The Early Modern Period Of European History - 1347 Words

The Early Modern period in European history was a time of great upheaval, one that lead to shifting and changing views and policies in many fields; among these many historically important changes was the very beginning of the women’s rights movement. Although full-scale change in equality for women was (and some might say still is) quite distant from this time period, the embryo that will eventually grow into feminism and gender equality can be seen during this time period through the primary source documents left to us by those who wrote and worked during this â€Å"Early Modern† time. In this sense, I disagree with the position of Randolph Starn, as I believe this time period does deserve its own title, as it truly is a transitional period for European history, one in which the changes to come in the near future can be seen by those with a keen eye. The petitions of women to royal courts, the wills and bequests created by women, and the rise of Elizabeth as a capab le English Queen, absent of a King altogether, shows how the gender divide is beginning to be re-examined by Europeans. During the period just prior to the accepted beginnings of â€Å"Early Modern† Europe (pre-1450), gender roles had been set in stone for hundreds of years. Europe was, without any argument, a fully patriarchal society. Men worked, men created art, music, and culture, and men ruled. Women had little in the way of options for social climbing, education was lacking in availability for all but theShow MoreRelatedTo What Extent Is the Term Renaissance a Valid Concept for a Distinct Period in Early Modern European History?623 Words   |  3 Pagesdistinct period in early modern European history? During the 14th to 17th century, a new golden age emerged. This age was characterized the Renaissance. Led by northern Italian cities, the Renaissance was fundamentally by economic growth, as Europeans sought to achieve higher standards of intellect. The Renaissance marked the beginning of Modern history. It subsequently revived their socio cultural achievements, developing ideas of individualism, humanism, and secularism for a distinct period in modernRead MoreMedieval Period in European History1575 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The medieval period in European history begins after the fall of the Roman Empire around 500 C.E., and continued until the early modern period beginning around 1500. The medieval period is split into the sub-categories of early medieval (500-1000), central middle ages (1000-1300), late medieval (1300-1500), and followed by the early modern period (1500-1800). At each of these periods of time important political, economic, social, cultural, religious and scientific changes were beingRead MoreInterpreting Modern History: Revival of the Appreciation of Art894 Words   |  4 PagesModern history was the abandonment of European confinement. I understand modern history as being the revival of the appreciation of art, ideas, and moral values known as the Renaissance. During and before this time period, the majority of the European population was deeply embedded and blinded by the church. It is my understanding that Modern history is comprised of a sequence of events. It was not limited t o specific dates, it was a continuous cycle of religious and political strives for power,Read MoreAlchemy as the Precursor to Modern Medicine Practices778 Words   |  3 Pagesmedieval period. Its nature was controversial and the acceptance and practice of chemical medicine caused problems with those who had strong ties with Scholasticism that rooted them in the Galenic tradition and made them wary of new practices and innovations. The fact that chemical medicine became quite popular thanks to the sixteenth-century Swiss doctor Paracelsus only increased the controversial nature. Paracelsus was well-known for his â€Å"miraculous cures† as well as for rejecting the European medicalRead MoreBy The End Of The Middle Ages, The World Of Human Civilization.898 Words   |  4 Pagesacceptance, such as common religious beliefs and practices. The borders that seem to keep the induvial of these societies protected or even trapped, would begin to expand in a way that will likely never occur again on our known history. As with all great periods of change, this period will include bloodshed, political disorder, and what today would be considered inhumane acts of conquest and displacement among the world s indigenous populations. Some today would be offended by the acts of the common emperorsRead MoreGuns, Germs, And Steel953 Words   |  4 PagesGuns, Germs, and Steel Book Review Why do the origins of every major civilization lead to European conquest and settlement? How did Europe somehow gain the upper hand so early in history? Gun, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies delivers a clear theory as to why the Europeans were able to conquer almost the entire world in less then one millennium. Jared Diamond, an esteemed historian takes readers on a journey through time. He explains that through many different factors andRead MoreGlobalization And Its Impact On Society1311 Words   |  6 Pagesplace in early modern age, impacted by economic and politic; it is also the driving force for international trade and rapid improvement of communication. Large and small groups of migration had taken place since fifteenth century. People settled down, created new societies across the continents. â€Å"Americans, Europeans, and Africans produced multiethnic societies characterized by social hierarchies that were reflected in pigmentation.† The colonial system demand for labor in the early modern time createdRead MoreEssay on Maps - Foundations for the Modern World1406 Words   |  6 PagesThe early modern period encompasses roughly 300 years of history, but within this brief period emerged the modern world as we know today. The foundations for national boundaries, the existence and confirmation of faraway continents, the establishment of colonies all took place in this period, and it was a time when globalization in the modern sense came to appear. This period was the harbinger for the interconnected society which we live in today, and it was made possible by enterprising nationsRead MoreHistory And Events That Happened During The Colonization Of Africa Essay1113 Words   |  5 PagesBUSINESS REPORT: The history and events that happened in the past are important to a country, as it has helped them develop and change who they are in the modern day. The colonization of Africa in the late 1800s-early 1900s are an example of this. The actions and events inflicted on Africa by the European powers have helped shape the continent of modern-day Africa. These events are largely significant to historians and the people of Africa, such as the first genocide of the 20th century, committedRead MoreThe History, Criticism And Theory Of The Arts935 Words   |  4 Pagesinterpretation) of â€Å"language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (â€Å"What Are the Humanities?†). This definition can be used to analyze the African continent; the practices and various cultural aspects that can be found in America, in particular in the African American population; as well as the international relations, and history. Interviewees were asked different

Kate Chopin’s The Awakening Essay - 4153 Words

Kate Chopin’s The Awakening Kate Chopin’s The Awakening should be seen as depicting the discontentment that comes from self-gratification rather than the glorification of delighting in one’s fantasies. Chopin describes the central idea of one who is seeking to please her personal needs and desires and, in the process, neglects to notice how her actions affect others. The protagonist, Edna, is not able to find peace or happiness in the accepted daily life that a woman of her era and social status should have. The fulfilling of her desires could essentially cause social ostracism for her, her husband, and her children, yet she is unable to find repose in living the typical social Victorian life. The final resolve of her â€Å"awakening†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Bloom notes that, â€Å"Edna is even more isolated at the end than before† (9). As the signs of her discontentment become more severe and it becomes seemingly clear to her that she will not be able to have her stronges t desires fulfilled, her suicide proves to be the next step in her spiral downward. I first read and studied Kate Chopin during my first semester of college. The assigned story was â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† and I remember the sense of shock that I felt when I finished it. When I went to the next class to discuss the story, I remember the stir in the classroom as my classmates could not understand how a happily married woman could be relieved by the unexpected death of her husband, to the point that she dies of heart failure at seeing that he is still alive. The students in my class were eager to rationalize why she may feel this way, but were unable to concretely support any of their claims. There were several years between my reading of that first short story and any subsequent stories by her. Recently, I have begun to study Chopin again by reading such stories as â€Å"At the ‘Cadian Ball,† â€Å"The Storm,† and The Awakening. Being a conventionalist, I am intrigued by Chopin’s female protagonists, who seem to totally completely disregard their roles in societyShow MoreRelatedThe Awakening on Kate Chopins The Awakening1745 Words   |  7 Pages The time period of the 1880s that Kate Chopin lived in influenced her to write The Awakening, a very controversial book because of many new depictions of women introduced in the book. The Awakening is a book about a woman, Edna Pontellier. In the beginning, she is a happy woman with her husband and 2 kids vacationing at Grand Isle. While there, Edna realizes she is in love with Robert Lebrun and that she was just forced into an unloving/dissatisfying marriage with Mr. Pontellier. Robert howeverRead MoreKate Chopins The Awakening1767 Words   |  8 Pageswith experimentation and exploration, followed by personal acceptance, and finally, although not always, societal acceptance. Although we have come a long way on the path of acceptance of different sexual transgressions, the stories of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, Tennessee Williams’ â€Å"Vieux Carre,† and Lyle Saxon’s â€Å"The Centaur Plays Croquet† show that this type of acceptance has not alwa ys been the case. Each story plays an integral role when looking at the steps on the path to societal acceptanceRead MoreKate Chopins The Awakening1871 Words   |  8 Pagesworshipping her children and submitting to her husband. Kate Chopins novel, The Awakening, encompasses the frustrations and the triumphs in a womans life as she attempts to cope with these strict cultural demands. Defying the stereotype of a mother-woman, Edna battles the pressures of 1899 that command her to be a subdued and devoted housewife. Although Ednas ultimate suicide is a waste of her struggles against an oppressive society, The Awakening supports and encourages feminism as a way for womenRead MoreKate Chopins The Awakening1176 Words   |  5 PagesIn Kate Chopin, â€Å"The Awakening†, longing for passion and freedom Edna Pontellier leaves the safety of her gilded cage, only to find that death is her only salvation. In the 1800’s the main role in society for a female was to be a wife and mother, women at this time were the property of their husbands and had little say in anything. Which for Edna was the opposite of what she wanted, she wanted to be free from these responsibilities and to live her own life. Although Edna is not a victim in theRead More Kate Chopins Awakening Essay1448 Words   |  6 PagesKate Chopins Awakening Kate Chopins depiction of â€Å"The Awakening† is realistic as she develops Edna Pontellier’s character from a socially and morally respectable individual to an individual that turns her back on everything closest to her as she births her new self-being. Edna Pontellier struggles between her subconscious and conscious thoughts as unusual feelings stir unfounded emotions and senses. Some of Chopin’s characters lend themselves in Edna’s â€Å"awakening†. Through examination of LeonceRead More Kate Chopins The Awakening Essay1350 Words   |  6 PagesKate Chopins The Awakening Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening expresses the difficulty of finding a woman’s place in society. Edna learns of new ideas such as freedom and independence while vacationing in Grand Isle. Faced with a choice to conform to society’s expectations or to obey personal desires for independence, Edna Pontellier realizes that either option will result in dissatisfaction. Thus, Edna’s awakening in Grand Isle leads to her suicide. Edna’s awakening occurs duringRead MoreEssay on Kate Chopins The Awakening1246 Words   |  5 PagesKate Chopins The Awakening In Kate Chopins, The Awakening, Edna Pontellier came in contact with many different people during a summer at Grand Isle. Some had little influence on her life while others had everything to do with the way she lived the rest of her life. The influences and actions of Robert Lebrun on Edna led to her realization that she could never get what she wanted, which in turn caused her to take her own life. In the Creole culture, outward affection and expressionRead More Kate Chopin’s The Awakening - The Feminist Awakening Essay2094 Words   |  9 PagesThe Feminist Awakening    Women’s rights have evolved over time; beginning with being homemakers and evolving to obtaining professions, acquiring an education, and gaining the right to vote. The movement that created all these revolutionary changes was called the feminist movement. The feminist movement occurred in the twentieth century. Many people are not aware of the purpose of the feminist movement. The movement was political and social and it sought to set up equality for women. Women’s groupsRead MoreFemale Empowerment in Kate Chopins The Awakening7915 Words   |  32 PagesHeinrich-Heine-Università ¤t Wintersemester 2010/11 Vertiefungsmodul Kurs: American Realism and Naturalism - Short Stories Seminarleiter: Georg Schiller Datum der Abgabe: 16.04.2011 Female Empowerment in Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Awakening† Anjana Dhir BA Englisch KF, Geschichte NF 3. Semester Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. The FrenchRead More The Shocking Ideas of Kate Chopins The Awakening1864 Words   |  8 PagesIdeas of The Awakening Ideas that resist existing social boundaries commonly are rejected at first, because people don’t want to wake up from their reliable lives. Kate Chopin, however, believed that an awakening was in order, and she attempted to open the eyes of society through her novel The Awakening. The public’s reaction to Chopin’s novel was not one of acceptance. Too strong a drink for moral babies, and should be labeled ‘poison,’ was the how the Republic described Chopins work (Seyersted

Trace Elements In Diabetics Health And Social Care Essay Free Essays

Aim: The aim was to look into urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn and their relation with serum insulin in diabetes worlds. Materials and Methods: 40 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, 30 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes and 20 normal healthy topics were investigated for their serum degrees of glucose and insulin and urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn. There was important addition in the urinary elimination of all the three hint elements in diabetic patient. We will write a custom essay sample on Trace Elements In Diabetics Health And Social Care Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now No important correlativity could be found between serum insulin and urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn. Consequences: The consequences indicate that there is increased elimination of hint elements in diabetes mellitus but it has no relation with serum insulin. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Serum insulin, Trace elements ( Fe, Cu and Zn ) . Introduction: Trace elements are inorganic elements, which are required in the diet in really little sums, less than 100 mg/day1 and are present in our tissues in merely highly little measures, with the concentration of mcgs to pictograms per gm of moisture organ.2For this ground, they are referred to as hint elements. Trace elements have indispensable function in normal growing, development and wellness of worlds. They have their function in diverse activities such as haem synthesis, connective tissue metamorphosis, bone development and as indispensable constituent of many enzymes.3In add-on hint elements have besides been shown to act upon the hormone system. They influence the hormone system in different ways depending upon whether the metal is present in surplus or in low province. Therefore, increasing or diminishing the concentration of several hint metals has been shown to act upon the hormonal synthesis, secernment, hormonal precursor consumption into mark secretory organs, endocrine binding to aim tissues and its utilization.4 Diabetess mellitus is most common endocrine disease of worlds and is due to absolute or comparative lack of endocrine, insuline5.Diabetes mellitus is said to be of multifactorial etiology and three meshing mechanisms are thought to be responsible: familial exposure, autoimmunity and environmental factors. Although no definite environmental agent has been identified, the environmental factors implicated include viruses, fleshiness, gestation and vague environmental agents6. Research findings have emphasized that lack of certain hint elements consequences in diabetes like conditions in experimental animate beings. The hint elements, the lack of which has been shown to ensue in diabetes like symptoms are chromium7,8, zinc9, manganes10,11 and copper12. As the lack of these hint minerals resulted in diabetes like symptoms and the supplementation of the peculiar hint component readily reversed the ascertained symptoms, it can be concluded, from such surveies, that lack of these hint elements adversely influences the synthesis, secernment or action of insulin. Merely as the hint elements have been shown to act upon the insulin, alterations in the concentration of insulin have besides been shown to act upon or to be associated with alterations in the concentrations of several hint metals in the blood, urine and other tissues. Changing degrees of go arounding endocrine may either change the distribution of hint elements in assorted cellular compartments, or may bring forth a displacement of the metals to the tissues which are non usually associated with these concentration of these elements or they may alter renal or hepatic handling of hint elements ensuing in increased urinary or faecal loss of the hint minerals, thereby bring forthing entire organic structure loss4. Surveies on â€Å" the consequence of diabetes mellitus on hint component metamorphosis † have largely been carried out in animate beings, experimental theoretical account for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Such surveies have revealed that experimental diabetes produces alternations in the absorption13, tissue distribution14, metabolism15 and excretion16 of hint elements. Metamorphosis of Zn, Cu and Fe is greatly influenced and the hormonal instability nowadays in insulin-dependent diabetes is said to be involved in altered hint metabolism14,15. Surveies on human existences are really limited and even the survey which have been carried out, has failed to see any relationship between urinary elimination of hint elements and serum insulin. If it is true that the hormonal instability nowadays in insulin-dependent diabetes is involved in changing hint component excretion16, so there may be a relationship between urinary elimination of hint elements and serum insulin. The present survey was hence, aimed to look into the serum insulin and urinary elimination of hint elements ( Fe, Cu and Zn ) in normal, insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes in an effort to happen any correlativity between serum insulin and urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn. Study besides included the comparing of all these parametric quantities among diabetic and normal topics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients: 70 human diabetics, including both males and females, on out-of-door intervention at assorted outpatient sections and at diabetic clinic, DHQ, Mirpur, AJ A ; K, Peshawar were studied. Diabetic patients had fasting plasma glucose degree of more than 140 mg/dl or random blood glucose degree of more than 200 mg/dl on more than one juncture. Patients were divided into two groups depending on manner of intervention: Insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent. 20 normal healthy topics with no household history of diabetes were taken as controls. Both control and diabetic topics fulfilled the undermentioned standards: Their ages ranged from 25-60 old ages. They were normotensives, with normal nephritic maps and no albuminuria. None of these had open grounds of liver, enteric or endocrinal upset. Subjects holding steroids, or taking any vitamin or mineral supplementation were non included in the survey. Patients were asked to stop insulin for 24-48 hours and unwritten hypoglycaemic drugs for 5 yearss before roll uping the urine samples. Collection of blood samples: Blood was drawn from each patient and normal topic after 10-12 hours fast from an antecubital vena between 8.00-10.00 a.m. Serum was separated within one hr. Glucose appraisal was carried out immediately. Serum for insulin appraisal was stored at -20A °C boulder clay analysis. Collection of urine samples: 24 hours urine samples were collected in 4-5 litre plastic containers, washed with 15 % HCl and rinsed thrice with deionized H2O. Each patient was provided with a labeled container and a bag in which to transport the container at his or her visit to the infirmary and at the same clip, the patient was asked to stop the intervention, and to get down urine aggregation after 5 yearss in instance of unwritten hypoglycaemic drugs and 24-48 hours, in instance the patient was taking insulin. On the twenty-four hours of blood trying container was collected and the patient was asked about figure of times he or she had missed invalidating into the aggregation container. Merely the urine aggregations reported as complete were used in the analysis. Immediately after aggregation, the volume of each specimen was recorded. 20 milliliter of each urine specimen was centrifuged for 10 proceedingss to take bacteriums, cells, dramatis personaes and other particulate stuffs. 15 milliliter of the supernatant was decanted in plastic bottles and stored at -20A °C boulder clay analysis. It was used for appraisal of Fe, Cu and Zn. 1ml of piss was used for sensing of proteins by chemical method utilizing sulfosalicylic acid. All the glass and plastic ware used were soaked in 15 % HCl overnight and so rinsed thrice with deionized H2O. Serum glucose was measured by glucose oxidase/peroxidase colorimetric method utilizing analytical kit ( Boehringer Manheim GmbH Diagnostica ) . Serum insulin was measured by RIA utilizing analytical kit provided by Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angles, USA. Urinary Fe was measured by method of Olson and Hamlim17, likewise as for serum. Urinary Cu and Zn were measured by method of Dawson et Al. ( Cited by Varley ) 18. Atomic soaking up spectrophotometer model3030-B Perkin Elmer Company, Norwalk was used for the three hint elements. Students paired’t ‘ trial was used for statistical analysis. TABLE-1 AGE, SEX AND WEIGHT OF NORMAL SUBJECTS AND DIABETIC PATIENTS: The tabular array shows the age, sex and organic structure weight of normal and diabetic patients. The values are average A ± s. e. m. The entire figure of topics is given in parametric quantities. DIABETIC PATIENTS The patients enduring from diabetes were grouped harmonizing to the manner of intervention. The average serum values A ± s. e. m for glucose and insulin in different groups are given. Number of topics is given in parentheses. TABLE-3 Fast SERUM IRON, COPPER AND ZINC IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND DIABETIC PATIENTS Serum Fe, Cu and Zn were measured by atomic soaking up spectrophotometery. Concentrations are expressed as mean values A ±s. e. m. Number of topics is given in parentheses. P lt ; 0.001 = The Valuess are extremely important as compared to normal control topics. TABLE-4 COMPARISON OF 24-HOUR URINE VOLUME, URINARY IRON, COPPER AND ZINC IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND DIABETIC PATIENTS The values are expressed as average A ± s. e. m. Number of topics is parentheses. P lt ; 0.001 = Valuess are extremely important as compared to command topics. Consequence: Table 1 describes the ages, sex and weight of normal topics and diabetic patients. Age and organic structure weight of insulin-dependent diabetics showed no important difference. While in non-insulin-dependent diabetics it was higher ( p lt ; 0.001 ) as compared to controls. Fasting serum glucose and immunoreactive insulin in normal topics and diabetic patients are shown in table 2. There is significance addition in serum glucose degrees in diabetic patients ( p lt ; 0.001 ) and this addition is more pronounced in insulin-dependent diabetics as compared to non-insulin-dependent diabetics. Serum insulin is significantly increased in non-insulin-dependent diabetics ( P lt ; 0.001 ) , while in insulin-dependent diabetics, the serum insulin is significantly decreased ( p lt ; 0.001 ) as compared to normal controls. Table 3 describes the 24 hours urinary volume and elimination of Fe, Cu and zinc/24 hours in normal topics every bit good as diabetic patients. The consequences of this tabular array indicate that urine volume is significantly increased in diabetic patients as compared to normal topics ( P lt ; 0.001 ) and this is significantly higher in insulin-dependent diabetics as compared to non-insulin-dependent diabetics ( P lt ; 0.001 ) . 24 hours urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn is besides significantly increased in both the classs of diabetes ( P lt ; 0.001 ) , with significantly more elimination in insulin-dependent diabetics ( P lt ; 0.001 ) than non-insulin-dependent diabetics. Table 4 gives the urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn per millilitre, in normal and diabetic topics. The consequences indicate that urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn per millilitre is besides significantly increased in diabetics as compared to controls and once more this addition is significantly more pronounced in insulin-dependent diabetics than in non-insulin-dependent diabetics. Discussion: Marked alterations in hint component metamorphosis have been demonstrated in streptozotocin-diabetic rate14,15. Prolonged streptozotocin induced diabetes besides interferes, with normal form of bone mineralization19. Increased elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn has been reported in experimental diabetes in rates16. Surveies of triumph et al.20 provided direct grounds of influence of hormonal instability on hint metals. Our findings support and widen the old work. Zinc elimination among normal topics is 420.07A ±14.7 A µg/day and is in conformity with the by and large stated average Zn elimination of 300-600 A µg/day18. Similarly urinary elimination of Fe and Cu is besides within the normal international mention scope. Consequences besides demonstrate that diabetic status is associated with increased 24 hours urinary elimination of the three micronutrients zinc, Cu and Fe. Among the diabetics in both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics average elimination was in surplus of 600 A µg/day. Similarly Fe and Cu elimination was besides significantly higher in both the insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics as compared to controls. Hyperzincuria has antecedently been reported in diabetic humans21.22.23.24. Although exact mechanism of increased urinary elimination has non been elucidated, assorted possible mechanisms have been proposed. Diabetic status consequences in increased glomerular filtration rate and it is suggested that such an change in nephritic map may lend to the increased urinary losingss of the hint elements16. But, the observation that addition in urine volume brought approximately by imbibing extra H2O did non change the entire urinary Zn elimination in non-diabetics21 would on the other manus indicate that the polyuria of diabetes may non be an of import determiner of Hyperzincuria or increased elimination of other hint elements in diabetes. This is farther supported by fact that when the concentrations were expressed per millilitre of piss, statistically important differences were still observed. Increased urinary loss of Fe Cu and Zn could be explained by increased dietetic consumption but urinary loss of Fe, Cu and Zn varies small with dietetic consumption because the predominant healthy excretory path in healthy adult male is the enteric piece of land. Increased urinary elimination reflects acute alterations in biologic stores25. No addition in urinary Zn has been seen when dietetic consumption is doubled in human topics. The surplus is eliminated via the feces24. The possibility of difference between diabetics and normal in their selective soaking up of hint elements in the intestine can non be ignored but information on this facet is non available. Pidduck et al.24 has proposed three possible mechanisms. It could be that Hyperzincuria or increased elimination of Fe and Cu indicates an abnormalcy of production or dislocation of metalloenzymes or metal-enzymes composites. It is possible that some portion of organic structure is bring forthing its ain metabolites with chelating belongingss, it could be the pancreas of the diabetic which is disorganized in the manner, suggested. Family surveies suggest a important heritability of urinary Zn elimination in 19 households. Some households be givening to be low urinary Zn excreters and others high. It would look possible that urinary elimination of Zn or perchance other hint elements is controlled by allelomorphs at a figure of venue and that diabetics possess a different mixture of allelomorphs to those possessed by non-diabetics. It is besides believed that increased elimination is chiefly of endogenous beginning for illustration, musculus breakdown16 or diabetic bone loss. However, the bone mineral loss in diabetics can merely account for less than 10 % of the diabetic hyperzincuria22. Urinary Zn losingss are specially increased during katabolic states26. Intense exercising may increase urinary losingss and it has been shown that exercising additions skeletal musculus protein dislocation and such phenomena could increase urinary Zn losses27. Zinc elimination is shown to increase under assortment of katabolic conditions and Zn is reported to be derived from skeletal musculus. Although the surveies have been carried out for Zn, the skeletal musculus protein breakdown my lead to increased, urinary elimination of Fe and Cu. Untreated diabetes may stand for a katabolic province and addition in skeletal musculus protein turnover and it is likely that urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn may be derived from skeletal musculus tissue. As none of the patients had albuminurias, the increased urinary losingss of these trace metals may possibly be due to altered hormone position seen in diabetes and non due to diabetic kidney disease. This decision is supported by fact that improved metabolic control in diabetic rats by insulin intervention resulted in significantly reduced elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn in the urine16 in diabetic worlds in the Restoration of normozincuria16. No relation could be found between serum insulin and day-to-day urinary elimination of Fe, Cu and Zn in either normal persons or diabetic patients. This may be due to the ground that endocrine relationships in uncontrolled diabetes become extremely complex because glucagon and glucocorticoids degrees are increased in response to insulin lack. Both of these are shown to act upon the serum or urinary degrees of hint elements. Other ground may be that the go arounding immunoreactive insulin in diabetics may non be active biologically. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes had significantly higher organic structure weight every bit compared to controls. Association between increased organic structure weight and no-insulin-dependent diabetes has antecedently been described26. Obesity is of much greater importance than either race or sex in the etiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes29. Therefore, a recommendation against going fleshy might be given. A sum of 25 patients ( 35.7 % ) out of 70 had a positive household history of diabetes. High per centum of patients holding positive household history of diabetes suggests a insouciant relationship of this factor with the disease. This survey may hold clinical and pathological deductions. If there is increased elimination of hint elements in diabetes, this may connote that when dietetic degrees are deficient, the patient ‘s tissues are depleted in favour of increased urinary elimination. In this instance, it is speculated that physiological degrees of these foods may be low and some of the pathological events seen in diabetics may be related to or partially explained by lack of these hint elements. For illustration, there is increased incidence of inborn deformities in diabetic pregnancy30 and lack of Cu and Zn has besides been reported to be associated with inborn malformations31. Copper lack is associated with impaired collagen synthesis and increased incidence of breaks. Increased incidence of self-generated breaks has besides been reported in diabetes19. But verification of cause and consequence relationship of these phenomena necessesitates farther surveies. How to cite Trace Elements In Diabetics Health And Social Care Essay, Essay examples

The Teaching Experience

Question: How Does Relevant Literature Help Me to Make Sense of My Narrative Incident ? Answer: Introduction A clear professional learning in the process of becoming a teacher is depicted in this paper. Presenting narrative accounts showing how teachers created a professional environment through the process of inquiry has been the core source of information for this paper. Presenting voices of prospective teachers as they go through their teaching professionalism while handling their most pressing issues, examining knowledge in an effort of new understandings and the process of construction of knowledge through dialogue, inquiry, and reflection have also been well captured. Several details in the narratives show means in which prospective teachers have gained the skilled in questioning things that were for a long time taken for granted in the teaching profession and this has helped them find connections and patterns and enabled them to think critically and creatively while in their teaching profession (Hatch, 2005). The narrative featuring a holistic orientation to a professional teaching and learning finds its base on education and development of a person who intends on becoming a teacher. Construction of the professional knowledge where there is a relational and an interactive session where the student, teacher and the content being taught by the teacher are well understood and are interconnected. Concepts of individual and situational context are of great importance here. The teacher, about the curriculum, challenges simple notions on the set practical and theoretical requirements. These factors make it valid for an individual's experience in school matters, their biographies and the growing up experiences brought to the individual's cultural environment. This will account for the disparity brought by individuals to the setting of the teacher in aspects such as gender, cultures ethnicities to which they belong, the societal settings, communities and institutional way of life (Kauchak, and Egg en, 2016). The believed concept that learning happens in a relationship that is formed between the teacher and the students and that it is understood and the meaning of the context is well grasped by the students is the primary role of becoming a teacher and learning how to teach. Through respective conversation with others involved in the teaching department, the teacher forms the base of what the students know and where to begin their process of teaching, a process known as creating a professional identity (Zeichner, and Liston, 2013). Through entering into a caring relation with the key players, fellow teachers and the students, a genuine dialogue will arise together with inclusiveness, empathy, and trust will develop which forms a crucial basis for the learning process. In professional learning involved in the response given to others and creating a more responsible image to everyone, the prospective teacher does move take a step further from their knowledge and embrace learning to learn wi th and from others which help in engaging a co-construction of meanings (Armour, K., 2013). The beginning teacher will learn about themselves, about their profession of teaching and learn through the process of collegial relationship. This will be spearheaded as they refocus their attention onto the students and their learning from their teaching and themselves. Also, incorporating dialogues with their fellow teachers will help them learn and understand others perspective other than their own. This is helpful as learn to transcend their know-how limits, life, and cultural experiences and find the knowledge and skills in creating a classroom community where their students also learn to accept and enumerate these qualities. Another importance of this conversation with colleagues is that they give a continuous feedback and support to the individual when in the process of adapting to teaching profession (Emmitt et al., 2003). A holistic concept does come out when a narrative concept of the teaching profession is told. Being part of the curriculum, teachers are expected to incorporate religious education to the student, instilling good values and morals. Narratives become the reference point through which a reflection of the experience gained, sharing and the reconstruction of certain experiences in the light of a discovered insight, experience, perspective or understandings are made. Upon understanding that individual, familial, cultural, organizational and social narratives for the arrangements in which things are and some of these are taken for granted, the stories may be re-scripted and a potential change and transformation in the lives of people, the classroom situation and social and organizational setting changed for the better (Serafini, 2013). In addition to that, narrative stories have been long associated with arts intellectual resources. In many cases, they have been used in the description and interpretation of experiences of people throughout their lives. It has been well known that people construct themselves through narratives. The knowledge is then passed down in that the knower becomes connected with the known and the knowledge making is now regarded as an active, creative and interpretive process through which the telling and retelling of narrative forms the basis of the professional knowledge in the teaching profession (Nation, 2013). Interpretations Provoked by This Narrative Development of a professional identity This theme reflects on the interconnection between an individual and the teaching profession as they slowly adapt in the profession. This theme goes to the extent of showing deep connections in emotional, social, intellectual and moral dimensional setting of an individual who wishes to join the teaching profession. From personal experience I learnt that the use of values and purposes as a framework in providing guidance to identify the best choices available and make a practical decision that will help in teaching professionalism. A reflection and inquiry experience have well been demonstrated in the way the new teachers intending to join in the profession showing how they want to relate the way they were taught and the ways they intend to teach is a key concept choice to make. From experience, this has enabled teachers in the teaching professional to reconstruct and rescript their perception of the role of teachers and the students. Through an effort to increase the students voice i n an attempt to promote critical thinking and inquiry and an effort to pursue a worthy goal, these adopted practices have proven productive as opposed to the old learning clich system. Through an effort to create a working relationship with oneself, with the students and the educational community at large to which the belong, teachers have made great progress in the professionalism (Cazden, 2001). Teaching as a chameleon From the teaching experience, some perceived that being an effective teacher is like being a chameleon. comparing a teacher as a chameleon in the sense that just like the chameleon being a beast that can change its color to adapt to a variety of moods such as pleasure, panic or even pain, so too as a teacher must be. This is so to enable we teachers to adopt to some stimuli to fully satisfy the wants and need of the different environment that we are involved in (Darling-Hammond et al., 2009). From the testimony given by one of the teachers of her account, she says that the practicality of being chameleon-like depicted itself at most during the first few days of her teaching practice in her teacher educational year. She says that having been in a room of twenty-five students and a teacher who was already at an advantage because of their experience of working with the students in class. She said she had to make some adjustments before the guest' could arrive, having all the twenty-five students adapt to their learning styles and her adapting to their style so that she could present the best performance in the classroom environment during the learning process. She states that everything is new starting with the principle, the school board, the students and the classroom and all this needs an adaptation through change just as the chameleon changes its color to fully suits its neighboring environment. She had to change and adapt because she understood there was not much room for assumptions basing her argument on the fact that things in the teaching profession are constantly changing. She confirms that doing thing differently with an aim to adapt to these changes is not as difficult as it sounds. It is a matter of exploring the new frontiers in an attempt to get comfortable in the teaching environment and coming up with a procedure to handle the transition. This transition can be achieved in some ways such as coming up with an alternative lesson plan, creating an at titude that embraces the change, retreating phenomenon or the willingness to embrace new changes (Beattie, 2000). Making of new relations In the teaching professionalism, from personal experience, the dynamic movement from being an introvert to extrovert with the aim of connecting with the aim of sharing meaning and understanding. This theme provides an insight to the teachers to be student sensitive and responsive, to help them learn and they too learn from them and to exercise teaching that guarantees an ongoing stimulation, challenge, and excitement to the students as well as the teachers themselves. This theme reflects the aspect of teaching like the one being in a good relationship. It describes the act of teaching as the one in which the teaching and learning relationship enables students to be actively committed to the learning process in their inquiry and learning (Anderson et al., 2001). This is considered as a good relationship where the values and relevance of the relationship plays a key role in boosting the quality in which the student experiences their learning in a classroom and the school environment (W att, and Richardson, 2012). Through the excellent teacher-student relationship, the teacher learns to interpret the students needs and motives and comes up with a way of winning their commitment and allegiance to the curriculum and the relationship as well. It is shown that when the teaching profession is understood as a relationship, the concept of a teacher being perceived as all knowing and a superior being to a co-learner and a guide for them. The effort to become the best teacher incorporates knowing all about the students' values, concerns, interests, and purpose and coming up with a way in with you will work together to attain a specific goal in this chase being a smooth and productive learning process (Anderson-Levitt, 2002). Creation of new narratives which connect self, school find common ground and society This theme builds up the teacher as a society builder. Creation of new teachers' scripts, classrooms, and a learning community is based on the relationship between the teachers and the students evident from teachers experiences. This relevance relationship balances the human need for interdependence with special regards to differences among themselves. Like an artist who weaves various elements together, a teacher needs to do the same to find common ground with the fellow teachers, the students and the society at large to create a shared goal and understanding. This theme presents the teacher as a team member involved in shared leadership which connect the teacher's vision to that of other parties involved and forming a viable collaboration to ensure a positive change has taken root (Timperley et al., 2008). Conclusion The narratives presented in this paper acts as voices of prospective teachers who give accounts of their continued understanding of the teaching profession as an ethical, moral and social responsibility from their personal experience in the teaching profession. The different accounts present a scenario in which teachers in the teaching profession show their willingness to review the choices presented to them, to engage in creative and critical thinking to make the best possible decisions in the profession. Different accounts and understanding from their experiences are presented, and they show how self-directed inquiry has provided a framework through which questions about their profession have been asked, an attempt to uncover meaningful patterns and replacing hierarchical script which is the main cause for the isolation of the teachers from the students have been questioned. Better learning practices and environment have been suggested such as creating a teamwork, abolishment of th e hierarchy script and creating a conducive learning environment both in the classroom and the school has been seen to be the best practices in the teaching profession. These prospective teachers aim at creating a democratic learning environment with the main focus being on balancing freedom and control and work together with fellow teachers and the students towards a joint decision making. The different account has also brought to light the aspect of creating a teacher's professional identity which is associated with the transformation and the examination of the current knowledge and adapting these knowledge, attitude, and skills to the professional teaching practice (Conklin et al., 2005). References Anderson, L.W., Krathwohl, D.R. and Bloom, B.S., 2001. A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing: A revision of Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives. Allyn Bacon. Anderson-Levitt, K.M., 2002. Teaching Cultures: Knowledge for teaching first grade in France and the United States. Hampton Press (NJ). Armour, K., 2013. Sports Pedagogy: An Introduction to teaching and coaching. Routledge. Beattie, M., 2000. Narratives of professional learning: Becoming a teacher and learning to teach. Journal of Educational Enquiry, 1(2), pp.1-23. Cazden, C.B., 2001. The language of teaching and learning. The language of teaching and learning. Conklin, J., Anderson, L.W., Krathwohl, D., Airasian, P., Cruikshank, K.A., Mayer, R.E., Pintrich, P., Raths, J. and Wittrock, M.C., 2005. A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives Complete Edition. Darling-Hammond, L., Wei, R.C., Andree, A., Richardson, N. and Orphanos, S., 2009. Professional learning in the learning profession. Washington, DC: National Staff Development Council. Emmitt, M., Pollock, J., and Komesaroff, L., 2003. Language and learning: An introduction for teaching. Oxford University Press. Hatch, T., 2005. Into the Classroom: Developing the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Jossey-Bass, An Imprint of Wiley. 10475 Crosspoint Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46256. Kauchak, D. and Eggen, P., 2016. Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional. Pearson. Nation, I.S.P., 2013. Teaching learning vocabulary. Boston: Heinle Cengage Learning. Serafini, F., 2013. Reading the Visual: An introduction to teaching multimodal literacy. Teachers College Press. Timperley, H., Wilson, A., Barrar, H., and Fung, I., 2008. Teacher professional learning and development. Watt, H.M. and Richardson, P.W., 2012. An introduction to teaching motivations in different countries: comparisons using the FIT-Choice scale. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 40(3), pp.185-197. Zeichner, K.M., and Liston, D.P., 2013. Reflective teaching: An introduction. Routledge.

Supermarket in UK Essay Example

Supermarket in UK Essay The supermarket industry in the UK could be described as an Oligopoly Market. Based on your research into supermarkets in the UK, discuss whether this market structure creates a situation that is more or less to the benefit of consumers. For many students studying abroad, they will go to supermarkets every week. The Supermarkets in the United Kingdom sell many different kinds of products and it is easy to find a large supermarket everywhere. There are four big and famous supermarkets in UK, Tesco, Safeway/Morrison, J Sainsburys and Asda. Wikipedia, 2009a) These four supermarkets have the largest market share in UK so that it makes the supermarket industry in the UK could be expressed an oligopoly Market. (Wikipedia, 2009a)When it is dominated by a few large companies; a big percentage of the market is shared by these companies; there may or may not be perfect knowledge and high barriers to entry, an oligopoly market or industry will exists. It can be argued that customers lose benefit. Oligopoly is one of the market structures. It means there are just a few companies in the market and each company is self-government. Anderton, 2004) One example is the UK supermarket industry. Although there are many smaller companies in the market, there are four main companies (Tesco, Safeway/Morrison, J Sainsburys and Asda). Pricing in an oligopoly is that the firms co-operate to charge the same price and hence create a position similar to a monopoly. (tutor2u, 2007) However, it is different in the UK supermarket industry. The cost of the goods in all the supermarkets will not be almost the same, because the larger supermarkets will have lower overhead costs, (bnet, 2009) so that his four supermarkets are able to charge lower cost than the smaller ones. We will write a custom essay sample on Supermarket in UK specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Supermarket in UK specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Supermarket in UK specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Besides, because of the non-price competition, it is unfair to the small companies. In the imperfectly competition, price is not the most important things. These four companies will decide on a marketing mix which is a mix of components. (Anderton, 2004) At the same time, the kinked demand curve leading to sticky prices and non-price competition. The concept of the kinked demand curve is when a demand curve curl to the prevailing price, an increasing or decreasing in marginal cost will have no effect on the profit maximizing level of quantity or price. The most disadvantages are the abnormal profit and allocative efficiency. Each company wants to make abnormal profit, because it will increase the revenue. [pic](Wikipedia , 2009c) | Grocery market share | |Tesco |27. 1% | |Asda |16. 9% | |Sainsbury |16. 1% | |Morrison/Safeway |12. % | |Total market share |72. 5% | (Oligopolywatch, 2009) |Supermarket |Consumer |Market Share |+/- from | | |Spend (? 000s) |August 2008 |July 2008 | |Tesco |6,351,531 |31. 6% |^ 0. 3% | |Asda |3,410,431 |17. 0% |^ 0. 1% | |Sainsburys |3,175,543 |15. % |^ 0. 1% | |Morrisons/Safeway |2,233,137 |11. 1% |ÐŽ 0. 2% | (Wikipedia, 2009b) One advantage for customers is the ‘price wars’. In a oligopoly market, the price will be change by few companies; however, the firms will compete on price, so that they can become a Price maker and attract a larger market share optimistically. The UK supermarkets show this by having price wars, (guardian. co. uk, 2009) where one supermarket announces a range of pr ice cuts in its products and the others follow. The British supermarket is may be heading to a death match between the two leaders: Tesco and Asda. (Oligopolywatch, 2003) These two biggest supermarkets break out price wars again and again. (guardian. co. uk, 2009) No matter cut down the price of mike (TIMES ONLINE, 2009) or the price of grocery, the finally objective is to own the market share and make the biggest profit. However, these features of price fixing and yet competing on price can be explained by the kinked demand curve theory. Above the market price (P0) the demand curve is elastic. This means that if one firm raised its prices, to P1, it would lead to a fall in total revenue, and so other firms will not follow. Below the market price the demand curve is inelastic, so if a firm lowers its price the others will be forced to follow, leading to Price wars and a loss of revenue all round. The market price is probably reached, because all the companies conspire with each other. In view of the fact that change the price will result in the total revenues, firms do not need to change prices so that the companies can fix a price as they want. It will make them earn the maximum profit in the long run. Other advantages for the customers are international competition, innovate, economic of scale and research and development. In these four actions, oligopoly will give customers benefits which will attract more consumers. In conclusion, there are both advantages and disadvantages of UK supermarket industries for customers. What is the most important is the price. The market structures of oligopoly market affect the price. For the government, the most important things is to prevent oligopoly market and keep the perfect competition. Reference: †¢ Wikipedia (2009a) [Online], Supermarkets in the United Kingdom.

EMERGING MARKETS essays

EMERGING MARKETS essays Abstract: Focuses on the United States government's policy on the Big Emerging Markets (BEM), which include the Chinese Economic Area, South Korea, Indonesia, India, South Africa, Poland, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. BEMs' investment on infrastructure projects; BEM's share of global gross domestic product; Projected increases in world imports; Lessons learned from the BEM strategy. THE BIG EMERGING MARKETS During his tenure as Under Secretary of Commerce, the author was one of the architects of the Clinton administration's Big Emerging Markets policy under Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown. He is now dean of the Yale School of Management. The Clinton policy emerged out of a growing conviction that some ten markets will account for the overwhelming growth potential in world imports, not to mention commensurate growth in economic and political influence around the world. These markets include, in Asianthe Chinese Economic Area (China, Hong Kong and Taiwan), South Korea, Indonesia and India; in AfricaSouth Africa; in Central EuropePoland and Turkey; and in Latin America Mexico,Brazil and Argentina. The administration concluded that, because many of these countries still have important state sectors, and because virtually all are focusing heavily on infrastructure projects that demand the involvement of local governments, U.S. companies need the U.S. government at their side to win a fair hearing. What is more, because of the intensity of foreign competition and the capital demands on these countries, international competitors will be public/private partnerships in which foreign governments provide concessionary financing and aggressive advocacy to support their companies' efforts. During the first year of the Clinton administration, a good deal of analysis was conducted to answer the questions, "If we look toward the next century, where will we f...

Immigrant Law of Labour Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Immigrant Law of Labour Market - Essay Example On the contrary, skilled immigrants pose a considerable threat to the labour market, which ends up in several disadvantages for the host country. Skilled immigrants who can substitute the existing workers in the host country are disadvantageous because they will intensify competition in the labour market and resultantly lessen wages (Lucchino, Rosazza-Bondibene, and Portes). The effects of the decrease of wages will significantly be prejudiced by the level of skill of the immigrants. Although there may be an increase in productivity, an influx of skilful immigrants means that wages will decrease, while less skilled immigrants would not have a considerable effect on the economy. In consequence, an immigrant law is necessary to identify and delineate immigrant workers and their qualifications. The occupational and industrial structure of the labour market may transform owing to the change in the mix of goods and services manufactured in the economy. Labour demand suffers in either way, based on the abilities of the immigrants. Immigrants who are less skilled may force the labour market to adopt strategies that require low-skill labour, while employees that are more skilled will develop a technology-oriented approach in the labour market. Although this may have some rewards, a change in the economy is a risky process that may have negative repercussions on a country. The adoption of different production practices, for instance, labour-intensive or technology intensive determine the way that the labour market will counter economic growth. Although there may be minimal wage differences, it is common for low-waged workers to lose, while high-waged workers stand to gain from immigration (Dustmann, Frattini, and Preston). In essence, this means that the effects on average wages may not be evidently felt, but a section of the labour market that will be largely affected.

Discusstion 8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discusstion 8 - Essay Example ential risk for an Autism Spectrum Disorder and the public measures that could assist in the identification of the people at risk, plan health programs and implement preventative measures. Essentially, evaluating environmental factors in concern to risks of autism requires a depth analysis of human and animal aspects, exposures, medical procedures and alimentary influences (Autism Response Team, 2014). Many of the studies base on exploring the relations between disclosures and body encumbrance approximations and autistic consequences; however, neurological progress of humans and animals is also a considerable factor. Largely, exposure to environmental chemicals is a common risk for a number of autism spectrum disorders that have adverse effects that cause variations in the growth of the neurological system and other parts of the human body and normal function. Many learning and development incapacities in humans result from environmental agents and chemicals such as pesticides, solvents, mercury, ethers among others; moreover, they have a straight effect on the evolving nerves of the human system leading to autism and other related disorders. All the same, these agents do not solely cause the autism spectrum disorders but combine with other environmental factors; though, these factors have minimal impact. Furthermore, research shows that even while combined, the chemicals alone do not cause the related effects. Genes also act as a major determinant for the environmental chemicals’ effects especially because of their variations; typically, some of the people exposed to these chemicals have an increased risk to autism than others (Rodriguez 2014). Triggers to autism vary with the state of an environment and individual factors such as the genes hence creating ample challenges on utterly establishing the core causes. Identification, reduction and prevention of a risk are usually the basis of almost every medical risk factor research. Assertively, implementation

Wal-Mart v. Dukes, Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wal-Mart v. Dukes, - Essay Example After numerous legal proceedings, the US court ruled in favor of the firm, an action that caused uproar within the US, thereby having significant impacts to the US business, with its rippling effects resonating for years to come. It is unlawful to mistreat employees based on miscellaneous unjustified features such as gender, race or cultural affiliation. Firms ought to implement policies such as efficiency, and skills in promotion of their employees (Copeland & Labuski, 2013). Additionally, equal prospects in the training of employees are significant. As such, owing to diverse similar cases, impacts on both the employers and the employees are severe. Such instances have adverse effects to employee motivation, thereby reducing their efficiency. I believe that the court ruling was erroneous (Copeland & Labuski, 2013). Besides, owing to the case, the firm may have experienced numerous losses, since the remaining employees may have experienced indirect impacts, owing to the reduction of the workforce. Established firms such as Wal-Mart ought to adhere to the implemented labor laws in their appraisal of employees, thereby eliminating recurrence of such instances. However, the firm may justify itself owing to the misconception that male employees tend to be more efficient. This misconception continues to be irrelevant since numerous female employees continue to prove even more efficient as compared to their male counterparts (Martens, 2012). Additionally, diverse labor unions have continually protested against Wal-Mart Stores, thereby criticizing it over the alleged abuse of the labor laws and accusations of gender and racial discriminations (Copeland & Labuski, 2013). It is also apparent that these women continually underwent dissimilar circumstances such as the low pay owing to their gender (Martens, 2012). Additionally, the promotion of the male employees was critically unjustified. The management Wal-Mart Stores failed to incorporate

The Power Of Media Media Essay

The Power Of Media Media Essay In general, media refers to the tools of mass communication. Media today consists of television, Internet, cinema, newspapers, radio, magazines, direct mail, fax, and the telephone. Viewers can see some form of pictorial representation of messages through certain types of broadcasting and advertising. Images are visual representations, pictures, graphics, and include video, movies. Images are very useful in media to help get across messages effectively. Media images are ubiquitous in modern society. We know this because when we go almost anywhere, for example, drive on the roads, we can see billboards promoting famous brands and the latest products. When we are attracted to advertisements, we may begin to imagine or visualize using it. The media can give us information to tell us what a product, service or message is. In fact, media influence has become so powerful today that they can easily influence people positively and/or negatively. We also live in a society that depends on the media as a source of entertainment and information. Indeed, the media images affect both individuals and society which includes women, men, teenagers and younger children. Today, our life will remain incomplete without media. For example, it provides an easy means of communication where people are able to contact friends and family from another side of the world. At the same time, media like television, radio and the Internet enhance our knowledge by providing access to information from all over the world. We can also receive different types of news or daily events through media, almost instantly, for example, through the Internet. For example, when the video of people protesting on the streets of Cairo in Egypt to change the government in Egypt was broadcast over the Worldwide Web, these images actually influenced more people from other countries to join the street protests in support of the Egyptian protesters. Something similar happened in 2010 in Thailand where the Red Shirts protested in the streets to oppose and change the Thai government. The Thai government then had supporters who wore the Yellow Shirts, and also marched in the streets. These k inds of images when seen on TV, newspapers or the Internet by individuals and society in general, can influence viewers to either support or not support those who are in power. At the same time, media like television enhances our knowledge by providing access to information all over the world. We can also receive different news or daily events through the television. It can also be such a powerful educational tool for the younger generation helping to put them on the right path. For example, Sesame Street is one of the TV programs that has a positive influence among many of the younger generation. They taught kids to communicate effectively, to spell correctly, choose healthy food and have fun with learning. First and foremost, they taught us to communicate with the deaf. It brings out the talents of the people. Television provides a good influence in education by helping to teach right values. Newspapers have a positive influence on society. Newspapers not only give information or the latest news. They also help in the positive linkage between government and the people. As a people in Malaysia, we need to have a greater concern for the economic and political issues of our country, which we can get from newspapers. Newspapers even help to increase knowledge that we cannot get from books. For example, a girl from Malacca killed herself after falling from a building. This news was reported by the Star newspaper. Through the news, we know that she died because she injured her head. If we want to know more about what is happening in the world around us, newspapers are a resource to get the daily information. On the other hand, mass media can at times have a negative influence. Advertisements can be created to convince people to buy or give support for certain products. In addition to advertisements, some messages may have hidden motives. For instance, advertisements may show images of young people enjoying fried chicken, burgers, snacks, and sweet drinks. These advertisements of images can have a powerful influence on the young. The hidden messages behind these advertisements are to persuade the younger generation to buy and to enjoy these types of foods. However, these images do not show or tell viewers that these foods may not be good for their health. Images in the media can have a powerful influence on our behavior. Movies, another form of mass media, today may show violence in one form or another. For instance, younger people may show disrespect or even bully older people. Images of violence somehow influence individuals and especially the younger generation to think that violence is accepted by society when it is not. Movies can also be used to show sexual images. Such images have a powerful influence on the mind and soul of young people. People who watch these images may be influenced to react in a socially unacceptable or even criminal manner. The movie The Tourist, is a romantic movie that shows the relationship between actors Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. He acts as a brilliant thief who steals a large sum of money. He is so smart that nobody can identify who he is. At the end of the story, he is not caught and goes free. This show somehow teaches the younger generation that it is right to steal and be smart they think is right. Magazines display visual images that can deeply influence female readers. Young girls and adult women spend time reading magazines partly or mainly because of fashion trends. Most of the models in the magazines are tall, slim and have nice hair. Based on the research from Internet, 70% of women feet insecure after they read the magazines such as Vivi, Mina, Allure, Instyle and Teen Vogue. In this example, women wanted to slim down to look like the model. They will go on diet until they see some result. They will also try to do some medical things that will cause some side effects to their bodies. These types of media images may have a huge impact on society, and may even influence public opinion on how females, especially young girls and women should look. In conclusion, the use of media images can be both positive and negative to the individual or society. In a positive way, media makes our lifestyle easier, for example, we can get to know what is going on out there, locally or globally, within a short space of time. Even though there are so many benefits from media images, we have to be careful not to let them influence us unknowingly. We need to be wise when using the media.

Roland Barthes :: Rhetoric of the Image

Roland Barthes The work of Roland Barthes (1915-80), the cultural theorist and analyst, embraces a wide range of cultural phenomena, including advertising, fashion, food, and wrestling. He focused on cultural phenomena as language systems, and for this reason we might think of him as a structuralist. In these notes, I provide a short profile of this influential figure, together with a synopsis of his seminal essay, "Rhetoric of the Image," a model for semiological analysis of all kinds. * * * * * This cultural theorist and analyst was born in Cherbourg, a port-city northwest of Paris. His parents were Louis Barthes, a naval officer, and Henriette Binger. His father died in 1916, during combat in the North Sea. In 1924, Barthes and his mother moved to Paris, where he attended (1924-30) the Lycee Montaigne. Unfortunately, he spent long periods of his youth in sanatoriums, undergoing treatment for TB. When he recovered, he studied (1935-39) French and the classics at the University of Paris. He was exempted from military service during WW II (he was ill with TB during the period 1941-47). Later, when he wasn't undergoing treatment for TB, he taught at a variety of schools, including the Lycees Voltaire and Carnot. He taught at universities in Rumania (1948-49) and Egypt (1949-50) before he joined (in 1952) the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, where he devoted his time to sociology and lexicology. Barthes' academic career fell into three phases. During the first phase, he concentrated on demystifying the stereotypes of bourgeois culture (as he put it). For example, in Writing degree Zero (1953), Barthes examined the link between writing and biography: he studied the historical conditions of literary language and the difficulty of a modern practice of writing. Committed to language, he argued, the writer is at once caught up in particular discursive orders, the socially instituted forms of writing, a set of signs (a myth) of literature--hence the search for an unmarked language, before the closure of myth, a writing degree zero. During the years 1954-56, Barthes wrote a series of essays for the magazine called Les Lettres nouvelles, in which he exposed a "Mythology of the Month," i.e., he showed how the denotations in the signs of popular culture betray connotations which are themselves "myths" generated by the larger sign system that makes up society. The book which contains these studies of everyday signs--appropriately enough, it is entitled Mythologies (1957)--offers his meditations on many topics, such as striptease, the New Citroen, steak and chips, and so on.

Easter Rising 1916

There can be no doubt that the response of the British government to the Rising contributed measurably to the further alienation of Irish public opinion. On 26th April 1916, it had introduced martial law and next day appointed Major-General Sir John Maxwell as Commander-in-Chief of troops, Ireland. He had full authority to restore order, put down the rebellion, and punished its participants. Maxwell never doubted that its leaders should be court-martialled and those most prominent executed.General Maxwell was also determined that, in order to crush militant nationalism, those who had surrendered with them, and their suspected supporters, should be arrested and their arms seized in a nationwide sweep by soldiers, supported by police. General Maxwell quickly signalled his intention â€Å"to arrest all dangerous Sinn Feiners†(1), including â€Å"those who have taken an active part in the movement although not in the present rebellion†(2), reflecting the popular belief that Sinn Fein, a separatist organisation that was neither militant nor republican, was behind the Rising.In total, the security forces arrested 3,430 men and 79 women and of these 1,841 were sent to England and interned there. Meanwhile, those thought to have organised the insurrection had been held back in Ireland for trial 190 men and 1 woman named Countess Markievicz. In 90 cases the court’s verdict was ‘Death by being shot’. All signatories of the proclamation were executed. The executions started on May 3rd in Kilmainham Jail with the execution of Patrick Pearse was the first to be singled out for execution, he was not allowed to see his mother or brother before his execution, Thomas MacDonagh and Thomas Clarke .The second day is the executions of William Pearse brother of Patrick Pearse, Edward Daly, Michael O'Hanrahan, and Joseph Plunkett whom married Grace Gifford in the prison chapel hours before his execution. On the following day John McBride was executed alone refused to be blindfolded before his execution. Then on May 8th Eamonn Ceannt,  Michael Mallin,  Sean Heuston  and  Conn Colbert were executed. On the last day of execution May 12th Sean MacDiarmada and James Connolly who is tied to a chair due to his broken ankle were executed. Sir Roger Casement was tried in London for high treason and hanged at Pentonville Prison on 3 August.In addition to the 15 executed, 97 others of those tried by court-martial were sentenced to death. Alarmed by the shift taking place in public opinion in Ireland and by the outrage expressed in the House of Commons by members of the Irish Parliament Party, most notably Lawrence Ginnel and John Dillion, Prime Minister Asquith travelled to Dublin on 12 May the day where James Connolly and Sean MacDiarmada were executed, in spite of a telegram from Asquith to General Maxwell saying that there were to be no further executions except under special and exceptional circumstances.Maxwell, presumably, c onsidered that MacDiarmada and Connolly had played such leading roles that they could not be reprieved. There were no further executions, the sentences of the other 97 being commuted to terms of imprisonment. The predictable effect of these measures was to increase public sympathy, both for the rebels and their goals. During May, the police authorities noted even amongst moderate nationalists a growing ‘wave of resentment,’ prompted by the feeling that ‘unnecessary severity had been deployed’.Symptoms of the change in attitudes included the following: the increasing frequency of memorial masses for the executed rebels; the growing sales of photographs of them; the setting up of aid funds for their families; the appearance of songs and ballads celebrating their actions; the ubiquity of republican flags and badges; the sight of young men marching military style at Gaelic football matches, and the shouting of rebel slogans anywhere people gathered anonymously together, such as at railway stations.Moreover, there were ominous signs that militant nationalists were reorganising, reflected in a rise in arms thefts and hardening of attitudes towards the police. The release of many who had been interned after the Rising – far from earning public gratitude – fuelled resentment, as it was seen as providing evidence that the arrests had been made ‘without just cause’. Already in mid-June 1916, Maxwell predicted that in a General Election the moderate nationalist Irish Parliamentary Party would probably be replaced.He was right; in December 1918, it was swept aside by Sinn Fein. Some survivors of the Rising went on to become leaders of the independent Irish state and those who died were venerated by many as martyrs. Their graves in the former military prison of Arbour Hill in Dublin became a national monument and the text of the Proclamation was taught in schools. ‘I and my fellow signatories believe we have struck the first successful blow for Irish freedom. The next blow, which we have no doubt Ireland will strike, will win through. In this belief, we die happy. ‘

Abraham the King

Chapter One1. Explain the significance of the parrot and the mockingbird at the beginning of this chapter.2. Why would Chopin have thought it important to include this detail in her brief mention of the children’s nurse?3. Why would Ponterllier consider his suntanned wife to be a â€Å"damaged piece of property?4. Who is Robert Lebrun?5. What is his relationship with Edna?Chapter Two1. Describe Edna Pontellier.2. What kind of person is Robert Lebrun?3. What shift in point of view is evident in Chapter Two?4. What do you learn about Robert and Edna from their conversation at the end of this chapter?Chapter Three1. How does Leonce’s behavior when he returns from the Klein Hotel reveal his attitude toward his wife?2. What is the first sign that Edna is not completely happy with her life as it is?3. Discuss how sounds are used as a backdrop to the scene of disagreement between Leonce and Enda?4. How do the gifts Edna receives from her husband symbolize her marriage and mos t marriages of this time?Chapter Four1. Describe the unusual nature of the relationship between Edna and her children.2. What is Chopin implying by this description: â€Å"They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels. †3. Who is Adele Ratingnolle, and how is she the embodiment of the â€Å"mother- woman†?4. How does the fact that Edna is not a Creole affect her relationship with others on Grand Isle?Chapter Five1. How does Robert’s behavior toward Edna fit the pattern of Medieval and Renaissance courtly love?2.What is the difference between Robert’s present attentions to Edna and his past attentions to Adele Ratignolle?3. Compare Edna’s sketching with Adele’s sewing.4. To what tradition is Chopin referring when she has Edna compare Adele to a Madonna?5. What is ironic about the simile?Chapter Six1. What is signi ficant about Edna’s first saying she did not want to go swimming with Robert and then agreeing to go?2. How is the sea used symbolically in this chapter?Chapter Seven1. How are Edna Pontellier and Adele Ratignolle contrasted in this chapter?2. What does the road to the beach symbolize in this chapter?3. What is the significance of the lady in black and the two lovers in this chapter?4. What does the flashback to Edna’s childhood reveal to the reader?5. What do you learn about Edna as a person, given the reasons for her marriage to Leonce?6. â€Å"She grew fond of her husband, realizing with some unaccountable satisfaction that no trace of passion or excessive and fictitious warmth colored her affection,, thereby threatening its dissolution. † How does the narrator’s omniscience reveal Edna’s feelings about marriage and intimate relationships?

The joy of specifics - Emphasis

The joy of specifics The joy of specifics Its always a great feeling of revelation (not to mention vindication) when something you have long suspected or known to be true suddenly pops up and proves itself out in the real world. I found this recently regarding the power of being precise. Now, naturally I have always known that smoking is not a wise habit in terms of ones health hence, I eventually managed to quit. Its effects are difficult to ignore: after all, they are printed on the packet. Difficult, but in some cases not impossible. For example: smoking causes aging of the skin. Hmm. A rather cursory, vague warning this it has the feeling of a meagre afterthought, and one that is quite easy to dismiss. But compare this, which I saw in a skincare clinic: Two cigarettes a day can destroy the entire RDA of vitamin C in your body. Crikey. The details in that are impossible to ignore. It manages to be succinct, specific and surprising in a very real, very vivid way. Id definitely be stubbing out now if I hadnt already.

Disparities in Pain Management in the Emergency Department Research Paper

Disparities in Pain Management in the Emergency Department - Research Paper Example The authors provide an overview from ancient civilizations to the modern theories. The modern theories include Melzack and Wall's Gate Control Theory of Pain. The knowledge in the article Theories of pain: From specificity to the gate, control can be used to understand the character of pain as well as its symptoms that reflect the significant aspects of the entire bodily suffering of the human body. The article provides more information on the manner in which pain functions including its structure and pathways. Acute Pain Management by Warfield CA and Kahn CH The stated research problem of article Acute Pain Management is that there is lack of professional and public awareness of pain management strategies. In addition, Warfield & Khan state that the significance of the problem is that medical professionals, as well as the public, should acquire knowledge on pain management in order to reduce the extent of postoperative pain. The purpose of the study is to investigate the situation o f acute pain management in the United States hospital. Additionally, the article was aimed at assessing the attitudes of adults in America in relation to postoperative pain control. A certain patient that had undergone through surgery believed that he was supposed to feel pain. This perception was contributed to by lack of adequate information on postoperative pain management. If the patient were aware that there are methods that can be used to reduce pain after surgery, he would have agreed to feel the pain.

Event-Related Potential Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Event-Related Potential - Essay Example Often, the executive functions are invoked when it is necessary to override responses that may otherwise be automatically elicited by stimuli in the external environment. It forecasts with a potentially rewarding stimulus, such as a tasty piece of chocolate cake, the automatic response might be to take a bite. The neural mechanisms by which the executive functions are implemented is a topic of ongoing debate in the field of cognitive neuroscience.Experimental psychologists and neuroscientists have discovered many different stimuli. The timing of these responses is thought to provide a measure of the timing of the brain's communication or time of information processing. Due to the consistency of the external response to novel stimuli, a brain-computer interface can be constructed which relies on it by arranging many signals in a grid, randomly STUDIES AND RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN EVENT RELATED POTENTIALS The ongoing electroencephalogram (EEG) provides a satisfactory scale for accessing temporal evolution of the brain activity associated with cognitive processes in health and disease. However, momentary changes in brain activity, as reflected in EEG, are rarely exploited due to lack of analytical tools and methodology. The electrodes covering the parietal lobe typically measure the P300 signal most strongly. The presence, magnitude, topography and time of this signal are often used as metrics of cognitive function in decision-making processes. While the neural substrates of this ERP remain hazy, the reproducibility of this signal makes it a common choice for psychological tests in both the clinic and the laboratory. Although the EEG... This essay stresses that the ongoing electroencephalogram (EEG) provides a satisfactory scale for accessing temporal evolution of the brain activity associated with cognitive processes in health and disease. However, momentary changes in brain activity, as reflected in EEG, are rarely exploited due to lack of analytical tools and methodology. The electrodes covering the parietal lobe typically measure the P300 signal most strongly. The presence, magnitude, topography and time of this signal are often used as metrics of cognitive function in decision-making processes. While the neural substrates of this ERP remain hazy, the reproducibility of this signal makes it a common choice for psychological tests in both the clinic and the laboratory. This paper declares that the EEG signal is most strongly acquired around the parietal electrodes, interactions involving the frontal and temporal regions as well as several deep brain loci have been suggested. These components respond individually to different stimuli, and it has been suggested that the P300 originates from stimulus-driven frontal attention mechanisms during task processing. The P300 signal is an aggregate recording from a great many neurons In practice, the P300 waveform must be evoked using a stimulus delivered by one of the sensory modalities. One typical procedure is the 'oddball' paradigm, whereby a target stimulus is presented amongst more frequent standard background stimuli. A distracter stimulus may also be used to ensure that the response is due to the target rather than the change from a background pattern.

LUCID DREAMING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

LUCID DREAMING - Essay Example Our focus will be on how these lucid dreams occur along with the research analysis of Lewis; Lewis has discovered that while our body rests the brain starts to revise the tasks performed during the day, the second part of the discovery shows how it focuses more on the traumatic events and modifies them and finally she reveals how the mind forces a connection between distant concepts (Lewis, 2013). We would merge the symptoms of occurrence of lucid dreams with the Lewis discoveries in our examples below; and would conclude how these commercial and public messages emerge known dreams. Women of today age are easily distracted by the beauty product advertisements and often have lucid dreams; I would discuss about L’oreal total repair 5 shampoo ad; the ad states that the shampoo can repair five issues and would give the hair restored fiber, stronger grip, vitality, silky and shiny touch. Women especially young girls with hair problems start to consciously dream about such hairs as shown during the ads; they would take bad hairs as a weak area would modify it with thinking of them as healthy hair and would relate the two concepts. They would start to dream that they have long and shining hairs that could be easily taken out of a pony and would attract so many people around them. This is how the ad plays with that section of the body that the mind wants to change or has been changing constantly (Shen, 2010). Bharia Town is considered as one of the pioneers in development and construction work; it has made its advertisements in a manner that would make the buyer believe that they are just a drive away from their dream town and dream place; in the article under discussion about Sector D of Lahore; it is shown that the plots are ready to for possessions; Bharia would provide them with easy installment plans and the sector is develop with all the facilities such as commercial area and entertainment areas

Values and Planning Essay Example for Free

Values and Planning Essay In this first part of my assignment I will be explaining the different values and principles that are applied in care planning and how they will enable the provision of holistic support for service users. Providing direct care/ meeting and supporting the individuals needs Meeting the individual’s needs, making sure that they recognise and promote the rights of the individual and making sure that they have a right to make choices and engaging in having their needs met are all important in social care. Independence and the wellbeing of the individual using their services should be promoted by the professional so full potential is achieved. The professional should also take part in assessments to ensure the safety and protection of their client. When identifying the individual’s needs, it helps you to create a care plan for them so that their needs are met. A professional should pay them regular visits. On these visits they may identify that the environment that they are living in is not suitable for them. All the information collected would help them to make decisions on what arrangements need to be made to meet their needs. Promotion of choice Every individual should have the right to make their own choices and what they want to do. The choices could be things such as what activities they want to take part for that day. They could do this independently or with assistance if wanted. Promotion of rights In a health and social care environment, individuals all have the rights to choice, confidentiality and to also have their individuality acknowledged and respected. Some of the rights that they have are to be able to voice their opinions and for any form of communication received to be effective. Also to be able to practice their culture and religious beliefs. Policies and procedures of the organisation that is providing them with care should be available for access to all the individuals and if they feel that their needs are not being met they can make a complaint. Recognition of preferences It is important to find out and recognise vulnerable people’s preferences when providing them with care. When their preferences are stated then the support that they want to receive will be offered to them. When vulnerable people’s preferences are acknowledged, working with them becomes more effectively. Respect for religious and beliefs, moral beliefs, values and culture In health and social care sector there is a wide range of behaviours and beliefs that should be recognised and valued. Professionals and the people receiving the care all come from different backgrounds. By law all organisations in the health and social care sector have to respect and value every individual’s religion, beliefs and culture. They need to embrace diversity and demonstrate to their workers and patients. Confidentiality Everyone has the rights to privacy and privacy over their personal details. It is important to keep all information about individuals confidential. This is a legal requirement and also shows that they value and respect their patients who are receiving care from them. The only time when information can be passed on would be if there is an occasion when it has to be passed onto another agency. When doing this the individual must be informed that this information is being passed on. Fulfilling responsibilities Policies and procedures must be followed by every individual working in the health and social care sector.by following this, they will make sure that they are safeguarding that are in their care. They also have requirements that they have to meet, to protect the people within their care. P1 In this first part of my assignment I will be explaining the different values and principles that are applied in care planning and how they will enable the provision of holistic support for service users. Providing direct care/ meeting and supporting the individuals needs Meeting the individual’s needs, making sure that they recognise and promote the rights of the individual and making sure that they have a right to make choices and engaging in having their needs met are all important in social care. Independence and the wellbeing of the individual using their services should be promoted by the professional so full potential is achieved. The professional should also take part in assessments to ensure the safety and protection of their client. When identifying the individual’s needs, it helps you to create a care plan for them so that their needs are met. A professional should pay them regular visits. On these visits they may identify that the environment that they ar e living in is not suitable for them. All the information collected would help them to make decisions on what arrangements need to be made to meet their needs. Promotion of choice Every individual should have the right to make their own choices and what they want to do. The choices could be things such as what activities they want to take part for that day. They could do this independently or with assistance if wanted. Promotion of rights In a health and social care environment, individuals all have the rights to choice, confidentiality and to also have their individuality acknowledged and respected. Some of the rights that they have are to be able to voice their opinions and for any form of communication received to be effective. Also to be able to practice their culture and religious beliefs. Policies and procedures of the organisation that is providing them with care should be available for access to all the individuals and if they feel that their needs are not being met they can make a complaint. Recognition of preferences It is important to find out and recognise vulnerable people’s preferences when providing them with care. When their preferences are stated then the support that they want to receive will be offered to them. When vulnerable people’s preferences are acknowledged, working with them becomes more effectively. Respect for religious and beliefs, moral beliefs, values and culture In health and social care sector there is a wide range of behaviours and beliefs that should be recognised and valued. Professionals and the people receiving the care all come from different backgrounds. By law all organisations in the health and social care sector have to respect and value every individual’s religion, beliefs and culture. They need to embrace diversity and demonstrate to their workers and patients. Confidentiality Everyone has the rights to privacy and privacy over their personal details. It is important to keep all information about individuals confidential. This is a legal requirement and also shows that they value and respect their patients who are receiving care from them. The only time when information can be passed on would be if there is an occasion when it has to be passed onto another agency. When doing this the individual must be informed that this information is being passed on. Fulfilling responsibilities Policies and procedures must be followed by every individual working in the health and social care sector.by following this, they will make sure that they are safeguarding that are in their care. They also have requirements that they have to meet, to protect the people within their care.

About diamond

About diamond Introduction â€Å"A diamond is forever† (De Beers Group, 2008) is likely to be one of the best known slogans the mining industry has ever had. Sixty years after the foundation of the De Beers Consolidated Mines in South Africa (CMSA) in 1888 (Epstein, 1982) this slogan represents a campaign aimed at marketing the sale of De Beers diamonds. In the early twentieth century the British South African company monopolised giving them the control over the majority of the worlds diamond supply. To establish the monopoly, Ernest Oppenheimer, considered as â€Å"prototype of the multinational businessman: German by birth, British by naturalization, Jewish by religion, and South African by residence† has perceived that the only way to increase the value of diamonds is to make them scarce† (Epstein, 1982) in 1910. Ernest Oppenheimer has so far laid the foundation for De Beers business strategy of controlling supply that lasted for nearly one century facilitating the process of becoming an international cartel in the late 1930 years. Within the following twenty years, De Beers monopolised the natural diamond industry on a global scale. The company monitored all pipe mines, was â€Å"fully backed by the British, Belgian and French governments [and was considered as] the official channel for the diamond trade† (Epstein, 1982) among all other governments. This distinction only lasted until the 1990s when first threats menaced the monopoly. De Beers has been put face to face with the loss of its position in the worlds diamond producing industry hence they had to cope with a dwindling reputation. To counter this negative trend which not only existed for the diamond industry but also among customers the De Beers Group had to react. Therefore, this business report is going to examine the factors behind any changes that have taken place in the structure of the companys value chain in recent years. It will also explain the reasoning behind any points made. To support the reasoning different business frameworks will be use. The Global Value Chain Competitive Advantage and Value Chain Michael E. Porter, professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, analyses the basis of competitive advantage in his book â€Å"Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance†, that was published in 1998. He explained that it is the companys competitive advantage that leads to value creation, hence to gain leverage among competitors in their particular market segment (Porter, 1998). Porter points out two general distinctions of competitive advantage: either a company can offer benefits at a lower cost than the rival which is called cost advantage or the company surpasses the benefits that are delivered by the competitor which is a differentiation advantage. To create a competitive advantage, irrespective of its nature, so to say by cost or differentiation the business fields resources and capabilities to finally create superior value. To visualise this issue, one can take in regard the resource-based view in the following simplified model (QuickMBA, 2009). Contemplating Fig. 1 there is still one step missing before competitive advantage is attained. It is realised by a range of value creating activities which Porter identified as value chain. He further found out that a company needed to outperform one or more of those activities that are above the overall value which ascertains the company being ahead of its competitors (QuickMBA, 2009). To get a better understanding of what the value chain contains and expresses one should have a look at the figure below that was adapted from (Porter, 1998). Continued The value chain aims at creating the highest possible value for the company and is the last step to gain a competitive advantage as seen in Fig.1. There can be different reasons why a company may add or even lose value. Throughout the years of business, the firm may have to undertake measures to make a change in the firms value chain (e.g. due to external factors). One of these external factors can be the time – in virtue of changing circumstances in the business environment, or a special market. The company needs to move with the times to stay competitive. A negative example that may cause a change in value can be the chaining of unfortunate events (e.g. collapsing market, contract termination with major producers, new competition, and consumers taste shift). This chain of unfortunate events would engender dire consequences that may conduce a company to consider changing or restructuring its value chain to haul itself out of the loophole. In the following section Porters theory of competitive advantage and the value chain will be applied on the particular case of De Beers. Afterwards, any factors of the past decade it will be looked at in detail. These factors include any event that occasioned De Beers to react quickly to a negative trend of falling market share and worsening reputation and consequently how the company dealt with the situation to stop this thread. De Beers Competitive Advantage and Value Chain De Beersoperates since its foundation in the late 19th century as already mentioned in the introduction. From scratch it followed a successful strategy that helped controlling the vast majority of the worlds diamond supply and being market leader since the beginning of its operations. In Fig. 3 is shown briefly how De Beers created its competitive advantage over competitors and how the company managed to acquire a market share of some 85% (Irwin, 2001). The activities that created value and in what way the success story of De Beers continued will be explained subsequently. Before analysing the value chain it is expedient to have a look at the De Beers Family of Companies (De Beers, Family of Companies, 2009) showing every single member that is at some extent involved in the companys operations. Looking at Fig.4 one can see that the Anglo American Group, the Central Holdings Group and the Government of the Republic Botswana are the shareholders of the De Beers socià ©tà © anonyme (De Beers sa). The companys head office is located in Luxembourg managing and monitoring the entire business whereas commercial activities are executed from subsidiaries in different parts of the world (De Beers Group, 2008). The Family of Companies is integrated across the breadth of the global diamond value chain. This covers exploration of deposits, sorting and valueing rough diamonds as well as cutting and polishing diamonds. We will have a closer look at these single instances in a little while. De Beers sa shareholders owned and controlled JV and independently subsidiaries and divisions managed subsidiaries Since we now got to know of which arms the Family of Companies consists we can examine De Beers value chain presenting slight changes from Porter De Beers adapted to its business. Since De Beers focused more and more on creating demand rather than controlling supply, they realised that a bad reputation of a consuming good they wanted (and needed) to sell has impacts on demand. De Beers response to face this problem was taking a key role in the implementation of the Kimberley Process which is an international certification scheme that is aimed at controlling the rough diamond trade. It requires a governmental certification of any shipments of rough diamonds proving that diamonds are free from blood – so to say not sold to prolong a conflict. De Beers efforts were being rewarded in January 2001 when Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General praised the company saying that they â€Å"set an example with its response to criticism of the diamond trade in Africa and its efforts to ensure that traders and consumers of diamonds will no longer unwittingly help to finance warlords† (Irwin, 2001). To recapture the erstwhile good reputation of De Beers they presented two more novelties. Forevermark De Beers needed to establish a brand name first in Europe later in the US. Therefore the company formed a strategic alliance with Moà «t Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) a French luxury goods group (Irwin, 2001). In the hope of creating globally a differentiation between De Beers Forevermark diamonds and stones one can purchase via internet the company put a lot of money into marketing strategies and campaigns to publicise the new brand and create an association with the utterly luxurious high class. A feature that lived through the entire time frame of this partnership is that De Beers jewellery always has been and will be sold exclusively in special De Beers stores. Downloadable Reports In 2001 De Beers published on their website the very first time an annual report revealing details about the workings and profits of the company. It is said that it is â€Å"the most comprehensive view [] that has ever been published† (Irwin, 2001). The intention of this published report was the direct address to shareholders of which a great part resided in the US. Two years later, in 2003, De Beers independent arm the DTC implemented the â€Å"Supplier of Choice† strategy – another project in their strategy shift. It is a sales programme aimed at selecting clients (sightholders) for De Beers. There are special sightholder selection criteria and considerations that provide a framework enabling the DTC to make an objective valuation of applicants. This method contributes to an allocation considered as fair and efficient (De Beers Group, 2008). The next big change in the company was the change of the Managing Director. Gary Ralfe tried his best to help De Beers not to go down fighting within this highly competitive environment over years. He wanted to transform the once successful business steeped in history into a modern competitive market player that at one point can regain a position they once held. Since Gary Ralfe retired in 2006 he could not finish his projects whereas his successor Gareth Penny now was charged with them. And it was this director change that breathed new life into the company. Gareth Penny, who beforehand was the director of sales and marketing of the DTC, his new role as MD was now to face all the issues that Gary Ralfe tried to antagonise. Penny first started to put new efforts on De Beers role in the Kimberley Process, always emphasising that De Beers only trades and sells conflict-free diamonds. To remove any doubts clients might have about the diamonds origin of De Beers jewellery the company in troduced in 2006 the De Beers Passport. This passport accompanies every diamond purchase and certifies that the sold jewellery is certainly blood free. It is the first and only company offering such a certification to clients (De Beers Jewellers, 2009). The second main achievement of Pennys business reshaping plan is a higher concentration on the joint ventures with African governments. Between De Beers and the Government of Botswana a joint venture has been agreed in 1969, 40 years ago (De Beers Group, 2009). Since 1992 this joint venture is called Debswana (cp. Fig.13). A very important step was taken in May 2006 when the Government of Botswana and De Beers signed three very meaningful agreements. Those comprised a regeneration of mining licenses for 25 years, a prolongation of the selling contract for five years and the establishment of the DTC Botswana. It was in the same year that De Beers bettered their diamond production record producing in total 34.3 million carats (De Beers Group, 2008). But the relationship was even more intensified in 2008 when De Beers moved its diamond-sorting facility to Botswana. This facility is the worlds largest and most innovative sorting institution avouching for the precious stones to stay in t he country for a little longer (OConnell, 2009). De Beers or better Gareth Penny does create a lot of good for the country since Botswana counted for a long time to the worlds poorest countries in terms of living condition and development rate. Meanwhile Botswana displays economic growth rates that are highest on a global scale (Morapedi, 2009). De Beers cooperation with the government thereby all foreign direct investment they put in the country forwarded growth within four decades. Nowadays Debswana is the countrys largest non-government employer, since they are giving 25% of the residents a place to work (Morapedi, 2009). Investing in diamond production, De Beers aid contributes to export revenues of 76%. The diamonds create nearly half of the government revenues and they account for a third of Botswanas GDP (Morapedi, 2009). Apart from any foreign direct investment in Africa and conflict free diamond issues an important point to mention last is that Penny always has been very keen on stimulating technology development. Supporting those processes financially the general idea behind was the aim to keep down production and sorting costs. Impacts of 10 years reshaping measures Although all the measures of reshaping the company sound very promising, one would expect a growth in profits and reputation. But these apparently obvious consequences of all the efforts cannot be proven since the strategy shift also affects the companys value chain in a somewhat negative way. One can see the financial situation of De Beers over the past five years. Since 2005 the profits are decreasing continuously whereas the decrease rate of the total costs is minimal, so to say not evident. This phenomenon is going to be proven in the following. decreasing market share The macro-environmental factors that came up throughout the 1990 years are the cause for the negative development of De Beers market share. Summarised, the single reasons were: discovery of rich deposits in Canada emergence of new competition taste shift among customers economic decline in consuming regions and the stigma of blood diamonds. customers turn into competitors The DTC sells the rough diamonds to a range of companies. As far as one is in this â€Å"selling process† these companies are customers of De Beers. But since the companies continue manufacturing the stones, selling them to alternative retailers the diamonds are at one point offered on the market as well as De Beers jewellery. In this sense, De Beers is competing with its customers. commitment to corporate social responsibility De Beers not only concentrates on foreign direct investment in African countries, it also cares for its employees and their families. Among all the activities and measures that are undertaken by De Beers three of them will be highlighted. The employment rate of Historically Disadvantaged South Africans in management roles in the De Beers Consolidated Mines (see Fig.3) was at 45.5% in 2008, the year before at 39% (De Beers, Family of Companies, 2009). The De Beers constant workforce consists of 21.8% women. Nearly one fifth of management positions are filled by females. (De Beers, Family of Companies, 2009). De Beers implemented a disease management programme. Their investment supported additional medical treatment offers outside the insurance scheme to all employees and their relatives. Since the exposure of De Beers employees to especially HIV and Aids is dangerous in terms of the workers and workers families health but also in terms of business continuity. The programme focuses on prevention, treatment and care and support (De Beers, Family of Companies, 2009). Despite all the positives points of De Beers CSR activities the company has to be careful with the amount of money it is investing since costs tend to escalate quite easily In Fig. 14. one could already notice that costs are still too high in proportion to the total revenue of the firm. Even though the profits of De Beers are following a downward trend the company is diligently improving to stay highly innovative and portray a serious competitor on the market. The shift to a new business model of creating demand De Beers has made it to a modern competitive player taking continuously measures to add up to its competitive advantage, e.g. steady development and generation of technologies as well as foreign direct investment. The latter means a huge support of a developing country that certainly needs external aid to improve the economic situation inside the country. Conclusion Throughout this business report it was demonstrated that the firm De Beers always has been a very successful company. From scratch of its operations, De Beers followed well-wrought business concepts. Since the company is British-South African by origin methods to internationalise business operations had been very favourable in terms of creating success. The main aspects, making the business growing were 1st investing directly in African countries such as Botswana and Namibia, 2nd exporting directly to Britain and many other countries and 3rd establishing important joint ventures with e.g. African governments. Although De Beers took great risks operating how it finally did it got a maximum reward possible what is likely to be its secret of a successful business. Through the ages De Beers created itself high reputation among customers, further the firm had a competitive advantage benefitting from operating very early on this particular market. The company enjoyed a protrusion of know-how and knowledge about the market manifesting it by locating itself intelligently. All these points favoured De Beers monopoly which they held over decades. Accidentally the luck has turned. In the late 1980 years and throughout the 1990s an unfortunate series of events should end De Beers success story. With increasing frequency international media casted a poor light on De Beers blaming the company to finance civil wars in African countries such as Sierra Leone or Angola. But De Beers had somehow to get through this period full of obstacles since it had a long track record to defend. Furthermore the firm possessed still a good position on the market. To overcome those problems De Beers responded proactively in initiating a multifaceted strategy shift that was realised progressively throughout a decade from 1999 until today. De Beers had to learn a lot about its business environment since they did not operate as a monopoly any longer. 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