Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions Essay

Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions Theory of Knowledge - Essay Example 2006). The fact about reason and emotion being the same, there have been various questions involving the nature of the two concepts, one pertinent being "are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions" Only a meticulously analyzed study and discussion of the question may find an exact answer to this. Therefore, the most focal thrust of this discussion has been the question in the backdrop of the issues of abortion and ethnic cleansing. Abortion which is "the removal of a fetus from the body of its host (a pregnant woman) which typically results in the death of the fetus" (What is abortion 2004) and ethnic cleansing, "the attempt to create ethnically homogeneous geographic areas through the deportation or forcible displacement of persons belonging to particular ethnic groups," (Ethnic Cleansing. 2008) are the most obvious present issues which magnetize our rational and emotional deliberation of the issues in arriving at moral decisions. Consequently, in this discussion, we try to find out the magnitude of both the philosophical concepts in our moral decisions. "Everything human is part emotion and part reason All domains of knowledge lie somewhere between these two end points; with music being the end of the line at emotion and mathematics being at the end of the line at reason" (Human Essence is Pattern! 2006). A comprehensive analysis of the issues of abortion and ethnic cleansing clarifies why emotion gives you musical effect and reason mathematical. On the one hand, these issues are to be looked at and comprehended on the basis of emotion so as to side with the suffering, the affected, and the neglected. It is necessary to see things in this direction so that the moral considerations are given due attention. When we discuss the consequences of abortion and ethnic cleansing, we need to identify the moral factors that make the people miserable and victimized. In this sense, emotion has a wider relevance and scope in moral issues concerning humanity. As the Bhagavad Gita establishes, it "has the advantage of being open to all, the weak and the lowly, the illiterate and the scholar. It is seen to be as efficacious as any other method and is sometimes said to be stronger than the others, since it is its own fruition, while other methods are means to some other ends" (Diploma Program, Theory of knowledge Guide. 2008). However, on the other hand, moral decisions cannot always be arrived at by considering emotion alone as it would be a thoughtful activity. The basic characteristic of human beings, as may be by far identified, is that they are rational beings and therefore we need to use our reason as well as emotion in taking moral conclusions. "David Hume wrote that reason is a "slave to the emotions." But new research suggests that in our moral decision-making, reason and emotion duke it out within the mind" (Shea 2006). For a better understanding of the concepts, let us consider the issues of abortion and ethnic clearance and analyze the role of emotion and reason in arriving at the right moral conclusions. First we will examine the role of emotion and reason in making a moral decision on the significant and often discussed issue of abortion. Abortion is a topic of common discussions and most

Politics in China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Politics in China - Research Paper Example China’s Constitution had an article regarding the freedom of the press but due to the shortcomings in the structural system it was hardly implemented. The other parties of China were hardly allowed to voice their opinion. The only way to end this autocracy was the establishment of democracy (Han & Han, 1990, p.34). In the light of the above scenario this paper seeks to examine the Tiananmen Square protests and the government’s response. Further our aim would be to examine the reason for the survival of the Communist Party when its counterparts in Eastern Europe and Soviet Union were dismantling. In what ways were the 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square, and the Party/State’s response, a critical juncture? The output of China following the socialistic pattern of society was commendable but soon it had suffered the same fate as faced by many â€Å"mature socialistic† economies. Reduction in economic growth and consumption pattern resulted in a series of reform s since late 1978 which was a deviation from the traditional socialistic pattern. The crux of the new economic policy was based on private ownership, free play of market forces for allocation and determination of market prices (Harding, 1987, p.99-100). In the month of June 1989, many students had gathered peacefully to protest against the reforms which had taken place and they also wanted to voice their opinion for a more responsible government which safeguarded democracy. They also wanted to protest against the corruption that was there within the government. The essence of the protest was not to follow a democracy style like the US instead they wanted wealth and prosperity of the nation like their western counterparts. They had no intentions of overthrowing the PRC (Lusted, 2010, pp. 1-12). The response of the PRC to the peaceful protests was not only repressive in nature but there was an absolute violation of human rights (Brown, 2002, p. 94). The government had warned the prote sters of drastic actions to control the â€Å"social chaos†. True to their words army action was taken against the protesters and they were shot dead (1989: Massacre in Tiananmen Square, 1989). The Tiananmen Square massacre was etched in history not only for its harsh outcome but also for the fact that it had occurred at such a point of time when communism in two of its strongest base was losing its hold. The protest of 1989 was the first of its kind after 1949 and it was for the sake of reforms. The protests of the people showed their dissatisfaction with the existing government. Though the incident had occurred at this critical juncture, the response of the government was very stern. They used every possible measure to crush the uprising. Why did the Communist Party in China not fall in 1989 unlike the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe? The disintegration of communism started in Poland in mid 1989 and eventually it had spread to other East European countries. Finally, it ceas ed to exist in its place of origin, that is, Soviet Union by the end of 1991. The displacement of communism in Soviet Union did not have much bloodshed. However it is considered as one of the most important political event of the twentieth century (Zuzowski, 1998, p. 1). The poor performance of the Russian economy had prompted their leader Mikhail Gorbachev to initiate a series of reforms in different phases. Though his reforms were meant to bring about economic improvement but it

History of Breast Cancer Identification and Treatment

History of Breast Cancer Identification and Treatment A City of Strings In the late 1970s, researchers at Standford and UCSF had invented a technology known as recombinant DNA. They founded a biotech company called Genentech in 1976 to leverage on this technology to develop new drugs. Genentech used Recombinant DNA technology to synthesize human proteins in bacteria cells instead of extracting proteins from animal and human organs. From 1982 to 1985, Genentech had manufactured many important drugs such as human insulin, a clotting factor to treat hemophilia, and a human growth hormone all engineered and produced in bacterial cells. In 1984, a team of researchers led by a German scientist named Axel Ullrich from Genentech discovered the human homolog of the neu gene, an oncogene previously discovered by Weinberg. In the summer of 1986, Ullrich told the story of the isolation of Her-2 at a UCLA seminar. Among the audience was a UCLA oncologist named Dennis Slamon. Slamon had a collection of cancer tissues from patients at UCLA. He proposed a simple collaboration to Ullrich. If Ullrich sent him the Her-2 DNA probes, Slamon could test his collection for cancer cells with hyperactive Her-2 genes. Ullrich agreed. Slamon tested Her-2 with his collection of cancer cells. He discovered that breast cancers could be divided into two types: Her-2 positive and Her-2 negative, depending on whether or not the cancer cells amplify Her-2 by making multiple copies. Her-2 positive tumors are more aggressive, more metastatic, and more likely to kill than Her-2 negative tumors. The association of Her-2 with an aggressive breast cancer prompted Ullrich to look for a drug to shut off the Her-2 function. In 1988, Genentech produced a mouse antibody that could inactivated Her-2 and sent it to Slamon. Slamon tested the antibody with cancer cells in a dish, the cancer cells stopped growing and died. When he injected the antibody into mice with Her-2 positive tumors, the tumors also disappeared. He concluded that the Her-2 inhibition worked in an animal model. Both Slamon and Ullrich expected Genentech to leap at the opportunity. But Genentech got cold feet and wanted to focus on simpler and more profitable drugs. Feeling dejected, Ullrich left Genentech, leaving Slamon alone at UCLA trying to keep the Her-2 project alive at Genentech. Eventually, Slamon and Art Levinson, a molecular biologist at Genentech, convinced a tiny entrepreneurial team to push ahead with the Her-2 project. In the summer of 1990, Genentech produced a human Her-2 antibody ready for clinical trials. They called it Herceptin. Fifteen women enrolled in Slamons trial at UCLA in 1992. The drug was combined with a standard chemotherapy drug, both delivered intravenously. Only five of the original cohort continued the trial to its six-month end point. One of them is Barbara Bradfield. She had told Slamon that she was at the end of the road and had accepted what seemed inevitable, when Slamon tried to enroll her in the trial in the summer of 1991. She survives today. Drugs, Bodies, and Proof By the summer of 1993, news of the Herceptin early phase trial had spread through the community. Her-2 positive breast cancer is one of the most fatal variants of the disease, and patients will try any therapy that could produce a positive response. Cancer activist urged the release of the drug to patients who had failed other therapies. These patients, they argued, could not wait for the drug to undergo the long periods of clinical trial; they wanted a life saving medicine now. For Genentech, Herceptin had not been approved by the FDA. Genentech wanted carefully executed early phase trials. Marti Nelson, a gynecologist in California, had breast cancer when she was 33 in 1987. In 1993, six years after her initial surgery, her cancer had relapsed. She wanted to test the tumor for Her-2 sensitivity, but her HMO insisted that the test was useless because Herceptin was in investigational trials. In the summer of 1993, she contacted the Breast Cancer Action (BCA) project for help. Working through its activist networks, BCA asked several laboratories to test Nelsons tumor. In October 1994, the tumor was found to be Her-2 positive. She would be an ideal candidate for the drug. But the news came too late. She died nine days later. On December 4, 1994, a group of women from the BCA staged a funeral procession for Nelson through the Genentech campus. Unable to silence the activists, Genentech joined them. In 1995, Genentech agreed to provide an expanded access program for Herceptin, allowing oncologist to treat patients outside clinical trials. Trial Results On May 17, 1998, Slamon reported the results of the clinical trial at the 34th meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Los Angeles. In the pivotal 648 study, 469 women had received standard chemotherapy and were randomized to receive either Herceptin or a placebo. Women treated with Herceptin had shown a clear a measurable benefit. Response rates had increased by 150 percent, shrinking more tumors, and extending lives by four to five months compared to the control arm. In 2003, two studies were launched to test Herceptin in early stage breast cancer. When the trials were combined, overall survival in women treated with Herceptin was increased by 33 percent. A Four-Minute Mile In 1973, Janet Rowley identified a unique chromosomal aberration in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. The abnormality, the so-called Philadelphia chromosome, resulted from a translocation in which the head of chromosome 22 and the tail of chromosome 9 had been fused to create a new gene. A team of Dutch researchers isolated the gene on Chromosome 9 in 1982. They called it abl. And in 1984, they isolated abls partner on chromosome 22 a gene called Bcr. In normal cells, Bcr and abl are separate genes living on separate chromosomes. But in CML cells, the fusion of the two genes created a new chimera called Bcr-abl which coded a hyperactive kinase that causes cells to divide without control. In the mid-1980s, a team of chemists at Ciba-Geigy was trying to develop selective kinase inhibitors. Ciba-Geigy was a pharmaceutical company in Basel, Switzerland.ÂÂ   The team was headed by a Swiss physician named Alex Matter, and an English biochemist named Nick Lydon. In 1986, Matter and Lydon discovered a simple skeletal chemical that could bind a kinase and inhibit its function. By the early 1990s. Matter and Lydon had created dozens of new molecules with similar structures. When Lydon tested these molecules on various kinases, he discovered that they were kinase inhibitors with extraordinary specificity. What Matter and Lydon needed now was a disease in which to apply this collection of chemicals. In the late 1980s, Nick Lydon met Brian Druker at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Druker, a young faculty member at the institute, was interested in CML the cancer driven by the Bcr-abl kinase. He proposed an ambitious collaboration effort to test the kinase inhibitors on the patients at the institute. But the project was tabled because the lawyers could not agree to terms. In 1993, Druker reconnected with Lydon after he left Boston to start his own laboratory in Portland at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). Lydon informed Druker that the Ciba-Geigy team had found a molecule called CGP57148 that might inhibit Bcr-abl with high specificity. Revealing little about the potentials of the chemicals, Druker got a collaboration agreement signed between OHSU and Ciba-Geigy. In the summer of 1993, Druker added the drug from Lydon to CML cells in a petri dish. Overnight, the CML cells were dead. He induced CML tumors into mice and then treated the mice with the drug. The tumors regressed in days, leaving behind the normal blood cells. He drew out samples of bone marrow from a few patients with CML and applied the drug to the cells in a petri dish. The leukemia cells in the marrow died immediately, leaving behind the normal blood cells. He had cured leukemia in the dish. Druker expected Ciba-Geigy to be excited about these results. But in Basel, Ciba-Geigy has just merged with its arch rival into a pharmaceutical behemoth called Novartis. The prospect of spending millions on a drug to benefit thousands gave Novartis cold feet. Novartis finally relented in early 1998. They changed the name of the drug to Gleevec. In the initial phase of the study, 53 out of 54 patients receiving the drug showed a complete response within days. The remissions extended into weeks and months as the patients continued the medicine. The initial phase of the trial was a success. The Red Queens Race In the fifth year of their Gleevec trial, Charles Sawyer and Mashe Talpaz found the vast proportion of CML patients maintained deep remissions on the drug. But occasionally, a patients leukemia became Gleevec-resistant and stopped responding to Gleevec. Sawyers discovered that the CML cells become Gleevec-resistant by altering the structure of the molecule. In 2005, Sawyerss team generated another kinase inhibitor, called dasatinib, to target Gleevec-resistant Bcr-abl. The effect of this new drug on Gleevec-resistant patients was remarkable: the leukemia cells disappeared again. Even targeted therapy was a cat-and-mouse game. When the cancer becomes resistant to the drug, we would need a different molecular variant. And when it becomes resistant to the new drug, you would need the next generation drug. Like the Red Queens race, we have to keep running to remain still. In the decade since the discovery of Gleevec, 24 novel cancer-targeted drugs have been introduced and dozens more are in development. The 24 drugs have been effective against lung, breast, and prostate cancers, lymphomas, leukemias and sarcomas. Some inactivate oncogenes, others target oncogene-activated pathways. The Red Queens race applies to cancer screening and cancer prevention. Circles of relationships are powerful predictors of individual behaviors. The tobacco epidemic originated as a form of metastatic social behavior. Successful cancer-prevention strategies can lapse swiftly when social behavior changes. Thirteen Mountains The Human Genome Project was completed in 2003. It will be followed by the Cancer Genome Atlas project a compendium of every gene mutation in the most common form of cancer. Mutations in the cancer genome, Bert Vogelstein believes, come in two forms. Some are passenger mutations that have no impact on the biology of the cancer cell. Others are driver mutations that play a crucial role in the biology of a cancer cell. The mountains in the cancer genome, the most frequent mutations in a particular form of cancer, have another property. They can be organized into between eleven and fifteen key cancer pathways. The dysregulation of these core pathways poses an enormous challenge for cancer therapists. These changes provoke three directions for cancer medicine: Once we have identified the crucial driver mutations in any cancer, we will need to hunt for targeted therapies against these genes. We need to integrate the insights of cancer biology into cancer prevention to preempt the need for a million-person association study. Cancer screening can also be fortified by the molecular understanding of cancer. We need to integrate our understanding of abnormal genes and pathways to explain the behavior of cancer, renewing the circle of knowledge, discovery, and therapeutic intervention. Atossas War Imagine Atossa, the Persian queen who had breast cancer in 500 BC, traveling through time, appearing and reappearing in one age after the next. How would her treatment and prognosis changed in the last four millennia, and what happens to her later in the new millennium? In 2500 BC at Imhoteps clinic in Egypt, Imhotep provides a diagnosis, but there is no treatment, he says. In 500 BC, her Greek slave cuts her tumor out a primitive form of a mastectomy. In 400 BC, in Thrace, Hippocrates identifies her tumor as a karkinos. In AD 168, Claudius Galen says its a systemic overdose of black bile cutting the tumor out would not cure it. Medieval surgeons cut her cancer away with knives and scalpels. Some offer goat dung, lead plates, crab paste, and holy water as treatments. In 1778, at John Hunters clinic in London, her cancer is assigned a stage. If the tumor is local, he recommends surgery. For advanced cancers, he advises: remote sympathy. In 1890, at Halsteds clinic in Baltimore, her breast cancer is treated with radical mastectomy. In the early twentieth century, radiation oncologists try to destroy the tumor using X-rays. By the 1950s, her cancer is treated with a lumpectomy followed by radiation. In the 1970s, her surgery is followed by adjuvant combination chemotherapy to diminish the chance of a relapse. In the 1980s, besides surgery, radiation, and adjuvant chemotherapy, she is treated with hormonal and targeted therapy. In the mid-1990s, Atossas genome was sequenced and found positive for BRCA-1.ÂÂ   She is offered several targeted therapies to treat the illness. In 2050, Atossa will arrive at her oncologists clinic with a thumb drive containing the entire sequence of her cancers genome. The computer would identify the mutations and pathways that are causing the cancer. Therapies will be targeted against these mutations and pathways. She will start with one combination of targeted drugs, expect to switch to a second one when her cancer mutates, and switch again when the cancer mutates again.

AIDS in Africa :: Research Papers Term Papers

AIDS in Africa I. Introduction In 1983, the first report indicating that wealthy Africans were seeking medical treatment for AIDS in Europe, was published in a medical journal. What the world did not know at that time, was that AIDS had been spreading rapidly through parts of central Africa for years. Furthermore, no one ever imagined that, by the end of the year 1997, an estimated 30.6 million persons in the world would be infected with HIV, the virus causing AIDS, with the majority of these people living in Africa (Feldman and Miller 14). The prospect of AIDS being responsible for over two million funerals in the year 1998 alone, was also something that no one had ever thought possible. However, the reality is that the HIV/AIDS situation in Africa has blown out of control, and the current epidemic as it exists there is far greater and more widespread than that of the rest of the world. Sub-Saharan Africa, which is the region of Africa hit hardest by the epidemic, is home to only one-tenth of the worldâ€⠄¢s population, yet reportedly accounts for 71 percent of the infected population, 79 percent of cumulative AIDS related deaths and 92 percent of the world’s AIDS orphans. At the end of 1999, 24.5 million adults and children were living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Also taking a toll, is the life expectancy rate of Africans, which has dropped from sixty-one to thirty-nine years in the past decade, and is estimated to shrink to thirty-one years by 2008 due to the AIDS epidemic. Although AIDS is just one of the problems presently facing Africa, it is a major concern that needs to be addressed, before entire cultures are wiped out. AIDS has already claimed more lives than the total of all wars, famines, floods and such deadly diseases as malaria on the African continent (Laino). Attempts to eliminate or at least alleviate AIDS in Africa, though, have not been easy or rather successful. For a variety of reasons, due mainly to the cultural and economic aspects of Afr ica, AIDS itself, and thus the treatment and prevention of it, on this continent is different from the situation in the US, or most other developing countries for that matter. Evidence of this can best be seen through the inability of the rest of the world to help deal with the problem of AIDS in Africa (as it is clear that a country as poor as Africa can not survive this fight on their own) which has allowed the problem to spiral out of control.

Slavery Today

Slavery in the 21st Century Sex trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion. While this happens all over the world, it occurs much more frequently in the United States than one would think. Sex traffickers use a variety of methods to â€Å"condition† their victims including starvation, confinement, beatings, physical abuse, rape, gang rape, threats of violence to the victims and the victims’ families, and forced drug use. In modern day slavery, human beings are literally bought and sold as property on the market, for amounts ranging from $80 to $5,000. Like in the 1800s, victims might even be sold at auctions where they have been kidnapped or sold into slavery by their families or friends whom they believed they could trust. They have no control over their lives: where they live, what work they do, their sexuality, or their health. Escaping is nearly impossible as victims are often constantly drugged, and they fear being abused or even killed. This is very similar to slavery in the 1700s and 1800s. Right now there are many problems and issues being brought up about the United States, however sex trafficking has failed to be acknowledged by most as one of those issues. We should care more about sex trafficking since it is believed to be the 21st century’s version of slavery. In the 1800s slavery was abolished and ended with the Civil War, but now it has arisen once again in a different way. We should pay more attention to these issues in providing education on the topic by reporting on the statistics and effects of sex trafficking in the media. I don’t know if we can truly abolish slavery in every form, but we should try as history has shown the effects slavery has on the individual, as well as, society.

Corporate Branding and Globalization Essay

Introduction Globalization can be said to be an increasing pattern of worldwide interconnectivity that has led to a large number of contrasting perceptions emanating from cultural differences. With increasing globalization, the world appears to have become a much smaller place, resulting in the amalgamation of cultures as well as greater sensitivity towards cultural differences. There are varied kinds of differences relative to minority rights, religious movements and gender and identity politics. However, the global marketplace is characterized with an unending battle for competitive advantage, which has created the need for global organizations to constantly keep finding new ways of attaining and sustaining their advantages in such a competitive environment. The main thrust behind such abilities is efficient corporate branding because by their very nature, brands have the potential to classify differentiation in pertinent and convincing ways. This ability has played a major role in distinguishi ng global brands such as Coca Cola, Dell and Unilever. This paper reflects on the role played by corporate branding in contemporary forms of globalization. Main Body Given that the current business environment is becoming increasingly intense, the leadership status of any popular and well established company can change overnight because just enjoying a competitive advantage is no longer sufficient in the current global business environment. The main determinant for consistent development and growth is the ability to sustain competitive advantage. Time is known to play a major role in this regard because while many companies could be focusing on adopting the latest technology and innovations, others would have moved up to higher levels. This aspect becomes more important in view of the large numbers of organizations that are struggling to remain afloat in a turbulent business environment. The only solution is to adopt an effective corporate branding strategy. A brand cannot be said to be a product or trade mark or any kind of advertising because these elements serve in achieving the main objective of establishing a competitive brand. Marketing experts believe that corporate branding is the currency of the twenty-first century and must be uniquely strategized in order to get the required outcomes. A global organization that can constantly deliver such promises stands to gain in establishing long term relationships, which results in spawning goodwill and good reputation. In the contemporary globalization context, the brand promise is conveyed through the brand strategy and conveyed by means of the brand personality. It is necessary to establish appeal, distinctiveness and clarity in linear association with the supremacy of the brand. In determining the issues that affect corporate branding amongst multinational organizations, it is important to examine the characteristics of successful international brands. It is apparent that globally successful brands do not focus on highlighting their products or services but aim at selling specific concepts. For example, Coca Cola sells soft drinks but in different parts of the globe its products are perceived more with a sense of enjoyment. Dell adopts the same strategy and does not focus on selling its computers but on what is made possib le with its products. Similarly, McDonald’s, which is the biggest and fastest growing restaurant chain in the world, does not focus on describing the qualities of its food items but on promising unique experiences to consumers. McDonald’s branding strategy is a true example of giving credence to the cultural practices prevalent in its different market segments. Although it sells pork in several of its restaurant chains across the world, it does not do so in the Middle East in respecting the cultural and religious beliefs of local people. Similarly, in India, where majority of the population is vegetarian, McDonald does not sell beef products. Emirates, which is amongst the world’s leading airlines, focuses on selling its service instead of highlighting other aspects of its products. All these global organizations share common branding characteristics that can be emulated by organizations striving to expand globally. The prime focus has to be on adopting an appropriate branding strateg y. The main considerations in making strategies and plans in a globalized environment pertain to evaluating the operating model of the organizational structure and to create a branding strategy that appeals to the internal and external environments. By mobilizing a leadership team with international experience, the organization can effectively execute and integrate branding relevant to the given segment and location. This is evident from the practices of companies such as Starbucks and Nike that emphasize on all aspects of business except marketing. This strategy is particularly important in deregulated global supply chains because firms have to be careful about the link between politics and money that have been impacting even the policies of the World Trade Organization (Pieterse, 1996). Brand based campaigns are known to have rattled their respective corporate targets, in many instances making organizations to change their policies. In this regard, Klein (2002) has given the example o f three brand campaigns that are noteworthy in having deeply impacted consumers’ perceptions. These brand campaigns pertained to the Swoosh, the Shell and the Arches that developed tactics in making use of courts to enforce adoption of transparent practices by corporations. They also used internet in bypassing the conventional media systems and hence proved to be revolutionary in impacting the potential of political engagements (Klein, 2002). According to Rantanen (2004), the media plays an important role in the globalization process although he does not assert that the media is the only aspect that matters in globalization. He holds that through their individual media activities, people indirectly contribute to the process of globalization because such media activities have a strong bearing on the creation of social practices. From this perspective, it appears that the branding strategies of multinational organizations addressed through the media can impact the business performance of these firms because culture that is established through the impact of media will create pre ferences for the advertised goods and services. The objective of multinational corporations in using the media for their branding objectives is to ensure that people in new market segments become aware of the products through advertising campaigns that associate their social and cultural practices with the benefits and satisfaction accruing from the advertised products. Pieterse (2000) has raised the issue of whether globalization involves the creation of a pattern towards human integration. In fact, it is true that increasing levels of interrelationships have resulted because of globalization, which has created a shrinking world. This in turn has led to the overall widening of the extent of human cooperation because of the creation of common interests and preferences that have been made possible through the influx of products and services introduced by multinational corporations in different parts of the world. The same product is introduced in new markets with different branding strategies that are related with local cultural and social practices, thus creating a link between consumers in several parts of the world, although the motivation to buy such products varies in different parts of the world. This difference arises primarily because of branding strategies of multinational companies. Conclusion It is apparent that in the current volatility that characterizes global businesses, branding plays a very important role by addressing the needs of consumers in different parts of the world in keeping with their social and cultural practices. Companies with strong brands thus prove to be more resistant to global economic fluctuations in being able to provide high levels of demand predictability and higher level of reliability and stability in forecasting. Such companies are characterized with having a consistent flow of revenues and profit, which allows them to predict higher returns for their stakeholders. In view of these circumstances, brands can be considered as any other asset, which can account for a given level of profitability in producing good results for stakeholders. References Klein, N. A. 2002. Tale of Three Logos – The Swoosh, the Shell and the Arches; in No Logo: No Space, No Choice, No Jobs, Picador Pieterse, Jan Nederveen. 2000. Globalization and Human Integration: We are all Migrants, Elsevier, Volume 32, Issue 5, Pages 385–398 Pieterse, Jan Nederveen. 1996. Globalization and Culture: Three Paradigms, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 31, No.23, pp.1389-1393 Rantanen, Terhi. 2004. The Media and Globalization, Sage

Important things you should consider before making decision about college

Important things you should consider before making decision about college Recommendations on choosing a college When you are in the high school you face a choice of your future profession, carrier and the entire life direction at all. Thus, this choice starts with the selection of the college, which reveals to be fundamental and decisive factor, which will impact your entire life. Most of young people prefer one or another college unthinkingly, being under influence of dreams, college reputation and advertisements or opinions of elder friends, who already study at particular college. Anyway, we will recommend you to be more skeptical and scrupulous, while considering such things as your future education. Do not be guided by your momentary hesitation or blind preferences, there are so many things to be thought over at first. Specialization You already know what profession you want to obtain or at least know in what direction you should move. Study all the specialties and educational programs, which are offered by different universities. Some of the colleges do not have academic programs for the specialty, you want to receive, and others can have differences in the courses and training methods. Thus, you should consider which disciplines you will learn, whether there is enough practical training or theoretical courses predominate here. Also, find out at what field you will be welcomed to work with this degree, so that you can be sure that you head to your goals. Financial aspect While making a decision about college preferences, you should pay attention to the ticklish question concerning finance. So, you should find out about the tutorial fees at the high school you want to enter and other additional charges, like flat rent and all other possible expenses. You can make even something like a rating of universities and make preliminary calculations how much you will spend for every of them. And the most responsible part of this investigation is to make objective comparison of educational costs with your financial possibilities and determine what is affordable for you. Location The location of the university also makes some difference. If it is far from your parents, do not to count to visit them very often. And on the contrary, when the university is near, you can even live at home. Here you should decide if you want independent life or feel not ready to take care of yourself by your own. Moreover, location matters for the above mentioned question concerning money. Thus, if you chose any college in London, pay attention that it is quite cost-based undertaking. Accommodations Considering the question about your future college, find out about the accommodation conditions. Get to know if it is old or new, where is it situated and how much it will cost for you. Also learn how much you should pay for a room or flat, if there will be no place for you in the accommodation or the conditions will be unsuitable. Believe that it is better to live in the campus area, since you will save your time leaving near the college and you will have more opportunities for sports and other activities. Facilities Depending on the profession you are interested in, you should concern yourself about the educational facilities of the college. Thus, the specialties, which presuppose some practical aspects of education, require laboratories and well-equipped workshops, where you can master your skills. Though, most of students use the Internet for information search, it is great when college has a nice library, where you can find rare and unique works, which are hardly accessible in the global network. Indeed, you see that a lot of factors should be considered in order to make the right and the favorable decision concerning your education. Follow our recommendations, think, estimate, make conclusions and enjoy your study.

Descriptive Essay on Nature

Descriptive Essay on Nature Descriptive Essay on Nature Nature surrounds us wherever we are and go. Even in the concrete jungle of New York City a red flower, a green tree will break the harshness of dirty grey concrete, glass and neon. In the sunset in Miami, nature gives a breathtaking display of beauty every evening painting the sky with glorious colors. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon on sees a breathtaking view of natures handicraft as it gouges out a canyon so big it is breathtaking. Each scenario is completely different yet each has its own splendor, no matter if it is a sunset, a desert, mountain, prairie, lake or ocean. Man has appreciated nature and still does. He is both challenged and pacified by it. Not only is nature beautiful, it is every changing through different seasons, or timelessly unchanged in it fixed elements such as its great mountain ranges. It has a wild beauty to it. There is a valley in central Africa that when you are there it seems as if you went back in time. This is the Zambezi river valley that starts in the wetlands of the Okavango swamps. The valley is 1500 miles of wilderness, totally unspoiled by mans encroachment. You see only the wildness of nature. The river flows proudly through the valley. It is a surging force as it goes thru rocky rapids, or wide and tranquil where it finds space. On its banks are mud flats and reeds, where crocodiles lie in the sun, and further away dense trees and forests of Mopani trees, interspersed with huge grey prehistoric baobab trees with branches that look like roots. In the day, the sun is a burning yellow fire, and everything wilts und er it. Even the wild life finds shade and lies down. As the evening comes the setting sun paints the sky with streaks of pink and orange, and the animals emerge. They come individually or in groups. In the water large hippopotamus frolic, not intimidated by the presence of crocodiles. Nervous buck come dancing to the river. Large tan colored kudu, as tall as a horse, with their white flashes and meter long spiral horns, smaller dark brown impala with short spiked horns, tiny brown duiker. They carefully approach; stopping to be sure, no predators are near. They dip their heads gracefully to drink. Some suddenly will jump and struggle as a crocodile grabs it and drags it under the water. Elephants come and splash around squirting water over themselves with their long trunks, or rolling in the mud, which is to them a treat. Lions eventually arrive in a pride, causing the buck to move nervously away. The dusk gives way to the sudden blackness of the night sky studded with silver stars and a huge silver moon. Soon the animals were gone; the river flows on into the night. Not far away there was a noise like thunder that sounded constantly. In the early morning, flowing the river alive and sparkling in the sun, crocodiles basking in the warmth, animals drinking while it was still cool, the river broadened and flowed in channels around green islands. Then it fell down a 100-meter chasm as a magnificent waterfall, 1708 meters wide. As the river fell down the chasm the sound was as thunder, and water spray rose high in the sky, white like the smoke of a bush fire. The bush is like a tropical forest as the spray rains down on it continually, and it is untouched by man. From here, it flows into a great lake and thence to the Indian Ocean. It is a place, and a moment in time, where one feels time warped to the beginning of time, where everything is still as it always was. Tips on writing a good descriptive essay about nature: This essay form is personal. It describes your personal experience and view. The goal is to create a vivid picture in the reader’s imagination. Brainstorm by using your power of observation and make notes. Carefully choose descriptive words that bring out a vivid picture of what you describe. Ensure you apply all your senses. The reader must be brought into the picture in his imagination. If you use words such as hot, cold, warm, dark, light, sunshine, fragrant, and the like. Describe, where you can, your emotions and feelings. Most of the readers will identify and connect with emotion. Do not lose your focus and make sure you organize your paper correctly. At service you can get a quality custom descriptive essay from professional writers. All you need is to contact our website!

Beginning a Sentence with And or But

Beginning a Sentence with And or But Beginning a Sentence with And or But Beginning a Sentence with And or But By Maeve Maddox Several opinions about what is permissible in writing have acquired an almost religious authority with some English speakers. One of these opinions is that beginning a sentence with the coordinating conjunctions and and but is an unpardonable breach of usage. Here are some typical reader attitudes: I almost fainted when I read [a post] about the acceptability of beginning sentences with â€Å"and† or â€Å"but†. [How can anyone] justify the use of conjunctions to begin a sentence? It simply drives me crazy! Writers of English have been beginning sentences with and as long as English has been written. The Venerable Bede (672-735) did it. King Alfred (849-899) did it. You’ll also find examples in Swift (1667-1745), Johnson (1709-1784), Austen (1775-1817), Dickens (1812-1870), Orwell (1903-1950), and Roth (1933-). According to The Chicago Manual of Style, the belief that beginning a sentence with and, but, or so is an error â€Å"has no historical or grammatical foundation.† Not only that, but â€Å"a substantial percentage (often as many as 10 percent) of the sentences in first-rate writing begin with conjunctions. It has been so for centuries, and even the most conservative grammarians have followed this practice† (CMOS 5.206). Authors capable of â€Å"first-rate writing† are one matter. Teachers, on the other hand (and editors working with grammatically challenged adults) are wise to advise against it. Writing is a craft. Every craft demands that beginners learn in stages. A rule against beginning a sentence with a conjunction has pedagogical usefulness. Beginning writers benefit from being guided. They don’t need to have all the rules and exceptions dumped on them at the outset. My London headmistress forbade the use of semicolons. She said that semicolons could wait until students mastered the use of commas and periods. Her rule was intended to be transitional. Beginning writers overuse the conjunction and. Giving inexperienced writers permission to begin sentences with and is asking for trouble. Here, for example, is an excerpt from the writing of nine-year-old Daisy Ashford: Mr Salteena had dark short hair and mustache and whiskers which were very black and twisty. He was middle sized and he had very pale blue eyes With this style of writing, a rule against beginning a sentence with and can only be a blessing. In my teaching days, I forbade students to begin a sentence with because, not because I didn’t know about complex sentences, but because inexperienced writers tend to begin sentences with because and never get to a main clause. A practice that exacerbates this tendency in high school students is accepting sentence fragments as answers to essay questions on tests. For example: Question: Why did Silas put Eppie in the coal hole? Answer: Because she kept wandering away. Teachers of every subject could contribute to a higher standard of student writing by requiring students to rephrase the question in the answer: Question: Why did Silas put Eppie in the coal hole? Answer: Silas put Eppie in the coal hole because she kept wandering away. When students have learned to distinguish between a main clause and a dependent clause, they can progress to the use of because to introduce a subordinate clause. When they have learned to control their use of coordinating conjunctions, they can use them at the beginning of a sentence from time to time. Here are two examples from the work of writers known for â€Å"first-rate writing†: Besides, another purpose of the enlarged armywas to minimize the ever-present possibility of sedition. And with this purpose once again in mind, [Septimus Severus] took a number of steps to make the officers of the legions a privileged class and tie them firmly to his own person. –Michael Grant, History of Rome. If he charged, I could shoot; if he took no notice of me, it would be safe to leave him until the mahout came back. But also I knew that I was going to do no such thing. –George Orwell, Shooting an Elephant Like any stylistic device, beginning a sentence with and or but may be overused or used incorrectly. A common fault with but is to use it where and is required. But is an â€Å"adversative conjunction.† It introduces a contrast. Some writers tend to begin a sentence with but when and is the appropriate choice. Here’s a revision suggestion from The Chicago Manual of Style: Evaluate the contrasting force of the but in question, and see whether the needed word is really and; if and can be substituted, then but is almost certainly the wrong word. Bottom line: Beginning a sentence with and or but is a common stylistic device used in English by the best writers of every century. Writers who dislike the device are free to avoid it. Forbidding it to inexperienced writers has pedagogical value, but condemning it out of hand is to set a fetish above English idiom. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Is Irony? (With Examples)Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous15 Idioms for Periods of Time

Tesco clubcard Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Tesco clubcard - Assignment Example The main focus of the paper upon which conclusions have been made is the case study of Tesco Clubcard system that is entirely database driven. An introduction to the activities of Tesco has been given first to help understand where the database system comes in handy. Their various operations have been deeply analyzed to attempt to prove how their Clubcard has been key to their success, a technology built upon a database. In conclusion, the enviable long time success of Tesco has been found to have been greatly derived from the collection, storage and eventual analysis of this data about customers. The data stored has been a tool with which Tesco has realized staggering profits both locally and internationally. Although the paper acknowledges that there are few downsides to the use of databases it strongly concludes that due to the predominant benefits that Tesco has realized from use of Clubcard, databases are invaluable tools with immeasurable economic significance. Many will agree that we live in a society that is hungry for information aka the information era. In this era, the need to access information cannot be divorced from the daily operations of any business be it a manufacturing or service delivery based business. Storage of information about goods produced, supplied, ordered among much more information is of utmost significance to manufactures and so is the need to store data about customers and market trends to service delivery businesses. During the agrarian and industrial ages, information and data storage relied on files of written papers which served as records for future reference. Today, technology has changed this and data can be stored electronically on disks and later be easily accessed whenever need arise. Advancements in technology that have seen the growth of the internet where information can be shared from remote locations have driven

The Third World War-- the Cold War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Third World War-- the Cold War - Essay Example During the cold war period, the third world suffered more than those two countries. Beginning of the Cold War After the end of the World War II, there was a race between the United States and the Soviet Union to be the superpower in the whole world. This conflict started from 1945 onwards and it lasted for over 45 years till 19911. This is known as the Cold War. The two superpowers tried their best to dominate the world in their own way which suited their interest. As a result, when both these countries confronted each other in any part of the world, there was a sense of tension between them. This was mainly due to the fact that both of them were aware of each other’s power. However, both the US and the USSR never broke into any kind of a direct war. And since there was no â€Å"hot† war between them, it is known as the cold war2. The cold war had impact on more parts of the world than the World War II. There were real wars in many parts of the world due to the cold war . With the use of the nuclear weapons during the World War II, many people had this fear that this might lead to the third world war, which did not happen fortunately. Otherwise, with the nuclear weapons available to both these nations, they are capable of destroying the whole world, not once but many times. During the Second World War both these countries joined their hands and were able to defeat the Germans. But after this, the quest to become the superpower of the world started between these two nations. Interestingly, they were very much familiar with each other’s power. As a result, none of them did actually break down into a direct state of war. Truman Doctrine and the role of containment On March 12, 1947, the president of the U.S. gave a speech to a joint session of congress. He addressed the state of global affairs while he did not discuss anything regarding â€Å"containment† being a strategic concept3. He pointed towards the economic need of Greece and Turk ey. This proposal for economic assistance was termed as â€Å"Truman Doctrine†. The Greek government has asked for an urgent help from the U.S., both financially and economically. Greece, being not a rich country was under tremendous economic pressure. As a result of the invasions by the foreign nations they were in a state of bother. They were in such a condition that they did not have funds for food, cloth and shelter. Same was the case with Turkey, but it was somehow in a better position than Greece4. The main objective of the foreign policy of the U.S. was to create such conditions so that they can be in a state of harmony with other nations. For this reason, the U.S. participated in an immense way in the creation of the United Nations. The main objective of the United Nations was to arrange freedom for all its members5. It started a new relationship with the Soviet Union and the world. The Truman Doctrine described urgency on the part of the U.S. to help Greece and on th e same hand, to stop the spread of communism. With this foreign policy the U.S. was trying to earn the support of their people showing their mercy character towards others. Eventually it was also a way towards making them a leader in front of the world. Great Britain being unable to help out Greece and Turkey, the U.S. had taken this opportunity to look for extending their help to other poor nations with sole motive of acquiring them. U.S. accomplishments The United States has a very interesting history regarding the invasions it made in the past. There was a

Is the ICC dangerous to democracy and doomed to fail Essay

Is the ICC dangerous to democracy and doomed to fail - Essay Example One of the controversial issues, however, in regard to the existence of ICC is that it threatens democracy, the given reason why the United States withdrew its signature in the Rome Statute in December 2000. The United States is highly suspicious of multilateral agreements and that the mandate of the ICC further heightened this uncertainty. With the provisions contained therein, ICC would have jurisdiction over American citizens and try them according to the international law, drafted according to a collaboration of international legal principles. This is seen as dangerous because the American jurisprudence is at significant points highly divergent with the ICC’s. For instance, protections that are considered core requirements for a fair trial in the United States are greatly diluted or absent entirely. According to Carpenter (2002), instead of having a right to trial by an impartial jury, a defendant faces the prospect of trial by a panel of judges appointed by majority vote of member-states and could come from countries where there is no concept of independent jury or from a regime hostile to his or her government. (p. 197) In addition to the above factor, there is also the fact that some statutes that would govern the ICC are overly broad. Consider these examples: there is the genocide definition that covers offenses relating to the commission of serious â€Å"mental harm† to members of any national, racial, ethnic or religious group; then, war crimes would include committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating or degrading treatment. (p. 197) With the seriousness of the crimes in question, it is a legitimate argument to say that the broadness of definitions and provisions may be wittingly or unwittingly interpreted differently than what was intended or taken advantage with. There is just a lot of room for a

Explain and analyse the conflicts between Sociological theories of Essay

Explain and analyse the conflicts between Sociological theories of Disability and Chronic Illness - Essay Example Parsons maintains that the notion of health is specifically significant in any society because of the value system of the societies, which underline self-autonomy and individual accomplishment, and the advanced level of demarcation in its social structure. Parsons (1975) proposes that disability and illness is dysfunctional to the social system for the reason that it hampers individuals and debilitates their successful fulfilment of social roles. He claims that society perceives disability and illness as forms of deviance that have to be regulated since they create difficulties for the individual and for the larger society. In UK, people suffering from chronic illnesses and disabilities also face problems like in other societies. The social system of the society is somehow in disadvantage because of disabled and chronically diseased people (Gouldner 1973). Parsons (1975) argues that individuals who are disabled or ill are permitted to have particular immunities and opportunities denied to other forms of social deviance. Disability studies have a political obligation to materialist social model standpoints that identify the centrality of disability as oppression, created through social structures and systems (Abberley, 1987).   Whereas medical sociology favours interpretive viewpoints that facilitate a focus on micro-social interactions.   It remains entrenched in and is largely dedicated to a notion of disability as social deviance (Bury 1997, Williams 2001). Yet simultaneously, these individuals get hold of particular responsibilities, indicating that the individual who takes in the ‘sick role’ has to address four traditional expectations and responsibilities: the sick individual is excused from normal social role obligations; the sick individual is not held accountable for the disability or illness and cannot become healthy merely by an act of determination; the

Sustainability in manufacturing Literature review

Sustainability in manufacturing - Literature review Example Sustainability refers to the power to endure. Sustainability measurement is a term used to denote the size as the quantitative source for the informed administration of sustainability. The metrics that are used for measurements in sustainability evolve as time goes by. These metrics include indicators, audits, benchmarks, certification systems and sustainability standards. The sustainability measures that are widely used in the contemporary society include Triple Bottom Line Accounting and sustainability reporting. In this report, the discussion will mainly touch on sustainability measures in the manufacturing process. In organisations that deal with manufacturing, implementation of sustainable manufacturing is applied because it is a strategy that has many benefits to the organisation at large. There are various reasons as to why sustainability has to be measured in the manufacturing process (International Energy Agency, 2007, 154). These are some of the reasons why sustainability i n manufacturing has to be measured. In order to have an effective measurement outline, there is a process that should be followed. These are the steps that are required in undertaking the sustainability measurement process. The steps to e followed areDevelop Sustainability Policy. Identify major aspects.Establish objectives. Select metrics and indicators.This is a step where the company makes a selection of sustainability indicators. At this point, it is the bit challenging since the selection of indicators is not always easy.

Topic Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Topic Paper - Essay Example The possibility of future aviation safety is, thus, much related with the understanding of the operational context and quality maintenance. This factor points to the increased role of data regarding operations and quality of the flights. It requires methods for detecting errors and capturing error contexts, as well as methods for reducing errors and mitigating their effects. This study therefore tries to look into; As with any research project, determining the best methodology to gather data when conducting research is of paramount importance. Inevitably, any discussion of methodology involves a debate over the pros and cons of quantitative analysis versus qualitative analysis. Both types of analysis require data and facts and figures, which can be gathered either through primary sources or secondary sources. Since the nature of this study involves a broader analysis, therefore we'll have to take the help of secondary sources in good measure, for gathering most of the information. Some of the primary sources will be the interviews and opinions that we seek to solicit from the people involved in aviation sectors, some users and service providers. Literature Review In the maintenance of flight safety data Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) programs are of special mention. "FOQA programs use flight data collected during a carrier's normal line operations to reduce costs and enhance safety by identifying a variety of 'exceedances'- deviations of important flight parameters from normal operating ranges. FOQA programs typically use commercial Ground Data Replay and Analysis Systems (GDRASs) to detect specified deviations, generate plots, and create visualizations (Callantine, 2000)". This output is used by safety managers to assess deviations that otherwise would go unnoticed causing much risk to the safety of the flights. Based on these, the strategies that ensure safety measures are formulated. Thus, we can conclude that data on Flight Operations and Quality Assurance has a major role in the safety concerns of the flights. Let us also be aware that in this modern scenario, where flight journey or aviation transport has acquired great pop ularity, FOQA data can play the significant role in the safety measures. What is the Flight Operations Quality Assurance data Coined in 1993 by the Flight Safety Foundation, the term means "a program for obtaining and analyzing data recorded in flight to improve flight crew performance, air carrier training program and operating procedures, air traffic control procedures, airport maintenance & design, and aircraft operations & design (Wellington, 2004)". "FOQA programs provide more

Sustainability in manufacturing Literature review

Sustainability in manufacturing - Literature review Example Sustainability refers to the power to endure. Sustainability measurement is a term used to denote the size as the quantitative source for the informed administration of sustainability. The metrics that are used for measurements in sustainability evolve as time goes by. These metrics include indicators, audits, benchmarks, certification systems and sustainability standards. The sustainability measures that are widely used in the contemporary society include Triple Bottom Line Accounting and sustainability reporting. In this report, the discussion will mainly touch on sustainability measures in the manufacturing process. In organisations that deal with manufacturing, implementation of sustainable manufacturing is applied because it is a strategy that has many benefits to the organisation at large. There are various reasons as to why sustainability has to be measured in the manufacturing process (International Energy Agency, 2007, 154). These are some of the reasons why sustainability i n manufacturing has to be measured. In order to have an effective measurement outline, there is a process that should be followed. These are the steps that are required in undertaking the sustainability measurement process. The steps to e followed areDevelop Sustainability Policy. Identify major aspects.Establish objectives. Select metrics and indicators.This is a step where the company makes a selection of sustainability indicators. At this point, it is the bit challenging since the selection of indicators is not always easy.

Sodium thiosulphate investigation Essay Example for Free

Sodium thiosulphate investigation Essay What is the middle of the atom called? The nucleus. 2 What two types of particle are found here? Protons and neutrons. 3 The electrons are arranged in shells (also called energy levels). How many can be held in the first shell? Two. 4 How many can be held in the second shell? Eight. 5 How many can be held in the third shell? Eight. 6 Where are the non-metals located in the periodic table? In the top right-hand corner. 7 What are the horizontal rows in the periodic table called? Periods. 8 What are the vertical columns called? Groups. 9 What is the name of Group 1? The Alkali Metals. 10 What is the name of Group 7? The Halogens. 11 What is the name of Group 0? The Noble Gases. 12 Elements in the same group have the same number of what? The same number of outer electrons. 13 Do elements in the same group have similar chemical or similar physical properties? Similar chemical properties. 14 Elements in the periodic table are arranged in order of what? Increasing atomic number. 15 Which of these elements has the greatest atomic number? Element B. 16 What is the electron arrangement of element C? 2. 8. 7 17 What is the electron arrangement of element E? 2. 8. 1 18 Which of the elements are very reactive metal and why? Elements D E they are in Group 1 (The alkali metals). 19 Which of the elements is a very unreactive non-metal and why? Element F it is in Group 0 (The noble gases). 20 Name the first four halogens. 1. Fluorine 2. Chlorine 3. Bromine 4. Iodine 21 What happens to the reactivity of the halogens as you go down the group (increasing atomic number)? They become less reactive. 22 What happens to the colour of these elements down the group? They become darker in colour. 23 What happens to the boiling point of these elements down the group? Their boiling points increase. 24 What does fluorine look like? A pale yellow gas. 25 What does chlorine look like? A green gas. 26 Name two uses for chlorine. 1. Killing bacteria in water. 2. Making bleaches. 27 What does bromine look like? A red -brown liquid (which evaporates easily to make an orange-brown gas). 28 What colour is bromine dissolved in water? Orange-brown. 29 What is the name of the compound formed when potassium reacts with bromine? Potassium bromide. 30 What colour is this compound when dissolved in water? Colourless. 31 What does iodine look like? A shiny grey-black solid (which produces a purple gas when gently heated). 32 What colour is iodine dissolved in water? Brown. 33 What is this iodine solution used for? An antiseptic. 34 What is the name of the compound formed when sodium reacts with iodine? Sodium iodide. 35 What colour is this compound when dissolved in water? Colourless. 36 What is the name of compounds of the halogens? Halides. 37 List two observations when sodium reacts with chlorine. 1. The metal burns with a yellow flame. 2. A white solid is produced. 38 What is the name of the product of this reaction? Sodium chloride. 39 What is its chemical formula? NaCl 40 List two observations when iron wool reacts with chlorine. 1. The metal glows red. 2. A brown solid is produced. 41 What is the name (and chemical formula) of the product this time? Iron chloride (FeCl3). 42 What is formed in this reaction: bromine + potassium iodide? potassium bromide + iodine 43 Which of these compounds will NOT react with chlorine: a) sodium fluoride; b) potassium bromide? sodium fluoride (Chlorine is less reactive than fluorine and so cannot displace it from fluorides. ) 44 What is a compound? A substance made by chemically joining two or more elements together. 45 Compounds have similar properties to the elements they are made from. Is this true or false? False they have completely different properties, eg sodium chloride is nothing like either sodium or chlorine. 46 What is the name for the substances on the left of a chemical equation? The reactants (or starting materials). 47 What is the name for the substances on the right? The products. 48 What do the symbols (s), (l) and (g) stand for in chemical equations? Solid, liquid and gas 49 What does the symbol (aq) stand for in chemical equations? Aqueous (which means dissolved in water). 50 What is meant by reaction rate? How fast a reaction goes. 51 List four ways of increasing the rate of a reaction. 1. Increasing the temperature. 2. Increasing the concentration of a reactant. 3. Increasing the surface area of a solid. 4. Adding a catalyst. 52 What is a catalyst? A chemical which speeds up a reaction but which does not get used up. 53 Does the catalyst appear in the chemical equation for the reaction? No (because it does not get used up). 54 What are enzymes? Catalysts produced by living things. 55 Why dont enzymes work if the temperature is too high? They become denatured (damaged) by the heat. 56 What two things about line A show that it represents a faster reaction? 1. It starts more steeply. 2. It levels off sooner. 57 How can you tell that both lines A and B were obtained using the same amounts of the reactants? They both produced the same amount of product in the end. 58 Increasing the temperature makes the particles move around more quickly. Give two reasons why this makes the reaction faster. 1. The collisions occur more often. 2. More of the collisions have enough energy to lead to a reaction Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Patterns of Behaviour section.

Arguments Of Placebo Effect Health And Social Care Essay

Arguments Of Placebo Effect Health And Social Care Essay The placebo effect may be described as a phenomenon where the symptom of a patient may be modified by ineffective treatment. Essentially the patient has been seen to receive some form of treatment that he or she believes will work. This is a psychological response that can reduce stress and panic thereby leaving the bodys true immune system with an improved chance of working. Placebos are not a cure but merely help to place the patient in a more relaxed and receptive state for treatment. In this regard all medicines essentially provide what is known as the placebo effect. In general terms the placebo has a positive impact if managed by physicians in a proper and responsible way. This is because stress and anxiety are known to affect the body in an adverse manner and possibly make the symptoms worse. Researchers have found that large dummy placebo pills that are coloured seem to stimulate a more positive response from the patients. The important point to emphasise is that the placebo effect is practiced in all medicines and whilst some consider it to be a bogus form of treatment, nevertheless, it accomplishes more good than harm. Counter arguments state that the feel good generation is purposely misleading and could create more serious conditions. The argument is somewhat flawed as very rarely is it ever used as a standalone form of treatment but more a precursor to getting a patient stabilized in a relaxed and more receptive state in order to receive proper medical attention. The arguments of the placebo effect Those arguing against the use of the placebos normally present the following arguments: [1] Introduction of the Nocebo effect whereby patients state that they experience side effects from the in ineffective treatment [placebo]. In most cases this is restricted to clinical trials where placebos are used to test against real medicines. [2] The placebo response of a pain reduction may obscure the real disease and lead towards misleading information to the physician and thus return an incorrect diagnosis of the problem. This can be serious as the wrong course of corrective treatment may be prescribed [3] the illusion effect where the patient is led to believe that the bogus remedy may have worked. This in turn may result in an incorrect or wrong course of treatment to deal with the problem. The medical journal The Lancet provided on an article that stated a new analysis of 110 placebo-controlled randomized trials of homeopathy, indicated there is no evidence that homeopathic tablets perform any better than placebos (Goldacre 2006)  [1]  . Modern medicine has moved towards better patient relationships keeping the patient informed and moved away from the old paternalistic placebo doctrine. Most doctors are uncomfortable with dishonesty and perhaps this is one of the key distinctions against that of the homeopathy practitioners. Adam Harrington stated in Hoboken that the placebo is much more ado about nothing the answer is NO because of the powerful therapeutic effects and YES because of the faddish exaggerations about placebo power. (Harrington 1999). The term placebo is Latin and originated from the Catholic vespers for the dead and translated means I shall please. They emanate from the early medical practices where medical practitioners were unable to diagnose a specific illness and used a placebo essentially to buy time in order to allow additional medical investigations to take place. It was Arthur Shapiro  [2]  who reminded everyone in the 1960s that the physicians themselves were important placebos in their own right i.e. people were comforted by the fact of having an experienced medical practitioner take control of their medical issues. Positive claims for placebos have been made by Dr. Robert Buchman  [3]  and Karl Salsbugh they seem to have effect on almost every symptom known to mankind, whereas Arthur Shapiro was much more sceptical stating placebos could have a permanent effect on medical disorders. (Evans 2004) One of the most convincing positive arguments for placebos resulted from the work of Dr. Henry Beecher  [4]  who was the American anaesthetist who treated US soldiers in a field hospital in World War 2. In one instance he was treating a soldier with bad injuries and was considering morphine as a pain killer but he was concerned about cardio vascular shock. Instead he put the soldier on saline solution and the result was the patient settled down, he felt less pain and the reaction was similar to morphine. It seemed that salt water could be as effective as morphing considered one of the most powerful painkillers at the disposed of the medical practitioners. Beecher later repeated the trick with the same results and after the war returned to Harvard University to continue his research. Similar studies were being carried out at Cornell University. The subsequent studies carried out by Beecher, gold and lasagne change the way the medical profession viewed placebos and by the mid-1950s doctors were thinking of this as their longer a fraudulent practice. (Evans 2004) Figure : Total Drug Concept by ClaridgeThe complementary practitioners of alternative medicines have advocated that mainstream medicine should become more inclusive and doctors need to incorporate some of these methods into the overall approach to healing. The placebo should no longer be considered as a fake treatment but used where it may influence possible positive outcome on patient care. A model developed by Claridge (Peters 2001). In 1970 required a useful insight into close examination of the placebo effect [Fig 1 refers]. Here he separated the drug out into its very opponents; [1] the drug itself color, shape, form, brand and attributes [2] the prescriber attitude, beliefs, competence, and authority. [3] The recipient the psychological side suggested intelligence, personality etc. [4] selling and clinical side hope, clinic, hospital [physical settings]. Hence the doors former placebo is that so these items without the pharm logical presence of the drug. The concept of beli ef is considered a vital component towards a positive outcome of all forms of medical treatment i.e. Belief in the success of the treatment towards a positive outcome and the expectations in the efficiency of that treatment. Belief lies very central to the persuasive ultimate for the use of placebos. The fact that placebos act on the mind creates an important psychological consideration in their applied use in medicine. Hence more studies in the use of the linkage to the neural system may be appropriate. The US government are taking placebos more seriously and recently the US Food and Drug Agency requires that all new drugs undergo a double-blind, placebo control trial. (Edin 2010). These testing different patient responses to the new drug with the controlled drug or placebo. Medical practitioners have stated that the placebo effect has already made significant contributions in the treatment of ulcers, postoperative pain, seasickness, headaches, colds, arthritis and hypertension. In the treatment of depression statistics have illustrated as high as 70% of relief has been achieved by the use of placebos. This would suggest that a lot more is going on here than pure deception. The belief concept may well i nfluence the chemical releases within the body that are controlled by functions of the brain. Tests with depressive patients were conducted by doctors using brain scans and where there was an expectation by the patient that the condition would improve there was a marked increase in biological changes to the brain. Hence the biological stimulation of the brain is strongly linked to the potency of placebos. People who have been suffering postoperative pain have reported considerable improvement in pain reduction after a simple saline injection. These analgesic effects suggests suggest some form of reception by the brain; this has been referred to as activation of the endogenous pain-relief system of the brain (Connors W 2007). The brain itself manufactures morphine like substances called endorphins the brain can trigger or send these to those parts of the body experiencing pain. Hence placebos may be able to stimulate this part of the brain in order to enhance that stimulation process . Placebo affects are not limited purely too chemical or drug treatments, they have also been included in both surgery and physiological therapies. A summary of the many literature works on placebos leads towards a number of preliminary conclusions:- [1] A significant number of patient show a therapeutic response from the administration of a placebo [2] There seems to be no uniform practice that sets itself out as a prescribed means of treatment in this area [ 3] It appears that any object with therapeutic intent can invoke similar circumstances [4] The mechanism of the effects remains relatively unknown and the conditions in which it operates are unclear. (Wickramsehera 1988) CONCLUSIONS The advantage that supports the use of placebos are essentially threefold: [1] the mind over matter concept whereby the placebo acts as an assist to the bodys natural defence mechanism [2] the provision of a psychological boost or stimulus to the brain which may prove to be an important contribution to the overall recovery of the patient [3] A support to the central concept of belief which is known to be a major contributing factor towards recovery. The main disadvantages might be summarised as [1] In the area of chronic pain the patient may show an immediate spontaneous improvement and as such give cause to a false diagnosis of the problem [2] The element of deception may provide the patient with false hope or expectations and give rise to medical ethical considerations [3] The patient may provide the Doctor with erroneous information believing that the placebo has resolved the problem. This loses valuable time in the determination of the correct prognosis and could prove serious in certain cases. There is also the strong argument that placebos can become habit forming. One example being the use of valium for strong headaches. These may essentially provide temporary relief but they are certainly not an ongoing solution. It is the unsettling notion that people are getting medical treatment from unqualified practitioners. The concept of non-medically trained people prescribing any form of placebo implies that the patient is ill and as such this can be a powerful message to the patient. The action of medication is not just controlled by the drug companies as the pharmaceutical companies have to undergo extensive clinical trials before they can release a product to the market place. A lot of the controversy with the applied use of placebos is around the use of these in clinical trials. Many consider that the use of these is unethical but it raises the question as to whether the trials could be successful without them Arguments against the use of placebo groups in clinical trials have been based on opinion rather than evidence. Ethical issues have been raised, but these are contentious. (Martin Tramer 1998). The ethical consideration will continue to be debated in the medical profession but the continued use in clinical trials is likely to proceed at least for the foreseeable future In clinical settings where no gold standard treatment exists and where event rates vary widely, trial designs without placebo controls are unlikely to yield sensible results (Martin Tramer 1998). The concept of Doctors saying the placebo is a nuisance variable has equally been contested by the medical profession There has been sharp disagreement on this point, due to the fact that medical literature includes a great deal of testimony that the placebo effect routinely works 30 percent of the time, with Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard stating that it may work up to 90 percent of the time. (World Research Foundation 2011). 2015

The Demise of Dick and Nicole in Tender is the Night :: Tender is the Night Essays

The Demise of Dick and Nicole in Tender is the Night      Ã‚     When referring to the demise of Dick in Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night, I think it is impossible that we not consider the demise of Dick and Nicole as a couple. They begin the book as a unit rather like a Chinese dragon with Dick at the head and Nicole following behind, both covered by the decorative cloak of the appearances they maintained. There are several transitions that they go through that upset the balance that allowed them to maintain a functioning marriage. I believe that while there were several factors impacting their relationship, it is the increasing independence and strength of Nicole that ultimately ends the marriage, and severs the tie that allows Dick to maintain his identity.    In Italy, after he begins his affair with Rosemary, Dick is disillusioned with her. He finds that Rosemary belongs to other people. In his disillusionment, his thoughts turn to Nicole, and how she is still "his girl - too often he was sick at heart about her, yet she was his girl" (213). Rosemary is no longer his possession solely and this cracks his surface. He returns to his love for Nicole like a guard, because he is weak without it. He refers to it as "an obscuring dye" (217). He is Nicole, and Nicole is he, and at this point the line between them has been blurred to bring them together. Dick does not realize that as much as he believes Nicole depends on him, he is dependent on her. He depends on her neediness to define him. Dick knows, however, that Nicole is important to him and that the thought "that she should die, sink into mental darkness, love another man, made him physically sick"(217). Not only is this excellent foreshadowing on Fitzgerald's part, but it gives us a measu re just how dependent Dick is. Physical illness is uncontrollable. If even the thought makes causes him to have psychosomatic symptoms, it is imaginable what the actuality would bring. Dick needs Nicole badly, more so than ever at this point.    Nicole on the other hand begins to become stronger within herself at this point. Nicole acts on her own to go to her father when she believes he is dying. Franz says to her "I must first talk on the phone to Dick" (250).

Karl Marx :: essays research papers fc

Karl Heinrich Marx was born on May 5, 1818, in the city of Trier in Prussia, now, Germany. He was one of seven children of Jewish parents. His mother, Henrietta, was originally from Holland and never became a German at heart. Shortly before Marx was born, his father converted the family to Christianity and Karl was baptized at the age of six. In High School, Karl stood out amongst the other students. He seemed to be a devoted Christian. In 1835, he attended the University of Bonn but left after only a year and enrolled in the University of Berlin to study law and philosophy. While at Berlin, Marx joined the young Hegelians, a group organized by Hegal, a philosophy teacher. During this time, he “ came to believe that all the various sciences and philosophies were part of one overarching, which, when completed, would give a true and total picture of the universe and man.'; (Communist Manifesto, Marx (Francis B. Randal), page 15)In October of 1842, Marx became the editor of the pa per Rheinische Zeitung, and as editor, wrote editorials on socio-economic issues such as poverty, etc. He soon made editor-in-chief, but was quickly forced to step down due to his radical writings and social views. In 1843, he married Jenny Von Westphalen. In 1844, Marx met the man who would change his life forever. Both Engles and Marx had gone through the German Philosophic school and had come to the same conclusions but while Marx arrived at an understanding of the struggles an demands of the age basis of the French Revolution, Engles did so on the basis of English industry. (The Story of his Life, Mehring, page 93) In 1845, he left for Brussels, Belgium. It’s during these years that Marx is said to have really developed his views and his intellectual standing. In 1848, the Communist Manifesto or Manifest der Kommunistischen Parten was published in London. Marx and Engles wrote this book and its purpose was outlining ten measures toward Communism. In this, Marx predicts a confrontation between the working class and the higher class, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. It also discusses the importance of Communism, and the differences between his ideas and other parties’. The document ends in bold capital letters “WORKINGMEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!';“The days of November 1850 fall almost exactly in the middle of Marx’s liffe and they represent, not only externally, an important turning point in his life’s work.

A Case of Digital Divide in Bangladesh Essay

A case of Digital Divide in Bangladesh Anisur Rahman Senior Asst. Director and Head Library and Information Division Northern University Bangladesh Anisur Rahman, â€Å"Access to Global Information—A case of Digital Divide in Bangladesh. † Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences. Paper 25. http://docs. lib. purdue. edu/iatul/2007/papers/25 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact epubs@purdue. edu for additional information. Access to Global Information—A case of Digital Divide in Bangladesh Md. Anisur Rahman Senior Asst. Director and Head Library and Information Division Northern University Bangladesh 3/18 Iqbal Road, Asad Avenue Mohammadpur, Dhaka 1207 Bangladesh Email: anisdacca@gmail. com Abstract. ICTs can reduce communication costs and break down geographical borders. In the developed nations government policies are being established which attempt to ensure that all citizens will get the opportunity to access the effective use of ICTs in order to enable them to participate in the educational, social and economic activities and democratic processes. Developed countries are getting much benefit from the advancement of ICTs. There is digital divide between developed and developing countries. The term digital divide has been applied to the gap that exists in most countries between those with ready access to the tools of ICTs, and those without such access or skills. In other words, it is the gap between the have’s and the have not’s. The digital divide around the world is usually measured through statistical indices such as the number of telephone lines, personal computers, websites and Internet users and their ratio to the total population. This paper reviews the papers on issues related to digital divide that are affecting so many citizen in developing countries especially in Bangladesh and the factors that alienate people from enjoying the benefits of ICTs. The author recommends possible strategies that can be implemented in developing countries to reverse the widening gap of digital divide. Keywords: Digital divide, ICT, Internet, Bangladesh 1. Introduction Computers, modern telecommunication and the Internet all reduce communication costs and break down geographical borders. Information and communication technologies serve as powerful tools for empowering people, benefit business and virtually link people around the world to share their views, ideas and innovation. 2. Concept of Information Technology Information technology today handles information in every conceivable form, whether music, video, graphics, speech, data, text. It also embraces an increasing range of technologies. Information technology is the use of modern technology to aid the capture, processing, storage and retrieval, and communication of information, whether in the form of numerical data, text, sound, or image. IT has a great impact on the societies. IT has impact on employment, education and training, commerce, at home, arts (music, animation and visual effects, writing, games), and all aspects of public administration and national defense. 3. Digitization The globalization and localization of information and cultural values are basically predicated on digital technology. The invention of e-mail and the WWW leading to digital transmission 1 is the certainly the second digital revolution. Digital scanners and cameras can now be used to capture digital images for importation into computer systems. In the current information revolution, almost everything is digital TV, radio, air-conditioned, cars, airplane, refrigerators, industrial plants and telecommunication systems. 4. Digital divide This digital revolution has created a brand new economic sector that simply did not exist before. Computers, modern telecommunication and the Internet all reduce communication costs and break down geographical borders. In addition, ICT can be an important driver in poverty reduction and assure sustained conomic growth, better public welfare, and strong social solidity and democratic forms of government. In the developed nations government policies are being established which attempts to ensure that all citizens will get opportunity to access the effective use of ICTs in order to enable them to participate in the educational, social and economic activities and democratic process. Developed countries are getting much benefit from the advancement of ICT. So, there is a digital divide between deve loped and developing countries. The concept of the digital divide has been used to highlight difference in electronic access to information based on economic, race, ethnic or social group and/or geographical location. The term digital divide has been applied to the gap that exists in most countries between those with ready access to the tools of ICTs, and those without such access or skills. It is â€Å"a gap, which tends to deepen, is produced between those individuals that can access new information and communication tools such as phones, TV sets or the Internet, and those who are too poor to get them between the have’s and the have nots† (de Munster, 2004). Population residing in developing countries or in low-income countries may be unable to gain access to IT because of the inability to purchase the required equipment, Internet provider service or other necessary resources. It may not be possible to bridge the divide, but it is important to prevent it from deepening, as a minimum, and to attempt to narrow it as much as possible. According to Reuter’s reports at Berlin on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 â€Å"the digital divide is narrowing as citizens in emerging markets get online via computers and mobile phones, with some regions now on a par with developed nations† (Reuters, 2006). Peter korsten, European director at IBM’s Institute for Business value said â€Å"within China and India, regions like Shanghai and Bangalore have almost the same level of Internet and mobile phone connections as developed nations† (Reuters, 2006). 5. ICT status in Bangladesh The ICT status of Bangladesh is not remarkable without some favorable initiatives by the Government and by private entrepreneurs. Computer use in Bangladesh started with a mainframe computer in 1964.

Beowulf and the Tempest-Revenge

Revenge Many comparisons can be seen between Shakespeare’s novel The Tempest and the epic Beowulf. One of the strongest similarities is the idea of revenge. Shakespeare’s novel occurs basically in order for Prospero to have revenge on his enemies from usurping his dukedom. Beowulf’s original monster, Grendel, starts acting out less due to revenge and more out of pure frustration. His death though, causes his mother to act on revenge, killing one of Hrothgar’s trusted advisor, Aeschere, causing Beowulf to kill her for revenge. The dragon got mad about a stolen article and burned down Beowulf’s home in revenge, and so Beowulf went after him.Although they have different motives, both plots are caused greatly because of revenge. In The Tempest, Prospero’s brother, Antonio, with the help of his friends Sebastian and Alonso, took over Prospero’s dukedom. He was then sent to a deserted island with just his daughter Miranda for twelve years. T hroughout his time on the island, Prospero continued to delve into his magic books. Along with he gaining new knowledge, he attained a servant Caliban, and an indebted spirit, Ariel. For twelve long years on the empty land Prospero plotted his revenge, something that was made possible due to his newfound knowledge of magic.Finally the day came when his master plan was able to finally become reality. He made a huge storm come, tearing apart the boat that held Antonio, Sebastian, Alonso, his son Ferdinand, and a few others. Ferdinand got separated from the rest and wound up, not coincidently, finding Miranda and falling in love with her. Alonso became distraught thinking his beloved son was dead. Antonio and Sebastian began to plot the death of Alonso. Finally as the novel came to an end, Prospero sent Ariel as a harpy to frighten his brother and the two other men and tell them all they have done wrong. They then were brought to Prospero.Alonso became very apologetic, while Antonio an d Sebastian remained uncaring of what they had done. Their fate rested in Prospero’s hands. This was the plan Prospero had perfected all those years, the perfect revenge plot. At that moment he had all his enemies gathered around him. He could’ve killed them or banished them to a foreign land, but he did not. He said, â€Å"The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance. They being penitent, the sole drift of my purpose doth extend not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel. My charms I’ll break, their senses I’ll restore, and they shall be themselves. (The Tempest, Act 5, Scene 1, 28-33) He had gotten his revenge, they were sorry, and he was content. Beowulf, though, did not start out like this. The monster Grendel was a descendant of Cain. He was forced to roam the Earth an outcast due to his ancestor killing his brother Abel for no apparent reason. He heard celebration going on in Heorot and got mad. He hated happiness and noise and celebration beca use he hated the hand he was dealt in life. So as revenge for his own hated life, he decided to wreck the party and make others miserable like himself.He continued to do so for a while, scaring all the Danes, even the most powerful. Finally a brave warrior, Beowulf, came from Geatland. He went to fight with Grendel using no protective gear at all. He managed to kill the ravaging beast. The Danes thought this was finally the end of the disaster that they had been hoping for. But it was not. Grendel’s mother was furious with Beowulf for killing her son. She was willing to die in order to avenge her son’s murder. She started to attack everyone. On her rampage in Heorot, she killed Aeschere, King Hrothgar’s most trusted advisor.The entire kingdom was furious, demanding the death of this horrible monster. Beowulf states to the king â€Å"Sorrow not, wise warrior. It is better for a man to avenge his friend than much mourn. Each of us must await his end of the worldà ¢â‚¬â„¢s life. Let him who may get glory before death: that is best for the warrior after he has gone from life† (Beowulf 45). He is saying rather than mourning over Aeschere’s death, he should just avenge it. So the brave Beowulf once again came to the rescue. She lived under water so that was where he fought her and the place where she met her bitter end. Beowulf’s final battle was also due to revenge.The dragon had a valuable cup that had gone missing from the treasures. He was furious and ransacked the entire country, including burning down Beowulf’s house. Therefore Beowulf went after the dragon to avenge his lost home. This was his final battle, the fight where he lost his life. Although revenge is a major theme in both The Tempest and Beowulf, their reasons for revenge are very different. Prospero wants revenge in order to get his life back. He was thrown out of his dukedom and onto a deserted island. He wanted his enemies to feel remorse and to gai n back his dukedom and that was all.In Beowulf it was very different. Everyone wanted revenge because they were upset and wanted to hurt the nemesis. Grendel was upset with his lineage so he wanted to stop all happiness so he attacked Heorot. Grendel’s mother wanted to avenge her son’s murder so she too destroyed Heorot, including killing Aeschere. Beowulf and all the Danes wanted to avenge Aeschere’s murder so he killed Grendel’s mother. The dragon wanted his treasure back so he raided the country, and Beowulf got angry and attacked the dragon. Prospero just wanted remorse and he was happy. The characters in Beowulf wanted revenge and payback.

Managing the Diverse Workforce

Everybody is created uniquely as compared with others. There might be qualities that some people or groups possess that the other group does not. This is diversity. A diverse workforce can give many advantages that the problems associated with it are carefully studied and solved for. Variety of ideas and views regarding important matters within the organization can contribute a lot to the success of the work. Although there might arise conflict and misunderstanding, it can be addressed properly to be converted as strength of the company. Efficient diverse workforce management requires a lot of effort and even money, yet it is very worth it for it gives a lot of benefits to the company.                                                 Managing the Diverse Workforce With further advancement in technology, health issues are continuously being addressed. As such, the life expectancy of people is increasing. This has an immense effect in the business sector. According to Sheldon Steinhauser, the median age of workers raised from 38 years in 1994 to 55 or more in 2005. Also, more and more people from poor performing countries or states are going to richer countries or nations to apply for jobs. The days when women are left in the houses for housekeeping and baby-sitting are also over. Women are pursuing their own careers nowadays. With these happenings, diversity in the workforce is very evident and is expected to increase in the coming years. The question now is what its effects in the business are and how this issue should is addressed. Everybody is created uniquely as compared with others. There might be qualities that some people or groups possess that the other group does not. This is diversity. Oftentimes, diversity is associated with demographic-related factors such as ancestry, gender or age. Aside from those mentioned above, this may also cover sexual orientation, educational and professional training, civil status and religious preference. Cultural background is also a major dimension. According to Bateman and Snell, a diversified workforce may include, but are not limited to: ethnic groups and minorities, migrant workers, disable, women, and people with varying expectations, values, affiliations, economic status and work style. In order to manage diversity, the systems and practices must be reviewed and changed if necessary to maximize the capabilities of the people in it. Implementation of the systems must be ensured to extract the abilities of the employees so as to maximize their contribution to the company. In order to do this effectively, the employer or the human resource personnel must know the individual differences of the workforce. Just like in other setting, diversity can be taken as advantageous to the company if handled well. People with varying values and skills may contribute to the aggregate success of the whole. However, to be able to achieve such success, each difference must be preserved and nurtured. Bateman and Stale noted the existence of a glass ceiling in the company. This is an invisible barrier that hinders women and members of the minority groups from reaching a higher level in the hierarchy of the organization. As such, the potentials of these groups are not maximized. However, f or the sake of profit and improvement, this barrier is being removed nowadays. As different ways to manage diversity are being discovered, discrimination in the workplace is slowly exiting. Although there is really no definite formula in handling diversity, researches and experiences help the human resource personnel and leaders extract the full potentials of their employees from all walks of life. Employing people amidst their cultural and demographic background allows the company to have a good share in the labor pool. Many skillful workers belong to ethnic groups or are women, or are older people. Thus, not including them in the search would lessen the already small labor pool. Also, according to studies at the Stanford Business School, as written in the Business and Legal Reports, diversity among employees can generate better performance when it comes to out-of-the-ordinary creative tasks. For instance, business developments are more effective if the decision-making body is composed of diverse individuals. Their different views could be taken into the advantage of the company. Their varying experiences can be put together to achieve a solid and effective decision. In sales and promotions, a team composed of people from different regions or age brackets or lifestyles can have their own suggestions based from what they themselves want or favor. The target customer could be re presented by the members of the team so their needs would be addressed even at the start of the project. Discussions about the differences of ideas can also be taken as positive since more options will arise and more factors would be considered on the initial planning, thus reducing the chance of error or unseen circumstance. Also, a company that crosses boundaries and differences creates a good impression to the labor pool. In effect, workers would be the ones to approach the human resource personnel, thus, saving more money for the promotions and employee search, and more often than not, those highly-skilled workers are the ones who go for such companies. Furthermore, traditional practices may no longer be applicable to the current policies and need and a diverse workforce is more unbounded to deviate from this, resulting to a better system. Businesses and organizations are sprouting all over during the course of time. In effect, competition is high not only for the share of the market, but also for the shrinking labor pool. Aside from attracting workers due to effective diversity management, homogeneity can also address the need for flexibility and change. By valuing the differences of the individuals, the company is rewarded by its employees by means of loyalty and excellence. A secret in effective management is making the subordinates feel its worth as part of the team. If this is given to him, he would strive to return this sense of importance by means of excellent work and loyalty. This is when the employee shows his best capabilities. Managing a diverse workforce creates a good impression not only to the employees and members of the organizations but to the people outside it as well. According to Bateman and Stale, diverse customers tend to favor these kinds of organizations. Also, the diverse market can be better addressed if they are well-represented in the company by the diverse employees. As such, customer satisfaction is higher and patronage would be awarded. To marginalize the workforce is to waste money, time and skillful workers. Such action would create a bad impression to the market and to the labor pool. Also, it would hinder the entrance of highly-skilled workers who happened to not belong to the widely-accepted group. It may also illicit complaints and conflicts from members of the marginalized group. Having a diverse workforce is not all glory. Diversity also creates conflicts especially if it involves ideas or beliefs. Yes, varying opinions create a healthy atmosphere for discussion and debate but this oftentimes lead to misunderstanding and conflict. Interpersonal conflict may arise and eventually destroy the group. Sometimes, attack is taken not just against the idea but on the person as well. Discrimination among workers may also be difficult to handle. People from different groups tend to be more protective of their identity or beliefs and this often lead to discord. Discussions may also take longer than usual in order to entertain all differing and sometimes conflicting views. Lack of cohesiveness does not only involve ideas or views but even understanding of the goal. The aim may be interpreted differently and this would lead to people walking towards different directions, making the finish line more difficult to reach. This must be attended to at the start so as to ensure that the team is walking towards the same direction in order to save effort, time, money and other resources. According to the Business and Legal Reports, problems also include the answer to the question of how the employees must be treated. Should it be fair or same? What is the basis of fairness? Treating different employees is not an easy task. A simple task of distributing a memo for all the employees poses a problem. The language to be used, the capacity of all the people to understand and a lot others must be taken into primary consideration. Biases must be kept far from decision-making and management but individual capacities of the employees must also be taken into account. As for members of the workforce, the major problem is miscommunication. Differences may hinder smooth transfer of information from the people inside the organization. People from different races might have different understanding in words or expressions. Misinterpreting the gestures or actions of others may yield to conflict or argument within the organization. Also, stereotyping may also arise. An individual or group may think that they are superior to others. This would affect the performance of all the people in the workforce. Instead of focusing on the goal, stereotyped members of the team may be distracted and concentrate on being within the â€Å"more superior† group. Also, perseverance and efforts of the members might be disregarded as several members focus on their colleagues. Researches and experiences claim that to manage a diverse workforce is never easy. It is a task that has to be well-taken cared of. Yet, it is also possible. In fact, there are several multicultural organizations that employ a diverse workforce. There are advices for management and human resources personnel as to how this issue must be handled in order to extract the best abilities of the members of the team. First and foremost, the top management must have an eye on the effectiveness of the diverse workforce. They must be sensitive to the feedbacks of diverse groups regarding company policies or ordinances. They must be also aware to the response of the other members of the team. The plans and objectives of the organization must also incorporate diverse workforce. Most of all, top managers must participate and take the lead in the programs that aim to learn about diversity. Trainings and seminars can also be conducted to better handle and manage a diverse workforce. Rewards can be given to further affirm the good works of the team members. Lastly, a team building is essential to create a bond between members of the company. In doing so, the risk of miscommunication is lessened, as well as the possibility for conflict. With the growing competition in the labor pool and the market, any organization cannot afford to lose a skillful individual just because he belongs to a minority or because he is outside the margin line. A diverse workforce can give many advantages that the problems associated with it are carefully studied and solved for. Variety of ideas and views regarding important matters within the organization can contribute a lot to the success of the work. Although there might arise conflict and misunderstanding, it can be addressed properly to be converted as strength of the company. Efficient diverse workforce management requires a lot of effort and even money, yet it is very worth it for it gives a lot of benefits to the company. References Bateman and Snell. Managing the Diverse Workforce. Retrieved November 22, 2007   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   from http://management.uta.edu/Dr.Wheeler/Mana5312/Chap011.ppt Business and Legal Reports. Diversity Can Improve Decision-Making. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   November   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   22, 2007, from http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3 Human Resources, University of California, Berkeley.Guide to Managing Human   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Resources: Chapter 12: Managing Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved November   Ã‚  Ã‚   22, 2007 from http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/guide/diversity.htm Improvement Network. Managing a Diverse Workforce. Retrieved November 22,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2007 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.improvementnetwork.gov.uk/imp/core/page.do?pageId=10912 Piturro Marlene, PhD.. Recruiting and Managing a Diverse Workforce. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   November   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   22, 2007 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3&ch_id=402 Steinhauser Sheldon. (1999, January). Successfully Managing an Age Diverse Workforce.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Managing Diversity, Vol. 8, Retrieved November 22, 2007 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://clem.mscd.edu/~steinhas/managing_diversity.htm    United States Department of Trade (2007). Leading a Diverse Workforce. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   November 22, 2007 from http://dothr.ost.dot.gov/Toolkit/Diversity/   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   leading_a_diverse.html