A raisin in the sun Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

A raisin in the sun - Essay Example It is like the concepts of freedom, democracy, socialism and so many other words that are too profound to comprehend it its fullest of terms. As an example, can one truly have freedom Society has put in place rules, laws and regulations. These are restraints placed by society on ones exercise of freedom. These are placed by society for the benefit of society itself so that the people can work and live in harmony. Now, Is there really freedom And yet people keep on claiming that they have freedom. The American Dream of working and at the end of it all enjoying the fruits of ones labor in terms of prosperity and fame, is the ideal scenario. It fails to take into consideration other factors that may influence the success or failure of the end goal. I would like to call these the internal and external factors. The internal factors refer to the thinking or thought processes of the individual as it reacts to the stimuli outside him. These stimuli may refer to occasions, experiences, persons or anything that affects him emotionally, mentally, socially, etc. The external factors are occurrences that either help or prevent one from reaching the coveted American Dream. Lena Younger saw the failure of the American dream in the life of her husband who worked himself to death -"working and working like somebody's old horse killing himself." Lena remembers clearly that Big Walter has plans for bride when they rented that apartment. He planned on working hard and after several months they would leave that apartment and purchase the house near their apartment. But after working hard for several months he still did not have the money to purchase a house. His dreams of purchasing a house vanished. In the end, he dies without experiencing the promise of a better life. Lena too worked most of her life. Her thick calloused hands testify to this. She knew that, like her husband, her pay would only be sufficient for their subsistence. Her dreams of owning a garden has been exchanged for the reality of a mere potted plant. She has resigned herself to the truth that hardwork alone will not bring her success. This changed when at the death of her husband she rece ives the $10,000 check from the Insurance Company. This brought her hope for a better life. Her dream would finally come true. She placed a down payment on a home with a garden. Another external factor that threatened the realization of the dream came about when the white community sent an emissary, Mr. Lindner to buy their house from them. And yet another external factor made its presence known with the loss of the rest of the Insurance money which destroys their confidence in being able to meet the monthly payments for the new house. Beneatha Younger dreams of becoming a doctor despite the pleadings of her brother that they cannot afford her schooling. When the positive external factor came in the form of the insurance money she knew that her dream would soon be realized. So, when the negative external factor occurred at the loss of the money, she could not contain herself and lashes out at her brother calling him "Monsieur le petit bourgeois noir- himself! There he is -Symbol of a Rising

Tony Kushner's Angels in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tony Kushner's Angels in America - Essay Example play who has been infected by AIDS and this thinking is reflected when he "feels dirty" as if his heart is "pumping polluted blood." as he is seen to be hallucinating in his struggle with the "angels" as to the reason Earth has been cursed by Aids.(Kushner,P.34) and his deteriorating condition finds him being drawn to "cosmologieswith no judgment, no guilt, or responsibility" (p,42).The play has heavy undertones of Angelic symbolism originating from the traditional religious systems which is so characteristic of the sociological magnum opuses of the likes of Emile Durkheim and Peter Berger. The play demonstrates the rise and re-rise of Angel Imagery in the America of the nineties. In "Angels in America, Roy Cohn ,another character of the play who says the classic dialogue just after being told by his doctor that he too has AIDS (Cadden, 1995). when he states ,'Homosexuals are not men who sleep with other men,' Cohn says. 'Homosexuals are men who in fifteen years of trying cannot get a pissant antidiscrimination bill through City Council. Homosexuals are men who know nobody and who nobody knows. Who have zero clout. Does this sound like me'" (Kushner: 2003:45). This dialogue shows the how the irrational hatred, disapproval, or fear of homosexuality, gay and lesbian people, or their culture manifests itself in an internalized way especially with in the ideals of people like Cohn as he blasts the minority for their lack of power and marginalization in the society and ends of hating them as a whole. Yet another of Kushner' endlessly provocative and rich thematic concerns manifest themselves in one of the main relationships in the play between Joe Pitt and his wife, Harper. As a young Republican Mormon he is a close friend of Roy Cohn, who is also Joe's surrogate father. And their conversations about the changing American culture reflect the events post 9/11 showing the heaving political over tones of this drama. All in all Kushner's highest achievement in this play is his success in dramatizing the difference of opinion within America's so called "melting pot culture" and ability to juggle comedy and tragedy up till the point when Cohn dies in agony; and Joe and Harper are left alone showing some home for their future. The Play has not however always received a positive response, and had to go through varying amounts of political and literary attack and people has objected the play's portrayal of Gay people as "martyrs" and largely condemned as an attack on American Value's particularly by the religious community. Although the supporters of the play were not just amongst the gay community but the admirers came from all sections of the community based upon its moving depiction of the pain suffered by AIDS victims. The last scene of the play (Part 1-Millenium Approaches) shows an Angel which breaks through the ceiling of Prior Walter's room in the hospital and there is a message which says

Effects of Honey as a Treatment for Acne

Effects of Honey as a Treatment for Acne Kanuka Randomised Controlled Trial Critical Appraisal Acne, a common inflammatory cutaneous disease, with a recent analysis reporting an 85% prevalence in those aged between 12 and 24 years of age in the USA. A new treatment option could prove successful if alongside being efficacious avoids the many shortcomings of current treatment options e.g. antibiotics, hormone-therapy etc. These treatment options are ineffective in some sufferers, thus are untenable in improving patient care outcomes. Methodology The papers objective: To investigate the efficacy of Honevo, a topical 90% medical-grade kanuka honey, and 10% glycerine (honey product) as a treatment for facial acne, is a strong foundation whereupon to run a trial. Establishing inclusion criteria prior to participant selection optimise the overall validity; the criteria comprises of a clinical diagnosis of acne and a score of two or more on a Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) scale. Conversely participant exclusion criteria was extensive, being clearly delineated, precluding sufferers with systemic illness, those currently or recently taking topical corticosteroids and antibiotics in the previous 4 weeks. There were 136 selected participants between the ages of 16 40, who were randomised to the honey product group arms using a concealed computer-generated sequence, this randomisation algorithm was used to eliminate bias, accidental or otherwise. Opaque envelopes were used to preserve participant allocation concealment, thus preventing researchers influencing outcomes through preceding knowledge of research outcomes. Furthermore, potential for bias was minimised by having a second investigator perform the IGA at each visit without knowledge of participant treatment allocation. In my opinion the sample size seems sufficient, the size allows for equal randomisation to both treatment arms. Furthermore, recruitment of 136 participants allows for a build-in quantity to account for a 10% dropout rate, accounting for up to 13.6 (14) withdrawals. The study has predetermined specific criteria that it will use to define success when considering the primary outcome aim, the researchers defines success as a à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥2 point decrease in IGA score from baseline at 12à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¦weeks. There were also several secondary outcomes, summarised as follows: the average IGA score at weeks 12 and 14;an overall change in acne using a visual analogue scale (VAS); overall VAS severity at week 4 when contrasted to baseline; applications per day; weekly-reported severity using a VAS scale; and withdrawing participation should acne worsen. RCTs have several points of interest when contrasted with other study types, commonly allowing for optimal assessment of efficacy, randomisation to abstain from confounding the results, and minimisation of bias by allocation disguise and blinding. The kanuka-based treatment has an intrinsic impediment in its appearance and smell; the innate restriction of this study prevented comprehensive blinding of members and researchers, which diminishes the studies adequacy when contrasted with comparable RCTs. This issue was tempered by blinding the researchers in charge of measuring the primary result variable. The blinding of the assessors producing the results considered allowed for the avoidance of assessment bias. By providing a thorough methodology section, this research is reproducible, this was done by providing the treatment regime, number of assessments conducted, and the interval between these assessments. It is stated by the author that the setting was Outpatient primary care from 3 New Zealand localities, albeit rather vague as New Zealand covers a wide area. The issue of adherence and compliance in this study was addressed, treatment constituted twice daily application to affected areas for 30 and 60 minutes. Participant adherence was important, this is supported via daily recording of applications with a check for diary completeness at each visit. Outcomes The researchers calculated 80% power at 5% significance to detect an absolute difference of 25% responders. It is therefore possible to infer that the study had an 80% chance of identifying any treatment effect, with less than a 5% risk that this was due to chance. The primary outcome of participants showing a à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥2 improvement in IGA assessment at week 12 reveals that only a very small proportion of participants showed an improvement. Compared with baseline only, or the Hodges-Lehmann estimator with 95% Confidence Limit showed a 4.2 (0.5 to 39.3), with a p=0.17; in the honey product group there were 4/53 (7.6%) participants and 1/53 (1.9%) participants in the control group who met the primary outcome. Participant withdrawal must be considered, with 15 and 14 participants who withdrew from the honey product group and control group, respectively. The outcomes at week 12 show marginal improvement in the honey product group compared to the control group. This is shown in the proportional odds logistic regression for the IGA score at week 12, which estimated the OR (95% Cl) for improvement of 1.4 (0.7 to 2.9), p=0.33, without adjustment for baseline, and 2.0 (CI 0.9 to 4.2), p=0.075, after adjustment. In regards to daily self-reported use of treatment, it was found that using the The Hodges-Lehmann estimate (95% Cl), between the two study groups was à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢7 (à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢13 to à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢1), p=0.01, with honey product users having less applications. When considering the IGA results, there is a prominent difference in the responses amongst the participants, some participant results would indicate a worsening of symptoms. When considering whether the secondary outcomes were efficacious there was no evidence found to support the use of the honey based product as a treatment option. Subject-rated improvement according to a VAS at both weeks 4 and 12 was better overall for the honey treatment. Bias is an issue with the VAS as it wasnt possible to mask which participants were using the honey based treatment. There may be a type 1 error rate inflation with this variable as it was also an outcome other secondary outcome variables. Conclusions This study has given a sound premise to methodological and factual contemplations that will be worthwhile for planning comparative studies, maybe helping in defeating the inadequacies inside this study. When contrasted with current treatment options, this study doesnt give much evidentiary support to the therapeutic utilization of kanuka honey with 10% glycerine in the treatment of acne. Advances within this field are fundamental for improving patient care, in my opinion I would recommend waiting until further research has been conducted contrasting kanuka as a treatment alternative against other treatment choices. Word Count: 1085 I am aware of the requirements of good academic practice and the potential penalties for any breaches.

The Game of Life in Rabbit, Run Essay -- Updike Rabbit Run Essays Pape

The Game of Life in Rabbit, Run      Ã‚  Ã‚   Perhaps all our lives are simply a game, a game to which society sets the rules and to which we adapt.   In John Updike's novel, Rabbit, Run, the protagonist, Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom lives his life by the rules of the game of basketball.   Rabbit is a man who has, until the beginning of the book, played by society's rules.   But Rabbit's ambivalence is different from that of those around him; he has trouble communicating, and as a result he is often misunderstood and is constantly frustrated by the actions and expectations of others (Regehr).  Ã‚   In high school, Rabbit was a first rate basketball player and now, in his late twenties, is a middle-class man; working in a middle-class job, living in a middle-class apartment.   Though we may not choose to exist in this brown-gray environment, neither would our twenty-something protagonist, and that is precisely the point.   That we can be disgusted and frustrated along with him is what gives substantial balance to his sometimes unlikable decisions, and helps us react fairly to them (Tragic). This substandard is an immense disappointment to Rabbit's expectation that he, and his surroundings, would be of the highest classification throughout his post-high school life as they were in his days as a basketball star.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What defeats Rabbit in real life is the absence of a counter part for the basket in basketball.   Rabbit loves the games because they create and clearly define goals, the way to get points, becoming first rate, a success.   Contrastingly, the real world does not tell him what that something-that-wants-him-to-find-it is (Markle 46).   Rabbit does not have the ball, he does not have the key to the goal in his hands.   But thr... ... Secondary Sources Eiland, Howard & Thornburn, David. Twentieth Century Views: John Updike, A Collection of Critical Essays.   Copyright 1979 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Magill, Frank.   Survey of American Literature.   Vol. 6 Ste-Z 1885-2224.   Marshall Cavendish Co. New York.   Copyright 1991. Edited by Frank Magill. Markle, Joyce B.   Fighters and Lovers:   Theme In The Novels of John Updike.   Copyright 1973 by New York University. Regehr, John.   Rabbit, Run (John's Book Pages).   Copyright 1998 by John Regehr http://regent.org/books/reviews/rabbitrun.html.   04-02-00 Trachtenberg, Stanley.   New Essays on Rabbit, Run.  Ã‚   Tragic Unraveling of a High School Jock.   Reviewer: jzk.   4/13/00. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D0449911639/maraspgr.../002-4808496-///380.  

Mabe: Learning to be a Multinational Essay

Due to the misconception of the size and diversity of Russia, foreign companies tended to enter Moscow and Saint Petersburg first, the two most crowded markets in Russia. These two cities concentrated a large proportion of the population, whose consumption patterns and styles differed from those of the average Russian citizen, Cultural Low trust of outsiders ( Inhibited Communications with foreign managers and undermind organizational innitiatives ) Heavily influence by the history . ( Cultural influence by Soviets and Zharist past: collectivism paternalism administration, fear of responsabillity and reliance of once own neighbors. Oriented in short therm, place little enfasis in competitive strategy and formal strategy planning. Young Russian professionals, with their high aspirations, acquired European style and anti-status quo spirit, collided against the more disciplined and submissive â€Å"older† Russians. In fact,  Russians in their mid-thirties and forties tended to speak only Russian and had mostly been educated under a different mindset. Thus, when younger Russians led an organizational structure, they tended to be more selective when recruiting new talent. That is, they felt more comfortable working among Russians like themselves, not Russians like their parentsIn the process of recruiting and selection, these younger Russians paid more attention to candidates’ family origins even when the candidates themselves were young and had a college degree. According to a common rule of thumb, if the potential hire came from a family of the intellectual elite — i.e., musicians, artists, scientists or academics — they would easily fit with the new generation, but if they came from a family of workers from the Soviet era, the potential of conflict still existed, notwithstanding the age or educational level of the candidate. Rusia low unemployment rate acted to demotivate firmn loyalty ( Compensation did not mean everything.) EconomicRusia have no middle ground proportion of small and middle size enterprises in relation to big enterprises. This proportion is lower in Ruisia than in any other emerging market. Not truly modern Banks ( contries financial systems dominated by one bank) Rusians not invested at home ( loans difficult to acquire) Morgage market non existent ( Only 3% of GDP lowest of any emerging markets) Net foreign direct investment of negative 9.5 billion in 2010. Decreasing population.   Countries wealth represented by is human capital ( deterioration of human capital). Society characterize by high levels of education , but low levels of quality, health and knowledge. (as a result it have serious economic implication) What lessons has Mabel learned for future International expansions? Would another emerging market have been a better Choice than Russia?

Ballads Case Essay

Ballads are poems that tell a story. These ballads are distinguished by such features as few characters, dramatic plots, and may include dialogue, as well as action because it tells a story. They are considered to be a form of narrative poetry. They are often used in songs and have a very musical quality to them. According to the dictionary, Ballad is a narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, consisting of simple stanzas and usually having a refrain. It is the music for such a poem. It is also defined as a popular song especially of a romantic or sentimental nature. Here is an example: (Ballad of a Mother’s Heart) Origin There have been many theories about the originators of the ballads all of which have some validity when applied to the different types of ballad, the main ones are as follows:  · Minstrels: A minstrel is a musician or a poet. Originally, the minstrels were paid entertainers who worked for the Court and influential personages. They wrote songs about current events and historical victories of their patron and they included rewritings of old songs, legends and ballads in their theatre. The theory that the minstrels were the originators of the ballads was held for quite a long time. They are certainly a factor in the spreading of the ballads into the community; ballads were a stock item in the theatre of the minstrels even when their status had declined to that of street singers.  · – Dance: Certainly some of the ballads were tied to dances. The word ballad probably comes from medieval French dance songs or ballet (â€Å"ballares† dance).  · Ceremonial dance and songs. Some ballad refrains contain ceremonial chants and responses  · Monks: The monks were the amongst the few who could read and write in the early times of the ballad history and that it follows that they must have had a hand in the composition and writing of the ballads.  · Communal composition: It has been suggested that ballads may have developed as a communal effort; particularly those that contain refrains and rhythms that are connected with work such as weaving and spinning. Example is the walking songs of the Hebrides.  · Cante-fable. This is a story, which is classified with verses that are sung or chanted. Some ballads are distinctively English or Scottish in origin but the older ballads are more likely to have a European source as their beginnings, deriving from earlier poems and old folk tales brought into Britain by its many invaders, immigrants and soldiers returning from foreign wars. Composition Scholars of ballads are often divided into two: The ‘communalists’ who argue that ballads arose by a combined communal effort and did not have a single author. They tend to lead to the view that more recent, particularly printed broadside ballads are a debased form of the genre. The ‘individualists’ who assert that there was a single original author. They tended to lead to the view that later changes in the words of ballads are corruptions of an original text. More recently scholars have pointed to the interchange of oral and written forms of the ballad. Classification European Ballads have been generally classified into three major groups: traditional, broadside and literary. * Traditional ballads Traditional folk ballads exhibit certain characteristics which help to identify them as being genuine in origin. Traditional ballads or folk ballads were universal songs meant to be understood by everyone, so writers would choose words that even the uneducated might understand. Traditional ballads follow a standard format and tell lengthy stories that call on imagery. * Broadsides Broadside ballads are descriptive or narrative verses or songs sung or recited in public places or printed on broadsides for sale in the streets. It is commonly in a simple ballad form. Broadside ballads appeared shortly after the invention of printing in the 15th century and were hawked in streets, fairs, and marketplaces of Europe into the 19th century. Among the topics were love, religion, drinking-songs, legends, and early journalism, which included disasters, political events and signs, wonders and prodigies. * Literary ballads A literary ballad (also known as â€Å"art ballad†) is a narrative poem written in imitation of the old anonymous folk ballad; the author is most often a known professional poet. Usually the literary ballad is more elaborate and complex. Literary ballads were quite popular in England during the 19th cent. The literary ballad, unlike the traditional ballad and the broadside ballad, is a sophisticated rather than a popular form. Importance of Ballads Ballads are important to look at because they show how the form has developed over time. A ballad is not simply a romantic song, although that definition will still apply in the field of music. Romance can be infused into ballads, especially if they are a narrative tale of love (or hate) as seen in the ballad by the anonymous Spanish poet. However, they are so much more as well. Anyone who knows the ballad knows how complex the story is in terms of theme, imagery, characters, symbolism, and many other literary devices and significations.

WaterGate essays

WaterGate essays President Ricmard M. Nixon is refereed to as one of the most controversial presidents in the history of the United States of America. He is synonymous with this title, because of his involvement in the great "Watergate" scandal. It all started with the election of 1972, Nixon's bid for a second term of presidency. In his attempt at re-election, Nixon took on a different strategy than any other re-election campaign of the past. Instead of using the usual Republican National Committee for re-election, President Nixon divided his campaign into two separate committees. These two committees were named , the Committee for re-election of the president, headed by Attorney General , John Mitchell, and the finance committee to re-elect the president, headed by Secretary of Commerce, Maurice Stans. "Together these committees managed to raise over sixty million dollars for the president' campaign." (Sam J. Ervin, The Whole Truth, pg.36) The work of these two committees enabled Nixon to defeat democrat nominee, George S. McGovern, by a landslide. This decision, by Nixon, would, in the future prove to be the beginning of the end for a good old "Tricky Dick". In his second term, Nixon was known to be positively involved with foreign affairs. "For example, he worked out an agreement with Vietnam to order a stoppage of the war and commence a prisoner exchange program in 1973." (World Book, Nixon, Vol 17) Also in 1973, he worked hard to improve relations with China. His attempts allowed us to open diplomatic office in their capital and they in ours. His events at home also included many positive His major accomplishment was ending the military draft in 1973. Many of his efforts were thwarted by his inability to work cooperatively with congress. This began with his refusal to approve of a program, spending billions of dollars on projects created by congress. "In return, they refused to support his bombing ...

5 Words Often Mistakenly Used in Place of Others

5 Words Often Mistakenly Used in Place of Others 5 Words Often Mistakenly Used in Place of Others 5 Words Often Mistakenly Used in Place of Others By Mark Nichol When writers, amateurs and professionals alike, employ words or phrases they have heard spoken but not seen written, they often mistakenly use a homophone or near homophone of the intended word. Each of the sentences below includes a word that is often used erroneously. A discussion and revision accompanies each example. 1. Given punk rock’s innate tendency to flaunt convention, the style fits the subject matter in its own roughshod sort of way. Flaunt, a verb meaning â€Å"show off,† is frequently confused for flout, a verb meaning â€Å"show disregard for†: â€Å"Given punk rock’s innate tendency to flout convention, the style fits the subject matter in its own roughshod sort of way.† 2. Others honed in on what they consider the company’s poor customer service and monopolistic tendencies. Hone means â€Å"sharpen† or â€Å"make more effective,† but what is meant here is home, as a verb meaning â€Å"proceed† or â€Å"direct attention toward†: â€Å"Others homed in on what they consider the company’s poor customer service and monopolistic tendencies.† 3. She had been the principle trial attorney for the public defender’s office. Both principle and principal derive from the Latin term princeps, meaning â€Å"prince† (the Latin word is also the origin of prince), but principle serves only as a noun, while principal, which can be a noun that refers to a key or leading person or to an amount of money, is also an adjective meaning â€Å"most important,† as in this sentence: â€Å"She had been the principal trial attorney for the public defender’s office.† 4. They were fulfilling a central tenant of the democracy envisioned by our founders. Though tenant and tenet both stem from the same Latin word, tenere, meaning â€Å"hold,† the former refers to someone who rents or leases property, while the latter, meaning â€Å"principle,† is the correct choice for this sentence: â€Å"They were fulfilling a central tenet of the democracy envisioned by our founders.† 5. Her deep-seeded resentment erupted one day in a spontaneous burst of indignation. â€Å"Deep seeded† seems to make sense in a reference to an emotion that is submerged in someone’s psyche, but there is no such idiom; the correct phrase is â€Å"deep seated†: â€Å"Her deep-seated resentment erupted one day in a spontaneous burst of indignation.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food†15 Types of Documents90 Verbs Starting with â€Å"Ex-†

A Dolls House, by Henry Ibsen Essay -- Henry Ibsen, A Doll House

I find the metaphorical meanings in particular, quite supplementary to the overall plot, as well as the irony that sets us up for tense situations in which any drama should do. Directly after the title of the drama, we are immediately primed with the social standards of the time as the first character is listed: â€Å"Torvald Helmer - a lawyer,† and underneath his name: â€Å"Nora - his wife.† She above all else is first a wife and a mother; these titles assume her primary duties and responsibilities. Nora however is not much more than a â€Å"trophy wife† to Mr. Helmer and a playmate to her children. Torvald refers to her with what seem to be degrading nick nding, "thousands of women have" (875). This statement allows for Nora to realize her many accomplishments and her worthiness of a larger award than what she has ever been given. Torvald stops referring to her using bird metaphors, he now sees her strengths that far exceed his own. Instead of her relying on him, he is dependent upon her to keep his beloved public image. Nora no longer relies on his claims of "wide wings to shelter you with," (871) she breaks free and uses her own recently discovered wings to escape Torvald’s sheltering. One throughout the play is almost hoping for the â€Å"greatest miracle,† but can see Nora’s struggle to break free of her caged prison. Nora has set herself free to fly just as birds were created to do, and the sound of a door slamming shut emphasizes her gained strength. Works Cited Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House. 1983. Print.

The recruitment, selection and training of LVMH Essay

The recruitment, selection and training of LVMH - Essay Example The study looks to focus on the recruitment, selection and training and development programs of LVMH. Recruitment can defined as the process by which the employers attract, screens and selects qualified applicants for the job. Selection can be described as the process used by the companies to hire suitable individuals to fill up vacancies in an organization. Training can be viewed as the process of changing behavior and attitudes of the employees to achieve organizational objective. Development on the other hand is some learning activities that are directed towards the potential future needs of the company (Armstrong, 2006). Summary of Findings The recruitment and selection at LVMH is based on the needs of high degree of professionalism. During the recruitment and selection process technical, inter-personal, communication skills are assessed. In dept analysis is used to selection the right person for the right job. Majority of the employees, more than 70% work internationally and int ernational recruitment is of extreme importance to the company (Armstrong, 2000). ... The company also provides career management (Mondal, 2009). Limitations The study has been conducted over a relatively shorter period of time. Therefore findings of the study should be regarded as indicative only. Also the type of data collected is totally secondary and qualitative in nature. Hence, the findings of the study may not represent a holistic picture but rather an indicative picture of the recruitment, selection, training and development process of LVMH. Implications of the Study The study focuses on the importance of training and development as well as recruitment and selection towards the achievement of organizational objectives. Training and development as well as recruitment and selection are not just part of HRM strategy. Rather the training and development as well as recruitment and selection are part of the overall corporate objective. In the modern day business where employees are treated as the biggest asset; it is important for the companies to select the right e mployees to do the right job. Therefore the overall training and development as well as recruitment and selection are of extreme importance. The goes up criticality and importance of training and development as well as recruitment and selection when an international business unit like LVMH is taken into consideration. In that case the company has to consider international cultures, values and needs and demands of the internal (employees) and external customers (consumers) (Goswami, 2010). Recommendations From the findings above it can be easily seen that LVMH has a well designed recruitment, selection and training and development plan. However, while critically analyzing the model it can be suggested

Fine Jewelry Brand Lorraine Schwartz Research Paper

Fine Jewelry Brand Lorraine Schwartz - Research Paper Example Since she is a unique designer since she has the creativity by combining precious stones and gems like exceptional black or blue topaz diamonds, colorful jades, pink gold, sapphire, serpentine, ruby, titanium, and others to come up with an exceptional masterpiece. Her designs include engagement rings, watch, bracelets, necklace, and rings for men, women, and children. She has also managed to fit together gold in a mesh-like cloth that twists giving you contours of the body. She has taken advantage of the experience gained by her family’s predecessors, for example, she says most of her designs and creativity makes her look like those of her late mother. Lorraine E. Schwartz Inc. is the company name based in New York. The jewelry business has been part of her family for three generations but then it operated as a small business in Manhattan’s diamond trade. When compared her family business back then and hers now, she has a larger business. She took the family business in 1989 after the death of her mother, renamed the company to Lorraine Schwartz Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, and made Bergdorf Goodman the only place for selling her designed works by appointment (Cheftreks, 2013). Her breakthrough came when Hale Berry wore her designer jewelry at the SAG Awards in 2002. Since then she has been the favorite of top celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Beyoncà © Knowles, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, Cate Blanchet, and many others. She loves to create unique pieces from bold and rare stones using amazing artistry and styles. For instance, in 2012, she created some particular pieces all of which were so different yet made by the same person within a short period. For someone to perfect this kind of profession and master the art it takes a generation and Lorraine Schwartz proves to this. Schwartz believes in designing and earns her acclaims from merit, unlike other designers who have to pay celebrities in order to wear their jewels. She  does not also vie for a spot in the red carpet events by offering her designs as gift bags.  

Claude Monet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Claude Monet - Essay Example He was also a student of Jacque-Louis David. Then became a mentee of Eugene Boudin who taught him on the outdoor technique of painting. He left school after being his mother dying in the year 1857. Later on he left France and went England where he painted more than 25 building and he was suspected of revolutionary activities. At 32 Monet and Camille Doncieux married. They had two sons, second one died of tuberculosis where he painted him on the death bed (Kalitina & Brodskaiï ¸  , 2011, 102-120) On later life and death, Monet had difficulty life after death of his wife. The grief gave him the impetus to make the best of his painting. Most of the painting were considered the best for campaign in France. The prospects of Monet starting changing when he met Paul Durand, dealer, who made his paint sale. His painting such as Rouen Cathedral got popularity. Life changed and he started making better incomes. In the year 1926, Monet succumbed to lung cancer. Only 50 people attended the burial at cemetery of Givenery church. Burt, D. S. (2001). The biography book: a readers guide to nonfiction, fictional, and film biographies of more than 500 of the most fascinating individuals of all time. Westport, CT, Oryx Press. (pg

Roles of a Global Manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Roles of a Global Manager - Essay Example According to the Soviet-Belgian joint venture agreement, Wane Machines was supposed to send three experienced executives for the key managerial positions -– to serve as Rus Wayne’s deputy general manager, manufacturing manager, and financial manager for the first two or three years. After that, the Russians would take over the positions. The major objectives of this policy were to provide "assistance in technology and management skills transfer, management systems and processes development, and local personnel coaching." While the obstacles and the issues that came up in staffing were basically due to cultural differences, not all the issues arising out of culture difference would be handled here. This report focuses on the inefficiencies in cross-cultural communication that impacted the smooth functioning of this joint venture. The Soviet law insists that local managers should be in charge as they are most knowledgeable and capable of handling local situations although they do not insist that Soviet citizens should hold the senior-most position. Local nationals were taken in the positions of sales and service managers and human resources manager from the beginning as the knowledge of local and employment practices helps in overcoming these obstacles. These decisions were not implemented. The general manager could not send the three expatriates to Russia as per agreement nor was an HR manager appointed on schedule. The general manager wanted to play the role of HR manager as well. The deputy general manager, an American, sent to Russia had no experience of working in Russia but accepted the job because of career move. The manufacturing manager was from France and his interest in Russia was purely career development. The financial manager, an Englishman sent to Russia had merely 2 years of experience at Wane and hence they provided him training for 6 months before sending him to Russia.  

Internet and UK Tourism Industry Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

Internet and UK Tourism Industry - Coursework Example It has been used for various transactions from information transfer to interpersonal communications. Businesses have greatly improved with the onset of internet usage. The utilization of internet has come to the point of it becoming a necessity rather a luxury. The popularity of the internet usage has made it a subject of various studies not only in the academe but including industries that nowadays depend on it. The properties, advantages as well as the disadvantages have been the focus of these studies. The introduction of internet as one of the modes of communication has made significant changes in the lifestyle on the people. It began in the 1980s as the Computer Revolution and now it became the Computer and Internet Revolution. During the computer revolution, the computer usage has increased rapidly and between 1985 and 1999, the usage of computers at work or at home increased from 30 percent to 70 percent as the increase in computer ownership rose from 15 percent to 60 percent (Kim, 2001). Consequently, these factors have made businesses change their strategies. They introduced e-commerce in which consumers can exchange goods and avail themselves of the services offered by companies thru the internet. E-commerce follows the same basic principles as traditional commerce that, buyers and sellers come together to exchange goods for money. But unlike traditional commerce in which the consumers go to a particular place to avail necessary products, they can visit the web sites of multiple vendors anytime, any day to compare prices and make purchases online. But this does not only benefit the consumers, the sellers as well can cut costs and expand their market. Because they sell over the internet, which can be accessed globally, they have the potential to market their products or services worldwide and are not limited by the physical location of a store. At the same time, internet technologies also permit sellers to track the interests and preferences of their customers with the customer's permission and then use this information to build an ongoing relationship with the customer by customizing products and services to meet the customer's needs. Nielsen (2005) wrote that there is an upward trend in global online shopping. Popular items purchased on the internet are books at 34%, videos and games at 22%, airline tickets and reservations at 21% and clothing and accessories at 20%. The study also showed that even one percent of the total population purchase using the net does not necessarily mean successful online sales but it is still important for retailers big and small to understand the factors that drive brand equity and site usage. It also shows that sites and brands with higher brand equity attract higher visitation and sales. But e-commerce has also its downside; some costumers are reluctant to buy products which need actual assessment such as furniture and appliances. Some also consider shopping a social experience; they may be going to a store with family or friends. Security and assurance of transactions are also some factors why some consumers are apprehensive to use the internet for purchases (Microsoft Encarta 200 7). According to a survey by HM Revenue and Customs, web users especially in the UK are using the internet to make their lives easier. The surveys shows that the top three uses of internet are researching

Technology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Technology - Assignment Example The realization of many softwares’ through computer aided designs has enabled this technology to gain popularity, with many opting to adopt it due to its overwhelming convenience. This essay discusses 3D printing including its impacts on the society and the reasons as to why this technology will do better in the near future. Basing it on other similar proven technologies that people had no idea about before their innovation, but later did well after introduction, there is no doubt that 3D printing will be a force to reckon in the near future. Keywords: 3D Printing, Remote Manufacturing, Society, Impact, Future, Technology Introduction Three D (3D) printing is the process of making three dimensional objects in solid form from a digital model (Novel, 2013). To achieve this, objects are arranged in layers and additives are used through an additive process. 3D printing process involves application of digital technology; this technology involves the use of computer files and softwa res to make desired 3D designs. Structures are made to lie on each other through computer aided designs. Blueprints are made and virtual objects are used to make hard copies created from plastics and metal alloys. 3D printing started in 1984 (Novel, 2013). 3D printing has been one of the most popular design manufacturing technologies. This is attributed to its widespread advantages; it has optimized speed, low cost, and has an ease of use. These advantages make 3D designs most important during functional testing of engineering designs, as they provide good visualization at the conceptual stages. The main strengths of 3D printing are given below: It has high innovations; it takes a short time to come out with a prototype, and the feedback included helps it have many cycles that end up with perfect designs. Designs are very clear enhancing communications; the targeted group can be easily reached, and images designs are realistic and convey more information than conventional designs. I t reduces production costs and probability of error occurrence is relatively low, because any error is identified during the earlier stages. The realistic models have won the hearts of many investors, who resolve to apply the technology to face the competitive markets. Figure showing a 3-D object printed by 3-D printer, retrieved from Novel (2013). Societal Impact with regard to 3D Printing It is hard to think that manufacturing could be done without factories and all that are entailed in the factories such as large machines, production lines, and many other manufacturing tools. The technology as at the moment is changing everything. 3D printing serves as an example of the events that are transferred from being operated in factories to more comfortable zones like homes; all that one needs is a computer and knowledge of 3D model software. It is a new reality of the modern science, whereby objects are created and can be observed as they are. While the new world is emerging, big questi ons are posed regarding the future of industries and human life. With regard to 3D printing, the industries may not be completely faced out, but their structures and faces will change (â€Å"Report-3D printing the Future of Manufacturing,† 2013). As technologies advance, several issues have to be reviewed they have a lot of impact in the society. The major effects will be felt in health, businesses, and employment. A case study of 3D bio-printing best shows the effect of this kind of

Internet and UK Tourism Industry Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

Internet and UK Tourism Industry - Coursework Example It has been used for various transactions from information transfer to interpersonal communications. Businesses have greatly improved with the onset of internet usage. The utilization of internet has come to the point of it becoming a necessity rather a luxury. The popularity of the internet usage has made it a subject of various studies not only in the academe but including industries that nowadays depend on it. The properties, advantages as well as the disadvantages have been the focus of these studies. The introduction of internet as one of the modes of communication has made significant changes in the lifestyle on the people. It began in the 1980s as the Computer Revolution and now it became the Computer and Internet Revolution. During the computer revolution, the computer usage has increased rapidly and between 1985 and 1999, the usage of computers at work or at home increased from 30 percent to 70 percent as the increase in computer ownership rose from 15 percent to 60 percent (Kim, 2001). Consequently, these factors have made businesses change their strategies. They introduced e-commerce in which consumers can exchange goods and avail themselves of the services offered by companies thru the internet. E-commerce follows the same basic principles as traditional commerce that, buyers and sellers come together to exchange goods for money. But unlike traditional commerce in which the consumers go to a particular place to avail necessary products, they can visit the web sites of multiple vendors anytime, any day to compare prices and make purchases online. But this does not only benefit the consumers, the sellers as well can cut costs and expand their market. Because they sell over the internet, which can be accessed globally, they have the potential to market their products or services worldwide and are not limited by the physical location of a store. At the same time, internet technologies also permit sellers to track the interests and preferences of their customers with the customer's permission and then use this information to build an ongoing relationship with the customer by customizing products and services to meet the customer's needs. Nielsen (2005) wrote that there is an upward trend in global online shopping. Popular items purchased on the internet are books at 34%, videos and games at 22%, airline tickets and reservations at 21% and clothing and accessories at 20%. The study also showed that even one percent of the total population purchase using the net does not necessarily mean successful online sales but it is still important for retailers big and small to understand the factors that drive brand equity and site usage. It also shows that sites and brands with higher brand equity attract higher visitation and sales. But e-commerce has also its downside; some costumers are reluctant to buy products which need actual assessment such as furniture and appliances. Some also consider shopping a social experience; they may be going to a store with family or friends. Security and assurance of transactions are also some factors why some consumers are apprehensive to use the internet for purchases (Microsoft Encarta 200 7). According to a survey by HM Revenue and Customs, web users especially in the UK are using the internet to make their lives easier. The surveys shows that the top three uses of internet are researching

Milk Vending Machine Essay Example for Free

Milk Vending Machine Essay In March 2006, four friends and alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras connected from different parts of the globe and started talking. Ajit Narayanan worked as a storage engineer with American Megatrends Inc. In California, Aswin Chandrasekaran was an analyst managing product strategy for Capital One Financial Services Inc. in Washington DC. Adib Ibrahim was doing technology consulting at KPMG in Dubai. And Preetham Shivanna was a software engineer with Infosys Technologies, in Mysore, India. They started talking about their desire â€Å"to build a product-based company that would solve some real problems of India. † By mid 2007, the four were all in Chennai, and had set up shop as Invention Labs. They began by providing services in building electronic systems and designing embedded systems for other companies. They have since made their first foray into building a product ‘Milk Tree,’ a vending machine for milk sachets. The Producer Cooperatives and Supply Chain In India, the supply chain for milk from the dairy farm to the customer has five or six links. First, small dairy farmers, typically owners of one or two cows, deliver milk to the local collection point often located at the village itself. From here it is transported to a Bulk Milk Cooling centre, which is the first point of refrigeration. Next the milk is transported to a processing plant. Processing plants are usually located on the outskirts of towns and cities. A large metro like Chennai has two, catering to the northern and southern neighbourhoods respectively. It is also here at the processing plant that the milk is treated for homogenisation, plus other value addition, like skimming, pasteurisation and so on.. From the processing plant the milk is transported to warehouses in different localities inside the city from where it is supplied to the milk dealers of the city. The final link in this chain is made of the ‘milk boys’ who pick up the milk from the dealer, fill their trolleys full of milk sachets and deliver them on foot, to the customer’s doorstep. Dairy farmers in India are part of cooperative societies supported by the government. At the village level, the dairy farmers form part of a Village Cooperative Society. At the district level, they form a District Producer’s Union. Although the Board of this district level body is composed of farmers, they hire professional managers to run it (this is what differentiates it from the village level organisations). Finally, at the state level, they form a Federation, which is managed by Civil Service government officials. For the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala, the numbers are illustrative. There are three District Level Producers Unions and one state-level Federation in the state. The total population impacted by dairy farming in this state is 2400 Village Co-operatives, and about 150,000 families. What Are the Problems? There are several problems associated with this procurement and supply model. The only points in the chain where refrigeration are used are at the Bulk Milk Cooling Centres and the processing plant. This lack of a proper cold chain is the single biggest problem and causes spoilage to the tune of 1% to 3% annually to the cooperatives, directly impacting farmer incomes. To put this in context, annual milk production in India in 2007-08 was approximately 100 million tonnes; losses therefore, amounted to about 1 to 3 million tonnes. The flimsy nature of plastic sachets often results in leakage and further loss of milk by the time it reaches the customer. Under the current supply system, the customer pays an additional Rs. 0.80-1.50 as delivery cost. Also, since the milk boys have limited carrying capacity, the customer places an order at the beginning of the month, for how many sachets should be delivered every morning. He or she does not have the option of purchasing an extra sachet or two, in cases of sudden need. The cooperatives also lose out to private players who offer better margins to milk dealers at the cities. These dealers then tend to push private brands, thus further eroding profits for the cooperatives. The Solution: an Innovative Milk Vending Machine To solve these problems, the four friends at Invention Labs have built an innovative machine that vends milk sachets. This was after they conducted an extensive study of vending machine designs and their suitability to local conditions. Existing machines all operated on a coiled spring mechanism, which proved to be unsuitable for the amorphous nature and flimsiness of plastic milk sachets. Invention Labs’ vending machine uses a unique mechanism to dispense one milk sachet at a time, in a clean and predictable manner. The machine has a two-dimensional grid of columns which hold a total of 120 milk sachets (each sachet contains 500 ml). Using their experience in developing embedded systems, they have built a special encoder, which enables the individual control of all the columns, using just two actuators. As a result of this innovative design, the team has been successful in building a specialised milk vending machine that is at least half the sale price of existing vending machines in the market. Further, as Preetham mentioned, â€Å"all components are over-designed at the moment†, since they are in first stages of product launch. With further selection of appropriate material, design work, and mass production, the team is certain that they can bring down the cost further. Invention Labs has got its first order for seven vending machines from a dairy cooperative based in the state of Kerala. The business model that they plan to implement with soft funding from the Lemelson Recognition Mentoring Programme (L-RAMP) is to install such machines in apartment complexes and housing colonies. The cooperative will be provided the option of either purchasing these machines or paying rent to Invention Labs. The cooperative will be responsible for loading the machines every day with milk. All purchases by apartment dwellers will be smart card-based and cashless. Invention Labs will be responsible for installation, servicing, and maintenance. How do Different Players Benefit? Customers will have milk available at their doorstep 24 hours a day. They would no longer need to pay extra money for delivery and would be able to purchase as much or as little milk as they need. Since the milk will be stored at 6-8 degrees centigrade, these machines can ensure better hygiene than the previous supply model. The Cooperatives, by directly placing their product at the customer’s doorstep, can fight competition from private dairies, and especially target the evening market, which is currently being taken over by private players. The maintenance of milk at the optimal temperature means they will suffer reduced losses. The potential benefit for the small dairy farmer at the village level is increased earnings, due to reduction in milk loss caused by spoilage. Cooperatives share profits with farmers through dividends. Typically, the farmer gets approximately 41% of the profits, through such dividends trickling down from the federation to district, to village level. Obviously, this figure (in terms of real income to the individual) will vary a lot from one farmer to the next depending on the number of cows, yield, input costs etc. Thus, increased profits for the cooperative – remember losses run to the tune of several million tonnes each year – will eventually flow back to the primary producer. Future Challenges The fact that the demand for a specialised milk vending machine actually came from the Kerala milk cooperative is an indicator of the stark need for such vending technology. The primary question to be answered is if the economics of the milk vending model will work out and make it viable for the consumer and the cooperative investing in it. Invention Labs is already looking at innovative ideas like selling advertising space on the machines, and having FM radio channels on it, to increase sources of revenue. They might also offer other value added products like yoghurt and flavoured milk. The business model has an inherent risk in that the company will install the machines on a rental basis, thus facing default risks and unforeseen operational costs. The smart card and recharging systems have to be built and trialled. Apartment dwellers have to adopt the new system of purchasing milk from vending machines, and while they have patented the design, there is always the danger of others copying it. These and more questions will be answered over the next few months as the machines are installed and start vending milk packets. But, with such bright and committed minds working on the problem, one cannot but feel sanguine that a technological solution to India’s milk supply challenges is close at hand.

Role of Dietary Intervention in Ameliorating Disability

Role of Dietary Intervention in Ameliorating Disability The Role of Dietary Intervention in Ameliorating Disability Experienced by Multiple Sclerosis Patients Mark M. Makar Hypothesis: Diet modification can significantly improve disability and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients. Abstract (word count: 213) Hypothesis: Diet modification can significantly improve disability and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients. Methods: The PubMed database was searched on January 18, 2017 to identify studies relevant to this review. The database search combined terms from three themes: 1) multiple sclerosis patients 2) diet and 3) diet modification. This search yielded 118 articles for screening, with no duplicates. With abstract screening and inclusion criteria, 10 articles were included in this final review. Results: Modifying the diet of multiple sclerosis patients can greatly reduce fatigue and moderately help decrease symptoms experienced during this disease. Replacing animal based protein and saturated fatty acids from the diet, with plant-based alternatives that are high in starch showed noticeable improvement in symptoms experienced by multiple sclerosis patients. The plant based diet showed a decrease in inflammatory cells, damage of the blood brain barrier, demyelination, as well as axonal and oligodendrocyte injury. Conclusions: A variety of dietary modifications have been demonstrated to effectively improve quality of life and reduce disability in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. More studies are needed to assess the efficacy of dietary intervention with respect to reducing episodes of disability experienced by multiple sclerosis patients and including diet modification into the current disease modifying therapies available. Key Words: multiple sclerosis, diet modification, review Ultramini Abstract: A search of the PubMed database yielded 10 articles for review. A variety of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case studies, cross sectional studies, and surveys regarding multiple sclerosis patients and diet modification to exclude animal protein from the diet and include only a plant based diet, can help to ameliorate disability. Introduction Multiple Sclerosis has an ongoing prevalence of 33% globally, with its incidence growing in North America and Europe (Evans C et al., 2013). Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is the number one cause of non-traumatic neurodegenerative disability in the young adult population, and is twice as common in women as men (Browne, P et al., 2014). The etiology of multiple sclerosis is still unknown; however, it is believed to have autoimmune origins. Patients tend to experience multiple sclerosis differently; the most common presenting symptoms include sensory (40%), motor (39%), fatigue (30%), and visual (30%), and urinary incontinence (17%) along with less common symptoms presenting as pain and cognitive decline (Evans C et al., 2013). The wide array of symptoms experienced in multiple sclerosis has sprung forth an influx of scholarly research on beneficial disease- modifying therapies (DMTs) and alternative non-traditional methods for treating multiple sclerosis. Many governments across the world subsidize the current platform therapies for multiple sclerosis across the world including interferon-beta and/ or glatiramer acetate (Browne, P et al., 2014). There is a considerable degree of variance between different levels of income groups in society with regards to accessibility of government-funded therapies for multiple sclerosis (Browne, P et al., 2014). Availability of government funded DMTs were accessible to 96% of high-income countries, 45% of lower to middle income countries, and none in the low-income countries (Browne, P et al., 2014). These surprising statistics have led to new research development, which focus on new treatment methods for multiple sclerosis that cannot only be efficacious, but also be economically accessible for all levels of socioeconomic statuses across the world. There is much speculation regarding cost effectiveness of current treatment regiments for multiple sclerosis with interferon-beta and/ or glatiramer ace tate. There is a common consensus that the current platform therapies are not cost effective for the long-term therapy of multiple sclerosis (Bogglid, M et al., 2009). Given the pathology of multiple sclerosis, it is believed that dietary factors play a key role in autoimmune degradation and can induce myelin breakdown in the central nervous system by molecular mimicry (Ashtari, F et al., 2015). Multiple sclerosis prevalence is believed to be high in regions furthest away from the equator, however recent research has found that these regions of the world also consume a greater amount of saturated fat and animal protein such as dairy (Swank, R et al., 1990). Diets high in animal protein saturated fatty acids tend to worsen progression of multiple sclerosis and increase relapse of symptoms (Hadgkiss, E et al., 2015).It has been proposed that dietary interventions such as low fat, plant-based diet may decrease autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system and help maintain the protective integrity of the blood brain barrier (Riccio, P et al., 2016). Dietary modifications are thought to be both a cost effective and efficacious treatment option for mitigating symptoms experienced by multiple sclerosis patients such as loss of motor and or sensory function, as well as fatigue (Yadav, V et al., 2016). This paper aims to provide a practical overview of recent scholarly literature in order to answer the research question: Does diet modification significantly decrease the level of disability and improve the quality of life in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis? The review will be guided under the hypothesis: diet modification can significantly improve disability and quality of life in patients suffering with multiple sclerosis. Methods Articles about multiple sclerosis and diet modification were searched on January 19, 2017 using the databases Pub Med and Google Scholar. The database search combined terms from three themes: 1) multiple sclerosis patients (relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis OR primary progressive multiple sclerosis OR multiple sclerosis OR central nervous system demyelination OR autoimmune encephalomyopathy OR demyelinating disease 2) diet (food OR animal protein OR vegan diet OR plant based diet) and 3) diet modification (meal plan OR starch based diet). When searching for articles, screening settings were set to be within 10 years, English language, full text articles, review, meta-analysis, randomized control trials, and clinical trials. Boolean operators used were OR and AND; OR was used to extract specific terms from the three main themes. AND was used to connect the three themes used in this review. This search yielded 118 articles for screening, with no duplicates. With abstract screening and inclusion criteria, 10 articles were included in this final review. Inclusion Criteria All the articles used in this systemic review had to meet the following criteria: 1) English 2) patients with multiple sclerosis for at least 6 months 3) diet modification/ assesment or pharmacological treatment as intervention. The term multiple sclerosis was defined as patients showing symptoms for at least 6 months and diet modification was defined as any change in daily food intake. Exclusion Criteria Articles were excluded from the review if they were published prior to 2007 and/or were not written in the English language and/or if patients had any type of prior chronic disease other than multiple sclerosis. Results Randomized Controlled Studies In a randomized controlled study by Vijayshree Yadav et al, 61 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis were monitored for a one-year period. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups: Diet group and control group. The diet group was placed on a strict starch plant based diet (potatoes, corn, beans, bread, sweet potato and rice), while the control group was allowed to continue with their usual diet (meat, eggs, dairy products, fish) throughout the study. Each participant was surveyed once every three months or the duration of the study during which disability, and fatigue levels were recorded (by the expanded disability status scale, EDSS and fatigue severity scale, FSS/ modified fatigue impact scale, MFIS respectively). Serum lipid levels and brain MRI were also recorded at the end of the twelve months. The results observed demonstrated a significant reduction (pFigure 1 shows a summary of fatigue improvement throughout the duration of the study. These fin dings suggest that intervention with a plant-based diet does indeed help reduce fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients. Figure 1: Graph of Fatigue Scores as Measured by FSS score (A) and MFIS score (B) over a 12 Month Time Span In a similar randomized control trial by Anja Mahler et al, 18 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group was started on 600 mg green tea catechin capsule per day and the control group received a placebo capsule for 12 weeks. A 4-week period was allotted during crossover to assure a sufficient wash out period. The results observed determined there was a significant increase in efficiency of muscle work from 20 (SD= 3) in the placebo group to 25 (SD= 6) in the intervention group (p>0.004). This finding suggests that intervention with plant based green tea extract helps to decrease muscle fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients. Cohort and Cross Sectional Studies: Emily Hadgkiss et al surveyed 2087 patients with multiple sclerosis globally. The comprehensive online survey inquired about dietary habits, quality of life, disability, and relapse rate. Dietary habits were assessed using the Diet Habits Questionnaire (DHQ), baseline quality of life was calculated using the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life scale (MSQOL-54), and disability was calculated by using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Results of this study demonstrated that patients who reported higher intake of fruits and vegetables and low intake of fats had significantly higher physical health scores (PHC) ranging from 54 to 68 (pFigure 2 and Figure 3 shows a brief summary of these results. Figure 2: Mean Physical Health Composite by Dietary Factors   Ã‚   Figure 3: Mean Mental Health Composite by Dietary Factors Another significant finding in this study showed that patients who consumed meat and dairy had much poorer disability scores 624 (pTable 1. The frequency ofmultiple sclerosis disease activity was also significantly increased in meat and dairy consumers, 309% and 271% respectively (p Table 1: Level of disability and disease activity by dietary subgroups Soodeh Jahromi et al surveyed the diets of 75 women with multiple sclerosis from Iran. Dietary patterns were assessed using a 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). This study found patients whos diet consisted mainly of animal fat (high in animal fats, potato, other meat products, sugars, hydrogenated fats and low in whole grains, spices, and poultry without skin) had higher incidence of multiple sclerosis (OR = 1.99; CI: 1.63-2.94; P = 0.04), and patients who had a vegetable based diet (high in green leafy vegetables, hydrogenated fats, tomato, yellow vegetables, fruit juices, onion, and other vegetables) had lower incidence of multiple sclerosis. (OR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.19-0.90; P = 0.026). These findings suggest an inverse relationship between high amount of hydrogenated fats, green leafy vegetables, fruit juices, and other vegetables and risk of multiple sclerosis. A longitudinal retrospective analysis was conducted by Weinstock-Guttman et al, where lipid levels of 492 multiple sclerosis patients were assessed for one a year time period. The study deduced that increasing LDL (p Geeta Ramsaransing et al investigated the levels of 23 dietary nutrients in 80 patients with multiple sclerosis: 27 with benign course multiple sclerosis, 32 with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, and 21 with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. The secondary progressive group demonstrated significant decreases in magnesium intake (p In a cohort study by Mike Bogglid et al, 5583 multiple sclerosis patients in the UK were monitored from May 2002 to April 2005 in an effort to establish the long term cost effectiveness of current platform therapy (interferon-beta and/ or glatiramer acetate) for multiple sclerosis. Following the duration of the study, 49% of patients that were on platform therapy were found to have experienced progressive deterioration in EDSS 2.68 at baseline, 2.90 after one year, and 3.24 after two years (p Case Control Studies In a comparable study to Soodeh Jahromi et als work, a cross sectional analysis by Tatjana Pekmezomiv et al was conducted to investigate possible dietary trends in patients living with multiple sclerosis. The dietary habits of 110 multiple sclerosis patients were compared to 110 healthy controls. Results showed that meat intake such as chicken (OR=2.0, p=0.045), lamb (OR=2.1, p=0.013), and beef (OR=1.7, p=0.043) was significantly higher in multiple sclerosis patients as compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, the study found that multiple sclerosis patients consumed significantly higher levels of ice cream (OR=0.18, p=0.031) and butter (OR=1.7, p=0.056) in comparison to controls. Table 2 shows a brief summary of these results. These findings suggest that there is a significant association between dietary intake of meat products such as chicken, lamb, and beef, as well as ice cream and butter to the disease in question. This may suggest that removal or reduction of said food items may be beneficial in decreasing the incidence of multiple sclerosis. Table 2: Consumption frequency of different food groups and food items in MS patients and controls Fereshteh asharti et al conducted a case control study in order to evaluate cows milk allergy (CMA) in multiple sclerosis patients versus healthy individuals. The authors compared 48 multiple sclerosis patients with 48 healthy controls. After 16 weeks there were no differences in the frequency of CMA between the two groups. Contrary from the results of Emily Hadgkiss et als study, the study done by Vahid Shaygannejad et al, found that there was a higher frequency of dairy products consumed by healthy control individuals (67%, p=0.01) compared to multiple sclerosis patients. These findings suggest that there is no reliable association between milk consumption and risk of multiple sclerosis development. Discussion This review attempted to answer the question: Does diet modification significantly decrease the level of disability and improve the quality of life in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis? The general shared consensus of articles included in this review support the proposed hypothesis of diet modification can, indeed, significantly improve disability and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients (Hadgkiss E et al., 2015; Jahromi S et al., 2012; Shaygannejad V et al., 2016; Yadav V et al., 2016; Ramsaransing G et al., 2009; Jahroomi S., 2012; Pekmezovic T et al., 2012). However, one article concluded that consumption of animal protein in the form of milk did not increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (Shaygannejad V et al., 2016). However, these findings should not be generalized to the general population as the sample size used was too small and did not represent a true spectrum of multiple sclerosis prevalence across the world. The remaining articles reviewed corroborated that removal of both animal based protein and saturated fatty acids from the diet, and their replacement, high starch, plant-based alternatives, provided improved disability and fatigue in patients suffering from this disease (Pekmezovic T et al., 2012; Yadav V et al., 2016). The plant based, high starch diet (potato and rice) was found not only be an efficacious treatment option for mitigating symptoms experienced by multiple sclerosis patients but is also economically accessible for all levels of society across the world. It is also evident that most clinicians involved in the articles reviewed, found enough evidence in their research to warrant providing advice to patients with multiple sclerosis about the importance of healthy diet modification in regards to their condition (Hadgkiss E et al., 2015; Jahromi S et al., 2012; Yadav V et al., 2016; Ramsaransing G et al., 2009;). Many of the articles reviewed used a survey platform to assess the diets of multiple sclerosis patients; this may have had some effect on the results due to the nature of the retrospective study design used, making way for possible recall bias, hence potential misreporting of dietary intake (Pekmezovic T et al., 2012; Hadgkiss, E et al., 2015;). As well, since many of the articles used a food frequency survey approach, it may have limited the interventions possible with regards to experimenting with different types of foods that may have improved or worsened multiple sclerosis outcomes. A common limitation in this review is that none of the articles inquired about portion sizes of their meals, just food items (Hadgkiss E et al., 2015; Jahromi S et al., 2012; Yadav V et al., 2016; Ramsaransing G et al., 2009; Jahroomi S., 2012;). Across all articles reviewed, mean age of the study population was between 30- 47 years; therefore the results of this review may not be true for younger or more elderly patients. Many of the researchers in this review found it difficult to recruit many subjects due to health concerns regarding a low protein diet (Hadgkiss E et al., 2015; Jahromi S et al., 2012; Yadav V et al., 2016; Ramsaransing G et al., 2009; Jahroomi S., 2012). It is possible that the results observed with regards to studying the diets of multiple sclerosis patients may have been due to associations with other confounding variables. It is also important to note that given the disabling nature of multiple sclerosis as a disease state, many of the patients may be relying on a caregiver or family member for their meals, which may influence their dietary intake. Limitations encountered in this review include only utilizing articles written within the past 10 years, articles collected from only two databases (PubMed and Google Scholar), and articles were only included only if they were published in the English language. Future research may consider standardizing meal portion sizes during experimentation as various parts of the world have varying standard portion sizes. Future studies should also consider accounting for possible supplementation use in the participants such as vitamin and mineral intake. This would help diminish possible confounding variable. Future research may also utilizing experimental analysis encompassing a larger age range. All together, these factors would help encompass a much broader spectrum of patients living with multiple sclerosis. Conclusion In conclusion, diet modification has been shown to be a viable option not only for effectively improving quality of life, and reducing disability in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, but also in lowering the risk of developing the disease. Evidence showed that removal of both animal based protein and saturated fatty acids from the diet, and replacing them with plant-based alternatives which are high in starch showed noticeable improvement in muscle weakens and fatigue levels. Unfortunately we do not have sufficient research that definitively demonstrates that diet modification can be used alone without traditional medication to prevent and/ or treat multiple sclerosis. Additional studies are needed to assess the efficacy of dietary intervention with respect to reducing episodes of disability experienced by multiple sclerosis patients and including diet modification into the current disease modifying therapies available. References Ashtari, Fereshteh, Fatemeh Jamshidi, Raheleh Shokouhi Shoormasti, Zahra Pourpak, and Mojtaba Akbari. Cows milk allergy in multiple sclerosis patients. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences 18, no. Suppl 1 (2013): S62. PMCID: PMC3743324 Boggild, Mike., Palace, Jackie., Barton, Pelham., Ben-Shlomo, Y., Bregenzer, Thomas., Dobson, Charles., Gray, R. (2009). Multiple sclerosis risk sharing scheme: two year results of clinical cohort study with historical comparator. BMJ, 339, b4677. http://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/339/bmj.b4677.full.pdf. Browne, P., Chandraratna, D., Angood, C., Tremlett, H., Baker, C., Taylor, B. V., Thompson, A. J. (2014). Atlas of Multiple Sclerosis 2013: A growing global problem with widespread inequity. Neurology, 83(11), 1022-1024. http://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000000768 Guggenmos, Johannes, Anna S. Schubart, Sherry Ogg, Magnus Andersson, Tomas Olsson, Ian H. Mather, and Christopher Linington. Antibody cross-reactivity between myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and the milk protein butyrophilin in multiple sclerosis. The Journal of Immunology 172, no. 1 (2004): 661-668. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.172.1.661 Emily J Hadgkiss, George A Jelinek, Tracey J Weiland, Naresh G Pereira, Claudia H Marck Dania M van der Meer (2015) The association of diet with quality of life, disability, and relapse rate in an international sample of people with multiple sclerosis, Nutritional Neuroscience, 18:3, 125-136, DOI: 10.1179/1476830514Y.0000000117 Evans, Charity, S-G. Beland, Sophie Kulaga, Christina Wolfson, Elaine Kingwell, James Marriott, Marcus Koch et al. Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the Americas: a systematic review. Neuroepidemiology 40, no. 3 (2013): 195-210. doi: 10.1159/000342779. Jahroomi, Soode., Toghae, Mansoureh., Razeghu Jahromi, M., Aloosh, Mahdi. (2012). Dietary pattern and risk of multiple sclerosis. Iranian Journal of Neurology. 11(2), 47-53. PMCID: PMC3829243 Joscelyn, Jennifer., Kasper, Lloyde. H. (2014). Digesting the emerging role for the gut microbiome in central nervous system demyelination. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 20 (12), 1553-1559. DOI: 10.1177/1352458514541579 Mà ¤hler, Anja, Jochen Steiniger, Markus Bock, Lars Klug, Nadine Parreidt, Mario Lorenz, Benno F. Zimmermann, Alexander Krannich, Friedemann Paul, and Michael Boschmann. Metabolic response to epigallocatechin-3-gallate in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition 101, no. 3 (2015): 487-495. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.113.075309 Otaegui, David, Sara Mostafavi, Claude CA Bernard, Adolfo Lopez de Munain, Parvin Mousavi, Jorge R. Oksenberg, and Sergio E. Baranzini. Increased transcriptional activity of milk-related genes following the active phase of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. The Journal of Immunology 179, no. 6 (2007): 4074-4082. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.179.6.4074 Pekmezovic, Tatjana D., Darija B. Kisic Tepavcevic, Sarlota T. Mesaros, Irena B. Dujmovic Basuroski, Nebojsa S. Stojsavljevic, and Jelena S. Drulovic. Food and dietary patterns and multiple sclerosis: a case-control study in Belgrade (Serbia). Italian Journal of Public Health 6, no. 1 (2012). http://ijphjournal.it/article/view/5808 Ramsaransing, Geeta, Mellema, Sanne. A., De Keyser, J. (2009). Dietary patterns in clinical subtypes of multiple sclerosis: an exploratory study. Nutrition journal, 8(1), 36. DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-8-36 Riccio, Paolo, and Rocco Rossano. Nutrition facts in multiple sclerosis. ASN neuro 7, no. 1 (2015): doi: 10.1177/1759091414568185 Riccio, Paolo., Rossano, Rocco., Liuzzi, G. Maria. (2011). May diet and dietary supplements improve the wellness of multiple sclerosis patients? A molecular approach. Autoimmune diseases, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/249842 Riccio, Paolo, Rocco Rossano, Marilena Larocca, Vincenzo Trotta, Ilario Mennella, Paola Vitaglione, Michele Ettorre et al. Anti-inflammatory nutritional intervention in patients with relapsing-remitting and primary-progressive multiple sclerosis: A pilot study. Experimental Biology and Medicine 241, no. 6 (2016): 620-635. DOI: 10.1177/1535370215618462 Shaygannejad, Vahid, Nooshin Rezaie, Zamzam Paknahad, Freshteh Ashtari, and Helia Maghzi. The environmental risk factors in multiple sclerosis susceptibility: A case-control study. Advanced Biomedical Research 5 (2016). doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.183665 Swank, R. L., and B. Brewer Dugan Effect of low saturated fat diet in early and late cases of multiple sclerosis. The Lanet 336, no. 8706(1990): 37-39. DOI:10.1016/0140-6736(90)91533 Tlaskalovà ¡-Hogenovà ¡, Helena, Renata Ã…Â  tĆºpà ¡nkovà ¡, Hana Kozà ¡kovà ¡, Tomà ¡Ãƒâ€¦Ã‚ ¡ Hudcovic, Luca Vannucci, Ludmila TuÄ kovà ¡, Pavel Rossmann et al. The role of gut microbiota (commensal bacteria) and the mucosal barrier in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer: contribution of germ-free and gnotobiotic animal models of human diseases. Cellular molecular immunology 8, no. 2 (2011): 110-120. http://www.nature.com/cmi/journal/v8/n2/abs/cmi201067a.html Vieira, Silvio. M., Pagovich, Odelya. E., Kriegel, Martin. A. (2014). Diet, microbiota and autoimmune diseases. Lupus, 23(6), 518-526. doi: 10.1177/0961203313501401 Weinstock-Guttman, Bianca, Robert Zivadinov, Naeem Mahfooz, Ellen Carl, Allison Drake, Jaclyn Schneider, Barbara Teter et al. Serum lipid profiles are associated with disability and MRI outcomes in multiple sclerosis. Journal of neuroinflammation 8, no. 1 (2011): 127.DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-8-127 Yadav, Vijayshree., Marracci, Gaild., Kim, Edward., Spain, Rebecca., Cameron, Michelle., Overs, Shanon., Murchison, C. (2016). Low-fat, plant-based diet in multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 9, 80-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2016.07.001. Appendix First Author Population Year of Publication Study Design Outcome Ashtari, F. 48 patients with Multiple Sclerosis and 48 healthy patients as control group, mean age 30.7 March 18, 2013 Case control Study Serum IgE levels against cows milk antigen was taken from both groups. Results were very similar between both groups and showed no statistical significance (30.7  ± 6.9 vs. 30.9  ± 6.3 respectively, P value = 0.83) Boggild, M. 5583 patients with multiple sclerosis monitored from May 2002 to April 2005 from neurology clinics across the UK August 5, 2009 Prospective Cohort Study Patients received Interferon Beta treatment to determine long term cost effectiveness. Results showed worse disability progression than in the untreated group (deviation score of 113%; increase in mean disability status scale 0.28) Hadgkiss, E. 2087 patients with multiple sclerosis, mean age 45.5 participated in a comprehensive online survey March 17, 2014 Cross Sectional Study

Defining Identity Essay -- Personal Narrative, Identity Essays

There are millions of words across the globe that are used to describe people and uncover their identity, but what is identity? How can you begin to describe something that varies so greatly from one human being to another? Can you create a universal meaning for a word describing human concepts that people often fail to define for themselves? Of course there isn't one definition to define such a word. It is an intricate aspect of human nature, and it has a definition just as complex. Webster's dictionary describes identity as sameness of essential character, individuality, or the fact of being the same person as one claims to be. So your identity can include your name, your age, your job title, or simply characteristics of your body. These things are facts, facts you don't care to share with the world. Just as the word suggests your identity is something by which you can be identified. These are things that describe a person in terms a stranger would understand. This area of identity is proof of who you are. However, your identity is also composed of what you are. They mark your role in society. Who you are and what you do make up your identity. This is essential in the human life span because people are always searching to find where they truly belong in the world. Obviously a word that has such a deep meaning can?t have a shallow definition. The other component of identity is one?s personality. Your thoughts, emotions, and attitudes also have a huge impact on your identity. This part is not something the world can hold to be true, but something you know to be true. This portion of your identity is not something that you have passively acquired, it is something you have experienced and built upon through... ...can go through an entire lifetime and not really know how to define their own identity. In many cases people suffer through a great crisis to discover who they really are. If someone doesn?t know the meaning of their own identity, how can society apply a definition to the word? It leaves people to ponder whether or not there are some feelings and parts of life that simply cannot be explained. When defining the word identity scholars and common men alike must agree to disagree. It is a word so diverse in context that it is seemingly impossible to take it down to a simplified definition. There are some things in life that just aren?t meant to be completely understood, and one?s identity is among these things. Not until a person has a lived out their live could they sit down and tell you how their adventure has shaped them into the person they became in the end.

Information processing and cognitive development Essay -- essays resea

Information Processing and Cognitive Development   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Information processing is a perspective (approach) to the study of cognition and cognitive development in which the mind is likened to a computer. However, rather than focusing on mere input and output, psychologists who adhere to this approach place specific emphasis on the processes of cognitive development. Cognitive perspectives examine development in terms of mental processing. The two major views within this subject are cognitive developmental theory and information processing theory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Theorists claim that our cognitive processes are like that of a computer. They have used this as a model to break down the process of the human thinking processes and cognitive performance. When you receive some stimuli through your senses, your brain puts this information into the sensory store. Then the information is placed into short term memory. If the information is not encoded from short term memory to long term memory, the information is lost. However, once in long term memory the information is ready for retrieval (Cook). It is important to understand some of the key assumptions of this approach, including the emphasis on, the role of the knowledge base in cognitive development; the conceptualization of thinking as involving distinct processes executed over time, and the ways in which change in the system can occur (Miller).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is a fact th...

Examination Is Good or Bad for Students Essay

The news that mid-term exams have been cancelled in some primary schools recently has sparked quite a few controversies. Some people regard it as a big step in educational reform, while others question whether it is on the right track. Parents, teachers and students, the three parts involved, have all reacted a little bit pessimistically toward the new policy. Parents, always busy working to support their families, feel that they are losing an important quantified judgment for their children’s behaviour or performance at school and are more worried than relaxed about their children’s increased spare time. Most of them, I believe, prefer bookworms to idlers or addicts. Some parents have decided to pay more for after-school classes. Teachers, whose feet have been bound for a long time in teaching children, are beginning to lose their last control over the already spoilt students. How to check the teaching and learning effect? How to communicate with parents? How to keep students working hard to get good marks in the later, more important exams? Furthermore, maintaining their full work load, they are required to squeeze more of their meagre spare time to prepare additional lessons for â€Å"quality education†. On the other hand, the suddenly liberated students have to find ways to fill their time. They delay homework and sometimes become addicted to computer games or just wander the streets. Adopting a bad habit is much easier than forming a good one. Objectively, the exam itself is not bad. It is a most effective measure of a student’s knowledge, performance and ability. But people have made it into a disaster. Since when was our education caught in such a vicious circle? Textbooks have remained unchanged for many years and have become purely ornamental, while exam questions are changed from year to year. The only way to do this is to use more and more tricky questions. In fact, what we test our students on is much more difficult than what textbooks teach. To satisfy real needs, both teachers and students choose to be drowned in a sea of exercises and exams. On the other hand, years of cramming miscellaneous rules, formulae and information may have strengthened our students’ ability to imitate, memorize and take exams, but at the cost of their initiative and creativity, two of the most important qualities that a student should possess. That may well answer the question why there is no Nobel-prize winner in China. I interpret the purposes of abandoning these exams as follows: First, it is to answer the call of reducing students’ heavy burdens in their studies and return to them their happy childhood. For years, we have been appealing for students to be freed from mountains of homework and extra classes, to no avail. Students have to do that! Only through immersion in all kinds of exercises and classes can most of them get comparatively satisfying results in various exams. Therefore, the cancellation of exams is intended to remove a root cause of students’ toil and give them more play time. Second, it is to help relieve students of great pressure and protect their self-esteem. In fact, what frightens students are not exams, but the tremendous strain and high expectations behind them. Exams divide students into â€Å"good† and â€Å"bad†, leading some of them to a paradise of beautiful flowers and sweet compliments and others to a hell of bitter criticisms and severe punishments. Exams often bring parents ecstasy or plunge them into the abyss of misery. Exams determine students’ futures and are a crystallization of a single person’s success or failure and a whole family’s hope or disillusionment. Since their first school day, students have been preparing for a diversified exam. For that reason, the cancellation of exams seems to save most families from suffering. But I doubt whether the benefits could be realized – mid-term exams in primary schools are only one minor link in a whole chain of exams. Will all these exams, eg. inal-term exams, Secondary School Entrance Exams, College Entrance Exams, and broad after-school exams for certificates in social achievement be called off too? If not, students dare not shrug away their shackles and their fragile self-esteem will not last for long and their happiness is doomed to be temporary. On the other hand, if a student’s self-esteem totally depends on the cancellation of exams, it would be too weak to protect. Our society is neither an ivory tower nor a haven of peace. It is full of competition and struggles. Setbacks are inevitable and we need them to temper ourselves. Don’t be misunderstanding. I am not an exam advocator. The exam-oriented education stifles teachers as it does students. What I mean is that we cannot solve a problem by taking only a stopgap measure. The root cause lies not in exams, but in the whole educational system. The first thing we should do is to change our inherent educational ideas of talent cultivation and create an active, healthy environment of teaching and learning. It will be a long way. What we need is not the cancellation of a single exam, but an earthquake in our education.

Naive Realism Essay

Sensory perception, or how people view things in life, helps to define naà ¯ve realism, meaning that we view the world directly as we see it, in cold, concrete tangibility.  Ã‚   Meaning, I know I have seen a bird and not just something created in my mind.   Ã‚  Representative realism, on the other hand, believes that the mind formulates images—crafts them—as the mind digests information and then creates the images we see within the bounds of our peripheral space. I will discuss two differences between naà ¯ve realism and representative realism followed by an assessment of representative realism. First of all, when we view life as a naà ¯ve realist, we can prove with tangible evidence—using some or all of the six senses— that what we perceive is actually there. For example, a birthday cake on a table can be touched, tasted, felt, and smelled, thereby proving its existence.   The representative realist fathoms images seen from an abstract angle.   For example, cloud formations in the sky can be viewed as different objects.   Someone says, â€Å"I see a bear’s face in the cloud, while someone else may see a butterfly. To go one step further, in naà ¯ve realism, we say that time is distributed into ‘now,’ which is a real experience, and ‘the past,’ which did happen but no longer exists, and ‘the future,’ which is yet to occur. Science says we have â€Å"objective reality,† or the here and now.   Along with this, there is â€Å"subjective perception,† or two people seeing the same thing differently.   Classical science, then, broke away from naà ¯ve realism and had to consider the representative realist’s viewpoint.   For example, when we think of dreams or watching a movie, two people may see things very differently. True, they are there, but where is the distinction-mark drawn to separate what is dreamt and what is real, or how do we separate two different viewpoints of the same movie? This, for a naà ¯ve realist, is difficult to answer.   Sure, we can speculate but it only brings us closer to falling in line with the representative’s methodology.   Here’s an analogy to help define this: The representative realist’s brain acts as a baker that follows a recipe, using the ingredients in his kitchen to bake a cake. Slight modifications in the amount of an ingredient can alter the flavor, or even the appearance of the cake.   A potential award-winning three-layer cake will sink in the oven without sufficient yeast.   Thus, the representative realist solves this dilemma by believing the brain is the baker cooking up images, whereas the naà ¯ve realist purely functions on digesting tangible images. Naà ¯ve realism can be criticized and assessed further. If we regard perception as a case whereby individual knowledge creates what we see, the floodgate of personal interpretation is opened.   Can naà ¯ve realism swim in these floodgates of varied perceptions?   If situations are regarded simply, then the naà ¯ve realist can understand what he sees. However, life is not a simple cookie-cutter mold.   Even something as simple as a lump of wax seeks varied interpretation when we add a new ingredient, say a wick and a flame.   Now the wax takes on new features and varied perceptions.   Even the same person can visualize the same object in many different ways. Look at a print created by M.C. Escher and you will see how quickly the mind can shift its perceptive view of the same thing. In final assessment of representative realism, it can be seen that it does, in fact, provides a significant and worthwhile advancement in our understanding of humankind experiences.   For, living in a world where the psychological makeup of an individual holds such lasting presence, it is difficult to image only believing in the naà ¯ve realist’s way of thinking.   However, just to be fair, naà ¯ve realism will always have a place in human intellectual perception.   It’s up to the individual to determine how she sees things. SOURCES: http://www.arrod.co.uk/essays/representative-realism.php http://www.planetpapers.com/Assets/4368.php http://spartan.ac.brocku.ca/~lward/Dewey/Dewey_1916/Dewey_1916_09.html         

Distance Education Essay

We normally take our studies in a structured establishment called classroom located a place called school. Every day, we wake up early, leave our homes, pay for transportation fees and finally reach to our second home, the classroom. As we welcome ourselves in Mindanao State University, we are lucky to meet different kinds of people from different kinds of places. People from Glan, Tacurong, Marbel and all over Mindanao are your schoolmates and classmates. You share experiences with them, telling stories about their place that makes you as if you were once there. But, what if there are some people who want to study but for some reasons, they cannot go to school, will they be able to study despite their situations they face? Our world is constantly changing and getting more complicated, that is why human beings formulated new innovations and techniques regarding their educational careers. Distance Learning or Distant education is a mode of delivering education and instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. It is not a face to face interaction just like we do in schools. There is a quite large distance and time between the learner and the teacher. Typical students who enroll at Distant Education courses are people who are too busy in their careers that they have no time to spend in school. Celebrities like Anne Curtis are a student of Distant Education. Or you can be a student with physical disabilities that you find it hard to go to school. Or maybe the courses offered are available only in far places. There are many possible students of this kind of education. There are many modes of communication in distant learning. It can through the telephone, letter or the most common type, the internet where you can see each other and contact directly to one another. There are many instructional materials can be used. It can be an audio tool, video, a print, or a softcopy data. There are some advantages of this type of education. First, it’s potential. The opportunities for distance education have exploded along with increased use of the Internet. The original distance education programs used print materials, but the majority of current programs use online software and programs to replicate a classroom setting. Many degrees are available through distance programs, including high school, college and post-graduate diplomas. There are now distance education options for nearly every career choice, from nursing to accounting. It is also flexible. Distance education provides opportunities for people who may have trouble attending a traditional institution such as stay-at-home moms, people working full time or members of the military. Many online educational programs allow you to work at your own pace, so you can fit your education into your schedule. Also, the cost of distant education is cheaper. In many cases distance education can be considerably cheaper than attending a traditional college. Not only are the classes cheaper, but you can learn from the comfort of your own home and not have to pay for room and board or transportation. On the other hand, Distant Learning losses interaction with the other students is one of the advantages of it. Distant education is commonly one student in one teacher so only 2 of you are interacting with one another, or sometimes, communication is only one way where only the teacher is active in communicating. It is not easy to motivate if you are the only one or the only peer in the learning ground. It is also self-paced so it is less motivating. It is quite amazing that humans are able to deliberate this mode of learning. It sounded like cool to me in a sense that it involves or let’s say it is dependent of technology which is an asset when it comes to employment. It gives us an idea that education is truly for all for those who are willing to learn – – busy schedule or disabled, still allot their time and effort for studying. In part of the teachers, it will open new ways of learning and of course, employment and income will increase. This education will be in- demand especially to foreigners who want to speak in English and many more. When my professor once introduced distant education in the class, I was quite convinced to study in that way. If I learn the mechanics of Distant learning, I someday may become a teacher of distant education. I want to help students who are especially handicapped or something. It is a proof that education will be non-discriminating, and I hope this type of learning will continue to grow as they produce competent students.