Gender Identity Paper Essay

Since the middle of the 20th century, psychologists, physiologists and medical professionals have been increasingly interested in the ways hormones impacted human behaviors. The dramatic progress which scientists had been able to make was due to extensive knowledge of pharmacology and chemistry, which could be used to study neural events that came as a result of hormonal activity in humans. Hormonal influences on humans were harder to document than those on other species, due to the fact that researchers could not perform laboratory studies with the use of placebo (Hines, Brooks & Conrad, 2004). Thus, the current information with regard to human sexuality and gender identity was mostly obtained from other studies, including the studies of abnormal hormonal activity in patients with genetic disorders. Pfaff, Philips and Rubin (2004) write, that â€Å"hormone / behavior relations always serve either homeostasis or reproduction†. A whole set of hormones works to maintain weight, temperature, and fluid balance in human organism. Hormones impact human responses to stress and pain, but hormonal influences are not limited to common behavioral reactions. Hormones are directly and indirectly linked to gender identification, and although relationships between human sexuality and hormones leave much room for further research, professionals are confident that hormones are the critical factors of gender identification in humans. From the viewpoint of physiology, mammals are usually divided into the two large (male and female) gender categories. The formation of one’s gender begins at chromosomal level. For the majority of mammals, the homogametic sex is female, and if not influenced by male hormones, a phenotypic female with XX chromosomal pattern develops. In the presence of the Y chromosome however, a locally acting protein transforms gonads into testes, which produce numerous peptide hormones, androgens, and determine masculine gender differentiation (Gallagher, Nelson & Weiner, 2003). Testosterone predetermines the development of external genitalia in boys; androgenic receptors and 5-alpha-reductase which are present in all females, may also lead to masculinization of female genitalia. Apart from impacting gender identity, hormones are directly responsible for a whole set of behavioral responses. Hormones work in ways that facilitate processing of sensory information in humans. â€Å"Females have generally greater sensitivity for chemosensory stimuli. [†¦] This sensitivity is further enhanced by increased periovulatory estrogen concentrations† (Gallagher, Nelson & Weiner, 2003). Given that hormonal impulses in men are different from those in women, men lack this kind of responsiveness, which is also suggestive of the positive relationship between hormones and human behavior. Extensive research of genetic disorders and sexual differentiation suggests that the formation of one’s sexual identity is also influenced by factors other than hormones. Social environment and psychological traditions may produce irreversible impacts on one’s gender identification. These influences are particularly visible in humans with physiological pathologies and genetic disorders, which lead to phallic inadequacy or absence. In the study by Reiner and Gearhart (2004), out of sixteen subjects with diagnosed genetic disorders fourteen had been raised as females. Later, under the impact of physiological changes only eight of them changed their roles to males, with the rest spending their lives as females. These findings prove that identity is influenced by the whole complex of hormonal and environmental factors; and researchers are still unable to determine, which of these factors produces the critical impact on gender differentiation in humans. The truth is that neither behavioral, nor psychological or hormonal factors can be held responsible for sexual differentiation in humans. In reality, â€Å"human differentiation is the result of a series of genetic and hormonal events that influence the development of the internal and external genitalia† (Sytsma, 2006). Whether gender identity is impacted by hormonal or environmental factors is not always clear, but it is clear that there is a whole continuum of gender experiences between female and male genders; and how humans identify themselves in this gender continuum will depend on the whole set of genetic and hormonal influences, as well as the external environment in which humans are raised. Conclusion For years and decades researchers believed that hormones were the critical factors determining gender identity in humans. With the extensive knowledge of genetic and sexual disorders, researchers have gradually come to realize the role, which environmental and psychological factors played in one’s sex differentiation. Neither hormones nor biological or psychological factors can be held responsible for the development of gender identity in humans; rather, a whole complex of genetic and hormonal influences will determine the paths of gender formation and differentiation in all human subjects. References Gallagher, M. , Nelson, R. J. & Weiner, I. B. (2003). Biological psychology. John Wiley and Sons. Hines, M. , Brook, C. & Conway, G. S. (2004). Androgen and psychosexual development: core gender identity, sexual orientation, and recalled childhood gender role behavior in women and men with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Journal of Sex Research, 41(1): 75-81. Pfaff, D. W. , Phillips, M. I. & Rubin, R. T. (2004). Principles of hormone behavior relations. Academic Press. Reiner, W. G. & Gearhart, J. P. (2004). Discordant sexual identity in some genetic males with cloacal exstrophy assigned to female sex at birth. The New England Journal of Medicine, 350 (4): 333-341. Sytsma, S. E. (2006). Ethics and intersex. Springer.

Alzheimer’s Disease – Essay 2

Alzheimer's Disease Joy Pachowicz PSY 350 Professor Alina Sheppe Perez May 15, 201 Introduction Alzheimer's disease, despite being so widespread, is not really considered part of the aging process. According to Robert Feldman, author of the textbook, â€Å"Understanding Psychology†, only 19% of people who are ages 75 to 84 suffer from this disease. It is only once they pass the age of 85, that the elderly need to be more concerned about the possibility of developing Alzheimer's disease. ( Feldman, p. 446) Fifty percent of all people over 85 years of age suffer from Alzheimer's disease and researchers believe that if no cure for the disease is found by the year 2050; there will be 14 million people affected by this disease. (Feldman, p. 446) What is Alzheimer's disease and how is it diagnosed? What are its symptoms and who are most likely to develop this disease? The purpose of this paper is to explore what Alzheimer's disease is and offer some suggestions of how to approach it in the future. What is Alzheimer's Disease? According to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, Alzheimer's Disease is a â€Å"progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in the loss of memory, thinking, language skills, and behavioral changes† (www. alzfdn. org) With Alzheimer's disease, neuron cells are destroyed in the hippocampus, and this is what sparks the loss of short term memory; and as neuron cells die in the cerebral cortex, so too the functionality of language and clear thinking sees a marked decline in the person who has developed Alzheimer's disease (www. lzfdn. org) With Alzheimer's disease, there is diminished production of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is very much involved with our ability to memorize and retain information; so, if there is a decrease in Acetylcholine; our memory's ability to function suffers greatly. (Feldman, p. 66) Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease How does one know to even consult with a specialist or seek out one's physician regarding Alzheimer's disease? There are some telltale symptoms that set up red flags of warning. If you see any of these symptoms, please see a physician to determine if you have Alzheimer's disease: 1. Memory Loss that disrupts Daily Life 2. Difficulties in planning events or solving problems 3. Difficulties performing familiar tasks or household work 4. Confusion with time or place. 5. Troubles interpreting visual images and spacial relationships 6. Problems with forming words or with communicating Losing items and not being able to remember what one recently did. 7. Failing and poor judgement 8. Withdrawal from work or social activities 9. Changes in Mood or Behavioral ( www. lz. org) Now just because you may have one or all these doesn't necessarily mean you have Alzheimer's disease. Time is very much a key element in acting on these symptoms. If these symptoms persist over a long period of time; then it's time to have a professional evaluation of the symptoms. . Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are several steps to take when try ing to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. First, one must consult with his/her medical doctor. When going, it’s important to take a copy of one's whole medical history. While at the consultation, one can be given a mental status test. Along with this test, a physical and neurological exam should be given. Blood tests should be taken to rule out other possible causes of memory loss. (www. alz. org) The specialists one could see to determine whether one is suffering from Alzheimer's disease and not some other illness are: Psychologists, Neurologists and Psychiatrist. (www. alz. org) Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease As with other diseases, Alzheimer’s has varying stages it progresses through as it develops in the body and affects the brain. The first stage consists of the mere manifestation of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, which we have already listed: memory problems, difficulty forming words, forgetfulness etc. ( www. nia. nih. gov) The next stage would be what doctors would label the mild stage of Alzheimer’s disease. During this stage, cognitive abilities are more impaired. There are difficulties with handling money or paying bills. Repeating things over and over again begin to be notice. (www. nia. nih. gov) The mild stage gives way to the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease. New symptoms appear and older ones worsen. Memory continues to decline in this stage. In this stage it becomes more and more difficult to recognize family and friends. In the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease there are hallucinations and paranoia. It’s more difficult to get dressed, wash and perform simple task. ( www. nia. nih. gov) The final stage of Alzheimer’s disease is the severe stage. People with severe Alzheimer’s disease spend most their time in bed, sleeping. Their body shuts down. ( www. nia. nih. gov) Treating Alzheimer’s disease Since Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a plaque buildup in the synapse that prevents the communication of neurons, one to another; researchers have found a way to allow these neurons to communicate despite this buildup. Donepezil is one such drug that has been released for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Another name for this drug is Aricept. What Aricept does is increases the memory’s capacity. ( Feldman, p. 229) There are other drugs being tested; but, right now the most popular treatment for Alzheimer’s disease is the use of Aricept. In the News Researchers of Banner Sun Health Research Institute have been studying the relationship that copper and cholesterol have to Alzheimer’s disease. They believe that dementia is caused by tangles and plaque in the brain. Copper has been implicated in the increased progression of Alzheimer’s disease in those who have the disease. Cholesterol, which is a major cause of plaque buildup in other parts of the body, therefore, it can be a contributing cause of plaque buildup in the brain. (redorbit. com) â€Å"In the BSHRI study, Sparks and his team performed a pilot study of long-term dietary cholesterol in four groups of rabbits. One group was administered normal food and water and three groups were administered increasing levels of a cholesterol diet for five months. Significantly, plasma levels of tau increased by 40 to 50 percent in each of the cholesterol-fed animal groups after five months of the experimental diet† (redorbit. com) In another research program being conducted by scientists through the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Indiana University and Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center; a certain protein: beta amyloid was singled out to be the cause of neurons malfunctioning that causes memory oss which is associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. (redorbit. com) â€Å"By identifying a brand new and extremely important target of the amyloid protein's toxicity, we can develop drugs for Alzheimer's disease that may protect the motors from inhibition and allow the brain to regenerate properly,† said principal investigator Huntington Potter, PhD, a prof essor of Molecular Medicine who holds the Pfeiffer Endowed Chair for Alzheimer's Disease Research. † (redorbit. com) Coping with Alzheimer’s disease â€Å"There are many ways to fight the adverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Below are some ways a person can cope with Alzheimer’s disease: †¢ Keep a notebook handy to record important numbers, appointments and dates. †¢ Use sticky note to help remember things of importance †¢ Keep important phone numbers next to telephone (in large print) †¢ Have a contact who will call to remind of meal times, appointments or other. †¢ Use a calendar to keep track of the day of week. †¢ Keep photos of important people around; have names of who these important people are somewhere on the picture. †¢ When going out always have another person to go along, to avoid getting lost. For Care Providers †¢ â€Å"Providing a healthy lifestyle is a must. Good nutrition, exercise and appropriate social interactions all help to develop a healthy environment for the Alzheimer’s patient. †¢ Have a planned daily routine .. so that Alzheimer’s patient can develop a sense of accomplishment and value. †¢ Choose proper tim es for activities. Many times night time is not a good time for Alzheimer’s patients. †¢ Encourage independence with the Alzheimer’s patient, let them do for themselves as much as possible. †¢ Speak slowly and calmly †¢ Make eye contact. Give simple instructions â€Å" (webmd. com) Conclusion Alzheimer’s disease is a widely spread disease that affects a great number of elderly people worldwide. While it is frequently associated with old age; it is not considered part of the aging process. Recent studies provided some hopeful ways to help stop the spread of Alzheimer’s disease, and also provided warnings of what can happen if a cure to Alzheimer’s disease is not found.. While a person may show many symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, only a medical doctor can confirm whether Alzheimer’s disease is present. Through various tests, doctors rule out other possible diseases before focusing on Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease has many stages and faces and the best approach is to arrest it while it’s in its early stages. Once Alzheimer’s settles in and brain cells start dying, the only thing left to do is to accommodate the limitations that come with the disease. Educating oneself about Alzheimer’s disease is a must for everyone. More than likely, every one of us will come face to face with it in one fashion or another. We will either be taking care of someone who has it; or, we will develop it ourselves. Alzheimer’s disease affects both the patient and those around him/her. Take time to become knowledgeable of this disease, id worth the effort. . References Alzheimer’s Disease: Special Tips for Maintaining a Normal life. Retrieved From. http://www. webmd. com/alzheimers/caregivers-09/memory-tips Coping With Alzheimer’s: Special Instructions for Care Providers. Retrieved From http://www. webmd. com/alzheimers/caregivers-09/caregivers-tips Feldman. R. F. (2008). Understanding Psychology. (8th Edition). NYC. New York. McGraw/Hill. National Institute On Aging. Care giver Guide. Retrieved from. http://www. nia. nih. gov/Alzheimers/Publications/caregiverguide. htm National Institute on Aging. Tips for Care Givers. Retrieved from. http://www. nia. nih. gov/nia. nih. gov Researchers Find Further Evidence Linking Alzheimer's Disease to Copper and Cholesterol Retrieved from. http://www. redorbit. com/news/health/2046137/banner_sun_health_research_institute_res earchers_find_further_evidence_linking/index. html

Tools of Monetary Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tools of Monetary Policy - Essay Example The effect of increasing the discount rate on the money supply is shown below in diagram 1. In part (a), the demand for reserves is not high enough and as a result there are no changes in the equilibrium reserve holdings. In part (b) there is a high demand for reserves and as a consequence, there is a decline in the equilibrium reserve holdings. Figure 1: Impact of increases in the discount rate In the diagram above, there is an increase in the discount rate from to . Consequentially the supply of reserves schedule rises from to . However, observe that in part (a) the demand for reserves are lower than in part (b). In particular the demand for reserves schedule is not high enough in part (a) to substantiate any efficacy of increasing the discount rate. In fact in such a scenario, a decline in the discount rate could have an impact by increasing the equilibrium reserve holdings if the rate is lowered below the bank rate. However, this will make sense if the resulting effect of increas ed money supply is the desired result. As a result, albeit the increase in the discount rate leads to a rise in the supply of reserves, there is no change in the equilibrium holdings. Thus, there is no discount lending in this case. In part (b) the increase in the supply of reserves leads to a reduction in the equilibrium discount reserve holdings from R0 to R1. Note that in this case lowering the discount rate would have had an impact as well but of the opposite kind. Alternatively, the central banking authority of an economy has to right of denying or controlling the amount of loans directly. Thus it has a control over the money supply of the nation directly via a control over the sanctioning of discount loans. In particular, loans forwarded to financial institutions by the central banks belong to any of the following three classes: a) primary loans, b) secondary loans and c) seasonal loans. Primary loans are the credit supplies to healthy or financially stable banks or financial institutions. Secondary credits are the loans that are forwarded with a designated purpose only in which the credit accepting institution can put the loan in use. Finally, seasonal loans are the short term credit that is forwarded under discount rates generally to help institutions overcome temporary liquidity shortages and emergencies. Thus by controlling the amount of reserves financial institutions have, the central bank can restrict the amount of money supply in the economy. How may central Bank help prevent bank panics by acting as a lender of last resort? Support your answer using examples of such events. Bank runs or panic runs to the bank are caused by the fear that the bank will become insolvent and will fail to return the amount of deposits. The central problem is that this has a cascading effect and actually becomes a self fulfilling prophesy since as the number of people withdrawing their funds increases, the liquidity of the bank decreases. Further with the number of wi thdrawals rising, other customers fearing insolvency also begin withdrawing their own deposits. Since banks never hold all of the depositors' money as reserves at any point of time, if a large number of customers begin withdrawing all their funds, the bank does become insolvent fast. This phenomenon was a central problem

Advantages of Uniform in High School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Advantages of Uniform in High School - Essay Example Allowing civilian clothing in schools evidently, functions bring out the aspect of the class and social status as other students will be wearing trendier and more expensive clothes than others. Such disparities and divisions result in peer pressure among the students and prompt unnecessary distraction from the core objective of gaining knowledge and excelling in their academics. Hence, the use of uniforms goes a long way in helping students to concentrate on their education and functions to minimize the differences existing between them in as far as economic empowerment and social class are concerned. The resultant effect of implementing this code of dressing is increased performance and reduced peer pressure, achieved through equality (by way of having a defined dressed code). Billy Clinton echoed these sentiments when he supported the need to have school uniforms in American public schools in order to avoid cases of teenagers killing each other over designer jackets and other trend y outfits (Tofel-Grehl & Callahan, 2014). Secondly, it goes a long way in promoting discipline among students. Wearing uniforms makes the students become more responsible in terms of the actions within and without the school premises as they are obliged to abide by the school rules at all times since they wear school uniforms-which can be used to identify them, meaning that they have to behave as is required of them by their respective management systems. These school rules and guidelines work to instill discipline and good conduct among the students. Recent research has documented beyond reasonable doubt that students who have good discipline perform equally well in their class work.

Socially Just Conditions for Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Socially Just Conditions for Learning - Essay Example In the sphere of education it is especially important to focus on social aspects, because teachers are responsible for upbringing and educating of new globalized citizens. Therefore, sociological implications of pedagogical practices should be correlated with political and cultural regulations of the country. Socially just pedagogies are focused on education of students with disabilities, from socially unfavorable families and environment. As far as we know it: â€Å"Educators †¦ should reject forms of schooling that marginalize students who are poor, black and least advantaged. This, points to the necessity for developing school practices that recognize how issues related to gender, class, race and sexual orientation can be used as a resource for learning rather than being contained in schools through a systemic pattern of exclusion, punishment and failure (Rossi, 2004). Consequently, we can see that now it is time to change social aspects of pedagogies for tolerant and multi- faceted educational practices. Teachers should take into account a student’s will for knowledge, improve and advance it and not to oppress him because of social stereotypes or perverted social patterns (Ukpokodu, 2007). Children impairments Children with physical or cognitive impairments are often criticized by classmates and in this case a teacher should be a â€Å"trigger† of tolerant and correct behavior in relation to a child. There is a marginalized disposition of students with disabilities and modern researches and studies are focused on reconceptualization of the students’ â€Å"inclusion† in the educational process (Chubbuck, 2009). A fundamental nature of impairment and disability should be promoted as a form of social artifacts. Another important measure to be taken by the modern teachers is to interpret pedagogical doctrines within social and globalized contexts. To begin with, teachers should realize the fact that their students, which are gen erally positioned as skilled and productive individuals, may be not â€Å"able†. Moreover, concerning students with disabilities, it should be noted that they require more help, patience and tolerance from their teachers. In accordance with the study conducted by Christensen, Young, & Marchant (2007): â€Å"An inclusive society, therefore, is not a society of equals in a principled way, but a society in which everyone has the qualities to meet her needs in an entrepreneurial way† (p. 82). Modern approaches of teachers to education A people-centered approach is the most relevant step to be taken by teachers in the beginning of educational practices change. A teacher should be positioned as a mentor, helping to bridge an inner emotional gap within a student with special needs. There are two important questions for each teacher: â€Å"what do my students see?†, â€Å"what are their real ideas in the educational process?† Consequently, education in the modern globalized context is moving from telling students what is true to asking students what it true. Children have their own opinion. They have their own voice and it should not be suppressed in the educational process. A socially just teacher is a mentor, who has an ability to listen to his students and take into account their ideas (Keeffee and Carrington, 1996). I can further claim that a teacher’s socially just practices are being developed under the influence of childhood impressions. In my

Discuss the origin and current situation of the Taiwan issue and the Essay

Discuss the origin and current situation of the Taiwan issue and the possible resolutions for Chinese government handling the Ta - Essay Example The United States 7th Fleet was tasked with patrolling the Taiwan Strait to stop a raid of Taiwan. Americans offered military and economic aid, and, in 1954, a joint security agreement was reached with the China’s Republic as part of America’s Cold War strategy of suppression of the Beijing government. However, military and financial aid was restricted to what Taiwan required to defend and finance itself against the People’s Republic of China, but not to hold up Chiang Kai-shek’s vision of â€Å"going back to the mainland.† The regime created, in 1949, on Taiwan, had provincial and national levels (Cole 4). The state level, with selected, as well as appointed officials from the mainland, represented itself as the Republic of China in global forums and apparently arranged for a go back to rule the entire mainland. Part 2: the current situation 2. Controversy of sovereignty over Taiwan i) Position of the People's Republic of China (PRC) The position o f PRC is that the Republic of China (ROC) stopped being a lawful regime after the founding of PRC on October 1st, 1949 and that they are the successor of ROC as the only lawful regime of China with the right to manage Taiwan with regards to the â€Å"succession of states† theory (Bush and O'Hanlon 23). The stand of PRC is that they and ROC are two diverse groups in the Chinese Civil War that never lawfully subsided. Hence, PRC argues that the two groups belong to one sovereign nation, China. Because Taiwan’s independence belongs to China, then PRC’s regime, along with its supporters, deem that the secession of the island should be settled upon by the 1.3 billion citizens of China rather than just the 23 million citizen of ROC who, at the moment, live in Taiwan (Bush and O'Hanlon 23). In addition, PRC states that the UN’s Resolution by its General Assembly recognizes that PRC controls China’s entire terrain including Taiwan. UN further classifies th is matter through acknowledging PRC as they only legal representatives of China. Therefore, PRC considers that it is within its lawful capacity to prolong its jurisdiction of Taiwan through any means possible (Bush and O'Hanlon 24). Furthermore, the stand of the People’s Republic of China is that ROC does not fulfill the fourth principle of the Montevideo Convention. PRC argued that the Montevideo Convention was agreed upon by only 19 states at the 17th Global Conference of American States (Bush and O'Hanlon 24). Therefore, the authority of the United Nations and the United States should supersede the Montevideo Convention. ii) Position of the Republic of China (ROC) ROC, on the other hand, claims that it maintains all the traits of a nation and that it was succeeded or replaced by PRC since it is still in existence even after PRC’s establishment. In line with the Montevideo Convention (1933), the mainly consulted source for the meaning of statehood, a nation should po ssess a defined territory, a permanent population, a regime, as well as a capacity to start relations with other nations (Bush 33). ROC affirms to meet all these principles since it has a government practicing successful jurisdiction over clear territories

The chunnel project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The chunnel project - Essay Example The Chunnel Project case study has been structured in such a way that it is possible for one to carry out an evaluation of the project management methods as well as the various process that have been used in the project. This study actually makes an inclusive coverage of the various project management areas as catered for by the four project phases of inception, development, implementation and closeout (Anbari et al 12). So as to guarantee better management control- characterized by appropriate links to the performing organization’s ongoing operations, the institution (organization) or even the project managers can split the project into various phases. En masse, these phases are what are commonly referred to as the project life cycle (Anbari et al 15). Notably, it is the project lifecycle which is obliged with the definition of the phases connecting the commencement of a project to its completion. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that phases are ordinarily sequential and are at the same time defined by certain precise forms of technical information transfer. Alternatively, the phases may be so defined by technical component handoff. Despite the fact that majority of life cycles have shared phase names with like deliverables, only countable of the life cycles are identical. While some of them have four-if not five- phases, there are those having over nine phases (Anbari et al 19). As mentioned in an earlier paragraph, the Chunnel Project case study avails a discussion of the four project phases as will be discussed and evaluated in the preceding paragraphs. Inception phase The initial scope of the Chunnel, in the Inception phase, was constructing a fixed transportation link between the two countries; England and France. Through this transport link, it was expected that economic development will be spurred, European trade boosted as well as avail an alternative high-speed mode of transportation to the existing ones, including ferries, boats and planes. Th e Channel Tunnel Group/France Manche (which later re-branded to Eurotunnel) was the company that worn the 1986 project to create a 51.5 KM double-rail tunnel between England and France. This tunnel was to accommodate not only through-trains, but also special car-and-truck-carrying shuttle trains. The project had been cost at USD 5.5 billion (Anbari et al 3). Problems Viewed from a project management angle, both the high-level design and the corresponding rough-order-of-magnitude approximations may have been apposite. Nonetheless, there was no ample time provided for the completion of the detailed design studies that would have pinpointed the necessity of air conditioning within the tunnel thus bracketing in a USD 200 million increments not included in the very initial scope (Anbari et al 4).

Teaching English Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Teaching English Language - Essay Example In 1990, one in 20 public school students in grades K-12 was an English language learner (ELL), that is, a student who speaks English either not at all or with enough limitations that he or she cannot fully participate in mainstream English instruction. Today the figure is 1 in 9. Demographers estimate that in 20 years it might be 1 in 4. The ELL population has grown from 2 million to5 million since 1990, a period when the overall school population increased only 20 percent. By far, the majority of ELLs - 80 percent - are Spanish speakers" (Teaching English Language Learners, p3). CALP - (cognitive academic language proficiency) the dimension of proficiency in which a learner manipulates or reflects on the surface features of language in academic contexts, such as text-taking, writing analysis, and reading academic texts. The following definitions have been earmarked for further study: "Predictable and consistent classroom management routines, aided by diagrams, lists, and easy-to-read schedules on the board or on charts, to which the teacher refers frequently; Graphic organizers that make content and the relationships among concepts and different lesson elements visually explicit; Additional time and opportunities for practice, either during the school day, after school, or for homework; Redundant key information, e.g., visual cues, pictures, and physical gestures about lesson content and classroom procedures; Identifying, highlighting, and clarifying difficult words and passages within texts to facilitate comprehension, and more generally greatly emphasizing vocabulary development; Helping students consolidate text knowledge by having the teacher, other students, and ELLs themselves

United States Armed Forces Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

United States Armed Forces - Essay Example Therefore, income not only determines the power but also the class of the individual, his financial and opinionated position in society. These classes permeate an individual’s social behaviour where the upper class has a superior way of doing things as compared to the inferior ways of other classes. The status of an employee within an organisation can only be achieved through personal effort in a system of open class (Weir, 2007). This is in comparison to the social class to which any given employee belongs. The armed forces of the US are composed of several branches such as the army, navy, air force and others. It has a tradition of national control of the military with the president being the overall head. It consists of men and women who have decided to bring a difference and at the same time dedicated to serving and defending what they believe in (Majpeter et al, 1986). Therefore, this paper seeks to identify and define classes within this organisation in relation to geographic mobility by focusing on the regional variations and changing family definitions. Classes The correlation between income and education, in many ways, determine the job security and contentment, size of family and cultural values. This creates a scenario that associate poverty with reduced life expectancy and best education with wealth (Weir, 2007). Even though there could be many characteristics that could be employed to describe a person’s class, the mostly used are one’s occupation, education, a nd wealth. In the US, some of these factors define a person’s class. According to Tucker (2011) class is the categorization of people depending on the riches, earnings, and education. It s though the definition that the particular classes are constructed. There exist the upper, middle, and lower classes that are frames of reference in most of the communities. It is factual that birds of a feather flock together, however, in today’s multicultural society things have changed. Today, more than ever, people’s classes tend to differentiate internally. In the US military, class is associated with an individual’s rank. The bottom of the class is composed of individuals with no ranks. These groups of people are mainly young and single. In addition, they are usually less of college education because most of them are those just from high school (Roth-Douquet and Schaefer, 2007). As the class level goes up, it stops at non commissioned officers. This is the largest class in the US military. Their role is to manage a small group of employees, and the group forms the lower middle as well as the middle class according to the ranking scale of classes. This position is able by progression through the junior ranks. This promotion is, however, very competitive and it is attained after having served in the military for at least between three to six years. From this class, there is the warrant officer. These officers are highly skilled, and are specialists in certain areas. They do order detachments, but can also coach and train. However, their main job is to serve as technical experts by providing valuable skills and leadership to commanders and organisations in their field of expertise (Weir, 2007). This group forms the upper middle class. At the top of the class is the commissioned officer who forms the much-coveted upper class. These officers are responsible for larger groups of employees, and are

Business Management Affairs Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Management Affairs - Coursework Example Sole Trading When a person individually initiates and operates his/her own business, it is called sole trading. The most obvious feature of sole proprietorship is that there is no legal distinction between the business and the owner. Usually, a sole trader uses a trade name or business name instead of his legal name. Under UK company law, the proprietors’ name must be shown on business emails, business stationery, and other business premises. It generally involves lower amount toward capital investment as compared to other modes of business ventures. It is best fitted to people with innovative business ideas and sufficient capital for running their business. The main benefit of this system is that the businessman owns everything what he acquires from the business. Moreover, with the feasibility of self guidance, the individual can grow without restrictions. In addition to this, as Tonkin (2006) states, sole trader can start the business with minimum set up cost and can continue operations without a tax file number. He is also exempted from many other legal charges and superannuation. Since the sole trading business specifically focuses on certain market segments, the sole trader can effectively satisfy the customer needs. In addition, the individual can take advantages of personal relationships for the business promotion. On the other hand, sole trader is not free from risks as he is the only person responsible for any loss incurred in the business. Therefore, if the sole trader faces business loss; his every asset including personal asset may be seized to discharge the liabilities he has incurred. This personal liability becomes the most threatening disadvantage of sole proprietorship. A series of legal obligations may also drag him out of the line; sometimes he needs to pay provisional taxes. Similarly, sole trader may face difficulties in the event of an unforeseen contingency since he has only restricted access to financial sources. The lack of access to financial sources also becomes a barrier for the sole trader to recruit high-caliber employees. Another major disadvantage of sole proprietorship is that it cannot allow credit sales since this type of business has limited access to working capital; this situation is an impediment to business expansion. A positive spell of possible success is foun d in the given discussion. As Matt is the winner of the TV show â€Å"You’re Hired†, he may have creative concepts as well as sufficient capital to start his business as a sole trader. Partnership When two or more persons join together with their capital and make contract to run a lawful business, it is called partnership business. This system ensures collective responsibility for all liabilities arising on the ground of the partnership business. As it is in the case of sole trader, registration of partnership is not necessary. This feature helps the partners in minimizing the struggles of legal formalities. All the strategies of partnership firms are formulated on shared opinion of partners which would make the policies rather balanced in their nature. At the same time, any partner may represent the business without giving prior information to other partners; therefore, one partner’

Library System Essay Example for Free

Library System Essay In progress countries, where the Computerized Library System is a mature technology, developments are the area of resource sharing and globalization of Information Access. In such a scenario, the role of the librarian is no longer to make available the most suitable books or editorial or facts accessible within the library but to seek out the information necessary by the user from any library. The recent advancement in Information Technologies and system has become the key concerns of librarian and libraries. Libraries need to develop their resources access, analyse the need of their users and seek to develop resources to meet this needs. As a learning and knowledge organization, schools should empower their libraries to develop the appropriate tools in coping with the growing library trends and standards. The Jesus is Lord Christian School’s Library System is a Manual System, which covers manual transactions inside the library, such as borrowing, returning, and recording of the books and the registration of the new borrowers. The system will help the librarian to closely monitor the condition of the library. This system is also design to speed up every transaction inside the library. The main objective of the proposed system is to increase the efficiency and security of record keeping of the school. The system will also generate reports that are needed in monitoring the library. The proposed system is design with security to protect sensitive files from unauthorized access. Only authorized users can have an access to confidential files. The security of files is achieved through the use of Username and Password for identification and authentication of the user. The proposed Computerized Library System of Jesus is Lord Christian School will improve and speed up library transactions. 1. 0 INTRODUCTION The Computerized Library System is an Integrated System that consists of library operating components such as Cataloguing, Searching, Adding, Editing, and Deleting books and periodicals information. Each component supports a user-friendly interface that makes it extremely accessible to librarians and students alike. The software is also design with portability in mind, so that it would be available to a wide variety of computer architecture. Library is a place where the collections of books are kept. A library operates routinely with known set of customer, it also operates on expectation. When the client walks into the library, we expect that they will get the material or information that they need. The library in return, expects that the client will return the items within the specified borrowing time. As always, the role of the library and librarians is to help manage the effective delivery of library services. This has been traditionally anchored on the management of the catalogue and physical collection. Librarians are trained to be expert in Information Searching, Selecting, and Organizing. Nowadays, in a highly technological society, human productivity is made more efficient through the development of the electronic gadgets and machine. The advent of such modernization in education, one way to globalize the process of research is to appreciate that technology is advancing in a dramatic increase. Now in our modern society, technology is the most important advancement which brings necessity to progress us along to the computerized world. These make man’s life easier and more convenient. 1. 2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 1. 2. 1 General problem How to design, develop, and implement a Computerized Library System for Jesus is Lord Christian School to lessen their time in tracking of records, storage of numerous paperwork’s and manual filing of forms. 1. 2. 2 Specific Problems * The current acquisition and cataloguing process of Jesus is Lord Christian School Library is time consuming and prone to errors due to the present manual operations. * The traditional use of pen and typriter for acquisition and cataloguing are prone to erasures. * The library reports and inventory are very tedious and it takes a month to be completed because it is manually done * The library reports and inventories are said to be tedious because of manual book counting, listing of new books, and Administrative reports. * The process of lending and returning of books user consumes minutes of manpower due to the manual tracking and processing of students, employee and book records. * The Jesus is Lord Christian School Library staffs manually perform the borrowing and returning of books, and it takes several minutes to complete a single process. * Tracking of overdue books is difficult and this prolongs the returning process as well as the imposing of penalties. * The calculation and imposing of imposing of penalties as well as tracking of overdue books are manually performed, this results to lack of books monitoring 1. 3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1. 3. 1 General Objective This study aims to design, develop, and implement a Computerized Library System for Jesus is Lord Christian School that will store information and track the records of books and its borrowers, and produced library reports and inventories of the school’s library. 1. 3. 2 Specific Objectives * To produce an efficient book acquisition process this will be useful during cataloguing. * To produce a means of tracking overdue books useful in imposing penalties whenever necessary. * To produce library reports and inventories like Administrative Reports that would be available whenever needed. * To be able to monitor all borrowed and returned books. * To be able to monitor the circulation of books. * To provide a facility that will handle library transactions efficiently and accurately. 1. 4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 1. 4. 1 The Librarians A Computerized Library System is a tool that can be used by the school librarian in storing and retrieving information such as the books information and the borrower’s information in order to make every transaction faster. A Computerized Library System can have a great help for the librarian of Jesus is Lord Christian School because the number of students enrolled there increases very year thus, the job of the librarian becomes more difficult and complicated because it is very hard for them to monitor huge number of students who want to borrow books. The study will help the librarian solve the problems regarding its transactions like the computing of penalties for the delinquent borrowers and maintaining of books in the library so that the job of the librarian will be lessened. 1. 4. 2 Students and Faculty Members This study will help the students and the faculty members in borrowing books because this system will provide them a categorization system so that they can search a specific book in the library in a much convenient way. 1. 4. 3 The School Administrator Our proposed system will generate reports needed by the school admin like the list of books in the library, list of delinquent borrowers, list of new books and list of damage books. 1. 4. 4 Assistant Librarian In case of librarian is not in the library, the assistant librarian can also access the proposed system. However, there are only certain process that the assistant library can operate. 1. 5 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS The system will only focused on books and periodicals. It will not include the library budgets. The inventory of equipment and audio visual materials in order for the system to be concrete and specific. The proposed library system will not be networked in order to reduce complexity on the part of the proponent. The system will also include the File Maintenance of the books wherein they can add, edit, delete all the necessary information if needed. This will also help the librarian in the monitoring of books in the library because all the books information will be stored in a database. This will make it much easier for the librarian to update the books in the library. Back-up and Restoration of the database is also included in the system. We will provide a module that will back-up all the information in the database when the system is turn off and will restore if the main database is corrupted. In this process, the risk of losing some information in the library will be minimized. The calculation of penalties for overdue books is done with the use of an efficient books transaction process. The report generation such as readymade listings for manual book counting, listing of new books, discarded books and Administrative reports will be easily done. All of the information will be stored in the database so that the borrowing and returning of books can easily be monitored by the Librarian. The system will also provide the automatic computation of penalty for the delinquent borrowers depending on the number of days overdue, in this case the librarian does not need to compute penalty in a manual process and the possible wrong computation will be lessen. Generating of reports will also be provided by the system like the list of books in the library, list of new books, list of damaged books, and the list of delinquent borrower. The system will not include the purchasing of new books or any additional equipment in the library like desks, electric fan, chairs, book shelves and other materials. 2. 0 METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY (Software Engineering Paradigm) The Spiral Model The spiral model combines the idea of iterative development (prototyping) with the systematic, controlled aspects of the waterfall model. It allows for incremental releases of the product, or incremental refinement through each time around the spiral. The spiral model also explicitly includes risk management within software development. Identifying major risks, both technical and managerial, and determining how to lessen the risk helps keep the software development process under control. The spiral model is based on continuous refinement of key products for requirements definition and analysis, system and software design, and implementation. At each iteration around the cycle, the products are extensions of an earlier product. This model uses many of the same phases as the waterfall model, in essentially the same order, separated by planning, risk assessment, and the building of prototypes and simulations. Documents are produced when they are required, and the content reflects the information necessary at that point in the process. All documents will not be created at the beginning of the process, nor all at the end (hopefully). Like the product they define, the documents are works in progress. The idea is to have a continuous stream of products produced and available for user review. The spiral lifecycle model allows for elements of the product to be added in when they become available or known. This assures that there is no conflict with previous requirements and design. This method is consistent with approaches that have multiple software builds and releases and allows for making an orderly transition to a maintenance activity. Another positive aspect is that the spiral model forces early user involvement in the system development effort. For projects with heavy user interfacing, such as user application programs or instrument interface applications, such involvement is helpful. Starting at the center, each turn around the spiral goes through several task regions . * Determine the objectives, alternatives, and constraints on the new iteration. * Evaluate alternatives and identify and resolve risk issues. * Develop and verify the product for this iteration. * Plan the next iteration. Note that the requirements activity takes place in multiple sections and in multiple iterations, just as planning and risk analysis occur in multiple places. Final design, implementation, integration, and test occur in iteration 4. The spiral can be repeated multiple times for multiple builds. Using this method of development, some functionality can be delivered to the user faster than the waterfall method. The spiral method also helps manage risk and uncertainty by allowing multiple decision points and by explicitly admitting that all of anything cannot be known before the subsequent activity starts 3. 0 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Computerized Library System in the Philippines have integrated library system namely, UP Don Bosco Technical College (develop in house), Ateneo Professional Schools (develop in house). Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center (Date Trek), International Institute (Iunopac), Asian Development Bank (VTLS), International Rice Research integrated use micro-CDs/ISIS, INMAGIC or BIBASE to create their electronic catalogs and/or indexes and produce catalog/cards or book catalog indexes. The theological libraries also use BIBASE for their circulation system. UP Computerized Library System is develop in aiming to produce a full pledge computerized library system that supports all necessary components to suit library tasks. Each components work conjunction with each other to produce an automated library system. The team aims to provide a really good GUI for ease of access on part of the user. The proposed system will cover the monitoring of books and borrowers. Computing penalty for overdue available generating a card catalog for searching a particular books, its title, subject and author. The difference of this system to our proposed system is we will convert the current system of the said school from manual system into computerized library system for faster searching of records. The library functions of the benefits of the students, teachers as if supply the patrons with a wealth of information, found in books, periodic and electronic sources, assistance is given with teams paper’s factual information. Leisure reading materials and any other library related activities. This chapter reviews literature and studies that the researchers considered relevant to the present study. The school library is one of the most common studied division of educational institutions. Not a few specialist in the teaching enterprise have devoted their attention and focus their inquiry into the system management and problems of the library as a learning resource center. There is the only need to gear up current awareness services, but also to initiate new services with the assistance the new services technologies, so that total library operation and service can be modernized. There remains much to be done as the image of the university libraries directly linked with the quality of services it provide to its rising users of device requirements. [FEST 1994]. In completion of the study, the proponents made use of different books. They also made use of the response of the direct inquiries from interviews. These are big factors in the generation of ideas. Library classifications have been particularly defined as systematic arrangement by subjects of books and other material on shelves and catalogue and index entries and manner which is most useful for those who read or who seek definite piece of information. University of Santo Tomas can be considered as the oldest university in the country. The first seeds were planted when the founders, Fr. Miguel de Benavides and Fr. Diego Soria, donated their private collections. Through the history of the university other Dominicans contributed books that they thought were indispensable in education for the priesthood. This explains why the oldest books in the collections are related in the philosophy, theology or law. As new faculties were opened in the university books were added. All these constitute a precious collection of rare books unique in the Philippines. The library was house at the university quarters in the old city of Intramuros for three hundred years. When the university expandedits campus outside the walls, the collection were also transferred. When the main building constructed, the library was allotted of room at ground floor. Its collection increased with the opening of new courses, the library grew to occuy one whole wing of the ground floor of this building and other rooms in the different building [JOAQ 2004]. In 1985, the long waited dream of the exclusive building for the library finally materialized, and on October 29, 1989 the UST Central Library Buildings was inaugurated. [JOAQ 2004]. Until 1985 the books in the library were classified according to the old method of classification called the fixed system. In 1927, the university adopted another method classification known as the Dewey Decimal System. 4. 0 DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM The Jesus is Lord Christian School uses manual type of operation in managing library transactions. Several procedures are included in handling all the necessary information of books, students, faculty member as well as the card catalogue. Library transactions like borrowing, returning, cataloguing and reserving are being done manually by the librarian of staff. The librarian uses pen and library master card file in recording all the transactions with regards to the books concern. Usually the library card for the faculty and none teaching staff is bigger compared to that of students and it is kept inside the library. In borrowing of books the library practices open shelves policy. Most of the time the student/faculty come in the library to conduct research and reading, if the said clients wants to borrow the books, they will ask the librarian if they can borrow the books. For students, they will present their library card to the librarian, and then the librarian will record the compulsory information needed like the due date into the library card. The student will sign in the books card. On borrowing, the library practiced a one to three policy. The Students as well as The Faculty can only be allowed to borrow three books at a time. In returning, the students or even the faculty will present the books borrowed, then the librarian will look the master card file of the students and sign it. If the books is returned on its due date, the library card will be simply returned to the students. In case the book was not returned on time, the students will be charged a fine of five pesos per day. The amount of penalty depends on the number of days the student failed to return the books. In the case of faculty and staff, they will simply present the books to the librarian, then the librarian will look for the library card of the faculty and staff in the faculty and staff card file and sign on it. The faculty and staff are exempted from the penalty.

Treaments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Treaments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Posttraumatic stress disorder occurs when individuals experience intrusive effects of a disturbing event that they have experienced for more than one month. PTSD is also marked by an individual’s determined avoidance of any stimuli that might remind them of the aforementioned event, along with a marked shift in mood and behavior which is distressing to the people around them. Over the years, a number of therapeutic techniques have been used to treat PTSD. Due to their effectiveness, exposure therapies and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are two of the most widely used of these techniques. These have been utilized to treat soldiers as well as civilians who have experienced trauma. However, the nuances of their application, in terms of their effectiveness against specific demographics have yet to be determined. This paper will critically evaluate a number of different studies conducted using exposure techniques, EMDR, or both and determine their effectivenes s in treating individuals with PTSD. Even though EMDR has its roots in exposure therapy, for the purposes of this study, EMDR and exposure therapies will be regarded as two distinctive therapeutic techniques (CITE). One of the biggest issues faced by PTSD treatment research is a large number of studies with subpar methodologies. Due to this, Foa and Meadows (1997) published seven standards that should be present in any research that deals with treatment outcomes of PTSD. They are known as the â€Å"Gold Standards† for treatment outcome studies. According to Foa and Meadows, every suitable PTSD research should have clearly defined symptoms; reliable and valid measures; use of independent evaluators; trained assessors; manualized, replicable, specific treatment programs; treatment adherence; and an unbiased assignment to treatment. Ready et al. (2012) provides an effective utilization of group-based exposure therapy which sets the precedent in favor of exposure techniques among veteran soldiers. Their decision to divide the participants into three groups of ten ensures that every individual can form personal connections with other members of the group given the limited time of the treatment program. The small group size also allows the participants, who would typically avoid social situations, to not feel overwhelmed when asked to share their experiences. On the other hand, the lack of any gender diversity within the sample group reduces external validity and adds to the stereotype that only men who have been in combat suffer from PTSD. Given the comorbidity of PTSD and substance abuse (CITE), using drug abuse as exclusion criteria further decreases its external validity. Allocating the first part of the program to forming support groups among participants is an effective use of the small sample size. It also helps in prolonging the social and emotional support that participants get during the program so that they will continue to support each other after its conclusion. Using each individual’s presentations as a form of exposure allows for a highly personalized exposure treatment while allowing them to understand that others have faced the same situations that they have. However, since they are required to listen to it as homework, it can only be effective with highly motivated participants. Seeing the long-term effectiveness of this type of exposure technique, Ready et al. (2012) proposed that the number of times that participants are required to listen to the presentations be increased from 10 to 20, which would theoretically increase the rate at which symptoms of PTSD would disappear. Overall, group based exposure therapy (GBET) is shown to be an effective short-term and long-term treatment for PTSD. Through research conducted in a Ugandan refugee camp, Neuner et al. (2008) demonstrated that, even with laypersons with minimal training in psychotherapy, exposure techniques such as narrative exposure therapy (NET) can be used to treat PTSD. Just nine research assistants, all laypersons, were employed to conduct this study among a sample size of 277 individuals. While they were given a 6 week crash course on therapeutic techniques and communication skills, the use of unqualified personal to treat psychological disorders is unethical and could have negatively affected the participants being treated. Furthermore, it would have been better to use research assistants who weren’t from the camps that the study was being conducted on; this would have decreased threats to the validity of the study such as demand characteristics and participant expectations. However, the subject of PTSD wasn’t alien to the laypersons since all of them had been diagnosed with it at one point or another, meaning that they could empathize with the participants via personal experience. Since follow-up assessments showed that 70% of the participants who underwent NET can no longer be diagnosed with PTSD, this type of psychotherapy can be used in war-torn regions where professional help isn’t readily available. But the validity of the final results can be questioned due to the large number of participants who could not be located for the post-test and follow-up sessions, even though the study had adjusted for attrition during participant selection. Another exposure technique, known as imagery rescripting and exposure therapy (IRET), was used by Long et al. (2011) to treat nightmares associated with PTSD. Like in the aforementioned case of Ready et al. (2012), this program also suffered from the issue of being all male. Furthermore, the temporal relevance of the study can be questioned since the participants were primarily veterans of the Vietnam War and none of the participants had participated in active combat since the early 1990s. While IRET had great success in decreasing the frequency of nightmares and increasing the quality of sleep, it wasn’t shown to have any effect on other symptoms associated with PTSD. The validity of these findings can be further questioned by the fact that the mean age for the participants were 62.1 years; meaning that their sleep disturbances may be the result of factors other than PTSD. Despite all of this, the self-employed and individualized exposure techniques used in this study, along with the extensive psychoeducation that preceded it, makes it a highly effective tool to treat nightmares associated with PTSD, even in individuals who have been suffering from it for decades. Rothbaum, Astin, and Marstellar (2005) attempted to compare the efficacy of prolonged exposure therapy (PE) to EMDR with respect to the treatment of rape victims. One of the things that stood out from this study was the fact that every assessment and evaluation that is required during the course of the study was conducted by independent, blind evaluators. In addition to that the integrity of the specific therapies was measured by assessors who rated them highly. The sample size used was appropriate but a high dropout rate, combined with a few peculiar additions to the sample groups negatively affects the validity and reliability of the study; three participants who would not have otherwise been able to pass the exclusion criteria were allowed to participate in the study. It also used the participant’s subjective opinion on the most significant events in their lives, on which the treatments were focused on, which stands out due to the lengths they went to make the results of th is study independent and objective. Furthermore, the remarkable success at which both PE and EMDR was able to treat the participants, raises questions on the reliability of the treatment process; 95% of the PE group and 75% of the EMDR group of patients who have been suffering from PTSD for over a decade, were no longer diagnosable as PTSD patients after a treatment process that lasted a few weeks. Despite all that, the efficacy of both exposure techniques and EMDR in treatment compared to no treatment cannot be questioned. Ahmad, Larsson, and Sundlein-Wahlsten’s (2006) study, which was conducted using participants between the ages of 6 to 16, demonstrated that PTSD is prevalent even among children. The randomized controlled nature of the study along with the independent assessments makes it high in internal validity. Participants on the control group of this also showed improvements; they however, improved in non PTSD related symptoms. Moreover, the inventory that was administered had been modified in such a way that it can be understood and used easily with children. Furthermore, a more extensive evaluation can be carried out in the form of longitudinal studies or case studies regarding the relationship between PTSD in children and the history of mental illness in their family. Like many other programs which tested different treatments of PTSD, this study lacked a larger sample size, and utilized extensive exclusion criteria; this could affect its generalizability. In addition to this, they fai led to make independent assessments of their follow-up evaluations, affecting its claim of having blind assessments. Similar to Rothbaum, Astin, and Marstellar’s (2005) study which used the victim’s subjective opinion of their worst experience in order to conduct their PTSD assessment, this study also decided to focus on one single incident that the young participants or their guardians deemed significant. This is an effective method of administering EMDR, since it is more efficient in treating specific memories that are distressing to the participants. However, in a broader perspective, while a case can be made to the point that subjective opinions of individuals’ most distressing events are relevant to treating PTSD since it’s the individuals themselves who are experiencing them, it should also be pointed out that what an individual considers to be the most significant event in his/her life need not be the most significant event in terms of psychological and emotional trauma. Therefore, it should be best to conduct extensive background checks before any kind of decisio n is made regarding the significance of any life events. In a study published by Taylor et al. (2003), a side by side comparison of prolonged exposure therapy and EMDR with respect to specific symptoms of PTSD was conducted to determine which technique was more effective against each of them. Compared to most other studies conducted regarding PTSD, this study had a fairly large sample size (n=60) with the majority of them being Caucasian and women. While the study employed an impressive sample size, since the participants were primarily diagnosed with chronic and severe forms of PTSD, the external validity of the results can be brought into question. However, since most of the participants of the study had chronic PTSD, it reduces the possibility that the changes that were observed in the pretests and posttests are purely due to temporal changes. The validity can be further questioned due to the difference in educational qualifications of the two therapists who administered these therapeutics techniques. However, independent expert assessm ent of their interrater reliability produced high scores, disproving these doubts. Moreover, the treatments were administered using standardized manuals which increased the validity of the study by ensuring that all participants received near as similar treatments as possible. This study is the first study to have achieved the aforementioned â€Å"gold Standard† for PTSD outcome treatment research (CITE). This study’s observed reductions in PTSD symptoms for all three subject groups were determined by the authors as a result of the effect of unintended exposure during relaxation training and EMDR techniques. This contradicts with the belief that in EMDR, eye movement â€Å"enhances the retrieval of episodic memory and increases cognitive flexibility† (CITE). While exposure techniques and eye movement desensitizing and reprocessing (EMDR) are similar to each other in many ways and are efficacious in their treatment of PTSD, their approaches, implementations, and goals are quite different from one another. EMDR treats PTSD by asking the patients to subjectively choose the memory or experience that they think is causing them the most distress and treating them so that they are desensitized to this particular experience. The root of their PTSD is determined to be their most distressing memory and by desensitizing them to that experience and the re-experiencing that follows it, they are shown to have significant decrease in symptoms of PTSD. While some specialized exposure therapies employ similar approaches, others such as the NET and GBET explores an individual’s whole life or a particular period in which they were susceptible to distressing experiences respectively. This method allows the therapist to play a part in determining the most significant event in an individual’s life and adjusting the treatment process accordingly. In addition to that, since Taylor et al. (2003) showed that prolonged exposure therapy was more effective than EMDR in reducing the levels of re-experiencing and avoidance, the authors of the study concluded that it is the superior therapeutic technique. All in all, both exposure techniques and EMDR are very good at what they are supposed to do; but exposure techniques are better at it. Therefore, a hypothesis can be derived from the above discussed studies which states that specialized exposure techniques are more efficacious in the treatment of PTSD than EMDR across social and temporal demographics.

The Impact Of Spanish Colonization

The Impact Of Spanish Colonization The days were long and arduous and the ships sailed for hours hoping to discover something, they became impatient and discouraged and was at the merge of giving up, then suddenly out into the sea they there was the sight of land grounds, Look ahead men, its landIM AFRAID THIS IS PERHAPS A NEW WORLD! A seaman named Christopher Columbus became obsessed with the possibility to pioneering a western sea route and the gold and spice islands of Asia. Taking that in great consideration Columbus and his men arrived in the new world for three simple reasons, Gold, God and Glory. Many believed that there was limited source of gold and so the amount of gold an empire had determined how rich their economy was. Europeans alleged at that time, the world was a flat surface but however Columbus challenged that principle. He thought to himself that the world was round and wanted to prove his theory and obtain great riches for and spices hence the reason he wanted to set sailed with his men, hoping to discover India. India was known for its glorious gold and riches. Columbus formulated a theory called the Enterprise of the Indies and since India was known for its many resources, he thought that it was profitable to use the sea route to get there. It was suggested that passing on land routes included payments of many taxes and so decided it take such alternative. The trip therefore had to be sponsored but unfortunately he was rejected several times by the king and queen of Spain. He tried convincing them that he would discover great possessions that would enhance their economy and that he would also spread their religion of Christianity, but his efforts were to no avail. However, that was until after the Spanish conquest of the Moorish kingdom of Granada in January 1492. The Spanish monarchs, flush with victory, and so agreed to support his voyage. In this essay I will examine both the mayor reasons for the Spanish arrival in the new world and analyze the impacts that their coloni zation had on the indigenous people in Trinidad and Tobago. To acquire gold, spread the word of god and accomplish glory, were indeed the most important reasons for the Spanishs arrival in the new world. In Columbus times gold was very limited and a wealthy nation would be determined by the amount of gold its economy owned. Columbus wanted to provide evidence that the world was indeed round and that he could sail to obtain the immense riches of India to return to his country. However on doing so he discovered land that was referred to as the new world, this is known today as the Caribbean and North, South and Central America. On arriving at the land, to Columbus astonishment, it was in fact an existing world. Therefore the Spanish were obviously not the first set of people to discover the new world and was not the first settlers there. Different types of indigenous people were the primary settlers that journeyed to the Caribbean. They were great hunters and to obtain food would hunt animals to consume. However with diverse weather conditions animals tend to migrate a lot to find an environment that suits them best. Parallel to this, the indigenous groups migrated a lot in search of food and so as a result settled in the Caribbean and Americas. Two sets of these indigenous tribes that remained in Trinidad were called the Tanios and the Kalinagos. They had unique cultures and lifestyles from that of the Spanish. Luckily the Spanish was worshipped by the Amerindians because they saw them as Gods. This was so because of the white complexion of their skin and they were immediately welcomed. The natives thought that if they serve them with whatever they desired they would be richly blessed since they were Gods. The Spanish soon after started controlling the groups of indigenous tribes. They forced them to work for no pay and soon there freedom was taken away from them. Their lands and riches were possessed by the Spanish settlers and they enslaved the Amerindians. The word of God was a very important factor to the Spanish and they took their religion of Christianity very seriously. The Spanish settlers religious beliefs were also extended to the indigenous people and they were forced not to practice their own culture. Their religion of Christianity was made compulsory and the natives were forced to speak their language. There traditional religious beliefs were stamped out and were replaced by Christianity. The Spanish believed that once they had the ability to make someone reject their own god and worship theirs, they would have great control over that person and so that is exactly what they did to the Amerindians. Once their religion was delivered to the world, the Spanishs empire would be exceedingly contented and so they achieved a main reason for their arrival. Another reason the settlers came was to obtain glory, this however summarizes some aspects which includes land, power and wealth and so Spain became flooded with magnificence and wealth after conquering the new lands. European nations became wealthier because of the precious metals such as gold and diamonds that they obtained from the new world. They cultivated many lands and produced large amounts of harvest; they enslaved the Amerindians and offered no pay at all. Spain gained great power and prestige; they dominated the Americas and possessed a vast amount of land and wealth. The country reined for a very long time after Columbus discoveries, bringing jealousy to other countries. To the Europeans, the widespread of their Christianity beliefs was named very well for them. Columbus voyages was a great beginning for Europeans, it made them explore even more. Trading exportations of large quantities of goods and raw materials was available along with other positive features. The Ameri ndians had also introduced tobacco, corn and cassava to the Spanish. They acquired and learned great skills from the Amerindians, for example how to build their houses to withstand hurricanes. After the voyages, few negative effects were also bought to the Europeans nations. This included lots of jealousy and rivalry among European nations which caused many wars. The Europeans also obtained diseases such as yellow fever and malaria from the Amerindians resulting in many deaths. The Spanish colonization however had major negative impacts on the indigenous people that settled in Trinidad such as the decrease of the population, family separation, starvation and the lost of their culture and tradition. The most prominent amongst them all was genocide and annihilation. The indigenous population decreased drastically after being enslaved by the Spanish. The Amerindians, were killed in the defensive wars they undertook against the Spanish to preserve their freedom. They lost battles to the Spanish and died rapidly because their weapons were made from bones, stones and shells and so they could not have competed with that of the Spanish. The Spanish had in possession, more superior arms and weapons that included guns, canons, dangerous explosives and gunpowder and was successful in dominating the indigenous people. Some also died from many European diseases such as small pox, measles and influenza. Because the indigenous people were not immune to these diseases they became exceedingly ill and consequentially they eventually died. Being enslaved, some natives were separated from their families, which caused a major breakdown. They were not familiar with the nature of work and unknown lifestyle forced onto them by the Spanish and the harsh treatments received so this resulted in a great loss of the population. The Amerindians were also fatalistic and believed when bad things happened, the Gods were against them and seeing that they saw the Europeans as gods, as stated earlier, some committed suicide since they were treated so ruthlessly. Others, after being brutally enslaved and submitted to a meager diet of cassava and sweet potatoes, died from malnutrition and overwork in the mines or plantations. They died from starvation because they were not liberated to obtain the food they would normally consume. They were starved and treated as slaves. The indigenous people were also used for sport purposes by the Spanish. The Spanish saw them as lesser bodies and so to test the sharpness of ones blade or weapon, they would cut off the neck of an Amerindian. Some also committed infanticide. Others ran away to other island where they could be concealed while some just surrendered. Another major impact that the Spanish colonization had on the indigenous people was the lost of their culture and tradition. After being taken over by the Spanish settlers they were stripped of their unique cultures. It was on Columbus third voyage he discovered Trinidad. The two groups of indigenous people that survived in Trinidad, the Tanios and Kalinagos had different characteristics and so those features were abolished after being forced to live by another way of life. The arawaks, sub group of the tanios were the first set of people discovered by Spanish and was seen as very peaceful and sedentary beings. The arawaks, short, copper colored, having long black and straight hair, survived from agriculture, hunting and fishing, they grew a soft variety of corn and sweet potato. They also knew how to make cassava bread using an elaborate process to leach out the poisonous juice of its roots. The arawaks society was simply a very calm culture The Arawaks society was basically a very calm culture. It was classed into contentment, friendliness and was a highly organized paternal society. Each society contained a small kingdom and every kingdom had a leader, call a cacique. At the time when Columbus arrived, there were five different kingdoms, all was then in fact divided separated and dismantled. The culture of the arwaks involved having two or three wives and the cacique had about thirty. Women enjoyed a materially superior lifestyle being the wife of the cacique and also their children were held in high esteem. The religious myths of the arawaks were polytheists and their Gods were called ZEMIS. Religious practices of the zemis included worshiping and obeisance to the zemis themselves accompanying dancing and took place in the village courts during special festivals. Medicine men or priest also consulted the zemis for advice and healing, this was also done in public cerem onies with songs and dances. The Europeans however took away those valuable practices and cultures from them after conquering their lands. They forced them to abide by their rules and regulations and stripped their way of life viciously. The tanios have now totally disappeared from the surface of the earth. The other group of indigenous people that was found in Trinidad was the caribs, a sub group of the Kalingao tribe. This tribe had olive skin, long straight hair and was a handsome people of great stature. Their foreheads and noses were flat since they flattened their heads, believing it to be a sign of beauty and perfection. They were not farmers but however great fishermen. Their religious beliefs involved abstaining from pigs, salt and turtles were practiced. Human sacrifices were also part of these rituals. Their culture was also somewhat of the arawaks. They had a head chief called the ubutu, who was selected because of strength and skill. Their manner was quite fierce and warlike. When conquered by the Spanish these indigenous people was also enslaved and they were also forced to live their lifestyle. Nevertheless, some people of this tribe still exist today in parts of the world and their culture has therefore survived to some extent. Life has changed dramatically for the carib people who traditionally are shy and retiring. However, many feel that they currently do not receive the attention they deserve and are vigilant in their determination not to suffer from exploitation; a fate that has bedeviled many indigenous peoples throughout the world. The Spanish colonization indeed impacted negatively on the indigenous peoples depletion and it also resulted in lost of their culture. Conversely, few positive impacts was also accomplished and introduced to the Amerindians. Technology was introduced to them by the Spanish for instance, ship building, also the skills of using navigational instruments. In addition to that European crops were bought in like banana, wheat, rice, coffee and olive. Animals were also imported such as horses, cows, pigs and chicken. The Spanish are not only the cause of the whipping out of the indigenous tribe but also plays an important role in the development of Trinidad. The Spanish governor who made the most significant impression on Trinidad was Don Jose Marla Chacon, after whom the national flower, the chaconia has been named. Chocon was an astute administrator who settled in many depute, declared Port of Spain the captial city of Trinidad today and also initiated development in the more remote parts of the island. Today many Spanish names of places exits in Trinidad, these include Rio-Claro, San-Fernando, Santa Flora, Santa Rosa, Barataria and many more. The language of the Spanish still exists and is officially the second language of Trinidad and Tobago. Some Amerindian names also exist as well in Trinidad today for example, Caura which means heavily wooded valley and Caroni. These two places are fun for its fascinating places of interest. There is the Caura River which is an interesting place to visit for recreational purposes. The Caroni Bird Sanctuary is known for the view of wonderful birds of numerous characteristics. There is also the Caroni Swamp which is also a historical place of interest in Trinidad. The history of the Spanish Colonization is indeed a unique aspect of our culture today. COMMENTS: .

Essay on the Defense of Walls in Mending Wall :: Mending Wall Essays

Opposing the Unthinking Defense of Walls in Mending Wall The speaker in "Mending Wall" questions his neighbor's stolid assumption that "good fences make good neighbors." Perhaps, what he objects to is not so much the sentiment itself as the unwillingness or inability of the other to think for himself, to "go beyond his father's saying." Just so; we must try to get beyond the apophthegm-like opening line of "Mending Wall," testing carefully for gradations of tone as we proceed. Is it the proverb-like authority of "something there is . . . " that makes it so natural to equate "something" with the speaker? Once this equation has been made, the reader joins the speaker in sympathizing with this mysterious "something" and hence in opposing the neighbor's unthinking defense of walls. Frost rings subtly drastic changes on the sound of a phrase like "good fences make good neighbors." By the time the poem ends, this line has acquired some of the pat stupidity of a slogan. Similar turns of the screw affect the opening line, when to it is added the darker phrase "that wants it down" and again when the speaker refuses to name the antiwall "something." "Elves" is the closest he gets, yet "It's not elves exactly, and I'd rather / He said it for himself." Elves may mean not willowy things out of Tolkien but darker forces of the wood, for the next image is one of darkness. The neighbor is viewed as subtly menacing, "an old-stone savage armed." Yet this man has been the one to defend boundaries. The apparently relaxed and leisurely pace of the poem has made us lower our own boundaries and forget who is on what side. At any rate, although the speaker's ironic evasiveness undermines any confident interpretation, Poirier is surely right when he makes the following point: . . . .it is not the neighbor . . . a man who can only dully repeat "good fences make good neighbors"-- . . .it is not he who initiates the fence-making. Rather it is the far more spirited, lively, and "mischievous" speaker of the poem. While admitting that they do not need the wall, it is he who each year "lets my neighbor know beyond the hill" that it is time to do the job anyway, and who will go out alone to fill the gaps made in the wall by hunters.

Richard Nixon :: essays papers

Richard Nixon was the thirty-seventh president of the United States and the only president to have resigned from office. He was on his was to success after receiving his law degree from Duke University Law School in 1937. California Republicans persuaded Nixon in 1946 to be their candidate to challenge Jerry Voorhis, the popular Democratic Congressman, for his seat in the United States House of Representatives. He accuses Voorhis of being â€Å"soft† on Communism. This was damaging to him because the Cold War rivalry between the United States and USSR was just beginning. Voorhis was forced into a defensive position after the two men confronted each other in a series of debates. Nixon’s campaign was an example of the vigorous and aggressive style characteristic of his political career that led him to win the election. Nixon gained valuable experience in international affairs as a new member of the United States Congress. He helped establish a program known as the Marshall Plan, in which the US assisted Europe rebuild itself following the war. He also served on the House Education and Labor Committee to develop the National Labor Relations Act. In 1948, writer and editor Whittaker Chambers accused Alger Hiss, a high State Department official, of being a Communist. Nixon, a member of the Un-American Activities Committee, personally pressed the investigation. Hiss denied further charges that he had turned classified documents over to Chambers to be sent to the USSR. Alger Hiss was later convicted and indicted for perjury after sufficient evidence was discovered. Nixon was reelected to Congress after winning both the Republican and Democratic nominations as a result of gaining a national reputation as a dedicated enemy of Communism. In 1950, Nixon was chosen as candidate for the US Senate from California by the Republicans. Again, he won this election by linking his opponent to being pro-Communist. Nixon was selected to be the running mate of the Republican presidential nomination, General Eisenhower, in 1952. Many of Eisenhower’s advisors wanted Nixon to resign his candidacy shortly after his vice-presidential nomination because of accusations that he misused his senator expenses fund. No evidence was found to prove this, and, in response, Nixon replied on national television with the â€Å"Checkers† speech, which contained sentimental reference to Nixon’s dog, Checkers. The speech was his attempt to prove his innocence. In the following campaign, Nixon once again attacked the Democratic presidential candidate as being soft on Communism.

The Observation of Savage Peoples (1800) :: Essays Papers

The Observation of Savage Peoples (1800) Synopsis Joseph-Marie Degerando was a revolutionary, French philosopher who transcribed one of the original guidelines for the study of anthropology in the year 1800 titled, I: Societe des Observateurs de l’Homme in French, and translated into English as, The Observations of Savage Peoples. According to the author of the introduction and translator of his work into English, F. C. T. Moore, Degerando’s guidelines were a â€Å"capital work of anthropology† (Moore, U of CA Press. p. 2). Whether Degerando provided the most accurate guidelines for the study of humans is argued; however, his work was certainly influential as it served as a foundation for the science of anthropology. In fact, Moore declares there are consistent similarities between the anthropological recommendations of Degerando and those practiced by modern day anthropologists (Moore, U of CA Press. p. 4-5). Although Degerando’s work is considered one of the earliest influential works serving as a foundation for the field of anthropology, the work was not successful at the time of its publication. Many reasons for its failure are speculated within reviews of the text which offer both criticism and approval. Moore provides an extensive overview of the history of the text in his introduction to The Observations of Savage Peoples, as well as an assessment of its success and failures at the time of its publication. Also, the article, â€Å"Disappearing Savages? Thoughts on the Construction of an Anthropological Conundrum† by John W Burton, also offers some criticism of Degerando’s text. The inspirations of Degerando to write such guidelines in the year 1800 are numerous. At the time of its publication, Degerando was part of a new found society in France in 1799, the Societe des Observateurs de l’Homme. This society was formed in coincidence with increased interest in primitive peoples. We find in Moore’s text, â€Å"False Beginnings: early nineteenth century episodes in the human sciences†, an exert describing the intentions and purpose of the society from the journal, Magasin Enyclopà ©dique, In taking the name Socià ©tà © des observateurs de l’homme, and the ancient motto ‘Gnothi seauton’, Know thyself, the society has devoted itself to the science of man, in his physical, moral and intellectual existence; it has called to its observations the true friends of philosophy and moral reality, the deep metaphysician, the practical doctor, the historian, the traveller, the student of the nature of language, the educationalist. In this way, man, followed and compared in the different scenes of life, will become the subject of research the more useful as it is free from passion, prejudice and excessive systematization.

How To Handle Information Essay

1.1 Identify legislation and codes of practice that relate to handling information in social care settings Data Protection Act 1998 – it gives rights to individuals in respect of personal data held about them. Freedom of Information Act 2000 – it gives you the right to ask any public sector organisation for all the recorded information they have on any subject. Employees Policies & Procedures – to make sure that all records that are kept in the office are put away in a locked secure cabinet or securely saved on the computer. Health and Social Care Act 2008 – it requires us to publish a code that sets out the practice we will follow in obtaining, handling, using and disclosing confidential personal information. 1.2 Explain how legal requirements and codes of practice inform practice in handling information Legal requirements give us guidance and support when it comes to storing and handling personal / confidential information about the service users. It helps us to store information correctly and safely. For example we use key safes every day and we have to make sure not to tell anyone the number combination. Worst thing you can do is to right down the number on your rota next to the service user’s name where the address is also given. 2.1 Explain how to maintain records that are up to date, complete, accurate and legible A good way of maintaining records is on a computer or in a file that can be kept confidential and kept up to date. Records should be updated each time the service user is reviewed. 2.2 Describe practices that ensure security when storing and accessing information Passwords on computers blocks unauthorised people from accessing records. Locked away in a filing cabinet with a key that only someone who is authorised to open it has the key. Not leaving notes everywhere in the office with information on them about the service users. 2.3 Describe features of manual and electronic information storage systems that help ensure security Records saved electronically can be protected by passwords. Some PC systems only allow access by authorised person signed in with their unique password. Some computers are not connected to the internet to avoid the risk of intervention. If the records are not saved electronically then these have to be locked away when not in use (lockable filing cabinets). 3.1 Explain how to support others to understand the need for secure handling of information Ensure that others understand the need for secure handling of information by completing induction training and shadowing. Make sure that they understand the importance of keeping records safe and not leaving them where anyone can read them. They have to understand what information they can share and what to report if something unusual happens to the service user. 3.2 Explain how to support others to understand and contribute to records The best way to support others is by shadowing, when a new carer spends a few days with a senior carer who has a lot of experience. The senior carer should take time explaining what to do before each visit and to ask the new carer to complete all care tasks by themselves. Of course they can ask questions and the senior carer can always stop them if they think they are not carrying out the tasks correctly. I personally do not believe in the method where the new carer is just watching the senior carer. The best way to learn is by doing it.

Night World : The Chosen Chapter 9

How long since hed identified with mankind macrocosms?That had alto workher s baksheeshped the day he stopped creation human himself. not at the moment hed stopped beinghuman, though. At first totally his peevishness had been for hunting watch Redfern.Waking up from the groundless was an experience you dont for abbreviate. For Quinn, it happened in the Redferncabin on a husk mattress in forepart of the fire.He opened his eye to moot three beautiful immature womans leaning oer him. Garnet, with her wine-colored hairshining in the ruby light, Lily with her black hair and her eyeball give care false topaz, and fall, his own plunge, chocolate-brown-haired and aristocratic, with vehement love in her tone.That was when Hunter assured him that hed been dead for three days.I told your baffle youd g cardinal to Plym surfaceh dont tell him former(a)wise. And dont try to roleplay yet youretoo reeking. Well bring in some social occasion soon and you tooshie feed. He s tood c morosein nail his young ladys, his armsaround them, all of them flavour down at Quinn. Be happy. Youre wiz of us at a time. barely all Quinn snarl was incompatibility-and pain. When he put his thumbs to his odontiasis, he imbed the source of thepain. His canine teeth were as long as a wildcats and they throbbed at the slightest touch.He was a monster. An unholy cock who needed blood to survive. Hunter Redfern had been noticethe truth about his family, and hed changed Quinn into one of them. demented with fury, Quinn jumped up and tried to liquidate his men around Hunters throat.And Hunter average laughed, fending off the attack easily. The next thing Quinn knew, he was running downthe blazed trail in the forest, heading for his drives house. Staggering and stumbling down the trail,rather. He was almost too weak to walk. accordingly suddenly descend was beside him. Little Dove who seeked as if she couldnt outrun a flower. She becalm him, held him up, and tried to convince him to go back.But Quinn could all think of one thing getting to his mother. His father was a pastor his father wouldknow what to do. His father would serve.And Dove, at last, agreed to go with him.Later Quinn would categorisation out that of course he should father cognise check.They reached Quinns photographic plate. At that point, if Quinn was afraid of anything, it was that his father wouldnt suppose this wild story of bloodthirst and death. But one look at Quinns new teeth convinced his father of boththing.He could confess a d execration when he saying one, he said.And he knew his duty. Like every Puritans, it was to cast out sin and atrocious w here(predicate)ver he found it.With that, his father picked up a brand from the fire-a expert piece of seasoned pine-and then grabbedDove by the hair.It was around this time that the thigh-slapper go forthed, the screaming Quinn would be equal to(p) to break forever aft(prenominal) if he listened. Dove wa s too gentle to put up much of a fight. And Quinn himself was too weak tosave her.He tried. He threw himself on top of Dove to shield her from the stake. He would al styluss hand oer the scaron his side to prove it. But the wood that nicked him pierced Dove to the heart. She died looking up athim, the light in her brown look exhalation out.Then everything was confusion, with his father chasing him, crying, brandishing the bloody stake pulledfrom Doves body. It ended when Hunter Red-fern appeared at the door with Lily and Garnet. Theytook Quinn and Dove home with them, while Quinns father went running to the neighbors for help. Hewanted help electrocution the Redfern cabin down.That was when Hunter said it, the thing that break up Quinns ties with his old land. He looked down athis dead daughter and said, She was too gentle to live in a world full of human beings. Do you think you cando any better?And Quinn, daze and starving, so frightened and full of horror that he couldnt talk, decided then that hewould. creation were the enemy. No matter what he did, they would never accept him. He had experiencesomething they could wholly shun-so he might as well become it thoroughly.You see, you dont have a family anymore, Hunter mused. Unless its the Redferns.Since then, Quinn had perspective of himself only as a vampire.He shook his head, notion clearer than he had for days.The miss had disturbed him. The girl in the cellar, the girl whose face he had never seen. For two daysafter that night, all he could think of was in some way conclusion her.What had happened between them well, he quench didnt understand that. If she had been a witch, hedhave mind she bewitched him. But she was human. And shed made him dubiety everything he knewabout humans.Shed awakened sensations that had been quiescence since Dove died in his arms.But now now he ideal it was average as well he hadnt been able to find her. Because the cellar girlwasnt just human, she was a v ampire hunter. Like his father. His father, who, quixotic and sobbing,had driven the stake through Doves heart.As always, Quinn felt himself losing his clinch on saneness as he remembered it. What a condole with that hed have to kill the cellar girl the next time he sawing machine her.But there was no help for it. Vampire hunters were worse than the ordinary human vermin, who werejust stupid. Vampire hunters were the sin and the evil that had to be cast out. The Night military personnel was theonly world.And I havent been to the dub in a week, Quinn thought, showing his teeth. He laughed out loud, astrange and brittle sound. Well, I guess Id better go tonight.Its all part of the great saltation, you see, he thought to the cellar girl, who of course couldnt hear him. The boz. of life and death. The dance thats dismission on right this minute all over the world, in African savannasand Arctic snowfields and the bushes in Boston Common.Killing and eating. Hunting and dying. A sp ider snags a bluebottle tent-fly a polar bear grabs a seal. Acoyote springs on a rabbit. Its the way the world has always been.Humans were part of it, too, except that they let slaughterhouses do the killing for them and receivedtheir prey in the form of McDonalds hamburgers.There was an order to things. The dance requiredthat someone be the hunter and someone else be the hunted. With all those young girls longing to offerthemselves to the sliminess, it would be wild of Quinn not to provide a darkness to oblige them.They were all only playacting their parts.Quinn headed for the fellowship, laughing in a way that scared even him.The club was only a a few(prenominal) streets away from the warehouse, Rashel noted. do sense. Everything aboutthis operation had the stamp of efficiency, and she perceived Quinns hand in that.I grotesquement what hes getting paid to provide the girls for sale? she thought. Shed heard that Quinn ilkdmoney.Remember, once we get inside, you dont know me, she said to Daphne. Its safer for both of us that way. They might suspect something if they knew that first you escape and now youre turning up with astranger.Got it. Daphne looked excited and a little scared. to a lower place her coat, she was wearing a slinky black topand a brief skirt, and her black-stockinged legs twinkled as she ran toward the club door.Under Rashels coat, hidden in the lining, was a knife. Like her sword, it was made of lignum vitae, thehardest wood on earth. The sheath had several interesting enigmatical compartments.It was the knife of a ninja, and Sensei, who had taught Rashel the warriorlike arts, wouldnt have approvedat all. He wouldnt have approved of Rashelmade it in, too, her story must(prenominal) have passed inspection. That was a relief.Inside, the place looked bid hell. Not a shambles. It literally looked care Hell. Hades. The Underworld.The lights turned it into a place of blest fire and twisting purple shadows. The music was weird and dissonant and sounded to Rashel as if it were being played backward.She caught scraps of conversation as she walked across the floor. going out Dumpster honkytonk later no money. So I gotta jack somebody told Mummy Idbe at the key-dub pieceing You get a real cross section here, she thought dryly.Everybody had one thing in popular, though they were young. Kids. The oldest looked about eighteen.The youngest-well, there were a few girls Rashel would put at twelve. She had an impulse to go backand insert something wooden into Ivan.A slow fire that had started in her titty when she first heard about the Crypt was burning hotter andhotter with everything she saw here. This entire place is a snare, a gigantic Venus flytrap, she thought asshe took off her coat and added it to a throng on the floor.But if she wanted to shut down it down, she had to stay cool, stick to her plan. Standing by a cast-iron column,she scanned the room for vampires.And there, rest with a little group that in-duded Daphne, was Quinn.It gave Rashel an odd shock to see him, and she wanted to look away. She couldnt. He was laughing,and somehow that caught hold of her like a fishhook. For a moment the morbid lighting of the roomseemed rainbow-colored in the effulgence shed by that laughter.Appalled, Rashel realized that her face had flushed and her heart was beating fast.I hate him, she thought, and this was true. She did hate him for what he was doing to her. He made herfeel unmoored and adrift. Confused. Helpless.She understood wherefore those girls were clustered around him, longing to gaol themselves into his darknesslike a crowd of virgin sacrifices jumping into a volcano. I mean, what else do you do with a big cat like that?she thought.Kill him. It would be the only solution even if he werent a vampire, she decided with sudden insanecheer. Because drawn-out contact with that smile was obviously going to annihilate her.Rashel blinked rapidly, getting a grip on herself. All ri ght. Concentrate on that, on the job to be done.She was going to have to kill him, but not now right now she had to get herself chosen.Walking carefully on her heels, she went over to join Quinns group.He didnt see her at first. He was facing Daphne and a gallus of other girls, laughing frequently- toofrequently. He looked wild and a little agitatedto Rashel. A sort of devilish queasy Hatter at an insane tea leaf party. and I just felt so totally awful that I didnt get to meet you, Daphne was saying, and I just aspiration Iknew what happened, because it was just so hard weirdShe was telling her story, Rashel realized. At least none of the people listening seemed openlysuspicious. I havent seen you here before, came a contribution behind her.It belonged to a striking girl with dark hair, very pale skin, and eye like amber or topaz or a hawks.Rashel froze, every muscle-builder tensing, trying to cargo hold her face expressionless. other vampire.She was sure of it. The camelli a-petal skin, the light in the eyes this must be the girl vampire whodbrought Daphne food in the warehouse.No, this is my first time, Rashel said, exonerate her voice light and eager. My names Shelly. It wasclose sufficient to her own name that she would turn automatically if anyone said it.Im Lily. The girl said it without warmth, and those hawklike eyes continued to bore straight intoRashels.Rashel had to trial to stay on her feet.Its Lily Redfern, she thought, working desperately to keep an idiot smile sloshed on her face. I know itis. How many Lilys can there be whod be working with Quinn?Ive got a Redfern right here in front of me. Ive got Hunter Redferns daughter here.For an instant she was tempted to simply make a dash for her knife. Killing a distinction like Lily seemedalmost worth heavy(a) up the enclave.But on the other hand, Hunter Redfern was a moderate sort of vampire, with a lot of influence on theNight World Council. He helped keep other vampires in line. St riking at him through his daughter wouldjust make him mad, and then he might start listening to the Councilors who wanted to slaughter humans indroves.And Rashel would lose any promise of getting at the heart of the knuckle down trade, where the real scum were.I hate politics, Rashel thought. But she was already beaming at Lily, prattling for all she was worth. Itwas my friend Marnie who told me about this place, and Im rightfully glad I came because its even betterthan I thought, and Ive got this poem I wrote-Really. Well, Im dying not to hear it, Lily said. Her hawklike eyes had disconnected interest. Her face was filledwith open contempt-shed laid-off Rashel as a hopeless bend idiot. She walked away withoutglancing back.Two tests passed. One to go.Thats what I like about Lily. Shes just so absolutely frigidity, a girl beside Rashel said. She had curlybronze hair and bee-stung lips. Hi, Im Juanita, she added.And shes serious, Rashel thought as she introduced herself. Quinns group had noticed her at last, andthey all seemed to agree with Juanita. They were fascinated by Lilys cold personality, her lack of feeling.They saw it as strength. Yeah, because feeling hurts. Maybe I should worship her, too, Rashel thought. She was finding toomany things in common with these girls.Lily the ice princess, another girl murmured. Its like shes not even really from earth at all. Its likeshes from another planet. founder that thought, a new voice said, a crisp, laughing, slightly insane voice. The effect it had on Rashelwas remarkable. It made her back stiffen and direct tingles up her palms. It closed her throat.Okay, test scrap three, she thought, drawing on every ounce of discipline shed learned in the martialarts. Dont lose zanshin. Stay loose, stay frosty, and go with it. You can do this.She turned to meet Quinns eyes.