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Compare the great depression and to the great recession Essay

Contrast the incredible gloom and with the extraordinary downturn - Essay Example After the theoretical blast of the 1920’s, Ameri...

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Compare the great depression and to the great recession Essay

Contrast the incredible gloom and with the extraordinary downturn - Essay Example After the theoretical blast of the 1920’s, Americans put extraordinary sums in the financial exchange. Notwithstanding, these were basically financed through advances and right around two-third of the ostensible estimation of stocks was spoken to by advances in 1929. Quickened share costs spurred more noteworthy venture as individuals guessed that offer costs would keep on raising. Thus, a financial air pocket created and the edge purchasing implied that speculators would bring about extraordinary misfortunes if the market took a downturn. Likewise, the Great Recession came about because of theory about home loans and protections. It was an outcome of giving advances to homeownership to uncredit-commendable individuals. Home loan credits were made sure about with sold protections; so due to edge purchasing, banks were nearly chapter 11 when the market went into downturn. Milton Friedman in his book, A Monetary History of the United States advocates that the Great sorrow was no t an outcome of the financial cycles, duties or the Wall Street Crash (Friedman and Schwartz). Truth be told, what push the nation into melancholy was the breakdown of banks and monetary organizations. Obviously, the equivalent can be said for the Great Recession. More than the genuine impacts of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the mental impacts deflected interest in the capital markets. Thusly, business security influences work sureness so that is the reason a decline in capital venture prompted a reduction in utilization. Nonetheless, the Wall Street Crashes caused insolvencies, limitation using a credit card, bombing organizations, rising joblessness, diminished cash flexibly and so forth. Moreover, the Great Recession prompted a decrease in global exchange, expanded joblessness, and dropping ware costs. The chain of occasions from huge government spending to burden increments just disturbed both the emergencies. Subsequently, the pioneers focused on the substitutes, for example, the Wall Street Bankers for the emergencies.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Bucket Baby vs the Climber free essay sample

The explanation the trees make them in good spirits. As the proprietor of a little tree administration I have needed to assess whether to buy an airborne lift basin truck to aid the tree cutting and expulsion process or to adhere to old techniques, for example, climbing. The vast majority have affectionate recollections of climbing trees as little youngsters. â€Å"Learning to securely climb a tree is significantly more required than essentially seeing some solid looking branches that appear as though they could hold your weight as you scramble to the top. (Toothman) However, expertly climbing a tree to trim or evacuate branches can be a genuinely alarming encounter that can be truly debilitating. Then again working an elevated lift might be alarming, However , not genuinely debilitating. The usage of a flying lift will expand profitability by diminishing climber association and expanding organization resolve. An antiquated adage states Many hands make light work. We will compose a custom paper test on Pail Baby versus the Climber or on the other hand any comparable subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page (Ammer) In life this remains constant, yet in common sense it isn't generally the most proficient strategy. By buying an elevated lift and utilizing it in my everyday tree cutting and tree expulsion tasks, I could accomplish crafted by ten climbers utilizing one hundred ropes in a fraction of the time. Certainly, my expense of activity would increment, yet with incredible hazard comes extraordinary prizes. As I expressed before my capacity to finish the work would increment generously bringing about a higher overall revenue. If I somehow managed to scale a tree extending in statures of one hundred feet besides, I would need to finish an assortment of steps. First I would need to amass all my apparatus. At that point join every one of my utensils to my climbing saddle, before climbing the tree. Next set a work line in an ideal area to cut off appendages. After this I should decide mass heap of branches that I will be cutting off. At that point I should assess pivot focuses and branch swinging freedom. There is a long procedure to climbing trees expertly. If I somehow happened to take a shot at a similar tree utilizing an ethereal lift, I would drive up to it with the bucket,set up the lift in a fitting area to get to the tree viably, hop in the pail, oom up to the top with my cutting tool and ropes, figure swing separation, pivot focuses, mass burden, and start cutting. The hypothesis is basically the equivalent yet the strategy is extraordinary, By using the two specialties of climbing and the basin, the general effectiveness of the activities will increment. The following significant piece to inspect is the means by which included a person must be in the tree administration indust ry. Envision a tree climber working for a tree expulsion administration, climbing a tree around ninety feet noticeable all around thirty feet out on a branch. Being solicited to remove the end from that branch while swinging from the side holding a force cutting tool. Additionally this branch is situated over a house. The branch is just appended to a rope, when it falls the savage here and there development happens with the laborer despite everything dangling. By isolating the climber from the tree and placing that climber in an ethereal lift it decreases the risk introduced to the climber in the general cutting and evacuation process. It could be contended that by isolating the climber from the tree the general nature of the tree work may decay. In any case, this issue could be settled just by mindfulness. By organizing organization gatherings to address issues before they emerge, one can assume responsibility for the likelihood of a result. There are an assortment of motivating forces that one can actualize to raise organization moral. Remunerating a representative with a reasonable pay for a difficult activity it causes them to feel regarded; by compensating a worker with a bit of hardware that makes a difficult activity simpler at the equivalent time-based compensation thus causes them to feel thought about. The acquisition of a container truck would achieve organization objectives, and move away from â€Å"the one-fellow and-truck kind of business that command the industry†. mastrull) By diminishing climber inclusion while expanding generally effectiveness and benefit margins,the organization will pick up progress bringing about higher wages and better advantages for representatives. As the organization develops increasingly effective its capacity to guarantee the prosperity of its colleagues. Accordingly the worker increases a more prominent feeling of achievement and pride in their work. At the point when an individual preferences what they are doing, they can do it throughout the day with a grin on their countenances. When everything runs easily and everybody is cheerful the general organization confidence will be supported. Again bringing about expanded profitability, effectiveness and nature of work. Possessing a little organization is an overwhelming endeavor, I am continually making penances and giving the majority of my consideration the business. In all my examining and reflection it makes sense that the acquisition of an elevated lift pail truck for my organization would be an astute speculation that would pay for itself inside a brief timeframe outline. The usage of an airborne lift in the tree cutting and evacuating procedure will expand profitability by diminishing climber association and expanding organization spirit.

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System

How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Opioids Print How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System? Heroin in Your Blood, Urine, Hair, Saliva By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on December 01, 2019 krisanapong detraphiphat/ Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Effects Duration Detection Times Elimination Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help View All Back To Top Heroin is an opiate drug made from morphine. It is not legally available by prescription in the United States, although it is available on a limited basis in Canada, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom to treat heroin addiction. Using heroin brings a high risk of overdose and dangerous interactions with other drugs and prescribed medications. Knowing how long it could be active in your system can help you understand the risks and variables. Heroin is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning that its a drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for misuse. Because heroin is so fast-acting and has such a short half-life, it can sometimes be difficult to detect in standard drug screenings.?? The effects of the drug last for about 30 minutes, but the metabolites produced as the drug is broken down are detectable on standard drug screening tests for around one to four days. How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System? Blood: Up to six hoursUrine: Up to three daysSaliva: Up to one hourHair: Up to 90 days What to Know About Heroin Use How Long Does It Take to Feel Effects? Heroin sold on the street is manufactured illegally and differs widely in strength, purity, and what other substances it is mixed with. People who take heroin recreationally use it in many different ways, each of which can affect how soon and how long its effects are felt. Heroin can be smoked, injected, or snorted. The effects of heroin are felt swiftly. Depending on the dose, a wave of intense euphoria lasts 45 seconds to a few minutes, with the other effects peaking for one to two hours?? and most effects wearing off in three to five hours, although sedation can last longer. Common effects are a surge of euphoria followed by a drowsy twilight state alternating between wake and sleep. Physical effects include constricted pupils, feelings of nausea, flushed skin, and dry mouth, and a feeling of having heavy hands and feet. The Feeling of Getting High on Heroin How Long Does Heroin Last? Heroin has an extremely rapid half-life of two to six  minutes  and is metabolized to 6-acetyl morphine and morphine. The half-life of morphine is one and a half to seven hours and the  half-life of 6-acetyl morphine is just six to 25 minutes. It takes four to five half-lives for a drug to be effectively eliminated from the system.?? Heroin and 6-acetyl morphine enter the brain more readily than morphine. In the brain and nervous system, these substances act on receptors involved with euphoria, pain suppression, depressing breathing, reducing gastrointestinal activity, drowsiness, dysphoria, delusions, and hallucinations. Urine Urine tests are the most frequently used type of drug screening because they are less costly and easy to administer. Heroin can be detected on a standard urine test for between one to four days after the last use.??   Blood Research has also shown that the 6-AM assay test, originally developed as a urine test, is sensitive enough to detect heroin metabolites in blood.?? Such tests may be useful for following traffic accidents or overdoses to distinguish between recent heroin use and the therapeutic intake of opioids for pain relief. Saliva The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that high levels of the heroin metabolite 6-acetyl morphine can be detected in saliva samples.?? Such tests may be a better indicator of heroin use than urine screens in some situations. However, such tests must be administered fairly quickly after the last use in order to be effective. Hair Heroin can be detected by hair follicle tests for up to 90 days after use.?? People who have been using heroin for longer periods of time may have much longer hair detection windows, however. False Positive Testing Eating foods containing poppy seeds such as muffins or bagels can lead to a false-positive result for opiates on a drug test.?? Poppy seeds contain trace amounts of morphine and codeine. While most of this is removed during processing, the tiny amount of opiate residue left is enough to trigger a false-positive result on many drug tests.   Consuming poppy seeds may lead to a positive test result within two hours of consumption and are detectable in urine for as long as 60 hours, depending on the amount ingested.??   Certain medications, including quinolones, rifampin, and diphenhydramine, can also trigger false-positive results for opiates on enzyme-mediated immunoassays (EIAs).  Because these tests have good sensitivity and lower costs, they are often used in employment and medical drug screenings. Such tests are, however, more prone to false positives, requiring confirmation testing.?? Try to avoid food or medications that are known to trigger positive test results and inform the lab about any medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, that you are currently taking. Factors That Affect Detection Time Like most drugs, the main way heroin is eliminated from the body is via the kidneys in urine, but it can also be excreted via sweat, tears, saliva, and feces. Individual Factors How long heroin will show up on a standard drug test depends on several factors such as weight, body mass, and personal metabolism. Overall health, including liver and kidney function, can also play a role in how quickly heroin is processed and cleared from the body. Dosage and Frequency of Use The main factor in how long heroin is detectable in a drug test is the amount of the drug taken. Heroin will stay in the body only one or two days with light use, but with heavy, chronic use, it can remain detectable in a urine test for almost a week.?? Drug Purity and Drug Interactions Because heroin is illegal, there is little consistency in the purity of the substance. Some doses may be purer and stronger, which will increase the amount of time the drug takes to be eliminated from the body. Interactions with other substances can also affect how quickly heroin is metabolized. Types of Heroin and Its Ingredients How to Get Heroin Out of Your System Heroin is metabolized quickly and is not detectable by most standard drug tests after about three days. The only way to get heroin out of your system is to stop using the drug and allow your body time to metabolize and eliminate it.   Stopping heroin cold turkey can often lead to severe withdrawal effects, however, so talk to your doctor about your treatment options. Staying healthy by getting regular exercise and drinking plenty of fluids may help you metabolize the substance more quickly. Symptoms of Overdose While heroin is in a persons system, they are at risk of interactions with other drugs and substances as well as overdose. Street heroin varies in purity from 26% to 47%,?? and it is often combined with other substances like ketamine, cocaine, diphenhydramine, alprazolam, and MDMA (ecstasy). Heroin depresses the respiratory system and slows the heart rate, so there are risks of interactions that can lead to coma. Dangerous interactions might happen with barbiturates, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, MAOIs, and antihistamines. One of the main reasons to be aware of how long heroin remains in the system is the risk of overdose. If you take more heroin because the effects of the last dose have worn off, but the drug is still in your system, it could cause an accidental overdose. Symptoms of a heroin overdose include: Shallow, slow or difficulty breathingDry mouthExtremely small pupils (pinpoint pupils)Discolored tongueLow blood pressureWeak pulseBluish-colored nails and lipsConstipationSpasms of the stomach and intestinesComaDeliriumDisorientationDrowsinessUncontrolled muscle movements The above symptoms are related to an overdose of heroin alone, but heroin sold on the street is often mixed with other substances or drugs that can cause their own set of symptoms. Street heroin cut with the  powerful painkiller fentanyl, for example, has caused a noticeable increase in overdose.   Understanding Opioid Overdoses Getting Help Heroin is highly addictive and both physical and psychological dependence on the drug can occur quickly. If you want to quit using heroin, there are things that you can do to get through the withdrawal process and succeed in your recovery. Heroin withdrawal can feel much like a bad case of the flu. Symptoms can begin six to 12 hours after the last dose and last for five to 12 days. Common symptoms of heroin withdrawal include: NauseaVomitingCold sweatsBody achesDiarrheaRunny noseTremorsInsomniaFatigueAnxietyDrug cravingsAgitation There are a number of different recovery options including inpatient and outpatient residential treatment. Medications are also available that can help people with the withdrawal process. Such medications include methadone, Buprenorphine, Naloxone, and Naltrexone. Psychological treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and contingency management have also been shown to be effective in treating heroin addiction.?? Talk to your doctor for advice and assistance or contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-4357 or use their online tool to find treatment options in your area. Treatment Options for Heroin Addiction

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Theory Of Gun Control - 895 Words

Gun control is people control. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Without our second amendment right the people of the United States of America would be susceptible to abuse from a tyrannical government, and unable to defend themselves from the criminals within society. The theory of gun control has become a controversial topic due to recent mass shootings that call into question the safety of the people of this great country. The fact is that gun control does not work. The city of Chicago Illinois is a prime example. Chicago has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, as well as one of the highest crime rates in the country. On the other hand in Kennesaw Georgia every resident in the city is required by law to own at least one firearm. Immediately after passing their unusual gun law crime rates fell dramatically, so much so that in two thousand eleven through two thousand thirteen there were no murders, twenty two robberies, and no rape cases. (Wm. Craig Graydon) If a bill was passed into law banning firearms there would be no way to collect these weapons from criminals, only from the law abiding citizens. Even in a perfect world were the government would be able to take every gun from every citizen, the criminals would still be able to smuggle or make homemade firearms such as pen guns, and innocent people would be unable to protect themselves.Show MoreRelatedHow Did You Identify The Theoretical Statement?948 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst-stage or second-stage criticism of the theory undermines its veracity. Mass shootings have become a disturbing movement that only seems to be rising. The Orlando tragedy caused opened the conversation towards guns and public safety. Americans no longer feel safe. The theoretical statement in Why Obama Can’t do anything about guns by Jamelle Bouie is gun control isn’t the President Barack Obama’s failure; it is the American people not speaking up. The theory used as a premise in this argument is notRead MoreGun Violence : Gun Control And The Violence Essay1241 Words   |  5 Pagesmajor issue in American society would be gun control and the violence it brings. We live in a time where technology allows news to spread rapidly and every week gun violence crimes seem to be in the news. These crimes start to divide us as a society. â€Å"Each year for the last decade in America, more than 30,000 people have died due to firearms† (Swanson, 2015). From 1968 to 2015, we had about 1.6 million deaths due to firearm related deaths (Sw anson, 2015). Gun violence only seems to be getting worseRead MoreGun Control Has Always Been A Big Issue In Every Country.1007 Words   |  5 PagesGun control has always been a big issue in every country. A lot of people think we should have the right to own guns, while others think that every country should have gun control. Is it a very controversial subject and everyone has a different opinion on what we should do with guns. In this essay, I will demonstrate how I think that gun control should be an obligatory law in every country, especially in a very influential one like the United-States. It has been proven that gun control reduces theRead MoreGuns Dont Kill People, Criminals Kill People Essay1476 Words   |  6 Pages In America, gun control has been a source of debate for decades. Recently, an increase in the frequency of mass shootings has caused the country to become extremely polarized in relation to the issue. America is often described as having a gun culture as a result of firearms being engrained in its history and perhaps, consequently, has among the highest rates of gun-related crime as well as gun ownership rates, among developed nations. There exists an abundance of scholarly work done in an effortRead MoreColumbine High School Massacre : Self Control Theory Essay1709 Words   |  7 PagesColumbine High School Massacre: Self-Control Theory Briselda Villalaz San Diego State University Introduction The Columbine High School Massacre was a school shooting that took place on April 20th, 1999 in Columbine, Colorado. It was a highly planned attacked that included a bomb to confused firefighters, propane tanks that were made into bombs to blow up the cafeteria, 99 explosive device, and some car bombs. The masterminds were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, they were both seniors. CollaborativelyRead MoreGun Violence And Gun Control : The Right To The Second Amendment1668 Words   |  7 Pages(History.com Staff 2009) Most issues that become significant enough to discuss are, for the most part, never completely solved. Coming up with a solution that every person would be content with is nearly impossible. The disagreements between gun violence and gun control laws are debated just as often as less complex political topics. As more restrictions are being developed, many people are trying to make sure that their second amendment isn’t abolished. The second amendment states, â€Å"A well regulated MilitiaRead MoreEssay about Gun Advocates! The Crà ¨me of the Crop of Americans1448 Words   |  6 Pagesjeopardizing and are even beneficial to people? Gun ownership is an example of things that may seem threatening, but really isn’t. Legalizing gun ownership reduces the crime rate dramatically, is a Second Amendment right in the Constitution, and helps control animal populations from exploding out of control. Firstly, the claims that guns contributing to higher crime rates are completely over exaggerated. Most people are spoon-fed by the mainstream media that guns contribute to higher crime rates. In factRead MoreThe Battle Between Gun Control and Gun Rights Essay1113 Words   |  5 Pages receipt, possession, and use of certain categories of firearms, as well as mandate who may and may not own a gun (Gale Encyclopedia, pg. 155-162).† Therefore, the issue is one that is extremely hard to clarify. Which side is right? An estimated 30,000 people are killed each year by guns in the United States alone according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Gun Control, Funk Wagnall’s). Though there have been some restrictions and laws placed, both the conservative and liberalRead MoreSex, Drugs, Disasters, And The Extinction Of Dinosaur1006 Words   |  5 Pagesconsequences, if the gun were to fall into the hands of an individual who is not in their right mind. Today, Nevada stands as the eighth state that enforces background checks on gun sales or transfers, through the work of Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg’s Question 1 hypostatized Stephen Jay Gould’s article, â€Å"Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaur† by illustrating the pseudoscience behind establishing universal background checks to limit gun control. David Montero’s â€Å"When it Comes to Gun Laws, NevadaRead MoreThe Second Amendment Of The United States1725 Words   |  7 Pagesâ₠¬Å"Americans are deeply divided over the Second Amendment. Some passionately assert that the Amendment protects an individual’s right to own guns. Others, that it does no more than protect the right of states to maintain militias† (Cornell). The Second Amendment of the constitution gives citizens the right to bear arms, and is therefore one of the most important laws of the nation. This amendment holds an important value to our nation because, it prevents tyranny but, it also protects, spreads, and

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Relations Between Public Relations Professionals And Media...

Introduction The perceived ‘cantankerous’ relationship that characterises the exchanges between public relations professionals and media practitioners has been rife since the birth of public relations. The pair are, in its simplest term ‘frenemies’, they do work together, albeit covertly, and are usually hesitant to admit (on the media side) their cooperation. However, there is no absolute trust held between the two for there is a shifting power of control and influence that continually changes, which Fletcher (as cited in Hobsbawn, 2010, p. 64) believes is due to the market value of the particular product that public relations is representing. Media practitioners are often called the ‘watchdogs’ of society, their history of holding the rulers of society accountable and maintaining democracy is a view that is still maintained today. They are, however, in the eyes of public relations practitioners the ‘gate-keeper’, whereby they decide what is ac cessible to the public, conversely this power has somewhat diminished due to the rise of the internet. Comparatively, public relations practitioners are viewed by the media as â€Å"spin doctors† who threaten legitimate news content and act as â€Å"...the servants of vested interests who deny the people their right to know...†(Greenslade, 2005, as cited in White Hobsbawm, 2007, p.284). In discussing the symbiotic relationship that is held between the two with the essay being written from the perspective of a public relations student, it isShow MoreRelatedHow The Public Relations Has Changed Over The Past Decade? Essay1612 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Over the past decade, social media use has been increasing at an expeditious rate. According to Pew Research Center, 86% of Americans are active internet users, and the number of active social media users is increasing daily. As of 2016, Facebook has 1.6 billion users, Instagram has 430 million users, LinkedIn has 429 million users, and Twitter has 325 million users. With those numbers in mind, why wouldn t the public relations agency utilize these free platforms as a way to gain publicityRead MorePublic Relations the Impact of New Media1352 Words   |  6 PagesPublic Relations amp; The Impact of New Media Public Relations is a pivotal part of any business because it is the most direct communication between the business and the public. For a business to enjoy long term success it has to have the ability to evolve and adapt with the ever changing trends of the public in order to understand the needs and concerns of the general public. Author and entrepreneur Deirdre K. Breakenridge (2008) states in her book PR 2.0 New Media, New Tools, New AudiencesRead MoreThe Gate Keeper Interview Essay1357 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The perceived ‘cantankerous’ relationship that characterises the exchanges between public relations professionals and media practitioner’s has been rife since the birth of public relations. The pair is, in its simplest term ‘frenemies’, they do work together, albeit covertly, and are usually hesitant to admit (on the media side) their cooperation. However, there is no absolute trust held between the two since there is a shifting power of control and influence that continually changesRead MorePublic Relations Is The Practice Of Managing The Spread Of Information Between An Individual1321 Words   |  6 Pages Public Relations is the practice of managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization and the public. The aim of Public Relations is to inform the public, prospective customers, investors, partners, employees, and other stakeholders and ultimately persuade them to maintain a certain view about the organization, its leadership, products, or political decisions. It focuses on the image of a company, and is responsible for initiating and maintaining good relationshipsRead MoreAn Definition Of Public Relations1322 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Public relations today is a complex profession practiced by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Some public relations professionals are employed by a single organization. Others work for public relations firms that have many organizations as clients. Public relations people work for businesses, government agencies, professional and trade associations, nonprofit charities, schools and universities, hospitals, hotels, and many more types of industries. Unlike the practiceRead MoreJournalists And Public Relations Practitioners1327 Words   |  6 PagesJournalists and Public Relations (PR) practitioners interact with each other every day as part of the process of news production. Journalists communicate towards public relations practitioners with requests for information or material to help produce the stories they are writing. While public relations practitioners advise stories and deliver journalists with information they have created themselves in hope to be published in the newspaper. The relationship between journalists and public relations practitionersRead MoreWhat Does A Public Relations Agency Do?1375 Words   |  6 Pagesprint) Identification (Title, publication, date, author(s), hyperlink if available): My first source, published in 2013 on Forbes.com, is an article written by Robert Wynne entitled â€Å"What Does a Public Relations Agency Do?† http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwynne/2013/04/10/what-does-a-public-relations-agency-do/ What was learned: To explicitly define what PR agencies do, Wynne compared the responsibilities of advertising agencies to PR agencies. Wynne began his article stating examples of jobsRead MorePublic Relations Institute Of Australia1158 Words   |  5 Pages1.1 The Career The Public Relations Institute of Australia defines the occupation of Public Relations as The deliberate, planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain mutual understanding between an organisation (or individual) and its (or their) publics. Job Outlook explains, â€Å"Public Relation Professionals plan, develop, implement and evaluate information and communication strategies that create an understanding and a favourable view of organisations, their goods and services, and theirRead MoreSocial Media Of Public Relations1325 Words   |  6 Pages In general worlds, public relations is a management function, which manage the spread of information between organization and its publics, it is process of information exchange, also maintain the relationship between audience, social media, companies†¦etc. Generally, the public relation practitioners use forms such as printed text, images, speaking words or even combined functions for communication. â€Å"Social media are a technically enhanced-think Internet and mobile-based-way of discussing ideasRead MoreMedia, Television, And Media1404 Words   |  6 Pagesonly since the public relations began to be used, but the past fifteen years there has been a huge change and increase with the use of technology and media. Media is defined as â€Å"the means of communication as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines, that reach or influence people widely† (Media, n.d.). Not only is media used in public relations, but it is used in the daily lives of a majority of the world’s population. There are two types of media , traditional media and new media. Traditional

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

How to Make Southern Style Spaghetti Free Essays

A process analysis explains in step-by-step fashion how something works or how something is done or made. In this process analysis, I will be explaining how to make my favorite dish I would like to call it, â€Å"Southern Style Spaghetti. † This is my how-to-essay. We will write a custom essay sample on How to Make Southern Style Spaghetti or any similar topic only for you Order Now Getting Started Making Southern Style Spaghetti is just as simple as making your traditional spaghetti with a twist. First thing you need are your ingredients which are: 2lbs. spaghetti noodles 2 lbs. ground beef or turkey 5 lbs. rumettes 1lb. of peeled shrimp 1lb sausage links 2 onions(chopped) 1 green pepper(chopped) 1lb cheddar cheese 2 cups of milk ? cup chopped parsley 4-6 qt. boiling water 64oz. spaghetti sauce Bring 4qrts. of water to a boil. Add 5lbs. of drumettes to boiling water. Boil chicken for 20-25mins. or until chicken is partially tender. / put aside. In a separate pot bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add shrimp and boil for 10-15mins. / put aside. Brown 2lbs. of ground beef or turkey. / put aside.Boil your noodles for 5-7 mins. or until it reaches it desired texture. Drain water and rinse your noodles. / put aside. Cut your uncooked sausage into dices or desired shape. ( I prefer half-circle shapes) In a big bowl, mix all of your meats together. / put aside. Then in a large deep stew pot, mix your noodles and spaghetti sauce and bring to a boil. Add your bowl of meats, reduce heat to a simmer. Add your 2 chopped onions, chopped green peppers, parsley, and 2 cups of milk and stir for 2 minutes. Cover and let simmer for 20-25mins. stirring occasionally. Remove from heat then sprinkle top with the desired amount of cheese, cover and let stand for 10mins. serve and enjoy. Makes 10-15 servings. For Baked Southern Style Spaghetti, follow the same instructions, but you should preheat oven to 375 degrees. Use a large deep dish pan to pour everything into. (mix all ingredients together before pouring into pan. ) Cover with foil, place on center rack and bake on 375 degrees for 30-35 mins.Remove foil from pan then continue to bake for an additional 15-20mins, or until cheese browns. Remove from oven and let stand 10mins, and then serve. When making your Southern Style Spaghetti, you may omit or add more meat depending on your taste. You may also add more vegetables. Remember to reduce your heat when simmering to avoid scorching at the bottom of your pot. I suggest serving your spaghetti with garlic bread and salad. If the directions are followed correctly, you’re in for a great treat. This is delicious, guaranteed. How to cite How to Make Southern Style Spaghetti, Papers

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Home Security System free essay sample

Surjit Gautum who has been a source of perpetual inspiration to us, gently guiding and our waves towards a bright career. You were ever willing to give all kind of support and encouragement. In the end we want to thankful our â€Å"Parents†, â€Å"teachers† and Almighty GOD for the entire thing that they do to us.Security is a prime concern in our day-today life. Every country as well as individual wants to be as much secure as possible. Recent activities in the major cities have made it more important than ever to take adequate steps to maintain the safety of the home and the personals. At times like a fire breakout where immediate and appropriate actions are required, things are required to be made automated because under panic conditions the response time of a normal human brain increases. There can be many solutions possible for implementing such a system. According to the U. We will write a custom essay sample on Home Security System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page S. Fire Administration, the number of fires in residential dwellings (one and two-family homes, apartment buildings, hotels and other boarding facilities) in 2007 was 414,000 an increase of approximately 9. 2% from 1998. During the same period, the direct dollar property losses  Ã‚   nearly doubled, going from $4. 4 billion to over $7. 5 billion. It is worth noting however that the number of fire deaths and injuries over this same nine-year period have generally decreased; overall, these figures have declined by approximately 8. 3%. Still, there were 2,895 deaths and 14,000 fire-related injuries during 2007. The decline in the death and injury rate can be attributed to better fire alarm system monitoring technology, and points up the importance of such technology in your home. Although most of us use reasonable caution, home fires have been known to start from all sorts of causes including short circuits in the defective wiring of the inferior appliances now manufactured in substandard facilities in China and Mexico. In fact, older televisions can be turned off and unplugged and still cause fires for up to 24 hours because of electrical energy stored in the transducer; in 2006, a number of Chinese-manufactured Dell laptops mysteriously exploded for no apparent reason. When we are asleep, our senses are asleep as well; therefore, it is possible to burn alive (though asphyxiation usually occurs first mercifully) without ever being aware of it. Because heat, which rises and gathers toward the ceiling, is the first warning sign of a fire, a good fire alarm monitoring system should have heat detection sensors as well as smoke detection sensors. Ideally, these are mechanical and not electronic in nature, since a building fire can put the electrical system out of commission in short order. Otherwise, your heat and smoke detection systems, if hard-wired in to the home electrical system, must have battery backup; this battery should be replaced at least once every year. Security systems designed to detect unauthorized entry into a building or area. They consist of an array of sensors, a control panel and alerting system, and interconnections. Sensors detect intruders by many methods such as monitoring door and window contacts, by passive infrared motion detectors, ultrasound, vibration, electric or magnetic fields, or microwaves. Sensors may be directly wired to a control panel that provides sensor power, or may communicate wirelessly. Some alarm systems serve a single purpose of burglar or fire protection. Combination systems provide both fire and intrusion protection. .

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

How to Easily Craft an RFP Solicitation to Attract the Best Vendors to Your Business - The Writers For Hire

HOW TO EASILY CRAFT AN RFP SOLICITATION TO ATTRACT THE BEST VENDORS TO YOUR BUSINESS Oftentimes, getting the right vendors to work with your company is a critical part of your business success. But how do you attract high-quality vendors to provide you with the services and supplies you need? An RFP solicitation can be key in attracting the right suppliers to help your company achieve its goals. And whether it’s for your own business or the company you work for, at some point an RFP procurement process might be considered and an RFP document will need to be written. I need to write an RFP and I’ve never done one before. HELP! What Exactly is an RFP? A Request for Proposal, known as an RFP, is a document issued by a private company or public agency to potential vendors for products or services they need. It is a detailed, formal, and specific process to award a contract to procure these products and/or services based on the scope of work and, in many cases, the best price. The process is transparent and competitive in nature, and in the case of government agencies, they are required to issue such bids publicly to ensure fairness and prevent biased or insider bidding. An RFP is typically issued when the project requirements have a value of $25,000 or more and when the selection of a vendor cannot be made completely on the lowest price but must also consider the most cost-effective solution to the company’s needs. It is important to note that unless explicitly stated otherwise within your RFP solicitation, an RFP is binding and functions as your intent to make an award and the selected vendor’ s intent to sign a contract. 5 Core Factors to Identify Before Writing your RFPBefore you even start to write your RFP solicitation, you need to decide some key points. Deciding on these points will make the writing easier and give you a better understanding of the reason for the solicitation. 1.What is the purpose of your RFP? What does your company need? Once you’re clear on this, you can articulate the purpose behind the solicitation and write the first pages of your document. If you can write this purpose in a paragraph, then it will be easy for potential vendors to determine if the RFP is worth their time and effort. Doing it in a sentence or two is even better. Some examples of this could be: â€Å"XYZ Company needs to purchase 1,000,000 processors that will help us in the manufacturing of our new supercomputers that will be sold to ABC company. These processors must be at the best price of no more than $1,000 per unit.† â€Å"XYZ Company needs to construct 1,5 00 new high-end, high-efficiency housing units on currently owned property. These units will be a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, and apartment complexes. We will be hiring a well-established, local contractor to construct these units.† 2.What is the main scope of work you want accomplished once the contract is awarded? Understanding this will help you know exactly what your expectations are and will help you write the actual â€Å"Scope of Work† section of your RFP. These are the details of what needs to be done within the job itself. The more details you can identify in this section, the easier it is to explain what is expected of potential vendors who apply. Will the vendor be providing for the whole project or just parts of it – and what part? Will there be subcontractors, or will you be doing a sole-source award where you are hiring only one vendor vs. several vendors? 3.What is your companys timeline?When figuring out the timeline, you need to project from when you want to get the project started to when you want it finished. You also need to factor in time for writing and releasing your RFP and time for applicants to respond. The best way to plan out your timeline is to work backward from the project completion date. If you need the project to be completed within a year, then you need to identify how long the project will take once you hire a vendor; how long the RFP application process will take, including any preliminary vendor meetings and question/answer periods; how long the evaluation and award period will take; and how long it will take to write and publish the RFP. It’s critical that you give applicants adequate time to receive, review, and respond to your RFP. If your deadline is unrealistic, then you run the risk of not getting the quality vendors and responses you need. 4. How in-depth or detailed do you need the responses from applicants to be? What is the bare minimum of information you need from applicants to allow your company to make the best, most-informed decision to award the contract? Identify what information is critical for your company to know about the vendors and don’t get bogged down in information that is not necessary. If your project is smaller or is based mostly on the cost of service or goods vs. quality, or what scope of work is being provided, then the information you need from potential vendors might be minimal. But if you have a large project or need, or if you are looking to hire more than one vendor, then you will need more information to make an informed choice. Figuring this out first will help you explain within the RFP what information applicants need to provide. 5.The responses you get to your RFP will differ greatly in the information applications provide. Each responding vendor will have different strengths and weaknesses. Some will focus on lowest cost. Others will focus on the best quality. And others will offer a complete set of features the oth ers didn’t. Some vendors will be new and others will have more experience in the services or products you need. It helps to decide up front what youre looking for in a vendor. Is it the lowest cost, the fastest delivery, or some combination of the two? Do you want a vendor you can work with long-term beyond the contract period? What’s their experience level? Decide what a successful vendor looks like to your company and your project’s needs. Doing this will help you understand more of what is important to you and will help you identify your evaluation methods once you get to that stage of the RFP process. 12 Sections of a Quality RFP Solicitation While 12 sections to an RFP may seem like a lot, you want to provide each applicant with enough information, leaving no room for their own personal interpretation. Your document should be structured in a way that clearly and concisely presents your needs to the applicant. Of course, each type of solicitation will be different, depending on your company’s needs, but the following outlines the standard sections that should be included in most RFPs. Formatting your document using these 12 key sections will get you organized, keep you from forgetting any important information, and help you write your RFP with ease. 1. Introduction and Background: Very similar to an Executive Summary, this is where you explain who your company is and the reason for the RFP solicitation. Give a brief overview to potential vendors, not just of your company’s background, products or services, and your target audience/market, but also the requirements of your needs. If you have any budget or service number requirements, you can also include them here. 2. Company Contact Information: Potential vendors who want to apply for your opportunity will need all the necessary contact information for your company. Provide your company’s mailing and/or delivery address, phone number, and the name of the person managing the RFP process. You want to make it easy for applicants to reach your company, and the right contact person, with any questions they have. You also want them to know where to submit their RFP response. Include this information early in the document, both on the cover page and at the front of the solicitation, so it is readily available. 3. Timing: Often, there are several timing issues involved in the RFP solicitation process. These could include the date the solicitation is published, any informal meetings you will offer to potential vendors to discuss the process, a question and answer period, the deadline for response submissions, and when the decision and award will be made. Create a timeline and make it easy to read and understand. Also, place this early in your solicitation so applicants can gauge how quickly they must respond and if they have the time and resources to actually apply for your opportunity. Remember to make your timing reasonable and try to give your prospects enough time to prepare a well-thought-out response. Your timeline could look like this: 4. Pre-Bid Questions and Answers: Will you provide a question and answer period to potential applicants? Will you offer an informational meeting or an application workshop to go over the process in-depth? Or will this all be left up to the interpretation of each vendor? This section tells applicants what support they can expect from you during the process. Depending on the nature of the RFP solicitation and what your company needs, you may or may not offer this to applicants. If you do, explain the how, when, and why here. An example of what you might say: â€Å"An informal RFP meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2018, at City Hall to discuss the process. XYZ Company will also be open to written questions about the RFP process submitted to [emailprotected] from October 20 to November 7, 2018, no later than 5 pm.† 5. Format of Responses: Explain here exactly how you want proposals to be formatted and organized for submission. If you don’t clearly explain this, you run the risk of getting responses in many different formats, making it harder to evaluate them. Highlight items like font size, margin width, the total number of allowed pages, the number of copies to submit, and how to organize the components of the document, including any attachments. This way you get a cohesive response from each applicant. It is actually quite common for applicant proposals to get disqualified from evaluation for not following these simple rules. While it is certainly at your company’s discretion, many larger companies or government agencies do this regularly because it helps identify the vendors who follow directions, which is important if they end up being the awarded vendor. You could potentially get dozens of proposals, so disqualifying applicants for not adhering to the requirements lessens the number of proposals to evaluate. Emphasize within your solicitation that applicants pay close attention to identified formats and requirements and mention the chance of disqualification in case of non-compliance. 6. Submission of Information: Think of this as the how, where, and when that potential applicants need to know. While some of this information was already included at the beginning of your document, you want to reiterate this information so there is no question about the submission process. Will you only accept online submissions? Hand delivered? Where do the responses have to be delivered to and by when? Include an actual day, date, and closing time and whether you will accept any late submissions. Have a way to track submissions that come in. Be clear so there is no disputing a late application and the process is fair to all applicants. You might write in this section: All RFP responses are due on [the day and date specified] and may be hand-delivered or mailed to [your identified address] addressed to [name of person managing the RFP process]. The date and time of all received bids will be noted and then all bids will be reviewed to ensure they meet all requirements and are responsive. All responsive bids will be scored according to the categories below. Successful applicants will be notified by [confirm the timeline date].† 7. Scope of Work: In the introduction section of your RFP you touched briefly on your company’s needs and why you’re hiring a vendor, so here you would go into more detail about the scope of work to be provided or performed as well as the quantified service or product deliverables. This would be the place for your clearly stated technical specifications and service or product requirements. Examples of what you might include in the scope of work section could be the service or product outputs or service levels, delivery information, timelines for the deliverables, what costs are reimbursable, travel expenses, equipment provisions, licensing rights, upgrade or modification costs, necessary reporting, and any other requirements to carry out the contract by both your company and the awarded vendor. 8. Requested Information: This is the bones of your RFP document. This is the section that needs to detail clearly what information you need and want from your applicants. This section could include: †¢ The applicant’s basic information (name, contacts)†¢ Their background/history/accomplishments/experience as it relates to the RFP’s stated work and goals†¢ The work the applicant plans to perform as outlined in your RFP†¢ Their goals/objectives/deliverables for the project†¢ How they will perform the work†¢ Their timeline as it relates to the project and scope of work†¢ Their evaluation methods and reporting for the work they will be performing†¢ Their proposed budget, costs, pricing formats, and budget narrative for the project or work to be performed†¢ Any other information or attachments that you may want to include as it relates to the project Of course, you can include less of this information, all of this information, or other identified items related to your project. Use this as a guideline and you’ll find it easier to outline and write your RFP to attract the best responses to your company. 9. Evaluation Methods: Once you receive the RFP responses from qualified applicants, then what? This is where you detail to potential vendors how you will evaluate their responses and how you will, in essence, â€Å"grade† them and select the winning proposal(s). The evaluation criteria are the factors you identify to judge the proposals as to how they would best meet the needs of your company. Ultimately, there are three reasons to include your proposal evaluation methods within your RFP: It gives applicants an equitable way to have their proposals reviewed without a question as to fairness; it allows applicants to see the most important areas of the RFP; and it allows your proposal evaluators to have a clear method for reviewing applicants’ offers and easily ranking the proposals accordingly. While you can write your RFP solicitation to have whatever clear and reasonable evaluation methods you deem best, most RFP evaluation criteria are weighted by a point or percentage system, decreasing to the least important factors. They also should be clear and realistic as they relate to the solicitation. Percentage Method Example:Project Design and Implementation 33 percentCollaboration 13 percentLogic Model 18 percentBudget 15 percentAgency Experience and Expertise 15 percentSite Visit 6 percent Point Method Example:Project Design and Implementation 40 pts.Collaboration 15 pts.Logic Model 15 pts.Budget 15 ptsAgency Experience and Expertise 10 pts.Site Visit 5 pts. It is also a good idea to include a sentence such as, The winning vendor will be selected solely by the judgment of XYZ Company and XYZ Company reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject any and all proposals received without penalty and to not issue a contract as a result of this RFP. 10. Notification of Award to Applicants: Let your applicants know when and how they will be notified of the award decision. You can offer a simple award/decline letter to each potential vendor who responded, or you can publish a more formal letter announcing the winners of the RFP to all applicants. Include when that letter will be published or sent out to applicants. 11. Contract Information: This section can include the more technical and legal items associated with your RFP. Consider including a sample contract that you intend to use with successful applicants; the terms, conditions, and monitoring of the project; and timelines associated with the actual project itself once an award is made. Include anything the applicant needs to know to make an informed choice on whether or not your project is a good fit for them. This could also include information on insurance and bonding requirements, penalties for late performance, invoicing, payments, and reimbursements. 12. Cover Page and Letter: Finally, compose a cover page and a cover letter (optional) summarizing your RFP and including all contact information before publishing it online or sending it out to potential vendors or applicants. Use company letterhead and make it professional. Add a table of contents as well. Examples of good cover pages and cover letters can be found at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/downloads/word/Sample_RFP_Cover_Ltr_2011.doc http://imgjkw.co/ideas/ Wrapping It All Up There are many ways to write a good, clear, and concise RFP that will attract quality vendors to your project. But use this as a guideline to help you write it faster and with ease, especially if you’ve never written an RFP solicitation before.And one final reminder: Be sure to give yourself plenty of time in your procurement process to start the RFP document and give applicants time to review your RFP, collect their information, and prepare a response.If you’re unsure if an RFP solicitation is the document that will suit your company’s needs, read about how to write an RFQ or RFI as well.

Friday, March 6, 2020

ap dbq Essay example

ap dbq Essay example ap dbq Essay example AP Psychology Summer Assignment The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks Morgan Wailes P-5 Cravens 08/19/2013 The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat The lesson learned in this specific case could be one of many things. The patient, Dr. P, teaches us that not everything has to be fixed, or can be fixed. He can go about his life normally as long as he sings or hums a song for the task at hand. For example, the patient’s wife explained that he has songs for everything, dressing, eating, and bathing. If he does not, he will not understand the task. He may not be able to identify objects or people with his eyes or mind but he can identify with sound, like a voice or song. Dr. P doesn’t really need to have a surgery or take medication because his â€Å"medicine† is music. Dr. P’s strange inability not judge his wife’s head as a head, but as a hat or a glove as a glove is as a result of a massive tumor or a degenerative process in the visual parts of his brain. One of the most unique aspect of Dr. P’s case is the progression of his art, it started off â€Å" naturalistic and realistic† th en started becoming â€Å" less vivid, less concrete† to cubist styled (i.e. Pablo Picasso), and then even just lines and abstract (i.e. Jackson Pollack). In a way, it was like we could see into the patient’s mind as his condition degenerated. The Lost Mariner We learn from Jimmie that drinking, especially heavy drinking, really affects our bodies, especially later in our lives. His renegade amnesia was caused by Korsakov’s Syndrome which resulted from the patient’s heavy drinking after he left the navy. I found that his inability to recall the time he spent after 1945 very interesting, and that he could remember everything from his height of glory in the navy vividly, yet had difficulty remembering the doctor’s face after a few minutes of not seeing him. Also, what was interesting and unique is that he could vaguely remember the doctor by key facial features (e.g. his beard) but couldn’t place when he saw him or what his name was. The Disembodied Lady The author opens this chapter with a quote by Wittgenstein, â€Å"[the] aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity. (One is unable to notice something because it is always before one’s eyes.) The real foundations of his enquiry do not strike a man at all.† I believe this is the lesson we learn from this case. We aren’t able to notice something so simple before us, because we’ve accepted it and taken it for granted in our everyday lives. In Christina’s case, she lost her sense of body, the sense of herself in it. She was unable to control her limbs, her muscles, and her senses unless she used her eyes to focus on them. She suffered from severe sensory neuronopathies, said to be caused (in other cases) by taking enormous quantities of Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine. What I found unique and interesting about her case is that she dreamed of it before the symptoms showed. It is interesting o see tha t her mind warned her of what was going to happen, before it happened. The Man Who

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Lit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lit - Essay Example Some of the effects of child abuse include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic disorder, physical injury and propensity to for further victimization during adulthood among other problems. Sexual abuse by one of the family members results to incest and leads to long-term and more serious psychological trauma, mostly as in the case of parental incest. According to a 2009 report done in 22 countries by Clinical Psychology Review, the global dominance of child abuse has been estimated at 19% for females and 8% for males. Going by the available data, Africa leads in cases of child abuse (34%), especially in South Africa, with Europe being the least with 9.2%. Men commit most of these child abuse cases and some of them who have abused sexually a prepubescent child are pedophiles. A child who has undergone prolonged sexual abuse is most likely to develop a feeling of worthlessness, low self-esteem, and distorted or abnormal view of sex (Elizabeth, 2007). The child may later become withdrawn and mistrust the adults and may end up being suicidal. Fear-the offender makes the child to swear to secrecy and makes the child believe that something bad will happen if they reveal. Bribery, coercion or threats mostly accompanies sexual abuse. Overpoweringly, the child fears to tell out because of the consequences that might result e.g. blame, punishment, not being trusted, ultimate rejection or abandonment. Guilt and shame- the child knows that something is wrong but ends up blaming himself/herself not others. The offender mostly encourages the child to believe that the abuse was his/her fault and; as a result, becomes a person Responsibility-the offender forces the child to feel responsible for hiding the abuse. The child on the other side believes that they are responsible for keeping the secret so as to unite their family and maintain appearances by all means. However, the burden of responsibility

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Fears Grow That Oscars' TV Allure May Be Resistible Essay

Fears Grow That Oscars' TV Allure May Be Resistible - Essay Example However, in the recent past some proponents have fronted that the popularity of the award’s ceremony has been dwindling. This argument is evident from reports, which insinuate so. For instance, in the article by Brookes Barnes and Michael Cieply, the overall assessment is that the writers are supposedly confirming the fears that the popularity of Oscars is waning away. In the proceeding part of the paper, a critical evaluation of the report provided by the two in the New York Times is given. The first analysis is on the allusion from evidence in the recent past that Oscars’ popularity is waning. The second part focuses on the imminent biases in the report by Barnes and Cieply which compromise the objectivity of the argument they front. Evidence from recent reports allude that Oscars’ popularity is waning. Barnes and Cieply (2012), in Fears Grows That Oscars’ TV Allure May Be Resistible, give written article which summarily gives the reader an overview of what has been happening. From the start, the Barnes and Cieply (2012) give like brief background on the issue. Oscars is presented from the perspective of recent reports. For instance, Nielsen ratings are quoted as having a forecast into the reducing interests in the ceremony. In so doing, the two authors provide a backing for the argument fronted. The logical expectation in every argument is that they have to be supported by empirical evidence. Giving evidence from credible sources to back up arguments confers on the arguments credibility to be accepted as empirically valid. In view of this, the article exhibits the essence of evidence in supporting empirical arguments. The report by Barnes and Cieply has obvious biases which arguably compromise its objectivity. It is also notable to highlight the biases that are imminent in the report. In as much a the tow authors have been fairly managed to front their argument without obvious biases, the argument in insisting that the popularity of Oscars

Monday, January 27, 2020

Construction Industry And Data Management Construction Essay

Construction Industry And Data Management Construction Essay Many issues affect the success of a project, yet there is sure proof of success based on efficient communication and cooperation and collaboration between team-members. Sending and receiving information is communication; this enables understanding of one another. Common definitions of communication given by Hoyland et al., 1953 and Ruesch and Bateson, 1961 quoted in Miller, 2004 gives that communication is the process by which an individual transmits stimuli to modify the behavior of other individuals. Another definition states that, Communication does not refer to verbal, explicit and intentional transmission of messages alone. The concept of communication would include all those processes by which people influence one another, Ruesch and Bateson, 2004. The theory on communication defines three key elements of communication. These three elements have to be present for communication; these are the sender, the receiver, and the presence of a message. The message must be conveyed through a medium while the receiver must interpret the received message so as to understand its meaning. The medium used is important to communication since it affects the process of decoding. Decoding the message correctly is important since it stands to give the meaning as is intended by the sender. It is important to realize at this point that everyone is different with different perceptions and interpretations of situations (Miller, 2004). Since people have different perceptions, team members of a project have diverse ways oral and written communication; team players also listen and comprehend situations in various ways, all leading to communication problems (Koskinen, 2004). Certain obstacles and filters may have key roles in comprehending the actual message. Barriers or obstacles usually root from the existing mind-state of the person receiving the message; these barriers to correct interpretation of the message might be biasness, prejudice or emotions, it may very well be the lack of technical and educational understanding needed (Thomas et al., 1998). Eliminating all human and technical barriers or obstacles is rather impossible in order to have effective communication, but creating formal, systemized communication set-up can much enhance project performance. This will overall minimize or almost mitigate distortions in effective communication. Good collaboration is dependant on effective communication. Communication may be necessary for collaboration but the reverse is not necessarily true; communication still takes place in absence of collaboration between team members, this means collaboration advances to realize common goals through extra-durable relationships and in presence of complete commitment of team-members (Laepple, 2005). Collaboration can be lasting if specific issues exist as part of the relation. Laepple, 2005 quotes Lorenz et al and says that collaboration constitutes mainly the presence of a common goal or objective, a joint paradigm, the existence of respect among and across all members, and of course the major e lement that is effective communication to be present. In regard to construction projects, common goal or purpose would be safe and timely execution of the project within the bounds of the given budget and quality. Collaboration means nothing without purpose. Joint paradigm, though points to the methods and practices generally acceptable to all teams and team-members trying to realize common goals. Here, it is noteworthy that everyone shares different values and these values must also be widely accepted within the working teams. It is important that collaboration exists before the rise of disputes or disagreements and problems in a project; it should, therefore be the foundational element of a project so as to avoid the afore-mentioned issues or any others that may come up (Larson, 1997). For this to be done team-building processes that conjoin the associated parties so as to give a clear picture of both the communication strategies as well as collaboration strategies and to make clear ways in which conflicts and disputes can be avoided well before they arise (Larson, 1997). One more essential factor for successful collaboration is the attitude of the management when faced by serious problem(s) (Larson, 1997). The managements attitude and behavior must be in conformance with the principles of collaboration, namely trust, openness and combined teamwork (Larson, 1997). When productivity deficiencies occur, the first culprits are communication and collaboration (FMI, 2004). FMI conducts the CIPS-Construction Industry Productivity Survey which states communication and/or collaboration issues as major challenges for the improvement of levels of productivity. This paper uses Widemans (1991) terminologies suggesting that buyer organization corresponds to project sponsor, and seller/implementer organization corresponds to project manager. These terms will be synonymously used throughout the study, i.e. buyer/seller and project sponsor or manager. Inter-firm Relationship Theories To deal with the complicated matter of research in inter-organizational relationships it is useful to refer to present theories that clarify the dynamics governing these relationships. The introduction section of this paper summarizes the studys element of investigation as communication existing between the project sponsor and the project manager at the time of IT project implementation where buyer-seller relationships exist. Traditional inter-firm/organizational relationship theories conferring to such analysis are namely the Transaction Cost Economics Theory and the Agency Theory (Williamson 1995). These theories are given as follows. Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) The TCE theory centers around the degree of individual transaction that translates input to required output, for instance the establishment of an IT-based system for the improvement of an organizations internal efficiency. TCE roots in economics; it gives rationales on whether to make a product or buy it from the market. There are two situations whether either there is more control making a fit for purpose in reducing unwanted costs associated to a product but having higher costs of management; or the other situation where prices are reduced by economies of scale as well as competing by price. Williamson (1975) argues for the make or buy decisions; these are supported by various implications like: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The level of specificity of an asset is a major influencing factor. It relates to the degree of the transacted object based on how explicit/unique it is. What value does it hold in terms of individual transaction and whether or not it can be redeployed for future transactions? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The level of ambiguity that arises from In-apt communication or deliberate in-correct and misleading signals that prevent decision-makers from discovering plans made by others involved in the business transaction. The common indecisiveness present in human behavior. The transactions frequency. Initially, TCE was designed for recurring, routine transactions, undertaken by traditionally managed organizations both in functional as well as hierarchical set-ups. Recurring transactions do not require a specific governance structure, though in contrast transactions that are highly unique require more specialized management structures. For this very purpose TCE considers firms governance structures and not specifically production functions (Willimason, p. 387, 1985). Costs involved in these transactions are aptly called transaction costs, here: Transaction costs are minimized by handing over transactions (each with different attributes) to governance structures (each with different capacities and different costs) (Williamson 1985, p. 18). TCE suggests that firms adjust their governance structures in order to attain lowest possible transaction costs. Resistance in physical systems corresponds to transaction costs in economic context; Transaction costs arise from complexity of buyer-seller relationship and the impracticality of developing and agreeing on contracts that are well-detailed enough to aptly form this relationship. For reducing transaction costs, the TCE theory suggests a high degree of asset specificity, and further suggests that incomplete contracts direct towards make product decisions, while lower degree of asset specificity direct towards buy product decisions (Adler et al. 1998). No matter about Agency theory CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DATA MANAGEMENT The construction business relies heavily on information. The information used can generally be categorized as structured data and unstructured data (Caldas et al., 2005). Database systems are used to generate structured data; the database system uses structures and formats that are predetermined (Caldas et al., 2005). Structured data brings about standardization while improving interoperability of computational systems (Caldas et al., 2005). PMCS-the Project Management and Collaboration Systems contain different modules which use both structured and unstructured data; structured data is present in the cost control module. The PCMS users do not have much control of the system, though realistically, most documents generated by the system (for construction projects) can be classified as unstructured data based on text-documents like contracts, reports and amendment orders etc. (Froese, 2003). Although such documents are classified as unstructured data, but most PMCS that are web-based c lassify them as partially structured. Constructware, a web-based PMCS( Project Management Control Systems presents standard modules to create and track daily reports and change orders as well as RFIs.( Request for Information ) Through this team-members can see and edit a standard document, which allows for interoperability between different computers. Despite this, researchers disagree that it is only a reproduction of the text document on different computer systems and does not offer an actual solution to handle complex data (Maoa et al., 2006). A lot of studies have been conducted where common data models have been developed so as to regularize and form one universal methodology to handle structured as well as unstructured data within the construction industry. IFC, the Industry Foundation Class (IFC) has been developed by AII-the International Alliance for Interoperability (Froese, 2003). CAD drawings are present in AutoCAD format, these are used by widely in the construction in dustry; two kinds of informational documents are supported by such formats these are: Contract Documents Project Management Documents (Zhu et al., 2001). DRIVERS OF TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Project success is impacted by external factors like the adoption and the diffusion of technology advancement in certain industries (Chan et al., 2004). Nonetheless, traditionally, the construction industry is seen as rather slow and reluctant to the adoption and implementation of new technology in comparison to other industries (Laborde Sanvido, 1994). Some important barriers in the adoption of technology by the construction industry are explained by Haas et al. (1999). These barriers include different standards, fragmentation, the type of business cycles, and ways in which risk is avoided. The construction industry survives on low labor costs in majority of regions; this is also a factor discouraging the invention of new technology and its adoption. Technology in-acceptance is mainly due to technological and financial risks felt by the employees who work in the construction industry (Tatum 1989). In-acceptance of technology construction companies poses a major threat to the construction industry. This is affecting productivity levels greatly and supporting the culture that is already change-resistant. A comparison of US and Korea in terms of information technology adoption is under-taken by Williams et al. (2007). These researchers reflect on how IT technologies are almost obsolete in over 150 US-based construction companies. Almost 50% or more have no usage of web conferencing or web portals. These companies have never used barcode scanning and do not have knowledge of e-learning or e-bid; similarly they have never used geographic information systems-GIS or geographic positioning systems-GPS. An article named Forces driving adoption of new information technologies by Mitropoulos and Tatum written in the year 2000 aims at identifying and analyzing internal and external factors that affect technology adoption within the construction industry. Internal factors arise within the organization and external factors come from the project owner or arise from competition. They have studied eight different companies; three of those are mechanical contractors whereas two of them are general contractors. These companies are large with even larger revenues averaging over US$100M. Technologies chosen by the authors are the CAD and the EDI, Electronic Data Interchange technologies and Radio Frequency Identification( RFID cards are important requirements of warehouses so that the stores available for issue are automatically updated in project ) Mitropoulos and Tatum have defined four important triggers for adopting technology; these are: Competitive Advantage Process Problem Technological Opportunity External Requirements Competitive advantage is improved only if new technology helps improve an he organizations critical capability and also if competitors have not already adopted similar technology. On the other hand, process problems originate from: (a)Added need for improved quality and also detailed drawings (b) Existing technologies have become insufficient for design communication (c) Growth of a company that requires better technologies in order to better supply larger-scale, complex projects demanding higher degree of detail. Opportunities in technology have been defined as improved capabilities because of the availability engineers having technology-based backgrounds, presence of complimentary technology, and affordability of up-and-coming technologies. External requirements are those that result from technology changes and are better known as client specifications or external competitor/rival pressure, and legal or regulatory enforcements. Besides these triggers for the adoption of technology, a great change has taken place within the construction industry that has affected practices within project management (Alshawi Ingirige, 2003). The changes that have taken place are marketplace globalization, economic forces, increased project complexity, a demand for quicker results, changing scopes of projects, changing procurement practices, and sophistication of clients (Alshawi Ingirige, 2003). The construction industry is now heavily investing in IT in response to these internal and external factors. By average construction contractor companies are now investing some US$334,241 in information technology. BARRIERS TO TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY The use of IT helps reduce time-taken to perform tasks and helps perform tasks that are difficult or impossible to be done by humans (Allen et al., 2005). Though IT has contributed greatly to the success of business organizations yet there exit barriers for diffusing or adopting IT into businesses. (Becerik,2006). Construction businessmen feel lack of collaboration within the industry, lack of training, and high implementation costs are all barriers to the success of IT in this industry. On the whole, though, barriers may be classified as technical barriers, behavioral barriers, cost-related barriers, organizational barriers, and legal barriers (Bjork, 2003). The barriers include: 1. Communication and hard and soft documentation 2. Information ownership 3. Returns on investment that are indistinguishable 4. Construction site technological limitations 5. Risks, both financial and organizational learning related risks 6. Change resistance and organizational inertia 7. Law of intellectual property and concerns regarding mistrust 8. System security, system reliability and the degree of confidentiality the system offers The construction industry is being affected in a number of ways by all these given factors lowering chances of adoption of technology to this industry; these factors are individually studied and analyzed. (Bjork, 2003).You asked for refrences here they were given at start of para Frameworks of Knowledge transfer Multiple studies have created frameworks to transfer knowledge, for learning and for diffusing new innovations into different areas of the construction industry (Egbu, 2005; Maqsood et al., 2007; Walker et al., 2004; Chinowsky et al., 2007; Anumba et al., 2005 Chinowsky and Carrillo, 2007;). Nonetheless, these frameworks are especially focused and set to a process lacking in consideration of their effect on project management and social relationships. An obstacle to knowledge transfer, its learning or innovations may be linked with certain characteristics of construction industry like short-term labor contracts; fragmentation of a project by functions; short-term coalitions of teams; contract arrangements; poor coordination between project partners; adversarial relationships etc. (Slaughter, 1998; DoreeandHolmen,2004; Dubois and Gadde, 2002;). Ling (2003) states four factors having vital effects on technological innovations in construction. They are: The interest level of team-members (of the project) Work environment Creating task-groups Individual capabilities of members involved with innovation Additionally, Walker Peasupap (2005-a/b 2009) state that management; technology, work environment and team-members are all elemental factors affecting the diffusion of innovation, since they can adversely affect delivery costs of a project, time constraints and limits and quality of the project. These limitations, though may be resolved by integration of humans into project management (Huemann et al., 2007). Studies have been conducted to find out how knowledge management (KM) can be implemented in construction organizations. Different Knowledge Management Frameworks have been developed, some of which are discussed briefly below: In 2002 Whelton et al. proposed a knowledge management framework for projects; this model works on soft systems methodology in order to assist group cognition, group learning and generate solutions. One drawback however is that this framework may prolong negotiation between stakeholders whilst trying to reach mutual agreement when faced by a problem or a situation; this may overall prolong time limitations of the project, causing it too start later than anticipated or finish later than anticipated. A frame-work called cross-sectoral learning has been developed by Al-Ghassani in 2002, in virtual enterprise for helping organizations set up a Knowledge Management strategy. Construction companies need to set-up KM systems in order to preserving knowledge and more specifically to integrate learning into the companies workings both into processes as well as practices which will in turn enhance performance and organizational competitiveness in the global market (Wetherill et al., 2002). Bronn Thi-Le in 2007 created an abstract model that facilitates the detection of problems related to transfer of know-how in large construction related projects. This model aims to identify knowledge break-downs while presenting the best solutions to promote learning and transferring knowledge. Nevertheless, creating social relationships between project teams can prove to be critical in promoting sharing of knowledge in collaborative environments. A project named e-COGNOS, created by Wetherill et al. in 2002 attempts to specify and develop an infrastructure that is an open model; this infrastructure works (in collaborative environments) at KM to create, disseminate, retrieve and capture or store information. e-COGNOS can be effective if there are well-bound social relationships to promote knowledge exchange; users must be motivated and trained on the use of this frame-work. Another example is that of the knowledge transfer framework created by Carrillo et al. in 2006 which is used to help companies manage product-related knowledge. This framework works in three stages, though the maturity level of KM is important as to how the framework may be implemented. Also cultural issues exist when knowledge is being transferred across different territories or across national borders. Another approach called cross-organizational learning approach developed by Franco et al. in 2004 deals with the shortage of processes required for everyday inter-organizational assessment of construction projects so as to facilitate learning while adding value to projects. This approach allows for exchanging feedback on project performance which is useful for learning and improving performance. In 2007 Chinowsky created a learning organization maturity model with a built-in automated tool called Learning Organization Rapid Diagnostic that assists in assessing and the implementation of continuous learning. Nonetheless, for implementation of the multiple characteristics of a learning organization, it can be time-consuming because of the sole reason much coordination and management is required to link together the entire organization. Overall this is an elicit support to use communication systems infrastructure for organizational learning. The CONDOR project is explained by Vakola and Rezqui -2000. They explain how it can support in defining work practices, work processes, commonly-used techniques, tools as well as aid in supporting the technical infrastructure of construction organizations. It even comes with an evaluation tool that assists in gathering of information; it helps in organizing learnt information by distributing it so that organizational learning takes place, and the learnt knowledge can be implemented in future projects. CONDOR continuously creates knowledge, interprets it and distributes it in order to retain knowledge. In 2007, Chinowsky and Carrillo (2007) propose how organizations shit from focusing on KM over to learning organizations based on a STEPS model that is a KM model. STEPS stands for Start-up-Take-off-Expansion stage-Progressive stage-Sustainability, it also has a learning maturity model that is based on leadership, processes and organizational infrastructure, organizational communication collaboration, education and finally culture(s). If KM strategies are successfully initiated, organizations can successfully progress from only KM to having a learning culture. Learning alone cannot necessarily lead to improving performance (Crossan et al., 1995). Good practices in management and knowledge management have a deep correlation (Leseure and Brookes-2004). Various studies show the significance of innovation in construction industries (Egbu, 2004; Latham, 1994; Slaughter, 1998; Gann, 2000; Dubois and Gadde, 2002; Vakola and Rezqui, 2000; Kumaraswamy et al.,2004; Ling, 2003; Dulaimi et al., 2005; Eaton et al., 2006; Egan, 1998; Winch, 1998). PPP/PFI has positive outcomes for innovation (Eaton et al.-2006). Eaton further explored stimulants and barriers against innovation in PPP/PFI projects. Impediments and stimulants related to human relationships are social and organizational variables. This will help in improving PPP/PFI that can in turn affect project performance in regard of project quality, costs, and time managemen t. Concurrent Engineering Concurrent engineering desing is a doctrine in management which has largely being used in the manufacturing industry while less of it has been employed in the construction engineering. The main aim of the philosophy is to reduce timelines in the activities so that the overall project time in terms of cost can be reduced For completion of these activies Concurrent engineering projects parallel and concurrent functions that are overlapped so that the delay in sequential conduct of the activites can be reduced . It is pertininet to mention that the common areas between concurrent activies between engineering production and construction industry has been highlighted by many researchers (de la Garza et al. 1994). In construction industry the the concurrent engineering has primarily defines as the integration of both design , planning and construction processes including the main aim of integration is to reduce construction time and cost and to ensure through various checks that the product is meting the expectations of the consumer . (Noble 1993). One of the main aims of the concurrent engineering methodlogy is to identify which all activites can overlap and which cannot . Furthermore the amount twp activities can overlap in a process mormally depend upon the typr of activities . (Prasad 1996). Concurrent Engineering and Integrated Project Development Integrated project developemnt can be described as the evolution of the concurrent engineering into a full scale methodogical process . Since due to the complexity and the increasing processes involved in the contruction industry of today it is very important evolve the integrated approach for the completion of the task . We will now discuss the IPD in the backdrop of concurrent engineering . I need more information about concurrent engineering IPD Construction structures are becoming increasingly complex while this industry is becoming more specialized; a new approach called Integrated Project Delivery or IPD has been introduced. This approach has been developed in the U.S. for the improvement of cost and the quality of projects as well as enabling better management of project schedules compared to traditional methods. The IPD method attempts to improve the outcomes of a project by collaboration in streamlining the incentives in addition to team goals (ADTF 2006). Though there are a number of organizations that support progression of IPD for instance AIACA Council and the AGC, and while some projects benefited from its use, yet projects using IPD are relatively few in number (Post 2007, Sive 2009). There are reasons for its slow adoption. Some reasons include fear of risk related to IPD (time, money, and innovation); other reasons include the close partnerships that IPD demands and legal frameworks required for incorporating IPD approaches. Furthermore, stakeholders of the construction industry think that new competencies, skills and KM will be needed for collaborating IPD into an organization (Auto-desk White Paper 2008). Still there is no noteworthy research that investigates the existing adoption status of IPD or reasons for its slow adoption within the industry (Sive 2009). Gathering IPD case-studies reflecting best practices would motivate professionals unfamiliar with IPD in getting assurance of IPD benefits and how its profits play a ro le in both successful and unsuccessful projects. Here, this paper provides an example of a project implementing IPD for project delivery. In this paper, we define IPD and discuss BIM-Building Information Modeling in context of IPD. To make further understanding of IPD clear, a case study is discussed to see how IPD may be applied in commercial building projects. The conclusion section will give recommendations for education as well as future research projects both in the context of IPD. Though IPD may be the industry buzz word but there exist no standard definition that is acceptable to all. Differing definitions accompanied by greatly varying approaches of different sophistication levels suggest that IPD describes considerably diverse contract arrangements as well as team processes, (Sive-2009). There are prominent similarities among IPD projects and IPD definitions. IPD is defined by various principles like the following in the context of this paper: (1) Multi-party Agreement (2) Parties Early Involvement It is not necessary that IPD is constituted by these principles. Multi-Party Agreement: One contract exists for the whole project, which involves the general contractor, the project owner, and the architect, or may even involve other parties (if the contract is between more than just two parties) when IPD is used. The prime goal of IPD is maximizing collaboration and coordination throughout the entire project. The contracts are a driving force that allows goals to be attained productively without getting complicated by use of separate contracts since separate contracts can produce opposing motives among the stake-holders and team members. (Post 2007) please attach this ref in ref please Shared Risk and Reward: A majority of IPD contracts incorporate elements designed for encouraging teamwork while promoting project success. IPD, in contrast to traditional projects, combines the risks rewards to reach project goals. (Scarnati, 2001) The goals may differ but are related to cost, project schedules and the quality metrics used in measuring success of a project. Associated risk examples include budget over-costs with different entitys overheads and profits, though on the other hand if a project is below budget a team may be compensated. Risk-reward sharing can be based on value, incentive pool, innovation outstanding performance, performance bonuses and profit sharing. Based on value-Project teams are given incentives; bonuses that are given based on how much value is added by a member to a project. Incentive pool-It will reserve some share of the teams fees (that increases and decreases based on certain pre-agreed criteria) before it is divided and shared among team members; Innovation and outstanding performance-As the name already indicates, teams are rewarded for their hard work or creativity; Performance bonuses-These bonuses are awarded on the basis of quality Profit sharing-Based on group performances, profits are gained collectively for the whole team/group rather than individually. Early Involvement of All Parties: One fundamental benefit of IPD is that it provides all parties the ability to be part of the project and be involved with the project from the start of the design phase. Collaborating from the start can easily address problems of fragmentation existing between the designing professionals and construction professionals which results in work mal-practices or cost changes during the late construction phase. (Scarnati, 2001) Although early collaboration does not need technological tools, but information technology like BIM-Building Information Modeling greatly increases efficiency of collaboration taking place during all project phases. There do, though exist constrains and complexities in implementing IPD. New contracts are using IPD but are not tried tested, and so, are not completely approved and understood. IPD is costly and insurance companies will not cover financial losses incurred as a result of IPD. Moreover the construction industry is accustomed to conventional leadership methods; responsibility, and opportunity; while change is not very evident. (Baiden et al., 2003)The inability to restructure procurement processes for enabling IPD is the area where a majority of agencies and formal institutions are deficient. On the other hand, IPD is correctly and successfully implemented it: Helps in facilitating the sharing of rewards as well as risks amongst stakeholders It may help in creating incentives that are awarded for exceptional performance It can also minimize operations and maintenance co

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Schizophrenia

People afflicted with schizophrenia may have a sense of reality that is noticeably dissimilar from the reality perceived and shared by others around them. Schizophrenics, live in a world that is distorted by hallucinations and delusions, so those with schizophrenia may feel frightened, anxious, and confused (Smith et al, 2006).   Partly due to the different reality they experience, shizophrenics are known to behave differently at various times and events. At times they can be distant, detached or even seem preoccupied.   Some may sit rigidly, like a stone, unmoving and utterly silent.Other times they may shift relentlessly – occupied, wide-awake, vigilant, alert, and even hyperactive. Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic, and generally disabling brain disease (Smith et al, 2006). While the term schizophrenia literally means â€Å"split mind†, it should not be confused with a â€Å"split† or multiple personality. It is more accurately described as a psychosis â €” a type of disease that causes severe mental turbulence that disrupts normal thinking, vocalizations, and deeds. Schizophrenia is supposed to be secondary to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.The course of schizophrenia, its symptoms, and triggers vary greatly among those who are affected. People with schizophrenia may demonstrate a varied combination of symptoms, triggers, and course. Each of these combinations may produce different clinical pictures. In fact, some clinicians have argued that schizophrenia is actually a group of separate disorders that share common features or symptoms.Comer (2007) notes that the indication of schizophrenia fall into three main categories:Positive symptoms, which are unusual thoughts or perceptions that include hallucinations (disturbances of sensory perception), delusions (false beliefs) and thought disorder.Delusions: Delusions are faulty interpretations of reality. Delusions may have bizarre content such as thoughts of being controlled by others, ideas of persecution by others, etc.Disordered Thinking and Speech: These may include loose associations, neologisms, and clanging.Heightened Perceptions: These are feelings of being flooded by sights and sounds, making it impossible to attend to anything important.Hallucinations: Hallucinations are faulty sensory perceptions. Auditory hallucinations are the most common form of hallucinations.Inappropriate Affect: Inappropriate affect is smiling when you are sad or angry or bearing a blank look when you should look happy. This may be related to the experience of hallucinations.Negative symptoms, which stands for a loss or a decrease in the ability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion, or find pleasure in everyday life (Comer 2007). These symptoms are harder to recognize as part of the disorder and can be mistaken for laziness or depression.Cognitive symptoms (or cognitive deficits), which are problems with attention, certain types of recall, and the executive occupation that allow us to plan and organize. Cognitive deficits can also be difficult to recognize as part of the disorder but are the most debilitating terms of leading a normal life.One may note that the cornerstone of schizophrenia is psychosis. Psychosis is a state characterized by loss of contact with reality (Comer, 2007). In this condition, the affected person's ability to perceive and respond to the environment is significantly disturbed, and it may affect the person's ability to function. Psychotic symptoms may include hallucinations, which are false sensory perceptions and/or delusions which are false beliefs. Psychosis may also be substance-induced or caused by brain injury, but psychosis most commonly appears in diagnoses of schizophrenia. Fowler (2000) notes that normally individuals with psychosis are not conscious of the consequential links between their symptoms, life experiences, disposition and beliefs. By helping someone understand his or her problem a s partly one of belief and interpretation, rather than actual and current threat, can be beneficialTreatments for SchizophreniaTreatment is aimed at reducing symptoms and preventing psychotic relapses and is believed to be most effective when begun early in the course of the illness. Schizophrenia is initally treated with antipsychotic medication (Comer, 2007). Once acute symptoms have lessened, a combination of medicine and psychosocial/rehabilitation interventions can be beneficial. As a chronic condition, disease management is life-long process.Barrow (2005) states that the most common modern medications currently prescribed are: risperidone (Risperdal ®), olanzapine (Zyprexa ®, Zydis ®), quetiapine (Seroquel ®), ziprasidone (Geodon ®). And then there is aripiprazole (Abilify ®), which acts in a different way on the brain than others. All these drugs block dopamine in those parts of the brain where excessive dopamine is causative to psychosis. They mainly diminish pos itive symptoms, but they may also help with negative symptoms.   Counseling, psychotherapy and social rehabilitation can help with more of what we call â€Å"negative symptoms.† Although Barrow notes that this often gets lost at first because ‘positive symptoms’ gets therapists too busy,   but people also lose inspiration, the capacity to communicate socially, and the capacity to organize themselves as they used to do before.ReferencesBarrow, K (2005). Reality Distortions: Balancing the Mind in Schizophrenia. Healthology Online, retrieved 7 April 2008 from http://www.healthology.com/mental-health/article1007.htm?pg=2Comer, R. J. (2007). Abnormal psychology (6th ed.), New York: Worth Publishers.Fowler, D. (2000). Cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis: from understanding to treatment. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills, 4(2), 199-215.Smith B, Fowler D, Freeman D, Bebbington P, Bashforth H, Garety P Dunn G & Kuipers E., (2006) Emotion and psychosis: links bet ween depression, self-esteem, negative schematic beliefs and delusions and hallucinations. Retrieved 7 April 2008 from http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/2182/1/Microsoft_Word_-_Schiz_Res_02_04_2006__2_.pdf Schizophrenia People afflicted with schizophrenia may have a sense of reality that is noticeably dissimilar from the reality perceived and shared by others around them. Schizophrenics, live in a world that is distorted by hallucinations and delusions, so those with schizophrenia may feel frightened, anxious, and confused (Smith et al, 2006).   Partly due to the different reality they experience, shizophrenics are known to behave differently at various times and events. At times they can be distant, detached or even seem preoccupied.   Some may sit rigidly, like a stone, unmoving and utterly silent.Other times they may shift relentlessly – occupied, wide-awake, vigilant, alert, and even hyperactive. Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic, and generally disabling brain disease (Smith et al, 2006). While the term schizophrenia literally means â€Å"split mind†, it should not be confused with a â€Å"split† or multiple personality. It is more accurately described as a psychosis â €” a type of disease that causes severe mental turbulence that disrupts normal thinking, vocalizations, and deeds. Schizophrenia is supposed to be secondary to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.The course of schizophrenia, its symptoms, and triggers vary greatly among those who are affected. People with schizophrenia may demonstrate a varied combination of symptoms, triggers, and course. Each of these combinations may produce different clinical pictures. In fact, some clinicians have argued that schizophrenia is actually a group of separate disorders that share common features or symptoms.Comer (2007) notes that the indication of schizophrenia fall into three main categories:Positive symptoms, which are unusual thoughts or perceptions that include hallucinations (disturbances of sensory perception), delusions (false beliefs) and thought disorder.Delusions: Delusions are faulty interpretations of reality. Delusions may have bizarre content such as thoughts of being controlled by others, ideas of persecution by others, etc.Disordered Thinking and Speech: These may include loose associations, neologisms, and clanging.Heightened Perceptions: These are feelings of being flooded by sights and sounds, making it impossible to attend to anything important.Hallucinations: Hallucinations are faulty sensory perceptions. Auditory hallucinations are the most common form of hallucinations.Inappropriate Affect: Inappropriate affect is smiling when you are sad or angry or bearing a blank look when you should look happy. This may be related to the experience of hallucinations.Negative symptoms, which stands for a loss or a decrease in the ability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion, or find pleasure in everyday life (Comer 2007). These symptoms are harder to recognize as part of the disorder and can be mistaken for laziness or depression.Cognitive symptoms (or cognitive deficits), which are problems with attention, certain types of recall, and the executive occupation that allow us to plan and organize. Cognitive deficits can also be difficult to recognize as part of the disorder but are the most debilitating terms of leading a normal life.One may note that the cornerstone of schizophrenia is psychosis. Psychosis is a state characterized by loss of contact with reality (Comer, 2007). In this condition, the affected person's ability to perceive and respond to the environment is significantly disturbed, and it may affect the person's ability to function. Psychotic symptoms may include hallucinations, which are false sensory perceptions and/or delusions which are false beliefs. Psychosis may also be substance-induced or caused by brain injury, but psychosis most commonly appears in diagnoses of schizophrenia. Fowler (2000) notes that normally individuals with psychosis are not conscious of the consequential links between their symptoms, life experiences, disposition and beliefs. By helping someone understand his or her problem a s partly one of belief and interpretation, rather than actual and current threat, can be beneficialTreatments for SchizophreniaTreatment is aimed at reducing symptoms and preventing psychotic relapses and is believed to be most effective when begun early in the course of the illness. Schizophrenia is initally treated with antipsychotic medication (Comer, 2007). Once acute symptoms have lessened, a combination of medicine and psychosocial/rehabilitation interventions can be beneficial. As a chronic condition, disease management is life-long process.Barrow (2005) states that the most common modern medications currently prescribed are: risperidone (Risperdal ®), olanzapine (Zyprexa ®, Zydis ®), quetiapine (Seroquel ®), ziprasidone (Geodon ®). And then there is aripiprazole (Abilify ®), which acts in a different way on the brain than others. All these drugs block dopamine in those parts of the brain where excessive dopamine is causative to psychosis. They mainly diminish pos itive symptoms, but they may also help with negative symptoms.   Counseling, psychotherapy and social rehabilitation can help with more of what we call â€Å"negative symptoms.† Although Barrow notes that this often gets lost at first because ‘positive symptoms’ gets therapists too busy,   but people also lose inspiration, the capacity to communicate socially, and the capacity to organize themselves as they used to do before.ReferencesBarrow, K (2005). Reality Distortions: Balancing the Mind in Schizophrenia. Healthology Online, retrieved 7 April 2008 from http://www.healthology.com/mental-health/article1007.htm?pg=2Comer, R. J. (2007). Abnormal psychology (6th ed.), New York: Worth Publishers.Fowler, D. (2000). Cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis: from understanding to treatment. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills, 4(2), 199-215.Smith B, Fowler D, Freeman D, Bebbington P, Bashforth H, Garety P Dunn G & Kuipers E., (2006) Emotion and psychosis: links bet ween depression, self-esteem, negative schematic beliefs and delusions and hallucinations. Retrieved 7 April 2008 from http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/2182/1/Microsoft_Word_-_Schiz_Res_02_04_2006__2_.pdf