Genetic Testing Types Of Medical And Forensic Tests

Genetic Testing WHAT IS GENETIC TESTING? Genetic Testing is the process of using medical and forensic tests to identify and analyse a human, animal or plant DNA sequence. It can reveal changes or mutations in your genes that may result in illness and disease. TYPES OF TESTING Presymptomatic and predictive testing If you have a family history of a condition, undergoing genetic testing before you have symptoms may reveal if you re at risk for developing that condition Carrier testing If you have a family history of a genetic disorder or belong to an ethnicity that has a high risk of a certain genetic disorder, you may have genetic testing before you have children to see if you are a carrier and can pass on that disease to the child. Diagnostic Testing Genetic testing can reveal if you have a suspected disorder that runs in your family or if you have symptoms of a disease that may be caused by mutations in your DNA. Pharmacogenetics This type of genetic testing assists people in identifying what medication and dosage will be the best and most effective for them. Newborn screening This type of genetic testing is very important because results can show genetic disorders right away in newborn babies. The faster these abnormalities are tested for and identified, the faster treatment and proper care for the illness can be provided. Prenatal testing A prenatal test can detect abnormalities in baby’s genes when women are pregnant. Down syndrome and trisomy 13 are geneticShow MoreRelatedDna And Ethics Of Recombinant Dna1601 Words   |  7 Pages Recombinant DNA and Ethics Brooke Boland BIO/410 - Genetics October 23, 2017 Miranda Gauthier Recombinant DNA and Ethics Recombinant DNA technology has become a powerful influence to many fields including medicine, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Genetic modifications of plants, animals and other organisms have allowed scientists to improve the quality of human life. As genetic engineering continues to rapidly grow, many ethical, social and legal issues arise evaluating the risksRead MoreThe Use Of Genetics And Reproduction Essay1052 Words   |  5 Pagesuse of genetics and reproduction sciences has been an ongoing debate for years. Some argue that the use of genetics and reproduction sciences are unjust, unethical and inhumane. The other side of the debate argues that the use of such sciences is a â€Å"life saver†, that it will improve medical advancements, health, and society. Genetics and reproduction sciences are used for informing individuals about possible outcomes, abnormalities, and genes of current and future pregnancies. Genetic testing analyzesRead MoreWhat is DNA Profiling?1659 Wo rds   |  7 PagesForensic Biology and Anthropology Forensic DNA Analysis What is DNA Profiling? There are many different terms used in conjunction to DNA Profiling; DNA testing, DNA typing and genetic fingerprinting. This is a technique which is used by Forensic Scientists by means of assistance in the identification of individuals by their DNA profiles. A DNA profile is an encrypted set of numbers w0hich reflects an individual’s DNA makeup. This encryption can also be used when identifying a person. DNARead MoreGenetic Markers : A Genetic Marker1641 Words   |  7 Pagesunattainable without genetic markers. In everyone there are certain markers that can allow a geneticist to determine a person’s medical future, certain medicines work with some genetic markers and not with others. Many genes are linked to certain diseases and allow a geneticist to possibly prevent diseases. A genetic marker is a DNA sequence with a known specific location on the chromosome, they can be a great indicator for genetic disorders and any other hereditary diseases. Genetic markers are alsoRead MoreTaking an Active Role in Health Care by Learning About Genetic Predisposition for Different Illnesses1281 Words   |  6 PagesAn overview of mutation detection methods in genetic disorders. Iranian Journal of Pediatrics. 2013;23(4):375-388. http ://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3883366/. Accessed February 3, 2014. This research paper outlines common mutation detection methods used in genetic counseling to uncover preexisting genetic conditions. There are three main groups: single gene (errors in DNA sequence), chromosomal (structural damages) and multifactorial disorders. Molecular and cytogenetic techniques wereRead MoreEssay On Genetic Change1133 Words   |  5 Pages (-- removed HTML --) How is the Field of Human Genetics Changing? (-- removed HTML --) Compared to just fifteen years ago the applications and horizons of genetic science have expanded enormously, far beyond simply describing how DNA contributes to the formation of life here on earth. The most important practical advances have built on the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, started in 1990. At the associated research cost of over $3 billion US dollars (c.$2.7 billion actual), a combinedRead MoreIs Genetic Testing A Type Of Medical Test?2264 Words   |  10 Pagesis the question. Genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition, help determine a person’s chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder or link up and reunite lost family lineage, ties (Sofge, 2014). For instance, the American reality TV star Snooki once thought she was Italian-American but her skin color was too dark. A genetic test showed that she hadRead MoreEssay on The Human Genome Project1437 Words   |  6 Pagessequence, of all the bases in our genomes DNA; making maps that show the locations of genes for major sections of all our chromosomes; and producing what are called linkage maps, complex versions of the type originated in early Drosophila research, through which inherited traits (such as those for genetic disease) can be tracked over generations.Knowing the sequence that make up your genome is the main goal of genome sequencing. The individual letters of DNA are only eight or ten atoms wide which in turnRead MoreThe Role of Dna Technology in Crime Investigation5441 Words   |  22 Pages DNA profiling (also called DNA testing, DNA typing, or genetic fingerprinting) is a technique employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals on the basis of their respective DNA profiles. DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a persons DNA makeup, which can also be used as the persons identifier. DNA profiling should not be confused with full genome sequencing. It is used in, for example, parental testing and rape investigation. AlthoughRead MoreApplication of Biotechnology 1952 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst use of biotechnology was used in fermentation. Throughout the use of agriculture, farmers have inadvertently altered the genetics of their crops through introducing them to new environments and breeding them with other plants one of the first forms of biotechnology. Applications Biotechnology has applications in four major industrial areas, including health care (medical), crop production and agriculture, non food (industrial) uses of crops and other products (e.g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable

Essay on Sigmund Freud on Human Nature - 1381 Words

Sigmund Freud, a noteworthy trailblazer of modern-day philosophy, developed a deterministic view on human nature based on instinct and personality. Unlike other theories, Freud considers us not as humans, but animals with inborn biological drives: a complex species with primitive urges. These urges, he says, are only kept under control by the pressures between peers and the repression of society. Though the word â€Å"instinct† can relate to a wide range of impulses, Freud narrowed it down to four main drives: Self-preservation, aggression, the need for love, and the impulse to attain pleasure and avoid pain. These topics along with the model of the psyche embedded within the principles of pleasure and civilization form the most†¦show more content†¦Passions, on the other hand, are a bit more complicated. In simple terms, men are so entirely governed by instinctual wishes that they often overlook their sense of reason. This claim is exemplified in the phrase â⠂¬Å"love is blind.† When two lovers are so encompassed by their relationship it is not uncommon for one of the two to make a few questionable decisions. Arguments of reason then relate to the idea of intellect. The voice of intellect is soft, but persistent which in turn provides optimism for the future of mankind. This optimism, however, dwindles in the fact that men have gained control and power over nature, granting them the ability to exterminate one another if they chose to. The awareness of this power results in unrest, unhappiness, and anxiety. Subsequently, this leads to Freud’s idea of Defense mechanisms and the Ego which will be discussed further along in this essay. In general, Freud claims that civilization has its own influence on human nature, providing guidelines to follow and morals standards to maintain. In addition to civilization, Freud expands his view of human nature according to pleasure. According to the â€Å"Beyond the Pleasure Principle,† hunger and love regulate the world. Though the original thought was taken from Schiller, Freud applies it to the core instincts he believes to sum up human nature. Hunger represents the instincts which aim at preservation of the self while love strives after objects and preservation of theShow MoreRelatedCarl Gustav and Sigmund Freud on Human Nature and Existencial Theory926 Words   |  4 PagesHuman Nature: Though Carl Gustav Jung was a colleague, friend, and the presumed successor of Sigmund Freud, their views on human nature drifted further and further apart as Jung grew intellectually. While they were both psychoanalysts, in the end their views on human nature were practically antithetical. Freud viewed human nature deterministically, and postulated that human motivation was grounded in unconscious biological urges for sexual satiation. Freud strongly emphasized the developmentRead More The Influence of Sigmund Freud on Society Essay822 Words   |  4 PagesThe Influence of Sigmund Freud on Society The late nineteenth century marked a number of radical developments on science, art, and philosophy. Although the lives of humans used to be constantly at the mercy of nature, during this time, humans began harnessing its power and eventually started controlling it. A sudden urge to look beyond the surface of things became widespread. Sigmund Freud looked beyond the effects of behavior and explored the unconscious. He significantly changed theRead MoreSigmund Freud Essay1721 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Man is a wolf to man.† These are the words that surprised millions when Freud first opened the discussion of human nature (Freud). Sigmund Freud, born in 1856 and died in 1939, was known to be the father of psychoanalysis (Jones). He lived his whole life trying to reach into the human unconsciousness and unravel the puzzle of life, human personality, and human nature (Chiriac). Sigmund Freud was influenced by the environment post World War I, and influenced the world thr ough his theories and hisRead MoreSigmund Freud Essay1264 Words   |  6 PagesSigmund Freud is known to be one of the most prominent scholars on research and thoughts regarding human nature. Freud is acknowledged for establishing out of the box theories with dominant concepts that are backed up by good evidence. Freud’s arguments are quite convincing, but very controversial. When thoughts get controversial, a loss of strength for an argument occurs. Freud feels that religion is a psychological anguish and suffering. (Webster, 2003) For Freud, religion attempts to influenceRead MoreSigmund Freuds Method and Theory of Dream Analysis Essay1069 Words   |  5 Pagesthis paper to get a better understanding of Sigmund Freud’s method and theory of dream analysis. The purpose of the paper will be to show the principals of Freud’s dream related theory that focuses on the physiology, interpretation, and psychology of dreams and to explain concepts such as latent and m anifest content of dreams, the part of unconscious process, and the nature of dreams role in the determination of dream content. I would like to explore Sigmund Freud’s explanations of psycho-analytic andRead More Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesFuture of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud In his book Future of an Illusion, Sigmund Freud utilizes his method of psychoanalysis on religion by comparing the relationship between human and religion to that of a child and his parents. Freud effectively demonstrates that religion is a product of the human mind. After exposing religion as a an illusion, Freud concludes that humanity will be better off when it has forgone religion. This paper will argue that Freuds assertion that religion is an illusionRead MoreSigmund Freud s Theory Of Psychology1568 Words   |  7 Pages Freud Sigmund Yifan Wang Current issues in history Vanier College 2014-11-11 Freud Sigmund In the 19th century, people progressed toward a new era of scientific revolution with new inventions and technologies. Doctors find treatment to heal cancer and people lives longer than before. On the other hand, Freud Sigmund the Jewish psychiatrist offered a new cure to mental illness that individual suffers from (The European Graduate School, 2012). Although he may have the most of influenceRead MoreThe Theory Of Psychoanalysis On The Unconscious Phases Of Personality Development1130 Words   |  5 Pagesdetermine their personality patterns later in life. And lastly, Sigmund Freud postulated that Personality consists of id, ego, and superego. This, in turn, is subdivided into ages and stages, from birth through to adolescent age. The theory of Psychoanalysis was propounded by Sir Sigmund Freud in 1896. However, this was not the date of conceptualization. The theory of Psychoanalysis was developed between 1856 and 1939. In 1896 Sigmund Freud made public his theory of psychoanalysis for the first timeRead MoreSigmund Freud And Humanistic Theories Of Psychology1636 Words   |  7 Pagespsychodynamic theory from Sigmund Freud and the humanistic theory from Carl Rogers. These two theorists have different views of how personality is developed, with both theorists influencing the world of psychological personality to this day. Disputes between both theorists exist with both of them having complete different views on personality and how personality influences a person. The main issues of this paper are going to be about the basic theory and research methods that Freud and Rogers used in theirRead MoreCarl Jung and Sigmund Freud1412 Words   |  6 PagesCarl Jung and Sigmund Freud Introduction Carl Jung (1875-1961) and Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) were two individuals whose theories on human personality would completely affect the way that people viewed the human mind. Carl Gustav was a practicing psychotherapist while Sigmund Freud created the discipline of psychoanalysis. The two men had seemingly identical beliefs about human behavior, but also had contrasting beliefs about concepts such as the ego, the psyche, and the state of unconsciousness

Teams As A Key Feature Of The Modern Workplace †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Teams As A Key Feature Of The Modern Workplace. Answer: Introduction Managementhas been a common activity among human being in the history of mankind. At some point in history, human beings felt the need to develop groups which were meant to deal with certain tasks that single persons could not handle.Management originated from these social groups. There has been notable change inmanagement as more organizations that are complex continue emerging. In his study, Levi (2015) denotes that this has also changed the way in which managers execute their managerial tasks. Managers may be rated as being successful or failures depending with how they go about their managerial practice towards achieving the goals set by their organization. These results depend on the knowledge possessed by the managers about the theory of management. According to Manges (2017), the application of mixed theory of management has contributed to the success of the organizations that they manage by achieving the objectives that are set. For the achievement of goals that are set by th e organization, it is necessary for managers to have a clear understanding of their role. Working as a team is a new idea in the nature of the current workplace and is becoming increasingly vital in the modern world of business. According to Furnham, Humphries, and Leung Zheng (2016), the nature, structure, process, and content of the current workplace is characterized by cognitive complexity, collaborative business approaches, dependency on social skills, technologically oriented, time pressured, less dependent on geography, and more mobile. The same study denotes that as a result of technological adoption in business as well as stiff competition in the market arena, the workplace today is more focused towards the identification of values and customer perspectives, and continuous reorganization with the aim of maintaining or gaining a competitive advantage. In a systematic review, Braun and Turner (2014) also point out that with technological adoption in business, different tools and framework business models such as cloud computing, internet connection, and digital devi ces have made it easier for effective connection and collaboration leading to a skilled, diverse, educated, and engaged workplace as compared to how it was in the 1960s. Tuckmans stages in team development Bruce Tuckman proposed a model that was meant for development of groups. The model comprised of various phases that is; forming, storming, norming and performing. In the forming phase, members of the team identify the main problem and available opportunities. They then set strategies meant to solve the problem affecting the organization. In this phase, independence is of much emphasis among members of the team and they are self-centered. The members maintain the right behavior though they are self-centered. There two ways in this phase through which the behavior of the team may be modeled. According to Anderson (2014), one of the ways is through members maturity which enables them to have the right behavior that can also be emulated by fellow members. The other way is through the members behavior is modeled is through the influenced of the environment used for meeting. As reported by Fransen (2013) in these ways, there is a better understanding of the task at hand by the members and also unity among the members. The members of the team must put aside the common behavior of taking advantage of issues that are not a threat to them. They must begin focusing on their threats that could be the possible causes of disagreements. The second stage in the model is storming. In this stage, members of the group begin developing certain opinions to judge the behavior of their colleagues.Some of the behaviors that are condemned may be the domination of a certain member of the team or even reluctance in executing duties by the member. This condemnation is not only limited to members of the team but also the leaders of the team, who sometimes may make decisions that are not appropriate. To progress to the next stages, there must be a resolution of any conflicts related to personalities. Morton (2016) reported that the degree of storm is determined by the response of the team members in this phase. There are teams that may choose to do away with this stage while others may observe it though in different periods of time and also different intensity. For this stage to be successful, members of the tem must learn to be patient and tolerant with each other. However the patience and tolerance must be controlled since some members may take advantage of their colleagues. Numerous disagreements and conflicts may be the reason why most groups do not progress to the next stage. In this stage, the leaders are not strict with the members of the team and major decisions are left for the team to solve.This gives rise to better decisions since each member can express their feelings in from of opinions which are all valid. The third stage in Tuckmans model is Norming. In this stage, members of the team tend to be more cooperative with each other following a resolution of a disagreement. Pelegrini (2015) stated that the main reason for this cooperation among members is competitions from other organization. This competition makes them to work as a team in order to achieve the goals that they have set. The common ambition enables the team to achieve these set goals. This unity arises when the members begin to appreciate each other and agree to work as a team. However the common problem with members in this stage is that some ideas that are controversial may not be brought to attention due to fear of conflict. The fourth stage in the model is performing. In this stage the members of the team portray high levels of competence in their work. They are able to go about tasks such as making of proper decisions with minimum supervision from their leaders. Those in charge of supervision in this stage play part in all activities carried out by ordinary team members. They are very active and tend to be in the team. According to Natvig (2016), by maintaining the working team, the organization performs to its best. Any step taken to change the team or its management may make them go back to the initial stage in the cycle whereby there are disagreements among the members. Some examples of physical features that are designed to facilitate teamwork include; climate, interaction, involvement, cohesion and productivity. In climate, the common features are in the arrangement of seating, the ventilation, the distance between team members and also the lighting of the work environment. According to Anderson (2014), the purpose of the members is outlined in the involvement feature. In interaction feature, the relationship between the members should be healthy. For productivity, the team is motivated to achieve the goals that are set and oriented to the success of the business. Managerial decision-making on team performance In the working environment, Bamel, Rangnekar, Rastogi, and Kumar (2013) point out that there is often a need for collaboration between the team members. The same study denotes that collaboration among the team members pools in different skills and understanding, an aspect that will at the end lead to effective performance. In decision-making for the management, it is essential to understand that collaboration among team members in a workplace often cultivates a sense of community within the workplace hence creative happier workforce. In a systematic review, Furnham, Humphries, and Leung Zheng (2016), point out that teamwork makes the members feel as though they are part of a family hence compelling them to go beyond their role expectations. With that sense, the team members tend to absorb much organizational knowledge that can effectively drive the business forward with sound and informed decisions. According to Furnham, Humphries, and Leung Zheng (2016), there is a need for knowledge management for every workplace that aims at promoting information sharing and teamwork among the employees. In other words, the managerial decision-making needs to focus on the facilitation of knowledge sharing among the team members in the workplace to ensure effective collaboration and teamwork that will finally lead to good performance. Many studies also denote that knowledge management is a managerial aspect that ensures an integrated approach to the identification, capturing, retrieval, sharing, and evaluation of the information assets of the workplace. The information assets may include product procedures, policies, documents, as well as uncaptured expertise in individual team members. The management hence needs to ensure the employees have the necessary resources that can support them in sharing the knowledge they possess. In a systematic review, Jones, Kalmi, Kato, and Makinen (2017) point out that it is the responsibility of the management in the workplace to ensure there is effectiveness in promoting team performance among the team members. The management should ensure it adopts different working strategies that will promote collaboration as a pillar of successful performance of the workplace. Two heads are often better than one and teamwork in an organization comes with many benefits to both the organization and the employees. Every organization with focus on effective performance need to foster and adopt strategies that will lead to effective teamwork at it is essential in the following; It helps in blending complementary strengths among the team members in the workplace It is vital in fostering learning and creativity among the employees Helps in building trust among the employees and the management as well as teaching on effective strategies that can help in conflict resolutions within the workplace It promotes a wider sense of ownership among the team members and encourages healthy risk taking Physical structures are design to facilitate teamwork Generally management involves the practice where by the goals set by the organization are achieved through different roles played by stakeholders under delegation of a manager who is responsible for ensuring high level of production. In a systematic review, Largent (2016) asserts that the roles played by the people assigned for managerial positions include; leading the junior employees, making plans concerning the organization, controlling the overall production processes of the organization, handling of staff for instance holding interviews to employ people who qualify for the vacant positions. In any organization, they roles of the manager revolve around key aspects that is management of human resource, administration of the organization, leadership and solving of problems affecting the organization. The process of solving any arising problem in an organization involves sequentially identifying the problem at hand, making an analysis of the problem and then finding the possible pro blem solutions. With the aim of promoting effective team performance, Steyn and Steyn (2013) point out that the management needs to adopt various strategic decisions that will create work effective to promote teamwork. For instance, in todays digital working environment, the management needs to ensure a holistic digital workplace that can deliver a coherent, productive and usable resource that can empower collaborative and effective performance. With a digital workplace, the management enhances the job production by enabling the team members to communicate, share, and collaborate with reduced or no movements, challenges, or delays. In their study, Erhardt, Martin-Rios, and Harkins (2014) denote that the global business environment is facing complexity challenges and advancements that at the end requires the management of organizations to adopt strategies that can technological propel the workplace. As a result, there are several tools and digital social network platforms that can be considered in making decisions towards achieving these objectives. These include Forums, Company Wiki, Workplace websites, Team workspaces, instant messaging, and Facebook platforms among others. In management of human resource, the workers are monitored, they also take part in idea sharing where by the shareholders are also present. On the other hand, James (2015) also alludes that leadership by managers should allow a healthy relationship between the manager and junior workers. The managers should initiate and maintain a teamwork spirit among the workers and also ensure that everyone has a positive attitude towards individual duties. How managers can promote teamwork According to Dante (2011), a manager needs to exercise understanding and effectiveness when he aims at achieving effective collaboration between workers in the workplace. In other words, a good teamwork does not just spring up but requires the adoption of relevant and effective techniques that can encourage collaboration within the workplace. An atmosphere of cooperation and trust allows the organization to reach its goals within the allocated budget and on time. As a result, some solid guidelines are required to ensure a manager becomes effective in adopting the right strategies within the workplace that can foster teamwork. According to Wu and Wang (2015), the following strategies can be adopted by the management to promote team collaboration in the workplace; Communication In his study, Ciobanu (2016) denotes that without effective communication in the workplace, frustration arises amongst the employees leading to poor performance and ineffectiveness. In other words, the manager needs to establish clear communication lines with all the team members. For instance, the employees should be free to communicate with the management concerning work related issues that affect their performance. The employees should also be able to express their criticism as long as they are able to work towards solving the issues and not only complaining. In a systematic review, Sudano, Patterson, and Lister (2015) denote that in the event of any workplace conflict among the employs, the manager should always be ready to take the role of a mediator rendering effective decision impartially and in a fair manner after listening to both sides. As a result, communication is an essential aspect that promotes collaboration among the employees in the workplace. Trust Working together can only be achieved effectively when the employees trust each other as well as the manager. The manager hence requires demonstrating loyalty to the employees within the workplace by negotiating with the top management on their behalf if there need be while expressing gratitude for a job well done. According to Ensari (2011), the manager also needs to plan social events aimed at team-building in an informal setting such as having meals together, setting a day out during the weekends etc. However, doing this requires the manager not to intrude on the personal time of the employees without sufficient agreement or take the employees away from their families for social events. When it comes to formal duties, Bamel, Rangnekar, Rastogi, and Kumar (2013) recommend that the manager needs to challenge the employees to do well without pushing them or putting pressure as it will convey that you trust them with their duties without deriding them. Trust hence promotes teamwork be tween the employees as well as the management. Clarity It is essential that every employee should understand their duties, goals, and responsibilities in every department they are placed into effectively help them in developing personal goals to achieve in their roles. The management hence needs to ensure that the employees exactly need to know what is expected of them as well as the specific skills and techniques required in accomplishing their roles. Dusenbury and Weissberg (2016) denote that the manager needs to invest the employees in the goal and ensure they have a sense of pride in their duties while helping them to understand exactly how the goals can be achieved. The manager should also clearly delegate responsibilities to the team without any overlap. Every team member also needs to understand what he or she is in charge of and the relevant resources at their disposal to achieve the goals. It is a step that prevents the occurrence of any friction among the team while ensuring that every duty is met. Conflict resolution In case a problem arises, the manager needs to ensure that it is solved in time and impartially. In his study, Stroklund (2017) denotes that a manager needs to anticipate the possibility of any conflict before they arise and address them before they get out of hand. For instance, in case two team members do not get along effectively despite the best effort of the management, they can be assigned separate duties that will prevent them from interacting very often. However, addressing a problem also requires the manager to keep the overall goal and the team members in mind by ensuring that the solutions adopted addresses the team goals while fairly distributing the workload logically over the whole team. Conclusion To conclude, management process is purposefully meant to create an environment that will facilitate achievement of set goals. Management is a crucial practice to all organizations regardless of their size or level. The skills needed to manage are different depending on the organization. In a nut-shell, the key role of every manager is to ensure maximum productivity and quality in a given duration. In every stage of team development there is a corresponding role of the leader in charge. The roles of the leader in forming stage include; helping the other team leaders identify the goals, selecting the right team members and ensuring a mental model that can be shared by members of the team. In the storming the leaders plays the role of resource person, organizes the environment for work and also builds trust among the team members. In the performing and norming stages, the roles of the leader are common. Zoogah (2015) points out that the leaders in this stage take time to relate with the team members, they also encourage responses from the team members in form of feedback and also take part in situations where change of leadership is necessary.

My MGB-GT free essay sample

When the engine turned over, and the soft purr of a newborn coupe filled the garage, the child of my high school determination came to life. My 1970 MGB-GT, a British sports car, was no longer a work in progress. It stood as a completed monument for all the jammed fingers, grease stained shirts, and cold Sunday afternoons spent working in the garage. As the fragrant scent of fresh exhaust filled my lungs, I could think of nothing but the beauty of my creation. Since then I have had time to think back to the day I purchased my MGB-GT. I remember sliding my fingers down the shapely front fender, feeling the rust bubbling up from under the fading paint. The oil slick left by this poor car was visible through the once-solid floor pan, and I began to consider the possibilities. I knew it would cost all my money, but I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. We will write a custom essay sample on My MGB-GT or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Under an unexplainable stupor, possibly caused by the fumes of rancid gasoline, I made an offer and purchased my MGB-GT. As a freshman, I had no idea how my commitment to $400 worth of oxidizing metal would impact my development during high school. Even less did I realize how the GT’s reincarnation would reveal a possible vocation. At the time, with a shortage of experience and an abundance of enthusiasm, I simply went to work. There were some slow times during the rebuilding. Certain repetitive tasks kept visible progress out of reach and pushed my endurance to the limit. No more is this true than when I spent weeks drilling out hundreds of spot welds, with nothing to show for it except countless quarter inch holes and two dull drill bits. It was at these times, when frustration bordered on despair, that determination was the best motivator. These months in the garage, with a picture of the completed project in my mind, taught me the self-discipline I now apply to my daily life. My GT was rising from the ashes as I entered junior year. All welding was completed, and the car was awaiting paint. Fortunately, my dad had experience and offered to help. Input from many different places had to come together before my project could be completed. And even though I was the one asking the questions and making the decisions, other people made huge contributions. At every car show or British Motor Club meeting, some MGB expert would divulge a tidbit of information, propelling me a step closer to my eventual goal. Since I started reconstructing my GT, the interdependence of society has emerged paramount in my mind. My time spent working on my GT made me realize my passion for mechanical engineering. My technical knowledge was meager going into the project, so I had to spend many hours studying manuals and chatting on forums. Despite this, restoring my car was fun. Little is more enjoyable than putting something together with my hands, studying how different parts should move and interact, and then stepping back and seeing if my creation will work as designed. There is no greater reward than watching an object work correctly. However, it is the objects that rebel against my will malfunctioning carburetors and short-circuiting starters that stimulate my thought process and draw me closer to a career in engineering. At the time the engine first fired up, none of this came to mind. I had not realized the impact my determination had on my academic life, or how interdependence gave me a new view of society. And I did not yet know if my interest in mechanical objects was simply a hobby or a potential future profession. The car was simply a massive experience; one that I had not yet had time to think about. And for this reason, I was content to sit in the reverberating silence, feeling the soft purr of my MGB-GT.

Christopher Columbus Atrocities essays

Christopher Columbus' Atrocities essays Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. As a boy he became initiated to sailing by one of his kinsmen (a sea captain), which is what forced him to become a Spanish navigator. He pleaded with the Spanish and the French governments, Spains King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I gave him a grant to lead an expedition to the west across the Atlantic Ocean in search of new routes to Asia. He wasnt very successful in finding new routes to Asia but he got the credit of discovering the Americas, Jamaica, Hispaniola and many more islands found in the New World. Columbus sailed to the New World in search of a western route to the Indies. Upon Columbus arrival to the New World he found some islanders. He thought that he had arrived at an island of the East Indies near Japan or China so he named the islanders Indians. It was not until thirty years after that people found out that Columbus hadnt really been to Asia. His goals for going on his many voyages were to search for gold, s ilver, precious stones, spices, riches; and to spread Christianity to the people he found there which in return he was promised by the King and the Queen of Spain that he would receive ten percent of the profits, governorship over the new-found land, and the fame that that would go with the new title: Admiral of the Ocean Sea. (Zinn 2) Columbus wasnt really the first one to spot land or even to discover the Americas a sailor called Rodrigo saw the early morning moon shining on white sands, and cried out. It was an island in the Bahamas, the Caribbean Sea. The first man to sight land was supposed to get a yearly pension of 10,000 maravedis for life, but Rodrigo never got it. Columbus claimed he had seen a light the evening before. He had got the reward. (Zinn 3). Columbus took credit due to the fact that it was his idea for the voyage and poor Rodrigo would not be able to defend himself if he had take...

Which ACT Score Do Schools Use

Which ACT Score Do Schools Use SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Most colleges will use your ACT scores in some capacity when making admissions decisions. If you take the ACT multiple times, however, it's not always clear which scores they will consider most strongly. In this article, I'll give you an overview of the policies that exist at different colleges when it comes to reviewing ACT scores in the admissions process. The Basics Most schools will focus on composite score values when considering your ACT scores.Schools that require the optional ACT Writing section will usually look at your Writing score separately or in the form of the English Language Arts (ELA) subscore (which is the average of your scores on the English, Reading, and Writing sections).Some admissions committees will look at subscores in the different subject areas based on the student’s academic interests and application strengths. This is most common at specialized colleges that are tech and engineering-oriented and are interested in math scores.Otherwise, schools will mainly look at the average of the four multiple choice sections. Colleges may decide to look at your scores in different ways depending on their policies.Some schools will allow you to exercise Score Choice or use Superscoring, some don’t require score submissions at all, and some may accept other tests in place of the ACT.I’ll go over the different scenarios you might encounter in the next couple of sections. Score Choice and Superscoring Score Choice and Superscoring will affect which ACT scores colleges use in the application process.Score Choice is a built-in feature of the ACT that is allowed by many colleges.It just means that you can decide which test scores you want to send to schools (by test date only, not at the subsection level).Since you’re charged a fee to send score reports for each test date and not just for each school, using Score Choice can also save you money on your applications. You can’t send scores from some sections and not others, so you only have so much flexibility, but you can use Score Choice to keep low scores to yourself. To be clear, this option has always been an inherent aspect of the ACT score reporting process. The ACT doesn't name it anything specific, but I'm calling it Score Choice here because that's the label that most people are familiar with (it's called Score Choice for the SAT). You should also know that some colleges will require you to submit all of your ACT scores, so don't automatically assume that you can omit some of your scores in the reporting process. Superscoring is a practice that some colleges use after they receive your scores.It means that the school will take your highest scores on each section of the ACT and average them into one â€Å"super† composite score.Superscoring is a way for colleges to boost their standardized testing statistics while also allowing you to relax a little more when you take the ACT.If you get low scores on a section on one test date, you can devote your study time to remedying those mistakes. You will be able to focus on improving your scores for that specific section without worrying about the other sections where you already scored well. Of course, Superscoring is only a factor if you submit scores from more than one test date to a school. It's also less common with ACT scores than with SAT scores.Here’s a list of schools that use Superscoring on the ACT. There are also some schools that won't average your top scores into one composite score but will consider your highest individual section scores from different test dates. In general, most colleges will use your best scores on the ACT to judge your application whether that means Superscoring or just using your best one-time composite score out of the scores you decide to send them. If all of your scores together are the Himalayas, most colleges only care about Mt. Everest. What About ACT Writing? Some schools will look at both your composite ACT score and your ACT Writing score.There are 633 colleges that currently require you to submit the ACT Writing section.The ACT Writing test shows colleges how well you can produce a sample of writing under pressure. Your main application essay isn't as helpful in judging your writing ability since most people painstakingly proofread these essays over the course of many hours. The ACT also provides an ELA subscore that averages your scores on the English and Reading multiple choice sections and your score on the essay to create an additional score out of 36.Some schools use this score as a guide for placing students out of introductory writing courses. Other Special Cases There are some schools that are test optional, test blind, or test flexible, meaning you’ll have more choices to make when it comes to submitting your scores.â€Å"Test optional† schools give you the option of submitting your ACT scores, but they don’t require them for a completed application. If you do submit your scores, these schools will consider them in the same way that a school that requires scores might. If you choose not to submit your scores, then they will just use your GPA and high school course record to make their decision instead.There is only one school, Hampshire College, that is "test blind". This means that the admissions committee won't look at your ACT scores even if you do decide to send them. â€Å"Test flexible† schools require you to submit scores from standardized tests, but they will accept other options besides standard ACT or SAT scores.For example, some schools say that you can send them three SAT Subject Test scores or three AP scores instead.In this case, if you decide that other scores are a better representation of your abilities,a school might not look at your ACT scores at all. A very special case. What's inside? Could it be millions of ACT test booklets? We'll never know. Conclusion Colleges use different policies in deciding which ACT scores they will consider in the application process.Most schools require students to submit scores, but they will usually look at the highest composite score or use Superscoring to create your highest possible score out of subscores from different test dates.In most cases, you can choose to send schools only your best composite scores so that they won’t be negatively biased by a bad test date (although some competitive schools request access to all of your scores). Some colleges ask to see your ACT Writing score, but it's considered less strongly than your composite scorein the admissions decision. In rare cases, your ELA subscore will be used to determine your placement in introductory writing courses. There are also test optional colleges that don’t require you to send standardized test scores at all and test flexible schools where you can send other test scores in place of the ACT.You should look up the policies at schools that interest you. For most colleges that take the ACT into consideration, you can assume that your highest score will be used in making admissions decisions. What's Next? You may be wondering how high of a score you should be aiming for on the ACT based on your college goals. Read our guide to find out what a good ACT score looks like for you. You get four free score reports to send to colleges when you take the ACT. Our article will help youdecide whether to make use of them or not. How do you send your ACT scores to colleges anyways? I'm so glad you asked. Just click on the link to learn more! Disappointed with your ACT scores? Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Diabetes Mellitus Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diabetes Mellitus - Research Paper Example It is worth beginning by describing the role of insulin when the body is functioning normally. When a person eats, the levels of glucose in their blood increase, as foods, and especially carbohydrates, are digested. Glucose is the main source of energy in the body, but must undergo metabolic processes in cells to produce this energy. Among the body’s homeostatic systems – the mechanisms for keeping conditions in the body within a given, safe range – is a system for controlling insulin levels, by removing or adding it from the bloodstream. Key to this process is the hormone insulin, produced by the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. When the blood glucose level rises after eating, the pancreas secretes insulin into the blood. This stimulates the cells of the liver to absorb the glucose from the blood, thus reducing the level of glucose in the blood. Diabetes takes two main forms, generally known as Type 1, or insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Type 2, or non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Type 1 Diabetes accounts for around 5-10% of cases; Type 2 for around 90-95% of cases. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Such diseases occur when the mechanisms of the immune system – the body’s defences for dealing with infection and disease - damage parts of the body. This is a failure by the body to recognise some cells as parts of itself. In the case of Type 1 Diabetes, the body destroys its own beta cells in the pancreas – where insulin is produced. Therefore, when the glucose level in the blood rises, cells do not have sufficient energy for metabolism, which can leave the sufferer in a very dangerous situation. Suffers of Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections every day, in order to maintain normal blood glucose levels. The first insulin injections became available in 1921. Before this, pe ople who suffered from Type 1 Diabetes

Case Study Analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Analysis - Case Study Example He was also to pay the interest with respect to terms of the interest of 12% as they had agreed. Sue has every right under the law of pursuing the money Peter owes her. According to the terms of their agreements, Peter was supposed to clear Sue’s debt by 1st of July. Since the date that Peter was expected to settle the debt had come, Sue had a legal right to request Peter to pay the cash he owed Sue (Emerson 2004, p.18). Similarly, Peter had the responsibility of honoring the terms of their agreement. If Peter would fail to honor this agreement, Sue has a legal right to pursue Peter to settle the debt through the legal processes. However, it was wise for Sue to contact Peter and ask him to settle the debt. If Peter fails to honor the agreement, Sue has every right and ground to follow the legal process so that she can be paid her debt. The legal process entails even suing Peter. The bottom line of this issue is Sue as the lender has every right to request Peter to settle the remaining debt (MacIntyre 2010, p.13). Similarly, Peter has the responsibility of honoring their agreement by paying Sue 5,000 that remained as well as the interest. On this scenario, Peter has repaid Sue the sum of 25,000 only. This implies that he has paid the principal amount only less the interest. This is contrary to their agreement. Peter was supposed to pay both the principal amount and interest on 1st July. This implies that he has breached the agreement they had made. As per the rights of the lender encompassed in the common business law, an agreement is a contract (Keenan and Riches 2009, p.37). Once the two have entered in a contract, it is unlawful to breach the contract. Peter failing to pay the interest is breaching the contract between him and Sue. According to the common business laws, breaching of a contract is an offense. This is implies that when it comes to contract breaching one is liable of facing the

The Specialist Creed Essay Example for Free

The Specialist Creed Essay No one gets away with more than I. I am a non Non-Commissioned Officer, a beast of burden. As a junior enlisted soldier I realize that I am a member of an under appreciated, much chastised group of soldiers which is known as the ribcage, or perhaps pancreas, of the Army. I am proud of myself and my fellow Specialists and will continue to bitch, whine and sham until the absolute last second regardless of the mission at hand. I will use my grade and position to avoid responsibility, accountability and any sense of presence of mind. Ignorance is my watchword. My two best excuses will always be on the tip of my tongue I didnt know, and It wasnt me. I will strive to remain invisible and unavailable for details. Never ever volunteer for anything is my rallying cry. I am aware of my role as a SPC and if you need me for anything, Ill be on appointment. I know the other soldiers, and I will always refer to them by their first name or in some cases derogatory nickname. On weekends, or days off I will consistently drink myself into oblivion, and I will never answer my phone. I understand that for a person in my hierarchal position, rewards are going to be few and far between, and punishment will always be swift and severe. Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties, because I will be accomplishing them for them. I will kiss up to their face and badmouth them behind their back, just like everyone else. I will be loyal to those with home I serve, provided theres something in it for me. I am the last bastion of common sense that stands between me and the Army philosophy of Work Harder, Not Smarter. My voice is a tool and my complaints are a weapon that I wield with unmatched skill and finesse. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget, Specialist is the greatest rank in the Army and rank has its privileges.

The Influence of Religious History in the Middle East :: Essays Papers

The Influence of Religious History in the Middle East For the past 5 months I have been studying the religious history of each country we have become apart of. My project consists of tracing the religious developments in each of the four countries and the role religion plays in the social, political, and moral elements in each destination. I explored the history of the nation and what major figures or events shaped the religious scope of each respective country. I learned about each religion while I was in each country and made connections of how their culture is shaped by this religious aspect. Observations I had about these societies will be correlated to their religious development and will be compared to our society in America. My goal was to understand the influence of religion in a society. This was a great opportunity to observe this influence since all respective nations are very representative of the monotheistic religions. This plan was beneficial to my ME studies concentration as well as my history major. To prepare before my journey I had taken a course on the Orthodox Church at St. Olaf and have also read Introduction to the Orthodox Church by Fr. Anthony Coniaris. My preparation in this particular faith has been ongoing since birth. The preparation for Islam has consisted of a small introductory book given to me by neighbors in my dorm who practice Islam. It had given me a good foundation to build upon. The Internet was used to prepare for learning about the Jewish faith. The Encyclopedia will give me a background on each country before I left. Also the completion of Understanding the Contemporary Middle East gave a great foundation to build on. In this final presentation I will leave out the dates and specifics that have made up my previous speeches and focus on how the culture is influenced by their history. History is not all about memorizing dates and old dead people. It is about understanding and analyzing information that ultimately shapes the world around us. All the dates will do for you is make it easier to remember an ATM code, that's about it. How many people say that "they hate history classes.. but.. they love the history channel?" Lots of people, because history is fun when you do something with it. When you take the information and create explanations for why certain cultures perceive things the way they do, you are doing what historians do, and are enacting the true purpose of history, to make connections of past and present, and linking people that are separated geographically and also culturally.

Financial Market

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management Emerald Article: Financial market risk and gold investment in an emerging market: the case of Malaysia Mansor H. Ibrahim Article information: To cite this document: Mansor H. Ibrahim, (2012),†Financial market risk and gold investment in an emerging market: the case of Malaysia†, International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, Vol. 5 Iss: 1 pp. 25 – 34 Permanent link to this document: http://dx. doi. org/10. 1108/17538391211216802 Downloaded on: 26-09-2012References: This document contains references to 13 other documents To copy this document: [email  protected] com This document has been downloaded 335 times since 2012. * Users who downloaded this Article also downloaded: * Mohamed Hisham Yahya, Junaina Muhammad, Abdul Razak Abdul Hadi, (2012),†A comparative study on the level of efficiency between Islamic and conventional banking systems in Malaysia†, International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, Vol. 5 Iss: 1 pp. 48 – 62 http://dx. doi. org/10. 1108/17538391211216820Muhamad Abduh, Mohd Azmi Omar, (2012),†Islamic banking and economic growth: the Indonesian experience†, International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, Vol. 5 Iss: 1 pp. 35 – 47 http://dx. doi. org/10. 1108/17538391211216811 Samy Nathan Garas, (2012),†The control of the Shari'a Supervisory Board in the Islamic financial institutions†, International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, Vol. 5 Iss: 1 pp. 8 – 24 http://dx. doi. org/10. 1108/17538391211216794 Access to this document was granted through an Emerald subscription provided y ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY OF THAILAND For Authors: If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service. Information about how to choose which pub lication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www. emeraldinsight. com/authors for more information. About Emerald www. emeraldinsight. com With over forty years' experience, Emerald Group Publishing is a leading independent publisher of global research with impact in business, society, public policy and education.In total, Emerald publishes over 275 journals and more than 130 book series, as well as an extensive range of online products and services. Emerald is both COUNTER 3 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. *Related content and download information correct at time of download. The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www. emeraldinsight. com/1753-8394. htm Financial market risk and gold investment in an emerging market: the case of MalaysiaMansor H. Ibrahim Mar ket risk and gold investment 25 Department of Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between gold return and stock market return and whether its relation changes in times of consecutive negative market returns for an emerging market, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies the autoregressive distributed model to link gold returns to stock returns with TGARCH/EGARCH error speci? cation using daily data from August 1, 2001 to March 31, 2010, a total of 2,261 observations.Findings – A signi? cant positive but low correlation is found between gold and once-lagged stock returns. Moreover, consecutive negative market returns do not seem to intensify the co-movement between the gold and stock markets as normally documented among national stock markets in times of ? nancial turbulences. Indeed, there is some evidence that the gold market surges when faced with cons ecutive market declines. Practical implications – Based on these results, there are potential bene? ts of gold investment during periods of stock market slumps. The ? ndings should prove useful for designing ? ancial investment portfolios. Originality/value – The paper evaluates the role of gold from a domestic perspective, which should be more relevant to domestic investors in guarding against recurring heightened stock market risk. Keywords Malaysia, Emerging markets, Gold, Returns, Investments, Stock markets, Gold investment, Market return, Correlations, Market risk Paper type Research paper Introduction Over the past decades, the global ? nancial markets have witnessed a string of ? nancial crises, among them include the Mexican peso crisis in 1994, the Asian ? nancial ? in 1997/1998, the Russian crisis in 1998, the Brazilian crisis in 1999, the Argentine ? nancial crisis in 2001/2002 and most recently the US subprime crisis in 2007 and the Greece ? nancial crisis in 2009. Mentioning of these crises is likely to conjure up in the mind of many the images of excessive risk in stock market investment and to bring back interest in gold as an alternative investment asset. This interest is well-placed as gold used to be a standard of value, is still considered as a store of value and is universally accepted. Moreover, there seems to be a trong belief that gold can provide protection, as a hedge or a safe haven, against this heightened risk in the ? nancial markets. As noted by Baur and McDermott (2010), gold differs from other assets in that it reacts positively to adverse market shocks. As they mention, real gold value reached its historic high roughly in 1980 when the global economy faced the threat of stag? ation due to oil crises in 1970s. Likewise, at the time the US subprime crisis intensi? ed in September 2008, gold has responded with a surge in its value (Baur and McDermott, 2010). International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance andManagement Vol. 5 No. 1, 2012 pp. 25-34 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1753-8394 DOI 10. 1108/17538391211216802 IMEFM 5,1 26 Against a backdrop of recurring ? nancial crises and contagion as well as emerging interest in gold, several studies have attempted empirical investigation of gold hedging property. Notable among these studies are recent works by Capie et al. (2005), Hillier et al. (2006), Baur and Lucey (2010) and Baur and McDermott (2010). Capie et al. (2005) investigate an exchange rate hedge of gold using weekly data of gold price and sterling-dollar and yen-dollar exchange rates from January 1971 to February 2004.They ? nd supportive evidence for exchange rate hedging property of gold, although the strength of hedging tends to vary over time. Hillier et al. (2006) assesses the investment role of precious metals, namely gold, platinum and silver for the US market. They note low correlations between these three metals and stock market returns, which suggests diversi ? cation bene? ts of gold investment. Baur and Lucey (2010) examines whether gold is a safe haven, i. e. maintaining its value in times of market stress or turmoil, for the US, UK and German markets.They document evidence suggesting the ability of gold to hedge against ? nancial risks and to serve as a safe haven in extreme market conditions for these markets. Most recently, Baur and McDermott (2010) extend the work of Baur and Lucey (2010) to a larger number of markets, which include both major developed and emerging markets. They analyze the relations between gold return and returns of world and emerging market indexes, various regional market indexes, and 13 individual market indexes. Their results demonstrate the ability of gold to provide a hedge and a strong safe haven for European and US markets.Thus, for developed markets, gold provides protection against losses during extreme market conditions. As they explain, investors in these markets sell stocks and buy gold when faced with heightened ? nancial risk. By contrast, the emerging markets seem to lack these properties indicating that investors tend to react differently to adverse shocks in emerging markets. Namely, they shift the composition of their portfolios by selling shares of emerging markets and seeking shelter in the developed markets, which are viewed to be relatively safe.In the present paper, we take lead from these studies and examine the investment role of gold for an emerging Asian market, Malaysia. We attempt to contribute to this line of inquiry in several aspects. First, in Baur and McDermott (2010), the investment role of gold for emerging markets is examined by looking at the relation between gold return and emerging market index return and individual market returns of four largest emerging markets, i. e. Brazil, Russia, India and China. We add to their study by looking at a smaller emerging market.Second, while the present study looks at gold investment from an international perspec tive, we look at the issue from a domestic perspective. All aforementioned studies employ gold price in US dollar in their analysis. Instead of using the dollar-denominated gold price and converting it into domestic currency unit as in Baur and Lucey (2010), we use domestic gold price instead. While we acknowledge that the Malaysian gold price may have depended on the global gold price, the use of gold price quoted domestically in ringgit screens out potential confounding effect of exchange rate movement and currency onversion. Finally, we bring out a new empirical perspective in evaluating the investment role of gold. Namely, we examine whether gold maintains its value or its relation with market returns when faced with consecutive negative daily returns. We focus on Malaysia due to deep interest in gold shown by Malaysian policymakers and academics in the face of 1997/1998 Asian ? nancial crisis. Tun Mahathir Mohamad, the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, voiced interest in this un iversally accepted asset and proposed the use of gold particularly in international trade settlement The News Strait Times, 2001). A series of international conferences have been organized on the subject of gold and gold Dinar[1], among them include International Conference on Stable and Just Monetary System and International Conference on the Gold Dinar in Multilateral Trade in 2002, International Conference on Gold in International Trade in 2003 and International Conference on Gold Dinar Economy in 2007. In July 2001, Malaysia became the 12th country in the world to have its own gold bullion coins through the launching of the gold bullion coins known as Kijang Emas by the Royal Mint Malaysia.This is followed by the issuance of Royal Mint gold Dinar in 2003 and Kelantan State gold Dinar in 2006. While the introduction of these gold coins is to serve primarily as a store of value or an alternative ? nancial asset for investment, the gold investment performance for the case of Malays ia has hardly received any empirical attention. The availability of daily domestic gold bullion price since 2001 provides us an opportunity to examine the investment role of gold from a domestic market perspective and, at the same time, widens the literature on emerging markets. The rest of the paper is structured as follows.In the next section, we provides the empirical framework used in the analysis. Then, we describes the data and present estimation results. Finally, we conclude with the main ? ndings and some concluding remarks. Empirical framework We specify our empirical model using an autoregressive distributed lag model along the line of Capie et al. (2005). Thus, we have: RG;t ? a ? rRG;t21 ? b1 RS;t ? b2 RS;t21 ? 1t ?1? where RG is the daily return of gold investment and RS is the corresponding return of stock investment. The lagged dependent is included to allow for autocorrelation structure in gold return.Meanwhile, the incorporation of once-lagged stock return is based on our presumption that, in emerging markets, the transmission of information among markets may take time. That is, the changes in stock return may be impounded into the gold return with lag. The total sensitivity of gold return to stock market ? uctuations is based on the sum of stock market coef? cients, i. e. b1 ? b2. If this sum is signi? cantly positive and is far from unity or the model explanatory is close to zero, we may conclude that gold serves as a diversi? cation asset (Hillier et al. , 2006).Meanwhile, if it is not signi? cant or is signi? cantly negative, then gold investment can provide a hedge against ? nancial market risk (Baur and Lucey, 2010; Baur and McDermott, 2010). We refer to equation (1) as our basic model. Based on equation (1), we ask further whether gold return dynamics remain similar under conditions of consecutive negative market returns. To this end, we adapt the framework used by Nam et al. (2005) in their analysis of stock return asymmetry by modifyi ng equation (1) as: RG;t ? a0 ? a1 Nmt ? rRG;t21 ? ?b10 ? b11 Nmt ? ? RS;t ? ?b20 ? b21 Nmt ? ? RS;t21 ? 1t ?2? here Nmt is a dummy variable representing consecutive negative market returns. Five alternative dummies corresponding to days of consecutive negative returns are considered and they are de? ned as: Market risk and gold investment 27 IMEFM 5,1 N0 ? 28 † N1 ? N4 ? † † 1 if RS;t , 0 0 otherwise 1 if RS;t , 0; RS;t21 , 0 0 otherwise ?3? ?4? . . . 1 if RS;t , 0; 0 otherwise RS;t21 , 0; :::; RS;t24 , 0 ?5? Note that we include Nm as both intercept and interactive dummies. The intercept dummy is intended to capture the level effect of m ? 1 consecutive negative market returns, current return and the returns of last m days, on gold return.Meanwhile, the interactive dummy is to capture the changing relations between stock return and gold return under conditions of consecutive negative market returns, the main interest of the paper. In the paper, we denote these mo dels with alternative de? nition of dummies, respectively, as model N0, N1, N2, N3 and N4. In equation (2), the sum b10 ? b20 captures the relation between the two markets under normal market conditions while b10 ? b20 ? b11 ? b21 measures their relation when the stock market experiences m ? 1 days of consecutive negative returns. Accordingly, the signi? cance of b11 and b21 re? cts the changing relations between gold return and market return in times of market downturns. If they are signi? cantly positive, then the gold return tends to move in closer tandem to stock market movement, weakening gold investment role as a diversi? cation asset. However, if they are signi? cantly negative, then gold investment is said to provide at least a hedge against ? nancial losses during market downturns. Finally, if they are insigni? cantly different from 0, the dynamics of gold return tends to resist the slumps in stock prices and preserves its relation to the stock market regardless of the mark et conditions.We believe that this perspective that we bring provides a nice complementary empirical exercise to the works of Baur and Lucey (2010) and Baur and McDermott (2010) that look at the relations between the two during extreme market conditions. In the implementation of equations (1) and (2), we take note of ample evidence that high-frequency asset returns tend to exhibit leptokurtic property or volatility clustering, the so-called autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) effect. In ? nance literature, various error distributions have been assumed and variance equation speci? cations have been suggested.The error distribution is assumed to be distributed according to either the normal distribution (N), t-distribution (T), or generalized error distribution (G). Among the time-varying variance speci? cations include the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH), threshold ARCH (TARCH), and exponentional GARCH (EGARCH). The latter two allow for asymmetric responses of volatility to positive and negative shocks. To avoid arbitrary model selection, we follow Capie et al. (2005) by basing on the maximum of log likelihood as a selection criterion. We ? nd asymmetric volatility speci? cation (TARCH or EGARCH) to best ? the gold return dynamics and generalized error distribution to best describe the error distribution. The suitability of asymmetric volatility modeling for gold return is in conformity with the behavior of other asset returns (Lobo, 2000; Koutmos and Martin, 2003). Data We employ 2,261 daily observations spanning from August 1, 2001 to March 31, 2010. The beginning date is dictated by data availability of gold bullion price. The selling prices of one troy ounce domestic gold bullion are used to represent domestic gold prices while the Kuala Lumpur composite index is used to represent aggregate prices of stock market investment.The data on the two prices are sourced, respectively, from Malaysia’s central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia, and Data Stream International. We compute gold and stock market returns as the ? rst difference of the natural log of respective series. Table I provides descriptive statistics of the two returns. We also plot these series in level and ? rst-differenced forms in Figure 1. Both gold and stock prices experience an upward trend over the sample period. While the daily average gold return is relatively higher than the daily average stock market return (i. e. 0. 6 percent against 0. 03 percent), it is more volatile than the market return as re? ected their respective standard deviations. This is accounted by the more extreme positive values of gold return (0. 1246) than the stock market return (0. 0426). Meanwhile, the extreme negative value of stock market return (2 0. 9997) is only slightly higher than the corresponding value of gold return (2 0. 0782). From the plots, we also note marked reduction of stock market prices around years of the Argentine ? nanci al crisis in 2001/2002 and of the US subprime crisis in 2007/2008.While the gold return is positively skewed, the market return demonstrates a negative skewness. Both return series are characterized by excess peakness having kurtosis statistics to be substantially higher than 3. This suggests volatility clustering in the return series, which is apparent in the graphical plots. The Jarge-Bera statistics reported at the bottom of Table I soundly rejects the null of normality for both returns. These characteristics in the data seem to justify the use of GARCH-type models for model speci? cation. As a preliminary analysis, we report the cross-correlations between RG,t and RS,t for up to ? e lags. With the standard error in the order of 0. 021 in absolute value, the correlation of roughly 0. 042 and higher suggests signi? cance correlation between the two returns. We note very low and mostly positive correlations between gold return and contemporaneous and lagged stock returns. Among the se correlations, only the DG Mean Median Maximum Minimum SD Skewness Kurtosis Jarque-Bera Probability Observations 0. 000305 8. 72 ? 102 5 0. 042587 2 0. 099785 0. 008518 2 0. 999659 15. 06466 14,082. 94 0. 000000 2,260 29 DS 0. 000561 0. 000000 0. 124645 2 0. 078182 0. 011909 0. 092587 12. 8588 8,656. 123 0. 000000 2,260 Market risk and gold investment Table I. Descriptive statistics IMEFM 5,1 8. 4 0. 15 0. 10 8. 0 0. 05 30 7. 6 0. 00 7. 2 6. 8 –0. 05 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 –0. 10 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 08 09 (b) Gold Return (a) Natural Log of Gold Price 7. 4 0. 08 7. 2 0. 04 7. 0 0. 00 6. 8 –0. 04 6. 6 Figure 1. Graphical plots of gold and stock prices and returns –0. 08 6. 4 6. 2 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 –0. 12 (c) Natural Log of Kuala Lumpur Composite Index 02 03 04 05 06 07 (d) Stock Market Return correlation between gold return and once-lagged stock return is signi? ant. Its correlation is positive, suggesting that the gold market tends to f ollow the stock market with one-day lag. The cross-correlations between gold return and lead stock returns indicate the absence of signi? cation correlations. Accordingly, the gold market does not lead the stock market. This preliminary analysis seems to provide a basis for our one-equation empirical approach with no feedback from gold return to stock return and with the inclusion of once-lagged stock return in the mean equation of gold return. As regards to our main interest, it indicates at best the diversi? ation property of gold investment since its noted positive correlation is far from unity. However, this ? nding is only suggestive and must be subject to a formal analysis, which we turn next (Table II). Estimation results This section conducts a formal analysis of gold return and its relation to stock market return as speci? ed in equations (1) and (2) using GARCH-type models. We experiment with various error distribution assumption and variance speci? cation and choose the o ne that maximizes the log likelihood. The values of log likelihood functions for alternative models are given in Table III.This log likelihood criterion unequivocally suggests the generalized error distribution of error terms. It also suggests either TARCH or EGARCH speci? cation to best describe variance speci? cation. TARCH speci? cation is chosen for basic model, model N0 and model N1 while EGARCH speci? cation for other models. Note that the differences in the log likelihood values between the two speci? cations are marginal. Estimation of the TARCH (1, 1) model for the basic mean equation yields the following results (numbers in parentheses are p-values): RG;t ? ht ? 0:0004 20:0344RG;t21 20:0111RS;t ?0:016? ?0:046? 0:582? 0:0000014 ?0:008? ?0:07721221 t 31 ?0:0502RS;t21 ?0:014? 20:05351221 I t21 t ?0:000? Market risk and gold investment ?0:003? ?0:9413ht21 ?0:000? N ? 2; 259; GED Parameter ? 1:7025 ? 0:000? ; Log Likelihood ? 7; 168:42 where It ? 1 if 1t , 0 and 0 otherwise. Th e use of TARCH model implies that previous shocks have asymmetric effects on volatility. Since the coef? cient of 1221 I t21 is negative, t bad news (1t , 0) tends to dampen market volatility. In other words, once-lagged positive news (1t2 1 . 0) exerts a greater impact on gold return volatility than negative news does, which conforms to the ? ding of Capie et al. (2005). Moreover, gold return volatility tends to be highly persistent as suggested by large coef? cient of lagged volatility. Turning to our main theme, we note the signi? cance of only once-lagged stock return. This conforms to the correlation structure observed in the previous section. However, its coef? cient is small, in the order of 0. 05. Thus, a 10 percentage point k RG,t, RS,t-k RG,t, RS,t? k 0 1 2 3 4 5 0. 0032 0. 0579 2 0. 0224 0. 0127 2 0. 0085 0. 0173 0. 0032 0. 0240 0. 0151 0. 0254 0. 0258 2 0. 0167 GARCH Speci? cation Basic N0 N1 N2 N3 N4GARCH-N GARCH-T GARCH-G TGARCH-N TGARCH-T TGARCH-G EGARCH-N EGARCH-T EG ARCH-G 7,035. 569 7,146. 246 7,163. 378 7,046. 186 7,153. 767 7,168. 421 7,026. 377 7,158. 247 7,168. 083 7,035. 893 7,146. 520 7,165. 204 7,046. 458 7,154. 348 7,170. 701 7,026. 710 7,158. 82 7,170. 554 7,036. 291 7,146. 26 7,163. 645 7,046. 785 7,153. 782 7,168. 730 7,027. 169 7,158. 361 7,168. 641 7,034. 568 7,142. 140 7,159. 647 7,045. 231 7,149. 472 7,164. 399 7,031. 521 7,154. 147 7,164. 628 7,031. 221 7,138. 171 7,156. 706 7,043. 397 7,146. 017 7,162. 170 7,030. 436 7,151. 064 7,163. 104 7,030. 379 ,134. 302 7,152. 533 7,042. 447 7,141. 644 7,157. 886 7,031. 285 7,146. 542 7,159. 008 Table II. Estimated cross-correlations Model Table III. Log likelihood of alternative GARCH speci? cations IMEFM 5,1 32 reduction in stock returns is associated the decrease in stock return by 0. 50 percentage point on average and likewise for the stock market increase. Note that the coef? cient of lagged gold return is negative. This suggests that the gold return tends to exhibit a reversal patt ern and that the long run impact on gold return of stock market variations is even smaller.In order to evaluate the dynamics of gold return during times of consecutive negative market returns, we estimate the chosen GARCH models (Table III) for the consecutive negative returns ranging from one to ? ve days (equation (2)). Results of the estimation are provided in Table IV. Note from the table that there are no changes in the results for the variance equation. Gold return volatility depends mostly on its past volatility and positive shocks tend to propel higher volatility. In the mean equation, we generally observe no level effect of consecutive negative market returns on gold return except for model 3.Similar to the basic model, we note signi? cant positive coef? cient of lagged stock return in all models except one, i. e. model N0. More importantly, there seems to be no changes in the relations between gold and stock returns in times of consecutive negative market returns. The coef ? cients of interactive dummies are all indistinguishable from 0 except one, i. e. the N3 model. In the case of N3 model, the investment role of gold is further enhanced. In responses to four consecutive Estimated coef? cients Mean equation a0 a1 r b10 b11 b20 b21 Variance equation u0 u1 u2 u3 N0 (TARCH) 0. 0000 2 0. 0007 2 0. 315 * 0. 0465 2 0. 0602 0. 0352 0. 0254 N1 (TARCH) 0. 0003 2 0. 0004 2 0. 0320 * 2 0. 0054 0. 0263 0. 0545 * * 2 0. 0114 Model N2 (EGARCH) N3 (EGARCH) N4 (EGARCH) 0. 0004 * * 0. 0001 2 0. 0341 * * 2 0. 0093 0. 0110 0. 0474 * * 0. 0150 0. 0004 * * 2 0. 0025 * * 2 0. 0265 2 0. 0034 2 0. 0979 0. 0549 * 2 0. 2243 * * 0. 0004 * * 2 0. 0008 2 0. 0284 * 2 0. 0036 2 0. 0146 0. 0507 * * 2 0. 2640 0. 000001 * * * 0. 000001 * * * 2 0. 1156 * * * 2 0. 1064 * * * 2 0. 1261 * * * 0. 0809 * * * 0. 0776 * * * 0. 0858 * * * 0. 0830 * * * 0. 0923 * * * 2 0. 0575 * * * 2 0. 0539 * * * 0. 0595 * * * 0. 0603 * * * 0. 0592 * * * . 9402 * * * 0. 9410 * * * 0. 9942 * * * 0. 9950 * * * 0. 9936 * * * Notes: Signi? cant at: *10, * *5 and * * *1 percent, respectively; the estimated models are: Mean equation: RG;t ? a0 ? a1 Nmt ? rRG;t21 ? ?b10 ? b11 Nmt ? ? RS;t ? ?b20 ? b21 Nmt ? ? RS;t21 ? 1t Variance equations: TARCH: Table IV. Estimation results of extended models ht ? u0 ? u1 1221 ? u2 1221 ? I t21 ? u3 ht21 t t GARCH: p log ht ? u0 ? u1 j1t21 = ht21 j ? u2 1t21 =ht21 ? u3 log ht21 negative market returns, current and last three-day returns, the gold market tends to move in the opposite direction of stock market slumps.The coef? cient of interactive dummy-lagged stock return in the N3 model is signi? cantly negative and its magnitude (in absolute term) is substantially higher than the coef? cient of lagged stock return. Thus, there seems to be a movement of the gold market away from downward trend in the stock market. The evidence that we uncover, thus, supports strong resistance of the gold market to stock market downturns. This is in sharp contrast to the we ll-documented ? nding that national stock markets tend to have strong co-movements during times of market decline and turmoil, which limit potential diversi? cation bene? across national stock markets. The heightened reaction of domestic stock markets to downturns in other markets have been documented by Pagan and Soydemir (2001) and Bahng and Shin (2003) for several emerging markets. Moreover, the ? nancial crises are noted to propagate shocks more strongly through the contagion or domino effect (Dornbusch et al. , 2000; Hasman and Samartin, 2008; Markwat et al. , 2009). Thus, a ? ight to other markets for shelter during times of ? nancial crises may not help. In the case of gold investment, its diversi? cation bene? ts are not restrained in times of market downturns.Indeed, there is some evidence that the stock market may surge in value when the stock market posts a negative trend. Conclusion A series of ? nancial crises that erupted in different parts of the world and their accom panying excessive risk have raised serious concern over investment in stock markets and are likely to bring back interest in gold as an alternative investment asset. In light of this, we examine the relation between gold and stock returns and investigate whether it changes during times of consecutive negative market returns for an emerging market, Malaysia.Applying GARCH-type models to daily gold and stock returns over the period August 2001-March 2010, we uncover evidence indicating signi? cant positive relation between gold return and once-lagged stock return. However, the coef? cient of the once-lagged stock return in gold return equation is small and far from unity. We further note that, their relation has not strengthened during times of consecutive days of market declines. To the contrary, we ? nd some evidence that gold return tends to break from its positive relation with stock market return following four consecutive stock market returns. These ? dings are in sharp contrast to the observed strong co-movements among national stock markets in periods of market downturns, which are attributed to contagion or domino effect. Based on these results, we incline to suggest the favorable property of gold as an investment asset for the Malaysian emerging market. At least, gold provides a diversi? cation bene? t to investors in the Malaysian market. The domestic Malaysian gold market tends to have resistance to heightened risk in the stock market as its preserve its low positive relation with stock market variations regardless of the market conditions.At best, with evidence pointing to the negative relation between gold return and stock market return after four consecutive negative market returns, gold tends to possess a hedging property in times of market declines. In short, our results seem to support the initiative by Malaysia in introducing various gold coins, namely Kijang Emas, Royal Mint gold Dinar and Kelantan State gold Dinar, as a vehicle for preservin g wealth in the midst of recurring ? nancial turbulences during the present time. Market risk and gold investment 33 IMEFM 5,1 34 Note 1. Dinar refers to the name of gold coin used in Islamic history.The interest in gold Dinar during the Asian ? nancial crisis is not only limited to its store of value role and its use in international trade settlement but also to the adoption of gold as a payment standard. References Bahng, J. S. and Shin, S. -M. (2003), â€Å"Do stock price indices respond asymmetrically? Evidence from China, Japan, and South Korea†, Journal of Asian Economics, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 541-63. Baur, D. G. and Lucey, B. M (2010), â€Å"Is gold a hedge or a safe haven? An analysis of stocks, bonds, and gold†, The Financial Review, Vol. 45 No. 2, pp. 217-29. Baur, D. G. and McDermott, T. K. (2010), â€Å"Is gold a safe haven?International evidence†, Journal of Banking & Finance, Vol. 34 No. 8, pp. 1886-98. Capie, F. , Mills, T. C. and Wood, G. (2005), à ¢â‚¬Å"Gold as a hedge against the dollar†, Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 343-52. Dornbusch, R. , Park, Y. and Claessens, S. (2000), â€Å"Contagion: how it spreads and how it can be stopped†, World Bank Research Observer, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 177-97. Hasman, A. and Samartin, M. (2008), â€Å"Information acquisition and ? nancial contagion†, Journal of Banking & Finance, Vol. 32 No. 10, pp. 2136-47. Hillier, D. , Draper, P. and Faff, R. 2006), â€Å"Do precious metals shine? An investment perspective†, Financial Analysts Journal, Vol. 62 No. 2, pp. 98-106. Koutmos, G. and Martin, A. D. (2003), â€Å"Asymmetric exchange rate exposure: theory and evidence†, International Journal of Money and Finance, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 365-83. Lobo, B. J. (2000), â€Å"Asymmetric effects of interest rate changes on stock prices†, The Financial Review, Vol. 35 No. 3, pp. 125-44. Markwat, T. , Kole, E. and van Dijk, D. (2009), â€Å"Contagion as a dom? no effect in global stock markets†, Journal of Banking & Finance, Vol. 33 No. 11, pp. 996-2012. Nam, K. , Washer, K. M. and Chu, Q. C. 2005), â€Å"Asymmetric return dynamics and technical trading strategies†, Journal of Banking & Finance, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 391-418. (The) News Strait Times (2001), â€Å"Practices in Islamic banking†, News Strait Times, June, p. 26. Pagan, J. A. and Soydemir, G. A. (2001), â€Å"Response asymmetries in the Latin American equity markets†, International Review of Financial Analysis, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 175-85. Corresponding author Mansor H. Ibrahim can be contacted at: [email  protected] com To purchase reprints of this article please e-mail: [email  protected] com Or visit our web site for further details: www. emeraldinsight. com/reprints

Mass Incarceration in the United Kingdom

our site – SOCIAL SCIENCE DISSERTATION – CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING Introduction The United Kingdom has recently witnessed an increase in the number of prisoners incarcerated. The first surge occurred during Prime Minister Thatcher’s reign. Running a prison became a business, when the first privately run institution opened in the United Kingdom, in 1992 (Panchamia 2012). The increased need for spaces due to higher rate of imprisonment led to the emergence of the prison-industrial complex, whereby people were incarcerated without a mechanism for reintegrating them back to the society. Prisons became contracted out, and the influence of the government was reduced. As Panchamia (2012) concludes, ten percent of the prisons in the United Kingdom and Wales are currently contracted out. Davis (1998: 3) states: â€Å"while government-run prisons are often in gross violation of international human rights standards, private prisons are even less accountable†. The emergence of these prison-industrial complexes is attributed to the criminological theory, hinged on the conflict theory, arguing that t there is a struggle between different groups (Akers 1979: 527).Crime is perceived as a function of the conflict within any society based on Marxist theory, calmingthat social and economic situations facilitate criminal activities. This paper argues that the emergence of the prison-industrial complex in England and Wales was attributed to mass incarceration, the lack of effective social policy, and early interventions. Mass Incarceration Mass incarceration is characterized by the removal of people from communities and taking them to prisons. (Newburn 2002: 165). Sparks and McNeill (2009) define mass incarceration as restricting the freedom of a group of people, subjecting them to surveillance and regulation, while increasing their dependency. According to a recent publication by Wacquant (2001), the plain aim of prison complexes and mass incarceration is to segregate people. The author goes further, and compares prisons with Ghettos. Focusing in the American context, the article highlights the impact of class segregation on the demographics of prison population. The above argument is powerful, as both prisons and ghettos are considered to be places extremely hard to escape from. The main aim of mass incarceration is to remove the criminal from the neighbourhood to ensure that they are detained. Often this priority means that prisoners are denied rehabilitative facilities (Harnett 2011: 7). As an implication, pris ons become areas for punitive segregation, for the criminals who must be removed from the society. Therefore, most of these prisons are detention centres where people enter a perpetual cycle of incarceration for crimes committed because of their economic need. Davis (1998) states that prisons are not providing adequate solution for crime or social issues. The author goes further, claiming that prisons reflect that racial bias and social injustice of the society. Studying American prison population, the author states that â€Å"the political economy of prisons relies on racialized assumptions of criminality – such as images of black welfare mothers reproducing criminal children – and on racist practices in arrest, conviction, and sentencing patterns† (Davis 1998: 2). The defining features of mass incarceration are that it is characterized by comparatively high number of people in prisons. In Reagan’s United States prosecution patterns and conviction rates increased the proportionate representation of African Americans and Hispanics, as well as those from lower socio-economic statuses (Wacquant 2010, p. 74). This was during the New Deal and Great Society, which contributed a lot towards the increasing trend of mass incarcerations, and the adoption of the prison-industrial complex system that emphasized governance through punitive acts (Downes 2001, p. 62). At the advent of economic reforms introduced by Britain’s Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, the rising rate of unemployment hit the working class the most. With the labour market in crisis,urban areas had to bear the burden of the high proportion of lower class and unemployed population. As social issues increased, the government resorted to the creation of a prison-industrial complex, to deal with the people that suffered most (Wehr 2015, p. 6). The newly created prison-industrial complex that emphasized mass incarceration was based on cultural bias and social injustice (Sparks and McNeill, 2009). These institutions symbolised thee society’s thoughts and prejudice, suggesting that the degradation of a person may be a way to solve the social conflict. As a result, the British society started to increasingly rely on criminological theories to support mass incarceration of the lower classes, whereby the prison-industrial complexes become a large enterprise for the state. Democracy, Inclusion and Social Policy It is worth noting that mass incarceration in England and Wales led to the economic and social exclusion of people within the prisons. This segregation and incarceration endangered democracy (Sparks and McNeill, 2009). In line with the conflict criminological theory, mass incarceration of offenders who mostly belong to a particular race or class enhanced the structures of oppression and privilege (Van 2007, p. 189). This occurred when mass incarceration gave undue advantage to one group as opposed to another. Today, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, it is evident that people of colour or lower classes are disproportionally overrepresented within the prison-industrial complex. While the mass prison complex created privilege to higher classes, it created a situation whereby the victims were stigmatized, criminalized, and did not enjoy the privileges of democracy and inclusion. The economic and social drivers of mass incarceration are explained by Downes (2006), who co nfirms that there is an inverse relationship between a state’s spending on welfare and imprisonment rates. Mass incarceration also hindered democracy by preventing means through which people could share ideas or communication (Young 2000, p. 208). An incarcerated person experienced political disempowerment and a lack of influence, power, while he became extremely dependent on the prison complex (Travis 2002, p. 19). Despite several attempts of inclusion, provision for rehabilitation, training, and work opportunities, current social policies have not been successful in reinstating the equal representation of lower classes, and the mass incarceration continues. (Reiman 2004, p. 5). Conclusion The above review of publications and research studies, it is evident that the conflict theory accurately explains the emergence of mass incarceration during the reign of Thatcher in the United Kingdom, and Reagan in the United States. Historically, the upper class, that was more advantaged socially, economically and politically created laws and policies that increasingly criminalized the less powerful, creating a policy of segregation. Increased incarceration within the prison-industrial complex removed people who were not wanted. Apart from enhancing exclusion and stifling democracy, it helped the powerful class to maintain its influence, wealth and position within the society. Bibliography Akers, R.L., 1979. Theory and ideology in Marxist criminology. Criminology, 16(4), pp.527- Davis, A. (1998). Masked racism: Reflections on the prison industrial complex. Color Lines, 1(2), 11-13. Downes, D., 2001. The Macho Penal Economy Mass Incarceration in the United States-A European Perspective. Punishment & Society, 3(1), pp.61-80. Downes, D. (2006). Welfare and punishment – The relationship between welfare spending and imprisonment. Hartnett, S. J. 2011. Challenging the prison-industrial complex: activism, arts, and educational alternatives. Urbana, University of Illinois Press. Newburn, T. 2002. Atlantic crossings: ‘Policy transfer’ and crime control in the USA and Britain. Punishment & Society, 4(2), pp. 165-194. Panchamia, N., 2012. Competition in prisons. Institute for Government, http://www. Instituteforgovernment. org. uk/sites/default/files/publications/Prisons, 2. Reiman, J. H. 2004. The rich get richer and the poor get prison: ideology, class, and criminal justice. Boston, Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Sparks, R. and McNeill, F., 2009. Incarceration, social control and human rights. THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY Project on SocialControl and Human Rights Travis, J. 2002. Invisible Punishment: An Instrument of Social Exclusion (From Invisible Punishment: The Collateral Consequences of Mass Imprisonment, P 15-36, 2002, Marc Mauer and Meda Chesney-Lind, eds.). Van der Linden, H. 2007. Democracy, racism and prisons. Charlottesville, Va, Philosophy Documentation Center. Wacquant, L., 2010. Class, race & hyperincarceration in revanchist America. Daedalus, 139(3), pp.74-90. Wacquant, L., 2001. Deadly symbiosis: When ghetto and prison meet and mesh. Punishment & Society, 3(1), pp.95-133. Wehr, K. 2015. Beyond the prison industrial complex: crime and incarceration in the 21st century. [Place of publication not identified], Routledge. Young, I. M. 2000. Inclusion and Democracy. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

The Crimes of Suzanne Basso

The Crimes of Suzanne Basso Suzanne Basso and five co-defendants, including her son, kidnapped a 59-year-old mentally disabled man, Louis Buddy Musso, then tortured and murdered him so that they could collect on his life insurance money. Basso was identified as the ringleader of the group and instigated the others to torture their captive. An Unidentified Body On August 26, 1998, a jogger discovered the body in Galena Park, Texas. Based on the observations of the police, when they arrived at the scene, they determined that the victim had been killed elsewhere, and then dumped on the embankment. He showed severe injuries, yet his clothing was clean. There was no identification found on the body. In an effort to identify the victim, investigators reviewed missing person files and learned that a woman by the name of Suzanne Basso had recently filed a report. When a detective went to her apartment to see if the victim found in Galena Park was the same person that Basso had reported as missing, he was met at the door by Bassos son, 23-year-old James OMalley. Basso was not at home, but returned shortly after the detective arrived. While the detective talked to Basso, he noticed that there were bloody sheets and clothing on a makeshift bed on the floor of the living room. He asked her about it and she explained that the bed belonged to the man she had reported as missing, but she did not explain the blood. She and her son James then accompanied the investigator to the morgue to view the body of the victim. They identified the body as   Louis Musso, the man she had filed a police report as a missing person., The detective noticed that, while Basso appeared to be hysterical on viewing the body, her son James showed no emotion when he saw the horrific condition of the body of their murdered friend. Quick Confession Having identified the body, mother and son accompanied the detective to the police station to complete the report. Within minutes after the detective began talking to OMalley he confessed that he, his mother and four others- Bernice Ahrens, 54, her son, Craig Ahrens, 25, her daughter, Hope Ahrens, 22, and her daughters boyfriend, Terence Singleton, 27, all participated in beating Buddy Musso to death. OMalley told investigators that his mother was the one that planned the murder and spearheaded the others to kill Musso by administering brutal beatings over a period of five days. He said that he was terrified of his mother, so he did as she instructed. He also admitted to dunking Musso four or five times in a bathtub filled with household cleaning products and bleach. Basso poured alcohol over his head while OMalley scrubbed him bloody with a wire brush. It remained unclear if Musso was dead or in the process of dying during the chemical bath. OMalley also provided information about where the group had ditched evidence of the murder. Investigators found   items that were used to clean up the murder scene that included bloodstained clothes worn by Musso at the time of his death, plastic gloves, bloodstained towels, and used razors. Wooed to His Death According to court records, Musso had been widowed in 1980 and had a son. Through the years he became mentally disabled and had the intelligence of a 7-year-old child, but had learned to live independently. He was living in an assisted living home in Cliffside Park, New Jersey and had a part-time job at ShopRite. He also attended church where he had a strong network of friends who cared about his welfare. Police discovered that, two months after the death of her live-in boyfriend, Suzanne Basso, who was living in Texas, met Buddy Musso at a church fair while she was on a trip to New Jersey. Suzanne and Buddy kept up a long-distance relationship for a year. Basso finally convinced Musso to move away from his family and friends to Jacinto City, Texas, on the promise that the two would marry. In mid-June 1998, wearing a new cowboy hat he had purchased for the occasion, he packed up his few belongings, said goodbye to his friends, and left New Jersey to be with his lady love. He was brutally murdered 10 weeks and two days later. Evidence On September 9, investigators searched Bassos Jacinto City small cluttered home. Within the mess, they found a life insurance policy on Buddy Musso with a base payout of $15,000 and a clause that increased the policy to $65,000 if his death was judged a violent crime. The detectives also found Mussos Last Will and Testament. He had left his property and his life insurance benefits to Basso. His Will also read that no one else was to get a cent. James OMalley, Terrence Singleton, and Bernice Ahrens signed as witnesses. They would all assist in his murder. The detectives found a   hard copy of Musso’s Will written in 1997, but the more recent copy of his Will on a computer was dated August 13, 1998, just 12 days before Musso would be murdered. Bank statements were found showing that Basso had been cashing Mussos Social Security checks. Further documents indicated that Basso had   tried unsuccessfully to arrange to take over the management of Mussos monthly Social Security income. It appeared as if someone had fought the request, possibly Mussos niece who was close to him, or his trusted friend Al Becker, who had been handling his benefits for 20 years. There was also a copy of a restraining order forbidding Mussos relatives or friends from making contact with him. More Confessions Each of the six perpetrators confessed to different degrees of involvement in Mussos murder and the attempted cover-up afterwards. They also all admitted to ignoring Mussos cries for help. In a written statement, Basso stated that she knew that her son and several friends beat and abused Musso for at least a full day before his death, and that she also beat Musso. She confessed to driving a car belonging to Bernice Ahrens, with Musso’s body in the trunk, to the site where O’Malley, Singleton, and Craig Ahrens dumped the body and then to a dumpster where the others disposed of additional incriminating evidence. Bernice Ahrens and Craig Aherns admitted to hitting Musso, but said Basso was the one pushing them to do it. Bernice told the police, (Basso) said we had to make a pact, that we cant say anything about what happened. She said if we get mad at each other we cant say anything. Terence Singleton confessed to hitting and kicking Musso, but pointed the finger at Basso and her son James as responsible for administering the final blows that caused his death. Hope Ahrens’ statement was the most odd, not so much in reference to what she said, but because of her actions. According to the police, Hope said that she was unable to read or write and demanded a meal before giving her statement. After scarfing down a TV dinner, she told police that she hit Musso twice with a wooden bird after he broke her Mickey Mouse ornament and because he wanted her and her mother to die. When he asked her to stop hitting him, she stopped. She also pointed most of the blame to Basso and OMalley, who, corroborating statements by Bernice and Craig Aherns, who had administered the final blows that caused his death. When the police attempted to read her statement back to her, she brushed it off and asked for another TV dinner. Lost Opportunities Not long after Musso moved to Texas, his friend Al Becker tried to contact him to check on his welfare, but Suzanne Basso refused to put Musso on the phone. Concerned, Becker contacted different Texas agencies requesting that they conduct a welfare check on Musso, but his requests   were never answered. A week before the murder, a neighbor saw Musso and noticed that he had a black eye, bruises and bloody cuts on his face. He asked Musso if he wanted him to call for an ambulance or the police, but Musso only said, You call anybody, and shell just beat me up again.   The neighbor did not make the call. On August 22, just days before the murder, a Houston police officer responded to a call of an assault going on near Jacinto City. Arriving on the scene, he found Musso being led around by James OMalley, and Terence Singleton in what the officer described as a military-style run. The officer noted that both of Musso eyes were blackened. When questioned, Musso said three Mexicans had beat him up. He also said he did not want to run anymore. The officer drove the three men to Terrence Singletons apartment where he met Suzanne Basso who said she was Mussos legal guardian. Basso reprimanded the two young men and comforted Musso. Assuming Musso was in safe hands, the officer left. Later, a note found in a pair of Mussos pants was addressed to a friend in New Jersey.   You must get ... down here and get me out of here, the note read. I want to come back to New Jersey soon. Apparently Musso never had a chance to mail the letter. Five Days of Hell The abuse that Masso endured prior to his death was detailed in courtroom testimony. After arriving in Houston, Basso immediately began treating Musso as a slave. He was assigned a long list of chores and would receive a beating if he failed to move quickly enough or complete the list. On August 21-25, 1998, Musso was denied food, water or a toilet and was forced to sit on his knees on a mat on the floor with his hands on the back of his neck for long periods of time. When he urinated on himself, he was beaten by Basso or kicked by her son James. He was subjected to violent beatings administered by Craig Ahrens and Terence Singleton. He was abused by Bernice and Hope Ahrens. The beating included being hit multiple times with a belt, baseball bats, punched with closed fists, kicked, and struck with other objects that were around the apartment. As a result of the beatings, Musso died on the evening of August 25. In a seven-page autopsy report, numerous injuries on Mussos body were cataloged. They included 17 cuts to his head, 28 cuts to the rest of his body, cigarette burns, 14 broken ribs, two dislocated vertebrae, a broken nose, a fractured skull, and a fractured bone in his neck. There was evidence that blunt force trauma extended from the bottom of his feet to his upper torso, including his genitals, eyes and ears. His body has been soaked in bleach and pine cleaner and his body was scrubbed with a wire brush. The Trials The six members of the group were charged with capital murder, but the prosecutors only sought the death penalty for Basso. James OMalley and Terence Singleton were convicted of capital murder and given life sentences.Bernice and her son Craig Ahrens were convicted of capital murder. Bernice received an 80-year prison sentence and Craig received a 60-year sentence. Hope Ahrens trial ended in hung jury. She worked out a plea deal and was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder and agreeing to testify against Basso. Suzanne Bassos Trial Performance By the time Basso went to trial 11 months after her arrest, she had dropped from 300 pounds to 140 pounds. She showed up in a wheelchair which she said was a result of being partially paralyzed after receiving a beating from her jailers. Her lawyer later said it was due to a chronic degenerative condition. She mimicked the voice of a little-girl, saying she had regressed to her childhood. She also claimed she was blind. She lied about her life story which included tales that she was a triplet and that she was having an affair with Nelson Rockefeller. She would later admit it was all a lie. She was granted a competency hearing and the court-appointed psychiatrist who interviewed her testified that she was a fake. The judge ruled that she was competent to stand trial. Each day that Basso appeared in court she looked disheveled and would often grumble to herself during testimony or squeal and wail if she heard something that she did not like. Hope Ahrens Testimony Along with the evidence found by investigators, the testimony given by Hope Ahrens was likely the most damaging.   Hope Ahrens testified that Basso and O’Malley brought Musso to the Ahrens apartment and that he had two black eyes, which he claimed he got when some Mexicans beat him up. After arriving at the apartment, Basso ordered Musso to stay on a red and blue mat. Sometimes she had him on his hands and knees, and sometimes just on his knees. At some point during the weekend, Basso and O’Malley began beating Musso. Basso slapped him, and O’Malley kicked him repeatedly while wearing steel-toed combat boots. Hope Ahrens also testified that Basso hit Musso on the back with a baseball bat, hit him with a belt, and a vacuum cleaner, and jumped on him. Testimony was given that Basso weighed about 300 pounds at the time that she jumped repeatedly onto Musso while it was obvious that he was suffering from pain. When Basso went to work, she instructed O’Malley to watch the others and make sure they did not leave the apartment or use the phone. Each time that Musso tried to get off the mat, O’Malley beat and kicked at him. After Musso sustained injuries from the beating, O’Malley took him into the bathroom and bathed him with bleach, Comet and Pine Sol, using a wire brush to scrub Musso’s skin. At some point, Musso asked Basso to call an ambulance for him, but she refused. Ahrens testified that Musso was moving very slowly and was clearly in pain from the beatings. Verdict The jury found Basso guilty of capital murder for murdering Musso during the course of kidnapping or attempting to kidnap him, and for remuneration or the promise of remuneration in the form of insurance proceeds. During the sentencing phase, Bassos daughter, Christianna Hardy, testified that during her childhood Suzanne had subjected her to sexual, mental, physical and emotional abuse. Suzanne Basso was sentenced to death. Profile of Suzanne Basso Basso was born on May 15, 1954, in Schenectady, New York to parents John and Florence Burns. She had seven brothers and sisters. Few real facts are known about her life because she often lied. What is known is that she married a Marine, James Peek, in the early 1970s and that they had two children, a girl (Christianna) and a boy (James). In 1982 Peek was convicted of molesting his daughter, but the family later reunited. They changed their name to OReilly and moved to Houston. Carmine Basso In 1993 Suzanne and a man named Carmine Basso became romantically involved. Carmine owned a company called Latin Security and Investigations Corp. At some point he moved into Bassos apartment, even though her husband, James Peek, was still living there. She never divorced Peek, but referred to Carmine as her husband and began using Basso as her last name. Peek eventually moved out of the home. On October 22, 1995, Suzanne placed a bizarre quarter-page engagement announcement in the Houston Chronicle. It announced that the bride, whose name was listed as Suzanne Margaret Anne Cassandra Lynn Theresa Marie Mary Veronica Sue Burns-Standlinslowsk   was engaged to Carmine Joseph John Basso. The announcement claimed the bride was an heiress to a Nova Scotia oil fortune, educated at Saint Annes Institute in Yorkshire, England and had been an accomplished gymnast and at one time even a nun. Carmine Basso was reported to have received a Congressional Medal of Honor for his duty in the Vietnam War. The ad was retracted three days later by the newspaper due to â€Å"possible inaccuracies.† The $1,372 fee for the ad had gone unpaid. Basso sent Carmines mother a letter claiming that she had given birth to twin girls. She included a picture, which the mother later said was obviously a picture of a child looking into a mirror. On May 27, 1997, Basso called the Houston police, claiming that she was in New Jersey, and asked that they check on her husband in Texas. She had not heard from him for a week. Going to his office, police found Carmines body. They also found several trash cans filled with feces and urine. There was no restroom in the office. According to the autopsy, Carmine, age 47, was malnourished and died from erosion of the esophagus due to the regurgitation of stomach acid. The medical examiner reported that there was a strong smell of ammonia on the body. It was listed that he died from natural causes. Execution On February 5, 2014, Suzanne Basso was executed by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. She declined to make a final statement.