Informative Essay Sample on Theories of Evolution

Informative Essay Sample on Theories of Evolution The creation-evolution controversy is everlasting verbal battle between the advocates of two theories. During those disputes many brilliant ideas appeared, and even more ideas were demolished. Theories of evolution and creation involved best scientists: theologists, biologists, medics, sociologists, geologists, paleontologists, nuclear physicists and cosmologists. Those theories even acquired a â€Å"foster child†, so called theistic evolution theory. In this essay I will discuss the origins and consequences of the creation-evolution controversy, emphasize main points of three theories and sum everything up with my personal opinion. The theory of evolution (also called Metaphysical naturalism) probably originated in early Greek philosophy. In their definition of nature, Greeks distinguished natural from artificial. During the Renaissance, which reintroduced numerous treatises by Greek and Roman natural philosophers, and many of the ideas and concepts of naturalism were conceived. In this period, metaphysical naturalism finally acquired a distinct name, materialism. However, in the 20th century advances in physics as well as philosophy made the whole idea of materialism untenable. Matter was found to be a form of energy so reality was obviously not so â€Å"material† as it used to be thought of. As a final note to the history of metaphysical naturalism, Marxism, a variety of politicized naturalism, appeared. However, today most advocates of metaphysical naturalism reject both extremes and embrace the more moderate political ideals. While the adherents of evolutionary theory were disputing whose ideas is mo re â€Å"absolutely right† new theory the theory of theistic evolution appeared. Theistic evolution (or evolutionary creationism) is the general opinion that the theory of creation is compatible understanding about biological evolution. Theistic evolution supporters can be seen as the group, who try to avoid conflicts between religion and science, they are sure that teachings about creation and scientific theories of evolution need not be contradictory. This term was first used by Eugenie Scott to refer to the beliefs about creation and evolution holding the theological view that God creates through evolution. This view is accepted by major Christian churches, including Roman Catholicism and some Protestant denominations. The major criticism of theistic evolution by non-theistic evolutionists focuses on its essential belief in a supernatural creator, evolutionists state that theistic evolution is simply a belief in a God of the gaps, where anything that cannot currently be explained by science is attributed to God. Intelligent design (also known as creationism) is the assertion that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection. The term intelligent design came into use after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 1987 case of Edwards v. Aguillard who claimed that the teaching of creation science alongside evolution was a violation of the Establishment Clause, which prohibits state aid to religion. The term irreducible complexity was introduced by Michael Behe, who defines it as a single system which is composed of several well-matched interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, wherein the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning.For that time their claims were declared to be unsupported, but in a long run it turns out that sympathizers of creation idea have the strongest arguments. Fine Tuning argument, for example, claims that the fundame ntal constants of physics and laws of nature appear so finely-tuned to permit life that only a supernatural engineer can explain it. Attentive reader should have already noticed that I am the supporter of creation theory. In my personal view neither the naturalism theory nor the theory of theistic evolution can not (and never will) explain the existence of morality, emotions, conscience, love. Only God who has all aforementioned features could give them to us. In a conclusion I would like to mention the defiance that Dr. Kent Hovind bid to all advocates of evolution theory in far 1990. I have a standing offer of $250,000 to anyone who can give any empirical evidence (scientific proof) for evolution. My $250,000 offer demonstrates that the hypothesis of evolution is nothing more than a religious belief.No one still managed to get this reward. Maybe YOU want to be the first?;)

10 Jobs Where You Can Be a Hero

10 Jobs Where You Can Be a Hero Remember when you were young and full of promise and passion and thought that no matter what you decided to do when you grew up, it would be something big and important? That you would make the world a better place? Well, you’re never too old to follow through on your old do-gooder dreams. And often those who work in fields where they are constantly giving back to the world are most fulfilled. Whether you’re just starting out and want to make a difference, or you’re changing jobs because you’re tired of not making a difference, here are a few jobs where you can be the one who saves the day. 1. TeacherUndersung and underpaid, this is one of the most important jobs for shaping the way the world will be. Teach the next generation to be better than ours. Teach them to think and to feel and to have compassion. Help them understand the context of what’s come before and how history has a way of repeating itself unless old mistakes are avoided. Mold new her oes! Build up society with a bunch of inspired and inspirational wee people!2. NurseThese everyday heroes are also undersung and also underpaid. Imagine a hospital without them. Doctors would be utterly helpless. 90% of the actual care patients receive is usually from nurses. Save lives, help people through their hardest moments, care for babies and the dying†¦ it’s all of life and death in one rewarding job.3. Computer ScientistAt first glance, this career might not seem like a heroic one, but just think how much computers and apps are currently shaping our lives. Be in charge of coming up with the software and programs that solve the most dire problems of our time.4. Police OfficerThe world always needs more good guys- even the men and women in blue. Be one of them. Help make the shift toward community policing. Be an example for how all Americans can coexist safely and with respect. And save lives while you’re doing it. Work your way up to chief and you can rea lly shape a department and bring communities together.5. Early Childhood EducationBefore they hit the classroom, kids hang out with ECE teachers, who are usually responsible for kids’ early math and literacy skills, plus learning how to interact (and share) with others. ECE teachers are on the front lines of child development.6. Non-Profit Executive DirectorIt may take a while to get up to this level, and non-profit sector employees often report high stress and low pay. However,  if you’re driven by the mission of your organization and truly passionate, then you do have a massive opportunity to make the world a better place.7. Behavior AnalystMake the world a better place one person at a time. A whopping 94% of analysts report that they find their job meaningful and fulfilling. Work one on one with clients to make their lives better on a very personal level.8. Social WorkerEngage with people and help them out of tough situations. You’ll provide physical and ps ychosocial support and improve people’s lives by helping them to cope with their most major problems- things like domestic violence, abuse, neglect- and help them acquire treatment.9. ActivistIt’s a mad world out there- and lots of â€Å"little guys† need the strong to speak for them. Be a voice for positive change in the world. Help create awareness and compassion for causes most people might not think about or understand.10. Ethics OfficerHold the business world accountable to standards of humanity. You’ll be helping to make sure companies run smoothly and efficiently, but also making sure corners aren’t being cut that will compromise what’s right and good in the world. Make sure the company is honest and help them negotiate tricky spots and problems without sacrificing principles.

Ip2 hr Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ip2 hr - Research Paper Example The required working hours should be stipulated in the agreement. A section stating the salary or wage that the employee will be paid is crucial. An employment agreement should have a clause on the company’s redundancy measures. Also, essential to the agreement is a section on the terms of resolving the employment contract. Proper description of duties and responsibilities of different jobs is essential in human resources practices. Such practices include recruitment and screening, planning, orientation, appraisal and in the classification of positions. An effective job description will outline the characteristics of the position clearly. It should spell out in detail the demands of the job, expected supervision and the distinguishing features that demarcate the job from others in the organization. Proper job description will list the tasks involved in the job and the number of people the individual will need to contact within the course of doing the job (Jackson et. al., 2009). It is essential to provide for the tools of work the position needs including manuals. Recruitment helps in getting candidates who are best qualified for a vacancy. The recruitment process should be fair and should uphold transparency. It should outline procedures involved in staffing clearly. It should provide a chance for incumbent employees to apply for the vacancy. Describing the process both internally and externally provides a chance for prospective applicants to gauge the fairness of the process. Different responsibilities and roles involved in the process should be articulated (Banks & Banks, 2011). A fair recruitment process will provide a clear description of the vacancy. Recruiters need to be well versed with laws and regulations that govern employment. Also, important to recruitment is the provision of clear procedures of how applicants can register complaints and appeals. Recruitment is an

Critical Literature Review Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critical Literature Review - Coursework Example A cultural change is required to counter the widespread acceptance of dishonest practices. De Vries, et al. 2011 Personality traits such as conscientiousness, honesty-humility/integrity are effective predictors of counterproductive academic behaviour. Jones & Spraakman 2011 Faculty member’s instigation of broad-based cheating among students caused the faculty’s dismissal, but administrators excused the students’ participation. Faulty integrity culture skewed students’ perception of ethical behaviour. Kisamore, et al., 2007 Students with poorly-adjusted personality traits are more disposed to cheat due to the influence and interaction of integrity culture. Kitahara, et al., 2009 Case study demonstrated the effectiveness of employing multifaceted, hybrid approaches to ensure academic integrity. Larkin, et al., 2012 Additional enticements to plagiarize and cheat are provided by the use of online media, due to the ease of transmitting exam questions and answer s. Okoro, 2011 Plagiarism in all its forms is often difficult to communicate to students when merely stated in policy. Guided instruction strategies involving student-teacher interaction reduces incidences of unintentional plagiarism. Spain & Robles, 2011 Adoption and enforcement of a systematic Academic Integrity Policy makes adjudication of academic dishonesty cases more effective, reduces future such incidences, and establishes a culture of academic integrity. ... Table 1: Summary of academic journal articles Critical Comparison Determinants of academic integrity: Integrity culture and personality traits A debate exists concerning the factors that determine academic integrity, most commonly cited of which are the academic integrity culture (Tippitt, et al., 2009), and students’ or faculty members’ personal characteristics (De Vries, et al., 2011). Tippitt’s findings on integrity culture is supported by the study by Jones & Spraakman (2011), that fittingly explored the role that faculty members play in advancing academic misconduct. Faculty members’ willingness to cover up graduate students’ plagiarism or other forms of cheating to avoid public scandal, and university administrators’ tendency to overlook these infractions and not discipline faculty members to avoid embarrassment, are common. The Jones et al. study made a good case for integrity culture because it focused on a specific instance where the faculty member himself instigated student misconduct by leaking the departmental examination and quizzes to his class. The faculty member was dismissed, but the administrators decided to excuse the students and merely reduced en masse their grades instead of disciplining them. The cultural issue surfaced in the fact that most of the students interviewed felt there was nothing wrong about obtaining an unfair advantage over the other sections, and did not feel they were responsible for reporting the conduct of their instructor or their peers’ participation. Integrity culture is also central in Thakkar and Weisfeld-Spolter (2012), who determined that acts constituting cheating

Roller coaster accidents Essay Example for Free

Roller coaster accidents Essay Abstract Now that summer vacationers are filling up amusement parks on a daily basis how safe are you on the towering roller coasters? Am I the only one who wonders what if something happens? What if something goes wrong will I have enough time to react? With the recent death at Six Flags over Texas, these things cross my mind. Who checks these roller coasters for safety and how often are they checked? Though it seems like there are very few fatalities on rollers coasters it seems to me one is one to many. These questions always enter my mind as I wait for an hour or so in line to ride on one of these metal giants. According to Steph Solis (2013) from USA TODAY, â€Å"out of the 300 million amusement park visitors 37,154 people were injured and 35,977 were release and only 1,177 were admitted to the hospital or died†. So where is the exact number of deaths and why are they not recorded separately? Does anyone care just how many die at amusement park roller coasters or do we as consumers not want to know? According to Harris (2007) the odds of getting seriously injured from being in the amusement park is one in 25 million which odds in your favor are. Harris (2007) goes on to compare this to the odds of getting seriously injured in a car accident which is 15 in 10,000 which is much higher. According to the article, (What are the odd of dying on a roller coaster, 2013) â€Å"The odds of dying on a roller coaster are one in 300 million†. Ok so that makes me feel slightly safer but it doesn’t answer my question on the number of deaths alone that occur in amusement parks. So far the first two of my resources seem to try to make light of the odds of getting injured by comparing them to something more dangerous. In my mind more people own and drive automobiles so this is like comparing apples to oranges. I am still searching for my answer but so far all I am getting is the surrounding questions that try to make me forget about the deaths so I feel safer at the amusement park. My third source of information concentrates on the G-forces of the roller coasters and how this causes head injuries that could possibly lead to death but according to researchers at the U. of Pennsylvania that there isn’t enough G-forces to cause bleeding or swelling of the brain that would result in death (Puskar, 2002). I realize that there are signs in the park that you must be in good health to ride the roller coasters but there isn’t a doctor standing at the end of the line before you get on to give you a check-up so unless you know you have a health risk those signs are meaningless. Are going to be required to have a note from our doctor to ride roller coasters? Is this what it’s coming to? So this source concentrates on one type of injury and there is some concern that the roller coasters should be limited to how much G-force they are allowed but my question still goes unanswered so on to the next source. According to Dessauer (2008), â€Å"That with even years of research and safety precautions these rides can still be very dangerous and even deadly†. He goes on to give tidbits on the history of the roller coaster, but he has his own doubts about how safe are roller coasters really. So I’m not alone out there wondering where we draw the line. How safe should roller coasters be and what is a realistic number of deaths a year that we would consider allowable? To me one death is one to many and I think that all could have been avoidable. Weisenberger (2012), talks about the ASTM F-24 committee and how they develop the minimum safety standards for everything that goes into building and operating a roller coaster. Do they know how many deaths occur every year on roller coasters? If anyone would know I sure they do, but I haven’t been able to find anything by researching that committee. So even though I was unable to find the answer to my question I feel as if I am not alone as to wanting the real number of deaths that occur at our amusement parks on these giant coasters and why aren’t they being prevented. These questions will probably enter my mind every time I enter an amusement park. References â€Å"A Short History of Roller Coasters†. (1996) Themed Attraction. com. Retrieved on 7/22/2013 from http://www. themedattraction. com/coaster. htm Dessauer, Brain. (2008). Roller Coaster Deaths and Dismemberments. Purple Slinky. Retrieved on 7/22/13 from http://purpleslinky. com/offbeat/roller-coaster-deaths-and-dismemberments/ Harris, Tom. (2007). How Roller Coasters Work. HowStuffWorks. com. Retrieved on 7/22/13 from http://science. howstuffworks. com/engineering/structural/roller-coaster9. htm Puskar, Gene J. (2002). ROLLER COASTERS’ SAFETY SUPPORTED BY UNIVERSITY STUDY RESEARCHERS SAY RIDES DON’T RAISE RISK OF BRAIN INJURIES. The Free Library. Retrieved on 7/22/13 from http://www. thefreelibrary. com/ROLLER+COASTERS+SAFETY+SUPPORTED+BY+UNIVERSITY+STUDY+RESEARCHERS+SAY -a092986518 â€Å"Six Flags roller coaster death: Safety bar worried victim, witnesses say†. (2013). MercuryNews. com. Retrieved on 7/22/13 from http://www. mercurynews. com/nation-world/ci_23707295/six-flags-roller-coaster-death-safety-bar-worried Solis, Steph. (2013). How safe is a roller coaster? USA TODAY. Retrieved on 7/22/13 from http://www. usatoday. com/story/news/nation/2013/07/22/roller-coaster-death/2574425/ â€Å"What are the odds of dying on a roller coaster†? (2013). Retrieved on 7/22/13 from http://www. asktheodds. com/death/roller-coaster-odds/ Weisenberger, Nick. (2012). Coasters 101: An Engineer’s Guide to Roller Coaster Design. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Pg. 34.

Literary Analysis: The Storm :: essays research papers

The plot of the story "The Storm" by Kate Chopin is a conventional everyday plot. The story would not be so interesting if it weren't for the last line of the story; "So the storm passed and everyone was happy." What did she mean by the closing line? My interpretation of the story is that she meant the rocky part of both Calixta and Alcee's mariage had passed along with the storm. Both Alcee and Calixta cheated on their spouse, however, they both knew that when the stor was over they would return to faithfulness with their mates. Alcee obviously felt regretful, as indicated when the author writes; "It was a loving letter full of tender solicitude." He then went on to say "although he missed them, he was willing to bear the separation a while longer-realizing that their health and pleasure were the first things to be considered." These quotes were taken from the letter Alcee had written to his wife. The storm had passed and it looked as if everyone in Alcee's situation was going to be happy. As for Calixta, she was extremely happy to see her son and husband return home safely, as indicated in the story; "She had clasped Bibi and was kissing him effusively." Calixta then went on to Bobinot and "Felt him to see if he was dry, and seemed to express nothing but satisfaction at their safe return." Calixta had also withstood the storm of her marriage and everyone seemed to be happy too. Alcee and Calixta both seemed to realize they were blessed with loving spouses. In their moment of passion they did not realize how lucky they both were. I feel they both came to grips with the fact that what happened between them was an act of lust and there were no feelings involved. The moment was very arousing to each of them but when the storm was over so was the act of lust and betrayal. My opinion is, this act was going to help both Alcee's and Calixta's marriage rather than hurt it, as long as their respective spouses do not find out what happened during the storm. I bring this up because both guilty parties involved seemed to come away fromthe incident loving their spouses more and realizing that their choice of who to

The God of Small Things Book Analysis

The God of Small Things Book Analysis Character: Esthappen, referred to as Estha, and Rahel are twins. Both are innocent children who are still learning their manners. When they grow up and separate, Rahel moves to America and gets married, and Estha leaves to go with Babu, their father who has left them. When he returns to Ayemenem, Rahel also returns because they have a special bond. Their mother is referred to as Ammu. She raises her children well with structure. Ammu has an affair with Velutha, an untouchable, getting her banished from her home.Velutha is a servant in the Ayemenem home, aand the twins grow to admire him. Mammachi is the twins’ grandmother; she does not talk much, but often plays the violin. She is married to Pappachi, and he physically abuses Mammachi with a vase until Chacko, their son, tells him to stop. Chacko is the twins’ uncle. His ex-wife Margaret is British, and they have a daughter named Sophie Mol. Margaret Kochamma and Sophie Mol move to Ayemenem when Joe, Sophie Mol’s stepfather, passes away in London. Baby Kochamma is the twins’ grandaunt.She is very sneaky; for example, she accuses Velutha of raping Ammu, and forces Estha to tell the police that Velutha kidnapped the twins. Conflict: Many conflicts are presented in the book. One major conflict is the affair of Ammu with Velutha. Since he is an untouchable, he is not allowed to even come in contact with a touchable. Because of this affair, Ammu was banished from her own home and died early. Baby Kochamma accused Velutha of raping Ammu, but it was a lie only to protect their family image. Another conflict occurred during the death of Sophie Mol.Sophie Mol joined the twins on a boat when they were trying to escape because Ammu was angry at them. The boat flips, and Sophie Mol drowns in the river. Estha and Rahel are unconscious and wake up next to Velutha, who Baby Kochamma accuses Velutha of kidnapping the twins, and she forces Estha to tell this to t he police. Master Plot: One major master plot in the book is forbidden love. Velutha is loved by Ammu, and Estha and Rahel become attached to him later on. However, he is an untouchable servant so this love is forbidden. Because of this, Velutha is fired and Ammu is forced to leave her own home.Another master plot is discovery. Estha and Rahel discover how they family interacts and how certain actions affect the relationships between family members. Another master plot is maturation. This book shows how the twins start off as innocent and naive children, but through experiences, such as Estha with the Orangedrink Lemondrink man, they become more mature as they become adults. Archetype: One archetype that appears in this book is the mother. Ammu has to raise Estha and Rahel on her own because their Babu left them. She is motherly in teaching them manners and being polite in public.She also employs the father archetype. She has the highest authority over the twins and is powerful over them. The self is also sound in this book because Estha and Rahel are basically parts of a whole. They unconsciously think alike and have similar personalities. The trickster in this book is Baby Kochamma. She is deceiving because she forced Estha to tell the police that Velutha kidnapped the twins, in order to make her statement valid and avoid her own persecution for lying to the police. She also accuses Velutha of raping Ammu when they were actually in a secret love affair.Theme: One theme portrayed in this book is tensions between social classes. The book mentions several times where Touchables and Untouchables are not allowed to interact with each other because Touchables are superior. Rahel and Estha’s family have a higher status than others because they own the pickle company, so they did not interact with poorer people in the book. Estha and Rahel are not allowed to interact with Velutha, but they try to do so anyways. Another theme is betrayal. Chacko is betrayed by Margaret Kochamma, his ex-wife, who does not care about him anymore.The man selling drinks at the theatre betrays Estha. Tone & Irony: Roy writes in various tones. She writes in a sorry tone when describing moments of betrayal and family problems. When writing about the childhood of the twins, she sounds happier because of their innocence. An example of irony is that Comrade Pillai is a communist but does not want Velutha to join the revolution just because he is an untouchable. A revolutionary leader would want all the support he can get, but because Velutha is inferior, he does not accept him.Setting & Location: The book is mainly set in Ayemenem, India during the 1960s. Most of the plot occurs in the Ayemenem House, which is also the Paradise Pickles & Preserves factory they own. Another setting includes the movie theatre called Abhilash Talkies in the city of Kerala when the family goes to watch The Sound of Music. Another setting is in the airport when the family picks up Soph ie Mol and Margaret Kochamma. Writer’s Style: Arundhati Roy’s style is very different from others. She writes with great detail and incorporates deep imagery.She writes in flashbacks to show how the twins’ childhoods still affect them as adults. She begins with the family’s lives when they are older, and go back to when the twins were children. This helps readers know what happens to the family before finding out about the events that occur in between. Symbols: Pappachi’s moth symbolizes fear. It is first mentioned in chapter 2 when Pappachi discovers a new moth species, but does not claim that he discovered it. This moth appears when Ammu is angry at Rahel for talking back to her.It also appears when Rahel realizes that Sophie Mol died by drowning in the river. Another symbol is the toy watch that Rahel wears. It does not function but has a time painted on it. This shows that the tragic events that occurred during the twins’ childhood are f rozen and cannot be changed. These events affected the entire family until the twins’ adulthood. Summary: The book begins when the Rahel finds out that Estha has returned to Ayemenem, so she returns there as well. A flashback then occurs, and the family is at the funeral of Sophie Mol; the twins are seven years old at this time.Rahel does not understand that Sophie Mol is dead, and believes she is about to be buried alive. The entire family ignores Estha and Rahel throughout the entire funeral. The story fast forwards and Rahel visits their old home in Ayemenem, and Paradise Pickles & Preserves. It is also mentioned how the death of Sophie Mol affected the relationships in their family. Then another flashback occurs, and the family goes to Cochin airport to pick up Sophie Mol and Margaret Kochamma. Before going to the airport, they go to the movies to see The Sound of Music.Here at the theatre, Estha cannot help but sing during the movie so he leaves and goes to the lobby. He re, an Orangedrink Lemondrink Man molests him, and this event haunts him forever. After the movie is over, they stay at a hotel. The next day, they pick up Sophie Mol and Margaret Kochamma from the airport. The twins are rude in greeting them, and Ammu becomes mad at them. The story fast forwards and Rahel meets Comrade Pillai. He shows her a picture of the twins with Sophie Mol before her death. The story flashes back to when the family is leaving the airport to go home.The story is fast forwarded again to when Ammu passes away during work. She is cremated, and Chako and Rahel bring her to the crematorium. Estha is not with them, and a letter is sent to him informing him of Ammus’ death. There is another flashback and Sophie Mol has a welcome party. Rahel begins to bond with Velutha, and Ammu notices him and becomes attracted to him. Estha is not at the party, but he is in the factory. They find an old boat, and row to Velutha. He promises to fix the old boat. It is fast for warded to the present, and Estha and Rahel meet in a temple.It is flashbacked to Chacko and Margaret Kochamma’s wedding, and this wedding does not last. Margaret divorces Chacko and marries Joe, who dies later on. His death is what made Margaret Kochamma and Sophie Mol move to Ayemenem. Sophie Mol’s death is finally described. Baby Kochamma keeps Ammu locked up in her room in order to accuse Velutha of raping her. Velutha supports the communist movement, but Comrade Pillai, the leader of the movement, does not defend Velutha whatsoever. Velutha is banished, and Roy begins to refer to his as the â€Å"God of Small Things† because of Sophie Mol’s short death.Sophie joins the twins on their boat ride down the river. The boat flips over, and Sophie Mol drowns and dies. The twins are unconscious and wake up next to Velutha. Because of this, Baby Kochamma accuses him of kidnapping the twins and she forces Estha to tell the same to the police. After this, Estha leaves Ayamenem and lives with Babu. This affects Rahel because her other half is leaving her. In the present, they meet in Ayamenem again and make love. They continue to meet up at the riverbank and admire â€Å"the small things†, which are creatures that they see there.

Malcolm X a Homemade Education

Elizabeth Terry Biology 101-06 MWF at 3:00 November 14, 2011 Research paper DOWN SYNDROME Down syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardationDown syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardation. It is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome. Chromosomes contain sequences of DNA called genes that represent the genetic information that exists within a cell. Twenty-three distinctive pairs of chromosomes which is 46 in total. They are located within the nucleus (a region of the cell that is bounded by a specialized membrane, and which houses the genetic material).When a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, the newly created zygote normally receives 23 chromosomes from each parent. The contribution of genetic information from each parent is what makes each baby a distinctive blend of both characteristics. In Down syndrome a mistake during division of the sperm or egg cell produces a cell with an extra chromosome 21. This event occurs during cell division and is referr ed to as nondisjunction, or the failure of all chromosomes to separately properly resulting in retention of one of the chromosomes in one of the two new daughter cells.This is also called trisomy 21 and is accounted for 95% of all Down syndrome patients. A rare number of Down syndrome cases the original egg and sperm cells begins with the correct number of chromosomes but shortly after fertilization during the phase where cells are dividing rapidly a single cell can divide abnormally creating a line of cells with an extra chromosome 21. It’s called a cell line mosaicism. The individual with this type of down syndrome has two types of cells: some 46 chromosomes which is the normal number and some with 47.Individuals who are mosaic for trisomy 21 typically have less sever sign and symptoms of the disorder. Another are location that can cause down syndrome is called a chromosome translocation. This is an even that unlike the numerical abnormally causing trisomy 21, there is a st ructural abnormality. Exchange of material from two different chromosomes during the production of sex cells can take place such that there is a whole chromosome 21 attached to another chromosome but the chromosome number is normal. [1]These types of translocation involving chromosome 21, occur in about 3-4% of cases of Down syndrome.Ancient cultures, such as those in Greece, Rome, and Egypt, put disabled infants to death. Compassion toward the disabled was awakened by the early Christian church, but its charitable influence waned during the middle ages. Down syndrome also affected this people due to no one really caring about what was going on with the ill children. Down syndrome has a lot of causes and this is normally what some parents want to know is why their child is born with this syndrome. Most times this is why they tell you while you are carrying your child you need to watch very closely and look for all signs of genetic disorders with pregnant.Down syndrome is a chromosom al disorder as I said before. A baby is usually identified at birth through observation of a set of common physical characteristics. Babies with Down syndrome tend to be overly quiet. When I say that I mean less responsive with weak floppy muscles. With that being said a number of physical signs might be present. This includes a flat bridge of the nose which is smaller than normal. It’s a low set nose. They will tend to have a small mouth with a protruding tongue, upward slanting eyes and also extra folds of skin located at the corner of each eye, near the nose.They will have small outwardly rotated ears and small hands as well. Usually they have an unusual deep crease across the center of the palm and a malformed fifth finger. They will have a wide space between the big and the second toes and unusual creases on the soles of the feet. They also experience shorter than normal height later on in their childhood. Before genetic testing became available, Down syndrome was diagno sed based on certain typical physical characteristics. Not all people with Down syndrome have all these characteristics though.This can vary from certain people and are caused by the extra chromosomes. Individuals with Down syndrome also have joints that are looser than normal. Their skulls are short and broad. Newborns usually have extra skin on the back of their neck, and as the child gets older the neck often appears short and wider than usual. [2]Facial shape is round in the newborn and also during infancy. When the child gets older their face shape becomes oval like. This is due to the underdevelopment they go through. Their cheeks are round and the teeth develop late and in an unusual order.Although Down syndrome is not curable and there will be no cure for it, parents, researchers, and also the Down syndrome individuals try to make the best out of life and try dealing with it. Advances in medical treatment over the past 40 to 50 years for conditions such as heart defects and respiratory disease have led to dramatic increases in the life expectancy of those with Down syndrome. [3] Half of the children born with Down syndrome during the late 1960s survived to age 5. Bronchopneumonia, a respiratory illness and heart defects were the most common causes of death.Now about 80% of those born with it survive to age 10, and about 50% of them survive to age 50 or beyond. The recent statistics from various study places show that the place of incidence of Down syndrome anywhere from 1 in 600 to 1 in 1,000 live births. An analysis published by various people. Bray and colleagues in 1998 of combined data from nine different studies found that the incidence varies from 1 in 1,445 live birth mothers at age 10 to 1 in 25 live births to mothers at age 45. Down syndrome really is a hard disorder to live with but at the same time it has its advantages.Down syndrome has no treatment options but they have a lot of programs to help cope with this syndrome. The development of a child is a joyous thing. It involves amazing ohhs and ahhhs that would shock you every day your child does something new. All kids from the time their able to sit up by them and walks are learning new things everyday. Even as adults we learn new things everyday but still with Down syndrome, everything that they accomplish is outstanding. All kids learn to develop their fine motor skills but there are different aspects when it comes to Down syndrome children.The development of motor skills is very hard. The first thing you have to do is have a laid out foundation of how you plan on teaching that child. This is very dependent on stability. [4]Stability is being able to push open a heavy door. It’s being able to put on your shoes without falling. It is carrying a tray full of drinks. Its really a list that goes on but with this syndrome most things aren’t accomplished because down syndrome babies lack stability. Most of the people diagnosed wit this syndrome also tends to walk a little strange. They walk from side to side and always have their head twisted.Now as kids get older and reach their age past ten, then your not exactly ok, but you can breathe a little. Most researchers are still concerned about the older ones but its really the babies that most are worried about. They tend to go through a lot as newborns and unto there early infants stages. [5] Babies with Down syndrome suffer a lot. They have a lot they feel and go through, but being an infant and not being able to talk doesn’t help at all. Being born with Down syndrome you experience how it is from that point on and for the rest of your life.Children with this syndrome almost always have some degree of intellectual disability. That is why they learn slower and have difficulty with complex reasoning and judgment. The degree of intellectual impairment various tremendously. These kids do learn and what they do learn they will not forget. Down syndrome can not be prevented but it is People with Down syndrome, whatever their age, are people first. They are people with abilities, strengths and weaknesses like everyone else. They may have additional needs but first they have the same needs as everyone else of their age group.The quality of health care, education and community support provided to children and adults with Down syndrome makes a real difference to their progress throughout life. This module provides an introduction to all the issues that need to be addressed to enable individuals with Down syndrome, and their families, to enjoy full and happy lives within their communities. It offers an overview of the development of individuals with Down syndrome from infancy to adult life. It also provides a summary of the causes of Down syndrome, the incidence and prevalence of the condition, life expectancy and associated education and health care needs.Children with down syndrome experience problems with their digestive tract at a rate that is much higher than t hat of other children. [6] some of these problems such as blockage of the digestice tract can be life threatening and can require emergency surgery. Blockage or atresia of the esophagus or the duodenum can cause starvation if not corrected. Atresia occurs when the anal opening does not develop. This condition prevents solid waste from being eliminated from the intestinal tract and must be corrected surgically. Anal stenosis will allow waste products to pass, but will cause constipation.Gastroesophageal feflux is also more common in individuals with down syndrome. During this stage food reenters the esophagus from the stomach. This can cause vomiting and irritation of the esophagus. You can also have vision problem s with down syndrome to. Theses problems are common with those suffering with down syndrome. Strabismus in which one or both euyes either truns in or out. Occurs in 43% of theses chuldren. It is caused by abnormal or incomplete development of the cneters in the brain that control the coordination of eye movements. This condition may require an eye patch, special glasses or even surgery.Vision therapy may also be benificial and should be considered before surgery. Hearing problems also come with syndrome. [7] anatomical differences that result from trisomy 21 contribute to the larger percentage of hearing difficulties founf in individuals with down syndrome. Appromately 53% in children with down syndrome have hearing problems. This makes it more difficult to examine the ars for wax buildup and infection. The middle ear is smaller than normal, as well. This contributes to the presence of chronic ear infections in 40% to 60% of children with downs syndrome.The shallow nasal bridge founfd in 61% of individuals with down syndrome also contributed. Collapse or blockage of the eustachian tube, which leads from the ear to the throat, causes fluid to build up in the middle ear and increases the risk of middle ear infection. [8]In children with down syndrome t he eustachian tubes are often smaller tha normal and have lowered muscle tone. Problems with fluid build up in the middle ear occur in 60% of indiviuals with down syndrome this fluid buildup interferes with hearing and can cause permanent hearing loss if it remains for a long peopif of time.Estimates of hearing loss in people with down syndrome range from 60% to 80%. Hearing loss in children can contribute to language and speech difficulies as well as auditory attention. Monitoring for fluid buildup and infections of the middle ear should begin before the age of six months and should continue into adulthood. Hearin aids may be a choice as well. Another problem that occurs in down syndrome individuals is problems with thyroid gland. Weighing less than one ounce the thyroid is actually one of the largest endocrine glands. Thyroid hormones help regualte the synthesis of growth factore and many hormones.Thyroid hormones are crucial for proper brain development during pregnancy. They are also important in normal growth. Because they are composed of the amino acid tyrosine, to which iodine molecules have been atattched adequate iodine in the diet is esstenial for their production. Another hormone produced by the thyroid gland is calcitonin which regulates the levels and metabolism of calcium. The hormones tri-iodothyonine and tetraiodothyonine are produced by the thyroid gland in a ratio of 1;14. t4 is secreted by the thyroid gland in responses to TSH. The active form, T3 is formed in the kidney, liver, and pleen by removal of one iodine molecule from T4. individuals with down syndrome also are 10 to 30 times more likely to develop Leukemia. [9] This is a type of cancer caused by the production of abnormal qhite blood cells by the bone marrow. These abnormal cells eventually crowd out normal white and red blood cells. There are two main types of leukemia. Acute and chronic. Acute leukemias develop slowly and the patienst condition worsens slowly. Chronic leukemia de velops rapidly and the patients syptoms worsen quickly. About 10% of babies born with down syndrome develop a transient leukemia that usually goes away by 3 months of age.About 20% to 30% of those with this transient condtion go on to develop acute leukemia. Babies who do not have down syndrome rarely have the transient form of leukemia. This higher risk of leukemia is in contrast to the risk of other types of cancer in individuals with down syndrome. The incidence of most types of solid tumors is muh smaller than in the general population. Down syndromes rates has also increased. From 1979 to 2003, the prevalence (total number of cases of a disease in a population at a specific time) of Down syndrome (DS) at birth increased by 31 percent, from 9 to 12 per 10,000 live births in 10 US regions.Within the 10 regions, birth prevalence of DS ranged from a low of 9. 7 in Arkansas to a high of 13. 7 in Utah during 1997-2003. The number of infants born with DS was almost 5 times higher amon g births to older mothers (38. 6 per 10,000) than among births to younger mothers (7. 8 per 10,000). In 2002, DS was found to be present in about 1 of every 1,000 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 living in 10 chosen regions of the United States, which means that approximately 83,000 children and adolescents with DS were living in the United States during that year. Prevalence of DS by age group was the highest in 0-3 year olds at 11. , declining to 10. 3 among 4-7 year olds, 9. 8 among 8-11 year olds, 8. 3 among 12-15 year olds, and 6. 0 among 16-19 year olds. A screening test will help identify the possibility of Down syndrome. Screening tests do not provide conclusive answers, but rather, they provide an indication of the likelihood of the baby having Down syndrome. An abnormal test result does not mean that your baby has Down syndrome. The goal with a screening test is to estimate the risk of t baby having Down syndrome. If the screening test is positive and a risk for Down syndrome exists, further testing may be recommended.Diagnostic tests can identify Down syndrome before the baby is born. January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released guidelines recommending screening for Down syndrome to all pregnant women during their first trimester. Agnostic tests tend to be more expensive and have a degree of risk; screening tests are quick and easy to do. However, screening tests have a greater chance of being wrong; there are â€Å"false-positive† (test indicates the baby has the condition when the baby really does not) and â€Å"false-negatives† (baby has the condition but the test indicates they do not).As far as those individual kids with Down syndrome there is a lot that they can do, just as the regular ones. Kids with Down syndrome tend to have a sense of humor. Those with this disorder have slurred words and stutter but what you can understand they have pretty good conversation. Also in about 4 percent of all down syndrome cases the individual possesses not an entire third copy of chromosome 21 material, which has been incorporated via a translocation into a no homologous chromosome. In translocation pieces are swapped between two non-related chromosomes forming hybrid chromosomes.The most common translocation associated with Down syndrome is that between the long arm (down gene area) of chromosome 21 and an end of chromosome 14. [10] The individual in whom the translocation has occurred shows no evidence of the aberration since the normal complement of genetic material is still present only a different chromosomes location. The difficulty arises when this individual forms gametes. A mother who possesses the 21/14 translocation, for example has one normal 21 one normal 14 and the hybrid chromosomes.She is a genetic carrier for the disorder because she can pass it on to her offspring even though she is clinically normal. The mother can produce three types of viable gametes: one containing the normal 14 and 21. the presence of an extra copy of the long arm of chromosome 21 causes defects in many tissues and organs. One major effect of Down syndrome is mental retardation. The intelligence quotients of affected individuals are typically in the range of 40-50. The IQ varies with age but being higher in childhood than in adolescence or adult life.The disorder is often accompanied by physical traits. Trisomy 21 is one of the most common chromosomal aberrations occurring in about 0. 5 percent of all conceptions and in one out of every seven hundred to eight hundred live births. About 15 percent of the patients institutionalized for mental deficiency suffer from Down syndrome. Before the chromosomal basis for the disorder was determined the frequency of Down syndrome births was correlated with increased maternal age. For mothers at age twenty the incidence of down syndrome is about 0. 5 percent which increases to 0. 9 percent by the age thirty -five and 3 percent at age forty-five. Comparing the chromosomes of the affected offspring with those of both parents have shown that the nondisjunction event is maternal about 75 percent the time. The maternal age effect is thought to result from the different manner in which the male and female gametes are produced. Gamete production in the male event in females. Formation of the female’s gametes begins early in embryonic life, somewhere but between the eight and twentieth weeks.During this time, cells in the developing ovary divide rapidly by mitosis forming cells called primary oocytes. These cells then begin meiosis by pairing up the homologues. The process is interrupted now and the cells are held in a state of suspended animation until needed in reproduction, when they are triggered to complete their division. Most individuals with Down syndrome have intellectual disability in the mild (IQ 50–70) to moderate (IQ 35–50) range, with individuals having Mosai c Down syndrome typically 10–30 points higher. Dr.Weihs notes the mental qualities of people with Down syndrome to be â€Å"unisexual,† â€Å"playful,† â€Å"affectionate,† â€Å"mischievous† and â€Å"imitative†. [21]Language skills show a difference between understanding speech and expressing speech, and commonly individuals with Down syndrome have a speech delay. Fine motor skills are delayed and often lag behind gross motor skills and can interfere with cognitive development. Effects of the condition on the development of gross motor skills are quite variable. Some children will begin walking at around 2 years of age, while others will not walk until age 4.Physical therapy, and/or participation in a program of adapted physical education (APE), may promote enhanced development of gross motor skills in Down syndrome children. A 2002 literature review of elective abortion rates found that 91–93% of pregnancies in the United Kingdom a nd Europe with a diagnosis of Down syndrome were terminated. [54] Data from the National Down Syndrome Cytogenetic Register in the United Kingdom indicates that from 1989 to 2006 the proportion of women choosing to terminate a pregnancy following prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome has remained constant at around 92%.In the United States a number of studies have examined the abortion rate of fetuses with Down syndrome. Three studies estimated the termination rates at 95%, 98%, and 87% respectively. Medical ethicist Ronald Green argues that parents have an obligation to avoid ‘genetic harm' to their offspring, and Claire Rayner, then a patron of the Down's Syndrome Association, defended testing and abortion saying â€Å"The hard facts are that it is costly in terms of human effort, compassion, energy, and finite resources such as money, to care for individuals with handicaps†¦People who are not yet parents should ask themselves if they have the right to inflict such burde ns on others, however willing they are themselves to take their share of the burden in the beginning some physicians and ethicists are concerned about the ethical ramifications of the high abortion rate for this condition. [59] Conservative commentator George Will called it â€Å"eugenics by abortion†. 60] British peer Lord Rix stated that â€Å"alas, the birth of a child with Down's syndrome is still considered by many to be an utter tragedy† and that the â€Å"ghost of the biologist Sir Francis Galton, who founded the eugenics movement in 1885, still stalks the corridors of many a hospital†. Doctor David Mortimer has argued in Ethics & Medicine that â€Å"Down's syndrome infants have long been disparaged by some doctors and government bean counters. Some members of the disability rights movement â€Å"believe that public support for prenatal diagnosis and abortion based on disability contravenes the movement's basic philosophy and goals.Peter Singer argued t hat â€Å"neither hemophilia nor Down's syndrome is so crippling as to make life not worth living from the inner perspective of the person with the condition. To abort a fetus with one of these disabilities, intending to have another child who will not be disabled, is to treat fetuses as interchangeable or replaceable. If the mother has previously decided to have a certain number of children, say two, then what she is doing, in effect, is rejecting one potential child in favor of another.She could, in defence of her actions, say: the loss of life of the aborted fetus is outweighed by the gain of a better life for the normal child who will be conceived only if the disabled one dies. Individuals with Down syndrome have a higher risk for many conditions. The medical consequences of the extra genetic material in Down syndrome are highly variable and may affect the function of any organ system or bodily process. Some problems are present at birth, such as certain heart malformations. Ot hers become apparent over time, such as pilepsy. Other things Down syndrome patients go through are very emotional. For people with Down syndrome it is very hard to cope with the everyday activities. It is also hard on the family, especially the parents. It can be very frustrating for the parents to cope with having a child with Down. People born with Down syndrome require so much more extra attention than that of a normal child. Suggestions from some psychologists are for the parents to go to some kind of group sessions to talk to other parents who have children with Down.Therefore, someone else can understand the frustrations that they go through in raising their child. People with Down syndrome have a lot of different emotions running through their mind and body. People with Down syndrome, whatever their age, are people first. They are people with abilities, strengths and weaknesses like everyone else. They may have additional needs but first they have the same needs as everyone else of their age group. The quality of health care, education and community support provided to children and adults with Down syndrome makes a real difference to their progress throughout life.This module provides an introduction to all the issues that need to be addressed to enable individuals with Down syndrome, and their families, to enjoy full and happy lives within their communities. It offers an overview of the development of individuals with Down syndrome from infancy to adult life. It also provides a summary of the causes of Down syndrome, the incidence and prevalence of the condition, life expectancy and associated education and health care needs. Further modules in this series address each of these issues in detail.Down syndrome patients also have another way to look at things. The most of the time feel different and out of place. Most would like to know who Down syndrome affects. For instance what race and what are the ratios of living past a teenager Children and adults with Down syndrome have a wide range of abilities. A person with Down syndrome may be very healthy or may have unusual and demanding medical and social problems at virtually every stage of life. It’s important to remember that every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual. Each child will develop at his or her own pace.It may take children with Down syndrome longer than other children to reach develop Down syndrome cannot be cured. However, early treatment can help many people with Down syndrome to live productive lives well into adulthood. Children with Down syndrome can often benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exercises to help improve their motor skills. They might also be helped by special education and attention at school. Some of the medical problems common in people with Down syndrome, like cataracts, hearing problems, thyroid problems, and seizure disorders, can be also treated or corrected.It has been suggested that children with Down sy ndrome might benefit from medical treatment that includes amino acid supplements and a drug known as Piracetam. Piracetam is a drug that some people believe may improve the ability of the brain to learn and understand. However, there have been no controlled clinical studies with Piracetam to date in the U. S. or elsewhere that show its safety and efficacy. The life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased substantially. In 1929, the average life span of a person with Down syndrome was nine years. Today, it is common for a person with Down syndrome to live to age 50 and beyond.In addition to living longer, people with Down syndrome are now living fuller, richer lives than ever before as family members and contributors to their community. Many people with Down syndrome form meaningful relationships and eventually marry. Now that people with Down syndrome are living longer, the needs of adults with Down syndrome are receiving greater attention. With assistance from family and caretakers, many adults with Down syndrome have developed the skills required to hold jobs and to live semi-independently mental milestones, but many of these milestones will eventually be met.Therefore, parents should not compare the progress of a child with Down syndrome to the progress of other siblings or even to other children. [pic][pic] [pic] ———————– [1] Down syndrome K. Le Lerner Pg. 1377. Paragraph 1. [2] Genes and Disorders. By Fay Evans-martin. Pg. 14 paragraph 2. [3] Fay Evans-martin Pg. 17 Paragraph 3. [4] [5] [6] Genes & Disease By: Fay Evans Pg. 67 [7] Genes and Disorders Br Fay Evans Pg. 71 [8] Genes And Diseases By Fay Evans Pg. 71 [9] Pg. 75 Genes And Disorders By Fay Evans [10] Down syndrome medical guide. Pg. 749

The Death Penalty essays

The Death Penalty essays When a man is caught stealing another mans wallet, he is punished for his crime. He may be fined or sentenced to jail. It is up to a judge or jury to decide. When a man murders another man, he also needs to be punished. We live in a country that uses the death penalty and the penalty should stay in affect so the killers cannot be let out of prison to go on a killing spree. There have been many arguments about the death penalty: one being the cost and the second being killing of the wrong people. Both of these arguments have been shown to favor the death penalty, the Bible even shows in favor of the death penalty. Many people claim that the death penalty costs more than life without parole, but they are wrong. Granted, the initial costs of the death penalty do cost more than the life imprisonment cases. The criminals that receive life without parole are sentenced to a maximum-security area of a prison, which in turn, ends up costing more money. When you comparing the cost of the two you must use the cost of cells for criminals who have committed the same category of crime. According to the organization, Justice For All the average cell is $34,200 per year. Which means an average cell for the criminal who is sentenced to life without parole, multiplied by an average of 50 years, at a basic 2% annual cost increase, plus $75,000 for trail and appeals will cost $3.01 million dollars (Death...). Where as a criminal who is sentenced to death for the same charge will have a cell at $60,000 a year for an average of 6 years, at the same 2% annual cost increase, plus $1.5 million for trial and appeals will only cost $1.88 million dollars (Death...). There is also the big complaint of the death penalty killing the wrong people. In the many criminals that are said to be innocent only 80% have shown no evidence to support their innocence. Of the criminals that are supposedly innocent and are executed only equals ...

How to Use a My Service Canada Account

How to Use a My Service Canada Account The My Service Canada Account (MSCA) is available from Service Canada, the federal department charged with delivering a wide variety of government services. The account provides secure online access to view and update your personal information on Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Old Age Security (OAS). How to Obtain an Access Code Before you can register for a My Service Canada Account, you need an access code- either an EI access code if you are applying for EI benefits or a Personal Access Code, which you must request. The four-digit EI Access Code is printed in the shaded area on the benefit statement mailed to you after you apply for Employment Insurance. To request a seven-digit Personal Access Code (PAC), read the information on the Request a Personal Access Code page. Read and print the Privacy Notice Statement for your records. Select continue, provide the following information, and submit your: Social Insurance NumberFirst nameLast nameDate of birthMothers maiden namePostal code and address information It will take five  to 10 days to receive your PAC by mail. Once you have an access code, you can register for a My Service Canada Account online. How to Register and Log In At the MSCA website, you can choose between logging in with CGKey using a Government of Canada User ID and password or using credentials you may already have with a Sign-In Partner, such as those you use for online banking. When you use a Sign-In Partner, Service Canada will not share personal information with the partner about the government services you access and the partner will not provide personal information it holds to Service Canada during the login process. Service Canada will not know which partner you are using. If you are a first-time user, follow the registration instructions to complete the sign-up process before logging in. GCKey Registration First, read and accept the terms and conditions. Be prepared to: Create a User IDCreate recovery questions, answers, and hintsCreate and confirm a password Sign-In Partner Registration Read and agree to the terms and conditionsSelect a Sign-In Partner Employment Insurance (EI) Once you are logged in, you can use the My Service Canada Account tool to view your electronic Records of Employment (ROEs) and information on your EI claim, including your weekly benefit rate, the start and end date of your claim, the start and end of your waiting period, your allowable earnings, the number of weeks you will be entitled to receive EI benefits, the number of weeks of EI benefits you have already received, payment dates, and details about payment deductions. This account tool also allows you to: View information on past EI claimsSubmit an Absence From Canada formSubmit a Course or Training formPrint your T4E tax slip for EI benefits to use when filing your income tax returnStart or stop the mailing of your T4E tax slipsRegister to pay EI premiums on your self-employment incomeChange your address or telephone informationSign up for direct deposit or change your banking information Canada Pension Plan (CPP) The My Service Account allows you to view information about your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits and view and print your CPP Statement of Contributions. You can also use this tool to: Get an estimate of your CPP retirement benefitsPrint your T4A(P) tax slip for CPP benefits to use when you file your income taxesStart or stop the mailing of your T4A(P) tax slipsChange your address or telephone information (some exceptions apply)Sign up for direct deposit or change your banking information Old Age Security (OAS) Information on Old Age Security (OAS) benefits is also available in the My Service Account. The details of your benefits- including payment dates and monthly amounts- is found here. The tool also allows you to: Print your T4A (OAS) tax slip for OAS income for your income tax returnChange your address or telephone information (some exceptions apply)Sign up for direct deposit or change your banking information Questions and Assistance If you have difficulty using the My Service Canada Account tool, visit the nearest Service Canada Office. Experienced government personnel will be available to answer questions and provide assistance.

The importance of HR measurement and metrics to HR's role as a Thesis

The importance of HR measurement and metrics to HR's role as a strategic business partner - Thesis Example This thesis describes measurement of the effects of human capital that has become a continual challenge for human resource professionals in various industries. Practices for human resource management are of paramount importance in enhancing the overall performance of firms. Based on previous findings, investments on human capital can bring about favorable returns, such as the increased employee skills, increased productivity and profitability, or enhanced stock market performance. Consequently, organizations have come to recognize that improvements in their human resources can strongly increase organizational efficiency despite increasing competition, business operations and need for cost effective environments. In addition, there has been considerable pressure on the HR function to evaluate and measure its role and contribution in increasing competitive advantage for organizations. In particular, organizational changes, increased accountability, increased productivity, implementatio n of HR strategies, increasing application of human resource information systems, and growing reliance on the interaction between managers and HR. Consequently, previous studies have looked into the different approaches that can be used for measuring HR contributions, hence the term ‘HR metrics’. This study will then focus on the gas and electric utilities industry of the United States, particularly their use of HR metrics and its impact on their performance. Gas and Electric Utilities Industry in the U.S. The electric utility industry in the country is considerable in size. According to the International Energy Agency, it may be likely that demand for electricity will double in the next 25 years. Consequently, large investments in equipment and services that transmit electricity to residential homes and workplaces can be expected as well. As a response to the financial crisis in 2008, the US government had allocated $11 billion to develop the smart grid infrastructure that will enable electricity transmission from long distances as well as increase the energy use efficiency. What has been referred to as electric utilities at present have been associated with companies that generate, transmit, distribute, and conduct billing. Historically, due to the natural monopoly, such electric utilities may either be strictly regulated or public owned. In the past decade, generation of electricity has been separated from its transmission and distribution for companies to create wholesale power markets with which electric utilities obtain energy from their competing generators. In addition, natural gas utilities in the United States have been serving over 70 million customers in the country that is provided by means of underground delivery systems that run for over 2 million miles (AGA, 2011). Residential customers, electric power plants, and establishments that mainly utilize gas for commercial purposes, such as restaurants, account for majority of the consum ers. In terms of employment and working conditions, numerous utility workers typically experience night and weekend shifts with which a number of these employees may work overtime to assist peaks in demand as well as repair the damages caused by accidents, natural disasters, and other occurrences. The working environment of the electric and gas utilities industry has also been associated with hazardous operations and materials, hence the continual need for their employees to undergo adequate and formal training (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011). Despite the efforts of the utilities industry to increase profitability and enhance worker productivity, however, a number of challenges are still being faced by the electric and gas utilities firms, such as the need for sustainability, security of supply, a more complex combination of energy technologies and resources, as well as access to lucrative opportunities (MCE, 2011). It