The Political Nature Of Europe - 2056 Words

When King Leopold II of Belgium took the throne, he began looking for somewhere that the people of Belgium could colonize, not necessarily to live there, but to offer its economic support to the kingdom. However, the political nature of Europe meant that Belgium would need to look overseas for stability. Thus, Leopold sought a colony for Belgium in Africa, namely the Congo. Throughout the time that Leopold managed this colony, he used a variety of methods to try and convince this people that the imperializing of the Congo was a good thing and helpful to Belgium as well as needful for the people of the Congo. However, the realities of what truly happened in the Congo still leaked out for all to see. At the time that Leopold took the throne of Belgium, the country had only been free since 1830. It’s position in Europe left it vulnerable. Leopold knew from history that countries that expanded were more likely to be stable. For examples, he looked to Rome, Portugal, Spain, and Eng land. These countries all had colonies outside themselves that helped to support them. However, there was no place for Belgium to go in Europe. Europe was thoroughly claimed and trying to expand there would only bring more hardship on Belgium. As Leopold wrote in his diary, â€Å"We must raise the question of national expansion†¦Belgium will choose between the development, work, wealth, and power that brings security, or live †¦.at the mercy of foreign powers.† So, Leopold sought the continent of Africa.Show MoreRelatedEuropean Exploration : The Age Of Discovery1128 Words   |  5 Pagesknown as the Age of Discovery. During this time, Europe expanded to the Americas, Africa, and the Far East being the first orbit around the world. â€Å"Profound misconceptions about geography and the cultures of local populations would change very slowly throughout he early centuries of European exploration.† (The Saylor Foundation The European Voyages of Exploration: Intr oduction). Europeans had a hard time believing there was life outside of Europe before they explored. European nations reached outRead MoreThe Political Landscape Of France1367 Words   |  6 PagesThe political landscape in France had been shifting for a long time before the Enlightenment. The economic and military gains made by Louis XIV, the Sun King, ultimately crippled the country later when the Estates General failed to overthrow the French government democratically and peacefully. Two great thinkers, Baron de Montesquieu and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, both paved the way for the French and other Enlightenment revolutions during the 18th and 19th centuries. Although neither of the men sawRead MoreThe And The French Revolution1419 Words   |  6 Pagesthe romantic ideals of individualism, nature, physical and emotional passion and an interest in the mysteries of the world. Where did these ideals of Romanticism begin? Taking a look back into the 17th century, there was another inte llectual movement that changed society, culture and politics. The Enlightenment was a time period lasting throughout the 18th century which brought about the Age of Reason in which politics, philosophy, and science dominated in Europe. The philosophies of the EnlightenmentRead MoreIntroduction. Islam And Medieval Christianity Have Had1229 Words   |  5 Pagesfallen nature. These two religions are one two of the largest religions across the world and impact billions of people. Some individuals in both religions view each other as infidels and the only recourse is to remove them from the society at large. The warring nature of these two Abrahamic religions allowed for them to develop in differing ways in Western and Eastern Europe. The growth of Islamic during the 600s to the 1500s made changes to Christianity by making the Pope a powerful political rulerRead MoreThe History of Politics Essay1469 Words   |  6 PagesMany people ponder the nature of politics. Politics is an art, a way of thinking, and a public, idealistic profession, though it is sometimes succumbs to corruption and a lack of ideals, that often changes the course of world events. Mortals of reason and influence express their ideas in order to form or reform a group’s policy. In democratic society, the populous is able express and apply their inherent views into an arena that beholds a battle for the consensus. However, the premise of the peopleRead MoreOrigins Of The Twin Revolutions1287 Words   |  6 Pagesof transition from traditional to modern society. â€Å"Formation of a modern political map of the world began in early 1800 in Western Europe and maybe characterized as the product of the twin revolutions.† European colonization of the New World, the economic and political development of new territories led to significant changes in the political map. Modernity it is a complex of multi-faceted process that took a place in Europe during the 18th century and had covered all aspects of society. The modernityRead MorePolitical Roles During The French Revolution Essay1593 Words   |  7 Pageswhen women’s clubs and political associations formed during this period was notable for its capabilities to promulgate political enfranchisement for women. In this essay, I would discuss in-depth the banning of women’s clubs and political associations during the French Revolution from 1789 to 1799. I would be focusing on the political roles women undertook during the Revolution, and the reasons for the subsequent denial of women’s political participation. Why is women’s political participation importantRead MoreThe Transition Of Medieval Western Civilization970 Words   |  4 Pagescivilization to the Modern Age placed Western Europe in a position of global, political, and technological dominance and most importantly gave rise to the core of western thought: humanism and individualism. This hallmark thought however, would be nonexistent without the arts. The arts and artists of the Renaissance period and the Enlightenment reflect the prevailing values of not only Western Europe but in fact the Western world as a whole. Prior to the Renaissance, Europe was lost in the Middle Ages, situatingRead MoreThe European Union : The New Era Of Integration1744 Words   |  7 Pagesthe new era of integration efforts in the post-modern world. Europe is the recipient of global admiration as a prime destination for travelers who seek luxury, elegance, varying cultural experiences, and immersed in ancient history. European integration has pro duced the almighty EU that is considered to be one of the most respected, notarized, stable and secure intergovernmental and supranational bodies in the world. The appeal of Europe has reached an all time high as increasing global instabilityRead MoreRenaissance and Political System1193 Words   |  5 PagesRenaissance and Political Institutions Name: Instructor’s Name: Class: Date: Introduction Renaissance is a French term meaning rebirth or revival. Renaissance period in the history of Europe starts from the beginning of 15th century to the end of 16th century. The Renaissance manifested the transitional phase from the medieval ages to the modern era. It was a time of social and cultural changes in Europe. It is believed to be the beginning of the modern world and hence the new phase of the

Microeconomics Research Paper - 1617 Words

Nicholas Benyola Professor Mansourian Econ 201- 25 17 May 2012 Microeconomics Research Paper Minimum Wage In the United States, minimum wage has remained at a low number for several years. Minimum wage is defined as the lowest possible income that an employer can legally pay an employee. This ensures that all people are fairly paid and not defrauded by companies or businesses. Minimum wage is considered a price floor and the minimum wage laws determine the lowest price possible that any employer must pay for labor. In an economic model, the quantity of supplied is greater than the quantity demanded and the minimum wage is above equilibrium price and quantity. Minimum wage prevents labor supplied and labor demanded from moving†¦show more content†¦This is a true statement, but opposition says that this only drives up the standard of living and inflation rate in the world. Inflation is defined as the overall general upward price movement of goods and services in an economy. Although some people who earn the minimum wage are teenagers, almost two-thirds are adults. The average min imum wage worker brings home about half of his familys earnings. Increasing the minimum wage will help these workers to make up for lost ground due to inflation and it will help make work pay. Though inflation is one of the main problems in our economy and even though inflation and minimum wage are directly related, increasing minimum wage will give opportunity for a lot of lower class families to make enough to afford important things, such as insurance. If someone takes a trip to the doctor, with no insurance, they will most likely have to pay around eight- hundred dollars out of pocket. This would take anyone at least three months on minimum wage with two incomes to pay off these medical bills. Barak Obama’s plan to institute a health care plan for everyone will relieve a huge burden on people and also allow them to stay above the poverty line. Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute says, â€Å"Jacking the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25 w ould give a raise to 10 million workers, including many currently earning their stateShow MoreRelatedEco 201 Final Project (Selected Topic Is Ford Motor Company)988 Words   |  4 PagesBuy: http://hwcampus.com/shop/eco-201-final-project/ ECO 201 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview The final project for this course is the creation of a research paper. Every day, millions of economic choices are made by people—from what brand of soap to buy to how many employees to hire for a factory. 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Remember to use suggestionsRead MoreThe Effects Of Minimum Wage From A Microeconomic Perspective1640 Words   |  7 Pages The Effects of Minimum Wage from a Microeconomic Perspective Nathaniel Fishburne Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Introduction The first minimum wage law was implemented in New Zealand and Australia in the late 1900s. In 1940s, George J. Stigler founded the first standard model of minimum wage. The model predicts that the if â€Å"minimum wage system is set above equilibrium wage level, it would create unemployment because some previously employed workers will lose their jobs whileRead MoreThe Effect Of Macroeconomic Shifts On The Ridge Tool Company Essay982 Words   |  4 Pagesthe most impact are consumer wealth, resource costs and expectations. First the variables will be defined, then they will be analyzed using a historic perspective against ridge tool’s financial statements, and finally, we will be comparing to prior research to note any similarities to micro economic impacts. Macroeconomic variables have a large impact on a company’s performance and on our outlook as citizens. Before looking at past shifts, let us examine the variables and their impact on the economyRead MoreSwot Analy sis : Keurig Green Mountain Essay935 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The latest Hoover’s market research and analysis indicate the coffee and tea are forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of three percent. Keurig Green Mountain is the third largest manufacturer and distributor of coffee and coffee related products behind both Starbucks and Nestle. A survey conducted by the National Coffee Association confirms thirteen percent of people drink a single cup brewed coffee and accounts for $4.3 billion in sales (Oatman, 2014). To capture furtherRead MoreEcon Tutorial812 Words   |  4 PagesUNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINSTRATION ECO 1001: INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS TUTORIAL #1 1. Which of the following is the best definition of economics? a) The study of how individuals and societies choose to use the scarce resources that nature and previous generations have provided. b) The study of how consumers spend their income. c) The study of how business firms decide what inputs to hire and what outputs to produce. d) TheRead MoreEconomic Theory1225 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican University Author Note This paper was prepared for ECN 150, Introduction to Microeconomics, Module 2 Homework Assignment taught by Nikki Follis. Part I After reading the two articles in Modules 1 and 2 related to Economic Theory (first,â€Å"How Did Economists Get It So Wrong† and second, â€Å"History of Economics Playground†), reconstruct what happened from 2006 through 2012 as it relates to microeconomic theory. Was there too much focus on the macro climateRead MoreEconomics : The Financing Of Health Care1379 Words   |  6 Pagesevolving on a major substantial evolution from its organization, management structure, and payment structure. The economic component of healthcare is equally important to better understanding the order to structure stature and is very successful. In this paper will be discussed the evolution of economics and the healthcare system and the healthcare funding timeline of structure. History and Evolution In 1865 the Freedmen’s Bureau started the first construction of healthcare reform. The government constructedRead MoreThe Effects Of Minimum Wage From A Microeconomic Perspective1670 Words   |  7 Pages The Effects Of Minimum Wage From A Microeconomic Perspective Nathaniel Fishburne Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Introduction The first minimum wage law was implemented in New Zealand and Australia in the late 1900s. In 1940s, George J. Stigler founded the first standard model of minimum wage. The model predicts that the minimum wage system. It set above equilibrium wage level, would create unemployment because some previously employed labors lose their jobs while some find itRead MoreMeasuring Price Sensitivity And The Macroeconomic Environment Essay1625 Words   |  7 Pagesstudies detailing the relationships and microeconomic factors between price sensitivity and the macroeconomic environment. This report explored each category listed below, as businesses, in particular, XYZ Company, must use microeconomic principles to make and validate decisions based on the following factors: price elasticity, consumer choices, production and costs, supply and demand, aggregate supply and aggregate demand, and macroeconomic measurements. Microeconomic principles aligned with macroeconomics

SPR Based Fiber Optic Sensor Free Essays

SPR Based Fiber Optic Sensor Utilizing Thin Film of Nickel Kruti Shah and Navneet K. Sharma Department of Physics and Materials Science and Engineering, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, A-10, Sector-62, Noida-201307, India Corresponding author: navneetk.sharma@jiit. We will write a custom essay sample on SPR Based Fiber Optic Sensor or any similar topic only for you Order Now ac.in Abstract. Fiber optic sensor based on surface plasmon resonance, employing thin film of nickel is presented analytically. Increase in thickness of nickel film results in the enhancement of sensitivity of the sensor. SPR Sensor supported by large thickness of nickel film possesses maximum sensitivity. INTRODUCTION Surface plasmon resonance i.e. SPR principle has been an important sensing method since last thirty years. In the beginning, chemical sensing utilizing SPR is demonstrated by Liedberg et al. [1]. Collective resonating oscillations of free electrons survive on metal layer. It produces charge density wave moving along the metal layer. This charge density wave is transverse wave in nature and is identified as surface plasmon wave. Surface plasmon wave is excited by incident p-polarized light. For examining surface plasmon resonance, Kretschmann geometry is exercised [2, 3]. Optical fiber based SPR sensors offer many advantages than prism based SPR sensors [4-6]. In the past, lot of research is conducted on optical fiber based SPR sensors [7-10]. In recent times, nickel (Ni) is shown to exhibit sensing relevance because of its excellent magneto optical merits [11]. Apart from this, Ni is chemically inactive and the cost of Ni is lower than that of noble metals. Hence, the use of Ni instead of noble metals decreases the price of SPR sensor. Current study discusses a SPR based fiber optic sensor utilizing thin film of Ni. Effect of thickness of Ni film on the sensitivity of SPR sensor is illustrated. Sensitivity is enhanced with the increase in the thickness of Ni film. THEORY Sensing system of the sensor contains fiber core-Ni layer-sample medium. Plastic cladding about the core from the central part of step index multimode PCS fiber is eradicated and is covered with thin layer of Ni. This layer of Ni is ultimately enclosed by the sample medium. Incident light from a white light source is allowed to enter into one end of the optical fiber and the transmitted light is noticed at the opposite end of the optical fiber. The core of optical fiber is formed by fused silica. Refractive index of fused silica alters with wavelength as, 23 22322 22221 22111b ab ab a) ( n? +? +? + = (1) Here, ? is the wavelength of incident light in  µm and a1, a2, a3, b1, b2 and b3 are Sellmeier coefficients. The values of coefficients, used in (1) are specified as, a1 = 0.6961663, a2 = 0.4079426, a3 = 0.8974794, b1 = 0.0684043  µm, b2 = 0.1162414  µm and b3 = 9.896161  µm [12]. The dielectric constant of a metal can be mentioned as, ) ( 1 ) (22? ? ? ? ?i ic pcmi mr m+ ? = + = (2) Where, ?p and ?c are plasma and collision wavelengths of the metal respectively. For, Ni: p?= 2.5381 x 10-7 m andc?= 2.8409 x 10-5 m. Also, the dielectric constant of sample medium is written as,2s sn =? where, sn is refractive index of the sample medium. Resonance condition for the surface plasmon wave is written as, } K Re{ sin nsp=12 (3) Here, 2 22s ms ms ms mspn nc K+ =+ =? is the wave vector of surface plasmon wave and c is the velocity of light in vacuum. Reflection coefficient of p-polarized light is calculated by using matrix method [13]. Normalized transmitted power from the sensor is computed as [14]. Further, the sensitivity of sensor can be described as change in resonance wavelength per unit change in refractive index of sample medium [15]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION For simulation, refractive index of sample medium is presumed to be altered from 1.33 to 1.37. Values of various parameters used are mentioned as; fiber’s numerical aperture = 0.24, core diameter of fiber = 600  µm and exposed sensing region length = 15 mm. Transmitted power from the sensor is measured for different thicknesses (20 nm-80 nm) of Ni layer and consequent resonance wavelengths are measured. Resonance wavelengths for different thicknesses increase linearly with increase in the refractive index of the sample medium. 20 40 60 80 0 15003000 4500 6000 7500Sensitivity (nm/RIU)Thickness of Ni layer (nm) FIGURE 1. Variation of sensitivity with thickness of Ni layer. Figure 1 represents the variation of sensitivity with Ni layer thickness. Ni layer thickness is increased from 20 nm to 80 nm. Sensitivity is enlarged with increase in Ni layer thickness. The reason for this enhancement in sensitivity is ascribed to high value of real part of dielectric constant of Ni. Therefore for a fixed change in refractive index of sample medium, Ni enhances the shift between resonance wavelengths. This results in enhanced sensitivity of sensor with increase in Ni layer thickness. Thus, large Ni layer thickness leads in high sensitivity of SPR based sensor.CONCLUSIONS Theoretical analysis of SPR based fiber optic sensor with thin layer of Ni is carried out. Sensitivity of SPR based sensor is enlarged with increase in Ni layer thickness. In order to achieve highest sensitivity of the sensor, large thickness of Ni layer is advised. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Navneet K. Sharma wishes to thank Defence Research ; Development Organization (DRDO), India for the financial grant provided through the project number ERIP/ER/DG-ECS/990116205/M/01/1687. REFERENCES B. Liedberg, C. Nylander and I. Sundstrom, Sens. Actuat. B 4, 299-304 (1983). R. D. Harris and J. S. Wilkinson, Sens. Actuat. B 29, 261-267 (1995). E. Kretschmann and H. Reather, Zeits. Natur. 23, 2135-2136 (1968). J. Homola, Sens. Actuat. B 29, 401-405 (1995). 5. W. B. Lin, N. Jaffrezic-Renault, A. Gagnaire and H. Gagnaire, Sens. Actuat. A 84, 198-204 (2000). A. K. Sharma and B. D. Gupta, Sens. Actuat. B 100, 423-431 (2004). S. Singh, S. K. Mishra and B. D. Gupta, Sens. Actuat. A 193, 136-140 (2013). N. K. Sharma, M. Rani, and V. Sajal, Sens. Actuat. B 188, 326-333 (2013). S. Shukla, M. Rani, N. K. Sharma and V. Sajal, Opt. 126, 4636-4639 (2015). S. Shukla, N. K. Sharma and V. Sajal, Sens. Actuat. B 206, 463-470 (2015). S. Shukla, N. K. Sharma and V. Sajal, Braz. J. Phy. 46, 288-293 (2016). A. K. Ghatak and K. Thyagarajan, An Introduction To Fiber Optics(Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999), pp. 82-83. K. Sharma and B. D. Gupta, J. Appl. Phys. 101, 093111 (2007). B. D. Gupta, A. Sharma and C. D. Singh, Int. J. Optoelectron. 8, 409-418 (1993). 15. A. K. Sharma and B. D. Gupta, Opt. Commun. 245, 159-169 (2005). How to cite SPR Based Fiber Optic Sensor, Papers

Until They Bring the Streetcars Back free essay sample

Love is a Silver Lining What is love? Often enough, as a hormone-struck teenager, I am lectured on what love is not. According to my mother, father, grandmother, aunts, uncles, and every adult figure that has ever made a guest-star appearance in the long-winded romance novel that is my life, love is NOT the warm cuddly feeling I get when I see a cute boy at school. Love is NOT holding hands on the playground; is not caring an abnormal amount for a favorite pair of shoes. I feel as though a vast amount of time is spent describing the negative space of a person’s heart, and not long enough spent defining its shape. Although Pastor Ostrum follows suit with his anti-definition of what love is not, he definitely strikes a chord in my heart when he says that â€Å"love is not something we wait to have happen to us, but something we do. We will write a custom essay sample on Until They Bring the Streetcars Back or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † Many might disagree, might argue that love is a two-way street; that in order to give we must first receive. However, in the novel â€Å"Until They Bring the Streetcars Back,† by Stanley Gordon West, Cal Gant demonstrates this principle of giving time and time again. If love is not something you say, but something you do, then how many acts of loving go unnoticed throughout a day? It seems that the simplest actions, such as waving hello to an elderly couple on the street, can be the most sentimental. This theme plays out in Until They Bring the Streetcars Back, through Cal’s kindness and blind compassion. Despite his own hesitation and fear, and despite his family’s well-worn advice to â€Å"leave well-enough alone,† Cal fights tooth and nail to better Gretchen’s life. Whether he is giving her a baby-doll to hold on to, or a Nut Goodie to liven her spirits, or merely listening to her cry, Cal makes his best effort to be a friend to the friendless. He finds himself mixed into a blender of emotional turmoil as he enters a world of abuse and terror unimaginable to a seventeen year old boy. Still, he is relentless, stealing liquor—endangering his own life—to free Gretchen, a girl he hardly knows. Without thinking, Cal gives and gives, regardless to what may happen to him. He expects nothing in return for his kindness, and presents a lonely girl with a gift he wasn’t aware he was giving: love. Assuming that Pastor Ostrum’s theory is correct, then no one ever makes a conscious decision to love. Love is a reflex. Love is deaf, and blind to external pressures to do one thing or another. As a person learns the shape of their heart, they also find what lies within it. Is there strength enough to face the faceless? In Cal’s case, there was. Unknowingly, Cal’s heart became a home to Gretchen; she found shelter and refuge within walls built of compassion. And in the worst of times, when Cal searched himself for the strength to decide if he had love enough to follow through, he found her. Love is not a mere four letter word. Love is not the warmth of a hand in your own, or fingers laced through yours. Love is the decision to hold that hand through thick and thin. Love is the silver lining that holds us together during times of hardship. What is love? Love cannot be defined by â€Å"is-nots,† and â€Å"cannots. † Love is defined by actions. Love is giving, is kind, is picking up litter. Love is donating to charity. Love is listening to a friend. Love definitely is NOT leaving well- enough alone.

Compare and Contrast The Crips and the Neo-Nazis Essay Example

Compare and Contrast: The Crips and the Neo-Nazis Essay All gangs and mafias have their own initiation rituals and modes of operations. The same is true of the two different gang cultures being studied here – the Crips and the neo-Nazis. In the autobiographical account of Monster – one of the leaders of the gang – we learn about the initiation rites, organizational structure, modus operandi, economic targets, treatment of rivalries, etc. The Crips is a predominantly black gang that hogged headlines during the post-war decades of the 1950s and 60s. In some ways the Crips represented a militant underground movement parallel to that of the Black Nationalist movement. While the Crips adopted some of the violent methods of the movement headed by Malcolm-X, it is not political in nature. So, despite its racial affiliation, the means and ends of the gang are largely anti-social. Likewise, in the film American History X, we are exposed to a dark underground cult of American society. Commonly referred to as ‘skin-headsâ €™, the Neo-Nazis are the remnants of Hitler’s vicious Aryan supremacy movement. (Musto, 2001, p.41) It is interesting how the neo-Nazi movement came into being in America, which was totally isolated from Nazi propaganda during the Second World War. In many ways, both the Crips and the Neo-Nazis are similar in their ruthlessness. They are both identified by the lack of scruples when it comes to targeting, assaulting and eliminating perceived opposition. Blood and violence are an everyday reality for these groups. In fact the moniker ‘Monster’ was the result of Shakur’s brutal, unrelenting assault on an opponent in a street clash. The victim was punched on the face with such ferocity and repetition that his face was permanently disfigured and he went into a coma. The Neo-Nazis are not far behind in terms of readiness for violence and brutality. (Dichiara Chabot, 2003, p.23) We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: The Crips and the Neo-Nazis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: The Crips and the Neo-Nazis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: The Crips and the Neo-Nazis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer One area where the Neo-Nazis differ from Crips is the organization size and structure. Crips is a gang with limited members and their localities of operation are also restricted. The Neo-Nazis, on the other hand, are a widespread and ideological sub-culture. Even if their organization is not granted legitimacy by civil society, there is some form of hierarchy and structure. There are protocols to be followed and cult tenets to be adhered to. While one can debate about the veracity of their claims and the relevance of their motives, there is no lack of seriousness. The Neo-Nazis take pride in sacrificing for their cause and do not hesitate to endanger their lives for the same. The Crips, on the other hand, are not as strongly held by ideology or a shared set of beliefs. The prime mover of the gang is power-lust and quick monetary gain. As a result, defections and treasons are common place, leading to internal fissures within the gang. There is also a difference in the economic sustena nce of Neo-Nazi organizations and the Crips. The latter is an economy onto itself. In fact the lure of making a quick buck is what motivates many individuals from the lower rung of society to join such gangs. (Hagedorn, 2008, p.86) Loyalty is a fundamental quality for all members. If a Crips member switches over to the arch-rival gang of the Bloods or the Rolling 60s or the ETG, they are bound to suffer retaliation. Indeed traitors and betrayers are dealt with severely, in most cases leading to fatalities. Revenge and honor killings are a feature of both these set-ups. In fact every act of aggression is projected as revenge or avenging ‘honor’. Misogyny is a common theme in both the groups, though it is somewhat pronounced in Crips. Women are treated shabbily and masculinity is expressed through violence towards them. Neo-Nazis are not much better in this respect. (Dichiara Chabot, 2003, p.29) One aspect where the two groups are in sharp contrast is in the targets of their racial prejudice. The Neo-Nazis are a white supremacist group, whose ideology includes elements of militant nationalism, xenophobia, homophobia and anti-Semitism. They are identified by their tonsured heads and call themselves the Fourth Reich – following up from Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Despite such a regressive socio-political agenda, the organization manages to thrive in several countries across the world. The Crips, on the other hand is a small entity confined to a metropolitan quarter. Even in terms of their politics, the neo-Nazis are at the far right of the political spectrum. The Crips, though not actively political can be located on the left. (Musto, 2001, p.49) In the two documents perused for this essay we see how the characters of Kody and Derek epitomize what it means to be a Crip or a neo-Nazi. Their lives were very precarious, dramatic and eventful. Often pushing or breaking the limits of law, their indulgences, follies and indiscretions were theatrical and morally dubious at once. Their personal stories, however engaging and thrilling they may be for the audience, cannot be set as example for children. In many ways, they both represented the darkest facets of their respective organizations. Their biographies share the theme of how not to ruin one’s life. Hence, what we have learnt through the study of Crips and Neo-Nazis is how volatile underground culture can be. The members of these groups lived each day as if it could be their last. While they make good material for adventure novels, their impact on real society is decidedly negative. But one cannot apportion blame on individuals who gravitate toward these groups, for it is victims of social injustice who end up joining these groups. Hence social policy makers, instead of taking a retributive attitude toward the social menace, will have to look at prevention and timely intervention. A constructive idea is to identify high risk children in schools and given proper guidance and support. References: American History X, Produced by John Morrissey, Distributed by New Line Cinema in 1998. Sanyika Shakur, Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member, published by Grove Atlantic Books in 1993 Hagedorn, John M. (2008), A World of Gangs: Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States:University of Minnesota Press Musto, David F. (2001). â€Å"Opium, Cocaine and Marijuana in American History†. Scientific American 265 (1): 40–47. Dichiara, A. And Chabot, R. (2003) ‘Gangs and the Contemporary Urban Struggle: An Unappreciated Aspect of Gangs’, in Gangs and Society: Alternative Perspectives. New York: Columbia University Press.

Friendship College Essay

Friendship College Essay Free Online Research Papers What is a home? A home to me is a place where you are comfortable and safe. My safe place is with my friends, away from my house. No one can harm me when I am with them, because they are the ones who care about me most and are by my side no matter what. When I am at other people’s homes, I feel more comfortable, than I do at my own. My mom and my dad split up when I was 18 months old, and I lived with my mom but still got to see my dad every other weekend. Before I was three, I moved from New Milford to Danbury six times. My mom had moved in with her boyfriend, so she left me at my grandmother’s house for almost three months before she finally came back to get me. Even though I was so young at the time, I still feel like she did not want me around, and that pain still gets to me now. I have problems trusting my mom now because she lets all the guys, who are in her life, control what my younger brother and I do; she is our mother and those guys are only her boyfriends. She is the one who is supposed to tell us what to do and care more about us more than them. When I am with my friends, I feel like they care so much about what happens to me and what I do. They always help me with my problems when I need them the most. I trust them because they keep my secrets and are not so quick to judge me because of my mistakes. We can have our fun times and make the worst moments the best moments. I feel like I can be myself when I am with them and they can be themselves around me. When I’m at my friends house, their parents treat me nicely and I just get this feeling that makes me feel safer there. I never thought I could really find a person who really got me and truly understood me, until the beginning of my junior year when I met my friend Marshanti. She is one of my craziest friends, but also one of my most caring friends. When I’m with her, there is nothing stopping us, it’s us against the world. This one time Marshanti and I had gone to Big Y to get some â€Å"munchies† for the night, and the whole time we spent it laughing like crazy and bumping into shelves causing mischief. When my boyfriend and I had broken up, she was the one who talked to me and wanted to know everything that happened and see if I was alright. She never took sides and she never said that either of us were wrong, which was exactly what I needed to hear. It hurts me sometimes when I think that I am a better person now because of my friends and not my parents. I learned a lot from my friends and that’s why I consider them a family to me. One day I will have a better life and it will never be how mine is now. I have grown stronger since I became friends with these people that I care so much about. Some days I wish I did not have the past I had and that the people in it did not exist. Then I think to myself, would I still be the person I am today if it were not for that past and for those people? Would I still be friends with these people if I did not have that past? My home is where my friends are and it will always be that way, that is the best thing I could ever ask for. Research Papers on Friendship College EssayTrailblazing by Eric AndersonPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsCapital PunishmentHip-Hop is ArtComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Fifth HorsemanThe Spring and AutumnArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)

Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 34

Personal Statement Example Furthermore, during my years in high school, I passed very well in my major subjects and more specifically, anything related to the philosophy of law. On the contrary, I would watch television programmes that were based on the application of law and how the courts of law work. Additionally, I spent a couple of two days a week in my father’s friend’s office who is a solicitor to learn more about law. This was very advantageous to me because I was granted chances to attend magistrate’s courts on numerous occasion. Therefore, apart from my academic prosperity, I believe I am the best candidate to pursue law because I have field experience of the application of the same. In high school, I was the class representative and highly participated in co-curricular activities such as games and sports. I was a basketball player and I enjoyed every bit of the game. During practice sessions, I was given a mandate of being a referee by our school coach because I was quick to administer judgement very fairly. My critical thinking techniques and conflict resolution skills enabled me to be given such responsibilities. I also helped my former classmates to study and improve their GPA in the subjects they were weak at because I saw it as my duty to help them overcome their obstacles. On the other hand, my oral skills are outstanding because I participated in drama and acting, which enabled me to construct accurate and fluent sentences. I was also good at written text and thus my high school career was marvellous. My dream career is being a judge. It is my sincere prayer and hope that given an opportunity to undertake a course in law at the university will mold me into achieving my dreams. I am sure that given the correct guidance and hard work will see me through to achieving all my future plans because I am very gifted at law. It is my belief that my calling was in pursue of law and a great

Understanding cultural and ethnic identity of United States Essay

Understanding cultural and ethnic identity of United States - Essay Example Culture is people's way of life. It denotes what a people value and abides to as normal. It is that complex whole of a people's collective experience in life. It includes religion, political, economical, ethics, social and aesthetic. 'It is the sentiments of belonging or connection to ones larger culture as in case with U.S minority ethnic groups mixing their ethnic oriented values with some of the larger US cultural values' (p94). A people's culture can have strong or weak cultural salience.Cultural identity is something larger than ethnic identity; it relates the culture of one group in relation to the culture of another group especially when one group is dominant. Strong cultural salience reflects weak cultural identity and the opposite applies.Ting-Toomey defines ethnicity as an inheritance where members of a particular group perceive each other as emotionally bounded by a common set of traditional, worldviews, history, and heritage. (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005).It is difficulty t o trace ones ethnic origin especially where one is from parents of multiple ethnic backgrounds. This can go back to great grandparents who had mixed ethnic heritage. Group membership among communities defines social identity along the ethnic cultural boundaries( Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005).The issue of ethnic and cultural identity has been a dominant and salient issue of many minority ethnic groups for along time... This dictated the way and how far they could practice their ethnicity and culture. Their cultures and ethnicity became threaten by this dominant culture and therefore minority community became more ethnic and cultural aware of their origin as people '...from somewhere... ' (p94) In order to understand the significance of an individual's ethnicity, it is imperative to understand the ethnic value content and ethnic salience of that person's ethnic identity salience in particular. A closer look at different ethnic backgrounds of American people, we can identify a European or a Latin, Asian and Native American by looking at the salient aspect of individualism and collectiveness. A European will tend to exhibit individualist tendencies whereas Asian, Latino and Native American will have in-group orientation thus collectiveness. Strange enough African -American will tend to blend both collectivism and individualism for the purpose of survival and adaptation. (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005). The adaptability process of minority groups in America can be analyzed along a number of factors on the ground. First the social economic situations of the host culture: America is mythically known as 'land of great opportunities'. Therefore, immigrants were welcomed by the host culture, as there were a lot to share since the economy was doing well. This could not be the case where the host culture is experiencing economical hardship. The host would become hostile to the immigrant and this means very difficult for the newcomers to settle and adapt to new cultural environment ( Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005). In addition, consciously or unconsciously, the host culture may have a preconceived definition of the immigrant as part of their bigger human family or aliens or visitors. This

Analysis of the sculpture of Leander by William Henry Rinehart Essay

Analysis of the sculpture of Leander by William Henry Rinehart - Essay Example His facial expression is peaceful but, at the same time, thoughtful and distracted. His head is not raised and, consequently, he does not look directly at the observer but gazes into the horizon. The purity, grace and proportion of the figure are greatly enhanced by the quality and color of the medium chosen to execute it: pure white marble. For the spectator, the main reaction after observation of the sculpture is probably one of awe and admiration for the technical skills and artistic proficiency of the author, who manages to capture with great expertise the perfection of the male human body. The work of art of choice is exquisite, a piece of extraordinary beauty. Looking at this sculpture immediately brings to mind the famous sculpture of David by Michelangelo, one of the best known works of art of the Renaissance, which Rinehart knew from his stay in Florence between 1855 and 1857. Rinehart, like Michelangelo with David, in his representation of Leander has provided the observer with a great illustration of the perfect male human form. One of the greatest differences between David and Leander makes itself evident when one looks at the two heroes in the face: while David shows fear, tension and aggression in his facial expression, Leander looks relaxed, pensive and meditative. The tension in David's face is believed to be due to the fact that he was about to confront Goliath in battle. Additionally, Leander's proportions are more realistic than David's, who exhibited an upper body and head that appeared slightly out of proportion. This is due to the fact that the sculpture, due to its monumental proportions, was designed to be admired from u nderneath. Leander is also less muscular and thus more realistic than David. Both heroes show a very similar posture. The body is lightly rested over one leg, the other is slightly flexed, which helps give the impression of movement or action. Rinehart repositioned Leander's left leg with respect David's, achieving a more open stance. With respect to their hands, David is holding a stone that he is about to throw, while Leander keeps a delicate hold of the cloth that covers his nudity. Leander, shown at the edge of the shore, is actually in the act of undressing himself ready to get in the water that can be seen at his feet. 3. Interpretation The sculpture of Leander is one of a pair that was produced to illustrate a tragic love story of the Greek mythology. Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, and Leander were lovers residing in opposite sides of the Hellespont. Each evening Leander would swim across the strait in order to meet with his beloved Hero. Tragedy struck one stormy night, when the lighthouse he used as a guide failed and, as a consequence, he got lost and drowned. Overcome with grief, Hero decided to meet the same fate as her lover and threw herself into the sea [Greek Mythology Link]. Rinehart's work shows, on one shore, Leander undressing in preparation for his evening swim and, on the other shore, Hero in anxious wait for her lover with the guiding lamp right beside her. The waves that can be observed at the bases of both sculptures represent the waters of the strait [The Magazine Antiques]. It is worth noting that,

Nocardia Isolation by Paraffin Baiting Technique

Nocardia Isolation by Paraffin Baiting Technique Nocardia isolation from clinical samples with paraffin baiting technique Abstract Background: The genus Nocardia is cause infection in lung, skin, brain, cerebrospinal, eyes, joints and kidneys. This bacterium is slow-growing and it is difficult to isolate of polymicrobial specimens. Several methods have been reported for Nocardia isolation from clinical samples. In current study, we used of three methods such as paraffin baiting technique, paraffin agar, and conventional media for Nocardia isolation of various clinical specimens from Iranian patients. Methods: In this study, we collected five hundred and seventeen from various clinical specimens including sputum of patients with suspected tuberculosis, bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum of patients withcystic fibrosis, trachea, cutaneous and subcutaneous abscess, cerebrospinal fluid, dental abscess, mycetoma, wound, bone marrow biopsy, and gastric lavage. Smears of all clinical specimens were investigated with Gram stain, partially acid fast and kinyoun stain. All collected specimens were cultured on to carbon free broth tube (paraffin baiting technique), paraffin agar, sabouraud dextrose agar, sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and incubated at 35 °C. Results: In direct microscopy, partially acid fast and Gram staining were seen positive for five and three clinical specimens respectively and the kinyoun stain were negative for all isolates. Seven isolates of clinical specimens were isolated with paraffin baiting technique. In our study, paraffin baiting technique is more effective than conventional media and paraffin agar for Nocardia isolation. Conclusions: In the present study, shown that use of paraffin baiting technique is more effective of other methods for Nocardia isolation of various clinical specimens. Key words: Nocardia, Paraffin baiting technique, Paraffin agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar Introduction Nocardia spp. are group aerobic actinomycetes, gram positive rods, partially acid fast, non-motile, filamentous branches, catalase positive and methenamine silver-positive [1-3]. The genus Nocardia is opportunistic pathogens [2] that are found around the natural environments. This bacterium is not part of normal microbialflora in human body and animals [1, 4, 5] as well as, there is no report of person to person transmission [5]. This microorganism first introduced by Edmond in 1888 [1, 6]. Nocardia species are cause serious infections in different parts of the body especially lung and skin [6]. Nocardial infections acquired via inhalation of aerosolsor skin damage [7]. In recent years, nocardiosis increased in immune disorder diseases such as Pemphigus disorder, Behà §et’s disease, malignancy, organ transplantation [8-10]. Todate, isolation and identification of Nocardia is improved from clinical specimens [11, 12]. Clinical diagnosis in nocardiosis is controversial and clin ical signs are not specific for this bacterium. Standard tool in Nocardia infections identification are including: isolation and pure culture, Gram stain and partially acid-fast [12, 13]. Nocardia species are slow growing bacteria and isolation this bacterium of polymicrobial specimens is difficult in clinical microbiology laboratory [14]. Decontamination of pulmonary specimens such as sputum is toxic for the genus Nocardia. Paraffin baiting technique was reported for Nocardia and mycobacteria isolation of soil [15]. Paraffin baiting technique was reported that is successfully for Nocardia isolation of various clinical specimens especially poly microbial specimens such as sputum [3,14, 16]. The aim of this study is unique for two reasons: The first aim of this study were comparison of paraffin baiting technique with other methods such as conventional media including sabouraud dextrose agar, sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and paraffin agar to isolate Nocardia from various clinical specimens such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), sputum of patients with suspected tuberculosis, sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis, cutaneous abscess, cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), dental abscess, mycetoma, trachea, wound, bone marrow biopsy and gastric lavage. The second aim was to estimate the prevalence of Nocardia infection in Iranian patients. There are few numbers of case reports of Nocardia infection and there is no comprehensive database of nocardiosis, therefore, it is essential to better assess the prevalence of this bacteria. Methods Sample collection Five hundred and seventeen various clinical specimens such as sputum of patients with suspected tuberculosis, sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis, BAL, cutaneous and subcutaneous abscess, CSF, dental abscess, mycetoma, wound, bone marrow biopsy, gastric lavage and trachea were collected between February 28, 2011 through March 8, 2013 (Table 1). Direct microscopy All clinical specimens were examined with direct microscopy. The first, clinical specimens were homogenized and were centrifuged in 10000 rpm for 10 minutes and the supernatant was discarded. The smears were prepared from the sediments and were stained with Gram stain, partially acid fast and Kinyoun stain. Culture on different media Sediment of specimens were inoculated on sabouraud dextrose agar (Merck- Germany), sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide(cycloheximide-Sigma-Aldrich-USA), paraffin agar (KH2PO4, K2HPO4, NH4Cl, NH4NO3, MgSO4 .7H20, ZnSO4, FeSO4, MnSO4, Bacto- Agar and Distilled water) and McClungs carbon-free broth tube (MgSO4 7H2O: 0.5 g, ZnSO4: 2 mg, FeCl3: 10 mg, MnCl2. 4H2O: 8 mg, K2HPO4: 0.8 g, NaNO3: 2 g, Distilled water: 1lit, pH 7.2) with paraffin coated glass rod placed. Tubes were incubated at 35 °C for one month with daily controlled [14, 17]. Results Examination of stained smears in direct microscopic, were detected three specimens with Gram staining and five specimens with partially acid fast staining and all smears were negative for Kinyoun stain. In McClungs carbon-free broth, colonies similar cream to white-colored appearing on the paraffin-coated glass rod (Figure 1). Colonies similar to the genus Nocardia were cultured on nutrient agar and were purified (Figure 2). Colonies were stained with Gram positive and partially acid fast and were negative for Kinyoun stain. All clinical isolates were grown in lysozyme broth medium. Seven specimens were positive for the genus Nocardia (1.3%) with paraffin baiting technique as compared with sabouraud dextrose agar and sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and paraffin agar (Table 1). In comparative to various media, paraffin baiting technique was better in the isolation Nocardia, so this technique is effective and specific for Nocardia isolation of various clinical specimens espe cially poly microbial samples (Table 1). Prevalence of nocardiosis in sputum (238 specimens), BAL (143 specimens) and cutaneous abscess (45 specimens) were 1.6%, 1.3%, 2.2%, respectively. In our study, we isolated one Nocardia spp. from cutaneous abscess of patient with Pemphigus disorder. Discussion In scientific resource, recommended the use of paraffin baiting technique for isolation Nocardia from polymicrobial flora such as sputum [18]. Nocardia spp. utilized of paraffin wax as the sole carbon source [15, 19]. It has been reported different medium containing antibiotic for isolation this organism such as chloramphenicol with sabouraud dextrose agar. Some species of the genus Nocardia are susceptible to chloramphenicol [16]. A wide range of nocardiosis occurs in Immunocompromised and immunosuppressive patients [8-10]. Mycobacterium tuberculosis mimicking pulmonary nocardiosis so isolation and identification Nocardia is very important because treatment in two organisms is difficult. In a study by Mishra and colleagues in 1969, they investigated 555 clinical specimens such as sputum, BAL and Gastric lavage and were positive respectively 10, 1 and 1 about Nocardia spp. [19]. Singh et al surveyed 1510 sputum specimens and results showed paraffin baiting method has higher efficacy of sabouraud dextrose agar [17]. Another study by Venugopal et al were examined 350 sputum, BAL, pleural fluid, pus , biopsy specimens and isolated 15 strains of Nocardia [20]. A study in 2001 from Iran, Eshraghi et al surveyed 142 sputum specimens and was positive 1 isolate (0.7%) but in our study was positive 4 isolates (1.3%) of 291 sputum of patients with suspected tuberculosis. The results show that Nocardia infection is increasing in Iranian patients. The reports showed paraffin baiting technique is more selective and effective than usual medium and paraffin agar. Conclusions We recommended that the be used of paraffin baiting technique for Nocardia isolation in clinical laboratories. due to aging and autoimmune or immune disorders in Iranian patients, isolation Nocardia spp is very necessary for treatment. Acknowledgments This study was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Deputy of Research. References 1.Eshraghi SS Molecular typing of Nocardia species. J Med Bacteriol 2012; 1(1): 38-45. 2.Budzik JM, Hosseini M, Mackinnon AC Jr, et al. Disseminated Nocardia farcinica: literature review and fatal outcome in an immunocompetent patient. Surg. Infect 2012; 13(3): 163-170. 3.Hollick GE. Nocardiosis. clinical microbiology newsletter 1988; 10(14): 105-109. 4.Eshraghi S, Amin M. Nocardia asteroides complex in patient with symptomatic pulmonary nocardiosis in a patient with bronchiectasis. Iran J Public Health 2001(3-4); 30: 99-102. 5.Stevens DA, Pier AC, Beaman BL, et al. Laboratory evaluation of an outbreak of nocardiosis in immunocompromised hosts. Am J Med 1981; 71(6): 928-934. 6.Brown-Elliott BA, Brown JM, Conville PS, et al. Clinical and laboratory features of the Nocardia spp. based on current molecular taxonomy. Clin Microbiol Rev 2006; 19(2): 259-282. 7.Patel MP, Kute VB, Gumber MR, , et al. Successful treatment of Nocardia pneumonia with cytomegalovirus retinitis coinfection in a renal transplant recipient. Int Urol Nephrol 2012; 45: 581-5. 8.Poonwan N, Kusum M, Mikami Y, , et al. Pathogenic Nocardia isolated from clinical specimens including those of AIDS patients in Thailand. Eur J Epidemiol 1995; 11(5): 507-512. 9.Srifuengfung S, Poonwan N, Tribuddharat C, et al. Prevalence of Nocardia species isolated from patients with respiratory tract infections at siriraj hospital, Thailand. J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents 2007; 24: 1-6. 10.Sahathevan M, Harvey FA, Forbes G, et al. Epidemiology, bacteriology and control of an outbreak of Nocardia asteroides infection on a liver unit. J Hosp 1991; 18: 473-480. 11.Das D. Actinomycosis in fine needle aspiration cytology. Cytopathology 1994;5(4): 243-250. 12.Wada R., Itabashi C, Nakayama Y, et al. Chronic granulomatous pleuritis caused by Nocardia: PCR based diagnosis by nocardial 16S rDNA in pathological specimens. J Clin Pathol 2003; 56(12): 966-969. 13.Gupta N, Srinivasan R, Kumar R, et al. Two cases of nocardiosis diagnosed by fineà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ needle aspiration cytology: Role of special stains. Diagn Cytopathol 2011; 39(5): 363-364. 14.Shawar RM, Moore DG, LaRocco MT. Cultivation of Nocardia spp. on chemically defined media for selective recovery of isolates from clinical specimens. J Clin Microbio l 1990; 28(3): 508-512. 15.Narang P, Dey S, Mendiratta D. Paraffin slide culture technique for Baiting Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria. Indian. J. Tuberc 2000; 47(4): 219-222. 16.Garrett M, Holmes H, Nolte F. Selective buffered charcoal-yeast extract medium for isolation of Nocardiae from mixed cultures. J Clin Microbiol 1992; 30(7): 1891-1892. 17.Singh M, Sandhu RS, Randhawa HS. Comparison of paraffin baiting and conventional culture techniques for isolation of Nocardia asteroides from sputum. J Clin Microbiol 1987; 25(1): 176-177. 18.  Yu C T, Chua JA. Nocardiosis. PJMID 2001; 30: 56-61. 19.Mishra S, Randhawa H. Application of paraffin bait technique to the isolation of Nocardia asteroides from clinical specimens. Appl Microbiol 1969; 18(4): 686-687. 20.Venugopal PV, Taralakshmi VV, Subramanian S, , et al. Nocardia species from bronchopulmonary infections and mycetomas. Sabouraudia 1980; 18(1): 11-18. Figure 1. Isolation and growth Nocardia on paraffin coated glass rod Figure 2. Nocardia grown on nutrient agar medium 1

Natural Gas and Its use as a Alternative Fuel Compared to Gasoline Ess

Natural Gas and Its use as a Alternative Fuel Compared to Gasoline Have you ever confused the terms â€Å"Natural Gas† and â€Å"Gasoline†? Well don’t, because they are two very different types of gases. Natural gas and Gasoline are considered fossil fuels to most scientists because it is believed they were formed from the remains of sea animals and plants that died 200-400 million years ago. These sea animals were then covered by layers of sediment and rock over time which caused them to become buried deeper and deeper, until enormous amounts of pressure and heat turned them into oil and gas. Raw natural gas is a mixture of different gasses and the main ingredient is methane, a natural compound that is formed whenever plant and animal matter decays. On the other hand, gasoline is made from crude oil, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons (compounds containing hydrogen and carbons). Gasoline is most commonly known as the gas that you use in your car to help your engine run. In a car's engine, oxygen is mixed with a fine mist of gasoline which is ignited by a spark, causing the combustion reaction to take place. This all takes place within a cylinder of your car. When the fuel/air mixture "explodes" (or combusts) in the cylinder, the expansion of gases from the mini-explosion pushes a piston; this movement is what ultimately makes your wheels move. A greenhouse gas is then emitted, called carbon dioxide- which contributes to global warming. (â€Å"How does car pollution affect the ozone layer and Environment?† King, Jennifer SFGate n.d. Web.) An alternative fuel such as natural gas has been considered by many scientists as a much more environmentally friendly gas on the environment that could run automob... ...uld be the right way to go due to its cleanliness and cost. Natural gas burns clean due to its naturalness. According the NGVAmerica, Natural gas costs about $1.50- $2.50 per gallon of gas. This type of change in gas would kill two birds with one stone, bye reducing prices for the people’s benefits and reduce greenhouse pollution, for the environment’s benefit. Works Cited . (â€Å" How natural gas Vehicles Work†.How stuffworks.n.d) (www.NEED.org 2011). . (www.NEED.org 2011) . (â€Å"What Is Hydraulic Fracturing?† Propublica.org.) (â€Å"How does car pollution affect the ozone layer and Environment?† King, Jennifer SFGate n.d. Web.) (Preston, Benjamin â€Å"I Feel Gassy† 5.8.12) Picture 1 – â€Å"Seismic Graphing Natural Gas & Tech†. NaturalGas.org) Picture 2- (â€Å" Natural gas & Tech.† Natural gas.org) Picture 3 – )â€Å"Comparing Natural Gas Vs. Other Fuels.†.Wb Web.) Socal gas.nd

The principle source of income for the state of New York

The principle source of income for the state of New York for 1998 is taxes. The priciple expenses of the stste of New York for 1998 are: Education is an expendature that should be increased. If education was increased children would get better jobs and better jobs pay more money which produces more taxes, taxes pay for better schools. More community centers with sports facilities should be created to get kids off the streets. Kids would have a place to go to have fun plus it would make alot of money all schools should be pdated with new computers to prepare students for entering the business community. The state should propose to start a partnership with computer companies and the board of education of education in purchasing the computers. The private companies would benefit from this because the more computers used the more computer orientated customers are created. A way to pay for expenditures is by cutting out the â€Å"pork barrel† pet projects by the legislatures. If the budget just passed there were 350 million â€Å"pork barrel† projects requested by the legislatures. If the government cut that in half it would pay for the increases I suggested. Conservative groups that believe the goverment play too much of a role in their lives of the voters would not be in favor of my proposals. In recent years there have been increasing numbers of strikes by public employees like teachers, transit, sanitation, and municipal workers. In many instances these acts were in violation of existing laws which prohibited such One reason why many states and federal government prohibited strikes is because of public safety. If the fire department was to strike lives would be at stake. Neighborhoods would would be burned down. Police shouldn't strike because crime would rise , traffic enforcement people wouldn't pay attention to light and possible riots. If sanitation had a strike it would cause a health hazard. The second reason is for business purposes and commerce. If the transit were to strike people wouldn't be able to go to and back to work. The banks handle the money of civilians. If teachers were to strike kids wouldn't get the ducation they need to get a good job and they might cause trouble on the On the other hand private bus services should be able to strike. Althogh some people may be hurt by this it does not affect the cities commerce. I do not believe that government employees should have the right to strike. They should sign a statement before they are hired because if they strike it puts the publics Arbitration should be the process that should be put in affect to settle disputes between the employees and the city. Te city chooses someone then the employees choose someone then they choose a third person. This panel determines the settlement of the contract of the employees strike. Striking has become a major problem in recent years because striking is the last weapon the employees have to defend their rights . For instance if workers are working in an unsafe environment they have the right to strike. In York there is a law which prohibits striking this is known as the Taylor Law. Punishment for striking could be dismissal or dock in pay. The principle source of income for the state of New York The principle source of income for the state of New York for 1998 is taxes. The priciple expenses of the stste of New York for 1998 are: Education is an expendature that should be increased. If education was increased children would get better jobs and better jobs pay more money which produces more taxes, taxes pay for better schools. More community centers with sports facilities should be created to get kids off the streets. Kids would have a place to go to have fun plus it would make alot of money all schools should be pdated with new computers to prepare students for entering the business community. The state should propose to start a partnership with computer companies and the board of education of education in purchasing the computers. The private companies would benefit from this because the more computers used the more computer orientated customers are created. A way to pay for expenditures is by cutting out the â€Å"pork barrel† pet projects by the legislatures. If the budget just passed there were 350 million â€Å"pork barrel† projects requested by the legislatures. If the government cut that in half it would pay for the increases I suggested. Conservative groups that believe the goverment play too much of a role in their lives of the voters would not be in favor of my proposals. In recent years there have been increasing numbers of strikes by public employees like teachers, transit, sanitation, and municipal workers. In many instances these acts were in violation of existing laws which prohibited such One reason why many states and federal government prohibited strikes is because of public safety. If the fire department was to strike lives would be at stake. Neighborhoods would would be burned down. Police shouldn't strike because crime would rise , traffic enforcement people wouldn't pay attention to light and possible riots. If sanitation had a strike it would cause a health hazard. The second reason is for business purposes and commerce. If the transit were to strike people wouldn't be able to go to and back to work. The banks handle the money of civilians. If teachers were to strike kids wouldn't get the ducation they need to get a good job and they might cause trouble on the On the other hand private bus services should be able to strike. Althogh some people may be hurt by this it does not affect the cities commerce. I do not believe that government employees should have the right to strike. They should sign a statement before they are hired because if they strike it puts the publics Arbitration should be the process that should be put in affect to settle disputes between the employees and the city. Te city chooses someone then the employees choose someone then they choose a third person. This panel determines the settlement of the contract of the employees strike. Striking has become a major problem in recent years because striking is the last weapon the employees have to defend their rights . For instance if workers are working in an unsafe environment they have the right to strike. In York there is a law which prohibits striking this is known as the Taylor Law. Punishment for striking could be dismissal or dock in pay.

5 Reasons Building a Personal Website Will Help You Find a Job

5 Reasons Building a Personal Website Will Help You Find a Job It’s all about the branding†¦how many times have we heard that mantra? How many times have we used it ourselves? Lots, and there’s a good reason: you need to stand out. In life, sure, but especially when you’re looking for a job. When you apply for a job, you know you’re great (confirmed by your fifth grade soccer trophy, among other things), but how do you prove that when there are 10, 20  other applicants with similar resumes? Building a personal website! It seems overwhelming, but a little bit of time up front can yield great results for your job hunt. Read on to find out why.1. It impresses hiring managers.Having a supplemental website that outlines your professional goals and achievements shows that you’re committed to your job search, and are trying to find ways to stand out in the crowd.2. Like your career, a website can evolve.A resume is what it is: a frozen snapshot of you at a particular point in your career. Once you send it out t he door via email or on paper, there’s no taking it back, no making changes in the short term. Having a personal website (which you’d link in the cover letter or the resume itself), gives you the opportunity to update information that hiring managers can see in real time. Think of it as a kind of living resume to supplement the traditional one that goes out.3. It’s easy.Even if you’re not comfortable with doing web design yourself, these days everyone has a brother, cousin, or roommate’s buddy who does freelance web design. And if you don’t go that route, there are plenty of free and inexpensive tools online that can help you get started with a basic website. Sites like Strikingly or GoDaddy can help you get your brand online quickly and easily.4. It’s a way to collect your branding in one place.Chances are, hiring managers are going to Google you. Normally what would come up is a smattering of social media accounts (and hopefully not that blog you started back before people knew they needed to moderate their online presence). Having your own branded site can collect all of those things in one place, creating a hub that’s all about you. (Of course, make sure that only the social media that shows you in your best professional light are included.)5. It can raise your profile.Your website won’t just be accessible to hiring managers- you might be surprised at the opportunities that could come from potential employers searching online. A website can also enhance your social media presence, and start building the kind of network that could introduce new opportunities as well.If you find that you’re struggling to get interviews or stand out from the pack as you apply for jobs, it’s time to shake things up a bit and add something new. Building a website shows a commitment to your professional brand, and could be just the extra edge you need to get in the door for an interview.

Publishing with a Hybrid Press

Publishing with a Hybrid Press Ever since I signed the contract with  She Writes Press  for the publication of my debut novel,  This Is How It Begins  (available now), writers have been asking, â€Å"Why did you choose a hybrid press?† First, what is a hybrid press? A hybrid press walks the line between traditional publishing (the â€Å"Big 5† of HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, Hachette and Macmillan) and self-publishing (CreateSpace, Kindle Direct, Ingram Spark), taking aspects from each. I chose a hybrid press for several reasons:   Ã‚     After 14 months of getting close but not close enough to land a literary agent, I got impatient with the lengthy process and decided to take matters into my own hands.   Ã‚     I decided against self-publishing because I wanted traditional distribution to bookstores, and that’s not something I could do myself.   Ã‚     I also decided against self-publishing because I knew I wouldn’t have the bandwidth to learn everything there is to learn in a timely fashion.   Ã‚     I wanted to work with a publisher who had ample experience with publishing and selling books, and I wanted a team to give my book its best chance. After much research, I chose the cream of the hybrid crop- She Writes Press (SWP). This innovative press is blazing quality ground in the publishing industry right now. Here’s what their hybrid model looks like:   Ã‚     Emphasis on quality books- they carefully curate their list;   Ã‚     Traditional distribution through Ingram Publisher Services (IPS)- that means a dedicated sales team from IPS sells SWP books directly to booksellers, so your physical books end up in stores;   Ã‚     Generous royalties- You invest up front for editorial, book production and printing, but you get a higher royalty per book sold than you would with traditional publishers (60% of the net profits on print books and close to 80% of the net profits on ebooks);   Ã‚     Respect for authors- Authors are partners in the publishing process, get an education in how best to sell books, have a say in how books look, and retain ownership rights;   Ã‚     Community- SWP fosters a supportive community of women authors, who learn from each other and support each other throughout the publishing process and beyond;   Ã‚     Housekeeping- they take care of all the â€Å"metadata,† which goes to all outlets where books are sold, they warehouse books, file copyright and Library of Congress numbers, fulfill orders †¦ all the stuff you don’t want to have to do from home. One thing I worried about at first was whether working with a hybrid would limit my book in some way - would booksellers consider the hybrid press a poor cousin to traditional publishers? Would I be eligible for the big literary awards and grants? In the case of SWP, I’ve seen no indication whatsoever that booksellers are thinking twice about carrying my book (my preorder numbers from bookstores were quite high). I’ve easily submitted, and been asked to submit, to many of the big-name book awards. There will be some grants that prohibit me from applying (the NEA Fellowship, for instance), but I’m going to try to blaze a new trail with those institutions Not all hybrids are created equal; there are other models out there to consider. Since I can’t speak about them from experience, I’ll leave you with some good articles for further reading:   Ã‚     Not All Hybrid Publishers Are Created Equal: How Authors Should Evaluate Their Choices, Jane Friedman for Publisher’s Weekly   Ã‚     The Indie Authors Guide to Hybrid Publishing: Hybrid publishers look to combine the best of traditional and self-publishing,

Food comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Food comparison - Essay Example In terms of use, they are not heavily used in cooking in American food as compared to the British cuisine but are often used in desserts. Apple is also used for juice, cider and syrup since it has a good taste and a rich aroma. A key difference when comparing to oranges is that the apple fruit can be consumed peeled or unpeeled while the orange is usually had after it has been peeled (IFR, 2006). Orange peel often finds other uses in the food industry while apple peel is used as a part of the fruit (Wikipedia, 2006). The majority component of both apples and oranges is water but a lot of other minerals are also stored in them. Both fruits are also good sources of vitamin C but the orange contains almost double the amount of Vitamin C as compared to an apple (IFR, 2006).Additionally, oranges come in a whole variety of flavors which range from sweet to bitter (Wikipedia, 2006). They are a more popular fruit than the apple since they are cultivated, used and consumed on a larger scale t han apples (IFR, 2006). Unlike the apple, they also have a heavy use in industry since orange oil is used as a scent adding ingredient in household washing supplies, furniture polish and even liquids used to clean automobile upholstery (Wikipedia, 2006). In conclusion, both fruits have their uses and our diet as well as our lives would be very different had we no apples or oranges.   . Clearly we would not be able to compare them to each other but more importantly, we would lose out on a lot of flavor.

Nation State and Transnational Entities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nation State and Transnational Entities - Essay Example This essay stresses that USA is a perfect example of a nation state. Though it is a multicultural society, it is regarded as a nation-state due to the existence of the shared American "culture." It has a territory that is composed of all the states; it also has a government as well as sovereignty. This paper makes a concludion that the European integration process has been characterized by two periods. These are; the Cold War and Second World War. After these two historical events, a majority of the European States recognized the need for cooperation. After the Second World War, Europeans learnt a lesson that encouraged them to test practically benefits that could accrue from European integration. The War had led to reduction of European power. In addition, this decline was an opportunity for the Soviet Union and the US to lead in terms of security, political as well as economic positions. These therefore pushed European leaders to put behind their differences and cooperate. The cooperation was intended to eliminate the causes of war and promote European political as well as economic union. It is worth noting that there were different reasons that motivated them. There was a group made up of states that had been destroyed following the war and were keen on reconstructing their economy as well as reestablish the lost international power. These states were prepared to sacrifice their national sovereignty so as to reach their goals.

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so Term Paper

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so - Term Paper Example have heard a lot of medical professionals who talks about the positive effects of meditation therapy or counseling over the health progress of a sick person. Upon reflecting what these people are trying to convey, I have realized that it is by having a positive attitude and outlook in life that enables a sick person to easily recover from his/her illnesses as compared to another person who has developed a negative outlook in life. There are many situations that can prove that there is neither good nor bad and that the way we think makes something good or bad. We have always been told that cigarette smoking could lead to the development of cancer. Despite all the scientific evidences that can prove this idea right, we can still find a lot of medical practitioners who are chain smokers. Is it really difficult to quit smoking? Is cigarette smoking the only way to control work-related stress? Of course, we all know that the answer is â€Å"NO†. Have you ever wondered why most of these medical professionals find it very difficult for them to quit smoking whereas there are some people without medical background who could easily resist the temptation of smoking? If cigarette smoking is really addicting, how come there are some people who smoke but can anytime control their mind and convince themselves not to smoke? It is given that each person is subject to either internal and/or environmental stressor. Although stressor is always present in our daily life, each individual has their own strategy on how they choose to manage stress. In the book entitled â€Å"Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century†, it was mentioned that mediation as a form of therapy is effective in terms of converting negative emotions such as the feeling of stress into a positive one (Weiten, Lloyd, Dunn, & Hammer, 2009, p. 130). This explanation mentioned in the book clearly suggests that it is how a person thinks that makes something either good or bad. Perhaps, some of

Oscar Zeta Acosta Essay Example for Free

Oscar Zeta Acosta Essay Abstract The paper that I wrote talks about Oscar Zeta Acosta and his impact on the Chicano community. In the leaders contribution I talk about how Acosta was an attorney for the Chicano movement and generated controversy. In the leaders contribution section I talk how Acosta addressed political, social, and educational injustices against Chicanos. Acosta used his time and profession to help the Chicano movement. He contributed through two of his books that are a major part of the Chicano literacy renaissance. He also clashed with the Judicial system a lot of times for reasons that he thought were right. In the section others perspectives I talked about how he was scrutinized by many people but was still recognized through his significance in the Chicano movement. Leaders Context Oscar Zeta Acosta was born in El Paso, Texas on April 8, 1935. A little after he turned five he and his family moved to Californias San Joaquin Valley because his family couldnt make a living during the Depression. His parents started working as migrant field workers. Acostas father was different from other people. He had a passion for competition he had to compete with people more then anything. When Acosta was little his father would always make him argue with him. As he said in his book Oscar Zeta Acosta: The Uncollected Works I guess that is where I became as nasty as I am. (5). When Acosta went to high school he wasnt one of the average Chicanos going to school. He became involved in sports and music he was also president of his class. He got a scholarship for music at the University of Southern California. But he decided not to go. After finishing high school, Acosta joined the U.S. Air Force. Acosta then worked his way through college, becoming the first member of his family to graduate. Acosta attended night classes at San Francisco Law School and passed the California Bar exam in 1966 on his second try. (Oscar Zeta Acosta: The Uncollected works) In 1967, Acosta began working as an antipoverty attorney for the East Legal Aid Society in Oakland, California. Then he moved to East Los Angeles, where he joined the Chicano Movement and generated controversy as an activist attorney during the years 1968-1973. But his activities began in Oakland but it was in East Los Angeles where he gained notoriety. He defended various Chicano protest groups and activists such as the Saint Basil 21 and Rodolfo Corky Gonzalez. As an attorney, he figured prominently in legal cases which addressed political, social, and educational injustices against Chicanos. Acosta is also a well known author of two most important novels of the Chicano Protest Movement. An Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo (1972), and The Revolt of the Cockroach People (1973) . Acostas characteristics involve him being savage, nasty, not giving up nor letting anyone out him down as he said in his novel The Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo I dont give a shit what other people have to say about me(130). I believe that all of these characteristics has made him, become who he was. Because he didnt care what others thought about him, he kept on going when things got hard . Acostas father had to do a lot with him becoming like this, because Acostas father would push Acosta to become better then anyone else made him become the nasty interior person he was. He would never show his emotions and never really found his true identity because Acostas father would always push him to do extracurricular activities, and he didnt have that extra time to spend it with the other Chicanos out on the block. It was until later on working as a Legal Aid and saw the Chicanos rioting and walking out for causes he didnt know existed. Leaders Contribution Oscar Zeta Acosta contributed to the Chicano community through two novels that he wrote. Those two novels were a literary contribution to the Chicano community and movement. He used his profession as an attorney to defend Mexican/ Chicano walk outs for better education. Acosta demonstrated his contribution through joining the Chicano movement. He used his profession as an attorney to defend various Chicano protest groups and activists such as the Saint Basil 21 which was The Catholics for la Raza the coalition in an ill-fated protest at St. Basil’s on Christmas Eve, 1969 and also the Rodolfo Corky Gonzalez where he led a Chicano contingent to the Poor People’s March on Washington D.C and issued a â€Å"plan of the Barrio† which demanded better housing, education and restitution of pueblo lands. Acosta figured prominently in legal cases which addressed political, social, and educational injustices against Chicanos. He frequently clashed with the judicial system, winning ardent supporters as well as making political enemies. He also contributed two novels that he wrote called Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo (1972), and The Revolt of the Cockroach People (1973) . Those were two novels that were highly acclaimed as major contributions to the Chicano literary renaissance. Acosta was a catalyst for change because he contributed his time and profession to the Chicano Movement. Acosta defended his community and race and he also took cases that defended Chicano education, and Chicano rights. He contributed to the Chicano literary renaissance. He is someone that may not be well known to everyone because no one talks about him now but during the Chicano movement he was a catalyst for change because he helped the Chicano community be what it is today by not attaining the injustices they had in the education and in the living of the Chicano community. Other Perspectives Oscar Zeta Acosta is a controversial Chicano author, activist and attorney whose work focuses on ethnicity and ways that people of Mexican ancestry in the United States forge an awareness of themselves and how they get treated by other people. Even though Acosta sometime contradicts himself he is still considered by a few a very great person and activist. The website  ¡Para Justicia y Libertad! said that Acosta was A gifted writer and storyteller, an activist, a civil rights attorney, and is considered the Malcolm X of the Chicano/a community. Also in the article called Oscar Zeta Acosta: One of God’s own prototypes he said Oscar was a legendary, compelling figure in Chicano history his remains in the shadows of the general American culture ( p.1) . There is one thing was for sure that most Chicana would say that he was a feminist and grouse! (Bandido 115) . Some Chicanas even dislike the way he talks about women in his book. He talks about women as if they were objects and he also talks about them in a vulgar way in the books by calling them bitches of hoers. He also talks in a very feminist way, when you read his books you can notice how he mentions or trys to lower the feminine perspective and the mentality of a women. Conclusion Based on the research I have conducted it is my view that Oscar Zeta Acosta was a key component in the Chicano movement because of the role he took by defending the Chicano community when no one would defend them, and especially because Acosta took his profession and his time to defend them. His work affected my life because it showed me that in life you have to pursue your goals to achieve them. Even though it might be tough there reachable. What surprised me about Acosta was his language in his books because I thought an attorney would not talk or especially write a book with vulgar and derogatory language. Another thing that also surprised me about Acosta was that he was a feminist I believed that someone that would defend people like the Chicano community because of the injustices they are facing in society would discriminate other people. Acostas importance during his lifetime was that he was an essential part in fixing the Chicano education and living in the Anglo world. Reflection Leader Selection.I am pleased with my catalyst for change choice Oscar Zeta Acosta. I learned more about the Chicano education injustices and also about the Chicano movement. Even tough there where parts that I wasnt pleased about hearing like on how he was a feminist and how vulgar he talked about women in his books and how he just thought they were objects. I still found my catalyst for change interesting like on how he wasnt like the rest of the Chicanos while he was growing up, he was like an outsider to his own race. Methodology. At first it was difficult to find books that Acosta has written or books that talk about him, because every book store I went to said they did not have them but they could always order them but it would take about to two weeks and when I would say no thank you ill try some where else they would look at me if I was crazy. At the end I ended up going to the downtown public library and I was luck there was only one copy of the books. Maybe next time what I would do differently is choose a person that has sources that are available everywhere. I believe that I did pace my self with reading the books and writing the paper. My time management was effective at times, because there was times I go carried away doing other things but I would still do my paper even though at times I would have to sleep late. Critical Reading. Reading the sources was some what difficult because of the language and sometimes the metaphors he used. What I learned about the whole reading concept is that it is going to be very useful in college and that you have to learn how to pace yourself when you read also that you have to skim the book, also having a dictionary in hand would be very useful to. Note taking did become easier as I worked along. I found note taking very useful since the books I was reading were not mine so I couldnt highlight the important information that I would be using for my research paper. I found the note taking system very useful, probably the other useful thing that would of helped me would have been if the books were mine because I wouldnt have speed threw the books to get them in by their due date. Writing. In writing my research paper the difficulty I faced was not knowing how to get my point across I found that difficult to do because everyone that read my research paper did not know who Oscar Zeta Acosta was. Probably the one thing that would of been useful was choosing a person that people knew at least the name to. The paper we got with the prompt and the instructions on what we had to answer helped a lot because while I was writing my paper I was looking back to see if I answered the prompt and followed the instructions and criteria. The skills that I believe that I need to work on is on my writing and how I try to get my point across because I found that hard to do. The skill that I believe that I was getting better at was knowing how to paraphrase. Experience. I did enjoy working on this project alone because I worked on it at my own pace, but I do enjoy working with others. I believe this research paper would have been better in group because you dont have top rush threw books because everyone can read a book, also because everyone has their own style of writing and looks at the prompts differently so it would have been easier because everyone could have contributed through their opinions and ideas and could have answered the prompt more efficiently. I believe that the most interesting part of this research paper was getting to know everything that your catalyst for change did, because I just knew a couple of thins that Acosta did like being a lawyer and defending the Chicano community, but I didnt know or have a clue everything else he did and how he acted and how he was a feminist. I believe that the most difficult thing about the research paper was the paper itself, because everything was just new to me because I have ever used MLA format before.

Current cognitive models of PTSD

Current cognitive models of PTSD The treatment literature of the past twenty years reflects an enormous interest in discovering the most effective psychological therapy for clients with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD. The overall aim of this paper is to critically evaluate current cognitive models of PTSD and literature on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapies to treat this disorder based on these models. Definitions of PTSD In the Fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) trauma is defined as: (a) The person experienced, witnessed or was confronted with an event that involved actual or perceived threat to life or physical integrity; and (b) the persons emotional response to this event included horror, helplessness or intense fear. Foa and Meadows (1997, p. 450). In DSM-IV psychological symptoms of PTSD are categorised into three cluster symptoms: re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing and increased arousal, which arise after the person is exposed to a traumatic stressor. The recurrent re-experiencing symptoms e.g. flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, have been considered the hallmark of PTSD (e.g. Foa Rothbaurn, 1992). The second cluster includes avoidance of trauma-related stimuli and numbing of general responsiveness e.g. deliberately avoiding trauma-related stimuli and symptoms of emotional numbing (Foa, Hearst-Ikeda, Perry, 1995; Litz, 1993). The latter are considered distinguishing features of PTSD (Foa Meadows, 1997). The third symptom cluster includes increased arousal e.g. hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, difficulty sleeping and irritability (APA, 1994). Current Government Guidelines on the treatment of PTSD Determining effective and efficient treatments for PTSD has become a priority in light of the conditions prevalence and the many techniques and interventions available. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence, NICE, reviewed the most robust outcome research and produced guidelines, to inform and guide clinical practice for the psychological treatment of PTSID in adults (NICE, 2005). The guidelines were based on an independent, systematic, rigorous and multistage process of identifying, reviewing and appraising evidence for the effective treatment of PTSD. These guidelines conclude that individuals with PTSD should receive either trauma focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, TFCBT or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, EMDR. However, a distinction is made between single incident trauma and more complex presentations, and the guidelines suggest increasing the total number of sessions accordingly. Although the guidelines appear helpful for the treatment of single incid ent PTSD, they are arguably not as informative for treatment approaches for a large group of individuals with complex PTSD. This presents difficulties for the clinician and client in deciding the most effective therapeutic options. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most extensively researched therapy for individuals with PTSD (Foa Meadows, 1997) and many studies support its efficacy in reducing symptom severity (e.g. Foa et al., 1995; Foa Jaycox, 1996; Foa, Rothbaurn, Riggs, Murdock, 1991; Resick Schnicke, 1992; Richards, Lovell, Marks, 1994; Thompson, Charlton, Kerry, Lee, Turner, 1995). However, CBT for PTSD encompasses diverse techniques. These include exposure procedures, cognitive restructuring procedures, and combinations of both these techniques. Exposure Therapy Exposure therapy is based on the premise that imaginal exposure (IE) to the trauma or feared situation, leads to symptom reduction. The theory argues prolonged activation of traumatic memories leads to emotional processing of the affective information, habituation of anxiety and integration of corrective information (Foa et al., 1995). Numerous studies have demonstrated that treatment based on exposure therapy is efficacious in reducing PTSD (e.g. Foa et al., 1999; Frueh, Turner, Beidel, Mirabella, Jones, 1996; Keane, Fairbank, Cadell, Zimmering, 1989). Foa, Rothbaum, Riggs, and Murdoch (1991) investigated exposure therapy, stress inoculation (a type of Anxity Management Treatment, AMT), supportive counselling, and a non-treatment group in the treatment of PTSD as a result of rape. Clinical ratings of symptoms and standardized psychometric tests were examined before and after treatment as well as at a 3-month follow-up. The stress inoculation intervention showed greater results than the counselling and non-treatment conditions at post-test. However, at the follow-up, the individuals participating in exposure therapy showed more improvements of PTSD symptoms than individuals in the other groups. Research has investigated the efficiency of exposure therapy compared to different methods of treatment. For instance, Tarrier et al. (1999) investigated exposure therapy and cognitive therapy in the treatment of individuals with PTSD arising from several different traumatic incidents. The two groups demonstrated noteworthy decrease in PTSD symptoms that was still present at the 6-month follow up. Although results were positive for both groups, there was no non-treatment control against which these two active treatments could be evaluated. Similarly, Foa et al. (1999) compared exposure therapy to AMT and then combined the two treatments. These three groups were compared to a non-treatment control group. All three of these treatments effectively reduced symptoms of rape-related PTSD and resulted in functional improvement. There were no differences among the three treatment groups on outcome measures, but all three groups improved more than the non-treatment comparison group did. In a study that once again compared exposure therapy to cognitive therapy, Marks, Lovell, Noshirvani, Livanou, and Thrasher (1998) examined these two treatments alone and in combination in outpatients with PTSD secondary to a wide range of traumatic events. A relaxation therapy condition was employed as the primary comparison group. All three active treatment conditions showed significant improvement, and greater improvement than that observed in the relaxation group. The three active treatments did not differ from one another on the key outcome variables. Several investigations have advanced the field of PTSD treatment, even though the methodology utilized in the outcome study limited the conclusions that could be drawn. Frank and Stewart (1983) reported the effects of systematic desensitization on women who had been raped and who developed significant psychological symptomatology. Compared to an untreated comparison group, those women treated with graduated exposure improved most on a range of anxiety and depression symptom measures. Richards, Lovell, and Marks (1994) compared imaginal and in vivo exposure in a randomized study of survivors of diverse traumatic events. At the 12-month follow-up, patients reported consistent reductions in PTSD symptoms and improved social adjustment. These data further substantiate the effectiveness of exposure therapy for some individuals, and also suggest that improvements in symptoms are also reflected in critical domains of life functioning. In summary, the existing data support the use of exposure therapy in the treatment of PTSD. In a previous review of this literature, Solomon, Gerrity, and Muff, (1992), (Sited in Shapiro, 1995) derived the same conclusion from data available at that time. Similar conclusions were drawn by Otto, Penava, Pollack, and Smoller (1996) in a more recent review of the literature. In what may ultimately prove to be an important lesson for the treatment of individuals exposed to traumatic events, Foa, Hearst-Ikeda, and Perry (1995) examined the efficacy of a brief intervention to prevent the development of chronic PTSD. For women who had been recently raped, the authors developed a program based upon that which worked so well in earlier trials with chronic PTSD. Exposure therapy figured prominently in the package of treatments assembled. This package also included elements of education, breathing retraining, and cognitive restructuring. When individuals receiving the package were compared to a matched control group, this study found that at 2 months after intervention only 10% of the treated group met criteria for PTSD, while 70% of the untreated comparison group did. As information continues to grow on exposure therapy, there is a distinct need for studies to examine combinations of treatments, to employ measures that assess social and occupational functioning, and to address the impact of treatments on comorbid psychological conditions. Clearly, the available efficacy studies demonstrate the value of extending the use of exposure therapies to patients with PTSD. However future studies assessing the generalization of exposure therapy from laboratory trials to clinical settings would be particularly useful. When exposure therapy has been compared to other forms of cognitive therapy, such as cognitive restructuring (see below), it has proved to be more successful in reducing PTSD. Tarrier et al., (1999) compared Cognitive Therapy (CT) with imaginal exposure therapy (IE) for 72 people with chronic PTSD, and concluded that there was no significant difference between the two groups initially or at 12 month follow up. Participants recruited were obtained from a sample of referrals to primary and secondary mental health services and voluntary services, indicating that they were representative of a genuine clinical sample. However, 50% of the sample remained above clinical significance for PTSD symptoms after treatment was completed, although this dropped to 25% at six-month follow-up. This lack of improvement may have been influenced by participants failure to attend sessions regularly. Furthermore, those who did not show improvement rated the therapy as less credible and were rated as less m otivated by the therapist. Therefore, it is argued that motivation for therapy and regular attendance plays an important role in outcome of therapy regardless of treatment model. A further limitation of this study was that no control group was used and non-specific treatment factors and spontaneous remission could also account for the improvements in reported symptoms. Cognitive Restructuring Cognitive restructuring is based on the theory that identifying and modifying catastrophic and unrealistic interpretations of the traumatic experience leads to symptom reduction. Recent models have emphasised the importance of correcting cognitive distortions in the adaptive recovery of people following trauma (Ehlers Clarke, 2000). Ehlers, Clark, Hackmann, McManus, and Fennell (2005) utilized cognitive therapy based on the cognitive model of PTSD (see Ehlers Clarke, 2000). From this model, the aim of therapy is to modify excessively negative appraisals, correct the autobiographical memory disturbance and to remove the problematic behavioural and cognitive strategies. In a randomised controlled trial, twenty-eight participants who were referred to a community mental health team were diagnosed with PTSD. Fourteen participants were randomly allocated to immediate cognitive therapy or a 13-week waiting list condition. Those receiving cognitive therapy had 12 weekly treatment sessions, based on the Ehlers and Clarke (2000) model of trauma focused CBT. Participants completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety and also completed the Sheehan Disability Scale (APA, 2000). Measures were completed pre and post treatment and at 6 month follow up. Results found that CT for PTSD was superior to a 3-m onth waiting list condition on measures of PTSD symptoms, disability and associated symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study had no dropouts, which is a significant improvement on other studies, which Yielded high dropout rates. (e.g. Tarrier et al., 1999). Participants displayed a positive change in cognitive appraisals. The Ehlers and Clarke (2000) model suggest that two other pathways of change, change in autobiographical memory of the trauma, and dropping of maintaining behaviours and cognitive strategies as integral in reducing symptoms of PTSD. Although the treatment addressed these other two factors, these have not been systematically measured, so it is difficult to conclude whether clients experienced a change in these two areas. Further analysis indicated that demographic, trauma and diagnostic variables did not predict treatment outcome, suggesting that the treatment is applicable to a wide range of trauma survivors. However, the degree in variation of trauma and small sample numbers suggests that this finding would not be present in a larger sample. Co-morbid depression and previous trauma history, which was present in over half the sample, did not negatively affect outcome. Combinations of therapy Resick and Schnicke (1992) have proffered a multidimensional behavioural treatment package for women who have rape-related PTSD. This package, entitled cognitive processing therapy (CPT), combines elements of exposure therapy, Anxiety Management Training (AMT), and cognitive restructuring. The cognitive therapy component of CPT involves addressing key cognitive distortions found among women who have been assaulted. In particular, these authors have designed interventions for addressing difficulties in safety, trust, power, self-esteem, and intimacy in the lives of survivors. In a preliminary evaluation of CPT, the authors compared outcomes at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 3 months follow-up, and 6 months follow-up for a treatment group and a non-treatment comparison group (no random assignment was used). On clinician ratings and psychometric inventories of PTSD, the individuals receiving CPT improved markedly. At the post-treatment assessment, impressively, none of the treated patie nts met criteria for PTSD. In a recently completed study, Resick, Nishith, and Astin (2000) reported on a comparison of CPT and exposure therapy in the treatment of rape-related PTSD. In general, the two treatments were equally effective and more effective than a non-treatment control condition. CPT did also seem to reduce comorbid symptoms of depression, as well as those of PTSD. Combination treatments that include an array of cognitive-behavioural strategies have the advantage of addressing multiple problems that people with PTSD may exhibit, as well as incorporating techniques that have considerable empirical support in the clinical literature. Keane, Fisher, Krinsley, and Niles (1994) described a treatment package including exposure therapy, AMT, and cognitive restructuring as central features of their approach to treating PTSD. This package employs a phase oriented approach to treating severe and chronic PTSD that includes the following six phases: (1) behavioural stabilization; (2) trauma education; (3) AMT; (4) trauma focus work; (5) relapse prevention skills; and (6) aftercare procedures. Although this approach has clinical appeal, it wasnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t until psychologists Fecteau and Nicki (1999) examined such a package in a randomized clinical trial for PTSD secondary to motor vehicle accidents that the impact of a combination package such as that proposed by Keane et al. (1994) was assessed. Their intervention consisted of trauma education, relaxation training, exposure therapy, cognitive restructuring, and guided behavioural practice. Patients were randomly assigned to the intervention or to a non-treatment comparison group and received some 8à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10 sessions of individualized treatment. The results of the intervention were successful as measured by clinical ratings, self-report questionnaires, and a laboratory-based psycho-physiological assessment procedure. Described by the authors as clinically and statistically significant, these treatment effects were maintained at the 6-month follow-up assessment. Bryant, Moulds, Guthrie, Dang, and Nixon (2003) studied the effects of IE alone or IE with CR in the treatment of PTSD. They hypothesised that CR combined with IE would result in greater PTSD symptom reduction than exposure alone, which in turn would have greater benefits than a supportive counselling condition. Fifty-eight civilian trauma survivors, diagnosed with PTSD as measured by Clinician Administered. PTSD Scale, version 2, CAPS-2, (Blake et al., 1995) were randomly allocated to one of the three conditions. Each participant received eight weekly 90-minute sessions of either IE, CR and IE or supportive counselling. Participants completed assessments at pre and post treatment and 6 month follow up. These measured PTSD symptoms and psychopathology. Forty-five participants completed treatment and analysis indicated that dropouts had higher scores for depression, avoidance and higher catastrophic cognitions than those who completed. Results indicated that participants receiving bot h IE and IE/CR had greater reductions in PTSD symptoms and anxiety than supportive counselling (SC). The major finding of this study was that therapy involving IE and CR leads to greater reductions in CAPS-2 intensity scores than therapy involving IE alone. Furthermore, those receiving IE/CR, but not IE alone, reported fewer avoidance, depression and catastrophic cognitions than those receiving SC. The results from this study indicated that the combination of IE and CR are effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD. It can be argued that the reasons why IE/CR may have been more effective than augmented treatments in the past (e.g. Foa et al., 1999) was that the study carefully controlled for the amount of time actively spent on each treatment component. Furthermore, participants were instructed on CR before commencing IE so they understood the rationale behind the techniques prior to addressing the strong emotional components of IE. This may have increased their understanding and belief that it was a credible treatment approach. The finding that CR enhanced the treatment gains of IE may have been mediated by several possible mechanisms. IE and CR may involve common elements, including processing of emotional memories, integration of corrective information and development of self-mastery (Marks, 2000). Combining both interventions may provide the individual with greater opportunity to benefit. CR may have lead to greater symptom reduction as it specifically addressed identification and modification of maladaptive cognitions that may contribute to maintenance of PTSD and associated problems (Ehlers Clarke, 2000). Paunovic and Ost (2001), compared treatment outcome data for CBT and exposure therapy for sixteen refugees with PTSD. The authors excluded those who became too distressed in the initial interview, expressed a lack of confidence in the therapist or were misusing alcohol or drugs. Results indicated there was no significant difference between participants completing CBT or exposure therapy, being simila r to Tarrier et als (1999) findings. Criticisms of Paunovic and Ost (2001)s study are that participants did not use a self-report trauma measure, so although results are positive, there is no clear analysis of whether participants felt their trauma symptoms decreased as a result of the treatment. Further, it is not possible to generalise these findings to traumatised refugees in general, as this work is unique. Working with the use of an interpreter raises several ethical and sensitive issues, as the participant must be able to develop a therapeutic alliance with the therapist and trust the interpreter (Tribe, 2007). It could be argued that participants may have been experiencing a greater degree of trauma, not least because they had not yet learned the native language. Discussion The most effective CBT programs appear to be those that rely on repeated exposure to the trauma memory (Foa et al., 1999; Foa et al., 1991; Foa Rothbaum, 1992) on cognitive restructuring of the meaning of the trauma, (Ehlers Clarke, 2000) or a combination of these methods, (Resick Schnicke, 1992). Importantly, studies have concluded that trauma focused CBT is more effective than supportive counselling (Blanchard et al., 2003; Bryant et al., 2003). Whilst the studies reviewed have helpfully added to our understanding of PTSD there are numerous limitations of the applications of the findings. One in particular is an over-reliance on non-clinical samples of participants such that many claims of clinically effective therapy have been made from research with participants who were not within mental health systems, and despite having PTSD symptoms had not actively sought treatment. In addition, dropout rates in studies are high, particularly for those studies that did not use a clinical sample. This might have skewed the evidence particularly with approaches that used exposure-based therapy. Furthermore, most of the studies reviewed screened out those individuals experiencing the greatest amount of distress, avoidance and co-morbidity. Therefore results are biased towards those clients who were able to tolerate treatment and whose symptoms were not as chronic. Indeed, inclusion and exclusion criteria appear to have a great impact on outcome of treatment. For example, studies with a strict inclusion criteria (e.g. no co-morbidity, substance misuse, self harm) appear to have significant improvements, whilst other studies i.e. Kubany et al., (2003), allowed participants to continue with other therapy while embarking on their therapy. This makes it methodologically difficult to ascertain exactly what has been effective in reducing PTSD symptoms. As inclusion and exclusion criteria are idiosyncratic across studies, it makes it difficult to draw general conclusions regarding treatment effectiveness with a clinical population across studies. Studies often chose to focus therapy on identified groups, e.g. police officers. However, clients who experience PTSD do not form a homogeneous group and further, the symptoms experienced may be diverse even within a sample of individuals who have experienced the same trauma. Treatment studies often do not control for other factors that may be important contributing factors in outcome such as the role of education, quality of the therapeutic relationship, therapeutic alliance and other nonspecific factors. The literature was generally from American, British or European sources although clearly trauma is intercultural. This raises issues about how different cultures interpret PTSD, an essentially Western concept, and also whether the treatments advocated would be effective cross-culturally. Previous research has strongly indicated that PTSD is not an appropriate term to use in non-western situations (Summerfield, 1997), hence therapeutic approaches need to account for this. It is not clear in the majority of the research when the participant experienced the trauma, and at what point therapy started. Frequently these characteristics are omitted from studies, therefore making it difficult to compare effectiveness of studies. It is important to consider the types of clients who have been represented in the research and to look at whether it is representative of those who seek treatment. Finally, very little has been reported on the impact of other difficulties an individual is experiencing as PTSD can have a wide ranging impact on an individuals quality of life and functioning and most often clients have more complex presentations. Only very few studies reviewed controlled for this variable (see Ehlers et al., 2005). This is an inherent difficulty when completing research with a trauma population as within research it is important to obtain a sample that have a similar degree of difficulties in order to assess treatment efficacy. Several papers have evaluated different types of therapy according to particular groups. However, it appears that one size does not fit all in relation to PTSID. In particular the issues of culture and gender are of importance (see Liebling Ojiambo-Ochieng, 2000; Sheppard, 2000). Individual formulations of presenting problems and contexts, which informs therapy that is adapted to suit individual clients needs, may in fact be more helpful. It remains important to consider individual differences and client choice when offering trauma therapy. Trauma therapy outcome studies are limited by the fact that sufferers usually have other mental health problems alongside PTSD such as depression or social anxiety. Evaluation of effective treatment of trauma survivors therefore might need to go beyond medical diagnostic categories as most of the research excludes clients with co-morbid problems. A multifaceted intervention, based on clients own views, which addressed these other difficulties, may help reduce relapse and improve long-term efficacy of any PTSD treatment. As outlined in the methodological limitations section, much of the research reviewed has not used a genuine clinical sample, there are high dropout rates, widely variable inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the heterogeneity of PTSD has perhaps not yet been accounted for. It is therefore difficult to ascertain what is specifically helpful or effective within the treatment components. This seems to be the next area for consideration in research. Further research into the optimal length of treatment and timing of therapy, the effect of co-morbidity and the differing effects of individual and group therapy approaches for traumatised clients are required. Further controlled research is needed to ascertain if the types of therapies reviewed can provide long term lasting effects in reducing PTSD symptomatology. Currently the empirical data is generally limited to the assessment of short term, focused interventions, and it would be helpful to have controlled studies on longer-term treatment for more complex trauma cases. Further research would benefit from considering the clients views and experiences of therapy, this perspective was lacking in the literature reviewed. Service user and carer perspectives are beyond the scope of this review, however they have been highlighted as an important consideration within the NICE guidelines and therefore require further consideration in future research. Conclusion There appear to be at least three treatments with excellent empirical support for treating PTSD; exposure therapy, cognitive therapy or a combination of these methods. These three approaches have excellent empirical support in well-controlled clinical trials, manifest strong treatment effect sizes, and appear to work well across diverse populations of trauma survivors. However future studies to examine the effectiveness of these approaches in clinic settings are warranted. There is much to be learned about the treatment of PTSD. It is certain there will be no simple answers for treating people who have experienced the most horrific events life offers. Undoubtedly, combinations of treatments as proposed by Keane et al. (1994) and Resick and Schnicke (1992) may prove to be the most powerful interventions. PTSD research in this area is only in the earliest stages of its development. Finally, an assumption about the uniformity of traumatic events has been made in the literature in general. Although it is reasonable to speculate that fundamental similarities exist among patients who have experienced diverse traumatic events and then develop PTSD, whether these patients will respond to clinical interventions in the same way is an empirical question that has yet to be addressed. Studies posing a question such as this would be a welcome addition to the clinical literature: Will people with PTSD resulting from combat, torture, genocide, and natural disasters all improve as well as those treated successfully following rape, motor vehicle accidents, and assaults? This is a crucial issue that requires additional scientific study in order to provide clinicians with the requisite evidence supporting the use of available techniques. Research on the prevalence of exposure to traumatic events and the prevalence of PTSD has mainly been carried out in the United States. Yet there are fundamental errors in assuming that these prevalence rates apply even to other Western, developed countries. Studies that examine the prevalence of PTSD and other disorders internationally are clearly warranted. Implicit in this recommendation is the need to examine the extent to which current assessment instrumentation is culturally sensitive to the ways in which traumatic reactions are expressed internationally. Much work on this topic will be required before definitive conclusions regarding prevalence rates of PTSD internationally can be drawn. Studies of the effectiveness of the psychological treatments across cultures and ethnic groups are also needed. What may be effective for Western populations may be inadequate or possibly even unacceptable treatment for people who reside in other areas of the world and who have different world views, beliefs, and perspectives. This issue will need to be more closely examined before we can draw definitive conclusions. It is suggested that despite the type of treatment provided to individuals with trauma there is ultimately a need for a flexible, integrative approach to treatment in order to deal with the complex and varying needs of individual trauma survivors. A range of outcomes has been found with the types of approaches outlined in this review, it is unclear who will respond best to which treatment approach. However, what is important in determining the success of any psychological treatment of PTSD is that it is dependent upon establishing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance that is strong enough for the client to experience as safe and trusting for positive emotional change to occur.