Conflict Resolution Theory And Practice - 1854 Words

This paper explores how addressing vulnerability is one of the key factors in conflict resolution. I conducted my research by using three books: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brenà © Brown, The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice by Morton Deutsch, Peter T. Coleman and Eric C. Marcus and Difficult Conversations: How To Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen. Each book differs in how they approach the topic of accepting vulnerability; however, they get the point across the same way. This paper pushes readers to readjust their lifestyles to fit a healthier, more conflict-resolved lifestyle. Keywords: accepting, vulnerability, conflict, conflict resolution, self- regulation ADDRESSING VULNERABILITY IN RELATION TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION Addressing vulnerability is something that we all have feared or still fear to this day. Growing up, most of us were taught that allowing yourself to appear vulnerable was the worst possible thing that one could do. According to our â€Å"teachers†, it opened up the opportunity for people to take advantage of you, for you to end up in extreme cases of depression, and it opened up the opportunity for trust to be diminished. What Brenà © Brown points out in her book Daring Greatly is that vulnerability is actually the key to growth whether it is personal growth or growth in the many relationships we formed throughoutShow MoreRelatedSocial Conflict Resolution : Theory, Research, Practice Essay1374 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Social conflicts- conflicts in which the parties are individuals or an aggregate of individuals- are unavoidable instances of life. What causes social conflicts, however, remains a subject of contention. Scholars across various disciplines have come-up-with different theories to explain the causes of social conflicts. Generally, each theory attempts to look at the causes from a particular perspective or discipline such as economics, sociology, psychology, political science or socio-biologyRead MoreThe Process Of Conflict Resolution1573 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The process of conflict transformation includes numerous types of practices and approaches. It is crucial for a conflict resolution practitioner to be able to self-assess the entire practice of intervention to get a clear notion of why the approach that has been used was successful or caused fail. Conflict interveners whose practices are well established on theories of conflict resolution and ongoing researches need to refine their assumptions and skills through an extensive processRead MoreCarla And Kent Acceptance Of Transformative Mediation1368 Words   |  6 Pagestechnology consultant are in conflict over the new patient billing software that Kent developed and wants implemented in the hospital’s clinics and doctor’s offices, for he feels the software is ready and will be widely accepted by the physicians. Carla on the other hand, wants the implementation of the software delayed, for she believes that it needs improvement and more input from additional users before it can effectively work in the other medical offices. The conflict is now at a standoff, withRead MoreThe Conflict Between Tamils And Sinhalese953 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay will analyze the conflict between Tamils and Sinhalese and how Sarvodaya actively works to affect positive change. First the essay will map out the conflict through the use of the Conflict Wheel, and then critically analyze it, followed by a reflective analysis for future practice. Next, the perspectives, emotions, and world view of each party is analyzed for the potential for constructive engagement. The conclusion of this essay will highlight the theories of change to implement and improveRead MoreMotivation and Conflict Resolution Essay753 Words   |  4 Pages Motivation and Conflict Resolution Conflict in the workplace is detrimental to employee motivation. An essential part of motivating employees is fostering trust and providing job satisfaction. Effectively resolving conflict is critical to the success of the organization, but is only one aspect of employee motivation. 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Conflict and power can be found in several areas and levels such as colonization process, wars, inside an organization, and even in our own family, and it can have political, economic, social and cultural reasons. However, there are different types of power such as Reward, Coercive, Referent, Expert and Legitimate, and three perspectives of conflict as Traditional, InterpretiveRead MoreConflict Resolution And Child Custody1365 Words   |  6 PagesConflict Resolution Child Custody As a future marital and family therapist and even as a trainee, it is important to understand the systemic thinking behind the practice. For those therapists, like myself, that want to become experts in more an area, it is also important to delve into the theory and practice of that area. For example, child custody is a big piece to conflict resolution when it comes to thinking systemically in the family. The current divorce rate is around 50 percent and everRead MoreReflective Analyses of Ethical Principles and Applications Essay1040 Words   |  5 Pagesoutcome for the CONR 638: Ethics and Conflict Resolution Course offered at Abilene Christine University, (ACU) according to the course syllabus, was to prepare students â€Å"to reach a higher critical and reflective consciousness of the relationship of ethics to decision-making and problem solving in conflict resolution† (ACU, 2010). By learning to think on a higher plain, students are placed in a position to better adap t to different alternative dispute resolution (ADR) situations. Learning to think

Pride and Prejudice Response Paper Free Essays

Our honorable instructor, Professor Tang assigned us to read three novels in our National Day Vacation: Hills like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and A Woman On a Roof by Doris Lessing. Of these three, I favored Pride and Prejudice most, as apparently, neither the simple story of the sun-bathing woman in A Woman On a Roof was easier enough for me to understand its â€Å"representative of modern women figures†, nor the ugly face of the man who persuaded his girlfriend to take a â€Å"perfectly simple† abortion in Hills Like White Elephant interested enough for me. So though I was actually a fan of the novel Pride and Prejudice, with a more than five times novel reading experiences, and a more than ten times movie audience experiences ( Pride and Prejudice starred Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen), I picked up this novel and read it in my vacation. We will write a custom essay sample on Pride and Prejudice Response Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now I presume that Pride and Prejudice was a most comical one of Jane Austen’s novels. People around me regarded this novel as a love story, yet to me, the novel is an illusion of the environment, the society at those years. Elizabeth, or Lizzie, the heroine and Mr. Darcy, the haughty hero, a literary idol of girls like me, are the exceptions of the gender relationships at that time. In my humble opinion, the relationship between Jane, the second heroine in this novel and Mr. Bingley was a real picture that showed the characteristics of the relationship in that federal era. They loved each other and were deeply enchanted with each other from the bottom of their heart. Yet Mr. Bingley was too shy and too worrying, he set too many obstacles for himself, while Jane was a typically conservative lady, she was bounded by the old manner and so-called â€Å"courtesy†. They hardly missed the chance to marry each other. When it comes to my favourite character—Lizzie, I must confess that she was the bravest heroine in all books I have read. At first she refused Mr. Darcy’s propose, but at last she changed her mind and was totally fell in love with him. This change represents her iron inner self and her unique personality, and that’s why she was so charming. Many writers these days like to use Lizzie as an example to stress the feminism, for she dared to chase what she care. I think she was also a successful example for all of our girls, as now we are so young, and we have the chance to chase our dream. Chaucer once said that we soon believe what we desire. That is also the unique way of Lizzie in Pride and Prejudice. All in all, Pride and Prejudice represent the climax of Jane Austen’s writing career. Also, the clues and the characters in this novel was filled with vividness, so that they are so real to our reality. That’s why I regard this novel as a real classic. How to cite Pride and Prejudice Response Paper, Papers Pride and Prejudice Response Paper Free Essays Our honorable instructor, Professor Tang assigned us to read three novels in our National Day Vacation: Hills like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and A Woman On a Roof by Doris Lessing. Of these three, I favored Pride and Prejudice most, as apparently, neither the simple story of the sun-bathing woman in A Woman On a Roof was easier enough for me to understand its â€Å"representative of modern women figures†, nor the ugly face of the man who persuaded his girlfriend to take a â€Å"perfectly simple† abortion in Hills Like White Elephant interested enough for me. So though I was actually a fan of the novel Pride and Prejudice, with a more than five times novel reading experiences, and a more than ten times movie audience experiences ( Pride and Prejudice starred Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen), I picked up this novel and read it in my vacation. We will write a custom essay sample on Pride and Prejudice Response Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now I presume that Pride and Prejudice was a most comical one of Jane Austen’s novels. People around me regarded this novel as a love story, yet to me, the novel is an illusion of the environment, the society at those years. Elizabeth, or Lizzie, the heroine and Mr. Darcy, the haughty hero, a literary idol of girls like me, are the exceptions of the gender relationships at that time. In my humble opinion, the relationship between Jane, the second heroine in this novel and Mr. Bingley was a real picture that showed the characteristics of the relationship in that federal era. They loved each other and were deeply enchanted with each other from the bottom of their heart. Yet Mr. Bingley was too shy and too worrying, he set too many obstacles for himself, while Jane was a typically conservative lady, she was bounded by the old manner and so-called â€Å"courtesy†. They hardly missed the chance to marry each other. When it comes to my favourite character—Lizzie, I must confess that she was the bravest heroine in all books I have read. At first she refused Mr. Darcy’s propose, but at last she changed her mind and was totally fell in love with him. This change represents her iron inner self and her unique personality, and that’s why she was so charming. Many writers these days like to use Lizzie as an example to stress the feminism, for she dared to chase what she care. I think she was also a successful example for all of our girls, as now we are so young, and we have the chance to chase our dream. Chaucer once said that we soon believe what we desire. That is also the unique way of Lizzie in Pride and Prejudice. All in all, Pride and Prejudice represent the climax of Jane Austen’s writing career. Also, the clues and the characters in this novel was filled with vividness, so that they are so real to our reality. That’s why I regard this novel as a real classic. How to cite Pride and Prejudice Response Paper, Essay examples

Legal System Hepler Pty Ltd

Question: Discuss about the Legal System for Hepler Pty Ltd. Answer: Relevant fact of the case The case is of a loan case, a company took loan that was secured by the several block of lands possess by the company and for additional security two directors of the company provide security or guarantee the company. The company has been liquidate and in the liquidation period the company borrowed money from the plaintiff by signing of both the directors of the company but the disbursement authority had been signed by only one director. Beside this, some of the loan proceed had been transferred to the directors personal bank account. Here, in this case the company Hepler Pty Ltd took the loan from plaintiffs D.A. Caspersonnand two of its directors S.A. Hepburn and R.I. Bellamy was the defendant who gave guarantee to pay back the money but the company unable to pay the obligations under the loan. Major legal issue The major legal issue in this case is that the amoint that Hepler Pty Ltd had borrowed from the plaintiffs were not repaid by the date which was stated in the contract or agreement between them. As a result of this the plaintiffs have brought the case forward to get justice in the matter. Hepler Pty Ltd wanted to borrow a sum of money from the plaintiffs in order to get a land and the time period mentioned in the initial contract was that of two months only. After a point of time Hepler Pty Ltd was placed into liquidation and they no longer could make any payment to the plaintiffs. Now since this is a breach of the loan agreement made between the two, the case has a ground. This particular issue needs to be solved with the application and incorporation of relevant laws present in the Australian Legal System. Relevant law The case has been judged by the relevant law of Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) and Corporation Act 2001 (Cth). Both the law help in giving appropriate judgment for the case. As per the corporation Act 2001 (Cth) assumption in section 129(2)(b), the directors are liable to pay the obligations of the company completely or partially. Actual decision of the case The verdict of the court was in favor of the plaintiffs and against that of the defendant, where the defendants needed to pay an amount of $472,081.43 in total with the interest going up to $213.19 per day from 10th February 2010 till the date of the payment made. References Adams, Michael A and Marina Nehme,Business Organisations Law Guidebook(Oxford University Press, 2015) Australian Corporations Legislation(LexisNexis Butterworths, 2010) Newman, Stephen and Craig Semple,Corporations Law Intensive(Leo Cussen Institute, 2007) Real Property Amendment (Compensation) Act 2000(NSW Dept. of Lands, 2004) Young, Peter,Annotated Conveyancing And Real Property Legislation New South Wales(LexisNexis, 2009)

Jean Corot Essays - Landscape Artists, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

Jean Corot Jean Baptiste Camille Corot (1796-1875) Jean Baptiste Camille Corot was born in Paris on July 16, 1796. His mother managed a fashionable dress shop in Paris on the Rue du Bac and as a result he spent his first four years with a family near I'sleAdam, and until 1807 lived in a pension on the Rue Vaugirard. He was sent afterwards on scholarship to a school in Rouen, but did not adapt well to his new environment, and in 1812, his parents decided it would be best for him to return to Paris. When he finished his education in the village of Poissy, near Paris, his father insisted that he venture into business, and though he had expressed his desire to become an artist, Corot worked in several cloth merchant shops from 1815 until 1822. In 1822, his parents finally agreed to support him as an artist. Corot's first teacher was Achile Etna Michallon, a landscapist who had studied in Rome. The time Corot spent with Michallon was brief, since Michallon died later that same year. His influence, however, was immense, for it was he who suggested to Corot to carefully study out-of-doors. Corot afterwards studied with Jean Victor Bertin, who had also been Michallon's teacher. In 1817, Corot's father bought a country home at Ville d'Avray, and the countryside became a tremendous source of inspiration for the young artist. With the financial support of his family, Corot traveled to Italy in 1825: his simple, direct interpretations of what he saw caused a stir among his colleagues, who included Leopold Robert, Schnetz and d'Aligny. Corot left Rome in 1826 and traveled throughout much of Italy, returning to France in 1828, where he maintained a rigorous schedule throughout his life. During the winters he worked in his Paris studio, and devoted the summers to travel around France, recording his experiences with nature. Essentially ignored in the 1830s, Corot won important patrons and state commissions during the following ten years. In the late 1840s and early 1850s he exhibited regularly and was a member of the Jury in the Salon. His entries for the Salon generally included traditional subject matter such as Biblical and mythological themes, although a few landscape studies were also included. Following the death of his mother in 1851, Corot accepted an invitation from Constant Dutilleux to recover from his loss. He went to Arras and La Rochelle where he worked constantly. In 1851 and 1855 he traveled to the Limousin, Switzerland and to Holland, attaining considerable recognition during this period. One of his most important victories was in 1855 when he exhibited six paintings at the Universal Exhibition. The exhibition was an enormous success and earned Corot his place among the Barbizon painters. The public experienced an increased interest in his works during the late 1850s, and in 1858, thirtyeight of his works were sold at the Hotel Drouot for a considerable amount. Corot continued to exhibit at the Paris Salon until the end of his life. He died in the Ville d'Avray on February 22, 1875, at the age of seventynine. Corot, one of the foremost landscape artists of his time, is at last recognized as one of the greatest painters of nature and of the human form, and one of the most moving recorders of an artist's intimacy with his work. Corot had the extraordinary skill of being able to delineate not just the contours of objects, but the actual substance and luminosity. He was one of the first painters to love and to paint nature for its own sake, and his landscapes were surprisingly sensitive. He possessed a true quality of vision and expressed a genuine poetic style in his work. Corot's paintings combined poetry, light and color to reveal a clear and intense truth. He enlightened the realm of landscape painting with a new naturalism, and a definite romanticism. Corot was a revolutionary artist and a precursor to the art of the next generation.

The History of Coca-Cola and John Pemberton

The History of Coca-Cola and John Pemberton In May 1886, Coca-Cola was invented by Doctor John Pemberton, a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia. According to the Coca-Cola Company, Pemberton developed the syrup for the famed beverage, which was sampled at the local Jacobs Pharmacy and deemed to be excellent. The syrup was combined with carbonated water to create a new Delicious and Refreshing drink. Pemberton concocted the famed Coca-Cola formula in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard.   Birth of Coca-Cola The name of Coca-Cola was a suggestion given by Pembertons bookkeeper Frank Robinson. As the recipe for the syrup called for coca leaf extract and caffeine from the kola nut, the name Coca Kola was easy to come up with. However, Robinson, who was known for having excellent penmanship, thought that using two Cs in the name would look striking in advertising. As such kola became cola, and the brand name was born. Robinson can also be credited with creating the first scripted Coca-Cola using the flowing letters that serve as the famous logo of today. The soft drink was first sold to the public at the soda fountain in Jacobs Pharmacy in Atlanta on May 8, 1886. About nine servings of the soft drink were sold each day. Sales for that first year added up to a total of about $50. The first year of business wasnt much of a success, though, as it cost Pemberton over $70 in expenses to create the drink, resulting in a loss. Asa Candler In 1887, another Atlanta pharmacist and businessman, Asa Candler, bought the formula for Coca-Cola from  Pemberton for $2,300. Unfortunately, Pemberton died just a few years later. By the late 1890s, Coca-Cola was one of Americas most popular fountain drinks, largely due to Candlers aggressive marketing of the product. With Candler now at the helm, the Coca-Cola Company increased syrup sales by over 4,000 percent between 1890 and 1900. While the Coca-Cola Company denies this claim, historical evidence shows that it is likely that, until 1905, the soft drink, which was marketed as a tonic, contained extracts of cocaine as well as the caffeine-rich kola nut. While cocaine wasnt considered illegal until 1914, according to Live Science,  Candler began removing cocaine from the recipe in the early 1900s, and traces of cocaine may have been present in the famous beverage until 1929 when scientists were able to  perfect the removal of  all psychoactive elements from the coca-leaf extract. Advertising was an important factor in the successful sales of Coca-Cola, and by the turn of the century, the drink was sold across the United States and Canada. Around the same time, the company began selling syrup to independent bottling companies licensed to sell the drink. Even today, the U.S. soft drink industry is organized on this principle. Death of the Soda Fountain; Rise of the Bottling Industry Until the 1960s, both small-town and big-city dwellers enjoyed carbonated beverages at the local soda fountain or ice cream saloon. Often housed in the drugstore, the soda fountain counter served as a meeting place for people of all ages. Often combined with lunch counters, the soda fountain declined in popularity as commercial ice cream, bottled soft drinks, and fast-food restaurants became popular. The Birth and Death of New Coke On April 23, 1985, the trade secret New Coke formula was launched in response to declining sales thanks to an increasingly competitive cola market.  However, the new recipe was considered a failure. Coca-Cola fans had a negative, some say hostile, reaction to the new recipe, and within three months, the original cola that captured the hearts and tastebuds of the public returned. The return of the original cola taste came with new branding of Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke remained on the shelves, and in 1992 was rebranded Coke II, before finally being discontinued in 2002. As of 2017, Coca-Cola is a publicly-traded Fortune 500 company with more than $41.3 billion in annual revenue. The company has a workforce of 146,200 employees, and  its products are consumed at a rate of more than one billion drinks per day. Advertising Efforts: Id Like to Buy the World a Coke In 1969, The Coca-Cola Company and its advertising agency, McCann-Erickson, ended their popular Things Go Better With Coke campaign, replacing it with a campaign that centered on the slogan Its the Real Thing. Beginning with a hit song, the new campaign featured what proved to be one of the most popular ads ever created. The song Id Like to Buy the World a Coke was the brainchild of Bill Backer, the creative director on the Coca-Cola As he explained to songwriters Billy Davis and Roger Cook, I could see and hear a song that treated the whole world as if it were a person - a person the singer would like to help and get to know. Im not sure how the lyric should start, but I know the last line. With that he pulled out the paper napkin on which he had scribbled the line, Id like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company. On February 12, 1971, Id Like to Buy the World a Coke was shipped to radio stations throughout the United States. It promptly flopped. The Coca-Cola bottlers hated the ad and most refused to buy airtime for it. The few times the ad was played, the public paid no attention. Backer persuaded McCann to convince Coca-Cola executives that the ad was still viable but needed a visual dimension. The company eventually approved more than $250,000 for filming, at the time one of the largest budgets ever devoted to a television commercial. A Commercial Success The television ad Id Like to Buy the World a Coke was released in the United States in July 1971 and the response was immediate and dramatic. By November of that year, Coca-Cola and its bottlers had received more than 100,000 letters about the ad. Demand for the song was so great, many people called radio stations and asked deejays to play the commercial. Id Like to Buy the World a Coke made a lasting connection with the viewing public. Advertising surveys consistently identify it as one of the best commercials of all time, and the sheet music continues to sell more than 30  years after the song was written. A tribute to the success of the campaign, the commercial resurfaced over 40 years after it first launched, making an appearance in the finale of the hit TV show Mad Men in 2015.

Amoeba Anatomy, Digestion, and Reproduction

Amoeba Anatomy, Digestion, and Reproduction Amoebas are unicellular eukaryotic organisms classified in the Kingdom Protista. Amoebas are amorphous and appear as jelly-like blobs as they move about. These microscopic protozoa move by changing their shape, exhibiting a unique type of crawling motion that has come to be known as amoeboid movement. Amoebas make their homes in salt water and freshwater aquatic environments, wet soils, and some parasitic amoebas inhabit animals and humans. Key Takeaways: Amoebas An amoeba is an aquatic, single-celled protist characterized by a gelatinous body, amorphous shape, and amoeboid movement.Amoebas can form temporary extensions of their cytoplasm known as pseudopodia or false feet which can be used for locomotion or capturing food.Food acquisition is amoebas occurs by a type of endocytosis called phagocytosis. The food source (bacterium, algae, etc.) is engulfed whole, digested, and the waste expelled.Amoebas commonly reproduce by binary fission, a process in which the cell divides into two identical cells.Some species can cause disease in humans such as amebiasis, amoebic meningoencephalitis, and cornea infections of the eye. Classification Amoebas belong to the Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Protista, Phyllum Protozoa, Class Rhizopoda, Order Amoebida, and the Family Amoebidae. Amoeba Anatomy Amoebas are simple in form consisting of cytoplasm surrounded by a cell membrane. The outer portion of the cytoplasm (ectoplasm) is clear and gel-like, while the inner portion of the cytoplasm (endoplasm) is granular and contains organelles, such as a nuclei, mitochondria, and vacuoles. Some vacuoles digest food, while others expel excess water and waste from the cell through the plasma membrane. The most unique aspect of amoeba anatomy is the formation of temporary extensions of the cytoplasm known as pseudopodia. These false feet are used for locomotion, as well as to capture food (bacteria, algae, and other microscopic organisms). Pseudopodia may be broad or thread-like in appearance with many forming at one time or one large extension may form when needed. Amoebas dont have lungs or any other type of respiratory organ. Respiration occurs as dissolved oxygen in the water diffuses across the cell membrane. In turn, carbon dioxide is eliminated from the amoeba by diffusion across the membrane into the surrounding water. Water is also able to cross the amoeba plasma membrane by osmosis. Any excess accumulation of water is expelled by contractile vacuoles within the amoeba. Nutrient Acquisition and Digestion Amoebas obtain food by capturing their prey with their pseudopodia. The food is internalized through a type of endocytosis known as phagocytosis. In this process, the pseudopodia surround and engulf a bacterium or other food source. A food vacuole forms around the food particle as it is internalized by the amoeba. Organelles known as lysosomes fuse with the vacuole releasing digestive enzymes inside the vacuole. Nutrients are obtained as the enzymes digest the food inside the vacuole. Once the meal is complete, the food vacuole dissolves. Reproduction Amoebas reproduce by the asexual process of binary fission. In binary fission, a single cell divides forming two identical cells. This type of reproduction happens as a result of mitosis. In mitosis, replicated DNA and organelles are divided between two daughter cells. These cells are genetically identical. Some amoeba also reproduce by multiple fission. In multiple fission, the amoeba secretes a three-layered wall of cells that harden around its body. This layer, known as a cyst, protects the amoeba when conditions become harsh. Protected in the cyst, the nucleus divides several times. This nuclear division is followed by the division of the cytoplasm for the same number of times. The result of multiple fission is the production of several daughter cells that are released once conditions become favorable again and the cyst ruptures. In some cases, amoebas also reproduce by producing spores. Parasitic Amoebas Some amoeba are parasitic and cause serious illness and even death in humans. Entamoeba histolytica cause amebiasis, a condition resulting in diarrhea and stomach pain. These microbes also cause amebic dysentery, a severe form of amebiasis. Entamoeba histolytica travel through the digestive system and inhabit the large intestines. In rare cases, they can enter the bloodstream and infect the liver or brain. Another type of amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, causes the brain disease amoebic meningoencephalitis. Also known as brain-eating amoeba, these organisms typically inhabit warm lakes, ponds, soil, and untreated pools. If N. fowleri enter the body though the nose, they can travel to the frontal lobe of the brain and cause a serious infection. The microbes feed on brain matter by releasing enzymes that dissolve brain tissue. N. fowleri infection in humans is rare but most often fatal. Acanthamoeba cause the disease Acanthamoeba keratitis. This disease results from an infection of the cornea of the eye. Acanthamoeba keratitis can cause eye pain, vision problems, and may result in blindness if left untreated. Individuals who wear contact lenses most often experience this type of infection. Contact lenses can become contaminated with Acanthamoeba if they are not properly disinfected and stored, or if worn while showering or swimming. To reduce the risk of developing Acanthamoeba keratitis, the CDC recommends that you properly wash and dry your hands before handling contact lenses, clean or replace lenses when needed, and store lenses in a sterile solution. Sources: Acanthamoeba Keratitis FAQs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 June 2017, www.cdc.gov/parasites/acanthamoeba/gen_info/acanthamoeba_keratitis.html.Naegleria fowleri - Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) - Amebic Encephalitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Feb. 2017, www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/.Patterson, David J. â€Å"Tree of Life Amoebae: Protists Which Move and Feed Using Pseudopodia.† Tree of Life Web Project, tolweb.org/accessory/Amoebae?acc_id51.

Education by computer -a better way Research Paper

Education by computer -a better way - Research Paper Example Nonetheless, despite wide acceptability of this trend, there has been debate from many quotas on the suitableness of this, as a schoolrooms method. The question of whether computers are the best way to go has been motivated by a myriad of factors such as, the cost and maintenance of computers and the whether it adds value or it is just a passing fad. The importance of the roles played by computers in the modern classroom will be discussed with the intent of logically proving that they are they are a crucial aspect of modern education. Keen consideration into the basic psychology of most school going children age ranging from early childhood to late teens will reveal one common factor, they all benefit more from practical student centered learning as opposed to, teacher centered learning. Here, computers come in handy; a teacher will instruct a student on how to obtain information using a certain software or website. The teacher will just require providing the basic skills and he/ she will leave the student to do the rest as the teacher supervises. Students and teachers can use LCD projectors, Digital cameras I pads and smart boards among other technological equipment to harness the power of computer technology in class (Meador). ... Besides considering learners today, especially teens spend much of their time on their iPhones and laptops browsing and chatting, it is natural for them to be more interested in a class that has computers. This is because they will using the same gadgets they normally associate with fun and leisure, and having conditioned themselves thus they are likely to react favorably to technology in class ultimately translating in higher grades. As aforementioned, computer education, or education through computers provides learners with invaluable computer skills, which can serve them well in retrospect as they enter the job market or self-employ. Furthermore, there is innumerable gaming software that can be used inside or outside the classroom situation, to develop not only the computer skills but also the psychomotor skills such as hand and eye co-ordination in young children. Math and mind games also help learners develop; analytical and critical thinking and problem solving skills that cont ribute to their personal and professional growth. Other benefits of gaming activities include improved memory and dexterity with computers, which is one of the requirements for one to excel in the games (Salgado). Teachers as parts of lessons can use these games or curricular activities as part of team building by diving learners in groups and having them compete against each other. They also allow a chance for the more bookish students to shine in co-curricular activities to make up for lack of finesse in the field or gym. Online tutoring is another crucial benefit having computers in the classroom since learners are able to stay in contact with their teachers through the internet. They can consult them

The Leadership Challenges Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Leadership Challenges - Essay Example This paper focuses on the challenges experienced by a leader and how a transformation leader can help the organization obtain its objective of adopting change. The Leadership Challenge Introduction Leadership is referred to as an individual’s ability to influence an individual or a group of individuals in any setting to accomplish aims and objectives. In organizational context, leader is a person who influences other individuals of the organization to comply with him and help him in attaining aims and objectives. The individuals who are being influenced by the leader are recognized as followers of the leader, they follow a leader due to various reasons and one of the main reasons of followership is allocation of resources. An organization is a setting that experiences huge number of challenges and it has to meet these challenges to remain in the game for the longer run. Due to various challenges, an organization always desire a leader as a leader is the one who makes the decis ions of utmost difficulty, carry out the process of change and communicates the vision of the organization to the employees. A leader has to experience various challenges while carrying out the duties he is expected to perform. Body Over the years researchers have figured out various types of leaderships that individuals carry out to attain the main aim of influencing. One of such types is transformational leadership, individuals who fall under this kind of leadership influence their followers by directly appealing the sensitive side of the followers or in other words, they appeal to the moral end of the followers in order to influence them. These leaders carry out their task of leadership with the aid of creating a high valued image of themselves in the minds of the followers, they present a vision of future that is quite positive in nature and they are the ones who frame the entire process of change. On the other end are those leaders who set goals for their followers and provide aid and assistance to their followers for the accomplishment of those goals by clearly informing them about the tasks and the roles they have to perform for the accomplishment of those goals. Transformational leaders are said to have the charisma to influence followers in such a way so the followers give priority to the organizational goals over their own goals. Vision is an idea of the future or the budgeted future that is framed by leaders, leaders create a positive vision in order to keep the followers tied up with each other. A leader articulates a vision by presenting a future that is quite positive and clearly defines the steps that the organization has to take to achieve a positive future. In transformational leadership, image management is of utmost importance, because a transformational leader has to lead his followers through the concept of idealizing. To achieve this objective, a transformational leader’s behavior has to be quite attractive and positive and has to lead by conducting exemplary behavior. A transformational leader is considered as one of the best forms of leadership because he has the duty of injecting the feel of high level of loyalty and confidence in his/her followers. They conduct the task of articulating the organization’s vision in such a way so the followers can relate to the vision and are highly willing to attain the objectives set in the vision. They take the step ahead and delegate authority

Applications of Geographic Information System Essay Example for Free

Applications of Geographic Information System Essay ABSTRACT This paper discusses the application of GIS as a tool in monitoring biodiversity with special reference to Pakistan. The major advantages of satellite data are that the large and inaccessible areas can be covered using a standard approach, with a uniform level of detail and at relatively low coast. Networked information like GIS and Remote sensing not only provides speedy answers to scientific problems and issues, but also broadens planet of possible questions on the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological diversity. Simply we can say that the GIS is associated with two different functions for a geographical perspective on biodiversity data and other environmental issues. (1) It contains a powerful reference base (geographic location), i.e. maps of natural vegetation (endemic, multipurpose, and threatened), soil, land cover, topography, hydrology, bird migration, distribution of fauna and flora, etc. (2) GIS is a powerful and effective way of communicating a large variety of information. In developing countries GIS is used so as to make possible the sustainable development, conservation, management and monitoring of biodiversity. In Pakistan the application of GIS in various fields is still not very common. Talking about its usage for biodiversity conservation, management and monitoring, it is just 5-7 years back. Departments like wildlife department of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhton Khawa, Baluchistan and Gilgit-Baltistan and various NGOs like IUCN, WWF-P, SUPARCO are using this satellite based technology for conservation, management and monitoring of various ecological characteristics like distribution of flora and fauna, the population and the status of flora and fauna, the health of wetlands, national parks, game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. In addition to this GIS is also use now a days in Pakistan for land use purposes but this work so far done is not enough to come through the circumstances face by our planet specially the tropical and sub tropical countries like Pakistan. Therefore, in Pakistan there is a need for more comprehensive approaches  that deal with new remote sensing technologies and analysis in a GIS-environment, and that integrate findings collected over longer periods with the aim of prediction. It is also imperative to collect and integrate data from different disciplines. These are essential in the spirit of sustainable development and conservation, management and monitoring of natural resources. Keywords: geographic information system (GIS); biodiversity; monitoring. INTRODUCTION Geographical Information Systems A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a system of hardware, software and procedures to facilitate the conservation, monitoring, management, etc by manipulation, analysis, modeling, representation and display of geo-referenced data to solve complex ecological and environmental problems. GIS functions in a systematic way as: data entry, data display, data management, information retrieval and analysis. The main function of an Information system is to improve one’s ability to make decisions. A geographic information system is an information system that is designed to work with data referenced to spatial or geographic coordinates. GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially referenced data, as well as a set of operation for working with any type of data as well. The three basic types of GIS applications which might also represent stages of development of a single GIS application are as under (Ramachandran, 1993, Ramachandran et.al., 1997, 1998). Inventory Application The first step in developing a GIS application is making an inventory of the features like flora and fauna for a given geographic area. The emphasis at this stage is the updating of simple data retrieval (Ramachandran, 1993, Ramachandran et.al., 1997, 1998). Analysis Application After the inventory stage, complex queries on multiple layers can be performed using spatial and aspatial analysis techniques. Management Application More advanced spatial and modeling techniques are required to support the decisions of managers and policy makers so that they can better monitor the issues. This means that the shifting of emphasis will be from basic geographic data handling to manipulation, analysis and modeling in order to solve real world problems (Ramachandran, 1993, Ramachandran et.al., 1997, 1998). There has been a revolution in the availability of information and in the development and application of tools for managing information during the past 4 to 5 years (Harison 1995). Geographic information system (GIS) is an important tool for monitoring biodiversity, which accommodates large varieties of spatial and aspatial (attribute) data. The information programmed in a GIS is used to target surveys, measurements and monitoring schemes. Various types of data on species and habitat distribution from different dates allow monitoring of the location and the extent of change. A GIS is actually a spatially referenced database that allows multiple layers of data to be created and displayed together as computerized maps. Data sources may includes aerial surveys, satellite data, existing maps, field surveys and expert knowledge. GIS is such an efficient technology that it enables the standard formatting of all maps used, no matter what their source is. The major advantages of satellite data are that large and inaccessible areas can be covered using a standard approach, with a uniform level of detail and at relatively low coast. Biodiversity means the variety of life in this universe and its definition as given by The Convention on Biological Diversity is: â€Å"The variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are apart, this includes diversity within species and of ecosystems. More simply, the biodiversity is the variety of the world’s organisms, including their genetic makeup and the communities they form. Biodiversity is dynamic: the genetic composition of species changes over time in response to natural and human-induced selection  pressures; the occurrence and relative abundance of species in ecological communities changes as a result of ecological and physical factors (Box 2)†. (Elzinga et al. 2001) defined monitoring as, The collection and analysis of repeated observations or measurements to evaluate changes in condition and progress toward meeting a management objective Monitoring is actually the repeated surveys or measurements taken by means of some standardized procedure so that the predetermined objectives or values be analyzed or interpret. Thus, the biodiversity monitoring is the estimation of diversity at any location more than one time so as to draw inference about any change that has occurred or is likely to occur (Wilson et. al 1996). The attributes of biological diversity that can be assessed at each level of ecological organization were identified by (Wilson et.al 1996). The attributes that could be monitored include the identity, distribution, and proportions of each type of habitat, and the distribution of species within those habitats at landscape level and at ecosystem level, richness, evenness, and diversity of species, guilds and communities are important. Abundance, density and biomass of each population may be of interests on species level and at the genetic level, genetic diversity of individual organisms within population is important. It is very important to assess and interpret biodiversity at all these levels of organization by using various approaches at several spatial and temporal scales (Noss and Cooperrider 1994). DISCUSSION GIS plays an important role as a tool for environmental conservation, management and monitoring, with the current greater concern for sustainable use of resources, and conservation, management and monitoring of biodiversity. Simply we can say that the GIS is associated with two different functions for a geographical perspective on biodiversity data and other environmental issues. (1) It contains a powerful reference base (geographic location), i.e. maps of natural vegetation (endemic, multipurpose, and threatened), soil, land cover, topography, hydrology, bird migration, distribution of fauna and flora, etc. (2) GIS is a powerful and effective way of communicating a large variety of information. In developing countries GIS is used so as to make possible the sustainable development, conservation, management and monitoring of biodiversity. These  countries not only hold a large part of universe’s biodiversity (particularly from tropical coastal ecosystems), but they are also the most vulnerable to environmental degradation. Remote sensing studies relevant to the field of sustainable development in tropical developing countries were provided by Calzadilla P ´erez et al. (2002), Dahdouh-Guebas et al. (2002b), De La Ville et al. (2002), Jayatissa et al. (2002), Kairo et al. (2002), Sulong et al. (2002) and Verheyden et al. (2002). Records of species and other ecological characters or habitat can be stored in a database and mapped to show where they occur and this geographic information can be used to target surveys and monitoring schemes (Marqules Austin, 1991). Spatial and aspatial data from different dates allow monitoring of the location of change (where) to be identified and the extent (how much) measured. The aspatial data include tables of measurements, species and habitat, attributes, images, videos, so und, etc while the spatial data include maps, satellite imagery and aerial images. The taxonomic, ecological and cultural variables required for assessment and monitoring of biological diversity and their corresponding information scales were showed by Davis et al. (1990). A GIS-based approach for the analysis of biodiversity was developed by Walker Faith (1993) and according to this approach species lists for different geographic locations with other geographic data describing the locations of nature reserves and geographic variations in environmental conditions were linked. The analysis modeling applied to environmental data are the recent developments in GIS (Aspinall, 1995), notably predicting the distribution of wildlife species under present and changed environmental conditions, understanding the interaction of habitats and other aspects of ecological infrastructure within landscapes, and interpreting and monitoring biodiversity for use in management. Networked information like GIS and Remote sensing not only provides speedy answers to scientific problems, but also broadens the planet of possible questions on the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological diversity (Canhos et al., 1998). The above examples indicates the monitoring assessment of the status and trends in biodiversity using GIS. In Pakistan the application of GIS in various fields is still not very common. Talking about its usage for biodiversity conservation, management  and monitoring, it is just 5-7 years back. Departments like wildlife department of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhton Khawa, Baluchistan and Gilgit-Baltistan and various NGOs like IUCN, WWF-P, SUPARCO are using this satellite based technology for conservation, management and monitoring of various ecological characteristics like distribution of flora and fauna, the population and the status of flora and fauna, the health of wetlands, national parks, game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. In addition to this GIS is also use now a days in Pakistan for land use purposes. According to this GIS based studies Garstang et al. (2003) categorized Wetlands of Pakistan into four broader ecological categories i.e., Montane and Alpine region, Semi-arid region, Arid region and coastal region. The Wetlands Survey Programme Section (WSPS) of Pakistan Wetlands Programme is responsible to carryout nation-wide wetlands’ surveys on birds, mammals, fish, micro macro invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, vegetation, and water quality, therefore, by using GIS all these biodiversity data along with their observers’ details and observation conditions are being maintained in a web-accessible database deployed at National Council for Conservation of Wildlife (NCCW), Islamabad. Pakistan Wetlands Inventory (PWI) data model integrates or collects the Wetlands Survey Programme and Wetlands GIS programme (Qamer, 2007) and the boundaries of all the protected wetlands were mapped into GIS format using government record, field data and GIS maps. CONCLUSION In Pakistan there is a need for more comprehensive approaches that deal with new satellite based programmes like remote sensing technologies and analysis in a GIS-environment, and that integrate findings collected over longer periods with the aim of prediction. It is also imperative to collect and integrate data from different disciplines of biodiversity. This is very essential in the spirit of sustainable development and conservation, management and monitoring of natural resources. In addition to this the use of GIS and other satellite based systems can save our time due to their fast actions and data taken is also considered more authentic and reliable. REFERENCES Boyd, D.S., Foody, G.M. An overview of recent remote sensing and GIS based research in ecological informatics. Ecological Informatics(2010), doi:10.1016/J.ecoinf. 2010.07.007 Qamer, F. M., Saleem, R., Hussain, N., Akram, U. Raza, S. M. (2008). Multi-scale watershed database of Pakistan, 10th International Symposium on High Mountain Remote Sensing Cartography (HMRSC X), September 8-11, 2008 Katkmandu, Nepal. Walker, J.S., Blaschke, T., 2008. Object-based Land covers classification for the Phoenix metropolitan area: Optimization vs. transportability. International Journal of Remote Sensing 29 (7), 2021_2040. Qamer, F. M. (2007). Pakistan Wetlands Inventory Data Model an approach based on Asian Wetlands Inventory, ISO 19115, and Information Model for Biological Collections guideline.† In: proceedings of Student Conference on Conservation Science, University of Cambridge, March 2007, Cambridge, UK. Walker, J.S., Briggs, J.M., 2007. An object-oriented approach to urban forest mapping in phoenix. Photogrammetric Engineering Remote Sensing 73 (5), 577_583. Tucker, G., Bubb P., de Heer M., Miles L., Lawrence A., Bajracharya S. B., Nepal R. C., Sherchan R., Chapagain N.R. 2005. Guidelines for Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring for Protected Areas. KMTNC, Kathmandu, Nepal. Zhang, Q.F., Molenaar, M., Tempfli, K., Shi, W., 2005a. Quality assessment for geospatial objects derived from remotely sensed data. International Journal of Remote Sensing 26 (14), 2953_2974. Zhang, Q.F., Pavlic, G., Chen, W.J., Fraser, R., Leblanc, S., Cihlar, J., 2005b. A semiautomatic segmentation procedure for feature extraction in remotely sensed imagery. Computers Geosciences 31 (3), 289_296. Zhang, B.-L., Song, M., Zhou, W.-C., 2005c. Exploration on method of auto classification for main ground objects of Three Gorges Reservoir area. Chinese Geographical Science 15 (2), 157_161. Garstang, R., Omer, S., Ashraf, S., Arshad, M., and Shafiullah, M. (2003). The Protection and Management of Pakistan Wetlands Project, The Pakistan Wetlands Project Document. Calzadilla P ´erez, A., Damen, M.C.J., Geneletti, D. and Hobma, T.W.: 2002, ‘Monitoring a recent delta formation in a tropical coastal wetland using remote sensing and GIS. Case study: Guapo River delta, Laguna de Tacarigua, Venezuela’, in F. Dahdouh-Guebas (ed.), Remote Sensing and GIS in the Sustainable Management of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Environment, Development and Sustainability 4(2), 201–219. De La Ville, N., Chumaceiro Diaz, A. and Ramirez, D.: 2002, ‘Remote sensing and GIS technologies as tools to support sustainable management of areas devastated by landslides’, in F. Dahdouh-Guebas (ed.), Remote Sensing and GIS in the Sustainable Management of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Environment, Development and Sustainability 4(2), 93–112. Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Zetterstr ¨om, T., R ¨onnb ¨ack, P., Troell, M.,Wickramasinghe, A. and Koedam, N.: 2002b, ‘Recent changes in land-use in the Pambala-Chilaw Lagoon complex (Sri Lanka) investigated using remote sensing and GIS: conservation of mangroves vs. development of shrimp farming, in F. Dahdouh- Guebas (ed.), Remote Sensing and GIS in the Sustainable Management of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Environment, Development and Sustainability 4(2), 93–112. . Jayatissa, L.P., Guero, M.C., Hettiarachchi, S. andKoedam, N.: 2002, ‘Changes in vegetation cover and socioeconomic transitions in a coastal lagoon (Kalametiya, Sri Lanka), as observed by teledetection and ground truthing, can be attributed to an upstream irrigation scheme’, in F. Dahdouh-Guebas (ed.), Remote Sensing and GIS in the Sustainable Management of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Environment, Development and Sustainability 4(2), 93–112. Sulong, I., Mohd-Lokman, H., Tarmizi, K. and Ismail, A.: 2002, ‘Mangrove mapping using Landsat imagery and aerial photographs: Kemaman District, Terengganu, Malaysia’, in F. Dahdouh-Guebas (ed.), Remote Sensing and GIS in the Sustainable Management of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Environment, Development and Sustainability 4(2), 93–112. Verheyden, A., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Thomaes, K., De Genst, W., Hettiarachchi, S. and Koedam, N.: 2002, ‘High resolution vegetation data for mangrove research as obtained from aerial photography’, in F. Dahdouh-Guebas (ed.), Remote Sensing and GIS in the Sustainable Management of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Environment, Development and Sustainability 4(2), 113–133. Elzinga, C. L., D. W. Salzer, J. W. Willoughby, and J. P. Gibbs. 2001. Monitoring plant and animal populations. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Abingdon, UK. Ramachandran, S., Devasenapathy, J., Sundramoorthy, S. and Krishnamoorthy, R. (2000a). Satellite Remote Sensing Application in Coastal Zone Management, In: Marine Remote Sensing Applications. Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, pp. 87-90. Ramachandran, S., Ramesh, S. and Krishnamoorthy, R. (2000b). Application of Remote Sensing and GIS in Coastal Lagoonal Ecosystem: A Case Study from Pulicat Lake, Southern India, In: Marine Remote Sensing Applications. Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, pp. 333-343. Dev Bahera, M.(1999): Remote sensing and environment. Employment news : 26 th June 2nd July 1999. Hussin. Y.A, Mahfud, M. and Zuhair Michael Weir (1999). Monitoring Mangrove Forests using Remote Sensing and GIS. GIS development proceedings, ACRS. Ramachandran. S, Sundramoorthy, S., Krishnamoorthy, R., Devasenapathy , J. and Thanikachalam, M. (1998). Application of Remote Sensing and GIS to Coastal Wetland Ecology of Tamilnadu and Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands with special reference to Mangroves. Current Science, 75(3) :101-109. Ramachandran. S, Krishnamoorthy, R., Sundramoorthy, S., Parviz, Z.F., Kalyanamuthiah, A. and Dharanirajan, K. (1997). Management of Coastal Environments in Tamilnadu and Andama n Nicobar Islands based on Remote Sensing and GIS approach. MAEER’S MIT, Pune Journal, IV (15 16), Special issue on Coastal Environmental Management, pp. 129-140. Gupta, B.N. and Biswas Sas (1997) : Biodiversity characterization at land scape level using satellite remote sensing. Paper presented in a workshop, Biodiversity characterization using remote sensing project of National Remote sensing agency, Hyderabad, sponsored by department of space and biotechnology, Govt. Of India organized by NRSA at Hyderabad, India. Scott, J.M., Tear, T.H. Davis, F.W. (1996). Gap Analysis: A Landscape Approach to Biodiversity Planning. Maryland, USA, American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Harrison, J. (1995). Finding the information Stein, B.A. (1997). Designing information systems to support biodiversity conservation. In: Hawksworth, D.L., Kirk, P.M. Clarke, S.D. (Eds), Biodiversity Information Needs and Options, pp. 5–20. Proceedings of the 1996 International Workshop on Biodiversity Information. CAB International.on. Parks, 5: 12–19. Aspinall, R.J. (1995). Geographic information systems: their use for environmental management and nature conservation. Parks, 5: 20–31. KMTNC/ACAP/BCDP (1994): Final Draft Report. King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Biodiversity Conservation Data Project. March 1994. Ramachandran. S. (1993). Coastal Zone Information System – Pilot project for Rameswaram area. Report submitted to Department of Ocean Development. Govt. of India, 40 pp. Scott, J.M., Davis, F., Csuti, B., Noss, R., Butterfield, G.C., Anderson, H. Caccio, S., D’Erchia, F., Edwards, T.C., Ulliman, J. Wright, R.G. (1993). Gap analysis: a geographic approach to conservation of biological diversity. Wildlife Monographs, 123: 1–41. Walker, P. Faith, D.P. (1993). Diversity: a software package for sampling phylogenetic and environmental diversity. Division of Wildlife and Ecology. Australia: CSIRO. Wilson, E. O. The Diversity of Life (Norton, New York, 1992). Marqules, C.R. Austin, M.P. (Eds) (1991). Nature conservation: cost effective biological surveys and data analysis. Australia: CSIRO. Davis, F.W., Stoms, D.M., Estes, J.E., Scepan, J. Scott, J.M. (1990). An information systems approach to the preservation of biological diversity. International Journal of Geographic Information Systems, 4: 55–78. Scott, DA (comp) (1989). A Directory of Asian Wetlands. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, United Kingdom. Wilson, E. O. F. M. Peter (Eds.). (1988) Biodiversity. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences Press.

The Human Genome Project :: essays research papers

Marshall, Elizabeth L. The Human Genome Project: Cracking The Code Within Us.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  New York, New York: Franklin Watts, 1996. 1-128.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elizabeth L. Marshall was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She grew up in areas of southern California, and in parts of New York City. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is currently married and has two daughters. She attended and graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in English. She then graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Master of Fine Arts degree in fictional writing. She has worked form several scientific journals and magazines and is a member of the National Association of Science Writers. She has also written several well known books including Conquering Infertility: Medical Challenges and Moral Dilemmas, and High-Tech Harvest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I chose this book because it seemed like an interesting topic, and because I thought it might help me understand more things about DNA. Someone else who read it said that it had a lot to do with the things we covered in class too so I figured it would be as good a choice as any.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This book is about the amazing task of mapping and showing all the sequences of the thousands and thousands of genes in the human body. The book is split up into nine chapters each of which covers a different aspect of this incredible project. The book tells all about almost every aspect of the project. It tells all about the project and what the point is, what has been accomplished so far, and when they expect it to be finished. According to the introduction the project is actually expected to be finished sometime this year.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first chapter starts off with the basic structure of DNA and describes how the base pairing of each nucleotide creates each amino acid, which when all put together create a strand of DNA. It also gives an idea of who is working on the project. She lists several major cities where the project is being worked on and then goes on to explain how between all these different teams, who are all working on some different aspect of the project, there are also anywhere from 200 to 400 other smaller teams all around the country working on it. The next chapter is about chromosome 18, and how a slight mistake in it can cause things like mental retardation and deafness, and what they are trying to do to help stop or fix chromosome 18 deletion syndrome.

Canadian Business Cycles

Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the World's longest unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, and education, social services, and economic competitiveness, as well as responding to the particular concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec. In addition, Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.Canada is a well-developed country that resembles the United States in its market oriented economic system. This system is characterized by the private ownership of resources and the use of markets and prices to coordinate and direct economic activity. It is an industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, and is currently The United States most important trading partne r. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban.The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with the US, which absorbs about three-fourths of Canadian exports each year. Canada is the US's largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoyed solid economic growth from 1993 through 2007.The proceeds from the global economic crisis, dropped into a sharp recession in the final months of 2008 and Ottawa posted its first fiscal deficit in 2009 after 12 years of surplus. Canada's major banks, however, emerged from the fin ancial crisis of 2008-09 among the strongest in the world, owing to the financial sector's tradition of conservative lending practices and strong capitalization. During 2010, Canada's economy grew only 3%, due to decreased global demand and a highly valued. The chart below shows a clear understanding of how the GDP rates were affected: †¢GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) 1. 335 trillion (2010 est. ) $1. 297 trillion (2009 est. ) †¢GDP (Official Exchange Rate) $1. 564 trillion (2010 est. ) †¢GDP (Real Growth Rate) 3% (2010 est. ) -2. 5% (2009 est. ) †¢GDP Per Capita (PPP) $39,600 (2010 est. ) †¢GDP Composition by Sector Agriculture: 2% Industry: 20% Services: 78% (2010 est. ) †¢Labor force 18. 59 million (2010 est. ) Inflation rates are the rate at which prices for goods and services increase and measures against the standard level of purchasing power of the dollar.The main source of measured data is through Consumer Price Index. The inflation rate in Canada was last reported at 3. 3 percent in March of 2011. Between 1915 and 2010, Canada’s Inflation Rate averaged 3. 26 percent. The highest rate of Inflation was reported in June of 1920 at 21. 60 percent, and the lowest was reported in June of 1921 at -17. 80 percent. The Public service is a term used to describe services that are provided by the Government to its citizens. They are generally provided through a public sector. These services are provided free of charge.In addition, public services are offered to protect the welfare of citizens and are available to everyone regardless of income. It is often associated with human rights. Also, through public service are public goods which are non-rival and non-excludable. This means that everyone may benefit simultaneously and no one may be denied access. Canada has public police forces that enforce laws, maintain safety and fight crime. The military branches in Canada consist of Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, and Canada Command which is homeland security.Canada is a member of the Nato Alliance and its military services are regulated by the 1950 National Defense Act and the 1968 Canadian Forces Reorganization Act. In 2005 public expenditures on education were estimated at 1. 1 percent of GDP. There are several government social programs such as family allowances, old-age security, universal health care and unemployment insurance, giving Canadians a high standard of living and desirable quality of life. Canada created a public school system in the 19th century and was established in all provinces except Quebec and Newfoundland. You can read also  Similarities and Conflicts in † a Streetcar Named Desire†In 2007 public expenditures on education were estimated at 4. 9 percent of GDP. They provide public transportation in the forms or subways, trains, streetcars and buses. Canada has a Public Health Agency that protects and improves the health of its citizens from illness and disease. Canada’s healthcare system provides coverage to all its citizens. This program is publicly funded and regulated by the federal government. All citizens are eligible for benefits regardless of medical history, existing conditions or income.They receive preventative care, medical treatments, dental care, access to hospitals and other medical services. Canada is also known to have the highest life expectancy and lowest infant mortality rate; it is said to be contributed to their healthcare system. The labor force is comprised of individuals who are above the age of sixteen, who are not institutionalized and inclu des both employed and unemployed. Canada performs a monthly Labor Force Survey which estimates the rate of employment and unemployment. The results allow aid in measuring the performance of its economy.The unemployment rate in Canada was last reported at 7. 6 percent in April of 2011, a rise by 58,000 from the previous two months. Between 1976 and 2010, Canada’s Unemployment Rate averaged 8. 53 percent. The highest rate of Unemployment was reported in December of 1982 at 13. 10 percent, and the lowest was reported in September of 2007 at 5. 90 percent. Over the past year, employment in the public sector has grown by 2. 8 percent. The Canadian business cycles mostly compares to the one of the United States of America.The Canadian and U. S economies are highly integrated and have an abundant correlation between the two. These two economies correspond with each other through strong trade and financial linkages. The United States accounts for over three quarters of Canadian expor ts, and are an important source of financing for Canadian firms. There are four stages of business cycles which are Expansion, Recession, Trough, and Recovery. The most relevant business cycle Canada is in right now is considered to be Expansion. Why Expansion?Some may say more of a recession, but the main reason is because Canada between 2003 and 2009 went through its trough. Now Canada is moving to its peak where business activity and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expands until it reaches its peak. Canadian business cycles are led through a series of shocks where situations in which events don’t meet expectations. One negative shock highly related to the United States playing a major role because Canada being a net exporter of commodities, in which they suffered from negative terms of trade and wealth effects as world commodity prices started to decline.The fall of U. S demand for tradable goods decreased the demand of Canadian Exports. As a consequence, the decline in the w orld commodity prices contributes to the fall in the Canadian businesses net worth, which creates additional pressure on Canadian Investment. This is a prime example of how the country went into a recession. On the other hand, Canada is now facing some positive results from their expansionary business cycle. Most recent statistics show that the domestic demand trade in billions of retail went up 3. 7 percent. The wholesale trade went up about 7 percent since last year.Another important factor of Canada expanding shows the Exports rising to about 7. 7 percent and imports up to about 9. 1 percent. These simple statistics exemplifies how the Country is progressing. Since the late 1980s until the year 2000, the Canadian Federal economic policy was influenced by two goals which were to eliminate the federal deficit and to reduce the total debt relative to economic output and to maintain the control over inflation. Of course they wanted to keep this expansionary fiscal policy alive but, w ith world economic situations recessions are sometimes expected.During the 2008-09 global recessions, Canada’s economy suffered a major decline in real GDP which fell by 5. 4 percent which was the largest drop since 1991. Now in January 2009, the Canadian federal government released its budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year titles Canada’s economic Action Plan. Still keeping its commitment for fiscal management as the key long term economic stability, there was a shift towards the expansionary fiscal policy and stimulus spending to try to stabilize the Canadian economy. Similar to the U.S stimulus package, Canada also got involved in a stimulus package which dealt with income tax reductions, and focused merely on the demand of the Canadian economy. Some contents of the package focused on the Canadian skills and transition strategy, which provided support to those who lost they jobs seeking new skills, training, and development. Another positive aspect of the package allow ed the government to provide 7. 8 billion in the form of tax credits and spending advantages to stimulate the housing market and construction.These are just a few examples of how the Canadian government temporarily tried and of course are still trying today to get the economy back on its feet. Of course, since Canada is now focusing its basis on the expansionary fiscal policy, government spending is at its high and taxation is at its low. How is the Canadian government affording all of this? Canada’s budget retains the federal government’s commitment to fiscal management and balanced budgets as a key aspect of the long term economic policy. Well of course the debt levels are very high at this point and of course a major risk is taken place.For example, in 2009-2010, TD bank reported as an estimate that Canada would hold about 170 billion in debt within that one year. But, it turned out to be that the government’s debt rose to about 463 billion. This shows that t he large spending to help could maybe hurt them in the long run, but they still have time to get out of it. The Bank of Canada is the Canadian central bank. This was created during the Great depression out of the Bank of Canada Act of 1934. The cause of the creation led to the country’s political climate at the time which was very poor.The bank of Canada is responsible for managing of government funds and the public debt as well as keeping inflation low and stable. Today, the Bank of Canada’s main monetary policy is to keep the inflation rates between 1% and 3% through its power on determining the interest rates paid on the borrowed money. The bank projects economic growth of 2. 9% in 2011, 2. 6% in 2012, and 2. 1% in 2013. If this hypothesis does work out, Canada will be expected to be running at full capacity in the year of 2014. The Bank carries out monetary policy by influencing short-term interest rates.It does this by raising and lowering the target for the overn ight rate. The overnight rate is the interest rate at which major financial institutions borrow and lend one-day or overnight funds among them; the Bank sets a target level for that rate. This target for the overnight rate is often referred to as the Bank's key interest rate or key policy rate. Changes in the target for the overnight rate influence other interest rates, such as those for consumer loans and mortgages. They can also affect the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar.In November 2000, the Bank introduced a system of eight fixed dates each year on which it announces whether or not it will change the key policy rate. Target for the overnight rate, recent data Date Target (%) Change (%) 12 April 20111. 00— 1 March 20111. 00— 18 January 20111. 00— 7 December 20101. 00— 19 October 20101. 00— 8 September 20101. 00+ 0. 25 20 July 20100. 75+ 0. 25 1 June 20100. 50+ 0. 25 Canada has been referred to as one of the strongest economies in the world. It prominent productions include the following: gold, silver, copper, nickel, lead, wood.In 1993, Canada signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and the United States. This agreement allows free trade and eliminated tariffs and fees between the three North American countries. Canada has a Canadian-Dollar exchange rate index (CERI) which is a weighted average of exchange rates for the Canadian dollar against the currencies of Canada’s main trading countries. The six major trading countries measured in the CERI are the U. S. dollar, the European Union euro, the Japanese yen, the U. K. pound, the Chinese Yuan, and the Mexican peso.The Canadian dollar is usually a little weaker than the U. S. dollar. The United States consumes 75 percent of Canada’s exports annually. Canada is the United States largest foreign supplier of energy. To conclude, Canada is very high in correlation with the United States. They follow the same business models and both countries respectfully feed off each other. Canada is known for its exports in commodities and if there are any issues globally, for instance a recession, Canada will decline. Currently, Canada is at its climbing point out of its recession and is currently pushing for expansion.Canada’s main focus at this point is to grow and maintain a strong and healthy society, especially in the monetary aspect. Works Cited Statistics Canada. â€Å"Economy inputs and outputs† March 2009. 5 May 2011 Canadian Business. â€Å"Outlook 2007: Canada, by Province. January 2007†. 5 May 2011< http://www. canadianbusiness. com/article/14236–outlook-2007-canada-by-province> Index Mundi. â€Å"Canada Public Debt† June 2010. 5 May 2011< http://www. indexmundi. com/canada/public_debt. html> IBTIMES. â€Å"Canada employment picks up steam in April†. April 2011. 5 May 2011< http://www. indexmundi. com/canada/public_debt. html>

Economic Nationalism in China Essay

The political economy of a nation is the interplay between its politics and its economy. Economic nationalism, a part of the political economy, wherever it applies, refers to the use of policies that are guided by the idea of protecting domestic consumption, labor, and capital formation, even when these policies require the imposition of tariffs in addition to other restrictions on the movement of labor, goods, and capital. In many cases, economic nationalism is opposed to globalization or unrestricted free trade. Economic nationalism could include doctrines such as protectionism and import substitution (Economic Nationalism 2007). What is more, Japan is a master in the use of policies that define economic nationalism (Hall). China follows Japan’s footsteps closely when it delivers its political economy into the hands of economic nationalism (Gamble 2006). Although the economies of Japan and China differ considerably – that is, the Japanese economy is certainly more developed than the emerging economy of China – there are lessons for China in the Japanese experience of economic nationalism. Lessons from Japan To other nations around the world, Japanese economic nationalism appears as self-seeking behavior. Besides, the self-serving attitude of Japan could drive other nations to also feel particularly touchy about their own national interests with respect to Japan. Thus, Buchanan (1995) writes on behalf of the American people: With the collapse of U. S. – Japan trade talks, the hour of the economic nationalist may be at hand. In British Columbia, U. S. demands that Japan open her markets to more American autos nd parts were rudely rebuffed. Japan’s top negotiator virtually dared us to impose sanctions. We will haul you up before the World Trade Organization. Tokyo warns; and there we will have you branded a violator of the free trade principles you so noisily preach – before an international tribunal you yourselves set up. Angry Clintonites intend to impose 100 percent tariffs on $6 billion of Japan’s exports. This doesn’t even qualify as a spanking. Americans are in a mood for action; and the GOP should demand more serious sanctions. Enough is enough. In 1953, we had 60 percent of Japan’s auto market; by 1960, our share had been slashed to 1 percent. That is all we have now. Since 1970, Japan has purchased 400,000 U. S. cars, while selling us 40 million. Seeing that international trade is a matter of exchanging value for value, the trading partners of nations that indulge in economic nationalism are expected to reduce their trade interests in such nations over time. Nevertheless, nationalism is emotion arousing for the nations that believe in it. Roberts (1998) writes about the subconscious roots of economic nationalism in the Japanese mind. According to the author, these roots lie in an eighteenth century concept of political economy referred to as â€Å"kokueki† or â€Å"national prosperity (Roberts). † The concept of kokueki was articulated in Tosa, only one of more than 230 Japanese domains that made up Japan during the Tokugawa period. The domains were autonomous with regards to internal administration. Even so, they were often expected to sacrifice their own economic interests to meet their obligations to the shogun and his government. During a period of economic crises in the first half of the eighteenth century, Tosa was compelled to adopt mercantilist policies in order to protect its own wellbeing. The concept of kokueki was at the heart of these policies. In this way, Tosa looked upon itself as a nation instead of holding itself responsible for the economic wellbeing of all Japanese domains under the shogun (Roberts). By pursuing the interests of the domain instead of those of the entire government and the shogun, Tosa acted as a model for the rest of the Japanese domains who too began to look upon self-interest as a lucrative attitude. Tosa had thus prepared the ground for the overthrow of the shogun’s government. Eventually, the domain along with few others like itself engineered the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in the year 1868. Furthermore, Tosa and partners extended the concept of kokueki from their domains to the entire country. This provided the new Meiji government with a model for the establishment of a nationally organized political economy (Roberts). Economic nationalism has worked for Japan for many years, and there is no law on earth against it (Hall). Even so, Buchanan (2006) complains about it once again: â€Å"China and Japan manipulate their currencies and tax polices to promote exports, cut imports and run trade surpluses at America’s expense. † In other words, these countries would like to make profits only for themselves, even if it means that these profits are made at the expense of other nations that have trade interests with them. Besides putting financial pressure on Japan, in the name of tariffs, America seems to have a less burdensome and more reasonable way to convince Japan to move toward liberalization. Tariffs are, of course, burdensome also for American consumers who love Japanese cars. The United States can convince Japan to move toward liberalization more easily by the use of reason, that is, by expressing the fact that economic nationalism failed the nation during the Asian crisis of the 1990s. Prior to Japan’s prolonged doldrums at the time, its economic nationalism was looked upon as its formula for success. But this changed when Japan saw that all of the nations that followed its formula were in crises during the 1990s (Hall). International support was the need of the hour. And so, Japan should have realized that nationalist economic policies have no place in an age of economic globalization (Hall). The fact that Japan did not see economical nationalism as the real problem, however, is the cause of Buchanan’s complaint. All the same, the author may discover that in order to see the changes that he wants to see through in the Japanese economic policies – it is best to appeal to Japanese reason before another crisis occurs. The Case of China Gamble, writing for the International Assessment and Strategy Center, reports that China’s trading partners are â€Å"cautiously expressing dissatisfaction at the country’s growing economic nationalism and failure in fact to liberalize. † Although China had been aggressively courting foreign investment since the mid-1990s and growing its economy dramatically thereby, since the latter part of 2006 the Chinese government has been heard saying that it needs to protect homegrown organizations from unfair international competition. What is more, the Chinese government has put on a multitude of new regulations for foreign firms wanting to do business in the country (Parker 2007). According to Parker, it is evident that China’s political economy is today moving in the direction of economic nationalism or protectionism. As a matter of fact, Americans believe that they may now sell little to China as compared to what the Chinese would sell to them. Furthermore, China has manipulated currency exchange rates to assure this. Hence, Parker writes: â€Å"Now they aren’t even going to let US companies benefit from Chinese economic growth. † American companies are, in fact, pulling back on their China plans now because legal changes are blocking their entry and/or growth in the Chinese market. eBay, for example, has already declared that it would close its website in China because it is difficult to do business in the face of new Chinese regulations that limit the types of financial transactions that foreign companies may conduct. Warner Bros. International Cinemas had also been planning a massive expansion in the Chinese market. However, the company abruptly announced that it would close its operations in China, citing a recent policy change that no longer permits foreign companies to control domestic theatres in the few large cities there are (Parker). Unlike Japan, China had suspended its attitudes of economic nationalism since the 1970s, in order to attract foreign investment and promote export-led economic growth. All the same, the Chinese attitude toward economic nationalism has not changed (Gamble). According to Gamble, the only interesting point concerning Chinese economic nationalism is that the Chinese leaders were able to keep economic nationalism at bay for a long time. The Chinese attitude toward economic nationalism is also deep-rooted like the Japanese attitude toward this aspect of the political economy. In the case of China, an anecdote recalls that in the year 1793, the Qing Emperor, Qianlong, informed his Britannic Majesty’s first Ambassador, Lord George Macartney: â€Å"As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country’s manufactures (Gamble). † To put it another way, China has believed in the self-sufficiency of its economic system for a pretty long time (Gamble). At the time that China had suspended its attitudes of economic nationalism, the country was moving toward liberalization only because of its economic desperation after thirty years of Mao style communism. China needed foreign money, management, markets and technology at the time in order to modernize its economy and buy time before reasserting its deep-rooted faith in economic nationalism. Once its economy had been revived through the suspension of economic nationalism, however, the country was to renew its self-seeking policy of economic nationalism through direct obstruction of foreign direct investment. And so, the country introduced a variety of trade barriers to stymie direct investment. As an example, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , despite its vocal opposition to unions, was forced to accept a union in the country. This union was none other than the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, an arm of the Chinese government (Gamble). Now that its chief interest has been served, that is, the Chinese economy has become a hit in the world economy, the country is also indirectly attacking foreign goods through Chinese regulation. Proctor & Gamble was recently a victim of such an attack when the Shanghai General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine declared that it had found traces of chromium and neodymium in three of the products in one of P&G’s lines of cosmetic products. P&G denied the allegation. Moreover, no contamination was ever proved. Still, P&G’s brand was damaged due to negative publicity and the company was forced to provide refunds. Other international companies that have faced similar attacks include Dell, General Mills, Heinz, KFC, Lipton teas, Colgate-Palmolive, and Sony (Gamble). The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is the top economic planning agency of China, which has stated that it would now like China to shift to a â€Å"quality, not quantity† policy in terms of FDI (Gamble). Seeing that the Chinese government is now making life very difficult for international companies, even those foreign companies with an emphasis on quality will be thinking twice about investing in China (Gamble). Gamble writes that the Chinese government is now expected to do all that it possibly can to squeeze the highest premium from foreign investors, especially when a foreign company is competing with a local state owned company. Conclusion Like many countries of the European Union that are presently concerned about globalization’s impact on their respective cultures, China would like to protect its age-old customs from foreign infiltration by means of economic nationalism. As a matter of fact, Chinese leadership is returning to the economic policy of the Qing dynasty, disappointing plenty of international corporations that continue to consider China as a fertile ground for investment. The Japanese, on the other hand, had been following the policy of economic nationalism or kokueki even when China had given up on economic nationalism. Both of these nations had, moreover, developed their subconscious roots of economic nationalism around the same time. The economy of Japan is better developed than the economy of China. Hence, Gamble has written that it will not be easy for China to move from its current dependence on exports and foreign investment to internally generated growth. After all, moving from liberalization to economic nationalism is a transition very much like the move that the country had made earlier on from liberalization to economic nationalism. China has been through rather difficult changes in the recent past. Needless to say, the new move is expected to require tremendous effort to boot. It may be that China would consider part liberalization and part economic nationalism for its new economic policies, for it is certain that the country is interested in globalization in addition to economic nationalism at the same time. Japan – the master of economic nationalism – continues to serve as a model for China, prodding it on toward greater economic growth with economic nationalism. The fact that Japan suffered because of economic nationalism during the Asian financial crisis of the 1990s should serve as a lesson for China. However, the fact that the Japanese economy began to recover soon after the crisis is expected to boost China’s confidence in economic nationalism. What is more, the two nations do not seem to be concerned about America’s or the rest of the world’s reaction to their policies of economic nationalism as yet. Only political and economic history in the making would tell how far both countries will go by adhering to their deep-rooted belief in economic nationalism.

Retts Syndrome Paper Essay Example

Retts Syndrome Paper Essay Example Retts Syndrome Paper Essay Retts Syndrome Paper Essay What is Rett syndrome? Retts syndrome is a neurodevelopmenal disorder that for the most part only affects women. Infants with Rett syndrome seem to grow and develop normally at first, but then stop developing and even lose skills and abilities. Retts Syndrome can be summed up by normal early growth and development followed by a slowing of development, loss of purposeful use of the hands, distinctive hand movements, slowed brain and head growth, problems with walking, seizures, and intellectual disability.The sickness was first breached upon by Dr. Andreas Rett who briefly described the illness and some of the occurring symptoms, and then later on Swedish researcher Dr. Bengt Hagberg published an article in 1883 giving a more detailed account of the disease. This stage is often overlooked because symptoms of the disorder may be somewhat vague, and parents and doctors may not notice the subtle slowing of development at first. The infant may begin to show less eye contact and have reduced interest in toys.Delays in the childs crawling or any type of movement becomes present. Hand-wringing and decreasing head growth may occur to subtle extents. This stage usually lasts for a few months but can continue for more than a year. Scientists generally describe four stages of Rett syndrome. Stage I, called early onset, typically begins between 6 and 18 months of age. This stage is often overlooked because symptoms of the disorder may be somewhat vague, and parents and doctors may not notice the subtle slowing of development at first.The infant may begin to show less eye contact and have reduced interest in toys. There may be delays in gross motor skills such as sitting or crawling. Hand-wringing and decreasing head growth may occur, but not enough to draw attention. This stage usually lasts for a few months but can continue for more than a year. Stage II, or the rapid destructive stage, usually begins between ages 1 and 4 and may last for weeks or months. Its onset may be rapid or gradual as the child loses purposeful hand skills and spoken language.Characteristic hand movements such as wringing, washing, clapping, or tapping, as well as repeatedly moving the hands to the mouth often begin during this stage. The child may hold the hands clasped behind the back or held at the sides, with random touching, grasping, and releasing. The movements continue while the child is awake but disappear during sleep. Breathing irregularities such as episodes of apnea and hyperventilation may occur, although breathing usually improves during sleep. Some girls also display autistic-like symptoms such as loss of social interaction and communication.Walking may be unsteady and initiating motor movements can be difficult. Slowed head growth is usually noticed during this stage. Stage III, or the plateau or pseudo-stationary stage, usually begins between ages 2 and 10 and can last for years. Apraxia, motor problems, and seizures are prominent during this stage. However, there may be improvement in behavior, with less irritability, crying, and autistic-like features. A girl in stage III may show more interest in her surroundings and her alertness, attention span, and communication skills may improve.Many girls remain in this stage for most of their lives. Stage IV, or the late motor deterioration stage, can last for years or decades. Prominent features include reduced mobility, curvature of the spine (scoliosis) and muscle weakness, rigidity, spasticity, and increased muscle tone with abnormal posturing of an arm, leg, or top part of the body. Girls who were previously able to walk may stop walking. Cognition, communication, or hand skills generally do not decline in stage IV. Repetitive hand movements may decrease and eye gaze usually improves.Nearly all cases of Rett syndrome are caused by a mutation in the methyl CpG binding protein 2, or MECP2 (pronounced meck-pea-two) gene. Scientists identified the gene - which is believed to control the functions of many other genes - in 1999. The MECP2 gene contains instructions for the synthesis of a protein called methyl cytosine binding protein 2 (MeCP2), which is needed for brain development and acts as one of the many biochemical switches that can either increase gene expression tell ot her genes when to turn off and stop producing their own unique proteins.Because the MECP2 gene does not function properly in individuals with Rett syndrome, insufficient amounts or structurally abnormal forms of the protein are produced and can cause other genes to be abnormally expressed. Not everyone who has an MECP2 mutation has Rett syndrome. Scientists have identified mutations in the CDKL5 and FOXG1 genes in individuals who have atypical or congenital Rett syndrome, but they are still learning how those mutations work. Scientists believe the remaining ases may be caused by partial gene deletions, mutations in other parts of the gene, or additional genes that have not yet been identified, and they continue to look for other causes. Rett syndrome is estimated to affect one in every 10,000 to 15,000 live female births and in all racial and ethnic groups worldwide. Prenatal testing is available for families with an affected daughter who has an identified MECP2 mutation. Since the disorder occurs spontaneously in most affected individuals, however, the risk of a family having a second child with the disorder is less than 1 percent.Genetic testing is also available for sisters of girls with Rett syndrome who have an identified MECP2 mutation to determine if they are asymptomatic carriers of the disorder, which is an extremely rare possibility. The MECP2 gene is found on a person’s X chromosome, one of the two sex chromosomes. Girls have two X chromosomes, but only one is active in any given cell. This means that in a girl with Rett syndrome only a portion of the cells in the nervous system will use the defective gene. Some of the childs brain cells use the healthy gene and express normal amounts of the protein.The severity of Rett syndrome in girls is in part a function of the percentage of their cells that carry a normal copy of the MECP2 gene. If the active X chromosome that is carrying the defective gene is turned off in a large proportion of cells, the symptoms will be mild, but if a larger percentage of cells have the X chromosome with the normal MECP2 gene turned off, onset of the disorder may occur earlier and the symptoms may be more severe. The story is different for boys who have a MECP2 mutation known to cause Rett syndrome in girls.Because boys have only one X chromosome (and one Y chromosome) they lack a back-up copy that could compensate for the defective one, and they have no protection from the harmful effects of the disorder. Boys with such a defect frequently do not show clinical features of Rett syndrome but experience severe problems when they are first born and die shortly after birth. A very small number of boys may have a different mutation in the MECP2 gene or a sporadic mutation after conception that can cause some degree of intellectual disability and developmental problems.