The Great Gatsby Essays - The Great Gatsby, Nike, Inc., Gatsby

The Great Gatsby In today society, many people like to follow the current. They want to catch the wave. Which mean, it does not matter if things were good or bad, right or wrong, they just follow and do them without any thinking. Therefore, there are not too many people would like to be a normal, thoughtful nor neutral person. However, in the novel, The Great Gatsby, by Scott Fitzgerald, one of the character name is Nike Carroway, he was the good and neutral narrator. It was because, in the novel, he analyzed all of the things with regard to accuracy of observation. In The Great Gatsby, when Mr.Gatsby told Vick he wanted to return the past over again with his lover- Daisy, Nike Carroway warned him to give it up, because it was impossible. Unforturately, Mr.Gatsby was not believe it. So at the end, Mr.Gatsby's dream still had not came true because Daisy did not break up with Tom and go with him. It can be seen in the last chapter on the novel, when Gatsby was murder, Daisy wen t to somewhere else with her husband, and did not go to Gatsby's funeray. I called up Daisy half and hour after we found him, called her instinctively and without hersitation. But she and Tom had gone away early that afternoon, and taken baggage with them. Therefore, Nike Carroway's analysis was right by these clear observation. However, Nike Carroway is a good narrator, he sees everything happen and does not trust everybody easily. So during the people discuss about something at a time, he does not believe it is true. After he proves it, he will accept the truth. Moreover, when Nike went to Gatsby's party, there is a drunk lady telling everyone Gatsby killed a man before. Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once. Also, there is one more lady said that Gatsby was a German spy: It is more that he was a German spy during the war. Nike heard it, but when Nike had a chance to have a lunch with Gats by, he told Nike, he was an Oxford man and show him that fought in World War One. Then Nike knew Gatsby was not a German Spy nor a murderer. Furthermore, at the end of the novel, when Daisy drove Gatsby's car and killed Mrs.Wilson in a car accident, Nike's first though Gatsby killed Mrs.Wilson. But after Gatsby told him all of the things at that moment, then Nike was thinking and discuss between Gatsby and Tom's speaking, and make his own conclusion. Therefore, Nike was a thoughtful man and his is not afraid to face anything around him. By these facts, he had a clear mind and reliable in his observations, so it can make people believe Nike Carroways was a neutral and clear mind narrator of this novel, because this can be seen in Nike's personality. In the novel, Nike was also a neutral narrator too becasue he is the narrator who described everything clearly and accurately. He was trustful because he described everything without any personal point of view; By the way, throughout the whole story, he didn't defenses for any characters nor put any of his self-feeling in it. That's why he is a character who strived for neutrality. On the other hand, when Mr.Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy will leave Tom because she loves Tom no more, it's full of fire's atomsphere and emotion. " I've got something to tell you, old sport- " began Gatsby. But Daisy guessed at his intention. " Please don't!" she interrupted helplessly." Please let's all go home. Why don't we all go home?" " That's a good idea." I got up. " Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink." " I want to know what Mr.Gatsby has to tell me." " Your wife doesn't love you," said Gatsby. "She's never loved you. She loves me." At that time, if Nike was not in a neutral position, he must help Gatsby or Tom. But, he did not join in the argument between Gatsby and Tom. He just put himself in a corner, keeping quiet and see whatelse would happe ned in page 131 to page The Great Gatsby Essays - The Great Gatsby, Nike, Inc., Gatsby The Great Gatsby In today society, many people like to follow the current. They want to catch the wave. Which mean, it does not matter if things were good or bad, right or wrong, they just follow and do them without any thinking. Therefore, there are not too many people would like to be a normal, thoughtful nor neutral person. However, in the novel, The Great Gatsby, by Scott Fitzgerald, one of the character name is Nike Carroway, he was the good and neutral narrator. It was because, in the novel, he analyzed all of the things with regard to accuracy of observation. In The Great Gatsby, when Mr.Gatsby told Vick he wanted to return the past over again with his lover- Daisy, Nike Carroway warned him to give it up, because it was impossible. Unforturately, Mr.Gatsby was not believe it. So at the end, Mr.Gatsby's dream still had not came true because Daisy did not break up with Tom and go with him. It can be seen in the last chapter on the novel, when Gatsby was murder, Daisy went to somewhere else with her husband, and did not go to Gatsby's funeral. I called up Daisy half and hour after we found him, called her instinctively and without hersitation. But she and Tom had gone away early that afternoon, and taken baggage with them. Therefore, Nike Carroway's analysis was right by these clear observation. However, Nike Carroway is a good narrator, he sees everything happen and does not trust everybody easily. So during the people discuss about something at a time, he does not believe it is true. After he proves it, he will accept the truth. Moreover, when Nike went to Gatsby's party, there is a drunk lady telling everyone Gatsby killed a man before. Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once. Also, there is one more lady said that Gatsby was a German spy: It is more that he was a German spy during the war. Nike heard it, but when Nike had a chance to have a lunch with Gatsby, he told Nike, he was an Oxford man and show him that fought in World War One. Then Nike knew Gatsby was not a German Spy nor a murderer. Furthermore, at the end of the novel, when Daisy drove Gatsby's car and killed Mrs.Wilson in a car accident, Nike's first though Gatsby killed Mrs.Wilson. But after Gatsby told him all of the things at that moment, then Nike was thinking and discuss between Gatsby and Tom's speaking, and make his own conclusion. Therefore, Nike was a thoughtful man and his is not afraid to face anything around him. By these facts, he had a clear mind and reliable in his observations, so it can make people believe Nike Carroways was a neutral and clear mind narrator of this novel, because this can be seen in Nike's personality. In the novel, Nike was also a neutral narrator too becasue he is the narrator who described everything clearly and accurately. He was trustful because he described everything without any personal point of view; By the way, throughout the whole story, he didn't defenses for any characters nor put any of his self-feeling in it. That's why he is a character who strived for neutrality. On the other hand, when Mr.Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy will leave Tom because she loves Tom no more, it's full of fire's atomsphere and emotion. " I've got something to tell you, old sport- " began Gatsby. But Daisy guessed at his intention. " Please don't!" she interrupted helplessly." Please let's all go home. Why don't we all go home?" " That's a good idea." I got up. " Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink." " I want to know what Mr.Gatsby has to tell me." " Your wife doesn't love you," said Gatsby. "She's never loved you. She loves me." At that time, if Nike was not in a neutral position, he must help Gatsby or Tom. But, he did not join in the argument between Gatsby and Tom. He just put himself in a corner, keeping quiet and see whatelse would happened in page 131 to page 135. Therefore, we can see that Nike was a neutral man

What Makes A Good Politician essays

What Makes A Good Politician essays What makes a good politician? In order to answer this question, one must first define the word politician. A Politician is defined as one who is actively involved in politics or one who holds or seeks a political office. Consequently, the definition of a good politician must be someone who does a good job at these things. In the book Hardball, Chris Matthews does an outstanding job of explaining to the reader what good and bad politics and politicians are, as well as how to get there or avoid it. Although this book is mostly opinion, it is such a profound piece of literature; its contents can be held as general truth in the world of politics. Each and every politician possesses their own political style, whatever that may be. Most of these styles are attainted with strategy in mind. Two of the most influential presidents of the twentieth century are Ronald Reagan and Lyndon Baines Johnson, each with their own unique styles. LBJ was best known in his political career through his success in retail politics. From the earliest stages in his career, LBJ took the country one person at a time. A Texas congressman Jack Brooks once said, "Lyndon Johnson would convince you that your concern, no matter how small it might seem to other people, was the most important thing in the world to Lyndon Johnson" (Matthews, 28). What Brooks says is pretty self explanatory as to how Johnson treated everyone, to work towards the presidency, and maintain it. Johnsons use of retail politics proved to be very helpful to his political career. Young LBJ started merely as a secretary to a Congressman, living in the basement level of the 'Ol Dodge Hotel in Washington (25). Starting there he made it a point to get to know, really get to know everyone he could. In his first night there he took four showers, and the following morning brushed his teeth five times. It was a simple strategy, getting to know as many people he could as fast as he could....

Revising Response to Pop Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Revising Response to Pop Culture - Essay Example To many people, â€Å"True Life† lets them know they are not alone. The show sometimes focuses on very controversial issues that are not typically discussed openly, such as questioning one’s sexuality, dealing with debt or homelessness, or infidelity in relationships. MTV producers of the show really catch viewers’ attention with the title â€Å"True Life†. Every episode is further personalized with unique subtitle for every episode. Although what is aired may cause controversy at times, the show is still keeping audiences’ and the critics’ attention for its honest portrayal of the lives of young adults today. â€Å"True Life† allows viewers like myself to connect with people all over the world through a personal issue that is being shared. Finding a common ground between viewers and the subjects of the show, despite their differences, is what makes the show so popular. Many people do not realize how similar they are to someone from a different background until they are exposed to the other person’s daily life and how they deal with some of the same struggles and obstacles to achieving their goals. I think the show sends a very important message that despite our perceptions of people different from ourselves, at our core, we all face adversity and have to choose the paths we take to get to where we want to be. â€Å"True Life† is targeted mostly to MTVs typical audience of teens and young adults, however, in an interview with Betsy Forhan, MTV’s Executive Producer of â€Å"True Life†, we see how the show relates to other groups as well. â€Å"We have a constantly evolving audience and as the older people phase out, we have a brand new audience that is just being introduced to our show†, says Forhan. Forhan also credits the varied staff of the show with its appeal to so many people, â€Å"In our office, it’s a range of ages from our executives in their early 40’s t o the young people who are just out of college† (Forhan, 2010). Having a broad range of people work on the show to discover what’s happening now that will interest viewers in from different backgrounds really helps keep the â€Å"pop† in the popularity of the show. â€Å"You gotta keep moving with the times, things change so fast†. Forhan is also proud of the many awards her docu-series has won, including a 2005 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary and a 2008 Emmy Award for Best Special Class Series. â€Å"True Life† has ultimately succeeded in doing what the producers intended: portraying the situations in life that are sometimes the hardest to accept. Anyone who has gone through an addiction of any sort, rehab or counseling, a big move, an uncontrollable disease or disability, perhaps an unexpected pregnancy or death, or even being gay can relate to at least one or more episodes. The show supports the notion, â€Å"that which does not ki ll you only makes you stronger† by letting the audience into the real dilemmas of people and watching them struggle, and hopefully succeed. Seeing others pull through, whether you know them or not, leaves you with a sense of being proud and keeping faith. At the end of the show, there is usually an update of how the subjects have faired after the show aired, which helps to further the emotional connection with the audience. There are negative sides to the show, however. One example would

Travel guidebook Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Travel guidebook - Essay Example The cafà © is widely touted as an area attraction for anyone visiting and there is evidence in the area of significant care and upkeep, such as in the cleanliness of the street and the good condition of the building next door. The purple paint used to decorate the small shop next to the cafà © begins to highlight the flavor of the subculture of this area as well. At the same time, though, there is also evidence of the negative elements suggested in Fisher’s descriptive. Immediately noticing the purple paint of the small shop, it is then noticed that this shop is a pawn shop and from here, it cannot help but be noticed that some of the upper windows in the cafà © are boarded up rather than repaired. Bixton’s strange combination of run-down and maintained, popular and depressed and strong multicultural mix in sights sounds and smells is compelling and requires experiencing to truly appreciate in its complexity. According to Panikos Panayi, the area of London known as Harnegey in the northern section has been a strong magnet for people of Asian descent as well as numerous other minority groups. Like the Italian cafà © found in Bixton, this Chinese community center is found in a building that is much more reminiscent of London’s British past. There are none of the traditional Chinese embellishments provided to help adorn this building, such as the necessary upturned roof awnings that are important to Chinese beliefs regarding luck and the spirits. The only exterior indication of space as a center of cultural identity is found in the Chinese characters written horizontally, rather than the traditional vertical, across the front face of the building. However, some of these elements seem to be evident in the building reflected from across the street. This is particularly true in the yellow structure. The brilliant shade of this

See No Evil The U.S. Response to the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda Essay

See No Evil The U.S. Response to the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda - Essay Example The role of media will also be examined vis--vis as an aiding tool in the genocide and its deliberative inertia in generating public response. The international context of US foreign policy response will also be examined in the aftermath of Somalia and in the theoretical framework of national interest vs humanitarianism framework. The response of UN will also be examined under organizational interest. This approach to the case study will not only answer the posed questions but will also try to link the various dimensions and coordinates of this International Humanitarian crisis. The problems of Africa have to be viewed within the inter-contextual relationships of colonization, decolonization, racism and 'neo-colonialism'. In the small country of Rwanda approximately 800000 to 1 million human beings were slaughtered within a span of just around hundred days; in a ruthlessly organized manner. In order to lend perspective to our analysis about US and UN apathy towards this incident it is imperative that we first examine the context of Rwanda as a post-colonial state. Rwanda's underdevelopment in both social as well as economic terms, which precipitated the massacre, has to be understood in terms of colonial state 'manufacturing'. Post colonial Africa was divided not according to natural or even perhaps geographical barriers. Countries were created in accordance with the territorial occupation of colonial metropole. The cauldron of state creation in Africa was designed to serve the interests of the metropole. The new nations, right from the outset were plagued with structural anomalies. The development problem in its entire scope was a conscious construct of metropole. The local elite was created and co-opted in an 'international social structure' serving the world capitalist economy. These elites are 'trained' and 'conditioned' in to western habits of 'consumption' and 'values' so as to serve the metropolitan interest even after they have left (Zartman.1976). Besides creating this, outward looking 'vernacular elite' (Jehan.1972), it is argued th at social identities and strata are also a deliberate colonial construct. In case of Africa amorphous identities were crystallized in to tribal identities based on a 'race science' (Hintjens.2001), concept of social engineering. 'Rwandan genocide is the most dramatic example of race science in action since the Holocaust' (ibid, pp.25). It has been argued and reasonably established that amorphous identities in Rwanda were manipulated and converted in to lethal and organized form of solidified tribal affiliations (Gourevitch.1998, Gasana et all., 1999, Lemarchand.1996). The Tutsi and Hutu were class stratification, a status term rather then a defined, historical ethnic identity. 'Until the early twentieth century, an individual could be both Hutu in relation to his patrons and Tutsi in relation to his own clients'(Lemarchand.1996:pp.9-14). In the pre-colonial era this nebulous social positioning was never an ethnic stratification and social fluidity from Hutu to Tutsi and vice versa w as common (Goyvaerts.1999; Newbury.1998; Prunier.1995). The Germans after the Berlin Congress got Rwanda as part of German East Africa and thereafter they transplanted their racist ideology in their colonies, including Rwanda. It was the German metropole which first of all implanted the idea of

Discuss the challenges facing forensic scientists

Discuss the challenges facing forensic scientists GENETICS FOR IDENTIFICATION ESSAY Discuss the challenges facing forensic scientists for DNA-based identification of the remains of the victims of war or other conflicts (both civilian and military personnel). Illustrate with a range of examples. Discuss the challenges facing forensic scientists for DNA-based identification of the remains of the victims of war or other conflicts (both civilian and military personnel). Illustrate with a range of examples. Introduction The remains of victims of war often pose numerous challenges to forensic scientists enlisted to aid in the identification process using DNA analysis. Foremost, the remains of victims of war have frequently been buried for long periods of time, often over 50 years, and this can cause degradation and contamination of DNA. This affects the quality and quantity of extracted DNA, making it difficult to amplify and generate a genetic profile. This concise report highlights the problems facing forensic scientists during the analysis of war remains and the methods used to overcome some of these issues. DNA techniques The DNA techniques which can be used in DNA identification of skeletal bones include: mitochondrial DNA analysis (mtDNA); autosomal Short Tandem Repeat (STR) and Y-STR analysis; and mini-STR profiling. STRs, also known as microsatellites, are DNA repeat units between two and seven base pairs long that can easily be amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The number of repeat units varies considerably amongst individuals, hence why sensitive STR analysis is highly discriminative for identification, even in degraded DNA samples (Butler et al., 2012). Fifteen years ago, results of a study where teeth were buried in soil for up to eighteen weeks revealed that mtDNA analysis using primers for the HV1 and HV2 regions generated the best results in comparison to other DNA techniques; thus mtDNA was a reliable method for the identification of skeletal remains (Pfeiffer et al., 1999). Developments in technology mean that analysis of mtDNA alone is now insufficient information for positive identification, and more specific methods are employed, such as STR analysis. Nevertheless, when nuclear DNA (nDNA) samples are too degraded to be processed using STR analysis, identification using mtDNA and hypervariable regions is used. This is because mtDNA is present in high copy numbers and the circular structure of mtDNA makes it more resistant to degradation, but again there are limitations (Higgins et al., 2013; Coble et al., 2005). Mitochondrial DNA is passed on maternally; therefore it will be the same throughout generations of females of the same maternal lineage and could identify a familial match to a sister or aunt, for example. However reference samples are solely restricted to maternal relatives, thus its discriminatory power is far less than an STR match (Lee et al., 2010). Finally, where female relatives are absent, Y-STR analysis can be carried out to identify paternal lineage of the Y-chromosome. Mutations within the Y-chromosome are possible, and they may occur between generations as well as within the same bone samples, particularly if they are old skeletal bones. This must be considered when making conclusions from Y-STR analysis as it may cause problems for the forensic scientist during the identification process (BoriĆ¡ et al., 2011). DNA samples from skeletal remains With war victim skeletal remains DNA sample options are minimal, but the preferential samples to obtain for DNA analysis are teeth and bones, which contain both nDNA and mtDNA. DNA in teeth is generally considered more protected against degradation and destruction than bones due their unique composition and their location in the jawbone protecting them against degrading exogenous organisms, making them useful for analysis decades after death. Additionally, they normally yield a higher quality of DNA than bones, and the results of a study by Pilli and colleagues looking into the effect of contamination on samples revealed that teeth have a greater refractory to contamination by exogenous DNA than bones (Higgins et al., 2013; Pilli et al., 2013 respectively). Another reason for utilising teeth is because there are a number of sources of DNA within the tooth, including dentine, and this dentine powder is rich in mtDNA (Muruganandhan et al., 2011). Nevertheless, both of these samples are used because the internal content is unlikely to be contaminated with contemporary DNA compared to other samples, and the recovery of one or both of these is observed in a number of case studies identifying war victims (Lee et al., 2010; MarjanoviĆ¡ et al., 2007; AndelinoviĆ¡ et al., 2005; Ivanov et al., 1999). However, although these sources of DNA are the most likely to be preserved over time, DNA analysis can still be affected by the presence of PCR inhibitors (for example environmental and biological chemicals), insufficient quantity of DNA material, and high levels of DNA degradation (MarjanoviĆ¡ et al., 2007). DNA degradation DNA degradation and PCR inhibitors occasionally cause allele and/or locus dropout, thus not reflecting the true profile of the individual and can cause problems for forensic scientists during the analysis of genotypic DNA profiles, especially if heterozygotes are interpreted as homozygotes (Coble et al., 2005). Exposure to environmental conditions affects DNA, and factors such as heat and humidity affect the rate of DNA degradation and the resulting quantity of DNA, with cooler temperatures delaying the degradation process. This DNA degradation caused by endogenous intracellular enzymes results in smaller DNA fragments sizes and may also cause base mutations (Higgins et al., 2013). Despite the development of sensitive DNA typing identification methods, in some cases excessive DNA degradation can still pose an issue, as seen in Lee et al., 2010. One sample (SR0014) had an exceptionally low DNA yield for both extractions, 28.7 ±20.69 pg/ µL and 27.2 ±16.81 pg/ µL, in comparison to the average yield of 217.5 pg/ µL and 199.1 pg/ µL, respectively (table 1). This DNA yield produced genotypic results at eleven autosomal STR loci; however nine of these were homozygotic and this was interpreted as allelic dropout, which in turn causes problems for profile determination and does not allow for identity inclusion or exclusion. Another example of degraded DNA amplification being below 100% was seen using AmpFISTR Yfiler amplification, which revealed only 34 out of 49 profiles, and MiniFiler which produced 40 out of 49 genetic profiles, with the other profiles being incomplete, likely due to only small amounts of degraded DNA being amplified (BoriĆ¡ et al., 2011). Table 1 – DNA concentrations (pg/ µL) extracted from twenty-one skeletal samples belonging to Korean War victims. Two DNA samples were extracted from each bone sample and quantified to try and replicate the profile for consistency and to highlight any contamination issues. (See Lee et al., 2010. Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01411.x/pdf. Last accessed on: 24th February 2014) DNA extraction Another issue facing forensic scientists is the quantity of DNA extracted from bones or teeth. Degraded samples offer a paucity of template DNA concentration, hence the smaller PCR products (Ivanov et al., 1999). If precise procedures are not employed then DNA essential for producing a genotypic profile may be lost, and methods are required to maximise the potential from the extraction process. Recently, developments in such methods have massively impacted on the success of obtaining profiles from skeletal remains which are highly degraded. Extraction techniques employed by forensic scientists to overcome this challenge include the standard organic (phenol/chloroform) method, the PrepFiler Forensic DNA Extraction kit, the Qiagen DNA extraction procedure, and a large-scale silica based extraction method, with a minimum of two independent extractions for each sample usually taken. Lee and colleagues used the latter in 2010 alongside demineralisation to maximise the DNA yield, and the p ositive effect of this method was reflected in the high DNA yields observed following quantification, with all samples, except two, being greater than 50pg/ Ã‚ ­L (Lee et al., 2010). Additionally, during the extraction of DNA from 109 bone samples from victims of war in mass graves in Croatia, an advanced extraction method, alongside the phenol/chloroform method, was used. The standard method yielded 20-100ng of extracted DNA across samples, whilst the advanced Promega DNA IQ system produced 20-200ng of DNA (AndelinoviĆ¡ et al., 2005). Contamination The sensitivity of new DNA typing methodologies to minute amounts of DNA brings with it the challenge of contamination. Remains buried for a long period of time and then excavated for analysis are subject to natural cross contamination from foreign material from the surrounding environment as well as from human handling, and this can affect the validity of the findings and interfere with DNA profiles. Thus, procedures are implemented to remove any foreign matter from the outer surface which may contaminate the probe extracting the DNA from the core of the bone or tooth. Common protocols forensic scientists use to overcome the issue of contamination on bones include sanding down the outside of the bone, washing it in mild detergent, irradiating it with UV light and storing it at -20oC until it is required for DNA extraction (Ossowski et al., 2013; BoriĆ¡ et al., 2011; Lee et al., 2010; MarjanoviĆ¡ et al., 2007; Imaizumi et al., 2002). However, in cases where excess contamination has occurred from archaeological handling and repeated excavation and reburial, it is impractical for forensic scientists to remove this extent of contamination, further limiting the samples which can be used for DNA. It is of paramount importance that sterile environments are used for sample analysis and that gloves are worn when handling bones to avoid contamination from humans, and gloves should be changed between the handling of bones belonging to different individuals to avoid DNA transfer. Another issue regarding contamination is the processing of ancient skeletal samples in proximity to contemporary relative reference samples, therefore, DNA from these two sample types should be extracted and amplified in separate laboratories. The majority of studies referenced in this report have not stated whether they adhered to this, with the exception being Ossowski et al., 2013 who reported that all laboratory staff wore masks, lab overalls and sterile gloves and everyone who handled the samples had previously had their DNA sample taken for reference purposes. As a result of the strict procedures implemented, no contamination was seen throughout the examination process, and they successfully identifi ed two individuals through DNA analysis when it was determined that they could not be identified through anthropological methods (Ossowski et al., 2013). Finally, a complete record of everyone that has handled the samples pre- and post-excavation should be kept (Pilli et al., 2013). Issues with mass grave DNA samples A further problem forensic scientists are confronted with is the high number and poor quality of the remains discovered, particularly in mass graves, due to wars being open events with large numbers of unknown individuals involved. The violent nature of wars and conflicts and circumstances of death often renders a number of remains fragmented, meaning that prior to DNA analysis, an anthropologist must examine and match bones suspected to belong to the same individual. This should be considered during DNA analysis in case different profiles arise from bones supposedly belonging to the same individual. Furthermore, explosives can cause bones to become incinerated, damaged and carbonised which will affect DNA extraction and amplification (Ivanov et al., 1999). This issue was presented during the recovery of approximately 10,000 skeletal remains, belonging to approximately 53 war victims in 2009, more than sixty years after World War II. In the majority of cases, it was impossible to conclude which bones belonged to one individual due to the vast number of separated, damaged and intermingled bones and the small grave area to which they were confined. Additionally, a number of victims showed obvious gunshot wounds, which further shattered the skull bones into multiple fragments (BoriĆ¡ et al., 2011). DNA reference samples Prior to DNA analysis, it is paramount that circumstantial investigative research is carried out to narrow down and establish possible victims in the grave to allow for identification of their surviving relatives. This is problematic in the first instance if ante-mortem records of soldiers have not been kept. It is reasonable to assume that relatives of military personnel would be easier to identify, compared to civilians, because records are often kept of the soldiers that fought in a war, as well as when they were reported missing or pronounced dead. Reference swabs are required from these presumptive relatives to compare their DNA profiles with the profiles obtained from the unknown remains to determine if a familial match is seen. Ivanov et al., 1999 reported absent DNA samples on record during their involvement in the identification of the remains recovered following the Chechen War (1994-1996). Few remains were available due to the lethal force of missiles, and this was an additional problem to the lack of DNA samples on record, which meant the absence of comparative reference samples. Accordingly, the timely process of locating potential relatives and collecting their DNA samples began. In comparison to some cases where excavated war remains are over 60 years old (MarjanoviĆ¡ et al., 2007), these remains were excavated three years after the end of the war, however skeletonisation and advanced decomposition, with mummification, was still observed. Bones had been scavenged by animals, further exposing them to contamination alongside the reported careless excavation of the bodies (Ivanov et al., 1999). Mini-STRs Applying mini-STR loci to severely degraded DNA samples is effective in genotyping nDNA profiles that would otherwise yield a negative result with standard STR kits, which use STR loci of up to 250 base pairs and are likely to cause loss of signal (AndelinoviĆ¡ et al., 2005). In comparison, mini-STR technology can amplify loci with alleles that have fewer than 150 base pairs and works by annealing primers as close as possible to the STR repeat region, creating the smallest possible amplicon (Figure 1) (Martin et al 2006; Pizzamiglio et al., 2006). When there is not enough intact DNA to produce full profiles using the larger CODIS loci, mini-STR loci markers are small enough to amplify alleles less than 150 bp in length (Hill et al., 2008). It is important to remember that mini-STRs are designed to profile high quantity, low quality, degraded DNA and should not be used for small amounts of DNA. Fig. 1 – Mini-STR analysis uses primers which anneal as close as possible to the STR repeat region along the genome, creating a small amplicon to be amplified. Successful application of mini-STRs was seen in 2010 when skeletal remains from the Korean War were subject to DNA analysis in the hope to identify the 55 year old remains of the missing casualties (Lee et al., 2010). Twenty-one skeletal samples were extracted from the remains of the victims of the Korean War and, following decontamination, were subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing of the mtDNA HV region, and PCR amplification of autosomal STRs and Y-STRs using common STR kits and in-house miniplex plus systems that use smaller amplicons to optimise the genetic material from degraded samples. Results revealed that mtDNA hypervariable regions were efficiently amplified and determined in all 21 samples. A combination of AmpFISTR Identifiler alongside size-reduced amplicons in AmpFISTR MiniFiler and the in-house miniplex NC01 plus system for autosomal STR, successfully genotyped 17.2 loci out of 18, and the miniplex NC01 system showed 100% success in genotyping the four loci du e to the reduced amplicon size. Additionally, twenty samples were successfully genotyped at 11 or more loci using standard STR kits, but with the in-house system, they were genotyped at 15 or more loci. The results of amplifying autosomal STRs showed the importance of mini-STRs when working with highly degraded DNA, as reduced-sized amplicons genotyped samples with a low quality of DNA in comparison to the standard kits. The same success of genotyping samples of poor quality DNA was seen using the Y-miniplex plus system in conjunction with AmpFISTR Yfiler during Y-STR genotyping (Lee et al., 2010). Profiles were also generated using mtDNA PCR amplification and miniplex NC01 analysis using the buccal samples provided by the 24 suspected relatives (Lee et al., 2010). Smaller quantities of template DNA were extracted from the relatives, as although more DNA was available, it was of a higher quality compared to the degraded unknown samples, so a smaller amount was required. If too much high quality template DNA is used, excess peaks and spurious bands would be observed, making the results unclear (Ivanov et al., 1999), and alternatively too little, or degraded DNA, may reduce the height of some alleles so the peak heights may be too low to distinguish from background noise (NFSTC Science Serving Justice, 2007). Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that DNA degradation affecting the quality and quantity of DNA, fragmentation of bones, numbers of bones in mass graves, contamination and poor extraction procedures are all challenges that forensic scientists face during DNA based identification of skeletal war victim remains. However, as efficient DNA extraction methods to optimise the template DNA concentration are advancing, and technology is consistently being refined to develop methods such as the mini-STR system, identification of war victims using DNA analysis, alongside anthropological measures, is becoming more successful. Word count: 2668 Page | 1

South Africa - Diverse In Culture But Could Be Unified In Language :: essays research papers

South Africa is diverse in culture but could be unified in language. English should be South Africa’s unifying language. It is necessary to understand what nationhood is, so that you the reader realise that a national language does not alter a nation. It binds the nation. I will also discuss South Africa’s diverse cultures and how a unifying language can merge these cultures. Lastly, I will demonstrate the links between language and identity. The concept of a nation is not easily defined. †Nationalism is a deeply contradictory enterprise.† (P Brooker, 1999,148). Our nation is one that has been formed over many years and languages have been brought to us through imperialism, immigrants and time. We have to accept that, †for most nations of the world to escape the profound experience of imperialism would be in fact to escape their own actual history† (P Brooker, 1999,148). We cannot deny that there is an assortment of language, which abound this nation. However, we need to choose one unifying language, which we can all use. This is essential for purposes of communication and mediation, which I will discuss later. This national language would be the only official language and English would be the unifying language. Identity is an ever-changing concept. South Africans sexuality, class, gender, race and even language determine our identity. †Contemporary identities can therefore be fluid or consciously delimited. Any number of factors are likely to be under negotiation in either case; whether of religion, nation, language, political ideology or cultural expression† (P Brooker, 1999,109). Our South African identity is one which has changed through imperialism and it is one that has changed through apartheid and it is one which will continue changing in order to progress therefore a national language such as English can become a part of this ever changing south African identity. A national language will not change the identities of South Africans, it will enhance it. People will still speak their different languages however when we are together we will have a common form of communication. In English-medium schools, for example, English is used as a medium for the study of a wide range of subjects. The students and the teachers come from different cultural backgrounds and many speak different languages at home but they use a common language for educational purposes. This means that an Indian teacher, who maybe speaks Tamil at home, can teach students, who might speak Zulu at home, using a common language, (S. South Africa - Diverse In Culture But Could Be Unified In Language :: essays research papers South Africa is diverse in culture but could be unified in language. English should be South Africa’s unifying language. It is necessary to understand what nationhood is, so that you the reader realise that a national language does not alter a nation. It binds the nation. I will also discuss South Africa’s diverse cultures and how a unifying language can merge these cultures. Lastly, I will demonstrate the links between language and identity. The concept of a nation is not easily defined. †Nationalism is a deeply contradictory enterprise.† (P Brooker, 1999,148). Our nation is one that has been formed over many years and languages have been brought to us through imperialism, immigrants and time. We have to accept that, †for most nations of the world to escape the profound experience of imperialism would be in fact to escape their own actual history† (P Brooker, 1999,148). We cannot deny that there is an assortment of language, which abound this nation. However, we need to choose one unifying language, which we can all use. This is essential for purposes of communication and mediation, which I will discuss later. This national language would be the only official language and English would be the unifying language. Identity is an ever-changing concept. South Africans sexuality, class, gender, race and even language determine our identity. †Contemporary identities can therefore be fluid or consciously delimited. Any number of factors are likely to be under negotiation in either case; whether of religion, nation, language, political ideology or cultural expression† (P Brooker, 1999,109). Our South African identity is one which has changed through imperialism and it is one that has changed through apartheid and it is one which will continue changing in order to progress therefore a national language such as English can become a part of this ever changing south African identity. A national language will not change the identities of South Africans, it will enhance it. People will still speak their different languages however when we are together we will have a common form of communication. In English-medium schools, for example, English is used as a medium for the study of a wide range of subjects. The students and the teachers come from different cultural backgrounds and many speak different languages at home but they use a common language for educational purposes. This means that an Indian teacher, who maybe speaks Tamil at home, can teach students, who might speak Zulu at home, using a common language, (S.

Intake Interview

Patient: Smith, Jane DOB: 06/ 13/ 1985 Date of Interview: 02/05/2010 Date of Report: 02/06/2010 IDENTIFYING INFORMATION: Ms. Smith is a 24 year old white woman currently residing in Vancouver, WA. She is employed as a hairstylist and currently lives in an apartment with two friends and their newborn son. Ms. Smith has been seen for mental health symptoms previously as a teenager, and was referred again on this visit by a colleague. The following report information is based on information collected from my interview with the patient, her medical chart, and psychological testing. CHIEF COMPLAINT: â€Å"I feel like sometimes my life is too much to handle. It makes me sick to think about things and I am not sure I can stand much more. I feel like there is no hope. I am all alone and I think I will always be alone. † HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Ms. Smith says she frequently suffers from anxiety attacks and is often times unable to cope with stress while at work. She states she feels sweaty, weak and dizzy when thinking about life. Over the last two years she has been unable to relax, often has difficulty falling or staying asleep, and often feels ill and tired. She says her primary way of coping is alcohol. When unable to drink she reports her anxiety levels being â€Å"unbearable† and tries to stay away from social interaction. She also reports that her anxiety increases after nights of drinking as she feels like everyone is watching her. Ms. Smith has been diagnosed with high blood pressure which may be caused by her weight gain over the last three years. SOCIAL HISTORY: Ms. Smith is currently single and has no children. She was living with her father until she was forced to leave after a domestic dispute caused a no contact order between them two years ago. Her mother and father separated four years ago and her mother moved out of their house into her own apartment. She states that until the separation she heavily relied on both parents for social and financial support. She has two older sisters, both of whom do not live in the area. While she says that one sister is caring she describes the other as â€Å"self-centered† and says she has a hard time staying close to either due to location. She recalls her childhood as â€Å"normal† although she felt like her parent’s attention was given primarily to her sisters. She says that she has a large group of friends, but tries to hide her emotional distress and anxiety from them as she does not want to be burdensome. Ms. Smith reports suffering from significant financial distress after moving out of her parents. She also says she is unhappy with her living situation and the new addition to their household. Ms. Smith also shows great concern over being single and without a relationship since she was 16. She attributes her problems in dating to her gain in weight and says it has dramatically decreased her self esteem. CURRENT/PAST PYCHIATRIC HISTORY: Ms. Smith reports that at age 16 she visited a mental health clinic for the same symptoms and was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and depression. She was prescribed an antidepressant and also attended counseling sessions one to two times weekly. Ms. Smith said that her symptoms improved within six months and she discontinued both the use of her prescription and counseling. She said after discontinuation symptoms once again started to reappear, however with less intensity, until the past few years when intensity has increased. CURRENT AGGRESSIVE IDEATION AND BEHAVIORNO X YES ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE HISTORYNO YES X Patient reports that she consumes alcohol on average five times a week. She drinks five to ten drinks per sitting. She also reports that on occasion the smokes marijuana. While Ms. Smith states that she does not think alcohol or drugs are negatively affecting her, she does report increased anxiety and paranoia after drinking. She has also been ticketed and charged for having a controlled substance after her car was searched for a routine traffic violation. DSM- IV DIAGNOSTIC IMPRESSIONS AXIS I: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Dysthymic Disorder AXIS II: Deferred AXIS III: High Blood Pressure AXIS IV: Adjustment to weight gain and changes in finances, social support, and lifestyle AXIS X: Global Assessment of Functioning Scale Score: 80 CLINICAL FORULATION: Ms. Smith presents as very depressed and anxious. Her symptoms appear to be that of dysthymic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. I believe that these are onset by interlinked biological, psychological and social factors. It is likely that the dysthymic disorder results from maladaptive, flawed, or irrational cognitions taking the form of distorted thoughts and judgments. Ms. Smith has experienced traumatic family situations, unwanted separation, as well as lack of social support from family and friends. It appears that these have caused her to feel negatively about herself which has affected her feeling of self-worth and ability to successfully respond to the tasks and stressors present in daily living. It is likely that these maladaptive behaviors were learned from friends or family. These stressors are causing increased anxiety and hopelessness. The anxiety disorder developed a result of not being able to cope with the dysthymic disorder. Due to the fact that these are so closely intertwined, without treatment the depression and anxiety Ms. Smith is experiencing, as well as alcohol dependency will likely worsen. TREATMENT PLAN: Outpatient therapy may involve medication and/or therapy. Behavior therapy will help Ms. Smith to examine her behaviors as to determine exactly what is decreasing her mood or keeping her from achieving goals. This therapy should be conducted in individual therapy sessions, one or more times a week until symptoms improve. As well as therapy Ms. Smith should be prescribed an antidepressant to deal with the contributing biological factors. Ms. Smith should seek evaluation for alcohol and drug dependency, as it appears she is using these substances for self medication. It is important that she discontinues use in order to learn new coping mechanisms.

The Horror of Gas Chamber Poison Zyklon B

The Horror of Gas Chamber Poison Zyklon B Beginning in September 1941, Zyklon B, the brand name for hydrogen cyanide (HCN), was the poison used to kill at least a million people in gas chambers at Nazi concentration and death camps such as Auschwitz and Majdanek. Unlike the Nazis earlier methods of mass murder, Zyklon B, which was originally used as a common disinfectant and insecticide, proved to be an efficient and deadly murder weapon during the Holocaust. What Was Zyklon B? Zyklon B was an insecticide used in Germany before and during World War II to disinfect ships, barracks, clothing, warehouses, factories, granaries, and more. It was produced in crystal form, creating amethyst-blue pellets. Since these Zyklon B pellets turned into a highly poisonous gas (hydrocyanic or prussic acid) when exposed to air, they were stored and transported in hermetically-sealed, metal canisters. Early Attempts at Mass Killing By 1941, the Nazis had already decided and attempted to kill Jews on a mass scale, they just had to find the fastest way to accomplish their goal. After the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, Einsatzgruppen  (mobile killing squads) followed behind the army in order to round up and murder large numbers of Jews by mass shootings, such as at Babi Yar. It wasnt long before the Nazis decided that shooting was costly, slow, and took too large a mental toll on the killers. Gas vans were also tried as part of the Euthanasia Program and at the Chelmno Death Camp. This mode of killing used the carbon-monoxide exhaust fumes from trucks to murder Jews who were crammed into the enclosed back area. Stationary gas chambers were also created and had carbon monoxide piped in. These killings took about an hour to complete. The First Test Using Zyklon B Pellets Crematorium 1 at Auschwitz concentration camp. Ira Nowinski/Getty Images Rudolf Hà ¶ss, the commandant of Auschwitz, and Adolf Eichmann searched for a faster way to kill. They decided to try Zyklon B. On September 3, 1941, 600 Soviet prisoners of war and 250 Polish prisoners who were no longer able to work were forced into the basement of Block 11 at Auschwitz I, known as the death block, and Zyklon B was released inside. All died within minutes. Just days later, the Nazis transformed the large morgue room at Crematorium I in Auschwitz into a gas chamber and made 900 Soviet prisoners of war go inside for disinfection. Once the prisoners were crammed inside, Zyklon B pellets were released from a hole in the ceiling. Again, all died quickly. Zyklon B had proved to be a very effective, very efficient, and very cheap way to kill large numbers of people. The Gassing Process Aerial reconnaissance film of Auschwitz concentration camp, 1st August 1944.   Bettmann/Getty Images With the construction of Auschwitz II (Birkenau), Auschwitz became one of the largest killing centers of the Third Reich. As Jewish and other undesirables were brought into the camp via train, they underwent a Selektion on the ramp. Those deemed unfit for work were sent directly to the gas chambers. However, the Nazis kept this a secret and told the unsuspecting victims that they had to undress for a bath. Led to a well-camouflaged gas chamber with fake shower heads, the prisoners were trapped inside when a large door was sealed behind them. Then, an orderly, who wore a mask, opened a vent on the roof of the gas chamber and poured Zyklon B pellets down the shaft. He then closed the vent to seal the gas chamber. The Zyklon B pellets turned immediately into a deadly gas. In a panic and gasping for air, prisoners would push, shove, and climb over each other to reach the door. But there was no way out. Within five to 20 minutes (depending on the weather), all inside were dead from suffocation. After all were dead, the poisonous air was pumped out, a process that took about 15 minutes. Once it was safe to go inside, the door was opened and a special unit of prisoners, known as the Sonderkommando, hosed down the gas chamber and used hooked poles to pry the dead bodies apart. Rings were removed and gold plucked from teeth. Then the bodies were sent to the crematoria, where they would be turned into ash. Who Made Zyklon B for the Gas Chambers? Zyklon B was made by two German companies: Tesch and Stabenow of Hamburg and Degesch of Dessau. After the war, many blamed these companies for knowingly creating a poison that was used to murder over a million people.  The directors of both companies were brought to trial. Director Bruno Tesch and executive manager Karl Weinbacher (of Tesch and Stabenow) were found guilty and given the death sentence. Both were hung on May 16, 1946. Dr. Gerhard Peters, the director of Degesch, however, was found guilty only as an accessory to homicide and given a sentence of five years in prison. After several appeals, Peters was acquitted in 1955.

Lab Report on Yeast Fermentation Essay Example

Lab Report on Yeast Fermentation Essay Example Lab Report on Yeast Fermentation Paper Lab Report on Yeast Fermentation Paper The chemical reactions within yeast are facilitated by enzymes; most enzymes optimal temperature range is warm. The warmer the water, the more the enzymes are in their optimal temperature angle and the more efficiently they catalyst chemical reaction; this makes the fermentation proceed more quickly. In this experiment, the effect of variation of temperature on the fermentation of yeast was tested. If temperature affects the fermentation of the yeast, then the rate of yeast fermentation will change with the different levels of temperature. To perform this experiment the following materials were used: 3 empty, clean water bottles, 3 latex balloons, 3 rubber bands, glass measuring cup (1 -cup capacity), teaspoon, tablespoon, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, 10 degree Celsius water, 29 degree Celsius water, 43 agree Celsius water, and 3 packets of active dry yeast. To start this experiment, each empty, dry water bottle was filled with one 1/4 ounce packet of active dry yeast, 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, and 1 cup of room temperature distilled water. A latex balloon was then secured on the top of each bottle with a rubber band. 3 glass bowls were filled with water of varying temperatures. One water bottle filled with the yeast solution was placed in a glass bowl at 10 degrees Celsius, one placed in a bowl of 29 degrees Celsius, and the other placed in a bowl at 43 degrees Celsius. By keeping all glass bowls at their constant initial temperature, observations and results found that temperature does indeed have effect on the fermentation of yeast. The water bottle that was placed in the cold water (10 degrees Celsius) had no change after 20 minutes. The water bottle placed in the room temperature water (29 degrees Celsius) experienced change after 20 minutes; the solution slightly foamed inside the water bottle as the yeast fermented and the balloon inflated to a diameter of 21 h CM. The water bottle placed in the warm water (43 degrees Celsius) experienced change after 20 minutes as well; the solution created very much foam inside the water bottle (about 2 inches above initial solution volume level) and the balloon inflated to a diameter of 30 CM. The picture above was taken with an phone to show visual results gathered by the experiment conducted. In conclusion, the higher the temperature of the water in the glass bowl, the more fermentation the yeast had.

Global consumer culture is a beguiling illusion and a gangerous Essay

Global consumer culture is a beguiling illusion and a gangerous fiction for the marketing manager - Essay Example The Association of Qualitative Research has defined consumer culture as: â€Å"Consumer culture suggests that consumption - the act of buying goods or services - is a cultural activity, one imbued with meaning and driven not just by practical or economic factors. Mapping and exploring the business implications of these cultural meanings is one of the principal functions of qualitative market research.† By reviewing the above definition we can conclude that cultural values directly influence the consumption patterns of buyers. Therefore, in order to create a global consumer culture it is essential to carry out an in-depth investigation and research of the local traditions, customs, language, heritage, norms, values and ethics of target foreign market in order to maximize the opportunities of success and minimize the risks of failure. In this way, the process of globalization will meet the standards of localization. GLOBAL CONSUMER CULTURE: Since late 20th century the world has become a global village. Due to faster means of communication, rapid advancement in technology, easy means of transportation and increased international business transactions; the barriers between cultural and regional boundaries are almost eliminated. Over the years the religious and cultural tolerance among various societies has increased dramatically and people no longer resist living in metropolitan cities where people from different countries, cultures, societies and political backgrounds live together. ... Due to faster means of communication, rapid advancement in technology, easy means of transportation and increased international business transactions; the barriers between cultural and regional boundaries are almost eliminated. Over the years the religious and cultural tolerance among various societies has increased dramatically and people no longer resist living in metropolitan cities where people from different countries, ethnicity, cultures, religions, societies and political backgrounds live together to form one large society which has colors of many sub-cultures. However, on one hand the idea of global village has played an important role to remove the differences among various segments of society and to provide equal opportunities to everyone irrespective of cast, color, creed, sex or background. But on the other hand, the concept of universal culture is very dangerous as it completely ignores the concept of â€Å"nationalism† and the religious and cultural values the sh apes up the national identity of the people in different countries. Therefore, marketers need to weigh the pros and cons of entering the foreign market and the barriers to their success. D. ADVANTAGES OF GLOBAL CONSUMER CULTURE: According to Scott Gay, (2006) â€Å"a global consumer is the product of cultural convergence spearheaded by industrialized nations† because the customer choices are becoming alike due to the phenomenon of global village. Globalization offers many advantages to the manufacturers who have potential to market their products on international scale and give their brands a global presence. However, every product can’t have global impact. For instance; a farmer in Asia can produce wide range of products by full capacity

The Heart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Heart - Essay Example The arterial supply of the heart is built from the right and left coronary arteries, which arise from the aorta. The cardiac muscle is composed by specialized cells: cardiac myocytes. Kumar et al. (2005) describe five major components in the myocytes: cell membrane (sarcolemma) and T-tubules; sarcoplasmic reticulum; contractile elements; mitochondria; and nucleus. The sarcolemma and T-tubules enable impulse conductions, and the sarcoplasmic reticulum is a calcium reservoir needed for contraction. Mitochondria are crucial components, since they are involved in cardiac contraction by providing a constant supply of ATP to the sarcomeres. Mitochondria are abundant in cardiac tissue, constituting 20% to 40% of cellular volume in energy-demanding zones (Marin-Garcia 2005). Cardiac muscle is composed of sarcomeres, which are the contractile units with an arrangement of thin and thick myofilaments. The myocytes are composed of many parallel myofilaments arrays of sarcomeres in series, which are responsible for the striated appearance (Kumar 2005). Thin filaments are composed of various proteins named actin, tropomyosin, and troponin. Myosin is the thick filament, and possesses the cross-bridges that can attach to the actin. Au (2004) has described the various components of the sarcomere in great detail. Since cross-bridges possess ATPase activity, contraction may be explained as a continuous cycling of cross-bridges. Moreover, cardiac muscle fibers are joined together by junctional complexes called intercalated discs (Dunn 2004), so that the action potential is spread. The role of Calcium Calcium (Ca2+) regulates mechanical contractions and Vandenboom et al. (2005) have shown that "cross-bridge attachment increases thin filament activation dynamically and that this increase is proportional to the level of activation first established by Ca2+"; during membrane depolarization, a small amount of Ca2+ enters through specialized channels, and the influx triggers calcium release of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Intracellular calcium binds to troponin C, which induces activation of the myofilaments and muscle contraction. Relaxation is initiated by dissociation of Ca2+ from troponin C, followed by its reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum and removal through sodium/calcium exchangers (Chakraborti et al. 2007). Structure and Function Ventricular muscle contracts during systole and relaxes during diastole. The sarcomere length and sliding mechanism has been described by various researchers (Pollack et al 2005). The Frank-Starling mechanism depicts the relationship between structural components of the heart and its function: shorter sarcomeres have considerable overlap of actin and myosin filaments, reducing its contractile force, whereas longer lengths enhance contractility. In a normal heart, moderate dilation increases the subsequent force of contraction. With progressive dilation, however, there is a point at which effective overlap of filaments is reduced, and the force of contraction is reduced (Kumar 2005). The clinical consequences of