Tuesday, December 24, 2019

A Person Centered Theory By Carl R. Rogers - 1584 Words

Person-Centered Theory Carl R. Rogers is known as the founding father of person-centered therapy. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1902 to a devoted Christian and a civil engineer (Rogers, Kirschenbaum, Land, 2001). In 1922 Rogers began to doubt his religious teaching from early on in life, he sought a more liberal education at the Union Theological Seminary (Rogers, Kirschenbaum, Land, 2001). After two years he left to attend Columbia University to study clinical and education psychology. Rogers went on to write four major books: The Clinical Treatment of the Problem Child (1939), Counseling and Psychotherapy: New Concepts in Practice (1942), Client-Centered Therapy (1951), and Psychotherapy and Personality (Rogers Dymond, 1954) (Walsh, 2010; Patterson, 2007). Carl R. Rogers constructed the person-centered theory by his influences of Elizabeth Davis and Frederick Allen who studied under Jessie Taft as well as Otto Rank and John Dewey (Patterson, 2007; Walsh, 2010). Influenced by Jessie Taft, Roge rs adopted an optimistic view of people, individuals are capable of recreating themselves and are not the end products of their past (Patterson, 2007; Walsh, 2010). Otto Rank advocated that treatment of a client be centered around that client and that therapist be more emotionally involved within the process. Third Rogers was influenced by John Dewey who helped him understand and develop his position that self-actualized people live in harmony rather then conflictShow MoreRelatedComparing Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Person-Centered Psychology1735 Words   |  7 PagesPsychotherapy and Person-Centered Psychology The counseling profession has a broad spectrum of possibilities when it comes to choosing which psychological approach to take. The field of counseling takes many forms and offers many career options, from school counseling to marriage and family therapy. As there are numerous styles in existence, it is important to be aware of the many approaches available to take. For my research two psychological approaches, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Person-Centered PsychologyRead MorePerson Centered Psychotherapy And Carl Rogers Essay869 Words   |  4 PagesPerson-Centered Psychotherapy and Carl Rogers Carl Rogers (1902-1987) is the founder of person-centered psychotherapy approach. Person-centered psychotherapy, which is one of the most popular approaches in modern psychology, is a sub-group of humanistic-existential counseling. The other two approaches under this umbrella are existential counseling and gestalt counseling. (Gehart, 2015) Rogers was born into a highly conservative Protestant Christian family in Greater Chicago area. He became interestedRead MoreCarl R. Rogers : The Founding Father Of Person Centered Therapy1605 Words   |  7 PagesCarl R. Rogers is known as the founding father of person-centered therapy. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1902 to a devoted Christian and a civil engineer (Rogers, Kirschenbaum, Land, 2001). In 1922 Rogers began to doubt his religious teaching from early on in life, he sought a more liberal education at the Union Theological Seminary (Rogers, Kirschenbaum, Land, 2001). After two years he left to attend Columbia University to study clinical and education psychology. Rogers went on to writeRead MoreThe Theory Of The Fully Functioning Person1146 Words   |  5 Pages Carl Rogers (1961) as stated that â€Å"the concept of the fully functioning Person, It was an attempt to spell out the picture of the person who would emerge if therapy were maximally successful† (On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy p.183) This fully function person as Carl Rogers (1961) described is a person who is in touch with his deepest and innermost feelings and needs. The individual understands their own emotions and place a deep trust in their own instincts and urgesRead MoreHumanistic and Existential Personality Theories1136 Words   |  5 PagesPersonality Theories Many theorists have dedicated their lives trying to figure out how the personality of a person is shaped. While the theories presented have brought up interesting and valid points on what causes personality, there are others that have taken a different approach to its study. There is the Humanistic-Dynamic theory by Abraham Maslow, the Person-Centered theory by Carl Rogers, and the Existential Psychology made popular by Rollo May. Analyze how humanistic theories affect individualRead MoreMy Integrative Counseling Theory Proposal Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"My Integrative Counseling Theory Proposal† Monica Blount Point University Abstract This paper will examine the theories of two prominent Psychologist; Carl Roger and Aaron Beck. Cognitive Behavior Therapy was developed by Aaron Beck who believed that individuals ‘were a by product of their environment. Person Center Therapy understand that people can use their strengths and resources to solve their own problems. This paper will describe how these two models can be used to integrate therapeuticRead MoreHumanistic Psychology Essay1631 Words   |  7 PagesThe focus of this paper is the person-centered approach, which is the understanding of personality and human relationships in psychotherapy and counseling in the areas of client-centered therapy, education of student-centered learning, organizations, and other group settings. Even though psychoanalysis and behaviorism have made major contributions to psychology, it has influenced the understanding and practices of the humanistic movement, specifically with the therapies for the different mental disordersRea d MoreContrasting Psycodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral and Person-Centered Counseling Theories1732 Words   |  7 PagesCounseling is a process that enables a person to sort out issues and reach decisions affecting their life. Often counseling is sought out at times of change or crisis, it need not be so, however, as counseling can also help us at any time of our life† (Woods, 2005). Counseling theories are used by counselors as part of their treatment plan for clients. There are many types of theories that counselors can choose from. These theories are usually hosen based on the client needs and what the counselorRead MoreA Summary of the Psychodynamic Theory and Sigmund Freuds Ideas1826 Words   |  7 PagesIt is difficult to summarize psychodynamic theory without a brief discussion of Freud. Sigmund Freud is the father of psychoanalysis, the father of psychodynamic theory, and in effect the father of modern psychotherapy. Freuds notions retain quite a bit of popularity, esp ecially his ideas that things are not what they seem on the surface. Because of his understanding of the mind and behavior, Freud considered that overt behaviors were not always self-explanatory (or perhaps not often explanatoryRead More Carl Rogers Theory of Person Centered Therapy857 Words   |  4 PagesThe theories of Carl Rogers brought about much change to the world of psychology. He was the first to publish complete therapy sessions for later review and study. Changing the term â€Å"patient† to that of â€Å"client† since talk therapy is non-medical for his approach calling it Person Centered Therapy is often now the preferred term (Kirschenbaum Jourdan, 2005). The main objective of â€Å"Person-Centered Therapy† would be that of helping the client in assuming responsibility and putting it into the client’s

Monday, December 16, 2019

Do Judges Make Law Free Essays

University of London Common Law Reasoning and Institutions Essay Title: ‘Judicial precedent is best understood as a practice of the courts and not as a set of binding rules. As a practice it could be refined or changed by the courts as they wish. ’ Student Number: 090500532 Candidate Number:L8000 The declaratory theory of English common law is that the function of the judge is to declare what has always been the correct legal position at common law. We will write a custom essay sample on Do Judges Make Law or any similar topic only for you Order Now In carrying out this task judges should aim to treat like cases alike so as to bring certainty and consistency to the application of the law and for this purpose they should observe the doctrine of precedent based on the hierarchy of courts. This declaratory theory preserves the constitutional role of the judges and leaves the task of legislating to the Parliament. The doctrine of judicial precedent is based on the principle of stare decisis which means that like cases should be treated alike. The general rule is that all courts are bound to follow decisions made by courts higher than themselves in the hierarchy and appellate courts are usually bound by their own previous decisions. This is known as the principle of stare rationibus decidendis; usually referred to as stare decisis. It translates simply as ‘Let the decision stand’. Stare rationibus decidendis is the more accurate statement because, as we shall see, it is the reasoning (rationibus) that is the vital binding element in judicial precedent. However, nobody actually refers to it this way. What stare decisis means in practice is that when a court makes a decision in a case then any courts which are of equal or lower status that must follow that previous decision if the case before them is similar to that earlier case. So, once one court has decided a matter other inferior courts are bound to follow that decision. The practice of precedent was established in the mid-nineteenth century and reaffirmed in 1898 in London Street Tramways Co. ltd v London County Council. The motive was that it was felt that decisions of the highest appeal court should be final in the public attention so that there would be certainty and consistency in the law and an end to litigation (the speech of the Earl of Halsbury LC). But it is seemed that always it is not happening this way. Judges while making decisions have choices. There can be distinguishing, overruling, reversing or disapproving. When judge finds that the material facts of the case he is deciding are sufficiently different for him to draw a similar decision between the present case and the previous precedent, he is not then bound by the previous case. This distinguished the case from Balfour v Balfour. Also in Merritt v Merritt it was held that the agreement was not just a domestic arrangement but meant as a legally enforceable contract. Overruling may occur where the decision in an earlier case is wrongly decided. In Hedley Byrne co Ltd v Heller Partners Ltd the judges follow overruling, this is where a court in a later case states that the legal rule decided in an earlier case has been strongly decided. This would normally happen when a court higher in the hierarchy over-rules a decision made by a lower court in a previous case. The doctrine of judicial precedent has fallen victim to many conflicting arguments as to whether it is being followed as a strict set of rules or a mere practice of the judiciary to bring consistency and certainty. Therefore a concise discussion of these arguments is necessary before we come to any conclusion regarding this topic. We need to find out, is there anything which makes the precedent strict? In UK the Parliament is the ultimate body that makes law. However, the judiciary also makes law by way of judicial pronouncements. Where the parliament is consisted by those people who are elected by the voters usually the citizens of UK, but judiciary is not elected. Under the English legal system, parliament is the highest authority and sovereign, so, the statutory law is the law which is as strict as no one can change or modify it without parliament itself. On the other hand law made by judges which is called case law is flexible. If we look upon the history of common law tradition we can see the development of case law over time to time with the changing society and commercial needs. Determining the boundaries of judicial law making is partly a doctrinal and partly a constitutional question. A useful place to start is Lord Scarman’s speech in McLaughlin Appellant V O’Brian. The appeal in this case raised the very question of the relationship between the legislature and the judiciary. Lord Scarman argued that the judge had jurisdiction over a common law that ‘knows no gap’ and no ‘casus omissus’. If this is the case, the task of the common law judge is to adapt the principles of the law to allow a decision to be made on the facts in hand. This may involve the creation of new law. Whatever the case, judicial reasoning begins from ‘a baseline of existing principle’. The judge works towards a solution that can be seen as an extension of principle by process of analogy. For Lord Scarman this is the distinguishing feature of the common law: the judicial creation of new law, as the justice of the case demands. This process may involve policy consideration, but, the judges can legitimately involve themselves in this activity, provided that the primary outcome is the formation of new legal principles. In those cases where the formation of principle involves too great an intrusion into the field of policy, the judge must defer to parliament. We can see the position of the organs and understand that judicial precedent is not a rule from the parliament to follow. It is a practice of judiciary to look upon. The term ‘judicial precedent’ has at least two meanings. First, it may mean the process whereby judges follow previously decided cases. Secondly, it may refer to the decided case itself- a ‘precedent’ which may be relied on in the future. Before 1966, the House of Lords regarded itself as being completely bound by its own past decision unless it had been made per-incurrium. But after 1966 practice statement issued by Lord Gardiner the House of Lords was no longer bound by precedent. In order to bring development in common law with the changing circumstances of the society the House of Lords did not follow the precedent too rigidly. However both the ECJ and the House of Lords can over-rule their own decisions made in previous cases. Such as the decision of Davis v Johnson has been overruled by Pepper V Hart. In their practice judges also follow the method of reversing. If the decision of the lower court is appealed to a higher one, the higher court may change it if feels that the lower court has been wrongly interpreted law. Reversing occurs when a court higher up in the hierarchy overturns the decision of a lower court on the basis of an appeal in the same case. In Re Pinochet the House of Lords reversed its own previous decision for the first time. Judges also disapprove or abolish a principle when a decision is reached by carelessness or mistake. In Kleinwort Benson V Lincoln City Council, the House of Lords abolished a two hundred years old common law principle that money paid by mistake of law is not refundable. The House felt that this common law principle was in direct contradiction of the principles of restitution and unjust enrichment. In Vestey V Commissioners of Inland Revenue the House of Lords overruled its own previous decision in Congreve v Commissioners of Inland Revenue. In R v G the House of Lords overruled the decision of R v Caldwell. As lower court, the Court of appeal in many cases did not follow the House of Lords decision. In R v Faqir Muhammad the Court of Appeal decided to follow Privy Council case Jersey v Holley and not the decision of House of Lords in R v Smith (Morgan). Even in R v R, the House of Lords held that rape can be occurred within married couple, overturning a legal principle that had stood for centuries. The House stated that it was merely a common law myth which is not compatible with the existing social values. Some judge’s feel that they must adhere to precedent at all cost because this promotes certainty. Others take a more creative standpoint. It is submitted that they do both things: they adhere to precedent and also use or adapt precedent to justify their decisions. Therefore despite our strict views of stare decisis there exists the role of choice in our judicial process. Judges after all try to achieve fairness. If common law is not modified by the judges then according to Lord Goff in Kleinwort Ltd v Lincoln Council: ‘the common law would be the same now as it was in the reign of Henry II †¦ [but it] is a system of law reacting to new events and new ideas†¦ ’. The doctrine of binding precedent achieves certainty and flexibility at the same time Bibliography: Mohammed B. Hemraj. Judges as law makers. Legal Journals Index. 2011 . Flanagan Brian and Ahern Judicial decision-making and transnational law: a survey of common law Supreme Court judges. International Comparative Law Quarterly 2011 Kirby Michael . Judicial dissent – common law and civil law traditions. law Quarterly Review 2007 Malleson K, the English Legal System, 3rd Edition, Oxford University Press. Gearey Adam, Morrison Wayne and jago Robert ‘’ the politics of common law ‘’ 2009 Holland, James and Webb, Julian. Learning Legal Rules. 7th edition. Oxford University Press. 2010 How to cite Do Judges Make Law, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

What Determines the Type of Strategy a Firm Adopts free essay sample

Strategy is derived from the vision and mission of an organisation. Having a strategy allows the organisation to gain competitive advantage against its competitor and assist them to adapt themselves in the changing market. Therefore, the determinants of strategy are an important aspect to consider as they influence the type of strategy a firm adopts in different levels; corporate, business and functional of the organisation. There are many determinants that can affect the type of strategy an organisation adopts, but there are three important ones which firms emphasize heavily on in the strategic management process. The three determinants are the competition they face in the micro environment, the resource of an organisation as well as the mission and objectives of the organisation in the internal environment. Organisations have control over these determinants as they are closely related to the organisation. By identifying and understanding the determinants of strategy, this will allow the organisation to plan and implement strategies to ensure long-term growth and survival. We will write a custom essay sample on What Determines the Type of Strategy a Firm Adopts? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A competitive advantage is an advantage over the competitor, gained by offering consumers greater value. In a business an organisation operates, the strategies they implement are mostly driven by competition (Porter, 2008). Competitions are seen as threats, which hinder an organisations growth, profit and position in the market. In the article of Porters five forces that will shape strategy, three of them refers to competition from external sources, which Porter (2008) refers to as the micro environment. They are the threat of new entrant, threat of substitute products or services and rivalry among competing organisation, which will be discussed. The other two forces that are bargaining power of customers and suppliers. Porters five forces theory emphasizes on the external impact on strategy formulation and advises organisations to evaluate these forces in an industry to position themselves in the market. This theory is generally used in the analysis of an industry and development of business strategy. It also suggests that, in the corporate level, the objective of the corporate strategy should be superior profitability and manage these forces to improve the position of the organisation in the market. Profitable markets that yield high returns will attract new entrants who pose as a threat to existing competitors in the market. The reason is that when there are more competitions, the increased in production capacity without a concurrent increase in consumer demand will cause a decrease in the overall market profitability. Existing firms in the market will have their position and market share threaten, directly impact on their profitability. These new entrants will try to enter the market, bringing new capacity and a desire to gain market share that puts pressure on prices, costs, and the rate of investment necessary to compete (Porter, 2008). An example of this situation was when Aldi, a German owned company entered the grocery market with a low-price strategy, they gained a market share about 6% thus putting pressure on the existing company like Coles and Woolworth. The entry barrier thus became an important factor to consider as a low entry barrier will make it easier for new firms to enter the market and vice versa. To counter the threat of new entrants, managers from the corporate and business level has to adopt strategies to prevent them from entering the market. The strategy option they may adopt in the business level might be a differential strategy which is to differentiate their product or a cost leadership strategy which is lowering their product cost to raise the entry barrier. The threat of substitute products and services according to Porter (2008) are not competitors similar products or services but are entirely different. For example, Pepsi in this case is not considered a substitute for Coca-Cola but for water, milk or tea. The substitute can be a totally different product, but it can still satisfy the needs and wants of the customers. For instance, a customer wanted to buy a bouquet of roses for his wife but change his mind and bought a ring instead. The ring, therefore, indirectly became a substitute for the roses. These substitutes increase the risk of customers to switch to alternatives, which will result in the decline in sales. When the threat of substitutes is high, industry pro? tability suffers (Porter, 2008, p84). Unless organisations distance itself from substitutes with product performance, cost, marketing, or other means, it will suffer in terms of pro? ability and often growth potential. A good example is providers of long-distance telephone service. They had suffered a decline of users when inexpensive internet-based phone service such as Skype was introduced. Therefore, the organisation has to adopt a business strategy to counter this threat. An organisation might choose to adopt a differentiation strategy to seek competitive advantage through uniqueness (Schermerhorn, 2011). This strategy emphasize s in developing their product and services that are clearly different and unique compare to the potential substitute. Rivalry among existing competitors takes on many forms, including price discounting, new product introductions, advertising campaigns, and service improvements (Porter, 2008). The intensity of rivalry among competitors in an industry refers to the extent to which firms within an industry put pressure on one another and limit each other’s profit potential. If rivalry is intense, competitors will try to divert profit and market share from one another. This reduces profit potential for all firms within the industry. Porter (2008) argues that there are several factors that determine the intensity of competitive rivalry in an industry. If the industry consists of numerous competitors and competitors are of equal size or market share, the intensity of rivalry will be high. Also, if the industry’s products are undifferentiated or are commodities, rivalry will be intense as they will compete to gain customers. Brand loyalty is also an important factor. If the customer loyalty toward a brand is insignificant and consumer switching costs are low, the competition for market share will be intense. If competitors are strategically diverse, they position themselves differently from other competitors. An industry with excess production capacity will have greater rivalry among competitors. Lastly, high exit barriers, costs or losses incurred as a result of ceasing operations, will cause intensity of rivalry among industry firms to increase. The resource of an organisation has a huge influence on the strategy they adopt. Examples of resources of an organisation are its employee, infrastructure, funding, knowledge and technology. The resource of a company is limited, so organisation must plan their strategy based on the capability of their resources. In some cases, although the resource could be lacking, this could actually encourage strategic plan formulation, even if it makes the implementation stage more difficult (Berry Wechsler, 1995, as cited in Poister, Pitts, Edwards, 2010). According to the dynamic capability theory; an organisation can gain and sustain competitive advantage if the organisation is able to deploy their resources effectively within its business. Dynamic capability refers to the ability of a ? m to reposition itself in the face of a changing environment (Teece, Pisano, Shuen, 1997, as cited in Danneels, 2011) by changing its set of resources (Eisenhardt Martin, 2000, as cited in Danneels,2011). For example, Smith Corona, formerly one of the world’s leading manufacturers of typewriters, was challenged to exercise dynamic capability in the face of the dissipation of its main pro duct category (Danneels, 2011). In order to face this challenge, they adopted a brand extension strategy that is the use of established brand names to enter new product categories (Keller Aaker, 1992, as cited in Danneels, 2011). Their first step was leveraging existing resources involves putting them to new uses (Danneels, 2002, 2007; Miller, 2003 as cited in Danneels, 2011). Smith Corona tried to leverage its brand, distribution, and customer understandings in order to enter product categories other than typewriters. Leveraging resources that Kathleen Sull (2001) discussed in their theory of Strategy as a simple rule is one of the approach to strategy. They suggested that by leveraging the resource of a company, it allows them to sustain a competitive advantage in the long-term. By using the simple rules, priorities can be set for resource allocation among competing opportunities (Kathleen Sull, 2001). For example, Intel, the computer software manufacturer realized a long time ago that it needed to allocate manufacturing capacity among its products very carefully, given the enormous costs of fabrication facilities. At a time of extreme price volatility in the mid-1980s, when Asian chip manufacturers were disrupting world markets with price cuts and accelerated technological improvement, Intel followed a simple rule which is allocating the manufacturing capacity based on a products gross margin. Without this rule, the company might have continued to allocate too much capacity to its traditional core memory business rather than seizing the opportunity to dominate then ascent and highly profitable microprocessor niche (Kathleen Sull, 2001). There are many types of resources within a firm, for example, human and financial resource. Human resource refers to the staff employed. An organisation is unable to function without human resource. It is an important aspect to consider because it distinguishes a successful company from an unsuccessful company as the performance of the business relies on the performance of its employee. Organisations often choose employees based on the qualifications, experience and skills required for the work. In addition to this, they conduct various kinds of training programs so that employees can upgrade their skills and perform better. OShannassy (2003) stated that all individuals in the organisation can think strategically, not just the chief executive officer (CEO). Therefore, it is worth the effort to train them to increase the quality of the workforce. This relates to human resource management (HRM). In the functional level of an organisation, various functional strategies are used to guide the use of resources to implement business strategy effectively. HRM is the strategic and coherent approach to the management of an organizations most valued assets; its employee. The HRM process is the process of attracting, developing and maintaining a quality workforce (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). It analyses the needs of the staffs and takes action to satisfy these needs. The purpose of HRM is to make sure the organisation always has people with the right abilities available to do the required work (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). Financial resources concern the ability of the business to finance its chosen strategy. Any project or strategy an organisation deploys requires investment and often risks. For example, a strategy that requires significant investment in new products, distribution channels, production capacity and working capital will place a great strain on the business finances. Therefore, it is important to understand the financial resource of a business and plan strategy based on it. The SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis is a technique that can be used to analyse the organisational resources and capabilities. Using this technique, managers from all levels of an organisation will be able to identify the strength and weaknesses of the organisation, therefore, is able to allocate and use the resources effectively. The mission and objectives of an organisation determine the type of strategy it adopts. The strategic management process begins with a careful assessment and clarification of the organisational mission, values and objectives (Schermerhorn et al, 2011, p. 218). A clear sense of mission and objectives act as a starting point for assessing the organisations resources and capabilities as well and competitive opportunities and threats in the external environment (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). The mission or purpose of an organisation may be described as its reason for existence in society (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). It sets a direction for the organisation and provides a vision for its business. For example, China announced its objectives in the 21st century was to achieve sustainable levels of development aimed at improving domestic economic and political stability, and to legitimise the continuation of ne-party rule (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). Businesses in China were strongly influenced by the governments overall mission and by adapting to this mission while competing in the global market, businesses in China had grown strong in the global market. Whereas a mission statement sets forth an official purpose for the organisation and the core value s describe appropriate standards of behavior for its accomplishment, operating objectives direct activities towards specific performance results(Schermerhorn et al, 2011). With an objective, a corporate strategy can be set based on it, to give a direction as to where the organisation is heading. An example is, Porter (2008), argues that the ultimate goal for any business or profit seeking organisation should be superior profitability. By having this goal, it will create value for investors in the form of above average returns, which is returns that exceed what an investor could earn by investing in alternative opportunities of equivalent risk (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). All organisation except for non for profit organisation are profit driven. A company may have many other objectives, but if there is no profit in the business then they will have to end the business. So to achieve this objective, at the corporate or business level organisation, they may adopt a growth or diversification strategy. The growth strategy pursues an expansion of the current operation, whereas diversification takes place through acquisition or investment of different business areas (Schmerhorn et al, 2011). With the growth of the business, there will be growth in profit. This can be seen from the rapid growth of the company Boost Juice Bars with the fruit juice as their product. Their mission was to promote healthy living, and their objective is to build Australias largest collection of juice bars (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). They implement their growth strategy by the means of franchising. Franchising is a business relationship in which the franchisor (the owner of the business providing the product or service) assigns to independent people (the franchisees) the right to market and distribute the franchisors goods or service, and to use the business brand for a fixed period of time. With franchising, they were able to expand their company throughout Australia as well as other countries. The competition, resources as well as the mission and objectives of an organisation are some of the many determinants of strategy an organisation adopts. These determinants were all considered to create strategies that enable the organisation to gain competitive advantage over their competitor and effectively utilize the limited resources they have. These determinants discussed are limited to the internal and micro environment which closely relates to the business of an organisation. To fully understand all the aspects on what determines the type of strategy a firm adopts, research on the macro environment where the organisation has no control of, is required.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Atomic Bomb Essays (2385 words) - Actinides, Radioactivity

The Atomic Bomb By Douglas Thornton BOOM! The first detonation of an atomic bomb was on July 16,1945 on Hiroshima, Japan . That was one of the reasons why I picked this topic. Another reason was that there is lots of information on the atomic bomb out there and the last reason is I wanted to know why the atomic bomb has great explosive power. The main part of an atomic bomb is of course an atom. So that is what I'm going to say first. The Atom Atoms are everything. It is your paper, your house, your clothes, and everything else. Atoms is the smallest thing on earth. You can fit a million atoms in about the width of a piece of paper. You can't see them with the naked eye or with the best microscope in the world. The sciencists use theories and tests to know that they are there. Atoms are made up of three things; electrons, proton(s),and neutrons. If you combined proton(s) and neutrons you get the nucleus of the atom. Then the nucleus is surrounded by a shell. That shell is made by an electron(s) spinning around the nucleus so fast it makes that shell. Each shell can only hold a certain amount of electrons, this graph will show you that. * The proton is positivtly charged while neutrons have no charge. The proton attracts the electron. This pull causes the whirling of electrons which creates the shell.Most of an atom is empty space( the empty space is between the nucleus and the electrons). Neutrons are just slightly larger than protons. An electron is small. It's about 1/1836 of a proton or a neutron.In every atom there is always the same number of protons and electrons. The Atomic Bomb Now, what is an atom bomb? The Atomic Bomb is a weapon of mass destruction. It does that by a quick release of splitting or fission of a nucleus of a heavy element like uranium and plutonium. They send a neutron to strike a nucleus of the isotopes( means the name given to an atom that has acquired or lost one or more neutrons from it's nucleus.The atoms structure is relatively the same, but the added or subtracted weight may cause the atom to have new properties such as being fissionable) uranium-235 or plutonuim-239. Then the nucleus splits into two halves. Each half of the nucleus has about the same amount of neutrons and protons. When the nucleus splits a great deal of thermal energy and gamma rays and two or more neutron are given off. Under some conditions those neutrons that were released come back and strike again. Then you two split halves of a nucleus. Then they give off the same thing and the neutrons come back and strike again, and again. This chain reaction results in which almost all the fissionable material is blown up. This cause the great explosion. All isotopes of uranium are fissionable, but uranium-235 is better than uranium-238 because it goes under fission quicker and gives off more neutrons per fission than Uranuim-238 or any other isotopes of uranium. plutonium-239 has the same characteristics of uranium-239. Both uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are used in the atomic bomb. If you use a small amount say .45 kg(1 lb) of uranium-235 or plutonium-239 it can't under go the chain reaction that is needed and is called subcritical. It can't undergo the chain reaction because the average of the neutrons released by the fission are likely not to hit another nucleus. Then if more of uranium-239 or plutonium-239 is added there is a higher percentage of neutrons hitting the nucleus. At the point when critical mass has been acomblished, and a chain reaction the explosion will be created. All subcritical fissionable material must be brought up to critical state extremely quick. One way to do that is to take two subcitical masses together at one point. When you combined those two subcritical masses you will achieve critical mass. How you do it is you use two high explosives to shoot the subcrital masses of fissionable material together in a hollow tube. The second way is to use an implosion, which instead of blow up outward it blows up inward, by which the core of fissionable

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Hardness Testing Lab Report Essays

Hardness Testing Lab Report Essays Hardness Testing Lab Report Paper Hardness Testing Lab Report Paper The purpose of the following experiments is to study the hardness of different types of materials, and to understand the significance of this property in materials. The materials and the aforesaid property have significant use in civil engineering. Hardness is defined as a measure oaf materials resistance to localized plastic deformation (i. E. Small dents or scratches). As said above, a variety of metal alloys were used in the experiments to understand how each of these metals is characterized as a hard metal and to compare the hardness of different metal alloys. A study of how the molecular structure and the carbon intent affects the hardness of each metal alloy used is also done during the course of the experiment. Three different tests are used, namely: (i) Vickers Hardness test (ii) Rockwell Hardness test (iii) Brindle Hardness test A further experiment, known as the Chirpy Impact Test is conducted to study the toughness of some specimens of steel. Toughness is the measure of the ability of a material to absorb energy up to fracture. It has been discovered that the larger the area under a materials stress-strain curve, the tougher it is. : Therefore a more ductile material is tougher. An impact test is used to ascertain the fracture heartsickness of the material, and it merely offers a relative sense of a materials toughness. 2. APPARATUS (i) Vickers Hardness Tester is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 (ii) Rockwell Hardness Tester, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 (iii) Bristles Hardness Tester, as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 (iv) Mild steel specimen (v) Carbon steel specimen (vi) High carbon steel specimen (vii) SAAB steel specimen 3. TESTS 4. 1 VICKERS HARDNESS TEST 4. 2. 1 Experimental Procedure i. This basically means that mild steel is more easily deformed than carbon steel, but it does not fracture as easily as carbon steel. This shows us that each of the materials we tested is used for different purposes because of the variety of properties and characteristics they have. It proves to us how important it is to know the mechanical characteristics of different types of materials in order to put them to the best use.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Dorothea Dix, Advocate for the Mentally Ill

Dorothea Dix, Advocate for the Mentally Ill Dorothea Dix was born in Maine in 1802.   Her father was a minister, and he and his wife raised Dorothea and her two younger brothers in poverty, sometimes sending Dorothea to Boston to her grandparents. After studying at home, Dorothea Dix became a teacher when she was 14 years old.   When she was 19 she started her own girls’ school in Boston.   William Ellery Channing, a leading Boston minister, sent his daughters to the school, and she became close to the family.   She also became interested in the Unitarianism of Channing.   As a teacher, she was known for strictness.   She used her grandmother’s home for another school, and also started a free school, supported by donations, for poor children. Struggling With Her Health At 25 Dorothea Dix became ill with tuberculosis, a chronic lung disease.   She quit teaching and focused on writing while she was recovering, writing mainly for children.   The Channing family took her with them on retreat and on vacations, including to St. Croix.   Dix, feeling somewhat better, returned to teaching after a few years, adding into her commitments the care of her grandmother.   Her health again seriously threatened, she went to London in hopes that would help her recovery.   She was frustrated by her ill health, writing â€Å"There is so much to do†¦.† While she was in England, she became familiar with efforts at prison reform and better treatment of the mentally ill.   She returned to Boston in 1837 after her grandmother died and left her an inheritance that allowed her to focus on her health, but now with an idea in mind of what to do with her life after her recovery. Choosing a Path to Reform In 1841, feeling strong and healthy, Dorothea Dix visited a women’s jail in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, to teach Sunday School.   She had heard of awful conditions there. She investigated and was especially horrified at how women declared insane were being treated. With the help of William Ellery Channing, she began working with well-known male reformers, including Charles Sumner (an abolitionist who would become a Senator), and with Horace Mann and Samuel Gridley Howe, both educators of some renown.   For a year and a half Dix visited prisons and places where the mentally ill were kept, often in cages or chained and often abused. Samuel Gridley Howe (husband of Juliet Ward Howe) supported her efforts by publishing about the need for reform of the care of the mentally ill, and Dix decided she had a cause to devote herself to.   She wrote to the state legislators calling for specific reforms, and detailing the conditions she had documented.   In Massachusetts first, then in other states including New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Tennessee and Kentucky, she advocated for legislative reforms.   In her efforts to document, she became one of the first reformers to take social statistics seriously. In Providence, an article she wrote on the topic generated a large donation of $40,000 from a local businessman, and she was able to use this to move some of those imprisoned for mental â€Å"incompetence† to a better situation. In New Jersey and then in Pennsylvania, she won approval of new hospitals for the mentally ill. Federal and International Efforts By 1848, Dix had decided that reform needed to be federal.   After initial failure she got a bill through Congress to fund efforts to support people who were disabled or mentally ill, but President Pierce vetoed it. With a visit to England, during which she saw Florence Nightingale’s work, Dix was able to enlist Queen Victoria in studying the conditions there of the mentally ill, and won improvements in the asylums.   She moved on to working in many countries in England, and even convinced the Pope to build a new institution for the mentally ill. In 1856, Dix returned to America and worked for five more years advocating for funds for the mentally ill, both at federal and state levels. Civil War In 1861, with the opening of the American Civil War, Dix turned her efforts to military nursing.   In June of 1861, the U.S. Army appointed her as superintendent of Army nurses.   She tried to model nursing care on that of Florence Nightingale’s famous work in the Crimean War. She worked to train young women who volunteered for nursing duty.   She fought doggedly for good medical care, often coming into conflict with the physicians and surgeons.   She was recognized in 1866 by the Secretary of war for her extraordinary service. Later Life After the Civil War, Dix again devoted herself to advocating for the mentally ill. She died at age 79 in New Jersey, in the July of 1887.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Discussion Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 23

Discussion Question - Essay Example Compare and contrast the flow of litigation in criminal cases and civil proceedings. Include a discussion of the introduction of each type of case in the process, the participants, and the role of the court in each. A civil case involves a situation where an individual or a particular entity states that another entity has failed to reach the legal responsibilities they ought to carry out. The duties in such a case are established under the constitutional law. It is thus the role of the courts to see to it that these people receive quality treatment and consequently either lead to annulment of the agreement or resolution of the dispute. In criminal cases, the person is charged in a legal process referred to as an indictment. On behalf of the American citizens, the government takes up the responsibility of prosecuting the particular person or group (Herring 35). The attorney’s office has the responsibility of prosecuting these state

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Requirements for an Effective and Efficient HR Professionals Essay

Requirements for an Effective and Efficient HR Professionals - Essay Example According to the report  in-depth knowledge on an organisation’s strategy, â€Å"performance goals and drivers, and the sector in which they work† involving the external context that can affect business operation including the market factors such as demography, customers, competitors, and globalisation. Thus, HR practitioners should be familiar with the â€Å"language† of the business operation in empowering human resources to utilize their potential in business accomplishment. Next is wide comprehension of the 10 professional areas. Then, reviewing the local and international law on â€Å"access relevant employment and discrimination† within their jurisdiction. The political and economic factors are the external and internal forces that induce business performance and creating strategy and plans applicable to combat them.  From this study it is clear that  organisational development entails HR capability to intervene or manage changes in the cultura l aspect of an organisation. The changes implemented must develop the organisation’s performance and adaptability to the planned change process. In achieving goals, HR professionals must employ the right workforce to gain competitive advantage than its competitors.  This practice is called resourcing and talent management. They must recruit, select, and retain employees with worldwide talents through interviews and tests suitable to their needs.  Learning and development is essential in managing change that needs acquiring of new skills and talent as coping mechanism.... The CIPD (2009a) requires an HR professional to be knowledgeable in leading, engaging, and aligning people with diverse cultivation to deliver the strategic plan at the appropriate time. The third area is organisation design wherein HR must ensure that employees’ skills and qualifications match the job designation to attain organisations’ short term and long term goals, and the structure design of the internal and external environment â€Å"fit in the current and future organisational strategy (Weingarden, 2011, p.5). Organisational development entails HR capability to intervene or manage changes in the cultural aspect of an organisation. The changes implemented must develop the organisation’s performance and adaptability to the planned change process (Cummings & Worley, 2009). In achieving goals, HR professionals must employ the right workforce to gain competitive advantage than its competitors. This practice is called resourcing and talent management. They mus t recruit, select, and retain employees with worldwide talents through interviews and tests suitable to their needs (Armstrong, 2009). Learning and development is essential in managing change that needs acquiring of new skills and talent as coping mechanism. HR professionals must know how to assess employees’ competency level before conducting training. They should act as coaches or mentor to enhance employee’s performance, and design programs for knowledge management and evaluating learning outcomes (Armstrong, 2009). In addition, HR professionals must develop a reward system based on the quality performance of employees in fair and equitable manner to motivate them. To establish cooperation

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Terminal Reports Essay Example for Free

Terminal Reports Essay 1.) What was your basis fpr selecting your practicum organization? I chose Office of the Solicitor General because one of our 3rd year professor in Political Dynamics, Atty. Rigor Pascual, was a former intern in OSG. He told us that if we want to learn a lot we should prefer OSG as our OJT destination. 2.) Describe in details your duties and responsibilities in your practicum organization. In the division which I was assigned, they taught the process how to make delegations, file cases, update cases in ECMT, motion and manifestations and others which includes photocopying of files and recording of new cases received by our division. These are my duties and responsibilities everyday during my OJT. 3.) What were your personal, academic and professional expectations from the Practicum Program? I am expecting to learn more about my future career path either in the fields of law or management and to improve and develop not only my skills but also my personality. All of my expectations were all satisfied after 200-hours of quality on-the-job training. 4.) Were your expectation met? Why or why not? I’m proud to say that all of my expectations were met as I have learned a lot of things in my 200 hours or 6 weeks of stay in OSG. They taught me a lot of things in the field of law and give me some advice how to become a good lawyer. All in all, my stay in OSG was a one o a kind experience that I will never forget. 5.) Describe in details your working relationship with your superiors and co-workers/co-trainees. I have a very good relationship with my superiors especially my supervisor Atty. Tadeo as she is very kind and helpful to me. She taught me a lot of things regarding my work to be accomplished and things that might be helpful in my academic training in school. It was a happy workplace as all of the employees in our division were kind and supportive. 6.) Describe in detail three incidents related to your practicum where you were able to fully  utilize your academic training. a. I was able to use my knowledge in persons and family relations when I was given a research about marriage and adoption. b. My legal research class was also useful whenever I was told to get a SCRA or anything from their library. c. Lastly, my knowledge about computers was also utilized as everyday I am in front of the computer for my paper works (delegation, motion and manifestations etc.). 7.) Describe fully any incident(s) which may have proven disturbing during your Practicum. There wasn’t any disturbing incident that happened during my OJT program and honestly it was more of a productive and enjoyable experience than that of a distressing one. 8.) What suggestions can you put forward to further improve the Practicum Program of the Legal Management Department? We should have been given a seminar about our internship program, as it was confusing from the start. We were told first that it is okay to have your OJT outside Metro Manila and then after some of us have chosen our OJT destination from different provinces, we are told the other way around which was very frustrating and hassling. To improve the Practicum Program of the Legal Management Department, student should be properly informed and knowledgeable about the their OJT program.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Child Called It, The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave Essay -- Dave Pel

For this report, I have read all three of Dave Pelzer's books about his life: A Child Called â€Å"It†, The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave. A Child Called â€Å"It† chronicles Dave's life as a child, and is told from that viewpoint. From his earliest recollections of a relatively happy life with "the Mommy" to his life and death struggle with "The Mother", this book details the horror of Dave’s dehumanizing existence. Going far beyond â€Å"typical† physical, emotional and psychological abuses, Dave’s story tells of intentional starvation, forced coprophagia, poisoning and much more. This volume covers his life from his earliest memories at age 4 until his rescue at age 12. The Lost Boy picks up the story where the first book leaves off, following Dave through the foster care system until the age of 18. Dave’s navigation through the foster care system is an arduous journey. His sense of survival is strong, but being a foster child is not easy. A Man Named Dave is the final book in the trilogy, covering Dave's life from his enlistment in the Air Force through the present day. From his resolve to be accepted by the Air Force to his almost desperate determination to be a good father to his son, Dave shares with the reader his difficulty adjusting to a â€Å"normal† life. Diversity The Pelzer family was white and middle class. Dave’s father, Stephen, was a firefighter, and his mother, Catherine, was a homemaker. Both parents were alcoholics. They lived in a â€Å"good† neighborhood in a modest home. Until the abuse began, Dave’s life with his parents and brothers was good. In his words, â€Å"Our every whim was fulfilled with love and care† (Pelzer, 1995). The two areas of diversity I recognized in these books are economic status and disability. Because... ...tainable: his mother’s love. Bibliography: Erikson, E. H., (1950). Childhood and Society. New York: Norton. Erikson, E. H., (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis. New York: Norton. Maslow, A. H. (1954). Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper & Row. Pelzer, D. (1995). A Child Called â€Å"It†. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc. Pelzer, D. (1997). The Lost Boy. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc. Pelzer, D. (1999) A Man Named Dave. NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc. Schultz, D. P., & Schultz, S. E. (1987). A History of Modern Psychology. Orlando, FL: Harcourt-Brace. U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. (1979). [Brochure]. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing office. Zastrow, C., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (1997). Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment. (4th ed.) Chicago: Nelson-Hall Publishers, Inc.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Marketing and Customers Essay

Right now, HubSpot is serving different customers with different requirements. This causes their engineering and sales staff to be stretched thin. They are falling behind on product releases and their sales staff is converting only 4% (exhibit 10) of the potential market into customers. To increase efficiency, HubSpot should narrow their target market. If they target the most profitable segment of customers, then they can acquire more of those profitable customers and increase overall profit. The attached exhibit breaks down the LTV value for different customer segments based on their churn and revenue generation. Across all the segments, small B2B businesses have lowest churn rate of 1. 4% and hence highest LTV of $17357. As shown in exhibit, total number of potential customers in small B2B business 12126. This would allow Hubspot to grow 12 times their current size. Hence, HubSpot should target this segment as their priority. They could even convert more than 12126 customers out of total market if their sales team is totally targeted at this segment. The next most profitable target segment, as evident for attached exhibit, is Marketer Marys. Within Marketer Marys, Hubspot should target B2B customers. This is because, B2B have lower churn rates compared to B2C customers. Also, Hubspot is already geared towards serving B2B customers. Company (HubSpot) The core competency for company is their philosophy of inbound marketing. They build and market their software using this philosophy. So they should not tinker with this philosophy and should stick to inbound marketing. Another point to note from the exhibit 10 is that the biggest customer churn happens between 12th and 18th month. To address this phenomenon, they could offer discounts to customers after 12th month. Also, the customers who have switched to CMS have lower churn rate compared to customers who have not switched. So in order to increase customer retention, they could consider offering free CMS to all customers and possibly discounts to customers who adopt CMS. They would still be profitable after discounts as they seem to ave very low marginal costs. Competitor HubSpot also have relative advantages over their nearest customer Eloqua. HubSpot offers software-as-a-service compared to the large upfront fee of Eloqua. This leads to low switching cost for customer and hence easier penetration for HubSpot. They also have ease of use over Eloqua. But they do need to upgrade their software for more sophisticated users. This would be more required when they start going after Marketer Marys B2B business.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Research: Decision Theory and Pilot Testing

Chapter 4 Terms in Review 1. Some questions are answerable by research and others are not. Using some management problems of your choosing, distinguish between them. When management wants to find out which method of a production process is the most efficient in terms of operational productivity we can use research to provide usable results. When management wants to know if now is a good time to take on debt for equipment upgrades is, research may not be able to provide usable results.Due to the extensive number of variables affecting financing decisions research will likely not be able to assist in this decision. The current market conditions, economy, interest rates, industry competition, and many other items require a type of analysis that research can not provide. 2. Discuss the problems of trading off exploration and pilot testing under tight budgetary constraints. What are the immediate and long-term effects? The text discussed that often pilot testing is not done to both reduce costs and also to reduce the total research time.Not conducting pilot testing can then immediately progress the research process or reduce the total cost of the research but it can possibly have negative long-term effects. By not conducting pilot testing your research results may suffer because the proper information is not being gathered. A pilot test often provides indication of problems with the data gathering process. There may also be an overall increased cost with no additional benefit when no pilot testing has been completed.The pilot test can not only indicate incorrect information be gathered but can also provide some indication as to whether the proper research questions have been asked. When the research questions being asked do not answer the true management questions then the conducted research will be useless. Useless research is a wasted expense. Pilot testing can indicate whether more in-depth research is required thus providing a possible cost reduction or a better justification for proceeding with a higher cost project. 3.A company is experiencing a poor inventory management situation and receives alternative research proposals. Proposal 1 is to use an audit of last year’s transactions as a basis for recommendations. Proposal 2 is to study and recommend changes to the procedures and system used by the materials department. Discuss issues of evaluation in terms of (a) Ex post facto versus prior evaluation, and (b) Evaluation using option analysis and decision theory. Both of these proposals are going to be quite difficult to evaluate.The need of the research will determine which method will be followed. Ex post factor or after-the-fact evaluation will determine the total cost of each proposal after the research studies are completed. This makes it quite difficult to determine whether the research is providing enough benefit to make it worthwhile until after the cost has been incurred. Thus for either of these systems it may be a better decision to proceed with a prior or interim evaluation method.Under this method the research is designed in stages and an ex post facto evaluation is performed at the end of each stage. Then a determination is made deciding if enough benefit has been generated to proceed to the next stage thus allowing management to get results while also controlling cost. Option analysis may also be used to evaluate the two proposed studies. With option analysis the studies are designed in a very explicit manner thus allowing an organization to compare estimated costs (based on prior research approximations) versus an expected benefit.Management will then select one proposal over another depending on the cost benefit ratio and current need. Decision theory allows management to make decisions based on defined criteria. Each criterion consists of a decision rule and a decision variable. The selection process then consists of analysis determining which proposal either increases the decision variable or which follows the decision rule. This information is considered with a choice being determined by the rules and current management need.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

buy custom State of Confusion essay

buy custom State of Confusion essay The ruling by the state of confusion enacting new rules for the trucks and towing trailers that ply on the confusion highway has generated a lot of heat from the track company owners. The statute enforces the use of a B-type truck hitch whose manufacturers are only found in state of confusion alone. Tanya a truck company owner decides to go to court to petition against the enacted statute, the court has a jurisdiction over the case because the federal government has not enacted any law to regulate the truck hitches and make it compulsory for the truck owners. Therefore, the federal district court will listen to Tanyas suit since it is mandated to handle interstate commerce. In addition, the federal district court has also jurisdiction over other lawsuits that are brought forward by individuals from different states, as is the case with Tanya who does not come from the state of confusion. The federal government has the legal power to regulate commerce all over the nation, which is enacted in the commerce clause. Therefore, the state of confusion act requiring trucks and towing trailers to use B-type truck hitches has generated a lot of opposition that could derail the economic activity of the state thus it concerns the interstate commerce. Therefore, Tanyas suit has a valid case against the state for violating the clause of the constitution provision on commerce. The constitutionality of this enacted law by the state of confusion is invalid. This is because the commerce clause is not active and the ederal government has not enforced the use of the truck hitches on the highways in the whole country. However, the statute could be constitutional if it only affects the state of confusion alone, but in this case the highway is used by the interstate trucks, thus according to cheeseman , the state and other local laws are not allowed to put much pressure on the interstate commerce. Additionally, there is only one manufacturer of the hitch and is found in the state of confusion alone , thus this law raises many questions than answers ,therefore the Antitrust provisions has been violated due to monopolistic nature of the manufacturer because it does not open field for fair competition with other type of hitches manufacturing companies. According to Cheesema, monopoly is unconstitutional because it hinders interstate commerce. On the other hand, since the federal government has the power to regulate and enact safety measure, and it has failed to do so, then it is constitutional for the state of confusion to enact the statute by enforcing it citing it as a dominant commerce clause that has been ignored. However, this clause as stated before, can only be enacted in the state of confusion, nevertheless; in this case, the statute is enacted, which affects the interstate commerce thus making it unconstitutional. The united states constitution provisions on the commerce clause according to Cheeseman indicates in the article 1,section 9 that there should be no preference given or enacted through any regulation of commerce or enforce laws that is not in line with other states or the federal government. In addition, it is the mandate of the federal government to come up with laws that regulate and create safety measures for the use of highways in the whole country. Therefore, the state of confusion has no legal authority to enforce any safety requirement for vehicles plying on their state roads. In this regard, the possibility of Tanya winning this case is 50 /50 considering that the state of confusion may decide to defend it self by stating that the statute was enacted to enhance safety measures that the federal government is reluctant to implement and that there was no need for the engaging in the alternative disputes. Since the case is handled by the federal district court of the confusion state, the resolutions made may not provide amicable results for either. Thus, the aggrieved party may opt to appeal to the United Sates court of appeal that is likely to give the final verdict of the case. In light of the controversies that arise from the perceived violation of the constitution by the confusion state, the court of appeal my rule in the favor of Tanya by scraping the statute. The court may then directing the federal government to come up with amicable solution to the safety issue and enact safety measures that is acceptable and has no shortcomings as the one enacted by the state of confusion. Buy custom State of Confusion essay

Monday, November 4, 2019

A Good Teacher Should Care About Students

A good idea about teacher want them to students is learning use on lesson in the education for understanding and process for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). It 's so important to know that is use preparation manual in public schools has development for Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). Because we can help to the student is learning communities for their teacher, staff and parents will discuss getting a meeting in schools. Make sure to have a relationship with parents†¦ A teacher in a general sense is someone that teaches to another person, and I think that teaching is one of the most needed professions there is. By teaching in schools and working with young kids, we are nurturing the minds of people who could have the cure for cancer or find new research about space. And with teaching there are many different philosophies about how teachers should act and interact with their students, but personally I lean more towards a Progressive view of teaching; I believe†¦ Teaching a specialism of any matter requires the teacher themselves to be competent and confident with their own abilities first. To be a competent carpenter requires lots of experience, dedication and time – without dedication, you will not put in the time and in turn not gain the experience. Hence dedication is a fundamental element, which is expressed to all the construction students at Harlow College, in order for them to succeed. Dedication goes hand in hand with motivation, motivation is developed†¦ Should students evaluate teachers? From year to year, educators are evaluated by grade level chairs and administration based on teaching skills and performance in the classroom. Depending the school, a recording of a single class period is used to evaluate a teacher. But what happens after the camera stops recording, and who is there to witness what happens. The answer is: the students. Despite feelings towards a teacher, based on emotion, students truly understand whether or not a teacher is†¦ Watching the videos on the learning to learn taught me a lot not only about what I was doing wrong but also how these things in the videos would be able to help me in my future classroom. Along with making myself more successful with some of the ideas and skills that were presented in the videos I learned that there are many things that I can teach my students, that I was never taught, that will help make them successful in their school and personal careers. One of the biggest aspects from the video†¦ Teachers should have the right to talk about their students When people have a rough day, and they just want to express their feelings. There are many ways for people to express their feelings, they express through words or action. But out of the two, words are the best way to express peoples ' feelings, because the other way might end up hurting someone or themselves. When I said the words the best way to express the feeling I’m not talking about cursing or yelling, I’m talking about talking†¦ Should Students Be Paid For Good Grades In School? Should students be paid for having good grades? This topic has some really strong arguments on either side. In this research paper I will list facts and argue both sides of this debate. Some people believe paying students for good grades is a bad idea, I personally believe students will strive to do better when they are paid for their work. Lots of schools are paying their students for getting good grades, and others are giving it a try. Why would†¦ In the present age, let the students evaluate their teachers has been widely used in the education sector. The students can judge their teachers whether are good or not. Even when the students are not satisfied with their teachers, they can vote to change the teachers. But, whether the students should evaluate their teachers has sparked spirited debate. Some people assert that students should evaluate their teachers, while many others argue that students should not do that. Then this easy will discuss†¦ The article â€Å"Being a Good Teacher of Black Students? White Teachers and Unintentional Racism,† Nora Hyland writes about the roles of 27 White teachers in the U.S. who identified as good teachers, but held racist views against their students. The school that these teachers taught at was in the Midwestern part of the country. They participated in the reproduction of racial inequality, which can exacerbate racist effects. This article explored the idea that teachers perpetuated the â€Å"status quo† of†¦ Should Students be paid for Good Grades? â€Å"There is no question that people will work hard for money at any age† (Peterson). There are programs around the country trying cash-reward programs out. For example, there are some schools in Washington D.C. trying these cash-reward programs out that give students cash awards for getting good grades and/or test scores. The schools think the incentives are working because test scores are boosting and students are working harder. The cash incentives prove†¦

A Good Teacher Should Care About Students

A good idea about teacher want them to students is learning use on lesson in the education for understanding and process for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). It 's so important to know that is use preparation manual in public schools has development for Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). Because we can help to the student is learning communities for their teacher, staff and parents will discuss getting a meeting in schools. Make sure to have a relationship with parents†¦ A teacher in a general sense is someone that teaches to another person, and I think that teaching is one of the most needed professions there is. By teaching in schools and working with young kids, we are nurturing the minds of people who could have the cure for cancer or find new research about space. And with teaching there are many different philosophies about how teachers should act and interact with their students, but personally I lean more towards a Progressive view of teaching; I believe†¦ Teaching a specialism of any matter requires the teacher themselves to be competent and confident with their own abilities first. To be a competent carpenter requires lots of experience, dedication and time – without dedication, you will not put in the time and in turn not gain the experience. Hence dedication is a fundamental element, which is expressed to all the construction students at Harlow College, in order for them to succeed. Dedication goes hand in hand with motivation, motivation is developed†¦ Should students evaluate teachers? From year to year, educators are evaluated by grade level chairs and administration based on teaching skills and performance in the classroom. Depending the school, a recording of a single class period is used to evaluate a teacher. But what happens after the camera stops recording, and who is there to witness what happens. The answer is: the students. Despite feelings towards a teacher, based on emotion, students truly understand whether or not a teacher is†¦ Watching the videos on the learning to learn taught me a lot not only about what I was doing wrong but also how these things in the videos would be able to help me in my future classroom. Along with making myself more successful with some of the ideas and skills that were presented in the videos I learned that there are many things that I can teach my students, that I was never taught, that will help make them successful in their school and personal careers. One of the biggest aspects from the video†¦ Teachers should have the right to talk about their students When people have a rough day, and they just want to express their feelings. There are many ways for people to express their feelings, they express through words or action. But out of the two, words are the best way to express peoples ' feelings, because the other way might end up hurting someone or themselves. When I said the words the best way to express the feeling I’m not talking about cursing or yelling, I’m talking about talking†¦ Should Students Be Paid For Good Grades In School? Should students be paid for having good grades? This topic has some really strong arguments on either side. In this research paper I will list facts and argue both sides of this debate. Some people believe paying students for good grades is a bad idea, I personally believe students will strive to do better when they are paid for their work. Lots of schools are paying their students for getting good grades, and others are giving it a try. Why would†¦ In the present age, let the students evaluate their teachers has been widely used in the education sector. The students can judge their teachers whether are good or not. Even when the students are not satisfied with their teachers, they can vote to change the teachers. But, whether the students should evaluate their teachers has sparked spirited debate. Some people assert that students should evaluate their teachers, while many others argue that students should not do that. Then this easy will discuss†¦ The article â€Å"Being a Good Teacher of Black Students? White Teachers and Unintentional Racism,† Nora Hyland writes about the roles of 27 White teachers in the U.S. who identified as good teachers, but held racist views against their students. The school that these teachers taught at was in the Midwestern part of the country. They participated in the reproduction of racial inequality, which can exacerbate racist effects. This article explored the idea that teachers perpetuated the â€Å"status quo† of†¦ Should Students be paid for Good Grades? â€Å"There is no question that people will work hard for money at any age† (Peterson). There are programs around the country trying cash-reward programs out. For example, there are some schools in Washington D.C. trying these cash-reward programs out that give students cash awards for getting good grades and/or test scores. The schools think the incentives are working because test scores are boosting and students are working harder. The cash incentives prove†¦

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Ethic's - The concept of truth telling in cancer patients receiving Essay

Ethic's - The concept of truth telling in cancer patients receiving palliative chemotherapy and the impact on nurse-patient relationships - Essay Example ned by the performance of nursing functions with outmost care and diligence but that it moves toward the moral perception and awareness of nursing care. With this shift in the appreciation of nursing care – from performance of duties to moral perception of nursing care - the centrality of the nurse –patient relationship becomes more poignant and pivotal in the understanding of nursing (Gastmans et al, 1998; ; Covington 2005). In the context of nursing care perceived not just as a performance of duty but as a moral awareness, nurses rise up to the demands of care, respect and achieving the goal of holistic well-being for the patient. Thus, nurse-patient relationship opens a â€Å"comportment of the self towards others, which has the inherent goal of enhancing the existence of those others† (van Hooft 1999, p 190). However, the nurse-patient relationship is often plagued with quandaries that time and again challenges nursing care. One of these dilemmas that nurses have to contend with as they practise the profession day in and day out is truth telling in the context of patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy. Recognising the importance of truth telling in the nurse-patient relationship and the dilemma that nurses frequently encounter with it, this paper will look into the concept of truth telling in relation with patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy. In lieu of the significance of truth telling in nurse-patient relationship, this paper aims to understand the intricacies of truth telling vis-a- vis nurse-patient relationship. It intends to gain deeper comprehension of utilitarianism, deontology and the four basic ethical principles of justice, autonomy, non-malfeasance and beneficence. Finally, to attain a clearer comprehension of the impact of truth telling in the nurse-patient relationship in the cancer setting (palliative chemotherapy). As this paper will look into the concept of truth telling vis-a-vis nurse-patient relationship in the context

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Computer engineer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Computer engineer - Research Paper Example Bachelor's degrees in software engineering or computer science are a common place to start. Coursework to prepare the student Computer Engineer will include such topics as database design, systems analysis, critical thinking and technical writing. Because computer technology is a field that is constantly changing, continued education is vital to a successful career in Computer Engineering. High school students interested in pursuing this type of work should study mathematics, computer science, and physics. They should also take computer- programming courses in school or learn computer languages in their spare time. When in college, students should try to gain experience by getting an internship with software engineers. Most employers require that computer software engineers have a college education in computer science or software engineering. For more demanding jobs, a graduate degree is preferred. Knowledge of the major computer languages is a must. National certification courses ar e offered for most major computer languages, including C++, Java, and XML. ... ties and Responsibilities of a Computer Engineer Computer software engineers develop and maintain computer software programs, which are coded instructions that tell the computer what to do in logical steps. Software engineers work on a wide range of projects. They work in manufacturing, industry, engineering, government offices, and educational institutions. Sometimes they work on improving computer systems already in use. When asked to develop a program, a software engineer would first analyze the task and apply techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis to come up with the best solution. The software engineer would then prepare systems flow charts that show diagrammatically how information would flow through the computer and its peripheral equipment to get the job done. Finally, they would create an outline of the actual program. In a large organization, such as a computer software company, computer engineers would instruct computer programmers to write the actual code that makes up the program and intercede only when the programmers have a problem. Once the program has been developed, the software engineer may test it for problems and examine it for errors in logic or data. Some programs require days to write, while others may require a year or so. (Cited from Barbara Bellesi; Computer Engineer-Duties and Salaries) Industry Growth and Wages Computer engineers will be in hot demand as computer networks grow in importance for companies both large and small. As a computer engineer, you can find employment in a variety of industries in both the public and private sectors, such as business, telecommunications, government, and health care. Computer engineers specializing in the Internet will be successful in finding employment for businesses

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Research Paper Example Many firms have been able to meet these long-standing regulations by relying on the domain knowledge while the periodic regulations were met through the knowledge from corporate legal staff. However, this system has since changed and adapted a new regulatory environment that includes the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley). All the publicly traded companies are required to comply with this new act; changing the regulator culture from the initial legislative act. Sarbanes-Oxley and a host of other related regulations has fostered for the governance, risk and compliance aspects of regulations for both American-based and international companies. The congress enacted this act with the aim of mitigating unprecedented financial fraud. Its core objective is to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of corporate financial disclosures for purposes of safeguarding the interests of investors and other shareholders. Before the introduction of this act, most of the public corporations were reluctant to abide by some of the regulations such as complying with the environmental reporting requirements. With the introduction of the Sarbanes-Oxley act, more accountability has been realized and tougher penalties have been set for defaulters, compelling most of the organizations to abide by the set regulations. This is a clear indication of the efficiency of the act in minimizing fraud (Orin, 2008). Sarbanes-Oxley also requires that the SEC undertakes regular reviews on financial reports in a systematic and professional manner for the reporting companies. The scope of this review encompasses environmental liabilities to ascertain whether the system is in compliance with regulations. The top executive officials of the firm are obligated to ensure accurate and authentic disclosure of potential liabilities to the public domain. With increased scrutiny and accountability, the regulatory act works to avoid fraud now and in the future (Orin, 2008). As documented in the

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Innate Immune System Components

Innate Immune System Components There are individual systems of the immune system, innate immunity which we are born with and it is non-specific. It is genetically based and passed on to our offspring and adaptive immunity in which we acquire through humoral and cell mediated immunity. Innate and adaptive immune systems are distinct systems but act together at numerous levels to develop a complete defense against invading pathogens. Both systems have mechanisms for distinguishing self from non-self, therefore, under normal situations they are not directed against the hosts tissues and cells. Innate Immunity Elements of the innate immune system (figure 1.8) have been known for many years. However, in the past few years there has been a greater focus on innate immunity and its role in protection against infection and tissue injury and its role in tolerance to self-antigens. Innate immunity defines a collection of protective mechanisms the host uses to prevent or minimize infection. The innate immune system operates in the absence of the specific adaptive immune system but is tied to adaptive immunity in many ways. The innate immune system is characterized by a rapid response to an invading pathogen or foreign or effete cells. In addition to the rapid response, it is also non-specific and usually of a short duration. Innate immunity lacks immunological memory and there is no clonal expansion of lymphocytes as seen in the adaptive immune response. The innate immune response is also important in directing the specific, long-lived adaptive immune response. The host defense mechanisms associated with innate immunity consist of a number of physical barriers (intact skin) and secretions accompanied by a number of serum factors such as complement, certain cytokines, and natural immunoglobulins. The cellular components of innate immunity include a number of cell types, many of which are found at potential points of entry of pathogens. Examples of these cells include natural killer (NK) cells, (figure 1.2), polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), macrophages (figure 1.3), and dendritic cells (DCs), (figure 1.2). The intact skin and mucosal tissues provide considerable protection against invading infectious agents. However, once the agents pass through the skin a number of important events take place. This includes activation of the complement cascade that triggers the development of a number of substances to attract phagocytes to the area. A number of antimicrobial peptides are produced at epithelial cell surfaces. These antimicrobial peptides play an important role in local defense mechanisms, disrupt bacterial cell membranes, and probably play a role in preventing skin infections. Antimicrobial Peptides (figure 1.4) Human ÃŽÂ ²-defensins are produced by epithelial cells in the mucous membranes of the airways and intestinal tract. Defensins are small cationic peptides that have broad antimicrobial activities against a number of microbial agents including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses. Defensins are non-glycosylated peptides containing approximately 35 amino acid residues, and ÃŽÂ ²-defensins have six cysteine residues that provide a distinct structure. Stimulation of the epithelium by certain cytokines can induce defensin production. The exact mode of action of defensins antimicrobial activity is unknown. There are three defensin subfamilies: ÃŽÂ ±-defensins, ÃŽÂ ²-defensins, and ÃŽÂ ¸-defensins The Complement System The complement system (figure 1.5) is another important component of innate immunity. The system consists of 30 proteins found in serum or on the surface of certain cells. Activation of the complement system results in a cascade of biochemical reactions that ultimately ends in lysis and disruption of foreign or effete cells. Without activation, the components of the complement system exist as pro-enzymes in body fluids. As a by-product of the activation of the cascade, a number of biologically reactive complement fragments are generated. The complement fragments can modulate other parts of the immune system by binding directly to T lymphocytes and bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B lymphocytes) of the adaptive immune system and also stimulate the synthesis and release of cytokines. Natural Antibodies Natural antibodies have been recognized for some time but recently they were described as a component of the innate immune system. Natural antibody is defined as an antibody that is found in normal, healthy individuals who have no evidence of exogenous antigenic stimulation. Natural antibodies are believed to develop in a highly regulated manner; they are usually found in low titer in serum and are low-affinity antibodies. A high percentage of the natural antibodies found in serum are of the IgM class. These antibodies are produced by a primitive B lymphocyte, called the B-1 lymphocytes. B-1 cells are usually CD5+ and considered to be long-lived and self-replicating. Natural antibodies play an important role as a first line of defense against pathogens and other types of cells, including precancerous, cancerous, cell debris, and some self-antigens. Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) TLRs (figure 1.6) are found on phagocytic cells, including mononuclear phagocytes, circulating monocytes, tissue macrophages, and endothelial cells, and are important components of the innate immune system. TLRs make up a family of cell surface protein receptors present on several cell types that function to recognize certain conserved molecular components of microorganisms and signal that microbes have breached the bodys barrier defences. TLRs serve as first responders in a mammalian host to recognize the presence of an invading pathogen. They also generate an inflammatory response to attempt to remove the invading agent. Phagocytosis (figure 1.7) Polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes have been well-known components of the innate immune system for many years. Detailed studies of PMN phagocytosis and intracellular killing of microorganisms have led to a better understanding of important defense mechanisms against invasion by pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses. PMNs are attracted to the site of microbial invasion, recognize the microbe, become activated, kill the microorganisms, resolve the infection, undergo apoptosis, and are then ingested and removed by either macrophages or neighbouring endothelial cells to resolve the inflammatory response. PMNs arise as myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow. Specific growth factors and cytokines mediate the differentiation of myeloid precursors into mature PMNs. After entering the circulation, the PMNs have a half-life of about 8-12 h before undergoing a programmed cell death (apoptosis) and are reabsorbed through endothelial walls. The PMN turnover is about 1011 cells per day. Cytokines and Chemokines Cytokines and chemokines are small, secreted polypeptides that regulate essentially all functions of the immune system. Cytokines participate in determining the nature of the immune response by regulating or controlling cell growth, differentiation, activation, immune cell trafficking, and the location of immune cells within the lymphoid organs. Cytokines are a group of intercellular messengers that contribute to inflammatory responses through activation of the hosts immune cells. Cytokines are host-derived products that enhance the recruitment of circulating leukocytes as a response to the presence of pathogens. Cytokines also play important roles in leukocyte attraction by inducing the production of chemokines, which are known to be potent mediators of chemo-attractant activity for inflammatory cells. Chemokines and cytokines provide a complex network of signals that can either activate or suppress inflammatory responses Natural Killer Cells Initially, NK cells were referred to as non-specific lymphocytes because NK cells could kill certain virally infected and malignant cells without known prior sensitization. NK cells were known to resemble large lymphocytes morphologically and were referred to as large granular lymphocytes. Approximately, 10-15% of the lymphocytes circulating in peripheral blood are NK cells. NK cells are distinct from T- and B lymphocytes because they express neither immunoglobulin receptors nor T-cell antigen receptors. There are other distinctions including phenotype and function. NK cells have receptors that recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens. Because NK cells have cytotoxic properties, their function is highly regulated in their interactions in both the innate and adaptive immune systems. NK cells play important roles in innate immune responses and immune regulation. They communicate with other cells through a complex of both activation and inhibitory signals through cell surface receptors. Dendritic Cells The DCs develop in the bone marrow from hematopoietic pluripotential stem cells. Precursor DCs are constantly generated in the bone marrow and are released into the peripheral blood. After leaving the bone marrow, the precursor DCs home to a number of different tissues where they reside as sentinels waiting to interact with antigen. The precursor DCs express low-density MHC class II antigens and after encountering a proper stimulus differentiate into highly endocytic and phagocytic iDCs. Precursor DCs circulate in the environment and on contacting a pathogen produce cytokines, that is, ÃŽÂ ³-interferon, and undergo maturation to iDCs. The iDCs increased phagocytic and endocytic capabilities that lead to binding antigen by the iDCs and then maturation to mature DCs. Adaptive Immunity In contrast to innate immunity, adaptive immunity (figure 1.8) is flexible, specific, and has immunological memory, that is, it can respond more rapidly and vigorously on a second exposure to an antigen. Immunologic memory provides a more powerful response to a repeated exposure to the same foreign substance or antigen. Adaptive immunity is more complex because it provides the ability to respond very specifically. Innate and adaptive immunity responses interact effectively to enhance the bodys defense mechanisms against foreign or damaged host cells. Inherent in both innate and adaptive immune responses are the mechanisms to distinguish self from non-self. The primary blood cell elements of the adaptive immune system are T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. These T- and B-cells provide the unique specificity for their target antigens by virtue of the antigen-specific receptors expressed on their surfaces. The B- and T-lymphocyte antigen-specific receptors develop by somatic rearrangement of germline gene elements to form the TCR genes and the immunoglobulin receptor genes. This recombination mechanism provides unique antigen receptors capable of recognizing almost any antigen encountered, and provides the specific immunological memory for a rapid, vigorous, and specific response to a later exposure to the same antigen. It is estimated that millions of different antigen receptors may be formed from a collection of a few hundred germline-encoded gene elements. For many years, innate and adaptive immune responses were studied as separate systems because of their different mechanisms of action. However, it is now understood that synergy between the two systems is required to provide adequate immune reactivity against invading pathogens. Innate immune responses, through their barrier and relatively broad types of actions, represent the first line of defense against pathogens. At the time the innate system is getting activated, the adaptive system becomes activated also. The adaptive response becomes evident a few days later because it requires time for sufficient antigen-specific receptors to be generated through clonal expansion/proliferation. There are multiple interactions occurring between the two systems, which results in the co-amplification of each respective response and leads to the ultimate destruction and elimination of the invading pathogen. B lymphocytes The primary function of B lymphocytes is the production of antibodies that are specific for a given antigenic component of an invading pathogen. Antibodies are encoded by the heavy (H)- and light (L)-chain immunoglobulin genes. Antibodies may be secreted or cell surface-bound on B lymphocytes. There are five classes of immunoglobulins: IgM, IgG, IgA, IgD, and IgE; and the classification is based on the isotypes of the H chain. B lymphocytes represent roughly 10-15% of the peripheral blood lymphocyte population and free immunoglobulins make up a considerable proportion of serum proteins. After an encounter with a specific pathogen and an antibody response is generated, the level of specific antibodies to that antigen decreases in serum over a relatively short period of time. However, immunological memory persists in the B-cell population, which is capable of rapid clonal expansion upon re-exposure to that same antigen. T lymphocytes Whereas B lymphocyte products recognize extracellular pathogens, T lymphocytes are adept at identifying and destroying cells that have been infected by intracellular pathogens. For T cells to recognize antigenic peptides, the peptide must be presented in the context of cell surface MHC class I or class II proteins. In other words, T cells can only recognize molecular complexes consisting of the antigenic peptide and a self-structure, that is, the MHC. Depending on whether the antigenic peptide has been synthesized within the host cell or ingested by the cell and modified by proteolytic digestion, either MHC class I or class II proteins are required. Proteins of the MHC are intimately tied to T-lymphocyte responses and recognition of antigenic peptides. The MHC class I proteins consist of three HLA classes: HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C with hundreds of allelic variants of each. Structural studies have shown that class I molecules exist as cell surface heterodimers with a polytransmembrane ÃŽÂ ±-chain associated (noncovalently) with a nonpolymorphic ÃŽÂ ²2 microglobulin protein. The protein chains are folded in such a way as to form a physical groove capable of binding up to an 11 amino acid long peptide. Antigenic proteins are degraded by proteolytic enzymes to about this size for binding to th e MHC class I proteins for antigenic presentation. Antigenic peptides are bound in the groove of the HLA molecule and expressed to the cell surface for presentation to initiate a T-cell response. Humoral Immunity (figure 1.9) The human immunoglobulins are a family of proteins that confer humoral immunity and perform vital roles in promoting cellular immunity. Five distinct classes or isotypes of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE) have been identified in human serum on the basis of their structural, biological, and antigenic differences.1-4 IgG and IgA have been further subdivided into subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 or subclasses IgA1 and IgA2 on the basis of unique antigenic determinants. Multiple allotypic determinants in the constant region domains of human IgG and IgA molecules as well as kappa (ÃŽÂ º) light chains indicate inherited genetic markers. Finally, there are several immunoglobulin-associated polypeptides such as secretory component (SC) and J chain that have no structural homology with the immunoglobulins, but serve important functions in immunoglobulin polymerization and transport across membranes into a variety of secretions (e.g., saliva, sweat, nasal secretions, breast milk, and colostrum). This diversity of the immunoglobulin components of the humoral immune system provides a complex network of protective and surveillance functions. Human IgA Polymeric secretory IgA (figure 1.10) is composed of two four-chain basic units and one molecule each of SC and J chain (approximately 400,000 MW). It is the predominant immunoglobulin in colostrum, saliva, tears, bronchial secretions, nasal mucosa, prostatic fluid, vaginal secretions, and mucous secretions of the small intestine. In contrast, 10% of the circulating serum IgA is polymeric, whereas 90% is monomeric (160,000MW). Together, they constitute approximately 15% of the total serum immunoglobulins. Trimers and higher polymeric forms can exist, but in small amounts. Two subclasses of IgA have been identified (IgA1 and IgA2), which differ by 22 of the 365 amino acids. In terms of complement activation, IgA poorly activates the classical pathway. This process has been hypothesized as a host mechanism for attenuating inflammatory responses induced by IgG antibodies at the mucosal surface. In contrast, IgA reportedly activates the alternative pathway of complement to provide some direct protective functions. IgA, once bound to a bacterial or parasitic surface antigen, may bind CD89 (IgA receptor) on infl ammatory cells (monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and eosinophils), leading to their destruction by means of antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Moreover, its binding to viral or microbial surface antigens may restrict the mobility of microorganisms and prevent their binding to mucosal epithelium. Finally, secretory IgA can play an important first line of defense in antigen clearance by binding to antigens that leak across an epithelium and transporting them back across to prevent their entry. To summarize,  IgAs unique structure resists proteolysis and it functions to block uptake of antigen, bacterial o r viral attachment, limit inflammation induced by classical pathway complement activation, and promote microbial destruction through ADCC by binding to leukocyte receptors. Human IgD IgD (figure 1.11) is a four-chain monomer of approximately 180,000 MW with a long hinge region that increases its susceptibility for proteolytic cleavage. Although IgD is normally present in serum in trace amounts (0.2% of total serum immunoglobulin), it predominantly serves as a membrane-bound antigen receptor on the surface of human B lymphocytes. Despite suggestions that IgD may be involved in B-cell differentiation, its principal function is as yet unknown. As such, IgD is rarely quantified in a general workup of an individual suspected of a humoral immune deficiency or a B-cell dyscrasia. Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D with serum IgD levels >100 U/mL, however, has been noted in conjunction with periodic fever syndrome. This condition is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever accompanied by abdominal distress, lymphadenopathy, joint involvement, and skin lesions. It appears to be particularly responsive to anti-tumor necrosis factor ( TNF) treatment. Mutations that lead to this disease occur in the mevalonate kinase gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in cholesterol and nonsterol-isoprenoid biosynthesis. Human IgE IgE (190,000 MW) was identified in 1967 as a unique immunoglobulin that circulates in serum as a four-chain monomer. Although IgE constitutes only 0.004% of the total serum immunoglobulins, it possesses a clinically significant biological function by binding through its Fc region to the alpha chain on high-affinity receptors (FcÃŽÂ µR1) on mast cells and basophils. On subsequent exposure to relevant protein allergens from trees, grasses, weeds, pet dander, molds, foods, or insect venoms, IgE antibodies on mast cells become cross-linked. This process triggers the production and release of vasoactive mediators (e.g., histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes) that can induce mild to severe immediate type I hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized  atopic individuals. Human IgG In healthy adults, the four polypeptide chain IgG monomer (150,000 MW) constitutes approximately 75% of the total serum immunoglobulins. IgG is approximately equally distributed between intra- and extravascular serum pools. Moreover, IgG possesses the unique ability to cross the placenta, which provides protection for the fetus and newborn. Human IgG has been subdivided into four subclasses on the basis of unique antigenic determinants. IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 possess an MW of approximately 150,000, whereas IgG3 is heavier (160,000 MW) as a result of an extended 62-amino acid hinge region that contains 11 interchain disulfide bonds. IgG3s highly rigid hinge region promotes accessibility of proteolytic enzymes to sensitive Fc cleavage sites, which results in an increased fractional catabolic rate and a shorter biological half-life (7-8 days) than has been observed for IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 (21-24 days). In terms of complement activation, IgG1 and IgG3 are the most effective, whereas IgG4 due to its compact structure does not readily activate the classical pathway of complement. IgG4 antibodies are also unique in that they appear to be functionally monovalent due to in vivo exchange of IgG4 half-molecules. As such, thi s is believed to lead to the formation of small IgG4 immune complexes that have a low potential for inducing immune inflammation. Moreover, IgG4 antibodies have the ability to interfere with immune inflammation caused by the interaction of complement-fixing IgG subclasses with antigen. Researchers in the field of allergy have speculated that IgG4 antibodies also scavenge antigen that prevents mast cell-bound IgE antibody from being cross-linked by antigen, and thus blocking IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions in atopic individuals who have undergone immunotherapy. Other important structural and biological differences among the human IgG subclasses relate to their Fc receptor binding, and the different binding sites on the constant region domains for rheumatoid factors, complement components, and bacterial proteins (protein A and protein G). Human IgM IgM (figure 1.12) is a pentameric immunoglobulin of approximately 900,000 MW that is composed of a J chain and five IgM monomers. Pentameric IgM constitutes approximately 10% of serum immunoglobulins in healthy individuals. Along with IgD, monomeric IgM is also a major immunoglobulin that is expressed on the surface of B cells where it serves as an antigen receptor. The C-terminal portion of pentameric secreted IgM differs from that of its monomeric cell-bound form. Secreted IgM has a mu chain with a 20-amino acid hydrophilic tail and a penultimate cysteine that facilitates polymerization. Cell membrane-bound IgM has a 41-amino acid membrane tail that contains a hydrophobic 26-amino acid segment that anchors the IgM molecule in the B-cell membrane lipid bilayer. IgM antibodies are clinically important because they predominate as an antigen receptor in early immune responses to most antigens. With a functional valency of 10, IgM antibodies are highly efficient in activating the classi cal complement pathway. IgMs actual functional valency, however, is only 5 due to steric hindrance among its many antigen-binding sites. Cell Mediated Immunity Cell Mediated Immune response (CMIR) (figure 1.9) is the functional effectors pf the immune response for phagocytosis, cell killing by cytotoxic T cells, NK and K cells Macrophage Activation While the production of antibody through the humoral immune response can effectively lead to the elimination of a variety of pathogens, bacteria that have evolved to invade and multiply within phagocytic cells of the immune response pose a different threat. Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity Cell Mediated Cytotoxic immune response is implicated in refusal of foreign grafts and the exclusion of tumors and virus-infected cells. The cells involved in these methods are cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, NK-cells and K-cells. NK cells Also known as the large granular lymphocytes are normally non-specific, MHC-unrestricted cells involved mainly in the elimination of neoplastic or tumor cells.   Once the target cell is recognized, killing occurs. K cells K-cells contain immunoglobulin Fc receptors. They are involved in Antibody-dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC). ADCC occurs as a result of an antibody being bound to a target cell surface via specific antigenic determinants expressed by the target cell. Once bound, the Fc portion of the immunoglobulin can be recognized by the K-cell. This type of CMIR can also result in  Type II hypersensitivities.