ENG315 week1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ENG315 week1 - Coursework Example In the long run, the system control could no longer work as expected and there were some managerial-worker conflicts in the company. Given an opportunity to change the flow of information in decision making at this company, I could prefer the predictive control of distributed decision making method. The system has got four key aspects, which include; the predictive mode of team decision making, the fitness function as the second aspect, thirdly there is the optimization of information structure and finally the forecast decision making requirement. This system achieves convenience by the fact that stakeholders act as both decision makers and implementers. Although all of us make decisions every day, some of the decisions are straightforward while others are complex and indirect. In business decision making, this systematic approach to decision making is essential to address critical elements that can result into timely decisions (Bhushan & Kanwal, 2004). Moreover, there is no conflict of interests because every stakeholder is involved in decision making as well as implementing. With this organization, every stakeholder is motivated to work since every contribution is considered

Structural and Functional Properties of Tendons

Structural and Functional Properties of Tendons Chapter One Literature Review 1.0 Introduction Tendons are dynamic structures; their extracellular matrices are continuously being synthesised and broken down over the course of an individual’s lifetime. The macromolecules, namely collagen, proteoglycans, hyaluronan and the non-collagenous proteins form the extracellular matrix of tendons. In normal tendon exists a fine balance between the synthesis and degradation of these macromolecules resulting in a strong healthy tendon. It is evident that damage to tendons, such as in overuse tendinopathy results in changes to the levels and types of macromolecules present in tendon with decreased levels of collagen and increased levels of proteoglycans, hyaluronan and non-collagenous proteins, causing a weakened tendon that is prone to rupture. These degenerative features have thus far been partially characterised. By identifying the levels and various types of macromolecules present in normal tendons and tendons exhibiting overuse tendinopathy an understanding of the basis of the condition can be determined and possible ways of preventing or ameliorating tendon degeneration can be considered. The terms overuse tendinopathy and pathological tendon will be used interchangeably throughout this study. This literature review will attempt to define and characterise the structural and functional properties of tendon and will discuss the current literature regarding the levels, types, synthesis and catabolism of macromolecules present in the extracellular matrix of tendons and also attempt to define and characterise the pathological aspects of overuse tendinopathies. Chapter Two of this thesis will dictate the materials and methodology used in these studies. Chapters Three, Four and Five will present the results of this thesis. Finally, chapter Six will include the discussion and discuss any limitations and future considerations. 1.1 Synovial Joint Joints are articulations found between adjacent parts of bone that allow controlled frictionless movement (for review see; Mankin Radin, 1997). In the human body there are three different types of joints and these are grouped according to the type of movement they make. They include the freely movable joints (synovial joints; i.e., most joints of the extremities such as the knee joint), slightly movable (cartilaginous joints; i.e., the vertebrae and ribs) and those that are immovable (fibrous joints; i.e., the skull). The majority of the joints found in the human body are synovial joints (for review see; Mankin Radin, 1997). There are six different types of synovial joints including the ball-and-socket joints, hinge joints, saddle joint, pivot joint, gliding joints and condyloid joints. A synovial joint contains a joint cavity that is enclosed by a fibrous capsule linking the adjoining bones. This joint capsule is lined by a synovial membrane that secretes a lubricating and nutritious fluid called synovial fluid that is rich in albumin and hyaluronan. The surface of each bone is typically covered with articular hyaline cartilage or in some circumstances fibrocartilage. In addition, the joint capsule is supported by accessory structures such as tendons and ligaments, which provide stability to the synovial joint (Sledge et al., 2001). 1.1.1 Articular Cartilage Articular cartilage covers the adjoining ends of bones in joints and has a white colour (for review see; Mankin Radin, 1997). It is a tissue that is devoid of blood and nerves and provides a wear resistant surface with low frictional properties for the joint and attains its nutrients via diffusion from the synovium into the synovial fluid (for review see; Mankin Radin, 1997). Furthermore, articular cartilage is resilient and flexible. This allows articular cartilage to withstand large compressive and tensile forces as well as allowing it to distribute load on subchondral bone during joint loading (Kempson, 1980) even though it is only a few millimetres thick (Hardingham, 1998). Its biomechanical properties are dependent on the structural composition of the extracellular matrix, which is comprised of water (70-80%), collagens (predominantly Type II collagen), proteoglycans (predominantly aggrecan) and non-collagenous proteins (Kuettner et al., 1991; Poole, 1997). The predominant cell type present in articular cartilage is called the chondrocyte. These cells are responsible for the maintenance, synthesis and degradation of all the extracellular matrix components (Kuettner et al., 1991; Buckwalter Mankin, 1998). Mature articular cartilage can be divided up into four zones including the superficial (tangential) zone, the middle (transitional) zone, the deep (radial) zone and the zone of calcified cartilage (Huber et al., 2000). The organisation and composition as well as mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix varies within these zones. The deeper zones have high proteoglycan levels and low cellularity whereas the more superficial zones contain low proteoglycan levels and increased cellularity (Aydelotte et al., 1988; Buckwalter Mankin, 1998). 1.1.2 Joint Capsule and Ligament The joint capsule is a fibrous connective tissue that is attached to the skeletal parts of a joint beyond their articular surfaces. The principal function of the joint capsule is to seal the joint space and to supply stability by limiting movement (for review see; Mankin Radin, 1997). Most joint capsules are strengthened by ligaments. Ligaments act together with the joint capsule and the peri-articular muscles to provide stability to the joint preventing excessive movements. They permit free movements when lax, but can stop unwanted movements when tight by virtue of their high tensile strength. Occasionally joint capsules are strengthened by tendons, such as the extensor tendon in the finger joint. The joint capsule and ligaments proceed to hold the bones together and to guide and limit joint movements. Ligaments attach one bone with another bone and have a limited vascular and neural supply which enable them to repair relatively well after damage (Bray et al., 1990). The knee joint is a good example of different types of ligaments. The medial collateral ligament fuses with the joint capsule, and the cruciate ligaments and the lateral collateral ligament, which are both completely independent of the joint capsule. 1.1.3 Synovial Membrane The synovial membrane (synovium) lines the non-articular surfaces of a joint such as the joint capsule and ligaments, and is responsible for secreting and absorbing synovial fluid, which contains hyaluronan (Mason et al., 1999). Synovial fluid lubricates the joint and provides at least partly for the nutrition of articular cartilage, invertebral discs and menisci. The synovial extracellular matrix acts as a scaffolding to support synoviocytes and plays an important role in cell migration and differentiation. It is mostly composed of collagen particularly Type III collagen, with smaller amounts of proteoglycans such as decorin and biglycan (Mason et al., 1999), non-collagenous proteins such as fibronectin, elastin and lamina, hyaluronic acid as well as lipids, serum proteins and electrolytes (Hirohata Kobayashi, 1964). The synovial membrane has only been detected in vertebrate animals (Henderson Edwards, 1987). Furthermore, synovial tissue is not arranged into discrete layers, but rather represents a continuum from surface to deep zones. The extracellular matrix of the synovial membrane varies in composition from its surface to its deep zones (Hirohata Kobayashi, 1964). 1.1.4 Tendon Tendons are dense fibrous connective tissues found between muscles and bones (for review see; Benjamin Ralphs, 1997). The primary role of tendon is to absorb and transmit force generated by muscle to the bone to provide movement at a joint. In addition tendons operate as a buffer by absorbing forces to limit muscle damage. Each individual muscle has two tendons, one that is proximal and the other distal. The attachment of the proximal tendon of a muscle to bone is called a muscle origin and that of the distal tendon an insertion. A normal tendon has a bright white colour and a fibroelastic texture and enables resistance to mechanical forces. Tendons come in many shapes and this is most likely due to their function, they can be round or oval in cross section or they can come in the form of flattened sheets, fan shaped, ribbon shaped or cylindrical in shape (for review see; Benjamin Ralphs, 1997). In a muscle like the quadriceps which creates strong forces the tendons are short and broad, while those that are involved in more delicate movements like the finger flexors, long and thin tendons are present (Kannus, 2000). Tendons are arranged in a hierarchical fashion (see Figure 1.1). A group of collagen fibres form a primary fibre bundle or subfascicle; this is the basic unit of tendon. A group of subfascicles form secondary bundles or fascicles, which form tertiary bundles constituting the tendon as a whole. The primary, secondary and tertiary bundles are encased in a thin connective tissue reticulum called the endotenon (Elliott, 1965; Kastelic et al., 1978; Rowe, 1985). The endotenon carries blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics to deeper areas of the tendon (Elliott, 1965; Hess et al., 1989). The whole tendon is surrounded by an epitenon, which is a dense fibrillar network of collagen (Jozsa et al., 1991). The epitenon is contiguous with the endotenon and like the endotenon is rich in blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics (Hess et al., 1989). Many tendons are surrounded by a connective tissue called the paratenon. Paratenon allows free movement of the tendon against the surrounding tissues (Schatzker Branemark, 1969; Hess et al., 1989). The myotendinous junction is the site of union with a muscle, and the osteotendinous junction is the site of union with a bone (Kannus, 2000). In tendon, blood vessels represent between 1-2% of the entire extracellular matrix (Lang, 1960; Lang, 1963). Some blood vessels may originate from the perimysium at the musculotendinous junction and blood vessels from the osteotendinous junction (Schatzker Branemark, 1969; Carr Norris, 1989; Clark et al., 2000). At rest, rabbit tendons have been shown to have blood flow of around one-third that of muscle, and it is known that blood flow in tendon increases with exercise and during healing in animals (Backman et al., 1991). The oxygen consumption of tendons is 7.5 times lower than that of skeletal muscles (Vailas et al., 1978). 1.1.5 Tendon Extracellular Matrix The major cell type present in tendon is the fibroblast (also known as tenocytes; Ross et al., 1989; Schweitzer et al., 2001; Salingcarnboriboon et al., 2003), which are embedded within an extracellular matrix (see Figure 1.2). These cells are sparsely distributed, comprising only 5% of the dry weight of adult tendon (Ross et al., 1989; Schweitzer et al., 2001; Salingcarnboriboon et al., 2003). These cells lie in longitudinal rows and have many cell extensions that extend into the extracellular matrix (McNeilly et al., 1996). Fibroblasts are responsible for the synthesis and degradation of all the macromolecular components that make up the extracellular matrix of tendon, including the most abundant macromolecule present in tendon, collagen, as well as proteoglycans, hyaluronan and non-collagenous proteins (Vogel Heinegard, 1985; Curwin, 1997; O’Brien, 1997). The extracellular matrix is made up of parallel bundles of collagen aligned longitudinally (60-85% of tendon dry weight) associated with elastin fibres which constitutes approximately 1-2% of the dry weight of tendon (Tipton et al., 1975; Hess et al., 1989; Jozsa et al., 1989; Curwin, 1997; Kirkendall Garrett, 1997; O’Brien, 1997). Tendon consists of 55-70% water, most of which is associated with proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix (Elliott, 1965; Vogel, 1977; Merrilees Flint, 1980; Riley et al., 1994b; Vogel Meyers, 1999). The proteoglycan content of tendons is approximately 1% of dry weight of tendons (O’Brien, 1997).Water and proteoglycans have important lubricating and spacing roles in tendons that allow collagen fibres to glide over one another (Amiel et al., 1984). The structure, composition and the organisation of the tendon matrix is crucial for the physical properties that tendons posses (Riley, 2004). The collagen component gives tendon its great tensile strength (Scott, 2003) whereas it is the proteoglycan component of the tendon matrix that enables tendons to withstand compressive load (Schonherr et al., 1995), while elastin fibres increase tendon extensibility (Scott, 2003). 1.1.6 Tendon cells The cell population of tendon has so far been poorly characterised (for review see; Riley, 2000), the majority of tendon cells have the appearance of fibroblasts (also known as tenocytes) and constitute about 90-95% of the cells present in tendon (Ross et al., 1989; Schweitzer et al., 2001; Salingcarnboriboon et al., 2003). The remaining 5% to 10% of cells present in tendon are chondrocyte-like cells (fibrochondrocytes), which are mostly present in the fibrocartilaginous regions of tendon where tendon attaches to bone. Also present in tendon are some mast cells, capillary endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and nerve cells (Hess et al., 1989; Jozsa Kannus, 1997). Fibrocartilage cells are large and have an oval shape and they are often packed with intermediate filaments (Merrilees Flint, 1980; Ralphs et al., 1991). Tendon cells are linked to one another via gap junctions (McNeilly et al., 1996; Ralphs et al., 1998), allowing cell-to-cell interactions (McNeilly et al., 1996). Fibroblasts have a branched cytoplasm surrounding an elliptical, speckled nucleus. The rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus are well developed with few mitochondria in the cytoplasm (Ippolito et al., 1980; Moore De Beaux, 1987). Like other connective tissue cells, fibroblasts are derived from mesenchyme. It is believed that in tendon there are a small number of mesenchymal stem cells that have the ability to differentiate into chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic cells if the conditions allow (Salingcarnboriboon et al., 2003). Tendons have been shown to respond to mechanical load by modifying their extracellular matrix (Banes et al., 1988; Ehlers Vogel, 1998; Buchanan Marsh, 2002; Lavagnino Arnoczky, 2005). Tendon cells receive their vascular supply from the surrounding paratenon. Tendons were once considered almost static and unable to participate in repair. However, the activity of tendon cells has been shown to be active throughout an individual’s life as they express various matrix components (Chard et al., 1987; Ireland et al., 2001; Riley et al., 2002). Regional differences in cell morphology and activity exists in tendons, synovial-like cells that are found in the endotenon and epitenon surround the main fibre bundles (Banes et al., 1988). A greater proliferative capacity and a different matrix synthetic activity is characteristic of these synovial-like cells compared to the fibroblasts within the fibres, and are the first cells to respond following acute tendon injury (Gelberman et al., 1986; Banes et al., 1988; Garner et al., 1989; Gelberman et al., 1991; Khan et al., 1996b). Tendon Extracellular Matrix Macromolecules The following section will discuss the major extracellular matrix proteins and their roles in tendon. This will include the major constituent of tendon, collagen, the small and large proteoglycans and the non-collagenous proteins as well as hyaluronan. This section will also discuss the synthesis of collagens, proteoglycans and hyaluronan. 1.2.1 Collagens Collagen is the most copious protein present in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues and accounts for approximately 90% of the total protein of tendons, or 65% to 75% of the dry weight of tendons (von der Mark, 1981; O’Brien, 1992). There are currently 28 different collagen types (numbered I-XXVIII) present in vertebrates with at least 42 different alpha chains (Veit et al., 2006) with this number continuing to mount (Brown Timpl, 1995; Aumailley Gayraud, 1998). Collagen molecules can be defined as an extracellular protein that contains at least one triple helical domain (van der Rest Bruckner, 1993). Collagen provides the tendon with its structural integrity as well as assisting in various physiological functions. Collagen consists of three polypeptide alpha chains, which combine to form a homotrimer (three identical alpha chains) or a heterotrimer (two or three different alpha chains). Covalent bonds known as collagen cross-links develop between individual collagen molecules in a collagen fibre (Eyre et al., 1984; Bailey et al., 1998; Bailey, 2001; Brady Robins, 2001). The collagen arrangement gives tendon its great tensile strength. Cross-links are formed from a pathway of different chemical reactions that result in divalent cross-links that join two polypeptide chains, to multivalent, i.e. tri- or even tetravalent, cross-links (Bailey Lapiere, 1973; Eyre et al., 1984). These cross-links come about from enzymatic modification of lysine or hydroxylysine residues by the copper-dependent enzyme lysine oxidase (Robins, 1988). Collagens are divided into two subgroups, the fibrillar and non-fibrillar collagens. Non-fibrillar collagens can be further divided into seven subfamilies including microfibril collagens, fibril-associated collagens with interrupted helices (FACIT) collagens, network collagens, MULTIPLEXIN collagens (proteins with multiple triple helix domains and interruptions), basement membrane-associated collagens, transmembrane-associated collagens and epithelium-associated collagens (von der Mark, 1999). The non-fibrillar collagens present in tendon include Types IV, VI, IX, X, XII and XIV (von der Mark, 1999). The fibrillar collagens present in tendon include, Types I, II, III, V and XI (Kielty et al., 1993; Kadler et al., 1996; Fukuta et al., 1998; von der Mark, 1999). The fibrillar collagens contain a continuous triple helix domain, 300 nm in length, capable of undergoing the staggered, lateral associations required to form fibrils (Mayne, 1997). The resulting fibrils provide the structural support for tissues. All the fibril-forming collagens have a similar structure and size, being composed of a large, continuous central triple-helical domain (COL1) of approximately 1000 amino-acid residues Collagen Type Structure type Distribution Function I Fibril forming Occurs in most tissues, tendon, bone, skin etc Main component of tendon, skin, bone, dentin, cartilage, ligament etc II Fibril forming Hyaline cartilage, invertebral disc Restricted to fibrocartilage; forms less-organised meshwork III Fibril forming Vessels, kidney, liver, skin, tendon Normally restricted to endotenon; forms smaller less organised fibrils IV Forms meshwork Basement membranes, tendon Basement membrane of tendon blood vessels V Fibril forming Skin, bone Core of Type I collagen fibril forms template for fibrillogenesis VI Beaded filaments Vessels, skin, intervertebral disc Cell associated found in seams between fibrils VII Epithelial-associated Dermoepidermal junction Forms anchoring fibrils in the skin VIII Microfibril Descements membrane in the cornea Forms a lattice IX FACIT Hyaline cartilage, vitreous humour, tendon Cell and matrix interactions with Type II collagen fibril surface X Forms meshwork Growth plate, tendon Restricted to insertion fibrocartilage XI Fibril forming Hyaline cartilage Core of Type II collagen fibril forms template for fibrillogenesis XII FACIT Embryonic tendon and skin, periodontal ligament Mediates cell/matrix interactions with Type I collagen fibril surface XIII Transmembrane Endothelial cells Adhesion of cells to basement membranes XIV FACIT Foetal skin, tendon Mediates cell/matrix interactions with Type I collagen fibril surface XV Multiplexin Blood vessels Stabilizes skeletal muscle cells and microvessels XVI FACIT Skin, Cartilage XVII Transmembrane Skin, cornea, lung Connects epithelial cells to the matrix XVIII Multiplexin Endothelial cells, liver, eye Needed for normal development of the eye XIX FACIT Basement membranes Forms radially distributed aggregates XX FACIT Corneal epithelium, skin, cartilage and tendon Binds to collagen fibrils XXI FACIT Many tissues Matrix assembly of vascular networks in blood vessel formation XXII Fibril forming Tissue junctions Interacts with components of microfibrils XXIII Transmembrane Metastatic tumour cells, heart retina Cell adhesion, Binds to heparin XXIV Fibril forming Expressed in tissues containing Type I collagen Developing bone and cornea Regulating Type I collagen fibrillogenesis XXV Transmembrane Neurons May play a role in adherens junctions between neurons XVI Testis and ovary of adult tissues Development of the reproductive tissues XVII Fibril forming Cartilage, ear, eye and lung Unknown XVIII Basement membranes around Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. Unknown flanked by a variable amino-terminal domain of about 50-520 amino acid residues and a highly conserved non-triple-helical carboxyl-terminal domain of about 250 amino acid residues (for reviews see; Kielty et al., 1993; Fichard et al., 1995; Pihlajaniemi Rehn, 1995; Prockop Kivirikko, 1995; Bateman et al., 1996). The amino- and carboxyl-terminal extensions are commonly referred to as amino- and carboxyl- propeptides, respectively. The C-propeptide is called the NC1 domain, whereas the amino-propeptide is divided into sub-domains. The first is a short sequence (NC2) that links the major triple helix to the minor one (COL2) and a globular amino-terminal end (NC3) that shows structural and splicing variations. Collagen Types II, IX, X and XI (Fukuta et al., 1998) are present at specific sites within the fibrocartilage region of tendon, found at the bone insertion and where the tendon is subjected to shear forces or compression (Fukuta et al., 1998; Waggett et al., 1998). Collagen Types II, IX, X and XI were once thought to occur only in cartilage (Visconti et al., 1996; Fukuta et al., 1998; Riley, 2000). It has now been shown that these collagens are found in the fibrocartilaginous regions of tendon, which wraps under bone. Their presumed function is to help resist compression and shear forces at these sites (Visconti et al., 1996; Fukuta et al., 1998; Waggett et al., 1998). Collagen also plays an important role in attaching tendons to bone. Where the tendon attaches to bone, tendons commonly widen and give way to fibrocartilage, a transformation where the aligned fibres originating from the tendon are separated by other collagen fibres arranged in a three dimensional network surrounding rounded cells (Liu et al., 1995). This arrangement helps to transmit tensile forces onto a broad area and reduces the chance of failure under excessive loading. The following review will focus on the collagens that are known to exist in tendon; this includes collagen Types I-VI, IX-XII and XIV. 1.2.1.1 Type I Collagen Type I collagen is the predominant and most studied collagen type present in the extracellular matrix of tendon, ligament and bone representing approximately 95% of the total collagen content or 60% of the tendon dry weight (Evans Barbenel, 1975; von der Mark, 1981; Riley et al., 1994b; Rufai et al., 1995). It is synthesized by a number of cell types such as fibroblasts, osteocytes and odontoblasts. Type I collagen consists of two ÃŽ ±1(I) chains and a shorter ÃŽ ±2(I) chain (Kielty et al., 1993), these two chains are products of separate genes and are not a posttranslational modification of a single molecule (for review see; Kivirikko Prockop, 1995). The two ÃŽ ±1(I) and one ÃŽ ±2(I) chains of a monomer of Type I collagen are primarily comprised of approximately 338  repeating tripeptide sequences of Gly-X-Y in which X is frequently proline and Y is frequently hydroxyproline (OHPr). The ends of the ÃŽ ±1(I) and one ÃŽ ±2(I) chains consist of short telopeptides of between 11-26 amino acids per chain. In longitudinal sections, the monomers are arranged in fibrils in a head-to-head-to-tail orientation. Each Type I collagen molecule consists of a long central helical region with a short non-helical domain on both the amino- and carboxyl-terminal ends. In tendon, the Type I collagen-containing fibril, organized into fibres (fibril bundles), is the major element responsible for structure stabilization and the mechanical attributes of this tissue. The fibril contains collagen molecules assembled into a quarter-staggered array, and this striated fibril has a 67 nm periodicity (for review see; Kadler et al., 1996; Orgel et al., 2006). Each alpha chain consists of a repeating triplet of glycine and two other amino acids marked as (Gly-X-Y)n. It is the glycine residues located in every third position that makes it possible for the three alpha chains to coil around the other. It has a molecular weight of 290 kDa. When viewing collagen fibrils under the light microscope they have a crimped appearance, during tendon loading the crimp stretches and the fibrils become aligned, and after loading the crimp will reappear, this is an important elastic component that tendon possesses (O’Brien, 1992). The Type I collagen ÃŽ ± chains contain approximately 290 residues of OHPr per molecule. Proline and OHPr constitute 20% to 25% of all amino acid residues of Type I collagen. The parallel arranged bundles formed by the Type I collagen fibrils gives tissues a high tensile strength with limited elasticity, and therefore is suitable for force transmission. The Type I collagen molecule has the ability to form microfibrils (filaments) as well as larger units of the fibrils or fibres (for review see; Kivirikko Prockop, 1995). The diameter of the collagen fibril is usually between 20 nm and 150 nm but can range up to 300 nm, this depends on the stage of development (Dyer Enna, 1976; Jozsa et al., 1984; Fleischmajer et al., 1988). 1.2.1.2 Type II Collagen The homotrimeric Type II collagen molecule was first discovered in cartilage by Miller and Matukas in 1969 who extracted collagen from cartilage in an experiment that involved pepsin digestion. Type II collagen, although most commonly found in articular and hyaline cartilage is also expressed in tendon particularly around the fibrocartilaginous region and consists of three identical ÃŽ ±1(II) chains (Eyre et al., 1992) which forms a meshwork structure that gives Type II collagen the ability to entrap the negatively charged proteoglycan molecules, thereby resisting the swelling pressure of proteoglycans. Each Type II collagen chain has a molecular weight of approximately 95 kDa. The entire collagen Type II molecule is shaped like a thin rod and is 300 nm long and 1.5 nm wide and has a total combined molecular weight of 295 kDa. This molecule is essential in connective tissues that are subjected to compression such as tendon and articular cartilage. Type II collagen molecules consists of a long central helical region flanked at its amino- and carboxyl-terminus by short non-helical regions termed amino and carboxyl telopeptides (Eyre et al., 1992). As with all fibrillar collagens, Type II collagen molecules are arranged in a quarter-staggered array to form collagen fibrils. Lateral associations of these collagen fibrils forms collagen fibres (Mayne, 1997). In tendon, collagen Types IX and XI as well as the proteoglycans decorin, fibromodulin and lumican inhibit collagen Type II fibril formation reducing fibril thickness (Vogel et al., 1984; Hedbom Heinegard, 1989; Hedbom Heinegard, 1993). 1.2.1.3 Type III Collagen Type III collagen is the second most abundant collagen present in tendon, representing up to 10% of the total collagen content in various tendons (Hanson Bentley, 1983; Riley et al., 1994b). Type III collagen is a thin collagen fibre consisting of three ÃŽ ±1(III) chains with a molecular weight of 290 kDa. In tendon most Type III collagen is found in the endotenon and epitenon (Duance et al., 1977), and is also found in between Type I collagen fibril bundles in aging tendons and at the insertion (Kumagai et al., 1994). It can also be found in skin, blood vessels, ligament and internal organs such as the gastro-intestinal tract but is not found in bone (Epstein Munderloh, 1978; McCullagh et al., 1980; Amiel et al., 1984). It strengthens the walls of hollow structures like the intestines and uterus. The fibrils of Type III collagen have a generally thinner diameter compared with Type I collagen fibrils (Lapiere et al., 1977; for review see; Kadler et al., 1996), however the triple helical domain is longer in length being composed of 340 amino acid repeats compared to 338 amino acid repeats in Type I collagen. In the early repair of the injured tendon, Type III collagen fibrils are quickly synthesized to restore strength and elasticity (Williams et al., 1984; Dahlgren et al., 2005). However, the fibrils do not have the same tensile strength quality as Type I collagen and so lack the functional properties needed in a tendon experiencing maximal load. The repair processes continues with Type III fibrils slowly being replaced by Type I collagen fibrils in an attempt to normalize the properties of the tendon (Duance et al., 1977; Williams et al., 1984; Dahlgren et al., 2005). Type III collagen contains high levels of OHPr and glycine. It has been reported that these high levels of glycine may cause localised helix instability resulting in increased susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage and rapid turnover of the extracellular matrices containing this collagen (Linsenmayer, 1991). The frequency of Type III collagen is considered to be an indicator of tissue age, and is common in the early stages of healing and scar tissue formation where it provides mechanical strength to the matrix (Burgeson Nimni, 1992). 1.2.1.4 Type IV Collagen The non-fibrillar collagen, Type IV (Bailey et  al., 1979), is a basement membrane-associated collagen (Light Champion, 1984) composed of triple helical isoforms consisting of six genetically distinct chains [ÃŽ ±1(IV) to ÃŽ ±6(IV)]. Each chain is characterised by a long collagenous domain of approximately 1400 amino acid residues of Gly-X-Y repeats, that are interrupted at several sites by a short non-collagenous sequence and approximately 15 amino acid residue non-collagenous amino-terminus, and an approximately 230 amino acid residue non-collagenous domain at the carboxyl-terminus (Mayne, 1997). Type IV collagen has been reported to represent approximately 2% of the total collagen content of tendon (Ahtikoski et al., 2003). Unlike the fibrillar collagens discussed so far this collagen does not form fibrillar aggregates but are directly incorporated into the basement membrane without any prior excision of the pro-peptide extensions. Type IV collagen is found uniquely in the basement membrane of tendon blood vessels (von der Mark, 1981) where it forms a key structural compo

Jamaica Kincaids On Seeing England for the First Time :: On Seeing England for the First Time

Imagine your culture being thrown aside and a new one was all that was taught to you? How would you react to it? In this story the author, Jamaica Kincaid, is talking about how she reacted to this and what happened to her. The author grows up in a place where England colonization had taken place. She grew up in Antigua, a small island in the Caribbean. She is taught all her life about England, a place she has never seen. At an early age she started to realize that the English had taken over her culture. After many years of hating this country she had to see the place that had taught her a different culture and ideas. When she arrives there the hate for the country tripled and she starts to pick apart the entire place and everywhere she goes. As she moves through the countryside her feelings of hate start to show them self’s in her thought and words. The feeling of deja vu, she has been there before, starts to come in after all of the years of maps and description of the foreig n land. Through the use of emotional arguments and social appeal the author, Kincaid, gets the feeling across that she was a victim of England. To get you to feel like the victim she uses lots of metaphors. In the first paragraph she uses the one, â€Å"England was a special jewel all right and only special people got to wear it†(p.61). It is right here that the author sets the tone of the essay. She gives you the idea that she was not special enough to put on this gem of England. In doing this she makes a social appeal to anyone looking for a view of colonization. In using descriptive language she make you feel sorry for her in the how she had to â€Å"Draw a map of England†(p.63), at the end of every test. Everything she had was â€Å"Made in England†(p.62). It is here that Kincaid is trying to appeal to your emotions. She is trying to get you to think that she had no choice in her life about what kind of cloths she could where. Think of everything you own and where it is from. In her life every possible thing she had was from England. Once again Kincaid is trying to make England look like the evil country that ruined her life.

Art vs. Poetry :: essays research papers fc

Could I be an artist? I always thought I had some flare for the arts. I’ve always been considered a creative person. I decided to put my creativity to a different use, however. I opted for a career in helping others get the most out of their careers. Tonight will be my testimony to helping the real artists get recognized. Tonight is Gallery Night.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The weather station did not indicate anything about rain this evening. So, of course, I did not prepare for such a downpour. My lack of preparation has left me with matted, soaking wet hair and my old gym sneakers that I keep in my trunk- rather than the cute brown pumps I started out in that blended perfectly with my skirt. Now, I’m just a mess and look completely unprofessional for Gallery Night. My Public Relations firm has been organizing this event for the past month. Tonight is a big deal. I can’t believe how awful I look for such a high-profile and anticipated night.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Regardless of my appearance, I shook hands, exchanged stories, and matched wits with clients and colleagues all evening. Everyone walked around the room observing the various artistic pieces contributed by numerous â€Å"starting-out† artists. People were being drawn to those certain pieces that caught their immediate attention. One painting that I was fascinated by was vibrantly colored - almost like a comic book. It was a bright red heart with a silver and blue sword piercing it from above. There was a hand clenching the sword’s fore grip. The part of this particular painting that really struck me was the faintly illustrated couple dancing on the blade of the sword, as if the blade were a mirror. Overall, I was amazed at the use of color, defined lines, and emotion that this artist conveyed in his painting. The wall adjacent to me was full of photographs; some were full color, some in sepia, and others black and white. I glanced at this middle-aged woman, dripping in pearls and cashmere, who had one hand on her heart, and the other held her complimentary champagne close to her body as she stared at this one photograph, a black and white photo of a single muddy footprint. I was astounded at how in awe she appeared to be, almost as if she could burst into tears at any moment. I had to know what she saw in this photograph that had her so awestricken.

Huntingtons’s Concept and Its Applicability to the Contemporary World Essay

Introduction Globalization and the trend in the politics has entered a new political schema after the World War II and as such, it is has drawn the interest of political theorists who had hoped to re-define and predict the future outcomes of global politics. Among the different approaches, what had really attracted the attention of the media and the interested crowd is Huntington’s concept on the Clash of Civilizations theory. Huntington’s stereotypical claims and predictions regarding future outcomes of global relations had uncannily matched with that of the drastic event of the Al-Qaeda’s attack on September 11 on the Twin Towers. The event, which had caught global attention,   is said to have been a direct pop-out from Huntington’s essay and that ‘event’ was resultant of the ‘clash’ between the differing cultures of the American superpower and the Muslims of Afghanistan. The ethnic conflict, albeit on global scale, would be the political pattern after the Cold War. The question is, is Huntington’s concept still applicable with the current trend of globalization? Here there is a basic assumption that conflicts arise from ethnic differences and it is on these differences which will feed the upcoming antagonism between the different nations. Al-Qaeda’s attack may have been likely ‘accidental’ and that his reasons were not purely ‘ethnic’ as in Huntington’s theory. In the paper, there is an attempt to investigate the flaws of Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations when placed in the larger context of globalization and international conflict. A thorough understanding of his paper first must be placated followed by criticisms and the more apt model that would fit the current trend for global political system. s The Clash of Civilizations is a theory proposed by political scientist Samuel P. Huntington in 1993 as a reaction to Fukuyama’s book. Herein, Huntington expanded on the shift of global patterns after the Cold War from the economic to traditional; whereby conflicts are more of culture clash. The globalization trend would function in the traditional cultural sense and will no longer be confounded on ideological clashes as in the philosophcal claims before. Huntington’s thesis is relatively simple to understand in the manner that he had oversimplified and reduced everything: â€Å"†¦It is my hypothesis that the fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic. The great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural. Nation states will remain the most powerful actors in world affairs, but the principal conflicts of global politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilizations. The clash of civilizations will dominate global politics. The fault lines between civilizations will be the battle lines of the future†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . His basic premise is the culture clash as a primary source of conflict and he divided the Globe into different ethnic groups representing the different civilizations, each embodying different religion: African, Hindu, Western, Sinic, Orthodox, Islamic, Latin America and Japanese. From these different ethnic frontiers, will arise the future conflicts and he had cited the cases of India and Pakistan. What is most daunting of his perceptions is that the Superpower of America will face a decline and the shift will be on the combined powers of Sino-Islamic group. Equally daunting is Huntington’s concept that what had fueled this antagonism is the purposive role of teology in the different civilizations, most particularly, that of the Islams.

Settling the Issue on Christ’s Presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist

Questioning the Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist Jesus Christ shared the Last Supper with his disciples on the night before He was crucified. It was during this event that He introduced the sacrament of His blood and body. He instituted the sacrament to bring about the suffering on the cross through the generations and to let the church take over his Spouse attribute to his resurrection and death. As goes the Gospel of Matthew: â€Å"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins† (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:17-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25) (Fay 8). Coming from Jesus Christ the Catholic Church says that as the Eucharist is celebrated, the body and blood of Jesus will be symbolize with the bread and wine through the power of the Holy Spirit. The priest serves as the instrument in this celebration. Through out the Eucharist, a priest utters the words Jesus said during His Last Supper and it says: â€Å"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world†¦ For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink† (John 6:51-55) (Fay 8). Jesus Christ is present including all his divinity, soul, blood and body represented by the wine and bread during the Eucharist. Jesus Christ has truly been resurrected after dying for the sins of humanity. When church members talk about the real presence of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist, they talk about the other types of his presence like the wine and bread. His body and blood are the most important symbols of his presence during the sacrament of the Eucharist (Fay 8). Body: Bringing Back the Meaning of the Eucharist The first question then is how the bread and wine represent Jesus Christ’s presence. A lot of people may question how this happens. The truth of the matter is the church will never be able to fully explain the mystery behind the rising of the Christ during the sacrament of the Eucharist. Until now, it still remains to be an inexhaustible puzzle that overwhelms the Catholic Church. It must be remembered that the Creator taking place at the identity of God can do so many things that the imagination of humans cannot even reach or comprehend. God made the world for Him to be able to share His life to those who are not God (Fay 7). He created the world for the human beings. This act alone is a manifestation of His plan of salvation. It can be clearly seen that with this kind of plan, the kind of wisdom used was that kind that does not reach any human beings understanding. It is beyond the comprehension of the human mind. Despite all that, God did not leave His people in ignorance. Whatever His plans are He always shared it with his people. He revealed His majestic plans to the humanity by giving us the ability to understand the gift of faith. He also provided us with the grace of the Holy Spirit. With this, we are now able to understand God’s actions and God’s plans, all of which any human being would never understand in his whole lifetime. Because of the grace of the Holy Spirit and the gift of faith humans can now understand God’s mystery (Fay 9). Today, the bishops of the Catholic Church serve as Jesus Christ’s apostles. The bishops provide the people with knowledge about Jesus Christ and God. In short, they function as the teachers of the church. Bishops have a better understanding of God’s mystery than any other human being on earth. Bishops comprehend the mystery better than anyone who has a better job, higher salary, higher intelligence quotient and even those who have higher understanding of the different languages in the world. It is only the bishop who can reveal to the people whatever God has revealed. A bishop also encourages all church goers to make understanding of the mystery of God deeper than it already is. He also promotes a better understanding of the gift of the sacrament of the Eucharist (Fay 13). The question then is how else is the presence of God exists in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Not all people understand the mystery of God and especially not everyone is even willing to understand to begin with. The first question would be why, of all symbols, did it have to be food and drink that represent Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist? The bread, for example, is not just a representation of the food Jesus and the disciples ate during the Last Supper. The food serves as spiritual nourishment simply because of the love of Jesus for humanity. It has been said earlier that God has plan for our salvation and with this plan, He is asking us to participate in the life of the Trinity. Because of the food shared during the sacrament of the Eucharist, the people are brought back to the sacrament of Baptism. The sharing of the bread means the sharing of life which starts with a person’s baptism. During the baptism, a human being is joined to Jesus Christ, which, of course, is possible only with the power of the Holy Spirit. Here is where the communion of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit come in (Pannenberg 293). Because of Baptism, the humans become the adopted sons and daughters of God. This is strengthened through the sacrament of Confirmation. It is increased and nourished through the participation of the human being in the sacrament of the Eucharist. As a person drinks the blood of Christ and eats the Body, Jesus remains in the lives and spirits of the people who took him. This way, the humans are united to Christ and of course to His divinity. Humans are known as with corrupt natures. They are mortal. But because of the sacrament of the Eucharist, the humans are joined to Christ and both share the same source of life (Pannenberg 293). According to John 6:57, â€Å"Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. † As we are united to Jesus Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit in us, a relationship is been among the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the humans. This relationship is strengthened through Baptism and is deepened with the sacrament of Confirmation. Because of these sacraments, humans are able to share their life with the Holy Trinity. Through the Eucharist, humans give thanks and praise to the glory of God (Pannenberg 293). Another issue that needs to be addressed is that people are not aware of what the Eucharist is all about. Not all people know that aside from being just a meal, the Eucharist is also a sacred form of sacrifice. The truth is, our sins are the kind of sins that make it impossible for us to share God’s life. Despite all of it, God has shown His love for us by sending His son Jesus Christ to earth to die for our sins. Jesus Christ died and was resurrected from the dead. Because He is an almighty one, He was able to conquer these events and was even able to unite humans to God (Johnson and Penner 305). What the church does now is to gather everyone and commemorate what Jesus Christ has done for us. The Eucharist serves as an instrument to unite everyone in oreder for them to receive the benefits of God (Johnson and Penner 305). According to the book of Hebrews, Jesus Christ, was a priest spent his life creating intercessions for humans before God. Because of this, he is nowhere near the high priests who offered sacrifices in the temples of Jerusalem (Johnson and Penner 305). The powers of high priests are surpassed by Jesus Christ’s actions because the sacrifice he offered is perfect. The sacrifice he offered was himself (Johnson and Penner 305). In the Eucharist, the eternal sacrifices of Jesus Christ are always represented but the people are not just there for speculation. The church goers are not just spectators. They are different levels of activeness in the Eucharistic sacrifice among the worshipping community and the priest (Johnson and Penner 305). Before the priest stands before the worshipping community, he first has to be ordained. After ordination, he then represents Christ as the head of the Catholic Church. Everyone in the Catholic Church is baptized as a member of the Body of Christ. The Eucharist as a sacrament serves as a sacrifice of the church (Johnson and Penner 307). In the Eucharist, whatever sacrifice Jesus Christ has given is also the sacrifice that the members of His body offer. The sacrifice unites everyone. This sacrifice, during the sacrament of Eucharist, becomes sacramentally present. This way, the humans sacrifice themselves to God (Johnson and Penner 307). Then again, after this, people still question the existence of bread and wine in the Holy Eucharist. Another question people ask is why, after considering bread and wine as Christ’s body and blood, still taste like bread and wine? People are expecting the bread and win during the sacrament of the Eucharist to taste like body and blood of Christ and not just another bread and wine (Johnson and Penner 308). While celebrating the Eucharist, Jesus Christ’s presence comes in the form of bread and wine. The bread and wine are simply both appropriate for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Looking back at the traditional language of theology, especially in the consecration act, the bread’s and wine’s substance is transformed by the Holy Spirit into Jesus’ Christ’s body and blood (Johnson and Penner 308). What changes then, is not the physical appearance and the physical taste of the bread and wine, but the â€Å"substance† and the â€Å"meaning† of each instrument. It is then natural that the physical attributes of the bread and wine remain the same (Johnson and Penner 309). Here is where the question of faith comes in. St. Thomas Aquinas coined the terms â€Å"substance† and â€Å"accidents† to study faith. He used the terms to address what appears to be wine and bread (â€Å"accidents,† being the physical attribute of a matter) appears to be Jesus Christ’s blood and body (now being at its â€Å"substance† state, which represents the deepest possible reality) (Johnson and Penner 313). There is indeed a change at the substance level, the bread being Christ’s body, and Christ’s blood coming from wine. Without this transubstantiation, no one would be able to even talk about and think of the presence of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Johnson and Penner 313). The mystery of faith is indeed something that humans consider too great for their comprehension, which is why studies and researches are here to better equip the people with enough understanding of this concept (Johnson and Penner 313). The mystery of this faith can only be acquired by reading it from the Bible and the Catholic Church because these medium is where God comes for us to remember. Changes come every now and then, and sometimes, the characteristics of these â€Å"accidents† change. In some occasions, even when the substance is already different, the accident still looks exactly the same (Johnson and Penner 315). A good example would be having a child reach the stage of adulthood. When he reaches this stage, it is natural that his characteristics change. He grows taller, he develops an adam’s apple, he grows muscles and his voice becomes deeper and bigger. Then again, the fact remains that he is still the same old baby who his mother once delivered (Johnson and Penner 315). Another example would be a grape fruit which a person eats. When he eats the grape fruit, the fruit soon becomes digested and becomes part of the person’s body in form of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. The person who ate the grape fruit remains as the same person who ate the fruit even before the act. The fruit, on the other hand, has characteristics that are no longer the same. The grape fruit is no longer a grape fruit, but a part of the person’s body (Johnson and Penner 315). The same is true with the presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Even if the wine and the bread in the Holy Eucharist are in the blood and body of Christ’s substances, these no longer have the characteristics of a person, but only the wine and the bread (Johnson and Penner 315). This is where the question about the limitation of bread and wine comes in. People ask if the bread used during the Holy Eucharist stops being a bread, and if the wine does not remain to be wine for how long. Yes, the bread does not stay as bread forever, and the wine does the same. Jesus Christ can be present, all of His divinity, soul, blood and body, although the wine and the bread can no longer stay. The wine and the bread has to be given away because if not, there would be no transformation between the bread and the body, or the wine and the blood. The wine and the bread have to be given away in order for them to become Body and Blood (Johnson and Penner 315). Not all people still believe everything they hear and say about the Eucharist. They still question the use of bread and wine. It is really appropriate? Why, of all foods and drinks, does it have to be a bread and a wine? The presence of Jesus Christ and Lord God Almighty are indeed appropriate for being represented by bread and wine since Jesus Christ gave himself to humanity and to the world as a whole in a manner that engages the symbolism existing in drinking wine and eating bread (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Catholic Church USCCB Publishing, USCCB Publishing and Catholic Church 66). Aside from that, Jesus Christ offered himself to us in such a way that humans are kept alive, because humans sustain their means survival through drinking and eating, or through wine and bread. The use of wine and bread also tests the faith of a person because the presence of Jesus Christ’s body and blood can never be discerned whichever way a human tries except for having faith (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Catholic Church USCCB Publishing, USCCB Publishing and Catholic Church 66). St. Bonaventure once said that it is no difficult at all to say that Christ exists in the Holy Eucharist in manner of symbols, breads and wines. The more difficult concept to understand is the whether or not Christ actually exists in the sacrament as He exists up in the heavens (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Catholic Church USCCB Publishing, USCCB Publishing and Catholic Church 67). With faith, humans believe that yes, Christ in indeed present in the sacrament as well as in heaven. However, given that the use of bread and wine is appropriate, it still is not clear for many because not all people who consume the bread and the wine actually believe in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. They may attend the Sunday mass on a regular basis, but it does not necessarily mean that they actually worship the Lord, or even understand the ceremony to begin with (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Catholic Church USCCB Publishing, USCCB Publishing and Catholic Church 67). If â€Å"receiving† is defined as â€Å"consuming,† then naturally, anyone who receives eats the bread and drinks the wine, eats and drinks the body and blood of Jesus Christ. If, on the other hand, receiving is defined as accepting willingly of the body and blood of Jesus, then, someone without faith does not â€Å"receive† the body and blood of Jesus. A person â€Å"receives† the body and blood of Jesus if he is willing to accept the spiritual benefits of the act (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Catholic Church USCCB Publishing, USCCB Publishing and Catholic Church 68). He should also be aware of why he is eating the bread and drinking the wine. He should not be someone who went to the Church just to attend some mass. He should be there to worship the Lord, respect the rituals, listen to the Word of God and then receive Him through Jesus Christ’s blood and body (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Catholic Church USCCB Publishing, USCCB Publishing and Catholic Church 68). If a person consumes the wine and bread without faith, he cannot change the fact that he is consuming the blood and body of Jesus Christ. However, the different between having faith and having none is receiving the spiritual benefit that goes together with having faith. The spiritual benefit obtained from receiving Christ’s body and blood with faith is the communion with Christ. Faith can be practiced by simply following the grace of God. The human’s love for God must be increased (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Catholic Church USCCB Publishing, USCCB Publishing and Catholic Church 68). People question the symbolism of wine and bread. Are these foods just symbols that represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ? Symbol is used casually as something that represents another thing. The bread and wine used in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist are not merely symbols, because they do not represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ. They are the body and blood of Jesus Christ. According to St. John Damascene, having the bread and the wine foreshadow Jesus Christ is not underestimation. â€Å"The bread and the wine are actually Jesus Christ, because according to the Orthodox Faith, Jesus said, ‘This is my body'. He did not say, This bread is my body. Therefore, the bread and wine during the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist are not symbols, but the real, actual self of the Lord† (O’Gorman, O’Gorman and Faulkner 136). It has to be understood that the body and blood of Jesus Christ arrived on Earth no longer as the Lord’s muscles and life, but as a sacramental form. Jesus Christ is not symbolized by the bread and the wine because he is under these things. His presence exists. There are countless ways on how the symbolism of wine and bread, or of drinking and eating, reveals the meaning of the Holy Eucharist. An example would be with the way food provides and energy to the human body. If the food makes the body more nutritious, then it also follows that the Eucharistc food also nourishes the spiritual being of a person. Aside from that, it is already a fact that the sharing of food inside the Church is always communal, in which all members of the Catholic Church eat from the same plate of Jesus’ Christ’s body. This way, communion is established, and this communion exists not only between the Church members but also among the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit (O’Gorman, O’Gorman and Faulkner 136). St. Paul says that a single bread, once shared by the whole community on a Eucharistic gathering, is a manifestation that the believers of the Holy Spirit are gathered to worship one Lord (O’Gorman, O’Gorman and Faulkner 136). The bread and the wine then become an instrument of union among the people of God. Conclusion Jesus Christ has long promised his people that He will always be with His people. In Matthew 28:20, he said that he will not leave us as he uttered the words â€Å"Always, until the end of the age† (Price and Weil 136). With that, it is then confirmed that Jesus Christ has a â€Å"real presence† during the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, â€Å"the relationship between Jesus Christ and the people is just like the relationship of friends who live together, in that there is an unwritten law that friends should never leave each other’s sides† (Price and Weil 136). Jesus Christ has fulfilled His promise by having with us His blood and body which people receive during the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

United States Federal Child Welfare Policy Essay - 2024 Words

The policy analysis defines United States federal child welfare policy: the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. Youth involved with the Child Welfare System are among the country s most vulnerable population and state continued funding is needed for successful transition into adulthood. This act was put into law to allow states options of extending services and financial assistance programs to service the children and families within the Child Welfare System. The objective of this policy is to strengthen programs for youth in transition, establish permanent connections, put less restrictive eligibility criteria on youth and kinship caregivers, and improve existing systems of care for children within the Child Welfare System to help these children succeed in our society. Social Problem In 1980, about 500,000 children were in foster care, but a series of successful reforms began with that year s Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act which dramatically decreased the number of children in foster care. But in the early 1990s, with the advent of crack cocaine and an economic recession numbers went back up. Child welfare advocates said that the foster care system was in need of changes so that children spend less time in foster placements and that America’s child welfare system needed an improvement. Some children in care were separated from their siblings, others transitioned from one foster care placement to another, never knowingShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Child Welfare Essay1735 Words   |  7 PagesChild welfare is an issue that is vastly debated today in the United States. Regardless of party lines, socioeconomics, gender, religion, or race, it seems like everyone has a stake in shaping this issue. As such, progression in policy can be difficult and is often controversial. Throughout the 1900s, the United States Supreme Court heard and decided several cases that set forth precedent, giving more power to, and enabling, parents to raise their children as they see fit. As constituents, parentsRead MoreNature and Social problems1091 Words   |  5 PagesNature and Social of the Social Problem Child abuse and neglect has been a prevalent problem throughout history and although progress has been made, it continues to till today. Children are subjected to the treatment of the adults surrounding them and have limited capacity to make their own decisions and protect themselves. Children are often defenseless and end up being taken advantage of and this can lead to abuse and neglect, including sexual, psychological, and physical abuse that cause short-termRead MoreWelfare to Work Programs Essays932 Words   |  4 PagesThe worth of a society is often based on the monetary network of individuals. Moreover, in the United States this is the norm to focus on individual responsibility. However, every society is faced with the conflict of poverty that requires some type of social welfare policy. Poverty is not a stranger to the United States and therefore it created program such as welfare to assist the poor. The welfare system has evolved over the years sometime for the good and others for the bad. In 1996, PresidentRead MoreThe Social Work Policies1506 Words   |  6 Pages Social Work Policies Social Welfare Q 1 Income support policies in the United States Income support policies in the United States view the monetary aspect of individual and family well-being. Income support policies are categorized into two that is direct cash transfers and indirect cash transfers. Income support programs are aimed at reducing poverty levels and boosting the economic growth of United States. Major historical developments took place in the late 1950s. In 1958, social securityRead MoreThe Welfare Policies And Welfare Programs1232 Words   |  5 Pagespayments, rather than an undetermined amount of federal funds given to the states. The states are also given the responsibility of deciding who is eligible for welfare and for what amount of time, though federal funds can only be provided for five years of benefits over the lifetime of the recipient. Women currently have very few options when it comes to working and caring for their children. The next section of this paper will discuss the welfare policies aimed at alleviating the struggle of women toRead MorePoverty And Children : The Challenges That Welfare Workers Face1497 Words   |  6 Pagesthat welfare workers face Hope Kriegel Paper Outline 8/7/16 Children in Poverty Approximately 15 million children in the United States are living below the federal poverty threshold. Research shows that families need an income of twice the amount of the federal poverty threshold (NCCP, 2014). Sadly 44% of children live in low-income families here in the United States. Poverty is the greatest threat to children’s well-being (NCCP, 2014). Public Policies Since the depression the United StatesRead MoreI Am Writing About The Social Welfare System Essay1432 Words   |  6 PagesI am writing about the Social Welfare System. How a system that was created for the purpose of helping the needy, has now become a highway for people to abuse of it. This public policy program has come to be a very controversial subject on both sides of the political arena. Originally created during the Great Depression, where the majority of households, through no fault of their own were living in poverty. Although many changes to the system have been made, the original focus is the same. ToRead MoreThe Welfare Reform The Right Approach1330 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper is a group assignment that looks at the different viewpoints for this topic which is Was the welfare reform the right approach to poverty and my view is yes it was because something needed to be done. In addition, policy analyst â€Å"Charles Murray wrote a book called Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950-1980, which discussed abolishing AFDC because of the issues associated with it. However, 14 years later Clinton changed the program to the Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act that wasRead MoreEducational Welfare Of The Alaskan Student840 Words   |  4 PagesEach person or group shares an interest in the educational welfare of the Alaskan student. Through policy making decisions are made to achieve the common goal of â€Å"preparing college, career, and culture ready graduates† (EED, n.d.) † which requires a personal investment by people and groups. The Alaska State Department of Education Early Development (DEED), School Boards, School Districts, Native Corporations and local business and universities have a vested interest in the development and successRead MoreIs Our Government Family Friendly? The United States Welfare System1654 Words   |  7 PagesThe Welfare system in the United States began around the 1930s to help those in need. It was created for the unemployed and underemployed to use in helping out with the needs of their families. This original program lasted until 1996, when the federal government stopped the federal aid to all poor and cut welfare to poor women with children. In 1996 the New Deal was created, and it created health and nutrition programs, minimum wage, subsidized housing, Aid to families with dependent children

Who is a Child The Definition of a Child Essay - 1948 Words

This research paper looks at the definition of a child as expressed in four fields: international law, international child convention, Sharia and Islamic law, and Arab countries. A child is considered any person below the age of 18 years of age. However, each of the four fields has its own modifications of the definition. For instance, the international law and international child conventional loosely consider the age of 18 years as the upper limit of childhood, as they provide a room for countries in which the age of majority may be attained earlier than 18 years. In the four fields, a child is considered dependent on their parents and communities for protection and financial and social support. However, the four fields have a few†¦show more content†¦The upper limit also suffers similar uncertainties. For example, the 1973 International Labor Organization Minimum Age Convention gives an individual member country the right to set its own age of majority in which a person ca n enter the labor force. Some countries set it at 14, while others put it at 15. The 1956 Supplementary Convention on Slavery sets the upper limit as 18 years (Butler 21). With these uncertainties in lower and upper age limits for a child, each member country of the United Nations has the liberty to set its own reasonable age limits. The international convention regards a child as any person with specific needs and rights that need to be protected by relevant individuals and concerned authorities. Like the international law, the convention regards a child as any person under the age of 18 years or any human being who has not attained the age of majority as expressed in their country’s domestic legislation (Swepston 3). The international child convention’s major task is to ensure that children are never deprived their civil, economic, political, health, social, or cultural rights. The convention works hand in hand with domestic legislations in individual UN member countries to ensure that its objectives for the protection of children are adequately met (Todres, Wojcik, and Revaz 5). The convention outlinesShow MoreRelatedAssessing And Prevention Of Child Abuse766 Words   |  4 PagesPreventing Child Abuse The definition of child abuse varies by state. Although every definition of child abuse must meet certain federal minimum standards, a fine line can still exist between what constitutes abuse and what is a harsh but appropriate punishment. Generally, however, most recognized types of child abuse fall into four categories including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. It is a crime in every state to intentionally or recklessly cause injury to a child. AsRead MoreEmotional And Behavior Disorder ( Ebd )1158 Words   |  5 Pagesinner disorder. A disorder that is hardly recognized by school and public services is emotional behavior disorder (EBD). The disorder does not have a true definition, which decreases percentages of people qualifying within the disorder. The defined definition of emotional and behavior disorder is yet to be totally limited to just one unique definition. Many professionals and experts have not been able to defined EBD in a way that all could understand. However, specialist began forming their own identificationRead MoreWhat Does It Become Child Abuse?797 Words   |  4 PagesChild Abuse Is disciplining your child ok? To what extent does it become child abuse? Discipline your child is an everyday thing. What else would they know what not to do when your kick, slap, punch or even hot scolding bath/showers. It comes to the point where it needs to be controlled. There are other ways. Physical abuse Children are innocent human beings. Growing up they have to learn right from wrong. When they do something bad or not right you have to properly discipline them without hurtingRead MoreChild Abuse : The Unintentional Cover Up1303 Words   |  6 PagesChild Abuse: The Unintentional Cover Up Found all over the world, in every social economic class, child abuse is still present even though its terms and definitions have changed over the years. Child abuse is rarely reported by the kids or parents, but by responsible adults in authority over the victim. The poem â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz† by Theodore Roethke reflects the issue of child abuse, by portraying a young child’s attempt to normalize an abusive situation. Survival mechanisms used by children in abusiveRead MoreWhat Is Child Poverty, Its Key Causes And Impacts?1054 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is child poverty, its key causes and impacts? When the average person, who lives in the UK, thinks about child poverty, the first picture, which comes to their mind is some extremely poor country in the middle of Africa, where families live to survive on a daily basis. Meanwhile, here, in the UK, nearly four million children, which makes 30 per cent of the whole child population, are living in poverty (End Child Poverty, 2014). Poverty is an important issue for whole of society, and it mayRead MoreEmotional Abuse in Canada Essay1564 Words   |  7 Pagesharder to identify and define. One broad and general definition of emotional abuse states emotional maltreatment â€Å"involves acts or omissions by those in contact with a child that are likely to have serious, negative, emotional impact† (Ministry of Child and Family Development). This definition can be interpreted many different ways depending on your culture, background, or history. If we compare the two lowest percentages of substantiated child maltreatment cases in 2008, sexual abuse made up 6%Read MoreChild Abuse And Domestic Violence : Prevalence, Explanations, And Practice Implications Essay1239 Words   |  5 PagesJournal Articles Summary Article #1: Child Abuse in the Context of Domestic Violence: Prevalence, Explanations, and Practice Implications The journal article Child Abuse in the Context of Domestic Violence: Prevalence, Explanations, and Practice Implications, addresses three critical components in regards to child abuse resulting from domestic violence. The first component focuses on how often child abuse occurs in relation to domestically violent families. The second component of the journal articleRead MoreQuestions On Learning Activities Questions1106 Words   |  5 Pages Assigned Questions: Chapter 2: Learning Activities Question 1 2 1. a. Provide a complete citation for the article (author, year, title, journal). Hopper, J. (2013, June 2). Child abuse statistics, research and resources. Retrieved from http://www.jimhopper.com/abstats/ 1. b. Provide a photocopy of the suggestion for future research (or simply quote the section). Whatever the population and sample, researchers have to ask questions. They can ask questionsRead MoreAbstract. A Strong Family Foundation Can Establish Positive1543 Words   |  7 Pagesestablish positive outcomes in children, this includes a parent and child having a good relationship. On the other side of the spectrum a family full of violence and child abuse can establish negative outcomes and consequences in a child’s well being and quality of life. The mental and psychological health of this child can be compromised due to not having a stable home. The objective is to research the relationship between child abuse and quality of life in abused children. Both male and female childrenRead MoreThe Sexual Offences Bill 2015 Essay1255 Words   |  6 Pagesof child marriage in Nigeria hence the reason of its examination as it relates to child marriage and the CRA in line with the legal implications if it were to be made law. The SOB has left a trail of controversy with regards to its provisions on matters such as child marriage, age of sexual consent and pedophilia. To start with, section 7(1- 4) of the Bill states; (1) A person who commits an act which causes penetration with a child is guilty of an offence called defilement. (2) A person who commits