Unethical Abuses on Brain Mapping

The brain is the most mysterious region in human body. The complex and enigmatic functions of brain are the main driving force of studies in neuroscience. Various researches are going on to gain a more in depth understanding on the brain; one of them is the brain mapping. The goal and objective of brain mapping is to clarify the relationship between the structure and the function of the human brain (Cohen, 2007). However, the response on the emergence of this technique is not encouraging. The main issue of concern is the potential abuses on the technology.

If brain mapping is widely-used, unethical abuse is of high probability. People might utilize it as a tool to generate money by commercializing it. If I were the lead researcher in brain mapping, the primary potential unethical abuse, in my opinion, would be the abuse of the brain maps. A brain map is a scientific way in understanding an individual; even of things that the individual himself might not be aware of. Therefore, a brain map is of high value. They could be sold underground, without prior permission from the patients, which could eventually lead to various problems, including social problems. As a result, movie scenes in which unethical scientists and criminals work together to bring chaos to the world could be realized.

To minimize the potential unethical abuses of brain mapping, I suggest that the use of the technology is only constrained to certain bodies or sectors, for instance, the neurology department of major hospitals. To further strengthen the ethical credibility of the technique, researchers of brain mapping, political figures and representatives from related organizations could form a council, similar to that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to suggest and formulate policies in the use of brain mapping.

In short, the appropriate use of advanced technology is an issue of utmost importance. To optimize the functions and applicability of brain mapping, it should be used ethically as any abuse could result in adverse effects to the society. Therefore, I urge the scientists and the authorities to hold comprehensive discussions before brain mapping is made easily accessible to anybody.

References

Cohen, M.S. (2007). Brainmapping. Retrieved November 7, 2008, from http://www.brainmapping.org/

Is Climate Change an Ethical Issue?

Question:

Broome mentions that how we deal with climate change in our generation is an ethical issue. Do you agree that our decisions and actions relating to climate change are ethical issues? Give your reasons and support them with clear evidence.

Climate change, a global environmental phenomenon, is posing warnings to the Earth’s residents. Heat waves, storms, floods, tropical diseases are slowly killing a daunting number of the world population (Broome, 2008). Therefore, authorities are to make immediate decisions so that actions can be taken to resolve this life-threatening issue. However, making the right decisions is a demanding task to do; various aspects need to be taken into account in order to bring forth a rational and thoughtful solution. Thus, I am convinced that decisions and actions relating to climate change is an ethical issue.

First and foremost, there exists a conflict between the well-being of the present generation and the future generation. Our deed today is the molder of tomorrow. The massive industrial processes are continuously contributing to the greenhouse gases in the air, the principal cause of climate change. In contrast, industrial is the main source of revenue for most developed as well as developing countries; without which, the impact on economy could be devastating. It brings wealth and prosperity to the people now; on the other hand, creating a severely polluted and dreadful environment to our descendents. So, the question is, do you have the ethics to sacrifice the luxuries in life for the future generation which is yet to exist?

The second reason that makes decisions and actions on climate change an ethical one is due to the exploitation of the wealthy on the poor ones. Considering the cost for manpower and the environmental consequence, corporations often set up factories in third world countries as well as some of the developing countries. Although this will help to boost the economy of the less developed nations, it gives an irrevocable impact on the people and environment. More factories would mean more greenhouse gases and pollution; it also means warmer weather, dirtier air and more environment-induced illness. In other words, they are a group of unfortunate people being victimized for commercial profit.

In addition, as mentioned by Broome (2008), weighing costs against benefits does not tell us what should be done to cease climate change. It is human’s norm to have the reluctance to invest when we have to pay for things that takes a long period of time to be effective. This is especially discernible when economy crisis strikes the globe. Everyone is trapped within their own financial problems; in turn, environmental concern is not a priority anymore. However, one should always bear in mind that a short term pain will in turn gives a long term gain.

In aid to resolve this global environmental issue, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is responsible for recommendations in policy-making. Based on scientific research and evidence, IPCC is to suggest and advise the policy makers on what should be done to cease the impact of climate change in the world. Scientific facts do not tell us what is morally right and what is not (Somerville, 2008). Therefore, the panel would have to consider not only the physical applicability but also the long-term effect on the environment and people in implementing a certain policy. This further strengthens the point that issues related to climate change are ethical ones.

For these reasons, I assert that decisions and actions relating to climate change is an ethical issue. For the equality between rich and poor, the long-term benefits of reducing emission of greenhouse gases and most importantly, the well-being of our future generation; be thoughtful and considerate when making a decision or committing an action that could potentially contribute to climate change.

References

Broome, J. (2008, May 19). The Ethics of Climate Change. Scientific American Scientific Magazine. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-ethics-of-climate-change

Somerville, R.C.J. (2008, March 6). The Ethics of Climate Change. Yale Environment 360. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from

http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=1365

Waste Disposal Schemes and their Applicabilities in Malaysia

Timed Paragraph Practice:

Question 1

Briefly compare and contrast any two waste disposal schemes (e.g. zero waste and land filling, land filling and using incinerators or any other methods you know) and decide which might be more suitable for your country.

Various waste disposal schemes have been proposed to replace the existing methods in the hope to get rid of the piling waste. One of them is the popular zero waste scheme. The ultimate goal of the scheme is to reduce waste generation, best to zero. The main idea is to ensure industrial products are made from materials that can be repaired, reused and recycled (Collins, 2002). Many developed countries have adopted the waste disposal scheme seeing its potential in effectively resolving the problem. However, conventional waste disposal methods, for example, incinerators are still practical in many countries especially to the developing nations. The fact that the use of incinerators has given rise to the increased concentration of dioxins in the atmosphere is undeniable. Alongside with that, incinerators require high cost of building, operating and maintaining. Despite of all these drawbacks, it is still the most effective and rapid way to get rid of the ever-increasing trash. In addition, the process of burning could be a source for power supply. Every waste disposal scheme has its pros and cons. There are various aspects need to be taken into consideration when it comes to application; a good scheme does not necessarily be suitable to every country.

The increase in population and rapid economic development in Malaysia have brought about the high waste generation rate of the nation. The amount of waste generated each day is comparable to the high-income countries (Ndiaye, 2003). Furthermore, Malaysia is running out of suitable land filling sites since the last few years as urbanization is taking place in most of the potential locations. In my opinion, a better alternative to replace the existing land filling method would be using incinerators rather than the zero waste scheme. The awareness on the importance of proper waste disposal is low among the people. Privatization of waste management has worsened the case to a greater extent where households are required to pay for the service. According to Netto (2007), only about 10 to 15 percent of the waste is recycled in Malaysia. The discouraging figures imply that the zero waste scheme is unlikely to succeed in the country. With the tight trade relationship, Malaysia has started seeking for advice and technologies transfer from Japan to minimize the potential pollution by incinerators. For these reasons, I firmly believe that the most efficient and immediate way to resolve the Malaysian’s waste problem is by using the incinerators.

References

Collins, J. (2002, Oct 3^rd). Radical plans for waste could herald a big clean-up. The Guardian Weekly. p.25.

Ndiaye, Catherine. (2003, May 19). Talking Trash: Waste Disposal Services in Malaysia. Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia. Retrieved October 24, 2008, from

http://www.idrc.ca/eepsea/ev-29989-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

Netto, Anil. (2007, March 23). Environment-Malaysia: Costly Incinerators or Efficient Waste Disposal? Retrieved 25 October, 2008, from Inter Press Service News Agency Web site:

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=37058

Writing in Engineering Classes

After enrolling into an engineering course, I realize that academic writing is not exactly what I thought it is. It is much more professional and various skills are required in order to write a good academic essay. Taking one of the engineering modules MLE 1101- Introductory to Materials Science and Engineering as example, I encounter a different kind of problems as compared to writing an English essay. In my opinion, the intended audiences for my writing in engineering classes are lecturers and tutors who already possess knowledge on the subject matter. The purpose of writing in engineering classes is mainly to evaluate our level of understanding on different topics and therefore minor grammatical errors are acceptable. Therefore, making a minor mistake is obvious enough to be noticed. One main problem that I encounter when writing for this module is the organization pattern. As most of the engineering processes consist of various stages and procedures; logically, a chronological order of idea organization should be use. However, a lot of them are of cause-effect pattern at the same time, where one outcome is a result of the other. Things are fairly complicated and ideas often get messed up due to confusion; as a consequence, the writing turns out to be unorganized and related ideas are scattered all around. To counteract this problem, I should cultivate the habit in doing brainstorming or mind map and get my outline done before I start writing. This would help me to get a better picture of how one process or procedure links to another, allowing me to organize my essay better and smoother. Besides that, this could also be improved by reading more frequently in order to familiarize with the content and to study the different approaches on the same task.

Reflections

After attending lessons of EG1471 for a few weeks, I do realize some changes in my writing skills. First and foremost, I have a clearer picture on how to write an academic essay than before. It provides very useful guidelines when I am writing. I feel more confident with my words and sentences, not to forget, the style of writing. The formality is more discernible and my writings just seem more appropriate and accurate. I used to write according to my intuition, on what I think is correct and what sounds right. It therefore turned out to be unorganized and points just scattered within the essay which makes it very difficult for readers to understand. Tutor has given clear explanation on writing skills and emphasized much on some common mistakes that we tend to make when we are writing. Her words do serve as reminders which help reducing the errors I make as I am writing. I pay more attention on the grammar and vocabulary usage besides the organization of my points and elaboration. It gives my essay a smoother flow and words just seem to be connected and not in bits and pieces. I would like to extend my gratitude to Ms Fong for the well-conducted lessons and her kind assistance throughout the course.

Summary: Engineer Better Medicines

Current medicines are designed for general treatments which are standardized for the majority. This is an issue engineers have to deal with. DNA variants give rise to the difference of individuals, in this case, response to medicine treatment. Therefore, personalized medicine is an ideal way and also the future direction to give effective and optimum healthcare decisions. There are three challenges for personalized medicines. First, generate systems for quick accessibility to individual’s genetic profile. Second, create methods for storage and management of the tremendous amount of genetic data. Third, invent affordable and effective equipments to identify small amount of chemicals in blood. The randomized clinical trials to test drug’s worth and safety only provide an average result, not specific to an individual. Besides, engineers are to invent new approach in aiding delivery of drugs to target cells while bypassing the body’s natural immune response. The emergence of the new study “synthetic biology” in replacing or repairing damaged cells has also deterred the creation of personalized medicine. Personalized medicines bring about numerous benefits. First of all, it gives an early warning or indication to patients on disease or risk of disease. Diseases can then be treated or prevented at earlier stage and avoid inessential treatment while ensure the best dosage of medicines is applied. However, disclosure of individual’s genetic profile will raise ethical and social problems. Drug-resistant infections have been a major concern in the medical sector where now engineers come to in to play. Natural selection takes place when drugs failed to get rid of the microbes, leading to the growth and eventually dominating the cells and they continue to be infective. Efforts have been done in fighting drug-resistant infections. Engineering is needed in designing methods to overcome multiple drug-resistant infections. This is done by searching for potential alternative drugs. Chemical engineers are posed to a challenge in inventing new group of drugs from plants or bacteria living in harsh and remote environments. Other than that, hybrid treatment is another way to fight multiple drug-resistant infections by using a combination of drugs and antibiotic. Above all, the in-depth knowledge on the resistance of viruses is essential for mapping out tactics to avoid pandemics. One challenge to the biomedical engineers is to design antibiotics that work on specific organisms only. In general, engineers have to develop therapies with higher degree of precision, efficiency and effectiveness. The professionals have to also deal with viruses that disrupt the protein synthesis process of RNA. Engineers have to make possible the production of incisive and credible vaccines to accommodate the needs in areas where infectious diseases are pandemics. The great amount of vaccines is of utmost importance in cases like this (National Academy of Engineering, 2008).

(447 words)

References

National Academy of Engineering. (2008). Engineer Better Medicines. Retrieved September 27, 2008 from

http://engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9129.aspx

Common Grammar Mistake: the use of Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect Tense

When it comes to writing, I have always been having problems to deal with the use of tenses, specifically simple past tense and present perfect tense. Frankly speaking, I did not know the actual difference between the two until I am assigned to do this portfolio. All I knew was that the two tenses are referring to past events, but when to use which, I was confused. Therefore, I always write according to my intuition whenever I come across this.

After reading from a few sources, I have learnt a lesson. The difference between simple past and present perfect tense is quite distinguishable. All we have to do is simple: keep our mind clear. If there is a clear indication that the event is happened in the past, use simple past tense. Otherwise, we must consider whether the action in the past affects the present in anyway. Table 1 compares the use of simple perfect tense and present perfect tense:

Simple Past Tense	Present Perfect Tense
The past simple tense may describe completed activities and past situations.	The present perfect tense may describe activities or situations which began in the past and are still continuing
In 1976, 60% of families were couples with children. In 1981, 34% of children aged 20-24 lived with their parents.	The number of one person households has grown. Over the past twenty years, the average size of households has fallen.
The past simple may describe activities without linking them to the present.	The present perfect may describe completed activities whose impact is felt in the present
They completed the research in 1972. They arrived yesterday.	They have completed the research. (Meaning: a short time ago; here it is). They have arrived. (Meaning: a short time ago; here they are).
With past simple verbs, the time may be specified.	With present perfect verbs, indefinite time expressions may be used
They completed the research in 1972. They arrived yesterday. The number of one person households grew last year.	They have just completed the research. They have already arrived. The number of one person households has grown recently.

Table 1: Present perfect and simple past compared (Monash University, 2007)

Simple Past Tense	Present Perfect Tense
yesterday 10 minutes ago last week in 1993 this morning/ this afternoon (when the period is finished)	just lately recently this morning/afternoon/evening (when the period is not finished) since

Table 2: Time markers for simple past tense and present perfect tense (Singh & Holden, 2006)

Table 2 gives some examples of time markers or signals that we should look out for when we are deliberating to write in simple past tense or present perfect tense. These markers serve as clues which guide us to write the right tenses.

Doing exercises is essential to master grammar. Feel free to try the exercise below to test your understanding. After all, practice makes perfect.

Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect Tense Exercise

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology 1._____ (change) a great deal. The first computers 2._____(be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They 3._____(have, not) much memory and they 4._____(be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often 5._____ (pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually 6._____(do) very little. Most computers 7._____ (be) separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.

Times 8._____ (change). Computers 9._____(become) powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers 10._____(create) a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users 11._____(get, also) on the Internet and (begin) communicating with other computer users around the world. We 12._____(start) to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past 13._____ (evolve) into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.

Answers:

1. has changed
2. were
3. did not have
4. were not
5. paid
6. did
7. were
8. have changed
9. have become
10. have created
11. have become
12. have also got
13. have begun
14. have started
15. have evolved

(Englishpage.com, n.d.)

References

Englishpage.com. (n.d.). Verb Tense Exercise 6: Simple Past/ Present Perfect. Retrieved 10 September, 2008, from http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs6.htm

Holden, A. & Singh, J. (2006). New Remedial English Grammar for KBSM (4^th edition). Selangor: Fajar Bakti Sdn Bhd

Monash University. (2007, February 21). Present perfect and simple past compared. Retrieved 10 September, 2008, from http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/grammar/tense/2.4.xml

Writing Assignment 1

Question 2

Another of the sub-challenges listed in [1] was “encouraging and promoting improved science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.” However, more focus on STEM education most likely means less time for education in language arts. Briefly describe the possible disadvantages of focusing on STEM education rather than language arts.

The trend of education has slowly shifted to focus more on the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. In other words, time for education in language arts is reduced (National Academy of Engineering, 2008). In my opinion, this is not a wise action. A series of disadvantages could be brought about. Most important of all, focusing on STEM education will result in limitations in learning language arts. Language arts as one of the finest things in the world, consists of five main components, namely reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing as established by the National Council of Teachers of English (Wikipedia, 2008). Our daily communication can never be done without these components. Rome was not built in a day. In order for students to adjust their use of language to communicate effectively with different audiences, a tremendous amount of time and effort must be invested (National Council of Teachers of English, 1996). The poorer command in language will cause students to be less expressive and thus miscommunication may occur. This is a rather serious issue. When messages are not accurately conveyed, the ‘chain reaction’ will take place. The actual information is distorted to a great extent as it is passed from one party to another. Miscommunication is intolerable especially in industries where accuracy is essential, for example, engineering. One minor disadvantage would be that students are unlikely to gain a thorough understanding on the essence of a language as well as discovering its beauty. As a result, they are often blunt in words and meager in aesthetic sense. Furthermore, the hidden linguistic talent of students will most likely remain unseen. This is certainly a loss to the cultural development of a community. For these reasons, I firmly believe that reducing time for education in language arts to emphasize on STEM education is not a brilliant idea.

References

National Academy of Engineering. (2008). Introduction to the Grand Challenges of Engineering. Retrieved June 3, 2008 from
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org.cms/8996/9221.aspx

National Council of Teachers of English. (1996). Standards for the English Language Arts, p.24. Retrieved August 31, 2008, from
http://www.ncte.org/store/books/standards/105977.htm

Wikipedia. (2008). Language Arts. Retrieved August 31, 2008, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_arts

Versatile Engineers Break Common Perception

Whenever we talk about engineers, skyscrapers, vehicles and electronic devices will come to our mind, naturally. This seems to be the deep-rooted impression of common people towards the profession. However, what engineers do today have gone way beyond that. From the classical engineering disciplines: mechanical, civil, electric and electronic to the modern engineering disciplines: chemical, biomedical, computer and environmental, this shows us how engineering has evolved to meet today’s challenges. There are four broad realms of human concern which await the engineering solution, namely sustainability, health, vulnerability and joy of living (National Academy of Engineering, 2008). In order to solve the various issues involved, engineers have to equip themselves with knowledge and skill not only from the respective fields of expertise, but also from the other disciplines or even from the non-engineering industries. Most of the tertiary education institutions now aim to produce all-round engineering graduates to meet the demand of the employment market. Students are encouraged to take up cross-faculty modules to gain fundamentals knowledge on different fields of study. Business based modules are the most popular among engineering students seeing the use in the corporate world. This explains why engineers are no longer only to be found in engineering firms, construction sites and manufacturing industry. We can now see them contributing to finance, banking, logistics, education, commerce and even healthcare (Ramakrishna, 2007). In fact, a lot of the older batch of engineers is undergoing the transition stage from manufacture to service sector. Versatile engineers who are ready to venture into the different industries are said to be prepared to make great impact to the world.

References

National Academy of Engineering. (2008). Introduction to the Grand Challenges of Engineering. Retrieved June 3, 2008 from
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org.cms/8996/9221.aspx

Ramakrishna S. (2007, August 5). The expanding world of engineers.The Sunday Times, pp.25.