Royal Dutch Shell Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Royal Dutch Shell - Assignment Example Royal Dutch Shell is a trend setter in innovation. From a large, but weak and mediocre company to an innovative multinational, now being 2nd largest in revenue and highest in profits (Rijnbach), and with services in more than 90 countries, Shell has definitely revolutionized the concept of Energy Business. Shell uses multi innovation practices to enhance its innovative tendencies and maintain its name as a brand in the energy business. It has a Projects & Technology organization which heads research into different technological aspects for Shell’s Products and services, and aims at providing solutions for the technological hurdles faced by the upstream and downstream product organizations (shell). Like any organization, the Innovation Structure at Shell has its strong and weak aspects. Strengths of Innovation Management Structure The innovational structure at Shell manifests strengths not only aimed at energy but also at the well being of the Planet, its customers, and employe es. Here is a look at the strengths of Shell’s innovation management structure. 1. ... The management at Shell is not only an advocate of change but also takes initiative in this regard, by all means possible. Special departments have been constructed, to research and propose new avenues of change. The senior management is involved in activities that show risk taking tendencies, an important characteristic of innovation; and also try to bring together groups and people that brainstorm (Ruth) and introduce new ideas and concepts. The Shell Australian Innovation Challenge is one of such attempts made by Shell. It is a joint venture of The Australian and Shell. The challenge allows you to enter whether you are a scientist or not. There is also a category of backyard innovation, which is open to general public, and has prize money of $10, 000 (The Australian). 2. Scenario Planning Strategy Shell has been following its innovation strategy for the past 40 years. Shell utilizes scenario planning in its aim to tackle the energy problems of tomorrow. It first implemented the sa id strategy during the 1970’s oil shock (Rijnbach). With the uncertainty of future growing with every passing day, scenario planning is a strong way to devise strategy. The world is faced with resource, market, organization, and technical uncertainty, the proper management of which leads to radical innovation (O’Connor). Scenario planning refers to the orchestration of probable certain scenarios in the future result from social, economical and political factors (Rijnbach). Shell has a Scenarios Team, which has six members. These members look into different versions of the plausible future (Shell). They do not predict future, rather analyzing different facts, create plausible future scenarios taking place between now and 2050 (Mainwaring). Scenario

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

Databases - Assignment Example The pitcher statistics are strikeouts, walks, saves, innings, pitched, earned runs, wins and losses. An entity is in the first normal form if it contains no repeating sets of data. Similarly the above attributes contain several repeating attributes. Walks for example are found within the pitcher and the hitter. This wastes a lot of space in the data base. To normalize the ERD into INF we eliminate the redundant data. In 2NF we further normalize the diagram and include foreign keys. These foreign keys are items that are used as primary key in other attributes. The awayteamID for example was used in 1NF as the primary key for the Awayteam. It is therefore introduced into the game attribute as a foreign key When we develop the 3NF we ensure that there is no redundancy. The relationship between player and batting is one to many. This means that a player can play for only one team at a time. The relationship between a team and a player is many to one meaning that many players can batt. Marston, T. (2004, September 30). The Relational Data Model, Normalisation and effective Database Design. Retrieved February 27, 2015, from Tony Marston:

Macro-environment and Micro-environment for Topshop

Macro-environment and Micro-environment for Topshop Introduction As a global marketing manager of Topshop, it is very necessary to think about expanding its global marketing. China is a good choice as it owns a large number of persons. And, alongside changing lifestyles and income growth, Chinas fashion retail market is booming (Reuters, 2007[Online]). For Topshop, it means many potential customers. But, some other international brands, like Zara and HM, have opened its market in China for few years and have created customer loyalty to some extent. Then, before entering into Chinese market, it is still need to make a detailed analysis of the whole Chinese environment include internal and external and decide the most suitable entry strategy for Topshop if it wants to be successful. Situation of Topshop: Organization overview Topshop is a U.K. based clothing store chain which is founded in1964 for young women selling fashion clothes, shoes and accessories and also is a part of the Arcadia Group (Mahalo.com, 2010 [Online]). It is owned by Sir Philip Green and the stores feature Kate Mosss designer fashions (Mahalo.com, 2010 [Online]). Now, the flagship store in London Oxford Street is the biggest fashion store in Europe. It operates in more than 20 countries currently and has over 309 fashion stores nationwide, and 50 stores outside the UK (Oppapers.com, 2008 [Online]). It also has a website where you can buy a lot of the Topshop (Oppapers.com, 2008 [Online]). SWOT analysis Strength of Topshop as it belongs to Arcadia Group which managing several successful brands, and has accessed to target market with over 300 stores nationwide (marangonimarketing.blogspot.com, 2008[Online]). It provides numerous choices in product lines and design variety of products with thousands of looks per season creatively (Irina Klebelsberg, 2008[Online]). Compete with other brands, it also offers free personal style consultants (Irina Klebelsberg, 2008[Online]). And, internet website makes it attract more customers around the world and make everybody shopping online quickly (marangonimarketing.blogspot.com, 2008[Online]). All of these make Topshop keep trend of awareness and follow the fashion (Irina Klebelsberg, 2008[Online]). Weakness of Topshop is that the company is global, but it has a presence in few countries worldwide (Irina Klebelsberg, 2008[Online]). A large number of staff and products make it difficult to manage and increase the management costs. And, big store space lead to weak customer services. On web shopping, there is no detail and size for accessorizes (marangonimarketing.blogspot.com, 2008[Online]). Moreover, some garments quality is not matching with the price (Irina Klebelsberg, 2008[Online]). Opportunities for Topshop are about a large number of people in China which means it can get many potential consumers. Compared with other fashion retailers, it is not just target young Chinese, but also white-collared workers and a part of middle aged persons who follow the latest fashion in China, as this kind of fashion group can afford it and willing to spend on fashion (Reuters, 2007). It is easier for attracting Chinese customers and makes them know about this brand by online shopping to increase revenue and profits (marangonimarketing.blogspot.com, 2008[Online]). Threats always reflected by its competitors, such as Zara and HM, also are fast fashion retailers who have entered into China and have a status for few years(Irina Klebelsberg, 2008[Online]). If Topshop wants to be successful in China, it is necessary to show its unique features and improve quality and retain low price and good design, because its competitors cooperate with top designers and fashion icons too (marangonimarketing.blogspot.com, 2008[Online]). Whats more, it needs to face some limitations from government policies and to know about the cultural and demands of China as soon as possible. Key competitors For Topshop, Zara and HM are considered international competitors in China, as all of them have some common features as fashion retailing. For example, they are all creativity, quality design and rapid turnaround to adjust to changing market demand (Thinking made easy, 2009[Online]). However, Zara is the closest competitor for Topshop because of the relative higher price than HM. To some extent, HM is less fashionable. Analysis of China: PEST analysis In aspects of policies, China insists its way of peaceful development and keeps the stable political situation for a long term which offers a favorable external environment for Topshop to develop its market. And, the government also enhances its attention on overseas-funded enterprises and develops a well environment for investment to achieve its goal of investment attraction. By economics, from 2003 to 2010, GDP in China has increased as a whole (real growth rate showed as the chart below) which means the growth in the living standard. Moreover, this reflects that purchase power has been improved. It suggests that consumers can afford its products at reasonable price if Topshop enter into Chinese. China GDP (indexmundi.com, 2010) In social, China is a country with a large population which means many potential consumers for Topshop. And, it targets except young, also includes white-collared workers (Reuters, 2007). In China, they are both paying more attention on fashion products and brands. It is not difficult for Topshop to be a new focus as a famous international brand. About technologies, in China, E-commerce becomes more and more popular nowadays. In comparison, shopping online is more perfect in such a developing country. It is easier to set up its own network platform to advertise and sell products for Topshop. It is also a useful way to attract consumers. The theory of Porters diamond (Value based management.net, 2010) The four point of the diamond contributes towards global success as the picture shows (Henry, 2008). Factor conditions as China has large populations and have a low labor costs. And, perfect network it creates make it successful in business, especially for selling. Demands conditions as various customers demands in China make Topshop to innovate and provide an insight into future global trends for Topshop stay in a better position to exploit (Henry, 2008). To cooperate with Chinese suppliers provide Topshop with the most cost-effective inputs and communicates with local suppliers can make Topshop to learn about new fashion features to shape new styles (Henry, 2008). The structure of Chinese market is complex and multilevel with a large and various demand (Xinhua, 2009 [Online]). With this feature, it may work well in retailing industries. For Topshop, as a fashion retailer, it is driven by a need of fashionable and trendy for providing products to meet demands variety which suit for current Chinese market (elegman.com, 2005 [Online]). And, the existed strong competitors create pressures for Topshop to update to compete successfully (Henry, 2008). The theory of Porters Five Forces www.anythingresearch.com The five forces as the picture shows are used to analyze for assessing the competitive environment (Henry, 2008). The threat of new entrants depends on entry barriers and the reaction of existing competitors (Henry, 2008). For Topshop, if entry barriers are high, the threats of new entrants will be low. For example, as a global brand, Topshop already has a large-scale, to some extent, it can achieve economies of scale to decrease its costs, gain more profits with stronger proclivity. Then, if new entrants without enough strength, it will be difficult to entry into the industry and the threats will be low for Topshop. Bargaining power of buyers, buyers always want lower price and more services and bargain for high-quality (Henry, 2008).Topshop has to face to the forces come from buyers, if products can not satisfy customers demands, they will find other products to replace which leads to the loss of customers. This asks Topshop to make products with reasonable price and high quality. Bargaining power of suppliers, sometimes the costs of Topshop based on its suppliers. It is unnecessary to worry about if Topshop has many suppliers because it has opportunity to choose one which can offer lower costs. But, if fewer suppliers can provide goods and services for it, the profits may be decreased as suppliers will ask for high costs and there is no space to choose. Threat of substitution, there are products and services can meet similar needs, if Topshop cannot meet customers demands, especially for price, they will choose another one (Henry, 2008). It has to under the pressure and adjusts its price for maintaining its customers and profits. The intensity of rivalry, Zara is the closest competitor for Topshop as the similar price and products, so it has to face a strong competition. And, both them target young persons. The competition also is reflected to gain customers. What makes China attractive to invest in China keeps its stable political situation by peaceful development and offers a favorable environment to attract investment of foreign-funded enterprises. And, a large number of populations which suggests many potential customers make it attractive for Topshop to invest in. Moreover, it is worth investing as the attitude for following the fashion is enthusiastic and people also willing to spend on it (Reuters, 2007). Though it has to face the pressure of competition, Topshop still can maintain its competitive advantage with reasonable price, good design and high quality. Available market entry strategies for Topshop: Exporting is one of entry mode strategies for Topshop as it can make goods and services in UK and sells them in China. This method provides an opportunity for Topshop to acquire international experience for decreasing its risk exposure and resource commitments (Henry, 2008). But for Topshop, a famous international brand, has expanded its market in many other countries, it has already owned enough experience and strength to undertake risks. Exporting may waste a long time for it to entry into China, because it relies on local distributors and some of them have less ability to marketing and promoting international products (Henry, 2008). Then, it is not a suitable strategy for Topshop. Licensing is another way for Topshop to entry into China with less resource commitments. It is attractive for small firms as it requires little capital (Chee Harris, 1998). It can make Topshop to enter China quickly and fairly and help to access market knowledge, distribution and contact with customers immediately (Chee Harris, 1998). It also invests with a low cost. But, Topshop will have a less and direct control for its products and also make licensee is able to imitate its products and become its competitor (Henry, 2008). To some extent, it may enhance the stress of competition in Chinese market because of it is common for customers in China to choose imitation which is similar with what they wants of a lower price. It is easy to be replaced by imitation for Topshop. Franchise is particular form of licensing which can make Topshop enter into China rapidly with minimum investment (Chee Harris, 1998). Benefits of franchise as franchisee can provide local market knowledge which similar with Licensing. And, Chinese market may be more receptive to this strategy by a large area because of it involves local ownership and employment (Henry, 2008). The disadvantage is about lacking of trust and understanding between Topshop and its franchisee (Henry, 2008). The successful of franchisee means mutually beneficial for both side, not just for Topshop or its franchisee. Joint venture is a new company which is created by Topshop with its partners if it chooses this form. It differs from licensing as Topshop can take a managerial role and participate in operation and control its product line (Chee Harris, 1998). Partners will share the risks and costs of investment. Other benefits as joint venture can help greater familiarity with the local environment, especially for cultural of Chinese market. This enables joint venture to be more aware of culture sensitive. By joint venture, Topshop may benefit from government support and with a local partner (Chee Harris, 1998). Strategic alliance is sharing some resources and capabilities of Topshop with its two or more separated organizations (Henry, 2008). Their common aim is to learn from its partners. They all need to grow and develop based on their strategic objectives. It is beneficial because the opportunity to build new skills that Topshop can get from its partners (Chee Harris, 1998). But, it is difficult to identify each companys boundaries and ownership is also not clear. For a long-term strategy, Topshop cannot show its obvious features to attract customers and establish a superior position. Wholly owned Subsidiaries is the strategy can make a total control for Topshop. This entry involves the greatest commitment of resources with the highest risk (Henry, 2008). The unique resources and the distinctive capabilities provide for competitive advantage of Topshop (Henry, 2008). The drawbacks is just about Topshop has to undertake the most risk compared with other strategies. Conclusion: Through analysis of the situation and competition environment of Topshop and China, and think about some available strategies for Topshop entering China, Wholly owned Subsidiaries is the most suitable entry strategy for Topshop to choose. The decision depends on the vision of Topshop and its attitude towards risks and available investment capital. For Topshop, though it needs to face the highest investment cost and the most risk by strategy of wholly owned subsidiaries, it also can get the greatest returns based on this mode (Henry, 2008). Topshop can maximize the control of products line, operation and managements in China with this strategy. And, to expand its new market in China by this way can fully reflect competitive advantages of Topshop with enough capital. This entry mode provides a chance for Topshop to make a full use of local resources to produce, to some extent, helping to decrease the cost. Moreover, comparative low labor cost in China makes Topshop to save investment c ost on human resources, combined with its enough capital and competitive strength, it is real to reduce the threats if new entrants. By the development of business, it is not just open one store in China of Topshop, so wholly owned subsidiaries make Topshop can control its business in China and prepare the foundation for its future development. As a famous global brand, some suppliers are also in China, to choose wholly owned subsidiaries as an entry strategy make it close to the source of raw materials (Henry, 2008). Based on its local suppliers, it is easier to catch up the local fashion trend by communicating with its suppliers and serve the market better to satisfy local needs. Whats more, a base established in China can help to avoid government policies and barriers to trade which is better than exporting (Chee Harris, 1998). Other strategies like joint venture and licensing are common choice for other retailing. Then, Topshop choose wholly owned subsidiaries helps it enter into China rapidly and show its strength. And, in the initial period, Topshop choose wholly owned subsidiaries as entry modes can help to introduce other series products of Topshop gradually, such as Topman, to expand its market share at the right time.

Native American Literature :: Native American Literature

Native American Literature Spending this semester reading Native American Literature, really brought me to make comparisons to my past experience. I think in each story, there was always something significant that seemed similar to my life. There were stories that had similar connections, and as I read them, I put my mind to connect what the author was saying and to what I remember from my life and make a connection. Actually, I thought every story was good and well to understand. For the most part, the story that really brought my attention and that made a connected to my life was reading Indian Education by Sherman Alexie. Somehow as I read this story, I understood what the author was saying. The story Indian Education is a story about the author explaining his childhood in school from grade to grade until he graduated. It explains in detail from his first grade till his twelfth grade. It shows how his personality changes as he grows and how things differ in perspective. It's like what we went through in our childhood. From remembering that bully in first grade till having your first date in eight grade. I really thought of my experience and made a few comparisons. I believe I went through the same things the author did. For instance, in his first grade the author writes how he used to get picked by the other Indian kids, and how they used to take his glasses and tossed them around. I remember once two of my ex friends chasing me and taking my glasses and ended up damaging them. I remember hating my second grade teacher because she would always punish me for talking back to her. She had this ugly face, and i hardly looked at her when she talked to me and that made her mad. As you can realize, being a child, it's just fights and games. Not caring about anything, until the consequences come. Sherman Alexie does a good job how his life changed from his childhood, and maturing in his years to come. For example, in his ninth grade, he tells how after a basketball game, he passed out after several drinks in a dance. His friends carried him to the hospital and saved him. I remember getting drunk, in which I wasn't suppose to, but those hard shots of liquor and beer, made me fall to the ground a couple of times.

European and Asian continents Essay

The author Jared Diamond in the book Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies writes that the alternative title for his book would probably be a short history about everyone for the last 13,000 years. This topic will explain the author’s main argument as well as cite a passage where he states his points clearly. We will also give two proximate and two ultimate factors to support his claims, ending with an evaluation of his main argument. It should be noted that the main argument the author brings forward in this book has been mentioned quite well in the preface the rest of the book merely acts as a supplement to his main idea. The main argument in this book is summed up clearly in the following question: â€Å"Why did wealth and power become distributed as they now are, rather than in some other way? For instance, why weren’t Native Americans, Africans, and Aboriginal Australians the ones who decimated, subjugated, or exterminated Europeans and Asians? † (Diamond p. 13-32,1999) He explains this by saying that the advancements in culture in the European and Asian continents are not due to their moral, intellectual or genetic superiority. Rather the gaps in development are mostly due to the geographical advantages each race had. He says that the earliest civilizations were hunter-gatherers before they eventually developed a system of agriculture. This of course leads to the production of food surpluses such supports larger populations and in effect a larger population necessitates a division of labor. This leads to large societies with ruling classes and supporting classes which in turn becomes a ruling organization. He explains two Ultimate factors which lead civilizations down this path, a large east/west axis and easily domestic able food and animals. â€Å"There were also great differences in the completeness with which suites of crops and livestock spread, again implying stronger or weaker barriers to their spreading† (Diamond p. 176-192, 1999). He says that the early advantages of finding suitable plants to grow and domesticated animals helped certain cultures advance further than others. Genetically geographical areas decide whether certain crops will be wild or domesticated. It also decides the animals that will inhabit the area. â€Å"Most of the wild species from which our crops were derived vary genetically from area to area, because alternative mutations had become established among; wild ancestral populations of different areas†. (Diamond pg 176-192, 1999) For example the Middle East had the best collection of plants and animals suitable for domestication. And as they began to trade they found the importance of using horses and donkeys as transport. In contrast in Africa they had to contend with growing wild plants such as sorghum and yams. Animals such as zebras could not be domesticated and those animals which flourished in one area could not survive in the other. â€Å"South Africa’s Mediterranean climate would have been ideal for them, but the 2,000 miles of tropical conditions between Ethiopia and South Africa posed an insuperable barrier†. (Diamond pg 176-192, 1999) He also says that the east-west axis is certain countries were essential to the advancements of their societies through trade. While the north-south axis of certain countries such as Africa promoted slow diffusion. The title of this book sums up the two proximate factors that lead to the dominance of the Eurasian races and the displacement and subjugation of the Africans, Native Americans and Aborigines. In terms of germs the Eurasians increasing levels of trade and use of livestock increased the number of pathogens they were exposed to forcing immunity among their populace. When they met the indigenous tribes of South America these diseases dwindled their populations to a point where the Europeans could subjugate them. â€Å"As a result, over the course of history, human populations repeatedly exposed to a particular pathogen have come to consist of a higher proportion of individuals with those genes for resistance–just because unfortunate individuals without the genes were less likely to survive to pass their genes on to babies† (Diamond p. 195-214, 1999). The technological progress of these people also depended on food production. The increasing organizational systems and trade with other areas provided them with the tools to develop a writing system of their own. This writing system was essential to the continued technological development of societies. â€Å"Here we have to remind ourselves that the vast majority of societies with writing acquired it by borrowing it from neighbors or by being inspired by them to develop it, rather than by independently inventing it themselves† (Diamond p. 215-238, 1999). After reading this book I found myself agreeing with many of the author’s contentions about our history. It is difficult to conceive that the history of human civilization was decided even before it births. However the argument the author provides not only for the agricultural advancements but also in terms of geopolitical advancements seem as true as they are simple to understand. If I had to point out one fault it would be that the author speaks of competing civilizations in terms of continents rather than individual societies. It is unreasonable to me that all the societies on a continent would follow a singular goal of increasing their footprint upon the earth. Additionally he does not adequately expand his theory to include the society of ancient Egypt, which despite its geographical commonality through several decades managed to go through several periods of dominance and subjugation. However, the book itself is an essential read when taken as a viable theory of the history of human civilization. References Diamond, J. M. (1999). Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.

How We Learn Essay

‘What have I learned about learning, and what are the implications of this for my future practice?’ In this assignment I will be identifying in a personal way, what I have learnt about learning from my own education and also drawing from my previous experiences. I will also be exploring ways in which I believe, for my future practice as a teacher, children will be able to achieve their full learning potential. â€Å"Learning is a complex concept and activity† (Hewitt 2008) in which every individual does in enabling them to gain new skills or knowledge. Every individual learns in a different way, where as one technique may work well for one individual, it may not work for another. We should never stop learning in order to progress as an individual. In order for the skills and knowledge to remain stored individuals should keep using the skills in which they have acquired overtime. These skills should be applied to different things such as projects so that the skills are remained stored and fresh in the mind. As every individual has a certain learning style, to help us learn more effectively it is best to know and understand our learning style. Through identifying your learning style, you will be able to capitalise on your strengths and improve your self-advocacy skills. Learning a specific subject, knowledge, skill and so on, is down to many factors which play an important role in learning, these include: intelligence; aptitude; goals; interests; readiness & maturation; motivation; self-concept; attitudes & values; level of aspiration; learning style and socio cultural determinants – to name a few. I believe that interests and goals are the catalyst to being a successful teacher. Children’s motivational levels in subjects need to be at a high level in order for the child to reach their full potential with their learning capabilities. â€Å"Interest is one of the most important factors which mediates learning and which motivates to act† (Factors Affecting Learning), if a child is not fully engaged in a particular subject due to low levels of interest then their learning capabilities will not be fulfilled. Whilst working in a school setting in 2010, child A stated†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I can’t do maths – it doesn’t interest me† when there is no interest from the child, as shown in the example, there can be no learning. For my future practice it is vital that every child’s interest is engaged in subjects in order for the child to  fulfil their whole learning capabilities. Young children possess a need for activity, play, adventure etc. and therefore learn much better through a play way approach. This intern arouses their interest in learning and helps sustain their involvement in learning new skills and knowledge through their work. For effective learning to take place, we should be able to relate it to all that we learn. This will enable us to achieve our goals. â€Å"Goals play a significant role in learning since they give strength and direction to it† (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development) because goals help to direct our attention to the task at hand. Psychologist Murphy and Alexander (2000) have wri tten about a variety of goal orientations which help us to understand learners learning and performance especially at a young age. â€Å"The important orientations are the learning goals, performance goals and work avoidance† (British Journal of Educational Psychology). In my future practice as a teacher, in order to gain children’s interest in learning my aim will be to encourage children to be curious and eager to learn. From my work placement in a school setting, children are more successful when they learn to ask questions, think independently and also being very creative. Children need to be curious about the world, interested in how things work, and also know how to creatively approach problems. Child B asked a question†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Do Fly’s sleep?† I resisted answering the question straightaway and asked Child B â€Å"What do you think? Where do you think we could find the answer?†. In responding in this way, I was encouraging Child B to think for themself, this also helps children build their self-esteem. Creativity is a very important tool in every individual’s l earning, â€Å"creativity is essentially a form of problem-solving. But it is a special type of problem-solving–one that involves problems for which there are no easy answers: that is, problems for which popular or conventional responses do not work. Creativity involves adaptability and flexibility of thought. These are the same types of skills that numerous reports on education† (e.g., the Carnegie Report, 1986) have suggested are critical for students (Creativity in Young Children). During my work placement in a school setting, creativity was essential for progressive learning. In order for creativity to take place the school created an environment that allowed the children to explore and play without undue restraints. Also, a key to the successful progression of every child’s learning was that we adapted to  every childs ideas, rather than trying to structure the child’s ideas to fit the adults. Learners need to have the opportunity and confidence to take risks, challenge assumptions, and also see things in a new way. I believe in educating the whole child as education comes from a wide range of experiences. All powerful learning occurs through engagement with others, the process and also the product of this learning is very important. Children learn mainly by modelling, actions speak louder than words. â€Å"The majority of learning is tied to developments and takes time to see results† (Emphatic parenting). In order to teach children, we need to supportively help them understand first. A vital part of all learning is that of reflecting over what the individual has learnt. Every individual matters in the learning process because every individual has equal rights to dignity and also respect. As seen, I have learnt about a vast amount of learning techniques that will enable children to reach their full potential, as well as realising how this will be applied throughout my life as a continual learner. I have also, through-out my educational life and previous experience in my placement, discovered the ways in which I learn. This will now enable me to take this knowledge and skill base and apply this to progress successfully in my future practice as a teacher. Bibliography * P. K. Murphy and P. A. Alexander. A motivated exploration of motivation terminology. Contemporary Educational Psychology 25. 2000. Pages. 3–53. * http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/Creativity_in_kids.html * http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/studentreports/schools/personalgoals/suppdevplg.htm * http://www.unco.edu/cebs/psychology/kevinpugh/motivation_project/resources/pintrich00.pdf * https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Q96li6CTQZIJ:pgche09.middlesex.wikispaces.net/file/view/Designing%2BModules%2Bfor%2BLearning.pdf+emerging+beliefs+and+values+about+learning&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiw1wdWPcNk-ZQBL2ACM-0-W7K9O1lstl04yY3WlPsommKZNp5iTWsBOHljIA1MRtl54C9rRZR-3qAr5EDvHKuYlDM9gfX_60nQdQPd2MKpVMLOWXZLH0h7eLLO3xdmc9TmBKhK&sig=AHIEtbSk1Lb_X3XtcRobYxX30al-Ig7KQw * http://www.egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/32872/1/Unit-5.pdf *

Inconsistent Characterization in Main Street by Sinclair Lewis

Inconsistent Characterization in Main Street by Sinclair Lewis Free Online Research Papers Inconsistent Characterization in Main Street by Sinclair Lewis Sinclair Lewis uses the novel Main Street and his characters within it as a window, which reveals his inconsistent feelings about his hometown, Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Throughout the novel his characters fluctuate based on how Lewis characterizes them. Also Lewis’ characters have wavering opinions of the novels setting, Gopher Prairie based on Lewis’ conflicting opinions of his hometown. Sinclair Lewis’ characterization is inconsistent throughout the novel Main Street. This inconsistency reflects in the townspeople of Gopher Prairie, Will Kennicott, and Carol Kennicott. The Townspeople in Main Street appear inconsistent based upon how well they are characterized. The Townspeople are depicted from a highly satirized point of view. Lewis stresses and exaggerates characteristics making some characters seem overly bland while others are more realistic. Sinclair Lewis transformed ordinary likable people into monsters through his satirism, according to Dooley (69). Lewis also uses Main Street to reflect his biased viewpoint of Sauk Centre, Minnesota, the town he grew up in. As a result of his indecisive feelings towards Gopher Prairie his characters seem inconsistent. Some of his characters such as Miles Bjornstam seem more realistic than others such as Mrs. Bogart. Lewis portrays the two-dimensional townspeople from a grotesque point of view. Most of the townspeople appear as stereotypes- the town gossip, the town atheist, the town doctor, the rebellious young artist, etc. â€Å"They are,† as Dooley writes â€Å" two-dimensional figures, painted in primary colors. They have no minds, only voices; loudmouthed, breezy pioneers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (67). Lewis used all of the townspeople as a way of portraying his mixed views of his hometown through his inconsistent characterization of them. Throughout Main Street the reader holds a shaky view of Kennicott’s personality. Kennicott is portrayed as a very basic hero at times, and also as grotesquely unrealistic as the townspeople. When Kennicott performs various medical operations for the townspeople Carol looks upon him as a hero, and when he defends Gopher Prairie he seems dull and arrogant. Although Carol feels he is heroic, she also feels that he is as provincial as the townspeople and thus the reader sympathizes with her. According to Dooley â€Å"†¦ he appears crude, loud-mouthed, and hidebound: ‘Next thing, I suppose you’ll be yapping about free speech. Free speech! There’s too much free speech and free beer and free love and all the rest of your damned mouthy freedom.. ‘ A few pages after this, he is once more presented as a sensitive and considerate person †¦Ã¢â‚¬ (71). Although Kennicott is intelligent and insightful; the reader also feels that he is unimagina tive, materialistic and rather dull. Kennicott holds a patriotic attitude towards Gopher Prairie. He defends the townspeople by saying that they are happy living as they are and that they do not need any advancements. While he defends the town on many occasions he also supports Carol in her attempts to advance the town. The reader receives mixed signals from the characterization of Will Kennicott, and therefore he appears as inconsistent as the rest of the townspeople. Carol appears inconsistent throughout the novel. Carol appears as an illogical reformer throughout her attempts to change Gopher Prairie. Dooley writes, â€Å"†¦She is impulsive, undiplomatic, and ignorant of complications.† (63). Her restless personality lends to her ideas of reform but she is easily discouraged by the towns criticisms, and also lacks the motivation to achieve results leaving the reader with the feeling that she is does not have realistic goals and in turn is not realistic herself. Carol quickly tangles herself in a love-hate relationship with the town, â€Å"She is depressed to the point of a near breakdown,† writes James Lundquist â€Å"by the dullness of its provincial life.† (36). She enjoys the beauty of the countryside and the company of Kennicott, in spite of her hatred for the townspeople and their dullness as well as the dull appearance of the town itself. Carol reveals more inward conflicts when she works in Washington D. C for two years. While she was away from Gopher Prairie she missed it greatly and felt awkward being back in the city. When she returns to the city she accepts it the way it is yet is still distressed by her past attempts to reform it and hopes her daughter will continue her attempts to renovate Gopher Prairie. Main Street is a direct reflection of Lewis’ feelings about Sauk Centre. His characterization, and how it is easily identified as inconsistent throughout the novel, gives its readers an insight as to how he feels about his hometown. His minor characters are inconsistent and two dimensional, while his two main characters, Will and Carol Kennicott are occasionally realistic, but equally inconsistent. Carol was specifically used to portray Lewis’ biased opinion of his hometown, and because she was the main character the reader sympathized with that viewpoint. Main Street’s characters are in essence Lewis’ feelings and beliefs of his hometown, Sauk Centre, resulting in their inconsistency. 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Quick Facts About the English Alphabet

Quick Facts About the English Alphabet Writers spend years rearranging 26 letters of the alphabet, novelist Richard Price once observed. Its enough to make you lose your mind day by day. Its also a good enough reason to gather a few facts about one of the most significant inventions in human history. The Origin of the Word Alphabet The English word alphabet comes to us, by way of Latin, from the names of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, alpha and beta. These Greek words were in turn derived from the original Semitic names for the symbols: Aleph (ox) and beth (house). Where the English Alphabet Came From The original set of 30 signs, known as the Semitic alphabet, was used in ancient Phoenicia beginning around 1600 BCE. Most scholars believe that this alphabet, which consisted of signs for consonants only, is the ultimate ancestor of virtually all later alphabets. (The one significant exception appears to be Koreas han-gul script, created in the 15th century.) Around 1,000 BCE, the Greeks adopted a shorter version of the Semitic alphabet, reassigning certain symbols to represent vowel sounds, and eventually, the Romans developed their own version of the Greek (or Ionic) alphabet. Its generally accepted that the Roman alphabet reached England by way of the Irish sometime during the early period of Old English (5 c.- 12 c.). Over the past millennium, the English alphabet has lost a few special letters and drawn fresh distinctions between others. But otherwise, our modern English alphabet remains quite similar to the version of the Roman alphabet that we inherited from the Irish. The Number of Languages That Use the Roman Alphabet About 100 languages rely on the Roman alphabet. Used by roughly two billion people, its the worlds most popular script. As David Sacks notes in Letter Perfect (2004), There are variations of the Roman alphabet: For example, English employs 26 letters; Finnish, 21; Croatian, 30. But at the core are the 23 letters of ancient Rome. (The Romans lacked J, V, and W.) How Many Sounds There Are in English There are more than 40 distinct sounds (or phonemes) in English. Because we have just 26 letters to represent those sounds, most letters stand for more than one sound. The consonant c, for example, is pronounced differently in the three words cook, city, and (combined with h) chop. What Are​ Majuscules and Minuscules Majuscules (from Latin majusculus, rather large) are capital letters. Minuscules (from Latin minusculus, rather small) are lower-case letters. The combination of majuscules and minuscules in a single system (the so-called dual alphabet) first appeared in a form of writing named after Emperor Charlemagne (742-814), Carolingian minuscule. Pangrams Pangrams are a sentence that contains all 26 letters of the alphabet. The best-known example is The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. A more efficient pangram is Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs. Lipograms Lipograms are text that deliberately excludes a particular letter of the alphabet. The best-known example in English is Ernest Vincent Wrights novel Gadsby: Champion of Youth (1939) - a story of more than 50,000 words in which the letter e never appears. Zee Versus Zed The older pronunciation of zed was inherited from Old French. The American zee, a dialect form heard in England during the 17th century (perhaps by analogy with bee, dee, etc.), was approved by Noah Webster in his American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). The letter z, by the way, has not always been relegated to the end of the alphabet. In the Greek alphabet, it came in at a quite respectable number seven. According to Tom McArthur in The Oxford Companion to the English Language (1992), The Romans adopted Z later than the rest of the alphabet, since /z/ was not a native Latin sound, adding it at the end of their list of letters and using it rarely. The Irish and English simply imitated the Roman convention of placing z last.

Quotes About Friends and Friendship

Quotes About Friends and Friendship Friendship is a rare and precious commodity. If you have a friend who truly understands you and accepts you despite your shortcomings, then you are the luckiest person in the world. Quotes About Friendship Here are some quotes about friendship and friends: Walter Winchell: newspaper/radio columnist/commentator ï » ¿A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Anonymous To have a good friend is one of the highest delights in life; to be a good friend is one of the noblest and most difficult undertakings. Christi Mary Warner: singer/songwriter, poet A true friend is one who knows all about you and likes you anyway. Aristotle: Greek philosopher What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies. Anonymous A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen: Catholic bishop, TV commentator Every man rejoices twice when he has a partner in his joy. He who shares tears with us wipes them away. He divides them in two, and he who laughs with us makes the joy double. Jacques Delille: French poet Fate chooses our relatives, we choose our friends. Samuel Butler: English novelist, essayist Friendship is like money, easier made than kept. Anonymous Every time I hold you I begin to understand, that everything about you tells me youre my best friend. Proverb Advice from your friends is like the weather; some of it is good; some of it is bad. Orson Welles: American actor, writer, director Were born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that were not alone. Charles R. Swindoll: Christian pastor and authorI cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Lets face it, friends make life a lot more fun. Yolanda Hadid: Dutch-American television personalityI have learned that friendship isnt about who youve known the longest, its about who came and never left your side. Simon Sinek; British-American author, consultant The strong bond of friendship is not always a balanced equation; friendship is not always about giving and taking in equal shares. Instead, friendship is grounded in a feeling that you know exactly who will be there for you when you need something, no matter what or when. Khalil Gibran:Â  Lebanese-American writer, poet In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. Ray Bradbury: American authorIf we listened to our intellect, wed never have a love affair. Wed never have a friendship. Wed never go into business, because wed be cynical. Well, thats nonsense. Youve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.

Types of Accounting Systems Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Types of Accounting Systems - Term Paper Example â€Å"Under cash based accounting revenue is recorded when cash is received, and expensed is recorded when cash if paid† (Weygant, et. al. 2002, pg.89). The use cash based accounting is suitable for small businesses that deal primary in cash such as a hot dog vendor or a pizza cart. The use of cash based accounting is not in compliance with the generally accepted accounting principles, thus public companies cannot utilize this method of accounting because it would violate GAAP and SEC mandates. It is easier to implement a cash based accounting when the firm does not have account receivables or account payables. It is possible for accountants to convert a system from a cash basis accounting to an accrued basis accounting. The process is time consuming due to the fact that the accountant must use a lot of adjusting entries. The users of financial statement or stakeholders require precise and accurate financial statements that are free of fraud and materials errors. The major sta keholders groups that use often use financial information of companies to make decisions include the employees, lenders, shareholders, board of directors, suppliers, managerial staff, governmental institutions, and the community. The employees need information regarding the financial activity of the company they work for to provide them with security that the company is aligned with the going concern principle. The lenders evaluate the financial statements of companies to determine whether to lend them money or not. Banks and others rely on the accuracy of the financial statements to make decisions worth thousands or millions of dollars. Suppliers often extend credit lines to corporate customers based on their evaluation of the financial performance of an enterprise. The general public expects corporations to act in a socially responsible manner at all times. The shareholders make buy and sell decisions based on the results of the financial statements. Wall Street would collapse if investors stop believing in the accuracy of financial statements. Back at the turn of the century a series of financial scandals caused investors in the US to lose confidence in the accuracy of financial statements released by public companies. The US Congress reacted by passing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act raised the consumer confidence, overall accountability, accuracy, and it imposed severe penalties for white collar crimes. Executive managers such as CEOs found of fraudulent financial activity can receive penalties of up to 20 years in prison. The CEO now has to sign the financial statements prior to being release to certify that they are free of fraud and material error. Accountants utilized a concept knows as depreciation to reflect the loss in value of an equipment or machinery as time passes. The most common depreciation method used by accountants in the United States is straight line depreciation. Straight line depreciation is calculated by diving price minus salvage value by lifetime in years (price – salvage value) / (years). Depreciation helps adjust the value of an asset. Companies that depreciate its assets receive a tax benefit because depreciation is categorized as an expense the lowers the net earning of the company. Three additions depreciation methods are LIFO, FIFO, and weighted average. The MACRS depreciation method is one of the best methods to reduce taxes in the short

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 10

Management - Essay Example While performing analysis of my work history and my related experience, I learnt that by understanding management theories like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Herzberg motivation theory and equity theory I became a better worker as I was able to assess the factors that motivated and de-motivated me. I have worked in a security agency full time for around five years now. During this period, I have worked in security for two years and later on I was rotated to the management department. During the first two years of my employment, it was difficult for me to adjust as work conditions were not amiable and I did not get along well with my manager. Due to these differences, I was least motivated to come over to work let along giving my 100 percent input towards the job. Although salary package and other benefits were market-competitive and the job was stable even during times of recession however it was not fulfilling for me. Secondly, due to differences with my manager, I was also fi nding it hard to be a part of special assignments since the guidelines were not clear or his attitude was not acceptable for me. As a result, my relationship with other co-workers was also getting strained. I shared my discontent with my HR manager and how I would wish to stay with the company but things were getting difficult. After listening to my concerns and checking out my performance record, HR department rotated me to the management department. After a while, I liked my work and also the work environment in the deportment. I realized that manager was also very considerate. In fact, he used to pay personal consideration to every team member and also treat them after considering their personal needs. After spending an year in this department, I came to know that one of my friends who was also at the same position, was getting more salary than me which lowered my motivation for a little while despite other work related elements remaining the same. After talking to my department manager in an appraisal meeting, I shared my expectations with them and received the desired raise. These changes in my motivation level made me analyze the factors that had a tendency of affecting my willingness to work effectively and efficiently with the same company. For this purpose, I studied few management theories and tried to identify basic reasons behind changes in my motivation level. In the beginning of my career, I was content with my work and also with the working conditions. However, my tolerance for adverse working conditions changed after my friend told me about other positions. Analyzing my attitude towards work conditions in the light of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, I realized that my basic physiological, safety and belonging needs were fully satisfied since I had other opportunities along with family support (Torrington, Laura and Stephen 313). Therefore, I needed more esteem at workplace as the attitude of manager was not conducive enough. I realized that satisfaction of basic needs has an important role in other overall satisfaction level regarding work. Secondly, when I was shifted in the management department, I found the work conditions very amiable. Although salary, benefits and other facilities remained the same but nature of work became very interesting as manager was really supportive. Studying Herzberg theory helped me understanding that

A letter to editor in wall street journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A letter to editor in wall street journal - Essay Example the problem of unemployment in the nation that attracted my attention, similarly as it might have done to the majority of sentient inhabitants of the US. The recent financial shock of 2008 was certainly quite destructive that led to multiple issues in the economic as well as in the political structure of our country. One such consequence, as the experts called attention to, was the very rising unemployment rate in the economy. According to the statistical data, unemployment rate has increased rapidly in the US since the early 2009 which currently accounts above 9% on an average. It is indeed one of the most serious drawbacks for a developed economy such as the US which require instantaneous concern of the government with the purpose of its revival. The declared economic plan by the President of the US also depicts similar concern, but in an extended demeanor taking into account both the economic and political aspects. The plan emphasizes on payroll tax cuts that would surely lessen the burden of employers and employees in the presently hostile business environment of the economy. It also includes extension in the investment grants for education and infrastructure sector. Attempts shall be made to boost the labor market through added concerns regarding programs for the jobless under the declared plan. On an aggregate, this planning shall cost $447 billion being enacted from 2012. Therefore, as a short-term recovery strategy, this plan shall certainly encourage the employers to hire more man power and thus make larger contribution to the overall GDP growth. Where economists in this context reveal the probable short-term benefits of the strategy, politicians have been noted to continue with their fair game of opposition with due regards to the components of the planning. The most noticeable questions augmented by the politicians in this context, whether a democrat or a republican, are related to the approval of the amount asked for the plan and its

Becoming a master student Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Becoming a master student - Essay Example In fact, it is not what happens to us that becomes an experience, but rather, how we think about what happens to us. This way, thoughts progress eventually and become part of our growth. 2. Clarence Darrow, who had the reputation of being an excellent American lawyer and civil libertarian, feels that the power to think rests in the power to laugh. If you are unable to laugh, it means you create a situation where your thoughts are stifled by unnecessary stress. The positive energy of laughter creates an ambience for clear, proactive thoughts. People who are ill-tempered are also known to be thoughtless. On the other hand, those who are able to see the lighter side of life in everything emerge as true winners where the power of thoughts is the need of the hour. Moreover, a person with a sense of humour connects well with others, and her/his thoughts can very well be communicated to others quickly because of this. 3. Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American writer who led the Transcendentalist Movement in the mid 19th century, believes that the hardest task on earth is to think. There is a common misunderstanding that it is quite easy to ‘think’, but the truth remains that real thinking calls for intelligence and logical aptitude. Otherwise, one may end up acting thoughtlessly. It is not the quantity of thought, but its quality that matters ultimately. Anyone who is capable of using quality time thinking about something relevant is apt to come up with new perspectives n life, and in some cases, even solutions to the most difficult problems in life. None of the scientific inventions and historical discoveries could have materialized out of thoughtless endeavors. Thoughts are tough to materialize out of vacuum; it calls for dedicated work for a prolonged time. 4. Voltaire, the French philosopher and writer, reveals how those who think are excessively few in the world. And he adds that those who do not think set

Information Systems Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Information Systems - Coursework Example 3. Firstly the patient submits a request for X-ray application which is denoted by the data flow â€Å"Submits X-Ray request form† to the process â€Å"Make X-Ray appointment† and subsequently makes an appointment denoted by â€Å"Makes an appointment†. The primary reasons for having an information system is to understand in detail the various cost drivers which make sure that a certain amount of money is drained in the process and an organization is benefited in the long run. For example, QuickShop Inc enveloped information system in the form of an ERP product which failed because of the lack of enough management belief in the system, lack of turnover ratio, not taking care of the system requirements and functions. The information system processes are the ones which are mentioned in the SRS document which needs to be adhered by the software vendor. Often the customer is not clear or confused about the ideas and the requirements. Total failure relates to either the concept has never been implemented or after implementation the system was abandoned. The concept building phase would have taken so much time that the very idea was quite complex at the end. The feasibility factors were studied in so detail that there was always some probability of not proceeding with the further implementation stages. The other case which was highlighted is that just after the system is implemented it was found to be not satisfying the business requirements or it did not envelope the business workflow and had to be abandoned so that the business does not suffer losses if it cannot make profit. The partial failure of the system can be attributed for either the system does not fulfill the system requirements or there are significant undesirable outcomes. If a particular set of requirements are not fulfilled or if a department is not aligned in sharing information then it may result in failure of the system. Other types

Questions about argument and enthymeme Assignment

Questions about argument and enthymeme - Assignment Example Another defining feature is consensus-building, which encompasses the search and pursuit for common grounds among the parties questioning the issue under discussion. Third is persuasion, which encompasses the presentation of facts and information likely to change the viewpoint of the other party (Boylan 5). Writers justify claims by offering information on the grounds that they are placing the assertions they raise, through their writing. They also justify their claims through discussing the basis of how they have come to know the assertions they are raising, which could include research. They also justify their claims by explaining the authority they are using to raise the claims from. An example here is a medical claim made by a doctor, as opposed to another made by an accountant. The claim of the doctor is more authoritative. Whether leadership is an in-born or a developed characteristic, it is general knowledge that there are certain characteristics that identify good leaders. These include that a leader should show exemplary characteristics, including trustworthiness, as a leader who does not keep their word cannot be trusted. A good leader should also be enthusiastic about the roles they play, as this enthusiasm is passed on to the followers, towards achieving the set goals. Failure to lead enthusiastically, leads to aimless following, where some followers do not know the goals they are pursuing. This is a successful argument, as it shows both sides of the argument. The process of making an argument is the step by step explanation of different skills and concentration areas, towards presenting arguments effectively. The argument process involves three phases, including organization, where the ideas to be presented are developed. The second phase is construction, where the ideas are given form or shape – which can be passed to the

Information Systems Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Information Systems - Coursework Example 3. Firstly the patient submits a request for X-ray application which is denoted by the data flow â€Å"Submits X-Ray request form† to the process â€Å"Make X-Ray appointment† and subsequently makes an appointment denoted by â€Å"Makes an appointment†. The primary reasons for having an information system is to understand in detail the various cost drivers which make sure that a certain amount of money is drained in the process and an organization is benefited in the long run. For example, QuickShop Inc enveloped information system in the form of an ERP product which failed because of the lack of enough management belief in the system, lack of turnover ratio, not taking care of the system requirements and functions. The information system processes are the ones which are mentioned in the SRS document which needs to be adhered by the software vendor. Often the customer is not clear or confused about the ideas and the requirements. Total failure relates to either the concept has never been implemented or after implementation the system was abandoned. The concept building phase would have taken so much time that the very idea was quite complex at the end. The feasibility factors were studied in so detail that there was always some probability of not proceeding with the further implementation stages. The other case which was highlighted is that just after the system is implemented it was found to be not satisfying the business requirements or it did not envelope the business workflow and had to be abandoned so that the business does not suffer losses if it cannot make profit. The partial failure of the system can be attributed for either the system does not fulfill the system requirements or there are significant undesirable outcomes. If a particular set of requirements are not fulfilled or if a department is not aligned in sharing information then it may result in failure of the system. Other types

Discussing Literary Genre Essay Example for Free

Discussing Literary Genre Essay To define genre is to embark on a conjectural journey within a theoretical minefield. Genre theory has drawn immense debate and contemplation throughout literary history, however, several conclusions have emerged. Genre types are unfixed categories whose characteristics differ considerably among the specific genres; furthermore, the role of literary history plays a significant role in discussions of genre, for genre types evolve and shift with each new literary text. An approach to the discussion of genre, family resemblances, illustrates similar conventions among texts within a genre, but there are significant problems in this approach. There are several ways to discuss genre, and although problems abound in any approach, the subjective nature of the literary experience calls attention to the importance of the interaction between reader and text to provide the final word on genre. Although there is considerable theoretical debate about the definition of specific genres, the conventional definition tends to be based on the idea that texts within a genre share particular conventions of content and form, such as themes, settings, structure and style. However, the nature of genre leads to several problems inherent in the defining of genres. Certain genres are looser and more open ended in their conventions than other genres and some genres have many conventions while others have very few. Furthermore, literary texts that overlap and mix genres blur the distinction between them. Genres are not discrete systems consisting of a fixed number of list able items. Consequently, the same text can belong to different genres in different countries or times. For example, Latin poets categorized the elegy mainly in terms of its meter, while poets during the English Renaissance regarded the subject matter and tone to be determinate of form. History and culture play a role in the ever changing status of genres, which are difficult to define because the concept encompasses so many different literary qualities and conventions that can be broken or accepted, overlapped or mixed. Rather than define genre, some theorists approach the discussion of genre using Ludwig Wittgenstein’s concept of â€Å"family resemblances† among literary texts. Although a literary text rarely has all the characteristics of a particular genre, this method involves the discernment of similar conventions among texts within a genre. However, the problem of selection arises, for which texts can claim to be representative of a genre? Moreover, who decides the selection of these texts? The consideration of specific characteristics in literature introduces problems regarding the classification of literary works. The choice of characteristics taken into account is essential to the discussion of genre types . The characteristics of specific genres shift throughout history to accommodate variations in the category that occur; the defining characteristics of a particular genre can alter so drastically that the preliminary era in a new genre may not resemble the modern literary works in that genre. The works of Edgar Allan Poe, considered to be the father of the modern short story, show the contrast between the classification of short fiction in the 19th century and today. Poe’s short story, â€Å"The Murders in the Rue Morgue†, provides suspense and mystery; however, the story does not include the main character’s moment of consciousness, the key ingredient in classifying modern short stories. Although â€Å"The Murders in the Rue Morgue† does not entail a moment of revelation, the story was regarded as short fiction in 1841. The contrast between early short fiction and the modern short story demonstrates the varying qualities of the genre between its preliminary stages and the present, and shows the substantial transformation which occurred within the genre. The types of genres not only shift throughout history but also alter with each new literary work. The altering of generic categories results in further difficulty in defining genre and classifying literary texts, for it demonstrates that generic forms are never fixed entities. Literary theorist Todorov asserts that although â€Å"every work modifies the sum of possible works we grant a text the right to figure in the history of literature only insofar as it produces a change in our previous notion of one activity or another†. Donald Barthelme’s â€Å"The Glass Mountain† is an example that expands the notion of short stories; the text challenges readers to find meaning and story where there is none. â€Å"The Glass Mountain† influences and increases the possibilities of short stories, while compelling readers to contemplate the role of short stories. Such engagement between a literary text and a reader results in the most intriguing and merited discussion of genre. The subjective procedure of defining genre appeals to the relationship between text and reader. Genre provides a framework within which texts are interpreted, and expectations and emotional outlooks are the individual results of reading literature. The expectations prompted by conventions in a literary text play a large role in the discussion of genre. For example, Mavis Gallant’s â€Å"From the Fifteenth District† cheats the expectation that arises from the first sentence, â€Å"[a]lthough an epidemic of haunting † (Gallant 115), and surprises readers with the discovery that the story is a reversal of the ghost story. A reader’s personal interaction with a literary work is decisive of genre, for what we think a genre is and the individual’s impression of a literary text often serve to classify a literary work. The individual’s response to literature plays a vital role in the discussion of genre, for literary texts are created for an audience of one. The various means to discuss genre provide insightful observations; however, significant problems are inherent in these discussions. The constantly changing categories of genre and the emergence of new literary works make defining genre a daunting task better left to the individual reader.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Case Study

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Case Study   Discussion Questions What inspired Skullcraft to pursue ERP even though the company had just 26 employees? Solution An Enterprise Resource Planning system is an integrated system which helps the organization to manage its resources; inventory, procurement, supply chain, finance, human resource etc. are few of the many resources an ERP helps to manage. Although, the company had just 26 employees, an ERP system will enhance the managing of resources which is not limited to just human resources. The following facts will justify the implementation of the ERP system: The company was rivalling Sony in the U.S. headphones market with sales of up to $37 million. The company had around 200 to 300 percent annual growth rate. The business had to handle large amounts of transactions. The finance department was using Excel spreadsheets and Quickbooks to manage the books. Wide distribution of products. No product tracking through supply chain till ERP was implemented. In a nutshell, Skullcraft was a small business with transactions comparable to a big enterprise. Thus managing resources was getting more and more complicated as the company grew in sales and investing in an ERP system will help the company manage its resources in a more efficient way. Moreover, as the ERP system was fully hosted, the company did not need to manage a separate ERP infrastructure which was a bonus for them. What features caused Skullcraft to choose SAPs ByDesign? Solution SAPs ByDesign was a unique system which fulfilled Skullcrafts each and every requirement. After evaluating many systems, Beth Siron chose ByDesign for the following reasons: SAPs ByDesign was a fully system hosted system meaning that it did not required additional information system infrastructure to be implemented by Skullcraft. The organization would use the ERP system over the internet which made it easy for each and every department to use it from anywhere. It enabled big business practices for managing financials, inventory, customer relations, supply chain etc. in a format accessible to small businesses. This was perfect a was the small enterprise with annual growth rate of 200 to 300 percent. It helped Skullcraft to track the products through the supply chain. The ERP system was enabled the company to forecast future demand. Thus, the software did everything a big companys Information System would do but without the additional infrastructure and a team to manage it. These features where perfect for Skullcraft which was a small firm with transactions equal to a large firm. Critical Thinking Questions How do you think Skullcraft was able to maintain a small staff while increasing production 200 to 300 percent annually? Solution Rick Alden saw a unique business opportunity in selling high-end radically designed headphones to Skiers and Skateboaders. The company was also the first one to enable users to switch between music listening and cell phone conversations over headphones. The reason behind the tremendous growth was the target market and distribution channel. The company first targeted specialty ski and skate shops and then later large retail chains. Specialty retail shops attracted large amounts of extreme sports fanatics which put Skullcraft on the map in the headphones industry. Even with just 26 employees, the company was effectively able to manage its operations specially production and distribution. It is not unusually for a company to have a tremendous growth rate with such a small workforce. If operations are effectively managed, growth can be increased without comparable investment in additional resources. The company may have had the production outsourced which makes sense as a small workforce cannot produce and maintain such large product demand. Moreover, the company could have arranged the goods to the picked up at the manufacturers workshop and dropped at the specialty retail stores. Thus by effectively managing the flow of goods, the company must have been able to increase its production up to 200 to 300 percent with just 26 employees. Do you think Skullcraft is unusual in its size and needs? What other businesses can you think of that fit the Skullcraft model? Solution No, Skullcraft is not unusual in its needs and size. It I common for a company to have a tremendous growth rate even with a small size. Many small business offer services to a large number of customers. Skullcrafts Rick Alden realized an exceptional business opportunity which became a huge success and helped the company experience a growth rate of 200 to 300 percent annually. Also, the company was able to effectively manage and integrate operations resulting in huge sales while maintaining a small human capital. Other businesses that fit the Skullcraft model are: IT firms like GoDaddy which provide domain services to small and large enterprises enterprises can serve a large number of customer with its small size. The advancement in internet services enables such firms to stay small and serve large. Thus, investing in an ERP system will enable GoDaddy to manage operations more effectively. Freight Forwarding firms consolidate good from various customers into one big container. This helps cut down the costs of shipping small amounts of goods. They use the infrastructure of big firms and manage operations right at their desks. Also, and ERP system will help freight forwarders to track the goods through the supply chain and mange customer relations. A small logistics firms manages the operations and uses resources of other organizations to transport the goods. Their small size demands huge amounts of resources. And ERP in a logistics firm with help the employees track the goods, manage the finance, maintain customer relations etc. Medical firms, architecture firms, designing and developing firms and many other IT sector firms are small in size but their needs are huge. Thus, Skullcrafts size and needs are not unusual as it is very common for a firm to remain small but serve a large number of customers which will inevitably increase their needs. Group Members Dhruvit Shah Praveenchand Nair Abhay Khurana Brahamdeep Singh

Alzheimers Disease Essay -- essays research papers fc

Alzheimer 1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is inevitable that eventually each of us will grow old and begin to face more and more health problems as our age rises. Elderly people are challenged by many illnesses and diseases that unfortunately, are incurable. One disease that becomes more common as people age is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s a common cause and a form of dementia and can severely damage a patient’s cognitive functions and can ultimately cause death. Living with Alzheimer’s disease can be saddening for both the sufferer and the family. Family and friends will find it very hard to cope when a loved one begins slipping away and losing memory of who they are.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alzheimer’s disease comes from the last name of a neuro-psychiatrist from Germany, Alois Alzheimer. The disease was first diagnosed when a woman in her early fifties began experience memory problems. â€Å"Alzheimer recounted the now famous case of ‘Auguste D.’ a 51-year-old housewife who had been failing mentally for several years. As a result she had been admitted to his care in the Asylum for the Insane and Epileptic†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Maurer and Maurer 1). After her death, he continued to examine her brain to find causes and explanations for her behavior. He discovered â€Å"†¦classic neuro-pathological signs of plaques and tangles† (Maurer and Maurer 1). â€Å"Plaques are chains of amino acids that are pieces of the amyloid precursor protein†¦tangles are aggregates of the protein tau† (Secko 1). As plaques develop they produce tangles and â€Å"these two abnormalities ultimately lead to loss of cognitive function† (Secko 1) Alois Alzheimer’s research has allowed many specialist to conclude that the apolipoproetein E gene may contribute to the disease. Alzheimer 2 The occurrence and deposits of these proteins in the brain and in the body may ultimately lead to whether or not someone will be susceptible and diagnosed with Alzheimer disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alzheimer’s disease is rising at a very high rate. â€Å"The number of new cases per year is estimated at 360,000 equating to 980 new cases per day or 40 new cases every hour† (Cummings and Cole 1) This evidence shows that an increasing number of people will discover the effects of a cognitive impairment that will most likely be due to Alzheimer’s disease. As people age, their risk of being diagnosed with this disease increases ... ...† (Cummings and Cole 1). This astounding figure should encourage people to become aware of the disease and its signs and symptoms so that they are able to seek help and medical treatment in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in attempt to live and cope with this condition. Works Cited Cummings, Jeffrey L., Cole, Greg. â€Å"Alzheimer Disease.† Journal of the American   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Medical Association. May 2002: 287-18. Health Source. EBSCOhost. Utica   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  College Lib. 15 Apr 2005. . Maurer, K., and Maurer, U. â€Å"Alzheimer: The Life of a Physician and the Career of a   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Disease.† Journal of the American Medical Association. February 2005: 293-6.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Health Source. EBSCOhost. Utica College Lib. 15 Apr 2005. . Santacruz, K. S., and Swagerty, D. â€Å"Early Diagnosis of Dementia.† American Family   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Physician. February 2001: 63-4. Health Source. EBSCOhost. Utica College Lib.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15 Apr 2005. . Secko, David. â€Å"Alzheimer’s Disease: Genetic Variables and Risk.† Canadian Medical   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Association Journal. March 2005: 172-5.

All The Kings Men Essay -- essays research papers

Trapped in the Web   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the novel, All the Kings Men by Robert Penn Warren, the characters live out the consequences of decisions made in their pasts. Each character deals with the past in a different way. It costs some relationships. It costs some their careers. It even costs some their lives. I believe that Cass Mastern says it best when he says “…the world is like an enormous spider web and if you and if you touch it, however lightly, at any point the vibration ripples to the remotest perimeter and the drowsy spider feels the tingle and is drowsy no more but springs out to fling the gossamer coils about you who have touched the web and then injects the black, numbing poison under your hide';(188-189). I feel that this quote does an excellent job of capturing the theme of this novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jack Burden and Judge Montague Irwin defiantly feel the effects of the spider. Jack Burden, at the request of Governor Willie Stark, dug up dirt on Judge Irwin. Jack gets in over his head when he finds more than he wanted to know about Judge Irwin. That’s when everything does upside-down, and the spider gets them. The Judge kills himself, which affected many people. One of the people that it affected was Jack. Jack found out that the Judge was his biological father and never had the chance to have his first true “father son'; talk. Even though Jacks goals from the beginning were to discover trut...

Family of Woodstock Essay

ABSTRACT: This paper will explore the factors that led the Founders to create the Family of Woodstock while discussing its ability to meet the needs of the community. Further discussion will include creation of the agency’s values, attitudes and beliefs and how they have changed over its 40 year period of service to the community and how specialization has become a trend in the human services delivery. The Family of Woodstock, a social service agency, was founded by those individuals who felt that certain factors presented the opportunity for them to start a social service agency as a direct result of the Woodstock Festival held in a town approximately 100 miles from their location. Many of those who attended the Woodstock Festival brought little, if any, personal belongings or food with them. They were sleeping in parks and spent time hunting down food and/or shelter. In many cases, the attendees were looking for shelter, food and clothing. The community came together with one resident offering her home as well as her telephone service to prevent the Festival attendees from roaming through the area and possibly being arrested for vagrancy. This began the Family of Woodstock whose mission is â€Å"to provide confidential and fully accessible crisis intervention, information, prevention, and support services to address the needs of individuals and  families. The scope of the agency’s vision allows us to bring to bear resources to address a broad spectrum of human problems.† (Family of Woodstock, 2014) With the commitment that the staff at Family would not tell people what to do nor pass judgment on them, the staff was instructed to listen and encourage those who came for help to make choices that would be of benefit. The staff’s eventual goal was to refer people to existing agencies, but be able to fill in when no other agency could assist individuals seeking assistance. Family of Woodstock has become the premier agency for individuals and families seeking assistance in the areas of homelessness, domestic violence, emergency services, child and adolescent services. The agency has certainly met the needs of their community and beyond. The Family provides numerous shelters and housing programs such as Family House – a runaway and homeless youth facility; the Darmstadt Shelter for the Homeless – for men and women primarily in various stages of recover; the Family Inn – a shelter for homeless families; the Washbourne House – a domestic violence shelter for women and their children. The agency also provides supervised transitional living residences for homeless adolescents, and if necessary, their children. A few of the other programs that the Family of Woodstock provide are child care programs for the community, case management services for adult and adolescent substance abusers, inmates at the county jail, homeless individuals and families, victims of domestic violence as well as the general public. Non-residential services are provided to victims of domestic violence as well as supervised visits ordered by the local courts. Keeping in mind that the values, beliefs and attitudes of the Family of Woodstock may have changed over the 40 years since its inception, the original three concepts have continued and have been incorporated into how the Family continues to provide service to the community and its residents. Forty years ago, this fledging not for profit took its concepts from the way the founding members saw their commitment to the community. Today that commitment to the community continues with the addition of more programs and services to assist a broader spectrum of individuals and families who require service. The original client base were individuals and families who attended the Woodstock Festival; today’s clients are residents of the community, some of whom may be part of the original client basis and/or their family members. In this day and age,  specialization has become the latest trend in the human service profession and innovation is equally important and powerful. It is part of how agencies deliver outcomes today, while preparing for tomorrow. Not for profit leaders and others realize that processes, technologies and cultures must be part of the change today in order to deliver high-quality, cost-effective services in the future. However this change takes place, not for profit leaders and others know that in order for their agencies to formulate change, they must assimilate the change with the unique positions that their agencies hold. In conclusion, the Family of Woodstock has moved forward utilizing their talents and abilities to seek changes which move their agency forward by providing more services than originally planned and utilizing their successful outcomes as the pivotal point. References Burger, W.R. (2011). Human services in contemporary America (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. Family of Woodstock, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014 from http://familyofwoodstockinc.org

Business Model Product Statement Health And Social Care Essay

The respiratory system consists of the respiratory musculuss, carry oning air passages, lungs, pneumonic vasculature, and environing tissues and constructions ( Fig. 1 ) . Each plays an of import function in act uponing respiratory responses. Figure 1. Respiratory Anatomy ( 1 )LungsThere are two lungs in the human thorax ; the right lung is composed of three uncomplete divisions called lobes, and the left lung has two, go forthing room for the bosom. The right lung histories for 55 % of entire gas volume and the left lung for 45 % . Lung tissue is squashy due to really little ( 200 to 300 – 10-6 m diameter in normal lungs at remainder ) gas-filled pits called air sac, which are the ultimate constructions for gas exchange. There are 250 million to 350 million air sac in the grownup lung, with a entire alveolar surface country of 50 to 100 M2s depending on the grade of lung rising prices ( 2 ) .Conducting Air passagesAir is transported from the ambiance to the air sac get downing with the unwritten and rhinal pits, through the throat ( in the pharynx ) , past the glottal gap, and into the windpipe or trachea. Conduction of air Begins at the voice box, or voice box, at the entryway to the windpipe, which is a fibromus cular tubing 10 to 12 centimeter in length and 1.4 to 2.0 centimeter in diameter. At a location called the Carina, the windpipe terminates and divides into the left and right bronchial tube. Each bronchial tube has a discontinuous cartilaginous support in its wall. Muscle fibres capable of commanding air passage diameter are incorporated into the walls of the bronchial tube, every bit good as in those of air transitions closer to the air sac. Smooth musculus is present throughout the respiratory bronchiolus and alveolar canals but is absent in the last alveolar canal, which terminates in one to several air sacs. The alveolar walls are shared by other air sacs and are composed of extremely fictile and collapsable squamous epithelial tissue cells. The bronchial tube subdivide into subbronchi, which farther subdivide into bronchioli, which further subdivide, and so on, until eventually making the alveolar degree. Each air passage is considered to ramify into two subairways. In the grownup homo there are considered to be 23 such ramifications, or coevalss, get downing at the windpipe and stoping in the air sac. Motion of gases in the respiratory airways occurs chiefly by majority flow ( convection ) throughout the part from the oral cavity to the olfactory organ to the 15th coevals. Beyond the 15th coevals, gas diffusion is comparatively more of import. With the low gas speeds that occur in diffusion, dimensions of the infinite over which diffusion occurs ( alveolar infinite ) must be little for equal O bringing into the walls ; smaller air sac are more efficient in the transportation of gas than are larger 1s ( 2 ) .AlveolussAlveoluss are the constructions through which gases diffuse to and from the organic structure. To guaran tee gas exchange occurs expeditiously, alveolar walls are highly thin. For illustration, the entire tissue thickness between the interior of the air sac to pneumonic capillary blood plasma is merely approximately 0.4 – 10-6 m. Consequently, the chief barrier to diffusion occurs at the plasma and ruddy blood cell degree, non at the alveolar membrane ( 2 ) .Motion of Air In and Out of the Lungs and the Pressures That Cause the MotionPleural PressureIs the force per unit area of the fluid in the thin infinite between the lung pleura and the chest wall pleura.Alveolar force per unit areaIs the force per unit area of the air inside the lung air sac. To do inward flow of air into the air sac during inspiration, the force per unit area in the air sac must fall to a value somewhat below atmospheric force per unit area.Transpulmonary force per unit areaIt is the force per unit area difference between that in the air sac and that on the outer surfaces of the lungs, and it is a step of the elastic forces in the lungs that tend to fall in the lungs at each blink of an eye of espiration, called the kick force per unit area.Conformity of the LungsThe extent to which the lungs will spread out for each unit addition in transpulmonary force per unit area ( if adequate clip is allowed to make equilibrium ) is called the lung conformity. The entire conformity of both lungs together in the normal grownup human being norms about 200 millilitres of air per centimetre of H2O transpulmonary force per unit area ( 3 ) . Figure 2. Conformity diagram of lungs in a healthy individual ( 3 ) .Pathophysiology of Weaning FailureReversible aetiologies for ablactating failure can be categorized in: Respiratory burden, cardiac burden, neuromuscular competency, critical unwellness neuromuscular abnormalcies ( CIMMA ) , neuropsychological factors, and metabolic and endocrinal upsets.Respiratory burdenThe determination to try discontinuance of mechanical airing has mostly been based on the clinician ‘s appraisal that the patient is haemodynamically stable, wake up, the disease procedure has been treated adequately and that indices of minimum ventilator dependence are present. The success of ablactating will be dependent on the ability of the respiratory musculus pump to digest the burden placed upon it. This respiratory burden is a map of the opposition and conformity of the ventilator pump. Excess work of take a breathing ( WOB ) may be imposed by inappropriate ventilator scenes ensuing in ventilator dysynchrony ( 4 ) . Reduced pneumonic conformity may be secondary to pneumonia, cardiogenic or noncardiogenic pneumonic hydrops, pneumonic fibrosis, pneumonic bleeding or other diseases doing diffuse pneumonic infiltrates ( 5 ) .Cardiac burdenMany patients have identified ischemic bosom disease, valvular bosom disease, systolic or diastolic disfunction prior to, or identified during, their critical unwellness. More elusive and less easy recognized are those patients with myocardial disfunction, which is merely evident when exposed to the work load of ablactating ( 5 ) .Neuromuscular competencyLiberation from mechanical airing requires the recommencement of neuromuscular activity to get the better of the electric resistance of the respiratory system, to run into metabolic demands and to keep C dioxide homeostasis. This requires an equal signal coevals in the cardinal nervous system, integral transmittal to spinal respiratory motor nerve cells, respiratory musculuss and neuromuscular junctions. Disruption of any part of this transmittal may lend to ablactating failure ( 5 ) .Critical unwellness neuromuscular abnormalciesCINMA are the most common peripheral neuromuscular upsets encountered in the ICU scene and normally affect both musculus and nervus ( 6 ) .Psychological disfunctionCraze, or acute encephalon disfunction: Is a perturbation of the degree of knowledge and rousing and, in ICU patients, has been associated with many modifiable hazard factors, including: usage of psychotropic drugs ; untreated hurting ; drawn-out immobilization ; hypoxaemia ; anemia ; sepsis ; and kip want ( 7 ) . Anxiety and depression: Many patients suffer important anxiousness during their ICU stay and the procedure of ablactating from mechanical airing. These memories of hurt may stay for old ages ( 8 ) .Metabolic perturbationsHypophosphataemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypokalaemia all cause musculus failing. Hypothyroidism and Addison's disease may besides lend to difficulty ablactating ( 5 ) .NutritionCorpulence: The mechanical effects of fleshiness with reduced respiratory conformity, high shutting volume/functional residuary capacity ratio and elevated WOB might be expected to impact on the continuance of mechanical airing ( 5 ) .Ventilator-induced stop disfunction and critical unwellness oxidative emphasisVentilator-induced stop disfunction and critical unwellness oxidative emphasis is defined as loss of diaphragm force-generating capacity that is specifically related to utilize of controlled mechanical airing ( 9 ) .Clinical Presentation of PatientsPatients can be classified into three g roups harmonizing to the trouble and length of the ablactation procedure. The simple ablactation, group 1, includes patients who successfully pass the initial self-generated take a breathing test ( SBT ) and are successfully extubated on the first effort. Group 2, hard ablactation, includes patients who require up to three SBT or every bit long as 7 yearss from the first SBT to accomplish successful ablactation. Group 3, prolonged ablactation, includes patients who require more than three SBT or more than 7 yearss of ablactation after the first SBT ( 5 ) .Clinical Outcomes and EpidemiologyThere is much grounds that ablactating tends to be delayed, exposing the patient to unneeded uncomfortableness and increased hazard of complications ( 5 ) . Time spent in the ablactation procedure represents 40-50 % of the entire continuance of mechanical airing ( 10 ) ( 11 ) . ESTEBAN et Al. ( 10 ) demonstrated that mortality additions with increasing continuance of mechanical airing, in portion because of complications of drawn-out mechanical airing, particularly ventil ator-associated pneumonia and airway injury ( 12 ) . The incidence of unplanned extubation ranges 0.3-16 % . In most instances ( 83 % ) , the unplanned extubation is initiated by the patient, while 17 % are inadvertent. Almost half of patients with self-extubation during the weaning period do non necessitate reintubation, proposing that many patients are maintained on mechanical airing longer than is necessary ( 5 ) . Addition in the extubation hold between readiness twenty-four hours and effectual extubation significantly increases mortality. In the survey by COPLIN et Al. ( 13 ) , mortality was 12 % if there was no hold in extubation and 27 % when extubation was delayed. Failure of extubation is associated with high mortality rate, either by choosing for bad patients or by bring oning hurtful effects such as aspiration, atelectasis and pneumonia ( 5 ) . Rate of ablactating failure after a individual SBT is reported to be 26- 42 % . Variation in the rate of ablactating failure among surveies is due to differences in the definition of ablactating failure. VALLVERDU et Al. ( 14 ) reported that ablactating failure occurred in every bit many as 61 % of COPD patients, in 41 % of neurological patients and in 38 % of hypoxaemic patients. Contradictory consequences exist sing the rate of ablactating success among neurological patients. The survey by COPLIN et Al. ( 13 ) demonstrated that 80 % of patients with a Glasgow coma mark of more than 8 and 91 % of patients with a Glasgow coma mark less than 4 were successfully extubated. In 2,486 patients from six surveies, 524 patients failed SBT and 252 failed extubation after go throughing SBT, taking to a entire w eaning failure rate of 31.2 % ( 5 ) . The huge bulk of patients who fail a SBT do so because of an instability between respiratory musculus capacity and the burden placed on the respiratory system. High air passage opposition and low respiratory system conformity contribute to the increased work of take a breathing necessary to take a breath and can take to unsuccessful release from mechanical airing ( 15 ) .Economic ImpactMechanical airing is largely used in the intensive attention units ( ICU ) of infirmaries. ICUs typically consume more than 20 % of the fiscal resources of a infirmary ( 16 ) . A survey that analyzed the incidence, cost, and payment of the Medicare intensive attention unit usage in the United States ( US ) reveled that mechanical airing costs a amount stopping point to US $ 2,200 per twenty-four hours ( 17 ) . One survey shows that patients in the ICUs having drawn-out mechanical airing represents 6 % of all ventilated patients but consume 37 % of intensive attent ion unit ( ICU ) resources ( 18 ) . Another survey corroborates this Numberss besides demoing that 5 % to 10 % of ICU patients require drawn-out mechanical airing, and this patient group consumes more than or every bit much as 50 % of ICU patient yearss and ICU resources. Prolonged ventilatory support and chronic ventilator dependence, both in the ICU and non-ICU scenes, have a important and turning impact on health care economic sciences ( 19 ) .DrumheadTreatment OptionWeaning FailureOverviewThe procedure of initial ablactating from the ventilator begins with an appraisal sing preparedness for ablactating. It is so followed by SBT as a diagnostic trial to find the possibility of a successful extubation. For the bulk of patients, the full ablactation procedure involves verification that the patient is ready for extubation. Patients who meet the standards in table 2 should be considered as being ready to ablactate from mechanical airing. These standards are cardinal to gauge the like liness of a successful SBT in order to avoid tests in patients with a high chance of failure ( 5 ) . Table 2 Standards for Measuring Readiness to Wean Clinical Appraisal Adequate cough Absence of inordinate tracheobronchial secernment Resolution of disease acute stage for which the patient was intubated Objective measurings Clinical stableness Stable cardiovascular position ( i.e. fC ?140 beats*min-1, systolic BP 90-160 mmHg, no or minimum vasopressors ) Stable metabolic position Adequate oxygenation Sa, O2 & A ; gt ; 90 % on ?FI, O2 0.4 ( or Pa, O2/FI, O2 ?150 mmHg ) PEEP ?8 cmH2O Adequate pneumonic map f ?35 breaths*min-1 PImax ?-20- -25 cmH2O Ve & A ; lt ; 10 l*min-1 P0.1/PImax & A ; lt ; 0.3 VT & A ; gt ; 5 mL*kg-1 VC & A ; gt ; 10 mL*kg-1 f/VT & A ; lt ; 105 breaths*min-1*L-1 CROP & A ; gt ; 13 ml*breaths-1*min-1 No important respiratory acidosis Adequate thinking No sedation or equal thinking on sedation ( or stable neurologic patient ) Taken from ( 5 ) and ( 15 ) . fC: cardiac frequence ; BP: blood force per unit area ; Sa, O2: arterial O impregnation ; FI, O2: inspiratory O fraction ; Pa, O2: arterial O tenseness ; PEEP: positive end-expiratory force per unit area ; degree Fahrenheit: respiratory frequence ; PImax: maximum inspiratory force per unit area ; VT: tidal volume ; VC: critical capacity ; CROP: integrative index of conformity. 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa. Harmonizing to an adept panel, among these standards merely seven variables have some prognostic potency: minute airing ( VE ) , maximal inspiratory force per unit area ( PImax ) , tidal volume ( VT ) , take a breathing frequence ( degree Fahrenheit ) , the ratio of take a breathing frequence to tidal volume ( f/VT ) , P0.1/PImax ( ratio of airway occlusion force per unit area 0.1 s after the oncoming of inspiratory attempt to maximal inspiratory force per unit area ) , and CROP ( integrative index of conformity, rate, oxygenation, and force per unit area ) ( 20 ) .Minute VentilationMinute airing is the entire lung airing per minute, the merchandise of tidal volume and respiration rate ( 21 ) . It is step by measuring the sum of gas expired by the patients lungs. Mathematicly, minute airing can be calculated after this expression: It is reported that a VE less than 10 litres/minute is associated with ablactating success ( 22 ) . Other surveies found that VE values more than 15-20 litres/minute are helpful in placing if a patient is improbable to be liberated from mechanical airing but lower values were non helpful in foretelling successful release ( 15 ) . A more recent survey concluded that short VE recovery times ( 3-4 proceedingss ) after a 2-hour SBT can assist in finding respiratory modesty and predict the success of extubation ( 23 ) . When mechanical airing takes topographic point, this parametric quantity is calculated monitoring flow and force per unit area by the ventilator in usage itself or by an independent device attached to the air passage circulation system such as the Respironics NM3Â ® by Phillips Medical. Other ways to find minute airing are by mensurating the electric resistance across the thoracic pit ( 24 ) . This method though, is invasive and requires deep-rooted electrodes.Maximal Inspiratory PressureMaximal inspiration force per unit area is the maximal force per unit area within the air sac of the lungs that occurs during a full inspiration ( 21 ) . Is it normally used to prove respiratory musculus strength. On patients in the ICU or those non capable to collaborate, the PImax is measured by obstructing the terminal of the endotracheal tubing for a period of clip close to 22 seconds with a one-way valve that merely allows the patient to expire. This constellation leads to increasing inspirator y attempt mensurating PImax towards the terminal of the occlusion period. However PImax is non plenty to foretell faithfully the likelihood of successful ablactating due to low specifity ( 15 ) . The measuring of PImax can be performed by devices equipped with force per unit area detectors.Tidal VolumeTidal volume is the sum of air inhaled and exhaled during normal airing ( 21 ) . Spontaneous tidal volumes greater than 5 ml/kg can foretell ablactating result ( 25 ) . More recent surveies found that a technique that measures the sum of regularity in a series analysing approximative information of tidal volume and external respiration frequence forms is a utile index of reversibility of respiratory failure. A low approximate information that reflects regular tidal volume and respiratory frequence forms is a good index of ablactating success ( 26 ) . Tidal volume can be measured utilizing a pneumotachographic device.Breathing FrequencyThe grade of regularity in the form of the external respiration frequence shown by approximative information instead than the absolute value of the external respiration frequence is been proven to be utile in know aparting between ablactating success and failure ( 26 ) . The take a breathing rate or frequence is measured by numbering the external respiration rhythms per a defined period of clip.The Ratio of Breathing Frequency to Tidal VolumeYang and Tobin [ 18 ] so performed a prospective survey of 100 medical patients having mechanical airing in the ICU in which they demonstrated that the ratio of frequence to tidal volume ( rapid shoal take a breathing index ( RSBI ) ) obtained during the first 1 minute of a T-piece test and at a threshold value of ?105 breaths/minute/l was a significantly better forecaster of ablactating results However, there remains a rule defect in the RSBI: it can bring forth inordinate false positive anticipations ( that is, patients fail ablactating outcome even when RSBI is ?105 breaths/minute/l ) [ 35-36 ] Besides, the RSBI has less prognostic power in the attention of patients who need ventilatory support for more than 8 yearss and may be less utile in chronic clogging pneumonic disease ( COPD ) and aged patients [ 37-39 ] .The Ratio of Airway Occlusion Pressure to Maximal Inspiratory PressureThe airway occlusion force per unit area ( P0.1 ) is the force per unit area measured at the air passage opening 0.1 s after animating against an occluded air passage [ 42 ] . The P0.1 is attempt independent and correlates good with cardinal respiratory thrust. When combined with PImax, the P0.1/PImax ratio at a value of & A ; lt ; 0.3 has been found to be a good early forecaster of ablactating success [ 11,43 ] and may be more utile than either P0.1 or PImax entirely. Previously, the clinical usage of P0.1/PImax has been limited by the demand of particular instrumentality at the bedside ; nevertheless, new and modern ventilators are integrating respiratory mechanics faculties that provide nu merical and graphical shows of P0.1 and PImax.Air manner ResistanceCropThe CROP index is an integrative index that incorporates several steps of preparedness for release from mechanical airing, such as dynamic respiratory system conformity ( Crs ) , self-generated external respiration frequence ( degree Fahrenheit ) , arterial to alveolar oxygenation ( partial force per unit area of arterial O ( PaO2 ) /partial force per unit area of alveolar O ( PAO2 ) ) , and PImax in the undermentioned relationship: CROP = [ Crs – PImax – ( PaO2/PAO2 ) ] /f where: PAO2 = ( PB-47 ) – FiO2 – PaCO2/0.85 and PB is barometric force per unit area. The CROP index assesses the relationship between the demands placed on the respiratory system and the ability of the respiratory musculuss to manage them [ 18 ] . Yang and Tobin [ 18 ] reported that a CROP value & A ; gt ; 13 ml/breaths/minute offers a moderately accurate forecaster of ablactating mechanical airing result. In 81 COPD patients, Alvisi and co-workers [ 39 ] showed that a CROP index at a threshold value of & A ; gt ; 16 ml/breaths/minute is a good forecaster of ablactating result. However, one disadvantage of the CROP index is that it is slightly cumbrous to utilize in the clinical scene as it requires measurings of many variables with the possible hazard of mistakes in the measuring techniques or the measuring device, which can significantly impact the value of the CROP index.Clinical Treatment ProfilesCONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS