Qualitative Analysis

Qualitative Analysis 1. Abstract Qualitative Analysis helps to analysis the ionic compounds ( cations and anions) which are presented in a salt (solid and in a solution). The experimental procedures show the identity of the substance but not the amount of the present agents. 2. Introduction The construction of ionic salt is based on a certain cation and a certain anion. To get to know the two different agents of the salt, the anions and cations has to be separated.For the separation the ionic salt has to be destroyed by chemical reaction to get the single elements and compounds. A physical reaction can only change the conditions of the salt ( solid or fluid) but not the structure of the educt. Every element and compound has characteristic reactions where the identity can be figured out by analyzing the out coming educt by its color, its odor, its precipitation and its solubility. The following experiment is separated in two parts.In the first part of the experiment, it has to be show n the different characteristic reaction with the cations (Na+, K+,NH4+,Mg2+,Cu2+,Ag+,Ba2+,Sr2+) and the anions ( Cl-, Br-, CO32-, SO42-, F-). In the following part there was an unknown ionic salt to analyze which is built out of one cation and one anion from above. 3. Materials and Methods 1. Materials †¢ Test tubes †¢ Bunsen Burner †¢ Test tubes rack †¢ Pasteur pipette †¢ Distilled water †¢ Ionic salts †¢ NaOH †¢ SO4-2 †¢ NH4 †¢ HCl †¢ AgNO3 2. MethodsThere are several experiments to analyze the compounds and elements of an ionic salt [1]: †¢ Flame Test (for solid substance): for visually determine the identity of an metallic agent in the ionic salt by the different color †¢ Heating effect ( for fluid substance): heating can cause the separation of a substance included odor development and color changing. This is given by nitrate, carbonade and sulfite ions †¢ Solubility in water: Almost all of the ionic salts ar e soluble in water †¢ Precipitation ( for fluid substance): A precipitate will form with a certain cation/ anion an insoluble substance.Characteristic precipitate will turned out 4. Results 1. Different characteristic reaction with the cations (Na+, K+,NH4+,Mg2+,Cu2+,Ag+,Ba2+,Sr2+, Ca2+) and the anions ( Cl-, Br-, CO32-, SO42-, F-) †¢ Flame test: o Na+: light yellow flame o K+: violet flame o Cu2+: yellow-orange, darker flame than the flame of Na+ o Ba2+: green flame in the beginning, after a little while the flame is turning yellow †¢ Heating effect: NH4+ + OH- ( NH3 (g) + H2O The ammonia (g) smells cautiously and changes the color of a red litmus paper into blue †¢ Precipitation: o Cl- + AgNO3 ( AgCl (s) + NO3, ( white prec. o Br- + AgNO3 ( AgBr (s) + NO3, ( light yellow prec. ) o I- + AgNO3 ( Agl (s) + NO3, ( yellow prec. ) o Ca2+ + CO32- ( CaCO3 (s), ( white prec. ) o SO42- + BaCl2 ( BaSO4 (s) + 2Cl-, (white prec. ) o CO32- + HCl ( CO2 (g)+†¦. , ( bubbel s can be seen) o Mg2+ + 2NaOH ( Mg(OH)2 (s) + Na+, (white prec. ) o Sr2+ + 2NaOH ( Sr(OH)2 (s) + Na+, (white prec. ) 2. Unknown Determination †¢ Look of the salt: o Shape: little grains o Color: white o Smell: no clear smell †¢ Kation: o Flame test: light yellow (= Na) o Control: X+ OH- ( no prec. (Kation: Na+ †¢ Anion: o X + AgNO3 ( white-brown prec. Control: Br-/ I- + AgNO3 ( yellow prec. ( = I- / Br-) o 1. X + SO42- ( no visually reaction o 2. X + SO42- ( CO2 (g) production ( bubbles visual) o X + HCl ( CO2 (g) production ( bubbles visual) ( Anion: CO32- The unknown salt is Na2CO3 5. Discussion The cation Na+ was easy to figure out because of its unmistakable color of the flame by holding into the Bunsen burner flame. It was more difficult to get to know the anion. The experiment with silvernitrat could be leading to a wrong conclusion. In the table [1] is written that there is no reaction ( precipitation) in the experiment with AgNO3 and CO32-.It could be that the test tube wasn’t clean and there was still some undesirable rest of another element or compound. Even a single grain of I- could cause a precipitation. Another problem to find the right anion was that the amount of our unknown salt was too low in our testing solution with acid sulfur. So there was no visual reaction with our unknown solution. But the second time with a higher amount of unknown salt in our testing solution there was a CO2 development. To be sure that this experiment is positive the experiment was repeated with HCl. There was the CO2 development good visible. Thus in the end the anion CO32- was proved. 6.Conclusion To do the right analyses it is very important not to trust a single experiment. Controls are very important to get the right elements and compounds. Also it’s very important to check wheather the equipment is clean. Any single rest of an undesired substance can imitate the result. But these are good experiments to get to known unknown element s and compounds of an ionic salt. 7. References [1] Handout: Medical & Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Analytic Chemistry Laboratory, Winter Semester 2011 [2]J. E. Brandy, F. A. Sense, N. D. Jespersen, Chemistry. The Study of Matters and Its changes, International Edition, 5. Edition 2008 Qualitative Analysis Qualitative Analysis 1. Abstract Qualitative Analysis helps to analysis the ionic compounds ( cations and anions) which are presented in a salt (solid and in a solution). The experimental procedures show the identity of the substance but not the amount of the present agents. 2. Introduction The construction of ionic salt is based on a certain cation and a certain anion. To get to know the two different agents of the salt, the anions and cations has to be separated.For the separation the ionic salt has to be destroyed by chemical reaction to get the single elements and compounds. A physical reaction can only change the conditions of the salt ( solid or fluid) but not the structure of the educt. Every element and compound has characteristic reactions where the identity can be figured out by analyzing the out coming educt by its color, its odor, its precipitation and its solubility. The following experiment is separated in two parts.In the first part of the experiment, it has to be show n the different characteristic reaction with the cations (Na+, K+,NH4+,Mg2+,Cu2+,Ag+,Ba2+,Sr2+) and the anions ( Cl-, Br-, CO32-, SO42-, F-). In the following part there was an unknown ionic salt to analyze which is built out of one cation and one anion from above. 3. Materials and Methods 1. Materials †¢ Test tubes †¢ Bunsen Burner †¢ Test tubes rack †¢ Pasteur pipette †¢ Distilled water †¢ Ionic salts †¢ NaOH †¢ SO4-2 †¢ NH4 †¢ HCl †¢ AgNO3 2. MethodsThere are several experiments to analyze the compounds and elements of an ionic salt [1]: †¢ Flame Test (for solid substance): for visually determine the identity of an metallic agent in the ionic salt by the different color †¢ Heating effect ( for fluid substance): heating can cause the separation of a substance included odor development and color changing. This is given by nitrate, carbonade and sulfite ions †¢ Solubility in water: Almost all of the ionic salts ar e soluble in water †¢ Precipitation ( for fluid substance): A precipitate will form with a certain cation/ anion an insoluble substance.Characteristic precipitate will turned out 4. Results 1. Different characteristic reaction with the cations (Na+, K+,NH4+,Mg2+,Cu2+,Ag+,Ba2+,Sr2+, Ca2+) and the anions ( Cl-, Br-, CO32-, SO42-, F-) †¢ Flame test: o Na+: light yellow flame o K+: violet flame o Cu2+: yellow-orange, darker flame than the flame of Na+ o Ba2+: green flame in the beginning, after a little while the flame is turning yellow †¢ Heating effect: NH4+ + OH- ( NH3 (g) + H2O The ammonia (g) smells cautiously and changes the color of a red litmus paper into blue †¢ Precipitation: o Cl- + AgNO3 ( AgCl (s) + NO3, ( white prec. o Br- + AgNO3 ( AgBr (s) + NO3, ( light yellow prec. ) o I- + AgNO3 ( Agl (s) + NO3, ( yellow prec. ) o Ca2+ + CO32- ( CaCO3 (s), ( white prec. ) o SO42- + BaCl2 ( BaSO4 (s) + 2Cl-, (white prec. ) o CO32- + HCl ( CO2 (g)+†¦. , ( bubbel s can be seen) o Mg2+ + 2NaOH ( Mg(OH)2 (s) + Na+, (white prec. ) o Sr2+ + 2NaOH ( Sr(OH)2 (s) + Na+, (white prec. ) 2. Unknown Determination †¢ Look of the salt: o Shape: little grains o Color: white o Smell: no clear smell †¢ Kation: o Flame test: light yellow (= Na) o Control: X+ OH- ( no prec. (Kation: Na+ †¢ Anion: o X + AgNO3 ( white-brown prec. Control: Br-/ I- + AgNO3 ( yellow prec. ( = I- / Br-) o 1. X + SO42- ( no visually reaction o 2. X + SO42- ( CO2 (g) production ( bubbles visual) o X + HCl ( CO2 (g) production ( bubbles visual) ( Anion: CO32- The unknown salt is Na2CO3 5. Discussion The cation Na+ was easy to figure out because of its unmistakable color of the flame by holding into the Bunsen burner flame. It was more difficult to get to know the anion. The experiment with silvernitrat could be leading to a wrong conclusion. In the table [1] is written that there is no reaction ( precipitation) in the experiment with AgNO3 and CO32-.It could be that the test tube wasn’t clean and there was still some undesirable rest of another element or compound. Even a single grain of I- could cause a precipitation. Another problem to find the right anion was that the amount of our unknown salt was too low in our testing solution with acid sulfur. So there was no visual reaction with our unknown solution. But the second time with a higher amount of unknown salt in our testing solution there was a CO2 development. To be sure that this experiment is positive the experiment was repeated with HCl. There was the CO2 development good visible. Thus in the end the anion CO32- was proved. 6.Conclusion To do the right analyses it is very important not to trust a single experiment. Controls are very important to get the right elements and compounds. Also it’s very important to check wheather the equipment is clean. Any single rest of an undesired substance can imitate the result. But these are good experiments to get to known unknown element s and compounds of an ionic salt. 7. References [1] Handout: Medical & Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Analytic Chemistry Laboratory, Winter Semester 2011 [2]J. E. Brandy, F. A. Sense, N. D. Jespersen, Chemistry. The Study of Matters and Its changes, International Edition, 5. Edition 2008

Physical Activity and Childhood Obesity

As people age the knowledge and experiences they gain in life may help shape their daily decisions. Adults are often more conscientious of the benefits physical activity has on their bodies and their health. With the growing popularity of video games, the distraction of television and the fast paced lifestyles many people are now living, children are being greatly affected. The result of children being more sedentary in current times has led to a greater prevalence of child obesity in society.In order to combat this issue it is imperative that children partake in physical activity. Children learn by example and the involvement the schools, communities and parents have with the child helps shape their outcomes in life. There are several factors that may contribute to childhood obesity. In an article on Children’s Physical Activity and Obesity it states that; â€Å"[†¦] the effects of parenting, the home environment, and developmental and psychological factors on diet, obe sity, and physical activity have received significant attention† (Luisa Franzini, PhD, 2oo9).From this attention, new research and developments are achieved. The number of children who experience overweight is growing at an alarming rate in recent times. According to an article on overweight and obesity, 1 out of 3 children are considered overweight or obese (Kids Health, 2009). Research has shown that overweight and obesity leads to health issues, some of which can be fatal. Moreover, the CDC states; â€Å"Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease† (Healthy Youth, 2010). Further, experiencing overweight in childhood presents a greater possibility of experiencing overweight in adulthood. According to the CDC, obese youth are more likely to become overweight adults , and therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis (Healthy Youth, 2010).A positive outlook on afore mentioned statistics is that these health issues can be prevented by adapting a proper diet and engaging in physical activity. There are a number of ways to prevent childhood obesity. According to an article on Disease Prevention Programs Targeting Obesity in Children, a majority of programs developed and tested to treat childhood obesity have included dietary modification, increased physical activity, and/or reduced sedentary behavior (Adrienne R. Hughes, 2008).With the growing popularity of video games and number of television channels, more children are engaging in sedentary behavior. However, reducing sedentary activities among children can help prevent obesity. In fact, Hughes states; â€Å" Encouraging obese children to increase their physical activity will help to red uce adiposity and improve cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychosocial health (Adrienne R. Hughes, 2008). The amount of time spent being physically active is also important in preventing child obesity.In fact, in an article on Tackling Overweight and Obesity in Children it states; â€Å"Children should take part in at least one hour of moderately intense activity per day; this should make breathing heavier than usual, but talking should still be possible† (Crocker, 2007). It is important to gradually increase physical activity in order to avoid injury or over exertion. Further, as a school, a community and as parents it is important to set good examples for children. Through proper physical activity and diet the prevalence of child obesity can be diminished.

Book Analysis on Undercover

As the days grow shorter, Elisa worries that the increasingly urgent letters she sends her father wont bring him home. Like the undercover agent she feels she has become, Elisa retreats to a pond in the woods, where her talent for ice-skating gives her the confidence to come out from under cover and take centre stage. But when Lila becomes jealous of Theos friendship with Elisa, her revenge nearly destroys Elisas ice-skating dreams and her plan to reunite her family. A. Book 1. Author Beth Kephart was nominated for the National Book Award for her book A SLANT OF SUN. In 2000, she received a National Endowment for the Arts grant, and she also won Pew Fellowships in Arts grant in 2005. At the age of nine, Beth Kephart began to skate on a pond in Boston, where she taught herself the every moves Elisa teaches herself in this story. Beth won her first competitive freestyle competition at a Wilmington, Delaware, rink. Today she ballroom dances and is an avid gardener. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family. 2. Title The main character in the story fits the title under cover, the fact that the main character hides her skill of skiing to her friends and family. B. Characters Protagonist: Elisa Cantor- she is a father’s daughter and doesn’t really relate well with her mother and sister. Antagonist: Lisa- Theo’s girlfriend; known for her beauty and popularity. Supporting Characters: Tina Cantor- Elisa and Jilly’s Mother. Jilly- Elisa’s Sister, she is a very fashionable teenager like her mother. Mr. Cantor- Elisa’s Father, he understands Elisa. Theo- Elisa’s classmate in Honors English, a special friend and one of the boys who ask love notes from Elisa. Margie- Elisa’s past best friend in eighth grade and classmate in Honors English. Dr. Charmin- an Honors English teacher and believed and supports Elisa’s talent in writing. Mr. Marcoroon- a strict Math teacher. Mrs. Garland- a friend of Tina. Stuart little- a client of Mr. Cantor in San Francisco. Sarah- an Honour English student. II. Plot A. Exposition 1. Setting The story takes place in a pond in the woods where she always find herself at ease and thinking she could be herself there alone while skating. B. Complication When her father has to go away for work it makes their life complicated. To make it even more complicated, Elisa starts to fall on a boy who she is providing with poetry to woo another girl. C. Climax Lila tore the dress of Elisa before the start of the skating competition. D. Denouement Elisa never let herself be defeated by wearing the torn dress made by the antagonist, Lila, while skating gracefully. E. Resolution Yes it’s a happy ending because finally her family was once again reunited and everyone accepted the real her. III. Analysis 1. Did you admire the author for writing this book? Why? Yes. A teenager who reads this book would really understand the feelings and thinking’s of the main character of the story. Many teenagers can relate of how it feels to be a loner or to be bullied. 2. Tell something about the cover, did it spark your interest? Does it fit the story? It did spark my interest because it makes me wonder what story it will give me. Yes it does fit in the story because the covers do tell the story. 3. Who is your most favourite character? Why? My favourite character in the story is Elisa Cantor. For being brave enough to uncover her great skill to everybody even when she herself has no confidence that everyone would accept her and gain their respect. 4. Who is your least favourite character? Why? My least favourite character in the story is Lisa, because of her jealousy of Theo’s friendship with Elisa; her revenge nearly destroys Elisa’s ice-skating dreams and her plan to reunite her family. . What is your favourite part of the story? Why? My favourite part of the story is when Elisa got sick during the last days of Christmas season, which was the time that her sister and mother took care of her and after her sickness they finally become close to each other. 6. What is your least favourite part of the story? Why? My lea st favourite part of the story is when Lisa and her friends destroyed Elisa’s dress that was made by her mother and sister for the ice-skating competition. 7. Discuss your favourite quote from the story. â€Å"You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain Are moving across the landscape, Over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, Are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, The world offers itself to your imagination, Calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting Over and over announcing your place in the family of things. † It tells about a person who doesn’t have to be perfect just to meet their expectations. Being yourself is a lot more happy and easy than pretending or trying to be someone you are not. 8. What is your realization about life after reading the novel? After reading the story I realize in life that you shouldn’t hide yourself from others, don’t be scared of letting them know your true self and don’t give up on something that you haven’t tried yet.

GDP and Corruption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

GDP and Corruption - Essay Example The main objective of this paper is to use econometrics methods to show the relationship between GDP and corruption, results show that the higher the level of corruption in a country the lower the level of GDP, correlation coefficients show that as the level of corruption in a country increases GDP declines, results show that African countries have higher mean corruption levels than the other non African countries. A study by Mauro (1995) showed that corruption had an effect on the level of investment in a country, in his study he found out that corruption discouraged foreign direct investment. Ackerman (1998) states that if India was to reduce its corruption levels then it would attract foreign direct investment at the same level as the attraction attained through tax incentives, Another study by Tanzi and Davoodi (1997) showed that corruption tends to increase the level of government spending, these funds are not used for their intended purpose and therefore spending on education and health is reduced resulting to poor economic growth and human capital development. Bardhan (1997) study shows that corruption also affects income distribution and this increases poverty levels in a country, Krueger (1994) states that corruption affects the election of leaders and the decisions made by these leaders may adversely affect the economy. The level of GDP is a key indicator of the welfare and economic development in an economy, the level of GDP in a country is determined by a number of factors which include the interest rates, inflation, investment, infrastructure, human capital, capital stock, production, exports and consumption, however less emphasis has been put on the importance of eliminating corruption practices as a way to influence economic growth. In this paper we focus on the effect of corruption on the GDP level of a country, we use data on corruption index from transparency international and GDP level from the world bank, we use linear regression models to estimate the relationship between these variables and show that corruption affects the level of GDP, limitations include unavailability of data for countries and the violation of linear regression assumptions on auto regression given that we will be considering cross sectional data. The following is a description of the data and econometric modelling. Data: Data used was retrieved from transparency international website that indicate corruption index for the year 2007 for countries all over the world, data on GDP in US dollars for the year 2007 was retrieved from the world bank website. A sample of 152 countries was considered in the study and this was due to the availability of data. The following chart represents the countries considered in this study where countries are categorized into African and non African countries: Only 3 % of the countries are African while approximately 97% were non African countries, analysis on the GDP levels showed that the mean GDP levels for non African countries was relatively higher compared to the mean GDP for African countries, the following chart summarizes the results: Results also show that the mean corruption index value for African countries was relatively lower than the mean corrupti

Lesson Plan Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Lesson Plan Analysis - Essay Example Another benefit of this game is that it has too much variety to it and once children know how to play it and the teacher knows how to monitor them then there is a long way to go. Another reason for its attractiveness is that it stimulates children verbally and mentally. It keeps evolving at such a pace that children get engrossed in playing it. Teacher can focus on the vocabulary or use of fully grammatically correct sentences. The development of coherent speech at a good rate can be achieved if a teacher keeps incorporating this game in class lessons. It also provides the teacher with an opportunity to assess the language while playing. The only constraint I can see is of arrangement of the material. The lesson 'What did you wear today' is an excellent example of one to one presentation. Reasoning abilities can build besides building the blocks. Blocks are very helpful and useful to give math and science concepts and many other adjustments are possible with blocks. The hand -eye coordination along with counting and fine motor skills gets developed at a good pace. Sooner or later child will be able to relate the similarities and relationships of objects. Massive amount of vocabulary related to clothing can be given and then become more targeted depending on teacher's intentions of teaching. I think there are too many concepts taken care of in this lesson, for example, vocabulary, the concept of present tense, counting, magnitude, enumerations etc. They also get to explore sizes, shapes and different weights. At last but not the least is that it gives them an opportunity to solve construction problems and make a decision every time they want to build. At the age of 3 to 4, childre n can very comfortably build vertical or horizontal towers and can easily get the sense of accomplishment. Free play can be a very good option with blocks children can love building stacks on their own. But expecting children to repeat the whole process on their own will be a high expectation. Language development can also take place during the free play or instructional play along with the growth of social skills. A good lesson always gives a chance to a teacher to assess the child and it does for sure. Most of the preschool teachers consider free play time very significant and children cherish it. It is very essential for psychological development of children. The science lesson "Ice block Designs" is a very good example of free play where children can be in high spirits. Hutt,Tyler,Hutt & Christopherson (1990) write, " Free-play with material, outcome is unpredictable" (p.122.) An adult just need to monitor and let the children generate language, build concepts and explore with minimum intervention. Children can develop the concept of colors, textures and experiment. Reasoning, expressing original thoughts and improvement of co ordination can be stepped forward through this lesson. Open ended data can also be obtained by questioning and supplying attractive materials. The only draw back again is of arranging the ice blocks and keeping the weather in mind before carrying out the activity. The social studies lesson "Shoe skating" can be a good follow up lesson. Again in this class, children can have lot of fun as it will give some time to free play and pretend to skate.

The major differences between the exoteric and esoteric path of Islam Essay

The major differences between the exoteric and esoteric path of Islam - Essay Example The exoteric path in contemporary Islam is composed of moderates and outnumbers the esoteric path of the radicals but still stands hijacked by nascent Islamic radicalism. Islam is typically perceived as one, whole and uniformly practiced religion but reality belies this simplified disposition. The paths of exoteric and esoteric Islam are well differentiated and this paper seeks to discuss the major differences between both. The largest difference between the exoteric Muslims and the esoteric Muslims is their attitude towards the propagation of religion. The esoteric Muslims see Islam as the ultimate solution for mankind and believe that it their responsibility to enforce Islam around the globe. Such quarters see Islam as the final solution for every problem that mankind faces ranging from emotional problems to population control. Sayyid Qutb, one of the founding fathers of modern radical Islam argues in his text Milestones (Qutb 57): â€Å"... annihilate all those political and mate rial powers which stand between people and Islam ...† In contrast, the original teachings of Islam are far more peaceful and refrains the believer from imposing his version of religion on the other person, whether Muslim or non Muslim. The Prophet of Islam was a staunch believer in religious pluralism including within Islamic realms. The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, has been quoted as saying (Ernst 1045): â€Å"Difference of opinion is a mercy for my community.† Additionally, religious pluralism has been favored in the sacred text of Islam, the Quran. The Quran’s second chapter, Al Baqra, declares openly that the believers are not allowed to force other people into their religious fold. Islam has historically relied on preaching through peaceful means including open interaction with non Muslims. The earliest traditions from Islam, including the time when early Muslims were being prosecuted in Makkah, show that forced conversions and the imposition of religious doc trine on other religions was not allowed. The same can be said of the times when the Muslims were in power and had taken control of large swaths of the globe. The reign of Umar is mentionable in this regard. In around a decade Umar was able to expand the Islamic frontiers manifold through armed conflict but again Islam was not imposed on the conquered people (Ahmed 34). Instead, Islam was spread in most of the conquered areas through open interaction with the non Muslims. Even with the existence of evidence to the contrary, today’s radical Islamists are bent upon furthering Islam through violent means. A major problem that Islam faces like other major religions is the loss in translation. Islam was originally revealed in the Arabian Peninsula and the medium of communication and instruction remained Arabic. The Prophet Muhammad was Arab and was not instructed in other languages, so his entire set of instructions for Islam has been preserved in Arabic. Similarly, the Quran was revealed and the scribed in Arabic too. There were initially no problems as to the use of Arabic since the early converts and most of the converts in the Prophet’s own lifetime were Arabs. However, as the Islamic empire began to spread under the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the need for taking up other languages became apparent. It was felt that translating massive works of Quran and Hadith into other languages would abrade the meanings of the original texts. In an effort to

Analysis of Current Issues in Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of Current Issues in Finance - Essay Example On one side, the change process must be rapid and fast while on the other hand the process of supporting the information technology systems consists of improving on the multifaceted interrelation. Their repercussions on the expected change can normally be dependably managed by letting various people involved. Therefore, the procedures involved in the organizational change call for both managerial competencies and analytical skills in coping with high level of convolution to concentrate on the process (Van, 2001; p. 112). All the tasks call for the incorporation of individuals who have unique views such as business experts, senior management or IT-professionals. Hence it is critical for the efficiency of management of change to enhance the process of communication over such professional cultures. There are various ways to research and boast the organizational change process. Majority of the methods are found on social and psychological dimensions. Other areas comprise of change in man agement, organizational learning, enhancement of communication, images within the organization and organizational culture. These strategies amount to a good comprehension of the process of change, focus on the fundamental aspects of success and thus enhance the management and design of the process of change. ... The terms given by the respective language of modeling encourage the analysis, transformation and evaluation of the models (Van, 2001; p. 115). The procedures for modeling support various views on an organization like tactical view, as a business procedure or an IT perspective. It tends to be considerable to execute conceptual models for evaluation, designing, introduction of information systems and for the procedure of organizational change in common. Nonetheless, the application of the conceptual models for the purpose of organizational change has to overrule two stumbling blocks. Most managers are hesitant to deal with the conceptual models on top of the availability of economic assessment of models even if they are taken to establish they lead to more expenses (Audretsch & TTS, 2013; p. 293) Found on the presumption that there is no valid process to evaluate the general cost and benefit, there is need to assess the models in different views. Control of the organizational change i s found on an efficient evaluation of the corporate strategy, challenges in the future period, major resources and organizational environment. This comprise of for example, the evaluation of evolving and changing markets, the evaluation of core rivals, the analysis of the IT and human resources on top of evaluation of the main business processes. An enterprise’s conceptual models pledge to encourage processes of change in the organization in different dimension. By concentrating on the major abstractions, they enable the reduction of the entire intricacy. The particular intention of language modeling must give terms that encourage evaluation and analysis. For example, a language for designing business process might comprise of terms like use of resources and media conflicts

An Analysis of Marijuana Legalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

An Analysis of Marijuana Legalization - Essay Example One might posit that the reason for such a differential has to do with the overall level of harm differential that exists between these two drugs; however, when one considers the fact that both drugs are ultimately damaging to one’s health – if inhaled – the level of differential between them, from a quality of health standpoint, is negligible. Within such an understanding, the following analysis will seek to compare and contrast the objective and subjective effects of both nicotine and marijuana. Moreover, an analysis of the different government policies and regulations that constrain their usage will be analyzed alongside a discussion of the health risks that utilizing these substances necessarily portend. It is the hope of this author that such an analysis will land the reader to have a more actionable and definitive understanding of current drug policy had whether or not it represents an effective and ethical response to issues of public health are evidenced within current society (Hendricks et al., 2012). Although it is not the place of this brief analysis to advocate a safe entirely new approach to drug policy within the United States, it is the hope of this research that a greater level of inference with regards to the appropriate response framework that government represents will be able to be inferred. A great deal of debate has centered on the use of marijuana as a means of treating a variety of medical conditions; most notably with regards to terminally ill patients that are working to deal with a host of pain management problems. However, the overall legitimacy of marijuana as both a drug and a treatment plan is an issue that is slightly more nuanced than either side of the debate would likely let on. The fact of the matter is that marijuana, when used to treat illness, has like any medical drug a series of pros and cons; i.e. benefits and side effects. Although marijuana is not unique in that its implementation has both a series of side effects and benefits, this analysis will attempt to categorize this, discuss their nature, and draw inference as to the overall balance sheet with regards to whether medical marijuana is worthy of continuing to be used as a drug due to the preponderance of its inherent benefits or should be discontinued as a drug/treatment as a function of the r isk it poses to the individual. With respect to some of the most important side effects that have been medically demonstrable, one has to note that the smoking of any substance provides a greatly increased risk of developing a host of cancers. These include but are in no way limited to the following: lip cancer, tongue cancer, cheek cancer, esophageal cancer, and lung cancer but to name a few (Cohen 655). Similarly, it has been proven that smoking marijuana also demonstrably weakens the body’s immune system. This is of vital importance to many individuals who will be taking it to assist in providing them with a means to survive a given illness or extreme situation that requires such a method. In this way, the individual is likely to prolong the amount of time that they are suffering from an illness due to the fact that the prolonged use of marijuana has a negative effect on the total white blood cell count and the body’s inherent ability to fight off infection. In addi tion to the increased risk of a litany of cancers, the user is also at a highly increased risk of respiratory illness due to the fact that inhaling the smoke from even 1 joint per day can noticeably affect the bronchial linings in the air way which serve to protect the individual from a host of

Madam C. J. Walker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Madam C. J. Walker - Essay Example Walker. To the woman of today, the story of Madam’s (as she was called in her hey days) offers thrilling examples of how hard a black woman would have to struggle in a society prone to racial discrimination. What started out as her journey to build a career in entrepreneurship, Madam’s hair care and hair culture products business led her to become an icon in the world of slavery and discrimination that the blacks suffered in those days. Madam was always known to stay put at what she wanted. And it is from this basic nature that she found all the prosperity and success that marked her career and life. In the present article we analyze a few important lessons that every reader can take back from her life. As is well known, her life has been marked with incidents of historical importance for the American black community, and we try to study as many of them as we can. Born into a slave family, Sarah Breedlove held in her personality all the toughness that is characteristic to the African community, and this trait stayed with her till the end of her life. Not much is known to her family as to what happened in her early days. She is known to have been married at the age of fourteen and widowed at the age of twenty, with a child to earn her living for. She fended for her family by working as a washerwoman and around this point in time, she realized she was losing hair a little too much. She discovered a formula to stop the hair fall and grow back the lost tresses. In what she has herself called a magical dream, Madam discovered the formula all by herself, prepared the potion, applied it to the hair, and obtained excellent results. Without the toughness of her personality, no woman would have had the courage to develop a hair care product when she was toiling in the midst of poverty. Conviction they say can help the dying survive death. Madam’ s

Compare my experience in taking an online course versus that of a Essay

Compare my experience in taking an online course versus that of a traditional classroom course - Essay Example , weigh the facts, make connections and use this information to achieve a wide variety of outputs, the â€Å"acquisition of skills, knowledge and attitudes† (Boradbent, 2002: 111) that makes a successful learner. For me, a rich learning experience is found whenever it becomes possible for students to be actively engaged in the learning process. This happens when the knowledge to be gained is transmitted in a way that encourages students to apply various learning techniques to the material thus making it possible for them to achieve lifelong learning in whatever area they choose. However, as more and more colleges begin to offer online courses, it is important to compare the level of learning that can be achieved in these classes as compared with more traditional environments. Before it is possible to determine which learning environment would be best for me, I first underwent a process of discovering my own personal learning style. This was a difficult process because I didn’t seem to have any one way in which I learned best. David Kolb suggested that there are basically four different types of learning styles used by the majority of students to differing degrees. Within his classification system, I recognized two methods that particularly applied to my individual learning style including the diverger and the accommodator (Kolb, 2002: 114). What helps me to learn best is when I find myself in an open environment where discussions can take place without being afraid of offending and where ideas can be explored. However, there are times when even this is not exactly the best option for me as I just need to engage in some passive activity, learning from other people’s ideas. This is not unusual as Boradbent indicates, â€Å"learning styles ar e not cast in concrete. Learners are not always hooked on one style† (2002: 115). At the most basic level, I agree with Mel Silberman (cited in Boradbent, 2002: 115) who says that the most effective learning

Technology and the Environment Essay Example for Free

Technology and the Environment Essay With the development of Computers and information technology came talk of a new environmentally friendly era. The need to create and store documents on paper would be gone, along with the need to travel from city to city to conduct business meetings. The developers of computers sold Government Originations and Corporate America on these cost saving concepts. The promises made by computer developers proved to be somewhat true, especially given the wide spread deployment and use of Internet and email. Although computers have succeeded in reducing paper consumption, time, and fuel wasted while traveling they have managed to create some other waste management disasters. E-Waste is a new phrase that has been coined in the last few years. The term refers to the massive amounts of electronic waste that is being generated by ageing computer equipment being sent to disposal facilities and landfills each year. According to the National Safety Council, more than 150 million used PCs are sitting idle in storage in the United States with an additional 315 million computers that will need to be recycled or scrapped in 2004. The manufacturing of computers has transformed life in the second half of the 20th century. This also leads to rapid product obsolescence and lack of focus on environmental and social impacts of expanding production. The average computer platform now has a life span of about two years; hardware and software companies constantly generate new programs that demand more speed, memory and power. It is usually cheaper and more convenient to buy a new machine for the newer software than it is to upgrade the old machines. Disposing of e-waste in a landfill may seem harmless but in reality it is very dangerous to water supplies, plant life and humans in the surrounding areas. Electronic computer equipment is a complicated assembly of more than 1,000 materials, many of which are highly toxic, for example chlorinated and brominated substances, toxic gases, toxic metals, photo-active and biologically active materials, acids, plastics and plastic additives. Health impacts of the mixtures and material combinations in the products are unknown. The production of semiconductors, printed circuit boards, disk drives and monitors use very hazardous chemicals, and workers in chip  manufacturing are reporting cancer and birth defects. New evidence shows that computer-recycling employees have high levels of dangerous chemicals in their blood. The list of toxic components in computers also includes lead and cadmium in computer circuit boards, lead oxide and barium in computer monitors cathode ray tubes, mercury in switches and flat screens, and brominated flame retardants on printed circuit boards, cables and plastic casing. Considering the fact that landfills leak and even the best are not completely secure they will eventually allow a certain amount of chemical and metal leakage into the surrounding environment. The Environmental Protection Agency is just now beginning to recognize that these problems do exist and are creating new laws and regulations to correct disposal of e-waste. Several states are now adopting disposal programs, and some are even designating sites where consumers as well a businesses will be able to dispose of their unwanted computers without fees. These government programs as well as independent companies trying to recapture IT assets are proving successful. Although computers are responsible for a large increase in the amount of waste generated they have also been responsible for a significant decreases in fuel consumption and air pollution. With the rise of the communications era in recent years there is less need to travel. With video conferencing people can now go to a meeting without leaving their home, talk to someone with a cellular phone and do a myriad of other things including work, shop, search and communicate through the World Wide Web. With all this, there is less reliance on cars, which translates into less harmful carbon monoxide emissions. By using these advanced techniques and dealing with waste in a more responsible manor we would reduce air pollution and overfilled landfill sites saving valuable resources along with our invaluable environment. Waste recycling efforts, and utilization of technology hold the key to  solving our waste problems. By using methods such as recycling and responsible manufacturing techniques to reduce waste we would eliminate the need for designated landfill sites and the resulting massive pollution clean up costs. Computers like promised can be the solution, not cause of societies waste problems.

Going to College Essay Example for Free

Going to College Essay Going to college really does open a new chapter in everyone life, the beginning of new friendships, opportunities and growth. As a college student, a new student will be introduced to new areas of interest, broaden his vision of possibilities, establish and accomplish goals, develop lifelong friendships and define him or her in ways that he can imagine. Anyone on Earth already asked, or will ask himself where he would be in 10, 20 or even 30 years down the road. It is hard enough imagining what his life is going to be like in a year or two. Questions like â€Å"Where do you want to be today, tomorrow and in the future?† might be hard ones for young teenagers, who just graduated from high school. Attending college will help anyone answer those questions, develop a realistic plan for accomplishing his goals, and equip him with the knowledge and skills he will needs to see his goals through to the end. We usually assume that a college degree is necessary when it is not actually. We can also noticed that, because we place so much emphasis on degrees, people who have not attended college think of themselves badly, and this lack of self-confidence can really impede their success. There are some people for whom the college is actually not the best way to learn. However, a college education is an opportunity for everyone to learn what he loves. A new student can actually take the time to enjoy learning what he is truly passionate about. If he is interested in a variety of things and he is not sure where to focus, he can take his time to try them all. Nobody should look at college as a long-term contract that he is not going to be able to get out of once he starts. Anyone should feel like he needs to decide on a major area of study before starting college. College is a time for everyone to test himself, explore his interests, see what the possibilities are, and to see what he can achieve. Most other students attending college are going to be in the exact same boat . There are also a variety of resources, provided by most universities, to help anyone through college, including academic advisors, professors accessible on campus, tutoring academic support, full-time counseling staff and more. While the prospect of attending college may seem a bit daunting and even suffocating, a graduated high school teenager should not forget that he will still get to live his life. He will be able to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, social groups, maintain a job, or even pursue a career while completing his studies. He may even find that college ends up being much more enjoyable and fulfilling than he ever expected. There are additional reasons as to why it is important to go to college. When students experience a post-secondary education, they have the opportunity to read books and listen to the lectures of top experts in their fields. This stimulation encourages students to think, ask questions, and explore new ideas. So, â€Å"why should you go to college?† The reasoning does not begin and end with the job aspect. A good education is beneficial from many different viewpoints. If any teenager is still asking himself why he should go to college, it is important to remember the significant amount of opportunity available for college graduates. The global economy is becoming increasingly more competitive, and in order to give him the best chance for a well-paying job, he must first understand the importance of college education. Attending college provides students with the knowledge and experience they are unable to receive from a secondary education, and finding a way to fund a higher education now can pay off in a huge way in the years to come.

Herpes Simplex Virus Antiviral Drug Resistance

Herpes Simplex Virus Antiviral Drug Resistance Omer Baskan The increasing drug resistance of the herpes simplex virus Abstract Herpes simplex infections remain very common worldwide, the development of new treatments is of vital importance, particularly for the severely immunocompromised individuals due to the increasing emergence of HSV resistant strains being reported. The standard treatment for HSV still remains highly effective, however there is an ever increasing risk that drug resistant HSV will become more prevalent due to the reliance on a limited group of drugs: acyclovir, foscarnet and cidofovir. This review aims to address the failure of previous studies conducted, which include the focus on treating acyclovir resistant HSV with foscarnet and cidofovir but not aiming to discover new compounds which might be used to treat HSV instead. A valuable source for new treatments is the abundance of natural compounds which exhibit antiviral properties. Several candidates are addressed and discussed in this review. Introduction A large family of DNA viruses commonly known as herpesviridae is largely known for causing diseases in humans as well as animals. The most prevalent forms of the virus family are known as HSV-1, HSV-2, Varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus. All five mentioned members of the herpesvirus family (herpesviridae) are known to infect humans (Sandri-Goldin, 2006), in total there 8 herpesviruses which can infect humans, these include human herpesvirus 6 and 7, and finally Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (Carter Saunders, 2013). So far there are more than 130 herpesviruses which can affect a range of animals (Brown Newcomb, 2011). Herpesviruses are latent therefore they can remain in most people undetected, as the virus establishes itself in the ganglia of the peripheral nervous system (Stevens, 1975). It is reported that more than 90% of adults have been infected with the aforementioned species of the virus (Chayavichitsilp et al., 2009). Once an HSV infection occurs it will establish latency and can then multiply in large numbers as it has been reactivated, this then allows for the infection of a new host. In people who have a competent immune system the infection can be both painful and distressing but most importantly it is seldom life threatening. As a result the risks associated with herpes simplex are underestimated by people. However individuals with a HSV infection who also happen to have an impaired immune system can have life threatening symptoms which can result in death (Severson Tyring, 1999). The preferred treatment of choice is the use of acyclovir (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003) but due to its widespread use it has led to the emanation of HSV strains which are resistant to acyclovir (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). Resistant strains were first reported in 1982 (Sibrack et al., 1982). Therefore, surveys were conducted which showed that there was a recurring low incidence rate of acyclovir resistant strains among i mmunocompetent patients which was 0.6% (Englund et al., 1990). However among patients who have an impaired immune system the acyclovir resistant strains which were recovered showed a frequency ranging from 3 to 6%, this figure then reaches 14% among patients who have received a bone marrow transplant (Englund et al., 1990). This review aims to deal with the features attributed with the emanation of acyclovir resistant HSV as well as the epidemiological features. Whilst addressing the severity of the emerging drug resistance strains of HSV and its impact on immunocompromised patients. This review will also aim to highlight potential natural compounds which are new candidates for the development of new antivirals to combat HSV, as well as many compounds which should have further investigation into its antiviral properties. Epidemiology It is rare for resistance to ACV to occur in immunocompetent patients but there have been reports that described that there is a below 1% occurrence of ACV resistance in the population (Nugier et al., 1992). Most acyclovir resistant HSV isolated from patients with competent immune systems have been detected because of repeatedly having genital herpes. The observed occurrence ranged from 3.5 to 8.6% (Fife et al., 1994). In most cases the course of antivirals remained unchanged, there was only three cases of genital herpes were use of acyclovir was unsuccessful due to HSV being resistant to acyclovir (Mouly et al., 1995). Acyclovir resistant among certain HSV infections is about 5% (Christophers et al., 1998), this is only among immunocompromised patients who are most at risk of contracting an acyclovir resistant HSV. Infections caused by HSV among bone marrow transplant patients shows that patients that have received a bone marrow of either autologous or allogeneic origin have the same risk of developing an HSV infection. Resistance to acyclovir was detected only among allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients, this led to the discovery of the prevalence of resistance reaching 30% in patients who have had an allogeneic bone marrow transplant (Morfin et al., 2004). HSV strains that have been isolated from 3000 patients have been tested and have shown that half of them were immunocompetent whereas the other half had a immunocompromised system (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). The resistance of acyclovir was 0.3% among immunocompetent and 4% among immunocompromised (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). Concerning the certain type of immunosuppression present, the resistance has been detected as 2.8% among solid organ transplant patients, 3.5% among HIV infected patients and at 29% for allogeneic transplant patients (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). These results show that the prevalence of acyclovir resistant HSV was stable in 2003 compared to previous studies published more than 10 years ago. This level of stability is same for both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. As suggested by previous studies, resistance to acyclovir is a major concern for allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients. Mechanism of resistance Nucleoside analogues make up the majority of antiherpetic drugs in clinical use (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). Acyclovir is a guanosine analogue, as is penciclovir. Cidofovir is a phosphonate molecule which is derived from cytidine and foscarnet has a very different structure, as it is analogous to a pyrophosphate. The mechanism of action for acyclovir and penciclovir involve two viral enzymes. These are thymidine kinase which is for the first phosphorylation of the activation step and DNA polymerase, which is used as a target for the triphosphate form. Only two phosphorylations are needed for cidofovir for it to obtain the active diphosphate molecule, with both being performed by cellular kinases. Foscarnet only acts directly on the viral DNA polymerase (Figure 1; De Clercq et al., 2001). There are three mechanisms which are involved in HSV resistance to acyclovir: an alteration of thymidine kinase substance specificity, an alteration of DNA polymerase activity and a loss of thymidine kinase activity (Larder et al., 1983). The viral gene encoding for thymidine kinase can have a mutation occur within them resulting in 95% of acyclovir resistance isolates presenting a thymidine kinase deficient phenotype (Hill et al., 1991). Recovery of thymidine kinase deficient, altered and positive virus in a single isolate can lead to a detection of resistance of susceptible viruses (Nugier et al., 1992). These mutations that can cause resistance, occur spontaneously during viral replication therefore viruses which are resistant can then be selected for antiviral treatment. Functional DNA polymerase is required for viral replication but not for thymidine kinase. Therefore, there is a higher probability of a viable acyclovir resistant virus being caused by a mutation in the thymidine kinase gene, than by a mutation which occurs in the DNA polymerase. Viral pathogenesis of mutant viruses depends on the resistance phenotype. However to DNA polymerase and thymidine kinase altered mutants, thymidine kinase deficient HSV is known to be impaired for pathogenesis in animal models (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). Therefore they fail to reactivate from a latent form in explanted tissue ganglia (Kosz-Vnenchak et al., 1990). Thymidine kinase activity is not involved in the formation of latent infections but it is required for the virus to reactivate from latency (Efstathiou et al., 1989). After isolation of resistant HSV, the reactivations tend to be associated with the original, thymidine kinase positive and acyclovir sensitive strain (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). Although, there are few reports checking reactivations due to the acyclovir resistant virus associated with the thymidine kinase altered virus (Kost et al., 1993) or thymidine kinase deficient virus (Morfin et al., 2000). Management of HSV infections with acyclovir resistance In order to manage an HSV infection which is resistant to acyclovir we currently have to use several antiviral drugs. Many of the acyclovir resistant HSV isolates tend to be resistant to penciclovir but this occurs rarely. Some isolates can be resistant to acyclovir but still be susceptible to penciclovir as there have been reported cases; mechanisms of resistance to acyclovir of these particular strains was most likely an altered thymidine kinase protein (Sutton Boyd, 1993) or it could have been that a mutation occurred in the viral DNA polymerase (Suzutani et al., 2003). The thymidine kinase protein allows for acyclovir to become active but only in cells which are infected with HSV (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). Cidofovir and foscanet act directly on the viral DNA polymerase without the need of activation by viral thymidine kinase. The molecules cidofovir and foscarnet are both active on the HSV which is resistant to acyclovir, this is due to a mutation in the thymidine kinase gene (B lot et al., 2000), however in clinical practice the molecules cidofovir and foscarnet are associated with high levels of toxicity. Managing a acyclovir resistant HSV infection can be further improved by decreasing immunosuppressive treatments for the patient (Collins Oliver, 1986). In vitro detection of resistance In vitro evaluation of HSV susceptibility to antiviral drugs is based on the determination of viral replication inhibition in the presence of increasing concentrations of antiviral drugs. There are three techniques which are available to reveal viral replication: plaque reduction assay which is the reference technique, dye uptake method (Langlois et al., 1986) and DNA hybridisation test (Swierkosz et al., 1987). The dye uptake method and DNA hybridisation test are known to be less time consuming as the reading cytopathic effect is automatable (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). The concentration of antiviral drugs can be determined by the three techniques mentioned which can lead to viral replication inhibition by 50% (inhibitory concentration 50%, IC50). To discriminate between the resistant strains, IC50 thresholds must be defined for every single virus and antiviral drug set. The values are determined using the mean value obtained for susceptible viruses. These thresholds are arbitrary and the detection of resistance is coming from the evolution of IC50 values of sequential isolates from a patient. There has been a development of several screening techniques using a limited number of viral dilutions and antiviral drug concentrations (Danve et al., 2002). The phenotypic methods all require isolation of viral strains on the cell cultures. This is time consuming and can delay the adaptation of antiviral treatment according to in vitro susceptibility (Danve et al., 2002). Therefore genotypic tests are being developed in order to detect the resistant virus strains at a much shorter time delay (Morfin Thouvenot, 2003). The viral genes which are used to encode thymidine kinase and DNA polymerase are amplified by PCR and the products then produced by PCR can be then sequenced. The main area of concern lies in the fact that many nucleotide substitutions can be found and they must then be identified as the mutations which are responsible for resistance. This interpretation will made easier as more results on mutations detected in the resistant isolates are then collected for future comparison and analysis. Natural products with anti-herpes simplex virus activity A phenolic compound known as Caffeic acid which is shown below, is an effective substance in Plantago major (Figure 2; Bourne et al., 1999). It has been shown to exhibit strong activity against HSV-1 but decreased activity against HSV-2 (Mundinger Efferth, 2008). Reducing the number of hydroxyl groups from the phenolic compound has also shown to reduce activity against HSV-1 (Chiang et al., 2002). Curcumin (Figure 3A) which is shown below is another phenolic compound and is mainly present in the spice turmeric and was found to inhibit genes of HSV-1 by an unknown mechanism (Mundinger Efferth, 2008). It has also been previously shown that curcumin is slightly active against HSV-2 in vitro. An in vivo assay with the use of a mouse model of intravaginal HSV-2 infections showed that curcumin can provide significant protection (Mundinger Efferth, 2008). In a further experiment cineole (Figure 3B), exhibited very similar results to curcumin, whilst eugenol (Figure 3C) provided results in the mouse model which showed the most promise (Mundinger Efferth, 2008). This study was then repeated but this time with the use of guinea pigs to represent the course of HSV-2 infection. The use of guinea pigs allowed for a more accurate representation of the infection that could occur in humans. The results showed that eugenol was again highly effective (Mundinger Efferth, 2008). The use of eugenol resulted in fewer animals developing primary infections. Benencia and Courreges have confirmed the effectiveness of eugenol at preventing virus replication (Benencia Courrà ¨ges, 2000). Therefore, it was suggested that eugenol may damage the envelope proteins of the newly-synthesised virus particles (Serkedjieva Manolova, 1992). In the animal models, it was shown that capsaicin was effective against HSV. Although, it was noxious when it was applied to the mucous membranes and also caused an unpleasant burning sensation. Consequently, civamide (Figure 4) was tested in animal models as it is less noxious. When civamide was administered prior to the virus challenge it was shown to reduce primary infections, it was also to shown to reduce the effect of the infection after the virus challenge (Mundinger Efferth, 2008). Civamide was also shown to reduce the latent infection recurrence but only when it was used as a weekly treatment for suppressive maintenance therapy (Bourne et al., 1999). Propolis has long been seen as a natural product for antiviral treatments. Nine flavonoids were identified from propolis which were tested for their level of effectiveness against HSV (Amoros et al., 1992). From the group of substances which were tested, galangin and kaempferol (Figure 5) were shown to have the highest anti-HSV in vitro activity (Lyu et al., 2005). A monoterpene which is found in several essential oils named isoborneol (Figure 5), was found to exhibit interesting anti-HSV activity which warranted further investigation. The tests showed that isoborneol was quickly able to inactivate HSV with a 30 minute period of exposure, and it was also completely able to inhibit viral replication at very low concentrations. The presence of isoborneol allowed for the glycosylation of certain viral polypeptides to be inhibited, whilst the glycosylation of cellular proteins remained unchanged. Glycosylation was normal in the presence of isoborneol when copies of the viral proteins were introduced into the cellular genome (Armaka et al., 1999). These results seemingly indicate that isoborneol may be a promising new candidate for HSV treatment. Several sulphated polysaccharides have shown to possess anti-HSV activity, and many carrageenans which are mainly found in red seaweed have been shown to be active against HSV infections. In models of intravaginal HSV-2 infection, mice were shown to exhibit significant signs of protection against HSV infections (Bourne et al., 1999; Talarico et al., 2004), and they were also protected from infection in the abdominal cavity when carrageenan was administered after infection (Pujol et al., 2006). Conclusion Infections of HSV have a high occurrence globally therefore the number of infections is not expected to decrease significantly over the next couple of years. Due to the increasing number of immunocompromised patients and prolonged period of standardised treatment this can only exacerbate the problems caused by drug resistant HSV. The increasing use of acyclovir as the immediate antiviral drug of use to treat an HSV infection has increased the fear of the increasing numbers of acyclovir resistant infections, notably in prophylaxis treatments among transplant patients. However, studies that have been conducted have shown that acyclovir resistant HSV is largely a concern for severely immunocompromised patients, such as those patients who have received a bone marrow from an allogeneic origin. When an acyclovir resistant strain of HSV arises it is best to manage the infection with other antiviral drugs which have different mechanisms of action, the most useful two to use would be foscarnet or cidofovir. There is an urgent need for new treatment options to be developed as current treatment options do remain limited. There is the main use of acyclovir and then the subsequent use of foscarnet or cidofovir which is only used if acyclovir resistance is present. This shows that there is a limited amount of effective treatments available. Therefore, new treatments must be made available in order to avoid any future HSV epidemics. The antiviral potential of the natural products indicates that there is still a wide range of compounds which could be useful in the battle against drug resistant HSV, mainly HSV which is resistant to acyclovir; as it is the main major concern moving forward. Therefore, it is highly advised that research in this area continues so that an even larger amount of compounds can be identified in order to combat drug resistant HSV.

The Relationship between Psychology and Movies Essays -- Good Will Hunt

Movies are most of the time related to a human being’s life. Movies apply psychology to their plots. For example, movies like the StepMom directed by Chris Columbus, and Good Will Hunting directed by Gus Van Sant show us that psychology is part of our lives in a day to day base. It could go from a divorce to a person who is scared to take a step in life. The textbook, Psychology: Core Concept, by Philip G. Zimbarbo, Ann L. Weber, and Robert L. Johnson, utilizes examples from these movies. We are going to see how these movies relate to the core principles of psychology. In Chapter four, we see how psychology starts all the way from the beginning of our lives. It shows how we as organisms change over time. We go from being a zygote to an embryo and then to a fetus. Then we go into behavior performance since we are born until we die. We start with little things like responding to sounds, recognizing our moms, moving from side to side, walking, talking, playing, and so forth. One big aspect of our life is learning to talk. We start out babbling, and then go into our one- word two-word stage, until we are able to learn grammar. Another aspect of our life is cognitive development. This is where our thinking changes. This theory comes from the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. We start out by assimilating information. We assimilate through out our lives. Then there are stages we go through from birth to adulthood. The first stage is the Sensorimotor Stage which is from birth to the age of two. In this stage, the child relies heavily on innate motor response to stimuli. (pg.133.) Then there is the stage call Preoperational Stage which is from the age of two to about seven years. In this stage we learn to use our language in a well developed mental representation. (pg134.) Then there is the stage from seven to eleven years this is call the Concrete Operational Stage. In this stage, is capable of understanding conversation but still is incapable of abstract thought (pg.134.) The last stage is the Formal Operational Stage. This stage is from about 12 years and on. This stage is when our abstract thought appears. Then it continues to social and emotional development. This is where they child develops a theory of mind which is an awareness that other people’s behavior may be influenced by beliefs, desires, and emotions that differ from one’s own (pg. 137.) This makes up... ...his chapter. Matt Damon plays Will Hunting, a boy genius who was severely abused as a child and has been in trouble with the law ever since. He works as a janitor in a school. While working he solves an impossible mathematical problem on the blackboard. When the math professor, Lambeau, finds out that it was the janitor that solve the math problems he was amazed. This led him to go to Will’s court hearing and get him to be release under his supervision. Will is in court for The court had him meet a therapist. He first sees a psychiatrist who did not help him. Then he had hypnosis that did not work either. Then he meets the therapist who was played by Robin Williams. Sean helps Will Hunting change his life. Both Will and Sean are haunted by the past. These led to Will believing in Sean and the therapy starts to work. Also their similarity of the meaning of the world. will live life with a wonderful philosophy that he could go through the rest of his life without having to r eally know anyone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Psychology is involved in all aspect of our lives. It answers many questions. Through movies like the ones mentioned above we are able to how psychology works.

How To Write a Nursing Research Paper :: Nursing Profession, Nursing Career

Title The elements needed to be included in a good title should contain the critical words or a phrase that describes the article; identify the major variables and the population. The title of this article has identified the independent and dependent variables which is the adaption and effects of the training program to help patients with end stage renal disease (Coughlan, Cronin, and Ryan, 2007; Nieswiadomy, 2008 p.380). Abstract The authors of this article have outlined the purpose, aims, and objectives of the study. It also provides the methods used which is quantitative approach to collect the data, the results, conclusion of the study. It is important that the author should present the essential components of the study in the abstract because the abstract may be the only section that is read by readers to decide if the study is useful or not or to continue reading (Coughlan, Cronin, and Ryan, 2007; Ingham-Broomfield, 2008 p.104; Stockhausen and Conrick, 2002; Nieswiadomy, 2008 p.380). Introduction This article hasn’t provided an introduction; however a lengthy summary of the study which identifies the problem, purpose and rationale for the research study has been provided in the background. The introduction should give the reader a general sense of what the document is about, and preferably persuade the reader to continue reading. This prepares the reader for reading the rest of the document (Burns & Grove, 2001 p.636; Nieswiadomy, 2008 p.380; Stockhausen and Conrick, 2002). Literature review As Burns and Grove (2001) & Polit and Hungler (1997) as cited in Ingham-Broomfield (2008 p.104) mentioned that the primary purpose of the literature review is to discuss what is known, gain broad background and understanding of the available information related to the study. As Coughlan, Cronin, and Ryan (2007) stated that literature review should also help to identify any gaps in the literature relating to the problem and suggest how those gaps might be filled. The authors of this article has not provided any review of literature and this could misinform the reader what the main focus of the study; however, several appropriate references were used in the background. The terms used in the key concepts are adequately defined and consistent with the topic. The background of the study introduces the previous knowledge or what is already known which is to investigate the effectiveness of an ATP designed to help ESRD patients to cope with stressors while receiving haemodialysis treatment .

Hamlets Antic Disposition Essay -- Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet's Antic Disposition [See Hamlet, II.ii.159-185 in which Polonius proposes to use his daughter Ophelia as a bait for Hamlet, while Polonius and Claudius conceal themselves behind an arras; at which point Hamlet enters unexpectedly and is spoken to by Polonius] Everything that Hamlet here says is capable of an equivocal interpretation reflecting upon Polonius and Ophelia. "Fishmonger," as many commentators have noted, means a pander or procurer; "carrion" was a common expression at that time for "flesh" in the carnal sense; while the quibble in "conception" needs no explaining. And when I asked myself why Hamlet should suddenly call Polonius a bawd and his daughter a prostitute-for that is what it all amounts to-I could discover but one possible answer to my question, namely that "Fishmonger" and the rest follows immediately upon "loose my daughter to him." Nor was this the end of the matter. For what might Hamlet mean by his sarcastic advice to the father not to let the daughter "walke i'th Sunne," or by the reference to the sun breeding in the "carrion" exposed to it? Bearing in mind Hamlet's punning retort "I am too much in the 'son,'" in answer to Claudius's unctuous question at J.ii.64, And now my cousin Hamlet, and my son, How is it that the clouds still hang on you? - and recalling Falstaff's apostrophe to Prince Hal: "Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove a micher and eat blackberries? a question not to be asked. Shall the son of England prove a thief and take purses? a question to be asked," is it not obvious that Hamlet here means by "Sunne" the sun or son of Denmark, the heir apparent, in other words himself? A... ...n to spy upon him has a bearing much wider than his attitude towards Ophelia. Indeed, the manner in which it eases the general working of the plot is strong testimony in its favor. As we shall find, it constitutes the mainspring of the events that follow in acts II and III; it renders the nunnery scene playable and intelligible as never before; it adds all kinds of fresh light and shade to the play scene. In a word, its recovery means the restoration of a highly important piece of the dramatic structure. For the moment, however, let us confine our attention to the matter in hand; and see what it tells us about Hamlet's relations with the daughter of Polonius. Here its value is at once obvious, since it casts its light backward as well as forward and enables us for the first time to see these relations in proper perspective and as a connected whole.

Pratik

Why Was Fathepur Sikri built ? In Akbar's time the site was occupied by a small village of stonecutters and was the home of Shaikh Salim Chishti, a Muslim astrologer and Sufi Saint. In 1568 Akbar visited the Shaikh to ask for the birth of an heir. The Shaikh replied that an heir would be born soon. Sure enough, Akbar's wife gave birth to a boy on August 30, 1569. In gratitude, Akbar named the boy Salim after the astrologer, and, two years later decided to move the capital to Sikri.Buland Daraza ————————————————- Buland Darwazameaning ‘high' or ‘great' gate in  Persian. It is located in  Fatehpur Sikri  which is located 43  km away from  Agra,  India. It is also known as the â€Å"Gate of Magnificence. † Buland Darwaza or the loft gateway was built by the great Mughal emperor, Akbar in 1601 A. D. at Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar built the Buland Darwaz a to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. 1] Architecture The Buland Darwaza is made of red and buff sandstone, decorated by carving and inlaying of white and black marble and towers above the courtyard of the mosque. The Buland Darwaza is semi octagonal in plan and is topped by pillars and  chhatris  with Buland Darwaiosks on the roof, stylized battlement and small turrets and inlay work of white and black marble. On the outside a long flight of steps sweeps down the hill giving the gateway additional height.A Persian inscription on eastern archway of the Buland Darwaza records Akbar's conquest over Gujarat in 1601. It is 40 metres high and 50 metres from the ground. The total height of the Structure is about 54 metres from the ground level. It is a 15-storied high gateway that guards the southern entrance of the city of Fatehpur Sikri. An inscription on the central face of the Buland Darwaza throws light on Akbar's religious broad mindedness.

Finding Inner Peace Essay

Being at peace with one’s inner self sounds inviting but some aspects of many different religions can be hard to grasp at times. While most religions influence others, some have ideas and beliefs from sources unknown. Hinduism and Budhism are two of many religions. Having many similarities, their differences are what make them unique. Hindus have many gods, polytheism, and Buddhist believe in finding one’s inner peace. They both focus more on one’s inner self rather than on religion it’s self. The word Hinduism came from a Persian word â€Å"Sindhu† that relates to the Indus River that is located in northwest India. Arabs, Persians, and Afghans were the first to use the word Hindu to describe those coming from the area around this river. (Tillman and Cason 09) Some historians say that Hinduism can be traced back to the ancient Indus Valley civilization which would make Hinduism over 4,000 years old, which makes it extremely hard to say when it actually began. Most historians divide Hinduism into many overlapping periods in history. The first period is pre-Hindu. Pre-Hindu dates around 2000 B. C. and not much is known other than evidence says that is religion was centered on fertility gods and water quality. Between 2000 and 1500 B. C. , a new religion began to emerge in India, Vedas. This religion was sacrificed-based and centered around fire. They gave up animals as sacrifice for in turn their gods, devas, and would give good crops and wealth. The next era of Hinduism is called classical Hinduism and began sometime around 500 B. C. During this period is when many new gods, goddesses, and rituals emerge that are based on earlier practices. At this time is when being devoted to the god or goddess of ones liking started. (patheos. com, Hinduism Beginnings) Hindus believe in multiple gods and reincarnation. With that said, a god can be any living organism. A god can be even a fire or storm. It is said, that in the Hindu religion there are 330 million gods (Tillman and Cason 09). There is no one that can worship all these gods at once, so the individual choose just one god to serve. Triune godhead is the name given to the three aspect of the Supreme Reality. The Supreme Reality is the Brahma, Vishnu and the Shiva. The Triune godhead is also known as the Trimurti or the trinity. The Trimurti godhead is the head of all the gods because of what it represents. The Brahma is the creator god, Lord and Father of all things and represents birth. Vishnu is the preserver of the universe and represents life and the Siva is the creator of power and represents destruction and death. Reincarnation means rebirth or how the soul leaves the body and begins a new life in another body. The Samsara, the cycle of life is said to be the core religion belief of the Hindu religion. Under the cycle of life there are four ways that you can reap the Samsara. There are the Dharma, Artha, Kama and the Moksha. Dharma is the moral code that sustains the Hindu ociety. The Dharma is thought to be a duty and righteousness and observes the caste which is the social group of one’s’ birth. The Dharma is the natural universe of law that enable human to be happy and to save one self from suffering and degradation. It is also known as the Law of being that things cannot exist without. Artha is the life cycle of material profit or possession. This cycle of life have to do with politics and commerce which is the means to sustain human activity. In the Hindu society they do not believe that the pursuit of wealth corrupt the soul. A ouse holder requires wealth, because he has to perform many duties for his family. The life cycle of Artha includes achieving widespread fame and elevates social standing for the individual. Kama is the life cycle of desire; it is understood to also mean sexual desire. Kama can mean liberation and happiness in life or it can lead to great hindrance for the individual. Sexual activity is an obligatory duty and not to be use for just enjoyment. The sensual nature of human is important to the Hindus for they do not believe that sex is bad. Sexual relationship outside of arriage is not permitted. Kama is not only for desire but it can also be for other pleasure in your life such as culture art (Jayaram 09-10). Moksha is the spiritual release of life. Moksha is the end of death and rebirth. Hindus believe that the soul passes through this cycle and how you live the previous life will determined your incarnation. Moksha can be achieve through many lifetimes, this process require a loss of life and things in life. Karma is also needed for this cycle to balance the fulfillment of a person duty (Tillman and Cason 09). Buddhism, however, beliefs are enlightenment, personal peace, and love and compassion without attachment. Buddhism evolved from the beliefs and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha Gautama, who was originally a Hindu, was born a prince in 623 B. C. in Lumbini, India and became â€Å"the Buddha†. He began to see that his only obstacle was his own self. His first sermon was in deer park near Benares, now called Varanasi (Tillman and Cason 09). There are 2 main expressions of Buddhism; Theravada expression and Mahayana expression which represent the north and south’s adaption to Buddhism. Theravada expression, the lesser vehicle, is the southern viewpoint. This expression comes directly from Buddha and his original followers. Theravada Buddhist’s main goal is to reach arhat. Arhat means perfect saint. Theravadas do not believe in a god. They believe that the universe creates and recreates itself a million times a second (Tillman and Cason 09). Theravada expression also teaches that not every one can practice Buddhism. Mahayana expression, on the other hand, believes anyone can reach enlightenment and reach it in one lifetime unlike many as the Theravadas believe. Mahayana help people become bodhisattva, living saints. Both Theravadas and Mahayanas accept the Pali canon and Tripitaka as scripture. One of the core beliefs of Buddhism is the belief in the Four Noble Truths. These truths, laid out by Siddhartha, are the beginning of understanding. According the the Four Noble Truths, life is suffering. Suffering begins at birth, illness is suffered through life, and fear of death also brings suffering. The cause of human suffering is desire, or â€Å"tanha. † Our desires cause us suffering because we want what we cannot have. In order to remove suffering, one must remove desire. The way to remove desire is another doctrine of Buddhism – the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path provides a eioght parts that allow a human to remove their misery. The eight parts are as follows: right understanding, mindedness, speech, action, livelihood, effort, meditation, and emancipation. Another doctrine of Buddhism is the Golden Mean, a philosophy expressed by Siddhartha. It is the middle of the path of no extremes, and focuses on moderation. Hinduism and Buddhism have many similarities, having both originated in India. Hinduism and Buddhism are more philosophical than religious, and describe an all encompassing philosophy and define existence itself. Both religions have their own versions of Tantra, and believe in certain spiritual practices like meditation, concentration, cultivation of certain bhavas or states of mind. The cycle of death and rebirth, governed by Karma, is referred to as samsara. According to Hinduism, the soul is immortal, while the body is subject to birth, decay, old age and death The Buddhist definition of right conduct and personal obligations, dharma is the path which must be taken to escape the suffering of worldly life. Dharma defines correct living for a Hindu. The practice of Yoga is intimately connected to the religious beliefs and practices of both Buddhism and Hinduism. They both emphasize compassion and non violence towards all living beings. Alike and different all at one time; the main point is to find one’s true self and find inner peace. Hinduism dates back thousands of years and Buddhism can be pin pointed. Yet, each religion has a very similar message. Doesn’t every religion have a similar message when it comes to life? Live in peace and harmony, and find happiness in whatever you do.

Comparison of Freud’s and Plato’s Aspects of Human Character Essay

Aspects of human character have been discussed in a number of fields; inputs from the philosophical and political perspectives can be identified by how human character is in place with respect to the society whereas concepts from the psychological field can be observed to focus more on the individual and its relationship with his environment.   Such is demonstrated by Plato in his The Republic which can be seen to potentially contrast with Sigmund Freud in his discourse in Civilization and its Discontents.   Plato had apparently came up with literature describing a functional society according to certain controls needed in order to establish a civilization according to certain ideologies such as justice, authority, and the ideal state, among others.   Freud, on one hand, tackled a world that is already in existence and presented an analysis on life and reality. From this, when it comes to their respective discussions on the human character, Plato’s The Republic presented how human character should be while Freud discussed what human character is through instinctual drives.   Plato’s prescription for the Guardians, the social class tasked to rule the society, mentioned that their education should emphasize their â€Å"love for wisdom† and â€Å"high spirits†.   This characterization can be therefore compared with Freud’s discussion on Eros and Death; the comparison can thereby give way in identifying whether their references for the twin aspects of human character were the same or not. Plato’s â€Å"Love of Wisdom† and â€Å"High Spirits† Plato proposed the formation of a social class called the Guardians who would rule the society.   Given the great responsibility that is going to be vested in them, these Guardians are proposed to learn certain aspects that would make them an effective ruler and manager of the state.   In this case, it was brought up in the discussion in The Republic that â€Å"[†¦] it’s our job, as it seems, to choose, if we’re able, which are the natures, and what kind they are, fit for guarding the city† (Book II, 374e).   Hence, the discussion resulted to a description of the Guardians, as follows (Book II, 376c): â€Å"Then the man who’s going to be a fine and good guardian of the city for us will in his nature be philosophic, spirited, swift, and strong.† The context in which they discussed the trait of â€Å"love of wisdom† (Book II, 376b) apparently referred to the philosophical leanings of the Guardian.   In addition, possessing the love of wisdom is also associated with having the â€Å"love of learning† (Book 2, 376b).   It can be gathered that â€Å"love† in this context is based on having the nature to pursuit a deep interest for knowledge thereby demonstrating how an individual can have the characteristic of an ideal ruler. In addition to the discussion on â€Å"love of wisdom†, possessing a high spirit or â€Å"spirited† is also seen as a significant characterization of a Guardian.   The characters initially discussed this aspect in the context of citing animal behavior, hence, demonstrating that the high spirits may initially come from the individual’s courageous nature.   What makes the human distinctive from the animals, as seen in the discussion, is how this ideal person also injects a sense of gentleness in this instinctive characteristic (Book II, 375c): â€Å"Yet, they must be gentle to their own and cruel to enemies. If not, they’ll not wait for others to destroy them, but they’ll do it themselves beforehand.† In this case, what they are looking for in a Guardian is someone who is â€Å"gentle and great-spirited† (Book II, 375c); the challenge, however, as noted in the dialogues, is how these two traits oppose each other. The concept of â€Å"love of wisdom† and â€Å"high spirits† in Plato’s work, in the context of Guardians’ characters, clearly show that they are discussing human characteristics that are admirable.   The twin aspects of human character, in this case, show how these two characteristics complement each other in which case, the ideal person for the function is some who is spirit and by nature, philosophical. Freud’s Eros and Death The context in which Freud discussed Eros and Death in Civilization and its Discontents is how these two instinctive forces, albeit opposing, work together in life.   As Freud discussed (66): That is to say, as well as Eros there was an instinct of death. The phenomena of life could be explained from the concurrent or mutually opposing action of these two instincts â€Å"[†¦] A more fruitful idea was that a portion of the instinct is diverted towards the external world and comes to light as an instinct of aggressiveness and destructiveness. In this way the instinct itself could be pressed into the service of Eros, in that the organism was destroying some other thing, whether animate or inanimate, instead of destroying its own self. Conversely, any restriction of this aggressiveness directed outwards would be bound to increase the self-destruction, which is in any case proceeding.† Although Freud noted that Death, which is also associated with destruction, and even Evil, may â€Å"name his adversary not what is holy and good, but Nature’s power to create, to multiply life–that is, Eros† (68), he noted that Eros and Death can be â€Å"alloyed† with each other, thereby resulting to an integration which hides either purpose.   An example Freud cited is how this is evident in sadism in which destruction can also bring satisfaction, the very idea in itself brings a certain degree of enjoyment. Conclusion: Comparison Based on the above discussions, the contexts in which Plato and Freud discussed â€Å"love for wisdom† and â€Å"high spirits†, and Eros and Death can be regarded to be total opposites.   For Plato, how these human aspects function is for the purpose of greater good; the ideal nature of the individual in the form of the Guardians is meant to benefit the society which the Guardians are tasked to serve.   In this case, the intent to define these traits, which is the union of philosophy and spiritedness, is meant to put together an exceptional leader.   In Freud’s discussion, on one hand, presented a justification as to how two opposing ideas, Eros and Death, actually work, and how these are in fact a reality of human nature. Plato and Freud discussed human nature in different contexts: for Plato, the opposing twin aspects of human nature (â€Å"love of wisdom† and â€Å"high spirits†) can be reconciled and further enhanced through education, thereby resulting to an ideal functional leader for the ideal city.   Freud, on one hand, discussed how the opposing Eros and Death do exist in human nature and how this is exemplified by the presence of satisfaction in destruction; the integration of Eros and Death may not result to an ideal person, but this demonstrates the humanness of the individual. Apparently, the similarity ends there; the similarity can be seen in the seed of the argument which is how opposing ideas do work together as a part of human nature.   Both demonstrated how internal contradictions further contribute to human characteristics that lead to how people eventually function.   In this case, the premise of their discussion is the same yet the intent of the discussion is different.   For Plato, the marriage of â€Å"love of wisdom† and â€Å"high spiritedness† gives way to an ideal class in an ideal society whereas Freud’s â€Å"alloyed† Eros and Death benefits the destruction more because it is in the face of Eros that Death can hide. Upon a close reading of the texts, there is also a similarity of the premise in terms of these two works; Plato’s The Republic contains a series of discussions leading to the definition of an ideal state whereas Freud’s Civilization and Its Discontents showed how the individual can be in conflict with the society.   In addition, both agreed how the implementation of laws can establish control in a society basically manned by individuals with baser instincts; however, Plato pointed out how education can manage these instincts and how people can be formed into functional citizens while Freud mostly highlighted how individuals will be always governed by the pleasure principle.

Ethics and Morality Essay

I’m Researching†¦ Saved Recents Uploads My Answers Account Products Home Essays Drive Answers Texty About Company Legal Site Map Contact Us Advertise  ©2016 Ethics and Morality Ethics, Morality, Philosophy Mar 7, 2008 3604Words 791Views PAGE 1 OF 9 Abstract The paper delves into the topic of ethics and morality. It would try to understand the concept of ethics and morality and the difference between the two concepts. In the paper I would analyse what motivates human behaviour and choices and why those choices can never always be moral and ethical. I will analyse some ethical and moral theories that provide guidelines for ethical human behaviour and critically assess them with the aid of real life examples, to determine whether it is possible to have universally applicable rules that help humans to decide if a decision requires ethical/moral considerations or not. The paper would aim to prove that it is the needs of humans which may be at times materialistic and at other times spiritual, that govern their course of action. As no two humans have similar needs and similar means to fulfil their needs, to straitjacket decisions into moral/ethical and rational is virtually impossible. Introduction â€Å"The temptation to set aside ethical standards is always present, because the gains are so large for the individual who decides to work outside the rules. † From The High Price of Low Ethics How Corruption Imperils American Entrepreneurship and Democracy Carl J. Schramm, PhD, JD President and CEO, The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation There is no doubt that to succeed in life today, one has to be shrewd, aggressive and practical. We see all around us that the struggle for existence forces humans to sideline issues of right and wrong and makes them focus only on achieving the ends with little or no consideration to the means employed. Does this mean that humans have become inherently immoral and unethical? No. Humans cannot be blind to morality and ethics. According to Aristotle, humans are social animals. For them to be perfectly happy, they have to be a part of a society that is also happy (Yrjonsuuri 2004). This means that humans, who are biologically selfish, need to consider the interests of the society and be aware of the morality of their choices. But do we understand what ethics and morals are? Ethics are not the same as feelings as some people feel good even when they do something criminal (Markkula Center for applied ethics n. d. ). Ethics are not religion, as many people are not religious, but ethics apply to all (Markkula Center for applied ethics n. d. ). Ethics are also not law as law can become ethically corrupt as some totalitarian regimes have made it (Markkula Center for applied ethics n. d. ). Ethics are not about following culturally accepted norms as cultures can sometimes become corrupt, and neither is ethics science (Marrakula Center for applied ethics n. d. ). Then what exactly are ethics and morals? How do we know that we are being faced with an ethical and moral choice rather than an ordinary one? Telling the truth is considered morally right, but if our truth hurts someone should we tell the truth? Can humans be ethical and moral at all times? How many of us know people who would have been influenced by their morals to hide Jews from the Nazis at the expense of their lives? Would the people who preferred to save their own lives be considered immoral? Such questions that concern the right behaviour for humans have been a subject of debate for centuries because it is believed that there is no right answer for such questions. What may feel right to one individual or organization may be considered immoral in another society. This paper would try to analyse the concept of morality and ethics, and their importance in the life of human beings, with an objective to understand whether it is possible to develop universal rules in decision making that can make it easier for humans to take decisions that are acceptable to the society and their conscious. Discussion The word Ethics comes from the Greek word ethos which means moral character or custom. The word Morality comes from the Latin word moralis which means custom or manner (Perle n. d. ). ?Both the words deal with the customs or the manner in which people do things. Their modern meanings relate to the way people act – either good or bad, or right or wrong’ (Perle n. d. ). So, if people often use the two words as if they have the same meaning, it should be no surprise. ?While we may often use the two terms interchangeably, morals are generally understood to be the principles of right and wrong, whereas ethics involve an entire system of moral issues and focuses on right and wrong behaviour’ (Eastwood et al. 2006). Morality is an individual’s perception of right and wrong which may be in disagreement with another individual’s perception. Nevertheless, every individual’s morality influences the values of the society. Ethics is the product of those collective moral values of all the individuals in the society (The oracle education foundation n. d). ?The distinction between ethics and morality can be demonstrated by using the analogy of a conversation. If one imagines that ethics is a conversation that has arisen to answer the question, â€Å"What should a person do? â€Å", then moralities are the voices in that conversation’ (St. James Ethics centre n. d. ). Morality and ethics talk about right and wrong behaviour. But what should be the standard of deciding what is right and what is wrong? Kant proposed a test for personal duty and good willing which eliminates self interest and helps decide whether an action is ethically correct (Eastwood et al. 2006). The test requires an individual to ask himself whether he would be willing to have everyone in the world under similar circumstances behave in exactly the same manner (Eastwood et al. 2006). This is the Categorical Imperative, which states that an act can be judged right or wrong only if everyone in the world will act in the same way or come to the same decision under similar circumstances (Eastwood et al. 2006). But decision making is rarely an easy process. In our lives, we face situations where we have to take decisions to achieve some desired objective(s) with minimum negative consequences. Decision making becomes even more complicated when our needs are in conflict with each other. Humans have broadly two categories of needs which guide their decisions, viz. deficiency needs associated with physiological needs, which are determined by life processes, like survival, reproduction, nourishment etc, and growth needs associated with psychological needs which are outside the life processes and differentiate humans from other creatures, like creativity, spontaneity, self actualization etc. (Maslow, 1943). Schlozberg in his essay analysed that according to Arendt, our needs of life and the life process are fulfilled through ordinary decision making which is rational in nature. As the number of the ordinary decisions that need to be made in our daily lives are so large, our mind often takes them in a routine and habitual manner, through the aids of customs and habits (cited in Schlozberg n. d. ). The way individuals will greet each other, their behaviour towards their seniors etc are examples of some of the decisions which are taken without a thought to any values that we may cherish. But, ordinary decision making while being useful in daily life, is ill fitted for moral and ethical decision making (cited in Schlozberg n. d. ). Our other set of needs that stem from outside the life processes, require us to often take heed of moral and ethical issues and negate the presence of rationality. Let us take the example of Siebel Edmonds, who worked as a FBI translator. ?Edmonds was fired from her position as a language specialist at the FBI’s Washington Field Office in March, 2002, after she accused a colleague of covering up illicit activity involving foreign nationals, alleging serious acts of security breaches, cover-ups, and intentional blocking of intelligence which, she contended, presented a danger to the United States’ security’ (Wikipedia 2005). If we try to analyze her act, it can be said that her decision to report the misconduct to higher authorities at the expense of her job was not rational rather a decision governed by her moral values. If Edmonds had placed her survival before all other needs, she would have made an ordinary rational decision, rather than an extraordinary moral decision which she eventually made. However, if we analyse Edmond’s moral decision from the point of view of deontology, we may argue that her decision may have been rational! From a deontological point of view, something is moral/ethical not because of its consequences, but is moral/ethical because the motive or intent is good with no ulterior motive attached (Russo n. d. ). So, to actually bracket Siebel Edmonds decision as a moral decision and not a rational decision, it is important to know whether her intention was to exemplify herself as a model employee and be promoted, or was she actually concerned about US security? True moral/ethical choices cannot be rational choices. It is only an individual who can decide whether his/her need falls under the realm of life process or arises out of extra-natural conditions. Understanding of this aspect will help him/her take an ordinary decision bordering on rationality or a value laden decision based on morality and ethics. Human beings and organizations are forever being presented with opportunities in life where they have to take such decisions. We all know that the primary objective of a business organization is to increase the market value of the company. The board of directors thus are often known to resort to any means to achieve the objective which is rational for the organization’s growth. Economics and morality/ethics do not mix, and we end up seeing instances of insider trading, industrial espionage etc. in the business world. But on the other hand, the organizations also have a need to be respected in the society so that people trust them. When an organization takes a decision keeping their social responsibilities in mind, they may take decisions which are ethical and moral in the true sense. Let us take the example of the cosmetic company,† The Body Shop†. ?Body Shop was regarded as amongst the first firms in the world to publish a proper report on its social responsibility initiatives. In addition to social activism, internal audit programs were conducted at Body Shop for environmental protection, health and safety at work, and the monitoring of â€Å"Against Animal Testing Policy† ? (ICFAI Center for Management Research 2006). All this indicates that the objective of Body Shop was to develop an organization in sync with certain moral and ethical values. However recently, Body Shop was acquired by L’Oreal and faced severe criticism for the same. Some analysts believed that ? L’Oreal did not share the principles of Body Shop, and that this acquisition had removed the biggest supporter of ethically sourced beauty care products from the market’ (ICFAI Center for Management Research 2006). Analyst also believed that Ms Roddick, the owner of Body Shop, ? sold out’ to the very organization she fought against (ICFAI Center for Management Research 2006). Why did Body Shop allow itself to be acquired by L’Oreal? It may be argued that the decision of selling Body Shop to L’Oreal was probably a rational business decision, taken presumably because Body Shop was operating at a loss and the money that Ms. Roddick was offered by L’Oreal was too tempting to resist. Clearly, whatever may be the reason behind the decision, morality/ethics does not seem to be one of them! Thus it can be said that humans or at a macro level organizations, take decisions governed by their needs and the desired outcomes. As the example of Body Shop illustrates, sometimes decisions are rational and sometimes ethical/moral. Thus, to expect that all decisions made by an individual or an organization will at all times be moral and ethical is unrealistic. So what kinds of decisions should always be ethical? And when should we decide to take decisions based on our morality? Morals come into play when an individual decides to make a personal choice, whereas ethics come into play when an individual decides to make a choice as a representative of a social group (organization, doctors, lawyers etc. ). Nevertheless, both ethics and morals help individuals to decide between the right and wrong, and thus have similar benchmarks for deciding the kind of decisions that should be moral/ethical. According to the Utilitarian theory, any decision that has the potential of harming the maximum number of people while benefiting just a few, should be decided ethically so that maximum good and least harm is done (Andre et al. 1996). Other philosophers who follow the Rights Approach suggest that if our actions tend to violate the rights of humans, then the decision should be made on ethical grounds so that rights of humans are protected (Andre et al. 1996). The Greek Philosophers believed in a common good approach, which suggested that certain conditions in the society are shared amongst all humans, so all are decisions that are important for the welfare of everyone should be based on ethical reasoning (Andre et al. 1996). A very ancient approach to ethics is that ethical actions ought to be consistent with certain ideal virtues that provide for the full development of our humanity. The virtue ethics asks of any action, â€Å"What kind of person will I become if I do this? † or â€Å"Is this action consistent with my acting at my best? † (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics n. d). In essence virtue approach suggests that all the decisions that we take in our life are required to be based on ethics and morality. These different approaches give us a broad outline of the type of decisions that should be considered ethical or moral. However in the real world there will always be an uncertainty on whether a decision should be made on ethical/moral grounds or not. If a decision benefits maximum people and harms only the organization, will the company take the ethical decision? Not necessarily. It did not stop Nestle from sourcing its cocoa from the Ivory Coast where bonded labours and children were used in the plantations (Harkins et al. 2005). If we follow the rights approach, then we may not all agree to the same set of human and civil rights (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics n. d). And then there is the question of who decides what constitutes common good? Also not all the approaches answer the question, â€Å"what is ethical/moral? † in the same way (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics n. d). Nevertheless, the above theories do give us an idea of the kind of decisions that should ideally be made on ethical and moral grounds. If we believe that a decision could be damaging to the community, violates the rights of others, or makes us feel guilty, it is a decision that ideally requires ethical/moral considerations. But eventually, in the real world it is the needs of the humans and organizations that would determine their choice. Conclusion ?There are no natural morals or ethics’ (Saxena 2003). Humans are animals who have natural survival instincts and are programmed for the sole aim of survival and proliferation (Saxena 2003). But as Aristotle said, humans are not like other animals, they are social animals, who belong to a social setup where the principles of survival of the fittest do not always operate (Saxena 2003). Humans need to curb their survival instincts to sustain the society and the social structures (Saxena 2003). These restrictions take the form of moral and ethics (Saxena 2003). Morals and ethics are thus the social survival instincts visible in human beings, which guide him/her to live a righteous socially acceptable life (Saxena 2003). Unfortunately, the survival instincts of humans often conflict with their ethics and morality, making it difficult for them to always follow the righteous path. Humans are thus forever performing a balancing act to survive with a clear conscience. For instance, most of the tobacco companies while promoting smoking are known to make huge donations to various philanthropic causes, presumably to appease their moral and ethical values while simultaneously pursuing their business interests! (Campaign for tobacco-free kids 2006). As long as individuals have worldly needs and desires, they cannot be realistically expected to be moral and ethical at all times. Although there are various moral and ethical theories which suggest the right path, it is eventually an individual’s needs and desired outcomes that guide the path that he chooses. No two situations are similar in this world, and only the people who have to take the decision understand their environment, their needs and the approach (ethical/moral, or rational) that will best suit them. So although the philosopher’s of the world can guide moral and ethical behaviour, it is an individual himself who can realistically define them and decide what kinds of decisions should always be ethical/moral for him. Fortunately not all decisions require humans to be moral and ethical. Most of our decisions are based on customs and habits that are accepted in our society and thus do not require us to consider moral and ethical repercussions. What to eat? How to dress? How to behave with elders, are some examples of such decisions which we take mechanically on a regular basis. Alas, only one decision, â€Å"What is the right thing to do? † leaves us humans struggling for an answer! References Andre, C. , DeCosse, D. , Hanson, O. K. , McLean, M. R. , Meyer, M. J. , Moberg, D. , Shanks, T. , Velasquez, M. 1988, ? 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