Looks Can Be Deceiving Essays (1861 words) - Logic, Philosophy

Looks Can Be Deceiving Mysteries are once in a while made out of conflicting thoughts introduced together, at last prompting an unworkable circumstance. Conundrums, be that as it may, are definitely not essentially uncertain inquiries. Catch 22s are the pith of the characteristic multifaceted nature of frameworks (Internet 1). Every conundrum must be broke down and obviously comprehended before it tends to be clarified. Since arithmetic is, it could be said, an all inclusive language, certain oddities and logical inconsistencies have emerged that have grieved mathematicians, dating from old occasions to the present. Some are bogus Catch 22s; that is, they don't present real inconsistencies, and are simply smooth rationale stunts. Others have shaken the very establishments of science ? requiring splendid, inventive numerical speculation to determine. Others remain uncertain right up 'til today, however are thought to be feasible. One repeating subject concerning conundrums is that every one of them can be explained somewhat of fulfillment, yet are rarely totally convincing. At the end of the day, new replies will probably supplant more seasoned ones, trying to harden the appropriate response and explain the issue. A Catch 22 can be characterized as an unsatisfactory end inferred by clearly adequate thinking from evidently worthy premises. This paper gives a prologue to a scope of Catch 22s and their potential arrangements. What's more, a poll was created so as to show the degree of information that everyone has relating to mysteries. Catch 22s are helpful things, regardless of their astounding appearance. For the most part, be that as it may, most Catch 22s can be settled via looking for explicit properties that they may contain. Accordingly, on the off chance that you attempt to portray a circumstance and you end up with a Catch 22 (conflicting result), it for the most part implies that the hypothesis isn't right, or the hypothesis or the definitions separate en route. Likewise, it is conceivable that the circumstance can't in any way, shape or form happen, or the inquiry may essentially be futile for some other explanation. Any of these conceivable outcomes are pertinent, and on the off chance that you exhaust all the potential translations, one of them ought to end up being off base (Internet 1). The accompanying sort of mystery is called Simpson's Conundrum. This conundrum includes an obvious logical inconsistency, since when the information are introduced one way, one specific end is derived. Be that as it may, when the same information are introduced in another structure, the contrary end results. Mystery 1: Acceptance Percentages for College An and College Chart 1 Section A Area B Accepted Rejected Total Percent Accepted Rejected Total Percent Passing Women 400 250 650 61% 50 300 350 14% Men 50 25 75 67% 125 300 425 29% Total 450 275 725 175 600 775 As is clear in Chart 1, when the information are introduced in two separate tables, it looks as though men are acknowledged all the more regularly than ladies, in light of the fact that for each situation (College An and College B), men are acknowledged at a higher proportion than ladies. Nonetheless, when similar information are consolidated into one table (Chart 2), a negating result is inferred. Acknowledgment Percentage Totals for the University Chart 2 Accepted Rejected Total Percent Accepted Women 450 550 1000 45% Men 175 325 500 35% Total 625 875 1500 This table shows ladies in reality having a higher in general acknowledgment rate than men. This is a case of Simpson's Paradox since it includes misdirecting information. Clearly, the introduction of the information is significant, and can prompt wrong suppositions if the information are not utilized appropriately (Internet 2). Conundrum 2: An Arrow in Flight One can envision a bolt in flight, toward an objective. For the bolt to arrive at the objective, the bolt should initially travel half of the general good ways from the beginning stage to the objective. Next, the bolt should travel half of the remaining separation. For instance, if the beginning separation was 10m, the bolt first ventures 5m, at that point 2.5m. On the off chance that one broadens this idea further, one can envision the subsequent separations getting littler and littler. Will the bolt ever arrive at the objective? (Web 3) The appropriate response is, obviously, yes the bolt will arrive at the objective. Our good judgment lets us know so. Be that as it may, numerically, this reality can be demonstrated on the grounds that the aggregate of a limitless arrangement can be a limited number. The question contains a reason, which suggests that the unending arrangement will result in an interminable number. Consequently, 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + ... = 1 and the bolt hits the target (Internet 3). Mystery 3: Two Equals One? Expect that a = b. (1) Duplicating the two sides by an, a? = abdominal muscle. (2) Subtracting b? from the two sides, a? - b? = abdominal muscle - b? . (3) Factoring the two sides, (a + b)(a - b) =

The Quintessential Rebel :: essays research papers

The Quintessential Rebel In Allan Sillitoe’s The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner, we are acquainted with Smith, a man with his own norms, convictions, qualities, and fights. As we are taken through the account of a time of his live, we come to comprehend what Smith truly rely on. He is a diehard rebel that is bound to consistently adhere to his convictions, and is happy to forfeit all in a fight against his most prominent adversary and opressor, society.      Throughout the book Smith allows us to become acquainted with him. He energetically shares his musings with the peruser, and frequently his considerations create as he is recounting to his story surrendering us a nearby gander at the internal operations of Smith’s brain and character. Smith has a place with a gathering of individuals he gets the Out-Laws. It is the oppressed lower class poor road hoodlums. Wrongdoing runs in Smith’s family, and being naturally introduced to destitution he under observes, nor is in any event, ready to think about an existence without wrongdoing. At a point he indicates on having some socialist perspectives, and maybe recommends that his dad had socialist companions, on the off chance that he wasn’t one himself. Lethally perpetrated by malignant growth, Smith’s father passed on an excruciating demise. We later discover that it was Smith who discovered his dad short of breath in his very own pool blood, and right up 'til the present time has a lot of regard for him. The first run through Smith’s family experiences a monetarily agreeable life is the point at which the plant his dad worked in gave them a piece of money upon his father’s passing. â€Å"†¦a wad of fresh blue-back fivers ain’t a sight of good† (Sillitoe, 20) says Smith as the one break his family got was distinctly because of his father’s passing. Smith isn't cash hungry, he prepares essentially to get by. He knows precisely where he remains on the planet in direct restriction of the In-laws, the â€Å"pig-confronted nasty nosed dukes and ladies"†(Sillitoe, 8). He understands that he is a poor no one, a unimportant lawbreaker, an outsider of society.      Smith naturally is an agitator. He places himself and his individual Out-laws in direct resistance of the rest; for him it’s â€Å"us versus them†. As we are becoming more acquainted with Smith, he is investing his energy in a Borstal subsequent to having been gotten for a pastry shop theft. He has no second thoughts about doing what he did in the bread kitchen shop, and has a large enough heart to be glad for his associate, Mike for getting off.

Norepinephrines Role in Treating Mood Problems

Norepinephrines Role in Treating Mood Problems Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Print Norepinephrines Role in Treating Mood Problems By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on February 14, 2017 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on May 08, 2019 -Oxford-/ GettyImages More in Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Symptoms Diagnosis Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, is both a hormone and a brain neurotransmitter, or chemical. Its mainly stored in the neurons (nerve cells) of the  sympathetic nervous system  with small amounts also stored in adrenal tissue, which  lay on top of your kidneys. As a hormone, norepinephrine is released into the bloodstream by the adrenal glands and works alongside adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) to give the body sudden energy in times of stress, known as the fight or flight response. As a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine passes nerve impulses from one neuron to the next. Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) Medications that inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin  (which is  another neurotransmitter) are called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). By inhibiting the reuptake of these two neurotransmitters, SNRIs essential increase the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. Serotonin makes a person feel good and norepinephrine improves energy and attentiveness. SNRIs have been found to be effective in treating mood disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.  SNRIs are also sometimes prescribed for chronic pain and fibromyalgia. SNRIs for Treating Mood Disorders The SNRIs approved for use in major depression include Cymbalta (duloxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine) and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), but there are others approved for other illnesses as well. Although no antidepressants, including SNRIs, have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of bipolar disorder, they are sometimes prescribed as part of an individual treatment plan. Common Side Effects of SNRIs SNRIs may increase a persons blood pressure, so your doctor may want to monitor your blood pressure if he prescribes one. If you already have difficult to control blood pressure, an SNRI may not be a good option for you. These side effects often go away after a couple of weeks, but if they dont or they are particularly bothersome, be sure to contact your doctor. Some common side effects of SNRIs include: DizzinessDry mouthSweating more than usualUpset stomachFatigueHeadacheLosing your appetiteConstipationSexual difficultiesAnxietyDifficulty urinating The Family of Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors Each of these SNRIs is a little bit chemically different from the others. Effexor (Venlafaxine) Effexor was the first SNRI to be approved in the United States in 1993. It has been approved by the FDA for depression, panic disorder, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Effexor inhibits the reabsorption of serotonin quite a bit more than it does norepinephrine. Cymbalta (Duloxetine) In 2004, Cymbalta was the second SNRI to be approved in the United States.  of the way it works, it has the highest number of FDA-approvals to treat illnesses, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and nerve pain. Like Effexor, Cymbalta also favors inhibiting the reabsorption of serotonin over norepinephrine, but to a lesser degree. Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine) Pristiq, the third SNRI to be approved. has only been approved to treat major depression so far. Chemically, Pristiq works very similarly to Cymbalta.   Savella (Milnacipran) This is the fourth SNRI to be approved in the U.S. to treat fibromyalgia. Savella works by inhibiting the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine equally and may even favor norepinephrine, according to some sources. Fetzima (Levomilnacipran) The most recent member introduced to the SNRI family, Fetzima was approved by the FDA in 2013 and has also only been FDA-approved for treating depression. Fetzima inhibits norepinephrine reabsorption twice as much as serotonin reabsorption, making it unique among the SNRIs.

Saying So-so; Mediocre in Mandarin Chinese

The rules of etiquette in Chinese culture state that compliments must be rejected. Therefore, if someone tells you that you speak Mandarin well, a good way of responding would be, â€Å"Not at all, my Mandarin is very poor.† One way of saying this is with the Mandarin Chinese phrase mÇŽmÇŽhÃ… «hÃ… «. This could be prefaced with nÇŽli nÇŽli, which means â€Å"where?†Ã¢â‚¬â€as in, â€Å"Where is my good Mandarin? I don’t see it.† MÇŽmÇŽhÃ… «hÃ… « is made up of four Chinese characters: é © ¬Ã© © ¬Ã¨â„¢Å½Ã¨â„¢Å½/é ¦ ¬Ã© ¦ ¬Ã¨â„¢Å½Ã¨â„¢Å½ (the second is traditional Chinese). The first two characters mean â€Å"horse† and the second two characters mean â€Å"tiger.† This makes the phrase very easy to remember, but why does â€Å"horse horse tiger tiger† mean â€Å"mediocre?† It’s neither one nor the other—it’s so-so, mediocre. Example of Mama Huhu Click on the links to hear the audio. NÇ  de guà ³yÇ” shuÃ…  de hÄ›n hÇŽo.ä ½  Ã§Å¡â€žÃ¥Å"‹è ªÅ¾Ã¨ ª ªÃ¥ ¾â€"Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¤ ½  Ã§Å¡â€žÃ¥â€º ½Ã¨ ¯ ­Ã¨ ¯ ´Ã¥ ¾â€"Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Your Mandarin is very good.NÇŽli nÇŽli - mÇŽmÇŽ hÇ”hÇ”.å“ ªÃ¨ £ ¡Ã¥â€œ ªÃ¨ £ ¡ é ¦ ¬Ã© ¦ ¬Ã¨â„¢Å½Ã¨â„¢Å½Ã¥â€œ ªÃ©â€¡Å'å“ ªÃ©â€¡Å' é © ¬Ã© © ¬Ã¨â„¢Å½Ã¨â„¢Å½Not at all—it’s very bad. It should be noted that this phrase is very common in many beginner textbooks, but that few native speakers actually use it and it might come across as a bit strange or out-dated. Its a little bit similar to textbooks in English as a second language having its raining cats and dogs because its a cute expression that students like, but very few people actually say that. Its fine to use, of course, but dont be surprised if you dont hear other people saying it all the time.

Women Venetian Societal Views - 1156 Words

Race. Women. Men. Class. Poor. Rich. Royalty. In Shakespeare’s play, Othello, many issues are explored through a tragedy. The rights of women are being put to the test. There are three women, Bianca, Desdemona, and Emilia that play a major role in Othello. In the Elizabethan Era women were neither very respected, nor considered to be intelligent. Yet, the women hold most of the power in the Tragedy of Othello. The women are also the only characters that are able to maintain the trust among themselves and with others in the play. From being submissive to standing up for them, Othello holds understanding for women’s abilities in England during the 16th century. Shakespeare introduces and explores the issues of women’s rights, for better understanding, through the art of acting. Many people think that Desdemona, a wife to a powerful man, should have had more say in her own decisions. Feminism is seen as a strong problem in this historical period. There was not a choice between what the husband and the wife said. Sadly, what the husband says; goes. Whether this is the case or not, Desdemona herself says, â€Å"I am obedient† (Shakespeare 3.3), as she obeys Othello’s orders when they had a happy relationship. Through the relationship changes, Othello goes off in jealousy rages. She answers everything with â€Å"I will, my lord† (Shakespeare 4.3), even when the going gets rough. She is acceptant of her role as a submissive and an obedient wife. Emilia is a stronger characterShow MoreRelatedWomen Of The Elizabethan Society1471 Words   |  6 Pages Women of the Elizabethan society, such as in Shakespeare’s Othello, are particularly not considered as equal. Women were more often seen as less of people who need to be helped and aided by man. This ideology was spread by both men and women of that time by them playing into the gender roles of male and female. Othello gives a relative example of the male and female ideology being accepted and spread throughout society in the Elizabethan age. With it only being three women in the play, DesdemonaRead More Mens Control in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice1437 Words   |  6 Pagescontrolled by men. Men, who live in the foreground of Venetian society, wield their power in business, government, and family life. In the background, women conduct their lives quietly. They are subservient to their husbands and fathers and are regarded as helpless and in need of male guidance in areas of decision making. Though in Shakespeare’s time such a societal structure was largely acceptable, the modern reader views the subjugation of women with aversion, and the ways in which Shakespeare presentsRead MoreThe Women in Othello Essay1080 Words   |  5 PagesThe women in Othello are synonymous with Venetian societal standards. Only three women are characters in Othello: Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca but the roles these women play give the reader an idea of how women were portrayed, not only in Shakespeares Othello but i n society in general. Women were viewed merely as possessions. After the Duke allows Desdemona to accompany Othello to Cyprus, Othello says To my conveyance I assign my wife (I.3.283), this statement implies that Desdemona and a possessionRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello, The Moor Of Venice Essay1251 Words   |  6 PagesMoor of Venice by William Shakespeare, the women take on various roles in this Venetian society. The roles include committing fraud, playing the part of the victim, and playing the part of the hero. In this Venetian society in the 1600s, the women served major purposes and were vital to keep the towns running. However, the women also faced being victimized and stereotyped in this man-run society. Women were inferior to men, treated unequally, and women were also viewed as sexual objects rather thanRead MoreWomen s Treatment Of Women837 Words   |  4 Pagesthroughout history. From times of severe incarceration to the near-equality of today, many valuable generalities can be drawn about societies from their treatment of women. Elizabethan Great Britain, heading the way of the medieval Renaissance, introduced previously unheard of customs of treating women. In Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello†, women play integral roles in the outcome of the play yet are treated just as poorly, if not more so, than the racially and socially oppressed Othello, the â€Å"Moor of Venice†Read MoreTheories of Entrepreneurship1647 Words   |  7 Pageshow society affects the actions of male and female entrepreneurs in similar and varying ways. Societal norms and conditions, in many parts of the world, influence not only the actions of entrepreneurs but also their personalities and behavioural traits and mind set. Sociological Theory of Entrepreneurship The sociological theory of entrepreneurship examines the influence of cultural and ideological views, social relationships and networks and organisational and structural factors on entrepreneurialRead MoreA Comparative Study of Othello and O991 Words   |  4 Pagesuniversal themes such as race and gender through the use of literary techniques appropriate to audiences of the time. ‘Othello’ was written in the Elizabethan era. Its characters and their language reflected much of the white European society’s views of race and gender. People of colour in England at that time were exceedingly rare. Those that there were were an unfamiliar sight, and they provoked feelings of distrust, hostility and mystery. The idea of a baptised Moor, much esteemed by the senatorsRead MorePeople Who Dont Fit the Norm1468 Words   |  6 PagesMaurice Gee, and Shakespeares `Othello. This report discusses some common themes that I discovered amongst these texts, I outline how these texts represent a common idea that literature both New Zealand and European, is trying to portray societys views on people and what is considered `normal. How influential are main characters personas in portraying people who dont `fit the norm? In one of the opening scenes in the film `The Piano, the main character Adas appearance immediately makesRead MoreAnalysis Of Guy De Maupassant s `` The Necklace `` Essay1463 Words   |  6 Pagesbasis for â€Å"The Necklace†, wrote in 1884. In this short story, Maupassant uses third-person objective point of view with cleverly contrast and ironic setting but also figurative background accross the plot to paint a picture of a typical low-paid clerk’s family in 1880s French society. The protagonist, Madame Matilda Loisel, throughout the story has demonstrated a theme of disparage societal position based on money, fame and glamour. As said before, one of Maupassant’s signature style of writing isRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello - Reconsidering Loyalty And Honesty2431 Words   |  10 Pagesand calls Iago a betrayer. Shakespeare does not waste any time developing the manipulative character of Iago, as his Machiavellian actions are introduced in the first scene of Othello. Iago is a soldier in the Venetian army, who wanted the position of the lieutenant. When Othello, the Venetian army general, appoints Cassio to this position instead of Iago, he begins to portray a revengeful character with problematic actions. When Iago states, â€Å"I am not what I am† (1.1.64), this is the first notion

Carbohydrate and Peptide †Based Vaccines The Way Forward Free Essays

string(85) " being developed against certain types of pneumococci \(Francis and Tillett, 1930\)\." Abstract Existing treatments and therapies have supported a huge variety of diseases and infections, a significant example being antibiotics. However the increasing presence of multi-resistant bacteria, as well as increased changes observed in the mechanisms responsible for variation in viruses, involving accumulation of mutations within the genes that code for antibody-binding sites (known as antigenic drift), has resulted in these new strains not being inhibited as effectively by those treatments that originally targeted them (Reche, Fernandez-Caldas, Flower, Fridkis-Hareli and Hoshino, 2014). The knock-on effect has been that the bacteria or virus is able to spread more easily, and therapeutic treatments (used after a person contracts a disease), become less effective, unable to work by boosting the host’s own immune system. We will write a custom essay sample on Carbohydrate and Peptide – Based Vaccines: The Way Forward or any similar topic only for you Order Now As a result, it has been recognised that the vaccine offers the advantage of preventing the anticipation of disease occurrence, using advance action to counteract infection and chronic illness. Prophylactic, and to a lesser extent therapeutic, vaccines are the most cost-effective and efficient alternative to other treatments and prevention of infectious and chronic diseases. They work by causing changes to the T- and B-cells of the adaptive immune system to eliminate or prevent pathogen growth (Plotkin, Orenstein, and Offit, 2013). Going back to the introduction of vaccines more than 200 years ago, these were initially composed of killed pathogens, which although successful, also caused unacceptably high levels of adverse reactions. During the years of research that have since followed, as with the changes observed with antibiotics and other treatments becoming less effective, the need for safer and more effective vaccines has also been acknowledged. In addition, an improved underst anding of antigen presentation and subsequent recognition has supported the development of newer vaccine types (Flower, 2013). Equally, whilst many diseases and infections are controlled by vaccines, for some, no vaccines have been developed, including Streptococcus pyogenes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) (Wang and Walfield, 2005; Barrett and Stanberry, 2009). Efforts to develop new vaccines are discussed in more details, with a focus on peptide-based and carbohydrate-based vaccines. Challenges are also discussed, leading to a summary of the potential direction of vaccination and research, which describes a promising future. Peptide-based vaccines An example of a newer category of vaccine is peptide-based vaccines. Peptides are short sequences of proteins, and diseases/infections use these proteins as part of their attack on the immune system. In many cases, the immune system has the ability to recognise the proteins associated with an attack by disease or infectious causing pathogens and can respond effectively. However as observed with many cancers, HIV, HCV and other conditions, an effective immune response is not triggered, hence the need for newer vaccine developments including those based on peptides, which encompass single proteins or synthetic peptides encompassing many antigenic determinants (B- and T-cell epitopes) (Flower, 2013). Peptide vaccines are a type of subunit vaccine, which presents an antigen to the immune system, using the peptide of the original pathogen, supporting immunity. Such peptide-based vaccines avoid the adverse effects described with traditional whole-organism vaccines (Moisa and Kolesanova, 20 12) with additional benefits also noted (Ben-Yedidia and Arnon, 1997), including: The absence of infectious material An immune response that is specific, focusing only on the targeted epitope, with the induction of site-specific antibodies No risk of an immune attack or cross-reactivity with the host tissues Flexibility, with an ability to modify products accordingly Improved effectiveness in relation to manufacturing on a large scale, and long-term storage where necessary e.g. a pandemic. However, a number of difficulties have been encountered during the development of such vaccines (Simerska, Moyle and Toth, 2011; Dudek, Perlmutter, Aguilar, Croft and Purcell, 2010) including: A short biological activity of peptides due to degradation by enzymes The trigger of a weak immune response when used alone i.e. single peptides Finding optimal delivery systems. As a result, and to overcome the difficulties mentioned above, synthetic peptide vaccines have been developed, on the basis that a greater more accurately targeted immune response will be achieved. Peptide antigens are not immunogenic by themselves, so this has led to investigations into co-administration of subunit peptide antigens with adjuvants (immunostimulants) to increase the peptide-induced responses to corresponding antigens. Appropriate delivery systems and often toxic adjuvants have demonstrated effective immunity, however, although many adjuvants are described in the literature, only a few have been approved for use with vaccines for delivery in humans due to their toxicity and include water/oil emulsions, liposomes, and bacterial lipophilic compounds to offer a few examples (Heegaard et. al., 2010). Incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) and Montanide ISA (both oil-based) have been used in clinical trials. Focusing on liposomes as another example, researchers have demo nstrated that use of lipid core peptide (LCP) technology (lipidation of peptides) improves the effectiveness of a self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system, targeting a specific disease and triggering an effective immune response. This system provides a promising platform for human vaccine development (Zhong, Skwarczynski and Toth, 2009; Moyle and Toth, 2008). In animal models, peptide vaccines have been effective in generating the required immune response, and during recent years, peptide-based vaccines have advanced from animal models and pre-clinical studies, to human clinical trials (Yang et al., 2001). Although currently, all known peptide vaccines under development for humans remain at the stage of clinical trials, these trials should build on the promising evidence resulting from research to date of the potential application of vaccine candidates based on a LCP system, as well as other strategies. Prevention of not only many infectious diseases including hepatitis C virus, malaria, human immunodeficiency virus and group A streptococci), but also for cancer immunotherapy and improved allergen specific tolerance, remains an exciting, and very real possibility. Carbohydrate-based vaccines The development of vaccines based on carbohydrates not only has quite a history, but is also an area that is fast moving in the current research world. The literature provides evidence as far back as the early 1900s where researchers discovered a connection between type-specific polysaccharides and the induction of antibodies being developed against certain types of pneumococci (Francis and Tillett, 1930). You read "Carbohydrate and Peptide – Based Vaccines: The Way Forward" in category "Essay examples" This was confirmed by evidence of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides being used as vaccines, providing effective and long lasting immunity (Heidelberger, Dilapi, Siegel and Walter, 1950). However despite these early findings, the discovery and success of other treatments such as antibiotics and chemotherapeutics led to this area of research being put on hold. As mentioned earlier however, due to increased resistance to existing treatments such as antibiotics, coupled with th e recognition for a need of newer treatments including improved vaccines, renewed interest into preventive vaccines has resulted in novel approaches, which include carbohydrate vaccines. Vaccines are commonly made from weakened pathogens, or, as we now know, other approaches also use immunogenic proteins or polysaccharides. Carbohydrates have been the centre of attention in the research field of vaccination because not only do they exhibit more stability than proteins, but they have roles in both physiology and pathophysiology, including cell interaction and signalling, inflammation, pathogen host adhesion/recognition, to name a few examples (Doshi, Shanbhag, Aggarwal, Shahare and Martis, 2011). During the last ten years or so, they have been used as adjuvants, as carriers for protein antigens to aid immunotherapy, and as targets for vaccines against bacteria. Additionally, as observed with DNA and proteins, carbohydrates are now recognised as biopolymers also, playing a role in many molecular and biological activities (Doshi et. al., 2011). These discoveries, partnered by an improved understanding of the immune system and the identification of specific and relevant carbohydrate structures, led to the development of glycoconjugates, which in turn led to carbohydrate vaccine development (Holemann and Seeberger, 2004). Glycoconjugates are present in the surfaces of cells, as well as in the surrounding extracellular matrices and connective tissue. Therefore both the identified structure and presence of glyconjugates, plus the role they play, means they are a suitable basis for the development of new vaccines. Induction of protective antibodies is key to an effective immune response as a result of a vaccine, and as with peptide vaccines, challenges have been evident in the research to develop effective carbohydrate vaccines, including the following: Glycans struggle to effectively induce protective antibodies Carbohydrates have a low immunogenic impact by themselves (as observed with peptides). There are two main carbohydrate vaccine types: 1. Natural carbohydrate vaccines: these include small amounts of impurities 2. Synthetic carbohydrate vaccines: these are produced with no contaminants, and are cost-effective due large-scale production. Synthetic carbohydrate antigens used to develop vaccines have triggered immune responses in clinical studies and are favourable given the risk of adverse effects with natural vaccines. Four crucial aspects need to be considered for the design of carbohydrate-based vaccines (Astronomo and Burton, 2010): The antigen source: glycan antigens are diverse, ranging from large polysaccharide capsules, to small monosaccharides, to oligosaccharides, all of which have been shown to be adequate for preparation of vaccines. The carrier: this is most often proteins, although other materials have been investigated, with the aim of ensuring that the link between the antigen and the carrier is specific. The method of conjugation (or ligation): protein conjugates, lipid conjugates and polyvalent scaffold conjugates have been developed. The success of a conjugate vaccine depends partly on the method of conjugation employed. This should be simple and efficient, as well as causing minimal distortion to the individual components involved, with many differing techniques used (Zou Jennings, 2009; Ada and Isaacs, 2003). The choice of adjuvant: required to improve immunogenicity of the carbohydrate antigens being targeted, with a limited choice approved for use in humans. Examples of diseases targeted by carbohydrate-based vaccines The discussion will now move on to the use of carbohydrate-based vaccines in three disease areas: Group A Streptococcus (GAS), HIV/AIDS and Haemophilus influenza type b. GAS The need for a safe, effective, affordable and practical vaccine against GAS (also known as Streptococcus pyogenes), has been recognised for many years, as has the research into a vaccine against this disease, given the global burden on health that this disease causes in particular in less developed countries. More than 500,000 deaths result from the GAS each year, with the bacteria causing a range of both less complicated and life-threatening illnesses (Carapetis, Steer, Mulholland and Weber, 2005). The diversity of GAS strains is the major challenge for the development of an anti-GAS vaccine, with more than 100 different strains identified, of which the genetic sequence for several different strains have been determined (Johnson and Pinto, 2002). Research has identified that GAS bacteria contain a surface polysaccharide made up of long, repetitive polysaccharide chains. The conserved and constant arrangement of these chains suggests conjugate vaccines to be an attractive and achiev able option, with animal models supporting this theory (Cunningham, 2000). Synthetic carbohydrate vaccines, although only studied in a limited set of GAS infections, have demonstrated a protective immune response (Robbins et al., 2009). In addition, some areas of research have focused on the molecular analysis of a surface protein labelled the M protein, which is encoded by the emm gene. This particular gene has been found to be the major cause of GAS related clinical manifestations (Smeesters, McMillan and Sriprakash, 2010). These findings have allowed a greater understanding of the functioning of specific proteins responsible for the virulence of the disease, which in turn, supports the development of potential GAS vaccines. Vaccine prevention of GAS and the resulting symptoms and complications has been a goal of researchers for many years. A number of vaccines have been in research development to offer protection against GAS, with the research vaccine strategies focusing on eithe r M protein, or non-M protein antigens (Smeesters, 2014). However only those vaccines that use the M protein as the antigen have progressed to clinical trials (McNeil et. al., 2005), and have included conserved antigens coverage across the many strains of GAS, a type-specific vaccine based on the N-terminal portion of the M protein, and a recombinant vaccine that reached phase II clinical trials (Pandey, Wykes, Hartas, Good and Batzloff, 2013; Bauer, 2012). However no vaccine has currently reached licensing and so the diseases caused remain uncontrolled in many areas, with reviews covering the research suggesting that even those vaccines developed with the aim of providing large coverage of GAS strains, these vaccine might achieve acceptable coverage in developed countries, but in less developed countries where the disease burden is much greater, the positive impact of the vaccines would be much lower due to a greater strain diversity (Smeesters, McMillan, Sriprakash, and Georgousak is, 2009; Steer, Law, Matatolu, Beall and Carapetis, 2009; McMillan and Sanderson, 2013). Equally, antibiotic treatment is either impractical with regards to implementation (specifically in less developed countries) or ineffective. One research group targeted the bacteria by synthesising a new self-adjuvanting vaccine candidate, incorporating a carbohydrate carrier and an amino acid-based adjuvant, resulting in successful synthesis and characterisation of the vaccine candidate. This may contribute to the identification of a safe and effective vaccine against GAS in the future (Simerska et. al., 2008; Simerska, Lu and Toth, 2009). HIV/AIDS One of the main challenges researchers have faced within the field of vaccine development against HIV/AIDS, is that the virus surface is covered with layers of glycans, which conceal underlying viral antigens that are potential good targets in the production of vaccines (Scanlan, Offer, Zitzmann, and Dwek, 2007). They are produced by the host cell, which makes the virus appear as â€Å"self† resulting in no attack being triggered by the host immune system. The layers of carbohydrate also contain mannose residues, making these another potential target for a vaccine aimed at preventing HIV infection, whereby lectins preferentially bind to ? 1-2 linked mannose residues. Such lectins are being investigated as possible therapeutic tools (Tsai et al., 2004) although the fact that lectins are often toxic needs to be researched further to avoid the host immune system damaging host cells. Indeed, other drugs that are known to inhibit synthesis of carbohydrates only have this effect at often toxic concentrations to cause antiviral activity. Another strategy based on the same principle of developing a carbohydrate vaccine, is the identification of antibodies that again recognise and bind to glycans. (Scanlan et al., 2002, Scanlan et al., 2007). The antibody appears to recognize these glycans because although they belong to the host, they are arranged in a â€Å"non-self† manner (Scanlan et al., 2002; Scanlan et al., 2007), making the production of effective ant-HIV vaccines a real possibility, in addition to vaccines for other diseases such as cancer (Galonic and Gin, 2007). Studies have also been described using immune enhancing adjuvants, carrier peptides such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin and altered glycan structure constructs that support immune recognition in the development of vaccines against cancer (Galonic and Gin, 2007). These same strategies are being used in development of possible HIV vaccines, where antibodies target self-carbohydrates arranged slightly differently on cancer cells and HIV-infected cells, in comparison to healthy cells. (Galonic and Gin, 2007). These approaches have not as yet led to clinically effective vaccines, but it is clear that antibodies that strongly bind to carbohydrate antigens on, for example, prostate cancer cells, have been generated (Slovin et al., 2003) and this appears to be a highly promising approach. Further exploration is required based on the carbohydrate coat of the virus, which may lead to improved prevention treatment of HIV. Haemophilus influenza type b The first synthetic vaccine for human application was developed in 2003 for protection against Haemophilus influenza type b vaccine, not only providing protection against this bacterium, but also against all the associated diseases it causes ranging from meningitis, septicaemia, pneumonia and arthritis (Doshi, Shanbhag, Aggarwal, Shahare and Martis, 2011). Indeed this bacterium is the leading cause of serious illnesses in children under 5 years worldwide. The majority of strains of Haemophilus influenza are non-encapsulated, and are lacking in any carbohydrate polysaccharide protective structure, as opposed to the GAS bacteria and HIV virus described earlier. This structural information armed researchers with the knowledge that carbohydrate polysaccharide conjugate vaccines would be required to ensure the development of an effective vaccine (Verez-Bencomo et. al., 2004). As a result, carbohydrate-based vaccines have been licensed for protection in humans against haemophilus influenza type b, using oligomerization and a carrier protein (Doshi et. al., 2011). Evidence of progress To end this section of the discussion, several conjugate polysaccharide carbohydrate vaccines are now well into pre-clinical/clinical development, or have been licensed and are now commercially available. Examples of licensed vaccines include the following (Astronomo and Burton, 2010): Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) – 4 carbohydrate-based vaccines are licensed via 3 different pharmaceutical companies: ActHIB and Hiberix; Pentacel; PedvaxHIB; and Comvax Neisseria meningitides A, C, Y and W-135 – 2 carbohydrate-based vaccines are licensed via the same pharmaceutical company: Menactra; and Menomune-A/C/Y/W-135 Salmonella typhi – 1 carbohydrate- based vaccine is licensed: TYPHIM Vi Streptococcus pneumonia variants – 2 carbohydrate-based vaccines are licensed via 2 different pharmaceutical companies: Prevnar; and Pneumovax 23. Examples of carbohydrate-based vaccines in development include the following, where the disease is described in addition to the phase of development (Astronomo and Burton, 2010): Breast cancer – with 1 vaccine at the preclinical phase and a second at phase I Prostate cancer – 4 vaccines are in development at the preclinical, phase I and phase II stages HIV-1 – 1 vaccine at the preclinical phase Group A streptococcus – 1 vaccine at the preclinical phase Group B streptococcus – 1 vaccine at phase II. Conclusion It is fact that vaccines have had a major role to play in the success of preventing and treating many diseases, however many challenges remain. Diseases exist for which no effective vaccines have yet been discovered, including HIV/AIDs. In addition, diseases that have been controlled by vaccines in some parts of the world continue to affect the lives of people adversely in other areas where infrastructures for vaccination are poor/non-existent. Continued research is necessary to develop vaccines not only for those diseases with no vaccine available, but also to improve the effectiveness of existing vaccines. In addition to research focusing on novel and promising approaches such as carbohydrate and peptide based vaccines, efforts also need to concentrate on areas such as lower cost, more convenient delivery of vaccines, and longer-term protection. The future direction of research in this field has become focused with the help of new evidence-based information and promising data. The advent of synthetic peptide-based and carbohydrate-based vaccines signified a new era for vaccines, over-taking traditional treatments and vaccines which have become either ineffective or only offer short term protection. As the discussion demonstrates, a number of vaccines are already successfully protecting humans against some pathogens and disease, with the potential for further vaccines to follow. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it should be remembered that unlike drug-based medicines, vaccines primarily offer a cure, a goal all aim to achieve. Word count: 3130 (excluding references) References Ada, G. Isaacs, D. (2003). Carbohydrate-protein conjugate vaccines. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 9(2): p. 79-85. Astronomo, R.D. Burton, D.R. (2010). Carbohydrate vaccines: developing sweet solutions to sticky situationsNature Reviews: Drug Discovery. 9: p. 30-324. Barrett, A.D.T. Stanberry, L.R. (Eds.). (2009). Vaccines for Biodefense and Emerging and Neglected Diseases. Elsevier Inc., ISBN 978-0-3-69408-9. Bauer M.J., Georgousakis M.M., Vu T., Henningham A., Hofmann A., Rettel M., Hafner L.M., Sriprakash K.S. McMillan D.J. (2012). Evaluation of novel streptococcus pyogenes vaccine candidates incorporating multiple conserved sequences from the C-repeat region of the M-protein. Vaccine. 30(12): p. 2197-2205. Ben-Yedidia, T. Arnon, R. (1997). Design of Peptide and Polypeptide Vaccines. Curr. Opin. Biotech. 8(4): p. 442-448). Carapetis, J.R., Steer, A.C., Mulholland E.K. Weber, M. (2005). The global burden of group A streptococcal diseases. Lancet Infect Dis. 5(11): p. 685-694. Cunningham M. (2000). Pathogenesis of group A streptococcal infections. Clin Microbiol Rev. 13: p. 470-511. Doshi, G.M., Shanbhag, P.P., Aggarwal, G.V., Shahare, M.D. Martis, E.A. Carbohydrate Vaccines- A burgeoning field of Glycomics. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 1(02): p. 17-22. Dudek, N.L., Perlmutter, P., Aguilar, M.I., Croft, N.P. Purcell, A.W. (2010). Epitope discovery and their use in peptide based vaccines. Curr Pharm Des. 16: p. 3149-3157. Flower, D.R. (2013). Designing immunogenic peptides. Nature Chemical Biology. 9(12): p. 749–753. Francis Jr, T. Tillett, W.S. (1930). Cutaneous reactions in pneumonia. The development of antibodies following the intradermal injection of type-specific polysaccharide. J. Exp. Med. 52: p. 573–585. Galonic, D.P. Gin, D.Y. (2007). Chemical glycosylation in the synthesis of glycoconjugate antitumour vaccines. Nature. 446: p. 1000–7. Heegaard, P.M.H., Dedieu, L., Johnson, N., Le Potier, M-F., Mockey, M., Mutinelli, F., Vahlenkamp, T., Vascellari, M. Sorensen, N.S. (2010). Adjuvants and delivery systems in veterinary vaccinology: current state and future developments. Arch Virol. 156(2):p. 183-202. Heidelberger, M., Dilapi, M.M, Siegel, Walter, A.W. (1950). Persistence of antibodies in human subjects injected with pneumococcal polysaccharides. J. Immunol. 65l: pp. 535–541. Holemann, A. Seeberger, P. (2004). Carbohydrate diversity: Synthesis of glycoconjugates and complex carbohydrates. Curr Opin In Biotech. 15(1): p. 615-622. Johnson, M.A. Pinto, B.M. (2002). Saturation transfer difference 1D-TOCSY experiments to map the topography of oligosacchraides recognised by a monoclonal antibody directed against the cell-wall polysaccharide group A streptococcus. J Am Chem Soc. 124: p. 15368-15374. McMillan, D.J., Sanderson-Smith, M.L., Smeesters, P.R. Sriprakash, K.S. (2013). Molecular markers for the study of streptococcal epidemiology. Current topics in microbiology and immunology. 368: p. 29-48. McNeil, S.A., Halperin, S.A., Langley, J.M., Smith, B., Warren, A., Sharratt, G.P., Baxendale, D.M., Reddish, M.A., Hu, M.C., Stroop, S.D., Linden, J., Fries, L.F., Vink, P.E. Dale, J.B. (2005). Safety and immunogenicity of 26-valent group A streptococcus vaccine in healthy adult volunteers. Clin Infect Dis. 41(8): p. 1114-22. Moisa, A.A. Kolesanova, E.F. (2012). Synthetic Peptide Vaccines, Insight and Control of Infectious Disease in Global Scenario. Dr. Roy Priti (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-51-0319-6. Moyle, P.M. Toth, I. (2008). Self-adjuvanting lipopeptide vaccines. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 15: p. 506–516. Pandey, M., Wykes, M.N., Hartas, J., Good, M.F. Batzloff M.R. (2013). Long-term antibody memory induced by synthetic peptide vaccination is protective against Streptococcus pyogenes infection and is independent of memory T cell help. Journal of immunology. 190(6): p. 2692-701. Plotkin, S.A., Orenstein, W.A. Offit, P,A. Eds (2013). Vaccines. 6th ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier/Saunders. Reche, P.A., Fernandez-Caldas, E., Flower, D.R., Fridkis-Hareli, M. Hoshino, Y. (2014). Peptide-Based Immunotherapeutics and Vaccines. Journal of Immunology Research. Editorial. 2014: 2 pages. Robbins, J.B., Kubler-Kielb, E., Vinogradov, E., Mocca, C., Pozsgay, V., Shiloach, J. Scheerson, R. (2009). Synthesis, characterisation, and immunogenicity in mice of Shigella sonnei O-specific, oligosaccharide-core-protein conjugates. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 106: p. 7974-7978. Scanlan, C.N., Pantophlet, R., Wormald, M.R., Ollmann Saphire, E., Stanfield, R., Wilson, I.A., Katinger, H., Dwek, R.A., Rudd, P.M. Burton, D.R. (2002). The broadly neutralizing anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 antibody 2G12 recognizes a cluster of alpha12 mannose residues on the outer face of gp120. J Virol. 76: p. 7306–21. Scanlan, C.N., Offer, J., Zitzmann, N. Dwek, RA. (2007). Exploiting the defensive sugars of HIV-1 for drug and vaccine design. Nature. 446: p. 1038–45. Simerska, P.,Abdel-Aal, A.B.M, Fujita, Y., Batzloff, Good, M.F. Toth, I. (2008). Synthesis and in vivo studies of carbohydrate-based vaccines against group A Streptococcus. Peptide Science. 90(5): p. 611-616. Simerska, P., Lu, H. Toth, I. (2009). Synthesis of a Streptococcus pyogenes vaccine candidate based on the M protein PL1 epitope. Bioorganic Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 19(3): p. 821-824. Simerska, P., Moyle, P.M. Toth, I. (2011). Modern lipid-, carbohydrate-, and peptide-based delivery systems for peptide, vaccine, and gene products. Med Res Rev. 31: p. 520-47. Slovin, S.F., Ragupathi, G., Musselli, C., Olkiewic,z K., Verbel,D., Kuduk, S.D., Schwarz, J.B., Sames, D., Danishefsky, S., Livingston, P.O. Scher, H.I. (2003). Fully synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccines in biochemically relapsed prostate cancer: clinical trial results with alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine-O-serine/threonine conjugate vaccine. J Clin Oncol. 21:p. 4292–8. Smeesters, P.R., McMillan, D.J. and Sriprakash, K.S. (2010). The streptococcal M protein: a highly versatile molecule. Trends Microbiol. 18: p. 275-282. Smeesters, P.R., McMillan, D.J., Sriprakash, K.S. Georgousakis, M.M. (2009). Differences among group A streptococcus epidemiological landscapes: consequences for M protein-based vaccinesExpert Rev Vaccines. 8(12): p. 1705-20. Smeesters, P.R. (2014). Immunity and vaccine development against Streptococcus pyogenes: is emm-typing enoughProc Belgian Roy Acad Med. 3: p. 89-98. Steer, A.C., Batzloff, M.R., Mulholland, K. Carapetis, J.R. (2009). Group A streptococcal vaccines: facts versus fantasy. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 22(6): p. 544-552. Steer, A.C., Law, I., Matatolu, L., Beall, B.W. Carapetis, J.R. (2009). Global emm type distribution of group A streptococci: systematic review and implications for vaccine development. Lancet Infect Dis. 9(10): p. 611-6. Tsai, C.C., Emau, P., Jiang, Y., Agy, M.B., Shattock, R.J., Schmidt, A., Morton, W.R., Gustafson, K.R., Boyd M.R. (2004). Cyanovirin-N inhibits AIDS virus infections in vaginal transmission models. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 20(1): p. 11–18. Verez-Bencomo, V., Fernandez-Santana, V., Hardy, E., Toledo, M.E., Rodriguez, M.C., Heynngnezz, L., Rodriguez, A., Baly, A., Herrera, L., Izquierdo, M., Villar, A., Valdes, Y., Cosme, K., Deler, M.L., Montane, M., Garcia, E., Ramos, A., Aguilar, A., Medina, E., Torano, G., Sosa, I., Hernandez, I., Martinez, R., Muzachio, A., Carmenates, A., Costa, L., Cardoso, F., Campa, C., Diaz, M. Roy, R. (2004). A synthetic conjugate polysaccharide vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b. Science. 305(5683): p. 552-555. Wang, C.Y. Walfield, A.M. (2005). Site-specific peptide vaccines for immunotherapy and immunization against chronic diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, and for veterinary applications. Vaccine. 23(17-18): p. 2049–2056. Yang, D., Holt, G.E., Rudolf, M.P., Velders, M.P., Brandt, R.M.P., Kwon, E.D. Kast, W.M. (2001). Peptide Vaccines. In: New Vaccine Technologies. Chapter 12: p. 214-226. Zhong, W., Skwarczynski, M. Toth, I. (2009) Lipid Core Peptide System for Gene, Drug, and Vaccine Delivery. Australian Journal of Chemistry. 62: p. 956–967. Zou, W.. Jennings, H.J. (2009). Preparation of glycoconjugate vaccines. In: Carbohydrate-Based Vaccines and Immunotherapies. Chapter 2. How to cite Carbohydrate and Peptide – Based Vaccines: The Way Forward, Essay examples

The Chosen Essays (585 words) - The Chosen, Rabbi, Talmud

The Chosen Zycer Book Report Title : The Chosen Author : Chaim Potok Number of pages : 271 pages Date published : 1967 What is your book about? The story, set in New York during the Second World War, is basically about the friendship between two boys. It begins with a baseball game between Reuvens team and Dannys team. During the game, when Reuven is pitcher, Danny, the batter, hits the baseball in the pitchers direction which Reuven tries to block with his glove but it strikes him and shatters his glasses and Reuven is forced to be hospitalised. While Reuven is in the hospital Danny comes to visit him. They have quite a few conversations throughout Reuvens stay in hospital and become friends. After Reuven goes back home, the rest of the book is about the friendship evolving as the two boys grow up and go through high school. There are few events of great importance that take place during the remainder of the story, with most of them having a marginal impact. The Chosen is more about the development of the characters and their relationship than the individual actions. It describes a place where the worlds of very religious Judaism and not so religious Judaism meet, which is hard to imagine for an outsider. It shows how, even though two groups of people are Jewish, there are many differences between them. Describe an intersting character Reb Saunders is Dannys father, the rabbi of an Hasidic synagogue near Reuven's house. Close to the end of the novel, he gives a lengthy explanation to Danny and Reuven of the reasons that he brought up his son in silence. The justification given is that he received a son who had a tremendous mind, but no soul. He was forced to educate him in this manner in order to prevent Danny from becoming like his own brother, who also had a great mind but was insensitive towards others that were not as intelligent as him which prevented him from becoming a wise man. Reb Saunders' father also brought up Danny's father in silence so that he would not always ask questions, but instead look inside himself for answers ; and that is also what Reb Saunders did with Danny. He is very interesting because, sometimes he seems nice and gentle and other times cruel and mean, especially in the way he brought up his son. But he always has a reason for every act he performs. What did you particularily like or dislike about this book? This book was extremely interesting because it taught me a lot about the Hasidic movement but most importantly, the contrast between the two different Jewish communities. It is ironic that Reuven, brought up in a more secular society, decides to become a rabbi, while Danny, the religious one, wants to become a psychologist. I found the last part, when Reb Saunders explains his silence with Danny very thought-provoking. It tells us to have understanding and compassion for others. Find three new or interesting words in the book 1- brooding 2- ordination 3- Talmud Define them and put them in a sentance showing its meaning 1- brooding : to think deeply or worry anxiously He was brooding endlessly after I told him the news. 2- ordination : the act or ceremony of ordaining ordaining : to install as a minister, priest or rabbi Finally, after many years of work, the rabbi received his ordination. 3- Talmud : the collection of ancient Rabbinic writings constituting the base of religious authority in Orthodox Judaism The rabbis often study Talmud for great lengths of time.

Analysis of Guy Montag Essay Example

Analysis of Guy Montag Essay Example Analysis of Guy Montag Paper Analysis of Guy Montag Paper Essay Topic: Fahrenheit 451 This shows the mindset Montage has. It Demonstrates how he gets Joy out of his Job. In the society he lives In books are Illegal and firemen start the fires rather than put them out. Montage Is such a man and enjoys It greatly. He Is completely happy with demolishing pieces of history and written pieces of art. As he says, it never went away, that smile. It never went away, as long as he remembered. (Bradbury, 2) On a merry walk home from his beloved Job, Montage is nearly UN over on the side walk by a life altering girl. In meeting Claries, the girl, Montages mind starts working in ways it never had before. With Just one question, Are you happy? (Bradbury, 4) she sets way for future events that otherwise would have never happened. Montage starts to doubt whether the way he lives his life is really Joyful. He starts to realize that he laughs when not really amused and answers without thinking about the question or his answer. He doesnt really think much at all. And Montage realizes He is not really happy in the least. This makes him notice the truth about his marriage, as well. Montage and Mildred Montages marriage is very much empty. When he tries to confront her about how she eels about him she avoids or brushes it aside. He comes to the realization that all she really loves is her television, or parlor. Their marriage eventually deteriorates completely as she comes to believe he is crazy because he made her read with him. She runs away but not before calling his own department on him first. Montage comes to the realization that he hates what he Is and the society he lives In. HIS fascination with books continues to grow, but at first he blames the Hand for It. When he would sneak books Into the house he would curse his hand for the action, hulking It had a mind of Its own. He was a confused Individual because all he knew was books were bad and yet all he grew to want was books. He went to see Professor Faber, a man he talked to years before about books, he found out that It was really he who grabbed the books not his hand. He grew to hate his job and society so much that on a call to his own home he ended up killing his boss. And facing his fear of the Mechanical Hound Ana the very people a day before he thought he liked. The change Montage goes through is grand and amazing. Ignorance was bliss and e fought past it and became an intellectual. People tend to destroy things that they deem a threat to them and that is exactly what the government in Fahrenheit 451 did by televising his death and capture. The entirety of this novel is a story about change, from the first page to the last chapter. With change in italics the novel begins with, It was a special pleasure to seething eaten, To see things blackened and changed. (Bradbury, 1) Montage goes from changing things by destroying them to changing society by preserving know Edge which, in turn, changes him.

Calculating and Understanding Real Interest Rates

Calculating and Understanding Real Interest Rates Finance is riddled with terms that can make the uninitiated scratch their heads. Real variables and nominal variables are a good example. Whats the difference? A nominal variable is one that doesnt incorporate or consider the effects of inflation. A real variable factors in these effects. Some Examples For illustrative purposes, lets say that youve purchased a one-year bond for face value that pays six percent at the end of the year. Youd pay $100 at the beginning of the year and get $106 at the end because of that six percent rate, which is nominal because it doesnt account for inflation. When people speak of interest rates, theyre typically talking about nominal rates.   So what happens if the inflation rate is three percent that year? You can buy a basket of goods today for $100, or you can wait until next year when it will cost $103. If you buy the bond in the above scenario with a six percent nominal interest rate, then sell it after a year for $106 and buy a basket of goods for $103, youd have $3 left. How to Calculate the Real Interest Rate   Start with the following consumer price index (CPI) and nominal interest rate data: CPI Data Year 1: 100Year 2: 110Year 3: 120Year 4: 115 Nominal Interest Rate Data Year 1: Year 2: 15%Year 3: 13%Year 4: 8% How can you figure out what the real interest rate is for years two, three, and four? Begin by identifying these notations:  i means inflation rate,  n is the nominal interest rate  and  r is the real interest rate.   You must know the inflation rate - or the expected inflation rate if youre making a prediction about the future. You can calculate this from the CPI data using the following formula: i [CPI(this year) – CPI(last year)] / CPI(last year) So the inflation rate in year two  is [110 – 100]/100 .1 10%. If you do this for all three years, youd get the following: Inflation Rate Data Year 1: Year 2: 10.0%Year 3: 9.1%Year 4: -4.2% Now you can calculate the real interest rate. The relationship between the inflation rate and the nominal and real interest rates is given by the expression (1r)(1n)/(1i), but you can use the much simpler Fisher Equation  for lower levels of inflation.   FISHER EQUATION: r n – i Using this simple formula,  you can calculate the real interest rate for years two  through four.   Real Interest Rate (r n – i) Year 1: Year 2: 15% - 10.0% 5.0%Year 3: 13% - 9.1% 3.9%Year 4: 8% - (-4.2%) 12.2% So the real interest rate is 5 percent in year 2, 3.9 percent in year 3, and a whopping 12.2 percent in year four.   Is This Deal Good or Bad?   Lets say that youre offered the following deal:  You lend $200 to a friend at the beginning of year two and charge him the 15 percent nominal interest rate. He pays you $230 at the end of year two.   Should you make this loan? Youll earn a real interest rate of five percent if you do. Five percent of $200 is $10, so youll be financially ahead by making the deal, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you should. It depends on whats most important to you: Getting $200 worth of goods at year two prices at the beginning of year two or getting $210 worth of goods, also at year two prices, at the beginning of year three. Theres no right answer. It depends on how much you value consumption or happiness today compared to consumption or happiness one year from now. Economists refer to this as a person’s discount factor. The Bottom Line   If you know what the inflation rate is going to be, real interest rates can be a powerful tool in judging the value of an investment. They take into account how inflation erodes purchasing power.

U.S. Constitution In 1787 and Today Research Paper

U.S. Constitution In 1787 and Today - Research Paper Example In the United States, the senate voted for the change of rules that enabled the republican to prevent the president Barack Obama nominees for the top administrative posts (Abegg, 2013 p. 219). The senators approved the partisan measures that were to ban the filibuster so as to prevent the nominated personnel from being confirmed (Ford, 2013, p. 214). Harry Reid in his speech about supporting the measure, he accused the Republicans of preventing the nominees in the pursuit of unrelated legislative expectations or goal. Reid argued that the republicans used the filibuster laws weapon for preventing president Obama from choosing and appointing an executive representative and also, appointing the judges. The blocking of the filibuster law does seem constitutionally because, on the other hand, the filibuster acted as the weapon barrier to prevent the president from passing many bills, but they had a right to their opinion (Steffen, p. 202). After the law was blocked, the senator’s power was deducted from the senate to the president. The president was enacted with so much power than before the bill was changed in 2013. This law was mostly used by the republicans more tha n three times in November to block president Obama from confirming votes on the judges nominated to fill the vacancies on the United States for the Washington DC (The Guardian). Reid also argued that the Republicans objected the bills not because they do not have the qualifications, but just because they wanted just to undermine the government, they were elected to work for (Kenneth, 2013, p. 129). Senator Dan Coates reacted by saying he change of the rule was an idea of weakening the founding fathers of the democracy, and he said it was yet another power grabbing from the republicans. Senator Kelly Ayotte reacted to the rule by saying that the grab of the power is so much disappointing to all the republicans in the United State government, she said

Corporate Social Responsibility Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Corporate Social Responsibility - Research Paper Example Increased attention to CSR has been enhanced by the need for environmental protection, need for better corporate governance, globalization and intergovernmental bodies such as the United Nations which have made various declarations on human rights and environmental protection. Factors of corporate social responsibility can be categorized in to both environmental and social factors. Environmental stewardship includes the need of efficient utilization of natural resources like water, reduction in energy consumption and recycling of waste materials. This will also include the need to avoid environmental pollution like carbon emissions and toxic waste in the environment (Jamali, Safieddine & Rabbath 850). Social factors include the respect and promotion of human rights, labor rights and ensuring diversity in employment. Other factors include community involvement in development projects like building schools and health care facilities. Anti-bribery practices and supplier relations are also cornerstones of corporate social responsibility (Sabir, Ahmed, Zaidi & Kalyar 14). The company is committed to efficient utilization of all natural resources in all locations of operations. The company will be able to conserve limited natural resources which are also shared with the community. The company is committed to using clean manufacturing technologies that save natural resources and reduce carbon emissions and toxic waste in the environment. This will ensure clean environments and reduction of emission-related diseases. The company is committed to respecting all employees’ rights and offering equal employment opportunities. This will promote diversity, equal employment opportunities and fair dismissals in the workplace. Corporate sustainability is concerned with the long term social and economic expectations of the stakeholders. The basics of sustainability in CSR include continual improvement, compliance with regulatory

MUDs: An Adventure in Cyberspace :: Internet Computer Essays

"Hi, my name is Jamal. I'm a tall, gorgeous black man with a bod made for sin. Talk to me!" "Hi, I'm India, an exotic prostitute with a fondness for short, Norwegian men." "Harry here . . . I'm handsome and shy, and looking for love. . ." "My name is Sophie, and my job as a songwriter has led me to the great city of Miami." "Hello, I'm Lila. I am a 24-year old Jazz singer with a preference for foreign men. If you qualify, definitely say hi." The people you see above are very interesting individuals, all unique and distinctive. At first glance, there seems to be no common thread that connects them, except for the fact that they appear to be seeking some sort of interaction. No, these are not entries in a Personals Column or members of a support group for the love-lost. All of them do, however, share a very important characteristic. They are all facets of the same person; they are all descriptions of me. No, I am not schizophrenic or insane; I am simply one of the many that has found entertainment exploring a MUD-- an acronym that stands for Multiple User Domain or Multi User Dungeon. Before this assignment, I had no idea that MUD was something other than dirt mixed with water or that the world that existed on-line was so immense and so popular. In fact, MUDding has become one of the most sought after forms of interactive entertainment in the world, engaging tens of thousands of players (Leslie 28). The world of MUDding seems like a relatively new concept, but the truth is that MUDs have been around for years. Invented at the University of Essex in England in 1979, MUDs served as a computerized way to play Dungeons and Dragons, a popular and addictive role-playing game that mesmerized thousands (Rigdon R16). While the undisputed thrill of participating in such a game was the ability to reshape identity, other attracting factors were the relationships that a player could develop with fellow characters. Today, both adventure-type MUDs and social MUDs work in the much same way that Dungeons and Dragons did 20 years ago--players take on an identity and enter a fantasy world, only now they can communicate with people from around the globe. This type of role-playing sounds like simple fun, but the underlying issues and complex social situations that materialize are more than just child's play.

Polticaal situation of nepal Essay

Introduction The mass movement of April 2006 in Nepal sought to restore parliament for the democratic process to continue and to initiate a peace process for the end of a ten-year long armed conflict. This required the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to join democratic competition which in turn necessitated the devising of a constitution to manage root causes of conflicts afflicting the nation. Hence, a Constituent Assembly (CA) election, that would pave the way for an inclusive state responsive of social diversity and sustainable peace, was seen as the compromise solution among all the political forces. A train of processes and events was thus set off resulting in the advent of current Nepalese politics. A Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between an alliance of the seven political parties (six after the merger of Nepali Congress and Nepali Congress-Democratic) and the CPN (Maoist) on November 21, 2006. An Interim Constitution drafted and the restored parliament dissolved to pave the way for an interim legislature and interim government that included the CPN (Maoist) in 2007. The ruling seven-party alliance (SPA) announced substantive structural reforms, such as declaration of the country secular, federal and republican. Civilian control of Nepal Army (NA), nationalization of royal property, empowerment of the Premier as head of state, abolition of the national unification day and substitution of the national anthem were announced as time went by. There were also reform measures such as greater inclusiveness regarding marginalized people in the CA, the bureaucracy and police. However, all these measures have allowed a neo-patrimonial regime to incubate, sapping the political will necessary to alter the policy and strategic development vital to transform the â€Å"structural causes of conflicts†. This has hindered efforts for cultural, social, economic and political transformation needed to establish a well-organized virtuous state capable of instituting sound democratic governance. The political transition has remained highly turbulent due to the open-ended nature of the conflict system. It is, therefore, hard to say whether Nepal has actually entered a post-conflict phase. The continuation of high political dynamics in the country now indicates a steady erosion of the writ of state and the low level of constitutional and government’s stability. This has resulted in a new bargaining environment for armed non-state actors and movement-oriented ethno- regional forces thus further  limiting the scope for complex reforms, both involving long-term institutional restructuring and short-term policy interventions. The weakness of state institutions has further spoiled efforts to promote relief to vulnerable sections of the population and address conflict residues. Social movements of marginalized groups– women, Dalits (untouchable underclass), Janajatis (ethnic groups), Aadibasis (indigenous groups) and Madhesis (people living in the southern plains) â €” for identity, proportional representation, federalism and self-determination and insurrectionary activities of two-dozen non-state armed actors have upset the coherence of state-society relations in an unprecedented manner. While the mainstream parties have interest in restructuring the state, the social forces favor restructuring political parties to expand the social base of politics. As a result, the SPA has missed three deadlines (June 14 and 20 and November 22) for the CA elections to draft a new constitution. It was forced to amend the Interim Constitution three times in eight months-(May 9, June 14 and December 18) to give in to rising demands that the political process was exacting and to give in to the voice of various agitating groups. Among the provisions included in the amendments the more significant ones empower the parliament to abolish the monarchy, if found plotting against the CA elections, and declare the country a federal democratic republic, subject to ratification by the elected CA, or even before that by a two-thirds legislators if the King poses a threat to the elections. Despite voices emerging for a space for monarchy and efforts of CPN (Maoist), NC and CPN-UML to woo its suppo rters, King Gynendra remains aloof from the power struggle. All this has not changed the political dynamics for the better. The Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF), a group which organized violent protests in the Tarai where scores of people were killed last year, is demanding a fourth revision of the constitution to address the grievances of the Madhesis. The peace process kept in limbo by the political events appears to have been finally taken up with the 23-point accord reached among the SPA constituents on 23 December. It finally decided that it would establish a high level Peace Council and the six basic pillars of peace within a month. Accordingly, the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal has been assigned to probe into rights violations during past emergency rule, managing cantonments and providing remuneration to Maoist  combatants, return of illegally seized public property, end to forced donation by Maoists, etc. It vows to hold the CA elections by April 10, 2008, has increased the number of seats for CA from 497 to 6 01 and began a common process of electoral socialization through joint mass meetings. The process is marred by mutual accusations. On January 16, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction R. C. Paudel, made a public call on all the agitating groups for dialogue and facilitate CA elections. He has to be more strategic with the ability to strike a balance between achieving the human rights protection objective and responding to changing narratives of discourse, contexts, actors, issues, rules and political priorities. Constituent Assembly Elections The Election Commission (EC) has already published the CA election schedule and enforced the election code of conduct from January 16. The parties contesting it will have to submit their closed list of candidates for proportional representation system by February 22, registration of candidature for direct voting will be opened from February 22 to 25 and the candidates will be given election symbols on March 2. The Interim Constitution recognizes the SPA but says that anyone else willing to register a new political party must submit 10,000 signatures to EC. Many opposition parties – MPRF (Yadav), MPRF (Bishwas), Rastriy Prajatantra Party (RPP)-Nepal, Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP), RPP, Nepal Sadbhava Party and Tarai-Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) have depicted the SPA as undemocratic in spirit and attitude and argued that setting the date for elections without creating a proper security and political environment is meaningless. The MPRF and TMLP blaming the deployment of Special Task Force â€Å"for creating terror in Tarai and helping the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL), have threatened to stage a decisive agitation if their demands are not addressed by January 18. Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), a coalition of 54 ethnic groups, has put its dilemma this way: if it wages its movement, the SPA will be demolished; if not, the SPA refuses to implement the 20-pint accord it signed with the government. The meeting of the high level seven-party coordinating committee, a SPA coordination mechanis m, is currently discussing the possibility of conducting elections in two phases, keeping in mind the security situation in the Tarai. It  decided to request the EC to postpone the implementation of the code of conduct for 15 days so that local bodies can be constituted. Finance Minister R. S. Mahat has requested Nepal’s international development partners to extend an additional assistance of $4.76 million to implement the 23-point accord among the SPA and to hold the elections. At the same time, an influential section of NC has warned of â€Å"Tarai disintegration† if election takes place in two phases. The decision of the government to distribute $15,870 to each legislator for the development of their constituency also stoked the fire of protest in the civil society. The pre-election perk out of the government coffer does not make the election competitive process. It is such controversies that overturned the election apple-cart in the past. A badly designed election can easily foment social divisions, fragment the political sphere, institutionalize sub-national conflicts and embroil the nation into the centrifugal pressure of regional geopolitics. Tarai’s Geopolitics Twenty-two districts in Nepal’s southern plains bordering India constitute the Terai or Madhesh. It is fertile area and is linked to Nepal’s major supply routes to hills. After the declaration of secular state and talk about redistributive land reforms, the glue that bind hill and Tarai communities got lost. The Madhesi movement spearheaded by the MPRF wants the declaration of the Madhesh as an autonomous region, talks with armed Madhesi groups, balanced distribution of state revenue and income to Madhesh, proportional representation in all the governance institutions including the NA, appointment of chief administrators in Madhesh from the Madhesi communities, return weapons captured by Maoists to the concerned people and declaration of those killed during the Madhesh movement as martyrs including compensation for their families. The TMLP has expressed its desire to have its own state organs for the plains. The two radical components of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha ( JTMM) demand international mediators like the UN to resolve their issues and a separate independent state. India’s assertion that â€Å"Tarai’s demands should be addressed,† has provoked a prickly reaction from various political forces. Premier Koirala who had earlier assertion that the â€Å"Tarai problem can be resolved within a minute with India’s cooperation† has led to suspicions about an ‘Indian hand’ in the  unrest. India’s main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, criticizes the Indian government for remaining silent on the collusion of Indian and Nepali communists for creating turmoil in both countries and quashing of the symbols of Nepal’s stability and unity-Hindu state and monarchy. An open border with India, existence of co-ethnics across the border and affiliation of each group and political party with like-minded ones in India create a context in which resolution of conflict requires confidence-building measures from both sides. The violent conflict in the Tarai has forced the hill people to migrate to safe places and create their own mechanisms in the area, like the Chure Bhavar Unity Society (CBUS) that positions itself in the foothills border ing the Terai and the mountains, for autonomy and self-defense. The autonomy movement in the Madhesh has snowballed into ethnic Tharus, Rais, Limbus, Tamangs, Gurungs, Magars, Dalits and Newars also demanding autonomous federal states based on the right to self-determination. But, there is no unity among Madhesi groups due to their multiple caste, language, religious and ethnic identities. For example, TMLP leadership is dominated by high caste groups, MPRF by intermediary caste groups and JTMM by lower caste groups. The government’s Special Task Force (STF), deployed in Kathmandu and eight Terai districts, has failed to penetrate, divide and destroy criminal networks and create public security for local governance to operate. Nepal’s problems cannot be tackled without taking this regionalism into account and identifying ways to address it. No matter how one looks at this problem, it seems obvious that there is no military solution. The political package must create a situation favorable to all groups where they see they have more t o gain through peace than violence. An election in a security and authority vacuum will neither have legitimacy nor ability to institutionalize democratic polity. Law and Order The Nepalese army has expressed its commitment to democracy and a nationally-owned security sector reforms. But, Chief of Army Staff, Gen. R. Katawal clearly said â€Å"No† to integrate the CPN (Maoist) combatants. The UN has verified 19,602 politically indoctrinated People’s Liberation Army (PLA) out of its total force of over 32,000. Premier G. P Koirala agrees with the army’s viewpoint and has given options to Maoists- to integrate the PLA into  industrial security groups or give them priority in foreign employment. Nepal’s total strength of security forces stands at 165,000– NA (92,000), the civilian police (48,000) and Armed Police Force (25,000). The NA is holed up inside barracks as per the peace accord. The existence of these two adversarial structures does not provide any incentive for confidence building and to pursue a viable peace process for the future. Similarly, without disarming all autonomous armed groups and improving civil-milit ary relations, the chances of free and fair elections remain fragile. Erosion of state monopoly on power, taxation and loyalty of citizens, growth of competitive violence and failure of statehood in governance have confiscated the state’s capacity to provide security in the country. As a result the ability of the political system to maintain balance of power between different governance organs is severely undermined which is telling on its capacity to enforce rule of law, provide service delivery and resolve the multi-layered conflict. SPA’s control over the legislature, the executive control over the judiciary and a lack of legitimate opposition have established monopoly rule. There is an absence of institutions protecting property rights and promotion of collective goods. Nepal has a very weak middle class and poor mediating agencies to protect the rights and welfare of the poor. Tax contributes 12 percent to GDP and the contribution of public sector output to GDP is only about 7 percent. Foreign aid constitutes 70 percent of developmen t outlays. Domestic revenue raising capacity is very poor. Easy borrowing from international institutions has established the government’s autonomy from their tax paying citizens. As a result, the government is less concerned with institutional capacity of the state to deliver governance goals. The substantial contribution of remittance to GDP (17 percent) too has detrimental effect on the accountability of government. GDP growth rate of 2.3 percent hardly balances out the population growth of 2.2 percent. The daily per capita income of $ 1 puts Nepal’s human security condition at the bottom of world development statistics. Feudalism, caste hierarchy and patriarchy have suppressed social mobility of the underclass. This lack of social and economic security has made Nepal’s politics highly inflammable amidst radical appeals and growing frustration. Nepal’s bureaucracy, police and public institutions are highly politicized along partisan lines, de-motivated, show poor esprit de corps and weak to enforce  rule of law and deliver essential public services. â€Å"The rulers have no trust in the constitution, leading to its failure,† Ch airman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, Laxman Aryal said on January 15. To him, the constitution emerged as a compromise among SPA constituents for the transition politics until the CA election is conducted. It, therefore, does not hold the principles of constitutionalism. He added, â€Å"We saw nothing during its first year, but chaos and deterioration of law and order.† This condition has made national integrity system ineffective in controlling crime, corruption and impunity. Public institutions and enterprises are still monopolized by ruling parties. Sense of public trust in the authority, assuming that the government is trustworthy and acting in the public interest, is sharply declining. Lack of a boundary between leaders’ personal and institutional interests has given birth to a political culture of clientalism although new social movements of women, youth, Dalits, indigenous people and ethnic groups are increasingly challenging the position of authority fixed at birth, lineage and patronage. They are seeking to remold the pre-modern political culture of mutual distrust, betrayal and revenge and into post-conflict modern culture of a shared future based on social justice, democracy and peace. Voice and Participation of Marginalized The struggle for human rights in Nepal for liberation, entitlements and social opportunities still remains unfinished. Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal (NHRC) K. N. Upadhaya stresses the need for joint efforts among the human rights organizations and individuals to mitigate human rights violations in an effective manner. The government’s presence is felt to some extent only in Kathmandu and some urban nodes. Killing, kidnapping, extortion, strikes, food shortages, rocketing prices, shrinking job opportunities and growing fear have deteriorated human rights conditions in the periphery. Last year, 130 civilians got killed by various forces. Seventy-two political parties have applied in the EC for registration. This number represents asymmetry and diversity in Nepalese social life. A number of social groups are struggling for social, gender and inter-generational justice in the party structure of mainstream parties. Internal party democracy is essential t o make political power proportional  to its representativeness and end the fissiparous tendencies that have sapped their social integration potential. The country has 102 ethnic groups and more than 82 languages. No single group claims more than 18 percent of the population. This means it is a country of minorities and there is no institutional mechanism to prevent the minority from becoming a majority. Civil society groups are columnized along partisan lines. This condition has marred the possibilities for cooperative action for public service. Despite the legislation of the Right to Information Act, the media is unevenly distributed just like the per capita income and, therefore, people of backward and remote areas have no access to the public sphere in shaping the agenda. In contrast, the apex body of media persons, Nepal Federation of Journalists, revealed the condition of media freedom this way: Between April 24, 2006 to December 1, 2007 one journalist was killed, one disappeared, 74 detained and 128 threatened. There were 203 attacks on media houses, 129 journalists lost their jobs and 55 media houses were shut down. Engageme nt of the International Community For an international community caught in a fluid political climate, it will be hard to enlarge the development space as agreed in the Basic Operating Guidelines (BOG), other than relief and humanitarian supplies. The presence of the international community in Nepal acts as a deterrence against excessive use of violence and abuse of human rights. Japan has put Nepal in the category of a â€Å"fragile state.† By definition, a fragile state creates a situation for humanitarian intervention owing to anarchy of free wills, poor governance and failure to enforce rule of law. India has often insisted that elections to the CA must take place on time at any cost, but remained silent when the SPA failed to create a favorable security and law and order situation. The European Union and the US are insisting that the security situation in Nepal must improve for a credible, free and fair election. On January 18, the US Ambassador to Nepal, Nancy J. Powell suggesting the government and political parties to fulfill earlier commitments made in the peace accord said, â€Å"The CA polls will not guarantee sustainable peace in Nepal. What is necessary for the sustainable peace is loyalty to the nation.† On January 11, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon submitted his report to the UN Security Council proposing a six-month extension of UNMIN’s  mandate to support Nepal’s peace process through CA elections. He has advised against downscaling the UN’s presence, emphasizing that it could imperil prospects for a successful election, except in the cases of technical assistance which has already been provided. The UN too favors a credible CA election with improved security, government’s engagement in a dialogue with disgrunt led groups and abolition of the culture of impunity. Unlike the EU, however, India, the US and China have geopolitical priorities. India’s role in bringing the SPA together against the ‘monarchy’ in November 2005 and their joint struggle forced King Gyanendra to hand over power to the political parties. As the SPA established their monopoly over power and resources but failed to maintain security and rule of law, it evoked the security concern of neighbors. China has voiced against â€Å"any foreign intervention in Nepal,† showed interest to actively involve itself in Nepal’s peace process, expressed anxiety about the events taking place in the Tarai and asked the Nepalese leaders to take independent decisions depending less on outside forces. Aid coordination and coordination of government-donor practices have become particularly important in Nepal, especially to engage both sides in abolishing the historical practice of clientalism and paternalism, building trust on each other’s role and engaging in multi-dimensional aspects of the peace-process, such as state-building, support to constitution-making, transport, communication, energy development, education, agriculture, rural development, water supply, finance, health and sanitation and sustainable development. Conflict mitigation projects should involve rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure and internally displaced people, rural reconstruction and eradication of the root causes of mal-development which, in the first place, triggered the cycle of conflict. Expectation of People at the Grassroots Level The media and the political leaders have generated unrealistic expectations among the population that the CA is the panacea that will fulfill all their needs and desires. It was important to cast the message that CA is meant to frame a draft of the constitution and the necessary laws for governance. People at the grassroots level are expecting informed and reason-based knowledge about the constitution-making process, the suitability of the  election system, improvement in security and are concerned about political stability, cooperation from outside, avoidance of unnecessary foreign intervention, knowledge about the modern state, functions of political systems, government, political parties and leadership, enfranchisement of citizens and their stake-holding in public institutions, social cohesion, support in education, health and economic activities and social justice. Minorities are increasingly questioning about their human rights in a majority dominated federal state. They want to know about their role in the multi-staged negotiation with the CA, suitability of federalism, concept of a republic and the vision of a New Nepal. Ordinary people also ask about the mixed election system that has been adopted and which presents a new challenge- what with the twin-ballot paper for voters and administration. FES training series on civic education has created a synergy as demands for such activities from various quarters have increased, advocacy documents have been utilized by all sides, resource persons interviewed by the media and published in the local papers. They were even involved in non-partners’ activities with the same advocacy resources. In general, our programs have strengthened the civic competence of citizens as they can debate on equal terms with their leaders and contest their view points. In many conflict-hit places, our activities provided space for dialogue among heterogeneous participants and directly contributed to building public opinion, democratic will-formation and reconciliation. We also tried to encourage participants to speak up and share their views rather than just receiving top-down dissemination of knowledge and information. In many places, they suggested to us to provide training to central level leadership and demanded more seminars in the districts and villages so that dialogues across diverse communities can build trust between conflict-torn societal groups and improve their relations with the state. Road Ahead A credible, free and fair election depends on the ability of the political parties to create a secure environment for political actors and voters, cross-party consensus on security plans in the Tarai, engagement of movement-oriented and armed non-state actors opposed to the elections in constructive dialogues to address their outstanding grievances, dispelling the threat of pro-monarchy forces through inclusive measures and a common  process of socialization and goal-orientation towards democratic peace. What happens if elections do not take place on April 10? In case the CA election does not take place as scheduled, then this constitution, parliament and government will suffer from legitimacy deficit. The first scenario is well articulated by Minister without Portfolio Sujata Korala, â€Å"The constitution of 1991 will return.† This will satisfy the traditional forces and its resistance to change. But, there will be a dangerous polarization between the radical and the conservative forces. The second scenario is the creation of a civilian government with the backing of NA. A CPN (Maoist) ideologue calls it a â€Å"democratic coup,† because civilian politicians, not the King, will be utilized. A lot of things depend on the move of the international community because Nepal is an aid-dependent country and its policy, power and legitimacy flow from it. Similarly, it requires to win the confidence of India, the US and China as they are geo-strategically enmeshed in Nepal’s internal developments. A group of civil society and opposition parties are opting for a broad-based national government to hold elections. The third scenario seems optimally satisfactory if the major insurgent groups are engaged in dialogue and national consensus. Civil society groups should serve as a mediating ground for all pol itical perspectives and mobilize national and global

Analysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Tell Tale Heart

These days we may like to consider Austin Powers the infamous International Man of Mystery, however, lucky for us he wasn’t around during the 19th century. And that title, most certainly, would belong to Mr. Poe. You see, Edgar Allan Poe is still one of the greatest masters of enticing emotion into readers. Whether it is psychological fear in short stories like Bernice and The Pit and the Pendulum or poetry about death, sadness, and love. But, Poe really does raise the bar when it comes to mystery in his poetry. From houses suddenly combusting in The Fall of the House of Usher and uncanny deliriums in The Tell-Tale Heart, mysteries of all kinds encompass Poe s works. Poe has mastered the talent of baffling and unnerving readers even long after his death. And while A Dream Within a Dream doesn’t feature anything as morbid as Poe’s normal affairs, it is still mysterious. In fact, it is Poe s reflection of the most paramount mystery of all: death, time, reality. Ho w much time do we get with the people we love? In the poem, the question of whether or not the things we see and the way things actually seem to be, whether real or unreal remains unanswered. It always seems to leave the question of why people get taken from us and why it is those times that we end up questioning reality making us believe that we may have just been daydreaming. Even Poe seemed to be at a loss and ends his poem consequently just throwing up his hands, giving up. Begging the question of whether orShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Tell Tale Heart 1015 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Insane in the Membrane† Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most acclaimed short story writers of all time and is considered the father of the psychological thriller. He has achieved ever-lasting fame for his work in various fields of literature, from prose to verse. However, it is his Gothic narrative, in the short story realm he is greatest known for and is regarded as one of the foremost masters of horror that the United States has ever fashioned. The crucial component to these horror stories isRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s Tell Tale Heart Essay1401 Words   |  6 Pagesstereotypical â€Å"mean girl’ in life. But are you a mean girl only because you are insecure about yourself, or do you genuinely have nothing better to offer society than cruel comments on people’s appearance. Very much like a â€Å"mean girl† in Edgar Allan Poe’s Tell Tale Heart, it is a thrilling mystery with murder. The story is basically about a man who is a server to an old man who has an odd looki ng eye. It is not the old man’s fault for his appearance, nor should the old man deserve the cruel thought, thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Tell Tale Heart 1291 Words   |  6 Pagessecrets hidden in the story line that does it? Individually when each of you close your eyes and visualise a book that has been flicked by hundreds and has been adored what comes to mind? The famous Edgar Allan Poe stands out in the history of gothic texts, especially his novel the â€Å" Tell-Tale Heart†. However there is a numerous amount of contemporary texts based off this genre including Tim Burton’s â€Å" Vincent†. In this presentation I hope to engage you in the history of the gothic genre. GothicRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Tell Tale Heart1104 Words   |  5 PagesPoe Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis began with Sigmund Freud, also known as the founding father of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a method for treating mental illness and also a theory which explains human behavior. (McLeod) Freud broke his theory into 3 different levels, Id, Ego, and Superego. Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† and the â€Å"Cask of Amontillado† focused deep into these levels of psychoanalysis specifically the superego and the id. Freud explained that our superego is our conscienceRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Tell Tale Heart957 Words   |  4 Pageswhether madness is or is not the loftiness of intelligence,† (Edgar Allan Poe). Edgar Allan Poe is a well known and beloved writer of the horrid and meticulous. Through emphasis on his personal life and personal insanity, we get a glimpse inside the world that might be our own minds as well as stories that teach us life lessons as well as make our blood curdle and ponder over the deep emotions of Poe’s life. Stories such as the Tell-Tale Heart teach us of these life lessons. In this story the narratorRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s A Tell Tale Heart1289 Words   |  6 PagesInside the Heart There are many well-known poets, but not many are as unique as Edgar Allan Poe. By the age of 13, Poe had become a creative poet (Biographies). Many of Poe s works were horrific fictional stories. His first book was published in Boston in 1827, called Tamerlane and other Poems. More of Poe s major works include Tales of the Grotesque a d Arabesque, which included his most spine tingling tales such as Ligeia and The Fall of the House of Usher. Most of Poe s works haveRead MoreAnalysis of Edgar Allan Poe ´s The Tell-Tale Heart605 Words   |  2 Pagesâ€Å"The Tell- Tale Heart†, written in 1843, is a simultaneous horror and mental story presented in a first- person perspective, in which Edgar Allan Poe, the author, portrays that the significant influence of inner guilty and fear on narrator’s insane. The author achieves this in the means of figurative languages, symbolism and the plot of the story. Through the whole story, there is no doubt that guilty plays a tremendously crucial role. It is obvious that symbolism is used for many times. To beginRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Tell Tale Heart857 Words   |  4 Pagesfear what they can t control. Author, Edgar Allan Poe wrote short stories that evoked emotions of fear of the unknown in a way that speaks to the reader. Some of Poe s stories were not well accepted in his day because people were just not ready for them- they were scary. Poe s works The Tell-Tale Heart, The Premature Burial and The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar evoke emotions of fear of the unknown for the reader Edgar Allan Poe s The Tell-Tale Heart, is a short story that illustrates theRead MoreWhy Should We Care?1748 Words   |  7 PagesWhy Should We Care?: Edgar Allan Poe â€Å"Few creatures of the night have captured [reader’s] imagination[s] like [Edgar Allan Poe]† (â€Å"Vampires†). Poe has fascinated the literary world since he first became known for writing in 1829, when he was just twenty years old (Chronology†). While he is widely known for exploring the macabre, his work is controversial because of its psychologically disturbing nature. Edgar Allan Poe is worth examining as an author because his many contributions to the literaryRead MoreThe Final Days of Edgar Allan Poe by Roger Francis 1732 Words   |  7 PagesEdgar Allan Poe is regarded as one of the most influential American writers of the nineteenth-century. Poe’s short stories posses the recurring themes of death, murder and his narrators often show signs of mental instability, like the old man in â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† and Montressor in â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado†. Since tragedy was prominent throughout Poe’s life, his wor k reflects the darkness ingrained by continuously being faced with adversity. Poe’s mental stability also comes into question when