Free Essays on Gottfried Leibniz

GOTTFRIED LEIBNIZ The mathematician that I chose to write about is Gottfried Leibniz. He was a master of his field and wasn’t really highly respected. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was born on July 1( June 21, old style), 1646 in Leipzig, Germany. â€Å"Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz had a deep conviction that all mathematical and scientific concepts could be derived from logic, and as a result he became the first serious student of symbolic logic;† â€Å"one difference between symbolic logic and Aristotelian logic is that in symbolic logic, as its name implies, symbols usually letters represent written statements†( Encyclopedia Britannica 2003 britannica.com/eb/article?eu=48789 ). Leibniz was a political advisor and mathematician, as well as, a metaphysician and logician. He was also known for his invention of the differential and integral calculus. He was eventually known for his theodicy ( which means he thought his world is the best world God could have created). Many philosophers were skeptical of his beliefs and produced a number of parodies to mock his beliefs. One such parody was â€Å"Candide† by Voltaire. He worked from the belief that philosophy and theology were incapable of contradiction. He also believed that it wasn’t possible to have evil in the world if God was here. Leibniz quoted, â€Å"I argue that reality is composed of an infinite number of monads, immaterial and indivisible substances of which no two are exactly alike.† Leibniz also said, â€Å"I think that they were conscious sources of spiritual energy which, to varying degrees mirror the universe, however, monads may be conscious but only some monads are self-conscious.† â€Å"A further point of Leibniz’s philosophy was the distinction between necessary and contingent propositions; the former he called truths of reason, which are known to be true because of the law of no contradiction.†( http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/gen... Free Essays on Gottfried Leibniz Free Essays on Gottfried Leibniz GOTTFRIED LEIBNIZ The mathematician that I chose to write about is Gottfried Leibniz. He was a master of his field and wasn’t really highly respected. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was born on July 1( June 21, old style), 1646 in Leipzig, Germany. â€Å"Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz had a deep conviction that all mathematical and scientific concepts could be derived from logic, and as a result he became the first serious student of symbolic logic;† â€Å"one difference between symbolic logic and Aristotelian logic is that in symbolic logic, as its name implies, symbols usually letters represent written statements†( Encyclopedia Britannica 2003 britannica.com/eb/article?eu=48789 ). Leibniz was a political advisor and mathematician, as well as, a metaphysician and logician. He was also known for his invention of the differential and integral calculus. He was eventually known for his theodicy ( which means he thought his world is the best world God could have created). Many philosophers were skeptical of his beliefs and produced a number of parodies to mock his beliefs. One such parody was â€Å"Candide† by Voltaire. He worked from the belief that philosophy and theology were incapable of contradiction. He also believed that it wasn’t possible to have evil in the world if God was here. Leibniz quoted, â€Å"I argue that reality is composed of an infinite number of monads, immaterial and indivisible substances of which no two are exactly alike.† Leibniz also said, â€Å"I think that they were conscious sources of spiritual energy which, to varying degrees mirror the universe, however, monads may be conscious but only some monads are self-conscious.† â€Å"A further point of Leibniz’s philosophy was the distinction between necessary and contingent propositions; the former he called truths of reason, which are known to be true because of the law of no contradiction.†( http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/gen...

3 Examples of Dangling Modifiers

3 Examples of Dangling Modifiers 3 Examples of Dangling Modifiers 3 Examples of Dangling Modifiers By Mark Nichol In each of the sentences below, the sentence has been constructed so that the noun or pronoun that a modifying phrase should refer to is missing, which may or may not cause reader confusion but definitely will distract, often because an inanimate object is mistakenly ascribed human agency, sometimes resulting in an unintentionally humorous reading. Discussion after each example explains the problem, and revisions demonstrate solutions. 1. Lifestyle enhancements are crucial if markets slide when approaching retirement. In the absence of the appropriate noun or pronoun identifying who is approaching retirement, the reader ascribes the impending retirement to the nearest noun or pronoun; here, the sentence refers to markets approaching retirement. To rectify this error, introduce the pertinent noun or pronoun before â€Å"approaching retirement†: â€Å"Lifestyle enhancements are crucial if markets slide when you are approaching retirement.† (The sentence can be further revised to â€Å"Lifestyle enhancements are crucial if markets slide as you approach retirement.†) 2. Social exclusion is inevitable when faced with mobility restrictions. Here, social exclusion is said to be faced with mobility restrictions. To revise the sentence so that it conveys the intended message, insert an explicit reference to who is faced with the restrictions: â€Å"Social exclusion is inevitable when one is faced with mobility restrictions.† 3. Youthful misdemeanors can come back to haunt you while job hunting. In this sentence, youthful misdemeanors are treated as actors in a scenario in which they take time out from their search for employment to carry out a function normally assigned to ghosts. But the correct interpretation is that while you are seeking work, mistakes you’ve made in the past may resurface during the vetting process, as expressed in the following revision: â€Å"Youthful misdemeanors can come back to haunt you while you are job hunting.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Greek Words You Should KnowAcronym vs. Initialism45 Idioms About the Number One

Assessment at work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Assessment at work - Essay Example Strengths associated with Abercrombie & Fitch assessment procedures are highlighted as well as recommendations for improvements in the company’s selection process. The use of a single Communications Competence testing instrument is a standardised testing template, regulated by a highly centralised human resources heirarchy. There is no room for flexibility or adaptation of current assessment instruments or policies and the company is routinely audited for compliance to assessment methods. This creates an environment in which the company is using assessment tests that are not congruent to finding the appropriate employee for Abercrombie & Fitch. Abercrombie & Fitch has experienced high levels of negative publicity in recent years for alleged unethical hiring practices related to youth, beauty and exclusivity. However, these corporate beliefs are part of the business’ organisational culture and are the criteria utilised to determine job role candidacy. In a business environment where personality is a key factor in whether a candidate fits the culture, the company requires a reexamination of existing selection efforts. Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) is a mid-level clothing retailer which has positioned itself as an upscale fashion house catering to unique perceptions of youth, beauty and exclusivity. The company carries a wide variety of somewhat-provocative fashions, unique, politically incorrect apparel as well as traditional outerwear (Case Study, 2007). The company’s main competitors are other mid-level retailers both domestically and within the company’s international sales divisions such as Burberry or The Gap. The company currently utilises one form of psychometric testing in the firm’s selection processes. A&F maintains one of the most unique HR models in today’s retail as the business’ focus on exclusivity is at the heart of the

Future Municipal Financial Viability in Canada Essay

Future Municipal Financial Viability in Canada - Essay Example Definitely, I feel that municipal financial viability is an issue since improper tabling of policies may result to a negative business effect. For instance, the direct impact on Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises by municipality policies on property valuation, user charge collection, and collection of levies makes businesses end up bearing not only the intended costs, which in this case are actual payment of services to a municipality, but also the unintended costs, which include effort and time required for tax administration. To add on policies pertaining to revenue, expenditure-related policies may also affect finances generated by businesses in a municipality. This, as a result, may lead to a positive or negative impact on SMMEs through regulation of supply chain management, and preferred procurement as well as credit control. Additionally, there are other challenges facing developing countries in the commonwealth in local government revenue terms. These include weak revenue ba se for local government leading to weak central government revenue base and lack of a municipal’s own revenue sources, which brings up inappropriate composition of revenues, especially balancing between grants and own revenue resources. Further, the way they interact and autonomous revenues where strong central control is posed on local government revenues is a challenge as well. Municipalities have several responsibilities. First, they have the function to ensure urban and town planning, and regulate use of land and building construction. Moreover, they must ensure economic and social development planning, fire services, ensuring supply of water for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes. A municipality relies heavily on revenues generated through taxation and user charges/fees. It too heavily depends on transfers from central government and/or contribution from donors. These factors will significantly determine the future municipal financial viability in Canada (Sanct on and Young, 2009). Some of the strategies, which should be employed to ensure proper municipal financial viability, are as follows. First, the intergovernmental fiscal transfers’ reform program should be implemented. These reforms focus on simplifying and rationalizing transfers to municipalities and introducing a period of allocation of these transfers to stabilize municipal budgeting processes by improving predictability. Second is transparency, which opens access to information about how municipal finances are managed will give a clear outlook to every citizen allowing no room for misuse. Third, the program of budget reform which greatly focuses on improving allocation of resource planning and management. Further, having accountable decision-makers who can accept responsibility for their own actions and using contestability as a competition tool to achieve money value. It is essential to come up with a municipal support program to provide technical assistance to municipa lities in financial management areas. Bringing up new, legislated and refined national policies aimed at improving the flexibility of the legal framework within a municipality resulting to improved leadership, management and accountability in municipal governments could play a key role. Still revenue enhancement program nationally coordinated and aiming at assist municipalities with revenue

Negotiation Strategy Analysis Essay Example for Free

Negotiation Strategy Analysis Essay Negotiations are handled differently by everyone. Some Negotiators are more passive and others extremely direct. Some love the bargaining process and begin the offer extremely low or high for the purpose of playing the negotiating game with their opponent. Others just prefer to have their best cards on the table with a take it or leave it attitude. Negotiators should learn when and how to use different negotiating styles. After all, negotiations play a huge role in business today. Two main negotiating strategies exist; non engagement and Active engagement. Both strategies will be discussed thoroughly to assist in identifying how different strategies may be used in business. â€Å"The California State University faculty has overwhelmingly approved a new four-year labor contract, ending more than two years of contentious bargaining with the administration† (Hoag C., 2012). The contract did not meet all that was hoped for; however, for the most part the amount taken from faculty was greatly diminished. Although, no pay raises will be granted for four years, finally settling on an agreement seems to put most of the faculty at ease. The contract was approved by approximately 91% of members. Faculty recognizes that public employee unions have it far worst and are grateful that they have managed to preserve much of what they have. Although these negotiations started as long and contentious bargaining, in the end the strategy used shifted to more of a non-engagement strategy. As the faculty realized the offer being given was much better than most are offered within their field they avoided further negotiations. They have been working without a contract for the last 2 1/2 years, which plays a role as well on the avoidance of further negotiations. According to (Lewicki, Barry, and Saunders, 2006), Alternatives can influence the usage of this strategy in different ways. If the negotiators has a strong alternative they will likely avoid negotiations due to the inefficiency of wasting time n egotiating with someone when a stronger alternative is present. From another perspective, if the negotiator has a lack of alternatives or a weaker alternative they will likely avoid dispute so that a resolution can be reached quickly. In this case, the faculty decided to avoid further dispute due to the weaker alternative. Seeing others having to give up much more and recognizing that the longer the negotiations last the longer they will be working without a contract influenced their decision tremendously. Another piece of news that demonstrates an alternate form of negotiating strategy is the issue surrounding the FDA’s law concerning graphic images being placed on cigarette packs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 45 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes, which are the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. And the World Health Organization predicts smoking could kill eight million people each year by 2030 if governments do not do more to help people quit (REUTERS, 2012). To assist in combating this increasing problem the FDA passed a law requiring that all tobacco companies place a graphic image along with their warning labels. The images range from diseased lungs to rotting teeth. Tobacco groups appealed this decision saying there is no evidence that the graphic images will assist in bringing the number of tobacco users down. â€Å"In a 2-to-1 decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said that the law, which is administered by the Food and Drug Administration, violated corporate free speech rights† ( REUTER, 2012). This ruling was contradictory to another case seen early in the year making it likely that the Supreme Court will have to make the final decision. In this case, the negotiators are using an active engagement strategy. Rather than obeying the law without question tobacco groups are fighting for their corporate rights. This case is a classic example of distributive and competition bargaining. The outcome will either be that the tobacco groups will lose and will have to abide by the law; or the FDA will win. In this situation one side will get all. The cases mentioned differ as far as the strategy used. For the University of California faculty, the style more accurately reflects integrative style of negotiating. Each side is winning in some respect. They are aware of each other’s ultimate goals and are able to accommodate each other. In the end, the faculty avoid further dispute which is consistent with a non-engagement strategy. On the other hand, in the case concerning the da and tobacco company neither party wants to give in to each other. The FDA is determined to combat the issues resulting from tobacco products; while the tobacco companies are determined to maintain their labels as is. Circumstances surrounding every negotiation will determine which strategy is best to use. However, to become fully competent in making the decision on which strategy to use, one must understand how each strategy applies in real world situations. The two cases mentioned are excellent demonstrations on their usage. References Hoag, C. (2012, September 5). Cal State faculty approve 4-year contract. The Times-Standard. Retrieved from http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_21470909/cal-state-faculty-approve-4-year-contract Lewicki, Barry, and Saunders, (2006). Negotiation 5th ed. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/DownloadList.aspx?assetMetaId=9ef17708-1ddf-4b07-b135-33c10b621f8eassetDataId=a78264a6-2449-41a9-9752-49dfe94ee641 REUTERS, (2012, August 24). Appeals Court Blocks Graphic Warnings on Cigarettes. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/25/business/tobacco-groups-win-ruling-on-graphic-cigarette-warnings.html

Curleys Wife and Crooks in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men Essay

Curley's Wife and Crooks in Of Mice and Men - Lord Chesterfield once said, "You must look into people, as well as at them." If you apply this logic to Curley's wife and Crooks in the book, Of Mice and Men, you will find that they are the same in many ways despite their differences in race and sex. These two unfortunate souls live in a world full of shattered dreams, discrimination, and loneliness. Langston Hughes once said, "Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." This statement is undoubtedly a summary of the goals in Crooks, and Curley's wife's lives. Crooks had a glimmer of hope when Candy and Lennie told him of their plans of having their own farm. At first, he refused to believe in this because he had seen many men with the same intentions. Soon after, Crooks gets demoralized and realizes that he cannot enter a white world. He finally decides not to join the group. Curley's wife also had a goal, which was to become a movie star. Before she married Curley, she met an actor who came through her town with a show. He promised her that she was a naturally good actress, and that he would get her into the movie business. He also promised he would write her, but she never received the letter. She thought that her mother destroyed the letter before she could read it. It can be assumed that the actor used his fame and position to have fun with Curley's wife. He promised to get her into movies to make her happy so ...

Global Warming Essay Essay

The idea of global became prevalent when the world began industrializing. As the popularity of cars grew and industrial factories began to spring up the air quality suffered. The problem was not recognized because, aside from a few orange skies, there were no obvious effects. Although in this day and age we can see what global warming is doing to our Earth, there are still those people who believe that humans are too small to make an impact. Global warming is too often put on the back burner, and things that seem to be more important are made priority. However global warming is tied back to those things that seem to be a priority. The Earth is our home and should be put first. New York Times, Marjorie Connelly quotes Bernice Schneiderman, â€Å"Economic growth is important, but if we don’t take care of the environment, we won’t be here to enjoy it,† If we are constantly focusing on the economy or other issues, the Earth will get to a point when it is no longer inhabitable. Although this is a serious issue â€Å"31 percent considered global warming to be a natural phenomenon, and 10 percent did not accept the idea of global warming at all.† (Marjorie Connelly). Over forty percent of the population does not realize that our planet is in trouble. This percentage is very much so politically tied. â€Å"18 percent of Republicans did not think global warming was real† and â€Å"sixty-one percent of democrats said global warming was causing an impact now,†. Typically the conservative Republican Party tends to be an older group of people, while the Democrat Party is made up of a much younger group of people. Of course â€Å"those 65 and older expected to see no impact from global warming†, their time is short so they have no reason to care about the climate change. However interestingly, â€Å"Many younger people did, (expect to see impact from global warming) including 50 percent of those under 30.† It is the younger people who care, because they are the ones who will suffer if something is not done to stop climate change. Although the democrats are not taking notice to the climate change, the Pentagon is. Lisa Freidman and Climate Wire report that â€Å"The Pentagon released a landmark report (yesterday) declaring climate change an ‘immediate risk’†. If the government feels this strongly about climate change why don’t we? Not only do they care, but they are doing something about it. Defense secretary Chuck Hagel â€Å"embraced upcoming U.N. negotiations in Lima Peru, aimed at developing a new global agreement† and â€Å"leaders hope to see a draft emerge at the Lima Climate talks in December.† Officials such as Chuck Hagel are aware that climate change does not just mean warmer temperatures, but that â€Å"climate change is a ‘threat multiplier’†. One of the chain reactions that will occur is the obvious rising of sea levels. Rising sea levels means that costal military bases will be flooded, leaving them â€Å"vulnerable† and it will â€Å"complicate surveillance and reconnaissance capability†. What would our nation come to if every costal military base was gone? Countries would be more vulnerable to terrorism and attacks and, those few, but powerful people who do not believe in global warming are allowing this to happen. Besides terrorism and attacks, global warming would also create limited resources. 2014 climate Change Adaption Roadmap warms that â€Å"climate change could leave already weak nations more vulnerable, from restricting food and water to compelling mass migration.† This is why it is crucial for us to do something about the global warming crisis. This is not a matter of warmer summers and colder winters, it is life and possible death for millions of people. Climate change is a largely debated subject, but there is clear and tangible proof of its effects. Although the change is not occurring overnight, Brad Plumer in â€Å"The Washington Post† writes â€Å"the global average is changing over a longer period.† The effects of global warming are apparent in the Annual Global Temperature Anomalies; the records kept from 1950-2012 show an obvious upward trend (The Washington Post). Although winters still exist, every ice shelf has not melted, and we still have â€Å"La Nià ±a† years, the ultimate trend shows that the Earth is getting warmer. The question is, what is causing this overall increase in temperature? The answer is that humans are adding excess carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and â€Å"Climate scientists are quite sure that if we keep adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, that  will trap more heat in the Earth’s surface and the global average temperature will continue to rise over time.† (Br ad Plumer). Carbon dioxide is a large factor in the climate change but it is not the only cause. Other things that effect the Earth’s temperature are natural events such as â€Å"El Nià ±o and La Nià ±a cycles†¦volcanoes†¦ air pollution. There are changes in solar activity and so forth.† (Brad Plumer). Although humans are not the only cause of global warming we are making the climate change more drastic. Since we live on this planet it is important for us to take care of it, so that whatever nature throws at us will not be the end on humanity. â€Å"The IPCC says that heavy precipitation events in the Northern Hemisphere are expected to increase as the planet heats up. But that prediction is for all seasons, not just winter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  What this means is that is there will be extreme weather conditions; it will be raining heavily in one part of the world and another part experience an intense drought. This will effect resources, food and clean water for people, and the overall wellbeing of the humanity. Another effect of global warming is that it will cause the jet streams that help to heat and cool our planet to change entirely. This again will cause our planet to heat up even more,† we’ll still see record cold snaps in the United States as the planet heats up. They’ll just become less frequent over time, while record heat waves will become increasingly common.† The evidence of global warming is right in front of us. On the flip side, although many people whole heartedly believe in climate change, their argument is about as sturdy as the so called â€Å"melting† glaciers. The first of many faults in the climate change theory and campaign is that they do not disclose all information. In Donna Edmund’s article â€Å"Man-made Climate Change is a Myth† she quotes weather channel founder John Coleman saying â€Å"your only speakers are two people who continue to present failed science as though it is the final and complete story,† in regards to the Hammer Forum on Climate Change. The fact that these forums and organizations are neglecting to acknowledge scientific information against their argument is extremely concerning. Could they be intentionally hiding things from the public? When Edmund brings up the important topic that â€Å"The polar ice is increasing, not melting away. Polar Bears are increasing in numbers. Heat waves have actually diminished not increase.† The people who  are arguing for climate change do not have a leg to stand on. This shows that the fight to prove climate change is more of a political movement rather than an attempt to save the environment. Before any of that sounds remotely convincing, where is their factual evidence? Those arguing against the fact of global warming have no concrete facts, but many opinions, some may even say ignorance. Climate change is something that will be debated as long as there is money to have and power to be gained. However it is important to know the motives behind and argument before you side with one. The motive behind proving climate change and doing something about it is to save the Earth and everyone on it. This is matter of loving one another enough to protect our planet. What lengths would you go to, to protect the future of your children and your grandchildren? Bibliography Connelly, Marjorie. â€Å"Global Warming Concerns Grow.† The New York Times 22 Sept. 2014 Edmunds, Donna R. â€Å"Man-made Climate Change Is a Myth.† Weather.com. The Weather Channel, 24 Oct. 2014 â€Å"Efforts to End Shark Finning Make Progress.† 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. Friedman, Lisa. â€Å"Immediate Risk to National Security Posed by Global Warming.† ClimateWire 14 Oct. 2014 Plumer, Brad. â€Å"The Washington Post.† Can Global Warming Be Real If It’s Cold in the U.S.? Um†¦yes! (January 6)

Hydration in Sport Essay

Boxing is a sport renowned for it’s propensity for dehydration in â€Å"making weight†. This document is written as an informative aid for boxers and coaches and discusses the impact of hydration and dehydration on physiology and performance. Although written with boxing in mind it has equal relevance to the wider sporting community. Hydration is the process by which water is ingested and absorbed into the body and the term euhydration synonymous with describing normal body water content (Wenhold, and Faber 2009). Water is the most abundant substance in the human body and vital to overall health and wellbeing. The muscles comprise over 70% water, as does the brain, blood plasma is 92% water and even bones consist of over 22% water. Water is essential in maintaining body temperature and blood volume, digestion for absorption/excretion and has a major impact on physical performance. Hydration studies demonstrate positive proof that a precise ratio of protein and carbohydrates promotes cellular rehydration and supports muscle recovery (Kalaman and Lepely 2010).The sports supplement industry is driving current research in this area of hydration, with (http://thorne-performance.tumblr.com 2009) stating: â€Å"Water is absorbed relatively slowly however, this type of hydration is really only extracellular (fluid outside the cell and collectively equates to 20% of the body’s water). Intracellular fluid inside the cell represents 40% of body weight and equates to 70% of the body’s water. True cellular hydration (intracellular) for sports performance is far more complicated than drinking water or a â€Å"sports hydration beverage† that is simply electrolytes and carbohydrate. Drinking water will improve your overall hydration status, but it will not significantly alter the ratio of intracellular to extracellular fluid†. Electrolytes help regulate the distribution of water throughout the body and are required for nerve conduction and muscle contraction. The major electrolytes are sodium, potassium, chloride and magnesium. Electrolytes are lost as the athlete sweats but there is an adaptive response to this; as a boxer acclimatises over multiple training sessions to their environment, and increases his or her fitness, there is a decrease in the amount of water and electrolytes lost during exercise. Adding electrolytes to the fluids a boxer drinks can decrease urine output and help the fluids empty more rapidly from the stomach to become available for tissue hydration (Douglas et al 2000). Hyperhydration refers to an increase in body fluid above the euhydrated state. This can be achieved by ingesting excess water, often combined with glycerol which has a â€Å"sponge like† effect and aids water retention. The current scientific consensus however is that hyperhydration does not provide a meaningf ul physiological or performance advantage over simply remaining well hydrated during exercise (Murray 2007). The contribution of food to hydration levels is something that is often overlooked, numerous studies reveal that between 20% – 25% of total fluid intake comes from food, (fruit and vegetables having a high water content). Food intake also assists hydration through water binding to the carbohydrate content to form glycogen (1 part carbohydrate: 3 parts water). Dehydration refers to the process of uncompensated water loss via urine, sweat, feces, and respiration and is defined as a dynamic loss of body water or transition from euhydration to hypohydration (Armstrong 2007). During most sports, more fluid is lost (via sweating and breathing) than can be replaced (by drinking), and some degree of dehydration is therefore inevitable in sport. Dehydration provokes changes in cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, metabolic, and central nervous function that increase as dehydration worsens. Dehydration of 1% – 2% of body weight begins to compromise physiologic function and negatively influences performance. Dehydration of >3% of body weight further disturbs physiologic function and increases an athlete’s risk of developing a heat illness (Murray 2007). Taken to the extreme, rapid weight loss when achieved through dehydration can be fatal. Excessive dehydration can harm bodily functions, leading to kidney failure, heat stroke or heart attack, indeed in 1997 three young American wrestlers tragically died whilst trying to â€Å"make their weight† (Viscardi,1998).There is increasing evidence that even small levels of dehydration can negatively affect exercise performance. This is reflected in a 2005 scientific consensus statement issued by the American College of Sports Medicine: â€Å"Dehydration of >2% of body mass can compromise physiological function and impair exercise performance capacity†. Measuring Hydration. The best approach involves comparing 2 or more hydration indicators as single measurements lack accuracy. Cheuvront et al 2005 describes the following indicators as requiring minimal technical proficiency and can be used easily to evaluate hydration status during training: Body Weight Difference. The change of body weight represents a straightforward, effective assessment of hydration status and is especially appropriate for measuring dehydration that occurs over a period of 1 – 4 hours, (very simply, body weight lost during activity = sweat loss). Urine. If kidney function is normal, urine is concentrated and output is low when the body is dehydrated. When a temporary excess of body water exists, urine is dilute and plentiful. This offers 3 options to evaluate human hydration status using urine: 24 Hour Urine Volume. Urine volume can be used as an indicator of hydration status. Urine output varies inversely with body hydration status, urine output generally averaging 1 – 2 litres per day, but can reach 20 litres per day in those consuming large quantities of fluid. The minimum urine output is approximately 500 ml per day, although for dehydrated subjects living in hot weather, minimum daily urine outputs can be less. Physical activity and climate affect urine output. Exercise and heat strain will reduce urine output by 20% – 60%, while cold and hypoxia will increase urine output. Urine Specific Gravity. The density (mass per volume) of a urine sample relative to water can be measured using a handheld refractometer. Any fluid that is denser than water has a specific gravity greater than 1.000. Normal urine specimens usually range from 1.013 – 1.029 in healthy adults. When serious dehydration or hypohydration exists, urine specific gravity exceeds 1.030 Conversely, excess water consumption show values range from 1.001 – 1.012. Urine Color. A numbered scale has been developed that includes colors ranging from very pale yellow (1) to brownish green (8). Urine color does not offer the same precision and accuracy as urine specific gravity but provides a useful estimate of hydration state during everyday activities. Note that vitamin supplements can drastically alter the colour of urine via the excretion of excess water soluble vitamins. Thirst. As a physiological response to dehydration, thirst is a reliable indicator of 1% – 2% dehydration. Although thirst offers an estimate of mild dehydration, it better serves to remind individuals to drink more fluids as dehydration has already occurred by the time the thirst mechanism functions. http://drdietright.com/my-blog/water-for-weight-loss/ Hyponatremia (water intoxication) is a disorder in fluid-electrolyte balance that results in an abnormally low plasma sodium concentration. A sustained decrease in plasma sodium concentration disrupts the dynamics of water exchange across the blood-brain barrier, resulting in a rapid influx of water into the brain. This can cause swelling in the brain, leading to a series of increasingly severe responses, such as confusion, seizure, coma & even death. Hyponatraemia in athletes is often, although not always, caused by excessive drinking. During exercise, urine production is decreased, reducing the body’s ability to excrete excess water, while at the same time sodium losses are increased through sweating. The combined effect makes it much more likely that the body’s sodium content will be significantly diluted. Hypernatremia is defined by the Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine as â€Å"The presence of an abnormally high sodium concentration in the blood plasma. It may occur as a result of excessive sweating and inadequate fluid intake†. Hypernatremia is generally not caused by an excess of sodium, but rather by a relative deficit of free water in the body. For this reason, hypernatremia is often synonymous with the less precise term, dehydration. Re-hydration. After weigh-in, fighters typically try to replace lost body fluids in an attempt to return to a normal state of hydration. However, the fighter is unlikely to eat and drink sufficiently because of the negative effects of fighting on a full stomach. Also the time between weigh-in and fight is usually insufficient for fluid and electrolyte balance to be fully restored, or for rehydration and replenishment of muscle and liver glycogen (ACSM, 1996; Yankanich et al) This is supported by Foster (1995, p.66) who identified that â€Å"The body takes from 4 – 48 hours to fully recover from moderate dehydration, meaning there isn’t enough time between weigh-in and the match to ensure peak performance and health.† Effect of Ambient Temperature. The impact of dehydration on performance is less under cooler environmental conditions than under hot conditions and exercise in heat itself, even with no dehydration, impairs performance .(Sawka & Pandolf, 1990). Although the majority of scientific evidence illustrates that dehydration impairs physical performance, exercise in cold weather (Cheuvront et al) showed that dehydration (

Psychology Theories Self Reflection Essays

Psychology Theories Self Reflection Essays Psychology Theories Self Reflection Paper Psychology Theories Self Reflection Paper Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. It is a broad discipline which seeks to analyze the human mind and study why people behave, think, and feel the way they do. There are many different ways to approach psychology, from examining biologys role in mental health to the role of the environment on behavior. Some psychologists focus only on how the mind develops, while others counsel patients to help improve their daily lives. There are seven (7) major perspectives in modern psychology which include psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, behaviourist, humanist, cognitive, biopsychological, evolutionary and sociocultural. This assignment is an integration of knowledge; three dominant theories of psychology will be examined to see how each has influenced my behaviours through self-reflection and the use of personal examples. Having an understanding of oneself is important as it helps it to perceive things positively and assists in determining the things that one enjoys doing. It also helps in the way one faces challenges and the make decisions in life. Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Psychodynamic theory was the dominant school of thought within psychiatry and much of clinical psychology during the first part of the 20th century. Early psychodynamic approaches focused on the interrelationship of the mind (psyche) and mental, emotional or motivational forces within the mind that interact to shape a personality. Dr. Sigmund Freud, who is credited with inventing psychodynamic theory and psychoanalysis, influentially suggested that the unconscious mind is divided into multiple parts, including the irrational and impulsive Id (a representation of primal animal desires), the judgmental Super-ego (a representation of the rules and norms of society inside the mind), and the rational Ego (which serves as an attempt to bridge the other two parts). Alexander, 2010) According to Freud, the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind can come into conflict with one another, producing a phenomenon called repression (a state where you are unaware of having certain troubling motives, wishes or desires but they influence you negatively just the same). In general, psychodynamic theories suggest that a person must successfully resolve early developmental conflicts (e. g. gaining trust, affection, successful interpersonal relationships, mastering body functions, etc. ) in order to overcome repression and achi eve mental health. As part of this theory, he believed that humans have two basic drives: Eros and Thanatos, or the Life and Death drives. According to Psychoanalytic theory, everything we do, every thought we have, and every emotion we experience has one of two goals: to help us survive or to prevent our destruction. Freud believed that the vast majority of our knowledge about these drives is buried in the unconscious part of the mind. This would suggest that we go to school because it will help assure our survival in terms of improved finances, more money for healthcare, or even an improved ability to find a spouse. We demand safety in our cars and in our homes. We want criminal locked away and we want to be protected against anything else that could lead to our destruction. According to this theory, everything we do, everything we are can be traced back to the two basic drives. I have always felt that this theory offered unique, controversial insights into how the human mind worked. We as humans do tend to internalize, repress and suppress memories and emotions that we find painful or shameful. I also believe that experiences that we have as a child do shape our actions as an adult. As a child I never had a good relationship with my father and I think this has carried over into my relationship with men on a whole. I find it hard to trust, to forgive and to love. I think this has something to do with the fact that there was never any trust between my father and I, nor was there any affection. I probably perceived our interpersonal as a failure and this has carried over into my later years. It is important to remember that Freud was not the only psychodynamic therapist although his work has paved the way for extensions of his ideas. Examples of this are Carl Jung who thought of the unconscious as the source of potential and creativity rejecting Freuds ideas of the sexual instincts. Karen Horney criticized Freuds penis envy theory and made her own interpretation that it was a cultural phenomenon in a male dominated society. Alfred Adler developed a theory that all people are born weak and thus resolves to overcome this weakness by being at one with others. Alfred Adler believed are born with physical inadequacies and as a result, people commit very early in life to rid themselves of these feelings of nferiority. There are, however, two ways to overcome those feelings: striving for success and striving for superiority, the latter of which is less mentally healthy. Behaviourism Behaviorism originated with the work of John B. Watson, an American psychologist. John Watson coined the term Behaviorism in 1913. Behaviorism assumes that behavior is observable and can be correlated with other observable events. Therefore, there are events that precede and follow behavior. Behaviorisms goal is to explain relationships between antecedent conditions (stimuli), behavior (responses), and consequences (reward, punishment or neutral effect). Watson claimed that psychology was not concerned with the mind or with human consciousness. Instead, psychology would be concerned only with behavior. In this way, men could be studied objectively, like rats and apes. To the behaviorist, human behavior has nothing to do with internal unconscious conflicts, repression, or problems with object representations. Rather, a behavioral psychologist uses principles of learning theory to explain human behavior. Behaviorism is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states. (DeMar, 2004) Watson’s work was based on the experiments of Ivan Pavlov, who had studied animals’ responses to conditioning. In Pavlov’s best-known experiment, he rang a bell as he fed some dogs several meals. Each time the dogs heard the bell they knew that a meal was coming, and they would begin to salivate. Pavlov then rang the bell without bringing food, but the dogs still salivated. They had been â€Å"conditioned† to salivate at the sound of a bell. Pavlov believed, as Watson later emphasized, that humans react to stimuli in the same way. Behaviorism is also associated today with the name of B. F. Skinner, who made his reputation by testing Watson’s theories in the laboratory. Skinner’s studies led him to reject Watson’s almost exclusive emphasis on reflexes and conditioning. People respond to their environment, he argued, but they also operate on the environment to produce certain consequences. Skinner developed the theory of â€Å"operant conditioning,† the idea that we behave the way we do because this kind of behavior has had certain consequences in the past. For example, if your girlfriend gives you a kiss when you give her flowers, you will be likely to give her flowers when you want a kiss. You will be acting in expectation of a certain reward. Like Watson, however, Skinner denied that the mind or feelings play any part in determining behavior. Instead, our experience of reinforcements determines our behavior. (DeMar, 2004) Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior. Major Thinkers in Behaviorism are Ivan Pavlov, B. F. Skinner, Edward Thorndike and John B. Watson. I have been a teacher for the past five (5) years and I can remember doing a Classroom Management course in college that looked at the learning theories of behaviour. It was a very good course and it enabled me to be a good manager of my classroom using various techniques/strategies of rewards and punishment as well as positive and negative reinforcement to control and mould behaviour. Classical conditioning and Operant conditioning is a major factor in real life as it forms a fundamental part of human training whether in or out of the classroom. The main use of conditioning is in dealing with habit formation either trying to form good habits such as good school performance or break bad ones such as walking around the classroom while a lesson is being taught. In assuming that behaviour is learnt, behaviourists also hold that behaviour can be unlearnt and replaced by new behaviours. It can be used to shape a child to learn innumerable behaviours and skills. In education, advocates of behaviorism have effectively adopted this system of rewards and punishments or positive and negative reinforcement in their classrooms by rewarding or positively reinforcing desired behaviors and punishing or negatively reinforcing inappropriate ones. Rewards vary, but must be important to the learner in some way. For example, as a teacher I wish to teach the behavior of remaining seated during the class period, the successful students reward might be marking the teachers class register or being allowed to use the computer lab during their lunch hour or giving praise to the students who remained seated while smiling would also be positive reinforcement. Humanistic During the 1950s, humanistic psychology began as a reaction to psychoanalysis and behaviorism, which dominated psychology at the time. Psychoanalysis was focused on understanding the unconscious motivations that drove behavior while behaviorism studied the conditioning processes that produced behavior. Humanist thinkers felt that both psychoanalysis and behaviorism were too pessimistic, either focusing on the most tragic of emotions or failing to take the role of personal choice into account. (Luttrel, 2009) Humanistic psychology was instead focused on each individual’s potential and stressed the importance of growth and self-actualization. The fundamental belief of humanistic psychology was that people are innately good, with mental and social problems resulting from deviations from this natural tendency. According to this theory, humans are driven to achieve their maximum potential and will always do so unless obstacles are placed in their way. These obstacles include hunger, thirst, financial problems, safety issues or anything else that takes our focus away from maximum psychological growth. The best way to describe this theory is to utilize the famous pyramid developed by Abraham Maslow (1970) called the Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow believed that humans have specific needs that must be met and that if lower level needs go unmet, we cannot possibly strive for higher level needs. The Hierarchy of Needs shows that at the lower level, we must focus on basic issues such as food, sleep, and safety. Without food, without sleep, how could we possible focus on the higher level needs such as respect, education, and recognition? Throughout our lives, we work toward achieving the top of the pyramid, self actualization or the realization of all of our potential. As we move up the pyramid, however, things may get in the way which will ultimately slow us down and often knock us backward. Imagine working toward the respect and recognition of your colleagues and suddenly finding yourself out of work and homeless. Suddenly, you are forced backward and can no longer focus your attention on your work due to the need for finding food and shelter for you and your family. There are five different levels in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; all my physiological needs which are the most basic and instinctual such as the need for air, food and sleep are being met. These are vital for my survival and must be met as all other needs become secondary. My safety and security needs are next and are very important, these include a desire for steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhoods and shelter from the environment and are currently being met. Everyone has a need for belonging, love and affection which is referred to as social needs. Relationships such as friendships, romantic attachments and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as do involvement in social, community or religious groups. I am currently in the Esteem needs phase which becomes increasingly important after the first three (3) needs have been met. These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition and accomplishment. I am in the process of changing professions and working towards achieving a diploma from Norquest University as a LPN. I want to be a good nurse and earn enough that I am able to care for my family. All my energy is focused on achieving as much as I can which would reflect on my self-esteem. I want to be able to look back at my life and not have any regrets. I do not want to be a failure. The last set of needs is the Self-actualizing Needs. This is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others and interested fulfilling their potential. According to Maslow, nobody has ever reached the peak of his pyramid. We all may strive for it and some may even get close, but no one has achieved full self-actualization. Self-actualization means having a complete understanding of oneself, a sense of completeness, of being the best person you could possibly be. To have achieved this goal is to stop living, for what is there to strive for if you have learned everything about yourself, if you have experienced all that you can, and if there is no way left for you to grow emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually. (Luttrel, 2009) Another major thinker in Humanistic Psychology is Carl Rogers. who maintains that the human organism has an underlying actualizing tendency, which aims to develop all capacities in ways that maintain or enhance the organism and move it toward autonomy. This tendency is directional, constructive and present in all living things. The actualizing tendency can be suppressed but can never be destroyed without the destruction of the organism. Conclusion Throughout history humans have been puzzled by human behavior, the reasons behind it, and have been faced with the consequences of their own as well as others behavior. Many studies have been done and theories developed in an attempt to explain this fascinating area of human existence. These theories enable us to understand and determine how the mind and body of an individual works. The psychodynamic, behaviourist and humanistic perspectives are very different theories but they all seek to answer basically the same questions, who and what we are, why we are like that, why we act and think like that and what we could be as a person, just in different ways. It is not necessary to think of these three schools of thought as competing elements as Abraham Maslow argued in his book Toward a Psychology of Being (1962), in which he described humanistic psychology as the third force in psychology, the first and second forces being behaviorism and psychoanalysis respectively. Each branch of psychology has contributed to our understanding of the human mind and behavior. Psychoanalysis looked at the mind, Behaviourist Psychology looked at behaviours and the Humanistic psychology added yet another dimension that took a more holistic view of the individual. There has been many criticisms of psychoanalysis and behaviourist perspectives but the fact remains that these theories have paved the way and laid the foundations upon which psychology stands.

The Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks

The Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks Last week I wrote an article about quotation marks, and I did not cover the topic of their overuse. Quotation marks are often used to emphasize a word when they are grammatically unnecessary or incorrect. Thankfully, another blogger has taken on the gallant task of locating errant quotation marks so that I can take a rest on this one. I just had to share!   the blog of unnecessary quotation marks Also note: Using single quotation marks is also not grammatically correct, unless you are quoting something within a quote. For instance: Grandma always used to say, I live every day by the words, A stitch in time saves nine.' Single quotation marks simply dont belong anywhere else. And thus concludes Part 2 of the Quotation Mark Quandary.

Individual Project Drugs and Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual Project Drugs and Crime - Essay Example Mental functioning becomes clouded due to the depression of the central nervous system. Other effects included slowed and slurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy eyelids, impaired night vision, vomiting, and constipation. surge of pleasure that rapidly follows administration of some drugs. Long term effects: Long-term effects of heroin appear after repeated use for some period of time. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, cellulites, and liver disease .Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin may have additives that do not really dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. (www.drugsfree.com) Two cases of crimes due to consumption of LSD can be focused. First, the case of Stephen Kessler stands out because of the style and magnitude of the headlines in April 1967, which declared him a "Mad LSD Slayer" and "LSD Killer" because he reportedly said to the police as he was being arrested: "Man, I've been flying for three days on LSD." Although it was later reported that Kessler had last taken LSD more than a month before the killings and had actually been on "three quarts of lab alcohol" and "one-and-a-half grains of pentobarbital", this data was trumpeted with somewhat less fanfare. The second major LSD-related crime that splashed across televisions, newspapers, and magazines was that of the murderous cult of personality around Charles Manson. When several members of the group were... Long-term effects of heroin appear after repeated use for some period of time. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, cellulites, and liver disease .Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin may have additives that do not really dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. Two cases of crimes due to consumption of LSD can be focused. First, the case of Stephen Kessler stands out because of the style and magnitude of the headlines in April 1967, which declared him a "Mad LSD Slayer" and "LSD Killer" because he reportedly said to the police as he was being arrested: "Man, I've been flying for three days on LSD." Although it was later reported that Kessler had last taken LSD more than a month before the killings and had actually been on "three quarts of lab alcohol" and "one-and-a-half grains of pentobarbital", this data was trumpeted with somewhat less fanfare. The second major LSD-related crime that splashed across televisions, newspapers, and magazines was that of the murderous cult of personality around Charles Manson. When several members of the group were indicted for high profile murders in 1969, it was big national news. The media carried extensive mentions of the use of LSD, Datura, and other drugs by the members of the â€Å"Manson Family†. Kasabian spent eighteen days on the witness stand during which Manson’s attorney repeatedly returned to questions about her LSD use, trying to depict her as a person who could not tell fact from fantasy.

Future of Strategic Management Accounting Coursework - 1

Future of Strategic Management Accounting - Coursework Example In order to come to the discussion whether management accounting’s future lies in strategic management, it is necessary to start from the base of it. Management accounting has its features in contrast to financial accounting and it would be wrong to compare the two. Management accounting is designed to be used by managers and not by other stakeholders of an organisation. Unlike financial accounting, management accounting is confidential to an organisation and is not reported as public information. And above all the most important distinction between the two is the technique used. The computing techniques are on the basis of the needs of the organization and it hardly follows the general accounting standards. In recent times there has been a shift in the practice of management accounting as it extends its scope towards certain other areas like the strategic management, performance management and risk management. The discussion in this research paper will be confined to the role of strategic management in management accounting. The purpose of strategic management is to play an advancing role to the concept of traditional management accounting. But there have been some criticisms also regarding changes in the implementation of management accounting. The main aim of the research paper is to critically evaluate the controversies and arrive at a distinct conclusion regarding the best practice. Management accounting systems in the past years, before the innovations in information technology, have seen many problems in its applications in organisations.