Covering the full semester of learning Critical Thinking Term Paper

Covering the full semester of learning Critical Thinking - Term Paper Example Life is understood through the perceptions people hold about how events take place, why they take place, and how much control they had over how they came to pass. Covey (2004) describes an event called a paradigm shift, which means that the way in which life is perceived shifts towards a new idea of how life can work. A paradigm shift happens when the way in which life is perceived is shifted to a new understanding. This initial concept created its own paradigm shift for me as I began to see how life could be approached in different ways from which I had originally believed. Through learning more about what Covey (2004) presented, I began to think that possibilities were broader and more available than what I originally perceived as my own limitations. Knowledge creates new ideas and transforms the way in which something is put into context with beliefs about the world. Learning, then, is the conduit through which knowledge can create meaningful change. One can say that multiple inte lligences define how that learning is achieved and perceived. The understanding that intelligence comes in many forms supports the many levels of perception that exist (Gardner, 1983). Change comes then from how personal intelligences perceive and receive knowledge and utilizes it towards meaningful change. The way in which the individual approaches life can be seen through the centers on which they focus their lives. Covey (2004) describes the center by first stating that it is not necessarily an easy place to identify. The center of one’s life is defined by what is important, which is usually what provides security and guidance. Wisdom and power are not always derived from that center, but should be sought as a part of how one centers their life in order to elevate the nature of how life is lived. The center of one’s life can be a bad place too, which shadows every move they make and keeps them bound by rules they have defined, but may not be from a place of truth. E piphanies and centers can come simultaneously at times. In reading the book Left to tell: Discovering God amidst the Rwandan holocaust, Immaculee Llibagiza (2008) I discovered that Immaculee found faith in the midst of a threat against her life. Her shift occurs as she takes her life from a place of fear to that of a place of faith in which she believed that God would keep her from harm. Her fears were so strong that they had been the center of her life, but in finding that she believed that God would hold her from harm, she shifted the center of her thoughts from fear to faith. How we see the center of our life and how our habits support that center creates effectiveness or ineffectiveness in achieving goals and outcomes. Habits, Covey (2004) writes, are â€Å"the intersection of knowledge, skill, and desire†, which in the case of Llibagiza (2008) were no longer relevant to war time existence. Her daily habits and the knowledge and skill with which she existed were not a par t of the new existence of living in daily fear and hiding. She had to shed all of her old habits and form new ones that matched her environment. Between the concepts of habit that Covey (2004) explains and the disruption that Llibagiza (2008), it is clear that habits often must be changed to promote survival, but

Free

Freedom to Comment Essay When working in a group, one cannot help but find things to disagree on. I don’t believe that is a deliberate choice; I believe that is just the way things are, since each person is endowed with the faculty of reason. In one of my experiences in working with a group, I had to decide within myself whether I would exercise my freedom to comment or maintain my silence. I remember having to work in a group while in college, and we were tasked with finishing a paper and thereafter presenting it in class. While writing the paper we chanced upon materials that have been submitted to our professor by the previous year’s class. The said materials contained all relevant research and findings that we would need to make an excellent report. My group mates wanted to use the materials so we could save on time and effort. Moreover, using the materials we discovered would better our chances at landing better grades, which would be beneficial for all of us. I kept waiting for one of the members of the team to speak up and challenge the morality of the group’s plan. However, I heard nothing but agreement. In my heart I felt what we were about to do was wrong, but still I struggled with the fear that I would be an outcast if I talked against them. I definitely felt the pressure of the need to conform. However, I knew that I could not live with the fact of cheating, so I told them I did not feel comfortable with the plan. I said there is a grave danger of expulsion if we were caught cheating. My group mates thought I was being self-righteous at first, but the fear of expulsion and grave reprimand led them to accept my position.

Mark Twain of Huck Finn - Satire :: essays research papers

Mark Twain, a famous American writer-satirist wrote many books highly acclaimed throughout the world. For his masterpiece, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the literary establishment recognized him as one of the greatest writers America would ever produce. This novel is about a teenage boy by the name of Huck Finn whose father is an alcoholic. Because of his violence, Huck runs away and finds a runaway slave Jim. Instead of turning Jim in, Huck goes against society and makes a decision to help Jim break free from slavery. As they travel together, Huck learns more and more about Jim and starts to understand that the common stereotype of black people is wrong. Huck sees there is no difference between Jim and any white man he knows except for skin color. Risking his life and overcoming many difficulties on the way, Huck succeeds in freeing Jim. Focusing on racism, alcoholism and mob mentality, Mark Twain uses his enthusiastic style of writing and satirizes the three traits throughou t the novel. Many words the book contains are full of vivid disgust towards black slaves. Every single line talks about how white people despise and refuse to accept the black race. Answering Aunt Sally's question about whether or not anyone is hurt Huck answers, "no mum, just killed a nigger."(Twain 213) This is the one and only acceptable way to talk about black people in the "white" society. In addition to this, not only is the black people treated differently from the white, they are also considered to be one's property. "He is the only property I have," (Twain 122) Huck is perforce to say in order to save Jim. This is the only way to get through without the essence of suspicions. Though Huck shows racism in public as society teaches him, deep inside he understands that Jim is a great person. Through the eyes of Huck Finn, Mark Twain shows that there is more to people then looks and race, showing the importance of beliefs and character. Alcoholism is another human weakness. Twain satirizes in his novel, constantly accentuating the drunk and violent father of Huck in a very negative manner. "I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn't too drunk to get there,"(Twain 27) said Pap with a racist remark, implying the fact that he will never vote anyway just because the government let one very intelligent black professor vote.

Alexander’s Vast Accomplishments as a Conquerer Essay -- alexander the

The first matter to consider is what constitutes â€Å"greatness†. There are no set standards no checklist, to apply to a person, to determine it they are â€Å"great.† The simplest way that I could conceive to decide whether this title should apply to Alexander was to determine if he was, in some way, superior to the rulers that came before or after his reign. The most obvious place for me to start my consideration is with Alexander’s vast accomplishments as a conquerer. Alexander inherited an impressive military from his father and a stable kingdom; he also followed his father’s plans to invade Asia. Does this detract from his own accomplishments with the Macedonian army? I would argue that it does not. It does not matter how large his or how well trained his standing army had been, there can be no success without some form of military leadership. Alexander began his military campaign and his rule much where his father left off. Whether or not it was his aim, this created a sense of normality for the men that was part of his father’s regime. Alexander’s position as a warrior-king who stood side-by-side among his men also served to create respect among his peers. Gradually, as Alexander conquered more Persian land, he began to adopt the policies of Persian rulers. Alexander’s change in policy extended beyond just political roles, he gave consideration to the local gods in many of the lands that he conquered. Eventually, Alexander brought people in from the conquered nations to serve under him. It is unknown whether Alexander intended to adopt these practices; if he adopted the policies that he liked; or if he adopted policies for political purposes. No matter his intentions, Alexander’s changes in leadership pol... ...here are few people in history that can claim the military prowess, uncanny political maneuvering, and the overall lasting effect of the dissemination of a particular culture such as Alexander. Alexander’s exploits led to the spread of the Greek culture throughout Asia and Africa. They even went so far as to impact the Romans who dominated Hellenistic Egypt. He left in his wake and expansion of territory and commerce, with expanded trading ports and the exportation of the Greek political system. Christianity emerged with the Hellenization of the Jews and spread throughout Hellenized gentile communities. It seems impossible to catalogue every impact of Alexander’s empire. In the end, I have to conclude that Alexander does ‘fully deserve’ the title of â€Å"the Great.† Works Cited Worthington, Ian. Alexander The Great: A Reader. New York: Routledge, 2012.

Research Paper: a Good Man Is Hard to Find

A good man really is hard to find. But what is the real definition of a real man? Maybe it is not just the prince charming you see in fairy tales or the perfect guy walking down Sixth Ave. that you pass by everyday to work. Maybe a good guy is simply someone that is good what they do. In this case the relationship between the grandmother and the misfit is just that. The only thing is if the reader sees it as clearly as the author would like them too or simply as she does. The setting of the story is never really clear to the reader. The author never really comes out and says where and when the story takes place, but with a few clues an idea is given on a pretty clear setting of â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find. † The time period begins in the mid-twentieth century. In the first half of the story, the family is at their home in Atlanta, Georgia. The author never really says that they are in Atlanta, but in the story the grandmother writes down that it will take them approximately take them 20 minutes to reach the outskirts of the city. When the family begins on their trip to East Tennessee instead of Florida early that morning, the grandmother observes it’s a beautiful day, not to hot nor cold. They pass up many old plantations and open fields. The grandmother also observes the details in the scenery she describes â€Å"the Stone Mountain; the blue granite that in some places came up to both sides of the highway; the brilliant red clay banks slightly streaked with purple; and the various crops that made rows of green lace-work on the ground. The trees were full of silver-white sunlight and the meanest of them sparkled†. O’Conner. They are obviously in the open country and used to seeing the old plantations because there was really no excitement from the family with the children reading magazines and the mother falling asleep, so with this clue as well gave a hint on where the family was from. During their long road trip the family decides to stop at Red Sammy’s Barbeque Joint to grab a b ite to eat. Red Sammy’s was a little hole in the wall barbeque stand on the side of the road next to a big tower with a very welcoming sign in front. In the second half of the story later on in the day the family ends up in a ditch in the middle of nowhere after a car accident caused by the grandmother and her cat. There is a dark, shadowy forest on both sides of the road. The scenery is so dark the only way the viewer can tell what’s going on is the screams and the gun shots coming from the characters. Landscape descriptions and the apparel of the characters also indicate that the action occurs during the warmer months. There is no sun in the sky; this could mean the time period could be around sunset. The setting of the play was a little hard to decipher but a couple of clues gave it away. This play wasn’t very long and it was written mainly in dialogue. The story went from one extreme to another, quickly changing moods as the story progressed. To really understand this story it would be a good idea to understand Flannery O’Conner. † Flannery O’Connor lived but 39 short years. The body of work she left may be small in size, but the stories and two novels are deep in meaning and boundless in importance for the modern reader. †-Welborn. Her stories were never really clear but meaning came clear in the end. Sometimes they had to be put together like a puzzle. O’Conner was an only child and raised in a Savannah and attended nothing but Catholic Schools. This was very odd in deed because a lot of the stories she writes about were about death and the deaths were usually due to murders so with her being so catholic it was odd. Also in this play the conversation between the grandmother and the Misfit was about their beliefs and the misfit not knowing what he believes is weird to me because the reader is indeed catholic. The self-satisfied are attacked, those who fancy themselves as earthly saviors find themselves capable of great evil, intellectuals discover their ideas to be useless human constructs, and those bent on â€Å"freedom† find themselves left open to be controlled by evil. † – Welborn. This could have been the case between he misfit and the grandmother both. But it’s never really clearly said. The misfit could have been known as the evil villain of the story. The grandmother was slowly beginning to turn into one but never made it all the way. So take a chance, and take a look at Flannery O’Connor. Prepare to laugh, to be shocked, and to think. But most of all, be prepared to see. † –Welborn. There are many symbols in A Good Man is Hard to Find. â€Å"A Symbol is something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible. † –Symbol. The first most obvious symbol is the Grandmother’s hat. She wears the hat for one sole purpose; if she were to die she would want the ones who found her body to be able to identify her as a lady. When she prepares for the car trip, she prepares for any accident that may occur. For the grandmother the only thing that seems to matter to her is that she is recognized as a lady, this reveals her selfishness and flimsy moral convention. When the grandmother first gets ready for the trip, the hat is in perfect condition. No tears, no nothing. When the grandmother gets involved in the car accident, just like her moral convictions, her hat begins to fall apart. The rim of the hat begins to tear as she faces the misfit and is thrown from the car. When the grandmother is finally shot after a while of trying to convince the misfit to look deeper into himself her hat falls completely apart and falls to the ground along with the grandmother. â€Å"She drops the broken hat as her self-conception as a lady dissolves. † –Shmoop. Another symbol in the play is the Misfits vehicle. He drives a big black battered hearse like automobile. This is the description of the car the family gives it as it approaches. The car symbolizes a hearse because the misfit is known as a killer, so by giving him this type of vehicle symbolizes what he is known for. A hearse is an automobile or carriage, used in a funeral for carrying the corpse. † –Hearse. This is an image of intimate death for the fate of the family before the misfit and his companions get out of the car. One last symbol out of the many in the play is the scenery and the environment. The dark gloomy day signifies the day the family is about to have. The cloudles s, sunless sky. This was mentioned many times after the family was in the car accident and even more when the misfit came into the picture. The sky was also notified when the grandmother was shot and the misfit walked away. The narrator never mentions the weather or the time of day but the clues he gives already tells a lot of the kind of day the family is about to have. In this play the grandmother and the misfit really have a lot in common than we think. Even though their social status and ages are very different their similarities that they share are rather similar. For instance they are both missing important spiritual bonds. The grandmother tries to get the misfit to understand the meaning of why god kills and in odd ways they agree on similar terms. They both really don’t understand the meaning of why he did what he did but they both have their own perspective on why. Nowhere in the play before the accident does the narrator show the grandmothers spiritual side. When the grandmother talks to the misfit about this topic it is kind of struck out of nowhere, kind of like a last resort to try to save her own life. Neither the grandmother nor the misfit had truly gotten what it means to be saved and true salvation. The misfit doesn’t hold any respect for human life and sees the means of all human life coming to an end at some point. Neither of them believes in any such thing as resurrection even though god himself was resurrected. When the grandmother talks to the misfit he shows a whole other side to himself. The way he talks about his family and himself shows he isn’t as bad of a man as they come to think of him. The grandmother is also the same way, even though she seems selfish, she really does care for her family. At the end of the play the grandmother tries to reach out to the misfit spiritually and tries to get him to understand her faith, but the misfit just doesn’t want to hear it and shoots her himself. So what is a definition of a real man? What makes a good person in general? The title of the story is kind of misleading from the very beginning. â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† gave me the impression of a women who is having trouble finding a good man for her, I never thought it was going to be about a criminal on the run killing people. This really made me think twice on what the author was deciphering as a â€Å"good man. † In this play the misfit did say he came from a good family and was raised like a normal boy. I believe what the author was trying to say in the title was that he was so good at who he was, which was being a criminal. We never really knew what kind of person the criminal aside from his actions and the conversation he had with the grandmother. He was religious in his own kind of way. His beliefs were indeed different but he did believe there was a God, he just didn’t believe in the miracles he performed. From the way the Misfit talked to the grandmother he was pretty respectful and listened to what she had to say, he disagreed, but he still listened and was able to hold a conversation with her. We could never really tell if the Misfit was being honest and truthful from the things he was saying but his actions could point out that they might have been. In this play we never know if the misfit is a compulsive liar, it is possible because he is pretty good at it but like I said, we never know. The Misfit isn’t the only one we may hold second thoughts about. The grandmother is right along with the Misfit. In the beginning of the story, she was the perfect kind of grandmother who looks out for the safety of her family and puts them first. Towards the middle of the story when the family is on their road trip, she became very selfish on the things she wants. For example in the beginning she told the family they should go to Tennessee instead of Florida because of the Misfit and then throughout the road trip she decided she wanted to go see a certain plantation even when the family disagreed. She stated to only think about herself and it got even worse when the misfit came into the picture. When he came into the picture the grandmother seemed to forget about everyone else and only thought about her. Just having lost her family and threatened her own death, the grandmother seemed to undergo a sudden and miraculous change of heart. She starts to reach out to the one who killed her family to try to save her own life instead of trying to save her families. She never showed emotion towards the death of her family. She only became concerned when her own life became threatened. Perhaps at this point in someone’s life, they experience transformations because of the moment they are in. That is the only real explanation I could come up with for why the grandmother did what she did. And in my opinion neither the grandmother nor the Misfit were very good people, they were just good at what they did. This play over all was a great story to read. It gave a whole different perspective on the way a paper could be read. It showed that the title can have a whole different meaning and how fast characters can transform to defend for themselves when they undergo life changing experiences. This story was one of those ionic experiences in everyone’s life; a family vacation from hell. It had everything you would find in a normal family has, annoying kids, an ungrateful selfish grandmother, pretty normal parents, a car accident and a twist; a serial killer. Not every story has a happy ending or an ending we want. This story kept you wanting for more. In a way the events were predictable, but the exaggeration of the events made it most enjoyable to read on. This play was really, truly about the vacation from hell!

5 Secrets About Independent Publisher That Will Surprise You

5 Secrets About Independent Publisher That Will Surprise You Like most blogs geared towards authors, Independent Publisher highlights events and advice that can help authors make the most of their craft. However, there are a few things that this blog does particularly well. Ill give you a brief overview here, to help you make the most of your time on the site, as well as highlighting some of the best bits; just to whet your appetite.(In) this issue offers valuable adviceThis first category of the blog is, in my opinion, one of the most valuable, as it highlights everything from book awards to literary legal terms; all fresh and recent, and conveniently presented in a user-friendly box, inset at the upper right of the homepage. If you want a quick look at a few helpful articles, then this is a good place to start. This months offerings include: the results of the groups book awards, guidance on how to turn a finished product into a bestseller, and key lessons learned from an author with fifty years of experience under his belt, all of which is invaluable.Independent Publisher offers invaluable advice to independent authors. Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels.As described, the articles listed in this section are timely and relevant, and most are very manageable lengths, making for quick reads (we all know how important time is these days). Here is an excerpt from author Jerry Apps article on lessons learned from his fifty years of writing:I also write what I dont know. I stay within my writing niche, and I combine what I know with what I dont know- which means I do massive amounts of research.Jerry AppsMost authors have heard the recommendation to, write what you know. In this piece, Mr. Apps also discusses the inevitability of having to write what you dont know, and the best ways to go about that. Going beyond the standard, cookie-cutter advice that is found on pretty much every blog about writing, makes Apps suggestions more salient and beneficial than the average commentary for new writers.This section is exactly what yo u would hope to find when first perusing a new literary blog; innovative, modern articles, that can be quickly scanned for relevancy, and delved into at length without taking an entire afternoon to grasp one concept. Its a great page to add to your bookmarks list.Book awards give writers marketing toolsRather than just focusing on a list of award results, this section of the blog seeks to sell you on the advantages of entering into one of the groups six award categories. The usual calendars, entry requirements, and eligibility rules are included, but then there are also links to things like, Testimonials, and, Why Enter Book Awards? given right on the first page, to guide you through the process. These articles are most advantageous to new authors, who are unfamiliar with the book award process, or even any of the benefits of applying for such programs.The following is an excerpt from the, Why Enter Book Awards, section:Are you on the fence about entering a book awards contest? Not sure if entering is worth the money and effort? Check out these six reasons why entering book awards is one of the smartest and most effective means of marketing your book.IndependentPublisher.comBy discussing the pros and cons of such an endeavor, the group will both increase the quantity and quality of their entries, as well as enticing new and jaded authors alike to give this particular contest a go. With six categories, this site offers multiple opportunities for independent authors to get the marketing boost and name recognition they need. If you have never considered applying for a book award, this page will give you a few solid reasons to reconsider.Reviews are the sites expertiseAs the title implies, this section of the blog is focused on reviews of independently published books, in a variety of genres, that both provides authors with valuable reference material, and offers a very important introduction to potential readers. True to the considerate nature of this blog, thoug h, the most salient links are right at the top of the page: How to submit your title for review, and, IP Notables. With infinite potential sources of reading material and helpful resources on the Internet, it is so refreshing to have a writers blog that gets the time constraints that are a reality of working authors.Independent Publishers blog factors in the time constraints of working authors. Photo by JEShoots.com from Pexels.Sure, if we had limitless time, most of us would love to sit and read every book review, savoring the diverse styles, and learning great tips as we go. The reality, however, forces us to prioritize publishing, marketing, and honing our skills, in a fast-paced and competitive environment; the primary subjects and links available on this blog. With an extremely wide-ranging list of genres, most authors will have no problem finding worthwhile reviews in a suitable category, to help them stay current and tailor their technique to project requirements.As to why yo u might want to submit your work for review, the reasons are similar to those given in the awards section, and are nicely summarized in this excerpt:Winning a book award and getting a good review published are two of the best marketing tools available to the independent publisher today.IndependentPublisher.comEnough said, really; these are very handy tools to have in your marketing and publicity box.The events section is fantasticWhoever is responsible for this section of the blog is doing their homework. This is a treasure trove of workshops, conferences, courses, and book fairs, to boost and enhance every aspect of your professional writing needs. The events on this page are regularly updated, and allow for planning ones schedule in advance. Although there are not an enormous number of events listed, those that are here are of a high caliber, with gatherings listed on a global level.This page is a bit sparse on explanation, compared to the others on this site, but it makes up for it with quality postings to help you: learn new skills, network with a wide selection of industry professionals, and rub shoulders with your peers at the largest, and one of the oldest, licensing events in the industry. Take a peek at the history of the Frankfurt Book Fair, for example:The worlds largest book fair is as rich in history as it is in attendees. According to Peter Weishaas A History of the Frankfurt Book Fair, the international importance of the fair to the literary community was established by 1598, when English scholar Thomas Bodley attended with the intention of stocking the newly refounded Oxford University Library.www.IndependentPublisher.comThey had me at Bodley.In addition to being insanely rich in popularity and prestige, the Frankfurt Fair is also one of the best places to do that essential business of forging licensing and book rights deals. There is also a good deal of attention given to small and independently published books, thus the sites interest in it, which is given in this enticing overview:Indie publishers are welcome at the Independent Publishers Reading Island, a space where new releases are presented and readings held. Self-publishing is also being recognized as an emerging and incredibly important aspect of the industry; a full days worth of events and discussions will focus on topics relevant to self-publishers, and guided tours of the fair will stop at major self-publishing companies and service providers.IndependentPublisher.comTalk to any successful writer, and these types of events are likely to be a significant part of their work process.The site offers updated news related to independent publishingIn addition to the wonderful sections already discussed, there is a News, page. In truth, the inclusion of both a News and, This Issue page may be difficult to keep from being redundant in slow news cycles in the literary world; therefore, for the most recent stories and advances in independent publishing, I have to recomme nd hitting the invaluable inset for This Issue on the homepage first. There are some great articles in the News section, as well, although not as timely as the ones in the previously mentioned link.To sum up, Independent Publisher is a useful, approachable literary blog, which does an excellent job of both catering to its niche market and offering more general industry advice for authors of all stripes. The This Issue section and the Archives page, which was not previously mentioned, contain valuable resources of past articles that have appeal for a wide assortment of writers and publishers. If this blog is not on your list of go-to literary resources, it is definitely worth considering adding it.

Bibliography Essays - Strategic Management, Management, Free Essays

Bibliography Essays - Strategic Management, Management, Free Essays Bibliography Porter, Michael E. 2008 The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy. Harvard Business Review Vol.86 Issue 1, p78-93 Grundy, Tony.2006Rethinking and Reinventing Michael Porters Five Forces Model. Strategy Change, Vol.15 Issue 5, p213-229 Porter, Michael E. 1979 How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy. Harvard Business Review Vol.57 Issue 2, p137-145 Barney, Jay B. 1995 Looking inside for Competitive Advantage. Academy of Management Executive Vol.9 No.4 Porter, Michael E. 1980 1985 Competitive Strategy. New York Free Press. Barney, Jay B. 2001 Is the Resources-based View a Useful Perspective for Strategic Management Research? Yes. Academy of Management Review, Vol.26 Issue 1, p41-56 Mata, Francisco J. and Barney, Jay B.1995, Information Technology and Sustained Competitive Advantage: A Resources-Based Analysis. MIS Quarterly, Vol.19 Issue 4, p487-505 Ohmae, K. (1983), The Strategic Triangle and Business Unit Strategy. McKinsey Quarterly (4): p9-12 Barney, J. B. (2007), Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. B Rumelt, R.P. (1984), Towards a strategic theory of the firm. Competitive Management 556-570 Priem. R. L & Butler. J. E (2001), Is The Resources Based View A Useful Perspective For Strategic Management Research? Academy of Management Review, Vol.26, No1, p22-40 Kraaijenbrink. J (2010), The Resources-Based View: A Review and Assessment of its Critiques Journal of Management, 36,349

buy custom Types of Computer Applications essay

buy custom Types of Computer Applications essay Computer applications have transformed the world today. More than before, the internet community has access to computer applications of various types, developed to accomplish an endless list of tasks. With the increasing number of computer applications being developed, many computer users fail the distinction between the various applications published for the consumption. Nonetheless, there are many computer applications that can be classified as Open Source, Share Ware, custom, and Free Ware that have been developed today. Open Source applications are those developed not only to meet the computing needs of users, but also allow them to access their source code of the application. Mozilla Firefox is one of the computer applications that can be found under this category. Mozilla Firefox is an application developed by the Mozilla Foundation with the aim of improving internet experience for users. This application is one of the well-known internet browsers that is used bymillions of people around the world. With Mozilla Firefox, users can browse through the internet and access the program robust features such as plugin integrations. Shareware applications are owned by its developers, but provided for users for a given trial period. During the trial period, this software is not paid for, but its functions are limited. Doom is an example of an award-winning computer game developed by idSoftware. This game involves players engaging in tactical shooting levels while playing alone or as multilayer. This game was developed to meet the needs of gaming fans. Freeware is another category of application that users can have at a little cost or none at all. Text Wrangler is an excellent example of freeware that Mac users can use for text processing. The Text Wrangler is developed by Bare Bone Software for allowing computer users to manipulate text in an easy, but interactive way. Whereas the program lacks the basic formatting tools, many users love it because of it is easy to use. Custom software is applications that have been developed and owned by the developers who sell them for a fee. In the computer industry, custom software such as Oracle Reports fills a need that most of the application types do not. Oracle Report is a product of Oracle Corporation used by business firms for reporting. This software provides users with novels ways of producing reports and evaluating business trends. Certainly, the computer industry has various categories of software applications. Open software applications such as Firefox allow users to browse the internet. Share applications like Doom also enable users to use the application for some time before paying for it. Other applications such as Text Wrangler are provide for a little cost or none, and allow users to manipulate text. Custom applications also form part of software classification and allow enterprise users to generate reports in the business processes. Buy custom Types of Computer Applications essay

Bicyclists and motorcyclists should be required by law t Essay

Bicyclists and motorcyclists should be required by law t - Essay Example When motorcycles and bicycles are involved in any accidents, the physical body of the human could be injured particularly the head or the brain part, leading to death and even if an individual survives, the life will be a living hell. This brings into the picture the importance of helmets and how helmets could save a person from death or from becoming a ‘Vegetable’. This being in argument, the other is how many motorcyclists and bicyclist are driving without helmets with a lot of comfort, and how helmets could cause accidents. Thus, this paper will focus on the role of helmet and how it can be a lifesaving tool on one side and how it is not such a lifesaving tool and could give discomforts on other side. Helmet worn by motorcyclists and bicyclists brings in a lot of advantages and importantly saves a lot of lives. That is, as helmets are like a strong armor for the head, any strong and dangerous impacts during an accident can be absorbed by the helmets. In most of the accidents and incidents involving motorcycles and bicycles, the riders will separate from the vehicle and the head of that individual will normally make a strong impact on other strong objects like the other vehicles, roadside objects and even the strong road. That impact could damage or break the skull leading to the damage to the brain resulting in death. Motorcyclists usually separate from the motorcycle at some time during a crash. It stands to reason that protective apparels like helmets are far more likely to be effective than protective equipment attached to the motorcycle In the event of a crash, no existing strategy or safety equipment offers protection comparable to a FMVSS 218 compliant helmet. (NHTSA). Helm eted riders have shown significantly lower injury impacts in all types of lesions in the body particularly in the head. A recent analysis from the Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation Systems (CODES) from six states demonstrated that helmets were 35 percent

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 35

Essay Example Comprehensive job descriptions provide the main characteristics of the given position and clarify what expectations the employee should have again his job. Role perception is an association aiding both the manager and the employee in presenting and advertising the job position. For example, when hiring an IT specialist managers need to understand the key tasks and what skills are required by the applicant to accomplish the job in the most effective way. The role perception of the best candidate for the IT department requires having technical background. Even if the company provides initial training, the candidate must ensure that his role perception of IT specialist matches this of the Human Resources. IT specialist should be familiar with server administration, network programs and database administration. Also he has to have knowledge in operational software, data analysis and implementation of certain, internal company programs. Thus, making a job description easily understandable and keeping adequate feedback for a position is of crucial importance for ensuring the candidate’s understanding of what role he plays within the company. The best way to utilize the stereotyping ideas in enhancing the organizational behaviour is to employ the idea of positive organizational behaviour. This has direct implications for the success of a business. The key outcome of positive organizational behaviour is that it engages the employees to have a better understanding of the relationship between work and their personal happiness. In broader sense the stereotyping idea of enhancing the organizational behaviour makes the company flourish. Positivity at the work place helps to accomplish one’s purpose of life. Undoubtedly, working conditions inspire employees to engage more actively in the working processes. Imagine a customer service representative, who takes responsibility to deal with

Tax cases and internal research memo Assignment

Tax cases and internal research memo - Assignment Example In this particular case, Artnell Company has faced obligation from the court of the United States regarding its transferee and tax payment. In this regard, it has been recognized that the issues has upraised from the deferral operations of its assets and liabilities. As an effect, it has been observed that the company has not been able to recognize its actual income due to irregularity. As a consequence, the company was not able to submit its due amount of tax. Correspondingly, the court of the United States has appealed for the penalty including the due tax amount of the Artnell Company. CASE 2 In this case the United States court has filed a charge against the Federal partnership tax returns of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Ltd. In this regard, the partnership firm has not recorded its income items on the basis of deferral method, which has affected the taxation of the company. Under section 451, a lawsuit against the company was filed for not maintaining the yearly income receipt adequately. On the other hand, under section 446(c), taxpayers are liable to pay the computed taxable income. In this regard, the United States court has recognized that $125,000 sponsor fee was unpaid. In this case, petitioner has kept all the record related to the income tax return on the accrual basis. The U.S. Supreme Court has identified the problem regarding the income of the firm. In this regard, the Supreme Court of the U.S. has sought for the cash receipts of includible amount. Moreover, during the inspection the Commissioner of the U.S. Supreme Court had asked for the receipts regarding installments including the due amounts as well as total payable amounts. During that phase the company has unable to show the gross income for the year. At the same time, due to deferral of prepaid income, company was not able to reflect its deferral income. Thus, under the section 41

Religion Experience Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Religion Experience - Research Paper Example It is important to note that Roman Catholic and some of its splinter affiliates has the majority believers population among the Christians and the world at large and this explains why this is a globally observed period with internationally recognized periods of Holiday (Catholic University of America,2002). It is important to understand the underlying concepts that constitute the entire season and the subsequent holidays which have a lot of meaning to the Christian faithful. East results from the lent season which constitutes 40 days after which the Pentecost season begins lasting 50 days. Due to its focus on this symbolic event in the life of Jesus from whom the Christian believers derive their spiritual identity, it remains the central point on which all other religious activities calendar is drawn. It is worth to note that the Easter season is dotted with many other special days before and after and one such a day is Ash Wednesday. This an exclusive day which marks the first day of Lent and falls within the months of February 14th and March 11th at an estimated six and half weeks prior to Easter. Archival records of the early Christianity indicate varied length of lent which was later fixed at 40 days from the 7th century. The lent period is set at 40 days which is consistent with the period Jesus took starving in the wilderness. In respect of that doctrine, believers are expected to go through a period of fasting and sacrificing much of their time praying and helping the needy in the society (Wilkinson & Charing, 2004). This solidifies the faith by an action slogan that is much talked about in the bible and other theological scholarly works. Abstinence from sexual intercourse from every believer is equally expected during this special season as it is generally dedicated to the service of God. The most common mark of celebrating this Ash Wednesday is the smearing of ash on the forehead of the participants as a symbol of penance and this is attached to blessings. It is worth to note that some aspects of this event have changed over time. This is in regard to the application of ash on the forehead exclusively on participants which has lately changed to a case where ash is given to the entire congregatio n during the service and all members in attendance are marked. The religious connotations that were directed towards this event have equally changed from the traditional likening of human being to dust and the new idea of preaching repentance (Catholic University of America, 2002). It is also important to notice that this ash is derived from the burnt palm fronds which previously had been used during the Palm Sunday. Within the larger concept of the Easter season, on-catholic churches like the Eastern Orthodox celebrate clean Monday which begins with the lent period and the only difference in the catholic version is skipping of Sunday with a claim that Jesus resurrected on Sunday. During the Easter season, Passion Sunday is also celebrated as a commemoration to the maiden entry of Jesus to Jerusalem before he was crucified some days later. The event actually proceeds through a procession of palm fronds which constitutes blessing and the same are later burnt to produce ash for the ne xt year’s Ash Wednesday. There are fifty days of Easter season between the end of lent and the Holy Saturday. It is important to note that Holy Saturday is very significant in respect to the celebration of the Easter holiday. This is the day when most Christians across the world begin to prepare for Easter services (Wilkinson & Charing, 2004). In the historic periods of the Christianity people engaged in an overnight fasting in preparation for baptismal of new

Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Art History - Essay Example es of war thereby assisting then to instil the desire as well as the commitment of ending war, working collectively for peace and security in the society. Visual arts like paintings and sculptures are mostly considered in this case. Most of the considered paintings and carvings are found to depict an intersection of peace history and historical art. One of the historical arts is the Standard of Ur, which is based on the prehistoric art style of Mesopotamia. This Sumerian artefact was excavated from a royal cemetery with Ur, an ancient city in the modern-day Iraq. The main theme presented in this historical piece of art is the promotion of peace and societal security. This theme is attributed to the depicted war and security scenes. The function of this piece of art has been suggested to be a standardized team of keeping peace and security during the time it was created about 4,500 years ago. Some suggestions have also been raised that it was a chest for storing funds for use in works associated with warfare or even associated with civil and religious activities. Nevertheless, the scenes seem to show oneness in a war towards protecting the society. Side mosaics are part of the prehistoric style applied to show the war sides as well as the peace side. The first row of paintings seem to depict the preparation to war, the second one depicting the movement to the war, and then a victorious celebration of having conquered the enemy to promote peace and security. The visual art is considered to be parallel with merism, which is literary device used by Sumerians to describe the totality of situations by pairing the prevailing opposite concepts (Kleiner 24). Another piece of art is the Funerary Mask, which is an ancient Greek artefact discovered at Mycenae. The theme presented by the mask is that of death of a legendary Greek leader. This artefact is as shown below: As a leader, his superiority of being in a position to maintain peace and security through his authority

Religion Experience Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Religion Experience - Research Paper Example It is important to note that Roman Catholic and some of its splinter affiliates has the majority believers population among the Christians and the world at large and this explains why this is a globally observed period with internationally recognized periods of Holiday (Catholic University of America,2002). It is important to understand the underlying concepts that constitute the entire season and the subsequent holidays which have a lot of meaning to the Christian faithful. East results from the lent season which constitutes 40 days after which the Pentecost season begins lasting 50 days. Due to its focus on this symbolic event in the life of Jesus from whom the Christian believers derive their spiritual identity, it remains the central point on which all other religious activities calendar is drawn. It is worth to note that the Easter season is dotted with many other special days before and after and one such a day is Ash Wednesday. This an exclusive day which marks the first day of Lent and falls within the months of February 14th and March 11th at an estimated six and half weeks prior to Easter. Archival records of the early Christianity indicate varied length of lent which was later fixed at 40 days from the 7th century. The lent period is set at 40 days which is consistent with the period Jesus took starving in the wilderness. In respect of that doctrine, believers are expected to go through a period of fasting and sacrificing much of their time praying and helping the needy in the society (Wilkinson & Charing, 2004). This solidifies the faith by an action slogan that is much talked about in the bible and other theological scholarly works. Abstinence from sexual intercourse from every believer is equally expected during this special season as it is generally dedicated to the service of God. The most common mark of celebrating this Ash Wednesday is the smearing of ash on the forehead of the participants as a symbol of penance and this is attached to blessings. It is worth to note that some aspects of this event have changed over time. This is in regard to the application of ash on the forehead exclusively on participants which has lately changed to a case where ash is given to the entire congregatio n during the service and all members in attendance are marked. The religious connotations that were directed towards this event have equally changed from the traditional likening of human being to dust and the new idea of preaching repentance (Catholic University of America, 2002). It is also important to notice that this ash is derived from the burnt palm fronds which previously had been used during the Palm Sunday. Within the larger concept of the Easter season, on-catholic churches like the Eastern Orthodox celebrate clean Monday which begins with the lent period and the only difference in the catholic version is skipping of Sunday with a claim that Jesus resurrected on Sunday. During the Easter season, Passion Sunday is also celebrated as a commemoration to the maiden entry of Jesus to Jerusalem before he was crucified some days later. The event actually proceeds through a procession of palm fronds which constitutes blessing and the same are later burnt to produce ash for the ne xt year’s Ash Wednesday. There are fifty days of Easter season between the end of lent and the Holy Saturday. It is important to note that Holy Saturday is very significant in respect to the celebration of the Easter holiday. This is the day when most Christians across the world begin to prepare for Easter services (Wilkinson & Charing, 2004). In the historic periods of the Christianity people engaged in an overnight fasting in preparation for baptismal of new

Introduction and Conclusion for Accounting Paper Essay

Introduction and Conclusion for Accounting Paper - Essay Example he report argues that it is vital for companies today to pay attention to issues which affect their bottom line of gross profit, taxes, and net income. The report reviews FASB standards for valuing inventory, at or below market value, which the accountant must do. Supervision of inventory is something that falls into accountants’ responsibilities and job duties, along with when and where to capitalize interest on construction projects being done by the firm. Perhaps the most important accountancy duty covered in the current investigation, however, remains recording gain or loss on asset disposal—accuracy in this accounting duty is integral to the firm’s success, as well as good reputation. The report proposes the straight-line, declining-balance, and sum-of-years approaches, while giving real world examples of equations which may be used in this most important part of accounting. It is also important to consider the importance of adjusting goodwill for impairment in a way that can provide the company with valuable information relative to future investment planning, in order to again, optimize profits and revenues for the firm. The current report has looked at why an accountant would require various documentation from a client, and has also shown real world demonstrations of equations used for recording gain or loss on asset disposal (one of the most important required tasks for accountants, and one which can be done in a variety of ways). The report has also looked into issues of adjusting lower cost of market inventory, capitalizing interest on building construction, and adjusting goodwill for impairment. Each of these functions has its separate use for accountancy, and these various uses form a holistic picture of what may be expected from on-the-job performance tasks. Some of the tasks, such as adjusting inventory, may be very long and complex, depending on the depth and age of the company’s inventory stocks. The accountant must present these

A sociological perspective Essay Example for Free

A sociological perspective Essay The term inner city life refers to the system of life of those people, who are underclass, cut off from the regular city life. Yet the elemental building blocks of their lives-work, family, community all exists, however in corrupted forms. A sociological perspective: Inner city residents are underpaid socially disorganised, where no one trusts the other and each has to struggle for existence in highly unfavourable conditions. The most precise way to explain inner city life in sociological terms is to consider 1. Criminality: The absence of proper means of existence leads to the demolition of the laws of the community and every member lives by preying on his fellow citizens. 2. Illegality: Due to the absence of proper family values, and absence of fathers in many cases, the young ones tend to grow up devoid of any values and ethics, unready to take the responsibilities of life and family which they have to undertake at a young age. In other words, they are improperly socialised. Moreover, financial, emotional and intellectual deficits aggravate the situation. 3. Schooling: A teacher has a significant contribution is shaping the lives of children. However teachers in inner city life differ from that of the city teachers on various grounds, teaching experience, certification and involvement with the students. In the inner cities there is a dearth of teachers leading to the appointment of less qualified teachers. The more a teacher spends time with her students, the more are they motivated to come up in life? Not only that, proper cooperation of the teachers help children gain confidence, getting a better idea about life. However, lack of cooperation from the teachers leads to a sense of helplessness among the students and leads them to question their own capabilities. 4. Community influence: apart from school, the time a child spends in his community also shapes his personality. Increased prevalence of poverty, exposure to violence and absence of parents at home leads a child to spend most of his after school time in his community. Absence of structured programs or opportunities is reasons enough for the children to go astray. For example, a black family living in a white dominated area has to face sneers and remarks against their race, which has a negative impact on the children. An economic perspective: The most important reasons which effect youths in inner city are: 1. Lower socio economic status: social disadvantage is associated with increased stress among adults throughout the socioeconomic gradient. One of the foremost reasons for this is the stressful working conditions of the youth. Most of the times, they are made to work under extreme conditions. They are made to do menial jobs and are highly underpaid. Most of the times they are unable to provide for themselves the bare necessities of life. Indulging in criminal activities thus becomes an obvious option. 2. Poverty: this is one condition of existence which hampers their growth. Living in poverty can lead to a deficiency in food, clothing, shelter which all people need to fulfil their growth needs. Poverty is the main source of stress, strain, anxiety and frustration among children which need to be overcome. In absence of the basic needs of existence, children often tend to move towards criminal activities. A psychological perspective: Social disadvantage is related to increased stress among inner city circles. One explanation for this is that as one goes down the socioeconomic order, they have fewer psychological resources to meet this stress because of such challenging circumstances. Because these are abilities and resources those individuals draw upon while stressed, to withstand the threats from the environment. According to Gallo and Mathews, the relative lack of resources is mainly due to depletion, with lack of replenishment of the existing resources and also due to a continuous interruption in the process of development. Economic instability, racism, adequate coping methods, negatively affects the psychology of the people mainly the youth. This is actually the critical period of development in which definite behavioural and psychological patterns are formed which exists throughout. This is termed as â€Å"reserve capacity† â€Å"Psychological† and â€Å"Environmental† perspectives are the two main categories in this field. The first emphasises on objective events and conditions, associated with effective adaptive demands, while the latter focuses on individuals’ subjective evaluation of oneself and one’s abilities to cope with the demands. It stresses that â€Å"stressors† are environmental events or conditions that impose stress on individuals and â€Å"stress† is a person’s appraisal to these conditions as taxing or threatening to their psychological makeup. Among the youth, this stress is subject to their level of optimism, adequacy of coping styles, personality traits and other factors.

Pulse Oximetry For Anaesthesia In Veterinary Practices Biology Essay

Pulse Oximetry For Anaesthesia In Veterinary Practices Biology Essay Pulse oximetry is one of the most commonly used pieces of monitoring equipment for anaesthesia in veterinary clinics today. Using a pulse oximeter allows us to monitor the percentage of haemoglobin (Hb) which is saturated with oxygen in a non-invasive way, allowing us to detect hypoxia before the patient is visibly cyanotic. The pulse oximeter consists of a probe attached to the patient (usually tongue, ear, or prepuce/vulva) which is linked to a computerised unit. The unit displays the percentage of Hb saturated with oxygen and a calculated heart rate, often with an audible signal for each pulse beat. Some units also have a graphical display of the blood flow past the probe called a plethysmograph. The pulse oximeter is able to determine the percentage of haemoglobin saturated with oxygen, commonly referred to as SpO2, by emitting red and infrared light from the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on one side of the probe, which travels through the tissue (or reflects off depending on the probe type) to the photodiode on the other side of the probe. The machine analyses the light that reaches the photodiode and is able to detect subtle differences in the absorption of light by oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin. As these differ in absorption levels, the amount of red and infrared light absorbed by blood is related to haemoglobin oxygen saturation. The pulse oximeter can calculate the heart rate as it detects the pulsations as the volume of arterial blood in the tissue changes during the pulsative cycle, affecting light absorption. Adequate oxygenation is essential at all times for the body to perform its metabolic processes. The heart and brain are the bodys biggest consumers of oxygen, and if oxygenation levels decrease to critical levels, tissue damage occurs extremely quickly. Oxygen travels in the blood in two forms as unbound oxygen dissolved in plasma and as oxygen that is bound to the haemoglobin. In healthy patients breathing room air (which contains approximately 21% oxygen), oxygen dissolved in plasma equates to a very small percentage of the total oxygen in the blood (most texts list this as less than 1.5%), and the majority of blood oxygen is bound to haemoglobin (the remaining 98.5%). Measuring and monitoring oxygenation via pulse oximetry is very useful as it is monitoring the oxygen that is bound to haemoglobin, which is what is utilised by the body for normal cell function. Monitoring SpO2 however does not give you a good indication of how well the patient is ventilating (or breathing) for itself, especially during anaesthesia. A common mistake veterinary nurses make is to presume that if a patient has a SpO2 of 95% or higher under anaesthesia, then it is breathing adequately. We can get lulled into a false sense of security by having a good saturation figure when the patients respiration is completely inadequate. There are two main functions of respiration, one is getting oxygen out of the air and into the body, and the other is getting carbon dioxide out of the body and into the air. It possible for the patient to be getting enough oxygen into their body but not being able to get rid of enough carbon dioxide, so the SpO2 will show a good reading, but the patient may be hypercapnic (elevated levels of carbon dioxide). A capnograph should be used to measure end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) levels and assess patient respiration. Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) is a measurement of the levels of unbound oxygen in the plasma, and as discussed above, makes up a small percentage of the total oxygen in the blood. However PaO2 is important as it influences the saturation of haemoglobin because there must be an adequate level of dissolved oxygen in the blood to be available to bind to the haemoglobin. It is also important to understand that oxygen saturation and PaO2 are linked (when one goes up the other goes up and vice versa), however it does not have a direct linear correlation. As PaO2 decreases, the saturation level decreases slowly at first, but then decreases rapidly (see table **). In a patient which is breathing room air, the PaO2 is about 100mmHg, whereas for a patient breathing 100% oxygen (as for anaesthesia), their Pa02 is around 500mmHg and SpO2 is 100%. If this patient has a PaO2 drop to 100mmHg (a drop of 400mmHg) their SpO2 will drop to around 98%. If a further drop to 80mmHg occurs, their SpO2 will drop to around 95%. After this point, the SpO2 will start a more dramatic drop; if PaO2 drops to 60mmHg (another 20mmHg drop) will mean their SpO2 will be about 90%. A further drop of 20mmHg to a PaO2 of 40mmHg, the saturation will go from 90% to 75%. In practical application, when monitoring SpO2 in a normal healthy dog or cat, it should be 95-100%. Levels between 90-95% must be investigated, and critical values for oxygen saturation are below 90%.Simply, this means that the total oxygen available to the body decreases very little when partial pressures are above 80mmHg (Spo2 of 95%), however they decrease rapidly below this level, such as patients with lung disease, lack of oxygen, inadequate ventilation etc. Practically put, if you patient has a Sp02 of 90-95% this can indicate hypoxaemia and must be investigated as your patients haemoglobin is not fully saturated. If your patient has a Sp02 of less than 90%, then immediate therapy must be initiated oxygen if not receiving already, ventilation assistance etc. Sp02 of 85% or below for more than 30 seconds is considered an emergency. Placing the SpO2 Probe There are two main types of probes available on the market transmission or reflective. Transmission probes are the most common, and are usually mounted in a clip. These are generally used on the tongue, pinna, toe webbing, vulva or prepuce, or any other area that is thin and relatively hairless. Reflective probes have the light source and sensor side by side and are often taped to the base of the tail after it has been clipped, or covered and inserted into the oesophagus or rectum. When placing rectally, it is important to ensure that there are no faeces between the sensor and the rectum wall. Tongue, Cheeks, Prepuce, Vulva With tongues, start at the tip and work your way toward the base. Always direct the light downward, toward the floor; regardless of the animals position to reduce the effects of ambient light (ambient light will affect accuracy). For patient comfort, keep the tongue moist during longer procedures by applying a dampened gauze swab between the tongue and the probe. Do not have the gauze too thick as it can alter the reading by impeding the light transmission. To get a better reading on smaller tongues, bring the sides of the tongue up and pass the light through both layers. Do not fold the tip of the tongue, as you will restrict blood flow to the tongue. The same principals apply to placing the probe on the cheek, prepuce or vulva. Hock Moisten the hock area with isopropyl alcohol and/or water, and clip hair if needed. Pinna (Ear) The probe can be placed on the ear using the same technique as the tongue. Long haired animals may need a patch shaved first for the sensor to work correctly. Toes Probes can be placed on the metatarsals or metacarpals or in the webbing between them. Tail Place the reflective probe on the ventral base of the tail. The LEDs should be positioned dorsally. You may need to clip a small patch of hair, only large enough for the LEDs to lay on the skin. Be sure the skin is clean. Hold the sensor snugly against the tail and wrap with non-adhesive wrap. Poor SpO2 Readings When you detect a poor or low saturation reading, it is vital that you check the patient before you check the machine. Make sure your patient is stable by assessing all vital signs. Pulse oximeters need a strong regular pulse where the probe is located. If there is only a weak pulse, the pulse oximeter may display a reading but it might not be accurate. Most pulse oximeters have a pulse strength indicator as a bar graph and this should be used to ascertain whether you have correct placement. If the clip of the probe is too strong, this can also affect your reading by constricting the blood flow in front of the sensor. If this is the case, swapping the clip for a more gentler one is the best option, otherwise reposition the sensor to somewhere that can take the pressure (this will usually be thicker). An irregular signal caused by an irregular heartbeat or by the patient moving, shivering or fitting can cause problems for a pulse oximeter. If a patient moves too much, try relocating the probe to another location. Ambient light may be too bright for the sensor to operate correctly. Theatre lights can especially cause issues. Any sensor that is located in bright light should have a drape placed over it to reduce light contamination for more accurate readings. Do not place the sensor is on the same limb as a blood pressure cuff, the blood flow restriction from the cuff during measurement will interfere with the pulse oximeter sensor operating correctly. Other factors that can affect SpO2 readings include pigmented skin either normal pigment or jaundiced patients; peripheral vasoconstriction eg hypothermia, shock, drug-induced; or excess hair can cause interference and should be clipped away to allow the probe to sit directly against the skin. Wetting down with alcohol can also help with excess hair when you are not allowed to clip. Pulse Oximeter Maintenance Read your manufacturers instructions regarding the care of your pulse oximeter and probe. For infection control, you should always wipe the probe sensor and clip between patients. Most sensors can be surface-cleaned by wiping with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Do not immerse the sensor in liquid unless the manufacturer instructions state immersion is possible. After each cleaning and prior to each use, inspect the sensor and cable for fraying, cracking, breakage, or other damage. Inspect the clip for cracking or breakage, or loss of spring tension that would allow slippage or movement of the sensor from its proper position. If defects are noted, do not use the sensor or clip as it may provide an inaccurate reading. When used properly, pulse oximeters are an easy to use and readily available piece of monitoring equipment especially for anaesthesia, however it is important to note that they do not replace hands-on monitoring, and are not a valid method of assessing whether a patients respiration is adequate, as they provide a late indication of respiratory issues.

Aime Cesaires A Tempest Clarifies Shakespeares The Tempest Essay exam

Cesaire's A Tempest Clarifies Shakespeare's The Tempest      Ã‚  Ã‚   "Negritude, originally a literary and ideological movement of French-speaking black intellectuals, reflects an important and comprehensive reaction to the colonial situation of European colonization" (Carlberg).   This movement, which influenced Africans as well as blacks around the world, specifically rejects the political, social, and moral domination of the West.  Ã‚   Leopold Senghor, Leon Damas, and Aime Cesaire are the three pioneers of the revolution.   The founder who expresses his ideas more broadly, though, is Cesaire, who uses literary works to express his viewpoint on colonization.   An excellent example of such a tactic is his play, A Tempest, which is a revision of William Shakespeare's The Tempest.   Both Shakespeare and Cesaire accentuate the greed of Europeans in their plays.   However, Cesaire is more obvious in his approach to exposing it.   A comparison of the two plays demonstrates that Cesaire's version, written in the late 1960's, is written as a confrontation of Shakespeare's play.   He is attempting to comment on the corruption of Colonialism and the European domination of the New World through such strategies as making seemingly minor changes, switching the main character role, and altering the storyline itself.    Incorporating alterations such as ethical changes, using different language, and the change in title may seem ineffective initially, but close reading proves that Cesaire uses these strategies as his reaction to European colonialism.   Because it was written in the 1600's, a time when European domination of the East was present and blacks were nothing more than servants, William Shakespeare's play does not include, nor mention black... ... Theories of Colonialism & Postcolonialism", Brown Univ. 1993 Available: http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/landow/post/poldiscourse/negritude.html   Cesaire, Aime. A Tempest. Trans. Richard Miller. New York: UBU, 1992. Davis, Gregson.   Aime Cesaire.   United Kingdom : Cambridge Univ. Press, 1997. Dayan, Joan. "Playing Caliban; Cesaireà ­s Tempest." Arizona Ouarterly. 48.4 (1942): 125-145. Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Ed. Frank Kermode. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1958.    Works Consulted Breitman, George. The Bible. Malcolm X Speaks; Selected Speeches and Statements. New York: Pathfinder, 1989. Neilson, Francis. Shakespeare and The Tempest. New Hampshire: Richard C. Smith Inc., 1956. West, Cornel. Race Matters. New York: Vintage, 1992. Wood, Joe, ed. Malcolm X: In Our Own Image. New York: St. Martins, 1992.         

Major Discoveries in Electrical Communication in the 1800’s Essay

The nineteenth century was a very prolific era of discovery in electrical knowledge and technologies that laid the foundation for modern electrical communication. During this period of time the foundations of modern electrically based technologies were discovered. The nineteenth century began with a debate between Luigi Galvani, and Alessandro Volta regarding the source of electricity in Galvani’s famous frog experiment. These debates lead to the invention of the battery by Volta, and the invention of Volta’s. Volta’s discoveries would lead the way for Ohm’s law several years later. However, before that discovery was made Hans Christian Ørstead discovered electromagnetism, which was then used by Andrà © Marie Amperà ¨ to show that magnetism is electricity. Following the publication of Ohm’s law, Faraday would publish his findings on induction in the 1830’s. That same decade the DC generator, and transformer were invented, and followed in the 1840’s by the invention of AC generator. Communications technologies advanced at an incredible pace. Sà ¶mmering would design the first multi-line telegraph, and Morse would perfect this into a practical single wire design. The work of Charles Wheatstone in telegraphy and Heinrich Hertz in wave theory, paved the way for modern communications. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. Èdouard Branly would make the contribution of a detector that allowed for the invention of the radio. Guglielmo Marconi and Alexander Stepanovich Popov would develop the first radios. From the invention of the battery to the first intercontinental telegram transmission, the advances in electrical technologies in the 19th century made possible the technological boom of the 20th and 21st centuries in comm... ...ambridge University Press on behalf of The British Society for the History of Science, The British Journal for the History of Science , Vol. 1, No. 1 (Jun., 1962), pp. 31-48, [Online] Available: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4025073 [9] Joost Mertens, Shocks and Sparks: The Voltaic Pile as a Demonstration Device, The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science Society, Isis Vol. 89, No. 2 (Jun., 1998), pp. 304 [Online] Available: http://www.jstor.org/stable/237757. [10] Herbert W. Meyer, A History of Electricity and Magnetism, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1971, pp. 39, 73, 100, 201. [11] Richard Wolfson, University Physics Second Edition, Pearson, 2012, pp. 453, 454. [12] Dan M. Worrall, David Edward Hughes: Concertinist and Inventor, Papers of the International Concertina Association, Allan Atlas, ed., vol. 4. 2007, pp. 4.

Ways to make learning a fun experience in school

East is east and west is west. Never the twain shall meet' said Rudyard Kipling. ‘Learning is learning and fun is fun. Never the twain shall meet' said a student. It is time to make that possible now. It is time to end the era in which children hated school. It is time to get rid of the old teaching techniques and keep in pace with modern day technology. It is time to stop using the chalk on the board and make a change in the lives of the generations to come. We are making progress. India in the 1 lth century had schooling in gurukuls.Young boys were taught archery and sword fighting skills. Children used to sit under trees with their slates and chalks and practice sums. Today, we belong to a digital generation that demands innovative methods of absorbing information. Scope in this field is tremendous. Over the years, schools have moved from black boards to smart boards, from typewriters to computers and from a rigid education system to a spontaneous fun experience of school. T he oxford dictionary defines fun as ‘light amusement' but every individual has his own definition of fun.We always find it funny when a child remembers the xact dialogues of the latest film but finds it difficult to answer the questions from their history text book. So to create and exciting atmosphere, the interest of a child is crucial. Audio-video and movies with children's favorite stars help in absorbing the required knowledge. Recorded food preparation television shows and scenes from famous plays can be shown. Colorful pictorials and animations speak louder than a thousand words. Learning in groups with friends also reinforces many facts. Occasional challenges like quizzes and spelling bees help in building an attitude f or many students.Practicals are very beneficial. It would be great to have a multi touch technology where a science student could perform a surgery or an electronics student could assemble and disassemble a computer or a car on the I-pad. User friendly applications would help art students practice their paintings on the smart board before actually starting on a canvas. Online interaction is fun where social studies are concerned. E-program software can be used to exchange knowledge of cultures over the globe. Software should be made in the form of stories with songs as it reinforces important points in the minds of children.Students spend countless hours on social networking sites. These sites can be used for group discussions if the students are too shy to open up in class. Teachers should be provided suitable platforms to host classroom online communities. Project ideas can be shared and there is a teacher and student collaboration. The classroom should be extended beyond the four walls. Projects give need for individual research which pushes students and gives them reason to learn more about their subject. A lot of new ideas and creative inventions are needed for transforming the traditional classroom with ophisticated teaching tools.Visiting destinations of projects is very realistic and enriching. Project tours can be conducted if required, thus increasing the examples and applications of these technologies are growing exponentially. These are the solutions to meet the needs of the 21st century learning environment. Such an exciting environment is a must for an enhanced schooling experience. We do not know for sure where these technologies are taking us but indeed students are finding good strong results. Through everyday explorations like these in the classroom, we are building steps towards the future..

Endometritis

Postpartum Endometritis Evidence Based Paper March 13, 2012 Endometritis is the inflammation or irritation of the uterus, which is a common post partum complication that occurs in more than 15% of all pregnancies and is currently the leading cause of maternal mortality (Scott & Hasik, 2001). When endometritis is not related to pregnancy, it is referred to as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2010 sexually transmitted diseases treatment guideline defines PID as any combination of endometritis, salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess, and pelvic peritonitis. From a pathologic perspective, endometritis can be classified as acute versus chronic. Acute endometritis is distinguished by the presence of neutrophils within the endometrial glands. Chronic endometritis is characterized by the presence of plasma cells and lymphocytes within the endometrial stroma.Chronic endometritis in the postpartum or post abortion patient is usually associat ed with retained products of conception after delivery or abortion. In the nonobstetric population, chronic endometritis has been associated with infections such as chlamydia, tuberculosis, bacterial vaginosis, and the presence of intrauterine devices (Rivlin, 2011). Early-onset postpartum endometritis occurs within two days of delivery, and the late-onset of the disease can occur up to six weeks postpartum.This condition will usually start as a local infection at the placental attachment site and if left untreated, can spread to the entire uterine endometrium (French & Smaill, 2004). There are numerous risks associated with this condition, and diagnosis relies heavily on the clinical judgment of the practitioner. The contamination of the uterine cavity with vaginal organisms during labor and delivery causes the disease. Both bacterial and viral infections may initiate endometritis and many of the agents that cause the infection are naturally present in the vagina.This condition arises commonly after delivery because delivery results in tears, rips or incisions in the vagina, cervix or uterus that allow these agents to enter the uterine lining. The infection can have several species of causative agents that can be aerobic or anaerobic flora (French & Smaill, 2004). The method of delivery will determine which causative agents prognosticate the possibility of endometritis. For vaginal deliveries, the presence of the organisms associated with bacterial vaginosis or genital cultures positive for aerobic gram-negative organisms can indicate endometritis.In cesarean births, the occurrence of certain bacteria such as group A hemolytic streptococci, staphylococci B, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or Mycoplasma hominis in amniotic fluid cultures will put the patient at an increased risk for this infection (French & Smaill, 2004). With the increasing number of people opting for natural birth methods, including water births, the danger only multiplies. This is becaus e disinfecting procedures as they are carried out before major surgery is usually not practiced in a home environment.Prompt treatment is essential to prevent the spread of the infection through other areas of the body, including the blood. Prolonged infection can be fatal. The immediate postpartum period following birth is a time of increased risk for all women for infection. Microorganisms entering the reproductive tract and migrating into the blood and other parts of the body could result in life threatening septicemia (French & Smaill, 2004). Timely diagnosis and aggressive treatment is essential to prevent these complications.Complications of endometritis include infertility, extension of infection to involve the peritoneal cavity with peritonitis, intra-abdominal abscess, and septic pelvic thrombophelbitis. Septic pelvic thrombophelbitis is a condition in which blood clots in one of the pelvic vessels become infected. If untreated it could progress to septic pulmonary embo li, in which the infected blood clots travel to the lungs and lead to death (French & Smaill, 2004).Septic shock is a life-threatening systemic infection usually caused by bacteria and on rare occasions follows postpartum endometritis. The bacteria that invade the bloodstream release a substance known as endotoxin, which causes decreased blood pressure, clot formation, major tissue injury, and leakage of fluids. Accordingly, organs may fail because they are not receiving enough blood and nutrients. Fortunately, this condition during pregnancy or in the postpartum period is a rare clinical event (Mazzeffi and Chen, 2010).Major risk factors for obstetric endometritis include the following: Cesarean delivery (especially if before 28 weeks' gestation), rupture of membranes lasting more than 24 hours, excessively long labors, severely meconium-stained amniotic fluid, manual placental removal, and extremes of patient age. Other threatening factors have been identified in additional st udies, including no prior cesarean delivery, preterm or postterm gestation, low infant Apgar scores, antepartum infections, preeclampsia, amnioinfusion, postpartum anemia, the presence of internal monitors, and steroid medications (Olsen, Butler, Willers ;amp; Gilad, 2010).Acute endometritis is typified by the existence of neutrophil cells in the endometrium. Neutrophils are white blood cells with cytoplasmic granules that consume harmful bacteria, fungi, and other foreign materials. Characteristic symptoms of endometritis include abdominal distention or swelling, abnormal vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, fever (100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit), general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise), and lower abdominal or pelvic pain (uterine pain). Anemia occurs when a patient’s red blood cell count is lower than 4. -6. 0 million red blood cells per micro liter of blood. Losing large amounts of blood during delivery or prior to delivery may be a contributing fa ctor for a low red blood count, anemia and potentially endometritis. Red blood counts (RBC) are needed to indicate anemia and the sedimentation rate (ESR). The sedimentation rate measures the rate at which red blood cells sediment in a period of 1 hour. It is a common hematology test that is a non-specific measure of inflammation, which is evident in endometritis.The diagnosis of postpartum endometritis is based on the presence of fever in the absence of any other cause. Uterine tenderness, purulent or foul-smelling lochia and leukocytosis are common clinical findings used to support the diagnosis of endometritis. Leukocytosis is a raised white blood cell count (the leukocyte count) above the normal range in the blood. The standard definition for puerperal fever used for reporting rates of puerperal morbidity is an oral temperature of 100. 4 degrees centigrade or more on any two of the first ten days postpartum or 101. degrees or higher during the first 24 hours postpartum (French ; amp; Smaill, 2004). Additionally, when the above symptoms occur, urinalysis and urine culture may be done. However, endometrial cultures are rarely indicated because specimens collected through the cervix are usually contaminated by vaginal and cervical flora. A sterile technique with a speculum is used to avoid vaginal contamination, and the sample is sent for aerobic and anaerobic cultures. If fever persists for 48 hours (Some clinicians use a 72-hour cutoff) after endometritis is adequately treated, ther causes such as pelvic abscess and pelvic thrombophlebitis should be considered. Abdominal and pelvic imaging, usually done by CT, is sensitive for abscess but detects pelvic thrombophlebitis only if the clots are large. If the results of the imaging are negative, a trial of heparin is typically begun to treat presumed pelvic thrombophlebitis as a diagnosis of exclusion (Moldenhauer, 2008). Before the advent of the antibiotic era, puerperal fever was an important cause of maternal death.With the use of antibiotics, a sharp decrease in maternal acute postpartum infections has been observed, and it is now accepted that antibiotic treatment for postpartum endometritis is warranted. Intravenous broad-spectrum therapy (cephalsporins, penicillins, or clindamycin and genatmicin) is appropriate for the treatment of endometritis. Regimens with activity against penicillin-resistant anaerobic bacteria are better than those without. There is no evidence that any one regimen is associated with fewer side effects.Once uncomplicated, endometritis has clinically improved with intravenous therapy, and oral therapy is not needed (French, 2003). Furthermore, it is essential that the patient receive supportive care including hydration, rest and pain relief. Antibiotics should be discontinued 24 hours after the patient is asymptomatic. Assessments should be taken of the lochia, vital signs, and changes in the women’s condition continue during treatment (Perry, Hockenberry ;amp; Lowdermilk, 2010). Treatment is usually considered successful after the woman is afebrile for 24 to 48 hours.If the initial antibiotic regimen does not result in resolution of fever and other symptoms within three days, the antibiotic regimen is usually changed. Consideration is also given to the possibility that the woman may have complications requiring specific treatment. The most effective treatment and least expensive treatment of postpartum infection is prevention. Preventative measures include good prenatal nutrition to control anemia and intrapartal hemorrhage. Good maternal perineal hygiene with through hand hygiene is emphasized.Strict adherence to aseptic techniques by all healthcare professionals during childbirth and the postpartum period is very important (Perry, Hockenberry ;amp; Lowdermilk, 2010). Endometritis is usually caused, in the postpartum scenario, because of a deficient care taken to avoid streptococcus and staphylococcus infections in the delivery ar ea. These two bacteria are present on every inch of our skin, and considering that delivery is the one time when the mother's insides are most exposed, precautionary measures to maintain a sterile environment in the delivery or birthing room should be taken.The benefit of antibiotic therapy for laboring women has been unquestionably established. Intravaginal metronidazole as surgical preparation and oral methylergometrine after delivery are two interventions that show promise as additional prophylactic interventions (French, 2003). Having a baby by Caesarean section is becoming increasingly common, despite the higher risks associated with the surgery compared to a vaginal birth. One important concern is the risk of infection, which is between five and 20 times greater for women who undergo scheduled or emergency Caesarean section.According to the Cochrane Review, â€Å"the single most important risk factor for postpartum maternal infection is Caesarean section. † The review f urther cited that antibiotics to women undergoing Caesarean section reduced the incidence of fever by 45 percent, wound infection by 39 percent, inflammation of the uterine lining by 38 percent and serious infectious complications for the mother by 31 percent (Nelson, 2010). This approach can significantly lower the risk of endometritis, particularly in women having surgery after extended labor and ruptured membranes.To prevent future infection, most doctors prescribe Cefazolin, which is administered intravenously immediately after the baby's umbilical cord is clamped. If you are at high risk, a second dose may be given eight hours later (French ;amp; Smaill, 2004). The overall goal for the postpartum client with endometritis is, â€Å"The patient will be free from infection. † Nursing management and general interventions of the patient would include the collection of vaginal and blood cultures, education on handy hygiene, the administration IV antibiotics and analgesics as p rescribed.Non-pharmacological interventions include distraction, imagery, relaxation, and application of hot and cold. Non-pharmacological interventions can restore the client’s sense of self-control, personal efficacy, and active participation in her care. It is essential that the information and method of delivery of information be tailored to the specific client and family (French ;amp; Smaill, 2004). Secondary to free from infection, an accurate nursing care plan for a postpartum patient with an with endometritis would include: 1.The patient will follow a specific, mutually agreed upon, healthcare maintenance plan. (The nurse should assume that first-time mothers lack sufficient knowledge regarding condition and treatment diagnosis, and therefore, needs education and specific instructions during the postpartum recovery period). If a mother has given birth to more than one child a review of proper heath care regimens is also justifiable. The new mother should receive instr uction pertaining to hygienic care for her perineal area. This care would include changing her perineal pad frequently and washing her hands afterwards.The presence of a wet pad against sutures is an excellent medium for the development of an infection that could potentially spread to the uterus. The use tampons should be prohibited for six weeks after delivery, since tampon use can cause infection or even toxic shock syndrome. It is the nurse’s responsibility to promote adequate rest and encourage a generous intake of nutrients and fluids. The patient will report that pain management regimens achieves comfort function goal without adverse effects (Ackley ;amp; Ladwig, 2011).The nurse should administer comfort measures to ease pain and teach the patient proper understanding of the condition as well as taking measures to correct the complications of endometritis (Perry, Hockenberry ;amp; Lowdermilk, 2010). 2. The patient will maintain oral temperature within adaptive levels (l ess than 100. 4 degrees). Evaluate the woman's temperature at the end of the first hour postpartum and then every four hours for the first 22 hours postpartum. Clients with endometritis typically have a fever, chills, general malaise, and may exhibit tachycardia.Oral temperature measurement provides a more accurate temperature than tympanic measurement, auxiliary, or use of a chemical dot thermometer. Use the same site and method device for temperature measurement for a given client so that temperature trends are assessed accurately (Ackley & Ladwig, 2011). 3. The patient will report that pain management regimens achieves comfort function goal without adverse effects (Ackley & Ladwig, 2011). The importance of prompt reporting of unrelieved pain is the patient’s responsibility.An important step toward improved control of pain is a better client understanding of the nature of pain, its treatment, and the role the client needs to play in pain control (Ackley & Ladwig , 2011). Despite the normalcy of childbirth, complications may arise that will have detrimental effects on the postpartum client. These include postpartum hemorrhage, thrombophlebitis, and infections such as endometritis. Healthcare providers working with postpartum clients must have a clear understanding of these complications, including the symptoms, nursing interventions, and treatment.A cognizant nurse would carefully review the results of laboratory tests for signs of anemia, infection, and electrolyte imbalance. Blood cultures to identify the causative agents of potential infections are typically done, and white blood cell (WBC) counts are monitored. However, it is important to remember that the white blood cell count is normally elevated after delivery for a short period; continued monitoring of the WBC count is required in identifying endometritis (French, L. , & Smaill, F. M, 2004).Nearly 90% of women treated with an approved regimen note improvement in 48-72 hours. Del ay in initiation of antibiotic therapy can result in systemic toxicity. Endometritis is associated with increased maternal mortality due to septic shock. However, mortality is rare in the United States because of aggressive antimicrobial management. Most cases of endometritis, including those following cesarean delivery, should be treated in an inpatient setting. For mild cases following vaginal delivery, oral antibiotics in an outpatient setting may be adequate (French, L. & Smaill, F. M, 2004). References Ackley, B. J. , & Ladwig, G. B. (2011). Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care. (9th ed. , pp. 47,426-429,446-449,600-604). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier. French, L. (2003). Prevention and treatment of postpartum endometritis. Current Women’s Health Reports, 3(4), 274-279. Retrieved from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/12844449 French, L. , & Smaill, F. M. (2004). Antibiotic regimens for endometritis after delivery. Co chrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Retrieved from http://www. rw. interscience. wiley. com/Cochrane/clsysrev /articles/CD001067/frame. html Mazzeffi, M. A. (2010). Severe postpartum sepsis with prolonged myocardial dysfunction: A case report by michael a. mazzeffi and katherine t. chen. Journal of Medical Case Reports, (4), 318. Retrieved from http://www. jmedicalcasereports. com/content/4/1/318 Moldenhauer, J. S. (2008, November). Puerperal endometritis. Retrieved from http://www. merckmanuals. com/professional/gynecology_and_obstetrics/postpartum_care_and_associated_disorders/puerperal_endometritis. tml Nelson, C. B. (2010, January 22). Routine antibiotic use reduces mothers’ infection risk from c- section. Health Behavior News Service. Retrieved from http://www. physorg. com/news183387263. html Olsen, M. A. , Butler, A. M. , Willers, D. M. , & Gilad, A. G. (2010). Risk factors for endometritis after low transverse cesarean delivery. Infection Control and Hospital E pidemiology, 31(1), 69-77. Retrieved from http://www. jstor. org. proxy. li. suu. edu:2048/stable/10. 1086/649018 Perry, S. E. , Hockenberry, M. J. & Lowdermilk, D. L. (2010). Maternal child nursing care. (4th ed. , pp. 586-587). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby. Pillitteri, A. (1999) Maternal & Child Health Nursing, (3rd ed. pp. 789-792). Philadelphia: PA: Lippincott. Rivlin, M. E. (2011, June 14) Endometritis. Retrieved from http://emedicine. medscape. com/article/254169-overview Scott, L. D. , & Hasik, K. J. (2001). The similarities and differences of endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 30(3), 332-41.

Economic Development of China Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 11750 words

Economic Development of China - Dissertation Example Nellis (1999) contends that the effectiveness of privatization in transitional economies depends on the existence of the institutional underpinnings of capitalism. In addition, empirical studies confirm the close relationship between good institutions and economic development (De Long and Shleifer, 1993), Besley, 1995; Knack and Keefer, 1995; Easterly and Levine, 1997, 2003; Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson, 2001). On the other hand, Stiglitz (1999) suggests that using "better management contracts" to make state-share holders act like private owners is a better choice in the absence of those institutional underpinnings, a path which has been followed by the Chinese government in the past two decades. As noted in World Bank (1997) report, "most other countries in transition have turned to systemic, widespread privatization of state owned enterprises" (SOEs). In China, the state or its agents, carry out 'shareholder' functions performed by private owners in market economic systems." Retaining a large portion of state-owned shares in listed companies1, the Chinese government delegates different types of state-share holders to control these state-owned shares. This thesis attempts to examine the governance role of different types of state-share holders in China's listed companies. China's transition from a central-planned economy to a market-oriented one is special and unique. Chinese government creates its own path of transition rather than just using a "blueprint" or "recipe" from western advisors. Chinese government has been always attempting to privatize its state-owned assets gradually rather than a "big bang" like that undertaken by Russia... The interpretation of the results of this study is subject to four limitations. First, the classification of state-share holders based on their names is not good enough to distinguish GA shareholders and corporate state-share holders perfectly. For example, most state assets operating companies use the name of "State Assets Operating Company", such as "Jiangsu State Assets Operating Company". But some operating companies, which should be classified as GA shareholders, could use other names and then are classified as corporate state-share holders in this study. Second, corporate state-share holders could have more incentives and means to manage earnings to improve performance through related-party transactions than GA shareholders because they are holding companies (Jian (2003)). In this study, the potential earnings management through non-operating activities found in Chen and Yuan (2002), such as sales of fixed assets, has been controlled but the earnings management through related-party transactions cannot be controlled. This study also suggests several avenues for future research. While the benefit of corporate state-share holders has been documented in this study, the cost of them (such as insider control problems) cannot be ignored and remains an open question. More theoretical work is needed to understand the benefit and cost of different types of state-share holders. Another potential area of research is to investigate their incentives to manage earnings for different types of state-share holders.