Cassava Starch Essay Example for Free

Cassava Starch Essay Cassava (Manihot esculenta), also called manioc, tapioca or yuca, is one of the most important food crops in the humid tropics, being particularly suited to conditions of low nutrient availability and able to survive drought (Burrell, 2003). The plant grows to a height of 1 to 3 m and several roots may be found on each plant. Although cassava leaves are sometimes consumed, the major harvested organ is the tuber, which is actually a swollen root. The plant is propagated mostly from stem cuttings. A major limitation of cassava production is the rapid post harvest deterioration of its roots which usually prevents their storage in the fresh state for more than a few days (Okezie and Kosikowski, 1982). Cassava ranks very high among crops that convert the greatest amount of solar energy into soluble carbohydrates per unit of area. Among the starchy staples, cassava gives a carbohydrate production which is about 40% higher than rice and 25% more than maize, with the result that cassava is the cheapest source of calories for both human nutrition and animal feeding. A typical composition of the cassava root is moisture (70%), starch (24%), fiber (2%), protein (1%) and other substances including minerals (3%) Compared to other crops, cassava excels under suboptimal conditions, offering the possibility of using marginal land to increase total agricultural production (Cock, 1982). Plant breeders, agronomists and recently molecular biologists have made substantial improvements in cassava yields during the last two decades. While, genetic characterization and mapping has revealed some insights into the molecular nature of cassava (Tonukari et al. 1997; Fregene et al. 003) Plastics are synthetic substances produced by chemical reactions. Almost all plastics are made from petroleum, except a few experimental resins derived from corn and other organic substances. Plastic has many properties which has made it a raw material of choice for Manufactures of plastic Bags and packing materials. Cost of production, lightweight, strength, easy process of manufac ture, and availability are few of the properties. Man has simply not put the plastic to the right use/ or using it without taking proper care of other related norms of usage. The hazards plastics pose are numerous. The land gets littered by plastic bag garbage presenting an ugly and unhygienic seen. The Throw away culture results in these bags finding their way in to the city drainage system, the resulting blockage cases inconvenience, difficult in maintaining the drainage with increased cost, creates unhygienic environment resulting in health hazard and spreading of water borne diseases. This littering also reduces rate of rain water percolating, resulting in lowering of already low water levels in our cities. The soil fertility deteriorates as the plastic bags form parts of manure remain in the soil for years. People need alternative and effective components of plastic that is safe and biodegradable which will not harm and pollute the earth. Significance: This study is important to be able to help Mother Earth in reducing its pollutants and toxic or harmful wastes. Through this study, the researchers will be able to help other people, the animals and the environment. The researchers would like to stop plastic pollution and be part of the solution. Plastic bags and bottles, like all forms of plastic, create significant environmental and economic burdens. They consume growing amounts of energy and other natural resources, degrading the environment in numerous ways. In addition to using up fossil fuels and other resources, plastic products create litter, hurt marine life, and threaten the basis of life on earth. There is over 45 million tons of plastics per year and nearly every piece of plastic ever made still exists today because of its long-life properties. Biodegradable plastics could be an effective solution to all of these problems. Biodegradable plastics are a much better choice than non biodegradable plastics because they are friendlier to the earth and the environment. Biodegradable plastics break down faster, can be recycled easier and are non-toxic. With these characteristics of biodegradable plastics, we could help save lives and the environment as well and reduce the threat plastics give to marine life. Plastic, the wonder material that we use for everything, is perhaps the most harmful of this trash because it does not readily break down in nature but if it is biodegradable, these plastics break down faster so they have a much shorter effect on the earth, and they will degrade completely. Normal plastics are manufactured using oil, and this process is very harmful to the environment by polluting the air and environment, but this is not the case with green biodegradable plastics. Using biodegradable plastics will minimize the effects that these products have on the earth, and help eliminate their waste much faster. Review of Related Literature: In the past few decades, there has been a marked advance in the development of biodegradable plastics from renewable resources, especially for those derived from starch-based materials. The goal of this development is to obtain biodegradable plastics that perform as well as traditional plastics when in use and which completely biodegrade at disposal. Several starch-based plastics have been introduced into the market, and are used in some applications now. Starch foam is one of the major starch-based packaging materials. It is produced by extrusion or compression/explosion technology. This product has been developed as a replacement for polystyrene which is used to produce loose-fillers and other expanded items. Another type of starch-based plastics is produced by blending or mixing starch with synthetic polyester. For this type of biodegradable plastics, granular starch can be directly blended with polymer, or its granular structure can be destructurized before being incorporated into the polymer matrix. The type of starch and synthetic polymer as well as their relative proportions in the blends influence the properties of the resulting plastics. The last group of starch-based plastics is polyesters that are produced from starch. The major starch-derived polyesters in the market now are polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoate. Experimental studies have demonstrated that cassava starch could be used for making various types of packaging products. As a major source of starch in tropical and subtropical regions, cassava is a promising raw material for the development of biodegradable plastics in these areas. Research has been done on HYPERLINK http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Biodegradable _blank o Biodegradablebiodegradable plastics that break down with exposure to sunlight (e. g. , HYPERLINK http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ultra-violet_radiation _blank o Ultra-violet radiationultra-violet radiation), water or dampness, bacteria, enzymes, wind abrasion and some instances rodent pest or insect attack are also included as forms of HYPERLINK http://en. ikipedia. org/wiki/Biodegradation _blank o Biodegradationbiodegradation or HYPERLINK http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Environmental_degradation _blank o Environmental degradationenvironmental degradation. It is clear some of these modes of degradation will only work if the plastic is exposed at the surface, while other modes will only be effective if certain conditions exist in landfill or composting systems. HYPERLINK http://en. wikipedia. rg/wiki/Starch _blank o StarchStarch powder has been mixed with plastic as a filler to allow it to degrade more easily, but it still does not lead to complete breakdown of the plastic. Some researchers have actually HYPERLINK http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetic_engineering _blank o Genetic engineeringgenetically engineered bacteria that synthesize a completely biodegradable plastic, but this material, such as HYPERLINK http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Biopol _blank o BiopolBiopol, is expensive at present. The diversity and ubiquity of plastic products substantially testify to the versatility of the special class of engineering materials known as polymers. However, the non-biodegradability of these petrochemical-based materials has been a source of environmental concerns and hence, the driving force in the search for ‘green’ alternatives for which starch remains the frontliner. Starch is a natural biopolymer consisting predominantly of two polymer types of glucose namely amylose and amylopectin. The advantages of starch for plastic production include its renewability, good oxygen barrier in the dry state, abundance, low cost and biodegradability. The longstanding quest of developing starch-based biodegradable plastics has witnessed the use of different starches in many forms such as native granular starch, modified starch, plasticized starch and in blends with many synthetic polymers, both biodegradable and non-biodegradable, for the purpose of achieving cost effectiveness and biodegradation respectively. In this regard, starch has been used as fillers in starch-filled polymer blends, thermoplastic starch (TPS) (produced from the combination of starch, plasticizer and thermomechanical energy), in the production of foamed starch and biodegradable synthetic polymer like polylactic acid (PLA) with varying results. However, most starch-based composites exhibit poor material properties such as tensile strength, yield strength, stiffness and elongation at break, and also poor moisture stability. This therefore warranted scientific inquiries towards improving the properties of these promising starch-based biocomposites through starch modification, use of compatibilizers and reinforcements (both organic and inorganic), processing conditions, all in the hope of realizing renewable biodegradable substitutes for the conventional plastics. Definition of Terms Biodegradable able to decompose naturally: made of substances that will decay relatively quickly as a result of the action of bacteria and break down into elements such as carbon that are recycled naturally Starch – a white, granular or powdery, odorless, tasteless and complex carbohydrate found chiefly in seeds, fruits, tubers, roots and stem pith of plants, notably in corn, potatoes, wheat, and rice; an important foodstuff and used otherwise especially in adhesives and as fillers and stiffeners for paper and textiles. Plastics – the word plastic is derived from the words plasticus (Latin for â€Å"capable of molding†) and plastikos (Greek â€Å"to mold,† or â€Å"fit for molding†). Plastics are polymeric, moldable and synthetic materials which are derived from fossil fuels, such as oil, coal or natural gas. Plastics consist of organic (carbon-containing) long molecular chains that give them many of their unique properties. They can be made hard, flexible, strong, transparent, light and elastic. * Polymer – long-chain molecules that repeat their structures over and over * Polyethylene Bags the bags that you will see commonly used, such as plastic grocery bags, are made from petroleum byproducts, which is the root of most all of the environmental problems that they are the source of. Not only do they take substantially longer to break down or degrade, but as they do they release highly toxic chemicals. Resin – It is a hydrocarbon secretion of many HYPERLINK http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Plant o Plantplants, particularly coniferous trees. It is valued for its chemical constituents and uses, such as varnishes and HYPERLINK http://en. wikipedia. rg/wiki/Adhesive o Adhesiveadhesives, as an important source of raw materials for organic synthesis, or for incense and perfume. * Polymer Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) The most popular type of hardener because of its economy and ease of use. * Polyester Resin Polyester resins are the most commonly used matrix in the marine and composite industry. These resins are styrene-based, flammable and cata lyzed when combined with Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide(MEKP). Polyester resins are unsaturated resins formed by the reaction of dibasic organic acids and polyhydric alcohols. Premix Polyester Resin R10-60 – It is a fast gel premix polyester resin used for wood, kapiz, and other lamination with cellophane, â€Å"Lumirror† or â€Å"Mylar† films. It is also used to make decorative jewels and flowers from ceramic molds, to make small coatings from polyethylene amp; silicone rubber molds, and to cast on intrinsic molds such as steel or bass frames. * Plastic Resin Glue – Plastic resins are made by heating hydrocarbons in what is known as the cracking process. The goal here is to break down the larger molecules into ethylene, propylene, and other types of hydrocarbons. The amount of ethylene produced depends on the cracking temperature. Once the cracking process has been completed, the compounds are formed into chains that are known as polymers. Different polymers are combined to make plastic resins that have the characteristics needed for different applications Methodology: A. Materials 2 Cassava Tubers 180 ml of Premix Polyester Resin 300 ml of Polymer MEKP Hardener 100 grams Petroleum Jelly 3 old shirts Measuring cup Grater Plastic Spoon Knife 3 Plastic Containers Chopping board B. Procedure Gather the Cassava Tubers. Ground and squeeze it to extract the starch. Get hold of 240 grams of the starch and divide it into 3 equal parts: 80 grams in trial 1, trial 2 and trial 3. Place 60 ml of the plastic resin glue (Premix Polyester Resin) with 50 grams of flour catalyst for T1, 75 grams for T2 and 125 grams in T3. Mix and stir the components and pour it in the shirt with Petroleum Jelly and let it dry under the sun. To test its capacity to carry weight, use the plastic to carry objects. For its ability to hold water, put water inside the plastic. To test its tensile and bending properties, stretch the plastic as far as you can. Repeat steps 5-7 using T2 and T3.

Debates on “Standard of Care” in Research

Debates on â€Å"Standard of Care† in Research Current debates on â€Å"Standard of Care† in Research on Human subjects in the Developing World Zoheb Rafique INTRODUCTION: For sometimes now, medical and bioethics communities have been facing some of difficult and divisive issues regarding the ethics of the international research. These issues often get fuel, when the interventional research is conducted on the poor and vulnerable people in the poor developing countries. Normal term â€Å"Standard of the Care†, against which some of new interventions and inventions are tested in the medical research has not been adequately defined. This term is often usually taken to mean the â€Å"best proved treatment† for any of the condition under investigation in any of the trial. The debate regarding what constitutes a reasonable and fair standard of care for subjects in the developing countries and those who participate in the clinical trials has been aroused by the critics of the studies on transmission of HIV. Those critics also argued that the placebo controlled trials of the new regimens as to prevent the vertical transmission of the HIV were hi ghly unethical because of the reason that they included the placebo arm rather than â€Å"best proven treatment† which is available in the developed countries. While some of the commentators considered criticisms to be unbiased and associated with imperialistic attitudes. This debate made it very clear that high standards of the research plans to have not been comprehensively and adequately defined. Although there was some justified concern that the pressure from US food and the drug administration could â€Å"dilute† declaration of the Helsinki, and critics were also confident that whether a trial was ethical could be deduced from text of a declaration. But some declarations such as declaration of the Helsinki, that governing international research ethics are accepted like the constitutions and needing interpretation. Also assuming what is ethical, goes beyond merely following all the prescriptions and also requires some moral reasoning (1). In this article, I will di scuss and comment on various debates on standard of care in human research in the developing world. DISCUSSION Equal standards of medical care during research, reflecting equal respect for the dignity of subjects, could be taken to mean any one or a combination of several requirements. It is arbitrary and not justifiable to select only one of these, for example, which drugs are used to compare the standard of care in developed and developing countries. In context of some disputed studies on the issue of HIV transmission, the forced emphasis on some â€Å"best proven drugs† having greater considerations of whether those drug regimen can be safely applied in the different settings. Also little attention has been paid to fact there were so many differences between the pregnant women in the developing countries, and in countries where â€Å"best proven† treatment previously been established. The pregnant women in the developing countries present to the antenatal clinics at much later in the pregnancy than women in original studies; they are often malnourished and anemic, and they of ten live within some context in which the breast feeding having different implications for the newborn infants. Moreover, the advice don’t breast feed would then contradict years of the intensive education by WHO (World Health Organization). Also concerning use of the placebos, the approach than also been simplistic. A placebo arm is legal and justified in any trial requires some careful consideration of the potential benefits and harms in those specific contexts and they cannot be just simply deduced from any general declaration. And of course it is very necessary to acknowledge the fact that many of the placebo trials are often unethical because they are performed largely for the marketing purposes just to show that â€Å"me too† drugs, have effects and actions greater than those placebo, and rather than to study that they are better than the existing similar, often cheaper, drugs. Also not only should nothing to be done to make it easier to perform such trials, but also each and every effort can be made to reduce and decrease wasting time, money on the â€Å"promotional studies†. In these situations where there are some good reasons for the placebo controlled trials, those should be considered on the merits rather than to be precluded by any bluntly designed clause in the declaration. To protect the host communities from the exploitation, most of the commentators argue that the efforts to improve the health care in developing countries should never ever involve the research that uses and utilizes less than â€Å"Worldwide best† methods, and meaning best of methods available anywhere in this world. Most notably, paragraph 29 of the Declaration of Helsinki states: â€Å"The benefits, risks, burdens, and effectiveness of a new method should be tested against those of the best current prophylactic, diagnostic, and therapeutic methods†. The debate over the issue what standard of the care should be required for the individuals p articipating in the research trials typically focuses on the research conducted in the developing countries by the investigators from the developed countries. This focus makes some sense. Most of the clinical research is conducted by the investigators from the developed countries, and most of communities lacking the access to good health care are located in developing countries. Researchers from the developing countries can also exploit the host communities. And also the communities in the developed countries lack access to best methods available in the world, and increasing the potential of being exploited. Then a complete analysis, should also address the potential for exploitation and independent of nationality of investigators, and the geographic location of any study (2). When the Helsinki calls for â€Å"the best proven therapeutic method† than does it mean [A] â€Å"the best therapy which is available anywhere in world†? Or does it say [B] â€Å"the standard th at is applicable in that country in which drug trial is conducted†? Helsinki is not very clear about this. But I must say that [1] a detailed and careful analysis of document and also its history tells us that the best therapy standard was intended initially and primarily as the standard of medial practice. This conclusion yields another conclusion: that [2] â€Å"the best proven standard of therapy must necessarily be the standard which prevails in that country in which clinical trial is being carried out. In part, interpretations A and B often differ over what I call the question of relevant reference point. Also emphasizing this disagreement makes it appear as the dispute hinges on question of whose medical practice constitutes relevant medical practice. So, the sides of the debate are divided into the proponents of local standard of care and also the critics who often champion the global standard of care. Framing the debate as the question of relevant reference point, how ever, effectively obscures a more fundamental source of disagreement. To see this, consider a crucial assumption that lies behind following argument. It is sometimes claimed that (1) because content of the standard of care is often fixed by local reference point and (2) because the prevailing treatment for preventing the maternal-infant HIV transmission in those countries where short-course AZT trials were conducted was no treatment at all, that (3) use of the placebo does not fall below established standard of care. Also it is important to see, however, that in order for (3) to follow from (1) and (2), we have to adopt the local reference point for standard of care (3). The ethics of the placebo-controlled trials to prevent the perinatal transmission of the HIV infection in continents like Asia and Africa have been widely debated. Some critics have argued that it is very unethical to leave the patients untreated when the proven life-saving treatment and therapy is being used in oth er parts of the world. We note, that conduct of the placebo-controlled trials in any developed country which would be unethical in some other developed country, has evoked some of furor that surrounded HIV perinatal transmission trials. The patients on other hand can choose not to take part in the trials. Reluctance to participate in the trail may be greater when there is some placebo control and the patients are asked to delay and forgo known effective therapy, also large number of the patients regularly agrees to take part in the placebo-controlled trials of the new agents. The perceived scientific value of the trial can contribute to this decision. Although care must be taken to ensure that manipulation of such considerations (e.g., by exaggerating scientific importance of trial), it seems very reasonable to allow the potential study participants to balance these benefits against some potential risk of the participation in this trial (4). Some of the observers noted more than dec ade ago that the research was conducted in the developing countries without the concern for the adherence of international ethical principles regarding the human subject’s research contained in 1947 Nuremberg code and also in the 1964 Declaration of the Helsinki. This situation has not improved. As for example, two years back, Food and Drug Administration decided that the research studies submitted to it for the review purpose need no longer be bound by Declaration of Helsinki and they must follow only the industry-sponsored Guidelines for the good clinical practice also outlined by International conference on the Harmonization. What is the legal status of Nuremberg code and Declaration of the Helsinki? Are they old outdated ethical rules that the researchers might ignore with the impunity? The question remains open, but just as clinical trials attempting to interrupt mother-to-child transmission of HIV in mid-1990s gave rise to some continuing debate about the global standar ds of care and also benefit sharing, so another mid-1990s research trial in the continent Africa has brought the international research rules back to the center stage (5). In addition to discussing recent debate and concerning international HIV research, also we should focus on whether or not to randomized, as the controlled trials must be conducted for the researchers to learn about intervention’s efficacy. The choice of the study design is not between ethically questionable perfect trials that produce the complete knowledge versus the imperfect designs that produce no knowledge. Moreover designs, such as the observational studies, that resolve the certain ethical quandaries are not necessarily free of the other ethical problems. One problem is that these studies can provide only limited guidance for the public health policy. The other issue is of informed consent, which is one of corner-stones of the research ethics. The quality of the informed consent is compromised when t he potential patient participants believe, wrongly, that the medical care is contingent on their agreeing to participate in the research. Also it is important to emphasize the potential participants that neither their access to the medical care, nor quality of care they receive, will be affected in any of the respect by their decision. It is sometimes very difficult to clarify this separation of the research from the medical care; the potential participants can be made aware through the effective communication that the decision about the research has no implications for their medical interests. Some more challenging situation occurs when the potential participants rightly believe that the medical care is contingent on their agreeing to enroll in the research (6). CONCLUSION The concept of standard of care has prominently figured in the recent controversies over use of placebos in design of the randomized controlled trials conducted in United States and the developing countries as well as the control group selection in critical care RCTs conducted in the United States. The traditional understanding of standard of care to which the physicians are held responsible refers to the typical practice of physicians in professional community. To answer the clinically valuable questions, it is often necessary for the clinical trials to randomize the subjects to interventions that deviate from standard of care in the medical practice. Nevertheless, the control groups that represent standard of care are mostly required to promote clinical value of the randomized trials and also to protect the research subjects. In case of the critical care trials, question whether RCTs should include a control group raises some complex scientific and also ethical issues that call for the careful assessment and judgment (7). In conclusion it is stated that every medical research project involving human subjects should be preceded by careful assessment of predictable risks and burdens in comparison with foreseeable benefits to the subjects or to others. REFERENCES: Solomon R Benatar, Peter A Singer. A new look at international research ethics. BMJ. 2000; Vol. 321, 824-826. David Wendler Et Al. The Standard of Care Debate: Can Research in Developing Countries Be Both Ethical and Responsive to Those Countries’ Health Needs? American Journal of Public Health. 2004; Vol. 94, No. 6, 923-928. Alex John London. The Ambiguity and the Exigency: Clarifying ‘Standard of Care’ Arguments in International Research. Journal of Medicine and Philosophy. 2000; Vol. 25, No. 4, 379-397. Susan S. Ellenberg, and Robert Temple. Placebo-Controlled Trials and Active-Control Trials in the Evaluation of New Treatments. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2000; Vol. 133, No. 6, 464-470. George J. Annas, J.D. Globalized Clinical Trials and Informed Consent. N ENGL J MED. 2009; 360; 20, 2050-2053. Ruth Faden, Nancy Kass. Editorial: HIV Research, Ethics, and the Developing World. American Journal of Public Health. 1998; Vol. 88, No. 4, 548- 550. Franklin G. Miller and Henry J. Silverman. The Ethical Relevance of the Standard of Care in the Design of Clinical Trials. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2004; Vol. 169, 562-564.

Benefits of Music Therapy for Autism Disorder

Benefits of Music Therapy for Autism Disorder Using relevant theories and examples, analyse how music therapy can help to treat autism disorder Outline Introduction: Music therapy is rooted in the work of psychoanalysts (Freud, Jung, and Watzalwick), music teachers (Willems, Dalcroze) allied with in-depth music studies (Schaeffer, Sachs). Definition Although there are different conceptual models in music therapy, it is possible to distinguish the music practices intended only for sick patients from music practices used as a tool for personal development and are therefore accessible to all. Music therapy is a â€Å"non-verbal psychotherapy that uses corporo sonoro nonverbal expressions to develop a relationship between the therapist and those who need support to improve the quality of their lives and reintegrate into society. It also aims to produce social, cultural and educational changes in the ecosystem and to act on the primary prevention of community health. â€Å"(The Benenzon model). Music therapy comes against psychoanalytic theory which conceives language as essential to the revelation of the unconscious. It is based in fact on the development of the relationship and the therapeutic process through non-verbal communication called analogue communication by Watzalwick. Music therapy is conceived as psychotherapy, that is to say a relationship between two individuals, one of whom, by his knowledge and experience, will try to transform the other by influencing him. -The development of music therapy (historical perspectives) Most traditions all over the world in a way or another say: In the beginning was the Word. If science speaks of a big bang theory to describe the birth of the universe, it is not pure coincidence. In the Egyptian history, the god Thoth had created the world with a loud cry. In the Old Testament, it is the sound of trumpets that destroyed Jericho. From the earliest times, the sound is described as a creative or destructive element. Some of Plato and Pythagoras ideas had created a real focus on a system based on philosophical harmony. In their concept, music was part of integrated mathematics. In the Greek civilization, music therapists already existed and they were suggesting various instruments to influence the mood of people. According to the evil, they chose the aulos (old musical instrument) in an ecstatic and moving game or the sweet and harmonious lyre. Patrick Alderman (1981) Music and Medicine Stock Music. In Chinese philosophy, Confucius stated: Enjoy music, it is the formation of inner harmony.† This practice is still used by the Tibetan lamas. In Africa, traditional music, very rhythmic and loud, is used for ceremonies but also to generate altered states of mind. And since World War 1, science is having a new look at the effects of music. This research is shown mainly in the works of Anglo -Saxon authors such as Schoen and Gatewood (1927), Hevner (1936) , Carpuco (1952) and Cattell ( 1953). In parallel, several French authors focused on the meaning of music and some of them attempted to develop a theory. These include Frances, Imberty, Jost, Pratt, Simon and Werbick. Music therapy and mental illness (music as a special way of communication can help to explore the inner world of people with mental disorder?) In hospitals and retirement homes, we approach more and more people losing their autonomy with methods of music therapy. Musical instruments have a power of attraction on real people and are used more frequently to encourage older people to break their isolation by participating in musical activities in a group. People suffering from severe psychological problems respond very well to music too. Often aggressive behaviours are absorbed through music. Children with intellectual disabilities have shown to develop, it seems that music arouses in them an unexpected receptivity and currently science is exploring all avenues to develop its curative powers. -Music therapy and autism Music therapy is a relatively new method of treatment for autistic patients, but often forgotten when different options are discussed. Music therapy Patients often show improvements in temperament and learning. Music connects to the non- verbal part of our brain, making it an ideal treatment for disorders in which the patient has difficulty communicating, such as autism. Music therapy is effective because it can be used in conjunction with social skills training. Many games can be made using music to help improve the social and behavioural skills. By encouraging eye contact while singing or using instruments, music therapy can help autistic children to break down social barriers with people. Music therapy can help children and older autistic patients to develop speech skills. Music is a way to connect verbal and nonverbal functions in the brain. Autism may have various forms of speech disorders. Some can only hum, grunt, or make other noises, while others are carried to repeat absurd sentences, babbling and screaming. Others again come to develop sentences to communicate with the world, although they generally lack emotion. People with autism are known to speak in a monotone. However, no matter how the individual behaves with speech, he or she can participate in a music therapy, tapping rhythms or humming. Autism patients are generally considered particularly suitable for music therapy. Some, for example, have a very high pitch. Others may play very well a particular instrument, with little instruction. Even if your child shows no capacity to be a musical genius, you will often find that the autistic person has musical abilities beyond his other abilities. A music therapist can use music as a way to link this type of learning with other types of learning, not only for the development of language and social behavioural development as previously discussed, but also as a means to communicate their emotions and develop memory. Using these techniques in conjunction with other therapies, music therapy can do wonders with autism. Skilled professionals can use music to teach children and others how to communicate non-verbally, which makes learning easier for patients. Therapeutical approaches to autism: Music Therapy Studies have reported positive effects of music therapy with children and adolescents in the treatment of autism. The reported benefits include increased vocalizations, verbalizations, and gestures, understanding vocabulary, and attention-related task, acts of communication, symbolic play skills and personal care, as well as decreased echolalia (automatic repetition of phrases as we understand them). Researchers also observed improved body awareness and coordination, and decreased anxiety. However, results have been inconclusive in respect of the effect on the behaviour problems. It also remains important to clearly define the long-term benefits. To plan an intervention, music therapists choose their activities from a myriad of approaches and possible musical experiences (improvisation, listening to music, instrumental performance, cognitive learning through music, etc. . .) according to the autism patient. With respect to the material used, the therapist can compose music or songs himself, or draw on the repertoire of music for children; it is rich in simple ditties, has regular repeats that facilitate teaching exercises. As for musical instruments available to the participants, it can be, in addition to those used by the therapist, synthesizer, various percussion, wooden xylophone, flutes, a â€Å"rain stick â€Å"etc. . . Once the person is comfortable, the therapist can include various instruments in the exploration of the environment made by the child. Gradually, once there is a non-verbal communication through instruments, the speaker can begin to encourage a form of verbal communication directly related to the music, if the case is suitable. Favourite music can be used for a wide range of cooperation activities in order to work on social behaviour. In a group, to get a ball from one child to another, the sound of music or playing the drum set would be, for example, the means used to generate interaction. We can also practice problem solving using a dotted history of sound effects and music, etc. . . . Gradually, new measures are introduced (walking, sitting, sleeping, etc. . .) And the speaker gradually decreases its own participation. Once the music is completely eliminated, the child has been able to construct sentences in response to questions What is it? and what is the doll doing ? this learning was probably facilitated by the presence of music and the view of another associated object . Note also that, even if the words of some songs do not always appear important for everyday use, the simple fact of the match is an important step in teaching some children. According to Myra J. Staum (1997), following an interve ntion, if a student forgets the words or sentences acquired, it is conceivable to remind him by making him hear the song again. The discovery of his own body and the space around it is another aspect in which music therapy can be useful in the autistic individual. Some therapists use e.g. marches and bring the children to walk to the beat of the latter; music and a different rate is then used to ensure that subjects develop a repeating pattern when walking . Many autistic children are also invited to dance: by doing so, they are encouraged to trust the speaker, to develop a better eye contact and a greater awareness of physical contact. Similarly, dancing to different styles of music, the individual can learn to become familiar with change and synchronization, etc. . . . As a sum-up, we can see there are dozens of ways in which music can be used for therapeutic purposes for children with autism. Many aspects, from the birth of a collaboration till extended periods of attention through language acquisition or socially acceptable behaviour, are likely to be among the objectives achieved in a music therapy program ; To achieve this, you just need patience, time and a skilled speaker. improvising (group and individual) With music therapy in autism, It is not just about â€Å"playing a tune† to entertain the patient. It is a work on the sound, the waves and the vibration. It should have a large array of improvisation in all its forms, and include the greatest possible number of musical aesthetics. This includes Western and non-European modes , rhythms and varied tempos, classical sounds of the instrument and voice or sounds using harmonics, different noises , many major keys , minor , traditional , pentatonic modes , exatoniques , atonal music, a wide range of frequencies of the most serious to the most acute of the instrument etc. Active musical therapy consists of expressions with suitable music instruments. It can be self-expression or specific exercises that each has a function. We can thus work on the exchange and communication, frustration, recovery of personal image, memory and concentration improvement in cognitive abilities, body awareness, imagination and creativity, fine motor skills and body address, autonomy. dance and movement Reflection in and on the physical, emotional and subtle body is an essential element of dance therapy and movement. Through improvisation and creation, it determines new body experiences in a wider field of motion perception by more precise specificities. This practice promotes the direct expression, preverbal, nonverbal and verbal communication and the environment. It manages the senses problems and diseases based on experience, stimulating the capacity to act and personal creativity. The dance therapy and movement brings the person to a healthy dynamic. As explained Nicole Harbonnier-Topin, Professor of motion study and director of senior cycle programs of the Department of Dance at the University of Quebec at Montreal, dance therapy involves several systems of neurological function: the awakening and rest, emotional regulation, implicit and explicit memory, the mirror system and the integration of the right brain versus left brain. As the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are involved in the process of movement, resulting in regulation of emotions that can help counteract the anxiety and some types of depression. There is indeed a body consciousness that brings us into intimate relationship with ourselves. So when we dance, there is a release of tensions and pressures which are in our body’s memory. Autism: Individuals with autism, when they apply the instructions in dance therapy sessions, find the concentration needed and make the right moves, and with an assurance that they do not necessarily have daily life. (Please use relevant theories and example to explain why these musical interventions are effective treatment for autism disorder) Criticism of music therapy So far, music therapy proved to be beneficial. It did not show any harm or any recession of the patients. Dance therapy can approach our problems gently and carefully. It is a powerful for physical and mental wellness tool. Talent is secondary to take pleasure to dance. Dance therapy Figures are diverse and this therapy has been one of the methods used in taking care of sick people and has multiple indications: the ordinary neurosis with autism, through anxiety, depression, addictions, psychosomatic diseases, psychiatric disorders, light and deep, motor and mental disabilities. All dance genres are possible. Including: bio-dance gestures based on touch and feel, reviving the notion of tenderness primitive dance succession of repetitive movements promoting relaxation of the mind. shamanic dance inspired from rituals of primitive societies. Conclusion: Music is a versatile tool for intervention with autism Music therapy has been proven beneficial in several areas: in the past it has shown its positive influence on blood pressure, pain perception, respiratory problems, stress, etc. . In the specific case of autism and people with pervasive developmental disorders, music is certainly an interesting option for several reasons. First, the music is a form of nonverbal communication; it is an ideal way to get in contact with children experiencing difficulties in communicating, which is a very common feature in autism. Non-verbal and non-threatening nature of the medium is also an asset. On the other hand, the music acts as a natural reinforcer, which can help students develop skills that are not musical; almost everyone is likely to respond positively to at least one kind of music. It is a versatile tool that can reflect the individual skills of each individual. In another area, it has been noted repeatedly that autistic individuals often have a particular sensitivity to music. Some will react to certain sounds; others however have an â€Å"absolute† ear for music, a property that would make many musicians envious! In summary, several reasons make music an interesting therapeutic tool for autism. Music captivates and holds attention- it stimulates and uses several areas of the brain. Music structures time in a clear and understandable way (â€Å"this is the song of goodbye, the session is almost over!) It provides a pleasant and meaningful context for rehearsals necessary for some learning It creates a safe and structured social context for the verbal and nonverbal communication This is a very effective memory aid It supports and encourages movement It facilitates interaction and promotes self-expression It embeds itself in memory and emotions It often promotes a sense of community since it unites people of all skill levels, all able to participate in a way or another. Bunt, L. (1994) Music Therapy: An Art beyond Words. London: Routledge.

The Changes In The Narrators View Of Sonny Essays -- essays research p

The Changes in the Narrator's View of Sonny Can one know another's thoughts? Through dialogue, actions, and events, the thoughts and views of a man of whom we know not even a name are shown. The man is the narrator of "Sonny's Blues" and his thoughts we are shown are those directed towards his brother. Over the course of the story, there are three major stages or phases that the narrator goes through, in which his thoughts about his brother change. We see that those stages of thought vary greatly over the narrator's life, from confusion about his brother to understanding. Each phase brings different views of his own responsibility toward his brother, his brother's manhood, and his brother's sense of reality. Through out the story, three of the narrator's view are changed, the first of which is Sonny's manhood. During the first phase, early in the story, the narrator showed that he viewed Sonny as a child. "I was beginning to realize that I'd never seen him so upset before... [and decided this was] one of those things kids go through and that I shouldn't make it seem important."(49) This quote is an example of how the narrator viewed his brother. He not only thought Sonny acted as a kid, but was also too young to be planning a future or career. "He still wasn't a man yet, he was still a child, and they had to watch out for him in all kinds of ways."(51) The narrator decided that he would plan Sonny's future and when Sonny rebelled, the narrator saw it as yet another childish action. Another way in which the narrator's overall view changed was his view on whether Sonny's idea of reality was sound. Still in the first phase, the narrator often presents his view of reality and when Sonny rejects it, the narrator feels Sonny is being unreasonable. For instance, "'Well Sonny,' I said, gently, "you know people can't always do exactly what they want to do-' 'No I don't think that,' said Sonny, surprising me."(49) Actually, Sonny understood life much more clearly than the narrator, but the narrator did not realize that then. He thought that perhaps Sonny was just too young or too high on drugs to understand what life was about. Finally, the third view changed was the narrator's responsibility towards Sonny. Before the brothers' mother died, the narrator promised he would take it upon himself to take care of Sonny shou... ... finally started caring about Sonny instead of try to care for Sonny. He no longer saw him as just something to be taken care of, he finally began to see him as a brother. He became sensitive to what offended Sonny and took caution to avoid them. He was willing to be interested in what Sonny interested in. Finally, he was willing to sit and listen to Sonny instead of telling him how to run his life. All of these were drastic changes from when their mother had first died and improved the brothers' relationship. Through out the story it is as if the narrator is descending a stair well. Each stage that the narrator goes through is another flight of stairs and each flight of stairs he descends brings him closer to an understanding of Sonny. The narrator descended one flight and it changed his views one way, another flight and his views changed again. During the whole ordeal he can see Sonny, yet his views of Sonny are distorted or blurred. After each stage he believes his new view is the correct one, however it is not until he reaches the ground that he gets a true idea of what Sonny is like. It is then that he brings himself down to Sonny's level and begins seeing Sonny as an equal.

An Investigation into the Housing Market Essay -- Housing Economics Es

An Investigation into the Housing Market Economics Describe and analyse the changes of housing in the local area over the last 5 years The housing market is one of the most talked about topics in the news. I assume this is due to the high influential potential it holds to the rest of the economy. In this essay I will focus on the causes in house prices. I will investigate how prices have changed nationally and locally. I interviewed an Inter counties estate agent to help my investigation and get his views on the situation. The price of housing fluctuates enormously. Not only does it vary from region to region, but also it is also very volatile within these regions. There are many causes for these unstable prices. According to a spokes person form the Inner county estate agents says there are many factors, which influence the housing market. He believes one of the main factors, which have been influencing the local housing market in the southeast, is the large amount of people coming to work in Cambridge recently. The supply curve appeared to be vertically vertical in the short run. However, the high demand resulted in predictable high prices. Many building companies have also respond to the increases in demand, however this response will not be immediate. Another reason why we saw the price of houses rise was due to the low interest rates. This means the borrowing of money to buy a house is significantly cheaper, which is therefore retaliated with via the increase in the actual cost of a house. London being so close is another major pull factor for people wanting to live as near as possible to where work is more likely to be found. Commuting times and facilities like trains and motorways play a major role in opening up areas as 'commuter land'. People often put up with long commuting distances in order to escape from city living as a family, or to find more affordable housing at greater distance from where they work. This is why Saffron Walden has become so posh, since people have realised the benefits of life in a town of this size in a manageable distance to London. Hypothesis: If interest rates are going down, will increase demand for housing which will then in turn increase house prices. When one buys a house, one is paying for the actual house price, a mortgage, and the interest rates on the ... ...eople willing to pay the higher amounts. Schooling facilities have also got an influence in the area, which is another pull factor for people moving within the southeast. There are also relatively low borrowing costs for mortgages, which will encourage people to buy and sell their houses. According to 'The Hometrack' Property Company, house prices in England and Wales fell in May for the second month in a row. The percentage change in prices over the last year in each region can be seen in the chart. In conclusion prices for housing are high in the southeast due to a number of factors: * The demand for housing in an area, * The supply of houses, * Reputation for the area, * General interest rates influence the house-shopping behaviour, * Low interest rates enables people to buy better or bigger houses, * Facilities in the area, * Local employment chances. Region Higher prices are less desirable, and this may mean many families do not have the economic ability to live in the area. The demand refers to the quantity of houses that purchasers are willing and able to buy at a certain price. Houses are scarce in relation to demand.

Factors Influencing Moral Development Essay

The following are the most important factors that influence moral development; Family, which takes four influence forms; the family’s behaviour acts as a model for the behaviour of the child, who imitates what he observes in others. By the use of approval or disapproval, reward or punishment, the family teaches the child to behave in a socially desirable manner. By planning the punishment to fit the misrecognize severity of his wrongdoing. And the family can do much to motivate the child to do right. Playmates, as the child grows older the influence of group is very strong. Schools, when the relationship between teacher and pupils is good, the general morale of the class improves. Sunday school and Church, wholesome religious experiences have marked influence on the values of children help them to learn to behave in a moral way (Woodruff, 1945). Read more: Explain how children and young peoples development is influenced by a range of personal factors essay Recreational Activities, it is assumed that the child’s moral standards are influenced by his reading, parents and teachers encourage children to rea books which will contribute to the establishment of desirable concepts. Intelligence, it is needed also to be able to distinguish between right and wrong and to be able to foresee the consequences of his acts. Sex, boys and girls do not differ in morality as a result of native factors. On the other hand, culture does not expect the same behaviour pattern of girls that it expects from boys. Girls tell more lies of a social type. Boys misbehave more in school and at home (Siruno, 2005).

Feeding Monkeys Essay

In the short story,† Finding Prosperity by Feeding Monkeys†, by Harold Taw, Taw explains a moral about the importance of family, and how some people will break whatever rules to respect their family. Taw states that a Buddhist monk told his parents that he [Taw] would bring great prosperity to the family if he fed a monkey on his birthday every year for the rest of his life. Every year Taw made a point to feed a monkey on his birthday because he felt he had a right to protect his family. Early in his life, Taw and his dad â€Å"would go to the zoo early in the morning†¦ [and] when the coast was clear, [Taw] would throw†¦peanuts to the monkeys†. Together, Taw and his father would secretly go to the zoo every year until he was eighteen to guarantee the prosperity of his family. This proves that Taw was determined to keep his family safe. When Taw turned eighteen, he had to find different ways to feed the monkeys, since he was now an adult. One of the many ways he fed a monkey was that he went to a laboratory and had to â€Å"wear a biohazard suit† to feed a monkey. Taw demonstrates that even the tasks that seem the most impossible can be achieved. From these examples, it is easy to see that some people, such as Taw, with do whatever it takes to secure the safety of his or her family.