Causes of Teenage Suicide Essay

The American Psychological Association states that, â€Å"Teen suicide is a growing health concern. It is the 3rd-leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24† (Teen Suicide is Preventable). As youth suicides are becoming more publicized, society is gradually becoming more aware of this global concern. Although most people do not understand why teenagers commit suicide, the three social sciences, anthropology, sociology, and psychology, provide insights that go beyond what the media reports as causes because through cross cultural studies, they provide information of many societal and psychological processes which confirm and expand on our understanding of this complex issue. Most people only understand adolescent suicide to the points expressed by the media. The media claims that the suicide risks are higher for those who go through depression, anxiety, mental illness, substance abuse, social isolation, bullying, or sexual abuse, and also for those who have disabilities or are LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) youth. The media also claims that LGBT youth have higher suicide risks than others as they tend to have added stress and high levels of anxiety and depression, and are likely targets for bullies (Teen Suicide, 2011). The facts proven my the media are not to be underestimates, however, the media is often ignorant about how teen suicide works in other cultures. Teenage suicides in other societies work in different ways than in our Western society. On the islands of Micronesia, suicide has become a regular ritual for teenagers (Gladwell, 2002, p. 218). This act, considered mindless in our society, is an important form of self-expression in theirs (Gladwell, 2002, p. 220). The adolescent suicide epidemic of Micronesia can easily be compared to the teen smoking epidemic of our society. Like smoking in Western and European cultures, young people experiment suicide in Micronesia. Anthropologist Donald Rubinstein noted that in Micronesia, boys as young as 5 years old lean on a noose where unconsciousness follows, for experimental play (Gladwell, 2002, p. 219). They risk dying from anoxia, the shortage of blood to the brain (Gladwell, 2002, p. 218), as teens in our society risk dying from lung cancer or other illnesses. Youth suicides on the islands are becoming more frequent in communities as younger boys are affected by the contagious  self-epidemic of self-destruction, as younger people in Western and European cultures are by smoking, in forms of experimentation, imitation, self-expression, and rebellion (Gladwell, 2002 p. 219-220). Like Gladwell (2002) said, â€Å"the way we have tended to think about the causes of smoking doesn’t make much sense†, as do the ways we think about the causes of suicide (p. 221). It is unknown of how to fully prevent it or to even fully comprehend what it is. People smoke even though the overestimate the risks and suicide victims are equally aware of the results when they decide to end their own life (Gladwell, 2002, p. 221). The three social sciences provide thorough insights of the suicidal triggers displayed by media. In the situation of the Innu adolescent suicides where youth inhale gasoline, anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists, identify causes that are unfamiliar to most people. Anthropologists observed substance abuse and family violence among Innu families, which are clear signs of cultural collapse (The Innu, 2001). Cultural collapse occurs as they lose effective control of their lives, in this case, by the government and immigrant populations. They lose their self-esteem and their value of lives (The Innu, 2001). The Statistical Profile on the Health of the First Nations in Canada for the year 2000 shows that suicide and self-inflicted injuries are the leading causes of death for First Nations youth (First Nations, 2013). Statistics show that the suicide rate for First Nations youth is around 5 or 6 times greater than of non-Aboriginal youth. The suicide rate for First Nations males is 126 per 100,000 compared to 24 per 100,000 non-Aboriginal males, and the rate for First Nations females is 35 per 100,000 compared to 5 per 100,000 for non-Aboriginal females (First Nations, 2013). Sociologists have blamed colonialism and past government policies such as residential schools contributing to a sense of powerlessness and inferiority among the Innu youth. This has led to escalating levels of self-hatred and self-destructive behaviour (The Innu, 2001). Cultural hegemony has made the Innu feel inferior that their cultural practices have no value or place in the modern world (The Innu, 2001). The suicides of the Innu youth would be anomic suicide, which is a suicide that is caused by the failure of social order (Summary, n.d.). It occurs when rapid and extreme changes in society overwhelm and threaten a group. The  individuals would become uncertain of what behaviour is expected of them, leading to role confusion and then the act of taking one’s life (Kok & Goh, n.d.). From a psychologist’s point of view, role confusion is a key factor in the emotional disturbance of the Innu youth (The Innu, 2001). According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the Innu do not even have their first and basic needs being met (McLeod, 2007). They do not have running water, sewage disposal, and proper insulation for Canadian winters (The Innu, 2001). They also so not have their second and third needs which are safety needs and social needs. They do not feel secure and safe in the environment they live in and they lack social needs of belongingness, love, and relationships with others (McLeod, 2007). And because they do not have these first three needs, they cannot move up the hierarchy and achieve esteem needs of achievement and independence, and self-actualization needs of seeking personal goals (McLeod, 2007). Psychologist Erik Erikson notes that youth must resolve two life crises, the first being the crisis of identity vs. identity confusion. The individual must find their own unique identity and have a sense of belonging at the same time. If they are unsuccessful, they can become socially disconnected or develop an exaggerated sense of self-importance, and therefore end up being unable to be emotionally mature adults (Oswalt, n.d.). The second crisis is the crisis of intimacy vs. isolation, where youth must learn to maintain close relationships with others. If they are unsuccessful, they can become self-contained, needy, dependent, isolated, or vulnerable, and unable to have honest or mutual relationships (Oswalt, n.d.). The situations presented my Maslow and Erikson lead to results of the teenagers being aimless and lacking purpose in life, because of a lost sense of self. This second crisis applies well to the Micronesian youth, who end their lives as a result of not being able to emotionally deal with a domestic conflict within a domestic relationship. There was a teenage boy who committed suicide because his parents would not give him a few dollars for beer, another who ended his life because he was scolded by his brother for making too much noise, and a number of teen boys who killed themselves because they saw their girlfriends with another boy (Gladwell, 2002, p. 217-218). Many adolescents in Micronesia become emotionally susceptible and commit suicide as actions of self-pity and protest against mistreatment (Gladwell, 2002, p. 218). We can understand that suicide involves many societal and psychological processes which confirm and expand on our understanding of this complex issue. In Micronesia and Japan, the youth suicides are classified as egoistic, which is caused by excessive individualism (Summary, n.d.). It occurs when an individual is overwhelmed by a group and they isolate themselves as they become excessively independent (Kok & Goh,n.d.). In Japan the Aokigahara Forest, also known as the â€Å"suicide forest† on Mount Fuji, is a place where individuals commit suicide, usually by hanging, after isolating themselves completely by hiding in the wilderness of the forest. Those who still doubt about ending their lives walk in the forest while leaving a trail of coloured tape so that they do not get lost, and others camp for a few days in the wilderness before making their final decision (Suicide Forest, 2012). The suicides in the â€Å"suicide forest† increased in number as it was gradually pub licized, starting with a novel by Kuroi Jukai, where a young lover commits suicide in a forest (Suicide Forest, 2012). Since then, the suicide numbers reached over 100 deaths a year. The area holds so many bodies that homeless people are paid to remove the corpses (Suicide Forest, 2012). Sociologist David Philips conducted a number of studies on suicide and the results concluded that suicides are influenced by the contagious effect (Gladwell, 2002, p. 222). Immediately after stories of suicides appeared locally, the number of suicides in that area jumped. When there was a suicide story publicized nationally, the national suicide rate jumped (Gladwell, 2002, p. 222). This contagious effect is an act of imitation, and Philip states that it is a â€Å"permission to act from someone else who is engaging in a deviant act† (Gladwell, 2002, 223). This applies to the cases of suicides that continue to take place in the â€Å"suicide forest† and also in Micronesia. In the early 1960s, suicide in Micronesia was extremely rare and yet by the end of the 1980s the suicide rate was higher than anywhere else in the world (Gladwell, 2002, p. 217). According to Statistics Canada, the suicide rate in 2009 for Canadian males between 15 and 24 was about 15 per 100,000. In contrast, the suicide rate in Micronesia for males between 15 and 24 is 160 per 100,000 (Gladwell, 2002, 217). In a community on the Micronesian island of Ebeye, the first s uicide in that area led to a second, third, and twenty five more over twelve years (Gladwell,  2002, p. 226). Further studies show that people who are influenced by the contagious effect commit suicide using the same method as the one used in the event they were effected by. Stories of suicide where the victim was a driver resulted in an increase in single-car crashes. Stories of suicide-murders resulted in an increase in car crashes with victims of a driver and passengers (Gladwell, 2002, p. 224). This copycat suicide is common among youth, and is displayed in Micronesia. Almost all the suicide cases of teenagers take place in a remote spot or empty house, and involve a specific process of hanging by leaning on a noose until unconscious and dying from anoxia, the method that children play around with (Gladwell, 2002, 218). And because of this contagious effect, the media takes precautions when publicizing suicides. For example, some suicides in the Toronto subway systems are neve r reported in the press (Teen Suicide, 2011). Even though most do not understand why teenagers commit suicide, the three social sciences provide information to expand our understanding of this complex issue. Anthropologists help us to understand how suicide is affected by the way people live, and how people in different cultures respond to suicide, such as the little boys in Micronesia who experiment with it. Sociologists have figured out the contagiousness of a suicide and how easily it can cause others. Psychologists help us to understand what teenagers deal with, such as the two crises that Erik Erikson has noted. With these thorough understandings provided by the social sciences, people should be able to be aware of what causes teenage suicide, as it can happen anywhere at anytime and an effort should be made to prevent it. Already many communities have taken action to bring awareness of teen suicide, inspired by suicides of loved ones, so that it may be looked for and be prevented. There is no simple solution to adolescent suicide, however, efforts can be made to avert as many as possible. References First Nations and Inuit Health (2013, February 4). Health Canada. Retrieved September 25, 2013, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/promotion/mental/index-eng.php Gladwell, M. (2002). The Tipping Point. Boston, MA: Back Bay Books. Kok, J.K. & Goh, L.Y. (n.d.). Anomic or Egoistic Suicide: Suicide Factors among Malaysian Youths. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://www.ijssh.org/papers/67-H083.pdf McLeod, Saul (2007). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Simply Psychology. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html Oswalt, Angela (n.d.). Erik Erikson and Self-Identity. Seven Counties Services. Retrieved September 25, 2013, from http://www.sevencounties.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=41163&cn=1310 Suicide Forest in Japan (2012). Top Documentary Films. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from, http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/suicide-forest-in-japan/ Suicides and Suicide Rate, By Sex and By Age Group (2012, May 31). Statistics Canada. Retrieved October 5, 2013, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/hlth66e-eng.htm Summary of Egoistic Suicide and Anomic Suicide (n.d.). Iowa State University. Retrieved September 25, 2013 from http://www.public.iastate.edu/~s2005.soc.401/summary1(jan21).pdf Teen Sui cide: Breaking the Silence (2011, November). CBC News in Review. Retrieved September 26, 2013, from http://newsinreview.cbclearning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nov11suicide.pdf Teen Suicide is Preventable (n.d.). American Psychological Association. Retrieved September 25, 2013, from http://apa.org/research/action/suicide.aspx The Innu: Another Cry for Help (2001, February). CBC News in Review. Retrieved September 22, 2013, from http://newsinreview.cbclearning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2001/02/innu.pdf

Bell Hooks Views Higher Education is Important

The United States provides our society with the undeniable right to learn. The right to higher education is not limited to the middle and upper classes; it allows the less privileged, minorities, as well as both sexes, to receive an equal education. Two arguments which present interesting views on higher education are bell hook†s â€Å"Keeping Close to Home† and Adrienne Rich†s â€Å"What Does a Woman Need to Know? † Hooks views higher education with a concern for the underprivileged, whereas Rich views it with a concern for women. Of the two works, I personally do not agree with Rich†s argument. Bell hooks views higher education to be a time in which we find ourselves and learn more about who we are. This concept remains difficult on the underprivileged because they do not want to be known for their background. They see themselves as less privileged, and therefore want to keep this hidden from their new society. These students face many obstacles in their lives; college presents a whole new and much larger challenge. The transition is also hard on them. They want to fit in and hide their past, but at the same time, they do not want to lose sight of their upbringings. Hooks felt that she was an outsider in college, because she herself came from an underprivileged background, while most of her peers came from privileged backgrounds. Hooks states, â€Å"I did not intend to forget my class background or alter my class allegiance†(88), but she felt that in order to succeed, she must change who she was. Society, peers, and educators make assumptions that label the underprivileged and minorities as † ‘lower class† people† who have â€Å"no beliefs or values†(88). Professors expect these students to perform badly because of their past and their reputation in today†s society. The students are not given the fair chance other students receive. Knowing the way society portrays them, the students keep to themselves. Even after they prove to be serious and capable students, they are still looked down upon. Hooks, at first, thought that in order to succeed in college, she must change who she was, to blend in with her peers. She said many â€Å"believe that assimilation is the only possible way to survive, to succeed. (89). After going through the transition and facing these obstacles herself, hooks came to the conclusion that this was not the case. She has maintained close ties with her family, knows where she came from, and has succeeded in life. Hook†s essay tells us that you can maintain close relationships with home and still succeed. Not only are the underprivileged discriminated against, but women are too. One extreme feminist side, Adrienne Rich claims that women are not getting what they deserve when it comes to higher education. Rich states, â€Å"There is no woman†s college today which is providing young women with the education they need for survival as whole persons in a world which denies women wholeness†(45). This, of course, is all due to male dominance. Rich believes women are outsiders in man†s world. She wants women to keep their outsider†s view and not think like men when they are placed in a prominent position. The sense of male supremacy discourages women from performing at an equal level. This goes along with the idea that â€Å"feminist studies are ‘unscholarly,† ‘biased,† and ‘ideological†Ã¢â‚¬ (46). Rich claims that the education women are receiving is leaving them powerless and vulnerable. She believes â€Å"that without such an education, women have lived and will continue to live in ignorance of our collective context†(45). Because of male dominance over women†s education, the chance for women to be educated the way women should be educated is one that Rich believes does not exist. Because of Adrienne Rich†s extreme views and harsh tone towards men, I disagree with her view on higher education. Just as Rich, I do believe that women have the right to an education. Men do not have a hidden agenda to keep women powerless in the world as Rich implies. Despite the fact that this argument was given almost twenty years ago when women†s rights were a controversy, her view of women, even then, is a bit demeaning. Her comment that motherhood deprives women of their power is ridiculous. Clearly, bell hook†s â€Å"Keeping Close to Home† and Adrienne Rich†s â€Å"What Does a Woman Need to Know? display a view of higher education in which people are being discriminated against. The underprivileged, as well as women, continue to be taken advantage of in our society. The right to higher education is given to all persons – rich or poor, black or white, man or woman. Some fail to realize the importance of higher education as a step in the right direction. This opportunity is one that should and can be taken advantage of by everyone who wants badly enough to achieve success and lead a successful life.

Checkpoint: Management Structures Essay

You manage a counseling center that services victims of domestic abuse. Your organization is happy to have you on board and trusts your decisions. Due to an increase in demand for services in your area, your center will be increasing the number of employees by 100%. Your employer asks you to participate in an expansion plan. Your task is to research possible organizational structures that best suit the needs of your clients and your organization. I think that our services for domestic abuse patients should be split into different departments for several reasons. Departments make people focus on only the work that is assigned to them, like getting people to the Human Services help for a first step, then sending them into counseling, and finally getting them rehabilitated and out of the system. Other approaches to department and service areas exist, like having a north segment and a west segment to divide responsibilities. The major disadvantage to departmental division is that you might lose track of a client, or just lose contact with them when they move out of your department. People who need these human services need extra individual attention, not a rabble of people that they have to talk to while they get help. The situation is almost the same for a matrix organization. Yes, it is more efficient to have several people working in one area, but the client will not get particular help from one person, which is important for these clients. I truly believe that Human Service work should be leading in a transformational style. I think that, for us, the Project Team model is the best way to organize our services. This model is the best one because a group of people works together to accomplish particular things for their client. They all communicate inter-group, and therefore everyone gets better at helping clients. One problem with this model is that team members might start to discuss their client in a way that would break confidentiality laws. A collegial model is another approach, and it raises understanding because employees report their affairs to you, which keeps people enthusiastic about their tasks. This way is also an option, but I think that it might lead to employees doing things only to please a manager.

To Explore the Model of Future Intelligent Buildings via the 2010 Dissertation

To Explore the Model of Future Intelligent Buildings via the 2010 Shanghai World Expo - Dissertation Example Words fail me, suffice to say thank you. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Abbas Elmualim, Academic Supervisor who made this piece of academic work a reality through his invaluable guidance, his assistance is greatly appreciated. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the MSc. Intelligent Buildings lecturers as the knowledge I gained during the lectures is precious and an inheritance for life. My grateful appreciation and thanks are extended to the following people who contributed directly and indirectly to the completion of this work: Gulay Ozkan Maxwell Masuku Bekithemba Mpofu Andrew Fraser Prof. Derek J. Clements- Croome Prof. Kecheng Lui To Patty, Samantha and Richard l says thanks for all your understanding and love. Finally I am grateful for the contribution made by GOD who ensured that I complete this dissertation. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 1 Figure 1.2 Tomb of Cyrus 2 Figure 1.3. Sydney Opera House 2 Figure 1.4 Ostia Antee Roma 4 Figure 1.5 Pueblo Indian Dwelling 5 Figure 1.6 Frank L. Wright 6 Figure 1.7 La Sagtada Familia 8 Figure 1.8 La Sagtada Familia 8 Figure 1.9 La Sagtada Familia 9 LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1: Generations of Intelligent Buildings .14 Table 2.2 Pathology 15 Table 2.3 Matrix Tools 24 Table 2.4 Performance Factors 26 Table 2.5 Matrix Tools Analysis 28 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ii STATEMENT OF PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION iii PREFACE iv LIST OF FIGURES v LIST OF TABLES vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 History of Architecture 1 1.2 Apartments. 3 1.3 Elevators 5 1.4 Architects of the 20th Century 6 1.5 Antoni Gaudi 7 1.6 Pei `9 1.7Other Trendsetters 10 Conclusions 13 CHAPTER 2: INTELLIGENT...We try to estimate various tools and concepts that give rise to similar results. In the process the notion of cultural diversity and varying climatic condition and socio-economic back grounds are often over looked. Therefore, this paper makes a full-fledged attempt to try to analyze ways in which such innovative technology could be made universal to integrate well with varying socio-cultural and climatic challenges. In the process it tries to understand the basic concept of an intelligent building, its aims and objectives, the special attributes that makes the design unique and truly smart enough to integrate with the existing setup. To determine the actual usability and cultural generalizability of these intelligent buildings, the people who experienced either building them or working in them were interviewed. The results of these interviews are shared in this study. Maslow theorized that man (for the sake of brevity) has a hierarchy of needs that must be met before he can reach a level of self-actualization, creativity, self-expression, and a place in life whereby he is able to express himself using his full capabilities. These underling needs must be satisfied first include, among other things, safety, shelter, and belonging. It does not take must imagination to recognize that architecture succumbs to this same hierarchy—first, man built sturdy, safe dwellings that provided security against marauders and the elements.

Effective Technical Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Effective Technical Communication - Essay Example The discipline in discussion is the business field with a focus on Nestle as the business organization. The importance of a code of ethics in this discipline is provision of guidance of how an organization will run internally and externally. An example of one of the ethics is compliance and respect of the laws. These are laws set by the government and the internal rules of the organization which will ensure the organization and its employees are safe from legal trouble such as lawsuits. The Nestle code of business conducts is detailed on the behavior of employees regarding several aspects of the business. There are specific descriptions and explanations of the repercussions accompanying failure to adhere to the code. Some of the mentioned repercussions include disciplinary action being taken such as suspension or even employment termination while others are as severe as having criminal charges being taken against the employee (Nestec Ltd 6). This is a reasonable course of action as the employees will be disciplined at all times and will follow the rules of the organization. The code is against employees conducting business deals based on bribery, corruption or even favors as opposed to just quality and competence. This is something employees find hard and especially those in the sales team. I have seen this in a few people not only on this organization but in other businesses as well. Most people need to be coached on some of these behaviors not because they do not know their importance but simply because their ignorance and negative influences from the society prevents them from fully complying and practicing them.

Identify time management techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Identify time management techniques - Essay Example In addition, one needs to incorporate a motivational factors within the goal setting activity that would enable the generation of a rewards for fulfilling or accomplishing the goals that were set within the identified time frame. One affirms that by looking forward to availing of a benefit or reward, the achievement of goals are facilitated since one’s focus would be re-directed to the positive outcome, and not on the challenges that could be encountered on the way to attaining the identified goal. Another important aspect of goal setting and time management is learning the skill of prioritization. One’s score in this area is 24 out of 35 or 69%. Given a set of activities or endeavors, one must be able to identify and classify the tasks according to urgency: which needs to be done within the shortest possible time frame. As such, making a list of the activities for the day, or for the week, would assist in developing prioritization skills. Likewise, one must also recognize which tasks are more tedious and comprehensively encompassing in details. If there are endeavors that require much preparation and planning, the strategies for prioritization should include accurately identifying tasks in minute details, or broken down into sub-tasks, so that one would not perceive the activity as burdensome in holistic form. In addition, tasks that entail prior research, collection of data, or extensive studying could be scheduled intermittently, as one’s spare time would allo w. The third relevant aspect in time management is managing interruptions. The score generated in this area is 12 out of 20 or 60%. It could be deduced that there are more rooms for improvement in this aspect. One must be able to discern which types of interruptions prevent me from completing scheduled tasks or responsibilities in an effective manner according to prescribed time frame. The interruptions in one’s daily routine

Perceptions of Leadership Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Perceptions of Leadership - Coursework Example If on the other hand followers’ perception instigates them to motivate themselves in order to achieve the set goals, leaders may end up collaborating with the followers hence adopting a completely new leadership style. Leaders can best assess follower perceptions of their leadership style in a number of ways. One of the most effective strategies is by carrying out a survey or giving them questionnaires to fill. The questionnaire should contain questions that would help the leaders establish the level of satisfaction followers have on their leadership style (Bolton & Veldkamp, 2013). The questions should also be open so that followers can criticize and fully express their attitude towards the type of leadership in an organization. However, they should not require them to fill their personal information like names and contact. Other strategies include observing followers behaviors though this method may be less effective. In case the perception of the leader is not aligned with that of the followers, he or she should try adjusting his or her perception as well as that of the followers so that they can reach to a balance. However, this should apply in case the perception of the followers is effective and worthwhile. If their perception is ineffective, leaders should focus on gradually introducing the necessary change while giving the followers adequate time to adapt (Hughes, Ginnett & Curphy, 2012). Assessing followers’ perception by making them fill survey questions that are open is the best method because it would give the followers a chance to freely express themselves without any intimidation. This method has been proven to be effective by many researchers particularly if the followers are assured of privacy and that they cannot be victimized. Other methods like observing followers’ behaviors may not be effective because followers would pretend when they realize that they are being assessed (Bolton & Veldkamp,

Teaching of English as the Second Language Essay

Teaching of English as the Second Language - Essay Example It is also important for the tutor to be familiar with the syllabus so that s/he the communication flow is flawless and effective when the students are being taught. (Gisela Ernst-Slavit & Margaret Mulhern) The SIOP model advocates use of inputs associated with the students' first language for them to connect with and transfer in course of learning the second language. The syllabus must ideally consist of bilingual lessons and text so that the student could read and comprehend the lesson in his or her own language first and then attempt reading and comprehending the same lesson in the second language. The use of the students' first language in teaching of second language is a powerful tool to achieve quick results by means of systematic, step by step approach involving variety of orals, visuals and group activities. Depending on the age group, gender, culture, the students' general knowledge and grasp, study material consistent with the students' faculties and knowledge level are chosen in the students' first language and supplemented with the second language s/he is about to study. The students will have the opportunity of reading the lessons in their own language, and subsequently read through the same lessons in the second language.

Islamic Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Islamic Art - Essay Example For this reason, construction of mosques as well as other buildings related to religion was considered the responsibility of rulers of that time. Therefore, the patronage of caliphs played an important role in the development of early Islamic art forms. This patronage allowed the birth of Islamic architecture, the decoration of religious buildings and their furnishings; a trend that was previously unknown to the world. In contrast to the art forms of other regions which utilize sculptures or paintings as the predominant form of expression, the Islamic art utilizes decoration as a medium or art and expression. The initial manifestations of this type of art work are seen in monuments and mosques of those times, which portray decoration that is extraordinary and expensive in nature. Due to the vital position of mosques in the Islamic society, decoration as a medium of expression was applied on these buildings during the early period of Islam   (Lapidus 97). Another unique art form ter med calligraphy also started to evolve; this time into patterns that were not only meant to communicate the message of Islam, but also to contribute to the aesthetic value of mosques and other religious buildings. This decorative use of the sacred texts in buildings that was religious in nature paved way for various art forms that were aesthetically appealing to a wider audience. Hence calligraphy started finding place in objects like stone, wood, glass, pottery and textiles. Dome of the rock was built in the seventh century.

The cry of humanity Essay Example for Free

The cry of humanity Essay Many people often cry for this word in some parts of their lives. People express their craving for this entity in different manners such that protests and silent rebellion can be counted as examples of expression of the desire in attaining freedom. People may seem to be so vulnerable when it comes to freedom that they tend to freak out whenever their freedom is being suppressed by other people, say parents or government leaders. I, being a member of the human society also cry for this at times. I am pleading to have my allowance be increased during my high school days and I do not want anyone to hinder my joy in my party life with my friends. Moreover, I want to have my own kitchen and my room so I am free of making my own sandwich with no one to share and ask â€Å"for the nth time around, why are you still eating? † Freedom for me is act of being free to do things whether it is good or bad. Freedom only differs with the words that are tagged to it say for academic freedom, spiritual freedom and political freedom. Academic freedom is something that can be related with the right of every child to be sent to school and receive the essential information about life and sciences. Nowadays, technology is in its boost however, many people especially the youth are not receiving it due to poverty and some terrorism attacks in their country. Political freedom on the other hand, is the appropriateness of the rights and privileges received by each member of the society. When girls are not allowed or permitted to enter politics due to the patriarchal norms of the country, she is experiencing political depression. Spiritual freedom goes with the ability of every person to express their faith without persecution and judgment from others. It is the moment of freely obeying what is in ones doctrines with the practices of a religion or a sect. Faith: An Expression of Freedom From the time of Moses, when the Israelites are still slaves by the Pharaoh Ramesis, they are not able to see the reality that there is a true God aside from the statues and walls of the pyramids or palaces. They were just given the idea that gods can transform stick into snakes but not with some interventions like setting them completely free. Moses actually had doubts the first time he has been called by God at the burning bush and had Aaron to talk for him, as it was commanded by the One who talked to Moses. It was when they believed that there is a far better life than serving the Egyptians. They were able to escape them through the guidance of God hence they were able to head for the Promised Land that is full of flowing milk and honey: that is Canaan, for instance. Christianity is one of the most populated religions in the world. Apparently, most of the societies follow by the practices and the traditions of the said religion. They perceive men would be the best leaders for the society thus sometimes giving no chance for women who have potentials also in leading the church. I now of a church that do not give an account in letting their women preach for they believe in the abilities of men. Society has been a part of molding the beliefs of every people in the world. Since it is composed of many different parts like norms, values and ethics, one may not be so shocked that people really have different point of views on things. Luckily, there are passionate people that give time in studying them. Freedom in choosing a religion is more prevalent during our time since there were already people who fought for it during the early 15th to 17th century. The battle of being recognized as people with strong and distinguished faith is not a problem anymore. There may be different religions that can be seen else where like Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist and Muslims, but we are lucky enough to have the chance to choose the religion that suits our lifestyle. Perhaps will not be our passes to eternal life, but it is our faith that separates us from others and with that, we will be living with those standards as long as we are alive. Speaking our freedom Mass media is a source of information that gives us the idea of the current events in our country. Whether news pertains to celebrities or politicians or calamities, the existence of the developed broadcasting or journalism is a big help in easing some of our life’s problems. During some points in the martial law, and dictatorial presidency or leadership of some leaders in the world, the news and public affairs of those were put into a shut, giving no opportunities for them to report the true and correct occurrences in their country. Those people who will rebelliously report the anomaly will be soon in the death bed with a bullet on their head or chest part. Ellis obviously gave his points of view regarding this matter. He cited some examples that can give us the idea of what freedom of speech is. The presentation of ideas were detailed hence it gave me the feeling that media should not be oppressed for telling the truth. It should be fought for instances of government abuse. Freedom of speech doesn’t only occur on the broadcasting part of the society but also in the inner communities wherein the normal people lives. It is the way people express their ideas with no hesitations and no other people that would tell them what to do. It does not necessarily mean going with the opposite flow of the norms but rather, it is an opportunity to bring more treasures in the mind bank of every civilizations. For sure, there are many beliefs that are outdated and can not be applied to the present situation of the world. With that, presentation of ideas is necessary to solve some of the troubles at a certain time. Ideas are best presented with no hesitations, but I agree that it is a healthy way of enriching a body’s mind through some exchange of ideas that can actually get into a conclusion that resolves the case yet, both parties had their own time for shining, explaining their point of views. Questioning may be a good sign of comprehension thus signifies the impact of the thing that we are after. Freedom for both As many people have argued and died for religion and freedom of expression, we must note that we are fortunate that we were born in an era where we no longer have to battle with guns and swords for it like the gladiators and the cowboys before. Having them establish at this point will b\make it much more easier for us to choose what is right rather than seeking for it or founding a new one. Both religion and speech are parts of our lives that our essential in our beings. Religion, as we all know has the idea of god or gods that direct our path to what we think is right. It may show us the best way to do things in their right place and time. While speech is a channel of ourselves that help us be known by others. It is very important that we are able to fight for them thus our rights for living may not be suppressed also. There may be instances that people will contradict what we believe in but it is very important that we truly know what we are standing and living for. Life is a matter of believing and striving for some realizations. References Freedom of Speech – Reader Feedback and Response. Retrieved 14 July 2008 from http://blog. tomevslin. com/2006/02/freedom_of_spee_1. html Hurd, Michael J. 2008. Judge Joseph Lieberman by his Ideas, Not His Religion and Race. Retrieved 13 July 2008 from http://www. capmag. com/article. asp? ID=716 Thomas Jefferson. 1999. Freedom of Religion. Retrieved 14 July 2008 from http://etext. lib. virginia. edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1650. htm

Management of Mandibular Condylar Fractures (MCF)

Management of Mandibular Condylar Fractures (MCF) Summary This paper reviews the literature of evidence based studies and textbooks on the management of mandibular condylar fractures (MCF). It also provides a brief outline of the signs and symptoms as well as the classification system of MCF. Optimal management of MCF is a controversial topic and there is also no consensus on its associated classification system. Overview The mandibular condyle is an articular surface that is part of the temporomandibular joint which facilitates the rotational and translational movement of the mandible. The condyle varies in appearance between individuals and also by age group to accommodate developmental variations, and also due to malocclusions, trauma and diseases. The condyle is a weak point due to its relatively low stiffness and as such is more prone to fractures than other parts of the mandible. The condyle acts as a buffer primarily to reduce intracranial injuries. Based on review of two studies, Boffano et al, 2015, reported that condylar fractures ranges from 35% to 43% of all mandibular fractures. According to Afrooz et al, 2015 condyle fractures represent 27.4% of all mandibular fractures. Based on their review of the US National Trauma Data Bank records, they also conclude that mandibular fractures are primarily caused by external causative factors such as assault, motor vehicular accidents and falls. Internal causative factors of fractures can include osteomyelitis and tumors; but are not as significant as the external factors. Signs of Mandibular Condylar Fractures Condylar fractures can be unilateral or bilateral. A patient with condylar fracture can show the following signs (Peterson Kruger, 2011): Occlusal Prematurity Reduction in vertical height of the mandible on the injured side as a result the injured side makes contact first; sometimes followed by rocking motion and then occluding to maximum intercuspation. Careful observation of the mandibular closure will show the alteration in the alignment Inability to Achieve Maximum Intercuspation In bilateral fractures, due to the fracture of both condyles there is a premature contact of the posterior teeth with a large anterior open bite. Bilateral condylar fractures along with symphysis fracture can cause posterior cross bites and anterior open bites Ipsilateral Laterognathia- In unilateral fractures there is laterognathia on the side affected by the condylar injury. Due to retrodisplacement of the mandible on the injured side, there may be Class II molar malocclusion on that side. Ipsilateral Deviation on Opening- In unilateral fractures, while opening the mandible gets deviated to the side of the injury Balancing Side Occlusal Interference during Contralateral Mandibular Translation Balancing side interferences may be present when performing contralateral jaw movements in unilateral condylar fractures Limited Mouth Opening This can be attributed to interferences of the fracture, displacement and/or rotation of the segments, coronoid impingement, bleeding, edema and pain from joint splinting. Classification of MCF There has been a lack of general consensus on the classification of the anatomical mandibular condyles which in turn has caused disagreement on the most effective way of management of MCF. There are a few systems used for classifying Condyle fractures. In the earlier days, a number of classification systems were based on radiological X-rays and were not supported by surgical experiences and findings. These systems included those proposed by Kohler, Reichenbach and Wassmund. The Lindahl system developed in 1977 is a popular method of classifying condylar fractures. In this method, the position of the fracture is the main determinant as to whether it falls in the condyle head, the condyle neck or the condyle base. These areas are delineated by specific landmarks and reference lines. This system was refined further by Loukota et al in 2005 by subdividing the condylar process more precisely and delineating defined anatomical landmarks[1]. However a drawback of this classification method is that the degree of displacement or dislocation which is essential to surgical intervention is not captured. The Spiessl method categorises the condylar fractures according to the point of occurrence of the fracture (low or high) without displacement and with displacement or dislocation as well as condylar head fractures. This classification system has been used in clinical and scientific use however there is still a limitation in that it does not define the degree of angulation nor clearly articulate the borderlines between low or high fractures. Management of MCF The management of mandibular condylar fractures has been a controversial subject. The options to management of condylar fractures include: do nothing (observation), closed reduction or open reduction techniques. With the do nothing option only practical in the simple and straight forward cases, the real debate is whether to pursue closed or open reduction. A number of variables must be taken into account to determine the treatment method. These variables include the patients age, presence of teeth, severity of fracture of the condyle and associated fractures of the mandible, fracture height, extent of malocclusion, patients adaptation, patients masticatory system and unilateral or bilateral occurrence. A literature review of many evidence based studies was undertaken with advantages and disadvantages of both the closed reduction and the open reduction methods as postulated by researchers and clinicians. The summarised findings are outlined below. Eckelt et al, 2006 undertook a study on 66 randomised patients and compared the results of open versus closed treatment of fractures of the mandibular condylar process. They stated that correct anatomical position of the fragments was achieved significantly more often in the operative group in contrast to the closed treatment group. They also found that the patients who had operative treatment reported less pain. In terms of mandibular function impairment, they reported that the persons who had operative treatment had less pain and discomfort. They also reported that there was significant differences in mouth opening/lateral excursion/protrusion between both groups (open 47/16/7mm versus closed 41/13/5mm). They concluded that both treatment options for condylar fractures of the mandible yielded acceptable results. However, operative treatment, irrespective of the method of internal fixation used, was superior in all objective and subjective functional parameters. In a study conducted on 27 patients in India, (Ragupathy, K 2016) comparing the outcomes of surgical vs nonsurgical treatment of mandibular condyle fractures, he reported that no group had malocclusion. Of the 11 persons in the open reduction group one person had a post-operative infection and two had temporary facial nerve weakness. In the closed reduction group, nine patients had loss of vertical ramus height and six had reduced mouth openings (less than 35mm). He concluded that .. nonsurgical treatment gives satisfactory clinical results, though the condyle is not anatomically normal in radiographs, whereas surgical treatment provided more accurate results clinically as well as radiographically. Kysas, 2012 et al undertook a meta -analysis of 20 studies involving analyses of 1,186 patient comparing closed reduction to open reduction in patients with condyle fractures. It must be noted that only 4 out of the 20 studies were randomised control trials (RCT). In addition, they noted that there was significant variation between treatment protocols, follow-up periods, and outcomes measured. Kysas considered a number of post treatment functionalities such as status of the post-treatment occlusion, mouth opening, protrusion, facial height, pain and the presence of postoperative ankyloses. They also considered facial nerve weakness and scarring in the case of open reduction method. The 4 RCT studies reported statistically significant conclusions favouring open reduction method over the closed reduction method; however Kysas et al found some shortcomings in these studies methodologies. Kysas et al concluded based on their meta-analysis that open reduction method for condylar fractures may be as good as or better than closed reduction. In addition, they reported that morbidity associated with surgery is low. However, they caution that available evidence is of poor quality and as such not strong enough to change clinical practice. Choi et al, 2012 summarised the advantages and disadvantages of both open and closed reductions methods. Advantages of Closed Reduction No injuries to nerves or blood vessels. No post-operative complications such as scar or infection. No tooth germ injury occurs because there is no establishment of crown of permanent teeth; this is beneficial for pediatric patients. Disadvantages of Closed Reduction Because of the insufficient reduction of bone fragments, there can be disorderly or excessive growth of the mandible and displacement of the ramus or mandibular deviation can occur. In addition there can be injury to the periodontal tissue and buccal mucosa, poor oral hygiene, pronunciation disorder, imbalanced nutrition, mouth opening disorder, and respiration disorder. Advantages of Open Reduction Minimise the number of displaced bone fragments to the best location possible. Prevent future complications such as respiratory disorder, original pronunciation and minimise nutritional imbalance Disadvantages of Open Reduction Possibility of damage to blood vessels and nerves exists. There is potential for post-operative complications. A permanent scar is very likely. Choi et al suggests that for pediatric patients, because of their elastic bone structure and thick soft tissue coverage, thin cortical bone and significant premature trabecular bone, no severe impact occurs upon receiving trauma. As such treatment methods can differ between pediatric and adult patients. They suggest that because most of the growing crown of the permanent tooth has not yet been completed, the ratio of bone tissue to the tooth is relatively low. In addition, in developing dentition, the teeth are in different stages of formation and maturation; they can also easily be in the line fracture which in turn can cause delayed eruption and ankylosis. Intermaxillary fixation of more than 2 weeks is not recommended for these pediatric patients and open reduction is not normally used since it is invasive and there is risk of facial nerve injury. They also report , no significant difference in prognosis is found compared to closed reduction. Conclusion Management of MCF remains a subject area where there is a lack of consensus on whether open reduction or closed reduction method is more suitable. Where there are some convergence of ideas include that intracapsular fractures are better treated closed6, it is better to deal with pediatric patients with closed reduction where practical and that physical therapy post treatment is important. Traditionally, closed reduction techniques were more prevalent; however with enhancement in tools available for surgical intervention, open reduction techniques are being practised more, with the added benefit of evidence based studies on such techniques becoming more available. References Afrooz, P., Bykowski, M., James, I., Daniali, L., Clavijo-Alvarez, J. (2015, December). The Epidemiology of Mandibular Fractures in the United States, Part 1: A review of 13,1442 Cases from the US National Trauma Data Bank. Journal of Oral and Maxiloofacial Surgery, 73(12), 2361-2366. Buffano, P., Kommers, S., Karagozoglu, K., Gallesio, C., Forouzanfar, T. (2015). Mandibular Trauma: A two centre study. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 44(8). Choi, K.-Y., Yang, J.-D., Chung, H.-Y., Cho, B.-C. (2012, July 291-300). Current Concepts in the Mandibular Condyle Fracture Management Part I: Overview of Condylar Fracture. Archives of Plastic Surgery, 39(4). Choi, K.-Y., Yang, J.-D., Chung, H.-Y., Cho, B.-C. (2012). Current Concepts in the Mandibular Condyle Fracture Management Part II: Open Reduction Versus Closed Reduction. Archives of Plastic Surgery, 39(4), 301-308. Eckelt U1, S. M., KL, G., E, K., R, L., M, R., J, S., H, T. (2006, July). Open versus closed treatment of fractures of the mandibular condylar process-a prospective randomized multi-centre study. Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, 34(5), 306-14. Goldman, K. E., Meyers, A. D. (2015, August 31). Mandibular Condylar and Subcondylar Fractures. Retrieved from Medscape: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/870075-overview#a8 Hegde, S., Praveen, B., Shishir, R. (2013). Morphological and Radiliogical Variations of Mandibular Condyles in Health and Diseases: A Systematic Review. Dentistry ISSN, 3(1), 1. Kyzas, P. A., Saeed, A., Tabbenor, O. (2012). The treatment of mandibular condyle fractures: A meta-analysis. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, 40(8). Neff, A., Cornelius, C.-P., Rasse, M., Torre, D., Audige, L. (2014, December). The Comprehensive AOCMF Classification System: Condylar Process Fractures Level 3 Tutorial. Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Reconstruction, 7. Peterson, L., Kruger, G. (2011). Petersons Principles of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Connecticut: Peoples Medical Publishing House. Raghupathy, K. (2016). Outcomes of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of mandibular condyle fractures. International Surgey, 3(1). [1] (Neff, Cornelius, Rasse, Torre, Audige, 2014)

River And Water Management Flood Control Environmental Sciences Essay

River And Water Management Flood Control Environmental Sciences Essay Floods are a major concern in many parts of the world due to the many losses experienced in time of floods. Therefore, flood management techniques are very important in areas that are prone to frequent flooding. Flood management techniques are structures designed with the aim of containing floodwater in order to control floodplains. The designing of flood control techniques entails estimating the levels of water that causes floods and then measuring the required height that will create a working flood defense. Flood defenses are strong barriers that prevent water from flooding floodplains (Woods Woods 2007, p.5). Floods generally occur when flowing surface water spills over the restraining banks into dry land. Floods are a natural occurrence in almost all river systems. Areas that are prone to flooding include those that are located downstream of dams and low lying areas. Flooding causes vast losses which include human and animal life, soil erosion, damages of properties, destruction of vegetation and other environmental damages. Also, areas that are affected by floods could also be prone to droughts. This can even cause further loss of human and animal lives. Flood waters are usually polluted with harmful bacteria resulting from sewage. This means that people affected by the floods are at greater risks of getting infective diseases (Proverbs, et al., 2011, p. 221). However, floods also have positive impacts on ecosystems. One benefit from flooding includes more fresh water for domestic and irrigation usage. Other benefits include large deposits of minerals and nutrients into affected areas. Apart from these, floods also help to improve the condition of water ecosystems. However, they can be considered to be the most damaging compared to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes due to their frequencies. Therefore, strict measures must be in place to prevent the massive losses occurred during floods (Gruntfest Handmer, 2001, p.12). Methods used to control floods Techniques that are applied in controlling floods involve the adaptation of the river environment and areas which are close to the river. Flood control techniques can be applied on the river channel, floodway or on the floodplain (Ghosh, 1997, p.55). Techniques applied in floodplains Floodplains are areas that lie below the flood elevation and entirely on the floodway and river channel. The majority of techniques applied on floodplains lie far from the river but they are designed to reduce flood damage. Levee/Floodwall around structures This technique involves the construction of a levee/floodwall around structures that are located in floodplains. Levees can either be permanent or temporary. Construction of the levee usually requires the use of strong, artificial or natural material that can endure pressure from the floods (Hyndman Hyndman, 2010, p.356). The principle of using levees and other barriers is to raise the height of structures located in floodplains which floodwater must then climb in order cause flooding. These structures are there to offer protection to structures. However, they put other structures at a high risk of flooding due to the then increased water retention in the floodplains. Furthermore, serious damage to protected structures can then occur when the levees are unable to hold back floodwater. This is because the pressure that the floods hit the structure is extremely high compared to when there is no barrier (Green, 2004, p.36). The use of levees, dykes and floodwalls has a negative impact on the natural river processes (Harmancioglu, 1994, p.42). Ideally, developed water spills should form a natural channel which provides a way for the floods to flow. Therefore, levees would reduce the ability of the floodplains to process floodwaters. The inability of the floodwaters to flow freely within the floodplains would interfere with fish in their aquatic habitat. The river would respond by creating other channels in order to allow excess water to flow. The developed channels clear the backwater as well as reduce habitat complications (Harmancioglu, 1994, p.43). Off-stream detention pond The main aim of creating detention ponds in floodplains is to collect the floodwaters once the river has reached its maximum capacity. Detention ponds are constructed away from the floodway but must be within the floodplain catchment. When directing water into the detention ponds it will have an impact on reducing the amount of water a river carries. This will have a negative impact on natural river processes due to the reduction of water flowing downstream. Reduced amount of downstream flow could then cause a reduction in sediment transport, which may lead to the rising of the ground level of the channel and deposition of fine sediments. In addition, allowing water to flow into a detention pond may cause more water to flow into the pond than expected. This may lead to an increased development of river channels (Ali, 2002, p8.3). Detention ponds also create new surroundings for the breeding and maturing of fish. However, the construction of detention channels must be done in a way that creates a connection between the pond and the mainstream so that the rivers natural environment can be maintained. Severe damage to the environment can occur when the detention ponds break down leading to flooding in the floodplains. Techniques applied on floodway The floodway is made of river banks and the active channel. In general, the floodway forms the part of land that is immediately next to the river. This piece of land allows flood waters to pass without raising the floods depth upstream. One characteristic of floodways is the presence of small banks, either due to cuts made by previous floods or natural levees due to deposits from previous floodwater (Mambretti, 2011, p.66). Reducing the bank slope This technique consists of cutting the riverbank backwards to produce a gentler slope (Masoudian, 2009, p.14). It may involve replanting or resurfacing the bare bank using materials afterwards. Reducing the bank slope will have an impact on the increasing flood transportation at the channel level due to the increased bank width. This usually happens because reducing the bank slope increases the surface area of the bank channel, which then increases the volume of bank flow. However, if slope reduction is done through planting vegetation, it is likely that the bank stability will be increased. This has an effect of creating a natural containment, which reduces the velocity of water. A reduction in the velocity of water then decreases the rates of soil and bank erosion. Vegetation along river banks may also trap sediments within flows, which may then lead to a buildup of banks, increasing the effectiveness of banks in controlling floods (Masoudian, 2009, p.16). The fact that reducing the bank slopes then also reduces erosion along the river banks has a negative impact on natural river processes. Without erosion on the river banks there will be a reduced amount of sediments, a reduced level of wood debris and a reduced amount of channel migration. Therefore, the erosion occurring naturally along river banks is vital in maintaining an active balance within river systems. Aquatic habitats will also be affected; reducing bank slopes has a negative impact of clearing areas where fish may hibernate during the day in order to be safe from predators. Juvenile fish usually hide in undercut river banks making it an essential component of an aquatic habitat (Masoudian, 2009, p.17). Reinforcing riverbanks This technique involves adding supportive material to riverbanks in order to increase their stability and in resisting flood flows. The most commonly used reinforcement method involves planting natural vegetation as it acts as a stabilizer and increases the ability of riverbanks to control floods. Planting vegetation on riverbanks can be done through hydro seeding, which involves various methods to add a mixture of water, fertilizer and seeds into riverbanks. The planted seeds will then grow and form a vast network of root systems. The root system helps in holding the soil together, which then strengthens the riverbanks. The other method used to introduce plant material on riverbanks is hand planting. In this technique, mature plants are inserted into riverbanks to continue with their growth (Stokes, et al., 2007, p.50). Planting mature plants has the advantage of providing immediate protection against floods through flow reduction. The other method involves the use of plant mats, which are either natural or synthetic materials implanted with plant seeds and fertilizers. The mats are then spread on the riverbanks, and then the watering process follows to allow the seeds to germinate and support the following growth. Apart from irrigating the plant mats, continued instabilities in the river level can help in germination and supporting growth (Beek, et al., 2008, p.33). The main impact of introducing plants along river banks is the formation of strong riverbanks that can withstand pressure from flowing water. The other impact is the prevention of enhanced channel migration. Floods that may occur along banks with sufficient plant material may be less severe compared to those occurring in areas without plant stabilizers. The use of plant stabilizers provides a long-lasting solution to control of floods. This technique also offers an environmental friendly method of flood control, which is easy to maintain. Continued increases of vegetation along riverbanks increases channel roughness and reduces the water velocity. The use of plants also comes with the advantage of providing food for the aquatic life in the protected rivers. Fish may also find a natural habitat in the vast root system generated by plants (Beek, et al., 2008, p.34). Gabions Gabions are constructed using wire mesh baskets that are filled with stones of two-six inches. Like plants, gabions are meant to strengthen river banks, which boosts the river banks ability to resist pressure from flowing water. However, for gabions to be effective plants should be added to them. Gabions also deteriorate in time, which means that replacements are required when they stop functioning properly. The use of gabions reduces the natural erosion that occurs along riverbanks. This then reduces the amount of sediments delivered to downstream habitats. In addition, flows that are deflected by the gabions may create new river channels (Mascarenhas, 2011, p.82). Gabions also lead to an increase in water velocity, which has the disadvantage of reducing the amount of backwater that is essential for the survival of fish and other aquatic life. Well-designed gabions may serve as a reliable source for spawning gravel as well as habitats for aquatic life. Techniques applied along the river channel Sediment trap/mining This technique involves excavating or dredging a depression on the riverbed. Construction of sediment traps requires the proper assessment of sediment load within a river in times of flooding. Maintenance of sediment traps require continued mining of sediments after every serious flood event. Sediment mining reduces the amount of sediment deposits in the river channel, which in turn increases the channel volume as well as the flood transportation. Removing sediments could only have a short term impact of improved flood transportation because of the continued deposition of sediments downstream. Therefore, continued removal of sediments is necessary to prevent incidences of flooding (Mascarenhas, 2011, p.105). Removal of sediments within the river channel affects natural river processes. One effect of sediment mining is the change of the channel morphology. Any changes in the channel morphology affect the way the water flow and the river bed interact with each other. Removing sediments from the river channel changes the channel gradient. These changes then have further impacts on the gradient both upstream and downstream. An increase in the gradient in one location of the river may lead to the formation of a v point or otherwise known as a nick point. This leads to increased erosion in the channel, which extends to a point where the gradient is stable or where there is bedrock resistant to erosion (Raudkivi, 1993, p.35). The removal of sediments affects aquatic habitats in several ways. When fine sediments are removed, there is a creation of a spawning habitat for a variety of fish species. On the other hand, removal of spawning gravel reduces the level of spawning habitats (Raudkivi, 1993, p.41). Flow realignment This technique of flood control involves the digging of new and deeper channels on the river bed but with a different position compared to the existing channels. When flow realignment is done to increase flood transportation, there is a reduction in frequency and severity of floods. Flow realignment creates different structures for the river flow. This interferes with natural river processes both upstream and downstream. The most significant impact of flow realignment is obviously on aquatic habitats. The use of heavy equipment to make flow realignments creates disturbances on the river bed; this alters existing aquatic habitats. Therefore, usage of flow realignment techniques needs thorough assessment of potential impacts on the aquatic ecosystem (Fleming, 2002, p.47). Word Count: 2,108

Was Hitler a great leader or a monster? Essay -- essays research paper

To fully answer this question one must look at the underlying philosophies behind Hitler’s leadership. What did he stand for and did his ideologies have any redeeming characteristics? Indisputably he had an ability to lead and motivate. He was revered with almost God – like fanaticisms by his people. This essay will set out to establish the basis of his leadership and within that framework, the nature of the man and his vision for the world. Hitler was in many ways a great leader and his influence on the German people was immense; he used his motivational and powerful speaking abilities to gain support and popularity. Hitler knew how to appeal to people's baser instincts and made use of their fears and insecurities. He could do that, however, only because they were willing to be led, even though his programme was one of hatred and violence. Hitler was extremely Anti-Semetic and when Germany was in the state of social instability and crisis Hitler was able to easily deflect that frustration on to the Jews. After the economic and social hardship of the Great Depression Hitler began to rebuild Germany. He saw a nation of unemployed and hungry citizens and promised them economic prosperity in return for absolute power. Hitler was convinced Germany's past suffering was due to the Jewish population, and as a result initiated a campaign of hatred and isolation towards the nation's Jewish community. Hitler’s propaganda ma chine promoted the theory that the Aryan race was superior t...

Achieve Success Now Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Achieve Success Now We all want to have a life full of success. Many people assume without question that success is essentially material, that it can be measured in money, prestige, or an abundance of possessions. These can certainly play a role, but having such things is no guarantee of success. The success that we should strive for is the ability to love and have compassion, the capacity to feel joy and spread it to others, the security of knowing that one’s life serves a purpose, and finally, a sense of connection to the power of the universe. All of these are what create the dimensions of success, which will bring inner fulfillment. We as human beings are made of mind, body, and spirit. Of these, spirit is the most important, for it connects us to the source of everything. In other words we can describe it as our conscience. The more clearly that we think, the more we will enjoy the abundance of the universe. Our conscience is broken down into many different layers, the most important being our self-esteem. Our self-esteem is portrayed by our interactions with others. â€Å"Some simple examples of how we should use are self esteem is:  · Always greet people with a smile. As simple as it sounds, a smile establishes your own self-worth and shares it with others.  · Always say â€Å"thank you† when you are praised. A simple thank you is the universal mark of an individual with self-esteem.  · Surround yourself with people who enjoy their work. People with self-esteem seem to radiate it to others.† The second most important layer of the conscience is our attitude. 2â€Å"A positive attitude means everything†. Have you ever noticed when you enter a room with a huge smile on your face, give someone a c... ... right and expand them. In other words we must learn to give a hundred and ten percent and never give up. Remember the first step to success is to think BIG and always believe in yourself in whatever you do. Bibliography: Applegate, Jane. Succeeding In Small Business. New York: Plume, 1992. Boone, Louis E. Boone & Kurt’s Business. Fortworth: Oryden Press, 1995 Davenport, Rita. Making Time, Making Money. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1982. Griffen, Ricky W. How To Succeed In The Business World. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1988 Jassinowski, Jerry, and Robert Hamrin. Making It In America. New York: Simon & Schulster, 1995. Pride, William M. Business. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1989. Vesper, Joan, and Vincent Ryan Ruggiero. Contemporary Business Communication. New York: Harper Collins College Publishers, 1993

Welfare Reform

All Forms of Government Welfare Should be Abolished By: Michelle M. Flores 12/11/08 Strayer University PHI 210 Professor James Poteet All Forms of Government Welfare Should be Abolished Welfare is defined as â€Å"governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need. † (wordnet. princeton. edu). There are many programs that are currently implemented to aid and assist families in need. Under new laws, Maryland has re-named its assistance programs to Family Investment Programs.Some of these programs include: TCA- Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, WIC – Women Infants and Children Program, Child Care Assistance, Medical Assistance, Section 8- housing assistance, Energy Assistance and many other programs. To qualify for such programs, a family must have a minor child or a pregnant woman, and the parent must have applied for child support from the absent parent. It is said that the family applying must show a need for assistance. (peoples-law. org). Currentl y, the United States is in a financial recession. This recession has made many Americans rely and depend on such assistance from the Government.With all of these and many more programs implemented, when is enough, enough? How much assistance should be offered to a single family or person? What programs are actually necessary and/or beneficial? I will provide a brief synopsis of a few programs below. Temporary Cash Assistance Temporary Cash Assistance is a government allowance in the form of cash. Qualifications for this program are as follows: Household sizeGross Income 1 person or a pregnant woman$216. 00 a month or less 2 persons$380. 00 a month or less 3 persons$482. 0 a month or less 4 persons$583. 00 a month or less 5 persons$675. 00 a month or less (peoples-law. org). The current minimum wage in Maryland is $7. 25. (epi. org). This means that a single person or pregnant woman cannot work anymore than thirty two hours a month or eight hours a week to qualify for this benefit. T he average person works at least thirty to forty hours per week, which is about four times the qualifying allowance. What kind of job will allow a person to work only eight hours a week?How is this fair to those who work more than that and are still struggling to get by living paycheck to paycheck? It’s not! Are these families using this cash assistance to help pay bills or to live lavishly? What type of control is used here? There is no control, so absolutely none. Now, I am not saying that families who receive cash assistance should not be able to buy luxury or feel good items, but these items should not be a priority before bills are paid. If you cannot afford to keep your lights on, you should not be in the bar buying alcohol or in the salon getting your hair and nails done. This is absurd!I love to see my tax dollars going to hair nails on a woman that is not working, but yet I work full time and cannot afford to have my hair and nails done as often as those women do. SN AP SNAP otherwise known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the new name for the Food Stamp Program. SNAP is a government allowance that provides needy families with the benefit to buy food. This program provides a family with a card similar to a debit or credit card that holds the benefits allotted to said family. If a person or family qualifies for cash assistance, they will automatically qualify for SNAP.The income guidelines are as follows: Household SizeGross IncomeNet Income 1 person$1,127. 00$867. 00 2 persons$1,517. 00$1,167. 00 3 persons$1,907. 00$1,467. 00 4 persons$2,297. 00$1,767. 00 5 persons$2,687. 00$2,067. 00 (peoples-law. org). With minimum wage at $7. 25 per hour, a person can work an average of one hundred and seventy two hours a month for an average of about thirty two hours a week.What are the problems with this program? How do we make certain that the needy families and children of those needy families are actually receiving the allotted benefit s? The government cannot control this either. Many times these benefits are sold to those who are not needy for half or less than what they are really worth. Meaning, a person not being supplied with this benefit can buy the card from a needy person and go into a market and buy a hundred dollars worth of groceries for only fifty dollars. The non-needy person has then saved a lot, but the child of a needy family is at home with less available food.This sickens me that a parent can literally take out of their child’s mouth just to get cash to do God knows what with. WIC WIC is the Women, Infants and Children Program. This program covers pregnant women, new mothers and children under five who have a nutritional need. The income guidelines here are: Family SizeIncome per monthIncome per year 1 person$1,604. 00$19,240. 00 2 persons$2,159. 00$25,900. 00 3 persons$2,714. 00$32,560. 00 4 persons$3,269. 00$39,220. 00 5 persons$3,824. 00$45,880. 0 This program supplies mothers with inf ants or young children with milk, cheese, beans, oatmeal, cereal and several other nutritious items. This program is very beneficial to the family, as it maintains the health of babies, young children and mothers. I feel as though this is a wonderful program. With every up there is a down. Welfare fraud is huge in America. Welfare fraud is described as â€Å"the intentional misuse of various state funded Welfare programs. † (spamlaw. com). Fraud comes in many forms and may consist of withholding income, household size information or providing false information to obtain benefits.Here we have people obtaining benefits and are not deserving of them. One for instance is the purchasing of the SNAP card. Welfare fraud is very expensive. â€Å"It costs the system millions in misused benefits every year. † (spamlaw. com) â€Å"Welfare fraud has been widely criticized by advocates of the system because this abuse makes funds less available to those who actually need the benef it. It has also been criticized by opponents of the system who believe the crime creates situations where hard working taxpayers are supporting the middle class and a lavish lifestyle for criminals.These critics have coined the terms ‘welfare Cadillac’ or ‘welfare Queen’ to instances or individuals associated with welfare fraud† (spamlaw. com). All actions of welfare fraud should be avoided if you are approached to be involved in such acts. These crimes are punishable by the full extent of the law. If a person is convicted of welfare fraud and put in prison, are our tax dollars not going to further take care of them? In prison inmates are fed, clothed and nursed to health. Not to mention they have to be guarded by correctional officers or policing staff.Wow, what a vicious cycle. We take the benefits from them in the free world, but then again support them in the locked up world. I am so glad that my hard earned tax dollars are supporting such trash. The new changes in the Welfare program were created to help families achieve independence. What is the government doing to help achieve such independence? What programs are implemented to get these needy families back into the work force, not to depend on the government? The Welfare reform in the early 1990’s led to a huge reduction in Welfare dependency. Under the old AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependant Children) program, states were given more federal funds if their welfare caseloads were increased, and funds were cut whenever the state caseload fell. This structure created a strong incentive for states to swell the welfare rolls. Prior to the reform, one child in seven was receiving AFDC benefits. † (Conn Carroll). At this time, President Clinton created programs that allowed families to learn new skills and help them transition back into the work force. This reduced Welfare dependence and required welfare recipients to prepare for employment.This is what really nee ds to be done. However, with the new financial crisis that the United States is currently seeing, it is harder for those with minor skills to obtain work. President Obama has enacted stimulus bill that abolishes welfare reform and adds new welfare spending. â€Å"It is clear that – in both the House and the Senate stimulus bills – the original goal of helping families move to employment and self-sufficiency and off long term dependence on government assistance has instead been replaced with the perverse incentive of adding more families to the welfare rolls.The House bill provides four billion per year to reward states to increase their Temporary Cash Assistance case loads; the Senate bill follows the same policy but allocates less money. † (Rector & Bradley). This is crazy. The funds should be allocated by the amount of unemployment per state, not a gross figure overall. There are some states that are better off financially than others. The funds should be divi ded accordingly. â€Å"In the first year after enactment of the stimulus bill, federal welfare spending will explode upward by more than twenty percent, rising from $491 billion in FY 2008 to $601 billion in 2009.This one year explosion in welfare spending would be, by far, the largest in U. S. history. † (Rector & Bradley). Since the enactment of the welfare reform in the early 1990’s, many Americans have become less dependent on the welfare system. Clinton gives great thanks for being re-elected partially due to his signing of the welfare reform bill. Great job and wonderful efforts President Clinton! In my opinion Welfare is an incentive for people to sit at home and not work, to not be responsible for themselves or their families. Don’t get me wrong, I do see a need for assistance programs, only when necessary.Do I think that all forms of government welfare should be abolished? No, I do not. Surprised by this answer? I knew you would be. I agree that these p rograms should be implemented for those who are in crisis and desperately need them. These programs should not be used and abused at American’s leisure. Considering the tough economic times we are in right now, I agree that many Americans need help. Especially those who have lost their jobs and those who are aggressively seeking employment, but cannot find it. However, this help should only be temporary.New reform needs to be implemented. Education and services need to be offered to get people back into the work force and off of government dependency. With all of the current programs offered, me as a single mother has a huge incentive to quit my job, stay at home and collect all the government has to offer. Then, I may be able to buy lobster in the grocery store rather than 80/20 ground beef. WORKS CITED Carroll, C. (2009). Stimulus Bill Abolishes Welfare Reform. Retrieved November 7, 2011 from http://blog. heritage. org/2009/02/11stimulus-bill-abolishes-welfare-reform/print/ Fox, L. 2007). What a new Federal minimum wage means for the United States. Retrieved November 7, 2011 from http://www. epi. org/publications/entry/ib234/ Rector, R. and Bradley, K. (2009, February). Stimulus Bill Abolishes Welfare Reform and Adds New Welfare Spending. Web Memo No. 2287 Published by the Heritage Foundation http://www. peoples-law. org/income/gov-ben/family_investment_program. htm What is Welfare Fraud? Retrieved November 7, 2011 from http://www. spamlaws. com/welfare-fraud. html http://wordnetweb. princeton. edu/perl/webwn? s=welfare

Centralized Organizational Structure Essay

ABC Homecare is a growing company consisting of four different departments. Each department has a director who makes all of the daily decisions from patient enrollment to employee breaks. This type of structure worked well when the company was established in 1989 since it only consisted of 30 employees total. ABC Homecare has grown to over 150 employees and needs change. The centralized structure has been successful for the Directors of the company, however, often leaves employees and managers unhappy. This structure is popular for producing â€Å"sluggish† business operations since ultimately only one person is making the final decision (Vitez, 2013). Currently we have 7 employee complaints on file for issues regarding our structure. Formal versus Informal Organization Reports have indicated that attendance in our formal organization groups have decline drastically over the past six months. Many employees have joined the smaller, informal groups to voice concerns and suggestions. Although we are happy that employee voices are still exercised, they are not getting the level of satisfaction needed according to the employee and this is for a number of reasons. Employees are using their voices in informal settings that do not have all of the features of actual formal organizations. In a formal group several features are characterized: a common goal; an accepted pattern of purpose †¢ a set of shared values or common beliefs that give individuals a sense of identification and belonging †¢ continuity of goal-oriented interaction †¢ a division of labor deliberately planned to achieve the goal †¢ a system of authority or a chain of command to achieve conscious integration of the group and conscious coordination of efforts to reach the goal (Liebler & McConnell, 2013 p. 67). Without these features, informal groups only serve to clarify any misunderstanding from a formal organization or allow for socialization informally. Although ABC Homecare has been voted one of the best homecare agencies in our area, there is room for improvement. Patient satisfaction is greatly affected by employee satisfaction so a plan must be implemented soon to ensure that our employees are happy to work for our company and remain as such.

Journeys

Through my study of micehal gows novel away, the documentary Cinderalla Children and the novel Fight Club, i now agree with Marcell Proust that â€Å" We dont recieve wisdom we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one else can take for us†. The individuals in these texts gain wisdom from their journeys as a result of their experiences, perspective and personal growth, however some choose to use their wisdom more wisely than others. This proves that wisdom can not be received but rather we must discover it for ourselves.The character that is seen to undergo the most profound change within the text ‘Away’ , by Michael Gow in my eyes, is Coral. We are introduced to Coral to be in an emotionally fragile condition, grieving the death of her son. She is seen to have alienated herself from society, and has a strained relationship with her husband Roy, unable to conform to his expectations. Coral’s psychological state is clearly depicted in the so liloquy Gow has utilised in Act One – Scene Three.Through her speech we understand that she is in an unstable state, as suggested at the beginning of the soliloquy, where she states, â€Å"When that woman woke up and saw that donkey at her feet I thought my heart would break. † This line generally depicts her detachment and alienation from society, through the inconceivable language used. Throughout irene gleesons life ( before the thought of the cinderella children project even started ) she had experienced pain and truma due to her past but she had a very strong faith in Christ which she believed helped her through her drakest days.With her fatherless home and harsh childhood, he grew to become a motherfigure to her family, even though later down the track her marriage broke down which resulting in her leaving her faith in god for a spiritual search, but through trialing other religions she returned to her Christian faith even more determined to help. She grew to kno w jesus as the only husband she needed. So before she knew it she had sold her dream beach house and her possessions to afford the big move with her caravan over to kitgum, Uganda.This is where the idea that gaining wisdom through out past experiences or journeys it may not seem relevant at the time but fundememntally help you when your struggling. The main character in Fight Club is the narrator and the main themes of the story are loneliness, materialism, and freedom from society. Tyler was created because of the lack of connection the narrator had with the people around him. The narrator was lonely and attended so many support groups because of it. He was not rejected at the support groups because the members thought he was sick just like they were.Materialism is a reoccurring theme as the narrator mentions how he has worked his entire life for the Ikea items in his apartment. He tried to fill the void in his life by buying worthless, meaningless stuff. People spend too much time working for things they do not need. The narrator comes to the conclusion that, â€Å"You are not your job or your possessions. † Only once a person realizes that can he or she finally let go and start living. â€Å"It’s only after you’ve lost everything,† Tyler says, â€Å"that you’re free to do anything. † In order to be free, we must not care about the stuff we own.When Tyler states â€Å"The things you own, end up owning you† it really opens the narrators eyes too see what he has based his life around†¦ †stuff†. Our whole lives are spent working to pay for stuff. If we did not have stuff to pay for, we would not have to work as hard and our time could be spent doing something more meaningful. This idea is also conveyed through the character Gwen from Michael Gow’s Away. A major conflict near the end of the story is between Tyler Durden and the narrator. The narrator discovered Tyler was a figment of his im agination and he wanted to stop him.The narrator wanted to get rid of Tyler, end Project Mayhem, and all of the Fight Clubs. Tyler did not want to leave and this conflict was resolved with the narrator shooting himself and killing Tyler. Tyler was created as someone the narrator always wanted to be. Tyler was the narrator’s hero and the narrator envied everything Tyler stood for. The narrator started to lose his own conformist identity and become more and more like Tyler. As the novel progressed, the narrator grew more miserable while becoming Tyler. Becoming Tyler was emotionally and physically draining for the narrator.Throughout the novel, the narrator is battling his former self and Tyler. He tried to find a happy medium between the two extremes. Towards the end, the narrator found this to be an impossible task as Tyler began to take over more and more. The narrator could not allow Tyler to continue controlling his life and destroying society so he had to shoot Tyler and himself in the process. â€Å"We need a break. We need a change† (Act Two – Scene Four). Gow has applied short and direct sentences to correspond Coral’s obstinacy and determination towards change.The repetition of ‘we need a†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ reflects how Coral has prioritised change, and her views of change being a necessity. These techniques effectively suggest Coral’s acceptance towards change. Coral conjuncts the connotation of the holiday with positive implications, evident through her statement; ‘We’ll have a wonderful, wonderful time’ (Act Two – Scene Four). Repetition is prevalent once again in this excerpt, and has been used by Gow to portray her positive attitude in regards to the opportunity to change.This is where the idea that transformation on a journey comes from acceptance and letting go of past hurts that control you. The explicit meaning of the story in Fight Club is that Tyler made Fight Club for a way for men to overcome the frustrations of their professional and personal lives. There are no rules or limits as to how far Tyler will go to fulfil his goal. The implicit meaning is that Fight Club was made as an answer to the rejection of a consumer society is with the use of violence. Fighting was a way to free a man from society.

Night by Elie Wiesel Essay

Night by Elie Wiesel. Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Eliezer is a young and strong –minded individual, but doubts his religious beliefs. He and his family were taken from their home in 1944 to Auschwitz concentration camp, which was known as the Holocaust. Eliezer, being a dynamic character had many thoughts and feelings towards life and his father. His thoughts and faith always changed (Wiesel 33). But, he always tried to stay strong, hopeful and determined for himself and his father. While in Auschwitz, Elie thought alot about how his life was changing (38). He went from a 13-year old deeply observant and very religious teen, into a wishing, confused and doubtful individual. Being dynamic changes you as a person and it affected the mood and tone of the story. Eliezer’s appearance wasn’t really mentioned in the story. But you could imagine what happened with eating just bread crusts, soup, and sometimes nothing to drink (54). When Eliezer broke his foot, he still hopped for survival along with his frail father (78). His belief and faith subsided the longer they stayed in the camps. Others lost complete faith in their God that they trusted (66). It was every man for himself and they would do anything to stay alive, even kill. While staying in the camps Eliezer sometimes decided between life and death, to escape the hurt, torture, and pain. Once they were finally released free, no one thought of revenge (115). All they wanted was to eat and when they were no longer hungry, they still didn’t think of revenge. Freedom and food were the only things left to think about (113). Eliezer is a young and strong-minded individual, but doubts his religious beliefs. Being a dynamic character means that you aren’t sure about decisions and your mind is always changed. When Eliezer found the strength to get up and look at himself in the mirror, the gaze that looked back at him never left him.

The Importance Of The Political Philosophy For The State And Society Essay

The Importance Of The Political Philosophy For The State And Society - Essay Example States have long used enemies as a justification for their existence (IE population will support them for supposed protection from an enemy). Hardt and Negri’s book Empire, argues that the modern state has shifted its definition of the enemy from traditional ones, such as ideology (IE Communism) or state (for instance during European wars), to a violator of law - states manufacture the enemy as a sort of criminal (83). States have thus maneuvered themselves into a situation where any opposition to the state represents a deviant nature and something that the state has an obligation to address. In Hardt and Negri’s understanding, the enemies of the state are no longer extramural – they are in fact by definition within the state, a part of the state structure. This differs from classical neoliberal understandings of Empire, which address Empire building through expansion beyond borders, especially in an economic sense. In interpreting the quotation â€Å"Hitherto the philosophers have only interpreted the world: the point, however, is to transform it,† it is important to remember the origin of philosophy as a tradition of knowledge. Philosophy started as a form of ancient science – before standards of experimentation, testability and so on were developed, philosophers attempted to use reason to form a better understanding of the world around them. Modern science has since taken up much of the challenge of interpreting the world, by using a structured system of logic and experimentation to build causal relationships between physical phenomenon. Science has thus continually eroded the traditional realm of philosophy, especially once it started addressing the state of the human mind through neuroscience.

Willy from Death of a Salesman, and Hickey from The Iceman Cometh Essay

Willy from Death of a Salesman, and Hickey from The Iceman Cometh - Essay Example Willy becomes entrenched in a quagmire of lies, delusions and self-deception, which ultimately leads him to commit suicide. Theodore Hickman (Hickey), the principal character in Eugene O’Neill’s â€Å"The Iceman Cometh† is a smooth-talking salesman. He comes to Harry Hope’s saloon preaching the gospel of salvation, exhorting his drunken friends to divest themselves of their â€Å"pipe dreams† of tomorrow and make peace with themselves. Hickey’s murder of the tomorrow dreams will bring ruin to the bar, thus Hickey’s advent is the advent of the â€Å"Iceman† or Death. We learn later that Hickey has brought death to his own house, murdering his wife. When he confesses to the murder, Hickey’s gospel of salvation reveals itself as its own pipe dream, a delusion that lets him evade his guilt over his crime. While both characters are salesmen, they differ in temperament and outlook. Willy Loman is an insecure, self-deluded salesman who desperately believes in the American Dream but never achieves it. The fact that he uses gardening as a metaphor for success and failure indicates that he subconsciously acknowledges that his chosen profession is a poor choice, given his natural inclinations (Willy tells Stanley in Act II: â€Å"Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground.†). Here, the garden functions as a substitute for his failed career and his son Biff’s wayward career. Willy Loman is a dreamer, dreaming of a better life as promised by the American Dream. He dreams about being a super salesman like his hero Dave Singleman, a mythic salesman who achieved great fame and popularity. Willy visualizes having people remember and love him, considering it the ultimate satisfaction (Willy tells Howard Wagner in Act II: â€Å"And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ‘Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of

Epidemiology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Epidemiology - Assignment Example It also discusses the three parts of the epidemiological triangle in a clear and outright way. Voigt explains various symptoms in the Hong Kong and SARS article. It is evident that the symptom common to all patients is a fever above 38 degrees Celsius. Some patients experience mild respiratory symptoms at the first stage, but later the cold experienced resembles influenza. Statistics shows that 10 percent to 20 percent of the patients have diarrhea. It is also apparent that SARS lead to either bacterial pneumonia or viral pneumonia. SARS was diagnosed in patients who had any of the symptoms. Also, SARS was suspected in patients who had contact with individuals who had been infected with SARS. One was advised to visit the health centers for diagnosis in the case where one had travelled to any of the regions identified by World Health Organization (WHO) as areas with prone to SARS (Voigt, 2013). Voigt also give statistics of the SARS epidemic as per the World Health Organization (WHO) report. The statistics showed that a total of 8,097 people worldwide became infected with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. The patients among these who died were 774. In considering the epidemiological triangle, the host of this epidemic was a farmer in Foshan county in the Guangdong province of china. He died soon after the infection, and there was no definite diagnosis done on his cause of death. The outbreak is believed to have been prone in November of 2002. The unfortunate thing is that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) informed the World Health Organization (WHO) on February about the outbreak. The report they brought forward at that time showed 305 cases of infected individuals, and that there were 5 deaths caused by the epidemic (Voigt, 2013). Sars Legacy still felt in Hong Kong article shows that lack of openness by the government of china delayed the control effort to the SARS epidemic in the region and thus the disease spread at a high rate in the Guangdong