The Theory And Methods Of Revolution Essay - 1892 Words

Chinese Emperor Mao Zedong once said â€Å"If you want to know the taste of a pear, you must change the pear by eating it yourself. If you want to know the theory and methods of revolution, you must take part in revolution. All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience.† (1) This quote means that people who want to speak about real life experiences need to experience life for themselves. Indirectly, the knowledge of a person cannot be measured by the standard and perception of society due to the simple fact what that most people learn at a different pace. In addition, the capacity, how and what a person is able to learn is how we should measure how smart they are, not how well they are able to memorize a specific set of information. One cannot base the true meaning and value upon life itself, with the basis of other people’s opinion. Author and psychologist Jean Piaget saw this to be true and developed the Social Cognitive theory. Primarily, this was a case stud y; Piaget was working as an understudy for a French psychologist. The studies then lead to the beginning of a new known study by newfound psychologist Jean Piaget, he named his work, the social Cognitive theory. The social cognitive theory was used to determine the mental state and capacity of the mentally ill, and its study and development lead to the revolution of case studies around the world. Jean Piaget is the innovator who developed such a trusting and reliable study to help increase knowledge of humanShow MoreRelatedScience Throughout the Ages912 Words   |  4 Pagesof knowledge itself, of anything that can be successfully applied to a situation. Someone who practices science is known as a scientist. Modern science has been traced back to the early modern period and in particular to the scientific revolution. Scientific methods are considered so fundamental to modern science that some would even consider early inquiries to be pre-scientific. In modern times, science is t he way of pursuing knowledge, not just the workings of knowledge itself. Science continuesRead MoreEssay on The Scientific Revolution1098 Words   |  5 PagesThere were three major revolutions at work during the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries, the scientific revolution, the enlightenment revolution and the political revolution. All of these revolutions have shaped western thought and ideals to this day and continue even in this age to shape western thoughts and ideals. What brought us to our thinking of today? Which, if any of the three, were the most important in shaping our thoughts on science, politics, and our social structures? OrRead MoreThe Theory Of The Scientific Revolution1255 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Scientific Revolution, â€Å"there occurred a shift in humans thinking from the medieval emphasis on God s eternal unchanging world, which governed people, the universe, and nature, to an approach that defined knowledge and understanding as derived from th e immutable laws of nature independent of received truth.† Scientists changed the way people think about the world. The gears of the revolution began to turn when Copernicus questioned the geocentric theory, developing his theory of heliocentrismRead MoreWhat Is Science and Where Did It Come From?928 Words   |  4 Pagesscience and where did it come from? The study of science came before the scientific revolution got to begin. The scientific revolution began in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. The revolution was accomplished by developing the medieval roots of science of the classical age of Greece and Rome. Throughout the scientific revolution, the medieval scientific philosophy was abandoned in favor and improved methods proposed by different men. Finally, we are introduced to scientists of mathematiciansRead MoreReligious Groups Responses On Science Groups1511 Words   |  7 PagesOluwatosin Adegbonmire Leh 355-A03W Prof Telliel 5/26/16 Religion Vs Science Research Topic: Religious groups responses on science group theories on how the world was formed in the modern era. In this essay, we are going to focus on religious group responses to science group theories on how the world was formed in the modern era. We see there has always being a conflict between religion and science groups, because they both believe in different ways on howRead MoreKants Educational Theory707 Words   |  3 Pagesare a number of points of relevancy between the political ideology regarding the education of youths during the Cultural Revolution, as introduced to socialist China by Mao Tse Tung, and the several theories of education propagated by philosopher Immanuel Kant. Kant believed in an actuation following and closely linked with the process of education. During the Cultural Revolution, such action was widely considered a part of the educational process of the young and involved taking principle steps toRead MoreThe Era Of The 19th Century1135 Words   |  5 PagesEurope faced an era of revolutions at the wake of the nineteenth century. Long-standing empires, which ha d traditionally controlled most of the world –including the Spanish, Chinese, French, and Holy Roman Empires –, collapsed at the beginning of the century, allowing the British Empire to rise to power and establish dominance over a fifth of the Earth’s surface. This political revolution was coupled with the industrial revolution. New manufacturing processes called for large industrial factoriesRead MoreIs Psychology A Science?998 Words   |  4 Pagespsychology is a science through his theory of falsification, and examples of past falsifiable psychology research. The further argument of weather psychology has been revolutionised by looking at Khun’s opinion, and Millers paper on the revolution of cognitive science. Science its self is scientific methods being practiced to widen and construct a system of knowledge about our natural world, where Pseudoscience is all else that does not meet the principles of scientific method, but claims it is science. InRead MoreSociology And The Theoretical Perspectives Of Sociology1710 Words   |  7 PagesIndustrial Revolution, American and French Revolutions and the idea of applying the scientific method to real-world problems. All of the influences that impacted society and how we view things today came from theorist that studied the relations between people and things they saw in the community around them. The theorists that helped create the idea of Sociology, lead to the theoretical perspectives of sociology, which include; symbolic interaction, functional analysis, and Conflict theory. The ideaRead MoreEssay about Human Beings and Nature: The Scientific Revolution1689 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Beings and Nature: The Scientific Revolution The Scientific Revolution, perhaps one of the most significant examples of human beingsà ­ relationship with the natural world, changed the way seventeenth and eighteenth century society operated. The power of human knowledge has enabled intellectual, economical, and social advances seen in the modern world. The Scientific Revolution which included the development of scientific attitudes and skepticism of old views on nature and humanity

The Lord Of The Rings - 1469 Words

Tzvetan Todorov, the author of The Fantastic: A Structural Approach to a Literary Genre, defined fantasy as â€Å"the creation of a moment of hesitation between two worlds†(qtd. Kelly, Course Introduction 2). This description of the genre compliments J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings trilogy due to the author’s use of sub-creation to construct his alternate world. Tolkien believed that the way to create a believable, all-encompassing world was to combine fragments of reality, or the â€Å"primary world†, together to construct a new, seemingly credible â€Å"secondary world†. Sub-creation, if successful, forms an alternate but parallel world to reality, â€Å"which your mind can enter. Inside it, what he relates is ‘true’: it accords with the laws of the†¦show more content†¦Here, Tolkien signifies that humans were moulded in the likeness of God, the ultimate creator; therefore we are able to, and should, create. This quota tion highlights how his Catholic belief deeply influenced his personal philosophy, which in turn affected his writing of The Lord Of The Rings. Numerous parallels can be drawn between Christianity and the trilogy, such as that between God and The Creator Eru, who was the source of all life on Arda. Furthermore, like God, all that was created by Eru was once good, even Sauron, and it is outside forces such as power, corruption and greed that twist what is good and make it bad. Tolkien’s creationist philosophy is evident and his embedded Christian messages were his attempt to reinforce his religious beliefs on a world that he felt had become too secular. It is widely known that Tolkien detested the allegorical assumptions made about his work. The author insisted that allegory was restrictive to readers and he preferred ‘history, whether real or feigned’(Tolkien I, 12). As Ursula Le Guin states â€Å"fantasy is nothing but the writer’s view of the world† highlighting that fact that Tolkien’s life experiences heavily influenced his work (qtd Kelly, 27). Tolkien’s work reflects and comments on 20th Century Western society and in doing so, enlightens his readers of a past time. In fact, this is demonstrated outright by

Reflective Writing Report

Question: Define the reflective writing report Stress in work conditions the report is supposed to delivered in Australian timing? Answer: Introduction "Stress" is portrayed in unique courses as the years progressed. From the start, it was made of as tension from the surroundings, then as nervousness inside the single person. The typically supported criticalness nowadays is one of relationship between the circumstances and the single person. It is the energetic and physical express that results when the wellsprings of the individual are not agreeable to deal with the necessities and essentials of the circumstances. In this manner, push is more plausible in a couple of circumstances than others and in a few people than others. Nervousness can challenge the accomplishment of objectives, both for people and for affiliations. Circumstances that are at risk to cause tension are those that are unforeseen or unmanageable, foggy, unclear or different, or including issue, adversity or capability ends of the line. Uneasiness may be a direct result of time restricted activities, for instance, the requirements of exams or work due dates, or by unending circumstances, for instance, family necessities, work shakiness, or long voyaging trips [1] [10]. Reason of stress The level of "stress" educated depends on upon the performing of two security genuine instruments [7]: Alert reaction: When experienced with a peril to our protection, our first reaction is genuine arousal: our muscles concentrated on and breathing and pulse rate become more fast. This provides for us well when the threat is the general pad in the field hustling towards us. We either fight or escape. Present day risks tend to be more enthusiastic, case in point, unjustified talked attack by an unrivalled at work. It is typically not socially suitable, and an alternative technique for exhibiting the following enthusiastic and genuine essentialness is required. This drops in the domain of certain affiliation. Alteration: The second versatile technique grants us to stop noting when we find that invigorating parts in nature are no more a threat to our security. Case in point, when we first spend a while in a house near to a train line, our reaction to shows cruising past is to be bewildered, as portrayed at one time. Inexorably, our reaction reduces. If this procedure did not work, we would over the long haul bafflement from genuine rot, and mental depletion. "Stress" is capable when both of these structures are not satisfying desires fittingly or when we fight switch honest to goodness beginning with one then onto the following. This structures the reason of individual methods to weight organization. Evaluations have been formed by past encounters of overseeing weight and, in this way, influence future behaviour and appraisals. Thusly, the procedure of appraisal, direct, and weight is advancing, and dealing with weight can happen in view of changing the way the circumstances is evaluated taught frameworks or had a tendency to behavioural or intellectual schedules [8]. Workplace Factors The work environment is a central resource of both necessities and essentials realizing nervousness, and designing and open sources to oversee stress. The work environment considers that have been found to be associated with nervousness and wellbeing risks can be sorted as those to do with the substance of perform and those to do with individuals as a rule and legitimate perspective of perform. Those that are undeniable to the occupation embody extended hours, perform wealth, time extend, troublesome or obfuscated endeavours, absence of squashes, inadequacy of blended pack, and poor physical perform conditions [2]. Unclear perform or clashing positions and points of confinement can bring about tension, as can having risk for individuals. The opportunities for occupation change are key backings against current uneasiness, with under showcasing, deficiency of get ready, and vocation flimsiness being traumatic. There are two separate wellsprings of tension, or backings against nervousness: relationship at perform, and the legitimate lifestyle. Supervisors who are pressing, trying, unsupportive or harshness make stress, however a positive open assessing of perform and stunning gathering working reductions it [4] [11]. A legitimate lifestyle of past due extra time reasons stress. Of course, a lifestyle of consolidating individuals in choices, keeping them taught about what is occurring in the association, and offering exceptional quirks and incitement tricks decrease stress. Various levelled change, especially when evaluation has been insufficient, is a colossal resource of nervousness. Such changes include mergers, moving, reorientating or curtailing, singular understandings, and redundancies inside the association [12]. Stress Management The affirmation and organization of office weight needs legitimate level prescriptions, because it is the association that makes the weight. A strategy that is restricted to supporting those authoritatively underweight is like giving after mortar on wounds, as opposed to working with the explanations behind the destruction. A substitute delineation is endeavouring to run up a lift that is going down! Various levelled meds can be of various sorts, which run from compositional (for example, occupation levels, perform plans, genuine physical environment) to energetic (case in point, help, organization over perform, collaboration) [3] [5]. Assessing the likelihood of weight inside the work environment must consider [6]: The probability and the level of wiped out wellbeing which could happen as an outcome of contact with a particular risk The level to which an individual is revealed to the risk The amount of workers revealed to the risk. The investigation of traumatic risks at perform should consider all components of the arrangement and organization, and its open and legitimate perspective. Notwithstanding the way that the stress is protection, security exercises can be shown to organization the peril and kill a given risk [13]. Conclusion Achievement in detracting consideration of and staying from weight is controlled by the lifestyle in the association. Nervousness should be seen as information to information action, not as weak point in individuals. A lifestyle of care and knowing, instead of issue and investigate, is key. Building this sort of lifestyle needs practical organization and champions from the most astounding purpose of the association, the advancement and execution of a weight organize all through the association, and systems to see issues early and to evaluation and enhance the methods proposed to oversee them. The game plan and its execution should be analysed with the fitting business labourers associations and protection boards [9] [15]. Taking everything into account, drugs should be researched, so that their gainfulness can be analysed. Preferably, the method for completing this should fuse a high reaction rate, honest to goodness and profitable exercises, and a control bunch. Two exercises that give a sweeping examination of work weight and have been routinely used are the Job Content Situated of request, for instance, exercises of the markers of occupation tension depicted heretofore, and the Occupational Stress Indicator [14]. Reference 1. Cooper CL, Marshall J. Occupational sources of stress: a review of the literature relating to coronary heart disease and mentalill health. J Occup Health Psychol1976; 49:1128. 2. Cooper CL, Sloan SJ, Williams S. Occupational stress indicator management guide. Windsor: NFER-Nelson, 1998. 3. Cox T, Griffiths A. The nature and measurement of work stress: theory and practice. In: Wilson JR, Corlett EN, et al, eds. Evaluation of human work: a practical ergonomics methodology, 2nd ed. London: Taylor Francis, 1995:783803. 4. Gardell B, Gustavsen B. Work environment research and social change: current developments in Scandinavia. J Occup Behav1980; 1:317. 5. Gronningsaeter H, et al. Improved health and coping by physical exercise or cognitive behavioral stress management training in a work environment. Psychology and Health1992; 7:14763. 6. Health and Safety Executive. Organisational interventions for work stress: a risk management approach. Norwich: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 2000. A thorough guide as to how to apply a risk management approach to work stress. 7. Heany CA, Price RH, Refferty J. Increasing coping resources at work: a field experiment to increase social support, improve work team functioning, and enhance employee mental health. J Organisational Behav1995; 16:33552. 8. Johnson JV, Stewart W, Friedlund P, et al. Long-term psychosocial work environment and cardiovascular mortality among Swedish men. Am J Public Health1996; 86,32431. 9. Kagan NI, Kagan H, Watson MG. Stress reduction in the workplace: the effectiveness of psychoeducational programs. J Counselling Psychol1995; 42:718. 10. Karasek RA, Theorell T. Healthy work: stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life. New York: Basic Books, 1990. A seminal book that combines a clear theoretical and empirical approach to work stress. 11. Lazarus S, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer, 1984. A comprehensive account of the transactional model of stress and its management. 12. Malcolm RM, Harrison J, Forster H. Effects of changing the pattern of referrals in a local authority. Occup Med1993; 43:21115. 13. Lokk J, Arnetz B. Psychophysiological concomitants of organisational change in health care personnel: effects of a controlled intervention study. Psychother Psychosom1997; 66:747. 14. Smoot SL, Gonzales JL Cost-effective communication skills training for state hospital employees. Psychiatr Serv1995; 46:81922. 15. Williams S, Michie S, Patani S. Improving the health of the NHS workforce. London: The Nuffield Trust, 1998.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨A systematic review of the evidence of associations between work factors and ill health and of effective workplace interventions. References 1116 are to the six effective interventions identified in this systematic review.

Setting Vs Story - Dantes Inferno And Sartres No Exit Essays

Setting vs Story - Dante's Inferno and Sartre's No Exit Setting vs Story - Dante's Inferno and Sartre's No Exit This essay is on setting differences using the works of Dante's The Inferno and Jean Paul Sartre's No Exit. Adam looks about spotting all the important people that will influence the rest of his life. He takes a deep breath and prepares to make this his last and final addition to life. Quietly he draws back from the church as if to stop time, this moment may define him as a man. He turns to look at the priest as if to reply his answer, but suddenly he realizes the hand he is holding is as cold as death. Quickly he snaps back into reality recognizing he is not asking for his bride's hand in marriage, but burying her. Once again his mind tricked him into thinking that he was starting all over again with a new chance; however, as in life, sometimes there are no second chances. Dante's Inferno and Jean Paul Sartre's No Exit illustrate irony in setting in similar ways, such that there are no second chances in life. Both works take the readers into the minds of their authors where each author gives their interpretation of hell. Dante's and Jean Paul Sartre's works both have similar aspects of setting that are expressed in similar styles. Through symbolism, representation, and finite physical details each author establishes irony, yet also reinforces his theme. When Dante wrote The Inferno his mind thrived on the different levels of interpretation; likewise, Jean Paul Sartre's mind thrived on this, and he patterned No Exit after Dante's work. The symbolism expressed in Dante's Inferno correlates directly, in some cases, to the play written by Jean Paul Sartre, No Exit. Symbolism in both works cannot be defined by one level of thinking and neither can it be comprehended on one level. However, symbolism in relation to the setting of both works exhibits the nature of both writers to be very ironic in some cases. For example, throughout Dante's Inferno, Dante makes many direct references to the light and the heavens: "Therefore, if you win through this gloomy pass and climb again to see the heaven of stars when it rejoices to you . . ." (p. 145, l. 82 -5).These references, also made in No Exit, reveal the irony that none of the inhabitants of hell can ever see the light of God or, in Jean Paul Sartre's perspective, will always be reminded of the light and the choice they made: "Always broad daylight in my eyes- and in my head." (p.6) is another example of ironic symbolism, the mantle, found in No Exit and the evident references to heaven and the "true way" The Inferno. Additionally, "Yes, now's the moment; I'm looking at this thing on the mantlepiece, and I understand that I'm in hell."(p. 45): this direct quote from the play No Exit also captivates Dante's exact meanings that while you are in hell you will constantly be reminded of the path you chose not to take or the "true way" you chose not to follow. Finally the last illustration of symbolism in No Exit is the mirror and in Dante's Inferno the creatures of hell. The mirror, or the lack of, reveals the character's weaknesses towards themselves. The character of Estelle had six mirrors in her lifetime and now is sentenced in hell never to see herself again. While for the other characters, Inez and Gracin, the lack of mirrors represents something else. For Gracin he sees mirrors everywhere, and this shows the torture he goes through in hell, being constantly reminded of his sins. On the other hand, for Inez her mirror is seeing Estelle, her object of desire, and Gracin together forever, while also being constantly reminded of the sin, lust, she committed on earth. Dante's work is much more representative, and his creatures of hell disclose their symbolism in the guarding of the different circles of hell. For example the Minotaur, once a great beast who guarded many, is now guardian of circle seven and will forever be reminded of his sins on earth due to the fact his is the guardian of those who can never escape and his presence is a struggle of unending hell. The sins of hell in The Inferno and No Exit both exemplify the notion that the sin you committed on earth is also the punishment you shall receive in hell. This notion is the basis of the irony, that what you could not live without on earth is the

buy custom Understanding Gene Therapy essay

buy custom Understanding Gene Therapy essay Introduction Genes are the basic physical and functional units that enhance heredity. They are capable of encoding instructions that guide processing of proteins by the body (Yashon Cummings, 2012). The processed proteins facilitate most of the life functions and form a better percentage of the cellular structures. When genes are altered, the encoded proteins are rendered ineffective and unable to function normally. This is what causes genetic disorder in a person. According to studies that have been conducted, almost everybody unconsciously carries some defective genes (Giacca, 2010). Lately, there has been increasing attention to the treatment of genetic metabolic diseases. These are diseases that develop as a result of defective genes that cause enzymes to be either absent or generally ineffective and inefficient. Enzymes function in the human body to catalyze metabolic reactions (Giacca, 2010). When these enzymes are ineffective, metabolic processes are slowed down or just fail to take place . This paper seeks to discuss gene therapy, illustrate examples of this treatment approach, discuss the risks and complications, associated with it, and outline some of the ethical principles that guide gene therapy as a method of treatment of genetic disorders. Definition and Understanding of Gene Therapy Gene therapy has been developed to help treat the genetic disorders that result from dysfunctional enzymes. Gene therapy is, thus, a treatment approach that involves replacement of faulty or absent genes with working ones so that the body is able to effectively process and produce correct enzymes or proteins and consequently be able to deal with the root cause of a genetic disease (Kelly, 2007). It is a process that involves introduction of normal and functional genes into the cells of a person, which carry the defective genes so as to enhance reconstitution of the missing protein product. It is a medical treatment process that helps in the correction of a deficient phenotype so that the normal amount of gene products is synthesized by the body. The first gene therapy trial was performed by French Anderson and R. Michael Blaese on a four year old girl in 1990 (Kelly, 2007). In order to perform gene therapy, somatic cells are modified by transferring desired gene sequences into the ge nome. However, for this to succeed, somatic cells are required to ensure that the genes that are inserted to correct the disorder are not carried down to the following generations. Examples of Gene Therapy Gene therapy has been applied widely in the treatment of genetic disorders. This is because almost all cells in the human body contain genes. This makes genetic therapy feasible in virtually all cells of the human body. Gene therapy has been performed in the cells of the body and the ovum or sperm cells. There are, thus, two broad examples of gene therapy; the somatic cell gene therapy and the germ line cell therapy. Somatic Cell Gene Therapy Somatic cell gene therapy entails introduction of genes into body cells or tissues in order to treat a disease in an individual that has been medically diagnosed to have genetic associations or origin (Wintrobe Greer, 2009). This enhances expression of an exogenous functional gene into another persons somatic cells. This genetic therapeutic approach is considered to be non-reproductive since somatic cells, where it is involved are not reproductive cells. There is consensus that this gene cell therapy is safer than other approaches because it only has influence on the targeted cells in the patient. The introduced cells are not, therefore, passed down to the future generations. The effects of a somatic cell gene therapy end with the individual who is treated. This implies that the genetic disorders that are treated through the application of somatic cell gene therapy do not have a bearing on the children of the patient. Somatic cell gene therapy is used to correct errors, relating to metabolism. For example, phenilketonuria has been treated through somatic cell gene therapy. This disorder results from the bodys inability to metabolize phenylalanine. The therapy facilitates elimination of the amino acid. Although this therapy is applicable, it does not address all inborn errors, related to metabolism (Kelly, 2007). In the case of a disorder resulting from abnormal alleles for an essential enzyme that leads to deficient metabolic functions, somatic cell gene therapy has been successfully applied as a treatment strategy. In this treatment practice, a copy of gene, capable of expressing the essential enzyme and enhancing the required metabolic function, is introduced. The cloning genes that are involved in the genetic metabolic dysfunction/disorder are identified. The normal genes are, then, introduced into the prover cell within the body, especially in the area, where metabolism is required, while cont rolling the expression of the gene within the limits of the therapeutic and safe levels (Brown, 2010). There are two sub-examples of the somatic cell gene therapy; the ex vio and the in vivo. The in vivo method involves changing of the cells within the body of the patient. The genes are transferred to cells within the body of the patient. This transfer of desired genes inside the patients body led to the derived name of this method. The ex vivo somatic cell gene therapy involves exterior-focused therapeutic approach (Benigni Remuzzi, 2008). The cells of the body are modified outside the body before they are transferred back into the body again. In some therapeutic trials, the cells from the patients own blood or even the bone marrow are removed, grown in the laboratory for some time before they are transplanted back. During this process, the cells are exposed to the virus that carries the targeted gene. The entry of the virus into the cells enhances insertion of the target gene into the DNA of the cell. The cells are, then, given time to grow in the laboratory before they are again t ransferred into the body of the patient through venal injection (Kelly, 2007). This example of somatic cell gene therapy is referred to as ex vivo because the cells are treated outside the body. Germ line Gene Therapy Germ line gene therapy is a treatment approach that involves delivery of gene to sperm or egg or directly into the cells that are responsible for their production. This example of gene therapy might help in preventing defective genes from being transferred to the subsequent generations. The act of modifying genes at the initial stages of embryonic development is also preferred since it serves as a way of correcting defective genes both in the germ line and within the cells of the body (Wintrobe Greer, 2009). In cases when the germ line gene therapy is carried out in the early embryologic stages like during pre-implantation diagnosis and in the vitro fertilization, genetic transfer could be affected in every cell within the developing embryo. However, there are reservations with the germ line gene therapy. This is because of its risks, especially with the possibility of a permanent therapeutic effect that may affect the following generations through genetic inheritance. Risks, associated with Gene Therapy The risks, associated with gene therapy, are various. These risks relate to the way, in which the genes are delivered. The normal genes that replace defective ones, in a gene therapy process, are usually delivered through carriers, which are normally vectors. Most of these vectors are viruses, which researchers use due to their unique ability to carry genetic material into the cells of a gene (Hutter, 2010). This poses a great potential for risks. To begin with, since gene therapy involves introduction of new foreign cell into the system, the body is bound to react through its immune system. The virus that is introduced into the body through gene therapy may cause the immune system to react and attack the new cell in the same way it reacts to other pathogenic and disease-causing organisms or cells. Such immune responses may not only cause complications in the bodys immunity but also lead to other medical and health complications such as inflammation, toxicity and organ failure in som e extreme instances. Gene therapy can also lead to viral spread. The process involves use of viruses to transfer the desired gene into the body. Hutter (2010) cited that since viruses have the capability of affecting more than one type of body cells, there is a possibility that viral vectors that are used in genetic transfer may end up infecting cells other than the targeted cells. All the cells that contain mutated or missing genes may, thus, be affected. This can be a very unfortunate occurrence since even the healthy cells may end up being affected by the vector-carrying virus. Thus, gene therapy may lead to viral spread, which, in turn, might cause other health complications and spread diseases or illnesses including cancer (Hutter, 2010). Perhaps, one of the greatest risks, associated with gene therapy, is the possibility of the virus to reverse to its original form. Viruses are used to transfer the required genes into the body cells to replace the defective ones that are causing enzyme and other somatic dysfunctions. However, the viruses that are used as vectors or carriers of the desired gene may recover their initial viral and infection ability and cause diseases, once they are introduced into the body through gene therapy (Abraham, 2008). This possibility is quite unfortunate given that gene therapy in itself is originally meant to be a treatment method, which should not lead to the spread of other diseases in the process of treating another disease. The risks of gene therapy have been registered, especially with regard to the ability of the virus to spread and induce tumor formation within the genome (Kelly, 2007). Scientists and researchers have registered their reservations and concerns that if the new genes get inserted or introduced in the wrong spot within the genome, there are chances that the insertion may cause tumor formation (Kelly, 2007). This has been observed by geneticists and scientists in some of the laboratory clinical trials. Besides, the new DNA that is introduced into the body during treatment through gene therapy may end up affecting the reproductive cells of the patient, especially where germ line gene therapy is involved. This may cause changes in the genetic composition and affect the children that are born after one is treated through gene therapy. Complications with Gene Therapy Although trials of gene therapy have significantly been successful, there are a few reservations that have been reported. The few complications that scientific and genetic researchers have realized with gene therapy relate to the medical and health issues that gene therapy as a treatment procedure might cause in a patient. For example, gene therapy has been associated with T-cell leukemia (Abraham, 2008). When the retroviral vector was inserted inappropriately near the proto-oncogene LMO2, the result was a proliferation of uncontrolled mature T cells, which causes T-cell leukemia in a patient. This complication is caused by the lack of both the B and T cells (Gibbs, 1996). Such a complication that result from gene therapy may expose a patient to further medical complications, including the use of bone marrow transplant that is retrieved from a histocompatible sibling of the patient. Unfortunately, this is often not easy to secure or procure. Thus, gene therapy may lead to other compl ications, some of which are very severe and can even be fatal. Gene therapy may lead to interruption of important genetic sequence and harm the cell instead of resolving the genetic and cellular defects that the treatment targets. This is because the retroviruses that penetrate the immune defenses into the target cells often affect the cells in an unpredictable manner. Abraham (2008) cited that the retroviruses may even insert the therapeutic gene at unpredictable position within the cells DNA. This is what might lead to interruption of very important genetic sequences that might have been going on within the cells DNA. Even in the cases, where gene therapy succeeds, the new genes always end up in the dormant parts of the cells DNA (Brown, 2010). In the dormant stretches, the new genes often do not get switched on as frequent enough to be able to make the much required genetic difference in the patient who is undergoing treatment (Gibbs, 1996). Ethical Concerns, surrounding Gene Therapy Gene therapy is a medical treatment involving alteration of the bodys set of basic genetic messages. Since it touches on the very processes that guide life and its characteristics, this treatment approach has raised and continues to raise various ethical issues. One of the ethical concerns that gene therapy is raising is its fairness in terms of the use of the genetic information that is disclosed during the diagnosis and treatment procedures. There are concerns, relating to the use of the genetic information (Cummings, 2009). For example, many people are in a dilemma with regard to the person who should be entitled to the access to the personal genetic information of the patient and how such information will be used. There are concerns about the privacy and confidentiality of the genetic information that is retrieved in the course of gene therapy. Since it is private and personal information, pressure is piling on the need to keep genetic information very private and confidential un der all circumstances. Genetic therapy is often associated with stigmatization. The psychological impact that is created by a persons genetic difference should, thus, be well taken care of before gene therapy is approved. For example, there are concerns about the perceptions of the society towards an individual who undergoes gene therapy. The members of the minority communities are particularly vulnerable to social stigma, associated with gene therapy. Besides, being a complex procedure that has great potentials for risks and complications, there is need to seek adequate informed consent from the patient and the family members before gene therapy is carried out on a patient. This is because gene therapy has very close link and relationship to the reproductive aspects of an individual (Cummings, 2009). The healthcare personnel, thus, need to carefully counsel the patient and the family members about the risks, the limitations and the implications of gene therapy. This ethical aspect is very essential given the clinical issues, uncertainties, complications and risks that are associated with gene therapy. Conclusion Gene therapy is increasingly becoming acceptable and a popular method for treatment of genetic disorders and gene-related diseases and illnesses. Although germ line gene therapy exists, it is still outlawed in most states like the entire European Union because of its implications. Somatic cell gene therapy is, however, acceptably practiced as a treatment method. However, the complications and risks that are associated with gene therapy still limit its use considerably. Thus, there is a need for scientists to evaluate further the safe, effective and efficient ways of using gene therapy as a treatment procedure for genetic disorders giving careful attention to the ethical concerns that this procedure raises. Buy custom Understanding Gene Therapy essay

Reformation 101 - The Protestant Reformation in Europe

Reformation 101 - The Protestant Reformation in Europe The Reformation was a split in the Latin Christian church instigated by Luther in 1517 and evolved by many others over the next decade- a campaign which created and introduced a new approach to Christian faith called Protestantism. This split has never been healed and doesnt look likely to, but dont think of the church as divided between older Catholics and new Protestantism, because there is a huge range of Protestant ideas and offshoots. The Pre-Reformation Latin Church In the early 16th century, western and central Europe followed the Latin Church, headed by the pope. While religion permeated the lives of everyone in Europe- even if the poor focused on religion as a way to improve day to day issues and the rich on improving the afterlife- there was widespread dissatisfaction with many aspects of the church: at its bloated bureaucracy, perceived arrogance, avarice, and abuses of power. There was also widespread agreement that the church needed to be reformed, to restore it to a purer and more accurate form. While the church was certainly vulnerable to change, there was little agreement on what should be done. A massively fragmented reform movement, with attempts from the pope at the top to priests at the bottom, was ongoing, but attacks tended to focus on only one aspect at a time, not the whole church, and the local nature led only to local success. Perhaps the main bar to change was the belief that the church still offered the only route to salvation. What was needed for mass change was a theologian/argument which could convince a mass of both people and priests that they did not need the established church to save them, allowing reform to run unchecked by previous loyalties. Martin Luther presented just such a challenge. Luther and the German Reformation In 1517 Luther, a Professor of Theology grew angry at the selling of indulgences and produced 95 theses against them. He sent them privately to friends and opponents and may, as legend has it, have nailed them to a church door, a common method of starting debate. These theses were soon published and the Dominicans, who sold lots of indulgences, called for sanctions against Luther. As the papacy sat in judgment and later condemned him, Luther produced a powerful body of work, falling back on scripture to challenge the existing papal authority and rethinking the nature of the entire church. Luther’s ideas and style of preaching in person soon spread, partly among people who believed in him and partly among people who just liked his opposition to the church. Many clever and gifted preachers across Germany took on the new ideas, teaching and adding to them faster and more successfully than the church could keep up with. Never before had so many clergies switched to a new creed which was so different, and over time they challenged and replaced every major element of the old church. Shortly after Luther, a Swiss preacher called Zwingli produced similar ideas, beginning the related Swiss Reformation. Brief Summary of Reformation Changes Souls were saved without the cycle of penitence and confession (which was now sinful), but by faith, learning, and the grace of God.Scripture was the sole authority, to be taught in the vernacular (the local languages of the poor).A new church structure: a community of believers, focused around a preacher, needing no central hierarchy.The two sacraments mentioned in the scriptures were kept, albeit altered, but the other five were downgraded. In short, the elaborate, costly, organized church with often absent priests was replaced by austere prayer, worship, and local preaching, striking a chord with laypeople and theologians like. Reformed Churches Form The reformation movement was adopted by laypeople and powers, merging with their political and social aspirations to produce sweeping changes on everything from the personal level- people converting- to the highest reaches of government, where towns, provinces, and whole kingdoms officially and centrally introduced the new church. Government action was needed as the reformed churches had no central authority to disband the old church and instill the new order. The process was haphazard- with much regional variation- and carried out over decades. Historians still debate the reasons why people, and the governments who reacted to their wishes, took up the ‘Protestant’ cause (as the reformers became known), but a combination is likely, involving seizing land and power from the old church, genuine belief in the new message, ‘flattery’ by laypeople at being involved in religious debate for the first time and in their language, deflecting dissent onto the church, and freedom from old church restrictions. The Reformation did not occur bloodlessly. There was military conflict in the Empire before a settlement allowing old church and Protestant worship was passed, while France was riven by the ‘Wars of Religion,’ killing tens of thousands. Even in England, where a Protestant church was established, both sides were persecuted as the old church Queen Mary ruled in between Protestant monarchs. The Reformers Argue The consensus which led to theologians and laity forming reformed churches soon broke down as differences between all parties emerged, some reformers growing ever more extreme and apart from society (such as Anabaptists), leading to their persecution, to the political side developing away from theology and onto defending the new order. As ideas of what a reformed church should be evolved, so they clashed with what rulers wanted and with each other: the mass of reformers all producing their own ideas led to a range of different creeds which often contradicted each other, causing more conflict. One of these was Calvinism, a different interpretation of Protestant thought to that of Luther, which replaced the ‘old’ thinking in many places in the middle to late sixteenth century. This has been dubbed the ‘Second Reformation. Aftermath Despite the wishes and actions of some old church governments and the pope, Protestantism established itself permanently in Europe. People were affected at both a deeply personal, and spiritual level, finding a new faith, as well as the socio-political one, as an entirely new layer division was added to the established order. The consequences, and troubles, of the Reformation remain to this day.

The Business of Health Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Business of Health Care - Essay Example This paper seeks to determine the extent to what the health care can be a business, and seek evidence that may suggest the cost and quality improvement of the health care. The business aspect of health care encompasses the entire system, from financial analysis to personnel management. Similar to other businesses, the health care providers need qualified individuals for the management of resources, finance, database and computer systems, and other aspects of the health care administration. Those concerned with health care management essential deal with the ‘business side’ of the health care system, which include budget and staff needs, databases, accountability, and organizational systems. These personnel prepare reports on funds or resources allocation, focus on improving efficiency by ensuring that patients enjoy timely access to health care services, and engage in reorganization of departments through streamlining processes as well as assisting employees to achieve th eir best productivity (Greener, 2007:258). Small physicians and private practice groups may only require the services of a single administrator or a few staff members, but large organizations with a relatively higher number of physician, nurses, and surgeons may require an entire department to keep operations running smoothly. In recent times, the debate over the increasing costs of the health care system has sparked different opinions and proposals from scholars and experts in the field. Additionally, studies and research show that the health care system is less than ideal. These two factors constitute a significant problem to the system. There are numerous possible causes of these deficiencies, including the rapid development of technology, poorly informed customers, difficulties in measuring the performance of providers, resistance by providers to embrace information technologies and other potentially quality-improvement techniques. Turnover of workers and enrolees among employer s and insurers, administered prices, and delayed impact of investment in health promotion. A portion of health services researchers argue that National Health Service, a United Kingdom health care system, should lead the way in effort to promote quality healthcare in the UK and the rest of the world (Department of Health, 2008:6). There are many key stakeholders in the health care system, including the government, consumers, health plans, providers, hospitals, health insurers, and pharmacy-benefit managers, although the private sector is also an important catalyst for improving the health care. This is so because, first, more than 160 million non-elderly employees receive health insurance from their employers. Second, employers provide a substantial amount of compensation to employees in form of health insurance. Third, a section of employers is leading initiative to assess the quality of health care and hold providers accountable. Fourth, private employers may move focus to the pub lic sector after conviction that investing in the programs that seek to improve the quality of the health care services is profitable. There are two important points worth noting in this context. One, improving the quality of he