Old Mrs Grey

â€Å"Old Mrs. Grey† Born in 1882, Virginia Woolf was an author, feminist, critic, essayist, pacifist and one of the founders of the Modernist Movement in Literature. Like many of her contemporaries in the Movement, she employed a vivid and descriptive stream-of-consciousness writing style that was rooted in the popular Freudian psychoanalytic theories of the day; and in fact, both of her brothers became psychoanalysts. Woolf regarded herself as â€Å"mad†, having bouts of debilitating depression brought on by her bi-polar disorder. Within her body of work, especially in her essay â€Å"Old Mrs.Grey†, you can see the melancholic/suicidal ideation of her own psyche deployed in the character of Mrs. Grey. She did not hold with the traditional views that suicide was sinful or cowardice. In 1941, she put rocks in her coat pockets and committed suicide by drowning herself in a river near her home in Sussex. The letter she left reasoned that she was â€Å"going mad ag ain and shan’t recover this time†. This is the background on how and possibly why Mrs. Woolf uses the imagery of hopelessness so effectively in this story as a surrogate for her own misery.In the story â€Å"Old Mrs. Grey†, Woolf’s depressively artful use of words describes a lonely 92 year old woman whose body has painfully palsy, â€Å"jerked her body to and fro†, and is in constant arthritic pain which, â€Å"twists her legs† and keeps her confined to her home where she sits in a â€Å"hard chair† and looks with â€Å"aged eyes† that have â€Å"ceased†. She sits by a dying fire in a hard chair, looking at â€Å"The morning spread seven foot by four, green and sunny. â€Å" a reference to the only life she knows now, looking through the door of her cottage at the life outside of it.This is emblematic of her longing for a bygone youth, which Woolf further describes, â€Å"†¦ (she) saw herself at ten, at twenty, a t twenty-five. †, a youth which has fled and left her nothing but memories. The poignant aspect of the story is that while Mrs. Grey is confounded by her longevity, though she longs for the Lord to â€Å"take her†, she never actually voices a propensity to end it herself. The author clearly feels that the advances of medical science that prolong her life, which are but a, â€Å"nail†¦that pinions†¦the body against a wall†, are an insult and occur seemingly against her will.However, as the protagonist notes, the doctor is a good man. The author implies that the doctor is in wonder that Mrs. Grey hasn’t died, but clearly shows that he takes care of her, as required by his oath, regardless of his personal opinion. Clearly, Woolf’s use of imagery and diction brings the reader into Mrs. Grey’s end of life suffering and morose loneliness. The reader, by the end of the story, can empathize with Mrs. Grey’s feeling of the pointlessne ss and uselessness of her remaining days and her longing to â€Å"pass on†, because of Woolf’s competent characterization of Mrs. Grey’s somber situation.

Nature of Gender Relations in the United States Essay

Like the nationals of all other countries, Americans have over the years developed a strongly gendered culture. Right from childhood, males are taught how to behave as males while females learn how to be feminine. Masculinity is often associated with machoism, strength and aggression. Gender relations are clearly evident in the heterosexual dating scene where masculinity is expected of men while feminity is expected of women (Zurbriggen, 2009). There exists a notable link between the prevalence of rape and gender relations. Women and children are at the highest risk of rape. Most victims are raped by relatives, friends, or people they know. Many are raped several times before they either report the assault or it becomes difficult to keep it secret, for instance when they get pregnant or a venereal disease (Abbey et al. , 2004). To understand why people are victimized by those they are close to, one needs to look back at the violators’ developmental stages. Males learn early in life that they are supposed to be more powerful than the rest. The resulting gender rigidity leads men to rape or use violence to control and intimidate women (McGlynn, 2008; Zurbriggen, 2009). Men thus find it easier to justify rape and violence against vulnerable spouses, children, friends and other relatives. Male victims of rape and males who choose to have sex with other males do not fit in as men and are often treated as women (Bonthuys, 2008). This implies that according to males, rape can only happen to non-males. America remains a largely patriarchal society which means that relations between members of society are still skewed in favor of men. Gender is seen in most aspects of everyday Americans’ lives and domination of men over women is evident in domestic relations as well as in formal institutions (Seymour, 2009). While it boasts of being one of the longest democracies, the United States of America hosts a society which is still characterized gender relations which favour males at the expense of other members of society, thereby sneaking in the ‘justification’ for men to hold power over and control other members of society. References Abbey, A. , Beshears, R. , Clinton-Sherrod, A. & McAuslan, P. (2004). Similarities and Differences in Women’s Sexual Assault Experiences Based on Tactics Used by the Perpetrator. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 28: pp 323-332. Bonthuys, E. (2008). Putting Gender into the Definition of Rape or Taking it Out? Feminist Legal Studies 16: pp 249-260. McGlynn, C. (2008). Rape as ‘Torture’? Catherine Mackinnon and Questions of Feminist Strategy. Feminist Legal Studies 16: pp 71-85. Seymour, K. (2009). Women, Gendered Work and Gendered Violence: So Much More than a Job. Gender, Work and Organization, Vol. 16, No. 2: pp 238-265. Zurbriggen, E. (2009). Understanding and Preventing Adolascent Dating Violence: The Importance of Developmental, Sociocultural, and Gendered Perspectives. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 33: pp 30-33.

Statment of purpos Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Statment of purpos - Personal Statement Example My teachers have always considered me a student worthy of reward as I have been earning good grades throughout my academic career. I have completed many small projects related to my field with hard work and dedication. I have worked in teams, and I like to collaborate with the team members to seek help and guidance from them on different issues. This has increased my capability of effective communication. I have deep interest in the management of information systems, as I believe that today’s world is being driven by computerized systems so much so that, one day, robots will take place of humans in many fields of life. I feel that I am a good candidate for the said program; and, I believe that I will be able to prove whatever I have mentioned above, if the authorities give me a chance to prove my interest in their university. I hope that the concerned, respected authorities will grant me the opportunity to study in their reputed

The Enbridge Pipeline and the First Nations in B.C. IN CANADA Essay

The Enbridge Pipeline and the First Nations in B.C. IN CANADA - Essay Example In light of the risk factor involved in the construction, oil spills affect the means of livelihood for all those that live in proximity to the pipeline. This regards the jobs they partake, the homes they live in, the food they catch and the health and wellbeing of the said population and their loved ones. The above concern particularly affects the state of British Colombia which specializes in affected industries by the construction of the pipeline. Such industries include agriculture, fishing, hunting, trapping accommodation and food services, as well as fisheries and tourism. Should the proposed pipeline project go through, those working in the state of BC face a crisis in the form of revenue generation and earning a livelihood. Thus, all this is in spite of the promise to local communities that are affected benefiting from a promise of 560 jobs in the process of laying the required infrastructure. The said promise raises another concern that puts it against the Enbridge project. This is the issue of economics; where it promises 560 jobs, and in turn ruins over 45000 jobs provided by the west coast seafood and ocean recreation industries (Owens, 2012). This merely shows the selfish interests of Enbridge as a company by seeking to make a few more dollars for a barrel of crude oil in the expense of the local residents of British Colombia and Alberta. Furthermore, to aggravate the situation is the record borne by Enbridge as a company running its own pipelines and the little concern it shows for the environment. This is in regard to safety measure taken to avert leaks and spills in their other pipelines aside from the proposed project for the Northern Gateway Pipeline. The issue arises from the poor record that the corporation holds in terms of handling and maintaining its pipelines such as the one in Michigan. Owing to the Michigan case that resulted in the pollution and closure of a 35

Racism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Racism - Essay Example The concept of ‘other’ creates the boundaries between people. Racism is prevalent everywhere one goes. Asians go to the European countries and do menial jobs for minimum wages. It is hard for them to score jobs they dream of doing. Even the economic analysts consider the Asian community as the labor community; washing dishes, working at gas stations or flipping burgers. The situation is not only prevalent in European countries, Silicon Valley United States is considered a dream place to get a job. However such a statement is highly overrated because the situation on ground is based on segregation. Hence it is true that racism is not only physical but it is a mental state. And in Silicon Valley it is termed as environmental racism. The immigrants are the ‘others’. The definition of other is that there is always ‘us’ and there is ‘other’ which is different from ‘us’. The other looks, different, talks, walks and eats different. These differences create imaginary walls between the two (i-e us and them). On the same psychological basis people divide other people in nations, ethnicities and races. This segregation goes on to include religions, cultures and any other classifications. There are two aspects of racism. One is when a white person feels superior because of the skin color. The other is when a black person feels inferior because of his color. The standards of beauty are defined by the modern media (especially Hollywood productions) that project white beauty and white lifestyle as the symbol of success and prosperity. Screenwriters, storytellers, movie directors and producers are biased in portraying a story or a life event. Hollywood movies do not explicitly show racist culture in their movies. But the majority of the movies in Hollywood show white lead role. The black guy is in his accomplice. The black guy is usually

Kinetic of the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide Coursework

Kinetic of the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide - Coursework Example Calculate the activation enthalpy of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide solution when (manganese (IV) oxide & Iron (III) chloride) act as a catalyst and compare their effectiveness. A standard procedure for working out the enthalpy should be applicable for both case studies. Find the order of each reactant and use the order to explain the mechanism of the same. It should involve comparison of the rate of reaction of hydrogen peroxide with manganese (IV) oxide and Iron (III) chloride. Such a comparison would be easy under standard conditions. Graphical representations of the course of reactions with varying quantities of reactants will facilitate comparison. Chemical kinetics studies chemical reactions under different conditions. Chemical kinetics explains the nature and order of reactions. Knowledge of kinetics is important in conducting experiments to identify unknown substances. It is also vital in determining reactivity of chemical substances under non-specific conditions. Catalysts find use in facilitating reactions, including manganese (IV) oxide, potassium iodide, and an enzyme catalyst. However, in my investigation, I will only choose two catalysts to use and I will focus on the effect of changing concentration, quantity, temperature and type of catalysts in order to investigate the rate of reaction changed under various experimental conditions. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) in an aqueous decomposes very slowly under ordinary conditions which means the reaction will happen without the catalysts being used. The reaction is dependent on the internal energy that disordered and random motion of molecules contributes. Increase temperature will increase molecular speed, on the other hand lower the temperature, lower the internal energy of a substance. However, temperature is indirectly proportional to internal energy. Temperature is a measure of the kinetic and not a reflection of the whole internal energy.

Better Place Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Better Place Company - Essay Example In essence, the objective of this company was to reduce and eventual riddance of automobile industry’s over dependence on oil. The mission of Better Place Company is to make the world a better place by 2020 through successful adoption of electrical vehicles use. The intended change will create a significant difference in the environment by reducing the amount of emissions. The automobile industry stands to gains from Better Place Company in numerous ways, which include providing flexible and readily available products for the consumers such as service plans, accessible charge spots and switching stations. Moreover, the absence of Better Place Company in the automobile industry will significantly reduce and weaken the inter connections amongst the primary players in the industry. 1.3 Stakeholders Better Place Company enjoys an intensive niche of stakeholders in the electric vehicle manufacture and marketing environment across numerous countries, which include Israel, United States, Denmark, Canada, Australia, and Japan. Some of the Better Places’ stakeholders include diverse governments, national electric utility, and venture capital and battery firms. In addition, the car manufacturers and the corporate sector forms part of the Better Place Company’s stakeholders base. 1.3.1Significance of the Stakeholders The company depends on the stakeholders to run its activities. Running financial activities of any company requires capital and from the case study, Better Place Company gets its capital from the stakeholders. For instance, in 2007, the company raised $200 million from venture capital funding and $350 million in 2010 from different governments across the globe. The amount summed up to $1.25 billion making it the second largest start-up in th e history of company venture capital funding. On equal measure, stakeholders such as utility, battery and manufacturer companies play a significant role in helping Better Place in achieving its objective of widespread of Electric Vehicle adoption. The companies link the consumers with the car companies consequently reducing the hurdle of limited mobility, which undermines the adoption of electric vehicles. This linkage influences the consumers’ mindset to adopt the electric vehicles (JOHNSON, SCHOLES, & WHITTINGTON, 2008). Moreover, the linkage creates easy platform of improving services offered to consumers due to the competition amongst the firms. The healthy interdependence between the company and the stakeholders propels the growth of the company factors such as competition from other small companies motivate Better Place to offer exemplary services to maintain its market niche. Consider the following diagram indicating the interdependence between the stakeholders and the Better Place Company. Better Place Stakeholders On the other hand, the government through its policies influenced the standards and incentives, which enhanced provision of the bulky of increased activity in both the hybrid and EVs markets. In other words, the governmental incentives to the service companies such as Better Place expanded the respective market niches, consequently market competition. This move enabled the Better Place company to achieve its objective of wide spread adoption of EVs. 2.0 Industry and scenario analyses The steam engine technology, initially developed and adopted for industrial applications was progressively tailored to personal vehicles by middle of 18th century into the automobile industry due to increased population in cities. Increased demand for

GM Food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GM Food - Essay Example estimates that over 700 million people from 79 middle and low income countries suffer from food insecurity, with the poorest countries suffering the most. Globally, about an eighth of the population suffers from chronic hunger and do not regularly get enough food to actively engage in life’s activities. Countries that have improved their food security measures have leveraged on modern technology to achieve their objectives. One such technology that has been used to improve food production is referred to as genetic modification. As defined by Freedman, genetic modification involves the scientific alteration of characteristics of organisms, encompassing both animals and plants, through removal or addition of genes (85). In crops, Shaw observes that biochemical changes would be induced through inserting or expressing alien cells leading to the difference in metabolites observed in genetically modified, GM foods and their non-GM counterparts (278). This usually aims at developing new traits considered as desirable in these organisms, including higher yield, herbicide resistance, improved nutritional qualities and pest protection among others. With the criticisms against GM foods proven to be mere fears, GM foods should be adopted globally as an effective strategy to enhance food security. Of prime importance to the world is the fact that GM foods increase food supply. Genetic modification leads to development of seeds that produce high yields. Freedman gives evidence to this noting that through genetic modification, humans have been able to increase the yield of cotton, soy and corn by a range of between 20% and 30% (86). Furthermore, a majority of GM crops are able to withstand the current harsh climatic conditions attributed to global warming. These crops have the ability to withstand salty land, dryness, diseases, insects and a wide range of herbicides. They are also able to withstand extreme temperatures (Shaw 256). Therefore, adoption of GM foods into our food

Specialty Demos Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Specialty Demos - Essay Example The patient information comes from different areas of care including laboratory investigations, diagnosis, pharmaceutical and nursing services. As a result, the data entry in an oncology EHR can be done and accessed by only the medics, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and nurses within a given setting of care. Thus, it is a hospital system that combines multiple systems from different departments making the clinical documentation complex. On the contrary, the NextGen Ambulatory EHR is designed for use in ambulatory settings (www.nextgen.com). It is an ongoing collection of patient medical records of care over an extended period for the disease management and prevention. The patient information is internal to the practice as opposed to the oncology hospital EHR where many people share information. In addition, the NextGen Ambulatory EHR is web-based, does not require accreditation to be adopted and can be accessed anywhere. Despite the differences, some aspects such as privacy and security standards are required for both the HER

Design and Technology Essay Example for Free

Design and Technology Essay ChairJames Lillis fashion designer of Black Milk online shop â€Å"A lot of people want to know how Black Milk came to be. Well, its a long story, full of twists and turns, action and adventures. There are even a few scary bits. But seeing as you asked why dont you pull up a metaphoric chair around my metaphoric fire and Ill tell you the story of Black Milk â€Å" When James was young, there was a time that he was broke, and everyone around him seemed to have a great job that they enjoyed, â€Å"I was broke, bored and rather cold. At that point most people would have got a job and a beanie, but not I†. He woke up one morning with a desire to make himself a shirt, he went out and bought a second hand sewing machine, and with only $6 left in his wallet, he bought the cheapest nylon lining that he could find. He still does not know why he had such random impulse but he is very glad he did, â€Å"It was these fateful decisions that lead me down the path to Black Milk†. Nylon lining is one of the least attractive fabrics in the market; he had to make a fitted shirt with no one to teach him how to sew this complicated fabric. â€Å"It was tragic. The stitching was wrong, the pieces were cut weird, and the neck was a nothing more than a hole. And I loved it† From that moment, things changed. He began doing odd jobs, but â€Å"at the back of my mind I was plotting and planning. If I got ten bucks it wasnt just ten bucks it was half a meter of printed fabric. Three dollars was a new packet of needles. A hundred bucks meant I could get my machine fixed. † With all his enthusiasm he worked in trial and error testing different ways of sewing bits and pieces of fabric. â€Å"You will immediately notice: 1. Both legs are too short 2. The pattern on the right leg is upside down (Hey, Im a slow starter, alright?! ) However, despite this every girl who tried them on wanted to buy them. Which was super encouraging for me. So I kept going. † After one week of teaching himself how to sew with a half working machine, he went into a dance shop and bought some shiny sparkly fabric. â€Å"The shop was full of mothers, grandmothers, and me. They looked at me like I was from another planet†. He bought a tribal African print because he had seen on the shops that these prints were in fashion, he thought about the fabric and felt an intuition that it would look best on legs. He started working immediately, drew up a  pattern, cut it out and made a pair of leggings in an impressive time for a starter. He wanted to try the leggings on a model and talked to his friend who had a friend who agreed to be a model for James to see if they fit. She put them on, and they didnt. So he cut them again, and sewed them again several times. And they still didnt fit. â€Å"I must have recut those things ten times†. And finally, they fit. It was at that point that something remarkable and completely unexpected happened, this changed everything. She asked if she could buy them. She took out her wallet, gave him some money and walked off with James leggings. â€Å"I couldnt stop smiling for the rest of the day. † It was at that point that James felt that it was not impossible. â€Å"I knew that if there was one girl prepared to buy one pair of my leggings, there were (probably) a hundred girls out there who would do the same†. He felt even more confident and he worked even harder to start his own little business â€Å"I threw myself into it with a passion. I would spend 5-6 hours a day on the sewing machine trying to figure out how to sew properly. I even attended sewing lessons at the local sewing shop (yes, I stuck out like a sore thumb). It was pretty tough in those early days. On more than one occasion I came close to throwing everything in the bin. † The next in the list was getting out and selling his designs, so he went door to door, trying to get shops to sell a few of his pieces. And after several painful no’s, one place finally agreed to display a few of James clothes in a corner of their shop. Unfortunately, a week later and they gave him every single piece back. But he was very determined and bought markets to sell his clothes in the Saturday markets. Since 5:30am every single Saturday, James stood around under the sun all day, selling his creations. He was considerably unpopular at the markets, but hundreds of girls all around the world were very interested when they found his clothes through blogging, that soon became much more famous than the tent and so James decided fatefully to make Black Milk exclusively into an online fashion label. â€Å"I talked to a few people in the industry who told me I was making a big mistake and that I would go broke within the month. I was told that online selling was only for companies with real shops. But real shops werent interested in my clothes, so I went online. As it turns out, it was a very good idea. :)† Within 3 years Black Milk have gained over 15000 fan on Facebook been so huge that the team can’t keep up with the sales and a lot of â€Å"sharkies† (Black Milk fans) are getting disappointed on the low reach of the company. James is working as fast as he can with the team to improve his production. Black milk is selling products all around the world, but James himself blogged that the top countries currently buying black milk are â€Å"So what the heck maybe well just go nuts and set up a studio in the US. You only live once. And of course, we will still have our Australian studios and they will keep expanding. 🙂 Of course, it goes without saying that our strict policy about not manufacturing in the third world is not going to change any time soon. In fact never. :)† â€Å"I dont know what this hand signal means, but if it is something along the lines of Guess what Black Milk did a deal with LucasArts and so the most awesome clothing ever created will be available Soon then it is surprisingly accurate† James is very excited that the industry grows bigger every day and very fast. â€Å"Instead of me sewing away by myself at night, we have a fantastic team who pump out thousands of garments every month. Instead of trying to get our clothes into real shops, were online and loving it. Instead of selling to a few girls at the markets, we now have a community of the most amazing girls you could hope for who are passionate about the brand. However, there are some things that havent changed. I still love making clothes. I still love hearing from girls who buy the clothes. I love seeing all the different ways girls style their Black Milk pieces, and I love working with all the Black Milk team. Game Boy Print Swimsuit This swimsuit was posted by a number of fashion blogs and websites even before it was released, Black Milk ran out of stock in less than 2 days. Surprisingly a lot of males bought this piece to give it as a present. Spartan leggings Lindsay Lohan wearing Spartan Leggings from Black Milk’s liquid collection. The Muscle leggings â€Å"This is an idea that we have been thinking about for a while. A few people encouraged me to do it but I never quite got around to it. Then I got a spare afternoon one day and decided to have a good go at making it work. It worked†¦. perhaps a little too well! Definitely our most meaty design.. † Posted in over 30 blog entries and internet articles, these leggings have been very controversial, both males and females from many countries have been purchasing them, in the other side, the comments from sharkies and teens on social networks show either that they absolutely love them or would not wear them at all. Composition: Polyester/Spandex Oscar Tusquets Blanca: architect, painter and designer Born in Barcelona-Spain in 1941. Studied at the School Llotja of Barcelona and the ETSAB. In 1964 he founded the PER Studio with Lluis Clotet, in which worked regularly until 1984. In 1987 Blanca associated with the architect John Smith and carried out projects in countries like Japan and Germany. In 1980 participated in the enlargement of the Barcelona School of Medicine and two years later in the remodelling of the â€Å"Palau de le Musica catalana† in Barcelona (which will be explained latter on). He also participated in various urban projects such as remodelling of the Convent dels Angels area or the construction of the Olympic Village, two projects in the Catalan capital. He has been awarded several times with the gold prize FAD Delta and in 1987 received the Creu de Sant Jordi. His Italian tradition merely lies in his close cooperation with the manufacturers of products and with his close rtelationship with the technicians. At this time it was very rare for a Spanish or Italian designer to produce working drawings from their designs. Concept sketches serve only to convince the designer himself and his assistants within the studio that a design proposal is possible and to develop the main idea; but Blanca prefers to strike up face to face discussions with those responsible for manufacture and designs may be modified many times before the shape and form of the product is finalized. Blanca believes that there are two types of technicians, â€Å"those who only see difficulties and the usually older craft-men who say ‘this may seem impossible but if I make it this way perharts it is possible’ if a designer does not propose silly things the technician will respect him, it is not possible to improvise design†. His success consists in insistent supervision, not only because he prefers to build a comfortable environment for everybody but because he believes that â€Å"if the design is a failure it is completely my fault†. He worked for several companies a lot of them owned by personal friends, he was highly attached to the technicians â€Å"they are clever and full of suggestions rather than coercive†. But he also had his up and downs, such as the disagreement with the furniture manufacturer â€Å"knoll international† which Blanca believed was overdoing the suggestion that he submit three separate design solutions for a chair. Blanca found the task â€Å"impossible to come up with† because he was a strongly innovative man and in Spain at the time, the market was cost effective and manufacturers believed cheaper to copy Italian and Swedish designs, finding a cheaper solution than that, required a bit more than cleverness including the fact that the manufacturing had to be as cheap as possible and he found the deal with the rest of the workers very hard to accept because it went against his principles. Finding one solution only was hard enough. However soon enough, Spain entered the European Community and the industry around Barcelona and Valencia begun to change as imports tariffs had dropped. It was no longer cost effective, the Italian and Swedish designs were put aside because Spanish consumers could now afford the products of competitive wares which started looking for designers. Blanca had a lot of enthusiasm in trying new inventions which he would not have had the courage to try with Italian producers. The range begun in 1984 and comprises seven different chairs. The lattest was designed for the refurbishment of Domenech I Montaners 1903 previously mentioned â€Å"Palau de le Musica Catalana† in Barcelona. It is described as an auditorium chair and much study has been applied to the acoustical problems â€Å"a good chair for a cinema is a bad chair for a conference hall† This was the final solution, designed for auditoriums. It was first used when renovating the Palau de la Musica Catalana, in Barcelona. However this design was so successful, that if a designer saw it, would think it had been evolving and being perfectioned for years rather than the truth, a lucky clever design. Underneath each seat users find a Helmholtz resonator, which, absorbs the same amount of sound as a human body when the seat is upright. The result is little difference of reverberation no matter how many people were in the hall. This design is said to be successful because is now being used in more than 50 public halls in Spain, including the Senate. This chair was only one of the innovative solutions that Blanca introduced to the â€Å"Palau de le Musica Catalana† that he spent six years enlarging, restoring and air conditioning. The In the first phase, which took several years to achieve, Blanca among with his co-workers, repaired the very damaged parts of the old building and equipped it with sanitary facilities, accessibility, safety and comfort features. These were of course unimaginable a hundred years earlier, but his team made it possible. Palau de le Musica Catalana. Sketches in the process of refurbishment of Domenech I Montaners â€Å"Palau de le Musica Catalana† However the most noteworthy part of the project was to take advantage of the adjacent unfinished church part of the site, to open up the central hidden area properly and more efficiently, even though, remarkably, Domenech had bestowed on it a richness of treatment to be compared with that of the facades, thus opening up a new entrance to the Palau. In the extension adjacent to the stage, Blanca provided services for the performers: rehearsal room, dressing rooms, library, etc In 1979, Alessandro Mendini invited eleven architects from all over the world to design a tea and coffee set: Michael Graves, Hans Hollein, Charles Jencks, Richard Meier, Paolo Portoghesi, Aldo Rossi, Stanley Tigerman, Oscar Tusquets, Robert Venturi, Kazumasa Yamashita and Mendini himself. The overall set is an exercise in micro-architecture, reflecting the various architectural styles of the day. The outcome was presented as Tea ; Coffee Piazza and 99 sets were made in silver, bearing the monogram of each designer. According to Alessandro Mendini in the â€Å"Domus† magazine, Blanca became well known because of the design of the tea set. This product is everything but aimed at all formalistic or decorative it is in fact a detailed study of the history of the teapot, how the applied arts combine with aerodynamics to manage to resolve the problem of containing and pouring hot liquid. He soon saw that the spout, which should emerge from the lower part of the pot where the liquid is denser and less hot, had been gradually shortened and displaced towards the upper part of the vessel. This was because of the difficulty of making a separate piece and then soldering it to the base. As a result, many present-day teapots only have the slightest of notches in their upper rim for the liquid to be poured out through and this leads to problems with sloppy pouring and inevitable dripping. Another problem area is the handle, there being three traditional types: the top handle Japanese, the lateral handle which OTB preferred for its balance and accuracy, and, the least common the outjutting horizontal handle. OTB discovered that the handle had also been subjected to a gradual process of simplification, leading to unacceptable levels of discomfort: overheating, imbalance, insufficient surface grip area, and so on. Models of the teapot, His studio used balsa and papier Mache for model making. For the Alessi tea set he had a wooden model made professionally because of his distance from Italy. This product is everything but aimed at all formalistic or decorative it is in fact a detailed study of the history of the teapot, how the applied arts combine with aerodynamics to manage to resolve the problem of containing and pouring hot liquid. He soon saw that the spout, which should emerge from the lower part of the pot where the liquid is denser and less hot, had been gradually shortened and displaced towards the upper part of the vessel. This was because of the difficulty of making a separate piece and then soldering it to the base. As a result, many present-day teapots only have the slightest of notches in their upper rim for the liquid to be poured out through and this leads to problems with sloppy pouring and inevitable dripping. Another problem area is the handle, there being three traditional types: the top handle Japanese, the lateral handle which OTB preferred for its balance and accuracy, and, the least common the outjutting horizontal handle.

Screening of Non Target Compounds in Wastewater Samples

Screening of Non Target Compounds in Wastewater Samples Report Since October 2012, I have worked in a special project about Elimination of pharmaceuticals and organic compounds: Development of concepts and novel, cheap cleaning procedures – Formation of metabolites by ozonoation. It was a kind of training for me and a special key for my PhD work. We are interested in screening of non target compounds in wastewater samples. Wastewater samples are collected from different wastewater treatment plants at different treatment points. For example: before ozonation, after ozonation and after biological treatment steps. These compounds are extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE) method using certain solid material (OASIS HLB). This kind of SPE is suitable to extract hydrophilic and lipophilic analytes. We did several steps to extract those compounds using different procedures and different analyzing tools. We used HPLC-UV, LC-MS and GC-MS to analyze the extracted compounds. The toxicological tests are achieved for each sample in order to discove r the efficiency of wastewater treatment and the effect of treatment to obtain new unknown transformation products. In this project, I learned so many things like: How to validate and develop a method to extract polar and non polar compounds from wastewater matrixes using certain SPE steps. How to choose the best solid phase materials to extract a wide range polarity of chemical compounds in wastewater matrixes. Getting the principles for handling of different analytical instruments to validate specific methods and to analyze the extracted compounds. Taking enough time to review the statistical principles which are necessary to find the optimum ways for treatment. Achieving the possibilities to analyze the output data and comparing different procedures to find out the best one for analysis. Combining chemistry with biology in order to evaluate the toxicological estimates and to know the best wastewater treatment step. Now, I am working on developing a method to extract the following six compounds from water matrix: Catechol, trans,trans-Muconic acid, p-Benzoquinone, 1H-Benzotriazole, p-Nitrophenol and 2,6-Dichloraniline. Catechol, trans,trans-Muconic acid and p-Benzoquinone are transformation products generated after treatment of the parent compound (Bisphenol A) with ozone in aqueous solution (water). Bisphenol A (BPA) belongs to the numerous anthropogenic compounds considered as endocrine disruptors. Although less estrogenic toward aquatic organisms than natural hormones, BPA has been reported to be able to induce feminization phenomena in various species of animals. BPA is commonly used for the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is also used as stabilizer or antioxidant for many types of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). BPA is detected with a high frequency in surface waters. 1H-Benzotriazole has been found in wastewater and the subsequently impacted surface water. This compound is employed to prevent metal corrosion and as UV-inhibitors, and found to use in applications such as airplane deicing fluids, dishwashing detergents, and plastic formulations. p-Nitrophenol is degradation product generated throughout the ozonation process of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole. Sulfamethoxazole in combination with trimethoprim is used to treat a wide range of human diseases, such as urinary and respiratory tract infections. There are many publications that have reported about the presence of this antibiotic drug in sewage treatment plants, hospital effluents and rivers. Besides, this compound might be expected to be present in groundwater, because the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole is also applied to animals as growth promoter. 2,6-Dichloraniline is a metabolite produced after ozonational step of the drug diclofenac in aqueous solution. Diclofenac is one of the most commonly used pain killers. It is used to treat painful conditions such as arthritis, sprains and strains, gout, migraine, dental pain, and pain after surgical operations. There are many articles that have reported about the presence of this drug in sewage treatment plants. First step, I prepared different standard solutions for each compound, then validated and developed a method to analyze these compounds by using HPLC-UV instrument. A mixture of methanol and water (pH=2) are used at certain progress time and different ratios to obtain the best LC chromatogram with good separation and resolution for each compound in the mixture. The maximum wavelength (ÃŽ ») for each compound is known by using UV-spectrophotometer. Table (1) summarizes the information obtained after analyzing my target compounds by HPLC-UV. Table 1 Substance Retention time tR (min) ÃŽ » (nm) Catechol (1) 26.35 278 t,t-Muconic acid (2) 28.43 278 p-Benzoquinone (3) 30.46 278 1H-Benzotriazole (4) 34.42 278 p-Nitrophenol (5) 39.89 228 2,6-Dichloraniline (6) 48.04 228 Figure (1) shows the HPLC-UV chromatogram (relative response in mV vs. tR) for a mixture of six compounds in one prepared stock solution. 5 6 Figure 1 2 4 1 3 In order to develop a method to analyze the target compounds; the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) should be calculated in order to know the sensitivity of HPLC-UV instrument towards each compound. The LOD value for each compound was calculated from a chromatogram on the basis of signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3. The LOQ value for each compound was calculated from a chromatogram on the basis of signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 10. Table (2) shows the values of LOD and LOQ for each compound. Table 2 Substance LOD (ng/L) LOQ (ng/L) Catechol (1) 8.8 29.3 t,t-Muconic acid (2) 1.2 4.0 p-Benzoquinone (3) 6.3 21.0 1H-Benzotriazole (4) 8.5 28.3 p-Nitrophenol (5) 27.4 91.3 2,6-Dichloraniline (6) 18.0 60.0 For linearity and statistical evaluation, I prepared mixture solutions of six compounds at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, 0.4, 0.55, 0.7, 0.85 and 1.0 mg/L. Table (3) shows the statistical data for the prepared stock solution of 0.7 mg/L. Table 3 Substance % Relative response Correlation coefficient (r) Catechol (1) 100 0.999 t,t-Muconic acid (2) 101 0.999 p-Benzoquinone (3) 106 0.999 1H-Benzotriazole (4) 100 0.999 p-Nitrophenol (5) 100 0.999 2,6-Dichloraniline (6) 104 0.999 The linearity at my working range is shown as follows: Now I am working in developing a preparation method to extract these compounds from water matrix by using different solid phase materials. Up to now, I tried two types of solid phase cartridges: OASIS HLB and SPEED DISK cartridges. It’s noticed that OASIS HLB gave higher recovery than SPEED DISK. In order to find out the best solid phase material, I will try many types of SPE. After finishing this step, I will develop a method to extract and analyze about 30 chosen chemical compounds which are produced after the ozonation process of pharmaceutical and parent compounds in water matrix. These compounds will be: Diclofenac, 2,6-Dichloroaniline, Metoprolol, Sulfamethoxazole, 4-nitrophenol, Bisphenol A, Catechol, trans,trans-Muconic acid, cis,cis-Muconic acid, p-Benzoquinone, Ciprofloxacin, Paracetamol, 1,2,4-Benzenetriol, Oxalic acid, Succinic acid, Malic acid, Malonic acid, Oxaloacetic acid, Hydroquinone, Maleic acid, EDTA, Glyoxylic acid, Formaldehyde, Carbamazepine, Glyoxylic acid, Oxamic acid and 1H-Benzotriazole.

College Admissions Essay: I Seek the Grail :: College Admissions Essays

I Seek the Grail " You travel and see what the camera saw. The wonder of the human mind, heart, wit, and instinct... You might catch yourself saying, 'I'm not a stranger here.'" John Mahtesian John Mahtesian's photography offers a visual poetry of the human condition. It is a direct expression of his warmth, depth of spirit, and humanity. A true gentleman, extremely humble and unfailingly polite, he achieves an invisibility that is the success of his art. His patience and commitment to his vision allow him to capture moments others could not. If his subjects are aware of his presence, his gentle nature so enchants them that they are unguarded and their essence is revealed. So compelling are his images that we are truly convinced his insights are our own. They make us rejoice in the world around us, and in the nature of human existence. Mahtesian's compassionate understanding of the human condition began early as the youngest child of Armenian immigrants who settled in Chicago's south side. Born in 1915, John's life was filled with all things Armenian. His parents spoke little English and their attachment to Armenia - the newspaper they read and the stories they told - spurred in him longings to see their beloved homeland and to venture beyond his Chicago neighborhood. Ever attentive to the caring of his parents, John's desire to experience and capture the wonders of other peoples and places unfolded slowly and gently. It wasn't until 1974 that fate opened the door for him to go to Armenia - a trip he had been preparing for his entire life. The events leading to this lifelong aspiration are a testament to his hard work, loyalty, and a belief in steadily pursuing his dreams. That first trip to his ancestral homeland began a personal photographic project that included nine visits over a period of fifteen years. The many images he captured of markets, churches, artists, and people attending to their daily lives, gave reality to the stories he heard from his parents and fulfilled an unspoken commitment to his family legacy. As most people who have lived a long while, John Mahtesian can look with amazement on the events of his life and the twists and turns that have shaped his journey. Although he began his commitment to learning and creating art in his early twenties, he didn't start taking photographs in a serious way until the age of 40.

Physics :: essays research papers

Electricity has three features that include current, voltage and resistance. Current is the flow of electrons round a circuit that is measured by the ammeter in amps (A). Whilst the voltage, refer to as potential difference, is the driving force that circulates the current around the circuit that acts like an electrical pressure. The unit of measurement for this is Volts (V), which is measured by a voltmeter. Resistance is a force that slows down the current; consequently it slows down the flow of current. This is measured in Ohms (W). Between the voltage and resistance there is equilibrium, where the voltage impels the current, whereas the resistance is opposing this electrical pressure. The relative sizes of the voltage and resistance decide how big the current will be. Increasing the voltage allows more current to flow, whilst increasing the resistance would decrease the amount of current flowing round the circuit. Discovered by George Ohm in 1826, the current is in direct relative amounts to the potential difference. If the temperature is kept constant as well as other conditions, Ohms law is obeyed. The graph on the side illustrates the current through a resistor is proportional to the voltage. V=IR gives the formula for Ohms law. In order for current to flow it requires electrons to carry the electric current. The electrons are the negative charge that can freely move about. Within metals there are a sea of electrons that can carry the electric current, which is reason why they conduct so well and are used for many purposes, such as wires. Factors During the investigation there will be many factors that will affect the resistance in a wire. These factors include:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Length of wire – If the wire length increases, the distance for the electrons to pass through would take a longer period of time since the electrons collide more with atoms of the wire. As a result there is an increase in resistance as the number of collisions cause the electrons to flow slowly, which justifies the term for resistance. Conversely if the length of the wire is shortened, the time taken for electrons to travel is reduced given that there are not as many electrons colliding with atoms. As results there are a small number of collisions, hence reduces the resistance.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thickness of wire - A wider breadth of the wire causes atoms within the wire to expand a small distance between each other.

Integrating Technology Into the Classroom Essay -- Educational Technol

Part 1: Identifying a Technology for Classroom Use This week's task is to identify a technology for classroom use that will improve students learning, make curriculum more meaningful and provide opportunities for my students to actively engage with technology in a meaningful way. My classroom has a Smart Board that was installed in the spring of 2011. It is wonderful for displaying information, taking notes, showing videos and photos that relate to the curriculum. However, students have a more limited interaction with it as a direct learning tool. I would have to admit that it is more a teacher centered tool than it is a student centered use of technology. After researching the Smart Board's available resources and tools, I found the technology that I would like to incorporate in my classroom. SMART Responseâ„ ¢ interactive response system PE. The SMART Responseâ„ ¢ interactive response system PE allows students to actively participate in activities as individuals and as a part of a group. Students have the ability to answer questions, challenges or play games that allow them to see the info displayed on the Smart Board. Students then answer using their individual controller. Answers can vary from multiple choice style (press the correct letter) to a short response in which students "text" their answer. Their choice is recorded by the Smart Board and can be used by both teacher and instructor for a variety of purposes. The information on the system can be found on the company website through the following link: http://www.smartboard.ie/product-smart-response-PE.php?PHPSESSID=e24b6ef32bf1a39fe6b5b102762128dc The use of the SMART Responseâ„ ¢ interactive response system PE will serve to increase student interaction with ... ...uote of $1765 for each set of the 32 Pack SMART Response with text and wireless receiver. This amounts to just over $55 per student wireless remote. For perspective These clickers cost almost half of the TI graphing calculators that we use for many of our math courses. COTG also provides free unlimited training and professional development for teachers in the district to learn how to use this technology and create activities to align the technology with the curriculum. Works Cited Caine, T. (1998), Getting the most out of technology in the classroom. The Exceptional Parent, 28(11), 44-46. De Lay, A.,M. (2010). Technology as a differentiated instruction tool. The Agricultural Education Magazine, 83(3), 15-17. Knobloch, N. A. (2005). Reap the benefits of games and simulations in the classroom. The Agricultural Education Magazine, 78(2), 21-23.

Human resources Essay

Sales and profits Human resources can improve sales and profit within the business. This is because the HR department itself are in control in terms of Hiring (including recruiting candidates, the interview process, negotiations, and signing contracts. ) So technically speaking if the HR department hired a sales man that was not up to satisfaction and was lacking sales. Then this may have been down to HR department not being thorough enough at the interview or their person specification. I believe the business should overlook the HR department and see what may need tweaking. I believe doing this would potentially help the measurement of sales and profit within the business. Because hiring a well-earned applicant for the job would be there will be more sales/profit. There are many technical resources that may help aid sales and profits to increase within a business. One technical resource that could potentially increase sales and profits is the use of software for a development of a website. Nowadays the majority of the population has some type of computer. Having a website for your business can be very effective, businesses may use a website to either sell their products/items or they might just use it for promotion and advertisement purposes. One may be effective more the other depending on the type of business. Although at the end of the day both ways in which you use a website for your business is effective. As it will promote it to a wide range of audiences that have access to the web, this then would result in sales and profits potentially increasing. Physical resources may be necessary if the business may need publicity for it to operate. For example, having a branch. More customers are more likely to join a ‘firm’ if you have a branch and by this time the finance could potentially increase gradually, therefore improving sales & profits. Financial resources can help monitor the finance within the business. A business needs to insure that they have enough money so that they are able to order stock/products e. c. t. They also have to insure that they are monitoring the money effectively so that they have money for bills, wages and other expenses. I believe using financial resources can help aid a business’s profit and sales just by monitoring effectively. Customer base The HR department are in control of the Promotions and raises within the business. If for example a group of customers come on a regular basis to buy various products for a specific price. Then if one day HR decides to raise the cost of product doing this could potentially damage the customer base. This is why it is important for the HR department to ensure that they have regular promotions within the business they should also only raise the product items if it is completely necessary, otherwise it could affect suppliers or other customers that are In businesses ‘customer base. ’ Carrying this entire out could defiantly aid the customer base. Having technical resources available means that the business is able to keep a customer base. This can be done by customers be able to use a website for latest information or they can get updated emails e. c. t. I believe ensuring a business has an email system and website is important as it can maintain a customer base for people that are interested. A business should use physical resources to set up a customer base. There are many physical ways in which you can set up a customer base or help get one together. As a business you should always be on the hunt for new customers and seeking methods to bring them to your door. If you are not consistently looking for opportunities-s to build your customer base, your business could fall off of the growth track. One really popular way to start up a new customer base is it to use Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn. It all depends on whom you are targeting for business. Managing financial resources is about getting the most from the resources you have available. It involves implementing resource management procedures and it also controls and can include managing costs and maximising opportunities. A customer base can be managed and improved by using a bank loan or some type of finance resource. Using this investment business should use it to promote/advertisement their company, doing this could potentially help create or increase a customer base. Employee satisfaction and staff turnover HR department could potentially help aid the employee satisfaction within a business. This is because HR are in control off the employee, HR have the power to dismiss an employee they also have the power to promote an employee. The HR should ensure that all the employees are comfortable in their job they should do this by using questionnaires at the end of the month for employees to fill in, I believe doing this could potentially increase the employee satisfaction that they have on the business. HR should include special days once a month and include a paid meal for all employees; this could potentially raise employee satisfaction. Staff turnover is controlled by the HR department and Therefore they are in control in terms of employing new employee’s e. c. t. Although HR should be well aware and only employ employees that meet the full requirements for the job. Technical resources can make the work place more appealing and may satisfy employees. For example having computers in an office for employees to work on will satisfy them. Although if for example the work place did not have computers, employees may feel unsatisfied and they may feel uncomfortable this then may result in employees quitting their job. That is why it important for every work place to ensure that they have technical resources within the work place if necessary. Ensuring that the work place has computers and other technical resources may positively affect the staff turnover within the business. It may result in receiving a good reputation in terms of having good equipment and resources within the work place. Employee Job Satisfaction surveys allows an organization to understand their employees. Employees often act on the basis of their environment, the behaviour of their colleagues, and management policies. Employee satisfaction and retention surveys can give management the knowledge and tools that directly impact the bottom line and business outcomes and doing this could potentially build positive employee relations and a positive work environment. This could later down the line increase staff turnover as employees by feel comfortable and like their job more this therefore will potentially increase staff turnover. Finance within a business can increase employee satisfaction. For example if the work place is poor businesses should use financial resources to sort it out, if left poor employees may feel ‘unsatisfied. ’ This also could result in staff turnover to decline. Customer satisfaction The HR department are responsible for hiring employees with respect. The HR department should ensure that before hiring an applicant that they show good customer communication and they should also have a good experience with customers. Also ensuring that the applicants have these qualities is important especially as a sales man. Having attitudes towards customers would defiantly affect the businesses customer satisfaction in a whole. Tasks in hand cannot be completed without these vital technical Resources. For instance; if computers or any other technical resource is damaged or not working for a particular reason then, this may effect customer satisfaction. With physical resources there would be no customer satisfaction. Physical resources are known to be the resources made by man through his abilities and skill. The technology, buildings, and many more products. Therefore if the building layout is poor this could result in customers not being satisfied. Finance resources can be used to aid customer satisfaction. A small group of member can be funded by finance resources to carry out customer surveys this can be used to help manage customer satisfaction within the business. Customer satisfaction is down to the service and the quality of the service. This can be managed and potentially increased by using financial resources to improve the quality and the service. Levels of efficiency Human resources departments play a critical role in contributing to the Overall productivity and efficiency of an organization. As HR helps to build a stronger workforce through better recruiting, training and retention, the Workforce helps drive the efficiency of the business as a whole. Levels of efficiency can be improve and measured. This can be measured by using technical resources. For example using a piece of software such as ‘excel’, this type of technical resource can help businesses record figures e. c. t. Also using this piece of software could potentially improve the levels of efficiency within the business. Levels of efficiency can be measured using technology (physical resources. ) Businesses can measure the efficiency using computers. Measuring the levels of efficiency is important as business are able to see an overall view of the businesses performance/efficiency Finance resources can help increase the levels of efficiency. There are a number of ways in which this can be increased. The business should see where which area is falling and they should invest money into this to resolve the problem. 2 June 2013 From: UkAdvisers Subject: Measures of performance and resources Introduction Definitions: Performance measurements: A sale is something that is sold for generally money. Although profit on the other hand, is money that is made through services it also excluding all expenses. A customer base is group of customers that come on regular basis and is serve by the business or service. Employee satisfaction is important is any business without it a business will lack employees working. What is does it mean? Employee satisfaction is how an employee feels in terms of their workplace/job role. Staff turnover is the amount of staff joining and leaving the business. Customer satisfaction is similar too previous performance measurement, although customer satisfaction in a whole is how a customer feels about the business overall. The definition behind the levels of efficiency within a business is in other word the overall performance of the business, for example efficiency within a workplace is the time it takes to do something. Efficient employees and managers complete tasks in the least amount of time possible with the least amount of resources possible by utilizing certain time saving strategies/methods. Resources: Physical resources are known to be the resources that are made by man through his skill. The technology, buildings, and many other products that are made by man are just some examples of physical resources. Financial resources concern the ability of the business to finance its chosen strategy. An example of this is a strategy that requires investment in is things such as new products; distribution channels and working capital these will all place great strain on the business finances. Human resources (HR) is a department within the company that is responsible with finding, screening, recruiting and training job applicants, as well as employee programs. Technological resources are such things as software, designs, music or text. Findings: I believe for ‘sales and profit’ the important resource for this is technical resources, the reason I have chosen this as the most important resource for this performance measurement is because within this resource businesses will fail to get the business on-line they will also will be unable to measure the sales and profit within the business this potentially could then damage the business. I have chosen finance resource as the least important resource for sales and profit, the reason I done this is because although finance could potentially help a business it can also damage a business in terms of paying back interest, businesses may out take various loans or other types of finance and then struggle paying it back due to the large amount of interest (%) attached. A customer base is important in a business and in my personal opinion I believe that again ‘technical resources’ are the most vital compared to the others. This is because nowadays a large percentage of the population have internet and visit social websites such as; Twitter and Facebook. If a business had the right technical resources available then depending on the business having Facebook for example and starting up a Facebook fan page or customer page could potentially increase a customer base or it could maintain a longer existing customer base. The least important resource that would slightly affect a customer base is using finance resources. I believe that using finance wouldn’t maintain a customer base or increase a customer base unless used for promotion etc. Employee satisfaction is important if businesses want employees to stay working. This is why I believe physical resources are the most important resource. The reason I believe this is because handing out questionnaires to employees for feedback and improvement’s will reassure customers and make them feel more comfortable it will also give an opportunity to employees to get their point across about something they may not like within the business. The least effective resource for this is technical resources, having few technical resources may not mean that employees will be unsatisfied, also the business may not necessarily need technical resources for its purpose. Human resources (HR) in my opinion is the most important resource for satisfying customers, this is because HR are responsible for hiring well-respective and well suited people for the job. Without this customers may feel unsatisfied with their service or their talk with an employee. I also believe that ‘finance resources’ are the least important; this is because you can’t realistically fund customer satisfaction. Levels of efficiency again HR are responsible for who is hired and therefore if HR are not thorough enough with their recruitment process it may result in the company receiving an employee that is not suited enough for the job role this then would mean that the levels of efficiency within the business may decline. Conclusion: In conclusion, In my opinion I believe that human resources is the most important resource within a business and the most effective this is because HR are in charge of employee and their motivation and it also improves organizational productivity, if employees are well remunerated, with good salaries, wages, bonuses, and other fringed benefits such as housing allowance and medical allowances. This type of attitude motivation drives an employee to work as if it where his company, and thus in the long run the business will start too increase productivity. I believe that having a good motivation for something helps a person succeed. Evaluate the adequacy of accounting ratios as a means of monitoring the state of the business. (UNIT 2 D2) This is an informal report and the structure of the main section is as follows: (a) Introduce the accounting ratios. Which main areas do they measure? (Profitability, efficiency, liquidity). Why are these important? (b) How are these used to monitor the state of the business? (compare to last year, to plan, to similar businesses, to industry average) What problems might there be in using the ratios in these circumstances? (c) What can’t be measured with ratios that would be considered as relevant to measuring the state of the business? (e. g. environmentally friendly, staff motivation). Explain some examples. How important are these things when measuring the state of the business? Conclusion Given all of the above, how useful are accounting ratios to help you measure the state of a business?

The hormone’s amino acid

Insulin, an endocrine hormone, is one of the most well-studied proteins synthesized by the human body. Its relatively simple structure and short amino acid sequence have made it a useful model for many protein studies. It is synthesized in beta cells of the pancreas through posttranslational cleavage of proinsulin, and released upon stimulation by elevated levels of glucose in the blood. Insulin plays an important role in regulating several anabolic processes, and is most well-known for lowering the level of blood sugar by promoting the uptake and storage of glucose by the liver.Deficiency of, or resistance to insulin, results in either of the two forms of diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder whose occurrence has increased among humans, especially in the United States; yet to this day, there is no definite cure for either form of the disease. Type II diabetes in particular must be treated with combinations of several different approaches, including dietary management, weig ht loss programs, and oral or antidiabetic drugs, or possibly surgical procedures such as gastric bypass.This proposal discusses the potential of taurine (2-amino ethanesulfonic acid), which had previously been tested in studies on rats and mice, to raise levels of insulin sensitivity in human subjects with insulin resistance, and raises the possibility that taurine could be used in a supplemental form for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type II patients. Introduction The endocrine hormone insulin was the first protein whose amino acid sequence was completed. For his work on deciphering its structure, Fred Sanger won the 1958 Noble Prize.Its discovery is considered a landmark, proving that proteins have a unique and defined sequence of amino acids, which has since been termed the primary structure. Since then, insulin has been used as a model for many subsequent studies regarding the structure and properties of various proteins. It is the human body’s major anabolic hormon e, promoting reactions that lead to the uptake of glucose and its conversion into storage forms such as glycogen and triglycerides, while simultaneously inhibiting their breakdown for use as fuel. It also promotes the uptake of amino acids and the synthesis of proteins, promoting growth.Insulin was also the first protein to be synthesized using recombinant DNA in bacteria, and this technique has made possible the large scale production of supplemental insulin for use in one of the most serious metabolic diseases prevalent among humans, diabetes mellitus. The rising incidence of this disease, particularly in the United States, has drawn further interest into researching the intricacies of insulin and its role in regulating numerous anabolic body functions, as well as the various ways in which insulin’s functions can be regulated.Type II diabetes, the most common form of the disease, has no cure, and research is proceeding to look into several ways to increase sensitivity to in sulin in insulin-resistant individuals suffering from this form of diabetes. In particular, taurine, a derivative of the amino acid cysteine, has shown a promising ability to potentially lower obesity and insulin resistance in rats and mice, although so far there have been few test studies on humans. Compared to other, more complex proteins, insulin is relatively small.It has a compact and monomeric structure (although it is capable of forming dimers or hexamers under certain conditions), with a molecular weight of roughly 6 kDa. The structure of active insulin is made up of two linked chains, labeled A and B, connected by two disulfide bonds, with a third disulfide bond linking the A chain back onto itself. This is a structure typical of the insulin family or group of proteins, which includes other peptide hormones such as relaxin, mammalian Leydig cell-specific insulin-like peptide, early placenta insulin-like peptide, and insulin-like growth factors I and II in humans.Evolutionar ily related hormones belonging to this family have also been found in some insects and molluscs, and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The hormone’s amino acid sequence (specifically, the sequence of the A and B chains) is conserved to such a degree that in most mammals, insulin extracted from another species remains biologically active. For instance, insulin from pigs and even bacteria, has been used to treat human patients suffering from diabetes mellitus.

Concept Analysis

Concept Analysis Stephanie Hobbs NR 501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Instructor: Dr. Patricia Fedorka September 30, 2012 Introduction According to McEwen & Wills (2011), concept analysis is an approach to clarify and define terms so that writers and readers have a common language. The process of a concept analysis is to: 1. Select a concept 2. Determine the aims or purposes of analysis 3. Identify all the uses of the concept possible 4. Determine the defining attributes 5. Indentify model case 6. Identify borderline, related, contrary, invented and illegitimate cases 7.Identify antecedents and consequences 8. Define empirical referents The concept health is referred to as the ability to function independently; adapt to life's stressors; achievement of one's full potential and unity of mind, body and soul. Jean Watson identified health as one of many concepts used to understand the theory or science of human caring (McEwen & Wills, 2011). Purpose of the Analysis The purpose of this analysis is to clarify and define the term health. Clarification of this concept is essential to the function of caregivers.Everyone responsible for providing care should be knowledgeable of what health is. Many believe they know what health is but after a closer look, it is revealed that at best, it is fleeting and partially understood. Also, it is necessary for medical personnel to understand the difference between health, care and nursing (Lee & Ross, 2008). Uses of the Health Concept According to Walker & Avant (2011), dictionaries, colleagues, thesauruses, and scholarly literature should be used to identify the uses of the concept. A search for the literature on health was done by using Medline, CINAHL and Google Scholar.An online dictionary and thesaurus was also used. Dictionary Definition The English version of this word has many meanings. Webster defines health as the condition of being sound in mind, body, or spirit; especially: freedom of physical disease or pain . Other definitions by Webster are the general condition of the body, a flourishing condition, and a general condition or state (Merriam-webster. com). Defining Attributes Attributes as described by Walker & Avant (2011) are characteristics or descriptors. These attributes will help distinguish health from nursing and care. A state of complete physical, mental and social well being * A dynamic state of functioning within the limitations of the person (Artinian, 1991) * Unity and harmony within the mind, body and soul (Watson, 1999) * The expanding of consciousness; an evolving pattern of the whole of life (Newman, 1999) Model Cases 1. A 17 year old has given birth to twins and been referred to the Following Baby Back Home Program. On the initial visit, the nurse finds the mother is withdrawn and displaying signs of depression. She knows very little about the babies behaviors and is not very concerned about what the nurse or social worker is saying.Upon further assessment, the mother reveals that she and the father are no longer together. The nurse also finds out later that mom was severely anemic at discharge and experiencing excruciating headaches. On the next visit, the nurse convinces mom to schedule her follow up appointment and she explains how anemia affects her and her ability to care for the babies. Although the client denied feeling depressed, the nurse discussed signs of post partum depression and got the client to sign a contract saying she would call for help if she felt like urting herself or the babies. After returning to the office, the nurse called the physician’s office to make him aware of her involvement with the client and her assessment. The nurse also refers the client to a program called ACCESS. This program provides parenting classes as well as counseling for teen parents and emergency help with diapers and formula. After visiting the client for a few months there is a noticeable difference in the way she interacts with the babie s as well as her overall appearance and energy level.The client is also attentive and interested in what the home visitors are talking about. The client states that she is taking medication for the anemia and on birth control. She is getting counseling and taking a parenting class through the ACCESS program. She also says she enjoys the program because she interacts with other teenager going through the same thing she is. This model reflects health because it contains many of the defining concepts. Any of the concepts missing could cause the client to not be in good health.It also demonstrates why the nurse must have good assessment skills and address as many areas as possible that affect the client’s health. 2. An elderly lady diagnosed with Hypertension and Type II Diabetes presents to a Community Health Center for a follow up appointment. During triage, the client’s blood sugar is 357mg/dl and her blood pressure is 180/206. After speaking with the nurse, it is revea led that the client has been evicted from her home, has little to no food to get her through the month and did not purchase her medication due to a lack of money.The nurse shares this information with the physician and the social worker. After the physician gets the blood sugar and blood pressure under control, the social worker enrolls the client into some med assistant programs and calls the nearest women’s shelter to secure her a bed. The nurse gives her enough samples to last until her meds come in. The client states she will follow the regimen prescribed by her physician. This model clearly demonstrates how social issues affect overall health. After the clients social needs were met, she was able to focus on taking care of her physical health.This model also reflects many of the defining concepts. Borderline Case A borderline case gives another example of the concept’s use, but some of the defining attributes are excluded. Borderline cases give readers an idea of what the concept is not (Speros, 2005). A 55 year old male attorney presents to PCP complaining of chest pain, fever and shortness of breath for 3 days. He is told that he has to be hospitalized for a cardiac workout because a myocardial infarction is suspected. He is also told that he will have to have a cardiac catheterization.The patient reads the consent and refuses to sign it because he does not understand the medical jargon. He leaves against medical advice but is told to take 2 propranolol 80mg and see his physician in 2 weeks. He takes 2 pills once a day and does not return to see his doctor. Contrary Case The following case is contrary to health because it does not reflect the defining concepts. A 26 year old mother from a very small rural community brings her 6 year old to clinic wheezing and short of breath. The mother smokes about 30 cigarettes a day, is very soft spoken, has a limited vocabulary and reads on a fifth grade level.Mom also has problems spelling words corre ctly, prints when writing and reverses some of the letters. The child is diagnosed with Asthma and sent home with a nebulizer with albuterol and saline, a peak flow meter, steroid inhalers with spacers, and oral medication. Before leaving mom is asked if she understands how to give the child her medication? Mom states she understands and is then told to stop smoking around the child and return to the clinic in 1 week. Mom verbalizes understanding and leaves. Three days later mom presents to the Emergency room with child in respiratory distress and smelling of smoke.She states she did not use the nebulizer because she could not â€Å"work it†, she gave the both medication twice a day as opposed to each medication daily and she did not have peak flow readings because she thought it look more like a toy. The child smelled strongly of smoke (Speros, 2005). This case clearly shows two people in poor health. It obviously is contrary to the defining attributes of health. Antecedents and Consequences Walker and Avant (1995) describe antecedents as events or incidents that must precede the occurrence of the concept. For some time there was very little theoretical clarity of health for nursing science.In 1946 The World Health Organization attempted to define health and has since changed or added to the definition a couple of times. Walker and Avant (2005) also described consequences as events or incidents that occur as a result of the concept. Defining or clarifying the health concept has been important and useful to the theoretical basis of nursing. It has helped developed theory, instrument and research (Wang, 2005). Empirical Referents According to Cheng, Foster& Huang, empirical references present how the concept is to be measured or what the observation of a phenomenon should in reality be (tzuchi. om). Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring defined three concepts with health being one of them. Margaret Newman’s Theory of Health as Expanding Cons ciousness model uses two concepts one of those being health. These theories demonstrate the existence of health and how it has helped the nursing profession. Conclusion The concept of health was selected because of the many changes and variations to its definition. The World Health Organization defines health as a complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (who. int).Regardless of the definition, health is a concept that has helped develop the nursing profession. The Reference Artinian, B. M. , (1991). The development of the intersystem model. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 164 -205. Lee, V. and Ross, J. , (2003). ‘What is Health? ’ Campaign. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 94(5), 360. Ne Newman, M. A. , (1999). Health as expanding consciousness (2nd ed. ). New York: National League for Nursing Press. http://userwww. service. emory. edu/~mrisjor/documents/Rethinking. pdf http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary /health http://www. tzuchi. com. w/file/DivIntro/nursing/content/92-3/3. pdf http://www. who. int/about/definition/en/print. html Speros, C. (2005). Health Literacy: Analysis Concept. Journal of Advance Nursing, 50(6), 633-640. Walker, L. O. & Avant, K. C. (1995). Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing, 3rd ed. Appleton-Century-Crofts, Norwalk, CT. Walker, L. O. & Avant, K. C. (2010). Strategies for theory construction in nursing. Boston: Pearson Wang, Y. (2005). A concept analysis of health. Hu Li Za Zhi The Journal of Nursing, 52(1), 40-43. Watson, J. , (1999). Postmodern nursing and beyond. London: Churchill Livingstone. .

Divine Command Theory, Objectivism, Diversity and Dep Theses

1. Explain what is meant by saying that a value is intrinsic? How are instrumental values related to intrinsic values? A value is said to be intrinsic if an object has the value for its own sake or because of its nature. A value is said to be instrumental if it aids in achieving or acquiring something with intrinsic value. For example, one’s job could have instrumental value in that it acquires money. Furthermore, money could have instrumental value in that it can provide objects from which one derives happiness or pleasure, something with intrinsic value.Objects or activities with instrumental value typically aid in acquiring things with intrinsic value. 2. According to the Divine Command Theory (DCT), does God command what he commands because it is intrinsically good; or is what God commands â€Å"good† because it is God who commands it? The Divine Command Theory suggests that what God commands is â€Å"good† because He commands it, but this view is not necessa rily valid. According to the DCT, â€Å"goodness† is equated with â€Å"God-willed,† suggesting that the commands of God are â€Å"good† because they are His commands.A statement such as â€Å"God is good† becomes redundant and illogical if â€Å"good† is equated with â€Å"God-willed. † It would be more logical to think that God’s commands have intrinsic goodness since atheists and other nonbelievers can identify with some moral foundation. An atheist might choose to believe that God was correct in saying that â€Å"killing is wrong† not because he believes in God’s word but rather he believes that the rule is intrinsically good. 3. According to the Divine Command Theory why should we obey the moral law?According to the Divine Command Theory, we should obey the moral law because it is the word of God. The DCT suggests that â€Å"morally right† means â€Å"willed by God,† so acting in compliance with moral law is essentially synonymous with acting in compliance with the word of God. Since God determines the moral law, no other reason is required for us to obey. 4. Explain why the DCT logically makes morality arbitrary. Why is arbitrariness a problem for morality? The Divine Command Theory suggests that morally â€Å"right† simply means willed by God.If something is morally â€Å"right† based solely on what God determines, an unsettling arbitrariness arises out of His commands. It would seem that God could just as easily make seemingly â€Å"immoral† acts â€Å"moral† (i. e. rape, genocide). The problem with arbitrariness is that it makes the development of a deeper, more appreciative morality absolutely impossible. An example can be made out of the story of Joshua and the battle at Jericho. If we are to believe that God determines what is morally â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong,† then we believe that Joshua was just in slaughtering the men, women , and children because it was God’s command.In this scenario, this belief prevents the development of a moral understanding that murder is wrong, a severe problem for morality. 5. Define and explain Ethical Relativism, Ethical Absolutism, and Ethical Objectivism. Ethical relativism is the idea that moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† are defined within a society/culture or by an individual. The difference between society (conventional ethical relativism) and an individual (subjective ethical relativism) defining morality is very clear. Subjectivists hold that individuals are allowed to define what is â€Å"right† or â€Å"wrong,† but this would suggest that criminals (i. . murderers, cannibals, rapists) are correct and morally â€Å"right† when they engage in their crimes, since no one can ever be wrong. Conventionalists would hold that a society or culture is left to define moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong. † However, it wou ld allow for any group to declare their ideals â€Å"right† or â€Å"just,† suggesting that groups with â€Å"immoral† ideals (i. e. congregations of rapists, murderers, etc. ) would be just as morally â€Å"right† as pro-life activists. Ethical absolutism holds that fundamental, absolute moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† exist and must not be defied by anyone, regardless of context.However, the ethical objectivist believes that there exists a universal morality relevant to all people and cultures, but with context taken into consideration. For example, the ethical absolutist would believe that a mother stealing medicine to help her sick child is wrong because the bottom line is that stealing is wrong. However, the ethical objectivist would hold that the mother’s reasoning was sound and that her moral obligation to help her child overrides her moral duty to the law. 6.Explain how the â€Å"Diversity Thesis† together with the â€Å"Dependency Thesis† logically imply the conclusion that Ethical Relativism is true. Then, give at least two arguments against ethical relativism. Are there reasons to believe that there are some objective values that apply in any society? The Diversity Thesis is an anthropological fact stating that moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† vary amongst different societies, so there are no fundamental or universal morals held by all societies. The Dependency Thesis states that what is morally â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† is dependent upon what the society defines as right and wrong.If both of these hold true, and conventional ethical relativism is described by a society in which moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† are defined within the society, then the connection is clear. The Diversity Thesis coupled with the Dependency Thesis entail the conclusion outlined in conventional ethical relativism. There are a number of arguments to be ma de against the idea of conventional ethical relativism. For example, some cultures view their women as inferior to men, withholding basic rights (and in some cases, inflicting genital mutilation).While this may be seen by a majority of the society as acceptable, it is often argued that the disregard for human rights is immoral. The ethical relativist would argue that the society is right in doing whatever it collectively thinks is right. In this case, and in many more, it is clear that the society is not always correct in defining moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† by its own standards. Additionally, the ethical relativist might argue that the pro-slavery movement in early America was morally sound because the society thought that what they were doing was morally â€Å"right. The notion that slavery is wrong is now more widely accepted, but a glimpse not too far into our country’s past would prove otherwise. This is an obvious example of why ethical relativism is incorrect and can inadvertently allow immorality to be permissible. It is sound to think that the value of human life is an objective value relevant to all societies. While it may be recognized to varying degrees in different parts of the world, it is safe to acknowledge human life as something to be universally valued by all societies.

The Application of Relevant Study Framework Research Paper

The Application of Relevant Study Framework - Research Paper Example In view of illnesses reflected theory of biological concern, terminologies aiding this are fully reimbursed by developing notable health models. The changing trend explored by passiveness in health development encompasses knowledge changes, especially in reversing various trends reflecting psychological health. The technique itself encompasses relevant understanding of individual wellbeing and evidently it also involves aiding growth, development and various treatment processes. In virtue of changing ill health challenges, possible inclusion of beliefs and various strategies offer notable compliance understanding of various mainstream features. According to different researchers medical recommendations are implemented by noting the existing perceptions and what future health trends would encompass. The definition of responsibility illustrate that medical changes are applied fully in order to accomplish the required medical requirements. For example, there is an observable definition of various health models that have helped to maintain express health-related levels. This, hence, has implied that healthiness is achieved by uncovering various illnesses and hence defining the core mainstream compositions. Hence by understanding what health entails at various points, the mindset is developed and recreated in order to help create stages relative to defining the core concepts aiding health perceptions. 1.1 The Study Objectives The psychological approach provides a comprehensive feedback required in the following mainstream objectives. i. Understanding, developing and implementing notable health theories relevant to etiology of illness. ii. Carrying out practical experience in attaining the psychological health and also understanding relevant behavioral characteristics of illness. Gili et al. (2011) explain that the role of psychological health process is to provide notable steps required to achieve better health standards. For example, the analytical framework of psy chological health pursues the following goals: The analytical procedure in psychology reflects what levels of health require absolute referencing in the following key areas: i. Projects that cover the aspects of health and their relevance. ii. The core health features including beliefs, behaviors and illnesses. iii. The experiences encountered at various cycles including terminologies and various inclusions aiding both behavioral changes and professional attainment of illness controls. iv. Psychological role in helping patients to recover. The study factor provides relevant steps required to complete possible behavior management. 1.2 Health Beliefs and Behaviors Various health considerations

Stress management as an enabler of high performance ( Chapter 7) Essay

Stress management as an enabler of high performance ( Chapter 7) - Essay Example Just what the famous adage quotes, â€Å"Stressed is just desserts spelled backwards†. The effect of stress to a person would depend on how it was looked about and dealt with. This discussion will center in stress management relevant to organizational leaders dealing with insecurities and uncertainties brought about by major changes required in this highly globalized world. According to the book, â€Å"Stress Management as an Enabler of High Performance†, Individuals go through two-stage process when faced with a potentially stressful situation. First, is primary appraisal wherein they assess the relevance, significance and implications of the event. Second, is seconday appraisal when they assess what if anything can be done about the situation and their ability to cope. Kriegal and Kriegal (1984) identified a combination of skills and attitudes needed by leaders to attain high performance under any external pressure. These are: confidence, commitment, and control. First, the individual must believe first in his capacity as a person. Then, he needs to put his heart into what he is doing and as much as possible, enjoy the task. Lastly, focus on the factors that is within his control and use it to his benefit. These factors are interrelated and if done properly, would have a synergy effect towards a positive end goal. In the same book, â€Å"Stress Management as an Enabler of High Performance†, three ‘worlds’ was discussed. These ‘worlds’ could used to analyze why a certain individual reacted positively or negatively into stress. First is the inner ‘world’ that deals with the thoughts and feelings of the person. This is about how he sees himself ‘internally’. Second is the outer ‘world’ which is basically how the person sees and projects himself and his capacity to the outside world. This deals about how he wanted

What were the principal causes and consequences of the Essay

What were the principal causes and consequences of the Spanish-American War - Essay Example The paper tells that various wars were fought by Cuba in order to gain independence from Spain. Spain held the country as a colony ever since the end of the 19th century. These wars were labeled as the Cuban War of Independence. While these wars were being fought, Cuba’s status was slowly being changed. Slavery was abolished in October 1886 and many of these liberated slaves were able to gain positions as farmers or urban working class employees. These social changes caused rich people to lose their properties, downgrading their status to middle class. A significant amount of money was also flown into Cuba from the US, with amounts reaching almost 50 million dollars. While money was flowing into Cuba, issues on whether the country was US or Spanish territory were raised politically and economically. During the Cuban War of Independence, the last few months of the conflict triggered the bigger Spanish-American War. Spanish colonial policies were revised soon after the country e xperienced two major losses in the colonial wars. These defeats caused the loss of its colonies in the Americas and in the Peninsular Wars. Soon after, the concept of the Spanish empire was being redefined by Spain. Spain’s colonialism can be explained in terms of culture and language. Although oceans separated these territories from each other, their culture and language united them as Spanish colonies. CÃ ¡novas also claimed that Spain was remarkably different from other empires such as Britain, and France. As opposed to these empires, Spain uniquely contributed to spreading civilization to the New World.3 On the other hand, the US also had its own interests in the Caribbean area. According to the US Monroe Doctrine, it would not allow any interference in any states’ issues and goals in expanding their colonies. Interestingly, however, Spanish Cuban colonies were exempted from the statement. For Americans, Cuba has been attracted by offers to be brought from Spain a nd other Americans were also high in ‘their hopes of future annexation’4 of the country. The US government did not however consider the same possibilities for other Spanish colonies like the Philippines, Guam, or Puerto Rico.5 Canovas del Castillo was in charge of Spain’s restoration following the wars and it mandated General Martinez-Campos to control the uprisings in Cuba. The general was however unable to control these insurgent activities; he was then replaced by General Valeriano Weyler who succeeded in stripping the insurgents of their weapons and supplies; he also moved many of the insurgents into reconcentration camps. This move however enraged the US and labeled Spain’s actions as extermination, not civilized warfare.6 Towards the end of the 19th century, various factors eventually came together in the US which established its concerns on overseas expansion. Concerns were also growing on new markets and other sources for its raw material needs7. T he erratic economy of the late 1800s where the US was hit with depression, prompted the US to consider the foreign expansion of its markets. In effect, they saw the foreign market as a market which could take in their industrial and agricultural surpluses at the same time, one which they could also get their raw materials from8. Latin America and the Far East were considered fertile ground for its economic plans. America was however very much aware that in order for it to succeed in its economic expansion plans, it also needed to build a strong navy to protect its interests9. This meant that the US would have to establish its naval bases in the Pacific islands of the Far East, including the Philippines, Guam, and American Samoa10. A canal through Central America would therefore also be necessary for its economic expansion plans. Other elements also came into play in the Spanish-American war. The end of the 19th century also brought about the missionary expansion of American Protesta nt Churches11. These missionaries

Literacy Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Literacy Narrative - Essay Example As a result, I have not developed excellent English literacy and the confidence to use it. I realized that I can use my strengths of perseverance and good study habits to develop my English skills, but I continue to struggle because of my shyness and anxiety in speaking and writing in English. Nevertheless, I continue learning English through using personal, social, and academic resources, as well as imbibing positive psychology in learning a language that is so different in terms of values and structure to my native language, without weakening my cultural identity. My personal traits of shyness in using English resulted in anxiety that impeded my early progress in learning it. My school was a firm believer of immersion, where speaking in Chinese in the school is not allowed. Teachers easily embarrassed students who did not speak in English. My classmates and I preferred silence then, since we were not that good in English. This is what Kingston referred to as being tongue-tied in he r essay â€Å"Tongue-Tied.† Our tongues are tied due to not being able to speak a language that we have little knowledge of. One time, I forgot to speak in English in my class and my teacher berated me in front of so many people. I was so mortified, and since then I spoke very little. I did not want to make any mistake again. However, as I learned, bilingual education is also an effective means of teaching English to non-native speakers (Rhodes, Ochoa, and Ortiz 58). Bilingualism at the critical stage of my life would have helped my development of better English skills. The critical stage for me is during grade school (Gonzalez 3). Using Chinese to learn English would have helped me transition into English. By this time, however, I was not very confident in my English reading and writing skills. I became very conscious of my accent and choice of words because other students would laugh at me. I know they were just being children, but the impact on my self-esteem was devastati ng. The feeling of inferiority affected my motivation to learn English. I learned how to speak it in a form of conversation, but academic English is different. My shyness resulted in anxiety, which affected my confidence in learning English. To some extent, being a good student gave me high expectations of myself, which obstructed my language learning process. I am a good student and have strong studying skills. I have high grades in most of my subjects. English, however, is harder for me because I lack enough knowledge about it. It became my Achilles’ heel, and I felt disappointed with myself. This disappointment turned into a strong fear of failure. I did not want to fail as a language learner, and this hindered me from learning English. I also lacked practice in using English before, since we do not speak it at home. My parents wanted me to learn it fast, but they are not aware of how important the home environment is in learning new languages. In our neighborhood, we also did not use English. As with many non-native English learners, we lacked practice in everyday settings. Without practice, I did not feel confident in using English and I did not have anyone to test my skills on. That is also frustrating for students like me, who are used to attain their goals. When I came to America, I became more diffident as a language lea