Sunday, December 29, 2019

Family Background And History That May Affect Planning And...

FAMILY UPDATE Family Background Describe relevant family background and history that may affect planning and service provision for this family. Ms. Goodall was adoptive as a child. She reports that she knows some of her family on her biological side of the family, but not communicates with them on regular bases. However, Ms. Goodall seems to not get along with her adoptive parents. She still resides in the home even though there is an order protection against her adoptive father, Mr. Goodall. Ms. Goodall is currently engaged as a home health aide and also receives some financial support from her boyfriend, Mr. Ruby. Case Update Summarize the key family events, services, and casework activities since the last Family Assessment and Service Plan. Include legal activities, if any. Reason for Referral/ Presenting Problem/ Mandated Services Ms. Goodall walked into HDWC on 02/11/2015 for assistance. She was referred by ACS Community Representative. She requested for assistance to address her concerns of childcare for Myan, housing, early intervention, and mental health services to address her bi-polar and depression to address problems within her family. Ms. Goodall admits to discontinuing mental health services, including her prior prescribed medication. In addition, engaging in substance abuse while pregnant with Myan. Living Environment Ms. Goodall living situation is not stable. She at first did not have any place to stay for herself and her daughter, Myan.Show MoreRelatedWhy Is Renting Breathable For People?1247 Words   |  5 Pagesenable affordability; and those regulations are to be monitored by a trusted government agency. This essay will give the background history of housing in Australia, discuss the problems renters experience in the market, what policies the Government has implemented so far in regards to housing affordability, what other policies the Government can implement to better enable renting and affordability provisions and how renters can stand up for themselves in an unfair tenure situations. Housing in AustraliaRead MoreAmerican Diabetes Association : A Long History Of Research Support And Engagement1662 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction American Diabetes Association has a long history of research support and engagement. The first direct ADA research were awarded in 1952, and in the late 1970s, the ADA research funding was centralized into a program model after that of the National Institute of Health (NIH), with operational and scientific oversight housed in the national office. Founded in October 1994, the ADA Foundation was created to substantially accelerate the Association s ability to raise major gifts to directlyRead MoreReal Estate Properties Of Public Records1591 Words   |  7 Pagesplaces they are familiar with, subsequently they are aware of issues that may affect the property s value. Appraisers usually value one property at a time, and they can often specialize in certain types of real estate. (Appraisal Careers) Commercial appraisers specialize in working with income producing property like stores, hotels, and office buildings. Residential appraisers focus on appraising personal property like single family homes and condominiums, appraising properties of one to four units. Read MorePublic Health Policy Paper1548 Words   |  7 Pages Abstract This public health policy paper will discuss and outline the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as barriers and controversies surrounding the policy and its relevance in nursing profession. The ACA will eventually affect everyone. Statistics reflecting United States health outcomes have proven the need for the initiation of policy formation within the United States healthcare system. â€Å"In March 2010, President Obama signed into law a comprehensive health reform, theRead MoreThe Role Of Leichhardt Local Government Area1868 Words   |  8 Pagesdiverse background, they range from Australian, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Italian, United States of America, Ireland, Greece, Germany, China and South Africa. According to the council’s own database, majority of the populous is born in Australia and other English speaking countries. It is also known for its Italian heritage for which 6.4% of the residents claim they are of Italian ancestry although the number has declined slightly over the last 10 years. The diversity extends beyond this composition:Read MoreUnderstand the Factors That Can Effect Interactions and Communication of Individuals with Dementia4047 Words   |  17 PagesOutcome 1. Understand the concept of diversity and its relevance to working with individuals who have dementia. 1. Explain what is meant by the terms Diversity: This means difference and peoples differences are varied. Race, culture, age, marital status, politics and religion is all what makes us an individual. Anti-discriminatory practice: Action taken to prevent discrimination against people on the grounds of race, class, gender, disability etc. Anti-discriminatory practice promotes equality byRead MoreAdvancing Effective Communicationcommunication, Cultural Competence, and Patient- and Family-Centered Care Quality Safety Equity53293 Words   |  214 PagesAdvancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient- and Family-Centered Care A Roadmap for Hospitals Quality Safety Equity A Roadmap for Hospitals Project Staff Amy Wilson-Stronks, M.P.P., Project Director, Health Disparities, Division of Quality Measurement and Research, The Joint Commission. Paul Schyve, M.D., Senior Vice President, The Joint Commission Christina L. Cordero, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Project Director, Division of Standards and Survey Methods, The JointRead MoreLearning and Social Care Essay examples30870 Words   |  124 PagesCACHE centres is permissible for internal use under the following conditions: CACHE has provided this Qualification Specification in Microsoft Word format to enable its Centres to use its content more flexibly within their own course materials. You may copy and paste any material from this document; however, CACHE does not accept any liability for any incomplete or inaccurate copying and subsequent use of this information. The use of PDF versions of our support materials on the CACHE website will ensureRead MoreEssay on Resourcing talent2206 Words   |  9 PagesCIPD ASSESSMENT REPORT ON TALENT PLANNING CONTENS 1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS REPORT 3 2. ATRACTING TALENT 3 2.1. 4 FACTORS THAT AFFECT AN ORGANISATION’S APPROACH TO ATRACTING TALENT 2.2. CIPD POINT OF VIEW 3. A DIVERSE WORKFORCE 4 3.1. 3 ORGANISATION BENEFITS OF ATRACTING AND RETAINING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE 3.2. CIPD POINT OF VIEW 4. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION 5 4.1. 3 FACTORS THAT AFFECT AN ORGANISATION’S APPROACH TO RECRUITMENTRead MoreTDA 3.2 schools and organisation Essay examples3547 Words   |  15 Pagesï » ¿ 1.1 Summarise entitlement and provision for early year’s education? Every child matters agenda and the childcare act 2006, it become an entitlement of all 3-4 year olds in England to receive a free part time early years education of up to 12.5 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. Early year’s provision in school is about supporting very young children it is distinct from key stage 1 in each country within the UK and is best on the concept of learning through

Friday, December 20, 2019

A Outsider Of The Stranger By Andre Gide And Albert Camus

Andre Gide and Albert Camus seemingly had much in common. Both were French-speaking Nobel Prize winning writers with deep ties to France’s African territories and strong anti-establishment tendencies who sought to cast off the burdens society foisted upon them. Yet their as best evidenced by their respective best-known texts, Gide’s L Immoraliste (The Immoralist) and Camus’ L’Étranger (The Stranger). While both novels center around aloof young men hostile to the norms that society foists upon them, their stories are far from similar. Michel, the protagonist of The Immoralist, is a well educated, thrill-seeking gentleman who casts away his marriage and his fortunes to satiate his desires. Meursault, the eponymous outsider of The Stranger,†¦show more content†¦He travels around France and North Africa looking for a location that will light the spark in his life, yet fails to do so. While Michel’s pederasty and spousal neglect is hardly a dmirable, those actions are not what make him an immoralist. Making the conscious decision to forsake the values of others in favor of a personal code of conduct - in this case discarding notions of financial solvency and peer respect in favor of the pursuit of temporary moments of pleasure - is the ideal of the Nietzschean ubermensch, or at least Gide’s version of it. In contrast, the reader is given little to no information about Meursault’s journey into moral apathy and uncaringness. When the novel begins, he is already the hollow automaton single-mindedly devoted to simple amusements and base needs that he will remain until moments before his death. Meursault feels no need to adhere to the framework of behavior society has laid out for him, nor does he have the urge to create any sort of rationale or calling of his own. He is content to simply show up to his job to make a living wage, then spend his free time enjoying the simple pleasures of sun, surf, and sex. The scene in the novel that arguably shows Meursault at his happiest is his mid-day swim with his lover Marie. Mersault lavishes an entire page of details on the Marie’s body, â€Å"wanting her so badly† when he sees her in herShow MoreRelatedExistentialism vs Essentialism23287 Words   |  94 Pagesamp; Phenomenology * Existentialist Philosophers * ------------------------------------------------- Absurdism * The idea of the  absurd  is a common theme in many existentialist works, particularly in  Camus. Absurdity is the notion of contrast between two things. As Camus explains it in  The Myth of Sisyphus: * The absurd is born out of this confrontation between the human need and the unreasonable silence of the world. * This view, which is shared by  Sartre, is that humanity

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Cell differentiation by mechanical stress

Questions: 1. Compare and contrast primary cells and cell lines. In your answer, make sure to address the following points? 2. Describe how cell lines are maintained in the lab. In your answer, make sure to address the following points? 3. Describe the process of differentiation. In your answer make sure to address the following points? Answers: 1. a. The preparation of primary cells for cell culture. i. The organ is isolated and selected (Stacey, Doyle, Alan, Ferro, Margherita, 2002).ii. The organ is dissected to remove fat and necrotic cellsiii. The cells are subjected to enzymatic degradation (Stacey et al., 2002).iv. Trypsin or collagenase is addedv. Re-suspend and seed the medium Conditions needed for cell to survive include; gas mixture and temperature of 5% CO2 and 37 degrees Celsius respectively, appropriate PH, glucose and nutrients (Stacey et al., 2002). Advantages of primary cells over in vivo i. Use of primary cell is cost effective ("Primary Cell Culture | Sigma-Aldrich," n.d.). ii. Primary cells use avoids ethical objections. Disadvantages of primary cells i. Primary cells take longer to grow ii. Culture and isolations costs for primary cells are prohibitive and high c. Cell lines originate from a cell culture made from a single cell. The main distinguishing features of cell lines from primary cells include, cell lines have minimal variability while primary cells have variability existing between preparations and the donor cells ("Primary Cell Culture | Sigma-Aldrich," n.d.). d. Advantages of using cell lines over primary cells in experimentation i. Cell lines take less time to grow unlike primary cells ii. Cell lines have minimal variability unlike in primary cells. Disadvantages of using cell line over primary cells in experimentations i. They provide less relevant results as compared to primary cells ("Primary Cell Culture | Sigma-Aldrich," n.d.). 2. i. Confluence is the approximate number of the adherent cells in the flask or dish of the cell culture (Mather, 2008). ii. The procedure of cell line passaging starts with the removal of the medium of the HEK 293 cell flask completely (Masters, Stacey, 2007). This is then followed by addition of 3ml trypsin to the medium. The next step is placing the flask containing the medium to an incubator at a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes (Masters, Stacey, 2007). Then rock the flask and wash down the cells by addition of medium and pipette to separate cell clusters into single cell lines. Add desirable volume of re-suspended cell mix into new plates. Finally, shake the plates or the flask in gentle manner to allow proper mixing then place them back to CO2 incubator at temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (Masters, Stacey, 2007).Passing cell lines helps to evade senescence. Passaging a cell line too many times results in cells having little in common with original reference strain. Preparation of cell lines for cryopreservation i. Harvesting cells in the log growth phase (Stacey, Hawkins, Fleck, 2011).ii. Bring both the semi-adherent and adherent cells into suspension by the use of EDTAiii. Remove a small aliquot of the cells and do cell quantification iv. Perform centrifugation on the remaining culture for approximately 5 minutesv. Re-suspend the cells in the freeze medium vi. Then pipette one aliquot of the cells vii. Place the ampoules in a freezer whose rate is controlled viii. The medium is then shifted to a freezer for cryopreservation 3. i. Differentiation is a process that happens in multicellular organisms where a cell with less specialization matures so that it becomes more discrete in its functions and form (Altman, 2001). The major importance of differentiation in multicellular organisms is that it provides them with a variety of cell specialized in performing specific functions. ii. Somatic cells differentiation starts with the chromatin for both plants and animals. Chromatin reorganization is the first steps that occurs which in turn lead to activation of the pluripotent genes including Oct3/4 in animals and NAM in plants, establishing pluripotentiality (Nakagawa, M., Yamanaka, 2010). There are a variety of activities that lead to chromatin modelling induced pluripotentiality that may include activity of the thrombin in serum, cell wall removal and viral infections. Basically, the presence of these stimuli signals the cells to differentiate thus that are how the cells know when to differentiate. iii. Stem cells have the following characteristics: Ability to divide and renew themselves Basic and unspecialized cells (Miki et al., 2005). Give rise to specialized cells through differentiation (Mather, 2008). According to Baker (2008) stem cells are appealing to the medical community because of their therapeutic potential. References Altman,G.H. (2001). Cell differentiation by mechanical stress. The FASEB Journal. doi:10.1096/fj.01-0656fje Baker,M. (2008). Cancer and stem cells: Beckman conference. Nature Reports Stem Cells. doi:10.1038/stemcells.2008.47 Masters,J.R., Stacey,G.N. (2007). Changing medium and passaging cell lines. Nature Protocols, 2(9), 2276-2284. doi:10.1038/nprot.2007.319 Mather,J.P. (2008). Stem cell culture. London: Elsevier/Academic Press. Miki,T., Lehmann,T., Cai,H., Stolz,D.B., Strom,S.C. (2005). Stem Cell Characteristics of Amniotic Epithelial Cells. Stem Cells, 23(10), 1549-1559. doi:10.1634/stemcells.2004-0357 Nakagawa,M., Yamanaka,S. (2010). Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to Pluripotency. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 215-224. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-7037-4_14 Primary Cell Culture | Sigma-Aldrich. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/biology/primary-cell-culture.html Stacey,G., Doyle, Alan, Ferro, Margherita. (2002). Cell Culture Methods for in Vitro Toxicology. Springer Verlag. Stacey,G.N., Hawkins,R., Fleck,R.A. (2011). Cryopreservation and Banking of Cell Lines. Animal Cell Culture, 185-203. doi:10.1002/9780470669815.ch6

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Australian Fashion Design and Cultural Identity- MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theAustralian Fashion Design and Cultural Identity. Answer: Introduction Fashion is shaped on the basis of national culture. However, based on the historical foundations, the Australian fashion is mainly shaped through the models from Britain, which have been evolved internationally. However, the modern Australia has a unique style of fashion, which is able to be clearly distinguished from European fashion trends. It has been revealed from the fashion brands principles in Australia; the designers are continuously trying to keep balance between creativity and national identity (Entwistle, 2015). All the designer brands attempt to integrate unique features, symbolizing the particular cultural identities. In Australian culture, fashion is distinguished from dress not by only how the fashion been fashioned or created rather by its nature. Moreover, fashion is represented by reflecting the prevailing styles in polite society instead or being based on function. Identity is one of the most compelling and contentious concepts in humanities and social science. Fas hion is significantly linked with constructing and reconstructing identity, i.e. how people represent the contradictions and self in their daily life. Through appearance and style people represents their wishes and thus it is a metaphor for identity (Bulmer Buchanan-Oliver, 2010). While considering a particular fashion cloth, i.e. skirt, Australian culture significantly represents a difference from the European culture. For instance, Australian culture believes in wearing such cloths that would help them to be relaxed. Thus, in contrast to the full or knee length skirts preferred by the European culture, the cloth has evolved to miniskirts in Australian culture. In also the indigenous culture, skirts are favoured in Australia, although the materials for those clothes are different from the non-indigenous Australian culture. Moreover, Australian culture promotes colourful representation and establishing a link with nature (Gibson, 2016). Thus the floral and fabric work is preferred in skirts. The fashion appearance in Australia has been represented the influence from 1960s fashion design and those clothes are modified and integrated in new forms in the current Australian fashion culture. For instance, during 1960s, the sarong design became very popular among th e Australian people. Additionally, during 1975, specialized hand prints in the t-shirts, sarongs and accessories have been shown to be prevalent. According to the trends and tradition of sarong skirts currently Australian labels are exploring their designs to boutiques and department stores in Europe, Asia, US and other countries throughout the world (Geczy Karaminas, 2012). Therefore, Australian brands are attempting to promote their global presence, which included Gorman brand for their unique style of skirt. Fashion weeks at Sydney and Melbourne represent different unique combination of Australian tradition with the modern clothing principles like balance between colour, texture, cutting, pattern and combination. In this assignment of Australian clothing and fashion culture analysis, the renowned fashion clothing brand has been selected, i.e. the Gorman brand, which have significantly looking for aligning their modern fashion and clothing designs with the Australian culture and evolving lifestyle. In this context, the brand especially focuses upon maintaining the quality of fabrics, shapes and customized prints, which modern Australian generation is looking for, while maintaining a link with the national culture (Healey, 2010). The founder of the brand, i.e. Lisa Gorman launcher her eponymous label at fledgling boutique in 1999 in Melbourne, with her latest collection known as less than 12 degrees, which got an instant success. The entrepreneur identified something special in her brand and followed that unique trend in her designs through years; as a result Gorman label became an iconic part of the Australian fashion industry. The reason behind its flourish is the unique thought of the owner to make a strong link between the traditional Australian culture and the specialized needs of modern young generation through the unique texture, fibre and colour concepts. Although the organization was started at Melbourne, which is limited within the home country, the online presence of the brand is making its designer clothes available to women throughout the world. Starting from a status as one-lady-with-sewing-machine-in-her-bedroom the founder has adopted unique way to turn her small business into a major operation, without slowing down (Wilcox, 2017). The brand, with other womens outfit, prioritizes skirts, which is a preferred outfit by the Australian women as casual, professional as well as occasional outfit. It is in the fashion since 1960s and the brand Garmon is attempting to keep an essence of Australian traditional symbol in the modern skirt design. For instance, The philosophy of the organization is that it consist a distinct handwriting underpinning all of the designs, including its signature prints, directional knitwear and distinctive colour palettes (Gorman Online, 2017). In addition, the brand is thoroughly modern for all of its tribal and vintage references and the inspiration from the local culture and artist surrounding the brand is significantly inspiring its designs, especially the culture of the founders local fitzroy. In addition, to symbolize the culture in the clothing, the flora and fauna, which are native to the continent, like Kangaroo, emu, wattle are used sometimes in designs. For instance, in sarongs, these symbols are commonly utilized in designs. The brand uses different types of fabrics and textures, aligning with the style and pattern suitable for the residents. The founder inspires the designers to include their cultural experience in their designs. For instance, the city, the person or a song along with a touch of m odernism. In addition, Australians are nature lover and like to be relaxed, thus the brand attempts to incorporate natural art, i.e. sunset or flower, representing each designs with colourful background, as per the likings of people (McRobbie, 2013). The organization includes silhouette prints for representing relaxed mood, floral and other colourful patters for playful representation along with a urban touch in their materials and colours. The unique pattern of the skirts also includes a beachy and natural feel. The formal collection for skirts is made on the basis of visual communication principles, like maintaining a proper balance between colours. As equal distribution of colour makes communication boring, unequal distribution of colours would be required (Garling et al., 2013). The patterns are unique for the brand that is why the brand is getting global appearance quickly. On the other hand, the casual skirts, like wrap over, miniskirts and sarong and knee length skirts include feature rope, coral, rock patterns, slit, star fish or shells and loose fabric. To represent more on culture and climate, they also launches a seasonal clothes, for instance, in summer or spring season, light pattern and fabric is used for creating more refreshing and colourful designs, according to their relaxing nature (Carrico Kim, 2014). For this, they use light soft fabric with lace and overlays, which gives an essence of feminine loo k. On the other hand, the formal skirts are more sensitively designed to eliminate any symbols of boldness. In addition to the consideration of cultural attributes, the organization is also focusing upon the social well being also. For instance, the brand introduced Gorman organic in 2007, for responding towards increasing environmental awareness. Thus, the organization started to focus more on manufacturing innovative organic fabric. In addition, the organization blended their innovation throughout their traditional cultural collection, thereby offering customers to make a sustainable choice, instead of compromising good design and quality. In this context, all the garments produced and offered by the brand are made of certified organic materials or comes from sustainable farming or non-chemical processing of via closed loop production means. In this context, to be culturally identical, the designs and patterns are made unique, which can be significantly distinguishable from the other nations Yu et al., 2014). However, the brand follows the traditional western culture through their global presence. The visual communication is aligned with the cultural traits, aligning with the design principle and values. For instance, the traditional occasional skirts are made through the use of warm and dark colours, as these colours contain more visual weight than cool and light colours. The combination of colour and patterns follows the 6 design principles and values. Longer, wider lines are included, while maintaining a visual balance in colour, texture, pattern and shape in formal and party wears, whereas for beach or summer skirts, the short and thinner lines along with soft, fine textures are used (Baird Collias, 2014). Figure: Gorman skirts (left: relaxed, middle: professional, right: occasional) (Source: Gorman Online, 2017) Analyzing the cultural attributes of Australian cloth company Gorman, it has been revealed that the brand has several strength as well as weaknesses. For instance, the organization is continuously working on improving their production, through innovation and making their products customer-centric as well as environment friendly, as a result the brand has a significant chance of global expansion. However, one of its key weaknesses is less offline presence; the brand is providing more concentration on its online presence. Thus, it can be interpreted that this area should be improved significantly. Reference List Baird, D. G., Collias, D. I. (2014).Polymer processing: principles and design. John Wiley Sons. Bulmer, S., Buchanan-Oliver, M. (2010). Experiences of brands and national identity. Australian Marketing Journal 18(4), 199-205. Carrico, M., Kim, V. (2014). Expanding zero-waste design practices: a discussion paper.International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education,7(1), 58-64. Entwistle, J. (2015). The fashioned body: Fashion, dress, and social theory. John Wiley Sons. Fletcher, K. (2010). Slow fashion: An invitation for systems change. Fashion practice. The Journal of Design, Creative Process and the Fashion Industry, 259-266. Garling, S., Hunt, J., Smith, D., Sanders, W. (2013).Contested governance: culture, power and institutions in Indigenous Australia(p. 351). ANU Press. Geczy, A., Karaminas, V. (2012). Fashion and art. London: Berg. Gibson, C. (2016). How clothing design and cultural industries refashioned frontier masculinities: a historical geography of Western wear.Gender, Place Culture,23(5), 733-752. Gorman Online. (2017).Gorman Online :: About Us.Gorman Online. Retrieved 2 June 2017, from https://www.gormanshop.com.au/aboutus/ Gregory, D. (2004). It's all about Australia, mate. Auckland: Exisle Publishers. Healey, R. (2010). Global positioning of Australian fashion. New York: Berg. McRobbie, A. (2013).In the culture society: Art, fashion and popular music. Routledge. Wilcox, C. (2017). Badge, boot, button: The story of Australian uniforms. Canberra: National Library of Australia. Yu, W., Fan, J., Ng, S. P., Harlock, S. (2014).Innovation and technology of women's intimate apparel. Woodhead Publishing.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Wretched and Divine by The Black Veil Brides free essay sample

â€Å"The Story of the Wild Ones† â€Å"Got something to live for. I know that I won’t surrender, a warrior of youth† ~ †I Am Bulletproof† by the Black Veil Brides. Once again, the Black Veil Brides have blown away the ears of their followers with their outstanding voices as well as their increasingly spirited and improved success. In January 8, 2013, they released their third brand new album, The Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones and set themselves on N.7 on the Billboard 200 Chart. The band has immensely stepped up their skills raising their one-week-after-release sales up to 42,000 albums from only 11,000 albums in a week on their first album and 23,000 albums on their second album. This album is a tremendously arranged concept album based on the idea of not giving up and letting your voice be heard. One of their quotes is, â€Å"You can live your life in heaven, or create your hell. We will write a custom essay sample on The Wretched and Divine by The Black Veil Brides or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We will write our end result with every tale we tell.† Their lyrics are highly praised and the songs represent a lot of common feelings among the populations. The songs contain words that you actually decide to think about instead of just listening to and they mean something to the listener. These include examples of ignoring the ones who go against you or not thinking about all the negative things that happen to you. Any dedicated fan to BVB or the genre of music would love this album and have waited since 2011 for this new release. Along with this album, the Black Veil Brides released a movie, The Legion of the Black, about the characters they created in F.E.A.R. (‘For Every All Religion.’) Although I have not yet watched the movie, this CD is leading me to have this urge of watching it very soon. Andrew Biersack spent days on end creating the songs. This concept album is an extraordinary work of art and you could obviously tell that the Black Veil Brides work ed very hard on The Wretched and Divine.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Music and Dance as a Part of Our Culture

Music and Dance as a Part of Our Culture Music and dance were known to people for a long time. From the starting point of our civilization, first people could make rough musical instruments and dance to the sounds. At first, dance would be used in religious ceremonies and rituals, for example, to call out the rain in the dry season and in some instances, before going hunting, to bring good luck and a rich catch.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Music and Dance as a Part of Our Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Our ancestors believed that they will please the spirits and the higher forces of nature, thus they will be sent whatever it is they needed in abundance. Only after further development of the social communities and progress of civilization, people began to use music and dance as an industry for masses that was meant to please the ear and eye; it became a part of the arts. In our time, there is a great quantity of many different kinds of gen res and dance types. Many instruments that can be used to produce very unique and distinct sounds have a very advanced technological structure, so the variation of dance greatly increased. Dance is very influential on the person and there is no other medium quite like it that can have such a significant effect on the person. Especially ethnic dance is meant to touch the deepest parts of the human soul, the emotions and can raise the mood and make it light or depress it and have a negative influence on the psyche of a person.  Our family has a unique connection to the dance and music, and how it was used in the family and in social settings. The dancing that was imagined and acted out would be aligned to people’s emotional state, life and circumstances of everyday worries and happiness. An interesting fact that has been a part of family is that it was a connection to the higher power and the spirit world because it is very original and limited in existence. Comparing to othe r types of art which can be made and put on a wall or stored in a museum, the dance only exists while it is made. The modern technology has made it possible to record and store images but our family has had a very different view that has not changed with time. It is believed that in order for dancing to be fully understandable and felt, it must be played live. This is the reason why we never record dancing and try to add variations to it every time, so that there is a unique mood and output of feelings. Very far back in the history of our family, the dance was used by shamans and has been very influential on the mind and soul of people. Sometimes, dancing would be instrumental to put people into a trance or a hypnotic state.Advertising Looking for term paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is unfortunate that the majority of society forgot how to be a part of dance in such a way that it touches the inner being of an individual.  The oldest musical instrument that has been in our family is the flute and the dancing associated with the sounds it made. It goes back to five or six generations of relatives but in reality the traditional Chinese dance and flute dates back to ancient times because it was very easy to make and dance to it. The simple structure and making technique of the flute have proven to be extremely effective in creating easy listening and calming down sounds. It is a sort of long tube with a blowing hole and several holes on top that can be closed with fingers. Our particular flute is made from a rough looking wood and was not altered in any way, as it has been a part of family history. Originally, it was used by shepherds and other herdsmen. We believe that it was made by one of the shepherds in our family. While the sheep would be going around looking for the grass that is needed for their proper nutrition, the person would play the flute and dance, to p ass time and uplift the spirit. It is believed that it started even further in the past when people would use flute sounds to create a certain atmosphere for the sheep and the whole process of being out in the nature and connecting with the environment. This made them healthier and brought luck to people and animals in their prosperity and success. It was usually made from a young plant; it would be cut off and measured by the length of the arm of a person. If it was a young child or a man, the length would be different and this signified the connection between the musical instrument and the person. The shorter flute would create a distinct sound attributable to youth and beginnings, whereas the longer one, of an older man, would be linked with wisdom and long life full of health. Also, the holes would be made in such a way that fit the person who played, so each flute was very unique. It is known that our ancestors would dance to the flute in social settings as well. During family gatherings or community holidays, people would gather at home or in someone’s garden, eat food, drink wine and dance. The person who played the instrument and danced made the process enchanting and original each time. As there were no TVs, radios or any other technology that is present today, dancing and making music was a very common thing and people would be extremely good at it. The process was considered a special one, as it greatly differed from all other things that people did. Work was needed to feed the family; church was for religious purposes, and communal gatherings to decide on some matter, so all were related to the routine and everyday life.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Music and Dance as a Part of Our Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More But dancing to the naturally made music or making a new composition was the way people would communicate with their hearts and souls. There was nev er a negative or depressive mood around, when people played instruments, sang and danced. It was always associated with all the goodness that people have in them and the life seemed and became simpler and better adjusted to the circumstances of existence. The following is a chart that outlines the use of dancing to the flute and some other musical instruments, as well as the purposes when they were used. Musical instrument Person who played Reason/occasion Amount of people Types of people Dancing to the flute Member of a family Village/town musician Professional dancer/ musician Family gathering Personal holiday Birthday child birth Single family or with guests Close circle of relatives, sometimes friends Dancing to the drums Village medicine man or member of family Religious occasions and rituals Majority of village/town People of all kinds, mostly religious and those who believed Dancing to many instruments together A group or a gathering from different families Wedding P ublic holiday A large gathering, sometimes from close-by villages and towns Dance/musical professionals who have danced often and for a long time One of the specific stories that is told by the parents is about their great grandparents when they have just arrived into a new village because their previous one was destroyed by drought and heavy winds. As they were the newcomers, it was hard to adjust to life and people. Our great grandfather was a master at dancing and playing the flute and used it to their advantage. Every morning people would come out to the bazaar and bring whatever they had from their livestock or plants- milk, eggs, vegetables or fruits. To get acquainted with people and let them know that they were good people, he would come out every morning and go to the bazaar to dance and play the flute. His particular style was very unique because he would not just start out playing dancing to any melody and continue all the time. He would observe people and adjust to th e situation and settings with the dance moves and sounds of the flute. If someone was sad he would dance and play a cheerful melody, if people had completed a trade or bargain, he would do a different dance and melody. He often made people laugh because he was a great observer and could comprehend what people needed. Through stories such as this, dancing to the flute has become a part of the family and the legacy that has been passed down through generations. It has become a relic and it is important that every member can dance and play at least one melody, as respect to our ancestors.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Governing Global Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Governing Global Business - Essay Example Liberalism is the most accepted theory in this regard and the main principles of globalisation are based on this theory. Research Question Since the theory of liberalism is most close to the topic of globalisation, the theory has got a wide acceptance among the research scholars who have written about the state and the effects of Globalisation. This paper makes an attempt to analyse how far the principles of Liberalism are applicable to the globalisation and how it has been actually applied in practice. Literature Review Globalisation is a phenomenon that the world experienced through the opening up of the networks of communication and trade relations across countries in different parts of the world. As a result of the globalisation the world would be a single village of people where the flow of ideas would be free and the cultural exchange between people would be more liberal (Smith, 1980, p. 119). There are several facets of the process of globalisation. First of all it means the l iberalisation of the foreign policies of the state. Along with this it includes the privatisation of the government enterprises and investments in projects across the barriers of nationality (Waters, 1995, p. 11). The phenomenon would also include the easy mobility of the employable people and exchange of business ideas. But the idea chiefly includes mainly communication across cross country borders. The advent of Globalisation was seen mostly towards the fag end of the twentieth century (Appadurai, 2000, p. 82). With the inception of the World Wide Web, the people could easily establish the relations that lie at the diametrically opposite part of the globe. The time taken to carry out this communication process was also less which in turn facilitated trade across countries. The free flowing ideas and exchange of information had also brought the nations with the common interests on a same platform. On the other hand, a state in the sense of politics are a group of people living in a definite area of land and are controlled and guided by the rules laid down by a powerful body known as the government (Featherstone, 1990, p. 73). Often the term government is used interchangeably with the state. There are several states or nations in the world that have their specific set of rules and regulations. The process of globalisation would encourage the interaction of all these states from an economic, social, cultural and religious perspective on a common field. The terms that are commonly used along with the term globalization include Liberalism, Marxism and Realism. The political philosophy of Liberalism believes that a state should allow liberty and equality to all the citizens of the state. The people of the state should provide each and every citizen to take part in the election in the most open manner. The country should take part in free trade and the people should be allowed to have ownership of property (Rosefielde, 2008, p. 60). This is completely opposed to th e theory of Marxism that does not believe in the possession of private property but believe that the surplus value that comes out of any production process should be sent to the government who will have the responsibility of allocating the resources according to the needs of the people. The ownership of the means of production should lie in the hands of

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

How General Sherman was Instrumental in Ending the War as well as the Research Paper

How General Sherman was Instrumental in Ending the War as well as the Reconstruction Effort - Research Paper Example The Reconstruction period, which began after the war and ran until 1877 was a time where both sides needed to make compromises, and the law needed to be examined and reevaluated. It is often considered that the Reconstruction period was much more difficult than the war itself, as the issues were not as evident, and resolution was difficult to reach.The Southern states believed that their secession from the Union was legal; the Northern states did not believe so2. During this time, one key individual that played a significant role both in ending the Civil War, as well as in the Reconstruction effort was General Sherman. Born in 1820, William Tecumseh Sherman was a military man who was retired at the start of the Civil War. Like many other Northerners, Sherman was angry at the defiance of the Southerners and supported destructive moves against them. In a speech at Pittsburgh, Sherman proclaimed that war resulted in ‘relapses to barbarism’ and that everything their enemies had, including their lives, should be taken from them3. Sherman was well known by the end of the war because of his strong war making techniques. He believed that discipline and military expertise were crucial for the North winning the war. Towards the end of the war Sherman’s severity significantly increased with actions such as leveling Randolph, a town in Tennessee, as well as evicting the families of soldiers and sending them beyond Federal lines. To win the war, Sherman waged war not only on solders, but also on their families and the civilians of the South4. Many people consider that this approach is cruel, as not all those in the south agreed with view of the Confederates, and many were women and children. Nevertheless, these actions had a significant effect on the progress of the war, minimizing the attacks on the army, as the rebels feared Sherman’s retaliation. During the final stages of the war, Sherman’s primary campaign was a northern march through the Carolinas. Everything that had military value that Sherman and his troops encountered during the march was destroyed, including crops and civilian buildings. He captured South Carolina on February 17, 1965. During that night, fires began to burn, which destroyed most of the town. South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union, and the capturing of the city had a significant impact on the morale of the Confederates. Indeed, Sherman is still viewed as an example of Northern cruelty by Southerners today5. The demoralization that Sherman’s attacks caused played a significant role in ending the war. As well as being a military General and playing a significant role in the Civil War, Sherman was also an important figurehead during the Reconstruction effort. Sherman and other officials were of the opinion that the Southern states were not out of the Union, and that any prosecution for the secession and acts during the Civil War should be against individuals not agai nst states. To this effect, Sherman drew up the Johnston-Sherman convention, which offered amnesty to citizens of the Southern states and the restoration of full state rights once an oath of alliance had been taken by the state officials6.However the road to reconstruction was not smooth and at many times it appeared that the Presidential Reconstruction would fail completely. In 1965, Sherman

Monday, November 18, 2019

Arab world Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arab world - Article Example (2007: p 364) Same is the case with the Arab world, which maintains its unique ethnographic identity, historical background, ancestry, cultural traits, social norms, moral values, religious beliefs and genealogy. The people speaking Arabic as their primary or first language are called the Arabs. â€Å"The Arab world†, Tamari views, â€Å"is not to be confused with the â€Å"Middle East,† a strategic designation developed during the heyday of the British Empire, which encompasses such non-Arab countries as Israel, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. And though Arab history is intertwined with Muslim history, the Arab world does not correspond to the Muslim world.† (Quoted in ccas.georgetown.edu) At present, the total Arab population, inhabited in twenty three countries of the world, has been estimated to be about 325 million with 2.3% annual increase. (UNFPA 2007) The have been articulated divergent propositions regarding the origin and background of the Arabs. One school of thought declares that the Arabian Peninsula is the origin of the Arabs, and the Bedouin clans of that region are the forefathers of them, who had been living there far before the birth of Abraham in Babylonia. The first positive reference to the Arabian extant occurs in an inscription of the Assyrians, Shalmaneser III, who speaks of the capture of a thousand camels from Gindibu, the Arabia, in 854 B. C. (Landau, 1958: 11-21: quoted in bible.ca) In addition, It had mistakenly been considered that all Arabs are the descendents of Ismail (Ishmael) the elder son of Abraham. The basic source of this information is the Semitic religions and a large majority of the Abrahamic religions, including Jews, Christians and Muslims, view Ismail as the father of the Arabs. According to the Jewish sources, it was Ishmael, whose descendents were blessed and multiplied as a great nation: â €Å"God heard the boy (Ishmael) crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the

Friday, November 15, 2019

Working and Non Working Mother Health Comparison

Working and Non Working Mother Health Comparison Chen and Lin (1992). Daily life demands, social support, life satisfaction and health of working women and housewives. To see the stress related to daily work overload, the Daily Life Demand scale, Social Support Scale along with the Life Satisfaction Scale and the Symptomatic scales are used to make comparisons between working women and housewives. A survey was conducted on 444 Taipei women revealing that daily life demands are experienced more by working women than housewives but also they have more support in dealing with these demands. The results showed high stress levels to be reported by all women being little more in working women than in housewives. Higher life satisfaction was reported by housewives and a higher degree of depression was experienced by working women. Mukhopadhyay et al (1993). Working status and anxiety levels of urban educated women in Calcutta. A study group from Calcutta resident working mothers was compared with a socioeconomically similar group of non-working mothers with respect to their anxiety level, measured by the Anxiety Scale Questionnaire. The relationships between anxiety score and age of these women were studied. Non working mothers showed higher anxiety levels than their working counterparts with respect to the total anxiety score as well as components, although the differences were statistically non-significant. Doby Caplan (1995). Organizational Stress as Threat to Reputation: Effects on Anxiety at Work and at Home. The results of this study showed that high threat stressors were most likely to generate the anxiety experienced at home and for this the anxiety experienced at work was the key mediator. Rout et al (1997). Working and non-working mothers: a comparative study. This study examines whether positive or neutral effects on women’s health are found in employed mothers by comparing working and non-working mothers. The results showed that working mothers reported less depression and had better mental health than non-working mothers. Major stressor for working mothers was a lack of social life whereas not having enough time to do everything was reported as a source of stress for working mothers. This study emphasizes on the benefits than costs of multiple role involvement. Welch Booth (1997). Employment and health among married women. Sample of 500 urban married women was used to evaluate the possible effect of outside-the-home employment on the mental as well as on physical health of married women. It was found that wives who had been employed for more than a year were healthier than wives not employed outside the home and wives who had worked less than one year. Whereas, housewives who had never worked outside the home were healthier, on the whole, than wives who had been employed at some time in the past. Poor marital relationships and having no preschool age children seemed to increase the health advantage of long term employed wives over those in the housewife categories. Whereas the occupational status of wife and husband did not seem to change these health differences very much. Macewan Barling(1998). Inter role conflict, family support and marital adjustment of employed mothers: A short term, longitudinal study. This was done basically to address the two issues, the effect of inter role conflict on marital adjustment and the moderating role of social support and hardiness being considered within the same analysis. To the inter role conflict, family support, personality hardiness and marital adjustment of 51 employed mothers were assessed twice, three months apart. Using hierarchical regression analyses, inter role conflict and family support exerted main effects on marital adjustment at time 1. More importantly, a significant inters role conflict/family support interaction predicted change in marital adjustment over three months. High family support exerted a negative impact on marital adjustment when inter role conflict was high. Greenhaus Beutell (2000) Sources of Conflict between Work and Family Roles. This study examined the literature on the conflict between work and family roles and found out that work-family conflict exists when: (a) time devoted to the requirements of one role makes it difficult to fulfill requirements of another; (b) strain from participation in one role makes it difficult to fulfill requirements of another; and (c) specific behaviors required by one role make it difficult to fulfill the requirements of another. Birch Kamli (2000) Psychological stress, anxiety, depression, job satisfaction, and personality characteristics in preregistration house officers. This study got lifestyle questionnaires filled by the officers and measured the self rated psychological stress, state anxiety, job satisfaction, and personality characteristics. It was seen that more of women suffered psychological stress, possible anxiety and possible depression. Nelson Quick (2000). Professional Women: Are Distress and Disease Inevitable? This study states that discrimination, stereotyping, the marriage/work interface, and social isolation are a source of stress for professional women. The study also identified a mentor, locus of control, self-confidence, and self-awareness as moderators for a stress-strain relationship. Paterniti et al (2002) Psychosocial factors at work, personality traits and depressive symptoms, Longitudinal results from the Gazel Study. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between psychosocial factors at work and changes in depressive symptoms, taking into account personality traits. The results showed that irrespective of the personality traits high scores were seen in both the genders when the job demands were high with low social support at work. Krantz et al (2003).Total workload, work stress and perceived symptoms in Swedish male and female white-collar employees. This research studies how the perceived symptoms of the white collar employees are associated with paid work, unpaid household tasks, child care, work–child care interactions and perceived work stress. Singapore Management Reviews published an article (2003) on work family conflict of managers by survey approach. Work and family are two important aspects of man’s life. The paper examined the nature of the conflict and its effects on manager. An empirical survey was described, aimed at enhancing the understanding the conflict that the individual experienced. This showed that although most of the respondent would trade some learning for family time, job related issue, investing security, flexible working hour and high profile for value ahead of laser activity but at a cost of behavior based, time based and strain based. Twenty percent of respondents strongly agreed that they would trade their income for lesser hour at work to spend time with their families, thirty percent of the respondents were neutral, forty percent of the respondents agreed that their family will accept and adjust to any necessary arrangements required. Iqbal et al (2004). Anxiety in non-working women with reference to their education, family system and number of children. The objective of the study was to observe the presence of anxiety in working and non working women with reference to their education, family system and the number of their children setting. Purposive sampling technique used to select the sample of 50 working women and 50 non working women. Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale was administered on all women to assess on their anxiety level. Anxiety was observed more in non working women than in working women. A statistically significant association was found between anxiety in women and education. It was concluded that all non-working women should be supported morally and socially to spare some time for their entertainment and pleasurable activities outside homes to distract the monotony of routine work. Hashmi et al (2006). Marital Adjustment, Stress and Depression Among Working and Non-Working Married Women. This study explores the relationship between marital adjustment stress and depression. Results also show that working married women have to face more problems in their married life as compared to non-working married women. Also it was seen that highly educated working and non-working married women can perform well in their married life and they are free from depression as compared to educated working and non-working married women. Melchior et al (2007) studied depression and anxiety in young, working women and men due to work stress. The results showed that participants exposed to high psychological job demands (excessive workload, extreme time pressures) had a twofold risk of major depression or generalized anxiety disorder compared to those with low job demands. The study stated that in previously healthy young workers, diagnosable depression and anxiety is precipitated by work stress. Aleem and Danish (2008). Marital satisfaction and Anxiety among single and dual career women at JamiaMilliaIslamia, New Delhi. The sample was selected by using purposive sampling 60 single and dual career women whose age group ranged from 25 to 45 years were studied using purposive method of sampling from Delhi. A Marital Satisfaction Scale was used to see the level of marital satisfaction among the two groups of women whereas; Sinha Comprehensive Anxiety Scale was administered on the sample to examine their level of anxiety. It has been found that pressure and hassles of jobs not only affect marital life but also proved to be a major source of anxiety particularly among women and also marital satisfaction among working women hardly get disturbed due to their multiple role but the thought processes seemed to be disturbed that is manifested in the higher anxiety among women. Netterstom et al (2008) The Relation between Work-related Psychosocial Factors and the Development of Depression. The study found moderate evidence for a relation between development of depression and the psychological demands of the job. Also it was seen that social support at work decreased the risk for future depression. Weiclaw et al (2008) Psychosocial working conditions and the risk of depression and anxiety disorders in the Danish workforce. This study examined the relation between psychosocial working conditions and the risk of anxiety and working conditions. The results showed high risks of depression but decreased risk of anxiety disorders related to high emotional demands and working with people. Dew et al (2009) studied mental health effects of job loss in women. This study reviews literature on involuntary job loss and its effects on mental health among women. The occurrence and duration of lay-off was significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms, but not anxiety-related symptoms. Results showed that among women who were laid off, those who had poor levels of support from their husband and those experiencing more financial difficulties reported higher levels of depression. Kaur et al (2011). Comparative study on working and non working married women: effect of anxiety level on life satisfaction. The objective of the study was to find out whether the anxiety level has any significant impact on the life satisfaction of the working and non-working married women. Research investigated the effect of anxiety level on the â€Å"life satisfaction† among the working and non working married women. â€Å"Satisfaction with Life Scale†, and â€Å"State-Trait Anxiety Test† was administered on an equal sample of women participants (n=45) from both the groups. Two way ANOVA was used for data analysis. The result showed that anxiety and life satisfaction are experienced differently by working and non-working women. The results of the study show that females those who are working and married, are low on anxiety with higher life satisfaction in comparison to the non-working married females. They perceived their life as challenging and secure. They fe el more comfortable with their life situations. On the other hand, the non working married females are less satisfied with their lives and their anxiety level is also higher than the anxiety level of working females. LilhareBorkar (2011). Comparative study on Stress and Anxiety in Working Women Performing Clerical and Shift Hour Duties. The study was designed to compare the stress, and anxiety level among different profession of working women. The study was an exploratory study. The Stress, Anxiety and Status test were administered on 200 samples, 100 for clerical working women and 100 for shift hour duty working women. The data was obtained and was analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t tests and compared. The findings of the research indicates that the working women performing Clerical and Shift Hour duties have significant difference on the measure of Stress,Status but do not have significant difference on the measure of anxiety. Virtanen et al (2011). Long working hours and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a 5 year follow up of the Whitehall II study. This study examined how long working hours are associated with the onset of depression and anxiety symptoms in middle aged employees. The results showed two fold risk of developing depressive and anxiety symptoms in employees working for more than 55 hours a week as compared to those working 35-40 hours a week. Also sex-stratified analysis showed that women are more prone to depression and anxiety than men. Revati and Jogsan (2012). Mental Health and Depression among Working and Non-Working Women. Total number sample taken was 80 women. The research tool used for mental health was measured by Dr. D.J. Bhatt and Gita R. Geeda (1992). Whereas the tool for depression inventory was used which was made byBeck (1961).t test was applied to check the significance of mental health and depression in working and non working women to check the correlation method was used. And results revealed that significance difference in mental health and depression with respect to both working and non working women on mental health and depression. Adhikari (2012) conducted a study on Anxiety and Depression: Comparative Study between Working and Non-Working Mothers. A significant number of mothers are working and playing the dual role of an employee and housekeeper to provide financial help to their families. These mothers experience anxiety and depression regarding the time they spend with their children and child care method. The results showed significant differences in degree of depression and anxiety of working mothers but no significant difference in that of non-working mothers. Bhadoria (2013). Level of Anxiety and Depression Among Working Women and Non Working Women of Gwalior. As today’s women have a whole set of responsibilities and problems involving the professional and family life, this study tried to compare the levels of depression and anxiety among working and non working women. The results obtained showed significant levels of difference between working and non working women. Fall et al (2013). Comparative study of major depressive symptoms among pregnant women by employment status. This study compares the prevalence of major depressive symptoms between subgroups of pregnant women: working women, women who had stopped working, housewives and students; and to identify risk factors for major depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Prevalence of major depressive symptoms was the lowest for working women as compared to housewives. Multivariate analyses showed that other factors such as low education, low social support outside of work, having experienced acute stressful events, lack of money for basic needs, experiencing marital strain, having a chronic health problem, country of birth, and smoking were significantly associated with major depressive symptoms Balaji et al (2014). A Comparative Study on Depression among Working and Non-Working Women in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. This study was done to assess the burden of depression its risk factors among adult female working and non working population. The results indicated that working women suffer more from depression than non-working women. The risk factors for depression were identified as economic problems workplace problems, relationship problems and no personal life satisfaction.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Graduation Speech :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Hi, my name is Mary Smith, and I want to welcome you all to the County High School graduation ceremony tonight. I came to County High School four years ago. As soon as I walked onto the campus I knew it was the right place for me. In fact if I were to describe CHS in one word it would be "family." Everyone here, students and staff, are the most understanding, supportive and encouraging group of people you could find. It is because of my "family" that I am graduating today. My journey to this day has been filled with many challenges. I dropped out of school thinking that I did not need a high school diploma to accomplish the things I wanted in life. That was a mistake. Finding myself behind in credits, I enrolled in FAHS hoping to get back on track. The foundation for success was here. But soon after, I became pregnant and left school again. I was able to return to school because of the daycare at FAHS. I was more motivated this time around to find my dream of graduating. But my road took another unexpected turn leaving me a teen mom now to two. Once again with the help of the FAHS daycare I returned to school With the support of my "family" my dream is becoming a reality. All of the other students here have stories of their own to tell. Stories of what brought them to FAHS, stories of what kept them here and stories of the obstacles they have had to overcome in their lives. They are about tragedy and triumph, success and failure and of will and determination to follow their dreams. It has been the dream of each and every student here tonight to graduate and that dream is finally coming true. To my fellow graduates, I encourage you to continue to dream big. Whatever your goal is in life - dream to the next level. Believe me when I tell you that you can go farther than you think you can go. People who fail to dream do so because they cannot believe their dreams will come true. Never stop dreaming. James Dean once said, "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." On behalf of my fellow graduates, I would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at FAHS. You had so much faith in all of us.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Quote from Hamlet Essay

â€Å"Thus conscience does make cowards of us all†. These words said by Hamlet are very strong in meaning and really do make a lot of sense. I agree with this quote. I really do believe that a person’s guilty conscience may cause them to have fear of doing what is right or of telling another person the truth or what needs to be said. A person’s conscience is what tells the person what is right and it lets the person know when he or she has committed something that is morally wrong. A conscience does not force the person to do anything, but it does let them know when they are wrong and this guilt can lead the person to act in different ways. A guilty conscience is extremely difficult to deal with because no matter what you do or how you try to block out what you have on your mind, your conscience is always there letting you know that you have done something wrong. It is almost like carrying a 1,000-pound load on your back and trying to walk straight. It is nearly impossible to go on normally through the day with your guilty conscience knocking on your mind and never letting you rest. A conscience can also let a person know that he or she should not do something because it is wrong. In Hamlet’s case, he states that his conscience is letting him know that killing his uncle would be extremely wrong, and this is why he is acting like a coward and putting it off. I can’t really blame Hamlet for being afraid of killing somebody. Murdering somebody is a big deal and it can come with many consequences if you are caught. In a way, your conscience is like an interior parent who is looking out for you and letting you know all the right things to do so that you won’t regret doing anything wrong later. A guilty conscience can help out by scaring the person into doing what is right or into not doing what is wrong. Sometimes a person can want to do something that is wrong so badly, but his or her conscience won’t allow it. One night during the summer a friend of mine was home alone and she wanted me to sneak out of my house and go see her. I was both nervous and excited at the same time, but I knew that if I were to get caught I would be in so much trouble. I planned everything out  and waited for my parents to fall asleep that night before I started doing anything. Once they were asleep I snuck downstairs, grabbed the keys to one of my dad’s trucks, and made my way to the back of my house. I opened the door and my dogs started barking like crazy. That is what scared the hell out of me. I really thought that my parents were going to wake up and bust me. It scared me so much that I completely wussed out and called everything off. I decided that unless I was never going to be able to see the girl again that I shouldn’t risk getting caught and grounded for a really long time. So I just called my friend and told her that I would see her some other time. She understood completely and it turned out that she was just as scared as I was. My conscience made me act like a total coward, but it also saved me from getting a beating from my parents. Consciences are a part of life and they were created by God for a reason. In my opinion they serve a great purpose and can really help to clean up the wrongs of our world little by little. Guilty consciences should not be ignored because they are telling you what the right thing to do is. Of course not everybody will do the right thing, but one right is better than one wrong.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Plato and the Perfect Society essays

Plato and the Perfect Society essays It seems that all societies are always striving for perfection. From the beginning of time, people have always worked to be the best. Sometimes, wars had to be fought. Other times compromises had to be made. But in the end, it all came down to one concept. Every community, every city, every nation was looking for perfection. In his Republic, Plato feels that he knows how to reach this ultimate goal. He suggests a society with the best government where all people are happy and everything is equal. Plato's Republic gives a method for reproduction in this infallible society. Plato's plan almost looks as though it is quite similar to the concept of eugenics in modern day society. Plato's idea of reproduction may become a reality; yet it is headed in a much more dangerous direction than Plato ever thought possible. Just as Plato felt so many years ago, government involvement is critical in this issue today. With recent developments in genetic research, the communities of today are in danger of eugenics. The human genome project is one reason for this. This project did an incredible thing. It coded for every single gene in human DNA. We now know what traits are linked with what genes. This is a wonderful discovery in the area of diseases. Scientists will be able to track diseases and find cures; however, it also opens the door to new genetic ideas. Parents are learning much more about their children before they are even born causing an increase the number of abortions because parents discover that their child will have a fatal disease or a disability. They feel it is better to end the child's life than have it live this way. And this is only the beginning. Scientists are working towards a new genetic test where parents are able to choose the traits of their future children. In this test, parents will give a fertilized egg to scientists who will then tell them all of their ch ild's traits. After that, parents will ha...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

buy custom School Performance essay

buy custom School Performance essay Race, ethnicity, culture, and identity play a role in the academic welfare of all students. Our socialization as ethnic and racial beings starts early in life and most of this socialization takes place in the course of compulsory years of schooling and even goes further during college years and beyond. Some students are straddles- students who understand the functions of both dominant nondominant cultural capital and value and embrace skills to participate in multiple cultural environments including mainstream society, their school environments, and their respective ethnoracial communities- are the ones capable of performing well in schools. On the other hand, resisters- students who are opposed to adopting white attitudes, behaviors and speech- are not performing well hence, leading to the question on what should be done to improve performance among resisters. In order for teacher to help oppositional/resister students, they should encourage them to start socializing with students from all races, cultures, and social classes. They should view themselves as performers, with high ability to succeed. This is because the view that only white students are capable of doing well has been a key factor towards poor performance. Teachers should help resister students to change their perspectives towards white students and start interacting with them in every aspect not only regarding education, but in all spheres of life. Educational policies that encourage interaction and exchange of ideas freely among all students should be implemented. By implementing them, they will better help these children in areas where they are vulnerable. This is because, while resister students might be willing to adopt and go beyond white cultures, there are several factors which prevent them including fear, and the feeling of inferior. They view themselves as being inferior without ability or potential to succeed like white students. Thus, since it is now apparent that resister student fails because they are tied and operate within their own surroundings with no need of adopting culture from other societies; teachers should look for appropriate means through which they will help resister go beyond their borders and learn new ideas from whites. This will enable them to improve their performance and see them competing favorably with white, and other students. Buy custom School Performance essay

Monday, November 4, 2019

Have people become overly dependent on technology Research Paper

Have people become overly dependent on technology - Research Paper Example Human beings have become too dependent on technology to survive without it, considering that in the current world, all human beings rely on tools, devices and equipment or systems to make work easier for them. For example, human beings use technology to grow food, acquisition of good shelter, transport and communication, entertainment and even education. Technology can be loosely described as all that is a collection or composition of devices, skills, knowledge and the application in their application. All this makes the human work very easy to accomplish. Technology is the art or craft where human beings use their abilities through processes and knowledge to satisfy daily needs. Technology has always existed from time immemorial and what has been changing is the complexity of the relevant technical know-how. In ancient times, human beings used primitive forms of technology, for example harnessing of fire by rubbing two sticks together or the use of flints as blades. Today, technolog y has gone to higher levels for example innovations in communication technology and internet. Equally, there has been an advance in medical circles that has made human beings live a more comfortable life. This includes research in stem cell therapy, test tube babies and even vaccines. In the field of transport, human beings have become overly reliant on more efficient modes of transport that have come as a result of technology, and this includes dream liners, faster electric trains or trams and electric cars, which also includes transport modes such as cable cars and hot-air balloons. Technology has had a great impact in the daily running of the human lives. These effects exhibit themselves either positively or negatively. Human beings rely on technology to make their work simpler thus accruing the benefits that go a long way in improving lifestyles. Such technology for example internet has come with its advantage of making communication easier. Technology has made the world seem li ke what is normally known as a global village (Mooij, 2004). This is so in that it brings individuals closer to each other through constant communication and interaction. For example, social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace allow people to share a lot such as updates, photos, biographies and even share interests. The internet has also enabled faster communication in the sense that people get instant feedback on their communications. This can be accomplished through chats, emails and skyping. The creation of hot spots and wireless networks have enabled people to access the internet even in the remotest parts of a country thus enabling easier and faster communication. According to Kizza (2001), technological advances have enabled human beings to produce and secure data that is important in the day to day running of human life. Technology also allows human beings to have proper planning in their daily lives. For example, when you lose data contained in books and y ou wish to

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Impact of NAFTA and ASEAN on Globalization Research Paper

The Impact of NAFTA and ASEAN on Globalization - Research Paper Example This paper discusses the impact of two of the known trading blocs, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on globalization. NAFTA and Globalization NAFTA includes Mexico, Canada, and the United States. It is the biggest free trade zone in the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). In 1992, Mexican President Salinas, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and U.S President George Bush ratified the treaty. It was immediately implemented on the 1st of January 1994 (Hing, 2010). The idea of NAFTA is to encourage economic progress by facilitating the flow of products and services between the member countries. Trade relations among the member countries have widened significantly since the completion of NAFTA (Lederman, Maloney & Serven, 2005), although scholars differ over the level to which this growth is an immediate outcome of the agreement. As shown in the report of the U.S Trade Representative (USTR), the primary re presentative of the United States in foreign trade and an important motivator of free trade agreements, the general trade value within North America has substantially increased since the initiation of the accord. Regional business investment in the United States, still according to USTR, increased 117% in 15 years, from 1993 to 2007, in comparison to a 45% increase in the previous 14 years (Teslik, 2009, para 2). Trade with the associates of NAFTA currently comprises at least 80% of Mexican and Canadian trade, as well as of U.S trade. As stated by Gary Clyde Hufbauer and Jeffrey Schott (Teslik, 2009, para 3), â€Å"It has worked. North American firms are now more efficient and productive. They have restructured to take advantage of economies of scale in production and intra-industry specialization.† C. Parr Rosson III and associates emphasize that the notion of trade blocs is quite fresh in North America, yet claims that comparable agreements in other parts of the world have demonstrated steady gains when analyzed from a long-term point of view. The authors identify various types of ‘preferential trading arrangements’ (Teslik, 2009, para 4), from restricted economic and customs unions to more free trade agreements such as NAFTA, which have been thriving in Europe. The paper, mentioned in the article of Teslik (2009), stresses that preferential trading agreements can in fact make trade temporary and can bring about disorders in the labor market that are quite unfavorable to a number of laborers, yet can be assumed to have important enduring gains as well. Representatives of the three members of NAFTA have suggested an eagerness and/or plan to broaden NAFTA. This move would be both logical economics and wise foreign policy. The broadening of NAFTA membership into a free trade bloc in the Western hemisphere would prevent the detrimental repercussions of NAFTA and improve the ability of trade growth to encourage economic progress in the region (Caulfield, 2009). At present, there are four settings for enlarging NAFTA (Bernal, 1994, 30): (1) complete accession of other nations through a section in the current NAFTA accord; (2) employing a ‘hub and spoke’ system to add more trading allies to the United States; (3) Mexico or Canada separately, integrating several lesser regional trading unions into NAFTA; or (4) slowly expanding the trading rights of NAFTA to lesser nations without

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

E-commerce Practice Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

E-commerce Practice - Personal Statement Example From the brainstorm for the website, I realized that there was a need to develop research about the industry, our product and potential clients. Though e-commerce provides an almost unlimited market, the main challenge is directing traffic to the site and translating this in turn to actual sales, a proposition that has become more challenging considering technical requirements and saturation of industries (Lefebvre & Lefebvre 30-31). Afterwards, I had to communicate the site's requirements to developers so that it can best reflect the product and performance objectives to maximize the productivity and effectivity of the site. Finally, there was a need to develop performance measures for performance and maintaining competitiveness. The entire process of setting up the company is time consuming and challenging. Often, I encountered tasks that were beyond my existing skills or competencies which challenged me to research and cultivate the means to augment my skills or competencies as necessary.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Discuss the role of demand Essay Example for Free

Discuss the role of demand Essay In this paper we discuss the role of demand and supply in determining equilibrium price and quantity in the market, in a free market the demand and supply determine the equilibrium price and demand, in this case we consider 2,500 apartments which are to be leased out at a rate of 1,100 per month. If we assume that this is the equilibrium price and quantity in the market we can derive our demand and supply curve to determine the various factors that will affect the equilibrium price and quantity. From the above diagram the intersection of the demand curve and supply curve give us the equilibrium quantity and the equilibrium price, if the price was to rise then the demand for the apartments would decline, if the price was to decline then demand would be high for these apartments. The adjustment of the free market is automatic because when the supply rises then prices decrease, when prices decrease then the demand increases forcing the prices to rise, therefore in the long run the free market is at equilibrium, the factors that affect this equilibrium therefore include demand, supply, prices and charges by other competitors. Change in demand: When demand increases there will be an increase in the level of prices, this is caused by the fact that as the demand increase then the demand curve shifts to the right as shown below, when the demand increases then the prices increase, when prices increase then more apartment builders will be encouraged to increase supply of apartments resulting into increased supply, increased supply will shift the supply curve to the left leading to a decline in prices, therefore in the long run the curves will adjust into a new equilibrium, this is shown in the diagram below: When the demand for houses increase then the demand curve shifts from demand curve 1 to demand curve 2, this increases the prices, as the price increase investors are encouraged to invest more and provide more apartments, this results into increasing supply, when supply increases due to the increased prices the supply curve shifts downwards from supply curve 1 to supply curve 2, the new equilibrium now is where demand curve 2 intersects with supply curve two. Our new equilibrium is at a lower price yet a higher quantity. This clearly shows how the market shifts as a result of change in the demand for apartments. Changes in supply and demand: Changes in the supply is caused by the price, when the price rise then the supply level increases, when the price declines then the supply level declines. On the other hand the demand is also affected by prices, when prices decline then the higher the demand and when the price rise then the lower is the demand. Shifts in the demand and supply curve will affect decision making, this is because as economists we will aim at producing at the most optimal position, the optimal point will be determined by the maount of revenue derived from the apartments, the higher the price the higher the revenue per aprtmetn yet the lower the revenue the lower the revenue per apartment, however total revene will be calculated by multiplying the demand with price. Four points emphasized: When demand increases prices will rise, When the prices rise then the higher the supply, The higher the supply the lower the price and The lower the price the higher the demand Application: This concept of demand and supply can be used to determine the result of an increase in the price of product or even a reduction in the price, however our above analysis is that of a normal good, therefore in the workplace we can determine what wll happen to the demand and revenue after an increase or decline in prices. Elasticity of demand: Price elasticity of demand is the responsiveness of demand to a change in prices, the hgher the price elasticity then the hgiehr the demand wil respoind to a change in prices, however the lower the price elasticity then the lower is the responsiveness to a change in price. Results: From the above discussion we have summarized the law odf demand and supply for a normal good, it is evident that for a normal good when demand increases prices will rise, when the prices rise then the higher the supply, the higher the supply the lower the price and finally the lower the price the higher the demand. References: Brian Snow (1997) Macroeconomics: Introduction to Macroeconomics, Rout ledge publishers, London Philip Hardwick (2004) Introduction to Modern Economics, Pearson Press, New York Stratton (1999) Economics: A New Introduction, McGraw Hill Publishers, New York

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Biodiversity and Land Quality Essay -- Infrastructure Biodiversity Ess

Biodiversity and Land Quality Human society's progression through time has resulted in many environment-altering effects, particularly those brought about by industrialization and rapid population growth. The combination of increased numbers of humans and improved technology has created the need for better management of resources and transportation across the globe. This need has produced great leaps in infrastructure, such as roads and dams. However, the introduction of this infrastructure into the natural world has adversely affected the environment. Biodiversity is often drastically altered, resulting in changes in breeding and predation patterns which, in turn, lead to species extinction and degradation of soil and vegetation. The complex intertwining of many facets of the environment create the potential for humans to have tremendous impact upon the world in which they live, and the effects of infrastructure upon biodiversity and land quality have a far-reaching influence on the environment that calls for cr itical evaluation. As global population increases, a more economically efficient use of resources is necessary to sustain demand for fuel, food, and water. Cities, and the huge populations that they contain, "are parasitic on the surrounding landscape," requiring large amounts of resources to be imported into them (Southwick 169). Thus, more reliance is being placed upon technological innovations and industrialization in order to efficiently support the world's growing numbers, and concentrations, of humans. As a result, infrastructure, particularly dams and roads, are becoming prominent features of the modern landscape. Natural ecosystems are often adversely affected by the environmental modification infrastructure ... ...if industrial activities are not kept at bay. Works Cited: Balmford, Andrew, Georgina M. Mace, and Joshua R. Ginsberg. "The challenges to conservation in a changing world: putting processes on the map," in Conservation in a Changing World, ed. Mace, Balmford, and Ginsberg. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998. GLOBIO. www.globio.info. UNEP 2001. Myers, Norman. "The Rich Diversity of Biodiversity Issues," in Biodiversity II: Understanding and Protecting Our Biological Resources, ed. Reaka-Kudla, Wilson, and Wilson. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press, 1997. Southwick, Charles. Global Ecology in Human Perspective. Oxford Univ. Press, 1996. Steadman, David W. "Human-Caused Extinction of Birds," in Biodiversity II: Understanding and Protecting Our Biological Resources, ed. Reaka-Kudla, Wilson, and Wilson. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press, 1997.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Science, Development and Humanity :: Science Scientific Papers

Science, Development and Humanity ABSTRACT: The formation of a new scientific picture of the world is connected with the necessity of subjectivity. This subjectivity posits no limits for the scientific aspects of cognitive processes, but embraces a comprehensive world of spiritual activity. To choose the most effective model of social behavior, it is important to have an adequate knowledge of reality (i.e., the objective regularities of the surrounding world). Modern science reflects the vagueness of reality and, in consequence, the impossibility of using classical approaches. Increasingly, the negative phenomena of the surrounding world reflects the complexity of natural and socio-natural systems, especially on the global scale. Restrictions of the classical approaches to this complexity can be overcome within the synergistic theories or hierarchical systems theory that are becoming more and more popular. The necessity of appeal to modern theories, initiated as the result of ecological crises, stimulates the process es of new paradigm formation in science, acting often in spite of the needs and motives of society. The role of scientific world cognition in the history of Humanity is not considered to be unequivocal. One must not overestimate it's significance in man's living being improvement, raising it's status, expansion of it's rights, but one should confirm the development of science only, and further more, the appearance of technical inventions completely changed the relations between the man and the world surrounding him, generating ecological crisis. On the other hand, the problem of Humanity future development is extremely complex, it's solving is only with the use of scientific potential. Attribute of Mind, giving a man the right to be crowning point of nature determined the direction of the Planet history development several centuries ahead. To great extend, rationality, as well as the science itself is the result of Age of Enlightenment and it caused upheavals in Europe and influenced further world development. The Picture of world during New Age was seen as if the event was determined exactly by the starting conditions. According to Laplas Principle of determination one could recall the past and predict future in details in case if one possessed the total combination of data at any moment of time. In scientific view of New Age laws of nature were given their own status, differed greatly comparing with the laws expressing models of relations between people, determined by the norms and values of religion and morals. Thus, Ch.Snow's mind, premises for existence of "two culture's conflicts" appeared.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Nutrition †Obesity Essay

Objective: To assess the association between the consumption of fast food (FF) and body mass index (BMI) of teenagers in a large UK birth cohort. Methods: A structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was chosen to allow direct statistical testing of a theoretical model. SEM is a combination of confirmatory factor and path analysis, which allows for the inclusion of latent (unmeasured) variables. This approach was used to build two models: the effect of FF outlet visits and food choices and the effect of FF exposure on consumption and BMI. Results: A total of 3620 participants had data for height and weight from the age 13 clinic and the frequency of FF outlet visits, and so were included in these analyses. This SEM model of food choices showed that increased frequency of eating at FF outlets is positively associated with higher consumption of unhealthy foods (b ? 0. 29, Po0. 001) and negatively associated with the consumption of healthy foods (b ? A1. 02, Po0. 001). The SEM model of FF exposure and BMI showed that higher exposure to FF increases the frequency of visits to FF outlets (b ? 0. 61, Po0.001), which is associated with higher body mass index standard deviation score (BMISDS; b ? 0. 08, Po0. 001). Deprivation was the largest contributing variable to the exposure (b ? 9. 2, Po0. 001). Conclusions: The teenagers who ate at FF restaurants consumed more unhealthy foods and were more likely to have higher BMISDS than those teenagers who did not eat frequently at FF restaurants. Teenagers who were exposed to more takeaway foods at home ate more frequently at FF restaurants and eating at FF restaurants was also associated with lower intakes of vegetables and raw fruit in this cohort. International Journal of Obesity (2011) 35, 1325–1330; doi:10. 1038/ijo. 2011. 120; published online 28 June 2011 Keywords: fast food; overweight; ALSPAC Introduction Childhood obesity prevalence have risen dramatically in the last 30 years in the Western world with the most recent figures for England and Wales show that 17% of boys and 16% of girls are obese. 1 An increase in the availability of calorie dense foods is implicated as one of the factors in the aetiology of the obesity epidemic. Fast food (FF) is one section of the food market that has grown steadily over the last few decades and it was worth d8. 9 billion in the United Kingdom in 2005. 2 FF is typically quick, convenient, cheap and Correspondence: Dr LK Fraser, School of Geography, University of Leeds, University road, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. E-mail: l. k. fraser@leeds. ac. uk Received 6 February 2011; revised 21 April 2011; accepted 12 May 2011; published online 28 June 2011 uniform in its production,3 but FF is often high in saturated fats, energy dense and has low micronutrient content. 4–9 Studies from the United States of America have shown that children who consume FF (when compared with children who do not eat FF) have higher energy intake and higher fat intakes9,10 as well as lower vegetable and milk intake. 10,11 Therefore, the consumption of such foods could possibly result in a positive energy balance; and hence, weight gain. There is some evidence from longitudinal studies in the United States of America that consuming FF as a teenager can result in weight gain in both early12 and middle adulthood. 13 FF is often marketed to children and adolescents through television, internet and movie advertising,14–17 with brand recognition being present from an early age. 18 The addition of toys as gifts with FF meals also attracts children. There is growing body of literature that has assessed the location of FF outlets and has found that areas of higher deprivation Fast food and body mass index LK Fraser et al 1326 have more FF outlets19–21 and that FF outlets are often located close to schools. 22–24 The majority of research to date has been undertaken in the United States of America, but a study that analysed the fat content of a FF meal in McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in 35 countries showed that the amount of fat varied considerably between countries, within the same FF outlet. 25 This means that results from studies in the United States of America may not be generalisable to other countries. This study aims to assess the cross-sectional association between the consumption of FF and the body mass index (BMI) of teenagers in a large UK birth cohort. Methods The data for this study were obtained from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC),26 which is a birth cohort study where pregnant mothers who lived in the old Avon County in the United Kingdom (the Bristol region) were recruited in the early 1990s. A total of 14 541 mothers completed recruitment. Because of retrospective recruitment the total sample size was 15 224 fetuses and 14 610 live births. This paper presents data on the teenagers who attended the year 13 clinic and completed the year 13 questionnaire. Variables The food frequency data were collected from the questionnaires completed by mother (or carer) and separate questionnaires completed by the teenagers themselves at age 13 years. The data used from the carer questionnaire (collected at the same time point) referred to the questions ‘How often does s/he eat in a FF restaurant? The responses to this question were collected as never/rarely, once a month, once every 2 weeks, once or twice per week, 3–4 times a week, 5 or more times a week. The carers were also asked ‘In total, how many portions of vegetables does s/he eat in a week (do not include potatoes)’, ‘In total, how many portions of raw fruit does s/he eat in a week? ’ These were free numerical responses, which were retained as a continuous variable for analyses. In the food frequency part of the teenager completed questionnaire the teenagers were asked ‘If you ever buy food yourself from outside school, or from school vending machines, how often do you buy and eat each of the following things (include after school and weekends): chips, burger, pizza, sandwich, pies or pasties, chocolate, crisps, fruit and other food. ’ The height and weight data were collected at clinic visits at B13 years. The exact age, sex, height and weight were used to calculate a BMI standard deviation score (BMISDS) for each participant (1990 UK reference dataset). 27 The teenagers International Journal of Obesity were classified as obese if their BMISDS was greater than the 95th percentile (BMISDS41. 64). The physical activity data were collected via accelerometry at the age 13 clinic visit. 28 The participants wore an accelerometer for seven consecutive days and the measure used from this is mean counts per minute, which is a continuous variable. A deprivation score was assigned to each participant by matching the coordinates of their residential address (when carer questionnaire was completed) to the appropriate lower super output area. Each lower super output area has an index of multiple deprivation score (Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007 (IMD))29 assigned from the local census data. This is a continuous variable in which a higher number indicates an area of higher deprivation. Ethnicity was assigned as per the child’s ethnicity into a binary variable of ‘white British’ and ‘other’ ethnicity. Statistical modelling Descriptive statistics were performed in STATA version 10 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA). A structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was chosen to allow direct statistical testing of a theoretical model. SEM has many benefits over traditional regression techniques, which include the ability to model equations simultaneously and the incorporation of latent variables. 30 SEM is a combination of confirmatory factor and path analysis, which allows for the inclusion of latent (unmeasured) variables. 31 This approach was used to build two models: the effect of FF outlet visits and food choices and the effect of FF exposure on consumption and BMI. The SEM analyses were undertaken in AMOS version 17. 0 (IBM SPSS, USA). The hypothesised model for food choices is shown in the results section (Figure 2). The observed variables are displayed as boxes and latent variables as circles. Each observed variable has an associated random error term and each latent variable has an associated disturbance term, which represents the variance in the latent variable that has not been explained by the observed variables associated with that latent variable. Regression paths are shown by singleheaded arrows and covariances by double-headed curved arrows. The model fit was assessed by two indices; the comparative fit index (CFI) and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). The CFI is a comparison of the hypothesised model compared with an independence model where all parameters are assumed to be independent. The RMSEA gives an indication of ‘how well would the model, with unknown but optimally chosen values, fit the population covariance matrix if it were available’. 32 A combination of CFI40. 95 and a RMSEA of o0. 50 is a sign of good model fit. The w2-test of overall fit is very sensitive to large sample size so has not been used in these models. 30 The two models were constructed a priori using previous research. The nutritional content of chips, burgers, pizza and Fast food and body mass index LK Fraser et al 1327 pies are known to be high in saturated fat and energy and therefore are ‘unhealthy’,4–9,33 whereas fruit and vegetables are known to contain fibre and vitamins and so are classified as ‘healthy’. Exposure to FF outlets is known to be higher in areas of higher deprivation. 19–21 In the food choices model, unhealthy consumption (latent variable) was modelled from the frequency of consumption of chips, burger, pizza and pies (reported by the teenagers themselves), and the healthy consumption was modelled from the number of pieces of vegetables and raw fruit consumed by the teenager (maternal report). The number of times that the teenager visited a FF outlet (maternal report) was regressed on the unhealthy and healthy consumption variables. The model for the effect of FF exposure on consumption and BMISDS is shown in Figure 3. Here exposure is a latent variable modelled from maternal and paternal takeaway frequency and deprivation score. The exposure is regressed on the number of visits to FF outlet. The BMISDS at age 13 years is the main outcome of this model. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the ALSPAC Law and Ethics Committee and the local research ethics committees. Results A total of 3620 participants have data for height and weight from the age 13 clinic and the frequency of FF outlet visits, and were included in these analyses (SEM cannot use individuals with missing data). A total of 1711 (47. 3%) were boys and 456 (12.6%) obese. The descriptive statistics are shown in Table 1. Frequency of visiting FF outlets and food consumption frequencies are shown in Figure 1. The results of model 1 are shown in Figure 2 with regression weights shown in Table 2. This model showed that increased frequency of eating at FF outlets was positively associated with higher consumption of unhealthy foods (b ? 0. 29, Po0. 001) and negatively associated with the consumption of healthy foods (b ? A1. 02, Po0. 001). The CFI for model 1 was 0. 98 and the RMSEA was 0. 05 (90% confidence interval 0. 044, 0. 058). These represent good approximate model fit. Table 1. The results of model 2 are shown in Figure 3 with regression weight shown in Table 3. This model showed that increased exposure to FF increased the frequency of visits to FF outlets (b ? 0. 61, Po0. 001), which in turn was associated with higher BMISDS (b ? 0. 08, Po0. 001). Deprivation was the largest contributing variable to the exposure (b ? 9. 2, Po0. 001). The CFI for model 2 was 0. 98, and the RMSEA was 0. 021 (90% confidence interval 0. 009, 0. 033). These represent very good approximate model fit. Discussion This study shows that teenagers who are exposed to more unhealthy foods at home are more likely to eat at FF restaurants and have a higher BMISDS. The negative association of increased visits to FF outlets on consumption of healthy foods (fruit and vegetables) has also been demonstrated. The FF restaurant use in this analysis was reported by the mother or main carer of the teenager and showed that nearly 60% of all the teenagers ate at a FF restaurant at least once a month. This appears to be less frequently than in the United States of America, where studies showed that 60% of older children and adolescents ate FF more than once per week34 and that B30% of children ate at a FF restaurant on any typical day. 9. As one part of the SEM this study showed that eating at a FF outlet was associated with a higher BMISDS. There were no previous UK studies to compare these results with, but previous studies from the United States of America have not found consistent results. Boutelle et al. 11 found no association between frequency of FF consumption and adolescent BMI or weight status, and an Australian study Descriptive statistics Mean BMISDS Deprivation (IMD 2007)29 Physical activity (c. p. m. ) Raw fruit (portions per week) Vegetables (portions per week) s. d. Median IQR 0. 29 13. 7 541 9. 5 9. 5 1. 14 11. 4 190 7 7 0. 024 10. 6 511 8 8 A0. 47, 1. 06 5. 9, 17. 0 404, 653 5, 14 5, 12 Abbreviations: BMISDS, body mass index standard deviation score for age and sex; c. p. m. , cycles per minute; IMD 2007, Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007; IQR, interquartile range. Figure 1 Food frequency data. International Journal of Obesity Fast food and body mass index LK Fraser et al 1328 Figure 2 Results of SEM model of food choices. Table 2 Results of SEM model of food choices Regression weights a Unhealthy’fast food Healthy’fast food Chips’unhealthy Burger’unhealthy Fruit’healthy Vegetables’healthy Pizza’unhealthy Pies’unhealthy Estimate s. e. CR P 0. 285 A1. 023 1. 000 0. 732 1. 000 1. 157 0. 774 0. 530 0. 021 0. 124 13. 439 A8. 274 o0. 001 o0. 001 0. 016 45. 243 o0. 001 0. 148 0. 018 0. 016 7. 802 42. 483 32. 720 o0. 001 o0. 001 o0. 001 Abbreviations: CR, critical ratio; SEM, structural equation modeling. aAll consumption variables units: never/rarely, once a month, once every 2 weeks, once or twice per week, 3–4 times a week, 5 or more times a week. showed that FF eaten at home (but not away from home) was associated with higher BMI in adolescents (MacFarlane). Two longitudinal studies using data from the CARDIA study found that higher FF intake in adolescence was associated with higher BMI in young adulthood12 and those who ate FF more than twice a week had put on an extra 4. 5 kg of weight 15 years later. 13 The teenagers who ate more frequently at FF restaurants were more likely to eat less fruit and vegetables, as well as consume more unhealthy foods (chips, burger, pizza, pies) than those teenagers who ate at FF restaurants less frequently. This is an indication that the consumption of unhealthy foods may displace healthy food choices. This is similar to previous research in the United States of America, International Journal of Obesity which showed that children who ate FF consumed 45 g less vegetables per day than children who did not eat FF. 10 At age 13 years the food frequency data were a combination of maternal and self-report from the teenagers, but the total macro- and micronutrient values could not be assessed in this study as these data were not yet available at the time of writing. Deprivation was the largest contributor to the FF exposure variable. This could be explained by the fact that those of higher deprivation eat more FF because of the relative cheapness of FF. It has also been shown in many studies in the United Kingdom and the United States of America that areas of higher deprivation have more FF outlets than more affluent areas therefore, FF is more readily available. 35 An interesting economics paper from the United States of America showed that increasing the cost of FF by $1 could decrease BMI by 0. 78 units. 36 The increased consumption of unhealthy foods (chips, burger, pizzas and pies) by those teenagers who ate more frequently at FF outlets was not surprising, but the associated negative effect of the consumption of fruit and vegetables by these participants is important. These teenagers will not only be consuming more of the saturated fat and salt from the burgers, and so on, but at the same time they are not consuming important nutrients from fruit and vegetables. Although many FF outlets now offer more healthy alternatives such as fruit and vegetables, the consumers may still be choosing the unhealthy foods. Fast food and body mass index LK Fraser et al 1329 The FF question completed by the carer did not specify what constituted FF so some respondents may only count large franchises as FF whereas others may use a broader definition that includes independent takeaways. Although the frequency of eating at a FF restaurant was asked, the carers were not asked about the food eaten from these establishments and many FF restaurants now offer more ‘healthy’ alternatives. Although the majority of FF items do not meet the Food Standards Agency nutrient standards for total fat, saturated fat, sugar and sodium there are wide variations in similar products from different FF outlets with sodium content varying by up to four times in fried chicken products. 37 Therefore, having data on which food items were consumed from which FF outlet would further enhance future studies. There was no information on why the teenagers ate at FF restaurants, and key questions for the future include; was there no alternative eating establishments in their neighbourhood? Did they prefer FF to other meals or was the cost of food important? Conclusions This study has shown that the teenagers who ate at FF restaurants consumed more unhealthy foods and were more likely to have higher BMISDS than those teenagers who did not eat frequently at FF restaurants. Teenagers who were exposed to more takeaway foods at home ate more frequently at FF restaurants. Eating at FF restaurants was also associated with lower intakes of vegetables and raw fruit in this cohort. Figure 3 The SEM model of FF exposure and BMI. Table 3 Results of SEM model of FF exposure and body mass index Regression weights Fast food ’exposure. Maternal fast food’exposure Deprivation’exposure Paternal fast food’exposure BMISDS’fast food BMISDS’c. p. m. a Estimate s. e. CR 0. 61 1. 000 9. 20 0. 66 0. 08 0. 00 0. 07 8. 654 1. 07 0. 08 0. 02 0. 00 8. 605 8. 680 3. 586 A3. 351 P o0. 001 o0. 001 o0. 001 o0. 001 o0. 001 Abbreviations: BMISDS, body mass index standard deviation score for age and sex; c. p. m. , cycles per minute; CR, critical ratio; FF, fast food; IMD 2007, Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007; SEM, structural equation modeling. a All consumption variables units: never/rarely, once a month, once every 2 weeks, once or twice per week, 3–4 times a week, 5 or more times a week. Strengths/limitations This is a large dataset with good-quality height and weight data taken at clinic visits by trained staff using validated equipment. There were food consumption data about the teenagers available from both the teenagers and their carers, but this is a cross-sectional study so causation cannot be implied from this data. As expected in a longitudinal study there is attrition and the subcohort used in this study may not be truly representative of the whole cohort. Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. Acknowledgements. We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting and the whole ALSPAC team, which include interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses. The UK Medical Research Council (grant ref: 74882), The Wellcome Trust (grant ref: 076467) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. LKF was funded by ESRC/MRC studentship. References 1 Craig RS. Health survey for England 2007, 2008. Available from http://www. natcen. ac. uk/study/health-survey-for-england-2007. 2 Keynote.UK fast food and home delivery outlets, 2006. 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