Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Should we make lobbying in government illegal Research Paper

Should we make lobbying in government illegal - Research Paper Example This is not the case. The most powerful lobby in the United States is the American Association of Retired Persons, which serves the interests of the aging population (McCarter). Removing lobbying would leave segments of the population without a unified voice for expressing their concerns. Other lobbyists look after education, Jewish people, and minority groups. Lobbying is not solely the practice of corporations; they also perform very necessary and important services. The constitutional basis of lobbying is the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to free speech. Lobbying is a form of free speech, albeit very structured, very closely tied to government, and quite expensive. Every individual person has the right to express his grievance with his government; this is fundamental to the American democracy. However, some recognize that this is a laborious and tricky process, which is why they contract that responsibility to experts, just as one would contract computer repair to a technician. Lobbying is free speech made on behalf of someone; to attack lobbying is the exact same threat as attacking free speech. Lastly, lobbyists (whether from for-profit or non-profit organizations) contribute to the offices of Federal representatives from both major parties—Democrats and Republicans (Ronayne). They are not unfairly boosting one party at the expense of another. Therefore, there is no way one lobbyist can change Federal policy single-handedly, since there is always competing interests in Congress. Given all of these reasons, there is no need (or basis) to ban lobbying. McCarter, Joan. "GOP takes on the most powerful citizens lobby, AARP." 28 March 2011. Daily Kos. 29 September 2011 . Ronayne, Kathleen. "Dueling Donations: Lobbyists Lining Pockets of Both Democratic and Republican Party Committees." 22 June 2011. Open Secrets. 28 September 2011

Monday, October 28, 2019

Brave new world Essay Example for Free

Brave new world Essay Lenina, Foster and the Director all have been pre-conditioned to think of themselves better and more intelligent than Betas, Delta, Gammas, and Epsilons, as do all Alphas. And with good reason as Alphas are pre-conditioned to be more intellectual and socially better. This portrays a capitalist society with the different classes. Huxley deriving from an upper-middle class family this is understandable. In contrast to 1984, everybody is relatively the same. Proles and Party members are all treated the same and are regulated with telescreens and thought police moving amongst them. The views of Orwell have been diffused into the subject matter of 1984 as well as Huxleys into BNW, the difference and contrast being their views. Huxleys views of a class system and Orwell views that a socialist Britain was going to develop in light of Soviet Russia. When further comparing the authors style and subject matter of thinking for their characters, it is clear that they share relatively the same principles. Orwells language and style shows that the Party members and proles are sub-consciously trained to believe the ideals of the Party by propaganda. Posters, the two-minute hate, books, songs and newspapers all enforce the Party ideals and the people believe them for they have no other principles or ideals with which to compare. They assume that the Party is right in what it says. This refers back to the proles not having an individual consciousness away from party principles, as stated by Winston in the extract. Their thinking is basic and un-intellectual. Similarly, the thinking process in BNW is a result from training and conditioning. This time people are taught in their sleep (again sub-consciously like in 1984) what to think and what ideals/principles to hold. Their thinking is mechanic and standardised which holds parallels with the mechanic factories they were produced in. Again it is the case of two different methods producing the same result. The subject matter of the BNW extract shows humour which 1984 does not. The fact and process that leads to the Rocket Engineers only ever being truly happy when standing on their heads and that Decanting trauma can occur in comparison with real life birth trauma. Both of these examples from the extract are illustrations of the humour that Huxley injects into the novel at several intervals. With 1984 there are no humorous comments at all and so the subject matter keeps, at all times, an air of seriousness, whereas with BNW this air of seriousness, as a revolutionary novel, is broken from time to time by the humour. A main contrast that the two extracts highlight is the ideal of what both worlds are striving towards and are. In 1984 Winston describes the Partys ultimate aim as; The ideal set up by the Party was something huge, terrible and glittering a world of steel and concrete, of monstrous machines a nation All thinking the same thoughts, shouting the same slogans, perpetually working, fighting, triumphing and persecuting three hundred million people all with the same face. This holds extreme parallels to the world that Huxley creates in Brave New World. A world where everyone has the same face paralleling with the mass producing of people that all look alike; shouting the same slogans, paralleling with the sleep taught sayings that everyone has a version of, whether youre an Alpha or Epsilon, a world of steel and concrete paralleling with the vast huge cities of BNW. It seems that 1984 is a world where a government is attempting to change the past and achieve a different world, whereas BNW is a world proud of its past and of sustaining its world. The two are exact opposites; BNW being what the Party is trying to create. The importance of the two extracts in the novels is high in that they are meant to shock the reader. Huxleys description of the manufacturing of people and Orwells description of a world that controls everything (even the past) and makes its people think whatever they like. Both extracts create a world in which the story is allowed to develop, they are the soil from which the seed is meant to grow. The 1984 extract has an added level to its importance as it shows that already Winston is part of the undead. It shows that Winston is doing exactly what hes not supposed to be and that if/when he is caught, the Party have got grounds on which to vaporise him. It shows the re-occurring principle in the novel that death is certain, and life is not. It shows that any chance of Orwells world changing, the Party being overthrown, is non-existent as any chance must lie in the proles but: Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious. This parallels with BNW as no-one there either wishes to change things, as they are content with their current life. Both extracts create these two worlds of unimaginable oppression whether its inhabitants realise it or not and the theme that runs throughout the comparison of the two novels and extracts is the same; that Orwell and Huxley both achieve relatively the same thing through different methods. They both achieve worlds of oppression and shock simply through different actual environments; as they did with making it that everyone thinks what the authorities wants them to think and that they have no interest in challenging this or any other aspect of their world. This being the case and both authors creating these future worlds of shock and astonishment are vital to the novels as this is what makes the novels so revolutionary for their time.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Grange :: essays research papers

The Grange The Grange was the first major farm organization and began in the 1860's. This organization was created mostly as a social and self-help association not originally an organization of protest. During the depression of 1873, this group of bonded friends, became an "agency for political change." They knew in ordered to help themselves they must become a voice in this new government in order to survive. With the depression farm product prices began to decrease. More farms joined the Grange to band together to resolve the issues before them. Beginning as a small group of friends learning from each other what worked and what didn't, by 1875 the Grange boasted of over 800,000 members and 20,000 local lodges; claiming chapters in almost every state, being the strongest in the states that produced the most: the South and Midwest. As a group (strong in member) they made their statement to the world on an appropriate day, Independence Day 1873. The framers Declaration of Independence informed those listening they were ready to fight back. The Declaration stated they would use "all lawful and peaceful means to free themselves from the tyranny of monopoly". Many of the members opened stores and other businesses so they could begin to buy and sell to each other. However most of these were farmers, with families, not businessmen and many companies didn't survive because of their lack of real business knowledge and the pressures of the middlemen who wanted them to fail. They worked as a team to get candidates elected who agreed with the need for governmental control of the railroads. With the control of the Legislatures they implemented governmental controls on railroad rates and practices. However the railroad was also very wealthy. They hired lawyers who soon destroyed the new regulations. With these defeats and with the new rise in farm prices in the late 1870's the Grange began to lose strength and power, dwindling to a membership to only 100,000 by 1880. The Grange was the springboard for another banding together of farmers, the Farmers Alliances. This new movement began in the Southern states and quickly spread beyond what the Grange had been. One of the most notable differences within the Alliance, was the approval of women to vote and become speakers and leaders for their cause. The Alliance however, had similar problems as the Grange. Many of the cooperations, stores, banks, processing plants and other resources began to suffer the same fate. Lack of solid management and the market forces operating against them caused them to fail. These disappointments aided the forming of a national political organization.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Wired and Wireless Network

Wireless Vs Wired Networks| There are two kinds of network technologies: * Wireless  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ communicates through radio waves * Wired  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ communicates through data cables (most commonly Ethernet-based)| Why choose a wireless network? | Wireless networks don't use cables for connections, but rather they use radio waves, like cordless phones. The advantage of a wireless network is the mobility and freedom from the restriction of wires or a fixed connection.The benefits of having a wireless network include: * Mobility and freedom – work anywhere * No restriction of wires or a fixed connection * Quick, effortless installation * No cables to buy * Save cabling time and hassle * Easy to expandAlso known as Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, wireless networks allow you to use your network devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. You can check your e-mail or surf the Internet on your laptop anywhere in your house. There is no need to drill holes in the wall a nd install Ethernet cables.You can network anywhere – without wires. Outside your home, wireless networking is available in public â€Å"hotspots,† such as coffee shops, businesses, hotel rooms, and airports. This is perfect for those of you who do a lot of traveling. Learn more about hotspots†¦ Linksys wireless routers are also equipped for wired connections – giving you the best of both worlds – connect wirelessly when you'd like to roam around your house, and connect wired when the utmost speed is important to you. For convenience and ease of use, wireless networking is the answer. Learn more about how wireless works†¦ Why choose a wired network? | Wired networks have been around for decades. Wired networking technology found today is known as Ethernet. The data cables, known as Ethernet network cables or wired (CAT5) cables, connect computers and other devices that make up the networks. Wired networks are best when you need to move large amo unts of data at high speeds, such as professional-quality multimedia. The benefits of having a wired network include: * Relatively low cost * Offers the highest performance possible * Fast speed – standard Ethernet cable up to 100Mbps. Faster speed – Gigabit Ethernet cable up to 1000Mbps. | omputer networks for the home and small business can be built using either wired or wireless technology. Wired  Ethernet  has been the traditional choice in homes, but  Wi-Fiwireless technologies are gaining ground fast. Both wired and wireless can claim advantages over the other; both represent viable options for home and other  local area networks (LANs). Below we compare wired and wireless networking in five key areas: * ease of installation * total cost * reliability * performance * security About Wired LANsWired LANs use Ethernet cables and networkadapters. Although two computers can be directly wired to each other using an  Ethernet crossover cable, wired LANs genera lly also require central devices like  hubs,  switches, or  routers  to accommodate more computers. For dial-up connections to the Internet, the computer hosting the  modem  must run  Internet Connection Sharing  or similar software to share the connection with all other computers on the LAN. Broadband routers  allow easier sharing of cable modem or DSL Internet connections, plus they often include built-in  firewall  support.Installation Ethernet cables must be run from each computer to another computer or to the central device. It can be time-consuming and difficult to run cables under the floor or through walls, especially when computers sit in different rooms. Some newer homes are pre-wired with  CAT5  cable, greatly simplifying the cabling process and minimizing unsightly cable runs. The correct cabling configuration for a wired LAN varies depending on the mix of devices, the type of Internet connection, and whether internal or external  modems  ar e used.However, none of these options pose any more difficulty than, for example, wiring a home theater system. After hardware installation, the remaining steps in configuring either wired or wireless LANs do not differ much. Both rely on standard  Internet Protocol  and  network operating systemconfiguration options. Laptops and other portable devices often enjoy greater  mobility  in wireless home network installations (at least for as long as their batteries allow). Cost Ethernet cables, hubs and switches are very inexpensive.Some connection sharing software packages, like ICS, are free; some cost a nominal fee. Broadband routers cost more, but these are optional components of a wired LAN, and their higher cost is offset by the benefit of easier installation and built-in security features. Reliability Ethernet cables, hubs and switches are extremely reliable, mainly because manufacturers have been continually improving Ethernet technology over several decades. Loose cab les likely remain the single most common and annoying source of failure in a wired network.When installing a wired LAN or moving any of the components later, be sure to carefully check the cable connections. Broadband routers have also suffered from some reliability problems in the past. Unlike other Ethernet gear, these products are relatively new, multi-function devices. Broadband routers have matured over the past several years and their reliability has improved greatly. Performance Wired LANs offer superior performance. Traditional Ethernet connections offer only 10  Mbpsbandwidth, but 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet technology costs little more and is readily available.Although 100 Mbps represents a theoretical maximum performance never really achieved in practice, Fast Ethernet should be sufficient for home file sharing, gaming, and high-speed Internet access for many years into the future. Wired LANs utilizing hubs can suffer performance slowdown if computers heavily utilize the net work simultaneously. Use Ethernet switches instead of hubs to avoid this problem; a switch costs little more than a hub. Security For any wired LAN connected to the Internet, firewalls are the primary security consideration.Wired Ethernet hubs and switches do not support firewalls. However, firewall software products like  ZoneAlarm  can be installed on the computers themselves. Broadband routers offer equivalent firewall capability built into the device, configurable through its own software. About Wireless LANs Popular WLAN technologies all follow one of the three main  Wi-Fi  communication standards. The benefits of wireless networking depend on the standard employed: * 802. 11b  was the first standard to be widely used in WLANs. * The  802. 1a  standard is faster but more expensive than 802. 11b; 802. 11a is more commonly found in business networks. * The newest standard,  802. 11g, attempts to combine the best of both 802. 11a and 802. 11b, though it too is more a more expensive home networking option. Installation Wi-Fi networks can be configured in two different ways: * â€Å"Ad hoc† mode allows wireless devices to communicate in peer-to-peer mode with each other. * â€Å"Infrastructure† mode allows wireless devices to communicate with a central node that in turn can communicate with wired nodes on that LAN.Most LANs require infrastructure mode to access the Internet, a local printer, or other wired services, whereas ad hoc mode supports only basic file sharing between wireless devices. Both Wi-Fi modes require wireless network adapters, sometimes called WLAN cards. Infrastructure mode WLANs additionally require a central device called the  access point. The access point must be installed in a central location where wireless radio signals can reach it with minimal interference. Although Wi-Fi signals typically reach 100 feet (30 m) or more, obstructions like walls can greatly reduce their range.Cost Wireless gear costs so mewhat more than the equivalent wired Ethernet products. At full retail prices, wireless adapters and access points may cost three or four times as much as Ethernet cable adapters and hubs/switches, respectively. 802. 11b products have dropped in price considerably with the release of 802. 11g, and obviously, bargain sales can be found if shoppers are persistent. Reliability Wireless LANs suffer a few more reliability problems than wired LANs, though perhaps not enough to be a significant concern. 802. 11b and 802. 1g wireless signals are subject to interference from other home applicances including microwave ovens, cordless telephones, and garage door openers. With careful installation, the likelihood of interference can be minimized. Wireless networking products, particularly those that implement 802. 11g, are comparatively new. As with any new technology, expect it will take time for these products to mature. Performance Wireless LANs using 802. 11b support a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 11 Mbps, roughly the same as that of old, traditional Ethernet. 02. 11a and 802. 11g WLANs support 54 Mbps, that is approximately one-half the bandwidth of Fast Ethernet. Furthermore, Wi-Fi performance is distance sensitive, meaning that maximum performance will degrade on computers farther away from the access point or other communication endpoint. As more wireless devices utilize the WLAN more heavily, performance degrades even further. Overall, the performance of 802. 11a and 802. 11g is sufficient for home Internet connection sharing and file sharing, but generally not sufficient for home LAN gaming.The greater mobility of wireless LANs helps offset the performance disadvantage. Mobile computers do not need to be tied to an Ethernet cable and can roam freely within the WLAN range. However, many home computers are larger desktop models, and even mobile computers must sometimes be tied to an electrical cord and outlet for power. This undermines the mobility advantage of WLANs in many homes. Security In theory, wireless LANs are less secure than wired LANs, because wireless communication signals travel through the air and can easily be intercepted.To prove their point, some engineers have promoted the practice of  wardriving, that involves traveling through a residential area with Wi-Fi equipment scanning the airwaves for unprotected WLANs. On balance, though, the weaknesses of wireless security are more theoretical than practical. WLANs protect their data through the  Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)  encryption standard, that makes wireless communications reasonably as safe as wired ones in homes. No computer network is completely secure and homeowners should research this topic to ensure they are aware of and comfortable with the risks.Important security considerations for homeowners tend to not be related to whether the network is wired or wireless but rather ensuring: * the home's Internet firewall is properly configured * the family is familiar with the danger of Internet â€Å"spoof emails† and how to recognize them * the family is familiar with the concept of â€Å"spyware† and how to avoid it * babysitters, housekeepers and other visitors do not have unwanted access to the network Wired vs Wireless | Wired| Wireless|Installation| moderate difficulty| easier, but beware interference| Cost| less| more| Reliability| high| reasonably high| Performance| very good| good| Security| reasonably good| reasonably good| Mobility| limited| outstanding| ad]There are two ways to connect a computer to a network: wired or wireless. Sometimes this will determine the kind of router you purchase, but fortunately today most offer both options. A wired connection requires an Ethernet cable be run between the router and your computer.In a wireless connection, you use hardware in your computer to communicate with the router without that cable. Both have advantages and disadvantages so to help you pick the right one for y ou, here are 5 things to consider when deciding on a network connection. 1. Ease of Set-Up Wired connections are easier to set up. With most modern computers you can simply plug in the cable and get on the Net. Wireless requires configuring the router and at least one extra step on the computer’s side: searching for the correct network to connect to.If you live in an apartment building in the city and go to connect to your network, you’ll probably see a dozen or more different possibilities. 2. Reliability and Speed Everybody who has used both wired and cordless home telephones knows how much more likely the cordless varieties are to pick up interference and experience problems of quality. The same can be true for wireless Internet. While hardware has improved over the years, other electrical devices can still potentially interfere with your Internet, in some cases causing disconnections and delays.And like cordless phones, problems increase as you get farther away fro m the router. There are devices to fix such problems, but they can be costly and may require some trial and error. 3. Speed Wired is almost always faster than wireless, and never slower. This is due to the reliability issues mentioned above and to the technology itself, which simply hasn’t caught up to Ethernet-level quality. 4. Convenience Clearly wireless is more convenient on a day-to-day basis. Once it’s been set up, you can access the Internet from any computer in the vicinity of the router.If you can run Ethernet cables throughout your house you can achieve a similar level of convenience while keeping the reliability and speed, but it’s a huge undertaking and may not even be possible if, for example, you rent an apartment. 5. Security This is arguably the most important of these points and the one too few give much thought. A wired network is fully contained. In order to connect to it, you must have physical access to the router. On the other hand, a wirel ess network is not contained. Your neighbors, people on the street, or those in the restaurant next door can all potentially find your network on their computers.There are two reasons this should concern you. [ad#r]First, you don’t want people you don’t know using your Internet connection. It’ll be slower to you and any questionable actions they take online will be traced back to you, not to them. Second, it’s not difficult for a hacker to intercept data sent through an unsecured network. All of the banking, purchasing, and communication you do online could potentially be maliciously saved to a computer. You can imagine the possibilities for identity theft, credit card fraud, and so on.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Computer network Essay

The Internet is network of networks, linking computers to computers sharing the TCP/IP protocols. Each runs software to provide or â€Å"serve† information and access and view information. The internet is the transport vehicle for the information stored in files or documents on other computers. It is sometimes compared to a giant international plumbing system. The internet itself does not contain information. What it was found in is one of the computers linked to the internet. The Internet, A global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols. It is a network of networks that consists of millions of academic, government, private, business, public networks and, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. The internet can have many services, like Electronic mail(e-mail) that permits you to send and receive mail, Telnet(remote login) that permits your computer to onto another computer and use it as if you were there, FTP(File Transfer Protocol) allows your computer to rapidly retrieve complex files intact from a remote computer and view or save them on your computer, etc. To access the internet by computer, you need a computer, a modem or other telecommunications link, and software to connect to an Internet Service Provider. The internet is indeed a wonderful, amazing and brilliant gift that has been given by science to humans. Presently in this modern era, the Internet plays a significant role in our daily human life. Whereas, we are seriously addicted to using the Internet in this century. Moreover, people like to spend plenty of our human lives. Ten years ago, the Internet was practically unheard of by most people. Today, the Internet is one of the most powerful tools throughout the world. The Internet is a collection of various services and resources. According to Russ Brock, a director and consultant at the Center for Innovation and Inquiry, the Internet is main components are E-mail and the World Wide Web. There’s a lot more to the Internet than E-mail, search engines, celerity web sites, up-to-the-second sports scores, and chat rooms full of risk discussions. The Net also ranks as one of today’s best business tools – if it’s used adroitly. Almost all households contain the Internet; however, before people connect to the Internet, they need to be aware of its disadvantages and advantages. Many fear the Internet because of its disadvantages. They claim to not use the Internet because they are afraid of the possible consequences or are simply not interested. People who have yet connected to the Internet claim they are not missing anything. Today s technological society must realize, it is up to them to protect themselves on the Internet. Half of U. S. adults, or 94 million Americans, aren’t online. Children using the Internet have become a big concern. Most parents do not realize the dangers involved when their children log onto the Internet (Children and the Internet). When children are online, they can easily be lured into something dangerous. When children talk to others online, they do not realize they could actually be talking to a harmful person. As a result, there have been many cases where children have been convinced to meet people they have talked with online. In fact, stories seem to come out every week: a child or teenager lured into something foolish, dangerous, or even deadly on line. Cathy Cleaver of the Family Research Council claims that it is against the law for a molester to even attempt to find children online In addition, children may also receive pornography online by mistake; therefore, causing concern among parents everywhere. Whether surfing the Web, reading newsgroups, or using email, children can be exposed to extremely inappropriate material. Pornographic sites tend to make sure they are the first sites to be listed in any search area; thus, children come across such sites easily. A man from Pearl, Mississippi was arrested in 1996 for downloading pornographic images of children from the Internet. He was charged with 290 counts of child pornography). Some critics say that parents are responsible for their own children on the Internet because there are available services to protect children. To keep children safe, parents and teachers must be aware of the dangers.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How power corrupts essays

How power corrupts essays When given power, many people use it in selfless manners because power tends to corrupt the people who posses it. These men and women may use their power to pull funds out of their respected countries that they rule in and use it for their personal welfare and finances instead of industrializing and advancing their nation. Others may become arrogant because of their power and not see the suffering of his or hers own people which they rule. The past and the present has supported Lords Actions statement that power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely and can be clarified through many books, observations, and personal experiences. The best observation that can be made was what occurred in Iran under their new leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. He led a successful revolt on the government of the Shah of Iran in 1979. He sought along with all of his followers to purify Islam and purge all bad outside forces. When Ayatollah Khomeini was given the power to rule, many Western experts on Iranian affairs predicted that he would follow his promises and create a democratic nation. With his growing power, corruption had struck him causing him to change his idea of how he should rule. Instead of doing what most experts expected him to do, he turned the government back to what it was before (an autocratic regime) and removed all moderate leaders and political parties. The corruption, which he had then, caused him to be very arrogant. Only after being in power for a year, Saddam Hussein and his armies attacked the new autocratic regime of Iran and began the first gulf war. Millions of men and children fought from Iran w ith very poor weapons. Even with heavy losses and the growing amount of social unrest, the war kept ravaging on because Khomeini kept urging it to continue. The problem simply was that the weapons used by Saddam were more modern and more powerful than the outdated weapons used by the Iranian...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Essay Sample on Architectural Appreciation A Visit to the Getty Center

Essay Sample on Architectural Appreciation A Visit to the Getty Center Visual art has the power to fascinate any observer that is open to appreciating its manifestation and discerning the hard work that went into its creation. The purpose of this essay is to describe a visit to the Getty Center, which is located in Brentwood, California, and to explain how the visit left the observer with a deeper appreciation for architecture. A few years ago, the observer encountered the external visual experience that encompassed the outer walls of the Getty Center. Whereas the typical visitor would be prompted to enter the building upon arrival in order to discover its content, that was not the initial reaction of the viewer. This particular spectator was instead captivated by the overall design of the exterior of the building. The outline of the building in question was so interesting that it provoked an otherwise architecturally nonobservant individual to take a deeper look. There was something different about this building, although it readily resembles other popular buildings to the casual observer, such as the headquarters of Apple Computers and the Clinton Presidential Library. At first glance, it was quite challenging for the admirer to precisely pinpoint the unique characteristics of the structure. Unlike the other edifices, however, it seemed to blend nicely with its surroundings. The structure had stark blue windows, which blended in with the sky in the background. The white marble that encompassed the structure bore a striking resemblance to the clouds that were present just behind it. With such an architecturally perfect resemblance, the observer wondered whether or not the blending characteristics were implemented intentionally. The observer quickly concluded that the reasoning behind the buildings design may have been in order to make a point, which was that the building – like everything else – was an extension of nature. Since the admirer lacked basic philosophy skills, he I didn’t even know what that meant, or if it would even make sense to any other individual. Regardless, this prospective explanation seemed to make sense. Even the most casual observer would certainly figure that the colors of the building- blue and white- that blended with their surroundings were designed to foster a sense of harmony between the building and its environment. The observer in question felt a moment of doubt, thinking that perhaps the creator could not have possibly dedicated this much thought to its development, but he soon realized that his speculations were more likely than he originally imagined. The fact is that, the architect is not just a designer, hes an artist. And as an artist, he wants to convey an idea to his audience. Sometimes, this feat is accomplished easily, and sometimes it is not. As this observer quickly noticed, the artist had succeeded in transmitting that very idea. The blue appearance of the windows has the initial effect of pushing the observer away. If, however, he takes an extended moment to look past them, it is possible to imagine what may be located inside. Perhaps this thought is the very first impression that comes to mind when one observes a piece of glass- that perhaps it can reveal the interior. The observer could not help but wonder if this was a way of saying that one should be open with nature, but he was not sure. Upon thinking deeper, he came to the realization that most structures have windows, so this simple thought was not likely the interpretation of a deep, meaningful symbolic transition on the part of the artist who designed the structure. However, the reflective coating that is used on the windows and the objects that they are designed to reflect could very well be an intentional captive of this artist. The initial captivation that the observer experienced with this structure convinced him to stay a little longer in hopes that he could figure out what hidden or contorted inner goals the designer of the building was possibly trying to accomplish through the unique design of the building. It was at that point that he noticed something significant. Certain parts of the building had rounded edges instead of sharp ones. Even though the observers initial nature theory seemed to him to be foolish in the beginning, he started to confirm it at this point. Perhaps the architect felt that sharp edges resembled discord rather than harmony, and opted to go with round ones that blended with surrounding features instead. Instead of entering the building upon his initial encounter of the exterior walls, the observer instead chose to stand outside and admire the architectural talent that had gone into the initial construction of the building. The overwhelming, creative design of the structure had posed a particular uniqueness that seemed almost hypnotic to the observer. Artwork such as this can easily be passed over if one is not patient enough to take a second look. The admirer ended his trip to the building with a sense of pride. Even though he had no way to be absolutely certain if his theories were right or not, he could at least enjoy the satisfaction that he had at least made a genuine effort to interpret the hidden clues that embedded into a structure by an artist. He had also developed a better appreciation for architects and their work through this experience. It was this very experience that convinced the observer to go beyond just watching and observing buildings because of their appearance, but also watching and observing them for their symbolism. The purpose of this essay has been to describe a visit to the Getty Center, which is located in Brentwood, California, and to explain how the visit left the observer with a deeper appreciation for architecture. This particular visit instilled the observer with the ability to stop and take a look at the design of a container before simply observing its contents. If you need custom essays, research papers, term papers, thesis, dissertation on Architecture or other discipline feel free to contact our professional custom writing service.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The 4 Stages of Adlerian Therapy

The 4 Stages of Adlerian Therapy Individual therapy, or Adlerian therapy, is an approach in which a therapist works with a client to identify obstacles and create effective strategies for working towards their goals. Adlerians believe that, by gaining insight into challenges, people can overcome feelings of inferiority. Moreover, Adlerians believe that people are most fulfilled when they are working towards the social interest; that is, when they are doing things that are beneficial for society as a whole. Key Takeaways: Adlerian Therapy Adlerian therapy, also known as individual therapy, emphasizes the individual’s ability to bring about positive change in his or her own life.Adlerian therapy consists of four stages: engagement, assessment, insight, and reorientation.In Adler’s theory, individuals work to overcome feelings of inferiority and to act in ways that benefit the social interest. Four Stages of Adlerian Therapy In Adler’s approach to therapy, termed individual psychology or Adlerian psychology, therapy progresses through a series of four stages: Engagement. The client and therapist begin to establish the therapeutic relationship. The relationship should consist of collaboration towards addressing the clients problems. The therapist should offer support and encouragement.Assessment. The therapist works to learn more about the clients background, including early memories and family dynamics. In this part of therapy, the therapist attempts to understand how the client may have developed certain styles of thinking that are no longer helpful or adaptive for them.Insight. The therapist offers an interpretation of the client’s situation. The therapist suggests theories about how past experiences may have contributed to issues the client is currently experiencing; importantly, the therapist leaves it up to the client to decide whether these theories are accurate and useful.Reorientation. The therapist helps the client to develop new strategies that the client can use in daily life. Feelings of Inferiority One of Adler’s most well known ideas is that everyone experiences feelings of inferiority (i.e. worries that one is not achieving enough). Among psychologically healthy individuals, these feelings of inferiority encourage the pursuit of goals, providing motivation to strive towards self-improvement. In other words, by developing positive ways of coping with feelings of inferiority, individuals can end up achieving great things and making a positive contribution to society as a whole. However, some individuals have difficulty coping with feelings of inferiority, which leads them to feel discouraged. Other individuals may cope with feelings of inferiority in unproductive ways, like behaving selfishly in order to feel superior to others. In Adlerian therapy, the therapist works to provide the client the support and encouragement they need in order to cope more effectively with feelings of inferiority and to develop healthy ways of overcoming these feelings. Social Interest One of Adler’s other key ideas was the concept of the social interest. According to this idea, people are at their best- their psychologically healthiest and most fulfilled- when they act in ways that benefit society. For example, a person high in social interest might go out of their way to help others, while a person with lower levels of social interest may bully others or act in antisocial ways. Importantly, levels of social interest can change over time. A therapist can help their client increase his or her levels of social interest. Alfred Adlers Life and Legacy Alfred Adler was born in the suburbs outside of Vienna, Austria in 1870. He studied medicine at the University of Vienna, graduating in 1895. After medical school, Adler first worked as an ophthalmologist, but later decided to study psychiatry. He was initially a colleague of Sigmund Freud, with whom he cofounded the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. However, he later split with Freud and went on to develop his own ideas about psychiatry. Adler developed the approach to therapy known as individual psychology, and in 1912, he founded the Society of Individual Psychology. Today, Adler’s influence can be found in numerous areas of psychology. Many his ideas have found support in the burgeoning field of positive psychology, and his emphasis on the individual’s social context (e.g. family setting and larger culture) is supported in many branches of contemporary psychology. Sources â€Å"About Alfred Adler.† Adler University. https://www.adler.edu/page/about/history/about-alfred-adlerâ€Å"Adlerian Principles.† Adler University. https://www.adler.edu/page/community-engagement/center-for-adlerian-practice-and-scholarship/history/adlerian-principlesâ€Å"Adlerian Psychology / Psychotherapy.† GoodTherapy.org (2016, Oct. 4). https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/adlerian-psychologyâ€Å"Adlerian Therapy.† Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/adlerian-therapyâ€Å"Alfred Adler.† North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. https://www.alfredadler.org/alfred-adlerâ€Å"Alfred Adler (1870-1937).† GoodTherapy.org (2018, Mar. 2). https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/alfred-adler.htmlClark, Arthur J. â€Å"What the World Needs More: Social Interest.† Psychology Today Blog (2017, Sep. 4). https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dawn-memories/201709/what-the-world-n eeds-more-social-interestWatts, Richard E. â€Å"Adlerian Counseling.†Ã‚  The Handbook of Educational Theories  (2013): 459-472. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard_Watts8/publication/265161122_Adlerian_counseling What Is an Adlerian?† North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. https://www.alfredadler.org/what-is-an-adlerian

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Summery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summery - Essay Example Idealism encompass individual dealings based on corporate ethical values, religion, gender and age, while the relativism encompass religion and provide the view that moral actions of individuals depend upon the natural history and weigh the situation accordingly. The article discuss about the ethical value questionnaire to examine the ethical ideologies of senior managers from organizations listed in Australian Stock Exchange. The results signify that senior Australian managers display geometric mean of 22.9 for idealism and relativism with geometric mean of 16.4. The study also specifies that no relationship was observed between age and idealism. Although, the study finds a low response, but those who responded are keen to behave ethically as compared to non-responders. However, the study did not incorporate heterogeneous immigrant community and emphasize on the fact that effective ethical training is required to generate managerial skills for ethically challenging situations. These training programs will enhance sensitivity to the diverse ethical ideologies and help the managers to avoid potential conflicts. The study opens the door to perform research in the direction of providing an insight for examining and generating interplay between individualism/ collectivism and idealism/ relativism of managers belonging to different cultures.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Business Decision Making Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business Decision Making - Assignment Example While all the garden centres offer natural plants as the main product, there are a wide range of services and products that some garden centres offer customers. Some of the products that the organization’s competitors offer include fertilizers, small pets, outdoor furniture, and landscaping services and products. The Garden Centre Group which owns a total of 139 garden centres, for example, has a restaurant, plant shop, gardening club, and online shop as part of its package (The Garden Centre Group 2013). The group offers among other products, Christmas lights, bulbs, artificial Christmas trees, tree decorations, garlands and wreaths (The Garden Centre Group 2013). Customers seeking garden centre products are keen to find the specific kinds of products they desire. They are particularly keen on finding products that are of high quality which means garden centres must carefully choose what they stock (Watson-Smyth 2012). They are keen on shopping in an environment that is natur al, serene, and magnificent. Many customers prefer to buy unique herbaceous plants and certain varieties of clematis (Watson-Smyth 2012). ... The business can also get a good idea about the size of the market from which it draws its customers. Furthermore, secondary data may give the business a hint about where the customers in the market come from in terms of geographical locations. Yet again, the organization may be able to establish the demographic characteristics of market including the income levels, age range, culture, ethnicity, marital status and education levels of potential customers (acsbdc.org par. 3). Other characteristics that secondary sources may reveal about the customers and potential customers of the business include their lifestyle, behavior, attitudes, product consumption habits, trends, and loyalty to specific brands (acsbdc.org par. 5). Based on these set of information, the garden centre can establish different market segments. 1.2 Survey Methodology and Sampling Frame By conducting a market research, a business can get to establish what its customers feel about its products and services. This being the case, the garden centre needs to conduct a market research to establish what its customers feel about the products and services offered by the business. The customers can also give suggestions on how their experiences with the garden center can be improved. Data for a market research may be drawn from primary or secondary sources, or even both. The garden centre will rely on primary data to make inferences and decisions regarding customer experiences at the facility. While there are several methods of collecting primary data, the organization will conduct a survey featuring a sample of visitors to the garden centre. The population under study in this case will include the customers of the garden centre. The population in

Why Death Penalty Should Be Abandoned Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why Death Penalty Should Be Abandoned - Essay Example First, the death penalty puts innocent lives at risk. The above is so due to inadequate legal presentation in court. As a result even though not guiltily, some end up in death penalty thus losing their lives for mistakes not done. In the US, since 1976, about 138 innocent people have been saved from death row. Also, one the most frequent causes of reversals in capital punishment cases is ineffective assistance of counsel. For instance, a study at Columbia University showed that 68% of death penalty cases were reversed on appeal, due to inadequate defense. Accordingly, to execute an innocent person is morally reprehensible thus a risk that should not be taken. Also despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has said that people with mental retardation should not be persecuted, research has shown that one percent of those executed in the US since 1977 are mentally ill. Many mentally ill defendants are unable to take part in their trials in an efficient way and appear un-engaged, cold , and unfeeling before the jury. Some are even forcefully medicated to make them competent to for execution (Haines,1999). Second, Racism and social class inequality also plays a role in the provision of the death penalty. Research has indicated that injustice is practiced on race and social class, as far as the death sentence provision is concerned.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Some aspects of marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Some aspects of marketing - Assignment Example For instance, consumer empowerment and increasing sophistication trends have prompted the video gaming makers and dealers to search for new markets, which are specialized, among the ones that are already saturated with customer diversity bases. A good example of such a market is the one in the United States. Therefore, it is important to note that venturing in the newly emerging markets, especially in the Latin America and South East Asia has promoted the video gaming dealers to establish production facilities in the overseas. This implies that such establishments have lead to business strategic partnerships and global alliances with foreign video gaming dealers, an achievement that is credited with the information technological advancement. Drawing arguments from sociocultural forces, it is necessary to note that businesses cannot exist as single entities and there is absolute need for them to be informed of the cultural and societal changes, which take place in their business envir onments. In this regard, businesses must adapt to sociocultural changes so that they can stay ahead of their business competitors and to remain relevant in the market. For such businesses to remain relevant, especially among their consumers and to outcompete their competitors, there is need to adopt new technology, and this is where, for example, online video gaming has found a lot of relevance in this discussion. Sociocultural forces include, but are not limited to changing preferences, demographics, advertising techniques, and internal environment. Changing preferences can be regarded as one of the major sociocultural factors, which influence businesses and decision making processes. For example, some items that were popular in the last two decades are no longer popular among the consumers. Various priorities and styles can derail the success of products and services in the market. Drawing reference from the clothing industry, a clothing company ought to be acquainted with the cha nging trends in the industry for it to remain relevant and up-to-date. Changing demographic trends also play significant role in business. In this regard aging population ultimately reduces the market for online video gaming technology and fashions, which healthcare products and luxury goods increase. Moreover, changing gender proportions, religious groupings, different race, and ethnic groups in a given society has significant effects on the way IT business is carried out. Advertising techniques are closely linked to sociocultural changes. Advertising sets trends for video gaming; keeps track and engage the society in the business. Values, moral and fashion changes are put into account when putting in place appropriate advertising technique. Drawing arguments from the internal environment, sociocultural forces affect the internal decision making process of a company. For instance, rising family life emphasis and dynamic gender roles have necessitated both maternity and paternity le aves in several organizations. In addition, attitudes regarding sexual harassment and racial discrimination have changed significantly due to sociocultural changes, which also impact on the video gaming business. Question 2 Marketing directly involves taking the products to the consumers, thus relieving them from looking for the products. This implies that customer orders for the products and, on paying for the cost, the products would be

Wal-Mart on Becoming the World's Largest Company Essay

Wal-Mart on Becoming the World's Largest Company - Essay Example This was another great idea because store managers were more motivated to succeed and improve their individual stores. Another philosophy Walton had was locating his stores in small towns as opposed to large cities. This allowed him to avoid competition from larger retailers. He also created clusters of stores within a specific region and had giant warehouses built in the middle of these clusters in order to supply the stores in that region (â€Å"Wal-Mart,† 2009). These various strategies and management philosophies that Walton employed made Wal-Mart a tremendous success. Wal-Mart continued to expand in the 80s. Walton introduced â€Å"Sam’s Club† stores in 1983, which allowed customers to buy consumer goods at bulk-quantity prices. In 1987, Wal-Mart purchased a state of the art networking system that instantly communicated inventory and sales information across their network of stores. This greatly increased efficiency and gave Wal-Mart another edge over its co mpetitors. A year later, Wal-Mart introduced their first â€Å"Supercenter† which combined their retail store with a supermarket. They continued to grow in the 90s as they went international in 1995 and introduced the first â€Å"Neighborhood Market† stores, which specialize in groceries, in 1998 (â€Å"Wal-Mart,† 2009).

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Some aspects of marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Some aspects of marketing - Assignment Example For instance, consumer empowerment and increasing sophistication trends have prompted the video gaming makers and dealers to search for new markets, which are specialized, among the ones that are already saturated with customer diversity bases. A good example of such a market is the one in the United States. Therefore, it is important to note that venturing in the newly emerging markets, especially in the Latin America and South East Asia has promoted the video gaming dealers to establish production facilities in the overseas. This implies that such establishments have lead to business strategic partnerships and global alliances with foreign video gaming dealers, an achievement that is credited with the information technological advancement. Drawing arguments from sociocultural forces, it is necessary to note that businesses cannot exist as single entities and there is absolute need for them to be informed of the cultural and societal changes, which take place in their business envir onments. In this regard, businesses must adapt to sociocultural changes so that they can stay ahead of their business competitors and to remain relevant in the market. For such businesses to remain relevant, especially among their consumers and to outcompete their competitors, there is need to adopt new technology, and this is where, for example, online video gaming has found a lot of relevance in this discussion. Sociocultural forces include, but are not limited to changing preferences, demographics, advertising techniques, and internal environment. Changing preferences can be regarded as one of the major sociocultural factors, which influence businesses and decision making processes. For example, some items that were popular in the last two decades are no longer popular among the consumers. Various priorities and styles can derail the success of products and services in the market. Drawing reference from the clothing industry, a clothing company ought to be acquainted with the cha nging trends in the industry for it to remain relevant and up-to-date. Changing demographic trends also play significant role in business. In this regard aging population ultimately reduces the market for online video gaming technology and fashions, which healthcare products and luxury goods increase. Moreover, changing gender proportions, religious groupings, different race, and ethnic groups in a given society has significant effects on the way IT business is carried out. Advertising techniques are closely linked to sociocultural changes. Advertising sets trends for video gaming; keeps track and engage the society in the business. Values, moral and fashion changes are put into account when putting in place appropriate advertising technique. Drawing arguments from the internal environment, sociocultural forces affect the internal decision making process of a company. For instance, rising family life emphasis and dynamic gender roles have necessitated both maternity and paternity le aves in several organizations. In addition, attitudes regarding sexual harassment and racial discrimination have changed significantly due to sociocultural changes, which also impact on the video gaming business. Question 2 Marketing directly involves taking the products to the consumers, thus relieving them from looking for the products. This implies that customer orders for the products and, on paying for the cost, the products would be

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Global warming - Essay Example (Nebel and Wright) As the industries produce different things, they burn fuel as a result of which pollution is created. The most common outcome of the burning of fuel is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is one of the members of the green house gases which include water vapors, nitrous oxide and methane as well. These emissions of carbon dioxide raise the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is measured in ppm (parts per million). Greg Craven book, â€Å"What’s the Worst that could happen?† illustrates the planet as a bath tub and shows carbon inflows and outflows. There, the safe level of carbon dioxide is 350 ppm which we have already crossed in 2009. Although the level of carbon dioxide was as low as 280 ppm before the industrial revolution but it then began to increase at an increasing rate and if we keep going like this, it will reach up to 900 ppm in 2100. The prime source of the dangerous carbon dioxide is burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide emissions are measured in gigatons per year (gtc/yr). Although there are other sources as well which even more carbon dioxide but the emissions are cancelled some way or another, like the oceans emit 10 times more carbon than humans but they also absorb massive amounts of it. These green house gases, when present in the atmosphere, trap the heat coming from the sun which otherwise would have been reflected. This leads to a rise in the temperature of the planet and this rise in the temperature is called global warming. Global warming affects many people, plants and animals and those who are unable to tolerate this change die. Global warming nowadays has become a very big problem as it has many adverse effects on living things and the planet. (Craven) There are a lot of reasons to worry about the global warming; some of them are related to individual human beings and some are related collectively to all of us. First of all global warming is causing the snow levels at the northern hemisphere to fall as the temperature there is increasing as well and causing the ice to melt which causes the sea levels to rise. To begin with, the increase in sea level would only be an inch or two. Even a tiny climb in sea levels may well cause flooding troubles for low-lying coastal areas. On the other hand, if the West Antarctic Ice Sheet were to liquefy and fall down into the sea, it would thrust sea levels up 10 meters, and a lot of coastal areas would wholly fade away beneath the sea. According to IPCC, the sea levels rose about 17 centimeters in the 20th century. People may lose their homes and food sources as a result of these floods. (Strickland and Grabianowski) Global warming can also cause different diseases as the temperature becomes hotter it gives rise to the growth of some bacteria especially to those who cannot survive in colder climates like pathogens. In a study, authors examined how increasing temperatures already are letting insec ts and microorganisms overrun regions where they formerly were barred by ruthless recurring chills. They believed that mosquitoes are moving up mountainsides, spreading sickness amongst animals previously sheltered by temperature. They also discovered some pathogens reproduce more frequently in warmer temperatures, so there are comparatively more germs around, to cause infection. Richard S. Ostfeld, an environmental researcher at the

Dysfunction and Parannoia Essay Example for Free

Dysfunction and Parannoia Essay This just clarifies the fact that Henry is manipulative: the traitors are completely unaware anything is wrong, and the audience is given constant reminders to how Henry is about to act. He appears to act on the interest of the nation seeking no revenge and kill the traitors for our kingdoms safety. However it could be doubted that his leadership overrules his personal wants partly because he had already known of the plot for a while. This gives the thought that Henry had carefully been thinking of a scheme to make him not appear as a tyrant. When he accuses the traitors his language uses exaggeration. He uses rhetorical questions excessively, repeating why, so didst thou four times and compares the situation of the mens betrayal to Mans betrayal of god. This shows hes not revealing his true feelings, and trying to gain sympathy through a carefully planned act of making sure that it isnt perceived as him attaining personal revenge. Towards the end of the Act, Henry has developed into confident leader with the notion God is behind him. Through his speech he is portrayed as a manipulative leader who is sure of himself and what he is doing. This contrasts his previous speeches which portrayed him as weak and giving the appearance of being tough and eminent. It felt forced as he had been so unsure of himself and shows that such a strong, assertive stance taken in his later speech would have been genuine: we doubt not. The transformation from being unsure of what was morally acceptable as a leader to a man, who chose manipulation and execution, was incredibly sudden. It could be said however that the cause of different events led up to this new strong character or perhaps it was the fact that it became clear that his effective role as a leader was needed by more people than just himself. If Henry wouldve left the traitors to live, people would perceive him as weak and easily swayed. If he was to make the exception, his role as a weak leader could be taken advantage. This makes the suggestion that Henry sacrificed his personal interests for those of the nation as he comes to the realization that not doing so will lead his followers to becoming anarchists. However, Henry believes that to be a strong leader, there is no room for him to be humane which is conveyed through his manipulation in exposing the traitors. Henry. Being humane by showing mercy and being ruthless in regards to the role as a stronger leader, is meaningless. He makes the quick assumption that he is wrong in being moral and should be decisive and abide by the laws which isnt always the traits of a good leader. Henry uses the excuse for his previous (some may say tyrannical) actions for his success in leadership. This insinuates that he is good kind-hearted man who has had to sacrifice his own friendships for the sake of good leadership. However it could also evoke the fact that he is a tyrant using the excuses for leadership as excuses for his own revenge. Shakespeare hints at this through Henrys rhetoric and complex language contrasting with the inept and prose-written language of the common man. Regardless of this point, the audience can evidently see the commoners grief over Falstaffs death, whilst Henry sentences them, without showing his true feelings. This evokes Henrys cold character and suggests that underneath all the different surfaces of his nature, that he is ultimately a tyrant. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Miscellaneous section.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Exploitation Of Conflict Minerals In The Congo Politics Essay

Exploitation Of Conflict Minerals In The Congo Politics Essay The Democratic Republic of the Congo, once a European colony relinquished for its vast amount of raw minerals, gained independence in 1960 from France and has for more than twelve years suffered from continuous civil war over the distribution and control of said resources. Moreover, violence has become so deadly in this region, from forced labor, torture, recruitment of child soldiers, extortion, and killings by armed groups to oppress and control civilians, that it has been regarded as being the .deadliest conflicts globally since World War II. (Prendergast, 2009) Scholar Michael Niemann (2007) reported that Corrupt national and local government, various rebel movements, and governments and armed forces of Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, and, to a lesser extent, Angola, Namibia, and Chad all conspire for one thing- to profit from the mineral and other wealth in various resource enriched areas of the country (p. 25). One of these minerals includes Columbite-tantalite coltan for short one of the worlds most sought-after materials; the refinement of coltan leads to a highly heat-resistant metal powder called tantalum. This powder can sell for $100 a pound, and slowly is becoming increasingly vital to modern life. For the high-tech industry, tantalum is magic dust, a key component in everything from mobile phones made by Nokia and Ericsson and computer chips from Intel to Sony stereos and VCRs. (Essick, 2001) Mineral conflict in the Congo is not only a national concern but an international one as well, as most consumers of products that use the minerals exploited from the Congo live outside the country. Prendergast (2009) reported, Consumers in the United States, Europe, and Asia are the ultimate end-users of these conflict minerals, as they inadvertently fuel the war through purchases of these electronics products. Consequently, many people are directly connected to this issue as they are part of a group that legitimatize and unintentionally spur such conflict. Thus, it is important to appreciate the gross antiquity the consumer of the final product sanctions and endorses by virtue of the use of certain products that may contain coltan. In addition to this, this is relevant to Canadas relationship with the Third World because Canadians are a large group of this consumer population. Three important areas of discussion in regards to Congolesian conflict mineral development are: the country s struggle to establish viable states on the ruins of repressive colonial states and how this relates to internal maintenance of socio-economic hierarchy, the related role of a paltry economy, and mineral industrialization in regards to globalization and the role of national and international governments. The goal of this paper will be to outline, within the realm of these three subtopics, the national and international shortcomings/ hindrances and adverse progressions to reduce current mineral conflict in the Congo. Despite frequently promoting colonization as a key contributor to developmental regression, professional and scholarly literature on Congolesian conflict often varies in regards to what particular element of Congolesian culture is most reflective of such regression. (Economic standing, political makeup, etc.) Scholar Michael Niemanns (2007) journal War Making and State Making In Central Africa, specifically concentrates on critically analyzing the concept of the African failed state, recognizing the Western bias inherently stemming from the dominance of colonial powers. Niemann (2007) advocated for a governmental space where . alternative forms of rule and political community can be explored, forms that have a longer staying power than the mostly failed attempts to create the veneer of a liberal democracy which the palimpsest of the repressive colonial state remains visible. (p. 23). Niemann also and most importantly affirms a principle of sovereignty in Congolesian government that w as not only clearly apparent under colonial rule, but also continuously apparent in modern Congolesian government as well (p. 27). This particular issue of modern Congolesian rule as a means of mineral conflict hindrance can best be understood with reference to internal maintenance of socio-economic hierarchy as it relates to colonial legacy. Both Niemann and scholar Severine Autesserre (2009) indicated the influence of the national and local elite. Niemann presented a specific argument: the process of class formation on the continent is incomplete[and].. African states tend to be repressive, rather than hegemonic, but nevertheless fully functioning for the purposes of the class alliance in power. (p. 26) He reported that Efficiency. is not a necessary prerequisite for a functioning state..[and] stresses that the African role in the global system is not one of marginalization or dependence, but one of extraversion, through which elites have long constructed external relations to strengthen their power within their own spheres. (p. 26) Consequently, Niemann concluded that although these relations have proven asym metrical, it does not detract from the fact that they worked well for Congolesian elites. Complimentary to this notion, Jackson (2002) also indicated the prominence of the elite minority in the form of corrupt government when he reported the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.exploit minerals and other resources through stealing stockpiles, entering into agreements with transnational corporations to produce, procure and sell these resources in a global market (p 519). Thus, colonial legacy which is reflective and extended in socio-economic hierarchy according to Niemann and Jackson, proves to be an integral part in both understanding and unpacking the issue of mineral conflict in the Congo. Moreover, in order to begin to understand the upkeep and maintenance of such conflict, it would appear critical to first understand the legacy colonial rule has left on the make-up of national and local Congolesian elites. Furthermore, as Niemann points out, it is difficult not on ly to apply liberal democracy to Congolesian government and recognize it either as a veneer or perhaps even a solution, without first considering the impact and legacy colonialism has left on the political makeup of the country. Similar to Niemanns point on colonial rule, Stephen Jacksons (2002) journal Making a Killing: Criminality Coping in Kivu War Economy spoke of the Congos lucrative economy based on artisanal mining of tantalum ore, highlighting a radical mutation of livelihood strategies responding to an economy profoundly destroyed by colonial and post-colonial neglect and greed. (p. 517) Both scholars articulate the legacy of colonial rule , so to speak, but also focus their research on separate cohesive hindrances on conflict reduction. While Niemann highlighted the importance and withstanding failure of developing political rule separate from Western idealized liberal democracy, Jackson focused his research on the recurring danger of the paltry and dependent Congolesian economy. Noteworthy scholar Carol B. Thompsons journal US Trade with Africa: African Growth Opportunity also provides sufficient economic reasoning in cohesion with colonial legacy. Thompson (2004) reported that the Congos expor ts are non-processed minerals and agricultural products. Although the countries are now independent, their exports remain colonial products. (p. 458) In his writing, Thompson also provided a remark by President Joquim Chissano of Mozambique that, although not specific to the Congo, articulates the role colonialism has had and continues to have in various African countries economy: .circumstances have confined us to act as producers of raw materials and unprocessed goods for export to the rich countries of the North. While we are passed to open upon countries and streamline our methods of doing international business, so that the global economy may sink roots, invisible barriers are still making it difficult for us to access resources. (Thompson, 458) Both Thompson and Jackson do an effective job of explaining the impact that colonial rule has had both implicitly and explicitly on the economy of the Congo. This is further proven in the United Nations Human Development Report (2003) that stated that Africas share in the world fell from about 6 percent in 1980 to 2 percent in 2002, and its share of world imports from about 4.6 percent in 1980 to 2.1 percent in 2002. (p.ii) The report also went on to state that subsequently Africas heavy dependence on primary commodities as a source of export earnings has meant that the continent remains vulnerable to the vagaries of the market and weather conditions. (Economic Development in Africa: Issues on Africas Trade Performance, 2003, p.ii). Similarly, the Congo, once officially a colony of France, was exploited primarily for its raw mineral wealth. Today, although technically an independent country, the Congo remains highly dependent on raw minerals, coltan in particular. It is this heavy re liance that enables not only economic instability but also related conflict (Jackson, 2002). Furthermore, it is also important to contextualize the financial situation of the Congo in order to better understand, in detail, any economic hindrance on reducing mineral conflict. In recent years, because of the pressure of declining oil prices, the depreciation of the dollar, and burdensome debt service, the Government of the Congo has been forced to adopt austere financial measures. After slashing its 1986 budget by 40 percent, the government entered into a Stand-By Agreement with the IMF which made possible the rescheduling of Congos then $1 billion in foreign debt. (Congo: U.S. goods are extremely competitive here right now,1998) A subsequent Paris Club rescheduling, debt relief granted by commercial banks, and World Bank structural adjustment also helped avert what would have otherwise been a large capital-account deficit. (Congo: U.S. goods are extremely competitive here right now,1998) Production in the forestry sector has gradually increased due to improvements in the tran sportation system and the opening up of new concessions in the north. (Congo: U.S. goods are extremely competitive here right now,1998) Consequently, such information is, although brief, critical in establishing sound understanding of further encumbrance on the reduction of Congolesian mineral conflict with respect to economic instability. Closely related to discussions of the implication of colonization on the Congolesian economy, are ones involving the exploitive effects of mineral industrialization and globalization on African states and the role of national and international governments to curb such behavior. As the countries of the world increase their interdependence and co-relation, African states, including the Congo, are not only forced to deal with establishing themselves on the ruins of repressive colonial state, but simultaneously adapt to increasingly globalized, and thus changing markets. The success and adverse hindrances as a result of this, will be explored in the following few paragraphs. Most scholarly and professional literature recognize the direct role that exploitation of conflict mineral in the Congo has played in the onset and preservation of warfare, (Niemann; Collier, 2003; Prendergast, 2009; Global Witness Limited, 2009) though provide various explanations to suggest the role globalization has had in the conflict. P. Collier of the World Bank reported in a policy report that, in a cross-national statistical analysis of civil war onset in 161 countries since 1960, the extent of primary commodity exports is the strongest single influence on the risk of conflict (2000, p. 10). By way of explanation, he argues that primary commodity dependence creates better opportunities to finance rebel groups which in turn enable rebellion. Niemann (2007) explicitly spoke of globalization and Transnational Corporations when he stated that cell phones have revolutionized the way we communicate, but in Central Africa their biggest legacy is war. Nearly 3 million people have die d in Congoover coltan in the conflict that is really over natural resources sought by foreign corporations (p.39). Essick (2001) similarly indicates that the demand for tantalum took off with the boom of high-tech products and with it a new sinister market began flourishing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (para. 3). Despite providing context for why globalization does in fact take place, Global Witness Limited is the only source that provided framework to explicitly suggest why corporations have not sanctioned or cut their ties from mineral conflict. Global Witness Limited (2009) reported on the trading houses based in Goma and Bukavu that buy, sell and export minerals produced by or benefiting the warring parties and how houses are officially censed and registered with the Congolese government act as a cover for laundering minerals which are fuelling the conflict. (p. 7) Global Witness Limited focused on how these companies sell the minerals on to a range of processing and man ufacturing companies, including firms in the electronics industry. (p. 8) Global Witness Limited also reported on the difficulty and lack of initiative from corporations and governments to regulate chain minerals. In the following few paragraphs international and subsequently national, initiative will be explored. One of the most pronounced hindrances on the reduction of mineral conflict in the Congo is the national governments failure to address the role of Rwanda as a channel and trading post for the products which benefit the warring parties of the Congo. Global Witness Limited reports indicated this point, as well as that In theory, Rwandan customs officials check the paperwork accompanying all consignments from the Congo, but the government has not been pro-active in delving deeper into the origins of the minerals transported across the border.. (p. 71) As well, Global Witness Limited also stated that neither the Rwandan government nor mineral trading companies operating in Rwanda are conducting due diligence to ensure that trade is not benefitting any Congolesian warring parties. (p. 71) Thus, from the Global Witness Limited report, it would seem that a major encumbrance on the reduction of national mineral conflict stem from the ease with which such minerals can cross the border into Rw anda; something that is helping to fuel the conflict. Adversely, progression in the reduction of mineral conflict seems to have been made with regards to national governmental initiatives within the country itself as of 2010. Although the Global Witness report indicated a lack of government corresponding action, this report was issued in 2009 and obviously does not address the most current initiatives of the government. According to the 2009 report, Neither of the two main initiatives launched in late 2007 the Nairobi communiquà © of and the Amani Programme arising from the Goma agreement-including concrete actions to stop the involvement of the warring parties in the natural resource trade. (p. 77) However according to Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series (2010) the government of the Congo has suspended all mining operations in three eastern provinces, North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema on the border with Uganda, Rwanda and Burundiafter the United States threatened new legislation to ensure stricter contro ls to ensure DR Congos minerals were obtained legally. (para. 1). It was also reported in the article that as of September of the same year, Congos armed forces had recaptured the coltan specifically in Walikale, a town torn by over 15 years of mineral conflict. (Democratic Republic of Congo: Enyele Attack, 2010). Subsequently, national governmental initiatives by virtue of such suspensions, seem to be progressive in absolving some mineral conflict within the country. With specific respect to the countrys struggle to establish viable states on the ruins of repressive colonial states and how this relates to internal maintenance of socio-economic hierarchy, the related role of a paltry economy, and mineral industrialization in regards to globalization and the role of national and international governments, mineral conflict complexity in the Congo has been explored. Though scholars and academics vary in their research according to different enablers of such mineral conflict, from political instability to economic condition, all seem to agree to some degree the importance of historically contextualizing the conflict. For example, political instability and maintenance of socio-economic hierarchy are not merely a static political or social reality of Congo, but the by-product of over a hundred years of instilled and exploitative colonial rule. Moreover, as much as mineral conflict is harmful in itself, it is important to recognize that by virtue of colo nial legacy that has created socio-economic hierarchy, there are still those that benefit from the exploitive behavior and subsequent mineral conflict. Similarly, economic conditions of the Congo also must be understood with reference to colonial rule of the past, as well as current exploitive behavior of rich countries on developing countries primary commodified economies of the present. Again, industrialization of mineral resources in the Congo and national and international government initiatives, or lack of, must be understood with reference to historical power relations. There is a high demand for coltan as the consumer population of technologies that use this precise metal grows. However as this demand grows, it would appear that companies have capitalized on historical power relations to exploit countries like the Congo with little regard to things like labor conditions and rebel control. Although there has been some progression in the way of conflict mineral reduction, it wo uld appear that there are still many hindrances that need to be first addressed in order to continue this progression. Canadian consumers must recognize not only the existence of mineral conflict, but also appreciate how their purchases fuel directly such conflict and endorse exploitive behavior. The next step in reduction of mineral conflict in the Congo after this recognition is to recognize the historically relevant legacy of colonialism that continues to be reflective in elements such as national financial condition and political stability. Once this occurs, it is then important to start asking questions. Is it possible to reconfigure socio-economic hierarchy in the Congo that has prevailed with the help of paternal countries for over a hundred years? Is it possible to screen mineral trade and purchase without greatly stalling and bruising the mineral dependent economy of the Congo? There are many enabling factors that contribute to mineral conflict in the Congo and there are a number of related issues that much be recognized and absolved before real progression can take place. The most important element however remains the same, this is not merely an international conflict that is the by-product of something inherently Congolesian, but the result of international exploitive and historical behavior.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Marxs Theory of Money and the Theory of Value Essay -- Karl Marx Mone

Marx's Theory of Money and the Theory of Value The most important point to emerge from Marx's theory of money is the idea that money is a form of value. The difficulty with this idea is that we are more familiar with money itself than with value in other forms. But value does appear in forms other than money. For example, the balance sheet of a capitalist firm estimates the value of goods in process and of fixed capital which has not yet been depreciated, as well as the value of inventories of finished commodities awaiting sale. Each of these aggregations of commodities has a value, usually expressed as the equivalent of a certain amount of money, but it is clear that neither goods in process nor fixed capital is money. Marx views the value of commodities in this sense as analytically prior to money; money can be explained according to Marx only on the basis of an understanding of the value of commodities. Marx follows Smith in regarding value as the property of exchangeability of commodities. In a society where exchange is common, products come to have a dual character as use values and as values. They have two powers: first, to satisfy particular human needs and wants; and second, to exchange for other products. This second power can be thought of quantitatively, as an amount of exchangeability or command over other commodities. The classical economists viewed value as a real, though socially determined, entity, with its own laws of conservation and motion. Value in this sense bears the same relation to commodities as mass bears to physical objects. It is not surprising that in societies where exchange is widespread value takes on an independent form as money, as an expression of general exchangeability. Value is a central social reality for people; they constantly think and talk about it directly or indirectly; they want some way to transfer it directly among themselves, separate from particular commodities. This is, I think, what we mean by "money." It is the social expression of value separated from the concrete particularity of any use value. With this emergence of money as the social expression of value, money stands, in opposition to commodities, as the abstract always stands in opposition to the particular. We will see value in two forms: as particular commodities, and as money. It is crucial to recognize that this development is latent... ...ever, for the theory that currency is nothing more than the representative of a certain quantity of gold. There were always some limits within which the "dollar" or the "pound" could fluctuate in value relative to gold. What laws governed these movements? The general equivalent theory in the form Marx presents it does not explicitly answer this question. A second group of questions which troubled early- nineteenth- century monetary theorists concerns the laws which govern the depreciation, usually in times of war. of inconvertible paper money issued by the state. Examples of this phenomenon Include the depreciations of the greenback dollar in the United States during the Civil War, and of the paper pound issued by the British during the Napoleonic wars. Ricardo and later quantity theorists used this phenomenon of depreciation as a strong argument for their thesis that the value of money depends on its quantity. For these writers the depreciation of paper money was just a particular example of the tendency for any form of money to depreciate when its quantity becomes larger relative to the needs of circulation. Marx's discussion of this question is very clear and convincing.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Save Our Children

Saving our children On average at least five children die everyday as a result of child abuse and neglect. Approximately 80% of children that die from abuse are under the age of four. A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. The children of America are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. What is child abuse? Federal legislation states that child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional mistreatment of children. Neglect, or not providing for a child’s needs, is also a form of abuse.The different types of child abuse are neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological maltreatment, and medical neglect. The story of Bethany Loerke is one haunted by memories of her early abuse as a child. Bethany was 2 when Child Protective Services removed her and her infant sister from a trailer of deplorable conditions. She was partially blinded because of pink eye and shingles, which were not improving because of neglect and a home full of filth.Loerke had two older brothers who had been previously removed and returned three times. Police once found them during a mistaken drug bust, unsupervised and living with dogs, no electricity and no running water. The parents eventually lost their parental rights. The girls however were kept together through most of Loerke’s 10 foster placements in the following year. When Bethany was 5 she was adopted by James and Beth Loerke and life seemed better, at least on the surface. Bethany began getting molested by James Loerke almost immediately.However she stayed silent believing in the threats that no one would believe her and she would be cast out a home again. Eventually on her 11th birthday Bethany came forward and told her mother of the abuse. James Loerke has been in jail or prison since September 2002. More than 90% of sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator is some way. That is just one case of abuse where justice was served most cases aren't so lucky. Child abuse occurs at ev ery socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. Read also: How Different Types of Transitions Can Affect Children

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Isokinetic Muscle Strength In Patients Health And Social Care Essay

The intent of this survey was to measure the lower appendage isokinetic musculus strength, to find affected musculus groups and their dependance on motion speed, and to happen out the relationship between musculus strength and clinical badness, every bit good as musculus strength and falls, in Parkinson ‘s disease ( PD ) . Twenty-five patients diagnosed with PD and 24 healthy voluntaries were enrolled in this survey. The lower appendage musculus strength was evaluated with an isokinetic ergometer. Clinical position was examined in conformity with the Unified Parkinson ‘s Disease Rating Scale ; autumn history was besides recorded. We have observed that there was a important lessening in isokinetic musculus strength in the patient group, particularly in both of the hip and articulatio genus flexors and extensors. It has been found that reduced musculus strength was independent of speed, and correlated with clinical badness and falls. In decision, motion velocity-independent lower appendage isokinetic musculus failing has been observed in patients with PD, particularly in the articulatio genus and hip articulations. Therefore, the rating of isokinetic musculus strength may be a utile tool for the appraisal of clinical badness and falls in PD. Keywords: Parkinson ‘s disease ; Isokinetic ; Muscle strength ; Lower appendage1. IntroductionParkinson ‘s disease ( PD ) is a common neurodegenerative status in which patients typically experience troubles such as awkwardness of motions ( bradykinesia ) , stiffness of the musculuss ( rigidness ) , shudder, balance perturbations, and progressive lessening in motor functions.1-3 When combined with multiple other factors, decreased musculus strength can take to falls among aged patients, doing breaks, joint disruptions, terrible soft tissue lesions, and caput trauma.4,5 As a back uping fact, the autumn rate is higher among those with PD compared to healthy aged persons, harmonizing to the clinical image of the disease.4,6 Muscle failing is one of the chief symptoms of PD.7 In recent clinical tests, decreased musculus strength has been observed in patients with PD.8-12 Kakinuma et al.12 measured the isokinetic musculus strength on articulatio genus extension and i ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡exion, and they observed isokinetic strength decrease on the side that is more greatly affected by PD. In another survey, Nallegowda et al.9 tested the bole, hip, and ankle flexor and extensor musculuss ‘ strengths utilizing isokinetic measuring, and reported a lessening in strength in all the flexor and extensor musculus groups. Pedersen et al.10 obtained lower isokinetic homocentric torsion consequences compared to command topics on quantitative appraisal of dorsii ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡exors. Inkster et al.11 observed that decreased strength at the hip muscles is an of import subscriber to the trouble in lifting from a chair among patients with PD. Finally, Nogaki et al.8,13 hypothesized that musculus failing in PD is likely to depend on motion speed. In contrast to the isokinetic ratings mentioned supra, there are some surveies in which quantitative isotonic and isometric musculus strengths have been evaluated.7,14,15 So far, there has been no survey in the literature that evaluated the isokinetic strength of the hip, articulatio genus, and ankle articulations together. There are some limited surveies, nevertheless, that evaluated the musculus groups at different isokinetic speeds in the lower extremity13, every bit good as the correlativity between musculus strength, and clinical position and falls9 among patients with PD. In this survey, we evaluate the lower appendage flexor and extensor isokinetic musculus strength at the hip, articulatio genus, and ankle articulations in patients with PD. We aim to happen out which musculus groups and motion speeds of the lower appendage are more greatly affected by the disease, and we seek to detect the relationship between musculus failing, and clinical position and falls.2. Materials and Methods2.1. Patients This survey was designed as a cross-sectional, controlled survey. The patients included in this work were from the outpatient clinics of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurology Departments, and were diagnosed with PD harmonizing to the United Kingdom Parkinson ‘s Disease Society Brain Bank criteria.9 The survey was approved by the local ethical commission at the Inonu University School of Medicine and carried out in conformity with the rules in the Declaration of Helsinki. Written consent was obtained from all the participants. Twenty-five patients ( 17 males and 8 females ) were included in the survey. The average age of the patients was 62.1A ±10.3 ( with a scope of 42-81 ) old ages. All patients were at Hoehn & A ; Yahr phase II or III, and were having intervention for PD. None of the patients had any serious orthopedic, neurological, vestibular, or ocular upset that could impact their musculus strength, and all of them could walk unsupported. Twenty-four healthy voluntaries ( 13 males and 11 females ) with no orthopedic, neurological, or other diseases constituted the control group, which was age-matched with the patient group. 2.2. Appraisals 2.2.1. The Unified Parkinson ‘s Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS ) and Hoehn & A ; Yahr presenting Patients were assessed with the usage of the Unified Parkinson ‘s Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS ) portion II ‘activities of day-to-day populating ‘ ( UPDRS-ADL ) and portion III ‘motor scrutiny ‘ ( UPDRS-ME ) 16, and Hoehn & A ; Yahr staging.17 2.2.2. Fall history We used a standard definition for autumn, which is â€Å" accidentally coming to rest on the land, floor, or other lower degree. â€Å" 18 For the interest of coherence with the definition, coming to rest against furniture or a wall was non accepted as a autumn. The figure of falls was determined utilizing self-reported autumn events during the past 6 months. 2.2.3. Isokinetic musculus strength Isokinetic musculus strength trials were administered in the forenoon before the patients took any medical specialty. Patients foremost warmed up for 10 proceedingss on a bike dynamometer with a burden of 1 W/kg. We used the Biodex System 3 Pro ( Biodex, Inc. , Shirley, NY, USA ) isokinetic ergometer for the isokinetic measurings. During the trials, the patients were stabilized with seat belts in order to supply joint stabilisation and to forestall them from falling off the trial chair. All trials were performed on both appendages. The isokinetic protocol consisted of trials at three angular motion speeds of 90, 120, and 150 degrees/sec at 10 revolutions per minute, with a 5-min remainder period between trials. We followed the same process for hip flexion-extension, knee flexion-extension, and ankle plantar/dorsiflexion. The articulatio genus and mortise joint trials were performed in a seated place, while a supine place was used to find hip flexure and extension strength. All trials were performed for homocentric musculus strength every bit good, where the maximal extremum torsion ( Nm ) was recorded at each angular velocity.9 2.3. Statistical analysis We used the SPSS 16.0 package for statistical rating of the trial consequences ( SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA ) . The normalcy for uninterrupted variables in groups was determined by the Shapiro-Wilk trial. We used Student ‘s t-test or Mann-Whitney U trial for comparings, whereas Spearman ‘s rank correlativity trial was used for analysis of informations. For correlativity analysis, the mean musculus strength was calculated at 90, 120, and 150 degree/sec angular motion speeds over the entire values for the hip, articulatio genus, and ankle musculuss. A p value of less than 0.05 was taken as the degree of significance.3. ConsequencesThe descriptive features of the patient and control groups are presented in Table 1. It can be observed from the tabular array that there was no statistically important difference between the two groups in age, weight, and tallness. The average disease continuance was 5.6A ±3.9 ( with a scope of 1-15 ) old ages. Fifteen patients ( 60 % ) were in Hoe hn & A ; Yahr phase II, and 10 ( 40 % ) were in phase III. In the patient group, the UPDRS ME and ADL tonss were 26.3A ±12 and 8.9A ±5, severally. During the last 6 months, the figure of lumbermans in the patient group was 12 ( 48 % ) , compared to merely 4 ( 16.7 % ) in the control group ( P & lt ; 0.05 ) . The mean figure of falls was found to be 0.9A ±1.1 in the patient group and 0.2A ±0.5 in the control group ( P & lt ; 0.001 ) . The isokinetic musculus strength of the patient and control groups is shown in Table 2. At all speeds, the musculus strength of hip flexors ( P & lt ; 0.01 ) and extensors ( P & lt ; 0.05 ) was found to be significantly less in the patient group. Similarly, compared with the control group ( P & lt ; 0.05 ) , we observed a important lessening in the musculus strength of articulatio genus flexors and extensors in the patient group, irrespective of the speed. Furthermore, the isokinetic extremum torsions of ankle plantar- and dorsiflexor musculuss exhibited significantly smaller values at certain motion speeds in the patient group ( P & lt ; 0.05 ) . We observed a considerable relationship between musculus strength and figure of falls ( P & lt ; 0.01 ) . The correlativity between musculus strength and Hoehn & A ; Yahr phase was statistically important. There was besides a strong correlativity between musculus strength and all UPDRS tonss ( P & lt ; 0.01 ) . However, there was no correlativity between musculus strength and disease continuance.4. DiscussionThe lower appendage musculus strength is known to hold a outstanding consequence on mobility. So far, there have non been any surveies in the literature that evaluated the overall flexor and extensor musculus strength in the hip, articulatio genus, and ankle articulations in patients with PD, although several surveies have evaluated the musculus strength in merely one or two articulations separately10,12,13. In this survey, we assessed musculus strength with an isokinetic ergometer in an effort to find which musculus groups were more greatly affected, and at which of the evaluate d motion speeds, and to measure their correlativity with clinical position and falls. While many surveies have evaluated isokinetic musculus strength before ( off province ) and after ( on province ) medicine, we chose to prove all the patients in the forenoon after backdown of medicine ( off province ) . The chief ground for this pick is to govern out the effects of medicine while measuring the musculus failing that exists as portion of the nature of PD. The positive effects of antiparkinsonian agents on musculus strength have already been shown in many studies9,19 and are outside the range of this survey. Nallegowda et al.9 evaluated the isokinetic musculus strength at the bole, hip, and ankle flexor and extensor musculuss at 90, 120, and 150 degree/sec angular speeds, which are the same as the 1s used in our survey. They found a important difference in all musculus groups between patients who did non take medicine and the healthy control group. In contrast, we evaluated the articulatio genus flexor and extensor musculus strength alternatively of the bole flexor and extensor musculus strength. As a consequence, we observed a important failing in all hip and articulatio genus musculuss at all evaluated speeds, every bit good as in mortise joint musculuss at some certain speeds. There was besides pronounced musculus failing in the hip flexors compared to the other musculus groups. Hip flexors are the major gas pedals in the swing stage of the gait.20 The trouble in gait induction in patients with PD may lend to the apparent failing of the hip flexors. However, Bartels et al.21 suggested that freeze of pace was non correlated with bradykinesia. Alternatively, ankle musculus strength is more of import in forestalling falls and for proper pace. Less terrible mortise joint musculus failing than the other musculus groups demonstrates the importance of other factors like proprioception. Zia et al.22 pointed out the damage of joint place sense in patients with PD. These consequences suggest the possibility of different underlying diseased mechanisms. Pedersen et al.10 evaluated the mortise joint dorsiflexor isokinetic musculus strength both concentrically and eccentrically, and found significantly lower values for the homocentric musculus strength at all motion speeds compared to the control group, while the bizarre musculus strength was different from the control group merely in male patients. Kakinuma et al.12 separated the topics into two groups harmonizing to their holding more- or less-affected appendage, and found that the isokinetic musculus strength decreased at both the slow and fast motion speeds during the early period of the disease. They besides observed that the difference in musculus strength between the more- and the less-affected appendages decreased in the advanced phase of the disease. Our survey and the surveies mentioned above 9,10,12 demonstrated no relation between the reduced musculus strength and the motion speeds. Nogaki et al.13 found a important lessening in the peak torsion of the isokinetic musculus strength compared to the less-affected appendage at high motion speeds but no difference between the two appendages at lower motion speeds. Therefore, the observation of increased musculus failing at higher motion speeds, which was proposed in the survey by Nogaki et al.13, is comparable with the determination in our survey. Although Corcos et al.23 indicated an asymmetric distribution of musculus failing, our survey has shown the common musculus failing in patients with PD to be similar to those found in the survey by Nallegowda et al.9 In some studies9,13, the importance of the cardinal consequence on musculus failing was emphasized, but the consequence of immobilisation was non considered in patients with PD. The effects of immobilisation on musculus failing should be noted, particularly in aged patients with PD. Assorted surveies reported the hazard of falling in those with PD to run from 38 to 70 % 2,4,9. Our consequences sing the per centum of patients who have suffered from falls were similar. There was a important relationship between falling and musculus strength, but we have non come across any surveies on the association of musculus strength with falls in patients with PD. Some authors24,25 have observed musculus failing at lower appendage as a hazard factor for falling. Therefore, the hazard of falling may be examined in connexion with lower appendage isokinetic musculus strength in patients with PD. We found a pronounced correlativity between musculus strength, and UPDRS ME and ADL tonss. Since the UPDRS ME and ADL tonss are related to clinical position, we had already expected to happen such correlativity between these parametric quantities and musculus strength. The UPDRS is a often used measuring for measuring the clinical state of affairs of patients with PD.26 Given the important correlativity between musculus strength and the UPDRS, isokinetic musculus strength may be used to measure clinical position of patients. Disease patterned advance in PD was evaluated utilizing Hoehn & A ; Yahr presenting. Increased disease badness ( a†°?stage III ) leads to more pronounced locomotor system abnormality.27 Most of our patients were in Hoehn & A ; Yahr phase II. As can be seen in Table 3, there appeared a important correlativity between isokinetic musculus strength and Hoehn & A ; Yahr phase. Muscle failing in our patients was non outstanding, as they were at an early phase of PD. It seems musculus failing is related to clinical badness instead than disease continuance. The chief restrictions of our survey are the unequal figure of patients and the absence of lower speeds, such as 60 degrees/sec, at which isokinetic musculus strength could be evaluated. In drumhead, we found a important lessening in bilateral hip, articulatio genus, and ankle flexor and extensor isokinetic musculus strength, which was particularly outstanding in the hip muscles at 90, 120, and 150 degree/sec angular motion speeds. In add-on, we detected a relationship between disease badness and musculus failing. Furthermore, a important correlativity was besides present between musculus strength, and UPDRS ME and ADL tonss. Finally, there was a pronounced association between musculus strength and figure of falls.5. DecisionsTaking the consequences of our survey into consideration, we have shown that although musculus strength decreased in the lower appendage, particularly in the hip and articulatio genus, musculus failing was non associated with the speeds at which it was evaluated in this survey. We have demonstrated that the rating of musculus failing degree may be a utile tool for the appraisal of clinical badness and autumn hazard in patients with PD. It should be noted, nevertheless, that conflicting old consequences and the deficiency of specific criterions necessitate farther surveies.RecognitionThe writers would wish to thank Associate Professor Saim Yologlu ( Department of Statistics, Inonu University School of Medicine ) for his sort part to this survey.