Saturday, August 31, 2019

You’Re a Contract Painkiller

In You Are a Contract Painkiller (1997, p. 111), author Maureen Littlejohn makes extensive use of personification to describe the functioning of Aspirin in our body, its various properties to fight pain, and its evolution over the years. Littlejohn describes how Aspirin claimed celebrity status as one of the world’s most popular, inexpensive painkillers by relieving headaches, sprains, blows, burns, swelling and fever. Furthermore, she added that Aspirin could also be used to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.The author supports the main idea by describing how the aspirin when taken with a modest stream of water or ginger ale, passed to the stomach through the esophagus and undergoes a series of chain reactions to disable the enzyme that converts the acid in cell membranes into prostaglandins (responsible for the pain). In a similar fashion it also helps bring fever down. Moreover, the author gives a brief history about the evolution of the modern day Aspirin from alm ost a thousand years ago when Hippocrates first discovered the property of willow leaves to help relieve pain.The author concludes the essay by highlighting the useful properties of Aspirin and the various ailments it provides relief from. â€Å"You have achieved renown by destroying headaches but you are equally effective in countering sprains, burns, or blows. † (You Are a Contract Painkiller, 1997, p. 112). According to me, this sentence sets the tone for the entire essay. It describes the purpose of using Aspirin and the different ailments that it provides relief from. It basically highlights why and about what the essay is written.It furthermore, sets the stage to write details about the composition and mechanism of Aspirin and also the various ways by which it has meliorated our lives by relieving pain. It puts the entire essay in perspective. â€Å"In the 1800s, two Italian chemists confirmed that willow bark contains one of your main ingredients, the antipyretic (fev er-reducing) salicin. A Swiss pharmacist then found that meadowsweet, a shrub in the spirea family, has ever more of the magic substance than willow bark.In 1893, Felix Hoffmann at the Bayer AG Chemical Works in Germany purified and stabilized you, and that’s when your first claimed celebrity status as one of the world’s most popular, inexpensive pain relievers. † (You Are a Contract Painkiller, 1997, p. 111). The reason I chose this quote is because, it provides a lot of credibility to the essay, by describing how the Aspirin has evolved and also, it gives a perfect example why Aspirin has become so popular all over the world. By describing its formation and development, it gives an overview about what makes Aspirin what it is today.The main idea of this essay revolves around the painkiller called Aspirin. The purpose of this essay is to describe the remarkable properties of Aspirin, to help relieve from different types of pain, and how Aspirin has formed and th e mechanism by which it provides instant relief from the pain. This essay is written for a general audience, to educate them about the useful benefits of aspirin followed by providing detailed information about how an aspirin works to provide relief.This would help people to better understand the pros and cons of aspirin and erase any misconceptions. I really like the way how Littlejohn has written the essay. By using personification method, she has depicted the various aspects of Aspirin in an interesting way rather than just quoting some scientific facts about it. By this, it has really help understand the overall functioning and mechanism of an aspirin in an uncomplicated way.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Stop Thief!

It was Christmas, the mall was pretty vivid and splashy, there were all sorts of ornaments hanging around the mall. As I moved from shop to shop, I saw beautiful new fashioned clothes, iPods, wooden antiques, decoration items and Santa of course. Different types of Christmas cards, greetings, bouquet, and box of chocolates, teddies and Santa costumes were displayed on every corner waiting to be sold out. This was my first trip to Canada and I was really enjoying the every cold chilli weather of the country.I was about to travel the following day to my uncle who had shifted there 15 years ago. And I was really very eager to see my cousins for the first time. As I was walking through the mall when I just saw what I was waiting for, a shop decorated with fine beautiful painting perfect for a beautiful house like my uncles one, I looked at the paintings and then I looked to the money in my purse which I had been saving for 2 years I wanted to buy one for my uncle so that he says â€Å"O h! Dear how sweet of you†¦!†Suddenly, breaking into my day dreams a boy of 24 or so just like my big brother suited in a detective uniform with black hat, and black glasses, his face covered came running past me shouting â€Å"stop him, catch him don’t let him go† and tripped at my feet. I said sorry to him and gave him a hand to get up, he got up and gave me a slight push and I felt something tickle down my purse as he wiped his clothes and kept running I thought for a while that are all Canadians manner less that they run away without even saying a â€Å"Thank You†.I then just dismissed the subject and forgot about it and kept walking thinking to buy the painting I was looking forward to and some winter clothes to help me stay alive here in this cold, as I entered a shop I took the perfect jeans and some winter clothes thinking I would next buy the painting, I went happily to the counter waiting for the bill to be given to me when I got the amount I was not really shocked because that amount was not much but when I looked to my purse I was more shocked when I looked inside, the zip was open and the money was gone I had no hope now that I would find it again.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

A Case Study On Brand Equity Marketing Essay

A Case Study On Brand Equity Marketing Essay Brand equity can be viewed both as an intangible or tangible asset and or liability. The tangible being the monetary value of a brand and best viewed as the amount of additional income expected from a branded product over and above what might be expected from an identical, but unbranded product. To best illustrate this point would be a supermarket, they frequently sell unbranded versions of name brand products. The branded and unbranded products are produced by the same companies, but they carry a generic brand or store brand label like No Name or Home brand. Store brands sell for significantly less than their name brand counterparts, even when the contents are identical. This price difference is the monetary value of the brand name. However, according to (Aaker,1996) the most important assets of any business are intangible: its company name, brand, symbols, and slogans, and their underlying associations, perceived quality, name awareness, customer base, and proprietary resources su ch as patents, trademarks, and channel relationships. The intangible value associated with a product that can not be accounted for by price or features is illustrated by globally renowned company Nike. I has created many intangible benefits for their athletic products by associating them with star athletes. Children and adults want to wear Nike’s products to feel some association with these star athletes (â€Å"be like Mike.† ) The marketing image that has been created for Nike is the driving force of the demand for the products rather than the physical features. Buyers are willing to pay extremely high price premiums over lesser known brands which may offer the same, or better, product quality and features. Ideally brand equity is a set of assets (and liabilities) linked to a brand’s name and symbol that adds to (or subtracts from) the value provided by a product or service to a firm and/or that firm’s customers.(Aaker,1996) These assets, which comprise brand equity, are a primary source of competitive advantage and future earnings. (Aaker, 1996) The overall description of Brand Equity incorporates the ability to provide added value to company’s products and services. This added value can be an advantage to charge price premiums, lower marketing costs and offer greater opportunities for customer purchase The assets/ advantages of brand equity: Allows you to charge a price premium compared to competitors with less brand equity. Strong brand names simplify the decision process for low-cost and non-essential products. Brand name can give comfort to buyers unsure of their decision by reducing their perceived risk. Maintain higher awareness of your products. Use as leverage when introducing new products. Often interpreted as an indicator of quality. High Brand Equity makes sure your products are included in most consumers consideration set. Your brand can be linked to a quality image that buyers want to be associated with. Offer a strong defense against new products and new competitors. Can lead to higher rates of product trial and repeat purchasing due to buyers’ awareness of your brand, approval of its image/reputation and trust in its quality.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Employees Performance Appraisal Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Employees Performance Appraisal - Coursework Example Potential appraisal is the evaluation considering the personal qualities of the employee like his communication skills, leadership qualities, and commitment. It is different from performance appraisal in that performance is something that has happened in the past while potential abilities are those that an employee might possibly possess that can be enhanced to improve his performance in the future. The goal here is to make the employees aware of their potential prospects in future and to enable the organization to plan out management succession strategies. Potential appraisal helps the organization to lay out training and recruitment programs so that employees’ job opportunities can be increased. Question 2 The main goal of potential appraisal is to make the employees aware of their career development so that they have a clear vision about their future prospects. When the employees know which personal qualities they posses and which they need improvement in, they actually get a clear outlook on their personal haves and have-nots and this helps them build their capabilities through training sessions and motivation programs. They come to know how much confidence they possess; how good they are in decision making and problem solving; how they handle workplace stress; how independent they are; and, much more. This aids their career development and thus their future becomes bright with regard to their job. An employee can himself ask for an assessment of his potential qualities if he wants to be promoted or transferred. Otherwise, the company conducts this assessment to know if there is a need for training or motivation, and whether a certain employee should be assigned higher level responsibilities or not. This assessment may be conducted through different methods: self-appraisal, superior-appraisal, peer-appraisal, or role playing, are all methods conducting potential appraisal. Hence, potential appraisal is very future oriented and focuses on the career d evelopment of the employee. Question3 It is the manager’s responsibility to make sure that it is in the organization’s policies to include potential appraisal as a part of performance appraisal program. A line manager is assigned to conduct potential appraisals. A mutual understanding between the manager and the appraisee is important which can also build up during meetings between the two. It is the responsibility of the manager to gain information about how to conduct the appraisal process properly because if he does not have enough experience conducting potential appraisals, then he might end up showing negative cascaded attitude toward the process and telling that appraisals are a waste of time. This negative attitude then goes down among the appraisees as well and then the whole bunch of employees or teams of employees start possessing the same attitude. Thus, a manager’s role is very important because he portrays the attitude of the overall workforce. Also , a manager should maintain a written record of all potential appraisals and must make sure that all the capabilities of employees are judged properly without any bias. Since the manager better knows about the employees’ qualities and much more that is not explicit, his responsibilities increase when it comes to the future prospects and career development

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Choose best topic for that Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Choose best topic for that - Essay Example To analyze our results, the supplier that has more positives than negatives will be the supplier that we will choose to supply our athletic shoes. From all of the options available, we found that Supplier 3 is the best option for us in terms of price and quality. Our company is introducing a new product to the market and thus need to figure out how to procure and then sell these products at a significant enough profit margin. We used four different criteria on which to base our decision to buy the shoes from a supplier. Price is the number one factor followed by quality. These factors will all be calculated using different methods of comparison. Price will be calculated from the quotes from each of the suppliers. Durability will be tested in our laboratories. Appearance will be derived from surveys that are given out to focus groups. Lastly, convenience will be judged based on the transportation costs involved with shipping the shoes from our supplier to our warehouse. We made our criteria for price that each pair of shoes would cost $100 or less. Suppliers 1 and 3 both filled this criterion; however, supplier 2 and 4 cost more than this figure. In terms of waterproof durability, we decided to judge whether each pair of shoes was waterproof or not. Supplier 1 and 4 provided athletic shoes that were not waterproof; supplier 2 and 3 did have shoes that were waterproof. For appearance, we made use of specific focus groups that could give us feedback about the stylistic feel of each of the shoes. Supplier 1, 2, and 4 each had shoes that looked fashionable and were comfortable to wear. However, Supplier 3 did not have stylish athletic shoes at all. Finally, for convenience, we decided to judge how far each supplier was located away from our warehouse. Ideally, a supplier should be located less than 100 miles away. Supplier 2 and 4 were both closer than this distance. On the other hand, supplier 1 and 3 were greater than this

Monday, August 26, 2019

Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics Essay

Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics using examples of both to help illustrate your explanation - Essay Example Some of these functions include the standard deviation, median, means, kurtosis, and skew among others. This follows that for the cases of descriptive statistics the population parameters of intrinsic interest are estimated. For instance, calculation of the sample mean and standard deviation act as fundamental instruments or indicators, which are used in estimating the population mean and standard deviation respectively (SELKIRK, 2008). In most cases, these parameters have been cited to be biased in comparison with the ideal estimators; however, an element of utility in estimating the population parameters is attributed to them. Similarly, the descriptive statistics in most cases intends to describe a big chunk of data by providing a summary charts and tables; however, it does not attempt to make any relevant conclusion about the population attributed to the samples. This forms the distinctive feature of descriptive statistics (BLANK, 2008). For instance, a sample of 30 is selected randomly from a population of 300 and the parameters such as means and standard deviation calculated (CONWAY, 2003). These parameters will be used in approximating the population estimators and consequently used in graphs and charts to provide a summary of the data. This is uninformative. On the other hand, from the meaning of the word inference, inferential statistics is the process of reaching a conclusion regarding a parameter. In essence, inferential statistics is characterized by use of functions of the sample data, which help in drawing an inference that concerns a hypothesis regarding a certain population parameter. Some of the classic inferential statistics include z, t, and F-ratio among others. For the case of the hypothesis, we have both the null and alternative hypothesis. In this case, the expected value is immensely influenced by the sample size

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Finance - Assignment Example 2. A firm that uses RADR to evaluate investment projects would be most likely to apply the highest risk-adjusted discount rate to which of the following projects? a) The overhaul and repair of a large piece of machinery that it has been using for five years. b) An investment in a new piece of machinery to produce new products to be sold in China. c) An investment in a fleet of trucks to be used for delivery of its products. d) An investment in a new machine that will be used to improve the production process for one of its more successful products it has been producing for about 7 years. 3. A corporate bond with ten years to maturity pays $45 interest semi-annually. If the current market rate of interest on bonds in the same risk class is 9 percent; this bond will be selling for: a) Much less than $1000 b) Much more than $1000 c) Approximately $1000 d) There is not enough information here to be able to determine the answer to this question. 4. You have just calculated the NPV on an i nvestment. It is a negative ($3.33). The IRR on this investment is: a) Equal to the cost of capital b) Higher than the cost of capital c) Lower than the cost of capital d) There is not enough information here to be able to figure out the answer to this question. 5. A firm has daily remittances (collections) of two million dollars and can earn 9 percent on investments of surplus cash. The maximum this firm should pay for a cash management system that will reduce collection time by three days is: a) $5,400,000 b) $1,800,000 c) $540,000 d) $180,000 e) $3,000,000 6. Which of the following courses of action in regard to financing working capital would be taken by a firm, wishing to take moderate risk and earn a moderate profit? a) Long-term financing and a relatively low level of liquid current assets. b) Long-term financing and a relatively high level of liquid current assets. c) Short-term financing and a relatively low level of liquid current assets. d) None of the above represents a position of moderate risk and moderate profits. 7. A firm does not maintain a single, exact, debt/equity ratio at all times because: a) It will want to sell debt when interest rates are low and sell common stock when stock prices are high. b) It will want to take advantage of timing its fund rising in order to minimize the cost of capital over time. c) The â€Å"market† allows some leeway in the debt/equity ratio before it begins to penalize the firm with higher required rates of return. d) All of the above help explain why a firm does not maintain a single, exact debt/equity ratio at all times. 8. The relationship between the price of a bond and market interest rates: a) Is a positively correlated linear relationship b) Is an inverse relationship c) Cannot be determined d) Cannot be determined without more information than is presented here. 9. The closer the correlation coefficient between two investment projects is to (-1), the greater is the a) Risk of the â€Å"portfoli o† when the two projects are combined b) Risk reduction on the â€Å"portfolio† when the two projects are combined c) Return on the â€Å"portfolio† when the two projects are combined. d) Variation on the â€Å"portfolio† returns as compared to the returns on the individual projects. 10. When comparing three investment projects, if the expected cash flows from one project have a higher standard deviation than the cash flows of the other two, which of the follow

Character analysis of Werther in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's The Essay

Character analysis of Werther in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther - Essay Example O'Rourke sings the witches' chant double, double toil and trouble'' on the soundtrack.The film is a bloody and brutal big-screen adaptation f Shakespeare's tragedy, with a lank-haired Sam Worthington in the title role and Victoria Hill as Lady Macbeth. Other key players include Lachy Hulme as Macduff, Steve Bastoni as Banquo and Gary Sweet as Duncan.If there is a bad boy among Australian feature film directors, Wright would be in the running for the title. There are certain things I can act on and I can surprise people with the speed f the action,'' he says. I get passionate about some things and it has got me into trouble.''He was fired three days before shooting was due to start on Supernova in 1999, for example. If that had not happened, the big-budget science fiction film would have been his first for Hollywood. The way Wright tells it, he had planned from the outset to have the characters floating as if they were in zero gravity. But the studio bosses at United Artists suddenly decided the characters should walk around on the ground in boots as though they were on Star Trek''.People change their minds and get scared,'' ... A couple f years later, an incident at a Film Finance Corporation Australia Christmas party added to Wright's volatile reputation. He and producer Jonathan Shteinman had a disagreement about then FFC chief executive Catriona Hughes and ended up trying to settle the matter outside with fisticuffs. Some regard Wright's behaviour as not nice at all. Others are inspired by his passion. Wright describes Macbeth the man as incredibly corrupt'', but also admires his courage. Macbeth has that blazing, insane, crazy courage that you get when you have committed to something thoroughly rotten and there's no way out so you just keep going ahead with it,'' he says. You get yourself boxed in but you somehow [summon] up the guts to keep going forward. There is something fascinating about that.'' Wright clearly doesn't like himself when he doesn't stand up for what he believes in: We have more and more prosperity in Australia and there is less and less inclination to rock the boat, speak out, make a gesture. That can be frustrating. I fall into the same trap. Maybe there is a level f common sense to it but it also makes me feel a bit sick afterwards.'' Wright's films are as bold as he is. The R-rated Romper Stomper, with its neo-Nazi and racial themes, stormed into cinemas 15 years ago and remains one f the gutsiest films to emerge from Australia. Wright's second film, Metal Skin, a tale f misfit teens with lots f car action that starred Aden Young and Ben Mendelsohn, was made soon after Romper Stomper but failed to have an impact. The teen horror flick Cherry Falls, the one film he eventually made in the US, in 2000, showed adolescents murdered and the word virgin carved on their bodies. Violence, then, is a recurring

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Qualitative Methodology Practices in Nursing Essay

Qualitative Methodology Practices in Nursing - Essay Example To extend these points further with regard to the public and the field of nursing, the professional image has been subject to a plethora of influencing factors since health-care services were first established in this country over two centuries ago. This goes back to the theoretical aspect of its colonial origins and how they influenced medicine and health care reforms today. Since the colonial period, nursing has evolved through decades of changes and reform. From a position of significant oppression and medical subservience, generations of nurses have fought for public recognition in terms of identity, respect, and role acknowledgement. In fact these are the reasons that so much research has been conducted in this profession and the various theoretical theorizations and methodologies have taken root. This has created a better perception with regard to the nurses' role and it has helped them establish their position in health care more fluidly. The main theoretical point behind the usage of these four methodologies is the fact that these specific methods provide accurate and reliable ways to promote good positive outcomes for patients, as well as providing assistance to the nurses to ensure that they stay in the correct professional framework which guides them on an everyday basis in their work routines. Theory of Applied Research Applied research is a dependable element in the nursing field. Although in its basic form it is only considered to be fundamental for solving more practical and basic problems it can also find a niche in other areas of the nursing profession as well. Theoretically it can help in pin-pointing certain symptoms through a research methodology that is of a nurses own choosing, since there are many different research methodologies available (Lehtinen et al 2005, p. 44). Therefore, usage of an applied research model helps the nurse facilitate the treatment regimen more fluidly due to the fact that the basic symptoms or problems can be rectified and hence corrected to change a specific outcome. Take for example the disease of cancer. Applied research helps the nurse prioritize what research is more worthy of further study in order to acquire more essential knowledge on the subject so that a better determination of treatment can be given (Mcilfatrick & Keeny 2002, p. 629). Furthermore, it he lps to promote the correct direction and focus in developing a strategy for studying various forms of cancer to be better prepared in caring for a cancer patient. By incorporating the research question, found through the usage of applied research, within certain basic studies of cancer, nurses are better prepared to provide care with regard to how to alleviate nausea and vomiting, interventions for pain, coping with grief or death, and prevention and treatment of existing cancer or other possible cancers (Mcilfatrick & Keeny 2002, p. 630). This emphasizes the fact that the basic research of this disease is actually the initial phase leading into the methodology of applied research to begin with (Lehtinen et al 2

Friday, August 23, 2019

The role of nursing in a mas casualty event Research Paper

The role of nursing in a mas casualty event - Research Paper Example Acts of terrorism, disease outbreaks and natural and man-made disasters can occur anywhere at any time. Some of the disasters for which for which we must be prepared are avian influenza outbreaks, violent storms, bombing, floods, fires and transport accidents. Whatever may be the form of such casualties, in case there is always a need for nurses various services to comply with the crucial needs of such an event. In Zwirn et. al., The International Nursing Coalition for Mass Casualty Education has expressed that every nurse, on graduation from an entry levels, must have knowledge and abilities to respond to emergencies of various forms, and also that if you or your staff are unaware of any such knowledge, then you must work to acquire any such, before you are asked to respond to any emergencies. (Zwirn, et. al., 2006) In short, it is intended that nurses, without the aid to usual medical support, must be able to react in a mass casualty or emergency, affecting a larger group in unusual circumstances. At Columbia University, excellent instructive programs have been developed including the Mailman School of Public Health National Center for Disaster Preparedness and also at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health the Institute for Biosecurity and in last but not the least the certification at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing called the Mass Casualty Education (Nursing Emergency Preparedness Education Coalition, 2007). Disaster Education All sorts of medical and ethical and social trainings must include the preparedness activities. As stated by Veenema (2003) a number of useful materials can be found at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website (FEMA), information provided at this website includes disaster fact sheets and special material is available for parents, health professionals and teachers also to guide them as to how to speak to minors about terrorism and casualties. This material is also useful in preparing you and your family to prepare for such incidents. These materials particularly discuss the measures necessary after the very crucial seventy two hours of the emergency, particularly when the possibility of state aid and local help is low. (Veenema, 2003) As volunteers and nurses it is essential that we must know that how available resources at the event of a calamity can be made use of efficiently. To counter such emergencies, it necessary that we must be aware of our society's susceptibilities and also realize the calamity plans and other practical societal activities for instance mock drills. Such experiences are highly useful if we are the first responders in any event, and what if the available persons are the only trained disaster-trained personnel, and how ones behavior would vary if we are to permanently offer our services as caregivers. (Congressional Testimony, 2006) Recognizing Potential Threats Usually nurses are the first trained professionals, to which people approach in the event of some form of casualty. Although most of us haven't experienced disorders that may be regarded as bioterror weapons, it is essential t

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Ionising radiation in medical imaging Essay Example for Free

Ionising radiation in medical imaging Essay Contemporary medical practice is heavily reliant on mediconuclear and radiological procedures and investigations. To derive important diagnostic information, medical personnel must carry out investigations which may expose patients and the medical personnel to certain levels of risk. With the continued advancement of medicine and diagnostic examinations, many procedures which utilize relatively high loads of radiation to produce images are becoming more and more popular. To protect patients and radiologists from the harmful effects of radiation exposure, protection practices and standards are grounded on the understanding that any level of radiation may cause detrimental health effects, including genetic damage and cancer development. However, while protection standards have been crucial in reducing the level of exposure to harmful radiation, these estimates are just approximations. Some authors have argued that these approximations are indeed underestimates and that better estimates of risk should be calculated based on the age and sex of an individual. These concerns imply that doctors and radiologists must uphold the highest standards for radiation protection, including limiting the number of times a patient subjected to radiologic examination. The use of ionsing radiation in medical imaging began with x-rays discovery in 1895. Basically, ionising radiation consists of the component of electromagnetic spectrum which has sufficient energy to penetrate through matter and dislodge orbital electrons which are then converted into ions and captured in an electromagnetic film. Different types of electromagnetic radiations (gamma rays and x-rays) are utilised in different forms of medical imaging. Different forms of radiation also have different biologic effects. Imaging modalities such as single photon computed tomography (SPECT), cardiovascular computed tomography (CVCT), positron emission tomography (PET), and x-ray fluoroscopy have become indispensable diagnostic tools in almost every medical establishment. Even though these modalities are necessary for an accurate and timely diagnosis, the emission of both particulate and photon radiation means that the risks and benefits of these diagnostic techniques need to be evaluated. While it is easy to measure some radiation dosimetry parameters, others can only be estimated by using complex simulations and assumptions models. Generally, radiation dosimetry is presented in terms of physical measurements. Based on literature research, this paper discusses the risks associated with ionising radiation in medical imaging and the measures taken by both the patients and the medical staff to limit the level of radiation dosage. Risks Associated with Ionising Radiation in Medical Imaging Exposure to ionising radiation in the medical/hospital environment can either exhibit as deterministic or stochastic impacts. Deterministic effects are those effects whose severity is determined by the radiation dose. These effects occur when the radiation exposure goes beyond the dose threshold. The most common example of deterministic effects is skin burns. When the skin is exposed for a long time to radiation, particularly in the course of prolonged fluoroscopic procedures, skin burns may occur. Patients undergoing electrophysiologic ablation examinations which may take more than one hour are more at risk of suffering skin burns as a result of repeated exposure to relatively high levels of radiation doses. 3 Other deterministic effects include cataract formation, skin erythema, and epilation. Stochastic effects are those effects whose probabilities of occurrence are dependent on the dosage. For instance, effects such as radiation induced carcinogenesis always occur after a person has been exposed to variable doses of radiation for a long time. Generally, stochastic effects do not have a threshold dose; rather, long term exposure to ionising radiation may cause varying degrees of cell proliferation, division, and differentiation. Thus, it is extremely difficult to establish the exact level of exposure that can be incriminated in the development of cancer or any other associated effect. However, it has been demonstrated that higher doses of ionising radiation may cause chromosomal changes and subsequent malignancies. On the contrary, it should be noted that not all chromosomal alterations cause phenotypic illnesses. Exposure to high doses of radiation may induce malignancy in children, especially the development of leukemia. There are two different theoretical perspectives for discussing the link between medical imaging and cancer development at relatively low exposure levels. According to the linear no-threshold theory, the effects of radiation are not limited to a certain threshold of exposure. In essence, all radiation em itted have the capacity of causing malignancies and the risk increase linearly with dosage. On the other hand, the linear-quadratic theory states that low doses have an insignificant risk on developing malignancies and that the risk can only increase quantitatively with exposures to high radiation doses. In many international and national legislations concerning radiation and reducing exposure to radioactive emissions, the more conservative linear no-threshold hypothesis have been adopted as opposed to the linear quadratic hypothesis. This consensus ensures that no amount of radiation exposure is taken as being negligible and insignificant when it comes to malignancies and other associated effects. The Chernobyl disaster and the Hiroshima tragedy are two examples of the effects of high dose radiations that have been widely studied. Studies of the survivors have confirmed the hypothesis that in-utero X ray exposure increases the risk of cancer development. Again, it should be understood that radioactive emissions from nuclear accidents or explosions cannot be compared with the doses of ionising radiation that patients and staff are exposed to during medical imaging. Epidemiologic and experimental evidence suggests that low dose radiations can lead to the development of leukemia and solid tumours. Due to this link, workers in the nuclear industry and health care are often monitored and the level of exposure restricted to not more than 20 mSv per years (100 mSv in five years). The current growth in the use of computed tomography imaging has created renewed interest into the possible risks associated with CT scans. Some studies have established that computed tomography imaging, esp ecially cardiac CT imaging. According to Moloo (2009), cardiac CT imaging exposes patients to a lifetime risk of developing cancers. A radiation dosage of 2. 3 milliSieverts may result in a lifetime cancer risk of 20 cases per 100,000 women and 8 cases per 100,000 men. The risk to developing lung cancers is higher than that of developing other cancers. Using insurance claims documentation of 1 million clients, other researchers have also been able to establish that more than more than 70% of medical claims were associated with medical imaging procedures. Notably, CT scans of the abdomen and the pelvis, CT scans of the chest, and myocardial perfusion imaging accounted for the greatest proportion of exposure to cumulative radiation doses. It is also important to note that, even though not widely reported, a single radiation dose of an abdominal or pelvic computed tomography imaging far exceeds the recommended annual background radiation dose. For instance, cardiac CT imaging typically exposes the patient to a radiation dosage of 3-15 mSv, for mammograms the patient is exposed to 0. mSv, while pelvic/abdominal CT imaging exposes the patient to 10mSv. These dosages far exceed the annual background dosages and increase the likelihood of developing cancers. Castranovo (2008) asserts that even though the use of multidetector CT angiography has been extremely important in generating images in a very short time, it should be noted that the population exposure to radiation has risen from a mere 0. 54 mSv to more than 3. 2 mSv. 16-slice compute r tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) increases the probability of cancer developing in different patient organs. These risks call for an evaluation of radiation dosages, particularly in CTCA so as to ensure that the benefits far outweigh the risks associated with the procedure. In a study carried out in the United Kingdom, it was estimated that the course of catheter based coronary angiography exposes patients to fluoroscopic radiation and increases the risk of cancer in 280 per one million patients examined. Exposures to fluoroscopic radiation during electrophysiologic ablation have been estimated to increase the number of fatal malignancies in both men and women. 3 For pregnant mothers, exposure to radiation may cause teratogenesis. High dose variations may cause fetal malformations, central nervous system alterations, particularly mental retardation and microcephaly. Therefore, even though sick mothers may require medical imaging to aid in diagnosis, radiations have a potential adverse effect on the foetus and physicians should critically assess the need merits and demerits of using medical imaging as a diagnostic procedure, especially when there are safer alternatives. Finally, ionising radiations increases the risk of radiation-induced gene mutations. Germline mutations have the potential of altering future generations. Such radiations increase the frequency of genetic mutations in the population hence potentially altering future germ lines. In other cases, genetic mutations may lead to the development of either physical or physiological deformities, or cause genetic diseases. 12 It widely known that the main consequence of adverse exposure to ionising radiation is hereditary effects. Radioactive damage of gametes may lead to a wide range of mild or serious consequences, including mental defects and death (Edward). Precautions Required to Protect Against Ionising Radiation Medical professionals have an ethical and professional obligation to protect patients under diagnostic procedures that may expose them to adverse levels of radiation. The primary precautionary measure is training. According to the Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) of 2000 in the United Kingdom, radiologists are required to undergo specialist training on the physics of ionising radiations and the measures which should be taken to protect against radiation exposure. The legislation also has provisions for patients to report to the IR (ME) R Inspectorate about incidents of radiation overexposure. Since medical radiation accounts for 14 percent of UK’s average annual dose, these legislations are an important regulatory tool protecting both staff and patients from unwarranted exposure to radiation originating from medical imaging procedures. It is also important to reiterate that these laws, as well as the provisions included in the International Commission on Radiological Protection are grounded on the linear threshold theory. Radiologists have an obligation to expose the patient and the staff to minimal amounts of radiation necessary for the successful completion of the procedure. Where appropriate, the dose of radiation used in cardiovascular computed tomography may be reduced by adjusting the scan parameters to suit every individual patient. Software based modifications can also be installed to reduce the level of exposure to radiation by changing computer tomography scanning protocols. For instance, the x-ray tube radiation output can be reduced by ECG-controlled tube current modulations. In interventional radiology, the decision to use radiation diagnostic techniques should be justified as per the requirements of the regulatory authority. Patients should never be exposed to radiation unless the practitioner has offered a prescription which complies with relevant national guidelines. In making that prescription, the medical practitioner should be guided by the efficiency of the diagnostic intervention, the benefits and risks associated with the technology, and the availability of other alternative technologies that are less harmful. With respect to equipment specifications, all authorized diagnostic radiology equipment must meet the compliance requirements set out by national and international regulatory standards. Such specifications must take into account the possibility of human errors, equipment failures, or any other occurrence that may predispose medical practitioners and patients to unhealthy radiation exposure. Radiological procedures such as mammography, dental radiology, and interventional radiology should only be performed by specifically trained personnel using specifically designed imaging systems. Where appropriate, radiology units should have automatic exposure control systems and automatic brightness controls. These measures optimize patient doses. Operationally, regulatory agencies in the UK are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the registrants and licensees comply with all the minimum necessary standards. This is achieved by specifying applicable operational parameters such as the types of equipment that can be used, safer procedures for examining the chest, thorax, abdomen, and lumbar spine regions as well as the skull and pelvis. Other measures may include changing radiation generator parameters such as the tube voltage range and tube loading, changing the focal spot, film processing conditions, and film-screen combination. 15 Conclusion The fact that recent advances in radiological and mediconuclear imaging procedures have become indispensable diagnostic tools is indisputable. Accurate and timely examination of clients through radiologic procedures saves lives and paves the way for scientific based treatment and management of diseases. The popularity of these techniques continues to soar to their speed and relative ease of use. Recent research has established that the current levels of radiation exposure for diagnostic purposes far supersede what had previously been thought. This realization has created a new wave of debates and studies into the benefits and risks associated with ionising radiation and whether imaging is crucial for accurate diagnosis. 4 Even though an accurate measurement of the incremental risk of ionising radiation in medical imaging is yet to be determined, the uncertainty of the relationship between doses and tissue specific responses should is enough to encourage only the use of low doses. The link between ionising radiation and cancer implies that both physicians and patients need to acknowledge the potential harm that CT imaging causes and strictly implement radiation protection measures. Every individual should be exposed to radiation dosage based on their phenotypic and physiologic characteristics. Recognizing the gravity of other associated risks such as teratogenesis and radiation induced gene mutations implies that additional care should be taken when using diagnostic imaging. Clinical decision making as regards the utilization of low levels of ionising radiation should be supported by a broad range of modalities which justify the risk-benefit ratio.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Importance of Value Management

Importance of Value Management The report aims at making the clients aware of the importance of a Value Management (VM) study in their project. It describes the process of the study step by step, the benefits of conducting the study at an early stage and relating the study to specific project issues. It gives a brief understanding of how the VM study works at different stages and a typical agenda provides a brief review of the same. Tools and techniques used in the study are also explained. Finally a short introduction to Value Engineering and the importance of its study at the appropriate time in the Project life cycle will be discussed. 1. Introduction The (Public Private Partnership) project is to be assessed through the value management study. As the project brief indicates a mixed use recreation and commercial centre, a gym, swimming pool, park, health spa, squash court, jogging and cycling tracks with features as leisure facilities and for commercial centre would include retail outlets, health clinics, cafes, offices to let, pharmacies and theatres. Benefits of such a PPP project are it reduces costs, transfer risks to the private partner, shortens the construction period, and has access to skills, experience and technology of the private sector. This project is to cater for the expatriate and local communities living in the suburbs who do not have assess to any leisure facilities. With this project people, especially children will be able to spend time outdoors and use other facilities rather than stay indoors watching television. It also allows people to use various health facilities and do their shopping in their locality i tself. Value management is a study that helps maximize the functional value of the project under study by managing its development right from the concept to its completion by accessing its value system. In a PPP project as there are two parties the government and the private sector there are varying value systems. The public sectors aim is to regulate, deliver services to people and achieve value for money; while the private sectors goal is profit. 2. Value Management Study Value Management (VM) studies are typically initiated for a number of reasons such as cost overrun of the project, communication problems, clients not satisfied with their approach to project management and finally clients who understand and believe that a VM study helps improving the value of the project. The benefits of VM exercise are the maximum when implemented at the start of the project, particularly if its applied during conceptual development and initial design stages. Some of the benefits may be improving project schedule, improving technical specifications, generating alternative ideas; identifying unnecessary expenditure; optimizing resources; eliminating redundant features and appreciation of whole of life cycle costs. The VM study can address specific issues of this PPP project such as a better Value for Money, obtaining provisions for better quality services, quicker delivery of the project and finally better utilization of the assets being put inot the project. 2.1 Orientation Phase The VM study can broadly be divided into three stages namely orientation phase, workshop phase and the implementation phase. During the orientation phase tasks such as coordination of works, gathering of data such as plan layouts, site conditions, project constraints, operational requirements. Also tasks such as scheduling VM study location, preparing the agenda and selecting the study team are done. If large team is selected, subdivide the members to form teams so that specific matters covered in detail. Selection of the team is done by the ACID test. Authorize include those who have authority to take decisions during the workshop. Consult include those without whose consultation the workshop may be suspended. Inform exclude those who have to be merely informed about the outcome of the workshop. Do include those who have to translate the outcome of the workshop into action. The study team comprises of the following: 1 certified value specialist 1 consultant project manager 1 contractors representative 1 quantity surveyor 1 architect with mixed use recreation centre experience 1 structural engineer 1 building service engineer 1 school teacher 1 health counselor It is advised to use a combination of members from the design team and outside in order to assure free thinking and unbiased recommendations. The value specialist will preside over the entire workshop to see that the study is carried out smoothly and as per the agenda. The consultant project manager and the contractors representative represent the client and the contractor, informs each of their value systems to the remaining members of the study team. The quantity surveyor advises about the quantities of items that would be required, while the architect would provide his opinion on what would be the perfect design for the project. The structural engineer looks into the requirement of the elemental units of the structure such as columns and beams so that the structure is stable whereas the building service engineer analyses the services that will be installed once the structure is ready. Besides professional a school teacher and health counselor are appointed into the team so that th ey can provide their perspective representing the local community. AGENDA TIME ACTIVITY Day 1 Pre workshop 16.00 Introduction Purpose of the VM workshop and its benefits 17.00 Gathering information such as project constraints, functional requirements, plan layouts and site conditions 19.00 Familiarizing the team with the agenda (job plan) 20.00 Dinner and getting to know members of the study team Day 2 Workshop phase 09.00 Introduction phase Quick review of collected information 09.30 Issues Analysis 10.45 Snacks break 11.00 Clients value system Identifying main values of the client 12.00 Preparing a strategic timeline for the project Stakeholder mapping 12.30 Familiarizing the study team with Function Analysis and FAST 13.00 Lunch break 14.00 Function Analysis 14.30 Sorting of functions needs and wants 15.00 FAST diagramming 17.00 Tea break 17.30 Review the FAST diagram 18..00 End of DAY 2 Day 3 Workshop phase 09.00 Creativity phase Brainstorming 11.00 Snacks break 11.20 Listing of ideas generated 12.00 Evaluation phase Crude filtering by weighted voting to reduce number of ideas Refined filtering green dots to select 8 ideas red dots to select 4 ideas. 13.30 Lunch break 14.30 Development phase Development of ideas selected in evaluation phase 15.30 Detailed analysis of TCQ time, cost, quality Life cycle costing 16.30 Tea break 16.50 Implementation of ideas and follow up plan 18.00 End of DAY 3 Day 4 Workshop phase 09.00 Reviewing the development of ideas 09.30 Action plan 10.00 Presenting importance of Value Engineering and its benefits 11.00 Presentation Recommendations to Management 11.30 Snacks and Goodbye 2.2 Workshop Phase The workshop commences by analyzing project understanding how client plans to own, generate and maintain the project and followed by issues analysis. Client Value system is then identified by considering values which are important to the client and performing paired comparison between the values as shown below. This helps identify which are the key values of the client. Stakeholder mapping (power to influence vs. interest) and Strategic Timeline are other tasks to be carried out. One of the main steps of the VM process is function analysis. Through function analysis project components are analyzed and compared to be able to achieve project objectives. The primary function and secondary functions are also identified. The primary function is essential for the achievement of stated objectives, whereas the secondary functions aid in providing the projects wants. Using FAST diagramming the functions of the system are identified. First functions are generated through brainstorming and then sorted such that the needs are at the topmost left and wants bottommost right. The functions are placed in such a way that we move to a lower level asking how? and move to a higher level asking why? Function analysis helps generate ideas that eventually result in recommendations.   The second phase of the workshop is Creativity phase. It is done by considering a function and contributing suggestions that answer the function through a list of creative ideas as well as identifying risks involved with them.  The team generates as many ideas as possible to provide the functions at a lower cost.  Judgment of the ideas is not permitted.  Most of the ideas are a result of the exercise done in the function analysis phase.  Ã‚  The next phase (evaluation) of the workshop involves screening ideas to more manageable numbers. The ideas and risks evaluated are graded on the basis of potential savings, time required to redesign and client acceptability. They are then ranked and the highest are selected by the team to be further reviewed by the members of the design team. During the development phase the ideas are converted into workable solutions after examining their technical feasibility and economic viability.  The risks that are assessed and weighted are also considered. They are entered into a risk register. The recommendations are prepared with a short brief to compare the original design with the suggested changes. At the end of the workshop a presentation is held to give recommendations and suggestions to the management. 2.3 Implementation Phase The implementation phase of the VM study includes submitting to the clients and the design team, the VM report containing recommendations developed during the workshop.  Ã‚  The design team may incorporate the recommendations suggested into their project design or reject them.  Along with the VM report a summary of the cost savings and redesign costs are also included.  The report may include KPI Key performance indicators, schedule of activities and a Risk register. 3. Value Engineering Value Engineering (VE) is the process of identifying and eliminating unnecessary cost during design and construction. VE studies should ideally be conducted at 35% design schematic design stage. While the early stages of design provide the most opportunities for affecting the value elements, it is advisable to consider VE at all stages of the project. Project constraints should be outlined prior to the VE, as it will help avoid making recommendations that are contrary to the clients design. The elements that are typically of interest during the VE study are (1) the basic structural elements positioning of columns and beams, optimizing loading effect on the foundation. (2) The architectural design, (3) Positioning of electrical and mechanical components such as lifts, escalators, HVAC systems,(4) the use of technology etc. The study team for the VE workshop may comprise of: 1 certified value specialist 1 project engineer 1 structural engineer 1 building service engineer 1 electrical engineer 1 mechanical engineer 1 quantity surveyor VE facilitator with a specific expertise in aspects of VE will lead the workshop in order to structure the process and to better the effectiveness of the program. The team members are selected depending on the subject to be evaluated, the structural engineer would look into the requirement of the elemental units of the structure such as columns and beams so that the structure is stable whereas the building service engineer analyses the services that will be installed once the structure is ready. The electrical and mechanical engineers analyze the installations of electrical equipment and machinery such as lifts, HVAC etc. The Project Engineer shall take part whenever design aspects of the project are reviewed. Supporting disciplines like quantity surveyor is involved to assess the quantities. The VE workshop provides improvement of value through the following: The current project design is assessed with the functions, checked for technical, cost optimization. Alternative ideas are evaluated to identify benefits and risks of changes to the alternative design. Key aspects of the design are evaluated so as to achieve Value for money; Effectiveness of each option is evaluated, in terms of : Cost to function ratio; Life cycle costing; OPEX vs. CAPEX balance; Analyzing buildability and overall performance of the project.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Difference between Self Confidence and Self Efficacy

Difference between Self Confidence and Self Efficacy When the word self-efficacy is heard, it is often understood as self-confidence by many people. Self-confidence is not the same as self- efficacy. So, what does it mean by self-confidence and self efficacy. According to M. Colman (2002), self-confidence is defined as a trust or assertion in oneself, believing in ones aptitude, making a choice which maybe referring to a general context or to a specific event or doings. Some people recognise self-confidence as self-assurance. On the other hand, according to M. Colman, self-efficacy can be defined as the capability to attain the required outcome. Speaking of perceived self-efficacy generally means that the person has a lot of faith in his or her aptitude that the wanted outcome can be achieved. As mentioned by M. Colman, the concept of self-efficacy was broadly acknowledged in the course of power of Albert Bandura (the founder of the concept Observational Learning) who was born in the year 1925 in Canada but grew up and practised psycho logy in United States of America. This concept of self-efficacy became famous during the 1980s as well as the 1990s, which was later concluded in Banduras book entitled Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control, which was only published in the year 1997. According to A. Fast, L. Lewis, J. Bryant, A. Bocian, A. Cardullo, Rettig and Hammond (2010), those with self-efficacy tends to have higher level of desire, higher obligation and are also able to restore themselves after facing with failure better than those with poorer height of self-efficacy. According to Carmona, P. Buunk, Dijkstra and M. Peiro (2008), people with higher levels of self-efficacy tends to view heavy responsibilities as challenge to be tackled other than viewing it as danger or risk that has to be stayed away from at all times. Then arises the second question, does self-efficacy affect performance? For an example, for a person who believes that he or she is very good in mathematics and has all the skills and ability to solve high standard of mathematical problems (especially algebra, trigonometry and calculus); does he or she actually has higher performance level in the mathematics examination at the end of the term? The word performance, according to Hornby (2005) is define as how good or successfully a person carries out an activity. According to M. Colman, the word performance can be understood as the course of administering a series of activities. Carmona, P. Buunk, Dijkstra and M. Peiro (2008) conducted a study on 120 university students, which comprised of 58 Females and 62 Males. The participants in their study were between the ages of 19 to 30 years old (mean age= 22.23 years old). Carmona et al. got the participants to fill up the questionnaire on goal orientation, social comparison responses and self-efficacy (questionnaire entitled Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, which is also known as MSLQ by Pintrich and De Groot, 1990) and were given five EUR each for their willingness to partake in this study. The MSLQ probes on the participants own potential in doing well in their class, course, or their subject. This questionnaire was then matched with the participants second trimester grade (mean of the grade taken) to test on their performance. They found that self-efficacy had a significantly strong positive relationship with performance. In other words, participants with high self- efficacy had high performanc e achievement. The findings of this study do bring substantial understanding as it was conducted among students who should be tested on performance and self-efficacy. This is because students are the people whose self-efficacy is would be different among one another depending on their personality, work load, pressure, family background and so on, thus can be tested against their performance without experiencing any difficulty. In a study conducted by Williams and Williams (2010), the relationship between self-efficacy and mathematics was investigated. This study was done on students ages 15 years old from 33 nations, which includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Indonesia, Thailand, Uruguay and many more countries. One of the measurements used was the Mathematics self-efficacy (how confident are you to solve the mathematical problem were asked). While the other measurement used was the mathematics achievement (open ended question, structured questions and multiple choice questions) where both the measurements were taken from The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2003 Mathematics Achievement Test, which focuses on self-efficacy students have on mathematics and compare it with their performance in mathematics. They also found that females have lower level of self-efficacy compared to males where the mathematics is concerned. Although this study was difficult to be carried out as the researches had to find the balance between which grades of the 15 year olds from the various countries would easily match each other to ease the process of this study, the findings of this study can well be generalized due to the wide range of participants. A. Fast, L. Lewis, J. Bryant, A. Bocian, A. Cardullo, Rettig and Hammond (2010) carried out a research among 1163 primary school students which comprised Latino, Caucasion, African American, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Filipino and American Indian in California. There were 594 Females and 569 Males in this study. The participants were given the California Standard Test (CST) for Mathematics and the Student Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ). A. Fast et al. found that students with elevated intensity of self-efficacy had elevated marks in their final math exam given at the end of their term. Although this study was focused only on the Californians, yet the significant results obtained can be accepted as the number of participants was large enough. B. Yeo and Neal (2006) conducted a study on 93 psychology students (mean age=19.53 years old). The participants were inclusive of 36 males, 56 females and 1 unknown gender. The participants were asked to whether two aircraft that put in pairs will collide into each other as they are flying or have a smooth journey without colliding into each other. The preciseness and how fast the participants can guess the answer was noted. A exact answer were given up to 40 points while for a wrong answer, 25 points will be taken away. The general self-efficacy was measures using the New General Self-Efficacy Scale by Chen, Gully and Eden (2001). The results obtained showed that the self-efficacy was related to task performance with a significance, p (p

Monday, August 19, 2019

Symbolism in The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Essay -- essays re

Symbolism in The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Like many of Edgar Allen Poe's works, 'The Tell-Tale Heart' is full of death and darkness. Poe used many of the real life tragedies he experienced as inspiration for his gothic style of writing. Poe dealt with many aspects of death and madness in his stories, madness again is playing a key role in the plot. In this short story Poe used literary devices such as point of view and symbolism to give it a more dramatic effect and add to the madness the narrator portrays.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Poe's use of the point of view device is very evident in ?The Tell-Tale Heart?. The madman that speaks through the entire story talks in an unreliable first person view. Because of the man?s obvious madness you are not sure what is taking place in the introduction and what the actual events of the story were. Although there is a definite madness in the man?s attitude and he is constantly aware of it yet he makes many claims that he is not mad at all. ?You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded-with what caution-with what foresight-with what dissimulation I went to work!?Ha!-would a madman have been so wise as this He is obviously well aware of his madness but he tries to justify it by saying that he is not mad because he puts so much effort and wisdom into his deeds. It is kind of an ironic statement that he justifies his madness in the wisdom he shows in the insane act itself. This is like a student saying he is not cheating because he had to ?do work? to get the plagiarism. There is ironically no ?method to the madness? in his argument. After the narrator commits the murder he again tries to justify his present madness. ?If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence.? Even after the thought of possible murder has left his mind and he has done the act, he again justifies his deeds by his precautions. In his mind things are not what they actually are in reality in the least bit. In another part of the story the narrator tries to explain wha t he says we see as his madness. ?And now have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses The resulting madness the narra... ...The end of the story however is when the heartbeat really does take on meaning though. Even though he had been good to get rid of the body and the policemen in his house did not suspect anything, it was the ?beating of the heart? that gave him away. ?The ringing became more distinct:?until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears?I gasped for breath-and yet the officers heard it not?It grew louder-louder-louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled?no, no! They heard!-they suspected!-they knew!-they were making a mockery of my horror!-this I thought, and this I think?I felt that I must scream or die!-and now-again!-hark! louder! louder! louder! louder! louder!? I think that the beating of the heart the narrator is his guilt for killing the old man, and just like in the old man's room, it derived from his madness. His madness was the thing that drove to murder and to confess to it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ?The Tell-Tale heart is kind of saying that your own heart knows what you?ve done and in the long run guilt will find you out. In this story Poe used point of view and symbolism together so that this truth could be seen actually how it is written. Symbolism in The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Essay -- essays re Symbolism in The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Like many of Edgar Allen Poe's works, 'The Tell-Tale Heart' is full of death and darkness. Poe used many of the real life tragedies he experienced as inspiration for his gothic style of writing. Poe dealt with many aspects of death and madness in his stories, madness again is playing a key role in the plot. In this short story Poe used literary devices such as point of view and symbolism to give it a more dramatic effect and add to the madness the narrator portrays.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Poe's use of the point of view device is very evident in ?The Tell-Tale Heart?. The madman that speaks through the entire story talks in an unreliable first person view. Because of the man?s obvious madness you are not sure what is taking place in the introduction and what the actual events of the story were. Although there is a definite madness in the man?s attitude and he is constantly aware of it yet he makes many claims that he is not mad at all. ?You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded-with what caution-with what foresight-with what dissimulation I went to work!?Ha!-would a madman have been so wise as this He is obviously well aware of his madness but he tries to justify it by saying that he is not mad because he puts so much effort and wisdom into his deeds. It is kind of an ironic statement that he justifies his madness in the wisdom he shows in the insane act itself. This is like a student saying he is not cheating because he had to ?do work? to get the plagiarism. There is ironically no ?method to the madness? in his argument. After the narrator commits the murder he again tries to justify his present madness. ?If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence.? Even after the thought of possible murder has left his mind and he has done the act, he again justifies his deeds by his precautions. In his mind things are not what they actually are in reality in the least bit. In another part of the story the narrator tries to explain wha t he says we see as his madness. ?And now have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses The resulting madness the narra... ...The end of the story however is when the heartbeat really does take on meaning though. Even though he had been good to get rid of the body and the policemen in his house did not suspect anything, it was the ?beating of the heart? that gave him away. ?The ringing became more distinct:?until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears?I gasped for breath-and yet the officers heard it not?It grew louder-louder-louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled?no, no! They heard!-they suspected!-they knew!-they were making a mockery of my horror!-this I thought, and this I think?I felt that I must scream or die!-and now-again!-hark! louder! louder! louder! louder! louder!? I think that the beating of the heart the narrator is his guilt for killing the old man, and just like in the old man's room, it derived from his madness. His madness was the thing that drove to murder and to confess to it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ?The Tell-Tale heart is kind of saying that your own heart knows what you?ve done and in the long run guilt will find you out. In this story Poe used point of view and symbolism together so that this truth could be seen actually how it is written.

Capitalizing the costs of developing a software program for sale Essay

In order to gain a better understanding of both the software industry and the applicable guidelines for capitalizing software, some outside research into the industry and FASB standards was completed. This research was complied as a part of the risk assessment portion of the audit process (Whittington & Pany, 2012). The issue of capitalizing the costs of developing a software program for sale is a complicated issue. This is due in part to the fact that the nature of technology is constantly changing so clear procedures regulating when to write off a software system vary according to the pace of technological changes within the industry. Therefore, while a company is developing software, they should report the incurred creative costs to a research and development account (Warfield, Weygandt, & Kieso, 2007). Once the software product has reached a point where it is feasibly considered a technological product the costing can be adjusted to begin capitalizing the costs (Warfield, Weygandt, & Kieso). As established in FASB Statement No. 2, any costs incurred in the developing, creating, testing, and so forth of software products will be charged to the research and development expense account; however any adjustments to the software for upgrades and any costs to market the product would not be included in the research and development expense account (Accounting-Financial-Tax.com, 2012). This is because by the point the product is ready to be marketed or needs to be upgraded to meet new technological standards, the feasibility of the product has been established and therefore the product should be capitalized (Account ing-Financial-Tax.com). If however, after meeting the feasibility requirements, there is substantial risk associate... ....com. (2012). Capitalization and amortization of software costs. Retrieved from, http://accounting-financial-tax.com/2009/05/capitalization-and-amortization-of-software-cost/ Accounting For Management. (2011). Return on Shareholder’s investment or net worth ratio. Retrieved from, http://www.accountingformanagement.com/retun_on_share_holders_investment_or_net_worth.htm Kennon, J. (2012). Return on assets (ROA). Retrieved from, http://beginnersinvest.about.com/od/incomestatementanalysis/a/return-on-assets-roa-income-statement.htm Tracy, J. A. (2004). How to read a financial report (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Warfield, T. D., Weygandt, J. J., & Kieso, D. E. (2007). Intermediate accounting (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Whittington, R., & Pany, K. (2012). Principles of auditing and other assurances (18th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Shakespeares Macbeth is a Tragic Hero Essay examples -- essays resear

In the late 16th century and early 17th century, no playwright was better known than William Shakespeare. He was especially known for many famous tragedies. When Shakespeare wrote these plays he took many key aspects into account to create as much of an impact as possible on the reader or the audience. Macbeth, for example, is about one man, Macbeth who does what he thinks is necessary to become king but dies tragically due to his judgement. In this play, Shakespeare communicates how Macbeth's destiny can be changed depending on how he deals with his predicted future, in other words, his fate versus his free will. Macbeth makes many foolish decisions throughout his life like believing evil and supernatural powers will help him, allowing the endless verbal assault by Lady Macbeth to control him, and allowing his own ignorance in his decisions to overtake him. These are the main contributing factors that lead to his eventual breakdown and death. There are several instances in the story which suggest that the Weird Sisters are to blame for Macbeth?s downfall. At the very beginning of the book, the witches meet Macbeth and right away fill his mind with desire for the throne by telling him he will be king. The witches state ?All hail Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter!? (1.3.53). Since the witches are telling this to Macbeth, they are giving him a false sense of security by predicting what the future holds for him. After Macbeth converses with the witches, Banquo gets the feeling that the witches are bad news. ?The instruments of darkness tell us truths / Win us with honest trifles to betray?s/In deepest consequence? (1.3.136-138). This means that the ... ...and supernatural powers to control him, allowing his own ignorance in his decisions to overtake him and allowing the endless verbal assault by Lady Macbeth to control him, Macbeth is indeed a tragic hero. He has a fatal flaw that combined with fate, brings on a tragedy of all sorts. The Weird Sisters, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself play key roles in the downfall of Macbeth and each of them is to blame for the deaths of many people in the play. Shakespeare therefore allows them to set other people up for their crimes, especially Macbeth who gives a sense of vulnerability to many obvious culprits to the crime, making the play more enjoyable to watch and listen to. Along these lines, Shakespeare?s plays and books are the guidelines to many other tragic plays and books recorded through centuries and centuries of great literature.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

James Baldwin vs George Orwell Essay

Both James Baldwin and George Orwell are interested in understanding language as a political instrument. In his essay â€Å"If Black Isn’t a Language, Than Tell Me What Is†, James Baldwin attempts to legitimize Black English as a unique language. He argues that Black English is a valid language because of the role it plays in the lives of Black Americans. It serves as a means for blacks to control their own circumstances, define themselves, and obtain power. Baldwin justifies Black English by applying George Orwell’s argument that language is a political instrument means and proof of power to the Black experience. Baldwin argues, validates and makes language authentic. Both George Orwell and James Baldwin express their opinion that language is directly related to who a person is. They also both state that language is a political instrument and that it is filled with word play. In â€Å"Politics and the English Language† George Orwell states that political writings are characterized by vagueness and incompetence. People rely on metaphors that have lost their meaning and are only used because the writer cannot create his own phrases. Authors no longer think of a concrete object and choose words to describe it. Orwell believed the best fix for the English language was for everyone to be aware of ready-made words and phrases, and instead use simpler words to get your meaning across to the reader. In Orwell’s opinion language is an instrument that reflects culture and evolves as culture declines, while in Baldwin’s view language emerges to fit a socialtal need. It is the connection or â€Å"disconnection† within people.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Contemporary International Problems Essay

The United States of America experienced various disputes and wars in its history. Some of these armed conflicts do not only take place within their boundaries because there are also some battles that they have to fight in another country’s territory. The reasons for engaging in such warfare may either directly or indirectly involve the U. S. However, one thing is sure, that in the country’s every participation there is a certain interest that its officials want to fulfill. This kind of situation is what exactly took place in the U. S. ntervention in the Vietnam War. The U. S. government wants to achieve a certain national interest that will work for their benefits. The Vietnam War started in 1954 when the Communist-led parties of the Vietnamese Nationalist and the Vietminh army defeated the French forces. France was forced to recognize North Vietnam as communist while leaving the Southern part of the country as non-communist. Nevertheless, the U. S. did not approve this situation especially the establishment of communist leadership in North Korea. President Dwight D.  Eisenhower ordered the establishment of political machinery in South Vietnam. This includes creating a government that replaced the French leadership as well as deploying military advisers that will train the South Vietnam army. The Central Intelligence Agency of the U. S. also employed psychological warfare in order to weaken North Vietnam. The United States government explicitly expressed its participation and commitment in the Vietnam War when they ordered continuous air bombing in North Vietnam by means of the Tonkin Golf Resolution. The war ended in January 1973 through a diplomatic agreement that resulted in the U. S. withdrawal from Vietnam in exchange for the release of U. S. prisoners (Rotter, 1999). The intervention of the U. S. in the Vietnam War is part of their national interest of establishing democracy in different countries and controls the spread of communism. During the Cold War two conflicting forces are involved namely: the Communist bloc and the Democratic bloc. The U. S. leads the Democratic group, which is why they are doing all the necessary means to combat communism. Their intervention in the Vietnam War is an effort to stop other Asian countries from following the principles of communism especially since Ho Chi Minh is the one leading the Northern part of the country (Rotter, 1999). The American government believes that communism is an enemy because it defies every value and principle that the U. S. upholds such as: free trade and democracy. In relation to this the operations of the U. S. against the Communist bloc is largely dependent upon their belief in the Domino Theory. The Domino Theory is similar to a set of dominoes wherein toppling one of it will result for the others to follow suit. In the same manner, Vietnam represents the first domino that toppled down. The U. S. deemed that if they will not intervene in the Vietnam War other countries in the Southeast Asian region would also adhere to communism (Rotter, 1999). Another reason for U. S. involvement in the Vietnam War is their goal of influencing other countries to follow the path of democracy and adhere to the values and principles that the U. S. stands for. By doing so, the U. S. ould be able to win their battle with the soviet bloc and at the same time establish their position as the world’s superpower. The U. S. government encouraged other countries to follow their ideals by giving military and economic aid to them. This is observable when they helped France in maintaining its Indochina colonies. The U. S. also applied the Domino Theory in acquiring more countries in their side. They think that by showing other countries the development of France, they would choose democracy over communism, as this would entail more benefits for them (Rotter, 1999). The U. S. intervention in the Vietnam War clearly shows that the country tend to intervene in others’ affairs in order to accomplish their national interests. The U. S. government used the resources that they have in order to pursue their objectives. They took advantage of the conflicts that is happening in the other parts of the world so that they could defeat the soviet bloc and control the spread of communism. In doing so, they were able to emerge as one of the most powerful countries in the world.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Leadership: Ice Cream Division Essay

This document focuses on the Chattanooga Ice Cream Division case study developed by Carl Sloane. Leadership opportunities and action are defined based on the characters in the case study. Dysfunction is evaluated both from a team aspect and from the leadership role. Specific development activities are identified to help the individuals develop emotional intelligence. Finally, recommendations will be made to guide the team forward. Background Chattanooga Ice Cream is a division of Chattanooga Food Corporation which is a family-controlled business founded in 1936 (Sloane, 1997). The ice cream division is one of the largest regional maufacturers of ice cream in the United States. The company’s primary focus is mid-priced basic ice cream products. The ice cream division has been experiencing flat sales and a declining profitability over the past four years (Sloane, 1997). Competitors had shown success in recent years with premium and super-premium brands with â€Å"mix-in† ice cream flavors. The Chattanooga Food Corporation focused on leadership changes in an attempt to improve the ice cream division’s performance. In 1993, Charles Moore was promoted to head the division. The ice cream division also hired a new vice president of marketing to replace a 30 year veteran. Stephanie Krane was assigned to the division to upgrade the information systems and control function. In 1995, the original manufacturing plant in Chattanooga was closed to control costs. The management changes resulted in a disruption to the top level management team. Three of the seven members of the management team were new to their positions. Additionally, Charles’ leadership style was very different than his predecessor. The previous general manager had been with the business for many years and had numerous networks to gather information. He made important decisions alone and rarely felt the need to consult his management team. The Dysfunction The ice cream division sales continued to fall, and the company recently lost a significant customer to Sealtest. The announcement of this loss resulted in open criticism from virtually all team members. In the past, when issues arose and blaming between departments occurred Moore would not respond in hopes that the managers would quit complaining about each other. Moore believes in the value of group based decisions and liked to bring people together formally to share information, consult on decisions, and forge consensus (Sloane, 1997). Moore would rank high in collaboration using the Thomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI). The TKI (2007) states that the â€Å"overuse of collaboration and consensual decision making sometimes represents a desire to minimize risk – by diffusing responsibility for a decision or by postponing action. The assessment goes on to state that a person with a high collaboration score may miss some cues that would indicate the presence of defensiveness, impatience, competitiveness, or conflicting interests. Moore appears to also favor the avoiding mode when conflict arises. Avoiders tend to hope that conflict goes away on its own. Moore has been avoiding conflict by not addressing the conflict when it arose. The DiSC Assessment is a tool to help an individual understand themselves and others. Based on the case study by Sloane (1997) Moore appears to be an S, which stands for steadiness. The S style prefers to work at a methodical pace and to focus on their tasks without interruption. They seek a calm, orderly structure where collaboration and group effort are valued (DiSC, 2008). People that have an S profile are demotivated in competitive environments, do not like being rushed into quick decisions, or having to be confrontational. These three traits of Charlie Moore have resulted in a lack of leadership through conflict and the inability to make a decision without collaboration time. As a leader, Moore has not displayed the four key principles to success according to Jack Welch in Winning (2005). These basic principles are mission and vision, candor, differentiation, and voice and dignity. First, Moore has not created a vision for the Ice Cream Division, and the division appears to be relatively isolated from the overall mission of the Chattanooga Food Corporation. According to Welch (2007), the mission tells where you are going and the values describe the behaviors that will get you there. Charlie Moore has been the General Manager for four years, yet it does not appear that he has determined how the Ice Cream Division can win in their current market, nor has he defined what winning means. The second principle is candor. Candor facilitates strong discussion. In the case of the Ice Cream Division team, it appears the team was displaying a lack of candor by not sharing critical information, or generating ideas which could result in a real debate. Part of candor is feedback. As a leader, it is critical to give feedback so each team member understands exactly what has to be done for improvement and where they stand in the organization (Welch, 2005). There are three main benefits of candor according to Welch (2005). First, candor gets people into the conversation. More ideas are generated and discussed, and all team members have the opportunity to contribute to generate the best ideas. Candor also increases speed since getting people into the conversation results in immediate debate and discussion which allows a well informed decision to be made. Speed is the second benefit of candor. Finally, candor cuts costs. Openly sharing information, positive and negative, results in a team that can quickly respond to issues that arise. Welch’s (2005) third principle focuses on differentiation. Differentiation is a way to manage people and business. The business side of differentiation focuses on how to beat the competition through strategy. The people portion requires a leader to identify the top 20 percent, middle 70 percent, and the bottom 10 percent of performers. The next step is to act on this evaluation. In the case of the Chattanooga Ice Cream Division, the bottom 10 percent would not know where they ranked or why. This problem ties back into candor. Without candid conversations regarding goals and performance, an employee has a reduced chance of success. Additionally, the lack of candid conversations does not give the individual an opportunity to improve their performance. Further, in this case study, goals for the team are not clear which does not enable people to be successful. The fourth principle is voice and dignity. Charles Moore has a management team that does have a voice, although they use the opportunity to lay blame and defend themselves rather than focus on solutions. Voice and dignity goes beyond the management team. According to Welch in Winning (2005), most people do not say anything because they feel they can’t and they haven’t been asked. Charles needs to understand the business from every rank and perspective as the company leader. He needs to get into the â€Å"trenches†. The only way to accomplish this is by enabling open, candid conversations throughout the organization. Developing a Team Developing a team takes time. This team has been together for four or more years with little to no achievement. The stage of introductions is past, but in reference to the Tuckman model (Tocci, JWI510, W6) the team is in the â€Å"forming† stages. Key attributes of this stage are an unclear mission and values, lack of trust, and lack of commitment. To start an open discussion regarding team dynamics each team member will complete a DiSC assessment and a 360 review. The 360 feedback will include their direct reports, people from within their functional area, people outside of their functional area, and every member of the leadership team. After the results have been compiled a coach will be assigned to each team member to review the results and to develop personal action plans. After these one-on-one sessions, Charlie should bring the team together to share the results of their DiSC assessment. The purpose of the session is to gain a better understanding of each team member in terms of how they prefer to work and why. Once the DiSC assessment is reviewed, each person will be asked to share the 2-3 personal development goals generated from their time with the coach. As the leader, Charles will start first and show his vulnerability. Sharing goals can help team members be accountable to each other. This enables informal peer to peer coaching to help everyone stay committed to the team. The DiSC assessment and the 360 degree feedback contribute to emotional ntelligence. Goleman (2000) defines emotional intelligence as the ability to manage ourselves and our relationships effectively. Both of these assessments enable each team member to become more self-aware of their emotions and the impact on their co-workers. Additionally, these tools give an accurate self-assessment of each person’s strengths and limitations. Once each team member understands how they are perceived and their personal DiSC style in relation to others they can begin to make focused improvements on their overall emotional intelligence. Goleman (2000) found that leaders with strengths in a critical mass of six or more emotional intelligence competencies were more effective than peers that did not have similar strengths. These exercises focus on the bottom of Lencioni’s (2002) pyramid, â€Å"Absence of Trust†. The team should encourage each other to be vulnerable and in turn, support the team members that do show vulnerability. Specific Recommendations for the Team Once the team has completed the DiSC and 360 degree feedback tools, the coaching, and the group sharing they are ready to transition their focus to the ability to run a successful business. At this point, the Ice Cream Division does not have a clear mission or vision. To start this process, the team will start a charter. First, the team must establish an overall mission by understanding the overarching mission of the company. In short, at the executive level, what does the team stand for? Focusing on mission development instead of solving the problem of lost business will allow the team to understand what actions they need to take to align the problem solution to the business strategy. According to Welch (2005) a mission answers the question: How do we intend to win in this business? Using guidance from Winning (Welch, 2005), the executive team may develop a mission statement that looks like this: The mission of the Chattanooga Ice Cream Division is to become the market leader in Ice cream sales due to our focus on exceptional taste, unique flavors, and our commitment to customers. Once the mission is established the team will begin to generate a charter. This charter will focus on specific activities required to achieve the mission and vision of the organization.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Key influences on the emergence of symbolic interactionism

Idealism Scottish Moralist Functional Psychology Darning's Evolution Pragmatism German Idealism: it is if the view that humans create the worlds they inhabit. That is human being occupy a world of our own making. It further argues that forms and perception have no existence prior to their objects. That is we create form and perception as we create symbolic material object. They believe that meaning is formed out of interaction. Scottish Moralist: It focuses on how the mind and self are social products.One of the theorists is Adams smith who talked extensively about role taking. Functional Psychology: Functional psychology argues that communication is the process which makes society. They are of the view that language makes the society possible because only human possess language they are active beings who do not passively respond to stimuli. Darning's Evolution: It argues that there Is novelty to human activity that perpetually defies both determinism and confident predictability. Th e evolution concept of process and emergence bestowed on some ideas such as behavior is a result of an adaptation to environment.Pragmatism: pragmatism are of the view that human beings are active creative agent and not passive. They argue that the world people live In Is the one they had In hand that Is shaped by them. They further argue that subjectivity does not exist prior to experience but it rather flows from It.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Trial for the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard Research Paper

Trial for the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard - Research Paper Example It is also important to note that, while abducted, Dugard gave birth to two daughters aged 11 and 15 years old by the time she was set free. In the year 2011, June 2, Phillip Garrido was decreed to 431 years in prison while the wife, also an accomplice was decreed to 36 years imprisonment. Phillip Garrido had always had a history of rape cases in his past life, he is accused of raping a woman Katherine Callaway in Nevada in 1976 where he was charged and convicted for sexual crimes in both state and federal courts. The psychiatrist report states that he needed psychiatrist help for his sexually deviant behavior coupled with drug abuse. When at Leavenworth, he met Nancy Garrido where they started a relationship based on crime and sexual harassment of victims. After the arrest of Garrido, the investigating officers did an extensive search at his residence and adjacent residences, these included searches in the premises of his business partners too. Though the searches did not produce an y evidence that would sustain a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt, the police did not overrule Garrido as a suspect. At the detention centre, Garrido would later reveal to a reporter that, though he admits that what he did is wrong, it was the only thing he could do to turn around his life and to be accepted in the society. The defense requested a psychologist or a psychiatrist’s report on Garrido for the argument of the case; at the trial, the defense managed to secure Garrido a bail at $ 30 million but the request for no-bail parole was denied by the courts. On the hearings of October 29 and December 11, 2009, Katie Callaway a past victim of Garrido appeared in court during the defense hearings, though she did not address the court. At a later hearing on January 21, 2010, the defense attorney for the accused was disqualified for failure to disclose some facts and documents to the public and the court, and instead substituted by another attorney; moreover, Mrs Garrido was also granted bail of $ 20 million at this session. Mrs Garrido’s lawyer Mr Tapson later disclosed at a public forum that both the accused had made a confession that they would plead guilty to the offence of false imprisonment and sexual assault. This was to enable a plea-bargaining in order to have Mrs Garrido have a lighter sentence, on the expected day of the plea, both Phillip and Nancy Garrido did not plead guilty as expected in an amended claim. In addition, in order to complicate matters, the attorney for the first accused Phillip Garrido complained of the biased selection of the jury arguing that it will likely affect the final decision. The court was now faced with a decision whether the process in itself had legitimacy; moreover, another area of concern is whether both Mr and Mrs Garrido were unanimous in the decision to plead guilty. While Mrs Garrido’s attorney contended that it was a joint decision for both to plead guilty, Mr Garrido’s attorney Gellman disagreed on this insisting that every attorney should strictly speak or comment on their respective client’s case. The concerns about the jury were dispensed with as they had little legal implications on the case beforehand. On June 2, 2011, Garrido was convicted of rape and kidnapping on his own plea of guilt and convicted to 431 years imprisonment while his wife Nancy received 36 years imprisonment, Jaycee Dugard, their victim did not attend the session of court when the judgment was read. (Karmen, 2012). In

The role of using first language (L1) and translation in young Essay

The role of using first language (L1) and translation in young learners classes - Essay Example Majority of teachers, counting up to 72% of them opined that bilingual education should be started at the elementary school level. One of the opinions in relation with this research question reads â€Å"I think young learners are able to learn more than one language at the same time faster than adults, therefore teaching English should be started in the elementary school and even before†. On contrary, 27% of the respondents were of the opinion that Bilingual education should begin at the middle-school level rather than the elementary-school level. A statement in support of this opinion as made by one of the participant teacher reads â€Å"If the learners of the second language started learning it in very early age they will forget their first language (Arabic)†. The response from 81 % of the respondents suggested they were in support of English as the only language to be should be spoken in the class. One of the citable arguments made by one of the teachers in favor of this argument states; â€Å"Only English should be used in EFL classes for the sake of the students, nowadays English is becoming a very important language in all aspects of our lives like to find a good job, to communicate with others and even in the schools and universities everything is going to be in English†. 18% of the teachers were in opposition to the lone usage of English in classes. They pointed out several drawbacks on only using English in the classes. One of the teachers opines â€Å"â€Å"We don’t need to learn or speak English; we speak Arabic all the time (home, school, with friends and family) so learning English should not be our main concern†. As far as the opinion on the need of translation was concerned, 72% of the total sample population were not in favor of students being encouraged to translate back and forth from the TL to Native Language, and vice versa. One of the respondents in favor of this argument states â€Å"Translation