No tipic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

No tipic - Essay Example nto the impact and the angles from which the media portrayed and presented the Muslim community as a whole and at the same time the level to which they were persecuted through a dedicated segment of media that served based on vested interest and agenda. American society has always been a multi cultural and multi background carrying individuals who have settled in from the different parts of the world. The Muslims, along with people of other communities, largely the Asians make up for a considerable population bench. Any effort or any activity that may have been carried out by a group claiming to have done it for the purpose of their religious teachings or any other similar notion, would result in hatred and distancing of the people of other backgrounds from them. The same happened to the Muslims in the American society (Ewing, 152). Surveys have been conducted in this regard to assess the overall situation and bias against Muslims. Matthew Jabber has conducted a survey to investigate the existing outlook. According to his findings, based on questions asked from over a two and a half thousand individuals (Stiffler), as many as half of the people questioned and interviewed, believe that there is a persistent negative trend prevailing in the media with regard to the Muslims image. The Muslim community makes up for a large percentage of American population. They have been part of the American society for last couple of centuries. Since the events of 9-11 were supposedly undertaken by the people and hijackers who has had affiliations with the Muslims states or the religion in its own existence, it therefore became a direct inference to suspect Muslims. Apart from law making and law enforcing agencies, the attitude and approach of the people within the American society turned relatively negative towards the Muslims, there was less accommodation for the Muslims and they were relatively less welcomed in the different domains. This resulted in a gulf creation between the

Sex DIfferences Essay Example for Free

Sex DIfferences Essay This experiment performed by the males and females in the Tuesday 4pm psychology lab, was done as a replication of the Halari et al experiment in London in 2005. The hypothesis in the original experiment was that women will, on average, gain a higher verbal fluency score than men and men will, on average, perform more accurately than women on mental rotation. The results obtained from Halari et al’s (2005) clearly prove this hypothesis correct. The results also rejected the null hypothesis which says that men and women will not differ with respect to verbal and spatial performance. Our replication experiment also proved the hypothesis of Halari et al’s (2005) experiment correct and rejected the null experiment. Our experiment followed a certain methodology. In the mental rotation task, each participant was to answer 50 questions which contained the stimuli; each of which showed 2 shapes rotated and the participants were to judge whether they are identical or not. As expected males had a higher accuracy level in this this task compared to females. In the verbal fluency task, the participants were given 3 categories; fruits, vegetables and animals. They had the instruction to write down as many items from the relevant categories as possible. As expected females had a higher accuracy level than the males in this task. In the methodology used in our experiment did contain some weaknesses that may have influenced the results. Our experiment was as free from bias as possible in order to make the results accurate and reliable. For the mental rotation task, every participant received a different set of stimuli, so that the participants could not copy each other. This produced reliable results. However this methodlogy contains a debility. The stimuli ranged from sets of easily distinguishable shapes to much harder ones. Since the stimuli was randomly chosen for each participant it is possible that one participant may have received all the hard ones (females) and another may have received all the easily recognisable ones (males). Another debility in this methodology was that the set of stimuli varied in difficulty as discussed earlier. Also their rotation patterns varied. So some sets were just rotated once while other sets were rotated to an extent where some of  the faces were indistinguishable hence breaking the pattern we perceive causing our minds to get muddled in recognising the stimuli correctly. This is clear in the categories used in the verbal fluency task which have no form of gender bias whatsoever. The categories chosen are generic and known well to both males and females. An example of a gender bias category would be something like computers which is more biased towards males than females. While a catergory more bias towards females would be make up. However despite having no gender difference there was a weakness present in this method; english as a second language. Our group of participants contained people of different ethnicities and nationalities. Which meant that not all have english as their first language. This in turn proves to be a weakness to our expeirment as those people who possess english as a second language, wont be able to think of english words as fast as in their own language, (all words written had to be in english). This would have posed a problem for such participants as they would have had to think of a word in their own language and then translate it into english. This could have decreased some of the participants performance as time span was limited to one minute. Overall, the results obtained from this experiment clearly suggest that men and women specialise in different cognitive abilities in relation to spatial capacity and verbal competency. These results solidify that boys and girls-and men and women-are programmed by evolution to behave differently from one another is now widely accepted, (The Economist, 2006). These results indicate the theory posed by Harvard president, Larry Summers to be true. He pointed out the detail that the number of women in professions which require a spatial understanding such as mathematics, engineering are few, (The Economist, 2006). This however does not state that women have no spatial capability, it only suggests that in comparison to men women are weaker in spatial understanding. Nevertheless this does not say that these abilities are completely innate. These cognitive abilties can be trained, so a woman with a PHD in engineering will definietly have a higher spatial capability than a man working at Coun tddown. According to our results men and women vary in terms of cognitive abilities. Men appear to be better at spatial tasks while females at verbal fluency. This variation is deemed as occuring due to the common battle; nature vs nurture. It is said that the social upbringing plays a big part in understanding the reasons for this variation. When a child is born depending on the gender, parents tend to choose either blue or pink for that child. This stereotype created by society may unwillingly fit young boys and girls into their stereotypical roles. According to, The Economist (2006) it was believed that boys and girls prefer different toys. Where boys prefer cars, trucks and guns, girls prefer dolls and tea sets. However this was disapproved and it was found that girls and boys are already different when they are born due to the hormone, testosterone. When a child is born, it experiences two surges of testosterone- one during gestation and one shortly after birth, (The Economist, 2006). The production of testosterone is higher in males than in females hence creating the ‘boy-like’ behaviour we all talk about. This testosterone is said to be the reason for why boys tend to look at mobile phones longer than people’s faces, the way females do. But the basic theory is that the high levels of testosterone in males produces the rough play. While the low levels in females generate the nurturing tendency in them hence causing them to prefer dolls and tea sets, (The Economist, 2006). Unlike the Halari et al, (2005), the experiments conducted to prove this theory did not contain hormone tests. Hence we cannot conclude hormone levels being the main factor responsible for the variance in cognitive abilities. It is more commonly believed though that the interlacing of both social upbringing and hormone levels is what causes these differences. Although women have that low level of testosterone, by nature they are constructed to be the nurturers. Therefore females tend to prefer the dolls to play with as it is an indication towards their future role as a mother where it is needed that they speak and interact more often with their children. Women on average speak 20000 words a day, 13000 more than men, (Mail Online, 2013). This confirms the findings in our experiment where females were found to have a higher verbal competency. At the same time by nature males are constructed to be the strong protectors. Therefore males tend to prefer the cars or guns to play with indicating towards warrior-like behaviour. This point is also argued by The Economist, (2006). They believe these differences are genetically there via hormone levels and the social stereotyping solidifies the roles that they are genetically made for. This experiment was carried out to distinguish the differences between males and females on a cognitive level. The mental rotation task which tested for spatial ability exhibitied an inclination towards the males as their accuracy levels were higher than the females. However, the verbal fluency task exhibited an inclination towards the females as their accuracy levels were higher than the males. The results obatined from these two independent tests were straight forward, though both can be bettered. The spatial task deduced that males possessed a higher spatial ability than females however the task was not closely related to real life. A true test would have been one that would have provided us with examples of real life where these abilities would have needed to be used. For example, giving the participants a set location to reach and allowing them to guide themselves there. This task would have displayed spatial ability in real life conditions. The verbal fluency task concluded that females possessed a higher vocabulary level however this task lacks in fairness in terms of language. Not every participant had english as their first language causing them difficulty within the one minute time limit. To better this limitation, perhaps next time all participants could be of same background with english as their first language. Also since we replicated the Halari et al (2005) experiment perhaps a better imitation would have been to also carry out the hormone tests. With the tasks we performed the results suggested that men were better at spatial tasks and females at verbal fluency however we cannot generalise this statement. Thus the hormone tests may help us solidify this conclusion. This theory is proved by our experiment as well. Although our experiment did not contain hormone testing like the Halari et al, (2005) our results concluded that males have a higher spatial capacity. This ability is an indication at the warrior-like protector behaviour. Females were concluded to have a higher verbal competency. The results we obtained from our replication of the Halari et al, (2005) helped us conclude the difference between the cognitive abilities in males and females hence proving our hypothesis correct.

How Sibling Relationship is affected by the Psychological and Emotional

Introduction Birth Order Birth order is addressed as the arrangement of births of children in a family. The four most common positions used in the Birth Order Theory of Alfred Adler are: only child, first born, middle child and last born. Adler associated those birth order positions with different characteristics for each. He also explained that with every child that will be added to the family there will be an effect for each family member in terms of communication, tasks and duties. (Craighead 2001) Origin of Birth Order Almost all of us are familiar of the Birth Order theory that Alfred Adler presented almost a century ago. Adler theorized that our personalities are hugely influenced by our chronological place in the family because parents attend to their children with different kinds of treatments according to their birth order. Adler identified four birth order positions as stated above and each of those birth order personalities is associated with personality traits. (Schneider 2004) Moreover, birth order does not require experts to understand human nature. It explains what factors affect our personalities even to average people. Awareness about birth order can be possibly shared although experts are still essential to understand it thoroughly. If many people will thoroughly grasp the idea of birth order, it easy to understand each and everyone’s actions, why are those actions done the way they are and how to behave when those actions took place. (Isaacson 2002) Birth Order’s Meaning and Implication In The New Birth Order Book, it was stated there that Alfred Adler alleged that when an individual was given birth, he easily copes up with the environment he belongs in and starts establishing goals. He may not knowingly... ... time, you can acquire the knowledge on why and how things are done and how these things can affect your upbringing. Birth order can enduringly affect your life. It can ruin your connection to other people during your adult life. (Khron 2000) According to a saying, â€Å"No man is an island.† We are united with others by being able to connect with them. We do not live merely by ourselves, we should be responsible to each and everyone in the society we are belong in. We must obey the rules of our society, for if not, society will be destroyed. (Stone 2004) Maybe indirectly, but birth order takes a big part of our interaction with other people. We may have distinct personalities but we can never get rid of the fact that we want to be better than others. At some point, we compare ourselves with them and it looks as if they are much better than what we are. (Munyua 2000)

The Different Factors Affecting Students Academic Performance Education Essay

In this chapter, the research worker reviews several facets of the literature environing factors impacting pupils ‘ academic public presentation. First, the relationship that exists between factors and pupils ‘ academic public presentation, which is the footing of this survey, is examined. This is followed by a reappraisal of past surveies pertinent to the research and a elaborate account of the conceptual models that underlie the survey. It is hoped that on completion of the undertaking, some penetrations may be gained into the job from a planetary position.IntroductionMost pupils acquiring into MBBS plan have a good academic path record upon entry into the medical school. In Malayan medical school it is observed that each twelvemonth about 10-15 % of pupils have trouble in finishing their medical class on clip and this is a concerned to medical pedagogues and decision makers. It is of import to cognize the grounds why there is a pronounced alteration in their academic o nce they come to professional classs particularly medicine. Clearly, there are legion cognitive and non-cognitive factors that have a much stronger influence on medical pupils ‘ academic public presentation. Identifying the factors associated with pupils ‘ academic public presentation or academic accomplishment in the medical class will enable the medical pedagogues, course of study contriver and policy marker to put up support systems to assist them execute better. Many surveies are carried out to research factors impacting pupils ‘ academic public presentation or accomplishment. All of the research reviews back up the hypothesis that pupils ‘ public presentation in the medical programme depend on different socio-economic and psychological factors ( Syed Tahir Hijazi & A ; Raza Naqri, 2006 ) . Medical pupils are chief assets of the medical schools or colleges. In position of that, the pupils ‘ academic public presentation and accomplishment dramas an of import function in bring forthing the best quality alumnuss who will go great leader and work force for the state therefore responsible for the states economic and societal development. The public presentation of pupils in universities should be a concern non merely to the decision makers and pedagogues, but besides to corporations in the labor market.Literature Review on Factors Affecting Students ‘ PerformanceUp to day of the month many surveies have been developed refe ring the factors influence pupils ‘ public presentation such as demographic, active acquisition, pupil attending, extracurricular activities, and equals influence and class appraisal. A reappraisal of the literature have indicated that pupil attitudes toward survey, survey wonts and strategic acquisition, pupil psychological features, larning manner, household background, instructors function and many others are closely related to pupils ‘ academic public presentation ( Eccles & A ; Wigfield, 1985 ; Eccles & A ; Harold, 1993 ; Hanson, 1994, Ali et al.,2009 ) . Gough and Hall ( 1964 ) mentioned that anticipation of pupil public presentation in the medical school can be made by mean of the California Psychological Inventory ( CPI ) and this is supported by Tutton survey in 1993. Other instruments such as Eysenek Personality Inventory or the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory greatly enhanced the anticipation of pupils ‘ public presentation in the medical sch ool ( Roesslet, et al. , 1978 ; Lipton et al. , 1984 ; Weiss, 1988 ) . In this survey the literature hunt for factors impacting pupils ‘ academic public presentation will be concentrated on pupil ‘s features, parent ‘s features, teacher ‘s features and college factors.Student ‘s characteristic and academic public presentationWhat are the cardinal factors that promote academic success among pupils whose single features place them at high hazard of failure in the medical programme? Much research in recent old ages has focused on placing the cardinal factors in the pupil features that promotes academic success. Qualities such as psychological demands and societal accomplishments, viz. self-efficacy, motive, attitudes and behavior, academic competence, communicating accomplishments, coaction, cooperation, and squad capablenesss are of import for the pupil in the medical programme. Students who possess these accomplishments are able to work efficaciously with others and managed their surveies expeditiously ( Lust & A ; Moore, 20 06 ) . The medical colleges could aim these factors in developing schemes in bettering pupil acquisition and better their academic public presentation. Harmonizing to Womble ( 2003 ) academic competency, self-efficacy, motive, pupils ‘ attitudes and behavior, clip direction and battle in category activities are some of the factors that affect an persons ‘ academic public presentation.2.2.1.1 Academic CompetenceKleijn et Al ( 1994 ) pointed out that academic competency is associated with pupils ‘ ability to pull off their survey burden, i.e. pupil with better academic competency would likely hold better academic public presentation. Review into the literatures has indicated that the accomplishments, attitudes, and behaviours lending to academic competency autumn into one of two spheres: ( I ) Academic Skills or ( two ) Academic Enablers ( DiPerna and Elliott, 1999 ) .Academic Skills SubscalesReading/Language Humanistic disciplines Mathematicss Critical ThinkingAcademic Enablers SubscalesMotivation Battle Study Skills Interpersonal SkillsFigure 2.1: Academic Competence Model ( DiPerna & A ; Elliot, 1999 )DiPernia and Elliot theoretical account ( 1999 ) stated the followers: Motivation reflects a pupil ‘s attack, continuity, and degree of involvement sing academic topics. Battle reflects attending and active engagement in schoolroom activities. Study accomplishments are behaviours that facilitate the processing of new stuff and pickings trials Interpersonal accomplishments include concerted acquisition behaviors necessary to interact with others In the survey by Demaray and Elliot ( 1998 ) it can be conclude that instructors are able in foretelling their pupils ‘ accomplishment on standardised trials such as academic competency rating graduated table and separating between pupils with low or high academic public presentation. In decision, holding a good academic competency will therefore heighten the pupils ‘ ability to pull off their survey burden and to be successful in their survey. In this survey, academic competency is defined as a multidimensional concept composed of the accomplishments, attitudes, and behaviors of the pupil that contribute to academic success in the category.Student ‘s attitudes toward surveyMost cognitive theoreticians and research workers have acknowledged that hapless academic self-concept, low self-pride, negative attitudes toward survey, or erroneous perceptual experiences of pupils may be associated with hapless academic public presentation ( van der Veer & A ; Valsiner, 1991 ) . In another survey by Syed Tahir Hijaz and Raza Naqri ( 2006 ) , they found that attitude towards survey has a important influence on scrutiny public presentation and therefore confirmed the earlier findings by new wave der Veer and Valsinere ( 1991 ) . Battle in larning – There is significant grounds that battle in medical school or college is of import in advancing pupil success and acquisition and that a figure of factors in the college environment foster high degrees of battle. Student battle can be defined as the degree of engagement and intrinsic involvement that a pupil shows in college ( Newmann, 1992 ) . Battle in college involves both behaviors ( such as continuity, attempt, attending ) and attitudes ( such as motive, positive acquisition values, involvement, and pride in success ) ( Connell & A ; Wellborn, 1991 ) . Connell and Wellborn indicates that engaged pupils seek out activities, indoors and outside the schoolroom, that lead to success and this has been supported by Dowson and McInerney ( 2001 ) . It has been showed that the occupied pupils learn more, retain more, and bask larning activities more than pupils who are non engaged and they are the most successful ( Kirsch et al, 2002 ) . Many school-level surve ies have identified higher degrees of pupil battle as of import forecasters of tonss on the pupils ‘ academic public presentation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the more the pupil engaged in larning the more successful they will be in their academic. Class attending and academic public presentation – Class attending is believed to hold positive relationship with pupils ‘ academic public presentation. It was expected that high absentees from the category would hold a negative consequence on the pupil ‘s academic classs and would diminish their scrutiny tonss and classs. Many research workers recognized that category attending is an of import facet in bettering pupil ‘s public presentation. A survey conducted by Collett et al. , 2007 ; Stanca, 2006 ; Chow, 2003 ; Rodgers, 2001 ; Durden and Ellis, 1995 ; Romer 1993, found that attending have little, but statistically important, consequence on pupil public presentation. Marburger ( 2001 ) concluded that pupils who missed category were significantly more likely to react falsely to inquiries associating to material covered that twenty-four hours than were pupils who were present. Moore ( 2006 ) indicated that category attending enhances larning ; on norm, pupil s who came to the most categories made the highest classs, despite the fact that they received no points for coming to category. Arulampalam et Al. ( 2007 ) found that there is a causal consequence of absence on public presentation for pupils: losing category leads to poorer public presentation. On the other manus, Martins and Walker ( 2006 ) mentioned that there are no important effects from category attending. This is besides supported by Park and Kerr ( 1990 ) and Schmidt ( 1993 ) who found an opposite relationship between pupils ‘ attending and their class classs. Jennjou Chen ( 2006 ) , in his survey â€Å" Class attending and exam public presentation: A randomised experiment † , found that category attending has produced a positive and important impact on pupils ‘ test public presentation. His consequence revealed that, on norm, go toing talk corresponds to a 7.66 % betterment in exam public presentation. Most universities has taken into serious consideratio n respect per centum of category attending and hence imposed a policy of excluding the pupil from scrutiny when the per centum of the attending is less than 80 % .Self-efficacy and motiveSelf-efficacy is how people feel about themselves and how much they like themselves, particularly socially and academically when it comes to college pupils. Through the many force per unit areas and dashing duties of being a pupil, one learns and understands the importance of holding a high self-efficacy in college. Having one ‘s academic accomplishment meet one ‘s academic outlooks and desires is a major key to most college pupils ‘ self-efficacy. Having a high self-efficacy has many positive effects and benefits, particularly among college pupils. Students who feel positive about themselves succumb less easy to force per unit areas of conformance by equals, are more relentless at hard undertakings, are happier and more sociable, and most pertinent to this survey is that they tend to execute better academically. On the other manus, college pupils with a low self-efficacy tend to be unhappy, less sociable and are more vulnerable to depression, which are all correlated with lower academic accomplishment ( Wiggins, 1994 ) . Academic accomplishment is influenced by sensed competency, venue of control, liberty, and motive ( Wiest, 1998 ) . Past research has shown that self-efficacy and academic accomplishment correlative straight to a moderate grade ( Wiggins, 1994 ) . Self-efficacy surveies are really popular for educational research and it has been shown that it played a really of import function in academic accomplishment ( Oxford et al. , 1993 ) . During the past decennary, self-efficacy beliefs have received increasing attending in educational research, chiefly in the country of academic motive ( Pintrich & A ; Schunk, 1995 ) . In the instance of instruction, self-efficacy is seen to hold a relationship with attempt, continuity and accomplishment. Chemers, Hu & A ; Garcia ( 2001 ) , in their work on mathematical job resolution, have shown that kids with higher self-efficacy strived for longer periods and used more effectual job work outing schemes than pupils with lower self-efficacy. Surveies have investigated the relationships among efficaciousness beliefs, related psychological concepts, and academic motive and accomplishment. Findingss besides support Bandura ‘s ( 1986 ) contention that efficaciousness beliefs mediate the consequence of accomplishments or other self-beliefs on subsequent public presentation by act uponing attempt, continuity, and doggedness ( Bandura & A ; Schunk, 1981 ; Lent, Brown, & A ; Larkin, 1984 ; Schunk & A ; Hanson, 1985 ; Bouffard Bouchard, 1990 ) . Berry ( 1987 ) stressed that self-efficacy enhances pupils ‘ memory public presentation by heightening continuity. In the surveies by Lent et Al ( 1984 and 1986 ) demonstrated that college pupils with high self-efficacy achieved high academic accomplishment. Research workers have established that self-efficacy is a strong forecaster of academic public presentation accomplishment ( Pintrich & A ; De Groot, 1990 ; Multon et al. , 1991 ; Zimmerman et al. , 1992 ; Pajares & A ; Mi ller, 1994 ) . Researches besides show that self-efficacy beliefs have positive effects on pupil motive and academic public presentation.Strategic Studying TechniquesStrategic analyzing techniques may assist pupils accomplish a higher mark in the scrutiny. Strategic analyzing is defined as the cognition and application of effectual survey accomplishments or techniques by the pupils ( Kleijn et al, 1994 ) . There are many efficient survey techniques that could be used by pupils based on the acquisition environment ( Alvermann, 1991 and Ogle, 1986 ) . These survey schemes include Know-Want-Learn ( K-W-L ) , Survey-Question-Read-Recite-Review ( SQ3R ) , sum uping and note-taking, utilizing artworks, and self-questioning. Extensive class tonss and the comprehensive information covered in today ‘s medical course of study necessitate the usage of effectual survey schemes for academic success ( Lay, 1993 ) . Active acquisition has received notably attending over the past several old ages. In the context of the college schoolroom, active larning involves pupils in making things and believing about the things they are making ( Bonwell & A ; Eison, 1991 ) . In the medical programme active acquisition involves the pupils to work out jobs, answer inquiries, formulate inquiries of their ain, discuss, explain, argument, or insight during category. Bonwell and Eison ( 1991 ) concluded that active larning leads to better pupil attitudes and betterments in pupils ‘ thought and authorship. A survey by Wilke ( 2003 ) besides indicated pupils in both the intervention and control groups demonstrated a positive attitude toward active acquisition, believed it helped ( or would assist ) pupils to larn the stuff. Felder et Al. ( 2000 ) recommended that active acquisition is one of the acquisition scheme methods that work. In add-on, Felder and Brent ( 2003 ) mentioned that every bit small as five pr oceedingss of active acquisition in a 50-minute category session can bring forth a major encouragement in larning. Harmonizing to them, active acquisition aftermaths pupils up. However, DeLong ‘s ( 2008 ) survey did non back up the hypothesis that active acquisition based learning methods will impact positive alteration on pupil public presentation as measured by class concluding class and non-intellectual acquisition factors as measured by the TRAC-R ( Test of Reactions and Adaptations to College-Revised ) , an overall step of college accommodation. He found that factors such as professor-student resonance and professor apprehension of non-intellectual factors may hold influenced the current consequences. Another factor associated with strategic analyzing technique is clip direction accomplishment. Time direction accomplishments are besides of import to academic success. Time direction accomplishments include activities performed by pupils such as planning in progress, prioritising work, trial readying, and following agendas ( Kirscenabaum & A ; Perri, 1982 ) . Balancing clip direction and survey techniques may accomplish higher academic public presentation efficaciously ( Entwistle & A ; Ramsden, 1983 ; Powell, 2004 ) . Syed Tahir Hijazi and Raza Naqri ( 2006 ) in their survey found that attitude towards clip allotment for survey has a important influence on scrutiny public presentation, i.e. the longer continuance of clip allotment in surveies improved the public presentation mark. Learning manner – One of the statements often put frontward to explicate why some pupils do non make every bit good in their academic is because they do non cognize how to analyze. Ramsden and Entwistle ( 1981 ) have shown that following right acquisition manners do influence good accomplishment in scrutiny. Learning manner predict public presentation in medical school ( McManus et al, 1998 ) . Heidi and Stephen ( 2006 ) mentioned that medical pupils do hold different methods of larning manners and following this learning manner as one of the methods of strategic analyzing will act upon their academic public presentation. Therefore, Blackmore ( 1996 ) suggested that it is of import for pedagogues to develop appropriate acquisition attacks for the pupils and to promote them to follow this preferable acquisition manner as their strategic analyzing techniques.Family featuresFamily background factors such as the educational degree of the parent, household income or fiscal, parent support and educational outlook seem to exercise some influence on pupil ‘s academic accomplishment and this has been supported by several yesteryear and recent surveies ( Hossler & A ; Stage, 1992 ; Eccles & A ; Harold, 1993 ; Beyer, 1995 ; Paulson, 1996 ; Hossler et al. , 1999 ; Checchi, 2000 ; Ermisch & A ; Francesconi, 2001 ; Agus & A ; Makhbul, 2006 ) . The relationships of parent degree of instruction, parent educational outlook for their kids, parental engagement and support and pupils ‘ accomplishment are proposed by the Chen ‘s Model of household influence s on pupil academic accomplishment ( Chen, 1995 ) .Table 2.1: A Proposed Model of Family Influences on Students ‘ Academic Performance Achievement( Adapted from Chen ( 1995 ) Family Factors Children ‘s Results Parent support Books at place Facilities such as computing machine Educational outlooks Attitudes toward medical instruction Assurance in survey Academic accomplishment. Parent outlooks and engagement Parental instruction Educational outlooks Attitudes toward medical instruction Engagement The literature reappraisal will look into the influence of these household factors on the pupils ‘ public presentation in deepness.Influence of parent ‘s instruction degree on pupil ‘s academic public presentationIn the earlier surveies, Hossler and Stage ( 1992 ) and Beyer ( 1995 ) indicated that there is a positive relationship between the parent ‘s educational degree and their kids success in their academic. In an extension to the earlier survey, Ermisch and Francesconi ( 2001 ) found an interesting determination in their survey where there is important gradient between each parent ‘s instruction degree and their kid ‘s educational accomplishment. From Ermisch and Rrancesconi study it can be concluded that female parent ‘s instruction has a stronger association with her kid ‘s educational accomplishment than the instruction of the male parent. This consequence is supported by Agus and Makhbul ( 2002 ) . In another survey by Syed Tahi r Hijazi and Raza Naqri ( 2006 ) they indicate that the degree of instruction of female parent has been found to exercise the strongest influence on academic accomplishment as compared to degree of instruction of male parent. Mothers ‘ educational degree is chosen because literatures suggest that female parent ‘s degree of instruction is a stronger forecaster of kids ‘s larning results ( PISA, 2000 ) . Studies has besides shown that pupils whose female parents have completed third instruction performed even better in their academic than hose whose female parents have completed secondary instruction degree. From the literature hunt on the impact of parent ‘s instruction degree on pupil ‘s public presentation female parent ‘s instruction degree is a strongest forecaster factor and it was assumed that educated female parents can assist their kids to better and maintain proper cheque on their activities. This survey is undertaken to look into the infl uence of the parent ‘s degree of instruction on the pupil ‘s public presentation within the Malayan context.Family income and pupil ‘s academic public presentationThe United States Department of Education ( 2000 ) found in a survey that the relationship between household income and pupil ‘s public presentation is non simple and direct. Johnson ( 1996 ) opined that low income of parent is a major hindrance to academic success and development on the portion of the pupils. This is because poorness or low income of parents has elastic effects on their kids academic plants as they lack adequate resources and financess to patronize their educational demands and this leads to hapless public presentation of their kids. An probe conducted by Agus and Makhbul ( 2002 ) indicated that pupils from households of higher income degrees perform better in their academic public presentation as compared to those who come from households of lower income brackets. Checchi ( 2000 ) besides concluded household income provides an inducement for better pupil public presentation ; richer parents internalise this affect by puting more resources in the instruction of their kids. Once the investing is undertaken, the pupil fulfill parents ‘ outlooks by perform better in their surveies. Based on the research done by him, he demonstrated that kids from richer households perform better than those from poorer households. On the other manus, Syed Tahir Hijazi and Raza Naqvi ( 2006 ) found that there is negative relationship between pupil public presentation and pupil household income. Research done by Beblo and Lauer ( 2004 ) besides found that parents ‘ income and their labor market position have a weak impact o n kids ‘s instruction. With these conflicting findings the inquiry to be answered is ‘Do household income is an issue to pupils ‘ accomplishment in academic? ‘ To research the correlativity between household income and pupils ‘ academic public presentation the intent of this survey is to prove the hypothesis that household fiscal position is associated with the academic public presentation of a medical pupil in the Malaysia.Parent engagement, educational outlook and supportOther household factors that may act upon pupils ‘ academic accomplishment are parental engagement, educational outlook and support ( Paulson, 1996 ) . Harmonizing to Eccles and Harold ( 1993 ) active engagement from the parents in their kids instruction plays a critical function in the pupil ‘s academic accomplishment and success. Eccles and Harold determination is supported by the surveies from Beyer ( 1995 ) and Paulson and Marchant ( 1998 ) . Involving parents in the instruction of their kids straight affects pupil accomplishment in school, college and university. It has been shown that affecting parents in the instruction of their kids helps to increase the pupil ‘s accomplishment and self-pride. Fehrmann et Al ( 1987 ) examines the effects of parental engagement on a larger sample of high school pupils and formulated that the more intensively parents are involved in their kids education the more good are the achievement effects. This finding holds true for all types of types and ages of pupils and is supported by the survey of Henderson ( 1987 ) . All research surveies, which address these countries, found that parent engagement has positive effects on pupil attitudes and behavior ( Sattes, 1985 ; Ferhrman et al. , 1978 ; Henderson, 1987 ) . The pupils ‘ perceptual experience of parent educational outlook and support for acquisition has a strong impact on their accomplishment ( Mau & A ; Bikos, 2000 ) . Harmonizing to Beyer ( 1995 ) parent ‘s educational aspirations for and outlooks of their kids ‘s academic public presentation positively correlates with the kids ‘s classs, educational aspirations, motive. Beyer farther indicated that these parental factors encourage self-esteem and actuate the pupils to execute good in their academic. In drumhead, most of the surveies reviewed indicate that pupils from households with high outlooks and support would hold higher academic accomplishments.Teachers ‘ outlook and supportThe outlooks instructors have for their pupils and the premises they make about their possible have a touchable consequence on pupil accomplishment. Since the late 1960 ‘s research workers have been concerned with the influence of instructor outlooks on pupil public present ation. Study by Bamburg ( 1994 ) clearly establishes that instructor outlooks do play a important function in finding how good and how much do pupils larn. Students tend to internalise the beliefs instructor have about their ability. This is supported by Raffini ( 1993 ) who clearly stated that when instructors believe in pupils, the pupils believe in themselves and this understanding between pupils and instructors is a important subscriber for the pupil success in their academic accomplishment. There is a inclination for instructors to acquire what they expect from their pupils. This happens because instructors have ( frequently unconscious ) inclinations to handle pupils otherwise based on how likely they think it is that pupils will be successful. Conversely, when pupils are viewed as lacking in ability or motive and are non expected to do important advancement, they tend to follow this perceptual experience of themselves ( Gonder, 1991 ) . Omatoni and Omatoni ( 1996 ) make a poi nt that holding high outlook does non as if by magic equalize pupils ‘ innate abilities and larning rates. Therefore, instructors were advised to routinely project attitudes, beliefs, outlook to the extent that they treat their pupils as if they already are eager scholar and these instructors ‘ features will promote the pupil to go more eager scholars. This survey will look into instructor anticipation effects on the academic accomplishment of medical pupils.Factors in the college environment that support pupils ‘ academic public presentationQuaglia and Perry ( 1996 ) and Wilson ( 1992 ) have investigated the significance of the school or college environment on the pupils ‘ academic public presentation. It has been documented that factors in the school or college environment may impede or back up pupil ‘s development and academic success ( Esposito, 1999 ; Goodenow, 1993 ; Mouton & A ; Hawkins, 1996 ) .Peer relationshipAssorted surveies had been done an d found that equals influence does hold impact on pupil public presentation ( Hanushek et. Al, 2002 ; Goethals, 2001 ; Gonzales et. al. , 1996 ) and besides been shown that equal influence has more powerful effects. Peer support was positively related to pupils ‘ scrutiny mark and class. Wilkinson and Fung ( 2002 ) in their survey concluded that by grouping pupils in heterogenous larning ability ( low ability pupils grouped with high ability pupils ) will demo an betterment in larning procedure and outcomes. This determination can be argued tap top pupils can positively impact less able pupils by supplying an aid and mentoring. In another survey, Schindler ( 2003 ) found that blending abilities will impact weak pupils positively nevertheless the consequence for good pupils is negative. Schindler determination is beliing with Goethals ( 2001 ) survey, who found that pupils in homogenous group ( irrespective of high ability or low ability ) perform better than pupils in heteroge nous group. Supporting the findings from Fung ( 2002 ) and Schindler ( 2003 ) , Giuliodori, Lujan and DiCarlo ( 2006 ) added that equal interaction could increase pupil ability on work outing problem-solving inquiries and the equal direction will besides advance pupil ‘s engagement and better pupil ‘s public presentation.Challenging educational environmentResearch shows that pupils are more motivated to larn when instructors ask them to wrestle with new constructs, explain their logical thinking, defend their decisions, or explore alternate schemes and solution ( National Research Council, 1999 ) . Furthermore, pupils enjoy larning more when their instructors employ active pedagogical schemes. Meece suggested that when schoolroom direction draws on pupils ‘ pre-existing cognition and real-life experiences the acquisition session will be become more interesting and basking which consequence in the pupil learn more better and achieved better classs in scrutiny and ac ademic ( Meece, 1991 ) . Cohen ( 1994 ) strengthen this determination that when pupils can set their caputs together instead than work in isolation they are receptive to disputing assignments which will straight hike their public presentation.Summary of Literature ReviewFactors impacting pupil ‘s academic public presentation is an of import issue in higher instruction particularly in the medical programme. There has been extended research on the influences of cardinal factors on pupils ‘ academic public presentation. It is interesting to observe that all of the research reviews back up the hypothesis that pupils ‘ public presentation in their academic depend on different socio-economic, psychological and environmental factors. A reappraisal of the literature indicated that pupils ‘ acquisition manner, household background, pupils ‘ feature, and school or college experience factors are related to pupils ‘ academic public presentation.( 4,220 words )

Programming languages and the real world Essay

Programming language are the sets of instruction which are used to create computer programs and software. This language also instructs the hardware what to do and respond to when there’s an action from the operator. Programming language can be classified as follow; applicative programming language, declarative programming language, domain specific programming language, object oriented programming languages, first-fifth generation programming languages, high and low level programming language. JAVA Is a programming language developed by the SUN Microsystems. It was formerly called OAK which was designed for handheld devices. OAK failed in 1995 so the company had to change it name to JAVA. They then modified the programming language to take the full exploration of the World Wide Web. It’s an object oriented programming language. It is similar to C++ but much simpler in that it was designed to eliminate all errors due to programming. It source code file are those with â€Å".java â€Å"extension. This is compiled into a format known as byte code. Byte codes are with a â€Å".class† which is interpreted by an interpreter. The interpreters are Java Machines which exist in most OS. Java programming language is general purpose utility with several features that makes it suitable for the web. Small form of Java applications are called applets and this can be downloaded from web server and then run on any Java enabled Web browser. The most important uses of JAVA are; World Wide Web applets, cross platforms application development, other networks application. Objects; in java programming language class object is usually refer to as the root of class hierarchy, i.e. each class has object as a super class and all the object will implement the method in the class. This is important in understanding the object oriented technology. The objects are like the objects in the real world simply because the have both state and behavior. Objects in Java stores its states in form of field and expresses its behavior in form of methods hence java applications are use to model real world experiences. â€Å"Methods operate on an object’s internal state and serve as the primary mechanism for object-to-object communication. Hiding internal state and requiring all interaction to be performed through an object’s methods is known as data encapsulation — a fundamental principle of object-oriented programming†. (Sun Microsystems, 2008). Class; it’s a model from which the objects are made. The class models the state and behavior of a real world object. So in programming with java an object is said to be â€Å"an instance of a class† Inheritance; it provide a strong and natural means for coordinating and organizing the software. This is a method in which a class is opportune to share some features with other classes. Java programming also allows each class to a direct super class and the super class with the potential of an unlimited number of subclass. Interfaces; this is the method in which the classes exposed to interact with the outside world. This can be compared to the ‘’on button† of a computer set and the electrical circuits within the CPU. Simply because the button can be use to on or off the computer but in java, interface is related to an empty body. Packages; this is a names space that arrange a set of related classes and interfaces. Its helps organize the classes and interfaces into the same packages. Application program interface is a type of packages which contains the classes that are normally associated with general purpose programming. Pointers; The pointer in Java are actually a local variable pointer which points to pointee (what the pointer points to) object of some class. â€Å"Refer to concluding aspect for a note on pointers† C + + This is an object oriented programming language. It’s an extension or advancement to the C language. C programming language was created (1969-1973) at the Bells; this was in conjunction with the development of the Unix O.S.   The C language was a descendant of the B language. After the creation of the C language the computer world was filled with various version of the language, as a result of this a committee was established by ANSI in 1989 to create a standard for the C language. C+ language enables programmers to improve the quality of the code they produces and this helps other programmers to be able to reuse the codes. Objects; this sometimes refer to as black boxes is know to be a part of the language that can do so many things with the ability to integrate different part of the language together. It takes in some values and then gives some output. The objects helps model the real world and helps produce a complex and functional application. Its also be view as what help keeps track of the members data and actions. Instance; it differ from the object in that the object serves as a template for the instances of that object. Instance can be manipulated. Instance can be made up of information of the members but it lacks value of their functions. All the instance of an object performs the same steps when carrying out a member function; this can be influenced by the instances’ current member data. Variables; where information is stored. It’s a method of getting at someone’s computer memory. This changes over time and new information tends to replace the old ones. Pointer; unlike the Java programming that lack pointer, the C + + has pointer as an attribute. This is generally considered as a mode of getting to another object. It s simply a mode of grabbing an instance of an object and then transfer message to the instance or retrieve some information from the object. It also said to be an address of the location of an instance in the memory. Pointers and application Pointer and pointees;   a pointer this simply refers to a reference to stored information and pointee refers to what the pointer points to. Allocation of the pointer and pointee is clear two different procedure. Another term known as dereferencing operation starts at the pointer and follows it’s down to the pointee. It main objective is to ensure the constant state of the pointee or to see to the change of the pointee. It only works when a pointer has a pointee and it’s noted that one of the common errors in runtime is seen when there is failed dereference operation. In Java this can be noticed without major problems unlike other programs where runtime system will crash.

Kosovo essays

Kosovo essays Mi deseo es que las Naciones Unidas, impulsadas tras la posguerra, tengan xito y prosperen. Y mi esperanza es que la Declaracin de los Derechos Humanos, cuyo aniversario celebramos, no se limite al deseo de dnde la humanidad debiera llegar, sino que gradualmente se convierta en una realidad en todas las naciones. El conflicto de Kosovo puede encontrar sus raà ­ces a mediados del siglo XIV, cuando el Imperio Otomano inici la conquista de los Balcanes, y en 1389 venci a las fuerzas serbias en la batalla de Kosovo. Se inici entonces un perà ­odo de dominacin otomana, de 489 an. En los siglos XIV y XV se produjeron las primeras emigraciones de Serbia y Bosnia hacia las regiones eslavas vecinas, hasta Rusia. Toda Macedonia entr en el Imperio Otomano en 1395. Entre los siglos XVI y XVIII, los territorios de Yugoslavia se repartieron entre el Imperio Otomano (Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro y Macedonia), los Habsburgo (Croacia, Eslovenia, Eslavonia, parte de Dalmacia y Voivodina) y la Repà ºblica Veneciana (Istria y Dalmacia). Despus que fuera aplastada la insurreccin de 1690 en la vieja Serbia, unas 70 mil personas se refugiaron en territorios de los Habsburgo. El Imperio Otomano traslad a musulmanes albaneses a los territorios abandonados (Kosovo y Metohija). A principios del siglo XX continuaron los conflictos: la resistencia serbia al Imperio austro - hà ºngaro provoc el asesinato del archiduque Francisco Fernando de Austria, hecho que marc el inicio de la Primera Guerra Mundial. Al final de la conflagracin que determin la caà ­da del imperio austro - hà ºngaro, se fund el reino de los serbios, croatas y eslovenos, que comprendà ­a a Serbia, Montenegro, Eslovenia, Croacia, Eslavonia, Bosnia y Herzegovina. En 1929, el reino se unifica bajo el nombre de Yugoslavi...

How can drug trafficking be controlled Essays - Euphoriants

How can drug trafficking be controlled Essays - Euphoriants SPC1017 Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances that are subject to drug prohibition laws. So now we say to ourselves, how can drug trafficking be controlled? The Drug Enforcement Agency has tried to limit the drug trafficking problem coming from countries south of the U.S. in 2008, the DEA seized huge amounts of drugs within the borders of the united states collecting over 50,000 kgs of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and hallucinogens being the most collected drug in the world with 9 million individual units. The southern hemisphere has given the U.S. a really hard time with the international drug trade. Where do drugs come from? Most of the marijuana, cocaine Smuggling routes that come into the United States comes from the south. Columbia is one of the main contributors to the problems of the drug war. Not only does Columbia sell cocaine to the United States, it also sells marijuana. Columbia is responsible for over eighty percent of the cocaine distribution around the world. In Columbia cocaine production is the leading export and moneymaker of the economy. It even passes the production and export of coffee. A major reason for this production and selling of drugs in Columbia is the Columbian Drug Cartel. The cartel is a worldwide organization that makes and sells drugs to make a profit. The reason they are so powerful in Columbia, besides the fact that it brings so much money into the economy, is that the cartel "buys out" the government. The cartel pays out about one hundred million dollars a year to the government to keep the law enforcement on their side. Besides the law enforcement, the cartel has an army of their own so that makes them more powerful than if they didn't have an army. CIA agents estimate that drug trafficking from Mexico is on the incline. CIA agents believe that it is the low paying jobs and the standard of living that bring some of these small little farmers to big time drug dealers. The United States Central Intelligence Agency estimate that Mexican traffickers imported One hundred and seventy tons of ephedrine over twenty months. This amount is enough to make about one hundred and fifty tons of speed. Mexico is doing pretty good for themselves with the profit they get from the speed, and that profit doesn't include the profit they get from exporting about four hundred tons of cocaine they smuggle into the U.S. Honduras is another country that was and is a major drug exporter to the United States. Drug trafficking is not a new thing to the people of Honduras. This country was in a bad depression so they needed a way to get out of it so they started exporting drugs. Like Mexico, Honduras's had a cartel. This cartel took over the Honduran government. There are many ways to smuggle drugs into the country, and there are some so-called "normal" ways of smuggling drugs into a country, but when there is normal there has to be "abnormal." Some normal techniques that drug smugglers use is to tape them to your leg or your body if it is for personal use or if it is just for small sale. This method has gotten old in airports, rail stations, and docks because they have dogs that are trained to sniff out the drugs on and with people. That is a main reason that people get caught carrying drugs with them is that they just throw it in their bag or wrap it in some clothes and think "Hey I'll never get caught," but they do. The reason drug traffickers deal heroin instead of any other drug is that it is more profitable. For example, the cost of heroin compared to cocaine is ten times greater. The horrible part about the increase in heroin smuggling is that it has increased 75% in the United States from 2001-2006. That increased the amount to 57% of all heroin is captures in the United States coming from Mexico and Columbia. Much of the Mexican production of heroin comes from the poppy-growing areas near Mexico's southern border with Guatemalan Poppies which are the natural resource for the heroin. One incident of

Amerigo Vespucci, Explorer and Navigator

Amerigo Vespucci, Explorer and Navigator Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) was a Florentine sailor, explorer, and trader. He was one of the more colorful characters of the early age of discovery in the Americas and captained one of the first journeys to the New World. His lurid descriptions of the New World natives made his accounts extremely popular in Europe and as a result, it is his name - Amerigo - which eventually would be modified into America and given to two continents. Early Life Amerigo was born into a wealthy family of Florentine silk traders who had a princely estate near the city of Peretola. They were very prominent citizens of Florence and many Vespuccis held important offices. Young Amerigo received an excellent education and served for a time as a diplomat before settling in Spain just in time to witness the excitement of Columbus first voyage. He decided that he, too, wanted to be an explorer. The Alonso de Hojeda Expedition In 1499, Vespucci joined the expedition of Alonso de Hojeda (also spelled Ojeda), a veteran of Columbus second voyage. The 1499 expedition included four ships and was accompanied by well-known cosmographer and cartographer Juan de la Cosa, who had gone on Columbus first two voyages. The expedition explored much of the northeastern coast of South America, including stops in Trinidad and Guyana. They also visited a tranquil bay and named it Venezuela, or Little Venice. The name stuck. Like Columbus, Vespucci suspected that he may have been looking at the long-lost Garden of Eden, the Earthly Paradise. The expedition found some gold, pearls, and emeralds and captured some slaves for sale, but still was not very profitable. Return to the New World Vespucci had earned a reputation as a skilled sailor and leader during his time with Hojeda, and he was able to convince the King of Portugal to finance a three-ship expedition in 1501. He had become convinced during his first trip that the lands he had seen were not, in fact, Asia, but something altogether new and previously unknown. The purpose of his 1501-1502 journey, therefore, became the location of a practical passage to Asia. He explored the eastern coast of South America, including much of Brazil, and may have gone as far as the Platte River in Argentina before returning to Europe. On this journey, he became more convinced than ever that the recently discovered lands were something new: the coast of Brazil that he had explored was much too far to the south to be India. This put him at odds with Christopher Columbus, who insisted until his death that the lands he had discovered were, in fact, Asia. In Vespuccis letters to his friends and patrons, he explained his new theories. Fame and Celebrity Vespuccis journey was not an extremely important one in relation to many of the others taking place at the time. Nevertheless, the seasoned navigator found himself something of a celebrity within a short time due to the publication of some letters he had allegedly written to his friend, Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de Medici. Published under the name Mundus Novus (New World) the letters became an immediate sensation. They included fairly direct (for the sixteenth century) descriptions of sexuality (naked women!) as well as the radical theory that the recently discovered lands were, in fact, new. Mundus Novis was followed closely by a second publication, Quattuor Americi Vesputi Navigationes (Four Voyages of Amerigo Vespucci). Supposedly letters from Vespucci to Piero Soderini, a Florentine statesman, the publication describes four voyages (1497, 1499, 1501 and 1503) undertaken by Vespucci. Most historians believe some of the letters to be fakes: there is little other evidence that Vespucci even made the 1497 and 1503 journeys. Whether some of the letters were fakes or not, the two books were immensely popular in Europe. Translated into several languages, they were passed around and discussed exhaustively. Vespucci became an instant celebrity and was asked to serve on the committee which advised the King of Spain about New World policy. America In 1507, Martin Waldseemà ¼ller, who worked in the town of Saint-Dià © in Alsace, published two maps together with Cosmographiae Introductio, an introduction to cosmography. The book included the purported letters from Vespucci’s four voyages as well as sections reprinted from  Ptolemy. On the maps, he referred to the newly discovered lands as â€Å"America,† in honor of Vespucci. It included an engraving of Ptolemy looking to the East and Vespucci looking to the West. Waldseemà ¼ller also gave Columbus plenty of credit, but it was the name America that stuck in the New World. Later Life Vespucci only ever made two journeys to the New World. When his fame spread, he was named to a board of royal advisers in Spain along with former shipmate Juan de la Cosa, Vicente Yà ±ez Pinzà ³n (captain of the Nià ±a on Columbus’ first voyage) and Juan Dà ­az de Solà ­s. Vespucci was named  Piloto Mayor, â€Å"Chief Pilot† of the Spanish Empire, in charge of establishing and documenting routes to the west. It was a lucrative and important position as all expeditions needed pilots and navigators, all of whom were answerable to him. Vespucci established a school of sorts, to train pilots and navigators, modernize long-distance navigation, collect charts and journals and basically collect and centralize all cartographic information. He died in 1512. Legacy Were it not for his famous name, immortalized on not one but two continents,  Amerigo Vespucci  would today no doubt be a minor figure in world history, well-known to historians but unheard of outside of certain circles. Contemporaries such as Vicente Yà ±ez Pinzà ³n and Juan de la Cosa were arguably more important explorers and navigators. Heard of them? Didn’t think so. That’s not to lessen Vespucci’s accomplishments, which were considerable. He was a very talented navigator and explorer who was respected by his men. When he served as Piloto Mayor, he encouraged key advances in navigation and trained future navigators. His letters – whether he actually wrote them or not – inspired many to learn more about the New World and colonize it. He was neither the first nor the last to envision the route to the west that was eventually discovered by  Ferdinand Magellan  and  Juan Sebastin Elcano, but he was one of the best-known. It’s even arguable that he deserves the eternal recognition of having his name on North and South America. He was one of the first to openly defy the still-influential Columbus and declare that the New World was, in fact, something new and unknown and not simply a previously-uncharted part of Asia. It took courage to contradict not only Columbus but all of the ancient writers (such as  Aristotle) who had no knowledge of continents to the west. Source: Thomas, Hugh.  Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan.  New York: Random House, 2005.

Comparing and Contrasting HHS, NASA and DHS Acquisition Planning and Essay

Comparing and Contrasting HHS, NASA and DHS Acquisition Planning and Policies - Essay Example The sustainability of a procurement approach is considered when a contracting a project. Furthermore, projects initiated through procurements should seek professional advice prior to their implementation. The financial demands and design are critical aspects that equally need consideration. It took the council a while before amassing sufficient the funds to carry out this community project; thus, cost became a critical issue in the method used. A decision on the procurement route for use should expect variance on the outcome (Morledge, Smith, Kashiwagi, 2006). The time required for the project and resource availability basing on knowledge is equally subject to consideration. The choice of the procurement route is dependent on the objectives that a client intends to attain with the available resources. According to Morledge, Smith, and Kashiwagi (2006, p.96), the traditional procurement is the most common and current procurement approach. Organizations use it in implementing their projects and other business activities within the community. This technique also referred to as design bid build procurement, is efficient regardless of an individual’s knowledge concerning project management. This procurement style carries out complicated activities with indefinite periods for their accomplishment. This procurement is friendly in terms of affordability and other logistical requirements by the client. The Little-tree Parish Council will engage their ideas in the design presented before the contractors make suggestions concerning their needs. In the traditional route, a client lays out the plan for a project of which he/she selects a contractor to carry out the activity. They normally involve low risks since skilled contractors carry out most activities (Morledge, Smith, Kashiwagi, 2006, p.108). When traditional procurement is run for a short period, it can cause irregularities.

The Difficulty of Healing in a World of Evil Essay

The Difficulty of Healing in a World of Evil - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that  physicians today know about post-traumatic stress disorder. In Remarque’s day, however, no one knew what it was or its effects. His perception, which was the general feeling of most of the soldiers fighting in his generation, gives the reader an in-depth understanding of the events that led to the alienation and displacement of his generation. His words resulted in rapid reactions in postwar Germany as well as positive responses from his critics. Despite the fact that Hitler’s Third Reich banned the ownership and reading of Remarque’s book, Western critics had a favorable eye for the novel. The book came before World War II, which was a time when military commanders foresaw the conclusion of international aggression.This paper highlights that  readers of Remarque’s book from the West used it to understand the post-traumatic stress that affected not only the German soldiers but also the French, American, British and Rus sian soldiers. It was something that was observed across different cultures and languages. In the aftermath of the Second World War, critics of Remarque dealt with existential alienation, realism and war profiteering that was written in Remarque’s book.  Despite the effect that Remarque’s book has had on millions of people, the modern times have witnessed great catastrophes that give the inhumanity of war the additional technological breakthroughs that appear like a dream to Remarque’s generation.

English Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

English - Assignment Example In this song, they proudly wear the discriminatory remarks as ornaments as if saying, ‘yes! We are who we are, what are can you do about it?’ The poems ‘Rhythm Blues’ and ‘Bang Bang Outishly’ by Amiri Baraka also talk about racisms and how dangerous they are for the growth of a healthy society. One poem says that â€Å"if capitalism won’t kill me, racism will† while the other stresses on â€Å"Let it be!† These poems are just more decent and more spiritual form of repelling racism. What the rap music have portrayed in the 90s in a very raw and unedited format, these poems by Baraka do the same only in a very gentle yet powerful way with subtle but meaningful choice of words. Dear John, Dear Coltrane by Michael Harper is also a poem talking about racial discrimination in North Carolina. But what is common in all of these poetic masterpieces is the fact that they all give a message to all humanity that they need to embrace people as they are. For instance, in his poem, at one point Harper takes up a question-answer format where he asks,† Why you so black?† and the a nswer come â€Å"cause I am† then again, â€Å"Why you so funky?† and the answer is â€Å"cause I am†. This is just another way of saying that black people are who they are, it is not a disease or something that they control. Being an African American in an identity and the world needs to take this community as they

Exchange Rate Risk Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Exchange Rate Risk - Assignment Example The term exchange rate risk is used to define the possibility that, because of fluctuation currency values, companies dealing in more than one currency may end up with more or less of a profit. In the Bruce Company's case, a fluctuation of 1.45733 Euros per Sterling denotes a negative exchange rate risk. Put more simply, the Bruce Company must pay the French company a total sum of 4.48 million Euros in four equal installments of 1.12 million Euros. Because the Sterling is currently stronger than the Euro, Bruce Company will loose money during four separate transactions in which their stronger currency is converted to the weaker currency. Thus, Bruce Company must determine a way to hedge against the exchange rate risk, or take out another investment specifically to reduce or eliminate this risk. One way to hedge against this risk is allowing the sterling to accrue interest in a money market account. Because interest in a British account is and will continue to be greater than that of a French account, a simple rate of return calculation will show that the British account will yield higher profit For instance, consider one payment of 1.12 million Euros kept in a British Money Market account for three months. 1.12 Million ________ = 768, 529 1.45733 ROR= 768, 529 ( .25 + 4.59375 ) ROR= 3,722,562.34375 If, on the other hand, the Euros were kept in a French Money Market account for three months, the following results would occur: ROR= 1.12 million (.25 + 2.75000) ROR= 3,360,000 It is obvious, therefore, that using British Money Market transactions is especially advantageous in this type of scenario. The extra money accumulated in the account may compensate for, or at least soften, the blow of exchange rate risk, depending on the floating rates at the time. There is a significant risk involved in long term Money Market account investment, however, in that they too are subject to fluctuating exchange rates. If exchange rates vary drastically in while interest is accruing, lower interest rates might, in the he end, have generated more capital once the money is exchanged for the original currency. 1Interest Rate Risk When the Bruce Company took out its loan, its choice of a fixed interest rate was an attempt to avoid great interest rate risk, as interest rates were rising. Now that the financial advisor and others believe that the interest rate is falling, howerver, and interest rate swap is beginning to look beneficial. A company uses an interest rate swap when it exchanges its interest rate for that of another party. By swapping interest rates, companies allow themselves some freedom from climbing interest rates. In order to determine whether or not an interest rate swap is beneficial, however, the zero-coupon bonds calculations must be performed. If interest is compounded annually, using the rate of returns formula, interest rates for zero-coupon bonds are as followes: One Year Two Years Three Years Four Years 4.675= (1+ i) 4.

Socioeconomic classes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Socioeconomic classes - Essay Example On the other hand health issues due to poor nutrition, scarcity of resources, no revelation to the latest technologies, lack of education and awareness hampers the self-esteem of a child belonging to a family with low socioeconomic status. Parents of low socioeconomic group do not possess high degrees and lack exposure as well as confidence to face the competent world. Research reveals that SES is linked with an extensive assortment of physical condition, cognitive, and socio-poignant upshots in kids. These implications are experienced by the child right from the fetal stage and continue throughout the life (Bradley, 2002). Child belonging to high SES gets right to use various information, substances and communal sources or responses to deal with stress generating situations. SES influences welfare at numerous intensities, both within the family and those associated with the family and surroundings. Its implications are restrained by kids 's individual personality, relations and outs ide collaborative procedures (Bradley, 2002). References Bradley, R. H., Corwyn, R. F. (2002). Socioeconomic Status and Child Development.

Exchange Rate Risk Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Exchange Rate Risk - Assignment Example The term exchange rate risk is used to define the possibility that, because of fluctuation currency values, companies dealing in more than one currency may end up with more or less of a profit. In the Bruce Company's case, a fluctuation of 1.45733 Euros per Sterling denotes a negative exchange rate risk. Put more simply, the Bruce Company must pay the French company a total sum of 4.48 million Euros in four equal installments of 1.12 million Euros. Because the Sterling is currently stronger than the Euro, Bruce Company will loose money during four separate transactions in which their stronger currency is converted to the weaker currency. Thus, Bruce Company must determine a way to hedge against the exchange rate risk, or take out another investment specifically to reduce or eliminate this risk. One way to hedge against this risk is allowing the sterling to accrue interest in a money market account. Because interest in a British account is and will continue to be greater than that of a French account, a simple rate of return calculation will show that the British account will yield higher profit For instance, consider one payment of 1.12 million Euros kept in a British Money Market account for three months. 1.12 Million ________ = 768, 529 1.45733 ROR= 768, 529 ( .25 + 4.59375 ) ROR= 3,722,562.34375 If, on the other hand, the Euros were kept in a French Money Market account for three months, the following results would occur: ROR= 1.12 million (.25 + 2.75000) ROR= 3,360,000 It is obvious, therefore, that using British Money Market transactions is especially advantageous in this type of scenario. The extra money accumulated in the account may compensate for, or at least soften, the blow of exchange rate risk, depending on the floating rates at the time. There is a significant risk involved in long term Money Market account investment, however, in that they too are subject to fluctuating exchange rates. If exchange rates vary drastically in while interest is accruing, lower interest rates might, in the he end, have generated more capital once the money is exchanged for the original currency. 1Interest Rate Risk When the Bruce Company took out its loan, its choice of a fixed interest rate was an attempt to avoid great interest rate risk, as interest rates were rising. Now that the financial advisor and others believe that the interest rate is falling, howerver, and interest rate swap is beginning to look beneficial. A company uses an interest rate swap when it exchanges its interest rate for that of another party. By swapping interest rates, companies allow themselves some freedom from climbing interest rates. In order to determine whether or not an interest rate swap is beneficial, however, the zero-coupon bonds calculations must be performed. If interest is compounded annually, using the rate of returns formula, interest rates for zero-coupon bonds are as followes: One Year Two Years Three Years Four Years 4.675= (1+ i) 4.

Family and brotherhood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Family and brotherhood - Essay Example But these words have become encompassing terms that it can connote a whole new different perspective that points toward unswerving loyalty, camaraderie and unity. â€Å"Infernal Affairs† has taken brotherhood toward a realm which yields multiple perspectives that all the notions of being one in a common goal and purpose in life makes a brotherhood, in crime and in justice, possible. Simultaneously, the film has taken a new look in outlining the existing perception of what a Chinese family is and how it should be then molds it in such a way that relationships may not be of blood but it remains to be thicker than water. This is not a new concept in terms of movie themes but the lack of family relationships in the Hong Kong blockbuster and the focus on alternative relations put a different strain on traditional relationships as commonly seen in Chinese culture and gears towards a modern conceptualization of family. The modification of a western genre involving the battle of good versus evil is something taken to new heights with this movie. The film has garnered international and local awards as proof of its success, critically and financially. â€Å"Many commentators have also raised questions about the export success story of recent Chinese cinema. They worry that Chinese filmmakers pander to Western audiences and that Western audiences and scholars appropriate and distort Chinese films for Orientalist and neo-imperialist ends† (Berry and Farquhar 204). ... Conversely, Ming has been perfecting his role as an ambitious cop by keeping his records immaculate when all along he has been a protege of triad kingpin Sam and his well thought-out scheme to penetrate the police force by enlisting young men to the Police Academy. Both Yan and Ming were tasked to find out who the infiltrator is within their respective groups. Whoever finds out first the other’s counterpart could mean the destructive end to one’s life and another’s career. Triad boss Sam takes the necessity of finding out who the mole is seriously. He executes a routine one-on-one conversation with each member of the group, asking them how many years they have worked for him and complimenting them for their contributions. He tells Yan that of all the brothers he trusts him the most. But some doubt had been cast on him earlier when Sam smashes Yan’s arm cask looking for a bugging device as their transaction with the Thais was tipped off to the OCTB, prompti ng them to throw the drugs into the water. The goose chase starts as both sides realized the other knew their every move to the very detail. Yan survived his boss’ suspicions narrowly and continued earning his respect. Keung, another triad member, later on confides that Sam talked to him in the same manner and asked if he would be willing to shoot any of his brothers if he finds out he is a mole and to which he answered yes to without hesitation. Later on as Keung was in the troughs of death, his final words endured to be an advice to Yan as his brother, â€Å"Remember this, if you see someone doing something but at the same time watching you... then he is a cop† (Infernal Affairs).

Eriksons Theory Essay Example for Free

Eriksons Theory Essay When discussing the development theory, Erikson had been the frontier with many major contributions. Unlike Freud and Piaget, Erikson’s theory of development focused much more on social interactions. While most of us agreed that children do become toilet-trained between ages one and three, Erikson’s theory also went further to acknowledge that children also learn to talk, walk, feed themselves, etc. In order to understand Erikson’s theory of development, we need to focus on three main principles: dynamic balance of opposites, vital involvement and life in time. Dynamic balance of opposites: There are two opposing tendencies in dynamic balance of opposites: dystonic (negative) and syntonic (positive). Erikson believed there were eight stages, and at each one, the individual resolved a crisis between the positive (syntonic) and negative (dystonic) tendencies (Erikson Kivnick 1986). A resolution of crisis does not mean that a person rejects either syntonic or dystonic completely, but rather that a person should find a balance between two of those tendencies. For instance, our American culture has frequently taught parents to never say â€Å"no† to their children because that could potentially damage a child’s self-esteem. However, Erikson would disagree and say that children do need to hear â€Å"no† sometimes to understand that the whole world does not revolve around them. Erikson would also say that telling the child â€Å"no† all of the time is bad as well. Vital involvement depends on the balance of syntonic and dystonic tendencies. Vital Involvement: Erikson developed eight stages of development. First, the trust versus mistrust stage, where infants start to learn that either the world is good and can be trusted, or is bad and can’t be trusted (Erikson et.al 1986). For instance, Erikson would state that babies learn to trust their caregivers for not letting them go hungry, but babies also learn to mistrust their caregivers for yelling at them and not feeding them consistently. Second, the autonomy versus shame and doubt stage where children learn about their own â€Å"selves† which is separate from their caregivers (Erikson et.al 1986). In this stage, children usually develop their own will and desires and apply  them well by saying â€Å"no†. When children start to feel comfortable using â€Å"no† as a way to reach their desires, they have reached the initiative versus guilt stage. In this stage, children learn to internalize values from the elder and also acquire the sense of guilt for wrongdoing. The next stage is industry versus inferiority where children explore the greater world in elementary school and their surroundings. Erikson did pay a lot of attention in the identity versus confusion stage because it focuses on adolescents and their identity crisis. Fidelity is the heart of identity because adolescents share some of their parent’s values, as well as develop their own. The last three stages include intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair. Each of these stages focuses greatly on the continuity of human development until death. Erikson recognized that there are certain time periods when it might be easier for some to develop and harder for others to develop, depending on the environment that influence them. For instance, some children who faced hardships (family separation, family violence, etc.) might have trouble in certain stages or even all of the stages, depending on where the factors start. Life in time: Erikson referred to his theory of development as epigenesis. Epigenesis is relevant to evolution (the past and the future) and genetics. Erikson explained, â€Å"†¦epi can mean ‘above’ in space as well as ‘before’ in time, and connected with genesis can well represent the space-time nature of all development† (Erikson et.al 1986). Erikson did not refer epigenetic to individual genetic make-up and how it influences individual development. Rather, Erikson was concerned with how personality and behavior is influenced after birth and so on. For instance, my mother has had a hard time adjusting with American culture when we first migrated here from Vietnam. My sister and I started to adapt to the new culture right away—from clothing style, hairstyle, hobbies, etc. in which my mother had a very difficult time to accept. She wanted us to keep our traditional customs at home, as well as outside our home. At first, we felt reluctant because we felt she did not understand the importance of â€Å"fitting-in† at school. However, as we started college, my sister and I started to realize that our culture and traditions are unique and understand where my mother was coming from (Identity/ confusion stage). Conclusion: Erikson had dedicated his life by contributing to developmental psychology in major ways. Erikson’s theory of development is still widely used and studied by many scholars.

Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on Bilharziasis

Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on Bilharziasis Abstract Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) gained a great attention in biomedical researches and become more applicable in nanomedicine in recent years because they have distinctive physicochemical properties. The current study was planned to assess the effect of the AuNPs with three doses levels on genes expressions, histology and oxidative stress status of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice liver. Inoculation of mice with 100 ÃŽÂ ¼l AuNPs at different doses (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg mice body weight) twice per week on day 46 and day 49 post infection reduced the total worm burden. Meanwhile, it reduced egg load in the liver and reduce the granuloma size. Also, AuNPs were able to significantly decrease the activities of malondialdhyde and nitric oxide as compared to infected untreated group. However, they increased the level of glutathione as compared toinfected untreated group. Concomitantly, AuNPs ameliorate the inflammatory response through decreasing the mRNA expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNFʽ ±, IFNÃŽÂ ³, and iNOS. In consistence with molecular, histopathological and biochemical data, AuNPs could ameliorate the infection induced damage in the liver of mice .Our results indicated that, AuNPs are effective anti-schistosomal and anti-oxidantagent.to confirm the role of nanogold as an antischistosomal agent and its mechanism of action, more studies are required to be done in the future. Keywords: Nanogold, Schistosoma mansoni, liver, gene expressions, histopathology, oxidative stress, mice. Introduction Bilharziasis is one of the most common parasitic diseases, which mostly affect the liver causing granuloma formation and hepatic fibrosis. Since, severe morbidity can result of schistosomal infection; the disease is still an important helminthic infection. Schistosomasis excessively affects people who have limited access to potable water and sanitation lived in the tropics and subtropics, approximately 240 million people infected with over 700 million people at risk of getting infected.1 Praziquantel (PZQ) is the known effective anti-schistosomal drug but the reinfection occurs rapidly after massive drug administration, thus, an efficient therapy used is the optimal way, especially in Schistosoma mansoni endemic areas. From a long time, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was have been used for drug delivery into cells.2,3,4Moreover, AuNPs have a strong potential role in cancer treatment and apoptosisinduction.5Accumulation of nanosystems at the targeted site I soften higher than normal drugs and usually leads to reduced systemic toxicity. However, chrysotherapy; gold was used in some diseases treatment smallpox, skin ulcers, syphilis and measles in ancient cultures in Egypt, India and China.2 Gold complexes showed potential antileishmanial and antimalarial activity, which have interesting role against Leishmania promastigotes in culture medium, becoming promising for using as band-aids to treat skin lesions. In addition, the effects of AuNPs as larvicidal for a mosquito vector of malaria have been reported. Thus, the impact of researches on gold for human tropical diseases therapy is considerable.6 The recent interest in using AuNPs in medicine has altered the methods of diagnosis and treatment.2For example, employing AuNPs in PCR has optimized the specificity of this diagnostic method.7Also some researchers have took advantage of AuNPsin transferring drugs into the biological cells, which provided a good basic for nuclear targeted delivery.8 Additional in vivo investigations are wished for the antihelminthic efficacy of AuNPs.9 Therefore, the present work aims to determine the cure rate of three doses of AuNPs against hepatic injury induced by schistosomasis in CD-1 mice . Materials and methods Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) AuNPs have been prepared by chemical reduction method as reported by Turkevich10. A solution of HAuCl4 has been used as Au3+ ions precursor. Sodium citrate has been used as both of mild reducing and stabilizing agent. The color of the solution slowly turned into faint pink color, indicating the reduction of the Au3+ ions to Au nanoparticles. The fabrication of AuNPs were performed with the colloidal reduction process of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4.3H2O) with salt of trisodium citrate (N3C6H5O7) purchased from Aldrich (99% pure) Chemical Co. Ltd and used without further purification. In a typical experiment: 2 mM of HAuCl4.3H2O was dissolved in 100 mL of double distilled water. To this solution, 1% N3C6H5O7 (~3 mM) was mixed. The pH of this solution was measured via pH meter (Cole parmer U.SA.), which was reached to 7.88. The obtained pinkish colored solution was stirred vigorously and refluxed the solution at boiling temperature for 15-20 min. pinkish color was changed to deep red color ed solution of AuNPs. The obtained colloidal solution was stored for the further morphological and other elemental analysis. Characterization Size and morphology of AuNPs were done by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Samples for TEM were prepared using the colloidal solution of nanoparticles. The colloidal sample solution was sonicated for 10 min in a bath sonicator before the observation and dipped in carbon coated copper grid (400 mesh) and dried at room temperature for the morphological analysis.A TEM picture was taken by a JOEL JEM 2000 EX 200 microscope at 200kv. Animals Sixty male CD-1 mice weighing 18-20 g were used in all experiments. The animals were obtained from a closed random bred colony at the Schistosome Biological Supply Center (SBSC) at Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt. Animals were housed in polycarbonate boxes with steel-wire tops (not more than six animals per cage) and bedded with wood shavings. Ambient temperature was controlled at 22  ± 3  °C with a relative humidity of 50 ± 15% and a 12-h light/dark photoperiod. Food and water were provided ad libitum. This study was conducted in accordance with legal ethical guidelines of the Medical Ethics Committee of the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI), Giza, Egypt (Approval No. 4018/2011). Mice Infection S. mansoni cercariae (Egyptian strain) were obtained from infected intermediate host snails (Biomphalaria alexandrina) maintained at the SBSC. Mice were infected subcutaneously with freshly shed 100 ± 10 cercariae/mouse according to Liang et al.11method. Experimental design Animals were divided into six groups of ten mice each. Group I served as a control (non-infected); the animals were received saline (100 ÃŽÂ ¼l saline water/mouse) by intraperitoneal (ip) injection for 10 days. Group II and Groups III, IV, V and VI were infected with 100 ±10 S. mansoni cercariae. The animals of groups III, IV and V were intrapretonially inoculated with 100 ÃŽÂ ¼l AuNPs at different doses (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg mice body weight) twice per week on day 46 and day 49 post infection respectively. Finally, infected animals of Group VI were orally administered 100  µl of PZQ (600 mg/kg mice body weight) on day 46 post infection at an interval of 24 h for 2 days.12 Study of parasitological criteria Immediately after mice killed by cervical decapitation, hepatic and portomesenteric vessels were perfuse for worms recovery and subsequent counting.13 After perfusion, a piece of liver was used for the determination of the number of ova in liver and the percentage change in egg density was determined. The percentage of eggs at various developmental stages was examined in three samples from each mouse and the mean number of eggs at each stage/animal was determined.14 Sample preparation After dissection, the liver of all groups were immediately removed and divided into three parts, the first part for RNA extraction, the second one for histopathological studies and the third part was homogenized (10% w/v) in ice-cold 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4). The homogenate was centrifuged at 2000 ÃÆ'-g for 15 min. at 4  °C and the resultant supernatant was used for biochemical analysis. Histopathological investigations and granuloma size Tissue samples of the liver of all groups were immediately fixed after animal dissection in 10% neutral buffered formalin dehydrated and processed for paraffin sectioning. Sections were then deparaffinized, stained with hematoxylin and eosin stains. To assess the size of tissue granuloma, the mean diameter (ÃŽÂ ¼m) was measured. For each group, 30 granulomas were chosen from different hematoxylin-eosin stained liver sections from different mice. Assessment of oxidative stress markers Estimation of the reduced glutathione (GSH) level GSH level in liver was determined by the methods of Ellman.15 The method based on the reduction of Ellmans reagent with GSH to produce a yellow compound; the reduced chromogen directly proportional to GSH concentration and its absorbance can be measured at 405 nm. Determination of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were assayed through colorimetric tests of the liver homogenates according to the method of Ohkawa et al.16 In this method, TBARS was determined by using 1 ml of trichloroacetic acid 10% and 1 ml of thiobarbituric acid 0.67% which were then heated together in a boiling water bath for 30 min. TBARS which react with the amount of malondialdehyde found in liver homogenate to give a red color were then measured at 535 nm. Determination of nitric oxide level Nitric oxide (NO) level was assayed colorimetrically in liver homogenate according to the method of Green et al.17 The nitrite/nitrate level was determined where in an acid medium and in the presence of nitrite the formed nitrous acid diazotisesulphanilamide is coupled with N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine. The resulting azo dye has a bright reddish-purple color which can be measured at 540 nm. Quantitative PCR Tissues frozen at -80oC were thoroughly grounded with a mortar under liquid nitrogen and total RNA was isolated with Trizol (Sigma-Aldrich). Quality and integrity of RNA were determined using the Agilent RNA 6000 Nano Kit on the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer (Agilent Technologies). RNA was quantified by measuring A260nm on the ND-1000 Spectrophotometer (NanoDrop Technologies).18 Real time PCR was performed as detailed previously.19, 20 In brief, total RNA freed from DNA using the DNA free kit (Applied Biosystem, Darmstadt, Germany) was used to synthesize cDNA using QuantiTectTM Reverse QuantiTectTM SYBR ® Green PCR kit (Qiagen) was applied for amplifications in the ABI Prism ® 7500HT Sequence Detection System (AppliedBiosystems, Darmstadt, Germany) with gene-specific QuantiTectTM primers delivered by Qiagen (Hilden, Germany). We investigated the genes encoding the mRNAs for the following proteins: interleukin-1ÃŽÂ ² (IL-1ÃŽÂ ²), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFÃŽÂ ± ), interferone-à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ § (IFNà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ §), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). PCR reactions were performed and evaluated as detailed elsewhere.18 Statistical analysis The obtained data were presented as means  ± standard error. One-way ANOVA was carried out, and the statistical comparisons among the groups were performed with Duncans test using a statistical package program (SPSS version 17.0). Pà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤0.05 was considered as significant for all statistical analysis in this study. Results Morphological analysis of colloidal AuNPs The structural morphology and crystalline character of AuNPs were examined via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The obtained images shows the corresponding TEM results, which are shown in figure (1), the low magnified image (Fig. 1A) shows that, AuNPs are spherical in shape within the range of 10-15 nm in diameter. From the observation, its depicted that all the NPs are in definite spherical shape with rough surface and free from agglomeration behavior. Another obtained image represents the high resolution TEM (HR-TEM) image of AuNPs (figure 1B), which shows the lattice difference fringes between two adjacent planes are about 0.235 nm. The obtained lattice difference clearly corresponds to the lattice constant of face centered cubic (FCC) of AuNPs and are analogues with the previously reported information.21, 22 The crystal lattice fringes of HRTEM observation (Fig. 1B), again shows a confirmation of good crystalline nature of synthesized AuNPs and it is consistent with the low magnified image of AuNPs. 21, 22 AuNPs treatment induced a significant reduction in hepatic worm burden at all examined doses (0.25, 0.5 and1 mg/kg) as compared to infected group. The worm burden reduction rate was approximately, 32%, 49% and 64%, respectively (Table 1). Similarly, figure 2 shows that, the three dose levels of AuNPs caused a highly significant reduction on egg density in liver tissues of infected mice, and the highest reduction (69.8 %) was recorded at 1mg AuNPs dose level . Table 2 and figure 3 show the alternation on the liver histology from S. mansoni infected animals, compared with that from control animals. Figure 3A displays a histological section of liver from a control mouse. The center-lobe vein has normal morphological characteristics while figure 3B shows a histological section of liver after 56 days of S. mansoni infection in mice. Cellular alteration was verified on liver. There are leukocyte aggregations near blood vessels and evident vascular congestion. Histological investigation of hepatic tissue sections reveals that S. mansoni infection caused a severe inflammatory response of the liver, as indicated by inflammatory cellular infiltration as well as cytoplasmic vacuolation and degeneration of hepatocytes. In addition, the hepatic sinusoids were dilated and apparently contained more Kupffer cells. Treated livers of S. mansoni infected mice with the three dose levels (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) of AuNPs as shown in figures 3C, 3D and 3E, resp ectively appeared with moderate inflammatory cellular infiltration. Figure4 showed that, the granuloma size in hepatic tissue showed a marked and a significant reduction in the granuloma diameter at Pas a result of AuNPs treatment to schistosome infected mice at all investigated doses (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) as compared to untreated schistosome infected mice. Likewise, PZQ gavage induced a significant decrease in hepatic granuloma size infected of S. mansoni versus infected group. Schistosomiasis induced a significant elevation in hepatic levels of MDA and NO (table 3). In the same manner, injection of 3 different doses of AuNPs and PZQ to infected mice increased the levels of MDA and NO significantly as compared to non-infected group. Oppositely, a significant reduction was observed in hepatic MDA and NO levels as a result of AuNPs (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) and PZQ injection versus infected group. Finally, GSH which involved in the down-regulation of substances formed during oxidative stress has been determined (Table 3). It was striking that GSH was significantly down-regulated by S. mansoni infection but that this effect was largely ameliorated by AuNPs treatment. Moreover, the S. mansoni infected mice revealed a significant up-regulation in mRNA of IL-1ÃŽÂ ², IL-6, TNFÃŽÂ ±, IFNÃŽÂ ³ and iNOs in hepatic tissue; likewise, injection of different doses of AuNPs and PZQ induced significant up-regulation versus control group. On the other hand, treatment with AuNPs as well as, PZQ to infected mice decreased the expression of IL-1ÃŽÂ ², IL-6, TNFÃŽÂ ±, IFNÃŽÂ ³ and iNOs-mRNA significantly as compared to infected group (Fig. 5). 4. Discussion Newly in several fields of nanomedicine; AuNPs have been actively used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. It has been debated that nanoparticles of gold could be used in nearly all medical purposes.23 Abraham and Himmel24proved the successful usage of colloidal gold in rheumatoid arthritispatients. In addition, AuNPs caused cestode paralysis, which is followed by death; the authors attributed to alterations in cestode enzymatic activity of the parasite.9 Our results revealed that schistosomiasis caused marked and significant histopathological impairments in liver sections, and granulomatous inflammation was recorded. Ameret al.25 reported that S. mansoni induced granulomas which were characterized by concentric fibrosis Ù†¡Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬ ° the trapped eggs surrounded by many fibroblasts. In addition, Toussonet al.26observed main histopathological injuries in schistosomiasis mansoni such as granulomas, diffuse infiltration of inflammatory cells eosinophils and small mononuclear cells and fibrosis of portal areas and interlobular septa. In the same manner, El- Banhawey et al. 27 cleared that schistosomiasis causes necrotic changes in the liver tissues. On contrary, our treatment with different doses of AuNPs appeared moderate inflammatory cellular infiltration, decreased the granuloma diameter. Moreover, AuNPs reduced the hepatic worm burden as compared the infected group. Dkhilet al.28 deduced that gold nanoparticles treatment to infected schistosome mice improved the histological disturbances of infected brain mice. Schistosomiasis mansoni imbalanced the hepatocellular antioxidant system and liberated the free radicals which are evidenced by decrement in GSH level and increased levels of both nitrite/nitrate and MDA in hepatic tissue. Meanwhile, AuNPs increased hepatic GSH level and decreased the levels of nitrite/nitrate and MDA. It was reported that, schistosomiasis disturbed the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants which impaired liver GSH content of mice and decreased hepatic antioxidant capacity inducing lipid peroxides generation which may act a main role in the pathology associated with bilharziasis.25, 29 Furthermore, S. mansoni caused oxidative stress in different mice organs such as brain. Neuroschistosomiasis induced reduction of GSH level and increased nitrite/nitrate and MDA levels. Otherwise, gold nanoparticles (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) injection to schistosome infected mice ameliorated GSH level and reduced levels of nitrite/nitrate and MDA in brain.28 In the present study, AuNPs injection (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) to schistosome infected mice showed a significant down-regulation of IL-1ÃŽÂ ², IL-6, TNFÃŽÂ ±, IFNÃŽÂ ³and iNOs-mRNA expressions in hepatic tissue versus infected mice. IL-1 and TNF-ÃŽÂ ± are the major pro-inflammatory cytokine, they considered as alarm cytokines which secreted by macrophages. IL-1 plays a role in initiation and propagation of the inflammation by stimulating the expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells and leukocytes. In addition, TNF-ÃŽÂ ± may aggravate fibrosis and ameliorate the granulomatous reaction results from presence of schistosome eggs. So, in mice lacking of IL-1ÃŽÂ ² gene, characterized by delayed disease development and declined systemic inflammatory responses.30, 31 Moreover, lower expression of IL-6 and IL-1ÃŽÂ ² (pro-inflammatory cytokines) cause a down modulation of granulomatous inflammation and hepatocyte necrosis.32Also, Macrophages could be activate to produce NO and other inflammatory mediators by IFNÃŽÂ ³ is which considered as an important inducer of iNOs. In addition, Abdallahi et al.33detectediNOs mRNA in the liver at the onset of parasite egg laying; the authors cleared that the levels then increased as the eggs accumulated liver.34 However, Mwatha et al.35 reported that increased TNFÃŽÂ ³ is correlated with the development of severe hepatosplenic disease. Khan et al.36 concluded that gold nanoparticles (50 nm) showed a normal level of IL-6 gene expression in hepatic tissue of rat on day 5 of injection meanwhile, IL-1ÃŽÂ ², TNFÃŽÂ ± m-RNA expression was down regulated significantly on day 5. Moreover, nanoparticles of gold have no cytotoxic effect as they decrease the production of reactive oxygen species and do not stimulate secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFà °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¼and IL1-à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ½) making them suitable candidates for nanomedicine.37, 38Gold nanoparticles are not induced apoptosis, moreover, not activated gene expression related to oxidative stress and inflammatory response (TNFà °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ¼) while their low reactivity with biomolecules and cells provides a promising medical platform.39 Conclusion Collectively, our investigations suggest that the way in which AuNPs exert their ameliorating effects on Schistosomiasis mansoni promoted oxidative stress may be attributed to its ability to scavenging free radicals , and that this action could find a clinical use in the treatment of hepatic dysfunction in schistosomiasis. Additional studies are still necessary, however, with a view to clarify the exact mechanism of this modulatory effect, and to examine its potential therapeutic effects in more detail.