Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Video Games Are Not a Bad Influence on Children Free Essays

Greater part of individuals believe that computer games are a terrible impact on kids and adolescents. Youngsters need to recognize what is directly from worng and the individuals that can encourage them is their folks. Kids need to acknowledge reality from fiction. We will compose a custom paper test on Computer games Are Not a Bad Influence on Children or on the other hand any comparable subject just for you Request Now Teacher can likewise assist the kids with the truth. I accept that recordings games don't impact kids. Guardians need to show their youngsters that computer games are just games and what are done in the games are things that should not be possible in reality. Computer games have more savagery now than expected, yet the guardians should show their youngsters that brutality isn't the best approach to unravel anything. Larger part of the youthful guardians acknowledge the viciousness computer games since they themselves grew up with those games and they need their youngsters to go up with them also. The old ages didn’t grow up with computer games and the new age is. The factuly and staff of the school can likewise forestall savagery, on the grounds that the same amount of as kids are with their folks they are with the factuly and staff at the school. At the point when a kid does or even causes a motion its to up to the factuly or staff to end it. On the off chance that the factuly or staff doesn't end the terrible motion then the youngster is going to think its alright and he is going to continue doing it. The most effective method to refer to Video Games Are Not a Bad Influence on Children, Papers

Saturday, August 22, 2020

-persuasive speech-donate to my favorite charity Essay

- convincing discourse give to my preferred cause - Essay Example Projects set up by ASRC here in the Connecticut help medically introverted youngsters in adapting to their condition. It likewise helps relatives, and those near the kids to learn and adjust better approaches for managing chemical imbalance and helping the influenced youngster (Kucharczyk et al., 2015). As indicated by ASRC, some of projects incorporate fundamental training about mental imbalance, workshops for families and experts, direct administrations, interview, small awards, acknowledgment programs, a scope of care groups, social exercises, entertainment and authoritative support. Chemical imbalance cases are getting across the board in the contemporary society, and a few people feel its belongings. The principal explanation behind encouraging you to give to this commendable endeavor is on the grounds that we are one network. We join as one; thus, it basic that we tackle it together. Second, this issue influences every one of us. Such a drive would construct network attachment and assist us with becoming more acquainted with and see each other better. Measurements suggests that one of every eighty-eight youngsters have this condition. Numerous families can't stand to furnish their medically introverted kid with the vital consideration and consideration, yet with your info, this will be conceivable. Third, you ought to give to the foundation on the grounds that ASRC looks for not exclusively to sharpen the network about mental imbalance, yet in addition give strong answers for this condition. We accept that your help to this foundation will empower it in unders tanding its objective and at last effect the network decidedly. Kas, M., Modi, M., Saxe, M., and Smith, D. (2014). Propelling the disclosure of meds for mental imbalance range issue utilizing new innovations to uncover social mind hardware in rodents. Psychopharmacology, 231(6), 1147â€1165. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3464-y Kucharczyk, S., Reutebuch, C. K., Carter, E. W., Hedges, S., El Zein, F., Fan, H., and Gustafson, J. R. (2015). Tending to the necessities of young people with mental imbalance range issue: contemplations and complexities for secondary school

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Detectors Within The Electromagnetic Spectrum Example

Detectors Within The Electromagnetic Spectrum Example Detectors Within The Electromagnetic Spectrum â€" Essay Example > OUTLINEIntroductionCharacteristic of Infrared RadiationEmission of Infrared LightAdvantages of Infrared DetectorsDisadvantages of Infrared DetectorsApplication of Infrared Radiation in Security DetectorsMicrowave detectorsMicrowave RadiationOperations of A microwave detectorDisadvantages of using a microwave detectorPhoto-electric beam detectorsCharacteristics of visible lightAdvantages of Photo beam detectorsConclusion    INTRODUCTION                       Security systems consist of electronic alarms designed to alert individuals and part of thee authority about oncoming source of danger. Inside the security systems, are sensors linked to a control console through wire connections. There could also be linked through electromagnetic wave signals that are associated together to a response gadget. Most security detectors function as motion detectors placed on windows and doors to signify the presence of an oncoming person or object. Some devices are used for fire detection as well as for intrusion (Purpua, 2002). Each security detector has a different user interface, ranging from just simple noise producers to more intricate and complex devices that integrate both software and hardware with a console for monitoring purposes. These days there are a number of other security devices that utilize different techniques in detecting intruders. While others employ light, others like the ultrasound detectors use sound in order to fend off intruders (Philips, 2002).                                         The most widely used security detectors in the field of risk aversion employ passive infrared and microwave detectors that utilize measurements taken from the intensity of radiation received from items that could be in its field of view (Purpua, 2002). These sensors are used in the manufacture and assembling of motion detectors. Successful detection is achieved when a source such as human beings bypasses another source such as a door or window. Since the two object s will emit different intensities of electromagnetic radiations, the sensors are able to detect this and relay this information to the control boards as intrusion (Reid, 2005). We are first going to discuss about security devices that use infrared radiation as its intrusion technique. Characteristic of Infrared Radiation                       Infrared radiation which is sometimes shortened to IR, is part of the larger broader electromagnetic spectrum that includes, radio waves, visible light, microwaves among others (Barnard, 2001). IR radiation exhibits wavelengths of 0.7-300 micrometers and also displays a frequency range of between 1-430 Terahertz. This wavelength is of a greater wavelength than that of visible light. The infrared radiation is further divided into 3 categories based on the length of the wavelengths: Near Infrared: This form of radiation closely resembles visible light in characteristics, with wavelength of approximately between 0.7-1.3 microns. The second categ ory is Mid Infrared whose wavelength is between 1.3-3 microns. It is important to note that these two categories of infrared radiation are widely used in a number of electronic devices. The third and last category that constitutes Infrared radiation is the thermal infrared, which takes up a big part of the infrared radiation spectrum (Barnard, 2001). It displays wavelength characteristics of 3-30 microns. Another important point to note is that when the first two categories are reflected by objects or items, thermal infrared is rather emitted from objects as a result of actions taking place on the atomic stage (Barnard, 2001).

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Reoccurring Themes in the Work of Langston Hughes Essay

Langston Hughes is an extremely successful and well known black writer who emerged from the Harlem Renaissance (â€Å"Langston Hughes† 792). He is recognized for his poetry and like many other writers from the Harlem Renaissance, lived most of his life outside of Harlem (â€Å"Langston Hughes† 792). His personal experiences and opinions inspire his writing intricately. Unlike other writers of his time, Hughes expresses his discontent with black oppression and focuses on the hardships of his people. Hughes’ heartfelt concern for his people’s struggle evokes the reader’s emotion. His appreciation for black music and culture is evident in his work as well. Langston Hughes is a complex poet whose profound works provide insight into all aspects of black†¦show more content†¦He explains, â€Å"I was only an American Negro—who had loved the surface of Africa—but I was not Africa. I was Chicago and Kansas City and Broadway and Harlem . I was not what she wanted me to be† (Hughes as quoted in Cobb 44). Hughes wants to make sure people are aware that the life and culture of African Americans differ drastically from the romantic view of the Negro in Africa. In his poem â€Å"Mother to Son,† Hughes provides the story of struggle, poverty overcame by hard work, and hope for a more dignified life for the entire African American people (Niemi 1). Hughes recognizes that despite being oppressed, the black community is strong enough to empower itself with determination to succeed. When discussing working-class life, Hughes consistently â€Å"asserts blacks as fully complex, fully human, and equals in the American democratic experiment† and does not play into the thought that blacks should be kept down (Sanders 107). Langston Hughes’ â€Å"concern for the lives and oppression of poor and working-class blacks† is apparent in most of his work (Sanders 107). Through his writing he makes the p opulation aware of the deep-set oppression put upon the black community. Langston Hughes’ dedication to depicting the bona fide aspects of black life leads him to discuss struggle. One of the most omnipresent themes in black life, at the time of Hughes, is the constant struggle they face everyShow MoreRelatedLangston Hughes : The American Dream And Southern Migration With The Reality Of Prejudice2931 Words   |  12 Pages11/4/14 Langston Hughes Themes, Styles, and Techniques Langston Hughes has solidified his place as one of the greatest writers in American Literature to this day. This achievement is due to his thought provoking use of certain styles and techniques to portray his main themes and ideas. Many of Langston Hughes’ themes originated from his personal feelings and experiences. Hughes thus centers his themes around the ups and downs of African Americans living in America during his time. Langston HughesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Dream By Langston Hughes1909 Words   |  8 PagesThe poem Dream by Langston Hughes is about following your dreams, because we never know what our near future can become if we do not attempt to accomplish our visions in life. One way to define the word dreams is to refer to them as a reflection of our possibilities that we desire to think about and aspire to achieve. To add on, not only can dreams get us through hard times, but they are a reminder to ourselves to keep going, plus they provide you with a purpose in life. Hughes states, Hold fast

Monday, May 11, 2020

Lessons Learned From the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay - 1448 Words

The Epic of Gilgamesh, a Mesopotamian epic poem with no known author, is the story of the brute King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, who was two-thirds divine and one-third human, which teaches readers the unstoppable force of death, the wrath of the gods, and also the power of friendship, which are illustrated to readers through the characters journeys, and those encountered along the way. The poem, which is divided into twelve tablets, starts off with Gilgamesh being a vicious tyrant, one who â€Å"would leave no son to his father†¦ no girl to her mother†(Gilgamesh 101), and as for newly married couples â€Å"was to join with the girl that night†(Gilgamesh 109) transitions to by the end of the story an entirely new man. One of the main†¦show more content†¦Gilgamesh then goes on a fifty-five line long rant, just absolutely trashing Ishtar for her advances. Ishtar then runs to her father, who just so happens to be Anu, to request the Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgamesh. At first, Anu says that she provoked the king to say such things, but when Ishtar says she will raise the dead, the god agrees to her request. Yet again, Anu must show his wrath. The Bull of Heaven is released onto Uruk, but together, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are able to defeat it and save the city. Enkidu throws part of the bull’s body at Ishtar, and Gilgamesh hangs its massive horns in his bedroom, which of course only further angered Ishtar. After a night of celebration, Enkidu has a dream in which the gods say that he must die. Another example of the wrath of the gods, Enkidu falls ill and dies after twelve days. Hoping to discover how he himself can avoid the fate of his comrade, Gilgamesh goes on a journey to find Utna pishtim, a man who survived a great flood and was granted eternal life by the gods. When Gilgamesh finds him, Utnapishtim tells him the story of the flood he experienced, which was sent from the gods for no other reason than they were angry. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the wrath of the gods is provoked for many reasons, whether it is to teach a lesson, or the gods are simply angry. Either way, the wrath of the gods is present in this poem. Another theme that is also present in The Epic of Gilgamesh is theShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh : Gilgamesh1013 Words   |  5 Pages Gilgamesh in 2015 Even though the epic Gilgamesh is thousands of years old, it is still read today. Why would the era of technology read an epic this old? This is because the themes in Gilgamesh are still relevant. In addition, the themes are experiences that Gilgamesh went through in his life period, and serve as lessons for the current readers. Gilgamesh’s themes include journey, legacy, love, and death. These themes make Gilgamesh a vital reading for the 21st century citizens because peopleRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Odyssey1636 Words   |  7 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odysseus both are poems that have since early times been viewed as stories that teach the reader valuable life lessons, almost like a self-help book in today’s society. They both teach a lot of the same general lessons but there are some key similarities and differences throughout both works. Such as perseverance, and the inevitability of death are both lessons that are taught in each poem but the y are presented to the reader through different interpretations. In theRead MoreSundiata Essay971 Words   |  4 Pages Epics Sundiata was written in Africa. Gilgamesh was the oldest one written. Other works include the Iliad and the Odyssey, which were written by the blind prophet Homer. What do all these works of literature have in common with each other? The similarity that all these works of literature have is that they are all epics. What does this mean? What is an epic? The definition of an epic is that an epic is a long, narrative poem with a hero that goes on a quest. What is the hero? Well, the characteristicsRead Moreâ€Å"by the Waters of Babylon† vs Epic of Gilgamesh. Essay632 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"By the waters of Babylon† Vs Epic of Gilgamesh. A lot of stories concerning religions and cultures have lot of similarities and differences, despite the fact that they are not from the same era of time. Humans used these stories and writings to express their culture and religious views. â€Å"By the Waters of Babylon† is very similar to the writings of the Mesopotamian writings in The Epic of Gilgamesh more specificlay â€Å"The story of the flood† and â€Å"The Return†. These similarities include manyRead MoreEpic of Gilgamesh Essay915 Words   |  4 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh is one of earliest known pieces of literature. Through years of storytelling and translation, The Epic of Gilgamesh became a timeless classic. This story is believed to have originated from Sumerian poems and legends about the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. Throughout the epic, many themes arose about women, love, and journeys and the one I would like to discuss is the theme of death. Also, I will discuss if Gilgamesh accepts moral ity at the end of the story and the development ofRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh : King Of Uruk1332 Words   |  6 PagesIn the verse narrative The Epic of Gilgamesh the principal character Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, is described as an entity that is two-thirds god and one-third man. Gilgamesh is a hero/protagonist who exhibits many more human features than divine features. This makes him a flawed hero because all humans are flawed. He is even described in human terms. â€Å"A perfect physical specimen, gifted athlete and sex machine† [Davis p.154]. His primary flaws are pride and arrogance with his pursuit for immortalityRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1596 Words   |  7 PagesChristina Moore July 23, 2015 In the verse narrative The Epic of Gilgamesh the principal character Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, is described as a being that is two-thirds god and one-third man. Gilgamesh is a hero/protagonist who exhibits many more human features than divine features. This makes him a flawed hero because all humans are flawed. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the same type of story that is seen in the Old Testament. The story itself was found on stone tablets, written in the same time periodRead MoreElements Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh918 Words   |  4 PagesThe epic hero has been part of world literature since time immemorial. Epic tales have contained within them, various elements that have helped define the genre. These tropes have existed at least since the writing of the ancient Mesopotamian text, The Epic of Gigamesh. These vital characteristics transcend region, as they have been employed in the literature of disparate parts of the world. These elements can be seen the Old English tale of Beowulf, a s well as in the ancient Indian epic The RamayanaRead MoreGilgamesh And The Epic Of Gilgamesh988 Words   |  4 PagesThe maturation of Gilgamesh and his desire to acquire wisdom throughout his journey is quite apparent. By overcoming difficulties such as upholding Uruk, becoming friends with Enkidu, and various other scenarios, Gilgamesh proves that he did in fact grow up throughout the epic. As the epic starts, Gilgamesh is portrayed as a self-centered, self-admiring leader who believes that he is the only individual that can lead the city of Uruk. Gilgamesh believes that he is a god-like figure and often refersRead MoreReview Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1301 Words   |  6 Pagesthe protagonist s separation from his or her daily life. The next stage is the , threshold stage. After threshold is initiation or loss and the final stages are, the ultimate boon and return. Within every quest, there is also some lesson to be learned by the protagonist. The Epic of Gilgamesh, a story written thousands of years ago by the ancient Sumerians, follows the same archetypes as any modern day quest story. Gilgamesh begins his quest when he is separated from his normal life in Uruk and meets

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Supervisors Human Resource Management and Performance Appraisals Free Essays

Introduction Performance appraisals benefit the company in a variety of ways. On the flip side, they can also create difficulties if they aren’t completed correctly. Many problems within the company can arise when supervisors haven’t been properly trained on appraisals. We will write a custom essay sample on Supervisors: Human Resource Management and Performance Appraisals or any similar topic only for you Order Now On a bigger note, companies can also be placed in legal trouble if appraisals are done incorrectly. To avoid these issues, the Human Resource Department needs implement training to the supervisors who conduct performance appraisals. Problems Employee Development Using performance appraisals for developmental purposes is one of the greatest uses of them. Employees need to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses in order to produce the best results for the company. Improvements in performance will only occur if the manager has proactive discussions and shows the employee how to make improvements. In this case, Hubert isn’t helping Harriet by fibbing on her performance appraisal. She will continue to â€Å"slip† on her duties because she might not be aware that she is doing it. Reviewing a negative performance appraisal can be a very difficult task, but needs to be done to help the employees develop within the organization. Rating employees the same on the appraisals will not benefit the company at all. Not only is he hindering Harriet’s development, but it probably doesn’t keep Neil motivated. If his performance is outstanding, his rating needs to reflect that. Hubert should be able to tell him how valued he is to the company and how much his performance is appreciated. Retaining good performers is easier when these positive performance aspects are communicated to them. When done correctly, appraisals help to increase employee development and keep valuable employees motivated. Administration Use Performance appraisals are also used for administration use, an example being what the case represented. The way Hubert is conducting appraisals will not help managers when it is time to determine pay increases, decisions need to be made about promotions, transfers, and demotions, or if disciplinary actions lead to termination (Mathis Jackson, 2011). Now that it is time to make demotions, the appraisals need to help with decisions. These appraisals are not accurate due to Hubert lack of correctly evaluating both supervisors (Mathis Jackson, 2011, Case: Supervisors). Since there is no documented differences between the two supervisors, the appraisals are useless for administration use. â€Å"An appraiser should be required to provide justifications for the ratings in addition to appropriate documentation and information† (Smith, 2012). The company is going to have to let the better performing supervisor go in order to avoid legal issues. This could create some negative impacts for the company because the appraisal process wasn’t being implemented correctly. Legal Issues Disparate Impact or Treatment Discrimination can either be intentional or unintentional; either way it is illegal. Performance appraisal need to show an absences of disparate impact and treatment (Mathis Jackson, 2011). Using the scenario from the case, Harriet could file a lawsuit for discrimination is she were to get demoted or laid off during the reduction in force. Since there is no documented differences in their performance, Neil should be let go due to the seniority Harriet has over him. There could be grounds for a lawsuit if Hubert decides to demote or laid off Harriet. She could claim that they fired her because of her gender, and there would be no way for the company to prove that she was the poorer performer. There have been similar cases like this. â€Å"Adverse impact statistics have also been used successfully in â€Å"Disparate Treatment† cases to support an individual’s claim of race or gender discrimination† (Ducham, 2013). The importance of training manager correctly and evaluating the appraisal systems comes to light in this case. Supervisor Training It is important for companies to properly train their supervisor avoid legal issues with performance appraisals. These appraisals are very beneficial to the company and training of them should be stressed by the Human Resource Department. From the situation that occurred in this case, it seems as if Hubert hasn’t had any training on performance appraisals. To avoid situations like this from happening in the future, Hubert and all supervisors/department heads need to be trained on how to do these appraisals correctly. Mathis and Jackson (2011) pointed out some key topics that Human Resources should focus on when conducting training on appraisals. For this company, training how to communicate positive and negative feedback, when and how to discuss training and developmental goals, and how to avoid the common rating errors should be addressed (p. 347). Conclusion Hubert has created a problem for this company, but has showed the importance of proper training on appraisals. The company needs to evaluate their training procedure and make the appropriate changes. With a good training program in place for supervisors, the company will be able to avoid future problems with appraisals. How to cite Supervisors: Human Resource Management and Performance Appraisals, Essays

Friday, May 1, 2020

The Internal Auditors Role in Mis Developments free essay sample

Internal Auditors Role The Internal Auditors Role in MIS Developments By: Larry E. Rittenberg Charles R. Purdy The MIS manager in many organizations is encountering a new group concerned with the data processing function — the internal EDP auditor. These auditors often have a broad role ranging from evaluating data processing controls to reviewing data security and new system developments. However, in many organizations, the auditors role is not clear. This article integrates the results of our own survey with a review of recent literature in an attempt to explain more precisely the potential internal audit roles in the systems development process. After describing the sample, we review the rationale for audit involvement and the constraints upon such involvement as perceived by the internal auditor. This is followed by a report of our study of design phase auditing activities in 39 large organizations. The boundaries and role of the audit function are simultaneously reviewed in light of these activities. Finally, the, potential contribution to the MIS manager is noted, and recommendations are offered to the MIS manager interested in promoting a constructive working relationship with Internal auditors. Abstract The internal auditors role during the design phase of an EDP application is unclear in many organizations. This article integrates recent literature with the authors survey in an attempt to explain more precisely the potential role(s) of the internal auditor in the systems development process. In practice, four roles appear to exist. In the order of their importance, they are: (1) audit of control adequacy, (2) audit of design process, (3) auditor as a user of the application, and (4) auditor participant in the design process. The rank ordering of these roles in practice is explainable in terms of three constraints upon internal audit involvement during the design phase. The identified constraints are those of audit approach, audit independence, and management objectives. Although EDP manager reaction to internal audit involvement is generally favorable, it could be stronger. Upgrading of internal auditor expertise in EDP systems appears to be the key to improved acceptance. Finally, the potential contribution to the MIS manager of internal audit involvement is noted, and means of constructive interaction are suggested. The Sample The authors identified 48 organizations with Internal audit departments which performed EDP audits. Within each organization the internal audit manager received a questionnaire on EDP audit techniques. Members of top management and data processing management received a questionnaire probing their attitudes toward the EDP audit function. A summary of the distribution of questionnaires and responses is shown in Table 1. Of the 39 responses from internal auditors, 31 (or 79%) indicated that they performed some design phase auditing. A further analysis indicated that over half of the data processing departments had monthly budgets exceeding $300,000 Our focus is on the internal auditor who is a part of the organization. It is argued that such an auditor can deveiop sufficient familiarity with the data processing environment to be constructive whiie still providing an independent viewpoint. Sincethe reiationship invoives two parties; our recommendations clearly apply to both. Keywords: Internal audit. Internal auditor, roles, involvement, MIS developments. MIS applications, design phase, rationale, constraints, practice, EDP manager, MIS manager Categories: 1. 3, 2. 2, 2. 41, 2. 42. 2. 45, 2. 49, 3. 59 MIS Quarterly I December 1978 47 Internal Auditors Role Table 1. Questionnaire Distribution and Response Rates Intemal Auditor Responses received Non-responses Total questionnaires mailed Response rate D. P. Mgmt. Top Mgmt* 39 9 46 81% 28 20 48 58% 25 23 48 52% Top management was defined as the person to whom the head of internal auditing reported. Representatives inciuded controiiers, financiai wice presidents, and, in some instances, company presidents. and 86% rated their data processing environment as either complex or highly complex. potential system or control weaknesses, why not have them point out weaknesses at a time when it is most economical to correct? This view was recently summarized in a Stanford Research Institute (SRI) study as follows: Internal auditors must participate in the systems development process to ensure that necessary audit and control features are built into new computer-based information systems. An evaluation of the adequacy of controls after a system is installed determines weakness too late in the development process. The cost and time for modifying the system after installation can cause operational delays and may be used to argue against the inclusion of desired controls [24, p. 5]. Rationale for Internal Audit Involvement The typically stated rationale for internal audit involvement in the systems development process is that of potentiai cost savings and management support of such involvement. We believe two presumptions underlie this rationale: (1) The internal EDP auditor is an independent control expert, and (2) the internal auditor shares a mutuality of concerns with the MIS manager. Cost savings Auditors have been accused of avoiding new system developments; remaining content to criticize system weaknesses after installation. Such an audit approach is both inefficient and dysfunctional to the organization, if an organization has internal auditors capable of analyzing Examined closely, the above statement implies that cost savings really means that the benefits of design phase involvement exceed their costs. Management support The same SRi study went on to conclude that auditors are less involved [during the design phase] than management thinks they should be [24, p. 37]. Over 80% of the members of management surveyed felt that internal auditors should have some design phase audit involvement. But, according to the study, only 50-60% The rating of complexity was 4. 32 on a 5. 0 scale where a rating of 1 indicated a relatively simpie, batch processing system whiie a rating of 5 indicated a highiy complex, interrelated system in which an audit trail is not easily followed. 8 MIS Quarterly I December 1978 Internal Auditors Role of the companies with EDP audit staffs were spending time during the systems development phase (24, p. 38]. Further, the number of companies having separate EDP audit sections, although rising, is still a fairly low percentage of major companies. Our study described in Table 2 included six internal audit objectives which might be pursued during the design phase. Top management rated four of these six design phase objectives as important to very important, while two were in the somewhat important to important range. In brief, management support for design phase involvement apparently exists in the respondent companies, but it varies greatly among audit objectives. are experts in controls, yet they should not replace any ongoing activity of the firm. They evaluate the effectiveness of controls but are reluctant to assist data processing in designing needed controls. They have a mutuality of concerns with the MIS manager, yet they are often viewed as an adversary by the MIS manager. The audit role is often misunderstood by the auditee, and in some cases by the auditor himself. An understanding of the audit role should lead to more effective use of the audit function in the organization. The audit role is constrained by three major factors: 1. the basic audit approach, 2. the importance of audit independence, and 3. management and user objectives for audits. Mutual concerns We believe internal auditors have a mutuality of concerns with the MIS manager. Both are Interested in utilizing managerial controls to accomplish objectives* and minimize potential risks or exposures. Insofar as the internal EDP auditor is a control expert who can make a positive contribution (benefits exceed costs) to the achievement of common goals, design phase involvement is justified. The problem is one of delineating respective roles. To that end, we turn to potential constraints on the internal auditors role. Audit approach Internal auditing is defined as a managerial control which functions by measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of other controls [14]. The auditor is trai ned to be a control expert. The control orientation applies to overall organizational control as vvell as data processing and manual system controls. As applied to data processing, the auditor is normally concerned with two major types of controls: 1) control over processes, e. g. , the design process or data processing operations; and 2) controls designed within systems to ensure correctness of processing, safeguarding of assets, existence of an audit trail, and so forth. The audit approach will normally consist of evaluating and testing the adequacy of either existing or proposed controls and testing for compliance with management policies. A typical audit approach would find the auditor evaluating the potential exposures and complementary controls with the following questions: 1. Do standards or controls exist to minimize the potential risks? 2. Are the standards and controls adequate, appropriate, or cost-effective? 3. Are the standards and controls utilized as expected by management? 4. What is the effect if the standards and controls are not utilized? 5. Finally, can constructive suggestions be made? Constraints on internai Audit Involvement Internal auditors are unique. They are part of the organization, yet they are supposed to remain independent of the departments they audit. They Such controls might include time and dollar budgets, data processing standards, documentation requirements, performance evaiuation criteria, training, and reporting requirements. *An exposure represents a possible financial ioss to the organization. Mair, Wood and Davis [18, p. 11] iist the foiiowing exposures to be considered: erroneous record keeping, unacceptabie accounting, business interruptions, erroneous management decisions, fraud and embezziement, statutory sanctions, excessive cost/ deficient revenues, ioss or destruction of assets, competitive disadvantage. MIS Quarterly / December 1978 49 Internal Auditors Role Table 2. Ranking of EDP Audit Objectives* Ranking Importance by: Audit Objectives Top (Ordered by Top Management Ranking) Management EDP Audit Manager Performed During: Design Phase PostInstallation 1. Test controls of installed EDP application to assess reliability 2. Detect and/or deter fraudulent activity 3. Review new EDP application during design phase to assess adequacy of controls 4. Coordinate work with CPA to reduce or minimize external audit fee 5. Review EDP application development activities during design phase for adherence to stated policies and procedures 6. Conduct post audit of new EDP application to ascertain if projected results are achieved 7. Improve EDP application design activities by making constructive recommendations 8. Evaluate efficiency or effectiveness of EDP department operations 9. Assess appropriateness of new EDP application proposals; provide independent opinion to management 3. 71 3. 60 3. 52 3. 49 (2) 3. 14 (3). 3. 51 (1) No Yes Yes Yes Yes No 3. 25 3. 04 2. 21 (8) 2. 90 (5) Yes Yes Yes No 2. 92 2. 69. (6) No Yes 2. 80 3. 00 (4) Yes No 2. 44 2. 00 2. 64 (7) Not Rated No Yes Yes No Based on 25 responses from members of top management and 39 responses from EDP audit managers. The ranking Is based on a 4 point scale: 4:00 = very important; 3:00 = important; 2:00 = somewhat important; 1:00 = not Important. The figures In parentheses represent the relative ranking within the EDP audit manager group. SO MIS Quarterly I December 1978 Internal Auditors Role In summary, the audit approach is, by nature, an ex-post activity. As such, it tends to prohibit direct involvement in the design process. Audit independence Internal auditing is an independent appraisal function established within an organization. The key concept is independence. The auditors independence ensures an unbiased review which enhances the auditors eporting credibility. To maintain independence, auditors will avoid situations (e. g. , designing new systems) where they might have to audit their own work. Further, they want to report to organizational levels such that they are free of direct influence by potential auditees. potential design phase audit work. The major design phase, audit objecti ves, concentrates on the adequacy of application controls to ensure correctness of processing and to deter potential fradulent activity. In addition, top management also expressed some desire to have auditors review the design process to ascertain adherence to stated policies and procedures. Finally, It is apparent that management is not very interested in auditors duplicating existing data processing functions such as assessing the appropriateness of new EDP application proposals, or spending time evaluating the overall effectiveness of EDP operations. Interestingly, Table 2 also shows that the top management importance ratings are generally higher than those of EDP audit managers. Thus, EDP audit managers may have stronger management support in pursuing audit objectives than they perceive. Management objectives Audit activities should be responsive to the desires of both top management and the needs of the various segments of the organization. Our study asked members of top management and the heads of the internal EDP audit function to rate the importance of various EDP audit objectives. These ratings are presented in Table 2, and each objective is categorized as to whether it might be pursued during the design phase, post-Installation phase, or both. The data in Table 2 indicate that, with only minor variation, the objectives of the EDP audit manager closely parallel those of top management. Four of the top five objectives rated by management, ail with a ranking of 3. 0 or better, contain Current Internal Audit Involvement Reiative importance of design ptiase involvement Our study identified 39 large companies with separate EDP audit sections of which 31 (79%) indicated some design phase audit involvement. This may be compared with the 50-60% reported in the SRI study cited earlier. As sho wn in Table 3, an average of only 23% of EDP audit time was spent on design phase audit activities. Some internal audit departments, though, spent as much as 70% of their EDP audit time on design phase audits. Some respondents to our study indicated that their perception of internal auditor independence would be increased if steps were taken to ensure that the internal auditor involved in the design phase was not permitted to engage in post-installation audits of the application. Respondents also Indicated that direct involvement as a design participant would reduce perceived independence. A companys chief financial officer and its chief accounting officer are the wrong choices to oversee its internal audit staff, says SEC Chairman Harold Wiiiiams. In a recent speech in Los Angeles, he added that supervision by these two executives inevitably would place substantial conflicting pressures on the independence of internal auditors. The CPA Letter, October 23, 1978, p. 4. †¢The Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient showed agreement at the . 02 level (two-tailed). The Krusal-Wallis Analysis ot Variance by Ranks showed a probability of disagreement of . 30 (two-taiied). †¢Using a sign test for matched pairs, this difference was significant at only the . 29 level (two-tailed). The MannWhitney U test gave similar results, the probability of difference being . 278 (two-tailed). MIS Quarterly I December 1978 51 Internal Auditors Role Table 3. Distribution of EDP Audit Time Percent of Audit Time Devoted to Area* 23% 33% 18% 17% 9% 100% Audit Area Design Phase Existing EDP Application EDP Facility Organization and Processing Efficiency Support Services for Management and Other Audit Personnel Other Totai 1. Audit of control adequacy. This design phase audit emphasizes the adequacy of both manual and computerized controls associated with the application. Audit invoivement might vary from: (1) no involvement, through (2) review of the application at key checkpoints, to (3) constant availability for consultation with system designers and users [7]. The MIS manager can expect an audit evaluation of the adequacy of controls and a specification of control concerns or objectives. The choice on how to meet the control objectives, however, lies with the system designer and user. As shown in Table 4, these are the most performed design phase audit activities. 2. Audit of the design process. This audit is designed to provide an outside evaluation of the development process. The audit approach begins with a sound set of system development standards and ascertains compliance with those standards. A lack of such standards would constitute a significant control weakness. The audit approaches utilized pay particular attention to existing policies and adequacy of documentation. 3. Auditor as a user, in many organizations the need for audit and control considerations to be assessed during the design phase has led to the recognition that auditors are a major user of many systems. Management is becoming more concerned that new systems will be auditable. At the same time there is pressure for the auditors to develop more sophisticated and efficient audit techniques such as an integrated test facility' or embedded audit routines. As reported by Rittenberg and Davis [21, p. 57] such audit techniques are perceived to be the most influential in Represents the mean of 36 responses from EDP Audit Managers. Three companies did not answer this question. Relative importance of design phase activities and roles The surveyed EDP audit managers were provided with a list of twelve potential design phase audit activities and asked . . to indicate the frequency with which you perform each activity during the design phase of significant new EDP applications. Thus, the relative importance of an activity is measured in terms of the percentage of cases in which it is actually performed; not in terms of the time spent. Responses to the question are in terms of selecting percentage ranges on a five point scale rather than point estimates. Table 4 prese nts the twelve potential design phase audit activities and the mean percentages of actual performance by respondent companies. As an aid to comprehension, the means computed from the five point scale responses have been converted to roughly equivalent percentages. We have also categorized the twelve activities of Table 4 into four potential audit roles. In order of their relative importance, they are: audit of control adequacy, audit of design process, auditor as a user, and auditor as a participant. The nature of each role is discussed beiow. The Integrated test fadiity, also referred to as the minicompany approach, starts with an application designed to operate on separate organizational units such as departments or companies. The auditor establishes a unit solely for audit purposes. The auditors prepare transaction data, submit the transactions and analyze resuits as processed on the audit unit. For exampie, a payroll appiication might process data for departments A, B, C, D, and the audit test department at the same time, using the same program. In other words, testing Is conducted concurrently with regular operations. An embedded audit routine is a part of the processing program that does testing and collects data during processing for subsequent review. 2 MIS Quarterly I December 1978 Internal Auditors Role Table 4. Design Phase Audit Activities Audit Roles and Audit Activities Audit ot Control Adequacy Identify audit trail and control requirements Assess and report potential risks to management (Including DP management) Review conversion tests performed by others Audit of Design Process Review design documentation for compliance with company policy Review design activities for compliance with company policies Review feasibiiity study for reasonableness, compatibiiity with present facilities, etc. Auditor as a User Prepare audit guide for future audits of the application Sign off at end of each major phase noting approval or specifying deficiencies Design, or supervise development of, embedded audit routines to be inciuded in application Auditor Participation Participate as part of team performing conversion tests Act as liaison between programmers, users and systems design personnel Participate as member of feasibility study committee to assess appropriateness of proposed appiications 9 4 2 1 Overall Rank 3. 99 Performance Means (1-5 Scale)* % Equivalent** 80% 4. 64 91 3 4. 06 3. 28 3. 9 4. 12 3. 73 70% 81 7 58 82 5 72 8 3. 22 3. 32 3. 79 60% 57 73 6 3. 51 65 11 2. 67 2. 51 2. 82 2. 69 35% 39 44 10 40 12 2. 01 18 *Based on the responses of 31 EDP audit managers in companies which perform design phase audits. The other companies (approximateiy 20%) that do not perform any design phase auditing have tieen exciuded from the tabie. The fivo-point response scaie included the foilo wing captions: (1) never; (2) seidom (less than 35% of the time); (3) haif (35-65%); (4) usuaiiy (65-95%); (5) aiways or almost aiways (95-100%). †¢Conversion: 5:00 = 97. 5; 4:00 = 80; 3:00 = 50; 2:00 = 17. ; thus 3. 50 = 65%. MIS Quarterly I December 1978 53 Internal Auditors Role potentially reducing the scope of the work conducted by the external auditor. 4. Auditor as a design participant. Auditors will normally avoid participation as a designer for two reasons: (1) it may impair the auditors independence with respect to the system; and (2) the audit function is not designed to replace other activities. Therefore, as seen in Table 4, auditors have for the most part avoided participation in performing conversion tests or acting as a liaison between users and designers. The design phase audit activities shown in Table 4 represent a responsive approach to the management objectives presented earlier. For example, assessment of control adequacy is an important objective and it is frequentiy done. Conversely, assessing new proposals or evaluating EDP operations was not important, and this appears to be consistent with the infrequent role of the auditor as a design participant. ations of internal audit reports is shown in Table 5. Generally, the reports are perceived to be unbiased and within the scope of expected activities, but the thorough and constructive aspects could stand improvement. Technical correctness is the weakest item. We believe upgrading of internal auditor expertise in EDP systems is a likely first step toward solution. It should directly address the weakest link and, in turn, improve the next weakest areas. While the problem belongs to internal audit, MIS may have a role to play in its solution. Some data processing managers expressed concern that auditors may lose independence when performing such activities as acting as a liaison between users and designers, signing off on developments, or assisting in the design of controls. These managers felt that auditors could increase their independence by obtaining greater EDP technical competence. Many made suggestions that the audit function might recruit EDP employees and train them in auditing. In fact, some organizations have set up programs where selected data processing personnei will spend two to three years in EDP audit to gain a broad perspective of the data processing function. Reactions to design ptiase invoivement and reports The more frequently performed activities should provide the MIS manager with an independent analysis during the design of new systems. Weiss and Perry [26, p. 1] speculate that the majority of data processing managers: . . . welcome an independent appraisal of their systems to ascertain that there are no major deviations from control standards. No data processing manager can be personally involved In all systems of his organization. Hence, he is glad to have additional assurance to boost his confidence in the finished product. Weiss and Perry note that although many auditors have problems, when properly structured, an auditor playing the devils advocate role can help reduce the high risi

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Utilitarianism Theory Essays - Utilitarianism, Philosophy Of Life

Utilitarianism Theory The Utilitarian Theory is a much more structured theory than Egoism, but which one is better? Is it better to bring the most happiness to the most people, or is it better to maximize the happiness of the single individual? Well, in the perfect world you use both theories in conjunction, but if you must choose one or the other, utilitarianism is definitely the one to be used. This is the case because it is structured to use a subjective review instead of objective in the case of egoism. A point system given to the quality of happiness can be the only true way to judge what is best for everyone. On the other hand, who is given the right to choose how strong the happiness is in a given situation. How can we say for sure that winning the lottery gives more happiness than getting married? I believe that this is one problem for the Utilitarianism view. Even though the theory uses a rigid point system, the circumstances are different in every situation; therefore it should give different point values depending on the other factors in the situation. Everyone has a different opinion on what deserves the highest point value. For instance, let's say that 50 men think having an endless supply of money is the most important aspect of life, but 50 different men think having a good lover is the most important aspect of life. Depending on which group you ask you will get different answers on determining your point system for Utilitarianism. I believe this is the case across the board. Utilitarianism is a great theory if you can find the right way to determine the point system that it uses. One other issue that arises in this theory is dealing with immoral decisions by saying that it is in the best interest of the entire group. Is it right to cause pain to an individual for the better of the group? By this theory the answer is yes! QUESTIONS 1. How should the rigid point system be determined? 2. Is it possible to use both theories to define a situation and what course of action should be taken? Are there any situations that would result in total happiness for all?

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Resume Objective How to Know When One is Necessary

Resume Objective How to Know When One is Necessary Unofficially, when you’re applying for jobs, your resume objective is pretty much always the same: â€Å"I would like to get a job.† There may be more specifics than that, but let’s be honest- that’s the main goal here. So if you know your objective is to get this job, and the recruiter or hiring manager knows you are also interested in said job (because otherwise, why would they even have your resume?), why do you need to make this explicit in your resume? 1. What IS a Resume Objective?2. Do You Need a Resume Objective?3. What If You Decide to Skip It?4. What Does a Good Objective Have?5. Where to BeginWhat IS a Resume Objective?An objective is a short statement at the top of your resume (right after your essential contact details) that sums up for the reader where you are in your career, and what you’re seeking as the next step. So as you see, it’s a little different than â€Å"hire me.† Think of it as part of your elevator pitch for hiring you, instead of a literal statement of your job search. Again, you know why you’re there, and the reader knows why you’re there, but the objective is the kickoff to your campaign to convince them why they need to hire you. Basically, it’s your first chance to start breaking away from the pack.For example, if you’re applying for a nursing assistant position, and everyone has the same objective that says something like, â€Å"Seeking employment as a nursing assistant,† the reader will start glazing over by the third resume. You want your resume to stand out from the crowd, and the objective is another tool you can use to do that. But be careful: the resume objective is not necessarily the same thing as the resume summary statement. The resume summary statement, also known as a qualification summary or a competency summary, is a short statement or list of bullets that summarize skills and experience. It ties those skills and experience to the theme (or brand) you’re trying to establish for your resume. How is it different from an objective? A summary statement is a good way to take a long or complicated job/skills history and put your best self (your brand) into a few concise sentences. It’s not as good for newbie job seekers or career changers, because you might still be establishing that brand.Do You Need a Resume Objective?Well, that part’s a little controversial. Not everyone agrees that an objective is a good use of resume space these days. U.S. News World Report argues that the risks of a poorly written objective statement outweigh the benefits of including one at all, and that an objective is a waste of super-precious resume space. This is also the view taken by the folks at The Muse. The bottom line: there’s no unanimous voice fighting for the resume objective.But above all, regardless of what everyone else says, you need to decide what’s right for your resume and your job sear ch. An objective can be a very effective way to present yourself- you just need to make sure that you’re writing a good one that deserves to take that space. You should consider keeping an objective on your resume if:You’re just out of school, or don’t have tons of experience in your field.You’re changing careers, or applying for a job where your previous experience doesn’t apply 1:1.You’re focusing on a very specific position in your field (e.g. you’re not just sending your resume to a company you like, or passing it along to a recruiter, and hoping for an opening that fits). The objective is a way to start establishing that branding, or reframe your narrative. Cover letters are far from a given these days, in the age of faceless job application engines. The objective can be a handle, a narrative statement that could pack some of that same â€Å"I am perfect for this job† punch that would normally be covered in a cover letter. It’s a way to neatly outline your current goals, and align that with the job description at hand. The objective tells the reader what you’re seeking and starts the narrative of how you fit this job.What If You Decide to Skip It?I mean, the sky isn’t going to fall on your job search if you decide against including a resume objective. It’s unlikely that someone will get to the end of an otherwise fantastic resume and think, if only this person had included an objective. But that’s not necessarily the way to look at it- there are plenty of things you can leave off a resume that wouldn’t be missed. Instead, think of it as a proactive element you can use to your advantage. If you skip it, you likely won’t be actively damaging your chances at the position, but you are consciously skipping an opportunity to position yourself even better.What Does a Good Objective Have?If you decide to go ahead with a resume objective, you need to do it well . As mentioned earlier, resume space is precious. If you’re going to devote several lines to it, that’s several lines you can’t devote to something else. So you need to make sure your resume objective has these elements:It’s customized. Like the rest of your resume, it should be tailored to the job for which you’re applying- or at least the company. Generic objectives are visible from a mile away.It should be backed up. Anything you bring up in the resume objective, you should be prepared to flesh out in bullet points later in the resume.It’s not just about you. You’re great, you’re awesome. But lots of great, awesome people are going to end up in the â€Å"meh† or â€Å"no† pile of resumes. The goal is to start showing the reader that your awesomeness is the one that should get an interview for this Use it to emphasize your potential value to the company.It’s not a bragfest. Don’t just insert all th e flattering adjectives you can find. Use relevant action words that, again, will be backed up and enhanced by the rest of your resume.It’s short. This isn’t your memoir, it’s a brief statement that sets the tone for your resume.It adds value to the resume. If you’re just restating points or skills verbatim from later in the resume, don’t bother. The objective should be more of a â€Å"greatest hits† overview that is condensed into its most powerful form. So what does that â€Å"good† objective look like? Think of it as a formula.Strong traits + The role you want to fill + Good fit for the company = ObjectiveDon’t overcomplicate the objective: a sentence or two is great. You don’t need a bulleted list, or a long narrative paragraph. And in fact, a long paragraph could be a total visual momentum-killer, which is the last thing you want right at the start of the resume. You can label it as its own â€Å"Objective† s ection on your resume, but that’s not essential- it could just be a standalone sentence at the top of your resume, and the reader will understand what the purpose of it is.Where to BeginTo get you started, here are some examples of resume objectives- the good, the bad, and the ugly. You can also find templates and samples online, like with ResumeGenius and The Interview Guys (who also have a resume objective â€Å"cheat sheet† you can get via email). Let’s take a look at what to do and what not to do.The GoodExperienced customer service representative with more than 7 years of experience, seeking to leverage strong technical and customer-facing skills into an entry-level information technology position for TechSolutions Corp.Detail-oriented researcher with strong communication skills looking to transition into a blogging and social media coordinator position.Objective: To leverage 10 years of continuing education teaching experience and fluency in English, Spani sh, and French into a part-time ESL teaching position. The BadFabulous customer service rep seeks to leverage legendary skills into IT. (Let the reader make the judgment about whether your skills are â€Å"legendary.†)Bringing my brand to your blog and social media platforms. (What brand? Why you?)I would like a job teaching English to non-native speakers. (What skills and experience would you bring?)Seeking a full-time position in my chosen industry where I can apply my experience and skills to that position. (Waaay too vague.)The UglyI would like a job that pays at least $30,000 per year, with strong benefits and flexible hours to accommodate my child’s care schedule.I’ve always loved reading, so I’d like to secure a position with a large publishing company.Remember, the objective really sets the tone for the resume- it’s right under your name, and hits the reader before they get down to your qualifications and skills. If you’re going to i nclude one, make sure it’s the most specific, appealing one you can write. This is your chance to start moving ahead of the pack, so make sure you’re taking full advantage!b

Monday, February 17, 2020

Ethical Issues in Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Ethical Issues in Education - Essay Example The purpose of decision making is to direct human behavior towards a future goal. In school environment, group decision making involves co-acting members with specialized knowledge, interacting to arrive at some valued decisions or outcomes. Ethical and moral decision-making in schools are important because it determines the main trends and approaches to education including staff relations and teacher-student interaction. Educational leadership in schools is interpreted in simple terms, such as getting others to follow or getting people to do things willingly, or interpreted more specifically, for example as the use of authority in decision making. It may be exercised as an attribute of position, or because of personal knowledge or wisdom. Although, modern views on leadership underline the importance of personal traits of educational leaders and his/her ability to lead and direct teaching staff and students. The aim of the paper is to analyze and evaluate the main issues and problems faced by school principals, and their impact on education process and moral development of students. In schools, ethical decision-making is purely a matter of subjective choice or preference, or a matter relegated to religious beliefs and dogma is also misguided. Ethics can be and has been the subject of public debate and public consensus. Ethical decision-making is gained from reflecting on the ways the community solved the practical problems of living together in a self-governing community. Following Beck (1994) in one sense, ethical knowledge does not issue in absolutes, for the community never came up with the one best way to respond in all situations. In schools, ethical and moral decision-making of a principle is crucial because he/she demonstrates how to be an ethical person by living in the community and learning the normal ways the community conducted its affairs and relationships. As long as educators have been able to draw on the conception of science as the authority about the world, they have been able to legitimize a claim to always "know what is best" for their stude nts. Acknowledging that the voice of the student carries its own distinctive authority means challenging the accepted distribution of power and authority within school. If questions of the nature of knowledge cannot be untangled from those of ethics, neither can they be untangled from questions of education politics (Aiken et al 1995). Accordingly, ethics needs to focus on the practical decision-making context. It must certainly be multidisciplinary: sociological, philosophical, psychological, and educational. More importantly, it needs to return to the real roots of education itself and to immerse itself in its own proper theoretical objects. The accumulation of these ethical decisions, together with the technical decisions with which they are intimately linked, contributes importantly to the final outcome of any particular encounter (Ashbaugh & Kasten 1995). Allowing for the context in which the original approach to the school principle is made educational outcomes depend more on the ethical decisions than on any other factors, including the decisions that may, in relevant circumstances, eventually emerge regarding the more familiar life and education issues. In school, the principle is a leader

Monday, February 3, 2020

The Wechsler Intelligence Scales Research Paper

The Wechsler Intelligence Scales - Research Paper Example Currently, the scales are available in three versions, they include WAIS-III, which measures adult intelligence, WISC-III, which measures intelligence in children, and WPPSI-R, which is designed for children aged between 4 and 6 ? years (IUPUI, 2010). There have been several revisions to improve the test ability of the scales and to include more population groups since Wechsler published the first scale in 1939. The purpose of WAIS-III is to measure adult intellectual ability. The scale is in its third edition, and is designed for individuals aged between 16 and 89 years (Pearson Assessments, 2011). The scale is administered in the form of visual, performance, and full tests for durations of between 60 and 90 minutes. The scale’s norms include IQ and index scores, which are all designed to test the individual’s intellectual ability in a comprehensive manner. The scale’s internal structure is composed of subtests that include tests on verbal comprehension, percept ual organization, working memory, processing speed and visual memory. The validity and reliability of WAIS-III are supported by correlations with previous editions of the intelligence scales and by clinical studies on adults with hearing impairments, retardation, and other forms of cognitive disabilities. The scale’s validity and reliability are also promoted by the availability of multiple tests administered to people with multiple intellectual abilities. WISC-III Also developed by David Wechsler, the purpose of the third edition children’s intelligence scale, (WISC-III), is to test for verbal and performance abilities among children aged between 7 and 16 years. It includes tests on information, coding, arithmetic, vocabulary, and comprehension (Kamphaus, 2005). Verbal abilities are tested through oral subtests while performance abilities are tested through nonverbal problems. Although all tests are timed, bonus points are awarded for faster work and older children ha ve to earn much higher points to rank with the appropriate age group. The test has several subtests grouped into the general areas of verbal and performance scales. Verbal scales are designed to measure language, memory skills, reasoning and general knowledge while performance scales are meant to measure problem-solving, spatial, and sequencing skills. Administration of the test is done by trained examiners to individual examinees and a complex test material is usually required. In scoring, the test scores are converted to standard scores and computed with a standard deviation of 3 and a mean score of 10. Scores in the subscales of verbal and performance areas are turned into IQ scores, and later summed to obtain the overall score. All scores obtained in the tests are normative with a standard deviation of 15 and a mean score of 100. The scores are then classified to indicate the individual’s class as follows: Beyond 130- gifted, 120-129- very high, 110-119- bright normal and 90-109- average (IUPUI, 2010). Individuals who score 85-89 are considered low average, 70-84 are classed as borderline mental functioning, and scores below 50 indicate cases of mild, moderate, or severe retardation. The multiple tests incorporated within the intelligence

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Effects Of The Pocari Sports Drink

Effects Of The Pocari Sports Drink The purpose of this study is to find what effects the sport drink Pocari sweat has on some selected physiological variables. The main aim of the sports research world is to improve athletes performance. The ways in which this is accomplished is by either developing products to aid in performance or determining how to make an athletes body more efficient in sport activities. Two main research areas are water and sports drinks. The human body is composed of nearly 60% water (Guyton Hall, 2006). The importance of water in the body cannot be overstated. If an individual goes without water for only a few days he will die. One of the most important functions of water in the body is temperature regulation and maintaining normal blood pressure. On the other hand sports drinks are improving and develop the level of athletic achievement, especially in sports. Sports drinks play a major role in fluid homeostasis, because exercise may lead to substantial sweat losses, considerable attention has been given to the electrolyte composition of sweat and the possible need to replace these electrolytes during exercise. The only valid method to determine total sweat electrolyte losses during exercise is the analysis of whole-body sweat. Also sports drinks are necessary to compensate lost of fluids and to maintain the level of physiological variables during high intensity exercise. Furthermore , during exercise , the body will lose water and energy as a consequence of sweating. Fluid replacement is critical to ameliorate the deterioration in physiological function and performance that accompanies dehydration (Convertino et al, 1996). Iman identifies in his study some physiological variables to the players long distances under the influence of high intensity accompanied by drinking of different types of liquids or no drink during the different times, as well as to identify differences on heart rate as an indicator of the efficiency of the heart when dealing with fluids between different times. (Saying too many things making this sentence very long, complex and confusing. Break this into shorter sentences to describe one idea at time). In addition to the experimental method used in this study, research was done on a sample of 9 athletes who were national long distance runners from Iraq. The most important devices and tools that were used in this study were: body weight medical apparatus, treadmill, ECG, and clock radio with a belt (to measure and monitor the heart rate). Some of the more important points inferred from this study were : first, that a lack of fluid in the first group has a negative effect on heart rate during high intensity physical workouts and during the period of rest. Second, drinking of liquids (water, glucose) by the second group and the third group has a positive impact in maintaining a low heart rate during high intensity physical workouts and the stage of recovery. These positive cases are the effect of liquids on the athletes. Third, sodium intake had a negative impact on the fourth group where their heart rates were high during high intensity physical workouts and the stage of recovery. (I man, 2001) In another study by Isabela et al, the participants who volunteered were twenty soccer players). Players were allocated to two assigned trials according to their positional roles in the team: CHO group (ingesting a 6% carbohydrate electrolyte solution at regular 15 minutes intervals) and NCHO (ingesting no fluid) during 75 min on field soccer game. During the trials, body mass loss, heart rate, time spent running, number of sprints and core temperature were measured. There were statistically significant changes (p The main finding of this study provides encouraging evidence that soccer players should drink a carbohydrate electrolyte drink throughout a match to avoid the negative consequences of dehydration, especially regarding performance. (Isabela et al, 2004) According to Neil (2007) the water or fluid important to the maintenance of sweat rates, especially in the heat, is extremely important for temperature regulation. In hypohydrated individuals, the compromise between cardiovascular function and temperature regulation is broken and sweat rates and skin blood flow are reduced to maintain adequate cardiac output. Fluid replacement during exercise appears to offset thermal strain caused by dehydration. Dehydration prior to exercise leads to excess heat storage due to a reduction in sweat sensitivity when individuals were not allowed to drink fluids during exercise. When individuals were allowed to drink cool water ad libitum, heat storage was reduced and sweat sensitivity and cardiovascular function (HR) were restored. Similarly, complete restoration of body fluids during exercise by forced water intake equal to fluid lost during exercise results in uncompromised cardiovascular function, indicated by cardiac output, stroke volume, and heart rate, and temperature regulation. However, it should be noted that, although typically occurring less often than significant hypohydration, research has correlated incidences of hyponatremia during exercise with large quantities of dilute beverages, such as water especially in individuals that are predisposed to excess water intake and inappropriate suppres sion of arginine-vasopressin. a study by Edward (2004) showed that creating a practical recommendations for fluid and fuel intake during exercise based upon interpretation of the scientific literature, with heavy reliance upon controlled laboratory studies as well as careful study of athletes in the field during training and competition. the amounts of water, carbohydrate and salt that athletes are advised to ingest during exercise are based upon their effectiveness in attenuating both fatigue as well as illness due to hyperthermia, dehydration or hyperhydration. (Meaning, punctuation, are unclear for this paragraph) When possible, fluid should be ingested at rates that most closely match sweating rate. When that ingestion rate is not possible, practical or sufficiently ergogenic, some athletes might tolerate body water losses amounting to 2% without significant risk to physical well-being or performance in cold environment (e.g. 5-108C) or temperate environment (e.g. 21-228C). However, when exercising in a hot e nvironment (4308C), dehydration by 2% of body weight impairs absolute power production and predisposes individuals to heat injury. Fluid should not be ingested at rates in excess of sweating rate and thus body water and weight should not increase during exercise. Fatigue can be reduced by adding carbohydrate to the fluids consumed so that 30-60g of rapidly absorbed carbohydrate are ingested throughout each hour of an athletic event. Furthermore, sodium should be included in fluids consumed during exercise lasting longer than 2 h or by individuals during any event that stimulates heavy sodium loss (more than 3-4 g of sodium). Athletes do not benefit by ingesting glycerol, amino acids or alleged precursors of neurotransmitter. Ingestion of other substances during exercise, with the possible exception of caffeine, is discouraged. Serge et al (2004) found that fluid levels are vital to help achieve maximum performance, with fluctuating electrolyte levels and dehydration in excess of 2% of body weight shown to consistently impair aerobic exercise performance. Several studies have confirmed that performance will be impaired when athletes are dehydrated. Endurance athletes have to drink beverages containing electrolyte and carbohydrate during and after training. Drinking during competition or training is desirable compared with liquid ingestion before or after training or competition only. Athletes seldom replace fluids fully due to sweat loss. Suitable hydration during training or competition will lead to enhanced performance, avoid resulting thermal stress, delay fatigue, and prevent injuries associated with dehydration and sweat loss. In contrast, hyperhydration or over-drinking before, during, and after endurance events may cause Na+ depletion and may lead to hyponatremia. It is imperative that endurance athl etes replace sweat loss by fluid intake containing about 4% to 8% of carbohydrate solution and electrolytes during training or competition. It is recommended that athletes drink approximately 500 mL of fluid solution 1 to 2 h before an event and continue to consume cool or cold drinks in regular intervals to replace liquid loss due to sweat. For intense prolonged exercise lasting longer than 1 h, athletes must consume between 30 and 60 g/h and drink between 600 and 1200 mL/h of a solution containing carbohydrate and Na+ (0.5 to 0.7 g/L of fluid). Maintaining suitable hydration before, during, and after training and competition will help decrease fluid loss, maintain performance, lower submaximal exercise heart rate, maintain plasma volume, and reduce heat stress, heat exhaustion, and possibly heat stroke. Suitable hydration during training or competition will lead to improve performance, avoid ensuing thermal stress, maintain plasma volume, delay fatigue, and prevent injuries associated with dehydration and sweat loss. Maughan et al, (1996) showed that it is generally accepted that the performance of prolonged exercise can be improved by the ingestion of carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks during exercise. It is well established that the ingestion of carbohydrate-containing drinks can improve the performance of prolonged exercise. The present study examined the effects of ingestion of water and two dilute glucose-electrolyte drinks on exercise performance and on cardiovascular and metabolic responses to exercise. Twelve subjects exercised to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer at a workload corresponding to 70% VO2 max on five occasions each separated by 1 week. The first trial served to accustom subjects to experimental conditions. On one trial, no drinks were given and on the others subjects drank 100 ml every 10 min. Drinks consisted of water, an isotonic glucose-electrolyte solution (I: 200 mmol/l glucose; 35 mmol/l NA2; 310 mosmol/kg) and a hypotonic glucose-electrolyte solution (H: 90 mmol/l glucose; 60 mmol/l Na+; 240 mosmol/kg). Treatment order was randomized. Blood and expired air samples were taken and heart rate and rectal temperature measured at intervals during exercise. Median exercise time was greatest for treatment H (110.3 min) followed by treatment I (107.3 min), water (93.1) and no drink (80.7). Endurance times differed significantly overall, and for pairwise comparisons (P According to George et al (1998) the onset of fatigue during prolonged submaximal high-intensity exercise is associated with (a) reduction, if not depletion, of muscle glycogen, (b) reduction in blood glucose concentration, and (c) dehydration. The sample for this study was nine subjects (eight men and one woman) ran to exhaustion on a motorised treadmill on two occasions separated by at least 10 days. After an overnight fast, they performed repeated 15 second bouts of fast running (at 80% VO2MAX for the first 60 minutes, at 85% VO2MAX from 60 to 100 minutes of exercise, and finally at 90% VO2MAX from 100 minutes of exercise until exhaustion), separated by 10 seconds of slow running (at 45% VO2MAX). On each occasion they drank either a water placebo (P) or a 6.9% carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO) solution immediately before the run and every 20 minutes thereafter. The result of this study was (showed that) performance times were not different between the two trials (112.5 (23.3) and 110.2 (21.4) min for the P and CHO trials respectively; mean (SD)). Blood glucose concentration was higher in the CHO trial only at 40 minutes of exercise (4.5 (0.6) v 3.9 (0.3) mmol/l for the CHO and P trials respectively; p These results suggest that drinking a 6.9% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution during repeated bouts of submaximal intermittent high intensity running does not delay the onset of fatigue. Another study done by Sergej Sanja (2002) showed that fatigue during prolonged submaximal high intensity exercise is associated with a reduction, of muscle glycogen, a reduction in blood glucose concentration, and dehydration. The participants in the study were twenty two professional male soccer players. The players were allocated to two assigned trials ingesting carbohydrate-electrolyte drink or placebo during a 90 min on-field soccer match. The trials were matched for subjects age, weight, height and maximal oxygen uptake. Immediately after the match, players completed four soccer-specific skill tests. Blood glucose concentration (mean  ±SD) was higher at the end of the match-play in the carbohydrate-electrolyte trial than in the placebo trial (4.4 ±0.3 vs. 4.0 ±0.3 mmol.l-1, P The main finding of this study provides further supportive evidence that soccer players should drink carbohydrate-electrolyte fluid throughout a game to help prevent deterioration in specific skill performance and improve recovery. These findings have relevance in the design of optimal rehydration plan to improve performance and reduce fatigue and cardiovascular stress during match play. Study by Khanna Manna (2005) showed that loss of fluid electrolyte and reduction of the bodys carbohydrate stores are the major causes of fatigue in prolonged exercise. The objective of this study is to show if Carbohydrate-electrolyte drink has a significant role on energy balance during exercise. For this study, a total of 10 male athletes (age range: 20-25yr) were selected.) The experiment was performed in the laboratory in two phases; phase 1 no supplementation, and phase 2 a 5 g per cent carbohydrate-electrolyte drink was given orally during exercise and a 12.5 g per cent carbohydrate-electrolyte drink during recovery. Subjects performed an exercise test at 70% VO2max. Performance time, heart rate during exercise and recovery were noted, blood samples were collected during exercise and recovery for the analysis of glucose and lactate levels in both the phases. The result for this study found significant improvements were noted in total endurance time, heart rate responses and blood lactate during exercise at 70% VO2max after the supplementation of 5 g per cent carbohydrate-electrolyte drink. However, no significant changes were noted in blood glucose and peak lactate level irrespective of supplementation of carbohydrate-electrolyte drink. Significant improvement in cardiovascular responses, blood glucose and lactate removal were noted during recovery following a 12.5 g per cent carbohydrate-electrolyte drink. Therefore it may be concluded that carbohydrate replacement during exercise may enhance performance of sports and activities, which typically deplete body carbohydrate stores, by providing an additional fuel source for the muscle. Carbohydrate and electrolyte balance keeps low heart rate as well as low blood lactate level during exercise. Nicholas et al (1995), examined the effects of a 6.9% carbohydrate-electrolyte drink on performance during intermittent, high-intensity shuttle running designed to replicate the activity pattern of stop-and-go sports. Nine trained male games players performed two exercise trials, 7 days apart. On each occasion, they completed 75 min exercise, comprising of five 15-min periods of intermittent running, consisting of sprinting, interspersed with periods of jogging and walking (Part A), followed by intermittent running to fatigue (Part B). The subjects were randomly allocated either a 6.9% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution (CHO) or a non-carbohydrate placebo (CON) immediately prior to exercise (5 ml kg-1 body mass) and every 15 min thereafter (2 ml kg-1 body mass). Venous blood samples were obtained at rest, during and after each PIHSRT for the determination of glucose, lactate, plasma free fatty acid, glycerol, ammonia, and serum insulin and electrolyte concentrations. During Part B, th e subjects were able to continue running longer when fed CHO (CHO = 8.9  ± 1.5 min vs CON = 6.7  ± 1.0 min; P Carey, et al determined the effect of fat adaptation on metabolism and performance during 5 h of cycling in seven competitive athletes who consumed a standard carbohydrate (CHO) diet for 1 day and then either a high-CHO diet (11 gzkg21 zday21 CHO, 1 gzkg21 zday21 fat; HCHO) or an isoenergetic high-fat diet (2.6 gzkg21 zday21 CHO, 4.6 gzkg21 zday21 fat; fat-adapt) for 6 days. On day 8, subjects consumed a high-CHO diet and rested. On day 9, subjects consumed a preexercise meal and then cycled for 4 h at 65% peak O2 uptake, followed by a 1-h time trial (TT). Compared with baseline, 6 days of fat-adapt reduced respiratory exchange ratio (RER) with cycling at 65% peak O2 uptake [0.78 6 0.01 (SE) vs. 0.85 6 0.02; P, 0.05]. However, RER was restored by 1 day of high-CHO diet, preexercise meal, and CHO ingestion (0.88 6 0.01; P, 0.05). RER was higher after HCHO than fat-adapt (0.85 6 0.01, 0.89 6 0.01, and 0.93 6 0.01 for days 2, 8, and 9, respectively; P, 0.05). Fat oxidation during the 4- h ride was greater (171 6 32 vs. 119 6 38 g; P, 0.05) and CHO oxidation lower (597 6 41 vs. 719 6 46 g; P, 0.05) after fat-adapt. Power output was 11% higher during the TT after fat-adapt than after HCHO (312 6 15 vs. 279 6 20 W; P 5 0.11). In conclusion(?), this is the first investigation to determine the effects of a high-fat diet and CHO restoration on metabolism and performance during ultraendurance exercise. The researchers found that 6 days of exposure to a high-fat, low-CHO diet, followed by 1 day of CHO restoration, increased fat oxidation during prolonged, submaximal exercise, yet, despite this sparing of CHO, this study failed to detect a statistically significant benefit to performance of a 1-h TT undertaken after 4 h of continuous cycling. (Carey et al, 2001) Alford et al (2000) found for red bull drink(,) many effects and benefit for athlete therefore this study conform the drink consume extra amounts of fluid before they become thirsty. The researchers studied the effect of Red Bull drink which included some hydration, electrolyte and energy enhancements on 36 volunteers. This was done in 3 studies. Assessments included psychomotor performance (reaction time, concentration, and memory), subjective alertness and physical endurance. When compared with control drinks, Red Bull Energy Drink significantly (P _ 0.05) improved aerobic endurance (maintaining 65-75% max. heart rate) and anaerobic performance (maintaining max. speed) on cycle ergometers. Significant improvements in mental performance included choice reaction time, concentration (number cancellation) and memory (immediate recall), which reflected increased subjective alertness. These consistent and wide ranging improvements in performance are interpreted as reflecting the effects of the combination of ingredients. Neil et al, (1999) in a study showed that exercise is known to cause physiological changes that could affect the impact of nutrients on appetite control. This study was designed to assess the effect of drinks containing either sucrose or high-intensity sweeteners on food intake following exercise. Using a repeated-measures design, three drink conditions were employed: plain water (W), a low-energy drink sweetened with artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame- K (L), and a high-energy, sucrose-sweetened drink (H). Following a period of challenging exercise (70% VO2 max for 50 min), subjects consumed freely from a particular drink before being offered a test meal at which energy and nutrient intakes were measured. The degree of pleasantness (palatability) of the drinks was also measured before and after exercise. At the test meal, energy intake following the artificially sweetened (L) drink was significantly greater than after water and the sucrose (H) drinks ( p , 0.05). Compare d with the artificially sweetened (L) drink, the high-energy (H) drink suppressed intake by approximately the energy contained in the drink itself However, there was no difference between the water (W) and the sucrose (H) drink on test meal energy intake. When the net effects were compared (i.e., drink1 test meal energy intake), total energy intake was significantly lower after the water (W) drink compared with the two sweet (L and H) drinks. The exercise period brought about changes in the perceived pleasantness of the water, but had no effect on either of the sweet drinks. The remarkably precise energy compensation demonstrated after the higher energy sucrose drink suggests that exercise may prime the system to respond sensitively to nutritional manipulations. The results may also have implications for the effect on short-term appetite control of different types of drinks used to quench thirst during and after exercise. According to Maurin Fisher (2005), body composition will vary according to energy intake and expenditure. Energy is basically expended three ways. Energy is required for the following processes: resting metabolic rate (RMR), thermic effect of food (TEF), and physical activity. RMR is essentially determined by the amount of lean or fat-free tissue, which accounts for 60-75% of total daily energy expenditure. TEF is approximately 10% of total energy expenditure, while the effect of physical activity is highly variable and individualized. Individuals who have a greater amount of lean tissue will have a 5% higher resting metabolic rate compared to individuals with a greater amount of body fat. Consumption of carbohydrate or fat will increase metabolic rate by 5% of total energy consumed, while a meal consisting of only protein may increase metabolic rate as much as 25%. Excess intake of any macronutrient above what the body uses will be stored as fat. If carbohydrate intake is inadequate , protein needs will increase, since protein normally used to synthesis tissue and perform various other functions would need to be used for energy. Dietary intake of at least 100 grams of carbohydrate per day will prevent ketosis and the breakdown of muscle tissue Daily energy intake is an important factor for muscle tissue formation and growth, which takes place during ositive nitrogen balance. Dehydration has been proposed to decrease lactic acid buffering ability of the body. However, current research suggests dehydration leads to Lactate Threshold occurring at lower absolute exercise intensity .It has been shown that subjects performing 5 and 10 km time trials in a dehydrated state compared with subjects in a hydrated state have decreased blood lactate concentrations (Kenefick, 2002). Therefore, if the blood lactate concentrations are lower, the subjects Lactate Threshold is at higher absolute exercise intensity. In other investigations there have been no detected changes in blood lactate levels when comparing a dehydrated to a hydrated state. (Kenefick, 2002). The varying information regarding the correlation between hydration and its effects on lactate accumulation in the blood may be due to the protocol used in hydrating or dehydrating subjects. Armstrong et al used a diuretic method to dehydrate their subjects (-2% body mass). Other research methods include saunas, extended exercise without hydration, and exercise with or without a sweat suit. Due to the conflicting results, it has not been determined whether a certain level of hydration will adversely affect blood lactate accumulation. Aaron et al (2007) found in his study that rating of perceived exertion (RPE) could be a practical measure of global exercise intensity in team sports. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between heart rate (%HRpeak) and blood lactate ([BLaà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢]) measures of exercise intensity with each players RPE during soccer-specific aerobic exercises. Mean individual %HRpeak, [BLaà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢] and RPE (Borgs CR 10-scale) were recorded from 20 amateur soccer players from 67 soccer-specific small-sided games training sessions over an entire competitive season. The small-sided games were performed in three 4 min bouts separated with 3 min recovery on various sized pitches and involved 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-players on each side. A stepwise linear multiple regression was used to determine a predictive equation to estimate global RPE for small-sided games from [BLaà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢] and %HRpeak. Partial correlation coefficients were also calculated to assess the rela tionship between RPE, [BLaà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢] and %HRpeak. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that 43.1% of the adjusted variance in RPE could be explained by HR alone. The addition of [BLaà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢] data to the prediction equation allowed for 57.8% of the adjusted variance in RPE to be predicted (Y =à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢9.49à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢0.152 %HRpeak + 1.82 [BLaà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢], p Kovacs, et al (1998) observed that caffeine (Caf) ingestion improves endurance performance. The effect of the addition of different dosages of caffeine (Caf) to a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution (CES) on metabolism, Caf excretion, and performance was examined. The subjects of this study was Fifteen healthy male ingested 8 ml/kg of water placebo (Pla-W), 7% CES (Pla-CES), or 7% CES with 150, 225, and 320 mg/l Caf (CES-150, CES-225, and CES-320, respectively) during a warm-up protocol (20 min) and 3 ml/kg at one-third and two-thirds of a 1-h time trial. Performance was improved with Caf supplementation: 62.5 61.3, 61.5 61.1, 60.4 6 1.0, 58.9 61.0 and 58.9 6 1.2 min for Pla-W, Pla-CES, CES-150, CES-225, and CES-320, respectively. The post exercise urinary Caf concentration (range 1.3-2.5 ÃŽÂ ¼g/ml) was dose dependent and always far below the doping level of the International Olympic Committee (12 ÃŽÂ ¼g/ml) in all subjects. Sweat Caf excretion during exercise exceeded post exerc ise early-void urinary Caf excretion. Caffeinated CES did not enhance free fatty acid availability, ruling out the fact that performance improvement resulted from enhanced fat oxidation. It is concluded that addition of relatively low amounts of Caf to CES improves performance and that post exercise urinary Caf concentration remained low. Additionally, Caf intake during exercise appears to have no effect on sweat loss, body temperature, and plasma volume. Study by Grandjean et al, (2000) was in examining the effect of various combinations of beverages on hydration status in healthy free-living adult males. In a counterbalanced, crossover manner, 18 healthy adult males ages 24 to 39, on four separate occasions, consumed water or water plus varying combinations of beverages. Clinical guidelines were used to determine the fluid allowance for each subject. The beverages were carbonated, caffeinated caloric and non-caloric colas and coffee. Ten of the 18 subjects consumed water and carbonated, non-caffeinated, citrus soft drink during a fifth trial. Body weight, urine and blood assays were measured before and after each treatment. Slight body weight loss was observed on all treatments, with an average of 0.30% for all treatments. No differences (p.0.05) among treatments were found for body weight changes or any of the biochemical assays. Biochemical assays conducted on first voids and 24-hour urines included electrolytes, creatine, osmolal ity and specific gravity. Blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, hematocrit, electrolytes, osmolality, urea nitrogen, creatinine and protein. This preliminary study found no significant differences in the effect of various combinations of beverages on hydration status of healthy adult males. Advising people to disregard caffeinated beverages as part of the daily fluid intake is not substantiated by the results of this study. The across-treatment weight loss observed, when combined with data on fluid-disease relationships, suggests that optimal fluid intake may be higher than common recommendations. Further research is needed to confirm these results and to explore optimal fluid intake for healthy individuals. According to Gianluca et al (1996) Insulin resistance in the offspring of parents with non- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is the best predictor of development of the disease and probably plays an important part in its pathogenesis. The researchers studied the mechanism and degree to which exercise training improves insulin sensitivity in these subjects. Ten adult children of parents with NIDDM and eight normal subjects were studied before starting an aerobic exercise-training program, after one session of exercise, and after six weeks of exercise. Insulin sensitivity was measured by the hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique combined with indirect calorimetry, and the rate of glycogen synthesis in muscle and the intramuscular glucose- 6-phosphate concentration were measured by carbon- 13 and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. During the base-line study, the mean (_SE) rate of muscle glycogen synthesis was 63_9 percent lower in the offspring of diabetic parents than in the normal subjects (P_0.001). The mean value increased 69_ 10 percent (P_0.04) and 62 _ 11 percent (P_ 0.04) after the first exercise session and 102 _ 11 percent (P_ 0.02) and 97_ 9 percent (P_ 0.008) after six weeks of exercise training in the offspring and the normal subjects, respectively. The increment in glucose-6-phosphate during hyperglycemic- hyperinsulinemic clamping was lower in the offspring than in the normal subjects (0.039_ 0.013 vs. 0.089_ 0.009 mmol per liter, P_0.005), reflecting reduced glucose transport-phosphorylation, but this increment was normal in the offspring after the first exercise session and after exercise training. Basal and stimulated insulin secretion was higher in the offspring than the normal subjects and was not altered by the exercise training program. Exercise increases insulin sensitivity in both norm al subjects and the insulin-resistant offspring of diabetic parents because of a twofold increase in insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis in muscle, due to an increase in insulin-stimulated glucose transport-phosphorylation. In a study by Hassan et al (1999) it was argued that

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Such power – Creative Writing

The lattices unfolded, releasing images and numbers†¦ people became clear, their lives known to me, a child of the mind†¦ daughter of telepathy Can you see? Can you smell, hear, touch a million senses that aren't yours? Can you sense a person's innermost thoughts? See through their eyes, until all you feel is a shell of a world, just one small view of the complex image you know is there. Look around, with your inner eye; a whirlwind of images, sounds, words. Faces stare in the vortex; old voices test new phrases; a smell revives a stranger's memory. How do you hold it all? Whose feelings are real? It could engulf you, this power, the helplessness of the feeble minds you enter, until your cry enough! rings through so many heads†¦ You can bury yourself in one mind, or open up to the cacophony of the world. What surfaces? More complex than the physical world; thoughts can scatter to dark corners, or collect in the forebrain; how much can you read in the blackness that mere mortals cannot see? Subconsciousness. In there a part of us lurks, suspicious of everyone, waiting till our defences are torn to shreds and we can show our true nature, our first strength. Some people snap early; succumb to pressures, do what the voices say. Life can seem easier when you don't have control†¦ frustrating for some, for many it is simple release. How then can you cope? The responsibility, the knowledge – gleaned from others – of the consequences you might unknowingly inflict. That word seems nonsensical: you, the mind reader, the gifted, not knowing something. But if you don't – can't see the future, should you still control people? Do you? Do you learn from yourself as well? Either you become ruthless, manipulative, or terribly afraid of your gift. How could such a child grow normally, with those thoughts – unsaid, but not unheard. Decisions. They fill our lives, and the child sees. Yet do we truly decide for ourselves? We are influenced by every experience we have, every choice we make. We become the product of the life we lead; but somehow we made those decisions, often early on, about our future. Somewhat paradoxical is this world; clearly personality does not spring into existence, yet it influences itself in an unending spiral. No two choices are the same size, without ever becoming unimportant. Suppose, a most whimsical choice, someone wears light, loose clothing – on the very day a fast car whips past, catching on it and tearing†¦ everything could have any impact. A normal human cannot foretell the future; but we can imagine. If you see a thousand people's dreams, and learn their hopes and experiences, read a million thoughts for the future; is that not a style of precognition? Intentions are clear and what the normal person does not think of may be obvious to the next one along; you could change people's lives! You could change your own life. You must choose. You have power; knowledge, predictive ability and intelligence; you must choose whether to help others†¦ or yourself. You could have the world. When you can see what others want, need, expect from you, will you play up to it; or twist their thoughts, even their world? You look through a thousand eyes, and see how a thousand worlds could be better. How they could affect each other. Having this feeling from birth – this weight of knowledge, this heavy understanding; you may perhaps be bitter. You ask yourself again why something happened, when you could have prevented it. The child looked about him, his face pale and calm†¦ He knew the answers instantly for they were not his own. His eyes never shifted, they focused on his work, His answers coming fluidly although his mind would jerk. From one head to another, the little boy did pry†¦ His eyes skimming patterns that meant so much to his third eye. No one knew this was his talent, not math or science, but the ability to know, Know what others were thinking, and that's how he did not grow. He plundered and stole his way right to the top, Telling people what they thought†¦ his treachery unseen. The compliments were many†¦ yet he was alone, trapped in his own lies, And that is where he stayed until the day he died Can normal people comprehend how a telepath's mind would be shaped? If the â€Å"gift† comes later in life, how tempted would a person be by power, tempted to make decisions for others, or just to help†¦ a little more than is necessary? The darkness in your own soul may be more difficult than another's†¦ people lie to themselves, you thought you were above that, but you're still one of us. Dark undercurrents sway emotions and surface as fits of depression, anger, violence†¦ then regret. You watch as our emotions surge, fighting back your own. A normal teen? No†¦ a thousand normal teens. And you cannot tell a soul, for there are institutes for mad people like you†¦ they would not understand. Do you dream? Do you scream when, released at nights, your mind flits back and forth; thoughts unstructured, pieced together from other brains: †¦why †¦hurt †¦need †¦but †¦not †¦pain †¦remember†¦ and the images flicking, picture after picture, so fast, so quickly gone, old friends, places, a deathbed, a favourite dog, a tree which conjures sorrow†¦ a true nightmare, impossible to decipher so much pain. The world itself is the nightmare; why can you not put it to rights? But there are days without torture, days when the sun shines and you find a happiness to feed upon. You drown those who are hurting out, listen only to the sunshine and peace in a child's head. Somehow†¦ eventually†¦ you piece together some sort of education†¦ learn to select what you open your mind to; how much easier it would be, were you not alone of you kind. A teacher, a real teacher, who understood†¦ now that would be something†¦ Concentrate now. One mind at a time, please. No damage must be done. This man, read him, but learn the taste of your own thoughts; you know his prejudice is wrong. Don't just take, add of your own. Think for yourself, or be locked away. Would you? So many people so frightened, so scared of being â€Å"disappeared† – you pick up that fear, but – an idea! Couldn't you†¦ change the minds around you? Are you able to change thoughts, after reading them? Influence minds without saying a word†¦ This is why your power inspires fear; no one knows how much you can control. Maybe all you need is the knowledge, the knowledge of what people want to hear. You would never be locked away, so long as you listen, and speak those magical words to convince them. This is a curse, you think-feel-sense-absorb. You are destined never to be alone, do not understand the search for companionship. All you want is solitude, an empty mind. They would have thought you insane, had they known the fiery maelstrom in your head. A child cannot think without words, and you had so many, so many†¦ one of the first things you deciphered was not to be different. Different is scary. But of course, you were smart. You met smart people, and gained their â€Å"smarts† too. You understood anything a tutor told you – almost before they spoke†¦ necessarily, with the â€Å"gift† comes intelligence; or your mind could not cope with the data flowing so unhesitatingly. With the gift comes cunning. You are – different; and powerful. You are a world healer†¦ or a destroyer.