Actor

Discussion Actor-network theory is associated with the works of Bruno Latour, John Law and Michael Callon. The individuals were Science and Technology Studies scholars. It is a unique approach to the social research and theory.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Actor-Network Theory and the Theory of the Social Construction of Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The origin of the actor-network theory can be traced from the science studies. This approach is distinguished from other approaches for involving agency of non-humans in the network (Prinsloo and Baynham, 2008, p. 152). This theory relates the materials relations as well as the relations between concepts. It assumes that in most of the relations we encounter in day to day life are semiotic and material. For instance, interactions in school involve students, their teachers as well as the equipments like desks, chairs and other forms of technology. Tea chers and students interact with the help. The combination of all these elements forms a network. The actor-network theory tends to explain how both material and semiotic concepts comes together to act as one. For instance, the school is an entity composed of students, teachers and the equipments necessary. However, these combine and act as one network. They all interact to make a functional institution. On the other hand, the proponents of the theory of the social construction of technology argues that new technological developments takes place through negotiation and struggle over the meanings and material shapes involving the social actors (Barkardjieva, 2005, p.10). This theory emanates from the field of science and technology studies. According to this theory, human actions are not directed by technology; instead, it is the human beings who shape the technology (Anonymous, 2009, par 1). The proponents of this theory argue that it is difficult to understand technology without fi rst understanding how the technology is related in its social context. This theory provides the procedure through which the cause of technological success or failure can be assessed. This is made possible by provision of a form of methodology through which this can be verified.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Differences between Actor-Network Theory and the theory of the Social Construction of Technology One of the main differences between the actor network theory and the Social Construction of Technology theory is that the former involves objects and organizations in the framework while the latter does not. For instance, when buying a cloth in a shop, the actor-network in this process includes the person who is purchasing the cloth, the cashier, the cash used in buying, cash register as well as the produce involved. On the other hand, the theory of social construction of techno logy recognizes the importance of human actions in shaping technology. It opposes the idea that technology can shape human actions in any particular way. This is unlike the actor-network theory which does not recognize objects and organizations. Another difference between these theories is that the actor-network theory is diverse. This is unlike the theory of social construction of technology which overemphasizes on the human influence on technology choice. The social network theory originated from the area of science studies while the social construction of technology is more inclined to the science and technology studies. Although the two methods are related, they differ from their emergence. This is the reason why they differ in various aspects. SCOT has given a clear elaboration of the reasons why a certain technology may be accepted or rejected in the society. On the other hand, the actor-network theory does not give such an explanation. It considered every component in the net work as equally important. In fact, this is one of the weaknesses of this method. The actor-network theory makes an assumption that many relations are material and semiotic. For instance, the interaction between different people in a social institution as well as the equipments (technology) applied. On the other hand, the SCOT just identifies the influence of the human in shaping the technology. It does not recognize non human aspects. Actor-Network Theory Strengths of Actor-Network Theory This method has a number of strengths which contributes to its success. One of the main strengths of the actor-network theory is that it gives a logical explanation of how effects are produced (Jones and Graham, 2003 p. 20).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Actor-Network Theory and the Theory of the Social Construction of Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This theory goes even further to show the connection between ef fects with other different interests. By giving a logical procedure, it implies that this theory is verifiable. An experiment can be conducted to verify propositions. Another achievement of the action-network theory is that the ties and the nodes imagery which is applied in the concept used in this theory helps in clarification. This is through the connection between these nodes as well as their connections. Weaknesses of Actor-Network Theory One of the main weaknesses of this theory lies on its inability to make a distinction between human beings and other objects. Many people views human beings as a unique creature that is very different from other animals and objects. By failing to draw a line between the human beings and other things, this theory contradicts a significant number of ideologies hence losing its effectiveness. Another weakness of the actor-network theory is that it is a very difficult task to identify all the heterogeneous elements in an actor-network. The social n etwork theory proposes that every actor in the network (either an object or a person) is equally important in the network. None of these components can be said to be more important than the other. This assumption is very critical as it compares human beings with objects. This theory has also been criticized for its uniqueness of assigning agency to actors who are not human beings. It recognizes the presence of non-human objects in the network. There is a need to draw a line between human beings and other objects. For instance, it argues that the tables, students, and teachers are equally important in the network. This theory has also been criticized for not taking into account the elements outside the realm of nodes and relations. In other words, it does not provide any space outside this framework. It does not allow anything to be outside the relations which are defined in the network. This theory has also been criticized on the point that it involves descriptions which are not use ful since they make point. Another weakness of this theory is based on its assumption that all the actors are equal in the network. This assumption does not recognize the possibility of power imbalances in the network. Most people have been arguing that people does not have the same moral status with machines or organizations and therefore should be differentiated from them.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Actor-network theory is also criticized for its value-neutral stand. The method has for long been challenged for not paying attention on the political and social context. By so doing, this theory undermines the efforts of having an effective political and social critique (Jones and Graham, 2003 p. 8). Hence, this theory provides an analysis which contrasts the major ideologies like the government, patriarchy or the government. Therefore, there is a need for improvement on this theory in order to avoid such limitations. Social Construction of Technology Strengths of the theory of the Social Construction of Technology One of the strengths of this theory is that it recognizes the importance of human actions in shaping the technology. This is unlike in the actor-network theory where human superiority is ignored. This aspect has significantly contributed in the effectiveness of this theory. This is because human activities have played an important role in shaping their environment. Anoth er advantage of SCOT is that it can be a methodology. In other words, it gives the principles and steps to follow in case someone wants to find out the causes of successes or failures of a particular technology. Weaknesses of the theory of the Social Construction of Technology Despite of these strengths associated with the social construction, it suffers some limitations. One of the main weaknesses of this method is that it overemphasizes on social impact on technology hence ignoring the significance of the physical world. It is necessary to recognize the fact that the physical world constraints our actions in one way or another. This theory has not made any attempt to explain such influence. This theory assumes that the human beings shapes the technology and notes the fact that technology can never shape the human beings. This theory gives a clear explanation of how technologies come up. However, this method fails to identify the consequences of the technology after the fact. There fore, this theory does not explain how such technological developments fit in the broader social context. Thus, there is a need to improve on this theory by considering the consequences of new developments in technology. This theory fails to recognize the groups which do not take part in construction of technology process. However, these people are significantly affected by these developments. The theory recognizes only the groups which play a role in constructing technology. Such ignorance has undermined the effectiveness of this theory. Another shortcoming of the social construction theory is that it is viewed as a form of social determinism. It pays more attention to the social factors hence ignoring other important factors which may also have a significant impact on the technological development. This theory does not take any stand and it does not propose any judgment on the importance of different interpretations of technology. By failing to take any such stance, this theory pr oves impotent in solving important controversies on the role of technology in human activities. Finally, this theory is also criticized on the basis that it fails to analyze deeply on the factors which influences technological choice. For instance, this theory only focuses on the influence of interests, immediate needs and problems on technological choice. It fails to recognize the impact of economic, cultural, or intellectual choices regarding technology. Conclusion In conclusion, this discussion has clearly brought other differences between the actor-network theory and the social construction of the technology. This discussion has revealed that the main differences between these two theories are based on the fact that the actor-network theory fails to draw a difference between the human beings and other objects. It treats all the elements in the network as equal. That is, none of the members in the network is more important than the other. This is also a primary weakness of this m ethod. These differences determine the effectiveness of each. The actor-network theory is criticized for failing to draw a distinction between the human beings and other elements in the network. On the other hand, the theory of social construction of technology has been criticized for overemphasizing the role of human beings in shaping technology hence ignoring the importance of the other elements in shaping technology. Reference List Anonymous. (2009). Social Construction of Technology (SCOT). Web. Bakardjieva, M. (2005). Internet Society: The Internet in Everyday Life. London: SAGE. Jones, B. and Graham, J. (2003). Actor-Network Theory: A Tool to Support Ethical Analysis of Commercial Genetic Testing. Web. Prinsloo, M. Baynham, M. (2008). Literalises, Global And Local. Netherlands: John Benjamins Publishing Company. This essay on Actor-Network Theory and the Theory of the Social Construction of Technology was written and submitted by user Kenny Hartman to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Definition Essay on #8220;My Best Friend#8221; Who Is That

Definition Essay on #8220;My Best Friend#8221; Who Is That Friends maintain immense abandon of sources to develop a good relationship between two people. As we general say friends’ interpretations must be honesty, straightforward to each other. They ought to agree each other’s opinions. They support self-awareness to each other. They don’t walk away when troubles come to them but to give them hands. Such civilization of friend identities put my self into a den deeper and deeper. The more I experience the more I recess friends are definitely brutal, deceived and distrustful. According to my empirical of self-esteem in friendship that I have realized friends who take an advantages form each other. They are relentlessly impact their sentiments. They approach you when they need you, but they never regard you when you need them. There are too many evidences that show how and why my friends betrayed me all the time. The next paragraphs will talk about one of my friends. Through out the incidence has occurred me that I am thoroughly assured friends are selfish, distrustful, foolish, and sorrowful. My past memory has frequency consecutively emerged in my brain that my best friend has betrayed me again and again. Since I was in high school that I have met several best friends, one of them are the special one. We went out together, drunk together. Even we shared the money we had. Such of happiness made us even closely like blood brother. We were all well known to each of our parents, because we were intimacy doing things together. Not only this but we also helped each other when there fights beside us. On the year of my age18, when was my last year to graduate from high school. At the same time there also was the high provoking promotion reflected every one to get an opposite partners which we call boyfriends or girlfriends. So I carried this thought to look for one who I got was I like the most, she has a lot of things some other girls don’t have. I had been together nearly a year. During that year my best friend was also well known about her who we went out together and played together. He regarded us all the time, what she was good at or the things we did together. One day I stumbled on they were together one night. We gradually broke up†¦. Furthermore, not only this but also he cheated on me when I immigrated to the Unite States. He cheated on me of he was going to buy a house for his mother who was old and sick. Such faith of parents influenced me to lend amount of money to him. However, later I found out he got the money to gamble and loosed it. From that time on he broke his promise to pay me money back and has not even give a call. Confronting frustrations that I recessed the reasons why my friends had chosen to cheat on me, because I was too dependable on my friends. I shared my secrets and feeling. I sacrificed most of things which have never thought to achieve them back. Being excessive in believe people who never shared their secrets or thoughts with me. Profoundly we concern if we really find ones who we can trust on. Then we should treasure them but not to destroy them. Friends are variety groups of people who help each other, comfort to each other, and encourage each other. However, they can destroy our feeling of human dignities. They can grab every thing you have and gone for permanently. Friends could bring happiness or could give hand to you to be succeeded. But at the same time it also can be revise of the opposite sides or make you lost even more than he or she helped you gain. There has such proverb saying â€Å"the more love you receive the more pain you pay† it is truer than ever since. Friends maintain immense abandon of sources to develop a good relationship between two people. As we general say friends’ interpretations must be honesty, straightforward to each other. They should agree each other’s opinions. They support self-awareness to each other. They don’t walk away when troubles come to them but to give them hands. Such civilization of friend identities put my self into a den deeper and deeper. The more I experience the more I recess friends are definitely brutal, deceived and distrustful. According to my empirical of self-esteem in friendship that I have realized friends who take an advantages form each other. They are relentlessly impact their sentiments. They approach you when they need you, but they never regard you when you need them. There are too many evidences that show how and why my friends betrayed me all the time. The next paragraphs will talk about one of my friends. Through out the incidence has occurred me that I am thoroughly assured friends are selfish, distrustful, foolish, and sorrowful. My past memory has frequency consecutively emerged in my brain that my best friend has betrayed me again and again. Since I was in high school that I have met several best friends, one of them are the special one. We went out together, drunk together. Even we shared the money we had. Such of happiness made us even closely like blood brother. We were all well known to each of our parents, because we were intimacy doing things together. Not only this but we also helped each other when there fights beside us. On the year of my age18, when was my last year to graduate from high school. At the same time there also was the high provoking promotion reflected every one to get an opposite partners which we call boyfriends or girlfriends. So I carried this thought to look for one who I got was I like the most, she has a lot of things some other girls don’t have. I had been together nearly a year. During that year my best friend was also well known about her who we went out together and played together. He regarded us all the time, what she was good at or the things we did together. One day I stumbled on they were together one night. We gradually broke up†¦. Furthermore, not only this but also he cheated on me when I immigrated to the Unite States. He cheated on me of he was going to buy a house for his mother who was old and sick. Such faith of parents influenced me to lend amount of money to him. However, later I found out he got the money to gamble and loosed it. From that time on he broke his promise to pay me money back and has not even give a call. Confronting frustrations that I recessed the reasons why my friends had chosen to cheat on me, because I was too dependable on my friends. I shared my secrets and feeling. I sacrificed most of things which have never thought to achieve them back. Being excessive in believe people who never shared their secrets or thoughts with me. Profoundly we concern if we really find ones who we can trust on. Then we should treasure them but not to destroy them. Friends are variety groups of people who help each other, comfort to each other, and encourage each other. However, they can destroy our feeling of human dignities. They can grab every thing you have and gone for permanently. Friends could bring happiness or could give hand to you to be succeeded. But at the same time it also can be revise of the opposite sides or make you lost even more than he or she helped you gain. There has such proverb saying â€Å"the more love you receive the more pain you pay† it is truer than ever since.

Scientific Taxonomy and Earths Biodiversity Paper Essay

Scientific Taxonomy and Earths Biodiversity Paper - Essay Example Bees produce honey from the nectar that they collect from flowers, which they store and return to the hive. Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus): A North American butterfly which has also been found in both New Zealand and Australia. It has a wingspan of between three and four inches and has a distinct pattern of orange and black on its wings. Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus): A species of hummingbird that is present throughout North America, it is small around three inches in length and has a straight bill. Like other species of hummingbird, the birds hover as they collect nectar from flowers a unique feature among birds. Melon Sea Urchin (Echinus melo): Small, globular marine animals that are covered in spines, growing up to seven inches in diameter. They feed on algae and are predated upon by other marine animals such as sea otters and eels. Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus): A purple starfish that has become widely known in scientific literature because of its proposed role as a keystone species . It is common in the Pacific Ocean and has five rays, which range from four to ten inches in length. The kingdom Animalia is one of six kingdoms of life that include every living organism. It is part of an overall classification system that defines life in terms of evolutionary history. Organisms that fall into the animal kingdom share the characteristics of having eukaryotic cells which contain discrete organelles, and the animals are multi-cellular and do not have a cell wall. In general most animals, and all listed here, are able to move and require organic material in order to survive. Most use sperm and egg cells in order to reproduce . The cheetah is a feline (family Felidae), while the red fox is canine (family Canidae). The red fox is a common species, and is considered a threat to many native species, while the cheetah

The effect of recession on the U.K. fashion clothing retail sector Dissertation

The effect of recession on the U.K. fashion clothing retail sector - Dissertation Example Large retailers provide the bulk of the sales for the Fashion Clothing Industry. They are the multinationals like the Arcadia Group, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, New Look, Argos, Next, Primark, ASOS, The Body Shop, Robinson Webster Holdings. But there have been thousands of other small retailers, about 12,000. For all these retailers, the impact of recession was a combination of decline in the business performance sometime from the last quarter of 2008 to the 1st quarter of 2009, and a drive to do business in other countries like North America, Europe, and Asia. Then another decline took place in the first quarter of 2011 right after the Bank of England decided to stop Quantitative Easing toward the end of 2010. Money supply, lending, employment remained low 2 years after Quantitative Easing injected ?200 billion into the economy. Poor consumer spending and poor consumer confidence paralyzed business prospects within UK. ... Table of Contents Abstract Overview 4 Literature Review 5 Impact of Recession on UK GDP 5 Direct and Indirect Impact of Recession on the Textile Industry 7 Effect of Recession on the Overall Clothing Sectors in UK 9 Effect of Recession on UK Lingerie Market 12 Effect of Recession on the Buyer Behaviour 16 Contrasting Views of the Authors 17 Effect of Recession on the Consumer Spending 19 Contrasting Views 21 Effect of Recession on the Value Clothing Sector 27 UK’s Clothing and Footwear Industry 29 UK Market for Cloth Manufacturing 31 Bibliography 54 Appendix Overview Recession was defined by the Bank of England (2011, p. 20) as a financial period wherein two consecutive quarters show declines in output at constant market prices. The British Chambers of Commerce announced this in November 2008, according to the BBC News (2008). It was during the second quarter of 2008 when the UK economy went into recession. It led to decline in output of the economy as well as increase in the unemployment rate. There has been decline in the real output by 6.4 per cent. However, in the second quarter of 2010, it was apparent that GDP had grown by 1.9 percent. Not only the UK but also the developed countries throughout the world experienced reduction in the outputs (Bell & Blanchflower, 2010). The research paper aims at providing a thought upon the effects of recession on the UK clothing sector. It further tries to investigate the effect of recession on the buyer behaviour within the UK fashion clothing market. Aims of the Study / Research Objective Initially in this paper it has been intended to prove that the recession had really affected the overall UK economy and hence the affect on GDP will be demonstrated in this paper. The main objective of the study has

Ronald Reagan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ronald Reagan - Essay Example Edmund ‘Pat’ Brown has been known as the â€Å"Republican Giant Killer† after defeating no less than a future president in the person of Richard Nixon. The latter being a highly favored GOP member. The popularity of Nixon as a Republican frontrunner proved no moment when Brown was able to defeat him. He then served as California governor for two consecutive terms when he faced an opponent whom he gravely underestimated, an actor running for the first time for public office in the name of Ronald Reagan. Brown and Reagan have more things in contrast than being from two rival parties. Brown represented the proud Democrat who sees student activism as a healthy exercise of civic participation while Reagan outwardly denounces it and speaks that they should not belong in universities if all they would cause is unrest. The student protests were heavily denounced by Reagan who was heard by conservatives sharing the exact same sentiments. Taxes in the state were excruciatingly high and unrest was evident. Dunnell provides a sensible explanation, â€Å"The postwar baby boomers were of age to vote, and the middle of the road voters in both parties were fed up with the bureaucrats protecting their jobs with expensive programs† (391). The people of California at that pivotal moment were looking for a change in administration and Reagan was able to offer exactly that. Brown had not anticipated the ability of Reagan to deliver good, if not great, speeches at times when it was what was called for. People had become disappointed with liberalism that Reagan’s outwardly conservative stance impressed itself as a better alternative. The failure of expensive social programs has taken its toll on taxpayers and the liberal take on communism as a foreign policy created in the gubernatorial race a chance to reconsider existing state policies by the incumbent

The Role of Acupuncture in Fertility

The Role of Acupuncture in Fertility Acupuncture is a traditional medicine form that has been around for over 3000 years, originating in China and is used in to treat various health problems such as back and joint pains, relieve stress and regulate the flow of chi or energy in the body of the person that avails it. Acupuncture makes use of very thin needles inserted in different pressure points throughout your body to achieve energy flow regulation and promote health and well-being. Apart from this, the use of acupuncture has also been used to help people having problems in fertility. It can be used to help you conceive if you are having problems doing so. Over the years, more and more treatments aiming to address fertility and conception problems and help individuals and couples get pregnant. Some of these treatments have worked in one way or the other, while some have been proven to be ineffective and are eventually no longer used or prescribed. Among these treatment methods, traditional Chinese medicine procedures such as acupuncture and others are still used in the Western world and is gaining popularity for its benefits not only for helping couple in terms or fertility and conception but also for their general health status. What is Fertility? Conception? Fertility is the word that is used to denote your capacity to get pregnant (if you are a female) or impregnate (for males). It is usually connected to your capacity to perform the roles and responsibilities associated either with motherhood or fatherhood. However, the word conception is used to point out to a state when that capacity to get pregnant is taken advantage of, resulting to the creation of a fetus and therefore pregnancy. These are all part of the natural order of things and are considered to be both responsibilities and privileges as well. The Problem of Fertility and Conception One of the most exciting phases in the life of an individual is when he or she is able to procreate and bring forth a child in to the world. If you are a woman, getting pregnant usually is correlated to your sense of completeness and ability to perform your biological role of motherhood. Likewise, if you are a man, being a father confirms your virility and your ability to procreate and start a family. Therefore, conception is not only a burden and role placed upon the woman, but also upon the man as well because they have shared responsibilities in the process of conception. However, this is usually clouded when either of you are faced with problems with fertility and conception, resulting to decreased ability to get pregnant and bring forth a child. The usual problem of fertility and conception also puts a strain into a relationship, with partners focusing and stressing over the need to conceive. When you are stressed, it usually causes a disruption in the flow of your chi (or energy), and can bring about changes in how your body functions. This change in bodily function can affect levels of specific hormones that are responsible for fertility (as with ovulation in females and sperm counts and motility in males), and eventually in conception. Also, stress can also take its toll on the body by altering blood and oxygen flow to vital parts of the body that plays a role in fertility, conception and pregnancy. Moreover, lifestyle and dietary patterns have also been shown and proven to play a significant role in your fertility by altering nutritional and oxygen level and delivery to other cells of your body. By having patterns that are less than ideal, your fertility, and subsequently, capacity to get pregnant may also be affected. Fertility and Acupuncture As previously mentioned, problems with fertility or more commonly called infertility, is due to a number of causes. In females, one of the most common factors associated with fertility is the presence of spasms in the uterus and fallopian tubes and miscarriages. Acupuncture in fertility is usually used to address these problems. Also, since fertility is related to hormonal levels, acupuncture can also be used to treat problems with hormones (specifically the thyroid hormone) which are also pointed out to be root causes of infertility. This can be seen when hormones responsible for the general sense of health and well-being are being affected, creating what you call as a â€Å"feel-good† state. Likewise, acupuncture is also used as a form of treatment for people with infertility from usually unknown causes. These all help place acupuncture in the mainstream, allowing it to be used side-by-side with more medically-traditional treatments. For women, acupuncture has been seen to improve hormonal levels that are highly important for fertility such as the luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones. This can contribute greatly to higher chances of pregnancy, as was supported by research studies. In males, acupuncture has been seen to increase the fertility of males as it contributes to the increased number and volume of sperm cells with normal characteristics and reducing the number of defective ones. Moreover, this can also help improve sperm motility, causing it to reach its destination faster than other sperm cells. Benefits of Acupuncture in Fertility Because of its ability to realign and create a sense of normalcy in your energy flow or chi, acupuncture can bring about a lot of benefits for you as you go on your way to improving your fertility and become pregnant. As it balances those aspects of your mind and body that creates a problem in your state of fertility and ability to conceive, acupuncture combined with proper diet and a good physical environment can help you attain pregnancy. Moreover, the following aspects are also improved, contributing to increased fertility. 1. Acupuncture helps you reduce stress levels. Because of the burden you face in becoming pregnant, psychological form of stress is not uncommon. This can create a less than favorable impact on fertility since the presence of stress can lead your body to release hormones that may interrupt normal mechanisms that are related to proper ovulation and menstrual cycle. Acupuncture helps in this area by increasing the release of the hormone beta endorphin, allowing you to feel more relaxed and calm and decreasing your stress and anxiety levels. Also, because of this, the blood flowing to the uterus is improved, and oxygen and nutrient supply to the ovaries are maximized. When this happens, your menstrual cycles are regularized, ovulation cycles are normalized and fertility is improved. 2. Acupuncture increases the strength of your immune system. Sometimes, problems with fertility is caused by a problem with the immune system, making it less favorable for fertility to thrive and pregnancy to occur. Acupuncture treatments can help you treat the root cause of immune system problems and ensuring that your body is at its best possible condition necessary for fertility and conception. 3. Acupuncture can help in regulating your hormones related to fertility. As mentioned in the previous section, when you are stressed, the body decreases its release of an endorphin that is necessary in controlling pain sensation and affecting the ovulatory processes essential for fertility and conception. Hormones such as the gonadotropin releasing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and the luteinizing hormone are regulated, contributing to fertility. 4. The quality of your egg cells are improved after acupuncture treatments. Because of its ability to normalize bodily functions, and in effect the function of your endocrine glands, acupuncture can help improve the quality of your egg cells, resulting to better chances of successful conception and pregnancy. Also, it has been shown that through regular treatments with acupuncture, women who are experiencing anovulatory cycles can achieve normalized menstrual cycles and that hormonal disturbances are also resolved. 5. Side effects of medications may be reduced through acupuncture treatments. One of the most common medications prescribed to older women who want to become pregnant is Clomid. However, one of this drug’s effect is the thinning of your uterine lining, decreasing your chances to successful pregnancy. Acupuncture serves a reversing agent for this by causing your uterine lining to thicken and allowing it to maintain a uniform appearance and functioning. Because of this, blood flow to the arteries in the uterus is improved, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to be distributed to the uterus and its linings which are conducive to promoting fertility and pregnancy. 6. Acupuncture may be used concomitantly with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for better success rates. Because of its capacity to increase and improve blood flow to the uterus, acupuncture is often used as a concomitant therapy to IVF. This is because acupuncture is seen to cause a thickening in the uterine lining that is rich in oxygen and nutrients, and also by causing this lining to be more uniform in structure. Blood flow to the ovaries are also increased, ensuring better quality of the egg cells. 7. Uterine contractions are decreased. During implantation, there is a tendency for your uterus to contract, which may cause you to lose the pregnancy. Acupuncture treatments, when given regularly, may help in reducing these contractions during implantation, allowing the embryo to grow and become a fetus that can carry on to term. 8. Acupuncture also helps fertility in males too. This is because with acupuncture, sperm appearance, count and motility is increased. The above-mentioned benefits of acupuncture in fertility may be achieved through regular treatments and observance of modalities that are set in place to ensure that you can best take advantage of the role of acupuncture in pregnancy.

Refugee Women During the 21st Century Essay -- Immigration Feminism Im

Refugee Women During the 21st Century Refugees face governmental turmoil, political prosecution and natural disasters; however, women are further burdened by their female status, biological functions and lack of attention to the needs of women in refugee camps. Refugee women sustain emotional and often physical scars attempting to escape from oppressive situations. They are forced to leave, face death or perhaps something worse. They may find these horrors anyway, but they will risk that unknown for a chance at a different life. The first stop on this arduous journey is often a refugee camp. Here, if they are lucky, they are provided with basic needs such as food and shelter. During a presentation by the International Rescue Committee, a group that helps refugees, my fear was confirmed, that the needs of women are not being met. The I.R.C. spokesman said, "Women are sometimes given information on birth control, AIDS prevention and family planning, but it depends on the country." I find it difficult to imagine that something as obvious as birth control is hardly considered or ...

Mehta Daryush PhD Thesis Proposal FINAL

Dimmitt D. Delivery, PhD, University of South Carolina, whose areas of expertise are in the acoustic analysis of voice and the development of laryngeal high-speed videophones. The proposal, which is enclosed, was favorably received by the Committee, and we approved the scientific content and proposed work as being suitable for a PhD thesis. All of the above members of the Committee have agreed to serve on the Thesis Committee. Sincerely, Joseph S. Propeller Thesis Committee Chair Robert E. Hillman, PhD Thesis Co-Supervisor Once: Thesis Proposal Supervisor Agreements Reader Agreement Thomas F.Squattier, Sad PhD Thesis Committee Members 1 . Joseph S. Propeller, PhD (Chair) a. Title: Senior Research Scientist, Speech Communication Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology b. Major Discipline: Sensory-motor control of speech production c. Justification: Dry. Propeller fills the role of Chair as a non-supervisor and senior researcher at MIT. Dry. Per keel offers a wide knowledge range from voice and speech production to speech acoustics and motor involvement in pathological speakers. 2. Robert. E. Hillman, PhD (Co-Supervisor) a.Title: Co-Director/Research Director, Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School; Faculty of Harvard-MIT Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology b. Major Discipline: Voice function assessment c. Justification: Dry. Hillman is co-adviser and supports the clinical aspects Of the thesis project. The proposed research calls for data collection in the voice clinic and assessment of the voice production mechanisms and acoustic characteristics of human subjects. Subjects will be selected and evaluated under Dry.Hillman supervision. 3. Thomas F. Squattier, Sad (Co-Supervisor) a. Title: Senior Member of Technical Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Faculty of Harvard Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Tech nology b. Major Discipline: Speech signal processing c. Justification: Dry. Squattier is co-adviser and supports the signal processing aspects of the proposed research. Dry. Squatter's work includes the speech signal processing using multimode analysis, and this work especially relates to the proposed research on characterizing vocal fold vibratory asymmetries from multimode sensor measurements. 4.Dimmitt D. Delivery, PhD (Reader) a. Title: Associate Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina; Director, USC Voice and Speech Laboratory b. Major Discipline: Voice acoustics and laryngeal high-speed videophones c. Justification: Dry. Delivery's areas of expertise are in the acoustic analysis of voice and laryngeal high-speed videophones. Dry. Delivery is a world-leader in the development of high-speed video camera technology for clinical voice assessment. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Te chnologySpeech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology Program proposal for Thesis Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Title: Investigating the impact of in vivo human vocal fold vibratory asymmetries: Co-variations among measures from laryngeal high-speed videophones, acoustic voice analysis, and auditory-perceptual voice assessment of sustained vowel phonated Submitted by: Darkish Meat 70 pacific street, Apt 516 Cambridge, MA 02139 Signature: Subtract: Signal Processing Date of Submission: Expected Date of Completion: November 25, 2008 July 2009Thesis Co-supervisors: Location of Research: Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital Abstract: Voice specialists make critical diagnostic, medical, therapeutic, and surgical decisions by coupling visual observations Of vocal fold tissue motion with auditory-perceptual assessments of voice quality. The details of the relationship between vocal fold tissue motion and the acoustic voice signal are not fully understood, and there is recent evidence that the acoustic impact of visual judgments of vibratory asymmetry may be overestimated during clinical voice assessment.A series of three descriptive studies is proposed to systematically describe the co-variations among measures of vocal fold vibratory asymmetries and visual-perceptual judgments, acoustic voice properties, and therapeutically ratings. First, recent findings describing co-variations be;en subjective visual judgments and basic objective measures of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry in subjects with and without vocal pathologies will be validated with automated algorithms.After replicating these results, image-based measures will be further refined to consider additional dimensions in the left-right and anterior-posterior planes f the images. Second, it is proposed to apply the developed objective measures of asymmetry to voice data from a new subject population with vocal pathologies that will be evaluated using a state-of-the-art system for laryngeal high-speed videophones. The new system will enable the validation Of hypothesized relationships between vocal fold vibratory asymmetry measures and objective acoustic voice measures at unprecedented temporal resolution.Preliminary work has revealed mild co-variations between average values of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry and traditional acoustic perturbation assure, and new acoustic correlates of vocal fold vibratory asymmetries will be explored using knowledge of their effects on voice production. Third, an initial study is proposed to characterize the influences of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry on the auditory perception of voice quality. This study more directly addresses the clinical reality that voices are assessed by relating vocal fold tissue vibratory patterns to the voice quality of a patient during a standard examination.Voice specialists make critical diagnostic, medical, therapeuti c, and surgical decisions based on coupling visual observations of vocal fold tissue motion With auditory-perceptual assessments of voice quality (Zestiest et al. , 2007). While clinical experiences indicate that this approach is generally valid, it is inherently limited to case-by-case observations, and the details of the relationship be;en vocal fold tissue action and the acoustic voice signal are not fully understood.Recent evidence indicates that visual judgments of vocal fold vibratory patterns may not adequately reflect changes in objective measures of the acoustic signal (Haven et al. , 2003). Furthermore, â€Å"[t]he anecdotal reports and stroboscopic findings of a prevalent typical amount of asymmetry cause a concern, in that it may indicate an increase in overreactions of laryngeal pathology' (Shaw and Delivery, 2008).The overall goal of this project is to better understand the relationship between vocal fold tissue motion and the acoustic characteristics f the glottal vo icing source so that clinical methods for assessing voice production can be improved. This work is made possible by recent advances in high-speed digital imaging, which provides adequate sampling for detailed intra- and inter-cycle comparisons between vocal fold tissue motion and the concomitant acoustic voice waveform.A series of three descriptive studies is proposed to systematically describe the co-variations among traditional and more advanced measures of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry and their impact on visual judgments, acoustic voice properties, and auditory-perceptual tings. First, it is proposed to replicate and improve upon recent findings describing co-variations between subjective visual judgments and basic objective measures of left-right vocal fold vibratory asymmetry in subjects with and without vocal pathologies (Bonham et al. , AAA; Bonham et al. Bibb). After validating the baseline co-variations with more automatic algorithms for computing left-right asymmetry, th e image-based measures will be further developed and optimized based on the visual judgments Of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry in both the left-right and anterior-posterior dimensions. Second, the developed objective measures of asymmetry will be applied to voice data from a new subject population exhibiting vocal pathologies who will be evaluated using a state-of-the-art system for laryngeal high-speed videophones.The new system will allow for the validation of hypothesized relationships between vocal fold vibratory asymmetry measures and objective acoustic voice measures at unprecedented temporal resolution. Preliminary work has revealed mild cavitations between overall values of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry measures and traditional acoustic perturbation measures. Acoustic correlates of vocal fold vibratory symmetries will be explored using knowledge of their effects on voice production. Third, an initial study is proposed to characterize the influences of vocal fold vibratory a symmetry on the auditory perception of voice quality.This study more directly addresses the clinical reality that voices are assessed by relating vocal fold tissue vibratory patterns to the voice quality of a patient during a standard stroboscopic examination. 1. 2 Thesis proposal structure This thesis proposal is organized as follows. First, Section 2 outlines the three specific aims and associated hypotheses of the proposed investigation, along tit a timeline of goals. Section 3 continues with background information on voice production mechanisms and reviews relevant research studies characterizing vocal fold vibratory asymmetries and the acoustic voice signal.Section 4 introduces work that investigated the co-variations between a preliminary measure of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry and traditional acoustic perturbation measures. Section 5 follows with the research design and methods for the three studies proposed. F-anally, Section 6 concludes with information regarding the use of humans as subjects in these studies. 2 Specific Aims A series of three studies is proposed to investigate the influence of vocal fold vibratory asymmetries on the acoustic voice signal.Specific aims and associated hypotheses of these studies are detailed below. 2. 1 Aim 1: Investigate co-variations between visual judgments of vocal fold vibratory' asymmetry and objective measures of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry in subjects with and without vocal pathologies Aim 1 proposes to validate and improve upon recent findings describing co- variations between subjective visual judgments and objective image-based measures of left-right vocal fold vibratory asymmetry in a subject population thou vocal pathologies.The recent findings have documented moderate correlations between visual-perceptual ratings and a basic objective measure of vibratory asymmetry of the left and right vocal folds (Bonham et al. , AAA). Completely automated image-based measures of asymmetry will be developed to rep licate the published co-variations with visual ratings on the same data. After validating the automated algorithms for computing asymmetry measures, the image-based measures will be refined and optimized with respect to the peculiarities judgment data to improve pond the baseline co-variations in subject populations with and without vocal pathologies.It is hypothesized that the new image-based measures of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry will co-vary with visual asymmetry judgments to a higher degree than previous image-based measure because of the ability to capture and integrate more temporal and spatial information from the image data. Acoustic voice signal in subjects with vocal pathologies Aim 2 proposes to apply the developed objective measures of asymmetry to voice data collected from a new subject population with vocal pathologies hat will be evaluated using a statute-the-art system for laryngeal high-speed videophones.The system will allow the validation of hypothesized relat ionships between vocal fold vibratory measures and objective acoustic voice 8 measures, on an average and frame-by-frame basis. Preliminary work has revealed mild co-variations between average values of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry and traditional acoustic perturbation measures (jitter, shimmer, and harmonics-to-noise ratio). As a result, these measures will be applied to a larger subject population and explore new acoustic correlates of vocal fold vibratory asymmetries using knowledge of voice production mechanisms.

What Is Muriatic Acid Is It Dangerous

What Is Muriatic Acid Is It Dangerous SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Acids get a bad rap- when we hear the word, we often picture some kind of vat of flesh-eating, lime-green liquid. But acids of all kinds, including muriatic acid, have tons of practical uses, and not just for super villains! Homeowners, leatherworkers, and even the pearl industry use muriatic acid on a daily basis. This guide will cover what muriatic acid is, some common uses for it, and how to handle it safely. Muriatic acid is great for heavy-duty cleaners. What Is Muriatic Acid? Muriatic acid, unsurprisingly, is a type of acid. Acids aren’t just dangerous liquids that must be handled with thick gloves (though some are!)- technically, an acid is anything with a pH of 7 or less. That includes vinegar and all citrus fruits, as well as some familiar acids you may have heard of, like hydrochloric acid or oxalic acid, which is found in baking powder and some bleaches. Acids have many practical uses, including for household cleaning or adding flavor to food or beverages. Coca Cola has a pH of about 2.5, making it far more acidic than you’d expect for something we consume on a daily basis! And though bases and acids can be used to counteract one another, consuming a base can be just as dangerous as consuming an acid; lye, drain cleaner, and ammonia are all bases that can be quite dangerous. So how about muriatic acid? Muriatic acid is a form of hydrochloric acid, which has a pH of about 1 to 2. The only differences between hydrochloric acid and muriatic acid are purity- muriatic acid is diluted to somewhere between 14.5 and 29 percent, and often contains impurities like iron. These impurities are what make muriatic acid more yellow-toned than pure hydrochloric acid. Though still highly corrosive, muriatic acid is milder than hydrochloric acid and is therefore more suitable for home use. At a pH of 1 to 2, muriatic acid can be as acidic as stomach acid (which is also in part comprised of hydrochloric acid) or lemon juice. However, pH level is not the sole determinant of its corrosiveness. Despite sometimes having the same acidity as lemon juice, putting muriatic acid on your skin is always riskier than lemon juice. Lemon juice is five to six percent citric acid, whereas muriatic acid can be anywhere between 14 and 31 percent acid. So in addition to having a lower pH and therefore more acidic composition, muriatic acid is also more concentrated than lemon juice- hence why muriatic acid can easily burn bare skin, whereas lemon juice is unlikely to. That’s why it’s always important to use safety gear if you’re working with muriatic acid, even if it’s been diluted, but not so much with lemons. You probably don't want to use muriatic acid for everyday cleaning, but it can be useful! What Are the Uses of Muriatic Acid? Muriatic acid has a variety of uses, many of them industrial. As an acid, many of its uses are for cleaning or removing one substance from another. Some common uses for muriatic acid are: Processing raw leather Removing iron or rust from steel Removing the outside of pearls Household cleaning (basements and toilets with mineral stains) Cleaning bricks Clearing clogged drains Though it might not be as concentrated as some acids, safety gear is still essential when working with muriatic acid. How to Use Muriatic Acid Safely Despite its myriad of practical applications, it’s important to remember that muriatic acid is still derived from hydrochloric acid, a potentially dangerous substance if not properly handled. Always adhere to good safety practices when using muriatic acid, such as: Wear Protective Clothing Muriatic acid may be less concentrated than hydrochloric acid, but it is still capable of causing burns to the skin and eyes. Always wear protective clothing when handling muriatic acid, including long sleeves, pants, gloves, and goggles or glasses. No matter what you’re using muriatic acid for, it’s possible for splashing or wind to cause liquid to land on your skin, so dress appropriately. Add the Acid to Water If you’re diluting your muriatic acid further, always pour the acid into water rather than vice-versa. Adding water to acid can cause a chemical reaction that makes the liquid bubble and spray in multiple directions, potentially causing injury if it lands on skin or eyes. Do Not Mix Muriatic acid is an effective cleaning agent on its own and should not be mixed with chemicals like bleach or potassium permanganate. Mixing these chemicals together produces chlorine gas, which can cause breathing problems and even death. Complete Proper Disposal Muriatic acid must be neutralized by adding baking soda to it. Don’t pour muriatic acid down drains without neutralizing it, as this can cause corrosion and environmental damage. The solution should be at a ratio of 1:50, meaning you must flush the muriatic acid and baking soda with a large amount of water to ensure that it is properly diluted. If possible, dispose of the muriatic acid by containing it in a plastic bucket and taking it to hazardous waste disposal. Use Proper Containment Muriatic acid should be stored in plastic or glass containers, never metal, which it can corrode. What’s Next? Want to enrich your knowledge of acids and bases? These high school science classes could be just the thing! There's lots of fun science you can do at home (and not all of it requires safety gear)- such as making slime! What to know what you'll be learning in AP chemistry? This guide to AP chemistry syllabi will help you plan our your academic year to be even more effective!

Articles Of Confederation Essays - United States, James Madison

Articles Of Confederation Essays - United States, James Madison Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States of America. The Articles of Confederation were first drafted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1777. This first draft was prepared by a man named John Dickinson in 1776. The Articles were then ratified in 1781. The cause for the changes to be made was due to state jealousies and widespread distrust of the central authority. This jealousy then led to the emasculation of the document. As adopted, the articles provided only for a "firm league of friendship" in which each of the 13 states expressly held "its sovereignty, freedom, and independence." The People of each state were given equal privileges and rights, freedom of movement was guaranteed, and procedures for the trials of accused criminals were outlined. The articles established a national legislature called the Congress, consisting of two to seven delegates from each state; each state had one vote, according to its size or population. No executive or judicial branches were provided for. Congress was charged with responsibility for conducting foreign relations, declaring war or peace, maintaining an army and navy, settling boundary disputes, establishing and maintaining a postal service, and various lesser functions. Some of these responsibilities were shared with the states, and in one way or another Congress was dependent upon the cooperation of the states for carrying out any of them. Four visible weaknesses of the articles, apart from those of organization, made it impossible for Congress to execute its constitutional duties. These were analyzed in numbers 15-22 of The FEDERALIST, the political essays in which Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay argued the case for the U.S. CONSTITUTION of 1787. The first weakness was that Congress could legislate only for states, not for individuals; because of this it could not enforce legislation. Second, Congress had no power to tax. Instead, it was to assess its expenses and divide those among the states on the basis of the value of land. States were then to tax their own citizens to raise the money for these expenses and turn the proceeds over to Congress. They could not be forced to do so, and in practice they rarely met their obligations. Third, Congress lacked the power to control commercewithout its power to conduct foreign relations was not necessary, since most treaties except those of peace were concerned mainly with trade. The fourth weakness ensured the demise of the Confederation by making it too difficult to correct the first three. Amendments could have corrected any of the weaknesses, but amendments required approval by all 13 state legislatures. None of the several amendments that were proposed met that requirement. On the days from September 11, 1786 to September 14, 1786, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia had a meeting of there delegates at the Annapolis Convention. Too few states were represented to carry out the original purpose of the meetingto discuss the regulation of interstate commercebut there was a larger topic at question, specifically, the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. Alexander Hamilton successfully proposed that the states be invited to send delegates to Philadelphia to render the constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union." As a result, the Constitutional Convention was held in May 1787. The Constitutional Convention, which wrote the Constitution of the United States, was held in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. It was called by the Continental Congress and several states in response to the expected bankruptcy of Congress and a sense of panic arising from an armed revoltShays's Rebellionin New England. The convention's assigned job, following proposals made at the Annapolis Convention the previous September, was to create amendments to the Articles of Confederation. The delegates, however, immediately started writing a new constitution. Fifty-five delegates representing 12 states attended at least part of the sessions. Thirty-four of them were lawyers; most of the others were planters or merchants. Although George Washington, who presided, was 55, and John Dickinson was 54, Benjamin Franklin 81, and Roger Shermen 66, most of the delegates were young men in their 20s and 30s. Noticeable absent were the revolutionary leaders of the effort for independence in 1775-76, such as John Adams, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson.

Organisational Change Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 6

Organisational Change Management - Essay Example From a critical perspective, it is quite likely that in the prevailing situation, the planned change management strategies will lead to unavoidable conflicts and confusions among the employees. The objective of the study is thus to analyse the underlying problem as well as to find solutions to these problems. Emphasising on these aspects, the underlying objectives of the study is to critically analyse the change management approach considered by D2 applying the 5D’s framework that involves Definition, Discovery, Dream, Design and the Destiny. Definition: Primary Underlying Problems of the Case Study The situation witnessed by D2 as described in the case study of â€Å"The auto-components manufacturer†, portrays the problem of the survival and the sustainability within the competitive market scenario. In this context, a crisis was caused within the operational process of D2, fundamentally due to the decreasing demand of the consumers for the products. With reference to t he problem, the main cause was identified as the economic downturn resulting in the contraction of the business cycle and inhibited purchasing power of the customers. Hence, to counter the situational crisis, and generate customer demand to a sustainable extent, the company has been concentrating towards applying cost cutting strategies in accordance with the customer convenience with the given reduction in the purchasing power of the customers. From a theoretical understanding, it can be affirmed that the company has been focusing on a framed process to execute its change management approach, with a clear definition of the underlying objectives and assumptions (Golembiewski, 2000). In accordance with the crisis scenario the company also framed plans to discontinue the production of the few components and concentrating towards the other components at fewer production units to derive more sustainable benefits from economies of scale applying a retrenchment strategic notion. In accord ance to the crisis, the company has decided to close down an existing unit that being operated on the basis of out-dated technology support. It is expected that the closure of the company will result in accelerated redundancies as well as provide a substantial opportunity to very few employees to re-deploy within other plants or units. Economic downturn within the market scenario is also quite likely to cause increased unemployment thereby causing ethical concerns in the light of economic downturn situation. In accordance with aforementioned crisis scenario, situational leadership or the management style can be observed. Situational leadership style portrays decisions of the leader with respect to a particular situation. With reference to the related case study, a hierarchical organisation structure of D2 can be identified wherein the management’s decisions and the rules are followed from the top to the bottom level of the organisation. The prevailing organisational structure also forces the employees to abide by rules and regulations as well as the strategies framed by the management in

Signs of Worker's Compensation Fraud and Abuse Essay

Signs of Worker's Compensation Fraud and Abuse - Essay Example While the workers’ compensation system works in the best interest of employees, it is subject to abuse and/or fraudulent practices. Perpetrators of fraud, abuse, or both vary depending on the specific matter in question. This means that employees, employers, and legal experts among others can perpetrate workers’ compensation fraud and /or abuse for differentiated reasons, purposes, or motives (Green & Rowell, 2012). Fraud and/or abuse perpetrated by an employee entail the use of false information, practices, or procedures to obtain compensatory benefits that the employee is not entitled. Eligibility for such benefits is jeopardized, thus resulting in abuse or fraudulent activities that relate to worker’s compensation. When there is enough evidence that fraud and/or abuse in regard to workers’ compensation has occurred, it is important to establish the root cause, reason, purpose, or motive behind the activity. This would require that the perpetrator (the employee) be closely examined in order to ascertain the validity of the evidence available. Once this has been done, the response to worker’s compensation fraud and abuse should allow the perpetrator to explain why such a move was made (Rejda, 2011). This would allow the response team to establish the ground upon which fraud and abuse occurred. Responding to evidence of workers’ compensation fraud and abuse is strong when the baseline of such practices is understood (Green & Rowell, 2012). Once the evidence receives the aforementioned treatment, the next critical step seeks to determine contributory factors that provide loopholes in the system. This can take the form of determining the relationship between the stakeholders that verify and approve workers’ compensation. The idea here is to establish any cooperation and collaboration between fraudulent employees and parties in the compensation system.