Conflict Resolution. Compare conflict resolution techniques in two Term Paper

Conflict Resolution. Compare conflict resolution techniques in two different cultures, such as American and Mexican - Term Paper Example The USA belongs to so-called individualistic culture. Besides, this is a country with a low level of power-distance and fear of uncertainty. The Americans use to resolve the conflicts by means of such methods as competition. The Mexican culture is a collectivist culture with high level of power-distance and fear of uncertainty. The representatives are prone to resolve the conflicts by means of cooperation and compromise to resolve the conflict. The conflict, according to K. Thomas - is "a process that arises when one party assumes that the other party is going to impede or interfere with the intentions of the first side" (cited in Lorenzen 2006). K. Thomas identified five styles of behavior in conflict resolution. The modern view is that even the organizations with efficient management have some conflicts; moreover, the conflicts are not only possible, but also desirable. Of course, the conflict does not always produce positive effects. In some cases it can interfere with the needs o f the individual and the goals of the organization as a whole (Augsburger 1992). Some conflict can be functional and lead to increased organizational effectiveness. Or it can be dysfunctional, and then it leads to a decrease in personal satisfaction, group cooperation and effectiveness of the organization. ... Cooperation – â€Å"let's solve this problem together† – an active style, strives to cooperate with other party. In this situation, both parties are committed to achieving their goals. Such manner of behavior characterized by the desire to solve the problem, find out the differences, exchange ideas and information. Such a strategy is often called the approach â€Å"win – win†. Avoidance of conflict – â€Å"leave me alone† is a passive style of conflict solution, which does not seek to any cooperation. One side can acknowledge that a conflict exists, but chooses the manner of behavior, characterized by the desire to avoid conflict or stifle it. Such party delays the conflict solution, using a variety of half-measures in order to dampen the conflict, or covert action to avoid a confrontation. Compliance – â€Å"only after you†- is a passive style, seeking to cooperation. In some cases, one party may try to placate the other and put their interests above their own ones. The given strategy implies the desire to soothe the other party; it involves compliance, obedience and suppleness. Compromise – â€Å"let's meet each other’s interests†- the average position by two parameters: activity - passivity, a willingness to cooperate - its absence. When both sides make concessions, partly by refusing their claims, a compromise is reached. Nobody wins and nobody loses. Such solution involves the search for options and ways to mutually beneficial agreements. Like any other aspect of organizational behavior, style of conflict resolution is subject to significant influence of national cultures. â€Å"To create conditions for cooperation, the leaders of the international level should study

Conceptual paper on marketing of your choice Research

Conceptual on marketing of your choice - Research Paper Example Sustainability is relative to the societal concept, which means that tourism resources must be under control to ensure an environment free from pollution. Besides, it focuses on depletion and must be applied appropriately in a way that benefit the future generation. With many concerns of environment, tourism industry has since adopted the concept of sustainability. As such, it has remained an important concept towards environmental sustainability. Mayon (2013), clarifies that there is a wide range of possibilities by, which the public spend holiday activities and leisure time. Touring and exploring the environment is one of the leisure activities that most people love. Whereas, some members of the public may decide to seek for the nature walk in the jungle far away from home, others may decide to utilize such an opportunity in luxurious hotels. Regardless of any form of leisure, precautions must be taken to ensure that its negative impacts to the environment are avoided. It has also been pointed out that tourism exert pressure to the environment around the destinations that are frequented by members of the public. In essence, a tour around coastal terrain causes an impact to the communities, especially around areas that are mostly dominated by visitors. In certain environments, hotels and lodges have been built taking up land that initially played an important host to both living organisms and the society that are also critical to the ecosystem. Besides, campsites and bone fire that are used as alternative accommodation to warm the environment during at night have also attributed to massive degradation of the environment. The above activities enhance the rate of landslides and depletion of water catchment areas. Eventually, the environment becomes even much more eroded when raw toxic wastes from restaurants are released into water bodies hence increasing the rate of

Energy and States of Matter Essay Example for Free

Energy and States of Matter Essay Everything changes, that is a fact. We can find changes, even in simple things that we use. Have you ever asked why does an ice cube turn back onto water when you let it stand outside the freezer? Or do you know why an ice cream melts? We knew about the three basic phases of matter – solid, liquid and gas. From our basic chemistry, we taught about the change of state or phase of matter wherein soli becomes liquid and liquid turns to gas and vice versa. The question is, why do they change phase? To really understand those phenomena, we should look onto the two different graphical illustrations of the changes of states of a substance, cooling curve and heating curve and thereby understand what is really happening on the molecular structure of a substance. Heat is very crucial in these changes on the form of certain substances. This is the energy transformed between two objects brought about by the difference on both temperatures. It means, when you let an ice cube in a plate, after a day, you will find it gone already. The heat causes the ice to melt and eventually turn it into gas and disperse it onto the air. Two types of energy involved are the Kinetic Energy (KE), the motion energy which is dependent on the mass and velocity of an object and the Potential Energy (PE), the resting energy or energy due to position and composition. Heat affects KE and said to be directly proportional to each other. As you increase the heat, the temperature increases resulting to an increase on KE. Heat, Temperature, KE and PE are the main factors why do changes on state of matter occur. Changes are due to evaporation (liquid to gas), freezing (liquid to solid), condensation (gas to liquid), melting (solid to liquid), sublimation (solid to gas) and deposition (gas to solid). All of these processes are result of the changes on the amount of heat added or removed from a certain substance, thereby increasing or decreasing the temperature thru time. Cooling Curve Cooling curve is a graphical representation of the changes of states of substances as heat is uniformly removed from it. At t0 – t1 heat is removed from the gaseous state. The average KE of the gas particles decreases as the temperature drops until it is reached at t1 where gas starts to liquefy. The temperature at which gas and liquid coexist is called liquefaction or condensation point of the substance, which is just equivalent to boiling point of the heating curve. At this time, the average PE remains constant because there is no change yet on the composition of the gas. At t ¬1 – t2 (liquefaction point) there is no change on the average KE of the particles and temperature stays at constant level. Heat is still being removed causing the decrease on Average PE. Since there is decreasing amount of heat, there is a failure to overcome forces of attraction between particles of the liquid forming gas. The gas particles are compressed and converted into liquid wherein stored PE is released. At this time, the amount of gas decreases while the amount of liquid increases, until reaching t2 where all the gases have been converted to liquid. At t2 – t3, the average KE of the liquid particles decreases and the temperature reaches low level until t3 where the liquid starts to solidify. Freezing or crystallization of substances occurs at the temperature where liquid and solid coexist. At this point, liquid is no longer a liquid but already turned onto solid state. The molecules of the liquid have been compressed as result of continuous removal of heat from the substance. This time, the average PE continues to decrease because of the amount of heat being removed. Freezing point is just equivalent to melting point in the heating curve. At t3 – t4, there is no change on the average KE and the temperature of the substance stays constant. Heat is still being removed causing a decrease on average PE of the substance. This time, the amount of liquid decreases and the amount of solid increases until reaching t4 when sufficient heat has been removed thus converting all the liquid into solid. The particles of the substance are oriented properly to form the crystalline lattice at the freezing point. Sometimes, it happens that the heat is continuously removed from the substance without crystallization. At this point, the temperature drops below its freezing point and errors in orienting the particles occur. This phenomenon is learned as Supercooling. We can reduce supercooling by introduction of a seed crystal for the crystallization to occur and thereby initiating the proper structure. Heating Curve Heating curve is just the opposite of cooling curve. The curve illustrates changes of states of a substance with uniform addition of heat to it. At t0 – t1 heat is added to the solid causing the increase on average KE of its particles. The particles are agitated making them disoriented and result into a slightly less ordered solid state. Temperature rises and at t1, solid starts to melt. T1 is termed as melting point of the substance on which solid and liquid coexist. At t1 – t2, there is no change on the average KE and the temperature stays constant. Since KE doesn’t change, average PE must increase as heat is continuously added. Now, forces of attraction between particles have been overcome because of high amount of heat. The amount of heat is being stored as potential energy. At this time, amount of solid decreases while the amount of liquid increases. Eventually at t2, sufficient heat has been added to convert the entire solid to liquid. At t2 ¬ – t3 the average KE and temperature increases. When the increasing temperature reaches t3, the liquid starts to evaporate. At this temperature (t2), liquid and gas coexist and is termed as boiling point of the substance. At t3 – t4, there is no change in the average KE and temperature remains constant. The force of attraction between liquid particles has been overcome due to addition of more heat. The amount of heat added is still being stored in form of PE. PE increases and the amount of liquid decreases while the amount of gas increases. At t4, sufficient heat has been added to convert all the liquid to gas. As oppose to supercooling, superheating also occurs where liquid is heated to a temperature above its boiling point without evaporation.

Cellular Molecular Mechanisms Of Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome Biology Essay

Cellular Molecular Mechanisms Of Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome Biology Essay Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS or progeria) is a very rare autosomal dominant disorder which results in premature aging and eventually death. Patients are often very underweight at birth and will display conclusive symptoms of premature aging within 18-24 months, such as reduced body fat, hair loss and aged skin, alongside tissue and organ degeneration. Average lifespan for sufferers of HGPS is thirteen years and cause of death is invariably due to heart failure. Due to the nature of these symptoms, HGPS is referred to as an accelerated aging disorder. Currently, only 100 cases of HGPS have been formally documented, around 50 of which are children who are alive today; however it is estimated that a further 150 children worldwide currently suffer from HGPS, but have not yet been formally diagnosed. The identification of the HGPS mutation has only recently been identified and located on codon 608 of the LMNA gene, which codes for four types of lamin proteins: lamin A, lamin C, lamin Aà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  10 and lamin Cà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  2. These, along with the B-type lamin are responsible for keeping the structure of the nucleus together by forming a scaffold which lines and interacts with the nuclear membrane. The LMNA mutation leads to the expression of progerin, rather than lamin A, altering the structure of the nuclear membrane and leading to loss of nuclear integrity, DNA damage and a compromised DNA double-strand-break repair mechanism. This causes a variety of problems relating to normal cellular function as well as resulting in increased apoptosis and significantly decreased proliferation rates. Until recently, medical assistance for children with HGPS only involved treating the symptoms which accompany the disease, rather than the effects of the HGPS mutation; however in August 2009, clinical trials began testing the effects of farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) on HGPS patients. This was following experimental evidence from Toth et al (2005) who showed that human fibroblast cells expressing progerin had reversed nuclear alterations when treated with farnesyltransferase inhibitors in vitro. Introduction Aging is a normal and natural physiological process which all living things must experience, unless death should occur prematurely. Aging impairs verve and mobility, causes hair loss, weakens bones and inevitably will ultimately lead to death. As humans, the price that must be paid for our unique self-awareness is the knowledge that we will eventually age and die, forcing us to come to terms with our own mortality and compelling us to value youth. Patients suffering from HGPS are not given the opportunity to experience their youth in the same way as most. By 18-24 months their bodies are already showing signs of physiological aging and by 5 years old they will show more signs of age-related disease than many adults in their 70s. In young, healthy humans, cells are able to cope with the assault of DNA damage which all livings organisms will unavoidably encounter over time. Over time, the ability to deal with this damage lessens and the physiological process of aging will gradually occ ur. HGPS cells are not capable of dealing with this DNA damage to the same extent and so aging happens quickly and prematurely. Despite this, intelligence and cognitive function in children with HGPS are often above average compared to other children within their age bracket (Progeria Research Foundation, 2006). To understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of HGPS, it is first important to understand the process of normal aging in healthy humans. Normal Physiological aging Aging on an evolutionary level may be described as a progressive decline in fitness (the ability to survive and reproduce) due to a decline in tissue functionality with increasing age (Partridge Gems, 2002). On a cellular level it may be described as a progressive functional decline and increase in cell mortality (Lombard et al., 2005). Although many theories have been proposed, no conclusive theory has been agreed upon to explain how or why we age. Aging is thought to be caused by various genetic and environmental factors. At the cellular level this progressive malfunction of tissue is thought to be due to accumulation of damage by various biomolecules which leads to cell loss or damage (Vijg, 2000). Usually the body has the ability to regenerate these damaged or lost cells through pools of stem cells, however the body does not have the ability to regenerate infinitely and over time this causes a decline in tissue functions typical of aging. This is consistent with the disposable soma theory of aging (Kirkwood Holliday, 1979), which states that cell repair and maintenance (including DNA repair, defence against oxidants, etc) are costly activities. To work to extend life indefinitely would make little sense, as in the wild many organisms have an extremely high mortality rate. Therefore, animals have evolved in such a way that energy invested in maintaining the soma is limited, so that the animal is kept alive long enough for it to reproduce, but not to keep it alive indefinitely. Past this point, the bodys regeneration mechanisms fail and physiological aging becomes apparent. From an evolutionary point of view, this theory makes more sense than others which are based around aging being a genetically inbuilt process, as this would provide no benefit whatsoever to the individual animal or the species as a whole. Aging may involve damage to a variety of cellular components; however damage to various DNA and RNA molecules is likely to be a major contributing factor. Despite the cells inbuilt mechanisms designed to repair damage, damaged DNA which has not been restored perfectly can lead to mutations with detrimental consequences. Balaban et al. (2005) outlines the potential role for damaged mitochondria DNA in the process of aging, however nuclear DNA is a more likely culprit. Mitochrondial DNA has thousands of copies present within the cell which can be replaced if damaged, whereas there are only two copies of nuclear DNA. Several studies have shown that as age increases, so does the risk of mutation (Martin et al., 1996) and there is substantial evidence to suggest a causal link between damage to nuclear DNA and physiological aging. Sedelnikova et al. (2008) showed that the level of double strand breaks (DSBs) that take place increase with age and older cells are less able to repair these DS Bs. Finally, there is the observation that symptoms of progeria are caused by defined mutations in DNA maintenance proteins, which leads to impaired DNA repair mechanisms (Musich Zou, 2009). HGPS belongs to a group of disorders known as segmental progeroid syndromes, characterised by early manifestation of features usually associated with normal physiological aging. They are consequently referred to as accelerated aging disorders. HGPS Background HGPS was first described over 120 years ago by Hutchinson (1886) and again later by Gilford (1904). Since its original classification in 1886, just over 100 cases of the disease have been documented. It affects around 1 in 4-8 million newborns all over the world with no preference for gender. Figure 1 Locations of children around the world who have been diagnosed with HGPG. There are currently 50 living children diagnosed with HGPS, most of whom reside in affluent Western countries. It is estimated that a further 150 children worldwide suffer from progeria but have not yet been identified due to insufficient means to diagnose in less prosperous countries as well as the rarity and complexity of the disease and the fact that the HGPS gene has only recently been identified. (Adapted from the Progeria Research Foundation, 2006) Children with progeria are often born appearing healthy, however shortly after birth it becomes apparent that weight and height gain are below that of which is expected of healthy children (Merideth et al., 2008). By 18-24 months of age they begin to display signs of premature aging, which can be seen in figure 2 below. Figure 2: A 3 and a half year old boy with HGPS showing typical progeroid symptoms. These include stunted growth, loss of hair and body fat, aged skin and unusually prominent eyes. Non-visible symptoms include stiff joints, atherosclerosis., osteoporosis and fatigue. Impaired growth does not seem to be due to any hormone inbalance/resistance or malnutrition. Cardiovascular problems are generally thought to be caused by loss of smooth muscle cells, disruption of the extracellular matrix and other irregularities in vascular structure. Life span ranges from 8 21 years with the average being around 13 years old. Death is almost invariably caused by atherosclerosis (Progeria Research Foundation, 2006). HGPS has recently been acknowledged as part of a family of diseases known as laminopathies, as it is caused by a dominant mutation on the LMNA gene. Before the identification of the gene responsible for progeria, diagnosis was carried out solely on the symptoms that have been mentioned. Thanks to the recent discovery of the mutated gene (Eriksson et al., 2003), diagnosis can be carried out based on the appearance of this mutation. HGSP is caused by a de novo mutation on the LMNA gene, although other progeroid syndromes may be hereditary. The lamins The LMNA gene codes for the nuclear A-type lamin proteins: lamin A, lamin C, lamin Aà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  10 and lamin Cà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  2 (Fisher et al., 1986). These, along with the B-type lamins are responsible for keeping the structure of the nucleus together by forming a scaffold which lines and interacts with the nuclear membrane. The structure of the nuclear lamina within the nuclear envelope is shown in figure 3. Figure 3: Structure and function of the nuclear lamina The lamina exists on the inner nuclear membrane (INM), providing structural support and helping with chromatin organisation as well as binding nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), nuclear proteins (purple) and transcription factors (pink). Barrier to auto integration factor (BAF) is a chromatin-associated protein which binds to the lamina and various nuclear envelope proteins (Coutinho et al. 2009) Fawcett (1966) deduced that the lamins are components of the nuclear lamina, a layer found between the chromatin and the nuclear envelope initially thought to provide structural support for the nuclear membrane and a location for the chromatin to attach. Recently, further roles of nuclear lamins have been proposed, including DNA synthesis, transcription, apoptosis and assembly of the nuclear envelope. It has been determined that several isoforms of lamins are encoded by three different genes: The LMNA gene encodes lamin A, lamin C, lamin Aà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  10 and lamin Cà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  2 and the LMNB1 gene encodes lamin B1 and LMNB2 encodes B2 and B3 lamins (Stuurman et al., 1998). Whilst every vertebrate cell expresses at least one type of B lamin, lamins encoded by the LMNA gene are only expressed in differentiated tissue. This observations suggest that lamin encoded by LMNA may have specific roles within certain cells. It is possible that the role of these lamins is in fact to induce or maintain differentiation within these cells, although no conclusive evidence has been presented to support this. It is likely, however, that A type lamins have roles related to and dependant on correct chromatin organisation and nuclear structure. This includes reformation of the nuclear envelope post-mitosis, transcription, DNA replication and nuclear positioning (Holaska et al., 2003; Spann., 20 02; Moir et al., 2000; Haque et al., 2006). Although studies have shown that LMNA deficient mice develop normally, shortly after birth growth problems occur (Sullivan et al., 1999). Shortly before cell division in the late prophase stage of the cell cycle, the phosphorylation of lamin subunits takes place, causing the nuclear envelope to break down. A-type lamins are the first to be disassembled, occurring during early prophase, whilst B-type lamins are disassembled during prometaphase (Georgatos et al., 1997). This course of action is thought to be a necessary requirement for the reassembly of the nuclear envelope after cell division have taken place (Burke and Gerace, 1986). However, studies such as those by Newport et al. (1990) have provided evidence against these theories, stating that when these disassembled lamin subunits are imported, they are done so into a formed nuclear envelope with fully functional pores. Perhaps is it possible that a finite number of lamin monomers are used in the reassembly of the nuclear envelope and the rest are transported in at a later stage. The role of lamins in DNA replication is unclear, however several studies have suggested that Xenopus interphase extracts were depleted of Lamin B3 which resulted in a lack of DNA replication (Newport et al., 1990), however it remained unclear whether this was entirely due to the absence of lamins or if other factors, such as a smaller and more fragile nuclear envelope, contributed. A later study by Moir et al. (2000) provided evidence to suggest that normal nuclear lamin organisation is required for DNA synthesis and that this dependency is completely unrelated to the insufficient formation of the nuclear envelope. It appears that when nuclear lamin organisation is incorrect, the elongation phase of replication fails to take place, probably due to an alteration in distribution of elongation factors, Replication Factor Complex and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen. The potential role of nuclear lamins in transcription has been put forward by Spann et al. (2002), who disrupted the normal nuclear organisation of nuclear lamins using a dominant negative mutant lamin lacking the NH2- domain. This resulted in the inhibition of RNA polymerase II activity in both mammalian and embryonic Xenopus cells. Notably, RNA polymerases I and III were not affected. The role of lamins in apoptosis is directly related to the state of the nuclear envelope. Apoptosis is a very precise physiological mechanism for effective destruction of unwanted cells without causing inflammation or distress to other cells, as would occur in necrosis. Lamin degradation is one of the processes that occur during apoptosis, however several studies have suggested nuclear lamins play a role in the induction of apoptosis (Rao et al, 1996; Di Matola et al., 2001). Post mitosis, protein phosphatise 1 (PP1) is dispatched to the nuclear envelope to initiate lamin B reformation. If this process is abolished, lamin B is degraded and apoptotic signals take place. As previously mentioned, expression of lamins A/C is limited to differentiated cells. Due to their role in DNA replication and transcription, several researchers have hypothesised that they play a role in gene expression as well. Gupta and Saumyaa (2008) propose that specialised A/C lamin expression regulates gene expr ession in such a way which may prevent cell division and cause the cell to undergo terminal differentiation a form of programmed cell death. Lamins are also used for chromatin organisation and positioning within the nucleus, so cells with LMNA mutations exhibit a range of problems involving abnormal chromosome organisation. Glass et al (1993) showed that A lamins interact with chromatin by binding histones as well as indirectly through lamin-binding proteins such as LAP2ÃŽÂ ± and barrier-ro-autointegration (BAF) (Holaska et al., 2003). Cellular and molecular mechanisms of HGPS The most commonly reported mutation responsible for causing HGPS is LMNA  codon 608 in exon 11 (c. 1824 C>T). Although the LMNA gene encodes both A and C type lamins, only A lamins are affected as exon 11 is not present in lamin Cs. Whilst this point substitution does not result in an amino acid change (G608G ) it partially activates a cryptic splice site, resulting in the deletion of ~50 amino acids near the carboxyl terminal in lamin A (LAà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  50) but maintaining the CAAX site. Amongst the deleted amino acids is the ZMPSTE24 cleavage site, which is necessary for the maturation of lamin A. This results in farnesylation and carboxymethylation of lamin A, resulting in progerin (Capell et al., 2005). This cryptic splice site is only partially activated and it is estimated that only 10-50% of splices mRNA in transcribed. Since the second LMNA allele is normal, there is still some presence of wild-type lamin A although it is present in much lower levels. Whilst most HGPA pat ients are heterozygous for LMNA p.G608G, mutations have been reported on other location on the LMNA gene, such as one patient with a p. E145K mutation and another with 471C and R527C mutations (Goldman et al., 2002). These mutations have lead to various laminopathies very similar to HGPS (often referred to as atypical HGPS) however the pathophysiological manifestation of these diseases is probably different as they do not result in the production of progerin. HGPS cells are significantly larger than normal cells and usually have large cytoplasmic vacuoles, an abnormally shaped and sized nucleus, often distorted with chromatin extrusion (De Sandreà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Giovannoli et al., 2003). Goldman et al. (2004) also report evidence of misshapen nuclear envelopes and abnormally thick lamina, both of which are associated with other mutations on the LMNA gene. Not surprisingly, these structural abnormalities cause a variety of cellular dysfunctions including loss of structural nuclear integrity and certain mitotic problems such as irregular chromosome separation, delays in cytokinesis and nuclear assembly and binucleation (Dechat et al., 2007). The loss of nuclear integrity can have a detrimental effect of the function of the cell, however it does not remove all structural ability of the nucleus and cell, it only reduces it. This means that the tissues most likely to be affected by a comprised nucleus are those which are consistently subjected t o mechanical stress, such as blood vessels. Indeed, vasculature in HGPS patients is often severely compromised and death is almost always caused by heart failure. HGPS cells have abnormal chromosome organization in interphase nuclei and can show a loss of peripheral heterochromatin, possibly due to various epigenetic changes. These include upregulation of genes such as H3K9me3 and H4K20me3, both of which are involved in the definition of constitutive heterochromatin (Columbaro, 2005). The H3K27me3, responsible for the definition of facultative heterochromatin, is downregulated, possible due to a reduction in the expression of the histone methyltransferase enhancer EZH2 used for H3K27 trimethylation (Schumaker et al., 2006). Evidence has suggested that these changes in heterochromatin due to altered gene expression may often result in further changes in gene expression. An interesting line of investigation to follow would be to monitor the expression of various other genes in HGPS cells. It is important to understand if HGPS enhances or inhibits the expression of various other genes and, if so, what these genes are and whether these genes play a part in the HGPS phenotype. Since lamin A only appears in differentiated cells, it is possible that one of the roles of lamin A is to maintain differentiation of the cells by securing tissue-specific gene expression. This could mean that the premature aging phenotype is not actually related to normal physiological ageing, but occurs due to certain tissues being unable to perform their designated function due to incorrect gene expression, leading to cell death, tissue degeneration and organ failure. Several studies have indicated that HGPS cells show increased damage to DNA. This was demonstrated by Bridger and Kill (2004) whose experiments showed that HGPS cells were unable to proliferate sufficiently when kept in culture and showed increased rates of apoptosis as well as demonstrating early signs of cellular aging. All of these afflictions are caused by damage to nuclear DNA. Liu et al (2006) also demonstrated that HGPS cells have increased activity in their DNA repair pathways, strongly implying that DNA damage has occurred. The most compelling evidence to suggest DNA damage as a likely culprit for progeroid symptoms is presented in a study by Liu et al. (2005), which showed that HGPS cells have a double strand break (DSB) repair defect. These cells show less concentrated levels of DSB repair factors such as Rad50 and Rad51 as well as damage signaling molecules such as 53BP1. With this evidence, the conclusion can be drawn that Lamin A in necessary for complete DNA repair to take place when necessary, and also that DSB repair is diminished in HGPS cells. DSBs are the most dangerous type of DNA damage that can potentially occur as a result of the constant attack from various agents, as they can potentially result in loss or confusion of genetic information or cell death. To some extent, DSBs occur naturally within the body during normal processes such as meiosis (Keeney Neale, 2006), or during replication when the separated stands encounter blocking lesions. The level of DSBs that occur during these processes can be increased by UV radiation, ionizing radiation, various chemical agents and the presence of free radicals. When a DSB occurs, the cells defense mechanisms commands that the cell cycle halts and DSB repair mechanisms activate. DNA DSB repair mechanisms are thought to occur as one of two processes: Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). Although HR is thought to be considerably more accurate than NHEJ, neither mech anism will produce perfect results. Evidence has been presented to imply that as we age we become increasingly dependent on HR to repair DSBs as activity of NHEJ and all other mechanisms gradually decrease (Johnson-Schlitz Engels, 2006). Many of the changes to the nuclear membrane are not a direct result of insufficient lamin A, but instead are caused by the presence of Progerin, an abridged version of lamin A, and its accumulation of the INM. This accumulation results in alterations in the structure of the nuclear lamina. Liu et al. (2005) suggests that the inefficient DNA repair mechanisms which occur in HGPS cells are in fact due to raised levels of Progerin at the INM. Fitting with this theory, experiments designed to reduce the levels of Progerin have successfully managed improve the cellular phenotype of HGPS cells. Scaffidi and Mistelli (2005) proposed inhibiting the production of Progerin whilst leaving lamin A unaffected by using specific antisense morpholinos which inhibit splicing at the deviant site. Another approach is to treat HGPS cells with farnesly transferase inhibitors (FTIs) which, as the name suggests, inhibit farnesyl transferase, so preventing the modification of Progerin to the farnseylated ki nd seen in HGPS cells. Liu et al., (2006) have shown that this approach does not only improve the cellular and nuclear abnormalities of HGPS cells, but can actually improve the health of HGPS mice. However, FTIs are not specific to Progerin as antisense morpolinos are, and lamin A is likely to be inhibited as well as the modification of Progerin. It is also possible that several other unrelated proteins would be affected by this approach; however these negative side-effects have not yet been documented. Several potential cellular and molecular mechanisms which may contribute to the HGPS phenotype are described below in figure 4. Figure 4 Various cellular and molecular mechanisms which may contribute to the HGPS phenotype. Progerin becomes trapped within the nuclear membrane as a result of permanent farnesylation. Alteration of the normal lamina structure causes vulnerability to mechanical stress and some nuclear blebbing. Other consequences involve disruption of protein interactions, disorganization/loss of heterochromatin and disrupted interactions with RNA polymerase II, RNA splicing factors and transcription factors, causing misregulation of gene expression. (Coutinho et al. 2009) The way these cellular abnormalities cause the general HGPS phenotype are not yet understood and currently can only be speculated on. As further research is carried out regarding HGPS, the cause of premature aging throughout the whole body may become more transparent. Treatment Due to the rarity and complexity of HGPS, there is currently no known cure; however, there are a variety of treatments aimed at alleviating the symptoms which are associated with this disease (Progeria Research Foundation, 2006). It is recommended that patients suffering from HGPS have a regular and nutritional diet as well as supplementary vitamin tablets (in normal doses). Dental problems which occur as a result of HGPS are treated with fluoride supplements, and aspirin should be administered on occasion in order to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, which are invariably the main causes of death in HGPS children. In the case of heart-related problems such as angina, drugs like nitroglycerin may be used, although the dose should be measured carefully based on weight and height as use of anesthetics on children can be potentially dangerous. There is little that can be done to reduce the effect of reduced bone mass except for vitamin and calcium supplements, so children sho uld be accompanied at all times as they are at significantly greater risk of fracturing bones. The hip bones are particularly susceptible to dislocation due to coxa valga. Certain surgical procedures can take place to reduce the risk of this, as well as physical therapy in order to keep all joints as mobile as possible. The use of growth hormones has been suggested as a potential treatment for HGPS children; however the long term effects of this have not been shown to be significant. Currently there are several areas of research into possible clinical therapeutic treatments for progeria. Wang et al. (2008) and Liu et al (2006) demonstrated the use of farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) which appear to reduce the nuclear abnormalities present in HGPS cells, reducing the severity of symptoms on HGPS mice, improving their general health. Subjects showed improved cardiovascular health, a reduction in the number of bone fractures and improved survival and growth rates. This has been substantiated with evidence from Toth et al (2005) who showed that human fibroblast cells expressing progerin had reversed nuclear alterations when treated with FTIs in vitro. Clinical trials testing the effect of FTIs in children with HGPS began in August 2009 and ended the following December. Results from these trials are still being awaited. Summary Most of the breakthrough discoveries regarding HGPS have been made within the last few years. These include the location of the HGPS mutation, the nature of the disease and potential clinical therapies which are aimed at preventing the HGPS phenotype on a cellular and molecular level instead of simply treating the symptoms. There are several ways that the effects of the point mutation on the LMNA gene on chromosome 1 could lead to the pathogenesis of HGPS and it is likely that the combined affects of this mutation results in the HGPS phenotype. Compromised nuclear integrity may lead to reduced structural support for the cell, so those tissues under constant mechanical pressure such as the vasculature will suffer more greatly than other tissues. Another possible cause of the HGPS phenotype is the accumulation of DNA damage. This is a logical conclusion to draw, as the mechanism of normal human aging is thought to occur in this way. HGPS cells have insufficient DNA DSB repair mechanisms and so the phenotype of premature ageing in children with progeria is simply due to the magnification of one of the factors that causes aging in healthy humans. The pool of stem cells that healthy humans rely upon to counter increased apoptosis as a result of DNA damage would be under more pressure to proliferate in HGPS children, perhaps exhausting supplies and causing tissue degeneration. It is also possible that the stem cells themselves are affected by the HGPS mutation, causing a decline in proliferative ability. The possibility that the HGPS mutation may lead to up or down regulation of other genes is not one that should be ignored. If this is the case, the vast variety of symptoms which accompany HGPS may be explained by the altered lev els of expression of other genes. Until more is understood about Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, it is impossible to conclusively explain the extraordinary symptoms of this disease. Perhaps the results of the recent clinical trials will shed more light on how the alteration of two proteins due to a single point mutation can cause a child to show such drastic physiological aging. Experimental data analysis Programmed cell death (PCD or apoptosis) is a necessary part of complex life in all sorts of multicellular organisms. In humans, it is not only essential during embryonic development (preventing all manner of deformities) but also consistently through life. Efficient apoptosis prevents a vast number of diseases by ensuring that any unnecessary or potentially harmful cells are destroyed safely, without harmful effects on neighbouring cells, which happens in necrosis. Apoptosis only causes a diseased state when its rate of action exceeds or falls short of that which is necessary to keep an individual healthy. Insufficient apoptosis is well known culprit for the development of cancers, when tumorous cells which should have been erased are allowed to proliferate and develop into tumours. Another well known example of diseases due to lack of apoptosis is the vast number of immunodeficiency diseases caused by self-targeting T and B lymphocytes. These cells should have been removed through apoptotic signals, but when these signals fail these self-targeting lymphocytes are allowed to survive and will target the bodys own tissues. Increased rates of apoptosis throughout the body are commonly observed in many diseases, for example, HGPS. Abnormalities either within or external to the cell cause apoptotic signals to occur, resulting in PCD of cells which would otherwise not have been destroyed. PLAC8 (placenta-specific 8) is a gene which encodes a small, highly conserved protein known as onzin. Experimental evidence has been presented to demonstrate that under expression of endogenous onzin results in reduced cell proliferation, whilst over expression results in an increased cell count (Rogulski et al, 2005). This data suggests that onzin has a negative effect on the rate of apoptosis. Li et al. (2006) suggest that expression of onzin within a cell protects it from apoptotic signals and that when onzin levels are depleted the cell becomes sensitive to apoptotic assault. To test the effects of onzin on the rate of apoptosis, CEM-C7 T-leukemic cells were transfected with either an expression construct containing PLAC8 or pcDNA3, where the pcDNA3 vector acted as the control. Cultures of these cells where then exposed to a range of apoptosis-inducing agents: Fas, Dexamethasone (dex), cisplatin, butyric acid, okadaic acid and UV exposure. This was in order to determine whether expression of the PLAC8 gene effectively reduces the rate of induced apoptosis. Cell counts were taken after 24, 48 and 72 hours. The significance of the difference between cell counts in PLAC8 and pcDNA3 cultures when exposed to all apoptosis inducing agents was determined using a two-sample T-test. The samples used in each test were the apoptosis-inducing agent transfected with PLAC8 and the same apoptosis-inducing agent transfected with pcDNA3. The results from these two-sample T-tests are shown below in table I. Table I. Apoptosis inducer p-value (24 hours) p-value (48 hours) p-value (72 hours) Dex 0.023 0.069 Cisplatin 0.026 0.045 0.042 Butyric acid 0.003 Okadaic acid 0.03

An Introduction to Plastic Gears :: essays papers

An Introduction to Plastic Gears As an employee of a world-class plastic gear manufacturer for many years, I see how this is an undeniably growing part of the gear industry. I hope to briefly describe how something seemingly simple as a plastic gear requires the culmination of many very state-of-the-art processes. Within one word I’ll say that at every level precision is required. Initially, a gear engineer must design a gear that meets the design intent while remaining cognizant of all variables that result from using materials such as plastic. This engineer must design a gear electrode that will actually determine the form of the gear. This electrode is then burned into the mold cavity using a method commonly referred to as EDM or electrical discharge machining. It is essential that the gear electrode be cut identical to the finished gear tooth form. Some compensation is normally made for the shrinkage of plastic as well as the overburn that occurs during the EDM process. The gear engineer normally will alter the gear tooth geometry to relieve stress and strengthen the gear tooth form. This alteration is normally done at the base or root of the gear tooth and at the tip or peak of the tooth. Next, a mold maker then will evaluate what the expected life of the gear program will be so that he can build a mold that is robust and capable producing the many millions of parts with the highest of accuracy. He will ensure that the plastic that will be entering the mold will travel along balanced pathway or runner system that will allow for consistent fill into each mold cavity. His tool for evaluating this flow is done through a computer model commonly referred to as mold flow analysis. He must be capable of understanding what makes a good mold as well as a good gear. Once the mold is completed it is then set into an injection-molding machine. It is important in the precision gear molding industry that the molding unit has a highly controlled system in place to monitor the molding process. It is equally important during this process that there is a means by which all peripheral variables can be controlled. This is done utilizing a central processor, which will maintain balance on all settings for every parameter. Transducers relay all of their information into a central processor that will monitor and maintain this consistent process.

What has the Internet done to Radio Listenership? :: Essays Papers

What has the Internet done to Radio Listenership? Annie McBride (name changed to protect the internationally famous) is a junior at Syracuse University who hails from the land of Guinness across the Atlantic. She has regularly kept in contact with her native land by listening to and calling the premier student run radio station in the Ireland, LSRfm at the Leeds University. She was an American correspondent who informed the listeners of LSM about the latest fads, movies, and television shows in the United States. The radio station is broadcast over the internet, and will be returning to the FM dial in Ireland in 2006. (lsmfm.com) LSMfm is part of a trend that has been growing since the late 1990s: internet radio broadcasting. Many radio stations, like LSM in Leeds, Ireland and z89 in Syracuse, New York, have live audio streams of their broadcasts in real time. This allows anyone on the planet to listen to their favorite local station, no matter how far away from home they may be. The internet also allows for access to an extraordinary range of music. All of this is contributing to radio losing its foothold in society to the internet. One of the main reasons that the internet has become such a popular source for music is its diversity. Kim Vasey (2005) says â€Å"†¦Internet radio (has) brought alternative music choices that mostly cannot be found on the 'dial,'†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Newswire Association, 2005). These days, terrestrial radio stations have to take into account a wide diversity in their listeners’ musical tastes. In order to satisfy everyone’s palette, â€Å"the best a station can hope to do is program it's content so it hits "the middle" which, inevitably leads to little risk taking and bland programming.† (Deitz, http://radio.about.com/) This bland programming is of course what the turnoff for most radio listeners is in the first place, driving them to other annals of consumption, mostly the internet. A study done by a consumer research company called NPD reveals online radio listening is on the rise. â€Å"The research from NPD centers around people listening to music on thei r computers. It points to 77.2% of users having moved in this direction, and 55.3 million now listening to radio online.†(Music Online http://www.audiographics.com/) The internet is the one of the leading alternatives to terrestrial radio because it is so ready to use. The software is extremely accessible, and it is rare, in this day and age, that a computer is not hooked up to the internet.

The Practice Of Enforced Conformity English Literature Essay

The end of this drawn-out essay is to oppugn the pattern of implemented conformance within the societies depicted by Edith Wharton ‘s The Age of Innocence and Mark Twain ‘s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This paper encompasses the two plants which compare the differences between the social facets of conformance within Twain ‘s Southern provinces of pre-civil war America and Wharton ‘s post-civil war New York. Both writers use the position of their several supporters to reflect on and knock the biass and values of these societies. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses the cardinal character of Huck to foreground society ‘s lip service and the manner that faith and morality stifle individuality and free-spiritedness. Huck is invariably indicating out the manner that persons believe themselves to be devout and morally unsloped but, in fact, are by and large hypocritical and dishonest. One of Twain ‘s chief onslaughts is directed against the system of bondage in concurrence with the stereotyping of Negroes at this clip. Huck ‘s voice is used to foreground the unfairness of this system, although, being a merchandise of this society, he besides expresses some of the biass he has learnt. Other characters, such as Jim and Pap, are included to research this subject farther. Puting, imagination and a humourous tone aid to reenforce Twain ‘s review. Wharton uses similar devices to reprobate New York society in late 19th century. Unlike the boylike artlessness of Huck, Wharton ‘s supporter, Newland Archer, is misanthropic and can see rather clearly the mistakes in his community. It is suggested that he would wish to interrupt out of conventional behavior, but does non hold the bravery. Other characters, such as May and Ellen, are used to foreground the harm that the insisting on conformance causes to persons. Wharton besides draws to her readers ‘ attending, the patriarchal nature of this society, its focal point on philistinism, and refusal to alter. Like Twain, Wharton uses symbolism, particularly that of flowers and costume, every bit good as elusive sarcasm, to foreground her observations. Word Count: 330 wordsIntroductionOne major facet of human nature is the bias against those who reject social norms. It seems inevitable that the bulk is prejudiced against those who refuse to conform, in order to keep societal stableness and do certain everybody upholds the values that most people portion. There are many different sorts of bias but the chief focal point of two American novels, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ( 1884 ) , by Mark Twain, and Edith Wharton ‘s The Age of Innocence ( 1918 ) , trade with prejudice against non-conformists. These authors use a assortment of devices to place readers to be hostile towards such values and conventionality. Couple utilises the supporter, Huckleberry Finn, every bit good as a overplus of secondary characters, such as Pap and Jim, to foreground the unfairness of the bondage system which operated before the civil war. Furthermore, Twain besides critiques the lip service of most people, who claim to take the moral high land, b ut are, in fact, merely holier-than-thou. In this text, imagination and sarcasm are used to convey the author ‘s strong message. Wharton employs similar techniques. The supporter, Newland Archer, is portrayed as a coward. He is to the full cognizant of the absurdnesss of his society ‘s insisting on conformance, but can non interrupt off, taking to the calamity of his by and large unrealized life. Minor characters, including Ellen and May, reinforce this major subject every bit good as Wharton ‘s onslaught on the patriarchal nature of her surroundings, and fright of alteration. Like Twain, Wharton weaves into her text, a strong sense of sarcasm and drawn-out imagination. Thus the two texts are really similar in manner and construction, although they deal with really different societies and conventions. The Age of Innocence is set in upper-class New York society in post-civil war America. In this surroundings, people are really proud of their community ‘s accomplishments and reject alteration, which they perceive will endanger the position quo, richness and civilization. Wharton suggests that persons are raised in a civilization that is already to the full established with complex sets of values and categorizations, regulations and prohibitions. The bulk accepts these codifications as normal and natural. Having mastered the complexnesss of the civilization, life is conducted in the channels provided by that civilization. Hence, when anyone attempts alteration or stairss out of these well-worn waies, he or she is rounded upon, condemned and finally rejected. New York in the late 19th century is besides stiffly patriarchal and adult females must be cosmetic, supportive and economically dependent on work forces. In contrast, The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is set before the civ il war in America ‘s Deep South, specifically along the Mississippi River. Unlike New York, the chief bias here is racial. Most Whites support bondage and are dying to maintain Negroes in their topographic point, for fright that they will accomplish equality and hence overthrow the high quality of the Whites. This society besides prides itself on its moral virtuousnesss and is determined to coerce everyone to conform to the spiritual conventions. Edith Wharton uses a assortment of methods to reprobate New York ‘s society ‘s snobbism and fright of alteration. The supporter, Newland Archer, is Wharton ‘s chief device. In the first chapter, it is rapidly established that he conforms to societal norms, as readers learn that, â€Å" what was or what was non â€Å" the thing † played a portion as of import in Newland ‘s New York. † ( Wharton, 1918: 4 ) However, Newland likes to believe of himself as a non-conformist and feels that he is the â€Å" clearly the higher-up of these chosen specimens of old New York † . ( Wharton, 1918:7 ) Mutely, he mocks those whom he sees as slaves to conventionality. Assorted incidents are used to foreground Newland ‘s disdain. He is frustrated by May ‘s deficiency of independent action when she refuses to run off with him and comes to see her as â€Å" a terrific merchandise of the societal system he belonged to † ( Wharton, 1918:35 ) . He is unimpressed with May and fascinated by Ellen ‘s exoticness, symbolised by his reaction to her unconventional house, where he felt the lamps imposed a â€Å" bleached shadowy appeal of a room unlike any room he had known † . ( Wharton, 1918:57 ) Another symbol of Newland ‘s flirting with the out danger of the unconventional is the type of flowers he gives to the two adult females in his life, giving flowers was non merely a manner to show wealth, but besides a manner to pass on elusive messages. During his battle with May, Newland sends lilies-of-the-valley to her â€Å" every forenoon on the minute † ( Wharton, 1918:65 ) , while it is traditionally given as a marrying flower to stand for a â€Å" return of felicity † , it besides symbolises artlessness and celibacy ( Gwen ) . The supporter sees May as being naA?ve and guiltless as the white flowers he gives her suggest. However, during Newland ‘s first visit to Ellen Olenska ‘s pla ce, he gives her a corsage of yellow roses which the supporter ‘s thought â€Å" there was something excessively rich, excessively strong, in their ardent beauty. † ( Wharton, 1918:65 ) as â€Å" he had ne'er seen any as sun-golden before † ( Wharton, 1918:65 ) therefore Wharton, suggests that like flowers reflects on the receiving system ‘s personality and hence the xanthous flowers symbolise green-eyed monster, unfaithfulness and exoticness. Yet, faced with the chance to arise, he lacks the bravery. Rather than contending against society ‘s positions on divorce, he volitionally gives in and decides non to follow her, even though he feels â€Å" an ceaseless indefinable craving † ( Wharton, 1918:183 ) for Ellen. The writer farther high spots Newland ‘s cowardliness and apathy by saying that he â€Å" instinctively felt that in this regard it would be troublesomeaˆÂ ¦to stick out for himself. † ( Wharton 1918:7 ) Newland ‘s unwillingness non to conform is farther extrapolated when he pays lip service to democratic rules, but one time married, reassumes his earlier conventional, patronizing attitude to May ‘s â€Å" artlessness † ( Wharton 1918:119 ) , with the premise that it â€Å" seals the head against imaginativeness and the bosom against experience! â€Å" ( Wharton, 1918:119 ) . Even when he subsequently admits to Ellen that his matrimony is a â€Å" fake † ( Wharton, 1918:199 ) , he blames her for his quandary stating â€Å" You gave me my first glance of a existent lifeaˆÂ ¦ it ‘s beyond human digesting † ( Wharton, 1918: 199 ) . Wharton ‘s oppressing unfavorable judgment of Newland culminates in the concluding pages. The clip is now 30 old ages subsequently and society is radically different. Old snobbisms have been abandoned and he realises that May ever knew about his relationship with Ellen. Yet, now there is â€Å" no ground for his go oning in the same modus operandi † ( Wharton, 1918:289 ) and he has a opportunity of freedom, he is still â€Å" held fast by wont † ( Wharton 1918:290 ) and â€Å" saw into what a deep rut he had sunk. † ( Wharton, 1918:290 ) Indeed Newland has non changed at all ; he is still torn between the feeling that he should prosecute in â€Å" new things † . ( Wharton, 1918:290 ) He is good cognizant that now â€Å" Cipher was shockable adequate † ( Wharton, 1918:290 ) to worry about past injudiciousnesss. However, the supporter still lacks bravery to be true to himself. He seems frozen by inactiveness, highlighted by his failure to see Ellen ‘s flat, as he thinks â€Å" it ‘s more existent to me here if I went up † ( Wharton, 1918:298 ) . Wharton shows how Newland continues at war within himself as he â€Å" all of a sudden heard himself state † . ( Wharton, 1918:298 ) these words. Therefore as the terminal, when he â€Å" walked back entirely † ( Wharton, 1918:298 ) , readers understand the otiose chances of Newland ‘s life as he can ne'er interrupt out of societal norms. As Wharton demonstrates a usage of sarcasm as Ellen â€Å" closed the shutters † ( Wharton, 1918:298 ) , she is symbolically stoping any opportunity that Newland has of altering. Similarly, Mark Twain uses his chief characters to review his society, but is it non the snobbism and the conventions that are attacked, but the lip service. Huck is used as a device to dramatize the struggle between societal or received morality on the one manus, and a different sort of morality based on intuition and experience on the other. Like persons of his age, Huck is written through the position of a kid and although he is doubting of spiritual values, such an immatureness is demonstrated by the supporter ‘s superstitious positions as he heard â€Å" a shade † ( Twain, 1884:4 ) . Despite such beliefs, Huck reflects Twain ‘s agnosticism as he remains stainless by the regulations and premises of society in which he finds himself in. Even though Huck is speedy to knock the absurdness of the universe around him, he does non try to do discourtesy. He is every bit speedy to state us that though the â€Å" widow cried over me, and called me a hapless lost lamb. . . she ne'er meant no injury by it. † ( Twain, 1884:2 ) . Couple presents the supporter ‘s unwillingness to alter after Miss Watson ‘s efforts to â€Å" sivilize † ( Twain, 1884:1 ) him, but shortly reverts back to his old wonts after populating with his male parent. The struggle between the subjugation of civilization and â€Å" natural life † is introduced in the first chapter through the attempts of the Miss Watson, who tries to coerce Huck to have on new apparels, give up smoke, receive an instruction and larn the Bible. Couple nowadayss both Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas as being highly conservative, invariably seeking to learn Huck the ways of a spiritual society which he finds â€Å" boring and only † ( Twain, 1884:3 ) , whereas Huck is represented as being out traveling and free spirited. Twain uses an analogy to depict Huck ‘s antipathy for the inefficiency within supplication as Miss Watson tells Huck â€Å" to pray every twenty-four hours, and whatever I asked for I would acquire it. But it war n't so. I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooksaˆÂ ¦ . I tried for the maulerss three or four times, but somehow I could n't do it work. † ( Twain, 1884:4 ) Here, Twain suggests that Huck is unable to hold on the construct of formal faith. Furthermore, Huck ‘s refusal to remain at the Grangerfords reveals his inability to settle down as he says, â€Å" there war n't no place like a raft † ( Twain, 1884:5 ) Therefore, Huck is used to show the writer ‘s chief message that the barbarian manner of life is more desirable and morally superior to the corruptness of purportedly civilized American society. Wharton besides subverts the mythology of America as a new, democratic society. America is supposed to be an uninhibited â€Å" heaven † as opposed to the stiff European â€Å" snake pit † experienced by Ellen. However, the writer suggests that people have in fact imported the â€Å" old † category differentiations and snobbism from Europe. â€Å" Old † New York society has an ambivalent attitude towards the â€Å" new † rich. Peoples admire Julius Beaufort because he is affluent but despise him because he is self-made, despite the fact that he has gained societal reputability by get marrieding into the celebrated Mingott household, he is ever at the outer peripheries of society and considered slightly disreputable. The possibility of a new beginning is symbolized by Newland and Ellen ‘s interlude in the Patroon ‘s house. The original Dutch governor ‘s bungalow embodies the possibility that the twosome can get away the yesteryear. In contrast, the new wave der Luydens are one of the most well-thought-of households because of their European lineage, epitomised by their â€Å" high-ceilinged white-walled Madison Avenue drawing-room, with the picket brocaded armchairs so evidently exposed for the juncture, and the gauze still veiling the ormolu mantle decorations † . ( Wharton, 1918:42 ) Their seal of blessing is needed to derive societal acceptableness, shown when their invitation to Ellen allows her to come in New York society as they delivered her an envelope that â€Å" contained a card ask foring the Countess Olenska to the dinner † ( Wharton, 1918:7 ) . However, she shortly discovers that this surroundings is merely as stiff and stratified as Europe, as Newland explains, â€Å" New York Society is†¦ ruled, in malice of visual aspects, by a really few people with- well- instead old- fashioned ideasaˆÂ ¦ † ( Wharton, 1918:89-90 ) Wharton shows that alteration is rejected as a d estabilising influence. In the first chapter, Ellen is seen have oning an unfamiliar European style-dress which attracts â€Å" undivided attending † ( Wharton, 1918:10 ) . The disapproval of such new manner is emphasised when Miss Jackson notes, â€Å" aˆÂ ¦In my youthaˆÂ ¦ it was considered vulgar to dress in the newest fashionsaˆÂ ¦ † ( Wharton, 1918:211 ) . Wharton points out the inevitable alteration of society by showing a contrast at the terminal of the book ; Dallas Archer has married Julius Beaufort ‘s bastard girl, Fanny which would hold one time been considered wholly unacceptable. The writer even points out the comparing between Fanny and Ellen as the former â€Å" had won [ New York ‘s ] bosom much as Madame Olenska had won it 30 old ages before † ( Wharton, 1918:260 ) . However, now â€Å" alternatively of being distrustful and afraid of her, society gleefully took her for granted. â€Å" ( Wharton, 1918:260 ) . As Newl and reflects, â€Å" Peoples presents were excessively busy with reforms and â€Å" motions, † aˆÂ ¦ to trouble oneself much about their neighbors. † ( Wharton, 1918:291 ) Therefore, the fact that such a respected and conventional household such as the Archers became connected to â€Å" Beaufort ‘s assholes † ( Wharton, 1918:291 ) is used to bespeak how stiff New York society one time was and how much it has changed. An built-in portion of Wharton ‘s review is the repression of adult females. Late 19th century New York society is steadfastly patriarchal. Womans are expected to be inanimate, cosmetic and pure. Wharton uses costumes to foreground these outlooks as May is instantly introduced as â€Å" a immature miss in white † . ( Wharton, 1918:5 ) This symbolism suggests her artlessness and fidelity towards her hereafter partner. In contrast, Ellen is subsequently introduced as have oning a â€Å" dark bluish velvet gown instead stagily caught up under her bosom by a girdle with a big antique clasp. † . ( Wharton, 1918:7-8 ) This description instantly highlights Ellen ‘s refusal to conform and so openly ask foring attending which is a complete contrast to May ‘s costume, proposing her deficiency of conformity of the gender stereotype. Furthermore, adult females are expected to get married and stay so, nevertheless severely they are treated. Wharton emphasises the m anner work forces patronise adult females through the relationship between Newland and May. He notices his married woman ‘s narrow involvement while in London with annoyance, where â€Å" nil interested her but the theaters and the stores. † ( Wharton, 1918:160 ) and patronizingly teaches her about art. Women within New York society besides have to be compliant and supportive of their hubbies, irrespective of their partners ‘ behavior as â€Å" May ‘s lone usage of the autonomy she supposed herself to possess would be to put it on the communion table of her wifelike worship. † ( Wharton, 1918:160 ) Wharton besides presents the meeting of individualities of adult females with their hubbies through the word picture of the new wave der Luydens who â€Å" were so precisely alike that Archer frequently wondered how, after 40 old ages of the closest conjugality, two such merged individualities of all time separated themselves plenty for anything every bit controversial as a talking-over.. † . ( Wharton, 1918:43 ) The rebellion against gendered stereotypes is by and large opposed, as shown when Ellen is condemned for take a firm standing on divorce. There are some exclusions, for illustration, Mrs. Manson Mingott, whose â€Å" influence is great throughout her household † ( Wharton, 1918:206 ) , because she is affluent and does non present a menace to societal convention yet even she refuses to assist her girl, Regina when Beaufort runs off with Fanny. Miss Manson Mingott abandons her girl, claiming that their household name was tarnished by such an incident as she says â€Å" It was Beaufort when he covered you with gems, and it ‘s got to remain Beaufort now that he ‘s covered you with shame. † ( Wharton, 1918:223 ) Furthermore, this intervention of adult females produces societal tensenesss. Newland desires Ellen, who is sexually experienced, and had a affair with Mrs. Rushworth who was his rational e qual. However, if he wants to keep male high quality, he has to accept May and the deficiency of fulfillment he knows he will see throughout his married life. It is through the creative activity of these characters that Wharton critiques her patriarchal society. Wharton ‘s society is brewing with lip service, as money buys non merely regard and human value but besides free scope to populate without effects. In the novel ‘s society, value and individuality are rooted in philistinism and lip service, bespeaking non merely a crisis of subjectiveness on the degree of the person but besides suggesting at a larger prostration of human relationships in general. Like Wharton, Twain besides condemns the lip service of the spiritual. However, the onslaught is much more biting, even though the tone, created through Huck ‘s voice, is humourous and purposes to satirically mock the values presented by the supporter. In the first chapter, Miss Watson introduces Huck to â€Å" the bad topographic point † ( Twain, 1884:3 ) , while the supporter, could non â€Å" see no advantage in traveling † ( Twain, 1884:3 ) to Heaven. Twain indicates that despite the caretakers ‘ purposes, Huck ne'er sees any existent weight in faith and treats the construct of Eden and snake pit as a myth. Subsequently, when the mountebanks, â€Å" Duke † and â€Å" King † , convert a spiritual community to give them money so they can â€Å" change over † their non-existent plagiarist friends, the God-fearing common people are easy fooled as King â€Å" went all through the crowd with his chapeau † ( Twain, 1884:171 ) roll up ing money and is subsequently offered adjustment. Therefore, King and the Duke are used to stand for those con-men who use faith in a corrupt mode, for self-gain. The chapters where Huck meets the Grangerford and Sheperdson allows Twain to utilize sarcasm in order to reprobate certain facets of purportedly civilized America. Both households represent the wealthy and educated and uncover the senseless ferociousness and gratuitous slaughter involved in their arbitrary construct of honor. The dignified Colonel Grangerford, who is eager for the glorification to be gained from hiting â€Å" a few buck-shot â€Å" ( Twain, 1884:141 ) at a Shepherdson household member, unquestioningly believes in devaluating human life, emphasized by the Twain ‘s suggestion of the feud is so arbitrary that the households do non even know why they are contending ( Q ) . Both feuding households are church departers and in one discourse where both the households â€Å" took their guns along † ( Twain, 1884:142 ) , given by Mr. Grangerford he speaks of â€Å" brotherlike love † ( Twain, 1884:142 ) while, hypocritically, encourages the slaying of the opposing household. Twain satirise this by showing Huck ‘s oblivion to spiritual values, crying that â€Å" it seem aˆÂ ¦to be one of the roughest Sundays, I had run across yet † ( Twain, 1884:142 ) , when compared to the household ‘s positive remarks about the â€Å" good discourse † ( Twain, 1884:142 ) . Through this averment, it can be suggested that Twain is resentful towards the contradiction of spiritual values, which is reinforced by the in writing description of the confrontation as Buck recalls that â€Å" his male parent and his brother was killed, and two or three of the enemy. † ( Twain, 1884:148 ) intended to floor the readers and reinforce Twain ‘s point that God-fearing and self-proclaimed observant Americans feel justified in utilizing such ferociousness. This i ncident is besides in marked contrast to the breeding of Wharton, who ne'er references force. This comparing clearly indicates the different nature of these two respective societies – the abrasiveness of the South and the polish of New York – even though both claim to be, in comparing with aliens, civilised. Another major unfavorable judgment of Twain ‘s society is the unfairness of bondage. In The Adventures Huckleberry Finn, The writer uses sarcasm to show that bondage is supported by even the most â€Å" moral † of characters. Miss Watson, an educated and devout Christian adult female, is besides a slave proprietor, connoting that people who regard themselves as morally unsloped believe that bondage is justified inkinesss are purportedly racially inferior and is willing to sell Jim â€Å" down to Orleans † ( Q ) for eight-hundred dollars. Furthermore, the word picture of Pap reinforces the connexion between hapless moral character, racism, and the credence of bondage. He is portrayed as, non merely a racialist, but besides, a rude, self-involved rummy and kid maltreater. As he says â€Å" I was merely approximately to travel and vote myself if I war n't excessively imbibe to acquire at that place ; but when they told me there was a State in this State where they à ¢â‚¬Ëœd allow a nigger ballot, I drawed out. † ( Twain, 1884:36 ) The writer presents how visual aspect and clamber coloring material are the lone standards considered by the societies of the South when finding who is afforded rights in comparing to the black â€Å" p'fessor † ( Twain, 1884:36 ) from the northern province of Ohio. It appears that regardless of how immoral and depraved a white adult male might be, he is still afforded more power than that of a moral black character wish Jim as he is immediately blamed for the â€Å" slaying † of Huck. Therefore exemplifying how society is speedy to fault persons who are socially underprivileged. Here, Twain ‘s really willingness to portray a morally unsloped character like Jim, whose predicament is intended to convey understanding, presents an attitude that is doubtless anti-slavery. In contrast to Pap ‘s changeless maltreatment of his boy, Jim is shown to lose his household as he â€Å" was frequentl y moaning and mourning that manner, darks, when he judged that [ Huck ] was asleep † ( Twain, 1884:201 ) as he realises that he â€Å" ai n't of all time gwyne to see † ( Twain, 1884:201 ) them of all time once more. Twain emphasizes Jim ‘s superior moral facets to Huck ‘s male parent by showing the character ‘s compunction in penalizing his girl, ‘lizabeth, after gaining that she is deaf and was hence, unable to listen to his demands. True the supporter does express racist attitudes towards Jim when he says â€Å" I would n't agitate my nigga, would I? – the lone†¦ nigga I had in the universe, and the lone belongings. † ( Twain, 1884:279 ) However, Twain indicates that Huck is merely a kid who has been influenced by societal bias as he is raised within a deeply bigoted society. While The Age of Innocence and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are really similar in manner and building, the chief difference occurs in the usage of imagination. Wharton uses the coloring material â€Å" white † to symbolize pureness and artlessness, as exemplified in May ‘s costumes as she dresses in â€Å" white and splinter † ( Wharton,1918:53 ) and the â€Å" corsage of lilies-of-the-valley † ( Wharton,1918:5 ) she receives from Newland. In contrast, Twain uses the thought of â€Å" white † to sabotage the racial bias practised by the white Southerners. Pap Finn represents the worst facets of white society as he is illiterate, nescient, violent, and deeply bigoted. As Huck remarks, his male parent is â€Å" white ; but non like another adult male ‘s white, but a white to do a organic structure ill † . ( Twain, 1884:25 ) Here, the sickening deathlike lividness of Finn ‘s tegument underscores Twain ‘s disapprobation of the Whites who feel that they are superior to inkinesss, merely because of the coloring material of their tegument. Conversely, the black professor from Ohio is described as have oning â€Å" all right apparels † , â€Å" a gold ticker and concatenation, and a silver-headed cane † and is able to â€Å" speak all sorts of linguistic communications, and knowed everything † ( Twain, 1884:36 ) . This clearly educated adult male is able to vote whereas Pap takes his privileges for granted, warranting his failure to vote by stating he was â€Å" excessively intoxicated † ( Twain, 1884:36 ) . In set uping the contrast between Pap and the Negro, Twain overturns the traditional positions of his clip which suggests that the color white, non black, is associated with immorality.DecisionClearly, The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn and The Age of Innocence are really similar in the manner they present vesicating reviews on their several societies. Both Wharton and Twain use a wide-ranging assortment of different schemes to convey their message. The word pictures of major and minor characters illustrate how persons react and are affected by biass. In Wharton ‘s instance, the memorable supporter, Newland Archer, is bogged down by society ‘s fright of alteration, whilst Twain ‘s Huckleberry Finn subtly remarks on the unfairnesss of his society through the infantile eyes of artlessness. Furthermore, linguistic communication, manner and symbolism reinforce the unfavorable judgments. Readers of both plants are invited to reason that conformance, bias and lip service are unacceptable values for any society to keep and tolerance and fairness are far more preferred.