Analyze and review general building design and construction methods Research Paper

Analyze and review general building design and construction methods and explain the types of collapses that may occur. Explain h - Research Paper Example Which review the issues and causes associated to it and then suggest a change in the building design or a recommendation in alteration is building codes. The organization of this paper is done very similar to the steps taken in the production and improvement process of building codes and reviews of field problem, the paper will focus on the following steps, 1. Causes of collapses of buildings 2. General building design and Construction types 3. Progressive Collapse Analysis and Fire-Induced Progressive Collapse 4. Impact and modification of Fire-Induced collapse on Building Codes Causes of collapses of buildings In order to diagnose a problem and its solution we first need to understand that from where the problem starts and initiates and what its causes are. There is a wide range of causes which lead to the collapse of the buildings which include bad design in which the engineers and designer are responsible for erroneous theories, improper choice of materials or misunderstanding of their properties and etc. Then comes the faulty construction as the major cause of collapse, it may occur by weak supervision and corruption of by the contractor, use of inferior quality of steel and other material. Then another cause of failure of the structure is Foundation Failure in which there is liquefaction of soil or excessive settlement which was not forecasted in geotechnical investigation made before construction of the facility. Then unexpected failure modes is also one of the emerging reason of failures of structures, this is due to the fact that we are having a new type of structural system every day, which might be architecturally sound but it is very unstable as a structure and the lack of systems to analyze these systems are not yet developed, so there might be a failure by an unknown reason. Lastly but most important cause of failure is the Extraordinary or accidental Loadings, this has caused more catastrophes more than any other. These loading include the wind l oads, exceptional earthquakes and impact of fire on structures. The codes have been really successful in developing standards and design procedures to cater to the problem such as earth quakes and hurricanes and broad research has been done in these areas, but lesser emphasis were been made on fire loading or fire induced collapse while the formulation of revised codes until the 9/11 event which caused a complete collapse of World Trade centre. Partly the reason for this was that the rare occurrence of fire in structures, even lesser forensic analysis of building and only a very few incidents were reported and recorded. The second major reason for this was that there were only a very few complete collapse of the structures due to fire. The Historical Survey of Multi-Story Building Collapses Due to Fire made by Hughes Associates, Inc , came to a conclusion that (Beitel, 2005) *1,only a data of 22 buildings(appendix 1) which had fire was available, and out of those only 6 buildings wa s higher than 21 stories. The World Trade Center case study made a clear to the world and especially the designer and engineers that fire poses more danger to multistory building and its inhabitants. Due to these facts there is a major change seen in the fire protection of buildings now and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has come up with new standards and codes for a better. General Building Design & Construction Types According to National Fire Prot

Clean Edge Essay Example for Free

Clean Edge Essay Non-disposable razors recorded average growth of about 5% in retail sales during the period 2007 to 2010 whereas refill cartridge and disposable razors recorded growth of approximately 2% and 3% respectively for the same period. Innovations and new product introductions are the prime factors for the growth. Non-disposable razors and refill cartridge market is broadly classified into three segments namely value, moderate and super premium based on price and quality. Paramounts consumer research identified distinct segmentation in terms of product benefits and consumer behavior. % of non- disposable razor users are segmented as Involved Razor users, social/emotional shavers; 28% as Involved Razor users, aesthetic shavers and 33% as Uninvolved Razor users, maintenance shavers. Studies from 2009 showed that the retail sales of non- disposable razors and refill cartridge came from 25% volume of super-premium, 43% of moderate and 32% of value segments. In the last decade, the industry has experienced significant growth in the super premium segment. Product innovation and new technology is leading this sector for a number of new entrants. In 2008-09 the rate of new product innovation leads to 22 new SKUs to be introduced. SWOT Analysis Strengths Paramount Health and Beauty Companys biggest strength is that it is a well- established brand with deep pockets and a very good association with consumers. The product- Clean Edge Razor, that they nave released, is also technologically in the current market. Weaknesses best The company does not have a slice in the 37. 2% of the pie that corresponds to the super premium segment which has immense potential. Also there is a risk of launching the product in the wrong segment or positioning it wrongly. A wrong move could result in cannibalization of Paramount Pro, another product in their portfolio. Opportunities There is very good growth in the super premium segment especially in mens grooming. The market is also highly profitable so vendors are ready to stock the products. Also, the maintenance users are a market not ventured by any company till date. Hence the opportunities are immense. Threats A good number of competitors are trying to become the leader in this segment which is expected to grow in the future. The competitors could also catch up with the latest echnology and release a technologically more advanced product. Availability of alternatives like disposable and electric razors make a high threat of substitutes. Because of large number of products available and constant innovation in the sector it is very easy for the consumers to switch the companies. Hence, consumers have a high bargaining power. Entry barriers are low in the industry since no major R;D costs are involved and there are no major regulations. The bargaining power of the suppliers is low. Hence, overall the premium segment of nondisposable razors is an attractive industry to enter into. Positioning Strategy: The first strategy that we suggest is Niche Positioning, targeting the premium segment: As of now, the products released by Paramount in the non-disposable razer segment, Paramount Pro and Paramount Avail are positioned in the moderate segment and as a value -offering respectively. After three years of development, Paramount Health and Beauty Company has come up with a new technologically advanced vibrating razor called Clean Edge. Keeping in mind the superior technology used and the fact that Paramount has not launched a product targeting the premium egment, Paramount could adopt Niche Positioning while launching Clean Edge. However, there are certain disadvantages and advantages: Advantages: Positioning Paramounts Clean Edge as a niche will accentuate the companys product portfolio significantly. From the exhibits it is visible that it will result in high and consistent profit margins for the company and the risk involved will be less. Apart from that, the financial requirement of launching the product in the premium segment is only 15 million dollars as against 42 million dollars for the mainstream targeting. Disadvantages: As the trends suggests, understanding the fact that the premium segment has not been targeted significantly, almost all of Paramounts competitors have launched products for this segment. Also, for the past 5 years, the companys current products Pro and Avail have not introduced any new innovations as a result of which its customers are moving on to other competitors. The product pro is in the mature face and might need phasing out eventually. The second strategy that can be followed is Mainstream Positioning. The advantages and disadvantages of the same are as follows: Consumers are becoming more and more sophisticated day by day and expect more advanced technology. Paramounts bread and butter product, Pro was in the mature phase of the product lifecycle so there is a possibility of decline. Positioning Clean Edge as mainstream product will help prevent loyal Paramount customers from being wooed away to more innovative brands. Main stream razor unit volumes are expected to capture over three times the volumes of the niche market in the first year. Clean Edge has the potential for true market domination and would quickly gain ass appeal. Disadvantages: Paramount already had product in mainstream positioning -Paramount Pro so launching it as mainstream positioning will dilute the brand power and will lead to cannibalization. More marketing support will be needed to reach the target masses. The company would require an extensive advertising campaign, considerable consumer promotions would be needed and thus the expenses associated with them will be huge. To reach full sales potential with this positioning, $42 million marketing budget would be needed for year one. Total sales of Paramount for Avail and Pro for first year (2009) and second year (2010) are calculated using the market size (retail sales) and corresponding market share, both real (2009)and estimated (2010), of Paramount. The cost of Cannibalization is calculated using total sales and percentage of cannibalization given. Analyzing the result, it is evident that launching the product is a profitable venture; however, the cost of cannibalization may change equations. The cost of cannibalization is lower for the niche market as compared to mainstream market. Although, cannibalization djustments give us losses for the first year in the case of both mainstream and niche, the profit obtained in the second year for mainstream is larger than niche market. Branding Strategy The branding should be done in such a way that it emphasizes Clean Edge Razor as a unique and breakthrough product with the usage of latest technology. However, given the tight advertising budget, it should use the well-established name of Paramount rather than build a brand based on the Clean Edge. This should help potential buyers connect with the product quickly and test it. This should ensure maximum sales. Recommendations Conclusion The recommendation is to introduce the Clean Edge into the marketplace as a niche product since data shows that consumers in the premium segment are willing to switch between the companies. Using advertising and promotion of the new product we can gain market share from competitors. Exhibit 8directly suppo rts this recommendation and snows that even though unit sales are less than main stream sales, the operating profit and the operating profits as % of sales is higher. In both year one and year two, this niche arket is profitable and growing. It is here that Paramount should focus its efforts on product introduction and positioning for the Clean Edge Razor. Once it has launched itself in the niche segment, Randall should then launch it, maybe after 2 to 3 years, in the mainstream category. As the data shows, both niche and mainstream strategy will help Paramount to raise its market share in super- premium non disposable razor segment. But the niche strategy will enables Clean Edge Razor to contribute profit and at the same time, limit the effect of cannibalizing Paramounts existing products.

Anemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency Causes and Effects

Anemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency Causes and Effects Anemia is defined as the decline in the number of the normal number of (RBCs) Red Blood Cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood of the individual at the specific age and life phase; due to which the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood gets reduced (Medicine Net- definition of Anemia, 2000). WHO defines anemia by fall in the hemoglobin below the threshold limit for explicit age and body stage as limit in g/dL for- children (0.5 to 5 years) is 11, children (5 to 12 years) is 11.5, children 12 to 15 years) is 12, women non-pregnant (>15 years) is 12, pregnant women is 11 and men (>15 years) is 13 (WHO, 2008). Anemia can be categorized according to the morphological size of the Red Blood Corpuscles, diagnosed by the microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear through the test called Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV). The normal size of RBCs is 80-100 femtolitre (fl.) and anemic then called Normocytic anemia but if the cells are smaller than normal 80 fl and anemic then named Microcytic anemia if larger than 100fl. then anemia is classified as Macrocytic anemia. In the Macrocytic anemic condition the most common etiology is Megaloblastic anemia which is due to insufficiency of Vitamin B12 or folic acid or both. The deficiency of Vitamin B12 or folate can be either due to inadequate intake or scanty absorption by the body. Vitamin B12 deficiency produce neurological symptoms, but the folate deficiency does not produce such effect. The lack of intrinsic factor required to absorb Vitamin B12 from the diet causes the Megaloblastic anemic and the condition is called pernicious anemia. The sho rtage of intrinsic factor may arise from an auto immune condition aiming the parietal cells or the gastric lining (atrophic gastritis) that produce intrinsic factor or against intrinsic factor itself- which lead to poor absorption of the Vitamin B12. The removal of the functional portion of the stomach can be caused during the process of gastric bypass surgical procedure leads to reduced Vitamin B12 or folate absorption. Prevalence of condition Pernicious anemia accounts for about 80 % of megaloblastic anemia due to impaired absorption of vitamin B12. Parietal cell antibody and antibodies to intrinsic factor are found in nearly all cases. 90% of patients have antibodies to parietal cells and their components; including antibodies to intrinsic factor and proton pump H, K-ATPase (Burman Mardh et.al., 1989). About 50 percent of the patients have thyroid antibodies (Clinical Knowledge Summaries, 2008). Pernicious anemia may be associated with simple gastric atrophy in 15% of people age 40-60 and 20 to 30% of the older population. Pathology shows that gastritis with all layers of the body and fundus atrophied. The antrum is spared in more than 80% of patients (Merck Manual). The prevalence of the pernicious anemia in general population is not known and is difficult to ascertain because of diverse etiologies and different assays that is radioassay or chemoilluminescence. The incidence of the disease is 1:10,000 in northern Europe. The disease occurs in all races. The peak age is 60 and the condition is more common in those with blue eyes, early graying, a positive family history and blood group A. The condition has female : male ratio of 1.6 : 1.0 (Clinical Knowledge Summaries, 2008). Pernicious anemia may be first diagnosed incidentally during the investigation of reversible diarrhea (Marty, 1984). The recent WHO review has shown that the majority of the data on the prevalence of folate and Vitamin B12 deficiencies has been derived from relatively small and local surveys and these along with the national surveys data from few of the countries suggest that both of these deficiencies may be a public health problem that could affect many million of people throughout the world. Low blood concentrations of the vitamins occur across the population groups and in countries in various stages of development. There is strong evidence of careless relationship between low maternal folate intake or lower status and increased risk of neural tube defects- and for protective effect of folic acid supplementation or consumption of fortified foods, in the preconception period, against the neural defects. This association has been confirmed in two randomized clinical trials, in large scale supplementation trials in China, and from post-fortification data of the countries like United States of Ameri ca, Chile and Canada (WHO, 2008). The evidence of the relation between the serum or plasma folate concentrations and cognitive function is weaker in children than in adults. Some studies have reported lower scores in the school children with low folate status (Borjel Nilsson et.al., 2005). African -American populations are known to have an earlier age presentation (Chanarin, 1979). According to WHO review in United Kingdom among pregnant women 15.2 percent are anemic, among non-pregnant women of reproductive age about 8.8 percent are anemic, and among pre-school age children 8 percent are anemic. (WHO- Global database on Anemia) Path physiology of condition Structure of Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 structurally is a complex molecule in which a cobalt atom is present in a corrin ring. Basically, Vitamin B12 is present in the animal protein. Vitamin Storage in the Body Liver stores about half of the total body stores of about 2-5 milligrams. The recommended daily intake for adults is 2 mcg/d, pregnant and lactating women is 2.6mcg/d; while children require 0.7mcg/d and adolescents up to 2mcg/day. Vitamin B12 is highly conserved through the entero-hepatic circulation, cobalamin deficiency from mal-absorption develops after 2 to 5 years and the deficiency from dietary inadequacy in vegetarians develops after 10 to 20 years. Vitamin Absorption mechanism The low pH of stomach cleaves cobalamin from the ingested dietary proteins. The free cobalamin binds to the gastric R binder (a glycoprotein in saliva) and the complex travels to the duodenum and jejunum, where pancreatic peptidases digest the complex and release cobalamin. The free cobalamin is capable then to bind with gastric intrinsic factor (IF), a glycoprotein produced by the gastric parietal cells, the secretion of which parallels that of hydrochloric acid. That is why in states of achorhydria, IF secretion is reduced, leading to cobalamin deficiency. Significantly, only 99 percent of the ingested cobalamin requires intrinsic factor for absorption. Up to 1 percent of free cobalamin is passively absorbed through the terminal ileum. Due to this logic oral replacement of the Vitamin B12 with large quantities is suggested for Pernicious anemic conditions (Weir Scott et.al, 1998). As the intrinsic factor binds with Vitamin B12, resistance develops for further digestion of Vitamin B12. The complex travels to the distal ileum and binds to specific mucosal brush border receptor, Cublin- which facilitates the internalization of the cobalamin IF complex in an energy dependant process. Once internalized, IF is removed and cobalamin transferred to the other transport proteins transcobalamin I, II, III (TCI, TCII, TCIII). About 80% of cobalamin is bound to TCI/III, whose function in the cobalamin metabolism is unidentified. The remaining 20 percent binds with TCII, which is the physiological transport protein produced by endothelial cells. Its half life is 6-9 minutes; therefore the deliverance to target tissues is fast. Cobalamin TCII complex is secreted into the portal blood where it is taken up mainly in the liver and bone marrow and some other tissues. The phase when it reaches the cytoplasm, cobalamin is liberated from the complex by lysosomal degradation. The enzyme mediated reduction process of the cobalt occurs by cytoplasmic methylation to form methylcobalamin or by mitochondrial adenosylation to form adenosylcobalmin- which are the two main active forms of cobalamin (Weir Scott, 1999). Role of Vitamin B12 in bone marrow function Methylcobalamin in the cytoplasm- acts as cofactor for the methionine synthesis by allowing transfer of a methyl group from 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methylTHF) to homocysteine (HC), forming methionine and demethylated tetrahydrofolate (THF). This results in decrease in the level of homocysteine in the serum, which appears to be toxic to the endothelial cells. Methionine is further metabolized to S-adenosylmethinine. THF is utilized in the DNA synthesis. The polyglutamate converted form of THF participated in the purine synthesis and the conversion of deoxyuridylate (dUTP) to deoxythymidine monophospahe (dTMP), which is then phosphorylated to deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP). dTTP is required for DNA synthesis, thus in VitaminB12 deficiency- the formation of dTTP and the accumulation of 5-methyl THF is inadequate, trapping folate in tits unusable form, thereby leading to impeded DNA synthesis. RNA contains dTP (deoxyuracil triphosphate) instead of dTTP, allowing for protein synth esis to proceed uninterrupted and resulting in macrocytosis and cytonuclear dissociation. After folate deficiency, as same mechanisms are responsible to cause macrocytosis and cytonuclear dissociation that is why both deficiencies lead to Megaloblastic anemia and disordered maturation in the granulocytic linkages, therefore folate supplementation can reverse the hemotologic abnormalities of Vitamin B12 deficiency but has no impact on the neurological abnormalities of vitamin B12 deficiency. Pernicious anemia is commonly seen in individuals having atrophic gastritis, auto immune destruction of gastric parietal cells which leads to lack of intrinsic factor for the absorption of Vitamin B12 and this ultimately give rise to Vitamin B12 deficiency (Kumar, 2007). The loss of the ability to absorb Vitamin B12 is the most common cause of adult vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 and folate co enzyme are required for the thymidylate and purine synthesis, thus their deficiency results in retarded DNA synthesis. In folate and Vitamin B12 deficiency the defect in DNA synthesis affects other rapidly dividing cells also, which may be manifested as glossitis, skin changes and flattening of the intestinal villi (Masnou Llavat et.al., 2007). The synthesis of DNA may also be delayed when certain chemotherapeutic agents like folate anstagonists (methotrexate), purine antagonists (6-mercaptopurine) and pyrimidine antagonists are used. In addition to non explicit symptoms of anemia, exact features of Vitamin B12 deficiency include peripheral neuropathy and subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, which results in balance difficulties from posterior column spinal cord pathology (Niranjan, 2006). Dietary links Most of the microorganisms even including bacteria and algae- synthesize vitamin B12 and they form the only main source of this vitamin (Chanarin, 1979). The Vitamin B12 synthesized in the microorganisms enters the human food chain through amalgamation into the food of the animal origin. In many animals, gastrointestinal fermentation supports the growth of these Vitamin B12 forming microorganisms and consequently the vitamin is absorbed into the animal tissues. This is principally accurate for the liver- where the vitamin B 12 is stored in the large quantities. The products from the herbivorous animals like milk, meat and eggs thus comprise the significant dietary source of the vitamin, unless the animal is surviving in one of the many regions in the world which is geochemically deficient in cobalt (Smith, 1987). Milk from cows and humans contains binders with very high affinity for Vitamin B12, though whether they hamper or promote intestinal absorption is not totally clear. Omnivores and carnivores, including humans derive dietary vitamin B12 almost exclusively from animal tissues or products like milk, butter, cheese, eggs, meat, poultry etc. This appears that the vitamin B12 derived from the microflora in any appreciable quantities, although vegetable fermentation preparations have been reported as being possible sources of vitamin B12 (Berg Dagnelie et.al., 1988). About  ½ pint of milk contains 1.2 µg, a slice of vegetarian cheddar cheese 40gm contains 50 µg, 1 boiled egg contains 0.7 µg of Vitamin B12. The process fermentation in order to prepare yoghurt destroys much of the B12 present. Boiling milk can also destroy much of the vitamin B12 present in it (Vegatarian Society England- Information Sheet). The treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency linked anemia is not permanent as the temporary cure and the cessation of the anemia related symptoms depends on the repletion of the Vitamin B12. The most accessible or inexpensive method to replenish vitamin B12 is through dietary supplementation in the of sublingual B12 tablets available widely throughout the world. The oral and sublingual B12 are absorbed equally well but in the study subjects were not selected to be having pernicious anemia. Anemic patients may need sublingual cyanocobalamin or methylcobalamin tablets which permits absorption through the mucous membrane of the mouth thus bypassing the gastrointestinal tract completely therefore no risk of intrinsic factor discrepancy (Sharabi Sulkes et.al., 2003). In some studies oral tablets were used but they were required in very high doses to treat pernicious anemia were required (Lederle, 1998). The effectiveness of the high dose of vitamin B12 tablets to treat ordinary pernicious anemia is very well established. High oral administration allows B12 to be absorbed in places other than the terminal ileum. In a study it was found that oral B12 repletion was more effective than injections (Butler Vidal, 2006). Innovative alternative methods of administering B12, including nasal sprays and behind the ear patches. In small study in mid 1997 with just 6 participants found that the intranasal administration of B12 led to increases in plasma cobalamin even up to 8 times of the given patients baseline measurement (Slot Merkus et.al., 1997). Evidence from epidemiological studies According to the epidemiological study conducted in 2005 Pernicious anemia is more common in type diabetics than in non-diabetic subjects, but it is clinically silent until its end stage. The high prevalence of latent Pernicious anemia in Diabetes mellitus type 1 patients leads to the recommendation of screening using serum pepsinogen 1 concentrations (Nuria Lusia, 2005). The risk of cancers of buccal cavity, stomach and colon along with lymphoma and leukemia is shown to be increased in case reports of patients in hospital based and cross sectional studies in a cohort study of 1993. Even the cancer of esophagus and pancreas also remain elevated throughout the study and the follow-up period (Hsing Hansson et.al., 1993). The epidemiological study conducted in 1996 among U.S. population has shown that undiagnosed pernicious anemia is a common finding in the elderly people of United States with undiagnosed and untreated pernicious anemia and is having possibility for masked cobalamin deficiency (Carmel, 1996). The study conducted in 2003 to find the link between infection of H.Pylori and the gastric autoimmune diseases like pernicious anemia. This epidemiological study has depicted that the frequent detection of H pylori in subjects with early gastric autoimmunity indicated by parietal cell antibodies suggests that- H. pylori could have crucial role to play in the induction and the maintenance of the autoimmunity at the gastric level (Fabio Beatrice et.al., 2003). Conclusions As the totally vegetarians do not consume any animal products, they are at high risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency. It is generally agreed that in some communities the only source of vitamin B12 is from contamination of food by microorganisms. When vegetarians move to countries where there are high standards of hygiene and the rules of sanitation are stringent, there is good evidence that risk of vitamin B12 deficiency increases in adults and particularly in children born to and breastfed by women who are strict vegans. As standards of hygiene improve in developing countries, there is a concern that the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency might occur or increase. This should be ascertained by estimating plasma vitamin B12 levels, preferably in conjunction with plasma levels in representative adult populations and in infants. Further research needs include Ascertaining the contribution that fermented vegetable foods make to the vitamin B12 status of vegans communities. Investigating the prevalence of atrophic gastritis in developing countries to determine its extent in exacerbating vitamin B12 deficiency. Relation of pernicious anemia with the fatal or other chronic diseases like those of endocrinal, cardiac or renal system. Dietary or supplementary innovative methods are still to be researched to find easy suitable methods to manage vitamin B12 deficiency. To find permanent cure of the disease by some biological stem cell therapy method or repair of the gastric lining to cover up the deficiency of intrinsic factor and break down the pathological cycle of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia.

The Religious Differences :: essays research papers

What I am going to say would offend most people, as I plan to be blunt. I think that most Religions are shams. It is obviously something, like Myths, made to explain the world. But certain religions, such as Christianity, are as corrupt as the people considered evil in these very religions.An example that I can think of right off the top of my head is something I saw when I was flipping through the channels on TV. I happened to pass the bible channel and there was this show on. I was curious and I left it on this show for a few seconds. They were talking about the Bible, and what I heard sickened me. They were talking about a passage in the book of Leviticus. A man of Egyptian and Israeli descent was passing through an Israeli camp. He happened to make a remark about God and they sentenced him to death by stoning. This appalled me. Doesn't Christianity also teach people to respect human life? Is life so unimportant that every time someone says something bad about God that he should die? Does God want human sacrifice? I certainly wouldn't worship an awful God like that.And how about Hell? I once read Dante's Inferno and you wouldn't believe the people who are supposed to go to Hell! Among them are: Homosexuals, Atheists, Opportunists and, the most loathing of all, Pagans! Among the Pagans are anyone who worshipped a different God, people who weren't baptized and people who were born before Jesus Christ.Yet, I must admit, there are some religions that seem to be O.K. Most of these are religions based on teachings and ideas rather than some tyrannical God. These religions include Hinduism, Shinto and Buddhism. Among these religions, the most appealing to me would be Buddhism. It teaches that all life is sacred and that people should always be striving to do their best to reach perfection or, as it is commonly referred to, Nirvana.It wasn't derived from some almighty being made up by superstitious peasants. It was formed by a ruler named Siddhartha. This is his story.Buddha was a ruler who was born in Kapilavastu, India, just outside present day Nepal. He showed an early inclination to meditation and reflection, displeasing his father, who wanted him to be a warrior and ruler rather than a religious philosopher. Yielding to his father's wishes, he married at an early age and participated in the worldly life of the court.

Carol Ann Duffy Notes

The poem closes with reminders of oppression, control and confinement. Possibility that was once limitless for the dolphins now has ‘limits' imposed upon it that will become impossible to bear. The realisation will probably hasten the creatures' death, signalling that there is as much at stake from a psychological perspective as there is from the physical circumstances. Stifling of natural impulse and behaviour can have fatal consequences. The ‘plastic toy' is a further reminder of the indignity visited on this majestic creature of the ocean. The phrase until the whistle blows is potentially ambiguous. In one level it simply refers to the controlling device used by the keeper but on another the poet might be reminding us that this sort of cruelty will continue until somebody exposes it for what it is. Duffy does effectively ‘blow the whistle' on such practices. The final line, with its reference to ‘our mind', neatly links the plural possessive pronoun with the singular noun ‘mind' indicating a collective voice for a species. The tense change to ‘we will' draws attention to the contrast between what the dolphins had, what they have now and can expect in the future. As a result, the dolphins assume an almost mythic status in that they appeal to archetypal impulses in us and in nature; they are not just the creatures who form part of it. ‘The Dolphins' may just as easily be read as a poem about human disillusion, betrayal and loss of direction as it is about animals. As an interpreter of experience it offers us a new language into which we would do well to translate ourselves. Foreign Duffy's preoccupation with language is dealt with here form the perspective of its cultural significance as much as its ability to say anything. To the immigrant, the country to which he or she has moved out of economic necessity will always be ‘foreign' but the indigenous population will regard them as foreigners. The fact that living in a foreign culture is something that is not easy to get used to is emphasised in the opening line of the poem. Despite living in a city for ‘twenty years' it remains ‘strange'. The immigrant is aware of his or her own ‘foreign accent' as it sounds to others. The strain of thinking in one language and having to translate into the speech of another cannot always be sustained and this is sensitively pointed out through the physical detail in the final stanza: ‘And in the delicatessen, from time to time, the coins / in your palm will not translate. ‘ The breakdown in communication in an everyday, exposed transactional situation is intensified through the words ‘Inarticulate' and ‘point'. Duffy's empathic feeling for such people is further expressed in her presentation of other actions such as ‘writing home', a way of maintaining contact with others of the same culture. The ‘local dialect' in the immigrant's ‘head' is coupled with the memory of his or her mother singing. These are details with which any sympathetic person might identify and throw into sharp relief the actual experience of seeing racist graffiti ‘sprayed in red' (line 12). Duffy's use of the simile, ‘Red like blood' to describe the paint is effective because of its monosyllabic directness of observation. It also resonates with a famous and terrible speech given by the Conservative politician Enoch Powell who, on 20th April 1968 warned that increased immigration into Britain would result in a ‘river of blood'. There is, then, a stark contrast between the uses of language as a sign system of cultural inclusion (stanza 2) and its deliberate use as a weapon of racial exclusion (stanza 3). The ‘hate name' of the racists is sprayed on a ‘brick wall' the harshness and unyielding nature of which is symbolic of the mentality of those who do such things. The unfamiliar, snowy weather and artificial ‘neon lights' create the impression for the immigrant that the country moved to is ‘coming to bits'. This image of fragmentation is, though, not entirely imaginary as he or she has a life splintered from all that is familiar and constantly experiences a sense of alienation. The italicised words at the close of the poem give voice to the immigrant but this only gives away a difficulty with English. The unfinished verbs, ‘Me not know' and ‘It like they only†¦' are drawn attention to by Duffy in order that the reader may ponder what it would be like to face the same language problem. The final words of the poem, ‘Imagine that' remind us of the opening and there is quite a clear impression that Duffy is adopting an undisguised didactic stance. As a skilled and empowered user of the English language herself she is drawing attention to the lot of those who are marginalised because of their deficiency in its use. Head of English The poet is introduced to the class by the Head of English who has very fixed views about what poetry should be. As in ‘Comprehensive', the school in question is a multi-ethnic institution. It is significant that the teacher should be dismissing the live woman poet because she does not conform to the Keatsean ideal in the teacher's mind. She is not dead and she is not male. How anyone with ‘English second language' is expected to relate to dead white English men is clearly a challenge laid down in the poem. The five six line stanzas are indicative of a controlled, contained environment, the institution and the teacher are reflected in this. Duffy does not choose to use rhyme throughout (as the teacher predicted) but reserves some obvious rhymes for the teacher to use. This is a very subtle use of a poetic technique to satirise someone who is complaining about its absence from modern poetry. So, simultaneously, Duffy is using a poetic technique to show that the teacher is wrong about it being absent from modern verse whilst showing that the rhyme, being obvious, is the sort needed by the teacher. The reference to Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) is significant for a number of reasons. His poems do rhyme very regularly, and a number of them are redolent of British imperialism and nationalism in the Victorian period. This is actually grossly offensive in a multicultural context. ‘Winds of change' is a wittily ambiguous phrase since it refers to the words of Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister 1957-63 speaking of political events such as the civil war in the Congo following the granting of independence from Belgium. It also tells us that the teacher is referring to flatulence, as well as reinforcing her own entrenched views. Duffy is ironically drawing attention to the fact that Calliope, ‘the Muse' and source of afflatus, breath of inspiration for poets is interrupted by an unwelcome allusion to noxious gases. The control possible in adopting a persona in the dramatic monologue is clear. Single word sentences, a hallmark of Duffy's verse, work very well in capturing the terse, rude attitude of the teacher. ‘Still. ‘ (stanza 2); ‘Right. ‘ (stanza 4); and ‘Well. Really. ‘ (stanza 5) show that she is singularly unimpressed by what she has heard. Here, it is what is implied by Duffy's economical use of language that is so effective in building an impression of what this woman is like. The idea of someone being in charge of an English Department who cannot see that it is she who actually has the ‘outside' view is worrying. The fact that she devotes a whole lesson to assonance also indicates the deadly boring teaching methods she employs. She obviously teaches technique out of context in the same way that she cannot accept modern poetry as belonging to a literary tradition. Like any poor English teacher she views tradition as something strictly to do with an unreachable past. It is striking that it is the silent space between the fifth and sixth stanzas that the poet has been allowed to read. Despite having encouraged pupils to ask questions ‘after all we're paying forty pounds', the teacher's response to the poet's reading is telling as she instructs the class to ‘run along'. The reader wonders just what ‘insight' the teacher has actually gained. Also, her pupils are unlikely to derive much from her teaching. More worrying, though, are the entrenched attitudes of a person who should not be in charge of the most expansive of subjects studied at school.

Effect of video games on children Essay

During the course of this research, a number of significant facts were found. The original topic question for the research was â€Å"the psychological and physical effect of video games on children†. The amount of information researched on the psychological effect was a lot and thus the topic question for the research was then changed to â€Å"the psychological effect of video games on children†. The main reason for researching this topic was the fact that there are a lot of young children in the world who play immensely violent games. Many children and their parents ignore the game rating. Many parents do not understand the adverse effect that those video games would have on the young child’s growing brain. Research which is discussed below in detail has proven that violent video games have a great psychological effect on the children which causes them to become aggressive adolescence. This in turn affects their social and personal life in a major way. The researched information shows that violent video games are clearly harmful to children and both parents and children must obey the game rating if they want healthy and rather peaceful children. Video games have been available to the customer for around 30 years now. The games have evolved greatly. They merely started off as 2D arcade games and now they have evolved to 4D virtual reality. One of the main researched subtopic has been video games and the time children spend playing them. The time that children spent playing video games varies greatly according to gender. A research/ study conducted in 2004 by Gentile, Lynch, Linder & Walsh stated that adolescent girls played video games for an average of 5 hours a week whereas boys played an average of 13 hours. Now this extended amount of time spent playing video games affects the children in many ways. The time which they could’ve spent studying is spent playing video games. This may appear to be a decline in academic achievement. The same study conducted by Gentile, Lynch, Linder & Walsh also states that teens also tend to become more aggressive in nature, more prone to confronting their teachers and also get into a lot of fights with their peers. The research shows that video games not only affect the child psychologically but also socially. It affects the person’s relationship with friends and close ones. In a study by Walsh in 2000, majority of the teenagers admitted that their parents don’t impose time limit. In a survey conducted by myself, the results clearly show that 30% of the people play video games more than four times a week. Another deeply researched subtopic has been video game rating. Parents tend to ignore the game ratings of a game and also the warnings on the game that say that they are unsuitable for children. A research authorised by the UK game industry found that parents let young children play adult games. The main reason for this was the fact that parents thought their children were mature enough to play games way beyond their age level. This thought process of parents is much objected by Modulum researcher Jurgen Freund. He suggests that parents think their children are mature and that the game will not have an influence on the child. Parents seem to perceive age ratings as a guide but not as a prohibition according to him. It has been reported that 39% of UK parents ignore the rating on videogames. A survey conducted by myself indicated that 50% of the children do not follow the game ratings. Video games are very addictive. This is because, once the player engages into the game, he/she is in the game world. The real world is switched off for him/her for that period of time. As the player has no idea about the real world, he/she do not realise the amount of time spent playing the game. Addiction of video games has caused many serious effects on children over the past years. These serious effects also include death. On December 27th 2004, a thirteen year old Warcraft player committed suicide by jumping off a building in order to join the heroes of the game. This aim of joining the heroes was indicated by his suicide note. In conclusion it is clearly evident that video games have a very negative effect on children and their growth. Firstly, children should be monitored throughout their young life so that nothing bad affects them in their childhood as this will affect the child in his later years. Parents should also have a hold on the amount of time the child spends playing video games. The time spent should not interfere with the time that the child could have spent playing with friends and socialising. Parents should strictly follow the game ratings and should instil the idea of following the game rating into their children. Young children should not play adult games. This should be done because violent games cause the children to become more aggressive and in turn it grows the kids into violent adolescents. These violent adolescents grow into aggressive, angry and rather violent adults. If the person is violent it is highly likely that that person will not have many friends and will not often socialise. This will cause that person to be lonely and rather depressed. The parents should enforce strong rules regarding the time spent playing the video games and set a certain time weekly that the children may play the video games. The parents must also strictly follow the game ratings and make sure that they only buy games for their children which fit their age group. Parents should make sure that their kids do not become ‘gameholics’ but rather should spend more time with friends and be out socially. If all the above are followed by parents then there is a reduced risk of psychological problems developing in children from a very young age. If looked carefully it is evident that parents play a very important role in the child’s growth and development. Gentile, D. A. , Lynch, P. , Linder, J. & Walsh, D. (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 5-22 [ 2 ]. Walsh, D. (2000). Interactive violence and children: Testimony submitted to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate. (March 21, 2000. ) [ 3 ]. Andrea Norcia, (26/06/2010) The Impact of Video Games on Children, http://www. pamf. org/preteen/parents/videogames. html, 18/11/2011 [ 4 ]. Swiss research association [ 5 ]. Chief executive officer of Modulum [ 6 ]. Alfred Hermida , (27/04/2010) Parents ’ignore game age ratings’ , http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/technology/4118270. stm, 17/11/2011 [ 7 ]. Ricky Lam, (November 7, 2010 ) Top 10 Cases of Extreme Game Addiction, http://listverse. com/2010/11/07/top-10-cases-of-extreme-game-addiction/, 16/11/2011.