Physiognomy Theory Essay

Physiognomy also known as the Arts and Sciences of the face, dates back to Aristotle’s era. This philosophy was first used by the Greek and spread to places as far as Asia and the Middle East within a short period of time. It became very popular especially in Asia, where people would use this to determine people’s suitability for jobs and important government positions. The number of important people such as Emperors, successful professionals and government officials that believed in this theory also helped the rapid spread of physiognomy throughout the continents. Back then, most people were convinced that this so called science could not only determine their personality as well as their fate but also help them make better choices in life. Physiognomy claims that an individual’s character, destiny and the ability to perform certain tasks in life, can be defined by studying his facial features. Studies done throughout time have failed to back up this theory, conf irming that physiognomy is just another pseudoscience. Physiognomy and its uses and definition have changed overtime according to people’s needs. Figuring out the traits and behavioral trends of people was not enough; so physiognomy experts then argued that people’s characteristics had a connection with the signs of the zodiac. As the numbers of followers of Physiognomy grew, so did the demand for physiognomists, or face readers as they were called, turning this philosophy into a profitable worldwide business. After many years, physiognomy was revived and it is now used and believed to work efficiently to determine criminal tendencies in people. Physiognomy became more credible to people, when a U.S. judge backed up the theory after observing the facial features of those that appeared in his court. Physiognomy, is the study of facial features that allows philosophers to determine an individual’s traits and flaws. This theory supposedly ascertains different factors in someone’s life, such as moral values, self control, social and criminal tendencies. People’s abilities are also things that are supposedly defined by reading the facial aspects of an individual. It is also believed that this theory predicts the fate of people by studying certain parts of the face as the eyes, mouth and nose . Skin color, hair type, voice, forehead lines and certain body parts are considered when evaluating an individual. The shape of someone’s skull, or the way that the soft tissue sits on it, can also say something about the character and true identity of the person being evaluated. The theory of physiognomy has been tested many times since its discovery, thousands of years ago. However, none of the experiments done to prove it have been successful. The deficiency of scientific evidence to verify the theory, is the reason why physiognomy is considered a philosophy rather than science. Most studies done by advocates of this philosophy, have and still do lack an explanation of how and why the theory works. Supporters of physiognomy have taken advantage of certain circumstances in which someone’s facial traits help determine a condition. Some genetic diseases for example have specific facial features which help diagnose the illness. Down’s syndrome and DeLange syndrome are good examples of these diseases. Supporters of this theory often compare these diseases to physiognomy as a way to prove the theory. Just like Down’s syndrome and Delange syndrome are used as evidence of this pseudo- science, so are many other similar conditions. The studies done by non-advocates of this theory have proved that a person’s character and behavior cannot be defined by examining the facial features. Studies have shown that a relation between facial traits and someone’s personality does not exist. There are many factors that are scientifically proven to have influence over the development of an individual’s personality and temperament during their lifetime. Several studies with people of all ages and from different backgrounds have stated various reasons that in the long run shape someone’s character. The way that a child is raised, his parents’ traits and flaws and the people that he is surrounded by have an impact on personality. Culture and different ethnic backgrounds are also factors that have an effect on someone’s personality and the person that they grow up to be later on in life. Personal experiences and certain events with emotional value for a person are among the causes that influence an individual’s character, mentality, social and emotional life. Bibliography â€Å"Physiognomy – LoveToKnow 1911.† 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica – Free Online. 6 Oct. 2006. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. . â€Å"Introduction to Physiognomy – Face Reading the Facial Features.† A Human Face. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. .

Psy250 Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality

Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality The stages of human development are influenced by biological and humanistic theories. Maslow's hierarchy of needs stresses the need for and individual to discover their own personality and gain self-control in their personal life. Abraham Maslow had a theory that an individual will desire more in life once they have accomplished the basic needs in life. Humanistic features of personality focus on freedom and self-fulfillment. Unlike Maslow, Hans Eysenck and other theorist proclaimed that personality comes from a biological approach that an individual’s behavior is influenced by genetics.The following will consist of a description of how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs influence personality formations, biological factors that influence the formation of personality, the examination of the relationship of biological factors by Maslow’s theory of personality, along with basic aspects of humanistic theories incompatible with biological descriptions of personality. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory of human motivation based on biological, safety, love and belongingness, esteem, and self- actualization.Personality is influenced by ideas that create a foundation of an individual's life relations and peak experiences. An individual's experiences assist an individual to transform and discover the inner self. Peak experiences are familiar to individuals whom have matured and discovered their full potential. Maslow believed that individuals strive for self-actualization once they have satisfied their more basic needs. Maslow also characterized self-actualization as being the most superior out of all hierarchy needs.Each of Maslow's hierarchy of needs define the patterns of human motivations for an individual to survive. Each stage also defines the personality growth in humans as well as in animals. The simplest level of needs must mature before the individual will be motivated to achieve higher need s. Biological needs are the simplest and main requirements for human survival such as water, food, air, and shelter. Maslow's hierarchy of human needs is categorized in two groups D-motives and B-motives (Friedman & Schustack,  2012, pg304). Biological needs are the needs of the body that uphold homeostasis.Food, water, and air are requirements for individuals to survive and produce a steady foundation for growth. Safety needs are crucial in protecting self for growth. Individuals who are smart, tough, fast, consistent, and organized have recognized a defense of security for survival. Challenges associated with the external urges influence defense mechanisms such as repression, denial, displacement, reaction formation, regression, sublimation, projection, and rationalization. Each defense mechanism allows people to protect their ego.Therefore allowing them to avoid posttraumatic stress and continue to strive toward self-actualization. Love and belongingness reflects off safety. Hu mans need to feel a sense of belongingness and love. If love comes from a social group, religious group, classmates, coworkers, family members, and friends, individuals need to love and be loved by others. Without the features of love an individual may become an object to social anxiety and depression. The need for belonging can overcome the biological and security needs, depending on the power of peer pressure from other individuals.Humans have a self-esteem influenced by self-respect. Esteem shows importance and appreciation, which influences the accomplishments of receiving a great education, career, friends, and respect. Individuals with low esteem require respect and attention from others but on the other hand high esteem requires self-respect along with self-confidence. The maximum developed need detects to be at peace with oneself. Self-actualized individuals are independent, choose privacy, love, freedom, and avoid social stress (Friedman & Schustack,  2012 pg305).Biologic al factors such as chromosomes, hormones, and the brain all have a main influence on human behavior. Biological factors that influence personality can involve genetics, disease, drugs, and medical disorders. Personality can be affected by many factors. Psychologist considers personality traits as sensors inside the brain, controlling a limit of behaviors and attitudes (Nettle, 2008). Sensor settings characterize where an individual stands on a measurement for each personality trait.The Big Five traits characterize the strength of certain type of psychological reaction, which depends on certain neurobiological mechanism in the brain (Nettle, 2008). Genetics considers being an influence to personality. Genetics are the primary involvement of personality. Genes affect how an individual's body and brain matures and functions. Individuals who may suffer from loss of genes on a specific chromosome contribute to disorders that genetic factors strongly influence personality (Friedman, Schus tack 2012 pg147). Personality can be affected by disease in which traits may onnect with how individuals handle situations and the emotional results that situations at hand create. It is believed that genetics influence the simplest characteristics. Hormones and brain structure influence behavior but neither has an effect on personality traits. Genes do not have control over personality traits but on the other hand genes influences behavior. The nervous system contributes to notification of the surrounding and dangers of the environment but also emphasizes the notion of importance of appropriate behavior.Biological theories have a stronger impact on personality than humanistic theories may have. Health issues such as mental illness, cancer, high blood pressure, and depression also can have an effect on an individual's personality. The medications that are prescribed to an individual to treat health issues may also have an impact on the personality. Illegal drugs and the abuse of alc ohol can contribute to the changes of personalities that have been established but triggered by chemicals within the drugs and alcohol.The nervous system and the growth of the brain both contributes to biological factors that are influenced by the environment an individual places themselves in and not only by genes. Humanistic approach attempts to stress an individual’s inner personality and spirit. Humanistic approach also stresses the viewpoint of being human. In addition, the humanistic approach also proclaims that individuals focus on the ability of other human beings having an effect on their personality.According to (Friedman & Schustack,  2012 pg291) attending small groups such as human potential movements, which started in the over fifty years ago, with other individuals whom have established all their hierarchy needs in life may influence an individual to become more creative and establish a level of self-fulfillment. In the humanistic approach, the theory is an ef fort that stresses the values and an individual's self-worth. Life matures while individuals plan their lives and take actions for their responsibility.Each individual must learn to have self-control and perform discipline to obtain a healthy lifestyle. Obtaining a healthy lifestyle will contribute to an individual discovering their inner potential. Humanistic believes that spiritual growth and awareness grounds personality in the full appreciation of the everyday world (Friedman & Schustack,  2012 pg303). Humanistic theorists focus on each individual’s personality, appreciation of naturalness, and the value of life (Friedman & Schustack,  2012 pg304). Humanistic theories follow the belief that every individual has their life and is in control of their own free will.Humanistic approach also influences an individual's feelings rather than thought process. Biological theories follow the belief that genetics influence the control of personality. The basic concepts of humanis tic and biological theories are different similarities. Healthy people must take responsibility for themselves, regardless of the actions and therefore, negative actions do not contradict the value of the person. Biological theories focus on thought or reason rather than feelings for self-worth and value. Biological theorists believe that genetics have an influence on an individual's personality.This secondary affect controls how a person develops into adulthood. Biological standpoints also teach that intelligence and genes determine a person’s personality. For example, twins who have similar traits or personalities share the same genetic traits. Genetics can also have an effect on how an individual copes with their personality. A child's childhood environment plays an extremely high influence on the outcome of an individual's personality as well. Therefore, biologic theorists believe that personality traits are genetic therefore, unavoidable.Some theorists believe that a com bination of psychotherapy and drug therapy could correct poor personality traits, leading to a productive life. Humanistic therapists believe that a productive life is an accomplishment of completing each stage of Maslow's hierarchy of needs life. Poor personality traits are learned not inherited but can be changed if willing. References Friedman, H. S. & Schustack, M. W. (2012). Personality: Classic theories and modern research (5th ed. ). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. Nettle, D. (2008). Embrace your personality New Scientist, 197(2642), 36-39.

German Civilization(New German Cinema) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

German Civilization(New German Cinema) - Essay Example After the World War II, German film industry was in great turmoil due to the division of Germany wherein many people got separated from their families. Most films in 1950s were characterized as ‘escapist’ entertainment by critics because they shied away to address contemporary issues although they remained popular among German audience. However, with the advent of television box-office collection of such films began falling drastically and cinemas began to close. At the beginning of 1960s, German film industry became not only economically vulnerable due to lack of creative and artistic touch but was struggling for its survival. That is evident from the fact that in 1961, none of the German film got entry at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. That was also the time when the German market was largely in control of Hollywood movies. Film industry, especially young and talented film makers greatly needed financial support without which it was impossible for them to either make films or compete with Hollywood films in German market due to latter’s financial strength. The German governments support in this respect providing financial stability to the New German Cinema came very handy. Many makers of the New German Cinema also collaborated with the German TV. This is in sharp contrast with Hollywood movies where they compete with local TV for audience. The German governments support to the New Cinema through tax reliefs and bank credits made it possible for young makers to produce some of the great movies. Thus, the New German Cinema not only survived on government funding and support but prospered too – to be touted as National Cinema. Many films in The New German Cinema ran packed houses around the world. In ot her words, it helped made the national cinema popular internationally. The Oberhausen Manifesto is known as the beginning of the New German Cinema. Films made during this era made a clear departure from traditional cinema –

Understanding falling incidents in older adults Essay

Understanding falling incidents in older adults - Essay Example This is a critical appraisal of two research papers which reflect studies in the problems of falling as issues for older adults. The two papers to be critically appraised are ‘Moving Forward in Fall Prevention: An Intervention to Improve Balance Among Older Adults in Real-World Settings’ (Robitaille et al. 2005) and ‘A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Multifactorial Falls Prevention Intervention for Older Fallers Presenting to Emergency Departments’ by Russell et al. (2010). These papers were chosen because they represent an aspect of my field of practice – working with older adults. The paper is divided into five sections: Part I: the Introduction; Part II: Methodology of Selection for the papers chosen for this study; Part III: Critical Summaries which outlines the purpose, structure and results of the studies; Part IV: Discussion of Findings which provides the results and the why of the results; and Part V: Personal Reflection which provides inform ation on how this paper and the studies relate to my field of practice.When mature adults move into the senior years, there are a number of functions that begin to slow down and one of these is the ability to recover from a stumble, or tripping over an object. Regaining one’s balance is harder because reaction time in physical recovery is slower (Sollitto 2013). Loss of muscle structure is also a key component which is obviously evident when older adults exercise less because they tire more often or may have some underlying illness. As vision deteriorates with age, perception of distance and depth may also cause problems, particularly when using bifocal or trifocal where looking quickly over the glass lens can change the focus of depth to something that it is not (Sollitto 2013). Falling down can also cause fractured or broken bones because older bones are more brittle. They also will not heal as easily, and it is important to provide nutritional information and appropriate m edical intervention to keep the elder adult healthy with quality of life (Sollitto 2013). Part II: Methodology of Selection The selection for determining the papers used in this research required that the studies had to have been done within the past decade, 2003-2013. This would provide more information that utilized the latest in research skills, study design and data analysis of the study results. Several medical websites such as COCHRANE, PubMed and other journal repositories, were used in the search process along with specific search terms in order to pull studies that reflected the subject matter of senior adults and falling issues. Internet Research, Search Terms and Papers Website Search Terms Used Papers Reviewed – Not Used COCHRANE Library ‘old people falling ratios,’ ‘research studies on falls by the elderly’ ‘Population-based interventions for the prevention of fall-related injuries in older people’, McClure et al. (2008). Pu bMed ‘falling down statistics in elderly’, ‘balance research in falls’ ‘Peculiarities of postural balance among elderly men with fear of falling syndrome’, Gerontol (2012). Amedeo - Medical Literature Guide ‘elderly falling ratios’, ‘balance problems in elderly’ ‘Reliability and validity of the Persian lower extremity functional scale

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Diversity in Global Teams Research Paper

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Diversity in Global Teams - Research Paper Example According to Magnus (2011), â€Å"Global teams are teams where members are globally dispersed, from different cultures, speak different languages and rarely meet face-to-face† (Magnus, 2011, p.35) Even though global teams bring many opportunities to an organization, it may develop lot of challenges also. Some researchers suggest that global teams increase creativity and innovation whereas many other are of the view that it may bring conflicts and poor performances. Global teams help organizations to utilize diverse skill sets in a fruitful manner; at the same time it can increase the conflicts within the team because of the cultural differences among the team members. Magnus (2011) pointed out that parameters such as â€Å"cultural diversity, geographical dispersion, means of communication (whether communication is face-to-face or virtual) and degree of language familiarity† etc can determine the success or failures of global teams (Magnus, 2011, p.36). This paper analy ses the strengths and weaknesses of global teams in business world. Strengths of global teams â€Å"Sociologists have found in their research and their work with organizations that when global teams are managed effectively, they can take advantage of the diverse perspectives offered by their members to create unique performance advantages for the company† (Maznevski & DiStefano, 2000, p.185). ... Microsoft, Apple, Google etc like many of the American companies are currently working in China. Same way plenty of Chinese companies are also functioning in America now. All these companies have global teams to manage their operations successfully at different parts of the world. Diverse knowledge, skillsets and capabilities will help these companies to adapt with the changing conditions. Badrinarayanan et al. (2011), mentioned that â€Å"sales organizations are increasingly adopting global sales teams to perform distributed work, meet customer needs, and achieve sales objectives† (Badrinarayanan et al., 2011, p.311). Since majority of the prominent organizations are currently operating cross culturally or internationally, their customer bases are extremely different. It is difficult for an American sales person to know the exact needs of an Indian or Chinese customer. On the other hand it is easy for an Indian or Chinese to know the requirements of local customers. Thus, Mic rosoft or Apple like American companies should appoint locals in their sales teams in these countries so that customers in these countries will get everything they expected from these American companies. In short, global sales teams can help an organization to customize their business strategies or sales strategies in overseas countries. For example, it is difficult for Benz or other automobile manufacturers to sell cars priced more than $ 100000 in Indian market. On the other hand, it is easy for them to sell cars priced less than $50000 in Indian market. It is easy for a local sales person to know such details and send such feedbacks to his company management. The management of global new product

Human Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Human Rights - Essay Example Previously and even now in many places, people are not aware of their rights and are not even aware of what their country’s constitution has promised them or the benefits that have already been highlighted for them. Many people take life and the treatment they receive in its stride and just hope that one day things will look up for them. Many people today are victims of biasness, prejudice, unfair and unequal treatment due to several reasons. Surprisingly, while we perceive the world to be a progressive place and a tolerant environment for diversity, there are very visible signs of an abuse of human rights in some of the most progressive and successful nations of the world (Buchanan, pg. 80-82, 2005). The problem or the issue that prevails is that no one seems to be standing up for such clear biasness and mistreatment in society. Today’s world does not show the determination, bravery, and diligence of people such as Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, and many other peop le who have taken a stand for an issue of human rights (Donelly, pg. 25, 2003). While the issues relating to human rights are numerous and biasness may exist based upon gender, age, ethnicity, skin color, religion, nationality, social status, sexual orientation, beliefs, values, lifestyle, and many other categories, the people of the 21st century do not seem to be taking a very active stand against such mistreatment and intolerance expressed towards individuals in different positions all over the world. The belief that all human beings are equal and should be given equal treatment is no more prevalent. In fact, inequality is promoted and exposed openly on various occasions. Attitudes of ethnocentrism and self centeredness show that people are apathetic towards what state other human beings around the globe are in. Their main concern is being the best for themselves and for their own good and are not even minutely concerned about how people are being treated around the world. The onl y time they will show a slight bit of concern, is when one of their basic human rights is denied to them. Many humans across the globe are denied the right to freedom, equal opportunities, food, shelter, education, and a proper place in society. They may also be denied the right to express their opinion, travel the world, or practice their own religion. However, many people think that human rights are a relative term and vary with the perception of an individual. While some people may perceive something as a basic right, other people may perceive it as a luxury. The dilemma today is how to bridge the gap between these two divergent ways of life and to enable all people in the world to be treated equally (Rieser & Mason, pg. 75-80, 1992). The aim of this paper is to discuss the issue of human rights that prevails around equality and diversity. The saying that â€Å"beauty lies in differences† is very true in every regard as if everyone was the same, then the world would be a v ery boring place. Beauty is discovered through different colors, genders, personalities, ethnicities, languages, lifestyles, and any other differences which may set someone apart from another person. If everyone was the same, beauty could not be found as there would be no basis for someone to be better at something than the other or someone possessing a certain skill or feature that would set them apart from others. To be beautiful is to be different and according to the Human Rights law of many progressive countries, everyone has a right to be who they are and deserve just as much as any other person as long as they are not harming any other individual unfairly to attain that benefit (Donelly, pg. 15-16, 2003). Underdeveloped countries such as countries in Africa and Asia have no particular

Global Politics and Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global Politics and Economics - Essay Example The present generation lives under the international system based on the belief in global unity; which will eventually enable the world to organize its affairs from the view point of international character. This is an important achievement of twentieth century. This, however, does not mean that political world unity already exists or that we have anything like world government either immediately or in the near future. Capitalism has been successful in nurturing technological innovation, in promoting initiative, and in creating wealth and increasing poverty. Many economists are agreed that in general capitalism can be a powerful engine for development. But, political interests and specific forms of capitalism can have different results. The monopoly capitalism of the colonial era for example was very destructive. Likewise, there is growing criticism of the current model of corporate and its version of globalization and capitalism that has resulted. There may indeed be merit to various arguments supporting global integration and cooperation. But politics, corruption, geopolitics, as well as numerous other factors need to be added to economic models, which could prove very difficult. Economics is sometimes separated from politics and other major issues, theory can indeed be far from reality. There is an important difference between liberal politics and liberal economics. But this distinction is usually not articulated in the mainstream. The thinkers of the Enlightenment, such as Thomas Jefferson, Tom Paine, John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx never doubted that the future for every nation in the world was to accept some version of western institutions and values. A diversity of cultures was not a permanent condition of human life. It was a stage on the way to a universal civilization, in which the varied traditions and culture of the past were superseded by a new, universal community founded on reason. (John Gray 1-2) With the Cold War over, politicians, economists and others have been promoting unfettered free trade and free market ideology, pushing it to an even wider international arena to facilitate international trade. Since the Cold War has ended, it is almost no surprise that today's globalization has come in the form we see it - that is where it would have been had the Cold War not got "in the way". The World Wars were related to expanding trade avenues and holding on to them. Throughout the Cold War, there contained a global threat to market democracies: now we should seek to enlarge their reach. (Anthony Lake 71) The achievement of transformation is the overriding objective today of transnational organizations such as the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Free trade and free markets are essentially about making trade easier by allowing the market to balance needs, supply and demand. Within a nation, it can be a positive engine for development. While

Business project Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Business project - Coursework Example Diversification of Toyota’s employment approach brings future concepts and new ideas that maintain emerging on the automotive industry frontier, hence maintaining Global and Canada leadership. One amongst the many business strategies of Toyota is recruiting the brightest and the best, thereby creating chances for partnership (Shang, pp. 72) The key strategies give employee’s and consumer’s perception that Toyota sticks on excellence reputation on all stage of operation. The company has a belief of having business ethics as well as social ethics. Ethics starts at the company’s core and work out their way. The top managers believe in divergence and via that it represents various Toyota faces. At Toyota no stereotypical prejudices or assumptions are ostensible, just the choosing of individuals with talents and are innovate and can lead. Socially, Toyota is portrayed to have a positive image. The company also believes that it should extend a helping hand to the communities to improve their living standards. Toyota works with university, schools and other organizations in supporting programs that aids the world to improve. The ideals are propagated worldwide. Clients were astonished in the year 2009 by the initial series of publicized recalls of vehicles in America. They cited a problem in which incorrect floor and poorly placed mats under the seat of the driver could cause uncontrollable acceleration in various models, Toyota said that it had o recall 3.8 million America vehicle. The recall was due to a fatal crash that took place in California where a Lexus’ accelerator got stuck and resulted to the driver’s death. In addition, reports of accidental acceleration because of stick pedals made the traffic administration to ask Toyota to recall their models and vehicles. To manufacturing students and car buyers’ excellence, the company was not

Apple (Motivation and leadership) Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Apple (Motivation and leadership) - Term Paper Example Leadership is the driving force behind the success and failure of business organisations. It determines the way resources are utilized and human capital is led for the welfare of the entire company. The kind of leadership that a company has is responsible for its growth and expansion and the creation of competitive advantages in the environment (Noe 2013, 24). Successful businesses have leaders who understand the changing business trends and devises strategies that are in tandem with these changes. This paper examines the human resource practices are Apple Inc., showing how they have been essential in steering the company to its status as one of the best company in the manufacture of various kinds of consumer electronics. Apple Incorporation is an American company that is among the world’s leading companies in the productions of electronics and related peripherals. The company’s main line of operation is production of computer softwares and other related electronics such as mobile phones among other gadgets (Grady 2009, 7). Some of the products that the company has been well known for include the iPad, iPhone, iPod as well as Mac computers. The company has been expanding and increasing is presence in many countries, it is estimated that at the start of 2014, it had established close to 400 retail stores in more than 15 countries worldwide (Grady 2009, 11). In addition, the company has developed online stores to appeal to clients who do shopping online, on this stores, the company sells computer hardware as well as different other related softwares. However, despite the progress that the company has been making, training employees remains its main activity in a bid to remain competitive and keep pace with rivals. Human resource functions at Apple Inc., have been significant in the process of helping the company to remain relevant and competitive amidst the changing business environment. It is important

Motorola in china case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Motorola in china case study - Essay Example China, represented a very significant market for Motorola in terms of manufacturing and research. According to the company sources, Motorola was successful in the Chinese market due to its understanding of the market, the people and the strategies it adopted. In 1978, Motorola established its Beijing office, then in 1992 it developed a makeshift plant in Tianjin to manufacture paging devices. In 2003, the company was regarded as the most successful foreign company in China, courtesy of its adoption of a four-point strategy which as follows: In managing success in its new environment, Motorola developed a new 2+3+3 strategy, which it used to create and sustain its competitive advantage. The numbers in the strategy represented goals that the company had developed in the process of achieving its success. The strategy was developed, following the need to consolidate on its market returns that had been found to be as follows, In this new strategy, the first â€Å"2† represented two goals, which included creating a reliable R&D centre and a successful manufacturing company worldwide. The second â€Å"3† in the strategy included the company succeeding in three main areas, that is, trunking systems, broadband creation of semiconductors. The final â€Å"3† showed goals that the company was willing to achieve by 2006. These goals were, increasing the value of its particular yearly productions to about $10 billion, increasing its investments up to $10 billion as well as purchasing trading components of the same amount. One of the important market entry strategies that the company had was an effective understanding of the Chinese market (Edmonds, 2000). Motorola Company had to take time in order to study and understand the Chinese people, thereby devising market growth and development strategies that effectively articulated their needs. In any market, the ability to succeed and develop

Radiation Therapy Essay Example for Free

Radiation Therapy Essay ABSTRACT:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiation Therapy now enjoys its position as a therapeutic and an adjuvant therapy among the cancer patients and cases. The use of radiotherapy is a very serious decision which is taken after much thought about the patient’s case and requires much cooperation from the patient and support from the oncology team that provides it. Current oncology teams work together to create an environment which is both friendly for the patient as well as less confusing, so that the patient is able to go through the phase of treatment with out any complications. Each person in the radiology team takes care of a particular aspect of radiotherapy treatment, and together they ensure a good outcome and result for the patient. THE ROLE OF RADIATION THERAPY IN CANCER MANAGEMENT   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Of the many methods used in today’s cancer treatment regimes, radiation therapy has become one of the crucial components of the therapy. The therapy where radiation rays are used to destroy cancer cells has now become an advanced field of research and development. This area has now become a separate area of specialization, and various developments are helping doctors give better prognosis to their patients. Due to minimized anxiety attacks   among patients, they become more optimistic about recovery and are less distressed on the possibility of death. Patients of this kind of therapy have better psychological health and have less depressive symptoms caused by their disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiation therapy is not required to all cancer patients. It is not always involved in the management of all organs and body sites affected by cancer cells. This treatment is only recommended on certain types of cancer as other situations only call for surgical procedures in preventing further cancer metastasis and to eliminate cancer cells in the body.   An important adjuvant to cancer therapy, it is used as an alternative to surgical procedures that cannot be carried out on a patient. Radiation therapy is a common procedure in breast and lung cancers as well as in brain cancer, colorectal carcinomas and skin cancers of the face. (Florida Cancer Care News, 2006)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the USA, the main issue of debate and concern among the clinicians is the poorer prognosis rates in the USA patients due to cancer when compared to other countries of Europe. This has been attributed to the type of care given in each country, and has led to intense concentration on methods that improve recovery outcomes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These concerns have led to five areas of intense activity in the area of cancer therapy, as stated by Tattersall and Thomas, (1999). There are now multidisciplinary teams that specialize in one or two specific organs and provide treatment and care to those specific cancer patients. There have been increased efforts to improve the organizational setup of the cancer therapy and delivery setups. Clearer treatment goals now exist, along with increased awareness in the public about the different aspects of cancer, cancer therapy and the role of trials in the development of better alternatives and cures for the future. Now current research is aiming to derive benefits from matrix metallo proteinase inhibitors, gene therapies and cancer vaccines. (Tattersal and Thomas, 1999) All these areas of activity are hoped to increase the patient outcomes significantly in the future and help in creating better alternative solutions to cancer treatments. Team Members in Radiation Therapy Treatment Plans     Ã‚  Ã‚   The advancements in this field have led to increase in the number of professionals in this field. Each has a unique and an important role to play in the treatment procedure. The radiation therapists mainly work in conjunction with the medical doctor and with them discuss the individual cases that are considered for radiation therapy. Of these the suitable cases are selected and the radiation treatment is then started under the guidance of the radiation oncologist The decision making process in radiation therapy is absolutely critical, as the radiation oncologist decides the amount and intensity of the dose each patient will get according to the individual factors and more importantly the state of the cancer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A radiation department in any organization will consist of multiple workers and members, each having a significant role to play in the treatment of the patient. These include the clinical oncologists or radiologists, the radiographers, radiation therapists and the dosimetrists, the physicist, the mould room technicians, the nursing staff, the students and the R.T aides and assistants and other members such as social workers, palliative care team, counselors, and secretaries and clerical staffs. (Cancer Backup, 2005 and American Society of Radiologic Technologists, 2007). Stimulation is the initial step in the radiation treatment where a radiation therapist takes x-ray images and utilize this to locate the tumor. Other methods such as CT scans can also be used in order to minimize tissue damage in the patient, ensuring that only the carcinogenic cells are destroyed. Together with a radiation oncologist and a dosimetrist, they customize a treatment plan for the patient (Radiation Therapists 2006). Both clinical oncologists and radiologists are concerned with minimal invasive methods in treating cancer cases. According to the Royal   College of Radiologists (2007), radiologists   are medical specialists that conduct imaging services in order to provide patients the proper diagnosis. Oncologists on the other hand are specialists trained to manage cancer in non-surgical forms of treatment. They usually recommend procedures such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radioactive isotopes. After taking the image of the affected organ of the body, this is to be interpreted by another specialist in order to prescribe and execute the proper treatment. This is a task attended by professionals called radiographers (Radiography and Radiographers). Dosimetrists are primarily concerned on the proper dosage to be administered to a patient. They scan patients and use CT data or other measurements in order to provide patients the proper treatment plan (Medical Dosimetrists, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The members of the radiation team that are outside of the department faculty but help in the procedures include the referring faculties, physicians, radiologists and emergency departments, the industry vendors, the patients and their family members, the instructors or directors of the radiology programs, the insurance companies, the governmental and regulatory agencies and the accrediting agencies, if applicable. (American Society of Radiologic Technologists, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The radiation team is perhaps the most integrated and interconnected team compared to other sections of the medical health care. The realization of the need for team work in reducing confusion, promoting smoothness and harmony in the care of the patient was realized long ago, however, it was not implemented fully in many medical and surgical areas. The results have shown lags or gaps in the treatment of care. Many of the current radiology departments have learned from the lessons of the past, and now term themselves as the radiology team who take care of the patient through all the stages of the radiotherapy treatment. (Kaprich, 2003) This has led to not only improvement in the care of the patients, but also in the hospital management and organization matters as well as job satisfaction levels. The level of communication between the different contributors of the department has improved and therefore, shows a much prompt and informed response in the care of various pa tients. (Kaprich, 2003) Radiation Therapists   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Advancement of technology has given professionals access to different methods that enable the correct identification and location of cancer cells which are the specific targets of the ionizing energy of radiation and preventing tissue cell damage. With this directed and controlled use of radiation, there is a reduced manifestation of side effects due to the treatment patients receive, and there is an expedited recovery of patients. (M.D Anderson Cancer Center, 2007) Together with the doctor, a radiation therapist is responsible for the patients familiarization of the radiation treatment procedure. This will allow the patient to become aware of the possible problems that may arise and to answer any reservations that the patient may have. Therefore, a radiation therapist is expected to be present throughout the treatment period. Nurses in Radiation Oncology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The inclusion of nurses in this field of radiation oncology is fairly recent. However, this has now become an integrated and competent player in the caring of cancer patients in the radiology department.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The role of nurses have evolved in this field, as many of them have been tasked to carry out many of the advanced procedures in the treatment process. Both preoperative and operative care are executed by these nurses, making them indispensable in the success of the patients recovery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Currently, the responsibilities given to the nursing staff include both basic and advanced tasks. The basic tasks include education and caring of the patient with in the department and helping others in carrying out researches and other projects. Nurses work towards creating an environment both among themselves and among the different staff members to create an open, friendly environment that ensures better outcomes. Along side, the nurses are responsible for their own education and growth within the field, and opportunities to increase and improve competencies within the staff. The nurses are therefore, working primarily in creating an environment that improves the patient care and outcomes, as well as improve the communication between the various contributors to the field. (Kaprich, 2003) In oncology, the roles of nurses in the treatment process is considered an integral part of the overall healthcare. The primary purpose of providing nursing care is to allow the patients to become independent through the development of their physical, psychical, and social abilities. It is significant in preserving, strengthening and protecting health, and nursing patients and rehabilitating them (Basic Principles of Nursing ). Physicists in the Field of Radiation Therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another significant member of the team of professionals in radiation oncology are the physicists. This specialist is responsible for giving the patient optimum radiation therapy procedures that would ensure minimal health risks and maximum efficacy. Due to the delicate nature of their job, these physicists are expected to be highly professional and equipped with the proper training in conducting their tasks. Part of the job that physicists have is that they should select the proper radiation instruments to be used, the budget preparation and the sequence of procedure execution. Due to this technical knowledge, physicists are important in identifying and rectifying problems that could possibly transpire. But this specialist is not confined in his technical role as his position requires that he collaborates with both oncologists and radiation therapists in determining the proper dosage, duration, timing, frequency and type of radiation therapy to be administered to a patient. Since the availability of x-rays, physicists have exploited this technology of medical imaging, which is vital to medical research advancement. Fundamental research in optics, acoustics, electromagnetism, and particle and nuclear physics have led to an array of indispensable medical tools. Magnetic resonance images, CAT scans, PET scans, and various types of radiotherapy are among the physics-based devices that help doctors diagnose and treat ailments ranging from broken bones to cancer. Ultrasound machines, for example, are made possible through our understanding of the physics of sound waves, and the prenatal images they produce are now so common that they are a cultural symbol of the joy of impending parenthood (Genetic Radiotherapy 2002). Cutting-edge techniques presented in the annual AAPM meeting scientific program will ultimately lead to tools as important to the medicine of tomorrow as x-ray and ultrasound images are today. (Asp et al, 1993)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of ionizing radiation in the radiation field has led to many questions raised about the safety margins of these procedures. As stated before, there is a fine line of division between the therapeutic effects of radiation and the adverse effects of the radiotherapy. In this regard, the role of dosimetrists is essential to delineate the amount of dose necessary for each case. Dosimetrists play a role in treatment planning, mould room technology, brachytherapy and sealed source management, in-vivo dosimetry, quality control of equipment, and IT support. (Radiotherapy Provision in England, 2006) Dosimetrists for Dose Determination   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A dosimetrist is actually responsible for the delivery of the proper dosage to be given to a patient. They are subordinates to doctors who work in close communication with the patient as well as their families. The person who actually delivers the dose of radiation each day is known as dosimetrist. These work under the doctor or the oncologist and are in close communication with the patient as well as the family members of the patient. The radiation dose decided for a patient is given to him or her in divided portions. The session itself is a small one, but the radiation therapist is the one who delivers it and communicates any changes in the patient to the oncologist.    Mental Health Support for Cancer Patients   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiation therapy is a big step of treatment in cancer patients and therefore, their mental and physical state is a very important clue and guide to the selectivity of the case for the therapy. Such patients begin one of the most difficult incidents of their lives by opting for radiotherapy. In this regard, they need the proper guidance, support, help and boost to help them get through the different stages of radiation therapy, and to improve chances of recovery. In many of such hospitals, the support programs are available which work with various social services to provide such cases with any required information they need. There are many things the patients undergo in this event. They either may undergo external radiation therapy treatment or an internal radiation treatment. In external radiation therapy, the patients are called to the radiation center 5 times a week and radiation is given to them. The two days off from radiation helps the normal cells to recup erate from the damage of the radiation procedure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Patients after changing in hospital robes are asked to enter the radiation room especially designed for the purpose. After instructing the patient the proper position, the radiotherapist proceeds to his proper location where he would execute his task. The patient is asked to remain in a the said position where he is to receive a fixed radiation dose to the tumor affected area. After the completion of the session, the patient is then directed to leave and attend to normal daily matters. Patients in these stages undergo immense psychological as well as physical stress for which it is advised that they rest more to help the body restore itself in the normal manner. Since depression and anxiety are two most common features, the patients are advised to take part in activities that boost their morale and help them feel good about themselves. The support teams in this regard focus on providing and guiding patients to a good nutrition plan, to aid in better recovery from illness. Nausea is also among the problems that patients encounter but these can be easily handled through medication prescribed by your oncologist. Hair falling is another issue that usually resolves once chemotherapy is over. In summary, the radiation procedure is especially taxing for the patient who may need immense support and care at this crucial time, which becomes the responsibility of the family as well as the radiology team. (WebMD, 2007)    Internal Radiation Therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Internal radiation therapy is another frequent option chosen by the oncologist in the treatment plan of many cancer patients. The high dose rate radiation therapy is a type of this internal radiation therapy where radioactive source is removed between treatments. In this case, the source of radiation is placed in direct proximity to the cancer area and is applied with small sophisticated machinery. This is in contrast to the use of heavy extensive radiation and machinery that is used in external radiation procedures. The substances used in these instances include iodine, cesium, iridium, phosphorus and palladium etc. This treatment has been given many names and is also known as brachytherapy, implant radiation therapy, interstitial, intracavitary or passage radiation. Internal radiation therapy however is a procedure that requires hospital care and attention, as well as isolation, for in this therapy; other people may get exposed to high radiation levels. Therefore, many cases of these may keep the patients for a day or two, during which the affect of the radiation substance would have worn off, and become useless. (Cancer Source, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is important that once radiation therapy is carried out, the patient is seen and advised further about the future therapies or treatments. This is an essential part of the treatment modality. Mostly prior to the radiation therapy, the oncologist and the radiation therapist carry out the discussion about the possible side effects of the therapy and what a patient may expect afterwards. The doctor emphasizes the need of follow up care and the role of the patient to show up in time. These include many procedures, including regular medical checkups, screening and diagnostic procedures, endoscopy, blood work etc. All these help the clinician check on the health of the patient and the recovery status, and whether any complication is arising. The patients are asked about the status of their health and any signs and symptoms that the patient may be feeling. Patient is asked about pain, or any physical difficulty being experienced in daily routine. He or she is asked frequently about any medications, supplements and the dietary habits he or she is conducting. Emotional issues and problems as well as family histories are also taken into account in these visits. Such patients may be called after two months of the radiotherapy, and then asked about the status and any necessary investigations may be carried out. These visits may be tapered down to once a year if the prognosis is good and the patient is recovering successfully. The patients are however, asked to maintain the record of their illness and all of the treatment modalities carried out including medications and previous test results for future references. (National Cancer Institute, 2007) Effect of Radiotherapy on Nutritional State of Cancer Patients   Ã‚  Ã‚     Nutrition is a very important aspect in proceeding with the treatment. There are currently many studies conducted in determining the proper nutrition a cancer patient must receive. This is due to the fact that cancer treatments cause high energy expenditure among patients, leaving then in nutritional deficiency as they undergo radiation therapy. Several factors contribute to this problem. First is the fatigue that develops as a result of the treatment, which takes away the ability of the patient to take balanced nutrition. Second is the lack of hunger in such patients and third is the increased vomiting and nausea that these patients encounter during the treatment phase. In all these scenarios, the net result is the reduction in the nutritional capacity of the patients. This is especially true for patients who have cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus or the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary and/or external supplementary nutritional sources are extremely important in such cases. Isenring, Capra and Bauer in 2004, claimed that nutritional therapy is an essential feature of the patient recovery plan in cancer radiotherapy. (Isenring et al, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Researches conducted reveal the negative impact of radiation therapy on the patients nutritional health. There are obvious evidences that nutritional deficiencies are common to cancer patients, especially those suffering from cancer of the GI tract. Due to the imbalance between food intake and energy loss, malnutrition is inevitable. Most patients suffer from malnutrition in the radiation phase, because of this many hospitals now recommend that a compulsory health program be imposed on patients to ensure the proper provision of their nutrition. There are different claims as how to properly design these programs. Some suggest that amino acids and essential fatty acids are important in increasing bodys defenses and to improve patient recovery. A reduced fat diet, live yoghurt and fermented milk product use are now one of the most important components in the cancer nutrition plan. (Internet Health Library, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Studies indicate the biggest danger due to malnutrition is the intense weight loss that the patient suffers from, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality rates, reduction of the body’s defense systems and increased possibility of the return of the cancer, should any remaining cancerous tissue remains. While initial weight loss is of no serious consequence, continued weight reduction is a sign of concern. For many of the symptoms that the patient encounters, the options are presented for the specific issue. For example, mouth dryness is a common problem for the cancer patients. This increases their chances of oral infections, and therefore, patients are advised to chew on sugarless gums, increased intake of water, and using high moisture foods and fruits. Patients are advised to take small but frequent meals that are low on fat, to aid in digestion. Appetite stimulants are another good method of improving diet and appetite in such patients. Iron supplementation is advised to counter the effects of anemia, exercise may help in dealing with changes like menopausal states which cannot be given estrogen therapies. Patients in cancer cases tend to opt for more supplements and become less careful about the food that they eat. This should be the other way round, for natural food is the best nutritional supplement and helps in recovery faster. Fruits and vegetables are a high source of vitamins and minerals and can help in the recovery of the patients’ appetites. (Cancer Journal for Clinician, 2001) Physical and Mental Health Maintenance   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As stated before, the cancer therapy is an intensely physically as well as emotionally demanding phase of treatment to a patient. In such circumstances, the need is for intense emotional support and encouragement. It is estimated that up to 40% of the patients may experience immense emotional distress during the cancer treatment, and therefore identification with proper counseling and guidance is very important for such cases. (Sollner et al, 2001) The problem lies in the correct identification of the cases undergoing distress and to understand the severity of the issue before hand. Many of the oncologists however, are unable to identify cases of distress which may cause complications at a later date. (Sollner et al, 2001) It is very important that oncologists are able to identify such cases and work accordingly for the benefit of the patient. Many social support groups are available in the hospitals that aim to help and guide the patients as well as their families t o better radiotherapy experience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The concept of hospice has been indeed one of the methods with which care can be given to patients undergoing therapy. Somewhat of a recent concept in oncology care, hospice care has fast become a popular method among the patients. While hospice care is a good method, there are only three percent of the total cancer patients in a hospital that undergo radiation therapy. The issues here are different as the approvals for radiation are hard to get for the patient. Most of the hospice patients are senior age individuals with a mean age of 63 years admitted in the UK hospitals. (Lutz, Ashworth and Connor, 2005)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of hospice care therefore becomes a complicated issue when decision to conduct radiotherapy for such individuals is considered. Many of the patients in this regard are actually cases of terminal cancer who need palliative care through radiotherapy. It is important to address the need of the dying patients and to provide them with the necessary care to help them get through the process with as minimum pain as possible. (Lutz, Ashworth and Connor, 2005)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Usually there are three kinds of patients that undergo hospice care during radiotherapy. The first are those patients who do not have any one to take care of them during their radiotherapy session, and therefore the hospital provides it to them. The second are the patients who do not forgo the hospital admission, and third are those who are getting parenteral and tube nutrition, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and are getting transfusions. (Lorenz et al, 2004) In many of such cases the patients may have difficulty getting admission in the hospitals, despite falling into one of the above three categories. Access in such cases needs to be made smoother for the patients. (Lorenz et al, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Current hospices are now a combination of inpatient and home care services. In the past this was not the case. Hospices and palliative care were considered a separate department and were accordingly handled. The development in this area has led to modern hospices with a home like feel for the patients to help them recover and feel psychologically better. It is to remember that hospice care in many patients is essentially palliative care, and includes symptom control, effective communication between patients and the doctors, rehabilitation and continuation of care, terminal care, support provision in bereavement, education and research.(Neill and Fallon, 1997) In other words current hospice is a refuge, a recuperant and an area of research all combined. Palliative care is again the domain of specialists in oncology and in other disciplines so as to give the best care there is possible to the patient. In cancer terminal patients, many efforts are carried out to make the stay of the patient more comfortable. After thorough evaluation and identifying the cause of pain in such patients, the administration of analgesics is undertaken. While primary drugs remain the same during the course of the treatment, the secondary drugs or the adjuvant drugs are added as the case may need. These may include some other drugs depending on the patient symptoms such as steroids, anti inflammatories, antidepressants, anti convulsants, and anti arrhythmic drugs. Issues of tolerance and toxicity are taken very seriously and patient progress in this regard is taken under constant observation. (Neill and Fallon, 1997)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many reasons cited by the patients about their preference of hospice care to home care. These include high professional care, easy to communicate and clarify issues of health and cancer stages, ease in the visitation in between the radiotherapy sessions with ample time for rest, and provision of support to the patient as well as the family members in the hospital settings. Such patients were satisfied about the exclusive team of care givers in the radiotherapy department, and a faculty that focuses on cancer patients only. However, areas of dissatisfaction among the patients include the problems encountered with the radiation units and machines, occasional lack of communication between the various members of the staff leading to problems in care provision, and problems in transporting patients from one department to the next. (Gavin et al, 2002) CONCLUSIONS:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiotherapy is a field of intensive research and activity and is undergoing many changes and developments. Now there is a shift and interest from the conventional external beam radiotherapy procedures and there is more emphasis on the use of fractionation doses rather than single ones. This is especially seen to be beneficial for cases of head and neck cancers and improve the prognosis of the patients, as well as give them ample time to recover during the procedures. Some of the rules however, follow. For example the dosage of radiation is decided depending upon the size of the tumor mass. The larger the mass, the more it must receive the dosage of the radiation. Other methods of providing doses include hyperfractionation, which is twice daily delivery of the radiation, the accelerated fractionation, which aims to decrease the treatment period and to prevent the tumor from regrowing. Some of the techniques employed that prove to have relatively positive impacts are the concomitant boost technique, given once a day for three and a half weeks and twice a day in the final two week period, and the accelerated hyperfrationation, which combines the effects of both hyperfractionation and acclerated dosing. (Chow et al, 2001)   Oxygenation of tumor is also considered for treatment. It has been established that oxygen has the ability to modify radiation damage, that in malignant tumors, both oxygenation and tumor cell proliferation determine local tumor management after radiotherapy. However, there are currently insufficient explanations in correlating oxygenation status and tumor cell kinetics (Nordsmark et al. 1996). But according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2005), Oxygen therapy uses ozone or hydrogen peroxide to supposedly add extra oxygen to your body. Proponents believe cancer cells need a low-oxygen environment to survive, and that flooding your body with extra oxygen will kill cancer cells. Ozone gas can be mixed with water or air, and users usually drink or inhale the solution. It can also be injected into a muscle. Hydrogen peroxide is sometimes injected into a vein, though it can also be administered rectally. Oxygen therapy hasnt been studied in people. Hydrogen peroxide bubbles in the blood can block blood flow and lead to death. An alternative cure or disease management for cancer patients is for them to undergo surgical procedures. This can be done for several reasons, it can be preventive or prophylactic, for diagnostic, staging, curative, and others. It is one of the oldest forms of cancer treatment that removes tumor and saves normal tissues (American Cancer Society 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Current treatment regimes are now utilizing the use of more sophisticated machinery that is able to specify the location of the tumor and provide therapy to that area only, so as to prevent damage to the normal tissues. The external beam therapy advancements are leading to improvements in the outcomes of the cancer patients and therefore is becoming a widely used procedure in cancer therapy. Internal radiation therapy is somewhat limited to the surgical procedures, where removal of the tumor is promptly followed by radiation therapy to ensure the removal of any viable cancer cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cancer chemotherapy is advancing at a rapid rate and is now a need for the future. The increase in the rates of cancers worldwide has led to the formation of specified task forces aimed to identify the similarities of the problems faced by the patients, their families as well as the doctors in the care of such cases. With the increased length of the treatment with frequent recalls and visits, it is important that such treatments be carried out in coordination with the different members of the radiology team. The roles of the various team members are important and each has a very important role to contribute in the cancer care.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The introduction of social programs is a very positive effort by the health care administrations which aim to educate and help the patients during the various phases of the cancer treatments. The understanding of the physical and emotional distress and needs of the patients and rectifying it helps to improve the outcomes many times and ensures the best of treatment provision. 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Site last accessed on December 7, 2007 from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_2X_Surgery.asp The Role of Radiation Oncology in Cancer Treatment. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Site last accessed on November 7, 2007 from http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/andersonnet/display.cfm?id=BF82D669-17DA-11D5-811000508B603A14method=displayfull W Sollner,   A DeVries, E Steixner, P Lukas, G Sprinzl, G Rumpold and S Maislinger, 2001.   How Succesful are Oncologists in Identifying Patient Distress, Perceived Social Suport and Need for Psychosocial Counselling. British Journal of Cancer, 2001: 84, 179-185 WebMD,   2007.   Breast Cancer: Radiation Therapy: What to Expect. Site last accessed on November 7th, 2007 from http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-radiation-therapy-what-expect

Humanity Case Essay Example for Free

Humanity Case Essay Humanity.   Perhaps this is the only word that can explain the strange comings and goings of the man from Nazareth, called Jesus.   The Lost Tomb of Jesus, aired March 3, on the Discovery Channel, an amazing piece of documentary.   In the city of Jerusalem, in the midst of an apartment complex, was found a place of burial.   Perhaps the burial place of, Mary Magdalene, her son Judah, and two brothers-in-law, Simon and James.   Were these the relatives of Jesus the Christ, in the scheme of things the question seems to be irrelevant. Humanity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although there is great emphasis placed on the Christ, the Messiah.   Very few people seem interested at all in Jesus humanity.   People are offended at the thought that Jesus may have deigned to have been with a woman, much less married to a whore.   Yet this is the very story told in Hosea.   Gods unquestioning love of even, maybe most especially, one who would be unfaithful.   It seems to me of all of Jesus disciples, Mary is the one who got it.   Only an outcast could truly understand the message of Christ.   To be offered kindness, when only suffering has come at the hands of man, is an indescribable miracle.   How Mary must have loved this man, Jesus.   The Divine, the Christ.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jesus humanity is controversial.   And I dont know why.   If Jesus was not fully human, how could God come to know what it is to be human?   To struggle?   To be defeated?   To know unbridled joy?   To be shortsighted as man is and yet still have the ability to hope.   How God must love us for that!   Yes, all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.   Who among us is not aware of their own shortcomings?   Everyone I know.   To be human is to be all to aware of what we are not.   Was that the purpose of Jesus coming?   To remind each of us of our all too familiar failures?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Many others are outraged that anyone should question the Divinity of Christ, as though questioning such a thing changes the very nature of God?   Hardly.   What question could man possibly ask that could be found to be offensive to God?   Yet, this question of Divinity versus Humanity, people seem to struggle over.   Christ is all or none.   Even those who would say Jesus was both human and God, cannot admit that Jesus could have succumbed in his humanity to be human.   And what a terrible misrepresentation.   All throughout the Bible God is represented as part of humankind.   Why would humanity be denied what most Christians believe to be Gods only Son.   There is of course, great misrepresentation and misunderstanding about the chronology of the canon.    That Jesus divinity was not even declared until 300 years after his death.   By whom?   Why man of course?   I wonder if God would be pleased with all that the church, not the body, has accomplished?   Just recently, I visited a new church and although I liked the people.   I was saddened when the pastor started talking about the building fund.   Is this what Christianity has been reduced to?   Buildings?   What of the starving?   What of the homeless?   What of the person who has not known the kindness of a human touch, due to illness or simple isolation?   What of these?   Does God not plague us to be in touch with his light, his life, his children?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Lost Tomb of Jesus is a wonderful representation of the possibility that Jesus was all he said he was.   A miracle.   A blessing in disguise.   Both human and Divine.   Just like the rest of us.   A bit of God rests in us all at the heart of Gods highest creation, mankind.   Rejoice!   Awake!   God is among us!   Living when we thought he was dead!   Alleluia!   Jesus is Alive!

Times When Two Cultures Come Together

Times When Two Cultures Come Together Culture is defined as the historically transmitted and interrelated web of values, assumptions, norms, belief systems and behavioral patterns that differentiate one human group from another. Culture is manifested in music, painting, literature, theater, sculpture and films, shortly in all aspects of life. It influences the way we perceive the world, the way we attribute meaning to our environment. Therefore diversities and conflicts are commonly seen when people from different cultural backgrounds encounter each other. In this paper I would like to examine this cultural contact based on a movie called My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The 2002 romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a great example for depicting cultural differences between the US and the Greek culture. It shows how differences in cultures may affect the lives of people through the main character of a 30 year old Greek girl Toula. Being brought up in the US by a traditional Greek family, Toula has to have a single purpose in life: to marry a Greek man and have as many Greek children as she can. Compared to her sister who has been married for a while and has 3 children, she is perceived to be seen unfortunate due to her reaching 30 and still being single. Her father continuously reminds her to marry soon because she started to look old. Toula is stuck with all of the Greek values in her life. She is working in the family-owned restaurant and has no free space for herself. From the time she was a child, decisions regarding which school she would attend or where she would work are all determined by her family. However; being raised in an American culture that is totally different from Greek culture resulted her to be unsatisfied with her life. The emphasis on individuality, being able to be autonomous affected her views as well. The realization of this uncontentment climaxed after meeting Ian while working at the restaurant. When Ian enters her life, she began to realize that she wanted to live her own life and she starts to make her own choices. With her mothers help, she gets the permission for taking computer classes at college which she may later use for business. The approval of the father comes late because he thinks that city is a dangerous place to go. Even when her mother insists on this permission, he responds: if a girl is enough intelligent, why bother going to school. This dilemma of acculturation process which Toula experienced is examined scientifically in Cigdem Kagitcibasis book of Family, Self, and Human Development across Cultures as well. In her book, Kagitcibasi explains that the aspirations of adolescents have are influenced by the dominant society when there is a cultural contact between the culture of relatedness of ethnic minorities originating from collectivistic societies and the culture of separateness of the individualistic dominant society. In the culture of separateness, autonomy is highly valued because it is functional and adaptive in everyday situations. When these minority adolescents engage in a social comparison process, they see that their peers who belong to the culture of separateness enjoy more authority than they do. On the other hand, being related with their parents satisfies their need for warmth and security and it does not create a conflict. However; in some cases where parents lack enough education, parents see a utonomy as a sign of disrespect or separation. Therefore they may not give autonomy to the child. Here we can talk about a culture lag in which the traditional point of view in the family of interdependence still continues despite the fact that it is not functional in the urban, technological society. This culture lag creates a conflict where the autonomous-related self and the family model of psychological/emotional interdependence that adolescents favor collides with the heteronomous-related self and the family model of interdependence that parents value. Because the first one is more adaptive in an immigration context, it is likely that it will be the case (Kagitcibasi, p.324). However this transition would be tough just as it is observed in Toulas struggle. As it is examined above, autonomus related self is more adaptive in an urban lifesetting as it is the case with Toula in the movie. Autonomous related self is a concept that is established by Kagitcibasi that satisfies two basic needs which are autonomy and relatedness. Although the mainstream psychology has always thought autonomy as being separate, Kagitcibasi notes that these two are distinct concepts which are independent from each other. Autonomy refers to willful agency, being governed from outside; whereas being separate or close is about the relationship with others. This type of self is more compatible with an immigration context where there is urban lifestyle involving education and work. Because urban lifestyle requires individual decision making, in other words autonomy is needed for taking initiatives. However close self other and kinship relations continue to exist, too. Therefore it is more adaptive to have autonomous related self. But the process for migrant families with traditional lifestyle to accept the shift towards this type of self takes time. After getting the approval of her parents, Toulas differentiation process towards the autonomous related self begins. She gets herself a new hairdo, abandons her glasses and starts to wear make-up. Moreover she manages to find new contacts and becomes more outgoing and social. She quits working in the family owned restaurant. Instead, she starts to work at the tourism agency bureau of her aunt. In her new job, she feels much better, especially after getting the attraction from the guy, Ian, whom she met at the restaurant. After a while, Ian and Toula starts to date secretly but as Toula finds out that the guy she was dreaming of is non-Greek, things began to be challenging for both of them. As Toula is struggling with how to make her family accept Ian who is a foreigner, Ian finds himself confronted with the family of his love where things are totally different from his own. As opposed to Ian who has only two cousins, Toula has twenty seven. When Ian asks her what she does in her fre e times, she responds that there is no free time for her own because the extended family is together all the time. In addition to that, Toulas family is very proud of their Greek heritage. Her father constantly states that all of the words have roots from the Greek language and he overemphasizes that there are two types of people, firstly the ones who are Greek and secondly the ones who want to be Greek. Moreover, her family tries to preserve their Greek identity in all aspects. Their house is designed in Greek style and there were Greek statues and miniatures all over the place. They engage in every traditional practice that a Greek family might have. They celebrate festive days in Greek way; they dance and eat with Greek relatives. They send their kids to Greek schools so that they acquire the Greek culture. The family also has a patriarchal structure where the father is the head of the family and where the mother helps with the care and support of the household. Toulas family fits into the model of interdependence as it is described in Kagitcibasis book. The model is associated with close family relations and is often characterized by patrilineal family structures (Kagitcibasi, p. 136). Toulas family also has strong familial relations, they celebrate everything together with the extended family, cousins altogether work at a family owned restaurant in order to contribute household jointly. As it is expected from Toula, this type of family structure demands fertility as well. Moreover, the childs dependence is ensured by obedience-oriented socialization and authoritarian parenting as it is the case with Toula. Even reaching her 30s is not enough to make decisions regarding herself alone. Still she needs the approval of her father, is strictly controlled when she comes home late. This type of socialization promotes loyalty and interdependence as it is seen in the movie. As opposed to Toulas family which values interdependence, Ians family is characterized in the model of independence which is the typical model of the western individualistic, nuclear family that is found in the industrialized societies (Kagitcibasi, p. 139). This family model values interpersonal independence. The family exists in nuclear structure and low level of fertility is common. Socialization practices enhance the independent self where there is less control in childrearing. Thats why Ians family does allow the marriage at first sight and does not interfere with the process. Moreover, Ian lives alone and has no sibling or twenty seven cousins like Toula which is seen in family of interdependence. The differences regarding the values and beliefs are mostly seen through reaching the end of the film where the two families start to meet and interact. When Ians family comes for a dinner which was supposed to be a quiet dinner for meeting each side, they are shocked when they see the crowd which is waiting for them. Every single member of the extended family was invited for the dinner and the dinner turned out to be a party where everyone eat, dance and sing Greek songs which is common in Greek culture. As opposed to Toulas crowded family, Ians family comes to dinner with only the nuclear members of the family composed of mother, father and Ian. As the wedding preparations accelerate, Toulas relatives continue to intervene in every single detail. For example; Toulas mother has already prepared the wedding invitations by herself and didnt ask Toulas opinion about whom to invite. Her wedding dress is already planned by her cousin and the place of the wedding is arranged by Toulas family, despite of the fact that Ians family thought a club would be okay. As it can be predicted, marriage from the perspective of Toulas Greek family is just not about uniting two people, but it is the joining of two clans. As opposed to this, marriage can just be a consumer decision with utilitarian value shared with associates at a club (Denny Wayman Hal Conklin, 2002). On the day of the wedding, Toulas family intervened in all the details as well. When Toula has noticed that she has a pimple on her face, all her female relatives help her to cover it with a foundation. Lastly I would like to emphasize some of the similarities between Greek culture and Turkish culture that I have observed throughout the film. In the film Toulas family reminds me of the traditional Turkish family with extended family ties in rural context. The development of the related self is assured with obedience socialization and control. Though not being in a rural context, Toulas family is committed to their values and traditions so strictly that they do not let their daughter be free like the people in the American culture. Toula finds herself in a complete dilemma where she wants to change things in life but out of respect she can not exercise it easily. Another similarity that I have observed is the Greek traditions which are also common in Turkey. For instance; hospitality is highly valued in Turkish culture, too. When a guest comes to visit a Turkish family house, the host family offers delicious meals to enjoy their time. When Ian first visits Toulas family, although he responds that he is not hungry, Toulas mother says: Ok I make you something to eat. The concept of the wedding is also similar in the way that all the relatives even the ones who live far are invited to the wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, they celebrate the day with dancing, eating and wishing a happy life just as in the Turkish culture. They dance sirtaki which is a popular dance of Greek origin just like the Turks who dance halay. They also have the traditional desert baklava like the Turks and use the same word portakal for orange. Lastly, Turks also give presents to the newly wed couples just as it is seen in the movie where Toulas father has bought a house near to them. Buying a house near the parents also shows that loyalty and being close are highly valued in Greek culture where there is a culture of relatedness. In conclusion I would like to stress that My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a great movie which conveys the message that no matter how different two cultures may be, there is a universal aspect of humanity in all over the world. Though history is filled with great atrocities, wars and pain resulting from differences among cultures, the hope for our future may rest in us being able to love and accept one another because of these differences. The scene right before the film ends also summarizes this view perfectly. Before the visitors all are dancing and singing, Toulas father states in his speech: You know, the root of the word Miller (the surname of Ian) is a Greek word. Miller comes from the Greek word milo, which means apple, so there you go. As many of you know, our name, Portokalos, is come from the Greek word portokali, which means orange. So, okay? Here tonight, we have, ah, apple and orange. We are all different, but in the end, we are all fruit.

Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith Essay -- essays research p

Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith are two of the character is in the book Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith are unhappy with their lives. Although, Clarissa and Septimus are both unhappy the basis for their unhappiness stems from different reasons and/or events that have happened in their lives. But the both fear the can not feel as others feel. Clarissa Dalloway, a middle aged upper class woman, is unhappy because of choices she has made in her life she also fears that she can not feel things as others do. Septimus Smith, a World War I veteran, is unhappy because of effects of the war. Septimus worries that when Evan’s died he did not feel anything. Clarissa Dalloway wanted to be a part of the upper class English society. That is the reason she married Richard Dalloway. Throughout the novel Clarissa looks back on her experiences with Peter Walsh. She wonders if she made the correct choice in marrying Richard and rejecting Peter. Clarissa point out in †¦. That one of the reason she didn’t marry Peter is because he would ask her to feel too much. Richard does not ask her to feel things as Peter would. Clarissa didn’t love Richard when she married him but has learned to love him. Although she believes she made the right decision in marrying Richard, she still wonders how things would have been if she married Peter instead. Clarissa has a low self-confidence in her appearance ...

Nam June Paik Video Innovations :: Essays Papers

Nam June Paik Video Innovations Nam June Paik was born in Seoul, Korea on July 20, 1932. He was the fifth and youngest child of a textile merchant. In 1947, at the age of 14, he studied piano and composition with two of Korea's foremost composers. The family moved to Tokyo, Japan in 1950 to avoid the havoc of the Korean War. Paik studied music, history, art history, and philosophy at the University of Tokyo from 1953 to 1956. He did his graduate dissertation on Schoenberg. In 1956, he moved to Germany to pursue his interest in avant-garde music. He studied music history under Thrasybulos Georgiades at the University of Munich and composition under Wolfgang Fortner at the Hochschule fÃ… ±r Musik. He also attended classes under Karlheinz Stockhausen, Luigi Nono, David Tudor, and John Cage. Paik lived in Cologne for the next five years and then returned to Japan for a short time to conduct experiments with electromagnets and color TV sets. In 1964, Paik moved to New York and still resides there today. While he lived in Korea, Paik had become familiar with the work of Schoenberg. Paik was interested in Schoenberg above all others because of his radical compositions. They reflected the social atmosphere of Seoul at the time. In 1947, Paik had only one piece of Schoenberg’s work. It took Paik two years to convince a record shop owner to let him listen to what was probably the only Schoenberg record in Korea. Paik had only two compositions by which to judge his â€Å"guru.† Then one day in Japan, in 1951, Paik heard a third piece on NHK Radio. Another of Paik’s great influences was John Cage, whom he met in Germany. Meeting Cage, a student of Schoenberg, was a turning point in Paik’s life. Paik’s piece Zen for Film was definitely influenced by Cage’s 4’ 33†, the silent piece. Cage was devoted to sounds, but Paik was devoted to objects, yet Cage’s influence is evident in all of Paik’s work. Joseph Beuys, like Cage, played an important role in influencing the direction of Paik’s video work. Paik’s portraits of Beuys constitute a significant body of work.

Essay --

Trading education to fish for their lives/ Choosing shores over schools Kumar*, 16 is among the many children in Pamban village of Rameshwaram who forego education and venture into the sea to earn a living for their families. While key decisions about sharing of waters between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen are awaited, the fishing hamlet of Anthoniar Nagar in Rameshwaram has children as young as 11 years accompanying fishermen in their country boats. At four feet tall, Kumar* is small for his age. After his father abandoned the family, he dropped out of school in class VIII and turned breadwinner of his family. â€Å"Nobody forced us to go fishing,† he said and introduced his friend Joseph*, a soft-spoken skinny boy of 11 who was almost a foot taller than him. Kumar* claimed that Joseph* willingly went fishing with his father to provide for his family of seven. â€Å"It’s been three years since I went to school,† said Joseph*. He said that the Indian Navy caught boats with children in them and that yet they went about 50-60 feet deep. â€Å"I don’t go to school but at least I earn for my fam...

Motivating Children in the Classroom

Motivation plays a significant role in the growth and development of children. Well-motivated students are able to accomplish assigned tasks and responsibilities and generate desirable learning outcomes. This idea is based on the premise that children who do not exert effort and lack the ability to cope up with the challenges of classroom learning do not perform well academically. Children must be able to understand the importance of effort and acknowledge their capability of accomplishing their tasks during classroom instruction. (Alderman, 2004) This is where the role of the teacher, the educational institution, and the stakeholders come in. The classroom environment must foster learning and education, as well as good working atmosphere for the comfort of the students. Teachers should display desirable characteristics and views that are motivating for the children. Moreover, stakeholders, such as the parents, government, religious institutions, etc. must be able to provide a community for the children that support their education and their learning environments. However, since the teacher actively involved in education and the learning process, he must be able to take on multifarious roles and incorporate numerous strategies and techniques in order to promote education and learning to the children by motivation. The foundation of the children’s involvement in their education is feeling the sense of belongingness and comfort within the confines of the learning environment. Providing a learning environment that is adaptable to the child and an institution, which fosters desirable social interactions and relationships, becomes a primary motivation for children to attend school. (Alderman, 2004) Therefore, the classroom environment must be structured in such a way that it is built on the relationship of each child with the other, and the teacher to the children. Developing this kind of relationship is influenced by open communication and social interaction through group activities. Moreover, the teacher should be able to grasp a thorough knowledge of the psychology of a child in order to set relevant instructional tools and strategies that are appropriate to implement for children. This includes the knowledge of several learning theories that might be instrumental for motivating children. Some of these theories include the cognitive theory, social cognitive theory, behavioral theory, humanist theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, etc. These theories seek to explicate how the minds of children work and how they behave. This understanding shall help the teacher design a motivational plan that targets the specific needs and demands of children. (McInerney, 2000) Classroom motivation may differ depending on the nature and scope of the course. Taking a look at how motivation is implemented in Physical Education, it is observable that it greatly differs with other courses, such as language arts or science for instance. One good thing about Physical Education is that it supports social interaction, cooperation, and teamwork, which is the foreground of motivation among children. The challenge for children in this particular course is the goal or the objective to achieve in the tasks and activities of Physical Education. The danger in this concept lies in the tendency of students to become uninspired in learning when they experiencing loss or failures. However, in some instances, losses or failures enhance motivation and pushes children to learn more and try harder in order to attain success through persistence. (Hardy & Mawer, 1999) The Physical Education teacher should be able to determine individual attributes of the children in order to determine what motivates them in the course. Children who are uninspired by failures should be made to experience success in order for them to gain at least an ounce of confidence and drive to get involved with the tasks and activities of the course. Setting of specific goals or objectives is also instrumental in motivating children in Physical Education. If the teacher sets our clear goals that children should accomplish, they are motivated to get up and moving in order to accomplish the particular goal. Experiencing success in the realization of goals and objectives provide the students with the sense of worth and aptitude. (Hardy & Mawer, 1999) Motivation does not only concentrate with the ability of the teacher to encourage positive performance outputs, or the character of children to get motivated by classroom instruction. It is also dependent on the activities, which are involved during classroom instruction. The implementation of various activities and a lot of choices or alternatives is instrumental in rousing the interest of children. Since the preference of children is varied, it is always recommended to provide varied activities that children can choose from. Through this, they are able to explore new and exciting activities, from which they can determine their strengths and weaknesses and identify what truly interests them. Moreover, this type of activity setting creates the desire for mastery and goal accomplishment. (Hardy & Mawer, 1999) The most important thing in teaching Physical Education is to motivate them to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge wherein the goals and objectives of the particular course are grounded. The implementation of various games is necessary in order to motivate them, through the light and fun nature of games and activities, with the incorporation of values and academic knowledge within these particular games and activities. There are a lot of skills and abilities that Physical Education may teach, provided the teacher keep the children well motivated by incorporating fun and interesting games to the lesson. For instance, there are games that teach sportsmanship, the skills of following instructions, math and spelling skills, acting, interest in reading stories, etc. Involving these kinds of activities does not only motivate them, but increase their chances of learning more, in terms of the academic and moral aspects of learning. (Clements, 1995) References Alderman, M. K. (2004). â€Å"Motivation for Achievement: Possibilities for Teaching and Learning.† Questia Media America, Inc.: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates, 336 pgs. Clements, R. L (1995). â€Å"Games and Great Ideas: A Guide for Elementary School Physical Educators and Classroom Teachers.† Questia Media America, Inc: Greenwood Press, 366 pgs. Hardy, C. A. & Mawer, M. (1999). â€Å"Learning and Teaching in Physical Education.† Questia Media America, Inc.: Falmer Press, 240 pgs. McInerney, D. M. (2000). â€Å"Helping Kids Achieve Their Best: Understanding and Using Motivation in the Classroom. Questia Media America, Inc.: Allen & Unwin, 123 pgs.