Flame Test Essay Example

Flame Test Paper Title: Flame Test Aim: To determine the cation in each of the unknown substance X, Y and Z by observing the flame colour of different metal compounds. Introduction: A distinctive feature of many s-block metals is their ability to produce flame colours. At temperature of a Bunsen flame, a compound will decompose to give gaseous atoms of its constituent elements. When an electron in the gaseous atom absorbs energy from the flame, it will move from an orbital with lower energy to an orbital with higher energy. When such an electron returns from an orbital of higher energy to an orbital of lower energy, a photon with energy equal to the difference in energy of the two orbitals will be emitted. An emission line results. Each element has a unique emission spectrum. A metal can be identified if it has a strong emission line in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thus when a compound such as NaCl is vaporized in a flame, ion pairs are converted to gaseous atoms. Na(g) atoms are excited to high energies, and 589nm (yellow) light is emitted as the excited atoms revert to their ground state electronic configurations. We will write a custom essay sample on Flame Test specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Flame Test specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Flame Test specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Therefore, the cation in the unknown substances can be identify. Chemicals: Concentrated Hydrochloric acid (about 10 cm3) The following solids (0. 1 g) for flame tests: Barium chloride Calcium chloride Copper (II) chloride Magnesium chloride Potassium chloride Sodium chloride Unknown solids containing a single cation and labelled X, Y and Z Apparatus: Bunsen burner Insulation mat Platinum wire (or Nichrome wire), Watch glass Safety precaution: As concentrated hydrochloric acid is corrosive, skin contact should be avoided. It is preferable to use polythene gloves and wear goggles while handling it. Copper (II) chloride and barium chloride are highly toxic by ingestion. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. When Busen burner is not being used, close the air hole so that you can see the yellow flame. Keep your clothing away from the flame. Procedure: 1. The platinum wire was dipped into concentrated hydrochloric acid and heated in a non-luminous flame until the flame is no longer coloured. 2. A spatula of sample (e. g. barium chloride) was put onto a clean watch glass. 3. The platinum wire is dipped into concentrated hydrochloric acid and then the crushed sample of salt to be tested. . The end of the platinum wire is heated strongly in a non-luminous flame again. 5. The colour of the flame at the wire is observed and recorded. 6. The platinum wire is cleaned thoroughly after testing each solid. The test is repeated with chloride of Ca2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+ and unknown solid X, Y and Z in turn. Results: Compound| Colour of the flame| Cation Presents| Barium chloride| Apple green| | C alcium chloride| Brick red| | Copper(II) chloride| Bluish green| | Magnesium chloride| White| | Potassium chloride| Lilac| | Sodium chloride| Golden yellow| | X| Lilac| K+| Y| Bluish green| Cu2+| Z| Golden yellow| Na+| Discussion: 1. Why do certain metal ions give flame colours in this way? The elements have their outer electrons loosely bound so that they can be easily excited to higher energy levels on heating. As these electrons return to their ground states, radiations are emitted. It happens that for many Group I and II metals, these emitted radiations fall into the visible range of the spectrum, so that they can be seen by eyes, i. e. , visible. 2. What is the function of concentrated hydrochloric acid? It is used to clean the platinum wire. The concentrated hydrochloric acid converts ant contaminated salts to their corresponding chlorides, which are usually more volatile to be vaporized off. It gives better observations as the boiling point of metal chloride is lower and less heat is needed to vaporize it. Besides, the sample of powdered compound whose flame colour is to determined is easier to stuck on the platinum wire. 3. Substance A gives a golden yellow flame in flame test. When an acidified solution of A is treated with silver nitrate solution, a yellow precipitate is formed. The precipitate is insoluble in excess ammonia solution. Name A. Substance A is sodium iodide. Limitation The range of detected elements is small, and the test relies on the subjective experience of the experimenter rather than any objective measurements. The test has difficulty detecting small concentrations of some elements, while too strong a result may be produced for certain others, which tends to drown out weaker signals. Moreover, the test cannot differentiate between all elements. Several metals produce the same flame color while some compounds do not change the color of the flame at all. Source of error The source of error of the experiment include the subjective judgment of the colour by the human eye. Besides, the traces of Impurities from the last substance tested and the position of the wire put in the flame also affect the accuracy of the experiment. Improvement The wire should be moved first through the cooler part of the non-luminous Bunsen flame by approaching from underneath, so that even very volatile substances could colour the flame long enough to be observable. The platinum wire should be cleaned thoroughly before testing for a new compound as impurities or contaminants affect the test results. Conclusion: The cation in the unknown substance X, Y and Z is K+, Cu2+ and Na+ respectively.

6 Ways Nurses Can Stay Healthy During Flu Season

6 Ways Nurses Can Stay Healthy During Flu Season Chances are, the hospital or facility you work at requires you to get your flu shot. But sometimes even that is not enough. Here are 6 more preventative measures you can take to protect yourself from getting sick this season. 1. Treat Your Body Like a TempleJunk food is not your friend. Red Bull and french fries and Snickers bars might get you through a shift, but they won’t get you through flu season. Try and eat healthier (and make sure to include fruits and vegetables!) so your body gets the vitamins and minerals it needs to fight things off. And stay hydrated!2. Get Some SleepYou’re working overtime and the time off you do have is full of holiday activity. Make sure to rest as much and as well as you can so you don’t have to lose work time or play time.3. Be Travel SmartStay hydrated and boost your vitamin intake. Carry Airborne or Zicam or Emergen-C and a packet of sanitizing wipes on planes and trains and buses so you don’t pick up any germs.4. Be Vi gilantStart to get a sniffle or a sneeze? Feel a little achy? Stop what you’re doing and take care of yourself. Take your vitamins, get some rest, drink lots of fluids. Use hand sanitizer often. Get a humidifier. If you’re proactive enough, you can head the flu off at the start.5. Get CleanClean your kitchen and bathroom regularly. But don’t forget to also sanatize the things you carry with you, like your cell phone or your keys. A few disinfectant wipes will do a lot of good in fending off the army of germs. And if you do get sick, remember to change your toothbrush.6. Be an EnforcerYou’re a nurse, so you’re a hand washing and sanitizing pro. But the rest of your family probably isn’t. Get on your soapbox and make sure everyone you love is following the same guidelines. No sick people preparing food! Use tissues to sneeze! Wash hands after coughing! Protect your loved ones and protect yourself.

The Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka - Essay Example In addition to this, there is one theme that makes up a major part of this story. In various part of the story, Kafka expresses his believe that Gregor's metamorphosis is a symbolic one rather than a physical one. By giving the story the title metamorphosis, the readers of this story are more likely to expect or believe that Gregor had turned into a real scary creature. However, Kafka expresses his view that Gregor's metamorphosis is a symbolic one rather than a physical one through various texts in the story, each of which explains the theme in various contexts. At the beginning of the story, Kafka explains how Gregor wakes up one day to find that he has turned into monstrous insect-like creature and this makes his family to run away from him (Kafka 539). The running away is an indication that the family was seeing a totally new and terrifying creature of what used to be one of them. This is also noted when Gregor examines himself and wonders what has happened of him. However, there is something about his transformation that makes Kafka to believe that it Gregor has not turned to a real vermin. Instead, he has become a vermin in psychological or moral sense. Kafka states that when Gregor realised he had changed, he does not seem to readily accept his new look. He fights with his new reality and how much it has incapacitated him and questions how such changes could occur. He does his best to get out of bed and go to work because he still has the will power to go. However, he could not manage and finally, he resorts to lying back hoping that taking some time and thinking clearly will resolve the situation (Kafka 540). The will power that Gregor displays is an indication that his transformation was not a physical one. ... The will power that Gregor displays is an indication that his transformation was not a physical one. He could not have really wanted to go and mix with normal human beings if he himself had turned into something strange. The transformations where therefore internal and Gregor was seeing the possibilities of him fighting to live amongst people and work despite the changes that have taken place in his life. He was also seeing he possibilities of being restored to his previous sound state. In other words, there was a possible intervention to it. No such interventions could be possible if Gregor had turned to a real terrifying creature. In another place, Gregor says, â€Å"How about going back to sleep for a few minutes and forgetting all this nonsense.† By terming the transformations as nonsense, Gregor was in essence indicating that he was he was experiencing some unhealthy changes in his thoughts. This is also supported by his decision to resolve to some clear thinking as a way out of this problem. For a normal human being, it does not sound realistic for one to wish away some physical changes that have taken place in one’s life because no amount of wishing can take them away. However, some psychological or moral disturbances or abnormalities can be resolved by taking time to rest, going through counseling, psychological therapy and other forms of rehabilitations. When Gregor’s situation grew worse, he became unbearable to his family and some of them even saw him as a threat to them. For example, his father throws some apples on him when he met him outside. This is the monster in him that Kafka implies and is an indication that the changes in his thoughts had now made him wild or too absurd in his behaviors. These are characteristics of persons suffering

Strategic Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic Marketing - Case Study Example A brand is also considered to be a trademark or a product line. It is a distinctive name, which addresses, or identifies, a product, service, or a manufacturer. People purchase a certain brand in order to acquire a distinctive category and to show ownership of the brand that they favour. Companies must develop a marketing strategy. This process consists of coming up with a foundation (a basis) in which to work from. By creating a marketing strategy, companies can create an identity. This identity will be the trademark that used repeatedly in all communications in order for the company logo and message to be known by others. A company's brand, or otherwise known as a trademark or logo/motto, helps to differentiate the company from others and to provide uniqueness. It is suggest that there are four marketing constituents that must be considered and understood when creating a marketing strategy. The marketing components offer the foundation and basis for the brand strategy. The four components are as follow (Developing Your Brand Strategy, To begin developing a marketing strategy, a company must first define its brand. Defining a brand creates a framework or foundation for every other factor to build on. Adidas' marketing strategy was to focus on the rapidly growing sector of sports and retail. The company does not market sports but markets through sports. Although the two are quite similar and connected by the use of sponsors, marketing through sports involves employing communications in the communication process. An example is to market through an even such as the World Cup. This works tremendously as organisers of the event usually allow only one sports company to represent them (i.e., the official sponsor of the World Cup). Other companies are doing the same thing by incorporating Adidas into their marketing strategy. Even companies that typically do not have anything to do with sports are incorporating Adidas in delivering their brand. An example of this is when Mastercard, which has nothing to do with sports and athletics, uses Adidas in their commercials and other avenues of marketing because it recognises the powerful effects that television and football has on the public. (Hare, 1999.) Adidas also delivers the message that a sport product can also be an everyday consumer product. Sportswear is as fashionable as it is function-able. Branding is extremely important for Adidas as they market to the retail sectors. Polo shirts, track suits (or warm-up suits), and trainers are amongst the products that are popular with households. Knowing the target market is very crucial in determining the brand and all the steps that are required in doing so. A company's target market comprises of the people, which the company wishes to gain the attention and business of. Adidas defines their target market by characteristics such as psychographic, demographic, and geographic. With each target market, the marketing strategies change a

Senate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Senate - Essay Example CA senators are term-limited to two terms while US senators are not. Such structural differences however, are merely superficial. The importance of the California economy to the nation’s economy makes holding a job on, for example, the agriculture committee in CA a critical job, and one on par with many US Senate committee assignments. CA senators command great respect due to their role in overseeing the critical state budget and economy. While US Senators have more formal powers due to appointment oversight roles, the structural differences between the jobs – even in light of the term limits – can be made too much of. Both jobs serve critical legislative functions. Where the real differences between the two bodies exist is found in political factors. Because the CA senate has been continuously in the hands of the Democratic Party since 1970, it is essentially a one-party system. Republicans state senators can have impact on their specific districts, but the stat ewide power is held exclusively by a single party.

Examination of the Efficacy of Dietary Supplements

Examination of the Efficacy of Dietary Supplements What has led to the popularity of dietary supplements and is their success deserved? Surname: LU First name: YIXUAN Introduction The definitions of dietary supplements are varied from different countries which specify the scope of the term differently, and this essay presents a logical common definition of dietary supplements. Dietary supplements, the forms of which are usually tablets, pills, powders, capsules or liquid preparations, are oral products taken at recommended dosage in addition to normal food intake. It contains one or more kind of nutrient which is derived from food products such as vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Additionally herbs or other botanicals are included in US definition. The sales of dietary supplements show that the popularity of dietary supplements among all fields and all ages of people has been rising dramatically in a few decades. In the US, sales of dietary supplements in 2001 were about $17.8 billion (Nutrtion Journal. 2011), and as reported by the latest statistics, dietary supplements annual sale has increased to approximately $30 billion (MD, 2014). In this essay, first of all, I will illustrate the reason why food supplements become so popular among general public, followed by a detailed illustration of the benefits of dietary supplements as supporting. Then some controversial issues raised by such popularity will be revealed, and the risks of taking dietary supplements are shown subsequently. In the end, I will give some suggestions to consumers when taking dietary supplements. The popularity of food supplements There are many factors accounting for the popularity of food supplements. Ransley et al. (2001) argue that four main driving forces cause this popularity. Firstly, the modern diet seems can hardly meet the strict requirement of health and life of people today especially in terms of nutrition, and the lack of the categories and quantities of nutrients can be supplied by taking dietary supplements. Secondly, eating dietary supplements are considered to be a remedy or precaution of aging-related diseases, which makes them quite popular among old people. Thirdly, in consideration of the increasing price of medicines and the inconvenience of seeing a doctor, taking dietary supplements directly is more attractive to consumers. Lastly, with the improvement of living standard, people are more concerned about their own health. Therefore he desirable features of food supplements can get people’s attention successfully. The benefits of taking dietary supplements Taking right amount of food supplements can assure an adequate dietary intake of essential nutrients. Although we can get all the vitamins and minerals we need as long as we keep a well-balanced diet every day, it is not easy to follow this good habit strictly especially among commuters and teenagers. Therefore, Webb (2006) claims that using dietary supplements, such as multivitamins and cod liver oil, usually helps ensuring the adequacy of nutritionally diet. As Walji (1995) and Mason (2001) point out, having irregular meals is quite common and this may cause nutritional deficiency. Besides, improper methods of preserving and cooking food may result in the loss of some nutrients from food, particularly those delicate and unstable vitamins, which may cause a phenomenon that people eating a lot but still undernourished (Walji, 1995). Additionally, the amount of nutritional requirements vary from person to person, even the nutrient containing in the standard diet may still be either ex ceed or inferior to some people. Therefore having a wholesome diet with the addition of supplements personally is a good way to ensure the correct amount of nutrients keeping our body in optimum condition. Besides, food supplements do have a powerful psychological effect on consumers. This is shown in a research that many consumers use supplements occasionally and take them only when the spirits are low or when they are stressful (Ransley, et al., 2001). Another benefit of taking dietary supplements is the efficacy of preventing deficiency diseases (Webb, 2006; Mason, 2001). In order to cure some diseases, people may need to increase demand for a particular nutrient in certain medical conditions or other circumstances. Take vitamin D deficiency as an example, vitamin D has the function of promoting intestinal tract absorption of calcium. Webb (2006) points out that the main source of vitamin D inside body comes from exposing the skin to the ultraviolet rays in the sunshine. People who spends less than the necessary amount of time under the sunshine, seems to be more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency. Webb (2006) also notes that the lack of vitamin D is an essential contributing factor in the development of osteoporosis among old people. Combining with the fact that the ability of converting sunlight into vitamin D in the elderly will decrease as they grow older, taking related supplements become more necessary and functional. COMA ( 1991) recommended that vitamin D supplements should be taken by all aged people only if they are regularly exposed to the sunlight with reasonable amount of time (Webb, 2006). The usage of dietary supplements also contributes to avoiding other diseases or illness such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers or skin problems. Differentiating from the supplements treating nutritional deficiencies, food supplements for other diseases may have long-term positive effects on physical condition (Webb, 2006). For instance, fish oil supplement is well known for its effect on heart diseases. A conclusive study demonstrating the function of fish oil has been done by Burr et al. (1989). He tested â€Å"the effects of dietary intervention in the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI)† (Burr et al. 1989, p757). The result shows a nearly 30% decrease in total mortality among the tested men who were suggested to eat oily fish (or fish oil capsules if some people did not eat fish) during the two years study (Burr et al. 1989). Although some variables may have not considered in the study, it is still a comparatively successful experiment verifying the efficac y of fish oil which is the main effective ingredient in fatty fish. Controversial problems following with the popularity With the growing popularity of taking food supplements, many controversial problems arise subsequently. What is the standard direction of taking dietary supplements? Are there adequate regulations of dietary supplements market especially in terms of herbs and mineral? whether dietary supplements make a worthwhile contribution to a healthy dietà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã… ¸ All these issues point to the risks of taking dietary supplements. The risks of taking dietary supplements There are so many unknown risks of eating dietary supplements, one of the main risks is that it may be harmful if people taking supplements in wrong dosage. If people take over-dose of specific supplements in the diet, such behavior may trigger the food-drug interactions (Hans, et al., 2001). Both the FDA (Food and Drug Administration in the US, 2014) and Webb(2006) state that the excessive use of some supplements, such as vitamin and iron, may cause some health risks and needless effects before, during and after surgery. For example, large ÃŽ ²-carotene supplements are known for the efficacy of preventing heart disease and cancer, but some studies show that such supplements may have counteractive. â€Å"Rapala et al. (1997) reported increased death rates from coronary heart disease in those subjects (smokers) given ÃŽ ²-carotene supplements compared with those receiving either the placebo or vitamin E supplements† (Webb, 2006). In addition, the ‘inverse supplement hypot hesis’ claims that some people who already have sufficient nutrition are more likely to taking supplements (Ransley, et al., 2001). Here is the evidence provided by the Women’s Cohort Study. In this study, one of the informants took 9g of vitamin C from supplements and an extra 90mg from another vitamin preparation. The intake of these two was more than 200 times than the RNI (Recommended Nutrient Intakes) and this is the amount without taking her dietary intake into account (SFL, et al., 1998). The above-mentioned evidence illustrates that consumers taking wrong dosage of food supplements may also be harmful. Another risk of taking dietary supplements is the lack of informed advices. As Blendon et al. (2001) indicate that, there is a lack of connection and trust between physicians and consumers. Because consumers do not believe in the information about supplements from physicians, likewise when physicians notice some problems about dietary supplements, they do not inform the consumers. Therefore, consumers prefer to take self-meditation, such as using dietary supplements to treat their illness, which is more convenient and have private space. However, when consumers need to ensure the daily intake, they have to search sources of advice from some unidentified places, such as internet, dietary supplement shop or the media. â€Å"This approach to self-meditation will carry risks and corresponding proof is that intakes of some supplements can be toxic to health and will cause serious adverse effects such as diarrhea (vitamin C) and flushing (niacin) † (Ransley, et al., 2001, p12). Furthermore, many benefits of dietary supplements are still unknown and unproved, so taking dietary supplements should be very cautious. The FDA (2014) illustrates that many supplements contain active ingredients which may cause strong biological effects in the body and increase risks of health in some cases. Therefore, the behavior of some consumers, using dietary supplements instead of prescription medicines, is obvious unwise (U.S.FDA, 2014). Since dietary supplements are neither food additives nor drugs, they are in a special status which was established by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (Hunrer and Trum, 1999). Obviously, it is not sensible to replacing the prescription medicines to supplements. In terms of herbs, herbal products do have some clinically proven benefits, but there are more facts illustrate its potential of containing toxic substances, especially regarding to the interaction with drugs (Halsted, 2003). Conclusion From what the essay has mentioned above, dietary supplement has a close relationship with our daily health. It is clear that the benefits of dietary supplement contribute to its popularity mainly. Various number of food supplements added in our daily intakes suitably enable us a nutritional-balanced diet. However the risks of taking dietary supplements are non-ignorable, which not only imply the room of the improvement of dietary supplements but also remind us necessity of taking supplements cautiously. In addition, some benefits of eating food supplements as well as the risks may be missing in this essay. It is not objective to say the popularity is good or not directly. In my view, the increasing number of people taking dietary supplements reflects a high awareness of personal health among publics. Meanwhile eating dietary supplements wisely is also necessary. To keep the balance of dietary supplement, several measures should be taken by the government. Such as strengthen the supervision of the production and sales of dietary supplements, establish detailed guideline of the usage of supplements and cultivate specialists in the field of food supplements. Apart from some regulations should be improved by the authorities, what we should do is be a savvy supplement user, thinking twice when purchase food supplements, reading the instructions of the supplements carefully before taking these products, finding out the relevant benefits of them in order to deepen the understanding of preparations and noticing the deficiency symptoms and following the measurement with cautious. References Blendon, R. J. et al., 2001. Americans Views on the Use and Regulation of Dietary Supplements. JAMA Internal Medicine, 26 March, pp. 805-810. Burr, et al., 1989. EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FAT, FISH, AND FIBRE INTAKES ON DEATH AND MYOCARDIAL REINFARCTION: DIET AND REINFARCTION TRIAL (DART). The Lancet, 2(8666), p. 757–761. Eaglstein, W. H., 2014. What Are Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals?. In: The FDA for Doctors. s.l.:Springer International Publishing, pp. 25-27. Halsted, C. H., 2003. Dietary supplements and functional foods: 2 sides of a coin?. American Society for Clinical Nutrition, April, pp. 1001S-1007S. Hans, V., Eussen, S.R.B.M., Loveren, H. v. Rompelberg, C. J., 2001. Functional foods and dietary supplements: Products at the interface between pharma and nutrition. European Journal of Pharmacology, September, pp. S2-S9. Hunrer Trum, B., 1999. The New Dietary Supplement Label. Consumers Research Magazine, 82(9), p. 27. Mason, P., 2001. Dietary Supplements. 2nd ed ed. s.l.:London:Pharmaceutical Press. MD, W. H. E., 2014. What Are Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals?. In: The FDA for Doctors. s.l.:Springer International Publishing, pp. 25-27. Webb, P.G., 2006. Dietary supplements and functional foods. 1st ed. ed. s.l.:Oxford: Blackwell. Ransley, J., Donelly, J. Read, N., 2001. Food and Nutritional Supplements:their role in health and disease. Berlin: London : Springer, c2001. SFL, K., JE, C., MT, C. JH, B., 1998. Supplementary issues for women. Nutrition Bulletin, Volume 23, pp. 197-202. U.S.FDA, 2014. Protecting and Promoting Your Health. [Online] Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/default.htm [Accessed 27 Aug 2014]. Walji, H., 1995. Vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements : a definitive guide to healthy eating. s.l.:London :Headway. 1

Adam and Eve in Paradise lost Essay -- essays research papers

Milton was looked on by many feminists, â€Å"of or relating to or advocating equal rights for women,†(comma before quotation mark)[1] as rather chauvinistic in the way he portrayed Eve. In, (delete,) Paradise Lost, there are many examples of Eve being slighted (comma and substitute well with while) well Adam remains unscathed. **** Haven’t Developed introduction completely **** When Eve first enters the world, (comma maybe) she awakes, â€Å"Under a shade on flow’rs†¦,†[2] by a lake. In putting Eve under shade, (comma maybe) Milton shows that she is not one hundred percent in accordance with God. Eve wondered where and who she was and then she proceeded to look at her image in the water. (Revised sentence) â€Å"There I had fixt mine eyes till now, and pin’d with vain desire, had not a voice thus warn’d me†¦,†[3] is Eve’s (‘ might be needed) words to Adam. This action shows how Eve is so vain that she would sit for eternity unknowingly mesmerized by her own image. All it takes though to move Eve from the lakes edge is the voice of God who she trusts without question. Milton makes (made because past tense) Eve out to be dim because if most people were to hear a voice they would inquire (on) who(m) it was. However, in this case, (, might be needed) Eve just trusts (trusted if you want to make it past t ense) the voice right away (immediately, for a better word) foreshadowing her trust in anyone who speaks. This shows how Milton is chauvinistic also (Do you need â€Å"also†) because he is infe...

Organization of learning experiences Essay

There are a number of issues with this approach to curriculum theory and practice. The first is that the plan or programme assumes great importance. For example, we might look at a more recent definition of curriculum as: ‘A program of activities by teachers designed so that pupils will attain so far as possible certain educational and other schooling ends or objectives [4]. The problem here is that such programmes inevitably exist prior to and outside the learning experiences. This takes much away from learners. They can end up with little or no voice. They are told what they must learn and how they will do it. The success or failure of both the program and the individual learners is judged on the basis of whether pre-specified changes occur in the behaviour and person of the learner. If the plan is tightly adhered to, there can only be limited opportunity for educators to make use of the interactions that occur. It also can deskill educators in another way. For example, a number of curriculum programs, particularly in the USA, have attempted to make the student experience ‘teacher proof’. The logic of this approach is for the curriculum to be designed outside of the classroom or school. Educators then apply programs and are judged by the products of their actions. It turns educators into technicians. Second, there are questions around the nature of objectives. This model is hot on measurability. It implies that behaviour can be objectively, mechanistically measured. There are obvious dangers here: there always has to be some uncertainty about what is being measured. We only have to reflect on questions of success in our work. It is often very difficult to judge what the impact of particular experiences has been. Sometimes it is years after the event that we come to appreciate something of what has happened. For example, most informal educators who have been around a few years will have had the experience of an ex-participant telling them in great detail about how some forgotten event brought about some fundamental change. Yet there is something more. In order to measure, things have to be broken down into smaller and smaller units. The result, as many of you will have experienced, can be long lists of often trivial skills or competencies. This can lead to a focus in this approach to curriculum theory and practice on the parts rather than the whole; on the trivial, rather than the significant. It can lead to an approach to education and assessment which resembles a shopping list. When all the items are ticked, the person has passed the course or has learnt something. The role of overall judgment is somehow sidelined. Third, there is a real problem when we come to examine what educators actually do in the classroom, for example. Much of the research concerning teacher thinking and classroom interaction, and curriculum innovation has pointed to the lack of impact on actual pedagogic practice of objectives. One way of viewing this is that teachers simply get it wrong as they do not work with objectives. The difficulties that educators experience with objectives in the classroom may point to something inherently wrong with the approach, that it is not grounded in the study of educational exchanges. It is a model of curriculum theory and practice largely imported from technological and industrial settings. Fourth, there is the problem of unanticipated results. The focus on pre-specified goals may lead both educators and learners to overlook learning that is occurring as a result of their interactions, but which is not listed as an objective. The apparent simplicity and rationality of this approach to curriculum theory and practice, and the way in which it mimics industrial management have been powerful factors in its success. A further appeal has been the ability of academics to use the model to attack teachers. There is a tendency, recurrent enough to suggest that it may be endemic in the approach, for academics in education to use the objectives model as a stick with which to beat teachers. ‘What are your objectives? ‘ is more often asked in a tone of challenge than one of interested and helpful inquiry. The demand for objectives is a demand for justification rather than a description of ends. It is not about curriculum design, but rather an expression of irritation in the problems of accountability in education. [5]

Bipolar Disorder and Society Essays

Bipolar Disorder and Society Essays Bipolar Disorder and Society Paper Bipolar Disorder and Society Paper Depression has been known to be a leading cause of disability in the world, because depressive moods can hinder someone from acting normally and thus hindering the capabilities to be productive (Fink, 2007). It may be considered normal for human beings to have mood swings. For women it may even be worse especially when they have their monthly period, as hormones generally affect their emotions. But when the mood swings start to get abnormal in frequency and sequence there may already be a disorder, in this case bipolar disorder or mania. It is characterized by heightened mood, hyperactivity, restlessness and extreme depression to the point of distorted judgment. Individuals with this disorder acts in a very different manner than their usual ways, and the onset of the syndrome is slow and gradual, taking weeks or months before it is considered complete (Belmaker, 2004). Bipolarity is a very distinct disorder that has many names across different cultures all over the world. Manic is only one term, insane may also be one view of society towards individuals with this disorder, because it leads to a person acting beyond the normal. This may affect not only how an individual is viewed by society, but also how that individual interacts with another person and with society as a whole. As such, this paper aims to look deeper into the different aspects of the disorder including its history, symptoms experienced by patients suffering the disease, the factors that influence the occurrence of the disease, and treatments that are discovered in order to prevent worsening of the syndrome. In regards the treatments, this may include some therapies or medication that this paper shall try to present and explore. This may help to find out the different effects of bipolar disorder of those suffering from it and those surrounding the patient. Bipolar Syndrome As earlier mentioned, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by an irregularity of moods. It may make a shift from a heightened happiness to extreme depression or lonesomeness. Even a single episode of mania or extreme depression may be a symptom of bipolar disorder (Belmaker, 2004). But not all depressive moods characterize bipolar disorder. Some depressive moods may be induced by intake of substances if not are naturally occurring. If the depression is caused by intake of medication or any certain drugs, it is not considered as bipolarity but classified as substance induced mood disorder. If it was due to a medical condition that may have been affecting the brain, it is considered as a mood disorder due to a general medical condition. Naturally occurring extreme depression is thus symptomatic of Bipolar Syndrome alone (First et al, 2002). History the Disorder Bipolar Disorder is a very old disease although it was not recognized before as it is now. It was Aretaeus of Cappadociam who first recognized the existence of both manic and depressive moods but it was only these days that this existence was given a name. Following this is a book written by Richard Burton, titled The Anatomy of Melancholia. As the title implies, it tackled the subject melancholy or what is called today as depression. Then a French researcher proposed that suicide and depression are related, that there is also a relationship between a manic state and depression and that there may be a disorder called manic-depressive disorder (Bloch and Naser, 2006). Following this research is another Frenchman’s proposal. Francois Baillarger proposed that Bipolar disorder is different from schizophrenia and that its symptoms are distinct from that of the latter mentioned. He called the disorder as double-insanity. This study is further upheld by a German researcher, Emil Krapelin who proposed ideas regarding manic depression. The ideas contained the symptoms and guiding principles that are generally the ones still being used in the diagnosis and research of Bipolar Disorder today (Bloch and Naser, 2006). Symptoms Bipolar syndrome is categorized as Bipolar I and Bipolar II depending mainly on the severity of the mania or depression. Bipolar I is usually differentiated from Bipolar II as the level of depression that occurs in patients suffering from it is considered mild. As compared to Cyclothymic Disorder, Bipolar I is characterized by manic episodes, and a major depressive episode. It may be diagnosed if the interchanging episodes happen after two years at the least of having Cyclothymic Disorder (First et al, 2002). When compared with psychotic disorders, Bipolar I stands out as it does not present any psychotic symptoms that are not induced by known mood symptoms. It may only be diagnosed based on manic episodes induced by chronic psychotic disorder (First et al, 2002). Bipolar II on the other hand, is characterized by mood episodes not induced by medical conditions that may be affecting the brain. It is also diagnosed when the depressive moods or mania is not induced by substances or drugs taken into the body. Another characteristic of Bipolar II are occurring hypomanic episodes that may be diagnosed neither as Major Depressive Disorder nor Dysthymic Disorder. It may also be distinguished from Psychotic Disorders if there are periods of psychotic symptoms induced by known mood symptoms. When compared with Bipolar I, Bipolar II may be distinguish by the absence of Manic or Mixed episode. Mixed episodes are occurring mood episodes in which there is heightened happiness suddenly switching to extreme depression or sadness (First et al, 2002). Course of the Disorder As mentioned on the earlier part of the paper, the onset of Bipolar disorder, either I or II, on an individual happens gradually or slowly until is completion, during which an individual experiences the symptoms given (Belmaker, 2004). It is a curable disease which worsens over time if not tended to. From simple episodes of mania and depression it may progress into frequently occurring symptoms. These frequent episodes may gradually increase in severity and may soon include Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, or delusions that are relative to the mood of the individual in a certain moment. For instance, there may be a hallucination of an extravagant event or thing when the patient is in a heightened mood or there may be a delusion when the patient is depressed and low. These things may become severe in the course of time and due to the severity of the disease, the symptoms that accompany it also becomes severe leading to some individuals to become a danger to the people surrounding him and even to himself (Zimney, 2008). As in the case presented by Cohen et al (2008) where a woman who had a history of Bipolar Disorder and is under maintained medication decided to have a child. Under the prescription of her psychiatrists she stopped taking her medicines and soon she got pregnant, during which she experienced episodes of anxiety, insomnia and the other symptoms of her disorder. Doctors started to suggest for her to get back to her medication but she declined as it might harm the child she was carrying and may affect her planned breastfeeding. Because of this, she continued experiencing Bipolar Disorder-related episodes and it affected her pregnancy. She had to undergo caesarian section because of premature labor that was induced by her episodes. After the delivery, she seemed to have been back to normal but eventually symptoms of her illness started and they were worse than they were before she got pregnant and was under medication. Because of this, the patient was put under another observation and was found that other than her record showing bipolar sickness, there was a history of the same disease in the family (Cohen et al, 2008). They have found that she had relatives who had severe mood disorders and one was even driven to suicide and died. The same almost happened to the woman. Due to the discontinuation of maintenance medications, she had recurrent hallucinations and even tried to hurt her child. With this, she decided to discontinue breastfeeding and was advised not to have more children after (Cohen et al, 2008). With this study, it may be said that Bipolar Disorder is manageable through intake of medication. Discontinuation of treatment medicines may be said to affect the state of the patient suffering from the disease more so when left completely neglected (Cohen et al, 2008). This is why bipolar female patients becoming pregnant still pose a huge matter for researchers concentrating on treatments for the syndrome. As may be seen in the case presented some drugs or medication for treatment of the disease may be harmful for a child inside a bipolar mother, resulting to the mother having to stop maintenance drugs and thus inducing episodes symptomatic of the disorder. It also became a risk for the disease to progress into a more severe level since, discontinuation of treatment and medicines is almost equal to neglect of the situation (Cohen et al, 2008). This also shows that Bipolar Disorder may be inherited or may be passed within members of a family, as the patient indicated to have had a relative who died from suicide induced by hallucinations that entail the disease at its worse level. Treatments of the Disorder There are many known treatment of bipolar disorder. There are medications or medicines that are prescribed by doctors to patients in accordance to the severity of their condition and to the symptoms relative to the disease that manifests in them. Psychiatrists may recommend drugs that prevent mania, hypomania or antidepressant drugs depending on the mood of the patient. Doctors may recommend mania-preventive drugs or anti-depressant drugs to patients depending mainly on the recurrent mood of the patient. They may also give mood stabilizers that a patient may take in on the onset of mania or depression. Antipsychotic agents may also be administered when called for (Mann, 2005). There are also therapies that are recommended to patients in order to help them manage and treat their illness. They may suggest regular psychosocial interventions or psychotherapy that includes monitoring of responses, the checking of outcomes of past therapies or treatments, and education of parties involved especially of parents with children suffering from the disorder. The therapies have three phases, the acute, continuation and maintenance phase. The treatment and therapy varies in accordance to the phase (Mann, 2005). Society, Culture and the Disease Although bipolar disorder is a leading cause of disability in the world, there are still some countries that do not generally accept this concept. The culture from which they grew up in influences their beliefs and reactions toward the disease. It also influences the treatment of the disease, the interaction between patients, the effects of the symptoms, and even how the symptoms are reported (Kleinman, 2004). For instance the Chinese people do not recognize depression as a term or condition of a person or an individual. The country from which they belong denies the existence of this predicament in their culture. This becomes a problem especially for the Chinese immigrants in countries that recognized bipolar disorder as disease. As soon as a person shows signs of developing Bipolar disorder it may only be seen as normal so rather than be given appropriate treatment, the patient’s condition may become worse (Kleinman, 2004). Sometimes even when it is the culture or the society that becomes the risk factor for the development of the diseases, as in the case of war-related acquisition of bipolar disorder, or post-trauma induced bipolar cases, it is still denied and left without proper treatment (Kleinman, 2004). Conclusion Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that have been long existing but only denied by some nations worldwide. It is a leading cause for disabilities and some deaths. It has a number of symptoms including sudden manic moods shifting to depressive moods. Sometimes it also entails psychotic symptoms. But Bipolar disorder is a curable and manageable disease. Many studies have been conducted in order to check on the risk factors of the disease and from there develop a cure. But some countries do not accept this cure for the disease, even when sometimes it is the culture that is the cause of the disease. Thus it may be said that the society and the culture being practiced influences the disease greatly, that views on patients and patients’ views on society, whether positive or negative is affected in more ways than one. References Belmaker, R. H. MD (2004). Bipolar Disorder. The New England Journal of Medicine 351(5). Bloch, J. P, Nser, J. A. (2006). The Everything Health Guide to Adult Bipolar Disorder: Reassuring Advice to Help You Cope. USA: Everything Books. Cohen, L. S MD. , Emmerich, A. D. MD. , Viguera, A. C. MD. (2008). Case 24-2008: A 35-Year-Old Woman with Postpartum Confusion, Agitation, and Delusions. The New England Journal of Medicine 359(5). First, M. B, Frances, A. Pincus, H. A. (2002). DSM-IV-TR Handbook of Differential Diagnosis. USA: American Psychiatric Pub. Fink, M. , Taylor, A. M. , (2007). Melancholia: The Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Treatment of Depressive Illness. The New England Journal of Medicine 356(6). Kleinman, A. MD. (2004). Culture and Depression. The New England Journal of Medicine 351(10). Mann, J. J. (2005). Management of Depression. The New England Journal of Medicine 353(17). Zimney, E. MD. (2008). Bipolar Disorder. HealthTalk Retrieved November 20, 2008 from http://www2. healthtalk. com/go/mental-health/bipolar-disorder/disease-basics/how-does-bipolar-disorder-progress

How to Conduct Yourself at Work

How to Conduct Yourself at Work Workplace success relies on much more than simply fulfilling the requirements of your job description. â€Å"Professionalism,† is a valuable trait, and its basic tenets can be applied to any job in any field. If you want to truly excel not just in your job, but also as a contributing member of your organizational culture, make these 10 simple practices part of your personal conduct code. 1. Punctuality PowerArriving on time to work and for meetings demonstrates commitment to your job. Chronic lateness, meanwhile, is a blatant show of disrespect for your coworkers, superiors and entire organization. Keep an eye on the clock both at the start of the day and during your lunch break to make sure you arrive and return on time.2. Keep It PositiveBad days. Everyone has them. But bringing your bad attitude into work not only reflects poorly on you but also accomplishes nothing. Resist the urge to take out your bad feelings on others and instead commit to check your attitude at the doo r. Focus your energy on the positives: what can you do to make a bad situation better?3. Dress for the Job You WantYou may have heard the expression, â€Å"Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have.† Even if you’re happy in your job it’s still important to look your best. This doesn’t necessarily mean wearing a suit, but it does mean looking neat, clean and well-groomed at all times. Practice good hygiene and avoid overly casual wardrobe pieces, such as shorts and flip flops.4. Lend a HandThe stereotypical â€Å"dog eat dog† office environment has been replaced by cultures which value collaboration beyond all else. If your coworker needs help with a project, offer to pitch in. Remember that the accomplishments of your colleagues also reflect well on you and your entire organization.5. Listen UpJust as you should be willing to share your knowledge and talents with your coworkers, you should be equally receptive to the contributions of oth ers. The expression â€Å"many hands make light work,† holds true in the workplace for those willing to accept the assistance of others.6. Give Up on GossipNo one expects you to like all of your coworkers, but sharing your negative opinions and personal gossip interferes with productivity. This doesn’t just pertain to talking about others, but also to talking about yourself. Being friendly with your coworkers is one thing but chronically airing your dirty laundry over the water cooler is unprofessional.7. Learn From Your MistakesIn life, no one is immune from mistakes. It’s inevitable that workplace mistakes will occur, but acknowledging your errors, making your best effort to correct them, and learning along the way can help you recover and avoid future falters.8. Stay in ControlWhen coworkers are exasperating and deadlines are intense, work can be a stressful place. Keep your temper in check during challenging situations. If you can’t control your emoti ons, walk away until you’re in a calmer state of mind.9. Understand Office EtiquetteDo you text during meetings? Leave dirty dishes in the communal kitchen? These office no-nos are disrespectful and can interfere with how you’re perceived by others. Pay careful attention to office etiquette and make sure your behavior is in line with expectations.10. Honor Your CommitmentsProcrastination is a fact or life, but in the workplace it can lead to frustration between colleagues. Follow through on your responsibilities and your coworkers will view you as reliable. Conversely, show appreciation to coworkers who do the same.11. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.Independent of level or title, every person in your workplace deserves to be treated with respect. The more respected team members feel, the better you’ll be able to communicate and collaborate for optimal results.The best part of these 10 rules of office conduct? They’re simple to execute and yet offer big rewards. For more i nformation on the 21st century job market or to sign up for job match alert visit TheJobNetwork.

The close association of fairy tales with childhood has made it easier Essay

The close association of fairy tales with childhood has made it easier for their broader cultural meanings to be disguised or denied. Discuss with reference to relevant textual examples - Essay Example Broader cultural meanings are a magnified field of thought process in children. Fairy Tales make a significant contribution to it as children are very closely connected to the stories they hear from their adults. Hence the impact of these stories becomes a major cause of concern as to whether they have deviated these children or totally denied them facts from their own cultures or the broad aspects of cultures of the world. Snow White and the seven Dwarfs, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Frog King, Hansel and Gretel and Sleeping Beauty have certainly conjured up pictures with specific cultures in the minds of children but that is not to say that these same children have been refrained from facts of other cultural issues. The stories collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in the early 1800s serve up life as generations of central Europeans knew it—capricious and often cruel. The two brothers, patriots determined to preserve Germanic folktales, were only accidental entertainers. Once they saw how the tales bewitched young readers, the Grimm’s, and editors aplenty after them, started "fixing" things. Tales gradually got softer, sweeter, and primly moral. Yet all the polishing never rubbed away the solid heart of the stories, now read and loved in more than 160 languages. (National Geographic). It is agreeable that vast popularity of these fairy tales played with childhood psychology to make them believe and think of prototype images of people. Stories like Cinderella, Snow-white, Hansel and Gretel support the negative figure of the bad mother portrayed by Grimm’s in their stories. Children learnt from these stories but they were not the only media by which cognition was imbibed by children. So it cannot be true that these stories have marred their opportunity of learning about the world and its culture. A counter research dedicated to the study of children’s literature remarked â€Å"In many ways childrens literature and fairy tale stories are on odd

Introduction to UK graduate study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Introduction to UK graduate study - Essay Example This reflective essay is a personal reflection about a study module, i.e. introduction module of the UK graduate study and the aspects that I have learned from the module. In the module, I have studied about individual presentation and group presentation, direct and indirect quotation, report writing and essay writing and also about ‘how to write and use the different references’. This module has been of immense benefit and has helped in developing my basic concepts and understandings in various critical aspects that I will require to use not only throughout my graduate degree program but also throughout my life. The introduction to the UK graduate study module has helped me not only to gain practical knowledge and develop my skills related to various key facets such as individual presentation and group presentation method but has also helped to instil within me a sense of cohesion and group bonding. A study module is developed with an aim to provide module-specific skil ls, discipline specific skills and also personal and key skills. The aim of any module is to develop within an individual critical thinking ability, problem solving ability, ability to judge and analyse an available peace of research to correlate and integrate with actual requirement by judging the strengths as well as weaknesses of an available research. I have also been able to learn these key factors through the introduction module. Through the course related to individual presentation, I have been able to learn aspects such as self-management, independent studying capacity, problem solving skills as I had to integrate my learning in the module with the subject matter, i.e. topic provided (University of Exeter, 2011). The group presentation course also helped me to learn basic skills of giving presentation such as searching for relevant data for preparing the slides, preparing slides with relevant contents, distributing overall slides among entire group efficiently, using of verb al and non-verbal language as well as developing body language while speaking. I have also been able to learn and develop persuasive skills and strategies, time management skills, group behaviour skills through presentation course in my module which will be of immeasurable benefits throughout my career (McCarthy & Hatcher, 2002). Another extremely valuable learning that I have acquired through the module is related to report and essay writing. â€Å"Writing is a uni-directional process of recording pre-sorted, pre-digested ideas† (Taylor, 1981). Writing an essay is observed as ‘hi-directional movement’ between two aspects, i.e. content as well as written form. I have also been able to learn various facets on how to integrate my thought process in a written form. This has also helped towards improving my language and vocabulary skills along with my planning and coherent writing skills (Taylor, 1981). Report writing course has also helped me to learn and develop my written communication skills along with the ability to present and use appropriate data and content from various sources such as academic sources. The use of graphs as well as relevant statistics along with writing a report in a proper framework have been all learned by me within the course framework. Both essay and