Paige Truitt Essays - Mammaliaformes, , Term Papers

Paige Truitt Eng. 190 Prof. Barron 9 November, 2017 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Missouri Deer Chronic Wasting Disease is a deadly illness in white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family, known as cervids. CWD is a neurological disease that deteriorates the brain tissue, causing emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions, and death. It belongs to a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE's) This group of diseases includes scrapie that affects sheep, mad cow disease (BSE) affecting cattle, and transmittable mink encephalopathy in farmed mink. Several rare human diseases are TSEs, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which naturally occurs in one of one million people worldwide per year. Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has been associated with the large-scale outbreak of BSE in cattle herds in Great Britain (CWD Info) The first case of CWD in Missouri was found on Heartland Ranch, a deer farm in Ethyl, Missouri, February 25, 2010. The farm has since shut down operations, and sold the property to a group from Louisiana, who still sell wildlife hunts that include red stag, whitetail, exotic and domestic turkey spring hunts, under the new name of Winter Quarters Wildlife Ranch (Durkee). The outbreak affected my family farm, and other local farms. The deer herd was severely altered. It is estimated that the disease affects 1 in 10, 10 percent, of free range wild deer and elk (MDC). Due to how contagious Chronic Wasting Disease is, hunters were given new rules to follow. Salt and Mineral blocks were banned in many counties (Morse), including Linn, which is where my family farm is. It was a very common occurrence in the years 2011-2015 to find dead deer in ponds or creeks that had died because of CWD. When an animal is sick, it tries to find water, this includes deer. The disease withers their body into skin and bones.It's not hard to distinguish a dead deer with the disease. This was my own personal experience. In the past few years, we have seen the deer number rise back to previous years, like before the outbreak. While the numbers of infected deer in Linn County are decreasing, other counties like Knox, Adair, and Macon are still heavily affected. In 2016, there were 42 confirmed cases of Cwd in Missouri, including ten cases in Adair county, 23 cases in Macon county, and 7 cases in Knox county (MDC). Many find that the introduction of the disease was preventable. It brings to light many issues with deer farming; bringing animals across state lines, exposing new diseases, and bringing animals where they are not naturally from. It brings up questions on the morality of the establishment. Deer farms usually consist of 8-10 foot tall fences, enclosing monstrous deer that have been shot full of growth hormones, minerals, and vitamins to make the rack grow way larger than wild deer. The antlers get so heavy that it can cause neck and spine issues for the deer who bares them. The purpose of farming deer like this, is to sell the deer to hunters who want to shoot the biggest buck, for a large chunk of cash (Sabblow). The process is harming the deer, for the thrill of the hunter, which I find unethical. The conservation department has set up mandatory CWD testing stations in Missouri, for opening weekend of Missouri Rifle Season. Sampling locations are open from 7:30 a.m. until at least 8 p.m. The deer must be presented by the hunter who harvested the animal. Hunters will be asked to identify the location within the county the deer was harvested. The deer may be field dressed before being taken to a sampling station. Hunters have the option of presenting just the deer head with about six inches of neck attached. For bucks bound to a taxidermist, the cape may be removed prior to being taken to a sampling station as long as about six inches of the neck is left attached (MDC). This hunting season, I was lucky to harvest an antlered buck that fell into the category of deer bound for the taxidermist. When we showed up to the check station, a Missouri Conservation Agent asked if we were taking this deer to

Monologue from the play Cinema Limbo by Wade Bradford

Monologue from the play Cinema Limbo by Wade Bradford This comedic female monologue can be used for auditions and classroom performances. The setting is the  current day in an unspecified geographic location, allowing the performer to make her own choices of accent. The character is entering college, so can be assumed to be about age 18, youthful and not yet worldly. Its appropriate for high school and college drama classes. Context of the Monologue This scene is taken from the short play, Cinema Limbo by Wade Bradford. College-bound Vicky is an assistant manager of a movie theater. Every geeky, dorky employee is attracted to her. Although she is amused by their attraction, she has yet to fall in love. The full play is a two-person play of only 10 minutes in length. It may be used to help build the character for a performer who plans to use the monologue. Monologue VICKY:I’m the kind of girl who takes pity on poor pathetic geeks who have never kissed a girl. Let’s just say that I like someone who is easily trainable- someone who will truly appreciate me. It’s sad, I know. But hey, I’ll take an ego boost wherever I can get it. Unfortunately, these adorably nerdy boyfriends get boring after a while. I mean, I can only listen to their computer games and mathematic equations for so long. Of course, Stuart’s different in a lot of ways. He’s terrible at math, for one. And he’s pretty clueless about technology. But he’s a comic book sort of geek. And a hopeless romantic. He’s pre-occupied with holding my hand. Everywhere we go, he wants to hold hands. Even when we’re driving. And he’s got this new pastime. He keeps saying â€Å"I love you.† It was so sweet and wonderful the first time he said it. I almost cried, and I’m not the kind of girl who cries easily. But by the end of the week, he must have said â€Å"I love you† about five hundred times. And then he starts adding pet names. â€Å"I love you, honey bunch.† â€Å"I love you, sweetheart.† â€Å"I love you my little smoochy-woochy-coochi-koo.† I don’t even know what that last one means. It’s like he’s speaking in some brand-new, love-infected language. Who would have thought romance could be so boring? Notes on the Monologue In the original context, Vicky was discussing her job at the theater with a fellow employee, Joshua. She is attracted to him and they banter about the job and her relationship with Stuart, who was a grade school classmate of Joshua. The monologue can also be delivered as an introspective piece rather than as part of a conversation, imagining that Vicky is voicing her thoughts to the audience rather than to Joshua. The monologue gives the performer a chance to show a blend of innocence, naivete, callousness, and even a touch of cruelty. How much of each is displayed will be a choice of the performer. Its a piece that allows the performer to explore the themes of coming of age, exploring relationships, sensitivity to the emotions of others, and the responsibilities of adulthood.

Sociology paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sociology paper - Essay Example Because of their physical strength of men believe that they are more competent than women. This attitude has been persistent in world history and religion and culture have always tried to reinforce this belief. The female sex is perceived to be weak and feeble, and this becomes the cornerstone of sexism. For this reason women face more domestic violence than men (Brinkerhoff, Lynn, Suzanne & Rose, 2008). The belief is so ubiquitous that from childhood the same attitudes are inculcated in children and this is how it has become a social problem. It is very important to identify sexism as a problem and only then a solution can be prescribed. The education system can play a key role in it. Children should be taught at a very early age that men and women are equal. Role play exercises can be sued to break the stigma about particular jobs being more ‘female’. Also gender discrimination laws should be made stronger so that punitive action can repel sexist practices from

Employment Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Employment Law - Case Study Example The 2004 Regulations clearly state that "it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person . . . on the grounds of religious belief". The exact nature of "religious belief" was much debated in the drafting of the Act, but it was apparently kept deliberately vague in order to cover as many cases as possible. If the religious belief directly effects a person's performance on the job (or lack thereof) then it would appear that an employer cannot be held liable for discrimination if the employee is fired. Two recent cases are very relevant to Sandeep's possible action. In Hazmi vs. Headfield Church of England Junior School a recent employment tribunal dismissed three claims of discrimination and harassment on religious grounds made by a Muslim woman, Aishah Azmi, who refused to remove her veil in the classroom. The school she was working ofr sacked herThe main thrust of Azmi's argument was that she was prepared and even willing to remove her veil in front of children, but not when male colleagues were present. The tribunal agreed that she had been victimized, but disagreed with her other claims. It said that her sacking was legitimate. Another case, Eweida vs. British Airways involves company policies regarding a dress code. Naida Eweida is a devout Catholic who wore a crucifix pendant on her uniform. British Airways asked her to remove it if she wanted to work in the check-in area, but she refused. The airline offered Eweida a job behind the scenes. She again refused. Eweida lost two levels of appeals against her sacking, but British Airways has since changed its dress code policy to allow the wearing of crosses. This case has yet to be fully resolved. Advice to Sandeep He could bring a case for discrimination based on the 2004 Act, but ethical obligations would require me to advise him that he would be unlikely to win the case. First, the problem of whether his "cult" would be regarded as a real religion for the provisions of the Act to take place would be a problem. Second, the wearing of pink, long hair and an earring would clearly interfere with his ability to conduct business as a salesman. This is a legitimate concern of his company and it would probably be irrelevant whether his attire was based upon his religion/cult beliefs or not. The fact is that he could not function as a successful salesman because of his clothing beliefs. Sandeep should ask for a job within the same company that does not require contact with the public/customers. If the company refuses to rehire him under these circumstances (assuming there are jobs for which Sandeep is qualified) then a discrimination suit might be brought. Mike, who works as a receptionist and porter, was diagnosed as suffering from osteoarthritis two years ago. He has never told anyone at work about this. However, his condition is getting worse and it is taking him increasing amounts of time to carry out the portering part of his job. The Head of Customer Relations complains about Mike to Phil, who is Mike's line manager and Phil institutes disciplinary proceedings against Mike. Legal Principles The major legal principle here is whether Mike is being discriminated against because of a disability. The fact that he has told no-one about his condition, which is disabling him, makes any chance of winning his case rather remote. The Law Under the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 it is unlawful to

Competitive Strategies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Competitive Strategies - Case Study Example Strategy can moderate the link between competitive environment and the decision to adopt TC. So, the choice if to adopt TC often depends on firm's strategy. "The competitive strategy (1) a corporation chooses to pursue identifies the manner with which management intends to compete successfully in its product markets and provide superior value to customers" (Susman 1992, p. 114). The firm's competitive environment affects its capacity to implement a defiinite strategy productively. "For example, a low-cost provider strategy works best when price competition among rival firms is especially intense and when the industry's product is standardized. Alternative competitive forces allow a product differentiation strategy to be effective. Examples include diverse needs or uses for the item or service, or relatively few competitors pursuing a similar differentiation approach" (Wolburg 2003, p. 340). The firm's planned vision is put into action by means of different tools, methods, and corporate policies. One such tool that is being adopted by firms all opver the world is the cost management system of TC. As Trebilcock et al. (1990) explain, the link between a firm's competitive strategy and use of TC exists primarily because TC provides the means for achieving the firm's goals of satisfying market demands at an acceptable level of profitability. A TC system provides a means for managing a company's future profits by integrating strategic variables to simultaneously plan how to satisfy customers, capture market share, generate profits, and plan and control costs (Kean, 1998, p. 47). Several large international corporations have been identified as TC adopters, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola; however, U.S. companies have been slower to adopt the technique. Reasons for this include TC being "not well known in Corporate America" and the existence of both cultural and organizational barriers to developing a broad team-oriented strategy TC requires (Hope & Maeleng, 1998, p. 130). The concept of TC ("Genkakikaku" in Japanese) originated in Japan at Toyota Motor Corporation in the 1960s. Since that time it has become recognized as a dynamic, comprehensive system for cost reduction and strategic profit planning. TC is not a costing system such as activity-based costing (ABC) or absorption costing. Rather, it is a program aimed at reducing the life-cycle costs of new products, while ensuring customer requirements of quality and reliability are met. "For controlling costs of new products, TC takes place at the design stage of new product development and considers all ideas for cost reduction during the product planning and research and development process" (Eckhouse 1999, p. 218). Several researchers (e.g., Covin & Morgan, 1999, p. 47) have noted changes in current economic and competitive conditions that create a need for a market-oriented cost management system. External powerful factors that have led to this need involve a growing number of competitors, high standards of competitors, globalization in the present economic situation, aggressive price competition, and shorter product life cycles. Coupled with a high rate of technology diffusion and innovation, these factors indicate the market must accept new products at a price that will generate an acceptable rate of return to the company. Thus, processes must be efficient, effective, and optimized to produce the

Yeast Activity in Rice Wine Fermentation

Yeast Activity in Rice Wine Fermentation In this study, the effect of different starter culture has been studied and the activity of yeast during the rice wine fermentation also being observed. The UHT milk were being mix with different kind of starter culture. Later, the yoghurt mixture were being incubated and further undergoes chilling period which results in the desired yogurt. Natural yogurt and Lactobacillus Casei Shirota had been chosen to be the best among other starter culture as the pH is drop dramatically and this proves that, the metabolite activity was high. As for rice wine fermentation, yeast was being added into the rice and being mix thoroughly. The specific gravity and pH were being observed. The pH value of the rice wine decreasing as this proves that the acidity is increasing due to the metabolite activity of yeast. The specific gravity of the yeast shows increase as this indicates that the sugar were being extracted out from the rice. Introduction Ethanol fermentation had been found by human beings which indicates that the change that being caused by the bacterial action could results in the formation of products that were enjoyable to consume. For example, the spoilage of fruit juices can results in the formation of wine. An early experiment carried out by Eduard Buchner in 1896 in which he grounded up a group of cell with sand until it totally being destroyed. The liquid that remain were being extracted and being added to sugar solution. He assume that fermentation could not occur since the cells are dead because there are no life-force needed to carry out fermentation (Albasi et al., 2001). Fermentation is the process which produces alcoholic beverages or acidic products. The fermentation which occur basically involves in the breaking down of complex organic substances into simple substances (Budslawski and Drabent, 1972). Glycolysis provide an energy towards the microorganism and causing sugar molecules to be split up and the electrons were removes from electrons to molecules (Arici et al, 2004). The electrons were being passed around to an organic molecule such as pyruvic acid resulting in the formation of a waste product such as lactic acid, ethyl alcohol and etc which is vital to utilized fermentation (Arici et al, 2004). The production of yogurt is mainly through fermentation by lactic acid bacteria at the range of 27à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C 40à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C. The mechanism by which the synergistic effect of Streptococcus spp. and Lactobacillus spp. have been well studied (Collins and Gibson, 1999). The process mainly involves in the pretreatment of milk, homogenization, heat treatment and cooling. Many study have been done towards the probiotic bacteria which can be used as the starter culture in the yogurt production which being health benefits (Shortt, 1999). In the rice wine production, the end product which is wine is resulted from glucose fermentation. Glucose which is present in the rice will be broken down to form alcohol under favourable condition of the yeast (Arici et al., 2004). The rice wine will continue until all sugar were used up and being converted to alcohol. Based on (Arici et al, 2004), the process of producing rice wine has two steps where by saccharification process is the first step which uses fungal in order to hydrolyse the rice starch into sugar. The next step which involves are utilizing the product of saccharification to ethanol which can be describe as below: In this experiment, the studies aim to look the effect of different starter culture that has being used for yogurt production and to observe the rice wine fermentation in the changing of pH and specific gravity. Materials Methods: Yogurt fermentation There were 6 different starter culture that had been used which were natural yoghurt, Pseudomonas sp., yeast, Lactobacillus casei Shirota (Yakult), Lactobacillus acidophilus (vitagen) and Lactococcus Lactis. Then, 12 mL of these starter cultures were being added into 500 mL UHT milk and being labelled separately. The pH of the milk before and after adding the starter culture were being taken. The mixture were being incubated at 40-46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C for 4 5 hours. After this incubation, the pH of the yoghurts mixture will be tested again. The yoghurts were being incubated at 5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C and the pH and also gram stained were performed after this chilling period. Below is the flow chart which summarises the methods of yogurt fermentation: Rice wine fermentation 1 kg of cooked rice were being prepared and being placed in a room temperature when conducting this experiment. The rice then were mix in ground with starter culture which are yeast and gradually being added up with approximately 1L of water until all the rice were mixed thoroughly with the yeast. The pH and specific gravity of the rice were being taken every day. Below is the flow chart which summarises the methods of rice wine fermentation: Results Yogurt production In the first session of the yoghurt production, 12ml of the starter culture which are natural yoghurt, Pseudomonas sp., yeast, Lactobacillus casei Shirota (Yakult), Lactobacillus acidophilus (vitagen) and Lactococcus Lactis being inserted into the UHT milks. Then the pH were taken and being followed by incubation at 40-46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C. The pH and visual observation were taken again and continued to under chilling stages at 5 à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C. The final results and observation were taken. The morphology of the microorganism in the yogurt mixture were tested using the gram stain methods and being visualize using the microscope. In order to specify the identity of the microorganism and the quality of the product, the pHs and the gram stain observation were being compared. From table 1, all of the starter culture that was being used have a decrease in pH value from the inital pH to the incubated pH after undergo 40-46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C incubation. All of the starter culture also have an increase value after undergo 5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C chilling period. From figure 1 and table 1, the similarity and differences of morphology between all types of starter culture was being identified. When undergone gram staining, all of the starter culture showed purple colour under microscope indicates that it was gram positive bacteria instead gram negative bacteria which exhibit pink colour. Under the microscopic observation, the arrangement and shape of the bacteria was also being observed. Rice wine fermentation The experimentation of rice wine had been done for several days in which in the first day, the starter cultures were being mix with water and rice. The measurement of the pH and specific gravity were being taken every day until day 3. Based on table 2, the pH and specific gravity were being shown. The pH were found to be decreasing each day with the final pH was 2.94. The specific gravity shows an increasing value from 1.015 cm to 1.07 at day 2. However, the value are maintain at day 3.The appearance and morphology were being observed through wet mount techniques which use LPCB stain. The observation of yeast morphology can be seen at figure 2. Discussion Yogurt Production The yogurt production mainly used microorganism in its process which these microorganism having roles in the production of the lactic acid and controlling the aroma and flavour of the yogurt. The quality of the yogurt basically depending upon the time, temperature and the types of the starter culture that were used in the process. The common starter culture that was being used are Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. The need to control the optimum temperature for the activity of the microorganism is important to obtain proper yogurt taste and quality. The conditions with low temperature will cause the culture to grow slowly in order to fully acidify the milk and to achieve proper taste of yogurt. However, higher temperature will cause the starter culture to be killed and the activity of the microorganism will goes down and the proper yogurt will be failed to produce. This is the consequences that might happen when the optimum temperature is not met. The secretion of the microorganism metabolite will contribute to the taste and flavour of the yogurt. This secretion and formation of the metabolites are basically depends on the growth rate of the microorganism. The incubation of the milk and starter culture for 40-46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C for 5 hours is the condition to assist the fermentation of the microorganism in the starter culture and producing the metabolite products. The temperature and time that is being set up in this experiments are being chosen to be the optimum condition for the fermentation to occur (Galesloot et al, 1968) and the rate of the culture metabolism would be higher (Gupta et al., 1996). If the metabolism of the culture is higher, the taste of the yogurt will be much sweeter (Galesloot et al., 1968). When the desired pH of the acidity is reached, the yogurt was quickly being chilled at 5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C in order to suppress the fermentation process and any metabolic activity of the microorganism. This is to ensure the quality and taste of the yogurt are being maintain and no further activity of the microorganism in order to prevent the spoilage of the yogurt (De brabander et al, 1999). This is important to estimate the standard of the yogurt product. There were 6 different starter culture that has been used in this experiment which are natural yoghurt, Pseudomonas sp., yeast, Lactobacillus casei Shirota (Yakult), Lactobacillus acidophilus (vitagen) and Lactococcus Lactis. The UHT milks that were given are at the pH of approximately 6.0 and these yogurts are being incubated in the same temperature and time. The result for the natural yoghurt shows the decreasing pH after being incubated at 40 -46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C for 4 to 6 hours which are from pH 5.31 to pH 2.90. But there is apparent increase in the pH after the chilling period of 4à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C which is to pH 3.69. The other starter culture also has the same pattern of pH which decreases after being incubated at 40-46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C and increase after the chilled period of 5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C. But for the other culture, the pH increase after undergo chilling period at 5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C does not as obvious as the natural yogurt. The underlying reason for this condition to occur is that the production of the Carbon dioxide (CO2) due to lactose fermentation causing the pH to decline after incubation period of 4 to 6 hours at 40 46 à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C. The growth of Lactobacillus is increasing and its predominates the whole yogurt produce more acid and causing the acids to accumulates which leads to the decrease in the pH of the yogurt for all of the starter culture that were being used in this experiment (Gomes and Malcata, 1999). All of the starter cultures have slight increase in the pH after being chilled at 5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C and this is not as what is being expected. The chilling period of 5à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C should maintain and control the acidity of the mixture by reducing the metabolism activity of the starter culture which present and thus, reducing the byproduct formation at this step (Gomes and Malcata, 1999). However, the experimental result does show an increase due to several reasons. The first reason is that, there might be contaminants or other types of the microorganism that might interrupted the activity of the Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus in this experiment. Hence, this interruption causing the low acidity and thus increase the pH. The other possible reason is that after the chilling period, the yogurt was not mixed causing pH gradient and the acid only concentrated at one part. But, to test the pH value using the pH meter, the yogurt was mix before testing the pH causing t he acid to be distributed and resulting in the homogenous solution which was less acidic. This is why the results after chilling period for all types of starter culture are increased. The observation that can be seen for natural yogurt is that after being incubated at 40-46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C, the condition for which fermentation can occur is that, the yogurt have sour smell and have the appearance of milky curdles on the top and liquid at bottom and the consistency is thick and not even. Mostly of the visual observation of the yogurt with different starter culture have this curdles on the mixture and develop some sort of sour smell. This is because the acidity causing the disruption in the tertiary structure of the protein in the milk (Albasi et al, 2001). Hence, this situation produce curdles in the mixture. The smell of the mixture with different starter culture also have some sort of sour- like smell which can proved that the yogurt contain carbon dioxide. Based on the result in this experiment, the natural yoghurt has the minimum pH compared to the other starter culture followed by yakult, lactococcus lactis and vitagen after the incubation period of 40-46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C. This is because the acidity shows that Lactobacillus predominates the yogurt mixture and produce more acid causing decreasing in the pH. The pH after the incubation at 40-46à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °C of Pseudomonas sp. and yeast are higher compared to the other due to the acid production is lower and thus produce less acid causing the pH to be high. For the gram stained, the entire results shows gram stain positive in which under the microscope the image that could be seen is in purple colour. Most of the results are based on the expected. However for the yeast culture, no yeast being observed but the other types of microorganism can be seen. This is due to the presence of contaminants that might be cause during the pH measurement. At the bench, only one pH meter were provided and this will cause contamination of the pH meter resulting in the discrepancies in the result. The possible reason for this to occur is that the yeast might not being activated with the yogurt condition. This is due to the unfavourable condition for the yeast to grow. Hence, causing the other microorganism to dominate the yogurt. The result from the experiment showed that the natural yoghurt and Lactobacillus casei shirota (Yakult) was chosen to be effective starter culture in yogurt production due to the decline in the pH which shows that the bacteria were actively producing metabolite by product during the fermentation stages occurring. The high metabolite will fasten the yogurt flavour when being added with milk and fasten the process which will prevent spoilage of food and maintain the quality of the food. Rice wine fermentation For the rice wine fermentation, the pH are decreasing across the days of experimentation. This indicates that fermentation does occurs and producing acid as it by product. The metabolite activity which occurs in the fermentation are increasing, does produce more acids. The experimental results are based on what is expected. As for the specific gravity the pattern that can be seen is where there is an increase in the specific gravity from day o which is during the set up to day 2. However, there is no increase in the specific gravity in day 3. The specific gravity of the rice wine is the lowest in day 0 indicates that there are not much glucose being released to the solution (xxx). There are increase in the specific gravity because of the sugar which are being release to the solution are increasing as time increases (Zoecklein et al, 1995). The increase in specific gravity value also indicates that the extraction of carbohydrate which are constituents in the rice to sugar are increasing due to the increase in the metabolite activity of yeast. Theoretically, the sugar should be decreasing as the time goes by as the sugar being converted into alcohol due to fermentation process (Wanapu et al, 2002). As in this experiment, in day 3 to day 4, the specific gravity is maintain and it supposed to be decreasing as the sugar being used up for alcohol production. This might happened because the rice wine has stopped the extraction of the sugar and conversion of sugar to alcohol has just begun. That is why the value does not show any changes. This discrepancies might occur because that the rice were not evenly distributed and causing not all the sugar were being extracted and converted into alcohol. The time taken for this experiment is not enough to prove that there should be decrease value of specific gravity due to the glucose being used up. Conclusion From the experiment, the best chosen starter culture were natural yogurt and Lactobacillus Casei Shirota (Yakult) as the pH from initial pH undergo dramatic decline when fermentation process were done. The decrease in the pH value during this stage indicates the metabolic processes were being done and producing the by product which is acidic. The pH value of the rice wine fermentation also decreasing as a result of metabolic reaction occurring producing acidic by products and the increase in the specific gravity shows that the sugar are being extracted into the solution. Later, the sugar will be converted into alcohol causing the specific gravity to be no changed.

Naipaul Does Not Deserve his Nobel Prize Essay -- essays research pape

What makes an individual worthy of a Nobel Prize in a category as broad as literature? Is it an immense knowledge of writing procedures that other authors have not begun to attempt to use? Or is an appropriate representation of the author's subject that is solely objective, and lacks all personal opinions? If that was the case, several Prizes should be taken away from some authors and handed to other more deserving writers. V. S. Naipaul, who received a Nobel Prize in Literature for Miguel Street, falls into the former category. Naipaul may have filled the technical requirements for a Nobel Prize for his mastery of several difficult techniques, yet his writing neglects to explain the merits of Trinidad while highlighting the negatives found in every culture. Among the five prizes provided for in Alfred Nobel's will (1895), one was intended for the person who, in the literary field, had produced "the most outstanding work in an ideal direction". These statutes defined literature as "not only belles-lettres, but also other writings which, by virtue of their form and style, possess literary value". At the same time, the restriction to works presented "during the preceding year" was softened: "older works" could be considered "if their significance has not become apparent until recently". The statutes also provided for a Nobel Committee "to give their opinion in matter of the award of the prizes" and for a Nobel Institute with a library which was to contain a substantial collection of mainly modern literature.As guidelines for the distribution of the Literature Prize the Swedish Academy had the general requirement for all the prizes ? the candidate should have bestowed "the greatest benefit on mankind" ? and the special condition for... ...rite about problems of Western societies. Although World War II begins, continues and ends in the course of Mr. Naipaul's book, it seldom dominates the scene. The arrival of American armed forces to implement the bases-for-destroyers exchange between Britain and the United States brings measures of disquiet and measures of prosperity. But Miguel Street takes all that in its stride. Trinidad has known many invaders, friendly and unfriendly, in its history. What winter cruise addicts may miss here is the comparative absence of tourists. Those invaders were not often in season during these years. Or perhaps Miguel Street couldn't be bothered with them, particularly. Naipaul presents Trinidad as this cultural wasteland where not even tourists want to go. For his biased and unfeeling representation of a land that gave him life, Naipaul?s Nobel Prize should be taken away.

Assessment in Special Education Essay

Abstract Sometimes the general education program alone is not able to meet the needs of a child with disabilities, and he/she may be able to receive special education services. The evaluation process can be a very difficult task when trying to identify if the child qualifies for special education, schools often have a pre-referral intervention process. The most prominent approached used today is the â€Å"response-to-Intervention† or RTI. Special Education teachers face many challenges when trying to meet the needs of special needs students in their classrooms. Methods of evaluation are a big concern and challenge for educators of special needs students today. In addition, meeting everyone’s needs is a difficult task to accomplish because of students’ diverse abilities in the classroom. This research paper will explore the different methods of assessment in special education programs and the best practices to help this children achieve their potential in an appropriate setting. Testing and assessment is an ongoing process with children in special education programs. Some of these assessments include, developmental assessments, screening tests, individual intelligence tests, individual academic achievement tests, adaptive behavior scales, behavior rating scales, curriculum-based assessments, end-of-grade, end-of-course, and alternate assessments. Comprehensive assessment of individual students requires the use of multiple data sources. These sources may also include standardized tests, informal measures, observations, student self-reports, parent reports, and progress monitoring data from response-to-intervention (RTI) approaches (NJCLD, 2005). The main purpose of a comprehensive assessment in the special education field is to accurately identify the strengths and needs of the students to help them be successful during their school years and there after. Legislation has played a big role in the shift towards functional assessment. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is also known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act has played a big role in this matter. The IDEA legislation â€Å"needed to assure that students with disabilities receive free appropriate public education (FAPE) and the related services and support the need to achieve† (Jeffords 1). IDEA was created to make sure that disabled children are receiving fair and equal education and support. This act has several parts to it which include providing grants, funds early intervention services, and supports research and professional development programs. The No Child Left Behind Act: Impact on the Assessment of Special Education Student. After the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) moved into our schools there is a great deal of controversy that questions whether the act implemented by President George W. Bush is helping or hurting an already suffering school system. There are many dimensions of the NCLB act that have been questioned over the past decade; the fair assessment of students with disabilities is one of them. As the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (NCFOT) reported, the public relations aspect of this act is strong. Prior to the Individuals with Disability Education Act of 1997 (IDEA) students in special education were exempt from participating in the statewide testing. However, the IDEA advocated that all students including those with special learning difficulties should be able to participate in testing. (Cahalan, 2003). Legislative Overview of Laws Protecting Special Education Students On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the NCLB act. In this act the federal government was for the first time in the history of the Department of Education putting an act into effect that would penalize schools that failed to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP). The AYP is a measuring system in which the federal government will look at the progress of the local government and school systems to decide whether or not that school, along with its teachers and students, has progressed and provided a high-quality education (Goldhaber, 2002). Through the NCLB act schools are held accountable for failing test scores and failure to improve their class average from one year to the next. The longer the school fails to meet required scores, the more the school will be held accountable, and the greater the consequence. For instance, a school that is unable to make their desired AYP and has not improved a significant amount within five years will then be subject to reconstruction. This reconstruction could include the government completely taking over the school and hiring new teachers and  teacher staff, leaving many teachers and staff unemployed (Goldhaber, 2002). Teachers and students in the special education department do have some laws however that helps them make testing less stressful. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 required that accommodations must be made for students with learning disabilities in order to be able to participate in the assessment (Cahalan, 2003). However, this leaves the question of what can be used as accommodations. Accommodations could include things such as test schedules and setting of the test, along with the format of the presentation. Also used to help the special education students and teachers is the individualized education plan (IEP). The Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA) of 1991 would set into effect the idea of an IEP. An IEP is a plan that is set by a group of individuals that work closely with the student to design the educational format that is most appropriate for him/her (Cahalan, 2003). This does not take into account the type of disorder the student has but simply the student themselves. The individualized attention that is given with this plan provides the student with the correct instruction needed to be successful in education. These groups of individuals include the teacher, parent, school psychologist and anyone else that is closely related to the education of this student. The IEP members are, in most states, responsible in deciding which accommodations are important for each individual student (Cahalan, 2003). They, however, are not a part of deciding what accommodations will be provided for each student during the NCLB assessment. The laws described here were all implemented with the same goal in mind; to protect special education students and be sure their quality of education is the same as all other students. However some of these laws, including the NCLB, must be altered in order to truly give special needs students the education and assessment they deserve. Best Practices in Assessment of Special Education Students Students in special education programs should be included in the statewide assessments, as the IDEA of 1997 states. The IDEA also states that accommodations should be made to be sure that the student is able to fully understand the materials they are asked (Cahalan, 2003). There are four categories of test accommodations, presentation, response, timing, and  setting (Cahalan, 2003). Presentation is simply visual aids that help the student fully understand the context. These do not alter the questions of the test; they simply make it accessible for the students. Presentation accommodations include Braille, large-print, sign language interpreter, or reducing the number of questions per page (Cahalan, 2003). These simple accommodations make test taking less stressful, and therefore the material is better understandable by the student. However, no state has reported using them in their statewide assessments since the inception of the NCLB. In a study of over one thousand students it was found that using a video presentation to help understand the test showed a significant increase in their achievement (Cahalan, 2003). So why is the educational department not using these modifications that help so much? Another form of accommodation used in special education testing is response. It may be as simple as giving an oral response instead of a written one or it may mean that the test is dictated to the student by a recorder. These accommodations in no way alters the response that is given or received, it is still the same question being asked. Results have shown that by providing a reader special education students showed a significant improvement in their test score (Cahalan, 2003). The last two accommodations are setting and timing. The timing could include any extra time needed, breaks during the exam, or spreading the testing out through a few days instead of taking it all in one day. And the final accommodation is setting, which could include special furniture, lighting, or an individualized testing area (Cahalan, 2003). Even though there was no evidence to prove that setting and timing are important accommodations, it is well known that many special education students are tested in private rooms with more time. These accommodations should be accessible for special education students that need them to better their test taking skills. However, many states do not allow such accommodations to be made due to the misconceived conception that they change the contents of the test when in actuality they do not in any way alter the questions asked. BEST PRACTICES IN ASSESSMENT HANDOUT †¢Create a shared mission and goals statement that reflects an emphasis on student learning. †¢Focus on collaboration and teamwork. Faculty members must agree on assessment goals for planning to be meaningful. They may have to rise to a higher level of collaboration than may have been traditionally practiced in most departments. Collaboration within the department, across departments, and with higher administration will facilitate the best outcomes from assessment planning. All constituents must recognize that assessment skills must be developed and that colleagues can assist each other by sharing practices and strategies. †¢Clarify the purpose of assessment. Assessment can serve dual purposes: Assessment can promote student learning or provide evidence for accountability requirements through an evaluation of strengths and weaknesses. Wherever possible, students should experience a direct, positive benefit from their participation in assessment activities. †¢Identify clear, measurable, and developmental student learning †¢OUTCOMES. Explicit identification of learning expectations facilitates the department’s coherence about their GOALS. Sharing those expectations explicitly with students can provide an effective learning scaffold on which students can build their experiences and render effective performance. †¢Use multiple MEASURES and sources consistent with resources. Effective assessment planning can only occur when properly supported with appropriate time, money, and recognition for good work. The expansiveness of the assessment plan will depend on those resources. As resources permit, additional MEASURES can be added to planning. These MEASURES address variations in learning style, differences in types of learning, and interests from varied stakeholders. †¢Implement continuous assessment with clear, manageable timelines. Better assessment practice involves spreading out assessment activity throughout the year and across years rather than conducting a marathon short-term assessment effort in a single year. Projecting a schedule of regular formal reviews can facilitate appropriate interim activity. †¢Help students succeed on assessment tasks. Students will fare best in assessment activities when faculty make expectations explicit, provide detailed instructions, and offer samples or models of successful performance. They will benefit most with opportunities to practice prior to assessment and when given detailed feedback about the quality of their performance. †¢Interpret and use assessment results appropriately. Assessment should be a stimulus for growth, renewal, and improvement, not an action that generates data to ensure positive outcomes. Linking funding to assessment outcomes may encourage artificial results. Assessment data should not be used for personnel decisions. If cross-institution comparisons are inevitable, care should be taken to ensure comparisons across comparable institutions (benchmarking). †¢Evaluate your assessment practices. Results from assessment activity should be evaluated to address their reliability, validity, and utility. Poor student performance can reflect limited learning or an ill-designed assessment process. Examining how effectively the assessment strategy meets departmental needs is a critical step in the evolution of the department plan. (Retrieved from www. caspercollege. edu/assessment/downloads/best_practices. pdf) The Effect of NCLB Assessments on Special Education Programs When the Department of Education was asked how they intend to insure that special education students will not be forced to take tests that are above their intelligence level under the NCLB act, they could not give a real solution. They simply said that there are accommodations available, and if the student’s disability is severe to the point that the accommodations will not help, there are alternate tests they can take (Education Week, 2003). However, the problem with this is that there is no clear definition as to who is able to receive these accommodations and who is able to receive the alternate assessment. Who decides this? And how handicapped must a student be in order to receive an alternate assessment? Even though special education students are not at the same intelligence level as their peers they are still placed in the same test group as them. The NCLB act does not include in its AYP percentage the failing percentage rate of special education students in each given population. Therefore, teachers and school administration are trying to make up for the percentage loss in special education departments. Some teachers are now, for the first time, being held accountable for failing test scores. This, in effect, causes teachers to alter their curriculum and teach to the test? (Goldhaber, 2002). By teaching to the test students are missing out on important curriculum information that may be overlooked completely or presented in short educational lecture in the middle of teaching test taking skills and other information that may be found on the assessments. Possible Improvement to the Assessment and Accountability. To improve the NCLB act we must first know what is wrong with the act. While the idea of leaving no child behind in education is a good plan, there are still a few loop holes that the president’s act needs to clear up. The students that are placed in the special education setting are usually there because they have a disability or are below average in their cognitive abilities. In order to be fair to these students the government must be sure that they have the same quality education as all other students, but the government must also realize that the curriculum of the material they are learning may in some cases be drastically different. With this knowledge, it must then be known that to accurately and fairly assess special education students the assessments must be built with the correct accommodations. In order for this to happen, those who design the tests must develop an exam that meets the needs of the student, and not the needs of the disorder. In other words, do not test a student as an autistic child but first look at their individual advantages and disadvantages according to each test taking skill. Some students may simply need more time, while others will need more time along with a person to read to them and interpret some larger word usage. It is all based on the student’s individual needs (Cahalan, 2003). In other words the decisions of the accommodations should be made by people that know the student on a personal level, and know what accommodations are present in their current education setting. As stated before, with some assessments the IEP will meet to determine what accommodations will be made for the students in that assessment, However, this is not the case in the NCLB assessments; but it should be. Those who are teaching and raising the child should be a part of the process of determining how the child is assessed and what accommodations are necessary (Washington, 2003). It is important for the education of future special education students that the Department of Education take into consideration the possible reforms that were suggested by many local government and teachers surrounding them. Improvements can be made to the assessment of special education, and should be made to be sure that all students are receiving a fair and adequate education. Disproportionate identification of minorities in some special education categories: When speaking of the learning disabled, minorities, one must consider some dimensions to the issue of assessment within a particularly specialized light. This special population reflects both the learning disabled (LD) and the minority that they belong to. This is largely the case within a practical context, although as the literature points out, pre-considerations must be afforded for minority students. To begin with, it is important to look at the many variables that exist within the aforementioned components. These components include English as a Second Language (ESL), socioeconomic level and finally the impact this has on teaching the learning disabled in a classroom setting and more specifically when employing the assistance of a translator. Curriculum-based assessment is hampered with some biases that can affect these students (Dolson, 1984). A child’s race and ethnicity significantly influence the child’s probability of being misidentified, misclassified, and inappropriately placed in special education programs. Research shows the relationship between race and ethnicity and other variables for students’ placement in special education classes. Variables such as language, poverty, assessment practices, systemic issues, and professional development opportunities for teachers have been cited as factors that play a role in disproportionate representation (emstac. org). Children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds should be able to receive an excellent and appropriate education. Some students are not included in special education programs, even though they have a disability that is affecting their ability to learn and they need special education help. Some CLD populations are also significantly under-represented in programs for the gifted and/or talented. In these instances, CLD groups are considered under-represented because the proportion of students from certain ethnic or racial groups who receive special services are significantly less than the number of these same students in the overall school population (U. S. Department of Education, 2004). Facts: †¢ Hispanics are under-identified within certain disability categories compared to their White peers (U. S. Department of Education, 2006). †¢ Asian/Pacific Islander students are actually less likely to be identified for special education services than other CLD populations (NABE, 2002). There are a number of possible action steps school personnel can take to ensure that individual assessments are conducted in a culturally responsive and nondiscriminatory manner (Klotz & Canter 2006). Recommendations include: †¢Allowing more time. Assessments of students from diverse backgrounds require more time to gather important background information and allow for alternative and flexible procedures. †¢Gathering extensive background information. To provide a context for the evaluation, conduct a review of all available background information including: school attendance, family structure, household changes and moves, and medical, developmental, and educational histories. †¢Utilizing student progress monitoring data from Response-to-Intervention (RtI) or problem-solving processes. Data generated from a process that determines if the child responds to scientific evidence-based interventions should be included in a comprehensive evaluation. The National Research Council on Minority Representation in Special Education recommended the use of data from a systematic problem-solving process measuring the student’s response to high quality interventions (National Research Council, 2002, pp. 7-8). †¢Addressing the role of language. Determining the need for and conducting dual language assessments are essential steps in an evaluation process. This includes determining the student’s language history (i. e. , ages that the student spoke and heard various languages), dominance (i. e. , greatest language proficiency), and preference (i. e. , the language the student prefers to speak). †¢ Using nonverbal and alternative assessment strategies. When assessing students from CLD backgrounds, use standardized nonverbal cognitive and translated tests (when available in the target language). Additional assessment techniques, including curriculum-based assessments, test-teach-test strategies and in-direct sources of data, such as teacher and parent reports, portfolios, work samples, teacher/student checklists, informal interviews and observations, and classroom test scores are also helpful in completing an accurate, comprehensive evaluation (NEA, 2007). Bibliography Bush, President George W. (December 3, 2004). Bipartisan Special Education Reform Bill. Retrieved from http://www. ed. gov/news/newsletters/extracredit/ 2004/12/1203. html Cahalan, C. & Morgan, D. L. (2003). Review of state policy for high stakes testing of students with disabilities on high school exit exams. Educational Testing Service. Department of Education. (2003). Title I ? Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged; Proposed Rule. (34 CFR Part 200). Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office. Dolson, David P. (1985). â€Å"The Effect of Spanish Home Language Use on the Scholastic Performance of Hispanic Pupils. † Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, V. 6, No. 2,50. Fair Test. (2005). The National Center for Fair & Open Testing. Retrieved from http://www. fairtest. org on October 12, 2011 Goldhaber, D. (2002). What might go wrong with the accountability measures of the? No Child Left Behind Act? The Urban Institute. IDEA Partnership. http://www. ideapartnership. org Klot z, M. B. & Canter, A. (2006). Culturally Competent Assessment and Consultation. Retrieved October 2011 from: http://www.naspcenter. org/principals/Culturally%20Competent%20Assessment%20and%20Consultation%20NASSP. pdf. Improving accountability for limited English proficient and special education students under the No Child Left Behind Act. (2003). Washington Area School Study Council. National Association of School Psychology. (2007). The Truth in Labeling: Disproportionality Special Education. Retrieved from www. nea. org/books on October 15, 2011. National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities. (2001a). Issues in learning disabilities: Assessment and diagnosis. In Collective perspectives on issues affecting learning disabilities (2nd ed. , pp. 55–61). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed. (Original work published 1987) National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities. (2005). Responsiveness to intervention and learning disabilities. Available from www. ldonline. org/njcld. National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities. (2007). The documentation disconnect for students with learning disabilities: Improving access to postsecondary disability services. Available from www. ldonline. org/njcld National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems. (Fall 2005). Cultural considerations and challenges in response-to-intervention models. An NCCRESt position statement. Retrieved October 2011 From http://www. nccrest. org/PDFs/rti. pdf? v_document_name=Culturally%20Responsive%20RTI. No educator left behind: Testing special education students. (2003). Retrieved October 15, 2011, from http://www. education-world. com/a_issues/NELB/NELB025. shtml Olson, L. (2004). Data show schools making progress on federal goals. Education Week, 24, 24-28. Retrieved from http://www. edweek. org Tomes, H. Ph. D. (2004). In public interest: Are we really leaving no child behind? American Psychologist, 35, 31-35. Retrieved from www. apa. org on October 15, 2011 U. S. Department of Education. (2004). Twenty-fourth annual report to Congress on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Washington, DC: Author.

The Growth of Alternative Medicine

The Growth of Alternative Medicine Free Online Research Papers The Medicine of the Future: The Growth of Alternative Medicine in Society Alternative medicine is a very general term whose definition can be quite controversial. It includes many holistic techniques for preventing and treating illnesses. Acupuncture and many other therapies have long been a part of Asian cultures and have recently integrated into the Western culture. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) comprises a wide variety of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. Alternative medicine should be considered a real compliment to conventional medicine due to its standard of practice, treatment, and costs. From Reflexology and Rolfing to shiatsu and dream work, a mass of alternative medical therapies confronts us today. James Whorton notes in Nature Cures that the recent explosion in alternative medicine actually reflects two centuries of competition and conflicts between mainstream medicine and numerous unorthodox systems. The history of alternative medicine in America brought by Asian cultures examines the major systems that have emerged from 1800 to the present. Alternative medicine practitioners take a holistic approach to health (Whorton13). Alternative medical systems built upon complete systems of theory and practice. Often, these systems evolved apart from and earlier than conventional medical approaches used in U.S. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, and naturopathic medicine. Systems that have developed in non-western culture include traditional Chinese medicine and ayurveda. Mind and body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind’s capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques that were considered CAM in the past have become mainstream, for example patient’s support groups and cognitive behavior therapies. Biologically based therapies in CAM use substances found in nature but yet scientifically unproven therapies. Manipulative and body-based methods in CAM are based on manipulation and/or movement for one or more parts of the body; these include chiropractic or osteopathi c manipulation and massage. Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields such as biofield therapies and are included to affect energy fields that surround the human body. Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies involve the unconventional use of electrons, a genetic field such as pulse fields, magnetic fields, or alternative current or direct current fields (Whorton 277). Acupuncture is a strong component in China and can be traced to the Chinese health care system for at least 2,500 years (Kowalski 49). The procedure involves inserting hair-thin steel surgical needles into specific points in the body, which are supposed to make one feel better and be healthier. This is only the technical aspect though. To understand the art of this procedure, one must have a background in Chinese medicine. How it works is this: health is achieved though the balance of the opposing forces between yin (spirit), and yang (blood). The attraction between them creates an energy called Qi (pronounced chee). This energy flows to all parts of the body through channels, which are known as meridians (pathways that run along the surface of the body and branch into the bodys interior). An imbalance in these forces is what is believed to cause illness and disease. When needles are placed on the acupuncture points along the meridians, balance and, hence, health is restored. â€Å" There is several styles of acupuncture, the differences being how the acupuncture points are stimulated, be it by hand pressure, electrical impulse, ultrasound, or wavelengths of light† noted Bernal. Acupuncture was introduced to American doctors by Sir William Osler (Whorton 263), who is often called the father of modern medicine. In a classic medical textbook written more than a century ago, he said, Acupuncture is the most effective treatment of all for acute lumbago, [.] ordinary bonnet needles, sterilized, will do (Whorton 263). The first time acupuncture really got notice was not until 1972. James Reston, a New York Times correspondent, was assigned to cover President Nixons now historic trip to China. During his stay, Reston had an emergency appendectomy and was treated with acupuncture for the postoperative pain he had to endure. The report of his experience with acupuncture caught the interest of many American doctors who wanted to see how the Chinese used acupuncture as an anesthetic. Many non-physicians went to train overseas or with acupuncturists who had been silently practicing in the States, in many Asian communities. These people then fought to gain laws that woul d allow acupuncture to be practiced legally in the US (Whorton 265). In contrast to acupuncture, ayurveda â€Å"the science of life† is based on the belief that the natural state of the body is one of balance. We become ill when this balance is disrupted, with specific conditions or symptoms indicating a specific disease or imbalance. Ayurveda emphasizes strengthening and purifying the whole person, whereas in conventional medicine, the focus is on a set of symptoms or an isolated region of the body (Chopra 14). Currently in the United States, there are two adaptations of classical Ayurvedic medicine being practiced. Maharishi Ayur-Veda was started within the past decade by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Hindu swami best known for popularizing Transcendental Meditation (Chopra 148). Most of the published studies of Ayurveda are on this type, which concentrates on consciousness and meditation as key in health and healing. Dr. Deepak Chopra, a Western-trained endocrinologist, recently popularized the more traditional type of Ayurveda. While advocating the use of meditation, this type places more emphasis on the other Ayurvedic mind-body modalities such as yoga, breathing, and massage therapy, in an attempt to regain balance (Chopra 18). The name, homeopathy, comes from the Greek word â€Å"homio†, meaning â€Å"like†, and â€Å"pathos†, meaning â€Å"suffering†. Homeopathic medicines treat illness by going with, rather than against, symptoms that are seen as the bodys natural defenses. In contrast, allopathic or conventional medicine acts by suppressing the symptoms of illness (Kowalski 22). The underlying philosophy of homeopathy, known as similia similibus curentur or like may be cured by like, was developed by Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), a German physician, while experimenting with cinchona bark (quinine) as a cure for malaria (Kowalski 27). When Hahnemann administered cinchona to himself, he developed the symptoms of malaria fever, diarrhea, vomiting, pain, and numb fingers and toes; however, when quinine was given to a patient complaining of those same symptoms of malaria, he found it helped them fight the illness. From his initial experiment, Hahnemann and his students methodically tested thousands of substances in a process called provings (Kowalski 28). The practice of homeopathic medicine flourished in both Europe and the United States in the late 1800s until the early 1900s. In the early 1900s, there were 22 homeopathic medical schools and over 100 homeopathic hospitals in the United States (Whorton 70). The practice of homeopathic medicine dropped sharply with the rise of allopathic medicine, but it has regained its popularity in recent years. In Europe, it continues to be practiced along with conventional medicine, particularly in England, France, Germany, and Greece. Homeopathy is extremely popular in India which has over one hundred, four-year homeopathic medical schools and it is also practiced in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa (Whorton 81). These are just a few examples of how alternative medicine can work. In comparing conventional medicine to alternative medicine, many doctors dismiss alternative medicine as unproven, ineffective, and potentially dangerous nonsense, leading advocates to seek the kind of evidence that will persuade the scientific community at large. Claire Rayner of the Doctor Patient Partnership is skeptical and says patients should tread carefully if they are looking for alternative treatment because science proves that is not always the answer (Arias 34). For example, hormone therapies have not proven very successful with natural health. Most cancers often survive any type of natural treatment and in most cases claim the patient’s life. A major objection to alternative medicine is that it is done in place of conventional medical treatments. As long as alternative treatments are used in addition to standard conventional medical treatments, most physicians find most forms of complementary medicine acceptable (Fine 23). Consistent with previous studies, the CDC recently reported that the majority of individuals in the United States (i.e., 55%) used CAM in conjunction with conventional medicine (More Americans). Patients should however always inform their physician if they are using alternative medicine. Some patients do not tell their doctors since they fear it will hurt their patient-doctor relationship. While there are those physicians who practice complementary medicine who believe there is value in alternative forms of treatment, care must be taken when these treatments are used in conjunction with mainstream medicine. Some alternative treatments however can interfere with regular treatments. An example is the comb ination of chemotherapy and large doses of vitamin C, which can severely damage the kidneys. Some methods once considered alternative have later been adopted by conventional medicine, when confirmed by controlled studies indicating the boundary lines between the two have changed over time. Many very old conventional medical practices are now seen as alternative medicine, as modern controlled studies have shown that certain treatments were not actually effective. Supporters of alternative methods suggest that much of what is currently called alternative medicine will be similarly assimilated by the mainstream in the future (Sierpina 281). Alternative medicine provides the public with services not available from conventional medicine. This argument covers a range of areas, such as patient empowerment, alternative methods of pain management, methods that support the biopsychosocial model of health, cures for specific health concerns, and stress reduction services. Another preventative health service that is not typically a part of conventional medicine or complementary medicines palliative care, and is practiced by world-renowned cancer centers is COX-2 inhibiting herbs. The inhibition of COX-2 enzyme significantly reduces the inflammation that is currently linked with arthritis, colon and other cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease (Newmark 23). While taking these herbs and undergoing alternative therapies there is a concern that patients may delay seeking conventional medicine that could be more effective, and potentially resulting in harm. Relying on the placebo effect is therefore dangerous, since it may convince people that the alternative treatment works while it is in fact only the placebo effect. People who are thus convinced that alternative medicine helped them with a mere inconvenience may be tempted to use ineffective alternative medicine for a serious, possibly life-threatening illness. Due to the wide range of types of alternative medicine, few criticisms apply across the board. Criticisms directed at specific branches of alternative medicine range from the minor (conventional treatment is believed to be more effective in a particular area) to potential violations of the known laws of physics, for example, in homeopathy. While some scientific evidence exists regarding CAM therapies many forms of alternative medicine are rejected by conventional medicine, because the efficacy of the treatments has not been demonstrated through double-blind randomized controlled trails (Arias 34). Where alternative methods provide temporary symptomatic relief, this has been explained as being due to the placebo effect, natural healing, or the cyclic nature of some illnesses. Practices termed as alternative medicine have caused deaths indirectly when patients have used alternatives in attempts to treat such conditions as appendicitis and failed. Proponents of alternative medicine say that people should be free to choose whatever method of healthcare they want. Critics agree that people should be free to choose, but when choosing, people must be certain that whatever method they choose will be safe and effective. People who choose alternative medicine may think they are choosing a safe, effective medicine, while they may only be getting pretend remedies. This can be a particular issue in the treatment of children, animals, and individuals whose capacity to evaluate the treatment is impaired (Kowalski 24). When examining health care where it is state-funded or funded by medical insurance, alternative therapies are often not covered and must be paid for by the patient. Further, in some countries, some branches of alternative medicine are not properly regulated. Therefore, there is no governmental control on who practices and no real way of knowing what training or expertise they possess in these countries. â€Å"CAM treatments are not reimbursed by health plans in United States, but auto accidents or Workers Comp and some Blue Cross Blue Shield management plans covers this treatment, and they are out of pocket expense,† noted Bernall. Homeopaths have to be licensed in one or more organization for managed care reimbursement. Even though researchers show great benefit from homeopathy drugs they need to be licensed or work under an acupuncturist, naturopath, M.D. or D.O. (Ullman 72). The uses of CAM therapies are evolving but the physicians do not have enough knowledge; their main concern is the safety and efficiency of CAM. In the past there is a thin based and underpowered study on CAM. Increasing numbers of medical colleges have begun offering courses in alternative medicine; however, the term used in the universities is â€Å"integrative medicine† (Sierpina 280).The practitioner of CAM focuses on the patient, as a whole being. This will lead to an era where both conventional and alternative medicine will be practiced. â€Å"It is an approach that many physicians use† (Sierpina 281). Many health systems offer CAM therapies as an awareness program for pain management, in conjunction with their standard care (Sierpina 281). Alternative medicine is popular among the Eastern cultures as well as Western cultures. Since patients and the societies general care is shifting to alternative method of care the idea that a collection system could be implemented in a CAM clinic utilizing several treatment modalities has merit. Outcomes demonstrated both a significant reduction in pain and improvement in quality of life for subject who utilized acupuncture, chiropractic, or naturopathy treatments. While whole medical systems differ in their philosophical approaches to the prevention and treatment of disease, they share a number of common elements. These systems are based on the belief that one’s body has the power to heal itself. Treatment is often individualized and dependant on the presenting symptoms. The alternative medicine should be used as a system with conventional medicine. Work Cited Arias, Donya c. â€Å"Alternative Medicines’ popularity prompts concern.† Nation’s Health August 2004(34:6). Bernall, Fernando. Personal Interview. 31 May 2005 Chopra, Deepak M.D. Quantum Healing. New York: Bantam Books.1989. Fine, Allan. â€Å"Growth in Demand for CAM.† Complementary Alternative Medicine Managed care quarterly 2005, 13(2):23 Kowalski, Kathiann M. Alternative Medicine Is IT For YOU? Springfield, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, 1998. More Americans Than Ever Use CAM, Says CDC. Nursing 2004 September 2004.73. Newmark, Thomas M and Paul Schulick. Beyond Aspirin. Arizona: HOHM press, 2000. Sierpina, Victor. S M.D. â€Å"complementary and Alternative Medicine: Introduction,† Southern Medical Association March 2005 (98:3):280-281 Ullman, Dana. â€Å"Homeopathy and Managed care: manageable or unmanageable?† The journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 1999 (5):65-73 Whorton, James c. Natures Cures the History of Alternative Medicine in America. New York: oxford university press, 2002. Research Papers on The Growth of Alternative MedicineArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Genetic EngineeringBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaOpen Architechture a white paperInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanTwilight of the UAW

How Anthropology Helps to Evaluate Stereotypes

How Anthropology Helps to Evaluate Stereotypes Outline How anthropology helps us to evaluate stereotypes Anthropology refers to the study of human kind, his society and all that pertain them.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on How Anthropology Helps to Evaluate Stereotypes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Evaluation of our own western culture Cultural studies of different people have noted different activities carried by given tribes depending with the level of interaction they have with other cultures. Make relevant changes The recent study on leadership shows that women have been enlightened and they are up to take their positions in leadership. Anthropology refers to the study of human kind, his society and all that pertain them. Stereotype is where a person seems to conform to a widely accepted behavior type or attitude. According to the study carried recently on gender equality, it was found that differences between men and women occur naturally. These ar e biological differences between the two sexes and each gender has its own unique characteristics. Other anthropologists view equality as the imagery where men seem to be strong and domineering. This is usually not the case because not all men are as strong as stereotypes argue. In the study on roles of males, men are seen to be typically aggressive, less emotional and more logic oriented. Men are expected to behave in a manner such that everyone recognizes and expect the best from them as argued by (kottak 67). Being the head of the family, a man is committed to the family responsibility of providing and taking care of the homestead. Women have been noted to be emotional, submissive, neat and children keepers. These gender stereotypes for women are less agreed as more women tend to defy their perceptions. Property ownership is no longer men’s achievement as women have been noted to own large business firms, as well. Proper management of large premises and organizations by wo men is another role that has been decentralized.Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The study carried on an educational basis shows that there has been a considerable change where education has been centralized for both genders (MacLaury, Paramei and Dedrick 98). Women nowadays have equal chances of being educated unlike in the past where only men were supposed to be learned. Human rights have been fighting for the girl child education. This has ensured that girls are given a chance to go to school. This has led to a tremendous increase in the number of females in higher levels of learning and in some courses they exceed the number of men. Evaluation of our own western culture Cultural studies of different people have noted different activities carried by given tribes depending with the level of interaction they have with other cultures. The mode of living distinguishes each community from others and makes it unique in one way or the other. Culture has considerably been reserved by some tribes and communities although it is fading away in some others (kottak 67). Different occasions in each community are seen to be conducted in different manners and such occasions include marriage, circumcision and among others. Languages spoken by different communities widely vary as each community has its own accent. This has conformed people to accept each other and relate widely to one another in order to enhance communication. Community activities have been noted to increase and high rate of interaction at community level has moved to the peak. Make relevant changes The recent study on leadership shows that women have been enlightened and they are up to take their positions in leadership. Initially leadership was seen as men’s task, but nowadays women have shown their capabilities by challenging men. This has been taken positively in most communities, and m ore women are being encouraged to show their interest in higher positions in leadership as argued by (MacLaury, Paramei and Dedrick 88). These enormous changes have been facilitated by high number of non- governmental organizations operating in the world. Their main task is to ensure that there is the uniform distribution of resources and to ensure that individual rights are not violated. They monitor governments’ allocation of funds to various projects mainly in remote areas. These projects include rural electrification, irrigation schemes and construction of bore holes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on How Anthropology Helps to Evaluate Stereotypes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Kottak, Conrad P. Mirror for Humanity: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. London: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print. MacLaury, Robert E., Paramei Galina V, and Dedrick Don. Anthropology of Color: Interdisciplinary Multilevel Modeling. New York: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2007. Print

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 27

Marketing - Essay Example These markets have huge growth potential of the business. It can as well start online business prospects for its clientele around the globe. The market is persistently working to develop its distribution channels and enter new markets. The political structures within the United States and the other countries such as Canada and Japan are excellent forms of government for the business. One of the major threats within the industry is the aggressive competition from the established market players. The Spitalfields is not just competing in single sector or market but it competes with an extensive range of other forms of sellers (Aspers, p. 203). Their competitiveness modifies due to the diverse product types they supply. Secondly, the financial situation of the countries is the massive cause of hindrance for the clientele to reduce their shopping requirements so as to meet their standard of living. Spitalfields business practices get influenced by the political scenarios of the host as well as the home regions. It is offering high wage rate to its staff due to its agreement with the union bars and it has lay down new principles for its staff regardless of the political guidelines of a state. The economic scenario for Spitalfields continues to be steady as the sales of the business is in consistent with the financial system (Pappalepore et al, p. 221). The economic aspects on which the performance of Spitalfields is based are the arrangements of tax disbursement, investment and grants, complexity of moving as well as raising funds, costs of the merchandise, financial and economic guidelines and rates of exchange. Cultural diversity is an important factor for Spitalfields and multi-cultural workers is the key to its employee dealings. Market’s trade practices are helpful in enhancing its relations and standing with the clientele, workers and with

Fashion Function & Aesthetic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Fashion Function & Aesthetic - Essay Example The essay "Fashion Function & Aesthetic" talks about Innovative Materials and Digital Technologies for Fashion Applications. The idea of fashion originated from people seeking to define personality by their choice of clothes. This however changes as the advancement in technology since our way of life is directly impacted. The influence of technology in our lives, though manifest in various aspects, seems to be more distinct on fashion trends. With the arrival of digital technology came new ways of making clothes, new style of clothing and basically new inspiration for the fashion industry. An obvious observation is that fashion and technology have had a relationship dating back since times in history. Each technological evolution brings with it influence in the fashion industry and it has not been any different with the digital technology. A lot of digital influences are being experienced in the fashion industry right from inspiration, production, trend setting, down to the consumer experience. The fashion industry continues to experience transformation in fabrication, designing and promotion in ways beyond remarkable. Thanks to digital technology, sewable electronic designers are making a garment with incredible abilities and fashion promotion and branding have been all redefined through social media networks. Digital technology has been adopted by leading fashion houses in the world to promote brands and enhance the consumers' shopping experience. Certain websites have launched applications.