Famous quotes for teachers Essay

I often wonder about teachers who educated famous people such as Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, and the like. Were these teachers specially qualified to inspire their students to achieve fame and success? Or were these teachers just plain lucky to have exceptionally talented students? Do some teachers have the rare quality of turning dust into gold? The answer may not be easy to find. Andy Rooney Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives. Haim G. Ginott Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task. Anonymous Leading a child to learning’s treasures, gives a teacher untold pleasures Anonymous Teachers don’t impact for a year, but for a lifetime. Chinese proverb Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself. Bill Muse I think a secure profession for young people is history teacher, because in the future, there will be so much more of it to teach. Howard Lester I have been maturing as a teacher. New experiences bring new sensitivities and flexibility†¦ Hippocrates I swear†¦ to hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents; to make him partner in my livelihood; when he is in need of money to share mine with him; to consider his family as my own brothers and to teach them this art, if they want to learn it, without fee or indenture. Edward Blishen Life is amazing: and the teacher had better prepare himself to be a medium for that amazement.

Personal Responsability Essay

Definition of personal responsibility and what it means to you The relationship between personal responsibility and college success A preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in your education This week, using the Center for Writing Excellence resources, provide the thesis statement and informal outline for your Personal Responsibility Essay assignment. Thesis Statement: Even though someone with personal responsibility values the consequences of their acts; having personal responsibility is also knowing how to manage your time wisely, and recognizing what sacrifices will need to be made to meet deadlines, because a responsible person does their obligations and puts special attention to its compromises in order to meet them. To be successful in college as a student, you must maintain good attendance, make substantial post in discussions, and turn all of your assignments in on time. Informal Outline: Introductory paragraph: Being successful in life it requires taking personal responsibility for your actions. In order to reach personal responsibility it is important to be focused on what you want to accomplish. Time management is a key element, as well as making the necessary sacrifices in order to meet deadlines. These values are essentially useful in college, as you are required to participate actively, maintain good attendance, and submit your assignments in on time when trying to achieve academic success. Body paragraph #1 personal responsibility is also knowing how to manage your time wisely, recognizing what sacrifices will need to be made to meet deadlines on time in order to achieve college success Body paragraph #2 In order to be successful as a student, you must maintain good attendance, make substantial post in discussions, and turn all of your assignments in on time. Body paragraph #3 The most important reason why personal responsibility helps to manage your time wisely is because you learn to recognize what sacrifices will need to be made to meet deadlines. In order to achieve college success, a responsible person does their obligations and puts special attention to its compromises in order to meet them. Conclusion: In conclusion, although someone with personal responsibility values the consequences of their acts, personal responsibility also knows how to manage your time wisely, recognizing what sacrifices will need to be made to meet deadlines, in order to achieve college success for two main reasons. First, In order to be successful as a student, you must maintain good attendance, make substantial post in discussions, and turn all of your assignments in on time. But most importantly, a responsible person does their obligations and puts special attention to its compromises in order to meet them.

Rammed Earth

RAMMED EARTH Fionnadh McGonigle 0818555 Contents †¢ History (page 2) †¢ The Use of Rammed Earth within the UK (pages 3 & 4) †¢ Rammed Earth as a Sustainable material, Thermal and Insulation properties (pages 5 & 6 ) †¢ Weather Protection (page 7) †¢ Construction week o Aims (page 8) o Risk Assessment (page 9,10 &11) o Prototype I (pages 12,13 & 14) o Prototype II (page 15) o Earth preparation (pages 15 &16) o Prototype III (pages 17, & 18) o Final Wall (pages 19, 20 & 21) o Revised Risk assessment (page 22) Conclusion (pages 23, 24 & 25) †¢ Bibliography (page 26) Rammed Earth Historical Use The use of earth itself in construction dates back thousands of years, the first recorded city – Jericho was built of earth. The first recorded use of rammed earth was by the Babylonians in 5000BC. Parts of the western portion of the Great Wall of China 300BC are built of rammed earth. Almost every European country has a history of rammed earth construction but is usually a material associated with arid areas. 780-1850 Rammed earth experienced popularity in the USA until mass production of fire bricks and sawed lumber became readily available. These materials were now favoured for being more elegant and modern than using rammed earth – or â€Å"dirt†. However during World War I and the Great depression, supply shortages prompted a return to Rammed Earth. Rammed Earth remained fairly unpopular then until the 1970’s when it began to be rejuvenated by the environmentally conscious.Despite Rammed Earths extensive use throughout history, its use is still not so popular within the UK. Reason for this is largely due to architects/ Builders not knowing enough about the material and sticking to the familiar concrete, timber and brick ways that they know, rammed earth can often also be perceived as having cruder finishing and not in keeping with the clean-sharp lined finished which are so often preferred in today’s archi tecture- Though with the appropriate shuttering clean finishes can be achieved.Building with rammed earth is considered to carry greater risk and uncertainty, the material is yes, more suited to arid climates, but even in arid climates modern method of construction using rammed earth are being continually tried and tested e. g. in Australia. Rammed earth is a perfectly viable and good material to be used within the UK – there is a need to get past the reluctance to use and experiment with it more here – the climate presents a challenge which can be won in innovative ways. [pic] The Use of Rammed Earth within the UKThings which prohibit the wider use of Rammed earth within the UK †¢ The longer than average period needed for construction. †¢ The formwork and Labour costs. †¢ The climates high humidity climate – Moderate external temperatures. †¢ Concerns which are had about the careful detailing which can be required. †¢ Poor thermal resis tance – The need for external walls to require additional insulation. †¢ Not all soil types are appropriate importation of soil for a rammed earth construction will significantly detract from its environmental credentials. The Quality control required for rammed earth constructions is quite high. †¢ Moisture movement can be caused by high clay content. †¢ The UK has few modern examples of rammed earth buildings – relatively untested in this climate – comparative to other countries. †¢ There are currently no UK codes of practice on rammed earth construction. †¢ Adding cement stabilisation can compromise its attributes as a sustainable material. †¢ It can be difficult to find insurance for rammed earth construction. It needs to be kept dry during construction which can result in the need for temporary roof structures. After construction this presents the needs for overhangs or on exposed sights structures to protect from prevailing el ements- can compromise aesthetics. †¢ People hungry construction. †¢ Some more high profile examples of rammed earth building in the UK have experienced problems e. g. the Eden project- over hangs were not big enough and the splash back of rainwater has eroded some of the facade. Reasons why rammed earth would be chosen over other materials It distinct appearance. †¢ Natural and readily available. †¢ It has a low embodied energy. †¢ Rammed earth is hygroscopic – due to high moisture mass – it will regulate humidity. †¢ Post demolition – unstabilised earth is reusable. †¢ Supports sustainable practices by using local soils. †¢ High Thermal mass – though the extent of which has yet to be quantified. †¢ Airtight construction is achievable. †¢ It can be considered a traditional form of construction. †¢ Modern methods have and continue to be widely tried and tested overseas. An integrity of building is exp ressed which is often lacking nowadays. †¢ Expression of cultural conditions. †¢ Acoustic properties- its dry density (pd) is typically 2,100 kg/m3 therefore the weighted sound reduction index (Rw) would be 58. 3dB [1] and thus more than satisfies Building regulations (2000), Doc E Resistance to the Passage of Sound. Other considerations when Using rammed earth Rammed earth is hygroscopic, therefore external cladding systems must be vapour permeable to allow for evaporation.Important for unstabilised walls and less so for stabilised walls where stabilising agents will impair breathing, still it is better to consider vapour permeable solutions for both instances to reduce chances of condensation build up on the inside face of insulation. Water resistance the need to keep the structure dry post construction is done in various ways, large overhangs, plinths upon which the wall is constructed, rendering or cladding to the facade- these options will affect the structures sustai nability, look and thermal mass.A comparison between the calculated U-values for both ‘conventional' masonry and Stabilised rammed Earth wall designs [pic][2] Rammed earth as a sustainable material CO2 Emissions are greatly reduced with the use of rammed earth, as opposed to cement which due to the need for burning limestone produces CO2 contributing about 10% of the global CO2 emissions. Rammed earth taking soil from the site not using a stabiliser is the most sustainable method; however the addition of a cement stabiliser is common practice and considered to reduce considerably the risk and uncertainty, cement is used making up 6-7% of the mix.The embodied energy is low- its inherent recyclability and reduction of CO2 during the structures lifetime, high thermal mass and low operating costs. If the clay can be sourced from site, and is suitable then it eliminates all transportations cost. If the clay is not so suitable, then a stabiliser of cement can be added. If the soil o n site is not at all suited for a rammed earth construction then clay can be transported to site- however both of these options will compromise the environmental integrity of the building, the latter of which doing so quite considerably.Also due to the need for rammed earth to be kept dry at all times during construction there can be a need for temporary roof structures to keep the rain away, this will therefore impact its sustainability. Depending also on what type of shuttering is used can lead to waste, for e. g. timber shutter although can be reused, its reuse is limited as it will become saturated from the moisture in the clay. Thermal Performances, Rammed earth has a high thermal mass – walls will naturally regulate both the internal temperature spaces, and can also regulate the temperatures of external spaces such as courtyards.Energy required to heat and cool a building can be greatly reduced if rammed earth is designed into the heating system, however the UK requires the addition of either internal or external insulation, this aside from affecting the aesthetic of either facade it is fixed to, will compromise the thermal mass of the adjacent space. Structural Performance, whilst the structural strength and stiffness is compromised with increased waster content, if designed correctly and waterproofing measure taken then rammed earth is perfectly capable of acting as a load bearing structure.Rammed earth which is imported in not only contribute to the cost and environmental issue of transportation, it also leaves a scar on the landscape as it is being taken from elsewhere, e. g. a quarry, even if this is later turned into some sort of nature reserve it is still leaving a permanent change to this landscape. Insulation – in the UK there are few examples of rammed earth combining insulation, most contemporary walls are unclad, but there is an increased need for insulation to be used in conjunction with the thermal mass of the walls. |Advanta ges |disadvantages | |External Insulation |Walls protected from weathering |Loss of characteristic appearance | | |Exposed thermal mass internally |Loss of thermal mass externally- which is | | | |sometimes used to regulate temperatures of | | | |spaces such as courtyards | | | | | |Internal Insulation |External appearance is maintained |Loss of available thermal mass. | | | |Internal appearance compromised | [pic][3][pic][4] Weather protection †¢ Weather needs to be drained away from walls †¢ Construction upon raised footings †¢ Avoidance of sites vulnerable to flooding †¢ Protecting wall from rain using adjoining elements e. g. roof overhangs †¢ Allow evaporation of moisture from walls †¢ Onsite which are considerably exposed there is a need to consider rain screen cladding or render. Construction Week AimsThe aim of the work we did within the workshop was to question the building processes as a whole, by means of both small and large scale prototypes , to push the presumed limitations of a material and its formwork, to not just accept, that rules have been predetermined, but to push for innovation. As we studied, the idea of the â€Å"builders yard† allows for just this, meaning a material can be taken and experimented with, in a specific location which possesses the same limiting factors as the actual site e. g. Climate and resources, and test particular means of creating the desired construction before doing so, it is a hub for construction in the area- encouraging risk by means of experimentation rather than out casting it.The advantages of such an idea are that when a material can be experimented with it allows for greater understanding and judgment of its limitation- rather than acceptance of existing limitations, and therefore systems of constructing and spatial relationships can be explored. The community have a personal knowledge of the neighbourhood its character and needs, they are given the power to modify and contribute to it, their personal attachment means, as workmen they have a continued responsibility to the changes which occur with building in the area as well as maintenance of them. The people who work together within the builder’s yard understand and achieve better quality meaningful results; the workmen are uniquely and specifically educated, and the buildings produced are, unlike much of the current construction possess a humane quality, a warm character.The focus on the act of making allows for and evolution and a subsequent greater understanding of everything involved in the construction and about the materials. By making the rammed earth wall within the studio we were pushing the boundaries of predetermined limitations, re-examine the architectural production of rammed earth, and coming up with our own unique response. We explored the possible use of fabric formwork by means of making and testing prototypes on a small scale and then on progressively larger scales we s ee how it uniquely responds to specific methods thus learning learn how the material and structure can better work together, creating a successful wall with fluid innovative shapes, with lower embodied energy.Whilst making our wall every element was specifically made and tested and altered, until the best result were achieved, for example we experimented a lot with the sizes of our buttons, trying to get them to sufficiently restrain the wall –without damaging it when removing them, we were fortunate to stumble upon a size which not only did the job we required but more. This scenario is similar to what happens in the builder’s yard; it is this experimentation –and risk taking which leads to the discovery and sometimes unexpected discovery of innovative solution and inventions. There can be other factors, such as keeping cost down driving the invention of new materials and components. [pic] [pic] [pic] Prototype IAs a group did we met with Roland for a quick bri efing on what direction we should take for our rammed earth wall, he suggested that we should first sit down together and come up with some ideas and sketches to make some prototypes, and that we should also sort out the earth so that it would be ready for when we begin construction. We discussed some ideas about what sort of shaped wall we would like to achieve, including some over ambitious ideas of constructing the walls then flipping it! We agreed we wanted to design a wall to incorporate a curve, a variation in thickness of the wall from bottom to top. We divided into three groups and set about coming up with a design each and building a prototype to text these ideas. Once the earth and fabric had been sorted we each returned to our prototypes, and began to each work out and start making our frame work. Our group decided to make a framework by cutting a .Semi Lunar shape to incorporate some variation in thickness throughout the wall the . Assembling a frame to which we could pi n the fabric to at intervals after each period of . Ramming. The Idea was that one side of the wall would be taut and quite flat and the . other we would periodically place round ties to restrain the wall and create an undulating shape to it. [pic][pic][pic] Basic framework Difficulties with attaching fabric and supporting threads Excessive budging over buttons. Issues highlighted by Prototype 1: †¢ First of all we needed to add further supports as the structure was not as stable as hoped. Tight spaces need to re-think to consider a pneumatic rammer fitting inside the formwork/ framework. †¢ The way the formwork was constructed some of the supports hindered the pinning of the fabric to wood. †¢ The button and tie system we used was not as successful as we hoped- we believed this to be down to the size of the wooden buttons being too small in diameter , which resulted in them become stuck under the overhanging rammed earth and were difficult to remove without causing d amage to the wall. They did not restrain the width of the wall much either, this was also partly due to us leaving the thread too long. Also initially we put on the ties without the wooden disc which resulted in a serious overhang. When we were ramming the earth we did so by hand, using some pieces of wood with flat ends, the highlighted another problem-as due to the way the framework was constructed we had a piece of wood running across the top we made manoeuvring a piece of wood let alone a pneumatic rammer difficult. †¢ Despite having made a definite shape in the base board, to influence the shape of the wall- it in reality had no effect as the fabric took its own shape. †¢ The need to be taught correctly how to mix the earth and test it. †¢ The need to not put too much earth in at each layer as the lower down parts were not getting properly compressed [pic] [pic] Prototype IIThis prototype consisted of 3 wooden sides and a wooden base cut with a curve the fabric w as then pinned to the front and around the curve – the idea being that pinning the fabric to the curved base would create a curved facade. However this prototype was pretty unsuccessful – it suffered structural issues and was not strong enough to withstand the pressure of the rammed earth inside, as it was simply nailed together. The fabric also failed to restrain the form of the wall and budged with little shape. Another issue was that as this prototype required a wooden base beneath it, -not so practical! – In reality this would be likely to make the wall less structurally sound- and would be pretty impossible to remove as a rammed earth wall is extremely heavy. In conclusion this wall was a failure. [pic] SOIL TESTING [pic]Compressing the soil then dropping from arms length away. EARTH PREPARATION Whilst making the first prototype our earth was not of the correct consistency – which resulted in our wall crumbling a bit. We had used the earth which we h ad moved indoor on day one – we added some water to the clay- thinking this would help the earth-stick and compact better. It wasn’t until Rowland came on the 3rd day and was able to tell us immediately, the mistakes we had made, and then showed us the correct for mixing, preparing and testing the earth. We broke down our prototypes returning the earth to the pile and also broke down the previous year’s pillars so the soil could be recycled. [pic] [pic]At first we used the pneumatic rammer to break down these pillars- this was also our first encounter with using the pneumatic rammer, so we learned some general things about using it – safety precautions with turning it on and off, how it must be held, and despite having identified issues of safety in our risk assessment – not many precautions were taken – wearing of safety clothing/boots/goggles. We then began to break it up further using shovels and spades- a lot of dust had been created by this process so we got buckets of water and using bottles threw water over the earth and clay. Once it had all been broken down we began to mix it altogether whilst adding water at the same time. The earth needed to be constantly moved and shovelled – thoroughly so that it’s would be of the same consistency throughout. When the appearance of the mix changed and seemed to be getting close to what we wanted – it looked darker and less dry and dusty, we began to testing it.To test the soil we picked up a handful – squeezed it tightly between both hands, then holding it at arm’s length away from the body- arm held straight – dropped the earth from this height and if it broke into 3 main pieces then we would know that it was ready to ram. It took several testing remixing / adding extra moisture attempts before we did get the earth just right. We also needed to continue testing the earth as over the days it could dry out – so we regularly m ixed the soil and tested it adding water when necessary. PROTOYPE III On the third day, when Rowland came and saw each of our sub groups prototypes. He was able to give us feedback, and give us some explanation to why some things had occurred which we hadn’t expect. In our prototype the spacing of the buttons presenting some issues, as did the several elements of the framework.As a group with the help of Rowland we began work on another prototype, again involving a curve, this time a more defined one with the hope it would have an impact on the shape of the wall. This time however we were to make are formwork as minimal as possible. At first we used just two pieces of wood placed either side of the fabric, and at the other end we used thread to sew it up. Sewing a few inches at a time, to make manoeuvring the pneumatic rammer easier. It was then decided we would place a piece of timber at one end-to achieve a flat surface. We spaced the buttons further apart from each other a nd more evenly spaced. We made planned the wall so it would be 1. 5m long but due to the excess budging which occurred it was approx 1. 2m in length and 1. m high, we positioned 3 rows of 2 button / thread equally spaced. Also when with the previous prototype when we placed the threads simply did so and then proceeded to ram the earth, however this presented a problem when it came to trying to remove then- it was really not possible to remove then without serious damage to the wall occurring. So to avoid this problem, we used some plastic tubing, through which the threads would sit, this would allow use to remove the threads and re use them again within the same wall. When using these we had to be careful whilst ramming and not hit or cause excess pressure on the threads as they could break or bend. [pic][pic][pic][pic]Tubing covering Threads Button buckling under pressure sewing of one side wooden panel at other side When ramming the wall we added a few inches of earth at a time, m aking sure that it was even first then rammed it until it compressed down and then added the next layer- it is quite a long process. It was necessary to ram the edges first keeping the rammer moving at all times moving from the edges inwards, ramming around the thread/tubes until it was at a point where enough earth was above the thread it was safe to ram on top. This prototype was largely successful the few things were again highlighted which we would resolve within the final piece.Again something highlighted by the buttons; was that because of the way we made them- 75mm diameter, bigger than in the first prototype, but they were made using thinner wood than before and due to the pressure of the rammed earth above the buttons- they had actually buckled and bent. This however was a positive thing as they both allowed them to be removed easily-and without damaging the wall, and also created a nice effect on the wall aesthetically. [pic] [pic]Final Wall We had been quite successful in our final prototype so our intention was pretty much scale this up for our final wall. We began by cutting a piece of timber to create a hole sized 1. m by 300mm, to which the fabric which we had cut 4m x 2. 2m was then pinned to the underside of the piece of wood- to keep it in place and restrained during ramming. We used on piece timber 2m x 300mm on one end which we nailed to the fabric and base board at One end, to achieve our flatter surface, and on the other end, we used the method of sewing to create a more curvaceous crafted appearance. The fabric was sewn at intervals, approx 30mm at a time. The Earth which we had prepared as outlined- in Earth preparation, had 2-3 people constantly working to keep its consistency and moisture content even, and at interval shovel it into the structure.Earth was filled and evened out at approx 15mm at a time and then rammed and compressed down. Two people were needed to ram at all times, with 2-3 supporting people, holding material, and als o as we got higher and higher- needed to help hold and steel the pneumatic rammer as it became more and more difficult with height. The process of ramming would begin once the earth had been levelled, begging at edges and moving systematically towards the centre, taking care when approaching the plastic tubes containing the treads and attached to the buttons- directly ramming above them could cause them to bend and distort the shape and support they gave.At 350-400mm vertical spacing’s buttons and threads were attached, piercing the fabric with a knife to create a hole through which the threads within their plastic tubes were placed, to the end of these on the exteriors of the fabric were placed the buttons, which were had cut 75mm in diameter using a piece of thin piece of wood approx 7mm thick. These buttons, along with supporting washers and bolt could later be removed along with the actual thread, and reused. The buttons etc were placed at 300mm horizontal intervals. The Spacing was determined from out prototype as the best spacing to create enough support, least uncontrolled bulging, without over restraining the structure.This added the restraint of the wall, the crafting of curvaceous shapes and ease of removal of components. The making of the wall comprised of adding earth the earth then ramming and repeating this process until 350-400mm height was achieved, then addition of the threads and buttons and repeating again until we reached 2m height. All the while we also were constantly maintaining and controlling the earth consistency by turning, adding moisture and regularly testing as explained earlier. As we reached higher –more people were required to aid the steering and supporting of the pneumatic rammers, but as we had less soil we were able to sacrifice people from this.In reality on a larger scale project this may not be a solution that could work, however as our means of reaching higher and higher was a series of standing on chairs and then tables and even some risque chairs on table, this would definitely not happen on a real site as it would most certainly be violating all sorts of health and safety rules, adequate scaffolding would be used and people the people working on ramming and earth maintenance would remain constant. Once the wall had been rammed until the top and almost all of our soil supply had been used, we were able to take down the fabric formwork, which took comparatively little time to assembly and construction. We unscrewed the buttons removing them which care†¦ just in case†¦. hey had in the same way with the prototype buckled under the strain and had curved round so once removed left a beautiful perfectly ball like shape, and we quite easy to removing, causing no damage to the structure, after that we cut the fabric to remove it, it was very easy on the side with the wood, coming away leaving a very flat surface, on the other side, some more care was taken not to damage the impri nt of the sewing, though more care was taken than was probably needed- the deceptively soft look of the wall made one think it might just crumble away, which was of course not the case, it was more delicate at edges such at the ends that were sewn, but very durable. The only part of the wall which really presented any issues when removing the fabric was the bottom, of course the fabric pinned beneath could not be removed, but as the wall had bulged over the wooden base trapping fabric below, we had to cut around the bulges leaving fragments of the fabric stuck beneath- it was just impossible to remove, but they were not noticeable after edges were trimmed, and neither affected the strength or overall appearance of the wall.The only implication if would have in real building sites would the amount of fabric salvaged from each construction would be less , and whilst it could be reused, the size of fabric over time would shrink and shrink. [pic] The changes to the design we did make fr om our previous prototype were: †¢ We discarded the idea of incorporating the curve as in every attempt so far had been unsuccessful, having no affected on the shape of the wall. So we simply cut a straight rectangular shape into our baseboard. †¢ Rather than having two pieces of wood either side of the fabric then bolted together and the piece of timber then placed inside the piece, we used the one piece of wood at one end and attached the fabric to that. As the wall was going to be longer we would be using 3 button / threads per row and having 4 rows We stuck with the method of sewing up the other side as it had been quite successful in the last wall, however in the final wall throughout the process of ramming it became apparent that it was leaning quite a bit particularly at the top of the wall- as can be seen in the final photograph. [pic]FINAL WALL [pic] Conclusion During the course of construction we learned a lot about building with rammed earth. Before this week I believed that building the wall would be a lot more complicated than it actually is, and I found it fascinating at how much could be achieved with some Fabric, thread, very little wood, some buttons and some earth!It was interesting the affect that the stitching, buttons and wood had on the wall- a very unique finish could be achieved and the structure was so strong and solid despite of it looking much like a giant cushion. The first thing we did in preparation for construction week was our risk assessment- however despite highlighting various precautionary measures we should take – in reality we took almost none. However I think that the risk assessment was still quite accurate in assessing the risk it was wrong not to observe the suggested measures. We did at times wear goggles when the dust simply made it impossible to see what we were doing when ramming, and we did take great care when using the ramming equipment as its use carried the most danger. But in the end I think fashion won out over the use of goggles, masks, boots and gloves.The Buttons which we used were probably the most successful thing that came out of our construction week. Although by complete accident. Because we had used a thinner piece of wood for our buttons in the final prototype when we rammed the wall – the buttons buckled under the pressure and at first we thought that this was another failure, but in the end it turned out this worked in our favour- they were easy to remove without damaging the wall, but also gave a very clean nice rounded indentation- success! [pic][pic] [pic] The Rammed Earth wall and construction methods we used differs from the conventional way in which a rammed earth wall is made by using fabric as formwork as opposed to wood or metal as is the norm.Within UEL the students and staff are pioneering the use of fabric formwork with rammed earth – which has otherwise been left unexplored as a method. In previous year in UEL students and staff h ave also experimented with fabric to make rammed earth columns. The use of fabric in other construction methods such as concrete has been successful, well received and used more and more in various new and innovative ways. The wall which we built was largely a success in all aspects of shape, height, strength and texture. Making it very possible that this project, could lead the way for further use of fabric formwork within the field of rammed earth constructions.It has been proven successful and there is no reason that this method could not be adopted as a viable means of construction in mainstream rammed earth constructions. The Reasons why constructing a rammed earth wall using fabric is better than current method are numerous: ? Sustainability ? The use of low embodied energy rammed in conjunction with fabric resulted in an ultra ecological combo. ? The fabric can be used and reused, as can the buttons and threads ? Beauty ? Sculpted texture created when using fabric can be quit e desirable, and will be depending upon specific fabric choice ? The Positioning of the buttons will also impact upon the finished appearance. The effect achieved with our wall was that of a large cushion As there are fewer limitations on the size of fabric which can be used as there are when using wood – where marks from joints are unavoidable. ? Rapid construction and deconstruction of formwork. ? Fewer things are needed to construct a wall when using fabric, so in principle this method could be used in obscure locations where communications are poor, as transpiration would not pose as much of a problem as it would if using heavy –bulky formwork, provided of course the earth could be found on site. ? Expense –Fabric is less expensive than conventional formwork, fabric formwork is approx 1/25th [5] the cost of dimensional lumber ? Less Weight- weighting approx 1/300th[6] of rigid formwork. There are too, reasons why using fabric formworks may not be favoured. ? Manpower The way in which we constructed our wall required people to do various different things simultaneously, ramming, holding the fabric to keep it tense, shovelling the earth into the wall, turning the soil to maintain moisture consistency. In general at any one time we required 7-8 people so building on a larger scale could present issues of number of people required. Although alternative method of turning the soil or holding the fabric could be adapted. ? Appearance ? The fabric restrained appearance may not be appropriate to the design and desired look. ? Height restrictions ? Whilst there are no specific height restrictions associated with fabric form work- it is an aspect of this construction method- yet to be explored fully- our wall was just less than 2m, what would happen when the height would be increased?Would there be significant implication affecting thickness of the wall? Budging is not as controlled with fabric as with wooden formwork. One of the great things I s aw from our construction week was working together with a set of people for one week for a common goal- we achieved so much, learning from each other sharing ideas and testing them, One can really see how this is in some small way how the builders yard idea must function, and therefore I would believe it to be a really successful idea. If a small group of people in one week can create this unique rammed earth wall- then communities of people working together on projects of greater long-term significance to them i. e. heir homes their neighbourhood the places they will spend their lives, with such vested interested interests, and working on larger scales over longer periods should be creating all sorts of innovative building techniques, materials and components. Bibliography Buildings of Earth and Straw: structural design for Rammed Earth and Straw; Bruce King Introduction to health and safety in Construction; P. Hughes Martin Rauch: Rammed Earth; Kapfinger, Otto Rammed Earth: Design and Construction guidelines; Peter Walker, Rowland Keable Rammed Earth Structures: a code of justice; Julian Keatle The Architect – Builder The rammed earth house / Photographs by Cynthia Wright; David EastonTS Intuition & Process; Peter Salter Essay: Re-viewing the builder’s yard as a place for design and Visualization; Charlie Hailey, Ph. D. www. eartharchitecture. org/ www. earthstructures. co. uk www. greenspec. co. uk www. historicrammedearth. co. uk www. historicrammedearth. wordpress. com www. listserv. repp. org/pipermail/greenbuilding www. rammed-earth. info www. rammedearth. davis. net. au www. terrafirmabuilders. ca ———————– [1] http://www. earthstructures. co. uk/feature_sra_amended. pdf [2] http://www. earthstructures. co. uk/feature_sra_amended. pdf [3] www. greenspec. co. uk [4] www. greenspec. co. uk [5] www. fab-form. com [6] www. fab-form. com

Punishment and Welfare in the Youth Justice System Essay

Punishment and Welfare in the Youth Justice System - Essay Example Historically, the debate over whether good practice in youth justice should reflect the punishment or welfare model has exercised policy-makers for over a century. From the 1960’s to the 1980’s, policy trends evolved toward the welfare model of punishment in which punishments are excluded, or are to be carefully adapted to the special needs of young people. In the 1980’s added attention was focused on juvenile offenders with policy makers instituting a stricter punishment-orientated juvenile justice system, for example, the Crime and Disorder Act of 1998, which established the Youth Justice Board and reduced the age of prosecution to 10 years.1 Youth justice procedures in the 21st century are mixed, not clearly reflecting either the punishment or welfare model of corrections. The use of the reprimands and warnings system attempts to travel both tracks, being tough on adolescent crime while believing that young offenders can, more than adults, be influenced positi vely with guidance during the warning phase of punishment. It also involves police and parents in the discipline of youths. Both public and governmental opinion suggests the debate of the effectiveness of punishment or welfare has not been resolved. While the retributive nature of the past has paled away and the adult-involved, rehabilitative approach has become predominant in juvenile justice, many call for increased punishment methods intertwined with the system of reprimands and warnings. A majority of parents want corporal punishment to be reintroduced in schools to tackle what they perceive is an increasing problem of classroom disorder.

Malaria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Malaria - Essay Example According the research of Wolfe team, the parasite that infects chimpanzees is named as, P. reichenowi. This parasite is consisting of more genetic variability in comparison to those species which target humans. Generically, the older parasites demands more time to evolve variants; hence the diversification form of humans is far less as compared to the chimpanzees. After considering the detailed research on genomes, Stephen Rick found that the human malaria parasites are actually nested inside the parasites of chimpanzees. Meanwhile, the genetic data states P. falciparum as a mutated form of P. reichenowi. There are no such examples found either, which can relate the human malaria originated from a bird or a chicken other than chimpanzees. Stephen Rich’s theory also states that, a mosquito which feds on a chimp first and then on human, is apparently introducing the parasite into our lineage. The recent consistent observation declares that, malaria is less toxic on a chimp rath er than human. According to Stephen Rich, chimpanzees have been around longer than human hence; the host and parasite balance their relationship with each other having lots of time in hand. Greg Lanzaro states that, to solve this puzzle of origin, the malaria, human genetics, mosquito spreading malaria and the parasite should all be put together. Stephen Rich’s investigation of malaria affecting chimps and passing over to humans is still in process, through more genomes details. (Peeples, 2009) Malaria disease has been highlighted on the surface of the earth for over 4000 years ago. First, the Chinese medical writing illuminated the symptoms of malaria. These symptoms were characterized in Nei Ching, in 2700 BC. The Emperor Huang Ti was the editor of Nei Ching. The first recognition of malaria was done in Greece, during the 4th century BCE. It resulted in the decline of the population of several states

Management accounting for business decisions Trailer Construct plc Coursework

Management accounting for business decisions Trailer Construct plc - Coursework Example The Trailer Construct PLC is a small family business which is in the process of expansion into a higher level of operations. The enterprise is involved in the construction and repair of trailers custom made according to the specifications of the client. The demand for construction of new trailers has been consistently rising through the five years to 2011, although demand for repair remained consistent throughout the same period. As a result, the company decided to raise its production level, however its policies and practices remained the same.Trailor Construct’s problem is comprised of a mismatch between its increased scale of operations, and its policies regarding inventory management, cash management, cost tracing and determination, price setting, and its human resources management. The firm is comprised of three divisions, namely Administration, Repair and Construction. The aforementioned policies involved practices undertaken in all three, and therefore are resolved usin g a systemic approach. This report recommends that the economic order quantity be applied to the inventory management practices of the company, instead of the present long lead time, large inventory storage employed by the company which unnecessarily inflates carrying costs. Production should be enhanced to make better use of expanded capacity and increase production efficiency, to reduce the level of fixed costs distributed to each unit of production. Cash management should be managed better by speeding up collection of receivables. This is to avoid the need to borrow from the bank to bridge cash shortfalls, and thereby eliminate unnecessary interest charges. Finally, employee performance should be improved by motivation through employee engagement. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Repair 4 Construction 5 Administration 6 Inventory management 7 Treatment of employees 8 Conclusion 8 References 10 Introduction The case of the Trailer Construct plc concerns the transformation of a small family business into a larger corporation as a result in the escalation in the scale of operations. This is typical of successful enterprises which attract a greater volume of business than its usual procedures are suited for. The administrative procedures, employee management, and inventory policies should evolve when a company shifts towards a higher scale of operation, because the greater business volumes enable the development of economies of scale, and demand a greater efficiency in these policies and activities. Repair The financial performance of the Repair division shows turnover to be almost unchanged from one year to the next; in comparison, turnover in construction is growing steadily. There is therefore no reason for the procedure that the client can bring in their trailer for repair after only a phone call. However, there is concern that maintaining a large stock or spare parts is unnecessary investment in materials when a lowe r stock level would do. There may be some merit to stocking up on materials in anticipation of higher prices, but this seldom results in the anticipated savings (unless a sudden significant rise in price or severe shortage takes place) because of the increase in storage and carrying costs that may just offset and even exceed the amount saved by chasing the lower price. The recommendation therefore is that the inventory system should employ the economic order quantity (EOQ) system which is described in the discussion on inventory below. Construction Being the larger of the two divisions, the Construction division shows a steadily rising turnover, indicating that the market is expanding. This presents an opportunity that Trailer Construct should take advantage of. The financial show that although turnover rises, profits remain unchanged for Construction. This may or may not mean that the firm is unduly incurring unnecessary expenses. The company decided to increase capacity by

Description Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Description - Assignment Example Moreover it is place in an open are with a wonderful view of the city so everything can enjoy a picturesque stay at this place. Hello uncle, how have you been? Is everything good at home? The reason I am writing to you is because of the simple issue that I miss my home these days. Earlier, I remember how desperate I was to move out of my place and get a job and have a place of my own. Now, having accomplished that I do not feel that I am complete even though I have everything a person can wish for. My house is still not my home. When I was a child, I was always excited to come back to my home and stay with my closed ones. The warm atmosphere of the place gave me a sense of protection and a feeling that nothing can happen to me now since I am staying in my home. Some one or the other will always be there to protect me. That sense of protection and joy is missing these days uncle. Wish I could leave everything right now and come visit you and my home. Please take care and let me know how everything is going with you. I will come visit you soon. In the above two paragraphs each of them are different in its own away. The first paragraph is giving us a sense that I am promoting my home so that other people get interested and purchase it to stay. There is no sense of my feeling or emotions attached with the place. I have not even described the place as my home. However in the second paragraph the discussion changes completely as I have a different intention in it altogether. A sense of feelings and emotions are attached to it while writing a letter to my home. Each of the paragraphs has a different approach in their own way. In the first paragraph my intention is to sell the place so I promote the place in my own way. However in the second paragraph, I am missing my home and emotions attached with it are completely different, which is why I am writing to my uncle to make

Organizational Behavior - The Vancouver 2011 Stanley Cup Riots Research Paper

Organizational Behavior - The Vancouver 2011 Stanley Cup Riots - Research Paper Example Organizational theories at play One of the organization’s theories that were applicable in the case is the McCleland’s need theory. This is a motivation theory that explains behavior at individual level and reviews â€Å"personality and learnt needs† (Nelson and Quick, 2010, p. 156). McCleland’s theory argues that people’s behaviors and efforts towards achievement are driven by three major needs, â€Å"need for achievement, for power and for affiliation† (Nelson and Quick, 2010, p. 156). The need for achievement relates to individual’s focus to embrace difficulties towards successful realization of objectives. People who are driven by the need to achieve persevere conditions, plan, and influence to make sure that their expectations are met. The need for power on the other hand relates to the need and capacity to influence an individual’s immediate environment. It involves influencing other people to an individual’s contro l. This need is particularly exhibited in planning and running of an event that involve a group’s participation. The need for affiliation is on the other hand concerned with interpersonal relationships among people and entails emotional expressions and interactions among people in a set up (Nelson and Quick, 2010). ... Similarly, the attendants need to achieve their objective of being part of the game witnessed their early and general turn up for the event. Need for power is also explained through the influence that resulted into the riots. This is because only a small number of individuals started the idea of rioting and influenced others into it. Similarly, the need for affiliation is exhibited by the initiatives of the individual attendants to be involved in the social event, the hokey game. The need was further manifested in the association with the individuals who caused the riots. The other individuals must have been driven by the need to be part of the already rioting group (Nelson and Quick, 2010; Furlong and Keefe, 2011). Abraham Maslow’s theory of hierarchy of needs is also directly applicable to the event. According to the theory, human needs are hierarchical and are satisfied in order of priority. At the basic level of the Maslow’s hierarchy is a set of physiological needs that are prioritized. These include basic needs for survival and are followed by security needs. Subsequently, â€Å"belongingness needs and esteem needs† follow (Daft and Lane, 2007, p. 230). The need for belongingness drives people to being part of groups while the need for self esteem facilitate strife for recognized status of influence in the society. While the need for belongingness was exhibited by the crowds who turned up for the sports event and those that later joined in the riots, either actively as demonstrators or partially as spectators, the need for self esteem was registered among the individuals who organized and fuelled the riots. The latter group must have had a combination of needs to be recognized by the peers as influential and need to achieve (Daft and

Casuals by Steve Madden - summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Casuals by Steve Madden - summary - Essay Example This is one of the reasons as to why casuals came into the market. They ensure that the heel is folded into a flat when it is not needed (Simmons 1). SWOT Analysis The product has concentrated on several factors that have ensured it has actively and wholly penetrated the market. It has paid heed to its strengths in the fashion industry. The strengths include focus oriented approach for the customers, community and their employees. In relation to their employees, the company has ensured that they have the space to conduct their activities in the company. This ensures that they come with new strategies for the company, ensuring maximized profits (Simmons 1). They give back to the community as part of their corporate social responsibility and this augurs well with the community that surrounds them. As for their clients, they have created this classic yet comfortable lifestyle that many ladies have craved for in the fashion industry. The aspect of versatility and convenience is an added advantage as the shoe can be used for any occasion. This has led to the fact that many clients are aware of the shoes existence and they love it. One of the major weaknesses noted lies on the limited style ranges of the shoe. This is because of the limited capacity to incorporate different shoe ranges into the specific design in question. Another weakness is pegged on the fact that issues of access are limited to retail and online stores. This reduces the stores general revenue collected. The opportunities for the product lie in the broad market segment that is targeted by the product. The population of women who are looking for elegant style and comfort provide a wide array of potential consumers. The fact that the convertible shoe is new in the fashion industry creates the platform that many consumers will want to sample the new product in the fashion line. The innovation is threatened by competitors from other shoe companies. The companies are either adopting the same strategy or incorporating certain aspects and features that are giving the company a run for its money. The fashion industry is a very unpredictable industry (Kotler 12). The issue of economic and fashion trends are constantly hampering the way that the company plans to meet its set goals and objectives. These are the two threats to the creative innovation of elegant but stylish shoes that have been brought into the market. Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning The product has segmented the market based on the concentrated marketing strategy. This is the strategy that ensures that each and every aspect of the market is segmented and dealt with. It has concentrated on women and their willingness to spend to access the product. This is based on demographic segmentation. The market has also segmented based on the ability to arouse the risk taking nature of many in the fashion industry. This forms the psychographic aspect of independent women who love to take risks at each and every point. The b enefit oriented segmentation approach is based on the women who know the benefits of wearing a heel at the right time and getting comfortable when they need to. This is without the excess baggage of carrying an additional pair of shoes. This segmentation works hand in hand with the geo demographic segmentation. This is the specific one that targets the specific women who are in the profile areas. They include the women in

HIV and HBV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

HIV and HBV - Essay Example This in vitro study is called transient transfection cell culture systems and has been used to establish sensitivity or cross resistance to analogues. Imperative in this activity is the acquisition of quantitative real time data and previous knowledge on the replication and pathogenesis of HIV or HBV. Any difference in expression of the transfected cell is identified and analyzed. Another approach is to introduce derivatives from certain sources that can serve as potent inhibitor of in vitro HIV or HBV replication. For example, synthetic DNA molecules called antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) were administered to cells transiently and stably transfected with HBV protein encoding plasmids. The cells were observed for any HBV replication and pathogenesis for 48 hours. It was found that there ODN effectively inhibited viral protein expression and replication. ( Karayiannis, 2003) Animal models have also been very useful in understanding the replication and pathogenesis of the virus mentioned. Many of the models are na've primates such as chimpanzees, rhesus macaques and Aotus monkeys. HBV or HIV carrier animals are administered with potential cures.

Judicial Decisions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Judicial Decisions - Essay Example In addition to this there seems to be differing schemes protecting both the landlord and the tenants found in the distinction of the equitable and legal leases. The distinction becomes extremely important as if an interest in land is found to be a lease then one is protected by the Rent Acts, while the licence seems to encompass only limited rights as according to the terms of the arrangement between the parties with minimal state intervention. It is one of the fundamental themes in accepting what a lease is that the period identified in the arrangement between the landlord and the occupier is for a fixed term. In Lace V. Chantler [1944], it was held that a lease for the duration of a war was not a certain period as one could not surely envisage when the war would be over, thus this would be a licence revocable when the war would be over. However, even a short term, for instance a month to month agreement would seem to be satisfying the requirements of the LPA 1925 as each party holds power by notice to determine the continuity of the lease at the end of each month and this saves the arrangement from being uncertain. (Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd v London Residuary Board [1992]) Even time sharing agreements have been held to be tenancies recently (Cottage Holiday Associates Ltd v. Customs and Excise Commissioners [1983], Smallwood V. Sheppards [1895]). Perhaps even here, the underlying fact remains the intention of the par ty which could be evidenced by virtue of the mode of payment and the time period even though this is not an essential element (Ashburn Anstall v. Arnold [1989]). The concept of exclusive possession is also a very important one in the determination of a lease. Essentially, where the occupier could exclude anyone at all and is free to use the land as he wants subject to certain restrictions, this arrangement could easily be termed as a lease. Where a landlord had rights reserved to enter the premises, empty meters and change linen, it was held to be a licence (Appah v. Parncliffe Investments [1964]. A similar analogy could be drawn with the occupation of rooms in hotels and motels. It is normally quite clear to the occupier that he does not have the rights of a tenant with regards to the room he is occupying and his rights only stem from and are limited to the service contract concluded between him and the hotel, etc. Hence, the traditional distinction between a lease and a licenc

Like Water for Chocolate Essay Example for Free

Like Water for Chocolate Essay Suggests that the soup has made her feel like a baby again given that while she is still in her mom’s belly she cries very hard when onions are chopped and it suggest the impact of food to Tita. After drinking the soup Tita has miraculously recovered from the loss of pigeons which she kept as pet and that triggered her sense of loosing Pedro and R erself to cook she fell in love with it and got a part time job as an assistant to a cooking teacher. Even though she has a lack of precision she was hired because she wasn’t afraid to fail and has a passion to cook unlike the others and getting hired made her feel confident, hence gaining control of life through cooking. The protagonist, Tita in Like Water for Chocolate gains control through cooking as well. Cooking is the only thing Tita love to do because Mama Elena bans her from doing a lot of things; the kitchen is the area where she can retreat from Mama Elena’s demands. When she cooked quail in rose petal sauce she controlled and triggered a lot of peoples emotion. Her sister Gertrudis was the first on affected by the dish, it aroused her sexual desire. She fled naked from her burning shower and when on a horse, galloping away with a soldier. Another incident where she gained control is the Chabela wedding cake she made for her lover Pedro and Rosaura. Even though she couldn’t stop the wedding, she made everyone cry. She made people cry for her tragic experience not only the guests cried, Mama Elena cried as well. She lost control of her life but through cooking she gain control of people’s emotions. In Like Water for Chocolate, food is not just a nutrition it acts as a very important nurturing role. The ox-tail soup Dr. John gave Tita has recalled the best moments of her life and brought back memories of her and Nacha making ox-tail soup together, chopping onions. It suggests that the soup has made her feel like a baby again given that while she is still in her mom’s belly she cries very hard when onions are chopped and it suggest the impact of food to Tita.

Development of Chinas Economics

Development of Chinas Economics CHINA 2014 Table of Contents 1. Is China a developing country? 2. Theories/ Models of Growth and Development Applied on China 2.1. Rostow’s Stages of Growth 2.2. The Harrod-Domar Model Growth Model 2.3. Lewis’s Theory of Development 2.4. Structural Change and Pattern of Development 2.5. International Dependence Revolution 2.6. Neoclassical Counterrevolution 2.7. Coordination Failure and the Big Push 3. Poverty in China 3.1. Headcount Index Gini Co-efficient 3.2. Poverty Gap 3.3. Poverty Trend Analysis 4. Bibliography 5. Word Count: 1. Is China a developing country? China is a big economy in absolute terms, with GNP second only to the United States. Despite its remarkable economic development over the past decades, China remains a developing nation. China is the worlds most populous country, with a population of 1.3 billion in 2011. Its not far behind India, which contains 1.2 billion people and is predicted to overtake China in the next two decades. China ranks below the 100th place in the world in terms of per capita GDP, which is 3700 US dollars and the country is classified among middle and low income level countries. China is behind the majority of the developed world in terms of per capita possession of natural resources, in some cases, even far below the worlds average. Its fresh water reserve is only 1/3 of the world’s average, coal consumption 1/2 and natural gas 1/5. Moreover, a population of 150 million is caught in poverty and, is living on less than 1 US dollar a day. 83 million people are living with disabilities in the country. With the second largest number of poor in the world after India, poverty reduction remains a fundamental challenge. (WorldBank, 2014) Chinas trade mix is dominated by commodity trade that is resource and labor consuming, putting it at the lower end of the global industrial chain as the knowledge based trade in services only accounts for a small portion in foreign trade. There are shortfalls in scientific and technological innovation capacity that impede the countrys core competitiveness. Furthermore, the country faces challenges in the areas of investment in education which is low and in the areas of medical services and social security. Inequality remains high, rapid urbanization poses threat to environmental stability and there are external imbalances. China also faces demographic pressures related to an aging population and the internal migration of labor. (ChinaDaily, 2013) (Euractiv, 2012) 2. Theories/ Models of Growth and Development Applied on China 2.1. Rostow’s Stages of Growth Rostow’s theory states that each country needs to go through five imminent stages of development. Observing China in the context of the Rostow’s Model of Development, it is reasonable to claim it to be in the fourth stage, which is the drive to maturity. China remained in the third stage for several decades due to its inclination towards remaining a closed economy. As it opened its doors to the world in the 1990s, it saw itself elevating to stage four. China benefitted by a great increase in its GDP (as shown by the graph below) and foreign investment as their interaction with the world increased (Jacobs, 2014) Figure 1 Index of China’s Real GDP Growth Figure 2 Cumulative FDI in China Economicreforms of 1978 caused China’s economy to grow nine times. In 2002, China replaced US as the biggest receiver of foreign direct investment amounting up to $52.7 billion. It accounted for 25% of the global trade expansion. Apart from being a high exporter to US and Japan, China is a high consumer as well. China also became the world’s second largest importer of oil, right after the US. Its consumption of raw materials such as steel and copper became greater than that of the US. In 2003, it consumed 55% of the world’s cement. As China secured its membership of the World Trade Organization, it became a dominant player in the economy (Marcos Chamon, 2011). 2.2. The Harrod-Domar Model Growth Model Harrod-Domar model extrapolates that development is a phenomenon driven by savings and investments. China, in light of the model, faced some ups and downs in terms of savings and investment. The biggest dip in the investment came 1960 to 1962 as the government initiated the ‘Great Leap Forward’ campaign leading to immense nationalization and hence a major fall in investments. Post Economic Reforms in 1978, China saw a stable but increasing rate of investment in China, with the usual cyclical fluctuations. Simultaneously, China has seen a rise in savings from 35% in 1990 to approximately 50% by 2012. Interestingly, mainly the younger population and the elder population have shown a saving trend. This is due to decreasing public provision of facilities such as education and health prompted the younger generation to save for future education costs and the older generation to save for future health costs. (Marcos Chamon, 2011), (Labaria, 2012) 2.3. Lewis’s Theory of Development The essence of this model is to allocate resources more efficiently in the developing world where there is an overflow of labor in the traditional agriculture sector that needs to be dissolved into the industrial sector workforce (Anon., 2008) China’s agricultural percentage to GDP is around 12% and catering to almost 43% of the agricultural employment share, showing that China’s labor force is still not fully transferred to the industrial sector. However, China is still growing fast. According to Spence, high Savings and investment where public spending was on education, infrastructure, international trade, technological up gradation and productive employment were all factors that led China’s phenomenal growth. Although there was agro to industrial migration, people were more towards private sector than state owned enterprises. For example, between 1995 and 2005, the ownership of enterprises fell by 38% whereas private, foreign and individual grew in total by 35 %. The reason for this could be that the capital to output ratio for private was much greater than the state owned ones i.e. 6.7 vs. 3.3. Along with investment, China focused on improving its exports from 2004 onwards. China used the investment for technology that proved beneficial from 2000 where the number of patent applications were 100000 that shot up to 275000 by 2004. As a result, China was the one with the most patent applications from the BRIC nations. Figure 3 In compliance with the Lewis model the economy was able to absorb the extra agricultural labor with a rise in the marginal productivity of labor which is still lower than the wage for the average productivity of labor. (MARCO G. ERCOLANI, 2010) In 2010 China had not reached the third stage as such as there was still a gap in labor productivities between both the sectors. 2.4. Structural Change and Pattern of Development Chenery’s structural change model assesses the characteristic features of development process derived from the different levels of per capita income of countries. For China, the shift from the agricultural to industrial production is seen in the city called Shenzhen which was once farming and fishing village in 1980’s and grew into the richest city in 30 years, as a result of foreign investment and manufacturing. (Shenzhen Facts, 2013) This example only can also explain that there was steady accumulation of both physical and human capital. The rapid growth in Shenzhen was possible due to the capital, labor, technology and information. (Shen, 2008) . These changes were accompanied by shift in consumption patterns to more appropriate ones of demand for manufactured goods and services. Although one can say that China has tried to achieve the decline in family size to cater to its overall population, the disparity between different regions is still prevalent. Hence it canno t be inferred if the child quality is preferred over the child quantity in China. 2.5. International Dependence Revolution The trend of aid received by China has experienced various fluctuations. Up until late 1970s, China was a net donor, but when the Chinese economy started its openness policy, it became a net receiver of aid to finance the industrialization, mainly from Japan. However, this aid rather than being pure loans or grants was more in the form of economic co-operations agreements which gave both China and Japan a ‘win win’ situation rather than China getting exploited by Japan. Post mid 90s however (after the success of industrialization was manifesting), the aid received by China started to drop drastically; and due to the introduction of the ‘Grand Plan’ of 1994,China started to realize the potential of securing resources and export markets abroad and started investing heavily in Africa, the trend of which continues to today . Hence instead of China being exploited by the cores, it is now in a position to exploit Africa. The neocolonial dependence model cannot be applied to China. (Shimomura Ohashi, 2013) The Dualistic Development Thesis however applies extremely well to China, as evidenced by the disparity in public and private spending on education and health (public spending is almost constant whereas private is increasing (WorldBank, 2014)) or by the vast income disparity amongst China’s urban and regional areas. Reasons for this co existence phenomenon are discussed under Poverty in China. 2.6. Neoclassical Counterrevolution Neoliberals suggest that by allowing competitive free markets to function, economic growth will begin because world markets are efficient. In 1979, China was a stiff command economy prey, to majorinefficiencies making it poorerthan India. The government focused on heavy industries, ignoring agriculture and the private sectors. Their leader Chen, recognizing the importance of market and socialism endedâ€Å"The Leap Outward†, allowing the firms tobenefit with the government from the market functioning, showing that Market Friendly approach is needed. Public-choicetheory discusses that by the self centered intervention of government, not only does misallocation of resources occur, but people are left with lesser choices and freedom. China has now shifted to a mixed economy with reforms which shall allow China to reach 60% of America’s per capita GDP. (TheMoneyIllusion, 2010) In the last 30 years, the Chinese economy has seen a shift to a hybrid economy after China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. Theprivatization of 90% of the urban residential schemes and real estate can be marked as an economic success because it led to a growth in per capita income 8.1% from 1978 to 2004. Neoclassical free-market argument emphasizes onliberalizationof national markets, which draws additional domestic and foreign investment, increasing the rate of capital accumulation. China has acceptedliberation by allowing free trade, to the extent that China, a part of the BRIC nation now has the power to shake the strength of the US Dollar; however the role and hold of government is still strong on the economy and the people. An example of this is the enforcement of one child policy. Although the government has now relaxed these rules, to extending to a two child policy, this was needed to control the geometric progression of the population versus the arithmetic progress of resources which would have led to increased poverty. (Coase Wang, 2013) 2.7. Coordination Failure and the Big Push According to Todaro coordination failure occurs because of the inability of economic agents to coordinate their behavior resulting in an equilibrium in which everyone ends up being worse off and occurs because of pecuniary externalities, asymmetric information, and high wages of workers which warrant government intervention which Todaro named the Big Push. (Todaro Smith, 2012) In October 1949 the People’s Republic of China was established by the Communist Party. The party aimed to nationalize the agricultural sector and use it to finance the growth in industrialization to coordinate the activities of the economic agents in the industrial sector. As a result of this the Industrial sector thrived and grew. (Young, 2014) In 1958 the Great leap forward was announced. Under this communes of farms were formed and private farming was abolished. The purpose of this was to increase output via greater cooperation and greater physical effort. However this failed resulting in drop in agricultural production, three years of famine and millions of deaths. The government responded by initiating policies contradictory to that of Big Push model, i.e. the government allowed for private farming and slashed investment in industrial sector which led to improvements in the industry. (Young, 2014) Lastly the Great ProletarianCultural Revolution of 1966 resulted in a negative impact on industry production resulting in a decade of confusion and strife. (Young, 2014) So it can be inferred that the Big Push model advocating government intervention has resulted in more costs than benefits for the Chinese. 3. Poverty in China 3.1. Headcount Index Gini Co-efficient YEAR Headcount ratio (% of population, at $1.25 a day) Millions of poor (people less than $1.25 a day) Population (in billions) (gapminder) 1990 60.18 683.2 1.15 1991 1.16 1992 63.80 743.3 1.175 1993 53.69 632.7 1.188 1994 59.78 712.5 1.201 1995 54.05 651.2 1.213 1996 36.37 442.8 1.226 1997 47.84 588.5 1.237 1998 47.97 595.8 1.259 1999 35.63 446.3 1.260 2000 1.269 2001 1.277 2002 28.36 363.1 1.285 2003 1.293 2004 1.300 2005 16.25 211.9 1.307 2006 1.314 2007 1.321 2008 13.06 173 1.328 2009 11.80 157.1 1.334 Figure 4 WorldBank, 2014 The trend shows that the headcount ratio was decreasing rather at a slow rate from 1990 till 1999, however the headcount reduced by almost 50%. By 2005 the headcount further reduced by 50% and then gradually till 2009 the headcount came to about 11.8%. It should be keep in mind that the population of China had been increasing around 0.01 billion each year and still the headcount was reduced. From the highest 743.3 million poor in 1992 to almost 157.1 million poor in 2009 is an achievement. (WorldBank, 2014) According to Yu Xie, a sociologist from Michigan University, China suffers from one of the highest levels of income inequality in the world. Inequality prevails even in comparison to other countries that have similar standards of living. The Gini Coefficient has shown an increasing trend reaching 0.472 in 2012. (Gapminder, 2014) 3.2. Poverty Gap The World Bank index presents that Poverty Gap in 2009 was 2.8, but data for the latter years was not available. Beijing and Shanghai have reached high developmental levels equivalent to Cyprus and Portugal because of the government’s efforts via provision of healthcare, education and welfare, but provinces such as south-western Huizhou are comparable to Namibia or Botswana. The city life is becoming increasingly expensive and the middle class is being squeezed. 3.3. Poverty Trend Analysis Extreme poverty defined by percentage of people living below $1.25 per day fell till 1987 in China after which it increased sharply to 64% in 1992. After which it declined in 1993, increased again in 1994 and then declined continuously to 13% in 2008. However there were stalls in poverty reduction during the late 1920s and late 1990s. So the significant increase in poverty in China during the late 1980s was because of the Communist Party’s policy to nationalize the agricultural sector part of their Great leap forward strategy which backfired leading to a significant increase in poverty in the rural areas of China. (Ravallion Chen, 2007) The number of people below the poverty line started to decrease after the peak in 1992 because of: migration from rural to urban growth in primary sector due to the about face policy after the Great Leap Forward economy wide policies including agrarian reforms controlling of inflation increase in government spending as part of the effort to achieve the MDG on poverty and hunger The rate of decline in poverty varied from industry to industry and among provinces because the rate of growth in these was not the same. (Ravallion Chen, 2007) As shown by the figure below, economic activity is prevalent at the coastal regions and declines as we move towards the interior of the country. Figure 5 GDP/Capita by province 2002 (US$) As the economy opened its doors to the world, it saw an inflow of investment in this coastal region. However, the benefit has not been transferred to the inner regions, the urban residents located at the east earn thrice as much as the rural residents (Roberts, 2014), (GeoCases, 2002) Figure 6 (GeoCases, 2002) 4. Bibliography Anon., 2008. Introduction to Economics of Development. [Online] Available at: http://www.pauldeng.com/teaching/development/lectnotes_8_econ175a.pdf [Accessed 2014]. Bertaud, A., 2010. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION AND URBAN LAND MARKETS: THE CASE OF CHINA. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 29(4), pp. 335-346. ChinaDaily, 2013. China Daily. [Online] Available at: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2013-01/10/content_16100813.htm [Accessed 2014]. Coase, R. Wang, N., 2013. How China Became Capitalist. [Online] Available at: http://www.cato.org/policy-report/januaryfebruary-2013/how-china-became-capitalist [Accessed 2014]. Euractiv, 2012. Euractiv. [Online] Available at: http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/china-developing-country-analysis-498377 [Accessed 2014]. GeoCases, 2002. China: A Third Generation Newly Industrialised Country. [Online] Available at: http://www.geocases2.co.uk/printable/China a third generation NIC.htm [Accessed 2014]. Jacobs, J., 2014. Rostows Stages of Growth Deveopment Model. [Online] Available at: http://geography.about.com/od/economic-geography/a/Rostow-S-Stages-Of-Growth-Development-Model.htm [Accessed 2014]. Labaria, E., 2012. China and Development. [Online] Available at: http://elirozz_labaria.tigblog.org/post/7228633?setlangcookie=true [Accessed 2014]. MARCO G. ERCOLANI, Z. W., 2010. AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LEWIS-RANIS-FEI THEORY OF DUALISTIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR CHINA. Changsha, Chinese Economist Society. Marcos Chamon, K. L. E. P., 2011. The Puzzle of Chinas Rising Household Saving Rate. [Online] Available at: http://www.voxeu.org/article/puzzle-china-s-rising-household-saving-rate Ravallion, M. Chen, S., 2007. Poverty, China’s (uneven) Progress against. Journal of Development Economics, pp. 1-42. Roberts, D., 2014. Chinas Income-Inequality Gap Widens Beyond US Levels. [Online] Available at: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-30/chinas-income-inequality-gap-widens-beyond-u-dot-s-dot-levels Shen, J., 2008. Urban Growth and Sustainable Development in Shenzhen City 1980-2006. Open Environmental Sciences, Volume 2, pp. 71-79. Shenzhen Facts, 2013. Shenzhen Facts. [Online] Available at: http://www.chinahighlights.com/shenzhen/shenzhen-facts.htm Shimomura, Y. Ohashi, H., 2013. A Study of Chinas Foreign Aid: An Asian Perspective. 1st ed. Tokyo: Palgrave Macmillan. TheMoneyIllusion, 2010. The money illusion. [Online] Available at: http://www.themoneyillusion.com/?p=5363 [Accessed 2014]. Todaro, M. P. Smith, S. C., 2012. Economic Development. s.l.:Addison-Wesley. WorldBank, 2014. Poverty Data by World Bank. [Online] Available at: http://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/country/CHN [Accessed 2014]. WorldBank, 2014. WorldBank.org. [Online] Available at: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/china/overview [Accessed 2014]. Young, E. P., 2014. China. [Online] Available at: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/111803/China/71007/Economic-policies [Accessed 24 9 2014]. 5. Word Count: 2571 excluding cover page, ToC, Bibliography and In-text Headings Development Economics ReportPage 1

LSD (for Chemistry Class) :: essays papers

LSD (for Chemistry Class) Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) LSD), a potent hallucinogenic drug, also called a psychedelic, first synthesized from lysergic acid in Switzerland in l038. Lysergic acid is a white odorless drug, a component of the mold of ERGOT. Ergot is a product of the fungus Claviceps purpurea. Th e bio-active ingredients of ergot are all derivatives of lysergic acid. LSD is a semi-synthetic derivative of lysergic acid. Thus LSD is an "ergot" - like substance. The drug evokes dreamlike changes in mood and thought and alters the perception of time and space. It can also create a feeling of lack of self-control and extreme terror. Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) also goes by names like: acid, sugar, Blotter, Sugar Cubes, Blue Unicorn, Acid, Cid, Sid, Bart Simpsons, Barrels, Tabs, Blotter, Heaven ly blue, 'L', liquid liquid, Microdots, Mind detergent, Orange cubes, Orange micro, Owsley, Wedding Bells, windowpane, etc. LSD is very potent: the effective dose is measured in micrograms (ug) -- however, the lethal dose is literally thousands of times that, making the drug essentially non-toxic. LSD is non-addictive, and there have been only a few cases of possible overdose where people ingested extremely large amounts of the drug (Alan et al., 1978; Griggs et al,. 1977). LSD can be administered a number of ways, the most common : orally though paper, sugar cubes, on a piece of gelatin, or by pill ; intravenously or intramu scularly. A standard dose with noticeable hallucinogenic effects is about 100-200 ug. The intensity of the trip is proportional to the size of the dose-- it is interesting to note, though, that the duration of the trip seems to stay the same at higher dos es (Freedman, 1984). Physical effects include drowsiness, dizziness, dilated pupils, numbness and tingling, weakness, tremors, and nausea. Transient abnormal thinking induced by LSD, such as a sense of omnipotence or a state of acute paranoia, can result in dangerous behavior. Long-term adverse reactions such as persistent psychosis, prolonged depression, or faulty judgment have also been reported following LSD ingestion but whether these are a direct result of ingestion is difficult to establish. Althoug h LSD is not physiologically addicting, the drug's potent mind-altering effects can lead to chronic use. In the 1960's LSD use was widespread among people who sought to alter and intensify their physical senses; to achieve supposed insights into the unive rse, nature, and themselves; and to intensify emotional connections with others. The drug has been tried as a treatment for infantile autism, for alcoholism, and to accelerate psychotherapy, but no medical use has been established.

Televisions Should Be Unplugged :: essays research papers

Why Televisions Should Be Unplugged   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe all the televisions in America should be unplugged, and we should become a nomadic, goat-herding race- well, maybe not the part about the goat herding. Anyway, television programming is corrupting our youths' minds; they are being stupefied and are becoming virtual vegetables as they are molded by the programs they view to be lazy, selfish, and to forsake all their moral and ethical values. The so called â€Å"entertainment value† to the shows is what's hurting us; kids mimic what they see on t.v., which includes violence, murder, rape, etc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Children's grades drop drastically when tuning in to their favorite cartoon takes priority over completing their math or other schoolwork. The effects may also carry over into the next day, when they re-enact their favorite scene of the previous night's episode of Power Rangers on the playground, often resulting in the injury of several poor kids. Obviously such programs are counter-productive to the educational process.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Teen violence is on the rise at an exponential rate. Many teens watch action movies such as Terminator and its sequel or the Die Hard trilogy and conjure up bright ideas to go vandalizing or attacking innocent people. This is especially true when speaking of the gang situation that is currently plaguing our nation. Before the era of the television, crime like the kind we now have was virtually non-existent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Obesity is another indirectly related effect of television on our bodies for people of all ages. The term â€Å"couch potato† adequately suits people who would rather watch Cindy Crawford tone and firm her buns than get off theirs. If there's a welt in you favorite spot on the couch that is a perfect outline of your backside, it's a good indicator that you need to get out and do something.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An awkward issue I want to discuss deals with programs with adult content and their accessibility to children. They are learning vitally important issues like the â€Å"bird & bees† and other things regarded as taboo from the â€Å"boob tube.† That's not the problem, though.

Plagiarism - A Severe Threat to the Society Essay -- Argumentative Per

Plagiarism - A Severe Threat to the Society Every day throughout the world, teachers strive to attain the most from their students in every aspect of life, from effective communication and language skills, to the development of individualism and the concept of being the best that you could be. With the use of exams, class discussions, and written assignments, educators subconsciously reinforce the idea that success can only be achieved from within, with personal expression and dedication to each and every task faced in modern existence. The world, as we see it today, has not evolved by people copying one another’s ideas. It has evolved from the willingness of individuals to step up and make their intentions known, to bring about new ideas and concepts to forever change the environment in which we live. All too often, though, due to stress, insufficient time allowance, or just plain laziness, people take the quickest and most unproblematic approach to getting work done, in turn, failing to play their part in soci ety’s evolution by retaining individual ideas and viewpoints. For centuries, plagiarism has been a major stumbling block in the pathway for academic success. Plagiarism, as defined, means â€Å"to steal and pass off the ideas or words of another as one's own". It has existed in one form or another since the advent of time, with individuals copying the work of others to propel themselves forward in their own education or professional work field. The problem is magnified significantly in today’s society as we live in a high speed world where all of the information that you could possibly need is at the convenience of your fingertips. "Across the United States, universities -- and even in ... ... were forced to deal with it. Evaluated more thoroughly, these statistics show not only a problem with student plagiarizing, but also an underlying problem of the failure to recognize it as a severe threat to the future development of today’s society. In order for society to continue to grow and prosper in technology, educators and employers alike must realize that plagiarism is indeed a genuine concern and as a result, must be dealt with in a more severe matter to encourage individualism. Often the threat of a failed grade or expulsion from a university is not enough to deter students from cheating if known instances have not been appropriately dealt with in the past. If the problem is to be mended, educators must make examples of students who plagiarize written material, so we can discontinue the trend that seems to be irresistible to today’s society.

Creativity vs. Psychological Health of Anne Sexton

A number of creative individuals have taken their own lives, including John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, and many other writers. The large number of such cases suggests that there may be a functional relationship between creativity and psychological health. This relationship seems to vary across domains, with the rate of suicide especially high in certain groups of artists. This may suggest that there may be something unique to those domains that either draws suicide-prone persons into the domain or has an impact on the individual such that suicide is considered and often attempted. When the poem writing by Anne Sexton entitled Her Kind you can closely compare how Anne’s mental health affected her poetry and how her poetry affected her mental health. The American Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Anne Sexton took her own life in 1974 via carbon monoxide poisoning before reaching the age of fifty. Her life and work are especially interesting because her poetry was clearly tied to her own psychiatric treatment. She began writing with only moderate formal education (a high school diploma), but after being published she was given honorary degrees from several universities, including Tufts, Radcliffe, and Harvard. Sexton's poems, many dealing with suicide, read together with richly researched recent biography, enhanced by biographer's access to tapes of Sexton's sessions with her psychiatrist and by foreword by that psychiatrist, permit unusual opportunity to understand the interrelationship of her illness, her treatment, and the meaning of suicide in her life. Whatever was on her mind seemed to come out in her poetry whether it was about sex, madness or death. â€Å"Readers tend to be generous in their praise, celebrating the poetry primarily because it so fully and openly reveals Sexton's personal pain† (Anne). Basically, the speaker of â€Å"Her Kind† is outcast because she is powerful. Traditionally, society expects women to lead sheltered lives. Women are to be obedient, quiet, and timid. They are viewed as gentle and kind, not â€Å"dreaming evil† (Line 3, Sexton). The modern, liberated woman completely shatters this tradition by courageously speaking her mind and living an independent life. She is empowered as she seeks education and a stable career instead of a domestic life. Since the modern woman does not fit the traditional label, â€Å"A woman like that is not a woman quite† (Line 6, Sexton). Society would view this line of the poem as a negative slam on the modern woman and paraphrase it by saying, â€Å"She's not quite right in the head; therefore, she does not belong here in civilization. † Anne Sexton was a poet and a woman, but most importantly, she was an outcast. Subjected to nervous breakdowns and admitted to a neuropsychiatry hospital, Sexton must have been all too familiar with the staring eyes and the judging minds of the public. Just being a woman in today's world often can be enough to degrade a person in the public's eye, let alone being labeled as a crazy woman. But Anne Sexton did not let society remain unchallenged in its views. She voiced a different opinion of women through poetry. In Anne Sexton's â€Å"Her Kind† she embraces society's negative stereotype of modern, liberated women and transforms it into a positive image. Two voices, the voice of society and the voice of Anne, duel about the issue of the stereotype of modern women. Like Anne Sexton, the speaker in this poem is an outcast woman. Sexton was born in Massachusetts on November 9, 1928, to Mary Gray Staples and Ralph Churchill Harvey, who were known to drink regularly and sometimes heavily. They were somewhat prominent and quite socially active. Scholars suggest that they may have valued their social engagements over their family responsibilities. There is some evidence that Sexton's mother was jealous about her very early writing (Long). Sexton did not have obvious creative aspirations, but instead seemed to think more about a family of her own. At one point her mother accused her of plagiarism and had that particular writing examined. It was deemed to be original, but many scholars suggest this incident affected Sexton's relationship with her mother. Sexton's aunt on her father's side attempted suicide in early childhood, lived several decades in an apparently stable marriage, and eventually committed suicide just before she turned seventy. The family believes that if her aunt's suicide had any sort of influence on Sexton, it was probably informational (e. g. , the aunt modeling suicide) rather than genetic. Biographers place great emphasis on Sexton's psychiatric treatment, which was significant as evidenced by the content of her poetry. And, it is possible, given her nonconformism that Sexton suffered from a borderline personality disorder. There are reports of her schizophrenic language, for instance, as well as her tendency to enter some sort of trance at the end of her psychiatric treatment sessions. She apparently did not want to end the sessions, perhaps because of emotional and social needs. â€Å"Sexton’s writing seems so personal she is often labeled a ‘confessional’ poet† Anne did not agree with this title and preferred to be called a â€Å"storyteller† (Middlebrook). For instance, in her poem titled â€Å"Her Kind† she writes, â€Å"A woman like that is not a woman, quite. I have been her kind† (Sexton). Many people would automatically assume that Anne was speaking about herself in her poem, especially according to those who believe her poetry is confessional. But in reality, â€Å"she considered the speaking ‘I’ in her poetry as a literary rather than a real identity† (Middlebrook). Not everything she wrote was necessarily about her but rather perhaps a form of therapy. Diane Middlebrook believes Sexton conveys the terms on which she wishes to be understood: not victim, but a witness (Middlebrook). Through reading Anne Sexton’s poem â€Å"Her Kind† we get a better understanding of Anne herself. She was a strong character who used her writing as therapy. Doctors never knew that her writing would have such an impact on the world. She writes specifically in her poem â€Å"Her Kind† about what she went through in society as a woman. Through Anne’s writing it improved her mental health. It was an outlet for her feelings. Her writing was true and honest and something many women would never talk about much less publicly write about. Her mental health inspired her creative writing which in turn helped her mental health to some degree. Her honest writing became her outlet and a way of therapy. Works Cited â€Å"Anne (Harvey) Sexton. † American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies. Ed. A. Walton Litz. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1981. Literature Resource Center. Gale. University of South Carolina Libraries. 6 Apr. 2009 . George, Diana Hume. â€Å"Oedipus Anne: The Poetry of Anne Sexton. † Oedipus Anne: The Poetry of Anne Sexton. University of Illinois Press, 1987. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Daniel G. Marowski and Roger Matuz. Vol. 53. Detroit: Gale Research, 1982. Literature Resource Center. Gale. University of South Carolina Libraries. 7 Apr. 2009

Women’s Rights in the Middle East

This is focused on women in the middle east, in places such as China, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan, etc. Women’s rights in this part of the world is very different than in the United States. Women are forced to live by the men’s rules. In China they throw little girls on the streets, leaving them starving to death because they think that there are too many women already, it’s part of their culture. Or they make the women abort the baby if it’s a girl, that’s called genocide.This topic is really interesting because it’s not what you see everyday in our country. It’s a different side and there are different concerns. Women live in the shadow, they don’t have a right to speak, sometimes they have to do demeaning things because it’s what it was intended that they should do according to their country’s rights. There are women that fight for their rights and to be treated equally. Some people approve that, others donâ€⠄¢t.Some women are sick of being treated like slaves and they try to fight for what they want, but some of them get killed in the process because the men take that as rebellion. I’m in favor of those women who fight till the end, who want to make a difference. If I could help change the way people think in these countries, I would. In Afghanistan women try to fight for their freedom because it’s a society where mainly the men are in charge. And it is believed that men have to be deciding everything in the women’s lives, including marriage.

“Amotivational Syndrome”

Jesse Love â€Å"Amotivational Syndrome† and Marijuana use: An Ongoing Debate November 30, 2008 The positive or negative effects of marijuana usage are a common point of discussion among psychologists. One of the more common debates surrounds â€Å"Amotivational Syndrome† (i. e. the purported lack of motivation that results from marijuana use). The existence or non-existence of this â€Å"syndrome† has been discussed for over a century among both users and non-users alike (Duncan, 1987, p. 114).The two articles chosen for this essay attempt to determine whether amotivational syndrome is a by-product of marijuana use by applying two separate methods of analysis. By analyzing these articles it will be clear that there is no conclusive evidence that suggests a direct correlation between amotivational syndrome and marijuana use. In 1987, David F. Duncan sought to critique previous studies of marijuana use that claimed amotivational syndrome was a prevalent phenomenon among acute marijuana users.He aimed to challenge previous studies that assumed, in their conclusions, that users of marijuana possessed characteristics of â€Å"introversion, passivity, and lack of achievement-orientation† (Duncan, 1987, p. 114). In his introduction, Duncan introduced cross-cultural examples where marijuana use is actually used as a stimulant; for instance in Jamaica, where he compares marijuana use to North American coffee consumption (Duncan, 1987, p. 115). Duncan concludes that only by conducting a comparative study, i. . by taking a sample of subjects who are both users and non-users, could real evidence for â€Å"marijuana-related antimotivational syndrome† be determined (Duncan, 1987, p. 115). Duncan pointed to the flaws a study conducted by Halikas et al. In 1982. Halikas wanted to determine the â€Å"lifetime prevalence† of amotivational syndrome in lifetime users of marijuana. To do so, he posed a single question meant to encompass th e criterion of amotivational syndrome.The question encompassed elements such as: â€Å"Have you ever had a period when you weren’t depressed or unhappy, but you just seemed to lose your motivation although you weren’t particularly upset by that feeling? † (Duncan, 1987, p. 116). Duncan argued that Halikas et al. ’s study, in particular, was a failure because it failed to offer a comparison between users and non-users. Therefore, Duncan used the same questionnaire and applied it to a series of high-achieving subjects to determine the frequency of amotivational syndrome within a larger population of both users and non-users.Duncan selected two hundred thirty-eight athletic students (some former Olympians) from a European university. All subjects were required to speak English and came from various parts of the world. He began by requesting all subjects to fill out a questionnaire regarding past marijuana consumption. The subjects were subsequently divided i nto three groups: 1) those who had never used marijuana, 2) those who used marijuana daily for a thirty day period in their life and, 3) those who used marijuana but could not fill the requirements for group 2 (Duncan, 1987, p. 17). The results of this initial questionnaire indicated that 47. 7% had never used marijuana, 23. 8% were occasional/experimental users and 24. 1% had been daily users. These three groups also responded to the questionnaire borrowed from Halikas et al. It was determined that there was no significant variation in the frequency of amotivational syndrome among marijuana users (Duncan, 1987, p. 117). These results only serve to debunk the initial findings of Halikas et al. and other psychologists who had followed similar methods of analysis.Indeed, Duncan made this explicit in the conclusion of his report. It is clear from Duncan’s work that a new methodology is required to determine whether amotivational syndrome is more prevalent among marijuana users. The limitations of this research are therefore quite clear. Future studies will require both long and short-term analysis of both users and non-users. Also, a controlled definition of motivation will be required to determine what a lack thereof implies. To make improvements one would therefore need to have access, as Duncan had, to a large body of subjects. It would then e necessary to track these subjects, both users and non-users alike, over a sustained period of time to determine whether or not the likelihood of amotivational syndrome is more common among users or non-users, if there is in fact a difference at all. Duncan ultimately argued that he was still prepared â€Å"†¦to relegate the antimotivational syndrome to the growing scrap heap of discarded marijuana myths† (Duncan, 1987, p. 118). In 2002, Cherek et al. conducted a much more dynamic study of amotivational syndrome, following a number of the suggestions offered years earlier by Duncan.They offered a vague definition of amotivational syndrome as a â€Å"set of characteristics† including â€Å"general apathy†¦loss of productivity†¦lethargy (and) depression† among others (Cherek, Lane and Dougherty, 2002, p. 26). Despite these agreed upon attributes of amotivational syndrome, Cherek et al. also found it difficult to pinpoint the amotivational â€Å"phenomenon†. They recalled some of the studies referred to by Duncan that found a positive correlation between marijuana usage and amotivational syndrome.By recognizing that amotivational syndrome occurred among users and non-users alike, the researchers concluded that amotivational syndrome was ultimately a question of frequency. Cherek et al. also sought to arrive at a conclusive definition of motivation, both theoretically and methodologically. To cross this hurdle, Cherek et al. opted to follow a behavioral approach in conjunction with a progressive ratio schedule (PR) and a fixed-time schedule (FT). In this way, they could â€Å"†¦define and measure motivation by measuring changes in PR responding across changes in reinforcer magnitude† (Cherek et al. , 2002, p. 27).Monetary reward would be used as an operational reinforcement and data would be based on subject response rates. The first experiment involved five males who were occasional marijuana users. It was used to confirm the initial â€Å"proposed operational definition of motivational behavior† which meant that there was a direct ratio between the response time and the motivation (Cherek et al. , 2002, pp. 27-28). The results proved that their initial suppositions were correct and that the changes in response rate and ratios were â€Å"consistent with the operational method† established from the outset of the experiment (Cherek et al. 2002, p. 30). The following two experiments used a different subject base but retained the same reinforcer values. The researchers controlled the THC supply, dividing it i nto three strains of potency. They argued that a decrease in PR response following â€Å"acute marijuana administration† while the keeping the reinforcer at a constant level would indicate decreased levels of motivation (Cherek et al. , 2002, p. 30). The results of Experiment 2 Phase 1 indicated that acute marijuana consumption did alter behavior. However, the results were not dose dependent.Experiment 2 Phase 2 showed that the â€Å"marijuana-induced decreases in responding can be overcome by increasing the reinforcer† (Cherek et. al, 2002, p. 35). This meant that although it was clear that there were overt behavioral differences between marijuana induced subjects and the placebo subjects, these differences could be overcome by offering a motivational stimulus. The researchers concluded that acute marijuana users do exhibit some forms of amotivational behavior. This behavior could be usurped if there was an increase in the reinforcement.They pointed out that other stu dies had achieved results that disconfirmed this conclusion. However, those studies did not offer â€Å"the availability of at least one alternative response† for the subjects. [1] Cherek et al. suggested that one could â€Å"construe† their study as an indication that marijuana does induce amotivational behavior. Still, this is not entirely conclusive because the study solely examined the effects of short-term acute marijuana use. Most of the controversy surrounding marijuana use generally questions whether long-term use, rather than short-term use, effects amotivational behavior. 2] The fact that only short-term marijuana use was studied here is its greatest limitation. It was also limited because of the small number of subjects and the environment in which they were tested (a small room). These articles are particularly interesting for me because I am an occasional marijuana user and have always been concerned about how I will be affected in the long-term. I tend to agree with various elements from both studies. I am convinced, like Duncan that many myths concerning marijuana consumption have circulated for political reasons rather than because of empirical data.I also believe that amotivational syndrome is common among both users and non-users alike. Whether or not users are more disposed to this phenomenon is still up for debate. Cherek et al. ’s study was also intriguing because it demonstrated that amotivational syndrome (whether induced by marijuana or not) could be overcome by increasing the reinforcement. This makes a lot of sense in my world-view, as quite often the individuals I have known will become motivated only if they believe they will reap reasonable rewards. If the rewards are not worth the effort, â€Å"amotivational syndrome† may set it.These studies have demonstrated that there is still much more research to be conducted on the effects of marijuana consumption both in the short- term and the long-term. It appe ars as if there is more speculation regarding marijuana than there is empirical evidence. The topic of amotivational syndrome is particularly troublesome because of the tricky nature of defining motivation. This problem is compounded when conducting a controlled study because there is very little motivation, nor may it be possible, for the participants to behave in a controlled environment as they would in the real world.References Cherek, Don R. , Lane, Scott D. and Dougherty, Donald M (2002). Possible Antimotivational Effects Following Marijuana Smoking Under Laboratory Conditions. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 10(1), 26-38. Duncan, David F. (1987). Lifetime Prevalence of â€Å"Antimotivational Syndrome† Among Users and Non-Users of Hashish. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 1(2), 114-119. ———————– [1] Cherek et al. , 35. [2] Cherek et al. , 36.