Theoretical Framework Essay Example for Free

Theoretical Framework Essay A theoretical framework is defined in this study as the structure of concepts which exists in the literature, a ready-made map for the study (Liehr Smith, 2001); it provides the structure for examining a problem and serves as a guide to examine relationships between variables (Ingelse, 1997). Theoretical frameworks are important in exploratory studies, where the researcher does not know much about what is going on, and is trying to learn more. As Borgatti (1998) suggested: There are two reasons why theoretical frameworks are important here. First, no matter how little you think you know about a topic, and how unbiased you think you are, it is impossible for a human being not to have preconceived notions, even if they are of a very general nature (Borgatti, 1998) A study of the literature reveals that there are many theories in use in the information systems field alone (Schneberger Wade, 2006). The Implementation of I. D Scanner Systems in the Students of Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santa Rosa Extension Campus shows how technological innovation to provide the students ease and better service every start of the classes. It is communicated /disseminated to students who will attend their class in the university, as what is stated in the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory. The Diffusion of Innovation Theory The Diffusion of Innovation Theory by Rogers E. M. states that an innovation diffuses or spreads through our society in a predictable pattern. A few people will adopt an innovation as soon as they hear of it, other people will take longer to try something new and still others take much longer. The people who are at the back of the PUP website are those we can consider the innovators, and the students as the adopters of the innovation in the enrollment procedures. The Diffusion Innovation Theory includes the four key steps that effectively summarize the diffusion process wherein the innovation in enrollment procedure is going through. The first step is â€Å"Knowledge†, wherein the PUP students are made aware of the new process of enrollment and registration. The next step is â€Å"Persuasion† where the diffusion process takes place mostly within the mind of the adopter. The individual weighs the advantages that the new technology would bring to him or her personally. Based upon these evaluations and discussions with others, the individual begins to learn toward either adoption or rejection of the innovation. This is where the students analyze the advantages and the disadvantages of the new process of enrollment in PUP compared to the traditional. The third step is â€Å"Decision†. The individual makes the final decision of whether to adopt or reject. The last step is â€Å"Confirmation† where the individual seeks validation.

Jail and Prison Comparison Paper Essay Example for Free

Jail and Prison Comparison Paper Essay Jail is usually the first place a person is taken after being arrested by police officers. The authority of states to build, operate, and fill jails can be found in the Tenth Amendment, which has been construed to grant to states the power to pass their own laws to preserve the safety, health, and welfare of their communities. Jail is to protect the public and citizens of county by providing a wide range of constructive, professional correctional services for pre-trial and convicted detainees. Jail is also ensure the safety and welfare of staff, visitors, and offenders by operating facilities and programs in a secure, humane environment which meets professional and standards and constitutional requirements. It reduces the rate to reincarceration by providing offenders with the opportunity for self improvement and the inner resources necessary to make a successful adjustment within the community. An act of 1790 brought about sweeping reforms in the prison and authorized a penitentiary house with 16 cells to be built in the yard of the jail to carry out solitary confinement with labor for hardened atrocious offenders. Jails are run by the county of a state and serve as locally-operated holding places, usually for brief periods of incarceration or as a detention place before and during trial and other legal matters. For example, someone convicted of a misdemeanor crime would be jail. In addition, the sentence must be less than a year. Jails are especially for someone being he ld in custody for trail, or they couldn’t afford bail, or they were just arrested will be held in the county jail, not prison. As such, jails are impermanent county residences, and lack many of the amenities and programs that the large prisons have. Jails are usually run by the sheriff or the local government. According to the Department of Justice, there are approximately 3,600 jails in the United States. On the hand, prisons are federal or state-run. Prisons are generally much bigger and much more high-security levels. Inmates convicted of federal felonies usually go to federal prison, and those convicted of state felonies go to state prison. Prisons often have very elaborate education and vocational training programs, halfway house service, work-release programs, and recreational and entertainment facilities. The original history of the federal prison system started back in the 1890s but it was not until 1930 that president Hoover signed a bill establishing a federal prison system that would actually start the building of actual federal facilities. The federal system had been relying on the state and local levels of government to house their prisoners. The Federal Bureau of Prisons was established within the Department of Justice and charged with the management and regulation of all Federal penal and correctional institutions. This responsibility covered the administration of the 11 Federal prisons in operation at the time. As time has passed and laws have changed, the Bureaus responsibilities have grown, as has the prison population. At the end of 1930, the agency operated 14 facilities for just over 13,000 inmates. By 1940, the Bureau had grown to 24 facilities with 24,360 inmates. Except for a few fluctuations, the number of inmates did not change significantly between 1940 and 1980, when the population was 24,252, according to Federal Bureau of Prison. However, the number of facilities almost doubled from 24 to 44 as the Bureau gradually moved from operating large facilities confining inmates of many security levels to operating smaller facilities that each confined inmates with similar security needs. The federal prison incarcerated for longer time and associated with White Collar criminals. Some of the crimes that fall under federal crimes are drug dealer, political person, false insurance, bank robbery, and many more. On the other hand, the state prison system has been in existence since the early 1800s with the building of Sing Sing state prison. Sing Sing state prison is one of the oldest state penitentiaries in existence today and is still in use. The state prisons also refer to blue collar criminals. The state prison system is devised of a network of small prisons that hold most of the United States prison populations. Since the beginning of penitentiaries in each state growth has been a rising issue. Many states have to provide millions of dollars to their prison systems. Those who commit state or break the state roles, they will automatically be sent to state prison and wait for federal if there is any. Some crimes that can be incarcerated within a state prison such as habitual offender, sex offender, drug user , and other violent crime offender. In the State Prison, there are five security level have been established for correctional facilities and inmates are low security, medium security, high security, and maximum security. Inmates have been conditionally released into the community but remain under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Low security includes Work Farms, Boot Camps, Forestry Camps, etc. Basically these are either first time low-risk offenders or inmates who have worked themselves up in the system and are possibly on their way out of prison. Being considered low risk, affords the inmate to better living conditions and a few more freedoms. They have earned the trust of the institution. This is why we believe it’s imperative to tell your family member to steer clear of any trouble during their incarceration. Minimum security categorize for inmates coming up in their time or those inmates that have committed a less severe crime. This level of inmate can be trusted and is usually designated as a form of trustee or in a trusted work detail. Medium security, 3 inmates are typical of any placement for someone headed to prison. You must earn the trust from the staff at all levels to work your way up. This level of inmate has some rights and freedoms, but not many. Finally, maximum security is typically in lockdown most of their time and are usually the more violent or feared members of the population. To be housed at this level the inmate must have performed an extremely violent crime. There are basically no freedoms unless the Max inmate is housed with other max inmates, and they are only allowed out for one hour per day. This is not always the case with every prison, jail or detention facility. Some offer multiple programs and allow limited movement, classes, details and freedom for all inmates. According to the Department of Justice, there are minimum security, low security, medium security, and high security in the Federal Prison system. Minimum security institution is also known as Federal Prison Camps have dormitory housing, a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing. These institutions are work- and program-oriented; and many are located adjacent to larger institutions or on military bases, where inmates help serve the labor needs of the larger institution or base. Low ecurity Federal Correctional Institutions have double-fenced perimeters, mostly dormitory or cubicle housing, and strong work and program components. The staff-to-inmate ratio in these institutions is higher than in minimum security facilities. Medium security have strengthened perimeters (often double fences with electronic detection systems), mostly cell-type housing, a wide variety of work and treatment programs, an even higher staff-to-inmate ratio than low security FC Is, and even greater internal controls. Finally, High security institutions know as United States Penitentiaries have highly secured perimeters (featuring walls or reinforced fences), multiple- and single-occupant cell housing, the highest staff-to-inmate ratio, and close control of inmate movement. Some of the factors influencing the growth in jail are drug offenders sex offenders, violent offenders, increase in time served women offenders. The corrections system does four fundamental things. The first three, basic life care for offenders, risk identification and risk management, cover the bases of managing offenders. However, only risk reduction â€Å"hits a home run† to significantly affect offender outcomes and community safety. According to the National Institute of Corrections, appropriate treatment reduces recidivism by 30%. In recent years community-based corrections has been trained in and begun implementing evidence-based practices. In recent years community-based corrections has been trained in and begun implementing evidence-based practices.

Strategies to Reduced Diabetes Appointments

Strategies to Reduced Diabetes Appointments 1 Introduction The aim of this project is to reduce the number of appointments that those on the diabetes register need to attend by offering a â€Å"one stop shop† for both retinal screening and diabetic review. The surgery I work in is demographically situated in one of the most deprived areas in the UK and typically the patients attending are those who make poor lifestyle choices and fail to attend appointments, they may be classed as hard to reach, homeless and vulnerable patients with complex needs. Aims and Objectives My intention was to improve on the number of diabetic patients attending their appointment for retinal screening and for their annual diabetic review in order to capture them and integrate them into local services for diabetes care. Objectives involved improving communication with the diabetic retinal screening service, an audit and inspection of available rooms at the GP surgery to allow for retinal screening to be performed at the surgery, and the development of a patient letter and protocol to promote a consistent approach for patients to be recalled and reviewed. This change in practice would enable the surgery’s hard to reach and vulnerable patients to attend for one appointment where they could receive their retinal screening and their diabetic review at the same appointment. Background Information The most serious complication affecting the eye for people with diabetes is the development of diabetic retinopathy. A delicate network of blood vessels supplies the retina with blood. Diabetes affects these tiny blood vessels of the eye and if they become blocked or leak then the retina, and possibly the vision can be affected. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) estimate that forty percent of people with type 1 diabetes and 20 per cent with type 2 diabetes will develop some sort of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy progresses with time but may not cause symptoms until it is quite advanced and close to affecting the person’s sight. The duration of diabetes is the most important factor that predicts whether a person develops diabetic retinopathy as well as poor glycaemic control. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS 1998) and the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT 1993) showed that improved glycaemic control reduced the development and progression of retinopathy. This demonstrates that glycaemic control is significant in reducing a person’s risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and by combining the retinal screening with the diabetic review, it was anticipated that improved glycaemic control could be discussed at an appropriate time as most people would consider maintaining their eyesight as significant. A study by Jones, Hepburn, Man, Ridout and Gable (2011) demonstrated that diabetes care in the community is not always flexible enough to accommodate the needs of vulnerable people with complex needs however, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complications are often avoidable through adequate care and therefore there has been an increase in programmes to improve the quality of routine care received by people with T2DM (Stribbling 2013). The importance of targeting non-attenders is significant in order to attempt to reduce complications. Diabetes is associated cardiac and cerebrovascular disease, as well as small vessel disease that can result in blindness and renal failure (Fowler 2008). Good glycaemic management reduces the risks of complications, why is why it is important to make every effort to reach the non-attenders (Thomas 2012). Socio-economic deprivation is one of the main reasons people are unable to attend appointments for health care. Deprivation is strongly associated with the development of diabetes and the complications associated with it. People on a low income may not be able to access public transport, they may not class their own health as priority and those who have substance misuse issues may use their money to buy illicit drugs instead of using the money to buy healthier food or for getting to and from appointments. Research by Mitchell, Malone and Doebbeling (2009) demonstrated that individuals with substance misuse disorders and mental health problems were significantly less likely to receive retinal screening or foot sensory examination even though those with a mental disorder had significantly more out-patient visits. This researched concluded that there was strong evidence to support inequalities in medical care for those people with a mental health problem or a substance misuse disorder even though the nature of these diagnoses increased the risk of them developing T2DM and complications from it. In consideration of the practice population where I work, there are a high proportion of people with mental health issues, drug misusers and a few homeless people. I also work in a deprived area which alerts me to acknowledging the problems these people face on a day to day basis and realising that health is not top of their daily agenda. It has highlighted that the evidence is present to facilitate a change in practice to allow for improved access to health care and to perform as many health assessments as possible in one session. Overview of audit The audit undertaken earlier in the year was performed by analysing the number of people with diabetes attending appointments for annual retinal screening (see appendix 1). I then divided the results down further to encompass age groups and gender. The middle age range had the highest number of non-attenders and more males than females failed to attend their appointment. The number of people attending for retinal screening was considerably higher than anticipated, and in comparison to those attending for other areas of their diabetes care, which identified an opportunity in modifying appointments. The audit highlighted that patient’s rank their eyesight as very important compared to other aspects of their diabetes review and I considered how I could change this behaviour and allow for the patients diabetic review to be performed at the same time as retinal screening. This recognised that there needs to be a more robust system in place as this type of complication can only be detected by a detailed examination of the eye at attendance of the retinal screening programme. Attendance issues may be improved upon by combining appointments and therefore, in conclusion, communication between departments needs to be more effective ensuring that diabetic patients can be recalled for both review and screening and a protocol for patients who do not attend needs implementing. Action plan My initial action was to ensure that the diabetes register at the practice was up to date and that all patients over the age of twelve years had been referred to the screening service. I performed this audit by reviewing the diabetic register on Systmone including any new patients and systematically checking through the patients computerised notes to establish whether referrals had indeed been made and read coded onto the computer. For patients who had not been referred for retinal screening, a referral form was completed and faxed over to the screening service. Local diabetic eye screening services need to be informed of everyone who is newly diagnosed as well as those people with diabetes who have moved into the area or changed GP practice. Once this was complete, I contacted the retinal screening service via email to ask whether it would be a feasible option for them to batch appoint several of the surgeries patients together on the same morning or afternoon to allow for sufficient patients to make it cost effective for a full session. The retinal screening took place at a different GP surgery and I therefore needed to contact the practice manager to request permission for the use of a room in order to be able to review the patients at the same time as the retinal screening appointment. This would mean I would have to travel and see patients at the other surgery and it was recognised that both cost effectiveness and productiveness would be improved by consulting with several patients within one session. Unfortunately, rooms were very limited at the other surgery and therefore this option was taken out of the equation as it was not possible to agree a solution. I reconsidered the idea and emailed the screening service again to ask the standards and measurements needed for a room for retinal screening. I was informed that the room needed to be at least three metres in length with a desk and two chairs, a computer, and access to an electricity supply to extend to the car park where the screening van would be located. My surgery often hires vacant rooms out to other services and therefore, I discussed this with the centre manager who approved an inspection by the retinal screening service to establish whether the surgery had a suitable room. This was arranged for the screening service to attend the surgery and review all of the available rooms. Two gentlemen from the screening service attended the surgery together with the screening vehicle to inspect the rooms available and to establish whether it would be feasible to park, connect to an electrical supply and be allocated a suitable room for screening purposes. They were shown around the majority of the rooms within the surgery and decided that one of the rooms at the front of the building was suitable; the screening van could be parked at the front of the building allowing suitable access to an electrical point. We therefore had an agreement with the retinal screening service for them to perform the screening procedure within the patient’s own surgery. It was agreed that a nominated person from the retinal screening service would send, via email, a list of patients whom they were inviting for screening, directly to the practice, six weeks in advance of the appointment. This would allow time for the practice to invite the patients to attend for any blood tests needed prior to their diabetic review. The surgery would then send a letter to each patient informing them that their diabetic review would be performed immediately after their retinal screening. For the appointment system to be robust, an educational session was delivered to other nurses and reception staff to inform them of the change in practice and the reasons behind this change. This was to attempt to engage all staff to work effectively in this process and to discuss any problems or ideas. Appointment length for the diabetes review was agreed to be thirty minute duration. There was a discussion featuring the implication for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) figures, and consequently monetary reward for the practice, and that retinal screening is an annual procedure. Patients are sent a leaflet regarding screening with their retinopathy screening appointment. Following this, a prototype patient letter was devised for the practice to allow for consistency in appointing patients. The letter included the patient’s appointment time and date for their retinal screening and their diabetic review. The letter also advised patients of the risks of complications from diabetes and the importance of attendance. The letter was produced (see appendix 2) and this was evaluated and discussed at the next patient participation group which is only small but includes one person with diabetes. Following approval of the appointment letter, a protocol (see appendix 3) was formulated to encompass all stages of the appointment process and ensure consistency. Results The educational session took place and was attended by the practice nurses, reception and administration staff within the surgery. This was performed by discussion to allow for interaction of all staff members. The GP was unable to attend and this was discussed with her at another time. Feedback was positive and it was judged by the staff members to facilitate an improvement in patient care and improvement in appointment attendance. No problems were foreseen although it was recognised that if a patient failed to attend, it was mean a large portion of clinic time had been wasted. This time could be used to attempt to contact the patient by telephone to discuss diabetes care if necessary via a telephone consultation. The â€Å"one stop shop† was perceived as a significant initiative in improving appointment attendance by the patient participation group. It was seen as something that would benefit patients rather than benefitting the surgery. As a representative group of patients, they highly recommended the implementation of the change in practice. This was seen as a successful challenge within the practice considering our patient population. At the time of writing, I am awaiting the initial list of patients from the retinal screening service in order to be able to appoint people into this new project. Discussion Equality of access should be a priority for all NHS services (DoH 2008). Vulnerable people with complex needs should still be entitled to quality health care as it is these patients who may lack the knowledge, skills and support to manage their condition (Thomas (2012). Reflecting on the patients I care for, there is a high incidence of vulnerable people, substance misusers, and homeless, those on a low income or out of work, mental health and learning disability issues. These are often hard to target patients who repeatedly fail to attend appointments. The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) rewards surgeries for achieving set outcomes for diabetes however surgeries such as the one where I am employed, often miss out on vital funds. This is not through the absence of working extremely hard to reach the targets but through patients not attending their appointments. Deprivation is strongly associated with the risk of developing diabetes and its complications. Diabetes UK (2006) reported that people living in derived areas were two and a half times more likely to develop type two diabetes. This was further reported by Diabetes UK (2009) who added that people in the most deprived areas are twice as likely to develop complications of diabetes compared to those in the least deprived areas. Around 500 people a year experience loss of vision due to diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy at a level where it could be registered as a disability (Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) 2014). Diabetic patients are also at risk of developing cataracts or glaucoma. Diabetes UK (2013) in their mission statement declare the key points are Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of sight loss in the working age population All people with any type of diabetes are at risk of developing retinopathy. Those most at risk are those who have had diabetes for a long time and/or who have poorly controlled diabetes and hypertension The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme aims to reduce the risk of sight loss among people with diabetes by the early detection and treatment Screening is offered annually to all people with diabetes aged 12 and over A study by Waqar, Bullen, Chant, Salman, Vaidya and Ling (2009) into the cost implications of non-attendance at a retinal screening programme demonstrated an association between non-attendance and socioeconomic deprivation. The study divided the results down further into first and second did not attend (DNA) appointments. They discovered that sending out repeat reminders to patients resulted in a significant reduction in non-attendance rates. In the area where the study was performed on a total of 22,651 people, they declared the total cost by lost earnings from missed appointments to be almost eighty thousand pounds. Therefore failure of attendance at retinal screening appointments impacts enormously on Trust budgets. Having the knowledge that DNA rates increase within areas of deprivation indicates that people in these areas need different ways of encouraging them to attend appointments. This group of patients needs targeting more aggressively and may need further reminders of their appointments. My vision for the patients that are registered with my practice is one that will encourage attendance by providing a service that will encompass the majority of components needed for a full diabetic review within one session. My feelings are that this will improve patient attendance as the patients will not have to attend multiple appointments or visit another surgery for their retinal screening. This will reduce time constraints and patients expenses should they need to use public or private transport. People leading chaotic lives tend to focus their day very differently to others and by generating one appointment instead of two may support these people to make an effort to attend one session. I consider the strength of this change in practice focuses on the idea of only one appointment. This appears to be confirmed by the reaction of other members of staff and the patient participation group. I remain optimistic that this will improve patient attendance and therefore patient care and improved health outcomes with a reduction in complication rates. The ability for retinal screening to be performed at my practice was paramount to this change in practice and continuing effective communication between the surgery and the retinal screening service must be maintained. I do not feel there is a particular weakness with the method, however the only drawback I can foresee is that if patients continue to DNA the new appointment then it will lead to a large amount of wasted appointment time. I anticipate that the audit next year will highlight an increase in uptake of appointments. If attendance for retinal screening remains at the level that occurred during the audit, this should reflect upon the attendance for diabetic reviews also. If successful, this may be a model of care that other practices may wish to replicate should they have available facilities at their surgery to accommodate the retinal screening service. Student number DDNL04004

A Panel Analysis of Venture Capital’s Impact on Innovation Performance in Europe :: European Economy, Debt Crisis

The sovereign debt crisis hits heavily European economy. Policymakers are desperately searching for solutions. But resolving the crisis would be much harder if the economies continue to stall or shrink. The key driver for modern economic growth is entrepreneurial innovation (Schumpeter, 1911, 1934; Romer, 1990; Grossman and Helpman, 2002; and Aghion and Howitt, 1992, 1998). Innovation requires constant investments in entrepreneurial firms. Entrepreneurial financing, however, is too risky and too costly for traditional prudent investors. Financial problems are particularly acute in high-growth entrepreneurial firms due to their inherent uncertainty (Hall, 2002). The Community Innovation Survey (2002) reports that the lack of appropriate sources of finance and the high costs of innovation are the most cited hampering factors in European companies. The financial constrains force almost one out of three innovative or potentially innovative Dutch firms to abandon or to slow down their inn ovative projects (Mohnen, Palm, van Der Loeff, and Tiwart, 2008). Savignac (2006) also finds that 17.25 percent of innovative firms are financially constrained in France. The Venture Capital (VC) market provides the unique link between financial surplus and innovation, and mitigates the problem of under-investment in innovative activities by small and new firms (Hall, 2002). The structure of VC firms seems to be designed specifically to light fires under scrappy and ambitions startups, to materialize new business ideas and to maximize return on investment in true innovation projects (Stuck and Weingarten, 2005). There are both ad hoc and academic evidence suggesting that VC boosts American innovation, for example, NVCA (2010), Hellmann and Puri (2000), Kortum and Lerner (2001), and Ueda and Hirukawa (2003). The empirical finding in Europe, however, is not unanimous. On the one hand, Tykvova (2000) finds that VC investments have a highly significant positive effect on patenting activity in Germany. Engel and Keilbach (2002) reveal that the average number of patents in the German VC-backed group is weakly higher than in the control group. Bertoni et al. (2009) report that VC investments promote Italian firms’ patenting activity. And Colombo et al. (2009a) find that VC investments have a positive impact on the productivity of 222 Italian firms operating in high-tech manufacturing and services. On the other hand, Peneder (2010) finds that the Austrian VCs have a positive impact on firm growth, yet not on innovation output. Pinch and Sunley (2009) find that there is little evidence that th e British VCs promote the innovation performance of their investees.

Brave New World :: Essays Papers

Brave New World Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, while fictitiously showing the future possible advances of science and technology, is actually warning people of what science could become. In the Foreword of Brave New World, Huxley states: â€Å"The theme of Brave New World is not the advancement of science as such; it is the advancement of science as it affects human individuals† (xi). He is not suggesting that this is how science should advance, but that science will advance the way that people allow it to. The novel is not supposed to depict a â€Å"utopian† society by any means, but it is supposed to disturb the reader and warn him not to fall into this social decay. Huxley uses satire to exploit both communism and American capitalism created by Ford. Huxley’s first example of satire is that he shows elements of communism in the World State. Dictatorship is an element of communism and is shown in Brave New World by means of the World Controller, Mustapha Mond. In the World State, people â€Å"belong† to everyone else. Mustapha Mond, when lecturing students, says, â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢every one belongs to every one else’† (40). This thought in the novel is similar to that of communism where everyone shares everything. In Brave New World, however, Huxley takes this thought to another level. Sex, in the World State, is encouraged to occur with everybody. Even kids are encouraged to participate. People are scolded for having only one partner. Fanny, Lenina’s friends said, â€Å"’I really do think you ought to be careful. It’s such horribly bad form to go on and on like this with one man†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (41). Lenina could possibly be punished for â€Å"having† only one man. This is how Huxley uses satire to exploit communism. Huxley also uses satire to show that consumption is becoming a religion in America. Henry Ford is a god in this novel because he invented the assembly line. The assembly line creates a means for mass production of items. In the novel, mass production is how people are born. Because of this, Ford is an ideal god for the World State. He symbolizes a religion that lets a ruler rob people of their individuality for progress and stability. People in the novel use the name of Ford like people today use God’s name. Bernard, when talking to Lenina, said, â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢for Ford’s sake, be quiet!’† (90).

All too often children are labeled as slow or stupid; they are put :: Economics

All too often children are labeled as slow or stupid; they are put aside into special classes for the slower kids and looked down upon by the smarter kids. All too often children are labeled as slow or stupid; they are put aside into special classes for the slower kids and looked down upon by the smarter kids. Teachers and parents look at them in disappointment for the great potential they once saw in their child’s eyes has gone to waste. Many teens that now believe that their stupidity is a truth were once as young children, praised for their quick learning and brightness. There must be an explanation for this. The explanation for me along with many other kids is the learning disorder called dyslexia. I would like to give them a combination of the next to definitions. â€Å"A complex neurological condition, the symptoms may effect many areas of learning and function and may be described as a difficulty in reading, spelling and written language† (Reid 2), as defined by The British Dyslexia Association in 1997. This is a common definition of dyslexia. The other definition of dyslexia is â€Å" an inherited neurological difference, resulting in language, perception, processing, and attention concentration deference’s† (Dyslexia Research Institute 1). Dyslexia is a serious disorder that effects an â€Å"estimated 5 percent to 15 percent of children† (UniSci 1). This number is extremely high; yet many do not know the effects that dyslexia has on the learning process and the emotional development of children, or understands what dyslexia even is. It has been found through research that dyslexia is a disorder occurring in the brain. On the UniSci WebPages, it was stated that â€Å"an issue of the American Journal of Neuroradiology provided evidence that dyslexia is indeed a brain-based disorder† (1). Many tests and researches have been done to prove and also further the discovery of how the dyslexic brain works so that we may better understand it. Researchers at the University of Washington found that â€Å"dyslexics were using 4.6 times as much area of the brain or five times the brain area to do the same language task as the other kids who were not dyslexic† (UniSci 1). That translated means that â€Å"the dyslexic’s brain works much harder and uses much more energy than that of a normal person† (UniSci 1). Also, the researchers found that the â€Å"difference between the dyslexic person and a normal person relates to auditory language and not to nonlinguistic auditory function† (UniSci 1). This was shown through a study using six dyslexic boys and seven normal boys. â€Å"All of the boys were fitted with earphones and asked to perform four tasks while their

Middle Ages vs Renaissance Art Periods Essay

When seeking two art periods to compare and contrast, fewer artistic examples provide a starker depiction of radically changing ideas and mentality than the art of the Middle Ages against that of art from the Renaissance. First, art originating from the Middle Age will be thoroughly analyzed for context. Afterward, art from the Renaissance period art will be analyzed next to it for its departures on from Middle Age techniques and thinking, before the two are finally systematically compared and contrasted. First, art from the Middle Ages, also called art from the Medieval period, characterized a European period of little social change, general poverty, and few scientific advances. The Catholic Church remained an imposing force upon Midieval society, and dominated much of daily life. Art clearly served the role of worship above all else, and the Catholic Church actually commissioned much of the artwork of the period. Much of this art filled churches and monasteries, and took the form of sculptures, paintings and drawings, stained-glass windows, metalwork and mosaics, among other forms. The iconographical nature of the art is substantial, as it above all served the purpose of perpetuating the Catholicism of the early church. It was largely confined to Europe and areas that the Byzantine and Roman empires had once occupied, such as parts of northern Africa. It lasted almost a thousand years, from approximately around 500 C.E. to perhaps as late as 1400 C.E. The depictions within the art reflected its purpose – worship. Religious icons such as saints, the Virgin Mary, Jesus and his disciples, and other depictions provided clarity and images for believers. The images portrayed onto the media arguably reflect the times, lacking in brightness, movement, or attitude. The characters shown rarely appear upbeat. An excellent example that validates some of these generalities is Pietro Cavallini’s The Last Judgment. This painting in the Santa Cecilia in Rome uses drab colours to show what appears to be an angry Jesus overlooked by six angels, three on each side. While a beautiful work of art no doubt, the painting has little passion or movement and does not inspire anything more than fear from a fiery God. This Medieval Art from the Middle Ages contrasts sharply with the Renaissance-era works in many key ways. First, Renaissance Art, while not entirely secular to be sure, had certain overtones of the humanism sweeping Europe. Next, its style exuberates brightness, passion, and an appetite for life that cannot be found easily in Middle Age art. Renaissance Art effectively superseded and ended art period progressing during the Middle Ages, and this mirrored social trends of increasing wealth and prosperity, upward mobility, and technological advances of the time. While no doubt heavily influenced by the preceding art of the Middle Ages and often building off of some of its topic such as Christianity, Renaissance Art has a strong hint of humanism which afflicted its artists. This philosophy sought to change the nature of man’s relationship with God to exist outside the church’s realm, and the â€Å"Renaissance men† often meaning that these artists were not only artists but commonly philosophers and scientists as well. Michelangelo, who was a painter, architect, poet, engineer, and sculptor, exemplified these characteristics. His masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel, The Last Judgment, provides us a great comparison to Cavallini’s work on the same topic and contrasts the vastly different techniques and focuses of the two art periods. While Cavallini’s work lacks a variety of colours and could be described even as plain, Michelangelo’s work gives a clear view into his mind’s eye, filled with numerous angels and men moving through the heavens. While Jesus is still at the top and the Madonna next to him seems to cower in fear at his wrath, many nonetheless are lifted upward. The bright colours, quick movements, and in fact original nakedness of the characters (later covered up, at the church’s request) reflect the technique and thought process of Renaissance-era art. So taking the topic of the Last Judgment, the second coming of Christ as a comparison subject matter for extrapolation between Medieval and Renaissance art periods, the Renaissance’s brightness, liveliness and energy shine clearly. First, we saw that Middle Age art was dreary, using drab colours and little dynamism that reflected the harsh realities of life in Europe at the time. Second, Renaissance Art ended this period with the new opportunities and advances made during the Renaissance, reflected in art from the period. Multitalented Renaissance men of the period such as Michelangelo contributed simultaneously to multiple artistic fields at once. Their art reflected the optimism of the times, the great advances being made philosophically and technologically, and their work captured their excitement for mankind’s newfound humanist relationship with God. What was once seen as an angry God hell-bent on punishment was now an opportunity for a chance into the heavens, and often Renaissance Art was even entirely secular, such as masterpieces like the Mona Lisa. Therefore, the Renaissance period of art departed from the Middle Ages period of Medieval Art not simply in technique or media, but also in subject matter, philosophy, and use. The art periods correspondingly reflected their equivalent time frame as either bleak and dowdy or upbeat and energetic. References Finnan, V. (2013). The last judgement. Retrieved from http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Last-Judgement.html Gortais, B. (2003). Abstraction and art. Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences , 358(14-135), 1241-1249 . Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3558216 The last judgement. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.lib-art.com/artgallery/8284-the-last-judgement-pietro-cavallini.html