Alice Walker Essay

This story is distinctive, however, in that Walker stresses not only the importance of language but also the destructive effects of its misuse. Clearly, Dee privileges language over silence, as she demonstrates in her determination to be educated and in the importance she places on her name. Rather than providing a medium for newfound awareness and for community, however, verbal skill equips Dee to oppress and manipulate others and to isolate herself; when she lived at home, she read to her sister and mother â€Å"without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice.† Mama recalls that Dee â€Å"washed us in a river of make-believe, burned us with a lot of knowledge we didn’t necessarily need to know. Pressed us to her with the serious way she read, to shove us away at just the moment, like dimwits, we seemed about to understand† (50). Dee uses words to wash, burn, press, and shove. We are told that the â€Å"nervous girls† and â€Å"furtive boys† whom she regarded as her friends â€Å"worshiped the well-turned phrase† and her â€Å"scalding humor that erupted like bubbles in lye† (51). It is not surprising, then, that Mama, mistrustful of language, expresses herself in the climactic scene of the story not through words but through deeds: she hugs Maggie to her, drags her in the room where Dee sits holding the quilts, snatches the quilts from Dee, and dumps them into Maggie’s lap. Only as an afterthought does she speak at all, telling Dee to â€Å"take one or two of the others.† Mama’s actions, not her words, silence the daughter who has, up to this point, used language to control others and separate herself from the community: Mama tells us that Dee turns and leaves the room â€Å"without a word† (59). In much of Walker’s work, a character’s dawning sense of self is represented not only by the acquisition of an individual voice but also through integration into a community. Mama’s new appreciation of Maggie is significant because it represents the establishment of a sisterhood between mother and daughter. Just before taking the quilts out of Dee’s hands, Mama tells us, â€Å"I did something I never had done before† (58). The â€Å"something† to which she refers is essentially two actions: Mama embraces Maggie and says â€Å"no† to Dee for the first time. Since we are told that she held Maggie when she was burned in the fire, and since Mama’s personality suggests that she would most likely hug her daughter often, she is of course referring not merely to the literal hug but to the first spiritual embrace, representing her decision no  longer to judge her younger daughter by the shallow standards Dee embodies–criteria that Mama has been using to measure both Maggie and herself up until the climax of the story. When Mama acts on Maggie’s behalf, she is responding to the largely nonverbal message that her younger daughter has been sending for some time, but which Mama herself has been unable fully to accept. Now Maggie and Mama are allied in their rejection of Dee’s attempts to devalue their lifestyle, and their new sense of community enables Maggie to smile â€Å"a real smile, not scared.† Significantly, the story ends with the two of them sitting in silence, â€Å"just enjoying, until it was time to go in the house and go to bed† (59). Ultimately, however. Mama has the last word: it is she, after all, who tells the story. Yet her control over the text is won gradually. Walker employs an unusual narrative structure to parallel Mama’s development as she strengthens her voice and moves toward community with Maggie. Rather than reporting the entire event in retrospect, Mama relates the first half of the story as it occurs, using present and future tenses up u ntil the moment Dee announces her new name. The commentary that Mama makes about herself and Maggie in the first portion of the story is therefore made before the awakening that she undergoes during the quilt episode–before she is able to reject completely Dee’s desire that she and Maggie be something that they are not. Prior to the encounter with Dee over the quilts, although Mama at times speaks sarcastically about Dee’s selfish attitude, she nonetheless dreams repeatedly of appearing on a television program â€Å"the way my daughter would want me to be: a hundred pounds lighter, my skin like an uncooked barley pancake,† wielding a â€Å"quick and witty tongue† (48). Mama’s distaste for Dee’s egotism is tempered by her desire to be respected by her daughter. In part, then, Mama has come to define herself in terms of her failure to meet the standards of what Lindsey Tucker calls a â€Å"basically white middle-class identity† (88)–the white-male-dominated system po rtrayed in the television show. When Mama holds up her own strengths next to those valued by Dee and the white Johnny Carson society, she sees herself as one poised always in a position of fear, â€Å"with one foot raised in flight† (49).

Hockey Speech Essay

He takes the puck and skates through a crowd of defensemen. He passes the centerline and releases the puck. It’s in the net! The red light is on, and it’s official. A goal is added to the scoreboard. This sport is ice hockey. Unlike rugby, a specific person did not invent ice hockey. A group of British soldiers created this sport in the mid 1850s. They were stationed in Nova Scotia where they decided to play the sport with sticks made by the Mi’kmaq people of Nova Scotia. In the 1870s, students of McGill University made the rules for modern ice hockey and the very first indoor game was played in 1875. Today, I will be talking about the history of ice hockey in the NHL, why ice hockey is the best sport ever created and my favourite NHL team. So, let’s start with the basics. Three National Hockey Association (NHA) managers formed the National Hockey League on November 26th, 1917 in Montreal, Quebec after the NHA ended. The NHL was a way for the managers to showcase their teams -the Montreal Wanderers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Arenas. The NHL was able to absorb more teams after expanding into the United States. However, in 1942, there were only 6 teams due to the Great Depression. They were known as the Original Six. Their era ended in 1967 when the NHL added more teams.They also divided the league into the Western and Eastern Conference in 1974 and by 2000, they increased to 30 teams. From 1917 to 2013, a lot has changed in the NHL. It’s surprising how a dispute can lead to the creation of one of the most prestigious leagues in the world. Ever since I was a child, I watched ice hockey. It has something that no other sport has -teamwork. I think the NHL Playoffs best represent this. Two years ago when the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup, the players were committed in working together and since they stuck to this, they won the Cup. However, it wasn’t easy and this is another reason as to why I love to watch ice hockey. In my opinion, the Playoffs in the NHL are more entertaining than in basketball or baseball because it’s the hardest league to win a championship. In baseball, there’s a shorter series in the first round. In basketball, despite the similarity in format, it doesn’t have the blood spilling or bone crunching effect, which hockey has. Hockey is  equivalent to a war in the playoffs until the final buzzer goes off after the fourth win in a series. All sports offer a high tempo in the postseason, however ice hockey is a bloody battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup, which lasts over two months. That’s half a season of football. In basketball, I love the Toronto Raptors. In baseball, I am a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays. In ice hockey, I cheer for blue and white -the Toronto Maple Leafs. I think the Toronto Maple Leafs are heading in the right path with the addition of coach, Randy Carlyle, and the firing of former general manager, Brian Burke. An experienced person behind the benches (Randy Carlyle) has allowed the Maple Leafs to rejuvenate their confidence and step in the right direction. We have also seen improvements on the roster with the new face of the team, Dave Nonis, who replaced Burke earlier in January. I believe Nonis is suitable for the general manger job and with his leadership, I think the Leafs could attain, through trades or free agency, an aggressive offence, balanced defense and experienced goaltenders. These three changes are needed to bring Toronto to the playoffs and potentially add a Stanley Cup to Toronto’s thirteen wins for the trophy. Bill Bennett, an American businessman, once said, â€Å"What we find impossible, we later deem unlikely, and eventually accept as inevitable.† Now, you have a new appreciation of ice hockey. It’s not an easy sport to play, however, it’s the greatest to watch. Since it’s beginnings in Halifax in the 1850s, it has expanded significantly to become the National Hockey League we know today. The NHL in my opinion is the hardest league to win a championship. Also, it’s an amazing league to watch ice hockey, and although I enjoy watching all the teams, I’m a huge fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Go Leafs Go.

Health Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation in Cellular Phones

HEALTH EFFECTS OF EM RADIATION IN CELLULAR PHONES Health effects of EM radiation in cellular phones Part 1 ( Identifying a Subject ) Identified subject isHealth effects of EM radiation in cellular phones Cellular phones communicate via wireless frequence ( RF ) transmittal in a web dwelling of aerials or base Stationss. The term â€Å"cellular telephone† refers to the localized or fragmented nature of the overall web. Base Stationss provide connexion for a little part. The webs used in nomadic telephone following four chief criterions viz. GSM, WCDMA, UMTS, and LTE ( Nair and Morgan 89 ) . Antennas every bit good as the nomadic French telephone are two beginnings of electromagnetic radiation ( EMR ) . Radiation from the aerial is typically low but that from the French telephone is more intense. There are many beginnings of electromagnetic radiation and this radiation has magnetic every bit good as electric Fieldss. The survey of the magnetic every bit good as electric Fieldss has many enormous benefits to humanity. It allows applied scientists to utilize radiation for practical and safe applications. Electromagnetic radiation is measured in wavelength as the diagram below show s. [ beginning: Oatley 56 ] The longer wavelength has low energy, the shorter wavelength has more energy, and therefore a possible beginning of ionising radiation. The nomadic phone system falls about halfway along the spectrum. The energy is the beginning of ionising consequence that causes malignant neoplastic disease when in contact with human organic structure. This subject relates to the primary constructs of the class because it deals with electromagnetic radiation. I found this subject interesting because on one manus, it deals with application of electromagnetisms in communicating and on the manus possible wellness impact of users. I feel that in this instance, engineering is seen as a double-edged blade. Lifes of one million millions of people in the universe have changed due to acceptance of cellular devices. However, there are lingering inquiries about the safety of the devices. Part two ( study ) Health effects of EM radiation in Cellular Telephones Topic Overview and Background Globally, more than 6.9 billion people use nomadic phones. Harmonizing to International Agency for Research on Cancer, the electromagnetic Fieldss produced by cellular phones are perchance carcinogenic. This averment is non universally accepted and more research is being carried out to find how nomadic phones are. World wellness organisation ( WHO ) is expected to carry on formal hazard appraisal following twelvemonth to find the full impact of exposure to cellular phones electromagnetic Fieldss. None of the modern engineerings is every bit omnipresent as cellular phone. In some states, more than half of the population uses a nomadic phone device. The figure of cellular phone devices in the universe is expected to make a astonishing 9 billion by 2020. Most of the new proprietors will come from developing states where fixed telephone was nonexistent before the debut of nomadic phones. Given the big figure of phones in the market, every bit good as broad acceptance, it is of import to understand the impact of cellular radiation on human wellness. Cellular phones transmit wireless waves through a web of base Stationss. The base Stationss are basically antennas. The wireless frequence moving ridges transmitted are electromagnetic Fieldss, which are non ionising like X raies or gamma beams. Cellular phone wireless frequence moving ridges can non interfere with the body’s chemical bonds. Electromagnetic radiation released by cellular phone is a signifier of radiation though non-ionizing one. It is thought that the heat absorbed by the organic structure cells and tissues trigger unnatural cell divisions merely like ionising radiation does. Radiation is unsafe to human wellness. From laboratory surveies, radiation mutagenesis causes DNA omissions, DNA misrepair, and DNA misrecombination. Ionizing radiation causes dual strand in DNA to interrupt. A survey carried out on spacemans suggest that they are exposed to radiation degrees of about 147.5 mSv which causes additions frequence of chromosomal aberrances after flight to infinite ( David 34 ) . These aberrances are minimum or absent before the flight. This suggests that chromosomal aberrances can be straight attributed to cosmic radiation in infinite. Scientists have long thought that one time radiation hits the cell, the Deoxyribonucleic acid is damaged and job merely occurs when the cell is unable to to the full mend the harm. However, emerging grounds suggest that when cells are exposed to radiation, it produces genomic instability. This means that radiation causes harm that merely becomes seeable in future coevalss. Cellular phones are radio frequence senders and they operate 450 and 2700 MHz at their extremum within the scope of 0.1 to 2 Wattss. Transmission occurs merely when the device is turned on. Exposure to the electromagnetic beams depends on the distance between the user and the device. As the distance between the French telephone and a individual additions, exposure to radio frequence starts to fall quickly. When a device is for illustration 30 centimetres from the organic structure as is the instance when a user is directing message or shoping the cyberspace, exposure to electromagnetic Fieldss is significantly low. For minimal exposure, the best cellular phones are the custodies free 1s. Hands free cellular phones allow the user to pass on when the phone is at a safe distance from the organic structure. In add-on to utilizing custodies free devices, exposure to radio frequence radiation is low when doing a call in an country with good response. The quality of response determines the sum of power used by phone and the low the power the lower the exposure to radio frequence field exposure. In infirmaries aeroplanes, cellular phones are prohibited because they can interfere with some medical and navigation equipments. Health effects of EM radiation in Cellular Telephones The wellness hazard of nomadic phone usage have been studied extensively in the last 20 old ages and research workers have non been able to set up once and for all that the usage of cellular phones exposes users to put on the line of malignant neoplastic disease or other medical conditions. The chief mechanism through which the wireless frequence energy interacts with the both is tissue heating. When wireless frequence energy is in big sums, organic structure tissues can potentially heat up therefore enduring injury. Cellular phones releases low wireless frequence energy and therefore the tegument absorbs most of the energy released or other tissues found on the surface of the organic structure. Consequently, cellular energy released consequences in really small temperature rise in the encephalon or any delicate variety meats. Beyond heating organic structure tissues, scientists have besides focused on possible intervention of organic structure cardinal mechanism and the consequences have been negative. Cellular phones wireless frequence Fieldss do non interfere with electrical activity inside the encephalon, sleep form, cognitive map, or blood force per unit area. Theoretically, wireless frequence energy at high degrees should interfere with the organic structure maps but at low degrees, it appears safe. wireless frequence energy at degree below that can do tissue heating have no impact on voluntaries studied by research workers in many surveies. One country of concern that has been studied intensively is symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity that some people have reported. Surveies on these instances suggest that there is no causal relationship between the usage of cellular phones and development of electromagnetic hypersensitivity status. In the short squad, cellular phones frequence Fieldss appear to be harmless, at least harmonizing to surveies carried out so far. However, there are concerns that there is harm below the degree that can non be perceived in the short term. Surveies looking at the long-run hazard of wireless frequence field exposure examine possible association between encephalon tumour and usage of cellular devices. These types of surveies have been impeded by the fact that nomadic phones became widespread merely a decennary ago. Cancers typically show up many old ages after the event that led to abnormal cell division that lead to malignant neoplastic disease. Research workers focus on instances that become apparent after short periods. Harmonizing to International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC ) , nomadic phone usage does non increase the hazard of developing conditions such as glioma or meningioma ( Herman 56 ) . These conditions have non increased significantly in the last 10 old ages since the debut of Mobile. This indirect grounds appear to propose that even in the long term, the hazard of developing malignant neoplastic diseases is low. IARC consider radiofrequency electromagnetic Fieldss as carcinogenic although there is deficiency of surveies that have positively linked radiofrequency energy with malignant neoplastic disease. Lack of information is straight attributable to the fact that cellular phones have merely been in usage for a few old ages whereas malignant neoplastic disease develops over a long period. It is thought that the issue will be clearer with clip as younger coevals that has grown up utilizing cellular phones mature holding been exposed to phone radiation for decennaries. My Personal Interest in the subject I am interested in this subject because it deals issues associating to electric, magnetic Fieldss, and possible wellness consequence after usage for a drawn-out period. As a cellular phone proprietor, I have been, like everyone else, concerned about the hazard it exposes to my wellness. Plants Cited Nair, Indira, and M. Granger Morgan.Biological Effectss of Power Frequency Electric and Magnetic William claude dukenfields. Washington, DC: Congress of the U.S. , Office of Technology Assessment: , 1989. Print. Oatley, Charles William.Electric and Magnetic William claude dukenfields: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1976. Print. Herman, Peter.Possible Health Effectss of Exposure to Residential Electric and Magnetic William claude dukenfields. Washington, D.C. : National Academy, 1997. Print. David, John. Science, Engineering.Health Effectss of Low-frequency Electric and Magnetic William claude dukenfields. Oak Ridge, Tenn. : Oak Ridge Associated Universities ; , 1992. Print.

Classroom effects of a commercially-available video music-and-movement Research Paper

Classroom effects of a commercially-available video music-and-movement program - Research Paper Example Population of study- this study was conducted on fourth grade students’ population. Music has very big influence on students in the society. This affects different classes of being in the society with each of them responding to it in their own ways. Size of study- the study will majorly focus on smaller population of the class. Duration of study- The students will be observed and video taped in 15-minutes for two weeks before I introduce the DVD. I will then use the DVD for 5-minutes before regular lessons daily. DVD This will allow comparative data analysis when the intended gist of this research is concluded. Method of information gathering- there are several methods that can be used in gathering information during research. However, in this case study I will use observation as my primary method of analysis. This will enable me to get first-hand touch of information that will ultimately be useful in drawing the conclusion. Strategy used-.Duration recording will be used as a strategy to calculate the behavior change. This strategy will be used when the change in behavior occurs. I will record the behavior during on and off tasks.

Financial Management in Multinational Organizations Research Paper

Financial Management in Multinational Organizations - Research Paper Example Financial management helps organizations in financial planning and control and evaluation of risks. It has been rightly argued that maximizing shareholder value perhaps only the most effective method to benefit every stakeholder. Multinational organizations are firms that take part in some type of global business. Their financial management involves global investing as well as financing choices that are planned to capitalize on the worth of the multinational organization. Firms may primarily try to sell products abroad to a specific nation or trade supplies in from an overseas producer. However, in due course, a number of them identify further prospects and finally start subsidiaries within foreign nations. International financial management is vital even for firms that have no global dealings. These firms are required to be familiar with how their overseas rivals will be influenced by activities within â€Å"exchange rates, foreign interest rate, labor costs† (Kyaw et al, 201 1, p. 21), and price rises. Therefore, contradictory goals increase the issue of setting priorities. When tough competition exists within the home country, a business may rely on entering or expanding its overseas base. Nonetheless, if a corporation is ineffective within the home market, it is expected to have difficulties in a foreign country also. Additionally, the controller should be aware of local traditions as well as risks within the global markets. A large, stable corporation with considerable global experience may ultimately have completely owned subsidiaries. On the other hand, a small business with restricted foreign understanding functioning in uncertain fields may be limited to export and import operations. If the corporation`s sales force has nominal knowledge in export sales, it is wise to employ foreign agents when expert understanding of foreign markets is considered necessary. When adequate amount exists, the corporation may set up a foreign branch sales office tog ether with the sales group as well as technical service workers. When the function establishes, manufacturing services may be positioned within the foreign market. Nonetheless, a number of foreign nations need authorization earlier than foreign sales and production can go on; here, a â€Å"foreign licensee sells and produces the product† (Li & Tallman, 2011, p. 56). A setback with this is that classified data and understanding are provided to the licensees who can then turn into a rival at the termination of the contract.

Human Resources Summaries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Resources Summaries - Essay Example Due to shortage, workers were brought in busses from Lafayette, Louisiana, 70 miles away, each morning and returned them at night. Managers were working overtime to train new workers. Even months after Hurricane Rita struck, large and small business was frantically trying to find workers so that they could start up again. Almost every business in the town had a ‘Help wanted sign out front. One can get the job easily and could command a premium salary. There was a huge shortage of workers in the local area. Restaurants that normally open late into the evening closed at 6.00 PM. Restaurants that remained open often had a much younger staff, and the managers and assistant managers were working overtime to train these new workers. Hurricane Rita is a typical in a disaster. It virtually destroys the normal life of the area. After Rita struck Lake Charles, in southwest Louisiana, massive destruction was everywhere. Lake Charles, known for its large and beautiful oak and fine trees, then had the job of removing those downed trees. The town grew rapidly in size because of the large number of debris and repair crews working on recovery operations. Traffic was unbelievably slow. Often police did not have the resources to ticket every fender, so unless there were injuries, insurance cards were exchanged and the police went on to the next accident. The whole situation reflects the gravity of the disaster. International Forest Products Company (IFP) is the largest employer in Ouachita County, Arkansas, and is an important part of the local economy. As a cost-cutting move, company decided to cut the workforce by 30 percent, and the responsibility of submitting the suggested plan was entrusted on Scott Wheeler, the human resource director by Janet Deason, president of the company. It was difficult task. Aside from the influence on the individual workers who were laid off, cutbacks would further depress the areas economy. But, company had no choice but

The use of isotopes in medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The use of isotopes in medicine - Essay Example This physical difference explains why a process like fractional distillation can be used to separate isotopes. According to Van der Merwe (2002), due to the difference, a single element has the capability of existing in many forms for instance oxygen can exist as oxygen- 15, oxygen- 16 or oxygen- 17. This paper aims having a comprehensive discussion of isotopes, outlying their uses in archeology as well as looking at the future of isotopes in this area of interest. Isotopes are categorized into two main groups; stable and unstable. White (1998) asserts that stable isotopes are those that do not decay over time, while the unstable ones undergo through an ionizing radiation referred to as radioactivity. Isotopes that give off this ionizing radiation are called radioisotopes, for example, carbon- 14 is a carbon radioisotope. In fact, the radioactive process differs from one isotope to the other hence some isotopes have a higher radioactive rate than others. The difference in the radioac tivity rate depends on the ratio between neutrons number and proton number. The higher the ratio the faster the rate and vise versa. Ambrose (2003) explains that the decay rate of isotopes can easily be predicted and determined, thus has widely been used in determining age mostly in archeology. Uses in Archeology Carbon Dating Carbon dating is the most common use of isotopes in archeology where age of organisms is determined in the process (McKinney, et al, 1995). The isotope used in this case is carbon- 14. Normally carbon exists in the C- 12 form, but in few occasions it also exists as C- 14. C- 14 are radioisotopes hence can undergo a radioactive process at a specified rate of the half-life. According to the half-life rate, the proportion of decay is in such a way that the C- 14 to C-12 proportion is always constant. However, this is an unproven assumption that archeology attach to this theory of dating in order to assign ages to their discoveries (Van der Merwe, 2002). The theor y is based on the changes that occur to a living organism when it dies and the process of decay starts. According to the theory, during the living period of an organism, the carbon (C-12 and C-14) proportion in the organisms’ body and that in the environment is equal (White, 1998). This is so because the organism exists in an equilibrium environment as different metabolic processes take place within the organism, causing exchanges between the organism and its environment. In the process organisms are constantly replacing body molecules, a process that is faster in some tissues (skin), and slow in others (bone). However, upon death, the unstable form of carbon (C- 14) will start decaying without being replaced from the environment through radioactivity. Consequently, if some parts of the organism such as bones are found by an archeologist, the ratio of C-12: C- 14 at the time can be used to ascertain when the organism died (Van der Merwe, 2002). An organism that died recently will have a lower ration than the one that died ages ago. Material Classification The isotopes used in this process are mainly those of oxygen through a closer analysis of the ratio of O- 18: O- 16. Ambrose (2003) contends that archeologists use this method in the classification of the different types of glasses as well as in the analysis of mollusk shells as they try to determine their origins and sources. In

General Motors and United Auto Workers Union Case Study

General Motors and United Auto Workers Union - Case Study Example However, there is more to be done if GM is to avoid bankruptcy, or emerge from a reorganization process as a financially sound company. This paper will examine the options that the UAW, GM, and their management have, and make recommendations in regards to managing the hourly pay issues at GM. The UAW's hourly pay is broken down into three main categories and several sub-categories. As of December 2008, the total compensation was comprised of the hourly pay of $30 per hour, premium payments of $10 per hour, and current and future benefits of $33 (Sherk). Premium payments include overtime pay, shift premiums, and vacation and holiday pay. Benefits include health and life insurance, disability, unemployment benefits, and pension payments. The health and retirement benefits paid to retirees is considered a current compensation expense, and according to Sherk, "Since there are more retired than active employees this makes it appear that GM employees earn far more than they actually do". Reducing the hourly compensation to the $50 goal will require that GM and the UAW look at all these areas in an effort to find cost saving opportunities. A central key to saving labor costs is reducing the size of the workforce. Currently GM has established a 'buyout' program that compensates the employee with up $45,000 cash immediately (Bunkley 2). In return, the employee severs all ties with GM, and the cost of current and future benefits is reduced to zero. While the recent round of buyouts resulted in 7500 workers leaving GM, 14000 remain at GM who are eligible for the program. However, GM terminated the program in early April 2009 and has made no plans to reinstate or continue it. The money saved through the buyout program is critical because it saves in the short term as well as the long-term future benefits such as health insurance and retirement pensions. Two thirds of the eligible workers declined the arrangement, but GM could increase the incentive in an effort to increase that number. Further voluntary reductions in the workforce will allow GM to restructure its product lines in an environment of higher productivity with fewer employees. The fact that the workforce reductions are voluntary maintains good employee relations as well as Union/Management cooperation. A GM that is reduced in size will allow them to focus on the product lines that have the most potential for sales growth. GM has made some pro-active moves in this direction by announcing the closing of 13 plants, phasing out the Pontiac brand, and cutting 21,000 hourly jobs (GM to Phase Out Pontiac Brand). Ford, who has reduced hourly compensation to about $55 per hour has pursued a similar strategy and said that "the figure would continue to decline as more workers took buyouts and as the new-vehicle market recovered, allowing increased production" (Bunkley 2). An extension of the buyout program by GM, an added incentive for taking advantage of it, and the increased productivity would put GM on par with Ford at $55 per hour. Further reduction in the hourly pay could be accomplished by more closely limiting the

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 19

English - Essay Example But both forms of these English (British and American) are accepted as the base for the international world. â€Å"There are tremendous cultural differences between the US and the UK, despite having many similarities. People talk different, and not just in the accent or the words, but the general tone and meaning. They have different ways of making friends, finding jobs, interacting at the office† (Cultural differences between the US and the UK - Retrieved on 6/11/2008 from http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Cultural_differences_between_the_US_and_England) The Americans are generally very friendly in nature having no hesitation in speaking to even strangers though the friendship may not be deep. But they are not interested in time wasting meaningless conversations. But the England people normally will not interact that much freely like the Americans. They will keep a suspected eye always while dealing with the strangers. They are always busy or pretend to be like that. Family life is considered much important in American society compared to the society in England. The travelling nature o f the British people is more compare to the Americans. Majority of the Americans don’t even see any other countries while majority of the English people has been to some foreign country at some stage of their life. Racism is more in America compared to the England. But now it has changed substantially as seen in the recently concluded American president elections. The Americans are mostly proud of their ancestry compared to the British people. The sportsman spirit is more in the Americans than in the British people as seen in the football fans. â€Å"American society is more self cantered, combatitive and for want of better words â€Å"egotistical†. An American will come in and say I know you should do it this way and fall flat on their face if they get it wrong. The English would rather show appropriate â€Å"respect† to other peoples positions as it is likely that

Plant Form and Function, Plant Reproduction and Development Essay

Plant Form and Function, Plant Reproduction and Development - Essay Example The information contained in the article somehow applies to those in charge of domestic health, environment, and even interior decorating. The fact that certain species of plants have the ability to filter air pollutants is a promising new way of decorating the house and doing it the holistic way. Moreover, the idea of plants filtering the air of pollutants is also a clear message to horticulturists and environmental specialists that they should increase the production of such plants and that they should at least encourage people to do the same and to value these species. If these plants become so numerous, they might be able to bring about a positive effect in the environment.The anonymously written article appears in the Sciences News section of Science Daily and was about how a new species of monkey flower developed the natural way. According to the article, the new species of monkey flower, which is scientifically known as Mimulus peregrines, was produced from a series of matings among foreign plant species in Britain that lasted 150 years. Basically, these different species of plants actually cannot reproduce upon mating, but during the 150 years of evolution, infertility was overcome. The principle involved was polyploidization, which is the â€Å"duplication of the entire hybrid DNA [which] can balance the amount of DNA and restore fertility†. It is also mentioned in the article that even wheat, cotton, and tobacco may have originated in the same way. ... Moreover, the idea of plants filtering the air of pollutants is also a clear message to horticulturists and environmental specialists that they should increase the production of such plants and that they should at least encourage people to do the same and to value these species. If these plants become so numerous, they might be able to bring about a positive effect in the environment. Plant Reproduction: â€Å"Rare Glimpse Into the Origin of Species† The anonymously written article appears in the Sciences News section of Science Daily and was about how a new species of monkey flower developed the natural way. According to the article, the new species of monkey flower, which is scientifically known as Mimulus peregrinus, was produced from a series of matings among foreign plant species in Britain that lasted 150 years. Basically, these different species of plants actually cannot reproduce upon mating, but during the 150 years of evolution, infertility was overcome. The principl e involved was polyploidization, which is the â€Å"duplication of the entire hybrid DNA [which] can balance the amount of DNA and restore fertility† (â€Å"Rare Glimpse,† 2012). It is also mentioned in the article that even wheat, cotton and tobacco may have originated in the same way. This article is based on the journal article entitled â€Å"Mimulus peregrinus (Phrymaceae): A new British allopolyploid species,† which was written by Mario Vallejo-Marin and published by PhytoKeys. The Science Daily article therefore is heavily backed by scientific information and peer reviews, and is therefore very reliable. Moreover, it has its own DOI number. The Science Daily article was also written with great objectivity and

Uncle Vanya Essay Example for Free

Uncle Vanya Essay In Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov each character involved in the making of this play is not satisfied or content with life. They feel their life is a waste and they are still wasting them. Uncle Vanya, the character base of this play envies his brother in law, the professor because he is able to attract the ladies in spite of having no penny in his pocket. Astrov, the doctor, is discontent because all his life he has worked hard without any rest and he has nothing to boast about with him today. He has grown old, he has nothing to give him company but his vodka. Sonya, daughter of the professor, is in love with the doctor and is unsure of his love. She is unhappy because deep down she knows he is not in love with her but she is a more practical soul then the others. Sonya is not exactly content but she has her way of solving problems in her life as well as others lives. Yelena, the professor’s second wife, though attracted to the professor initially was never in love with him. She stays in the marriage more due to her conscience then for love. She has affectionate feelings for Astrov who reciprocates them but there is no future for that. Maria Vasilevna Voinitskaya, uncle vanya’s mother, is frustrated and unhappy waiting for the long journey towards end of life. Reading some pamphlets and writing is the only way she keeps herself occupied. Professor Alexander Vladimirovich Serebryakov, is a man who has no penny with him and is forced to stay in the estate of his first wife. He is not happy doing that and wishes to sell of the estate to buy a villa which creates a havoc. Telegin’s wife left him for someone else because of his looks and now he has to take care of his wife and her family. Marina, the old nurse, though irritated with the changed schedule, is a pleasant change from the frustrated atmosphere. From all this we know that none of the characters are content or satisfied.

Night by Elie Wiesel Essay Example for Free

Night by Elie Wiesel Essay In the book Night by Elie Wiesel, there are many father-son duos. In my opinion, a good relationship between a father and his son are vital. Their relationships with each other are varied in terms of agreeability and love for each other. The Germans have sent the Jews off to concentration camps and caused very trying times. They have torn whole family’s apart and sent people at each other’s throats. Elie’s relationship with his father changes over time. During the years prior to Elies Wiesels experience in the Holocaust, Elie and his father shared a distant relationship that lacked a tremendous amount of support and communications but, eventually, their bond strengthens as they rely on each other for survival and comfort. Elie and his father didn’t have the customary father-son relationship. Elie retells that his father did not show signs of encouragement when he wanted to study the Kabbalah: You are too young for that. Maimonides tells us that one must be thirty before venturing into the world of mysticism, a world fraught with peril. First you must study the basic subjects, those you are able to comprehend (13). He recalls that â€Å"my father was a cultured man, rather unsentimental. He was more involved with the welfare of others than with that of his own kin. † (13). After he got transferred to the concentration camp, he lived for his father, which was rare because most of the fathers lived for their sons. This is proven when he revives his personal account of a son fighting his father for a crust of bread: â€Å"Meir, my little Meir! Don’t you recognize me†¦You’re killing your father†¦ I have bread for you too†¦ for you too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (76). Another example of a son abandoning his father is when Rabbi Eliahu’s son abandons him on the way to the next concentration camp. According to him, â€Å"Sons abandoned the remains of their fathers without a tear† (70). Elie and his father were the opposite. He says so himself when he admits that â€Å"my father’s presence was the only thing that stopped me (from giving up on life)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦what would he do without me† (67). Another example is when two â€Å"gravediggers† come to throw his father out of the cattle car, presuming that he is dead. He keeps slapping his father until he opens his eyes and starts breathing. He also wants his father to sleep instead of him, even though he really needs the sleep to maintain the little well-being he can. Although, near the end of his father’s life his opinion changes vastly. He thinks â€Å"If only I didn’t find him! If only I were relieved of the burden, I could use all my strength to fight for my own survival, to take care of only myself† (79). In conclusion, the relationships between father and son are very prominent in this novel. Most relationships are bad in Night due to the survival instinct and the terrible conditions experienced by the Jews during the Holocaust. This just proves that hunger and abuse can send the best of friends at each other’s throats. So what? Prejudice against Jews is a major issue, past or present. Anti-Semitism has been happening from way back in 1290, when Jews got expelled from England, until today when people still (Still In the 21st Century? ) Stereotype against Jews and refuse to go to Jewish-owned businesses. Basically, what I’m saying is that Jews have been blamed for numerous things throughout history for no-apparent reason except that they are a race that is relatively easy to point the finger at because people don’t know a lot about them.

Aspects of Health and Health Promotion

Aspects of Health and Health Promotion 1) Exercise, in addition to promoting a general feeling of physical well being and aiding weight loss, actually confers protection against disease. Exercise decreases the incidence of coronary heart disease (Powell, 1987). The exercise, to be effective for cardiac protection, needs to be sufficient to increase the cardiac output for some fifteen minutes, and it needs to be taken on a regular basis two or three times a week. Exercise is generally good for health and there are numerous documented health benefits (RCP, 1991). A Mediterranean diet is one which is rich in vegetables, fruit, fish and cereals as well as being accompanied by a small intake of red wine. The amount of red meat is fairly modest as also is the dairy intake. There is evidence that such a diet taken by older people actually prolongs their survival (Trichopoulou, 2005). This study was carried out as a part of the wider EPIC study which investigates the effects of lifestyle on cancer and on other chronic diseases (Riboli, 2002). 2) Obesity is an increasing public health issue in the UK today since an increasing proportion of the population is becoming overweight. Obesity is defined objectively as a body mass index of 30 or more kg/m2. The body mass index is calculated as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres. As the body mass index rises so the risk of type 2 diabetes also increases (Colditz, 1990). Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem in that it predisposes an individual to a variety of illnesses particularly coronary heart disease. Additionally an increased proportion of saturated fat in the diet is linearly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes (Krentz, 2001) and so it is not just a high body mass index but other aspects of the diet itself which predispose to ill health. Smoking is strongly associated with lung cancer and actual mortality from lung cancer in addition to increased incidence and mortality from other cancers (Doll, 1994). The amount of cigarettes smoked correlates with the degree of risk (Doll, 1994). Smoking also increases mortality from coronary artery disease and stroke (Doll, 1994). Of people who smoke regularly one half will die of a smoking related disorder (Doll, 1994). In evaluating the effects of smoking the Health Education Authority (HEA) (1991) reports that smoking kills 110 000 people each year in the UK. This means that smoking causes one in every six deaths. The HEA (1991) reports that 225 000 hospital admissions annually are due to smoking. 3) When evaluating an individual’s or even one’s own lifestyle, with regard to health, areas of behaviour that could be improved can be further evaluated. For instance there is the danger aspect of the lifestyle for example with abuse of drugs. Such a lifestyle of drug addiction is very likely to be associated with much health morbidity and social disadvantage and in addition a high likelihood of drug related death. Other aspects of an unhealthy lifestyle to consider are the ease with which a change can be made to the specific factor. For instance there might not be the financial means to move from a polluted inner city home or to join an expensive gym. Priority setting should take account of the danger aspect and changes in these life style aspects should be enacted without delay. Stopping smoking radically reduces the risk of developing lung cancer and stopping smoking before middle age avoids 90 per cent of the smoking related health risks (Peto, 2000). Stopping smoking improves the individual’s general quality of life with fewer reports of illness (Parrott 2004). If will power cannot overcome the addiction to nicotine then nicotine replacement medication can be given in a variety of ways and is likely to prove beneficial in breaking the habit (Parrott, 2004). Losing excess weight will improve health. This has been evaluated by Chambers (2002) as a ten per cent body weight loss in an obese person being associated with more than a 30 per cent reduction in risk of diabetic related death. It is also associated with a decrease in blood pressure and a decrease in triglyceride and harmful cholesterol. There is a corresponding increase in the beneficial high density lipoprotein within the blood. 4) Naidoo (2000) describes five health promotion methods. Although they have some overlap they each have a different emphasis. The medical method is largely a preventative one. The educational method improves people’s knowledge whilst the behavioural approach concentrates on altering patterns of behaviour so that the individual learns by doing. Empowerment encourages ownership of problems and self determination to do something about them. The social change is important to create an environment which fosters healthy choices. To assist the smoker in giving up it is the educational and behavioural approaches that are the most appropriate. However the social aspect whereby smoking has become less acceptable also plays an important role. Additionally the legislation making it much more difficult to smoke in public places and the heavy taxation on tobacco also goes some way towards discouraging the habit. The same three methods are important in achieving weight loss in obese people. The behavioural approach also involves some aspect of education and so any evaluation of the effects that are solely due to the behavioural approach are difficult. The educational method of health promotion can be broken down further into the three areas of understanding, attitudes and skills (Naidoo, 2000). The effects of the education approach itself are relatively easy to evaluate by studying the patient’s knowledge before and after an educational intervention. 5) Information leaflets are available at general practitioner’s surgeries and within hospitals giving information about smoking cessations and how to get help with pharmacological agents when necessary. The suitability will vary according to the patient’s needs and attitude at the time of seeing the leaflet. A particularly useful approach is where, as is the case with cigarette smoking, there is health promotion material in a variety of formats for instance also including a website. Advice and information on the advisability or being an appropriate weight for one’s height is also available in a number of formats. When evaluating material on an internet site it is important for the source to be acknowledged and for the site to be continually kept up to date (Ewles, 2004). The Government generated slogan â€Å"eat five a day† is designed to reinforce the message that eating fruit and vegetables in the diet is advantageous for health and it promotes a higher intake of these foods. It is a short catchy message which has been widely disseminated in a number of formats. It has reached a very wide audience and is likely to be increasing peoples’ intake of fruit and vegetables. The message is short and confined to increased intake of particular foods but does not encompass within its message that these foods should be eaten instead of high fat or high sugar content foods. If the message had incorporated a slogan about food substitution it might have had more effect on obesity. 6) Fear can be a motivator for instance the knowledge that drink driving is a strict liability offence and will result in the removal of the individual’s driving licence and resulting major inconvenience and also social stigma. Shock can be a motivating factor for instance the television advertisements in the drink driving campaigns leading up to Christmas are often designed to present the message in an emotive way to really bring home to the individual the grief that drink driving can bring about. The health belief model (Naidoo, 2000) suggests that people need to have a trigger or an event in order to change their behaviour. The theory of reasoned action (Ajzen, 1980) encompasses the individual actually weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of changing together with a desire to conform to what every one else is doing. The conformity aspect is particularly important within this theory. The social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) involves outcome expectations and belief in the ability to make the change. This is particularly pertinent to the decision by an obese person to lose weight. 7) To maintain the change the health promotion messages need to be kept up and be consistent. A change in the behaviour of others coupled with changes in social attitudes (for instance in giving up smoking) may be helpful.The messages about not smoking from advertising and messages for instance in soap operas by actors refusing cigarettes will still have an effect on the individual who has given up smoking. It is likely that such messages as well as being noticed by the ex-smoker will have particular meaning for them and act as continual motivators to their healthier lifestyle. Once a change in behaviour has come about, for instance eating a better diet or not smoking, the health benefits of actually feeling better and more attractive may be motivators to maintaining the improved behaviour. These motivating factors may constitute a resistance to change as behaviour becomes set in the new way (Lewin 1951). References Ajzen I Fishbein M 1980 Understanding attitudes and predicting social behaviour. Prentice Hall. Bandura A 1977 Social learning theory. Prentice Hall. Chambers R Wakley G 2002 Obesity and overweight matters in primary care. Radcliffe. Oxford Colditz GA Willett WC Stampfer MJ et al 1990 American Journal of Epidemiology 132 501-13. Doll R Peto R Wheatley R 1994 Mortality in relation to smoking: 40 years observation on male British doctors. British Medical Journal 309 901-11 Ewles l Simnett 2004 Promoting health a practical guide 5th edition Bailliere Tindall London Health Education Authority (1991) The smoking epidemic: counting the cost in England and Wales. HEA. London Krentz AJ Bailey CJ 2001 Type 2 diabetes in practice. Royal Society of Medicine Press London. Lewin K 1951 Field theory in social science; selected theoretical papers. Harper and Row New York Naidoo J Wills J 2000 Health promotion foundations for practice 2nd edition Bailliere Tindall London Parrott S Godfrey C 2004 ABC of smoking cessation. British Medical Journal 328 947-9 Peto R Darby S Doe H 2000 Smoking, smoking cessation, and lung cancer in the UK since 1950: combination of national statistics with two case control studies. British Medical Journal 321 323-9 Powell KE Thompson PD Caspersen CJ et al 1987 Physical activity and the incidence of CHD. Annual review of Public Health 8 253-87. RCP (Royal College of Physicians) 1991 medical aspects of exercise: benefits and risks. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians. 25 193-6. Riboli E Hunt KJ Slimani N 2002 European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC) study populations and data collection. Public Health Nutr 1113-24 Trichopoulou A Orfanos P Norat T et al 2005 modified Mediterranean diet and survival: EPIC-elderly prospective cohort study BMJ 330 991

Air Resistance on a Fan Car :: science

Air Resistance on a Fan Car Problem: When a large fan is blowing air against the fan car at three different speeds (high, medium, and low), then will the overall speed be lowered? Materials:  · Fan car (K’NEX pieces, small, battery-powered fan, wheels with tires)  · AA batteries  · Large 3-speed fan  · Timer  · Masking tape Process: 1. Load two AA batteries into the fan that is attached to the K’NEX car. 2. Mark a starting line and a finish line two meters away from each other with small pieces of masking tape. 3. Plug in the large fan and place it approximately 5 centimeters away from the finish line. 4. Place the fan car on the starting line with the small fan facing opposite the large fan. 5. For the first test, test the amount of resistance when the large fan is off. 6. Turn the small fan on and time how long it takes for it to reach the finish line with the timer. 7. Repeat this test for three trails and record times and observations. 8. For the second test, put the large fan on a low setting and time the fan car’s progress. 9. Repeat this test for three trails and record observations and results. 10. On the third test, switch the large fan to the medium setting and time. 11. Repeat the test three more times and record observations and times. 12. For the last test, turn the fan on the highest setting and time the fan car. 13. Record observations and organize all trails and times into a table and find the average time of each trail. Observations: In this particular lab there weren’t many things that I observed, though I will state the small amount that I did. I saw that there was a slight incline on the surface that we were testing the car on. I also observed that the wheel alignment kept making the car veer off to the right. When the small and large fans were on I could hear their engines going. And when I turned the small fan off I found that it was very warm in my hands. Hypothesis: If the fan car goes up against the wind provided by the large fan, then the car will go slower with increasing resistance, because there is more opposition between the two with every increase of speed. Data/Results: I organized my times, trails, and averages into a table and a graph to present my information. Results Chart Setting Trail 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 Average Time Distance Speed Air Resistance on a Fan Car :: science Air Resistance on a Fan Car Problem: When a large fan is blowing air against the fan car at three different speeds (high, medium, and low), then will the overall speed be lowered? Materials:  · Fan car (K’NEX pieces, small, battery-powered fan, wheels with tires)  · AA batteries  · Large 3-speed fan  · Timer  · Masking tape Process: 1. Load two AA batteries into the fan that is attached to the K’NEX car. 2. Mark a starting line and a finish line two meters away from each other with small pieces of masking tape. 3. Plug in the large fan and place it approximately 5 centimeters away from the finish line. 4. Place the fan car on the starting line with the small fan facing opposite the large fan. 5. For the first test, test the amount of resistance when the large fan is off. 6. Turn the small fan on and time how long it takes for it to reach the finish line with the timer. 7. Repeat this test for three trails and record times and observations. 8. For the second test, put the large fan on a low setting and time the fan car’s progress. 9. Repeat this test for three trails and record observations and results. 10. On the third test, switch the large fan to the medium setting and time. 11. Repeat the test three more times and record observations and times. 12. For the last test, turn the fan on the highest setting and time the fan car. 13. Record observations and organize all trails and times into a table and find the average time of each trail. Observations: In this particular lab there weren’t many things that I observed, though I will state the small amount that I did. I saw that there was a slight incline on the surface that we were testing the car on. I also observed that the wheel alignment kept making the car veer off to the right. When the small and large fans were on I could hear their engines going. And when I turned the small fan off I found that it was very warm in my hands. Hypothesis: If the fan car goes up against the wind provided by the large fan, then the car will go slower with increasing resistance, because there is more opposition between the two with every increase of speed. Data/Results: I organized my times, trails, and averages into a table and a graph to present my information. Results Chart Setting Trail 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 Average Time Distance Speed

Solar Energy: The Ultimate Renewable Energy Resource Essays -- Argumen

The current use of fossil fuels as our main energy source has two drawbacks: their inevitable depletion and the pollution associated with combustion. These two drawbacks in addition to the growing concern of global warming has pushed for the development of more sustainable sources of energy, namely solar energy and its derivatives (i.e. wind power). Solar energy is appealing for its potential to meet all our demands, while proving to be a pollution free resource.(Bohn, 2009) Solar energy originates from the thermonuclear fusion reactions occurring in the sun. Leaving all the byproducts of the reactions behind in the sun, the energy that reaches the Earth is pure radiant energy. This energy represents the entire electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from x-rays to radio waves. Most of the sun’s energy, forty-three percent, is in the form of visible light, which can be harnessed for electrical production. The amount of energy hitting the Earth is incredibly large; by one calculation, a month of sunshine has the equivalent energy of all the planet’s used and unused fossil fuels.(Huang, 2007) However, the nature of solar energy has two disadvantages. The sun does not shine consistently throughout the day due to clouds and other atmospheric factors, which can be problem for constant electricity and heat production. Moreover, solar energy cannot be used for nighttime production. The other shortcoming is that the energy from the sun is a diff use source, that is, it falls over a wide area. In order to utilize this energy, it must be concentrated into a form and amount we can use, such as heat and electricity. These problems are addressed in the three steps used to harness the sun’s energy: collection, conversion, and stor... ... Need for Wind Power." International Journal of Heritage Studies 15.2/3 (2009): Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 Mar. 2015. 5 Huang, Y.F., et al. "Mitigating Environmental Pollution and Impacts from Fossil Fuels: The Role of Alternative Fuels." Energy Sources Part A: Recovery, Utilization & Environmental Effects 29.12 (2007): 1069-1080. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 Mar. 2015. 6 Kolbert, Elizabeth. â€Å"The Acid Sea.† National Geographic April. 2011: 100-121. Print. 7 Thomas, Chacko, Philip Jennings, and Dilawar Singh. "New Markets for Solar Photovoltaic Power Systems." AIP Conference Proceedings 941.1 (2007): 142-153. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 11 Apr. 2015. 8 Luckerson, Victor. "Glaciers Are Crumbling in Southern Antarctica Faster Than Previously Thought" Time.com May 22, 2015 Web. 25 Mar. 2015. http://time.com/tag/climate-change/

Innocent Children, Violent Gangs Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

Innocent Children, Violent Gangs      Ã‚   18, 059 violent felonies, 690 deaths, and 13,000 hard-core killers. What is the horrible cause of these striking statistics? Gangs. Gangs are a problem in nearly every state and 83 percent of the largest cities in the United States. The problem of gangs and their negative impact on the communities they exist in continues to grow and nothing seems to be able to stop this powerful growth. Gangs not only exist in just inner cities anymore, but in towns and suburban communities as well. Gangs are affecting more and more children everyday, and this problem needs to be stopped.    No one knows exactly how many children and youth nationwide are gang members or join a gang in an average day, but the numbers are astonishing and increasing. What is it about gangs that is so appealing to children? Gangs offer identity which a child may not have felt he or she had before. Gangs also offer belonging, protection, money, sex, and status. The majority of the children who become involved in such groups as gangs usually don't have a sense family or belonging to anyone, are lonely, and are looking for friends. Some may think that gangs are actually a good thing in that they offer so many positive things to a child's life. That is where some go wrong, and make the biggest mistake of their lives.    Gangs are responsible for ten to twenty percent of the criminal activity in the United States, which estimates to an approximate thirty to sixty billion dollars of taxpayers' money a year. Gangs are often associated with the use of drugs, including heroine and marijuana. Gangs also are connected to the illegal use of many weapons and as a result, many bloody murders. So, it is... ...f Violence: A Study of Violence on the Street, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Vol. 30 NO. 1, February 1993, pg 88-112. Kotlowitz, Alex, There Are No Children Here, Anchor Books Doubleday, 1991. Krivo, Peterson, Disadvantaged Neighborhoods and Urban Crime, Social Forces, Vol. 75 No. 2 December 1996, pg. 619-645. Lo, Chun-Nui, A Social Model of Gang Related Violence, Free Inquiry In Creative Sociology, Vol 19 no. 1, May 1991, pg. 36-43. Sambar, Chuck. http://www.sambar.com/sambar/chuck/aregangs.htm Omega Boys Club. http://www.street-soldiers.org/omega/omega1.html Alanzo, Felipe and Zavala, Eric. http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/%7Edliss/student_projects/final_project/felipe2/index.htm http://home.navisoft.com/requiredreading/Page6.html Cantrell, Mary Lynn. http://www.bluemarble.net/%7Enes/hot/htopicgang.html   

Earth and Planet Essay

God create our planet earth for us to have a home so we have to take care of our planet because God gave it to us and if we don’t take care of our planet someday our planet earth will be destroy or it will be gone. We have to protect our nature specially the trees because if we don’t protect our nature and if we cut down all the trees we will experience stronger floods and typhoon that will destroy our planet. We can save our planet earth by simply throwing your garbage in the right place not in the river or in the streets. If we throw our garbage in the river it will be stock and if there is a typhoon the flood will go higher than we expected because of the garbage that is stock in the river so we have to practice our selves not throwing garbage anywhere but in the right place only. For me it’s very important to protect our planet because God entrusted the planet earth to us so we have to protect it and love it. We can save our planet by stopping the mining company’s because if the mining in the earth continues someday the mountains in the earth will destroy and will cause a flashflood that people will be getting hurt or die. So if we want to live longer in this earth we have to protect our planet and save it before it’s too late.

Islamic scholars Essay

Western philosophy of religion, as the basic ancestor of modern religious studies, is differentiated from theology and the many Eastern philosophical traditions by generally being written from a third party perspective. â€Å"Islamicization of the West†, is the diffusion and assimilation of Islamic culture in the West. This is distinct from Islamization that means the conscious acceptance and implementation of the ideal Islamic cultural patterns by non-Muslims and nominal Muslims. Islamicization is sociologically similar to, though not identical with, Westernization subject to the limits and conditions of imitative- innovative social change. The Islamicization of the Medieval West, occurred, first, during the period ending around the middle of the eleventh century before systematic translations from Arabic into Western languages began; secondly during the age of Arabic translations coinciding with the little Renaissance of the twelfth to the seventeenth centuries; and third, during the Catholic-Protestant Reformation and Renaissance of the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries. The transformation of the West during these centuries until the sixteenth, passed through several stages of contact and conflict with Islamic culture. The West resorted to various strategies. Until about the end of the eleventh century, the Western views of ideal Islam and its cultural and military triumphant civilization were fostered by sheer ignorance, fanaticism, hatred toward Islam and the Muslims, Biblical exegesis, and relative intellectual and physical isolation. This led to the expected apogee of Western Zealot type response: the Crusades of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The extensive contacts with the superior Islamic culture and Muslims during the Crusades ushered in a new era in Western self-consciousness, and awakened responses to Islamic culture. The highest intellectual achievements of the West during these two centuries, twelfth and thirteenth comprised the imitation of Islamic science and learning. Universities were found in the West patterned on the Muslim universities to assimilate the new knowledge made available by translations of the works in Arabic and, to a lesser extent, of Greek classics, which have been superseded by the Muslims. The main philosophical influence on the Christian thought at this period was Avicenna and Averroes, the two Muslim philosophers commenting Aristotle and building their philosophical systems on or against the Greek philosopher. Aristotle presented to the Christian scholars the opportunity to escape from the Muslim thought as such. Aristotle belonging to the classical past (Greek and Roman) of Europe was a positive complement to the Muslim sciences towards which the Christian scholars had turned to acquire their knowledge. He began a new era by pointing inwards at Christians and their own deficiencies as an explanation for their lack of success compared to the Muslims’ one. He believed the cause of Muslims’ success was their religion, which sanctioned worldly pursuits, self-will and secular dominion. How Islamic scholars first translated Aristotle and then how Western Christians came into possession of them. Muslim philosophy influenced Western thought in several ways, it initiated in the West the humanistic movement; introduced the historical sciences and the scientific method; helped the Western scholastics in harmonizing philosophy with faith; stimulated Western mysticism; laid the foundations of Italian Renaissance and, to a degree, moulded the modem European . The Muslims were the first humanists and they gave a humanist bend to the Western mind. They were the first to reveal to the West that outside the prevailing Catholic Church it was not all darkness and barbarism but untold wealth of knowledge. They captured and further developed all the intellectual achievements of Greece and transmitted them to the West before any direct contact between the Greek intellect and the Western mind was established. It was through their influence that ancient and contemporary men outside the Christian West also began to be looked upon as human and even possessed of higher civilizations. To the Arabians, Aristotle represented and summed up Greek philosophy. They adopted the doctrine and system, which the progress of human affairs had made the intellectual aliment of their Syrian guides. It was a matter of historical necessity, and not an act of deliberate choice. When the need of scientific culture awoke amongst them, they accepted Aristotle. From first to last Arabian philosophers made no claim to originally, their aim was merely to propagate the truth of Peripateticism as it had been delivered to them. In medicine and astronomy, as well as in philosophy, they entertained an almost superstitious reverence for their Greek teachers. It was with them that the deification of Aristotle began. And from them the belief that in him human intelligence had reached its limit passed. Abul Walid Mohammad Ibn Rushd was the ultimate rationalist, the Aristotelian heretic of the medieval Islam and Christianity. His singular influence in stimulating the Western Renaissance is acknowledged as the landmark in the history of Western civilization. Along with Ibn Sina, he is the greatest name in Arabian philosophy whose influence spread, in many directions, through the duration of the Middle Ages, then in the epoch of the Renaissance up to the very threshold of modern times. Indeed, he was the greatest Muslim philosophers of the West, and one of the greatest of medieval times. Ibn Rushd came from a family of Cordoban scholars and was a trained lawyer and a physician; his role initiated him into philosophy. He wrote extensive commentaries on Aristotle, and others. His philosophy was in the tradition of prevailing Islamic scholasticism, with attempts to synthesize Islamic faith and reason in light of the available Greek heritage. His Commentaries on Aristotle were translated into Latin and Hebrew. The works of Aristotle and Ibn Rushd in their Latin translations were used not only in the curriculum at Naples, but were also sent to the Universities of Paris and Bologna. Once the rediscovery of Aristotle through Ibn Rushd’s writings was complete, the philosophers and theologians alike found themselves in possession of the greatest intellectual reservoir ever developed up to that time. Ibn Rushd â€Å"the Great Commentator. Influenced by his writings, philosophers and theologians split into two major groups; the liberal, with Siger of Brabant at their head, and the conservative, with St. Thomas Aquinas of the Dominician Monks at their head. The issues for the split where metaphysical, philosophical, and practical. However his critics, did not escape his influence, and their understanding of Aristotle was conditioned. When Ibn Rushd died in 1198, he bequeathed to his successors the ideal of a purely rational philosophy, an ideal whose influence was to be such that, by it, even the evolution of Christian philosophy was to be deeply modified. Gilson attributes to Ibn Rushd the recognition, which became pivotal to St. Thomas’ own philosophy, that nothing should enter the texture of metaphysical knowledge save only rational and necessary demonstrations. However, unlike some of his adversarial Latin Averroists, St. Thomas was not willing to concede that either Aristotle or Ibn Rushd were infallible. The enthusiasm in Paris during the thirteenth century for Ibn Rushd’s Aristotelian Commentaries brought serious questions as to the compatibility of Ibn Rushd’s Aristotelianism with the Christian doctrine. In the thirteenth century, Papal Inquisition against the Christian heretics came under condemnations with the focus mainly on Latin Averroists, led by Siger of Brabant, who was suspected of subscribing to the double-truth doctrine. Ibn Rushd himself did not subscribe to such a thesis, it is doubtful, according to Gilson, and other medievalists that even Siger himself did so. This doctrine, however, was a godsend for the scientifically minded people in the West, who were condemned and persecuted by the Church and the State. They found their best support in this and other â€Å"Averroisms†. The Ibn Rushd’s Aristotelian commentaries and his own contributions rapidly became the ruling mode of social thought in the West. Scholars of medieval Europe were provoked and inspired by Ibn Rushd’s writings. Whereas some Muslim scholastics and their Latin successors tried to â€Å"Islamise† and â€Å"Christianise† Hellenism, Ibn Rushd’s commentaries and rationalism seemed to excessively â€Å"Hellenise† Islam and Christianity. Thus, his Muslim contemporaries persecuted him while Muslim posterity almost ignored him, allowing his works to be lost. However, Jews preserved many of them. In Latin Christianity, the commentaries were translated into Latin from the Hebrew, fed the heresies of Siger of Brabant and the rationalism of the Italian school of Padua, and threatened the foundations of Christianity. St. Thomas recognized that some parts of religion were beyond reason and must be accepted by faith alone. The aim of his life was to reconcile Aristotelianism and Muslim knowledge with Christian theology and Thomas Aquinas was led to write his document to halt the threatened liquidation of Christian theology by Arabic interpretations of Aristotle. During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Latin orientated-Averroism had far-reaching consequences for medieval and modern social thought, hardly foreseeable by the medieval scholastics. It established a tradition in which it became possible to question the status of religion and from the end of the twelfth century to the end of the sixteenth century Averroism remained the dominant school of thought, in spite of the orthodox reaction it created first among the Muslims in Spain and then among the Talmudists, and finally, among the Christian clergy. These centuries witnessed revolutions in the evolution of social thought, with medieval Islamic sources always providing the background. As the Greek heritage â€Å"had aroused the great age of Arabic science and philosophy, so now it would excite the European mind and inquiry and speculation would crack stone after stone of that majestic edifice to bring this collapse of the medieval system in the fourteenth century, and the beginnings of modern philosophy in the ardor of the Renaissance . The results were monumental in Western history. It is suggested that Harold Nebelsick puts it well. He discusses the achievements of the Arab-Islamic scholars and how they appropriated, appreciated and preserved Greek classical learning and built upon it and thus, laid the foundations for a quite unprecedented revival of learning in Europe, and the results were the Renaissance in the thirteenth century, the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, and eventually the rise of modern science in the seventeenth. Even in our own time the contributions of those scholars, in the world of Islam and in the Christian West, represent the source of the most beneficent form of intellectual enlightenment. For Ibn Rushd, the primacy of reason is unquestioned but compatible with faith, and for this Gilson regards him as the herald of rationalism long before the Renaissance. In his Harmony of Philosophy and Religion, which was not available to St. Thomas, Siger of Brabant or their contemporaries in Latin, Ibn Rushd maintains a position which may be called the harmony of truth, philosophical and theological. Thus, philosophical truth, although superior to religious truth, is not really incompatible with, or even different, from it. The only difference is the path to truth philosophical and the theological. The Islamicisation of intellectual culture in Spain as early as the ninth century was described by Alvaro, a contemporary Cordovian bishop, the Christians loved to read the poems and romances of the Arabs, theologians and philosophers. Young Christians read and studied with enthusiasm the Arab books, and gathered immense libraries at great expense and despised the Christian literature as unworthy of attention. This refinement of life gradually spread northwards from Spain and Sicily. The experiences of the Crusaders in Islamic lands doubtless contributed something to the spread of Arab culture in Western Europe. The notion of â€Å"the miracle of Arabic science† circulated most unfortunately by Sarton, the Historian of medieval science, is false. The explanation of the â€Å"phenomenon† of the sudden birth of Islamic science lays down in the living Islamic ethos of those times; its dogmas and its gamut of culture; the all- pervading Islamic law which forged strong bonds of social co-operation among the Muslims, and between the Muslims and non-Muslims, citizens and resident aliens of the vast Islamic society of bewildering religious, ideological, national, racial and linguistic diversity. This Islamic ethos in action rekindled the dying members of the pre-Quranic ancient sciences and worldwide civilization. These mechanisms operate only in a cultural and political milieu of propitious dogmas, laws, values, cosmological doctrines, attitudes and efforts, all of which existed in the progressive period of medieval Islamic civilization. Conclusion Muslims gave a humanist bend to the Western mind. They revealed to the West that outside the prevailing catholic church it was not all darkness and barbarism but immense wealth of knowledge. Before any direct contact between the Greek intellect and the Western mind was established, Arabs had captured and further developed all the intellectual achievements of Greece. It was also due to their influence that men outside the Christian West began to be considered as human and even possessors of higher civilizations. The Muslims absorbed the best in the existing sciences and civilizations consistent with Islam and developed them, thanks to the intensely developed Islamic consciousness and conditioning, based on a remarkable Islamic system of education. There was great flexibility in horizontal and vertical mobility of people as nationalistic and hedonistic evils were held in check. Prerequisites for science and civilization were there: invention and innovation based on original thought; social mindedness and utilitarianism of individual efforts as well as in the organization of state and its educational and other programs; political stability, the rule of law and constitutionalism. All these mechanisms and conditions are necessary for the genesis, development, diffusion and application of science and technology. This fact of medieval Islamicization of the West needs to be fully researched, accepted and incorporated in specialized works and in the teaching materials of schools and colleges around the world. The consequences of this will be far reaching in understanding the socio-cultural rejuvenation and modernization of the developing nations, in building up a genuine and universally acceptable theory of social action, and in ridding sociology of ethnocentrism; in removing the burdens of historical romanticism and apologetics imposed upon the underdeveloped nations and suppressed minorities as a reaction to the cultural arrogance of nations and ethnic groups which are highly developed today but had their own dark ages at some other time and in promoting international understanding and co-operation for development and world peace. As a whole, various possible relationships between ideas of Muslim scholars, Greek philosophy and Christianity hence scholastics’ stand towards borrowing without acknowledgement or rejection Muslim scholars tried to interpret Greek ideas to establish a synthesis if possible. Otherwise, they criticized and refuted them. Since Christianity also faced the same problems, scholastic scholars borrowed those arguments, if they found them favorable in their case also, without acknowledgement. In this category generally come philosophical and metaphysical ideas Thomas Aquinas was led to write his Summa to halt the threatened liquidation of Christian theology by Arabic interpretations of Aristotle’ ‘Indeed the industry of Aquinas was due not to love of Aristotle but to fear of Averroes’. . It was an acknowledgement but with ill intention. Such references are not uncommon even in the contemporary texts that fully ignore Muslim scholars’ contributions to economic thought; scholastics borrowed without hesitation and preferred to refer to Greek scholars if they felt such a need. There was a spontaneous and determined general agreement about what to take and what to reject; what was taken was always either culturally common, or culturally neutral. The body of scientific knowledge was culturally neutral. Its cultural bearings were easily absorbed, because they were part of the common inheritance of the Arab world and of Europe. In times that are more recent a large number of Western scholars, together with Muslim scholars writing in Western languages, have been bringing out the diffusion of Islamic science, philosophy, and other aspects of Islamic culture in medieval West. However, such researches have not been incorporated in the Western education system and culture, in the manner and to the extent necessary for fostering the proper appreciation of the ideal and historical patterns of Islamic culture. Therefore, the West portends and strives for Westernization of the Muslim world because of what is considered to be the backwardness of contemporary Muslim behavioral culture pattern and the denial of the existence and validity of ideal Islamic culture pattern. Therefore, we can see the reactionary Muslim responses through polemics, xenophobia, historical romanticism, zealotism, fanaticism, extremism, even terrorism. This is in fact very different from the creative adaptation indispensable for contemporary rejuvenation. The consequences of the denial, falsification and neglect of this historical fact have been extremely serious: the denigration of Islam in the eyes of Muslims and non-Muslims; the identification of Islam and its culture with ignorance and backwardness and of â€Å"modernity† and progress with Western civilization; the creation of xenophobia and arrogance in Western mind, and the perpetration of ideological and politico- economic. Western imperialism against Muslim people; the imposition of an inferiority complex among Western educated â€Å"modern† Muslims, and the bitter social and political cleavages between the â€Å"modern† and the â€Å"traditional† Muslim elites. Reference http://www. accesstoinsight. org/lib/authors/bodhi/wheel282. html. http://www. accesstoinsight. org/ptf/dhamma/sila/pancasila. html. www. lssu. edu/faculty/jswedene/FULBRIGHT_FILES/Islamic%20Contributions%20to%20the %20West. doc http://www. aina. org/article/greek2. html library. csun. edu/mbarrett/religiousstudies. html www. lib. utk. edu/diversity/culturecorner/spring04/reference_spring_04. pdf

Adolescents With Food Allergy Health And Social Care Essay

Aim: To develop and formalize the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Teenager Form ( FAQLQ-TF ) in the Dutch linguistic communication. Methods: Ten nutrient allergic striplings ( 13-17 old ages ) were interviewed and generated 166 HRQL points. The most of import points were identified by 51 nutrient allergic striplings utilizing the clinical impact method, ensuing in the FAQLQ-TF incorporating 28 points ( mark scope 1 ‘no damage ‘ to 7 ‘maximal damage ‘ ) . The FAQLQ-TF, the Food Allergy Independent Measure ( FAIM ) and a generic HRQL questionnaire ( CHQ-CF87 ) were sent to 98 nutrient allergic striplings for cross-sectional proof of the FAQLQ-TF. Consequences: Construct cogency was assessed by the correlativity between the FAQLQ-TF and the FAIM ( rho 0.57, P & A ; lt ; 0.001 ) . The FAQLQ-TF had first-class internal consistence ( Cronbach ? 0.92 ) and discriminated between striplings who differed in figure of nutrient allergic reactions ( 1 nutrient allergic reaction vs. & A ; gt ; 2 nutrient allergic reactions, entire FAQLQ-TF mark, 4.3 vs. 3.5 ; p=0.037 ) , but did non know apart between reported anaphylaxis or non. The FAQLQ-TF correlated decrepit with 6 of the 11 CHQ-CF87 graduated tables, showing convergent/discriminant cogency. Decision: The FAQLQ-TF is the first self-administered, disease-specific HRQL questionnaire for nutrient allergic striplings. It has good concept cogency and first-class internal consistence and discriminates between striplings who differ in figure of nutrient allergic reactions. The FAQLQ-TF is short and easy to utilize and may hence be a utile tool in clinical research.Clinical DeductionsThe Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Teenager Form ( FAQLQ-TF ) is dependable, valid, short and easy to utilize and therefore a utile tool in clinical research.Capsule sum-upThe FAQLQ-TF is the first self-administered, disease-specific HRQL questionnaire for nutrient allergic striplings. It is dependable and valid and hence a utile tool in clinical research in which HRQL is the result of involvement.Key wordsAdolescents EuroPrevall Food allergic reaction Health-related quality of life AdolescentsAbbreviationsHRQL Health-Related Quality of Life FAQLQ-TF Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire – Adolescent Form FAQLQ-CF Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire – Child Form FAQLQ-PF Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire – Parent Form MI Mean Importance OI Overall Importance FAIM Food Allergy Independent Measure EO Expectation of Outcome IM Independent Measure CHQ-CF87 Children ‘s Health Questionnaire – Child Form AADR Allergen Avoidance and Dietary Restrictions EI Emotional Impact RAE Risk of Accidental Exposure DBPCFC Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Food ChallengeIntroductionHaving a nutrient allergic reaction can be fatal and striplings are at the highest hazard of decease from nutrient allergic reaction ( 1-3 ) . It is estimated that 2.3 % of striplings are nutrient allergic ( 4 ) . The lone effectual signifier of intervention of nutrient allergic reaction is rigorous turning away of the implicated nutrient ( s ) and proviso of medicines for exigency intervention ( 5 ) . In malice of the high hazard of decease, nutrient allergic striplings really reported societal isolation as the most distressing facet of their disease ( 6 ) . In add-on, some striplings reported depression as a consequence of nutrient allergic reaction and this may take to troubles in school public presentation and leisure activities ( 7 ) . Therefore, nutrient allergic striplings need to be continuously watchful as to what they are eating in legion state of affairss and scenes and, along with the fright of allergic reac tions, this may hold a negative impact on quality of life. At present, no validated self-administered, food-allergy-specific health-related quality of life ( HRQL ) questionnaire exists for usage in striplings. A few surveies have reported that nutrient allergic reaction has a negative impact on HRQL in striplings. However, three restrictions arise when construing these surveies. First, no differentiation was made between striplings and younger kids ( 8-13 ) , whereas HRQL in striplings demands to be addressed individually, because HRQL may be influenced by the phase of neurocognitive and emotional development of an person ( 14 ; 15 ) . Second, HRQL questionnaires were administered to parents therefore mensurating parents ‘ perceptual experiences ( 8-13 ) . However, kids and parents differ in their positions and judgements about quality of life ( 16 ) . Finally, surveies used generic HRQL questionnaires ( 11-13 ; 17 ) or disease-specific questionnaires which have non been validated ( 8 ; 10 ) , whereas generic HRQL questionnaires are n on every bit sensitive as disease-specific HRQL questionnaires ( 18 ) and proof is highly of import in order to find whether the questionnaire is mensurating that portion of quality of life which is determined by the mark upset ( 19 ) . Therefore, we have developed and cross-sectionally validated the first self-administered, food-allergy-specific HRQL questionnaire for striplings, the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Teenager Form ( FAQLQ-TF ) . This questionnaire has been developed as portion of the EuroPrevall undertaking, a European multi-center research undertaking on nutrient allergic reaction. The FAQLQ-TF complements the late developed self-administered Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Child Form ( FAQLQ-CF ) for kids aged 8 to 12 old ages ( 20 ) and the parent-administered Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Parent Form ( FAQLQ-PF ) for parents of nutrient allergic kids aged 0 to 12 old ages ( 21 ) .MethodParticipants and processDuring point coevals, participants were recruited merely from our outpatient pediatric allergic reaction clinic. Two striplings were approached during a double-blind placebo-controlled nutrient challenge ( DBPCFC ) and, based on patient records, eight strip lings were approached by phone. All approached striplings ( niˆ?10 ) agreed to take part in an interview on the impact of nutrient allergic reaction on their day-to-day life. During point decrease and cross-sectional proof, participants were recruited from our outpatient pediatric allergic reaction clinic ( based on patient records or assignments for DBPCFC ) or were recruited by advertizement in local intelligence documents and through nutrient allergy support organisations ( the Dutch Foundation for Food Allergy and the Dutch Anaphylaxis Network ) . A missive of invitation, the questionnaire and a pre-paid return envelop was sent to suited striplings from our clinic and to striplings who responded to the advertizement. The missive of invitation stressed that engagement was wholly voluntary. When the questionnaire was non returned within a month, the stripling was contacted by phone as a reminder. Adolescents were non paid for their engagement in any phase of questionnaire development or proof. Before cross-sectional proof, the questionnaire was pre-tested in three striplings ( aged 13, 15 and 17 old ages ) . No major jobs emerged during this pre-test. Thereafter, the FAQLQ-TF, the Food Allergy Independent Measure ( FAIM ) and the CHQ-CF87, a generic quality of life questionnaire, were sent by mail to 98 nutrient allergic striplings. Some of them had participated in the point coevals ( 10 % ) or point decrease ( 49 % ) . Descriptive features were asked sing age, sex, type and figure of nutrient allergic reactions, type of symptoms and diagnosing. For the striplings recruited from our clinic, we checked patient records to find whether nutrient allergic reaction had been diagnosed by a DBPCFC. During all phases of questionnaire development and proof, all common nutrient allergic reactions and different types and badnesss of symptoms were represented. The survey was approved by the local medical moralss review committee ( METc 2005/051 ) who deemed that permission from the committee was non required.DevelopmentItem coevals For the development and proof of the FAQLQ-TF, the same methodological analysis was used as for the development and proof of the FAQLQ-CF, which is described in more item elsewhere ( 20 ) . Briefly, possible points for the new questionnaire were generated by questioning 10 nutrient allergic striplings ( aged 13-17 old ages ) . In add-on, literature reappraisal and adept sentiment were consulted. This resulted in an drawn-out point questionnaire of 166 points. Item decrease The drawn-out point questionnaire was sent to a different group of 51 nutrient allergic striplings to place the most of import points by utilizing the clinical impact method ( 22 ; 23 ) . The striplings were asked to bespeak the importance of applicable points utilizing a five-point graduated table. Frequency ( per centum ) was multiplied by average importance ( MI ) , ensuing in the overall importance ( OI ) of each point. The maximum possible OI was 5.0 ( 24 ; 25 ) . Items with the greatest OI were selected for the FAQLQ-TF, except one of any brace of points with an inter-item correlativity & A ; gt ; 0.85 and/or overlapping content ( face cogency ) . The selected points were worded as inquiries holding a seven-point response graduated table runing from ‘not troubled ‘ to ‘extremely troubled ‘ ( 23 ; 25 ) . A psychologist and a linguist reviewed the FAQLQ-TF for lucidity and easiness of usage.Cross-sectional proofConstruct cogency Construct cogency was investigated by computation of correlativity coefficients for the FAQLQ-TF with the Food Allergy Independent Measure ( FAIM ) . This attack has already been successfully implemented to formalize disease-specific HRQL questionnaires ( 9 ; 20 ; 21 ; 25 ) and it is particularly utile in anaphylactic upsets where no nonsubjective measuring of the extent or badness of disease exists ( 26 ) . The FAIM, which was besides used to formalize the FAQLQ-CF ( 20 ) , includes four Expectation of Outcome ( EO ) inquiries and two Independent Measure ( IM ) inquiries. The EO inquiries are based on the sensed outlook of patients of what will go on following exposure which is likely to be a impulsive force of quality of life ( 26 ) . The IM inquiries are based on the same rule and inquire about the sensed figure of nutrients one needs to avoid and sensed impact on societal life. We expected moderate correlativity coefficients ( 0.40-0.60 ) for the FAQLQ-TF with the FAIM. The proof of the FAQLQ-TF was carried out in the Dutch linguistic communication. The English version of the FAQLQ-TF and the FAIM are presented as Figure E1 and Figure E2 in the Online Repository. The Dutch FAQLQ-TF and the FAIM were translated into English by a native English talker and back translated by a native Dutch talker, harmonizing to the guidelines of the World Health Organization ( 27 ) . The original Dutch version was compared with the back translated Dutch version. No of import differences in content or significance of inquiries emerged. Discriminative ability To set up the discriminatory ability of the FAQLQ-TF, we compared the entire FAQLQ-TF mark for striplings who reported anaphylaxis ( i.e. striplings who reported two or more of the undermentioned cardiovascular symptoms ; giddiness, experiencing your bosom round fast, loss of vision, inability to stand, light headedness, prostration, loss of consciousness/passing out ) versus striplings who did non, for striplings who reported many nutrient allergic reactions versus striplings who reported few nutrient allergic reactions, for male childs versus misss ( 28 ) and for striplings who were recruited from our clinic versus striplings who were recruited by advertizement. Dependability The dependability of the FAQLQ-TF was assessed by administrating the questionnaire to 34 striplings on two occasions 10-14 yearss apart. Convergent and discriminant cogency To look into convergent and discriminant cogency, a generic HRQL questionnaire was administered: the Children ‘s Health Questionnaire-Child Form ( CHQ-CF87 ) ( 29 ; 30 ) . This questionnaire is self-administered by striplings and contains 87 points divided into 12 graduated tables. We expected weak correlativity coefficients ( 0.20-0.40 ) for the FAQLQ-TF with the CHQ-CF87.Statistical analysesThe natural FAQLQ-TF and FAIM scores 0 to 6 were recoded as 1 to 7. The entire FAQLQ-TF mark is the average mark of all points with a scope of 1 ‘no damage ‘ to 7 ‘maximal damage ‘ . To measure concept cogency, Spearman ‘s correlativity coefficients were calculated between the FAQLQ-TF and the FAIM. The allotment of the points of FAQLQ-TF into spheres was based on factor analysis ( chief constituent analysis with Varimax rotary motion ) ( 31 ) and face cogency determined by a clinical expert panel ( BMJFdB, JNGOE and AEJD ) ( 14 ; 32 ) . To look into the inter nal consistence of the FAQLQ-TF and the spheres, Cronbach ‘s ? were calculated. An ? greater than 0.70 indicates good internal consistence ( 33 ) . The Mann-Whitney trial was used for mensurating the discriminatory ability of the FAQLQ-TF. The dependability of the FAQLQ-TF was assessed by ciphering the intraclass correlativity coefficient of the repeated FAQLQ-TF measuring ( 34 ) . Finally, convergent and discriminant cogency were assessed by ciphering Spearman ‘s correlativity coefficients between the FAQLQ-TF and the CHQ-CF87 graduated tables. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS for Windows 14.0 ( SPSS Inc. , Chicago, IL, USA ) .ConsequenceDevelopmentDescriptive features of the striplings involved in the point coevals and point decrease are shown in Table 1. The drawn-out point questionnaire was returned by 46 striplings ( response rate 90 % ) . The OI tonss of all 166 points of the drawn-out point questionnaire ranged from 0.00 to 2.89. The point decrease re sulted in the choice of 28 points ( OI & A ; gt ; 1.37 ) for the FAQLQ-TF ( Table 2 ) .Cross-sectional proofParticipants The questionnaire bundle including the FAQLQ-TF, the FAIM and the CHQ-CF87 were returned by 75 striplings ( response rate 77 % ) . One stripling was excluded because the descriptive features were losing from the questionnaire, ensuing in 74 assessable questionnaires for the cross-sectional proof. Forty-three striplings ( 58 % ) were recruited from our clinic, of which 19 ( 26 % ) had a nutrient allergic reaction confirmed by a DBPCFC. The other striplings from our clinic had a physician-diagnosed nutrient allergic reaction ( skin asshole and/or blood trial ) and the bulk was expecting DBPCFC. All striplings recruited by advertizement ( 42 % ) reported physician-diagnosed nutrient allergic reactions. Descriptive features of the striplings involved in the cross-sectional proof are shown in Table 1. There were no important differences in descriptive features between male childs and misss, between striplings recruited from our clinic and striplings recruited by advertizement or between s triplings with a physician-diagnosed nutrient allergic reaction and striplings with a nutrient allergic reaction diagnosed by DBPCFC. Construct cogency Most points of the FAQLQ-TF correlated significantly with at least one of the FAIM inquiries and with the mean of the FAIM inquiries. Five points did non correlate with any of the FAIM inquiries and were hence excluded from the questionnaire. The validated FAQLQ-TF therefore consists of 23 inquiries. As expected, we found moderate correlativity coefficients between the FAQLQ-TF and the FAIM. The entire FAQLQ-TF mark correlated significantly with the average FAIM ( rho 0.57, P & A ; lt ; 0.001 ) and with the single FAIM inquiries ( Table 3 ) . This important correlativity coefficient was found for striplings with a nutrient allergic reaction diagnosed by DBPCFC and for striplings with a physician-diagnosed nutrient allergic reaction ( entire FAQLQ-TF mark with the average FAIM, rho 0.76, P & A ; lt ; 0.000 and rho 0.52, P & A ; lt ; 0.000, severally ) . These consequences support the concept cogency of the FAQLQ-TF. That is, the FAQLQ-TF steps that portion of quality of life that is a ffected by nutrient allergic reaction. Expectation of Outcome inquiry 3 ( EO3 ) did non correlate with any of the single HRQL points and is therefore improbable to be an appropriate independent step for nutrient allergic reaction in striplings. Therefore, we excluded this inquiry from farther analyses.Sphere construction and internal consistenceThe 23 points of the FAQLQ-TF were subjected to factor analysis ( chief constituent analysis ) , which revealed 5 factors with characteristic root of a square matrixs & A ; gt ; 1. To assistance in the reading of these factors, Varimax rotary motion was performed for 5, 4 and 3 factors. These groupings were reviewed by an adept panel, and based on face cogency the grouping of 3 factors made the most sense. This grouping revealed the undermentioned spheres: Allergen Avoidance and Dietary Restrictions ( AADR ) , Emotional Impact ( EI ) and Risk of Accidental Exposure ( RAE ) . These three factors showed a figure of strong burdens ; all exceed 0 .300, which is regarded as an acceptable standard ( 31 ) . The adept panel allocated 3 points to a more appropriate sphere based on face cogency. The FAQLQ-TF and the spheres had first-class internal consistence with Cronbach ‘s ? transcending 0.70 ( Table 3 ) .Discriminative abilityAdolescents who reported two or more nutrient allergic reactions reported a significantly more impaired HRQL than striplings who reported merely one nutrient allergic reaction ( entire FAQLQ-TF mark 4.3 vs. 3.5 ; p=0.037 ) . There was no important difference in entire FAQLQ-TF mark between striplings who reported anaphylaxis ( cardiovascular symptoms ) and striplings who did non describe anaphylaxis ( 4.5 vs. 4.0 ; p=0.184 ) or between male childs and misss ( 4.0 vs. 4.3 ; p=0.324 ) . Adolescents who were recruited by advertizement reported a significantly more impaired HRQL than striplings recruited from our clinic ( entire FAQLQ-TF mark 4.6 vs. 3.9 ; p=0.015 ) . Dependability The entire FAQLQ-TF mark intraclass correlativity coefficient was 0.98 ( 95 % assurance interval, 0.95-0.99 ) , bespeaking first-class test-retest dependability. Convergent and discriminant cogency The entire FAQLQ-TF mark correlated weakly with 6 of the 11 CHQ-CF87 graduated tables. In add-on, the spheres of the FAQLQ-TF correlated weakly with several CHQ-CF87 graduated tables ( Table 4 ) . This indicates that both questionnaires step constructs that are partially related ( i.e. convergent cogency ) . However, as expected the correlativities are weak and sometimes even absent because the CHQ-CF87 is a generic quality of life questionnaires and hence non every bit sensitive as the disease-specific FAQLQ-TF ( i.e. discriminant cogency ) .DiscussionWe have developed and validated the first health-related quality of life ( HRQL ) questionnaire particular for striplings with nutrient allergic reaction, the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Teenager Form ( FAQLQ-TF ) . We found that the FAQLQ-TF has good concept cogency and first-class internal consistence ( Table 3 ) . In add-on, the FAQLQ-TF discriminates between striplings who differ in figure of nutrient allergic reacti ons. Finally, the FAQLQ-TF showed convergent/discriminant cogency ( Table 4 ) , which supports the demand for a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for nutrient allergic striplings. It is known that HRQL may be influenced by the current phase of cognitive, societal and emotional development of an person. Therefore, it has been argued that HRQL in striplings should be measured by agencies of a specific instrument ( 14 ; 15 ) . The FAQLQ-TF was specifically designed for nutrient allergic striplings aged 13 to 17 old ages. Age rightness was ensured by bring forthing and including merely points that were regarded as of import by nutrient allergic striplings ( clinical impact method ) . The FAQLQ-TF focal points on the perceptual experiences of the striplings themselves, because the questionnaire is self-administered. Many of the points in this instrument are specific to striplings. An illustration is ‘Carrying an Epipen ‘ . The Epipen issue in nutrient allergic striplings is in harmony with the literature. It has been reported that striplings raise concerns about its size and portability ( 35 ) and sometimes striplings do non transport it based on societal fortunes and sensed hazards ( 36 ) . Despite our age specific attack and the separate development of kid and adolescent questionnaires, it is striking that about two tierces of the adolescent inquiries in the FAQLQ-TF correspond to the kid inquiries in the FAQLQ-CF ( 20 ) . Therefore, although we generated many age specific points, there are seemingly ‘general ‘ nutrient allergic reaction points that are of import in kids and striplings. Furthermore, we found that the three most of import points that impair quality of life were the same in kids and adolescents ( ‘Always be alert as to what you are eating ‘ , ‘The ingredients of a merchandise alteration ‘ , ‘Able to eat fewer merchandises ‘ ) . An unexpected determination was that EO3 ( Chance of deceasing when by chance exposed ) was non correlated with any of the points of the FAQLQ-TF. This may bespeak that fright of deceasing of nutrient allergic reaction is non a driving force of quality of life in striplings, which may be characteristic and specific for striplings. It has been reported that striplings perceived their anaphylaxis as ‘no large trade ‘ ( 35 ) . In add-on, striplings are at the highest hazard of decease from nutrient allergic reaction ( 1-3 ) . This high hazard may be the consequence of underestimate of the badness of nutrient allergic reaction and the belief of striplings that they will non decease from any cause, including their nutrient allergic reaction. In fact, there were no striplings in this survey who reported ‘always ( 100 % opportunity ) ‘ of deceasing when by chance exposed, whereas this was reported by 5 % of kids and 4 % of grownups in other FAQLQ proof surveies ( non shown ) . Although non statistically important, this is a notable observation. The wrong belief of immortality of striplings may ensue in risk-taking behaviour that may increase the hazard of deceasing from a nutrient allergic reaction. Therefore, doctors and other health-care suppliers should be cognizant that underestimate of nutrient allergic symptoms may be of import when reding striplings with nutrient allergic reaction. When comparing the discriminatory consequences of the FAQLQ-TF with the FAQLQ-CF ( 20 ) , two interesting observations emerged. First, there was no important difference in entire FAQLQ-TF mark between striplings who reported anaphylaxis ( cardiovascular symptoms ) and striplings who did non. The same consequence was found in kids ( 20 ) . Second, striplings who were recruited by advertizement reported a significantly more impaired HRQL than striplings recruited from our clinic. This difference was non important in kids, although a tendency was seen ( 20 ) . It may be that striplings see safety and security by being looked after in the clinic, whereas striplings outside the clinic experience more uncertainness and insecurity about their nutrient allergic reaction ( 37 ) . Most striplings recruited from our clinic were known to us for many old ages ( average figure of old ages since first visit 12.5 ( SD 5.4 ) ) . In add-on, it has late been shown that parental trait anxiousness is hig her in parents of kids with a suspected nutrient allergic reaction who refused to take part in a DBPCFC than parents who did take part ( 38 ) . Since it is known that parental anxiousness is related to child anxiousness ( 39 ) , it may be that the striplings in our survey recruited by advertizement have higher degrees of trait anxiousness than striplings recruited from our clinic and may therefore hold more damage in quality of life. This survey may hold some restrictions. First, the proof of the FAQLQ-TF was carried out in the Dutch linguistic communication. The FAQLQ-TF was carefully translated into English utilizing the guidelines of the World Health Organization. The cogency of the English linguistic communication version of this questionnaire is presently being investigated every bit good as versions in several other European linguistic communications. Our experience with the Dutch Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire was that the English interlingual rendition validated good ( 25 ) . It is possible, nevertheless, that cultural differences may act upon the ability of our questionnaire to place the most of import points for nutrient allergic patients in different cultural or lingual scenes. Second, patients were recruited at our clinic and by advertizement. These patients may differ from each other, for illustration in footings of degree of information about their nutrient allergic reaction. However, we did non happen important differences in the descriptive features between these groups and other possible differences would non hold adversely influenced the proof process, where a spectrum of badness is good to obtain optimum correlativities. Third, some of the points in this questionnaire are likely to be clip sensitive in the long tally. For illustration, new labelling Torahs could do the labelling points included in this questionnaire obsolete. It is likely that in clip, this questionnaire will necessitate some updating and version. Finally, this study describes merely the cross-sectional proof of the FAQLQ-TF. Currently, the longitudinal proof of the questionnaire is being investigated ( i.e. the capacity of the FAQLQ-TF to mensurate differences in HRQL over clip ) . In drumhead, we have developed and validated the first HRQL questionnaire particular for nutrient allergic striplings, the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Teenager Form ( FAQLQ-TF ) . We found that this questionnaire is valid and dependable and it is short and easy to utilize. The FAQLQ-TF will be therefore a suited questionnaire for clinical research in nutrient allergic striplings in which HRQL is the result of involvement.RecognitionsThis work was funded by the EU through the EuroPrevall undertaking ( FOOD-CT-2005-514000 ) . We would wish to thank Dr. GFEC van Linden new wave lair Heuvell, medical psychologist, and Karel Verbeek, linguist, for reexamining the drawn-out point questionnaire and the FAQLQ-TF and Tina van der Velde for executing the test-retest of the FAQLQ-TF.