A Self Discovery Journey Education Essay

The undermentioned article is the consequence of an auto-analysis experience by an EFL instructor endeavoring to accomplish professionalism in her instruction patterns. The grounds that led her to that self-discovery activity are fundamentally her late acquired cognition on linguistic communication geting and learning theories and her desire to be a better instructor. She describes her current instruction patterns in footings of Teaching Principles, Classroom Management, Class Procedures and Techniques, and Resources and Materials. Then she mentions the new patterns she ‘s willing to follow in order to go a better professional and the activities she must undergo to accomplish those patterns.KEY WORDSProfessionalism, Language Learning and Teaching, Class Observation and Reflection, Auto-analysis.IntroductionIn 9 old ages of learning pattern, I ‘ve ne'er done before what I am about to make now in the paragraphs that follow. The following lines are to be my first written ana lysis of all time on my patterns as an EFL instructor in my personal hunt for professionalism. A Professional is person whose work involves executing a certain map with some grade of expertness. But a narrower definition limits the term to use to people such as instructors whose expertness involves non merely skill and knowledge but besides the exercising of extremely sophisticated judgement, and whose accreditation necessitates extended survey, frequently university-based, every bit good as practical experience. The professional is, foremost and first, a bringer-about of real-world alteration, prioritising real-time action and contemplation. ( Ur, ? ) . The term professional besides implies being portion of a community. The professional community of English instructors has developed agencies of consolidating relationships between its members and created chances for them to profit from each other ‘s cognition. We are an identifiable group, whose members are interested in interaction with one another for the interest of acquisition, and besides for the enjoyment of interchanging experiences and thoughts. We publish, we communicate innovatory thoughts, whether theoretical or practical, to one another and to the populace at big: through in-house seminars, national or international conferences, diaries or books ( Ur, ? ) . We as professional EFL instructors must be independent. Cipher else can state us what to make ; we ourselves are responsible for keeping professional criterions and should be committed to making those criterions. We must be cognizant of our duty towards our pupils and their acquisition. We should n't merely learn , we must besides larn, continually – about our capable affair, about learning methods, and approximately many other things that make us better educated and hence better pedagogues ( Ur, ) . The development of our learning competency is our professional duty, and it is a long-run and on-going procedure ( Pettis, ? ) . In the undermentioned paragraphs I will explicate what drove me towards making this soul-searching exercising, I ‘ll depict my current pattern as a instructor, and I ‘ll round-up with a to-do list of the patterns that I must get in order to be the professional that I want and need to be.MotivationIn the early old ages of my instruction pattern I was fundamentally concerned with what to learn, and I did n't detect or believe about other facets of EFL learning. Then I started detecting my pupils ‘ behaviour and the demands of the communities in which I taught my classs, and I started reflecting on my ain patterns, researching how to, and why to learn in each peculiar context in a manner that I could lend to do their lives better. I discovered that my instruction could truly lend to my pupils ‘ personal transmutation, and that I as a instructor must bear with the defining and reshaping of the coveted learning result of my pupils ( Kumaravadivelu, 2003 ) . Then a sense of committedness towards my profession started to develop, and I discovered that I still lack some of the conditions a professional EFL instructor must hold, and that the restrictions in my cognitive model constrain my instruction patterns ( Pettis, ? ) . I ‘ve come to a point in which I wish to halt playing around, experimenting in an irresponsible and irregular manner with my categories. I want to be able to take classs of action that are based on cognition and idea, instead than on wonder and creativeness. I know now that it is necessary to understand the rules underlying both automatic and consciously designed action. I now understand that I must establish my professional action on the consequences of academic research and theorizing ( Ur, ? ) every bit good as my personal experiences. I feel the demand to utilize successful pedagogical techniques that might convey new penetration and more advanced possibilities to my instruction pattern ( Richards, ? ) ; becau se I believe that accomplishments without cognition or rules are professionally unacceptable and the knowing instructor who is besides adept is a powerful pedagogue ( Pettis, ? ) . I started making professional development activities that challenged and changed my conceptual model, and larning from them has enabled me to do better determinations about the activities and techniques I could follow in my categories. I ‘ve learned that learning is non merely a series of preset and presequenced processs, but a context-sensitive action grounded in rational idea and creativeness in which the practician has to place and run into the challenges faced in the mundane pattern of learning ( Kumaravadivelu, 2003 ) . I ‘m good cognizant now that the rules that guide my determination devising can alter over clip and merit to be reconsidered sporadically as a personal committedness towards my ain on-going professional growing ( Pettis, ? ) .THE PRESENTMy current instruction patterns are the consequence of 9 old ages of experience. I ‘ve worked with several different attacks and methods, but I ‘d ne'er analyze the theory and rules behind them till late. I n malice of that, I ‘ve ever, genuinely loved instruction, and I ‘ve been really funny about my work. It makes me proud to state that I was n't excessively lost in the manner of going a good professional. The undermentioned list is a catalogued sum-up of my current instruction patterns: Teaching Principles: Presently I ‘m in the procedure of understanding the theory and the rules of linguistic communication instruction and acquisition. Try to maximise the larning potency of my pupils through job resolution activities. Try out different learning schemes by invariably detecting things that work, flinging old patterns and taking on board new 1s. Expression at what I do in the schoolroom and believe about why I do it, how effectual it is, how are my pupils reacting, and how can I make it better. Reflect on the peculiar jobs that arise in the schoolroom. Analyze the context of each category and implement signifiers of cognition that are relevant to each specific context. Organize category content around pupils ‘ demands, wants and state of affairss. Treat each learning state of affairs as alone, placing the peculiar features of each event. Bring my life experiences to the educational scene, and acknowledge that my pupils do the same. Try to link the category content to wider societal issues. Classroom direction: I ever have high outlooks for pupil acquisition in my categories. My criterions for schoolroom behaviour are besides high. Personal interactions between me and my pupils and among pupils in my category must be positive. If pupils are misconducting, I ever try to happen out why. Every pupil must make take parting production in category. Derive my pupils ‘ trust in me and in what I teach them. Class Procedures and Techniques Target linguistic communication usage throughout the complete in-class clip. Avoid the usage of female parent lingua among students.. Use of scholar centered, job work outing activities that involve interaction in the mark linguistic communication. Task direction must be clear and focused ; same as accounts on linguistic communication points. Proctor pupils ‘ public presentation on undertakings to see that coveted public presentation is being achieved. If pupils did n't understand an direction or an account, I ever think about what I did and why it may hold been ill-defined. When pupils do non understand, they are re-taught. Incentives and wagess for pupils are used to advance excellence. Error rectification is done after the pupil finishes production. Contemplation on how much testing to make and when is the appropriate clip to make it. Make warm up activities at the beginning of the category to fix pupils for mark linguistic communication usage, and/or to put the temper for a specific activity. Monitor on-going public presentation of the category, trying to turn up unexpected jobs on the topographic point and seting direction outright to rectify them. Induce pupil pattern on several, if non all of the linguistic communication accomplishments in each category. Include grammar accounts in the category content. Resources and Materials Use different text books for schoolroom activities. For reading pattern, usage texts that are non excessively difficult for my pupils. Any stuff at manus that could be utile: in writing stuffs, audio stuffs, picture stuffs, multimedia stuffs, cyberspace, games. Motivate pupils to convey stuffs to category which they think might be utile.THE FUTUREThroughout my current procedure of analyzing the theories of linguistic communication acquisition and instruction, I ‘ve discovered several patterns that, if adopted as mine, would surely steer me in the right way of accomplishing on-going professionalism. In the list below I will advert the coveted patterns and how I ‘m traveling to accomplish them. Be able to explicate to my pupils the manner the mark linguistic communication ( English ) plants and why does it work ( Ur, ? ) : I can make this end by analyzing English linguistics. Make informed and appropriate real-time determinations when, ( as frequently happens ) different, every bit valid rules appear to conflict in a peculiar state of affairs ( Ur, ? ) : In order to be able to make this I must rule all the rules of linguistic communication instruction and acquisition and be really detecting of each category state of affairs, concentrating on peculiar characteristics of my instruction or on a peculiar category event. Be peculiarly knowing and adept so that the necessary scope of subjects is addressed suitably and sufficiently ( Pettis, ? ) : Continue analyzing all the facets of linguistic communication instruction and acquisition, and do it an on-going wont, by being personally committed to seeking out extra chances to larn and develop. Have a deep apprehension of the rules of professional action, and be able to introduce and associate critically to the invention of others ( Ur, ? ) : Yet more lasting survey, non merely through reading, but besides by go toing classs, speaking about and discoursing issues with co-workers, and several other activities of the linguistic communication learning community. Let a combination of linguistic communication larning theories and my ain experiences to interact with each other to bring forth effectual linguistic communication lessons ( Tice, ? ) : I must set into pattern the studied theory and reflect about its consequences taking into history my old experiences and cognition. Question the ends and values that guide my work ( Kumaravadivelu, 2003 ) : Constantly analyze my premises on linguistic communication acquisition and instruction in the visible radiation of each peculiar state of affairs and context. Reflecting upon the ideological rules that inform my instruction pattern. Be more organized with my instruction patterns ( Pettis, ? ) , and maintain a record of my ain analysis and contemplation on category observation ( Tice, ? ) : By roll uping information about what goes on in my schoolroom ( lesson programs ) , and analysing and measuring their consequence. By depicting lessons and activities and reflecting on whether or non they ‘ve been successful and why. By detecting the different things me and my pupils do in category, ever seeking to detect things that I was antecedently incognizant of. Take deliberate hazards in the schoolroom by introducing my pedagogical techniques and measuring their effectivity ( Richards, ? ) : Trust my ain personal instruction schemes. Explore the right methodological analysiss for each undertaking by reflecting on their consequence. Identify the features of the effectual activities and implement them in category, and measure them once more in a uninterrupted rhythm. Look back critically and imaginatively to make cause-effect thought, to deduce explanatory rules, besides to look frontward and make prevenient planning ; utilizing a carefully structured attack to self-observation and self-evaluation. See the facets of instructor behaviour: how much do I speak? , what about? , how do I react to student talk? , where do I stand? , who do I talk to? How do I come across to my pupils? ( Tice, ? ) : The easiest manner to make this is by entering my categories ; but that is n't ever possible to make. I must calculate out how to supervise my categories in a manner that I can detect and roll up this type of information. Use the category clip for pupil acquisition by developing smooth and efficient schoolroom activities and organizing groups to suit instructional demands ( Richards, ? ) : Keep on showing job work outing activities that meet the category ‘ demands with existent accent on pupil engagement and pattern. To name the demands of the pupils ( Richards, ? ) : By acknowledging their motivations to larn and by observing the linguistic communication acquisition phase in which they are. By reacting to the societal interactions and shared significances that exist among pupils, both inside and outside the schoolrooms. To be cognizant of the â€Å" developmental preparedness † of the scholar, that determines when and how to learn a pupil something ( ? , ? ) : By analyzing Piaget and the humanist theories, and by detecting my pupils really carefully so that I know when to present certain undertakings, harmonizing to the advancement they ‘re doing. The same applies for lesson programs. Observe if my pupils get the acquisition ends set by me ( Richards, ? ) : By supervising closely the learning advancement of my pupils. To hold a thorough appreciation of how my pupils learn and what motivates them to larn ( ? , ? ) : By analyzing the learning acquisition theories. By detecting my pupils actions and behaviour. By roll uping this type of information from pupil engagement in my categories. By reflecting on these subjects to make up one's mind what to make in category. See pupil feedback in the contemplation of my instruction patterns ( Tice, ? ) : Ask my pupils what they think about what goes on in the schoolroom. Their sentiments and perceptual experiences can add a different and valuable position. This information can be collected through questionnaires. Take portion in course of study development and affect myself in school alteration attempts ( Kumaravadivelu, 2003 ) : Use my experience and cognition on schoolroom contexts and state of affairss to assist develop better instruction plans. Working together with other instructors, pupils, parents and decision makers to portion thoughts and exercising power over the conditions of our labour. And being cognizant of the socio political context and the power dimensions that have helped determine it.DecisionBecoming a good professional in the linguistic communication learning field is no easy undertaking. There are several long-run patterns that should be acquired in the procedure, all of which include difficult work. Personal intuitive judgement is excessively wide and excessively obscure to be satisfactory in the application of a profession. Learning to learn does non stop with obtaining a diplomat or a grade in instructor instruction but is an on-going procedure throughout one ‘s learning calling. Teachers must build their ain theory of pattern, concerned chiefly on the critical thought of their concrete schoolroom contexts. Teachers should non merely joint their standards for developing and measuring their ain pattern, but besides have to prosecute in extended theorizing about the nature of their topics, pupils and learning/teaching procedures and even be concerned with wider ethical, societal, historical and political issues. This theorizing must include self observation, self analysis and self rating of their ain instruction patterns. Teaching should be an explorative activity in which the instructor must develop, choose or accommodate undertakings which are appropriate for their schoolroom context in order to bring forth location-specific, classroom-oriented advanced schemes ( Kumaravadivelu, 2003 ) . Monitoring learning Acts of the Apostless should even travel beyond the person, personal activity that transforms schoolroom practicians into strategic minds and adventurers ; it must transform into a corporate activity in which all the linguistic communication instructors of a peculiar establishment confront their experiences and finds to make a better learning plan or course of study for their communities. In my peculiar instance, I must concentrate on analyzing and larning the different theories that inform the linguistic communication instruction pattern, I must get down roll uping informations on category work activities and pupil behaviour ; and I must get down analysing and making self-reflection on all the gathered information.

Chromatography of Plant Pigments

CHROMATOGRAPHY OF PLANT PIGMENTS Marquez, Ma. Rica Paulene, Moises, Patrisha Kate, Policarpio, Jairus Paolo, Rolda, Zylene Joy Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio April 23, 2013 ABSTRACT The objective of this experiment was to apply the technique of paper chromatography as a method for separating individual plant pigments contained in plant tissue extracts containing pigment blends. The process of chromatography separates molecules because of the different solubilities of the molecules in a selected solvent.In paper chromatography, paper marked with an unknown, such as plant extract, is placed in a beaker covered with a foil containing a specified solvents. The solvent carried the dissolved pigments as it moved up the paper. The pigments were carried at different rates because they were not equally soluble. The most soluble pigment traveled the longest distance while the others traveled in a shorter length. The distance of the pigment trave led was unique for that pigment in set conditions and was used to identify the pigment.The ratio was then used to measure the Rf (retention factor) value. | INTRODUCTION As primary producers in the food chain with some bacteria and algae, plants produce their own food by using the sun’s energy to transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose. In this process of photosynthesis, plants convert the sun’s energy into chemical energy that is stored in the bonds of the glucose molecule. Glucose is a simple carbohydrate that provides immediate fuel to cells but it is also a building block for more complex carbohydrates stored by living organisms for future use.For photosynthesis to transform light energy from the sun into chemical energy (bond energy) in plants, the pigment molecules absorb light to power the chemical reactions. Plant pigments are macromolecules produced by the plant, and these pigments absorb specified wavelengths of visible light to provide the energy req uired for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis, but accessory pigments collect and transfer energy to chlorophyll. Although pigments absorb light, the wavelengths of light that are not absorbed by the plant pigments are reflected back to the eye.The reflected wavelengths are the colors we see in observing the plant. Plants contain different pigments, and some of the pigments observed include: ? chlorophylls (greens) ? carotenoids (yellow, orange red) ? anthocyanins (red to blue, depending on pH) ? betalains (red or yellow) (Plant Traveling Lab. TTU/HHMI at CISER. 2010) As you may know from the popular media, there is currently a substantial research effort in place to explore the potential health benefits of plant pigments to humans. In popular literature, these plant-based compounds are often collectively referred to as â€Å"phytochemicals†; most are also pigments.Flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids are just some of the categories of plant pigme nts known to have antioxidant properties. â€Å"Antioxidant† is a general term used to describe any substance that has the ability to neutralize â€Å"free radicals† which cause cellular damage by removing electrons from surrounding molecules. Many lines of research suggest that consuming a diet rich in plant pigments may slow the process of cellular aging and reduce the risks of some types of disease, such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke.The point of this experiment is to look at the polarity of some of the common pigments in plant leaves and how that polarity affects their interactions with the cellulose fibers in paper and a few solvents and to apply the technique of paper chromatography as a method for separating individual plant pigments contained in plant tissue extracts containing pigment blends. (https://www. msu. edu) RESULT Table 1 shows the Rf values of Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatic), Bloodleaf (Iresine herbstii), and Golden bush (Duranta repens) plant| Rf value| | 50% acetone50% pet. ther| 40% acetone, 10% isopropanol, 50% pet. ether| 40% acetone, 10% pet. ether, 50% isopropanol| 30% acetone70% pet. ether| 30% pet. ether 70% acetone| Kangkong| Yellow: 0. 5Brown: 0. 01| Yellow: 0. 33Brown: 0. 23| Yellow: 0. 79Brown: 0. 08| Yellow: 0. 04Brown: 0. 96| Yellow: 0. 31Brown: 0. 76| Bloodleaf (purple leaf)| Purple:0. 05Green:0. 11Yellow:0. 11| Purple:0. 06Green:0. 13| Purple:0. 13Green:0. 58| Purple:0. 03Green:0. 58Yellow:0. 38| Purple:0. 097Green:0. 86| Golden bush| Green:0. 5Brown:0. 5| Green:0. 47Brown:0. 09| Green:0. 6Brown:0. 067| Green:0. 3Brown:0. 96| Green:0. 094Brown:0. 96| DISCUSSION The extracts of kangkong, golden bush, and purple leaves were applied to a horizontal line about ? of an inch from the bottom of a filter paper using a capillary tube. The filter paper then was soaked one by one on a beaker with a mixture of 40% acetone, 10% petroleum ether and 50% isopropanol. These solvents are used because they are capable of separa ting mixtures that contain both polar and non-polar compounds, or to increase separation of mixtures of compounds that have similar behavior with a single solvent.The beaker was covered with aluminum foil to make sure that the atmosphere in the beaker is saturated with the solvent’s vapor. Saturating the atmosphere in the beaker with the solvent’s vapor stops the solvent from evaporating as it rises up the filter paper. As the solvent slowly travels up the paper, the different components of the extract travel at different rates and the extracts are separated into different colors. After 3-5 minutes, the distance traveled by each pigment and solvent were measured. Plants extracted| Color/ Pigment| Rf values| Kangkong| Yellow (solvent)| 0. 9 mm| | Brown (solute)| 0. 08 mm| Purple leaves| Green (solvent)| 0. 58 mm| | Purple (solute)| 0. 13 mm| Golden bush| Green (solvent)| 0. 6 mm| | Brown (solute)| 0. 067 mm| Table 1: Pigments and Rf values for each plant extract The dis tance traveled relative to the solvent is called the Rf value, or the Retardation value. It can be computed with the formula: Rf = distance travelled by the solute Distance travelled by solvent We had the following computations: A. For Kangkong: Rf= 0. 08 mm 0. 79 mm = 0. 1012 B. For purple leaves: Rf= 0. 13 mm 0. 58 mm = 0. 241 C. For Golden bush: Rf= 0. 067 mm 0. 6 mm = 0. 1117 These values imply that the larger Rf value a compound has, the larger the distance it travels. It also means that it is less polar because it interacts less strongly with the polar absorbent on the filter paper. So similarly, the smaller the Rf value a compound has, the shorter the distance it travelled. It also means that is is more polar because it interacts more strongly with the polar absorbent on the filter paper. Comparing to the other groups’ results, there were similar colors that sprung up.The distances travelled by the pigments were significantly different than ours because they used diffe rent percentages of solvents. CONCLUSION Paper chromatography proved to be an accurate method of separating and observing the various colors of plant pigments. The pigments dissolved in the solvent and migrated upward. The colors were observed and their migration distances measured & recorded. The  Rf  value  of each pigment was determined by dividing its migration by the migration of the solvent. We have always understood chlorophyll, a pigment that is very important in photosynthesis, to be green.However, through this experiment we have discovered that many other pigments are also present in the leaves. For example the kangkong leaf also contains different pigments even though the leaf is dominated by the color green. We have observed that the kangkong leaf not only carries a green pigment, but that it also carries yellow and brown pigment through the chromatography LITERATURE CITED * Mcmurry, John. 2010. Foundations of Organic Chemistry. Pasig City, Philippines: Cengage Lea rning Asia Pte Ltd. * Thompson, R. 2008. Illustrated guide to Home Chemistry experiments. Canada: O’ Reilly media.Page 109 * Clark, J. 2007. http://chemguide. co. uk/analysis/chromatography/paper. html. Retrieved April 22, 2013 * Unknown. PlantTravelingLab. TTU/HHMI at CISER. 2010 . http://www. ciser. ttu. edu. * 2010. 04-20-13. * Unknown. separation of pigments by paper chromatography. http://www. hsu. edu/pictures. aspx? id=1653, n/a. 04-20-13 * Unknown. plant pigment analysis. https://www. msu. edu. n/a. 04-20-13 * http://apnewtechbiology. wordpress. com/lab-6-plant-pigments/ * http://www. biologyjunction. com/chromatography_of_simulated_plan. htm ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The Desegregation of Public Schools

A landmark court case that occurred in the early 1950†³s resulted in the desegregation of public schools. This historic Supreme Court case was known as Brown vs. Board of Education. The place was Topeka, Kansas, 1951. A little girl named Linda Brown and her father, Oliver Brown, attempted to enroll Linda in a neighborhood elementary school that accepted whites only. The request was denied, by the White elementary school. The little girl only lived a few blocks from the White elementary school, which would have been a good fit for her. Instead, she ended up traveling about a mile each day to attend the nearest Black school. Mr. Brown decided to request the help of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP was glad to help in the fight. Mr. Brown and the NAACP moved forward and challenged the segregation law. In 1892, the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision had set a precedent for the issue of â€Å"separate but equal,† which had been applied to school in the Southern states since then. Parents in other states were also pursuing the challenge to the â€Å"separate but equal† doctrine in South Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware. Mr. Brown†s case was heard by the U. S. District Court for the District of Kansas. The request by Mr. Brown was to prohibit segregation of the public schools in Topeka. The NAACP argued to the court that separating Black children from White children was sending a wrong type of message to the Black children. The message being sent was that Black children were somehow inferior to Whites and that there was no way that the education being provided could be equal. On the other hand, the Board of Education argued that segregation was a fact of life in the states where these children attended school, and that segregated schools helped prepare the children for the reality of what their adult lives would be like (Robinson 2005). The Board of education went on to cite different successful educated American, none of whom attended integrated schools, such as Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, and Booker T. Washington. In handing down their decision, the judges in this case wrote that â€Å"colored children†¦ † suffered a â€Å"detrimental effect† from segregation of the schools (Robinson 2005). However, they believed that the legal precedent set by the Plessy vs. Ferguson case prevented them from issuing the requested injunction and the result was that they ruled in favor of the Topeka Board of Education. Mr. Brown and the NAACP appealed the case and it went to the United States Supreme Court in the latter part of 1951. The case was combined with the Delaware, Virginia, and South Carolina cases. The Supreme Court handled this case very delicately and deliberated for quite sometime. The case was first heard by the Supreme Court, but a decision was not made at that time. Various interpretations of the Fourteenth Amendment were discussed and whether the Plessy vs. Ferguson case had violated it. The case was heard again by the Supreme Court in December of 1953. Thurgood Marshall, who was the first African American Supreme Court Justice, gladly argued for Brown and the NAACP. Finally, a decision was made. On May 17, 1954, the U. S. Supreme Court issued the following decision: â€Å"†¦ Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal education opportunities? We believe that it does†¦ We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of â€Å"separate but equal† has no place†¦ (Brown vs. Board 1954). The Supreme Court tasked the nation with implementing this historic decision with deliberate speed. Recognizing the value of education, the court ruled unanimously in favor of equity. The Supreme Court declared that education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. It prepares our children for later professional training and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. The court also declared that it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. But the vagueness of the phrase combined with continued bigotry slowed the process, in some cases to a standstill. With the segregation of public schools declared unconstitutional, segregationists across the South sprang into action to prevent the implementation of public school integration. Some states began to pass state laws to uphold segregation, which then had to be challenged in court by the federal government, one by one, delaying black children from attending White schools. Councils began to be developed, by segregationists, to fight against desegregation. One of the most dramatic occurred in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, when White mobs screamed threats at nine Black high school students and blocked them, as they tried to go into their new school for the first time. The Black students were unsuccessful, unfortunately. The president at the time was President Eisenhower, of whom ended up calling in the National Guard to protect them so they could enter the school. President Eisenhower had to call in the National Guard to escort black children to an Arkansas school that refused to integrate. Other communities used different tactics to resist. In Virginia, schools closed rather than desegregate. Elsewhere, some white families migrated to suburbs. Some black parents kept their children in the same black schools to avoid conflict. Families who chose white schools under freedom of choice plans, allowing black children attend any school in a district, received threats. In at least one instance, a cross was burned outside the home of a family. Across the nation, the 1954 Supreme Court decision brought forth dreams of heightened hope and yet resistance, as well. According to Benjamin Mays, the backbone of segregation had been broken. Martin Luther King expressed that the decision was a joyous day-break after a long desolate midnight (Moss 2004, 63). In conclusion, school desegregation was not an issue that was resolved overnight; rather, it was the persistence of those against segregation and the realization of the unequality that it was enduring upon our children that pushed the historic decision that will never be forgotten. Fifty years after the decision was made, it stands to reason that generations of U. S. students have benefited from its relief. The ruling spawned other protectionist laws, Title IX, for example, which specifically extends Brown's principles to gender, that prohibit noncompliant institutions from receiving federal funds, and it cleared the educational paths of millions of minority students. Yet today, people's impressions of the impact of the decision vary as widely as their personal experiences. Baby boomers recall a time of expanded opportunity and change, while younger generations, nowadays, feel that the current classroom compositions are what they are, with the law behind them, the issue simply fills the pages in their history books. Although the Brown case directly addressed racial discrimination in public schools, the case has had great significance for women, as well. The Brown vs. Board of education decision was the legal decision necessary to stop segregation in its tracks. By the time the decision was handed down by the Supreme Court, Linda Brown had already moved on to attend middle school.

The Development of Private Enterprises in China Essay

The Development of Private Enterprises in China - Essay Example By 1980, economic zones were created that was followed by more in the succeeding years by the clear establishment of Special Economic Zones. In terms of trade, it has implemented decentralized trade system, tax refunds and systematic foreign trade (Galbraith, p.9). The shift from the strict implementation of socialist policies to capitalistic ones was achieved primarily through the loosening of the constraints imposed by the government of the People’s Republic of China which allowed for the growth of the enterprises. This stimulated the businesses that enabled them to seek and work for returns enabled by the economic atmosphere that permitted such. The International Finance Corporation found that the main restrictions that obstruct business growth include access to finance, prejudicial competition, unreliable policy implementation and availability of information. To address these issues, the government introduced various ways to alleviate the problem and continue to do so consistently (Asian Development Bank, p.vii). The realization of these policies serves as an anchor that empowers enterprises to pursue continued growth in the region from the vantage point that was the Open Door Policy. The recognition of the involvement of the private sector in the country’s development was pivotal in clearing the path for acceptable growth. The fear of capitalism overtaking the ideology of Marxism has posed a constant battle to the region. The promotion of market-oriented reform came into being with the slackening toward a new ownership structure from firmly public ownership. â€Å"Since the late 1980’s, private enterprises in China had grown continuously an average rate of more than 30 percent every year since 1992. By the end of 2005, the number of private enterprises was 4.30 million, while total registered capital was 6,133.11 billion RMB, hiring a total of 58.24 million employees. Non-public

Applied data management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Applied data management - Essay Example The steps for quality assurance of data included maintain electronic records backed by registers, reviewing the records on a periodic basis and validating the records. The compliance with the set standards was effected with the help of a feedback system both internal and external to the organization. It has been evaluated that the research findings indicate the role of information provided by the consultants as well as the customers in identifying the gaps in the process of quality assurance. This information allows the company to take necessary steps in filling the identified gaps in the system and achieve the desired benchmark standards recommended under the Quality Assurance Procedures. The action of quality control is a part of the quality assurance strategy that focused on producing outputs which are in line with the set standards. The highest standard of data management helped the company to provide excellent services to the customers and in the process meet the expectations of the customers. When the customer service exceeded the desired expectation, the standards of data management were raised in the process. The evaluation of the reports suggests the contribution of quality assurance strategy in data management to achieve continuous improvement by leveraging on technology, recycling of wastes, optimal utilization of resources, etc. Benefits of Quality Assurance Procedures The Quality Assurance Procedures in the company helped to put in place, a systematic sequence of activities that are aimed at improving the standard of operations, the presence of a feedback loop aimed to provide inputs on the prevailing gaps between the actual activities and the set standards. The benefits of the Quality Assurance Procedures are also applicable in the field of storage and maintenance of documents in the company and it largely impacts the way in which the documents are produced by the members of the company. The series of systematic activities under the Quality Assura nce Strategy provides the members a plan of action for developing and implementing the best standards of maintenance of documents in the company and improving on the quality control stage for removing the errors in the process (Chorafas, 2012, p.49). This internal activity of the company helps the members to deliver excellent level of professional services to the customers who form the external environment. The members are able to meet the expectations of the customers through data maintenance and service delivery of the highest quality. The point at which the members are able to apply the data management techniques at a level that exceeds the customer’s expectations, the company would be able to better the standards of data management on a higher scale. The various standard practices of keeping back-up data for electronic records, reviewing the data on a periodic basis and updating the records, retaining documents and completing service delivery within a finite duration, val idating the recorded data are all important data management techniques that would help the company to provide high quality of customer service on a timely basis (Watson, 2008, p.41). The Quality Assur

Market research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Market research - Essay Example One of the easier methods of new product development is brand extensions. In 1980, the company launched cornflakes in the UK market. Buoyed by its huge success, it has been regularly expanding this market through the strategy of brand extensions. Crunchy Nut clusters launched in 2003 was followed by Crunchy Nut Bites which hit the market in 2008. All these brands have been hugely successful for Kellogg’s. This paper traces the success story of Kellogg’s. It outlines the importance of marketing research, provides for a critique on the four-stage research process at the company and also presents the salient findings from marketing research undertaken for the Crunchy Nut Bites and the new Coco Pops brand. 2.0 Introduction Kellogg’s is a world leader in the cereal market. With nearly 500 successful brands in its portfolio, it believes in a domineering market presence through the all-important strategy of innovation complemented by marketing clout. Truly, a transnatio nal corporation, it has manufacturing facilities in 18 countries which enables it to cater, far and wide, to over 180 countries, globally. Kellogg’s introduced Crunchy Nut Cornflakes in the UK market in 1980. Over the next two decades, this brand generated huge sales of around ?68 million. In 2003, Crunchy Nut Clusters, a product extension, was launched in two varieties – Milk Chocolate Curls and Honey and Nut. This strategy was highly successful as it enabled Kellogg’s to garner annual revenues of ?21 million. Riding on this success, in 2008, Crunchy Nut Bites, arrived in the market. Achieving a record of nearly ?7 million in its very first year of full sales, the newest launch was also a major hit. The most critical factor in the success of Kellogg’s new product initiative is its elaborate, marketing research. Research is, unfailingly, undertaken for every single step of the way right from idea generation to market commercialization. Primary as well as Secondary research is carried out. Both forms of research, namely, qualitative and quantitative research is given due importance. A unique four-stage approach commencing with discovery and leading onto selection of the best product idea, is followed by transforming the idea into a complete new product and concludes with a forecast of sales for the new product. This comprehensive research framework has stood the company is very good stead, over the years. It enables it to maintain constant interaction with the most important stakeholder of any organization, irrespective of form, nature and size, the consumer. This consumer-marketer interaction and interface enables Kellogg’s to regularly tap the consumer’s pulse and identify their wants and needs. This mode of consumer empowerment translates into strong consumer advocacy of the Kellogg’s brand and goes beyond customer satisfaction leading to consumer delight. Consequently, consumer retention becomes easier and ne w customer attraction is also facilitated through product promotions and other marketing efforts. In days of reduced market research spending (Quelch 2009), its reliance and stress on the need and efficacy of marketing research, has paved the way for a sustained competitive advantage (Porter 1965), for Kellogg’s. 3.0 Contents Innovation refers to creation or introduction of something new. Though innovation and creativity is used synonymously, innovation is greater than

Adult Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Adult Communication - Essay Example In the United Kingdom if one to ask for a rubber, the individual would receive an erasure made of rubber. Across the Atlantic in the United States of America, if one were to ask for a rubber, the individual would receive a rubber condom. Exchange of the same information has produced different results. Hence for a better understanding of what communication stands for it needs to be defined as the process of managing messages with the intention of creating meaning. Having understood the more realistic meaning of communication, communication competence has more to it then just the ability to exchange information clearly with another individual using a common system of symbols, signs or behaviour. There is an element of a goal in communication, which is sharing of meaning and this has a connection with the thoughts and feelings of another individual. The acceptance that communication is goal driven also suggests that communication is strategic. This understanding of communication provides us with the means for abetter understanding of communication competence, as now it suggests that communication competence is not just communicating with accuracy, clarity, comprehensibility, coherence, expertise, effectiveness and appropriately. Communication competence is better expressed as the situational ability to set attainable and appropriate goals for achievement and to maximise the achievement of these goals through employing strategies of the knowledg e of self, others, context, and the elements of communication theory to bring about adaptive communication performances. As communication competence involves competence there is a need for measurement. Communication competence can be measured through the determination of whether the goals of interaction have been achieved and the extent to which they have been achieved. This in my view is the meaning of communication competence (Rueben, 1976). Teams are made up a small number of individuals different in

The Scope and Nature of Adult Education Programs Essay

The Scope and Nature of Adult Education Programs - Essay Example Often the activities have a voluntary approach instead of a mandatory participation of adult learning. Taylor mentions that non-formal learning, such as a field trip to museums, zoos, aquariums, and libraries produce spontaneous general interest in such institutions (Taylor et al, 2010). These multitude of institutions listed by Taylor, and Parrish and countless other educators, provide us with opportunities for lifelong learning, and include an educational experience. With growing popularity in the field of these cultural institutions, the people are provided with a recreational and educational perspective. This paper will explore mainly the perspective of Non-formal education in the adult learning setting. This will include a discussion of the non-formal learning institution considered as Comic Book Conventions. Particularly we will be discussing the once a year event brought to the general public in Toronto, Ontario known as The Fan Expo Canada, and touch basis of comparison between Montreal Comic-con and The San Diego International Comic-con. For the examination of this paper, we will begin with the history of Comic Book Conventions, thus letting us follow further to the next discussion of the attractions and programs provided within this type of institutions. Then we will move on to discuss about the pros and cons of this institutional yearly event and thus ending the discussion with my experience attending the Comic Book Convention and with my final thoughts as to my conclusion.

Deforestation in Cuba Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Deforestation in Cuba - Research Paper Example There are many other functions of forests. Human activities in the modern global world are often harmful for the environment and it is hard to imagine where we will leave, if forests are further devastated. Nowadays people are cutting trees illegally. The most critical issue for the environmentalists starting from 2000 is the issue of deforestation. Moreover, there is no doubt that preservation of wildlife is current environmental problems in Cuba. This research paper is focused on the issue of deforestation in Cuba and possible ways of prevention of these harmful activities of people. Forests are the most valuable ecosystems on the planet. Forests are the sources of biological diversity, relevant to regulation of climate, and are very important for maintaining biosphere integrity. Forests produce very important economic goods and services, such as timber, energy, food, water, pharmaceuticals, and recreation opportunities (Wagner, 2006). Therefore, there is no option to promote defor estation, but it is relevant to sustain forests and support ecosystem. Otherwise, deforestation can lead to incurable consequences of destroying human activities. Deforestation can lead to one quarter of anthropogenic carbon emissions (Wagner, 2006). Cuba suffers from essential negative impact of deforestation. There is a need for the local government to implement forests protecting policies and decrease the levels of deforestation. Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean 90 miles away from the Florida coast of the United States. This country has an interesting history. Cuba territory includes 110,860 km, and 23.0 percent forest covered. Deforestation in Cuba is considered to be economical, social and environmental problem of the country. Very often people are dealing with natural resources as endless ones. Starting from the last decade of XX century, deforestation was triggered by political and economic factors. Political power in Cuba initiated numerous programs of refo restation. The government has been focused on the importance on the issues of deforestation prevention. Politicians made an emphasis on the necessity of forest ecosystems management. During different periods of time, Cuba experienced three basic political periods and each era was marked by the effects of different agendas on forest ecosystems. Social and Economic Impacts of Deforestation Environmental reforms in Cuba are improving the forests cover in the country. Social development and development of forests in Cuba have been taken into account by the international community. These two issues should be considered in detail; while it is a well-known fact that flourishing of the modern Cuban society depends on natural and economic welfare. The United Nations calculated that Cuba belonged to the High Human Development Index starting from in 2006 (Where Cuba Leads, 2006). Social and forest development in the country have been often mentioned by the international community. There is no doubt that Cuba has many options of further development, but there is no doubt that prevention of deforestation is first and foremost important agendas for the country. There are many flora species in Cuba, such as Reistonea regia, the tall Cuban Royal Palm and many others. Cuba is well-known as a heart of biodiversity in the Caribbean region. Almost 50 percent of plants in Cuba are endemic. Ecosystem reserves in Cuba are acknowledged by the United

ECT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ECT - Essay Example PLC’s can be utilized as relays and timers which can be utilized in homes to control outputs based on the inputs. For example: they can be used timers for switching of lights based on the customized information they have been provided for the environment in which a household is located. The most commonly used programming language that is utilized for PLC programming is Ladder Logic. This language was not initially used as a form of programming language, but later it evolved for this purpose. This language provides a representation of a particular program and these representations are based on relay logic. The three main components include the processor, power supplier and a section of input as well as output. The processor is referred to as the brain of the PLC which performs various functions such as controlling the process. The power supplier is utilized in transforming input power into voltage that is needed for the internal circuits. The section of input and output is necessary for protection of the CPU against any form of electric

Disability Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Disability Paper - Essay Example There is a requirement to provide education in the least restrictive environment. According to Kaplan et. al. (2007), "BU failed to demonstrate that it met its duty of seeking appropriate reasonable accommodations for learning disabled students with difficulty in learning foreign languages by considering alternative means and coming to a rationally justifiable conclusion that the available alternativewould lower academic standards or require substantial program alteration." "On May 26, 2006, in School Board of Henrico County VA v. R.T., a minor, Judge Robert Payne of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia issued an extensive pro-child decision on behalf of RT, a child with autism, in a tuition reimbursement case" ("Court Cases of Interest," 2009). In this case, the student was awarded funding because the school system did not give the child an appropriate educational program ("Court Cases of Interest," 2009). This is similar to Guckenberger II in the way that the education being provided was inappropriate for the students' needs. According to Wright (2005), in another court case, Schaffer v.

Projective Techniques Essay Example for Free

Projective Techniques Essay Such tests are based loosely on the psychoanalytic concept of projection, the assumption being that respondents project unconscious aspects of their personalities on to the test items and reveal them in their responses †¦ The website of the Association of Qualitative Practitioners (AQR 2004) defines projective techniques as follows: A wide range of tasks and games in which respondents can be asked to participate during an interview or group, designed to facilitate, extend or enhance the nature of the discussion. Some are known as ‘projective’ techniques, being loosely based on approaches originally taken in a psychotherapeutic setting. These rely on the idea that someone will ‘project’ their own (perhaps unacceptable or shameful) feelings or beliefs onto an imaginary other person or situation †¦ Projective techniques may be used in qualitative as well as quantitative studies (Levy 1994) and they are useful (Boddy 2004b) in both. 240 International Journal of Market Research Vol. 47 Issue 3 Projective techniques are commonly used in qualitative market research (Gordon Langmaid 1990) where the aim of the techniques is to facilitate the gaining of a deeper understanding of the area being researched. In discussing projective techniques they distance the use of projective techniques in qualitative market research from that of psychoanalytical practice, and suggest a more pedestrian and pragmatic definition: Projection [is] the tendency to imbue objects or events with characteristics or meanings which are derived from our subconscious desires, wishes or feelings. Dichter (1964) defined projection as meaning ‘to project subjective ideas and contents onto an object’, and said that one person could ascribe their own problems or difficulties to someone else. He described these techniques as being widely used in psychological work (Dichter 1960) and said that they are a non-directive interview technique where the respondent can project himself onto another and thus reveal some of the respondent’s own thoughts, feelings and fears. Projective vis-a-vis enabling techniques The market researchers Chandler and Owen (2002) define projective and enabling techniques quite succinctly and in a way with which most qualitative market research practitioners (Gordon Langmaid 1990; Goodyear 1998) would probably agree. This differentiation is useful to make at the beginning of this paper as the techniques are often used interchangeably and the distinction between them may have become blurred in the minds of some qualitative market researchers. Classically, the idea of a projective technique relates to a device that allows the individual research participant to articulate repressed or otherwise withheld feelings by projecting these onto another character. The idea of enabling techniques relates to a device which allows the individual research participant to find a means of expressing feelings, thoughts and so on which they find hard to articulate. Enabling techniques are held to be the simpler (Will, Eadie MacAskill 1996) of the two techniques as they just help people to talk about themselves. Will et al. ake the useful distinguishing point that while all projective techniques may be enabling, not all enabling techniques involve projection. Other researchers (Lysaker Bradley 1957) make the point that even pictorial devices, which do not function as projective techniques 241 Projective techniques in market research (i. e. devices researchers would nowadays refer to as enabling techniques), may still have utility in generat ing responses. Gordon and Langmaid (1990) state that the use of projective as opposed to enabling techniques is a false distinction in market research as the aim of both techniques is to facilitate deeper understanding. However, they do go on to say that in enabling techniques people are asked to do something that itself has no interpretive value (and so doesn’t itself need to be interpreted). In terms of analysis there is a distinction because with enabling techniques the research participants are talking as themselves (that is not to say that this speech should always be taken at face value), whereas with projective techniques the research participants are talking as someone else and the researcher makes the interpretative assumption that they are talking as themselves. This agreement over the definition of projective techniques is about as far as most research textbooks get on the subject. How they are subsequently used is little discussed and how they are then analysed is hardly explicitly touched on at all (Levy 1994; Catterall 1998), which is a situation that has hardly changed from ten or more years ago. This paper aims to look at current reports of how projective techniques are analysed and what support for their reliability and validity exists, and aims to stimulate debate in this area of market research so that a better and more accessible understanding of the subject can be offered to those entering research as potential practitioners, to interested clients, and to researchers who are more used to a quantitative or direct questioning approach. The origins of projective techniques Projective techniques were employed in market research from the 1940s (Catterall Ibbotson 2000) to encourage research participants to express feelings and attitudes that might otherwise be withheld due to embarrassment or fear if more direct questioning methods were used. Market research originally borrowed (Robson 2000; Boddy 2004a) projective techniques from psychoanalysis and clinical psychology where they are still used (Richman 1996) to gain insights into personality and personality disorders. Projection, as a concept, originated from Freud’s work on paranoia (Lilienfeld, Wood Garb 2000), where he conceptualised projection as a defence mechanism by which people unconsciously attribute their own negative personality traits to others. Lilienfeld et al. say that Freud’s work 242 International Journal of Market Research Vol. 47 Issue 3 was subsequently developed by psychoanalysts and clinical psychologists. This development was based on the hypothesis that ‘research participants project aspects of their personalities in the process of disambiguating unstructured test stimuli’, and several different techniques were developed such as the well-known Rorschach technique, or ‘ink-blot test’, where subjects are assumed to project aspects of their personality onto the ambiguous features of a set of inkblots. Projective techniques in market research A commonly used completion technique (Gordon Langmaid 1990; Will et al. 1996) in qualitative market research is ‘bubble drawing’. This is a device based on a technique called the Thematic Apperception Test where, according to Tucker-Ladd (2001), clinical psychologists use a series of standard pictures and ask subjects to make up stories about them. TuckerLadd says that what people see in the pictures says something about themselves and thus reveals their personality. Projective techniques can be used in a variety of market research situations as well as in social and educational research (Catterall Ibbotson 2000), and these do not have to be aiming at uncovering aspects of personality of any great depth. For example, a bubble drawing was used (Boddy 2004a) by one researcher to uncover students’ underlying attitudes towards the delivery of a lecture on marketing research rather than to uncover any deeper aspects of their own personalities. Projective and enabling techniques are thus useful when research participants have difficulty expressing opinions or feelings and researchers need some way of accessing these from the participants’ minds (Gordon Langmaid 1990; Kay 2001).

Research Proposal On Resource Management Environmental Sciences Essay

Research Proposal On Resource Management Environmental Sciences Essay Introduction: This is an individual components assignment with carried an individual presentation. This assignment is consists of a research proposals. A research proposal is written specification of an intended research. In order to, from the particular topic do the literature review, problem statement, methodology, project objective and results expectation. When do research on literature review as a researcher needed to find information through the scholarly journal, scholarly articles, books and scholarly conference. In the literature review, task is to make referencing as research proposals what others researcher has been done. Find the relevant particular issue, area of research, theory, description, summary and critical issue due to the particular topic. In research proposals, the next method is problem statement. At here, after accomplished the literature review part, to identifying the problem on others researcher has been done. Furthermore, also discuss the problem of project background, project background is provide the evidence ad facts to support the researcher case problem, describes clearly on the new idea problem. After completed the problem statement, the next step is methodology. Methodology is from researcher research design to identifying the justification or limitations on the product. At here, requirement explains the depth of investigation, content, sample size, geographical and theoretical coverage. The next method for research proposal is Project objective, project objective is listed out the objective of the research aim arising directly from the purpose of the study. In the project objective, also require to do the research questions and significance of the project. For explain objective for the research. The last step is results expectation. Before completed the research proposal, as a researcher require to do the results expectation on the idea. To do the analyze data, listed the method to used, require market or other relevant issues for assuming the results. In conclusion, a research proposal is combined with different research methods for accomplished the proposal. , all of this method is important information to support researcher on the research topic for avoid the plagiarisms. Due to the problem of global climate rapidly increasing, environmental damage and environmental pollution become more serious. And the natural resources minimizing, the important of renewable energy more be valued. More researcher are try to research the renewable energy for solving the natural resources minimizing problem. Researcher are founded various types of renewable energy for replacement the natural resources, the most common renewable energy is solar energy system. Solar energy system is collecting the sunlight into the solar panel and then to generate the electric power to supply the electricity. Next of renewable energy is the wave energy system, its assist with the wave energy to rotary the turbine generator and generate the electric power, normally are using by the country along with ocean. The next renewable energy is same concept with the wave energy system, there are also using the turbine rotary to generate the energy for supply the electric power, which is the wind energy power system. Turbine are designing as the fan blade, its normally build on open air environment. When the wind are blowing the turbine will be rotating and in the same time the turbine connect with a generator, the generator are generate the energy, therefore this is called as wind power energy system. Basically wind power energy system are building at high frequency wind area, because able to generate more energy, but due to the researcher do some relevant research it also suitable for build at normal frequency wind blow areas. Reason is renewable energy is an important resources for reducing the natural resource minimizing rapidly. In the end, introduce my research topic is the micro wind turbine generator renewable energy system on street light. Due to the street lamp already use the solar power system for replacing the natural power resources, but depending on some area are lack of sunlight, in order to solar street lamp are not suitable for build at the particular place. Designing a wind power system for street light is for backup the solar problem. It could be build in two renewable functions, which is the solar power system and wind power system, but my research topic is more concentrate on the wind power energy system. Literature Review: In literature review are require to explanation the overview of the research subject, separate the division of works under review into the categories. Make explanation of how each work is similar to and how it varies from the others. And at the end, conclusions as to which pieces are best considered in the argument, which are most convincing of the opinions and make the greatest contribution to understanding and development of the area of research. The process of assessing each piece, are consideration the four important sessions, which is provenance, objectivity, persuasiveness and value. Furthermore, also needed to identify the definition and the purpose due to the literature review may constitute an essential chapter of a thesis or dissertation, or also maybe a self contained review of writings on a subject. The requirement of research proposal is to references at least 10 of scholarly journals, scholarly articles, books or conference. From the relevant references, to identifying the fact data or others supporting evidence. And make the referencing citation for avoid to plagiarism. At first, the literature review is about the storage of fluctuating wind energy. An overview of the literature review is about the last 15 years the wind power energy becomes more and more important in Germany. The amount of total installed capacity of wind power generator was rapidly increasing in Germany, according the data collection from researchers, the average full load hours of the German wind generation is about 1600h/a and will increase 2010 to about 1960h/a based on the increasing off-shore wind parks in Germany(Dr Edwin,2007). From this data we get the knowledge about the wind power energy is getting more and more requirement in the global. The result is the increasing the amount requirement wind power energy, the reducing the environmental polluted. According the research paper, the Germany Energy Agency has been published the results, they target to reduce the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emission from today 860 Mio t/a until 2012 to 846 Mio t/a. This development of installment is not only happened in Germany others Europe country also development this generator is extremely fast. Worldwide country also has growing fast for installment the wind power generators. They are still continuing investigate the research on Compressed air energy storage (CASE). Compressed air energy storage is operated system in different ways, which is the storage of low energy for peak load demand, use of not used base load energy, reserve the energy power and storage of fluctuating wind energy. In conclusion, they still investigate the problem of transmission system for transportation the power to long distance, and the change reserve and operation system. Next, the literature review is plan for the wind power device to make the best of earth wind energy. After overview the paper, for collecting the best of wind energy resources on the earth surface, researcher are plan for a new type of wind power device, it called as multiple wind wheel wind power device (MWD). The multiple wind wheel wind power device is composes steel tower, trusses, generator, long axis, wind turbine and wheel boxes. Its installed all this components to be the MWD. Multiple wind wheel wind power device operation function is capture the wind energy in high air, a wind turbine and its generator are installed at the top of a very high tower, that the wind energy below the wind turbine cannot be utilized (zhang and zhang, 2010). In conclusion, in the limitation area this multiple wind wheel wind power device is more valuable due to the same of capacity and more power to generate. Another literature review source is about the generating capacity adequacy associated with wind energy. After overview, utilization of renewable energy, such as the wind power energy is for electric power generation is being given serious consideration around the world due to the global environmental concern associated with conventional energy sources (Roy Billinton and Guang bai, 2004). Researcher has presented a methodology for capacity adequacy associated with wind energy, comparing the two types of systems which are containing both conventional generation system and wind energy conversion system (WECS). From the simulation, the studies have shown that the wind energy conversion system is more reliability performance generation system. Due to the benefits of the capacity can be assigned to a wind energy conversion system is highly dependent on the wind. In conclusion the paper is making the studies on the wind energy conversion system; focus on the ability to quantify. And able to given reliability contribution in at a site with a high mean wind speed. Furthermore, literature review source is about the combining the wind power generation system with energy storage equipments. Overview the paper, this paper is about a group of Taiwan researcher to make some studies on the wind power energy. A wind power is a source of renewable power which comes from air current flowing across the earths surface (Lu. et al. 2008). According the research data, the average annual growth rate of more than 26% since 1990, the wind power energy is the fastest rapid growth energy source in the world. The wind power energy storage equipment also role as important, it approach to make wind power more reliable sources on capacity and energy. This storage devices also as application for reducing the output variation during the gust wind is also studied. In conclusion, the wind power and energy storage equipment is operation the system generation. The benefits of energy storage devices to mitigate the fluctuations during wind gust are also been discussed. The next literature review is reliability evaluation of generating systems containing wind power and energy storage. This is another group researcher to make studies on energy storage and wind power generating system. Wind power generation in electric power systems will increase considerably thought out the world in the near future, many countries have implemented or are in the process of implementing policies to promote renewable energy(Hu. et al., 2009). For wind power energy, is a faster growing source in many types of renewable source. To maintain the system more stability, the wind energy dispatch is usually restricted and energy storage is considered to smooth out the fluctuation and improve supply continuity. Researchers also investigate the wind energy conversion system (WECS) and energy storage, technique of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) also for the reliability evaluation of generating system. In order to, researcher also make studies on the wind power to a small test system which is called as Roy Billiton test system (RBTS). The results also recorded from the wind penetration level, energy storage capacity and energy storage operating constraints. In conclusion, this research paper is making the comparison of three different operating strategies for benefits and advantages on energy storage. The following of Literature review is an introduction of wind conversion. In this Although the wind is not very reliable as a source of power from day to day, it is a reliable source of energy year by year , and the main role for future wind energy system will be operating in parallel with electricity grid system(Musgrove.P.J,1983). The paper has make studies on the wind turbine characteristics, the wind energy resource and economics. Due to the wind turbine system from begin is founded from middle east country, through some moment the wind turbine system is widespread to worldwide, at first , the Mediterranean was adapt the wind turbine system , after the period of time, its spread to Europe and worldwide country. And nowadays, the wind turbine system is very important of renewable energy for this century. In conclusion, wind turbine system is rapidly be installment at worldwide, the requirement of the design and operating function also needed to make improvement. The average wind s peed, and hence the wind power density is also subject to consideration geographic variation. The 7th of literature review is design of wind turbine energy system. This research paper is studies about the designing the actually shape for the suitable area. Air flowing is called the wind, because of sun, the wind always exists, the wind energy is from the sun, it is a renewable energy resource (Fang, 2010). In this paper, the researchers is investigate the air flowing in the whole earth is like a boiler. The air becomes light in the equator, and be heavy in the two poles. The air wind flows day and night. Researcher due to the data collection, the different of temperature, the different season, and different or areas the speed of wind is different. Therefore, when design a wind turbine energy system, must be consideration the mass air flows, materials of turbine all is important issues. In conclusion, the paper is case studies of design of wind turbine energy system for suitable to convert to energy source. The next literature review also as no 8 literature review is wind energy and power system inertia. This research paper is case studies about the wind energy along with the power system. Wind is an abundant, clean, robust, and compelling resource for generating electricity. The low inertia of a wind dominant power system could be troublesome in power system operation. (Abreu and shahidehpour, 2006). In this paper presented the problem operation system which is the inertia is to combine wind energy with high inertia energy storage system, improvement technology system in the flywheel energy storage (FES). Flywheel energy storage by using kinetics energy as storage, the FES technology might offers high steady inertia and good efficiency which improve the power quality. Due to no individual power plant is totally reliable and a wind farm alone may not be at the desirable reliability levels, a wind farm might no schedule to supply a certain amount of load. In conclusion, this research top ic has been discussing issues on environment, modular benefits and importance. If without the financial issue, they flywheel energy storage system is a good combination for wind turbine generator. The 9th literature review is the A novel wind energy system. This research paper is case studies also about the wind energy system. Power generation utilizing wind energy has received greater attention in countries all over the world due to rapid depletion of fossil energy resources (Chan and Lai, 2009). In this research paper, have done the case studies on few wind energy system, for example an axial-flux permanent-magnet synchronous generator (AFPMSG) is directly coupled to a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). Axial-flux permanent-magnet synchronous generator is studied using a two dimensional finite element method and analytical methods. Vertical axis wind turbine for use in urban regions are close to domestic premises, hence quiet operation is an important system. In conclusion, the paper is discussing the wind energy system suitable for the urban environment. The axial-flux permanent-magnet synchronous generators have it benefits and advantages. Next of the literature review is the supervisory predictive control of standalone wind/solar energy generation systems. This research paper is making the case studies on the development of a supervisory model predictive control methods for the optimal management and operation of hybrid standalone wind-solar energy generation systems. drivers for solar or wind renewable energy systems are the environmental benefits due to reduction the carbon emissions, reduced investment risk, fuel diversification, and energy autonomy(Qi.et al,2011). According the renewable energy, the solar energy also is an important research for renewable energy. Some energy generate system is work the two renewable energy together as power energy. Solar system is absorb the sunlight to heat the solar panel, and then to generate the energy. Therefore, the design benefits for some country, because its able to generating the energy in two ways. In conclusion, this paper has studies the development if a supervisory p redictive control method for the optima management and operation of hybrid wind solar energy generation systems. The last of literature review is the grid voltage support by mean of a small wind turbine system. This research paper is making the case studies on the small wind turbine system (WTS) improved with voltage compensation functionality. At here, the important part is the voltage controlled inverter. As the wind capacity increases, grid utility operators have to ensure that consumer power quality is not compromised. To enable a large scale application of the wind energy without compromising the power system stability, the turbine should stay connected and contribute to the grid in case of a disturbance such as voltage dip(Orlando. et al,2008). The wind turbine system used a permanent magnet generator as the main system for operation. The permanent magnet generator is control to maximize the power output and achieve a smooth torque and power profile. In the conclusion, the paper has studies the new wind turbine system should contribute to the regulation of active and reactive power and th ereby contribute to the voltage control. Problem Statement and Proposed contents: Problem statement: According the literature review has been done in previous research data collection. Researcher base on the literature review research to identifying the problem statement. The problem statement is the wind power storage energy system. Need to find out the solution to ensure the electricity collect from turbine generator has been storage in the system. The next problem statement is total amount of wind energy collected by the wind turbine system. Therefore researcher must to find the solving method to complete the problem of wind energy collected. Transmission system of the wind turbine also needs to identify, for guarantee the process to transmit the electric power to generate the light with a stable. Problem background: Project background is from the research topic to build up the case. From the problem statement, applying the concept or methods founded from the literature review for solving the problem. All the information needs explanation clearly due to significance for allow reader understanding easily. Using the Monte Carlo simulation, in short (MCS) for collecting the data. A research projects on micro wind turbine generator street lamp renewable energy is consideration many sectors. Due to the problem statement been listed, if want to build the micro wind turbine generator street lamp on urban must consideration the wind energy collected system. In the urban, it consists of housing area, office building, highway road and Leisure Park. Different area are having the different rate of air flowing. Therefore, the wind energy collected system is requiring finding the solution method, ensuring the wind turbine system able to collect the energy. Based on the literature review, have been collect 3 methods to solve the problem. Firstly, is about the multiple wind wheel wind power device, in short (MWD). This method is designing the wind turbine system installed in vertically. The generator put in middle of the generator room. Steel tower must in circle type because it is the stationary axis the trusses turn around. When the air flowing, the multiple levels might be turn around and collect the wind. Other benefits for this is the require capacity is small. Therefore, this method is suitable to apply on the micro wind turbine street lamp. The next method for improving to collect the wind power energy is wind turbine generator, in short (WTG). This method is using the permanent magnet generator to generate the turbine rotating. When the air flowing is lower, the system will more generate to collect the wind energy. In order this method also can be apply on the micro wind turbine street lamp. The last method for improving to collect the wind power is the axial-flux permanent-magnet synchronous generators (AFPMSG). This method has an outer -rotor construction for convenient mounting to the turbine rotor structure. Its directly couple with vertical axis wind turbine. Based on this method solution, also can apply on the micro wind turbine street lamp. The next problem statement is the energy storage system. To build the micro turbine wind generator street lamp also requires to consideration the energy storage system. From the project design, the street lamp is a vertical aluminum tower. In base of tower must install the energy storage system for redundancy the system. Through the review on the literature review, has been collect 2 methods to improving the design. Firstly, is the wind energy conversion system, in short (WES). This system is make the collection wind energy into the system and generate out the more reliability of energy, when the system accepting the high amount of power it will keeping in the storage , and when needed the system will automated to release the energy to generate. The next method is the flywheel energy storage system, in short (FES). This also a method of storage the energy, it make through the high steady inertia system to generate, the kinetic energy will be storage. All energy storage system is to g enerate reliability energy to generate the system. The last problem statement is the transmission of the wind turbine power system. When the wind power was been collected at the generator, sometime needed to transfer the power to other location, therefore the transmission also important. Based on the literature review, the method been founded is the compressed air energy storage, in short (CASE). This also a type of storage system, but then it apply the transmission system for ensure the energy transferring in stable rate. In conclusion, the problem background solution has solved due the method from other researcher. Methodology: Research design and justification / limitations: In the methodology, must provide the scope of research, the scope of research is includes the depth of investigation, content, sample, size, geographical and theoretical coverage as well as the time scope. At this section needed to justification the applied research method. The research project is micro turbine wind energy generator street lamp. Application of street lamp is installment on the ground and providing the light intensive. The project is design almost similar with common street lamp, the only few part are different which is the top is consists of the wind turbine for generate the wind energy. And the bottom part consists of energy storage system for storage the energy. The tower of the project is using the aluminum as basic material, due to the market requirement able to change the material depend on needed. For the wind turbine also using aluminum as material because is avoid get rusty easily. The lamp of the project is using the light emitted diode (LED) the reason of choose LED as lamp because it save energy and good quality. Based on the calculation, the wind power street lamp is capable of producing around 150W of power when the wind were blowing and the street lamp save excess energy generated in a battery for using while without energy supply. Due to using the LED as lamp, that powers their high efficiency LED through the night. Since every location and project is different ,urban green energy is taking a components focused approach to the street lamp design the led light wind turbine , tower height and battery storage are all easily scaled to best fit a particular project. There are some advantages available of the project. Low cost for generate power; compare with normal energy resource wind power is the most low cost compare within. Other advantage is providing lightning of light during the midnight. The limitation is the street lamp needed to consideration the place to installment, the best location is near by the shore, because just near the sea. The air blow is higher. Project Aims and Objectives: Research objective: The objective of the research is the statements of the specific of main goal from the purpose of the research study. Due to the research objective, to make the identifying on the problem or question during the research. Firstly, determine the important of renewable energy in the worldwide, due to the reason of minimizing of natural resource. Secondly, to determine the wind power energy system is the process which through the wind flowing to make the rotary on the generator to generate the mechanical power or electricity. Amount collection of the electric power can convert to supply electricity power. Thirdly, analysis the ability of wind power to alternative the natural resources, wind is a natural environment source, it is inexhaustible source compare with the gases, fuel and metal materials all this natural resources. This phenomenon is facts; therefore its able to replacing the natural resources. Furthermore, the objective of the research is identifying the advantages of wind power generator, advantages of wind energy is a free renewable resource, a source of clean, non-polluting and electricity. Its also able to reducing the carbon emission. Next, of the objective is determine the amount of the energy in the wind be captured, according the case study, a wind turbine are horizontal axis variety, it installment at wind farm, when the air flowing, turbine might be turning and generate the electric current. And also identifying the wind turbine pose a safety hazard, die to the wind turbine do not use combustion to generate electricity in order to dont produce air emissions. Therefore the surface areas of the turbine are without any polluted, the health and safety attach as important. Objective of the research also include the analysis the potential on market requirement for the wind power generator, base on the minimizing of natural resource, definitely markets are requirement the wind power. Next objective is analysis the cost of wind power compare with conventional power plants, base on the wind power is free, the cost of generate energy might be low cost than others. Another objective is to identifying the amount of electricity power is generating by wind turbine generator. Last objective is to determine the stability of transmission of the storage energy source to generator, ensure the transmission process with balance. Research question: What is the important of renewable energy in the worldwide? What is wind power energy system? What is the ability of wind power to alternative the natural resources? What are the advantages of wind power generator? How much of the energy in the wind be captured? Do the wind turbines pose a safety hazard? What is the potential on market for this Wind Turbine Generator? What is the cost of wind power competitive with conventional power plants? A wind turbine generate able to generate how amount of electricity What is the stability of transmission the energy source to generator? Significance of this project: Base on the research from literature review and problem statement, and from the objective of research are research out the importance of the project. Significance of this project is able to minimizing the natural resource amount uses, avoiding the wasted of natural resource. Through the renewable resource also can cause environment be green reduce the polluted. According the earth hour organization, this organization will organize an occasion to encourage people switch light for 1 hour, if this research project has been produce , its may helping people apply the knowledge of important natural resource. This project also will cause the environmental more beautiful and clean. The urban will looks more elegant and fashion. The last reason is decreasing the carbon emission in earth atmosphere due to the global warming. Deliverables: Expected result: Based on the research, this research study has founded some relevant of research information from others researcher. Basically, according these few recent years, many of researchers are making study research on the renewable energy. Renewable energy is be valued by all researcher. Because the renewable energy resource having plenty of advantages and benefits. For example, is able minimizing the polluted of environmental, replacing the natural resources, due to global warming are getting more serious, renewable energy are able to minimizing the side affect on this. A micro wind turbine generator street lamp is a creative and invention design. According to the market, already available the solar panel street lamp, but the solar is only available for collect the energy from the sunlight. Mean during the midnight, the solar panel cant be collecting the energy. This is the disadvantage of the solar panel. On the other hand, a wind turbine street lamp having an advantages is the air flowing is available for anytime, no need to wait on day only able to function. Expectation of the result is this project is more organization want to supporting this project. Through the organization and media, spread the detail information to worldwide. And also governments are willing to plan to installment the wind turbine generator street lamp in their own city. Others expected result, have others researcher interesting this research project. And these researcher reinforcement more creativity idea and more advance idea for replacing. Timescales: Figure 1: Gantt chart From figure 1 is shown the Gantt chart for whole final year project timescales. The total period is for 9months. W1 = week 1 W2 = week 2 W3 = week 3 W4 = week 4 References: Abreau, L.V.L and Shahidehpour, M, 2006, wind energy and power system inertia in power engineering society general meeting, 16 October 2006, IEEE.org, pp 1-6 Biwen Zhang and Yingjin Zhang, 2010, plan for the wind power device to make the best of earth wind energy In future power and energy system engineering, 2010 international conference, china 26-27 June 2010,IEEE.org, pp7-10 Bilinton, R and Guang Bai, 2004, generating capacity adequacy associated with wind energy in energy conversion, Canada September 2004, IEEE.org, pp 641-646 Fang Lin Luo, 2010, Design of wind turbine energy system in IPEC,2010 conference proceedings, Singapore 27-29 October 2010, IEEE.org, pp110-116 Hu,P, karki,R and bilinton, R, 2009, reliability evaluation of generating systems containing wind power and energy storage in generation, transmission distribution, IET, Canada August 2009, IEEE.org, pp783-792 Lerch, E, 2007, storage of fluctuating wind energy in power electronics and applications, 2007 European conference, Europe 2-5 September 2007, IEEE.org,pp1-8 Ming-Shun Lu, Chung-Liang Chang, Wei-Jen Lee and Li Wang, 2008, combining the wind power generating system with energy storage equipment in industry applications society annual Meeting, 2008 IAS08 IEEE, Taiwan 5-9 October 2008 , IEEE.org, pp 1-6 Musgrove,P.J, 1983, wind energy conversion an introduction in

Enantioselective Disposition of MDMA and its Metabolites

Enantioselective Disposition of MDMA and its Metabolites INTRODUCTION Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are a group of drugs, mostly synthetic in origin, that are structurally derived from ÃŽ ²-phenethylamine (Figure 1). Amphetamine (AMP, Speed) was initially synthesized in Berlin in 1887 as 1-methyl-2-phenethylamine. It was the first of several chemicals, including methamphetamine (MET, Ice) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy), which have similar structures and biological properties, and are referred to collectively as amphetamines (Cody, 2005). Since 1887, amphetamine was thought to be a human invention (Berman et al., 2009), but the compound was found in 1997, along with methamphetamine, nicotine and mescaline, within two species of Texas acacia bushes (Clement, Goff and Forbes, 1998). AMP and MET are most commonly abused drugs. They have asymmetric centre and exists as one of the two possible enantiomers (see Figure 2) (Cody, 2005). In attempt to maintain anorexic activity while limiting undesirable side effects, substitutions have been made to amphetamine and methamphetamine. Others have been made to enhance the stimulatory activity or to avoid legal restrictions on the manufacture and use of the drugs (Cody, 2005). The related groups of amphetamine derivatives are shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 5 shows another group of precursor drugs that is metabolized by the body into AMP and MET. Administration and neurotoxicity of amphetamines Amphetamines are generally administered as oral capsules. This route results in a gradual increase in drug concentration, which peaks in around an hour and maintains effective drug levels for 8 – 12 hours. Amphetamines can also be injected into the circulation (Parrott et al., 2004). Amphetamines readily cross the blood-brain barrier to reach the sites (Berman et al., 2009) of action in the brain. The acute administration of amphetamines produce a wide range of dose-dependent behavioral changes, including increased arousal or wakefulness, anorexia, hyperactivity, perseverative movements, and, in particular, a state of pleasurable affect, elation, and euphoria, which can lead to the abuse of the drug (Berman, 2009). This causes amphetamines to be associated with acts of violence. Acute drug abusers will develop tolerance, where the same dose of drug has diminishing physiological and psychological effects. They need to increase their dosage if they wish to generate the same stre ngth of effect. Cross-tolerance will also occur as tolerance to one drug affects another drug with similar neurochemical profile. As a result, drug abusers will seek for another class of drug and become polydrug users (Parrott et al., 2004). Chronic drug abusers usually take in amphetamines through injection or smoking ice amphetamines. These abusers suffer many health problems and a reduced life expectancy. They are more susceptible to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), AIDS (acquired immunity deficiency syndrome) and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) (Parrott at al., 2004). Clinical uses In accordance with the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, amphetamines are enlisted as narcotic compounds in the List of psychotropic substances under international control. The list is prepared by the International Narcotics Control Board. These compounds are prohibited to be imported and exported in countries like Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand and etc (International Narcotics Control Board, 2003). Amphetamines and related compounds are clinically used for narcolepsy (sudden day-time onset sleep) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in young children. It was formerly used as a short-term slimming agent, as an antidepressant and to boost athletic performance (Parrott et al., 2004). 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE (MDMA, ECSTASY) History of MDMA abuse MDMA, also known as ecstasy, ETC, or Adam, is one of the most commonly abused amphetamine derivatives that was re-synthesised by Alexander Shulgin during his research career at the Dow Chemical Company in 1970s. Soon MDMA was being synthesised in illicit laboratories, and became popular as recreational drug since then. As MDMA does not have any clinical/medical use, it is scheduled as Class I illicit drug by the American Drug Enforcement Agency in 1985 (Parrott et al., 2005). Also, MDMA other ring-substituted phenylethylamines were generically classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act as Class A drugs, in United Kingdom (Wikipedia, 2009). Chemical Properties of MDMA The methylenedioxy analogues of amphetamine (see Figure 3) are series of compounds referred to designer drugs. They include methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) and MDMA (Hensley and Cody, 1999). The synthesis of N-alkyl-MDA derivatives only produces ( ±) racemic mixtures. As a results, only racemic forms of (capsules, loose powder or tablets) the compounds are sold in the illicit market and abused (Matsushima, Nagai and Kamiyama, 1998; Fallon et al., 1999). MDMA is chiral, possessing two enantiomers, S-(+)-MDMA and R-(-)-MDMA (see Figure 6), with S-(+)-MDMA is more potent than R-(-)-MDMA (Lyon, Glannon and Titeller, 1986; Shulgin 1986). The basic structure of MDMA is ?-phenylisopropylamine group (see Figure 6), with a methylenedioxy group forming a 5-membered ring including C-3 and C-4 of the benzene ring (Cho and Segal, 1994). The empirical formula of MDMA is C11H15NO2 (Shulgin, 1986). MDMA is a phenylisopopylamine derived from safrole, aromatic oil found in sassafras, nutmeg, and other plants. The methyl group on ÃŽ ±-carbon (R2) (see Figure 6) of MDMA confers resistance to oxidative deamination of this compound and, therefore, increased its metabolic half-life (Cho and Segal, 1994). According to Cone and his colleague Huestis (2009), S(+) isomer of MDMA is responsible for its psychostimulant and empathic effects and the R(-) isomer for its hallucinogenic properties. Uptake, absorption, metabolism and elimination of MDMA in human body MDMA is usually formulated in tablets of its racemate (1:1 mixture of its enantiomers) in doses ranging from 50 to 200 mg (Pizarro et al., 2004), which is most commonly sold in batches of 3–5 for ?10 (Wikipedia, 2009). MDMA powder is also found in the market at a higher price, indicating that it has higher purity. MDMA powder is not usually insufflated (snorted) as it causes sneezing, pain and nosebleeds. MDMA cannot be smoked and is very rarely injected intravenously (AMCD, 2008). MDMA is absorbed into the blood streams and distributed in body. Postmortem analysis by Letter et al. (2002) shows that MDMA is distributed in cardiac muscle, both lungs, liver, both kidneys, spleen, the four brain lobes, cerebellum and brainstem, adipose tissue, serum, vitreous humor, urine, hair and bile upon administration. Rapid distribution of MDMA in body is mainly due to its basic property of pKa around 9.9 and low plasma protein binding, MDMA can diffuse across biological matrices that is more acidic than blood (Pichini, 2005). After an oral administration of MDMA, the plasma concentration peaks in within 1.5 to 2 hours (Cone and Huestis, 2009). MDMA is metabolized by multiple pathways (see Figure 7), primarily involving N-demethylation and O-demethylenation. The enzymes involved in the pathway are a group of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, including CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and CYP2B6. Firstly, MDMA is O-demethylenated to 3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA) followed by O-methylation to 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA). The enzymes involved in the metabolic process are CYP2D6 and catechol-methyltransferase respectively. At a lower rate, MDMA is N-demethylated to 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) (a reaction regulated by CYP2B6), which is further metabolized to the catechol intermediate (3,4-dihydroxyamphetamine) and finally O-methylated to 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA). In the reactions, the ÃŽ ±-carbon responsible for stereochemical properties of MDMA is not affected and all the metabolites are chiral compounds that may be presented as a mixture of their enantiomers. In addition to these major compounds, some other minor metabolites derived from the activity of monoamine oxidase on the amine residue are also formed (Kolbrich et al., 2008; Pizarro et al., 2004). N-demethylation of MDMA yields 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), an active metabolite exhibiting similar pharmacological properties as the parent drug. A further O-demethylenation of MDA produces 3,4-dihydroxyamphetamine (HHA) which is mainly regulated by CYP2D6. Additional metabolites are formed by O-methylation of HHMA to 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) and of HHA to 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA), deamination, and conjugation (Cone and Huestis, 2009). The metabolic pathway mainly happens in the liver. Some people with reduced CYP2D6 shows lower metabolic rate of MDMA and thus are more susceptible to MDMA toxicity (ODonohoe et al., 1998; Schwab et al., 1999). Physiological and psychological effects of MDMA Berman et al. (2009), Hensley and Cody (1999) and Piper (2008) reported an increased alertness and euphoria, increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and body temperature upon administration of MDMA. United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (2006) conveys that chronic amphetamines abuse causes agitation, tremors, hypertension, memory loss, hallucinations, psychotic episodes, paranoid delusions, and violent behavior. Withdrawal from high doses of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) could result in severe depression. MDMA impairs the temperature control by hypothalamus. This causes MDMA users to die of hyperthermia (Piper, 2008) and some die from hyponatraemia, i.e. the dilution of blood due to excessive fluids taken to counteract heat exhaustion (Parrott et al., 2004). Neurotoxicity of MDMA Nichols (1986) and Vollenweider et al. (1998) categorize MDMA as entactogens, a special class of drug that produce changes in mood, social interactions or feelings of interpersonal closeness and changes in perception. MDMA shares some of the pharmacological effects of stimulants and serotonergic hallucinogens (Cami et al. 2000; Gouzoulis-Mayfrank et al. 1999; Liechti Gamma and Vollenweider, 2001; Tancer and Johanson 2003). MDMA acts an agonists on various neurotransmitters action especially serotonin. Boost in serotonin turnover induced by MDMA tends to generate feelings of contentment, elation, liveliness and intense emotional closeness to others. This causes people to enjoy themselves without their normal concerns and inhibitions. MDMA is classified as neurotoxin. Studies have found evidence for dopaminergic nerve destruction in higher brain regions. As shown in Table 2, the higher brain function such as memory, information processing and storage, complex stimulus analysis and decision making of MDMA users are impaired. CHIRAL DRUG ANALYSIS Chirality Chirality is formally defined as the geometric property of a rigid object (like a molecule or drug) of not being superimposable with its mirror image (McConathy and Owen, 2003). Achiral molecules can be superimposed on their mirror images. Molecules that are not superimposable with their mirror images are said to be chiral. Each chiral molecule will have at least one chirality centre or stereogenic centre (Leffingwell, 2003). Chirality centre of an organic molecule is usually a carbon atom, bonded to four different groups of atoms. Chiral molecules with one chirality centre exist in two enantiomeric forms (see Figure 8). The two mirror images are termed enantiomers. Both molecules of an enantiomer pair have the same chemical formulae and can be drawn the same way in 2 dimensions but in chiral environments such as the receptors and enzymes in the body, they will behave differently. Enantiomers are identical in all physical properties except for their optical activity, or direction in which they rotate plane-polarized light (McMurry, 2004). Some optically active molecules rotate polarized light to the left (levorotatory) while others to the right (dextrorotatory) (Baker, Prior and Coutts, 2002). A racemate (often called a racemic mixture) is a mixture of 1:1 amount of both enantiomers of (+) and (-) enantiomers and is optically inactive. The optical inactivity results from the rotation caused by one enantiomer canceling out that produced by its complementary enantiomer (Beesley and Scott, 1998). The absolute configuration at a chirality center is designated as R or S to unambiguously describe the 3-dim ensional structure of the molecule. R is from the Latin rectus and means to the right or clockwise, and S is from the Latin sinister for to the left or counterclockwise (McConathy and Owen, 2003; Baker, Prior and Coutts, 2002). Pharmacological aspect of chiral drugs In pharmacology, chirality is an important factor in drug efficacy. About 56% of the drugs currently in use are chiral compounds, and about 88% of these chiral synthetic drugs are used therapeutically as racemates (Leffingwell, 2003). As previously mentioned, MDMA is a chiral drug that exists in two enantiomeric forms as shown in Figure 6. Chemical modification at the positions R1 to R9 (refer to Figure 9) of MDMA results in unlimited number of pharmacologically active compounds, some of which are more potent stimulants than others. Although there are several possibilities for side chain modification, substitution on the aromatic ring contributes the most to substantial qualitative differences in pharmacological effects. Hence, it is important to discriminate between the enantiomers present in the drugs administrated as both the enantiomers of a chiral drug may differ significantly in their bioavailability, rate of metabolism, metabolites, excretion, potency and selectivity for receptors, transporters and/or enzymes, and toxicity (McConathy and Owen, 2003). The difference in interaction between a chiral drug and its chiral binding site is illustrated in Figure 10. The different domain of a drug molecule has different binding affinity towards the active site of biochemical molecules in the body. As shown in Figure 10, it is obvious that the active enantiomer has a 3-dimensional structure that allows drug domain A to interact with binding site domain a, B to interact with b, and C to interact with c. In contrast, the inactive enantiomer cannot be aligned to bind the same 3 sites simultaneously. Due to the difference in 3-dimensional structure, binding of the active enantiomer exerts a biological effect, while the inactive enantiomer does not possess any (McConathy and Owen, 2003). The hypothetical interaction of drug enantiomers is supported by the studies done by Matsushima, Nagai and Kamiyama (1998) and Kolbrich et al. (2008) shows that stereoselective cellular transport of MDMA allows the drug to accumulate at different extent in biological matrices. According to ODonohoe et al. (1998) and Schwab et al. (1999), stereoselectivity also affects genetic differences in the expression of metabolic enzymes that are responsible to metabolize MDMA in the body. For example, CYP2D6 is expressed as 2 phenotypes; one being extensive and another as poor metabolizers. Thus, it is obvious that the stereospecificity of a chiral drug can alter absorption, elimination and cellular transport of the drug itself. Analytical aspect of chiral drugs Approximately 50% of marketed drugs are chiral, and of these approximately 50% are racemix mixtures of enantiomers rather than single enantiomers (McConathy and Owen, 2003). Differences in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activities of the enantiomers of drugs administered as racemates are increasingly appreciated (Porter, 1991). Thus, quantification and qualification of drugs of abuse play important roles in the prediction of and protection from the risk to human health (Nakashima, 2006). Two main approaches to chiral drug analysis have been taken. In the indirect approach, the drug enantiomers are derivatized with an optically pure chiral reagent to form a pair of diastereomers, which may then have sufficiently different physical properties for separation to occur on conventional chromatographic columns (UNODC, 2006; Porter, 1991). In the direct approach, the enantiomers form transient rather than covalent diastereomeric complexes with a chiral selector present either in the mobile or the stationary chromatographic phase (Porter, 1991). Each of these analytical approaches has advantages and disadvantages prevail, depending upon factors such as time, purity, chemical processing, and inherent side reactions (Carvalho et al., 2006). Indirect chiral drug analysis In order to successfully resolve the enantiomers, a stable, optically pure chiral derivatizing reagent (CDR) has to be available for the covalent formation of diastereomeric derivatives (Porter, 1991). Diastereoisomers of amphetamine-type stimulants can be prepared using different reagents such as acylchlorides, alkylsulphonates, isothiocyanates, chloroformates. Moshers acid [R(+) or S(-)-methoxy(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetic acid], Moshers acid chloride, and N-trifluoroacetyl-1-prolyl chloride (TPC, also known as TFAP-Cl) are the most popularly used chiral derivatizing agents (UNODC, 2006). The reaction scheme may be illustrated as follows: The purity of the chiral derivatizing agent is vital in the process of separation of the racemic mixture. The resolution of a racemic drug by the R-enantiomer of a CDR contaminated with its S-enantiomer causes an additional pair of diastereoisomers to be formed, each of which is the enantiomer of one of the first pair (Porter, 1991), as shown in Figure 12. As a result, the enantiomers R-R, S-S and S-R, R-S would coelute in conventional chromatographic systems due to their similar physical properties. Racemization during the reaction would bring about analytical error especially when attempting to quantitate small quantities of one enantiomer in the presence of a large excess of its antipode (Porter, 1991). Methods using chiral derivatization are essentially less expensive and do not require specialized equipment or columns. The use of normal, achiral columns allows easy integration of chiral separations into routine analysis schemes (UNODC, 2006). Thus, considerable flexibility in chromatographic conditions is available to achieve the desired resolution and to eliminate interferences from metabolites and endogenous substances. Moreover, a reasonably good selection of chemically and optically pure CDRs is available for derivatizing various functional groups (Porter, 1991). Direct chiral analysis Chiral gas chromatography (GC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) are popular methods in direct analysis of illicit drugs (UNODC, 2006). Direct analysis does not require a CDR for covalent diastereomeric complexation. Instead, separation of chiral drugs occurs via the interaction between the enantiomers and a chiral selector. The chiral selector is an optically active compound that may be present in the mobile phase for use with conventional HPLC columns or it may be incorporated into the stationary phase to provide specialized chiral stationary phases (Porter, 1991). Calvalho (2006) lists the most successful chiral packing materials i.e. amylose, Pirkle type stationary phase, cyclodextrin, proteins, and cellulose ester and carbamate derivatives used in GC. Sometimes, derivitization may be carried out with a nonchiral reagent, in order for appropriate molecular interactions with the chiral discriminator to occur and/or to impart requisite spectral or fluorescent properties to the molecule (Porter, 1991). HPLC with fluorescence detection method is done by Al-Dirbashi et al. (1999) in attempt for the determination of methamphetamine in human hair. Nakashima (2006) claimed that the use of a chiral stationary phase in GC to separate pairs of enantiomers after suitable derivatization with an achiral reagent is able to achieve a powerful separation. Recently CE has become a highly competitive tool for chiral analysis of many compounds since it allows for the highly efficient separation of enantiomers without derivatization and specialty columns (capillaries) (Porter, 1991; Ramseier, Caslavska and Thormann, 1999). For the separation of amphetamine-type stimulant using CE, chiral additives such as hydroxyl-propyl beta-cyclodextrin are added in the running buffer. This eliminates the need of derivatization in analysis of chiral drugs commonly used (Iio et al., 2005; Ramseier, Caslavska and Thormann, 1999). Separation of chiral drugs using gas chromatography UNODC (2006), Pirnay, Abraham and Huestis (2006) and Rouen, Dolan and Kimber (2001) agree that gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is the most common instrumental technique for analysis of amphetamines and derivatives. However, GC/MS still has its limitations. Chiral gas chromatography is selected as the separation technique if the materials are volatile and stable at elevated temperatures. In addition, if the solutes can be derivatized to form a sufficiently volatile product without racemizing the enantiomers, or changing their racemic proportion, then GC may be the choice. GC offers much higher efficiencies, much higher peak capacities and significantly higher sensitivities than LC. It follows, that GC can easily contend with multicomponent mixtures, especially mixtures from biological samples. In addition, the columns have short equilibrium times, trace impurities are easily assayed, and the analyses are shorter providing much faster sample throughput (Beesley and Scott, 1998). Prior to analysis by GC, compounds containing functional groups with active hydrogens such as COOH, OH, NH, and SH have to be derivatized. This is because these compounds tend to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds, hence reducing volatility of the compounds in the machine. They are also thermally unstable and can interact with either fused silica or the stationary phase, causing peak broadening (Danielson, Gallgher and Bao, 2000). Most underivatized amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) have fragment ions of low m/z ratio, low intensity, and only one fragment ion of higher abundance (base peak). Derivatized ATS usually produces fragment ions of higher m/z ratio and higher abundance. Molecular ions with greater molecular mass have greater diagnostic value, due to the reason that they are not affected by interfering background ions such as column bleed or other contaminants (UNODC, 2006). Capillary electrophoresis as a complementary method in the analysis of MDMA According to Meng et al. (2006), capillary electrophoresis (CE) can be used to complement GC and HPLC methods of amphetamines analysis due to their high efficiency, accuracy, very high resolution, and tolerance to biological matrices. Capillary electrophoresis utilizes the electrical nature of charged molecules and enables the separation of molecules based on charged in an applied electrical field (Landers, 1995). MDMA is an organic compound and so its enantiomers are not charged. Hence, for the separation of enantiomers of MDMA, micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) is utilized (Beesley and Scott, 1998). This is a modified electrophoresis system in which the chiral selector is added to the electrolyte as additives, or be immobilized on the capillary tube surface as a traditional type of stationary phase (Beesley and Scott, 1998). The applied voltage causes the analytes to migrate through the capillary and being separated (Landers, 1995). Figure 13 shows the instrument used for micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). As seen in the figure, during sample separation, the individual analytes are driven in the appropriate direction by their inherent electrophoretic mobility (neutral species are static, anionic species move towards the anode, and cationic species move towards the cathode) with a magnitude represented by the arrows. Concurrently, the EOF of buffer towards the cathode, with a magnitude greater than the individual electrophoretic mobilitles, results in electrophoretic zone formation as all analytes (neutral, positive, and negative) are swept past the detector (Landers, 1995). The detector produces an electropherogram that is almost the same as the one obtained from the gas chromatography (see Figure 14). The chiral selector used in micellar electrokinetic chromatography is usually beta cyclodextrin. Cyclodextrin is an oligosaccharide with an external hydrophilic surface and a hydrophobic cavity, in which they can include other compounds by hydrophobic interaction (Tagliaro, Turrina and Smith, 1996). This allow for the separation of molecules with different sizes, charges and polarity. The aim of this literature review is to investigate the effectiveness of GC/MS and CE in the analysis of MDMA enantiomers. Not only that, the enantioselective disposition of MDMA in hair and urine is also reviewed. The use of hair and urine as a medium for drug detection is also explored. CASE STUDY Urine analysis Urine is the most widely used biological specimen for the analysis of illicit drugs (Nakashima, 2006; Rouen, Dolan and Kimber, 2001). According to Ramseier, Caslavska and Thormann (1999), urinary screening of drugs of abuse is usually performed with immunoassay, whereas GC/MS is the standard approach employed for confirmation of the presence and absence of a specific drug or metabolite. The goal of urine drug testing may be stated as the reliable demonstration of the presence, or absence, of specified drugs or metabolites in the specimen (Chiang and Hawks, 1986). Despite a number of persistent shortcomings, such as its susceptibility to tampering, urinalysis is a well-researched technology in which most of the problems have been identified and addressed, if not resolved. It offers an intermediate window of detection making test scheduling an important issue in many situations (Rouen, Dolan and Kimber, 2001). The Physiology of Urine Production Blood is drained through the kidney in the rate of 1.5 litres per minute. Ultrafiltration of blood that occurs at the kidney leads to the production of urine continuously. During urine production the kidneys reabsorb essential substances. Excess water and waste products, such as urea, organic substances and inorganic substances, are eliminated from the body. The daily amount and composition of urine varies widely depending upon many factors such as fluid intake, diet, health, drug effects and environmental conditions. The volume of urine produced by a healthy adult ranges from 1-2 litres in a 24 hour period but normal values outside these limits are frequently reported (Rouen, Dolan and Kimber, 2001; Pichini, 2005). Incorporation of Drugs into Urine The possible ways of drug disposition in the human body is shown in Figure 15. When a drug is smoked or injected, absorption is nearly instant and excretion in urine begins almost immediately. According to Pichini (2005), 80% of the drug is metabolized by the liver, leaving 20% of the drug to be excreted unaltered. However, absorption is slower when a drug is orally administered and excretion may be delayed for several hours. Generally, a urine specimen will contain the highest concentration of parent drug and metabolite within 6 hours of administration. As for MDMA, the peak concentration is reached after 2 hours of administration (Cone and Huestis, 2009). As drug elimination usually occurs at an exponential rate, for most illicit drugs a dose will be eliminated almost completely within 48 hours. A number of factors influence the detection times of drugs in urine including the quantity of drug administered, parent drug and its metabolite half-life, cut-off level used, and a number of physiological factors. Fallon et al. (1999) reported that the plasma half-life in humans of (R)-MDMA (5.8  ± 2.2 h) was significantly longer than that of (S)-MDMA (3.6  ± 0.9 h). It is also noted that for many of drugs, frequent, multiple dosing over extended periods of time can cause the drug to accumulate in the body resulting in significantly extended detection times, and leads to the possibility of hair analysis which will be discussed in the later part. The detection times in urine are significantly greater than the detection times in blood because most drugs are rapidly eliminated from blood both by the bodys metabolic system and by excretion into urine (DuPont and Baumgartner, 1995). As the bladder is emptied only a few times during the day, the urine becomes a reservoir of drugs and metabolites (AIC Research and Public Policy, 2003). According to DuPont and Baumgartner (1995), most abused drugs, including their metabolites, fall to low levels in the blood within a few hours of last drug use and so urine samples generally have a short surveillance window (SW) of about l-3 days (see Table 3). AIC Research (2003) also reported that longer detection time of drugs is due to high doses and high urine pH. Despite of its small detection time, urine testing is still a reliable and convenient way of investigating whether a person has abused drugs in the past few days. The comparison between commonly used specimens for drug analysis is shown in Table 3. Case Study One: Stereochemical Analysis Of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine And Its Main Metabolites In Human Samples Including The Catechol-Type Metabolite (3,4-Dihydroxymethamphetamine) Objectives This case study aims to determine the enantioselective disposition of MDMA and its major metabolites, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) in human urine. The R versus S enantiomer of MDMA and its metabolites in urine samples after administration of known amount of MDMA is also calculated. Other than that, the use of indirect method in determining concentration of MDMA and its metabolites by chemical derivatization is also illustrated. Results and Discussion Urine samples were obtained from seven healthy recreational users of MDMA. They were given a single 100-mg oral dose of (R,S)-MDMA ·HCl (Pizarro et al., 2004). Participants were phenotyped with dextromethorphan for CYP2D6 enzyme activity and all were categorized as extensive metabolizers (Schmid et al., 1985). Urine samples were collected before and after drug administration at 0 to 2, 2 to 6, 6 to 12, 12 to 24, 24 to 48 and 48 to 72 hour time periods, acidified with HCl, and stored at around 20 °C until analysis (Pizarro et al., 2004). The samples and standard solutions were analyzed by GC/MS using achiral column with 5% phenyl 95% dimethylpolysiloxane cross link (15 m Ãâ€" 0.25 mm Ãâ€" 0.25  µm film thickness) before and after a chiral derivatization. MDMA in the urine sample was derivatized using (R)-(-)-ÃŽ ±-methoxy-ÃŽ ±-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride (Figure 16) in ethyl acetate/hexane (50:50) that contained 0.015% triethylamine as described by Pizarro et al. (2003). Derivatization step functions to induce volatility to the sample for GC analysis (Beesley and Scott, 1998). A baseline enantiomeric separation was obtained for all the studied compounds in a single run. Chiral analysis of plasma and urine samples was carried out by combining the extraction procedure developed for the high performance liquid chromatography analysis method for HHMA quantification (Segura et al., 2002) and derivatization steps developed for GC/MS determination of enantiomers of MDMA, MDA, HMMA, and HMA (Pizarro et al., 2003). Extraction and derivatization coupling was not achieved easily because chemical properties of extracted samples make it impossible for the target compounds to be derivatized. The presence of considerable amounts of HCl in t he elution mixture was responsible for the formation of the corresponding amine chlorhydrate salts making amine reaction unfeasible. An attempt using evaporation of extracts to eliminate HCl be