Economic Benefits of the Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economic Benefits of the Law - Essay Example Sound science has not yet provided solid evidence to the claims that global warming is a critical threat (Potthast, & Meisch, 2012). Other scientists have even claimed that global warming has much attention than it deserves (Potthast, & Meisch, 2012). Global warming is likely to take place after hundreds of years and it is not yet a ticking time bomb as many put it. Many new scientists are afraid to go contrary to the global warming alarm just to protect their jobs and the alarmists take advantage of the ‘threat’ to obtain government funding for more academic research. The government has also taken advantage of the global warming ‘threat’ as excuses to increase tax. Moreover, alarmists use the ‘threat’ to attract huge amounts of donations from charitable organizations by claiming that they aim at saving the world.Additional Policies to Curb Emission of Greenhouse GasesIt is necessary that the US government employ additional policies to curb emis sion of GHGs for they are threats to the environment and public health as well. These new polices should regulate the transport industry which is major contributor of carbon dioxide to the air. The government therefore ought to encourage people to use vehicles that emit less carbon dioxide; these vehicles include electric and hydrogen powered cars. The government can achieve this by offering grants to the purchase of such vehicles in addition to providing recharging systems for the innovated vehicles. This way, Americans will develop the motivation to buy these vehicles.

International Tourism Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Tourism Development - Essay Example Advancing tourism activities for the Silk Road Countries United Nations World Tourism Organization took some initiatives for advancement of the tourism activities for each and every Silk Road Country. There are 24 global countries that participated in this particular tourism project in order to accomplish the task quite successfully (ADB, 2013, p.1). It is highly important for the organization to consider effective and sustainable tourism activities in the Silk Road countries in order to achieve the objective of the project. According to the process and objectives of this project, each and every associated country needs to work towards a Single Visa of Silk Road. The United Nations World Tourism Organization is trying to bring several countries of the ancient Silk Route to ensure development and growth through sustainable tourism activities. According to Maslow’s theory of development there are 5 stages of basic needs which have been described in the diagram below: It is clear from the above diagram the 5 stages of development are physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem and self-actualization. Sustainable tourism can play a major role in upgrading the status of the people along the hierarchy. Tourism will stimulate demand and people will shift upwards along the hierarchy model. The people at the grass root are at the physiological part of the hierarchy diagram. Effective implementation of the tourism policies will shift these people up along the hierarchy model and will enhance their development in terms of wealth creation and social recognition. There are different types of tourism, such as food tourism, cultural... This essay stresses that it is true that global tourism industry is one of the major growth drivers of the global economy. Several leading organizations within the industry are trying to implement sustainable business operation strategies in the business processes in order to achieve significant social and cultural growth. It has been discussed earlier that the objective of this project is to encourage and stimulate the quality tourism development through healthy competitiveness between different Silk Road cities. United Nations World Tourism Organization took some initiatives for advancement of the tourism activities for each and every Silk Road Country. This paper makes a conclusion that Silk Road Programme is one of the important and popular sustainable tourism project initiated by The United Nations World Tourism Organization. The organization always tries to develop and implement unique business operation strategies to maintain effective growth rate of the industry. It is true that the tourism industry is known as one of the most important economic growth drivers. In addition to this, several other factors motivating people to visit several popular countries around the globe. People around the globe used to visit this country in order to experience the taste of delicious food items. The organization is trying to build a sustainable network through the Silk Road Countries in order to make the places more attractive and healthy among the global people.

Computerized Cognitive and Psychomotor Battery

Computerized Cognitive and Psychomotor Battery The primary goal of this study was to develop and validate the computerized cognitive and psychomotor battery for the sharp shooters. In order to construct the test, task analysis were carried out. For the experts in the field of psychology, experienced shooters and coaches were interviewed in the army marksmanship training center. Based on that skills and abilities required for the shooters were identified. In order to quantify those skills eight tests were identified i.e. Reasoning, visualization, shifting of attention, simple reaction time, complex reaction time, sustained attention, Eye- Hand Co-ordination and mental stamina (to with stand the match pressure). Initially the test protocols and requirement were developed and those were discussed with the software experts. The software professionals prepared the test software by using OPENGL and MYSQL software packages. After computerized the battery, validation process were started. In order to establish the psychometric properties , the study has carried out in two phase. In the first part of the research was focused on the validation of cognitive and psychomotor battery and in the second part validation of self reported mental toughness scale. In order to establish the psychometric properties of perceptual and motor battery around 650 samples were collected from shooters in IMA and Army Marksmanship unit. To establish the reliability, test retest method employed to investigate the temporal stability, for this 45 shooters were collected from Army marksmanship Unit (8 months’ time interval) (Mean age 24.2 SD 3.8 Average year of experience in shooting 3.5) .Overall the correlation was moderate, the lowest value was obtained in simple reaction time (See table No).For rests of the scales temporal consistency was moderate level. Apart from that pair sample t tests used to check the consistency of the score in the two levels. There was no significant difference between the mean test and retest scores mean scores. This findings supports the test battery is maintaining adequate temporal consistency. To study the factorial validity, exploratory factor analysis was carried out. Findings shows that three factor were emerged and it explains 60.2 %. In factor I reasoning and perceptual style test is loaded (), Factor II Vigilance, Eye hand Coordination and shifting of attention is loaded and in Factor 3 simple and choice reaction time is loaded (). The tests loaded on factor I, it measures logical reasoning and decision making of an indivual, and both the tests are non verbal matrix test, which may be the cause of loading both the test in Factor I.In the second factor, Sustained attention Shifting of attention and Eye hand Coordination are loaded, theoretically it was not expected the psychomotor test shared common variance with the test that measures attention and concentration. In the Eye hand coordination test subject has to focus and move the ball with the help of the Joystick, and to perform the task the subject is not only required psychomotor skills but the subject has to conc entrate and focused the task, which may be the cause of loading this test in Factor II.In the Factor III, the tests measures the psychomotor skills (simple and Choice reaction time) are loaded. To cross validate the latent structure emerged in the exploratory analysis, a separate confirmatory factor analysis were carried. Two competing models were developed but the results shows that the three dimensional oblique model is adequately fitting the data. After factorial validity, to establish the predictive validity of cognitive and psychomotor battery, separate set of data were collected from the participants of talent shooting competition and shooters performance appraisal data from the training institute. And to establish the validity, t-test and discriminant analysis were carried out to predict how far the battery is predicting the performance of the shooters. In the talent shooting competition around 415 IMA cadets were participated in the shooting competition, in this only 397 cadets were under gone cognitive and psychomotor battery. After competition only 17 cadets were recommended for shooter sport. Results of the analysis reveals shows that there is a significant difference between the recommended and non recommended shooters in cognitive and psychomotor skills. Particularly reasoning ability, spatial visualization, handy steadiness, reaction time and sustained attention of recommended shooters (N=17) significantly different from than the below non recommended shooters and this indicated that they are better in cognitive and psychomotor abilities (except divided attention) than non-recommended shooters. To further validate the battery, performance appraisal reports were received. Trainer and coaches assessed the shooters, based on the performance in the national and international competitions, based on those shooters were rated as below average and above average shooters. Data were collected from 50 experienced shooters; finally 36 pistol shooters (mean age 23.1 and SD 3.25) reports were received for validation, in these 11 shooters were rated as below average and 25 shooters as above average shooters. Results shows that above average shooters are better in sustained attention and handsteadyness. In the discriminant analysis, both the variables explain 25.4% of the variation in the dependent variable and it correctly classify 75 % of respondents into ‘Above average’ or ‘below average shooters. Overall predictive accuracy of the discriminant function is called the ‘hit ratio’. Non Recommended shooters were classified with slightly better accuracy (76%) than recommended shooters (72.7 %). Overall the cognitive and Psychomotor test are significantly predicting the performance of the shooters. Particularly in the novice shooters, parameters related to perceptual style, choice reaction time and handsteadyness play a major factor for predicting the performance. These parameters (except handsteadyness) are measuring the constructs related to logical reasoning and decision making. It may be due the participants are not skilled shooters they are novice, while shooting they required more cognitive resources, because they are in the learning phase. But in the skilled shooters (experienced shooters) sustained attention and Eye hand coordination is significantly predicting performance. Basically these constructs are measuring the alertness and psychomotor coordination, this may be due to the shooters are experienced and they are in the automatic phase, so they are not required much cognitive resources to perform the task. Findings of this study partially support the Ackermanâ₠¬â„¢s theory of skill development. According to Ackerman’s (1988) theory of skill development predicts differential relations of cognitive and psychomotor to different phases of skill development. When participants are learning the task, cognitive variables should have a higher impact on performance than psychomotor variables, with the opposite relation when participants are in the practice phase. Further to explore is there any difference between the different categories of shooters in cognitive and psychomotor abilities. For this, test were administered to slow and rapid shooters, in this category particularly trap and skeet shooters has to hit the fast moving target in the different direction, for this task, the shooter has to be extra cautious, proper Psychomotor coordination and quick reaction time is required, but the findings of the study shows that the rapid shooters mean score of shifting of attention, handsteadyness and reaction time is slightly better than the slow shooters, but it’s not statistically significant. As a part of this research ,to explore how training and experience in shooting competition improves on perceptual and motor skills, in order to answer this question , newly inducted (less than five years ) and experienced shooters (more than five years ) were identified and administered the psychomotor battery. Results show that there is no statistically significant difference between the groups in the cognitive and psychomotor abilities. It revealed that training, exposure and experience in shooting are not improved much in cognitive and psychomotor skills. From this we can infer that, if the skills are not improved much in training and experience, better it can be identified in the induction level to make successful shooters, but further in-depth longitudinal study has to be carried out to support this finding. Overall the validation study reveals that cognitive and psychomotor skills are significantly contributing for shooting performance. Apart from the cognitive Psycho-motor abilities, emotional component plays a vital role in shooting sports performance. He/she may be technically competent and innate aptitude for shooting but if he is not able to control the emotion and with stand the match pressure, he/she will lose the game. The next part of the research is focused on the construct of mental toughness. Although mental toughness is a broad term that has been associated with a variety of mental skills, little has been done to quantify mental toughness for research and assessment purposes. The current study is conceptually based on the available literature and previous concepts believed to be related to mental toughness. The next part describes the method used to establish a mental toughness questionnaire The second part of the research focused on development and validation of Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ), for that available literature and concepts to be related to mental toughness were explored, based on that initially 120 items were generated, subsequently which were reduced to 100 items based on expert opinion. Consequently, the same was subjected to items analysis (item total correlation and factor loading) and it finally reduced to 40 items. Further to explore whether the mental toughness scale is uni-dimensional or multidimensional in nature, and to study the latent structure of the questionnaire, principal component factor analysis was employed. In the factor analysis, three factors were emerged and it’s explained 45.4 % of variance and it termed as self confident, self control and resilience and to cross validate the latent structural model, confirmatory factor analysis was carried out ,which rejected the alternative models ( uni-dimensional three dimensional orthogonal and second order factor model) and supported the three dimensional oblique model. In order to establish the reliability of the tool, Test retest reliability (r = 0.635) and internal consistency reliability (r = 0.912) was established. Apart from the face and content validity and to establish criterion validity, concurrent, construct and predictive validity were identified. In the concurrent validity the mental toughness tool is significantly correlated (0.683**) with the existing mental toughness scale and to establish the construct validity both convergent and divergent validity were established. In the convergent validity it is related with the theoretically relevant constructs (i.e. Resilience, Hardiness, neuroticism and positive Negative affectivity) and for divergent validity it’s not correlated with the theoretically irrelevant constructs. Further to identify how far the mental toughness scale is predicting the efficiency of the shooters performance. For this predictive validity is established with the following criteria’s i.e. Expert Novice shooters, shooting score in the competition and successful unsuccessful shooters in the competition. In order to establish the predictive validity, the tests were administered to the expert and novice shooters. Finding shows that mean mental toughness score for expert shooters (M = 174 SD =?) was significantly different from Novice shooters (M=162, SD=.54) and indicated that Expert shooters being more mentally tough than Novice (t = -5.666, df = 279.4p Apart from that, further analysis carried out to identify how far the mental toughness scale is predicting the shooting performance, for that the MTs score has correlated with the shooting score. Findings show that both the variables are significantly positively correlated and in the stepwise regression, mental toughness factor I (Self confident) explains 4.6% variance in shooting score. Martin and Gill (1991) found self-confidence to be significantly and positively related to distance running performance, but found no significant relationship between cognitive anxiety and running performance. Similarly Hardy (1996b) and Parfitt and Pates (1999) found that self-confidence accounted for a significant proportion of performance variance over and above that accounted for by cognitive anxiety Analyses of variance revealed that mean mental toughness score of Successful shooters (Medal recipient) is significantly higher than the average and below average performers. In order to see whether is there any influence of age, gender and experience of shooter is related with mental toughness. Adams Nicholls et.al. (2009) reported that there is a significant relationship between mental toughness and gender, age and sporting experience. According to age, evidence from developmental sports psychology research found young and old adults differ in their self perception social influence motivation and self regulation with regard to sports participation (Weiss 2004).Therefore the role of development factors such as age could influence the mental toughness. Findings of the results showed that there is a significant relationship with age and mental toughness (0.243*). In particular, it appears that when people get older they improve in overall mental toughness, and more specifically in their levels of commitment, emotional control and life control. These findings have significant implications for the development of mental toughness. Clough et al. (2002) have suggested that mental toughness is a trait-like personality characteristic, and Golby and Sheard (2004) have suggested genetic links. But, our findings suggest that life experience may well be an important factor in determining mental toughness levels. In respect of competitive experience, Connaughton Waedey, Hanton and Jones (2008) reported that competitive experience was a crucial factor in the development of mental toughness among athletes. The result of the study shows that there is no significant relation between the shooting experience and mental toughness. It reveals that the training imparted for the shooters and the experience they gained from the shooting exposer is not significantly improved the mental toughness. Age and years of experience are of course closely related variables (r = .79 in this study). Therefore learning experiences and/or biological changes might be responsible for the small changes in the attributes underlying mental toughness. In order to further study whether the shooting experience is improving the mental toughness or not ,a small longttitunel study was conducted to check whether is there any changes in mental toughness after induction in to training and the participation in national and internati onal events. Around 20 participants samples were selected and administer the test during the Young blood competition, in these only 11 participants were selected and inducted for training in Army marksmanship unit. After that participants undergone training and participated competitions, one year after again the MTS data collected from the same candidates to check there is any improvement in MT’s, findings revealed the mean mental toughness score is improved slightly after undergone training and participation in competitions but it’s not statistically significant. Further exploratory analyses examined the relationship between gender and mental toughness. But the result of the study shows that, no gender differences were found on the scale, but previous studies (Nicholls et al., 2009; Findlay Bowker, 2009) suggest that males would have higher mental toughness than females. Social desirability is the tendency for individuals to portray themselves in generally favorable light. Edwards (1957) defined the construct as a tendency to provide socially desirable responses to statements in self-description. Marlowe Crowne (1960) defined it as a tendency to give culturally sanctioned and approved responses. Jackson (1984) saw it as a tendency to describe oneself in terms judged as desirable and to present oneself favorably. These definitions indicate a style of responding that is separate from the specific personality content dimension to be measured by a psychological test. A potential problem for a self-report personality scale is whether an elevated score represents a high score on the test’s content dimension or a tendency to present oneself favorably. Various methods exist for coping with social desirability in self-report inventories. First, a forced-choice format could be used for the test. Response options for any test item would then be matched for social desirability. Second, test items could be selected for a scale based on those items being more strongly representative of the psychological construct of interest than social desirability. Third, test instructions could be tailored to reduce the likelihood that test takers will respond in terms of social desirability. Fourth, social desirability could be statistically removed from the score generated on the test. Fifth, the questionnaires under investigation are correlated with a Social Desirability Scale and consequently demonstrating that the questionnaires under investigation do not correlate with the social desirability scale or if they do, that the correlations of these questionnaires with other variables of interest are not significantly attenuated when scores from Social Desirability Scale are partialled out ( Mummendey, 1981). To identify the social desirability of this tool the 40 items of the newly constructed Mental toughness scale was administered with the Soci al Desirability Scale – 17 (Strà ¶ber, 1991) on a sample of 281. The Social Desirability Scale – 17 was developed because some items the Marlowe-Crowne Scale was found to be inapplicable to the present day. The scale has high reliability (ÃŽ ± = .80). It shows a convergent correlation of r = .68 with the Marlowe-Crowne Scale. The correlation between the two test was found to be statistically significant (r = -.001). Finally, the MTS score was positively correlated(r=0.29, p>.001) with the SDS-17 Score. However its magnitude was relatively small with social desirability accounted for only 7.5% of scale variance. This finding suggests that mental toughness assessment and training may prove valuable in enhancing performance and retention of the shooters

Against Illegal Downloading Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Peer Pir

Against Illegal Downloading At the dawn of the internet, many things such as books and text became obsolete, due to insufficient monitoring of internet activity and sites. Individuals were able to gain free access to books and publications that normally needed to be bought, or required a fee. This is something that has caused problems for booksellers and publishers. Now, as technology advances, it also begins the decline of music, software, and television industries—but something can be done before it’s too late. Illegal downloading is a problem that affects us all, either directly or indirectly. Many people do not take it too seriously. They have not realized that it is an epidemic; like a disease that keeps growing as people become more knowledgeable about computers and learn more about how software runs. People openly burn music CDs and download music and movies for friends who in turn give it to their friends; it’s a never-ending cycle on illegal practices. The problem started when Nap ster came out and should have ended when it was shutdown. Unfortunately, not enough has been done to stop the illegal transfer of files. It’s time someone takes full action and ends this detrimental offense.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Napster is a company that developed the so-called peer-to-peer technology that lets people search and retrieve music files directly from one another's personal computers. When Napster first came out, millions of internet users worldwide were illegally downloading and distributing copyrighted music, videos, images, and software for free. After being vilified by the entertainment industry, which claims that Napster and any similar programs could make piracy of almost any digital work unstoppable, and many court battles, Napster was ordered by court to be shutdown in 2000. The technology has been praised as a revolutionary development for the Internet—unaware of the problems that would arise from such practices. However, the termination of Napster was not enough, months later, dozens of new, like programs were being developed and used. And since Napster, not much has been done to stop these latest downloading programs. Although there was a period where the Recording Industry Association of America (the RIAA), an organization that investigates the illegal production and distribution of sound recordings, went after a few users, including a twelve year old ... ...ement a chip into the motherboards to scan and analyze people’s online activities. The motherboard is the main system component of computers and all the hardware such as hard drives, video cards, sounds cards and anything else that you connect to your computer must be run through the mother board. So essentially all your activities could be monitored—especially the transfer of large files, such as songs and movies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As explained above, illegal downloading is a great problem affecting the entertainment industry and could soon be an even bigger problem for consumers. Downloading copyrighted material illegally is just as unlawful as stealing from a store or someone’s personal item. To prevent shutting down businesses and industries, internet pirates must be stopped and actively sought after. So if one is downloading material illegally take in to mind what harm it can do to and who is being hurt in the process. Free does not mean that it’s moral or fine; one must analyze and see the consequences of such actions before they continue—otherwise, it could be the end of something great because people were stealing and driving companies out of business, with no force stopping them.

The Colour Purple Theme

The title of the book is a very important symbol. Celie goes through life having a hard time noticing the beautiful aspects and appreciating them. She had a difficult life and was abused as an adolescent. â€Å"The color purple is continually equated with suffering and pain. Sofia's swollen, beaten face is described as the color of ‘eggplant'. Purple is the color of Celie's private parts: the site of her sexual violation. However, later Shug points out to her that life must be enjoyed. When they were in a field of purple flowers, Shug tells Celie to look at the flowers and embrace their beauty. You must look at all the good and acknowledge them because God placed them all on earth†. After learning this, Celie has a better respect for life and everything it has to offer. Themes, Motifs & Symbols Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The Power of Narrative and Voice Walker emphasizes throughout the novel that the ability t o express one’s thoughts and feelings is crucial to developing a sense of self. Initially, Celie is completely unable to resist those who abuse her.Remembering Alphonso’s warning that she â€Å"better not never tell nobody but God† about his abuse of her, Celie feels that the only way to persevere is to remain silent and invisible. Celie is essentially an object, an entirely passive party who has no power to assert herself through action or words. Her letters to God, in which she begins to pour out her story, become her only outlet. However, because she is so unaccustomed to articulating her experience, her narrative is initially muddled despite her best efforts at transparency. In Shug and Sofia, Celie finds sympathetic ears and learns lessons that enable her to find her voice.In renaming Celie a â€Å"virgin,† Shug shows Celie that she can create her own narrative, a new interpretation of herself and her history that counters the interpretations forced upon her. Gradually Celie begins to flesh out more of her story by telling it to Shug. However, it is not until Celie and Shug discover Nettie’s letters that Celie finally has enough knowledge of herself to form her own powerful narrative. Celie’s forceful assertion of this newfound power, her cursing of Mr. ______ for his years of abuse, is the novel’s climax. Celie’s story dumbfounds and eventually humbles Mr. _____, causing him to reassess and change his own life. Though Walker clearly wishes to emphasize the power of narrative and speech to assert selfhood and resist oppression, the novel acknowledges that such resistance can be risky. Sofia’s forceful outburst in response to Miss Millie’s invitation to be her maid costs her twelve years of her life. Sofia regains her freedom eventually, so she is not totally defeated, but she pays a high price for her words. The Power of Strong Female Relationships Throughout The Color Purple, Walker po rtrays female friendships as a means for women to summon the courage to tell stories.In turn, these stories allow women to resist oppression and dominance. Relationships among women form a refuge, providing reciprocal love in a world filled with male violence. Female ties take many forms: some are motherly or sisterly, some are in the form of mentor and pupil, some are sexual, and some are simply friendships. Sofia claims that her ability to fight comes from her strong relationships with her sisters. Nettie’s relationship with Celie anchors her through years of living in the unfamiliar culture of Africa. Samuel notes that the strong relationships among Olinka women are the only thing that makes polygamy bearable for them.Most important, Celie’s ties to Shug bring about Celie’s gradual redemption and her attainment of a sense of self. The Cyclical Nature of Racism and Sexism Almost none of the abusers in Walker’s novel are stereotypical, one-dimensional mo nsters whom we can dismiss as purely evil. Those who perpetuate violence are themselves victims, often of sexism, racism, or paternalism. Harpo, for example, beats Sofia only after his father implies that Sofia’s resistance makes Harpo less of a man. Mr. ______ is violent and mistreats his family much like his own tyrantlike father treated him.Celie advises Harpo to beat Sofia because she is jealous of Sofia’s strength and assertiveness. The characters are largely aware of the cyclical nature of harmful behavior. For instance, Sofia tells Eleanor Jane that societal influence makes it almost inevitable that her baby boy will grow up to be a racist. Only by forcefully talking back to the men who abuse them and showing them a new way of doing things do the women of the novel break these cycles of sexism and violence, causing the men who abused them to stop and reexamine their ways. The Disruption of Traditional Gender RolesMany characters in the novel break the boundaries of traditional male or female gender roles. Sofia’s strength and sass, Shug’s sexual assertiveness, and Harpo’s insecurity are major examples of such disparity between a character’s gender and the traits he or she displays. This blurring of gender traits and roles sometimes involves sexual ambiguity, as we see in the sexual relationship that develops between Celie and Shug. Disruption of gender roles sometimes causes problems. Harpo’s insecurity about his masculinity leads to marital problems and his attempts to beat Sofia.Likewise, Shug’s confident sexuality and resistance to male domination cause her to be labeled a tramp. Throughout the novel, Walker wishes to emphasize that gender and sexuality are not as simple as we may believe. Her novel subverts and defies the traditional ways in which we understand women to be women and men to be men. Motifs Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop an d inform the text’s major themes. Letters Walker uses the novel’s epistolary (letter-writing) form to emphasize the power of communication. Celie writes letters to God, and Nettie writes letters to Celie.Both sisters gain strength from their letter writing, but they are saved only when they receive responses to their letters. Therefore, although writing letters enables self-e-xpression and confession, it requires a willing audience. When Celie never responds to Nettie’s letters, Nettie feels lost because Celie is her only audience. Nettie grows disillusioned with her missionary work because the imperialists will not listen to her and because the Olinka villagers are stubborn. Only after Nettie returns home to Celie, an audience guaranteed to listen, does she feel fulfilled and freed.The Rural Farm Community Walker sets most of her novel in a rural farm community that has few visitors, and she focuses on colorful portraits of each of her characters. By focusing o n the personal lives and transformations of her characters, Walker renders public events almost irrelevant. When Shug and Celie hear news of current events from the outside world, it all just sounds â€Å"crazy† to them. The unspecific time and place broaden the novel’s scope, making its themes more universal. Colors Throughout the novel, the appearance of brighter colors indicates the liberation various characters experience.Walker uses color to signal renewals and rebirths at several points in the novel. When Kate takes Celie shopping for a new dress, the only color options are drab ones—brown, maroon, and dark blue. Later, Celie and Sofia use bright yellow fabric from Shug’s dress to make a quilt. When Celie describes her religious awakening, she marvels how she never noticed the wonders that God has made, such as â€Å"the color purple. † Upon Mr. ______’s transformation, he paints the entire interior of his house â€Å"fresh and white, † signaling his new beginning. Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.Sewing and Quilts In general, sewing in The Color Purple symbolizes the power women can gain from productively channeling their creative energy. After Sofia and Celie argue about the advice Celie has given Harpo, Sofia signals a truce by suggesting they make a quilt. The quilt, composed of diverse patterns sewn together, symbolizes diverse people coming together in unity. Like a patchwork quilt, the community of love that surrounds Celie at the end of the novel incorporates men and women who are bonded by family and friendship, and who have different gender roles, sexual orientations, and talents.Another important instance of sewing in the novel is Celie’s pants-sewing business. With Shug’s help, Celie overturns the idea that sewing is marginal and unimportant women’s labor, and she turns it into a lucrative, empowering so urce of economic independence. God In the early parts of the novel, Celie sees God as her listener and helping hand, yet Celie does not have a clear understanding of who God is. She knows deep down that her image of God as a white patriarch â€Å"don’t seem quite right,† but she says it’s all she has.Shug invites Celie to imagine God as something radically different, as an â€Å"it† that delights in creation and just wants human beings to love what it has created. Eventually, Celie stops thinking of God as she stops thinking of the other men in her life—she â€Å"git man off her eyeball† and tells God off, writing, â€Å"You must be sleep. † But after Celie has chased her patriarchal God away and come up with a new concept of God, she writes in her last letter, â€Å"Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God. This reimagining of God on her own terms symbolizes Celie’s move from an obje ct of someone else’s care to an independent woman. It also indicates that her voice is now sufficiently empowered to create her own narrative. < Previous Section Analysis of Major Characters beginning. The Color Purple: This color, the color of royalty, exemplifies the endless possibilities available to Celie and other black women if they stand up for their own rights. Rightdock: 1 year ago The book is entitled Color Purple because Purple symbolizes hope which is largely given importance in the story. It was written by Alice Walker and released in 1982.

Why Not to Legalize Marijuana

Why Not to Legalize Marijuana Marjorie Fleuridor ENG/102 March 10, 2013 Professor Laura Barnes Marijuana is one of the best known drugs that have been widely consumed throughout history which today raises a concerned eyebrow. Those who are advocates consider marijuana a harmless and beneficial substance because of its claimed value in treating symptoms of serious illness or diseases and Jeffrey Miron, a professor of economics at Harvard University in the following viewpoint believes that, â€Å"Legalizing illicit drugs would generate billions in tax revenue† (Forbes, 2012 pp. -1). Just as any drug, marijuana may bring some type of relief with its use, but it also poses risk which in the end poses threat to the economy because of its affects to the human body, open doors to addiction, and worse, harms the youth which is not worth the added benefits for the few legitimate users to make acceptable. Marijuana, which is also referred to as pot, weed, cannabis, refer, and Mary Jane to name a few, is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the U. S. s well as around the world which comes from the stems, seeds, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant, which is also known as cannabis. Most individuals use the plant by either smoking it or mixing it into food because it is an all-natural substance. Registered nurse Mary Lynn Mathre states, â€Å"The cannabis plant (marijuana) has therapeutic benefits and could ease the suffering of millions of persons with various illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, chronic pain, and other maladies† (Mathre 1997, p. ) and that is one of various reasons advocates on legalizing the plant believe that, the substance relieving and therapeutic benefits should legalize the use of marijuana, but if that were the case, risks that occur from its use would not outweigh the benefits. First, why are the detrimental factors of the substance ignored? If marijuana is legali zed worldwide, through its medicinal or recreational use, the human body will experience short as well as long term effects stemming from the consumption of the plant.Marijuana contains a psychoactive chemical which is called tetrahydrcannabinol or THC and as it enters the brain, the marijuana user starts to feel euphoric, or high, but occasionally the drug makes individuals feel anxious, depressed, distrustful or fearful. THC affects the body in various ways by causing short-term effects which include memory loss, trouble with thinking, diminished motor skills, and an increase of the heart rate which is just the minor damage that pose hazard to the body (Goldstein, 2010).Advocates of marijuana has gone as far as pleading that the substance has no real potential harm compared to the use of tobacco, one of the leading causes of cancer. Crystal Phend, a senior staff writer for MedPage Today discusses a study that indicates that a link is present between smoking marijuana and lung canc er where she notes, â€Å"that the study finds that a single marijuana joint may be as carcinogenic as twenty cigarettes† (MedPage Today, 2008 p. ) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) formulated a chart on the commonly abused drugs in which tobacco which causes greater health risk such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer in various forms, for instance, the lungs, pancreas, and esophagus, but it has yet to be scheduled. Marijuana on the other hand poses less health risk compared to tobacco, but it is labeled as a Scheduled I drug, because for as long as marijuana has been present in the world, the illicit drug has no approved use and the denial from the federal law will definitely cause a harsher dent to the economy. The federal ban will keep the marijuana market fragmented† (Berlatsky, 2012 p. 178) which means the small population of potential growers or distributers will continue to fight or compete on the marijuana market, which may limit tax collection r esources and just proves why it should not be legalized. .To further, the story of former marijuana user shares how difficult it was to withdraw from marijuana concerning the subject of addiction with its use.Mick, a 62 year-old male started smoking pot back in 1969 because he had bouts of anxiety and at times depression, but has been sober for the past 10 years, up until suffering one of those prolonged periods of anxiety, in which he took a few hits on the pipe of the drug. The couple of use he took of the substance caused his level of anxiety to skyrocket, in which Mick then withdrew himself from the illicit drug.On the sixth day of withdrawal from smoking weed, he shared how his stomach thought terrible, which gave Mick an awful feeling. When he ate, he stated how his stomach became upset, but not to the point of vomiting and it brought on anxious as well as irritable feelings to the point where cries and isolates himself. Mick concluded on how he would never lit up again becaus e of the unfortunate risk it caused him when he attempted to misuse the drug (Online Support Groups for your Health Challenges, 2011).Supporters disagree that the plant could be of such sort compared to other drugs because a person who quits the substance will not undergo the painful physical symptoms and cravings compared to the experience which individuals suffer when they try to stop using heroin, but we as human react differently to various things. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that â€Å"about 9% of users develop an addiction to the drug, and that the number rises to 25% to 50% if people use the drug everyday† (NIDA, 2009 p. ). Some users of marijuana may become dependent on marijuana for various matters, and they become fixated on getting the plant, utilizing it in large quantities, and feel uncomfortable without it. If marijuana does not cause addiction, then why do so many victims of its use enter rehab facilities annually? â€Å"Since 1997, the number of people getting treatment for marijuana each year has increased by roughly 50%, or about 100,000 people† (Stop the Drug War 2009, p. 1).With such an increase, the economy will continue to suffer because of the cost of treatment for individuals battling little to no result with their marijuana addiction. Last, â€Å"Why young people have the need to use cannabis on a frequent basis is an interesting question and may be associated with their underlying personality characteristics, environment during childhood and adolescence, as well as any psychiatric disturbances they have experienced, such as depression, anxiety or even psychotic symptoms† (Camera et al. , 2012 pp. 1-2).The subject of a child’s environment where the use of the plant comes to play may cause an adolescent to suffer. For example, a parent’s state of mind may be altered when he or she needs to be an active, attentive caregiver when children are in their presence. Neglect may be the result because the symptoms interfered in the parent’s responsibilities and in such cases; social services are involved resulting with the system providing further care and parents in jail or rehab centers in which they would have to prove their stability.A child in this type of situation may isolate themselves from others or lash out because what they know as normal and home has been taken away. This particular child may grow up and head down the same path of smoking pot and with the â€Å"high† feeling which supporters advocate is the effects of the â€Å"medicine†, but marijuana as the introduction, opens the door to the potential use of other drugs, which can be detrimental.An adolescent may try marijuana and enjoy it; after a while, in the same environment that led to that first joint, will become curious or peer pressured into the unfamiliarity of other substances that are more exciting, gives a greater stimulation, or is more illicit, but are unaware of the dang ers that lay ahead. Heroin and cocaine are the common â€Å"gateway drugs† from early marijuana use in which both are highly toxic and have led to a number amount of deaths as well. Heroine like marijuana is illegal, highly addictive, true contents is unknown, and also is the most abused.The drug is processed from morphine; a naturally occurring substance removed from the seed pot of a variety of poppy plants and is typically a white or brownish powder. Cocaine is removed from the leaves of a South Africa coca plant, affects the body’s central nervous system and the fact that it is a white crystalline powder; cocaine is often mixed with cornstarch, vitamins, flour, and sugar. In relation to marijuana, the drug creates a strong sense of exhilaration in which users generally feel invisible and happy-go-lucky.Legalization of marijuana may increase the number of users in which† an additional 17 to 34 million young adult users† (US News, 2012 p. 1) which sets a bad example for young adults because with its worldwide acceptance whether it is for medical or recreational use, they will be curious of the feeling and reaction from its use, which will only lead down a road to where the youth will take a toll regarding marijuana use. You see, the youth are most at risk from legalization as well as associated obtainability of recreational drugs. If marijuana were to become more available, acceptable nd inexpensive, the substance will pull in greater numbers of vulnerable youth. †The marketing tactics of drug promoters and the major decline in drug use in the 1990s (due in great part to antidrug, education and awareness campaigns) there is a growing perception among young people today that drugs are harmless. A decade ago, for example, 79% of 12th graders thought regular marijuana use was harmful; only 58% do so today† (Drug Free Foundation, 2004) and pressure from colleagues is such an issue in persuading a peer to test drugs, the way adolescents perceive the dangers of its use is serious.The acceptance of marijuana to where it is provided with the government’s stamp of approval, directs a message to young children that drug use is not only inoffensive, but also normal and this is precisely the opposite message we should be assigning. Teaching children that drug use is dangerous will be even more difficult because advocates declare marijuana as â€Å"medicine,† which just simply opens a window for teens to feel that it is ok to smoke or add into their food however they may choose and through the promotion of the good it brings, this will only open a continual use of the drug and a cost to the economy. Marijuana use accounts for tens of thousands of marijuana related complaints at emergency rooms throughout the United States each year and over 99,000 are young people† (U. S. News 2012, pp. 1-1). The numbers are far too great to promote just the beneficial aspects of marijuana when the potential harmful outcomes cost the economy as far as healthcare costs with the number of young patience that are admitted to the hospital.To conclude, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) declared that responsible adult personal use of marijuana should be legalized, but how can one determine who is responsible to make use of weed? Alcohol and tobacco may stimulate harsher risk factors when consumed, but after more than 40 years of its existence, marijuana remains a Scheduled 1 substance, which is a drug that has a high potential for abuse, have no accepted medical use, and are not safe for use under medical supervision.In the end, the risks of marijuana seem to outweigh the benefits and that is why marijuana should not be legalized. References 42 Years of smoking pot / day 6 of withdrawal. (n. d. ). Online Support Groups for your Health Challenges. Retrieved from http://www. mdjunction. com/forums/marijuana-addiction-discussions/introductions-personal-stories/2 665662-42-years-of-smoking-pot-day-6-of-withdrawal Berlatsky, N. (2012). Legalizing Marijuana in California Would Not Generate Substantial Tax Revenue. In Marijuana (p. 178). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. Camera, A. A. , Tomaselli, V. Fleming, J. , Jabbar, G. A. , Trachtenberg, M. , Galves-Buccollini, J. A. (2012). Correlates to the Variable Effects of Cannabis in Young adults: A Preliminary Study. Harm Reduction, 9(15), 1-2. Cohan, P. (2012, September 7). Is it Time to Legalize Illicit Drugs? – Forbes. Information for the World's Business Leaders – Forbes. com. Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://www. forbes. com/sites/petercohan/2012/07/09/is-it-time-to-legalize-illicit-drugs/ Drug Free Foundation (2004). Drug Free America Foundation – Medical Marijuana – ProCon. org. Medical Marijuana ProCon. org.Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://medicalmarijuana. procon. org/view. source. php? sourceID=000810 Drug Free Foundation (2009, October 12). Dr ug Free America Foundation – Medical Marijuana – ProCon. org. Medical Marijuana ProCon. org. Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://medicalmarijuana. procon. org/view. source. php? sourceID=000810 Evans, D. G. (2012, October 30). Marijuana Legalization's Costs Outweigh Its Benefits | Debate Club | US News Opinion. US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, and more. Retrieved March 10, 2012, from http://www. usnews. om/debate-club/should-marijuana-use-be-legalized/marijuana-legalizations-costs-outweigh-its-benefits Goldstein. , M. J. (2010). Legalizing Drugs: Crime Stopper Or Social Risk? (p. 115). Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Pub. Group. Mathre, M. L. (1997). Legal Dilemmas of Cannabis Prohibitation. In Cannabis in medical practice: A legal, historical, and pharmacological overview of the therapeutic use of marijuana (p. 1). Jefferson, N. C: McFarland & Co. National Institue on Drug Abuse (2009). Is marijuana addictive? | National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from

Informative Speech Essay example

Informative Speech Essay example Informative Speech Essay example Angel Nolker How to Manage Your Stress We have all had the feeling before, our muscles are tense, our stomach is upset, we can’t sleep or eat; though some of us may eat too much. You may feel sad or depressed and when you try to think of a way to fix your problems you go blank. This is because you are stressed. Most of my facts are from medicinenet.com it’s a website edited, wrote, and reviewed by doctors. Medicinenet.com defines stress as a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure). I think all of us can relate to stress, especially since we are all college students. We are faced with all different types of stress. Stress is constant in our lives and cannot be avoided; that’s why I would like to inform you of the two types of stress and a few tips on ways that you can help manage your stress. I think that the tips I give you can help with every day stress situations and make life more enjoyable. There are two types of stress: Acute and Chronic. Acute stress is the type of stress that comes immediately with a change of routine. It is an intense type of stress, but it passes quickly. Some of the effects a person may have are chest pain, abdominal discomfort, headaches, difficulty in concentrating, sleeplessness. Chronic stress will occur if there is a constant change of routine for week after week. Chronic stress affects the body for a long period of time. This type of stress happens when a person faces moves or job changes. Some of the effects of Chronic stress are headache, mood swings, anxiety disorder, substance abuse, memory disturbances and in severe cases of heart attacks because of high blood pressure. Now that we know the types of stress I would like to talk about a few reasons for stress that I believe most of us or all us can relate to: First is how stress is involved with being a college student, second is stress in succeeding in life, and last is personal relati onships. The first reason for stress would be being a college student. Being a college student can be very stressful. College can be very demanding; we all have our own lives, some of us work and have to take care of our families, and to add school work such as tests, papers, project, and finals on top of that can be very stressful and time consuming. We all want to succeed in our classes and that can add a lot of stress as well. So many times we put overwhelming pressure on ourselves to do well and get good grades. We don’t want to disappoint our family and friends and especially ourselves. At times this all can be too much. The second type of stress I think we can all relate to is succeeding in life. Whether it is doing well in school, in our career, or a goal we have set for ourselves. We all want to succeed! Who wakes up in the morning and says, today I think I want to fail? I don’t think any of us do. It is deeply rooted in the American dream that anything is possible if only you can dream and seek to make those dreams come true. Dreams are believed to be attainable as long as you work hard enough and are motivated enough to reach that goal. Society does not accept failure too well. So, along with opportunities and possibilities come the pressure to succeed and the pressure to be successful. I think a very motivating quote would be â€Å"I do not fail; I succeed in finding out what does not work†. The third type of stress would be personal relationships. Those could be with our mom and dad, with our children, husband or wife, or our friends. I believe personal relationships are one of the top causes of stress. Family life can be very stressful; Family-related stress can be attributed to various factors such as dealing with a family member's terminal illness, the loss of a loved one, sibling rivalry, divorce, re-marriage, blending families. There are so many issues that can

Anthology Submissions A Good Idea or Not

Anthology Submissions A Good Idea or Not Thinking of submitting to an anthology? I’d say if you have time to write an essay based on the submission guidelines, aren’t looking for great financial reward but are seeking to be published in a â€Å"real† book, there’s nothing to lose. I noticed a small ad in Poets Writers for submissions to an anthology devoted to lessons learned from our mothers. The editor, Eric Bowen, had decided to create an anthology of essays and poems and donate half of the proceeds to shelters for women and children affected (amazon.com/Wisdom-Our-Mothers-Stories-daughters/dp/1453631011) I was delighted to have my essay about my mother and knitting selected and the book has been a wonderful gift item. And it was my first time published in a book so a great credential to add to my resume. Shortly after, I was invited to submit an essay to a book being compiled (amazon.com/Im-Going-College-Not-You-Surviving/dp/0312607296 ) While these opportunities weren’t high paying, I felt they were important and a chance to have my work judged Without giving the writers any themes, I received submissions that span the entire citrus spectrum, from sour to sweet.   Inside are poems and essays about parents, families, jobs, food, and memories.   The title, Tangerine Tango: Women Writers Share Slices of Life, came from my love of the color orange and love of alliteration. I offered to pay the writers $50 for their submissions and have decided to donate the proceeds from the sales to fight Huntington’s Disease, which honors one of the writers who lost her mother to the disease this year. I loved working with the writers and shaping the book, seeing the themes that emerged.   I hope to do it again! So, I’d encourage you to submit to an anthology if you see one that speaks to you as a writer. Not for the money, but to be included in a book that you can be proud to be part of and will give you a chance to be published. I’d be wary of offers that don’t pay at all, or are for total commercial gain. Be sure you maintain the rights of your work too. You never know, being in an anthology could be a steppingstone to more acceptances.  

An Overview of Facts About the U.S. Constitution

An Overview of Facts About the U.S. Constitution The U.S. Constitution was written at the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, and signed on September 17, 1787. It was ratified in 1789. The document established our nations fundamental laws and government structures and ensured basic rights for American citizens.   Preamble The preamble to the Constitution alone is one of the most important pieces of writing in American history. It sets up the basic principles of our democracy, and introduces the concept of federalism. It reads:   We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Quick Facts The nickname for the U.S. Constitution is Bundle of Compromises.The Chief Draftsmen of the U.S. Constitution is  James Madison and Gouverneur Morris.The ratification of the U.S. Constitution happened in 1789 with the agreement of 9 out of 13 states. Eventually, all 13 would ratify the US Constitution. Overall Structure of the U.S. Constitution There are seven articles followed by 27 amendments.  The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.The U.S. Constitution is currently considered the shortest governing document of any nation.The U.S. Constitution was organized secretly, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries. Key Principles Separation of Powers:  An act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies.Checks and Balances:  Counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.Federalism:  Federalism is the sharing of power between national and state governments. In America, the states existed first and they had the challenge of creating a national government. Ways to Amend the U.S. Constitution Proposal by convention of states, ratification by state conventions (never used)Proposal by convention of states, ratification by state legislatures (never used)Proposal by Congress, ratification by state conventions (used once)Proposal by Congress, ratification by state legislatures (used all other times) Proposing and Ratifying Amendments To propose an amendment, two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to propose and amendment. Another way is to have two-thirds  of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention.To ratify an amendment, three-fourths of the state legislatures approve it. The second way is for three-fourths of ratifying conventions in states approve it. Interesting Constitutional Facts Only 12 of the 13 original states actually took part in writing the US Constitution.Rhode Island did not attend the Constitutional Convention, though they eventually were the last state to ratify the document in year 1790.Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention at the age of 81-years-old. Jonathon Dayton of New Jersey was the youngest in attendance at just 26-years-old.Over 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress. Only 27 have been ratified.  The Constitution contains several misspellings, including the misspelling of Pennsylvania as Pensylvania.

Alignment of Business and IT Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Alignment of Business and IT Strategy - Essay Example However, it is yet to be determined that alignment issues exist, and if they do how to control for these gaps. The results showed that to enhance business strategy there must be a focus on the organizational vision and improvement of communication of business strategy and vision. The alignment of the two organizational elements, were concluded to be directly affected by the coherence of a business department. Overall, it was recommended that a robust business architecture be developed, and that the organization create a separate and centralized IT department. During the past three decades IT ahs become essential to business operations. Initially IT was distributed over departments; decentralized; specialized; and limited in application. However, the authors do not provide insights as to why IT "increased and spread"; only examples of how. A common solution in the past was to have a separate IT department; however this was found to limit effective communication between IT department and other departments. The suggestion of IT departments reporting directly to management can create internal "politics". Management often prioritizes the issues and this can lead to resentment of IT staff by the end users in other parts of the organization. The isolation of IT strategy can also draw a significant amount of resources away from the overall business strategy. As a consequence, non-alignment increases costs in time, money and organizational harmony. 3.0 Literature Review Since the early 1980s alignment of IT and business strategy has been realized as a critical need. The primary inhibitors identified over time have included; the IT department not prioritizing efficiently; and IT management lacking leadership. Models have been developed such as; 1) Strategic Integration Systems Planning (SISP); and 2) strategic integration across the entire organization. Solutions to date for effective alignment are; 1) communication and understanding; 2) business ownership and accountability for return on IT investments; 3) rapid strategy development driven by climatic business changes; and 4) enhance the internal competencies of the business. 4.0 Method The method used to include the Alignment of Business and IT (ABIT) department of the Fortune 50 company to aid in the coordination of the project. The ABIT department created a list of potential employees who were considered to have a "balanced perspective". This is a limitation isn't that a random sample was not selected, and so the results cannot be generalized to other organizations, as the sample is not representative of the wider population. Instead, selection criteria could have been used to operationalize what a "balanced perspective" was. Three groups were created; 1) one having a business perspective; 2) one having an IT perspective; and 3) one having a "balanced" perspective. However, a pre-test could have been done first to identify a priori knowledge and to place people in groups based on their current knowledge.The questions for the interviews were developed with the aid of ABIT to identify gaps, however no information is given as to how these items were selected and if they were tested for their reliability and validity. Each group was interviewed with questions

Research proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Research proposal - Essay Example The internal environment, is made up the organisations strengths and weakness while the external environment is made up of the organisations opportunities and threats (Dooris, Kelley, & Trainer, 2004). Understanding of these factors is necessary while developing a strategic plan that can contend with the challenges of an organisation proactively. Some of the sources to use while analysing the internal environment is the assessment of the factors affecting the organisation internally. They include physical resources, human resources, processes and activities and the past experiences. Understanding the assets and problems of the organisation, will be useful in developing a strategic plan for an organisation that will maximise on the strengths and the same time work towards minimising the weakness (Helms & Nixon, 2010). For comprehensive coverage of the internal environment of the organisation, there is need to be aware of the perception of other people on the organization. This is important because they may see problems or assets that the organisation can’t see. To establish other people’s point of view apart from that the group that is developing the strategic plan, the team should include data collection from people on their perception. The information will be obtained by conducting focus groups, having listening sessions, conducting surveys and having meetings with people. By so doing, the strategic planning team will have a comprehensive coverage of its internal environment which will eventually lead to a more inclusive and well informed plan th at will maximize on the organisations challenges. While developing a strategic plan, analysis to the factors that an organisation does not have control over, is fundamental since it enable the team to develop a plan this is line with its external environment. The external environment is made up of the opportunities and threats

Development Of The New England Colonies - Colonial America Research Paper

Development Of The New England Colonies - Colonial America - Research Paper Example This third revolution was built on the fertile ground laid during the colonial period. Colonial economic development of the New England colonies, beginning in 1620, profoundly transformed the existing indigenous economy of gathering, hunting, fishing, and long fallow/polyculture farming (Merchant 1989). Europeans had already established a presence in the region for over a century as fur traders, essentially building upon the existing native economy. The trade did transform the economy by introducing new goods, new diseases, new religion, and intensifying the hunt for beaver and other small mammals. The New England colonists, however, introduced revolutionary change in the ecological and economic environment by introducing notions of private property, displacing the Native Americans, establishing farms and populous villages with a full rounded life, fully intending to make the land their new homes (unlike the transient fur trading posts largely made up of men), and engaging in several wars. However, the New England colonists were distinct not only from the Native Americans, but from the fur traders and their own countrymen to the South in the Chesapeake Bay colonies which, like the fur traders, were also largely skewed toward male settlement rather than families (cf. Merchant, 1989; Heyrman, 1991). The New England territories were rich in forests and fur trapping, with many harbors, but not in good farmland. Farms, accordingly, were small, mainly to provide food for individual families, with the inventories of most farmers showing five or six sheep and hogs, one or two horses, a few cattle, and several bushels of grain. The farmers were able to overcome the odds and create â€Å"comfortable abundance† for themselves (Merchant, 1989, p. 99). In whatever trade that existed, however, no particular cash crop, livestock, or commodity dominated. This caused the New England colonies to be perceived as less valuable to England, compared to Virginia or the West In dies (Newell, 1998). Much has been written about the settlers’ Puritan faith, their Calvinist work ethic, their moral discipline, their patriarchal nuclear family structure, and so forth, so that it has become part of the American foundation myth. By this foundation, it has been argued, New England avoided the kind of social disruption that unfettered commercial expansion and avarice had brought to plantation colonies in the Chesapeake and Caribbean (cf. Innes, 1995; Main, 2001). The New England economy during this period was relatively egalitarian, with each family being allotted an average of 150 acres. Spectacular wealth could not be created in these communities, which also meant that the economy did not produce the extreme inequalities found elsewhere (Heyrman, 1991). The Puritan settlers, however, lived on average nearly twice as long as Virginians and about ten years longer than men and women in England. New England also had relatively low rates of infant mortality. Whi le the people of Europe and the Chesapeake colonies barely reproduced themselves, the number of New Englanders doubled about every 27 years; a typical family raised seven or eight children to maturity (Bremer, 1995). While some products of the inland towns such as potash made market journeys profitable and others such as cattle could be driven to market, most products were too heavy and bulky

Societys perception of women in the film Raise the Red Lantern and Joy Essay

Societys perception of women in the film Raise the Red Lantern and Joy Luck Club - Essay Example "Raise the Red Lantern" is not an exception to this. The film reveals of China's culture on marital arrangement way back 1920s. This Asian country has made a unique identity in connection with their outstanding obedience to customs and regulations. Strict conformance to traditions is really important in China that time as what the film illustrates. With the culture they have, their women be likely to be submissive in the society more than any other women in the world. It is in their belief the acceptance of polygamous marriage arrangement. This kind of culture allows men to marry as many wives as they want as long as that the man can provide all the needs of his big family. The story revolves around this type of marital arrangement. An old wealthy man, although already having three wives, then chose a fourth wife, in whom the story mostly rotates. The fourth chosen wife is Songlian, a 19-year-old beautiful college student. Still young, she has many dreams yet to be fulfilled but all those were gone when she had decided to marry the wealthy landlord after being forced to by her stepmother. This formerly independent woman enters this great mansion of a rich man that forbade her of any independent acts anymore. She has to stay in her own quarter, have been provided a servant and many rituals to follow or perform every day. Worst of all, she is forced into rivalry with the other wives. Aside from that, she got a very treacherous servant who wished to marry the rich man and this later on gave a sturdy headache to her. As the film lay bare, all the four wives must fight for the crown. They are to struggle to win the "masters'" attention. "Master" pertains to their husbands. It is customary to these Chinese women to call their husbands "master". They do this struggle to give their master the pleasant evening he wants for the day. It is this masters' custom to choose a wife for a night where he would gain his sexual satisfaction. And it is the women's duty to do their very best in order for them to be the chosen one every night. In doing so, they will gain the masters favor and have the incentive to rule the rest the household the rest of the day. The master has to show off his decision by lighting a red lantern going to the door of the lucky wife for the night. It must have been a lonely environment for these women, trapped inside their master's cage waiting to be picked up for a night. It looks like their nothing but similar to a whore. They obey everything their master wants for them. It is no lon ger her who has control over her self. Yet, as what the film reveals, it is a woman's glory to be the lady of the night. It means a step higher than the rest of the wives. It is exultation on their part to please the master and always gain his favor. "Raise the Red Lantern" seems to blurt out the role of women in the society as submissive to man's desire. Women are nothing but for quarters. They do not have a place in the workplace. She's a do-no-better ignorant than staying at home and pleasing his husband the master. All she has to do is to execute her expertise in whatever field her master commands to gain herself honor as a pleasant wife. And mind you, she must do it with all of her best. Asian women are presented in the film

Article Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Article Comparison - Essay Example Much data has indeed been disseminated on Hurricane Katrina and the challenges which health officials faced in spreading and the media in retrieving accurate and timely public health data during emergencies (Cohen, et.al., 2008). Evaluating how the media publicizes tragedies is an important aspect in communication research. Even as some media scholars have considered separate news coverage for public health issues, there is still an inadequate evaluation on the news coverage of public health issues during tragedies. Hence, this study is being carried out in order evaluate the content of national newspapers in relation to the Hurricane Katrina news coverage (Cohen, et.al., 2008). By evaluating such data, it may then be possible to close the gap between theoretical models of agenda setting and the wealth of public health data which need to be conveyed for the sake of public health service (Cohen, et.al., 2008). ... A statistical evaluation was then applied on the stories included in the sample with the application of cross tabulations and Pearson’s chi-square (Cohen, et.al., 2008). The study then revealed that 8.5% of the articles were related to efforts by first responders to the hurricane. About 6.4% of the articles focused on who or what was to blame for the disaster; 4.6% discussed practical concerns including access to health services; 2.1% covered animal rescue; 3.0% discussed reasons why the people stayed in New Orleans; 2.1% discussed racism; 2.1% covered disease; and finally, 2.1% of the news articles discussed population conflict (Cohen, et.al., 2008). The objectives of this study were met because the paper was able to cover the type of news discussed by the media in the aftermath of the Katrina hurricane. The results also revealed the ways by which the hurricane impacted the people in terms of health services and access to said services. It also revealed the fact that a small and diminishing number of newspaper articles included those which released public health data over time. Moreover, news articles on the hurricane impact on communities as well as reliable health information also diminished over time (Cohen, et.al., 2008). This study sets forth the importance of addressing public health impact of tragedies and the ways by which the media seems to underreport and reduce public health issues. The authors pointed out that this study is relevant because of the hurricanes which occur year after year and which significantly impact on our lives (Cohen, et.al., 2008). It is therefore important for practitioners to record the lessons learned from previous disasters and apply these lessons

Bulding and Constraction Company Research Paper

Bulding and Constraction Company - Research Paper Example Greater detail, analysis and sensitivity are prescribed when quality is the key element of project completion. This means processing controls, implementation and constant appraisal of the project phases to keep on track. Implementing total quality begins with an accurate definition of the project and its critical limitations; then it is followed by estimating task durations and resources in a work breakdown structure. Tracking progress, reporting problems and altering the plan of action, requires the application of several project management tools. If it must be noted, persistence and effort is expected in the commitment of TQM. It is thought that ‘when a plan has not been followed, the plan was a waste in the first place’ (Leavitt et al, 1994). Figure 1 and 2 present the crucial aspects required to achieve quality in project management. The first emphasizes on importance of active participation of different entities or the involvement in acquiring relevant feedback important in improving the project. The second figure shows the role of leadership and organisation culture in the process of change. Globalisation has caused changes in project structures and authority levels, becoming more equalising but requiring a broadened sectoral participation. Thus efficient project management skills are required. With the urgency to be on time and in budget, coordination is repeatedly used through the application of project management tools. It can be said that modern project management is relatively new, as it has been used widely in most sectors in the recent 1990s (Uluocak, 2009). This study applies the varying tools in Total Quality in Project Management, specifically in the second part of the vertical phased project of the Bentall Centre 5. To highlight the technical skill, the work breakdown structure and earned value

Article Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Article Comparison - Essay Example Much data has indeed been disseminated on Hurricane Katrina and the challenges which health officials faced in spreading and the media in retrieving accurate and timely public health data during emergencies (Cohen, et.al., 2008). Evaluating how the media publicizes tragedies is an important aspect in communication research. Even as some media scholars have considered separate news coverage for public health issues, there is still an inadequate evaluation on the news coverage of public health issues during tragedies. Hence, this study is being carried out in order evaluate the content of national newspapers in relation to the Hurricane Katrina news coverage (Cohen, et.al., 2008). By evaluating such data, it may then be possible to close the gap between theoretical models of agenda setting and the wealth of public health data which need to be conveyed for the sake of public health service (Cohen, et.al., 2008). ... A statistical evaluation was then applied on the stories included in the sample with the application of cross tabulations and Pearson’s chi-square (Cohen, et.al., 2008). The study then revealed that 8.5% of the articles were related to efforts by first responders to the hurricane. About 6.4% of the articles focused on who or what was to blame for the disaster; 4.6% discussed practical concerns including access to health services; 2.1% covered animal rescue; 3.0% discussed reasons why the people stayed in New Orleans; 2.1% discussed racism; 2.1% covered disease; and finally, 2.1% of the news articles discussed population conflict (Cohen, et.al., 2008). The objectives of this study were met because the paper was able to cover the type of news discussed by the media in the aftermath of the Katrina hurricane. The results also revealed the ways by which the hurricane impacted the people in terms of health services and access to said services. It also revealed the fact that a small and diminishing number of newspaper articles included those which released public health data over time. Moreover, news articles on the hurricane impact on communities as well as reliable health information also diminished over time (Cohen, et.al., 2008). This study sets forth the importance of addressing public health impact of tragedies and the ways by which the media seems to underreport and reduce public health issues. The authors pointed out that this study is relevant because of the hurricanes which occur year after year and which significantly impact on our lives (Cohen, et.al., 2008). It is therefore important for practitioners to record the lessons learned from previous disasters and apply these lessons

McCain Foods Essay Example for Free

McCain Foods Essay 1. Which four Ps make up the marketing mix? Answer: †¢ Product †¢ Price †¢ Place †¢ Promotion †¢ Product this has to look and taste good and be made from wholesome ingredients. †¢ Price the price has to be attractive to ensure enough sales to generate a profit. †¢ Place the place and position of the product in the market is important to compete for market share. †¢ Promotion this has to fit the company’s objectives for the product. 2. Explain the different product categories in the Boston Matrix. Why is this a useful tool for businesses? Answer: The Boston Matrix identifies four types in a company’s product portfolio: †¢ Stars. These products have a high market share in markets that are growing quickly. For example, the Playstation was a star when it was first introduced into the games market. †¢ Question Marks. These products have a low market share in a growing market. Costs are more than returns as the company tries to increase market share. An example of a Question Mark could be a newly launched fashion item or a new car model. †¢ Cash Cows. These products have high market share in established markets, for example, cornflakes in the breakfast cereals market. †¢ Dogs. These products have low market share in a low growth market. A company may look to get rid of these products or invest in marketing to improve sales. For example, DVD recorders have replaced video recorders 3. Analyse how McCain Foods’ promotional strategies tie in with its message ‘It’s All Good’. Answer: Promotion A further demonstration of the ‘It’s All Good’ ethos is McCain Foods’ ethical stance on promotion. McCain makes a Commitment not to advertise to children under 12 years old. It also ensures that the retail labeling on its products carries clear information on levels of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar to help shoppers choose healthier options. Its labeling is in line with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) traffic light scheme and the food industry’s Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA). McCain also takes part in different types of sponsorship, such as: †¢ TV show Family Fortunes. This brings the McCain brand to a wide audience through a popular family programme. †¢ McCain Athletics Networks which encourage young people to get involved in the sport through local clubs. This further supports the company’s approach to balancing calories in with calories out. 4. Consider other promotional strategies McCain could use and say whether they are above- or below-the-line. Answer: Above-the-line promotion is paid for and includes traditional advertising routes such as television, radio and the press. These are good for carrying marketing messages to a large audience. However,it is less easy to measure the impact of these channels, for example, whether a TV advert has increased sales. Special displays or positioning in stores or advertising on supermarket trolleys are also examples of McCain’s above-the-line promotional activity. Below-the-line promotion can take many forms and is usually more under the control of the business. Typical examples include events or direct mail. McCain uses a combination of below-theline activities including: †¢ door-to-door leaflet drops or books of vouchers which give customers discounts over a period of time. These help to attract consumers and establish brand loyalty so the consumer buys the product again. †¢ email newsletter for consumers. This creates a relationship with consumers, which is unusual for a B2B organisation. It not only allows McCain to communicate directly with and listen to consumers, it also enables the business to collect information, for example, about their lifestyles and product choices. This is used for feedback, research and promotions.

Literature Review: Treatment and Management of Pain

Literature Review: Treatment and Management of Pain INTRODUCTION The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure  but to avoid pain -Aristotle The word pain is derived from the Greek word poine, which means penalty or punishment. Pain is a sensory experience associated with actual or potential damage of tissue,with physiological and psychological responses. Pain is a personal experience and varies from person to person. It is manifested in verbal and nonverbal behaviours, physiological responses like pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, emotional and spiritual reactions(Nursing clinics of America,2002). Inadequate treatment of both acute and chronic pain is widespread throughout medical surgical wards, intensive care units, emergency departments and in general practice. This neglect is extended to all age groups, from neonates to the elderly. In September 2008, the World Health Organization estimated that nearly eighty percentage of the population in the world has either insufficient or no access to treatment for severe and moderate pain. Every year millions of people around the world, suffer from pain without treatment. Reasons for proper pain management failure include cultural, religious, societal, and political attitudes, including acceptance of torture(Taylor et al.,2008). When surveyed 21% to 90% of adults expressed some about the pain associated with the needle based procedures. Up to 90% of young children shows serious distress during vaccination. This general level of anxiety can be severe, and is termed as injection phobia. This phobia can result in syncopal attacks with significant clinical impact (Yael et al.,2003). In hospital practice intravascular lines are used for various purposes like recording pressure and to administer drugs, fluids and to draw out blood. Pain inflicted by the insertion of cannula into the skin is a significant concern. Effort should be made to assess and manage acute pain. As, by doing so, nurses can reduce pain, increase patient comfort , satisfaction and improve patient outcomes (Jacobson, 1999). Research evidence shows that cutaneous stimulation is an independent nursing intervention to minimize patients pain. Gate control theory clearly explains the effect of cutaneous stimulation. Cutaneous stimulation modalities can be clubbed with acupressure to increase its effectiveness in pain management. Research studies have highlighted the fact that cryotherapy is equally effective and important in alleviating or minimizing pain as a cutaneous stimulation technique (Sabitha P.B, et al.,2008). The analgesic effects of cutaneous stimulation (pressure, massage, vibration, heat, cold) are thought to be caused by activation of large A-beta fibers and inhibition of smaller A-delta and C fibers, thus closing the gate to pain impulses. The exact mechanism by which this gating occurs has not been established, but it may be through endorphin release (Ruth,2009). NEED FOR THE STUDY Research Studies reveals that, among nursing diagnosis pain constantly ranks the highest position. Nurses often have the closest contact with patients on a daily basis. They are the health care providers most directly responsible for the overall management of pain. Nurses play a pivotal role in pain assessment, pain intervention, monitoring the effects of treatment and communication of information about pain management (Keela A.Herr, et al.,1992). The complementary therapies are used to relieve the symptoms of pain. These include relaxation technique, visual imagery, cryotherapy, massage, aromatherapy etc. Increasingly complementary therapies are attracting attention in contemporary nursing practice. These interventions are suitable for procedures like injections, venepuncture, that cause acute transitory pain (Barbara, 2000). Cold application relaxes muscle and muscle contractility, vasoconstriction decreases capillary permeability, decreases blood flow, slows cellular metabolism, decreases pain by slowing nerve conduction rate and blocking nerve impulses, decreases edema by reducing capillary permeability (Barbara kozier, 2006). The pain related to minor invasive nursing procedures can be dealt with non-pharmacological measures than pharmacological measure. The pharmacologic measures like local anesthetic spray, eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA) have long term effects, which is undesirable. Also its cost effect should be kept in mind, as these simple but essential procedures are repeated for the same person for many times. Hence non-pharmacological measures can be the choice for relieving or preventing such minor invasive pain, like venepuncture pain (Saju T.P,2009). A study conducted to find out the effects of two non-pharmacological pain management measures for IM injection pain recommended to use cold therapy and distraction to decrease pain intensity. The first group received local cold therapy, the second group received distraction and the control group received only routine care. The results shows that average pain intensity in local cold therapy, distraction and control groups was 26.3, 34.3 and 83.3 respectively. The findings indicate that pain intensity was significantly higher in the non-interventional group than the interventional groups. This study supports the efficacy of non-pharmacologic pain management methods (Hasanpour M et.al.,2005). The large intestine energy meridian is an acupressure point located on the backside of the hand between index finger and the thumb. Largeintestine energy meridian point can be used for relieving pain in the scapula, arm and shoulder, rigidity of the neck, eye diseases and also in the treatment of other disorders like constipation. The large intestine energy meridian pathway is bilateral. Considering the anxiety due to painful procedures such as venepuncture, as well as the unpleasant feelings, the investigator felt that application of cryotherapy to the skin would decrease the pain-related responses associated with venepuncture. This study was therefore undertaken to asses the effect of cryotherapy on the large intestine energy meridian point (li4), during intracath insertion to reduce the perception of pain and variation in physiological responses like pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE Review of literature is a key step in research process. It refers to an extensive, exhaustive and systematic examination of publications relevant to the research project. Nursing research may be considered as a continuing process in which knowledge gained from earlier studies is an integral part of research in general. Literature review refers to the activities involved in searching for information on a topic and developing a comprehensive picture of the state as knowledge on that topic (Polit and Hungler,1993 ). Therefore the investigator studied and reviewed the related literature to broaden the understandings about the topic to gain insight into the selected problem under study. The literature has been reviewed under the following headings: SECTION A: Literature regarding pain and changes in physiological parameters during venepuncture. SECTION B: Literature regarding large intestine energy meridian point and pain. SECTION C: Literature regarding effectiveness of cryotherapy on pain and physiological parameters. A quasi experimental pre test post test control group study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of vibratory audio visual stimulation to reduce acute evoked procedural pain experienced by the individuals, during invasive procedures in a selected health centre. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 80 persons who were receiving IM injection. Among the participants 95% expressed a reduction in pain due to vibratory audio visual stimulation,15% said that they had not experienced any reduction in pain. Results of the study suggested that vibratory audio visual stimulation was effective in reducing acute evoked procedural pain (Saju T.P,2009). A randomized, controlled study, in a convenience sample of 92 patients in the emergency department who required peripheral cannulation as part of their evaluation were enrolled in the study. All the subjects answered questionnaires pre and post IV placement and rated pain intensity during procedure on a 100 millimeter visual analogue scale. Participants in the study included 47(51.1%)of patients received the anesthetic spray and 45(48.9%) were randomly assigned to control group and had their IV line placed in a standard method. The mean pain score in the study group was 27 millimeter and 28 millimeter in the control group (p=0.934). Results revealed that anesthetic spray was an effective intervention in reducing pain during intravenous insertion (Hartstein B.H,et al.,2007). A crossover single blind experimental study conducted on  effectiveness of acupressure to reduce pain in IM injection. Each  subject received an injection with acupressure applied to one buttock and an injection without acupressure to the other buttock or vice versa. The perception of pain was measured on a visual analog scale. Among 64 patients, 32(50%) were female. The mean score for perceived pain intensity for acupressure injection was 3+-2 and the mean score for the injection without acupressure was 5+-2. Results revealed that acupressure was effective in reducing IM injection pain (Alavi N.M,2006). A prospective randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a Valsalva manoeuver, which stimulates the vagus nerve, on perception of pain during peripheral venous cannulation in adult patients. Among 110 patients scheduled for elective surgery, half of them underwent venepuncture during a Valsalva manoeuvre and the other half underwent venepuncture without performing a Valsalva manoeuvre. The numerical rating scale score was 1.5+/-1.2 for Group A and 3.1+/-1.9 for Group B, the difference being statistically significant (P Pain management is in the purview of all health professionals, specially nurses and is an important component of comprehensive nursing care, since it is the patient and nurse who faces the pain alone. Although most of the nurses have a commitment in pain reduction, far fewer work for alleviation. Ignoring patients pain may be causing harm. Unrelieved Pain can cause cell, tissue damage and even death. Health education on pain management for health professionals at all department levels have been noticed as an important measure towards changing ineffective pain management practices (Holleran R.S,2006). Needle phobia is a term used to describe an anticipatory fear of needle insertion. If pain and anxiety are poorly managed, there can be significant negative consequences. The memory of traumatic venepuncture experiences can lead to extreme anxiety and physiological responses such as venous constriction . Some children and young people may have been conditioned by the fears of relatives or friends concerning needle procedures(Thurgate C. Heppell S, 2005). A quasi experimental design was adopted to obtain data from 86 younger (between the age group of 25-55) and 89 older (between the age group of 65-94) volunteer samples. Subjects responses to experimentally induced thermal stimuli were measured with following pain scales: vertical visual analog scale,21-point numerical rating scale, verbal descriptor scale,11- point verbal rating scale and faces pain scale. For discriminating different levels of pain sensation all the five scales were effective. The most preferred scale to represent pain intensity in both cohorts was the numerical rating scale, followed by verbal descriptor scale (Frana Benini,M.D,2004). Pain is a phenomenon that we experience to a greater or lesser extent, and the associations between blood pressure and pain are potentially of great interest . It is well recognized that pain can raise blood pressure acutely. Acute pain leads to generalized arousal and increased sympathetic nerve activity. Blood pressure increase during the application of physical pressure to the nail beds or the skin of the cheek, or during electrical stimulation of a digital nerve. Various studies found that inflated cuff leads to forearm ischemia and increases the degree of pain, which correlates with the increase in blood pressure (Pickering G.Thomas,2003). SECTION B:Literatures regarding large intestine energy meridian point and pain. The large intestine energy meridian point is referred to as LI4 or Hoku. The energy meridian pathway is bilateral and begins in the surface of the skin at the root of the index fingernail. It courses through the arm and hand , and the outward end of the shoulder blade is crossed. Then the meridian leaves the skin surface to connect with the lower part of the lung and transverse colon. It then returns to the skin surface at a point under the chin. From that point, the meridian is again buried deep within the area referred to as the double chin. It follows the lower row of dental roots, passing then to the upper line of teeth roots, crossing the front of the mouth to emerge on the skin surface and the facial point next to the nostrils (Chandramita Bora,2009). A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 primiparous women who were randomly assigned in two groups (n = 30): ice massage (treatment) and sand bag group (control). The severity of the basal pain was measured at the beginning of active phase (4 cm cervical dilation) based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Then, after two groups received intervention, the severity of the labor pain in 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm cervical dilation was measured. In the case group, the crushed ice twisted in a terry bag was rocked on the web of skin between thumb and forefinger. The massage was carried out in large intestine energy meridian point throughout three contractions. The sand bag tactile massage in large intestine energy meridian point was served in the control group. The data were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive analysis using Mann- Whitney, à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ 2, paired and independent t tests and P A one-group, pre test, post test study conducted to evaluate the the use of ice massage on acupressure energy meridian point large intestine 4 (LI4) to reduce the labor pain. The pain was measured using McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and 100-mm Visual Analog Scales (VAS). Participants noted a pain reduction mean on the VAS of 28.22 mm on the left hand and 11.93 mm on the right hand. The post delivery ranked McGill Pain Questionnaire dropped from distressing to discomforting. The study results suggest that ice massage is a safe, noninvasive, nonpharmacological method of reducing labor pain (Waters L.Bette, et al.,2003). A study using ice massage for reducing labor pain was carried out by a researcher among twenty women on their admission to the labor and delivery unit at Florida. Ice massage of the energy meridian LI4 was performed during each contraction and was carried out over a 30-minute period. Data from the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) showed a mean reduction in pain of 25.15. The reduction of pain was statistically significant despite the small number of participants. The study results suggest that ice massage is a safe method of reducing labor pain (Naomi lester, et al., 2003). A one group repeated measurement post test study was aimed at identifying the effect of cutaneous stimulation in large intestine energy meridian point on reduction of arteriovenous fistula puncture pain among forty five hemodialysis patient. First the arteriovenous fistula puncture pain of control group was measured, and then the arteriovenous fistula puncture pain of experimental group (with cutaneous stimulation) was measured using visual analogue scale and objective pain behaviour checklist. Analysis of data was done by use of paired t-test, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results concluded that the subjective pain score of arterial line (paired t = -0.28, p = 0.77) and the subjective pain score of venous line (paired t = 2.61, p = 0.01). The cardiopulmonary signs of arteriovenous fistula puncture pain in experimental period was (pulse paired t = -0.8, p = 0.42; systolic BP paired t = 0.98, p = 0.33; diastolic BP paired t = 0.43, p = 0.66).Results revealed t hat cutaneous stimulation in large intestine energy meridian point was effective in reducing arteriovenous fistula puncture pain(Kanho Taehan,2001). A study in which patients having acute dental pain were treated with ice application on largeintestine energy meridian point of the hand on the same side of the painful region. Ice massage was administered by inserting ice cubes into wet gauze pad and gently massaging the skin around the large intestine energy meridian point. When the patient stated that the area is felt numb or after a period of 7 minutes whichever, occurred first, the massage was stopped. Control group received tactile massage alone. McGill pain questionnaire was used to measure the pain intensity of the patients.. Ice massage reduced the intensity of dental pain by fifty percentage or more in most of the patients, and reduction in pain were significantly greater than those produced by tactile massage alone (Melzack Ronald, et al.,2000). SECTION C : Literatures regarding effectiveness of cryotherapy on pain and physiological parameters. A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of cryotherapy on arteriovenous fistula puncture pain in hemodialysis patients. A convenient sample of 60 patients (30 in experimental and 30 in control group) who had undergone hemodialysis through AVF, was assessed using randomized control trial. Both the objective and subjective pain scoring was performed on two consecutive days of hemodialysis. The tools used were a questionnaire assessing demographic data, an observation checklist for monitoring objective pain behaviour, and a numerical pain intensity scale for subjective pain assessment. The objective and subjective pain scores were significantly (p=0.001) reduced within the treatment group than the control group. Results revealed that cryotherapy was effective in reducing arterivenous fistula puncture pain in hemodialysis patients (Mahajan S, et al.,2008). A quasi experimental study to assess the effectiveness of hot fomentation versus cold compress for decreasing intravenous infiltration in patients admitted in a selected hospital in Pune . The sample size was 60 and data collected with an observational checklist and behavioral pain scale. The pre treatment mean score of degree of infiltration was decreased from 7.1667 to 0.7071 in hot fomentation and from 6.9333 to 0.7571 in cold fomentation. The findings indicate that the hot fomentation and cold compress both are effective in treatment of intravenous therapy related infiltration (Anjum shabana,2007). A quasi-experimental study to determine the effect of local refrigeration applied to skin prior to venepuncture on pain-related responses in 80 school-age children who got admitted in the emergency ward in the pediatrics center in Iran. Subjects were selected by purposive sampling and were divided into two equal groups: test and control. In the test group the physiological responses were measured prior to venepuncture. Then the skin on the area of venepuncture was refrigerated by an ice bag for 3 minutes and the procedure is performed immediately. After five minutes of the procedure the physiological responses, behavioural responses and subjective responses were measured. In terms of the physiological responses before and after the procedure in the experimental and control group, there was no significant difference (p=0.07) between the two groups. There was a significant difference (p=0.0011) between the test and control groups with regard to the behavioural responses to the painful procedure.There was also a significant difference (p=0.0097) in the subjective data in the two groups after venepuncture.Results revealed that the local refrigeration was effective in reducing venepuncture pain (Movahedi Fakhar Ali,et al.,2006). An experimental study to assess the effectiveness of ice application on the treatment zone prior to type -A botulinum toxin treatment on the pain during injections . Totally, twenty four patients who underwent botulinum type-A toxin in upper face for esthetic purposes were undertaken in the study. Ice application was done five minutes prior the injections on the right lateral orbital zones of the patients, and on their left sides, toxin were injected without applying ice. The average visual analog scale values indicating the pain that the subjects felt in their right and left sides were found as 1.1 and 5.9, respectively. Results revealed that ice application is effective in reducing pain during injections (Sarifakioglu N,2004). A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the application of cold or hot on the pricking pain sensation based on autonomic responses. Electrical stimulations were applied to subjects arms as an artificial pricking pain, the skin blood flow and skin conductance level at the tip of the finger were measured. Pain was assessed using visual analog scale. Pain stimulation produced a significant rise in skin conductance level and a significant decrease in blood flow. Cold application to the stimulation site using an ice-water pack decreased blood flow and skin conductance responses and sensation of pain. Application of heat, by hot water bottle resulted in a significant rise in pain sensation . The results suggested that cold application promotes relief of pricking pain sensation and suppress the autonomic responses, and the application of heat has no such effect (Saeki Y,2002). A one group pre test post test experimental study to evaluate the effect of cutaneous stimulation (cryotherapy) on pain reduction in Emergency Department patients . Second objective was to identify the effect of cutaneous stimulation on blood pressure and heart rate. Potential factors that could influence the dependent variables such as age, gender, educational level, location of pain, and site of cutaneous stimulation were tested. All 50 samples were treated with cutaneous stimulation to relieve pain. After cutaneous stimulation, subjects reported significant reduction in pain, and demonstrated decrease in heart rate, and blood pressure readings. The most effective site of cutaneous stimulation was contralateral to the pain. Age, gender and educational level had no significant effect. The results of this study provide empirical evidence that cutaneous stimulation effectively reduces pain, heart rate, and blood pressure (Sylvia M. Kubsch,2002). A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of local dry cold application on the bruising, haematoma and pain at the subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin injections site. The researcher selected sixty three patients who had received 2 x 20 milligram enoxaparine and divided the samples into four groups. In the first group, cold therapy was not given. Cold was applied to the injection site for five minutes before the injection in the second group, and in the third group five minutes after the injection. In the fourth group, it was applied to the injection site for five minutes pre and post injection.After each injection, the patients pain intensity and duration were measured, and the occurance of bruise and haematoma were monitered at 48 and 72 hours after the injection. Results showed that haematoma was absent at the injection site of all subjects. The subjects pain perception was significantly reduced with the application of ice (Kuzu N, et al.,2001). In a paired clinical trial, the effectiveness of ice in reducing the pain of intravenous catheter placement was assessed in 28 adult volunteers. An ice pack was placed over one arm for 10 minutes, followed by insertion of an 18-gauge angio catheter in both arms. Patients recorded their pain assessment after each venepuncture on a previously validated 100-mm visual analog scale and identified their preferred method for the procedure (pretreatment with ice or no pretreatment). The mean pain score for catheter placement on arms pretreated with ice was 27.5  ± 15.9 mm; the mean pain score for the control arms was 34.2  ± 21.6 mm (P = 0.17).Results revealed that application of icepack was an effective method in reducing pain of intravenous catheter placement. Future studies should examine whether ice is effective at reducing pain from other more painful procedures and whether the response to ice is gender-related (Richman P B, et al.,2000).