The persuasion used by both Lady Macbeth and the male speakers Essay Example for Free

The persuasion used by both madam Macbeth and the male speakers EssayShakespeare portrays gentlewoman Macbeth as a strong, independent character, who employs cunning intellect to manipulate and control her husband and to gain illegitimate power and authority. Using varied techniques, Lady Macbeth preponderantly targets Macbeths maleness and likens him to a woman taunting him in order to provoke the desire to disprove her doubts and assumptions. Macbeth decides not to bear the knife on Duncan, as he is both his is both his kinsman and his subject.Nevertheless, Lady Macbeth shifts the power in their relationship, taking the typically male, authoritative role and persuading Macbeth to play false, using his devotedness to her and ambition to fulfil the witches prophecies. Lady Macbeth tactically finds similarities between herself and the witches. In doing so, she assures herself that she is too a significant influence and retains substantial authority everywhere Macbeth, where s he can prove his personality and potential. Breaking maidenly stereotypes, Lady Macbeths character redefines sixteenth century expectations and expresses Tudor fears of women overstepping their natural boundaries.Feminising MacbethOn becoming aware of her new title, frankincense her potential to greater power, Lady Macbeth begins to rid herself of her feminine attributes and bestows them upon Macbeth in order to take him to catch the nearest way and seize the role as king. Nevertheless, as a woman Lady Macbeth drops the authority and ability to at a lower placetake the murder and compensates by rationalising with herself, and her husband, in order to instigate the persuasion necessary for the central murders. She accuses Macbeth to be too plentiful oth draw of human kindness implying weakness and absence of ambition to forcefully take the role as king.Macbeth is full of milk, a factor associated with maternity and femininity. In referring to Macbeth as nurturing and feminine, Lady Macbeth softens her husbands masculinity and takes the power in the relationship, fuelling her own ambition to generate unsexed or masculine, and seizing authority where she can evaluate her husbands character. As a new mother in the sixteenth century, women would be substantially weakened and susceptible to illness after and during child birth as a result, would too lack the ambition, to sustain an additional action and feed the child with the milk.Moreover, in making reference to milk, Lady Macbeth insinuates that Macbeth is milky a renaissance term used to describe cowards. Having belatedly returned from battle, Macbeth abolished any fear, to fight in Duncans name. Insinuating he is a milky creates further ambition to prove his wife wrong, therefore, in attempt to persuade Macbeth, Lady Macbeth labels him and questions his loyalty to her, his dearest partner in greatness.AnaemiaIn describing her husband as green and pale, Lady Macbeth continues to criticise and undermine him. Such a pallor would betray green sickness, and in the sixteenth century, more commonly known as hypochromatic anaemia symptoms included weakness and lack of energy, showing that Lady Macbeth believes her husband to be lacking both the capability and motivation to carry out the murder. Furthermore, the sickness was associated with woman, specifically due to blood wrong during childbirth, linking to her previous allusions from Macbeth to a new mother, who would be full of..milk.Green being a colour commonly associated with envy, presents Macbeth as inferior to other men, defying Lady Macbeths desire for his superiority and kingship. By revealing her husbands jealousy- and therefore his insecurity regarding his own influence- Lady Macbeth questions whether he has the qualities required to rule, such as sanction in his own power. Lady Macbeths description of her husband is persuasive by routinely emphasising the qualities he lacks and his negative aspects, presenting him as unf it to achieve his bound kingship.Take my milk for gallAlthough the witches are depicted as the only paranormal beings in the play, Lady Macbeth attempts correlates with the witches supernatural mannerism and pleads to the spirits, demanding them to take her milk for gall to further eradicate her femininity and assert her desired power of the supernatural. The meaning of take is ambiguous, either implying Lady Macbeth wishes to be rid of the milk, that she perceives as gall, poisoning her with compassion and nurture, hence preventing her from assisting Macbeth in the deed. Moreover, she denotes that her gall is pre-existing in her breasts, suggesting she already holds an element of unmercifulness, too shown in the witches nature.Correlating with the witches, therefrom convincing herself she is somewhat supernaturally strong, allows Lady Macbeth to rid herself of any submission shown to Macbeth, as a weak, delicate woman and like the witches, gain supremacy over her husband to the n persuade him to catch the nearest way. As a woman, Lady Macbeth would be full of milk appealing to her nurturing attributes and impeding her from committing the cruelty needed to succeed to greater power. She begs the spirits to take her milk, therefore ridding her of her feminine attributes and affection she may have held for her guests, as their honoured hostess, presenting a horse sense of false hospitality which is also shown in the image of the poison goblet.As his kinsman and his subject, Macbeth offers his hospitality and loyalty to Duncan, represented through the image of the chalice, only to be poisoned by the supernatural expectations and Lady Macbeths hunger for superiority. Having plotted against the king, a man appointed by God, Macbeth displays his remaining religious principles, describing Duncan as heavens cherubin expressing admiration of Duncans leadership and is almost worshipful of him perhaps in the attempt to save himself from deep damnation that may take over if the supernatural realm should bomb him. Nevertheless, as Lady Macbeth gains further influence over him, she alters his golden opinions, turning him into a beast who wholly disregards any prize he had for Duncan.Lady Macbeth further accentuates Macbeths negative qualities, such as his indecisive nature and refers to him as coward in thine own esteem, questioning his masculinity and implying he is too afraid to act upon his desire to achieve his destined kingship. Macbeths esteem shows his strong desire to be king and how highly he values the crown.Despite his high regard of the crown, Lady Macbeth believes having esteem and ambition within is not enough to gain him the decorate of life implying the crown wouldst be his greatest asset and achievement. Calling Macbeth a coward further emphasises the struggle Lady Macbeth faces in gaining all of her husbands loyalty, as he begins to review the Duncans virtues and favourable attributes, thus creating doubt in his ability to mu rder him. However, by stating Macbeth is too afraid to catch the nearest way, Lady Macbeth allows him to deny her sign claim, reinstating his hope of killing the king and deliberately using her doubt to convince him to kill Duncan as he wishes to break a man.Lady Macbeth de-gendersThe irrelevant sisters being the most powerful influence over her husband, sustains Lady Macbeths desire to disassociate herself from gender and be affiliated to the witches power. Mid-sixteenth century productions of Macbeth, presented the witches as bearded, powerful characters who consequently opposed their female characteristics.Appearing neither male nor female, grants the witches superiority over Macbeth. They are liberated from the stereotypes of female subordination and expectations of masculinity, like strength and dominance. This gives them emancipation and the power to do as they please and therefore dominance over all other beings. To take the authoritative role in the relationship and con vey equivalent to the witches influence, Lady Macbeth begs the spirits to unsex her, removing her feeble, feminine qualities that may bring forth compassion she once had for Duncan, as her guest and subsequently becoming more than man.Employing her new found supremacy over her husband, Lady Macbeth becomes a source of strength and inspiration who pours her spirits in thine ear an image safekeeping both supernatural and medicinal significance. Most commonly associated with Egyptian bring backing methods, pouring homeopathic remedies in peoples ear, was thought to heal them of psychological and physical ailments in Macbeths case, his weakness, cautious nature and sentimental attachment to Duncan. On the other hand, the image opposes the concept of healing, due to the supernatural connotations of. Lady Macbeth influences her husband with her corrupt intensions by poisoning him with the spirits who posses her gall and hence eradicating Macbeths remaining sentiment possessed for Duncan .ModalityWhen reasoning with herself, Lady Macbeth avoids right off complimenting her husband, and only saunters on the potential that he wouldst be great taking a patronising tone in attempt to draw out his feminine attributes, and disapproval of being seen as inferior to a woman. Macbeths own uncertainty is prominent, as he fears the religious and lawful outcome if he should fail. Lady Macbeth is eminently frustrated by his indecisive nature and angst, and with regard to the witches prophecies, she specifically highlights Macbeths expectations, and too expresses her own doubts in his capability to kill and become king. Lady Macbeth suggests he wouldst be highly, using modal references to imply the possibility of alternative outcomes. In doing so, she taunts him and dares him to oppose her, consequently diminishing her doubts. Furthermore, his expectations were appointed to him by women, the strange sisters whom held power over him and foresaw his fate. Lady Macbeth re-raises the fact he was inferior to them, contributing to his desire to prove her wrong.Cat ithadage increase his inferiority to Duncan, Lady Macbeth likens him to a poor cat ithadage. Using to a common aphorism of the cat who wanted tip but did not want to get wet, expresses Macbeths unwillingness to dirty his hands to catch the nearest way and taunts his lack of desire to seize the ornament of life. By calling him poor displays Lady Macbeths supercilious demeanour and her value of her power over him, mocking him with pity and encouraging him to go to greater power. Describing Macbeth as a cat degrades his status and dares him to oppose her claims, while also alluding to Duncans ownership of him. Cats are commonly associated with witchcraft and are under the witches power- as is Macbeth, who is under their influence and expectations to consummate the prophecies. Furthermore, cats are easily startled, re-raising Macbeths fear and distinct awareness of the consequences of treason, further acce ntuating his weakness and lack of ambition.

Heald College Dress Code Essay Example for Free

Heald College Dress Code EssayHeald College in Fresno, California has rules that change and get stricter e precise quarter. Dress work place is unrivaled of those rules that are constantly changing at the Fresnos campuses. Students are required to vesture professional Mon daytime through Thursday, and Friday through Saturday is allowed to split up a Heald t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Before the rules were changed, students were allowed to wear a Heald t-shirt on Thursdays also. It would be nice to get that Thursday back, instead of it changing due to the rates of dress commandment being high on that day than any an other(a)(prenominal) days. Students should be allowed to wear a Heald t-shirt on Thursday again because we need a day where we could dress comfortable, its not fair to students who go to develop form Mondays through Thursdays cant have a Heald spirit day, and its not fair to keep changing rules and punishing those who follow the dress code. Heald College req uires us to wear professional attire because it is to make us more inclined(p) for our career we are trying to pursue. I know at a job were not required to wear sweats or unnecessary wear but were at school and it is one place we want to dress comfortably at.I always used to look forward to Thursdays because I knew it was t-shirt day. Students need at least(prenominal) one little break from dressing in tight slacks, shirts that are tight around our neck, and shoes that bear our feet One comfortable day at Heald is what students need especially if we have a long week of learning. Most students at Heald are attending school only from Mondays through Thursdays. The rules for dress code states students are allowed to wear Heald fondness only on Fridays and Saturdays. It is not fair that students who go to school from Monday to Thursday for 10 weeks dont get a day to wear a Heald t-shirt to school.Before the rules changed many students liked the idea that Thursday was a day that th ey can relax and just wear casual clothes and shoes that they feel more comfortable in. To students who have been here before the rules have changed were very unhappy that Thursdays spirit day was taken away from them. I asked a Student named Jessica, whos in her fourth Quarter, If you could change the dress code what would you change? She responded The Heald expression Day on Thursdays should be allowed again. I just like the fact that it was not so hard to pick egress an outfit for school on Thursdays. Its just not fair to students.Not all students are at campus Friday and Saturday. They should at least make Heald Spirit day on a Thursday where most of the students go to school and not days where most class rooms are empty. There are students at Heald who obey the rules well and there are students who dont. The dress code at Heald changed at the end of January 2013 quarter. Students were sent emails stating the dress code violations were higher on Thursdays than any other days and there will be no more Heald spirit day on Thursdays. All the students were punish because other students who are supposed to be adults couldnt follow a simple dress code for Thursdays.It is not fair to other students who obey the dress code to get punished for other students mistakes. Taking the Heald Spirit day on Thursdays is not all the students fault. Violations should be given to students who are out of dress code on Heald Spirit day, so theyre the ones who get in trouble not the whole campus. Were adults and those who obey the dress code for Heald Spirit should be treated like an adult and be allowed to wear the t-shirt spirit day attire on Thursdays again. All students shouldnt be punished for simple rules adults cant follow.Students want to get treated like adults not high school or elementary school kids. Heald College in Fresno has a strict dress code that Students are supposed to follow. Heald Spirit on Thursdays should be given back to the students as a reward for c oming to school and having to get an expensive school loan to learn. Students should be allowed to wear a Heald T-shirt on Thursdays because students want to go to school comfortable at least once throughout their week, Friday and Saturday are days Heald is less busy, and Its not other students fault who obey the dress code to be punished for other students faults.

History of the Japanese Samurai

History of the Japanese SamuraiThe Samurai Warrior and Ruler of Ancient JapanFew countries have a warrior custom as desire and exciting as Japan. It is a usance found in the Samurai, the loyal and self-sacrificing knight of ancient Japan. The Samurai is a valiant warrior who merchant firearm both appreciate the beauty of nature in that of a rose blossom just will withal kill or die for his ascertain in an instant. This well-rounded warrior was the ruling class of Japan for almost s redden hundred years. He fought for control of his coun study and to keep Japan unblock from impertinent influences. (Turnbull 1)This aristocratic warrior class arose during the 12th century wars between the taira and Minamoto clans and was consolidated in the Tokugawa period. Samurai were privileged to wear two steels, and at unmatched eon had the skillful to foreshorten level any comm wizardr who offended them. They cultivated the martial virtues, indifference to pain or death, and unfailin g loyalty to their overlords. Samurai were the dominant group in Japan. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the samurai were removed from direct control of the villages, moved into the domain castle towns, and given government stipends. They were encouraged to take up bureaucratic posts.The Hagakure, has been dubbed the book of the samurai. It was create verbally after a century of peace around 1716. It came to be the guide of samurai ethics until the end of the feudal period. Its short passages reflect and discoverline the qualities that make a samurai. Yamamoto Tsunetomo expresses in the hagakure the framework and mind delimit of world a samurai. Although it stands to reason that a samurai should be mindful of the Way of the samurai, it would seem that we are all negligent. Consequently, if manyone were to ask, what is the square meaning of the Way of the Samurai? the person who should be able to answer promptly is rare. This is beca handling it has non been established in ones mi nd onwardhand. From this, ones unmindfulness of the Way can be know. Negligence is an extreme thing. (Wilson, 17)The Way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either/or, on that point is only the quick choice of death. It is non dampenicularly difficult. Be determined and advance. To say that dying with bulge out reaching ones aim is to die a dogs death is the light-headed personal manner of sophisticates. When pressed with the choice of bearing or death, it is not necessary to gain ones aim. We all want to live. And in large part we make our logic according to what we like. But not having attained our aim and continuing to live is cowardice. This is a thin dangerous line. To die without gaining ones aim is a dogs death and fanaticism. t gibeher is no shame to this. This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai. If by setting ones marrow right forevery morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. His whole tone will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling. (Wilson, 17)The samurai had extreme religious archetypes. hotshot samurai in particular, Tsunetomo, he began to despair of ever gaining a aspect as a retainer, and her began to visit a man who was to have no small influence on his life. This was the Zen Buddhist priest Tannen (? 1680), a man of unbending integrity and will, who had resigned his post as head priest at the major Nabeshima temple as a protest against the death sentence of other(prenominal) priest, and when recalled, ref utilize to return. Zen Buddhism and the samurai had been closely related since the thirteenth century in Japan, when the Hojo regents had discover that its vitality and rejection of life as an object of special craving had much to expand the warrior. Tannen had his own ideas concerning the relationship of Zen and the warriors. He declares that religious matters are for old men, and if young samurai learn about Buddhism it w ill only bring them disaster, for they will swallow to look at the world from two sets of values rather than one. (Wilson, 13)The warriors of early Japan bore only a passing resemblance to the later samurai. ordnance store and armor were of a distinctly Chinese flavor, and the earliest warriors carried shields, a device evidently out of vogue even before the Heian period. Some of our knowledge of the weapons and protective covering the early Japanese warrior carried comes from artifacts excavated from the tombs constructed in the 4th and 5th centuries to house departed royalty. Another, just as valuable resource are the haniwa, which were clay statues evidently used as grave markers. A good number of these haniwa depict warriors, and these provide us some insight into the nature of home-grown Japanese armor of the time. The horse was import to Japan sometime in the 4th or 5th century, and quickly became a valuable commodity. Also brought over from the continent were Keiko, or suit s of lamellar scaled armor. This type, which is traditionally associated with horsemen, provided the foundation from which the classic patterns of samurai armor construction would build.Just as important is the samurais weaponry is the encipher of ethics by which they lived by which is known as the code of Bushido. This term refers to the moral code principals that developed among the samurai class of Japan, on a basis of national tradition influenced by Zen and Confucianism. The first use of the term apparently occurred during the civil war period of the 16th century its precise content varied historically as samurai standards evolved. Its one unchanging ideal was martial spirit, including athletic and military skills as well as fearless facing of the enemy in battle. Frugal living, kindness and honesty were also extremely regarded. equivalent Confucianism, Bushido required filial piety but, originating in the feudal system, it also held that supreme honor was to serve ones lord unto death. If these obligations conflicted, the samurai was bound by loyalty to his lord despite the suffering he might cause to his parents.The final rationalization of Bushido thought occurred during the Tokugawa period, when Yamaga Soko equated the samurai with the Confucian superior man and taught that his essential go away was to exemplify virtue to the lower classes. Without disregarding the basic Confucian virtue, benevolence, Soko emphasized the second virtue, righteousness, which he interpreted as obligation or duty. This stern code of honor, affecting matters of life and death, demanded conscious choice and so fostered individual initiative while yet reasserting the obligations of loyalty and filial piety. Obedience to authority was stressed, but duty came first even if it entailed violation of statue law. In such an instance, the true samurai would prove his sincerity and expiate his crime against the government by subsequently taking his own life.By mid-19th century , Bushido standards had become the general ideal, and the legal abolition of the samurai class in 1871 do Bushido even more the property of the entire nation. In the man education system, with the emperor replacing the feudal lord as the object of loyalty and sacrifice, Bushido became the foundation of ethical training. As such, it contributed both to the arise of Japanese nationalism and to the strengthening of wartime civilian morale up to 1945.The term Samurai core those who serve. These mystical knights served many functions in Japanese society. During time of war, they were the masters of the battlefield. In peace they were the administrators and the aristocrats. As statesmen, soldiers, and businessmen, former samurai took the lead in building modern Japan.The Japanese warrior, known as the samurai, has played a significant role in Japans history and nuance through with(predicate)out the centuries. Their ancestors can be traced back to as far as can be remembered. Some st ories have become mysterious legends handed down over the centuries. In this report you will learn who the samurai were, their origins as we know them, how they lived and fought and their evolution to today. It will be clear why the samurai stand out as one of the most famous group of warriors of all times.Looking back in time, the first Japanese battles recorded are in the first a couple of(prenominal) centuries AD. At this time Japanese warriors went across the sea to Korea to help one kingdom battling two rival kingdoms. Four hundred men set out and fought on foot carrying their bows, spears and brand names. They were quickly beaten by warriors attacking on horseback. They probably had never seen an attack like that before, with horses being ridden. Even though at that place were horses in Japan they had not been used for riding or fighting, but to help in carrying and pulling goods. In the next century, however, there is evidence that horses were being ridden and used in warf are by warriors who would later be called samurai (History Channel).The term samurai was first used in the 10th century and means those who serve. In the beginning it stood for men who guarded the capital for the Emperor, some where used as tax collectors. Later the word grew to include any military man who served a right landlord, almost like a police force for that time. They would go around the countryside on horseback collecting taxes from the peasants, often this was in the form of rice. This money helped the Emperor pay for his lavish life style. The word, samurai, quickly spread and was respected (and maybe feared a little) for the men it represented.The portentousmen depended on the strength of the samurai. Since their power and wealth was this instant related to how much land they owned, the noblemen kept small armies of samurai to protect their property from thieves and busyrs. Eventually many noble families joined together to form clans that became more powerful than the emperor, who was the traditional head of the Japanese government (How Samurai Work 11). In the 12th century the two most powerful clans were the Minomoto and the Taira. The two came to battle in 1160 with the Taira winning. Twenty years later in 1180 those Minomotos who had escaped death (they were children during the first attack) led a saucily attack that turned into a war that lasted 5 years and was called the Gempei War. The Minamotos won, and the emperor made Minamoto Yoritomo shogun, the head of the military. Yoritomo however wanted more and took all power away from the emperor and made himself dictator. At this time the samurai gained power, through land given to them by the new shogun. Their rise in status was beginning.The battles that were fought during The Gempei War were very important in the history of the samurai. They set a new and honorable standard for all samurai to live by. These standards would last throughout the existence of the samurai warrior. The Gempe i War provided a role model for Japanese samurais courageous and noble behavior (Turnbull 14). Almost all the important characteristics attributed the samurai culture came out of the Gempei war Archery, hand-to-hand fighting, undying loyalty to ones lord and the tremendous tradition of ritual suicide all have key passages and proof texts in the tales of the Gempi War(Turnbull 15).The samurai had an unwritten code of honor called the bushido. Bushido means way of the warrior (History of the Samurai 3). This provided them with a code to help show them how to live and conduct themselves at home and in battle. One of the most important duties of the samurai was their loyalty to their lord. The samurai would defend their lord until the death. Revenge was also central in the samurais life and if someone had killed their master or attacked their masters honor revenge must be gotten. The same retaliation was given if they themselves or their family were disrespected or foiled.Not just any one could become a samurai warrior. You had to be the child of a samurai, being born into this class was a privilege. The samurai were not all rich, in fact their wealth was judged on the amount of Koku (which is the amount of rice that the fields produced). Other things like the size of the samurais house were base upon the wealth and rank of the samurai.There were also strict traditions to be followed for a young samurai. When a samurai was born, he would be given a small sword charm to wear on his belt. When the boy is five he gets his first haircut and begins to learn martial arts. At age seven he receives his first broad trousers called hakama. When the young samurai is fifteen he goes through a ceremony called gembuku where the boy becomes a man. He then receives his adult name, his adult haircut, and his first real sword and armor. Most boys would be taught combat skills by their father and eventually as he got cured he would be taught by a local sensei. Those boys from w ealthier families were pass judgment to be educated men and may be sent to an academy where they would study literature and the arts along with martial arts.The training of the samurai for battle was intensive. There was more than just physical training involved. Strong mental concentration and focus were necessary to channel their energies before battle. The samurai warrior would spend endless hours practicing a set of complex battle movements called kata. This practice started slowly at first increasing speed, until they became effortless and perfect. The movements were based on strategies of attack, defense, and counterattack (Gaskin Hawkins 73). However, the only way these young samurais would ever gain experience is to take part in actual battle. So the sons of the samurai would follow their fathers into battle to test their newly learned fighting techniques.The samurai were also known for having a psychic cognizance of the world around them in addition to their great skill. This is something practiced from an early age as well. An example of this keen awareness is seen in the story of three brothers told by their father. The father decided to test the ability of his three sons. He placed a vase on top a door so that it would fall when someone entered. The youngest son entered the room and he cut the vase in half with his sword before it hit the ground. The fathers solvent was, This son has a long way to go. Then he called for his middle son, this son caught the vase right above his head. This time his fathers response was that, he is strong and improving but still has much to learn. Finally, the oldest was called into the room, when he reaches for the door he immediately feels the weight of the vase. He slides the door open a crack and catches the vase and walks in. His father replies, This son is doing well. (Gaskin Hawkins 75). Their goal for perfections and their training and dedication were endless.The samurai is famous for his sword and it is o ne his most prized possessions. There are two main swords, one called the katana and the other the wakizashi. The wakizashi is worn on his belt at all times and a shorter blade of the two that was used in battle. The katana is the longer curved sword that was the samurais main weapon. The sword is given to a samurai at birth and placed next to that samurai when he dies. The samurai would take the sword everywhere he went, even to bed. It was treated with great respect and most would have been passed down from generation to generation. The process for making each sword from iron and steel is long and irksome requiring many steps and much patience. When finished a decorative handle would be added. The sword makers were respected and treated with almost reverence for the job they performed. Like an artist the master sword maker would often sign his work (Gaskins Hawkins 10). This sword would be the difference between life and death for many samurai.The 1500s began as time known as th e Period of Warring States. This term was borrowed from the Chinese even though Japan was battling between families and clans, and not states. The leader of the clan called himself an ashigaru. which means great names. Only the strongest clan could survive these battles and the daimyo would do anything to win. The powerful daimyos had large armies made up of foot soldiers called ashigaru. During this time there was also a crowing change in how the samurai fought. In addition to using the traditional bows they were introduced to guns for the first time. First the guns came from European traders and were made in China, but it didnt take long for the Japanese to start manufacturing their own weapons. (Turnbull 19).The samurais armor was one of the most elaborate and unique creations of their time. Today they are seen as works of art. Their armor was made from lamellar armor which took small metal plates and fastened them together and covered with a lacquer to make them waterproof. The outside of the armor was very colorful and sewn and covered with silk and leather designs. There were two types of armor, one called yori, which was heavier and used for riding on horseback. The other was called do-maru this was lighter and more practical for the foot soldiers. Both allowed for the samurai to have tractability to move able to use their weapons and move in battle. This armor covered the entire body from samurais helmet to his chest protector and panels protecting his hips, arms and legs. One interesting fact is the about the kote. It is an armored sleeve only worn on the left arm so that the right arm would be free for the samurai to shoot his bow. Even when the bow was no longer used for battles this type of armor was seen as honoring a sense of tradition (How Samurai Work 5).The samurais helmet was also very important. It provided heavy duty protection to the head and neck. They also wore an iron face mask, which might represent demons, ghosts, or barbarians (Gas kin Hawkins 71) to help intimidate the enemy. An older warrior might want to use the face of a younger warrior so no one would know his age. The heavy duty neck covering helped in battles, and also helped prevent beheadings. Another example of samurai pride and courage is the ritual of burning incense in his helmet before battle. This was done so if he was defeated and beheaded he would leave behind a pleasant scent.Another example of their legendary bravery was in 1281 when Genghis Khan (leader of the Mongols out of Asia) attempted to invade Japan. But, because of the brave samurai and a well timed storm called a kamikaze, they were destroyed along with their ships. The word kamikaze means winds of the gods, but after that day it took on another meaning to include, destroying an enemy. Even in 1945 the term kamikaze pilot was used for the Japanese pilots that attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. This victory against the Mongols was another added to the list of samurais bra ve and notable victories (Gaskin Hawkins 28).To the samurai, their pride went hand in hand with their honor and heritage. One example of this is when one samurai would challenge another to battle. It was tradition at this time for each samurai to speak publicly the names of all his ancestors, along with their accomplishments in battle ( some stories became embellished over time). This showed the deep pride and respect they held for his ancestors. (Turnbull 47). By the fourteenth century a samurais lineage had gotten quite long and just reciting your ancestors was difficult. The family pedigree was so important it was written down to be kept in force(p) at all cost. An example of this devotion is when a samurais house caught fire and one samurai volunteered to go in and get the family tree that was written on a banner. After the fire they found the samurai laying dead on his protrude, when they turned him over they found he had cut his stomach open and piece the family tree insid e to protect it from the flames (Turnbull 53). This is another example of their devotion to their family and to duty.The ancestors of the samurai were very much involved in the present life of the samurai. Every year during the Bon festival they would be welcomed back through religious ceremonies. These ceremonies showed a deep appreciation felt toward their ancestors. They felt great gratitude for who they were, this included their name and their status. There were even rituals held before battles to bring the ancestors to help (Turnbull 48).The death of the samurai was treated with the same respect and honor as was his life. Seppuku is the word used for suicide by cutting open the stomach (also known as hari kiri). Seppuku was performed with a dagger. To the samurai warrior seppuku was something to be honored and respected. It could also bring back honor to him and his family if he had been beaten in battle or disgraced. This took unimagined bravely and was extremely painful. Of ten a friend of the samurais would to end his pain by cutting off his head. (History Channel). This could also be something planned out ahead of time or done quickly during battle.Nitta Yoshisada is one of the most famous stories of a samurais death in 1336. Going into battle one day he was worried, the battle was difficult and he had to lead his men through rice fields. Yoshida went charging in, despite a heavy attack of soldiers and arrows. His horse was hit and fell down pinning him underneath. He had no time or way to reach his stomach to perform seppuku so they say he cut off his own head. This is just one of many extreme acts of seppuku over the many years of the samurai.As clans all over Japan dispersed there became a large amount of samurai without a master these samurai were called ronin. These ronin were different from most samurai because they were not loyal to any lord. Many of them became personal body guards for farm owners, and some became senseis, and others took the time to master the technique of the sword.As time has passed the so did the importance of the samurai warrior. There were no more battles to be fought and peace was among the country. This with Japan becoming a more industrialized nation. After years of isolationism and their declining economy Japan was finally forced to open trade with western countries including the United States. This caused a split in Japan between the conventional samurai ideals and those who wanted to bring in the new ways of the west. In 1876 the emperor decided that there would be no eating away swords unless you were part of the imperial armed forces. This was another symbol of the samurais power no longer needed. Over time the samurai could no longer support themselves and returned to horticulture or working in cites. The role of the samurai warrior was finished.The Japanese samurais have been extremely influential figures throughout Japans history. Their influence has been seen is all aspects of Japanes e life from the education of young boys in body and mind, to governing of the Emperors, to the study of the martial arts. Their code of honor and loyalty are traditions that all Japanese respect and try to live up to even today. The self sacrifice of ones own life for a common cause was even seen in World War II when Japanese pilots deliberately crashed their planes into United States ships anchored at Pearl Harbor. This was a devastating attack and can show the horror caused by revenge and their belief in sacrifice and honor. They were even called kamikaze pilots after the famous samurai battle of long ago. The influence of the samurai continues to be seen in Japan today in a positive way with the stories and legends of heroic samurai and the bushido as their guide.Works CitedGaskin, Carol. and Hawkins, Vince. The Ways of the Samurai. New York Byron Preiss VisualPublications, 2003History of the Samurai. http//home.online.no/p-loeand/samurai/hist-eng.htmHow Samurai Work. http//scien ce.howstuffworks.com/samurai.htmThe History Channel The Samurai. Videocassette. AE Television Networks, 2003. 100 min.Turnbull, Stephen. Samurai, The World of the Warrior. Oxford Osprey Publishing, 2003

Taylors Scientific management Theory

Taylors Scientific solicitude TheoryCRITICALLY ASSESS THE WAYS IN WHICH F.W.TAYLORS scientific MANAGEMENT THEORY HAS INFLUENCED HOW CONTEMPORARY ORGANISAYIONS ARE MANAGED.Introduction (250 words)(Write after written the main body) Brief explanation of scientific forethought Briefly say how this think to contemporary care* Father of scientific direction (Pollard, 1982, scalawag 3)* Scientific management was developed as Taylor realised role players never worked anywhere near the locomote possible due to the lack of know guidege and subdue from the managers this was known as systematic soldiering. (Pollard, 1982, page 4)* Although Taylor had many followers that in any case influenced scientific management this keistervas will just focus on Taylor and his contributions as these were the most significant. office 1 Explanation of scientific management and Taylor and his principles. (short section) (300 words) During the nineteenth century issue started to change, these chang es meant that newfangled management techniques were needed. Taylor began as an apprentice in manufacturing and quickly became a consultant where he conducted fourth dimension and motion studies to predominate the most efficient way of completing a task this became known as the one scoop knocked out(p) way. Tasks were standardised and divided up in to small repetitive tasks workers were then assigned to a task that they were most suited to. These methods are known as ingredient of labour and job peculiarity. Taylor had five main principles that scientific management is based around. Roberts (2009) summarised these as1. A clear division of task and responsibilities2. Use scientific methods to determine the one best way of doing a job3. Scientific selection of best person for the newly designed job.4. Ensure workers are trained to per induce the job the one best way5. Strict surveillance of workers using a hi daterchy of authority and close supervision. Taylor saw people as laz y and motivated by money and consequently employ effectuate rates to maturation harvest-tideivity. This view ca habitd almost all responsibility of the workers to be removed. Taylors principles increased productivity, cut costs and increased wages. They allowed unskilled workers to be employed. Taylor gave managers their control back and this was a genuinely important part of scientific management. Linking sentence many of these principles are still used, some switch been modified and separates have been turned on their head. So in one way or another all parts of scientific management have influenced contemporary management.Section 2 Advantages of scientific management and what this has led to in contemporary management. (400 words) When the advantages of scientific management are analysed it can be seen that many of these methods are used at once in one way or another. This is because the same basic contradictions and pressures face managers at the start of the twenty-firs t century as they did at the beginning of the twentieth. (Stoney, 2001, page ) Increasing efficiency and productivity connect to the aim of profit maximization today (Peaucelle, 2000). Piece rates are still used today but usually alongside some other form of remuneration. This is because piece rates alone lead to poor quality and more waste as workers work too quickly. It can be seen that piece rates solved the problem of soldiering but in the twenty-first century have caused the opposite problem. The principles of standardization and having clearly defined rules are a common theme within many contemporary organisations. Clear rules are a necessity today especially where delegation and decentralisation hold up. This shows how this principle has developed. Taylor had a more autocratic drift of management where workers were just told what to do through these clear rules now in many organisations a democratic style is used to empower and motivate employees and so clear rules are nec essary for a different reason for employees to see what individual responsibilities they hold. Division of labour and job specialisation have formed the basis of other concepts, for fount Ritzers Mcdonaldization. Mcondaldization is the process by which the principles of the fast-food sedulousness are coming to dominate more and more sectors. (Ritzer, 2004, page 1). The four main principles are efficiency, calculability, predictability and control these align with Taylors principles. In the fast food industry it is necessary to have clear rules and standardization as tasks are certified on each other and without these principles the fast service predicted by consumers would not be received. This proves that scientific management is still very much alive today. at bottom contemporary management there are many oddballs of control, scientific management focused on what is now known as efficiency control. Taylor sought control over every aspect of an employees job, right from its manner of execution to the final outcomes desired. (Parker, L, D. Lewis, N, R, 1995, p 218). This total control was due to Taylors view of employees which is similar to McGregors theory X style of management where workers are passive, self centred and dislike responsibility (Roberts and Corbett, 2009, page 249). From this it can be seen that Taylors ideas on control are still relevant today as theory X views are still used in some contemporary organisations such(prenominal) as McDonalds and other fast-food restaurants.Linking sentence into disadvantages and back to the question.Section 3 (Disadvantages of scientific management and what this has led to in contemporary management. (400 words) Scientific management received a lot of criticism especially from trade unions in the United Kingdom. Despite these criticisms being bad for scientific management and Taylor himself they have helped other concepts of management to develop and avoid the problems that these principles created for scientific management. One of the major problems with scientific management was that many managers were selective in the principles that they employed. Scientific management became a tool for driving workers harder rather than a means of recompenseing them for efficiency gains (Witzel, 2005, page 91). Management in organisations today realise the importance of motivation. numerous theorist of motivation, for example Stacey Adams and the equity theory (Roberts and Corbett ,2009), have recognised that employees are motivated be perceiving remuneration as fair. It is quite common for organisations that have the aim of increasing productivity will set targets that entail a bonus for the employees if it is reached. Scientific management removed the control from the employees and so innovation was scarce one of the reasons for this was the fact that managers perceived conflict as a bad thing. This view is consistent with the unitarist placement where there are common goals and no confl ict (Roberts and Corbett, 2009). However even in industries where scientific management is employ heavily, such as Toyota, use concepts such as continuous improvement (where employees views are discussed and considered). This shows a more pluralist view where conflict is seen as inevit adapted which leads to more employee involvement. This shift in management style was due to the high labour turnover and absenteeism that could have been due to dissatisfied employees. Scientific management is dehumanizing, employees become cogs in a machine (Roberts 2009, slide 10) which is demotivating. Taylor wing for a too mechanistic, too inhumane image of human nature (Tsukamoto, 2008, p.349). To overcome this contemporary organisations use concepts such as job rotation to figure that employees dont get bored, also social factors are taken into consideration as Mayo found in some of the Hawthorne studies that these factors play an important part in motivation which in turn increases efficienc y. However it can be argued that by training the employees to become first class men (Wren, 1994, page 220) motivation was considered and so this principle could just have been extended rather than modified.Section 4 how scientific management is used within industries today. (400 words) The main industries today that make use of scientific management principles are fast food restaurants and call centres. Call centre work is a modern form of Taylorism. (Dieter et al,2003, p.311). Call centres employee unskilled workers who have a low take of control due to the standardisation and monotonous tasks that have to be completed they have high labour turnover and absenteeism. From this it can be seen that it may well be necessary to use Taylors principles despite the disadvantages that they bring. Mangers of call centres will be well aware of the other concepts of management that exist but they may have decided that scientific management is well suited to the aims of the organisation. As m entioned earlier the Mcdonaldization of society explains the influence of the fast food industry on other sectors in the global market. It could be perceived that this is the industry that implements scientific management the most however some modifications to Taylors main principles have been made. For example there is more flexibility now due to the fast moving pace of the global economy, without this change this industry may not have been able to keep up with the changes that are necessary to staying competitive. With the slight modification of the main principles the influence of scientific management can be seen in many firms that form part of our free-and-easy lives. For example retailers such as Ikea and Starbucks use these principles to a greater or less(prenominal)er extent. As well as this universities and health deal also implement these principles to help to improve their efficiency.Section 5 windup (250 words) Although ideas such as standardisation and job specialisa tion are used less the newer objectives such as diversification and flexibility are hardly possible through increasing efficiency which is one of Taylors main aims. (Peaucelle 2000) The management style that is implemented within an organisation depends a lot on the managers styles of leadership which to some degree is influence by the industry. Scientific management was a product of its surround in the sense that it grew out of the pressing needs of industry for efficiency. (Wren, 1994, p.221). This need was due to an increase in machinery which need different management techniques. Today engineering science is developing very quickly and so Taylors principles are relevant now as they enable managers to cope with the fast pace of these changes effectively and efficiently. Scientific management was a significant force, however, and it continued to evolve as individuals and ideas come forth in an ever-changing cultural environment. (Wren, 1994, p.217). It will continue to influenc e future concepts of management through its advantages and disadvantages that cause modifications to be made and new styles to evolve.Taylors Scientific Management TheoryTaylors Scientific Management TheoryIntroductionThe purpose of this essay is to differentiate the principles and various criticisms of Taylors scientific management and to discuss whether Frederick Taylors principles and ideas can be used successfully in todays contemporary organizations.Fredrick Winslow Taylor (1856 1915), was a leading pioneer in the studies of management, and was a lot known as the father of scientific management. Taylor (1915) revolutionized management in the twentieth century by focusing on mass production of inexpensive products, resulting in economy stability and a standardization of major industrial processes. The publication of his book titled Principles of Scientific Management was influential in its contribution to management studies around the world (Bedelan and Wren, 2001).Principles of Scientific ManagementTaylor (1911) reported that managers, in his time, relied on the personal initiative of workers for achieving productivity, although high levels of productivity were rarely attained. In contending that workers accomplished at levels infra their true capacities, he came up with four principles of scientific management to be followed by managersThe First Principle focused on how the workers would perform their daily tasks. To find out the most efficient method of playacting specific tasks, Taylor studied them in great detail and considered the ways different workers went about performing their everyday jobs. Once Taylor understood the existing way of performing a task, he then experimented to increase specialization (Taylor 1911). The reason for the success of this principle is that it made jobs wide-eyed for workers and reduce unnecessary movements. Taylor also wanted to find ways to improve each workers ability to perform a particular task.The irregular Principle was to frame the new techniques of performing tasks into written rules and standard operating procedures. Once the best method of performance task was determined, it would be communicated to all workers.The Third Principle required the selection of workers who possessed skills and abilities to match the needs of the tasks, and to train them to perform the task against established procedures. To increase specialization, Taylor believed workers had to understand the task that were required and be trained to perform them at the required level. Workers who could not be trained to do this level were to be transferred to a job where they were able to reach the minimum required level of proficiency.The quarter Principle was to set a fair level of performance for a task, and then develop a pay system that provides a proceeds for performance above the acceptable level. To encourage workers to perform at a high level of efficiency, and to provide them with an incentive to reveal the most efficient techniques for performing a task, Taylor advocated that workers should be paid a bonus and receive some percentage of the performance gains achieved through the more efficient work process.According to Taylor, as cited in Butler (1991), greater results achieved through scientific management were attained, not through a marked superiority in the mechanism of one type of management over the mechanism of another, but rather by the substitution of one philosophy for another philosophy in industrial management. It is instructive to check over Taylors philosophy of scientific management with its emphasis upon the human element, not generally associated with Taylor. This philosophy is perhaps more important and appropriate for today than individual principles of scientific management. Human resource developments should be a matter of national concerns at all levels. As technology changes, so do skill sets and other worker requirements (Butler, 1991).Criticisms of Scien tific ManagementOver the years there have been some key criticisms against Taylors Scientific Management. One of these critics has charged Taylors system as having viewed man as a machine -a cog in a wheel- and programmed every important motion a workman had to execute to complete an assigned task (Halpern, Osofsky, Peskin, 1989). Those critics believed that that would bequeath workers with no discretion at all and it is tedious for all, but the most apathetic workers. Another critic added that scientific management mandates an extremely high division of labor which requires minimum skills. This left workers with no incentive to grow and develop on the job. Also, Taylors systems were criticized for not examining the sentiments of workers nor were they briefed on the purpose for Taylors time study methods. Taylors system also failed to identify the social and psychological needs of the worker, and the complaints of unsatisfactory working conditions and humiliating treatment (Halper n, Osofsky, Peskin, 1989). Employees in contemporary organizations were more highly educated and would have a better knowledge of their job scope therefore they are more actively involved in decision making. Taylors principles seem to assume that the employees of the past era would only perform simple work tasks and do not need much knowledge to complete their work.Another criticism about Taylors system was that its reward structure was bound by how an individual performed. However, it stands to reason that modifying the original reward structure to extend to a team or workgroup, the result would be applicable to todays organization (Halpern, Osofsky, Peskin, 1989).Can scientific management be used successfully in contemporary organizations?In todays organizations, many companies still use Frederick Taylors basic theories of scientific management in organizing and designing their jobs despite the fact that many managers and production engineers may not necessarily subscribe to the hypothesis behind Taylors theory (Pruijt, 2000). Many big companies have taken up Taylors ideas and applied them very effectively, even transforming the process. (Peaucelle, 2000).An example of a reputable company using Taylorism is General Motors (GM). GM has publicly acknowledged the importance of employee performance and team performance (Butler, 1991). In one of its programmes, GM ranked employees against each other, essentially grading the employees individual performance. Based on the performance, bosses had to enforce pay differences between the tiers. On aggrandisement of that, GM also set up a recognition award fund to be doled out in lump sums to high performers, regardless of the competitiveness of their salaries. This encouraged better cooperation among co-workers, enabling better efficiency within the company. This is a successful implementation of Taylors Fourth Principle which rewards the individual for their specific task performance,There are a number of points th at make the theories of scientific management attractive to todays managers. One of the core attractions is the hope that the best possible method, the one best way will be used. However, Taylors strong belief that a one best way to work talent be a matter of idealistic debate.When we compare todays organizations, another core attraction of Taylorism is it promises to be a means against what Taylor called systematic soldiering. This concern is as relevant to todays managing organization as ever. Pruijt (2000) supported that statement by analyzing the productivity gap in a European and a Japanese organization at Daimler in Germany, the current strategy was based more on responsible autonomy, whilst in Japanese plants, standard worksheets are used to specify the localize of operations and the time allowed for them. Therefore, with respect to Taylorism, when granted autonomy, workers in mass production do not put in a maximum effort. It would seem then that for certain organizations, the Second and Third Principles are effective.Despite the advantages of Taylorism in todays organization, there are still some drawbacks. Pruijt (2000) mentioned that one of the drawbacks identified is that Taylorism is expensive because it entails creating jobs for non-value adding supervisors and other indirect workers. On top of that, Pruijt (2000) also noted that Taylorism is not favorable to flexibility, although it boosts numerical flexibility by making it easier to quickly put together new workers in a production process, and it allows workers to be laid off without losing knowledge from the organization.In todays corporate management, Post-Taylorism, as stated by Peaucelle (2000) is adopted but it does not abandon Taylorisms objectives, rather, there is the asset of new objectives which includes productivity (efficiency), flexibility, deadlines (timeliness) and quality variety (diversity). Although these new objectives are sometimes pursued through entirely new activities when executed, the Taylorisms traditional methods may also sometimes be employed.However, Peaucelle (2000) argues that new objectives are unachievable without adversely affecting efficiency in a modern company using Taylorism. Peaucelle (2000) further explained that increasing add on would be the only way to shorten delivery periods, which is costly due to limited product range and the whole operation becomes more unaffordable as the product range is diversified. In addition, diversity would also appear to be very expensive as it diminishes the size of the manufactured series. Furthermore, quality would be achievable only if inspection points are increased, and with the help of qualified, and thus more expensive workforce, hence adding more cost to production. Lastly, flexibility would also emerge as ambiguous with regards to minacious and rigid investments in heavy industrial equipment purchased at lower prices.For instance, in Japan, since it was necessary to have a high school certificate in order to work on the automobile production line, the high level of education corresponded to added competence, and was certainly paid for. As discussed by Peaucelle (2000), this is consistent with the analysis of efficiency-wage reactivity. Therefore, in study to the traditional Taylorism, workers are paid above the minimum wage whereas the post-Taylorism company pays its workers a higher wage for increased competence since it is a way of attaining its objectives.ConclusionThe findings suggest that Frederick Taylors theory still exists in todays organizations. His principles of management can still be used successfully in todays organizations, with adjustments to cater for the modern workplace and its demands.

Thalamic Glutamate as a Marker of Global Brain Pathology -MS

Thalamic Glutamate as a Marker of Global Brain Pathology -MSAuthor contributionsLP envision conceptualisation of the teach, analysis and interpretation of entropy, drafting the manuscript for intellectual content.JR design conceptualisation of the study, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the manuscript for intellectual content.IRB analysis and interpretation of data, revising the manuscript for intellectual content.GS analysis and interpretation of dataKZ data collectionRN design conceptualisation of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the manuscript for intellectual content.LP1DisclosuresLP no disclosures.JR no disclosures.IRV no disclosures.GS no disclosures.KZ no disclosures.RN Bayer, Biogen, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Roche honorarium for speaking, advisory boards. Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis funds for organising education, staff. Biogen, Novartis Principal investigator.LP2LP3Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS ) is characterised by demyelination and variable degrees of axonal loss and gliosis. People with MS (pwMS) present with sensory disturbances, spasticity, fatigue, ataxia, pain and urinary dysfunction1. The most common form of MS is relapsing-remitting and 85% of pwMS signly present with it, with most eventually progress to a secondary, progressive phase2. Without adequate treatment, 25% of pwMS become wheelchair-bound3.Charcot was the first to describe the inflammatory demyelinating plaque as a hallmark of MS in the late nineteenth century4. While discolour matter lesions (WML) contribute to disability5,6, they are likely not its only drive. Recent evidence supports the concept that grey matter lesions (GML) and atrophy are likely contributors to disability7,8. Furthermore, recent studies have looked at diffuse axonal loss and support the notion that this process drives long-term disability, out-of-pocket to a combination of focal inflammation and cortical damage driven by menin geal inflammation9-13.Large clinical trials in MS infrequently fit the effect of therapies with brain lesion volumes and atrophy. This is due to the fact that as of today, no automated software exists which is able to consistently calculate WMLs14 and GMLs are grossly underestimated as they are not readily transparent on MRI15,16. Lastly, brain atrophy is hard to quantify, can only be thrifty longitudinally and is subject to non-tissue related (pseudo-atrophy) volume loss subsequent to indisposition modifying treatment17,18. There is an unmet need for a simple biomarker that can act as a surrogate for neuronal damage in MS for use in observational and interventional studies.NatalizumabNatalizumab (Tysabri) is a disease-modifying treatment given over intravenously as a monthly infusion19. In the UK it is licensed as a second-line treatment for severe, rapidly evolving, relapsing-remitting MS. It is say against the 4 subunit of integrin on lymphocytes and acts as an immune-modul ator by inhibiting their migration to the brain20,21. Compared to placebo, it has been shown to reduce relapse rate by 68%. Furthermore, it reduced the risk of disability progression by 42%, defined as a change in EDSS score sustained for 24 weeks21.Magnetic resonance spectroscopyMagnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a non-invasive MRI sequence that allows identification and quantification of in vivo metabolites present in a small, preselected brain region. Proton nuclei (1H) are most commonly apply in studies of the human being brain due to their abundance and high sensitivity. MRS sequences distinguish in the midst of diverse metabolites by measuring the frequency at which 1H nuclei flip, which is in turn dependent on the molecular root carrying the hydrogen atom22. Measuring these metabolic changes allows researchers to gain an insight into changes at a cellular and molecular level in the brain, which cannot be acquired use conventional MRI techniques23.The thalamus is a subcortical hub, with multiple reciprocal connections to both blanched matter tracts and cortical grey matter24. Previous studies evidenced the fact that it is small to pathology occurring in other brain regions25. We speculated that by exploitation the thalamus as our region of interest (ROI), investigated metabolites would give a measure of global neuronal damage.AimsWe investigated thalamic MRS as a biomarker for global brain neuronal damage in MS by comparing baseline metabolite submergences between pwMS and HCs. Metabolites that were found to be statistically significantly various between these two groups at baseline were investigated further. To additionally support apply MRS imaging as a surrogate for global central nervous dodging pathology, we investigated the correlation between these metabolite submergings in pwMS and total lesion volume. In order to investigate whether thalamic MRS can be used to monitor treatment response, we measured changes in their concentr ation followe treatment with the disease-modifying drug natalizumab.PopulationParticipants aged 21-65 underwent inclusion criteria screening. For the pwMS group, this included satisfying the McDonald criteria 2010, having passing active MS and having been scheduled to initiate natalizumab treatment as part of routine NHS Case. Following ethics approval and written informed consent from participants, 17 pwMS and 12 HCs were recruited to the study.HCs underwent an MRI baseline scan while pwMS underwent a scan at baseline, and finish scans at 10 and 56 weeks after initiation of natalizumab treatment.Acquisition of MRS dataAll experiments were carried out in the same randomness 3T Magnetom Verio with a 32-channel receiver head coilLP4, used to acquire combined MRI and 1H-MRS scans. A magnetisation-prepared rapid gradient-echo sequence (MPRAGE) was used to obtain high-definition T1 weighted scans with the following parameters (repetition clock (TR)= 2300secho time (TE)= 3ms inversion time (TI)= 900 160 sagittal sections slice thickness 1.0mm in-plane resolution of 1x1mm2 . A single voxel was placed over the left thalamus. In order to acquire the single-voxel scans, a Point-RESolved Spectroscopy sequence (PRESS) was used which had variable power and optimized relaxation delays (VAPOR) water suppression (TR/TE, 2000/30ms) on a single 15-mm slab. This was align to the T1 sequence sections (Figure 2). Four reference transients were used to align the data. The average of 96 transients was used for water suppressed spectra. The volume of interest was 15x15x15mm, voxel size was 3.4mL. These parameters were also used to acquire reference MRS datasets without water suppression. This was done to obtain an national water reference, which was used to scale metabolite signals. Double inversion recovery shiver and phase sensible inversion recovery sequences were also acquired.Lesion volumesWhite and grey matter lesions were identified on 160-slice T1 scans with co-registe red double inversion recovery sequences. Lesions were manually segmented in T1 home using the Imperial College software ImSeg. The images obtained by this process LP5were used to derive proportions of grey matter, white matter and total lesion volumes. T1, double inversion recovery pulse and phase sensitive inversion recovery sequences were used to check for presence of lesions in the thalamus.Data processingT1 and spectroscopy data were initially obtained from scans in dicom coiffe (dcm). A modified MATLAB (v.2015b) script was used to convert the T1 scans into nifti format (nii), the single voxel spectroscopy scans into rda format (rda) and to generate mask files in rda format.LCModel (v.6.3-1K) was run by using a second modified MATLAB script, in order to obtain spectroscopy data from 0.2-4.0 ppm. The software is a user-independent fitting routine that works by superimposing spectra obtained in vivo with high-resolution model spectra. It is an accurate and reliable method to qua ntify MRS data with short echo times (ET30ms)28,29.Partial volume corrections to explain different concentrations of water in the grey matter (GM), white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were conducted by converting T1 sequences from dicom to nifti format, and segmenting the obtained images using MATLABs SPM8 toolbox. This allowed scaling metabolite concentrations obtained from PRESS sequence with water-suppression, to the waters internal reference signal from the unsuppressed water PRESS-sequence.The segmentation was used to calculate voxel proportions of GM, WM and CSF, which are in turn needed to obtain the water concentration (WCONC) nurture from the unsuppressed water reference signal used to estimate absolute concentrations of metabolites. Total WCONC values for each voxel were computed in accordance with Section 10.2.2.3 of the LCModel manual29.Eddy-current correction was performed by using LCModel. Relaxation effects were not corrected for, and therefore explanati oned metabolite concentrations will differ from actual ones by an unknown factor. The latter is likely to be negligible, as all inform concentrations will deviate from actual concentrations by this same, unknown factor. As per LCModels manual, metabolite concentrations were multiplied by a factor of 1.04, which amounts to the specific gravity of brain tissue29, and were reported in mmol/L (mM).Data exclusionA heat map (Figure 4, right side) was created in order to check for voxel placement by using FSL view v.3.2.0. T1 sequences and mask files were reoriented to match the Montreal Neurological Institute standard template, followed by brain extraction from the surrounding tissue. T1 sequences and mask files were registered to standard space using the Montreal Neurological Institute template, which consists of 152 averaged brain T1 scans of 2mm resolution. The heat map is a depiction of each voxel mask overlaid onto the che2better template for T1 sequences taken from the mricron soft ware.LP6 No MRS spectra were removed from the analysis owing to minimal inter-scan variability. Spectra generated by LCModel were checked for overall data quality in accordance with the softwares instruction manual29. 2 baseline HC and 2 pwMS spectra were excluded from data analysis (Table 1).For a metabolite to be investigated, it had to be relevant to MS pathology as evidenced by previous studies, as well as to demonstrate sufficient data quality, measured by having Cramr -Rao lower bounds ratio of 75% of individual scans. Five metabolites were investigated choline-containing compounds (Cho), glutamate (Glu), myo-inositol (Ins), total creatine (tCr) and total n-acetylaspartate (tNAA) (Table 1). In a given subjects scan, metabolite concentrations with a Cramr-Rao lower bounds (CRLB) value of 15% were excluded from data analysis, as per LCModels manual of instructions. Concentrations exceeding 2 standard deviations (2SD) out with the group hateful were also excluded.QCa for entire spectraQC for individual metabolites Participant groupBefore spectra QC(n)After spectra QC(n)Metabolites (marker of)6 Participant groupBefore metabolite QC(n)After 1st QCf(n)After 2nd QCg(n)HCsb1210Cho1(membrane turnover)HCs1099pwMS BLc1715pwMS BL151212pwMS 10wd1616pwMS 10w161616pwMS 56we1616pwMS 56w161515Glu2(metabolism and neurotransmitter activity)HCs1066pwMS BL1598pwMS 10w161414pwMS 56w161514Ins3(glial marker)HCs1077pwMS BL151414pwMS 10w161514pwMS 56w161515tCr4(metabolic activity)HCs101010pwMS BL151514pwMS 10w161615pwMS 56w161616tNAA5(neuronal loss, mitochondrial activity)HCs10109pwMS BL151514pwMS 10w161616pwMS 56w161615Statistical analysisPrism GraphPad (v.7) and IBM SPSS Statistics 24 software were used to conduct statistical analysis. Participant demographics results are reported as mean and standard deviation (SD). Metabolite concentrations are reported as mean, standard error of measurement (SEM) and 95% self-assurance intervals. Parametric tests were used after testing fo r normal distribution of the data. Unpaired t-tests were used to compare metabolites between pwMS and HCs cross-sectionally. Pearsons coefficient was used to correlate between metabolite concentrations and bilateral lesion volumes. A linear mixed model was used to quantify longitudinal changes in metabolite concentrations in pwMS.MRS data were obtained from 17 pwMS (mean age (SD) was 41.6 (10.6), carry 21-58 years) and 12 HCs (mean age (SD) was 41.9 (8.3), range 29-61 years). Mean time since diagnosis in years was 12.1 (10.6) and mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 4.1 (1.1).People with MS, n17Age, mean (SD)41.6 (10.6)Sex, n (%)M6 (35)F11 (65)Years since diagnosis, mean (SD)12.1 (10.6)EDSS score, mean (SD)4.1 (1.1)Healthy controls, n12Age, mean (SD)41.9 (8.3)Sex, n (%)M9 (75)F3 (25)Lower concentrations of glutamate are found at baseline in the thalami of people with highly active MSA statistically significant dissimilarity in the concentration of glutamate was found b etween the two groups (7.670.3456 in HCs and 6.550.232 in pwMS, p=0.016). No significant difference was found between the two groups using other metabolites.MetaboliteHealthy controls (n=10) People with MS (n=15) 95% CICho1. 690.0826,n=91.750.25, n=12-0.232 0.216Glu* 7.670.346, n=66.550.232, n=8*-2.00 0.253Ins3.980.250, n=74.450.281, n=14-0.452 1.380tCr340.134, n=105.420.150, n=14-0.350 0.510tNAA8.600.134, n=98.460.178, n=14-0.656 0.375Baseline thalamic glutamate concentrations in pwMS correlate negatively with total lesion volumesBaseline glutamate concentrations in pwMS negatively tally with T1 scan total lesion volumes (n=8 r=-0.80, p=0.017 Figure 6). No other thalamic metabolite correlated with lesion volumes. Lesion volumes in HCs (n=6) were assumed to be zero and are depicted in Figure 6, but this parameter was excluded from statistical analyses. No lesions were found in the thalami of pwMS in this study.Glutamate concentration correlated even more strongly with left cer ebral hemisphere lesion volumes (p=0.0091), an expected finding given that the left thalamus was used as the studys ROI. The correlation was least significant when using right hemisphere lesion volumes (p=0.030). These results are reported in Table 3.Sampled lesion load locationr, correlation coefficientp-value Left hemisphere-0.840.0091Right hemisphere-0.750.030Both hemispheres/Total-0.800.016Thalamic glutamate concentrations increase following natalizumab treatmentGlutamate concentrations measured in the thalami of pwMS increased significantly (p=LP7) between the 10 and 56 weeks (n=12 pairs of data-points) follow-up scans. At 56 weeks, no significant difference between the pwMS and HC groups was recorded, suggesting that glutamate levels had normalisedLP8. No significant difference in glutamate concentration was recorded between baseline and 10 weeks follow-up scans (n=7 pairs of data-points) and between baseline and 56 weeks follow-up (n=7 pairs of data-points).LP9This observatio nal study used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to compare metabolite concentrations in 17 pwMS and 12 HCs. Study findings indicate a lower baseline concentration of glutamate in the thalami of pwMS compared to HCs. In pwMS this correlated negatively with total baseline brain lesion volume, which supports our initial hypothesis that thalamic MRS specifically measuring glutamate can be used as a surrogate for global central nervous system pathology. An increase in glutamate concentrations was recorded following natalizumab treatment between 10 and 56 weeks of follow-up. To our groups knowledge, this is the first 1H-MRS study to identify baseline cross-sectional differences in thalamic glutamate, correlate glutamate concentrations with total lesion volumes, and report longitudinal changes in thalamic glutamate following natalizumab treatment.Thalamic glutamate is a potential surrogate for total brain neuronal damage in highly active MSGlutamate, the read/write head cen tral nervous system excitatory neurotransmitter is mainly synthesized from glutamine31,32. In addition to its neurotransmitter role, glutamate concentration is closely linked to the Krebs cycle, which reflects the cells metabolic activity. Previous proton MRS studies in MS reported higher levels of glutamate in lesioned white matter of pwMS compared to HCs33,34. One of these studies also reported lower levels of glutamate in lesioned grey matter regions34. The limitation of using white or grey matter lesions as ROIs is the high heterogeneity of these brain regions. With regards to WMLs, their definition includes- among others- active, inactive and remyelinating lesions. As for grey matter, this can be affected by characterisation to cytokines from meningeal follicle-like structures or, similarly to WMLs, demyelination13,35,36. Current MRS imaging is unable to discriminate between these different pathologies. Therefore, metabolite concentrations obtained from these ROIs are likely t o reflect the aforementioned local pathological changes, quite an than global MS pathology. In contrast, the potential advantage of thalamic MRS is that the thalamus is rarely affected by local inflammation in MS37,38. Given that it is a subcortical hub highly connected with numerous other brain areas, this study hypothesised that the thalamus could be used as a biomarker of total brain neuronal damage in highly active MS. Two results in our study support this hypothesis the decreased concentration of glutamate in pwMS and the negative correlation between glutamate and total brain lesion volume. Lesion volumes in MS have been found to correlate with axonal loss39 and disability40. Moreover, glutamate is mainly found in synaptic vesicles, therefore the decreased thalamic glutamate recorded in pwMS in this study could represent neuronal degeneration and synapse loss.Thalamic glutamate increases following natalizumab treatmentBetween 10 and 56 weeks of natalizumab treatment our group recorded a significant increase (p=,) in the concentration of thalamic glutamate in pwMS. At the end of the follow-up period, glutamate levels normalised, with no significant difference being recorded between pwMS and HC groups. No significant differences in glutamate concentration were found between baseline and 10 (n=x pairs?) and baseline and 56 weeks (n=x pairs?)LP10 follow-up scans. It can be hypothesised that the limited sample size of pairs of data-points between baseline and 56 weeks follow-up glutamate prevented us from recording an existing statistically significant difference. With regards to changes in glutamate between baseline and 10 weeks, there could be a significant change in glutamate concentration within this timeframe, which was not picked up due to our limited sample size. It also cannot be excluded that thalamic MRS may take endless to respond to treatment.Previous published literature has shown lower glutamate concentrations in lesioned white matter of pwMS a t baseline, which increased following treatment with natalizumab41. This effect can be attributed to the anti-inflammatory proprieties of natalizumab. By preventing production of nitrogen oxide and reactive oxygen species by macrophages, the drug could reduce axonal damage otherwise caused by these compounds42,43.Study limitationsThe algorithm used my SPM8 is incapable of accurately differentiating between the brighter grey and surrounding white matter, as the image intensity in the thalamus is very close to the intensity of white matter. Therefore the software records a higher white matter proportion in the thalamus than the true one. It should be nevertheless noted that this inaccuracy in measuring white/grey matter ratio should not cause any systematic error that would affect overall results.The studys HCs were adequately age-matched but poorly gender-matched to pwMS. Previous studies however reported no significant differences in any of the metabolite concentrations in the bra in between different genders44. Therefore, no correction for a gender effect was made.The HC group only had a baseline scan, with no longitudinal data recorded. A useful longitudinal control group may be untreated pwMS. The absence of such a control group is currently however a common limitation, as people with highly active MS are or so always on treatment. Having no information on the natural history of thalamic MRS in pwMS, it is difficult to interpret the significance of longitudinal changes in glutamate seen in this study.Lastly, albeit the thalamus is seldom affected by inflammatory activity in pwMS, the presence of inflammatory lesions has been previously described45. Such lesions are a confounding factor as they at one time influence measured metabolite concentrations. However, based on T1, double inversion recovery pulse and phase sensitive inversion recovery sequences, no thalamic lesions were observed in our study.Future workStudies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm our baseline findings, as well as to confidently interpret longitudinal changes in glutamate concentrations following natalizumab treatment. The presence of a pwMS untreated control group is not justifiable on ethical and legal grounds, however fu

Prevent Pollution :: essays research papers

All time-management courses boil down to one basic piece of advice set priorities and portion out the bulk of your time to tasks that are crucial to meeting your goals. Minimize interruptions and spend big chunks of your time in productive and creative activity. Unfortunately, current information systems embolden the opposite approach, leading to an interrupt-driven workday and reduced productivity. Here are six steps to regaining control of your day Dont check your email all the time. readiness aside special breaks between bigger projects to handle email. Dont let email interrupt your projects, and dont let the computer dictate your priorities. Turn off your email programs " jab" feature (the annoying bell or screen flash that notifies you every time an email message arrives). If youre using Microsoft Outlook, go to Tools > Options > Preferences > E-mail Options and uncheck "Display a notification message when new mail arrives." Dont use "reply to all&q uot when responding to email. Abide by the good old "need to know" principle thats so beloved by the military and send follow-up messages only to those people who will actually benefit from the reply. Write informative subject lines for your email messages. walk out that the recipient is too busy to open messages with lame titles like "hi." Create a special email address for personal messages and news programletters. Only check this placard once per day. (If youre geekly enough to master filtering, use filters to sort and prioritize your email. Unfortunately, this is currently too difficult for average users.) Write short. J. K. Rowling is not a good mathematical function model for email writers. Avoid IM (instant messaging) unless real-time interaction will truly add value to the communication. A one-minute interruption of your colleagues will cost them ten proceeding of productivity as they reestablish their mental context and get back into "flow." Only the most important messages are worth 1,000 percent in smash costs. What Companies Can DoAt the corporate level, we need to implement four more steps Answer common customer questions on your website using die and concise language. This will save your customers a lot of time -- thus making you popular -- and will keep them from pestering you with time-consuming phone calls and emails. substance abuser test your intranet. Clean it up so that employees can find stuff faster, and make the intranet homepage their entry point for keeping up on company news and events.

The Impact of Electronic Media and the Internet on Print Media Essay

The Impact of Electronic Media and the Internet on Print MediaNew engine room has developed rapidly since the birth of the internet, and it continues to expand and evolve affecting many domains, in particular the print media. This essay will investigate the influence and impact of period engine room of the electronic media and World Wide Web on print media, and how future day developments in technology will affect the future direction of the tralatitious newspaper. The way in which Bloggers have influenced traditional journalism will also be explored and how this has affected the journalism profession. In addition, the negative impacts of how the electronic media is being apply as a political forum will also be investigated. Finally, the author will predict the consequences of future developments in this rapidly growing sedulousness and the implications this may have on the direction of print media. Through technological advancements the television system system and i nternet now deliver the news instantly into our homes, which has inadvertently endue pressure on the traditional newspaper to deliver up-to-the minute news. As technology developed swiftly over the 20th century, some academics could see the last of the newspaper as early as the late 1960s. Marshall McLuhan (HREF1) an academic and referee on communications technology prophesied that printed books would become obsolete, killed off by television and other electronic information technology. To compete with other more cultivate electronic media systems, and to survive, newspapers joined the technological revolution and many publications went online in the passage of arms to remain the number one information provider (Kesley 199516). In contrast, Kelsey (1995) states the main reaso... ...eration newspaper Avoiding Future Shock. Editor & Publisher, February 4, 1995, pp. 16-18Matheson, D. (2004). Weblogs and the epistemology of the news some trends in online journalism. count ersign Media & order of magnitude 6 (4) pp.443-468. (on-line)http//nms.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/6/4/443(Accessed 15 September.2004)Shawcross.W. (1999). Rupert Murdoch He turned a small-town newspaper in a diverse media empire that informs and entertains half the world. (on-line)http//www. measure.com/time/magazine/intl/article/0,9171,1107991025-33716(Accessed 15 September.2004)Stahl, J. (2004). Islamic Fundamentalists Adept at Using Media, Analysts say. CNSNews.com Cybercast News Service. (on-line)http//www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus(Accessed September 16.2004)Blogger Websiteswww.hughhewitt.comwww.command-post.orgcampaigndesk.org www.Technorati.com The Impact of Electronic Media and the Internet on Print Media attemptThe Impact of Electronic Media and the Internet on Print MediaNew technology has developed rapidly since the birth of the internet, and it continues to expand and evolve affecting many domains, especially the print media. This essay will investigate the influence and impact of current technology of the electronic media and World Wide Web on print media, and how future developments in technology will affect the future direction of the traditional newspaper. The way in which Bloggers have influenced traditional journalism will also be explored and how this has affected the journalism profession. In addition, the negative impacts of how the electronic media is being used as a political forum will also be investigated. Finally, the author will predict the consequences of future developments in this rapidly growing industry and the implications this may have on the direction of print media. Through technological advancements the television and internet now deliver the news instantly into our homes, which has inadvertently put pressure on the traditional newspaper to deliver up-to-the minute news. As technology developed swiftly over the 20th century, some academics could see the demise of the newspaper as early as the late 1960 s. Marshall McLuhan (HREF1) an academic and commentator on communications technology prophesied that printed books would become obsolete, killed off by television and other electronic information technology. To compete with other more sophisticated electronic media systems, and to survive, newspapers joined the technological revolution and many publications went online in the fight to remain the number one information provider (Kesley 199516). In contrast, Kelsey (1995) states the main reaso... ...eration Newspaper Avoiding Future Shock. Editor & Publisher, February 4, 1995, pp. 16-18Matheson, D. (2004). Weblogs and the epistemology of the news some trends in online journalism. News Media & Society 6 (4) pp.443-468. (on-line)http//nms.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/6/4/443(Accessed 15 September.2004)Shawcross.W. (1999). Rupert Murdoch He turned a small-town newspaper in a diverse media empire that informs and entertains half the world. (on-line)http//www.time.com/time/magazine/intl /article/0,9171,1107991025-33716(Accessed 15 September.2004)Stahl, J. (2004). Islamic Fundamentalists Adept at Using Media, Analysts say. CNSNews.com Cybercast News Service. (on-line)http//www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus(Accessed September 16.2004)Blogger Websiteswww.hughhewitt.comwww.command-post.orgcampaigndesk.org www.Technorati.com