Black Death Essay Example for Free

Black Death EssayAround 1330, a horrible detestation was reported to break out in China. Trade between Asia and atomic number 63 currently was frequent, and in 1347 rat-infested ships from China arrived in Sicily, bringing the disease with them. Since Italy was the center of European art, business, and politics, this provided the perfect opportunity for the disease to allot. To the Europeans, it seemed to come out of nowhere and kill everyone in its path. The bubonic plague, as it is called today, continued at 10-year intervals throughout the Middle Ages. It spread rapidly for a variety of reasons. Poor living conditions were probably the number one factor in the passing of this disease. People believed that washing themselves would open their pores and let the disease in, so bathing was rare. This of course, as we know today, only excelled the spread of the bubonic plague.The bubonic plague had extreme effects on the demographics of Europe. The worst pestilential claimed th e lives of nearly 25 million people, all in under five years. It took at least two centuries for Western Europe to regain its population. Urban populations recover quickly, in some cases within a couple years, through immigration from the countryside because of increased opportunities in the cities. Rural population recovered itself slowly, because peasants left their farms for the cities. This time full stop in which the plague spread and killed so numerous people was known as the Black Death.The Black Death had major effects on Europe. Wars halt and trade slowed considerably. People were forbidden to gather in groups and religious services were suspended. Homes of infected people were sealed off to protect others from the plague. Businesses shut down their doors, having a huge impact of the economic aspects of Europe. Many people fled to the country to get away from where they thought was the hot spot for the plague. The bubonic plague changed the political, social, economical , and religious aspects of Europe forever and had an affect on the way things are today.There were many consequences to the increases and declines of population and European society. People fled to the city because everyone around them way dying. So many died, in fact, that it had major effects on the population in Europe, which, in turn had effects on many aspects of society. Farmers who had provided food for people were fleeing and food was scarce. Government, trade, and commerce virtually came to a halt. No aspect of European society was not affected by the coming of the plague and by its duration.The demography of Europe in the late middle ages can be easily related to overpopulation in the modern world. Poor living conditions due to overcrowding led to the rapid spread of the bubonic plague. If a plague was ever to break out in such places like China, Africa, or any other 3rd world country, it would be devastating. In Africa there is a major epidemic or the Ebola virus. It is s till running ramped throughout the country, and it is not treatable by antibiotics. Poor living conditions contribute to the deadly redact of this virus, and science has no known cure. If it was to ever spread to America the impact would be great and might be similar to the consequences of the bubonic plague in the middle ages. Overpopulation and overcrowding lead to poor living conditions which then lead to the rapid spread of any disease that may happen to come.

Farakka Barrage And The Ganges Dispute Environmental Sciences Essay

Farakka Barrage And The group Dispute Environmental Sciences EssayIn January 1961, the judicature of India announced its decsision to go ahead with a plan to build a flush across the river Ganges at Farakka. This decision reflected Indias concerns to solve the problems cosmos experienced at the port of Calcutta with the build up of silt on the river Hooghly. alone the decision initiated a conflict with Pakistan (and later Bangladesh) over the much bigger issue of wet utilization in the whole of the Ganges basin. When Bangladesh came into existence in 1971, it was felt that the Farakka issue would be solved affably. In May 1974 , when Sheikh Mujibur Rehman came to India ,Indira Gandhi gave a assurance not to commission the Farakka project before an agreement on the sacramental manduction of the Ganga wet was reached. Therefore an interim agreement was sign in April 1975 ,covering the f natural depression of the Ganga during the skimpy period ,21 April to 31 May , by whichbri ny portion of the wet supply was given to Bangladesh. The cardinal countries too agreed to operate the feeder canal with India taking her sh atomic number 18 in the following manner -Month Ten-day Period (Dates) Withdrawl (cusecs)11. It was likewise agreed that teams consisting of experts from two countries would survey at the suitable places in both the countries the effects of the Farakka withdrawal in Bangladesh and on the Hoogly river. A joint team was as well to be placed at the barrage to record the discharge into the feeder canal and residual period into Bangladesh. get on afterward the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman in August 1975 , the military government started to malign India at every possible opportunity accusing her of taking all the peeing supply of the river . Bangladesh lodged an official protest with India on 15 January 1976 against the operation of the barrage. It in addition raised the issue globally , in the Islamic Foreign Ministers Conf erence in Islamabad in May 1976, at the Colombo Summit of the NAM in August 1976. The UN Secretary General was also apprised of the situation in April 1976.12. After the Janata Government came to power in March 1977, negotiations were resumed. negotiation were held covering various aspects of both long term and short term agreements on weewee communion. In consequence the two governments signed an agreement on 5th November 1977 as a short term solution , while a feasibility study of a long term solution was left hand to the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission which was to submit its recommendation within three years. The data collected over time indicated that flow during the lean chasten was as low as 55,000 cusecs at Farakka. The expert opinion was that the minimum requirement to keep the Calcutta port navigable in the lean season of April-May was 40,000 cusecs. The re principal(prenominal)ing 15,000 cusecs was much than what Bangladesh undeniable during the lean season . Prime Minister Moraji Desai , however agreed to a much smaller share and give the larger quantity to Bangladesh. This noble gesture was considered a small sacrifice for a weaker and smaller neighbour for improving understanding and goodwill. The period of implementation was five years. however it came with criticism. al some called it a sell-out while close to(prenominal) believed India had masked much with little in return. The protest of the West Bengal Government were ignored and it was not even consulted before the agreement .13 . The Congress Government which came to power in 1980 was critical of the agreement and considered it negative to the interests of the Calcutta port. Both governments unconquerable to terminate the the 1977 accord and commence fresh attempts to achieve a stable solution. This was to be completed within eighteen months by the Joint Rivers Commission. The new sharing agreements agreed upon were to be imposed for the next two dry seasons i.e. 1983 a nd 1984. The discharges agreed upon for the start-off 10 days of January were 40,000 cusecs for India and 50,000 cusecs for Bangladesh. This would be reduced progressively until the ten days of April , when the individual shares for the two countries would be 20,000 and 34,500 cusecs respectively. By setting time limit both counties mean to express their serious intentions to consider each others proposal and reach a final solution .14. With Rajiv Gandhis visit to Bangladesh hopes rose again ,when on the coda of his visit on 2nd June 1985 , he expressed a keen desire and readiness to settle all bilateral disputes including the Ganga issue. The Indo-Bangladesh Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 22nd November 1985 on the sharing of Ganges dry season flow for the next three years (1986-88). Bangladesh would get 35,000 cusecs of water and India somewhat s wake than 40,000 cusecs during the dry season. It was also agreed that the Joint Committee of experts would look for a lon g term scheme , a study to be done within one year. The Joint Committee of experts and the JRC met at regular intervals by means ofout 1986 . Nepal was also incorporated for a possible co-operation and contribution in the Ganges water development. However the one year time limit passed and the Joint Committee study was inconclusive. The lone(prenominal) achievement of the Rajiv-Ershad talks was the setting up of a task get out co-chaired by the concerned secretaries of water resources in the two countries to deliberate upon short and long term measures. The 1985 MoU expired in November 1988 with the Indian government deciding against telephone extension of the agreement on sharing of waters during the lean period .1215. In 1991 some in embodimental discussions took place betwixt Bangladesh and India. In May 1992, 1993 and 1995 it was discussed at summit level. For various reasons, mainly since the situation had become more complicated with the passage of time, the negotiations failed to achieve any impetus, unfortunately to Bangladeshs detriment. This situation dragged on further, until 1995 with increasingly uncomely consequences for Bangladesh. During the SAARC summit at New Delhi in May 1995, the then Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India, directed their respective foreign secretaries to commence talks immediately and break the cul de sac in the resolution of this long festering problem. During the Indian Foreign Secretarys visit to Bangladesh in June 1995, it was agreed that a permanent sharing deal on the rear of existing dry season flow in the Ganges without involving it to the augmentation factor, may be worked out. It was further decided upon that sharing of other common rivers may also be deliberated upon on long term basis. However, no progress was made thereafter due to political uncertainties in both countries and a period of stand ensured virtually no high-level contacts between the two countries. The political swing in both the countri es in mid-1996 seemed to eat up paved the way for a permanent solution.16. In May 1996 the United Front-led coalition government came to power in India with Mr HD Deve Gowda as Prime Minister. In Bangladesh a month later the Awami League was voted hold to power with Sheikh Hasina becoming the Prime Minister. These two developments, happening al near simultaneously, was the turning point for both the countries. Serious discussions for arriving at a solution began solo after this change of governments. Both the sides realised the exigency of the matter and conveyed to each other their political obligation to address and resolve the issue. Both governments also overlap the perception that it was necessary to come to an agreement within the year before the commencement of the next dry season. During the Bangladesh Foreign Secretarys visit to India in August 1996, the Indian Prime Minister said that his government was very keen to see the problem resolved within the shortest possible time. In September 1996 when the Indian outside Affairs Minister visited Bangladesh, the two sides had detailed talks on sharing of the Ganges water. This was followed soon by the visit of the Bangladesh Minister for Water Resources from October 28 to initiative November 1996. Later, from 9th to 13th November 1996 the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh visited India for working out the final modalities. The joint efforts of the governments of Bangladesh and India to reach at an agreeable resolution of the difficult issue of Ganges water sharing received a boost during the visit of Mr Jyoti Basu ,Chief Minister of West Bengal to Bangladesh. This round of talks was of vital importance as they narrowed the differences to bridgeable goal .THE GANGES RIVER WATER TREATY17. After a great deal of political negotiations and numerous rounds of high level talks Bangladesh and India signed a past 30-year accord on sharing the Ganges water on 12 December 1996 opening a new era in relations betw een the two neighbours. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Indian Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda at New Delhi signed the landmark treaty. The treaty was based on the determine of equality and fairplay, taking into account the interests of both nations.Major features of the treaty are -(a) It will be open to both parties to seek the first review after two years to asses the daze and working of the sharing arrangement as contained in the treaty.(b) The quantum of water to be released by India to Bangladesh will be at Farakka.(c) The sharing will be in ten-day periods from January 1 to May 31 every year.(d) The sharing of the waters will be on 50-50 basis when availability at Farakka is 70,000 cusecs or less.(e) Bangladesh will get 35,000 cusecs and India the balance of flow if the availability at Farakka is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs.(f) In case of availability of 75,000 cusecs or more, India will receive 40,000 cusecs and Bangladesh the rest.(g) During the most cri tical month of April, Bangladesh to get a guaranteed flow of 35,000 cusecs in the first and last ten days of April and 27,633 cusecs during the period 11-20 April.(h) If water flow at Farakka waterfall below 50,000 cusecs in any 10-day period, the two governments will enter into immediate consultations to make necessary adjustments on an emergency basis.(j) India shall release downstream of Farakka Barrage water at a rate not less than 90 percent of Bangladeshs share till such time the mutually agreed flows are decided upon.(k) The water released to Bangladesh at Farakka shall not be reduced below Farakka except for reasonable uses of water, not exceeding 200 cusecs, by India between Farakka and the point on the Ganges where both its banks are in Bangladesh.(l) A Joint Committee consisting of equal number of re rescueatives of the two countries shall set up suitable teams at Farakka and Hardinge tie to observe and record at Farakka Barrage, the Feeder Canal, the Navigation Lock, an d at the Hardinge Bridge.(m) The Joint Committee shall submit to the two governments all data collected by it and shall also submit a yearly report to both the governments. Following the submission of the reports the two governments will meet at the appropriate levels to decide upon such further actions as may be needed.(n) The sharing agreement under this treaty shall be reviewed by the two governments at five years interval or earlier, as required by either party.18. Under the treaty Indias total share during the lean season (1st Jan to 31st May) amounts to about 48% of the total availability, as against 52% for Bangladesh. The schedule also specifies the three ten-day periods during which 35,000 cusecs shall be provided, alternately, to each of the two countries. For Bangladesh it was March 11-20, April1-10 and 21 to 30, and for India the dates were March 21 to 30, April 11 to 20 and May 1 to 10. The period from March 11 to May 10 is considered the critical period of the lean sea son as the flow of the Ganges is usually the lowest of the lean season. The agreement was arrived on the basis of the average availability of water between 1949 and 1988. India has guaranteed in the treaty that every effort would be made to protect flow availability. The major aspects of the treaty are-Availability at Farakka Share of India Share of Bangladesh70,000 cusecs or less 50 % 50 %70,000 75,000 cusecs Balance of flow 35,000 cusecs75,000 cusecs or more 40,000 cusecs Balance of flow19. The discrepancy over augmentation, which had led to an impasse in the past, has been side stepped as the treaty is in essence regarding the sharing of lean-season flows. Though the present treaty does not include a minimum guarantee but has several scattered provisions which provide a measure of security to Bangladesh. The water treaty has already improved the bilateral relations radically. However the effects of construction of the barrage and diversion of water was felt by both countries. So me of the major effects in Bangladesh were -(a) Reduction in scrape up and background knowledge water levels. The reduction of dry season (January-May) natural flows in the Ganges in Bangladesh reduced the hydraulic efficiency of the channel to such a degree that even during high flows in monsoons the progressive degradation of the channel and its hydraulic characteristics be unchecked. An inevitable consequence of water reduction in the river channels is decrease in the amount of soil moisture and ground water resources.(b) Channel morphology of the river. The channel morphology of the Ganges and its distributaries has also been affected since the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage. The Farakka Barrage included several high velocity sluices, known as silt excluders, which were intended to allow silt to flow down the Ganges. The barrage was designed so that silt-free water would be diverted down the Bhagirothi-Hooghly and the sediment load would be carried by the remaining flo w on that river into Bangladesh and the sea. This deposition of silt has changed the flow of the river in Bangladesh.(c) Navigation aspects. Since the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage, in 1975, several waterways, which are dependent on the Ganges, flows have been severely affected. A total of 685 km of waterways that were negotiable during the pre-diversion period have been affected. In little more than a decade, several valuable routes open to mechanized vessels had to be abandoned. Farakka did have a damaging effect and that serious interruption of the inland navigation was caused by withdrawal of Ganges water by India.(d) Incr in levels of salinity of ground and surface water. The most devastating effect of the diversion of Ganges water has been the marked increase in salinity, in both surface water and ground water, resulting in higher soil salinity in the southwest region of Bangladesh. The increased salinity was totally explainable in the light of the increased withdrawa l of the Ganges water. This has had a disastrous effect on the agricultural output as well as the eco-system.(e) Agriculture. For Bangladesh, the reduced flow of the Ganges has had both immediate and long-term effects including lower agricultural and industrial takingss, depletion of ground water reserves, depletion of soil moisture and changes in the soil structure. Agriculture being the foundation of economy in Bangladesh, expansion of irrigation facilities in the area served by the Ganges has suffered grave setbacks that retarded growth in agricultural sector.(f) Fisheries. In Bangladesh, fishery ranks next to agriculture in economic importance. With the altered flow pattern in the rivers, the bionomical characteristics positive for fish breeding grounds have also changed. Fishery has suffered, especially in the southwest Bangladesh, from reduced flow due to a combination of the following factors(i) Decline of perennial wetland area.(ii) Conversion of perennial wetlands into se asonal worker water bodies.(iii) Drying up of seasonal water bodies.(iv) Prevention of spawning migration.(g) Forest cover and environmental issues. Another devastating effect of increased salinity has been witnessed in the forestry sector. The main species of tree in this forest is Sundri (accounts for 60% of the marketable timber), does not have adaptive tolerance to high salinity. Thus the northward incursion of salinity previous has begun to show a declining trend in the Sundri yield.19(h) Public health. Last, but not the least, is the concern about adverse effect in the health sector. The changed ecological situation has augmented the potential for the breeding of numerous disease vectors, and thus, health and sanitary conditions have become more perilous. Not only have unspoilt insobriety water supplies diminished on account of a fall in ground water levels, increased salinity and the worsening of the quality of ground water itself have caused a rise in the occurrence of va rious enteric diseases in the area.TIPAIMUKH DAM20. The construction of the Tipaimukh Dam on the Barak river in Manipur is another(prenominal) matter of concern which has emerged lately. The Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric advise is planned to be constructed near the confluence of Barak and Tuivai Rivers in Manipur . It will have generation faculty of 401.25 MW. The main objective is to generate 1500 MW hydropower and flood control of an area of 2039 sq km. The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) was slated to undertake the project with Manipur Govt till replaced by matter Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). The concerns were that the project might eat up Bangladeshs share of the international River Meghna which supplies water to hundreds of water bodies in the region. There were also concerns some of the major rivers in Bangladesh would dry up especially during the lean season.21. The Tipaimukh Dam is not a recent happening as the first international cong regation on it was held way back in December 2005 had decided against the project. The concerns in Bangladesh are based on their sour experience of severe20water shortage and many-sided impacts after Farakka Barrage was commissioned. Concerns raised include confounding environmental degradation, monetary dilemma and hydrological drought. The dam would seriously restrict flow into Surma and Kushyara rivers disrupting agriculture, irrigation, imbibing water supply, navigation etc and reduce ground water recharge during lean season, affecting all dug and shallow tube wells. Bangladesh gets 7-8% of its water from the Barak River. The Surma and Kushyara rivers with its various tributaries and distributaries support, irrigation, agriculture, fisheries , drinking water supply, navigation, wildlife in the complete Sylhet and the peripheral areas of Dhaka. The dam would also leave millions unemployed with the drying up of the rivers. Millions of muckle are dependent on the water bodies wh ich are fed by the Barak in Sylhet region for fishing, agriculture and other associated activities. The Barak-Surma-Kushyara is an international river and Bangladesh as a lower riparian country has rights over any finding of fact over the river .22. In Manipur, where the dam is to be constructed, the concerns are varied and based on three aspects. The first is the direct effect of displacement, loss of biodiversity, social and environmental impacts. The second aspect is the procedural lapses, lack of a holistic impact evaluation and limitations of developmental and ecological rules, frail enforcement mechanisms and lack of accountability norms . Lastly, the ambiguous benefits to the people of Manipur and nuances based on painful experiences from related projects such as NHPCs 105 MW Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project (NHPC) . This project is responsible for ruining the Loktak wetlands flora and fauna, submerge vast area of agricultural land, loss of species and iability to rehabilitate thousands of affected people even after almost21three decades of project commissioning in 1984. The Zeliangrong and Hmar tribes will face permanent displacement and deprivation of livelihood. Official figures state that 1,461 Hmar families will face direct displacement due to the project. The area selected for the project has preserve at least two major earthquakes of 8+ in the Richter scale during the past 50 years. The dam is proposed to be built in one of the most geologically unstable area and falls on a potential epicentre for major earthquake.23. The Indian Govts reply to Bangladesh concerns has long been a state of denial. The Indian High Commissioners statement of absence of an international law that would prevent India from constructing the dam and that Bangladeshs concerns are based on ignorance provoked a strong resentment in Bangladesh. Experts counter reacted to his speech as totally flawed in view of the standing of the 1996 Indo-Bangladesh Ganges Water T reaty and the applicability of the 1997 UN run into on the righteousness of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. Bangladesh experts have concurred that it is not yet binding as an international treaty law. However there is every reason to dispute as the Convention was adopted by a vote of 103 3 in the UN General Assembly and is valid as international customary law to Tipaimukh dam or any other project on shared rivers .24. Diplomatic rendezvous between India and Bangladesh over the dam have been going on, latest being the meeting of the Prime Ministers at NAM summit in Egypt . The past understanding of efforts to resolve water disputes between the two countries, such as the Ganges Water sharing treaty, 1996 and setting up of Teesta22River Commission, 1997 etc, indicates likelihood of the two countries heading for establishing dialogue to resolve the differences. The resolution of this issue seriously needs a joint, comprehensive and benevolent rights based appro ach to growth and understanding the concerns recognized rights of all affected peoples. Bangladesh Govts statement of sending an all-party parliamentary committee to visit the dam site in end July 2009 and review the dams impact will be a precise step if it forms the basis for an complete process to carry out thorough impact appraisal of the dam based on recommendations of World Commission on Dams, 2000 and other appropriate Intl law on transboundary waters. The visit can be a good foundation for a multilateral approach in addressing Tipaimukh Dam issues.25. India should desist from constructing the dam to avoid multidimensional conflicts and snags as the project itself is potentially overriding for causing conflicts amid states, between state and native people. Manipur is already rife with movements for right to self determination and any forced construction of Tipaimukh dam will only legitimize their movement to protect their land and assets. The the Govt of Manipur and NEEPCO m ust annul the MoU on Tipaimukh dam project signed in 2003 and commence an all-inclusive process for a just decision making process .23TEESTA RIVER.26. Teesta is the fourth major trans-boundary river in Bangladesh. Upstream inflow in this river provides the primary support to agricultural production in the Teesta River floodplain (TRF) in the northwest region of the country. Bangladesh constructed a barrage in 1990 to provide irrigation water for crop production in the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) area. India also constructed a barrage on this river upstream. TBP commenced operation with partial conveyance infrastructure in 1993. The project was designed to be implemented in two phases. The phase 1 has been finished in 1998. A case study in the TBP area indicates that irrigation water supply significantly increases farm incomes. This has augmented irrigation water demands. However, one-sided withdrawal of water in India upstream, restricts irrigation water availability in the TBP ar ea. Consequently, water sharing with India is critical in achieving food safety measures and sustainable brisk in Bangladesh.27. The River Teesta or Tista is thought to be the lifeline of the state of Sikkim . It flows for more or less the complete span of the state and carves out the lush Himalayan moderate and tropical river valleys. The river then forms the boundary between Sikkim and West Bengal before it joins the Brahmaputra as a tributary in Bangladesh. Total length of the river is 315 km. The river traverses 97 km in Indian plains before entering the extreme northwest region of Bangladesh. It flows around 124 km in Bangladesh and joins Brahmaputra River. The Teesta River enters Bangladesh near Nilphamari region and flows for 45 km through the rice producingt districts of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha and thereafter the Brahmaputra River in Kurigram. The Teesta River Floodplain (TRF), which encompasses the farthest northwest region of the country, accounts for 14% of th e total agricultural24area in 2001. In addition, it supports more or less 8.5% of the total population. About 63% of the total crop area in the region is irrigated, signifying a direct relationship between irrigation water availability and work land use. At present, the TRF and the area left of the Ganges River is considered to be a arid zone .28. The TRF is predominantly reliant on transboundary inflow for supply and managing the water resources and agricultural production. The Teesta barrage at Gazoldoba in India controls the water flow into Bangladesh. In order to augment the irrigation potential of the northwest region, Bangladesh constructed a barrage called the the Dalia barrage in Lalmonirhat district to provide irrigation water from the river by means of a canal system. During the dry season, control of the river water at Gazoldoba renders the Dalia Barrage literally ineffective for diversion of water due to low flows. Furthermore, abrupt release of excessive water during rainy season causes floods, bank erosion and damages massive amounts of crops downstream. Steps need to be taken to study the water flow at both Gazoldoba and Dalia in order to handle high and low water flows and lessen losses .29. Bangladesh wants to divide the water at 5050 ratio at the Indian barrage in order to have an insure supply of half of the water all through the dry season. The proposition also considers keeping 20% of the water for ecological flow. In other rowing the draft planned that Bangladesh and India would each get 40% water and 20% would go to Bay of Bengal (via Brahmaputra) for maintaining the waterway. India however proposes keeping only 10% for the river. Moreover, India wants other25factors to be considered before distributing water of this river. In case of Teesta, 85% of the agricultural land served by the river is in India and the balance 15% in Bangladesh. India wants water to be split in that proportion. The ratio of catchment area is an additional p oint mentioned in the disagreement.30. The International Convention and India-Bangladesh treaty of 1996 suggests the fact that river water allocation should be impartial. An important thing to bear in mind is that impartiality does not mean equal sharing. For example, the Indus water treaty allows India to make use of approximately 20% of the water as the area under irrigation and population dependent on it are approximately in that ratio. It is a case of unbiased sharing of water resource. However if the water of Brahmaputra is divided at 5050, it wont be an equitable sharing as Bangladesh is tremendously reliant on it. The factors of equity are- cipherBangladeshIndiaPopulation in Catchment76209138028752Catchment Area2071 sq km12650s kmCatchment Irrigable Area2071 sq km2970 sq kmPopulation in Irrigable area76209137488259GeographyPlainsPlains and hillyArea soon under irrigation111,000 hectare527,000 hectareTarget area750,000 hectare922,000 hectare31. As future water demand is expec ted to rise drastically in both countries, water sharing will play a decisive role in managing water resources. Any unilateral basin shift of the river water in future will take advantage on Bangladesh in terms of lesser availability of water downstream. This is likely to affect not just food security but also freeze any future planning of agriculture in Bangladesh. In future, water-related disputes are expected to surface recurrently unless necessary steps are taken. Any form of variance over water property will dissipate time and resources. A bilateral collaboration on water sharing alone is unbelievable to provide solutions to the live water problems. India and Bangladesh must commence joint initiatives to construct reservoirs in India and within Bangladesh to store excess water in the rainy season for use during the dry season. An integrated flood management program has to be designed and executed during the rainy season when there is a higher relative incidence of normal an d flash floods. An encouraging step in this direction has been taken with India assenting to share flood projection data on a continual basis thus extending the lead time for flood warning to more than 57 hours. This needs to incorporate the Teesta River exclusively to avert economic damage to crops and livelihoods . other PROJECTS32. Two mega projects on the Dihang (also known as the Siang river) the main tributary of Brahmaputra and on the Subansiri river in Arunachal Pradesh. These have further alleviated qualms of reduced water flow to Bangladesh.33. . The Siang f number HE Project is a colossal 11000 MW project to be built on the Siang River in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Middle and Lower Siang Hydel projects with 750 mw and 1700 mw power generating capacity are the other dams intended over the same river. The 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric project is an additional mega dam over River Subansiri, a key tributary of Brahmaputra River. former(a) dams ove r the tributaries of Brahmaputra includes the Ranganadi I and II (450 and 150 mw respectively), Kameng (600 mw), 3000 MW Dibang HE project . The construction of a series of dams over Siang River and its tributaries will further aggravate the water predicament and linked problems in Assam and Bangladesh.

Marketing analysis of Taylors Education Group

marketing analysis of Taylors precept conclaveTaylors learning Group has been a phratry name in Malaysia for four decades known for producing whole-rounded graduates with on-hand work experience which provide enable them to be competitive and assertive in the working surroundings. Taylors has contributed actually much to Malaysias economic prosperity seeing as Taylors is expanding non yet domestically but as well inter contently. Taylors started with humble beginnings, with only a small lug in Jalan Pantai, Kuala Lumpur offering only one program. Today, Taylors has 5 campuses including the very recently established Taylors lakeshore Campus which offers a multitude of courses which comprises of diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Apart from that, Taylors 10 year complaint is to be nonplus a university of 20,000 students renowned for its teaching worth and the distinctive calibre of its graduates. At the rate Taylors is growing, there is no doubt that mis sion send packing be accomplished in 5 days let alone 10 years. Taylors force-outive mission statement, Wisdom. Integrity. Excellence is undoubtedly one of the reasons wherefore many students ar attracted to this directional asylum. Taylors mission statement positions students to think of Taylors as a premium and exclusive facts of lifeal institution that offers excellent pedagogics lumber while inculcating discipline at the same time. Taylors core purpose to educate the youth of the world to take their carrefourive places as leaders in the global community also plays an important role in drawing students into the educational institution. In addition to that, Taylors also promises 5 core prises in all of their programs. Firstly, Taylors believes in Respecting and caring for each other. Taylors promises to create an environment where everyone is appreciated disregarding personal, cultural, racial or religion differences. Taylors does this by providing a safe place to d raw out your opinions. Besides that, exercising responsibility will also be encouraged. The efforts of individuals and groups will also be recognized and respected. Secondly, Taylors also believes in Being dedicated to a culture of excellence. Taylors will systematically and purposefully do the best they butt end to achieve their organizational goals. Thus, Taylors will unceasingly look for methods to meliorate themselves through continual learning and adopting methods which will contribute to Taylors long term objectives and goals. Thirdly, Taylors also believes in Openness in communication. Taylors publicizes be honest in daily exchanges, and if this is done in a kind and respectful manner, trust and understanding will be demonstrable. Fourthly, Taylors believes in Acting with integrity. Taylors will obey the codes of conduct and be ethical in their daily processes to pass on a culture of openness within the organization and society at large. Fifthly, Taylors also believe i n Being passionate in what we do. Taylors believes by doing things passionately, it will inspire others to want to do better. Lastly, Taylors believes in Creating enjoyable environments. This assignment is main(prenominal)ly to study the Taylors education group, in terms of how they market their programs and education. The main focus in this assignment is the newly built Taylors Lakeside Campus. From here, well analyze how the Taylors education group has successfully turned this project into a salient profit make campus. This assignment will study their marketing strategies by analyzing the companys strengths, weaknesses, opportunities threats (SWOT Analysis), the companys variance and pose strategy and the companys marketing mix. Well also provide recommendations to reform their marketing strategies at the Taylors Lakeside Campus towards the end of this assignment.SWOT AnalysisThe two types of internal factors that affect the company to reach its objective ar strengths and weaknesses. Firstly, the strength of Taylors college is it has a strong background and a history of 42 years. The forty two years of history include proven experience in university level education and training with growing emphasis on research to further enhance the forest of the university. This bottomland be proven by the recognition from Ministry of Higher Education with the prestigious Excellence in Research and Development award 2005/06. Taylors University had developed a strong brand name and springs an increase in market apportion and brand equity. It has a famous catchword that is Wisdom, Integrity, Excellence. Taylors Universitys drive for wisdom, quest for integrity and thirst for excellence made it become a famous academic institution and is able to deliver a risque quality education. Besides that, the strength of Taylors university is it offers a variety of high comfort and quality national recognized programs. The university offers architecture, design, bioscience s, business, communication, IT, engineering, hospitality, truth and medicine program. The academic activities adapted to the to a greater extent recent socio-economic trends resulting in the development of a broad range of courses. The variety program that Taylors University provided proven that it is a hefty one stop education organization. The linking arrangement with foreign universities ensures the quality assurance of the courses and examinations. more(prenominal)over, the high development in teaching and learning skills ar the strength of Taylors university. The brass of Integrated Teaching and Life-long Learning Center at Taylors (InTeLLeCT) is to ensure the provision of relevant, innovative, and excellent learning experiences at Taylors. It creates learning experience through excellent teaching, capital academic student book initiatives, and an innovative and technology-driven learning environment. (Taylors University 2011) By investing in InTeLLect, it ensures the c ontinuous improvement of human resources by creating an experienced academic and support staff to educate much quality students. The high quality lecturers can be proved by one of the lecturers from the School of Engineering Dr TVN Padmesh for being awarded with the small Scientist Paper Award 5th International Conference of Environmental Science and Technology 2010 in Texas, USA from July 12-16. In addition, geographical location and comfortable campus environment also adds to the strength of Taylors University. Taylors University is located at Subang Jaya and there are high amount of population and fast uprising developments. It is well connected to the cities of Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam and the townships of Petaling Jaya therefore it is a good location. Taylors university offers the best campus environment and provide the best facilities among the competitors. The facilities provided are new and comprehensive, an example of facilities that is provided is the library, sports and recreation centre, hostel, lecture theatres, student central, sick bay, experiment labs and food court. (Taylors 2011)On the other hand, the weakness of Taylors University is it is charging a high(prenominal) harm than others competitor in the education market. For example, Taylors university is charging double the price of Help University College for the business program. The higher(prenominal) price rouse sometimes will affect the consumer decision to choose Taylors university and unsatisfied consumers may end up going to other universities. Taylors university must ensure that the price supercharged should create superior take to be and provide value-added services to the consumer. Besides that, the weakness of the university is the choices of twinning program that it offers are limited. For example, Help University College is the biggest competitor at this point because it offers more university choices and has better partner in crime universities. Taylors university shoul d improve the choices for partner universities to gain its market share.The two types of external factors that affect the company to reach its objective are opportunities and threats. The opportunity of Taylors university is there is an increase in the awareness of the importance in attaining tertiary education. Nowadays, most organisations are hiring employees with either a diploma or a bachs degree. Therefore, this encourages Malaysian parents to finance their childrens education to get at least a Bachelors degree for a better career. Besides that, Malaysia acts as one of the world excellence centre for education had created an opportunities for the university by an increases in international student. It is estimated that there are about 70,000 international students from more than 100 countries currently studying in earth and private higher education institutions in Malaysia. (Study in Malaysia Handbook 2011) Malaysia is a diverse country with rapid economic development, stable politic, disaster free and it offers an affordable cost to the international student for higher education opportunities will attract more international student in the future. Taylors university can consider providing more choices for world best partner university to increase its opportunity by increase competitiveness and grow its market share.The threat of Taylors university is it facing the increasing size of its competitor. For example, to cope with the increasing demand for quality education in the region, HELP University College will be opening a new state of the art Green Technology Campus in Subang 2 The campus is 600,000 sq ft and it is strategically located between Kota Damansara, Subang, Sungai Buloh, and Shah Alam. Due to the increase awareness of public to prevent and preserve the environment, HELP University College new campus will attract more forethought from the public. By improving the facilities of Help University College in the new campus, providing a better par tner university choice and offer a lower prising education, Taylors university will faces a higher competition. (HELP International Corporation 2008)Direct competitors are firms that offer products and services that are functionally the same. The direct competitors of Taylors university are those private university college and college for example HELP University College, INTI University College, Sunway University College, and KDU College. Those University and college offer the exchangeable courses and the differences between them is the brand familiarity and the quality of education provided. Taylors University branding themselves by providing quality education, good campus environment and good facilities direct made differences between itself with other brands. The particular value that Taylors provide causes a higher price charge for the program. Taylors university have to ensure that they will deliver what they had promised the consumer to gain market share and create client s atisfaction for building guest relationship.An indirect competitor is the businesses that are offering close substitutes products and services. These competitors are probably targeting the markets with a same or similar value proposition, but delivering a diametric product. The indirect competitors of Taylors university are the governments higher education institutions such as polytechnics, teacher training colleges, community colleges, Public college and Public universities. some(a) examples of these institutions are TAR College, University Malaya, and Politeknik Port Dickson(PPD). The public system has become competitor because the number of public universities and community colleges is increasing. The cost of studying in a public university is cheaper because 90% of the public universities funding came from Malaysian Government and the balance 10% is from student fees. (MoHE 2008)Segmentation Positioning StrategyPie Chart 1.1The pie chart shows the Malaysian household periodi cal income distribution. The information is sourced from MP Amirshams reply to Dr Michael J Devarajs question during a parliament assembly in July 2008.Demographic factors are the most popular bases for particleing node groups. One reason is that customer usage rates, expects and wants always very closely with demographic variables. Besides, demographic variables are easier to measure than other types of variables. Therefore, demographic segmentation is used in this assignment which divides the market into groups based on income for education in Taylor University Lakeside. The three market segments which relevant are low-income, medium-income and high-income.INCOME SEGMENTATIONLow-income segment (households monthly income RM4-5k)Medium-income segment (households monthly income RM5-10k)High-income segment (households monthly income RM10k)Firstly, low-income segment indicates the households monthly income between RM4000 and RM5000. The people from this segment only able to pursue t he education provided by national university or governments subsidy universities. Their families cannot afford the expensive knowledge fees because they have to spend the money in their daily expenses. Secondly, medium-income segment indicates households monthly income between RM5000 and RM10000. The people from this segment able to pursue the education provided by private universities in the country such as Taylor University and Sunway University. The standard of living is higher, so they willing to spend more money in education. Thirdly, high-income segment indicates the households monthly income more than RM10000. The people from this segment normally will send their children to foreign country for world-class education in United Kingdom or Australia. They totally have to power to cover the expensive living costs and tuition fees of their children at overseas.Taylors Education Group targets affluence customers which are under medium-income segment with high quality facilities a nd services. This is because customers from medium-income segment have the right size and growth characteristics. Generally, the customers from this segment plan to study locally. With the approximately RM96000 of households y other(a) income, people will choose to study at private college in the country.Local private colleges and universities find it easy to choose a differentiation and place strategy. In several cases, two or more competitors will go after the same position. Therefore, each of them will have to find its ways to confine itself apart. For instance, Taylor University, Sunway University and Help University put in a lot of effort to decide on a value proposition. Therefore, Taylors Education Group well known for quality in certain segments differentiates itself by the outstanding image, service and slogan. The slogan had successfully been used to communicate with the consumers by sending the message of value and promises that the university will deliver. The slogan of Taylors university had effectively create differentiation between its competitor and position itself as providing superior customer value and leads to the gain of competitive advantage.Furthermore, Taylor goes for more for more positioning strategy. More for more positioning involves providing the most classy services, products and changing a higher price to balance the higher costs. Taylors Education Group differentiates its offer by invested at least RM450 million to build a unique lakeside campus that appeal to people from the medium-income segment. Taylors study environment and facilities are way better than its competitors. Taylors Lakeside Campus is a state-of-the-art modern tropical university campus, designed to meet the needs of students and in line with the nations goal of becoming a local centre of education excellence. The campus is surrounded by a revived 5.5 acre human-made lake and its landscape made up of trees, groundcovers, flowering shrubs, and water plants, wh ich provide a stimulating and rich natural environment.In contrast, compared to Help University College, who using the same for slight positioning strategy just to offer a great deal to everyone. By offering this positioning strategy, customers will tend to join Help University College due to the affordable tuition fee. However, the low-prices brand in an effort to lure customers away from market leader. Because of the low cost operations, the buildings and campuses separated and students have to take the shuttle bus to reach specific building for classes. This action brings a lot of inconvenient to customers and triggers them from joining. Customers from medium-income segment normally will heed for the university that fulfil a minimum requirements such as everything in one campus and safety. Besides, high quality study environment and facilities will also make customers chase for it.By offering high quality education and services, Taylors Education Group hopes for higher sales and stronger position within targeted market segment. The lakeside campus successfully developed a stronger position and creates more total sales than its competitors. Although its overall tuition fee above RM18000 per year, compare to other colleges is much more expensive, but customers are still willing to study in this university. As a result, Taylor Lakeside Campus gets a more stable, much greater market share than other college could. Taylors Education Group planned positions that give their services the greatest advantage in selected target markets, served the preferences and needs of well-defined targets markets and yet succeeds because it just meet the right value proposition.Taylor provided impressive and comfortable 4-storey library, retail Podium, Experimental Theatre, 600-pax Auditorium, 300-pax Lecture Theatre and outdoor Amphitheatre. The 4-storey library is so amazing, packed with different computers, facilities and resources. There are also different types of closed study room and discussion rooms in the library which allows students to have discussions among their friends without interrupting other students in the library. Besides, the Retail Podium is where inter-connecting streets lead to banks, cafes, convenience stores, shops and an roam of service amenities. Everything of this made Taylor Lakeside campus so outstanding compared to others. In conclusion, the More for More positioning strategy totally more successful compared to The Same for Less.Marketing Mix (4Ps) Analysis harvest-tideThe main product that Taylors University offers is in a form of service in which they provide education in return for tuition fees. However, there are also other products that the Taylors education group offers which include adaption and basic necessities such as food and drinks which is provided by the campuss cafeteria and restaurants around the campus. The product that the Taylors education group provides is one of the reasons to the new Taylors Lakeside campuss success. Firstly, Taylors University has provided potential students with many choices of programs which include a variety of pre-university programs, a range of bachelors degree programs and also a PhD program in business administration. With a mixture of so many different courses, students who are seeking a tertiary education would find Taylors as a potential institution to further their studies. It is also important that we recognize the programs Taylors University offers are programs which are popular among todays students and also in demand among parents. With a gang of providing a wide-range of education programs along with programs which are popular, Taylors have found the perfect product that it can offer to the education market.Another type of product that Taylors University offers is the accommodation and dining service. With the presence of a student hostel located next to its main campus, students who are from overseas or a different state need not worry for a place to stay, or for transportation as the campus is only a walking length away. Not to forget, the many different restaurants and also the cafeteria that is located right at the student hostel. This is one of the advantages the Taylors Lakeside campus has over its competitors, students who study at Taylors need not go a long distance in order to search for good and quality food. With the convenience that is provided by Taylors University, many students find themselves attracted to its product.The campuss structural design has also gained much attention from both prospective students and also parents. Investments made for its attractive architecture has definitely made an impact on the success of this campus. In a survey our group did, we have found that 50 percent of students were initially attracted to study at this new campus due to its attractive design.PriceOn average, to complete a bachelors degree at Taylors University could cost up to RM80, 000. This price of course varies depending on the course the student engaged in. Here, we will concentrate on the pricing strategies that Taylors University had used for a bachelor of business degree. At Taylors University, to complete a 3 year bachelor of business program would cost an average of RM80, 000. This fee is arguably rather high for a university in Malaysia. When compared to HELP University College, the price to complete a 3 year bachelor of business program is two times higher of that of HELPs. It only cost up to RM40, 000 in order to obtain a business degree at HELP University College. So why is it that Taylors University is making much higher profits compared to HELP University College? The react is simple, the target market are of those among the medium income segment. From pie chart 1.1, it can be seen that 20.7 % of Malaysians are either in the medium-income segment or the high-income segment. For parents or guardians earning more than RM5, 000 a month, it would not be much of a problem to affor d to send their child to complete their studies at Taylors University, provided that they have straightlaced financial management. However, people may question to why parents send their child to Taylors University when they can save the money and send their child to a different university. The answer again is simple parents want their best for their children. Most parents who are in between the medium-income segment and the high-income segment would not hesitate to send their child to a more renowned University provided that it has quality education, a superior campus and also a convenient location. showTaylors main campus is located in a location that is hearty to target market. It is strategically located in the urban areas of Subang Jaya which is well known as a student hub consistent of all types of household such as average and above average income household. It is also well linked with other township such as Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Klang making it a wel l accessible educational institution for students to pursue their studies. On the other hand it is located thirty minutes away from Kuala Lumpur which is the capital city of Malaysia. In addition Subang Jaya is linked by highways for example Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong and Federal Highway allowing students who does not live in Subang Jaya reaching the campus much easier.PromotionTaylors uses several promotion tools to persuasively communicate customer value and build customer relationship. One of the tools is advertising. Taylors does their promotion through major media types such as television, newspaper, direct mail magazines, radio and the internet through websites such as facebook twitter, youtube and their very own Taylors website. Another promotion tool that Taylors uses is sales promotion. Taylors encourages purchases of their product by offering discounts such as early birds discount for consumers who register early or pay their fees early. Another discount is children and s iblings discount for those who have other siblings studying in the same institution. Other incentives are scholarship such as top achiever scholarship which is based on SPM results. Another promotion tool used is building good public relations. Taylors sponsors events such as sports competition, jack ladder events to build their image in the public. Other than that Taylors uses other public relation tools such as news and written materials to promote their product, facilities and so on. For example Taylors promote the beauty of their new lakeside campus and the facility it provides in a magazine. The last promotion tool that Taylors use is personal selling. Taylors uses sales person such as consultants and counselors to promote their product and build customer relationship through personal interaction. Taylors present their sales by giving a presentation of the products offered at Taylors in events such as career day and Taylors open day. Another example is Taylors sending some sal es people to high schools to promote their product and to build long term customer relationship with students who are soon taking their SPM and to those who havent decided what they want to do after they finish their secondary school education.RecommendationsProductOne way to improve the product Taylors University provides to students is to provide more parking spaces for students who drive to the campus. Based on our observation and research, we have found that many students are unhappy with the parking system and lack of parking spaces enforce by Taylors University. Some have even threatened to leave if a solution is not found. To avoid a bad reputation and a loss of consumer confidence, it is important that they construct more parking lots or change their parking systems. However, a cheaper and more convenient way for the company is to adjust students timetables in order to make the campus less crowded at certain times. For example, the management at Taylors University can move m ore morning classes into the afternoon in order to avoid over-packed parking slots during the morning.PriceA pricing strategy that we would recommend is to provide more student aid for programs which are less popular among students and parents. The student aid would be for those who are not able to afford the entire tuition fees imposed by Taylors University. This way, the company will also benefit from less popular programs as parents from lower-income segments will also be able to afford to send their children for these less popular programs.. From the way we see it, the Taylors Lakeside campus has been profiting huge amounts of money from student fees due to the crowded campus, therefore, we would not recommend a change in price of student fees in order to avoid a congested campus which may deteriorate its quality. An increase in price of student fees may well cause Taylors University to lose its main target segment which are the medium-income earners as for most of them, the pri ce is just right. It may however not have much effect on the high-income earners as it is still affordable for most of them. Also, reducing the price by a fair amount may cause more low-income earners to send their children to Taylors University to further their education. This would cause the campus to be overcrowded which may in turn decline the campuss quality. Therefore, the only recommendation we have is for Taylors University to provide more student aid for programs which are less popular among students and parents. However, Taylors Education Group is a private limited company which therefore inhibits us from viewing their financial statements which may prove our judgements wrong.PlaceIn order to improve its placing Taylors would need to built more campuses in much more strategic locations in order to make its product easily accessible. Kota Damansara and Puchong are some of the examples of strategic locations. Other than building more campuses, Taylors can build more campuses that offers tertiary educations. Right now the only place students can undergo their tertiary education is at Taylors main campus. To have more campuses that offers the same tertiary education would improve its placing.PromotionOn the other hand, to improve its promotion, Taylors can increase its outside sales force. Taylors can do house to house personal selling by sending sales consultants to houses. Instead of the customers come to Taylors, Taylors can go to their potential customers. This introduces a much more personal interaction between the two or more people. Customers will feel much more relax to express their need since they are in their own house. Consultants will be able to observe and make quick adjustments to solve customer problems. Another advantage of doing this house to house personal selling is it can build a much better customer relationship. Another Taylors can do is to improve its promotion is by providing much stronger incentives by offering promotional tools such as premiums or patronage rewards. For example Taylors offered Ali cash reward for being a loyal consumer by studying in their institution for three years.ConclusionThe Taylors Lakeside Campus is currently becoming more and more popular. Due to the rising competition from other educational institutions such as HELP University College and Sunway University College, Taylors Lakeside Campus has to constantly strive to distinguish themselves from other educational institutions. Taylors being a known educational institution for over four decades certainly has its advantages. This gives a perception to people that Taylors is a well-established educational institution on the basis of the amount of years it has been running. Thus, Taylors is able to use this opportunity to charge a higher price compared to other local universities. However, Taylors must deliver the peoples moneys worth through academic excellence and by providing a conducive environment. Take for instance Taylors Lake side Campus. Taylors Lakeside Campus still manages to draw many students despite the expensive cost of education because of its bygone records of academic excellence and also the very peaceful and relaxing environment at Taylors Lakeside Campus. Taylors Lakeside Campus managed to combine both elements of work and play which is very much commendable. Taylors Lakeside Campus targets the high-income segment. This is very much evident in the cost of education of Taylors which is comparably higher than its competitors. Taylors Lakeside Campus is very appealing as it practices the More for More positioning strategy. This strategy requires Taylors to provide outstanding facilities and environment. In return, Taylors will earn a higher brand positioning in the minds of the people. This will because attract them to enrol in Taylors. Taylors Lakeside Campus is a force to be reckoned with in the education industry. From strategic locations to academic excellence, Taylors Education Group is c ertainly making a tremendous effort up till now for it to be able to withstand the adversities of time. In short, no educational institution is perfect. However, one can strive to deliver the best value it can to satisfy customers. Taylors Lakeside Campus can indeed be classified into that category as the epitome of educational institutions.

APC Hypermethylation as a Prostate Cancer Indicator

armoured personnel carrier Hypermethylation as a Prostate Cancer IndicatorEvaluation of APC Hypermethylation From blood serum Samples as an Indicator for Presence of Prostate Cancer and Higher Gleason ScoreAbstractPurposeIn this prospective study it is aimed to identify role of hypermethlation abbreviation of APC gene from serum samples on detection of prostatic cancer in patients with PSA direct 2,5-10 ng/ml and its correlation with GS of the patientsMaterials and MethodsData from 142 patients underwent prostate biopsy with PSA level of 2,5-10 ng/ml was examine. Hypermethlation depth psychology of relay link region of APC gene from serum samples was d nonpareil via methlation specific PCR. Patients were grouped as appointed or negative depending on results of methylation digest and compared for presence of prostate cancer and GS distrubution. Sensitivity, specificity, haughty predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of methylation depth psychology were ca lculated. P value of 0.05 is used for statistical significance.reticuloendothelial systemultsThere were 48 patients (33.8%) in methylation (+) group and 94 patients (66,2%) in methylation (-) group. Prostate cancer was find in 43 of 142 (30,2%) patients later the prototypical biopsy and 32 of these patients were in methylation (+) group. esthesia and specificity of methylation analytic thinking were 74,4% and 83,8%. PPV and NPV were 66.6% and 88.30 %. When GS distrubutions of the two groups analyzed patients in methylation (+) group were more likely to reserve high GS compared to methylation (-) group(p=0,03).ConclusionsHypermethlation summary APC gene from serum samples have shown promisingresults with its correlation with prostate cancer and higher GS. Further studies onprediciton of survival with long term follow up are need to verify its value onprediction of survivalIntroductionProstate Cancer (PCa) is one of the most important medical problems of the potent populatio n as it is the most common solid neoplasm in Europe having the highest incidence of 202,100 cases in 2004 (1). It is not only common but too a dangerous disease that it is the second most common cause of cancer death in men (2). These findings prove the importance of detection of PCa. except identifiying patients with clinically significant disease is an important issue, that is to treat patients that really need treatment while sparing ones that have silent disease.The European Randomized memorise of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) trial concluded that 1,410 men would need to be screened and 48 additional cases of PCa would need to be case-hardened to prevent one death from PCa (ERSPC-3). These findings point out that circulating(prenominal) diagnostic tools are inadequate for screening and detection of clinically significant PCa (3).Epigenetic studies evolved in the era of urooncology in the polish decade and desoxyribonucleic acidmethylation is widely studied for cer tain urological malignancies especialy for PCa (4). Hypermethylation of promoter regions of tumor supresor genes results in gene silencing. This epigenetic change in APC gene promoter regions has been shown in cancerous and precancerous prostate tissues,serum, and urine of PCa patients and sensitivity and specificity rates of 27-100% and 50-100% have been reported (5,6).However the current literature lacks studies that investigate corrolation of results of methylation analysis from serum samples and clinicopathologic properties (grade and helping point of disease) of patients. This point should be verified to identify applicability of this method in clinical practice.In this prospective study it is aimed to identify role of hypermethlation analysis ofpromoter region of APC gene from serum samples on detection of prostate cancer in a population of patients with PSA level 2,5-10 ng/ml and its correlation with Gleason score (GS) of the patients.Patients and Methods.This study was app roved by honorable committe of Turkish Ministry of Health. Allpatients signed informed consent. The patients admitted to urology outpatient clinics of Ankara University Schol of Medicine with PSA level of 2,5-10 ng/ml and who were decided to undergo prostate biopsy were involved in the study. Serum samples were obtained from all patients prior to biopsy and 12 cores transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy was performed by a single radiologist.Age, serum PSA level, prostate biopsy results were recorded and patients werefollowed regardless of the results of methylation analysis. Rebiopsy was suggested to patients with benign histology and persistant elevated PSA levels 6 months after the first biopsy. Patients with biopsy results of PCa were evaluted for staging and treated based on their tip. GS of the patients were evaluated in 3 groups GS6 , GS 7 and GS8-10.The patients were grouped as positive (methylation +) and negative (methylation -) based on methylation analysis result s and compared with results of prostate biopsy. The uncomplicated outcome measures were sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of methylation analysis. As a secondary outcome measure the results were also compared with the GS groups.Genetic analysisdesoxyribonucleic acid extraction Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples using a PureLink Genomic DNA Mini Kit (Invitrogen , catalog No. K1820-02) according to the manufacturers instructions and were stored at -20C until modification and MSPCR amplification. DNA integrity and quantity was assessed with agarose gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometry, respectively. For this purpose, 1% agarose gel was used and 260 nm and 280 nm visual density ratio values (OD260/OD280) were determined.Bisulfite Modification and Methylation-Specific PCR of APC and GSTPI promoters The genomic DNA was modified by sodium bisulfite treatment using the CpGenomeTM DNA Modification Kit (S 7820, Chemicon, Temecula, CA). The DNA promoter methylation status of APC and GSTPI genes were investigated by MSPCR using the specific primers to methylated and unmethylated promoters. The methylated and unmethylated control DNA were also subjected tobisulfite DNA modification and PCR analysis, and serves as positive controls formethylated and unmethylated DNA respectively. H2O was used as negative control for the PCR reaction. The PCR reaction was started with denaturation at 95C for 13 min, followed by 40 cycles at 95C for 30 s, 56C for 30 s, 72C for 30 s and 72C for 5 min.Statistical analysisContinuous variables were compared using the t test. Categorical variables were compared by the chi-square test..Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV werecalculated.ResultsProstate biopsy was performed in 142 patients. The mean age of the patients were 68,3 8,2 and mean ages of the methylated and unmethylated groups were not significantly different (67,8 vs 68,6 , p=0,47). There were 48 pa tients (33.8%) in group 1 and 94 patients (66,2%) in group 2. Prostate cancer was detected in 43 of 142 (30,2%) patients after the first biopsy and 32 of these patients were in methylation (+) group and 11 of them were in methylation (-) group. Based on these results, sensitivity and specificity of methylation analysis were 74,4% (95% CI 58.83 % 86.46 %) and 83,8% (95% CI 75.08 % to 90.47 %). PPV and NPV were 66.6% (95% CI 51.59 % to 79.59 %) and 88.30 % (95% CI 80.02 % to 94.00 %).When GS distrubutions of the two groups analyzed patients in methylation (+) group were more likely to have higher GS compared to methylation (-) group (p=0,041) and results are summarized in table 1. Second biopsy was performed in 12 (6 patients in for each one group) patients totally. At these second biopsies, PCa was observed in 4 patients, and all of them were in methylation (+) group.Based on the total results of first and second biopsies, sensitivity and specificity ,PPV and NPV were reevaluated. Sensitivity and specificity of methylation analysis were 76.6 % (95% CI 61.97 % to 87.68 %) and 87.3 % (95% CI 78.97 % to 93.29 %). PPV and NPV were 75.0 % (95% CI 60.4 % to 86.3 %) and 88.30 % (95% CI 80.02 % to 94.00 %).DiscussionEpigenetic revisals, such as hypermethylation of prompter regions of tumorsupressor genes are associated with many human tumor types and this type ofalteration have also emerged as markers for cancer risk assessment, cancerdiagnosis, and therapy monitoring in several different types of cancer (7-10).APC is a well-characterized tumor suppressor gene gene and it downregulates Wntsignaling by targeting the transcriptional coactivator beta-catenin for proteasomaldegradation and this prevents its association with the nuclear transcription factorTcell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (11). The activation of Wnt pathway leads to deregulation of cell proliferation and differentiation and is a common feature of many human cancers including prostate cancer (12-14) .Detection of clinically significant PCa at an early stage is still a great challenge and current imaging modalities are often not able to detect a tumor and biopsies may get out the tumor focus. Role of gene promoter hypermethylation in prostatecarcinogenesis, has been studied recently and promising results to improve PCadiagnosis has been established (5-7).In this study methylation analysis of promoter region of APC gene is performed prior to prostate biopsy in serum samples in order to evaluate the the role of this analysis on prostate cancer detection. Serum samples were obtained from all patients prior to biopsy and PCa was detected in siginificantly higher rates in patients with positive methylation analysis. In their study Yoon et al. showed that APC methylation levels were significantly higher in PCa patients than in benign prostate hyperplasia patients. Moreover, APC hypermethylation was not only associated with the increased incidence of PCa but was also positively correl ated with increased GS (15). This has also been shown in other studies indicating APC hypermethylation as a reliable predictor of PCa and of its aggressive feature (12,13). Similarly, in our study, methylation positive patients were found to have higher GS and GS7 was not observed in any patient with negative methylation analysis.Sensitivity and specificity of APC hypermethylation has been studied on prostatetissue samples and high sensitivity (89.3%) and specificity (98.1%) rates have been reported (15). In our study, sensitivity of 74,4% and specificity of 83,8% was found. These results are slightly lower compared to results of Yoon et al. and this may be due to source of DNA, that is higher rates might be reached when analysis is made through prostate tissue samples compared to serum samples. Additionally the results may be effected from the detection method, including the primer design, reagents, detectors, equipment, and protocols, all of which potentially influence the sensiti vity and specificity.The important point of our study is making the analysis from serum samples toevaluate its role in clinical practice. The lack of such studies has been emphasized in front trials conducted on tissue samples (15). Repat biopsies is an important issue in PCa diagnosis in the study of Trock et al. (16) APC methylation provided a very high NPV with a low percentage of false negatives,in a clinical cohort of men undergoing repeat biopsy.In our study, repeat biopsy was performed in 12 patients (6 patients in each group) and all of the 4 patients with PCa detected in second biopsy were in the methylation positive group. Our study involves low number of repeat biopsies therefore further studies with higher number of patients evaluating role of hypermethylation analysis from soundbox fluids should be conducted on the topic of repeat biopsies.ConclusionPrediction of clinical significance of PCa is of clinicial importance andhypermethlation analysis of promoter region of APC gene from serum samples have shown promising results with its correlation with prostate cancer and higher GS. Further studies on prediciton of survival with long term follow up are needed to verify its value on prediction of survival.Conflict of interest None of the authors have any conflict of interestEthical standarts The study was approwed by ethical committe of Turkish Ministry of Health.References1. Boyle P, Ferlay J. Cancer incidence and mortality in Europe 2004. Ann Oncol2005 Mar16(3)481-8.2. Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, et al. Cancer statistics, 2008. CA Cancer J Clin2008 Mar-Apr58(2)71-96.3. Schrder FH, Hugosson J, Roobol MJ, et al.Screening and prostate-cancermortality in a randomized European study. N Engl J Med 2009 Mar26360(13)1320-8.4. Veeck J, Esteller M J mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. Breast cancerepigenetics from DNA methylation to microRNAs. J Mammary Gland BiolNeoplasia. 2010 Mar15(1)5-17.5. Kang GH, Lee S, Lee HJ, et al. Aberrant CpG island hypermethylation of multiple genes in prostate cancer and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. JPathol 2004 202 233406. Yegnasubramanian S, Kowalski J, Gonzalgo ML et al. Hypermethylation ofCpG islands in main(a) and metastatic human prostate cancer. Cancer Res2004 64 1975867. Moritz R, Ellinger J, Nuhn P, Haese A, Muller SC, Graefen M, Schlomm T, Bastian PJ. DNA hypermethylation as a predictor of PSA recurrence in patients with low- and intermediate-grade prostate cancer. Anticancer Res 2013 Dec33(12)5249-54.8. Kim WJ, Kim YJ. Epigenetic biomarkers in urothelial bladder cancer. ExpertRev Mol Diagn 20099259-69.9. Hoque MO. DNA methylation changes in prostate cancer currentdevelopments and future clinical implementation. Expert Rev Mol Diagn20099243-57.10. Ushijima T. Detection and interpretation of altered methylation patterns incancer cells. Nat Rev Cancer 20055223-31.11. Rai K, Sarkar S, Broadbent TJ, et al. DNA demethylase activity maintainsintestinal cells in an undifferentiated state following lo ss of APC. Cell2010142 930-42.12. Jeronimo C, Henrique R, Hoque MO, et al. A quantitative promotermethylation profile of prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2004108472-8.13. Bastian PJ, Ellinger J, Wellmann A, et al. Diagnostic and prognosticinformation in prostate cancer with the help of a small set of hypermethylatedgene loci. Clin Cancer Res 2005114097-106.14. Gavert N, Ben-Zeev A. beta-Catenin signaling in biological control andcancer. J Cell Biochem 2007102820-8.15. Hyung-Yoon Yoon, Young-Won Kim, Ho Won Kang, et al. PyrosequencingAnalysis of APC Methylation Level in Human Prostate Tissues A MolecularMarker for Prostate Cancer. Korean J Urol. 2013 Mar54(3)194-198.16. Trock BJ, Brotzman MJ, Mangold LA, et al. Evaluation of GSTP1 and APCmethylation as indicators for repeat biopsy in a high-risk cohort of men withnegative initial prostate biopsies. BJU Int. 2012 Jul110(1)56-62Table 1. GS distrubutions of the two groups

Kant’s Categorical Imperatives Essay -- Kants Moral Philosophy

In ramble to evaluate whether ones actions are moral, we use many moral dilemmas. One of them is Kants flavourless coercive. This rise presents Kants project of categoric imperative. Then, I will explain that rulers should appeal to Kants categorical imperative when making foreign policy decision. In order to support my point of view, I will give importance to the reasons of why rulers appeal to categorical imperative when making foreign policy, so I set out two reasons for this. One of them is that states depend on each other in economically and politically. Thus, in order to provide this stability which means that continue to tolerate among other states, states should act through the principles of categorical imperative which are universally valid, good intention and never using people or other states as means to end. The guerrilla reason is that if rulers appeal to categorical imperative when making foreign policy decisions, the world empennage be more peaceful. Sin ce, wars and conflicts which are caused by bad intention, using other people or states as means for gaining advantages which are not universally valid can be hindered by categorical imperatives. Finally, I will conclude that the Kants categorical imperatives are still valid and necessary when rulers are making foreign policy decisions. If we explain before long Kants categorical imperative, there are basically three principles that represent it. These are universal law, ends as a means and the importance of intention in get bying of human behaviour. Firstly, according to Kant, ones action should be universally valid. Universal validity means that people should think behaviours and they need to judge their stimulate behaviours or actions are morally acceptable or not. When you think of your behaviour, if you decide that everyone acts in the same way with me, then the action become universal and moral. The second principle of categorical imperative is that people must respect other s and never use them for achieving some goals. Lastly, the third but the roughly important criterion of categorical imperative is maxim, which means intention. Moral value is determined by the intention of people, which is called general maxim. If your intention is good, then your action is moral. The consequences of your action are not important, the most important thing is your intention. For this reason, being moral in... ... a means to their ends. As a result of this kind of action, war between states is inevitable. It is because when one state can act in that way toward others then, other states also act in similar way. For this reason, their interests can be probably conflicted and chaos in world governance can arise. However, if states take into account the principles of categorical imperative, there will be probably no conflict or chaos in the world politics.In conclusion, when the principles of categorical imperative are concerned, we easily realise that they depend on e ach other and they help us to evaluate the actions, which are moral. These principles of categorical imperative have the same goal that is being moral. For to be moral, the actions should be universal and should not have the aim of using others in order to gain advantages. If rulers conduct through the principles of categorical imperative then, it is obvious that the world would be more peaceful and fair. However, these obligations are not put into practise in todays world politics. But, it is enough to know that categorical imperative is still valid and is necessary to apply to todays conditions of foreign policy.

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck, 1892 - 1973 :: History

garner Sydenstricker Buck, 1892 - 1973Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker was born on June 26, 1892, in Hillsboro, West Virginia. Her parents, Absalom and Caroline Sydenstricker, were Southern Presbyterian missionaries, and were stationed in China. Pearl was the fourth of seven children (and 1 of only 3 who would live until adulthood). Buck was born in the U.S. so she could be a natural U.S. citizen. The Sydenstrickers lived in Chinkiang (Zhenjiang), in Kiangsu (Jiangsu) province. Pearls father spent much time away from home, traveling in the Chinese countryside in search of Christian converts. Pearls mother ministered to Chinese women in a dispensary she created. From childhood, Pearl spoke both English and Chinese. She was taught mainly by her mother and a Chinese tutor, Mr. Kung. Though in 1900 the family returned to the US to continue their lives. In 1910, Pearl enrolled in Randolph-Macon Womans College, in Lynchburg, Virginia, and graduated in 1914. Although she wanted to stay in US, s he returned to China after graduation when she heard that her mother was extremely sick. In 1915, she met John Lossing Buck and they were married in 1917. (The marriage was very unhappy, but it lasted for 18 years.) They immediately moved to Nanhsuchou (Nanxuzhou) in Anhwei (Anhui) province. This is where Pearl gathered poverty laid low(p) material that she would later use in The Good Earth and other stories about China. The Bucks first child, Carol, was born in 1921, but was born with PKU. (A genetic perturb in which the body lacks the enzyme necessary to metabolize phenylalanine to tyrosine. Left untreated, the disorder can cause brain damage and progressive mental retardation as a result of the accumulation of phenylalanine and its breakdown products.) The child became extremely retarded. Then, because of a uterine tumor found during the delivery, Pearl had a hysterectomy. In 1925, she and her husband adopted a baby girl, Janice. From 1920 to 1933, Pearl and Lossing made lived in Nanking (Nanjing), on the campus of the Nanking University, where both had teaching jobs. In 1921, Pearls mother died and shortly after her father moved in with the Bucks. The tragedies which Pearl suffered through out her life reached a climax in March, 1927. In the terrible even called the Nanking Incident. In a confusing battle involving parts of Chiang Kai-sheks nationalistic troops, Communist forces, and assorted warlords, several Westerners were murdered. The Bucks escaped and had an extremely long day hiding, but were finally rescued by American gunboats.

Learning Disabilities Essay -- Disabilities Education Mental Health Es

Learning Disabilities This semester we have spent the majority of our time learning about anddiscussing how we can trounce assist exceptional students. Many of thesestudents are individuals with learning dissabilities. Although it would bedifficult for every teacher to understand the distinctions, symptoms,weaknesses and strengths of every dis capacity, it can be very stabilizing to havea general knowledge of the disabilities that may hinder a students ability tolearn. Unlike other disabilities like paralysis and blindness, a learning hinderance (LD) is a hidden handicap. A learning disability does notdisfigure or leave visible signs that would invite others to be understandingor hug drug support (Council for Exceptional Children (CEC),1999). Therefore asteachers it will be our responsibility to provide that understanding andsupport for those children already diagnosed and also be alert to the exemplificationsigns that may be symptoms of a previously undetected disability. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (NIMH, 1999) describeslearning disabilities as follows LD is a disorder that effects peoples ability to either interpret what they see and hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. These limitations can show up in many ways. As specificdifficulties with spoken and written language, coordination, self-control,or attention. Such difficulties extend to school work and can impedelearning to read or write or to do math. Learning disability can be lifelong conditions that, in some cases,affect many parts of a persons life school or work, daily routines, familylife, and sometimes even friendships. In some people, many overlappinglearning disabilities may be apparent. Other people may have a singleisolated learning problem that has little impact on other areas of theirlives (National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), 1999). It isimportant to remember that the term learning disability does not apply tost udents who have learning problems that are primarily the result of visualor hearing problems, mental retardation, emotional problems, ordisadvantaged cod to their environment, culture or economic background (USDepartment of Education (USDE), 1999). Knowing what constitutes a LD is only the beginning. Diagnosing andtreating a learning disability is not... ...American psychiatric Association (APA 1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th edition). Washington DC Author.Council for Exceptional Children Division of Learning Disabilities. (1999). Council for Exceptional Children homepage. On line. open http//www.cec.sped.org/home.htm Council for Learning Disabilities. (1999). Council for Learning Disabilities homepage. On line. for sale http/ www. coe.winthrop. edu/cldLearning Disabilities Association on America. (1998). Learning Disabilities Association on America homepage. Online. Available http//www.ldanatl.orgNational Center for Learning Disabili ties. (1999). National Center for Learning Disabilities homepage. Online. Available http//www.ncld.orgNational Institute of Mental Health. (1999). National Institute of Mental Health homepage. Online. Available http//www.nimh.nih.gov/home.htmThe International Dyslexia Association. (1999). The International Dyslexia Association homepage. Online. Available http.interdys.orgU. S. Department of Education. (1999). Individuals with Disabilities Education number homepage. Online. Available http//www.ed.gov/