Study Guide History Final Exam

Public Health or Behavior 6. Bonus Army – veterans of WWW were given a $1,000 saving bond that matures in 1995 7. Wagner Act – Magna-Cart of labor law, rights for unions to exist protected by the law 8. Repatriation – With Jobs being scarce, In border lands regions, hostilities begin again toward Mexican-Americans Immigrants 9. Bracers Program – from 1942, government recruited Mexican-Americans Labors to come back over the border to help in war time Jobs 10. Rape of Nanking – Over 300,000 Shines men, woman, and children's were slaughtered.Beheaded, rape, bloody murder by Japanese 1 1 . Overhaul Patch ? Hitler tries to violently take over Germany government, his supposed to go to Jail for 5 years but got parole after 8 months 12. Battle of Britain – Between July and September 1940, the German Air Force launched a massive offensive In the sky of Great Britain 13. Doolittle Raid – the US, felt It needed to strike back dustpan after Pearl Harbor; Jimmy Doolittle propose a symbolic strike at the heart of Japan to get their population to question their invincibility 14.IOW Jim – black volcano island 15. John Baseline – Medal of Honor Receipt at Guidance. 3 days without sleep kill 3,000 mans 16. Operation Bodyguard – Fake army that keep German guessing where US was going to attack 17. Lebensraum – living space, It was Hitler plan so the white blue eyes can have property where they could raise their kids 18. Hugging – small army fighting big army by been so close that they couldn't use their guns 19. Complex – the aggregate of a notions armed forces and the industries that supply their equipment material and armaments 20.Eisenhower ? also known as EKE, American General and the 34th president; oversaw the final defeat of Germany Essay: Explain how the role of the united States In the World changed after World War II? Prior to WI, the US was one of several Industrialized nations co mpeting with each other? After WI, the US was the only industrialized nation whose manufacturing capacity was virtually untouched by the war. Even the Allied powers in Europe were devastated, as much of the continent had been occupied at one point r another, and Great Britain had been subjected to numerous bombing raids and rocket attacks.This meant the US was the only country which had the means to rebuild the world after the war. They realized that the Allies who had forced Germany to accept the burden of debt of WWW helped set the stage for Hitter's rise to power, and they resolved not to repeat the same mistake. They forgave the citizens of the country (hanged the leaders and Instead of demanding payment, provided financing for (west) Germany and Japan, which turned these two countries from bitter.

Gelatin: Colloid and Conductivity Essay

In recent years there has been a revival of interest in the micellar theory of structure proposed by N~tgeli in 1852 as a theory for the structure of protoplasm. This theory has been taken over by colloid chemists and applied to the structure of many colloids as a result of the work of Zsigmondy (1), Pauli (2), McBaln (3, 4) and their co- workers. Laing and McBain (4) have further extended the micellar theory to the sol-gel transformation by proposing that the micellar unit of the gel state is identical with that in the sol. According to these authors: â€Å"All that is necessary is to assume that the particles become stuck together or oriented into loose aggregates, which may be chance granules or, more probably threads. † This conception is based on a study of sodium oleate, for which they found that in spite of the enormous change in viscosity involved in the change from sol to gel, such properties as electrical conductivity, lowering of the vapor pressure, refractive index, and sodium ion concentration remained identical in both the sol and the gel state. In support of their theory, Laing and McBain point out that Arrhenius (5) found the conductivity in gelatin-water-salt systems to be the same in both sol and gel. This aspect of the micellar theory has been extended by Gelfan (6) to protoplasm because he found that the conductivity of protoplasm remained independent of changes in viscosity and by Gelfan and Quigley (7) to the blood coagulation process since their experiments showed that during the coagulation process there is no change in the conductivity of shed whole blood or plasma, in spite of the almost infinite increase in viscosity during coagulation. In view of the concentration of excess electrolytes in the gelatin experiments of Arrhenius, as well as in protoplasm and in blood, the question arises whether the generalization from the findings on sodium oleate to all gelling systems, particularly among the proteins, is valid. In other words, is the identity of conductivity in the sol and gel state due to an identical micellar structure of these protein sys- tems, or is it due to the conductivity of the excess electrolytes being so much greater than the conductivity of the ionized protein salts that the difference in conductivity produced by the structural changes involved in the sol-gel transformation was not detectable by the experimental procedure employed? That there is little or no change in the conductivity and diffusibility of lectrolytes in colloidal systems on changing from sol to gel has long been known and is not a vital point in connection with the micellar theory of Lalng and McBain, since all theories of gel structure postulate that the structure pro- duced is enormous in size compared with ionic dimensions and thus exerts almost no hindering effect on ionic movement. To obtain a fuller insight into the question, the following study has been carried out on the conductivity of gelatin sols and gels. Gelatin was selected because it is an example of a protein capable of undergoing a reversible sol-gel transformation. In carrying out the study we had in mind the work of Krishnamurti (8) who, from a study of the light-scattering in sols and gels of agar, has concluded that the micellar structures in the two states are not identical; and also that of Craig and Schmidt (9) who found differences between the refractive indices of gelatin sols and gels. Experimental Procedure In measuring the conductivity, the Kohlrausch principle was employed, with the difference that a one-stage vacuum tube amplifier was introduced between the bridge and the telephone, which made it readily possible to make measure- ments accurate to 0. per cent. The source of the bridge current was a General Radio Oscillator, and the capacity of the conducting cell was balanced in parallel by the setting of an adjustable condensor. The conductivity cell used through- out the experiments was of the bottle type, constructed of Pyrex glass. A ther- mometer, readable to 0. 1 A °, was fitted into the neck of the ceil in such a way that it could be immersed in the gelatin without interfering with the continuity of the liquid betweeen the electrodes. All measurements were made at 25A °C. â€Å"Difco† granular gelatin was used in the experiments. It was purified and made ash-free according to the procedure described by Loeb (10). The purified gelatin on analysis was found to be totally ash-free and in aqueous solutions to have a pH value of 4. 75 as measured by the hydrogen electrode. The analysis of the gelatin in the experimental solutions was carried out by evaporating l0 cc. portions to dryness in porcelain crucibles and then heating at 110A °C. to constant weight. The plan of the experiments was to warm the gelatin to a temperature of about 37* to obtain the sol, fill the conductivity cell with he liquid gelatin, and then immerse the filled ceil in an oil thermostat kept at 25*. The leads of the con- ductivity bridge were connected with the ceil and when the temperature of the gelatin fell to 25 A ° as shown by the thermometer immersed in the gelatin, the con- ductivity reading was first taken, and then further readings were made at various time intervals. To check the conductivity readings, the gelatin in the cell w as again warmed up to 37 A ° and the procedure repeated. To obtain the conductivity of the gel, the cell filled with gelatin was cooled down in an ice chest to about 10 A ° to obtain a firm gel. The conductivity cell was then returned to the 25 A ° bath and the conductivity reading taken when the gel reached the 25A °temperature. As with the sol, the readings for the gel were checked by repeating the cooling. The experiments carried out were first, a series at different concen- trations of the pure isoelectric gelatin itself to determine the effect of variation in the concentration of gelatin. The results of this series are given in Table I. In this series, it was found that all concentrations of gelatin above 1 per cent set to a firm gel at 25 A °, but that concen- trations of 1 per cent or less remained in a semiliquid state at this temperature. From the results on the pure gelatin, a concentration of gelatin was selected that would set to a firm gel at the temperature of the conductivity measurements, namely, about 3 per cent, and experiments were next carried out on the effects of electrolytes on the conductivity of the sol-gel transformation. The electrolytes used were hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and sodium chloride at varying concentrations. The results of these experiments are re- corded in Table II where there are recorded the gelatin content, the concentration of electrolyte added, the conductivity of sol and gel respectively, and the percentage difference of conductivity between the two states. In the measurement of the conductivity of the gelatin sols and gels it was found, except for those samples where there was no difference in conductivity between sol and gel, that the conductivity did not attain a constant value as soon as the 25 A ° temperature was attained, but on the contrary, continued to drift slowly even though the temperature remained unchanged thereafter. This drift was in the direction of a decreasing conductivity for the sol and an increasing conductivity for the gel, which on being allowed sufficient time, starting from either The lack of correspondence to a small degree between the gelatin concentration and the conductivity in certain of the experiments listed is explained by the drift in the conductivity noted in the text which makes an exact reproducibility in gelatin solutions impossible. the sol or gel state, finally reached a constant value representative of the equilibrium state of the gelatin at that temperature. In the present experiments, this equilibrium state for all except the 0. 9 percent gelatin of Table I was a firm gel. In the experiments where no difference in conductivity was found between the sol and gel condition, this drift was absent and in these samples when the thermostat tem-perature was once attained, the conductivity became constant. This was the result found for the first experiment of Table I, with a con- centration of 0. 90 per cent gelatin for which a semiliquid state was the state at 25 A ° and for the experiments of Table II where the con- ductivity difference between sol and gel was zero although firm gels were stable at the 25 A ° temperature. The conductivity figures for the rest of the experiments in Tables I and II are the values measured just after the thermostat temperature was attained by the gelatin. The data with the pure gelatin and the electrolyte-containing gelatin solutions are not in accord with McBain’s theory. Rather they are in harmony with the viewpoint that there is a distinct difference in the micellar units of the sol and gel state when a definite firm gel is formed. The gel state shows the lower conductivity of the two forms, which would be expected if the micellar unit of the gel is composed of aggre- gates of the sol micelles, thus naturally resulting in a lower electrical mobility. That the difference in conductivity is due mainly to electrical changes accompanying the structural changes of the sol-gel transformation is indicated by the experiments of Table I. Since in these experiments, the gelatin was completely ash-free, the measured conductivity can only be a measure of the electrical charge of the gelatin in the solution and the accompanying hydrogen ions. From the pH value of 4. 75 given by these solutions, the hydrogen ion concentration is less than 2 A— 10 -5 tools per liter, which, using the value of 350 for the hydrogen ion mobility, leads to the value of 0. 7 A— 10 -5 for the specific conductivity. This value in comparison with the values found for the gelatin, points to the conductivity coming mainly from the charged gelatin and that the decrease in conductivity on gelation is due to aggregation of the gelatin units. The data of Table II substantiate this point of view. When the electrolyte concentration is low there is a distinct difference between the conductivity of the sol and gel state. This difference decreases with increase in the electrolyte concentration and is no longer detected when the conductivity of the electrolyte-containing solutions increases about 100-fold the value of the difference in the conductivity between the sol and gel of the original isoelectric gelatin. The conductivity difference between the gelatin sols and gels as shown in Table II becomes undetectable at an electrolyte concentration of approximately 0. 01 molal, yet blood and protoplasm contain more than tenfold this amount. On this account, the experiments on the electrolyte-containing gelatin solutions throw grave doubts on the conclusion drawn by Gelfan for protoplasm and by Gelfan and Quigley for the blood coagulation process. In view of the large excess of free electrolytes in the systems studied by the above authors, the fact that they found no change in conductivity with changes in viscosity or on gelation, is, under the circumstances, no proof of either an identity of micellar structure in the different physical states of the systems they studied or of a micellar structure at all. From the present studies, along with Craig and Schmidt’s refractometric results, and the work of Krishnamurti on agar, it must be con- cluded that the McBain theory of an identical unit structure for the sol-gel state has no general applicability.

Business Performance Measurement Using Balanced Scorecard Critical Review Accounting Essay

The outlooks of directors are high, and this explains why academic and managerial involvement in this direction tool is on the addition. This paper critically examines plants or research done by outstanding writers on this topic to see the verve of Balanced Scorecard as a concern public presentation measuring tool in modern economic system. Literatures on Balanced Scorecard are on the rise as its methodological analysis become popular among top concerns. Gumbus and Lussier ( 2006 ) in their work, examined Balanced Scorecard and its characteristics ( ) , and why little medium concerns are recommended to utilize it as a metric for concern public presentation. Their surveies came at the clip when Balanced Scorecard is non been widely adopted by SME but by the large companies as a public presentation measuring method. Braam and Nijssen ( 2008 ) discuss factors impacting Balanced Scorecard acceptance and the two cardinal constructs of Balanced Scorecard use in recent clip: as a public presentation measuring system ( PMS ) and as a strategic direction system ( SMS ) . [ 4 ] carried out researches to look into if the Balanced Scorecard add values to companies that adopt it and how it does contributes to the public presentation of an organisation. [ 5 ] examines a outstanding characteristic of Balanced Scorecard cause and conse quence relationship and if Balanced Scorecard can associate operational prosodies with scheme which can be understood and influenced by directors as a valid strategic direction tool. [ 7 ] took a practical attack in discoursing ways that Balanced Scorecard can be used by undertaking directors to step and better the operational public presentation of their squad and besides clarifies aims and concern scheme. These literature discuses extensively on public presentation measuring with Balanced Scorecard cutting across assorted use and industries every bit good as farther elaborated in the advancement of this paper. Most surveies focus on large companies the scarceness of surveies associating to Balanced Scorecard been used in SME for concern scheme motivated [ 1 ] to ship on shutting this spread. They used a instance survey methodological analysis attack on three little concern endeavors. Research was conducted through personal interviews with executives at Hyde Park Electronics, Futura Industries, and Southern Gardens Citrus ( SGC ) . [ 1 ] examine each of the SME to place how of their concern scheme and public presentation aligns with the Balanced Scorecard features both in the short footings and long term. Financial metric, as indicated in their survey, is sale from new merchandise accounting for high net income of the organisation. The Operational Quality was identified to same-day bringing, bringing within five yearss, and on-time bringing. Customer Satisfaction metric was detected to be indicated by increased gross revenues and increased income that would ensue from merchandise credence a nd the coevals of repetition clients. Learning and Growth metric see the induction of employee public assistance plans such as benefits, net income sharing, preparation, and employee communicating and employee activities. By the above findings, [ 1 ] farther cited that about half of the large corporations in recent times has improved public presentation with the usage of Balanced Scorecard as operational and strategic measuring. The instance surveies affecting the SMEs rhenium seen to besides profit from utilizing this direction tool. [ 1 ] The consequences of the instance surveies of Hyde Park Electronics, Futura Industries, and SGC support the anterior literature from big companies. The consequences once more indicated that enterprisers can excessively profit from developing and utilizing a BSC. The benefit or value gotten from utilizing BSC was investigated by [ 4 ] , and in their survey, two research hypotheses were developed: how much does the Balanced Scorecard create value and secondly, how does the Balanced Scorecard create value? For the first inquiry [ 4 ] adopted the usage of Activity-Based Cost Management ( ABCM ) model, in comparing to BSC effectivity in happening how organizational ends aligns to people ‘s public presentation. The 2nd inquiries saw the usage of the Strategy-Focused-Organisation ( SFO ) to research the beginnings of possible value created by BSC. The methodological analysis used was quantitative in nature and an empirical study and analysis of informations collected from EU companies that have used BSC. In their findings, [ 4 ] argued that value is so been added to companies by the usage of BSC. They indicated that the public presentation of an organisation comes chiefly from what it does during scheme interlingual rendition, its consistence in act uponing managerial patterns, and its function in resources alignment to strategic aims i.e. from the agencies to the terminal. The surveies of [ 4 ] hinted the construct of following BSC for PMS every bit good as SMS. Thus, [ 2 ] , in their research differentiate these lifting constructs of Balanced Scorecard ( public presentation measuring system ( PMS ) and strategic direction system ( SMS ) ) , and factors impacting their acceptances by companies as shown the survey done by [ 2 ] . Hypothesiss were developed to steer and develop their methodological analysis which involves quantitative attack. Data aggregation was done by questionnaires sent to 40 Dutch houses gotten from database of companies which had responded to a benchmark study for best patterns in direction control and public presentation measuring in the four areas/domains of involvement of the Balanced Scorecard. [ 2 ] indicated in their findings that the acceptance of both types of Balanced Scorecard benefits from top direction engagement. Consequences besides show that utilizing Balanced Scorecard as PMS will profit from the support of the admi nistration ‘s finance section. They besides cited that Balanced Scorecard as PMS accent on an inclusive measurings of both fiscal and non-financial values which gives valuable image of the company ‘s place in the market. However, public presentation metric indexs cut across the cardinal characteristics of BSC itself, as such [ 5 ] in their survey analysed the cardinal premises of BSC and the relationships among the four countries of measuring suggested ( the fiscal, client, internal-business-process and learning and growing positions ) and its consequence on scheme and public presentation of an organisation. Research inquiry to steer their survey was besides raised: is there a causal relationship between the countries of measuring suggested? The methodological analysis that was used is analytic because, as argued, increases preciseness and lucidity degree in understanding the BSC construct and theoretical account. Past and present literatures were widely analysed. [ 5 ] one cardinal findings indicated that companies ‘ do non necessitate to see priori concern scheme before planing a coherent set of public presentation measurings reasoning that the design of public presentation indexs can work as a accelerator for scheme preparation. The preparation of scheme entails the development of undertakings to transform them into operational aims. This is further discussed by [ 6 ] in their survey. They used the BSC methodological analysis in their survey to develop, trial, and use a strategic measuring system, specifically for undertakings. The attack adopted was a comparing and study of two undertakings monitored by the writers and undertaken by undertaking squad. Their consequence indicated that BSC plays important function in bettering undertaking direction effectivity. They besides argue or indicated that balanced public presentation measuring is an of import technique for set uping on-strategy undertaking bringing The above surveies further give more penetration on the construct of BSC as a public presentation measuring tool that is best used in exciting thought of comparative steps in the critical success factors of any concern. Thus, organizational public presentation sees an addition when, as the chief tool, BSC is used to interpret the scheme of the house. In this respect, BSC contributes positively [ 4 ] [ 6 ] . However, the acceptance of BSC in an organisation depends to a great extent on the degree of top direction and product-market kineticss every bit good as the finance section. If a company is in a competitory market, client satisfaction and fiscal values are of extreme importance to exceed direction and finance section. These public presentation prosodies influence the preparation of scheme and therefore the acceptance of BSC particularly as public presentation measuring system [ 2 ] . However, the support of top direction and the employees ‘ deduction do non look to be requi rement conditions to do the successful development of a BSC [ 4 ] . The influence of BSC on departmental units and internal administrations within the house can be detected in undertaking squads. The BSC clarify and improves strategic step and connexions thereby bettering internal public presentation in traditional deliverables. It is importance to observe that at that place does non be one BSC that matches all administrations but BSC development is team-based [ 1 ] [ 6 ] . Furthermore, as indicated by [ 6 ] , companies ‘ operational aims in undertakings become a direction success as internal sections are exposed to run of strategic-performance indictor which clarifies and proctors project vision and ends. [ 4 ] Surveies indicated that despite the broad acceptance of BSC in recent times, the methodological analysis is non free from defects. Kaplan and Norton describe the relationship among the characteristic of BSC as causal ( cause and consequence ) , i.e. one metric taking to another, and a dependence relationship. This nevertheless, an issue as for case, the satisfaction of clients does non basically give good fiscal consequences hence the relationship is a logical and non causal one as it is inherit in the BSC construct. This portends that the premises made by BSC possibly invalid taking to the expectancy of public presentation indexs which are faulty, ensuing in sub-optimal public presentation [ 5 ] The reviewed surveies are non without restrictions as hinted by the writers. The research by [ 1 ] is marked with a restriction in instance survey attack as at that place does non be any survey on BSC been used by little concern at the clip of the survey. Furthermore, the plausibleness of findings did non protect against the research restrictions in the survey done by [ 2 ] . The generalizability of the findings was edged by a restriction in the sample size, the respondents ‘ chiefly fiscal background, and the usage of cross sectional informations to look into the degree of acceptance of both BSC types at the same time. [ 4 ] besides highlighted that measuring or mensurating the public presentation of an organisation is a difficult scientific discipline. Again, in their survey, sample houses did n’t hold unvarying execution of the BSC construct. One restriction of this paper is that it is analytic which is based on researching surveies and researches associating to BSC. Trusting on these beginnings can, nevertheless, non be deem insightful as an empirical survey. Further research is necessary and should be expanded on about all concern service sectors on how BSC is used to aline concerns to capital budgeting processing. Larger sample size should be used every bit good as extra factors, for case consideration of institutional motives for BSC acceptance. The influence of BSC on the internal relationship between sections and undertaking squads should besides be researched. Decision The balanced scorecard is a tool which methodically expands the measuring zones traditionally involved in accounting. Its cardinal end is to cut down the issues associated with the usage of fiscal steps for control intents by infixing non-financial measurings in a strategic control model [ 5 ] . The connexion between concern scheme and aims utilizing BSC creates an apprehension of public presentation measuring and metric that guides the co-ordinated and careful action of directors. Surveies analysed in this paper show that the BSC creates and adds value to organisations that adopt it and promotes more reliable communicating effectual plenty for direction decision-making. Therefore while the adopting of BSC is on the rise by more concerns, this paper analytically shows the positive part of BSC to the public presentation of an administration with an increasing organic structure of cogent evidence. [ 1 ] Gumbus, Andra. A ; Lussier, Robert N. ( 2006 ) . Entrepreneurs Use a Balanced Scorecard to Translate Strategy into Performance Measures. Journal of Small Business Management, 44 ( 3 ) : 407-425. [ 5 ] Norreklit, H. ( 2000 ) , â€Å" The Balance on the Balanced Scorecard-A Critical Analysis of Some of its Assumptions † , Management Accounting Research, 11 ( 1 ) pp. 65-88.

The use of blowflies in forensic entomology to determine approximate Essay

The use of blowflies in forensic entomology to determine approximate time of death - Essay Example The life cycle of insects encompasses four discrete stages (Amendt, Campobasso, Gaudry, Reiter, LeBlanc & Hall, 2007). Despite the effectiveness of forensic entomology in determining the time of death, only less than one percent of homicide cases are resolves using forensic entomology. However, forensic entomology can be utilized in a broad area of forensic science, for instance to ascertain whether the corpse was moved posthumously and the accurate time of death. This paper will assess the determination of time of death through the use of blowflies in forensic entomology. In blowflies, the initial life cycle stage encompasses eggs, which hatch into maggots or larvae in the second stage. At the larvae stage, the anterior end of blowflies has a pair of sharp digging hooks, which are used for both feeding and movement. The posterior end of larvae consists of the insect’s respiratory system that ensures that maggots receive sufficient oxygen as they rummage through the corpse (Go ff, 2000). Typically, as soon as blowflies’ maggots attain their full size, they stop feeding and start moving into drier regions of the surrounding, often into the soil. During the third stage of development, blowfly maggots develop into pupae; during this stage, the outer skin of the insect hardens, forming a tough protective casing around the insect. In a week’s time, the pupa goes through metamorphosis, emerging from the shell in the form of an adult blowfly to mark the concluding stage of the insect’s life cycle (Amendt, Campobasso, Gaudry, Reiter, LeBlanc & Hall, 2007). Insects such as blowflies can serve as an easy tool of ascertaining the unknown, especially with regards to the time of death. For instance, when a coroner seeks to find out the time of death of a corpse, the entomologist only has to examine the blowflies around the corpse and report details. However, it is hardly this easy since investigators take into account a number of variables, includ ing the temperature of the immediate region in order to ascertain the speed of larvae growth in a corpse. For instance, when someone is killed during summer and left outside for a number of days, the ambient temperature neighbouring the corpse changes dramatically. Different types of blowflies develop speedily in warm weather; however, the development rate diminishes when temperatures drop (Greenberg & Kunich, 2002). Blowflies discovered on a corpse that has been outside for several weeks or months are indicative of drastic variations in the growth cycles of the insects. Therefore, entomologists must carefully assess the available specimens in order to determine a probable range of times of death. The use of insects to solve crimes in forensic entomology dates back to the 13th century when investigators found the murderer of a rice field worker by examining the trend of blowflies, which flocked to the murderer’s sickle after being attracted by the smell of blood. Ultimately, the murderer confessed to the crime (Goff, 2000). Today, forensic entomologists use post-mortem interval or PMI in order to ascertain the total quantity of time that has lapsed since death. The development and age of the maggot, as well as the utilization of successive insect waves, provides a succinct determination of the duration of the interval between the time of death and the time the corpse was discovered. As soon as a person dies, the first creatures to

The Biggest Barrier to Students Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle by Research Paper

The Biggest Barrier to Students Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle by Remaining Physically Active - Research Paper Example Around 61% of obese five to 10 year olds have risk factors for diseases, such as heart disease, and even diabetes. The problems of being obese have magnificent negative consequences for the individual, in terms of social, psychological and physical problems (CDC, pp.2). This problem occurs highly in high-school and university students. Around sixty-four percent of high school students do not engage in any sort of physical activity (CDC, pp.2). Only one-half of high schools students undertake any stretching and strengthening exercises. In fact, according to this CDC survey, the physical activity declines, as students loom closer to graduation (Villaire, n.p).Grubbs (2002) has also acknowledged that the physical activities tend to decline during late adolescence and early adulthood. This problem needs elimination, because this decline in physical activity may continue for the rest of the life (Nizeyimana, pp. 1-2). One should understand the idea behind this problem. Why are students no t engaging in physical activities? Is it because of the system of schools? Or because of the recent technological innovations? As Villaire claims, it could be because of the decrease of recess time and gym classes in various high schools. However, researchers also point toward this idea that schools are not the only problem in the system. Parents have an important role in increasing the problem, because of non-existence of strict routines for watching television, using computer, and playing video games. Parents also do not require their children to play outdoors, walk more or even participate in any organized physical activities. According to the writer’s opinion, the biggest constraint to the physical activity remains the technological innovations that have increased in the recent world, which prevents students from maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Sedentary leisure activities have increased for a number of teenagers and adolescents. These activities include watching televis ion, using the computer for long intervals, playing video games on Play Station and X-box. A 1999 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that individuals, aged 2-18, spend more than four hours on average, watching television, using a computer, video games, and other activities mentioned above. Television has been mainly attributed towards decreasing the time, left for physical activity. An indirect consequence on an unhealthy lifestyle of watching television for longer periods of time includes the TV commercials, which may affect children’s eating habits, thus leading to higher consumption of food items, which may increase the chances of obesity (Villaire, n.p). Overall, the physical activity has decreased, because children are being driven to school, to friends’ houses and in the last year of high school, and eventually before college, students are given cars, so they can drive themselves around. This has led to a drastic decrease in physical activity. Henc e, new research has also pointed out towards this idea that technology is our problem. Previously, children used to go outside and play in the garden. However, now children like to play indoors, with their x-boxes, or simply watch television with friends. Numerous researches have also pointed out to this idea, especially one by Dietz and Gortmaker (1985), who found out that obesity for a particular sample increased by 2% for every additional hour of watching telev

Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Response - Essay Example .and peers are readily available" (Carter, 2012). If this type of system is instituted at an early age it will also help all children become more accepting of those with differences.   There are a variety of inventions that can be used to help children with autism develop social skills. I think that the researchers used playtime to implement the social intervention, because it allowed them to use both coaching/training techniques. Play time is an ideal time when children are able to communicate freely with one another in a carefree manner. The researchers picked this time maybe because they felt that the student with autism would feel less targeted by on lookers. The techniques of intervention procedures pre-teaching/modeling, prompting, and praise/reward can be used during lessons where teachers are practicing co-operative learning. Working at stations is also a great way to implement social skill intervention as they must work together sharing information at stations. Positive reinforcement would help students continue with their social interactions. Praise often helps students feel better and confident about the situation. Also peer assistants can help build the confidence of autistic children by providing assistance until they reach a point when they feel they can interact independently. The paper was excellent with clear and succinct points regarding the advantages of playtime sessions. One point that I really loved about the essay was where you recommend that positive reinforcement would help the students to gear up for social interactions in reality. This can also been confirmed by a research carried out which states that â€Å"positive reinforcement for desired target behaviors is highly effective in the education of children with autism† (Schmidt & Heybyrne 2004 p.2) However regarding the stations I do have questions as to how it would benefit the children with autism by sharing information on the stations ? 1. Why

Worldviews and Its Formation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Worldviews and Its Formation - Research Paper Example One of the areas of contention is religion and the belief in God. In the world, there are thousands of distinct religions, each purporting to follow a certain faith. However, all these religions can be grouped into seven major categories, which include all the dominant worldviews. These worldviews include Monotheism, Deism, Naturalism, Nihilism, Existentialism, Pantheism and New Consciousness. This paper will thus discuss all the major worldviews, and compare and contrast them with a Christian Biblical worldview. Worldview and its formation Generally, a worldview is a group of presuppositions that people hold concerning the basic setup or makeup of the world. Specifically, it is an explanation of the divergent views of the people concerning the makeup of the world. People try to apply these views in their day-to-day existence. Some authors go further to suppose that a worldview is a model of the world that is used to guide the various assumptions of a set of people (Futrell, 2006). H owever, not all presuppositions of the people consist of a worldview, as the assumptions have to pass certain tests. The first test is rationality, in which case people should not be asked to believe contradictory events. The second test is that there should be enough evidence to support the theory, mostly from the things that are observable. Another test is that of reality, as it should be able to provide a comprehensive explanation of the way things are. This explanation should be satisfying to those who believe in it. Lastly, the worldview should be in a position to provide a purpose for life. People should not borrow elements from other worldviews to explain their purpose on earth (Solomon, 2001). A worldview is formed by joining certain components together, which serve as self-evident. Infants have no worldview, and the perception of life for everyone takes shape as the he grows and develop. The surrounding environment shapes most of the components of individual worldviews (Sir e, 2009). This environment starts to take charge at an early age, when the infant is under the care of the parent. Parents are the one who shape the first perception of the infants (Futrell, 2006). As the children grow, they develop their unique worldview based on the four fundamental components. The first component is the belief that something exist. This is because the experiences of the people have causes and effects that must be in existence. The second component is the belief that all people have absolutes, which serves as a reference point for their existence. Some people take God as their reference point, while others take love or power (Solomon, 2001). Another component for the formation of a worldview is the belief that two contradictory statements cannot both be right. In this regard, the basic law of logic applies as only one worldview can reflect the reality of life. For a worldview to be formed, it must thus have a unique belief from the others. The last fundamental com ponent in the formation of a worldview is the belief that all people exercise faith. Everyone in the world must assume at one point that certain things or events happen without absolute proof. One of the common beliefs in many worldviews is that a personal God exist (Solomon, 2001). Comparison and contrast of the seven worldviews with a Christian biblical worldview Monotheism The Monotheistic worldview is based on the people’s belief that there is only one God. This personal God has a distinctive personality and not just a divine power. In addition, there is a belief that humankind is a special creation of God in His own image. God manifests Himself though revelation and the truth about Him is beyond all rational

Have advances in bioscience lead to the greater risk of a biological Essay

Have advances in bioscience lead to the greater risk of a biological attack by a non-state actor - Essay Example One of the reasons why that is so is that very few cases of the individuals or groups in possession of the biological weapons have conventionally been identified. Nevertheless, a review of the practices and trends of the non-state actors in the past provides a very subjective idea of the tendency of the contemporary non-state actors to cause harm to the society through the biological weapons, given there has occurred a noticeable increase in the body of knowledge about the harmful effects of the pathogenic micro-organisms for humans over the decades. Even though, to the extent that the review of the historic cases is beneficial for understanding the current trends and capabilities of the non-state actors, one historic cases of the biological attack carried out by the non-state actors successively in 1984 is discussed in this paper. Using the pathogenic micro-organisms as a destructive tool exposes both the society and the non-state actors to various kinds of challenges. This paper an alyzes the extent to which the non-state actors involved in the biological attacks are a threat to the society. The most popular biological attack in the history of the USA was made in 1984 by a religious cult Rajneeshees that stole an Oregon-based country election. The Rajneeshees lived in the rural Wasco County and had become politically strong in Antelope, a small town whose name was thus changed to Rajneesh.

Illegal war trade, and its effect on society Research Paper

Illegal war trade, and its effect on society - Research Paper Example hereas the problem was being addressed, during the 19th century, locally at different countries of the world, now-a-days, it has assumed a global aspect. Therefore it is evident that modern transportation system has significantly contributed to the increase of the illicit drug-trade. As a result in the international drug market, the trade in drug is a highly profitable business, as Presidents Commission on Organized Crime notes, â€Å"Drug trafficking accounts for almost 38 percent of all organized crime activity across the country and generates an income estimated to be as high as $110 billion† (4). A report prepared by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that the abuse of drug like any illegal drugs, except the smoking and alcohol, exerts a toll of averagely $161 billion dollars on the economy of the United States in the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 (NIDA). If alcoholism and smoking are counted within the statistics, the cost will rise up to approximately $487 billion dollar. Out of this $161 billion dollars, about $110 billion costs in lost productivity, whereas $12.9 billion is spent in healthcare issue. In the UK, the total economic cost of illicit drug abuse fluctuated between  £2.9bn and  £5.3bn in the past decades. If the social costs are added to this economic cost, the total amount will range between  £10.1bn and  £17.4bn per year (Godfrey et al. 7). In a study Collins and Lapsley (2008) report that Australian socio-economy has to bear the cost of $30 billion per year. But a global comparative statistics of the effects of drug on the economy of the countrie s is still a matter of investigation (87). The UK Drug Policy Commission approximates that there are about 23.1 million natives of the total British population who are addicted to at least one drug in the year 2010 (Reuter and Stevens, 2007). According to the British Crime Survey 2005, about 45% of the population (aged between 35 and 44) were addicted to at least one drug, whereas 50 percent of the

No topic 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

No topic 1 - Essay Example inees through journal writing but there are other researchers who have shown that journal writing cannot assess how the practitioners will stop during an activity to frame the problem according to their past experiences and observations. Judging trainees through journal writing can impact their writing so it is not an effective assessment technique. However, reflective writing still is a great assessment mechanism in which the medical educators assess the writing both qualitatively and quantitatively and find out if the trainees have used reflective process in analyzing and solving a clinical problem by linking their knowledge with what should be done. Educators can assess whether trainees have tried to synthesize the information in the reflective process and have considered all perspectives to the solution. They can also assess whether the trainees have explored options other than what is needed or have made assumptions but do not know how to apply them. Thus, this way the educators can assess the trainees through the reflective

Focus of the Marketing Plan Essay Example for Free

Focus of the Marketing Plan Essay †¢Construct an overview of internal and external contingencies, describing at least two internal and three external contingencies and how they impact the sports marketing plan. †¢Justify market selection decisions including the psychological and sociological factors as influences. Include targeting and positioning of the product(s). †¢Generate a Sports Marketing Mix for your organization to address the promotion mix of advertising, public relations, sales promotion, and pricing. †¢Create a plan for the marketing process. Within that plan include a control phase and an implementation strategy. Any unique issues should also be addressed in this section, including the impact on facilities and any specific departments or segments of the organization impacted by the plan. Writing the Marketing Plan The Marketing Plan: †¢Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide. †¢Must include a cover page that includes: Student’s name Course name and number Title of paper Instructor’s name Date submitted †¢Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement. †¢Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. †¢Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph. †¢Must use APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide to document all sources. †¢Must include, on the final page, a Reference Page that is completed according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide.

Artificial Intelligence in Business Applications

Artificial Intelligence in Business Applications Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Business functions that can/cannot be automated INTRODUCTION Computer systems today are a part of almost all businesses; this is because they provide us, along with the added use of the Internet, with a variety of means that made business operations easier, productivity higher, and communication processes faster. Computers and the programs (or the software applications that are installed on them) along with the robotic systems do a great amount of the tasks that were previously performed by the employees and/or workers themselves. This transformation, towards an automated work environment, saved businesses a lot of unwanted expenses, a lot of time, and caused profits to increase steadily. Computers substituted, in different business structures, classical machines and tools, such as the calculator, the fax, the telephone, the photocopier and many more. The automation of different business functions led many organisations and companies to a higher level in what concerns production and management. But the point that should be understood is that even though many processes and functions related to businesses and organisations have been automated, there are still many aspects that are not, or that cannot be, automated for a wide range of reasons. BUSINESS FUNCTIONS The main objective of any business is to achieve success. To be able to reach success, an organisation needs to have an effective structure because any entity depends exclusively on two factors which are management and use of information. An efficient use of information systems can allow an easier and faster access to data that are essential for the workflow and for the quality of that work and, therefore, can assist the management in performing its duties in the best possible manner and in making the right decisions at the right times. In order to achieve such objectives, specific business functions should be established and specific tasks should be performed. Every kind of business and every organisation, depending on the nature of their operations, the products or services that are provided by them, their geographic location, and depending on the management and production schools that they relate to, have different business functions, but there are certain generic functions that apply to all kinds of businesses all over the world. These functions are usually general management, information management, operations management, marketing, finance and accounting, and human resources. Lan and Unhelkar (2005) identify the various generic business functions by stating that they are the function of Management and Administration which is the department whose tasks are to â€Å"corporate resources, corporate image, quality in all aspects, industrial relations, stakeholders relations, productivity, [and] promotion,† the function of Human Resources that should deal with â€Å"job analysis, position classification, employee training, employee selection, employee auditing and promotion† in addition to other related tasks, the function of Finance and Accounts that is responsible for â€Å"the capital operations required by the entire enterprise activities the funds required by management, administration, sales, marketing, human resources, [and] purchasing,† the function of Purchase and Procurement, the function of Sales and Marketing, and the function of Customer Care or Customer Support. According to another source, â€Å"business functions are universal and apply to every type of business. The most essential business functions are marketing, operations (production of goods and services), finance, and human resource management† (Plunkett, Attner, and Allen 2005). Here, we find a view according to which all functions are the same regardless of the type of business. The main question is to understand whether the above mentioned functions can be in whole or in part automated and/or computerised. In other words, can all the tasks concerning the business functions be transferred to intelligent electronic or robotic agents reaching the level of efficiency and proficiency in which humans are capable of performing them? AUTOMATION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE In order to understand if all (or only some) business functions can be automated, it is important to understand the meaning of the concept itself. According to MSN Encarta (2005) automation is a â€Å"system of manufacture designed to extend the capacity of machines to perform certain tasks formerly done by humans, and to control sequences of operations without human intervention. The term automation has also been used to describe non-manufacturing systems in which programmed or automatic devices can operate independently or nearly independently of human control. In the fields of communications, aviation, and astronautics, for example, such devices as automatic telephone switching equipment, automatic pilots, and automated guidance and control systems are used to perform various operations much faster or better than could be accomplished by humans.† For us to reach such a system, a certain computerised aspect should be developed; an aspect which enables machines to execute given tasks according to the desired level. For such an objective, experts and programmers should be able to produce information systems that possess some of the characteristics of intelligence; this is why such systems are referred to as systems of artificial intelligence, or simply intelligent machines; in other words, computerised systems that are pre-programmed to perform a certain mission with the same level of accuracy of a trained human being. It is the science of creating machines that are intelligent, and in a more specific context, intelligent computer software-programs functioning according to the present hardware. It attempts to comprehend the mechanisms in which human intelligence works and then imitates it in the way the prospective intelligent machines should work, avoiding the limitations of biologically related weaknesses. Bailey (1992) describes his understanding of intelligence as the ability to reason or have a logical thinking, and to have an effect on the environment; this will require a good level of knowledge that should be acquired. To be able to simulate humans, machines should possess the capability of understanding the world. Computers, or intelligent machines, should be knowledgeable on a level that is even deeper and more detailed than we are Depending on knowledge, intelligent machines (or computers or robots) will be in a position to answer any of our questions, they could perform any task efficiently, and they can solve complex and difficult problems much more rapidly. Bailey also states that another important feature that intelligent machines should have is connectivity to each other all around the world through the use of networks, which will make it even easier for them to gain more knowledge and to communicate it to one another. Then there is another feature that is the ability to establish an effective level of communication between intelligent computers and humans through both written and verbal means and not through commands typed through a keyboard and a screen. Finally Bailey puts the physical qualities, such as vision, hearing, as the final of his desired intelligent computer or robot through the use of visual and auditory sensors similar to, or better than, those of humans. AUTOMATING BUSINESS FUNCTIONS The organisational structure is the setting that defines all the departments of the organisation, identifies the responsibilities and duties of each department, regulates the relationship between the various departments and explains how each of them should interact with the others in the way that guarantees the achievement of the desired outcome. As Clarke and Anderson explain, â€Å"an organizational role is defined as a set of functions together with a set of obligations and authorities. The same human or artificial agent can play several roles† [within that specific organisation] (187). The various tools of Information Technology can assist the company in gathering, elaborating, processing, storing/documenting, and distributing all the information that is needed for planning, decision making, and control. The use of computers and the simplicity they offer are important elements in what concerns the enhancement of all the mentioned processes. This fact explains how information technology influences the way in which organisations tend to arrange the tasks and processes within them. Ross (2003) explains that â€Å"information technology (IT) has progressively become key link integrating the business enterprise and its logistics capabilities with its customers and supplies Simply, the organization’s ability to create, collect, assimilate, access, and transfer information must be in alignment with the velocity of the activities necessary to execute effectively supplier, customer service, logistics and financial processes.† As mentioned earlier, many aspects related to the various tasks of businesses are now computerised and/or automated. Accounting and financial processes, for example, are not done only on paper as they once used to be; instead complete computer systems that rely on software applications are those that elaborate, document, communicate, and distribute the various pieces of information among different employees working in different departments. Another example is that related to the processes of sales and marketing which depend heavily on the Internet and the means of communication offered by it. â€Å"Sales force automation modules in CRM [Customer Relation Management] systems help sales staff increase their productivity by focusing sales efforts on the most profitable customers, those who are good candidates for sales and services. CRM systems provide sales prospect and contact information, product information, product configuration capabilities, and sales quote generation capabilitie s† (Laudon and Laudon 2006). For what concerns the accounts and finance function, there are clear indications that many of its tasks have been computerised. â€Å"Large and medium-sized businesses are using ASPs [Application Service Providers] for enterprise systems, sales force automation, or financial management, and small businesses are using them for functions such as invoicing, tax calculations, electronic calendars, and accounting† (Laudon and Laudon 2006). Another form of automation in this context is presented by Sanghvi (2007) as he states that â€Å"online technologies have enabled payroll services to become a popular way for accounting firms to improve client service, enhance loyalty, and gain incremental business Many small business owners turn to their accountant for back-office services while they focus on growing their businesses,† and this means that, through online systems, they can provide the external accountants with all the information needed in order to produce their legally a ccurate and acceptable financial documentation. Concerning human resources management, there are certain computerised systems that are capable of performing the main parts of the process that are related to that function. Torres-Coronas and Arias-Oliva (2005) refer to what they define as e-recruiting; which consists of the â€Å"practices and activities carried on by the organization that utilizes a variety of electronic means to fill open positions effectively and efficiently. The e-recruiting process consists of the following iterative steps: identification of hiring needs; submission of job requisition; approval of the job requisition via a job database; job posting on the Internet; online search of the job database by job seekers, online pre-screening/online self-assessment; submission of applications by applicants directly into an applicant database; online search of the applicant database for candidate selection; online evaluation of rà ©sumà ©/application; interviewing by recruiters/hiring managers; online pre-employment screening; and job offer and employment contract† Another example of a computerised business function, which is auditing, is presented by Caster and Verardo (2007): â€Å"The increasing prevalence of complex computer information systems and electronic data interchanges has made most business transactions electronic in nature Technological advances have altered not only the actual form of evidential matter required to be obtained by auditors, but also the competence of this evidence. Technology has had a significant impact on audit evidence, and existing auditing procedures could be improved in many ways.† The authors indicated that new technologically related regimes of audits have been created to automate the auditing process. Laudon and Laudon (2006) explain that certain businesses took enormous steps towards the automation of the entire processes related to their core activity: â€Å"The management of UPS decided to use automation to increase the ease of sending a package using UPS and of checking its delivery status, thereby reducing delivery costs and increasing sales revenues The technology supporting this system consists of handheld computers, barcode scanners, wired and wireless communications networks, desktop computers, UPS’s central computer, storage technology for the package delivery data, UPS inhouse package tracking software, and software to access the World Wide Web.† The author indicates that the various processes of UPS have improved substantially thanks to the computerisation and inter-connectivity of their functions. When we study the potentials of automation for what concerns business functions, it should be clearly stated that each function is a separate case with its own factors and qualities, which can allow or limit the possibilities of full computerisation of its different processes and tasks. Dorf and Kusiak (1994) state that almost every aspect of the manufacturing process can be automated: â€Å"Most manufacturing operations can be automated. Given the large number of manufacturing processes and assembly operations used in industry (the number is in the thousands) and the many possible ways in which any given operation can be automated.† The authors give different examples of automated systems, such as the Automated Production Lines (which is â€Å"a production system consisting of a series of automated workstations connected by an automatic parts transfer mechanism†), Position and Motion Control Systems (which are required to position â€Å"a work head or tool relative to a work part to accomplish a process†), and the Industrial Robotics (which are â€Å"general-purpose programmable machine possessing certain anthropomorphic characteristics†). When the other business functions are examined, we find that almost every single task within the realm of each function can be automated: Information concerning the major issues related to the business as a whole can be produced by computer systems on regular basis, and passed on to management for examination and study before reaching the right decisions in what concerns the survival and progress of their organisation. Accountancy and financial processes can be completely handled by intelligent systems that can, for example, calculate wages according to working hours, process payments to institutions and banks through electronic means over the Internet, can produce invoices and receipts to customers and suppliers, and can also manage shareholder’s issues. In the human resources function, information and requests can be effectuated electronically, but the final step, which is employees selection, cannot be performed by automated systems; because here the human factor and the hu man inter-activity is, and most probably will always be, the determining point. This is also valid for what concerns sales and marketing, the computerised system can perform all that is needed except the stages related to policy making and to physical delivery of products, as here the human factor is still required. There are certain missing parts if the desired objective is to reach a total automated business; such parts can be overcome only if (or when) we manage to solve deep and important problems in what concerns artificial intelligence. Creating systems that can ‘think’ as humans and can perform tasks related to the human factor will not be a fast endeavour, as we are still in the beginning of what concerns understanding and imitating intelligence. CONCLUSION As mentioned earlier, most of the tasks that are related to virtually all business functions can be computerised and/or automated, but the most important element is still the human factor. At the present level of technology, we are unable to create a fully automated business and we cannot transform an existing business entirely into a computerised one. Some business functions, such as accountancy and information management can be fully automated, some other functions, such as human resources and sales and marketing, can be computerised to a very high level, while other functions, such as general management, cannot be automated. Another reason, beside the technological limitations of the field of artificial intelligence today, is that people (whether customers or suppliers) are still not accustomed to dealing solely with machines. Works Cited Bailey, C. (1992) Truly Intelligent Computers. Coalition for Networked Information [online]. Available from: http://www.cni.org/pub/LITA/Think/Bailey.html>  [cited 13 April 2007]. Caster, P. and Verardo, D. (2007) Technology Changes the Form and Competence of Audit Evidence. The CPA Journal, 77(1), pp. 68-70. Clarke, R. and Anderson, P. (2001) Information, Organisation, and Technology: Studies in organisational Semiotics. Norwell, Massachusetts: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Dorf, R.C. Kusiak, A. (1994) Handbook of Design, Manufacturing and Automation. Hobokin, NJ: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Lan, Y.C. and Unhelkar, B. (2005) Global Enterprise Transitions: Managing the Process. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing Inc. Laudon, J. and Laudon, K. (2006) Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Microsoft Encarta 2006. (2005) Automation. [CD-ROM]. Microsoft Corporation. Plunkett, W. R. Attner, R. F. and Allen, G. (2005) Management: Meeting and Exceeding Customer Expectations. Mason, Ohio: Thomson South-Western Publisher. Ross, D. F. (2003) Distribution: Planning and Control 6th ed. Norwell, Massachusetts: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Sanghvi, A. (2007) Improving Service Through Online Payroll. The CPA Journal, 77(3), pp. 11. Torres-Coronas, T. and Arias-Oliva, M. (2005) e-Human Resources Management: Managing Knowledge People. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing.

Hiv Infected Black African Community Health And Social Care Essay

Hiv Infected Black African Community Health And Social Care Essay Today the epidemic HIV/AIDS has become a universal issue demanding attention of all public sectors. The HIV infection has developed as a major public health importance in the whole world with its increasing prevalence rate. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus which affects the immune system of the body and destroys all its functions where an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most advance phase of HIV infection (World health organisation, 2010). Globally around 60 million people are affected since the start of this epidemic HIV and till now around 20 million people are died due to infection of this virus (UNAIDS, 2005). In the year 2007, it was estimated that around 33.2 million people were living with HIV in the world (UNAIDS, 2007). Similarly in United Kingdom, the prevalence of HIV infected people was 77,400 in 2007 (Health Protection Agency, 2008). The London city continues to be the UKs HIV/AIDS hot spot with leading numbers of HIV cases as compa red to UK. In London, the population of Black Africans are most rapidly increasing in terms of HIV infection and forming the second largest group of HIV/AIDS service users (Erwin and peters, 1999). This essay will try to investigate and analyse the causes of increasing prevalence of HIV infection in Black African people in London Borough of Lewisham. The essay will briefly examine the epidemiology of HIV infection in Lewisham particularly with focusing on Black African ethnicity. This essay will also focus on socio economic determinants of HIV prevalence in Black African community in London borough of Lewisham. With the help of this research the factors influencing HIV/AIDS in Black African population in Lewisham would be studied. This will be an attempt to analyse the strategies and interventions of the issue regarding global, national and mainly the local perspectives. It focuses on black African communities because they are disproportionately affected by HIV infection compared to other minority ethnic groups. The HIV infection is mainly transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse which can be anal or vaginal. It may also be transmitted through the transfusion of HIV contaminated blood to the healthy individual. Sharing needles has become a most common reason for the spread of this epidemic. It may also be transmitted through the mother having HIV to her child. Breast feeding is also one of the factors which can help to spread the HIV (World Health Organisation, 2010). Still in many areas like developing countries, people are unknown to HIV/AIDS. The illiteracy and poverty are the main causative factors for the spread of epidemic HIV in the world. Being an epidemic, migration is the most common cause for increasing the prevalence of HIV. Sex workers also play a leading role in the spread of HIV because the infection is sexually transmitted. London city has the maximum proportion of population from minority ethnic groups migrated from all over the world. Among these different ethnic groups, Black Africans are one of the fastest growing immigrants in London. East London is one of the poorest areas in London city with having lowest expectation of life, highest unemployment rate and poor housing with low level of education (Elford et al, 2006). In England, late diagnosis of HIV remains a major problem among black Africans. In 2007, about 42 per cent of black Africans diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed late. The evidence shows that late diagnosis of HIV increases more risk of early mortality. The research also conclude some reasons for late diagnosis of HIV in Black African community such as, fear of testing positive for HIV, some of them have a misconception that testing positive would lead to deportation, fear of breaking up the social relationships after testing positive, unknown of testing centres due to lack of information, having fear that life or business pattern will change because of testing positive. Most of Black Africans felt that they had no reason to think they had HIV. Due to HIV related stigma and discrimination Black Africans as compared to White community are the least likely to disclose their HIV status to their partners, family members, employers or friends. Cultural and religious diversity among African c ommunity are the main causes of increase in prevalence of HIV. The evidence indicates that long time stay in England also has an impact on the sexual health of black Africans. Many black African migrates are facing insecure residency status problem. This causes unemployment and mental problems to the community and due to this they are forced into sexual risks, such as prostitution which increases high risk to HIV infection (Race Equality Foundation, 2009). Language barrier is one of the main causes for the increase in prevalence of HIV in Black people. Ineffective communication between people and health care professional causes poor service of the health care. Spirituality is also an important factor in the health and well-being of older Black African people and must also be considered when deciding on methods of engagement (Race Equality Foundation, 2010). In England, It has proved that there are more same-sex relationships than reported among black Africans (Race Equality Foundation, 2009). There is growing evidence to show that African men who have sex with men (MSM) living in the UK are deeply affected by HIV. The article from Audrey Prost, related to sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) highlights the fact that homosexually active men from Black African communities in UK are disproportionately vulnerable to STIs compared to white people community. According to a study conducted by Hickson and his colleagues in 2001, a higher proportion of black African MSM (18%) was living with HIV compared with white MSM with 10% (Aidsportal, 2007). African gay/bisexual men, regardless of their HIV status, are considered hard to reach and reluctant to talk. Various reports indicate that homophobia, both at large and within the black African community may be preventing African men from engaging with HIV prevention initiatives and even discussing their sexual identity with anyone. The racism and homophobia are being very offensive part in Black gay community because Black people have always excluded, harassed, imprisoned and killed often solely because they have black skin where Gay men are also harassed, beaten and killed because they are gay. This explains how difficult it can be being black and gay. In UK, there are some evidences of research studies which are related to Black Caribbean MSM and their problems regarding social lives but there is no evidence of equivalent research which has been has been carried out with African men in UK. Therefore more research is needed urgently for understanding the sexual lifestyles of Afric an MSM, their problems regarding social lives and the best ways to reach them with HIV prevention policies and interventions (Aidsportal, 2007). Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) presents a real opportunity to address the multiple forms of discrimination faced by Black/African gay men, including racism, homophobia, sexism etc. In London the well established determinants of health care costs for people living with HIV/AIDS such as disease stage and transmission category, socio-economic factors like employment and the support of a living-in partner drastically reduced community services expenses (Kupek et al, 1999). The social responses of fear, stigma, denial and discrimination have accompanied the epidemic HIV/AIDS where the discrimination has increased enormously with maximum anxiety and prejudice against the community who are commonly affected with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2000). The HIV/AIDS can be treated by some modern therapies but it cannot be cured. The highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is a therapy which uniformly slower down the rate of disease development towards AIDS or the death. In London it is consistently showed that, the Black African people living with HIV are more likely to present with advanced stage of disease, and are therefore less likely to access and get advantage from this therapy. Because of this consequence there is a high mortality rate related to AIDS among the White community but in Black African community it has not yet seen remarkably (Boyd et al, 2005). The main reason for this occurrence is an unawareness of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among the Black African community. The information and knowledge regarding demographic characteristics and the stage of HIV in various communities can give important insights like which community should be targeted to provide more intensive educational campaigns t o develop the uptake of HIV testing. The World Health Organisation, UNAIDS and AVERT are the globally leading health organisations which work together and with the government for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. These organisations regularly keep an updates of the prevalence of epidemic HIV/AIDS globally, on national level as well as on the local level. Though these organisations are trying to provide maximum services for HIV infected people, it is proved that, globally only less than one individual in five who are at risk of HIV had access to basic prevention services for HIV (UNAIDS, 2005). As mentioned earlier, the prevalence of HIV is much in African regions. The governments of African countries should act decisively against the increase of HIV infections in the country. In South Africa the government has approved the long-awaited provision of free antiretroviral drugs in public hospitals. The South Africa is the only country in Africa whose government is still obtuse, dilatory and negligent about rolling out treatment ( AVERT, 2010). To fight against an epidemic HIV worldwide, the World Health Organisation and other national and international health organisations celebrates World AIDS Day every year on first December. The theme was established by World Health Organisation in 1988. Worldwide it provides national AIDS programs, faith organisations, community organisations, and individuals with an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). In England, the HIV related framework of services has been developed for African communities. This framework is developed to fulfil the vision of NHS plan and meet the standards and goals set out in the National Strategy. This service framework helps NHS staff offering HIV prevention and sexual health promotion advice to African communities. The Department of Health has proposed an ASTOR framework to deal with the diverse black community with different needs. It is a standardised planning tool which can be very helpful to deal with the Black African HIV infected patients. The benefits of ASTORs are for both service commissioners and providers (Department of Health, 2005). To reduce the prevalence of HIV infection in Black African community, the government of England have planned some strategies such as, Reducing the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV with maximum access to testing HIV, improving the health of people living with HIV by providing an antiretroviral therapy to them, preventing the onward transmission of HIV by addressing knowledge and awareness to the infected people (Elam et al, 2006). The African HIV Policy Network (AHPN) is a national umbrella organisation which deals with providing the information of national policies on HIV and sexual health that have implicated for African communities (African HIV Policy Network, 2008). In England the National African HIV prevention Programme (NAHIP) also works effectively delivering prevention interventions for African people living in England. In 1997, the department of health set up a first group of national projects targeted for African community to reduce the prevalence of HIV infection in England. In 2008 the Department of Health instigated a review of the two national HIV Prevention programmes, NAHIP and CHAPS which highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of both programmes and discussed the challenges regarding increasing prevalence in black Africans. In mid 2009, the RBE Consultancy was commissioned to consult with stakeholders in order to develop the NAHIP Strategic Plan 2010 2012. There is a provision of African A IDS Helpline which will become an intervention within NIHIP and the African community. The structure of the plan of NIHIP for 2010-2012 mainly include, the Implementation of the African HIV Prevention Handbook, Putting the Knowledge, The Will and The Power into Practice, relationships with evaluation and development. The aim of AHPN plan is taking into account the needs of African communities and more specifically incorporates Africans living with HIV into local delivery plans where the NIHIP aims to maintain the flow of the previous structure, provide a link for Sub-Contracted Agencies in case of grievances, reduce the length of time between HIV infection and diagnosis, reduce the number of condom failure events by increasing correct use of condoms, increase post-exposure prophylaxis in people who are sexually exposed to HIV (NAHIP, 2010). The Department of Health (2005) planned some interventions to decrease the prevalence of HIV in African communities such as, One to one counselling. Telephone help lines. Provision of sperm washing services. Clinical services to prevent mother-to-child transmission. To maximise the contact with the target group Department of Health made some settings which include, religious groups of African community or churches, African restaurants and embassies etc (Department of Health, 2005). The most prominent initiatives of NIHIP are the Do It Right Africans Making Healthy Choices campaign providing information on sexual health, condoms, and where to access help to the targeted group. The Beyond Condoms campaign of NIHIP promotes debate among African communities about a wide range of issues regarding sexual health and building a safer sex culture. To avoid the language and religious barriers the campaign literature is available in five different languages with targeting different religious groups (AVERT, 2010). The London Borough of Lewisham has large number of black African community with infected by HIV. Each year the NHS of Lewisham treats over 1,200 people for HIV infection. In this borough, around 57% of people are infected through heterosexual sex and 35% are infected through sex between men. The NHS Lewisham is trying to fight against increase in HIV prevalence by implementing different strategies. In 2009, the NHS set a theme for World AIDS Day entitled Universal Access and Human Rights. In the whole borough, the HIV testing is currently available through all GPs on request and four rapid-access HIV testing clinics around the borough. With implementing a new theme for HIV the NHS is piloting a new approach to HIV testing (NHS Lewisham, 2009). To avoid different barriers against HIV treatment the NHS has set 5 spoke providers on the weekly and monthly basis in which Metro is for weekly gay men group and FAWA provides French speaking African monthly group. This can help African commun ity who are infected with HIV (NHS Lewisham, 2009). In London Borough of Lewisham, the service providers for the black African people living with HIV are commissioned through the South London HIV Partnership (SLHP). The HIV services for black African communities commissioned by SLHP are as follows: African Culture Promotion: Prevention work with African communities. SHAKA: Prevention work with Caribbian and African communities. NPL: Prevention work with African communities. LSL African Health Forum: Prevention work with African communities. THT GMFA: Care and support services for gay men. Terrence Higgins Trust: Counselling (NHS Lewisham, 2009). Although Lewisham carries maximum number of HIV patients with black African ethnicity, still there are no specific strategies or policies targeting only for black Africans HIV patients in London Borough of Lewisham. According to the research carried out, the black Africans continue to present with more advanced HIV disease than whites or black Caribbeans. This community is still lacking for the early diagnosis as compared to other ethnic groups. The future strategies should be designed to promote the uptake of HIV testing among black Africans. The future strategies should address the multiple barriers to testing, including misperception of risk, stigma and discrimination and ready access to testing. This study suggests that although being on a high risk group for HIV infection the black Africans generally do not suspect their status. This community delay their uptake for HIV clinic care and test and statutory, voluntary support services. But still after diagnosis they are similar to their white counterparts. The black African community lack informal support networks. This study highlights a desperate need for health promotion work for the black African communities in London Borough of Lewisham, to increase awareness of the benefits of testing HIV and simultaneously to reduce the stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS. These are some barriers which have been illustrated in this study related to HIV testing. The attitudes and practices of NHS and other health care providers, perceptions of patients living with HIV, and official, managerial and economical factors would be very important aspects for the effectiveness of HIV testing and counselling for black African community but yet there is lack of structured information regarding these barriers. The overall barriers described are associated with low-risk perception, access to the health services, reluctance to address HIV, fear and worries and scarcity of economical and properly trained human resources. To conclude the overall study some suggestions would be helpful for the future strategies of health care services. The strategy or the policy should be made which can help strengthen work between the voluntary and statutory sector since the black African community would find it easier to approach their community organisations. The statutory sector should also approach the community directly by reaching them and to hear their personal views. Every newly established structure of the policy should be placed in each sector which will enable the people to attend easily. Considering the examples of the black African gay people, where it is perhaps easier for them to deal with HIV as they have, no baggage of family, these people are generally from the indigenous community therefore there is no immigration status problem, these people are stigmatised but also influential and empowered. If a HIV patient is admitted in hospital, try monitoring him and when he is about to discharged the hospita l ask him to contribute some thoughts once back in the community. Proactive engagement with the black African community would effect in unequal access to services and care with raising the confidence in their own voluntary organisation that the information about their status is held in confidence and will not be breached. A health care service should have culturally competent staff and involves families in the communication process which can be effective and successful. It is also a responsibility of all members of the society. The society should act well with the minority groups living with HIV. They should not be stigmatised by the general people. Being a good human everyone should avoid racism with minority communities like black Africans and the gay people. Remember, the Black African community who have HIV/AIDS are not the problem but the society is. REFERANCES: African HIV Policy Network. (2008) BHIVA/BASHH/BIS HIV TESTING GUIDELINES CONSULTATION Response from the African HIV Policy Network (AHPN). [Online] Available from: http://www.ahpn.org/downloads/policies/Consultation_on_BHIVA_testing_guidelines_V3_0.pdf [Accessed 5th May 2010]. African HIV Policy Network. (2006) HIV and Immigration. [Online] Available from: http://www.ahpn.org/downloads/newsletters/AHPNNewsletter0406.pdf [Accessed 15th May 2010]. Aidsportal. (2007) African HIV Policy network. [Online] Available from: http://www.aidsportal.org/repos/AHPNNewsletterMSMJuly07.pdf [Accessed 25th April 2010]. AVERT. (2010) HIV and AIDS in the UK. [Online] Available from: http://www.avert.org/aids-uk.htm [Accessed 21st May 2010]. AVERT. (2010) History of AIDS: 2003-2006. [Online] Available from: http://www.avert.org/aids-history03-06.htm [Accessed 17th May 2010]. Bevan, K. (2008) HIV in South East London 1995 2006. [Online] Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1212477969757 [Accessed 12th May 2010]. Boyd, A., Murad, S., Oshea, S., Ruiter, A., Watson, C., Easterbrook, P. (2005) Ethnic differences in stage of presentation of adults newly diagnosed with HIV-1 infection in south London. [Online] Available from: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/118714709/PDFSTART [Accessed 26th April 2010]. Department of Health. (2005) HIV and AIDS in African Communities A Framework for Better Prevention and Care January. [Online] Available from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4099052.pdf [Accessed 13th May 2010]. Elam, G., De Souza, L., Ward, H. (2006) HIV and AIDS in the United Kingdom African communities: guidelines produced for prevention and care. [Online] Available from: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=2886 [Accessed 2nd May 2010]. Elford, J., Anderson, J., Bukutu, C., Ibrahim, F. (2006) HIV in East London: ethnicity, gender and risk. Design and methods. [Online] Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1524742/ [Accessed 14th May 2010]. Erwin, J., Peters, B. (1999) Treatment issues for HIV+ Africans in London. [Online] Available from: http://0-www.sciencedirect.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/science?_ob=MImg_imagekey=B6VBF-3X70SDJ-6-1_cdi=5925_user=983321_pii=S0277953699002208_orig=search_coverDate=12%2F31%2F1999_sk=999509988view=cwchp=dGLbVzb-zSkzSmd5=b3e0e9a3f108a1a7e8675b1ed11c7ef9ie=/sdarticle.pdf [Accessed 14th May 2010]. Health Protection Agency. (2008) HIV in the United Kingdom: 2008 Report. [Online] Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1227515298354 [Accessed 9th May 2010]. Kupek, E., Dooley, M., Whitaker, L., Petrou, S., Renton, A. (1999) Demographic and socio-economic determinants of community and hospital services costs for people with HIV/AIDS in London. [Online] Available from: http://0-www.sciencedirect.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/science?_ob=MImg_imagekey=B6VBF-3WR495S-C-1_cdi=5925_user=983321_pii=S027795369800447X_orig=search_coverDate=05%2F31%2F1999_sk=999519989view=cwchp=dGLzVtb-zSkzSmd5=8f397198cfd5d487e813fcadbf073668ie=/sdarticle.pdf [Accessed 7th May 2010]. Latif, S. (2010) Effective methods of engaging black and minority ethnic communities within health care settings. [Online] Available from: http://www.better-health.org.uk/files/health/health-brief18.pdf [Accessed 3rd May 2010]. National African HIV Prevention Programme. (2010) National African HIV Prevention Programme (NAHIP) Strategic Plan April 2010 to March 2012. [Online] Available from: http://www.nahip.org.uk/downloads/494.pdf [Accessed 28th April 2010]. NHS Lewisham. (2009) HIV Supportive Care in Lewisham. [Online] Available from: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4072F68D-B71C-48EB-8749-CCFBC0B0DB7E/0/cc7f47f87214442b9213e01b0b2a297104HIVCommissioningandsupportprovision.PDF [Accessed 25th May 2010]. NHS Lewisham. (2009) MEDIA RELEASE WORLD AIDS DAY: 1ST DECEMBER 2009. [Online] Available from: http://www.lewishampct.nhs.uk/documents/2244.pdf [Accessed 5th May 2010]. NHS Lewisham. (2009) HIV Supportive Care in Lewisham Report for Healthier Communities Select Committee NHS Lewisham. (2010) HIV Supportive Care in Lewisham. [Online] Available from: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/9FE5FD58-9FDD-40F6-8C40-4ECECFBE23D4/0/0f66c646e95c4283b3b14078e7d0214608HIVHealthierCommunitiesSelectCommittee.PDF [Accessed 4th May 2010]. UNAIDS. (2000) HIV and AIDS-related stigmatization, discrimination and denial: forms, contexts and determinants. [Online] Available from: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/unaids/2000/UNAIDS_00.16E.pdf [Accessed 1st May 2010]. UNAIDS. (2005) Intensifying HIV prevention. [Online] Available from: http://data.unaids.org/publications/irc-pub06/jc1165-intensif_hiv-newstyle_en.pdf [Accessed 23rd April 2010]. UNAIDS. (2007) AIDS epidemic update. [Online] Available from: http://data.unaids.org/pub/epislides/2007/2007_epiupdate_en.pdf [Accessed 5th May 2010]. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2010) World AIDS Day. [Online] Available from: http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/days/world/ [Accessed 22nd May 2010]. World Health Organisation. (2010) HIV/AIDS. [Online] Available from: http://www.who.int/topics/hiv_aids/en/ [Accessed 15th May 2010].

Needless Animal Research, Testing, and Experimentation is Wrong Essay

Needless Animal Experimentation is Wrong    If penicillin had been tested on guinea pigs, it might never have reached the public. It is lethal to guinea pigs, deactivates the blood system of rabbits and is deadly to cats ("Bio-Medical Research"). Scientists are pushing for more experiments regardless of the cost to the animal's life. "One expense is the involvement of killing animals in the pursuit of a pine-scented air freshener"(Vergoth,p21). Animals suffering in experimentation labs are in just and cruel to animals. It is wrong to harm an innocent animal of any wrong doing, when the animal doesn't know right from wrong. It is argued that people have an obligation to animals, so that we can protect their welfare. Charles Fried claims "physical harm as an impingement upon the body which either causes pain or impairs functioning" (Fox, p85). Many animals experience pain, and sometimes death, during lab experiments. No animal experiments can be justified. Animals have helped in some ways, such as the discovery of the polio vaccine. Vivisection can be defined as an invasive experiment performed on an animal for the purpose of scientific research, product testing or education ("The National. . ."). Vivisection is extremely wrong because it causes pain and suffering on animals. Animals are entitled to be free from acts of cruelty. Animals, however, are important in research because their body systems are almost identical to humans. The use of dogs developed open-heart surgical techniques, coronary bypass surgery, and heart transplantation. Animals have helped in some ways, such as the discovery of the polio vaccine. The pulsing pain of electrodes planted in a chimps' brain is repulsive. The death of a tortured ra... ...re us so they will be here after the people leave. Bibliography Bio-Medical Research. [online] Nov, 4, 1997. Available at: http://www.navs.org/biomed.htm Fox, Michael Allen. "Animal Experimentation is not justified." Animal Rights:Opposing Viewpoints. Leone,Bruno, Series Ed. San Diego, CA. Greenhouse Press.1996. Frey, R.G. "All Animals Are Not Equal."Animal Rights:Opposing Viewpoints. Leone,Bruno, Series Ed. San Diego, CA. Greenhouse Press.1996. The National Anti-Vivisection Society. [online] Nov, 4, 1997. Available at: http://www.navs.org Product Testing. [online] Nov, 4, 1997. Available at: http://www.navs.org/product.htm Singer, Peter. "All Animals Are Equal."Animal Rights:Opposing Viewpoints. Leone,Bruno, Series Ed. San Diego, CA. Greenhouse Press.1996. Vergoth, Karin. "Guinea Pigs." Psychology Today. November/December 1995. pp21.

The Importance of Work :: essays research papers

The Importance of Work During the birth of this country, Puritans had to work hard to ensure the success of the new state. In order to make work more appealing, the Puritans emphasized the fruits of labor. This attitude, reflected in modern day by the act of "working for a living," is considered as a "badge of pride." Puritan attitudes toward work and the attitudes of two modern day writers toward work all agree that the act of working has virtuous effects, an attitude that I share because of my working experience (Clee and Clee 233-234). Three different attitudes toward work, expressed by several writers whom I have recently studied agree that hard work yields positive rewards. Henry F. Bedford, a history teacher at Phillips Exeter Academy, and Trevor Colbourne, a teacher at the University of New Hampshire, examine the Puritan attitude toward work in their book The Americans: A Brief History. Puritans stress the goodness of working by relating it to religious beliefs. Sloth is sinful, but the Puritans also pointed out that it was self-defeating. Leisure is even considered an "evil temptation" (Bedford and Colbourne 235-238). Marge Piercy, a modern day poet, essayist, and novelist, attempts to explain why work is desirable on contemporary terms in her poem "To Be of Use." To Piercy, hard workers who really persevere are admirable because of the fact that the world is full of temptations to stop working, or to not work altogether. This admiration for determination is apparent because work is as "common as mud," and it must be done sometime (Piercy 242-243). Wendell Berry, an English teacher at the University of Kentucky, explains the basis of the desire to work in his essay "The Joy of Work." In response to the prediction that there will be no work in the future, Berry emphasizes the importance of work to human nature.

Rodeo State Finals Essay -- Descriptive Essay Examples

Rodeo State Finals This is what I had been hoping for the entire year. I had been to many that were quite the same to this one, but none that could give me the same enduring edginess and serenity that I was feeling right now. My eyes skimmed across the hundreds of people who were all there for the same reason as me. Striving to be out of the sweltering sun, but not out of clear view of what I came for, I lead myself in a mighty search for the spot for which I belonged. As I sat down, I prepared myself for the pain that I was going to feel about an hour later. I always forgot how sore I would get from sitting on the bleachers for so long, but every time I approached them, I would remember and smile. During, the whole rodeo season I looked forward to going to the State Finals. I didn't attend the finals as a participant, but as a spectator. As President of the "Saddle Bronc Fan Club" for my friend Cole, there was no way I would miss this experience. We both had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Everything about going to this rodeo was fantastic: the food, the fun, most of all, the rodeo grounds. The place that I fit in was in the stands of the arena. Sitting there for four days got a little old, and, going on the fifth day, I was a little tired. Nevertheless, tired or not, this was what I had been looking forward to--the Short Go. This is the round in a rodeo when the top 15 from each event compete for the title of State Champion. This day was different from the other days that I had come. I could feel the tension and hostility in the air from the contestants. Maybe it was from the stress and pressure of the day's rodeo, or maybe it was from the fact that they all were wearing long sleeve sh... ...addition, no one could beat the way I was feeling. This is where I belonged even though others thought different. I had never once thought about going to rodeos until I met Cole. He had led me to something that I will now look forward to going to for the rest of my life. Even with the blistering sun and even with the pouring rain, I found a sense of my own belongingness. Just because I didn't look the part of a usual rodeo fan, didn't mean that I wasn't one of the biggest fans of all. I was glad that I could be a supporter for my friend, but most of all I was glad for the new, thrilling experience. It was a feeling that no roller coaster ride could ever give me. My next journey was in a month, and I was on my way to the next big rodeo, Nationals. I expected the same response from people there as here, but I was hopeful for it. With this thought, I smiled.

Angels in America

If we were to imagine what destruction is like, how would anyone of us portray it? Would our portrayals be as catastrophic and devastating as the word means? It depends on the person who imagines it. Now, if we were to imagine destruction from a psychological perspective this may be entirely different for each person. Why this would be the case is probably because of the unique personalities that each one of us has. Some of us may not be able to bear the uncertainties that destruction could bring into the world, hence, fearing it. Others may just ignore the details of chaos and live on with their ignorant, static lives. Then, there is the remaining portion of us who know the bigger picture of destruction and are hopeful to change the world from the aftermath of it. In a similar perspective, these comparable portraits of characteristics correlate to one of the unique themes of Tony Kuskner’s play, â€Å"Angels in America†: identity. In this theme, the identities of the characters in the play symbolize emotions of ambivalence, the static views of the gay community, and the hope for change in the chaotic era of the 1980s American society. Kushner subtly conveys Harper’s character to represent the ambivalent emotions of the American society in the 1980s. As a character suffering from psychological problems, Harper’s personality is very complex. In one bizarre aspect of the play, she’s having an interesting conversation with one of her hallucinations, Mr. Lies, to discuss her constructive, yet imaginative, plans to live a new life in Antarctica. While in a counter-perceptive view, Harper feels uncertain and fearful to move out off anywhere because of the paranormal threats that she’s worry about. â€Å"A man with a knife† that she speaks of is one of those dangers that she is strangely concerned about (Millennium Approaches 24). The sort of ambivalence and fear that Harper’s identity carries in Kushner’s play somehow depicts the â€Å"apocalyptic anxiety† that is happening in the United States in the 1980s (Garner, Jr. 2). The â€Å"escalation† of this catastrophic concern is â€Å"reinforced by economic crisis, ecological disaster, overpopulation, the AIDS epidemic, and the fall of European communism† at the time (Garner, Jr. 2). In addition to all this build-up of chaotic events in the country, people begin to dread the nuclear annihilations that could potentially commence during the postwar moments of the Cold War. In order to draw out the people’s sense of fear and uncertainty over the destructive events in the 1980s, Kushner tries to convey it through Harper’s paranormal concern of the ozone layer. After she explains to herself how the ozone layer is â€Å"a kind of gift, from God†, Harper then says, â€Å"But everywhere, things are collapsing, lies surfacing, systems of defense giving away. . . . This is why, Joe, this is why I shouldn’t be left alone (Millennium Approaches 17)†. Her ambivalent concern on the total deconstruction of the world correlates to Americans’ â€Å"Cold War anxiety† on the possible nuclear threats in the 1980s (Garner, Jr. 3). By illustrating Harper’s complex identity in the play, Kushner is able to portray the types of ambivalent emotions (fear, terror, and uncertainty) that people felt in the destructive events of history at that time period. As imaginative and abstract as this drama is, Kushner portrays the stagnant identity of Roy Cohn in his play to figuratively allude the inert views of the gay community in the 80s society of America. In his playwright notes, Kushner briefly explains how he makes use of the real Roy Cohn’s attributions in history to develop his fictional Roy in his play. Based on what Roy has done in the past, his illegal maneuvers during the trial of Ethel Rosenberg make his overall identity cynical and egotistic. Ideally, Kushner effectively make use of these two traits in his version of Roy. In a similar perspective, the fictional Roy knows how to get his way in almost anything throughout the story because of his possession of â€Å"clout† in society (Millennium Approaches 45). He emphasizes his powerful stature by telling his doctor, â€Å"I can pick up this phone, punch fifteen numbers† and â€Å"in under five minutes†, he can reach the First Lady on the other end of the phone line (Millennium Approaches 45). In this scene, Roy reasons with Henry about his social â€Å"image† as a heterosexual lawyer in New York. If his original diagnosis of AIDS has caught news to the media, then Roy’s static identity will be destroyed. Yet, Kushner doesn’t convey this. Instead, Roy says, â€Å"AIDS is what homosexuals have. I have liver cancer† to convince Henry hat he must maintain his appealing status for the public (Millennium Approaches 46). Ideally, Roy has no intention to reveal his homosexual self, nor does he show any sympathy for gays. His biased statement, â€Å"Homosexuals are men who know nobody and who nobody knows. Who have zero clout. † intriguingly portrays his psychological denial of his true identity (Millennium Approaches 45). The selfish desire of social redemption that Roy is struggling to fulfill represents the â€Å"disturbing symptoms of the larger culture’s inauthentic response to suffering† that Kushner is trying to convey in his play (Omer-Shaman 11). Symbolically, Kushner illustrates Roy’s static identity of social redemption in order to depict the general public’s unchanging perspectives against the gay community in the 80s society of America. Interestingly, Prior’s enduring identity in Kushner’s play represent the hope for change in the American society at the time. Kushner makes Prior’s character very apparent and symbolic to his readers; he is a homosexual who is diagnosed with the AIDS at this particular time period – perhaps it’s a historical reference in Kushner’s part. At some parts of his play, Kushner descriptively portrays Prior’s bloody wounds and entrails of his tormenting disease to represent foreshadowing moments of â€Å"Christian redemption† in the latter story of the drama – Prior’s meetings with the Angels (Ogden 6). Similarly, as one critic depicts, the blood lesions that Prior suffers through creates a slight correlation to Christ â€Å"bleeding wounds† and pains from a biblical viewpoint (Ogden 6). How these religious connections tie in with Prior’s enduring personality starts by his own fantasy with the Angel in his apartment. Unlike Roy’s character, Prior openly says, â€Å"I can handle pressure, I am a gay man and I am used to pressure, to trouble, I am tough and strong,† as he courageously calms himself in the mist of the heavenly circumstances (Millennium Approaches 117). Ideally, this scene of the play does not only depict how brave Prior is, but also how strong and confident Prior is to reveal his true self. Furthermore, the fact that he says, â€Å"I am used to pressure†, depicts his enduring identity to overcome the social pressures he has as a homosexual. Similarly, Kushner conveys this familiar perspective of Prior’s in his last meeting with the Angel in heaven. In this scene, Prior rejects the Angel’s prophet of stasis in the final scenes of the drama. He tells the Angel, â€Å"We live past hope. If I can find hope anywhere, that’s it, that’s the best I can do†¦ Bless me anyway. I want more life. † to conclude his declination as he exits heaven (Perestroika 133). What Prior says to the Angel as he leaves heaven is ironic to what he has been through in the whole play. Despite how much he has suffered from his tragic life, Prior’s enduring soul still wants â€Å"more life† to essentially hope for better things to come in the world as it continues to spin forward (Perestroika 133). Remarkably, Kushner utilizes Prior’s enduring soul to symbolize the hope for change in America during the chaotic messes within 80s society. Although the character’s personalities portray an abstractive and imaginative perspective in the play, Kushner subtly make use of this unique aspect to correlate the realistic concepts conveyed in his play’s theme of identity. In general, the dialogues in play may sound a bit fantasized – even strange. Yet somehow, Kushner is able to connect his fictional characters’ lives in his play to the lives of the 1980s society of America. Because of this ironic and interesting comparison between fiction and reality, Kushner is able to express the real, dramatic emotions that are felt during that time in history. By capturing the historical events and moments of the 1980s, Kushner subtly reveals the sense of reality of his drama through the surreal identities of his characters.