Genetic Fingerprinting in Paternal Testing and Forensic Science Research Paper

Genetic Fingerprinting in Paternal Testing and Forensic Science - Research Paper Example Introduction Genetic fingerprinting is a technique that relies on exploiting the differences between human DNA sequences, particularly in variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs), for identification. Predominantly the technique is used in paternity testing and the forensic sciences, and can be used as evidence in a criminal trial (Sheindlin 1996). The use of these VNTRs relies on the fact that these are highly variable between non-related humans and so any matches that are made, either between two individuals or forensic evidence and an accused, is not likely to arise by chance (Toth 1997). The purpose of this essay is to explore the applications of genetic fingerprinting technology in paternal testing and forensic science, as well as highlighting some of the pitfalls of using such technology, particularly in a legal setting. Genetic Fingerprinting The principles of genetic fingerprinting rely on the differences between human genomic sequences. Although 99% of the human genome is the s ame in structure, there are certain differences (known as polymorphisms) that are distinctly different in individuals that are not related. For example, VNTRs, particularly short tandem repeats (STRs or microsatellites) are molecular markers that are extremely prone to mutation (Gill et al 1987). All human genomes contain STRs, but these vary hugely between populations and within them, to the extent that 1 in 5 million people will have the same sequence by chance (Jeffreys, Wilson & Stein 1985). Any technique that can ascertain whether two DNA samples match will, therefore, reduce the possible number of perpetrators hugely, making genetic fingerprinting immensely useful to the law. Related individuals also have similarity due to the STRs being co-dominant; each offspring will have one allele from each parent. It is this fact that makes genetic fingerprinting useful in paternity testing (Jeffreys et al 1985). Genetic profiling can occur in a number of ways. One of the most common is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which amplifies the amounts of a specific DNA sequence, which is evidently useful when working with known STRs. This is achieved using oglionucleotide primers as well as a DNA polymerase, with the primers targeting a specific STR and the DNA polymerase amplifying them for analysis (Welsh & McClelland 1990). It is important that multiple STRs are analysed using PCR, because each individual one can be shared by around 5-20% of the population (Sheindlin 1996). Using multiple STRs for analysis greatly increases the probability that an exact match will be made for whatever reason the analysis is occurring. This method relies on the principle of independent assortment, and the product rule for probabilities means that the chance of someone having the same alleles at multiple STR loci decreases with the number of loci analysed. Genetic Fingerprinting in Paternal Testing It is because of the nature of VNTRs that makes them useful for paternal testing; because they are co-dominantly inherited, each individual will inherit one copy from each parent. This means that when trying to ascertain paternity, an individual will have the same sequence at each VNTR locus as the father (as well as one from the mother at the corresponding locus). If the mothers VNTR genotype is known, then these

Further Financial Analysis Of Easton Town, Massachusetts Essay Example for Free

Further Financial Analysis Of Easton Town, Massachusetts Essay 1. Financial Analysis of Easton Town, Massachusetts In this assignment we will further examine the financial health of Easton Town, Massachusetts by computing a number of accounting rations on the financial figures portrayed in the annual report of 2006.   A horizontal analysis will also be conducted on certain key financial variables of the town, by considering the increase or decrease occurring from 2005 to 2006.   This financial analysis will be classified on three main factors, being profitability, liquidity and stability. 1.1 Financial Performance of Easton Town, Massachusetts A weak financial performance of Easton Town Massachusetts is noted from the profitability ratios performed in latter section of this assignment.    The interperiod equity figure of 0.98 times reveals that the total revenue of the town is not capable to cover by one time the operating expenses incurred.   In this respect, a deficiency of revenue over expenditure is taking place.   This point is further substantiated by the net income margin of –2.16%.   This implies that a loss of $2.16 is made up from every $100 of sales.   This is a substantially high loss for Easton Town. A loss is normally either the result of lack of revenue or excessive costs incurred in the day-to-day operations of the town.   The revenue dispersion ratio performed in section 1.4 shows that the two main revenue-generating activities of the town are Property Taxes and Intergovernmental State Revenue.   Both of them account for 84.99% of the total revenue of Easton Town.   If one considers the property taxes per capita, as we did in the latter section of this assignment, a ratio of 136.64% is attained.   This high ratio implies that substantial revenue is generated from property taxes in line with the population of Easton Town.   In this respect, the preposition of lack of revenue leading to losses diminishes on such facet. Expenditure is considerably high for Easton Town.   Cutting down costs is not an easy task especially for a non-profit making entity like Easton Town.   Personnel reductions could be performed in order to limit costs.   However, severe disadvantages would be derived from such policy, such as increased crime, deteriorating infrastructure of roads and decline in the standard of living.   Such factors would infringe the main objective of the Town, which entails providing a good overall service to the town and enhance their standard of living.   In this respect concessions should be placed on such profitability aspect. A solution that could be adopted for this expenditure issue is to try to improve the efficiency of the utilization of the town’s resources.   Presently such efficiency stands at 29.76%.   Through the adoption of scientific management, such efficiency can be improved by optimally changing the present operational procedures. 1.2 Financial Position of Easton Town, Massachusetts A sound liquidity position is noted for Easton Town from the ratios determined.   The ability of the current assets of the town to cover its outstanding short-term debts is by one and a half.   This is a good working capital feature.   Further more, the capability of cash and cash equivalents to handle the current liabilities is significantly material standing at 70.87%.   This further sheds light on a good management of working. In spite of such positive factors, through the horizontal analysis conducted, a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $124,336 was noted.   This particularly stems from a reduction in trust funds and scholarship funds.   For instance, the high conservative funds payments, which are drastically exceeding the annual receipts is contributing to such decrease in trust funds.   Attention should be thus placed on such facet to ensure that cash flow problems are prevented. 1.3 Financial Stability of Easton Town, Massachusetts The gearing ratio computed in the proceeding section reveals that Easton Town is a high-geared company.   High gearing means that debt is in a higher proportion than equity capital.   The greater the debt, the more the financial commitments necessary to meet such debt obligations, like interest payments.   The horizontal analysis conducted revealed that the long-term debt diminished from 2005 to 2006 by $2,128,480 and thus further reduced such financial commitments.   The payments of long-term debts are another factor that contributed to the decline in cash and cash equivalents.   However, the short-term debt increased by $2,411,000, which is higher than the decrease in long-term debt.   Such movement also corresponds with the significant debt to total assets determined.   This increasing figure is yet mitigated by the good current ratio noted in the previous section. 1.4 Concluding Remark – Financial Health of Easton Town, Massachusetts Even though there is a deteriorating profitability, the sound liquidity is mitigating such factor.   The increasing total debt portion is also being stabilized by decreasing long-term debts and increasing short-term debts.   As already noted, the good financial position can sustain an increase in current liabilities. We can therefore conclude that a good financial health is portrayed for Easton Town, Massachusetts for the financial year ended 2006.

Principles And Practices Of Teaching

Principles And Practices Of Teaching Learning is a process of acquiring knowledge, wisdom, development of skills and altering behavior and attitude. Learning starts at home, from the birth and ends with our life, a continuous process which helps to facilitate growth. According to Kolb (1984), learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and transforming it. Learning is an unremitting and hence after completing my diploma, I always wanted to rejoin AKUSON for my higher studies i.e. for my Post RNBScN program. After, almost 4 years of my clinical experience, this program gave me a platform to accomplish my ambition. However there were some predisposing thoughts which made me apprehensive with some courses such as Health assessment, CHS, Teaching learning and reflective writing but as the semester went on, my thoughts changed. At the beginning of the semester, I found that we have different students from different background, countries, culture, different age and experiences. I found it beneficial as it is a great opportunity for me to exchange knowledge with them. We also learnt about the critical thinking on a great deal. The orientation mainly taught us about critical thinking, reasoning, and rationalizing, this was continued throughout the semester. I never use critical thinking as much as I used it after entering into the program. Besides orientation I learnt this skill in English, teaching learning course, culture health and society and of course in life sciences. I realized that critical thinking changed my views towards life. It gave me a different perspective and helped me to clarify my goals and ambition in life. It made me realize that my goal does not end with higher studies.By the end of the semester my whole world turns up in why, what and how, from the CHS reflection to book review and analytical paper, also from the 1st log of teaching learning to the final project. Strategy plays an important role in learning. According to the Anderson, 2008, p7, I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Everyone has different learning style and the teaching strategies which helped me to enhance my learning in last four months are lectures, AV materials, healthy discussions between faculty and students has augmented my cognitive learning. According to Basavanthappa, (2003) Psychological studies on learning and retention reveal that 80 percent of information and its retention is through auditory and visual senses. Because of the sensory appeal of audio-visual aids, the retention span of learning increases considerably. Reflective logs writing, project based presentation has increased my affective learning and role plays has improved my psychomotor learning. These strategies help me to gain and retain knowledge. On the other hand, there are some of the factors that have some effects on learning. Affective factors are emotional factors which influence learning. They can have a negative or positive effect. (Swan,M. n.d.), such factors can be internal and external motivation, beliefs and expectations, these factors at times encouraged me to work hard as my family motivated me, their expectations and beliefs lead me to this program but then an unexpected death of my grandmother brought an emotional breakdown to me and my family which affected my learning and my studies for a brief period. However, coming to school and keeping myself busy with projects and assignments helped me to divert my mind and cope up with tragedy. Besides affective factors there are other factors as well. Positive learning environment plays an important role in learning and grasping. For the development and fostering of active learning, environments using appropriate technological and other instructional tools in order to motivate and facilitate student learning. (Lee Zeleke, n.d. pg 2). AKUSON promotes positive learning environment by providing well equipped class rooms with latest audio visual aids, learning resource center with free internet access, library with wide variety of educational books etc. These resources allowed me to enrich my learning. Based on my needs, I used different instructional medium to enhance my knowledge and skills. Post RN-BScN is a very well-designed and organized program. Mostly it does not burden me with loads of assignments. Courses are planned in advance including the material, invitation of guest speaker, objectives, assignments and evaluation. This helps me to prepare in advance and improve my organization and time management skills. Conversely there were some of the reasons that inhibit my learning; the foremost was the use of moodle. At the beginning of the orientation I use to hear from faculties about the self directed learning or adult learning through moodle, this can be understand by means of Andragogy. Andragogy consists of learning strategies focused on adults. It is often interpreted as the process of engaging adult learners with the structure of learning experience.(Wikipedia,2011). It involves the major role of a student for active learning and problem solving. Use of moodle, was directed for self learning. In the beginning I had difficulty understanding this method as it was something new for me but eventually as I was able to grasp it. I found that it very beneficial as all the pre reading material were posted but not for all the subjects There were some discussion forums which can be utilized as healthy conversation. Beside this other factors that hindered my learning ability were the competition among the students, financial burden of the tuition fee and fear to fail a course. CHS course terrified me initially but through proper guidance and hard work I was able to achieve good marks in logs. It was not the end of my fear though; it increased with the next assignment. The assignment was an analytical paper, which constituted 40% of the marks. Unfortunately, it was during that time I lost my grandmother. On the contrary, I was motivated by my teaching learning group as they supported me in that crucial situation. They worked extra hard in my absence till I rejoin the teaching learning project again. This project facilitated me to identify my potentials, enable me to integrate my knowledge and work on the areas that I need to improve. I believe that this project has enriched my learning skills. It has enhanced my ability to identify the needs of my community and/or patients which will enable me to provide teaching/care more effectively. At the end of the semester when I look back, I realize that the position I have attained so far is not just because of my hard work but also because of the support of my faculties, my class mates, my friends and my family. Each day I learn a message to implement and improve my life style.

Mathematics Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Mathematics In an attempt to express certain basic concepts of mathematics precisely, one should consider a handful of different accepted and developed conceptions. Pythagoras, in the Fifth Century B.C., believed that the ultimate elements of reality were numbers; therefore the explanation for the existence of any object could only be explained in number. Gottlob Frege stated, in an idea referred to as logicism, that mathematics could in some sense be reduced to logic. The views of Plato state that we "know" these rules of mathematics at the intuitive level rather than the conscious level. Plato also believed that these forms existed previously in their perfect forms; humans know them in their imperfect forms through concept and imagination. Humans did not invent mathematics, but rediscovered these transcendent but real forms. Almost a century ago, Bertrand Russell wrote in The Problems of Philosophy that "philosophy should not be studied 'for the sake of definite answers to its questions, since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true.'" For the problems mentioned here, however, it seems possible to give and justify answers. Certainly the effort should be made. Perhaps, through Pythagorean ideas, logicism and Platonism, a firmer understanding can be known of the grasp that mathematics has on the world. Due to the secrecy of the society in which Pythagoras, it is difficult to distinguish between any original works of Pythagoras from those of his followers. However, it is not the author that is important, but rather the notions presented. According to the view of the Pythagoreans that "all is number," the first four numbers have a special significance in that their sum accounts for all possible... ...l proofs for someone who accepts the axioms from which they begin." Those axioms are continually being challenged, but if they are to be justified, it shall not be within the context of mathematical activities. Now we must turn to the philosophy of mathematics, "to the great debates between the formalists, the intuitionists, and the Platonists." These debates cannot be settled by mathematical proofs, however. The certainty of mathematics is merely conditional; it rests upon assumptions that cannot be proven within mathematics, but only within the philosophy of mathematics. Exactly the same problem applies with respect to the primary problems of philosophy. We can easily give practical arguments that seem very convincing, but when we analyze these arguments philosophically, we often find that the simple conventions of ordinary argument cannot be regarded as adequate.

The Health Danger of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are a kind of refreshments that are advertised as soft drinks that boost energy. The truth is these kinds of drinks are full of many harmful ingredients, such as sugar, stimulants, and other herbal supplements. Energy drinks are targeting high school and college students who may use this kind of drink to keep them awake for a midterm, or even give them a hallucination feeling any other alcoholic beverages will do. Many studies showed the disadvantageous of these drinks, yet this industry has wildfire between underage kids who used it to show their rebellious side through a safe and cheap way. A new study shows that 34% of youth between the ages of eighteen years old and twenty- four years old consume energy drinks regularly (Casiano, 2011), this large number of consumption should raise the question whether the united state should ban selling Energy drinks to underage kids, and treat it like alcoholic beverages? Youth are having a hard time keeping up with all of the school activities, volunteering, schoolwork, and maybe jobs; those people usually relay and learn bad habits that will effect their health in many years to come. Energy drinks can cause many health problems such as overdose, toxication, heart problems, blood pressure, liver problems, and teeth decaying. Joelving (2011)explains how a recent study in New Zealand’s show that the excessive amount of caffeine that is found in energy drinks can cause fast heart rate, insomnia, and anxiety; the study also shows that â€Å"just one energy drink is enough to make most kids experience some side effect, including mild ones like irritability or upset stomach. And there are other ingredients with effects of their own, such as the amino acid taurine, the herbal extracts yohimbine, guarana and ginseng, and often loads of sugar. † There are many types of energy drinks that are accessed easily in markets and gas stations. One of the most common types is Red Bull, in the website of this energy drink it is written that it will increase concentration and reaction speed, and improve vigilance and emotional status. These manufactures will grab young people attention who are in need to increase and improve their concentration, reaction speed, and emotional state; but they fail to acknowledge the side effect of their products, such as being very tired after several hours of â€Å"sugar rush†. An over dosage of Red Bull cause a twenty-eight years old man to have a heart attack (Richards), this incidents is one of many that prove to us that this dangerous products should be banned from super markets and other easily ccessed places for younger generation. Many Young adults choose to be rebellious to prove their social status; many young adults are mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Mixing a depressor like alcohol with a stimulant like caffeine cause the human body to forget the effect of alcohol, and make the youth drink more alcohol to feel the buzz feeling; leading them to consume more alcohol than their usual body limit. In 2010, nine college students were hospitalized after drinking alcoholic energy drink called four loko (Hogan, 2010). Four loko can be found in any gas station for about three dollars,it is commonly called â€Å" blackout in a can† , it can raise your alcoholic blood level to . 3; the legal limit for blood alcohol level is . 08. One can of four loko contain as much alcohol as a six pack of beer laced with several shots of espresso. Casiano, R., & Contributor, C. (2011, February 17). Queens chronicle – Study finds energy drinks bad for youth. TownNews.com . Retrieved February 17, 2011, from http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20456245&BRD=2731 Joelving, F. (2011, February 14). As sales soar, experts warn about energy drinks – Yahoo! News. The top news headlines on current events from Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 17, 2011, from http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110214/us_nm/us_energy_drinks_1 Richards, C. (n.d.). Red bull overdose stops man’s heart |. Caffeine Products. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from http://caffeineproducts.com/caffeine-news/red-bull-overdose-stops-mans-heart-3/2008/08/23/ Hogan, R. (2010, October 26). 9 Students Hospitalized After Drinking Four Loko Alcoholic Energy Drink  » Popular Fidelity  » Unusual Stuff. Popular Fidelity. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from http://www.popfi.com/2010/10/26/9-students-hospitalized-after-drinking-four-loko-alcoholic-energy-drink/

Ice Storms and Severe Winter Storms

Ice Storms and Severe Winter Storms Ice storms and severe winter storms (snowstorms) fall under the category of meteorological hazards as they are associated with atmospheric weather conditions. Ice storms involve freezing rain that result in an accumulation of ice greater than 0.25 inches. On the other hand, sever winter storms are cyclonic weather hazards that occur at cold temperatures and involve excess snow, sleet and ice. For a general classification of a severe winter storm, there must be an accumulation of at least 4 inches within 12 hours or 6 inches within a 24 hour period (Coppola, 2007). A good emergency management program for ice and severe snowstorms addresses all the phases of disaster management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. An exploration of disaster management in the area of ice and winter storms is valuable as it is so common in Canada and the U.S. Thus, an examination of the various ways in which these phases are implemented for winter and ice storms, throughout localities and re gions in North America, is crucial as it gives an idea of the phase(s) - mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery - that may have possible weaknesses, and would require improvements.Plants wrapped in 6 mm (0.2 in) of ice. Severe ice...Ice storms include such negative consequences as breakage of tree limbs, falling of power lines, collapsing of roofs, and accidents on roads. Winter storms make travel quite difficult and dangerous and can lead to secondary hazards such as avalanches and floods. It is quite obvious that the likelihood of winter and ice storms is certain in Canada and parts of the U.S. In 2008, there were about 21 winter storm deaths in the US, and this number was up from last year of 16 (Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services, 2009). In March 1993, a severe snowstorm that affected US and Canada on the east coast killed over...