Battens essays

Battens essays Battens Disease is a neurological disorder, which was discovered in 1903 by a British pediatrician. Battens Disease, also known as Spielmeyer-Vogt-Sjogre-Batten disease is the most common in a group of disorders called neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs). There are three other types of NCLs, which occur at different stages of life. The three other types of NCLs are infantile (6 months), late infantile (2-4 yrs.), and adult (before 40). A person inherits Battens when both parents give a recessive gene to the child. Battens is an autosomal recessive disease that is fatal. Battens Disease is a juvenile disease, which begins between the ages of 5-9 years, and it happens about once in every 25,000 live births. Since the disease has no outward signs the child appears normal at first. The individual develops just like a child without the disease does. Once the child reaches the age of 5-9 yrs. The symptoms start to develop. The first symptom that occurs is the deterioration of the childs vision. Other symptoms that start at the same time are problems with schoolwork, speech problems, and the onset of extreme clumsiness. After these symptoms have occurred the individual will start to have epileptic seizures. In the nest stage of the disease the individual will display gradual intellectual deterioration, and the gradual deterioration of muscles. The individual may even become demented over the coarse of the disease. All these things will happen over the coarse of 10-15 yrs. Near the end of those 10-15 years, which is also near the end of the individuals life, the person will spend much of his/her time lying down and they will be blind and unable to speak. All these symptoms of Battens and the symptoms of the other NCLs have been linked to a buildup of substances called lipopigments in the bodys tissues. Lipopigments are mainly composed of fats and proteins. When they are viewed under a...

Adolescent abortion essays

Adolescent abortion essays Less then twenty-five years ago, any women who elected to terminate her pregnancy usually had to resort to illegal, unsanitary, and unsafe means. Abortion was frequently considered a criminal offense committed by the woman and the physician performing the procedure. The Supreme Court cases leading to the legalization of abortion began in 1963 with Griswold v. Connecticut. The court invalidated a Connecticut statute that made possession and use of contraceptives by married couples a criminal offense. The case of Griswold was later expanded to encompass the womans right not only to prevent but also to terminate her pregnancy. In the case of Roe v. Wade, the court held that state regulation of womans access to abortion at all times during her pregnancy is impermissible. In finding unconstitutional a Texas statute that did not allow abortion unless it was performed to save the mothers life, the Court eliminated most restrictions on an adult womans right to an abortion. According to the book, abortion data are difficult to collect , and national statistics can only be considered estimates. The figures included in this paper are primarily based on the data provided by the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI). AGI data are based on national surveys of health institutions and private physicians providing abortion services. Today, about 40% of the 1.1 million pregnancies of females under the age of twenty annually are terminated by induced abortions. Nearly one-third of all abortions are done on women under the age of twenty. (Melton, 1986:41) A substantial number and proportion of abortions are obtained by teenagers. In 1981 more than 1 in 4 of the estimated 1,577,340 abortions performed were to teenagers; 6 out of 10 to 15-19 year olds were to teenagers 18-19 years of age. The chart that I included on the following page lists the number and distribution of legal abortions, abortion rates per 1,000 wo...

News during the Vietnam War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

News during the Vietnam War - Essay Example Americans were against communism, and therefore, sent soldiers to Vietnam. The foremost reason for the Vietnam War was to stop the northern region, led by Ho Chi Minch, to take over leadership forcefully. They were against the government, and had planned to overturn the ruling authority to take control of the country. Vietnam War is the longest war that has been witnessed in the world history. It ended when Americans withdrew their troops after realizing their goals. The Vietnam War resulted in misunderstandings between countries worldwide, especially owing to the ideological differences. In this essay, the Vietnam War is discussed in detail and news the media broadcasted across the world highlighted. During the war, the public had been exposed to the activities happening at the Vietnam War fought in Vietnam through media. This explains why human beings are more interested in revising history rather than understanding the meaning of the war to people (Samantha). The story about Vietnam War was wrongly broadcasted in the news, magazines, books and journals. This made people have negative mind-sets toward the war. Surprisingly, the Vietnam War is greatly misunderstood than the history of Americans, because the media gave distrustful reports about the war results, hence, the citizens received incorrect information. This affected negatively the way people associated with war, which was meant to promote peace and stop Vietnam government form being overturned by the dictators. The negative reporting of the Vietnam War has caused many individuals to forget the essential details about the war. The production of books, magazines, articles and documentaries by various artists has spread the message of Vietnam, as myths rather than suppositions. Kennedy condemned the media houses that published irrelevant information. The Washington office and Kennedy’s administration involved themselves in the consulting editors of the top media house in America. They accused the editors of publishing wrong reports about the Saigon Press Corps. This made the American government to clash with reporters and the media house that confused the citizens by giving wrong information to the people. The big question from the press was whether USA had joined the war to help the Vietnam country or they wanted to prove their potency as a world superpower. The media is accused of giving irrelevant information to the public, creating several considerations. According to research done, the press and journalist only gave two thirds of the report as accurate information got from the Vietnam War. The main motive of the press and the media house were to elevate the sales of the literature they pro duced, since people were eager to get information on how the war was proceeding. They also lacked the source of getting information; therefore, they were forced to twist the stories to appeal to the citizens (Rhodes). The information looked attractive and people purchased the magazines and books. Vietnam War was the longest war ever in world’s history, and this made it unmatched. Therefore, people wanted to know more about the developing stories of the historical war. The information published by the press and the media houses was condemned by the American administration and most journalists faced trials to substantiate their reports. Conversely, the media also played an imperative part during the war since it was able to update and inform the world the real situation on the ground. It updated the world with current news making headlines, hence reducing the tension in citizens. Therefore, the media should be watchful in transmitting insubstantial issues to the populace. The n ews broadcasted during the war was spread by the media, which was exceptionally active and determined

Geology Tour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Geology Tour - Essay Example Since, numerous studies have contended that numerous creatures, for instance, furred elephants (American mastodon) inhabited the snow region prior they were extinct. This information and much more coupled with diverse timelines of when they occurred usually characterizes the entire â€Å"Page Museum, La Brea Tar Pits† (McNassor 97). As one proceeds inside, does not stop to wonder because various ice age fossils excavated from the â€Å"backyard† (Tar Pits) of the museum (McNassor 13). It is intriguing how some animals looked like prior to the emergence of people in Los Angeles region, which prompted to their extinct. For illustration, Bison Antiquus, this was the first herbivore in N. America and its existence and emergence marked the mammal age in the region. According to diverse staffs who are in every stand ready and busy explaining to keen admirers regarding diverse life forms, many of the fossils originate from Tar Pits (McNassor 97). This was after its discovery, which also has its own information regarding why it is rich in diverse extinct forms that fill the entire museum. Hence, museum has allocated a stand meant to offer to visitors’ adequate information regarding Brea Tar Pits (McNassor 25). Research about the site argues that, Asphaltum from other regions seeped up into the pits for a long time where wild animals inhabited. Dust, leaves or water covered the Asphaltum in the pits, which trapped the animals and other smaller forms like rats while grazing or searching for water. Therefore, resulting to numerous animals trapped in it. The museum boasts of possessing numerous species starting from those of the great cats to the tooth of a rat besides plants that normally characterized the Tar Pits prior extinction of the big animals (McNassor 22). The cats encompass small-tailed Smilodon Fatalis, which are a distant cousin to the present cats.

Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Intelligence - Essay Example Others grow due to a particular issue like lack of social amenities in a specific town or area in this regard the best way to handle this is by solving first the complaints then the cracking of this group will be easier. The factors that make the non-state actors be handling within a particular border depend most on the cause of origin. If is a significant issue that is more deeper like race, religion or even gender then this can cut across borders but if is the provision of resources such as water and food then this is easily handled. The reason why it is good to tackle the main issue is that if the cause of grievance is not understood and the government handles the symptoms then it will only act as a catalyst (Huffman 2014). ii) The reason why the non-state actors have grown is also because the world has become interconnected where different regions or countries heavily depend on each other and through this trade will grow and people will interact and the moment they build relationships they will start sharing their ideologies. In the traditional manner countries independently solved their own actions and did not really depend on anything or anyone (Harris 2013). The example of a Non-state Actor is a group like ISIS where the terror group has infiltrated different countries and to understand their cause they are brought together by the belief. Religion is Key for them and this will not only affect one country but everyone who believes in the said religion. It is good to note that when the issue is more of a mental state then it cuts across borders. Another issue that has made it difficult to tame one non state actor is the technology. With the rise of electronic communication people between different continents can share their agenda and make it easy for them to progress their beliefs. They can always interact on day to day making it easier to plan their next issue of chaos and this

Spiritual Journeys: Dante And St Augustine

Spiritual Journeys: Dante And St Augustine The individual spiritual journeys of Dante in the Divine Comedy and St. Augustine in the Confessions are quite similar, as each man searches for divine love and grace, and true eternal closeness to God. Both Dante and St. Augustine admired and were heavily influenced by Virgil, the classical Roman poet of the Aeneid, in their writing and works; however, because of their strong Christian faith, Dante and Augustine also make it clear in their autobiographical accounts that Virgils pagan beliefs cannot receive salvation, or allow the soul to enter heaven after death. Dantes journey begins with the poet being portrayed as spiritually lost in sin, in the darkness of woods, when a guide is sent to him in the form of the ancient Roman poet Virgil, who represents human reason and wisdom. Virgil tells Dante that the only way out of the darkness is for Virgil to lead him through Hell and Purgatory, in order for Dante to recognize the nature of sin and the consequences of his actions. Once Virgil has guided Dante to the top of Mount Purgatory, where the renunciation and rejection of sin occurs, Virgil tells the Pilgrim that he can no longer accompany him on his final journey to Heaven, because human reason cannot reach the ultimate height of Paradise. Dante is lead instead to Heaven by his beloved Beatrice, who is now living as one of the blessed in the afterlife, and who also symbolizes divine love. Much like Dante, St. Augustines journey also begins with his confessions as being spiritually lost, especially in his earlier years as a sinful youth, turning away from God, and preoccupied with only worldly desires and needs of the flesh. St. Augustine implores in Book VI of his Confessions, Thou hadst made me wiser, yet did I walk in darkness, and in slippery places, and sought Thee abroad out of myself, found not the God of my heart; and had come into the depths of the sea, and distrusted and despaired of ever finding truth (Augustine 94). Here St. Augustine talks about the darkness he walked in during his early life, very similar to Dantes struggle and despair in his own dark woods of sin, where Virgil finds him in the beginning of the Inferno. St. Augustine describes his spiritual void and emptiness further, stating, And I perceived myself to be far off from Thee [God], in the region of unlikeness (134). In this declaration, St. Augustine is associating his many sins with a regi on of unlikeness, which causes him to wander aimlessly without direction or purpose, becoming hopelessly lost. Whereas Dantes descent into Hell in the Inferno is both dramatically real and an allegorical representation of his souls journey towards God, St. Augustines Confessions represents a metaphorical rather than physical journey of the soul, as Augustine searches for divine truth and grace. However, both men view this spiritual descent as necessary in order for the human soul to attain ultimate closeness to God. An example of this is expressed by St. Augustine in Book IV of his Confessions, when he states, Even now, after the descent of Life to you, will ye not ascend and live? But whither ascend ye, when ye are on high, and set your mouth against the heavens? Descend, that ye may ascend, and ascend to God. For ye have fallen, by ascending against Him (64). Furthermore, according to John Freccero, author of Dante: The Poetics of Conversion, In the spiritual life, one must descend in humility before one can begin the ascent to truth, and in the physical world, according to both Dante and A ristotle, one must travel downward with respect to our hemisphere in order to rise (74). This spiritual belief of descending in humility before one can rise again is clearly echoed by both Dante and St. Augustine in their poetic works regarding Christian faith. Virgil, the pagan Roman poet of the Aeneid, also plays an important role in the autobiographical accounts of Dante and St. Augustine as well. Dante uses Virgil as his guide to illustrate Virgils supreme human reason and intellect during his journey, as well as emphasizing Dantes heartfelt admiration for the classical Roman poet. However, to demonstrate and make clear his devout and strict Christian beliefs, Dante places Virgil in Limbo, the first circle of Hell, along with other virtuous pagan Roman poets of the past. Dantes placement of Virgil and the other non-Christians is essential, since they can never be allowed to enter Paradise because of their pagan beliefs. Virgil himself understands this divine judgment delivered by God, when he states to the poet Sordello in Canto VII, I am deprived of Heaven for no fault other than my lack of faith (Alighieri et al. 56). Dante shows that despite Virgils moral perfection, he was without faith, and human reason alone can never reach Heaven . St. Augustine also admired the Roman poet Virgil during his early life, and being a successful teacher of rhetoric, Augustine understood very well a life led by reason. However, he, like Dante, discovers that reason alone is not enough to gain salvation from God, and as a result, was spiritually lost, tormented by temptation and sin. Thus, St. Augustine too realizes it is only when one has true faith in God that eternal salvation can be achieved. As Olson reminds us, Augustine testifies to how reason puts man on the road toward God, and how it is [only] faith that informs and elevates reason, taking it beyond its natural limitations while never being tyrannical or confining in any way. [St. Augustine] summarized this seemingly paradoxical fact in the famous dictum, I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe (Augustines Confessions). History of Portraiture: Changes in Styles and Techniques History of Portraiture: Changes in Styles and Techniques The immemorial fascination of mans own image and of those of his fellow human beings arose a desire in men to attempt and embellish his likeliness into a physical medium. However at the time portrait was exclusive to those who wished to celebrate mans relationship with God and the divine rulers of the times, which makes the Renaissance a revolutionary era for portraiture and the development or artist techniques. The common subjects of royalty and wealth were joined together with the trivial and oppressed, giving artists around the world more latitude to delve into painting intricate and thought-provoking portraits to be cherished for centuries. Deciding to undertake the task of compiling the substantial triumphs for portraiture styles and methods over time, I plan to introduce it in the span of six notable art movements and cover the most significant artist of the time. The theme portraiture hold a special place in my heart, its enigmatic and flexible principles give the artist the u pmost freedom to depict people in a way that suits them. Its a theme that lasted through the test of time, becoming more and more popular as the centuries turn. Jan Van Eyck was a powerful visionary in 15th century with his command of linear perspective and capticating interiors that bathed in golden lights, his art sank into oblivion until the 1930s. Expressing a new awareness of reality through the use of oil paint, he crafted remarkable paintings and portraits that had remarkable attention to detail, observation of nature and light, and constructing spaces steeped in elegant interior which inhabited realistic characters. His careful positioning, golden lights and expert command of the technique of oil painting made him one of the most significant representative of the Renaissance art movement. His style and technique was a step up from the less realistic depiction of human forms by the then pre-Renaissance artists Giotto di Bondone and Cimabue. As the 17th century approached, the subject for painters was changing as the patrons no longer served an essential role in the choice of subjects and composition. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio painted people who were then counted as trivial: peasants appeared alongside sovereigns and saints, crafting a new approach to portraiture for his time. At the beginning of his artistic career he broke through with his loose interpretations of traditional subjects, painting the first still life in the history of art as a subject in itself and knowingly portrayed saints as everyday people. The conventions of his time didnt worry him, nor did the already established art guidelines. He did not make primary sketches but place the paint straight to the canvas, using the foundation coats as an artistic element.   The early works of the artist revealed his love of poetic naturalism that was inspired by his everyday life. Caravaggios approach to chiaroscuro (the artistic play of light and shadow) was a clear departure from the art conventions of Mannerism. These conventions found their way into the most significant Baroque and Rococo artists. In the 18th century, a new freedom became apparent with the French painters as they began portraying a carefree and libertine behavior of society consistently in their artwork. The most noteworthy artist of the time was the Rococo painter Franà §ois Boucher. He was highly adept in many forms of media as he switched traditional bright oil paints to forms of decorative art. Adopting a high tone palette that favoured blues and pinks, he set a definite foundation for most paintings of dream-like quality. His paintings of beautiful women in rich silk clothing endorsed scenes of erotic and passionate love. Oil and gouache sketches were common in preparation for his bigger commissions as his careful attention to finer background detail made the scene more poignant and alive, filling it with character and passion. The dream like qualities of his prominent artwork carried on into the triumph or Romanticism. The spirituality and the influences from the previous eras stimulated the imagination of artists around the world. The art historian and theoretician of colour, Eugà ¨ne Delacroix was and still is the acknowledged master of Romanticism and one of the last great decorative painters. His passion for colours and the depiction of lively composition is reflected in his canvas won the admiration of the public. Everything is the subject; the subject is yourself: our impressions, your emotions when faced with nature. he professed. His skill in the thick impasto unified well with his choice of colours, giving his paintings the form of a sketch. The innovative take on colour, the earthy shades and the use of rich varnishes changed the way most artists composed their portraits and subject matters, crafting their styles to match Delacroixs. The analytical approach to colour is recognised in almost all realism, impressionism and art nouveu paintings that dominated the early 20th century. The creations of Vincent Van Gogh, albeit spanning over a short period of ten years, contained distinguishing marks of his life and the tourment he endoured as well as the places he lived in. The canvases beared his trademark frantic colours and figures in the form of various self-portraits, landscapes and scenes from ordinary day to day life. His impact on art gave colour a new meaning in the works of artists and put forth a new style in which the painter can place his brush on the canvas. A new approach to light and colour enabled him to go beyond both Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism, enabling his style in his self-portraits to experience a change that brough critisim upon him at the time. The intense expressiveness, accompanied by a turmoil of brush strokes produced a new wave of artists stimulated to create more illusive and stylised paintings to continue the tradition of expressive portraiture.

American Influence over New Zealand Culture Essay -- essays research p

War World 2 was a pivotal point of change for New Zealand. The country went from being a colonial country dependent or rather in awe of our mother country, England, to being a Colonial country now more excited with new contact with the new world super power of America. America’s acceptance as defender of the Pacific was the wedge that quickly romanticises the New Zealand people into a 60 year love affair with all things American. New Zealand has now reached a point where American media and influence in this country has now become integrated into the New Zealand culture and psyche itself. American Influence over New Zealand Culture Since the start of the â€Å"American Invasion† of New Zealand in 1942, New Zealand has become greatly dependent on America. From political to fashion, culture and entertainment, all areas of New Zealand life have been increasingly influenced from our relationship with the United States. Our loyalty/dependency to our once influential homelands in Britain, England especially, has been slowly washed away in the tides of American culture that floods the New Zealand citizen everyday. Just walking down the main street of any New Zealand town you don’t have to look too far to see a touch of America. Teenagers walk down the street, pants baggy and wearing hoodies. Music from shop radios drift onto the street, at least a 75% chance that the song is American made. The shop windows display Americanised tabloid magazines whose covers are littered by American Celebrities and their ‘tragic’ love triangles. Next to the tabloid magazines sits the New Zealand version of Americas T.V Guide, in its pages news and show times of the hundreds of American shows that crowd New Zealand’s televisions channels. Inside the store American confectionary lines the front of the store, Fruit Bursts, Nestles chocolate and a hundred others. In the corner sits a stand that holds a selection of ‘Top 40’ music Compact Disks, all American artists. And in the refrigerated drink units Americas product spearhead, Coke, sits cooling away waiting to be snatched up by the next customer who walks in. People line up at the movie theatre next door, five movies showing, all American. In the street outside a Ford Falcon is parked, another passes by on its way home. As the Ford Falcon pulls up its driveway you can see that even at home there is no escape from the re... ...ms that the fate of our countries culture lies hand in hand with that of the United States of America. Fig 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/brief/image-pages/graph.html References American Studies. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 16, 2004, from http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/subjects/amst/ Music and its role in cafà © culture. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 17, 2004, from http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/mph/cafe/wayne.html New Zealand in the Second World War. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 16, 2004, from http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-nz/nz-ww2.htm New Zealand Music Month 2003. (2003). Retrieved 11 17, 2004, from http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/music_detail.php?pid=514&sid=500 Phillips, J. (n.d.). The 'American invasion': American forces and the New Zealand people. Retrieved 11 16, 2004, from http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/brief/ Routes of English. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 16, 2004, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/routesofenglish/youtellus/transcript.shtml The Young and the Restless. Children and Adolescents in New Zealand 1930–1960. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 17, 2004, from http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/dnzb_exhibs/youth/