Reasons Why People Play Chess an Example by

Reasons Why People Play Chess Chess is a game widely played everywhere: schools, parks, and even over the Internet. The game continues to be one of popular hobbies of both the old generation and young generation. The challenge and excitement make up the fun aspect of chess especially when players think their moves thoroughly. Each move of the chess pieces critically spells either victory or defeat between the players. Need essay sample on "Reasons Why People Play Chess" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Players of chess often find several reasons why they love to play the game. First is the aspect of convenience. Chess is fairly easy to play just about anywhere. For a few dollars, you can purchase a mini-chess set that fits your pocket. You also have an option to play chess online against one of the many computer programs found in the market. Next is that chess is a fair game. The absence of dice allows a good play without the possibility of a bad roll that ruin your turn. All it matters is how excellent you play. Third, chess can be learned how to play as good as anybody else. Additionally, chess can be played no matter how young or old you and how petite or tall you are. Lastly, chess is an intellectually exciting game. You won't be bored with the game when there is more strategy to learn how to play better. Thus, it enables players to think more analytically resulting to an improved concentration and development of memory. In fact, numerous studies, such as by Riefner (1992), have proven that children achieved a higher reading level, math level and a greater learning ability as a consequence of playing chess. Work Cited Philip Rifner, ``Playing Chess: A Study of Problem-Solving Skills in Students with Average and Above Average Intelligence,'' doctoral dissertation, 1992.

Picture of a House

Picture of a House It is said that every family has skeletons in the cupboard. If only old houses could speak, they would tell a lot of fascinating stories about bad and good times of their inhabitants. At first glance, an old house in the picture may seem to be a mere building consisting of walls, windows and doors, but its atmosphere and every its part would mean a lot for several generations that were born and grew up in it.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Picture of a House specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A paved path leading to the terrace steps looks so inviting that it is hard to resist the temptation and enter the building. Stepping on this winding trail, a guest would inevitably think of those people who had walked this path millions of times day by day in the past. It is possible that these were small children who ran skipping along and perhaps even fell after stumbling over one of the stones on the path. These could also be elderly people who went slowly because it was already difficult for them to walk. Young people could walk this path in a hurry from and to work without even noticing beauty of the house. With all these thoughts in mind, a guest would find himself/herself on a desert terrace. Knocking on the door, the stranger would imagine children playing games on this terrace and an elderly man sitting in a rocky chair. However, now there are no lights in the window and the terrace is desert. Nobody would open, and it seems that now only memories and family secrets live in this house. Not able to enter the house, a stranger would stay outside and walk in the garden. It is autumn, and the bare trees share the mood and loneliness of the house. However, there are no leaves on the lawn, and it means that somebody has collected them. Someone who is now invisible has gathered the autumn leaves and neatly cut the lawn. The presence of invisible but caring owners surround the house with atmosphere of mys tery. The red tiling on the roof of the house and a gabled tower make the building look like a castle from a fairy tale. There is a small chimney on the roof, and obviously small children growing up in this house were waiting for Santa Claus to come through it every Christmas Eve. Children grew up and do not believe in miracles anymore, but a small chimney remains as a commemoration of those old good times. The large windows of the house are similar to somebody’s curious eyes and connect the inhabitants of the building with the surrounding world. It is obvious that there are even more windows in this house than it is necessary for lighting the rooms in a proper way. Most rooms of the house have two or even more windows which demonstrate the openness of the inhabitants and make the building look even more inviting. It is possible that previously the house was more hospitable than on this autumn morning and guests crowded on its small terrace and in its brightly-lit rooms. Howe ver, now the house looks desert and sleeps, hiding all its secrets behind thick curtains on the windows.Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Looking at the exterior of the house in the picture, strangers can only make guesses concerning the lives of its inhabitants and the true meaning of the elements of the building. A winding path, bare trees in the garden and large windows would seem only the elements of the construction to a stranger, but would tell much more to people who have spent at least a part of their lives in this house.

Visual Analysis Survey of Western Art II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Visual Analysis Survey of Western Art II - Essay Example The piece of art, Madonna and child are now part of the collection of the Lowe art museum in the University of Miami. Madonna and child is a painting done on a piece of wood thus commonly referred to as tempera on wood. It is believed to have been done toward the 16th century and is approximately 80x60 centimeters. Madonna and the child had been neglected for a few centuries but once discovered it became very expensive. It suddenly rose to twenty two million pounds as per the national scientific department. Lately it is the property of Lowe in the University of Miami after being given off as a gift. Before the 16th century, Italy comprised of many states which spoke different languages, thus a need to stand out was paramount. The Italians soon led the way by speaking about their culture through works of art like paintings. This is how Lorenzo di Credi and other painters and sculptors like Da Vinci, Donatello, Verrocchio, Filipo Bruschnelli and others got famous. The painting Madonna and child talked about Italy’s love and curiosity of religious issues and how they felt about it. It showed that culturally, Italians are a religious nation. The cultural aspect was seen in the technique that most Italian works of art appeared in. for example, Madonna and child was on tempera of wood while other works by other Italian artists were made of oil on wood and such stuff. This article is going to thoroughly survey the piece of art Madonna and child. This it is going to look into from the paintings composition to its characteristics and comparison to other works of art. The composition of the painting of Madonna and child by Lorenzo was due to Italy’s religious passion. During this era Catholicism was widely spread in Italy and its roots were firmly instilled in the people who used sculptures and paintings to bring Christianity and especially Catholicism to reality. Therefore the theme that led to Madonna and child

Professional Development PD Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Professional Development PD Plan - Assignment Example The researcher will begin with the statement that he chose the career of a project manager where his professional development plan proved out to be very helpful. The role of the project manager is different from a functional manager. It is not effective only to apply best practices, skills, and knowledge to project management. Rather, project manager requires having certain managerial and interpersonal abilities to pursue a project successfully. Having a positive attitude towards others and mutual respect for each other are essential features of professionalism. Being project manager, being professional is very important. The author is given a specified time and amount to spend on a project. At a time, there are a number of projects to be dealt with. Professionalism requires careful handling and management of all the projects taking care of the cost and time. The researcher has to make a list of all the tasks at hand. Make sure that every project is going on schedule. When he has to procure resources or delegate responsibly, he does it in an authoritative and professional way keeping my emotional self away from the self at a job. In meetings, the author has to reach before time and if in some cases he has to reach late, he informs the attendants beforehand to avoid inconvenience. The author believes the sense of responsibility and timeliness of project manager is very important because all the people working under me will copy me and become irresponsible if the boss is irresponsible.... I had to work for longer than working hours, keep track of all the activities of workers and I had to be patient in handling them. Sometimes the work needed to be done from scratch again; it required my lot of stamina and patience. Being a successful project manager not only requires the depth of skills of project management, but also managerial capabilities and people management skills. I had to assign different projects to different workers; I had to keep this thing in mind that which worker is good at what? I did not assign projects randomly, rather I had to keep this thing in mind that efficiency can be maximized in a team if members’ strengths and weaknesses are complemented by each other. If a worker is good at recordkeeping, I will assign the transactional work to him rather than giving the actual construction work and ending up with a faulty structure. Working professionally requires to be good at communication skills, to manage time effectively and to take notes of th e critical points. Part 2 My PD plan was very useful in my self-analysis and I got a chance to explore my strengths and weaknesses. The weaknesses identified through PD plans were very critical and needed to be improved to become successful project manager. I tried my best to improve my skills and be a responsible project manager by utilizing my potential and capitalizing on my strengths. It was not an easy task I had to work really hard for improvement. As a result of my PD plan, I found out that my communication skills were not effective. I needed to increase my listening capability and make myself able to convince others by explaining my ideas. It was my week area which I got to know as a result of my

Oppositional Defiant Disorder Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Oppositional Defiant Disorder - Term Paper Example The condition commonly affects individuals during childhood. The concern of the medical authorities regarding ODD can be attributed the high percentage of children diagnosed with the condition. In fact, it is considered as the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition in children (Hamilton and Armando, 2008, p.861). Based on the studies conducted in the community level approximately 3 percent of children have ODD with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV) description as the sole basis. When other parameters and criteria were considered the prevalence ranges from 1 to 16 percent (Hamilton and Armando, 2008, p.861). The paper is aimed to define and to discuss ODD and the different pertinent concepts related to the condition such as the symptoms, risks, management methods, treatments, and related researches and studies. The said objective of the paper can be achieved through the data gathering from significant academic and medical references, e.g. journals. In addition, the main focus of the process is the educational perspective which is either to educate the public or to present the methods of educating the individuals with ODD. Definition of ODD Oppositional defiant disorder, ODD, is officially defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. ... chool years but due to other developmentally troublesome behavior that can also be observed, the method of diagnosis is based on more than one symptom or criterion (Hamilton and Armando, 2008, p.861). Upon the determination of the meaning of ODD, the methods of diagnosis and the symptoms are needed to be given attention to achieve better understanding of the disorder. It is also important to focus on the methods of treatments and management of ODD since it is known as a subset and a precursor to a more serious condition referred to as conduct disorder (Chakraburtty, 2009). Recorded data show that one third of the children diagnosed with ODD will develop into conduct disorder while 40 percent will lead to antisocial personality disorder during adult years (Hamilton and Armando, 2008, p.863). The oppositional behavior of the children of the children ranges from passive to active forms of non-compliance. Ignoring the direction given by adults such as parents and teachers is an example o f passive ODD. Active non-compliant behavior ranges from mild refusal to angry rejection of parents or elders commands and guidance (Matthys and Lochman, 2010, p.1). There are levels of opposition from children and adolescents which can be considered normal for their age. Thus, the determination of the levels of oppositional behavior considered abnormal is needed to be given attention for the early diagnosis and treatment of the problematic child. Methods of Diagnosis of ODD There are eight standard symptoms included in the description of ODD as the bases for diagnosis. Four of the eight symptoms of the condition should be present for an individual to be considered to possess ODD. The standard symptoms include: â€Å"lost of temper; argument with adults; defying adults’ requests and/or rules

Pharmacogenetics And Pharmacogenomics In Pharmacy Practice Biology Essay

Pharmacogenetics And Pharmacogenomics In Pharmacy Practice Biology Essay The study of the interaction between genetics and therapeutic drugs is variously called pharmacogenetics or pharmacogenomics. The differences between the two are the initial approach of the science: Pharmacogenetics starts with an unexpected drug response result and looks for a genetic cause. Pharmacogenomics, on the other hand, begins with looking for genetic differences within a population that explain certain observed responses to a drug or susceptibility to a health problem (The Australasian Genetics Resource Book, 2007). Pharmacogenetics refers to the study of inter-individual specific genetic variation (Zika et al. 2006). The term pharmacogenetics is occasionally used in a limiting sense to describe how different gene variants affect drug-response but it can also be defined more broadly as the study of the effect of heredity on human drug-response (Newton et al. 2007). Factors that influence how an individual responds to medication include their external and internal environments and overall health, as well as their genetic make-up. The goal of pharmacogenetics is to understand the role that an individuals genetic make-up plays in how well a medicine works, as well as what side effects are likely to occur in the individuals body. Understanding this can help tailor drugs in the future best suited for a particular individual (personalised medicine) or group (The Australian Genetics Resource Book, 2007). The small differences in the genes between different population groups, or some families within a population group, that have built up over the generations can mean that they react differently to medicines. However, some diseases, notably cancers, develop in cells which have an altered genetic constitution, so that the genetic make-up of the diseased tissue is no longer the same as that of the person in which it is present. Specific genes present in the diseased tissue may play a critical role in determining the optimum treatment. To establish this, it will therefore be necessary to identify the genetic make-up of the cancer itself: testing the patient before a cancer has developed is of no use, because the genetic changes are only present in the cancer cells and not in the normal host tissues (Nuffield Council on Bioethics, 2003). Some potential benefits of pharmacogenetics include the following: More powerful medicines: Drugs may be developed targeting specific health problems that will maximise therapeutic effects but decrease damage to nearby healthy cells Safer drugs the first time: Doctors could have an idea which drug to use based on a genetic profile versus trial and error, decreasing the likelihood of adverse reactions More accurate methods of determining dosages: Instead of dosages being based on body weight and age, it would be based on an individuals genetics. This would decrease the likelihood of an overdose. Better vaccines: Vaccines made of genetic material could activate the immune system to have all the benefits of existing vaccines but with reduced risks of infections (The Australasian Genetics Resource Book, 2007). Implications of pharmacogenetics in practice are vast and encompass broad areas such as: Drug response the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have been found to be greater in people of European or UK ancestry than African-Americans. Pre-treatment genetic screening of patients will eventually enable this knowledge to be applied in clinical practice. Moreover, variation in the genes that code for receptors (drug targets) may mean that some people may produce receptors that do not interact well with the drug. For example, some people have a lack of response to the drug salbutamol, used in the treatment of asthma, due to genetic variation in the gene that codes a receptor on the surface of smooth muscle cells lining airways of the lungs. Drug targets Genes may also determine how many of the receptors are produced on or within cells and genetic variation may mean that some people produce more of these sites than others. The action of the widely used antipsychotic drug haloperidol (Haldol) depends on its ability to bind to the dopamine (D2) receptor site. In one study, 63% of patients whose genetic make-up caused a large number of these receptor sites to be produced had a response to treatment with haloperidol. About 29% of patients with a smaller number of dopamine (D2) receptor sites responded well to the drug. Drug metabolism Pain relief medications such as codeine require an enzyme produced in the liver called CYP2D6 for the drug to be used by the body, break it down and remove it. Variations in the information contained in the CYP2D6 gene determine how much of this enzyme is produced in the liver (The Australasian Genetics Resource Book, 2007). The implication of variations in genotype on the metabolism of the immunosuppressant azathioprine is also an example. Polymorphisms in the gene encoding for the enzyme thiopurine S-methyl transferase (TPMT) lead to changes in the activity of the enzyme and rate of metabolism of azathioprine. Changes in the activity of the enzyme present clinically as an increased risk of neutropenia or a decreased chance of responding to azathioprine, at normal dose ranges. A genetic test for the polymorphism can identify individuals who are more likely to develop neutropenia. Thus, the aim of a pharmacogenetic test here is to minimise an adverse effect, although in other cases, a pharmacogenetic test may be able to predict an effective responseto a medicine by correlating an individuals genotype with the observed pharmacological actions of medicines (phenotype) (Clemerson et al. 2006). Drug development Excluding from clinical trials those people whose genetic makeup would make the drug being tested harmful or ineffective for them will increase the chance that a drug will show itself useful to a particular population group. This would increase the chance that the same drug will make it into the marketplace. Undertaking pre-genetic screening of those patients taking part in a clinical trial should also make the clinical trials smaller, faster, and therefore less expensive. For example, as seen in clinical trials for developing drugs for Alzheimer disease and other forms of dementia (The Australasian Genetics Resource Book, 2007). The application of pharmacogenetics has two main aspects: improvements in the safety and efficacy of medicines. In improving safety, pharmacogenetics works in the following ways: Pharmacogenetic tests reveal genetic variations already known to be associated with adverse reactions, allowing physicians to avoid exposing patients to medicines that would put them at risk. The majority of adverse reactions are caused because of an exaggerated effect of a medicine in the body. Less often, an adverse reaction may be an idiosyncratic response to the medicine. Adverse reactions to medicines have significant costs, in both human and monetary terms. However, it is difficult to ascertain the impact of genetic variation in response to medicines because data concerning adverse reactions often include problems caused by errors in prescription, and because information about other causes such as interaction between different medicines may be non-existent. Results from pharmacogenetic tests may also inform physicians in selecting the medicine most likely to benefit a particular patient. Many medicines are effective in only a proportion of patients treated. Sometimes, for a medicine to be effective, different doses are required for different patients. In the absence of a pharmacogenetic test for efficacy, the most appropriate medicine or dose is conventionally found by trial and error, although in some cases, tests of renal function may be used to predict the appropriate dose. It has been suggested that a trial and error approach to prescription may reduce compliance for medicines that do work, since patients acquire a general aversion to taking medicines because of the unpleasant side-effects which they might experience. This therefore helps in improving efficacy of medicines (Nuffield Council on Bioethics, 2003). A potential barrier to the development of pharmacogenetic tests concerns the application of intellectual property rights. Pharmacogenetic tests may be developed in a number of ways. The pharmaceutical company which is developing the medicine may also develop the pharmacogenetic test. Alternatively, a third party, such as another company or researchers from the public sector may develop the test independently. Furthermore, while the effect of pharmacogenetics may be to reduce some of the costs of developing new medicines, it would be imprudent to infer from this that the cost of purchasing medicines will necessarily fall (Nuffield Council on Bioethics, 2003). Pharmacogenomics Pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variations that influence individual response to drugs.   Knowing whether a patient carries any of these genetic variations can help prescribers individualise drug therapy, decrease the chance for adverse drug events, and increase the effectiveness of drugs (AMA, 2013).   Pharmacogenomics holds the promise that drugs might be tailor-made for individuals and adapted to each persons own genetic makeup. Environment, diet, age, lifestyle, and state of health all can influence a persons response to medicines, but understanding an individuals genetic makeup is thought to be the key to creating personalised drugs with greater efficacy and safety. Pharmacogenomics combines traditional pharmaceutical sciences such as biochemistry with annotated knowledge of genes, proteins, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (Human Genome Project Information, 2011). The field of pharmacogenomics is still in its infancy. Its use is currently quite limited, but new approaches are under study in clinical trials. In the future, pharmacogenomics will allow the development of tailored drugs to treat a wide range of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and asthma (Genetics Home Reference, 2013). The cytochrome P450 (CYP) family of liver enzymes is responsible for breaking down more than 30 different classes of drugs. DNA variations in genes that code for these enzymes can influence their ability to metabolise some drugs. Less active or inactive forms of CYP enzymes that are unable to break down and properly eliminate drugs from the body can cause drug overdose in patients. Clinical trials researchers use genetic tests for variations in cytochrome P450 genes to screen and monitor patients. In addition, many pharmaceutical companies screen their chemical compounds to see how well they are broken down by variant forms of CYP enzymes. Another enzyme called TPMT (thiopurine methyltransferase) plays an important role in the chemotherapy treatment of common childhood leukemia by breaking down a class of therapeutic compounds called thiopurines. A small percentage of Caucasians have genetic variants that prevent them from producing an active form of this protein. As a result, thiopurines elevate to toxic levels in the patient because the inactive form of TMPT is unable to break down the drug. Today, doctors can use a genetic test to screen patients for this deficiency, and the TMPT activity is monitored to determine appropriate thiopurine dosage levels (Human Genome Project Information, 2011). Similarly to pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics  has the potential to  provide tailored drug therapy based on genetically determined variation in effectiveness and side effects (AMA, 2013). This will mean: More powerful medicines   Pharmaceutical companies will be able to produce therapies more targeted to specific diseases, maximising therapeutic effects while decreasing damage to nearby healthy cells. Better, safer drugs the first time   Recovery time will go down and safety will go up as the likelihood of adverse reactions goes down or is eliminated altogether. Improvements in drug discovery, design, and development are obvious applications for pharmacogenomics. A deeper understanding of the genetic factors which cause variance in drug metabolism can aid in the design of drugs with improved potency, reduced toxicity, and fewer side effects. For example, pharmacogenomics can identify potential drug targets (targets are typically enzymes or other proteins), and determine which targets are least prone to genetic variance. By selecting drug targets which are not prone to genetic variance, drug designers can create drugs which are more likely to have standard, expected, and safe reactions in people who take it. More accurate methods of determining appropriate drug dosages   Current methods of basing dosages on weight and age will be replaced with dosages based on a persons genetics how well the body processes the medicine and the time it takes to metabolise it. Pharmacogenomics can also be useful in clinical trials for drugs which have passed through the approval process sufficiently that human trials are possible. Using this approach, a technique called genostratification can be used in selecting participants for clinical trials. This means that clinicians use genetic typing to select participants who are genetically more likely to react positively to the treatment which is under study. This can potentially allow for an improved level of treatment success, and means that proof of concept can be achieved sooner. This technique can also allow for a reduction in the required sample size for the trial, or shortened trial duration. Ultimately, a drug which may help save or improve lives can be used in the general public more quickly than otherwise would be possible. Economic issues from molecule to marketplace Pharmacogenomics eventually can lead to an overall decrease in the cost of health care because of decreases in: the number of adverse drug reactions, the number of failed drug trials, the time it takes to get a drug approved, the length of time patients are on medication, the number of medications patients must take to find an effective therapy, and the effects of a disease on the body (through early detection). Applying pharmacogenomics to patient treatment can help devise individualised treatment regimes, to ensure that patients receive the drugs which are most appropriate for their genetic makeup. In particular, this approach has significant potential in treating cancer, because there is a great degree of variance in the way people react to chemotherapy drugs. Tumors themselves are highly variable in genetic terms, and this partially accounts for the variance in drug responses. Using an approach which individualizes treatment regimes, to accommodate for this variance could improve cancer treatments significantly. Pharmacogenomics is useful in general for patient treatment because it has the potential to identify on an individual basis the drugs which might cause adverse reactions. A person who might experience such a reaction can then be prescribed an alternative drug (Lloyd, 2008). However, there are several potential barriers to pharmacogenomics which have to be overcome before the above discussed benefits of pharmacogenomics can be realised (Human Genome Project Information, 2011). These include the following: Complexity of finding gene variations that affect drug response   Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are DNA sequence variations that occur when a single nucleotide (A,T,C,or G) in the genome sequence is altered. SNPs occur every 100 to 300 bases along the 3-billion-base human genome, therefore millions of SNPs must be identified and analyzed to determine their involvement (if any) in drug response. Further complicating the process is our limited knowledge of which genes are involved with each drug response. Since many genes are likely to influence responses, obtaining the big picture on the impact of gene variations is highly time-consuming and complicated. Limited drug alternatives   Only one or two approved drugs may be available for treatment of a particular condition. If patients have gene variations that prevent them using these drugs, they may be left without any alternatives for treatment. Disincentives for drug companies to make multiple pharmacogenomic products   Most pharmaceutical companies have been successful with their one size fits all approach to drug development. Since it costs hundreds of millions of dollars to bring a drug to market, will these companies be willing to develop alternative drugs that serve only a small portion of the population? Educating healthcare providers   Introducing multiple pharmacogenomic products to treat the same condition for different population subsets undoubtedly will complicate the process of prescribing and dispensing drugs. Physicians must execute an extra diagnostic step to determine which drug is best suited to each patient. To interpret the diagnostic accurately and recommend the best course of treatment for each patient, all prescribing physicians, regardless of specialty, will need a better understanding of genetics. Conclusion Despite the various potential barriers to both pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics, these fields are rapidly evolving with the promise that someday a simple and rapid DNA test will determine potential risks of adverse effects with a certain drug, and thus turning to another drug which would be more suitable for the patient.

Cultural Diversity Essay -- essays research papers

Cultural Diversity: Campus Climates and Classroom Instruction American Society has been and continues to become increasingly mixed, complex, and variegated in its cultural practices and ethnic make up. However, the state schools have fallen short of race goals established thirty-one years ago in a desegregation case now known as Geier v. Sundquist. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has notoriously had one of the worst recruiting efforts for diversifying undergraduates. This realization makes the cultural atmosphere at Knoxville non-diversified resulting in a predominantly white campus. Despite recent statistics from 1993-1994, African Americans’ enrollment is about 5 percent of the student body, and only 4 percent of the faculty. Moreover, American Indian, Hispanic, and Asian Americans now comprise about 5 percent of the enrollment, and international student enrollment have also maintained a fair 4 percent. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville should recognize the dynamic interaction of communities and cultures that comprise c ontemporary America, as well as the world. Reflecting on this interaction, the university should change its curriculum and campus environment because campus climates ultimately influence the effectiveness of a diverse democracy and, therefore builds a mutually respectfully community. There could be reasonable objections to diversifying the campus here at UT, but the major philosophy is to expand our knowledge of other cultures and to explor...