Promotion is the mechanisms which enable the business corporation to communicate and develop relations with the consumers. Qantas have the link with some advertising agencies so as to promote the products and services so as to attain local consumers within the economy. Moreover, the business entity can also utilize some contemporary platforms of promotions such as social media. Moreover, the corporation also has an online portal for consumers. This platform can also be enhanced and developed in terms of features (Williams, 2017). This will enhance the access and usability of the online portal and will aid in the promotion of Business Corporation. Conclusion In the limelight of the above-executed analysis, it has been concluded that marketing and advertisements are the basic pillars for any of the business corporation for developing the market and establishing the brand name in the mind of the consumers. Qantas Airways is a multinational corporation who serves the consumers with the transportation services within Australia and other international destinations. The above-executed analysis has been made focusing on the company background which comprises of the overview of the organization and all the basic information about the operations and functionalities of the business entity. Moreover a brief description of the products and the services served by the firm to the potential consumers. The further segmentation of the analysis involves the target market which has been selected by the business corporation for establishing the products in the market. The last part comprises of the marketing strategies adopted by the business entity so as t o advertise the products and develop the market so as to sustain in the competitive environment. References Meyerson, M., 2015.Success secrets of the online marketing superstars. Entrepreneur Press. Ciotti, G., 2014. The psychology of color in marketing and branding.electronic resource].Mode of access: https://www. helpscout. net/blog/psychologyofcolor. Allurwar, N., Nawale, B. and Patel, S., 2016. Beacon for proximity target marketing.Int. J. Eng. Comput. Sci,15, pp.16359-16364. Winston, W. and Cahill, D.J., 2013.How consumers pick a hotel: strategic segmentation and target marketing. Routledge. Hollensen, S., 2015.Marketing management: A relationship approach. Pearson Education. De Mooij, M., 2013.Global marketing and advertising: Understanding cultural paradoxes. Sage Publications. Shaw, S., 2016.Airline marketing and management. Routledge. McDonald, M. and Wilson, H., 2016.Marketing Plans: How to prepare them, how to profit from them. John Wiley Sons. Pearson, S., 2016.Building brands directly: creating business value from customer relationships. Springer. Belobaba, P., Odoni, A. and Barnhart, C. eds., 2015.The global airline industry. John Wiley Sons. West, D.C., Ford, J. and Ibrahim, E., 2015.Strategic marketing: creating competitive advantage. Oxford University Press, USA. Peck, H., Christopher, M., Clark, M. and Payne, A., 2013.Relationship marketing. Taylor Francis. Jarach, D., 2017.Airport marketing: Strategies to cope with the new millennium environment. Routledge. Williams, G., 2017.The airline industry and the impact of deregulation. Routledge. Qantas, 2017, Qantas products, Assessed on 14th September 2017, https://www.qantas.com/agents_us/dyn/usqf/info/qantasproduct. Qantas, 2017, Our company, Assessed on 14th September 2017, https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/company/global/en.

Case Study Osteoporosis free essay sample

Thus, over time, there is loss of total bone volume. While everyone experiences slow, gradual loss in bone volume after age 30, those with osteoporosis have accelerated loss. 4. Describe the microscopic features of osseous tissue that normally help long bones withstand lateral stress without breaking. A lateral stress placed on a bone (e. g. on Margarets right femur) actually causes (A) compression of the bone on the side of impact and (B) stretching (tearing) on the side opposite of the impact. Mid-way through the bone, these compressive and tearing forces cancel each other out, and thus tough, compact bone is not needed in the middle. Instead, this middle area (or medullary cavity) is filled with yellow and red bone marrow. The outer rim (or bony collar) is what experiences the greatest stress on lateral impact. It withstands this stress in the following ways: (A) On the side of impact, the bony collar withstands compressive crushing by virtue of the tough hydroxyapatite crystals in its extracellular matrix. Arranged in concentric layers within the osteons (Haversian systems) of compact bone, these hydroxyapatite crystals serve as weight-bearing pillars for the bone. B) On the side opposite of the impact, the bony collar withstands tearing apart by virtue of the vertically arranged bundles of tough collagen in the extracellular matrix of bone. This collagen is oriented in a spiraling vertical pattern in which the fibers in each concentric lamella are roughly perpendicular to those in adjacent lamellae (i. e. a plywood-like design). 5. Describe the microscopic features of osseous tissue that normally help long bones withstand compressive stress without breaking. Surgeons performed an open reduction of Margarets fracture, immobilizing the bones with internal pins. The bony collar of long bones helps them withstand compressive stress by the mechanism described in #4A above (i. e. hydroxyapatite, weight-bearing pillars). In addition, long bones also withstand compressive forces by virtue of the spongy (cancellous) bone in the epiphyses. The interlocking network of bony plates (called trabeculae) found in spongy bone help to distribute the weight of the body out to the tough bony collar of the diaphysis. In this way, bony plates act much like the trusses or struts in old-time railroad bridges which distribute the weight of the train evenly over the entire bridge. Given the above considerations, Margarets osteoporotic femurs are vulnerable to fracture because of (A) the loss of spongy bone in the epiphyses and (B) the thinning of the bony collar in the diaphysis. 6. Describe the changes that a broken bone undergoes as it is healing. Steps in repair: A. fracture hematoma (i. e. blood clot) forms B. soft tissue callus(1st 3 to 4 weeks)| fibroblasts and osteoblasts migrate in from the periosteum and endosteum- fibroblasts lay down a collagen matrix some of the fibroblasts differentiate into chondroblasts (i. e. cartilage-forming cells) and lay down a fibrocartilage splint (i. e. oft tissue callus)| C. bony callus(starting 3 to 4 weeksafter the injury)| osteoblasts begin to replace the fibrocartilage splint with spongy and compact bone, forming a bulge that is initially wider than the original bony shaft| D. bone remodeling| as the patient starts to use (or bear weight on) the bone, the bone starts to remodel along lines of maximal stress (thi s remodeling process requires the activity of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts| 7. During her long recovery, Margaret is advised by her physician to begin weight-bearing as soon as she can. How does weight-bearing influence the process you described in question #6? Be specific in your answer and describe what weight-bearing does to bone at the microscopic level. ) The most popular hypothesis regarding the effect of weight-bearing on bone remodeling is called Wolffs law . Wolffs law states that bone grows and remodels in response to the mechanical stresses placed upon it (e. g. from muscle pull or gravitational pull). Thus, bone is laid down along lines of maximal stress. This is presumably why: A. long bones are the thickest midway down the diaphysis, where the stresses are the greatest. B. curved bones are the thickest where they are most likely to buckle (e. . note the thick greater trochanter of the proximal femur). C. the bony plates in spongy bone are oriented like weight-beari ng trusses. D. large bony processes are located where muscles attach to (and pull on) bone. When Margaret begins to bear weight on her right femur, she is introducing a lateral stress in the direction shown below: Physiological measurements reveal that placing stress on a bone generates a negative electrical charge on the compressed surfaces of the bone and a positive electrical charge on the stretched surfaces of the bone (see above drawing). Furthermore, studies have shown that negatively charged bony surfaces prevent parathyroid hormone (PTH) from stimulating bone resorption by osteoclasts. Thus, bone builds up in these areas. Conversely, bone resorption occurs on positively charged bony surfaces. Therefore, when Margaret begins to bear weight on her right femur, she is stimulating new bone formation on the medial side of her proximal femur and bone resorption on the lateral side of her femur. The net result of this remodeling process is the formation of a bone that is ideally designed for the stresses that it will most likely encounter. This is why physicians encourage weight-bearing as soon as possible during the bone-healing process. 8. Aside from any effect on the healing process, why else might Margarets physician want her to avoid a prolonged period of bed-ridden inactivity? Extended bed rest can have detrimental effects on an individual, especially if that individual is elderly. Prolonged bedrest increases ones risk of developing bedsores, respiratory infections, thrombophlebitis with possible pulmonary embolism as a complication, and further loss of bone volume (i. e. exacerbating Margarets already present osteoporosis). This last point, in fact, is an excellent illustration of the other side of Wolffs law i. e. bone is reabsorbed where it is no longer needed. Prolonged bed rest and immobility means less daily stress placed upon the skeleton. Over time, bone mass will be lost. This is seen in astronauts who spend several weeks in space the loss of gravity means that less stress is placed on the weight-bearing bones. Upon their return to earth, these astronauts are found to have notable loss in bone volume. 9. What risk factors does Margaret have for osteoporosis? Margaret has several risk factors for osteoporosis: A. She is elderly. (Osteoporosis is more common in the elderly, particularly postmenopausal women. ) B. She is a cigarette smoker. C. She is Caucasian. (Osteoporosis is more common in Caucasians than in individuals of other races. ) D. She is sedentary. (This lack of exercise means that she is placing less stress on her skeleton see discussion of Wolffs law in question #7. ) Other potential risk factors for osteoporosis include: A. estrogen depletion (the primary reason why postmenopausal women are commonly affected) B. decreased bone mass at the end of development C. testosterone depletion D. alcohol abuse E. alcium deficiency (especially a problem in the elderly because of decreased intestinal absorption of calcium). 10. What parts of the skeleton (i. e. what bones) are most vulnerable to the ravages of osteoporosis? The loss in bone volume due to osteoporosis is seen throughout the skeleton, affecting spongy bone slightly more than it affects compact bone. This loss in bone volume p laces bones at risk for fracture. The most common site of fracture is in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae. Fractures here are typically compression fractures which may occur slowly and gradually over time, or occur suddenly. The gradual compression of the anterior portion of the vertebral bodies in the cervical and thoracic vertebrae give rise to the kyphosis deformity (humpback) of osteoporosis. Another common place for a fracture is in the distal radius, as the victim of osteoporosis attempts to break his/her fall by reaching out with the hands. The proximal femur is another common site of fracture (as occurred in Margaret). These hip fractures occur primarily in individuals over 75 and are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality (for reasons discussed in #8 above). Hip fractures are almost always associated with a fall, but it is not always clear whether the fracture precedes or follows the fall. Osteoporosis affects over 20 million Americans. In addition, over 1. 5 million people over age 45 suffer from osteoporosis-related fractures annually, most common of which are fractures of the hip, vertebrae, and limb bones The medical cost of treating patients with osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures was estimated in 1990 to exceed $10 billion annually. This number will rise as the baby boomers age. 11. Following her recovery, Margaret was placed on three medications: (A) oral calcium supplementation,(B) oral estrogen, and (C) oral alendronate sodium (Fosamax). Specifically describe how each of these medications works to treat Margarets condition. (A) oral calcium supplementation Calcium provides an important raw material for bone formation. (B) oral estrogen Studies clearly show that estrogen deficiency can accelerate osteoporosis, but the mechanism for the protective effect of estrogen is not clear. Estrogen may stimulate osteoblasts to lay down new bone (estrogen receptors have recently been found on osteoblasts). C) oral alendronate sodium (Fosamax) This drug inhibits the bone resorbing capabilities of osteoclasts. 12. Other treatments for osteoporosis include (A) sodium fluoride and (B) calcitonin. Describe how each of these medications works to treat osteoporosis. (A) sodium fluoride Sodium fluoride specifically stimulates new bone formation by activating osteoblasts. (B) calcitonin Calcitonin is a natural peptide hormone secreted by C-cells in the thyroid gland. Calcitonin is an inhibitor of osteoclasts, and thus slows down bone resorption. It also increases vitamin D production and absorption of calcium in the small intestine.