Pedictive and diagnostic model Essay Example

Pedictive and diagnostic model Essay Any predictive and diagnostic model of environmental change is dependent on the accuracy of its data and the soundness of its premises (Mortimore, 1998). In terms of form (or physical manifestation of the process of desertification), the received narrative promoted images of moving deserts and the southward movement of the Sahara (Swift, 1995). Yet there is considerable evidence to suggest that rather than a linear encroachment of such conditions, desertification occurs at particular points (Bernus, 1977 cited in Mortimore, 1998). The limitations of the method of analysis used by Lamprey (1975) and Ibrahim (1984) have been further exposed by subsequent studies. Following a series of investigations by Lund University throughout the 1980s, Helleden (1991) was able to state that; none of these studies verified the creation of long lasting desert-like conditions in the Sudan during the 1962-1984 period there was no trend in the creation or growth of desertification patches around 103 examined villages and water holes over the period 1961-1985. No major shifts in the northern cultivation limit were identified [and there were] no major changes in vegetation cover and crop productivity which cannot be explained by varying rainfall characteristics. Similar results were evident in the Manga Grassland survey by Mortimore in 1989. By comparing aerial plots of the dunes over the period 1950 -1969 with the boundaries delimited by the Forestry Commission Survey in 1937, he concluded that many of the basic characteristics of the area showed continuity over time (Mortimore, 1989). We will write a custom essay sample on Pedictive and diagnostic model specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Pedictive and diagnostic model specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Pedictive and diagnostic model specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Also this time span covered a period of considerable settlement, agricultural intensification and expansion leading to doubt over the basic hypothesis of desertification (ibid, 1989). In terms of a process, it has already been noted that desertification may be more usefully considered with reference to its individual constituents of desiccation, drought and degradation (Warren, 1996). But a further point should also be raised here. Namely, that the desertification is often perceived as a disruption to a stable, equilibrial natural system. There is considerable evidence to suggest adequately represent dryland environments; they are unstable and disequilibrial in the short term and transitional in the longer term (Mortimore, 1998). In terms of both the form and process of desertification, the accuracy of its premises and data may be found wanting on both counts. The utility of the concept may be further questioned when the its structural causation mechanisms of population growth is considered. The very definition of desertification automatically limits the conceptualisation of dryland sustainability, through the inherent assumption of the failure of human management systems to cope with increasing population pressure (Adams, 2003). Within a desertification narrative therefore, there is little room for the possibility of adaptation and flexibility of management techniques and practices by ordinary people (Mortimore, 1998; Adams, 2003). The dominance of large-scale studies that have an emphasis on quantitative analysis (such as remote sensing) rather than micro-scale perspectives that focus upon the social science aspect of the problem may explain this omission (Mortimore, 1998). A number of studies in the last decade have sought to de-link the implicit connotation of population growth and environmental degradation that has been central to the desertification narrative. Such analyses draw on the ideas of Boserup (1965), suggesting that increasing population pressure can provide the stimulus for innovation and agricultural intensification, for example through increased cropping intensities and the introduction of land saving techniques. Tiffen et al. (1994) examine the case of the Machakos District in Kenya, where there has been considerable concern over the sustainability of agriculture since 1930s colonial administrators attempted to implement soil conservation measures. They used a variety of historical and current sources, such as oral history, to undertake the study. They show that increasing population densities have facilitated more productive agriculture and greater specialization and exchange within society (ibid, 1994). Specific strategies include migration, the diversification of incomes (including non-agricultural incomes) and agricultural intensification (ibid. , 1994). The area cultivated increased from 15 percent of the district in the 1930s to between 50 and 80 percent in 1978, and the land supports a population that has grown almost fivefold, from about 240,000 in the 1930s to about 1. 4 million in 1989 (ibid, 1994). The photographs of Kiima Kimwe in 1937 and 1991 (below, left and right respectively) clearly illustrate the use of careful terracing and subsequent increases in productivity through the planting of banana and other trees (Drylands Research website, 2003). Tiffen et al. s (1994) study illustrates how local communities can respond spontaneously to land degradation and make land improving investments that significantly increase productivity over time. Applying the desertification framework in this situation would be of little utility in the explanation of population growth concurrent with continued or even improved prospects of sustainability. Incorporating the idea of sustainable livelihoods and of social, human and human-made capital may be a further help to examining what the concept of desertification has missed through its biophysical sustainability bias (Serageldin, 1996). Such ideas open the possibility for a number of other inputs that may compromise, or indeed uphold, the sustainability of dryland production systems. An analysis of the social system in dryland production can point to the need for a sustainable social as well as natural system for the continuing use of the environment. Through the integration of this perspective, Murton (1997) is able to question whether Tiffen et. als (1994) these examples of sustainable resource use have been compatible with the maintenance of sustainable livelihoods in such marginal African environments such as the Machakos. Murtons research (1997) adds further dimensions the consideration of dryland production systems, including a requirement to consider how polarization and global markets can also impact upon the sustainability of this environment. The integration of the complex social and economic adjustments that embody the everyday decisions of local people has considerable potential to explain the disjuncture between the doomsday predictions of desertification narratives and small-scale evidence on the ground (Mortimore, 1998). An analysis of the history of the concept of desertification can easily lead to conclusions about how science got it wrong, with a consequent attribution of blame which is all too resonant with earlier desertification narratives (Thomas, 1997). A more thorough consideration will recognise that science necessitates the constant refinement and evaluation of ideas by default (ibid. , 1997). This points to the need to ensure the transmission of uncertainty at the science-action interface and a careful reconsideration of how scientific concepts can be taken selectively or used out of context (ibid, 1997). In this way, the legacy of the desertification narrative may yet prove useful as an important reminder of the differential needs of science and policy and the need for a more cautious approach to scientific truth and objectivity. This has been neatly conceptualised as the tension between models of environmental change as heuristics or truth machines by Wynne Sackley (1994, cited in Mortimore, 1998). From a slightly different perspective, an understanding of desertification may be considered critical precisely to move beyond it (Swift, 1996). Until the ghost of the received narrative is laid to rest in national governments and in major NGOs, the deconstruction (versus the understanding) of desertification will be key to the comprehension of dryland production systems (ibid., 1996). In conclusion, the narrative of desertification may be considered as particularly unhelpful to an accurate understanding of the many facets of sustainability in dryland production systems. Definitions of the terms are problematic, contested and confused, leading to problems for clear and concise communication on the topic. Moreover, the scientific evidence and data upon which the narrative is premised has been shown to be seriously flawed and also coloured by ignorance and prejudice towards indigenous livelihoods and technologies. As such the consideration of dryland sustainability in the framework of desertification may be seen to incomplete and also misguided. However, this is not to say that credible work on drylands has not been performed, nor that real environmental problems do not exist in these ecosystems. Although the term has continued to be adopted in policy circles, the use of an alternative, such as dry land degradation, may prove useful in the longer term and particularly when trying to identify effective interventions. Knowledge of the desertification narrative however, may be seen to provide an important reminder of the need to actively manage the use of science as a basis for policy, particularly when in complex issues that contain a substantial element of uncertainty. An analysis of the way in which powerful institutions have harnessed the power of the desertification narrative is also important for its deconstruction and for the possibility of its succession by a concept that is more attuned to the real and substantive issues of dryland sustainability. References Adams, W.M (2001) Green Development: environment and sustainability in the Third World. Routledge: London Adams, W. M Mortimore, M. J. (1997) Agricultural intensification and flexibility in the Nigerian Sahel Geographical Journal 163:150-160 Drylands Research Organisation Website (accessed 19/11/2003) The Machakos Study (available online at http://www. drylandsresearch. org. uk/dr_machakos. html) ICIHI (1986) The Encroaching Desert: The Consequences of Human Failure A Report for the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues. Zed Book Ltd: London.

Enzyme Catalase Essays

Enzyme Catalase Essays Enzyme Catalase Paper Enzyme Catalase Paper Enzymes are proteins that function as biological catalysts (Perry, Morton 2007). They maintain the body’s stable internal balance, and without them life would be impossible (Sullivan, 2013). Enzymes are capable of speeding up reactions that otherwise would happen at a slower rate. Even though we have hundreds of different enzymes in our cells, each enzyme is specific for one particular reaction that occurs in the cell (Fuentes, 2011). A catalyst is responsible for lowering the amount of energy needed for a chemical reaction to occur. The activation energy is then lowered enough to the affect called a molehill. In an enzyme-catalyzed reaction the substrate, which is the substance being reacted upon, is the reactant (Perry, Morton 2007). The substrate only fits in a specific active site, and is later broken down by the enzyme (Lab Report). Enzyme molecules and substrate molecules merge together to form an enzyme-substrate complex, however this is only temporary. Once the molecules are bound the enzyme-substrate complex changes shape slightly. This allows the chemical reaction to process faster. The molecule is then released unchanged and is capable of catalyzing the same reaction over and over (Perry, Morton 2007). Catalase is a specific enzyme that is found in many animal and plant tissues (Sullivan, 2013). It is used to speed up reactions that break down hydrogen peroxide. For example, the enzyme is catalase and the substrate is hydrogen peroxide (Lab Report). Hydrogen peroxide is a byproduct of numerous cellular reactions that happen in our body, however this byproduct is very toxic to our cells. When catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide it is converted into two harmless substances, water and oxygen (Fuentes, 2011). The purpose of this study is to test certain factors, and how they affect the rate of the reaction that it catalyzes. The test factors include: substrate concentration, pH, and temperature.

How to Find Scholarships for College Expert Guide

How to Find Scholarships for College Expert Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Paying for college is already stressful and a bit overwhelming - applying for scholarships shouldn’t be too. To help you navigate the process of finding (and applying for) this helpful type of financial aid, we’ve put together this strategy guide with everything you need to know about how to findscholarships that are right for you. You’ll learn about searching for awards in the right places (perhaps the most difficult part of the whole process), selecting the right scholarships, and putting together high-quality applications. Let’s get started! Before the Applications: Optimizing Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship There are, of course, many niche awards that go to students with very specific skills, interests, and accomplishments (we’ll get to that in a bit). If you want to increase your chances of winning significant scholarship money, however, you have to step back and look at the big-picture perspective: how can you make yourself appealing to the greatest number of scholarship programs? Here are the most common things that scholarship programs look for: Academic Excellence You can demonstrate academic excellence with ACT or SAT scores, high GPA, and high class rank. Leadership Skills Show you have leadership potential with important positions (or just consistent, engaged participation) in student groups, sports, other extracurriculars, or student jobs. Read more about participating in student groups and getting a student job. Commitment to Community Service Demonstrate that you're invested in your community with consistent, personally meaningful volunteer work. Learn more about the benefits of community service. Read about different community service projects and ideas. Strong Relationships With Educators and Mentors This is a bit harder to define. Most scholarship programs evaluate relationships through letters of recommendation or even short phone conversations. Learn more about what makes for a good letter of rec, and check out examples of awesome letters. Clear Personal Goals Scholarship organizations often look for students with goals and values that are congruent with those of the organization itself. You can demonstrate that you have clear, well-developed goals (even if you don't!) through your application essays or in-person interviews, if applicable. Learn more about writing application essays and coming across well in interviews. The good news is that your scholarship strategy can be easily integrated into your greater college application goals - the things you can do to make yourself appealing to scholarships are the same things you can do to make yourself appealing to colleges. To be most successful in making yourself appealing to scholarship programs, you have to take a long-term approach - it’s best if you start working on the above goals freshman year (or even earlier), but it’s also never too late to start. Where to Look for Scholarships When you’re just starting your scholarship research, the sheer number of awards available can be kind of overwhelming. Here are five suggestions for how to find scholarships. PrepScholar Guides This one’s easy - we’ve already done the legwork for you by compiling lists of different types of scholarships: Top Scholarship Lists Top Scholarships for Sophomores and Freshmen Top Scholarships for Juniors Top Scholarships for Seniors SpecialtyScholarship Lists Minority Scholarships Engineering Scholarships Other Scholarship Lists Guide to Local Scholarships Guaranteed Scholarships Based on SAT/ACT Scores Full Ride Scholarships Easy Scholarships Weird Scholarships Specific Scholarship Guides National Merit Scholarship Gates Millennium Ronald McDonald Scholarship Tylenol Scholarship Florida Bright Futures Other Scholarship Search Tools AsI mentioned earlier, you won’t want to just apply to the big, prestigious scholarships - it’s important to apply to less competitive awards as well. To get info on almost any scholarship you can think of, check out the following online search tools. Want more detailed info? Read our guide on how to effectively use these online search resources. The College Board With the College Board’s scholarship search, you can look for awards based on all sorts of criteria. There are two ways you can search for scholarships: By keyword By filling out personal information about things like minority status, disability status, religious affiliation, veteran status, and club/organization membership. The search engine then finds scholarships that match the personal characteristics you’ve entered. You can enter in as much or as little identifying or demographic information as you’d like. Obviously, the more information you enter, the more relevant and helpful the search results will be. Scholarships.com Scholarships.com claims to be the largest free scholarship search resource available, with a total of over 2.7 million scholarships listed in their database. The site lets you save, â€Å"favorite,† or remove scholarship matches associated with your account. Students tend to have more luck with Scholarships.com when it comes to finding relevant awards when compared to many other scholarship search engines. Your Favorite Search Engine Once you get a better sense of the scholarships you’d like to apply for, you can use Google (or something similar) to search for awards. This gives you a lot of freedom and flexibility when you’re searching for scholarships, especially if you have specific keywords in mind. You might find individual awards or lists of relevant scholarships that others have already put together. Your Guidance or College Counselor School counselors are an untapped resource when it comes to finding scholarship money! Definitely schedule a meeting with your guidance or college counselor - the earlier, the better, but ideally by the beginning of junior year. They likely have insider info on scholarship programs that may be a good fit for you, especially when it comes to local awards. If you have unique skills or needs (e.g. you’re hoping to be recruited for a college sport), your counselor may also be able to help guide you through the process - this isn’t something you can get from an online scholarship search tool. A guidance counselor can give the sort of personalized feedback that you can only get from a real, live human How to Choose Which Scholarships to Apply for You might come across thousands of scholarships in your college search, but you can’t apply to all of them, no matter how efficient you are. It’s important to pare down the number of scholarships you apply to in order to maximize your success of winning cash (8-10 applications is a reasonable goal here). Here are some questions you should ask yourself when you’re putting together that all-important list of scholarship applications: Do You Meet All of the Eligibility Requirements? This seems obvious, but it’s really important. Carefully read through all of the eligibility requirements to make sure you meet every single one. If the organization has set specific guidelines on things like GPA, ACT/SAT scores, community service hours, etc., don’t expect them to even look at your application if you’re just â€Å"close† to meeting the requirements. This will just waste time you could have spent applying to other scholarships. If you have any questions about confusing requirements, reach out to the scholarship organization directly. Are You a Good Fit for the Award? This is similar (but not the same) as meeting the eligibility requirements.If you do meet the requirements, ask yourself (and answer honestly) whether you are this scholarship’s target audience. That is, do you fit the spirit of the award and not just the letter of it? For example, let’s say you’re looking at an award for scholar-athletes, and you’re a great student, but you’ve never played on a varsity team. You might meet the hard requirements (i.e. you’ve played a sport), but you’re not what the organization is looking for when they say â€Å"scholar athlete.† This is an award you should pass on. Is the Scholarship Worth the Time You'll Spend on the Application? Some scholarship applications ask a lot of the students hoping to get the award. You might have to submit all sorts of documentation - everything from transcripts to financial docs to letters of rec to student essays These obstacles may be worth it for relatively large awards where you’re sure you a) meet all requirements and b) are a good fit for the scholarship. But for smaller awards or awards where you’re not the ideal applicant? Pass. When Is the Application Deadline? Does the deadline conflict with any other big responsibilities (e.g. exams, college app deadlines, important extracurricular events)? Avoid scholarshipsyou won't be able to finish in time as well as ones that will require you to miss schoolwork in order to finish. Do you have enough time between now and then to put together a polished application? If you just have to fill out a few forms and write an essay or two, you won’t need that long - maybe a couple of weeks (you’ll want to build in time to get feedback from a teacher/counselor).If you have to put together a lot of documentation - like official transcripts, letters of rec, etc. - you might need 2-3 months. Have You Looked for Niche Awards? Most scholarships programs look for qualities that I discussed earlier in the article - academic excellence, leadership skills, community service, etc. If you can find awards that are targeted towards students with your niche interests, skills, or background, you’ll really increase your chances of winning some scholarship money. Even if you don’t use resources like the College Board search tool to find scholarships, you should go through the questionnaire asking about various group affiliations or student characteristics. If you identify with anything listed, use those keywords to look for potential scholarships (e.g.religious affiliation, ethnic background, veteran status, unique extracurriculars). The smaller the applicant pool for a particular award, the weaker the competition. Take advantage of these niche award opportunities. Do You Have a Good Variety of Scholarship Applications Lined Up? You may find a ton of great awards for which you’re an excellent applicant, but if they’re all very competitive or very popular (see: Coca-Cola scholarship, Gates Millennium scholarship), you’re doing yourself a disservice. Just as(strategically minded) top students don't just applyto Ivy League schools, you don't want to just apply for uber-competitiveawards.Try to put together a list of scholarships of varying degrees of competitiveness. Look at both national and local awards. Ever hear that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket? This is why you should apply to a variety of scholarship programs. Scholarship Application Tips and Strategies Once you’ve chosen which scholarships you’d like to apply for, you’ll want to be as organized and as polished as possible when it comes to submitting the apps. If you want to increase your chances of submitting successful applications, follow these tips! Get Organized Set up a scholarship application plan in the same way you’d set up a college application plan - organize all of your tasks and deadlines in one place. The easiest way to do this is to set up a spreadsheet with all this important info - like scholarship name, deadline and application components. This makes it easy to track your progress if you check off relevant tasks as you go. If you choose to set up your own spreadsheet (like in Excel or Google Drive), start by setting up the following spreadsheet columns (you can customize these as necessary): Scholarship name Application deadline Link to application Application â€Å"start† date (the date by which you want to start working on the app) Application essay required? (check off when complete) Letters of recommendation required? (check off when submitted) Transcripts required? (check off when submitted) ACT/SAT scores required? (check off when submitted) Any other required documentation? (check off when submitted) Checkpoint:Application essay edits received and implemented Checkpoint:Application reviewed by friend or family member Checkpoint:Application submitted Think Strategically Applying to scholarships is a numbers game, just like applying to colleges.You can apply to as many or as few awards as you’d like, but it's best to find some sort of optimal middle ground. This middle ground will vary a bit for each student, depending on his or her goals and personal characteristics. Too many applications may leave you feeling overwhelmed (and cut into other important commitments); too few applications may mean you don't actually win any money. Here are some important questions to consider when putting together your list of scholarship applications: How badly do you need scholarship funding?If you don't think you'll end up withmuch need-based financial aid, but you're still worried about paying forcollege expenses, you might want to apply to more scholarship programs. Are youa competitive scholarship applicant?Unless you've stumbled upon some sort of unknown secretprogram, the chances are that your application for each award will be weighed against those of many other students. If you're not a strongstudent - say, in the top quarter of your class - you mayhave trouble winning merit awards. If this is the case, you may want to increase your number of scholarship apps. How much extra time do you have?If you have an overloaded schedule, applying to too many scholarship programs may hurt your academic and extracurricular performance. Overbooked students may want tobe more selective with their scholarship applications. On average, I would say the ideal number of scholarship applications on average is 8-10 - you'll want to adjust your own number of apps based on the questions I laid out above. Finally, try to choose a few â€Å"reach† scholarships (i.e. very large/competitive awards), a few â€Å"safety† scholarships (i.e. small, noncompetitive or local awards), and a few â€Å"target† scholarships (mid-sized awards that you feel are a good fit). Have Someone Review Your Applications This is a super important step - it might be tempting to skip (especially if you’re on a deadline), but make sure SOMEONE looks over your applications with fresh eyes. If the application requires essays, it’s best to get feedback from a teacher or guidance counselor. Try to build 2-3 weeks into your application timeline for edits and comments. To check for typos, missed information, and general clarity, have a parent or even a trusted friend look over your apps. You could always repay the favor for a friend by looking over their applications! Even the most conscientious student should look for feedback on herapplications. What's Next? There's so much more to learn when it comes to finding and winning awards! You'd undoubtedly be interested in reading more about full ride scholarships - for more info, read about the top 15 full-ride awards, 79 colleges that offer full ride scholarships, and the top strategies for winning a full ride scholarship. If you're considering applying for scholarships, you should alsolook into other forms of financial aid. Read our guides on the four different types of financial aid and how to apply for them. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Email Marketing Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Email Marketing - Coursework Example Transaction emails is always the best as it is based upon customer’s action. An email template is basically a HTML statement. It has several benefits; it allows for the design element to be used in the company’s newsletter, following the company’s web site design and incorporating social media like Facebook. The template also save time creation if well designed hence reducing trafficking. Email template can be created using HTML which can be used to send messages, compose messages, save message and reuse the message when need arises. Office outlook, Images, links and even text can also be added as new information before sending e-mail messages. The following steps are useful in creating the template. Since the creation of template is general form and not directed to specific recipient. The e-mail can be made specific by adding subject line and some key points. The subject line will be free health tips for diabetes awareness. In order to avoid spammed the company should be able to get the specific email address of their recipient. This can be done by allowing different people to register into their website with their email

Within the Context of the Boundaryless Career Critically Analyse the Coursework - 1

Within the Context of the Boundaryless Career Critically Analyse the Challanges Faced by Graduate in a Volatile Global Economy - Coursework Example The theoretical underpinnings of the concept are explored along with criticisms meted out since its conception. Additionally, it looks at how globalisation has impacted the traditional organisation in such a way that organisations are now operating not only outside of their physical location but are moving aspects of their operations to other locations. Furthermore, it points to the increasing need of graduates to be well rounded and be given the skills and knowledge required for them to be able to think outside of the box as well as for them to be able to apply themselves in any given situation. Theoretical Perspective The notion of the boundaryless career was introduced by Arthur (1994) and has become a very popular concept (Pringle and Mallon 2006, p. 839). According to Arthur et al (qtd. in Arthur and Rousseau 1996, p. 4) the term career refers to â€Å"the unfolding sequence of a person’s work experiences over time.† This definition indicates the importance of time . It impacts â€Å"employment stability; skills and experience gained; relationships nurtured; and opportunities encountered† Arthur and Rousseau (1996). According to Sullivan (1999, p. 457) the way we view career has changed significantly. It is tradition that the careers of most individuals will evolve within the context of one or two organisations. ... This is in stark contrast to the boundaryless career where skills are transferable (see Appendix). Arthur (1994, p. 296) points out that boundaryless career is the opposite of organisational or bounded careers. Pringle and Mallon (2006, p. 841) indicates that this concept was developed to distinguish itself from the ‘bounded’ – organisational career and therefore ‘to avoid the subordination of the meaning of careers’ to that which is represented in larger and more stable firms. DeFillippi and Arthur (1996, p. 116) defines boundaryless career as â€Å"sequences of job opportunities that goes beyond the boundaries of a single employment settings.† This thinking relates to and is in response to the changing economic context at the time and appears to be in keeping with some of the tenets of globalisation which is a critical factor in the challenges affecting the traditional organisational career. However, globalisation is about interdependence whi ch would invalidate the independence assumption of the boundaryless career. Therefore, Tam and Arthur (2010) indicates that the relevance of this concept â€Å"will depend on its openness to the challenges of careers within the inherently dynamic, uncertain, and complex arena of an interdependent global economy†. Sullivan (1999) points to some important characteristics of boundaryless career when compared with traditional careers - see Appendix. As organisations make changes careers are affected. The quest for increasing profitability and in some cases, mere survival, has led firms to move certain aspects of their business to other countries and this means that jobs are also moving with them. This therefore supports the changes that will inevitably lead to boundaryless careers. According to Brown et al (2006, p.5)

Criminal Accountability and the Essay example -- Biology Essays Resear

Criminal Accountability and the "I" Function The prevalence and misuse of the insanity defense in our legal system is astounding. Cases upon cases site drugs, brain tumors, car accidents involving head injury, blackouts and antisocial behavior as circumstantial evidence of a crime that was committed. These crimes involve murder, rape and robbery. The question of where criminal accountability lies and how we are able to hold someone accountable for an act may boil down to the brain itself. Where in the brain do reason, morality and inhibition lie? If these areas are affected by some disorder does that then mean that a criminal is no longer held accountable for their actions? Is there a specific area of the brain where accountability itself may lie? These seem to be questions that are not only debated in the classroom, but hospitals and courtrooms as well. The classic example of this dilemma is the case of Phineas Gage. Phineas lived circa 1845 and was a railroad worker known for being a kind and generous family man. However, Phineas suffered from a unfortunate accident. After a dynamite explosion caused a metal rod to be passed through Phineas's head, he was a changed man. Phineas no longer was interested in family life, his personality seemed somehow changed. He became a drifter and a rebel and has left scientists wondering to this day how he was able to be totally unaffected by a metal rod being passed through his skull despite the obvious change in his moral reasoning and values (1). This has led neurologists to believe that moral reasoning and the existence of values may be localized to one are of the brain. How else can we explain Phineas? Neuroscientists at the University of Iowa were interested in this phenomeno... ...ing of the brain itself. The legal system has to follow brain research. While we may not find exactly where the "I" is, we can become much closer to understanding what disorders truly effect the ability to understand one's actions and be held accountable for them. WWW Sources 1) Cyberpunks.org , http://cyberpunks.org/display/176/article/ 2) The Biological Basis of Morality part 2 , http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/98apr/bio2.htm 3)"> The Biological Basis of Morality , http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/98apr/biomoral.htm 4)"> Aggression and Insanity , http://www.forensic-psychologist.com/pub/or12-3.html 5)"> Mincey vs. Head , http://www.law.emory.edu/11circuit/mar2000/97-9078.man.html 6)"> Mental Illness and Criminal Responsibility , search results for "insanity defense" and "mental illness" https://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/,

First Day of Elementary School Essay

The first day of school is always difficult. New faces on anew place. I came from a small private school in South Carolina and now I transferred to a public school in Utah. I am amazed by the big difference studying in the 2 vicinity. My mind is full of confusions and questions. Whenever I recall my first day, I can’t help but smile. Good thing I was able to survive it. First thing in the morning, I was really excited and looking forward to attending classes. Though I miss my classmates before, I know I need to move on and focus on what lies ahead of e. I get out of bed and look for something to wear. I believe wearing new clothes is not necessary but I am also afraid of being embarrassed by wearing something old. So I wore a simple jeans and shirt and rush my way to school then. One notable distinction for students on the first day of school is the look of ignorance. Everyone seems lost and looking at them on first glance, they look like very unfriendly and will not bother to know my name. It was really different fro South Carolina because there almost everyone knew one another and even your family. First day of school on a new environment is boring for me. The environment is stark and empty. I miss the feeling of people who are around us and greet us with smile and motivation. It was a major rule for students to wait outside the school premises. I find it awkward because the first day of school is supposed to be the moment where a student should experience the feeling of being at home to a new surrounding. The school is the second home of students. But it seems that my first day of school is like waiting for the plane to arrive while all of us are outside the university campuses. I wanted to blame my mom for taking me to school early which made my first day embarrassing. She is not the stereotypical mom who wears a jogging suit and drops off her kids in school. She is not fond of keeping schedules on track. I recall my kindergarten days when she brought me to school after Labor Day when in fact the school season starts in August. The same thing happened on my first day in public school. I was an hour and a half early and this leads me to rushing to the classroom without waiting for the bell. Since I am unaware of the rule I rushed towards the classroom thinking that I was already late for my class, I am dismayed by the coldness of my teacher who just barely look at me and told me to go outside and wait for the bell. To compose myself and regain my composure, I decided to sing jingle bells while walking towards outside. Having different students around me made me feel like an alien. I am also expecting for the usual sound of a ringing bell but it sounds like a text message. It was just a beep rather than a bell. Going back to the classroom scenario and my new teacher, she was not even excited to see me. I even put the best cologne for her to notice me but then my teacher is like a stick in the mud. In the end I learned that the only difference from my first day in public elementary school from my first day in kindergarten school is the number and the kind of people. Elementary school marks the preparation stage of young boys and girls towards high school. I believe that having many classmates allows me to gain more friends and more food during snack breaks. When luck strikes it is also the chance for me to gain more answers during exams. Students are not also fond of matching bow heads with Lily Pulitzer outfits. The girls at my new schools opt for matching Patagonia clothes. I cannot blame them for doing such because of the social status that they belong. After all it is not the clothes that you wear but your quality as a student that counts.