Thoreaus Art of Living In Thoreaus Walden Essay Example For Students

Thoreaus Art of Living In Thoreaus Walden Essay Thoreaus Art of Living In Thoreaus Walden, he explores the art of living by presenting a dichotomy of sojourning in nature. The life of participating with nature considers living simply and wisely while cooperating with both its lowest and highest elements. Thoreau calls for a change in life by changing the conventional ideas of standard societal views and its participation with the torpor of the material mass. Throughout Walden, Thoreau delves into his surroundings, the very specifics of nature while trying to live the ideal life. Perhaps the main theme and overbearing concept that Thoreau wishes to convey to the reader both in the conclusion and throughout Walden, is that we must recognize the great power and potential for new discovery and enjoyment in our minds. Thus, Thoreau calls for an ideological revolution to simplification in our lives and conveys a paradoxical view that the highest point of living is the leading of a simple life of a balance between change and solitude. This life is the art of activity within the art of structural living- a non-instrumental way of enhancing ones life through spiritual development and the cultivation of the mind and body. We will write a custom essay on Thoreaus Art of Living In Thoreaus Walden specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The purpose for this enhancement is fostering the spirit in its progress and not marred by material products or social structures. The spirit involves activity with nature and must not be hindered by material necessities Kim 2 demanded by society. Such progress is change within oneself, within ones mind and soul and ultimately achieved through self-recognition. It is the recognizing of the self that leads to individualized experiences. This art requires pure devotion of the individual and the divorce from the boundaries of business and time. In doing so, the individual experiences a transcended self, a elevated piety and perennial youth 211. Thoreau compares the art of and active life to one of unending youthfulness. He pervades the importance of the youth as innocent and pure. Such life must not be tainted by obscurities and the mundane routine of the city life but rather emerged, submerged in the purest form of existence-nature. Thoreau equates the outdoors natural stimuli with innocence when he states that every child begins the world again, to some extent, and loves to stay outdoors 17. Thoreau mirrors youthfulness to nature in order to convey a need of constant rebirth into purity and innocence that leads to a love of the earth. Thoreau provides an example of a life embracing youthfulness and the active search for change and perfectio n. The story of the man from Kouroo is a compelling anecdote for how humans can transcend time and reduce it to the simple illusion that it is. This passage and the story of the man as a whole can be taken as a metaphor that Thoreau is showing us, one which we can apply to our own lives. The art does notcompromise with time or with others opinions 211. The artist of Kouroo continuously searches for the perfect stick to make a staff  until he finds that stick. He ignores even his friends dissuasions and desertions and perseveres his pursuit to Kim 3 obtain that which will bring purity. Thoreau states, Let us settle ourselves and work and wedge our feet downward through the mud and slush of opinion, and prejudice, and tradition, and delusion, and appearance 63. The metaphor that Thoreau gives of the swamp with the hard bottom serves to show how people can drown and sink in the bog of society. However, to settle is to unsettle oneself from the conventions and ground feet downward in order to transcend. Although he searches for a simple element à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a stick- the process, the art of living is continual, complex and endearing. .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a , .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .postImageUrl , .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a , .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a:hover , .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a:visited , .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a:active { border:0!important; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a:active , .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u07ca0794e64356ed7e56ca9c870fdd9a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Great Expectations By Charles Dickens Essay ThesisIt is his singleness of purpose and love for the activity that brings him a pure art and youthfulness. The active life Associated with the art of living reveals living ones life engaging and searching nature without worrying of limitations. The search of perfection results in a perfect art so unimpeded by external events. The artist uses pure materials of nature that are not tainted by the materialistic focus of the world. By employing these pure elements, the true artist of life brings a new system to take the place of old aged societies and brings forth a world with full and fair proportions 211. This new world constructe d by innocence and purified nature does not age or dies but rather transcends beyond the torpor and mundane life. Thoreau continues to argue that living requires loving and meeting life. He calls the reader to change and cultivate ones life by turning the old, as one would do with soil. The constant turning brings forth change of ones life and mind towards activity. Thoreau rejects mechanical aids that cloud the consciousness and blinds one of achieving the purified art of living. He attacks the external stimuli such as drugs Kim 4 and habits as well as the gross necessaries of life that only temporarily satisfies the body and impurifies rather than purifies 7. Even in ones poverty, Thoreau suggests that you are but confined to the most significant and vital experience à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a life compelled to deal with nature and its elements. It is the love to weigh, to settle, to gravitate 211 life that produces a life not the search for luxury which enervates and destroys nations 9. Thoreau prefers a simplistic life resembling poverty and detachment from the dependency of luxury and the massive aspirations for particular things. The severance from worldly commodities will bring forth alife of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust 9. The simple and wise life that Thoreau calls upon is complex yet he is convinced by faith and experience that to maintain ones self on this earth is not hardship but a pastime 46. The simple and wise life requires one to be alert, awake, and to be reawakened and continuously awake 59. This reveals Thoreaus love of American visionary moral aesthetics and the encouraging  fact of the need for man to elevate h8is life by a conscious endeavor 59. It is the independent fervor and active participation of ones soul to affect the quality of the day which results in the highest of the arts59. The pursuit for intensity within simplistic ways of life apart from material stimulants brings forth a natural elevation through a conscious rational effort. The self is the natural medium requiring the meticulous efforts to increase and transcend ones spirit to a pure art form similar to nature. Kim 5 Thoreau also argues the possibilities of such a life by which we can engage andmorally we can do 59. Thoreau adheres to the tradition of a thrift way of life according to the Puritan work ethic. He embraces certain elements of the religiosity in doing- the fervency of participating in ones task. Thoreau participates in the day and of the days natural repetitiveness, different from the mundane life. It is by our own spirits that we are deified when we become purified and wedded to the day. Thoreau compares himself to the day when he states that morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me 58. By describing the nature around him, Thoreau grips the life by living the deliberate and fronting only the essential facts 59. Such facts arise from nature and living is the experience one has while dealing with the earth and the atmosphere. The facts are natural truths waiting to be practiced and searched for. Thus each man is given a task to experience the quality rather than quantity of the day. Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour59. Thoreau conveys living as a simple task, although the process and experience of living is undermined. To live is to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life which is hardly a simple task 59. The essential elements embedded in life need to be searched and sucked out. Thoreau calls for living deep, and taking all that life has to bring even sucking all the marrow of life that brings youthfulness. .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 , .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .postImageUrl , .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 , .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0:hover , .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0:visited , .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0:active { border:0!important; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0:active , .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0 .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uda00dff86b7eb7032b0238bd71dc19f0:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Blithe Spirit By Noel Coward EssayKim 6 This action must be done individually and by ones own efforts and exertions in order to experience the art of living. Thoreaus emphasis on solitude and independence conveys the notion that one should become detached from the worldly unfruitful life for one to become lost to oneself in order to find his soul. The importance placed on the individuals act of living reveals the dependency that one has to nature. Thoreau suggests a life matching and synergetic with nature while learning to absolve and bless oneself with nature. By losing oneself to nature and shedding detail, ones lenses of perception of life becomes purified and faced with truth. He also hints at an issue much deeper than just whether what one says is true or not. Thoreau deals with not only  truth or falsity, but with the dichotomy between real value and superficial pedantry. The art of living is working the land with ones hands, to labor enough to subdue and cultivate a few cubic feet of flesh 2. The imagery of land is paralleled to flesh, thus producing an image of harmony and a natural state. Thoreau mirrors the natural human to nature herself. By aligning oneself to nature, one can elevate his soul by coming face to face with fact 64 and overcoming the end to a mortal career with evident truth. When Thoreau states that the surface of the earth is soft and impressible by the feet of men; and so with the paths which the mind travels, he reveals a simile between the soft and impressible surface of the earth and the same ability which the mind has to be soft and receptacle to any new idea. Any new information that it learns is perfect. Although Thoreau does not directly describe the surface of the earth being Kim 7 in any particular woods, in the line after the semicolon he refers to thepaths which the mind travels. He refers this statement to the brain and in the larger sense the soul with the earlier image of the soft and impressible surface. Likewise, in order for one to practice the art of living one must have dreams and ultimate goals that are high and lofty as he endeavors to such great heights. Thoreau continues to bombard the reader with an onslaught of statements that encourage us to continue our study of the self as if every day is new day. The art of living comes only to those who are alive and cognizant enough to receive what change, purity and truth nature offers. The truth stands prevalent and shining as it purges ones soul to become pure and cleansed like nature. Thus Thoreau seduces the reader into the possibility of change within oneself and a catharsis from ones dependency on the unnecessary aspects of life and the limits. The art of living involves living an active, simple and natural truth, with nature, while absorbing the pragmatic elements of vital pureness by continuously adhering to ones simple, wise, and invigorating rituals of transcendence.

Individuals with Disabilities

Individuals with Disabilities Introduction Individuals with disabilities still experience employment discrimination at their workplaces. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 was enacted two decades ago, it has resulted in marginal improvements.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Individuals with Disabilities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Presumably, companies are reluctant to hire persons with disabilities (PWDs) because of potential extra costs and other drawbacks associated with disabilities. This briefing focuses on how General Motors (GM) manages workers with disabilities. According to Langtree (2015), disability entails â€Å"physical or mental impairment that considerably limits one or more major life activities† (p. 1). While some cases of disabilities may impair a person completely, in some instance, some persons with disabilities can perform a job with or without reasonable accommodation and are therefore qualified di sabled employees. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 protects such persons from discrimination in the workplace, including access to training and career development. Organizations such as GM have been able to accommodate persons with disabilities as a wider strategy for promoting diversity. Perceived barriers to employ PWDs exist. For instance, some employers have cited high costs associated with mobility and renovation to accommodate them, poor attitudes at all corporate levels, inability to perform the job well and possibilities of lawsuits. In addition, others have claimed that PWDs may not promote customer service and retention and quit their jobs.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Researchers have however demonstrated that these claims could be myths. The US Chamber of Commerce report, Leading Practices on Disability Inclusion concluded that †Å"hiring people with disabilities is good for the bottom-line† with the conclusion drawn from case studies conducted at 3M, PepsiCo, Merck and AT T. It was established that workplace accommodations are low cost (most of these accommodations do not require more financial supports) such as â€Å"scheduling flexibility, allowances in dress code rules or allowing an employee to sit or stand†. In addition, employers could get several benefits associated with accommodation. These include attracting and keeping talented workers; enhancing output and morale, and company diversity; and reducing employees’ reimbursement and training and development costs. Further, People with disabilities are loyal, have low turnover rates and they are motivated to perform. The average cost of accommodation is $500, which is far less relative to the cost of employee turnover (Owen, 2012). Diversity at GM: A focus on People with Disabilities GM has created the People With Disabilities (PWD ) Employee Resource Group to address various issues in all facets of the business (General Motors, 2015). The company focuses on several aspects of diversity to accommodate PWD. Moreover, GM’s concerns for PWD go beyond the organization by creating Enhanced Products to improve the customer experience for those who have hearing impairment and other forms of impairments. The company aims to create awareness about PWDs by providing support and information to employees with disabilities and other PWDs outside the GM community.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Individuals with Disabilities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It supports community organizations with information on disability issues in the work environment, organizes internal company events for PWDs to create disability awareness among employees, as well as support employees with mental health issues. GM focuses on rebuilding its workplaces to accommoda te PWDs. The company works with architects to redesign its locations and improve accessibility to the Detroit Riverfront and Renaissance Center Marriott. Accommodation changes include wheelchair ramps and automatic doors for better accessibility. Moreover, it also works with PWDs and facility management to create an â€Å"evacuation procedure for PWDs, including testing the Evacuation Chair†. The company also intends to create new â€Å"parking spaces for PWDs and enhance transportation activities on the Tech Center grounds†. The company also continuously improves its technology systems to enhance accommodation. GM has embarked on implementing â€Å"beta testers for IT improvements to guarantee they are reachable to disabled employees†. Such changes have affected all operating systems, intranet and all internal communications services such as email and IM among others. Finally, GM sponsors sports and events to support individuals with disabilities such as the Ma y 2012 Special Olympics Summer Games in Michigan as a way of giving back to the community, and it consults with GM Mobility on Universal Design training for GM Dealerships to improve customer experiences. Consequently, it has trained subsidiaries to cater for clients with disabilities adequately. GM’s PWD Future The PWD Employee Resource Group aims for sustained success in attempts to make GM a â€Å"Workplace of Choice for individuals with disabilities†. The company has also focused on providing assistance to help employees who care for PWDs and aid them find resources and GM products to enhance self-management and movements.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More GM believes such endeavors will allow people with disabilities to drive their vehicles with minimal challenges and anxieties. Conclusion This briefing on disabilities shows that PWDs can be beneficial to organizations through accommodation. Accommodation of PWD is low cost and it could even cost nothing and usually has high positive impacts to organizations. The company relies on different methods to enhance diversity. Overall, it is a form of diversity management in organizations and it is good for business. References Armour, S. (2006, August 22). Workplaces quit quietly ignoring mental illness. US Today. Web. General Motors. (2015). Diversity at GM: Creating Possibilities for People with Disabilities. Web. Jaeger, P. T., Bowman, C. A. (2009). Understanding Disability: Inclusion, Access, Diversity, and Civil Rights. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger. Langtree, I. C. (2015). Defining Disability Diversity in Society. Web. Owen, J. (2012, December 5). The Benefits of Disability in the Work place. Forbes. Web.

Workplace violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Workplace violence - Essay Example   In the US, Federal and state work safety laws compel employers to take rational and reasonable efforts to make sure that workplace is safe including the duty of reducing violence. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and few other state agencies have in recent years issued guidelines for night retail establishments, health care operations and employees in a normal work setting. OSHA General Duty Clause compels that employers in a worksite provide a healthful and safe workplace for all employees covered by the Act. In accordance with laws, by effectively controlling and preventing workplace violence hazards and related threats; employers are better placed to protect employee and avoid worksite incidents. In addition, both state and Federal job discrimination laws require employers to implement various harassment policies and guidelines including taking speedy action this harassment happens. Sexual, racial, and other kinds of harassment at worksite may l ead to liability for compensatory as well as punitive damages. To start with, one of the preeminent protections the boss can offer to employees is to institute a zero-tolerance policy and attitude toward workplace violence. Such a policy should cover all workers and anybody else who may come in contact with organization personnel. Closely related to this the fact that the employer can provide various safety education for workers related to workplace violence such as informing victims their legal right to prosecute perpetrators.   

Create a Project Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Create a Project Proposal - Assignment Example ..7 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7 ABSTRACT The focus of this project proposal is the development of a new paging system that will be both efficient and effective for the needs of Tufts Health Plan. The proposal is an overview of what is required for the project research. It justifies the choice of this project and sets the objective for the research. The proposal identifies the most suitable approach towards achieving the aims of this project. The proposal, in order to be complete, draws out an estimated timeline for the proposed research and development of the entire paging system. NEW PAGING SYSTEM PROJECT DESCRIPTION The new paging system project seeks to create a new system for Tufts Health Plan that is network based and managed through use of servers. The new software will be installed on servers whereby clients who are authorized by the systems administrator will be able to page support staff and key heads of the department in case of trouble OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH The objective for the research into the new paging system project is the development of a network based paging system that will enable fast efficient paging of staff members. The project aims to enable fast and agile communication among staff members of the Tufts Health plan. The project research seeks to solve the problems posed by the stand alone system. These problems include inefficient communication, slow response to emergencies. Time wastage brought about by needing to access the support desk in case of an event so that they can page the relevant parties. JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY The reason for choosing this project is to provide a system that can aide in the saving of lives and treatment of the sick. Therefore the new paging system will provide for users in the Tufts health plan a better means of com munication and paging framework for its staff. Cases of unattended emergency situations due to the standalone system will be reduced. Staff will be able to be notified from different points in the organization and thus work faster and more efficiently. It will enable the different departments in the organization to be able to deal with its own issues rather than try access the single point paging system at the support desk. APPROACH TO THE STUDY The approach to this project will be based on existing software development methodologies. The most suitable methodology will be determined with more in depth research into the problem. The beginning point of the project will be gathering requirements for the new system at the Tufts health plan and research on the exact needs of the different departments in the organization. The next step will be to analyse the requirements and develop feature lists for ease of development of use cases the system. After establishing a proper foundational sys tem analysis I will move into system design and develop the class diagrams and the whole design of the system accompanying them with appropriate logical diagrams. The next phase of the project will be the implementation and testing of the system, which will finally lead us to successful deployment of the system.(Pressman,2010) The presentation of the system will be the endpoint for the

Marketing and Marketing Strategy Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing and Marketing Strategy - Coursework Example The first product that I choose was an automobile. This was a high involvement purchase. This is because the product was expensive and would have a significant impact on my life. Moreover, this was a product that I had to spend a considerable amount of time and also effort searching for. This was also so because there were significant differences between the brands that were available at the time in terms of their performance and quality ("Indmedica - CyberLectures - High Involvement Purchase Decisions", n.d., p. 2). However, the second product that I chose, newspaper, was a low involvement purchase since the product was that which is habitually purchased and therefore the decision of choosing it required very little effort. It was also a low involvement purchase because the newspaper had insignificant effect on my lifestyle and was not that an important investment. 1st Product: Automobile The following are the 5 buying decision process that I followed in buying this product. a) Prob lem recognition This is the stage I realized that I actually needed a car. I would want to conveniently travel to my job place every morning but could not do so as I did not have a convenient means of transport. b) Information search This is where I started looking for what could solve my transport problem. I looked for information on the convenient means that I could use to travel to my workplace and concluded on buying a car. c) Evaluation of alternatives Here, I took into consideration all the car models that were available and which one of them would best fit my needs. I also considered the alternatives that were available for me including their prices and the shops selling them. d) Purchase decision After all the considerations and consultations, I decided to buy a model of my choice. This is where I also walked to the shop that I had chosen and actually paid for the car. e) Post-Purchase evaluation This I did after the purchase. I evaluated the car that I had bought; its impor tance and how convenient having it would be. I also confirmed that I had made the right choice. 2nd Product: Newspaper I only followed two processes for my second low involvement purchase. a) Problem recognition This is where I discovered my need for the newspaper and decided to buy one. b) Purchase evaluation Here, I went straight to the nearest and easily accessible shop and bought the newspaper that I wanted. Question 2 My first purchase was a high involvement purchase and this meant that I had to follow all the processes of consumer purchase. I had to make sure that I had put into consideration all the facts and information concerning the product that would make me chooses the right one. Unlike the first one, the automobile was very expensive and therefore there was no room for mistake in my purchase. This required me to carefully evaluate all the then available alternatives and make a solid decision based on facts considerations. In buying this high involvement product, automob ile, I had to first look for information after identifying my problem. I also had to evaluate all the possible alternatives before making my final purchase. Contrary to this, for the second low involvement purchase, newspaper, I did not have to do a lot. This was a product that I usually bought so I knew what I needed. The only thing that I wanted was a shop that was nearby and a place where I could easily; conveniently and quickly buy the newspaper. For these reasons, unlike

Iron Deficiency Anemia and Early Childhood Caries

Iron Deficiency Anemia and Early Childhood Caries Association between iron deficiency anemia and early childhood caries Tommy Ye Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are a global health problem in both the developing and developed countries such as China, India, United States (US) and the United Kingdom. ECC is a term coined by the Centers of Diseases and Control (CDC) at a 1994 workshop â€Å"in an attempt to focus attention on the multiple factors (i.e. socioeconomic, behavioral, and psycho-social) that contribute to caries at such early ages, rather than ascribing sole causation to inappropriate feeding methods (Colak, 2013).† As the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states, ECC can be only be defined as â€Å"the presence of any smooth surface caries for children under the age of 3 and the presence of one or more smooth surface lesions in any primary maxillary anterior teeth for those 3 to 5 years of age (or a dmft [decay, missing, filled, teeth] score of ≠¥ 4 (age 3), ≠¥ 5 (age 4), or ≠¥ 6 (age 5))† (Schroth, 2013). These are the same definitions and criteria that most dental practitioner used to assess children of early childhood caries. ECC commonly starts off as a demineralization of the enamel, which leads to severe decay in mostly the cervical regions of primary maxillary incisors and then later into the other anterior teeth. The decay, in some cases, can also affect the labial and/or lingual surfaces of the maxillary anterior teeth. The etiology of ECC is very complex and is considered multifactorial, but one commonly accepted etiology is the â€Å"associat[ion] with frequent consumption of fermentable carbohydrates and improper bottle- or breast-feeding practices (Tang, 2012).† Anemia is the reduction of the total circulating red cell mass below the normal limits, which in return reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and ultimately tissue hypoxia and ischemia. Anemia is classified by either its cause (hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenic anemia, etc.) or its RBC size (macrocytic, microcytic anemia). Nearly half of anemia cases are caused by iron deficiency anemia (IDA), where IDA is â€Å"the consequences of the lack of iron for hemoglobin synthesis (Shaoul, 2011).† IDA is prevalent among young children and pregnant women. If left untreated, IDA can lead to the mental and physical development of children and increased death and morbidity of the other anemic patients. Diagnostic exam used to establish the diagnosis of IDA is the peripheral blood smear. With the blood smear, we want to analyze â€Å"ferritin, hemoglobin, and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), as they are key biochemical indicators of iron status (Schroth, 2013).† As you can see above, both ECC and IDA are very similar health problems that can both affect children and the patients’ quality of living tremendously. Some studies have shown that â€Å"dental caries and its resulting discomfort and pain can interfere with proper nutrition including iron intake, causing IDA (Shaoul, 2011).† This research has shown that there is some connection between ECC and IDA. Despite the fact that ECC and IDA are global health problems declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), there is not enough strong evidence to highlight the close relationship between the two conditions and the mechanism used to explain this deadly relationship. In this report, I aimed to use my clinical case and analysis of multiple studies to prove my point that there is a strong association between iron deficiency anemia and early childhood caries and that more needs to be done to address this concern in terms of dental management and treatment. Introduction of F.B. and her presentation of condition or risk: F.B., a 25-year-old woman with a history of iron deficiency anemia and early childhood caries, presents to New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD), for a dental check up. She takes no medication for her anemic condition and review of the CBC from her MD were all within the normal limits. On exam, she needs several restorations and multiple fixed prosthodontic works. Methodology: Clinical Question: In ECC patient, will patient with iron deficiency anemia increase their chances of having more dental caries and periodontal problems in the future, compared to patient without a significant medical history? PICO: Pà ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  ECC patient, Ià ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  patient with iron deficiency anemia, Cà ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  patient without a significant medical history, and Oà ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  increase their chances of having more dental caries and periodontal problems Literature Search: Literature searches were done in PubMed using the keywords â€Å"iron deficiency† and â€Å"anemia† with the Boolean operator â€Å"and.† Literature Review: From the literature search, I found three articles that were applicable to the clinical question and the aim of this report. The three articles are listed below: â€Å"Association between iron status, iron deficiency anemia, and severe early childhood caries: a case-control study† by Robert J. Schroth et. al â€Å"The Association of childhood iron deficiency anemia with severe dental caries† by Ron Shaoul, et. al â€Å"Relationship between dental caries status and anemia in children with severe early childhood caries† by Ru Shing Tang, et. al The goal of Schroth’s study was to investigate the relationship of the different iron and hemoglobin levels btn the ECC and caries-free patients. In order to do such a thing, Schroth and the others decided to perform a case control study. They recruited 266 children, where 144 of them have ECC and the last 122 of them are caries-free. ECC patients were all recruited from Winnipeg, Canada between October 2009 and August 2011. All of these children fulfilled the inclusion criteria where they must have â€Å"severe tooth decay involving multiple primary teeth necessitating rehabilitative dental surgery under general anesthetic (GA) (Schroth, 2013).† The caries-free patients were the control group and were recruited from the same area and time period. They all â€Å"underwent a dental assessment, without radiographs, by [the researchers] to ensure they were caries-free (dmft = 0) (Schroth, 2013).† Both the ECC and the caries-free patient must be healthy and are less than 72 months of age; the average age of all the participating children were 40.8 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ± 14.1 months. Schroth and the others collected demographic data by making the parents of the children answer an interviewed questionnaire regarding their â€Å"child’s nutritional habits, use of supplements, physical and oral health, oral hygiene and dental habits, socioeconomic status (e.g. household income), and family demographics. (Schroth, 2013).† Afterward, they collected serum samples of all but 4 children in the operating room by the attending anesthesiologist. From the laboratory results, Schroth and the others were able to obtain the necessary data to arrive at the following conclusions: Children w/ ECC had significantly lower ferritin status and hemoglobin levels than caries-free children Children w/ ECC had significantly greater odds for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia than caries-free children This conclusion helped to reinforce and help to support the authors’ claim that there is an indeed an association between iron deficiency anemia and early childhood caries. The authors do not understand the reasons why that is the case, but they hypothesized that it might be due to the body’s inflammatory response that accompanies from dental caries. They believed that â€Å"inflammation associated with ECC may trigger a series of events which ultimately leads to the production of cytokines, which may, in turn, inhibit erythropoiesis and thus reduce the level of hemoglobin in the blood (Schroth, 2013).† Dental caries may also cause severe pain and discomfort for the ECC patient, which may, in turn, caused the patient to eat less and hence the low iron level. Ultimately, the decrease in hemoglobin and iron are the main contributor to anemia or IDA. The purpose of Shaoul’s study was to investigate the differences in the levels of hemoglobin (Hb), iron, and other anemic indicators before and 4-6 months after an ECC dental restoration. In order to do such a thing, Shaoul and the others decided to perform a case control study. They recruited 155 children, where 33 of them are the control group, who visited the dental clinic for treatment for ECC at Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa, Israel between January 2007 and September 2008. All of these children fulfilled the inclusion criteria where they have to all be healthy with no chronic diseases and all within the age range of 3-18 years old who are presented with ECC and microcytic anemia that are caused by IDA. The exclusion criteria â€Å"included chronic or acute illness, known blood dyscrasia, any known form of haemoglobinopathy, children who had undergone abdominal surgery or had been diagnosed with malignancy (Shaoul, 2011).† The 30 children that were selected, as the control group, must meet these additional inclusion criteria where they must be presented for an elective minor surgery such as inguinal or umbilical hernia repair, orchiopexy and circumcision and is also caries-free upon examination. For the other 122 children, the surfaces of all their erupted teeth were assessed with the DMFTS index and they must have â€Å"had six or more teeth that required restoration treatmentâ€Å" to be actually included in this study (Shaoul, 2011). In order to consider the confounding variables that may skew the results of their study, Shaoul and the others collected the age, sex, height, weight and the number of teeth that needs to be treated from both groups. Afterward, they obtained 5 mL serum samples of two groups before and 4-6 months after an ECC restorative procedure. From the laboratory results, Shaoul and the others were able to obtain the necessary data to arrive at the following conclusions: ECC and caries-free children had significantly low BMI, Hb, iron, ferritin, MCV, and RDW (or red cell distribution width) levels before an ECC restorative procedure There are significant differences between the Hb, iron, ferritin and RDW levels 4-6 months before and after an ECC restorative procedure This conclusion highlighted that there is an association between iron deficiency anemia and early childhood caries. In addition to that, this study have also demonstrated that a dental treatment of a ECC lesions can effectively restore the anemic indicators to a non-IDA level, without the need of any supplemental iron. The authors are unsure how there is an association between IDA and ECC, but they hypothesize that it might be due to malnutrition (which can explain the low BMI in the results) or due to inflammation from dental caries. The objective of the last study by Tang et. al was to evaluate the nutritional status of an ECC patient and the relationship with IDA. In order to do such a thing, Tang and the others decided to perform a case control study. They recruited 101 children between 2 and 5 years of age who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of Kaohsiung Medical Center. All of these children fulfilled inclusion criteria where they must be diagnosed with ECC according to criteria established by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The exclusion criteria included â€Å"children with medical problems, mental or physical disabilities, and those who had been born prematurely (Tang, 2012).† Demographic information such as sex, income, body weight and height were obtained from most parents except 50 parents who did not provide their income via a questionnaire. The surfaces of all the children’s erupted teeth were assessed with the DMFT and DEFS indices. In order to adjust for the confounding variables that can skew the result of the study, Tang and others obtained the age, gender, BMI, and mother’s education. Besides obtaining the demographic information, Tang and the other also collected blood serum from all but two participants. With this sample, Tang and the others were able to arrive at the following conclusion: Children with ECC had significantly greater odds for anemia and IDA and are independently associated with each other. This conclusion demonstrated that children with ECC are at an even higher risk than caries-free patients for anemia and IDA and that this association between ECC and IDA is a very deadly combination that needs to be addressed as early as possible by pediatric dentists and pediatricians. The authors do not understand the etiology behind this association but they provided their own hypotheses behind it. They argued that children with ECC cannot consume iron-rich and vitamin-C rich food because of the pain and discomfort they felt and as a result, they are forced to rely on softer food that does not impinge on their teeth by drinking lots of cow’s milk. Furthermore, because the children with ECC have lots of dental caries, they are suffering from inflammation from these caries that may â€Å"induce the production of cytokines that suppresses the synthesis of Hgb (Tang, 2012).† In relationship to the Literature analysis form (LAF) adapted from Dr. Ralph V. Katz of NYUCD, (presented below) the above three articles all lack a null hypothesis and can contribute to a moderate statement of causation for being a case control study. All authors have clearly separated the independent variables by using a control group, eligibility criteria, and adjusted statistical analyses such as the Chi-square and T-test in the first and third study and T-test in the second study. Almost all of the findings were of statistical significance (P Description of F.B.: F.B. emigrated to the U.S. at age 15 from Albania with her parents, in pursuit of the American Dream. She drinks socially and do not smoke. She is a dental student at NYUCD. Upon entering dental school, F.B. had poor oral hygiene where she did not floss regularly but brushes twice a day. She consumed a heavy carb-rich diet. Her iron deficiency anemia has been better controlled through a well-balanced diet that includes iron and folate intake. This had been confirmed via a CBC, where all anemic indicators were within the normal limit. She had no other significant medical history. Her vital signs were within the normal limits as well. Discussions: The general consensus of the three articles clearly indicates that there is clearly a relationship between ECC and IDA and that more studies needs to be done to determine the actual etiology behind this association. Despite all the evidence that show that there is an association, the studies including the above three articles that are available are just not substantial to show a strong causation. In addition, the limitations in each of studies that I described above are also making these articles less convincing to incorporate into our dental practices. Conclusion: Despite the fact that the studies do not show a strong causation for the association between ECC and IDA, the evidence is convincing enough that warrants further research and questions among the dental and medical communities throughout the world. The evidence also helped to answer my clinical question if ECC patient with IDA (in this case, patient F.B) will increase their chances of having more dental caries and periodontal problems in the future. As you can see from the results provided by the three articles, there might be some connection between ECC and IDA and can cause more dental decay or worsen the patient’s IDA condition if left untreated, which was noted in Shaoul et. al’s studies. These results prompted me to make some modifications of my dental management for patient F.B. I would put patient F.B. on more frequent recall and on an aggressive fluoride therapy due to her past ECC history. I will complete all dental restorations or restore any defective restorat ions prior to performing any prosthodontic work. To make sure that she understands the association between ECC and IDA, I would also make sure to monitor her blood count frequently and reinforce oral hygiene instructions. Works Cited Çolak, H., Dà ¼lgergil, Ç. T., Dalli, M., Hamidi, M. M. (2013). Early childhood caries update: A review of causes, diagnoses, and treatments.Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine,4(1), 29–38. Doi:10.4103/0976-9668.107257 Tang et al. (2012), Relationship between dental caries status and anemia in children with severe early childhood caries. Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences, 29, 330-336. Schroth et al. (2013), Association between iron status, iron deficiency anaemia, and severe early childhood caries: a case–control study. BMC Pediatrics 13(22), 1-7. Shaoul et al (2011), The Association of childhood iron deficiency anemia with severe dental caries. Acta Pediatrica 101, e76-9. Appendix: LAF: Photographs of F.B.

Embittered Woman in Great Expectations, A Rose for Emily, and Sunset B

The Embittered Older Woman in Great Expectations, A Rose for Emily, and Sunset Boulevard      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The character of the delusional, embittered older woman is prevalent in literature and movies. Since Dickens created the memorable Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, she has evolved with the times into many other well-known characters, including Miss Emily in Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" and Norma Desmond in the film Sunset Boulevard. In each of these incarnations, the woman seeks revenge after a man's betrayal prevents her from meeting society's expectations of women, but finds no peace in her bitterness and ends up becoming a shriveled shell of the person she once was. By examining how the Miss Havisham archetype has been reinterpreted, one can see how society's expectations of women have changed and how these changes affect the character.    In Victorian times, a woman's identity and place in society were determined by who she married. The woman was the "angel in the house," bringing moral purity to the household, and often had free time to pursue lighthearted activities such as crocheting and entertaining guests. She was also responsible for raising the children and teaching them to be virtuous, as she was. Without marriage, however, a woman had few opportunities, and became a governess, an old maid, or a prostitute, none of which carried much if any social standing. Thus, a woman's greatest fear was to end up without a husband, especially as a result of some event that brought embarrassment or a stain on her character.    Miss Havisham has a Victorian woman's version of great expectations; she is about to become the epitome of the "angel in the house," a wealthy wife of high societal status, when her dreams... ... like Estella, who are able to survive those prejudices, even a lifetime of negative experiences, and emerge with strength and hope. Though we pity Miss Havisham, Miss Emily, and Norma Desmond, they chose to lock themselves away from the world rather than trying to overcome their situations. Perhaps they could have done something more to help themselves, but it seems that they did not try. Perhaps what makes the difference between an Estella and a Miss Havisham is a rose, one person like Pip who cares enough to reach out and take her hand, and show her that there is hope.    Works Cited    Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York, Penguin Books, 1996.    Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." The Story and Its Writer. Boston, Bedford/St. Martin's, 1996.    Great Expectations. Fox, 1998.    Sunset Boulevard. Paramount, 1949.