Saturday, August 31, 2019

Lust Greed Power or Religion? Why Did Henry Break with Rome in 1634?

Henry broke with Rome for many different reasons, to begin with was that the Pope wouldn’t let him annul his marriage with Catherine. He only wanted this because he was in love with Anne Boleyn. Another reason was that he was greedy for money because he had lead an extravagant lifestyle and didn’t want to give that up. He was convinced that if he were head of the church he would get incomes from tithes and taxes. He also broke with Rome because he didn’t like the thought of anyone being above him, he wanted to be the one and only king. To solve this he made himself head of the church so he would have power over the church. Lust was an important factor in the Act of Supremacy because Henry had was no longer in love with Catherine of Aragon and was now lusting after Anne Boleyn. Henry was only going after Anne because Catherine could not produce him a boy, as well as the fact that she was getting old and not so pretty. Anne refused to sleep with Henry until she was married to him; consequently Henry tried to annul his marriage with Catherine but the Pope refused. The Pope wouldn’t let Henry annul his marriage since Emperor Charles V was Catherine’s nephew. Henry thought if he made himself supreme head of the church, he could allow himself to pronounce his marriage with Catherine of Aragon sinful in the eyes of God and his child with Anne Boleyn would be legitimate. For Anne had fallen pregnant with Henry’s child after being persuaded into a love affair with Henry VIII. Greed may have affected Henrys decision to overpower the church as Henry was slowly, but surely running out of money,. If Henry controlled the church he would control the amount of taxes and tithes people had to pay, and if he controlled the church Henry could shut down all the monasteries (which he did in a period called `The Dissolution of the Monasteries 1535’) and take all the money and goods from them. Greed was very important because if he did it right he could control everyone in England. The act of first fruits and tenths was a form of tax on clergy taking up church living. To live like this they had to pay a portion of their first years income and a tenth of their profits annually from then on. Originally the money was paid to the apacy, but Henry VIII's Annates Act 1532 diverted the money to the Crown as part of his campaign to pressure the pope into granting him a divorce. Thomas Cromwell set up a special financial administration for these revenues and they later passed under the control of the Exchequer. During the 18th century, these payments formed the basis of Queen Anne's Bount y. Power affected Henrys decision to overrule the church because Henry already had the power to kill people if he felt they were threatening him, you can see this with his response to Luther and Tyndale, but if he controlled the church he could be like an idol to regular folk. Henry obviously got angry when the Pope refused to annul his marriage with Catherine just because Emperor Charles V made him. Power was the main reason he was the kind of King who felt that he should have total power over his subjects but the power of the Catholic church in the 16th century outweighed that of even the most powerful King. Henry saw a way to end that power in England and use it for his own purposes he grabbed this opportunity and thus the reformation begins. Religion most likely affected Henry’s decision to carry out the Act of Supremacy because he wanted England to be a good place with proper religion and a good understanding of the bible. Maybe Henry didn’t do everything for selfish reasons and he could have done it for the greater good. Henry didn’t want to change the Catholic Church at first but after falling in love with Anne he saw the light and saw how much better religion would have been if he changed the church. The Dissolution of the Monasteries was not only to get money it may have been for religious purposes as well. Cromwell found that almost all the monks were breaking their vows and some of them had kids with nuns from the nearby convent. Uncovering all this showed that the Catholic Church was a disgrace and it was time for a new start. Henry saw this and began the Church of England or Protestantism. In conclusion I think that Lust was the most important factor for it seemed to trigger all the different emotions and seemed like it was most affective. I think that religion was the least important because I don’t think he even cared about it and he just cared about having a son.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Digital Audio

Digital Audio refers to the reproduction and the transmissions of a stored sound in a digital format. This includes things like CDs or mp3s and other forms of sound that can be stored on a computer. In contrast for instance say the telephone system, which is stored in a completely different format which is called the analogue system. In sound recording and reproduction systems, digital audio refers to a digital representation of the audio waveform for processing.Digital Audio came about due to its usefulness when recording and distribution in sound. The modern day usage of this system is through the internet to post put songs on web pages and videos on YouTube depends on digital recording and digital HYPERLINK â€Å"http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Audio_compression_(data)† o â€Å"Audio compression (data)† compression algorithms. One of the good things about using this system is that it reduces the cost of the distribution because it is not a physical object.Also it is v ery easy to access because nowadays if people want something or need something they go on the internet. In an analog system sounds are usually made physically and are recorded into a mic which is transformed into a electrical representation of a waveform, which is stored or transmitted. Analog audio signals are susceptible to noise and distortion, unavoidable due to the innate characteristics of electronic circuits and associated devices.In the case of purely analog recording and reproduction, numerous opportunities for the introduction of noise and distortion exist throughout the entire process. When audio is digitized, distortion and noise are introduced only by the stages that precede conversion to digital format, and by the stages that follow conversion back to analog. Digital Audio Workstation or DAW is one of the commonly used terms in home music production environment.Yet some are still confused especially the beginners in music production with no electrical/sound engineering background as to what is really the meaning of Digital Audio Workstation? The fact is that, it’s so hard to understand what is digital audio workstation without giving the beginner; a complete information of how everything starts and end in music production. It’s why this lengthy post is perfect for those completely new in digital-based home recording or recording music using computers!I should have written this a long time ago, anyway its good that I put some importance of posting this one. Let’s get started.. First, you need to understand how the music goes into your computer. Your music is a sound wave which is an analog signal, a continuous form of signal(e. g. a sine wave). A musical instrument or a disturbance (e. g a water droplet falling into a pail of water) and can cause vibrations in the air that causes it propagate in the form of a sound wave.When these air pressure vibrations reaches your ear, you will perceived it as a sound if the pressure is str ong enough to cause vibrations in your ear drum and if the frequency is audible (20Hz to 20,000Hz). The music you hear are actually composed of musical notes which are sinusoidal in nature and has two properties which are: a. ) Amplitude (how strong are the pressure vibrations, which is usually measured by SPL or sound pressure level using decibels). b. ) Frequency( how high or low is the pitch of the sound wave, measured in Hertz)

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Effective Leadership in an Organization Research Paper

Effective Leadership in an Organization - Research Paper Example Leadership is defined as the influence exerted by particular individuals upon the goal achievement of others within an organization (Nader, n.d). However, it should be borne in mind that leadership is not only concerned with encouraging people to perform preferred tasks within a group, and that leadership skills can be learned and exercised by any individual within a group in order to complete the desired tasks. Therefore, leadership is not only about leading people but should also inspire and motivate others to become leaders themselves. Thus leadership and motivation are strongly linked as leadership is also about providing the right direction and motivation to people in a group or organization in order to achieve the set target or goal successfully. In order to motivate their staff a leader may choose to follow a particular behavior to get the work done from their co-workers or subordinates. They may follow a directive behavior by which they schedule the work and maintain performa nce standards for their team members. Some leaders may have a supportive behavior by maintaining a pleasant and friendly relationship with their team and motivate them to achieve the set goals. ... Recent studies have analyzed the important role of an effective leader to an organization for bringing about a transformational change within the same. Leaders who are capable of bringing about a transformation within the organization should inspire and motivate their team to work towards achieving the set goals without any consideration for the pay or position that they may stand to gain from the job. Through such an effort leaders affect the performance of an organization and contribute to its survival in a highly competitive environment. Major problems within organizations are sorted by bringing about a change in the leadership with the hope that the new leader would bring effective strategies to change these problems. In addition to individuals possessing the right leadership qualities, the presence of talented personal and management, effective strategies that would help in staying ahead of competitors and monitoring systems that would help keep track of all the above would cont ribute to making an effective organization (Ali, 2012). There are several qualities that make for a successful and effective leader. Leaders can earn their positions through their hard work, expertise and ability to influence people within an organization or in some cases may be assigned with leadership responsibilities through a formal appointment. In either case leaders need to possess certain desired qualities or traits that would help them to be successful and also gain the support and trust of their subordinates and co-workers. Leaders should be able to provide intellectual stimulation to their fellow workers which would enable them to come up with new ideas and handle situations and problems in different ways. Leaders

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

International buiness Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International buiness - Assignment Example Under this theory, the role of government is highly important. Government needs to push and encourage companies and organization to a more competitive level, in this manner, increasing performance and eventually the overall combined benefits. Competitive Advantage and Porter’s Diamond Theory Competitive advantage is that area of expertise of a firm where it outperforms its competitors or more specifically, other nations or countries. Through researches, it has been observed that marketing plays a vital role in building up the competitive advantage of companies. The name ‘Diamond’ has been labeled due to the four factors, which the natural environment conceptualizes. According to Porter’s Diamond Theory, a country can capitalize its competitive advantage in any of the area where it excels other countries. For instance, due to the climate and weather conditions of European countries, Starbucks is very popular among those countries but if the company intends t o expand itself in South East Asian countries, then the weather conditions of South East Asia do not permit the company to expand its’ business in these areas. Therefore, European countries have competitive advantage of having cold weather. Another example includes Nike. Nike chose China for manufacturing concerns due to cheap labor and overhead expenditures in lieu of European countries, where overhead expenditures and labor are much higher as compared to China. Therefore, China possesses competitive advantage of having low labor and overhead costs than European Countries. Literature Review Droge and Neven (2001) stated that it is difficult for agricultural food SMEs to become and stay competitive in this period of globalization. The paper of Droge and Neven (2001) argues that the holistic diamond model of Porter is superior in investigating the cluster dynamics; here cluster is defined as a homogenous group of firms involved in marketing specific product in a specific locat ion. Droge and Neven (2001) concluded that despite of the fact that this model has not been tested in most of the developing countries, but those rare researches that have been conducted to validate the diamond model, affirm that the diamond model of Porter is intrinsically better. Rugman and Verbeke (1993) proposed an article to study the interaction between international and national determinants of a country, which leads to competitive success of a country at global level. Rugman and Verbeke (1993) stated that the model can be made even better and therefore, suggested extending the Porter’s Diamond framework and used a variant, i.e. SWOT analysis in order to functionalize the Porter’s Diamond model (Rugman and Verbeke, 1993). Narula (1993) stated that the diamond model of Porter is a static one. The author further stated that it is based just on the subjective analysis of only those countries, which are industries based. Narula (1993) further stated that this model is not applicable for the developed or developing countries. The author highlighted the role of technology in the development

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Textbook Questions Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Textbook Questions Paper - Essay Example However, his degree is qualified as an economics-related course since his A.B. degree in public policy is described as being focused in the economic context. Furthermore, all of them have also completed postgraduate degrees in Economics. Aside from these similarities, it is notable that the governors share similar experiences. Most of them have worked in the academe for manifold years. Thus, holding a position requiring the knowledge of subjects they used to teach is very relevant to their previous work experiences. Additionally, prior to their tenure as members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, all of them held significant positions in different public and private organizations, where they were able to specialize in their own fields. However, it is remarkable how the five governors chanced to work with each other as each of them specialize in their own different fields. Interestingly, their specializations comprise the most fundamental aspects in financial economy, making the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve a good combination of mixed knowledge. Based on the biographies listed on the FederalReserve.gov site, the specializations of the five governors are as follows: Chairman Bernanke, monetary policy and macroeconomics; Vice Chairman Kohn, monetary policies as implemented by financial markets and systems; Governor Kroszner, conflicts of interest in financial services firms, international financial crises, corporate governance, debt restructuring and bankruptcy, and monetary economics; Governor Mishkin, impact of monetary policies on financial markets and the aggregate economy; and Governor Warsh, domestic finance, banking and securities regulatory policy, and consumer protection. 2. The Federal Reserve Bank publishes a report called the Beige Book eight times a year that summarizes the current economic conditions in each of the 12 bank districts. This report is used by the Federal Open Market Committee when

Monday, August 26, 2019

You can choose a topic for this essay after you finished it - 3

You can choose a topic for this after you finished it - Essay Example rtheless, culture and ethnicity divergences are the main aspects in demagoguery in mystification of the truth and conflict grouping within the United States due to the constant expression and alterations of issues (Sewell, pp.145-234). This paper aims at explaining the underlying misunderstanding of cultural issues as fundamental information of fully understanding prevailing societal forces. The elusiveness of the word ethnicity and its phenomenon is normally confusing and has numerous problems due to the unclear and continuous expansion trend. Ethnicity is considered as the main linkages via critically different phenomenon and combined societal phenomenon. Moreover, it greatly varies according diverse cases within the prevailing community. For instance, religion is the common resultant of differences within two ethnic groups. Conversely, race different qualities are used to serve the identical purpose. Ethnicity of the certain group normally changes depending on the underlying period. Moreover, most of the groups with cultural distinction do not belong to similar ethnic groups thus making the association amidst the underlying culture and ethnicity is less than ideal (Sewell, pp.145-234). Moreover, all ethnic groups are not ancient and have natural social group. The prevailing differences among ethnic groups do not have equal intensity. Certain ethnic groups have diverg ences that aim at the similar endings that mainly arise from ethnicity as a tradition and past myth. Ethnicity aids in the explanation of development and modernity of societies. According to Sewell (2008), ethnicity is considered to be a subjective symbolic utilized as an aspect of culture by particular ethnic group that distinguish different groups. It is used in the definition of character, quality and corresponding condition of ethnic group membership purely based on the identity and consciousness of groups, which is differentiated from supplementary by symbolic makers entailing cultural,

Sunday, August 25, 2019

School History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 18

School History - Essay Example   I am a member of Biology Society, which has consisted of those who have the deep interest in biology and medical science. As a part of the society, I have organized and participated in meetings with health organizations to learn more about human anatomy and other biological issues. My strong interest in economics led me to become a member of Economics and Finance Society of Rutgers, which is an organization, offers many seminars with executives from recognizable corporations such as JP Morgan. The American Student Dental Association for pre-dental and dental students has helped me immensely to prepare for the dental school. I am also a part of the Pre Health Society which works closely with Biology Society and arrange meetings among medical and dental students to help us excel in our careers. Being a member of Student Doctors Society, which consists of medical and pre-medical students, I was able to participate in programmes in which we could exchange information about experiences within medical field. I worked as a sales representative in a telecommunication industry and learned to interact with various kinds of people. I worked as a floor director at Korean Broadcasting System. My job was to support PD. It is one of the most important positions to keep productions flow. I have also worked for Japan Camera Repair, which required me to have highly skilled hand-eye coordination as it dealt with many minute components of cameras. I will wake as a tutor to teach biology students at Rutgers University and hope to get chances to interact more with professors and students through learning and teaching.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Self-evaluation People Have Become Overly Dependent on Technology Essay

Self-evaluation People Have Become Overly Dependent on Technology - Essay Example The argument that people embrace a culture dependent on technology needs to be explained a little more. Spell checker argument does not clearly explain if it is the attraction of the feature that is making us use it or we are doing it berceuse of laziness and boredom. The statement needs to be elaborated in this regard. The paper shows the different benefits of technology on human life but is insufficient in establishing the human factor. Technology affected human behavior which led them to use it frequently that ultimately converted their life styles. This needs to be elaborated. Technology is human a creation but how it influences human emotions and its activities needs to be researched on. There are negatives aspects of technology too and it needs to be extended a little more in this contexts. By using technology we are losing our human values like sending emails instead of a personal greeting in festivals and celebrations. Though it is fast and more convenient, it lacks its human appeal. But still human beings go by it. Why is this so? The paper needs to explain this clearly. Technology and its advantages have captured human consciousness and their capacity to work and use their power for completing a task. There has to be a behavioral element to it that would explain how technological advancements affect human willingness to do a task themselves (Jones, 1984). The examples explained in the paper talks about the different advantages that technology has brought in our lives but it does not firmly establish how humans become increasingly exposed towards it. There are benefits but what compels us towards it? Is it the feature, our tendency to work fast or our lack of willingness to do it ourselves? This needs to e differentiated. The paragraph talks about the negative impacts of technology in our lives. I think it is not necessary as the paper is to ascertain if technology has affected us or we have become its slave willingly (Taslitz, 2002). But

Friday, August 23, 2019

On Epictetus Discourse About Wealth and Freedom Essay

On Epictetus Discourse About Wealth and Freedom - Essay Example One thinks that wealth brings freedom and so he seeks to own gold, diamonds, lands and slaves through whatever means including what has been mentioned earlier. Another considers a high political status as something that would bring him freedom and in the modern world; education is regarded by most as the means to freedom. To Epictetus, he uses the first argument and links wealth and freedom in a manner that is debatable in an era where wealth is widely sought for, one that contradicts modern lifestyles, disagreeing that wealth brings freedom. Epictetus counts wealth as something that enslaves rather than frees someone because these are not the things that make men free rather are the ones that bound them to slavery. He considers owning nothing as having freedom, a concept that most of the people today might not agree with. One might laugh as well at such a concept, for how could a wealthy man be enslaved when he has the means to own his own slaves and be the master of other people? T he philosopher explains his arguments with examples that strongly support his thoughts, qualifying it as a serious thought one should think about not only by the seekers in his time but also in this period where it is believed to be most needed. Looking into his philosophies, one would have an illumination of his considerations and is guaranteed to be more inclined to agreeing than questioning. First, the philosopher considered fear and said that no one really fears Caesar but that they fear death, exile, deprivation of property, prison and disenfranchisement (Matheson, p. 72). Slavery to fear is not actually caused by men, not even powerful men, but is caused by what a person wants, things that he holds on to. This is the reason why Epictetus argues that having nothing, which includes wanting nothing, will release a person from fears. When an individual has properties, and is so attached to them, he would do everything he can to protect it from those who desire to have it, like rob bers. Wealth brings fear of losing it, fear of calamities, fear of people and things that would destroy and grab it away from him therefore a wealthy man is a slave to his fears, and is punished on his mind as to remedy how he should protect himself and his wealth. Sometimes, wealthy people also fear for their lives, because it is inevitable that when a person is after his wealth, he would plan to do all sorts or ways including unthinkable ones only to protect himself, including killing possible witnesses, killing the wealthy man. This is the reason why most of the rich ensure their security by paying thousands of dollars for security alarms and guards. Still, it does not give a hundred percent guarantee that they would all work for their purpose because as the rich man can be vigilant in his ways, robbers could also be more vigilant in their plans, thus, the fear continues and still is a master of the wealthy man. Money and wealth could be in a person’s possession but he cou ld still be a slave not to men but to an abstract yet gripping master called fear and what could be worse than to serve something that is within one’s self. Epictetus argues that one who is truly free is one who distinguishes what is his and what is not his, that he owns nothing but his will and to recognize that everything he has is God’s, so that if people take it away from him, he should let it be and if they leave him in peace, he should let it be and not worry much about the matter. Furthermore, the philosopher speaks about what people love, which can also serve as another master. People love wealth, the tribunate, the praetorship and the consulship (p. 72) which, in search for it, would cause a person to enslave himself to whatever matters and manners he

Rhetoric Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Rhetoric Assignment - Essay Example The conclusion of the statement has failed to follow the premise and for this reason considered as an incomplete argument. The argument in the second paragraph is also incomplete. The writer says â€Å"The Pope has not yet said much concerning the women and the church and there exists reasons based on his will. Instead on more understanding and compassionate take on women’s stand in church, he has repeatedly embraced the Old Catholic’s view that women roles are at home’’. The statement is a claim and has no prove. The conclusion does not follow the premise and is based on probable rather than true statements (Moss & Burden, 4). The dates are inadequate since they are based on approximations. The use of words such as ten days ago or last week without necessarily giving the exact day and time makes it inadequate. Additionally, the writer has utilized several incomplete arguments to explain his opinions towards the Pope. The numerous incomplete arguments have made the warrant unclear. In addition, the few arguments raised by the writer cannot be used to generalize Pope Francis’s judgment on women and the church (Moss & Burden, 4). It is too much to expect, that the church will decide to admit women to the clergy even with Pope Francis in the Helm. In addition, recognizing women as contributors to the church life is not a violation of the doctrine. The pope has however failed to express these statements and appears to be buying time (Moss & Burden,

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Sexual Abuse in Prison Essay Example for Free

Sexual Abuse in Prison Essay The sexual abuse in prison is a serious problem in our country. It is compounded by the sheer number of inmates stepping inside the prison system every year. It is surprising to find out that our country is widely recognized as the one with most number of prisoners. This problem however is preventable and controllable if we will only change our attitude. We all have rights. Conviction for a crime no matter how heinous our crime is will not strip us of our rights. In a letter sent to the Human Rights Watch by a sender whose name was purposely withheld, the sender narrated his horrifying experience while he was inside Prison. He recounted†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ive been sentenced for a D. U. I. offense. My 3rd one. When I first came to prison, I had no idea what to expect. Im a tall white male, who unfortunately has a small amount of feminine characteristics. And very shy. These characteristics have got me raped so many times I have no more feelings physically. I have been raped by up to 5 black men and two white men at a time. Ive had knifes at my head and throat†¦There is no supervision after lockdown. † (â€Å"No Escape Male Rape in US Prisons†) This excerpt speaks of an ugly reality inside the US prison. This is the reality that we have come to accept as part of the defects in the US prison system. This is the reality that has been institutionalized in our society which contributes not only to the perpetuation of violence inside prison but also to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS. (â€Å"Its Not My Problem†) The sad thing about this issue is that there seems to be nothing being done about this problem by government authorities. Is it because while we uphold the rule of justice and consider rehabilitation as one of the primary purposes of prison, at the back of our minds we think that the inmates deserve what happens to them while inside the prison? This research paper deals with the issue of sexual abuse in US Prison. I aim to discuss the different scenarios of sexual abuse and the power relations happening inside prison that is at the core of this problem. I aim to discuss of prisoners protected by domestic and international laws. Rights of Prisoners The issue of sexual abuse in US prison is extremely important nowadays considering that according to the new report of the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice, our prison population has ballooned to a total of 2 million inmates. Research also shows that since 2002 one in every one hundred forty two US citizens is locked up in jail and out of the 1,200,203 state prisoners, 3055 inmates were younger than 18 years old. Robert Longley, 2007) Indeed, the increasing number of inmates in the US prison demands that this problem should no longer be ignored and that something be done eradicate this problem. At the outset, it is important to emphasize that prisoners too have rights regardless whether they have been convicted or not. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution is emphatic about this point. It states that â€Å"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. On the other hand, those who are waiting for their convictions are likewise protected under the authority of the Fifth Amendment, which states that â€Å"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury†¦nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. † (â€Å"Fifth Amendment†) In the case of Deshaney v. Winnebago City Social Services Department 489 U.  S. 189 (1989), the Supreme Court has declared that when the state holds a person into custody and deprives him of his liberty that he is unable to care for himself and at the time it fails to provide him basic needs, the state violates the provisions of the Eight Amendment. Thus, the Eighth Amendment protects every prisoner from brutality imposed by the guards against him but also it requires the prison officials to give ample protection from violence that the other inmates may inflict on him. In a suit for violation of Eighth Amendment, however, the law provides that the inmate whose rights have been violated to prove the following: a) the objective element the extent of the injury the inmate has suffered which is so serous that it violates the society’s standard of decency and b) the subjective element – the prison knowing fully well that a violence has occurred â€Å"maliciously and sadistically† fails respond to this violence for the purpose of causing the inmate injury. (Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.  S. 1, 14 (1992). ) Though it is quite easy to prove the first element, the second element is very difficult to prove and presents serious obstacle against an inmate who is contemplating on filing a suit against prison officials for violation of their Eighth Amendment. In addition to the protection guaranteed under the Eighth Amendment and Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the DOJ has been granted authority to prosecute a public official for violating a prisoner’s constitutional rights. Thus, under Section 242 of the United States Code, â€Å"This statute makes it a crime for any person acting under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to willfully deprive or cause to be deprived from any person those rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution and laws of the U. S. † (Sec 242 of the United States Code) However, in the same manner as the violation of the Eighth Amendment is difficult to enforce, so is the violation under this statute which requires the injured party to prove that the public officer willfully and intentionally deprived the prisoner of his right. International laws likewise provide ample protection to the condition of prisoners while inside the prison system. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of which the United States is a signatory clearly provides that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. † Indeed, all these laws affirm the basic principle that even prisoners do have rights under the law. Sexual Abuse in Prison At the outset, it is important to distinguish among the different circumstances of rape that happen within the four corners of the prison. Rape accompanied with violence is one of the more commonly known sexual abuses that happen in prison. Ordinarily, when we talk about prison rape, what comes into mind is a gang of prisoners approaching a lone prisoner from behind and raping him. According to the Department of Justice, in the 2004 alone , an estimated 8,210 allegations of sexual violence were reported by correctional authorities the equivalent of 3. 2 allegations per 1,000 inmates and youths incarcerated in 2004. (â€Å"Almost 2100 sexual violence incidents took place in the nation’s correctional facilities during 2004†) It must be stressed that when rape is accompanied by physical force and violence, things usually turn out ugly for the rape victim. He may suffer broken neck, dislocated shoulders, hips, and dislocated fingers. Things could get really bloody that there have been inmates who have been recorded to have died after a forcible rape. In an article in Houston Chronicle entitled â€Å"Mother Probes Son’s Death in Prison,† Randy Payne a 23 –year old white inmate was attacked by a group of about 20 inmates within a week after arriving at the Texas Prison. He later died of head injuries. Allan Turner) Indeed, forcible rape is such a common scenario inside prison that it may happen in any part of the prison. It could take place inside the shower, bathroom, washroom, and in sleeping areas. Forcible rape must however be distinguished from other forms of sexual abuse that also happens inside prison which is considered as most common and which takes place everyday in prison. This is called the coerced sex. In this scenario, no violence or force takes place but the victim willingly submits to the sexual favors by other inmates. It does not however follow that if sex was not accompanied by force or violence, the inmate has given his consent to have sex with the other inmate. It must be stressed that the prison system is a very coercive environment such that it very difficult to ascertain whether the victim has indeed agreed to consensual sex. This is similar with the confession obtained by police officers to a crime suspect while the latter is being held under their custody. In the same manner as there could be no voluntary confession in this scenario so is the case of consensual sex among inmates behind bars. The following are the most common reasons why consensual sex is very rare in prison. They explain why it is possible that even if the inmate has submitted himself to sex, the same is still considered as rape. The first is that the inmate becomes indebted to his other inmate because of some needs. Inside prison, there is widespread use of drugs. For some inmates they may not have the money to buy drugs or even food from other inmates. Another prisoner feigning to want to befriend this inmate offers him drugs for free. This â€Å"free offers† may include cigarettes, food, water, or even an extra pillow. For some time, this other inmate will make it appear that he merely wants to befriend this other inmate. Later on, he will ask that all these debts be repaid. If the inmate does not have the money then sexual favors might be asked in return. Another scenario is when another inmate poses as a protector of the victim. In this scenario, the group of inmates will set up their victim by threatening the victim with bodily harm and injury. At the point when they are about to hurt their victim, this â€Å"protector† will scare the other group of inmates away. This constant threat he receives from the other groups make the victim fear these inmates. He is then forced to befriend the other inmate who acted as his protector. They later on become close and they become friends. After the frequent protections, the inmate will not ask that his favors be repaid sexually. Male rape is not only a common thing inside prisons, as for female prisoners, the enemy is not their fellow prisoners but much worse. They are the male prison guards and correctional staff. The problem of sexual abuse among women prisoners is much worse precisely because of their sheer number. Research shows that the United States has earned the distinction of incarcerating the most number of prisoners. Most of these prisoners are women and there number is increasing exponentially. According to studies, since 1980, the number of women entering US prisons has risen by almost 400% roughly double the incarceration rate increase of males†¦According to current estimates, at least half of all female prisoners have experienced some form of sexual abuse prior to incarceration†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (â€Å"All Too Familiar: Sexual Abuse of Women in State Prisons†, 1996) It must be stressed that this form of sexual abuse against female prisoners is worse because here the correctional officials not only become remiss in their duty to protect the inmates but they also violate the moral and legal obligation to them. Also, the male prison guards and correctional staff commit their crime with impunity using not only force but their supreme authority to give these women goods or deny them certain privileges depending on whether they â€Å"consent† to have sex. Lack of Response of Prison Officials The problem of prison rape in our penal institutions is indeed immense. Though there have been high-profile cases involving sexual abuse in prison, this problem is far from being resolved. The fault lies in not just one person or institution but in our indifferent attitude to this problem. Society perhaps may think that convicted prisoners deserve this condition inside prison. Surprisingly we will notice that prison and correctional officials are not severely punished for their transgressions. While some have been found guilty, most of the time, the punishment imposed on correctional officials would involve their reassignment to other penal institution and suspension for up to 30 days. They consider this as an administrative matter. The judiciary which is supposed to protect the oppressed likewise offers no solution to this problem as they would consider this problem as an internal matter and would rather allow prison officials to handle this matter amongst themselves. The indifferent attitude of our correctional officials to one inmate raping another is likewise depressing. Their action on this matter will mainly be limited to transferring the prisoner to another penal facility. I believe that the problem of sexual abuse will be reduced if not prevented not necessarily by punishing prison officials. The response need not be limited to their strict punishment as avoidance measures may be instituted as a matter of prison policy. Most of the time, this problem happens because the prisoner does not know what to expect in prison. He has no knowledge what happens inside prison and he does not know what to do in case something like this happens. In some states, particularly North Carolina, initiatives have been made to prevent rape by an inmate against another by conducting inmate orientation. Among the topics discussed in this orientation are not only the house rules and the day to day activities of the inmates but also information that rape may happen while they are inside the prison and tips on how to avoid getting rape. They should be prepared on the possible tricks that their fellow inmates may play on them and they should be advised to refuse any offers for food and drugs that they may later on be asked to repay. Secondly, prisoner classification should be given priority by prison officials. It must be stressed that in most prisons the hard core prisoners are mixed with first timers. When this happens the new comer becomes easy target by them. Thus, classification of prisoner and separating those newcomers from the others will provide a good alternative against rape. Thirdly, I believe we should start changing our attitudes on the issue of prison rape. This is not just an administrative misconduct but a grave offense. This issue should therefore be addressed seriously and swiftly. If a complaint is received that prison officials has raped an inmate, investigations should be made and he should immediately be prosecuted and criminal charges should be immediately filed.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Effects of Paraneoplastic LEMS on Neuromuscular Junction

Effects of Paraneoplastic LEMS on Neuromuscular Junction Qing Zhi Tan Effects of Paraneoplastic  Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome on the Neuromuscular Junction IntroductionThe Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an autoimmune disease. It is characterised by muscle weakness of the proximal lowerlimbs as a result of auto-antibodies produced against the voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) found on the presynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction(1). Most of the time, LEMS is classified as a paraneoplastic syndrome as it is often associated with cancer (small cell lung cancer in particular) (2, 3). One of the earliest descriptions of this disease was reported by Anderson and his colleagues in the year 1953, describing a 47-year-old patient with bronchial carcinoma presenting with progressive muscle weakness(4). Upon examining this patient, Anderson wrote: His (the patients) muscle power was generally weaker than his muscle bulk would suggest, especially the muscles of the shoulder girdle, hip girdle, trunk, and anterior compartments of the legs.(4) Since then, much research has been done to find out more about this disease. It is now known that the auto-antibodies are primarily directed against the P/Q-type VGCCs at the neuromuscular junction (1-3, 5, 6). This report will discuss the effects of LEMS on the neuromuscular junction. Voltage-Gated Calcium ChannelsIt would be useful to first understand the structure of the voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC). In general, VGCCs are made up of 5 subunits (ÃŽÂ ±1, ÃŽÂ ±2, ÃŽÂ ², ÃŽÂ ´, ÃŽÂ ³) and can be divided, according to the electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of their ÃŽÂ ±1 subunit, into 5 different subtypes (L, N, P/Q, R and T-type)(2, 7). The structure of a typical VGCC is shown in Figure 1 below. As mentioned before, the LEMS auto-antibodies are mainly directed against the P/Q-type VGCCs (1-3, 5, 6). The ÃŽÂ ±1 subunit of the P/Q-type VGCCs is known as ÃŽÂ ±1A(8). This ÃŽÂ ±1A subunit forms the channel which allows the movement of Ca2+ ions into the synaptic knob(8), and can be further broken down into 4 identical domains (I, II, III, IV), each possessing 6 transmembrane segments (S1-S6)(2, 8) (see Figure 2). What Happens at The Neuromuscular Junction?Now that we have understood the basic structure of the VGCCs, let us move on to its role and how it is affected by the pathogenesis of LEMS. The neuromuscular junction is made up of the pre-synaptic membrane, the synaptic cleft and the post-synaptic membrane (5, 9, 10). P/Q-type VGCCs present on the surface of the pre-synaptic membrane play a vital role in allowing synaptic transmissions to cross the neuromuscular junction (7, 9). In studies conducted by multiple different researchers, anti-P/Q-type VGCC auto-antibodies were found in more than 85% of LEMS patients (3, 6, 11). Japanese researchers Masaharu Takamori and his colleagues even went a step further to determine the specific immunodominant sites within the P/Q-type VGCC in which the auto-antibodies would bind. In their study, they found that majority of their test subjects had auto-antibodies directed against domains II and IV of the ÃŽÂ ±1A subunit in the P/Q-type VGCC(12)(highlighted in red in Figure 2). Depolarisation of the pre-synaptic membrane occurs when stimulated by an action potential initiated by a nerve impulse(13). This membrane depolarisation causes the VGCCs to open, allowing the local influx of calcium ions (Ca2+)into the synaptic knob(13). The increase in Ca2+ concentration will stimulate the exocytosis of vesicles containing the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine (ACh) into the synaptic cleft(13). ACh then goes on to bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors found on the motor end plate which will trigger an action potential and subsequently causing muscle contraction.(10, 13) In patients with LEMS, the LEMS auto-antibodies would bind to the VGCC present on the pre-synaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction(5). This causes the VGCC to lose its ability to function as an ion channel, thus inhibiting the influx of Ca2+ into the synaptic knob during membrane depolarisation(5). Since the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles are dependent on Ca2+ (14), it is believed that a decrease in Ca2+ influx would result in a reduction in synaptic vesicle exocytosis(5, 13, 15). A recent study conducted in 2015 confirmed the phenomenon in which the LEMS IgG directly causes a reduction in the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles (16). They did this by using fluorescence imaging techniques to observe the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles in rat neurons incubated with LEMS IgG (16). Pooled IgG from healthy individuals were used in comparison and as a control (16). Hence, it is evident that the muscle weakness seen in LEMS patients is a direct consequence of reduced exocytosis of ACh-containing synaptic vesicles. In summary, the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness in patients. The reduction in muscle power is due to insufficient ACh release at the neuromuscular junction. In 85% of these patients, this is caused by auto-antibodies inactivating the P/Q-type VGCCs on the presynaptic membrane. Going Beyond VGCCs So, what happens in the remaining 10-15% of LEMS patients that do not have anti-P/Q-type VGCC antibodies? Many scientists have asked the same question and investigations have been carried out to find alternative mechanisms in the pathogenesis of LEMS in seronegative patients. (The term seronegative is used to describe patients with undetectable anti-P/Q-type antibodies.) In the absence of anti-P/Q-type VGCC antibodies, it is almost impossible that LEMS would have the same pathogenesis in seronegative patients. Yet, it is found that there are no significant differences in the electrophysiological and clinical characteristics between the seronegative and seropositive patients(17, 18). One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that there might be auto-antibodies directed against a different molecule involved in the synaptic transmission; hence causing seronegative patients to have the same clinical and electrophysical features albeit having no anti-P/Q-type VGCC antibodies. To date, many auto-antibodies with different target molecules have been found in LEMS patients. One of the earliest to be discovered is an auto-antibody to synaptotagmin, which is a protein involved in synaptic vesicle exocytosis (2, 5, 13, 15, 19). Furthermore, antibodies to the M1-type presynaptic muscarinic ACh receptor (M1-mAChR) have also been discovered(20). The M1-mAChR is a G-protein coupled receptor that regulates ACh release at the neuromuscular junction(5, 20). We will not be going into the specifics of these antibodies in this report as the mechanisms involved are largely complicated. ConclusionEven though LEMS is a rare autoimmune disease, the prevalence of LEMS as a paraneoplastic syndrome in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is extremely high. More than half of LEMS patients have SCLC and more often than not, the diagnosis of LEMS precedes the diagnosis of SCLC(21). Therefore, LEMS could potentially play a crucial role in allowing certain cancers to be detected at an earlier stage. Hence, understanding the pathophysiology of this disease would not only prove useful in discovering better treatments for LEMS patients but also aid the early detection of cancer. References: 1.Weiss N, Koschak A. Pathologies of Calcium Channels. Weiss N, Koschak A, editors: Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg : Imprint: Springer; 2014. 2.Takamori M. An autoimmune channelopathy associated with cancer: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Intern Med. 1999;38(2):86-96. 3.Lennon VA, Kryzer TJ, Griesmann GE, OSuilleabhain PE, Windebank AJ, Woppmann A, et al. Calcium-Channel Antibodies in the Lambert-Eaton Syndrome and Other Paraneoplastic Syndromes. New England Journal of Medicine. 1995;332(22):1467-75. 4.Anderson HJ, Churchill-Davidson HC, Richardson AT. BRONCHIAL NEOPLASM WITH MYASTHENIA. The Lancet. 1953;262(6799):1291-3. 5.Hulsbrink R, Hashemolhosseini S. Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome diagnosis, pathogenesis and therapy. Clin Neurophysiol. 2014;125(12):2328-36. 6.Motomura M, Lang B, Johnston I, Palace J, Vincent A, Newsom-Davis J. Incidence of serum anti-P/Q-type and anti-N-type calcium channel autoantibodies in the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 1997;147(1):35-42. 7.Catterall WA. Voltage-gated calcium channels. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology. 2011;3(8):a003947. 8.Structure and Regulation of Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 2000;16(1):521-55. 9.Hughes BW, Kusner LL, Kaminski HJ. Molecular architecture of the neuromuscular junction. Muscle Nerve. 2006;33(4):445-61. 10.Martini F, Nath JL, Bartholomew EF. Fundamentals of anatomy physiology. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings; 2012. 11.Motomura M, Johnston I, Lang B, Vincent A, Newsom-Davis J. An improved diagnostic assay for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery Psychiatry. 1995;58(1):85-7. 12.Takamori M, Iwasa K, Komai K. Antigenic Sites of the Voltage-gated Calcium Channel in Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndromea. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1998;841(1):625-35. 13.Lang B, Newsom-Davis J. Immunopathology of the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Springer seminars in immunopathology. 1995;17(1):3-15. 14.Mechanisms of Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 2000;16(1):19-49. 15.Takamori M. Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome as an autoimmune calcium channelopathy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004;322(4):1347-51. 16.Spillane J, Ermolyuk Y, Cano-Jaimez M, Lang B, Vincent A, Volynski KE, et al. Lambert-Eaton syndrome IgG inhibits transmitter release via P/Q Ca2+ channels. Neurology. 2015;84(6):575-9. 17.Oh SJ, Hatanaka Y, Claussen GC, Sher E. Electrophysiological differences in seropositive and seronegative Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Muscle Nerve. 2007;35(2):178-83. 18.Nakao YK, Motomura M, Fukudome T, Fukuda T, Shiraishi H, Yoshimura T, et al. Seronegative Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: study of 110 Japanese patients. Neurology. 2002;59(11):1773. 19.Takamori M, Hamada T, Komai K, Takahashi M, Yoshida A. Synaptotagmin can cause an immune-mediated model of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in rats. Annals of neurology. 1994;35(1):74-80. 20.Takamori M. Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: Search for alternative autoimmune targets and possible compensatory mechanisms based on presynaptic calcium homeostasis. Journal of Neuroimmunology. 2008;201-202:145-52. 21.Titulaer MJ, Verschuuren JJGM. Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2008;1132(1):129-34.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Causes of Stress Among School Teachers

Causes of Stress Among School Teachers The effects of stress upon a persons life can be profound. Different studies have shown that job related stress affects work satisfaction and over all happiness. Increasing stress is becoming recognized occupational hazard in the educational profession. In a country like Pakistan we cannot ignore the situation in educational setting. Teachers` agitations and class boycotts are common practice that shows their dissatisfaction. Both quantity and quality of education are not good. There may be many causes of stress in teachers. To investigate the causes and the nature of stress is of vital importance for improving the quality of education. The present study will be an effort to investigate the causes of stress and to get an orientation of how to explore it on a larger scale. Statement of the problem: The proposed study will investigate the causes of stress among school teachers. Significance of the study: Receiving little practical attention from governmental side education department especially school situation is very bad. Working staff in school is very much frustrated and every one from principal to lowest rank servant complains about his status and neglected condition. It is clear that every one face some kind of stress which is evident in his lake of interest in job. This disinterestedness leads to poor teaching environment and also creates administrative problems for the head of the institution. To improve the situation in school it is must to create stress free environment. But nothing can be improved without knowing the factors involved in creating stress among the staff especially the teachers who are responsible for the better running of the system. So this study will be very important for those who are concerned with the education system; e.g. the following can take help of this study: Heads of educational institutions Education planners Education department Society stakeholders who thinks teachers accountable Delimitations of the study: The research will follow the conceptual theoretical framework developed on the basis of review of related literature. However, the study will restrict itself to primary investigation of government high schools only in district Peshawar only. Hypotheses of the study: The following hypotheses will be tested: there is significant difference between salary of teachers and the level of stress there is significant difference between level of stress and traveling to reach  their place of duty. there is significant difference between personal conflict among teachers and stress in teachers there is significant difference between class size and stress in teachers there is significant difference between level of stress in teachers and lengthy courses there is significant difference between level of stress in teachers and Heavy work load on them there is significant difference between level of stress in teachers and Authoritarian behavior of the principal there is significant difference between level of stress in teachers and lake of rule and discipline in school there is significant difference between level of stress in teachers and lake of community support Sample of the study: Since the research will be restricted to schools of one district only, therefore to see the meaningful effect the sample will comprise 60% of the whole population of teachers in the district. Brief Review of related literature Definition of stress It is not easy to define the concept of stress. Usually it is associated with the less pleasant aspect of life (Sharp, 1977).Hans selye(1956)defined stress as the non specific response of the body to any demand. it was used as a substitute for anxiety conflict and emotional distress. To Bower(1984) it is any force that brings some change in an organism for better or worse. There are many more definitions but their description equates stress with distress. However the literature about stress do not conform this meaning. It refers to a wide range of physiological changes and environment pressures in the health illness literature. It becomes clear when Selye further distinguishes in his definition of stress between eustress, that is an exciting and pleasant kind of demand and distress that is threatening ,unpleasant or even harmful demand. This distinction between eustress and distress lies in the perception of the person. The above discussion leads us to general definition as Sharp has given.Aaccording to him stress is an individual perception and assessment. This definition is broad and means that every thing which we feel with our five senses is a source of stress. The definition also makes it clear that the perception and assessment of the environment is not the same by each individual. For example for a person, moving to a new town might be a source of distress because of some painful loss. The above definition illustrates that stress is the fact of life. We cannot escape from it anywhere. Without stress life means death. So for living a better life we should understand it. Theoretical perspective Stress theory begins with the experiments of Hans Selye (1956) who described stress as biological syndrome; Experiments on rates show that if the organism is severely damaged  by acute non specific cocoas agents such as an exposure to cold, surgical  injury, production of spinal shocka typical syndrome appears, the symptoms  of which are independent of the nature of the damaging agent and represent  rather the nature of damaging agent as such. The apparent state of this syndrome is called stress, which brings biological changes in the organism. Selyes observation was that stress reaction was general and occurred in response to any number of different stimuli. He saw this reaction as an adoptive syndrome of this organism in response to external stress. The form this syndrome takes place is called general adaptation syndrome (GAS). GAS consists of three phases,(i) alarm reaction (ii) resistance (iii) exhaustion. In the first stage the system assesses the situation and prepare for fight or flight but the overall resistance is to a stressor initially decreases. During the resistance the body becomes adapted to the presence of the stressor and begins to resist its impact. It may mean fighting or controlling ones self trying. The exhaustion starts if the stressor continues and the body reaches the end of its capacity for resistance, the result may be a collapse, illness, mental disorder or even death. In general the current rese arch suggests that the stress response is not a simple biological response to no specific stressors but rather a complex, interrelated process including the occurrence of stressor, how it is seen physiologically by the organism, under what circumstances the stressor occurs, how the organism characteristically reacts and what the resources are that the organism has, available for dealing with the stressors. The concept of a general stress reaction may be viable but only if we assume that it represents the sum of a great many psychological and physiological factors rather than a specific all or non response to the occurrence of a stressing event Empirical perspective Stressful life events:- Halms and Rahi (1967) developed the Social Readjustment Scale for measuring the intensity of 43 life events. Newman (1983) found that the intensity of stress depends on the persons impression of the life event and his coping strategies. Two different interpretations have been offered about why life events may be tied to physical or psychological disturbance. One view suggests that all change is stressful and the source is not important. The total amount of life change in a given period should predict subsequent stress responses. The second view focuses on undesirable or negative changes as the primary stressors. In a number of studies, this factor i.e. the undesirable change was more closely related to disturbance than was total change. Apparently there is not a direct relationship between occurrence of crises events and the observed physical and psychological disturbance of crises state. It is difficult to know when a crises event is about to occur. Many of t he important life events occur by change. Two factors will influence the extent to which crises event s lead to crises states. One is persons interpretation of the event. The second is the effectiveness of the persons coping strategies. The hassles of daily life: there are countless minor stress events that have low intensity but greater frequency. According to Lazarus ,et al (1985) these daily life hassles are important sources of stress. They have developed hassles scale on which individual indicates the extent to which he has been hassled by common event during the past month. The list of these hassles includes household, time pressure, inner concern, financial and work. The effects of these hassles also apply to health. Work as a source of stress:- work can also be a source of stress. The factors that make work stressful are work overload, work under load, employees role and change in the work environment. Stress in teachers:- work stress has been recognized as occupational hazard of teaching and its causes have been fairly well established(Smith and Milstein, 1984). According to Kyriacou(1987) teachers experience more work stress than most other occupational groups and according to Pankhurst(1982) they are more distressed than the general population. Nagy and Davis (1985) have found that junior and secondary school teachers in one place are about as stressed as their colleagues elsewhere. At organizational level there are many factors that contribute to teachers stress. Students discipline: managing disruptive students is invariably among the top ranked items in teacher stress. Among various manifestations of school discipline problem i.e. disruptive students, threats of personal injury, verbal abuse, and assault on colleagues are represented three or four times, in the list of top ten stressors. This is evident from the various surveys of teaching stress (Goodlad 1984). Bloch (1978) studied the effects of violence on teachers and compared their symptoms to those of combat neurosis. These teachers suffered from anxiety, insecurity, nightmare, fatigue, irritability, headaches, ulcers and number of other emotional and physical symptoms. Lazarus (1966) pointed out that anticipation of a threat may be as stressful as an actual stress. According to Lortie(1975) teachers who fail to keep control over students soon find that teachers are intolerable work. A related issue is that of students lack of interest. According to Goodlad when teachers were asked, what is this schools biggest problem? they answered, Lack of students interest. Teachers do feel enormously frustrated and deprived of crucial sense of gratification when working with students who are uncaring and unconcerned about learning. These students are not only personally frustrated but they also contribute to a class tone often leading to further discipline problem, that make it more difficult for a teacher to do effectively in the class room. Administrative insensitivity: The complaint is usually linked to the issues of students violence and school discipline. Many teachers think administrators are neither supportive nor sensitive to students violence and do little about enforcing rules or promoting a secure learning environment. Teachers feel that administrators are too content with their proper work in offices and avoid dealing with problem students. Stress has been found to be significantly related to principals participation in problem solving and not supporting the teachers (Jackson, S.E. et.al 1986) Involuntary Transfers This source of stress is much related to teachers. Being a principal my self I witness this phenomenon in teachers community in everyday life. Many teachers are not satisfied with their place of duty and a large number of them complain this when they are prompted and transferred to other station which is not their choice. Such transfer notices demoralize teachers and they think about retirement. Large class size Classrooms generally require structure children attention and the most effective classrooms are generally those in which teachers can individualize lessons to meet the needs of each child. The task becomes difficult with the increase in size of the class. Because large class size provides fewer opportunities to interact individually with each student, the teacher feel less involved and less effective. Moreover with the increase in class size classroom management becomes more difficult. Overcrowded classrooms then are seen weakening the likelihood of effective teaching. Inadequate Salaries Teachers also complain of their low salaries. They compare their salaries with other professional groups and their work at school level with that of the teachers at college level. This situation becomes stressful for teachers. To meet their expenditure they search for other ways. They do private tuition, which is also a blame for teachers to earn from their own school students. Parents and society at large expect from teachers and invest them with an enormous degree of responsibility. Politicians continually declare that our children are our nations future. In response to such statement teachers ask, where are the financial rewards that equate with such important task? This situation shows that inadequate salary is a source of stress for teachers. Role ambiguity, Role conflict and Role overload Role ambiguity is associated with a lack of clarity regarding workers rights, rsponsibilities, methods, goals, status and accountability. Although in some ways teachers role is defined quite explicitly, that is to teach children well, in other ways with regard to school discipline and accountability ambiguity arises. Role conflict occurs when inconsistent, incompatible or inappropriate demands are placed upon an individual. Sutton (1984) pointed to common sources of role conflict for teachers. They are expected to provide quality education to their students, yet they are not allowed to use the best instructional methods or curriculum materials available. They are responsible for maintaining discipline but do not have the authority for doing so. Teachers may also experience role conflict when they are told to perform task that is outside the domain of their professional work. Role overload is one of the common complaints of those who, with their own needs, interest, motivation and achievement level are a big number, for any one person to handle. Role overload may also occur from the efforts necessary to work effectively with children who are seemingly unprepared or unmotivated to attend school. Sutton has pointed out two distinct, though equally dysfunctional responses to work overload. In the first case teachers feel forced either to do low quality work or to not finish the work at all which is psychologically as well as physiological problem. Stress results from either response. This is a general list of work related stressors for teachers. In any given school a number of idiosyncratic stressors impinge upon teachers, their existence is a junction of the type of individuals who have taught and who have learned in that particular setting. Societal Factors Unconcerned parents; parents beliefs, an integral part of the educational process and parental support of childrens work, strongly influence school success. The teachers generally welcome parental involvement in schools but majority parents are not supportive to teachers. Unsupportive parents come under two major varieties; not involved and too involved. In the first group are those parents who are not available.Incapable, uninterested in their childrens education and those who put whole responsibility of educating of their children on teachers. In the second group are those parents who have decided that the real education is only possible if parents constantly monitor what occurs in the school. These parents feel that their child is being overlooked by the teacher and that only constant pressure on their part will rectify the situation. Although all parents are not of such kind but generally parents are perceived by teachers as either unhelpful or unavailable or intrusive. Public criticism; the typical comments about teachers from public include: they have much offs, get much for the little they cannot do anything else etc. charged with the educating and socializing so many children teachers are reminded of their failures and rarely praised for their successes. This evaluation of teachers by the public in such a way make them stressful. Public demand for accountability; apparently it is reasonable to say that public should hold teachers accountable for the success of their work. The public pay taxis ad pay teacher salaries and have right to expect some performance levels. However from the prospective of teachers the demand for accountability is too often the means by which teachers autonomy and sense of professionalism are trampled upon by those who know little about education and educational evaluation. Most troubling to teachers is their feeling that society expects them to educate, socialize every student who comes to school regardless of the social, economic and psychological difficulties some of these students bring with them. If parents, psychologists social workers have failed why teachers should be accountable for all the problems. This demand of accountability is also a source of stress for teachers. Procedure of the study Based upon the objective of the study an occupational stress inventory will be developed regarding job related stress events. In developing the items in the inventory discussion with the local teachers and study of the related literature will be focused. Teachers opinion about stress inducing problems will be given more importance. Like previous researchers Likert Scale will be used for obtaining data about job related stress. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bloch, A.M. (1978). Conflict Neurosis in inner city schools, American journal of Psychiatry, 135, 189-192. Bowers. (1984).n being unconsciously influenced and Informed. American Journal of Psychiatry, 135, 1 Goodlad.J.I. (1984). A place called school, New York ,McGraw-hill. Holms, TH Rahi (1967). The Social Readjustment Scale. Journal Psychosomatic Research, 11, 213-218. Jackson, S.E, et al. (1986). Towards an understanding of the burnout phenomenon Journal of applied psychology, 19 (4) 630-640. Kyriaco, C. (1987). Teacher stress and burnout: An international review of Education and Research 29(20) 146-152 Lazarus, R.(1978). A strategy for Research on Psychological and Social factors of hypertension. Journal of Human Stress, 4, 35-40. Lortie, D. (1975).school teacher. Chicago: university of Chicago press Nagy, D. Davis (1982). The relationship of Type A and B personalities in Farber B.A (1991) Crises in Education, California Jossy-Bass inc. Newman, J, E. Beehr, T.A (1979). Personal and organizational strategies for handling job stress: a review of research and opinion, Personal Psychology, 32, 1-43. Pankhurst, F. (19820 Stress, health and absenteeism in teaching, National Education, 19 (1) 39-51 Selye, H. (1956). The stress of life. New York. McGraw Hill Sharp, R.F. (1977) Thrives on stress. London Souvenir Press Smith, D.Milstein, M.(1984) Old wine in new bottles. Urban Education, 39-51

Monday, August 19, 2019

Full Body Scanners Do Not Lead to Safer Travel Essays -- Airport Secur

Why should anyone including my 3-year-old daughter unnecessarily be exposed to cancer causing X-ray beams in a full body scanner? Or have a total stranger run his or her hands up and down my daughter's body for a full pat-down upon refusing the scan? Most enraging is that the scan can be done without my knowledge. Full body scanners should not be used in United States airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), on November 20, 2010 implemented the use of 385 scanners, otherwise know as advanced imaging technology in 68 airports to include Denver International Airport. The TSA is using these machines supposedly to ensure safer travel and be steps ahead of security threats. According to the TSA, as a preventive measure, scanners where rapidly deployed after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's failed attempt at blowing up an aircraft with pentaerythritol tetranitrate, or PETN sewn in his underwear December 25, 2009. Former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff claimed that if Abdulmutallab had gone through screening or a full pat-down, the explosives would have been discovered (Eggen, DeYoung and Hsu 2). The TSA also claims that not all explosives or explosive devices can be detected through metal detectors. The scanner machines cannot detect explosives such as the type that Abdulmutallab had concealed. Abdullah Ansieri had a detonator and explosives hidden in his rectum when he tried to kill Saudi Arabia's counter-terrorism chief, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef. Ansieri was Saudi's most wanted man and managed to get through two rigorous airport screenings and Saudi Secret Service, who defend royals by any means necessary. Professor Clive Williams a counter-terrorism expert of the Australian National University said the mac... ...he-real-radiation-risk-of-the-tsas-full-body-x-ray-scans/> 5. Bell, Jason. â€Å"Review of the TSA X-ray backscatter body scanner safety report: hide your kids, hide your wife.† My Helical Tryst, blogspot.com, 22 Nov 2010. Web. 1 Dec 2010. 6. â€Å"You asked for it...You got it, Millimeter Wave images.† blog.tsa.gov. TSA 09 May 2008. Web. 1 Dec 2010. . 7. "Are Full Body Scan Images Saved? Issue Challenged In Federal Court...† wgrz, Buffalo, 06 Aug 2010. Web. 1 Dec 2010. . 8. Meserve, Jeanne, and Mike M. Ahlers. â€Å"Body scanners can store, send images, group says.† CNN 11 Jan 2010: 1. Web. ! Dec 2010.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Essay --

Daphne was Apollo's first love. It was not brought about by accident, but by the malice of Cupid. Apollo saw the boy playing with his bow and arrows; and being himself elated with his recent victory over Python, he said to him, "What have you to do with warlike weapons, saucy boy? Leave them for hands worthy of them, Behold the conquest I have won by means of them over the vast serpent who stretched his poisonous body over acres of the plain! Be content with your torch, child, and kindle up your flames, as you call them, where you will, but presume not to meddle with my weapons." Venus's boy heard these words, and rejoined, "Your arrows may strike all things else, Apollo, but mine shall strike you." So saying, he took his stand on a rock of Parnassus, and drew from his quiver two arrows of different workmanship, one to excite love, the other to repel it. The former was of gold and sharp pointed, the latter blunt and tipped with lead. With the leaden shaft he struck the nymph Daphne, the daughter of the river god Peneus, and with the golden one Apollo, through the heart. Forthwith the god was seized with love for the maiden, and she abhorred the thought of loving. Her delight was in woodland sports and in the spoils of the chase. lovers sought her, but she spurned them all, ranging the woods, and taking no thought of Cupid nor of Hymen. Her father often said to her, "Daughter, you owe me a son-in-law; you owe me grandchildren." She, hating the thought of marriage as a crime, with her beautiful face tinged all over with blushes, threw her arms around her father's neck, and said, "Dearest father, grant me this favour, that I may always remain unmarried, like Diana." He consented, but at the same time said, "Your own face will forbid ... ...ll her limbs; her bosom began to be enclosed in a tender bark; her hair became leaves; her arms became branches; her foot stuck fast in the ground, as a root; her face became a tree-top, retaining nothing of its former self but its beauty, Apollo stood amazed. He touched the stem, and felt the flesh tremble under the new bark. He embraced the branches, and lavished kisses on the wood. The branches shrank from his lips. "Since you cannot be my wife," said he, "you shall assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown; I will decorate with you my harp and my quiver; and when the great Roman conquerors lead up the triumphal pomp to the Capitol, you shall be woven into wreaths for their brows. And, as eternal youth is mine, you also shall be always green, and your leaf know no decay." The nymph, now changed into a Laurel tree, bowed its head in grateful acknowledgment

Hydroelectricity for a Brighter Future Essay -- Hydro Electricity Ener

Hydroelectricity for a Brighter Future The environment is a precious thing and we need to protect and care for it. The environment does not have its own voice; therefore we must speak on behalf of the environment. Over the past century as technology has improved and people have desired more materialistic things, our environment has been harmed tremendously. I will not deny that I do enjoy having cars, electricity, and other technologies which make my life easier, but I do believe that there are other means of obtaining energy through different methods that are more environmentally friendly. A great example of one of these methods is hydroelectric energy. Hydroelectric energy is a renewable energy source which relies on the natural water cycle, which includes evaporation, precipitation, and the flow of water due to gravity. Today, we have a method of taking this hydroelectric energy and turning it into electricity—hence the term hydroelectricity. Hydro means water and hydroelectric means creating electricity from water power. When it rains, water becomes streams that run down the sides of mountains and hills into the ocean. This falling water can be used to do work. Keep in mind energy is the ability to do work. Therefore, the falling water which has kinetic energy is converted into electricity (Hydro Power 2005). Hydroelectricity is created in hydroelectric power plants through the usage of dams, turbines, generators, and transmission lines. Hydroelectric power plants capture the energy of falling water and convert this energy into electricity. Dams are created to raise the water level of the rivers to generate falling water and control the flow of the water. This forms ... ...re we are getting our next fuel source from and it will add to our wallets, not take away. Works Cited Baird, Stuart. Hydro-Electric Power. 1993. Energy Educators of Ontario. 18 Apr. 2005 . Do the Benefits of Massive Hydroelectric Power Projects Outweigh the Environmental Costs of These Projects? 18 Apr. 2005 . How Hydropower Works. 13 Dec. 2000. Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company. 18 Apr. 2005 . Hydro Power. 22 Apr. 2002 Energy Story. 18 Apr. 2005. . Medina, Francelys. Hydroelectric Power: Dammed? Nov. 2001. Energy and Modern Society. 18 Apr. 2005 .

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Pablo Picasso

Picasso works were influenced by Yawners Turbid De Hernandez Professor Michael Cain English Composition II April 10, 2013 Many of Picasso works are influenced by his father who was a painter, for the death of his close friend Carols Cameras, and also for the World War I (Spanish civil war- Queering). Picasso love for art was somewhat genetic. His father, Jose Uric Balsas, was a painter as well and he loved art. Picasso was quick to express his desire for art.Picasso father began teaching him to draw and paint from early childhood, and by the time he was 13 years old his painting were already better than his father's. He lost all desire to do any schoolwork and instead spent the school days doodling in his notebook. Picasso recalled, â€Å"For being a bad student, they would send me to the cells, I loved it when they sent me there, because I could take a pad of paper and draw nonstop. † (A+E Television Networks, 1996-2013 ). Other influence in his work was when his close friend Carols Cameras died.He felt lonely and deeply depressed over the death of his friend, he painted scenes of poverty, isolation and anguish using exclusively blues and greens. This was Picasso Blue Period – 1901-1904. The subject matter for this period was poor people of the streets, beggars, prostitutes, drunks and poor gaunt people. He also depicted old and sick people and despairing lovers. The paintings showed themes of alienation, poverty and psychological depression. The mood of the paintings were somber and were influenced by his time in Spain, a visit to the Saint Lazars women's prison and also the suicide of his friend Cameras.Picasso most famous work, Queering is certainly the his most powerful political statement, painted as an immediate reaction to the Nazi's devastating casual mobbing practice on the Basque town of Queering during Spanish Civil War. Queering was a unique painting for Picasso to create because he never wanted to be influenced by the outside world. Historians argue that Queering is the exception and Picasso allowed him-self to be influenced and expressed his views. Queering shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians.This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. On completion Queering was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed. This tour helped bring the Spanish Civil War to the world's attention. Queering is a town in the province of Biscayne in Basque Country. During the Spanish Civil War, it was regarded as the northern bastion of the Republican resistance movement and the epicenter of Basque culture, adding to its significance as a target.In 26 April 1937, warplanes of the German Condor Legion, commanded by Colonel Wolfram von Ricocheted, bombed Queering for about two hours. After the bombing, Picasso was made aware of wha t had gone on in his country of origin. At the time, he was working on a mural for the Paris Exhibition to be held in the summer of 1937, commissioned by the Spanish Republican government. He deserted his original idea and on 1 May 1937, began on Queering. (www. Pillowcases. Org. , 2009-Present ) Picasso works were important in the Art. Picasso produced a painting unlike anything he or anyone else had ever painted before. Less Demolishes Davidson† (1907), is considered the precursor and inspiration of Cubism, an artistic Tyler pioneered by Picasso. By 1911 Picasso was recognized as the inventor of Cubism, which is breaking down objects or people in to somewhat geometric forms to form the composition. Then, from 1927 Picasso became caught up in a new philosophical and cultural movement, Surrealism, whose artistic manifestation was an offspring of his own cubism. Pablo Picasso stands alone as the most celebrated and influential painter of the twentieth century. His technical mas tery, creativity and profound empathy distinguish him as a revolutionary artist. Pablo Picasso English Version I am going to be talking about the famous Spanish painter Pablo Uric y Picasso. Pablo Uric y Picasso was a famous Spanish painter during the early sass's. He was also a famous sculptor, ceramicist, printmaker, and stage designer. He was most famous for his paintings. He painted in an abstract manner which changed the effects of the paintings. Picasso paintings are found in many museums. These painting are divided into many periods that correspond to his life. The first period was the blue period. This period had sad paintings in the color of blue and green.The second period was that of the pink period. During this period, his work was more cheery. The most famous painting of this time was the Boy With a Pipe. The third period was the African-Influenced Period. The paintings of this time were influenced by African artifacts. The most famous painting was that of The Decompiles Davidson. The next period was that of Cubism. This period had two parts. These were that of sy nthetic and analytical. Towards the final part of his painting career, Pablo Picasso came into classicism and surrealism.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Pine Beetle

Mountain pine beetles (MPB) are the most important insect pest of Colorado's pine forests. MPB often kill large numbers of trees annually during outbreaks. Trees that are not growing vigorously due to old age, crowding, poor growing conditions, drought, fire or mechanical damage, root disease and other causes are most likely to be attacked. For a long-term remedy, thin susceptible stands. Leave well-spaced, healthy trees. For short-term controls, spray, cover, burn or peel attacked trees to kill the beetles. Preventive sprays can protect green, unattacked trees. [pic] |[pic] | |Figure 1: Adult Dendroctonus (left) versus Ips (right). Note gradually curved wing of | |Dendroctonus. Actual size of Dendroctonus from 1/8 to 1/3 inch, Ips 1/3 to 1/4 inch. | Mountain pine beetle (MPB), Dendroctonus ponderosae, is native to the forests of western North America. Periodic outbreaks of the insect, previously called the Black Hills beetle or Rocky Mountain pine beetle, can result in losses of mi llions of trees.Outbreaks develop irrespective of property lines, being equally evident in wilderness areas, mountain subdivisions and back yards. Even windbreak or landscape pines many miles from the mountains can succumb to beetles imported in infested firewood. Mountain pine beetles develop in pines, particularly ponderosa, lodgepole, Scotch and limber pine. Bristlecone and pinyon pine are less commonly attacked. During early stages of an outbreak, attacks are limited largely to trees under stress from injury, poor site conditions, fire damage, overcrowding, root disease or old age.However, as beetle populations increase, MPB attacks may involve most large trees in the outbreak area. A related insect, the Douglas-fir beetle (D. pseudotsugae), occasionally damages Douglas-fir. Most often, outbreaks are associated with previous injury by fire or western spruce budworm. (See fact sheet 5. 543, Western Spruce Budworms). Spruce beetle (D. rufipennis) is a pest of Engelmann and Colorad o blue spruce in Colorado. Injured pines also can be attacked by the red turpentine beetle (D. valens).Mountain pine beetles and related bark beetles in the genus Dendroctonus can be distinguished from other large bark beetles in pines by the shape of the hind wing cover (Figure 1, top). In side view, it is gradually curved. The wing cover of Ips or engraver beetles, another common group of bark beetles attacking conifers, is sharply spined (Figure 1, bottom). Signs and Symptoms of MPB Attack Popcorn-shaped masses of resin, called â€Å"pitch tubes,† on the trunk where beetle tunneling begins. Pitch tubes may be brown, pink or white (Figures 2 and 6).Boring dust in bark crevices and on the ground immediately adjacent to the tree base. Evidence of woodpecker feeding on trunk. Patches of bark are removed and bark flakes lie on the ground or snow below tree. Foliage turning yellowish to reddish throughout the entire tree crown. This usually occurs eight to 10 months after a succ essful MPB attack. Presence of live MPB (eggs, larvae, pupae and/or adults) as well as galleries under bark. This is the most certain indicator of infestation. A hatchet for removal of bark is needed to check trees correctly (Figures 3, 5 and 8). Bluestained sapwood (Figure 9).Check at more than one point around the tree's circumference. |[pic] | |Figure 10: Large, uninfested pine being preventively sprayed. This | |protects high-value trees and should be done annually between April 1 | |and July 1. | Natural controls of mountain pine beetle include woodpeckers and insects such as clerid beetles that feed on adults and larvae under the bark. However, during outbreaks these natural controls often fail to prevent additional attacks. Extreme cold temperatures also can reduce MPB populations.For winter mortality to be a significant factor, a severe freeze is necessary while the insect is in its most vulnerable stage; i. e. , in the fall before the larvae have metabolized glycerols, or in late spring when the insect is molting into the pupal stage. For freezing temperatures to affect a large number of larvae during the middle of winter, temperatures of at least 30 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) must be sustained for at least five days. Logs infested with MPB can be treated in various ways to kill developing beetles before they emerge as adults in summer.One very effective way to kill larvae developing under the bark (though very labor intensive) is by peeling away the bark, either by hand or mechanically; this exposes the larvae to unfavorable conditions — the larvae will dehydrate, starve and eventually die. Logs my also be burned or scorched in a pile — preferably when there is snow on the ground (contact your local forester for assistance). They can also be buried under at least eight inches of soil, or chipped. Following beetle emergence, wood can be used without threat to other trees.Chemical control options for MPB larvae have been greatly lim ited in recent years. At present, there are no labeled pesticides for use on MPB. Solar treatments may be appropriate in some areas of Colorado to reduce beetle populations in infested trees. For the treatment to be effective, the temperature under the bark much reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Such treatments can be performed with or without plastic. This method is also labor intensive; contact your local forester for more details on solar treatments. Prevention An important method of prevention involves forest management.In general, MPB prefers forests that are old and dense. Managing the forest by creating diversity in age and structure with result in a healthy forest that will be more resilient and, thus, less vulnerable to MPB. Most mature Colorado forests have about twice as many trees per acre as those forests which are more resistent to MPB. Contact your local forester for more information on forest management practices. Certain formulations of carbaryl (Sevin and other s) permethrin (Astro, Dragnet and others), and bifenthrin (Onyx) are registered for use to prevent attacks on individual trees.These sprays are applied to living green trees in early summer to kill or deter attacking beetles. This preventive spray is generally quite effective through one MPB flight (one year). |[pic] | |Figure 11: The appearance of a forest thinned to help prevent MPB. This| |can also improve mountain views and reduce fire hazard. | During epidemic conditions, the pressure from beetle populations may result in less satisfactory results due to several factors:

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies Essay

Carrefour Company Introduction                   The modern business world has changed and organizations have embraced new technologies for them to achieve effectiveness, efficiency and competitiveness. One of the most important technology for business prosperity is Information Technology commonly known as IT. Information is an important and integral part of any organization that determines whether a firm will make sound decisions or not. Carrefour Company is one of the well-known worldwide companies that has embraced Information technology in its business processes and this has played a majorin earning a competitive edge. Carrefour IT and Business Processes                   The company runs convenience stores, supermarkets, cash and carry supplies, hyper-cash store and hypermarkets. Carrefour also engages in non-food and food e-commerce websites and it functions as multi-location, multi-channel, and multi-location trader with its initial origin in Europe. Its products range from electronics, leisure, ornamental products, clothing items and non- food products(Koller, 2011). Carrefour contacts a large amount of its business on an online platform using its portals, ooshop.fr and Carrefour.fr. This calls for a good understanding of Information Technology for the firm to succeed and earn competitive advantage in the industry. Carrefour Company integrates Information Technology in its various business processes. Some of the ways are in communication, inventory management, data management, management information systems, security, business culture, research capacity and customer relationship management.                   Being a multi-factor company, Carrefour requires a well-structured communication channel to enable transactions and business communication to happen smoothly. The company has adapted new information technology by setting up a wide variety of communication platforms to reach the maximum number of clients and potential customers globally. Examples of the platforms used include the official company’s website, email support systems for both clients and employees, phone directories and social network accounts.                   Inventory management at Carrefour has also boosted their performance due to advanced information technology. The inventory systems gather all the information of each items stored and keep track of the quality and quantities. This enables the company to minimize on inventory costs such as carrying costs and also minimize wastages especially for the food products with low shelf life.                   Information technology has also improved data management practices at the company. Employees do not to keep large file of documents, they save everything through data systems. The systems are also able to record information which is important for business decisions and this automated systems also reduce malpractices among the employees.                   Customers are the most important stakeholders to any business organization and, therefore, the need to maintain a good relationship with them. Carrefour has achieved this aspect through customer management systems (CRM) which enhances communication with the clients. The company is able to respond immediately to customers’ concerns and the information is stored for future reference if the same client makes another call. This improves customer experience and increased customer loyalty to Carrefour products. Technologies Used at Carrefour Company                   Carrefour Company mainly employs four technologies to manage its information. These systems are Transaction Process Systems (TPS), Management Information Systems (MIS), Enterprise Information Systems, and Decision Support Systems (DSS). Transaction Process Systems monitors and records all the transactions in the organization. The system mainly is responsible for recovery of data during system failures, stabilize the data, and it also integrates and connects other systems.                   MIS on the hand, does systematic study and analysis of available data to enhance decision-making. Carrefour joint forces with a company called PeopleSoft which is in charge of their global operations by offering platforms such as Customer Relations Management(Farrel, 2013). Management Information Systems enable the company to heighten their operations by frequently updating processes, procedures, and stored data.                   DSS is a unique technology that promotes sound decision-making processes at different levels of the company’s hierarchy. Its main advantage is the ability to break down large volume of data and evaluate them for decision-making. The system retrieves the ideal information from the stored volumes of data and it can work both as an online or a batch process.                   EIS is important information tool mainly for the management of Carrefour Company. It makes summaries of the transactions and turns raw data into information which is applied internally. The management team at Carrefour use EIS to get summarized information from complex graphs and in the process speed up decision-making process(Koller, 2011). Company’s Success with IT adaption                   90% of the company’s success is attributed to its use and early adoption of Information Technology into its business activities. The technology has improved customer relations, business process, employee relations, and product development. These are the main activities of any organization and therefore making Information Technology a major player to the success Carrefour Company is enjoying today.                   Information Technology has helped Carrefour to minimize most of the cost associated with conducting business. It has enabled the organization reduce on the space required to store information through the use of computers. It has also enhance inventory management and reduced wastages and carrying costs(Koller, 2011). Due to customer relation systems, the company is able to make more tailor products and services according to the clients’ tastes and preferences. This has led more product differentiation. References Farrel, J. (2013). The Economics of Information Technology: An Introduction (Raffaele Mattioli Lectures). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Koller, T. (2011). Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies (Carrefour Case). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Source document

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Negotiating with Learners

Negotiating with learners, e. g. initial assessment, agreeing goals and actions Initial assessment is the beginning of a teacher/learner relationship, allowing the teacher to identify and discover learners with difficulties and disabilities if the learner is confident to talk about them. By recording this information, plans towards teaching can be made so every learner feels included and progress in their learning experience.The information will determine the learners starting point; the learners may already have skills and knowledge that relate to the subject taken, the teacher can also identify Literacy, Language, Numeracy and ICT that may be applicable. Assessment should not be something that is done to somebody. The learner must be involved and feel part of the process. Lesley Thom (2001 p13) All learners will want to achieve and have something to aim for. Learning goals can be negotiated and agreed.If working towards a qualification the awarding body or examining board will have a program in which to follow so the teacher will know what to teach and learner knowing what they will learn, from these targets and goals can be negotiated and agreed. Within the teacher/learner relationship, working together realistic goals and targets can be agreed and their progress assessed and recorded: Overall goals are long term which is the whole program. With aims and objectives/outcomes are usually established.Specific goals are short term which determines changes in the learner’s skills, knowledge understanding and attitudes. The learning process is effective and the goals clear and match the requirements of the learner. Immediate goals break down the specific goals into manageable tasks in the order that they are achieved. Ann Gravells & Susan Simpson (2008) Agreeing targets should be SMART (Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound) www. ifl. co. k Learners should be encouraged to take charge of their goals and learning journey, this enables l earners to become independent. When goals are set and assessed they should be recorded, all information that is recorded should be part of a plan-ILP (individual learning plan) Learning targets should be both verbal and written to ensure the learner has understood fully, learners should know their own strengths and where they can develop improvements to their skills. When setting targets, regular tutorials and review sessions and keeping the ILP up to date with learners.