Song analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Song analysis - Essay Example The song in question, written and produced by a group known as â€Å"Aviation† and entitled â€Å"You were my Everything† will be the focus of this particular analysis. It is the hope of this author that the reader will gain a more informed understanding with relation to the ideas and core levels of understanding/emotions that the songwriter attempted to convey; rather than merely a cursory level of understanding with respect to the fact that a simple love song has been represented. In much the same way that a literary critique seeks to focus a level of discussion and analysis upon the mechanisms that the writer uses, the core themes that are leveraged, and the use of language as a means of promoting understanding; the following analysis will engage in much the same manner of consideration with regards to this particular song. Firstly, the song itself starts with a brief introit that is spoken rather than sung. Although this may not seem as an important aspect of analyzing the particular song, it serves a vital function as it helps to set the stage with respect to the information that will be presented, the tone, and the ultimate understanding that can be drawn from the contents of the song. Beginning by stating that the singer has lost something that is dear to him, the listener is instantly engage with the understanding that love loss and the hope of gaining at once again will come to be represented within the song itself. However, another element that is presented directly before the singing commences has to do with the frustration and inability of the singer/songwriter to express his emotions in any other way. Out of exasperation, the singer finally says â€Å"it’s just†¦I don’t even know – just listen†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This level of hopelessness with regards to seeking to expl ain the position that the singer/songwriter understands only all too well but is probably quite difficult for anyone else to engage helps to foreshadow the angst and

The Effects of the Iraq War Essay Example for Free

The Effects of the Iraq War Essay The war in Iraq was supposedly an act against terrorism. In one of the President’s speeches, he made it clear that it was a preemptive attack and that if we were not fighting and destroying this enemy in Iraq, they would not be idle. They would be plotting and killing Americans across the world and within our own borders. By fighting these terrorists in Iraq, Americans in uniform are defeating a direct threat to the American people†(Crimes Against Humanity). This is the government’s claim but it was never substantiated by any evidence, thus keeping the Americans wondering what really is the cause of this massive bloodshed. Some reports say that this war is in large part an oil currency war. â€Å"One of the core reasons for this upcoming war is this administrations goal of preventing further Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) momentum towards the euro as an oil transaction currency standard†(Mother Jones). In order to stop the OPEC from doing this, the US needed to take control of the OPEC’s 2nd largest oil producer, Iraq. This means that the Iraq War is just another economic war. It is just another result of the struggle to control the means of production. The â€Å"domestic impact of any US war will be inequitably distributed, the workers and lowest economic classes carrying the burden of the social costs, while the upper strata benefit†(Swans). Even before the Iraq war, experts have already concluded that powerful corporate interests only see middle class families as the spoils of political influence (FromTheWilderness. com). When war struck, the burden was heavily felt by these same families. The additional burden came in the form of taxes. To maintain the Iraq war the government imposed additional taxes on the people disguised as national security taxes. This tax is imposed on all persons, however the effect on the upper class is not as drastic as to the middle class families simply because since they are the ones who can afford to pay and benefit from the big tax cuts. These taxes in addition to the economic pressures on the middle class—stagnant wages, the need to pull down two salaries to support a family, and the rising costs of the basic expenses—drive these families to turn to credit just to make ends meet. Credit in itself is neither bad nor is it taboo but the present state of the country prevents the middle class families from ever recovering (FromTheWilderness. com). The Iraq war brought about a change not merely on financial aspects but also in the way Americans perceive things. It has awakened the people’s social consciousness. Due to the doubtful claims the government are using to justify the war coupled with the suffering of the middle class, the masses are starting to wonder and ponder on the real issues that they are presently facing. A sense of awareness has donned on them, the people are slowly gearing towards social change. Having the freedom of intercourse, the people are slowly unearthing the reasons behind the war, the cause of their social helplessness and the means or solutions they are entitled to. Americans are becoming inquisitive, they are slowly transforming into persons naturally drawn to activism and sympathetic to an anti-war attitude and the Iraq War will present a new challenge of exposing the propaganda promoted by American imperialists, and in building an opposition (Swans). The change the Americans are experiencing after the war is neither bad nor good. It is a just a natural reaction brought about by the need for social justice and equity. Social justice is the concept of society in which justice is achieved in every aspect of society, rather than merely the administration of law. It is generally thought of as a society that affords individuals and groups fair treatment and a just share of the benefits of society. The Iraq war is not the sole cause of this change, several social forces are at work here but it may very well be considered as one of the factors that triggered it. After years of following the capitalist norm, the uneven distribution of wealth and power between the classes is already taking its toll. The delineation of the social classes is becoming clearer, each class is grouping itself together and yet, each one is dependent upon the other, without the bourgeoisies there would be no proletariat, without the proletariat there would be no cause for awareness, without a cause there can be no change. The social classes are now playing their important roles in this changes, they are setting the stage for their struggle. The United States is experiencing social change and it is inevitable. According to Neo-Marxism, strains are inherent in social structures and the source of these strains or contradictions is the inherent scarcity of certain goods and values. Thus inequality is a source of conflict. The conflicts caused by the inequality of the classes are starting to show. The ghost of communism is slowly rearing its head in our country. The Americans are preparing to experience a class struggle. The middle class is slowly becoming aware of the distribution of wealth and power between the masses and the selected few, they are realizing the exploitation of their class by a selected few using the government as an instrument. The country is now at the brink of a social revolution, just as how all revolutions came to be, the birth begins with the proletariat’s struggle with the bourgeoisie. At first the contest is carried on by individual labourers, then by the workpeople of a factory, then by the operatives of one trade, in one locality, against the individual bourgeois who directly exploits them and eventually the rise to power of the middle class. At this point however, the movement’s success cannot be ascertained. The thinking masses is too small to resemble a threat to imperialism but a war gone badly might alter public thinking enough to make such fundamental social change an increasing possibility. The ideas of Communism are based on actual relations springing from an existing class struggle, from a historical movement going on since time immemorial, it seeks to abolish property relations and to place power on to the working class (Mondo Politico). According to Karl Marx, this is the end result of all modern governments. Everything shall start from the bourgeois controlling first the modes of production hiring the proletariat only for labor, later on educating the proletariat so the bourgeois can use the knowledge endowed to the working class to remain competitive. Greed being the driving force, the bourgeois shall continue to teach and exploit the proletariat. Through this process, what the bourgeoisie, therefore, produces, above all, is its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable. Communism is definitely an ideal type of government, it speaks of utopia where social justice reigns supreme and equity can never be flawed. The question now is that how come there is no country that has successfully established a perfect communist government? This might be caused by the degree of difficulty of implementing the transformation or it may be that eventually all systems shall need property relations of some kind. At this point, the social revolution in the United States is pretty far from fruition. Not all of the working class is willing to undergo change. After the United States has existed for so long, after having been accustomed to it and after achieving so much through capitalism, the premature abolition of property relations shall definitely cause its own downfall.

Review of A Cinderella Story Essay -- Cinderella Story, movies,

Many traditional fairy tales have been remade into Hollywood movies. The fairy tale of Cinderella has been produced in movies many times like Ever After (1998) and A Cinderella Story (2004). A Cinderella Story (2004) has an interesting storyline, cast, themes, and appeals to teenagers and young adults. The movie begins as Sam narrating how she is in a far away kingdom with a beautiful little girl with her â€Å"weirdo† father. Then Sam clarifies that this was not â€Å"long ago† and â€Å"not a really far away kingdom;† they are in the San Fernando Valley. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley was like her kingdom. Even though she was raised by her father, she never felt like she was missing out on anything. Her father tries to exposes her to girly things like make-up and fashion. Her dad owns a diner in the San Fernando Valley which Sam loves called Hal’s Diner. All the staff was like her family. When Sam celebrated her 8th birthday at Hal’s Diner, they want for her to wish for something, but she does not wanted anything because she has amazing friends, the diner family and the coolest dad. Sam’s dad thinks that she needs only one thing to be happy, a mother; so he decides to marry Fiona who had two daughters, Brianna and Gabriella. Sam th inks that as long her dad was happy she would be happy (A Cinderella Story). One night, Sam loses her best friend, her father, in a devastating earthquake. She is left to live in an attic with her stepfamily, and soon realizes her stepfamily is evil. Fiona and the step-sisters take over everything the house, the diner and her. They make Sam do all the housework for them. Fiona treats Sam like a slave; Fiona wants Sam to do the chores including cooking for them, and does not allow her time to even study! Sam... ...nagers who comment on A Cinderella Story said, â€Å"This movie was a Great movie! If you have a knack for watching teen love stories this would be your movie. When I first watched this movie I was dying to have it. This movie shows that even though life can be bad you always have the chance to stand up for yourself and become something great and achieve your dreams† ( Ebert) Although critics were not very kind to the movie, many people really liked it. The movie went beyond my expectations, and I loved it more than other movies. A Cinderella Story has an interesting storyline, cast, themes, and appeals to teenagers and young adults. The movie was very interesting to me as a young teenager. I recommend all teenagers to review this movie because when you lose someone that in life was very important no matter what you should keep on with your life and purest your dreams.

The Kite Runner Redemption

What is the worst thing you have done to a friend or family member? Have you lied to them? Stolen from them? After the dreadful deed, did they forgive you? More importantly, did you forgive yourself? Regret and redemption are very important themes in the book The Kite Runner. Having regret for something can affect your whole life, as seen with the character, Amir. Through the development of Amir and his childhood friend, Hassan, Amir has to live with his regret and hope for redemption for the rest of his life. From the beginning of the story The Kite Runner, it is apparent that Amir did something wrong from the very first page. Amir says, â€Å"Standing in the kitchen with the receiver to my ear, I knew it wasn’t just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins. † (1). The reader understands that Amir had done something wrong in the winter of 1975. Later, we figure out what this â€Å"something† was; he watched Hassan get raped. It was after Amir had just won his kite race and Hassan had gone to fetch the winning kite. He then came across the bullies of the neighborhood: Assef, Kamal, and Wali. Assef tried to take the kite, but like a loyal friend, Hassan would not let him. Assef then let Hassan keep the kite, but only to pay the price of being raped. Amir stood behind a wall and watched it all happen without saying one word. This is probably one of the most important scenes in the whole book; Amir’s actions from this shaped how he grew up and lived the rest of his life with regret. After Amir watched Hassan get raped, nothing was the same. He was filled with guilt and regret. He felt like a coward. â€Å"I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. † (77). He could not turn and help his friend because he was scared, and he wanted the approval of his father for once; he thought bringing home the kite would win Baba over. Little did he know that he ruined the rest of his life by doing this. Amir was filled with such regret that he had to get rid of Hassan one way or another. He could not stand the secret that he had from that night and wanted the pain to go away. Amir changed his and Hassan’s relationship that night. Even after Amir framed Hassan and got him to leave, Amir’s guilt did not go away and he was forever regretting all the decisions he had been making up to this point. Amir and Baba ended up going to America to try to get away from their past and get the redemption they both were longing for. After living life in America, Amir received a phone call from his old friend, Rahim Khan. Rahim Khan had been looking for some redemption of his own because he had been keeping a secret from Amir his whole life; Hassan was actually Baba’s son and Amir’s half brother. Hassan had died and Rahim wanted Amir to retrieve Hassan’s son, Sohrab. Amir still carried around the guilt from the winter of 1975 and decided this was his chance to redeem himself. As Rahim Khan said, â€Å"There was a way to be good again. † (2). This was Amir’s way to be good again. Amir had been looking for redemption his whole life. Retrieving Sohrab would rid himself of this. Amir also outstepped his coward personality when he was faced to a battle with Assef. This part of the book was one of the other most important scenes. Amir came out with Sohrab and he finally got the redemption that he was seeking for since the day he watched Hassan get raped. Throughout the book there were many examples of redemption. It mostly occurred in Amir as we saw his relationship with Hassan grow throughout the book. Amir had such guilt that he had to drive Hassan away; this proved how much of a coward he really was. After that day, he always carried around the guilt of betraying his friend and finally absolved himself by finding his redemption when retrieving Sohrab. Even though his decision of being a coward affected his life miserably, it still shaped him into the man that he was at the end of the book. Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead Books, 2003.

Cloud research

Though they worked together for a year, Peterson struggled to bridge the distance between Www and herself. Over lunch, Peterson praised Wow's efforts to broaden his professional skill set by attending weekend sales seminars and networking with colleagues to better understand the business. These efforts, she noted, surely contributed to his success in retaining his large, but only, client. Peterson then reminded Www of her concerns. â€Å"Fred, I'd Like to remind you that your primary focus should be on new business. It seems as If you re spending too much time managing your one client, and that's not your job. Peterson continued, â€Å"As Vive mentioned before, I'd like to be kept abreast of your development efforts, so I know when and if you need help from me, or someone else In the company. I expect you to summarize your efforts every few days on our online sales tool, like everyone else on the team. If you spent more time in the office, I'd have a better sense of your business. Plus, I'm confident you'd glean some helpful selling techniques from your colleagues. † Finally, Peterson questioned the value of the expensive add-on services Www had sold to his client so early In the relationship.Www assured Peterson that all revenue booked?including additional services? originated at his client's request. He emphasized that the networking heed done in the Chinese community was about to pay off: he expected to sign three major new clients In the coming quarter. Www then stated that, because he was about to become the most successful sales executive In the Plano office, he needed his own sales assistant to answer his phone and perform administrative tasks. Peterson hoped her face didn't register her dismay at Wow's request.Only the most senior salespeople at Accountancy, some of whom Juggled more than 30 accounts, had their own sales assistants. The rest of Accountancy's salespeople shared assistants. What was Www thinking? Solely as a basis for class discus sion and not as an endorsement, a source of primary data, or an illustration of effective or ineffective management. Although based on real events and despite occasional references to actual companies, this case is fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons or entities is coincidental. Copyright 0 2013 President and Fellows of Harvard College.To order copies or request permission to produce materials, call 1-800-545-7685, write Harvard Business Publishing, Boston, MA 02163, or go to http://www. Hobs. Harvard. Deed. This publication may not be digitized, photocopied, or otherwise reproduced, posted, or transmitted, without the permission of Harvard Business School. This document is authorized for use only by Chugging You in Fall 2014 Engaging and Empowering People taught by Bobbie Ships Texas Christian University from September 2014 to October 2014. 913-560 | Wendy Peterson Accountancy: Background Accountancy was founded in 1988 by Will Gleason, a former accountant, and TravisH arriman, a software engineer. Gleason, a senior executive at a large national accounting firm, felt that many of the back-office accounting functions his firm provided to clients could be automated. Gleason envisioned, and Harriman built, a back-office accounting software product designed for what they felt was an undeserved market: small- and medium-sized businesses, especially those with ambitious growth targets. It was easy for businesses to adapt the Accountancy product as their needs changed or expanded, thanks to the modular design of the software and a comprehensive suite of add-on options.Gleason cultivated relationships with local investors and venture capitalists to gain exposure to possible clients. The founders believed that their competitive advantage would come not only from their superior software but also from their strong client relationships, a combination that companies making off-the-shelf accounting products or large accounting firms were unlikely to replicate. The founders also believed that a flat organizational structure and collegial culture would minimize office politics, strengthen employee morale, and heighten company performance.Soon their business model began to pay off. The product was â€Å"sticky': once businesses implemented the software (a one-time installation cost between $25,000 and $100,000 depending on the scope of desired services) and trained employees on its use, they were likely to renew their annual contracts. Accountants client renewal rate was 25% above the industry average, and most clients retained services for at least four years. In 2010, the firm earned nearly $100 million in revenues, and employed more than 400 employees in ten regional offices located in southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.That same year, however, the proliferation of inexpensive, off-the- hell accounting software, combined with a faltering economy, drove down revenues; three of its regions. The founders retired and the new CEO was determined to reignite the company's growth. He replaced the vice presidents of sales in a number of offices with the company's most enterprising young sales directors. Each was given aggressive growth targets. If the revenue goals were met or exceeded, the new leaders and their sales teams would receive a substantial bonus.Wendy Peterson was one of the promoted employees. She was named vice president of sales for Accountants Plano, Texas, office. After consultation with her superior, one of four regional senior vice presidents of sales, she agreed to grow the revenues of her underperforming office by 40% in two years. Accountancy Sales Organization Salespeople (generally referred to as sales executives) invested a significant amount of time getting to know clients and their businesses before submitting an initial proposal and turning the account over to a dedicated service team.Once a member of the sales team signed or renewed a client contract, day-to-day responsibility f or product implementation and service transferred to an Accountancy account service am. Sales executives communicated with account service teams to keep abreast of implementation challenges and of potential add-on services that their clients might need. For new salespeople, the initial focus was outreach. Although some of the salespeople came from competitors, most came from sales or product management positions in other software or services Wendy Peterson | 913-560 companies.New salespeople were expected to mine and leverage their personal networks and to research, cold-call, and cultivate their own lists of local prospects. Unlike most of Accountants employees, who were salaried, annual compensation for sales employees (about 20% of the company's employees) included a base salary component (50% of annual compensation) and a commission component (50% of annual compensation). Escalating incentives existed for exceeding target revenue goals.If sales employees met or exceeded their an nual financial targets and stated professional development goals, they were eligible for base salary increases. Although the salespeople mostly operated independently of each other, there were regional sales employee received a flat bonus payment ($7,000 in 2010). Total insemination ranged from $100,000 for first-year salespeople to $1 for Accountants most experienced sales managers. Background Peterson Joined Accountancy after graduating at the top of her Ivy League university class in 2000 with a degree in economics.A tireless worker with a curious mind, she excelled as a Junior manager on a series of account service teams and earned stellar reviews from both clients and colleagues. By age 28, Peterson was managing account service teams herself. Said Peterson: After six years working on and managing client engagements, I was ready for a change; sales seemed a challenging, and potentially curative, opportunity. I was nervous, though, about fitting in with the sales organization; af ter all, I'd never worked in direct sales or closed new business.So I read books on varying sales strategies, attended weekend sales seminars, and requested to shadow two of the most successful sales directors (a small number of sales executives were promoted to the title of sales director to reflect their exceptional performance or tenure) in my office for the first month. Vive often been described as a â€Å"doer†?if I see a chance to help, I don't Just suggest an idea and wait for someone else to take charge. I like to do things myself. After Joining Accountants sales team it struck me that our senior sales staff benefited most from recurring revenue from our largest, longstanding customers.Their business was steady and required little effort. Junior-level sales executives like me, on the other hand, worked overtime to land new accounts and earned far less than experienced sales directors. As the pressure from management to drive new business increased, I spearheaded a vol unteer mentoring program between Junior and senior sales professionals. The more experienced professionals imparted sales and client management wisdom to their Junior counterparts, in return for â€Å"free† assistance on large accounts.Camaraderie spiked and, I think, an unexpected benefit was that focusing on new business again invigorated senior members of the sales team. I was one of the few sales employees who brought in lots of new business to Accountancy in 2008 despite the global financial crisis; soon after I was promoted to manage the Plano sales organization. To me, the Plano team I inherited seemed disengaged; I believed that changing the culture?by making my team closer and the office more collegial?would boost productivity and revenues. Under my direction, our performance improved, and the team exceeded 2010 targets for new business by 15%.

The Role of Dna Technology in Crime Investigation Essay Example

The Role of Dna Technology in Crime Investigation Essay Example The Role of Dna Technology in Crime Investigation Essay The Role of Dna Technology in Crime Investigation Essay DNA profiling DNA profiling (also called DNA testing, DNA typing, or genetic fingerprinting) is a technique employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals on the basis of their respective DNA profiles. DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a persons DNA makeup, which can also be used as the persons identifier. DNA profiling should not be confused with full genome sequencing. It is used in, for example, parental testing and rape investigation. Although 99. 9% of human DNA sequences are the same in every person, enough of the DNA is different to distinguish one individual from another.DNA profiling uses repetitive (repeat) sequences that are highly variable called variable number tandem repeats (VNTR). VNTRs loci are very similar between closely related humans, but so variable that unrelated individuals are extremely unlikely to have the same VNTRs. The DNA profiling technique was first reported in 1984by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the Univer sity of Leicester in England, and is now the basis of several national DNA databases. Dr. Jeffreyss genetic fingerprinting was made commercially available in 1987, when a chemical company, ICI, started a blood-testing center in England.DNA profiling process The process begins with a sample of an individuals DNA (typically called a reference sample). The most desirable method of collecting a reference sample is the use of a buccal swab, as this reduces the possibility of contamination. When this is not available (e. g. because a court order may be needed and not obtainable) other methods may need to be used to collect a sample of blood, saliva, semen, or other appropriate fluid or tissue from personal items (e. g. toothbrush, razor, etc. ) or from stored samples (e. g. banked sperm or biopsy tissue).Samples obtained from blood relatives (biological relative) can provide an indication of an individuals profile, as could human remains which had been previously profiled. A reference sam ple is then analyzed to create the individuals DNA profile using one of a number of techniques, discussed below. The DNA profile is then compared against another sample to determine whether there is a genetic match. * RFLP analysis The first methods for finding out genetics used for DNA profiling involved restriction enzyme digestion, followed by Southern blot analysis.Although polymorphisms can exist in the restriction enzyme cleavage sites, more commonly the enzymes and DNA probes were used to analyze VNTR loci. However, the Southern blot technique is laborious, and requires large amounts of undegraded sample DNA. Also, Karl Browns original technique looked at many minisatellite loci at the same time, increasing the observed variability, but making it hard to discern individual alleles (and thereby precluding parental testing). These early techniques have been supplanted by PCR-based assays. PCR analysis With the invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, DNA prof iling took huge strides forward in both discriminating power and the ability to recover information from very small (or degraded) starting samples. PCR greatly amplifies the amounts of a specific region of DNA, using oligonucleotide primers and a thermostable DNA polymerase. Early assays such as the HLA-DQ alpha reverse dot blot strips grew to be very popular due to their ease of use, and the speed with which a result could be obtained.However they were not as discriminating as RFLP. It was also difficult to determine a DNA profile for mixed samples, such as a vaginal swab from a sexual assault victim. Fortunately, the PCR method is readily adaptable for analyzing VNTR loci. In the United States the FBI has standardized a set of 13 VNTR assays for DNA typing, and has organized the CODIS database for forensic identification in criminal cases. Similar assays and databases have been set up in other countries. Also, commercial kits are available that analyze single-nucleotide polymorphi sms (SNPs).These kits use PCR to amplify specific regions with known variations and hybridize them to probes anchored on cards, which results in a colored spot corresponding to the particular sequence variation. * STR analysis The method of DNA profiling used today is based on PCR and uses short tandem repeats (STR). This method uses highly polymorphic regions that have short repeated sequences of DNA (the most common is 4 bases repeated, but there are other lengths in use, including 3 and 5 bases).Because unrelated people almost certainly have different numbers of repeat units, STRs can be used to discriminate between unrelated individuals. These STR loci (locations on a chromosome) are targeted with sequence-specific primers and amplified using PCR. The DNA fragments that result are then separated and detected using electrophoresis. There are two common methods of separation and detection, capillary electrophoresis (CE) and gel electrophoresis. Each STR is polymorphic, however, th e number of alleles is small. Typically each STR allele will be shared by around 5 20% of individuals.The power of STR analysis comes from looking at multiple STR loci simultaneously. The pattern of alleles can identify an individual quite accurately. Thus STR analysis provides an excellent identification tool. The more STR regions that are tested in an individual the more discriminating the test becomes. From country to country, different STR-based DNA-profiling systems are in use. In North America, systems which amplify the CODIS 13 core loci are almost universal, while in the UK the SGM+ system (which is compatible with The National DNA Database), is in use.Whichever system is used, many of the STR regions used are the same. These DNA-profiling systems are based on multiplex reactions, whereby many STR regions will be tested at the same time. The true power of STR analysis is in its statistical power of discrimination. Because the 13 loci that are currently used for discriminati on in CODIS are independently assorted (having a certain number of repeats at one locus doesnt change the likelihood of having any number of repeats at any other locus), the product rule for probabilities can be applied.This means that if someone has the DNA type of ABC, where the three loci were independent, we can say that the probability of having that DNA type is the probability of having type A times the probability of having type B times the probability of having type C. This has resulted in the ability to generate match probabilities of 1 in a quintillion (1 with 18 zeros after it) or more. However, DNA database searches showed much more frequent than expected false DNA matches including one perfect 13 locus match out of only 30,000 DNA samples in Maryland in January 2007.Moreover, since there are about 12 million monozygotic twins on Earth, that theoretical probability is useless. For example, the actual probability that 2 random people have the same DNA depends on whether t here were twins or triplets (etc. ) in the family, and the number of loci used in the test. Where twins are common, the probability of matching the DNA is 22 in 1000, or about 2. 2 in 100 will have matching DNA. In practice, the risk of contaminated-matching is much greater than matching a distant relative, such as a sample being contaminated from nearby objects, or from left-over cells transferred from a prior test.Logically, the risk is greater for matching the most common person in the samples: everything collected from, or in contact with, a victim is a major source of contamination for any other samples brought into a lab. For that reason, multiple control-samples are typically tested, to ensure that they stayed clean, when prepared during the same period as the actual test samples. Unexpected matches (or variations) in several control-samples indicates a high probability of contamination for the actual test samples.In a relationship test, the full DNA profiles should differ (e xcept for twins), to prove that a person wasnt actually matched as being related to their own DNA in another sample. * AmpFLP Another technique, AmpFLP, or amplified fragment length polymorphism was also put into practice during the early 1990s. This technique was also faster than RFLP analysis and used PCR to amplify DNA samples. It relied on variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms to distinguish various alleles, which were separated on a polyacrylamide gel using an allelic ladder (as opposed to a molecular weight ladder).Bands could be visualized by silver staining the gel. One popular locus for fingerprinting was the D1S80 locus. As with all PCR based methods, highly degraded DNA or very small amounts of DNA may cause allelic dropout (causing a mistake in thinking a heterozygote is a homozygote) or other stochastic effects. In addition, because the analysis is done on a gel, very high number repeats may bunch together at the top of the gel, making it difficult to resol ve. AmpFLP analysis can be highly automated, and allows for easy creation of phylogenetic trees based on comparing individual samples of DNA.Due to its relatively low cost and ease of set-up and operation, AmpFLP remains popular in lower income countries. DNA family relationship analysis Using PCR technology, DNA analysis is widely applied to determine genetic family relationships such as paternity, maternity, siblingship and other kinships. During conception, the father’s sperm cell and the mother’s egg cell, each containing half the amount of DNA found in other body cells, meet and fuse to form a fertilized egg, called a zygote.The zygote contains a complete set of DNA molecules, a unique combination of DNA from both parents. This zygote divides and multiplies into an embryo and later, a full human being. DNA does not change once it is formed at conception. At each stage of development, all the cells forming the body contain the same DNA- half from the father and hal f from the mother. This fact allows the relationship testing to use all types of all samples including loose cells from the cheeks collected using buccal swabs, blood or other types of samples.While a lot of DNA contains information for a certain function, there is some called junk DNA, which is currently used for human identification. At some special locations (called loci) in the junk DNA, predictable inheritance patterns were found to be useful in determining biological relationships. These locations contain specific DNA markers that DNA scientists use to identify individuals. In a routine DNA paternity test, the markers used are Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), short pieces of DNA that occur in highly differential repeat patterns among individuals.Each person’s DNA contains two copies of these markers- one copy inherited from the father and one from the mother. Within a population, the markers at each person’s DNA location could differ in length and sometimes sequence, depending on the markers inherited from the parents. The combination of marker sizes found in each person makes up his/her unique genetic profile. When determining the relationship between two individuals, their genetic profiles are compared to see if they share the same inheritance patterns at a statistically conclusive rate.For example, the following sample report from this commercial DNA paternity testing laboratory Universal Genetics signifies how relatedness between parents and child is identified on those special markers: |DNA Marker |Mother |Child |Alleged father | |D21S11 |28, 30 |28, 31 |29, 31 | |D7S820 |9, 10 |10, 11 |11, 12 | |TH01 |14, 15 |14, 16 |15, 16 | |D13S317 |7, 8 |7, 9 |8, 9 |D19S433 |14, 16. 2 |14, 15 |15, 17 | The partial results indicate that the child and the alleged father’s DNA match among these five markers. The complete test results show this correlation on 16 markers between the child and the tested man to draw a conclusion of whether or not the man is the biological father. Scientifically, each marker is assigned with a Paternity Index (PI), which is a statistical measure of how powerfully a match at a particular marker indicates paternity.The PI of each marker is multiplied with each other to generate the Combined Paternity Index (CPI), which indicates the overall probability of an individual being the biological father of the tested child relative to any random man from the entire population of the same race. The CPI is then converted into a Probability of Paternity showing the degree of relatedness between the alleged father and child. The DNA test report in other family relationship tests, such as grandparentage and siblingship tests, is similar to a paternity test report. Instead of the Combined Paternity Index, a different value, such as a Siblingship Index, is reported.The report shows the genetic profiles of each tested person. If there are markers shared among the tested individuals, the probability of biological relationship is calculated to determine how likely the tested individuals share the same markers due to a blood relationship. * Y-chromosome analysis Recent innovations have included the creation of primers targeting polymorphic regions on the Y-chromosome (Y-STR), which allows resolution of a mixed DNA sample from a male and female and/or cases in which a differential extraction is not possible.Y-chromosomes are paternally inherited, so Y-STR analysis can help in the identification of paternally related males. Y-STR analysis was performed in the Sally Hemings controversy to determine if Thomas Jefferson had sired a son with one of his slaves. * Mitochondrial analysis For highly degraded samples, it is sometimes impossible to get a complete profile of the 13 CODIS STRs. In these situations, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is sometimes typed due to there being many copies of mtDNA in a cell, while there may only be 1-2 copies of the nuclear DNA.Forensic scientists amplify the HV1 and HV2 regions of the mtDNA, then sequence each region and compare single-nucleotide differences to a reference. Because mtDNA is maternally inherited, directly linked maternal relatives can be used as match references, such as ones maternal grandmothers daughters son. A difference of two or more nucleotides is generally considered to be an exclusion. Heteroplasmy and poly-C differences may throw off straight sequence comparisons, so some expertise on the part of the analyst is required. tDNA is useful in determining clear identities, such as those of missing people when a maternally linked relative can be found. mtDNA testing was used in determining that Anna Anderson was not the Russian princess she had claimed to be, Anastasia Romanov. mtDNA can be obtained from such material as hair shafts and old bones/teeth.. DNA databases There are now several DNA databases in existence around the world. Some are private, but most of the largest databases are government controlled. The United States maintains the largest DNA database, with the Combined DNA Index System, holding over 5 million records as of 2007.The United Kingdom maintains the National DNA Database (NDNAD), which is of similar size, despite the UKs smaller population. The size of this database, and its rate of growth, is giving concern to civil liberties groups in the UK, where police have wide-ranging powers to take samples and retain them even in the event of acquittal. The U. S. Patriot Act of the United States provides a means for the U. S. government to get DNA samples from other countries if they are either a division of, or head office of, a company operating in the U. S.Under the act, the American offices of the company cant divulge to their subsidiaries/offices in other countries the reasons that these DNA samples are sought or by whom. When a match is made from a National DNA Databank to link a crime scene to an offender who has provided a DNA Sample to a databank that link is often referred to as a cold hit. A cold hit is of value in referring the police agency to a specific suspect but is of less evidential value than a DNA match made from outside the DNA Databank. Considerations when evaluating DNA evidenceIn the early days of the use of genetic fingerprinting as criminal evidence, juries were often swayed by spurious statistical arguments by defense lawyers along these lines: given a match that had a 1 in 5 million probability of occurring by chance, the lawyer would argue that this meant that in a country of say 60 million people there were 12 people who would also match the profile. This was then translated to a 1 in 12 chance of the suspect being the guilty one. This argument is not sound unless the suspect was drawn at random from the population of the country.In fact, a jury should consider how likely it is that an individual matching the genetic profile would also have been a suspect in the case for other reasons. Another spurious statistical argument is based on the false assumption that a 1 in 5 million probability of a match automatically translates into a 1 in 5 million probability of innocence and is known as the prosecutors fallacy. When using RFLP, the theoretical risk of a coincidental match is 1 in 100 billion (100,000,000,000), although the practical risk is actually 1 in 1000 because monozygotic twins are 0. % of the human population. Moreover, the rate of laboratory error is almost certainly higher than this, and often actual laboratory procedures do not reflect the theory under which the coincidence probabilities were computed. For example, the coincidence probabilities may be calculated based on the probabilities that markers in two samples have bands in precisely the same location, but a laboratory worker may conclude that similar- but not precisely identical- band patterns result from identical genetic samples with some imperfection in the agarose gel.However, in this case, the laboratory worker increases the coincidence risk by expanding the criteria for declaring a match. Recent studies have quoted relatively high error rates which may be cause for concern. In the early days of genetic fingerprinting, the necessary population data to accurately compute a match probability was sometimes unavailable. Between 1992 and 1996, arbitrary low ceilings were controversially put on match probabilities used in RFLP analysis rather than the higher theoretically computed ones. Today, RFLP has become widely disused due to the advent of more discriminating, sensitive and easier technologies.STRs do not suffer from such subjectivity and provide similar power of discrimination (1 in 10^13 for unrelated individuals if using a full SGM+ profile) It should be noted that figures of this magnitude are not considered to be statistically supportable by scientists in the UK, for unrelated individuals with full matching DNA profiles a match probability of 1 in a billion is considered statistically supportable (Since 1998 the DNA pr ofiling system supported by The National DNA Database in the UK is the SGM+ DNA profiling system which includes 10 STR regions and a sex indicating test.However, with any DNA technique, the cautious juror should not convict on genetic fingerprint evidence alone if other factors raise doubt. Contamination with other evidence (secondary transfer) is a key source of incorrect DNA profiles and raising doubts as to whether a sample has been adulterated is a favorite defense technique. More rarely, chimerism is one such instance where the lack of a genetic match may unfairly exclude a suspect. Evidence of genetic relationship Its also possible to use DNA profiling as evidence of genetic relationship, but testing that shows no relationship isnt absolutely certain.While almost all individuals have a single and distinct set of genes, rare individuals, known as chimeras, have at least two different sets of genes. There have been several cases of DNA profiling that falsely proved that a mother was unrelated to her children. Fake DNA evidence The value of DNA evidence has to be seen in light of recent cases where criminals planted fake DNA samples at crime scenes. In one case, a criminal even planted fake DNA evidence in his own body: Dr. John Schneeberger raped one of his sedated patients in 1992 and left semen on her underwear.Police drew what they believed to be Schneebergers blood and compared its DNA against the crime scene semen DNA on three occasions, never showing a match. It turned out that he had surgically inserted a Penrose drain into his arm and filled it with foreign blood and anticoagulants. In a study conducted by the life science company Nucleix and published in the journal Forensic Science International, scientists found that an In vitro synthesized sample of DNA matching any desired genetic profile can be constructed using standard molecular biology techniques without obtaining any actual tissue from that person.Development of artificial DNA In August 2 009, scientists in Israel stunned the forensic sciences and raised serious questions concerning the use of DNA by law enforcement as the ultimate method of identification. In a paper published in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics, the Israeli researchers demonstrated that it is possible to manufacture DNA in a laboratory, and thus falsify DNA evidence. The scientists fabricated saliva and blood samples, which originally contained DNA from a person other than the ostensible donor of the blood and saliva.The researchers also showed that, using a DNA database, it is possible to take information from a profile and manufacture DNA to match it, and that this can be done without access to any actual DNA from the person whose DNA they are duplicating. The synthetic DNA oligos required for the procedure are common in molecular laboratories. Dr. Daniel Frumkin, lead author on the paper, was quoted in The New York Times as saying, You can just engineer a crime scene any biol ogy undergraduate could perform this. Dr.Frumkin perfected a test that can forensically differentiate real DNA samples from fake ones. His test uses epigenetic modifications, in particular, DNA methylation. Seventy percent of the DNA in any human genome is methylated, meaning it contains methyl group modifications within a CpG dinucleotide context. Methylation at the promoter region is associated with gene silencing. The synthetic DNA lacks this epigenetic modification, which allows the test to distinguish manufactured DNA from original, genuine, DNA.It is unknown how many, if any, police departments currently use the test, which appears to be a serious issue in light of Frumkin’s claim that the DNA manufacturing procedure is within the grasp of any undergraduate biology student. No police lab has publicly announced that it is using the new test to verify DNA results, while FSI Genetics says that any forensic laboratory doing DNA identification should adopt this test to auth enticate its results as real DNA. Cases In the 1950s, Anna Anderson claimed that she was Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia; in the 1980s after her death, samples of her tissue that had been stored at a Charlottesville, Virginia hospital following a medical procedure were tested using DNA fingerprinting and showed that she bore no relation to the Romanovs. In 1986, Richard Buckland was exonerated despite having admitted to the rape and murder of a teenager near Leicester, the city where DNA profiling was first discovered. This was the first use of DNA finger printing in a criminal investigation. In 1987 it was the first time genetic fingerprinting was used in criminal court where a man accused of unlawful intercourse with a mentally handicapped 14-year-old female who gave birth to his baby. In 1987, in the same case as Buckland, British baker Colin Pitchfork was the first criminal caught and convicted using DNA fingerprinting In 1987, Florida rapist Tommy Lee Andrews was t he first person in the United States to be convicted as a result of DNA evidence, for raping a woman during a burglary; he was convicted on 6 November 1987 and sentenced to 22 years in prison. In 1988, Timothy Spencer was the first man in Virginia to be sentenced to death through DNA testing, for several rape and murder charges; he was dubbed The South Side Strangler because he killed victims on the southside of Richmond, Virginia. He was later charged with rape and 1st degree murder and was sentenced to death. He was executed on April 27, 1994. David Vasquez, initially convicted of one of Spencers crimes, became the first man in America exonerated based on DNA evidence. In 1992, DNA evidence was used to prove that Nazi doctor Josef Mengele was buried in Brazil under the name Wolfgang Gerhard. The Role of the Forensic Geneticist Forensic genetics is the study of DNA characteristics and patterns. The scientific knowledge base of a forensic geneticist can have different applications i n fields such as law enforcement and anthropology. One of the functions of a forensic geneticist is to examine and profile DNA evidence from a crime scene in order to determine the presence of a suspect.In another discipline such as anthropology, the geneticist may study historical human migration patterns by comparing DNA in diverse racial groups. Because DNA marking and profiling has a small margin of error, its results can be questioned. * Criminal Forensics All DNA contains sequences of nucleotides which have a unique recurring pattern for each person. A forensic geneticist first obtains a sample of DNA from a sample of tissue, bodily fluid or hair. The repeating nucleotide sequences found in the sample are then cut with specialized proteins and isolated.The sample is then probed by special DNA molecules which have been extracted from a known donor. If the probe DNA matches the sample nucleotides collected from a crime scene, then it theoretically places the donor at the scene i tself. * Victim Identification DNA can also be used to identify human remains where decomposition has left the body unrecognizable, or where dental records do not exist. Typically DNA from the unknown remains is matched with a sample of verified DNA from a missing person, or can be compared against possible family members.Genetic matching are also tools in paternity tests. Forensic Genetics has also been employed in identifying victims of war crimes located in mass graves. * Forensic Anthropology One of the most recent fields in anthropology has been the study of ancient human migrations. Using mitochondrial DNA (which is only passed down through the mother) and Y-chromosomal DNA (inherited through the father) forensic geneticists have been able to chart the course of human migrations out of the Africa over the last 60,000 years.This is accomplished by examining mutations of the two kinds of DNA, which occur rarely and only over an average number of generations. The divergence of mu tations in different existing ethnic groups can be compared and a rough chronological and geographical chart of migration is then laid out. * Accuracy in Criminal Investigation Findings by an Arizona crime lab analyst suggest that even if an overall DNA profile is unique to an individual, certain portions of it are similar to family members, and possibly (by coincidence) to unrelated individuals.This has the potential to challenge the widespread belief that DNA profiling is a foolproof tool in criminal investigations. Doubts can potentially be raised about whether a DNA profile for a suspect really belongs to that individual. How genetic engineering or DNA technology may help in crime investigation? agriculture? and medicine? DNA technology can help with crime investigation to help find a criminal who has left bodily fluid at a crime scene. They use DNA tests to find a match. Genetic engineering can be used in agriculture to create a crop that is superior to other crops.It can make a plant stronger and larger, etc. Genetic engineering in medicine is being used to help a couple who is trying to have a baby. If the one of the parents has a disease (such as Huntingtons, Parkinsons, etc. ) to create a baby that doesnt have the disease. The children are called designer babies. Law the Genetics of Identity: The Science of DNA Fingerprinting New Noteworthy, 2007 In Law and The Genetics of Identity, The DNA Files looked at DNA forensics, privacy and the law.There are many ways in which experts use genetic techniques for identification purposes, from identifying missing persons to solving criminal investigations. DNA evidence arguably has become the best-known type of forensic evidence, made more recognizable by popular television programs (including three CSIs and four Law Orders). Although the forensic tools used on TV allow detectives to solve horrendous crimes in under an hour, real-life techniques do require a few days. A DNA profile is a composite of about 13 areas of highly variable short tandem repeats (STRs) that characterize each individual.While humans share a vast majority of our DNA sequence with one another, some sections of our non-coding DNA are unique. Using DNA profiling techniques, it is possible to establish a likely match. The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) was created in 1996 as a result of the conflicts related to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and Republic of Serbia from 1991 to 1995. The ICMP uses DNA as a means to identify victims of war atrocities and natural disasters. As of April 2006, the ICMP had helped identify 902 people who had died in the 2004 South Asian tsunami.In 2005, the ICMP partnered with Louisiana health officials to perform DNA tests on 256 bone samples from Katrina victims. Forensic specialists created DNA profiles from these bone samples then sent the data to Louisiana authorities for matching with family members DNA samples there. In recent years, researchers and policing organizations also have made significant inroads in criminal investigation methods. New forensic polymerase chain reaction (PCR), STR, and mtDNA techniques have sped up analysis of a DNA profile extracted from crime scene evidence.What once took between 6 and 8 weeks now takes between 1 and 2 days. Scientists hope that someday it will take only a few hours to generate a DNA profile from a sample. According to President George W. Bushs DNA Initiative in 2003, one of the biggest problems facing the criminal justice system today is the substantial backlog of unanalyzed DNA samples and biological evidence from crime scenes, especially in sexual assault and murder cases. Timely analysis of these samples can help police arrest and detain potentially violent offenders or solve no-suspect cases.While timely analysis is important, identifying the correct person is even more important. Opponents of DNA profiling point out that case-specific issues and problems often damage the quali ty and relevance of DNA test results. The increased use of genetic technologies in crime investigation has contributed to many forensic databases, including two run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation: the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which catalogs millions of fingerprints, and the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).CODIS was once reserved for those convicted of violent offenses, but the 2004 Justice for All Act expanded the database so states can now upload profiles of almost anyone charged with any crime. In 2006, the FBI opened its DNA database to kinship DNA matching. A DNA sample from a crime scene that fails to be an exact match to any profile in a forensic database can now be used to find possible relatives that are in the database. Opponents fear that partial matches violate protection by the U.S. Constitution against unreasonable search and seizure and undermine the principle of presumptive innocence. Genetic techniques can also be used to exonerate a per son convicted of a crime. As of October 2007, the Innocence Project, founded by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in New York, had helped exonerate 208 people in the United States using DNA testing, including 15 who served time on death row.Byron Halsey, for instance, who narrowly escaped the death penalty when he was convicted in 1988 of the brutal sexual assault and murder of two young children in New Jersey, was fully exonerated in July 2007 based on DNA evidence. DNA can also help bring closure to cases that have gone cold. In 2006, after almost 30 years of dead ends, investigators in Virginia used carefully preserved blood taken from a 1977 crime scene in order to identify and arrest a suspect in the killing of Henry William Long.Questions surrounding the social, ethical, and legal issues of using genetic technologies in crime investigation persist. In a few cases, geographic and ethnic genetic testing have been applied to criminal investigations to help narrow the suspect search field. Critics fear that the information gathered and stored in this type of testing could be used for research on topics such as the genetic correlates of ethnicity or criminal behavior, fueling flawed science and dangerous prejudices. These

Top 5 Tracking Apps for Your 2017 Goals

Top 5 Tracking Apps for Your 2017 Goals If you’re anything like me, you come up with a ton of great resolutions and goals for the new year in a flurry of year-end cheer and optimism, then lose steam somewhere around†¦ February. That’s because all the good intentions in the world can’t necessarily compete with day-to-day distractions and realities. That’s why a good organizational tool is capital-E Essential. There are many different goal-tracking apps and forms you can use to keep you going throughout the year. These free (or low-cost) resources can mean the difference between hitting those goals and re-making them for next year because things didn’t pan out quite the way you intended.1.  AsanaCategory: Web-based productivity toolPrice: free to download and use, with optional in-app purchasesAsana is a project-tracking app that can organize any goal or project into broad tasks, with more granular subtasks. You can make notes on every piece of the project, as well as due dates, and Asana will email you reminders about upcoming milestones. If you have other people involved (as in a work project or a social plan), you can â€Å"assign† various tasks and subtasks to others. Asana is handy for creating specific, manageable goals throughout the year. Also, when you check off a task as â€Å"complete,† you may see a unicorn flashing across the screen to celebrate. How can you go wrong with unicorns?The website (as well as optional mobile apps) is free to use, but premium subscribers can create unlimited projects and receive additional data analysis.2.  GoalsOnTrackCategory: Goal tracking softwarePrice: $68/year membershipGoalsOnTrack is a full-service goal-setting and action plan tool. Whether you’re planning a project in the workplace or managing logistics for a family vacation, GoalsOnTrack offers a system for setting SMART goals to keep things chunked and realistic, creating an action plan that will carry you through the timeline you set, a nd printing out day planner sheets to keep you in the loop on a daily basis.An account costs $68 per year (approximately $5.67 per month), but there is a 30-day risk free trial available.3.  StridesCategory: Mobile appPrice: free to download and use, with optional in-app purchasesYou like dashboards? Strides has dashboards. Lots of dashboards. Strides gives you charts and real-time data on your smartphone or tablet, with reminders to help you form (and stick to!) good habits. Strides is totally flexible- you can track your progress on the go, and have your goal information at your fingertips no matter where you are. It also offers four different types of trackers: Target (specific one-time goal), Average (ongoing periodic goal), Milestones (specific goal with multiple steps), and Habit (ongoing general goal).4.  Coach.MeCategory: Mobile appPrice: free to download and use, with optional premium subscriptions for personal coachingIf encouragement and public accountability are what you need to stay on top of your goals, then Coach.Me might be the right tool for you. The app itself features tracking and goal-setting tools that you can use on your own. Coach.me also has a robust community where users can share goals and offer support and feedback. Both the trackers and the community are free to use when you set up an account. If you’d like to take it to the next level and get expert help on your goals, you can subscribe for varying price points to have regular interactions with a personalized coach.5.  IrunurunCategory: Mobile appPrice: free to download and useIrunurun keeps you accountable to your goals by offering progress meters and giving you points for each bit of progress you make. Ideally, by the time you hit your goal, you’ve got a score of 100. It may not offer you ice cream when you hit a goal, but you get the satisfaction of hitting that triple-digit milestone. The hard numbers can help you focus on particular tasks or habits that wil l ultimately get you to that endpoint.Even if a productivity app isn’t for you, there are plenty of online forms and templates you can print out and keep on your fridge, at your desk, next to your bathroom sink, wherever you want it to go:Goal Setting for SuccessSmart Goals GuideTechnoriGoal Setting BasicsTidy FormsNow that you have your 2017 goals in hand and the tools to organize them, go forth and succeed!

Biography of Ronald E. McNair (Ph.D.) - NASA Astronaut

Biography of Ronald E. McNair (Ph.D.) - NASA Astronaut Each year, NASA and members of the space community remember the astronauts lost when the space shuttle  Challenger  exploded after launch  from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on January 28, 1986.   Dr. Ronald E. McNair was a member of that crew. He was a decorated NASA astronaut, scientist, and talented musician. He perished along with the spacecraft commander, F.R. Dick Scobee, the pilot, Commander M.J. Smith (USN), mission specialists, Lieutenant Colonel E.S. Onizuka (USAF), and  Dr. Judith.A. Resnik, and two civilian payload specialists, Mr. G.B. Jarvis and Mrs. S. Christa McAuliffe, the teacher-in-space astronaut. The Life and Times of Dr. McNair Ronald E. McNair was born October 21, 1950, in Lake City, South Carolina. He loved sports, and as an adult, he became a 5th-degree black belt karate instructor. His musical tastes tended toward jazz, and he was an accomplished saxophonist. He also enjoyed running, boxing, football, playing cards, and cooking. As a child, McNair was known to be a voracious reader. This led to an often-told story that he went to the local library (which served only white citizens at the time) to check out books. The tale, as recalled by his brother Carl, ended with a young Ronald McNair being told he couldnt check any books out and the librarian called his mother to come get him. Ron told them hed wait. The police arrived, and the officer simply asked the librarian, Why dont you just give him the books?   She did.   Years later, the same library was named in Ronald McNairs memory in Lake City.   McNair graduated from Carver High School in 1967; received his BS in Physics from North Carolina AT State University in 1971 and earned a Ph.D. in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976. He received an honorary doctorate of Laws from North Caroline AT State University in 1978, an honorary doctorate of Science from Morris College in 1980, and an honorary doctorate of science from the University of South Carolina in 1984. McNair: the Astronaut-Scientist While at MIT, Dr. McNair made some major contributions in physics. For example, he performed some of earliest development of chemical hydrogen-fluoride and high-pressure carbon monoxide lasers. His later experiments and theoretical analysis on the interaction of intense CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser radiation with molecular gases provided new understandings and applications for highly excited polyatomic molecules. In 1975, McNair spent time researching laser physics at   E’cole D’ete Theorique de Physique, Les Houches, France. He published several papers in areas of lasers and molecular spectroscopy and gave many presentations in U.S. and abroad. Following his graduation from MIT, Dr. McNair became a staff physicist with Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California. His assignments included the development of lasers for isotope separation and photochemistry utilizing non-linear interactions in low-temperature liquids and optical pumping techniques. He also conducted research on electro-optic laser modulation for satellite-to-satellite space communications, the construction of ultra-fast infrared detectors, ultraviolet atmospheric remote sensing. Ronald McNair: Astronaut McNair was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978. He completed the one-year training and evaluation period and qualified for assignment as a mission specialist astronaut on space shuttle flight crews. His first experience as a mission specialist was on STS 41-B, aboard Challenger. It was launched from Kennedy Space Center on February 3, 1984. He was part of a crew that included spacecraft commander, Mr. Vance Brand, the pilot, Cdr. Robert L. Gibson, and fellow mission specialists, Capt. Bruce McCandless II, and Lt. Col. Robert L. Stewart. The flight accomplished proper shuttle deployment of two Hughes 376 communications satellites, and the flight testing of rendezvous sensors and computer programs. It also marked the first flight of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) and the first use of the Canadian arm (operated by McNair) to position EVA crewman around Challenger’s payload bay. Other projects for the flight were the deployment of the German SPAS-01 Satellite, a set of acoustic levitation and chemical separation experiments, Cinema 360 motion picture filming, five Getaway Specials (small experimental packages), and numerous mid-deck experiments. Dr. McNair had primary resp onsibility for all of the payload projects. His flight on that  Challenger mission  culminated in first landing on the runway at Kennedy Space Center on February 11, 1984. His last flight was also aboard Challenger, and he never made it to space.  In  addition to his duties as a mission specialist for the ill-fated mission, McNair had worked up a musical piece with French composer Jean-Michel Jarre. McNair intended to perform a saxophone solo with Jarre while on orbit. The recording would have appeared on the album Rendez-Vous with McNairs performance. Instead, it was recorded in his memory by saxophonist Pierre Gossez,  and is dedicated to McNairs memory. Honors and Recognition Dr. McNair was honored throughout his career, beginning in college. He graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina AT (‘71) and was named Presidential Scholar (‘67-’71). He was a Ford Foundation Fellow (‘71-’74) and a National Fellowship Fund Fellow (‘74-’75), NATO Fellow (‘75). He won the Omega Psi Phi Scholar of Year Award (‘75), Los Angeles Public School System’s Service Commendation (‘79), Distinguished Alumni Award (‘79), National Society of Black Professional Engineers Distinguished National Scientist Award (‘79), Friend of Freedom Award (‘81), Who’s Who Among Black Americans (‘80), an AAU Karate Gold Medal (‘76), and also worked up Regional Blackbelt Karate Championships. Ronald McNair has a number of schools and other buildings named for him, plus memorials, and other facilities. The music he was supposed to play onboard Challenger does appear on Jarres eight album, and is called Rons Piece.   Edited by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

The Importance of Culture in Language Teaching, and the Implications Essay

The Importance of Culture in Language Teaching, and the Implications for the Role of the Teacher - Essay Example Language includes speech, written characters, numerals, symbols, and gestures of nonverbal communication. Language, of course, is not an exclusively human attribute. Even though they are incapable of human speech, primates such as chimpanzees have been able to use symbols to communicate. However, even at their most advanced level, animals operate with essentially a fixed set of signs with fixed meanings. By contrast, humans can manipulate symbols in order to express abstract concepts and rules and to expand human cultures. In contrast to some other elements of culture, language permeates all parts of society. Certain cultural skills, such as cooking or carpentry, can be learned without the use of language through the process of imitation. However, it is impossible to transmit complex legal and religious systems to the next generation by watching to see how they are performed. An individual, for instance, could bang a gavel as a judge does, but one would never be able to understand legal reasoning without language. Therefore, people invariably depend on language for the use and transmission of the rest of a culture. While language is a cultural universal, differences in the use of language are evident around the world. This is the case even when two countries use the same spoken language. For example, an English-speaking person from the United States who is visiting London may be puzzled the first time an English friend says "I'll ring you up." The friend means "I'll call you on the telephone." Similarly, the meanings of nonverbal gestures vary from one culture to another. Whereas residents of the United States commonly use and attach positive meanings t the "thumbs up" gesture, this gesture has... This essay stresses that some teachers and researchers have found it effective to present students with objects or ideas that are specific to the culture of study but are unfamiliar to the students. The students are given clues or background information about the objects and ideas so that they can incorporate the new information into their own worldview. An example might be a cooking utensil. Students would be told that the object is somehow used for cooking, and then they would either research or be informed about how the utensil is used. This could lead into related discussion about foods eaten in the target culture, the geography, growing seasons, and so forth. The students act as anthropologists, exploring and understanding the target culture in relation to their own. In this manner, students achieve a level of empathy, appreciating that the way people do things in their culture has its own coherence. This report makes a conclusion that from the above account of culture and its relationship with language, it becomes easy to understand that culture is the most important element in learning the second language. Language is a tool to communicate with people. When we learn a foreign language, we mean to discover new horizons of culture, ideology and the way of life of the people of target language. Hence, without having good knowledge of their culture, the knowledge of their language seems useless because in the absence of cultural awareness, we cannot communicate with them effectively. That is why the study of the culture into the language teaching is so much imperative.

Rhetoric anlysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Rhetoric anlysis - Essay Example rb indicates that Catton’s style does not emphasize on action images, but on descriptive images that aim to illustrate the paradox of being different, and yet being alike. Another example of atypical syntax is: â€Å"Daring and resourcefulness they had too† (paragraph 15). It is a typical because the predicate â€Å"Daring and resourcefulness† was put first before the subject â€Å"they.† The unique quality of writing emphasizes descriptions of the greatness of these two generals, and how they truly captured the diverse characters of the American identity. Catton focuses more on the backgrounds of the two generals and how they served as the metaphor of their people because they are more important than statistics and dates in representing the greatness of two people uniting for a great common cause. For instance, Catton says that â€Å"Lee†¦himself was the Confederacy† (paragraph 6) and Grant was â€Å"the Westerner† (paragraph 11). By making each general stand for the people they were fighting for, Catton successfully creates a patriotic tone that can unify Confederates and Union supporters because, if their generals, the epitome of who they are and what they stand for, can set aside their differences to attain common interests, then these two groups of people can also do the same. The single sentence in paragraph 3 provides the thesis of the essay. It argues that these two generals are truly different, but they must collide in order to pave a new direction for the country. The purpose of using a single sentence is to emphasize the thesis and to set the tone of writing and attitude of the speaker toward the values and ideals that Lee and Grant represent, individually and jointly. These coordinating conjunctions give special coherence to the paragraphs because they provide the signal posts for talking about differences or similarities between the two generals and the lives they represent. They also support the patriotic, conversational tone that Catton uses, so

International trade theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International trade theory - Essay Example Therefore, a country should only specialize in the production of its efficient commodity. Interpreting this account to the illustration on chart 4-10, Ghana specializes in the production of cocoa for commercial purposes than Korea who takes its advantage based on rice. Ghana being 4 times more efficient in cocoa productivity than Korea who specializes in rice gives absolute advantage of each other in trade negotiations. Besides, the theory of comparative advantage illustrates that country’s exports should not be measured by quantity but efficiency to avoid market dominancy. For instance, if 4tones of cocoa were exchanged by 4tones of, rice from Korea then Ghana would be susceptible compared to Korea (Pomfret 107). Clusters or networks of similar companies in the same industry are always encouraged as this harmonizes competitive advantage of the countries involved by creating room for innovations otherwise improving productivity. Cluster is also very essential for the promotion f a particular good or service believed to be efficiently located (Pomfret

Popular Music - No Suprises by Radio Head Essay

Popular Music - No Suprises by Radio Head - Essay Example Popular music is everything about the new power the digital technology has given. It is about the synthesis of creative ideas over sophisticated technology. The concept of tracks, multi track recording, mixing, mastering and audio effects was unknown in the beginning of the last century. With the transition of the globe from the industrial era into the silicon era marked with the steady rise in popularity of computer systems and its various innovative digital systems work was simplified, automated and refined by leaps and bound. Similarly in the area of music, makers of music have extensively benefitted from the ready availability of technology at hand to simply work and increase productivity. The effect – more number of albums released, bigger and more complex musical projects executed with ease, a stark change in the ‘sound’ of the music from the early 20th century to late 20th century. Similarly, application, perception and the entire perspective of music has undergone a change. From being used as a tool to organise movements, address social and humanitarian issues, identify a community to usage for pure entertainment address global issues and most importantly for making a living out of music. In the next sections of the paper we will be discussing about Popular Music in far greater detail with literature review, detailed analysis of popular music track ‘No Surprises’ by contemporary pop band Radio Head. When we discuss about Popular Music we discuss about culture. We are trying to observe musical details of a musical genre that has overtaken the world in the last century and has now become mainstream or in other words popular. No Surprises – Analysis of Video On listening to the music video No Surprises by Radio head one can instantly relate to the sadness in which the narrator/singer is drowned into. The music, the visual elements, the background images, the lyrics, light effects, sound effects, vocal tone and modulation all convey just one message – a suppressed agony that needs to be vented out. On listening to the songs and watching the associated visual this feeling of gloom becomes even more clear and distinct. The rising water level in the water tight glass capsule holding the head of the vocalist Thom Yorke is symbolic of the larger issues and the common saying, â€Å"keeping the head over water†. Here in this video he dawns a lifeless expression while he sings the songs with the water level rising in his glass helmet until he gets totally submerged inside it. He barely manages to keep his head over the water. The water here symbolises various issues: social, political, econom ic, humanitarian, relationships, emotional etc. All of these things are depicted to be going out of control and taking the unexpected path, creating strife and rifts among people. Lyric setting The song talks about a man’s burden of life. It talks about the heaviness in the heart due to various reasons and circumstance prevailing in his life and his surrounding including a government that has betrayed its loyal citizens, a job that leaves nothing in life and a growing distance between people and their emotions. Everyone is in their own frenzied pursuitof goals and aspirations without caring for the larger good and the simpler things in life. The narrator of the song has a lot of things to say and he does it through this simple lyrical poetry with minimum usage of words and

Are ETF are threat to the asset management industry Essay

Are ETF are threat to the asset management industry - Essay Example The idea is that the stocks are repeatedly sold while the capital funds of the company continuously increase. Basically, the process is simple and managing the financial resource of the organization is not that hard to accomplish. No matter, the emergence of ETF or the exchange traded fund has increased the chances of doubting the capability of financial managing personnel to handle the competition in selling and re-establishing stocks in comparison with that of the marketability of the ETFs that are introduced in the world of business at present. 1 In this regard, this study shall further investigate the truths behind the intuitive sense of dealing with monetary issues and management among business operations today and how ETFs affect this particular process of financial control procedures. Through seeing how ETFs actually proceeded to affect business funding and marketing, it is expected that this study would be able to see the direct threat or non-threat that ETFs may have on business fund management procedures used today by proprietors of modern commerce. Cash flow in the business industry is a very important matter to consider. This especially involves huge organizations that are funded through financial investments from their primary stock holders. With profit getting higher, the level of benefit that the administrative party and the investors party receive form the business operations increase as well. It could not be denied then that effectively managing business monetary fund among business organizations is one of today's most important matters of consideration when the talk about business and finance is being tackled. TO be able to manage monetary fund effectively, many financial experts today continue to develop different approaches to the said procedure. Being able to provide the parties involved [the stakeholders] with the monetary values that they deserve to receive as part of the business organization is what is most cared for. Selling stocks is one of the effective approaches used by business finance managers of different business operations at present. Stocks are noted as particular monetary assets owned by investors to which the foundation of any particular business is based on. With the increased amount of stock fund invested in a particular business entity, the capital of the entire organization increases as well. This is how stock is that important to well established organizations at present. They particularly see stock ownership as a huge security blanket for their businesses in case any particular financial problems arise in the future. Dealing with these issues of monetary control has practically given birth to the existence of monetary management industry. This industry basically aims to continue giving secure assurance for the assets of business organizations present in the industry at present2. Through this, the owners of businesses are assured that they are protected by securities and other organizations that are providing such assured options of being protected from bankruptcy. Considerably, the birth of the different options of financial security programs offered to primary business stock holders have grown especially during these financial trying times that is currently

Popular Music - No Suprises by Radio Head Essay

Popular Music - No Suprises by Radio Head - Essay Example Popular music is everything about the new power the digital technology has given. It is about the synthesis of creative ideas over sophisticated technology. The concept of tracks, multi track recording, mixing, mastering and audio effects was unknown in the beginning of the last century. With the transition of the globe from the industrial era into the silicon era marked with the steady rise in popularity of computer systems and its various innovative digital systems work was simplified, automated and refined by leaps and bound. Similarly in the area of music, makers of music have extensively benefitted from the ready availability of technology at hand to simply work and increase productivity. The effect – more number of albums released, bigger and more complex musical projects executed with ease, a stark change in the ‘sound’ of the music from the early 20th century to late 20th century. Similarly, application, perception and the entire perspective of music has undergone a change. From being used as a tool to organise movements, address social and humanitarian issues, identify a community to usage for pure entertainment address global issues and most importantly for making a living out of music. In the next sections of the paper we will be discussing about Popular Music in far greater detail with literature review, detailed analysis of popular music track ‘No Surprises’ by contemporary pop band Radio Head. When we discuss about Popular Music we discuss about culture. We are trying to observe musical details of a musical genre that has overtaken the world in the last century and has now become mainstream or in other words popular. No Surprises – Analysis of Video On listening to the music video No Surprises by Radio head one can instantly relate to the sadness in which the narrator/singer is drowned into. The music, the visual elements, the background images, the lyrics, light effects, sound effects, vocal tone and modulation all convey just one message – a suppressed agony that needs to be vented out. On listening to the songs and watching the associated visual this feeling of gloom becomes even more clear and distinct. The rising water level in the water tight glass capsule holding the head of the vocalist Thom Yorke is symbolic of the larger issues and the common saying, â€Å"keeping the head over water†. Here in this video he dawns a lifeless expression while he sings the songs with the water level rising in his glass helmet until he gets totally submerged inside it. He barely manages to keep his head over the water. The water here symbolises various issues: social, political, econom ic, humanitarian, relationships, emotional etc. All of these things are depicted to be going out of control and taking the unexpected path, creating strife and rifts among people. Lyric setting The song talks about a man’s burden of life. It talks about the heaviness in the heart due to various reasons and circumstance prevailing in his life and his surrounding including a government that has betrayed its loyal citizens, a job that leaves nothing in life and a growing distance between people and their emotions. Everyone is in their own frenzied pursuitof goals and aspirations without caring for the larger good and the simpler things in life. The narrator of the song has a lot of things to say and he does it through this simple lyrical poetry with minimum usage of words and

American college student Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American college student - Assignment Example This is a psychosocial theory that is developed on four pillars that include situation, self, strategy and support (Isaacson, 2008). This psychosocial theory helps individuals be able to address issues in their lives since they aid people to determine what and how they would love to live their lives thereafter. Collaborating with other institutions around the college that provide services relevant to the courses that the students are undertaking is also vital in training them how to work in their respective fields. This can be coupled with Kuh’s collaborative assignments and projects. Kuh (2008) says that they help students learn how to work as well as sharpen their ability to grasp things and work while incorporating other people’s ideas in order to produce fine-tuned results. Kuh (2008) states that this is done through ways like â€Å"study groups, assignments done in groups, and projects and research work done cooperatively†. This also helps cement the place o f the college within the community and among the stakeholders if the students come out better people, thus; the college reputation remains good for a long time. Question 2 Creating a program that will enable students to achieve at least two of Kuh’s high-impact educational practices, it is imperative to include all the students. Programs aimed at a more tenured faculty with a better faculty student interaction should be encouraged (Kuh, 2008). This is so to ensure that all the students from different, but related faculties can share ideas and learn how to work in two or more related fields towards a common goal. This also enables students to interact more with their faculty professors in an attempt to understand their course work better. Additionally, students obtain a platform to ask questions that are helpful in their course work and in building their careers. This ensures and helps students irrespective of who they are to achieve the common intellectual experience of Kuhâ €™s high-impact educational practices (Kuh, 2008). Faculties should also encourage students to get more involved in research work and courses to learn more, instead of dwelling mainly on theory. Students should be able to test the authenticity of whatever they are taught in class in order to ascertain the credibility of information received and even to learn how to perform outdoor functions (Jones & Abes, 2013). Students doing their own research learn self-independence and the art of referencing. Other skills that come with conducting research are also gained by all the students. Sharing these ideas in class will, in effect, help them compare notes on what the most effective methods to use are and how to employ them. This line of approach actually helps achieve Kuh’s other emphasis which is involvement in undergraduate research (Kuh, 2008). Intensive and thorough internship programs with grades attached to the time and effort placed by the students during their placement is another way of ensuring that all the students are involved in learning. Their assessment during the internship is done by the idustrial supervisor who will ensure that they master how to do their delegated duties in perfection. Kuh states that internship provides students with the professional coaching; thus, they can benefit from real work environment experience (Kuh, 2008). Question 1 Chickering’

The Importance of Building Culture in Your Organization Essay Example for Free

The Importance of Building Culture in Your Organization Essay With its development, the society has always eliminated individuals who do not create their characteristics. Similarly, an organization wants to survive, must create their own culture. It is true that organizational culture. Corporate culture is one of the most significant elements to develop a group. Disneyland is a typical example of the efficiency of corporate culture in an organization. This essay consists of three parts. The first is a general introduction to Disneyland and its culture. Explain the specific benefits of this culture regarding promoting its strategy. Secondly, some methods that Disney land wants its employees to behave as they do. Finally, the dedication of the staff to Disney land and the basis of this commitment. Overview of Disneyland and its culture Disneyland is the first of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.Ã'‚Disneyland’s organizational culture in three levels of culture. They are artifacts, espoused value, and basic assumptions. Artifacts: Disneyland has some unique rules to recruit employees. These employees are single, good looking mostly white females and males in their early twenties, average height, below average weight, clean, natural and polished face. There are few, representative minorities. Almost minority staffs are close copies of the standard model Disneyland. Disneyland has some unique rules. It is written in a handbook about the image of Disney. The readers can learn something like men has facial hair and long hair that is prohibited. Women do not wear flashy jewelry. Uniforms are an essential part. It shows the image of a group and employee’s pride in the company. Both of them are to look tidy and prim, let their uniform clean, fresh and polish their shoes. Moreover, employees must always smile and happy when interacting with customers. With some rules, Disneyland attracts more many visitors. The customer feeling Disneyland is a happy place over the world. They feel warm, well-being and welcome everywhere that they come. The surface of the culture does not show real feelings of employees. It is easy to change or influence and very important for Disneys business. Espoused values Disneyland is the self-proclaimed â€Å"happiest place on the earth†. The product of Disneyland is emotion â€Å"laughter and well-being†. You are dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway†. Creativity, imagination, and dreams become true. Disneyland will never complete. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. there are no rides at Disneyland, only â€Å"attractions† Disney itself is a â€Å"park†, not amusement center. There are no accidents, only incidents in Disney. Employees are convinced that they are happy at work. It’s the way of finding social identifiers in Disney. Basic assumptions The spiritual level It means all of the corporate staffs have the common view of the internal and external environment of enterprise in the long-term work experience. It includes the common acknowledge assumptions. The rule: â€Å"once a sweeper, always a sweeper.† Movement across jobs doesn’t occur in the park management in Disney. The rules: â€Å"the customer is king† Employee demeanor is governed by three aspects: smile, friendly and good- mannered. Disney management has a strict and complicated social hierarchy. The rule: â€Å" the Romanesque† The employees are told repeatedly that if they are happy and cheerful at work. The manger in the park thinks everyone is a child at heart when at Disneyland. 1. Socialization- incoming identities are set aside while employees are trained in the use of new identities of the situational sort. 2. Work culture- Giving least possibilities of experiments to ride operators. 3. Emotional management- aside training, it involves strong self-monitoring skills of employees. 4. Strong hierarchical structure.

Breast Cancer And Breast Self Examination

Breast Cancer And Breast Self Examination Breast cancer is a major killer disease of women both globally and regionally. It is the most common cancer among women, and the second cause of deaths among women worldwide (World Health Organization WHO, 2010). The incidence of breast cancer in women remains high. It is estimated that 1,000,000 women develops breast cancer each year and Approximately 519,000 women deaths are related to breast cancer (WHO, 2010; McPherson, Steel, Dixon, 2000). According to Manning-Walsh (2004) breast cancer incidence has increased and it is alarming for women affecting all ages. As a result, interpersonal relationships such as marital or sexual relationship are negatively affected. Stephen (2009) described breast cancer as a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast, cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way (p.1). Moreover there is no known cause for breast cancer but there are risk factors that are closely linked to development and progres sion of breast cancer. Breast cancer is classified into four stages. According to The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) revise the four stages are based on tumor size, the degree of lymph node involvement, the presence of inflammatory signs, and evidence of metastasis (Singletary at el. 2002). Stage (I) breast cancer involves primarily small tumors (less than or equal to 2 cm) with no known lymph node involvement and no metastases to other organs, in Egypt few women present at this stage. stage (II) breast cancers are characterized by either slightly larger primary tumor than stage (I) (between 2 and 5 cm) or if there is lymph node involvement. stage (III) consists of large tumors (greater than 5 cm) with signs of inflammatory breast cancer, also if ipsilateral nodes are involved where the tumor has caused the node to be fixed to another node or to other structures it is designated stage (III), high percent of women present in this stage which treatment option are limited. S tage 4 means any metastatic breast cancer no matter what size the tumor or if there is nodal involvement or not. If it is metastatic, it is stage (IV), in general stage (IV) is not considered curable (Singletary at el. 2002). The occurrence of breast cancer creates psychosocial stress for both the patient and her family, due to threat to the patients life and other consequences of breast cancer such as metastasis to other body organs and parts. In addition studies have shown that middle aged women (40-60) are most likely to develop breast cancer, and most patients with breast cancer present for the first time at stages two and three (Khatib, Modjtabai, 2006). Breast cancer has high incidence among women during productive period and has effect on financial as breast cancer treatment is very costly. Breast cancer account for 37% of all types of cancer globally, moreover incidence of breast cancer varies from one country to another (WHO, 2010). In United State of America (USA) around 20 women will develop breast cancer each hour, moreover and around 5 women will die with breast cancer each hour (Lancaster, 2005). Studies have established that the rate of breast cancer is highest in USA and Canada, one out of nine women are expected to develop breast cancer and it is most common among women age 47-73 years old, leading to epidemic proportions in USA and Canada (McPherson, Steel Dixon, 2000; George, 2000; Naeem at el., 2008). 182,460 cases developed breast cancer in USA in 2008 (Jemal at el., 2008). Regional Overview Breast cancer incidence in developing country is high almost as high as in developed countries. One out of nine Pakistani women are expected to developed breast cancer (50 per 100,000), which is high compared to Indian women (19 per 100,000) (Kumar, Imam, Manzoor, Masood, 2009). In Iran, one of the Arabic Country, in 2005 prevalence of breast cancer among women was (22 per 100,000) (Tavafian, Hasani, Aghamolaei, Zareand, Gregory, 2009). Breast cancer is a major health alarms for many countries in the Mediterranean Region such as Bahrain represents 38.4% of all female cancers and in Jordan its represents 28% of all female cancers (Khatib, Modjtabai, 2006; Center for Arab Genomic Studies, 2003). Likewise, breast cancer is the most common cancer among Egyptian women. According to the Egypt National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Egypt, breast cancer represents 18.9% of all cancers cases (35.1% in women and 2.2 % in men) (Omar, et al. 2003). Incidence of breast cancer is not different comparing with other countries which represented (24 per100, 000) and mortality rate related to breast cancer is 9.3% of all cancers (Seif, Aziz, 2000). According to Khatib and Modjtabai (2006) Egyptian women under the age of 50 are more likely to develop breast cancer, where women aged 50 years and older are the most commonly affected group. In Egypt breast cancer is usually detected at late stages (around 60% of cases detected in third stage of breast cancer), when treatment options are limited therefore breast cancer is high fetal (Bender et al. 2005; Ibrahim at el., 2010). In Aswan, breast cancer is most frequent cancer among both males and females (Ibrahim at el. 2010). Moreover it is presents 63.9% of all cancer cases among Aswan females, and most women aged (40-59) are the most commonly affected group. According to Ibrahim at el. (2010) after the age of 20 years, breast cancer became the most frequent cancer with a peak in the age group 40-59 years (p.72). In addition most cases are diagnosed in late stages only 3.1% cases are diagnosed in first stage, on the other hand around 96.2% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in second and third stage when treatment options are limited making breast cancer is high fetal. As a result it is important to understand Aswan females experience about breast self examination and early detection of breast cancer. Moreover the high incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer, as well as the high cost of treatment and limited resources available, require that it should continue to be a focus of attention for health care providers. The benefits of fighting breast cancer, including the positive impact that early detection and screening can have, need to be carefully addressed. Early detection The early detection of breast cancer is the most important and beneficial area of protection techniques. Diagnosis of breast cancer during the early stages of disease has been positively linked to a decrease in the mortality and morbidity of the illness (Budden, 1998; Gray 1990; Mele, Archer, Pusch, 2005). Early detection of breast cancer is very important to decrease the morbidity and mortality of breast cancer outcome; mammography and breast self examination have been used as strategies for this purpose (Budden, 1998; Gray 1990; Mele, Archer, Pusch, 2005). Moreover there are a number of approaches to the screening of breast cancer such as Breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination and mammography (Khatib, Modjtabai, 2006). (I) BSE is effective, cheap and less painful; however, it is dependent on knowledge, attitude towards BSE practice among women. (II) Clinical breast examination is one of the primary modes of screening for breast cancer. Its effectiveness is dep endent upon the skills of the health care providers and the facilities available. (III) Mammography is known to reduce breast cancer mortality among women, but its benefits are dependent upon several factors such as the equipment used, the skills of the technician and it is expensive as well (Khatib, Modjtabai, 2006; Budden, 1998; Gray 1990; Mele, Archer, Pusch, 2005). Breast Self examination BSE should be preformed every month starting at age 20 (ACS, 2009). The purpose of BSE is for a woman to learn the natural features of her breast, know how her breasts normally feel, thus easier for her to identify and report any new changes to the physician. (Gray, 1990; Highton, 2002). There is strong evidence that BSE can reduce mortality from breast cancer, around 90% of breast cancer are detected by BSE. (Smith, 2002; Wilson Ayers, 2007). However the studies showed that BSE practice is very low. Therefore women should be aware of BSE tool. Consequently there seems to be general agreement on the importance to empower women with BSE knowledge and skill to promote BSE practice. Several studies have shown that there is a gap in knowledge about BSE and practice among women. (Al Qattan, Alsaleh, Al Musallam, Masoud, 2008; Alkhasawneh, Akhu-Zaheya, Suleiman, 2009; Wilson Ayers, 2007). George (2000) the barrier to breast cancer screening could be classified to personal, caregiver or demographic barriers, personal barriers included attitude and lack of information. At caregiver level, the assumption is lack of knowledge, skills, attitude, and consistency. For demographic it could be related to age, education level or culture. A fear of detecting any lump is also considered one of breast cancer screening barrier. The WHO (2010) suggested that to decrease the incidence of breast cancer in developing countries, breast cancer screening programs should be emphasized. The way this phenomenon is perceived by women influenced by many factors such as womens socio cultural beliefs, values, geographical environment, personal knowledge and so on. Women face many challenges in rural areas which may affect their quality of life. To enhance the quality of life of middle age women in rural areas, it is important to have in depth understanding about their BSE perception. Breast self examination practice Knowledge and practice rate of BSE is varies from one country to another. According to Coleman (1991) around 96% of the American women had heard about BSE, however only 19-40% of them practice BSE every month. In the other hand 37% of the Kuwaiti women are practice BSE (Al Qattan, Al Saleh, Al Musallam Masoud, 2008). In literature review only two studies were founded that were conducted in Egypt about BSE one was on Evaluation of effect of breast self examination training program on knowledge, attitude and practice (Seif Aziz, 2000; p. 105), among 122 worker women in Ain Shams University- Lower Egypt. The result showed that around 25% of the participants have knowledge about breast cancer and BSE, however only 10.6% and 11.5% of the total sample practiced BSE. In addition the participant asserted that caregiver teams have an important role to provide the knowledge, skills and practice about BSE (Seif Aziz). The second study is Breast self-examination practice and its impact on bre ast cancer diagnosis in Alexandria, Egypt (Abdel-Fattah, Zaki, Bassili, El-Shazly, Tognoni, 2000, p.34). The result showed that 10. 4% of breast cancer patient practiced BSE after being diagnosed with breast cancer as study was focused on breast cancer patients, to monitor for spread of the cancer to the unaffected breast (Abdel-Fattah, Zaki, Bassili, El-Shazly, Tognoni, 2000). The gap in the two finding, (I) they focused only on percentage of knowledge and practice of BSE. (II) Both studies recommended follow up for studies to assess BSE knowledge and positive attitude and level of practice among women. (III) There is BSE negative attitude among women (72.1%) without explain the reasons. (IV) Both studies show the importance of attitude and perception of women related to BSE practice. Limitations of the two studies as one published in 2000 and the other one in 2003 and both are quantitative research. Usually people life style knowledge, attitude and behavior changes can be meaningfully captured through qualitative studies. In addition this data could be too old and no longer valid. Most of the studies on this subject were quantitative, and were designed to describe the demographic variables associated with BSE practice, increase the compliance or proficiency of women, or evaluate it as a screening technique. However there were recommendations for further s tudies to explore women beliefs and attitude about BSE. The purpose The purpose of this study is to understand the perception of BSE among middle age women, and explore barriers to practice of BSE among Egyptian women. Furthermore, it will help identify knowledge, skills and practice gaps and recommend strategies to address the gap in BSE. Research Question What is the perception related to knowledge, attitude and practices of middle age women regarding breast self examination in rural areas of Aswan, Egypt? Research objective To explore the perception of middle age women related to breast self examination (BSE). To understand Egyptian womens experience about BSE. To assess BSE knowledge and its sources among middle age women. To assess if nurses teach women in community about BSE. To evaluate whether women practice BSE in rural areas. Significance of Proposed Study to Nursing Incidence of breast cancer has increased and it seems that it will continue to rise, as predicted by scientists, physicians and previous studies. To decrease breast cancer morbidity and mortality rate, early detection is important. BSE is an important tool and should be practice to help in early diagnosis breast cancer. This study will enable researcher to understand perception of BSE among middle age women. Nurses who are working in the hospital or other health institute should be aware of breast cancers knowledge, altitude and practice among women. Hence, help them in early detection and intervention. In addition the findings of this study will enhance awareness among health professionals about BSE perception related to knowledge, practice and attitude among women. It also will provide need to plan intervention program about aware of breast cancers early detection knowledge, altitude and practice. As patient education is an integral component of nursing role. (Saarmann, Daugherty Riegel, 2002). So those who are working in different areas in different status, nurses, health workers, lady health visitor and nurse practitioner should be able to provide health education according to their socio-cultural and arrange sessions on sharing the women experience, perception of BSE and guide in understanding early detection techniques. Moreover can expand the research and may help other in further research if they want to search more information on BSE in relation to specific aspects such as cultural and religion. CHAPTER THREE Methodology Study Design Qualitative descriptive-exploratory design will be used for this study. This design is selected science, little is known about BSE experience among women, as the majority of studies carried out on womens knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to BSE have been quantitative (Kearney, 2006). Which are chiefly designed to describe the demographic variables associated with its practice, increase the compliance or proficiency of women, or evaluate it as a screening technique. According to Polit and Beck (2008) qualitative approach is conducting the study within naturalistic pattern. A qualitative method deals with experiences of human being in real life by exploring it directly. It helps to understand the phenomenon in- deeply, by giving rich and most appropriate information. In addition according to Pope and Mays (1995) suggested that qualitative research helps to understand complex behaviors and attitude. The purpose of exploratory study is to examine a specific concept abo ut which little is known (Burns and Grove, 2007). It emphasizes on identification of factors related to a phenomenon of interest. As this study aims to explore perception related to BES Knowledge, attitude and practice of middle age women in Egypt, therefore, a qualitative exploratory descriptive design is best suited to this study. The purpose The purpose of this study is to understand the perceptionrelated to knowledage , attitude and practice of BSE among middle age women, and explore barriers to practice BSE among Egyptian women. Furthermore, it will help identify knowledge, skills and practice gaps and recommend strategies to address the gap in BSE. Research Question What is the perception related to knowledge, attitude and practices of middle age women regarding Breast self examination in rural areas of Aswan, Egypt? Study Setting and Population Health care clinics in rural areas in Aswan- Egypt will be selected as setting for recruiting participant. The study population would be middle aged (40-60 years) women, coming to the health care clinics. The target population will be all the middle age women who will meet the following inclusion criteria: (I) aged women between 40-60 years. (II) the women who have not been diagnosed with breast cancer. (III) They are living in rural area. (IV) They can speak Arabic or English. (V) They are willing to participate in the study and use audiotape. Women will be excluded if they have any mental illness, as this may affect their judgment, or are not willing to participate in the study. Study Sample and Size The sampling method would be used is purposive sample. This type of sampling is often use by qualitative researcher because the aim is to contact participants who can give in-depth, rich information about the study phenomenon (Polit Beck, 2008). The study samples comprise of 8-12 women who are in middle age or to the point at which data saturation is achieved. Participants Recruitment Health care clinics director, physicians and nurses will be met and discuss about the study and request them to identify potential participants. The women who will come to the health care clinic and who meet the inclusion criteria for the study, nurses will give them invitation and consent letter. The women who will be willing to participate will be asked for informed written and oral consent. Then discuss and agree on the date, time and venue of one to one interview according to the womans convenience. The interview will be held in noise free setting either at health care clinic or at participants house/ convenient place. Data Collection Polit and Beck (2008) Polit study help to assess adequacy of the study and quality of instruments (p. 214). Prior to collecting the data, the pilot testing of interview guide would be done on 1-2 middle age women who would be coming to the health care clinic of Aswan, Egypt, after taking the participants consent. The objectives of Polit study: to evaluate the understanding of the semi structure questions, to assess the comfort level of the women, to identify the amount of time required by the participants and to determine the time of the day that suits best for the interview to be conducted. The data collected from pilot testing will be used as part of the data collection. Data will be collected from April 2011 to June 2011 in Aswan, Egypt. For this study, the data will be collected using semi structured questions to guide an in-depth interview. The time for interview is approximately 50-70 minutes. Individual interview will help to explore individual perception in detail and while maintaining confidentially. It is assumed that the participants may feel more comfortable and free while expressing and sharing their experiences in privacy. Audiotape will be used to record the interview. Notes will be taken for observation made onthings might be relevant to the study, such as participants non verbal communication (facial expressions, posture and other body language). At the end of the session the data will be verified/ cross checked with participants for clarity consistency. After audio taping the interview, the data would be transcribed and will be checked for matching. Interview Process The written consent will be taken from the participants prior to the interview. Interview will be conducted in Arabic as it is participants ease; so the data will be understood well and bias would be reduced in this way. Probes would be used to explore more information and will provide direction to the participant. Field notes will be taken; observation would be noted such as non verbal communication of the patient. Does the non verbal and verbal communication matches or not and observation related to the environment that provides and clue related to the data or experience. The data analysis will be proceeded by guidelines (unrau coleman, 1997) (a) the transcribed interview of the participants will be coded for analyzing data, (b) identifying emerging themes in the data, (c) labeling the themes with significant code words, (d) codes will be clustered and labeled using broader themes and sub themes throughout analytic process, (e) the thematic strands will be weaved together into an i ntegrated picture of phenomena under investigation. Data analysis will be carried out manually. The researcher will read the data over and over in search of meaning and deeper understanding, carefully reading the interviews to obtain a general sense of the experience. Data Analysis Plan Data analysis in qualitative research is actually begins when data collection begins (Polit Beck, 2008) therefore, the researcher will start analyzing the data after taking the first interview. The qualitative data analysis involves four cognitive processes: comprehension- identifying the themes; synthesis- merging of the themes to make a composite pattern; theorizing- connecting the findings with the larger body of knowledge; re-contextualization- applying the findings to other setting or the context in which the findings fit (Morse, 1994). Therefore, these processes will be applied to the data analysis of this study. (a) for analyzing data, the transcribed interview will be coded (b) identifying emerging themes in the data, (c) labeling the themes with significant code words, (d) codes will be clustered and labeled using broader themes and sub themes throughout analytic process, (e) the thematic strands will be weaved together into an integrated picture of phenomena under investig ation. Data analysis will be carried out manually. The researcher will read the data over and over in search of meaning and deeper understanding, carefully reading the interviews to obtain a general sense of the experience. According to Morse and Field (2005), gathering the responses according to the question is a significant procedure for semi structured interviews. Therefore, the researcher will read the transcripts and gather the responses to each question in a separate file. The gathered responses to each question will be organized in a text that will have three columns. The centre column will contain the participants responses, the left column will show the coding and the right column will include my comments and thoughts concerning the text. The qualitative content analysis will be used as analytic method, while for content analysis the form which is referred by Morse and Field (1995) will be utilized. The form divided into manifest and latent content analysis. In manifest analysis, t he researcher search for specific words, phrases or ideas used in the content of interview. In latent analysis, the researcher search for the underlying meaning of the message showed in the text. The latent content analysis has greater validity than manifest analysis as it permits for the coding of the meaning and not just the words of the participants (Morse Field, 1995). Therefore, the researcher will use both analysis methods. For coding, the researcher will reread the text and underline words or phrases and will copy them into the left hand column of the document. At the same time, the researcher also aggregate codes into relevant categories in a separate document. Pseudonyms and identification number to each individual text will be given. The pseudonyms will help to imagine the respondent and to make sense of it, whereas, identification number will facilitate to identify patterns during coding and categorization exercises. The codes with each category will be identified from its origin through identification number. The short form of category will also be assign to a code as well. Each category will be compared and contrast that may help to create sub categories. After sorting the major categories into smaller ones, the researcher will look for atypical and representative cases that will help to explain the significant experience found in the research. The researcher will also look for the relationships among categories to find common themes. The researcher will also refer to the notes that have non verbal expressions of the participants and her own feelings in the analysis process. The researcher will be involving the committee members and supervisor throughout the analysis process. Ethical Considerations The proposal will be sent to the Universitys Ethical review committee (ERC) which will give a written permission for the study. Informed consent and Permission will be obtained from Aswan Directors of Health. The principle of autonomy will be followed which means that Participants will be approached to consent for voluntary participation. Complete information about the study will be provided to the participants. The participant will be informed about the study purpose, risks and benefits of participating. Participants will be approached to consent for voluntary participation and will have freedom to choose or to terminate their participation at any time during the study. No potential physical or psychological harm is expected. Those willing to participate will sign a consent form and a copy of the consent form will be provided to the participants. Confidentiality refers to the researchers assurance to the participants that the shared information will not be publicized (Burkhardt Nat haniel, 2002). Thus, confidentiality in this study will be maintained by not sharing the participants data with any other participant and will be observed throughout the study. Anonymity and confidentially is the key principle to maintain privacy (Burkhardt Nathaniel, 2002). The participants identity will not be revealed in the study. Codes will be used instead of the name. The researcher will assure the participants of their confidentiality. The data will not be utilized for any other purpose, there being aneed for secondary analysis of the data permission will be obtained from relevant bodies. This study will help middle age women to verbalize their perceptions, feelings and experience about BSE. Women might get emotionally upset in the process of sharing their experience. In these instances break would be provided during the interview. The researcher will answer all the participants queries in order to provide complete information regarding the study to easy tension and promte c omfort. Rigor Trustworthiness is the term used in the qualitative research to show rigor (Poilt and Beck, 2008). In this study the rigor will be maintained throughout by utilizing Lincoln and Guba (1985) guidelines. Lincoln and Guba identified four criteria for maintaining trustworthiness of a qualitative research (i) credibility, or (Truth value), (ii) dependability, reliability or Auditability, (iii) confirmability or Neutrality, and (iv) Transferability, Fittingness. The research will be described clearly; the procedures will be used to ensure that the data will be recorded accurately. The researcher will ensure that findings and the themes will be logical and reflective of the data. Credibility, dependability, conformability, and transferability will be maintained. Credibility Lincoln and Guba (1985) credibility presented such faithful descriptions or interpretations of a human experience that the people having that experience would immediately recognize it . . . (p. 30). Also when others can recognize the experience by reading about it. To confirm the credibility of the findings, the researcher will share the outcomes with women, who recognized the findings and conformed that they were true to their experiences and perception, this establishes the credibility. One technique to improve credibility is to give out sufficient time for data collection activities to gain an in-depth understanding of the individuals experience. Dependability/ Auditability it could be maintained when another researcher can clearly follow the decision trail used by the investigator. In addition, another researcher could arrive at the same or comparable but not contradictory conclusions given the researchers data, perspective, and situation.To provide dependability, the researcher applied and recorded the audit trial. Lincoln and Guba (1985), state, Conformability is termed as a process to provide the study records in order to maintain the objectivity; and to verify the quality and adequacy of the results and interpretation. (Lincoln Guba, 1985).In this study the audit trail and research plan will be shared with the thesis supervisor and to the committee members so that they would verify its dependability. Dependability relies on three factors and should be ensured by the researcher: the sample size, the analysis approach, and the dissemination of the research result. The sample size will be sufficient for the research design as the researcher will achi eved saturation, and the researcher plans to disseminate the study findings through publication of articles and presentations at the national and international level. Conformability when auditability, fittingness, and credibility have been established by an audit trail, conformability could be achieved. Audit trail consist of raw data, memos, communications, records of gestures, etc. the researcher applied an audit trail to meet these conditions by constructing and maintaining a record of unrefined data, data reduction and reconstruction, synthesis products and consequent analysis (Lincoln Guba, 1985). Transferability It will be achieved when study findings fit into contexts outside the study situation and when the audience views the findings as meaningful and transferable to the rest of the potential users. Lincoln and Guba (1985) termed transferability as the way of presenting adequate data such that external conclusions may be made about the findings. These in-depth interviews, with rich descriptions about menopause experience allow the readers to decide about its transferability. Through rich and extensive description, the researcher will provide with in-depth information about the contexts, the data, and the participants. Limitations Limitations of the study includes: (I) the data collection plan is limited to three months only as it is a part of masters programme that may affect the quality of the study. (II) The researchers own experiences and opinion there is a chance of biasness. (III) The transferability of the study findings will be limited to Aswans population; as each community has specific culture. (IV) Because of the culture and the topic some of the participant will not share full information about their experience. Finding Dissemination Plan Results will be presented to nurses and nurse leaders of Aswan Directors of Health. The researcher will give recommendations and will work with Aswan nurse and their leaders to achieve the recommendations. The study will be presented at national scientific conferences and seminars, as well as published in local and international journal. References Abdel-Fattah, M., Zaki, A., Bassili, A., El-Shazly, M., Tognoni, G. (2000). Breast self- examination practice and its impact on breast cancer diagnosis in Alexandria, Egypt. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 6(1), 34-40. Al Qattan, M. M., Al Saleh, K. A., AlMusallam, S. S., Masoud, G. M. (2008). Knowledge and factors affecting breast self examination among Kuwaiti women. Kuwait Medical Journal, 40 (2), 103-110. Alkhasawneh, I. M., Akhu-Zaheya, L. M