SARS Pandemic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

SARS Pandemic - Essay Example Vaccine is in the preparatory phase. Once vaccine has been finally prepared would it possible to meet the demand of the world to prevent an event of pandemic through herd immunity. This is big question that is not an easy task to answer. Apart from availability, the cost of the vaccine would be an important factor. Developing countries would be at the worst hit because of affordability issues related to the cost of the vaccine. But pandemic will not be prevented if only the developed is vaccinated. It would have been possible to control the syndrome through directly observed treatment strategy (DOTS) if a drug of choice was available. Since no drug of choice is available and the vaccine does not seem to be of any substantial benefit so the only option left is the prevention. Prevention can be achieved through personal hygiene, sanitation of the environment especially with overcrowding like schools, aircrafts, etc. After a diagnosed case, the strategy used by the Canadian health authorities during 2003 outbreak seems an excellent guideline to follow when required. Coronaviruses are the causative agent for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). These are positive strand RNA viruses of about 100nm and contain the largest genome among the RNA viruses. These viruses belong to the group of nidovirales, the other members of the group are: toroviruses and arteriviruses. Coronaviruses have helical nucleocapsides and envelops which are derived from intracellular membranes (Hunt 2005, Lwinson 2004). The coronaviruses discovered in the fourth decade of the last century but received attention in early 2003 when it was found that a new disease, SARS, which was started in the late 2002, was caused by these viruses (Hunt 2005, Lwinson 2004). SARS was responsible for the sickness of more than 8000 people while more than 700 people died of this syndrome around the world (SARS 2006). The habitat is animal body but the disease is spread when the animal-human barrier is crossed due to any factor (Peiris 2003). The virus is transmitted through droplet and contact (Hunt 2005, Lwinson 2004, Poutanen 2003, Yu 2004). Airborne mode of transmission is still not confirmed. There are some supporting data available but more information is needed to declare it as a mode of transmission. The contact of mucous membranes, of a potential candidate for SARS, with infected material seems important for the spread of the disease (Peiris 2003). The viruses are in different secretions of the body, like urine and faeces but the evidence for feco-oral route is missing (Olsen 2003). The SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is actually less transmissible as, the ratio of one primary case to its secondary cases is only two to four but once it starts spreading and measures are not taken to control then the toll is very high (Olsen 2003). The incubation period estimated by various research teams have been in the range of two to ten days with mean duration of six days (Olsen 2003,Donnelly 2003). It has also been observed that it is very unlikely for the transmission to occur before the start of the symptoms and after 10 days of the resolution of fever (Olsen 2003). Based on the incubation period, the period of infectivity and the mode of transmission the viruses have infected humans in a variety of environments, like: workplaces of health care providers, lab

Gene Therapy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gene Therapy - Research Paper Example During this period, there was the discovery of cell lines which were genetically marked. Additionally, the cell transformation and how it occurred was clarified during this period as well. Developments in gene therapy were motivated by the later arrival of the recombinant DNA techniques. Clone genes were also developed which were valuable in the demonstration of how foreign genes can be used to male corrections to various defects in genes. This also revealed the importance of DNA in correcting the disease phenotypes which emanated from defective cells. Gene transfer methods and efficient retroviral vectors have shown that in vivo and in vitro phenotype correction is an effective gene therapy approaches (Dolly and Hunt 28). This is the reason why gene therapy has been justified and accepted to be applicable in clinical genetic studies which involve human subjects. Gene therapy techniques are likely to have positive impact in future scientific discoveries. This is because of its postul ated future use in the replacement of faulty genes and the introduction of new genes for treatment or modification of the clinical direction of a specific medical condition. Technical Aspects on how Gene Therapy Works Genetically altered material is delivered via three major methods. The first method involves retrotransposons or retroviruses (Murray 15). Retroviruses are commonly used due to their ability to transfer their own DNA or genetic information. Additionally retroviruses are able to alter the human gene genetically. Cell DNA has parts which are able to make copies of themselves into other sections within the cell genome (Rudolph and Aslam 44). These parts which are exemplified by the yeast transposon can be used in gene therapy. However the application of transposons in alteration of genes is still under research (Judson 40). Secondly, gene therapy is made possible through blasting DNA or genes by the use of pressurized guns which are filled with helium (Bryant, Duker and R eichel 90). The helium gun is used to fire gold bullets of very small size that are coated with genes which are genetically altered (Garber 60). This technique was performed on rats with tumors in gene therapy experiments. The results revealed that the tumor cells which successfully received the inoculated altered cells demonstrated activation of coding for cytokines which played a role of activation immune cells. The third aspect of gene therapy includes liposomes (Hogan 10). This method is still being investigated where hollow molecules of fat within a solution are used in gene therapy. This methodology is used in attempts to genetically treat cystic fibrosis (Fackelmann 239). Cystic fibrosis is a respiratory tract disease which results from the buildup of chloride ions. In the gene therapy for this disease, liposomes which are coated with genes that are genetically altered are inhaled. The genetically altered genes are designed to prevent chloride ion buildup. The experiments of gene therapy have revealed that the ion levels within the respiratory tract decreased significantly with the inoculation of the genetically modified genes. The advantage of this method is that it poses less potential risk as compared to retroviruses. Positive Aspects of Gene therapy Gene therapy is advantageous because it can be used to treat individuals who have congenital genetic disease. This can be achieved through the replacement of the

Nuclear pollution

Nuclear pollution Any undesirable effect caused to the environment due to radioactive substances or radiations is called nuclear pollution.Major source is the Nuclear power plants. If traces of the radioactive substances are present in the water that is released from the plant, it will cause nuclear pollution. Emission of radiations can also cause this kind of pollution. It affects almost all life forms in the surrounding environment. From planktons to Human beings nothing is spared. To be more specific, the radiations can cause mutations that lead to cancer, and the dose of radiation or the level of pollution determines lethality or how deadly it is. However, nuclear pollution is extremely hazardous in nature. It occurs as a result of nuclear explosions that are performed while conducting nuclear tests. These nuclear tests are carried out to invent better nuclear weapons. The explosions cause release of 15 to 20% radioactive material into the stratosphere. On entering this layer, they start falling into the earths atmosphere. This fall can take any where from 6months to several years. 5% of these radioactive particles enter troposphere, which is the lowest layer of the atmosphere. The smallest particles of the radioactive material are called fallout. The fallout settles on the leaves of plants and trees. These leaves are eaten by the grazing animals. Radioactive material now enters the ecosystem. Humans consume these particles through the process of food chain. Serious health problems now arise. Ingestion of radioactive material can lead to cancer and genetic mutation in humans. Fallouts that do not drop on leaves accumulate over the sea. This can be harmful for the sea life, which ultimately affects the humans. It isnt necessary that only nuclear power stations cause nuclear pollution. Even other industries, not related to nuclear power production, can also contribute to it. Coal has small amounts of radioactive material in the form of uranium and thorium. These do not burn completely and become part of fly ash. Even while producing oil and gas, radium and similar elements are released in to the air. Radioactive contamination or nuclear pollution is the most dangerous for the environment since the wastes maintain their radioactive properties for thousands of years. There is no way to have them assimilated in the soil, the water or the air in the initial form. Reprocessing is the only solution we have to limit the extent of nuclear pollution and clean the planet from such increasingly harmful residues. The highest likelihood of radioactive elements reaching in open environment is by accident during the transportation to the reprocessing plants located in some parts of the globe. Reprocessing in itself causes other pollution problems adding other risks to an already fragile environment condition. Presently, no country has efficiently solved the issue of nuclear pollution in terms of radioactive waste storage. Every state would like to send the residues to some other place and be rid of them, while no truly viable conclusion is reached. Storage facilities as such require highly intransigent security and safety rules, periodical checks and regular updates on the storage environment. A responsible management of the nuclear waste would limit the risk of nuclear pollution on the long term, allowing us to live on a cleaner and safer planet, also preventing the temptation of dumping the waste in the oceans. Nuclear pollution is not the only hazard that comes together with the use of radioactive energy: mass populations are jeopardized on a current basis if something happens to a reactor, as it was the case with the Russian Chernobyl for instance. There are other energy sources that are still highly effective without the huge risks of nuclear pollution or irradiation: geothermal sources, ocean currents, tidal waves, wind and waterfalls, all make alternative power solutions that should not be neglected. Environment-friendly electricity is one of the chances this planet has to survive. Fish and ocean plants are highly contaminated due to nuclear pollution; Greenpeace has repeatedly signaled out the huge amount of plutonium effluents produced by the nuclear plant on the coasts of England, for instance. Lobsters in the area have been found to be contaminated, hence the effects not only on humans but on the entire ecosystem is devastating. Attempts have been by an American company to even built a radioactive storage facility on Marshall Islands, ignoring the even higher potential threats for nuclear pollution under the circumstances of a growing sea level. Such solutions may appear convenient from a certain perspective, but when considered from a wider point of view, irresponsibility is obvious.

The First Seven Years Essay -- essays research papers

Growing and learning is a part of life that no one is exempt from. This fact influences everyone, whether it be a young child learning to share or an old man learning to let go. Feld, in The First Seven Years, finds that he has to let go of several of his own issues to allow his daughter to undergo her own growth and learning. Feld is the typical father, he wants only the best for his daughter. Feld wants the best education, the best man, the perfect life. He believes that ,as a farther, he can make her life perfect simply by telling her the necessities of life. However, after several incidences Feld understands that he must learn to let go. He discovers that he must let go of sending her to college, "He had begged her to go.." he had to let go of the fact that Miriam would not marry the perfect man. "Let her marry an educated man and live a better life." In the end Feld learned that he could not alter his daughters future in anyway. The only thing he could do is to keep his silence. "Then he realized that what he had called ugly was not Sobel, but Miriam's life if she married him." When Feld explains to the readers that Miriam is always reminded him that she wants freedom, he is revealing to the reader that he is growing and beginning to understand that he has to let go so, Miriam is free to live her life, and make her own mistakes. Although, being able to let go is...

Diasporic Article Critique

We define Diaspora as a movement of any population with common ethnic identity from their settled territory to areas farther away. This is common to populations from countries which are experiencing poverty, economic unrest, and military problems, making it not very suitable for living. This is the situation discussed in the article by Mary Rogan, entitled Girl, Interrupted. She talks about the life and death of Aqsa Parvez, a Pakistani immigrant in Toronto, Canada.The article focused on the life of 16 year old Aqsa, who tried to blend in with the western culture of her new home (Rogan, 2008). The article initially recounts that events that happened the day Aqsa Parvez was murdered by her own father and brother because she allegedly disrespected their culture and religion. The article was nothing more than an account of the things that happened before and after the death. It tried to fit in the pieces that led to the death of the teenager, coupled with the statements given by two of her closest friends.If you look at the situation in a spectator’s perspective, you would see that it was nothing more but a case of domestic violence, with the father overly beating the child for not following his orders. However, if the case is viewed in a cultural or religious perspective, it would reveal a different story. Diaspora in the context of Aqsa Parvez’ situation would mean moving from her place of origin towards Ontario, while brining with her all her cultural and religious beliefs (Berns-McGown, 2008).She was a from a Muslim family, and devout one at that, which is why every aspect of their culture should be followed, and deviating from it would mean disrespect, and should be dealt with accordingly. Aqsa Pavrez is born and raised in the Islam culture, so she has to adopt in her life every teaching that the culture presented to her. The article Girl, Interrupted focused on one symbolism all throughout the article, and that is the wearing of a Hajib. Muslim women were regarded as the treasures of the religion, which is why they have to be covered all over, as much as possible, not revealing an inch of their naked skin.For those living in Muslim countries, women were clad in robes and cover their face, revealing only their eyes. But for the case of Aqsa Pavrez, she was only required by her parents to wear a Hajib, a cloth that would cover her head and hair. This situation is a manifestation of cultural diaspora, wherein Aqsa Pavrez and her family carries with them the religious and cultural beliefs and practice of their homeland. However, since Ontario is different from where they came from, they have to somehow adapt and adjust these practices to match the place.Aqsa Pavrez and other women from the same culture and religion were not anymore required to be clad in long robes just to cover every inch of their skin. They were instead required to wear lose shirts and large jeans, and to wear a Hajib to cover their head. For those who have strongly adhered to their cultural and religious practices, complying with these guidelines was easy. They are somehow able to fit in with the new environment, but are able to maintain and preserve with them the teachings of their culture and religion.But Aqsa Pavrez was different. According to the article, she did not despise wearing their traditional clothing, but instead, she wanted to wear it according to her choice. She wanted to have freedom in choosing what to wear, freedom of expressing herself, especially since she’s a teenager, with friends who are very much different from her. She somehow wanted to blend in, and the practices that she was accustomed to were hindering her from doing so. In a Diasporic perspective, we can say that indeed, there are people just like Aqsa Pavrez.They don’t hate the culture and religion they grew up with, but they also wanted to enjoy what other people are enjoying. The cultural practices that she was expected to follow were hin dering her from doing the things she wanted, which is why most of the times, she broke the rule set by her father and older brother. In the context of Diaspora, the people who settle in foreign lands such as this were expected to alter the beliefs and practices that they have brought with them. They are in a different land, and not all of the cases that they grew up on would apply.If we are to judge the actions of Aqsa Pavrez, she was merely adapting to the new environment, and was trying to mix the culture that she grew up on, with that of the foreign land they have settled in (Sen, 2006). This action is very much expected, though there are some constraints that she has encountered. First of all, she was still in her youth, and she couldn’t possibly stand on her own feet considering her age. It was too early to become independent, so no matter what her desires are, it is impossible to put it into fruition.Her family, especially her father and brother, hindered her from doing so, primarily because they wanted her to retain the practices and beliefs that they grew up on. The sad thing though, for the case of Aqsa Pavrez is that she was not given the chance to grow up. She died before even reaching the point where she can decide on what she wants. The title could be wrong because girls like Aqsa would still need intervention. What could be more appropriate is that, it is a Life, Interrupted.

Stuck in Neutral

Rough Draft of Stuck in Neutral Terry Trueman’s Stuck in Neutral is about a boy who has Cerebral Palsy and yet loves his life. Shawn McDaniels has a lot of problems but he remains optimistic. His CP has left him totally disabled; he is unable to walk, talk, eat, or communicate. Although Shawn acknowledges that there is â€Å"Bad News† about his existence, he focuses on the positives in his life. Shawn loves his family deeply and appreciates people. Shawn finds the sensory world of hearing, smell, taste, and inner life, which is filled with his memories and great journeys of his seizures. Shawn is a very loving person. Everyone can see this by how Shawn loves his family and appreciates people. You can see this throughout the book, like Cindy teaching Shawn how to read. Because of Cindy, Shawn now knows how to read, and he now obscene more in the world around him. He loves his father because of what he has done for Shawn. He had Shawn go on a fair ride with him because he felt bad for him, Shawn also appreciates the poem that was made for Shawn and is now a famous poem (pg. 29), and lastly, Shawn has trust in his father because they have double-jointed thumbs and every time he sees Shawn, he would always first pull back his fingers. The reason Shawn’s dad does this is because they have something in common and Shawn loves this special connection (pg. 52). But lastly Paul. Paul because he stood up for Shawn when he was getting attacked by the hoodlums. Shawn says, â€Å"I’ve never seen Paul like this before, he looks like a monster† (pg. 94). These are the reasons why he loves his family the most. Shawn finds the sensory world of hearing, smelling, taste, and touching interesting. Shawn has a very distinct personality. Shawn loves the site of the paintings that he has seen, the feel of the sponge and water on his back when he is taking a bath, the sound a 1966 Ford Mustang and the taste of smoked oysters and chocolate pudding (pg. 84). He has always loved when his father’s arm was around him in the park because he has feared that he may kill him, he feels safe and comfortable in his arms (pg. 98). He also remembers when he was at the science convention that he can remember all the sounds of the music that was playing there. He heard all the songs and could remember them all from the songs, melodies, and symphonies. He has and will always remember the things that he has loved. The personality that sets Shawn apart from everyone else is his inner personality. Shawn loves his inner life of memory and seizures. This is what sets him apart from everyone else. This is because he thinks seizures are miracles. Because it is the only thing that lets him free (pg. 31-32). The joys of his seizures is when he feels like he is free, soaring over Seattle and when he sees the different colors. He feels like that is his only time that he feels normal. He feels normal because he can move like a normal person and feel like a normal person. He would sell his family and his friends just to keep his seizures. He would do anything just to keep his seizures. â€Å"I would even give up my family and friends just to keep my seizures†, Shawn. In the book, Shawn faces a lot of obstacles in his life. But then he had some good times, like his love for his family, his sensory world of hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and his love for his inner life of memory and seizures. He doesn’t care that he has CP, he just want to live his life to the fullest. Everyone can learn from this because now we can say that we are lucky to have a normal life and we can be grateful to not have problems with our body