The Growth of Tourism

International air fares are falling. More and more employers are offering holiday entitlements. Needless to say, the number of people who travel to exotic holiday destinations across the world is on the rise. The tourism industry has witnessed tremendous growth over the last few years. And it looks like it will continue this upward trend. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend? The growth in the tourism sector has many advantages. In many parts of the world tourism has created more jobs than any other industry. Tourism helps countries to earn valuable foreign exchange.Tourism has also helped in the preservation of many heritage structures and art forms which would, otherwise, have died without leaving a trace. For example, many ethnic Indian dance forms would have died if they hadn’t received the patronage of foreign tourists. Tourism promotes cultural understanding. As people travel to other countries, they get an opportunity to learn about other cultures and beliefs. Intercultural understanding is always good for global harmony. On the flip side, tourism has some disadvantages too. In many countries, particularly those in the under developed world, ourism has led to the establishment of some morally questionable practices. For example, many tourist hotspots in Asia and Latin America are now synonymous with prostitution and illegal gambling. Tourist hotspots are also plagued by problems like theft, maimed begging and drug abuse. However, these disadvantages are nothing compared to the advantages and it doesn’t take a lot of efforts to see that tourism has more benefits than drawbacks. Share on print Share on facebook Share on stumbleupon Share on twitter Share on email Share on gmail More Sharing Services

Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood Essay

These are a group of psychological conditions that manifest people from childhood, causing impairment in selective parts of the body. The ICD-10 commonly refers to them as Specific Disorders of Psychological Development (Lord et.al, 2012 p.306). These disorders include language, learning, speech, motor, neurodevelopment, and autism. Others that can loosely be classified as developmental impairments include schizophrenia and antisocial behavior (Lord et.al, 2012 p.307). These conditions are present from childhood and depending on the stage of diagnosis, and they improve as the toddler develops. Most of them are diagnosed under the age of 9 when those surrounding a child notice defects or certain inabilities in comparison to children of the same age. these are a group of psychological conditions that manifest people from childhood causing impairment in selective parts of the body. the icd-10 commonly refers to them as specific disorders of psychological development lord et.al 2012 p.306 these disorders include language learning speech motor neurodevelopment and autism. others that can loosely be classified as developmental impairments include schizophrenia and antisocial behaviThese are a group of psychological conditions that manifest people from childhood, causing impairment in selective parts of the body. The ICD-10 commonly refers to them as Specific Disorders of Psychological Development (Lord et.al, 2012 p.306). These disorders include language, learning, speech, motor, neurodevelopment, and autism. Others that can loosely be classified as developmental impairments include schizophrenia and antisocial behavior (Lord et.al, 2012 p.307). These conditions are present from childhood and depending on the stage of diagnosis, and they improve as the toddler develops. Most of them are diagnosed under the age of 9 when those surrounding a child notice defects or certain inabilities in comparison to children of the same age. There is no specific cause of these disorders, apart from existing theories that are used to draw scientific hypotheses. The most significant characteristics in play involve genetic composition and environmental factors that disrupt the normal human development process and create abnormalities. According to research on of the theory states that stress or trauma during the early childhood period can cause developmental disorders.What causes the autism spectrum disorders. The disease was first described in the mid-20th century by a psychiatrist known as Leo Kanner (McPartland & Dawson, 2015 p.127). He stated that autism was an inborn defect without a definite causative factor, and detected in children from as early as a few weeks after birth to three years of age. Recent research attributes the disease to biology, naming hereditary factors and the pre and peri-natal environments as the greatest influencing factors. Autism spectrum refers to a variety of conditions that are classified as neurodevelopmental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). These diseases include Asperger Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, autism, and pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified, abbreviated as PDD-NOS (Lord et.al, 2012 p.308). Classification of ASD Previous diagnosis manuals classified Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism as different sub-categories of disorders. However, the latest DSM-V manual includes both as a range of a larger disease depending on its severity (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). People with both syndromes are categorized under the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Secondly, the DSM-5 handbook does not emphasize on the aspect of language delay or the exact age when the disease manifests itself (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). Instead, it is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition whose symptoms occur in the early childhood stage with possible diagnosis at a later date. The DSM- 5 also changed the impairment areas from three to two namely social communication and behavior (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). Finally, the clinical presentation of the disease currently uses clinical specifiers to describe ASD (Lord et.al, 2012 p.309). According to scientific study, there are three types of genetic associations of ASD. The first is the familial aggregation of autism common in the siblings of affected ones, and the second category is the genetic combination of other conditions present in the family members of the afflicted children (Lord et.al, 2013 p.4). The third kind of genetic association involves the connection with specific conditions of recognized genetic composition (Yuen et.al, 2015 p.187).or lord et.al 2012 p.307 these conditions are present from childhood and depending on the stage of diagnosis and they improve as the toddler develops. most of them are diagnosed under the age of 9 when those surrounding a child notice defects or certain inabilities in comparison to children of the same age. there is no specific cause of these disorders apart from existing theories that are used to draw scientific hypotheses. the most significant characteristics in play involve genetic composition and environmental factors that disrupt the normal human development process and create abnormalities. according to research on of the theory states that stress or trauma during the early childhood period can cause developmental disorders.what causes the autism spectrum disorders the disease was first described in the mid-20th century by a psychiatrist known as Leo Kanner McPartland Dawson 2015 p.127 he stated that autism was an inborn defect without a definite causative factor and detected in children from as early as a few weeks after birth to three years of age. recent research attributes the disease to biology naming hereditary factors and the pre and peri-natal environments as the greatest influencing factors. autism spectrum refers to a variety of conditions that are classified as neurodevelopmental disorders in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders DSM-5 these diseases include Asperger syndrome childhood disintegrative disorder autism and pervasive development disorder not otherwis e specified abbreviated as pdd-nos lord et.al 2012 p.308 classification of asd previous diagnosis manuals classified Aspergers syndrome and autism as different sub-categories of disorders. however the latest DSM-v manual includes both as a range of a larger disease depending on its severity Lauritsen 2013 p.37 people with both syndromes are categorized under the autism spectrum disorder and secondly the DSM-5 handbook does not emphasize on the aspect of language delay or the exact age when the disease manifests itself, Lauritsen, 2013 p.37 instead it is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition whose symptoms occur in the early childhood stage with possible diagnosis at a later date. the DSM- 5 also changed the impairment areas from three to two namely social communication and behavior Lauritsen 2013 p.37 finally the clinical presentation of the disease currently uses clinical specifiers to describe and lord et.al 2012 p.309 according to scientific study there are three types of genetic associations of asd. the first is the familial aggregation of autism common in the siblings of affected ones and the second category is the genetic combination of other conditions present in the family members of the afflicted children lord et.al 2013 p.4 the third kind of genetic association involves the connection with specific conditions of recognized genetic composition yuen et.al 2015 p.187 There is no specific cause of these disorders, apart from existing theories that are used to draw scientific hypotheses. The most significant characteristics in play involve genetic composition and environmental factors that disrupt the normal human development process and create abnormalities. According to research on of the theory states that stress or trauma during the early childhood period can cause developmental disorders.What causes the autism spectrum disorders. The disease was first described in the mid-20th century by a psychiatrist known as Leo Kanner (McPartland & Dawson, 2015 p.127). He stated that autism was an inborn defect without a definite causative factor, and detected in children from as early as a few weeks after birth to three years of age. Recent research attributes the disease to biology, naming hereditary factors and the pre and peri-natal environments as the greatest influencing factors. Autism spectrum refers to a variety of conditions that are classified as neurodevelopmental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). These diseases include Asperger Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, autism, and pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified, abbreviated as PDD-NOS (Lord et.al, 2012 p.308). Classification of ASD Previous diagnosis manuals classified Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism as different sub-categories of disorders. However, the latest DSM-V manual includes both as a range of a larger disease depending on its severity (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). People with both syndromes are categorized under the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Secondly, the DSM-5 handbook does not emphasize on the aspect of language delay or the exact age when the disease manifests itself (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). Instead, it is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition whose symptoms occur in the early childhood stage with possible diagnosis at a later date. The DSM- 5 also changed the impairment areas from three to two namely social communication and behavior (Lauritsen, 2013 p.37). Finally, the clinical presentation of the disease currently uses clinical specifiers to describe ASD (Lord et.al, 2012 p.309). According to scientific study, there are three types of genetic associations of ASD. The first is the familial aggregation of autism common in the siblings of affected ones, and the second category is the genetic combination of other conditions present in the family members of the afflicted children (Lord et.al, 2013 p.4). The third kind of genetic association involves the connection with specific conditions of recognized genetic composition (Yuen et.al, 2015 p.187).

Life Has a Hopeful Undertone

McCarthy follows a father and son who are struggling to survive after some global apocalypse. The father struggles to keep his faith and â€Å"carry the fire,† he starts to question his faith in humanity him believe to have hope in the most difficult of times. Despite civilization falling apart, in the novel The Road by Coral McCarthy hope is revealed to be a major theme by symbolism in the fire and the boy. The man and boy often find themselves in difficult situations.The boy considers that e would be better off dead because his loss of hope. He says he would be better off with his â€Å"mom† (55), who is dead. The man tells him that he has to â€Å"carry the Although it is not directly said in the novel, the fire is implied to be related to hope and goodness. The father and son are some of the few survivors who refused to exploit human beings, because they have not given up and lost faith in their morals. Hope helps them find alternatives from cannibalism. Even when they were â€Å"starving†(129). They still refuse to eat any human flesh.In the novel, the cannibals represent a fallen society that a man and boy have to live through. The boy is a symbol hope and is one of the â€Å"good guys†(77). Those who carry the fire have not given up hope and need to preserve the faith and sake of humanity, because If the two characters decide to eat a charred human Infant (198), everyone on Earth would be killing each other and ending humanity; there would be no hope or love left, there would be nothing or no one left to live for. The man and boy both believe â€Å"nothing ad is going to happen† (83), to them because they are carrying the fire.Ultimately at the end of the novel the man ends up dying, but hope continues to live on In the boy, who meets a new family that Is â€Å"carrying the fire† as well (284). This shows that even In hard times you can still have hope that things will get better. When his son was born the man s ays that the boy was â€Å"beyond the window Just gathering cold, the fires on the horizon† (59). The man found hope when his son was born, and found another reason to live. The mother states â€Å"the boy was all that stood between him and death†(29).The child was an embodiment of hope and salvation; he was a light In the darkness. The man thought of his son as God; he asked Ely noon thought he was an angel? What If I said he was God? â€Å"(172). The man saw his son as a symbol of hope Is a place where hope was no longer relevant. Overall, hope In a ruined society can begin the dullness, but The Road by Coral McCarthy shows that hope can still remain. Hope when a salvation Lies In ruins can easily be forgotten between the fight with death and the desperation to live, but It remains as the only thing that can begin to rebuild humanity again.Life Has a Hopeful Undertone By liable given up hope and need to preserve the faith and sake of humanity, because if the two cha racters decide to eat a charred human infant (198), everyone on Earth would the end of the novel the man ends up dying, but hope continues to live on in the boy, who meets a new family that is â€Å"carrying the fire† as well (284). This shows that even in hard times you can still have hope that things will get better. When his son was death†(29). The child was an embodiment of hope and salvation; he was a light in the darkness.The man thought of his son as God; he asked Ely muff thought he was an angel? What if I said he was The man saw his son as a symbol of hope is a place where hope was no longer relevant. Overall, hope in a ruined society can begin the diminish, but The Road by Coral McCarthy shows that hope can still remain. Hope when a civilization lies in ruins can easily be forgotten between the fight with death and the desperation to live, but it remains as the only thing that can begin to

Population, Urbanization, and Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Population, Urbanization, and Environment - Essay Example Reports display that about 2% of the world’s population resided in urban areas in 1800, gradually with the advent of industries and better opportunities of health care, jobs, education, recreation, social setup, advances in technology, people started migrating from villages to the urban areas leading to further urbanization. People residing in urban areas show more fertility because of availability of better health care facilities; this has decreased the mortality rate and hence promoting greater longevity and life expectancy of human beings. This is one of the biggest contributing factors in the rise of population. Developed nations are under the opinion that more hands means more sources of income and so they promote having more kids as helping hands. This mental makeup is creating chaos in these countries due to amplified competition for basic amenities. Those who are in big cities they can afford good education and well paid jobs, in turn they can afford better house, living standards, and quality life to their children, this attracts people who are residing in rural area to lead the urban standard and quality of life and to provide security to the family. Urbanization is the result of providing better opportunities to the people. Urban population is contributing a drift in the environment by consuming food, energy, water and land and deteriorating the environment by establishing more industries and other social organizations to fulfill the rising needs of the population. Energy is consumed in the form of transportation, making house, roads and other infrastructure, for cooking, nuclear power plants and weapons, other machineries emitting hazardous chemicals in the environment. We are digging out everything from the nature and in return we are providing pollution of land, air, water and also human brains as when demands are not fulfilled and resources are limited people are promoting corruption, terrorism and unfair means. Thereby, causing deleterious

Service delivery should not be a priority focus for Non-Governmental Essay

Service delivery should not be a priority focus for Non-Governmental Organisations' (NGOs) work. Discuss, with reference to relevant literature and examples, a - Essay Example On the other hand, the delivery of services as well as every other activity that would be possibly undertaken by the NGO’s should be based on a series of rules and ethics that could ensure the quality and the relevance of these activities around the world. It is for this reason that Lewis (2001, 1) supported that ‘for some NGOs the delivery of services will doubtless require a set of practices and techniques which could usefully draw upon public and private sector approaches; For NGOs involved in campaigning and networking, perhaps less of this material will be of value, and new approaches are needed’. In other words, in accordance with the above researcher, not all activities of NGOs should be regulated strictly by governmental rules and principles but mainly the delivery of services. However, it is not made clear whether the above rules should refer to particular issues related with the delivery of services or would contain rather general guidelines and suggestions. At a next level, in order to understand the role of service delivery in the operation of NGOs, we should primarily present a definition of these organisations as it has been formulated during their operation throughout the world. In accordance with a definition given by Mawlawi (1993, 391) ‘broadly defined, NGOs are private, voluntary, non-profit organizations whose members combine their skills, means and energies in the service of shared ideals and objectives’. Moreover, Mawlawi, explains the main characteristics of NGOs based on the definition presented above. In this context it is stated that ‘NGOs vary in scope, resource base and influence as well as in functional and ideological orientation; they may be local, national or international, and include service groups, prominent foundations and professional or other membership organizations; NGOs are generally dependent on private resources, but in several countries they receive government support as well’ (Mawlawi, 1993,

Exam answer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Exam answer - Essay Example This a special type of field-effect transistor that is made by depositing thin layers of an active semi-conductor and dielectric layers contacts over a supporting substrate that is commonly glass. c)OLED: organic light-emitting diode. It is a LED where in response to a current, the emissive electroluminescent layer which is a film of organic compound emits light. OLEDs are used in the creation of digital displays in TV screens as well as computer monitors. Figure 1 shows the occurrence of visual distortion when anti-aliasing it not used. The image is hard to recognize, and it is not appealing. In figure 2, the edges appear smoother. Anti-aliasing is used in the blending of the pixels of a graphic. As s result, it is applied in rendering the text on a computer screen have a smooth contour for easy visibility. 4.Technology: many public-use touch screens such as kiosks make us of projective capacitive touch since it is a representation of only a flat glass surface. This assists in cleaning along with aesthetics. 6. It is almost impossible to accurately approximate the contrast ratio of the monitor by making use of the naked eye. As a result, the manufacturers usually inflate the numbers to some unrealistic values. The saturated colours are generated by having full or zero reflectance at any given wavelength. In the CIE chromaticity diagram, the U-shaped area that is surrounded by the dotted lines shows the range of colours that are visible to the human being’s naked eye. 9. A radiance meter measures the amount of light given off by a source. As a luminance, one needs to adjust the levels of light to the source as well as the whole surface area of the source of light. As a result, the value that represents all the light that is given off at a particular time. As chrominance meter, adjustments need to be made so that the meter would only detect specific ranges of wavelength and establish their values independently. This is because the white light emitted

Reduce Stress in Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reduce Stress in Life - Essay Example For each one of us, there are many things in our lives, which can cause stress on a daily basis. For example, not enough time in the day to deal with personal issues and work or needing to find another higher paying job to afford our endless bills ( www.helpguide.org, 2014). In my case, working full-time while attending school full-time, also being 9 months pregnant and not to mention the frustration of being the first time, mom. It is difficult to measure stress but some behaviors are associated with stress. These behaviors include lack or excessive sleep, eating disorders, substance abuse among others. The response to stress may vary from one person to the other. I deal with stressful situations by eating. This is combined with the fact that I am pregnant. This has resulted in gaining weight something I hope to deal with now that I have a child. Dealing with stress will involve taking some time off my school schedule and spend this time with family and friends. Hobbies are a way of reducing stress levels and I am working towards doing the things I love. This may include dance lessons or music lessons. This will also help me to reduce the weight I have gained. Everything is done in moderation and a little pressure often does better than harm. (Kaplowitz, 2012).However, I do not believe that a stress-free life is possible and realistic. Stress is a response to the challenges we face in life that occur around us and many of these challenges cannot be avoided.

Impacts Of Conversion Of Tropical Forests To Small-Scale Agriculture Essay

Impacts Of Conversion Of Tropical Forests To Small-Scale Agriculture - Essay Example From a biologist perspective, tropical forests are the richest and most exciting areas on earth sheltering a diverse wildlife. Tropical forests are differentiated from another type of forests due to their gigantic trees amazingly diverse fauna of colorful birds, millions of brightly hued insects, and a variety of fascinating mammals. It is widely accepted that tropical lowland forests are the most species-rich type of terrestrial ecosystem, for example, a hectare of Malaysian tropical rainforest may contain 180 kinds of trees. Tropical rainforests are generally concentrated near the equator in Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, and on many of the Pacific Islands. According to WWF’s biome classification, tropical rain forests are considered a type of tropical wet forest and may also be referred to as lowland equatorial evergreen rain forests. All five layers of tropical rainforests i.e. emergent layer, canopy layer, understory layer, shrub layer, and forest floor are enriched with different plants and animals. Tropical deforestation, desertification, decreasing biodiversity, climate change and the scarcity of fresh water are issues of recent global conflict. This paper makes a conclusion that tropical forests are the richest and most exciting areas on earth sheltering a diverse wildlife. Small-scale agricultural practices, though considered safe by many scientists and ecologists, have been proved to be having detrimental effects on the health of tropical forests. These agricultural practices are facing the burden of huge population growth and unhealthy practices.

I want to learn about how the staffs in any nursing home deal with the Assignment

I want to learn about how the staffs in any nursing home deal with the senior adults who lost their memory - Assignment Example address the social aspect of care for patients who are in their advance age who has from memory loss that they may be able to interact with them not just as a health care provider but also as a human being that would possibly help the patient recover their memory and make their stay in the nursing home pleasant. Senior adults who suffers from memory loss who are taken cared of at nursing homes are removed from their family and nursing staffs should therefore endeavor to create an atmosphere that resembles the comfort of the patient’s home. After completing the project, it is expected that the nursing staff will not only be proficient and sensitive in taking care of senior citizens who suffers from memory loss but will also be ethical being mindful that those who are housed in the nursing homes are away from their

Change Plan at Marwah School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Change Plan at Marwah School - Essay Example It is identified that the Reading skills need to be improved and sustained over grades 1 to 3 to achieve better results in the higher grades and this is reiterated by the study of the best practices in other schools and regions which have addressed a similar problem. The action plan considers the different phases and the key performance indicators that can be useful to assess the success of the implementation of the plan. It is concluded that the action plan needs to be planned for a period of three years and regular training programs conducted for ensuring the quality of teaching. Summative financial resources needed to be allocated for implementing the program are also considered with a plan to ensure commitment from all stakeholders in making this plan for change a sustainable success. 1. Introduction- This report is aimed at studying the present scenario in the Al Marwah Primary School related to its effectiveness in imparting education at the primary school level. The performances of schools in four different categories are compared in the various subjects of Mathematics, Science, English Reading, English Writing, Arabic Reading and Arabic Writing. ... ii. Planning iii. Execution iv. Monitoring v. Enhancement 7. Key performance indicators 8. Conclusions and recommendations References 1. Introduction- This report is aimed at studying the present scenario in the Al Marwah Primary School related to its effectiveness in imparting education at the primary school level. The performances of schools in four different categories are compared in the various subjects of Mathematics, Science, English Reading, English Writing, Arabic Reading and Arabic Writing. The grades, standardized scores and test scores obtained in these different areas by the various school categories are studied and analyzed for further action at the Al Marwah School. Probable weaknesses are identified from within these statistics and the problem areas are identified. Further, a contingency plan is framed and recommended for implementation at the Al Marwah school, which is necessary for addressing the identified problem. The various departments that are required to be involved in the implementation along with the duration of the plan is also discussed for a clear understanding of the importance of the contingency plan and the participation required by the concerned stakeholders to make the plan a success. Further, the target objectives and monitoring techniques and strategies recommended would also be discussed at length which can be considered to give a clear practical direction to the action plan. The report also studies any best practices in identifying and implementing an action plan for the trends observed in the education sector of the Gulf as well as other parts of the world. The objectives of imparting education in the different parts of the world when considered can give a comprehensive idea of the needs or requirements of the student

Principles and Practices of Leadership and Management Essay

Principles and Practices of Leadership and Management - Essay Example Other cultures seek a more sensitive leader with empathetic and charismatic personalities and strategies. Not just related to cultural dynamics, I must understand the state of employees (as well as myself) if I am go build trust and confidence in my decision-making processes. This is why I felt to discuss my strength as a leader in relation to cultural sensitivity and awareness. I understand that most organizations have diverse populations of workers that hail from different ethnic, regional and just general lifestyle cultures. All of these individuals have differing beliefs, values and attitudes that must somehow find harmony when working with others in group settings. Fairholm (2009) describes the transformational leadership model, one in which a shared vision and mission must be established, where the leader role models desired behaviours, and also opens effective lines of communication. In order to provide any meaningful feedback or direction, others have to trust in my judgment. As a transformational leader, I must get the whole organisation on board with a singular vision. Having an understanding of the foundational concepts of long-term orientation, individualism, collectivism, and other important characteristics of diverse employees is highly valuable in understanding how to approach certain cultures. In a collectivist organisation, which is the goal of the transformational leadership model, people appreciate and find personal identity through group membership and social belonging (Hofstede, Hofstede and Minkov 2010; Hofstede and Hofstede 2005; Hofstede 2001). I realise it will be necessary for this type of culture to focus on group rewards, establishing collective rewards, and also promoting better socialisation among tacit and explicit knowledge holders. Understanding both the emotional states of others and their cultural values will assist in develop cohesive vision direction and promoting better work group outcomes. Whilst also providing strengths, I must be critical of my weaknesses. One of these is an inherent ethnocentrism, a belief in the superiority of my own cultural values. Even though I understand the needs of others, I am sometimes frustrated when what I view as over inter-dependency occurs between organisational members. I do not personally have much of a need for the social condition and belonging within the organisation since I trust in my own competencies and maintain very positive self-esteem. I have reached the self-actualisation stage of development, one that is highly motivated to succeed and do not require the affiliation nearly as strongly as others. Now, achievement is considered a significant strength in leadership. An achievement-minded leader gets intrinsic self-satisfaction from excellence in a task and reaching a standard of excellence (Kirkpatrick and Locke 1991). However, this over-confidence in my own abilities sometimes translates into frustration or disappointment for those who have not yet achiev ed the type of confidence that I have earned through experience. This is apparent in my body language, if not my words. It is something I must work on: finding balance between ethnocentrism, self-confidence and finding empathy for others that require more social approvals to build their self-esteem. A quality-focused leader must appeal to the needs of employees by first motivating and then inspiring followers (Kotter 2001). I have another strength which is excellent communication skills,

Toyota Product Development System Essay Example for Free

Toyota Product Development System Essay Toyota’s LPDS starts with the customer who is represented by the Chief Engineer. Toyota uses the Chief Engineer’s concept paper as a guiding tool to align thinking on the planning process. They very efficiently use the Obeya (big room) to bring together the members of divergent teams and allows them to function as a unit. The teams are structured so that all of the voices that need to be heard, from the designers to the managers of the factory, who can provide input on the impact decisions will have on the workers and the final produce, are there. One of the advantages to Toyota’s process is that it allows them to retain valuable employees. Their system of â€Å"Creating a Leveled Product Development Process Flow† means that workers will not be overworked and will be able to focus their full attention on the project at hand. When the project is finished, they are provided with new challenges to help them grow. The process of innovation is woven into the fabric of the organization. Toyota supplements its processes with a culture that is finely aligned with the process. They have also developed a number of tools to serve the process such as the already mentioned Obeya, a system of checklists which until recently were kept in three ring binders, Hansei, teardowns, A3 reports which summarize problems and help to ensure alignment. All of the processes at Toyota are highly standardized, and their culture ensures that the standardization process continues. Toyota has a corporate structure that reinforces and perpetuates itself. Sakicki Toyoda learned the loom business from the ground up, and this instilled in him a belief that to be successful, one must understand all aspects of the business. He used this knowledge to build an empire and it his conviction that one must learn by doing that still guides the thinking of Toyota employees. Power is gained through merit with all engineers working their way up â€Å"through the ranks. † Unlike other automakers who hire the best and brightest out of college and immediately give them a great deal of responsibility, Toyota takes the best and brightest (discovered through a rigorous and highly selective process) and has them go through a mentoring system where they are judged at each phase of the training. It is a socialization process that produces an employee who is trained in Toyota standards and procedures. It takes many years for a newcomer to be given a large responsibility such as a Chief Engineer. Consequently, the Chief Engineer is imbued with respect, as the entire organization knows that person has obtained the rank through perseverance, hard work, accomplishment and a deep understanding of the â€Å"Toyota Way. † Toyota is fiercely loyal to its employees, retaining them even in times of economic downturn. Even employees who are not living up to Toyota’s exacting standards are retained, however, they are given jobs with no responsibility; a great humiliation in an environment that values achievement. This has given Toyota a reputation as an excellent employer, and jobs there are highly prized. One realizes when one takes a job at Toyota that you are a highly valued part of the family, and the success of the rest of the family rests directly with you. This surely makes new employees dig into their work with great zest and humility. By studying from the ground up, the workers are able to gain insight into the whole development process. They can see how their work literally fits into the larger structure. This harmony is further reinforced by their mantra of â€Å"Customer First. † When trade-offs are presented, the overruling concern is that of the designer, as the designer is the customer. For items that are not necessarily â€Å"Customer First† issues, Toyota has developed â€Å"trade-off curves† and decision matrices to standardize decision-making. PROCESS PRINCIPLES Anyone who has spent a long time at Toyota will have absorbed the Toyota Way. † The processes of the LPDS will be firmly engrained in minds of the employees. It is difficult to separate the â€Å"lean thinking† of Toyota employees from the LDPS. They reinforce each other. The process principles of LPDS are a manifestation of the lean thinking that is a part of Toyota’s culture. By defining the customer as the starting point of the entire LPDS process, Toyota is able to align the thinking of the entire organization. It also sets the goal of eliminating waste to greater serve the needs of the customer. Other companies have tried to adopt Toyota’s processes without success. This is due to the fact that the process is only one part of Toyota’s success, the other, and in some instances, more compelling part of the success, is Toyota’s ability to create a culture indoctrinated in that process. The culture subverts ego, and turns problems into learning opportunities. Toyota has developed the most effective â€Å"knowledge job shop† in the automotive industry. It beauty lies in its ability to bring together representatives of all facets of the production process in harmony. In thinking about Goldratt’s principle of identifying and bottlenecks, you can see that Toyota has developed a process to dramatically reduce the number of bottlenecks it will face. By using standardization of parts and platforms and bringing in the right representatives to the Obeya to discuss problems before they are built into the design, Toyota is able to smooth out the potential bottlenecks before they occur. There is a great deal of alignment between all members of the team, so one is not operating in a vacuum; trying to solve problems without seeing how your solution fits into the larger product. Toyota’s focus on a leveled product development process also helps to eliminate bottlenecks by keeping the batches of work at a manageable level, eliminating variability and keeps utilization levels constant. As mentioned before, standardization is extremely important in creating a successful innovation environment. Standardization creates a common language that fosters greater communication. It even promotes communication of best practices over time as the best practices are engrained in the process by being adopted a standards. It enhances the scheduling process by allowing anticipation in the schedule, which in turn leads to great synchronization of efforts. It allows platforms, technology and subsystems to be reused in different designs saving time and money. As a result of their standardization process, Toyota is often able to eliminate the expensive prototyping phase of vehicle development. This can be done because with so many â€Å"tried and true† components being used in consistent ways, prototyping would be redundant. Standardization is one the key element to Toyotas speed in developing new vehicles. PEOPLE PRINICPLES Toyota uses a matrix system rather than a skunk works operation to develop new vehicles, Toyota’s LPDS is fully integrated into Toyota’s structure. They assemble a cross functional team that has representatives from the full range of functions involve with design, manufacturing and sales. Unlike other cross functional teams, where there is some ambiguity as to who the employee serves, Toyota is able to get an extremely high level of productivity out of them. This is due to several factors. Toyota’s culture where employees have a high level of trust for one another and deep understanding of the process thanks to the leadership to the Chief Engineer. The Chief Engineer (CE) is the head of the development project. This position is given to a senior engineer with a proven track record as an outstanding engineer and as one who is successful in using the â€Å"Toyota Way. † Management chooses CEs based on their ability to handle challenges and then tasks them with developing a vehicle that satisfies an overarching strategic direction. The CE acts as the voice of the customer who is the main focus of the LPDS. As such, the CE articulates the overall concept for the vehicle in a concept paper. This concept paper is the guiding principle that aligns the entire team working on the project. The CE is not the direct supervisor of the engineers working on the program, however, the CE does have full responsibility for the design’s success from development through sales and the concept paper ensures accountability. Unlike the â€Å"heavyweight project managers† the CE is imbued with more authority. Even without direct supervisory responsibilities, the position of CE is highly revered within the Toyota organization and commands great respect. Many within the Toyota family strive to achieve the role of CE. In fact, it is the continual striving for excellence that has helped Toyota to develop and maintain a culture of continuous learning. When an employee starts at Toyota, they undergo a long mentoring and socialization process. The socialization process that Toyota employees go through instills them with the spirit of Kaizen, which says that there is always an opportunity to learn and that learning is ongoing. This is reinforced by Toyotas practices of Hansei (reflection). Toyota builds in time and encourages its workers to step back and reflect on the work that they are doing. Toyota’s culture that embraces problems, because problems combined with Hansei can lead to Kaizen. This gives them a huge advantage over American car companies were problems are not valued and people will often cover up problems that they are having in order to maintain their status. By not embracing their problems, the problems get compounded as they are often discovered too late. TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY The best thinking to be used in choosing supporting technology is to think about it in terms the broader framework of your company’s people and processes. Toyota uses this thinking very effectively. At Toyota, technologies do not stand alone. On the contrary, their product development systems are all seamlessly integrated into their V-Comm system. This enables information to be passed quickly and efficiently to all team members. Toyota also adheres to a belief that technology should support your processes and not drive it. Consistency of process is valued at Toyota more highly than keeping up with the latest advancement. They chose technology to solve specific problems and do not look for a one size fits all solution. Finally, Toyota makes sure that the technological solutions are the right size for the problem rather than constantly going for the biggest and best. While Toyota uses this principled approach to technology, their tools that support successful innovation and organizational learning are not technology driven. Along with the V-Comm system mentioned earlier One of the first tools that is used is the CE’s concept paper. This paper is used to align the thinking of the product development team. It provides enough guidance that it allows the team to work in harmony, but at the same time, it gives the team enough flexibility that they are able to be creative. They also use a simple device called the A3 report, which distills problems and solutions down to their essence. It is really the process of reducing a problem to one sheet of paper that helps to hone the thinking and promote learning. However, the A3 also facilitates increased communication. They also use teardown analysis performed by the engineers who are working on the project and have a system of checklists that provide guidelines for product design. One of the most effective tools in Toyota’s arsenal is their constant and codified post-mortem process of Hansei. The standardization of Toyota’s processes allows the learning from this reflection to be captured and implemented. THREE CONCEPTS In looking at Toyota, one might say that they are an ambidextrous organization. Or one could say that they are successful because they have achieved a strong balance between the red and green quadrants of the Competing Values Framework. Much like Dell computers, Toyota’s culture looks very red on the surface. The strict adherence to checklists and standardization seem to indicate a company that is focused on control. But like Dell, the rigorous structures that the put in place are actually innovative (green). And in fact, the reason that Toyota and Dell are able to be successfully innovative is that they have these supporting structures in place. It is an interesting dichotomy to be at once extremely controlled and very innovative. However, by balancing these two aspects of the corporate culture, Toyota has gained great success. Toyota has also developed strategies that help it to avoid the â€Å"enemies of innovation†. First they use standardization to speed the innovation process to avoid lengthy development times. Second, by using tools like the concept paper, the Obeya, Hansei and standardization they are able to coordinate their efforts to a high degree. Third, they have come to grips with the risks that they are willing to take and have a high degree of trust throughout the organization. Finally, the CE truly understands the customer and has done much anthropological work to foster that understanding. KEY TAKE-AWAYS There were three main take-aways I gained from reading â€Å"The Toyota Product Development System: 1. Creating a culture that is aligned with your strategic goals is the greatest goal a manager could achieve. The Toyota LPDS works because it is engrained in the culture of the organization. The great reward for an engineer is to become a CE and lead a team in producing something that will best serve the needs of the customer. In order to become a CE, you have to demonstrate that you can work effectively within the systems of Toyota. This gives one a great incentive to work within the structure of Toyotas system. 2. Do not let technology drive your process, let your process drive technology. I was amazed to learn that a company with such advanced capabilities in development used checklist bound in three-ring binders to ensure that its processes were followed. It seems that most people, including myself, feel that newer and faster technology will lead to productivity breakthroughs. We are usually disappointed with the results. Toyota shows us that the problem is that technology without a solid process to back it up seldom works. If one can find technology that will improve a successful process, then it has great potential to have that breakthrough quality we expect. Toyota did this with their V-Comm system, which made the information previously stored in three-ring binders more accessible. 3. Structure leads to greater innovation It always seem counter-intuitive to me that by being more structured, one could be more creative. Having been trained as an artist, I often bristled at structure and standardization as I felt it stifled creativity. But Toyota’s LPDS made me realize that structure is the platform that allows innovation to happen. I then began to realize that within jazz music, there is a great deal of standardization. Jazz musicians spend years studying chord progressions, scales and modes and learning the songs that make up the jazz repertoire. They also spend years listening to other players and absorbing many of their ideas. This provides a foundation for musicians to communicate. Many people often ask me how it is that a group of jazz musicians who have never met before can come together for the first time and create great music together. It is because of the standardization of the repertoire that they are able to do that. The musicians know and understand the structure of a song and the â€Å"rules† for performing. This provides them with a common language to communicate their ideas to each other. In my own business, I see increasing our standardization preventing us from constantly reinventing the wheel. It is the best ways to promote and capture organization learning. The great challenge will be to change the culture, which I have created, from one that is adverse to structure to one that embraces it.

Pathophysiology of Coronary Diseases

Pathophysiology of Coronary Diseases Describe the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (what is it / signs symptoms / treatments / outcomes desired. Coronary Artery disease (CAD) occurs when fatty plaques are built up in arteries and harden with age. This is known as Artherosclerosis which results in a decreased amount of blood being delivered to the heart and increased difficulty for the arteries to dilate (Lewis, 2014). The heart then shifts from an aerobic metabolism to anaerobic metabolism due to the resulting oxygen deprivation from the vessels not being able to keep up with the increased demand for oxygen (Lewis, 2014). Lactic acid then accumulates and leads to acidosis, decreased energy, decreased contraction strength and also decreased force (Lewis, 2014). This chain of events means that less blood leaves the heart which can then lead to myocardial infarction (MI) (Lewis, 2014). Gender Signs and Symptoms Male Crushing Squeezing Tightness in neck, chest, or shoulder blade CAD is highest among white, middle aged men! Female Jaw, neck, back, and shoulder pain Shortness of breath Vague chest pain Dizziness Palpations Cold sweats Nausea May be more difficult to identify! Treatment Options: Some examples of medications: Nitrates: Reduce the amount of oxygen that the heart uses. Lipid Lowering Drugs: Inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver which unexplainably increases hepatic LDL receptors. The liver is then able to remove more LDLs from the blood. Simvastatin (Zocor) Niacin (Niaspan) Gemfibrozil (Lopid) Beta Adrenergic Blockers: Reduce oxygen demands and workload by reducing heart rate and blood flow peripheral resistance (Lewis, 2014). Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Result in vasodilation and reduced blood volume. These drugs also reverse or prevent ventricular remodeling (Lewis, 2014). Anti-Platelet Drugs: Reduce platelet accumulation and decrease the risk for a blockage to develop in blood vessels. Surgical: Laser angioplasty Coronary artery bypass Shunt placement Expected Outcomes: Increase in cardiac output Reduction of blood pressure Improving quality of life Reduction of chest pain Describe the pathophysiology of hypertension. (What is it / signs symptoms / treatments / outcomes desired / lifestyle changes needed. Hypertension Primary Hypertension Elevated blood pressure (BP) without an identified etiology (Lewis, 2014). Contributing Factors (Lewis, 2014) Increase sympathetic nervous system activity Overproduction of sodium retaining hormones and substances that cause vasoconstriction Increased sodium intake Obesity Diabetes Tobacco use Excessive alcohol consumption Pathophysiology of Primary Hypertension: Increased cardiac output (CO) or Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) increases. This happens due to abnormalities of any of the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of normal BP (Lewis, 2014). The release of renin or angiotensin II causes the blood vessels to increase which consequentially increases blood volume. Signs and Symptoms of Primary Hypertension BP >140/90 on two separate occasions Nausea Headache, typically throbbing and occurring in the morning. Vision problems Treatment Includes lifestyle modifications including: Stress reduction Diet Exercise Limit alcohol intake Tobacco cessation Relaxation techniques Secondary Hypertension Elevated BP with a specific cause that can be corrected Pathophysiology of Secondary Hypertension: Increase in blood volume is due to a specific disease or illness. Signs and symptoms of Secondary Hypertension: Stroke Heart Failure MI Retinopathy Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Treatment Treating the underlying cause Both types of Hypertension can be treated with medications such as: Thiazide diuretics ACE inhibitors Beta adrenergic blockers Although these are some signs listed in our text there are really no definite signs or symptoms because a patient cannot tell if their blood pressure is consistently high just by the way they feel. The damages listed above happen because there are no signs a person can feel on their own to warn them of their hypertension (Lewis, 2014). Describe the pathophysiology of left sided heart failure / CHF (what is it / signs symptoms / treatments / outcomes desired / lifestyle changes needed. Left sided heart failure is due to the left ventricle ineffectively contracting. This causes a decrease in CO and pulmonary edema. These occur because the heart is not pumping effectively causing fluid to build up in the left atrium as well as the lungs (Lewis, 2014). Signs and Symptoms Crackles heard in the lungs Frothy pink sputum ↓ Attention span Ventricular gallop Difficulty breathing Muscle weakness Edema Fatigue Weight gain Irritability Treatment Options Lifestyle Modifications ↓ Sodium intake ↓ risk for fluid overload Ace Inhibitors ↓ vascular resistance Diuretics ↓ Preload Advise patient to eat foods high in potassium or consume a potassium supplement to replace fluids lost Digoxin ↑ Heart’s ability to contract Beta-Blockers Prevent cardiac remodeling (Lewis, 2014) Create an Education plan for a low sodium diet. (What specifically would you teach this patient about this diet)? Include foods high in sodium / foods to avoid. Please have a detailed plan that you can use to teach a patient. The plan should have at least 2 patient outcomes listed. You need to bring the plan to clinical so that you can use it with your patient. Educate patient that sodium intake is as follow: Healthy Adult No more than 2300 mg/day Cardiac Patient Less than 1500 mg/day Advise patients not to add salts or seasonings to foods because it can increase sodium intake. They can choose options such as non-sodium seasonings instead! (For Example: Mrs. Dash offers AMAZING no-salt seasonings) Also, advise patient that using herbs for seasoning like garlic, ginger or lemon are good alternatives Foods to Avoid: Frozen meals Limit milk intake to no more than 2 cups a day Cheeses Canned soups and vegetables Advise patient if buying canned vegetables he/she can rinse these prior to eating with water Processed meats Always read your food labels Watch out for medications that contain sodium! Outcomes: Patient 1: Patient will be able to name 3 alternatives to seasoning with salt by end of shift, Tuesday 12pm. Patient 2: Patient will be able to name 3 food choices low in sodium by end of shift, Tuesday 12pm. (Lewis, 2014) Create an education plan for low fat, heart healthy diet. (What specifically would you teach this patient about this diet?) Include information on bad fats versus good fats. Please have a detailed plan that you can use to teach a patient. The plan should have at least 2 patient outcomes listed. You need to bring the plan to clinical so that you can use it with your patient. Daily Fat Consumption 25-35% of daily calories Polyunsaturated should be the primary source Food Choices Adequate intake of foods with omega 3 fatty acids have proven to be good for the heart (American Heart Association) Eat fish at least two times a week (American Heart Association) â€Å"Omega-3 fatty acids decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden death. Omega-3 fatty acids also decrease triglyceride levels, slow growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque, and lower blood pressure† (American Heart Association). Eat more: Whole grains Fresh vegetables and fruit If you cannot afford fresh fruit try fruit canned in natural juices versus syrups Low fat cheeses and dairy Avoid processed foods, and those high in saturated fats Foods high in saturated fats include: Butter Bacon Cheese Outcomes: Patient 1: Patient will be able to verbalize ways to decrease fat consumption on a daily basis by end of shift, Tuesday 12pm. Patient 2: Patient will be able to verbalize the need for consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids by end of shift, Tuesday 12pm. Give examples of situations when you would need to increase oral intake of foods high in potassium. Patients with hypertension on a potassium wasting diuretic, â€Å"diarrhea, laxative abuse, vomiting, and ileostomy drainage† would need to increase oral intake of foods high in potassium or take a potassium supplement (Lewis, 2014, p. 297). Give examples of situations when you would need to decrease oral intake of foods high in potassium. (Note: this could be in regard to disease processes or medications) Prepare a list of foods high in potassium. Please bring the list to clinical that you could use to teach the patient. Patients taking â€Å"ACE Inhibitors, Potassium Sparing Diuretics or NSAIDS may need to decrease their intake of oral potassium† (Lewis, 2014, p. 296). Also, patients who have â€Å"renal disease, burn victims, Addison’s disease, Tumor Lysis Syndrome and those with Adrenal insufficiency† may also need to decrease their intake of oral potassium (Lewis, 2014, p. 296). Foods High In Potassium Fruits Vegetables Other Foods Apricot, avocado, banana, cantaloupe, dried fruits, grapefruit juice, honeydew, orange, orange juice, prunes and raisins Baked beans, butternut squash, refried beans, black beans, cooked broccoli, carrots, greens (except kale), canned mushrooms, white and sweet potatoes, cooked spinach, tomatoes or tomato products, and vegetable juices Bran or bran products, chocolate, granola, milk, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, salt substitutes, salt free broth and yogurt (Lewis, 2014, p. 1115) Using the following template, prepare the following medication which many of the patients on 7S take (Remember that these are cardiac patients when looking at the indications of the medication) Please do not copy and paste from medication resource, complete in your own words. Be sure to include your reference: (24) points) **Do not copy and paste from medication resource, complete in your own words. Be sure to include your reference. Drug Order: Generic Brand Name Drug Classification: Drug Action: (How drug works?) Normal dosage: Expected Effects/Outcomes: (What symptoms do you want to improve?) Adverse Effects/Contraindications: Nursing Responsibilities: On-going assessment data and lab values to be monitored Nurse will: Aspirin 81 mg Classification: Antiplatelet Action: Hinders production of prostaglandins which prevents blood clots. Decreases platelet clumping Normal dose: PO: Adults 50–325 mg Q24 hours Expected effect: Prevention of blood clots in high risk cardiac patients. Blood in stool Stomach Pain Constipation Gastric bleeding Nausea Hearing assessment Vitals monitoring Assess heart function Monitor hemoglobin Monitor Hematocrit Monitor platelet count Assess urine, vomit and stool for blood Clopidogrel (Plavix) Classification: Antiplatelet Action: Hinders production of prostaglandins which prevents blood clots. Decreases platelet clumping . Normal dose: PO: Adults 300 mg initially, then 75 mg once daily; aspirin 75–325 mg once daily should be given concurrently. Expected effect: Prevention of blood clots in high risk cardiac patients. Blood in stool Constipation Nausea Gastric bleeding Stomach pain Hearing assessment Vitals monitoring Assess heart function Monitor hemoglobin Monitor Hematocrit Monitor platelet count Assess urine, vomit and stool for blood Lisinopril (Zestril; Prinivil) Classification: ACE inhibitor Action: Stops angiotensin I from converting to angiotensin II. This reduces arterial resistance Normal dose: PO: Adults 10 mg once daily, can be increased up to 20–40 mg/day Expected effect: Decrease in blood pressure. Fatigue Headache Dry cough Angioedema Increase in serum potassium Increase in BUN Increase in Creatinine Obtain baseline BP Obtain baseline pulse rate and rhythm. Reassess frequently Monitor weight Monitor FEs Monitor WBC Monitor potassium Monitor Renal function Assess patient compliance throughout treatment Losartan (Cozaar) Classification: Angiotensin II receptor blocker Action: Blocks vasoconstriction effects of angiotensin II. Normal dose: 50 mg once daily initially. May be increase to 100mg per day in 1-2 doses Expected effect: Decrease in blood pressure. . Vomiting Nausea Increase in serum potassium Increase in BUN Increase in creatinine levels Monitor BP prior to admin. And throughout treatment Monitor weight Monitor FEs Monitor potassium Monitor renal function Assess patient compliance Medication should be taken with food. Metoprolol (Lopressor) Classification: Antihypertensive Action: Blocks stimulation of beta 1 adrenergic receptors. Normal dose: 25–100 mg/day as a single dose initially or 2 divided doses; may be increased every 7 days as needed up to 450 mg/day Expected effect: Decrease in blood pressure and increase in HR, BP, and contraction. Fatigue Dizziness Bradycardia Fluid retention Edema Hypotension Assess arrhythmia prior to and during treatment Continuous ECG monitoring Monitor vitals Assess apical pulse Assess BP Assess liver function Lovastatin (Mevacor; Altocor) Classification: Anti-lipid Action: Interferes with cholesterol synthesis by lowering lipid levels Normal dose: 20 mg once daily with evening meal. May be increased at 4-wk intervals to a maximum of 80 mg/day Expected effect: Decrease in cholesterol. Hepatitis Cirrhosis Myalgia Gas Constipation Cramps Nausea Pancreatitis Vomiting Assess cholesterol prior to treatment and Q4 weeks during Monitor liver function Monitor for deficiency in fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K Monitor for deficiency in folic acid Atorvastatin (Lipitor) Classification: Anti-lipid Action: Interferes with cholesterol synthesis by lowering lipid levels Normal dose: 10–20 mg once daily initially may be increased every 2–4 weeks up to 80 mg/day; Expected effect: Decrease in cholesterol. Hepatitis Cirrhosis Myalgia Gas Constipation Cramps Nausea Pancreatitis Vomiting Assess cholesterol prior to treatment and Q4 weeks during Monitor liver function Monitor for deficiency in fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K Monitor for deficiency in folic acid Amiodarone (Cordarone; Pacerone) Classification: Antiarrhythmic Action: Prolongs action potential Normal dose: PO: Adults 800–1600 mg/day in 1–2 doses for 1–3 weeks then 600–800 mg/day in 1–2 doses for 1 month then 400 mg/day maintenance dose. Expected effect: Decrease in arrhythmia Hypotension Bradycardia Worsening arrhythmias Anorexia Nausea Vision disturbances Assess arrhythmia before and during treatment ECG monitoring Monitor vitals Assess for toxicity Measure apical pulse Measure BP Monitor liver function Pt should not consume grapefruit juice while taking this medication Nitroglycerin (sublingual) Classification: Antianginals Action: Relaxes smooth muscle and promotes vasodilation Normal dose: SL: Adults 0.3–0.6 mg; may repeat every 5 min for 2 additional doses for acute attack. Expected effect: Reduction of blood returning to the heart. Hypotension Dizziness, Increased HR Headache Assess vital and monitor them throughout treatment Administer sublingually at first sign of heart attack Carvedilol (Coreg) Classification: Antihypertensive Action: Blocks stimulation of beta 1 adrenergic receptors Normal dose: Hypertension– 6.25 mg twice daily, may be ↑ q 7–14 days up to 25 mg twice daily or extended-release– 20 mg once daily, dose may be doubled every 7–14 days up to 80 mg once daily Expected effect: Decrease in blood pressure and increase in HR, BP, and contraction. Fatigue Bradycardia Dizziness Hypotension Fluid retention Edema Assess arrhythmia prior to and throughout treatment Continuous ECG monitoring Monitor vitals Assess apical pulse Assess BP Assess liver function Amlodipine (Norvasc) Classification: Antihypertensive Action: Prevents calcium from crossing myocardial cell membrane and vascular smooth muscle Normal dose: PO: Adults 5–10 mg once daily Expected effect: Decrease in blood pressure Orthostatic hypotension Headache Dizziness Edema Arrhythmias Assess vitals Monitor ECG throughout treatment Monitor vitals Monitor liver function Pt will need assistance w/ ambulation Monitor FEs Educate patient on need to decrease sodium and fluids to subsequently decrease edema Furosemide (Lasix) Classification: Loop Diuretic Action: Inhibits reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the ascending loop of Henle and distal renal tubule. This causes increased excretion of water, sodium, calcium, magnesium and chloride. Expected effects: Management of edema associated with heart failure and hepatic or renal disease, acute pulmonary edema, treatment of hypertension (Vallerand, 2013) FE imbalances Tinnitus Diarrhea Hyperglycemia Nausea Vomiting Liver dysfunction Paresthesia Orthostatic hypotension Assess CBC Assess liver function prior to administration Assess electrolytes prior to administration Monitor BP Monitor Pulse Monitor for hypovolemia Assess for diuresis Assess for polydipsia Assess mucous membranes Assess skin turgor Monitor for edema Monitor weight IOs All drugs referenced : (Vallerand, 2013) References: American Heart Association: Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. (2014, May 14). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Fish-and-Omega-3-Fatty-Acids_UCM_303248_Article.jsp Lewis, S. M., Dirksen, S. R. (2014). Medical-surgical nursing: assessment and management of clinical problems (Ninth ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier. Louie, D., Wedell, R. (2014). Optimizing heart health. American Nurse, 46(3), 13. Vallerand, A. H., Sanoski, C. A. (2013). Daviss drug guide for nurses (Fourteenth ed.). Phila-delphia: F.A. Davis Company.

Honey And Mumford Learning Style

Honey And Mumford Learning Style It is commonly believed that most people have a preference with regards to interacting with, taking in and processing information to allow them to learn (Smith, 2003). Different people adopt different learning styles where an optimum style allows the individual to learn best. The concept of individualised learning styles has gained a great deal of popularity in recent years ever since the idea was proposed in the 1970s. To date, there has been a massive abundance of tests that can be performed to assess a persons learning style (Sprenger, 2003). The project is divided into two parts: Part A: To identify and analyze my learning style preferences through various questionnaires; the VARK test, Honey and Mumford learning style, Myer Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Belbins team inventory. Prem and Phil stated that Learning affects performance because all performance can be improved through learning. (Prem Phil, 2008). Thus, this allows me to gain an understanding of who I am as a learner and how this knowledge may affect my performances, both individually or within a team environment. Part B: To discuss my personality type and how my learning style may affect my career choices. However, it is worth noting that although personality is a possible contributor to learning, it is difficult to define (Davies, 2008). Sigmund Freud used the analogy of an iceberg to explain the complexity of human personality by suggesting that most of the personality is hidden out of sight under water (Freud, 2003). Hence, identifying ones personality is not an easy task, and tests should only be used as a starting point rather than as a means to make definite judgements (Bayne, 1997). Nonetheless, my results will give a general idea of a career field that most closely match my personality and strengths. Part 1: Who I am as a learner? 1.1 VARK Test The VARK test is one of the most commonly used models to help identify an individuals preference for receiving and analysing information with regards to learning. It can help people to develop additional learning strategies. There are four modes for people to use, such as visual, aural, read/write and kinaesthetic (VARK, 2009). It is a framework to assess a persons learning style. The results of the VARK test (Appendix A) suggest that my strengths in a learning context rest on my aural skills. I have a strong preference for aural based learning since I like to listen to others during discussion to gain a different perspective which allows me to understand more of the topic being discussed. My group mate agrees with this by saying Although Yin Sung is normally quiet during group activities, she is an active listener of other peoples views and cares about other peoples thoughts, (Vicky, 2010). Another part of the test results that I particularly agree with is that my written/reading skills quite weak and isnt my preferred method of learning. Having only recently moved to study in the UK, English is not my first language which could explain why this type of learning is not one of my main strengths, although my proficiency is improving a lot. Since, the western educational system places a lot of emphasis on reading and writing, I believe that I will gain a lot of improvement in this learning aspect as time goes on with added practice. However, I am a bit surprised by my low score on my kinesthetic skills. I have always thought that I am someone that learns well when given the opportunity to experience something via a hands on approach. For example, I find that I am able to pick up new skills easily (i.e. badminton) when I am able to physically try it out rather than just reading from a book on how to play. 1.2 Honey and Mumford Learning Style The Honey and Mumfords (1992) Learning Style identifies and categorises an individuals learning style. There are four possible styles; an activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist, with a total of eighty questions in the test (Honey and Mumford, 1992). According to the results of the Honey and Mumford learning style questionnaire (Appendix B) I adopt a high reflector mentality. I agree with the majority of the description of the reflector which I believe fully describes me. A Reflector is a careful person who prefers to take a back seat in group discussions (Honey and Mumford, 1992). I like to listen to other peoples views before I come to conclusions and take my time before making any decisions. Being less assertive and tending to hold back from participation, I believe that I will work well and learn more efficiently if placed around an activist, as one would be able to encourage me to tackle situations via a more head on approach. This would enhance my participation in group activities and discussions. In agreement with my VARK results, the Honey and Mumford test suggests that I am a good listener which is one of the strengths of a reflector. I fully agree with this since I have always been someone that likes to listen to everyone in the group thoughtfully. This gives me an opportunity to gain different perspectives from different angles before I come to conclusions. However, a possible weakness that I see in myself by being a reflector is that I spend a long time when performing set tasks. For example, during my last assignment, it took me in excess of two months to complete it as I was dwelling too much on the preparation stage. I spent too long researching information before I finally began writing my assignment which is due to my cautiousness with regards to deciding how to write it. Although I do show a cautious mentality, I dont fully agree with the description that a person with reflector behaviour never likes to take risks. I occasionally like to step out of my comfort zone to experience things that I have never experienced before to broaden my own knowledge. For example, I chose to leave my home and familiar surroundings in Hong Kong to study in the UK. I also like to take up activities and hobbies that I have never tried before. 1.3 Myers Briggs Type Indicator The Myer Briggs type Indicator (MBTI) is a questionnaire used to identify an individuals personality type based on Carl Jung theories. MBTI categorises individuals into two functions, such as extraversion or introversion which is the preference in which an individual prefers to direct their energy (Madeline Rebecca, 1988). For example, one that likes to direct their energy to deal with outer things, situations or other people is deemed to have a preference for extraversion. Conversely, a person that likes to deal with ideas, information, explanations or the inner world, then their preference is introversion. The results of the MBTI (Appendix C) suggest that I have a dominant introverted function, with a high preference for introverted sensing as demonstrated by my high score in ISFJ. These results show that I like to listen to others and to absorb as much information as possible in a particular situation, to expand my knowledge and to achieve a clear understanding of a topic. These compliment well with my results from the Honey and Mumford test mentioned above. The results also suggest that I am a hard working individual, which I feel describes me well. I like to start early and ensure that I perform tasks to the best of my ability. Regarding my academic life, I tend to study at least five hours a day. I also begin my research for assignments long before the deadline. For example, although this professional project is due for submission in April 2010, I have been preparing and doing the necessary reading since October 2009. The MBTI results also suggest that I have an important preference for extraverted feeling, as demonstrated by my high ESFJ score. I am someone that likes to focus on building harmony in the world around me and build positive relationships. Also, I always value other peoples contributions during work or other activities. My previous employer said Sung Yin is a very personable individual that is popular with the customers and staff which creates a very positive atmosphere around the place, (Mrs Poon, 2008). I will always try to persuade people to agree with my views if their opinions are different to mine. However, I always need to be careful not to offend those around me while trying to do so. Briggs Myers stated that although ESFJs are friendly and sympathetic, they are very persevering and insist that others share the same views as them. (Myers, 1995). 1.4 Belbin Team Inventory The Belbin Team Inventory is a test used to gauge insight into a persons behavioural tendency in a team environment (Furnham, Steele Pendleton, 1993). The test allows us the opportunity to determine not only our individual aptitude strengths, but also gives an awareness of our position within a team and how we are expected to contribute. It scores people based on how strongly they express traits from nine different team roles. (Belbin, 1981). According to my Belbin test results (Appendix D), I have a major preference for a role as a shaper within a team. A shaper contains behavioural traits that correspond to my results from the MBTI. For example, a shaper displays a drive to succeed and to overcome obstacles which complements my desire to fulfil my ambitions and follow my clear goals. Although I display reflector characteristics, I also see myself as a competitive individual that thrives on pressure and challenges, which forms the basis of the shaper role. My high school P.E teacher wrote on my school report Sung Yin has demonstrated her competitive side during badminton class and has the necessary personality and desire to become a good player in the sport in future, (Mr. Yeung, 2001). The results also show that I am a monitor evaluator suggesting that I am an individual that likes to evaluate all options before coming to a conclusion, which allows me to make accurate judgements. This agrees with my Honey and Mumford test results which say that I am one who likes to gain different perspectives in discussion before making decisions (being a reflector). Finally, the test results also consider me to have a preference for a specialist role that displays single mindedness and dedication. These are traits that I agree with since I am a rather stubborn person that doesnt like to change my mind once I have my mind set on something. Mr Robinson, my previous employer said Sung Yin is a very driven person with a clear path with where she wants to be and is unlikely that she will be swayed from it, (Mr. Robinson, 2007). I am always dedicated to my tasks at hand and always give my best to do them as well as I can. This has allowed me to develop my skills and knowledge to a level that means I can give a useful contribution within a team. Despite what I feel is a fairly accurate assessment of my preferential roles within a team, I do not fully agree with a resource investigator being my least preferred role. This is because I believe that I am a communicative person which is a key trait of the resource resource investigator. As demonstrated by previous test results, I am a person that possesses strong aural skills. Despite regularly adopting a cautious approach to group discussion activities (in line with my reflector personality), I like to ask questions and participate in activities once I feel comfortable enough to express my views once I have gauged other peoples viewpoints. Part 2: Implications for career choice 2.1 Lifelong Learning Even from a young age, I have always been aware of the importance of learning new things to broaden my own knowledge base having been constantly reminded by my parents to work hard till old, and to learn till old. With an ever changing society and increasing demand for talent in any professional career, it is mandatory that an individual should not only acquire new skills, but to also constantly upgrade these skills to meet challenges set by the changing work environment. This is the act of life-long learning which is the deliberate progression throughout life of an individual, where our knowledge is constantly being expanded which allows us to effectively survive in society (Peter, Jenny and Shelagh, 1998). The essentiality of life-long learning has been well documented even as early as the 17th century where Comenius wrote that no age is too late to begin learning. And that one should never make the mistake of standing still in terms of skill acquisition (Comenius, 1996). Through m y practical experience and life in general, I have come to the realization that continuous learning is a necessity to maintain a competitive advantage over the many individuals that seek the same career opportunities as me. Hence, I search for any opportunities to improve myself through life-long learning. With my desire to improve, I have recently resigned from my job to study my bachelors degree in Northumbria University. Prior to my resignation and subsequent move to partake in full time studies, I worked three years in the Bank of China as a Customer Service Officer (Appendix E). During that time, I was working full-time, while studying part-time during evenings by attending studying classes. The part-time study has allowed me to develop many key skills to heighten my proficiency in doing my job in minimal time. This is important because of the current unstable and competitive job market. It has now become a requirement for me to identify a clear career path for me to pursue and then to develop my knowledge towards the relevant areas to fulfil the needs of my future employers. I am now studying an International Business Management degree course with the aspiration to achieve a future career in the business sector. Life-long learning will help me provide a solid base for the development of essential transferable skills (as discussed later) that would stick to me throughout life and to aid me in the progression towards my career goals. It is also important for making me a better person. After all it is the bottom rung of the ladder of personal development. (Peter, Jenny and Shelagh, 1998). 2.2 Career Choice Having conducted various learning style tests on myself, I have been able to gain a better understanding of my learning preferences, personality and environments where I am likely to thrive upon. It is expected that knowing an individuals learning style preference may help that person to delineate a possible career path that is best suited for them, or even influence that person towards certain career choices. Indeed, it is common for managers to use questionnaires to identify ideal personality traits in their candidates that would most likely be suitable for their jobs which would aid them in the selection process. However, it is worth noting that human behaviour is highly complex, and such tests may not necessarily give an accurate or thorough assessment of an individuals personality (Freud, 2001). Hence, results of these tests should not be held absolute and should only be used as a guideline to aid a person with regards to making key decisions such as possible career paths to tak e. Despite obvious drawbacks with using these tests, I agree with most of the suggestions made by them regarding my learning preferences and some aspects of my personality. In terms of employment, through my practical experiences, I have developed a strong desire to pursue a career in Marketing. The skills I have acquired to date have largely influenced my interest towards this career path which, together with my personality, has made me consider that I possess the raw foundations to succeed in the marketing sector. In a survey carried out by Honey and Mumford, it was found that the majority of managers preferred employees that are reflectors for Marketing jobs; a trait that they believe would bring the biggest success to their company. Having carried out a Honey and Mumford test on myself, it was concluded that I am a strong reflector, which makes me aptly suitable for Marketing. Reflectors such as myself likes to adopt a cautious approach during group activities. This means that I tend to take an initial back seat in group discussions, preferring to obtain different viewpoints before making key decisions. Being cautious, can also involve thinking ahead in anticipation of possible obstacles. With marketing jobs, it is important not to rush into decisions without first thinking and planning ahead. This is because, with the nature of the type of work, it is inevitable that there will be lean periods so hence, it is especially wise to be prepared for such periods and to have a plan to act accordingly. For example, a part of planning ahead is anticipation of changes in the markets and finding new products to promote. It is important to be aware that the best marketing entrepreneurs are always looking for the next big money marker. They are always planning ahead (Scott Brooks, 2004). Hence, having a cautious approach to things can be a good trait as it means that I am less likely to make wrong decisions due to rushing into things and take necessary precautions. My Belbin results that conclude that I have a strong preference towards a Monitor evaluator who likes to evaluate all options before coming to conclusions adds further support of my suitability for a Marketing career. The ability to remain calm is one of the most sought after personality traits in the Retail profession, (John, 2007). Pressure can come in different ways, for example, when dealing with unhappy customers who are dissatisfied with the products sold to the; It is the job of the marketer to deal with the problem and to restore the customers opinion of the company. Hence, to achieve this, it is essential to remain calm under pressure when dealing with these situations. With marketing jobs, it is also important to be able to respond well and appropriately to strict targets and deadlines that are set and to work towards them, which can also lead to pressure building up. My Belbin test results suggest that I am suited towards a shaper role which is another reason why I feel that a Marketing career is suitable for me. Shapers are adept at performing under pressurising situations and with the added drive to succeed. This is important since there is a lot of competition within the market. Only when you have your client on your side, are you able to effectively get what you want. (John, 2007). I believe this quote highlights what a career in Marketing is essentially all about. Success within the field of Marketing and Retail is highly dependent on your clients or customers which means that good people skills allowing you to connect effectively with both colleagues and customers is essential. On a personality level, it is advantageous to be a likeable person which can involve being a pleasant individual with a cheery disposition. You are more likely to be able to negotiate better if your client likes you, (Scott Brooks, 2004). My MBTI results have described me as having a strong preference towards extroverted feeling which means that I like to build positive relationships with people around me and to create harmony around me. This, in my opinion has contributed largely to me being a personable individual. The benefits of this personality trait are two-fold. Firstly, I w ould be able to sell my products to customers more easily since they are likely to find me a pleasant person. Secondly, I am more likely to be on the right side of my work colleagues and so they may be more likely to offer me their help. Having identified a career field that best suit my personality as based on my personality tests, I seek to achieve a future career as a Marketing manager. A job of this kind would allow me the responsibility to make key decisions that will influence the success of the company. I crave the opportunity to manage a team, and to give a major contribution to the company that I work for. A successful career as a Marketing manager demands certain personality traits in addition to those mentioned above. For example, it is important that a Marketing Manager (Appendix F) is one that, not only is able to make accurate judgement, but also needs to stand by these judgements and not be too easily influenced by other peoples words. In other words, they need to be prepared to ignore naysayers, even if its those that are closest to them. (Scott Brooks, 2004). Hence, being brave and also single minded can be seen as a requirement in this sense. The Belbin test results have identified me as being a specialist where the key characteristic of this role is single mindedness. With me being a naturally stubborn person who doesnt usually change my mind having made my decisions, I believe I am suitable for this particular career choice. 2.3 Transferable skills In addition to the right personality and job specific skills, a wise employer will also look to see what transferable skills a perspective employee can offer. The term transferable skills simply refers to a set of generic skills in which an individual needs in order to be effective members of a flexible, adaptable and competitive work force and for life-long learning. At the heart of it all, most employers are looking for people with common skills and characteristics. (Phil OReilly, 2009). Unlike job specific skills, transferable skills can be used in many ways, gained through past experiences. They are skills that can be used in a variety of jobs and situations. In order to be successful in Marketing, there is a repertoire of skills that are required for me to effectively do my job which include time management, people skills, leadership, teamwork and good organisational skills, amongst others. Marketing jobs rely on the ability to sell products through interaction with a variety of different customers. Hence, good communication skills are essential. As identified by my VARK test results, I have strong aural skills that would be especially useful in Marketing since the job demands that I have a good understanding of customers needs. Being a good listener, and also someone that likes to see things from different perspectives, this would allow me to communicate effectively with my clients. My ability to communicate well has been greatly developed through my past employment as a Customer Service Representative at the Bank of China and private tutor, teaching Maths and various languages to children. Therefore, good communication now represents one of my key strengths. I am tri-lingual giving me versatility in my communication skills allowing me to talk with a wider customer range. Good presentation skills is also an important aspect of communication skill that is required in my future career since it is likely that It would be needed when promoting new products for instance. Fortunately, my presentational skills have been greatly enhanced over time through past experience in giving presentations during my past employment and current studies. Having a good understanding of the products that I am promoting and any new products on the market is also very important in Marketing. Hence, it is necessary to have good research skills and also to have an open mind with regards to learning new material. Being a reflector means that I happy to absorb information from many different angles and use it to make my decisions, while being a specialist as identified by my Belbin test results suggests that I have a natural eagerness to learn and expand my knowledge in topics at hand. As I am likely to be working within a team in my workforce with similar targets, there is no doubt that good teamwork skills are a requirement. I believe that I possess good teamwork capabilities having already been in employment where good teamwork is a must, such as working with my colleagues in the promotion and deriving of comprehensive financial plans during my previous job. I also actively partake in various teamwork sports that have allowed me to effectively build on my teamwork skills. It is my target to achieve a career as a Marketing manager in future, which will demand additional skills in order to be successful such as leadership and ability to motivate myself and others within my team. Being a Marketing manager will mean that I will receive greater responsibility, managing a team or making key decisions that will affect company success. Although I believe that I possess an ideal personality to undertake such a role in a company, I feel that I will need to improve myself further before I am ready. With regards to transferable skills, I believe my biggest weakness lies in my leadership qualities, being a less assertive individual that likes to hold back from participation in group activities. I understand that if I am to be a good leader, I will need to improve this aspect by playing a more prominent role in group activities and essentially stamping my authority. I do not fully agree with the notion that leadership is a quality that cant be taught, and some peop le are just born leaders. I feel that leadership is a skill that can be improved through life-long learning and experience; hence I will thrive to improve myself in this respect. As with all skills, they need to be learnt and no-one is born with them. (Phil OReilly, 2009). Conclusion Life-long learning is an essential process for me to learn new skills and also to improve existing ones. It is also highly important for my personal development towards being a better person, and one that is able to adapt to an ever changing world. The constant acquirement of new transferable skills is also vital for career progression and to give myself a competitive advantage over those thriving for the same opportunities as myself. By using a variety of different tests, I have gained an appreciation of my own personality, learning preferences and strengths. This information, together with my interests makes me ideally suited for a future career in the Marketing field.

Gatsbys Pursuit Of The American Dream :: essays research papers

Gatsby's Pursuit of the American Dream The Great Gatsby, a novel by Scott Fitzgerald, is about the American Dream, and the downfall of those who attempt to reach its impossible goals. The attempt to capture the American Dream is used in many novels. This dream is different for different people; but, in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is that through wealth and power, one can acquire happiness. To get this happiness Jay must reach into the past and relive an old dream; and, in order to do this, he must have wealth and power. The American Dream had always been based on the idea that each person no matter who he or she is can become successful in life by his or her hard work. The dream also brought about the idea of a self-reliant man, a hard worker, making a successful living for him or herself. The Great Gatsby is about what happened to the American Dream in the 1920s, a time period when the many people with newfound wealth and the need to flaunt it had corrupted the dream. The pursuit of the American Dream is the one motivation for accomplishing one's goals, however when combined with wealth the dream becomes nothing more than selfishness. Jay Gatsby, the main character of the story, is one character that longs for the past. Surprisingly, he spends most of his adult life trying to recapture it and, finally, dies in this pursuit. In the past, Gatsby had a love affair with the attractive young Daisy. Knowing he could not marry her because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to gain wealth to reach her standards. Once he acquires wealth, he moves near to Daisy, "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay (p83)," and throws extravagant parties, hoping by chance she might show up at one of them. He, himself, does not attend his parties but watches them from a distance. When this dream doesn't fall into place like he planned, he asks around if anyone knows her. Soon, he meets Nick Carraway, a cousin of Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting, "He wants to know†¦if you'll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over (p83)." Gatsby's personal dream symbolizes the larger American Dream where all have the opportunity to get what they want.

On Ibsens A Dolls House :: A Dolls House

On Ibsen's A Doll's House [This is the text of a lecture delivered, in part, in Liberal Studies 310 at Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo, BC, Canada. References to Ibsen's text are to the translation by James McFarlane and Jens Arup (Oxford: OUP, 1981). This text is in the public domain, released July 2000] For comments or questions, please contact Ian Johnston Those of you who have just read A Doll's House for the first time will, I suspect, have little trouble forming an initial sense of what it is about, and, if past experience is any guide, many of you will quickly reach a consensus that the major thrust of this play has something to do with gender relations in modern society and offers us, in the actions of the heroine, a vision of the need for a new-found freedom for women (or a woman) amid a suffocating society governed wholly by unsympathetic and insensitive men. I say this because there is no doubt that A Doll's House has long been seen as a landmark in our century's most important social struggle, the fight against the dehumanizing oppression of women, particularly in the middle-class family. Nora's final exit away from all her traditional social obligations is the most famous dramatic statement in fictional depictions of this struggle, and it helped to turn Ibsen (with or without his consent) into an applauded or vilified champion of women's rights and this play into a vital statement which feminists have repeatedly invoked to further their cause. So in reading responses to and interpretations of this play, one frequently comes across statements like the following: Patriarchy's socialization of women into servicing creatures is the major accusation in Nora's painful account to Torvald of how first her father, and then he, used her for their amusement. . . how she had no right to think for herself, only the duty to accept their opinions. Excluded from meaning anything, Nora has never been subject, only object. (Templeton 142). Furthermore, if we go to see a production of this play (at least among English-speaking theatre companies), the chances are we will see something based more or less on this interpretative line: heroic Nora fighting for her freedom against oppressive males and winning out in the end by her courageous final departure. The sympathies will almost certainly be distributed so that our hearts are with Nora, however much we might carry some reservations about her leaving her children.

The Mind-Body Issue in Science

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and psychology is†¦well, the answer to that question is not exactly clear.   A direct interpretation of the word â€Å"psychology† boils down to â€Å"the study of the psyche† or â€Å"the knowledge of the psyche†, but psychology does not have a definition of the psyche and, in general, they do not believe in it.   Psyche comes from the Greek word meaning soul, so the psyche is actually the study of the soul, and yet psychology today has more or less become a study of the mind, and ironic situation since neither psychologists nor neuroscientists believe in the existence of the mind. The generally held accepted view of the mind is that the mind arises from the activity of the brain.   Thus, a major philosophical concern of neuroscience is, â€Å"Does the mind exist separate and independent of the brain?†Ã‚   The generally accepted answer to this question is, â€Å"No.   The mind is an epiphenomenon that arises from brain activity.†Ã‚   In the past, efforts were made to resolve this problem with philosophical arguments such as Fredric Weizmann's ideas about genetics and embryology (Forsdyke, 1999) and Michael M. Sokal ideas about phrenology. Today, we can conclude that the mind/body problem of science has been successfully resolved despite the obvious fact that the resolution has yet to be recognized or acknowledged!   We can now take pride that the resolution to this dilemma did not result in confirming the â€Å"pervasive† 19th-century fear humans might ultimately be viewed as â€Å"mere machines† lacking souls. (Jacyna, 1994) Despite the generally accepted view that the mind is merely an epiphenomenon that arises from brain activity, more or less superimposed over brain activity, there is actually no evidence to support the idea.   To date, all of the available data, without exception, suggests that the mind and the brain are two separate but interacting ‘things'.   Whatever evidence that does not suggest this is neutral.   The evidence is sufficiently strong to have swayed diehard monists (who believe that the mind is the brain) into becoming dualists (who believe that the mind and the brain are separate). Upon a review of the available data at the end of his life, the late neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield, MD (1891 – 1976), a former monist, concluded the evidence, â€Å"†¦it comes as a surprise now to discover, during this final examination of the evidence, that the dualist hypothesis seems the more reasonable of the two possible explanations.† (Penfield, 1975)   Although the available data may support Penfield's conclusion, there are still some interesting, intriguing and difficult questions to answer such as, â€Å"What is the realm of consciousness and the mind,† â€Å"How does consciousness and the mind and the realm of mind relate to the brain and the physical body,† and â€Å"Does a mind exist independent of the brain and the physical body?†Ã‚   We can briefly address each of these questions separately. The central problem with the dualist point of view is that the mind exists as an abstraction unless it arises from brain activity.   If the mind exists separate and independent of the brain, the answer to our first question is that the mind exists as an abstract field as proposed around the 1920s by developmental biologist Paul Weiss. (Weiss, 1926)   Then, in the mid and late 1930s, Dr. Harold Saxton Burr and his associates discovered just such a field. (Burr and Lane, 1935; Burr and Northrop, 1939) Dr. Burr discovered that all living things are molded and controlled by invisible and intangible electro-dynamic fields, that he called â€Å"L-fields† for the â€Å"fields of life†.   John White and Stanley Krippner call the L-field the â€Å"‘bridge' or intermediate link between the mental and the physical†¦they offer evidence that the mind and body are quite separate†¦.† (White and Krippner, 1977) If Burr's findings are correct, it seems apparent that consciousness and the mind are electrodynamic fields that interact with the physical body.   Burr was able to make a definitive connection between the L-field and wound healing and between the L-field and the mental functions and mental states of individuals. Burr and his colleagues found that they could make impersonal, objective measurements of the mental and emotional states of psychiatric patients and that their electrical measurements generally agreed closely with psychiatric diagnoses.   Consciousness and the mind somehow relate to the brain and the physical body through an electrical connection or bridge of sorts, forces associated with and coupled to cells. (Jerndal, 1982) Finally, although the preferred view of the mind-body/mind-brain issue in neuroscience and psychology is the monistic view which states that the mind is merely an epiphenomenon that arises from brain activity, it is apparent that the mind transcends physical functions of the body, but there are concerns such as can more detailed studies be provided to determine if the mind can be associated with the L-field?   Burr, Ravitz and their colleagues provided evidence that established a relationship between nerve and other tissue and that made useful neurological and psychiatric measurements that were associated with mental functions. Therefore, they succeeded in establishing a firm connection between an abstract but very real field and the tangible nervous system.   This data provides concrete evidence for the existence of an independent mind that transcends the functions of the physical body.   Thus, it appears that the mind-brain and mind-body issue can be laid to rest.   Now, the problem is, â€Å"How to get the word out.†Ã‚   Perhaps that leaves us right back where we started, at least for now. References Becker, Robert O. and Gary Selden (1985).   THE BODY ELECTRIC.   Electromagnetism and The Foundation of Life.   New York, NY: Quill, William Morrow. Burr, H. S. (1952).   Electrometrics of Atypical Growth.   Yale J. Biol. Med., 25, 67-75. Burr, H. S. (1972).   The Fields of Life:   Our Links with the Universe.   New York, NY:   Ballantine Books. Burr, H. S., and Lane, C. T. (1935).   Electrical Characteristics of Living Systems.   Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 8, 31-35. Burr, H. S., and Northrop, F. S. C. (1939).   Evidence for the Existence of An Electrodynamic Field in the Living Organisms.   Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A., 25, 284-288. Eccles, Sir John C. (1951).   Hypotheses Relating To The Brain-Mind Problem.   Nature, 168(4263), 53-57. Forsdyke, D. R. (1999). Two levels of information in DNA: Relationship of Romanes' â€Å"intrinsic† variability of the reproductive system, and Bateson's â€Å"residue† to the species-dependent component of the base composition, (C + G) %. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 201, 47-61 Jacyna, L. S. (1994). Philosophic whigs: Medicine, science and citizenship in Edinburgh 1789-1848. London: Routledge. Jerndal, Jens (1982).   The Field Resonance Approaching Medicine.   Text of a Paper presented at the 3rd World Congress of Alternative Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka 22nd October, 1982. Penfield, Wilder (1975).  Ã‚   The Mystery of the Mind:   A Critical Study of Consciousness and the Human Brain.   Princeton, NJ:   Princeton University Press. Weiss, P. A. (1926)   â€Å"Morphodynamik:   Ein Einblick in die Gesetzte der organischen Gestaltung an Hand von experimentellen Ergebnissen,† in Abhandlungen zur theoretischen Biologie, (J. Schaxel, ed.), Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin. White, John, and Krippner, Stanley (1977).   Future Science.   Life Energies and the Physics of Paranormal Phenomena.   Garden City, NY:   Anchor Books.