Cross Cultural Transitions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Cross Cultural Transitions - Research Paper Example Le Ly Hayslip then made up her mind to divert all her energy towards her career, to establish a restaurant and to supervise all the rental properties in her possession. After she had accumulated her assets, she made up her mind to support her own native land using the wealth she had acquired. She managed to set up medical clinics after establishing a foundation that was known as the east meets the west. In addition, Hayslip was determined to end the existing hatred and to heal wounds that had resulted from the war. The earlier war completely separated Hayslip whole family. One of her brothers lost touch with the family for 20 years after fleeing to Hanoi. Another brother lost his life in a landmine. Her father, on the other hand, received great pressure from the Viet Cong. They wanted him to take the initiative to persuade her daughter Hayslip to become a saboteur.In trying to understand, the real meaning of culture shock our reference mainly is the life and experiences of Le Ly Hays lip during her childhood and the early adulthood stages. She was forced by the then existing hostility and insecurity in her own homeland, Vietnam to seek for safety in different countries. In trying to link up the transition experienced by Le Ly Hayslip, culture shock meaning has to be well understood. Culture shock is the difficulty experienced by individuals when they are forced by certain circumstances to adjust to another culture that varies from that in their native land.... Out this marriage, Le Ly Hayslip bore a second son. Her main objective was to get an opportunity to move to America and she did a few years later. Her husband died after they had relocated to America and she remarried Dennis Hayslip in spite him being an alcoholic and abusive. Their marriage took place after Dennis Hayslip had assisted Le Ly’s sister to flee from Vietnam. However, after formalizing their union, their differences escalated and Hayslip filed for a divorce. Their marriage ended after the death of Dennis through carbon monoxide poisoning. Le Ly Hayslip then made up her mind to divert all her energy towards her career, to establish a restaurant and to supervise all the rental properties in her possession. After she had accumulated her assets, she made up her mind to support her own native land using the wealth she had acquired. She managed to set up medical clinics after establishing a foundation that was known as the east meets the west. In addition, Hayslip was d etermined to end the existing hatred and to heal wounds that had resulted from the war. The earlier war completely separated Hayslip whole family. One of her brothers lost touch with the family for 20 years after fleeing to Hanoi. Another brother lost his life in a land mine. Her father on the other hand, received great pressure from the Viet Cong. They wanted him to take the initiative to persuade her daughter Hayslip to become a saboteur. Hayslip father however, opted to commit suicide instead of yielding into the pressure. In trying to understand, the real meaning of culture shock our reference mainly is the life and experiences of Le Ly Hayslip during her childhood and the early adulthood stages. She was forced by the then existing hostility and

Good vs. Evil Essay Example for Free

Good vs. Evil Essay There are many concepts that are determined in the eye of the beholder. People have different morals; someone’s morals could be seen as corruption to someone else. What someone considers beautiful, another might consider appalling. A person’s definition of justice could be someone else’s definition of illegal. There are many factors as to why we all have different paradigms, such as the way we were raised, our past experiences, our culture, or our faith. Consequently, we all judge accordingly to our own perspectives. In East of Eden, John Steinbeck states that one can be assumed good or evil once the person has died. With our different paradigms, we would have different perspectives on good and evil. Therefore, we do not know the correct definition of good or evil, so it would not be right for us to judge someone at all before or after their death. Everything we see is perspective, but how are we so sure it is the truth? Take for example, a flower. To a human, it is small enough to hold in his hand; to an insect, it is big enough to be a home. The human and the insect are looking at the same flower, but view it differently. Is the ant simply miniature, or is the human just too big? It cannot be deemed because there are different paradigms that manipulate our judgment. There are also more serious cases that this applies to. On July 5, 2011, Casey Anthony was found not guilty for murdering her young daughter Caylee. Observers were stunned and outraged by the jury’s verdict. Jurors claimed that it could not be proven that Casey Anthony was guilty because there was not enough evidence. There were only facts that led up to the conclusion that Casey could be the murderer, but there were no raw and actual facts that clearly showed that Casey was responsible for the death of her daughter. The death penalty weighed a lot on the deliberation of the jurors. They had a life in their hands; conclusions and inferences were not enough to find her guilty. The jury could be deemed good for following the law and abiding by their oath, or they could be deemed evil for letting a potential murderer get away with a crime. There are many positions on this verdict based on our viewpoints, but we do not actually know the truth. There are so many perspectives in the universe, we can never be so sure which is the correct one. Without knowing the truth, our judgments aren’t justified. They say there is a story behind everything. Stories usually have two sides to them, maybe even more. Often times, we want to believe that we know the full story. As human beings, we like closure and we do not like unanswered questions. But should it often occur to someone that there may be multiple unknown sides to a story? Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom from an overdose on August 5, 1962. Monroe’s death remains a mystery and has become one of the most debated conspiracy theories of all time. Some people believe that her death was a homicide, and some people believed it was a suicide. There could be many unknown explanations to Monroe’s death, and we may never find out. Without knowledge of how she died, our judgments are not rationalized. There are always going to be unanswered questions and ambiguous endings. As humans, what we believe is virtuous usually leads back to our viewpoints and understanding of life. Everyone has their life structured a certain way according to their beliefs. Our beliefs have a huge impact on our mentality and actions whether we believe in God, Buddha, Atheism, Karma, or anything at all. With differentiating religion and beliefs, there is no validity to our judgments. Without the knowledge of the truth, we are not able to judge righteously; we would be assuming blindly. It is a human instinct to judge. We judge to make laws so society can function in an orderly manner, we judge to protect ourselves from harm by distinguishing what seems to be dangerous or harmful, and we also judge to make decisions to benefit ourselves, such as choosing the college to our desire. Although these are rational reasons as to why we should judge, they also lead to war, terrorist attacks, stereotypes, and prejudice. Our assumptions and judgments revolve around our perspective. Our paradigms frame our judgments, and this often results to different positions and viewpoints. The concept of good and evil are in the eyes of the beholder. The true definition of good and evil may never be revealed in our lifetime. Consequently, we are not able to deem someone good or evil before or after their death since we do not have the understanding of these ideas in the first place. Works Cited Death of Caylee Anthony. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Dec. 2012. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Death_of_Caylee_Anthony.

Differing Perspectives of the Caribbean :: Caribbean History Historical Essays

Differing Perspectives of the Caribbean The Caribbean has been an unexplained region throughout the test of time because there are many different depictions of what actually is happening. The ranging cultures in the Caribbean bring about many different points of view. A perfect example is how Cliff, Mintz, and Benitez-Rojo describe their version of the Caribbean. They discuss affairs in the Caribbean from the days of slave trading to present day issues. In analyzing their anecdotes and books, one can find not only similarities between them, but discrepancies as well. All three authors express their thoughts vividly, unleashing ideas about the Caribbean. Among the most important themes of these ideas were that of the plantation, identity, and social hierarchy. The role of the plantation was a prominent issue brought up by all the authors. The plantation played an imperative role in Caribbean society from colonialism to contemporary society. Mintz and Benitez-Rojo gave a number of positive aspects of how plantations were positive in helping the economy whereas Cliff despised the whole plantation system. All authors bring out valid issues on their analysis of plantations. According to Mintz, the emergence of the plantation occurred when there became a decline in miners. This decline brought a new economy and an alternate plan to their mining careers. In addition, it was a new source of production for goods like sugar, rum, coffee and tobacco. Production of goods meant more money to the Caribbean’s economy as well as new materials to give to their colonial powers. Mintz argues that the Caribbean flourished because of the system of plantations. He goes as far as saying, "the plantation system was not only an agricultural device; it also became the basis for an entire societal design" (Mintz, 27). Benitez-Rojo also gives praise to the plantation in his article entitled the Repeating Island. He said how the "modest sugar boom in the Spanish Antilles left an indelible mark on the island’s society" (Benitez-Rojo, 42). The plantations created an economy in the Caribbean when there was previously nothing. It changes the whole course of Caribbean history and this can be incorporated with his Chaos Theory. Benitez-Rojo believes in the physics theory that things in one place certainly have a great effect on something else. However, Cliff significantly differs on her view of the plantation. In Cliff’s Abeng, there is much discussion about the plantation. However, Cliff argues how the sugar plantation actually hurt the economy and made little profits.

Ah Q in Modern China

Chinese national character has long been tied up with the issue of â€Å"face,† and how best to â€Å"save† it.   The idea that what is important in any situation is not so much the actual outcome, but the way the situation looks to outsiders.This concept has been an enduring one from the feudalist imperial system that ruled China for two thousand years throughout its turbulent 20th century history of civil war and communism.It is a contributing factor to most of the major political and historical events that have taken place there, such as the Cultural Revolution, the annexations of Tibet and Xinjiang, the attitude towards Taiwan, the Tian’anmen Square Protests, and even the economy that grows at an average of 10% per year for over fifteen years.It is also well represented in China’s literature and cultural life.   Many authors from the late Qing Dynasty onward have tried to define a Chinese national character through their works.   One of the most successful of these was Lu Xun.Born in Zhejiang province and educated in Japan, Lu Xun dedicated his works, both fiction and non-fiction, to the goal of defining Chinese qualities and healing the spiritual and moral needs of the Chinese people.   His most famous story was The True Story of Ah Q, published in a newspaper beginning in late 1921.It features a village loser who does nothing notable and is looked down upon by all who encounter him.   This story, however, has become ingrained in the Chinese culture and scholars such as Lee Ou-fan maintain that it holds influence even today.One of the major ways the story portrays saving face is in the way Ah Q relates to his defeats.   When he does something wrong, such as insulting someone for no good reason by not holding his tongue, he gets beaten up, but he then justifies it by claiming it to be an outrage that people like his â€Å"sons† could beat him up.His psychological victory is enough for him to justify anything, n o matter how pathetic it seems to the other villagers.   When he loses his gambling money in a mob, he justifies it by slapping himself so that he’ll have something to feel victorious over (Lu).This relates to Chinese mentality in general, from government actions to individuals.   The way China deals with any situation is to put a good face on it or to cover it up.   Passing an anti-secession law, such as the one the Party Congress enacted in 2005 for the show effect it would have on Taiwan, is only one in a long line of examples.Refusing to re-evaluate their currency in relation to the dollar, the lack of acknowledgement about SARS and AIDS, the blocking or censoring of websites such as google, wikipedia, and the BBC, the banning and rehabilitation of filmmakers such as Zhang Yimou and now Jia Zhangke-each contributes to the argument that Chinese character has not changed since Ah Q’s time.Another enduring aspect of Chinese mentality skillfully depicted here is that of the mob.   We see mobs in everyday village life, such as the gambling mob that steals Ah Q’s money, and also when he teases the nun.   While most people are at least respectful of religious individuals, no one in the crowd does anything but laugh as Ah Q disgraces the nun in order to get attention.He touches her bare skin and insinuates that she sleeps with a monk, both of which are extremely insulting, but no one does anything but laugh (Lu).   This kind of onlooker crowds can be found anywhere in China when there is a fight or traffic accident.   They reached the peak of their violence during the Cultural Revolution, in which many people were denounced before just such mobs of jeering onlookers.Mobs also come into the story near its end, when the sweep of history enters the quiet village in the form of the Xinhai Revolution of 1911.   Here the mobs try and loot the homes of anyone who is not â€Å"revolutionary,† meaning those of the wealthy.In the end, Ah Q is caught and executed as a scapegoat for the looting.   The end of this character is as unspectacular as the rest of his life had been.Through telling the story of this kind of small man, Lu is expressing his concern that the â€Å"average† Chinese person is becoming too much like Ah Q, and will be too afraid to participate when the real revolution comes around.That real revolution is still around the corner, and it remains to be seen if the growing Chinese middle class will ever be so discontent as to make a real change to their totalitarian government.The people today still need to take Lu’s message to heart and realize that the actions of their government are viewed by the outside world the way a reader views Ah Q, as idiotic praising of past and hoping for future while neglecting the present by worrying more about â€Å"saving face† than any concrete action.Beijing can move all the Han people it wants into Tibet and Xinjiang, but it will never e radicate or assimilate these two different ethnicities completely, and will only require more â€Å"saving face† in the future when the never-ending sectarian violence escalates.Lu was very observant in pointing out these weaknesses in Chinese character, and the PRC would do good to take on his message as well, instead of just celebrating his image because Mao had him declared a communist hero.His true ideas were much more individualistic than what he is reduced to, and maybe someday China will truly see the significance of this great writer and thinker.Works CitedLu, Xun.   â€Å"The True Story of Ah Q.†Ã‚   Trans. Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang.   Foreign Languages Press, Peking, 1960, 1972.   Ah Q! Performance Project.   16 Apr. 2007   .

Read the case study “I Thought I Gave Them Everything, Essay

Read the case study, â€Å"I Thought I Gave Them Everything,† on page 423 in the textbook. This case study involves interpersonal and intrapersonal communication competencies. Examine and evaluate this communication situation by providing detailed responses to the three discussion questions found at the end of the case study. Examine and evaluate this communication situation. †¢Provide detailed responses to the three discussion questions found at the end of the case study. †¢Directly reference the theories of motivation you have learned about in this unit, and the 10 work-related evaluation items listed on page 176 of the text to help explain your thoughts, reasoning, and insights. The case study of â€Å"I Thought I Gave Them Everything† discusses Henry Gonzales a manager of Quality Foods. Henry is known for his hard work and dedication to the organization; he keeps himself busy and has the most successful store within the organization. Henry is upset as â€Å"he recently found out two of his leading supervisors had requested transfers to other Quality stores.† (Shockley, 2012) Henry’s emotional response is caught up in expectations and assumptions of why his employees may be leaving. He doesn’t really know, nor does he have any facts to support his emotional response, therefore he has taken it personal. I would advise Henry to assume nothing, and seek the facts before making any judgments concerning the situation or his supervisors that wish to transfer to other stores. I would also remind Henry that given enough time, everyone leaves. It is notable that Henry is subject to Gerald Salancik and Jeffery Pfeffer’s Social Information Processing Theory; â€Å"A person’s needs and attitudes are determined by the information available at any given time.† (Shockley, 2012) Henry’s motivation for communication with his two supervisors surrounds his internal need for safety as it correlates to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. As witnessed by Henry’s internal probing questions his mind is looking for safety as he has taken their actions as his own failures. I would advise Henry to think about what he wishes to achieve before approaching his supervisors. This is an opportunity for understanding and growth within his store, therefore it is best to come from a place of curiosity. It would also be good if Henry understood his communication competencies that run parallel with his assumptions that his store is the best, his supervisors required hand-holding and they need more of his time. All of these assumptions build from his perception that these individuals don’t see what they are doing, and Henry is in a place superiority. It’s generally best policy to let people manage their own lives and make their own decisions. While communication can bridge the gap in assessing others needs and desires to seek employment elsewhere, making these types of assumptions, Henry is placing his supervisors overall competencies low, and this places him at a direct disadvantage when he approaches them for communication. In addition to educating Henry about his assumptions, expectations, motivations and competencies it would be good for Henry to have a basic understanding of general employee motivations as they relate to needs. If Henry is approaching this from a learning perspective it may be a good idea to perform an exit interview with these employees and have them rank there satisfaction using the 10 work-related evaluation items. This would give Henry a clear indication of how he might better meet his employee’s needs in the future, and may even allow for retention of these existing employees. In communication, you must remember that you don’t get what you don’t ask for, if Henry’s desire is to retain these two supervisors, he might want to consider asking them directly what he may be able to do to retain their services. It is noted that Henry does have a pay incentive plan already in place, so salary may not be what is needed for retention. The study also mentions that Henry’s is a busy manager and may have lost touch with these employees. If this is the case, he should be sensitive in his initial approach, and seek to understand if these employees have a sense of belonging. Overall I would suggest that Henry not make this about him, or a direct reflection of him. References Shockley-Zalabak, P.S. (2012). Fundamentals of Organizational Communication: Knowledges, Sensitivity, Skills, Values. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Technology Assisted collaborative communications The WritePass Journal

Technology Assisted collaborative communications Introduction Technology Assisted collaborative communications IntroductionReference:Related Introduction Netiquette is a social convention adopted by internet users on the web that help interact over networks ranging from mailing to blogs and forums and live chat. Since the internet has changed rapidly, its netiquette does too, the need for a sense of netiquette arises mostly when sending or distributing e-mail, chatting or posting comments. To some point, the practice of netiquette relies on accepting how e-mail, chatting or other aspects of the internet work or is practiced. For example, on an email discussion list – not everyone may have seen past message- it’s considered polite to quote from a message you’re replying to, so your response has context. It is considered that to keep quotes short and relevant. Web based forum, on the other hand where the original messages are visible to all, quoting is unnecessary. Netiquette is a term referring to a good behaviour while connected to the internet below is some good and bad examples of netiquette while using the internet facilities. Good Examples: Requesting permission for images and extra intellectual rights from the author and owners. Using proper grammar and spelling Not Using someone else’s identity such as name and pretending to be someone else Not posting something illegal Not using abusive and threatening language. Not post racist comments Not trying to capture personal information about someone Bad Examples: Trying to be someone else and using their personal information and their identity Using foul language in a message or in a live chat Posting comments on racism To gather private information about someone Netiquette is communicating clearly online; this helps students with their learning as it gives the students a guide on   how to speak or type in a message or to people using online communication tools such as Facebook, Skype or Windows live Messenger.   This helped me to attempt my assignment one as it was a group assignment we had to use online communication tools in order to communicate. We clearly used appropriate language to communicate and sent brief short message emails to each of the group members. As a group we used appropriate behaviour to communicate with each other and it helped us into attempting assignment one it helped us to keep quotes short and relevant and easy to read. Throughout this module we had to attempt Assignment one; and in order to do that we had to communicate we each other as it was a group assignment. As we didn’t have time to communicate all the time due to other modules and other coursework and not everyone in our group was doing the same modules, we had to communicate by online communication using Skype, Facebook and Windows live messenger. We used mainly Skype as we were able to communicate as a group and not individual. Using online communication was an advantage for us as a group this is because we communicated anywhere, we didn’t have to discuss everything face to face or coming to the university and discussing the work, we discussed it over Skype and other online communication in order to help each other out for the group assignment and how to attempt each part. Blackboard was also used; it was used in order get in touch with the lecturer we posted comments in the discussion forum as a group or individual to get he lp with the assignments and other work relating to the lecturer. Online communications are used to be reserved for emails sent to co-workers and bosses. Today, however, emails and online conferences and other different methods kinds of online communications have not only become widely accepted, but often preferred to other methods. Online communications can offer several advantages and disadvantages. There is convenience; users don’t need to wait in for the other person to be available in order to get the message to them, they can just send an email.   Today for better communications, we can avail the facilities of e-mail, we can chat for hours. There are plenty messenger tools in present, these services it has become easy to start a friendship where users can share their thoughts. Advantages of Instant messaging is; users are able to send message in real time, free to use, having to have a proper face to face conversation without making a large bill and users are able to chat to more than one person at the same time. However there are disadvantages in using online communications. Some people decide to send viruses via email and in the processing infecting the user computers. Virus email can be difficult in order to be detected especially to someone with a very little knowledge of computer viruses and how they work. It’s not only emails that are the downside of online communications there are more such Instant messaging, the downside of instant messaging is that viruses can be sent via files, needs internet connection and computer and last of you don’t who you are really talking too. As technology progresses and the world has become more reliant up on internet functions online learning has gained popularity and functionality.   I personally can say it has benefited me, as it enables me to access it 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I am able to have the ability to read and re read lectures, discussion, explanations and comments. Each student has their personal way of learning some can learn visually and others do better when they â€Å"learn by doing†.   As online learning has benefited me I can study the lectures and materials of the modules on my own time or whenever I have the access to a computer or to the internet, it allows me to work at my own pace when learning modules. As I can choose when I want to work on my studies, I am more likely to devote my full attention to the task and not be distracted to comprehend to the lesson.   One of greatest things about online learning is that I can learn anywhere this is a benefit to me as I can learn even in the comfort of my own home; this can save me countless hours of transits. Instead of enduring a boring and often a stressful- rush to get to class at a horrible hour of the morning, I can use these hours for actual learning. Normally I often have more one on one interaction with my lecturers as correspondence through email is essential as my lecturers will know more about me and they way I learn and needs than a student they see two or three times a week in their lecturers. Online learning has not benefited me in this course; this is because in all of my modules it is required that we attend lectures and tutorials so for that we don’t miss out in anything important. Throughout the course, I’ve tried learning some things online, but it was a fail. It was only clear if the lecturer explained it, there was no point learning it online or any other way as it wasn’t clear enough. Online learning is a benefit in some of the modules but for this modules is not, when the work is set is required we practice it there and there so therefore there is no need to learn something online. Online learning does benefit some students in the course as for them they think it’s better to learn in this method, but for some it’s the other way around they think it’s better to attend lectures and tutorials to learn the module. Reference: Netiquette: Erin Hoffman. (2005). what is netiquette. Available: wisegeek.com/contest/what-is-netiquette.htm. Last accessed 28th March 2011. Wendy Grossman. (2010). what is netiquette. Available: bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-netiquette. Last accessed 4th April 2011. Advantages and disadvantages: Jayashree Pakhare. (2006). Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet. Available: buzzle.com/articles/advantages-disadvantages-internet.html. Last accessed 4 April 2011.

Album Review Coldplay essays

Album Review Coldplay essays Label: EMD/Capitol, (recorded 2000). Produced by Ken Nelson and Kris Allison. Selections: Dont Panic, Shiver, Spies, Sparks, Yellow, Trouble, Parachutes, High Speed, We Never Change, Everythings Not Lost. Personnel: Chris Martin, vocals piano, Jon Buckland, guitar, Will Champion, drums, and Guy Berryman, bass. Coldplay recently won a Grammy award for Parachutes for Best Alternative Album. The only thing wrong with that is that Parachutes deserved to be nominated for Best Album. All of the quartet attended the University College of London. All four had been playing instruments since their early teens and been influenced by likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Eric Clapton. With only their full-debut album and a few EPs they have already joined the ranks of Englands elite including Oasis, Verve, and Radiohead. They are drawing comparisons with Scotlands Travis and the late Jeff Buckley, who I recently have also taken an interest to. This album also earned the band a Mercury Music Prize nomination and won three Brit Awards nominations. The album was released in the U.K. in November 2000, and was released a month later in the U.S. They have released two singles off this album and they have both had tremendous success, Yellow then followed by Trouble. Many may have first heard their f irst single Yellow on ABC, because in 2000 it was chosen as the theme song for their sports promotion spots. This band has enjoyed almost instant success after signing with their label in April 1999. Parachutes is a perfect balance of sadness and elation, which they are able to switch back and forth in a heartbeat. The album begins with its shortest track (2:17) Dont Panic, which starts with a sort of British folk-rock sound and evolves into a kind of space ...

Evidence Darwin Had for Evolution

Evidence Darwin Had for Evolution Imagine being the first person to discover and put together the pieces of an idea so big that it would change the entire spectrum of science forever. In this day and age with all of the technology available and all kinds of information right at our fingertips, this may not seem to be such a daunting task. What would it have been like back in a time where this previous knowledge that we take for granted had not yet been discovered and the equipment that is now commonplace in labs had not yet been invented? Even if you are able to discover something new, how do you publish this new and outlandish idea and then get scientists all over the world to buy into the hypothesis and help strengthen it? This is the world that Charles Darwin had to work in as he pieced together his Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection. There are many ideas that now seem like common sense to scientists and students that were unknown during his time. Yet, he still managed to use what was available to him to come up with such a profound and fundamental concept. So what exactly did Darwin know when he was coming up with the Theory of Evolution? 1.  Observational Data Obviously, Charles Darwins most influential piece of his Theory of Evolution puzzle is the strength of his own personal observational data. Most of this data came from his long voyage on the HMS Beagle to South America. Particularly, their stop at the Galapagos Islands proved to be a gold mine of information for Darwin in his collection of data on evolution. It was there that he studied the finches indigenous to the islands and how they differed from the South American mainland finches. Through drawings, dissections, and preserving specimens from stops along his voyage, Darwin was able to support his ideas that he had been forming about natural selection and evolution. Charles Darwin published several about his voyage and the information he collected. These all became important as he further pieced together his Theory of Evolution. 2.  Collaborators Data Whats even better than having data to back up your hypothesis? Having someone elses data to back up your hypothesis. That was another thing that Darwin knew as he was creating the Theory of Evolution. Alfred Russel Wallace had come up with the same ideas as Darwin as he traveled to Indonesia. They got in contact and collaborated on the project. In fact, the first public declaration of the Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection came as a joint presentation by Darwin and Wallace at the Linnaean Society of Londons annual meeting. With double the data from different parts of the world, the hypothesis seemed even stronger and more believable. In fact, without Wallaces original data, Darwin may never have been able to write and publish his most famous book On the Origin of Speices which outlined Darwins Theory of Evolution and the idea of Natural Selection. 3.  Previous Ideas The idea that species change over a period of time was not a brand new idea that came from Charles Darwins work. In fact, there were several scientists that came before Darwin that had hypothesized the exact same thing. However, none of them were taken as seriously because they did not have the data or know the mechanism for how species change over time. They only knew that it made sense from what they could observe and see in similar species. One such early scientist was actually the one that influenced Darwin the most. It was his own grandfather Erasmus Darwin. A doctor by trade, Erasmus Darwin was fascinated by nature and the animal and plant worlds. He instilled a love of nature in his grandson Charles who later recalled his grandfathers insistence that species were not static and in fact did change as time passed. 4.  Anatomical Evidence Almost all of Charles Darwins data was based on anatomical evidence of various species. For instance, with Darwins finches, he noticed the beak size and shape was indicative of what kind of food the finches ate. Identical in every other way, the birds were clearly closely related but had the anatomical differences in their beaks that made them different species. These physical changes were necessary for the survival of the finches. Darwin noticed the birds that did not have the right adaptations often died before they were able to reproduce. This led him to the idea of natural selection. Darwin also had access to the fossil record. While there were not as many fossils that had been discovered in that time as we have now, there was still plenty for Darwin to study and ponder over. The fossil record was able to clearly show how a species would change from an ancient form to a modern form through an accumulation of physical adaptations. 5.  Artificial Selection The one thing that escaped Charles Darwin was an explanation for how the adaptations happened. He knew that natural selection would decide if an adaptation was advantageous or not in the long run, but he was unsure of how those adaptations occurred in the first place. However, he did know that offspring inherited characteristics from their parents. He also knew that offspring were similar but still different than either parent. To help explain adaptations, Darwin turned to artificial selection as a way to experiment with his ideas of heredity. After he returned from his voyage on the HMS Beagle, Darwin went to work breeding pigeons. Using artificial selection, he chose which traits he wanted the baby pigeons to express and bred the parents that showed those traits. He was able to show that artificially selected offspring showed desired traits more often than the general population. He used this information to explain how natural selection worked.

Signal Role in Mission Command Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Signal Role in Mission Command - Research Paper Example Troops must be connected regularly to satellite-based communication. This means for effective command and control, force deployment can only take place in the face proper information communication technologies developing in the world. The main responsibility of the Signal Regiment is to ensure that the Army is successfully transformed into an information-technology period and new communication tools are being properly utilized. According to Rutt and Jette (2003), the increasing need for joint-service operations underscores the requirement for using common audio, imagery and data signals and networks for all warfighters. The objective is a flawless global system where signals can be transferred between users safely and easily in a way understandable to the user (McGrath, 2006). The main aim of communications technology tools is to guarantee the commander and personnel continuous safe communications during operation and on the front lines. To achieve this, the establishment of battle l abs for emerging combat developments has made significant leaps on this front, especially in most developed countries such as the United States. Technology is known to change faster in communications and computerization than new innovation. In light of this, emerging technologies tend to be focused more on the personnel such as swift prototyping and trials by soldiers in a practical way. Satellite-based Communication A satellite-based signal transmission system for combat trucks is currently under evaluation. Lighter, petite, mobile and more effective systems are the impression for future battleground communications. Currently the trials are ongoing on Mounted Battle Command on-the-move systems powered by satellite communications that will offer broadband signals and communications to a commander on the battlefield (Bullock, &Marshall, 2011). The technology will use lighter, undersized, and less costly tracks with technologies mounted on it to improve communications for battle comma nds on the move. Nonetheless, the development of gadgets that will practically work in adverse combat environment is still a challenge to the manufacturers. Future signal transmissions will witness the placement of small satellite receivers on military trucks, especially those that are meant for command and control operations on the battlefields (McGrath, 2006). The main aim of these operations is to connect a large number of these trucks using satellites, so that the army can operate anywhere across the world with relative ease. Currently, physical barriers are an issue on the battlegrounds, and as result commanders are forced to move closer to the frontline for effective communication (Rutt, & Jette, 2003). However, in future, commanders will have the capacity to establish several communication channels between them, and the lower-level personnel anywhere in the combat zones. Expanded communications reach Recent experiences in the war on terrorism have emphasized the need to align battlefield movements with quick and easier communication (Tyler, 2008). Future communications will therefore have further geographical reach compared to the scope of current communications. The currently limited reach of communications poses a bigger problem to command and control between forward deployed units and those that are in the rear (Bullock, &Marshall, 2011). Current technological weaknesses also impede proper communications with troops

Comparison of Scripting Languages Research Paper

Comparison of Scripting Languages - Research Paper Example They are categorized into scientific concerned and general purpose scripting languages. Examples of scientific based one are Matlab and Octave while those of general purpose are python and Perl. However, we are going to compare and contrast Matlab, Python, and Octave scripting languages by analyzing. According to Chapman, Matlab is a computer program enhanced to perform scientific and engineering calculations (2008). It started as a program to calculate matrix mathematics but with time, it improved to a malleable calculating program capable of resolvingbasically any technical difficult. Python is a dynamically, securely, and powerfully typed language. Python offers the clean and easy word order of the prevalent scientific calculating environments, grounded on your preferredhigh-performance FORTRAN, C, and C++ codes (Langtangen, 2008). While Octave is software, same as Matlab that has a well-matched scripting interface. However, Octave image processing purposes are not as broad as tho se provided by Matlab. Python, Matlab, and Octave scripting languages have many things in common. They have no affirmation of variables, and simple and suitable word order that make them easy to use ad to learn. In addition, they easily go together with GUIs, simulation, and visualization. However, Matlab and Octave are more independent languages, while Python requires coupling with several other packages in order to make an environment of reasonable functionality. Federico argues that, dynamic typing is easily found in scripting languages such as Python, while in Matlab and Octave both dynamic and static typing is found (2010). In addition, Python is much stronger programming language compared to Matlab and Octave making it the most convenient to use in computing scientific calculations. However, this python feature makes it to be preferred to by scientists can perform weighty operations compared to Matlab and Octave. The time needed to load and change input files folder of the Mat lab, Octave, and Python differ considerably. Python is the fastest followed by Matlab and Octave respectively. These show that Python can load fastest compared to the other two, however, it is the best in loading. In terms of the power structure examination, Python has the best performance compared to Matlab and Octave. This makes it efficient in the calculation and extremely fast compared to Matlab, though, Octave is the slowest of all. These clearly illustrate that Python programming language is stronger compared to Matlab and Octave. The Python, Matlab, and Octave environments differ considerably. The Python environment is incredibly open and is made in such a way that external tool can be integrated with it. For example, calling a program like FORTRAN from the Python is extremely easier, and the Python borders can take benefit of object- concerned scheme and easy gluing to GUIs, and visualization. However, calculating with FORTRAN from these boarders can be done in either short scripts or interacting full over a Python shell. Therefore, Python interfaces can be used to existing libraries like a way of making your own custom-made environment for resolving predicaments. Conversely, Matlab and Octave environments are not open, therefore, they cannot be easily be integrated with external tools. The characteristic of the toolbox of the Python, Matlab, and Octave also differ according to how can be contained. In Matlab and Octave, the toolbox is mostly characterized by a

STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING IN SAUDI ARABIA HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IN Literature review

STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING IN SAUDI ARABIA HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IN GLOBAL CONTEXT - Literature review Example University decision-making processes are influenced by political, economic, cultural as well as technological factors (Elyas, & Picard, 2013, p. 31-41). The factors affect literally all aspects of the operations of universities and are global in nature. They therefore influence on the environment within which the universities operate, the expectations of the public in services to be offered in the future as well as the structure and sources of funds necessary for their management and running. Decision making process involves making conscious choices among many alternatives and requires critical thinking as well as sound reasoning in order to choose on the most appropriate alternative among the many (Rugh, 2002, p. 45-50). Strategic decision making therefore entails a number of attributes, which include definition, and identification of a problem, identification as well as analysis of alternatives, choosing and implementing an option as well as evaluation on the outcomes from the choi ce made for possible corrections. Besides, it is noted that decision-making and management of higher education in Saudi Arabia is not free from government influence (Onsman, 2011, p. 519). The higher education sector in Saudi have undergone through great structural and ideological change especially after the 9/11 global policy shift feature. To substantiate this, Elyas and Picard carried a study in critique of the system of higher education sector in Saudi while in perspective with global context (2013, p. 31-41). In among other findings, the effect of western economies (neoleberalism) was shown to have greatly influenced the system. Both learners as well as top management teams have embraced the policy paradigm shift in globalization as well as neoliberalism. However, in a critical view, authors have argued that adoption of ‘localized’ neoliberalism would be more effective in shaping the environment of

Motivation and success in learning Research Paper - 1

Motivation and success in learning - Research Paper Example For a teacher to create an environment of learning in the classroom that is more student-centered, it is imperative that the out-of-school practices of students are capitalized upon. An essential and common component of the practices out of school is the use of computers in some form. Not all schools provide students with equal access to computers or the Internet. In addition to that, many schools have taken long to capitalize on the computers’ use in order to engage the identities carried by the students outside the school and to improve the experiences of students’ learning. Some of the ways in which teachers can capitalize on the out of school activities of the students is to encourage them to prepare lessons from e-books that they can study on Kindle and Tablet. Students should be encouraged to use interactive media like Skype while doing the classroom tasks as a group when they have to be in different locations. Involving the use of computers in the educational set up is imperative in the present age because it makes the students feel empowered. Students tend to think that they are studying in an advanced system and hence do not underestimate the tendency of their educational institution to empower them to the extent where they can compete with others both academically and professionally on the global scale. Implications of the use of computers as a strategy to improve students’ motivation are increased need to monitor and supervise the students so that it can be ensured that students are making right use of the technological resources rather than using them for leisure or personal activities. Although the strategy of using computers to inculcate intrinsic motivation in the students is quite effective, yet it is important to consider the novelty of such activities of learning while planning for and

Should women be banned from wearing veils in public Essay

Should women be banned from wearing veils in public - Essay Example inst and for it, the following analysis will discuss the issue of the face veil and attempt to draw a conclusion with regards to whether or not it should be â€Å"allowed† within Democratic Western society. Firstly, the most salient argument against outlawing the veil in public is concentric upon individual liberty and discrimination against Muslims. Although there are certainly a number of nations that can be considered as representative of â€Å"Western democracy†, a core similarity that exists between all of these nations is a certain degree of self-determination and free will; within the confines of the existing law. By and large, personal liberty is a complement of all of these democracies. As such, those individuals that argue against a ban on the facial veil point to the fact that such a ban is inherently against the liberty and founding principles of the societies in question. Moreover, due to the events of the past several decades, there is already a high level of distrust, suspicion, and oftentimes, right hatred, or Muslim individuals within society. Accordingly, those who argue against a band point to the fact that restricting the natural behavior of individuals, rega rdless of their religious interpretation, would only lead to a further escalation with regards to the hatred and distrust that are oftentimes placed against Muslim communities throughout the West. By means of comparison and contrast, those individuals that argue against allowing the veil in public, and promote the belief that it should be outlawed, also point to fundamental rights and interpretations of liberty and freedom as the backbone of their arguments. For instance, those in favor of a band point to the fact that women’s rights are inherently guaranteed with regards to the democratic principles that define governance. As such, by restricting the mobility and potential level of integration that women can exhibit within society, a facial veil is tantamount to a level of second-class

Ivy League Schools vs Second Tier Schools Research Paper

Ivy League Schools vs Second Tier Schools - Research Paper Example According to the authors Fry, Ketteridge, and Marshall (2008), education plays an important role in shaping up the career of the students. By getting the proper education, the skills and qualities of the students get enhanced which encourage them in grabbing various opportunities. These authors highlighted that education process and policies are different in various academic institutions. Some schools focus on the overall growth of the students while other schools emphasize on knowledge enhancement processes. The authors stated that the students must select which type education they want to have before taking admission in school (Fry, Ketteridge and Marshall 54). The author Mullen (2009), highlighted for the expansion of higher education, the classes and courses get stratified. This process provides the better understanding to the students regarding different subjects. Ivy League Schools have various facilities and processes by which students can get high quality of education. In U.S , the students who belong from wealthy families or high-class society prefer to get an education from Ivy League Schools. The expectations of this type of students and their families are very high from the schools. The academic environment and facilities provided by these schools facilitate them in satisfying students and their families. The students of the low economic class also get admission in Ivy League Schools based on their merit. The Ivy League Schools are the most selective colleges in U.S.

Should women be banned from wearing veils in public Essay

Should women be banned from wearing veils in public - Essay Example inst and for it, the following analysis will discuss the issue of the face veil and attempt to draw a conclusion with regards to whether or not it should be â€Å"allowed† within Democratic Western society. Firstly, the most salient argument against outlawing the veil in public is concentric upon individual liberty and discrimination against Muslims. Although there are certainly a number of nations that can be considered as representative of â€Å"Western democracy†, a core similarity that exists between all of these nations is a certain degree of self-determination and free will; within the confines of the existing law. By and large, personal liberty is a complement of all of these democracies. As such, those individuals that argue against a ban on the facial veil point to the fact that such a ban is inherently against the liberty and founding principles of the societies in question. Moreover, due to the events of the past several decades, there is already a high level of distrust, suspicion, and oftentimes, right hatred, or Muslim individuals within society. Accordingly, those who argue against a band point to the fact that restricting the natural behavior of individuals, rega rdless of their religious interpretation, would only lead to a further escalation with regards to the hatred and distrust that are oftentimes placed against Muslim communities throughout the West. By means of comparison and contrast, those individuals that argue against allowing the veil in public, and promote the belief that it should be outlawed, also point to fundamental rights and interpretations of liberty and freedom as the backbone of their arguments. For instance, those in favor of a band point to the fact that women’s rights are inherently guaranteed with regards to the democratic principles that define governance. As such, by restricting the mobility and potential level of integration that women can exhibit within society, a facial veil is tantamount to a level of second-class

Compare and Contrast the Concepts of Durkheims Social Facts With Essay

Compare and Contrast the Concepts of Durkheims Social Facts With Webers Bureaucracy - Essay Example Weber’s views were different, he firmly opposed the idea â€Å"that history had some ultimate end, and seriously doubted the possibility of human liberation through a socialist revolution† (Hughes et al, 2003: 55). According to him, the organisational form of rationalisation is that of the Bureaucracy, and this too contributed greatly to the meaninglessness of modern life, with the individual becoming increasingly insignificant within the vast administrative structures. Weber perceived Bureaucracy as an â€Å"iron cage† resulting from industrialism, stifling unique human qualities in both socialist and capitalist societies. The two scholars differed in their purpose and approach to sociology. Durkheim extended the study of science to the study of social facts, whereas Weber attempted to provide existing social studies with a better foundation. Hence, Durkheim consistently expressed his belief that social facts had distinctive properties which must be recognized in order to make the study of society more scientific. On the other hand, Weber did not pioneer a new field, his work treated old themes and known materials with a new precision and from the standpoint of new questions. Durkheim’s and Weber’s different definitions of â€Å"social facts† and their divergent sociological studies of religion reveal the differences in their perspectives (Bendix, 1989). Similarities in the work of the two social scientists include the fact that both Durkheim and Weber refer to ways of anthropomorphising society, that is, they provide a human form to society. In their individual ways, they emphasise the knowledge that both Social Facts and Bureaucracy theories respectively, dominate lives and therefore society is seen as a living thing, as seen in the following comparison: Durkheim (1982) stressed that social facts cannot be defined by their universality, there may be different and distinctive manifestations. They are general

Person Centred Approach Essay Example for Free

Person Centred Approach Essay The definition of person centred values is treating and seeing people in a care setting as equals, who are involved in decision making to promote an independent way of life and to ensure that the care that is provided is appropriate to their needs. It takes into account service users views and needs and places them, along with their family at the centre of all decision making. Working in a way that embeds person centred values is important to meet the needs of my service user. With my clients it helps to build relationships with them and their family members to ensure a good quality of life and provide the best possible quality of care. This ranges from me attending to my service users personal care needs in a respectful way and to support them to achieve tasks on their own, to choices of what activities they would like to do that can help them to express their individuality or help them to create new relationships and overcome any feelings of social exclusion or devaluation. I also believe it’s important to respect any religious or cultural beliefs that they may have and support the individual to follow their chosen faith. Read more:  Person Centred Care Firstly I would look at the way in which I communicate with my service user. If they are verbal the simplest way I find out about the individual is to talk directly to them as it allows them to fully express themselves and make their own decisions. If non verbal then I would communication methods such as makaton, picture cards and visual aids to learn of their likes and dislikes. Another way is to speak with siblings as they could provide information the client may be unaware of or may have forgotten but also so they are included in the building of the care plan and it helps me build an understanding and a relationship with them. Talking with social workers, previous support workers, doctors or any other professional involved in the clients care an also provide information about their preferences and anything that may be important to the individual. With these methods it helps me find as much information as possible about my service user. In order to take into account the history, preferences, wishes and needs of an individual when planning care and support I would refer to the principles of person centred care. Rather than just supplying a service, each person should be treated as an individual by offering a personalised service specific to their needs and preferences. For example if an individual enjoyed an activity such as walking but needed support to do so I would plan a time for a walk so that the individual would get enjoyment from doing activities they choose and feel valued. Also, they should be treated them with the same dignity and respect you would want for a member family of your own. Refer to support plans to ensure the highest level of person centred care is maintained. Each individual’s care plan outlines and details the service user’s preferences and day to day requirements so that they receive the specific care and daily support they require from the level of support required with an individual’s personal hygiene and how to do it in a respectful way to what food and activities they like. The information is centred on the individuals wants and needs to ensure independence and choice rather than control, choice should always be offered regardless of importance of the activity or task, therefore each individuals care plan contributes to working in a person centred way. The term consent means giving permission to do something or agreement to an action and in a care setting consent is needed for a number of things. With my clients I need to ask for consent for administering medication, for help with bills, finances and banking, help with certain type of care such as bathing and personal hygiene. It’s important to gain consent for all activities as lack of it could be deemed as abuse as I would forcing someone to perform or to take part in a task or an activity they don’t want to be involved in. Consent however should not just be gained, but the client must fully understand what they are consenting to and any possible implications that the action or task can imply. It is also essential for protecting myself from any legal challenge. There are a few ways to establish an individual’s consent but it depends upon the individuals preferred communication. The methods I use with my clients are verbal, written notes, visual aids such as picture cards, makaton, some individuals communicate physically with body movements such as a nod or through a representative or advocate. Any of these are forms establishing consent that i would look to use with my clients. Establishing consent will vary as each individual’s capacity to consent is assessed. If consent cannot be established first steps would be to not carry out the task and document the information. If a person is mentally incapable of providing consent then you should refer to the individuals care/support plan that may have been established at a time when they were capable of making informed decisions. If this fails, consent can be given by next of kin or an advocate however I would ensure my client must be involved as much as possible to adhere to person centred values. Active participation is a way of working that allows an individual to be completely involved in every aspect of their lives. This could be what my service users have to eat, what they wear when they go out or go to work in, or it could be planning tasks and activities for the week ahead, deciding on where to go such as day trips out or holidays, arranging appointments to the doctors or the dentists and active participation in services that relate to their own care. Helping to be in control of their lives rather that a passive recipient. Active participation helps individuals by benefitting them in a number of ways. I believe it gives them independence and makes the service user feel in control of their own lives rather than having decisions made for them or having few choices. There are many benefits I’ve noticed such as growth in confidence in social situations, a sense of well being, a sense of achievement of taking control of their lives and I’ve noticed the mental and physical stimulation it also brings. Also encouraging individuals to participate in the planning and arranging of their own care increases their self confidence, independence and it is empowering. There are many ways to reducing barriers of active participation. In order to reduce any barriers to active participation you have to look at what the barriers could be. They could be lack of confidence or self esteem, a lack of opportunity to activities, difficulty in communication and lack of patience of others. To overcome these barriers I support my service users by offering them choices and in every aspect of their day to day lives and offering them opportunity to plan and do activities they enjoy which improves their confidence. I think it’s very important to have the patience to listen to service users and take time to understand how they feel and I find by discussing why they feel like this and talking through it can increase their feeling of self esteem. Communication barriers can be overcome by staff development and training, language and makaton are tools that can be learnt, but there other ways like picture cards and hand gestures I use with some service users to offer choices and to make decisions when they are non verbal. The method I find best to encourage active participation is by communicating and offering choices and then giving praise and encouragement to service users to increase their confidence to then go on to make more decisions in different aspect of their lives for themselves. I find it’s good to look for local events or if they show an interest in a hobby you could find out about local groups that would be prepared to support the individual to participate. You should always highlight the benefits of the activity and getting family members to join in with activities can make a big difference to encouraging participation from individuals. I would support an individual to make informed choices by giving the individual the full information regarding that decision. I would explain the positive and the negative effects of that decision regardless of my beliefs or views as my personal view should not influence an individual’s choice. The choices and decisions can be as simple offering the full information on items when supporting individuals with shopping, giving information on price and helping to find offers or decisions that may require risk assessments to make the individual fully aware of the any risks that may be involved. I believe all staff in a care setting should help to  empower their client by offering the information, knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions. I think risk taking can be part of an individual’s choices because there is risk in many day to day things that we do. Due to the nature of an individual’s disability, a simple task could be deemed a risk and would need risk assessing to make them fully aware of any potential dangers or threats to the individual’s safety. It’s important to make individuals aware of any risks or hazards Risk assessment processes are used to make an individual aware of the positive and negative consequences involved when for example taking part in an activity, we look at and record the risks and hazards involved and then decide if the risk is worth taking. However there are benefits that have to be taken in to consideration as new activities promote confidence and empowers individuals to live more independent lives. Having choice is an individual’s right, risk assessments provide support for them to make decisions in the safest way possible. I believe a worker’s personal views should not influence an individual’s choices because that is taking away their right to make informed choices. My views for example are not fact and should not be used to influence any decisions or life choices. I could inform an individual if a certain food was bad for them and suggest a healthier option however whatever they decide is their choice. Another example is religious or cultural choices and beliefs, my views are my own and I would support them to attend religious or cultural services and acknowledge religious holidays.

Essay --

This essay is to give an analysis of the television series, The Big Bang Theory CBS (2007- ) specifically the first episodes of season one, which introduces the five main characters of the series. I will be taking a look at the genre of the programme and how the programme falls into the specific genre and also a look at use of mise-en-scà ¨ne used in the first episode of the series. I will be undertaking this essay by explaining each approach with the use of theory and analysing this against the program in question and finally, my conclusion will be a summary of the points I have made within the analysis of genre and mise-en-scà ¨ne. In applying genre theory, I will proceed to analyse how the television series, The Big Bang Theory falls into the situation comedy as a genre. Firstly an understanding of genre is needed before an analysis can begin. ‘Genre derives from the French word meaning type’ (Bignell 2008: 116). Broadly used in, literary and media, more recently linguistics, to referring to a distinctive type of 'text'. (Chandler 1997). The term ‘Can be defined as patterns/ forms/ styles/ structures which transcend individual art products, and which supervise both their construction by artists and their reading by audiences.’ (Ryall, 1975: 28). Genres allow us to organise material into smaller categories, identify the ‘artistic product we want’ (Creeber, 2008). Having begun with the Greek philosopher Aristotle when he began to outline different works in to categories the term is still in use today and, now in television genres are used to differentiate a number of diver se television shows from each other, distinguish the comparisons between them in the content, style, and format of the show. Genre in television has become a sign... ...defined but with theorists having their own views and opinions on in what way they organise genre. Questioning whether genre is a possession of television texts themselves or a method audiences and producers understand them. Furthermore, mise-en-scene a respected tool for supporting directors in filmmaking for them to help the audience convey what is occurring within each scene with use of locations the characters are seen in and the props used by these characters. The Big Bang Theory fits the category of being a sitcom having followed in the footsteps of previous sitcoms with its comedic actors and continues jokes, familiar settings and sticking into its thirty minute time slot. In addition, the use of mise-en-scene is used well, viewers will be able to look at the scene of The Big Bang Theory and know the concept of the show and works in a way like genre does.

Epistemological Development Essay -- Religion, Bible, Truth

Everything in education is impacted by the perspective of a biblical worldview because educating a child is teaching them to know and find truth. According to Knight, â€Å"Much truth exists outside of the Bible, but no truth exists outside the metaphysical framework of the Bible.† (2006, p. 226). The concepts of the Bible are used to give a unifying foundation for all subjects taught. The Bible also becomes the integration point. All content knowledge is contextually interpreted with the Bible because God is the source of all truth and the one who unifies all truth in Himself. The Bible can be compared to leaven that permeates all subjects. This gives all subjects significance and all subjects then give significance to a child’s life. Therefore, teaching from a biblical worldview provides an epistemological, interpretive framework that adds meaning to otherwise insignificant details. It becomes the focal point that unifies our curriculum. As Augustine states, we must seek to integrate our faith with learning because â€Å"Faith is understanding’s step and understanding is faith’s reward.† (Holmes, 2008, p. 27). Several quantitative studies have examined the worldview of students using worldview surveys such as Nehemiah Institute’s PEERS (2003). Fyock (2008) in his dissertation on the effect of an instructor’s biblical worldview gave high school seniors the PEERS survey before and after instruction from a teacher with a biblical worldview. While this was an excellent measurement tool for worldview assessment, it is not oriented toward epistemology, so would not be adequate for this research. Postmodernism It is important to understand the postmodern worldview because its conception of truth is contrary to that found in a bib... ...reasoning will be used to understand and evaluate their internal motivations and bring greater consistency to their underlining suppositions. The individual may develop to the point of self-authoring their worldview, by using self reflection and meta cognition to examine their worldview, and each of its components, in the light of their philosophical or theological beliefs. In this context, self-authoring does not imply the individual authors their own salvation or their own truth regarding salvation. Rather, they discover truth for themselves through a process of critically examining their worldview and comparing it to the worldview discovered in the Bible, the source of ultimate Truth. As an individual develops through worldview formation stages different methods of acquiring and confirming their concept of truth will be important (Mansfield & Clinchy, 2002).

John Locke’s Some Thoughts Concerning Education; Philosophy Essay

Daniel Dwyer Mykytyn, N. January 11, 2013 HZT 4U1-01 John Locke’s Some Thoughts Concerning Education John Locke, famous sixteenth century philosopher and â€Å"Father of Classical Liberalism† wrote a work based on the human mind and learning methods entitled Some Thoughts Concerning Education. This work outlines Locke’s views on how the brain absorbs and remembers new ideas through a theory known as the â€Å"tabula rasa† or blank slate. This theory constitutes that humans are born with a blank mind and that as we are taught new concepts, they are inscribed into this blank slate and remain there until we pass on.According to Locke, the goal of education is not to create a scholar, but to create a virtuous man. He believes that learning morals is more important than any other kind of learning. He believes that education should create a person who obeys reason instead of passion. One of the most emphasized points in Locke’s work is that children shoul d enjoy learning and that there is no good reason that they should dislike learning and love playing. This idea covers almost two thirds of his work on education as Locke believes that we should begin teaching humans correctly from a young age.All together, John Locke’s work emphasizes three base ideas, the concept of the tabula rasa, moral learning is more important than any other kind of learning, and that children should enjoy learning. The first subject being covered is the subject of the tabula rasa or blank slate that allows humans to think freely in a sense. The concept of the tabula rasa, as told by John Locke, delves into the human mind deeper than one could simply comprehend by studying the surface of the human mind. Locke explains part of a pre-established concept introduced by Aristotle, known as priori and posteriori knowledge.His work places more emphasis on posteriori knowledge in that this learning method imposes that humans are born with a blank slate in thei r mind and that as they learn, subjects and ideas are essentially burned into their minds. This is based off of the basic â€Å"nature versus nurture† concept in that humans learn in one of two ways. These are either through nature, in which we are born with knowledge and that we are basically unlocking it through experience and all learning is basically recollection.The other method emphasized by Locke is nurturing, humans are taught through action and all learning is just the basic collection of new ideas. Locke held firmly the idea that with the tabula rasa, one is given the ability to bend their mind and tailor themselves to certain ways of learning. This is an important point in Locke’s Some Thoughts Concerning Education because it is the basis for the entirety of this work. This lets people define who they are, or, their character. If every human were to learn through recollection then truly we have no freedom as this means our character and mind are virtually pr edestined for us.Tabula rasa gives humans the freedom to learn on our own and shape our own characters without having to worry about what might come in our predetermined fates. This also slightly mixes in a single quality of priori knowledge in that once we learn something, it is permanently engraved into our minds, and as we grow older, lose our knowledge as we might, it is simply because we can not recall it. It is held within the library of knowledge that is our brain, but we simply can not remember it. The second argument I would like to introduce is John Locke’s personal views on virtues.Locke was a general liberal Protestant Christian, meaning he held very strong his values and ethics. This is apparent when he explains that moral learning is more important than any other kind of learning. Locke believed that the goal of education was not to raise a man of passion, but to raise one of reason and morals. He also held that another goal of education was not to create a scho larly man, but to create a virtuous man, much like Locke himself. Normally, on the standpoint of religion, philosophers were men of science and logic.Locke directly opposed these earlier ideas by stating that morals, virtues, and ethics were a more important section of learning than any variety of math, algebra, chemistry, etcetera. More specifically, Locke wanted the educational system to instill what he named, the Principle of Virtue. This was an idea that Locke wished to impose that would divert a child’s mental attention from their appetites and desires to reason. Locke deeply rooted his philosophies in his devout dedication to Christianity. Locke strongly supports moral learning because e believes that one who holds strong morals and implements them in their daily lives can improve the quality of society as a whole. He believes that society looks well upon the virtuous because society profits from virtuous acts. Locke wanted to teach these values to young people still go ing through earlier stages of development so that they would be passed down through generations as the ideal behaviours. The third and final point is Locke’s strong emphasis on the teaching methods implemented on young children. He held a strong belief that children were the future of our society, and he was correct.This is why he disliked the educational system of his time. He did not like the concept of children being taught languages, mathematics, and science because he knew and he understood that children dislike learning these subjects. He believed that children could have fun learning due to his theory that children hate learning and love playing because they are forced to learn and they are not forced to play. Children enjoy playing because it is an instinct for children to prefer having fun and playing games than being forced to learn the difficult new concepts held within mathematics, algebra, science and languages.He says that children should be nurtured and taken s eriously regardless of their behaviour or situation. In saying this, what he means to say is that children should not be beaten, or scolded, and that behaviour, good or bad, should be taken lightly and that children should not be punished for causing trouble due to their age. Locke also puts emphasis on the point that every child’s mind is different, and that teachers should tailor their education towards certain students’ characters.Locke stresses that all children should learn a manual skill such as carpentry, painting, or playing an instrument as it offers relief from the stressful hours spent learning in school. The point of Locke’s essay is to take a stand against schools in a sense. He does this by criticizing their teaching methods and offering ideas on how children should learn and how they should grow. He implements his own opinion by utilizing a strong Christian background and by analyzing the minds of young children.He argues many points and opinions in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, but the most strongly emphasized are the concept of the tabula rasa, that moral learning is the most important form of learning, and that children should be taught through less strict methods of teaching. He believes that people grow through development of the mind, rather than recollection of complicated ideas. In the nature versus nurture argument, Locke strongly supports the notion of nurturing the brain and makes that a strongly opinionated statement through one of his most influential works, Some Thoughts Concerning Education.

American Agriculture DBQ

Industrialism drove our country to advance and develop quickly from 1865 to 1900. All aspects of society felt the impacts. Agriculture in America, experienced these new effects, changing completely the way it was conducted in the states. As technology increased, and the invention of new tools came about, farming was able to commercialize and become more efficient. Economic conditions of this time, hindered the farmers profitability and growth. New policies enforced by the government in this era sought out to help agriculture, but on occasion angered the farmers.Agriculture in the states changed drastically from 1865 to 1900. Technological advances boomed starting in the 1860’s, totally improving the ways of American agriculture. Railroads were growing in size, and allowed for transportation of crops to become exponentially more efficient. A map showed the amount of railroads in 1870 compared to 1890; they tripled in size. (Doc B) Cyrus Mccormick was an inventor and farmer duri ng this era. It was his idea to build the first combine. This basically created a quicker harvesting process of crops.Mccormick wasn’t the only one innovating in this time. 1n 1868, James Oliver invented the steel plow. This was yet another tool, which increased the speed at which one could gather crops. Corbis Bettmann took a photo of a wheat harvest in 1880. A plow similar to Oliver’s was being dragged behind several horses in order to collect as much wheat as possible quickly. (Doc D) However, it wasn’t just crops that were being shipped out faster. Cattle and all livestock were being grown and slaughtered at greater rates.In 1884, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, published an article describing slaughtering capacity at a local Chicago establishment. It stated that it had â€Å"†¦ a slaughtering capacity of 400,000 head annually. † (Doc F) They were raising livestock faster than ever before. Economic conditions in the US hindered the agricult ural growth during this era. Prices and inflation were uncertain and ever-changing, causing strife in the farming communities. Over the course of 35 years the prices of crops

Community Health Assessment Essay

Riverside County is a vast geographical area in Southern California with a diverse population. It represents a melding area of different cultures, ideals and median income, resulting in a community full of variety. Geographically, Riverside County covers 7200 sq. stretches eastward from the Orange County border of Southern California to the border of Arizona. There is a variety of climate within the county, as it includes a section of the Cleveland National Forest including Mount San Jacinto Mountains with a peak of 10,800’ and the eastern portion of the county is made up of the arid Mojave and Colorado deserts. (Wikipedia) Population Economic Status Assessment The population of 2.3 million is made up of 46.5% Hispanics, 7% African Americans, 1.9% Native American’s 6.6% Asians and 38.5% whites. 27% of the population is made up of those under 18 years old, over 12% is over 65 and over 7% is under 5 years. Over 50% of the population is female. (Citydata) Healthcare challenges include a large population of Spanish speaking immigrants that often lack an understanding of resources available. There are over 54,000 people in the county enrolled in Low Income Health Plans but over 15% of the population, 620,000 people are uninsured. The county developed healthcare program for those individuals that do not qualify for Medi-Cal has 25,000 enrollees. In 2013 there were 33 reported non-business related bankruptcies filed, with a national average of 25% citing medical expenses directly as cause. Home sales peaked in 2008 in both median price and number of home sales. Following the recession, sale prices fell but has steadily risen since the end o f 2012, nearing the early high numbers. Neighborhood/Community Safety Inventory Several types of crime present problems for the community. In 2005 there were 39 murders, 115 rapes, 416 robberies, 1577 assaults, 3829 burglaries, 8215 thefts and 3910 auto-thefts. Over 15,000 people are incarcerated in Riverside County. (Citydata)There is significant drug problems in the county increasing crime and resulting in family disruption. The manufacturing of  methamphetamines plagues the area especially in the rural areas and desert regions, which make it easier to perform unnoticed. Drug related crime is common in the inner city areas of the county including Riverside City, Jurupa Valley, Banning, Moreno valley and Perris. Air quality presents the primary environmental hazard due to smog and other pollutants that often exceed the state averages. Ozone 1 and 8 hour exposure, PM 2.5, PM 10, Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Oxide levels all exceed the US average significantly. In 2005, Riverside County had the second highest levels of PM 2.5 and Ozone 8 hour exposure in the st ate of California. Other environmental hazards include heat exposure in the arid regions during summer months and the poisonous plants found in the region. Poison Oak, Oleander, Stinging Nettles, Jimson Weed and mushrooms are all poisonous plants identified in Riverside County. (Citydata) Vectors contributing to possible disease transmission include ticks, fleas, rats and squirrels. Plague has been identified in isolated squirrels, Hanta virus has been confirmed in mice and rats. The county does battle a considerable West Nile Virus risk with mosquito larva populations in stagnant water sources. (Vector) 2011 had 30,611 live births, with 2.9% late or no prenatal care in Riverside County. (CDPH) Birth rates have remained steady over the last ten years averaging 10-12 per 1000 persons annually. Deaths have followed a slight decrease in tend over the last ten years, as have infant deaths. Population growth has grown sharply over the last ten years, almost doubling the state average. (Citydata) Disaster As sessment Tool Because of the population makeup of Riverside County, with near half of Hispanic descent and many having Spanish as their primary language, there is a high likelihood that disaster response in this community will require a large Spanish speaking component. Another group that will require special planning for disaster response is the disabled. Riverside County has over 20,000 sensory disabled individuals between the ages of 21-64, 39,000 mentally disabled in the same age group and 55,000 physically disabled also in this age group. Because of the large immigrant population and the large number of imprisoned or jailed individuals, there is a higher risk for TB transmission which could affect persons staying at shelters in close proximity to one another during a disaster. Riverside County has a robust  Emergency Response Plan which is detailed in the two part document found on the Riverside County Fire Department webpage. The arid desert regions present flash flood risks when sudden rainstorms deliver water levels above that which the soil can absorb. Because of the overall arid environment, wildfires are a seasonal risk and have plagued the county considerable in recent years. The county is dissected by the San Andreas fault line, resulting in a 4711% rate of earthquakes over the US average. Natural disasters over the last 60 years include 22 fires, 15 floods and 7 severe storms. (Geology) Many of the rural areas of the county are adjacent to areas of denser population, and house communities based around having horses and other livestock. Disaster management in these areas will require additional resources and cooperation to facilitate moving personal animals, including horses, goats and other medium size livestock, to safe areas. These areas, usually possessing a strong cohesiveness, will likely work well together in such situations. Significant preparations have been made for notification of disast er information, utilizing state level disaster comms down to the local HAM radio operators, as well as satellite communications and personal cell phone notifications. Cultural Assessment Tool The majority immigrants come from Mexico at 66%. Just under half of the population identify with a specific religion at 43%, and by far the majority report as Catholic at 66%. Additionally 5% associate as Mormons, leaving 29% as members of all other religious sects and denominations. In all of California, Latinas overwhelmingly make up the group of mothers seeking late prenatal care, with white and blacks following. In 2002 this number was 41,000 for Latinas, 15,000 for whites and 5,100 for blacks. Riverside County has a considerable Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual and Transgender population at 70,747 persons. By far the most dense makeup of this group is in Palm Springs where the LGBPT population is estimated at 40% of the cities entire makeup.

JavaServer Page Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

JavaServer Page - Essay Example It is alike to PHP, though for the difference, it uses Java Programming Language. JSP is Java Servlet’s high-level abstraction (Bill 2014, p.1). A JSP component is designed as a type of Java Servlet, to do the work of the interface of a user for java web application. They are written as text files combining XML elements, XHTML or HTML codes, as well as the embedded JSP commands and actions (Bomer 2014, p.1). With the use of JSP, input from users can be collected through, database present records and web page forms to dynamically create web pages. JSP tags also have a variety of user purposes such as registering user preferences, retrieving data or information from a database, accessing JavaBeans components, sharing information between requests and passing control between pages (Janssen 23). However, there is program code further division, inside the Application Server, into the three logical tiers. This is fractal in some kind: app server object design which unites the whole system architecture. The diagram below shows the Three-Tier architecture. (Kumar 2008, p. 1) The JSP technology is responsible for dynamically creating Web-based content using middle-tier processing. It does this by splitting the Application Logic from Page Design and then compressing logic in reusable and portable Java components (Walsh 2012, p.1). The logical tier (Middle Tier) is removed from the Presentation Tier and controls the functionality of an application, on its own, by performing processing in details (Walsh 2012, p.1). Any code that is not related to retrieving and storing data, as well as to formatting data for user’s display is business logic, in three-tier architecture. For several reasons, it makes sense to store in separate objects, this business logic (Walker 2014). These objects are comprised in the middle tier. However the divisions are often blurry, between the three layers, and business logic is best in most programs. The terms main

Communication Challenges Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communication Challenges - Essay Example The first challenge for communication to take place comes in when a communicator chooses the wrong communication channel. Channel involves the route or the method used to convey the message. A channel must be suitable to as many recipients who must have a way of encoding the message. A wrong identification of the intended audience by the communicator will mean a wrong channel and thus no communication. For instance, when a communicator intends to communicate to a large audience, he must choose a channel that accommodates that. It will be easier to broadcast the news of an upcoming urgent event on a radio or TV other than use written messages. On the other hand, complex information requires a written form of communication other than a verbal form. The second challenge or barrier to communication depends on the receiver of the message. Attitudinal barriers come about because of individual problems of the recipients. The relationship between team players can affect communication. For instance, personal conflicts between people in a team or in an office will hinder open communication, delay communication, or even make some employees refuse to communicate at all. In addition, poor management, lack of training, and employee consultation will lead to a dissatisfied and demotivated team. It is very hard to communicate to a team that is not motivated; they will encode what they want to hear. In the 21st century, communicators face the challenge of communicating to a tech-savvy team especially the younger generation.

Theories of causation of crime Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Theories of causation of crime - Term Paper Example According to this theory, people engage to crime to avoid or end harassment from their friends. In other instances, they may steal so that they can end or reduce financial problems that make them feel embarrassed. In another dimension, such people may commit crime as a way of revenging against those who have done them wrong. Engagement in illegal drug use is also a way of making them feel better especially when they engage in criminal activities. According to Vito & Maahs (2012), different challenges have been found to cause individuals from committing crime. Poor families have different challenges that make them feel disadvantaged in life. Due to lack of finances, poor families end up having different health problems since they cannot afford medication. In some of the developing countries, poor families suffer from malnutrition and other dietary related diseases. Such diseases are preventable especially when people have good meals, but this is different when it comes to people from poor background. They find it difficult to have three meals in a day. In this regard, people from such families try to find ways of placing meals on their tables. Since very little means are available to do so, they end up engaging in criminal activities such as stealing. They may feel that their supremacy is on the ability to steal from rich people. They mostly blame the forces of nature for their misfortunes and believe that since life is all about survival for the fittest, their ability to steal is their strength and they count is as their own adventure or as a means of earning a living. However, Kelso (1994) noted that such people develop a culture of stealing and find it difficult to engage in positive work to make money. They do not engage in any positive development activity as long as they believe they can survive by stealing. Studies have documented that people from poor backgrounds have little

Renanlt Nissan the making of Global Alliance case Essay

Renanlt Nissan the making of Global Alliance case - Essay Example major changes were taking within the global automotive market characterized by large-scale mergers between some of the major automotive companies in the world. In addition, the economic slowdown being experienced in the Asian region was also affecting the industry, with many of the Asian automotive manufacturers experiencing financial problems. Conversely, the earlier attempted merger between the company and the Swedish carmaker Volvo in 1993 was unsuccessful and had left a negative effect on the company. This merger had been a well-planned initiative that was based on shared synergies between Renault and Volvo and comprised a significant part of the European industrial policy (Krcmar & Klein, 2006). The merger negotiations had lasted for three years and had involved various key authorities, including the French industrial minister, as the French government was a major stakeholder in the company. It was therefore important for the company to be able to undertake a successful merger undertaking in order to go past the effects of the previous failed merger. A major strength involved the company’s privatization 1996 due to the various changes in the country that resulted in the separation of economic and political factors and influences. This privatization process resulted in the French government owning only 46% of the company’s shareholding (Krcmar & Klein, 2006). As such, the management was quite sure that the company’s shareholders would approve the company’s need to expand as well as provide the management with a conducive environment to implement the company’s strategy. Another major strength of the company was its experience and market share, as the company was a major automotive producer within the western European and South America automotive markets and had a 5% of the total global automotive market. The company had excelled in the field of mid-range cars and light commercial vehicles. It was also ahead in cost reduction, efficient purchasing and

How the Elements of Poetry Have An Effect on a Poem Essay

How the Elements of Poetry Have An Effect on a Poem - Essay Example On the other hand, a metaphor refers to the comparison of two phenomena but without the use of as, like or such. The metaphor usually states that one phenomenon is in fact another. Throughout this poem the entire concept of happiness was embodied with the use of metaphors and similes. Firstly, the author began the poem with the idea of an early morning setting. The imagery used to denote how early was the fact that ‘it was still dark out’. It appears that the poet used an extended metaphor of early morning to denote happiness. Every minute detail of the morning was ultimately equated to happiness. From the apparent darkness of the early morning to the welcoming light, which causes the moon to fade, indicate the sheer extent of the poet’s happiness. The activity of the two boys in the street every step they made brought happiness closer and closer until ‘it goes beyond, really’ - beyond the immediate gaze of the poet to another location where happiness would continue. The early morning darkness surrendering to the light of the day also gives continuity to happiness because another early morning would appear sometime ‘beyon d’ this instantaneous setting. Interestingly, he used the notion of tangible things to connote the intangible. Hence ‘early morning stuff’ was compared to deep ‘thought’ in the mind of the poet. Thus, the use of this metaphor allows the reader to view ‘thought’ as a normal part of early morning activity such as brushing one’s teeth or bathing. Thought takes on the added dimension of early morning ‘stuff’. The author then uses the comparison of silence with happiness. Thus, the metaphor is the equation of silence to happiness. The poet conveys, ‘they are so happy they aren’t saying anything.’ Clearly, the poet believes that true happiness signifies the unspoken word and the lack of noise or interference to disturb the position of happiness. Happiness now has a voice that refuses to

My Best Friend Essay Example for Free

My Best Friend Essay Believe it or not, my best friend is an elderly woman in her late 70s. Her name is Maria. She is Spanish decent, married, with no children. We couldn’t appear to be more different. Maria and I met at the gym last year. That’s about all we had in common when we met – that we were both active and healthy. Many people would question why I would develop such a close relationship with someone more than twice my age. It was our differences that actually brought us close. Maria had already been through all of the things that I had yet to face in my life, and she had a lot to teach me. I was a ready listener, as I was facing things in my life that I had never experienced before. I needed guidance and friendship, and Maria was like an angel sent to guide me. I enjoy spending time with Maria. She is pleasant all the time and very easy going. I can talk to her about anything, and she seems to know just what to say or when not to say anything at all. She is very confident and doesn’t try to impress anyone by pretending to be someone she is not; perhaps this is why I am so drawn to her. Maria is very happy with her life despite the fact that she never had children and is in the winter of her life. She has given me the opportunity to look at my life in a different perspective and to accept and be proud of all of the choices that I have made, while at the same time offering guidance for my future. Every moment I spend with Maria is a gift. I cherish it. I hope she gains as much from our friendship as I do.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) Intervention

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) Intervention Henry Davis Hearing loss is not a common healthcare issue addressed by Nurse Practitioners (NP) and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) occurs even less frequently. Often the onset of hearing loss (related to aging or noise exposure) is insidious, often spanning months to years and is typically bilateral. Hearing loss that occurs with advanced age is routinely compensated for with the use of electronic devices that amplify sound and this type of hearing loss is typically not cured. SSNHL by contrast has a well-defined acute onset within 3 days and is characteristically unilateral hearing loss. Some cases of SSNHL could be cured if a diagnosis is made and treatment initiated within a short time from onset of the hearing loss (Raghunandhan et al., 2012). Nurse practitioners may often be the first healthcare provider the patient encounters. Because of the early patient contact, nurse practitioners are uniquely poised to initiate the first line treatment after consulting with neurology, but prior to referral for follow-up care and further evaluation. Recent research supports that patients who receive early medical treatment for SSNHL recover hearing more often than those, who received delayed care (Raghunandhan et al., 2012). Epidemiology Current research indicates the morbidity of SSNHL is 2-20/ 100,000 persons annually and the mean age of occurrence is 43-53 years old. Mortality as not reported other than a possible link between SSNHL and strokes. Gender does not appear to influence incidents. Risk factors for SSNHL include; advanced age, concurrent cardiovascular disease and the presence of a positive antinuclear antibody (Weber, 2014). One study indicated â€Å"†¦viral infection being the most common etiological factor† for SSNHL (Raghunandhan et al., 2012, p. 229). Etiology The cause of SSNHL is currently considered idiopathic, however the preponderance of current research is directed at the supposition that the etiology of SSNHL is due to edema of the eighth cranial and subsequent compression of the internal auditory artery to the cochlea and circular apparatus. The likely cause of the compression is edema of the auditory nerve within the confined space of the internal auditory meatus from a viral infection (Mom, Chazal, Gabrillargues, Gilain, Avan, 2005). There is minimal clearance for the nerves and vessels. If any edema occurs, compression of the associated structures can result. This would be similar in nature to the pathology associated with Bell’s palsy or compartment syndrome associated with a casted extremity. The surrounding tissue swells and compresses adjacent structures. Cause of SSNHL is currently identified as idiopathic but current treatment targets a viral infection as the causative agent. Early treatment with steroids and antiviral drugs demonstrated reduction in percentage of patients who experience total hearing loss. The nurse practitioner can begin treatment of the patient and ensure timely neurologic specialty follow-up and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to rule out acoustic neuroma (Chen, Halpin, Rauch, 2003). Pathogenesis Initially to understand SSNHL we first should examine the anatomy and function of the inner ear. The ear communicates with the brain via eighth cranial nerve. The eighth cranial nerve divides into two main branches, cochlear and vestibular nerves. The first cochlear nerve travels to the cochlea and the vestibular nerve travels to the semicircular ducts. The Cochlea is the portion of the inner ear responsible for the transformation of sound from a physical force, from the tympanic membrane via the malleus, incus and stapes into a nerve impulse conducted to the brain via the cranial nerve (Copstead Banasik, 2013). The vestibular nerve conducts impulses from the semicircular ducts. Semicircular ducts change the forces of air movement into fluid movement that in turn is changed into nerve impulses that allow for proprioception. Damage to this branch of the vestibular nerve can result in vertigo, nystagmus, vomiting and disruptions of proprioception (Copstead Banasik, 2013). The eighth cranial nerve passes through a relatively small opening, the internal auditory meatus, in the skull(Weber, 2014) (Kim Lee, 2009). This small opening also provides the arterial blood flow for the inner ear via the internal auditory artery (Kim Lee, 2009). Even a small amount of edema in the eighth cranial nerve can result in both compression of the nerve and occlusion of the arterial blood supply to the inner ear. The result of these Sequelae would be rapid hearing loss, nystagmus and vertigo (Weber, 2014). During the acute period, the first few hours, it would be possible to decrease the edema by administration of steroids thereby decompressing the nerve and re-establishing blood flow to the inner ear (Narozny et al., 2006). Delays in the reduction of this edema may result in tissue necrosis and clot formation due to stasis of blood in the internal auditory artery. Another less researched cause of SSNHL is vertebrobasilar ischemic stroke or a thrombi occlusion of the arterial supply to the inner ear (Kim Lee, 2009). The resultant Sequelae following the occlusion would mirror the presentation of SSNHL from edema however; the key difference would be the response to oral steroids is ineffective. Any negative effects of oral steroids, if an ischemic stroke were diagnosed would be minimal as the follow-up for MRI should be performed immediately after initial treatment. Clinical Manifestations Onset of SSNHL appears as idiopathic and not related to any trauma and patient denies current source of infection. The patient may report having a clogged ear or pressure in ear. There is an absence of signs and symptoms of infection such as fever, drainage and pain. The patient may find it difficult to impossible to determine the direction of the source of a sound, as both ears are needed to identify the direction of a source of a sound. The brain normally uses the auditory input from both ears identify source location of an auditory stimulus. The occlusion of blood flow to the cochlea on one side has resulted in complete hearing loss to that side. SSNHL may present with an acute onset of tinnitus in the affected ear. The patient may describe the sound as a ringing or roaring sound. Initial onset of tinnitus may cause difficulty in concentration. The pathology responsible for tinnitus remains unclear. The onset of SSNHL is rapid and unilateral, proceeding from normal hearing to complete absence of hearing of the effected ear in less than 3 hours(Weber, 2014). SSNHL is often accompanied by nystagmus, tinnitus and vertigo. This may be due to the compression of the internal auditory artery and the resultant occlusion of blood flow to the cochlea and semicircular apparatus. In addition, when we consider the functions of the central nervous system in the perception of proprioception, multiple stimuli typically confirm the position of the body such as the semicircular apparatus and visual stimuli. With the sudden cessation of blood flow to the inner ear, a mismatch of stimuli rapidly occurs. This mismatch of stimuli among various nerves results in the perception of vertigo and often nystagmus. The Performance of a Rinne test and Weber test enables the nurse practitioner to differentiate between bone conduction damage, as is the case with traumatic injury or nerve damage as is the case in both SSNHL and ischemic stroke (Tintinalli, 2010). Also important is the Dix-Hallpike test, to differentiate between central or peripheral vertigo (Furman Barton, 2014). Central vertigo would be those with a site of origin inside the brain, were as peripheral vertigo originates outside the brain. The Dix-Hallpike test differentiates between central and peripheral vertigo. A Dix-Hallpike test is positive if vertigo and nystagmus is elicited when the head is rotated. Dix-Hallpike test also identifies unilateral vertigo, as well as it differentiates between central and peripheral causes of vertigo and nystagmus. Benign positional nystagmus is also evaluated utilizing the Dix-Hallpike test. In (BPN) the result is a delay of onset of nystagmus of >20seconds, nystagmus slowly resolves if head h eld in the same position, and response decreases with repeated testing (Dix-Hallpike Test, 2014). A central cause of vertigo and nystagmus need to be evaluated if the Dix-Hallpike test yields atypical results of nystagmus that occurs without rotation of the head, begins without delay, and does not decrease with retesting(Dix-Hallpike Test, 2014). Treatment The recommended treatment of SSNHL is early administration of oral glucocorticoids (Raghunandhan et al., 2012)(Narozny et al., 2006). This intervention is well within the scope of practice of the Nurse Practitioner. Nurse Practitioners should be encouraged to take the lead in diagnosing and initiating treatment for SSNHL. The risk associated with early treatment of suspected SSNHL is minimal however if treatment is delayed hearing loss may be permanent. The indication for administration of steroids is to decrease edema of the eighth cranial nerve as this edema leads to loss of nerve conduction and ultimately nerve tissue death and possible arterial occlusion (Chen et al., 2003). The result of tissue death of the eighth cranial nerve is hearing loss, nystagmus, tinnitus and impaired balance (Copstead Banasik, 2013). Current treatment of SSNHL aims at the reduction of damage to the eighth cranial nerve. Other medications can be used to treat the after effects of SSNHL such as vertigo. Select antihistamines, which are also classified as vestibular suppressant, are often used to decrease the perception of vertigo. These drugs reduce â€Å"the activity in the vestibular nuclei and cerebellum.†(Denner, 2013, para. 6). This class of medication is used as needed for vertigo control. Vestibular suppressant antihistamines are first line medications for vertigo. If Vestibular suppressant antihistamines are not successful in controlling vertigo then an escalation to a low dose benzodiazepine most often resolves vertigo not controlled by first line medications. Benzodiazepines cause central nervous system depression and thereby decrease vertigo. The treatment of choice for chronic vertigo is vestibular rehabilitation. Vestibular Rehabilitation is an exercise-based therapy used to retrain the central nervous system (CNS). Often vestibular rehabilitation is sufficient to control symptoms of vertigo without the need for daily medications. The provider often refers the patient experiencing vertigo to physical therapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT) for a course of progressive exercises with associated head/eye movements to retraining the CNS (Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), 2014). Vestibular rehabilitation can greatly reduce the need for medications to reduce symptoms of vertigo and improves the quality of life. Vestibular rehabilitation is only the first of many topics that should be addressed by the nurse practitioner to assist the patient in lessening symptoms and coping with functional loss. Patient education is targeted toward identification of limitation and practices to compensate for those limitations. Simple functions such as body position during sleep can cause functional problems for patients. An example would be if patient sleeps on the non-affected ear toward the pillow, they would not hear sounds such as alarm clocks, smoke alarms, or other auditory products. Specialized alarms are available which provide both auditory and tactile stimuli (a strong bed vibrating unit) to awaken non-hearing or limited hearing persons. Also, educate patient that stressful situations and loud environments can exacerbate the experience of tinnitus and vertigo. Family members of the patient would be educated on actions to compensate for patient’s hearing loss. Walking on the non-affected side and not speaking close to affected ear are two examples. Also explaining the emotional stressors for the patient and the family members as both learn to cope with the new limitations. The Nurse Practitioner can also provide a referral to an ear, nose and throat specialist to evaluate the patient for cochlear implant for complete unilateral hearing loss. Current implants consist of a base magnet implant into the mastoid bone on the affected side. An external device is worn over the magnet and conducts sound into the magnet and across to the functional ear via bone conduction. The delay between air and bone conduction allows the patient to regain the ability to directionalize sound stimuli. The negative impacts of this option are cost, some insurances do not cover this surgery or only cover a portion of the total cost and this is a surgical intervention and all invasive procedure have associated risk factors. Conclusion Nurse Practitioners should broaden the scope of examination and treatment when assessing patients with sudden hearing loss. In the face of a presumptive diagnosis of SSNHL, the provider may improve outcomes by beginning treatment prior to conclusive diagnosis. Increased early intervention for SSNHL by Nurse Practitioners and beginning steroid treatment within the first few hours after onset of hearing loss may decrease the incidence of permanent hearing loss. The Nurse Practitioner is able to discriminate between sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. A causative factor is then diagnosed to direct care. SSNHL is an infrequently occurring health problem that can be treated with an early presumptive diagnosis. If the initial diagnosis of SSNHL is delayed for MRI to rule out Acoustic Neuroma, it increases the chance that hearing loss will become irreversible. The initial treatment with oral steroid is relatively low risk, yet this option is often omitted despite the apparent benefit. Although the confirmation of SNNHL requires MRI to rule out a differential diagnosis of acoustic neuroma, steroid treatment could begin as a protective measure. If an Acoustic Neuroma is diagnosed the steroid therapy could be discontinued. The impact of steroid use associated with Acoustic Neuroma has not been examined in current research. Appendix Figure 1 (Arora, 2012, figure 5) Figure 2 (Kim Lee, 2009, figure 2) References Arora, R. (2012). Vestibular Rehabilitation: An Overview. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin, 4, 54-69. Retrieved from http://www.jaypeejournals.com/eJournals/ShowText.aspx?ID=3564Type=FREETYP=TOPIN=_eJournals/images/JPLOGO.gifIID=280isPDF=NO Chen, C., Halpin, C., Rauch, S. (2003). Oral Steroid Treatment of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Ten Year Retrospective Analysis. Otology Neurotology, 24, 728–733. Retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/9088236_Oral_steroid_treatment_of_sudden_sensorineural_hearing_loss_a_ten_year_retrospective_analysis/links/00b7d51c062542efbc000000 Copstead, L., Banasik, J. (2013). Pathophysiogology (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Denner, K. (2013). Meclizine – Does it help? Retrieved from http://vestibular.org/news/10-07-2013/meclizine-–-does-it-help Dix-Hallpike test – Quick guide. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.ncuh.nhs.uk/our-services/dix-hallpike-test-quick-guide.pdf FM Jr, B. (1984). Sudden hearing loss: eight years experience and suggested prognostic table. The Laryngoscope, 94, 647-61. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.okcu.edu:2192/ehost/detail/detail?vid=1[emailprotected]hid=4201bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=mnhAN=6325838 Furman, J., Barton, J. (2014). Evaluation of the patient with vertigo. 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