Essay on Camus’ The Stranger (The Outsider) Finding a...

Finding a Rational God through Nature in Camus The Stranger (The Outsider) Turning towards nature for fulfillment, The Stranger’s Meursault rejects the ideology of God as a savior and is consequently juxtaposed against Jesus Christ’s martyrdom, Christianity and the infamous crucifixion. To the inexperienced reader, Meursault appears to be an extreme atheist. Later in Albert Camus’ novel, he is revealed as a humanistic soul that’s in touch with the universality of the earth and soil he treads upon. Through the use of blunt and undefined nature images, Meursault’s revelations and newfound trust within an environment outside of society are softly whispered by Camus. In essence, Meursault imposes his need for meaning upon nature as†¦show more content†¦To understand Meursault’s mindset, the reader must first look into the author’s perspective on humanism and its relation to Christianity. Camus has been categorized by many critics as a humanist; his outlook on life does not exclude religion but rather com bines it to make the religious experience more realistic and more â€Å"human† (Hanna 48-49). Because Camus intertwines Christianity and his own divine-like humanism, he has been also described as an â€Å"aesthetic humanist† (Cruickshank 315). Although he does not â€Å"believe in God,† Camus refuses to believe that there is no possibility of human transcendence: â€Å"I do not believe in God, that is true, but I am not thereby an atheist† (Peyre 66). He recognizes his â€Å"religious need† (Cruickshank 324) and because of it, does not reject religion. As a result of this â€Å"need,† Camus transforms Christianity to create his own humanistic philosophy. James W. Woelfel’s Camus: A Theological Perspective acknowledges this by contrasting Camus’ â€Å"new humanism† (Bree 48) against Christianity to show the subtle, yet quite extreme differences between the two. Instead of experiencing the â€Å"supernatural† in Ch ristianity, Camus humanistic experiences are equated to being â€Å"natural† (Woelfel 39). Evil, in Camus’ mind, is â€Å"irreconcilable† whereas in Christianity evil is â€Å"part of a larger good† (Woelfel 39). Camus believes in â€Å"exile,† â€Å"human solidarity,†Show MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis Of Harold Pinter s The Room 9709 Words   |  39 Pagesthe mountain people from speaking their own language in the play The Mountain Language are some of the manifold instances of abuse of power and the use of violence to tame the individuals who are termed as ‘abject’1 by the state owing to their very nature of threatening and opposing the authority and superiority of the state’s subject position. It can be observed that in the portrayal of the setting of the play, Pinter is very realistic as he uses familiar surroundings such as a room in a flat or a

Sickle Cell Plan of Care Free Essays

Then, provide a brief description of the pathologically of sickle cell anemia and complete the nursing care plan by filling in the goals, outcomes, and nursing orders for the diagnoses provided in the table. SITUATION: Lavabo is a 30 year old, single African American who was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia when he was 4 years old. He works for a computer company and has been working 12 hour days to meet the deadline for a special project. We will write a custom essay sample on Sickle Cell Plan of Care or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lavabo is complaining f fatigue and decided to relax by playing golf on a warm Saturday morning. After the seventh hole he experienced odyssey, tingling, and numbness in his legs. After the next hole, he experienced severe pain in his right ankle and knee. He was taken to the local medical center, where he was admitted. Lavabo rates his pain at 8 on a scale of 1-10. The physician ordered oxygen, IV fluids, and a PICA pump with morphine sulfate. Describe the pathologically that occurs in sickle cell anemia (4 points). Sickle cell anemia is the most common form of sickle cell disease which is an inherited, autocross recessive disorder that causes an abnormal hemoglobin cell. The person with this specific disorder inherited hemoglobin S from both parents, also known as homozygous (Lewis, Drinkers, Hitchhiker, Boucher, 2014, up. 644-647). This hemoglobin S results from the substitution of valise for glutamine acid on the B- globing chain of hemoglobin, and this ultimately causes the erythrocyte to stiffen and elongate taking a sickle shape in response to low oxygen levels (Lewis et al. 2014, up. 644-647). Due to the sickle cells elongated shape, and its stiff and sticky consistency it tends to get stuck in capillaries and vessels, and blocks blood flow to limbs and organs (Lewis et al. , 2014, up. 644-647). The major problems with sickle cell anemia is due to their sickles shape, reduced life expectancy and their ability to carry enough hemoglobin or transport it properly to the body to provide adeq uate oxygenation. Therefore a person who has sickle cell anemia has a lower number of red blood cells related to the shortened cell life that dies after only 10-20 days, compared to a normal red blood cell which lives about 120 days (Lewis et al. , 2014, up. 644-647). Bone marrow is unable to keep up with the demand for new red blood cells to replace the dying ones, making a person with sickle cell anemia left in a state of constant inadequate oxygenation (Lewis et al. , 2014, up. 644-647). Occlusion of capillaries and small vessels lead to acute or chronic tissue injury. This leads to further problems related to homeostasis which continues to perpetuate a cycle of local hypoxia, degeneration of more erythrocytes, and more suckling which continue to cause irreversible cell membrane damage (Lewis et al. , 2014, up. 644-647). Unless you’re directly quoting you only need to address the authors once According to Lewis et al. , ASS is xx or write your summary and add to the end of the paragraph (Lewis et al. , 2014 up. 644-647) since all your information is from 1 source. If your quoting directly from the source you need to enclose in † Nursing Diagnoses Pain related to occlusion of small vessel by sickle cells as evidenced by severe pain in art. Knee and ankle. Altered tissue perfusion related to a decreased number of Orb’s and decreased oxygenation as manifested by odyssey, tingling/numbness in ankle and knees. Activity Intolerance related to imbalance between oxygen supply and demand, as manifested by fatigue, odyssey, How to cite Sickle Cell Plan of Care, Papers

Executive Functioning in Alzheimers Disease

Question: Discuss about theExecutive Functioning in Alzheimers Disease. Answer: Introduction Alzheimers disease (AD) is a neurogenerative disease, progressive and irreversible in nature. Alzheimer is a type of dementia that causes problems with thinking, memory and behavior accounting for 60% of the total types of dementia. It is a form of dementia where there is severe impairment of cognitive abilities and memory loss (McKhann et al., 2011). The symptoms develop with age and are worsened with advancing age. The age of onset is mid 60s, in the early stages, there is mild memory loss, and with advancement, an individual is not able to respond to the environment. The Alzheimer disease has no permanent cure, however, there are ways to improve the quality of life and to slow the worsening symptoms of the people with Alzheimer (Alzheimer's Association, 2013). According to Alzheimers Society in United Kingdom, in 2015, around 850,000 people was suffering from the disease and is one of the leading cause of death among the females contributing to 13.4% deaths (Murray et al., 2013). In United Kingdom, the number of people living with Alzheimer is forecasted to increase to 1 million by the year 2025 and by 2051; over 2 million people would have Alzheimers disease. Currently, around 36 million people are suffering from Alzheimer worldwide with 28 million people are living with the disease without any diagnosis. According to World Health Organization, Alzheimer is the most challenged global disease and should include this disease in the public health planning (Wimo et al., 2013). Many risk factors contribute to the disease like age, family history, genetic factors and environmental factors. As the disease is likely to cause in older people, so the people in mid 60s and above are prone to this disease. Family history is the another risk factor for Alzheimer. The Familial Alzheimer disease accounts for 5% of all cases of the Alzheimer disease with alterations or changes in the specific genes that are passed on from one generation to another (Lambert et al., 2013). The risk genes that have been discovered so far are APP, PSI and PS2 genes. If any kind of alteration occurs in any kind of genes, an individual will have a great chance of developing the Alzheimer disease at an early age. However, some contributing factors increase the risk for Alzheimer disease. The apolipoprotein E-e4 or APOE-e4 is the strongest risk gene that has an impact on the Alzheimers disease. Females are more likely to get affected with AD due to their longevity partly (Yu, Tan Hardy, 2014 ). Memory loss is the main symptom of Alzheimer that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain declining the thinking, memory and reasoning skills. An individual is not able to perform any kind of tasks, confusion in place or time, decreased judgment and changes in personality and mood. AD greatly affect the executive functioning in an individual affected with the disease as one is unable to plan, organize and carry out a set of tasks given in an efficient manner It also affects the ability of self-monitoring, control behavior and cognitive function. According to Ball et al., (2008) a person has impairment in performing the daily life activities with impairment in memory. The executive functioning (EF) is greatly affected in AD and it increases with advancing age. The executive functioning that involves the making of appropriate decisions, paying attention, working memory, focusing on important details, goal accomplishment and finishing of task is greatly affected due to early onset of AD. With the progress of AD, there are changes in the executive functioning affecting the memory, judgment and attention of an individual with response to the environment. The following essay deals with the effect of AD on the executive functioning during the early years. According to Allain, Etcharry-Bouyx Verny, (2013) there is impairment of executive functioning in Alzheimer affecting the daily activities and hampering the ability of an individual to cope up with behavior. From the last 15 years, in the preclinical and clinical AD, there is impaired executive functioning and memory that starts with the visuospatial and language deficits. In early AD, executive functioning impairment is present in the patients with cerebra hypometabolism in the frontal cerebral and posterior areas and also in patients having hypometabolism restricted to parietal and temporal cerebra lobes (Albert et al., 2011). According to Visser et al., (2009) in preclinical AD, there is subtle decline in the cognitive functioning and no decline in the daily functioning. The better assessment of executive functioning at the preclinical AD stage could help in developing effective interventions for the proper executive functioning and improving the quality of life of the patients w ith AD. According to Martyr Clare, (2012) EF assessment and the activities associated with daily living are the important elements for the AD diagnosis. The results of the study suggested that there is a link between the EF and daily life activities that are greatly affected by AD during the early years. Before the diagnosis of AD, executive dysfunction is present that is the underlying cause associated with AD. The ability to perform everyday work including driving is affected moderately in the individuals with AD. According to Stopford et al., (2012) the impairment of executive function is greatly associated with the AD. There is deficit in working memory of an individual and considered as a recognized feature. There is frontal lobe dysfunction with impaired executive dysfunction in early onset AD patients that includes deficit in attention, response inhibition and set shifting. The results showed that the posterior hemispheres are involved in the working memory, failure of execu tive function and attention associated with frontal lobe failure in early onset of AD. Arguably, according to Kirova, Bays Lagalwar, (2015) AD is a neurogenerative, progressive disorder in which there is markedly deficit in working and episodic memory and executive function. The executive dysfunction in early AD patients includes divided attention and poor selective, poor manipulation of skills with failed inhibition of interfering stimuli. During the preclinical stage in AD, there is impairment of executive function during the mild cognitive impairment. The study highlights that the cognitive dysfunction may progress from the mild cognitive impairment to AD with significant executive function changes and working memory. The working memory greatly declines with neurological and behavioral differences that pave the way for the diagnosis and prevention of AD. Arguably, according to Raji et al., (2010) the assessment of executive function in terms of deficit of effective decision-making is more pronounced in mild cognitive impairment than AD. However, there is executive dysfunction in addition to episodic memory dysfunction in early stage of AD emphasizing on executive functioning skills divided or selective attention, manipulation, inhibition and task switching. According to Marshall et al., (2011) there is impairment of daily life activities that leads to the loss of productivity in early stages of AD. The executive dysfunction is an important contributor that is associated with functional impairment. The study showed that there is a significant relationship between the daily life activities and executive dysfunction associated with early onset in AD. The results showed that executive dysfunction is an important contributor to the impairment of ability to perform daily activities. This relationship is greatly evident in which there is memory deficit in AD with cognitive impairment. With the advancement in age, the executive dysfunction becomes more prominent with complex attention, with visual and verbal organization, working memory, reasoning, planning and judgment. The association between executive dysfunction and impairment in daily activities has clinical significance for the identification of progressing AD. This is helpful in identify ing the early treatment options that specifically targets cognitive dysfunction beneficial for the maintenance of patient independence (Robert et al., 2009). According to Koedam et al., (2010) executive dysfunction is a very common symptom in AD, however, its relationship with other symptoms is difficult in assessing the patients in AD. There is frontal lobe dysfunction in AD patients and executive dysfunction being the important assessment parameter in diagnosing AD. According to Pereira et al., (2008) the executive dysfunction is a manifestation in AD that is common in all the stages, however, it is mild with 64% of prevalence in AD patients. Arguably, according to Reinvang, Grambaite Espeseth, (2012) executive dysfunction occurs in mild cognitive impairment individuals that includes attention and significant for prognosis. The executive dysfunction is a parameter in patients with mild cognitive impairment that might progress to AD. The changes in the executive function may acts as a cognitive marker for the tracking of the pathophysiological process in AD. The ED has negative influence that impairs the ability to perform and manage th e daily life activities and add to the risk for the progression of the disease from mild cognitive impairment to AD. According to a study conducted by Grober et al., (2008) showed that there is specific behavior and cognitive symptoms associated with executive dysfunction in the AD patients. There are frontally mediated disturbances in behavior that are associated with functional impairment in AD ranging from mild-to-moderate. Arguably, according to Possin et al., (2013) the behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) patients exhibited a circumscribed pattern of executive function impairment that involves letter fluency, verbal working memory, controlled attention and category fluency. These characteristics act best to differentiate bvFTD from AD and assessment of executive dysfunction support bvFTD strongly. The patients with bvFTD exhibited pervasive pattern in executive dysfunction that includes impairment in verbal and spatial working memory. According to Esposito et al., (2010) in AD, there is multitasking deficits and lack of initiative in the patients, which have a specific character and is the key to the goal-directed behavior, also called apathy that is defined goal-directed behaviors reduction that are voluntary in nature. According to Wolk et al., (2010) the major 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is the genetic risk factor for AD. The 4 allele gene carriers have greater effects on the pathology of medial temporal lobe with poorer memory than the non-carriers of the disease. However, the carriers of the APOE gene displayed significant impairment in terms of memory retention, and the non-carriers showed impairment in terms of executive control, working memory and lexical access (Wadley et al., 2008). According to Bruen et al., (2008) executive dysfunction is greatly associated with apathy and agitation in Alzheimers disease. Apathy is linked to executive dysfunction or the ventral frontal area atrophy. This atrophy is also associated with ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (BA47)that may also be associated to the role of the region like social cognition or executive dysfunction. The results of the study conducted by Huntley Howard, (2010) showed that during the early stages and preclinical AD, when the disease is mild, there is impairment of tasks that assess visuospatial sketchpad function (VSS), however, also requires executive functioning by the centrally located executive system (CES). This paper shows the evidence that the central executive system (CES) is impaired during mild AD and might get affected during the preclinical AD stage. According to Brown et al., (2011) there is gradual decrease in the processing of the speed where that accelerates in incipient dementia. The ons et of decrements in speed processing marks the initial onset of mild cognitive impairment in daily functioning; however, there is executive dysfunction and severe daily functioning impairments as AD progresses. However, further research is required to test the above hypothesis (Vaughan Giovanello, 2010). An array of extensive studies has been done to explain the effect of preclinical and early stages of Alzheimer disease on the executive functioning. The risk factors for AD also include gender where females are more likely to get affected with AD than females due to increased longevity. However, there is limited research conducted in determining factors other than age that heightens a females chance of developing AD than males. There are also limitations regarding the risk factors that cause AD and impairment in executive function (Mielke, Vemuri Rocca, 2014). Most importantly, there is a research gap regarding the measures of executive functions that are associated with AD in the preclinical or early onset stage. Extensive research is required for the identification of good executive marker that can be proposed for studying the extent of executive dysfunction in early AD. There is also a requirement of future research regarding the central executive functioning at earlier stages of AD that can be combined with longitudinal studies. There is also a requirement to learn the processing of executive dysfunction in AD and how people get affected by it. Future research is required to investigate the course and onset of executive function impairment longitudinal to discern that processing speed, memory deficits or atrophy related to onset and progression of executive dysfunction during the progression of the disease (Seo et al., 2017). References Albert, M. S., DeKosky, S. T., Dickson, D., Dubois, B., Feldman, H. H., Fox, N. C., ... Snyder, P. J. (2011). The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimers disease: Recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimers Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease.Alzheimer's dementia,7(3), 270-279. Allain, P., Etcharry-Bouyx, F., Verny, C. (2013). Executive functions in clinical and preclinical Alzheimer's disease.Revue neurologique,169(10), 695-708. Alzheimer's Association. (2013). 2013 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures.Alzheimer's dementia,9(2), 208-245. Ball, S. L., Holland, A. J., Treppner, P., Watson, P. C., Huppert, F. A. (2008). Executive dysfunction and its association with personality and behaviour changes in the development of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome and mild to moderate learning disabilities.British Journal of Clinical Psychology,47(1), 1-29. Brown, P. J., Devanand, D. P., Liu, X., Caccappolo, E. (2011). Functional impairment in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer disease.Archives of general psychiatry,68(6), 617-626. Bruen, P. D., McGeown, W. J., Shanks, M. F., Venneri, A. (2008). Neuroanatomical correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.Brain,131(9), 2455-2463. Esposito, F., Rochat, L., Van der Linden, A. C. J., Lekeu, F., Quittre, A., Charnallet, A., Van der Linden, M. (2010). Apathy and executive dysfunction in Alzheimer disease.Alzheimer Disease Associated Disorders,24(2), 131-137. Grober, E., Hall, C. B., Lipton, R. B., Zonderman, A. B., Resnick, S. M., Kawas, C. (2008). Memory impairment, executive dysfunction, and intellectual decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society,14(02), 266-278. Huntley, J. D., Howard, R. J. (2010). Working memory in early Alzheimer's disease: a neuropsychological review.International journal of geriatric psychiatry,25(2), 121-132. Kirova, A. M., Bays, R. B., Lagalwar, S. (2015). Working memory and executive function decline across normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimers disease.BioMed research international,2015. Koedam, E. L., Lauffer, V., van der Vlies, A. E., van der Flier, W. M., Scheltens, P., Pijnenburg, Y. A. (2010). Early-versus late-onset Alzheimer's disease: more than age alone.Journal of Alzheimer's Disease,19(4), 1401-1408. Lambert, J. C., Ibrahim-Verbaas, C. A., Harold, D., Naj, A. C., Sims, R., Bellenguez, C., ... Grenier-Boley, B. (2013). Meta-analysis of 74,046 individuals identifies 11 new susceptibility loci for Alzheimer's disease.Nature genetics,45(12), 1452-1458. Marshall, G. A., Rentz, D. M., Frey, M. T., Locascio, J. J., Johnson, K. A., Sperling, R. A., Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. (2011). Executive function and instrumental activities of daily living in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.Alzheimer's Dementia,7(3), 300-308. Martyr, A., Clare, L. (2012). Executive function and activities of daily living in Alzheimers disease: a correlational meta-analysis.Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders,33(2-3), 189-203. McKhann, G. M., Knopman, D. S., Chertkow, H., Hyman, B. T., Jack, C. R., Kawas, C. H., ... Mohs, R. C. (2011). The diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimers disease: Recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimers Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease.Alzheimer's dementia,7(3), 263-269. Mielke, M. M., Vemuri, P., Rocca, W. A. (2014). Clinical epidemiology of Alzheimers disease: assessing sex and gender differences.Clin Epidemiol,6, 37-48. Murray, C. J., Richards, M. A., Newton, J. N., Fenton, K. A., Anderson, H. R., Atkinson, C., ... Braithwaite, T. (2013). UK health performance: findings of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010.The lancet,381(9871), 997-1020. Pereira, F. S., Yassuda, M. S., Oliveira, A. M., Forlenza, O. V. (2008). Executive dysfunction correlates with impaired functional status in older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment.International Psychogeriatrics,20(06), 1104-1115. Possin, K. L., Feigenbaum, D., Rankin, K. P., Smith, G. E., Boxer, A. L., Wood, K., ... Kramer, J. H. (2013). Dissociable executive functions in behavioral variant frontotemporal and Alzheimer dementias.Neurology,80(24), 2180-2185. Raji, C. A., Ho, A. J., Parikshak, N. N., Becker, J. T., Lopez, O. L., Kuller, L. H., ... Thompson, P. M. (2010). Brain structure and obesity.Human brain mapping,31(3), 353-364. Reinvang, I., Grambaite, R., Espeseth, T. (2012). Executive dysfunction in MCI: subtype or early symptom.International journal of Alzheimers disease,2012. Robert, P., Onyike, C. U., Leentjens, A. F. G., Dujardin, K., Aalten, P., Starkstein, S., ... Bayle, F. (2009). Proposed diagnostic criteria for apathy in Alzheimer's disease and other neuropsychiatric disorders.European Psychiatry,24(2), 98-104. Seo, E. H., Kim, H., Choi, K. Y., Lee, K. H., Choo, I. H. (2017). Association of subjective memory complaint and depressive symptoms with objective cognitive functions in prodromal Alzheimer's disease including pre-mild cognitive impairment.Journal of Affective Disorders. Stopford, C. L., Thompson, J. C., Neary, D., Richardson, A. M., Snowden, J. S. (2012). Working memory, attention, and executive function in Alzheimers disease and frontotemporal dementia.Cortex,48(4), 429-446. Vaughan, L., Giovanello, K. (2010). Executive function in daily life: Age-related influences of executive processes on instrumental activities of daily living.Psychology and aging,25(2), 343. Visser, P. J., Verhey, F., Knol, D. L., Scheltens, P., Wahlund, L. O., Freund-Levi, Y., ... Brger, K. (2009). Prevalence and prognostic value of CSF markers of Alzheimer's disease pathology in patients with subjective cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment in the DESCRIPA study: a prospective cohort study.The Lancet Neurology,8(7), 619-627. Wadley, V. G., Okonkwo, O., Crowe, M., Ross-Meadows, L. A. (2008). Mild cognitive impairment and everyday function: evidence of reduced speed in performing instrumental activities of daily living.The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry,16(5), 416-424. Wimo, A., Jnsson, L., Bond, J., Prince, M., Winblad, B., International, A. D. (2013). The worldwide economic impact of dementia 2010.Alzheimer's Dementia,9(1), 1-11. Wolk, D. A., Dickerson, B. C., Weiner, M., Aiello, M., Aisen, P., Albert, M. S., ... Arnold, S. (2010). Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype has dissociable effects on memory and attentionalexecutive network function in Alzheimers disease.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,107(22), 10256-10261. Yu, J. T., Tan, L., Hardy, J. (2014). Apolipoprotein E in Alzheimer's disease: an update.Annual review of neuroscience,37, 79-100.

The Shortage in the Supply of Clean Water free essay sample

However, according to a study carried by the journal Nature, if the Earth warms just a  degree  or two Celsius in coming decades, regions that depend on runoff from mountain snows for drinking water and farming will face shortages. Actually water shortage caused by global warming is due to the increase in demand for water but not a drop in water supply. When there is global warming, the rise in earth’s temperature will lead to an increase in the evaporation rate of the moisture in soils, thus increasing the demands on irrigation in agricultural activities. Moreover, higher temperature will speed up the water cycle as water evaporates at a faster rate and rain more often and plants will benefit less. There will be the depletion of water tables and lead to water shortage. Therefore, although the amount of water available in the world does not change when there is global warming, the rise in demand for water can still trigger the problem of water shortage. We will write a custom essay sample on The Shortage in the Supply of Clean Water or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page b. Increasing population The world population increase by 1%-3% annually and more people results in a need for more water. Industrial, agricultural and economic activities increase its water demand too. In some regions of even the most developed countries, people consume about 80% of their available fresh water supply at any given point in time. Problem exists when the increasing demand of water cannot keep pace with the limited supply of water. There is a report called â€Å"More people, Less Water† commissioned by Population Matters from an LSE  graduate student which reviewed that people will need between 1. 5 and 4. 9 million more tonnes of water (cubic metres) per day  if the population keep on rising. These are worrying figures implying the danger of water shortage and a rise in the cost of building new pipelines, sewage treatment and more long-distance pumping etc. This problem will keep on worsening if we do not take any actions to conserve water properly and gradually lead to water shortage which affects everyone’s life. c. Pollution Polluting water will reduce the water supply and lead to the problem of water shortage. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture, sewer overflows and oil and grease from roads are examples of pollutants which will eventually run off into the water systems. Other sources of excess nutrients include lawn fertilizers, pet and farm animal waste, decaying plant material, failing septic tanks, and inefficient sewage treatment plants. Besides, industry such as industrial plants and municipal wastewater treatment plants is also the leading producer of sewage which will enter streams and rivers and ultimately lakes, estuaries and coastal waters. According to the statistical study carried by the Shanghai Star magazine, producing one ton of steel requires 20 to 60 cubic metres of water in Shanghai while in the US and Japan 6 cubic metres of water are required. Due to huge amount of pollutants enter the water systems, water is heavily polluted and it will badly affect the provision of clean drinking water as polluted water is not always reusable. Therefore, pollution lowers the quality of water and reduces the amount of water available for use. d. Poor water management Although the supply of water in the world is limited, water shortage can still be avoided by better water management. However, some responsible agency did not take proper actions to conserve water. For example, water leakages are not properly prevented with regular maintenance of water containers and water distribution systems. Also, the number of water tankers or any other water related facilities are not adequate to store water for future use and the sewage treatment system is not well operated and supervised to prevent water being contaminated by pollutants and water can be reused. Fines should be imposed on anyone who wastes this precious source on other unnecessary areas as well as industries which continuously emit toxic substances to pollute water in order to punish them for the misuse of water and educate them to conserve water. Dams or other constructions should also be built to reduce flooding. After all, poor water management will speed up the occurrence of water shortage and become a threat of our life to us. e. Increasing water consumption The ever-growing water consumption of people leads to water shortage by wasting water in other needless areas. In our daily lives, people are not aware of conserving water. Instead, they consume much water for their convenience. For example, people do not wash their cars with a sponge and a bucket in their driveways anymore. They drive through car washes which utilize dozens of gallons of water in one wash. Another example is that people opt for much quicker showers which have a constant stream of water flowing and draining since they no longer have time to bath. Besides, there is theme park like Ocean Park in Hong Kong with water attractions that consume hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per day. We can surely adopt another way to take a bath, to wash a car or to promote the theme park. But people seldom try to help to conserve water and cause water wastage. So, we increase water consumption for our convenience and enjoyment but at the same time paid a cost which is water shortage. . Consequences a. Disruption of agricultural activities According to research done by Shiklomanov, water usage for irrigation represent 66% of the total usage and up to 90 % in arid regions, the other 34 % being used by domestic households (10 %), industry (20 %), or evaporated from reservoirs (4 %) and we can know how important water is for irrigation of crops. Most plants need water to stay alive. Without water, crops cannot grow healthily and eventually died. Farmers wont be able to produce enough to stay in business and the price of food will go through the roof. They have to think of other alternative ways to irrigate their land for the crops since their regular water sources are always running dry, such as spend money on buying clean water or deliver water from places which are far away from their land. Food supply will then be badly affected as there is unstable supply of food from the farmland with unstable supply of water. Water shortage might lead to dry up of rivers or even desertification, which means the degradation of land  in any  dry lands, as lands become dry with little water moisture and cannot produce any food. Overall, agricultural activities cannot be smoothly carried out without water and badly affect food supply. b. Privatization of water When water becomes scarce, it is not surprised that the price of water will rise because there must be people who want to make a profit by the provision of limited supply of this precious resource while the market have a high demand in water. So many corporations are trying to privatize access to water in order to make water officially as a need rather than right. If water is a need, the private sector could provide this resource, through the market on a for-profit basis. On the other hand, if water is a right, the government will be responsible for ensuring all citizens have the equal access to water on a non-profit basis. For example, the World Bank has made privatization of urban water systems as a condition for receiving new loans and debt restructuring. Not only will this phenomenon increase the cost of living of the citizens with higher water cost, but also it is unfair to those who are not wealthy enough to buy adequate water for their daily needs. It creates the trend of â€Å"more money, more water, better living† which cannot raise the standard of living. Privatization of water will only worsen the problem of water shortage as well as the lives of all citizens. c. Poor sanitation and health of people The World Health Organization has identified clean water as the single most important factor in determining public health as it is what people daily intake. Without clean drinking water, human being surely cannot live for a long period. Besides, the human need for basic hygiene cannot be fulfilled without water. People cannot wash their body and clothes and clean themselves. As their basic hygiene need is not met and harmful virus or bacteria cannot be killed, it will reduce their resistance to diseases and cannot prevent infection from diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, salmonellosis, other gastrointestinal viruses, and dysentery. Also, when water was scarce, people might often force to rely on drinking water sources that might not be safe. It will increase the chance of people being contaminated and badly affect their health. Therefore, a normal person without water in his or her daily life is more likely to be sick or even died. d. Disruption of aquatic life Creatures which live in the water are also the victims of water shortage. When water shortage exists, river may dry up due to global warming and evaporation and aquatic lives in the river will soon be dead without water. Also, when the demand for water is high, people might get water from the sea. The sea level will become lower which is bad for the living of animals in the sea. The death or destruction of the aquatic life leads to the collapse of the fishery too. It is because the number of fishes collected will be smaller and they are difficult to stay in their business.

Free Essays on Tommy Tune

> Tommy Tune, Actor, Dancer, Singer, Choreographer and Director is the winner of nine Tony Awards, and the only person in theatrical history to win in four different categories and to win the same two Tony Awards two years in a row. Tommy danced onto the Broadway scene in the chorus of ?Baker Street? in 1965 and hasn?t stopped since. He worked in the chorus? of ?A Joyful Noise? in 1967 and ?How Now Dow Jones? in 1968. He gathered raves and his first Tony (Best Featured Actor in a Musical) in Michael Bennett?s ?Seesaw? in 1973. Branching out, he directed his first show, the off-Broadway production of ?The Club? in 1976. ?The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas? was his next project followed by ?A Day in the Hollywood/ A Night in the Ukraine? and his second Tony (Best Choreography). Tommy returned to off-Broadway in 1981 to direct Caryl Churchill?s ?Cloud 9?. 1982 brought ?Nine? and his third Tony (Best Direction of a Musical). Mr. Tune pulled double duty in ?My One and Only? and was rewarded with his fourth and fifth Tony?s (Best Choreography, Best Actor in a Musical). This was followed by ?Stepping Out?, and then he received his next two Tony?s with ?Grand Hotel? (Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical). The following year brought the ?Will Rogers Follies? and his next two Tony Awards, (Best Choreography, Best Musical). Not satisfied to remain stationary, Mr. Tune returned to the Stage in his acclaimed one-man song and dance extravaganza, ?Tommy Tune Tonight!? first on Broadway and then touring nationally and internationally. Mr. Tune is the receiver of eight Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, Dance Magazine?s Award for Lifetime Achievement; the 1990 American Dance Award (presented by the National Academy of Dance); the 1990 Drama League Musical Theatre Award for Direction and Choreography; the Astaire Award in both 1990 and 1991, George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement, the University of Texas? distinguished Alumnu... Free Essays on Tommy Tune Free Essays on Tommy Tune > Tommy Tune, Actor, Dancer, Singer, Choreographer and Director is the winner of nine Tony Awards, and the only person in theatrical history to win in four different categories and to win the same two Tony Awards two years in a row. Tommy danced onto the Broadway scene in the chorus of ?Baker Street? in 1965 and hasn?t stopped since. He worked in the chorus? of ?A Joyful Noise? in 1967 and ?How Now Dow Jones? in 1968. He gathered raves and his first Tony (Best Featured Actor in a Musical) in Michael Bennett?s ?Seesaw? in 1973. Branching out, he directed his first show, the off-Broadway production of ?The Club? in 1976. ?The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas? was his next project followed by ?A Day in the Hollywood/ A Night in the Ukraine? and his second Tony (Best Choreography). Tommy returned to off-Broadway in 1981 to direct Caryl Churchill?s ?Cloud 9?. 1982 brought ?Nine? and his third Tony (Best Direction of a Musical). Mr. Tune pulled double duty in ?My One and Only? and was rewarded with his fourth and fifth Tony?s (Best Choreography, Best Actor in a Musical). This was followed by ?Stepping Out?, and then he received his next two Tony?s with ?Grand Hotel? (Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical). The following year brought the ?Will Rogers Follies? and his next two Tony Awards, (Best Choreography, Best Musical). Not satisfied to remain stationary, Mr. Tune returned to the Stage in his acclaimed one-man song and dance extravaganza, ?Tommy Tune Tonight!? first on Broadway and then touring nationally and internationally. Mr. Tune is the receiver of eight Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, Dance Magazine?s Award for Lifetime Achievement; the 1990 American Dance Award (presented by the National Academy of Dance); the 1990 Drama League Musical Theatre Award for Direction and Choreography; the Astaire Award in both 1990 and 1991, George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement, the University of Texas? distinguished Alumnu...

What Do ACT Scores Measure IQ Income

What Do ACT Scores Measure IQ Income SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips ACT scores are a fixture of the college admissions process, but what do they really measure? Are they a useful way to judge your abilities and potential? In this article, I’ll give you the details on what the ACT can and can’t measure and how to interpret your scores as a high school student. Do ACT Scores Measure General Intelligence? Since there are many different types of intelligence, this is a complicated question.High scores on the ACT might be derived from a high level of innate intelligence and a good education, but they might also be derived from relatively average innate intelligence and extensive prep work.ACT scores change dramatically based on students’ level of preparation, which separates them from scores on your basic IQ test. (Although IQ tests are also highly flawed measures of intelligence - I won’t get into that here!) A student’s ACT scores are subject not only to his or her level of intelligence, but also to his or her desire for improvement and overall academic drive.Since it’s possible to improve ACT scores through prep, they don’t always measure intelligence in the traditional sense. A student who has the motivation to prepare for the ACT and understands the stakes of the test demonstrates a form of intelligence just by providing such a strong display of conscientiousness. This is why it’s hard to make concrete judgments about whether the ACT can measure innate intelligence or not.It measures different qualities for different people depending on how they got to their scores. The ACT also isn’t as similar to traditional IQ tests as the SAT.The SAT was originally derived from an IQ test, and there are vestiges of that format left over on the current model.The ACT, on the other hand, was developed as an alternative to the SAT.Its goal was to test material that was learned in school, not just overall cognitive reasoning ability.For this reason, the ACT is generally a more straightforward test.Still, the ACT is more similar to the SAT than most people think.For example, the science section is really just a bunch of logical reasoning questions cloaked in largely extraneous scientific facts. This business must be science related! No one would use symbols for the elements just to make a bad pun that has nothing to do with what they're selling! The ACT, like the SAT, also runs into problems with social inequalities that cause poor students to score lower on the test regardless of â€Å"intelligence†.This disparity means that there are other major issues with claiming that the ACT can accurately measure a student’s intelligence level.Two students with relatively equal intelligence but different qualities of high school education may both take the ACT and end up with vastly different scores. Poor students are less likely to have access to expensive specialized prep programs and more likely to attend underfunded schools that provide a less comprehensive education.The fact that these students score lower means that the ACT is technically doing its job in measuring college readiness, but it also means that test scores could be preventing some intelligent but socioeconomically disadvantaged students back from reaching their full potentials. The intent of the ACT from the beginning was not to measure intelligence as a general quality but to measure what students learned in school and gauge their college and career readiness (a model that the College Board has tried to emulate on the latest version of the SAT).It's less of a measure of intelligence than it is a measure of college preparedness, and even then it doesn’t give you the entire picture.While innate intelligence certainly plays a role, scores are also affected by many other factors that don’t have much to do with a person’s overall cognitive abilities. Do ACT Scores Measure Career Potential? This is another tough question, because there are so many different career paths that you might take. In some of these fields, the skill sets that allow you to do well on the ACT might not be as relevant.Most people will need basic reading, writing, and mathematical skills in their careers (and in adult life in general), but it’s hard to say whether an exceptional score on the ACT means you’ll do any better in your career than someone who got an average score. One fact that we know for sure is that ACT scores correlate strongly with parental income.This means that students with wealthy parents are more likely to do well on the ACT. These students are also more likely to earn high incomes later in life.This benefit has less to do with their performance on the ACT and more to do with their socioeconomic status. Students with wealthier parents can afford specialized prep courses and don’t have as much trouble paying for expensive colleges.They end up with less debt and better access to the careers that interest them.There’s a long legacy of economic inequality at play here, and standardized tests are a part of that (although there are much bigger societal forces at its root). As I’ve said, however, the skills required to succeed in the job world are often different from the skills required to do well on the ACT.For this reason, your scores aren’t always the most accurate measurement of your career potential.They don’t tell you anything about your ability to manage other people or complete long term projects reliably. ACT scores provide a rough baseline measurement of your knowledge of math, language, and logic (I won’t say science because the science section is really just about logical reasoning).They can’t measure how well you’ll use these basic skills on a larger scale in more complex scenarios, and they can’t measure your interpersonal strengths. Ben, I hate to tell you this, but this entire notebook is just filled with the word "synergy" written over and over again. Are you ok? What Will Your ACT Scores Really Tell You? Should You Listen? It may or may not be useful for you to measure your abilities based on your ACT scores.In certain contexts and for certain students, they can be a helpful guide. In other scenarios, making judgments based on these scores is not productive. ACT Scores Are a More Useful Measurement If: You Plan to Apply to Colleges That Require Standardized Test Scores ACT scores are important if you’re applying to colleges that require you to submit test results.In this case, they can act as an accurate measurement of your likelihood of acceptance based on admissions statistics.By googling the name of a college in conjunction with the phrase â€Å"PrepScholar admissions statistics†, you can get an idea of where you stand and what your target score should be. Make a study plan that aligns with your goals for improvement so that you’ll have a better chance at being admitted to a college you love. You Have a GPA That’s on the Lower Side ACT scores are a more useful measurement for students with low GPAs because they can serve as a wake up call if they’re especially high or low. If you have a low GPA but a high ACT score, this is a red flag telling you that you're probably capable of doing better in school.It most likely means that if you put in more effort, you would be able to earn higher grades.It also tells you that you have the potential to succeed in college if you adopt better study habits.Your high ACT score is also going to be particularly valuable to you in the college admissions process, so it’s more important to pay attention to your scores and take them seriously. If you have a low ACT score and a low GPA, this is also useful because it indicates that you’re missing out on key concepts in your classes.This could be a problem when you get to college.It also means you might encounter issues in the admissions process depending on where you apply and how low your scores and GPA are in comparison to each college's expectations. A low ACT score combined with a low GPA might prompt you to take more drastic measures to remedy your problems in school.The ACT can give you that extra push to address underlying issues that could cause you problems in college and beyond. Your Score Is Especially High or Low For scores that are in the middle range (16-24 represents the middle 50 percent of test takers) the ACT is a more ambiguous measurement of academic ability. However, if your scores are very high or very low, the ACT may be a more useful measurement for you.A very high score means that you likely have strong reasoning abilities and are well-prepared to take on college academics.It also means that you’ll have a lot of choices in the college application process. A very low score means that you probably have some big gaps in your content knowledge and struggle with time pressure.It also means that you'll have fewer choices for college, so you should take your score into account when planning where to apply. Extreme scores are major indications of how well-prepared you are to take on academic challenges in college.Standardized tests like the ACT can tell you things about your overall knowledge and reasoning abilities that your grades in high school might spell out less clearly. If your scores are XTREME, you should consider them more strongly. ACT Scores Are a Less Useful Measurement If: You Plan to Apply to Test Optional Colleges or Go Into a Professional Job Training Program After High School If you don’t plan on applying to colleges that require you to submit ACT or SAT scores, you won’t need to consider the ACT as seriously as a measurement of your abilities.High scores can help you even at a test optional college, but they’re not a critical component of admissions decisions.You might still pay some attention to your scores to ensure that they’re not low enough to indicate any major gaps in your knowledge, but overall they're not as important for you. You Have a High GPA ACT scores aren't as critical of a measurementif your GPA is already very high.When I say "very high", I mean a GPA that indicates that you earned mostly As in high level classes throughout high school. Usually this would be between a 3.7 and a 5.0 depending on whether your school uses a weighted or unweighted GPA scale.As long as your ACT scores aren't extremely low (below the 25th percentile score of 16), they won’t kill your chances of getting into college. Judging yourself based on your scores when you already have a high GPA can be a bad idea because it might make you think less of your academic abilities.Many people struggle with time on the ACT, resulting in lower scores than their performance in high school would predict.It’s still a good idea to try and improve your scores if you’re looking to get into selective colleges, but in these cases you have to remind yourself not to take your scores too seriously as a measurement of your potential. Overall, You Shouldn’t Make Sweeping Judgements About Your Abilities Based on Your ACT Score Your ACT score isa limited measurement of specific academic skills, and it doesn’t give you a complete picture of your potential.Scores are a useful benchmark in assessing basic subject knowledge and deciding where to apply to college, but don’t make any assumptions about what you’re capable of accomplishing in life based on your scores alone.If you're worried about your scores, you can always improve with dedicated studying! What's Next? Working on improving your ACT score? Read this list of fifteen tips and tricks to help you do better with minimal extra study time. You should also check out this list of the ten best books for ACT prep if you're not sure where to begin in your studying. If you've taken the ACT multiple times, you may be wondering which scores colleges actually use in making admissions decisions. Read this article to find out which scores are considered most strongly by colleges. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points?We have the industry's leading ACT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and ACT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Employment Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Employment Law - Assignment Example The paper relates to the potential problem areas faced by Food Ltd, as in contractual period, opt-out agreement, shift timings, working hours, break timings, annual leaves and sick leaves and it advises the firm on how to handle these issue by providing a suitable solution in accordance with the employment law clauses and cases. This essay stresses that holiday pay is strictly a matter of contract. Compensation for idle time on holidays, where the payments are in amounts approximately equivalent to the employee’s normal earnings for a similar period of time, is excludable from the employees’ regular rate of pay for purposes of overtime compensation. When a contract specifies that an employee will receive idle time compensation for the holiday whether or not he works, the sum allocable to holiday pay is excluded from the computational of regular rate and may not be credited against overtime compensation due. The compensation paid for the hours worked on the holiday, however, is included in the computation of the regular rate in the same manner as other compensation for hours worked. There is no federal law governing holiday pay. However, almost universally, employers provide time off and compensation for at least a few of the major holidays. It is a common practice, however, for employers to awa rd holiday pay only to full-time employees and require employees to work the day before and the day after the holiday to receive holiday pay. ... employees' regular rate of pay for purposes of overtime compensation. When a contract specifies that an employee will receive idle time compensation for the holiday whether or not he works, the sum allocable to holiday pay is excluded from the computational of regular rate and may not be credited against overtime compensation due. The compensation paid for the hours worked on the holiday, however, is included in the computation of the regular rate in the same manner as other compensation for hours worked. 1.1.2 : Idle time compensation : In a contract providing that an employee will receive idle-time compensation for the holiday only if the employee does not work, one should be careful to include a provision to the effect that the employee forgoes or waives his/her right to idle-time compensation if the employee works on the holiday. The waiver will preclude any doubt as to what was intended. 1.1.3: Holiday pay and Law: There is no federal law governing holiday pay. However, almost universally, employers provide time off and compensation for at least a few of the major holidays. It is a common practice, however, for employers to award holiday pay only to full-time employees and require employees to work the day before and the day after the holiday to receive holiday pay. Changing workforce demographics have influenced the way some companies offer holiday pay and decide which days to close. The six most common paid holidays are New Years Day, Memorial day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, a company's industry and the market it serves are among the factors determining when a company will close. Banks, for example, are required to close on certain federal

Emerging Technology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Emerging Technology - Research Paper Example She appeals to the high intellectual abilities of both men and women. The thought-provoking ideals make her views clear and convincing. A distinctive writing of Mary entails the use of metaphor. For example, in the first paragraph, she compares the society with a garden in which grass is decaying. In one of her evident rhetorical techniques is literary allusion. In alluding to other great literary sources, Mary demonstrates her extensive knowledge while at the same time showing that she respects her audience (Jacobus 675). In one of her arguments in the rhetoric, she reminds the society the common illusion that women are weaker than their male counterparts are. Citing personal experiences, Wollstonecraft talks about the degradation a woman feels when forced to act as a governess (Jacobus 680). Judith Butler authoredUndoing Gender, a book written with clarity and directness. The book focuses on gender identity and the nature defining sexuality. The major premise put forward in the book is that both arise from socialization and the inherent force of language in the society. The power of language shapes ideas while gender is fluid (Jacobus 739-745). Most psychologists would take most of her premises seriously. In this excerpt, Butler is against the binary view of gender or rather the views that contribute to the classification of humans into a male or a female. As aforementioned, Butler takes great concern in various ways in which language define people and things (Jacobus 775). In some instances, Butler points out that language makes us understand the reality of nature. In addition, she states that we cannot place complete trust in language to reveal complete truth. In the opening pages of her selection, she outlines that she will focus on human based on intelligibility. Sh e defines intelligibility in the context of human love, norms and ways of understanding the modes of truth (Jacobus 750-755). Butler

The Kennewick Man Essay Example for Free

The Kennewick Man Essay When we think of prehistoric bones and fossils we think of dinosaurs and creatures of huge amount of size, but the findings of Kennewick Man changed the very thought of prehistoric beings. So exactly who is the Kennewick Man and why is he so important? Why is he given such a name as to Kennewick Man? Why would anyone want to fight and file lawsuits on each other to for a pile of old dusty bones? Well that’s what is found here on the case of â€Å"Kennewick Man. † Scientist and Native Americans just can’t keep their hands off this precious specimen. Why does one deserve Kennewick Man over the other? What values does he hold for them? Can Kennewick Man do anything to help either the Native Americans of scientist? Even though Native Americans deserve the rights to the Kennewick Man, scientist have just as much rights to study Kennewick Man because the science that they will perform could uncover much truth of the past and scientist discoveries from this specimen could even help us human beings in the future to come. Who exactly is the Kennewick Man? Thousands of years ago Kennewick man lived and hunted in what is now Washington State. His tribe was among the first to cross the land bridge into North America. He had a hard life and lived with many serious injuries, including a spear point embedded in his pelvis. He later died in his forties and was buried by his kinsman. Scientist has the rights to study Kennewick Man. In previous centuries archeologists were content simply to find objects. Today, armed with computer, laboratory analysis, theories about society and culture, and a wide range of questions about human development and migration, scientist now have the tools to shed light on the origins of the first Americans. In other words- we have the tools and the technology, so why not use them? Archeology is especially important and useful in helping us to understand people and events about which little or nothing has been written. The past would be surely lost unless we defend out right to learn about the heritage of all Americans. This evidence must be preserved, and scientist must be allowed to study it, if we hope to indentify and understand the lives of the earliest Americans. Science offers the process to test hypotheses using factual  evidence. We must keep our country free for exploring and expressing all views and explanations of our past. We must insist that good scientific methods be practiced, free of political motives. Is the Kennewick Man really a part of the Native American tribe or is this just a story that’s known upon the Indians to tell? If Kennewick Man were actually Caucasian, it would be a startling discovery. So far, all of the oldest North American skeletons have been of Asian descent, although features on a few skulls have been controversially interpreted as Caucasoid. Another possibility is that the first Americans and their Asian ancestors had features that were Caucasoid. The real test of these theories would be DNA, which can pinpoint which modern populations are most closely related to the skeleton and so help identify the ancestors of early Americans and perhaps give clues to their migration patterns. Kennewick Man resembled the South Asians and the Ainu people of northeast Asia. The Ainu migrated to North America over eight-thousand years ago and died out some eight-thousand years later. â€Å"The story that unfolded was unexpected; his bones seemed to say that he belonged to no Native American group†¦Ã¢â‚¬  stated by Glover. This revealed that Kennewick Man was of no descent of the Umatilla Indians and therefore NAGRA does not apply. What the scientists say about the importance of the Kennwick Man stated by a Dr. Bonnichsen, professor of anthropology as OSU â€Å"Only through scientific study of important discoveries such as Kennewick Man can objective knowledge of America’s rich and diverse past be developed and fully appreciated by all communities who have stake in the past.† â€Å"He [The Kennewick Man] is going to continue to reshape our thoughts about how the world was populated.† Doug Owsley is forensic anthropologist for the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. We all share the past and not one person owns it, thus, science should be conducted to uncover the truth for all people for all time. The Native Americans believe that digging up their ancestor’s graves is the wrong way to go. With the act in effect, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA. NAGPRA states that anything, especially religious burial items (this including peoples’ remains), that is affiliated with a modern tribe is referred to as their property. As the Nez Perce, Yakima, Wannapum and Colville Indian tribes had given up their claims to the skeleton, the Umatilla tribe continued their court proceedings. To determine if the skeleton showed any relation to a Umatilla Indian’s skeletal structure, further examination was done to compare the two. Science vs. Sacred Rights, which of the two outweighs the other? Now ask yourself this, from what has happened from the same case scenario of the Kennewick Man how would you carry it? A recent flood washed your grandmother’s casket into a riverbed. Since her remains have been disturbed anyway, local scientist want to study them. Should they be allowed to? Why or why not? What about your great-grandmother? What about your great-great-grandmother? What about your great-great-great-grandmother? (etc.) What if studying her remains could benefit mankind? I believe that yes as disturbing as that may seem to have your grandmother’s remains to be studied upon by strangers (scientist), If it would be better for humanity to learn from her past and to even have discovered something that she had that could change life itself, then yes I would be okay for scientist to do their test on her. Scientist discoveries could make a great outcome for our future. Now, let’s look at Sir Issac Newton who does just that. Even though he may not be a â€Å"scientist† but he does share the same motives and goals as one. Issac Newton’s discoveries had many effects on the world without them we wouldnt have gotten far we would still be wondering what is motion, gravity and light is and what it’s there for. His discovery has opened doors for many people and also science. In the future we would have made much better things because of these amazing discoveries and know and understand more about it and why it’s there for us. If we let scientist to continue their studies on the Kennewick Man, who knows what lies under the soil remains on him. There could be a cure or something that kept him immune from diseases thousands of years ago. Also used by scientists to determine the where, what, why, when, and how of ancient organisms. Answering these questions will help in determining the environment and climate in which the organisms existed, adaptations made by the organisms to the environment and climate, type and  amount of energy requirements of organisms, feeding habits, reproduction techniques, nesting habits, digestion methods, type of respiration, method of locomotion, hunting techniques, timing and cause of extinction events, and the progression of evolution. Fossils are also key indicators of possible fossil fuel deposits which are of great interest to humanity. The study of fossils also leads to discoveries and understanding of Earths processes which can benefit mankind. Study of the Cretaceous Tertiary extinction event eventually led to the hypothesis that a large asteroid impacted Earth. Some astronomers are currently seeking out and cataloging possible impact asteroids in an attempt to predict such a future cataclysm and help in preventing it. Do you believe that the Native Americans rights to Kennewick Man are stronger than that of the scientist? The confederated tribes of â€Å"The Umatilla, made up of Yakima, Nez Perce, Colville, and Wanapum. All five of these tribes have potential ties to Kennewick Man. These tribes share very similar religion, oral histories and traditions going back over 10,000 years as such, and remain are ancestral. The Native Americans call this ancestor, â€Å"The Ancient One†. Their people have been a part of this land since the beginning of time, all though scientists tell otherwise that Native Americans have migrated to this continent. With the fight between Kennewick Man’s ownership, Native Americans have a strong argument for his reburial. The confederated tribes agree that the ancient one should be reburied as soon as possible. Stated by the Native Americans, once a body is buried under ground, it is meant to stay and not to be tampered with until the world is no more. Having the Ancient One unburied and out of the area is a disturbance to their ancestors. But science may not get the opportunity to make the desired DNA tests. The local Umatilla Indians insist that the bones of Kennewick Man be surrendered to them for immediate reburial, as stipulated by the North American Graves Protection Act of 1990. But if the bones are truly those of a Caucasian, does the Act apply? And when does the scientific value of a skeleton outweigh native tradition? Ironically, the Umatilla Indians scoff at the idea of Asian diffusion across the Bering Strait. They claim that they have always lived in the Pacific Northwest!  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Scientists have dug up and studied Native Americans for decades. We view this practice as a desecration of the body and a violation of our most deeply-held religious beliefs.† -Armand Minthron The Native Americans had a law passed in 1990, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). This act protects all Native American cultural and burial resources from tampering. This act has required the return of artifacts and human remains that scientists have been digging up for years. With the law suits that scientist have placed on the Native Americans of Kennewick Man, this act gives the Native Americans the right to file a claim to have the Ancient One’s remains reburied based of their beliefs that he is their ancestor. These tribes are expecting that the Federal Government will uphold to the NAGPRA and return the Ancient One. Scientist argues that there is a Wide range of interest in examining the Kennwick Man. In conclusion, although Native Americans find this to be desecrating to their ancestors, scientist should study Kennewick Man for two main reasons. First, studies could have solutions for present illnesses. But most importantly, studies could reveal a better future for humanity. Work Cited -Gibbons, Ann. â€Å"DNA Enters Dust Up Over Bones† JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. -Dr. Robson Bonnichsen,† Mystery of the First Americans† PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012. -Glover, William. â€Å"Kennewick Man and the Story of the Settlement of the New World.† Conversation for Exploration. January 1, 2000. May 14, 2009. -Armand Minthorn. Ancient One / Kennewick Man. Ancient One / Kennewick Man. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. -Lemonick, Michael D. Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews. Time. Time, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

Musical Expression and Musical Meaning in Context :: Music Philosophy Essays

Musical Expression and Musical Meaning in Context 1. Some preliminaries. There is a growing body of work in the philosophy of music and musical aesthetics that has considered the various ways that music can be meaningful: music as representational (that is, musical depictions of persons, places, processes, or events); musical as quasi-linguistic reference (as when a musical figure underscores the presence of a character in a film or opera), and most especially, music as emotionally expressive. Here I will focus on the last topic, for I believe it will be useful for researchers in music perception and cognition to avail themselves of the distinctions that aestheticians have worked out regarding the musical expression of emotion. Now we often say that music is "expressive," or that a performer plays with great expression, but what exactly do we mean? There are at least two things one may be saying. First, one may be praising a performer for their musical sensitivity, that he or she has a keen sense of just how a passage is supposed to be played. Such praise is often couched in terms of the performer's "musicality" (in statements that border on the oxymoronic, as when one says that a performer plays the music very musically). Such praise may also be couched in terms of expression--i.e., that a performer plays "expressively." I have little to say about these attributions, save that they are often linked to the second thing one often means when speaking of the music or a performance being expressive: an expressive piece or performance is one that recognizably embodies a particular emotion, and indeed may cause a sympathetic emotional response in the listener. Thus if one plays "expressively," this means that the music's particular emotional qualities--its sadness, gaiety, exuberance, and so forth, are amply conveyed by the performer. Before we discuss those emotional qualities a number of other preliminary remarks are in order. When we speak of the expressive properties of music, these are distinct from the expressive properties of sound. Sounds may be loud, shrill, acoustically rough or smooth, and so forth. These acoustic qualities have expressive correlates and may trigger emotional responses, and of course one cannot have music without sound. But musical expression is more than this: it requires the attention to the music qua music, rather than as mere sounds. The opening "O Fortuna" of Carmina Burana may shock (and indeed scare) the listener due to its sudden loudness (especially when the bass drum starts whacking away), but this shock isn't a musical effect--we get the same reaction when we here a sudden "bang" at a fireworks display or when a car backfires.

Literacy, Love, Loss and Arda Essay

Literacy is important in keeping the history of the Middle-earth. This is to ensure that the future generations could get a grasp on what has happened to the different races; ie Man, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Hobbits, Trolls, Goblin-men, Uruk-hai, among others. History and recorded accounts of significant events is especially important to the wizards. This is shown in the part when Gandalf the Grey desired to know more about the ring in Bilbo’s possession. He immediately took the initiative to set out for the right thing to do. He asked Bilbo to leave it, and transfer to Frodo, the one who would be tasked to carry the ring to Rivendell, and later on, to the Crack of Mount Doom. He went to research for records. Fortunately, he found accounts from Isildur. â€Å"It has come to me†¦ the One Ring. It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow my bloodline shall be bound to its fate for I will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me, though I buy it with great pain. The markings upon the band begin to fade. The writing, which at first as clear as the red flame, has all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell. † (Tolkien) With the history kept intact in that library, he was able to think of the best thing to do – to destroy it. In the mines of Moria, they had to pass a tunnel but there was a door with inscriptures above it. Frodo was able to read what was written there, and asked Gandalf what was the Elvish word for â€Å"friend. † When Gandalf uttered Mellon, the door opened (Tolkien). This showed that being able to read and write got the Fellowship moving. This also reflects that if nobody was educated, it could have been that they were not able to enter that door. This goes down to the truth that the earlier people had educated themselves also as evident in that password, which was made by them. Inside the mine was the kingdom ruled by dwarves. However, they found him already dead, as what was carved on the surface of his tomb. The language of the dwarves – Dwarvish – was helpful in this stage, because Gimli would not have known that Balin was already dead if it was not for the writings. Reading and writing is important to all the creatures of the Middle-earth. It is the most powerful tool to drive back to history of a village, or to a well-known person. It is also used to conceal secrets to treasured places. It is significant also to inform relatives and the society that a respectable lord has died. Most important of it could be its usefulness in terms of transmitting message from day-to-day activities. 2. What is the role of romantic love in the Lord of the Rings? How big a part does it play, and just what is this part? Give examples. The most famous romantic love story exposed in the Lord of the Rings could be that of Aragorn and Arwen. This was exaggerated in the adaptation of the novel into movie. â€Å"I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone†¦ I choose a mortal life†¦ It is mine to give whom I will†¦ like my heart. † These lines of Arwen, possibly coming from the deepest portion of her heart reflected the utmost devotion and truest affection in her heart for Aragorn. This love for Aragorn influenced her to make the biggest and most daring decision ever – to give up immortality, which has been a precious gift to the race where she belonged. She opted to be mortal and loved Aragorn, who also loved her so much. Their love for each other was so powerful that gave them inspiration to head on with their lives. Later near the end of their journey, they had a child, who was seen by Arwen when she was walking towards a life that never ends. This made them strong against the dark force enwrapping Middle-earth and the loneliness that kept on haunting them (Tolkien). Smeagol also had this passionate affection with the One Ring. He stayed in the dark Misty Mountains all by himself, but never thought of leaving the ring to somebody. He felt in love with the beauty and power the ring was giving him – unnatural long life. When he lost it, he tried to recover it. He followed the trails of the Fellowship tasked to bring his â€Å"precious† to Mount Doom. He succeeded in getting it from Frodo’s hands, but unfortunately, he ended falling into the fire of the mountain, where the ring was forged. At the end of the Return of the King, Sam was seen with his own family. He married Rosie, and had children afterwards. Even after Frodo had fled to the Undying Lands, Sam remained loyal to him by taking care of the book given to him by his friend. No one could blame him for that because they had gone to a perilous journey that truly tested their friendship.

Food and Agricultue Essay

Provide at least two modern examples of how the United States has increased its food production. Genetically modifying foods is one way the United States has grown its food increase. The use of genetically engineered crops has grown rapidly in countries such as the United States, especially for soybeans, corn, and cotton where GM crops make up between 70 and 90 percent of total production (Turk, 2014). Ways the United States has increased food production farmers have utilized numerous process, some of which include irrigation and crop otation which can increase the long term sustainability and has been standard practice for many years. A step taken nearly 50 years ago to increase food production was the green revolution, which focused on â€Å"monocultures of single crops and required significant inputs of energy, water fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides† (Turk, Bensel, 2014). â€Å"Advocates say that they have increased agricultural production by more than US$98 billion and saved an estimated 473 million kilograms of pesticidesfrom being sprayed. † (Turk & Bensel, 2014, Ch. 3. 3). Tools such as herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides reduce crop losses both before and after harvest, and increase crop yields. A plentiful supply of fresh produce is vital for a healthy population. Numerous scientific studies demonstrate the health benefits of regularly eating a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and consumers are increasingly aware of these benefits. Agricultural productivity is key to ensuring that this demand can be met at an affordable price; and crop protection products help increase productivity and usable crop yields (Turk, 2014). Discuss how these changes have affected the environment, and what impact they have on food safety? The use of genetically modified foods have be studied for years some improvements have been made. But the biggest issue is what has it done to the soil the water and the air let alone the food itself. Allergic reaction occur when the immune system interprets something as foreign, different and offensive and reacts accordingly. All GM foods, by definition have something foreign and different. And several studies show that they provoke reactions (The Open Nutraceuticals Journal, 2011, 4, 3-11). Changes is agriculture have affected our environment with soil erosion, water pollution, air pollution, and habitat destruction (Turk, 2014). I believe that this will always be an issue and will continue to have pros and cons but with proper testing they can be better. http://www. academia. edu/542384/A_Review_on_Impacts_of_Genetically_Modified_Food_on_ Human_Health http://www. croplifeamerica. org/crop-protection/benefits/increase-food-production Turk, J. , & Bensel, T. (2014). Contemporary environmental issues (2nd ed. ). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

buy custom Medicare Managed Care essay

buy custom Medicare Managed Care essay In the United States, Medicare programs are in the rise as they are being favored by many researches carried out due to the presence of many and diverse Medicare challenges. The government of the United States has also played a significant role in the development of the Medicare programs. The Medicare managed-care plan is being encouraged in the United States because of the added coverage it has over the Medicare plans. Studies have been carried out and revealed that the Medicare Advantage Plan is a bit cheaper than the Medical Fee for Service even with its enhanced effectiveness and efficiency. A Medicare managed care is a plan for individuals to obtain coverage for their bills of health care, which is not paid for by the Medicare. The Medicare managed plans are the programs that are run by the health care agencies. They include the health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or the preferred provider organizations (PPOs), whereby, they are involved in the provision of Medicare covera ge as well as coverage left as gaps by the Medicare coverage. The Medigap polices provide basic Medicare in the same way as the Medicare managed care; and they can appear to replace each other. However, the Medicare managed care is different from the Medigap policies in the basis of its operation. While Medicare and Medigap policies will operate together to pay the client's medical bills, they have different extents to which they operate (Elliott Et al. 2011). While the jurisdiction of the Medigap polices will extend to the point of the coverage of the bills, the Medicare managed-care plans will go further than just the bill level. Other than providing the client's Medicare coverage, the Medicare managed care will include other coverage extending to the filing of Medicare coverage gaps. The managed-care plan controls the extent of the clients beyond Medicare, as well as the premiums size and copayment size. The managed-care plan is also the one that makes the decisions regarding p ayments for the clients treatment (Elliott Et al. 2011). The managed care is distinct in that the clients are left to agree on the specific hospitals, specific doctors and others in the network of the Medicare exchange aimed at reducing the costs of the overall healthcare costs. In the light of the provision for chances to choose on the part of the clients, the Medicare managed care provides a variety of provisions for the patients. For example, there is a Medicare managed-care plan that provides narrow limitations on consulting with specialists or accessing practitioners from outside the network. There are others that do not impose restrictions to the patients freedom in choosing the doctors to consult for their treatment. However, the premium charges for a particular Medicare managed-care plan vary with increasing trends inclined to expand the choice's ability of the client. In further pursuing of the economic implications of the Medicare managed care for the clients, it is nece ssary that individuals make some research on the available options in their area. It is essential that such individuals check on the adequacy of care, as well as costs for each particular healthcare managed care in the proposal. It is also necessary that the cost will include the doctors visits together with the prescribed drugs. There are several types of managed-care plans. The health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO), and provider sponsored organization (PSO) are some of the available types of managed-care plans. Out of the three aforementioned types of the Medicare managed-care plan, the HMO is the least expensive. The HMO is also popular for its restriction, which ranks higher than the others. Other than the Medicare Health Plan, individuals have a choice of Medicare Advantage Plan as a part of their Medicare. The Advantage Plans are, however, offered by the private companies, which are approved by Medicare. The Medicare Advantage Plan provides clients with all of their Part A and Part B coverage. In the Medicare field, the Hospital Insurance is referred to as Part A, while the Medical Insurance is Part B. Other than covering for the Hospital Insurance and Medical Insurance, some Medicare Advantage plans offer extra coverage that may include the coverage for hearing, dental, vision, and health and wellness programs. At the same time, the majority of the Medicare Advantage Plan will cater for Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). Basically, it is the Medicare that pays some fixed monthly installments to the Medicare Advantage Plan providers. The Medicare Plan Providers are entitled to follow some rules set by the Medicare. It is, however, common that each Medicare Advantage Plan imposes different extra costs, as well as different rules for their service provision. The clients subject to the rule of the Medicare Advantage Plan on whether they require a recommendation of seeing a specialist, or go to see a doctor alone. The cost analysis of a Medicare Advantage Plan involves various considerations. It is also notable that the clients are required to pay for their Part B premium, and some added monthly premiums for the included services. At the same time, each Medicare Advantage Plan has its unique, extra costs to the clients. Since the c lients subjected to a Medicare Advantage Plan have an option for obtaining their Medicare by Medicare Fee for Service, the cost considerations for the two available options can be looked upon by their various implications to the client. In case of Medicare Advantage Plan, the patients are obligated to go to a middle man, who is usually the assigned primary medical practitioner; although, sometimes they will go to the practitioner-nurse, prior to being sent to a specialist. This, in the eyes of many, can appear to be inconvenient. It can also mean a waste of the patients time. Opponents of Medicare Advantage Plan may argue that the patients are better placed if they see a specialist to obtain the needed Medicare. What the opponents of Medicare Advantage Plan fail to anticipate is the cases where the efforts of a specialist can be proved unnecessary, thus saving the patients' money and even time, not mentioning the inconveniences of operations and tests. There can be cases where th e patient may actually know whichspecialistcould be right for his problem.Even in such cases, it might not always be necessary for the patient toobtainan expensive service from the specialist. The Medicare Advantage Plan offers achancefor possibilities, as when a nurse-practitioner could have done as well as aspecialist, thus saving the patientsmoney. In the light of this, the Medicare Fee for Service is more expensive than the Medicare Advantage Plan. In many cases, Managed Care organizations carry out scrutiny for expensive procedures to ensure that they are necessary (McGuire, Newhouse Sinaiko, n.d). By scrutinizing the expensive procedures for the clients, the Medicare Advantage Plans are able to wedge into the gap between the patients desire or need and their economic pressures. Following the findings, the 30 per cent of surgeons recommended operations are not necessary; the intervention by the Medicare Advantage Plan comes at the right moment. As an example of the operations that managed care refuses to pay for is hysterectomy, the uterus removal. The basis for this refusal is the complaints about patients calling for hysterectomy, while they can successfully be treated with other less-expensive methods. Of course, this has ultra slim chances of occurring in Medicare Fee for Services, and thus becoming more expensive (McGuire, Newhouse Sinaiko, n.d). The Medicare Advantage Plan has the ability of eliminating expensive doctors and other medical practitioners from the lists of providers (McGuire, Newhouse Sinaiko, n.d). The way the Medicare Advantage Plans determine that particular doctors are overpriced is by the doctors ordering abnormal number of CAT scan, X-rays and laboratory procedures. The Medicare Advantage Plans organizations utilize the information technology to research on the effectiveness of the doctors they are to enroll in their lists of providers. By doing so, the Managed Care organizations obtain the benefits of eliminating high-price d doctors and also caution the remaining ones. In the case of Medicare Fee for Service, it is hard to obtain such levels of specializations, thus medical service remains expensive. The Medicare Advantage Plans organizations are also able to identify medical practitioners who have tendencies of offering significantly expensive medications. At the sametime, the doctors who over-exploit the hospital facilities are identifiable through the same procedure. Theoretically, the Medicare Advantage organizations obtain some levels or accuracy index of skills for the doctors engaged in their programs, especially for treatment of specific cases. It is agreeable that such studies are done rarely; on the contrary, the Medicare Fee for Services options will not provide such a service (Berenson Dowd, 2009). In notable cases, Medicare Advantage organizationsoperatetheir own health facilities in the rural areas. In such facilities, the staff and doctorsarecommonlypaidby the organizations. This elim inates the fee-for-service, whichis normally subjectedto the individual patients and is expensive.The collectively run health facilities enable cost-saving measures, such as technicians and nurse-practitioners carrying out theworkthat could otherwisebe doneby doctors.The Medicare Advantage Plans are, therefore, able tocutdown on the overall costs for the client members, making them a bit less expensive than the Medicare Fee for Services. Finally, the large enough number of members of the Medicare Advantage organizations enhances their bargaining powers (Berenson Dowd, 2009). The bargaining powerismostlyputin practice during the hospital and pharmaceutical negotiations. Where the Medicare Advantage Plancontractswith private and public hospitals for their membership, they are able toobtainflatdaily rates for the hospital charges andextendthecheapservices to their clients. Therefore, it isevidentthat the Medicare Advantage Plan is less expensive than the Medicare Fee for Services by the individual members withlimitedbargaining powers. The operators of the Medicare Fee for Services have the advantage of being exempted from network requirements for adequacy (Kaplan, 2011). This can have some economical implication, cutting down charges for the patients. While the Medicare Fee for Service is exempted from the requirements of network adequacy, the impact can be so minimal to the point of being significantly felt by the individual clients. Therefore, on the grounds of the aforementioned fact, the Medicare Fee for Services cannot be said to be less expensive than the Medicare Advantage Plan. Other than the Medicare Fee for Service providers being exempted from adequacy requirements for network, they also are subjected to fewer requirements, while they benefit from particular statutory and rules of administration. Nonetheless, this service is expected to cost less to the patients. The problem usually arises from the fact that the bargaining power of the patient is w eak. It can also be argued that most of the providers are private individuals who cannot afford to be everywhere treating all possible cases in terms of clients state of health. Therefore, the patients who go for Medicare Fee for Service will be subjected to more subjective operations than is the case with the patients opting for Medicare Advantage Plan (Kaplan, 2011). Research data by Medpac on preference of Medicare Fee for Services shows that they take more than three-quarters of the overall options available for Medicare beneficiaries. This indicates that the Medicare Fee for Services is gaining popularity despite its expectation of being expensive. However, in the same study by Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) (2008), the Medicare Fee for Services accounted for 19 per cent of the total Medicare Advantage Plan enrollment. They actually accounted for 60 per cent of the 2006 to 2007 enrollment growth. Figures indicated that during the period from 2006 to 2007, Manage d-Care plan's enrollment remained flat (MEDPAC, 2008). The employers are also seen to be playing some significant roles in the Medicare Advantage Plan.It wasnoted in theemployer-only plan that the year 2008 tended tobehigher than other plans with a noted 108 percent. At the same time, the payments by the employer-only plans showed an average of 116 percent of the Fees for Service spending. The impacts of the employer-only plans to the Medicare Advantage are detrimental as they compromise the ability of the Medicare Advantage plans. Conclusion The Medicare Managed Care helps individuals to pay for their Medicare costs. The Medical Advantage plans have coverage on such health issues of the patients as visual, dental and hearing problems. These plans are being encouraged to be adapted currently. When Medicare Advantage Plan is compared to the Medicare Fee for Service, it has evidence of effectiveness and efficiency added to the fact that it is less expensive than the Medicare Fee for Service. Buy custom Medicare Managed Care essay

Detecting Signs of E.T.

Detecting Signs of E.T. From time to time, the news media falls in love with stories about how aliens have been found. From the detection of a possible signal from a distant civilization to tales of an alien megastructure around a star observed by the Kepler Space Telescope to the story of the WOW! signal detected in 1977 by an astronomer at Ohio State University, any time theres a hint of a puzzling discovery in astronomy, we see breathless headlines that aliens have been found.   In point of fact, there hasnt been an alien civilization found...yet. But, astronomers keep looking! Finding Something Weird In late summer 2016, astronomers picked up what seemed like a signal from a distant sun-like star called HD 164595. Preliminary searches using the Allen Telescope Array in California showed that the signal picked up by a Russian telescope was not likely from an alien civilization. However, more telescopes will check out the signal to understand what it is and what could be making it. For   now, however, its problem not little green aliens sending us a howdy.   Another star, called KIC 8462852, was observed by Kepler for more than four years. It appears to have a variability in its brightness. That is, the light we perceive coming from this F-type star dims periodically. Its not a regular period of time, so its probably not caused by an orbiting planet. Such planet-caused dimmings are called transits. Kepler has cataloged many stars using the transit method and found thousands of planets this way. But, the dimming of KIC 8462852 was just too irregular. While astronomers and observers worked on cataloging its dimmings, they also talked to an astronomer who had been thinking hard about what we might see if a distant star had planets with life on them. And, in particular, if that life was technologically able to build superstructures around their star to harvest its light (for example).    What Could it Be? If a big structure orbited a star, it could cause the variability in the stars brightness to be irregular or even random-seeming. Of course, there are some caveats with this idea. First, distance is a problem. Even a fairly large structure would be difficult to detect from Earth, even with very strong detectors. Second, the star itself could have some strange variable pattern, and astronomers would need to observe it for longer periods of time to figure out what it is. Third, stars with dust clouds around them can also have fairly large planetary structures forming. Those planetesimals could also cause irregular brightness dips in the starlight we detect from Earth, especially if they were orbiting at staggered distances. Finally, catastrophic collisions between clumps of material around a star could deliver huge groups of objects such as cometary nuclei in orbit around the star. Those could also affected the perceived brightness of the star.   The Simple Truth In science, theres a rule that we follow called Occams Razor - it means, essentially, for any given event or object you observe, generally the most plausible explanation is the simplest one.   In this case, stars with clumps of dust, planetesimals, or roving exo-comets are more likely than aliens. Thats because stars FORM in cloud of gas and dust, and younger stars still have material around them left over from the formation of their planets. KIC 8462852 could be in in a planet-forming stage, consistent with its age and mass (its about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun and a bit younger than our star). So, the simplest explanation here is NOT an alien megacomplex, but swarms of comets.   The Search Protocol The search for extrasolar planets has always been a prelude to a search for life elsewhere in the universe. Each star and planet system discovered to have worlds has to be examined carefully so that astronomers understand its inventory of planets, moons, rings, asteroids, and comets. Once thats done, the next step is to figure out if the worlds are friendly to life -- that is, are they habitable? They do this by trying to understand if the world has an atmosphere, where it is in its orbit around the star, and what its evolutionary state might be.   So far, none have been found hospitable. But, theyll be found. Odds are, there is intelligent life elsewere in the universe. Eventually, we will detect it - or it will find us. In the meantime, astronomers on Earth continue to search for habitable planets around likely stars. The more they study, they more theyll be ready to recognize lifes effects elsewhere.

Personal Ethical Statement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personal Ethical Statement - Assignment Example My blind spot, according to the inventory, is the belief that my motives will always justify the methods. Most of the time I fail when it comes to accountability; I have always placed my demands and needs first and I do not care explaining to those who depend on me so long as my needs are satisfied. In addition, sometimes I become complacent and leave many problems unsolved intentionally. People around me always get upset because I always focus on my own motives and ignore the obvious problems around us. My strength lies balancing my entrepreneurship with my responsibilities. I strongly value autonomy since I am self-reliant and accountable to my community. Thus, I avoid being rigid, stick to the usual duties and attempt to follow my dream whenever I get the slightest opportunity. On the other hand, my weakness is becoming greedy or judgmental in my expectations of others. Thus, I am always quick to criticize and label others unethical whenever my coworkers do not meet their job targets or rather fulfill their responsibilities. My values, as per this inventory are sensible and rational. I am a person with the full potential when it comes to finding solutions to societal problems. Managing a personal business is what I want to pursue because this inventory have taught me how to relate with people, regardless of age, social status, sex or race. I have bigger dreams that would benefit my community but in the meantime, working on my weaknesses is my priority since it will shape who I