Sociolinguistic Approaches Towards Gender Differences free essay sample

A critical evaluation of two sociolinguistic studies which demonstrate the Difference and Dominance positions regarding the differences in female and male language usage. This paper discusses the two contrasting theories regarding gender differences in speech: the Dominance approach and the Difference approach, by reference to Deborah Tannen?s study You Just Don?t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation and West and Zimmerman?s study Sex Roles, Interruptions and Silences in Conversation. The paper critically evaluates these positions and considers explanations for the differences in male and female languages usage. In conclusion, the paper reviews possible strategies to decrease the confusion, frustration and hurt that is caused by men and women?s contrasting speech styles. A wide range of socio-linguistic research shows that men and women do use speech in different ways. Yet interpretations of these differences, and arguments concerning what causes them are complex and varied. The two main stances taken when analyzing gender and language are a Dominance approach or a Difference approach, with some linguists taking a position somewhere in between the two. We will write a custom essay sample on Sociolinguistic Approaches Towards Gender Differences or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This paper evaluates two studies that demonstrate a Difference and a Dominance approach and explores the different ways in which they analyze gender differences in speech.

Scott Joplin Essays - Rags, Music, Ragtime, American Music

Scott Joplin Essays - Rags, Music, Ragtime, American Music Scott Joplin CHOW, BENJAMIN F EXTRA CREDIT In the late 1890s ; a craze for a new kind of music called ragtime swept the country off its feet. Instant popularity of ragtime increased before the turn of the century. By 1910, the ragtime mania reached its peak in all elements of music: popular dance, theater, and movie music. Scott Joplin was a young black man that mastered and polish this subtle art. Born in Texarkana, Texas on November 29, 1868, Scott became facinated with the piano at an early age and was mentored by a old german teacher that took him in as a pupil. Scotts style of piano playing stress his smooth singing tone and subtle sense of rhythm. Scott has the tendency to turn melodic lines into delicate and but simple notes. Generally all of his pieces share the customary ragtime layout and composition of a pair of contrasting lines, each repeated and followed by the return to the first line, then a new section consisting of two or three repeated lines emerge and is usually subdominant. In Scotts piece the Magnetic Rag. The reappearance of the orginal theme at the close of the piece, shares a shocking likeness to Beethovens famous reoccuring I am Death Theme. In the Magnetic Rag, the return of the opening theme at the end of the piece creates a rondo-like structure with a scheme ABCDA, with the outer A section and the central C section stands in tonal harmony. This can be compared to his other famous pieces of work Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer which all exercise the reappearing theme that shows a tendency to round out by always returning to the home key. Magnetic Rag was the last piece that Scott completed. It was subtitled : syncopation classiques because of his wonderful blend of syncopation on every up-beat and mad-cow improvisations tailored to sound like European dance music that influenced early ragtime.

Constitutional Conventions. Should Conventions Be Made Into Laws Essay

Constitutional Conventions. Should Conventions Be Made Into Laws - Essay Example These are the nations which follow the Westminster system of government, common in the Commonwealth Nations. The constitutional conventions often distribute the powers between the head of the state and the head of the government making the head of the state a ceremonial post. For example in the Indian subcontinent (Present India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) the constitution is based on the Govt. of India Act 1935 which was formulated by the British legislators, the additions to the act are made in the form of constitutional conventions and the affairs of government in these states are being run by these constitutional conventions. There are other constitutional conventions which operate alongside written constitutions. In Britain there are many constitutional conventions which have been made into laws. Still there is a marked difference between Laws and Constitutional Conventions. According to Dicey [1883] laws are the set of rules which are enforced by the courts while const itutional conventions are those set of rules which are not actually enforced by the courts and are merely are the habits and practices of people in certain offices of the state. According to Hood Phillips â€Å"constitutional conventions are rules of practices which are regarded as binding by those to whom they apply but which are not laws because they are not enforced by the courts and parliament†. L.B. ... The traditions and practices which are followed by certain governmental procedurals over large periods of time are considered as informal rules and are made constitutional conventions. According to one perception the English constitution drifted from the monarchical system to parliamentary system by way of constitutional convention. The ultimate object of most of the conventions is that the affairs of public interest should be conducted in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the electorates. The origin of constitutional conventions also takes place when certain authorities try to exercise power which is actually not prohibited by law but a certain opposition is aroused against that exercise of power and the opposition is of such an extent that the same action cannot be taken in future and the opposition marks an end to that practice. In such a scenario the certain practices which are not actually forbidden by law becomes forbidden under the constitutional conventions. Const itutional conventions automatically assume the role of constitutional amendments as the legislators and the government starts following them. But the constitutional conventions are not enforced by the courts of law because sometimes these are in conflict with the legal rules and the courts are bound to enforce the legal rules and not the constitutional conventions. On an occasion the British Supreme court has ruled out the possibility of the constitutional conventions to be enforced as laws no matter how well-established and universally accepted they may be because there are instances when there is clash between the constitutional convention and a present law. The only way

Project Management Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project Management - Article Example Expert opinion comes as a secondary thing. Although it is not advisable to rely solely on the expert opinion, yet it is quite rational to seek expert opinion for approval or slight adjustment of the durations estimated using past history. An estimator may solely rely upon past history to estimate the duration of activities without seeking the expert opinion, but he/she can not solely rely upon expert opinion without checking the past history for the time estimates. In rare cases, when past history is not available for a certain activity, then its time is estimated using mathematical derivation. Mathematical derivation is the empirical and the least reliable method of estimating the time of activities, yet it has to be used in the absence of past history. Again, like a second check is made for the past history by seeking expert opinion, expert opinion should also be taken to modify the time calculated using mathematical derivation, to make it more reliable. It is better for Joe to mak e use of AOA method because it is simpler. Also, it gives clear information regarding FF and TF. Joe should see the level of details he requires and choose the method accordingly. Q. 2 Ans. Issues that weigh in favor of crashing the project are that BCC will not have to face the liquidated damages as the project would be finished within time.

Business ethic and CSR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business ethic and CSR - Essay Example The paper also maintains that positive correlation between CSR expenditure and future performance of the firm is different from what it is usually taken for because such studies usually don’t take the factor of management’s private information in consideration. And in essence these disclosures are signals by which firms communicate their private information of bright future prospects to the outside world. They maintain that charity hypothesis for CSR expenditure is not linked with the future performance of the firm though it may be linked with current period performance. Investment hypothesis and Signal hypothesis (i.e. either CSR expenditure are investments or communications of bright future prospects) are both positively linked with the future performance of the firm. But their positive relation is of mutually different nature. Their methodological innovation to test and differentiate between investment and their cherished signaling hypothesis lies in their splitting the CSR expenditure further down in investment related and non investment related components. If CSR spending is good investment then there should be positive relation between its investment component (optimal CSR expenditure) and its future performance. And if it’s not some investment endure but a signaling of better future prospects then there will be positive association between firm’s deviation from the optimum and its future performance. Although authors recognize that effects of optimal expenditure and deviation from it are not mutually exclusive as both can have positive association with the future performance. Through this methodology authors come up with their first result that CSR expenditures has a positive association with the future performance of the firm measured mainly through the change in the operating cash flow and ROA. When this relation is established authors then refute the Charity hypothesis regarding CSR expenditures. For if CSR spending are cha rity then these should not affect the future performance of the firm. Next, authors undertake the differential impact of optimal and deviational components of CSR on the future performance of the firm. Their striking conclusion entails that improved future performance of the firm, on average, is linked with the deviational CSR expenditure rather than optimal CSR. Further by their size adjusted returns tests they conclude that, on average, optimal CSR results in the decline of share holder value and the overall positive impact on the firm value is the result of signaling value of CSR expenditure. And with result authors refute the investment hypothesis of CSR while maintaining that for this hypothesis to hold firm it was required that optimal CSR should result in the increased performance of the firm. With their findings authors of the paper point to a new horizon in corporate literature regarding the true purpose of CSR expenditures and disclosures. Most important breakthrough that their work offers is the signaling value of CSR expenditure. This avenue of signaling worth of CSR disclosures has been usually neglected. Thus their discovery will add new angle to the relation of CSR expenditure and future performance of the firm. Their finding also highlights the phenomena that CSR expenditures are taken by the firms when they feel that their future prospects are bright and in coming

Culture of Silence: Talking About Death and Terminal Illness

Culture of Silence: Talking About Death and Terminal Illness In the past, it may have been acceptable for doctors not to tell a patient they had cancer. There was a culture of silence around talking about death and terminal illness (Heyse-Moore 2009). In On Death and Dying (Kubler-Ross 1973) Kubler-Ross said it was often the wife or husband who was told the diagnosis and then had the burden of whether to tell the painful truth. However, the development of the Hospice movement and Palliative Care in the past 30 years has made it the duty of health care professionals to inform patients of their diagnosis. Now, there are General Medical Council guidelines (2006) that make it an ethical duty for the doctor to inform the patient of the diagnosis (Heyse-Moore 2009). Parkes (Parkes Markus 1998) discusses the importance of breaking bad news effectively and sensitively. Parkes sees this as an element in preparing for loss. He is specifically discussing how to care for the terminal patient, so this may be a limitation (Parkes Markus 1998).He describes how the doctor should arrange and meet with patient. It is notable he does not provide exceptions and does not discuss involving family or speaking to a spouse first. Parkes provides practical guidance possibly gained from clinical experience. He advises finding a homely area where everyone can be comfortable. This can be a place where everyone can sit and not be disturbed. The decor should be the opposite of clinical if possible. He discusses giving as much information as the patient can cope with, and suggests bite sized chunks of information (Parkes Markus 1998, p. 8). He suggests inviting questions from the patient and using this to guide how to prevent information. The difficulty in talking about dying is where the patient becomes distressed and anxious, they may not take in what has been said, and may not fully understand the diagnosis or terminal nature (Parkes Markus 1998). If the dying person has a thinking coping style then the doctor can begin to help him/her focus on the feelings involved and expressing them; and vice versa for the person with a feelings coping style where the focus might be on the problem solving (Parkes 1996b). In Bereavement: Studies of grief in adult life (Parkes 1996a) discusses the tendency for the family to conceal the truth from the dying person. He is clear that the patient should be told of the terminal illness. According to Hinton (1967) (see Parkes 1996a), dying people tend to know and value the chance to talk about their terminal illness. There is some evidence that older people contemplate the end of their life and possibly want to talk to others about it. In a small study of 20 older residents in care homes in the UK, only 2 residents did not wish to discuss dying and death and neither objected to being asked (MacKinlay 2006). Further, Parkes sees giving bad news as a process. It is the beginning of an anxious and stressful period. The doctor should take the time and with empathy help the patient to adjust to the psychological transition of terminal illness (Parkes 1996a). In Speaking of Dying (Heyse-Moore 2009) Heyse-Moore discusses how it is possible to move the focus from the patient to the family if they are included in this initial discussion. Also it is possible for hidden or concealed barriers between family members to come to light while breaking bad news. She also writes of bad news as the beginning of a process that becomes part of the dying persons life. She advises being honest with the patient, including saying I dont know. There is an emphasis on balancing giving information and supporting the patient with his/her feelings and reaction to the news. The point is also made that an older generation of patients can react passively as they are used to doing as the doctor tells them. There has been some research in communicating with the dying that agrees with Parkes. In a study in USA involving 137 individuals in 20 focus groups of patients, family members and health care professionals, there were some common themes identified around effective communication. The best communicators were suggested as being honest and using understandable language. Qualities elicited were being willing to talk about dying; being sensitive in giving the news; listening to the patient; encouraging questioning; being sensitive to when patient will discuss dying (Wenrich et al. 2001). Information is necessary to cope and adjust in life in general. If the doctor fails to give correct information or even perhaps mislead the patient, this can cause confusion and distress as the patient may feel betrayed. The lie if told may not be consistent across teams and even silence can give information and be distressful to patients. This can undermine the trust implicit in modern health care (Parkes 1996b). Parkes is speaking of the doctor as the professional who will break the bad news. This has probably been the sole duty and responsibility of the doctor in health care traditionally. Nurses and other professionals would face sanctions if they accidently gave information about the diagnosis. However, with the development of the multi disciplinary team; and professional roles for other health care workers it is possible for other members of the team including nurses to be involved in the meeting to discuss a terminal diagnosis (Heyse-Moore 2009). Parkes however, conceives of the doctor as the agent of change for the patient. He argues that the medical profession should acquire the skills and knowledge to help the process of dealing with loss and with bereavement. He does not argue for a speciality role but instead argues that General Practitioners are ideally placed to facilitate this change process as they tend to build up a relationship with the patient over time and know the person well (Parkes Markus 1998). For Parkes the process that begins with breaking the bad news is not just about an ethical imperative to inform patients of their diagnosis. He believes that grief both for the dying person and the spouse and family involves grief work that is difficult and painful. For Parkes, breaking the bad news although this can be painful, allows the dying person and family to begin to prepare for loss (Parkes Weiss 1983). He argues that anticipatory grief is less severe than grief due to unexpected death (Parkes Weiss 1983). This preparation can allow spouses to come closer together before death; and there is possibility of working through some grief prior to death (Parkes 1998) (Schaefer Moos 2001). Kubler-Ross echoes this with her concept of unfinished business. She states that the dying person can share how she works through her grief and that this may allow the family to begin the process of grieving before death (Kubler-Ross 1973). Walter when examining the concept of unfinished business discusses the need to sort things out before death and if not attended to then this can lead to torment for the bereaved spouse and family (Walter 1999). Death means a fundamental change to the persons world. Distress and anxiety can result due to the difficulty in making sense of this seismic shock (Parkes 1997). A theoretical concept of Parkes is Psychosocial Transitions which he applies to losses in the broadest sense. He talks of a life changing event and an upheaval in the psychological internal world or assumptive world. Parkes view is that the dying and death of a loved one involves changes in meanings and relationships, status and roles and values which is why it can be so traumatic (Parkes 1993). Parkes had done some research in one of his interview studies in Boston where he compared how two groups of bereaved spouses reacted depending on how much warning they had of impending death. In one group there was less than 2 weeks of notice and in the other there was over 2 weeks and even up to over a years knowledge of terminal illness. Parkes found that the long forewarning group fared better and more effectively in dealing with grief and this was consistent over significant period of bereavement (Parkes Weiss 1983). Stroebe and Stroebe (Stroebe Stroebe 1987) agree with this idea that forewarning can help deal with anticipatory grief and help spouses to share and resolve difficulties. Parkes does not advise any exceptions to breaking the bad news. His approach is based on the universality of bereavement and the experience of loss. This may be a limitation for his work, if research suggests that grief and the process of bereavement is not universal to the human condition. Parkes, although he acknowledges concepts of pathological grief and mental illness, sees the process of loss as part of the human condition (Parkes Markus 1998). However, Heyse-Moore (Heyse-Moore 2009) provides a list of those who should not be given the bad news of a terminal diagnosis. Any patient who clearly states he doesnt want to know his diagnosis or treatment options. The only caution here might be that often the dying person could change his or her mind and be ready to talk and discuss at some future point. Implicit in this example is the idea that the patient is autonomous and capable of making an effective decision regarding their healthcare and indeed their life. Secondly, there is demented person whose loss of memory means she has forgotten what you told her half an hour later (Heyse-Moore 2009, p. 78). Thirdly, is the confused patient who cannot understand and fourthly, the psychotic patient who are liable to incorporate the information you give them into their paranoid delusions (Heyse-Moore 2009, p. 78). The second example is the crux of the dilemma when dealing with Mr Brown in the incident in this essay. Together with the third and fourth examples about confusion and psychosis, the issue here is whether the patient has the capacity to make an informed decision about their treatment and ultimately, their life. Heyse-Moore argues that there should be a full discussion with the family and the multi disciplinary team with the aim of arriving at a consensus on how to proceed (Heyse-Moore 2009). This should also be done within the relevant health legislation framework, for example, in Scotland the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (Griffith 2006). One example to illustrate this is sharing information with children. A study of a series of interviews with 20 social workers about their work with a total of 53 children of dying parents, revealed some guidelines in avoiding euphemisms with children and updating children regularly and giving information in bite sized chunks (Fearnley 2010, p. 453). However, one finding was that often the younger children were not given as much information and were not perceived by parents as understanding as much (Fearnley 2010). A second example is with people with learning disability where withholding information about a dying relative can still be common. Read discusses several barriers to breaking bad news: such as lack of understanding about learning disability; some of sensory, behavioural and cognitive impairments of specific learning disabilities; and also, a continuing paternalistic attitude towards people with learning disability. This means treating people with learning disability as less than adult (Read 1998). With dementia patients there is evidence that patients with Alzheimers are not told their diagnosis. Family members can be ambivalent towards disclosing diagnosis to their loved ones. However, in a study 69% of people experiencing memory problems stated they would like to know if further diagnosed with Alzheimers (Elson 2006). A systematic review suggested that disclosure of diagnosis with dementia is under researched. Euphemistic terms such as memory problems and confusion can be used. Clinicians reported difficulties in disclosing diagnosis to both patients and carers (Bamford et al. 2004). On one level it is understandable that patients who perhaps lack capacity are not given full information about their own health or of those in their family or even details about death of loved ones. However, what is left if information is withheld but deception? In a study of 112 staff working (in North East England) with dementia sufferers in care settings, 106 admitted to some form of lying to residents; 90% to ease distress; 75% to ease care givers distress and 60% to promote treatment compliance. Staff recognised both benefits and problems in using lies to help manage care (James et al. 2006). In a further article, Wood-Mitchell et al (Wood-Mitchell et al. 2006) state that the most common reason given for a lie is when the dementing resident wants to see a deceased relative. Wood- Mitchell et al argue for a realistic stage response to such situations starting with sensitively imparting the truth; then trying meet the need by an alternative means; then trying distraction to some other activity; and finally using some form of a therapeutic lie. One of the problems care giving staff recognises in lying is inconsistency amongst the staff team and Wood-Mitchell et al argue that care planning should be considered to ensure consistency and also when lie should not be told. A debate on the ethics of lying to dementing patients ensued in the Journal of Dementia Care in 2007, involving 6 separate articles for a variety of responses. Walker (Walker 2007) argues that although lying to patients will happen but cannot be justified. She suggests finding alternate ways of interacting with patients using a Validation approach. She advocates being silence if the truth is judged too painful to give, though she emphasises staying with the person. The aim is to try and connect with the patient and workout the symbolic or hidden meaning. Wood-Mitchell et al (Wood-Mitchell et al. 2007) then discuss the range of lies from outright lies down to not telling someone or not correcting them and so being deceptive. They argue against Walkers Validation or symbolic meaning approach: describing dealing with dementia as problem solving where the sufferer has to sort cues out and find the correct behaviour. They argue that communication should be conceived of directly; else in the search for hidden meanings the nurse may ignore a basic need like going to the toilet. Pool (Pool 2007) says the focus should be on emotions and feelings rather than factual information. She advocates using Rogerian principle of Congruence with person centred care for dementia sufferers and therefore cannot agree with Wood-Mitchell et al as this is fundamentally dishonest. While Muller-Hergl (Muller-Hergl 2007) describes care giving as being about integrity; and that suffering cannot justify lying or treating someone unethically. Fowler and Sherratt (Fowler Sherratt 2007) does little but raise some further questions and acknowledge this in their article. Bender (Bender 2007) makes a good case that the context is most important here. She argues that ethical absolutes are not useful for poorly paid and trained care staff. Bender advocates a realistic approach that accepts that in everyday life lies are tolerated and accepted and can even be valued to protect and care for someone. She suggests there is value in understanding a persons life story and biography to aid communication and understanding. She also raises the question of new approaches to loss and bereavement around ideas of continuing bonds instead of accepting loss and moving on. Finally, she states the value of strong caring and therapeutic relationship that can withstand, if necessary the lie.

Database Development :: essays research papers

Network Upgrade In order to resolve network related problems The Airframe Corporation (TAC) has decided to upgrade the existing network consisting of a mix of Token Ring and shred Ethernet hubs to a switched Ethernet network. The purpose of this paper is to discuss several aspects of the project plan for the upgrade. This discussion will be made in threes sections. Section one will include project definition, while section two will deal with work breakdown structure and estimated schedules, and section three will cover costing and risk analysis. The project definition will include a background and statement of need, project objectives, the mission and goals or the project, the project approach, the project organization, and a task responsibility matrix. The work breakown structure (WBS) will consist of a WBS chart, a task flow and critical path, a project schedule, and project reporting. The costing and risk analysis will contain a cost plan, a project baseline, performance measures, project evaluation and reporting, and project termination. Background and Statement of Need The project team has identified several issues with the current network infrastructure. The first is the availability and cost of token ring hardware. Ethernet is the dominant network topology and is included on many devices at no cost. Equipment with token ring interfaces can be found but are much more expensive. Another problem is that the current hardware is about 10 years old and is experiencing increased maintenance costs. Another problem is that the majority of the existing cable plant does not meet minimal category 5 standards. Project Objectives The project has been budgeted $200,000 for cable installation, labor and hardware and the timeframe for the project should not exceed six months. The network upgrade should be designed to support the companies needs for a minimum of seven years without major rework. The project will need to have minimal impact on the network operations, as a result much of the work will need to be accomplished after-hours or on weekends. Mission and Goals of Project The goals of the project are: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Increase network availability to 99.999%. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Complete project within budget. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Complete project on time. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upgrade category 3 cable plant to category 5e or better. Project Approach The project manager will assemble a team of individuals with the appropriate skills. Network engineering will design and build the network. A cable vendor will be selected by network engineering. Platform engineering will upgrade clients and desktops. Networking engineering will be responsible for selecting an equipment vendor, designing the network, locating a cable vendor, and identifying cable runs that need to be replaced.

Mutations Essy

If these genes mutate, then one is considered as having a hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The BRCAI and BRCA2 mutation means that a woman has an increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer before menopause. Sometimes close family members were diagnosed with cancer at an early age also. These harmful mutations also increase the risk of cervical, colon, uterine. stomach, melanoma and gallbladder cancer. There are no standard criteria for who should be tested for the BRCA gene mutation, but if you have family members who have had cancer, It is a deflnlte clue.If any of these family members were young; before menopause, it is a good idea to think about being testing for the ene. It would be a very good idea to ask the family member to test for the BRCA mutation, so that the rest of the family members would know ahead of time also. According the National Cancer Institute, the risk of having the mutation is higher if you are of Ashkenazlc Jewish descent. If this Is the cas e, pay attenuon to If a parent or sibling has been diagnosed with cancer.Also, find out if any grandparents, half- siblings, nieces or nephews had cancer. Pay special attention to relatives that are male, and whether the relative had cancer in both breasts (bilateral breast cancer,) nd a combination of two or more first or second degree relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer, no matter what their age was when diagnosed. If you have been diagnosed with the BRCAI or BRCA2 gene mutation, you are really in need of support from family and friends.Some people turn to the national advocacy group called Bright Pink. This organization is specifically geared to young women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Many young women are relieved to find out that they are not the only one suffering alone. Having a list of Advocacy groups is lifesaving because once you know; you understand what you must do. The protocol for women with the BRCA mutations is to do nothing until the age of 25 and after that begin a screening regimen between mammograms, ultrasound and a MRI every six months.At age 35 a woman is advised to consider a double mastectomy followed by a complete oophorectomy (removal of one or both ovaries) at age 40. The solution to the BRCAI and BRCA2 gene mutations is hard to do, but you can still live your life after having a mastectomy and an oophorectomy. Most women are done bearing and nursing their children by the time they are in their mid-30's. Mothers then want to be round to raise their children, they want to be around to see their grandchildren born and they want to live their life with their mate.

What Are Thalassemias Essays

What Are Thalassemias Essays What Are Thalassemias Essay What Are Thalassemias Essay Thalassemias (thal of an Inheritance Pattern for Alpha Thalassemia The picture shows one example of how alpha thalassemia is inherited.The alpha globin genes are located on chromosome 16. A child inherits four alpha globin genes (two from each parent). In this example, the father is missing two alpha globin genes and the mother is missing one alpha globin gene. Each child has a 25 percent chance of inheriting two missing genes and two normal genes (thalassemia trait), three missing genes and one normal gene (hemoglobin H disease), four normal genes (no anemia), or one missing gene and three normal genes (silent carrier). Beta Thalassemias You need two genes (one from each parent) to make enough beta globin protein chains.If one or both of these genes are altered, youll have beta thalassemia. This means that your body won’t make enough beta globin protein. * If you have one altered gene, youre a carrier. This condition is called beta thalassemia trait or beta thalassemia minor. It causes mild anemia. * If both genes are altered, youll have beta thalassemia intermedia or beta thalassemia major (also called Cooleys anemia). The intermedia form of the disorder causes moderate anemia. The major form causes severe anemia. Example of an Inheritance Pattern for Beta ThalassemiaThe picture shows one example of how beta thalassemia is inherited. The beta globin gene is located on chromosome 11. A child inherits two beta globin genes (one from each parent). In this example, each parent has one altered beta globin gene. Each child has a 25 percent chance of inheriting two normal genes (no anemia), a 50 percent chance of inheriting one altered gene and one normal gene (beta thalassemia trait), or a 25 percent chance of inheriting two altered genes (beta thalassemia major). Who Is at Risk for Thalassemias? Family history and ancestry are the two risk factors for thalassemias.Family History Thalassemias are inherited- that is, the genes for the disorders are passed from parents to their children. If your parents have missing or altered hemoglobin-making genes, you may have thalassemia. Ancestry Thalassemias occur most often among people of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Southern Asian, and African descent. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Thalassemias? A lack of oxygen in the bloodstream causes the signs and symptoms of thalassemias. The lack of oxygen occurs because the body doesnt make enough healthy red blood cells and hemoglobin.The severity of symptoms depends on the severity of the disorder. No Symptoms Alpha thalassemia silent carriers generally have no signs or symptoms of the disorder. The lack of alpha globin protein is so minor that the bodys hemoglobin works normally. Mild Anemia People who have alpha or beta thalassemia trait can have mild  anemia. However, many people who have these types of thalassemia have no signs or symptoms. Mild anemia can make you feel tired. Mild anemia caused by alpha thalassemi a trait might be mistaken for  iron-deficiency anemia. Mild to Moderate Anemia and Other Signs and SymptomsPeople who have beta thalassemia intermedia have mild to moderate anemia. They also may have other health problems, such as: * Slowed growth and delayed puberty. Anemia can slow down a childs growth and development. * Bone problems. Thalassemia may cause bone marrow to expand. Bone marrow is the spongy substance inside bones that makes blood cells. When bone marrow expands, the bones become wider than normal. They may become brittle and break easily. * An enlarged spleen. The spleen is an organ that helps your body fight infection and remove unwanted material.When a person has thalassemia, the spleen has to work very hard. As a result, the spleen becomes larger than normal. This makes anemia worse. If the spleen becomes too large, it must be removed. Severe Anemia and Other Signs and Symptoms People who have hemoglobin H disease or beta thalassemia major (also called Cooleys anemia) have severe thalassemia. Signs and symptoms usually occur within the first 2  years of life. They may include severe anemia and other health problems, such as: * A pale and listless appearance * Poor appetite Dark urine (a sign that red blood cells are breaking down) * Slowed growth and delayed puberty * Jaundice (a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes) * An enlarged spleen, liver, or heart * Bone problems (especially with bones in the face) Complications of Thalassemias Better treatments now allow people who have moderate and severe thalassemias to live much longer. As a result, these people must cope with complications of these disorders that occur over time. Heart and Liver Diseases Regular  blood transfusions  are a standard treatment for thalassemias.Transfusions can cause iron to build up in the blood (iron overload). This can damage organs and tissues, especially the heart and liver. Heart disease caused by iron overload is the main cause of death i n people who have thalassemias. Heart disease includes  heart failure,  arrhythmias  (irregular heartbeats), and  heart attack. Infection Among people who have thalassemias, infections are a key cause of illness and the second most common cause of death. People who have had their spleens removed are at even higher risk because they no longer have this infection-fighting organ.Osteoporosis Many people who have thalassemias have bone problems, including osteoporosis (OS-te-o-po-RO-sis). This is a condition in which bones are weak and brittle and break easily. How Are Thalassemias Diagnosed? Doctors diagnose thalassemias using  blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and special hemoglobin tests. * A CBC measures the amount of hemoglobin and the different kinds of blood cells, such as red blood cells, in a sample of blood. People who have thalassemias have fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin than normal in their blood.People who have alpha or beta th alassemia trait may have red blood cells that are smaller than normal. * Hemoglobin tests measure the types of hemoglobin in a blood sample. People who have thalassemias have problems with the alpha or beta globin protein chains of hemoglobin. Moderate and severe thalassemias usually are diagnosed in early childhood. This is because signs and symptoms, including severe  anemia, often occur within the first 2  years of life. People who have milder forms of thalassemia might be diagnosed after a routine blood test shows they have anemia.Doctors might suspect thalassemia if a person has anemia and is a member of an ethnic group thats at increased risk for thalassemias. (For more information, go to  Who Is at Risk for Thalassemias? ) Doctors also test the amount of iron in the blood to find out whether the anemia is due to iron deficiency or thalassemia. Iron-deficiency anemia  occurs if the body doesnt have enough iron to make hemoglobin. The anemia in thalassemia occurs becaus e of a problem with either the alpha globin or beta globin chains of hemoglobin, not because of a lack of iron.Because thalassemias are passed from parents to children through genes, family genetic studies also can help diagnose the disorder. These studies involve taking a family medical history and doing blood tests on family members. The tests will show whether any family members have missing or altered hemoglobin genes. If you know of family members who have thalassemias and youre thinking of having children, consider talking with your doctor and a genetic counselor. They can help determine your risk for passing the disorder to your children. If youre expecting a baby and you and your partner are thalassemia carriers, you may ant to consider prenatal testing. Prenatal testing involves taking a sample of amniotic fluid or tissue from the placenta. (Amniotic fluid is the fluid in the sac surrounding a growing embryo. The placenta is the organ that attaches the umbilical cord to the mothers womb. ) Tests done on the fluid or tissue can show whether your baby has thalassemia and how severe it might be. How Are Thalassemias Treated? Treatments for thalassemias depend on the type and severity of the disorder. People who are carriers or who have alpha or beta thalassemia trait have mild or no symptoms. They’ll likely need little or no treatment.Doctors use three standard treatments for moderate and severe forms of thalassemia. These treatments include  blood transfusions, iron chelation (ke-LAY-shun) therapy, and folic acid supplements. Other treatments have been developed or are being tested, but theyre used much less often. Standard Treatments Blood Transfusions Transfusions of red blood cells are the main treatment for people who have moderate or severe thalassemias. This treatment gives you healthy red blood cells with normal hemoglobin. During a blood transfusion, a needle is used to insert an intravenous (IV) line into one of your blood vessels.Thro ugh this line, you receive healthy blood. The procedure usually takes 1 to 4 hours. Red blood cells live only for about 120 days. So, you may need repeated transfusions to maintain a healthy supply of red blood cells. If you have hemoglobin H disease or beta thalassemia intermedia, you may need blood transfusions on occasion. For example, you may have transfusions when you have an infection or other illness, or when your  anemia  is severe enough to cause tiredness. If you have beta thalassemia major (Cooleys anemia), you’ll likely need regular blood transfusions (often every 2 to 4 weeks).These transfusions will help you maintain normal hemoglobin and red blood cell levels. Blood transfusions allow you to feel better, enjoy normal activities, and live into adulthood. This treatment is lifesaving, but its expensive and carries a risk of transmitting infections and viruses (for example, hepatitis). However, the risk is very low in the United States because of careful blood screening. For more information, go to the Health Topics  Blood Transfusion  article. Iron Chelation Therapy The hemoglobin in red blood cells is an iron-rich protein.Thus, regular blood transfusions can lead to a buildup of iron in the blood. This condition is called iron overload. It damages the liver, heart, and other parts of the body. To prevent this damage, doctors use iron chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the body. Two medicines are used for iron chelation therapy. * Deferoxamine is a liquid medicine thats given slowly under the skin, usually with a small portable pump used overnight. This therapy takes time and can be mildly painful. Side effects include problems with vision and hearing. * Deferasirox is a pill taken once daily.Side effects include headache, nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), vomiting, diarrhea, joint pain, and tiredness. Folic Acid Supplements Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps build healthy red blood cells. Your doctor may recommend f olic acid supplements in addition to treatment with blood transfusions and/or iron chelation therapy. Other Treatments Other treatments for thalassemias have been developed or are being tested, but theyre used much less often. Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant A blood and marrow stem cell transplant replaces faulty stem cells with healthy ones from another person (a donor).Stem cells are the cells inside bone marrow that make red blood cells and other types of blood cells. A stem cell transplant is the only treatment that can cure thalassemia. But only a small number of people who have severe thalassemias are able to find a good donor match and have the risky procedure. For more information, go to the Health Topics  Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant  article. Possible Future Treatments Researchers are working to find new treatments for thalassemias. For example, it might be possible someday to insert a normal hemoglobin gene into stem cells in bone marrow.This will allow people who have thalassemias to make their own healthy red blood cells and hemoglobin. Researchers also are studying ways to trigger a persons ability to make fetal hemoglobin after birth. This type of hemoglobin is found in fetuses and newborns. After birth, the body switches to making adult hemoglobin. Making more fetal hemoglobin might make up for the lack of healthy adult hemoglobin. Treating Complications Better treatments now allow people who have moderate and severe thalassemias to live longer. As a result, these people must cope with complications that occur over time.An important part of managing thalassemias is treating complications. Treatment might be needed for heart or liver diseases, infections, osteoporosis, and other health problems. How Can Thalassemias Be Prevented? You can’t prevent thalassemias because they’re inherited (passed from parents to children through genes). However, prenatal tests can detect these blood disorders before birth. Family ge netic studies may help find out whether people have missing or altered hemoglobin genes that cause thalassemias. (For more information, go to  How Are Thalassemias Diagnosed? ) If you know of family members who have thalassemias and youre thinking of having children, consider talking with your doctor and a genetic counselor. They can help determine your risk for passing the disorder to your children. Living With Thalassemias Survival and quality of life have improved for people who have moderate or severe thalassemias. This is because: * More people are able to get  blood transfusions  now. * Blood screening has reduced the number of infections from blood transfusions. Also, treatments for other kinds of infections have improved. * Iron chelation treatments are available that are easier for some people to take. Some people have been cured through  blood and marrow stem cell transplants. Living with thalassemia can be challenging, but several approaches can help you cope. Fol low Your Treatment Plan Following the treatment plan your doctor gives you is important. For example, get blood transfusions as your doctor recommends, and take your iron chelation medicine as prescribed. Iron chelation treatment can take time and be mildly painful. However, dont stop taking your medicine. The leading cause of death among people who have thalassemias is heart disease caused by iron overload.Iron buildup can damage your heart, liver, and other organs. Several chelation treatments are now available, including injections and pills. Your doctor will talk with you about which treatment is best for you. Take folic acid supplements if your doctor prescribes them. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps build healthy red blood cells. Also, talk with your doctor about whether you need other vitamin or mineral supplements, such as vitamins A, C, or D or selenium. Get Ongoing Medical Care Keep your scheduled medical appointments, and get any tests that your doctor recommends. The se tests may include: Monthly complete blood counts and tests for blood iron levels every 3 months * Yearly tests for heart function, liver function, and viral infections (for example, hepatitis B and C and HIV) * Yearly tests to check for iron buildup in your liver * Yearly vision and hearing tests * Regular checkups to make sure blood transfusions are working * Other tests as needed (such as  lung function tests, genetic tests, and tests to match your tissues with a possible donor if a stem cell transplant is being considered) Children who have thalassemias should receive yearly checkups to monitor their growth and development.The checkups include a physical exam, including a height and weight check, and any necessary tests. Take Steps To Stay Healthy Take steps to stay as healthy as possible. Follow a healthy eating plan and your doctors instructions for taking iron supplements. Get vaccinations as needed, especially if youve had your spleen removed. You may need vaccines for t he flu,  pneumonia, hepatitis B, and meningitis. Your doctor will advise you about which vaccines you need. Watch for signs of infection (such as a fever) and take steps to lower your risk for infection (especially if youve had your spleen removed).For example: * Wash your hands often. * Avoid crowds during cold and flu season. * Keep the skin around the site where you get blood transfusions as clean as possible. * Call your doctor if a fever develops. Emotional Issues and Support If you or your child has thalassemia, you may have fear, anxiety, depression, or stress. Talk about how you feel with your health care team. Talking to a professional counselor also can help. If you’re very depressed, your doctor may recommend medicines or other treatments that can improve your quality of life.Joining a patient support group may help you adjust to living with thalassemia. You can see how other people who have the same symptoms have coped with them. Talk with your doctor about loca l support groups or check with an area medical center. Support from family and friends also can help relieve stress and anxiety. Let your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you. Some teens and young adults who have thalassemias may have a hard time moving from pediatric care to adult care.Doctors and other health professionals who care for these children might not be familiar with adult issues related to the disorder, such as certain complications. Also, it might be hard for adults who have thalassemias to find doctors who specialize in treating the disorder. Ask your childs doctor to help you find a doctor who can care for your child when the time comes to make the switch. Planning and good communication can help this move go smoothly. nhlbi. nih. gov/health/health-topics/topics/thalassemia/trials. html

Ocean essays

Ocean essays Plate Tectonics is theory of global tectonics that has served as the master key in modern geology for understanding the structure, history, and dynamics of the earth's crust. The theory is based on the observation that the earth's solid crust is broken up into a dozen semirigid plates. The boundaries of these plates are zones of tectonic activity, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions tend to occur. Plate Tectonics also are the cause of major features that exist in the Worlds oceans today. The Pacific is the oldest of the existing ocean basins. The oldest rocks have been dated to about 200 million years old . The major features of the basin and rim have been shaped by the help from plate tectonics. The coastal shelf, which extends to depths of about 180 m (about 600 ft), is narrow along North and South America but is relatively wide along Asia and Australia. The East Pacific Rise, a submarine ridge-and-trough system, extends some 9650 km (about 6000 mi) from Antarctica to the Gulf of California, and rises an average of about 2130 m (about 7000 ft) above the ocean floor. Along the East Pacific Rise molten rock upwells from the earth's mantle adding crust to the Pacific and Nazca plates on both sides of the rise. These plates, which are huge segments of the earth's surface, are then forced apart, causing them to collide with the continental plates adjacent to their outer edges. Under this tremendous pressure, the continental plates fold into mountains, and the oceanic plates buckle, forming deep trenches (subduction zones) from which crust is carried back into the mantle. Following the early rifting of a continent, narrow basins or primordial oceans such as the Red Sea are formed by sea floor spreading. Having formed from a dome or arch, the lips of the basin may still be uplifted, preventing runoff and deposition of debris. Given the right climate, and conditions reefs and evaporites will form ...

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Topics Discussed in Class - My Participation in Class - Assignment Example As consumer earnings converge across nations, the manifestation of value differences will turn into a much stronger factor than expected. This happening makes it increasingly significant to comprehend values of nationwide cultures along with their impact on consumer behaviours and action. Retailing plans for one nation cannot be extended to other nations without adaptation. During my own research, I focused more on the convergence and divergence in consumer behaviour. Basically, a firm has to come up with sells techniques that meet with the limitations of their consumers in a particular market. For instance, when setting the price of a commodity, it is vital for a firm to ensure that the commodity is priced according to the consumer it targets. This means that factors such as consumer income or needs will dictate how much an asset could be priced by an organisation. Presenter 1: Main Arguments Marketers should endeavour to abide by each and every country’s regulations and laws . They should also make efforts to keep up with the regulations and laws, which change frequently and, finally, clarify ambiguous regulations, which concern their activities (Stock & Lambert, 2008, 35). Presenter 1 basically focused on the socio-economic, political, legal and regulatory environments that concern a business. According to presenter 1, the socio-economic, political, legal and regulatory factors that concern a business basically comprise of the political environment, a nation’s sovereignty, democracy, totalitarianism among others. The political environment, as expected, is made up of governmental institutions along with the manning political parties (Mooij, 2004, 98). The presenter advises that a firm has to buy into a nation’s political beliefs in order to be able to venture into that country. The presenter also goes further to argue that a country regime is the one that decides whether a firm will invest in their nation or not, and; therefore, the import ance of a firm to be accepted by the regime. Presenter 2: Main Arguments Before a firm start to sell its products, they should come up with a well planned technique of delivering their services or goods to their target market, as well as a proper way of distributing them there (Lymbersky, 2008, 23). Since presenter 2 was dealing with international market entry strategy, he referred to this as establishing, as well as managing/maintaining contracts with foreign nations. Basically, the presenter thinks that a majority of companies successfully conduct their activities in a niche market devoid of ever expanding into fresh markets. However, businesses attain success or increased sales, business stability and brand awareness through entering a new market. Therefore, a key technique should be devised for helping firms incorporate themselves into new markets. Forming a market entry strategy concerns a methodical analysis of possible customers, as well as potential competitors (Stock & Lamb ert, 2008, 36). A number of the relevant factors, according to the presenter, which are significant in deciding the possibility of entry into a specific market comprise of localised knowledge, trade barriers, competition and price localisation along with export subsidies. The presenter advises that if a firm is aware of these factors, then they stand a chance of venturing into a new market effectively. My Contribution to Topic 1 Even though, the physical environment is not regarded as one

URBAN GEOGRAPHY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

URBAN GEOGRAPHY - Essay Example This study takes a look at the concept of segregation and its implication in the city of Detroit. By taking a look at the history of segregation in Detroit, the study also tries to understand the segregation patterns and the current day scenario of segregation in the city. As mentioned earlier, geographic segregation or more appropriately, residential segregation is the level or extend to which particular groups reside separately from one another, in a particular geographic area such as a city or state (Low, 2004). Segregation, in itself, is a complex phenomenon, where the groups are segregated in a number of ways. For example, people from a minority community reside in such a way that they are often overrepresented in some particular areas and underrepresented in some others (Yinger, 2001). In addition, the same community may be residing in such a manner that their exposure to the other groups is minimized (Yinger, 2001). Similarly, particular groups may be either concentrated or centralized in a certain limited space or clustered in one particular section (Yinger, 2001). There are also particular reasons because of which segregation takes place. For example, South Africa saw legal separation because of Apartheid. Similarly, in many other countries, segregation happens because of the social status in the society or the ethnicity of the people (Johnston and Poulson, 2005). Voluntary segregation is where immigrants prefer to live in a segregated set up so that they could mutually benefit from one another (Johnston and Poulson, 2005). Segregation is measured using Index of Dissimilarity (calculates the way in which particular groups are distributed across particular locations) based on that data that emerges through census. It is often called the index of inequality also (Reardon and O Sullivan, 2004). In the United States, periodic