Monday, September 30, 2019

The Plane – Creative Writing

Four pm Spanish time and we were in the Reus airport waiting to go home. We had really enjoyed ourselves in the sun, compared to wet and dreary Northern Ireland but we were really looking forward to getting home and seeing our family again. We had only been there about an hour when we were asked to go to the departure lounge. I thought this was great. We would be in the air promptly and I would see my friends before nightfall. We where flying with Monarch Airlines and we could see the plane over the horizon. As it was landing all that was in my mind were thoughts of home. The people were getting off the plane and they were rushing for the baggage reclaim. We could see our luggage being transported onto the plane and watched as it was being refuelled. As I took a look around I could see there were no engineers examining the plane. As we settled into our seats the Captain of the plane announced that we would be taking off within the next ten minutes. I was seated at the window, my sister next to me, my mum on the aisle and my dad in the next row. As the plane was powering up I became very nervous. The engines roared and it shot like a bullet along the runway and into the air. I looked out the window and watched. The airport became just a speck in the distance and I knew we were finally heading home. The cabin crew came along selling headphones for the televisions and I bought a pair and waited to see what was coming on. The TV sets came down but to my surprise they went back up, All the sets were doing this, up then down again and again. The cabin lights flickered and a cold mist came out of the ceiling, I thought this was very strange. We all knew by now something wasn't right. Then the Captain's speakers came on and he said in a frightful manner â€Å"could the cabin crew come to the cockpit for a briefing† I knew this was not normal. The speakers came on once more the captain saying, â€Å"I am sorry but we will have to return to Reus airport†. My heart started to pump faster. As he said that, the plane went over to the side. I looked out of the window and the ocean was like a magnet pulling the plane down. The Captain pulled back up again and the plane was going the opposite direction. I could see the airport that was just a spec and now was a safe-haven. The plane started its descent to the airport. As I peered out of the window the runway was getting closer. Then the right engine failed. I thought this was all right because we were almost on the ground. As I turned my head further round the window I saw fire engines and ambulances rushing down beside the plane. My hands gripped onto the arm of the chair like a vice on a piece of hard metal There were children crying but I couldn't, all I could do was watch the sky. The back wheels of the plane touched down and I held my breath for the final wheel touching the ground. As it did it was like Velcro sticking to the runway. The wheels screeched on the ground and the plane went off to the right and we came to an abrupt halt. Everyone on the plane was silent and all that could be heard were sirens. One man on the plane started demanding his baggage. Then the Captain announced that we had to go to the departure lounge. Anybody that was a smoker had started smoking on the plane. As we waited in the departure lounge all we were given was a free sandwich and a free drink. We were in the airport for two hours when a thunderstorm occurred. All I could think of was â€Å"it could only happen to me†. Then around an hour later the Captain came into the airport and announced that when we took off we had sprayed half our fuel supply over the runway. It was due to a burst fuel pipe and that was why we had such a bad landing. We were in the airport for a total of seven hours when we could hear a faint sound in the air. All the people came to the windows and looked out. In the distance we could see our new plane coming towards the airport through thunder and lightning. It looked like a superhero coming to our rescue as everybody cheered. As we got on the plane everyone was nervous. We went down the runway and into the air again. As this was happening you could almost hear everyone's heart beating. As we touched down in Belfast International Airport everyone cheered once more and the pilots wished us all a safe and happy onward journey.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Ethnicity and the Immigrant Experience

Ethnicity and the Immigrant Experience When thinking about immigration, most individuals imagine all different types of ethnic groups traveling to a separate land away from their own. Most imagine America. Immigration, throughout history, has occurred within all types of ethnicities. When taking a closer look at the individuals living in America, it is apparent that everyone is not exactly like one another. Assimilation becomes a popular word used when discussing migration, and both positives and negatives come along with it.Two theorists that discuss the meaning of assimilation in their writings are Stephen Steinberg in his book, Ethnic Myth, and Milton Gordon in his book Assimilation in American Life. They discuss issues regarding assimilation and how they affect the nation as a whole. A novel written by Chang-Rae Lee titled, Native Speaker, gives specific examples as to how the assimilation process affects others and the migrants themselves, as also described in both Steinberg and Gordon’s books.In Steinberg’s book, Ethnic Myth, he discusses with his readers the issues regarding ethnic identity and assimilation. This is presented and explained in the chapter titled, The Atrophy of Ethnic Cultures. He first talks about the idea of the â€Å"melting pot† and how it should not be analyzed lightly. He gives a quote from John Higham that says, â€Å"Loud assertions of pluralism almost invariably betray fears of assimilation† (Steinberg, 59). This means that minority groups that try to maintain their cultural traditions may, in fact, risk assimilation by doing so.Another point he brings to the surface is that when looking back at second or third generations of a specific minority group, these people still can relate back to their original traditions and culture identity. He then says, â€Å"But can the same be said of the new generation which has known only the Americanized version of the original culture? † (Steinberg, 60). This is an obvious prevailing issue when it comes to preserving ones culture.An example within the novel, Native Speaker, would be when Henry, the main character described as a Korean immigrant, explains the history with his father. His father, living in America, would gather with friends and participate in ggeh’s, or â€Å"money clubs. † Here they would win money and eventually, that is all that mattered to the Korean group. The shift from typical Korean traditions to owning all this land and money in American became a vast transformation. Henry says about his father, â€Å"In America, he said, it’s even hard to stay Korean. These alterations from one ethnic experience and tradition to another can be lost very quickly and potentially never be replenished. Throughout both Steinberg and Gordon’s writing, they both have similarities and differences when regarding assimilation. Gordon talks about these â€Å"ethnic meetings† which refer to assimilation. Throughout Gordon’s chapter titled, The Nature of Assimilation, he gives a numerous amount of definitions from theorists and writers that differ in various ways.In an essay that Gordon leaves the author anonymous in this chapter defines assimilation as â€Å"the process by which different cultures, or individuals or groups representing different cultures, are merged into a homogenous unit. Here Gordon talks about assimilation as positive, whereas Steinberg takes a different approach. Steinberg suggests that assimilation is not always a positive aspect simply because it can result in the loss of a cultural identity. This is present in Native Speaker because Henry continuously tries indulging himself into American culture.He cannot fully accomplish this, which essentially results in his wife, Lelia, leaving him in the beginning of the novel. As there are differences within Steinberg and Gordon’s readings, they do agree upon their understanding of the nature within assim ilation. Gordon says that cultural behavior changes â€Å"may take place in the cultures of either one of the two groups, or there may be a reciprocal influence whereby the cultures of both groups are modified† (Gordon, 62).Steinberg agrees with this statement because he suggests that the changing of one’s culture is at high risk when incorporated into a different culture. He says, â€Å"The ethnic crisis only begins with the fact that the core elements of traditional culture have been modified, diluted, compromised, and finally relinquished† (Steinberg, 62). Both writers describe this lack of identity in one way or another. Assimilation is apparent in any society, especially America. People of different backgrounds continuously trying to come together to create one nation is a crucial aspect in society today.Steinberg, Gordon, and Lee all discuss how assimilation has issues when it comes to preserving ones ethnic traditions and identity. What they all convey to readers however, is the fact that the merging of cultures will forever be essential and inevitable. Works Cited Steinberg, Steven. The Ethnic Myth: Race, Ethnicity, and Class in America. Boston: Beacon Press, 1978. Print. Lee, Chang-Rae. Native Speaker. New York: Riverhead Books, 1995. Print. Gordon, Milton. The Nature of Assimilation. Oxford University Press, 1964. eBook.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Telecom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Telecom - Essay Example However, to serve simplified organizational goals that are specifically identified by smaller organizations, the need to design and establish a workable R & D that could address the mission and goals of the organization and within an identified budget would suffice. Smaller organizations can update themselves of telecommunications trends using various medium. As emphasized by Sachenko â€Å"organizations are becoming internetworked enterprises that use the Internet, intranets, and other telecommunications networks to support e-business operations and collaboration within the enterprise, and with their customers, suppliers, and other business partners† (1). In an article written by Rubin, it was disclosed that â€Å"small companies spend proportionally more of their revenues on research and development than large ones† (par 1). Likewise, in another study, Klein revealed that â€Å"small and midsize companies don’t know how to capture qualified research expenses and quantify them. Also, in most small companies, the R&D is heaviest up front, when they are developing products and services† (1). In this regard, small organizations could solve the problem by availing of R & D tax credits. As explained by Klein, " if you’re a startup and you don’t have research expenses for the previous three years, you can use 6 percent of your qualified research expenses to offset your tax liability, if you have any. If you don’t have tax liability, perhaps because you have no income as a startup, you can claim the credit prospectively and carry it forward into a year when you do owe taxes. The great thing is that there’s a 20-year carry-forward provision for this credit† (1). Therefore, through availing of R & D tax credits, the amount of tax liability could be minimized depending on the income of the small organization. Likewise, by being aware and recognizing which R & D

Friday, September 27, 2019

Poor Communication Between Doctors and Nurses Speech or Presentation

Poor Communication Between Doctors and Nurses - Speech or Presentation Example Many patients die because some nurses fail to pass some important information about the patients to the doctors. Therefore, effective communication between nurses and doctors should be encouraged to promote positive patients’ outcomes. Purpose The program’s purpose is to promote effective communication between doctors and nurses in hospitals. Additionally, the project aims to reduce the negative effects of poor communication between doctors and nurses by creating awareness. It would be fundamental for the program to state the aspects that constitute appropriate communication within the hospital surroundings. Target population The target populations for this program are the board and the health leaders within the broader care system. Additionally, the program targets doctors and nurses in all the hospitals. I would also be fundamental to include patients because their response is crucial. Benefits of the program The programs will benefit the nurses, doctors, and patients . Effective communication between nurses and doctors improves the relationship between the two professional groups, which in turn enhances job satisfaction and productivity (Gordon, Buchanan & Bretherton, 2008). Most nurses complain about their poor relationship with doctors. Researches show that most nurses never get job fulfillment because of their poor relationship with doctors. The nurses feel inferior in the work places because they experience social stigma. This is because doctors are considered more important that nurses and they should be the ones making the final decisions (Coombs, 2004). Additionally, proper communication between nurses and doctors will help in reducing patients’ deaths in hospitals. Lack of communication increases the occurrences of medical errors in hospitals causing unexpected patients’ deaths (Gordon, Buchanan & Bretherton, 2008). Researches prove that medical errors are among the five major causes of deaths in the country. Approximately 98,000 patients die in the US because of the medical inaccuracies that result from poor communication (Rosenstein & O’Daniel, 2009). Nurses do not usually participate in decision-making processes in most hospitals. This makes nurses to assume that the doctors comprehend everything and they fail to give the doctors some vital information, which they do not know about the patients. This leads to giving of wrong prescriptions, which worsen the patients’ conditions. Nurses are always the closest individuals to the patients compared to all other healthcare team members. Therefore, they always have better assessments of the patients’ needs. However, they are always reluctant to share their observations and assessment results due to poor communication systems in hospitals. Therefore, the program will help in upgrading the health care systems in hospitals by improving communication (Coombs, 2004). The projects will also help in lessening the shortages of nurses. Researc hes show that for last five year, the numbers of nurses has been declining (Gordon, Buchanan & Bretherton, 2008). This has resulted into a shortage of nurses in many countries. This is because they are treated as inferior individuals in the work places. Consequently, most people prefer being doctors because they are accorded additional value than nurses are. Improving communication between doctors and nurses will make the nurses to feel worthy, and many people will be

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Realist and Neo-Realist International Relations Essay

Realist and Neo-Realist International Relations - Essay Example The state, for Realism, is a power-maximizer in a self-help environment where no one can be trusted and violence is endemic. Non-Realist IR theory is invariably also anti-Realist. It never ignores Realism, but always incorporates a critique of that paradigm to position itself intellectually. This is because Realism is about the state. Since we cannot evade the state, which is everywhere and all around us and the centre-piece of our political cosmology, neither can IR theory evade Realism. Empirical "tests" may show that certain events in the world are (not in) consistent with the hard core of a realist research program. But that does not provide support in any strong sense of that term for choosing realism over some competing paradigm. Many events that are explained by one realist theory are also inconsistent with at least one other no less authentic realist theory. For instance, if balancing and bandwagoning exhaust the possible aligning bahaviours of states, as Waltz (1979) suggests they do, and if good realist theories predict each, as they do, then any piece of evidence simultaneously confirm and contradicts "realism". Labs provide an extreme example of the perspective when he presents offensive (rather than defensive) realism as "the best realist theory available to go forward and do battle with competing approaches to international relations" (1997, p. 48). Neither, however, will get realist very far in such a battle. Sovereignty is the primary concept of realism. It is taken as given that states enjoy unchallenged jurisdiction within their own boundaries. Realists make little attempt to theorize the impact a state's relationship with its civil society has upon its relations with other states. Waltz expresses this simplistic view when he writes that 'students of international politics will do well to concentrate on separate theories of internal and external politics until someone figures out a way to unite them (Rosenberg 1994, p. 5). Waltz is able to argue this because of his view of how the states sys operates. Waltz (1979) rejects explanations of international conflict which stress flaws in human nature. Rather it is the structure of the international system that creates tension between states: in the absence of a higher authority, states compete with each other to ensure their security. This may trigger an arms race, perhaps leading to full-scale war. This structure will determine a state's fo reign policy, regardless of its internal political arrangements or the nature of the dominant belief system within civil society. The strength of realism is that it highlights the irrationalities that underpin the login of a world divided into states. The conflicts between states, which are well documented by history, and which often transcend apparent commonalities of 'race' or ideology, present compelling evidence in support of the realist argument. It is increasingly clear, however, the realism's assumptions are inadequate to the task of explaining the nature of contemporary world politics. The problems of mainstream international relations theory lie mainly in its understanding of state sovereignty and security. Realists and non-realists are tuned to account for different dimensions of international relations. As realist theories are especially well-suited to explain certain

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Watch film and then write the critical views of the film Essay

Watch film and then write the critical views of the film - Essay Example The Future of Food tends to explain in a systematic and organized manner as to how the much praised Green Revolution had a debilitating influence on the small farmers and how it benefitted the large corporations. The objective of the Green Revolution was to facilitate a massive increase in the overall production of crops in the poor or developing nations by promoting an extensive use of high yielding varieties of crops, chemical pesticides and artificial fertilizers (Belasco 116). The basic objective of Green Revolution was to make way for a larger production of food crops that could help the poor nations deal with the long pending issues like hunger and mal-nutrition. However, it is sad to say that though Green Revolution did help the developing nations to some extent, yet the economics of Green Revolution was primarily hijacked by the big multinational pesticide and fertilizer producers. The high yield varieties of crops were so modified that they worked only when treated with spec ific fertilizers and pesticides (Belasco 116). Thereby, this approach towards Green Revolution eventually ended up filling the coffers of large multinational corporations dealing in pesticides and fertilizers. However, it will be true to say that The Future of Food was very constrained about how Green Revolution did benefit large number of hungry and mal-nourished people around the world. The other ironic revelation extended by The Future of Food is that going by the fact that the economics of Green Revolution was skewed in favor of powerful multinational corporations and rich farmers, it negatively impacted the small framers the world over and diluted their role in the larger food economics (Belasco 116). Though, industrial farming aimed to produce massive quantities of crops, on a large scale by resorting to the usage of modern technology and by influencing the economics and politics of food at an international level, yet, actually speaking

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Air-turbine performance Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Air-turbine performance - Coursework Example Firstly, the turbine may experience some heating for the atmosphere and if it operates at a temperature less than that of the atmosphere, the heating process will result to a transfer of energy to the turbine hence an increase in the shaft work output. Secondly, the turbine may experience effects of friction from either the air-stream or shaft bearings and this will lead to a reduction to the shaft work output. The magnitude of these two heating processes are rather difficult to measure hence for the purpose of this experiment, such effects will be noted so as to help in explaining the trends of the measurements obtained. The diagram below shows a schematic arrangement of an air-turbine A high pressure from station 1 passes through a turbine and is exhausted at station 2 under a low pressure. Consequently, temperature T1 at station 1 falls to T2 at station 2 and these are measured using a thermocouple. Due to energy extraction, shaft work Wx is produced and this can be measured by use of brake-dynamometer. Therefore, in the plot of a graph of Wx against Cp (T2 -T1), any deviation from a straight line gradient passing through the origin will be attributed to factor - Wf + Q hence an evaluation of these two terms may result in either a negative, positive or zero value. Theoretically, the rotational speed of the turbine is expected to vary. Also the percentage of the energy extracted from the air stream that is converted to useful shaft will vary with the rotational speed and will reach an optimum at the design speed of the turbine. d) The turbine speed was measure through the help of the tachometer once the turbine speed and inlet and outlet temperatures had stabilized. This speed values were recorded alongside the values of T2 and T1. The two graphs are nearly straight line graphs but with a negative gradient. However,

Monday, September 23, 2019

Victims' Program Grant Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Victims' Program Grant Application - Essay Example The purpose of this grant is therefore to address the issue of underserved needs of underserved people through a community driven initiative. The community-driven initiative, as the name implies shall be a community based education and awareness project that seeks to identify key legal aspects of criminal education and support that is absent among this population and address them accordingly. The focus of the education program will be to equip the populace with knowledge of their basic human rights and rights under the criminal justice system. The support aspect of the initiative will on the other hand empower the crime victims to take up legal issues of their offenses for legal redress. Specifically, the community-driven initiative shall involve the setting up of community based advocacy agencies within high risk areas. High risk areas where there are a lot of underserved population crime victims will be identified through both primary and secondary research and development. After i dentifying these areas, offices of â€Å"Hope for Underserved Crime Victims† shall be opened. ... This is because of the huge lapses that have been found in the criminal justice system in the protection of the fundamental human rights of people in minority groups such as women, children, the elderly and the disabled. Day in and out, issues of criminal injustice against women, children, the elderly and the disabled have been aired in the media. This has generally given most criminals a field day to have the notion that the law does not have the kind of teeth to bite them when they extend their acts to these underserved people. Indeed, statistics and data from existing agencies and associate organizations such as Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Justice Programs, and Family Justice Center Alliance give evidence to the fact effect that records of crime against these underserved people is higher as compared to other groups in the United States (Colquitt and Jessica, 2011). As part of the history of victimization against underserved people, it has been found that instead of coming out boldly after facing criminal acts, these people are isolated and even blamed as the cause of their own actions. In some cases, these people who suffer hate and bias crimes are sidelined for justice because the masses of the people are always on the side of those who commit the crimes (Flynn, 1998). The scope of the problem The Chico State and National Victim Assistance Academy identifies several groups of underserved populations, as well as several types of problems that these people face. However, in order to ensure that the grant is specific and well coordinated into a section of relief that it can rightly find solutions to, there are specific scopes of needs of underserved crime victims that will

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Essay about a Poem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

About a Poem - Essay Example emplation as young, Black student in the midst of a relatively Caucasian educational institution and the contention of the equality between him and his professor. The persona of the poem speaks of how he perceives himself as the same as of any other individual his age or otherwise. He starts with the fact of his cognizance of his aesthetic difference and how he is apart from all the others around him, being the only Black student in his class. It paints of the picture of the school and its close proximity but otherwise vague disconnect with Harlem. But with the college’s discord amplifying his intimacy with the place and how it represents him, and how he must represent it. It ropes in the simple intricacies that add up and defines us as who we are as human beings. Mundane things the poetic persona expresses like ‘to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love’ How these are the same for him as it is for all the others around him, including his professor, this in his mind makes all of them equal, regardless of the color of their skin. The perception of the polar opposition between the white paper and the black ink gives much of the vivid detail that makes the poem as refine in the rendering of the underlying tone that it extends. He is what and who he is, and being so, the negation of what his paper will not be leads to his realization of what it is. In the course of his reflection he discerned the reality of being. The veritable connections that make the student and the professor equal, that constitutes why they are one and the same. And that is the fact that they are both Americans. Known for his political dynamism through his literary works, Hughes wrote the poem during a time when American history was at the threshold of a landmark revolution that ultimately led to the realization of the Civil Rights Movement. A developmental change that he has in many ways has become an integral part of. His works include contentious political tones that articulate race

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Ground Water in Dhaka City Essay Example for Free

Ground Water in Dhaka City Essay Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh which has a population of about 12. 5 millions and its population rate is over 5%. Projected population is about 22 million by 2025. Dhaka is now the 7th largest populated city in the world and it is anticipated that Dhaka will be the 2nd largest city in the world by 2020. This city is full of problem and one of the major problems is water crisis. Although Bangladesh is rich in water resource, but there remains lack of safe water. The cities in Bangladesh are the centre of employment, communications and development. So, people are rapidly migrating in these cities from rural areas place putting additional pressure on the infrastructure and water resources. For this huge population in Dhaka city, water demand is also huge. And maximum portion of this greater demand is fulfilled by ground water. The daily requirement of water in Dhaka city is about 200 crore liters while WASA supplies 180 crore liters, leaving a shortage of 20 crore liters. Out of this 180 crore liters of water, 154. 50 crore liters of water are supplied from ground water. All most 85%-87% of water is supplied from under the ground and of them are from surface water. To supply this massive amount of water we need to extract a lot from the ground. Everyday demand for water is increasing and we are adding new pumps. In 1998, there were only 243 water pumps to lift water in 2004 it was 440 but now it is 560. Each of the pumps lifts 3,000 liters of water in a minute. And this is also making some problems. For this heavy extraction water level is going down rapidly. In some statistics I have found that the level of underground water has dropped down to 61. 18 meters. The average rate of decline of water level varied from 1 m to 2. 50 as the report of DWDB. Ground water depletion situation is severe in the central part of the city compare to the areas close to river bank, says DWDB. If this continue to happen then in future it will be hard to lift up underground water. Moreover, the increasing number of pumps and subsequent depletion of groundwater table increases the risk of disasters like landslide, subsidence and earthquake.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Mental health and health needs of asylum seekers and refugees

Mental health and health needs of asylum seekers and refugees INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Asylum seekers and refuges is a growing problem affecting many European countries as well as the UK. In the recent years the number of asylum seekers and refugees entering UK has increased, attracting the attention of the media, politicians as well as ordinary people. It is a controversial subject leading to intense debate and discussions and unsurprisingly to different views and perspectives. The increase in the numbers seeking asylum has led to governments and the international agencies grappling with the problems of providing adequate humanitarian assistance in the third world and avoiding floods of asylum seekers arriving at their doorstep (Timothy et al 2009). This has also led to changes in asylum policies with the governments responding to the rising problem with a range of measures aimed at deterring asylum applications. Mental illness is one of the leading causes of illness around the world and estimated to affect up to a third of the British population. It is especially common amongst asylum seekers and refugees, which may be due to them having experienced loss, bereavement, torture, rape etc. Their mental health can then be exacerbated due to displacement and their situation in the UK. There is a lot of stigma attached to mental illness, and the mentally ill still face discrimination in many ways, which results in many not seeking treatment. The exact cause of mental illness is a subject doctors still argue about. Society has been known to play a key role, but recently there has been a growing concentration on the role of genes. 1.2 Who are Asylum-seekers? An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their country to find a safe place elsewhere. Under the 1951 Convention on Refugees, an asylum applicant must be able to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin for reasons of political opinion, religion, ethnicity, race/nationality, or membership of a particular social group (Burnett 2002). They must also be able to show that they are unable to obtain any protection or help from their own national authorities (Burnett 2002). The Refugee or Person in Need of International Protection (Qualification) Regulations 2006 updates parts of the convention. Asylum applications in the UK are sent to the Home Office. Over the last ten years there have been several pieces of legislation introduced which has created an ever changing climate of policy on refugees and asylum seekers. This is a result of the significant numbers of rejected asylum seekers who have had all means of support withdrawn from them and are now destitute in the UK. Asylum seekers represent a vulnerable population due to a host of pre- and post-migration risk factors. Pre-migration factors include torture and refugee trauma, which may result in mental and physical illness. Moreover, asylum seekers often come from conflict areas, without access to adequate health services. Post-migration factors also play a role for health. They include detention, length of asylum procedure, language barriers, and lack of knowledge about the new health care system. Destitute asylum seekers are those people who are unable to access support for their basic needs from the government or from their own resources. The position of rejected asylum seekers is appalling, with many unable to return to their country of origin for reasons beyond their control and yet they are not allowed to work and support themselves (Dumper et al 2009). Below is a table showing the various definitions of refugee status: Asylum seeker Someone who has submitted an application for protection under the Geneva Convention and is waiting for their claim to be decided by the Home Office. Refugee status Someone whos claim has been accepted and has been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain, and is also eligible for family reunion. Exceptional Leave to or Remain (ELE/ELR) The Home Office accepts that there are strong reasons that the person should not return to their country of origin. ELR is discretionary and for varying periods depending on the age of the applicant and other circumstances Refusal Someone whos application for refugee status has been rejected. 1.3 Reasons for seeking Asylum The causes of refugees and asylum flows are many from the effects of conflict and wars, political upheaval, to economic problems and search for a better life. These displaced people face many problems such as oppression, poverty and disease. Some of them have been held captive and tortured in their own countries; some have been prosecuted because of their political or religious beliefs and some because they belong to a minority ethnic group. 1.4 UK Asylum Policy Services offered to refugees and asylum-seekers in the United Kingdom are largely determined by national legislation that in turn informs policy and practice. The introduction of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) at the end of the 1990s was accompanied by several Acts of Parliament that have been added to by further legislation, the most recent being the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004. While historically UK has a long tradition of providing refuge to people fleeing from prosecution, the Government has recently sought to affect the behaviour of asylum-seekers through legislation intended to discourage asylum-seekers from coming to the UK. For example the support withdrawn from asylum-seekers who have exhausted their claim is designed ultimately to either persuade people to return to their country or make it easier for the Home Office to remove them. In the same way, provision of support to asylum-seekers is often conditional on their agreeing to be dispersed to different parts of the country (Johnson 2003). 1.5 Statistics of asylum seekers in the UK The main source of data on the UK asylum process and flows of individuals through it is the Home Office RDS units. Throughout the asylum process, administrative data is entered into a number of computerised databases, which are supported by a small number of manual systems. The Case Information Database (CID) records information on applications, decisions, appeals, removals (including voluntary assisted returns), persons held in detention and persons leaving detention. The Asylum Seekers Support System Database (ASYS) records details of asylum seekers applying and receiving support (ICAR 2009). The UK received 25,930 applications for asylum in 2008, compared to 23,430 in 2007 making it an increase of 11%. The highest level of asylum applications, in the last decade, was in 2002, with levels falling significantly after that. It was not until 2008 when the number of applicants started increasing once again. The chart below shows the number of applicants received in the UK between 2000 -2008. The chart was taken from the Information Centre about Asylum Seekers and Refugees (ICAR) Statistics paper. Figure 1: Applications for asylum in the UK excluding dependents 2000-08 (ICAR 2009). The main countries of origin of asylum applicants in 2008 were Afghanistan (14%), Zimbabwe (12%), Iran (9%), Eritrea (9%), Iraq (7%) Sri Lanka (6%), China, (5%), Somalia (5%), Pakistan (5%) and Nigeria (3%) (ICAR 2009). The majority of people seeking asylum in UK are single men under the age of 40 who come from countries in conflict (Burnett et al 2001). Figure 2: Showing age and gender breakdown of UK asylum seekers (Refugee Council 2009) The above diagram shows the break down of the gender of principle applicants to the UK. Males under 35 are the majority, whilst females seeking asylum are only a ration of twenty percent. 1.6 Rational for the study Asylum seekers and refugees have been the subject of media as well as political attention for many years. However, they receive bad publicity and majority of the time are stigmatised. They are perceived to come to the UK to take advantage of the welfare system and to receive host of benefits and entitlements. However, this could not be more wrong as asylum seekers and refugees flee their country not because of choice but due to circumstances and a search for sanctuary and help. They are not allowed to claim benefits and are forced to live 30% below the poverty line (Kirklees Council 2007). Furthermore, most of the asylum seekers come from well off backgrounds; and it is only the rich and well off that are able to make the long journey, and hold skilled jobs in their native countries (FPH 2008). Asylum seekers and refugees are most vulnerable groups of people at risk of developing mental problems (FPH 2008). Although there is awareness that asylum seekers and refugees are more likely to experience psychological problems factors such as asylum and immigration policies as well as social and economic exclusion and racism all exacerbate their mental condition. Having experienced all kinds of atrocities from torture, rape, imprisonment, witnessing killings, loss etc., they are faced with further problems once arriving in the UK and their mental state further deteriorates. Although refugees and asylum seekers physical health needs are usually no greater than the host populations this is not the case in relation to mental illness. There are many gaps in our knowledge about the extent of mental health issues affecting asylum seekers and what should be done in addressing these concerns. There is hardly any scholarly literature available on this topic and the general population need to be more aware of the issues and challenges faced by asylum seekers, and what effect it has on their mental health. 1.7 Aims Chapter two 2.1 Method A review was carried out of studies investigating the mental health of asylum seekers. The results and findings of carefully selected and reliable studies, searched systematically from databases and published sources were summarised. Other sources included NHS, Home Office, charity organisations, books, newspapers and magazines, and finally a general internet search was conducted. The following electronic databases were used CINHAL, Medline, BMJ, Cochrane, Pubmed, Academic search complete, and psycho info. The task of reviewing was done very methodically, with step to step plan being implemented, which involved: * the way existing studies are found * how the relevant studies are judged in terms of their usefulness in answering the question. The following search was performed, searching the title, abstract and any subject heading fields in each database, for example asylum seekers, mental health, health effects of detention. Studies published in journals were selected that involved asylum seekers and mental health, irrespective of whether the research question was addressed directly. Abstracts were screened against set criteria, and if they met the criteria full copies were obtained and looked at and relevant information extracted. Cited references were also looked at. Chapter three Results and Analysis 3.1 Health needs of Asylum-seekers The basic health needs of refugees and asylum seekers are generally similar to those of the host population, although due to poor and lack of healthcare they may have many conditions untreated. Figure 3: Most common health issues affecting asylum seekers. (Wilson 2002). The above graph, taken from a report done by Northern and Yorkshire public health observatory (Wilson 2002) shows the most frequent health issues encountered by asylum seekers. The general/minor health issues includes coughs, colds, flu, viral infections etc. Mental health issues are the most common and include anything from depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, to torture related psychological problems, post traumatic stress etc. (Wilson 2002). People seeking asylum come from different countries and cultures, and have had range of different experiences affecting their health and nutritional state. Once in the UK they face further problems affecting their health such as the effects of poverty, dependence and lack of cohesive social support. On top of this they face racial discrimination which can result in inequalities in health and also have an impact on opportunities in and quality of life. Their experiences also shape their acceptance and expectations of health care in the UK (Burnett et al 2001). Those from countries with not so well developed health care system may expect hospital referral for conditions that in the UK are treated in primary care. This can result in refugees and asylum seekers feeling disappointed and health workers feeling irritated and overwhelmed by the many and varying needs of asylum seekers (Burnett at al 2001). Most refugees experience difficulties in expressing health needs and in accessing health care. Poverty and social exclusion have a negative impact on health. Initially refugees and asylum seekers will need help to make contact with health and social support agencies. Professional interpreters are also essential, as they help to overcome both bi-lingual and inter-cultural communication and as a result able to understand the specific health needs of asylum seekers (Bhatia et al 2007). Although the health needs of asylum seekers and refugees should be a priority, the availability and capacity of healthcare services should also be considered. There is a general feeling amongst healthcare providers that the decision about where to disperse asylum seekers are based purely on the availability of accommodation and factors such as the capacity of healthcare services are not taken into account (Johnson 2003). However, healthcare providers agree that the presence of asylum seekers highlights existing weaknesses in healthcare provision and does not necessarily create new problems (Johnson 2003). Due to the complex and confusing legal status of asylum seekers, the majority of healthcare providers are unsure how asylum status relates to healthcare entitlements. NHS staff are usually ignorant about the rights and entitlements of immigrants, and are also not adequately trained (Johnson 2003). 3.2 Mental Health and its causes Mental Health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community (WHO 2010). Mental Illness is defined as any disease of the mind; the psychological state of someone who has emotional or behavioural problems serious enough to require psychiatric intervention (Save the Children 2010). The very nature of seeking asylum or human rights protection in the UK means that a person has suffered in some way in their country of origin and is looking for protection and safety in the UK. Nearly all those seeking asylum have experienced some form of atrocities that mental health issues are almost always intrinsically bound with their personal circumstances and nature of their claim (Burnett et al 2001). However, due to the stigmas and taboos associated with anyone suffering from any problems of the mind most people do not mention their mental suffering (Save the Children 2010). Most see mental illness as an enduring problem from which there is no recovery. It is therefore evident that those dealing with asylum seekers must address mental health issues with each applicant, making it clear to them that there is support and treatment available to them. It is crucial that asylum seekers feel safe and supported in order for them to reveal details not only crucial to their claim but also crucial to letting the person assisting them identify and provide assistance for the persons particular need (Save the Children 2010). Majority of the asylum seekers will show signs and symptoms of psychological distress, but this does not necessarily mean that they are suffering from mental illness. Asylum seekers may show symptoms of depression and anxiety, panic attacks, poor sleeping patterns, nervousness and anxiousness (Burnett 2002). They may also develop behaviours to avoid stimuli that reminds them of past experiences, with some also experiencing memory and concentration problems (Burnett 2002). Such symptoms are often reactions to their past experiences and current situations. Many of them will have been forced to leave their family behind or may even not know the whereabouts of their family. Their state of mental health may worsen due to social isolation, poverty, hostility and racism, which all have a negative impact on their health (Burnett et al 2002). Arrival, detention and uncertainty, practical issues, e.g. housing, lack of employment, living in a climate of prejudice, family dislocation and reunion, domestic violence and living in the shadow of deportation are all reasons identified that contribute to the poor mental state of asylum seekers and refuges (Burnett 2002). Majority of the asylum seekers have suffered some sort of prosecution and harassment in their country of origin, enduring torture, rape or bereavement. They have also experienced the stress of flight and exile. Psychological morbidity has been extensively documented among refugee populations (Burnett et al 2002). The experience of detention compounds the misery of refugees. Captivity is stressful in any context, but is particularly debilitating when it occurs over an indeterminate period and to people who have had previously traumatic experiences of detention (Burnett 2002). Some asylum seekers show signs of anxiety, depression, guilt and shame as a result of the atrocities they may have suffered. Such symptoms are common responses to grief and distress and should not be viewed as psychiatric illness. Common experiences in asylum seekers and refugees after trauma include poor sleeping patterns, distressing dreams, headaches, palpitations, sweating, loss of concentration, jumpiness, low mood and frequent crying, irritability etc. Symptoms such as consistent failure to carry out daily tasks, frequent expressed suicidal thoughts and ideas, social withdrawal and self-neglect, and behaviour that is abnormal or strange are symptoms that may require specialist help (Burnett 2002). 3.3 Mental health of dispersed asylum seekers One of the major initiatives introduced by the Asylum and Immigration Act 1999 is the dispersal of asylum seekers requiring provision of long-term accommodation form London and the South-East to other parts of the UK (Cornelius 2007). This is due to the fact that long term accommodation is more readily available and cheaper and also to lessen pressure on services and resentment by local communities. However, it is believed that dispersal of asylum seekers is associated with higher rates of psychiatric disorder (Heptinstall et al 2004). Other issues such as loss of newly established support networks, racially motivated crime against dispersed asylum seekers are also common (Heptinstall et al 2004). Although most asylum seekers cope quite well with dispersal, there are those however that become distressed and show signs of dispersal-related mental disorder (Cornelius 2007). Supporting such individuals can be challenging for most mental health clinicians. Asylum seekers referred because of dispersal-related mental disorder can be divided into two broad categories: mild to moderate psychiatric disorder and severe psychiatric disorder (Cornelius 2007). The majority of affected individuals are likely to experience mild to moderately severe psychiatric disorder with no major risk concerns, whereas a small proportion of individuals may have severe psychiatric disorder such as psychosis or a severe depressive episode associated with risk of harm to self or others (Cornelius 2007). The differing severity, complexity and risk profile of these two groups suggest that mental health strategies for support are likely to be different (Cornelius 2007). Clinicians should undertake a detailed assessment of the needs and risk profiles of asylum seekers, with the aide of interpreters with knowledge of mental health issues. If the outcome of the assessment shows the individual to have forms of mild to moderate severe psychiatric disorder with no major risks then the mental health support should be focused on helping the individual accept and adjust to dispersal (Cornelius 2007). However, individuals may show signs of being acutely psychotic and severely disturbed with risk of harming themselves and others and such individuals should not be dispersed. There is evidence to suggest that abrupt cessation of psychiatric treatment can result in serious deterioration of the individuals mental health and compromise long-term recovery (Cornelius 2007). 3.4 Children and Adolescents Although the majority of asylum seekers and refugees are adults, there are however many children who arrive in the UK seeking refuge. While some arrive with family, there are those that arrive alone as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. These children are likely, at an emotional level to have experienced some sort of terror, grief, shame, guilt etc. (Burnett 2002). They may have experienced imprisonment, beatings, rape, they may have witnessed others subjected to violence, or been subjected to torture due to their political or religious belief of their parents, their colour of skin, and may have lost or been separated from their family. All these experiences and events have different impacts on children. Refugee Children and asylum-seekers are more likely to develop psychological problems due to their experiences (Mind 2009). These children may experience both physical and psychological symptoms that trouble them such as sleep disturbances, feeling of loneliness, isolation, difficulty in learning and a general feeling of unhappiness and anger. They may experience anxiety, aggression, nightmares, poor concentration, withdrawal, and behaviour such as bed-wetting (Burnett 2002). Although unaccompanied children are most likely to suffer from mental health problems, children with families present may also suffer from mental health problems as a result of finding themselves feeling unsupported and having to fend for themselves due to absent parents as a result of work or other problems. Furthermore, parents dealing with their own emotional problems are unlikely to care for their children properly, which can result in psychological and physical problems (McCormack et al 2005). 3.5 Health implications of detained asylum seekers Health professionals world wide are concerned about the potential detrimental effects detention has on the mental health of the detainees (Procter 2005). An experiment carried out by Sultan and OSullivan in which they observed participants inside an immigration centre found that 32 of 33 detainees displayed symptoms of major depressive illness (Procter 2005). The majority also showed deterioration in their mental state as the length of detention increased. Detained children also showed signs and symptoms of mental distress, which included anxiety, disruptive conduct, nocturnal enuresis, sleep disturbances, nightmares, sleepwalking as well as cognitive development (Procter 2005). Once released the detainees mental illness is likely to deteriorate and it is known that adult asylum seekers who have been in immigration detention display a threefold increase in mental illness subsequent to their release (Procter 2005). Trauma, upsetting memories about detention, feeling of hopelessness and sadness are the common symptoms experienced by those detained. These symptoms were also present among detainees in an investigation carried out by Dudley (2003), who also found rioting, violence, and hunger strikes common inside immigration detention facilities with 264 incidents of self-harm reported over an 8-month period among detainees (Procter 2005). Once the detainees are released from immigration detention, they face new challenges and stresses in the context of existing mental health problems (Procter 2005). In another study carried out by Thompson and colleagues found that Tamil asylum seekers detained during 1997 and 1998 found the detainees experiencing high levels of depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, panic and physical symptoms compared to those asylum seekers living in the community (Steel et al 2004). This study found detention to be injurious to the mental health of asylum seekers with mental health deteriorating with increased length of detention. The study also indicated that adults and children are regularly distressed by memories of detention and feeling of immense sadness and hopelessness about being in detention. Parents of children also felt they were unable to care for or support and control their childrens behaviour (Steel et al 2004). Hundreds of children are detained in immigration centres every year in the UK because their families face deportation. Medical experts say this can have harmful health implications on the children. The Royal Colleges of Paediatrics, GPs and Psychiatrists say other countries have found alternatives to detention and want the British government to take a different approach to stop the physical and psychological damage suffered by children (Wilson 2009). These children are among the most vulnerable and detention causes unnecessary harm to their mental and physical health. The average stay of children at Yarls Wood, the UKs largest immigration removal centre, is fifteen days but a third are detained for more than a month. Detaining children for any length of time is a frightening experience that can have lifelong consequences (Wilson 2009). As well as the potential psychological impact, these children invariably experience poor physical health as they cannot access immunisation and preventative services (Wilson 2009). 3.6 Previous research/studies on health of asylum seekers Knowledge about asylum seekers health and access to health care services is still limited. Literature on asylum seekers health mainly concerns mental health problems and infectious diseases. Burnett Peel reviewed the literature and found that one in six asylum seekers had severe physical problems and two-thirds had experienced mental problems. Prevalent physical problems included tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis A and B, parasitic diseases, and non-specific body pains (Burnett et al 2001). Mental health problems include depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which are due to traumatic experiences, including torture. Asylum seekers are at the risk of having many and severe health problems of a varied nature. Literature on asylum seekers use of health care services and the barriers they face when seeking care is hard to find. Asylum seekers, however, find themselves in a difficult situation as they are residing in a country, sometimes for years while waiting for a decision in their case, without necessarily having the same legal rights as citizens. They may face limitations on access to health care compared with the citizens. This combined with the asylum seekers already vulnerable health and with possible restrictions on access to care may result in their health deteriorating (Burnett et al 2001). Studies carried out in the UK have found that one in six refugees has a physical health problem severe enough to affect their life with two thirds having experienced anxiety or depression. Medical screening of newly arrived asylum seekers exist in the majority of the EU countries as well as the UK. However differences exist in the way medical screening is carried out. In the UK medical screening is only carried out in the so-called induction or reception centres. Newly arrived asylum seekers who do not enter these centres access medical screening randomly. Medical screening may be available for asylum seekers living outside the centres, but using it depends on individual initiative and there might be a number of barriers. Medical screening programmes also differ in their content from one EU country to another. For example, TB screening was included in the screening programmes of all countries but one, whereas screening for mental health problems was carried out in less than half the countries (Norredam et al 2005). Overall, medical screening programmes appear to have two aims. One is to secure the well being of asylum seekers, and the other to guarantee the safety of the population in the host country. The content of the screening programmes is likely to depend on how the country priorities these aims. For example, screening for infectious diseases seems more related to the safety of the host population and mental health screening more to the well being of asylum seekers (Norredam et al 2005). Regarding access to health care, the study shows that access was restricted to only emergency care at the time of arrival in 10 countries (Norredam et al 2005). The results, however, do not show, if some countries offered alternative measures in case of chronic illness. The study also found that asylum seekers faced a number of practical barriers when seeking health care. Most of the barriers were concerned with immigrant populations in general, and are related to language, culture, and lack of information about the health care system in the host country. However, practical barriers specific for asylum seekers were also identified. The most severe of which include waiting for months or years on paperwork that will ensure access to health care, while only having access to emergency care in the meantime. The literature also shows that asylum seekers access to health care may be compounded by other barriers, such as confinement in detention centres, and dispersal policies leading to dis ruptive and compromised care (Norredam et al 2005). The study also shows how legal access to health care services have changed over time for asylum seekers in three countries. Asylum seekers rights to health care are immediately restricted to emergency care if their application is refused (Norredam et al 2005). Failed asylum seekers may also be stripped of the other rights in an attempt to force them out of the host country. Failed asylum seekers include persons who cannot return because their countries are deemed unsafe by UNHCR. UK is one of the countries using increasingly restrictive measures towards failed asylum seekers. Failed asylum seekers used to have free access to NHS, but since 2004 they cannot obtain free secondary health care (Norredam et al 2005). In another study in which the impact of detention on asylum seekers was examined, found that detainees are rendered hopeless and powerless in detention (Pourgourides 1997). The unknown duration and reasons for detention mean they are unable to make sense of their predicament and deal with it in a meaningful way. The unpredictable outcome of detention, in particular the fear of deportation is a constant cause of stress. Detention denies asylum seekers the resources to cope with adversity, blocks adaptation to the host society and impairs psychological healing (Pourgourides 1997). Depression, anxiety, demotivation and despondency are all responses to detention as well as misery and suffering (Pourgourides 1997). The study highlighted high levels of stress and distress amongst detainees. The detainees appear to be able to cope for the first month or two in detention but then after that they become increasingly frustrated, demotivated and apathetic. They start showing signs of psychological symptoms such as sleep and appetite disturbances, symptoms of post-traumatic stress, psychosomatic symptoms etc

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Abortion :: essays research papers

Abortion The loss of a fetus before it is able to live outside the womb is called abortion. When abortion occurs spontaneously, it is often called a miscarriage. Abortion can also be intentionally caused, or induced. Induced abortion is regarded as a moral issue in some cultures. In others it is seen as an acceptable way to end unplanned pregnancy. Abortion is a relatively simple and safe procedure when done by trained medical workers during the first three months (first trimester) of pregnancy. Abortion is less safe when performed after the 13th week of pregnancy. Before the right of a woman to obtain an abortion was affirmed by the United States Supreme Court in the 1973 ruling on Roe vs. Wade, many abortions were performed illegally and in unskilled ways. This caused the deaths of many women from infection and bleeding. It also caused much sterility, or the permanent inability to have a child. The usual surgical technique of abortion during the first trimester is to insert a metal or plastic tubeinto the uterus through its opening, the cervix. A spoonlike instrument at the end of the tube is used to gently scrape the walls of the uterus. A suction machine at the other end of the tube removes the contents from the uterus. This procedure is called vacuum aspiration and is done primarily in a medical clinic or doctor's office using a local anesthetic for the cervix. During the second trimester, abortions are usually done by means of dilation and evacuation. This procedure uses forceps, curette, and vacuum aspiration. Although rarely sought, third-trimester abortions may be performed when the fetus has severe genetic defects or because continuing the pregnancy would be a threat to the woman's health. A controversy began in 1988 over a drug, developed in France, called RU 486, which, when taken during the first 7 weeks of pregnancy, causes the embryo to become detached from the uterus. The drug was reported to be safer and less expensive than surgical abortion. Antiabortion groups in France succeeded in temporarily halting the sale of the drug, although the government later ordered it to be made available. The use of RU 486 was supported by family- planning agencies in the United States, France, and elsewhere and by the World Health Organization and the World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The long-term effects of RU 486 on women's health were unknown. Abortion as a way to end unplanned pregnancy is practiced in many countries. In Europe by 1992 only Ireland had a complete ban on abortion. In the United States the legality

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Attending a Reading by Leon Dash :: Rosa Lee Leon Dash

Rosa Lee and Leon Dash The Reading Brown Series hosted a reading by Leon Dash at the YMCA. Professor Dash was born in 1944 in Massachusetts, but he grew up in the Bronx of New York. He worked as a writer from 1966-1968 for the Washington Post. He was also in the Peace Corp shortly after traveling throughout Africa. He later went back to the Washington Post and has since done studies on various things. I had a hard time trying to find out exactly where the reading was going to take place as I walked around the YMCA. I finally got the guts to walk up to someone and ask for help, the male phenomenon. The event took place in a back room behind the kitchen. The room had four tables put together as to look like two. There were many chairs and few people to fill them as I walked in. There were a handful of people in the room and most seated around the tables set up in a V-shape from the podium. The room slowly started to fill as it came closer to twelve o’clock. As I looked around the room, I saw the â€Å"bleacher section†, a set of 12 chairs to the side of the room away from the speaker nearly filled. Most of those seats seemed to be occupied by students who appeared to be taking notes. The rest of the room had an odd accumulation of people. For a reading based around the commemoration of the Brown vs. Board of Education case, there was only one African American in the room besides the speaker. There were many older white people who gave the impression that they were faculty. A few of them and others brought lunch in on a tray or in a bag, presumably on their lunch break. The room looked as if it was split fifty-fifty between students and faculty. I would guess that there were around 20 to 25 people in the room. The room was large enough and had enough seating to make it seem as if the people were very spread out. There was very little interaction between the people before and during the event. It seemed as though everyone was just eager for the reading to start and finish.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Roots of Artificial Intelligence Essay -- History Historical Essay

The Roots of Artificial Intelligence The roots of artificial intelligence can be traced back to ancient Greece with myths like that of Pygmalion, which incorporated the idea of an intelligent robot. These early thoughts soon developed into stories like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in 1818, which was the story of a monster created by man and brought to life. These stories make for interesting fireside tales and bedtime reading, but where did artificial intelligence truly get its start? Most scientists and historians would give this credit to â€Å"the father of artificial intelligence†1, John McCarthy. Without McCarthy, the term â€Å"artificial intelligence† would not have been coined; and many discoveries in this growing field would not have been made or pursued without his preliminary research into this previously uncharted territory of computer science. This early research in artificial intelligence has led to many of the most important technological advances of all time. By loo king at John McCarthy’s life and a few of these applications of artificial intelligence, it is easy to see how much of an impact the field of artificial intelligence has had on our world. John McCarthy was born in 1927 in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother, a journalist for the Federated Press wire service, and his father, a fisherman, carpenter, and a union organizer, were both Communist party activists. â€Å"McCarthy has ascribed his early interest in science to his family’s political views, pointing to their general belief that technology was good for humanity†2. Due to his family’s controversial political views, John was kept on the move for most of his childhood, first to New York and then on to Los Angeles. As a junior in... ...ries that will help society just as much, if not more, than a true artificial intelligence. Works Cited 1Morales, Edu. Online: http://web.mit.edu/STS001/www/Team7/home.html 2 Ibid. 3Weiss, Sonia. â€Å"John McCarthy†. Online: http://www.digitalcentury.com/encyclo/update/mccarthy.html 4Ibid. 5Ibid. 6Ibid. 7Christiansen, Brian. â€Å"History of Speech Recognition†. Online: http://www.stanford.edu/~jmaurer/history.htm 8Howard-Spink, Sam. Online: http://www.research.ibm.com/thinkresearch/pages/2002/20020918_speech.shtml 9Ibid. 10 â€Å"Remote Control in Deep Space.† Science News Weekly. 29 May 1999. 11Artificial Intelligence. Exploration Systems Autonomy Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Online: http://www-aig.jpl.nasa.gov/ 12Roush, Wade. â€Å"Immbots Take Control.† Technology Review. December 2002-January 2003.

Monday, September 16, 2019

A Feministic Reading Of Donnes Poetry English Literature Essay

To analyze seventeenth century literature, one can barely overlook John Donne and to read done literature, one can non ignore his love sonnets through which Donne ‘s position of love and how he viewed the adult females of his clip, as the object of this love, can be scrutinized absolutely. However, one facet remains changeless ; Donne seldom lingers over the adult female ‘s physical visual aspect, and leaves the reader to presume that the adult female in Donne ‘s verse form is a shady figure, the object or contemplation of male desire, or a sex object to be circulated for the exhilaration and amusement of Donne ‘s male groups. Beauty was merely a thing that happened by opportunity and is accordingly, as Donne concludes, of no existent worth. Not merely was beauty of no existent worth, but neither were the females themselves. These ideals were set forth chiefly by mediaeval and early-modern Christians, who found several justifications for adult females ‘s lower status in the narratives of Genesis and the New Testament ; 1 ) adult female was created after adult male, and hence adult male must be more perfect ; 2 ) Eve ‘s function in the autumn suggests pride, that she was governed by passions, and that adult females ‘s beauty and gender made them possible corrupters of adult male ; 3 ) adult females were clearly expected to be subservient to their hubbies ; and 4 ) as the ‘weaker vas, ‘ adult females possessed non merely less physical, but less mental strength than work forces. Though there were so many statements against the female sex, the female physical ( non needfully sexual ) organic structure and psyche was held in the highest respect, particularly the abovementioned thought of the female as â€Å" vas. † John Donne expanded this thought in his poesy, composing about adult females in a manner that degraded their physical organic structure, their mental and emotional capablenesss, and their relation to the male sex. Women, in John Donne ‘s eyes were seen as a necessary portion of the male-female, body-soul connexion but were unsafe every bit good. Womans, in the 16th and 17th centuries were believed to transport merely every bit much truth – and secrecy – as work forces. Womans were vass that could be filled ( with anything ) ; this capacity non merely made adult females appealing, but made them unbelievable agents of any force, good or bad. The relationship between organic structure and psyche, a relationship Donne regarded as one of common necessity, was the specifying bond of his life. His experiences ( of friendly relationship, love, wellness, unwellness, work, leisure ) were all conditioned by the interactions between the two parts of the ego. As a poet and a curate, the physical and the religious, the male and the female, the layman and the Godhead were inexorably linked for Donne, and were ever carried into his poesy. To obtain farther grounds of how Donne, every bit good as his talkers, views the female organic structure, one must look closely at his poesy ; for illustration, Donne ‘s verse form â€Å" Air and Angels. † This verse form addresses the struggle of Love within the spirit and the organic structure. The verse form begins: â€Å" Twice or thrice had I loved thee, / Before I knew thy face or name ; / So in a voice, so in a shapeless fire † ( 1-3 ) In another verse form, â€Å" The Extasie, † Donne states that â€Å" Our soules, ( which to progress their province, / ere gone out, ) hung ‘twixt her, and mee./ And whil'st our soules negotiate at that place, / Wee like sepulchral statues ballad † ( 15-18 ) . Asserting this anterior belief that souls/spirits can go forth the organic structure to mix with other psyches, Donne carries this belief to the lines in â€Å" Air and Angels. † Possibly how he ‘met ‘ his lover, their psyches negociating far from their physical organic structures, Donne ‘s talker in â€Å" Air and Angels † believes his spirit met his lover ‘s spirit ( a voice or shapeless fire ) while their organic structures lay elsewhere. Despite the talker ‘s declaration that the female was disembodied and â€Å" shapeless, † and merely as psyches are required to take a organic structure, the talker needs to concentrate upon the human signifier ( as sim ply an empty outline/container ) in order to make full it with whatever he chooses, in this instance his love. The female lover addressed is the concrete incarnation required to finish this relationship. The talker describes the determination of the physical being and their first meeting in the 5th line: â€Å" Still when, to where 1000 wert, I came, / Some lovely glorious nil did I see † ( 5-6 ) . When the talker came ( physically ) to where his female lover was, a â€Å" glorious nil † did he see. This interesting line becomes a sexual wordplay sing the female genital organ. If we look back at Galenic theories of foetal development, ( Galen, a outstanding Roman doctor, philosopher, and accomplished medical research worker ) we find that 2nd century doctors believed that the female was an inferior version of the male. Despite multiple grounds for this, one ground was universally accepted ; the female was an â€Å" undercooked † male for the parts that are indoors in adult female are outside in man.The outgrowth of the phallus in male foetuss was an look of â€Å" doneness † in foetal development. Since the vagina remained inside the female foetus, Galen a nd co-workers understood this to intend the female foetus was non â€Å" done. † Therefore, the female genital organ were nil, a â€Å" glorious nil, † and an interestingly present absence. As a consequence, the talker supposes that he must make full that empty infinite, that absence, within this lover ‘s organic structure. He utters, â€Å" Since my psyche, whose kid, love is/ Takes limbs of flesh and else could nil make † ( 7-8 ) . Because the kid of the psyche is Love, Love needs a corporeal organic structure ; a place. Love must take a organic structure, so the talker asks Love to â€Å" presume thy organic structure, I allow, / And repair itself in thy lip, oculus, and forehead † ( 12-14 ) . Her organic structure is the container for Love, and the talker must come to acknowledge and love her physically. Other footings throughout the verse form that suggest her organic structure is simply a container are â€Å" ballast † and â€Å" tender † ( a little boat ) as in: â€Å" Whilst therefore to ballast love I thought, / And so more steadily to hold gone, / With wares which would drop esteem, / I saw I had love ‘s tender overfraught † ( 15-18 ) . In the verse form, Donne expresses that the talker ‘s love is excessively much for the female ; that he invades her and â€Å" love ‘s tender is overfraught † ( 18 ) . What should hold been a stabilising weight ( Love ) was emotionally unwieldy for the bantam vas. The talker had intended to stabilise love ‘s boat with wares which would drop an undistinguished ship of mere esteem, but alternatively had overloaded even Love ‘s ship ( a more powerful abstraction than mere esteem ) , unbalancing the really Love which he meant to maintain safe. The concrete and physical specifics were excessiv ely overpowering for human love, which can non inhere ( be portion of something natural and built-in ) in discorporate liquors. Here, Donne reasserts his passionate belief that one can be neither merely affair nor merely spirit ; one must capture both. Therefore, neither can Love happen its permanency in â€Å" nil, † nor in the appendage or glare of passion or beauty as the talker states, â€Å" For, nor in nil, nor in things/ Extreme, and dispersing bright, can love inhere † ( 21 ) ( Nutt 24 ) . In the concluding lines: â€Å" Merely such disparity/ As is ‘twixt air ‘s and angel ‘s pureness, / ‘Twixt adult females ‘s love, and work forces ‘s, will of all time be † ( 26-28 ) , Donne stresses the Elizabethan sentiment that there will everlastingly be a duality between a adult male and a adult female ‘s love. A adult female ‘s is more fugitive and sacred, yet harder to capture and more widely sought after, hence, le ss â€Å" bodily † and more â€Å" spirit-like. † These factors besides make her love less stable. A delicate balance is required to non merely maintain Love afloat, but to non overburden it every bit good ; even the most carefully placed, but lopsided ballast can easy tip the tender of Love. In â€Å" Air and Angels, † the female organic structure is highly misunderstood, and described as a mere container for Love to busy. Although look up toing adult female for her ownership of a sacred and widely sought-after Love, the full verse form relies upon the female signifier and the fact that it is uninhabited and can easy be filled with a assortment of things. The transforming regard of the witness, need non be constrained by an being outside the organic structure. In imaginativeness at any rate, it might be possible to sail into the organic structure which could therefore look as a topographic point of infinite infinite, a topographic point with infinite possibilities ( 140 ) . Sadly, this filling is non done of her ain will, but of the male talker ‘s ; she must digest his use and idealistic position of love, and addition nil in return save an overfraught tender. And in Donne ‘s verse forms, we seldom hear the female voice, or learn of Love from the female position. In the bulk of Donne ‘s verse forms, the talker is male, and the audience is preponderantly male. John Donne was a clique poet, significance that he wrote to a choice group of close friends, most likely poets themselves. Writing in an epoch where a female was deemed a lesser being than a male, Donne was entirely following the conventions used by other coterie poets by composing misogynous Hagiographas about adult females from a hypermasculine point-of-view. And though he seldom wrote about Love itself, he did compose about Love in the sense that it was an abstract male-female connexion. Work cited The Norton Anthology of English Literature Volume one, Sixth edition. Abjadian, A. A study of English Literature. Tehran ; 2006. www.wikipedia.com

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Ccea as Biology Coursework: an Investigation to Measure

An investigation to measure the percentage light transmission, using a colorimeter, through a solution, from pH 2 – pH 9, in which jelly cubes were immersed over a 24 hour period Interpretation Written Communication of the Data C1 Pepsin is an enzyme that works in the stomach and has an optimal pH between pH 1 and 4 or in acidic conditions. From our graph it can be seen that that the lowest mean percentage light transmission for pepsin is when the buffer has a pH of 2. Trypsin is an enzyme that works in the small intestine and has an optimum pH between pH 7 and 8 or in neutral conditions.From our graph it can be seen that the lowest mean percentage light transmission for trypsin is when the buffer has a pH of 8. C2 and C3 As the pH of the pepsin buffer increases from pH 2 to pH 9 so too does the percentage light transmission through the buffer solution after a 24 hour period. Although when the trypsin buffer has a pH between pH 2 and 8 the percentage light transmission through the buffer solution after a 24 hour period decreases, but from pH 8 to pH 9 the percentage light transmission through the buffer solution after a 24 hour period increases. At a low pH (pH 2) the amount of gelatine broken down by the pepsin is high.We can tell this as this is when there is a low mean percentage light transmission (16. 86%) because a lot of colour of the jelly will leak in the solution causing the colour to be deeper. But at a higher pH (pH 9) the amount of gelatine broken down by the pepsin is low. We can tell this as this as there is a low mean percentage light transmission is high (34. 14%) because a little colour of the jelly will leak in the solution causing the colour to be lighter. At a low pH (pH 2) the amount of gelatine broken down by the trypsin is low so this means there is a high mean percentage light transmission (41. 5%) because a little colour of the jelly will leak in the solution causing the colour to be lighter. At a high pH (pH9) the amount of gel atine broken down by the trypsin is high so this means that there is a low mean percentage light transmission (29%) because a lot of colour of the jelly will leak in the solution causing the colour to be deeper. C4 and C5 An enzyme is a biological catalyst which speeds up a chemical reaction without itself undergoing a permanent change. Most enzymes are globular proteins and contain active sites. The active site is the part of the enzyme which combines with the substrate.Enzymes are specific which means that one enzyme will work on one substrate. All enzymes work best at a particular pH, their optimum pH. The proteins structure of the enzyme is altered in a more alkaline or acidic solution than the specific optimum pH. When an enzyme structure is altered it cannot fit successfully with the substrate. Activity is therefore limited to a few enzyme molecules that are still unaltered or may totally stop. The protein digesting enzymes, pepsin and trypsin, will hydrolyse the substrate, ge latine. This substrate is a major component of jelly.When a coloured jelly, such as raspberry, is exposed to a protein digesting enzyme, the colour is released into the solution as the gelatine is broken down. The intensity of the colouring released into the buffer can be estimated with a colorimeter. Trypsin is often found naturally in neutral or slightly alkaline conditions. Therefore the most enzyme activity and most colour is released from the jelly would be expected at a pH 7 or 8 and in solutions above or below this pH there would be less colour released. Pepsin is often found naturally in very acidic conditions.Therefore the most enzyme activity and most colour is released from the jelly would be expected at a pH 1 or 2 and in solutions above or below this pH there would be less colour released. Evaluation D1 I consider my results to be appropriate in meeting the aims of the investigation because we used a colorimeter. This measures the percentage light transmission as a nume rical value. It is more appropriate than measuring the light intensity by eye as some of the results looked extremely similar and it could be hard to distinguish between samples.It is also more appropriate than measuring the percentage change in mass of the jelly cube before and after the 24 hour period as it is difficult to extract what is left of the jelly and it is not as accurate. D2 In order to try to obtain accurate results a number of procedures had to be carried out; †¢ Firstly, we used the same specimen of jelly. Although the jelly is from the same company there could be a difference in the composition of gelatine. If this was allowed to happen it could mean that it would take longer to break down some samples than others.This would then affect the overall results of the experiment as it would create an anomaly. †¢ Secondly, we also used a colorimeter which is extremely accurate when it comes to measuring the percentage light transmission. As it measures the perce ntage light transmission as a numerical value. †¢ Thirdly, we only handled the side of the cuvette as if we touched the front where the light passed through it would affect how much light passed through as it will leave a finger print on the glass and make it harder for the light to pass through. †¢ Fourthly, we kept the temperature at a constant 25 °C using a water bath.At low temperatures, an increase in temperature causes an exponential increase in enzyme activity. This is because an increase in temperature provides more kinetic energy for the collisions of enzymes and substrates, so the formation of enzyme-substrate complexes increases. At high temperatures (above 40 °C), an increase in temperature causes a sharp decline in enzyme activity. This is because the bonds holding the tertiary structure of the enzyme are broken and so the active site is denatured. †¢ We tried to use the same amount of jelly as this could affect the substrate concentration.If the surf ace area of the substrate increases it means that it has an increased substrate concentration. As the substrate concentration increases so too does the enzyme activity. This is because a greater concentration of substrate increases the chances of collisions and the formation of enzyme substrate complexes. D3 Although the experiment was as fair as it could have been, there were some factors that were beyond our control; †¢ Firstly, we could not accurately cut the cubes into equal sizes as we did not have the equipment to make a straight incision.This would increase the surface area of the substrate which will increase the substrate concentration. This would increase the enzyme activity as it will increase the chance of collision between the enzyme and substrate and more enzyme substrate complexes can be formed. †¢ Secondly, we could not check the temperature of the water bath on a regular basis as the experiment was carried out over a 24 hour period. If the temperature had went above 25 °C it would increase the rate of reaction as it provides more kinetic energy for the collision of the enzyme and the substrate, so the rate at which enzyme-substrate complexes form is increased.Although, if the temperature decreased below 25 °C it would have the opposite effect. It would slow the rate of reaction as it will provide less kinetic energy for the collision of enzymes and the substrate, so the rate at which enzyme-substrate complexes form is decreased. D4 and D5 My experiment is reliable as it was repeated six times in the form of the pooled class result and all of the results seemed to follow the same general trend. Although, if we had more time we may have been able to do the experiment again which would make the average or mean more accurate.However, there were a few anomalies among the group results. As you can see from table 1, in the test for trypsin at pH 9, group 2’s result decreased from the previous result (pH 8) whereas every other gro up increased except for group 3 who’s stayed the same as the previous result (pH 8). This could be caused from a fingerprint being put on the cuvette where the light passes through; this could lower the percentage light transmission through the solution as it will cover the glass.

Catcher in the Rye Symbolism

The Dangers of Isolation in The Catcher in the Rye It is normal to want to get away from all of the problems of the world, but it is not normal to want to be completely isolated from people. Holden wanted to have no human contact what so ever, and that is not normal. Throughout the book Holden expresses a rebellious attitude toward the world, and this rebellious attitude comes from his infatuation with being alone. He isolates himself from the world because he has not yet found himself and is searching. Holden feels that he must find himself alone with no one else's help. Holden expresses his rebellious side when he gets kicked out of school, again. Holden doesn't like school because he doesn't like doing activities that he loses patience for and sees no point in doing them. Holden also is rebellious in the way that he smokes and drinks when he is a minor. He is an excessive smoker and turns to alcohol to suppress his feelings of depression, which are signs of alcoholism. This behavior is not unheard of, but is rare for a 16-year-old to become an alcoholic. From this rebellious attitude Holden becomes isolated from those around him. His first act of isolation with a combination of rebellion is when Holden doesn't go to the game in the beginning of the book. Everyone was going to be there and he doesn't want to be like everyone else. Getting kicked out of school is another example of him rebelling and the cause of it being isolation. After he leaves Pency, Holden meets up with an old friend of his, Sally. After hanging out with her for awhile Holden asks her if she wants to run away with him. From this we learn that he has a desire to get away from the world. From this quote that Holden said we can tell how much he wants to run away, â€Å"I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes. That way I wouldn't have to have any god dam stupid useless conversations with anybody. If anybody wanted to tell me something, they'd have to write it on a piece of paper and shove it over to me. They'd get bored as hell doing that after awhile, and then I'd be through with having conversations for the rest of my life†(p 198). Upon being kicked out of school, Holden decides to go on a little vacation. In this short period of time Holden goes through many tribulations. To get from place to place Holden takes taxicabs. During these rides Holden asks the cab drivers if they know where the ducks go when the pond freezes over. The reactions from the cab drivers are different each time, but his recurring concern about the ducks seems to be symbolic of Holden's desire for purpose and direction. While he is by himself, Holden doesn't stay in one place for very long. He didn't know where to go next just like he didn't know where his life was going. During his time by himself, Holden imagines becoming a deaf-mute and running away. Holden wants to use his imagination to feel more connected to the world and his emotions. He does this because in his fantasy world he can control what happens and in real life he wanted to do the same. Towards the end of the book, Holden loses more and more of his sense of reality. If he had stayed on this path he would have lost all sense of reality. All of these feelings that Holden had were each the cause of themselves. He kept going around in a destructive and unproductive cycle, which would be hard to break. In the end of the book, Holden didn't ride the merry-go-round because he wanted to break that cycle. He wanted to be there for his sister and see her grow up. He wanted to be a part of life, and the world. In order to do that he would need some help, and the mental hospital was the perfect place for the kind of help Holden needed.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

A Character Analysis

One of the most significant characters within Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is that of Brutus, a very complex individual whose actions have significant impact upon the events on the play. This paper examines the character of Brutus and assesses both the good and bad elements of his character. A critique of how these qualities present inner conflict within Brutus is offered together with an explanation of the ways in which these conflicts manifest themselves.It is the intention of this paper to prove that despite the fact that Brutus was able to murder his closest friends, he is essentially a moral man who maintained his honor to the end. One of the most significant elements of Brutus’ character is his strict ideals. He is a nobleman, â€Å"the noblest of Romans† (V. v. 75) who is strongly guided and influenced by matters of honor. He demonstrates a continual obsession with acting in a way that is right and just and speaks regularly of the need to create a republic in Rome that is ruled by the votes of the senate as opposed to a single dictator.This creates a problem in his relationship with Caesar. Despite their close friendship, Brutus is concerned that Caesar will rise to power and then commit an act of betrayal by enforcing a dictatorship on the people of Rome, â€Å"climber-upward†¦ He then unto the ladder turns his back†¦ † (II. ii. 24,26). It is clear that, for Brutus, his moral and ethical ideals are of higher importance than his friendship and love for Caesar and thus he is able to commit the inhumane act of murder.However, whilst the murder itself is wrong, the fact that Brutus himself believes so strongly in the fact that his actions are for the good of Rome, entails that he does, to an extent, maintain his honor. Brutus’ single minded obsession with morality entails that he can be easily persuaded by others to carry out their will, provided it is presented as being for the good of Rome. This reveals a furthe r, negative, element to his character; he is naive. Cassius is able to manipulate Brutus’ obsession with honor in order to persuade him to murder Caesar, an ironic turn of events that on face value is anything but honorable.Brutus fails to recognize that he is being used by Cassius and Antony and seems to accept everything on face value, failing to question facts or consider the possibility that he could be deceived. This can be seen in the way he blindly accepts the letters from Cassius as being sent from the people of Rome and thus demonstrative of their will for Cesar to be removed. His nativity entails that he allows others to play upon his ideals in order to convince him to perform the act of murder. Despite the fact this murder causes him anguish, â€Å"Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; and pity to the general wrong of Rome†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (III, i, 185-186), he allows Cassius and Anthony to convince him that committing such acts will win the hearts of the people of Rome, â€Å"If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. † (III. ii. 21-24). Brutus’ gullibility is something that he carries with him to the grave, even on his deathbed he believes that he has shared his life with true and honorable men, â€Å"My heart doth joy that yet in all my life I found no man but he was true to me† (V. v. 38-39). Such a naive and trusting nature allows the audience to perceive Brutus as honorable.He is innocent and trusting and truly believes that he is acting on behalf of the people of Rome. A further negative element of Brutus’ character is his poor judgment. He believes that he will win the support of the people of Rome because he acts in their interests. This is evident when he addresses the Roman citizens in the forum and in his general treatment of the Roman crowds. He incorrectly perceives them as intelligent individuals who will b e able to understand his reasoned approach to the murder of Caesar. However, the reality is that the crowd is not able to understand his intellect and is thus left vulnerable to the words of Antony.Here, despite Cassius’ advice to the contrary, he allows Antony to have the last word at the funeral and is thus once again betrayed as a direct result of his naivety. Antony is able to utilize Brutus’ words and actions against him and generate hatred and animosity in the crowd. The same crowd that Brutus judged to be reasonable and intellectual. A further significant component of Brutus’ character is that of his philosophical nature. He is a believer in Stoicism, a philosophy that dictates living side by side with nature and existing in a carefree and indifferent manner. Such a philosophy manifests itself in an unemotional manner.This can be observed when Brutus hears of the death of his beloved wife and simply replies, â€Å"Why farewell Portia, We must die, Messal a† (IV. iii. 218). His stoic nature can be seen as a possible explanation for the way in which he is able to restrict his focus to the political and ethical reasons for his murder of Caesar. Brutus’ stoic nature is further enhanced by the fact that he is able to put the good of the public before his own personal feelings. He does not think of Caesar as a man or a friend, but as a political entity, a future dictator, who threatens the good of Rome.This is one possible explanation for why he appears to show no grief for the acts he has committed or for his dead friend; he is too entrenched in his political objectives. The political focus of Brutus’ character proves to be a further flaw that allows others to use him to their advantage. His apparent lack of emotion is something that Cassius is able to utilize when he addresses the crowd and convinces them that Brutus is inherently bad. As readers though we have an insight into Brutus’ actions and understand th e causes for his lack of emotion.He is so intent on doing what he believes to be right that, in our eyes, he maintains an honorable image. One of Brutus’ biggest faults is his inflexible nature. His stubbornness and inability to adapt to the events that occur ultimately leads to his downfall. Despite the fact that he is so politically focused, he fails to play the game of politics himself and thus leaves himself open to manipulation. Unlike Antony and Cassius, he is unable to strategically plan the best means of achieving his intentions, instead acting upon his blind faith that what he is doing is what the people want.However, although this is a flaw, it is something that maintains his honor; he is not a cheat or a conspirator at heart. This paper has discussed a number of Brutus’ character traits, both good and bad. A number of his qualities both serve in his favor and lead to his downfall. Whilst he is trusting, true to his beliefs and resolute, his naivety, poor jud gment and single mindedness entail that he leaves himself vulnerable to the dishonest actions of those around him.However, it is such naivety that allows the readers to maintain an image of Brutus as an honorable man, who tries to act in the best interests of his people. The last word on the character of Brutus is expressed extremely well by the words of Mark Antony: â€Å"This was the noblest Roman of them all:? All the conspirators, save only he? Did that they did in envy of great Caesar,? He, only in a general honest thought? And common good to all, made one of them† (V,V, 68-72) For the characters in the play, and for the reader, Brutus maintains an element of honorability that even his most disgraceful acts cannot eradicate.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Business Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Strategies - Essay Example This essay discusses ways to develop and execute different Business Strategies. In the process of developing a Business Strategy the firm uses its competencies to gain, sustain and enhance its strategic or competitive advantage. The source of competitive advantage for any business operating in an industry arises from the skillful use of its core competences. A combination of organizational behavior and resources ultimately leads to the development of capabilities that a firm used to build competencies. These competencies are used to gain a competitive advantage against rivals in an industry. Competitive advantage results in above average returns to the company. Businesses need a set of strategies to secure competitive advantage. The concept of strategies is not consensual in nature and has significantly evolved during the past decades, influencing the development of business strategy theories. In literature, it is usually considered that one can distinguish four main theoretical appr oaches to business strategies. These business strategy theories can be grouped into four main approaches: 1. Classical; 2. Evolutionary; 3. Processualist; and 4. Systemic. All these approaches are covered in this essay as well as concepts developed by the main thinkers associated with these four main approaches: Chandler, Ansoff, Porter, Cyert & March, Mintzberg, Pettigrew, Hannan & Freeman, Williamsons, Granovetter, Whitley. This essay also states that the nature of the power balance within organizations is an important consideration when discussing strategy development. ... According to Mintzberg (1998), strategy emerges from a pragmatic process of learning and adaptation. |in fact, the focus of this approach is the enterprises internal resources and their capacity to generate the firms' competitive advantage. This implies that strategy is all about long term construction and consolidation of distinctive internal competences. In the same way evolutionary strategies theories during 1980's state that environment is normally unpredictable to anticipate effectively and hence future oriented planning becomes unrealistic. It is the market which makes the important choice not the managers as established by the classical approach. For long term survival basically depends on best strategy which concentrates on maximizing chances of survival. The only real comparative advantage is relative efficiency; hence managers must concentrate on cost leadership. In 1990's the systemic approach emerges, taking the relativist position and considering that the objectives and practices of strategy depends on the cultures and powers of the respective local systems. Strategies may pursue objectives other than profit maximization if their social background frames other interests for them (e.g. personnel pride, managerial power, excellence). In this view, the parameters that guide strategy drive not so much from human cognitive bounds as from the cultural rules of the local society. As a result companies from different systems have different strategies i.e. strategies vary according to socio-political-economic systems & geographical locations. Almost all the strategies basically focus on private organizations and on competitive markets and consider profit maximization as their ultimate aim of strategy