My Personal Philosophy Of Nursing - 1160 Words

Personal Philosophy of Nursing Introduction The development of a philosophy related to the profession of nursing is important in that it provides a framework for the nurse to base his/her work on. Philosophy is defined by Merriam-Webster as â€Å"a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means†. In other words, philosophies are based on beliefs and assumptions with an overall goal of obtaining an objective which states the nurse’s purpose in the profession. In my undergraduate nursing program I was exposed to multiple nursing concepts that guided my practice. Coupled with my ten years of experience in the nursing field, I was enabled to formulate my own framework or guide to nursing. The paradigm which resonates with me the most is the interactive-integrative perspective as it views practice â€Å"as having multiple, interrelated parts in relation to a specific context.† (Newman, Sime, Corcoran-Perry, 1991, p.38). My framework include s three main components: the client, the professional nurse, and the nurse-client relationship. Client Most important to my philosophy of nursing is the health and well-being of the entity seeking nursing care. To further define, nursing can be called upon to treat not only one individual, but a group of individuals, or a community. In my personal experience, I have worked almost exclusively with one individual, however I feel my philosophy could be applied to groups andShow MoreRelatedPersonal Nursing Philosophy : My Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1475 Words   |  6 PagesPersonal Philosophy of Nursing When one thinks of a nurse they often think of a caring, compassionate, knowledgeable individual. They don’t often think that every nurse comes from different situation, past experiences, and life changing events that make nurses who he or she is. Everyone on this earth is unique and has something to contribute. The same goes for patients. Each patient has a different background and have different interests which make them who they are. In order to give the optimalRead MorePersonal Nursing Philosophy : My Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1190 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Philosophy of Nursing Megan A. Farrell Moberly Area Community College Introduction I, Megan Farrell, am currently a Licensed Practical Nurse at a treatment center that works with prisoners. I accepted a clinical positon here as a graduate, but plan to work in a hospital setting once I have become a Registered Nurse working in the Intensive Care Unit. I quickly worked my way up the latter from the clinic nurse to the Chronic Care nurse and I am quite passionate about furtherRead MoreMy Nursing Philosophy : My Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1093 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy is a distinct disciple on its own right, and all disciplines can claim their own philosophical bases that form guidelines for their goal† (Meleis, 2012, p. 28). In simpler terms, philosophy is your worldview and thought process of life. Our philosophy transcends into our beliefs and values’, examining our philosophy allows us to discover what is important to us and helps define priorities and goals (Meleis, 2012, p.28). Being aware of our philosophy creates individuality in each personRead MoreNursing Philosophy : My Personal Philosophy Of Nursing932 Words   |  4 PagesMy Philosophy of Nursing My personal philosophy of nursing began at an early age watching my mother volunteer for 25 years on the local rescue squad, following in the footsteps of her mother. I learned that helping others in a time of need should always be a priority. Respect and dignity should always be shown to people, no matter the who they are or where they are from. I have and will continue to show compassion for others while administering professional holistic care, guided by the AmericanRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1304 Words   |  6 PagesMy Personal Nursing Philosophy A nursing philosophy is concepts or values that a nurse embraces within his/her practice and allows these concepts and values to shape the way he/she practices nursing and drives the purpose of their nursing care. It is important for each nurse to develop his/her philosophy of nursing to be a purpose driven nurse. Each nurse will have his/her own nurse philosophy because each believes differently. Nursing philosophies might come from different understandings butRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1053 Words   |  5 PagesThis aforementioned are the podium upon which the value and philosophies of the success of each profession is based. These philosophies and values do not operate in a vacuum. They influence the way which professionals carry out their day to day activities for maximum success. Consequently, Nursing and Nurses are not immune to the great influence of values and philosophies, be it at personal or corporate levels. This is because, nursing as a profession d eals with the constant interaction with patients;Read MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing949 Words   |  4 PagesMy Personal Philosophy of Nursing My inspiration to pursue a career in Nursing began at a young age, after reading the biography of Florence Nightingale. I was in middle school, and intrigued at her courage, and dedication to care for the sick. As I entered college, and into a formal nursing education program, I still viewed nursing as, the care provided to another in need. Without my knowing, I was developing a philosophy of nursing for myself. As the years passed, I began to realize that nursingRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1676 Words   |  7 Pagesfamous philosophies and a personal nursing philosophy is presented, including the personal definitions of the four phenomena of nursing namely person, environment, health, and nursing. The said philosophy will then be compared to other professionally-acclaimed philosophies. Included in the discussion is the importance of a nurse’s role in providing health care to persons, family, and the society and how it is able to address problems in the face of cultural and spiritual differences. Personal PhilosophyRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1081 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING 1 PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING 6 Personal Philosophy of Nursing Caroline Thiongo BSN V Millers College of Nursing Abstract This paper explores my personal nursing philosophy that I will convey in my career of nursing. It is my belief that nursing is a commitment to public service and a desire to help those in need. Nursing is a discipline of knowledge acquired both through formal education and through life experiences. The sum of these parts continuesRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1330 Words   |  6 PagesMy Personal Philosophy of Nursing The purpose of this essay is to depict the personal philosophy of nursing and any future aspirations I have acquired in my first semester of nursing school. Before I can create my own philosophy of nursing, I must first understand and define what philosophy is and how it relates to nursing. According to  the Oxford Dictionary, philosophy is â€Å"the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline†

My Strengths And Weaknesses As A Social Worker Helps Me

Self-Evaluation Assessment Social work exists to provide effective social services to individuals, families, groups, communities and society so that social functioning may be enhanced and the quality of life improved. (Zastrow, 2013) Assessing my strengths and weaknesses as a social worker helps me see what I must maintain, and what I must improve on to become the kind of social worker that educates and inspires. The skills I identify with in my practice are; empathy, identifying strengths, and respect. These skill sets are vitally important to ensure clients receive the best possible outcome. When assessing clients a specific skill that I identify with is empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share feelings of others. To effectively display empathy requires certain characteristics. Some of the characteristics of empathy that I employ are; having the innate ability to put myself in the other people’s shoes. This allows for a better understand toward the experience s the family has gone through. For empathy to be displayed accurately, effective communication is essential. Effective communication is asking the right questions and providing reflective listening so the family knows the professional truly understands their circumstances. Effective communication allows for an accurate assessment of the family. Effective communication is a vitally important component of empathy. Empathy can be displayed though effective communication, such as, effectivelyShow MoreRelatedAdvantages I Can Get from My Strengths and Weaknesses1078 Words   |  4 PagesA persons strengths and weaknesses are vital in whom a person is. Most people have no idea if they are weak and some do. When i am finished with my life i hope that one day i wont walk to the other side of a building to avoid a crowd, or if i hear someone talking about politics i wont be scared to say what i think, and that i can give people something to do that i could do for myself. My weaknesses are being crowds. actually voicing my own opinions, and giving others responsibility. I know thatRead MoreSocial Workers And Social Work Essay1239 Words   |  5 Pagessociety do not seem to recognize how important social workers are.From jails to hospitals, social workers are needed in every setting. I may not have a lot of experience being a social worker but I believe that this program will help me become one. My goal in entering the social work profession is to use the experiences I have been through to help others. I am motivated by the desire to help others as well as the desire to change their world. Social workers are often the front line for protecting childrenRead MoreReflection On Social Work855 Words   |  4 Pages Social Work Reflection Hope Marks Introduction to Macro Practice Social Work Reflection In the social work field, one comes across many kinds of people all the time. It is crucial that all social workers are intact with their biases and understand their competency. When a social worker starts in the field it is important for them to come to realize that everyone has biases they may or may not be aware of, as well as knowing their limitations when working with different kinds ofRead MoreProfessional Values And Ethics Of Social Work1429 Words   |  6 Pages Social Work is a distinctive practice and an ever-changing field in our world today. A few especially intriguing aspects of this profession are the wide spectrum of its professional values and ethics, appreciation for human diversity, and the emphasis on social and economic justice. With such widespread approaches and focuses, a master s degree in Social Work would open endless and exciting possibilities for my future. However, I believe that before a career is even considered, one must examineRead MoreStrengths And Weaknesses Of Social Work Practice And Educational Need1322 Words   |  6 PagesFourth, I am going to write about strengths and weaknesses in relation to social work practice and educational need. One of my strongest strengths as a social worker is patience. It helps me to persevere enthusiastically towards conquering goals and objectives when assisting my clients. Patience keeps alive the objective in mind to meet. Physical or psychological exhaustion only reaffir ms the importance of patience. For that reason, it’s important to be patience with what we start out with the aimRead MoreAssignment 302 Principles Of Personal Development In Adult Social Care Settings1374 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Assignment 302 Principles of personal development in adult social care settings Task A Guidance You are going to be a mentor for a new social care worker as part of their induction process. Part of your role is to help them prepare for the review after their probation period. Ai Create a guide for the new social care worker about how to reflect on their practice. The guide must include the headings listed with an explanation of each. a) What is reflective practice? b) Why is reflective practiceRead MoreEssay on importance of reflective practice1556 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstand themselves and the learning process. Reflection can help us control over our own learning and achievements. Reflection leads to learning from experience and outlines strengths and weaknesses; by completing action plans to work on weaknesses will lead to continued learning and improvement. Rogers (1996,) states â€Å"Reflection on experience to action forms a large part of the learning process†. The process of reflection helps the practitioner to assess, understand and gain knowledge throughRead MorePersonal Statement On Self Confidence1099 Words   |  5 Pageslearnt at university, to plan out my vision before expressing it. This will help others buy in to my vision. To do this, I will need to improve my self-confidence. Self-confidence is an important characteristic of successful leaders. Cavallo and Brienza (2006) explain that self-confidence assists in the imaging process. Having self-confidence not only helps, when and how well you explain your vision, but, can help in developing an advanced vision (Sosik Dinger, 2007). Sosik and Dinger (2007)Read MoreThe Effects Of Emotional Intelligence On An Individuals Leadership Abilities1338 Words   |  6 PagesGoleman, 2004). Understanding emotional intelligence is important because it helps leaders understand their values and goals (Goleman, 2004 p. 2); furthermore, it helps individuals understand or regulate other persons emotional as well (Neck, et al., 2017 p. 145). Emotional intelligence has become such a staple in leadership that psychologist have begun to study EI in low-level positions as well (Goleman, 2004 p. 2). Currently, in my position as an Academic Advisor, I do not have any leader ship positionsRead MoreReflection On Social Work1365 Words   |  6 Pagesrequired to be a social worker and even more are required to be an effective social worker. Being able to fully understand what these skills are as well as how and when to appropriately apply them is very important. Some of the myriad of skills that a social worker is expected to know, I displayed some of these with a degree of skill although there are also some techniques that I was unable to execute as effectively as I would like. In that same vein, an examination of my own personal strengths and weaknesses

Public Health Problem Of Vitamin D Deficiency In Australia - Sample

Question: Discuss about the Public Health Problem Of Vitamin D Deficiency In Australia. Answer: Introduction: Vitamin D is an essential component for the regulation of calcium and phosphorus in human body. It supports bone mineralization and strengthens bone. Appropriate level of Vitamin D in human body has been found to decrease the likelihood of bone disorders like rickets and osteoporosis in children. However, the Vitamin D deficiency has become a major public health issue globally due to limited exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to contribute to adverse health consequences such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and complication in pregnancy (1). This report particularly examines the public health problem of Vitamin D deficiency in Australia and examines the actions taken in the country to address the issue at population level. Is Vitamin deficiency a public health problem in Australia Vitamin D is an essential fat soluble vitamin for bone health because it helps in the regulation and absorption of calcium level in blood. It is also regarded as important to maintain bone health and prevent fractures. The review of the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency has shown that it is prevalent in many countries worldwide particularly those falling in low latitudes. About 1 billion people have been found to have low vitamin D levels and the disease is common mostly in all age groups (2). It is also linked to other diseases like hypertension, diabetes, cancer and autoimmune disease because Vitamin D is needed for healthy cardiovascular system, hormones and immunity. The human body get most the Vitamin D from regular exposure to sunlight as the skin produces the vitamin when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light from the sun. However, Vitamin D deficiency is also public health burden in Australia despite receiving plenty of sunlight. The most common cause for this is that people are not adequately exposed to enough sunlight on a daily basis. People with naturally very dark skin are at high risk of Vitamin D deficiency because dark skin pigment has lesser ability to produce Vitamin D. Secondly, exposure time decreases in people due to location, season and amount of skin exposed to sunlight. For example, people working indoor environment, older and weak adults, and those who avoid the due to health issues get little or no sun exposure at all and become prone to Vitamin D deficiency risk. A mother who is low in Vitamin D also increases the risk in breastfed babies. In addition, certain health conditions and medication also cause low Vitamin D in an individual (3). National study has confirmed that Vitamin D deficiency has become an emerging heath issue in Australia. In a study done with 11000 adults in Australia, one-third of them were found to be deficient in Vitamin D. It highlighted the Vitamin D status of Australia by stating that women, elderly, obese, non-European background people and people with less amount of physical activity are at greater risk of deficiency (4). The negative point for public health system of Australia is that they have abundance of rich sunlight, still Vitamin D deficiency is turning out to be a major health issue in the country. The proportion of risk differs on the basis of level of deficiency. For instance, low level of deficiency leads to soft bones and frequent fractures and high level of deficiency leads to life threatening diseases like osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Measures Survey (NHMS), the level of deficiency is determined based on the following cut off: Mild deficiency for Vitamin D level of 30-49 nmol/L Moderate deficiency for 13-29 nmol/L vitamin D Severe deficiency for less than 12nmol/L Total deficiency for less than 50 nmol/L Sufficient level at greater than 50nmol/L On the basis of above definition for severity, the survey done in 2010-2012 showed that majority of Australian adults had good levels of Vitamin D. 23% had mild deficiency to moderate deficiency and only 1% has severe deficiency. Hence, 23% or one in every four adults in Australia were found to suffer from Vitamin D deficiency. The deficiency was found more in older adults than younger people. The rate of deficiency varied with season too with low rate in winter and high rate in summer. The survey also revealed that risk of Vitamin D deficiency was higher for people born in Southern and Central Asia compared to those born in Australia. People who were physically inactive and obese were also found to have low levels of the vitamin. (5). A study also points out to Vitamin D deficiency in South Australian population and high burden of dealing with the condition (6). There is a need to take future actions to reduce the risk factor for the disease and improve Vitamin D level. Action being taken in Australia to address Vitamin D deficiency: The publication of the ABS report for Vitamin D deficiency in Australia was associated with many issues and controversies, which finally led to health service or policy related changes. Firstly, a new indication for Vitamin D supplementation was identified after a study showed that vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of respiratory tract infection. The impact of Vitamin D supplementation on reducing Vitamin D deficiency was also studied by various researchers and many health professional were confused about the health benefits of supplementation. However, tone study showed that sun exposure and Vitamin D have independent effects on disease risk and more research is needed to identify the true benefits of supplementation of reducing the risk of immune function impairment and cardiovascular disease (8). In response to the ABS report for 2011-12, many public health actions has been taken to address the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in Australia. Firstly, changes in many policies were also done to maintain Vitamin D levels in different food items because many foods were found to have less amount of Vitamin D. As indicated by the Australian Standard, it mandated the food manufacturing company to maintain the limit of 55mm/kg of Vitamin D in butter and fortified food products. In response to the low level of vitamin D in children and adults, dietary Vitamin D consumption per day for children were also provided. Hence, public health agency took the initiative of supplementing the food supply with vitamin D to maintain the level of deficiency in Australian people. Focusing on the dietary source of Vitamin D was also considered important because of the lifestyle choices of the Australian population. Many people remain indoor or use sunscreen while going to prevent risk of skin cancer and so the Vitamin D limits supplementation from food items is considered a good step by the government. Mandatory fortification of milk and yoghurt was also proposed to reduce the risk of Vitamin D deficiency in the population (7). However, there is no clarity regarding whether food products fortification should be made voluntary or mandatory. Taking strong decision and policy reform in this area may help to reduce the public health burden associated with the disease. Public health action was also taken to support screening of all women with Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. Observational studies in Australia had showed that among women attending antenatal care in Sydney, 15% had serum HD lower than 25nmol/L. Taking action for pregnant women was particularly considered important due to the high associated with the deficiency for them. Vitamin D deficiency in newborn has been found to led to low serum calcium level, rickets and defective tooth enamel in newborn baby. Impact on fetal growth is also seen as children with vitamin D deficient mothers has been found to have lower birth weight and low mineral density. It also increases the likelihood of diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia because of the affect on the functioning of different body tissues (9). In response to address this issue in pregnant women, Vitamin D supplementation was considered important to improve maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy. The clinica l practice guideline showed that screening for the deficiency in women was important if they has dark skin, limited exposure to sunlight and pre pregnancy BMI of greater than 402.. Dosage and forms of supplementation was decided and calcium intake level was fixed. For women below 18 years, it was 1300 mg calcium and for women above 18 years, it was 1000 mg. The recommendation for health staff was to maintain the dose of Vitamin D in women and dietary source of calcium and Vitamin D was planned which included milk, bony fish, nuts, margarine, eggs and soy beverages (10). Hence, this step was found to be effective in reducing the risk and identifying at risk person effectively. A peer-reviewed research article also examined the implications of vitamin D supplementation in Australia. After the report on high rates of Vitamin D deficiency, very few studies evaluated the impact of Vitamin D supplements on health outcome. Although between the year 2000-2011, about $94 million supplement were sold in Australia, however there was lack of study regarding analyzing the way supplementation is used. The research study investigated about the effects of vitamin D supplementation to improve and further develop the supplementation process. Vitamin D requirement was not met from diet because very few food items in Australia has adequate vitamin D levels. Despite the fortification of edible oil and spreads, the vitamin D level was not met by many food producing agencies. However, those who took supplements led a healthier lifestyle and their quality of diet was also good. They were also found to be aware about the need for sun exposure and eating foods containing Vitamin D . Such people were healthier compared to those who did not used supplements. The implication from the study is that after the first decade of vitamin D supplementation, awareness about risk and testing has increased among public. However, one negative result seen from the study is that Australia is spending too much on supplementation in other areas too where it is not necessary (11). Hence, to reduce unnecessary spending, development of appropriate vitamin D supplementation guideline is necessary. This will help to correct the dose required and prevent unnecessary use too. Taking action regarding preventing vitamin D deficiency was also found to improve the cancer incidence in Australia. Cancer has been a common public threat in Australia and WHO recommendation was that this can be prevented by addressing the risk factors such as tobacco smoking, diet, physical inactivity, sun exposure and alcohol consumption. Although this study considered many other elements apart from sun exposure and Vitamin D intake, the information related to Vitamin was only analyzed for this study. The strength of this study was that it pointed out to the recent rise in vitamin D deficiency due to the influence of the sun protection programs. Adequate level of Vitamin D can be maintained only when skin is exposed to the sun followed by receiving small proportion of vitamin D through diet (12). Hence, the public health action of increasing the awareness about risk and benefits of sun exposure became important to reduce the deficiency and public health burden related to Vitamin D deficiency. Currently, people still has doubts regarding the role of sun protection and effective public health action in this area is considered important. Strategies or recommendation for future focus to reduce burden from Vitamin D deficiency: The review of the Australian Governments action to reduce vitamin D deficiency pointed out to many strength and weakness of the Public Health Agency. For instance, the fortification of the food items and the policy development regarding it was a beneficial step for the country considering the lack of vitamin D level in different food items. Secondly, the guideline regarding Vitamin D supplementation and Vitamin D supplementation was considered as an important step to reduce the risk in pregnant women and new born babies too. However, the analysis of the public level action also pointed out to certain areas of improvement. For instance, lot of unnecessary investment in Vitamin D supplementation was also seen because of poor knowledge regarding Vitamin D supplementation and its daily intake among public. The sun protection program and the tendency to remain indoors was also regarded as a factor leading to high rate of vitamin D deficiency. Over-screening and over-diagnosis was also con sidered as an issue in preventing the health issue. Hence, in future more action is required regarding educating the public about importance of sun exposure, improving the screening process and maintaining a health life style along with good diet to reduce the health burden associated with Vitamin D deficiency. The future recommendation to improve Vitamin D testing in Australia is that unnecessary labeling and overtreatment in healthy individual needs to be reduced. The rate of increase in testing has increased the cost for 25-hydroxyvotamin D deficiency in the country (24(OH)D). Variation in frequency of testing and adapting international testing guideline was found. Hence, the recommendation is to separate individuals who are at high risk of deficiency such as elderly people or people with dark skins. It is necessary to follow the Australian Bone and Mineral Society recommendation of testing every three months after a loading dose 25(OH)D has been given to affected people (13). In addition, to track the benefits of the supplementation, it is necessary to monitor the performance of the replacement therapy on health outcome of people. Adoption of specific guideline for 25(OH)D testing may also improve the efficiency of testing. Conclusion: The report summarized the prevalence of the Vitamin D deficiency in Australia and pointed out to public health burden by means of present risk and inefficiency in the public health system of the country. In response to the data or report presented on the rise in rate of Vitamin D deficiency, the public health action implemented in Australia to reduce the health risk was discussed. It gave the idea about the benefits of supplemented program and also pointed out to future action due to the identification of improvement in testing and screening process for Vitamin D deficiency. References WHO | Vitamin D nutrition with a focus on the prevention of rickets and vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women [Internet]. Who.int. 2017 [cited 1 September 2017]. Available from: https://www.who.int/nutrition/events/2015_vit_d_workshop_pregnantwomen_21to24Apr15/en/ Palacios C, Gonzalez L. Is vitamin D deficiency a major global public health problem?. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. 2014 Oct 31;144:138-45. Vitamin D | Osteoporosis Australia [Internet]. Osteoporosis.org.au. 2017 [cited 1 September 2017]. Available from: https://www.osteoporosis.org.au/vitamin-d Vitamin D deficiency strikes one-third of Australians [Internet]. Deakin.edu.au. 2017 [cited 1 September 2017]. Available from: https://www.deakin.edu.au/research/research-news/articles/vitamin-d-deficiency-strikes-one-third-of-australians 0.55.006 - Australian Health Survey: Biomedical Results for Nutrients, 2011-12 [Internet]. Abs.gov.au. 2017 [cited 1 September 2017]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4364.0.55.006Chapter2002011-12 Gill TK, Hill CL, Shanahan EM, Taylor AW, Appleton SL, Grant JF, Shi Z, Dal Grande E, Price K, Adams RJ. Vitamin D levels in an Australian population. BMC public health. 2014 Sep 26;14(1):1001. Nutrition D. Food fortification with vitamin D: a public health issue for Australians [Internet]. Deakin Nutrition. 2017 [cited 1 September 2017]. Available from: https://deakinnutrition.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/food-fortification-with-vitamin-d-a-public-health-issue-for-australians/ Hartley M, Hoare S, Lithander FE, Neale RE, Hart PH, Gorman S, Gies P, Sherriff J, Swaminathan A, Beilin LJ, Mori TA. Comparing the effects of sun exposure and vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D insufficiency, and immune and cardio-metabolic function: the Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Supplementation (SEDS) Study. BMC public health. 2015 Feb 10;15(1):115. Department of Health | 8.9 Vitamin D deficiency [Internet]. Health.gov.au. 2017 [cited 4 September 2017]. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/clinical-practice-guidelines-ac-mod1~part-b~maternal-health-screening~vitamin-d-deficiency Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy [Internet]. 2017 [cited 4 September 2017]. Available from: https://www.kemh.health.wa.gov.au/development/manuals/OG_guidelines/sectionb/1/b1.1.9.pdf Bilinski K, Talbot P. Vitamin D supplementation in Australia: implications for the development of supplementation guidelines. Journal of nutrition and metabolism. 2014 Aug 19;2014. Youl P, Baade P, Meng X. Impact of prevention on future cancer incidence in Australia. InCancer Forum 2012 Mar (Vol. 36, No. 1, p. 37). The Cancer Council Australia. Bilinski K, Boyages S. Evidence of overtesting for vitamin D in Australia: an analysis of 4.5 years of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) data. BMJ open. 2013 Jan 1;3(6):e002955.

Ti-Jean and His Brothers Essay Example

Ti-Jean and His Brothers Paper Ti-Jean and His Brothersis a very rich play in all the aspects one would expect. There is comedy and tragedy as well as the effects of music, sound and light. In the play we also see how the english language has evolved in such a way as to complement the culture of the caribbean. Ti-Jean and His Brothers is an engaging and enjoyable play. The comical aspects of the play permeate the entire story. The comedy mainly comes into play during the interaction between the Devil and each of the three brothers. When Gros Jean is working for the planter the Devil, as the Planter, deliberately goads Gros jean by calling him by all sorts of names except his own. Soon after the Planter enters he says : Thats right Gros Chien, Gros Jean, Gros Jean, Sorry. The Planter goes from calling Gros Jean, Joe, to Mac, to Gros Chien, to Charley, back to Mac, then to Horace and then francis, Joe again, Henry and ends with Benton then Mervin near the end of the scene. Youre worth more to me, Benton than fifty m en. So you should smoke, after all. And such a pleasant disposition, always smiling. Just Like a skull. But Remember Mervin, Id like you to try and finish this, you see I have a contract and the harder you work the more I . . . . The humour would be more apparent if one was actually visualising the way it would be acted on stage. The Planter would probably say the different names in an absent minded fashion while Gros Jean gets more and more frustrated. Gros Jean would probably feel as if his identity was in jeopardy. Identity is very important to Gros Jean, this is illustrated by the various references he makes to his strength, something he considers integral to his identity. Unlike Gros Jean, Mi Jean is not worried so much about the questioning of his identity as he is about the questioning of his learning. The author, Derek Walcott, uses the pompous, self important attitude Mi Jean has towards his learning to create comedy. Mi Jean is very

Movies vs Plays essays

Movies vs Plays essays Plays are live shows with actors and actresses acting out a story in front of a live audience. A movie is a pre-taped showing of actors and actresses acting out a story. There are benefits and hindrances both to seeing a play and a movie. Making a movie allows for postproduction to add effects, plays cannot accomplish this because it is a live production. Watching a movie is very much more entertaining to an audience than any play that is being shown live. Since movies are not live shows put on right in front of you, it gives the producers the room for special effects. In a movie you can see anything from explosions, aliens, shape shifting, full-scale wars, to bloody deaths. In Terminator 2 the evil man could shape-shift his body. Every time he did this, the viewer would see his body melt into this liquid nitrogen that proved to be some very impressive eye candy. A play cannot reproduce these effects live; we do not yet have the technology. A movie can be computer animated, which allows for most of these effects to become possible. Computer animation is something that happens in post-production after the movie has been video taped. On the other hand, live show does not have post-production because it is live. These effects would not be very effective if there were no impressive sounds to go along with them. The sounds you will hear in a movie theatre are very loud and add to the whole impact of the movie you are watching. For example, an explosion sets off in the movie, but all you hear is the faintest bang. Now, Imagine this, an explosion sets off in the movie and you hear a monstrous BANG! The loud bang is more effective in terms of getting your attention and making an impact. Unlike movies, many plays have viewers straining just to hear what the actors are saying on stage. I remember one time I was watching a play called Jesus Christ Superstar and this one actor did not have a very loud voi ...

New England and the Chesapeake Region Essays

New England and the Chesapeake Region Essays New England and the Chesapeake Region Paper New England and the Chesapeake Region Paper Both the New England and the Chesapeake region were settled by English people and to an extent, they did develop into two distinct colonies. The differences in the development that resulted have many reasons. One of the most important differences is their reason for immigration. The pilgrims, one of the earliest settlers came to America for three basic reasons, gold, glory and gospel. These people were seeking riches, adventure and were also eager to spread their religion, however they differed from they Anglican Church or church of England. Their goal was to come to America and purify the Church of England and prove to them their way was better, and then someday return back to England with their modified religion. In Document A, John Winthrop the leader of the Puritans writes about what they plan to do, before landing. Winthrop speaks of the city on the hill, which they picture as a model society, which they picture as a model Puritan religion and way of life shapes their colony and takes it in a different direction form the Southern Colonies. The pilgrims that landed at Jamestown in 1607 were not so religiously inclined as the Puritans. Document F, the history of Virgina written by the leader of the colony John Smith describes how hard it was in the first few years at Jamestown. There was little food, new diseases, lots of quarreling between the settlers and they had many problems with the indians, as mentioned in Document G. Many died from starvation and diseases in the colony and by the time the supply ship from England arrived, the colony was almost devastated. Another major difference in the Northern and Southern regions were their crops and what they produced. In the Northern colonies they mainlly were shipbuilders and fishermen because there were lots of the taller trees necessary for the masts of the ships. This turned the north into a primarily industrial area, while the south developed into an agricultural area. After tabacco was introduced to the colonists by Pocohotas, a friendl indian, they started growing tobacco and they later started producing corn, indigo and cotton, which later became their main crop. As you can see the Northern and Southern coonies were started for different reasons and the differences in beliefs, lovation and religon shaped the way they developed. The south became agricultural with their cotton, tobacco and corn crops while the north developed into an industrial region because of fishing and shopbuilding that occurred in the area.

Music in my life Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Music in my life - Assignment Example It is vital that an individual takes a break off work or studies, and listening to music or pursuing music information from different artists and musicians constitutes my leisure time. My time to relax is funfilled relative to my engagement in music. My inspiration in life has much to do with music. Music is done in diverse and dynamic ways, all of which are unique to specific genres and musicians. The information contained in music or messages that music passes through serves different people differently. Personally, music serves as a source of inspiration.On the same note, life encouragement and directions can also be derived from music (Turner 203). Music also serves as my personal advisor, with screening for positivity and negativity being accounted for. The diversity of the world is clearly evident in the way music is done. In my life, music serves as my educator in this line. Through music, I have come to learn and understand global diversity across borders. Over and above ente rtainment, music serves as an eye opener in every aspect of my life. This is more so in regard to the music genres I listen to.I have embraced music diversity in a global context, meaning that I am not fixed to any specific music genre. However, there are primary music genres that dominate my preference in music. RnB rates the tops the list although I have regard to locally composed and produced music, and also music that accounts for the individual, social, cultural, economic, and political differences around the world.

Art Class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Art Class - Essay Example American art tend to be more inclined towards presenting self-determination, achievement and liberation of the colonies. However, American art was always overshadowed by the European art and was popular at that time contrary to popular belief. Consequently, Romanticism focused more on emotions, paint textures, and highlights to truly capture the heart of action and emotion. American art is more modern compared to the Renaissance art and European art. The American colonial period consisted of portraits as colonists wanted to establish their identity in the new world. Undoubtedly, this picture is not achromatic as it uses very light colors. From my perspective, it seems as if it is American art since it is very cosmopolitan. There are countless ways of describing a work of art and great depths of one’s expressions and mines of creativity In this particular image, the artist clearly has been extremely creative from every angle and touch. This graphic is a great image as it depicts a typical hand brush that is utilized for cleaning purposes. The brush itself is painted in a very elegant manner with amazing finish. Every bristle is clear and gives the feeling of cleanliness to the audience. Furthermore, the bristles variation in color is a clear depiction of a unique style that the artist has embraced. From my perspective, it seems that the bristles are made using very thin rods of sheets that are strong and durable. The most interesting aspect about this image is the fact that the bristles are very clear. The dustbin in this image is blue and resembles the one that is used for regular housecleaning purposes. The background colors are very solid and in essence truly bring the hue of light and dark c olors. The assimilation of colors is truly the embodiment of modern day art with clear pixels and each color dot being unique. Truly, the brushing was conducted in an elusive manner which

Obama and Romney Essay Example for Free

Obama and Romney Essay In the midst of a heated presidential race two great leaders are vying for the affection of all of America. On the left side we have our current president Mr. Barrack Obama and on the right side his opponent Mr. Mitt Romney. On paper both are outstandingly qualified candidates and both have been trusted to hold a position of leadership over large numbers of people. Mitt Romney built his foundation through a strong career in business before becoming a politician, while President Obama stuck to the legal side of things building up his reputation as a civil rights lawyer and activist. In this review of both candidates I will attempt to unbiasedly inform the reader of their qualifications as powerful leaders including their foundations and backgrounds, their accomplishments, and their leadership capabilities. It seems justifiable to start with educational backgrounds as that is where both candidates began to really assume leadership positions. In the next section of this essay I will try to identify their earlier careers and how those experiences may qualify them to hold office as the President of the United States. Both candidates come from very prestigious educational backgrounds. Obama moved from Honolulu Hawaii to Los Angeles in 1979 to attend the Occidental College. It was there that he made his first ever public speech vocalizing his disdain for the Occidental College’s policy of apartheid pertaining to South Africa. In 1981 he transferred to Columbia University in New York City, where he majored in political science and with a focus on international relations, he graduated with a bachelor of arts in 1983. After some years of work at two corporations and a couple more as a community organizer which I will get into later Barack began to attend Harvard Law School in 1988, where he was selected as an editor of the Harvard Law Review and later became its president, being the first African American to ever do so. In 1991 he graduated with a J. D. magna cum laude. Mitt Romney’s education began at Stanford University in the year of 1965. It was there that he perhaps took his first political stance in his participation in the staging of a counter protest against a group staging a sit in at the university administration building in opposition to draft status tests. Romney left the country to stay in France as a Mormon missionary in 1966; his stay would last for 30 months fulfilling a traditional rite of passage in his family. Though it is not traditional education I feel obligated to state that during this stay in France Romney showed true leadership skills in becoming co-president of his mission where he oversaw the work of 175 others. Upon his return to the States he began attending Brigham Young University in 1969. Due to the culturally conservative nature of BYU Romney naturally managed to stay out of the radical turmoil that came along with the 60’s and 70’s and became president of the all male cougars club booster organization and it was in these years that he showed a new found discipline in his studies that he somewhat lacked before. In 1971 he earned a bachelor of arts in English with highest honors and gave a commencement speech to the whole of BYU. Wanting to pursue a path in business Mitt heeded his father’s advice and put off a career to attend a Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration four year program coordinated between Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. He graduated cum laude from this program in 1975. He was named a baker scholar for graduating in the top five percent of his class. Both of these men have incredibly impressive educational accomplishments and worked hard to earn a good social standing and in doing so gained advantageous leads amongst their competitors on their career paths. Our current president began his career In between his attendance at Columbia University and Harvard at the Business International Corporation and then at the New York Public Interest Research Group. Just before entering Harvard he worked as a community organizer in Chicago. During his summers at Harvard he worked in the law offices of Sidley Austin as well as Hopkins Sutter. After his graduation he accepted a position as Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School to work on his first book Dreams Of my Father which was published in 1995. From 1992 through 1996 he was a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, and from 1996 through 2004 he served as senior lecturer teaching constitutional law. Obama continues to show his comfort in a leadership role as he directed Illinois’s Project Vote, which was a voter registration campaign where he oversaw ten staffers and seven hundred volunteer registrars. This project achieved its goal of registering 1500,000 unregistered African American Citizens. In 1993 e also joined the Davis, Miner, Barnhill Galland law firm where he specialized in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development. Obama served on board of directors for the Woods Fund of Chicago, and of the Joyce Foundation, which helped to fund the development of underprivileged communities in Chicago. To add to this already astounding list of accomplishments the young Obama would serve as founding president and chairman of the board of directors for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge 1995 to 1999. I would like to note that thus far Barack Obama has proved to show a real sincere care for the development of his community and his race. From 1991 to 2002 he has fought for what he believes is right and through his career choices and political actions has shown himself to be a credible and intelligent young leader. Romney’s early career which is also quite impressive holds just as much esteem as Obama’s and though it follows a different path his accomplishments should also be very highly regarded and held to an esteem just as high as his running mates. Upon his graduation from Harvard in 1975, Romney was recruited by several firms but chose to join the Boston Consulting Group, working as a management consultant for a variety of companies better preparing him for his later roles as a chief executive and further leadership positions. In 1977, he was hired by a management consulting firm in Boston name Bain Company. The more admirable thing about Bain Company that should be accredited to Romney’s decision to work there is that instead of just providing quick consulting to a company and then parting soon after he could now completely submerge himself into his clients business and continue to work with them until changes actually began to materialize. This really shows a concern for his clients well being and for the passion of Romney to better the lives of those that surround him. Within just a few years Romney was considered by the firm one their best consultants, and Romney assumed the position of vice president of this firm in 1978. In 1984 Romney left Bain Company to start the spin off private equity investment firm called Bain Capital. AS CEO of this company he managed to become personally responsible for their success by investing in companies like Staples Inc, Dominoes Pizza, Sealy Corporation, and Sports Authority. Overall both of these men have proven themselves to be outstanding leaders, and in comparison it would seem that Obama is in a mindset that deals with his community and the well being of his race and all of the people he oversees. Romney’s mindset is that of a businessman and he exudes the qualities that a great leader should possess. Both have served terms in office, and before becoming our president Obama was elected an Illinois state senator in 1996. While in office he gained support for legislation that reformed ethics and health care laws. He sponsored a law that increased tax credits for low income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare. In 2005 Barack Obama was sworn in as a U. S. Senator. And in 2008 he became the President of the United States of America. Romney has held office as the 70th governor of Massachusetts in 2003. In conclusion both men are great candidates for presidency and have proven themselves time after time to be successful leaders. It is up to you to decide which one holds a better plan for our future America. Whether you think that we need to focus on our nation’s financial crisis which might be right up Mitt Romney’s ally having done so for states and other businesses so many times before, or if you want America to focus on the well being of minorities, workers, women, and education, which is where Obama might take the reins. It is up to you to decide which would make the better leader when you cast your vote in November.

sunrise medical Essay -- essays research papers

Birds Eye and the U.K. Frozen Food Industry General Foods Corporation was successfully manufacturing and marketing â€Å"Birds Eye† frozen food in the late 1920. They were also the original owners and incorporated in August 1938. By the 1940’s, a new owner, Unilever had a strong interested in the business and took over. He wanted to make this business innovative and profitable in the growing economy. There is couple of issues dealing with Birds Eye currently in the United Kingdom, which include market position and market shares. The industry was at 70 percent of the market share and over the years, the percentage decreased. In the 1960s, Birds Eye showed a decrease in market share and return of capital. The lack of sales was also a concerned for Birds Eye, which resulted negatively to their profit margin. Clearly, the frozen food industry is not growing as rapidly as its use to. They can regain there market share by evaluating and understanding different taste, style and trends of the consumer. There was many opportunities that Birds Eye past up that they could have benefited from. They past up the opportunity to create their own label of frozen food and market it to consumers who have freezers in the household, and caterers. This can be an advantage for their competitor but a threat for Birds Eye. Another opportunity that they steered away from was home freezers, which affected a great deal in the frozen food market. Among other leading firms striving to be the best, Birds Eye Foods Ltd. strived to be the leading provider of frozen foods in the growing market. By 1938, the company began their business in the United Kingdom. They have a strong brand name and recognition and have been a leader in the business for sometime. Birds Eye’s vision is providing the best products and raw material to consumers on a daily basis. The business will be successful on the demand of everyday products in the market and all over the world. This will help build the industry and help develop some of there main products. This industry as a whole will go all out to provide exceptional products and services to its consumers. The company’s objective is to make their products more convenient. Birds Eye promotes consumer loyalty, value and recognition for their goods and services. The industry increased dramatically from its main products such as fruit and vegetables, fish, and meat.... ...me any obstacles. Being able to implement strategy is beneficial but expensive and very time consuming. Becoming a leader in the marketplace does not mean producing top end products but being able to keep producing high and better quality products. In addition, Birds Eye must continue providing exceptional customer service to their clients. Providing the best quality products should come with the best quality service. Having a strong brand name and recognition should also result in strong customer loyalty. Clients and employee satisfaction is the ultimate goal to Birds Eye. The employees at Birds Eye need to plan, monitor and evaluate at all time. This process should be done periodically and by any employees with the company. Customers come first; implementing a strategy where consumers are receiving the right product at the right time and at the right price will have a great impact to the company. As well as making sure the employees are treated right and working in an environme nt that they enjoy. Strategic Implications: Strategic Implications: Managers at all levels need to posse’s strong communication, leadership and motivational skills at Birds Eye.

History Harley Davidson

In 1903, William Harley-Davidson, Arthur Davidson, Williams Davidson, and Walter Davidson started Harley-Davidson in a 10Ãâ€"15 shed in their backyard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Production started with three motorcycles in 1903 and increased to 8 in 1908. In 1969, AMF Incorporated acquired Harley-Davidson Motor Company and expanded capacity from 15,000 to 40,000 motorcycles. Harley-Davidson, Incorporated was formed in 1981, when it was purchased from AMF Incorporated in a management buyout. In 1986, Harley-Davidson, Incorporated became a publicly held company. The new management installed a just-in-time inventory system to reduce inventories and improve total quality. With a new quality focus Harley-Davidson began to invest heavily in research and development. In one year the new Harley-Davidson management reduced the break-even point by 18,000 motorcycles. Management's focus on efficiency in production and improvements in quality resulted in increased demand and a production capacity of 100,000 motorcycles in 1995. Harley-Davidson operates in two segments Motorcycles and Related Products, and Transportation and vehicles segment. Total net sales for the first nine months of 95 were $1.3 billion, an increase of $174.1 million from the first nine months of 1994. Net sales increased in both the Motorcycles segment and the Transportation Vehicles segment. Demand for motorcycles is continuing to increase at a rate faster than supply for most of the markets in which Harley-Davidson competes. Parts and Accessories market should grow at a rate similar to the annual growth in motorcycle market. From its beginning in a shed at turn of the century, Harley-Davidson has survived the Great Depression, two world wars and a manufacturing revolution to become a company with products so valued and sought after that they are a way of life for many owners (Wheelen). Organization†s Vision, Mission, and Objectives The Harley-Davidson's vision is as follows: â€Å"Harley-Davidson, Incorporated, is an action-oriented, international company-a leader in its commitment to continuously improve the quality of profitable relationships with stakeholders (customers, dealers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, government, and society). Harley-Davidson believes the key to success is to balance stakeholders' interests through the empowerment of all employees to focus on value-added activities.† Harley-Davidson's mission statement is as follows; â€Å"We fulfill dreams through the experience of motorcycling, by providing to motorcyclists and to the general public an expanding line of motorcycles and branded products and services in selected market segments†(Harley-Davidson Home Page). The mission statement shows that the focus of the organization is on customer satisfaction and growth. Harley-Davidson's statement of company philosophy contains a separate list of the values of the organization. The values listed in this statement are, â€Å"Tell the Truth, Be Fair, Keep your Promises, Respect the Individual, Encourage Intellectual Curiosity†(Values). The objectives of the both the Motorcycle and Transportation Segments are listed below:  · Double production capacity to 200,000 motorcycles annually by 2003.  · Increase the number of women who purchase motorcycle-riding apparel.  · Gain entry in to the performance motorcycle industry and increase the sales of the newly acquired Buell Motorcycle Company.  · Increase international market share by increasing the number of foreign dealers and improving the foreign channels of distribution.  · Increase the availability of credit and lower the cost of credit for both the retail customer and the Harley Davidson Dealer.  · Improve customer satisfaction and improve communication with European stakeholders by increasing dealer service competencies. Mr. Richard Teerlink age 59 joined Harley-Davidson in 1981 and was elected to the board of directors in 1982. In 1988 he was appointed President, and he was named Chief Executive Officer in 1989 (Wheelen). Mr. Teerlink is also on the Boards of Directors of Johnson Controls, Incorporated and Snap-On Incorporated (Rethinking Leadership). Mr. Teerlink has been the leader in developing a value-based culture at Harley. His focus is on the importance of establishing mutually beneficial relationships with all of stakeholders has served the company well in the past. Teeklink believes that top management is responsible for creating an operating environment that can allow continual learning (Harley Davidson Home Page). Unlike the traditional executive leader who is focused on structure and strategy, Teerlink thinks about the operating environment in less tangible ways. Teeklink has a quality focus and has initiated a just in time inventory system along with a value-added approach to manufacturing (Wheelen). In addition to the focus on a quality product, Teeklink is also focused on growth and corporate governance, which is reflected in the company†s vision. In a speech at Yale University Teerlink said that, â€Å"the Motor Company expects its market share to be bolstered by increased production in the next few years. Teerlink stated the company expects to produce 200,000 units annually by the year 2003, compared to about 100,000 in 1995. Teerlink added in his speech, â€Å"We have not found any reduction in the demand for Harley-Davidson,†. He said the Milwaukee firm had close to 50 percent of the 651cc-and-above U.S. motorcycle market. Teerlink also said that almost 30 percent of the company's motorcycles are traditionally sold outside the United States. â€Å"Harley-Davidson seeks a patient and careful approach to overseas expansion. It's our intention to be very successful in all markets,† Teerlink added. â€Å"We are taking time to develop markets, rather than just going in and putting a dealer on every corner and have them sell motorcycles. Because we're capacity-constrained, we've been losing some market share, but we're not losing market share because people don't want to buy our product.† According to Teerlink, Harley-Davidson now has distributors in Peru, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa and other emerging markets. He said Harley-Davidson had no immediate plans to diversify beyond its traditional strength in large-displacement motorcycles. Teerlink also noted that women now make up about eight percent of new Harley-Davidson buyers, as opposed to only two percent in the past (Online Magazine).

Mental Health Psychology-stress

Stress has been defined as â€Å"the negative feelings that occurs when an individual feel unable to cope with the demands placed upon them by their environment† (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Stress is a thing that is experienced by everyone at some stage of their life. College students represent a group which is particularly sensitive to stress. The transition into college life from a school setting can be challenging for some people. The transition involves moving from top dog to the lowest position. (Stantrock, 2004).In addition to the common stressors experienced by the general population, college students encounter an additional range of stressors: being away from home for the first time, holding down jobs, time management, financial obligations towards fees/ boarding etc, and on a social/emotional level maintaining relationships. (Archer and Lamin, 1985). A disturbing trend in college student health is the reported increase in student stress nationwide (Sax (Simple API fo r XML) A programming interface (API) for accessing the contents of an XML document. SAX does not provide a random access lookup to the document's contents.It scans the document sequentially and presents each item to the application only one time. , 1997). This is evident in Hirsch and Keniston (1970) study, which looked at the dropout rate of students in university. They estimated that fifty percent of entering students do not finish college four years later. When stress is perceived negatively or becomes excessive, students experience physical and psychological impairment Impairment 1. A reduction in a company's stated capital. 2. The total capital that is less than the par value of the company's capital stock. Notes: 1. This is usually reduced because of poorly estimated losses or gains.2. (Murphy and Archer, 1996). Stress has a number of sources which can be classified according to the magnitude of the event: cataclysmic events include natural disasters such as floods, life event s such a death produce a change that requires adaptation and daily hassles are everyday events that create repetitive distress. (Brannon and Feist, 2007). Daily stressors are â€Å"the irritating, frustrating, distressing demands that to some degree characterize everyday transactions with the environment† (Archer and Lamin, 1985). Many studies have researched what the primary sources of stress are among college students.A study in a university in the united states found that the five highest stressors among the student population were a change in sleeping habits, a change in breaks, a change in eating habits, new responsibilities and increased work load. (Ross, Neilbling and Hecket, 1999). According to Hirsch and Ellis (1966) the pressure to earn good grades and to earn a degree is a very high source of stress among students. Taylor (2009) states that overloaded people who have more tasks in their lives report higher levels of stress than do those who have fewer tasks, which would apply to college students especially around exam time.Kohn and Frazer proposed that too much coursework and unclear assignments also contributed to stress levels. And sgan-Cohen and Lowental (1988) indicated that time pressures and interaction with faculty members were common stressors. It is clear from these studies that college students are particularly prone to stress. Although relationships have been found to influence stress by acting as a buffer against negative outcomes (Sim, 2000), they also present common sources of stress related to peer pressure, navigating romantic relationships, and navigating relationships with parents (Byrne et al., 2007).In a study of Canadian high school students, two of the three categories of stressors mentioned by students from all types of academic tracks involved stress associated with family and friends (Mates and Allison, 1992). The positive or negative effects of family roles depend on the resources people have available. Both men and woman are affected by family support, but women’s health is more strongly affected by this source of stress. (Brannon and Feist, 2007). A great deal of research to date has focused on the effect stress has on a student’s academic performance.People respond very differently to stress. The impact of any potentially stressful event is substantially influenced by how a person appraises it. (Taylor, 2009). According to Yerkes-Dodson Law (1908) when stress reaches an optimal point performance decreases. This law maintains that people under high or low stress will learn less than those under moderate stress. Although the Yerkes and Dodson law is quite old it had held up through numerous studies. Lazurus (1966) similarly stated that the extent of a students stress is a significant predictor of performance.Moore, Burrows and Danziels (1992) study traced a link between motivation and stress. These researchers believed that moderate amounts of stress motivated people and increase d performance, this was referred to as positive stress. However negative stress (distress) had a discouraging effect on people. This type of stress involved strain, tension and burnout psychically and psychologically. Stress in moderation is a good thing as too low the levels of stress lead to a low quality of functioning, similarly too high the levels of stress also lead to a low quality of functioning.  (Frankenhaeuser, 1986).This belief shows that a middle ground exists where stress reaches a level that far from being a problem; it in fact heightens concentration and allows for optimum performance on tasks. Stress can also have a negative effect physically. Difficulties can arise when there is a sustained and prolonged elevation of stress levels. The body’s energy reserves can become depleted. This places increasing demands on the body, specifically the cardiovascular system and immune system responses. Although stress can affect immune functions, the relations are far f rom simple.As shown in a meta-analysis by Suzanne Segerstrom and Gregory Miller (2004), which combined the statistical results of more than 300 studies, effects depend on the nature of the stressors and the specific immune functions of the body (Passer et el, 2008). The effects can also be influenced by personality, Type A people are characterised by high levels of competitiveness and ambition, which can foster aggressiveness and hostility when things get in their way while type B people are shown to be more serene and patient.Type A people have an increased risk of coronary heart disease compared to type B. However, the type A persons fast paced, time conscious life style and high ambition are not the culprits to vulnerability to coronary disease. Rather, the crucial component seems to be negative emotions, particularly anger. (passer et el, 2008) Acute and chronic stress has also been linked to psychological and emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, irritability, frustra tion, anger, worrying, uncertainty, and lack of confidence.Additional negative consequences of prolonged states of stress include reduced energy, increased muscle tension, and emotional distress (Almeida, 2005; Brown & Harris, 1989). Previous research has found that college may be the most stressful time in an individual's life and are susceptible to these negative consequences (Lumley and Provenzano, 2003). Several studies have reported that depressive symptoms also are frequent among university students worldwide and their prevalence appears to be increasing dramatically. According to Dianne tice and her colleagues distressed people tend to behave more impulsively.They demonstrated that when stressed, people do things oriented toward making them feel better, and some of those things are health threatening such as unhealthy diet, smoking, drinking and drug use. These indulges may make people feel better temporarily, but are poor choices. (Brannon and Feist, 2007) Coping consists of a person's conscious attempt at managing the demands and intensity of events perceived as stressful or improving one's personal resources (e. g. , positive affect, confidence, self-controlself-control n.Control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will. †¦.. Click the link for more information. ) in attempting to reduce or manage one's perceived stress intensity (Lazarus Lazarus (laz`?r?s) [Gr. ,=Heb. , Eleazar], in the New Testament. 1 Brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany who, after four days in the tomb, was brought back to life by Jesus. , 1999). Students can use a variety of coping strategies in response to daily stressors. Some strategies are directed at changing stressors, while others are directed at managing the emotions triggered by stressors.Specific examples include thinking about something else, participating in religious activities, expressing emotions, being physically active, and behaving aggressively (Atkins, 1991). Several coping techniques hav e been identified in the professional literature and include both healthy and unhealthy strategies such as self-distraction, active coping, denial, substance use, use of emotional support, use of instrumental support, disengagement, venting, positive reframing, planning, humor, acceptance, religion, and self-blame (Kim and Seidlitz, 2002).Two fundamental coping strategies to deal with stress are problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping (Brannon and Feist, 2007). Regarding problem-focused coping, the goal of coping is to remove or reduce stressors through information seeking, planning, direct action, and seeking instrumental help (Kim and Seidlitz, 2002). Regarding emotion-focused coping, the goal of coping involves dealing with emotional responses to stressors such as self-blame, blaming others, focusing on emotions, controlling emotions, venting emotions, fantasy or wishful thinking, seeking emotional support, and avoidance (Felsten, 1998).Avoidance strategies are a type o f emotional-focused coping which includes methods such as distraction, denial, social diversion, behavioral disengagement, and alcohol or drug use (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Research has also identified several effective acute stress management techniques used to alleviate stress (Smith, 2007). These relaxation techniques are described as being most effective when stress is most acute or severe.Some of the documented techniques for relieving stress in an acute setting include stretching exercises (Michalsen et al., 2005) and progressive muscle relaxation (Smith, 2007). Often when stressed, individuals take a defensive posture via standing, crouching, or bending over a desk for an extended period of time. To help relieve physical tension, stretching exercises target stressed posture and positioning (Smith, 2007). Progressive muscle relaxation has been found to be an excellent technique to relax skeletal muscles, internal organs, and the mind.Similarly, the procedure for progressive muscle relaxation involves asking patients to tense and relax groups of muscles and to recognize the contrast between those states of the muscle while the â€Å"therapist often speaks in a slower, softer, deeper voice when telling participants to relax† (Scheufele, 2000). To reduce stress, thereby decreasing the likelihood of burnout and attrition, graduate students need help in developing effective strategies to cope with stress especially by enhancing social support networks.Methods to reduce stress by students often include effective time management, social support, positive reappraisal, and engagement in leisure pursuits (Blake and Vandiver, 1988; Mattlin et el, 1990). The concept of time management is generally defined in terms of clusters of behavior that are deemed to facilitate productivity and alleviate Alleviate To make something easier to be endured. Mentioned in: Kinesiology, Applied stress (Lay and Schouwenburg, 1993).Effective time management strategies increas e academic performance (Campbell and Svenson, 1992) and are frequently suggested by academic assistance personnel as aids to enhance achievement for college students. Although programs emphasize starting large tasks well before due dates, breaking down large tasks into small ones, and doing small tasks on a regular schedule, students regularly ignore these techniques and find themselves in great distress before exams (Brown, 1991).An online study by Woodberry (2010) showed by use of a self-administered online survey in 3rd level student that 61% of respondents replied that â€Å"sport helped relieve stress†. A study using an Irish sample was carried out in Galway in 2003 under the commission of the western health board. Shaughnessy (2003) found using a sample size of 10 schools that participation in extracurricular activities can â€Å"reduce anxiety and stress†. Another study that looked at stress in relation to students was the Wilson & Pritchard study from 2005.This research was conducted on students to discover the sources of stress in everyday life for them. The recommendations of this study showed that sport could act as a â€Å"buffer to stress†. However this study of Wilson and Pritchard’s also conceded that sport â€Å"may be an added stressor† in certain settings, as did a study by Johnson (2009) which also pointed out sport can â€Å"actually become sources of stress†. People feel better when they eat a healthy diet, engage in physical exercise, have positive interactions with friends and get enough sleep. (Brannon and Feist, 2007).A well planned canteen menu that provides and encourages healthy eating can help get students on board with eating better, this along with information on sleeping habits and importance of physical activity can ensure students have the knowledge necessary to develop a healthy lifestyle which in turn may prevent stress. A program called Combat Stress Now is a stress management progr am that reaches troubled students before stresses of academic life lead them to fail or drop out. Participants in the program learn what stress is and its effects. They also learn how to monitor stress and recognise to do thingsin moderation. They also learn new skills, how to set goals, how to complete out of hours assignments, time management and planning. Loneliness can also cause some students distress which can be helped by learning to recognise the importance that social support can serve in helping them combat stress in a world with many sources of stress. (Taylor, 2009). Learning to cope effectively with stress may help prevent illness and changing unsuccessful coping strategies appears to be a practical intervention that can be facilitated by various people.Students are most likely to be more successful using techniques they are comfortable with and have had prior experience using, it is important to encourage students to identify effective strategies that they already use, rather than teach them new ones. (Brannon and Feist, 2007) Surviving college involves knowing what the stresses are, understanding that it is normal to feel them and wise to get help immediately for anything that is causing distress. Research is clear that college survival is about knowing when, how and where to get help. All these interventions together can help our students through their journey with this university.

Discover the Ancient Chinese Gods and Goddesses

Discover the Ancient Chinese Gods and Goddesses Chinese gods and goddesses have changed over the millennia-long period we recognize as the history of China today. Scholars recognize four different types of Chinese gods, but the categories have a considerable overlap: Mythological or heavenly deitiesNature spirits, such as gods of rain, wind, trees, water bodies, mountainsDeified humans both legendary and historicalDeities specific to the three religions: Confucianism, institutional or clerical Buddhism and institutional or philosophical Taoism Additionally, some of the best-known gods have changed over time, or are shared with other groups in China or in other countries. Its not clear that god has the same meaning in western minds as it does in China since the word English speakers translate as god is shen which means closer to soul or spirit. The Eight Immortals Ba Xian or the Eight Immortals is a group of eight deities who were partly historical figures and partly legendary, and their names and attributes are figured in lucky charms. They are often depicted in vernacular novels and plays as lascivious drunkards, holy fools, and saints in disguise. Their individual names are Cao Guo-jiu, Han Xiang-zi, He Xian-gu, Lan Cai-he, Li Tie-guai, LÃ ¼ Dong-bin, Zhang Guo- lao, and Zhong-li Quan. One of the Ba Xian is LÃ ¼ Dong-bin, a historical figure who lived during the Tang Dynasty. In life, he was an itinerant religious specialist and now that he is immortal, he takes a wide variety of different shapes and forms. He is a patron god of several tradespeople from ink makers to prostitutes. Mother Goddesses Bixie Yuanjun is a Chinese goddess of childbirth, the dawn, and destiny. She is known as the First Princess of Purple and Azure Clouds, Mount Tai Mother, or Jade Maiden, and she is significantly potent in matters of pregnancy and childbirth. The Bodhisattva Guanyin or Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara or Bodhisattva Kuan-yin is a Buddhist mother goddess, who sometimes appears in a male guise. Bodhisattva is the term used in the Buddhist religion for someone who could be a Buddha and stop having to be reincarnated but has decided to stay until the rest of us are enlightened enough to make the trip. Bodhisattva Guanyin is shared by Buddhists in Japan and India. When she was incarnated as the Princess Miaoshan, she refused to be wed despite her fathers explicit order, defying a Confucian ethos. She is by far the most popular Chinese deity, worshipped by those wanting children and a patron of merchants. Heavenly Bureaucrats The Stove God (Zaojun) is a heavenly bureaucrat who watches people and is perceived as a voyeur who enjoys watching women unrobe in front of the stove, and in one story was once a gossipy old woman. In some tales, he is thought to represent foreign soldiers stationed among Chinese homes as spies. On New Years Eve, the Stove God ascends to heaven to report on the behavior of the families he oversees to the Jade Emperor, the chief god among some Chinese societies who can inflict a threat of apocalyptic violence. General Yin Chiao (or Tai Sui), is a historical hero and a Taoist god with a number of associated legends appearing as a mythical being in Chinese folklore. He is a deity most often connected with the planet Jupiter. If one plans to move, build, or disturb the ground, the fierce Tai Sui must be placated and worshipped to avert potential calamities. Historical and Legendary Figures Fa Chu Kung or the Controlling Duke was probably a historical person but now appears as legendary. He is able to stop and start rain at will, cure any illness, and can transform himself into anyone or anything. His goodwill and agreement are necessary before any petition or prayers are submitted to any other god except the Jade Emperor. He is readily identifiable with his shiny black face and body, unkempt hair and protruding eyes. He carries an unsheathed sword at his right and a red snake curls over his neck. Cheng Ho was an explorer in the 15th century CE and a eunuch from the imperial palace. Also known as San Po Kung or the Three Jewelled Eunuch, his last expedition was in 1420 and he is a patron god for Chinese sailors and junk crews.

5 Questions to Consider When Writing for Children

5 Questions to Consider When Writing for Children 5 Questions to Consider When Writing for Children 5 Questions to Consider When Writing for Children By Mark Nichol â€Å"I want to write a book for children† gets you about as far as saying, â€Å"I want to write fiction† or â€Å"I want to write nonfiction.† It’s a start, but only that. There are many forms and genres and age groups to consider, and though you can certainly move fluidly among them, what you’re going to write right now needs more focus. As you develop your ideas for a children’s book, be sure to answer these questions: 1. What do you want to write about? Is your book going to be autobiographical or semiautobiographical? Is it about a natural phenomenon, or a historical event, or a social issue? It is about a cultural or artistic topic? Write a sentence no longer than any of the ones in this paragraph that summarizes what the book is about. Or step back even further and try a tagline like the snappy phrase on a movie poster or a book’s back cover that encapsulates the theme. (The tagline for one story I’ve been working on is simply â€Å"Believe.† Another theme is â€Å"Friends don’t hesitate.†) 2. What form will the story take? Is the book nonfiction, explaining a scientific concept or exploring an issue from the past or present? Or is it going to be a fictional account of a scientific discovery or a story that takes place during a significant historical event or cultural movement? Either form may serve the subject matter well, but you must decide which one this project will take before you develop the narrative. 3. What’s the target demographic? â€Å"Children’s books† is a huge category. Are you writing for beginning readers, elementary school students, preteens, or adolescents? Will children of one gender or another be more likely to read your book? Is it directed toward a certain ethnic group (but written in such a way that others don’t feel excluded)? Research reading levels and match your book’s vocabulary to the intended age range. Decide who the ideal reader is, and check your work frequently to make sure you’re focusing on that child. If you repeatedly veer off, don’t try to force yourself to get back on target when it’s obviously not the right fit. Change the target. 4. What’s my word count? For very young children, picture books (generally 28 pages in a 32-page book with up to a few sentences on each page) are the norm. You should be able to tell your story or account in as little as a few dozen words for preschoolers to up to several hundred for seven- or eight-year-olds. Chapter books novels for readers this age or slightly older, might have up to a thousand words or so. Preteens can handle up to 40,000 words or so, and young teenagers about twice that; books for older adolescents, like those for adults, are often 100,000 words or more. 5. How do I want readers to feel? Basically, comfort young readers, and challenge older ones. For preadolescents of any age, nonfiction should not frighten children with stark facts about environmental crisis, for example, and fiction should not expose them to unhappy or uncomfortable circumstances. The violence and turmoil of the kind found in fairy tales and myths is acceptable, but real-life mayhem is off limits. Teenagers, on the other hand, are coming to grips with reality and can more or less handle more adult-themed materials as long as it’s not explicit or bleak. Psychological issues, familial and societal friction, and other mature themes are appropriate when handled evenhandedly. Even books for adolescents, however, should have upbeat conclusions. (Comeuppance for villains or reprobates is fine, but sympathetic characters, while they should be given obstacles and ordeals to overcome and can experience physical and psychological pain, should emerge from the story intact.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph ExamplesAwoken or Awakened?Adverbs and Hyphens

As You Like It by Shakespeare is a still comedy, because Jaques is Essay

As You Like It by Shakespeare is a still comedy, because Jaques is intended as a tool to represent relativity of values - Essay Example In this regard Shakespeare, Evans & Tobin comments substantiating the role of Jacques, â€Å"Throughout â€Å"As You Like It† Jacques has functioned less as the representative of a valid point of view than as a measure of the essential sanity and balance of [the] characters† (42). Simply the presence of Jacques in the novel is melancholic, as the comic trait of the play requires him to be in such a manner to represent the relativity of values. It is remarkable that â€Å"Melancholy Jacques† is schemed as an observant to view the new world in the Arden Forest. He is the only cynic in the Arden Forest, whereas all other characters are happy and joyful. He spends most of his time grudging against the hostility of life. Rather it seems that Jacques is more comfortable with the cynic views that put the joyous environment with the people around him into direct contrast with his depression and also his â€Å"miserable world† (Shakespeare Act 2 sc 7). His depression emerges not only from the futility of human life but also from the feebleness and the evilness of human nature. Jacques carefully keeps himself out of the happy group in the Forest of Arden. Anyway, the reason of Jacques’ bitterness is not mentioned explicitly. As his functions appear to be the sharp foil to the jubilance of other characters, â€Å"inside the happy fantasyland of Arden, Jacques is a constant reminder that in the real world time i s not suspended, and grief, sorrow and death provide a counterpoint to all human joys† (Study-world). Throughout the whole play, the significance of Jacques’s role is so weighty that he alone has been manipulated to work out the thematic joyous environment around other characters as a foil to their jubilation. He provides the audience the perfect lookout to perceive life as â€Å"strange eventful history† (Shakespeare Act II Sc VII). Though the terms, â€Å"pessimism† â€Å"cynicism† suitably fit the character of Jacques,

What is moral relativism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What is moral relativism - Essay Example As such, the former form denotes that morality differs from one individual to the other while the latter means that morality varies culturally. â€Å"Morality is relative, a matter of conventions relative to a particular society† as stated by Peter Cave (2009), a British professor in philosophy. This means that even though morality is conventional to a particular society, it is relative since not all societies have the same beliefs and practices towards a certain type of conventional truth. Hence, it can be inferred that morality is relative in a general sense. Some individuals perceive morality as relative at all times whether in the individual or cultural level. This entirely depends either on the individual self or on the norms of the society. Every individual has its own freewill that is why what is moral depends solely on his or her belief. However, morality in a society is conceptualized as a whole and so every part of that society considers one moral concept as good or bad but this belief may not hold true to other societies. A moral judgment is not absolute or universal â€Å"but is relative to the traditions or convictions of a group of persons† (Gowans, 2008). Hence, I do believe that all morals are

Diabetes is a Public Health Epidemic Research Paper

Diabetes is a Public Health Epidemic - Research Paper Example In this paper, we will also discuss the role that the government should play in order to reduce the health concerns related to Diabetes. We will argue in this paper that diabetes is a public health epidemic that needs to be addressed on a governmental level. There are governmental programs and legislations that should be passed to help reduce the prevalence of Diabetes in the younger population. Also many other public and private measures should be taken to reduce health concerns related to Diabetes especially in younger generation. Diabetes in Youth and its types Medical practitioners have shown their deep interest in the study of diabetes in youth despite the fact that the probability of children (under the age of twenty) getting this disease is very low. According to the survey of Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP), there were around 18.2 million cases of diabetes in the United States in 2002 (Steno Diabetes research group, 120-134). Out of these, 206,000 were in peopl e under the age of 20. Though this may seem very low as compared to the total number of cases of diabetes, it has become more prevalent in youth. Unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical exercise are major reasons why many of the children today are overweight and obese, and are at a higher risk of developing this disease. Generally there are three types of diabetes out which two of them affect the children most. They are discusses below in detail. Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes. It is a type of diabetes in which body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The insulin is a chemical produced in the pancreas that converts food into energy. The body cannot function without insulin. To carry out the daily routine functions, it is important that our body constantly produces insulin. Type 1 diabetes generally strikes the children at a very young age and it is usually passed genetically. Type 1 diabetes pati ents require insulin for their survival. There are many ways through which the patients can in-take insulin such as syringes, insulin pumps and injectable pens. The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are loss of weight, constant feeling of hunger, increase in urine and thirst, blurred vision and exhaustion. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes, also known as adult onsets, is the most common type of diabetes. It is usually diagnosed in people who are above the ages of 35. The primary cause of type 2 diabetes is basically a critical medical condition called insulin resistance (Blonde and Lawrence, 123-150). Insulin resistance means that the body is able to produce insulin in the pancreas but is unable to work effectively. Approximately 85 to 90 percent of the diabetic people have type 2 diabetes. One thing that is very important to mention is that the type 2 diabetes is associated with heart disease and if not treated appropriately, the situation can become worst. Therefore it is necessary that t he patient should take proper diet, walk, and exercise so as to maintain the normal diabetic level. It is important to mention here that both types of diabetes are independent of age. They may affect a person at any age so it is important that certain precautionary measures are taken to avoid both types of diabetes. Relationship between childhood obesity and childhood diabetes Over the past few years childhood

Brief History Essay Example for Free

Brief History Essay Iran, or what is formally called as the Islamic Republic of Iran, has a rich culture starting out since 8000 B.C. (Ladjevardian par. 2). The historic trends that transpired since then up to the present has had a lot to do with the political turmoil which the country has experienced. The economy and the culture of Iran were greatly influenced by these changes; wars within and outside the country were also great factors to the country’s history. The beginning of the 20th century had positive changes for Iran after centuries of different dynasties. The Pahlavi Dynasty during the 1920s, which was also the last dynasty to rule Iran, constructed road infrastructures and initiated land reforms; education was also opened for women during this time. In 1946, Iran had a taste of freedom from the Soviet Union and in 1951, passed a law to take the Oil industry from the British control (Ladjevardian par. 73). The country experienced a sudden economic growth in 1963-1973 and during this time that public and educational institutions were further improved. By 1973, Iran was earning about $20 billion a year (Ladjevardian par. 76) from its Oil revenues. The Supreme Leader’s determination to modernize Iran instantly, backed up by the rapid economic growth, created pressure on the administration which eventually led to economic turmoil such as inflation, corruption, and increase authoritarianism by the Supreme Leader. Moreover, numerous social and political problems continued to emerge that needed to be dealt with. In 1978, the economic growth of Iran slowed down; the Supreme Leader was overthrown and since then, the government of Iran became a theocratic republic; from 1980-1988, Iran fought against Iraq. The economic loss due to the war caused a lot of problems to Iran. Furthermore, the population of the country increased tremendously and has resulted to increase in unemployment. Communication and transportation and education and public institutions were also needed to be recovered. Iran’s Economy and Resources Iran remained to be a country dependent on its oil industry; its earnings comprise the 70% of its government revenues (Economy of Iran par. 1). Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 34M Iranian rial in 1990 to 1.7B in 2005, partly due to said industry’s earnings. The oil industry’s role to the economy of Iran proves to be of utmost importance since this is the main export of the country. It includes petroleum, chemical and petrochemical products; other exports of Iran are from their agricultural and service sectors products such as fruits and nuts, cars, carpet and technical services. Though Iran’s GDP increased tremendously over the years, the country’s economic problems such as inflation and unemployment remain to be the two most impediments to the country’s growth. Economic Issues Khalaji (par. 3) reports that inflation in Iran reached 19% in 2008. This figure was reportedly to have been due, in part, to the increasing corruption in the country. This puts the country in a difficult situation as inflation translates to increase in goods’ prices and corruption leads to more political and social chaos. The increase in the goods’ prices lead to more importation as goods from other countries appear relatively cheaper. Inasmuch as the said problem makes the country’s situation appalling, the unemployment problem further worsens it. This was due to the increasing population which has not been backed up with increase in job offerings. Iranians pursue to work outside the country instead leading to the reportedly brain drain. It has been said that the historic trends in Iran was greatly affected by the political turmoil in the country, and that economic and cultural changes were also affected by it. The economic issues in Iran have then put the country in a social dilemma. The oil industry is not enough to sustain the country’s needs. Iran’s lack of resources to provide for its citizens sustenance require importing from other countries. This is where the importance of trade comes in. Gross Domestic Product GDP of a country is an indicator of the economic growth. The national currency of Iran is Iranian Real (IRR). Since 1990 it has increased, with an average annual growth rate between 1990 and 2005 of 2.5% as seen in the figure 1. (Economy of Iran par. 1) It means that as time has passed, the economic growth of Iran improved. There were several factors that affected the growth of the Iranian economy. The paper will dwell more on the economic indicators on how the economy of Iran rose. The highest GDP growth rate was recorded into 2002, when there was a 7.1% growth rate. Its oil abundance is considered to be the main source of its growth. Being one of OPEC’s cartel members, it has the privilege to gain higher returns for its oil products. A big contributer to Iran’s GDP growth would be its strong domestic demand benefited the non-oil and manufacturing countries.

Metal Storm :: Technology Weapons Essays

Metal Storm What is Metal Storm? Metal Storm is a revolutionary type of ballistics technology, utilizing electrical impulses to fire projectiles, rather than conventional mechanical impulses. These weapons have no moving parts aside from the projectiles themselves. The bullets are stacked on end in the barrel, separated only by a thin layer of propellant. A small electric current passing through the barrel ignites the propellant, firing the bullet from the barrel. To prevent one layer of propellant from igniting the rest of the propellant in the barrel, causing a disastrous chain reaction, the bullets are modified so that the head of the bullet will expand, sealing the barrel, when the bullet ahead of it is fired. Because of this and the nature of its electrical firing system, Metal Storm offers a variable rate of fire, from semi-automatic to a devastating 45 thousand rounds per minute per barrel, with each bullet leaving the barrel at only 4† behind the last. Also, because all that is necessary to prope l a bullet from the barrel is an electrical impulse, many barrels can be placed in an array and fired all at once. Metal Storm Ltd., the company that produces Metal Storm ballistics technology, has produced a prototype gun, nicknamed â€Å"Bertha,† which can fire at a rate of up to 1.62 million rounds per minute. Comparing this to the fastest rate previously achieved by a machine gun of 6,000 rounds per minute, one can begin to see the deadly power of this technology. And while one might think that energy would be an inherent problem with an electrical firing system, in this case, it’s not. Because the electric current is only used to ignite the gun propellant, only a very small amount of energy is required, and Metal Storm weapon can operate easily on the power from a simply flashlight battery. In addition to the machine gun, this technology is also being put to use in other applications, including a handgun variant (intended for use by military and police), a sniper-rifle (recently contracted by the United State’s Department of Defense), and even an Area-Denial Weapons System (to replace land mines), which can be operated by a single man to fire up to 1800 grenades and 360 solid mortar rounds intelligently aimed at enemy units in only a quarter of a second. Beyond this, they have also begun work on a fully automated aircraft.