Featured Post

Team Development Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Group Development - Coursework Example The team suggested that a little gathering goes through five phases to get completely developed (T...

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The Stigma Associated With Schizophrenia - 1554 Words

The Stigma Associated with Schizophrenia. Jason Branch Fayetteville Tech Community College Author Note This paper was prepared for English 112.02, taught by Mr. Charles King on April 2, 2015 Abstract Mental illness is an area that many people are uncomfortable with. There is something suspicious about people who tend to appear mentally ill. This creates nervousness, fear, while presenting the unknown; therefore, Stigma. Now Stigma is defined as disgrace or public disapproval, which can lead to the devaluation of a person. Because of the stigma and devaluation it creates significant barriers for those targeted simply because of their mental status, such as fear, doubt, shame, and isolation. People are being labeled; they are seen as being mentally ill instead of having a mental illness. The purpose of this paper is to present the documented effects of the stigma associational with having the mental illness Schizophrenia by providing research from the field of Psychology, Sociology, and Mental Health. The Stigma Associated with Schizophrenia. Background Information about Schizophrenia There is No Doubt that in the United State we have a Serious Issue with Mental Illness. It is estimated that 26.2 percent of people suffer with a mental disorder including Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is defined as a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder. Schizophrenia is listed as one of several psychotic disorders. It is estimated that 1.1 percent of the U.S population age 18Show MoreRelatedThe Stigma Of Mental Health968 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION The stigma in mental health system is deep rooted and its origin goes back by centuries. The stigma is powerful that it has been codified in federal since last 50 years. But the realization that the stigma attached adversely affects mental health care system is still lacking. The discrimination against mental illness has invaded the systemic structure causing more worries to sufferers of mental illness and their families. While every individual and system is well aware of mental illnessRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Health1095 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION The stigma in the mental health system is deeply rooted and its origin goes back by centuries. The stigma is powerful that it has been codified in federal since last 50 years. But the realization that the stigma attached adversely affects mental health care system is still lacking. The discrimination against mental illness has invaded the systemic structure causing more worries to sufferers of mental illness and their families. While every individual and system is well aware of mentalRead MoreThe Issue Of Child Onset Schizophrenia Essay1612 Words   |  7 Pages#3: Child Onset Schizophrenia Becki Kennedy and Mary Marrone USC School of Social Work December 11, 2015 Martha Lyon-Levine Introduction This research paper focuses on the issue of child onset schizophrenia, specifically looking at the prognosis, symptoms, stigma, and most effective treatment options for children. This topic has become a significant social issue as a result of the recent mass school shootings throughout the nation and the associated stigma. Severe mentalRead MoreStigma, Perception, And Behavior1484 Words   |  6 PagesStigma of Schizophrenia in Different Cultures 45 University of Florida Schizophrenia, an often misunderstood brain disorder, faces unjust judgment in the United States due to inaccurate depictions prevalent in our media, and sensationalizing articles using mental illness to elicit a high consumer response to maximise profit. These factors have served to paint schizophrenics in an unfavorable light, generalizing them as uncontrollable dangers to society. It’s no surprise that the amountRead MoreMedia Portrayal Of The Mental Illnesses Schizophrenia862 Words   |  4 Pagesportrayal of the mental illnesses schizophrenia are damaging not only to individuals with schizophrenia, but also ‘normal’ people such as the families of those who are schizophrenic. The media portrays schizophrenia sufferers as violent peoples who will harm given the opportunity, and as such, should not be trusted and should be approached with caution. These portrayals are incorrect, There are multiple examples of the media’s negative depiction of schizophrenia. One such example is the case ofRead MoreSymptoms And Outcomes Of Schizophrenia1634 Words   |  7 Pages Schizophrenia does not exist in nature but is a man-made concept (Boghossian, 2001). It is a blurred set of ideas with no natural boundaries, constituting a social construct (Brockington, 1991). A study by Dutta et al., (2007) infers that patients diagnosed with schizophrenia present a wide diversity of symptoms and outcomes, and no biological or psychological feature has been found to be pathognomonic of the disorder. The paper goes on to say that there is no defining symptom boundary to separateRead MoreSchizophrenia Poster Research Topics : Schizophrenia1715 Words   |  7 PagesSchizophrenia Poster Research Topics K - What is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is chronic, severe, and a brain disabling disorder; that has affected people throughout history. It also interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others. People with the disorder may hear voices other people do not hear. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illnessRead MoreThe Lack of Insight in Schizophrenia1653 Words   |  7 PagesThe Lack of Insight in Schizophrenia In my lifetime, I have spent months with my Grandmother, Florence Ernstead, who is a diagnosed paranoid delusional schizophrenic. During this time I have realized that schizophrenics have difficulty realizing the seriousness of their disorders. This inability to acknowledge a problem is known by psychiatrists as lack of insight. Many psychotic patients, especially schizophrenics, display a lack of insight into their disorder (Keefe 9). Lack of insight refersRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Illness With Information1007 Words   |  5 PagesFighting the Stigma of Mental Illness with Information When describing the brain, it can be labeled as many things but not one-dimensional or simplistic. This is an organ that we find hard to understand because, oddly enough, we have a brain that isn’t wired well enough to understand itself. What makes our brain so complex? Is it the billions of neurons or the trillions of synapses that make up all of our mental connections? The three pound mass in your skull is bursting with power. It comes completelyRead MoreEssay about The Portrayal of Schizophrenia in Me, Myself, and Irene1178 Words   |  5 Pagesand create stigma. They depict people suffering from mental illnesses as different, dangerous and laughable. Characters are often addicted to drugs or alcohol, are violent, dangerous, or out of control. Horror film characters like Norman Bates in Psycho, Jack Torrance in the Shining, or Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs associate the typical psycho- killer with people who suffer from a mental illness. But dramas and horror fi lms are not the only film genres that create stigma. Comedies like

Monday, December 16, 2019

Nonviolent Actions That Could Leapfrog Current Issues...

ï ¿ ¼Shaking-off a Hell of Dependancy and Creating the Leaping Frog This essay assesses nonviolent actions that could leapfrog current issues perpetuating the Israel-Palestine conflict to bring about beneficial inter-dependence. To scope potential outcomes I will configure the fundamental interests of both parties, some barriers to reconciliation, then employing principles of Constructivist theory [1], explore harnessing and coordinating the potential of creativity and technology, as well as the influence and goodwill of social media. I conclude that this environment can lead to achievable options providing Israel security and defuse its dominance over Palestine with two independent states [2]. Contemporary outsiders consider Israel and Palestine s bleak circumstance with fatigue, apathy and lack commitment to support further resolutions [3]. This paralysis taps into my reactions as a young adult researching the holocaust which were not diplomatically measured. I was full of horror, disbelief and determined never to stand by silent; silent, facilitating such a thing to occur again. Well, it has not been that simple and enormous transgressions have happened again and again! A daily existence in Hell, pitifully dependant, Palestine clings to futility; while Israel terrified about security, digs its boots in pursuing expansion. Reframed through a Constructivist lens this could become: Capturing ideas; resilient; resourceful and intertwined, Palestinians maximise restorative

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Benjamin Franklin Revolutionary War free essay sample

War Benjamin Franklin was the most indispensable people of his time period. His ideas changed the way the American colonists thought about how the colonies should be governed, helped draft the Declaration of Independence, influenced the French to ally with the colonies and negotiated the Treaty of Paris Franklin changed the way the colonists thought about how the colonies should be governed through his Albany Plan of Union.Which as you all know was a proposal to unite all the colonies. Despite the fact that his plan was rejected, it was the first time anyone had considered changing the way the colonies were subjugated. Eventually, the Albany Plan of Union influenced the writing of the Articles of Confederation. Later, in 1765 the Stamp Act was passed stating that every printed document was required to have a stamp on it. Franklin testified this act and eventually the stamp act was repealed.Although with the repeal of this act, the British government put more restricting laws in place to start control over the colonies, which lead to more anti-British uprisings by the American colonists. We will write a custom essay sample on Benjamin Franklin Revolutionary War or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Once these anti-British uprisings started the Revolutionary War, Franklin was selected to serve as a delegate for the Second Continental Congress where he was apart of the five-person committee to draft the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776. In October of 1776, George Washington asked Franklin to go to France to help get the French to ally with the United States. Two years later, Franklin influenced the French to sign the Treaty of Alliance stating that the United States and the French were now allies against the British and the French would help the United States fight the British until the United States had full Independence from Britain. The signing of this treaty was a crucial part In the Americans victory. In 1783, Franklin helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris along which ended the Revolutionary War. Franklins knowledge was critical In the Revolutionary war, as he once said, Genius without silver Is Like a gold In the mine.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Nisei Daughter free essay sample

Second Generation Daughter Even with all the mental anguish and struggle, an elemental instinct bound us to this soil. Here we were born; here we wanted to live. We had tasted of its freedom and learned of its brave hopes for democracy. It was too late, much too late for us to turn back. † Monica Sone’s Nisei Daughter is a compelling story of the life of a Japanese American growing up and discovering who she is in the World War II era United States. Nisei†, meaning, â€Å"second generation†, is a Japanese term used to specify the children born to Japanese people in a new country (who are called Issei). Monica Sone was born an American Citizen, but her parents –as well as other Issei– were not deemed to be American citizens until post World War II. This essentially important difference between Issei and Nisei seemingly forced an ultimatum to Nisei people; to be Japanese or to be American. We will write a custom essay sample on Nisei Daughter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Nisei were often criticized by their families for their absent role of Japanese customary behavior, and were criticized by Americans because they weren’t able to assimilate into American lifestyle. Nisei Daughter is a story about a Japanese American girl constructing her own self-identity in an environment where there is much confusion amongst Nesei people who are torn between two cultures. [ 1 ]. Monica Sone, Nisei Daughter (Canada: McClelland and Stewart Limited, 1953), 124 [ 2 ]. Wikipedia, Nisei (Published from Wikipedia at: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Nisei ,2013), Article Introduction

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The 5 Best AP World History Books for Practice and Review

The 5 Best AP World History Books for Practice and Review SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips It's hard to know where to begin when studying for AP World History. Though the exam mainly covers broad themes and trends, there's so much information to sift through that it can be easy to get lost in the weeds. Review books can help guide your study plan, ensure that you revisit the most important concepts, and provide critical test-taking strategies. In this article, I'll go through the best books to use for studying AP World History and how you can choose one that will give you the tools you need to ace this test. What’s in This Guide? This is a list of the most helpful review books that you can use to study for the AP World History exam and other assessments in class throughout the year.These books are meant to be used in conjunction with a high-quality textbook, so most of them are not stand-alone resources for self-studying.However, some are more thorough than others. For world history, review books can make the choice to either focus exclusively on the content you need to know for the AP exam (which is what most of them do), or go more in-depth and market themselves as in-class study aids as well.I’ll list the books that are the most reliable resources for long-term and short-term studying as well as a few that you might consider buying as supplemental resources.I’ll also give you specific pros and cons for each book so you can make a more informed decision about which one fits your needs best. Best Overall Review Book Cracking the AP World History Exam (Princeton Review) Price: about $15 Pros Focuses on larger trends and themes rather than small superfluous details; it only tells you about the essential stuff you need to know for the test Easy to follow and written in a conversational style Two full-length AP practice tests with analytical multiple-choice questions that closely model College Board materials Timeline of events at the end of every section to help you organize the information you’ve learned chronologically Good tips for designing your study plan and for taking the actual test Cons Could improve on essay-writing advice/practice, and doesn’t contain sample essays Not quite detailed enough to use for self-studying Summary I’d consider this book to be the best overall resource because you can make it work for you no matter what your study timeline or score goals happen to be.It doesn’t go overboard in the information it provides, but it also isn’t so sparse that it’s only useful for a quick review before the test.The practice tests are good quality with questions that accurately reflect the difficulty level of the AP exam.Its engaging writing style combined with a focus on key themes and overall chronology of events make this a great resource for almost any student. Best Book for Short-Term Review AP World History Crash Course Price: about $13 Pros Really good for a quick content review in the weeks before the test Great test-taking tips Contains only the information you need to know for the exam Chapters are written in easy-to-digest outline form Cons No practice exams Can’t be used to review for in-class tests and assignments or self-study without supplementing with a textbook Summary This book is called â€Å"Crash Course† for a reason; it’s made for those of you who’ve waited until the last minute to start studying.This book covers everything you need to know for the test and doesn’t mess around with any extra unnecessary details.Students find this book to be a helpful refresher that can be useful even as late as a week before the AP test.Just be warned that you’ll need to get your practice tests elsewhere if you want to estimate your AP score! Best Book for Long-Term Review Barron’s AP World History, 7th Edition Price: about $15 Pros Good tips for free-response questions (and sample essays!) Very thorough in its coverage of information Connects all the themes of the course to the events in each historical era Two full-length exams with answer explanations Cons Too much material to use for short-term AP review; it's more textbook than review book Overall dry, academic writing style that might make it hard to engage with the material No shorter practice tests at the end of each section for review Practice questions may be more challenging than exam questions Summary As is the norm with Barron’s books, this is a dense, highly detailed look at the course material that goes a bit overboard in its capacity as a â€Å"review book.†If you get it a couple of weeks before the AP test in hopes of quickly going over everything you need to know, you’re going to be overwhelmed.You should only buy this book if you plan to use it for a couple of months to prepare for the AP test or as a self-study resource that will accompany you throughout the course. I’d say this book is also for intense students who are genuinely very interested in the subject and would like to review content in more depth.If you have trouble paying attention to textbooks because of their dull writing style and are looking for something more student-friendly to keep you awake, you should probably get one of the first two books on this list instead. Best Supplemental Books 5 Steps to a 5 AP World History Price: about $18 Pros Comes with access to McGraw-Hill Education’s interactive AP Planner app, which gives you a customizable study schedule on your mobile device Four complete practice exams A few different sample study plans to choose from to guide your studying accompanied by a calendar so you can see everything laid out Helpful charts and short quizzes for each unit Short and more digestible than other review books Cons Not detailed enough to use to study for assignments throughout the year Two practice tests are on the computer, which isn't how you'll take the real AP exam Summary This book falls between the Princeton Review and Crash Course regarding its level of detail.It’s easy to grasp, and it has a decent amount of practice materials.If you need more sample questions and want a book that gives you a straightforward, step-by-step study process, this is a nice resource to have. AP World History Study Guide Price: about $11 Pros High-quality 50-question practice quiz with answer explanations Strong section on test-taking strategies In-depth summaries for key concepts Short and sweet - doesn’t give you more information than you need Cons Format could use some work - there’s a lot of text and not a lot of graphics No DBQ prompt Not good for long-term studying because it’s tailored to cover only the material on the AP exam Summary This book is sparse on practice questions and graphics, so if you zone out easily, it could be tough getting through the walls of text.Still, it’s very short, and it is good at going through only what you need to know.This is a book that you could buy if you’re a week or two away from the test and want a way to review all the information quickly and learn good test-taking strategies. Which AP World HistoryBook Should You Get? All of these books are helpful in their own ways. I'd recommend starting with one of the first three, ideally whichever one aligns best with your time limits and style of learning. The Princeton Review book should be a good fit for a wide variety of students. If you have a month or two to study and are looking for a one-size-fits-all accessible guide to the test, you should go with that one. The Crash Course book is better if you're short on time and just need a way to review all the concepts quickly and efficiently. This is the best option if you only have a week or two until the exam or are looking for a book that just outlines the most essential concepts. Barron's is best for self-study throughout the year or review over the course of a few months. If you're an intense student and want a book that you can use throughout the year to study for both in-class assessments and the AP test, Barron's isa good option for you. If you get one of the first three books and run out of practice materials or aren't a fan of the way the information is presented, you can go ahead and try one of the supplementary resources! Five Steps to a 5 is more suited to long-term study, and the AP World History Study Guide is better for a quick review. What's Next? Need more practice materials? Check out this article with links to every AP World History practice test available onlineand this article with links to the best DBQ examples. You don't necessarily need to buy a review book to get some great study tips. Read our list of six key strategies for doing well on the AP World History exam. When do you actually have to get yourself in gear and start studying?Find out when you should begin studying for your AP exams based on your goals. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Friday, November 22, 2019

Energy From Wavelength Example Problem

Energy From Wavelength Example Problem This example problem demonstrates how to find the energy of a photon from its wavelength. Key Takeaways: Find Photon Energy From Wavelength The energy of a photo is related to its frequency and its wavelength. It is directly proportional to frequency and inversely proportional to wavelength.To find energy from wavelength, use the wave equation to get the frequency and then plug it into Plancks equation to solve for energy.This type of problem, while simple, is a good way to practice rearranging and combining equations (an essential skill in physics and chemistry).Its also important to report final values using the correct number of significant digits. Energy from Wavelength Problem - Laser Beam Energy The red light from a helium-neon laser has a wavelength of 633 nm. What is the energy of one photon? You need to use two equations to solve this problem: The first is Plancks equation, which was proposed by Max Planck to describe how energy is transferred in quanta or packets. Plancks equation makes it possible to understand blackbody radiation and the photoelectric effect. The equation is:E hÃŽ ½ whereE energyh Plancks constant 6.626 x 10-34 J ·sÃŽ ½ frequency The second equation is the wave equation, which describes the speed of light in terms of wavelength and frequency. You use this equation to solve for frequency to plug into the first equation. The wave equation is:c ÃŽ »ÃŽ ½ wherec speed of light 3 x 108 m/secÃŽ » wavelengthÃŽ ½ frequency Rearrange the equation to solve for frequency:ÃŽ ½ c/ÃŽ » Next, replace frequency in the first equation with c/ÃŽ » to get a formula you can use:E hÃŽ ½E hc/ÃŽ » In other words, the energy of a photo is directly proportional to its frequency and inversely proportional to its wavelength. All that remains is to plug in the values and get the answer:E 6.626 x 10-34 J ·s x 3 x 108 m/sec/ (633 nm x 10-9 m/1 nm)E 1.988 x 10-25 J ·m/6.33 x 10-7 m E 3.14 x -19 JAnswer:The energy of a single photon of red light from a helium-neon laser is 3.14 x -19 J. Energy of One Mole of Photons While the first example showed how to find the energy of a single photon, the same method may be used to find the energy of a mole of photons. Basically, what you do is find the energy of one photon and multiply it by Avogadros number. A light source emits radiation with a wavelength of 500.0 nm. Find the energy of one mole of photons of this radiation. Express the answer in units of kJ. Its typical to need to perform a unit conversion on the wavelength value in order to get it to work in the equation. First, convert nm to m. Nano- is 10-9, so all you need to do is move the decimal place over 9 spots or divide by 109. 500.0 nm 500.0 x 10-9 m 5.000 x 10-7 m The last value is the wavelength expressed using scientific notation and the correct number of significant figures. Remember how Plancks equation and the wave equation were combined to give: E hc/ÃŽ » E (6.626 x 10-34 J ·s)(3.000 x 108 m/s) / (5.000 x 10-17 m)E 3.9756 x 10-19 J However, this is the energy of a single photon. Multiply the value by Avogadros number for the energy of a mole of photons: energy of a mole of photons (energy of a single photon) x (Avogadros number) energy of a mole of photons (3.9756 x 10-19 J)(6.022 x 1023 mol-1) [hint: multiply the decimal numbers and then subtract the denominator exponent from the numerator exponent to get the power of 10) energy 2.394 x 105 J/mol for one mole, the energy is 2.394 x 105 J Note how the value retains the correct number of significant figures. It still needs to be converted from J to kJ for the final answer: energy (2.394 x 105 J)(1 kJ / 1000 J)energy 2.394 x 102 kJ or 239.4 kJ Remember, if you need to do additional unit conversions, watch your significant digits. Sources French, A.P., Taylor, E.F. (1978). An Introduction to Quantum Physics. Van Nostrand Reinhold. London. ISBN 0-442-30770-5.Griffiths, D.J. (1995). Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River NJ. ISBN 0-13-124405-1.Landsberg, P.T. (1978). Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Oxford University Press. Oxford UK. ISBN 0-19-851142-6.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Deconstructivism and Bilbao museum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Deconstructivism and Bilbao museum - Essay Example The new Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry which currently stands in Bilbao, Spain, is found to be an incredible piece of proof that exhibits how the theory of Deconstructivism may be exemplified at its finest, at least to the sensible findings of The Times’ critic Herbert Muschamp. It could well be an exact concretization of the core substance of Deconstructivism as many would expect based on the fundamental working definition. What Muschamp has come to discover as ‘The Miracle of Bilbao’, being the new Guggenheim Museum, is the reason behind the frequency of pilgrimage to the town at the Basque country’s northeast corner. Muschamp further expresses â€Å"Those who visit Bilbao, however, may come away thinking that art is not entirely remote from matters of life and death.† According to him, it is not Gehry’s structure nor the physical sight of it that causes the miracle to happen but that which bears the capacity of attracting pilgrim s is the â€Å"extravagant optimism† – a positive consequence in the attitude of watching the museum take shape then having a sort of perception that is bound to make an audience pass on a promising impression. Hence, among art intellectuals, a querying testimony of magnificence emerges where one is led to promote with conviction asking â€Å"Have you been to Bilbao?† and equivalently, â€Å"Have you seen the light? Have you seen the future?† Through Gehry’s creation in Bilbao, as featured in Muschamp’s discourse, the concept of Destructivism has been materialized via major work which turned out. to be an architectural entity capable of projecting a â€Å"broad range of meanings† that may serve to embody â€Å"contemporary social and cultural norms.† By theoretical endeavour, Destructivism challenges the typical objective of methodologists in art who are mostly concerned and accustomed to rely upon the established idea of certa inty or unified thoughts which would necessarily systematize the process of constructing the intended object or piece for which a fixed identity is given (Germizaj 1). Correspondingly, Guggenheim Museum speaks of such truth as Gehry employs â€Å"social fragmentation†, a sense of fashion in artistry that may seem strange to those who lack poststructuralist orientation or view of exploring socio-cultural meanings by which broad associations occur and criticisms naturally develop out of rich perspectives since ‘fragments’ are brought across instead of ‘unity’ or ‘wholeness’ which singularizes interpretation thereof. One looks into Gehry’s work in detail, exterior and interior-wise alike, with a possibility of confessing that while an aspect of his craft reminds of something, the rest entails something else as well, when thorough examination reveals that the parts are actually independent of each other in the context of culture or so ciety being conveyed within

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Coursework 6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coursework 6 - Essay Example For instance, the physicist Hans Bethe was briefed on SDI in 1983 and his reaction was doubtful that it would work to defend the U.S. (â€Å"Strategic...†). Apparently Soviet scientists had the same reaction. Compared to the U.S., which still spends 4 billion dollars a year on Star Wars, the Soviet Union spent very little on it. The largest cause of the end of the Cold War was Gorbachev, and his dedication to reform. Gorbachev was not afraid to make economic reforms such as glasnost (liberalization), perestroika (reconstruction) and uskoreniye (acceleration of economic reform), even though these reforms were considered radical by apparatchiks (bureaucrats of the Communist Party) in the Soviet government(â€Å"Mikhail...†). Gorbachev democratized much of the Soviet Union and went so far with reforms and freedoms that an unintended wave of nationalism and call for independence was created within the Soviet republics. Eventually Gorbachev was put under house arrest by hard-line apparatchiks and the Soviet Union collapsed, effectively ending the Cold War. The Colombian government has been involved in a civil conflict for four decades with the left-wing rebel group Farc, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Farc rebels recently killed several police with a roadside bomb (â€Å"Colombian Rebels...†). The police were attempting to destroy coca bushes, which are the source of cocaine that finances Farc. Another left-wing rebel group active in Colombia is the ELN, or National Liberation Army. The left-wing groups are blamed for kidnappings, assassinations and extortion. The rebel groups are fought by right-wing paramilitaries such as the AUC, or United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia. Paramilitaries were supported by rich landowners who descend from the Spanish settlers. These right-wing groups are involved in drug-trafficking as well. They are blamed for massacres and torture. The Colombian conflict

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Chinese Philosophies Essay Essay Example for Free

Chinese Philosophies Essay Essay From 1027-221 BCE, the Zhou era, Chinese philosophers â€Å"offered insights into how humans should behave in regard to their families, the state, and nature. † Different philosophers tried to achieve a similar goal of having a well-ordered Chinese society, but they all had vastly different methods of achieving this goal. There were three different schools of Chinese thought that all tried to achieve the goal of having a peaceful society that lived in harmony. All of these ideas were exceptionally diverse and they all varied in different ideas. â€Å"Daoism emphasized harmony with nature; Confucianism emphasized the harmony of relationships; and Legalism emphasized the harmony of a well-regulated state. † The Three Schools of Chinese thought, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism had major impact on Chinese History both politically and socially for they each promoted a different approach to achieve a well-ordered society. Confucianism is a philosophy that pushed for a well-ordered society by emphasizing human relationships, a righteous leader, and a good education. The discoverer of this idea was Confucius, a philosopher and teacher. He grew up in the period of Eastern Zhou, the age of a hundred schools. His goal was to transform the Chinese society into a state of coherence and righteous. He planned this goal was to be achieved by something called filial piety, devotion and service to parents, ancestors, and superiors. He found filial piety important because he believed it would make the people act moral. Another way he planned to achieve this goal was having a wise and moral leader that was able to set good examples for his people. The Analects state that Confucius said â€Å"If you preside over them with dignity, they will be reverent; if you are filial and loving, they will be loyal; if you promote the good and instruct the incapable, they will be mutually encouraging. † This proves that he believed the ruler should often set a good example for his people in order for them to be moral and show goodness. Another factor that played a huge role in Confucianism was the human relationships. The emphasized relationships were ruler-people; parent-child; husband-wife; elder sibling- younger sibling and friend to friend. These relationships were crucially important because Confucius believed each person had obligations to fulfill and a certain stance in society. And to fulfill those duties each person was expected to behave. Also the goodness of the people was expected to start at the home. He said, â€Å" Only when the roots are well planted will the Way grow â€Å" This reveals that the longer moral ways have appeared the more moral the person is likely to be. But if you juxtaposed the other two philosophies compared to Confucianism you would realize that are extremely different. In the contrary one of the other philosophies, Legalism, is much different than Confucianism and is a lot harsher. Legalism also had the goal of well-ordered society but had different idea of achieving this common goal. The dynasties that used the idea of Legalism were the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty. The Qin Dynasty used Legalism to the full extent while the Han Dynasty infused Confucianism and Legalism together. Han Feizi, the prince of the Han dynasty, through his writings outlined how to maintain a stable society through laws, punishments and other factors. He believed that one way to reach a well-ordered society was to have a strict and strong ruler. Quoted from The Writings Of Master Han Fei, Fei said, â€Å" If conformers to law are strong, the country is strong; if conformers to law are weak, the country is weak †¦Ã¢â‚¬ . From this you can conclude that Han Fei truly believed that a harsh ruler was the key to a successful society. Another aspects that contributed to the success of the community were to have enforced laws. As stated from The Writings of Master Han Fei â€Å" To govern the state by law is to praise the right and blame the wrong. † This reveals that Han Fei also thought that through praising the good people and punishing the bad the society would be â€Å"well-ordered†. Which also shows that Han Fei believed in harsh punishments to tame the people of his country. A final belief of Legalism was a strong base of realism opposed to idealism. Realism was encouraged because Fei thought â€Å" †¦a strong dose of realism was needed to bring his present-day world out of the chaos that beset it† In other words means idealism was not a strict enough way to achieve a well-ordered society. But the idea of Daoism would strongly disagree with the previous concepts. Daoism, also known as â€Å" The Way That Is and Is Not â€Å", enormously differs from the other two philosophies. Daoism was used in the time period of the Eastern Zhou. The originator of this philosophy was Laozi, an â€Å"old master†, who was supposedly immortal. Laozi was against Confucianism and its concepts and perceived things from a diverse view. The goal of Daoism was to maintain a common goal of a well-ordered society. But he planned to attain this goal by following The Law of The Dao is it’s being what it is. Which simply means things are the way they are and you should not interfere. He wanted the people to follow their Dao, their destiny, something you’re naturally good at that doesn’t take any effort. And he believed by just doing that the society would be in harmony with nature. An additional way to achieve his goal was to have hands off government and ruler that were not strict or influential to the society. This is proven in The Dao Dejing; it says, â€Å" I will do nothing, and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In other words Laozi expected the ruler to let the people govern themselves and learn from their own mistakes as opposed to having laws to obey. Which also relates to a concept that is well known to most Daosist called Nonaction. In summary in Daoism to achieve the goal of having a well-ordered society you must follow your dao and be in harmony with nature. In conclusion The Three Schools of Chinese thought, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism had major impact on Chinese History both politically and socially for they each promoted a different approach to achieve a well-ordered society. They also still have an impact on today’s modern society. Each one of these philosophies have some how branched off to religions or philosophes that are still encouraged today. For example Daoism also helped mold the religion of Buddhism. Legalism appears in several of countries around the world where the rulers of a society give there people strict laws with cruel punishments. And for Confucianism Chinese society’s still focus on having relationships with people closest to them. Therefore it was extremely important that these philosophies were studied and discovered.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Equality :: essays research papers

Equality In 1890, less then one half of one percent of women were employed gainfully outside of the home. Over the next hundred years, women have not only gained access to jobs outside of the home, but also fought for equality in the work place. These struggles have not been easy by any means. Women have overcome many obstacles in there journey into the work force, none grater then the views of their male piers. Many males thought and continue to think that there is no place for women in the work place. Women made there strides into the work force by not only following examples of their courageous pioneers, but also by banding together to show their strength. During the mid 1800's a small number of women begin their assault on, what were at the time considered, male-only jobs. Fields such as teaching, preaching, medicine, and law were all jobs domenated by men. Women had made some progress in the work force before the 1850's. In the mid nineteenth century women were the majority for grade school teachers, up from the ten percent of elementary teachers, that were teachers in the colonial period. This can be largely attributed not to the fact that men were more accepting of the idea that women belonged in the work place, but rather men were drown to the higher paying and more socially appreciated managerial jobs brought on by the industrial revolution. School boards did not mind these talented leaving because they could higher a "less qualified women" for as low as one fifth of males salary for the same job. Susan B. Anthony was the first women to publicly speak out against this gross injustice towards women. After being fired to "replace a male teacher fired for incompetence,she was paid one third of the salary he had received,"(Reifert 74)she went to the state teachers convention of 1853 to register a protest. After being hushed once and a half hour of debate she was finally allowed to speak her peace. Although nothing became of her first encounter with the women's movement, she quit teaching and went on to become one of the great leaders of the women's movement. Antoinette Brown was anther women that was not happy with the status quo of women in society. She started, in 1846, by attending Oberlin college, which only nine years before had become the first co-educational college. Oberlin, although being very receptive of women in their women's department, they did not let women take any courses besides the ones offered in the women department. This lead to a conflict when Brown made her intentions of obtaining

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Euthanasia Should Be Legalized

Euthanasia should be legalized The gift of life is the most precious gift of god to us. but all the good things have some gray shades. If our loved one is suffering from a long lasting illness, sans any hope of recovery, should we take the easy way out and go with euthanasia, or should one allow the patient to suffer in hope of a miracle. Nowadays,how often we see a person’s life being wasted away on the hospital beds after being through a terrible accident or health problem, when there is no scope of improvement. They go through a terrible ordeal not only physically but also emotionally And they are not the sole sufferers. Along with them suffer their loved ones. The life of such patients become living hell. Therefore, euthanasia should be legalized. Mercy killing of such people will be like doing them kindness, after their content lives and saving them from going through living torture. As it is better to have a short,happy and content life as opposed to a long one full of sufferings. Today is the era of cut throat competition. As the professionalism increases, people find less and less time for their family. When their family member is terribly ill without any hope of recovery, he becomes a burden on them. According to them, he has now not only become incapable and dependent on others, but also demand their time, money and care. As people have become sagacious, they see euthanasia as an easy option to get rid of their ‘burden’ as well as responsibility. Making euthanasia legal will give such people open license to murder and move on with their lives. in my opinion, euthanasia should not be legalised, but it should be an available option for those whose chances of recovery are way to bleak. If the case is genuine, that is, the patient is alive only on ventilators and shows no sign of improvement for some years, then euthanasia would be a better option. But if the family of the patient are only looking for an easy way out, then it should not be granted. It all depends on the nature of the case as well as the circumstances. Making euthanasia legal will always be a debatable issue. Humans by nature are strongly bonded to their loved ones, and in general will only go for euthanasia,if all the doors close and even the last ray of hope has been extinguished. But when the time comes in life to make this decision, it is essential for ourselves to use not only our minds but also our hearts.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Chinese culture Essay

William Faulkner once said that â€Å"The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past† and he could have speaking about the history of porcelain painting in China. The history of this ancient art lives and breathes in every porcelain plate we touch and eat off of. It lives and breathes in the small villages in China which cling to the past as much as they want to move into the future. We reach the beautiful of city of Yi-xing in the early morning hours. Early enough that the streets were empty and the sun was just peaking through the rows and rows of tea leaves. The blend of organic green and sandy orange reminded me of the beaches of California I had visited at a child. The city of Yi-ing is the home of several tea plantations which stretch as far as the eye can see. During the day the rows of teas are cluttered with the presence of severals humans which look out of place in the purely green surroundings. If you head south through the beautiful mountains, which look more like hills to me, you reach a deep and clear lake. This lake, Lake Taihu, is where Lu Yu once lived when he wrote his now infamous book about the magic of tea and it’s role in Chinese culture. Tea porcelain are intimately linked in Chinese culture. Each competing with the other to see which is older and more valued. Upon a close examination of the history it is hard to separate the two. The Chinese Porcelain factory sits on the far edge of the city of Yi-ing and is a striking contrast to the hills and valleys that lay in front of it and beyond it. It is interesting to see the coupling of industrialization and farming in a country which in some places seems oddly untouched by civilization and in other devastated by the pollution from manufacturers and cars. The story of Chinese Porcelain is one of perseverance and beyond that of innovation. Chinese ceramic and porcelain reveal the resourcefulness of Chinese artisans. They demonstrate in their pieces, which are found enclosed in glass in the ‘lobby’ area of the factory, how they utilized the materials that they had and turned them into pieces of pottery that have with stood the test of time. In the Yuan and Mind dynasties, Chinese porcelain makers combined porcelain stone with kaolin however kaolin was extremely hard to work with. It was then that Chinese porcelain makers discovered that if you ground kaolin and then added water a malleable substance was created with could be kneaded into porcelain stone. This could easily be formed into pots and vases on the potter’s wheel. During the drying processes a knife is used to slice excess porcelain from the pottery which accounts for the delicate thinness of Chinese Porcelain. To my surprise once we went into the factory the very same techniques were being used. Centuries later modern Chinese artisans were paying homage to their centuries old mentors by building pottery in the same fashion. The twist is that the new pottery produced in these factories are brightly colored by hand with a small paint brush. The craftsmanship is perfect and the people here, who are obviously under paid and living in less then optimal condition, absolutely enjoy what they do. They take pride in every piece they make and are more then willing to share their skills with you. Our tour guide informed us that many of the kilns in use at the factory were hundreds of years old. Apparently once a large kiln is established it can be used for hundreds of years. The art of preparing clay and the process which follows is a craft which is passed down again and again from generation to generation. This is why visitors can find subtle differences in glazing processes as well as firing processes throughout the villages and cities in China. Porcelain is more then just a container used for tea or food stuff. The art displayed on pieces of Chinese Porcelain reveal the entire history of the Chinese people. From myths to fears, historic battles and even home comings. Pottery and porcelain pieces exported during these periods are an excellent source of research materials on the history of China’s communications, trade, and economic relations with other countries. My trip to city of Yi-ing was memorable for several reasons but most importantly I was reminded of the value of craft within a society. I will never forget the feel of Chinese Porcelain on my fingertips. The knowledge that something that delicate could last for centuries was truly symbolic of the struggle and political strife that the Chinese people have dealt with since it’s birth. Art is not merely for decoration, entertainment, or even functionality. It serves a much more important purpose. Through art we can see the evolution and development of not just a country like China but the spirit and souls of the people who make their homes and keep their families in those counties.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Conjugation of Empezar and Comenzar

Conjugation of Empezar and Comenzar Empezar is a verb that usually means to begin. As with many other stem-changing verbs, the e in the stem changes to ie when stressed. In addition, to maintain the correct pronunciation, the z in the ending changes to c when it is followed by an e or i. The most common verb conjugated in the same way is comenzar, a synonym. Other verbs using the same pattern include tropezar (to bump or run into) and recomenzar (to begin again). Irregular forms are shown below in boldface. Translations are given as a guide and in real life may vary with context. Infinitive of Empezar Empezar (to begin) Gerund of Empezar empezando (beginning) Participle of Empezar empezado (begun) Present Indicative of Empezar yo empiezo, tà º empiezas, usted/à ©l/ella empieza, nosotros/as empezamos, vosotros/as empezis, ustedes/ellos/ellas empiezan (I begin, you begin, he begins, etc.) Preterite of Empezar yo empecà ©, tà º empezaste, usted/à ©l/ella empezà ³, nosotros/as empezamos, vosotros/as empezasteis, ustedes/ellos/ellas empezaron (I began, you began, she began, etc.) Imperfect Indicative of Empezar yo empezaba, tà º empezabas, usted/à ©l/ella empezaba, nosotros/as empezbamos, vosotros/as empezabais, ustedes/ellos/ellas empezaban (I used to begin, you used to begin, he used to begin, etc.) Future Indicative of Empezar yo empezarà ©, tà º empezars, usted/à ©l/ella empezar, nosotros/as empezaremos, vosotros/as empezarà ©is, ustedes/ellos/ellas empezarn (I will begin, you will begin, he will begin, etc.) Conditional of Empezar que yo empezarà ­a, que tà º empezarà ­as, que usted/à ©l/ella empezarà ­a, que nosotros/as empezarà ­amos, que vosotros/as empezarà ­ais, que ustedes/ellos/ellas empezarà ­an (I would begin, you would begin, she would begin, etc.) Present Subjunctive of Empezar que yo empiece, que tà º empieces, que usted/à ©l/ella empiece, que nosotros/as empecemos, que vosotros/as empecà ©is, que ustedes/ellos/ellas empiecen (that I begin, that you begin, that she begin, etc.) Imperfect Subjunctive of Empezar que yo empezara (empezase), que tà º empezaras (empezases), que usted/à ©l/ella empezara (empezase), que nosotros/as empezramos empezsemos), que vosotros/as empezarais (empezaseis), que ustedes/ellos/ellas empezaran (empezasen) (that I began, that you began, that he began, etc.) Imperative of Empezar empieza tà º, no empieces tà º, empiece usted, empecemos nosotros/as, empezad vosotros/as, no empecà ©is vosotros/as, empiecen ustedes (begin, dont begin, begin, lets begin, etc.) Compound Tenses of Empezar The perfect tenses are made by using the appropriate form of haber and the past participle, empezado. The progressive tenses use estar with the gerund, empezando. Sample Sentences Showing Conjugation of Empezar and Similar Verbs Vamos a comenzar a establecer nuestra presencia en là ­nea. (Were going to begin to establish our presence online. Infinitive.) Yo habà ­a empezado a leer la novela unos dà ­as antes. (I had begun to read the novel a few days earlier. Pluperfect.) Maà ±ana empiezo la dieta. (Tomorrow I begin my diet. Present indicative.) Me tropecà © con ella una vez por accidente (I ran into her one time by accident. Preterite.)  ¡Feliz cumpleaà ±os! Espero que empieces un nuevo aà ±o lleno de alegrà ­as y buenos momentos. (Happy birthday! I hope you begin a year full of happiness and good times. Present subjunctive.) Empieza pronto tu bà ºsqueda de trabajo. (Begin your job search soon. Imperative.)

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Decline of Union Power and Organized Labor

The Decline of Union Power and Organized Labor When the Industrial Revolution swept the United States up in a flurry of new innovations and employment opportunities, no regulations existed yet to govern how employees were treated in the factories or mines but organized labor unions began popping up across the country in order to protect these unrepresented working class citizens. However, the according to the  U.S. Department of State, the changing conditions of the 1980s and 1990s undermined the position of organized labor, which now represented a shrinking share of the workforce. Between 1945 and 1998, union membership fell from just over one-third of the workforce to 13.9 percent. Still, powerful union contributions to political campaigns and members voter-turnout efforts have kept unions interests represented in government to this day. This has recently, however, been mitigated by legislation allowing workers to withhold the portion of their union dues used to oppose or support political candidates. Competition and the Need to Continue Operations Corporations began shutting down work unions resistance movements around the late 1970s when international and domestic competition drove the need to continue operations in order to survive in the cutthroat marketplace that was developing in the 1980s. Automation also played a key role in breaking up union efforts by developing labor-saving automated processes including state of the art machinery, replacing the role of swathes of workers at every factory. Unions still fought back though, with limited success, demanding guaranteed annual incomes, shorter workweeks with shared hours, and free retraining to take on new roles associated with the upkeep of machinery. Strikes have also notably declined in the 1980s and 90s, especially after President Ronald Reagan fired Federal Aviation Administration  air traffic controllers who issued an illegal strike. Corporations have since been more willing to hire strikebreakers when unions walk out, too. A Shift in Workforce and Declining Memberships With the rise of automation and the decline of strike success and means for employees to express their demands effectively, the workforce of the United States shifted to a service industry focus, which has traditionally been a sector unions have been weaker in recruiting and retaining members from. According to the U.S. Department of State, Women, young people, temporary and part-time workers - all less receptive to union membership - hold a large proportion of the new jobs created in recent years. And much American industry has migrated to the southern and western parts of the United States, regions that have a weaker union tradition than do the northern or the eastern regions. Negative publicity about corruption within high-ranking union members has also sullied their reputation and resulted in lower labor involved in their membership. Young workers, perhaps due to a perceived entitlement to the past victories of labor unions for better working conditions and benefits, have also shied away from joining unions. The biggest reason these unions have seen a decline in membership, though, may be due to the strength of the economy in the late 1990s and again from 2011 through 2017. Just between October and November 1999 alone, the unemployment rate fell 4.1 percent, meaning an abundance of jobs made people feel like workers no longer needed unions to maintain their jobs.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Analysis of the Critical Theorists View on Domination Term Paper

Analysis of the Critical Theorists View on Domination - Term Paper Example The Concept of Domination Due to the radical perspective of the critical theorists, the social notions presented had effects that can be attributed to the concept of domination. Domination is defined as a form of influence to an individual that results in the confirmation of goals, purposes, and actions to what had been prescribed or dictated (Held, p.149). This can affect the society in terms of different aspects that comprise the social institutions such as the culture industry aspect, the technology and consumption aspect, the nature of corporate capitalism, and the authoritarian personality. Each of these components can affect the manner by which a society functions, thus, these are included in the essential factors within the critical theory (Craib, 1992; Miles, 2006). Domination is the main concept that links the different points of views of the different advocates of the critical theory but is considered as the uniting factor in the critical theory. ...210). Due to the differe nt views of the critical theorists, the whole perspective of the group regarding domination is composed of the different components. Domination and the Culture Industry The view of domination in relation to the culture industry is the main perspective of Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno. It explores the role the nature of the culture which according to them is a ‘capitalist industry.’ This can be attributed to the fact that what is termed as enlightenment can be considered as mass deception. This is due to the fact that capitalist industry dominates the culture. Thus, instead of triggering a check and balance effect to the dominating effect of the capital, the interactions within the society such as work and even leisure is completely controlled (Szeman and Kaposy, 2010, p.40). The theory perceives the society dominated by the capitalist industry to be in a vicious cycle. Upon looking at the said perspective, it is clear that it is one of the reasons that the critical theory is considered radical because it questions the whole social structure.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Critically examine how a firms HR strategy could be its source of Essay - 1

Critically examine how a firms HR strategy could be its source of competitive advantage - Essay Example Competitive advantage, from a traditional business perspective, generally involves the tangible activities of the company such as the financial rewards from a streamlined production system or the positive service delivery performed by a shipping and receiving department. When the organisation performs a specific work-related activity better than other companies in similar marketplaces, the organisation has developed a unique competitive advantage. However, in terms of managing human resources, competitive advantage occurs simply by creating policies and workplace environments which are congruent to business and employee needs. It would seem that a satisfied staff is a staff which is motivated to provide excellence to job role function. This paper identifies the various methods by which HR policies can create competitive advantage for today’s organisations; both internally and externally. Having a streamlined system of HR management appears to provide competitive advantage from a human capital development perspective. Karami, Jones and Kakabadse (2008) suggest that attitude, stemming from management professionals at the firm, greatly impact whether a firm will develop an appropriate pool of talent. There appears to be many organisations, today, which under-utilise staff members, considering them as only vessels through which to achieve company goals. The aforementioned authors stress the importance of providing workers with new opportunities and increased job role flexibility as a means to secure psychological perceptions of staff importance toward meeting company goals. It might appear that job role flexibility and opportunities (such as advancement or job rotation) are rather common sense HR policies and procedures, however in terms of supplying a company with competitive advantage it is important to understand why

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Cause and effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Cause and effect - Essay Example Childhood obesity also increases the risk of psychosocial problem among children such as low self-esteem, bullying, teasing and are underestimated by their peers. This is a cause and effect essay exploring childhood obesity in USA. One major cause of childhood obesity in US is excessive consumption of calories, for instance,  many children take many too much calories, and they do not engage in physical activities to burn them since they engage in minimal physical exercises. Most children in US and other developed countries do not take the right and healthy food. Increased intake of energy dense meals and soft drinks leads to childhood obesity. Children consume many calories, but participate less in physical activities (Murphy, 5). Lack of physical activity participation in children is caused by environmental factors such as lack of enough space to undertake different exercises like cycling, running among others. Furthermore, parents do not create time to help their children engage in physical activities. Continuous consumption of fast food and living sedentary lifestyles put them at risk of diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes, and increased cholesterol among others. Researchers have pointed out sedentary lifestyle to be one of the major causes of obesity in both adults and children (Rippe and Angelopoulos 29). Parents are too busy to prepare healthy and nutritional meals to allow their children carry packed lunch instead of consuming fast food. More so, physical inactivity contributes largely in increasing cases of obesity because they spend most of their time playing video games and watching television. They  spend less time exercising, but they do spend many hours watching and playing video games, this way, they are more likely to become overweight as opposed to those who spend less time playing video games and watching. Children and teenagers should engage in physical activities for at least sixty minutes daily (Murphy 14). Even though physical edu cation has been introduced in many schools and kindergarten, many children do not actively participate in physical activity (Moreno, Pigeot and Ahrens 12). Obesity affects negatively on children’s lives. Firstly, obesity increases the risk for certain serious health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol as well as high blood pressure, and musculoskeletal among others. Different studies cite obesity to be the major cause of premature death among children. Today, these serious health conditions are found among children due to unhealthy lifestyle because for a long time these diseases have been exclusively associated with adulthood. Secondly, obese children are at a higher risk of experiencing psychological problems such as bullying, underestimation, teasing, and low self-esteem among others (Rippe and Angelopoulos 39). Moreover, obese children are prone to depression and other medical conditions such as bone and joint problems and may experience breathing difficulties esp ecially when they are engaged even in the slightest physical activity. Most obese children are not happy with their condition and are not comfortable to interact with their peers. In addition, obese children have the tendency of maturing earlier, that is, they seem to grow old faster as opposed to their colleagues who are not overweight. More so, overweight and obesity reduces children’s lifespan and causes premature death of most children in America. In conclusion,

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Assessment of Plants for Anti Asthmatic Drugs

Assessment of Plants for Anti Asthmatic Drugs Introduction Asthma is a respiratory inflammatory disease characterized by narrowing of bronchial airway. There are changes in level of cytokines, eosinophils, lymphocytes, mast cells, and other inflammatory cell products. As high level of IgE binds to mast cell receptors, it interacts with antigen, resulting in inflammatory reactions, like the release of mediators (prostaglandins, histamines, and leukotrienes). Hence, bronchoconstriction is triggered. Asthma affects 300 million people across the world and an estimate of a further 100 million will suffer by 2025 (Taur D.J. and Patil R.Y., 2011). Now, there are more and more asthma patients and research teams looking for natural or complementary alternatives to treat asthma. This is because the modern asthma therapy has caused many adverse effects. The natural plant used to treat asthma should have immunomodulatory, smooth-muscle relaxants, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and allergic activity. In the Ayurveda context, an anti-asthmatic plant drug should have anti-kapha and anti-vata properties (Taur D.J. and Patil R.Y., 2011). Countless natural plants are used as the natural source for anti-asthmatic drugs. After intense research, a particular molecule with good therapeutic properties is identified and extracted from the plants. Then, the molecule will undergo many modifications in the laboratories, be produced in large scale manufacture, put into various dosage forms and marketed to the public. The examples of such plant drugs are Aerva lanta Linn (Amaranthaceae), Cnidium monnieri (Umbelliferae), Euphorbia hirta (Euphorbiaceae), Mentha spicata L, and Olea europea (Oleaceae) (Taur D.J. and Patil R.Y., 2011). Selection of 4 plant drugs 4 drugs are being selected for their anti-asthmatic properties: Quercetin Ephedrine Cromolyn sodium Theophylline Drug Category Plant source Properties Quercetin (Yikrazuul, 2008) Flavonol Caper Quercetin potentiates ÃŽ ² receptor stimulation via phosphodiesterase inhibition of PDE4 and PLCÃŽ ². This relaxes airway muscles (Drug Bank, 2014). It is also an effective bronchodilator and it prevents release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals (Drug Bank, 2014a). Ephedrine (NEUROtiker, 2008) Sympathomimetic amine Ma Huang As a bronchodilator and decongestant, ephedrine is a potent sympathomimetic that stimulates ÃŽ ± and ÃŽ ² receptors. It reduces swelling and vasoconstriction in lung airways. As your airway widens, you can breathe more easily (RxList, 2009). Cromolyn Sodium (Fvasconcellos, 2009) Chromone complex Khellin Cromolyn sodium inhibits mast cell degranulation, hence there is no release of histamine and slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis. Type I hypersensitivity is ceased. Besides, cromolyn sodium may inhibit leukotriene release and calcium entry (Drug Bank, 2014b). Theophylline (Fuse809, 2014) Methylxanthine Cacao treeandcocoa tree Theophylline relaxes bronchial smooth muscles and reduces their responsiveness to allergen and histamine. It inhibits type III and type IV phosphodiesterase (PDE) which break downs cAMP, resulting in bronchodilation. It also blocks adenosine A2B receptor and subsequently, bronchoconstriction. Histone deacetylase is activated to prevent inflammatory gene transcription (Drug Bank, 2014c). Table 1: Drug, its category, plant source and properties. Plant Biological source Chemical constituents Family Scientific name Picture Caper bark,bud,leaves Rutin(Quercetin 3-Rutinoside),Quercetin 7-Rutinoside,Quercetin 3-Glucoside-7-Rhamnoside,Kaempferol-3-Rutinoside,Kaempferol-3-Glucoside, AndKaempferol-3-Rhamnorutinoside (Winter R, 1978). Capparaceae Capparis spinosa (Thomà © O. W., 1885) Ma Huang Stem Ephedrine, pseudoephrine Ephedraceae Ephedra sinica, Ephedra intermedia, Ephedra equisetina, Ephedra distacha, Ephedra trifurca (Climbjm, 2000) Khellin Seeds, fruits 1% of Khellin and 0.3% of visnagin are found in fruits (Drugs.com, 2009). Apiaceae Ammi visnaga (Sipler D, 2004) Cacao treeandcocoa tree Seeds The seeds contain about 2% of theobromine and 40-60% of solid fat (Grieve M, 2014). Malvaceae Theobroma cacao (Luisovalles, 2007) Table 2: Biological source, chemical constituent, family and scientific name of each plant. Different methods of screening The following two screening methods are done to uncover the chemical properties and effects of usage of drug quercetin. Method 1 is about using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED) to extract rutin out of plant extracts based on its chemical properties. Method 2 is the involvement of guinea pigs to compare anti-asthmatic effect of quercetin with other drugs like cromolyn sodium. Screening 1: â€Å"Bronchoprotective activity in mice against various mediators.† Mice were exposed to either 4% w/v acetycholine bromide in 5% NaHà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡POà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ or 5% egg-albumin or 2% w/v histamine dihydrochloride aerosol in histamine chamber under constant pressure. Bronchospasm was then induced. The mice showed progressive dyspnea. The end point of PCD (pre-convulsive dyspnea) was identified from the time of exposure to the onset of dyspnea, leading to convulsion. When PCD started, the mice were removed from the chamber and be exposed to the fresh air for recovery (Bahekar R.H. et al., 2000). After 2 days, the mice were given different test drugs. The time for onset of PCD was measured against that induced by acetycholine bromide, egg-albumin or histamine dihydrochloride aerosol. The bronchoprotective effect of each drugs was calculated using the following formula (Bahekar R.H. et al., 2000): Tà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚  was a mean of control PCD time. Tà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ was a PCD time after drug treatment. Screening 2: â€Å"Quercetin inhalation inhibits the asthmatic responses by exposure to aerosolized-ovalbumin in conscious guinea-pigs.† Guinea pigs were actively sensitized with aerosolized-ovalbumin (AOA) (2w/v% in saline, inhalation for 3 min) in the double-chambered plethysmograph, triggering immediate (IAR), late phase (LAR) and late late phase (LLAR) asthmatic response. A doubling in skin thickness means a success in sensitization. Recruitment of histamine, leukocytes, and protein contents, specific airway resistance (sRaw), and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. After that, the guinea pigs were made to inhale different test drugs for 2 minutes. The effect was compared between the drugs (Moon H et al, 2008). The respiratory function of guinea pigs were measured using double-chambered plethysmograph. Tidal volume, respiratory rate, tidal airflow and sRaw were measured. Quercetin reduced sRaw by 57.15 +/- 3.82% in IAR; 57.72 +/- 7.28% in LAR as well as 55.20 +/- 5.69% in LLAR. Cromolyn sodium significantly reduced sRaw in all three phases (Moon H et al, 2008). Comparison between screening 1 and screening 2: Both screening methods use animals as the in vivo test system, inhalation as dosage form and chamber as the place for induction of asthma in animals. Both are used to measure the anti-asthmatic effects of different test drugs. Screening method 1 Difference Screening method 2 Mice Test animals Guinea pigs 4% w/v acetycholine bromide in 5% NaHà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡POà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ or 5% egg-albumin or 2% w/v histamine dihydrochloride aerosol Chemical inducing asthma effects Aerosolized-ovalbumin (AOA) (2w/v% in saline, inhalation for 3 min) The time for onset of PCD Measure of drug effects Tidal volume, respiratory rate, tidal airflow and sRaw Bahekar et al. Researchers Hee Moon et al. Table 3: Differences between the screening methods. Side effect of the plant drugs Despite the popular claims that drugs from natural sources are safe and effective over the long-term, patients should not be fooled for thinking that natural drugs are safer than synthetic modern medicines. The same goes to the anti-asthmatic drugs. The side effects of the plant drugs are: Drugs Side effects Caution Solutions Quercetin Headacheor tingling in arms and legs, kidney damage (high doses) (WebMD, 2013a) Pregnant orbreastfeeding Interaction with antibiotics Cyclosporine,warfarin, or drugs (the function can be changed by theliver) (WebMD, 2013). Consult your doctor if the symptoms do not resolve within 2 or 3 weeks after starting taking this medicine. Ephedrine Dizziness, headache, nausea, allergic reactions, difficulty urinating (Drugs.com, 2014). Allergy to this medication Asthma Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor High blood pressure Heart disease (Drugs.com, 2014a). Consult your doctor if the symptoms do not resolve within 1 week after starting taking this medicine or you develop a high fever. Cromolyn sodium Nausea, joint pain, headache,mild stinging, burning ortrouble sleeping (WebMD, 2013b). Allergy to cromolyn sodium Kidney disease Liver disease (Drugs.com, 2014b). Consult your doctor if the symptoms do not resolve within 2 or 3 weeks after starting taking this medicine. Theophylline Chest pain, fainting, increase in urine volume, pounding or rapid pulse, persistent vomiting, seizures and shakiness (Drugs.com, 2014c). Breastfeeding (Theophylline can be present in breast milk, harming the baby) Anyone under 18 years old without medical advice (Drugs.com, 2014c). When your body gets used to the drug, the side-effects will disappear. Seek for professional health to reduce these side-effects. Table 4: Side-effects, cautions and solutions for each plant drug. Natural plant drugs do have their side-effects. Drug users have to be alert with the effects and take necessary precautionary steps or consult a doctor when any suspicious symptoms are detected. Conclusion Nowadays, you can find countless of prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines derived from plants. During the ancient times, plants have been the exemplary sources of drugs.They just do not get created entirely from zero in lab, but the researchers and scientists trawled through jungles, wetlands, rivers and grasslands they can find, searching for better compounds to test against asthma. Some of the natural anti-asthmatics underwent the most vigorous clinical trials imaginable, while some were not recognized for its functions due to lack of valid evidence. For example, the benefits of Quercetin in asthma are not known, while theophylline is the certified first line treatment for decades. There are many other plant drugs that have similar anti-asthmatic activity, like wild Licorice, Gingko Biloba, Anise (apinene and creosol), garlic and leaf of Parsley. All must undergo the most stringent quality control and quality assurance, together with firm uphold of Global Manufacturing Pract ice to ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of the plant drugs. So far, there is no cure for asthma. The effects of all the anti-asthmatic drugs and medicine, no matter which group it belongs, discovered has been limited to managing and controlling symptoms of asthma. However, there are more and more studies and researches, hoping to find a perfect drug to effectively and safely cure asthma (Taur D.J. and Patil R.Y., 2011). Reference Bahekar R.H. et al. 2000. New Bronchodilators 2: Synthesis Of 6-Alkylbenzimidazo [1,2-C] Quinazolines.Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, [Online]. 62/1, 41-45. Available at: http://www.ijpsonline.com/article.asp?issn=0250-474X;year=2000;volume=62;issue=1;spage=41;epage=45;aulast=Bahekar;type=0[Accessed 17 November 2014]. Climbjm, (2000),Mormon Tea in Arches NP[ONLINE]. Available at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Mormon_Tea_in_Arches_NP_-_July_2008.jpg/1024px-Mormon_Tea_in_Arches_NP_-_July_2008.jpg[Accessed 09 November 14]. Drug Bank. 2014a.Quercetin. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB04216. [Accessed 20 November 14]. Drug Bank. 2014b.Cromoglicic acid.Available: http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01003. Last accessed 6th Nov 2014. Drug Bank. 2014c.Theophylline.Available: http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00277. Last accessed 6th Nov 2014. Drug Bank. 2014d.Ephedrine.Available: http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01364. Last accessed 6th Nov 2014. Drugs.com. 2009.Khella. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.drugs.com/npp/khella.html. [Accessed 12 November 14]. Drugs.com. 2014a.Ephedrine.Available: http://www.drugs.com/ephedrine.html. Last accessed 7th Nov 2014. Drugs.com. 2014b.Cromolyn sodium. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.drugs.com/mtm/cromolyn-sodium.html. [Accessed 20 November 14]. Fuse809, (2014),Structure of[ONLINE]. Available at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Theophylline2DCSD.svg/612px-Theophylline2DCSD.svg.png[Accessed 20 November 14]. Fvasconcellos, (2009),Skeletal formula of cromoglicic acid (cromoglicate, cromolyn)[ONLINE]. Available at:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Cromoglicic_acid.svg/970px-Cromoglicic_acid.svg.png[Accessed 20 November 14]. Grieve M. 2014.Cacao. [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/cacao-02.html. [Accessed 12 November 14]. Luisovalles, 2007,Matadecacao[ONLINE]. Available at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Matadecacao.jpg/640px-Matadecacao.jpg[Accessed 09 November 14]. Moon H. et al. 2008. Quercetin inhalation inhibits the asthmatic responses by exposure to aerosolized-ovalbumin in conscious guinea-pigs.Archives of Pharmacal Research. 31 (6), p771-772. NEUROtiker, (2008),Structure of (−)-Ephedrine[ONLINE]. Available at:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/(-)-Ephedrin.svg/207px-(-)-Ephedrin.svg.png[Accessed 20 November 14]. RxList. 2009.Ephedrine.Available: http://www.rxlist.com/ephedrine-drug/clinical-pharmacology.htm. Last accessed 6th Nov 2014. Sipler D, 2004,Ammi Visnaga[ONLINE]. Available at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Ammi_Visnaga_(289632722).jpg/800px-Ammi_Visnaga_(289632722).jpg[Accessed 09 November 14]. Taur D.J., Patil R.Y. (2011). Some medicinal plants with antiasthmatic potential: a current status.Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 1 (5), p413–418. Thomà © O.W., 1885,Illustration Capparis spinosa0[ONLINE]. Available at:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Illustration_Capparis_spinosa0.jpg/640px-Illustration_Capparis_spinosa0.jpg[Accessed 11 November 14]. WebMD. 2013a.Quercetin.Available: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/quercetin-uses-and-risks. Last accessed 7th Nov 2014. WebMD. 2013b.Mast Cell Stabilizers for Long-Term Control of Asthma. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.webmd.com/asthma/mast-cell-stabilizers-for-long-term-control-of-asthma. [Accessed 20 November 14]. Winter R. 1978. A Consumers Dictionary of Food Additives. Crown Publishers, Inc., New York. Yikrazuul, (2008),Quercetin[ONLINE]. Available at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Quercetin.svg/800px-Quercetin.svg.png[Accessed 20 November 14].

Friday, October 25, 2019

Satie, Erik :: essays research papers

Satie, Erik   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The French composer Erik Satie was born on May 17, 1866, and died on July 1, 1925, was the son of an English mother and a Parisian music publisher. He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1879 but failed to benefit from academic education, which he embarked on again only in his 40th year, when he enrolled as a pupil of Vincent d'Indy and Albert Roussel at the Schola Cantorum. Long before that, however, he had composed a number of short piano pieces, whose eccentric titles and unfashionable and yet convincing simplicity of melody were matched by an individual sense of harmony. It is still a moot point whether Satie got his harmonic ideas from his fellow student and friend Claude Debussy, or whether the debt was on Debussy's side. It is quite clear, however, that Satie's tasteful principles influenced Debussy in the composition of his opera Pelleas et Melisande and that Satie was the main influence in helping Debussy to free himself from the musical domination of Richard Wagner. Satie became interested in plainsong through his association with a so-called Rosicrucian group, while he earned his living as a cafe pianist in Montmartre. Satie was a conscious eccentric and a determined enemy of all establishments, including the musical. The comical titles that he attached to his small piano pieces are characteristic of the Bohemian wit in the Paris of his day. Irony and a deceptively childlike attitude, a dislike for pomposity of all kinds, and an instinctive secretiveness were hallmarks of both the man and his music. In 1916, Satie was befriended by Jean Cocteau and wrote the music for a ballet, Parade, on which Pablo Picasso and Leonid Massine also collaborated. By far the most important of Satie's works is Socrate , an harsh

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Synthetic vs. Natural: an Analysis of Costuming in Blade Runner

Ben Boudreau Professor Butorac English 151 10 May 2010 Synthetic vs. Natural: An Analysis of Costuming Used in Blade Runner Blade Runner written by Scott Bukatman and published in 1997 discusses the making of, and larger issues addressed, in Ridley Scott’s film Blade Runner (1982). Bukatman, an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University, has written several books on film. His book takes a look at the film formally, ideologically, and even historically. He addresses the film formally by talking about the production of the film. He briefly discusses the process of refining the film’s script which is loosely based on the book Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. Bukatman talks of Blade Runner’s design, touching on the narration, the production of the props and set, special effects, and cinematography of the film. In his ideological analysis of the film he touches on larger social issues in the film such as urbanization, immigration, racism, and post modernism. On age 19 Bukatman says â€Å"With its city that resembles nothing so much as a vast boundless refinery and its world that no longer contains any traces of nature† This discussion of the set and props hint at the problems of urbanization as shown in the film. Bukatman uses the androids as examples for how the film can be viewed as addressing racism and immigration. The paranoia against the androids could represent the racism against Asians which was growing at that time in American history due to Asian’s expanding economic influence (Bukatman 74). Racism against blacks is shown by the androids classification of non-human because during the time of slavery in America, blacks were also not viewed as human (Bukatman 75). One way post-modernism is addressed, according to Bukatman, is by begging the question what does it mean to be human? This question is a major theme throughout Bukatman’s book. In this paper I will discuss the issues of the environment and industrialization. I plan on doing this through the use of costuming in the film. I will analyze the use of synthetic versus natural costuming. This paper will cover the wardrobes worn by Rick Deckard, Pris, and Rachael. Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, is the protagonist in Scott’s Blade Runner. Known as a â€Å"blade runner†, Deckard is a member of the Los Angeles police department who is employed to â€Å"retire† genetically designed humanoids known as â€Å"replicants†. These replicants were designed by the Tyrell Corporation to do work in off-world colonies. Because of their superior strength and comparable intelligence, the replicants were viewed as a threat to the human race. After a bloody uprising on an off-world colony they were deemed illegal on earth. In response, Rick Deckard and his group of blade runners are put in place to hunt down and retire these humanoids. Deckard lives in futuristic Los Angeles set in 2019. The city described by Bukatman is a â€Å"vast, boundless refinery,† which â€Å"no longer contains any trace of nature† (19). Deckard’s costuming throughout the film differs greatly from the rest of the characters. He wears a large brown sport coat with patch pockets for most of the film. The coat’s color is very earthy and natural looking in comparison to other characters’ costumes. It looks unpressed and wrinkled as if nothing has been done to modify its look. Underneath he wears several different dress shirts all with basic patterns and muted colors, along with a plaid styled tie. His pants appear to be dark gray, possibly flannel but nothing remarkable. It is almost as if Deckard is your typical working class male found on any large city’s street during the 1980’s. I believe he can be viewed as representing the past, a time where a natural environment existed and urban landscape did not completely dominate the planet. By dressing the film’s â€Å"good guy† in natural and earthy attire I believe Scott could be voicing his opposition to urbanization and the destruction of the natural environment. In the beginning of the film you learn that a group of Nexus 6 replicants have escaped from an off-world colony and traveled to earth illegally. They have come to earth in hope that their creator, Tyrell, can extend their short life spans of only four years. These Nexus 6 replicants, which are said to be â€Å"more human than human†, were designed with superior strength and agility for use on the off-world colonies. One of the escapees is known as Pris. Born on Valentine’s day, Pris is a â€Å"basic pleasure model†. She is also the girlfriend of the strongest replicant, Roy Batty. In the film, we follow Pris as she befriends the genetic engineer, J. F. Sebastian, so Roy can get closer to Tyrell, their creator. Throughout this film we see Pris in very unique costuming. We first see Pris wandering the crowded streets alone in the rain, dressed as a classic street prostitute. Her hair is frizzy and blonde, looking as if it has been bleached. Around her neck she wears a metal dog collar. A black shirt barely covers her up, and her black nylon tights clearly show her upper thighs. Faint traces of mascara make her eyes appear dark. Anticipating J. F. s route home, she hides outside his apartment disguised under newspapers. J. F. gets off the bus and runs into Pris, not being able to resist the company of a gorgeous girl in his lonely apartment, J. F. invites her in. She spends the night there and quickly becomes â€Å"friendly† with him. The next morning Pris goes through a transformation. She wanders his apartment looking through the endless amount of toys a nd mannequins. She begins playing with his make-ups, and cakes her face with clownish white powder. Next, she closes her eyes to spray them with a black jar of spray paint. This make-up on her face gives her a â€Å"created look†. She appears completely unnatural at this point, and begins to resemble the toys found in J. F. ’s apartment. She uses this ability of looking fake to her advantage when she encounters Deckard in the end of the film. In this scene we see Pris posing completely lifeless among the toys. Her only disguise is a long white veil. She transforms visually into a kind of ghostly bridal doll. In this film, Pris is the polar opposite of Deckard. She wears dark synthetic clothes that appear to be unnatural and fake. Her make-up gives her the appearance of a lifeless toy mannequin. Deckard eventually spots the replicant and a fight ensues. Deckard shoots Pris twice and retires her. I believe the killing of Pris by Deckard gives us another possible example for urbanization and the environment. Pris can be read as one of the evils in this film. Being a replicant, she represents the future, where there is no evidence of nature and the cluttered city dominates the entire landscape. If you look at her costuming, it is very artificial and synthetic looking. Deckard, on the other hand, is dressed naturally and earthy. His killing of Pris could give some evidence of Scott’s opposition to urbanization and the future of the environment. One of the most interesting characters in Blade Runner is Rachael. She is the latest experiment of Tyrell, designed because of the flaws of the Nexus 6 models. Tyrell believes that the replicants have started to develop their own emotions. He believes this is due to the fact that they have no framework within which to deal with the formation of new emotions. Tyrell implants memories of his niece into Rachael and also does not reveal to her, until later, that she is a replicant. Rachael figures it out after she is given a Voight-Kampff test. She leaves Tyrell and in desperation turns to Deckard, who is under orders to kill her. Deckard ends up falling in love with her and spares her life. In the film, we see two different types of costuming for Rachael. In the beginning when Deckard meets Rachael in Tyrell’s pyramid throne, we see a tall, dark, statuesque woman. With broad squared shoulders, exaggerated proportions, straight lines, and lacquered hair she appears to be flawless. She looks to as if she is mechanical, fulfilling her role as a replicant. Later in the movie she goes through a gradual transformation. At this point of the film she is sitting at the piano in Deckard’s apartment. Rachael is wearing a more feminine dress that paints broad stripes of tan and cream across her body. As she lets her hair down, we see her change from the artificial hair she wore previously to a bushy and more natural style. We also see Rachael as she transforms from a pale white face with bright red lips to a more tan and feminine face with little or no lip stick. I believe that the transformation of Rachael can be viewed as representing hope. Rachael stands for the future. She is portrayed in the beginning as being very unnatural but through her transformation she becomes more natural looking like Deckard. This could be Scott showing us that there is hope for the future, and that the future can be a place where nature exists. This pinning of good versus evil, natural versus synthetic, is just one of the many ways the costuming of Blade Runner can be read. In Ridley Scott’s films, the messages or issues addressed by the film are very subtle. They will never come out and hit you in the face. You often have to watch his films several times and really think about the film after you have viewed it to really understand what he is trying to say. This is what makes Scott’s films so great. His films will provoke thought and stay relevant and important to the film industry like few other films can. Even authors such as Scott Bukatman missed what this particular use of synthetic and natural fibers could be saying. Although this message about urbanization and the environment is hidden and could be read a number of different ways, I do believe Scott might be voicing his opposition to urbanization and the destruction of the natural world. Works Cited Blade Runner. Dir. Ridley Scott. Perf. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young. Warner Brothers, 1982. Film. Bukatman, Scott. Blade Runner. London: British Film Institute, 1997. Print.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Marketing Environmental Analysis

PEST, SWOT and Porter’s five forces analysis are three very useful tools for both identifying the threats and opportunities in general and competitive environment and setting up company’s marketing strategy. What are PEST, SWOT and Porter’s five forces and their usefulness. PEST is an acronym for political, economic, social and technologic. 1. The political area has huge impact on the operation of the firms(e. g. tax, business law, political stability) 2. The economic condition can also directly influence the general performance of the company(e. g. conomy depression, interest rate, exchange rate, inflation rate) 3. As for social factors, by fundamentally determining the target market, it can also be essential for the success or failure of strategies. (e. g. religion, culture, demographic issue) 4. Finally, the technological factors are becoming the majority for mostly organization, which can increasing the benefit as well as decreasing the time and cost. (e. g. the pace of technologies change, incentive of technology) Usually prior to competing SWOT, PEST helps to spot the four elements for better understanding the macroenvironment faced by firms. After analyzing the four factors, it is important for company to identify the key drivers for change, thus focus on that to shape its strategies. Meanwhile, by scanning the general environment, co. can therefore also detect weak signals that make the discontinuity of the environment, which may fundamentally change the competitive environment (Johnson et al, 2011). Ginter and Duncan (1990) argue that macro-environment analysis can act as an early-warning system by giving org. time to anticipate opportunities and threats and develop appropriate response. SWOT is structured planned method used to evaluated strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. By using matching and converting, company can either find or develop their competitive advantages. Matching is used to find competitive advantages by matching the strengths to opportunities. Converting is to apply conversion strategies to convert weaknesses or threats into strengths or opportunities. Porter's five forces analysis is a framework for industry analysis and business strategy development formed by Michael E. Porter at 1979. More precise than PEST, it helps the industrial organization to illustrate the competition intensity in competitive environment (microenvironment) thus decide the attractiveness of specific market. Combining three analysis In corporate strategies level, all three of them can be used to audit the marketing environment in order to get a systematic, critical and unbiased appraisal of its operation. (where is the co. now, where does the co. want to go and how should the co. rganize its resources to get there) In business strategy level, it also important that because of the increasingly rate of change in market environment, three of the analysis need to achieve contingent approach to shape the strategies to avoid overcome by competitors. Example: PEST e. g. construction firm: operating on narrow profit margin, react to change I interest rate. Johnson &Johnson: baby-care product, react to change in birth rate, thus change the target market to adult female(being kind and gentle to woman’s skin as well as that of babies) SWOT A consultancy firm S: Reputation, expertise W: Unable to deal with multi-disciplinary assignments because of size or lack of ability O: Well established position with a well defined market niche T: Other small consultancies looking to invade the marketplace Five forces Coca-cola: Present a detailed analysis of the various positioning strategies that may be pursued by a firm (20 marks). What are the keys to successful positioning (30 marks)? 1. Positioning is to shape the org. o suits the preferences of customers and lead to high consumer loyalty thus building a powerful brand. 2. Market mix, perceptual map 3. There are two levels of positioning strategies: a. Business level strategies (Brand positioning) Business level strategies are positioning the org. among other org. It is market oriented and can be either market-wide or directed at a particular market (niche approach). b. Generic business strategies (Porter)— (competitive advantages) 4. Key to successful market positioning a. A well-positioned brand should appeal to the particular needs of a customer segment because a differential advantage proposition is created. b. There are four key dimensions for a successful positioning: Clarity, Consistency (Favorability), Competitiveness (differentiation), Credibility (Explain†¦.. ) c. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of brand-positioning strategies, there are three components we need to consider: intended position, actually position and perceived position. Perceived position is the most important, which will lead to the above-normal performance of the corporate. According to research, benefit positioning and user position is more effective than feature positioning and direct benefit positioning is more effective than indirect benefit positioning (Fuchs et al, 2009). d. To keep the brand equity, repositioning is very important. We need to realize that positioning is a ongoing process. Competitive advantage is positioning of a single offering in relation to a unique set of potential customers and competitors. For an organization to achieve consistently above-normal market performance, it must create a sustainable competitive advantage (Aaker, 1989). The logic of SCA is that a buyer to purchase offering X, the buyer must perceive the expected utility to him of that offering exceeds the value to him of any alternative solution, that is it must create superior value for its customers. The basis of competitive advantage is increasing the benefit receive by the customers or decreasing the cost. Which lead to different strategic focus on either low cost or differentiation (additional product benefits). So competitive advantages can be porter’s generic strategies or market orientation. (explain†¦. )