European Monetary Union Convergence Criteria free essay sample

Examines requirements for membership compliance by Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden others. Goals, treaties, organization. This research compares progress toward compliance with the convergence criteria for full participation in European Monetary Union [EMU] by Ireland, Luxembourg, and Sweden. This comparison both (1) identifies the extent of the progress made by each country toward compliance with the convergence criteria and (2) explains the differences between the three countries within the context of the progress made toward compliance with the convergence criteria. The findings of the comparison of the progress toward compliance by the three countries are applied in the development of answers to the following questions

Assess the challenge of Post-development theory to mainstream development paradigms Essay Example

Assess the challenge of Post Assess the challenge of Post-development theory to mainstream development paradigms Essay Assess the challenge of Post-development theory to mainstream development paradigms Essay Essay Topic: All Quiet On the Western Front The rise of Post-development theory in the late 1980s through to the 1990s advocated by scholars across the globe (Sachs, Escobar, Esteva, Shiva and Illich to name but a few) brought to the fore more radical interpretations and critiques of mainstream development paradigms. The post-development theorists set about a brutal yet arguably necessary attack upon current development practices and theories claiming to uncover some of the hidden truths behind the Western development project, as Esteva states The time has come to unveil the secret of development and see it in all its conceptual starkness (1992:7). Post-development embarked on a complete rejection of current development practice naming it a failure in every sense. However, others were sceptical, many believing that such a position was unnecessary and indeed unhelpful in terms of suggesting development alternatives, as Nederveen-Pieterse writes Post-development is caught in a rhetorical gridlock. Using discourse analysis as an ideological platform invites political impasse and quietism. In the end post-development offers no politics besides the self-organising capacity of the poor, which actually lets the development responsibility of the states and international institutions off the hook (2000: 187). Under such stark criticism the question often posed is what real challenge does post-development theory have to offer to the wider debate and reality of the development situation, if all it appears to be is semantic hot air? This paper will discuss in detail this very point, arguing that despite its at times, extreme radical view points, post-development has much to offer in terms of challenging our neoclassical interpretations and understanding of mainstream development theory. An initial overview will be given of the progression of development over the last four decades, highlighting the rise of post-development theory in the 1980s through to the 1990s. Following this, an in-depth assessment of the challenges posed to mainstream development by post-development will be given stressing the complexities associated with such challenges. Case studies and critique will be apparent throughout. Post-development theory grew out of a huge sense of dissatisfaction and disillusion with the way mainstream development theory was both constructed and operated. Such mainstream development has been seen as intrinsically linked to Neoliberal policies of economic reform and a dominant western understanding of how countries should progress and grow along the same teleological path as Western societies, the end goal of which being modernization and industrialisation. Mainstream development appeared to be constructed of a single, monolithic and imperialist vision of progress and planning as Escobar notes the idea that poor countries could move more or less smoothly along the path of progress through planning has always been held as an indubitable truth (1992:64). Post-development thinkers date the beginning of mainstream development to 1949 when President Truman made his famous speech, during which as Esteva believes, two billion people became burdened with the label underdeveloped (1992:7). Since that date development theory and practice has moved hap-hazardly through the decades along various initiatives and practices led by Western International Financial Institutions, development professionals and agencies. Development aims and goals were headed up by a number of schools of thought including the structuralists and dependency theorists of the 1960s, the modernisation and basic needs approaches of the 70s, through to the Neoliberal structural adjustment programmes of the 1980s (the so-called lost decade of development). The 1990s and into the 21st century, against the backdrop of the growing Globalisation phenomena, have heralded what is being called a more alternative and participatory approach to development theory and practice, based on a more human development and rights based approach. Scholars such as Robert Chambers have brought to the fore the importance of participatory methods to the development field, advocating methods such as PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) which places a greater emphasis on the role of local people in defining and solving their development problems, a realisation that villagers have a greater capacity to map, model, observe, quantify, estimate, compare, rank, score and diagram than outsiders have generally supposed them capable of (1994:1255). Despite these efforts to give development a human face many argue that such forms of so-called alternative development remain undistinguishable from the mainstream and have arguably merged, The problem is that there is no clear line of demarcation between mainstream and alternative alternatives are co-opted and yesterdays alternatives are todays institutions (Nederveen Pieterse. 1998:349). As development has crawled through the 1990s and into 2000 the gusto and courage of the post-development thinkers has merely been fuelled. Not happy with mainstream development or the alternatives it offers, post-development poses the ultimate challenge, to find not an alternative development rather an alternative too development. With its provocative statements and voice of certitude post-development challenges every development workers mind. The following discussion will draw out some of the key challenges posed by post-development including case studies and examples of development failure. Critique of these challenges will be given throughout. The collapse of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit held in September 2003 in Cancun marked a significant moment in time and provided a stark reminder that mainstream development is not working. At the summit unfair trade rules were met with resistance from more than 71 developing nations who refused to accept the forced agenda set by the rich nations. The result : the collapse of the talks. The failure of the rich nations to accept and negotiate resistance and the subsequent abandonment of the summit, marks what so commonly occurs within such agreements, that of Our way, or the highway! . The very same global advocates of human and economic development as a good for all showed themselves to be the very same hypocritical powers keeping developing nations trapped in crippling poverty through unfair and exploitative global trade regulations, For the developing countries, membership has not brought protection from abuses by the powerful economies, mush less serve as a mechanism of development (Bello. 2003:2). The Cancun Development Round marks a prime example of the ever apparent reality which post-development thinkers so explicitly oppose the hegemonic global dominance of the Worlds super-powers dictating progress and development based only on their terms. It is this profits before people (Kernaghan. 2001:64) attitude based on Neoliberal economics and neoclassical development theory, to which post-development is so strongly against. Mainstream economic development policies touted the world over based on economic reform, lowering of tariffs and trade liberalization in the Southern nations has been heavily criticised for its failure. Such failure has been marked by growing resistance across developing nations who are increasingly dissatisfied with World Bank and IMF Neoliberal prescriptions, and who are calling for a different development. A recent example of this cited in The Guardian, in which Lula Da Silva the elected Brazilian President states that 76% of Brazilians had voted against the current free market economic policy and in favour of a new model of development (The Guardian. 2002:14). The above example of the Cancun talks marks an entry point into a discussion of the challenges posed by post-development. Nederveen-Pieterse describes post-development as a Radical reaction to the dilemmas of development (2000:175), however whether it really is a radical standpoint is debatable, rather is it a more realistic and common-sense view from which to approach the fai de of development of the last 40 years, as the title quote from Esteva remarks In Mexico, you must be either numb or very rich if you fail to notice that development stinks (1987:1351). Post-development critiques the core basics of mainstream development theory taking overt positions on the problematisation of poverty, the portrayal of development as weste rnisation and critique of modernism and science (Nederveen- Pieterse. 2000:175). Drawing on the work of Michel Foucault on power, truth and knowledge many of the post-development thinkers challenge the imperialist, western and dominant form which, they argue, development has taken, believing that the development project was merely a form of neo-colonialism used to maintain the rich nations dominance and the poorer nations subordination, Systematic, empirical investigation of historical, geographical, and demographic conditions engendered the modern human sciences. Their aim for Foucault, was not human emancipation, but the making of docile yet productive bodies (Dreyfus Rabinow. 1983) (In Peet Hartwick. 1999:130). One of the most significant challenges posed by post-development is towards the use of modernism and technology as a development good for all. The neoclassical understanding of development draws on the lure of modern society to encourage the systematic modernisation of developing nations along western developmental paths in which industrialization, technological advance and utmost modernity can be fully embraced. For post-development thinkers, such as Illich, modernization means mass commodification and the rise of global products, a type of modernization which is suited more to the market needs of rich nations. In advocating the rise to modernity, Illich believes that a state of mind is engendered within developing nations, a state of mind which convinces them they are underdeveloped, Underdevelopment is the result of rising levels of aspiration achieved through the intensive marketing of patent products (1997:97). Thus for Illich poverty becomes planned, a scam to force developing nations into an unfair globalized economy producing foreign products for the global market and to, as Illich provocatively puts it surrender social consciousness to pre-packaged solutions (1997:97). And what of the impact the presence of such foreign firms and products have on developing nations? The impacts according to post-development, are only too apparent from the high levels of industrial pollution and environmental degradation to the use of sweatshop labour in the manufacture of global goods. A recent example in the UK press highlights the adversity of these impacts only too well as the largest Coca Cola plant in India is accused of putting thousands of farmers out or work by draining the water that feeds their wells and poisoning the land with waste sludge that the company claims is fertiliser (The Guardian. 2003). The plant employing only 141 people has been condemned by the charity ActionAid as an example of the worst kind of inward investment by multinational companies in developing countries (The Guardian. 003). In the face of such modern catastrophe and technological disaster, such as that of the big D Development Dam projects of the last two decades (including the Indian Sardar Sarovar Project in which over 200,000 people have been displaced, 56% of whom are tribal people (Kurian. 2000:843)), the post-development thinkers call on tradition, self-sufficiency and locally based forms of appropriate technology to resist, challenge and provide alternatives to the domina nt ideologies of modernism touted by global technocrats. The well documented work of Norberg-Hodge writing on Ladakh in the trans-Himalayan region of Kashmir, highlights the importance post-development theory places on traditional ways of life as a means to provide alternatives to development and challenge modernity. Writing on Ladakh, Norberg-Hodge notes how life has changed since external development forces have become increasingly significant in Ladakhi life, When I first lived among Ladakhis in the early 1970s, they enjoyed Peace of mind. The pace of their lives was relaxed and easy. An important element in this stress-free lifestyle was the fact that they had control over their own lives. Over the last thirty years however I have watched as external forces have descended on the Ladakhis like an avalanche, causing massive and rapid disruption (2001:112). She writes of the self-sufficient life which was led before development intervention, and as Rahnema and Bawtree She feels that western society has much to learn from the traditional lifestyle of the Himalayan people of Ladakh (1997:22). However, this challenge to modernism and technology and its call to more traditional ways of life does not go un-criticised. The post-development school is indeed heavily criticised for its over-romanticisation of the past, which some argue serves to artefact people and cultures, as Corbridge writes Post-development romanticises the soil cultures of the social majorities and provides poor empirical documentation of its claims (1999:145). Post-development theory also falls weak in its challenge to modernism and technology in its failure to recognise the liberating effects they may have, for example the use of cyber-technology by the Mexican Zapatistas in gaining international support and recognition, or the Kyapos use of video cameras and planes to defend their culture and ancestral lands in the Brazillian rainforests (an example cited in Escobar, 1995, implying the somewhat contradictory nature of the scholars arguments). One of the key criticisms of the post-development challenge to modernism and technology is that many believe they do not suggest adequate alternatives and merely rely on a glorification of the local, as Nederveen-Pieterse comments on the work of Norberg-Hodge, What is the point of declaring development a hoax (Norberg-Hodge. 1995) without proposing alternatives (2000:188). A further significant challenge presented by post-development is that towards the all encompassing concepts of global good, an example of which is sustainability. Since the early introduction of the concept in the Brundtland Report and its increasing prominence through international summits such as the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, Sustainability and sustainable development have become key buzz words within the development field heralded as a more integrated development goal in terms of achieving long term social, economic and environmental goals for present and future generations. However, as with many initiatives it appears that as increasing numbers of development agencies and organisations jump on the sustainability band wagon, it is proving to be another development good based merely on rhetoric. Indeed misuse of the concept has resulted in it becoming seen as another hegemonic Western discourse. An example of this can be seen in the number of inappropriate environmental projects which have sprung up in developing nations as a result of western use of sustainable development as a powerful interventionist tool. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) in association with the World Bank has been guilty of this, using un-realistic Eco-development projects in India to conserve the environment and create National Parks for Tourist purposes. The projects, carried out with little consultation from local people have resulted in the displacement of indigenous peoples from forest lands. The projects are imposed on the local communities by foreign environmentalists whose initiatives go against the basic livelihoods of those who depend on the forest resources for survival. The use of grand theory and concepts such as sustainable development again become what the post-developmentalists are so against, the imposition of development from centralised, distant bureaucracy which make decisions for communities they have never consulted (Source:2). Esteva writes on sustainability, .. in its mainstream interpretation, sustainable development has been explicitly conceived as a strategy for sustaining development, not for supporting the flourishing and enduring of an infinitely diverse natural and social life (1992:16). As the above example of sustainability highlights, post-development thinkers challenge the use of grand meta-narratives which are so commonly used within mainstream development paradigm. One of the main critiques of post-development is that it offers no alternative, it merely rejects current practice. Schurrman (2000) comments on the loss of central paradigms in development and poses the questions as to whether post-modernism, post-development and globalisation are capable of offering new and exciting paradigms? What Schurrman fears is that perhaps they are not, and as old paradigms are lost, new ones remain absent (Schurrman. 2000) The post-developmentalists would challenge this significantly, as Escobar points out By now it should be clear that there are no grand alternatives that can be applied to all places or all situations (1995:222), reiterated by Foucault who believed that all global theories such as modernization theory, Marxist mode of production theory, or world systems theory, to be reductionist, universalistic, coercive and even totalitarian (Peet Hardwick. 999: 132). These concepts and theories constructed within a western world view are strongly rejected as they challenge the scale at which mainstream development theory and practice operates, calling for more localized, grassroots-specific, bottom-up approaches. The ultimate challenge posed by the post-developmentalists to mainstream development is that of its failure, as Sachs famously puts it, The idea of development stands like a ruin on the intellectual landscape. Delusion and disappointment, failures and crimes have been the steady companions of development and they tell a common story: it did not work (1992:1). From the widening of inequality to the increased spread of HIV/Aids post-development theorists condemn mainstream development to failure. Examples such as the work of Ferguson (1994) on development failure in Lesotho based on rural development called The Thaba-Theska Project funded by the World Bank and Canadian International Development Agency in 1974, or even recent pieces in the Press such as an interview with Michael Buerk in the January edition of the Radio Times, in which he comments on his visits to Ethiopia in 1984 compared to a recent visit in 2004 in which he states The fact is that there are twice as many people hungry in Ethiopia today as there were in 1984 (Michael Buerk. 004:153), all point to failure. Despite the stark truth of development failure in some cases, others argue that such a negative standpoint and utter rejection of development does not ring true across the whole of the developing world, where examples of success and progress have been made. Corbridge offers the following critique, Post-development gives no hint of the extraordinary accomplishments that have defined the age of development, or of the historically unprecedented increases in life expectancies for men and women that have been achieved since 1950 (In India, life expectancies at birth increased for men from 46-60 years between 1965 and 1990, and for women from 44 to 58 years (Corbridge. 1999:145). Criticised for their generalisation of development, overtly pessimistic view points, romanticisation, unproblematised view of social movements and a complete rejection of development, post-developmentalists have themselves not preceded unchallenged. Indeed their tendency to deconstruct rather than reconstruct and the absence of alternatives does make many wary of the fruitfulness of such a standpoint (see Nederveen-Pieterse 2000). However, the beauty of post-development lies not in its answers but in its lack of answers. Post-developmentalists challenge the global super powers and International Financial Institutions such as the World Bank and IMF; they challenge civil society to resist, in similar ways to those of the Mayan indigenous population who through the rise of the Zapatistas have appealed for an end to 500 years of oppression and 40 years of development (Esteva. 994:302) and who call for greater recognition of indigenous rights; they call on NGOs, development Agencies, charities and development practitioners to rethink the way they operate, to question and to challenge the work they are doing; they challenge not only Western scholars but also those of the Third World, in particular on what Peet and Hardwick call Intellectual Dependency Theory (1999:137) a challenge to Third World scholars to move away from the dominant ideologies of Western discourse towards more critical and creative thinking on th e issues facing developing countries; they also pose challenges to themselves, to their body of knowledge which indeed does not provide answers. However, ultimately post-development challenges us, both our mind set, ways of thinking and assumptions. To conclude it must be stated that despite its obvious drawbacks, post-development successfully provides a series of provocative challenges to mainstream development paradigms, indeed Corbridge sums up the power of post-development and the opportunity it provides for future change, Post-development keeps the raw nerve of outrage alive post-development thinkers force us to confront our own prejudices about the agendas of development and the shocking failure of some aspects of the development project. They also provide a human touch that is too often missing in development studies (1999:143).

Information Technology Revolution Impact on the Third World Countries Research Paper

Information Technology Revolution Impact on the Third World Countries - Research Paper Example As the paper declares information technology advancement seems to lack in terms of its progress specifically, in the third world countries. It is necessary to note that some of the third world countries are allowing room for this new way of development. Indulging in new technologies of information also introduces skillful ways of living. This is for individuals that mostly seem to be open to the idea of computer skills plus other associated technological ways. This improved way of life seems not to be common among everybody. This symbolizes luck of harmony in the world. This imbalance of information advancement also brings up disparity especially in sovereignty matters. This can be seen between the first world and the third world countries. First world countries fall under the likes of North American countries, European countries plus the eastern part of Asia. Third world countries lay mostly in the African continent and the middle of Asia. The beginning of the information advancemen t has made individuals review their positive passion concerning the technological world. This essay stresses that the information technology revolution in the third world countries, similar to all revolutions, comes along with it a newer and more vital gap between social groups and nations. The problem that third world countries faces is the ability to introduce a computer plus other newer technological equipments, the skill to reach the world of Internet, the ability to recognize its complex courses, the knowledge of understanding its data and coming up with the appropriate queries. This brings out with clarity, the proof of the digital information gap. Therefore, individuals should begin to see that getting into information technology revolution acts as a way of closing the gap that exists between social classes among individuals. The two pointers of the information technology gap include â€Å"technical advancement† and â€Å"network awareness†. It aims to inform people that the technological gap between countries is raising. For instance, the percentage of Internet users in the African world recently fell above 10% (Jambi 80). Objectives This paper will propose the advantages that come with information technology revolution in the third world states. Its main goal is to encourage third world countries to set up information technology advancement. This will in turn influence their development. People cannot reject that the sense of the worldwide set-up of the new technologies does not recognize the presence of borders between countries, traditions and society. This comes about because these technologies all try their best to chew at the nations' dominion over their cognitive and information freedom. This gives them favor over the worldwide marketplace (Jambi 80). Despite the struggle of the third world to advance in information technology, the current technological revolution will eventually affect their side of the world

The Scientific Method Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Scientific Method - Assignment Example Hence, it could be stated that greater the amount of charging, the earlier the battery’s life will end. 5. Alternative hypotheses: a. Charging your battery more often exposes it to voltage variations in the power sockets leading to battery failure. b. Only cheaper batteries tend to lose their effective life when charged too often. Part II The data presented by Horowitz is misleading since it is repetitive and tends to refocus on the same categories repeatedly. For example, the first item in the list is â€Å"reaching, leaning† while the second item is â€Å"changing audio controls† which would require the driver to reach and lean as well. There is no categorical scheme that was utilized to present the data by Horowitz. The lack of hardcore categorization means that data may have been repeated in various categories since the presented categories have fluid boundaries. For example, the item data â€Å"eating / drinking / spilling† might have entries that are redundant with entries for â€Å"preparing to eat / drink†. In this manner, Horowitz has expanded his list of top driver distractions so that the cellular phone use categories are pushed down to a much lower level. On another note, Horowitz’s classification scheme could have benefited if he chose to group together related items such as â€Å"adult distraction†, â€Å"child distraction† and â€Å"baby distraction† into one category such as â€Å"human distraction†. This would have allowed the list to be more realistic and in line with scientific principles on the presentation of data. However, Horowitz has chosen to expand on the distractions in order to drive cellular phone use to a much lower section in the list. For example, Horowitz’s classification of cellular phone use is split into three list items namely â€Å"talking on a cell phone†, â€Å"dialing a cell phone† and â€Å"answering a cell phone† which ten ds to drive these items much lower on the list. On the other hand, if these three items were combined into one category such as cellular phone use, their combined place on the list would have been much higher. Horowitz has effectively manipulated his data to lower the frequency of his supported actions (cellular phone use) versus other list items to lower cellular phone use position on the overall list. Part III 1. Blair’s statement needs to be decomposed into its principal components to look at its defects. The first component of Blair’s statement is â€Å"overweight people who exercise regularly† while the second component is â€Å"normal weight people who do not† (exercise). The third component of Blair’s statement is â€Å"live longer than† and tends to impinge directly on mortality rates. The last component of Blair’s statement requires the greatest attention since it is used to assess the first two components. Looking closely at the first statement it becomes clear that the statement is self contradictory. If overweight people were to exercise regularly, their weight would tend to reduce dramatically enough to classify them as â€Å"normal weight people† within the time frame of Blair’s study since losing weight does not take years but months. Moreover, a primary reason for obesity is the lack of exercise that overweight people are used to in their lifestyle. Again this method of looking at Blair’

Monoclonal Antibodies as a Therapeutic Approach for Cancer

Monoclonal Antibodies as a Therapeutic Approach for Cancer INTRODUCTION Monoclonal anti-body cancer therapy is one of the most suitable therapeutic approach for hematologic malignancies and solid tumours for the past several years. This therapy of monoclonal anti-body join target cell, increase immune system, kills affected cells and slows tumour growth in patient. It is a laboratory produce mixture of homogenous anti-body molecules with empathy towards a particular antigen being generated by using a hybridoma by combining a B-cell with a single lineage of cells containing a specific antibody gene. A host of similar cells are produced that secrete the same anti-body. Owing to its specificity and high reproducibility, MAbs are more advantageous over polyclonal antibodies. MAbs are more often used in variety of applications like, research and diagnosis, therapeutic tools in cancer and immunological disorder, pharmacy, etc, as such are in huge demand in industry. Due to its high specificity, MAbs are increasingly used for basic immunological and molecular r esearch and have proven desirability. They are used in human therapy, cancer therapy, diagnosis of disease, commercial protein purification, suppressing immune response, hormone test, diagnosis of allergy, structure of cell membrane, purification of complex mixtures, identification of specialized cells, preparation of vaccines, increasing the effectiveness of medical substances (Edward, 1981). MAbs are used in applications against cancer cell-specific antigens which include an immunological response against targeted cancer cells. Availability of MAbs which recognizes immune cells antigen has resulted in improved diagnosis for lymphoma and leukemia. They are also being used in diagnosis of solid tumour especially for carcinoma of lungs, colon, and rectum. They are also useful in examining blood, sputum, biopsy samples of cancer cells or for materials discharged by cancer cells. At present MAbs are available for variety of cancers like ovarian, colorectal, lungs, etc (Beckman et al, 2007). MAbs interceded immunotherapy employs cells having cytotoxicity like monocytes and macrophages through antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity. MAbs binds complement proteins in cancer therapy which leads to direct cell toxicity that is complement dependent cytotoxicity (Carter, 2001). MAbs stops growth of tumour cells by blocking growth factors thus arresting the spread of tumour cells. MAbs not only detect cancer cells but also destroys them and clinical trials have revealed that MAbs stimulate partial reduction. Conjugate MAbs are combined with drugs and toxins and radioactive atoms are applied as delivery vehicles to take these substances through the body. MAbs flows in the body until it finds cancer cells with a matching antigen and delivers toxic substance to the place of the body. In chemotherapy, MAbs conjugate with chemotherapeutic drugs known as chemo labelled antibodies. The delivered drug causes damage to tumour and normal tissues. Clinical applicability of MAbs is because of its specificity and homogeneity. Another special feature of hybridoma production is that mixture of antigens can be used to produce specific antibodies. The treatment of cancer by MAbs has got highly advanced and its scope as therapeutic agent for untraced cancer has broadened. 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Production of Monoclonal Antibody The production of MAbs by hybridoma technol ­ogy was first discovered by German scientist, Georges Kohler and Cesar Milstein of Argentina. In 1976 they developed a technique involving fusion of a cancerous (immortal) mouse B-Cell myeloma with an immunized mouse plasma cell by creating a hybrid cell/hybridoma (Blaine, 2012). The hybrid cells are clones of anti ­body producing cells against desired antigen and spread rapidly to generate large amounts of antibody. Hybridoma is capable of rapid circulation and high antibody exuding rates as in myeloma cells, and can maintain antibody genes of mouse spleen cells (figure 1.1).            Figure 1.1: Production of monoclonal antibodies 2.1.1 Outline of production of MAbs The basic approach for production of MAbs includes, viz., purification and characterization of the desired antigen in sufficient quantity, immunization of mice with purified antigen, culture of myeloma cells which are unable to synthesize hypoxanthine-gua ­nine-phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) enzyme necessary for the salvage pathway of nucleic acids, exclusion of spleen cells from mice and its fusion with the myeloma cells, and following fusion growth of hybridomas in hypoxanthine aminop ­terin thymidine (HAT) medium where only the fused cells have the ability to grow. Because of lack of HGPRT, unfused myeloma cell has no ability to grow in this HAT medium, and as such cannot produce DNA. Because of short life spans unfused spleen cells can ­not grow, only fused hybrid cells/hybridomas can grow in HAT medium. Since spleen cell partners produce HGPRT, Hybrid cells have the ability to grow in the HAT medium. Hybrid cells clones are produced from single host cells and the antib odies exuded by the differ ­ent clones are then tested for their capability to combine to the antigen using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And finally then the clone is selected for further use (Zola, 2010). 2.2 Types of Monoclonal Antibodies The various types of anti-cancer monoclonal antibodies are: 2.2.1 Naked monoclonal antibodies Naked MAbs are antibodies that work for themselves and there is no drug or radioactive material connected to them. For cancer treatment, these are the most common type of MAbs. A large number of naked MAbs are attached to antigens on cancer cells but a few of them performs either by joining antigens to the non-cancerous cells or to the free-floating proteins. Naked MAbs works in a diverse manner as elaborated below: Some of them increase patient’s immune response against cancer cells by joining to them and thereafter acting as an indicator for the body’s immune system to destroy them. For instance, Alemtuzumab used against leukemia (Lin T.S, 2008). Some of them targets immune system at checkpoints. While some work by joining and blocking the antigens which are important signals for cancer cells and other cells that help cancer cells grow or spread). E.g. Trastuzumab: used against breast and stomach cancer (Hudis, 2007). Conjugated monoclonal antibodies Conjugated MAbs are antibodies where MAbs are combined to other substance like chemotherapy drug, different type of toxin, or a radioactive particle. Here MAbs are used for taking these substances directly to the cancer cells and mingles in the body until it finds the targeted antigen and delivers the toxic substance at the required place thereby reducing or somewhat eliminating the chance of causing damage to normal cells in other parts of the body. These are also called as tagged, labelled, or loaded antibodies. They are divided into a variety of groups, as given below: Radiolabeled Antibodies These have minute radioactive particles joined to them. E.g. Ibritumomab tiuxetan, acts against CD20antigen (Knox S .Jet al, 1996). Chemolabeled antibodies These have strong chemotherapy (or other) drugs joined to them and are also known as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). E.g Brentuximab vedotin (acts against CD30 antigen) attaches to the chemo drug called MMAE. 2.3 Mechanism of Action MAbs apply their antitumor effects by various types of means of action: It directs the immune system to destroy cancer cells where the immune system destroys the foreign invaders in our body but it doesnt identify the cancer cells. MAbs are directed to join to particular parts of a cancer cell and marks cancer cells thereby making it simple for immune system to find like Rituximab (Rituxan) attached to a CD 20 protein on B cells. When Rituximab attaches to the protein on the B cells it makes the cancer cells more detectable to the immune system and make it convenient for it to attack. MAbs targeting Ccncer requires to attach to appropriate tumour cell surface antigens with adequate quantities and lead to destruction of targeted cells (Ignacio Met al, 2007). Mode of action include tumour cell toxicity via antibody-conjugate, modulation of host immune system (such as ADCC/CDC), and blockade of ligand combining and signalling perturbation. By combining with the cytokines or other proteins which are critical for cancer cells for maintaining their uncontrolled growth Cancer cells depend upon blood vessels to give them oxygen and nutrients required for their growth and to attract blood vessels cancer cells send growth signals. MAbs blocks these growth signals and prevent a tumour from maintaining a blood supply to stop growth. In other words, if a tumour has already instituted a network of blood vessels then it blocks the growth signals making the blood vessels to die and resulting in tumour to shrink. E.g. bevacizumab (Avastin) (Margeret VM et al, 2003). It targets a growth signal ,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which cancer cells sends to attract new blood vessels. It stops a tumours these signals and stops them from connecting with their targets. Delivery of radiation to cancer cells. MAbs are joined with radioactive particles to give radiations directly to the cancer cells. But the drawback is that by this method most of the healthy cells are damaged .E.g. Ibritumomab (Zevalin) It joins itself to the receptors on cancerous blood cells and subsequently delivers the radiation. Delivery of chemotherapy to cancer cells. MAbs are joined J with chemotherapy drugs to give radiations directly to the cancer cells.E.g. Ado-trastuzumab (Kadcyla). It joins to HER2 receptors present on the breast cancer cells and cancer cells consume these antibodies which in turn releases a few molecules of chemotherapy. chemotherapy damages only to the cancerous cells. 2.4 Side effects and limitation of monoclonal antibodies 2.4.1 Side-effects MAbs generally have small side effects unlike chemotherapy. Only a mild aller ­gic reaction or rashes may occur with first admin ­istration of the drug. Other common side-effects are fever, headache, weakness, chills, nausea with vom ­iting, and low blood pressure (Chames p et al, 2009). Whereas grave side-effects are infusion reaction, low blood cells count, heart problem, skin problem and bleeding. Else other side effects of MAbs are with the targeted antigens. Bevacizumab used against tumour blood vessel growth can result in kidney damage, high blood pressure, bleeding with poor wound heal ­ing, and blood clots (Scolnik, 2009). Cetuximab which is used against lungs cancer and head and neck cancer can result in severe infusion reaction and can cause serious rashes. Rituximab which is used against leukemia andlymphoma can cause renal toxicity and serum sickness. 2.4.2 Limitations A serious limitation is that MAbs drugs are most costly as there are only a few FDA regulated drugs which are available in the market. A good number of new MAb drugs are still under development process. Since generic competitors are not there, the sale of cost-effective MAbs is quite good. MAbs are most commercialized and marketed products. Due to huge cost, MAbs therapies are a financial burden on patients. With only proper health planning and step-wise periodic therapies the problem can be sorted. MAbs is a proven therapeutic agent and as acted as mulching cow for the pharma ­ceutical industry. The typical doses of MAb drugs needed for treatment are significantly higher than those required for other drugs. Thus, large-scale production that is cost-effective in man ­ufacturing processes is required. However, the huge demand to increase production of these drugs and the drive to lower the cost of these expensive medicines is a continuous challenge to the present industry. This will further improve the efficiency of manufacturing processes. These challenges are overcome by streamlining downstream processes to increase product quantities, to implement proper quality with high-concentration product formulations with sufficient stability, dose-effective products, to reduce the cost, to develop methodologies for time ­line MAb production, and to develop alternative delivery systems (Rohrer T et al, 2009). 2.5 Monoclonal Antibody Drugs used in Cancer The treatment of monoclonal antibody depends upon the type of cancer and drug you are receiving. Some of the drugs are used in combination with others treatment like chemotherapy and hormone therapy. MAb drugs are used to treat advanced cancer that does not respond to chemotherapy or cancer that had returned. Some of the mAb drugs are: Bevacizumab: Humanized; used against colorectal cancer, breast carcinoma, on-small cell lung cancer and renal carcinoma Rituximab: Chimeric; used against leukemia and lymphoma Cetuximab: Chimeric; used against EGFR-positive metastatic colorectal cancer and carcinoma of head and lungs Trastuzumab: Humanized; used against ERBB2-positive breast carcinoma 2.6 Diagnostic potential of monoclonal antibodies The development of monoclonal antibodies to has provided considerable research of interest. There are monoclonal antibodies which are directed against B cells, natural killer cells, granulocytes, monocytes and platelets. Abs which reacts with different antigens is available which have definite mechanism of action (Khemshead et al, 1983). Several antibodies hare available which react with progenitor cells and these have been used as an aid in the diagnosis of different leukaemias. Neuroblastoma and lymphoma cells may have the appearance of small round cell tumours and be indistinguishable morphologically. MAb react predominantly with these tumour types and used for such diagnostic distinction. Antibodies reacting against tumours when it is coupled with radio label may be used for radioisotope scanning and small metastasis may be visualised using this. MAbs are being used in clinical evaluations and promise to provide a new generation of targeting agent.

Professional Ethics Essay

Lady Justice is the symbol of justice, where show the symbol of the justice: a sword symbolising the court’s coercive power, the scale representing an objective standard by which competing claims are weighed and the blindfold indicating that justice should be meted out objectively, without fear or favour, regardless of power, money, and wealth. Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institution to govern behaviour laws are made by governments, specifically by their legislatures. The formation of laws themselves may be influenced by a constitutions (written or unwritten) and the rights encoded therein. The law shapes politics, economics and society in countless ways and serves as a social mediator of relation between people. Furthermore, law as the body of official rules and regulation, generally found in constitutions, legislation , judicial opinion, and the like, that used to govern a society and to control the behaviour of its members, so law is a formal mechanism of social control. Legal system is particular ways of establishing and maintaining social order. According to John Austin (English jurist born 1790) law is a â€Å"rule laid down for the guidance of an intelligent being by an intelligent being having power over him.† Professor Hart (Oxford professor of jurisprudence, born 1907) defined â€Å"law as a system of rules, union of primary and secondary rules.† Glanville Williams’ learning the law† define law is the cement of society and also an essential medium of change. Knowledge of law increases ones understanding of public affairs. Its study promotes accuracy of expression, facility in argument and skill in interpreting the written word as well as some understanding of social values†. In law, there are four processes in law formation. There are individual process, group process, social process and political process. Individual process means the set of norms beliefs and values which collectively forms his on her moral standards. Group process which means the surrounding environment of a situation plays a significant role in the norm, beliefs and values of an individual through exposure to these contexts * Cultural or religious * Social or political * economics or technological In group process, where a individual choices of norms, beliefs and values are made, ensures that all of the mentioned factors able to interact among one and another. As we can see in figure 1., where technological changes in communication bring political change in governance . the political changes make economic changes in spending and taxation patterns, which finally change cultural changes in personal lifestyle. Cultural changes Economic changes Political changes Technological changes In social process, all individuals in society do not have the same exposures to economic, technological, social, political, cultural and religious factors. There are some exposures come from: * Individual position  * Family units * Peer groups * Formal organisation The changing of norms, beliefs and values of individuals within society very clear, although delay impact upon the law. Actually, the social process involves an accumulation of power. In addition, people who have similar norms, beliefs and values easily form a group. It is natural join. Furthermore, in political process the norms, beliefs and values held by organisations, groups and individuals established into law can be seen as means of resolving conflict. Organisations, groups and individuals also have different opinions on norms should be done now and beliefs should be accomplished in the future. The different views have to be common to consistent and universal rules to be effective. According to OUMH 3203 professional ethics, â€Å"there are alternative on the ways in which this is done†,  * Presidential leadership * Institutional compromise * Congressional bargaining * Constituent pressure Selected representative are formally assigned the responsibility of the formulation of law in are representative system†. So, there are four process involves in formation of law Individual process is a set of norms, beliefs and values where forms his or her moral standards. Norms is behaviour where individual expects to everyone act when faced with a given situation. For a example baby dumping is a social crisis and has a chronic increase as many cases are occurring in Malaysian society. The baby dumping refers to discarding or leaving alone, for an extended period of time, a child younger than 12 months of age in a public or private setting with the intent to dispose of the child. Based on Bukit Aman Police Headquarters statistics found a total of 580 babies were found dumped between years 2000 to 2006. This number of cases increase every year where as much as 65 baby dumping cases has increased to 83 cases in the year 2006. In the first 5 months, almost everyday there are reports on dumped baby cases. You read it on the front page of the newspaper or see it on the nightly news†¦a newborn baby found in a back alley. This scenario had been more serious from day to day although there are a lot about this in the mass media. Child dumping is the practice of dumping offspring outside of legal adoption. The dumped child is called a foundling or throwaway. According to a reliable statistics, one baby is dumped every week. A figure that has trebled in the past decades, causes include many social and cultural factors as well as mental illness. Why an individual or teenagers due to unethical to baby dumping? * Family influence Let them to make such a problem in their life. Family break-ups happen after a long period of misunderstandings, fighting and unhappiness. Sometimes they happen suddenly and it is hard to understand why there needs to be change at all. Children are mostly affected by this kind of situation. If both their mother and father decided to a divorce and one cannot raise their child alone, tendency is that they will dump their child. This child will become homeless and found him alone. * Peer influence When children enter school, they influenced by peers with whom they interact every day. For example, if child friends engage with boyfriend or with stranger, the teenager too, may decide to do the same. * Life experience Some important events, where positive or negative, shape people’s lives and influence their ethical beliefs and behavior. For example, when a person have sexuality in teenage and does not get caught, make them to continue to have sexuality until end of their life span. Throughout this case, the norms of this case are to prevent baby dumping it’s necessary to educate individuals about sexuality. We support age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, and recommends that schools and communities provide comprehensive sexuality education to all youth and families. Maybe this prevention help teenage to avoid them such a situation Furthermore, Individuals experiencing unwanted pregnancies must receive support and services. Communities should examine their capacity to provide the range of supports and services needed by individuals experiencing unwanted pregnancies. These services must also be publicized; people cannot use services that they do not know about. Finally, education efforts should strive to increase communication among youth, families, and communities. Increased communication may minimize the shame and secrecy associated with an unwanted pregnancy and make young people more likely to take advantage of supports and services in their families and communities.

History of the Great Wall of China

Introduction I foremost went to China last twelvemonth to analyze for a semester.The feeling I had when I arrived at that place, was something that can non be explained in words.I felt frightened because I was so little in such a large city.Day by twenty-four hours, I started to experience much more comfy, to go more familiar with the topographic points, the people and even with Chinese food.Back so, I did non recognize what this experience would intend to me. After analyzing a semester in a metropolis near Shanghai, I decided to travel to see Beijing, the great capital of China. There, I had the chance to see the Great Wall and I was impressed by its enormousness, hence my ground for taking this subject for my concluding paper. Known as the â€Å"7th admiration of the universeâ€Å" , the Great Wall, which stretches for over Chinese district of more than 7000 kilometres, is the largest edifice of the ancient military defence and it took longer to construct. This colossal wall began to lift in the ninth century. The people who dominated the cardinal fields, for illustration, the center and lower basin of the Yellow River, decided to support themselves from the onslaughts of the northern small town with a wall that joined the walls, the beacons and palaces located along the boundary line and from which they could watch the motions of the enemy. In the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States, between 700 and 221 BC, the feudal Godheads lived locked in eternal wars to accomplish hegemony. The most powerful Godheads defended each other with walls that rose landforms advantage of boundary line countries. After 221 BC, when Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty unified China, the bing walls were linked. The formidable defensive barrier therefore formed, traversing the mountains of the northern boundary line, served to drive the onslaughts of the mobile cultural groups mounted on horseback, from the Mongolian steppes. At that clip, the length of the Great Wall was good over 5000 stat mis. The Han Dynasty, replacement to the Qin, was lengthened to more than 10 1000 kilometres. Over the following 2000 old ages, the entire length of the different subdivisions of the Great Wall reached more than 50 1000 kilometres, plenty to circle the Earth length. Today when we talk about the Great Wall, we frequently refer to the constructed during the Ming Dynasty ( 1368-1644 ) .It starts at the Jiayu Pass in western Gansu Province, through 9 states, municipalities and independent parts, and ends on the Bankss of Yalu River in the northeasterly state of Liaoning. Its length is 7,300 kilometres, or 14 thousand Li, hence besides known as the Great Wall of 10,000 Li. The wall, built with immense bricks, masonry, crushed rock and loess, has a tallness of about 10 metres. The breadth of the top between 4 and 5 metres, leting the coincident measure 4 equestrians and therefore facilitated the motion of combat units such as the conveyance of grain and arms. Inside the walls were stepss and corridors taking to the doors. The wall was punctuated by towers that were used to hive away arms and cereal for the remainder of the soldiers and as a safety in clip of war. It is besides used as beacons to warn of the presence of enemy fire or fume signals. Of class, today the Great Wall no longer meets any military map. But its arresting architecture has won and continues to win the bosom of many people. The beauty of the Great Wall is manifested in its stateliness, its strength, its illustriousness and its naturalness. Seen from a distance, the high wall extends along the ridges of mountain ranges clearly following the silhouette of a elephantine winging firedrake, shut up position, the powerful entreaty of your fabulous study, formed by enforcing stairss, walls that appear to travel in sensed zigzag and steep ups and platforms.In one word, a comeliness. To the historical and cultural value of the Great Wall we can add besides the touristry value. The Chinese frequently say: â€Å"He who has non climbed the Great Wall is non a existent individual. † Tourists, whether Chinese or aliens, are proud to hold gone to the Great Wall. The many caputs of province and authorities who have visited China are no exclusion. Several well-preserved subdivisions have become points of tourer involvement, which every twelvemonth attracts 1000s of visitants. Among the best known include Badaling Pass, Platform Shimatai, Mutianyu, Shanhaiguan Pass, besides known as First Measure of China, and Jiayuguan Pass, the western terminal of the Great Wall. The Great Wall of China is an internationally recognizable icon and is a permeant metaphor used to specify modern China’s national character, political attitude. Is a set of monumental semisynthetic constructions that has stood the trial of clip, much like the centuries’ old Chinese civilization. It has besides come to incarnate the rich history of the Chinese people, declarative mood of their strength and ability as a state. This Wall has come to stand for quintessential Chinese attributes in modern-day society and it is cardinal to how China defines itself. However, there is no individual ‘Great Wall’ . It is a set of walls, as I said before, built periodically over 1000s of old ages by different dynasties for changing intents. The Great Wall, crystallisation of wisdom, difficult work, blood and perspiration of 1000000s of workers in ancient China, has worthily survived over a thousand old ages of vicissitudes. Her ageless Martial and timeless entreaty have become a symbol of the spirit of the Chinese state. Since 1987, the Great Wall is considered a universe heritage. Chapter one The history of The Great Wall Year of building The history of the Great Wall began in 221 BC during the Qin dynasty when were foremost built 5,000 stat mis in two phases from four to six old ages ( 214-210 B.C ) . During the 2nd phase, the wall was built along the Yellow and the Tao River, at the same time being built 44 metropoliss and established 44 administrative units.The population brought in these metropoliss had provided the care and the enlargement of the wall.During the Han Dynasty, its length reached 10,000 kilometers.Only few subdivisions of the impressive building of Han Dynasty had been kept until today.The new subdivision of the Great Wall dates from the Ming Dynasty, and in 270 old ages, the emperors opened 50 topographic points in which people had the chance to work.The wall, during the Ming Dynasty, crossed nine states and independent parts by mensurating 8851.8 kilometer and holding the best proficient and military qualities. From the full length over 6,000 stat mis were built by Ming emperor’s people. Types of wall building To construct, , the 7th admiration of the world’’ , the Chinese have used five types of wall building. The first 1 was rammed Earth, an old building technique, used in the loess tableland from Datong to Jiayuguan and in Inner Mongolia. In kernel, the rammed Earth was prevailing.Other types used were adobe, rock, brick and drop. It is said that a fifth of China ‘s population at some point participated in its building. It is besides said that the Great Wall of China is the largest graveyard in the universe, because during its building more than 10 million workers died and were buried at that place. If were taken all the bricks that were used to construct the Great Wall of China during the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese could construct a high wall that can give five bends to Earth. The chief trouble was that, to accomplish a strategic advantage, they had to took advantage of the terrain ( bring forthing accidents ) , and in the tops of the mountains were localized munitions that could keep a good surveillance of the land, and at that place was where soldiers lived and where they had commissariats and armaments. The stuffs they used were different and depended on what could be used in each country they built. The Qin and Han was built chiefly with dirt, clay, reeds, wood and rocks. The Ming, 15 centuries subsequently, used clay bricks and carven rocks. In some subdivisions of the Wall, to attest the quality of the bricks, each maker imprinted his seal on them, and the day of the month of bringing. Rock pavers were cut and shipped from distant preies, some of them came to weigh a ton and were up to 3 metres. The Ming built in two phases: foremost raised two walls and so the infinite between them was filled. The base was wider than the top. Then were built garrisons and crenelations where guns were placed. To forestall eroding by rain, a whole drainage system was devised. The boring work, the hapless diet, the whether, and the enemies that continually kept coming, affected the workers. It is estimated that Ming took advantage of 100 workers. The nomads attacked and broke the defences in many parts of the Wall, but he had already fulfilled the undertaking of directing the dismay to the topographic point where the ground forces was placed. They had a system of fume signals in detailing the onslaught and how many enemies were destroyed. Later, the Ming, in add-on to smoke signals, had used a codification for guns to give the dismay. The wall has a tallness between seven and 10 metres. Its base steps about seven metres and six upper manus. The floors were paved utilizing a mixture of rock and howitzer, supported by tree short pantss rollers arranged in several beds. At regular intervals terraced towers were built and this thing allowed the guards made aˆâ€ ¹aˆâ€ ¹ optical signals which offered them a great communicating that stretched for stat mis. A wall is interrupted at some points so they can hold defence points, to which the soldiers could withdraw if necessary. Each tower has alone and hard stepss to entree in order to confound the enemy. The barracks and administrative centres were located at greater distances. In add-on to its defensive map, the Great Wall played an instrumental function as a mean of communicating and commercialism opening the doors of China to the Western universe.The celebrated â€Å" Silk Road â€Å" passed trough China, and merchandisers from the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean who traveled to the E could non make their finishs without traveling through the wall. The stuffs used are those available around the edifice. Near Beijing was used limestone and was besides used granite or fired brick.That made the wall really immune to impacts of siege arms. Defense The Great Wall is non merely a wall, but a defense mechanism system that integrated assorted walls, watchtowers and towers of fire for describing under the control of military degrees defined. For illustration, under the Ming, there were nine subdivisions of different military duties that are described as, ,Nine critical defense mechanisms in the borders’’ . It was assigned a commanding officer, describing straight to the National Ministry of Defence. About one million military personnels were deployed along the Great Wall to continue the state. During 2,000 old ages of building of the wall, the Chinese people learned a batch about defense mechanisms ( harmonisation with the topography and location of military forces, edifice stuffs, etc. ) The format of the walls varied depending on the topography and defense mechanism demands. In the strategic transitions, the walls were really high and solid, although they were low and narrow in high and steep mountains to cut down t he costs in money and labour. In some topographic points like Juyongguan or the Badaling subdivision, general regulation, the walls have seven to eight metres in tallness, four to five metres thick at the top and six to seven meters down. Inside the upper portion, there is a parapet of a meter barrier which prevented the soldiers fall, niches two meters high, every bit good as holes for pull or throw stones. In the strategic subdivisions, the upper portion is blocked by a series of cross walls to forestall the enemy to mount. During the dynasty of the Ming, General Qi Jiguang, celebrated for get the better ofing Nipponese plagiarists, improved the defence of the wall system, by adding towers, watchtower and the warehouses for arms and weaponry. Base on ballss are defensive strategic points throughout the wall.Fire coverage towers constituted one of the indispensable constituents of the defence system and an effectual agencies of conveying military information. During the Ming, sound s of detonation were added to heighten the consequence. As a defense mechanism system, the Great Wall crosses mountains, comeuppances and prairies, drops and rivers and harmonizes its construction to the complexness of the topography. It is a wonder of ancient architecture. The wall remained standing, so, for a long clip. Under the great Han dynasty became a great topographic point for the conflicts against the Huns, China utilizing projectiles countless ground forcess. During the following dynasty, the Chinese generals seized the immense wall as a base from which to come on in Hun Mongol heartland in Central Asia. That was the great migration of Germanic peoples. The building whose being had produced such effects spread over continents, merely partly protected China, and from its diminution in the 13th century was less protected. When in 1368 succumbed the Mongol dynasty in China under force per unit area from the Chinese reserves and riders steppe retreated to Central Asia, one of the first tasks the new Ming dynasty ( 1348-1644 ) aimed strictly Chinese, was the Reconstruction of the enforcing wall.