Debbie Allen Essays - Debbie Allen, George Faison, Debbie

Debbie Allen Debbie Allen Debbie Allen has become one of America's brightest stars. She has spent a lifetime preparing to be famous. She lives her life by the philosophy that ?luck is when opportunity meets preparation.? Actress, singer, dancer, director, producer Allen was born in Houston, Texas, on January 16, 1950, to a Pulitzer Prize-nominee for poetry, Vivian Allen, and a dentist, Andrew Allen. She is the third of four children (one sister and two brothers) in a family that includes Phylicia Rashad--Clare on the ?Cosby Show? and Andrew ?Tex? Allen--a jazz musician. At the age of three, Debbie began her dance training and, by age eight, she had set her goals of a musical theater career. Her mother participated a great deal in her training. Her mother stood behind what she wanted, especially when she was refused by the Houston Foundation for Ballet because of segregation practices. Mrs. Allen contracted a dancer from the Ballet Russe to tutor Debbie. Later, she took Debbie to train with the Ballet Nacional de Mexico in Mexico City. Debbie became very fluent in Spanish and attended performances at the school. At age fourteen, Debbie was finally excepted into the Houston Foundation for Ballet on a full scholarship as the only black student. The Houston Foundation for Ballet was not Debbie's only racial obstacle. She was denied admission to North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. The director stated inappropriate body type as the reason, but Debbie knew the truth. This rejection caused her to stop dancing for a year and she began studying Greek classics, speech, and theater arts at Howard University in Washington, D.C. At Howard University, choreographer Mike Malone recruited Debbie for his dance troupe and gave her a part in the Bum Brae Dinner Theater's production of The Music Man. Debbie began performing with students while attending the National Ballet School. She, later, became the head of the dance department at the Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts. She received her bachelor of fine arts degree cum laude from Howard University in 1971. Although she loved to teach, she wanted more than anything to be on stage. She landed her first Broadway performance in the chorus of the musical adaptation of Ossie Davis' play Purlie Victorious. After six weeks in that show, Debbie left to become a principle dancer in George Faison's modern dance troupe, the Universal Dance Experience. In 1973 she returned to the Broadway stage in Raison, a musical rendition of Loraine Hansbury's A Raison in the Sun. After almost two years of Raison, Debbie began working in television in both commercials and series. Her first commercial, selling disposable diapers, gave her a chance to work with her sister. She then began working with Ben Vereen on his special Stompin' at the Savoy and with Jimmie Walker in the made-for-television movie The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened. Then, in 1977, Debbie starred with Leslie Uggams and Richard Roundtree as Miss Adelaide in the National Company's revival of Guys and Dolls. In 1978 she was selected for the lead in a disco version of Alice in Wonderland. This production was a failure. After this devastation, Debbie returned to television as Alex Haley's wife in Roots: The Next Generation. This year also marked Debbie's film debut in The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. The hard-working actress and dancer worked in both capacities on the film, behind the camera as choreographer, and in front of it as a cheerleader. In 1980, she came back to Broadway in West Side Story. This play was the perfect chance for Debbie to display her talent. She overwhelmed the critics and Clive Barnes of the New York Post believed this would begin her stardom. Her peers agreed with Barnes' ravings and nominated her for the Antoinette Perry Award and gave her the Drama Desk Award. Also in 1980, Debbie was asked to be the choreographer for the television show Fame. This television show won five Emmy Awards (two to Debbie's choreography) and a Golden Globe Award. In 1981, Debbie returned to film, taking a part in the movie Ragtime as a distraught woman trying to cope with disastrous circumstances. She was also still working with Fame and creating a movie titled Women of

Budget for Chronic Kidney Disease

Budget for Chronic Kidney Disease Introduction Treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major challenge for major health care facilities across the world. With the increase in the prevalence rate of CKD the cost of administering the treatment of the diseases is also expected to increase. The paper seeks to develop a budget for a CKD program. The budget will be for a period of one year.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Budget for Chronic Kidney Disease specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The budget The budget will have two segments, these are, revenue and expenditure. The costs can be categorized grouped into direct and indirect costs. The direct costs relate to directly to the health care provided for patients with chronic kidney disease while the indirect costs are other auxiliary costs (Penner, 2013). The department will invest in capital equipment, information technology equipment, infrastructure, and operating expenses. The table presented belo w shows a summary of the budget for the CKD program. Table 1.0 Operating budget Chronic Kidney Disease Program Operating budget for the year 2013 Revenue Description Amount ($000) Ministry of health 1,703,665.25 Other provincial departments 19,766.25 Grants and donations 1,225.00 Fees from patients 40,000 Others 52,625.75 Transfer to capital budget s of expenses in the category are advertising and public relations, board and meeting expenses, office supplies and other office costs, professional fees, outsources services, housekeeping and laundry supplies, and other general supplies that are related to the CDK program. Capital budget The budget is used to record expenses for projects that are expected to run for a period of more than one year. As mentioned above, out of the total revenue generated, $175,455,000 is allocated to capital expenses for the program. Revenue for the expenses will originate from ministry of health, other provincial departments, donations grants, and other sources. The budget indicates that $18,515,000 will be used to purchase diagnostic imaging equipment and $17,759,000 will be spent on the purchase of other medical / surgical equipment. Further, the cost of information technology amounting to $23,002,000 will be used for various expenses that relate to information technology. Some of the expenses in this category are installation of E-Health, wireless network, enterprise backup, RUH UPS upgrade, and desktop virtualization among others. Finally, the cost of $180,505,500 for capital projects relates to cost of renovation of various structures that will be used for the program. It will also include the cost of demolition and construction of new structures for the program. Reference Penner, S. (2013). Economics and financial management for nurses and nurse leaders. New York, USA: Springer Publishing Company.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Budget for Chronic Kidney Disease specific ally for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Themes in the novel The Color Purple Research Paper

Themes in the novel The Color Purple - Research Paper Example . "Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God" (Walker, 1995, p.242). But before that for a long period, they had suffered enough on account of the male dominance and mistreatment -black females especially! Her views about the suffering of the black women are so strong that within the first twenty pages of the novel, she has introduced almost all the important â€Å"issues of incest, chauvinism, child abuse, in-breeding, baby stealing, emotional abuse, sexuality, child marriage, and child slavery amongst others.† (The Color†¦) She takes the help of Celie, the character she carefully nurtures like the tender sapling. Her resentment over the power that men wield over women is showing in every part of the novel. To challenge the authority of men, as an affront, she introduces characters like Shug, the "strumpet in short skirts, smoking cigarettes, drinking gin. Singing for money and taking other women mens. Talk bout slut, hussy, heifer and street cleaner† (Walker, 1995, p.40). The rape of Squeak, by her Uncle is an example of mistreatment of women. The family members are supposed to protect the honor of the womenfolk. What if they indulge in forced sex and cruelty? Outside her home, the black woman has no voice. Within the four walls of the house, she suffers even more, physically and psychologically. To cope up with the oppressive patriarchal and racist practices, seems to be her heritage. No change is one thing and having no hope of change is an entirely different and serious issue. The long period of slavery had shaped the mental make-up of the blacks thus. The story relates to mostly rural Georgia, and the focus of the story is female black life in the 1930s. In that period, black women had only issues, and no support or solutions. Their social position was extremely low in the American social culture. Now let’s examine an example of black vs. black. Both believed that men

The role of government in safety policy for airpotrs since the attacks Essay

The role of government in safety policy for airpotrs since the attacks of september 11,2001 - Essay Example s well as people in buildings and on the ground are to be protected, terrorists of aviation must be prevented from passing through security checkpoints and gaining access to aircraft. Before September 2001, U.S. General Accounting Office’s (GAO) involvement in aviation security was to oversee the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which had responsibility for aircraft safety, all under the auspices of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Studies conducted by the GAO had consistently demonstrated that there were major weaknesses in aviation security and this had been a problem for a long time. Among the most important aspect of these weaknesses involved airport screening. The industry was not required to screen checked baggage on domestic flights and proved inadequate in the detection of threats when carry-on bags or screening passengers prior to their boarding aircraft. It also provided insufficient security for air traffic control computer systems and inadequate means for restricting access to secure areas at airports and facilities. The Congress and the administration have reorganized the federal agencies responsible for transportation security, tr ansferring them to the new Department of Homeland Security, and the agencies are attempting to enhance security without unduly inhibiting the movement of goods and people. The Transportation Security Administration, which was created in November 2001 and has assumed overall responsibility for transportation security, has made considerable progress in addressing aviation security challenges. Prior to 9/11, airline screeners were hired by the airlines or airports directly. They frequently did not detect terrorist material located either on the passengers or in their carry-on baggage. According to a GAO report in June 2000, a study of screeners conducted in 1987 discovered that airport screeners failed to observe 20 percent of the potentially hazardous items that the FAA used in its tests. Data collected

Black Enlightenment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Black Enlightenment - Essay Example The role of Black intellectuals in the era of Black Enlightenment is extraordinary. Some of the prominent Black intellectual of the time were Phillis Wheatley and Benjamin Benneker. Phillis Wheatley was like a role model not only for the African Americans but also for the White Americans. She had transformed from a slave into a highly confident, courageous, and intellectually enriched poet and analyst. Phillis Wheatley wrote a letter to an American Indian minister named Samson Occom in 1774. At that time, tensions between England and the American colonies had increased. In her letter, Phillis Wheatley expressed her desire and need for personal liberty, natural rights, and establishment of the divine order. She believed that emergence of order in Africa and Christianity would mutually result in termination of the Atlantic trade of slaves. â€Å"How well the cry for Liberty, and the reverse Disposition for the exercise of oppressive Power over others agree, I humbly think it does not require the Penetration of a Philosopher to determine† (Wheatley cited in Gates 1987 p. 77). ... â€Å"decidedly negro† from his appearance, Benjamin Banneker mastered the Greek and Latin languages and alongside acquired good knowledge of French and German using his white neighbor’s library. Benjamin Banneker referred to the Declaration of Independence in these words holding Thomas Jefferson accountable for the continued existence of Black slavery in America, â€Å"You were then impressed with†¦the free possession of those blessings, to which you were entitled by nature; but, Sir, how pitiable is it to reflect, that although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of Mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of these rights and privileges. . . that you should at the Same time counteract His mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren, under groaning captivity and cruel oppression† (Banneker cited in Wallenfeldt 2011 p. 24). Black Enlightenment was the age when Black people came to realize through personal experience and witnessing that if they establish close ties with religion and education, they can solve their problems and work toward establishing a respectable lifestyle for themselves on equal basis with the White Americans. Although Black intellectuals had to overcome a lot of obstacles and muster up a lot of courage to speak on national and international platforms, yet with their courage and determination, they took such measures that left a powerful effect on the psychology and understanding toward the Black people of the White Americans. Black churches were not only the places of spiritual rejuvenation and practice of religious festivals, but also serves as places of union for the Black community where they could share their experiences and give each other love and hope. To conclude, Black

Theories of Fatigue: Football Case Study

Theories of Fatigue: Football Case Study What are the key theories of fatigue, how does it develop throughout the course of a game in footballers and what are its implications on  injury risk? Introduction Everyone experiences fatigue, and many of us have felt fatigue associated feelings of tiredness, lethargy and slowed reactions it in the context of sport and exercise. Fatigue represents a key limiting factor for performance in sportspeople, and it is therefore a very important topic in Sports Medicine. With this essay, I hope to provide an interesting introduction to the field of fatigue and to demonstrate its importance in sport. The physiological processes underlying the development of fatigue are complex and still widely debated. Nevertheless, I aim to discuss some key theories of the contributing central and peripheral mechanisms, their merits, and how they have developed over time. I will describe how fatigue effects footballers as a match progresses and in doing this, introduce some methods used to monitor the activity of footballers during a game and perhaps prevent injuries. To further highlight the impact of fatigue in sport, I will end by giving evidence that fatigue incre ases the risk of injury and an important example of how this might occur. Theories of Central Fatigue Central Fatigue (CF) describes processes occurring within the Central Nervous System, resulting in a reduced rate of firing by alpha motor neurones to skeletal muscle, and can be summarised as an impaired motor drive.1 Strong evidence suggests that central mechanisms play a greater role than peripheral mechanisms in fatigue caused by low-intensity exercise.2,3,4 A study published in 20072 illustrates the reduced motor drive caused by CF in low-intensity exercise particularly well. Despite having a relatively low participation of 18, I think it is worth highlighting as it exhibited tight control of unwanted variables. Low-intensity contractions were performed at 20% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and high-intensity contractions at 80% of MVC. Participants were randomised between these two groups and required to perform their respective fatiguing task until failure, which unsurprisingly took longer for low-intensity contractions. Precautions were taken to isolate the elbow flex ors including strapping of the shoulder, and neither the subjects nor investigators were informed of their time to task failure as it occurred. Voluntary activation the increase in force when an electrical stimulus is delivered to a muscle during an MVC was measured before and after each task. Voluntary activation gives an indication of neural drive and was reduced after both tasks, indicating that CF had affected the elbow flexors. However, the reduction in VA was greater after low-force contractions (14%), suggesting a more significant CF impact than after high-force contractions (5%). In addition, the authors used Electromyography to measure levels of electrical activity in the elbow flexor muscles during and after each fatiguing task. Levels of electrical activity were increased, but measured less after the low-force task, again supporting the theory that CF is primarily responsible for task failure during lower intensity exercise. A key first hypothesis of the mechanism behind CF, the Serotonin-Hypothesis, was outlined in a 1987 paper.5 The authors predicted that during exercise, supra-physiological levels of serotonergic activity in the brain were the cause of lethargy and loss of drive during prolonged exercise. This link has been investigated, and it has been shown in rats that a reduced run-time to exhaustion is observed when a general Serotonin antagonist (Quipazine Dimaleate) is administered.6 This effect was not replicated when a Serotonin antagonist restricted to the periphery (Xylamidine Tosylate) was administered. This finding adds weight to the theory that serotonergic activity in the brain, and not in the periphery, plays a role in CF. The mechanism by which exercise causes increased levels of Serotonin is thought to be due to influences it has on the uptake process of Serotonin precursor, Tryptophan, across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).1 More recently, evidence has emerged through studies of amph etamine use 7,8 that dopamine also plays an important role in CF. For example, two papers have shown that a low dose of amphetamine increases endurance in fatigued rats, with endurance being assessed by measuring swimming time and treadmill time to exhaustion.7,8 The mechanism for Dopamines role in CF is not completely clear, but its involvement in motivation and reward could be significant.1 The modern theory of CF incorporates all of the above findings, suggesting that an exercise-induced increase in the ratio of Serotonin to Dopamine in the brain is responsible for feelings of lethargy during prolonged exercise.9 If correct, this means that there is the potential to artificially manipulate brain neurotransmitter levels, postpone the onset of CF and boost levels of performance. Unsurprisingly, given the potential benefits to sports medicine, a lot of research has been done investigating whether the impact of CF in exercise can be reduced. Management of nutrition can be used to artificially manipulate neurotransmitter levels. A number of studies have investigated the administration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), which compete with Serotonin precursor Tryptophan for transport across the BBB, on prolonged exercise performance. One such study investigated whether administering a mixture of BCAA to participants during a 30km or 42.2km race could improve race times.10 Unfortunately, the studys field-based nature meant there was a lack of control over participants during the race. Nevertheless, the authors found that running performance was significantly improved in marathon runners (42.2km) who normally ran at a slower pace, completing the race in 3.05-3.30 hours. Runners who normally posted a faster time of under 3.05h showed no significant improvement, l eading to the authors suggestion that these runners had developed resistance to feelings of CF. This is a fascinating proposition which, if its mechanism can be understood properly, could lead to targeted fitness training for professional sportspeople to overcome the effects of CF. I havent been able to find any papers investigating this and believe it would be an interesting topic for future research. As well as managing nutrition, pharmacological manipulation of neurotransmitter levels has been attempted using Serotonin reuptake inhibitors11 and Serotonin Receptor antagonists.12 These papers, along with those investigating nutritional management, struggle to provide a clear consensus regarding the mechanism of Central Fatigue and more robust studies are needed before we can state beyond doubt the roles of Serotonin and Dopamine. Theories of Peripheral Fatigue Peripheral Fatigue (PF) describes processes taking place within a muscle, which reduce its capacity to exert force. It is considered responsible for task failure in high-intensity exercise,13 including most exercises performed to build strength. In exercise with high-energy demands on a muscle, anaerobic glycolysis occurs producing lactate. Rates of lactate synthesis outstrip its rate of conversion back to glucose, causing lactate build-up and a shift in equilibrium favouring lactic acid production. Many factors have been suggested as responsible for PF, with early theories citing lactic acidosis as the probable cause,14 although scepticism surrounding this link has since emerged.15,16 A good example of this scepticism is a study which used the Yo-yo intermittent recovery test to observe changes in muscle lactate levels and PH, along with other physiological responses, when exercising to exhaustion.16 Participants were asked to run 20m back and forth at progressively increased speeds , until fatigue caused them to twice fall short of the finishing line. Those who had muscle biopsies were sampled on two occasions. During a first run, all 13 were biopsied after exhaustion, with 7 participants also being biopsied at rest beforehand. During a second run on a different occasion, the remaining 6 participants were biopsied at what was calculated to be 90% of their time to exhaustion. The aim of this comparative measure was to observe any change in metabolite levels in the time between 90% and 100% exhaustion. As expected, muscle lactate levels increased eightfold after exhaustion (51.2  ± 7.6 mmol ·kg-1) compared to rest (6.8  ± 1.1 mmol ·kg-1), and the muscle was more acidic at exhaustion (PH: 6.98  ± 0.04) than at rest (PH: 7.16  ± 0.03). However, there was no observed change in either measurement between 90% and 100% of exhaustion. It should be noted that the samples of only 7 participants were measured for this comparison a nd a larger participation would have produced even more reliable results. Nevertheless, it is hard to ignore the number of other studies with similar findings15,17 and accordingly, lactic acidosis is no longer considered a determining factor for developing PF. That is not to say that it doesnt play a smaller role in PF, in combination with other mechanisms. For example, some evidence suggests that acidosis reduces myofibrillar sensitivity to Ca2+ as H+ ions also compete for binding with Troponin C.18 A more popular theory is that Inorganic Phosphate levels are a determining factor for PF. During skeletal muscle activity, Creatine Phosphate (CP) is broken down as part of a process generating ATP, leading to reduced concentrations in exercising muscle. A review of the relevant literature estimated that intense periods of exercise during football matches causes levels of CP to fall by 40%.19 This estimate came after considering the time delay between exercise and biopsy in which resynthesis of CP will take place. Dephosphorylation of CP unsurprisingly leads to increased levels of inorganic Phosphate (Pi) in muscle cells, and this has been shown to correlate with fatigue. One study electrically stimulated the human Tibialis Anterior muscle to induce fatigue and investigate how levels of metabolites changed in relation to reduced contractile force.20 A pneumatic cuff was used to keep the muscle ischaemic, based on the assumption that this would prevent metabolite levels changing betwe en contractions and measuring of metabolites using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). Metabolites were measured at rest and after 3, 10, 15 and 20 induced contractions. The authors found that force declined to 63% of initial force after 20 contractions. Levels of Pi increased just over fivefold after 20 contractions (29.6 m.moles per litre of intracellular water) compared to at rest (5.6 mmoles) and Figure 1 demonstrates the correlation observed between Pi concentration and Force. Another study used genetically modified mice lacking Creatine Kinase (CK), which catalyses the reaction responsible for regenerating CP, in their skeletal muscle.21 This provided a good model for further investigating the association between Pi and fatigue. Skeletal muscle fibres from the genetically modified mice had a higher Pi concentration at rest compared to wild-type fibres and generated a significantly lower force upon electrical stimulation of tetanus. Additionally, they displayed no significan t reduction in force even after 100 induced tetanic contractions, whereas force was reduced to 2+ in the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum,22 meaning less Ca2+ is available for release during force production. The two suggested mechanisms for this are that either high levels of Pi inhibit uptake of Ca2+ by the SR,23 or that Pi enters the SR and precipitates with Ca2+.24 How fatigue develops over the course of a game in footballersA couple of techniques are used to collect data on footballers activity patterns throughout a match. GPS and accelerometer technology can be worn by players during matches to collect data on their locomotor activities.25 Alternatively, it is possible to analyse film of players and use computerised coding to discern their activity patterns to a high degree of accuracy and reproducibility.26 A 2003 study adopting this technique filmed eighteen top-level professional footballers over 129 matches, along with 24 footballers of a moderate standard.27 The authors recorded the frequency and duration of various levels of activity, which were categorised according to speed, and presented the data for every 5, 15, 45 and 90 minutes. This allowed them to compare different stages of the match and pinpoint when levels of athletic performance changed. As well as this, lots of comparisons were made between players of different standards an d playing positions which, whilst interesting, arent wholly relevant to the topic of fatigue. Top-level footballers ran for longer periods at both low and high intensities, and covered more distance in the first half (5.51  ± 0.10km) compared to the second half (5.35  ± 0.09km) of matches. Figure 2 gives a good visualisation of how distances covered during high-intensity running were unevenly distributed between halves. Distance covered whilst sprinting for top-level footballers was 43% less in the last 15 minutes than the first 15 minutes. Arguably, this could be put down to the fact that the outcome of matches had already been decided as the last 15 minutes approached. However, this is unlikely to be the case because the majority of matches observed had a score difference of only one goal or less approaching this stage, meaning neither team could afford to deliberately lower their intensity. It was also found that substitutes, in comparison to those playing the entir e match, undertook 25% more high-intensity running and 63% more sprinting during the last 15 minutes, presumable because they were not fatigued. A 2016 study which used GPS and accelerometer data, presented findings similar to the 2003 study when they observed a significant decrease in locomotor efficiency towards the end of each half in English Championship U21 footballers.25For this study, investigators used a new unit called PlayerLoadà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ per meter, suggesting that it gives a good representation of locomotor efficiency and may, therefore, be useful for informing decision making before or within a match. For example, squad rotation or training regime decisions could be made base on the locomotor efficiency shown by a player during training or a previous game. This is an example of a very important area of Sports Medicine which is the prevention of injuries by properly managing players outside of match-play. Overall, we can clearly see that footballers become fatigued t hroughout the course of a match, which Id like to suggest may be due to the gradual onset of CF. The authors of the 2003 study also wanted to establish whether a temporary fatigue effect existed.27 To do this, they identified 5 minutes over which each player covered their peak distance in high-intensity running, representing their most taxing period of exercise for each match. In the 5 minutes following this, on average, each player performed 12% less high-intensity running that the average for all 5 minute periods. This demonstrates that players are affected by a temporary fatigue within matches, potentially because they are experiencing PF induced by a period of very high-intensity exercise. The implications fatigue on injury risk Injuries represent a huge challenge for professional sports clubs, as players are rendered unavailable for selection whilst also costing money in wages. This problem is well illustrated by the fact that over 15 seasons for 50 elite football clubs, the average proportion of a squad available for match selection has consistently been below 90%.28 A number of huge epidemiological studies have been set up to investigated the incidence and nature of injuries in professional footballers, 28,29 the most prominent being the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study which is updated every season. Over the 2015/16 season, injury data from 29 clubs comprising of an average of 59 matches and 218 training sessions per team was analysed. Over this period, the study found that that on average 0.6 matches and 2.1 training sessions were missed per player per month due to injury. Data from the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study can be used to analyse patterns of injury occurrence during matches. There is an increasing incidence of injuries occurring over time in both halves of football matches, a trend observed in the three most common injury types: strains, sprains, and contusions.28 This strongly correlates with the pattern by which fatigue has been shown to develop over the course of a game,25.27 and it is fair to say that fatigue almost definitely the cause of this increased incidence. A more specific example of how fatigue impacts injury risk can be seen in a 2009 study, set out to establish a link between fatiguing mechanisms and an increased risk of injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) of the knee.30 ACL injury is particularly devastating for a footballer, not least because of its long-term impacts. A follow up of 176 top level footballers in Sweden who had suffered ACL injuries, found that only 30% were still playing after three years compared to 80% in a control group.31Participation in the 2009 study30 was by 20 female student-athletes who had no history of previous injury to the knee or lower extremities. The biomechanics of participants lower limb joints were recorded as they performed randomly ordered, unanticipated jump landings, according to a light stimulus activated just after take-off. They then underwent a fatiguing task consisting of three single leg squats, after which biomechanics were recorded again. This cycle was continued until participants could no longer perform the three single leg squats unassisted, indicating maximal fatigue. Fatigue elicited a number of changes to biomechanics, importantly including a reduction in knee flexion and an increase in the angle of knee rotation, which promote the risk of ACL injury. Conclusion The importance Serotonin and Dopamine in controlling CF onset has emerged over time. A developed theory of CF is yet to be proven beyond doubt, despite there being lots of research investigating it. This could be because it is difficult, especially in humans, to structure a study with tight control over the levels of multiple neurotransmitters in the brain. It is also possible that there are more factors contributing to CF which are yet to be identified or supported by evidence. It has been suggested that resistance to CF can be developed through training, which could prove useful to Sports Medicine if investigate further. An early theory involving the build-up of lactic acid in muscle playing a key role in PF has been widely rejected by the scientific, but there is lots of evidence pointing towards increased levels of Pi being a determining factor. Ultimately, PF is probably a combined response to a number of intramuscular mechanisms. Some more potential contributors to this which I have not had a chance to touch upon include depleted glycogen levels in muscle32and altered muscle fibre membrane potentials.33 The influence that fatigue has on sporting performance is significant and can be clearly observed over the course of football matches. Tools exist, including measures of a players locomotor efficiency, which play an important role in preventing injury due to fatigue. Whilst there is evidence that fatigue has an impact on cognitive abilities,34,35 there are no studies I am aware of which investigate this in a footballing or sporting context. It would be interesting to see if there is a relationship between fatigue and the quality of a players decision making. Epidemiological studies have shown that there is a clear correlation between the onset of fatigue in football matches and a spike in incidences of injuries. There are many examples of injuries for which fatigue is a significant risk factor, with one example being ACL damage. This essay should provide a useful introduction to different areas of interest involving fatigue, all of which can be researched further. References Meeusen R, Watson P, Hasegawa H, Roelands B, Piacentini M. Central Fatigue: The Serotonin Hypothesis and beyond. Sports Medicine. 2006;36(10):881-909. Yoon T, Schlinder Delap B, Griffith E, Hunter S. Mechanisms of fatigue differ after low- and high-force fatiguing contractions in men and women. Muscle Nerve. 2007;36(4):515-524. Gauche E, Couturier A, Lepers R, Michaut A, Rabita G, Hausswirth C. Neuromuscular fatigue following high versus low-intensity eccentric exercise of biceps brachii muscle. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2009;19(6):481-486. ZajƦc A, Chalimoniuk M, GoÅ‚aņº A, Lngfort J, Maszczyk A. Central and Peripheral Fatigue During Resistance Exercise A Critical Review. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2015;49(1):159-69. Newsholme EA, Acworth I, Blomstrand E. Amino acids, brain neurotransmitters and a function link between muscle and brain that is important in sustained exercise. Advances in Myochemistry. 1987:127-33. Bailey S, Davis J, Ahlborn E. Serotonergic Agonists and Antagonists Affect Endurance Performance in the Rat. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 1993;14(06):330-333. Bhagat B, Wheeler N. Effect of amphetamine on the swimming endurance of rats. Neuropharmacology. 1973;12(7):711-713. Gerald M. Effects of (+)-amphetamine on the treadmill endurance performance of rats. Neuropharmacology. 1978;17(9):703-704. Davis J, Bailey S. Possible mechanisms of central nervous system fatigue during exercise.. 1997;29(1):45-57. Blomstrand E, Hassman P, Ekblom B, Newsholme E. Administration of branched-chain amino acids during sustained exercise effects on performance and on plasma concentration of some amino acids. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. 1991;63(2):83-88. Wilson W, Maughan R. Evidence for a possible role of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the genesis of fatigue in man: administration of paroxetine, a 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor, reduces the capacity to perform prolonged exercise. Experimental Physiology. 1992;77(6):921-924. Pannier J, Bouckaert J, Lefebvre R. The antiserotonin agent pizotifen does not increase endurance performance in humans. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. 1995;72(1-2):175-178. Froyd C, Millet G, Noakes T. The development of peripheral fatigue and short-term recovery during self-paced high-intensity exercise. The Journal of Physiology. 2013;591(5):1339-1346. Allen DG, Westerblad H, Là ¤nnergren J. The role of intracellular acidosis in muscle fatigue. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1995;384(1):57-68. Bangsbo J, Juel C. Counterpoint: lactic acid accumulation is a disadvantage during muscle activity. J Appl Physiol. 2006;100(4):1412-1413. Krustrup P, Mohr M, Amstrup T, Rysgaard T, Johansen J, Steensberg A et al. The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test: Physiological Response, Reliability, and Validity. Medicine Science in Sports Exercise. 2003;35(4):697-705. Bangsbo J, Graham T, Kiens B, Saltin B. Elevated muscle glycogen and anaerobic energy production during exhaustive exercise in man. The Journal of Physiology. 1992;451(1):205-227. Shiraishi F, Yamamoto K. The Effect of Partial Removal of Troponin I and C on the Ca2+-Sensitive ATPase Activity of Rabbit Skeletal Myofibrils1. The Journal of Biochemistry. 1994;115(1):171-173. Bangsbo J, Iaia F, Krustrup P. Metabolic Response and Fatigue in Soccer. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2007;2(2):111-127. Jones D, Turner D, McIntyre D, Newham D. Energy turnover in relation to slowing of contractile properties during fatiguing contractions of the human anterior tibialis muscle. The Journal of Physiology. 2009;587(17):4329-4338. Dahlstedt A, Katz A, Westerblad H. Role of myoplasmic phosphate in contractile function of skeletal muscle: studies on creatine kinase-deficient mice. The Journal of Physiology. 2001;533(2):379-388. Kabbara Allen D. The role of calcium stores in fatigue of isolated single muscle fibres from the cane toad. The Journal of Physiology. 1999;519(1):169-176. Characteristics of phosphate-induced Ca(2+) efflux from the SR in mechanically skinned rat skeletal muscle fibers. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2000;278(1):126-135. Fryer M, Owen V, Lamb G, Stephenson D. Effects of creatine phosphate and P(i) on Ca2+ movements and tension development in rat skinned skeletal muscle fibres. The Journal of Physiology. 1995;482(1):123-140. Barrett S, Midgley A, Reeves M, Joel T, Franklin E, Heyworth R et al. The within-match patterns of locomotor efficiency during professional soccer match play: Implications for injury risk?. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2016;19(10):810-815. Krustrup PBangsbo J. Physiological demands of top-class soccer refereeing in relation to physical capacity: effect of intense intermittent exercise training. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2001;19(11):881-891. Mohr M, Krustrup P, Bangsbo J. Match performance of high-standard soccer players with special reference to development of fatigue. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2003;21(7):519-528. UEFA Union of European Football Associations. UEFA Elite Club Injury Study: 2015/16 season report. Nyon, Switzerland: UEFA; 2016. Ekstrand J, Hà ¤gglund M, Waldà ©n M. Epidemiology of Muscle Injuries in Professional Football (Soccer). The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011;39(6):1226-1232. Mclean S, Samorezov J. Fatigue-Induced ACL Injury Risk Stems from a Degradation in Central Control. Medicine Science in Sports Exercise. 2009;41(8):1662-1673. Roos H, Ornell M, Gà ¤rdsell P, Lohmander L, Lindstrand A. Soccer after anterior cruciate ligament injury- an incompatible combination? A national survey of incidence and risk factors and a 7-year follow-up of 310 players. Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica. 1995;66(2):107-112. Ørtenblad N, Westerblad H, Nielsen J. Muscle glycogen stores and fatigue. The Journal of Physiology. 2013;591(18):4405-4413. Green H. Membrane Excitability, Weakness, and Fatigue. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology. 2004;29(3):291-307. Fà ©ry Y, Ferry A, Hofe A, Rieu M. Effect of Physical Exhaustion on Cognitive Functioning. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 1997;84(1):291-298. Abd-Elfattah H, Abdelazeim F, Elshennawy S. Physical and cognitive consequences of fatigue: A review. Journal of Advanced Research. 2015;6(3):351-358.

song of solomon :: essays research papers

When Milkman goes to Pennsylvania to look for the gold, he was actually in search of his family’s past. One of the themes in the story is how the history of African Americans histories are not clear and unrecorded. The fact that the history of Milkman’s family history is so unclear and unrecorded he goes through a long journey to find it. Along the way he goes through many places and meets many people that help him find his family history. Milkman thought the bag that Pilate had was filled with the dead white mans gold, but when he reaches Pennsylvania he realizes that he is wrong. He found out the truth when he meets ancient Circe. Ancient Circe is a woman he meets and she represents a person who is linked to Milkman’s past. She was living through the Civil War and mid-wifed Macon and Pilates birth. Circe knew his ancestors and she told Milkman that the bones in the bag were her father’s bones. All this is too much for Milkman to believe without actual proof, so he travels to Virginia in hope to find the whole truth. Before Milkman could reach where he intended on going in Virginia, his car breaks down so he went to an auto shop in Shalimar, Virginia. In Shalimar heWhen Milkman goes to Pennsylvania to look for the gold, he was actually in search of his family’s past. One of the themes in the story is how the history of African Americans histories are not clear and unrecorded. The fact that the history of Milkman’s family history is so unclear and unrecorded he goes through a long journey to find it. Along the way he goes through many places and meets many people that help him find his family history. Milkman thought the bag that Pilate had was filled with the dead white mans gold, but when he reaches Pennsylvania he realizes that he is wrong. He found out the truth when he meets ancient Circe. Ancient Circe is a woman he meets and she represents a person who is linked to Milkman’s past.

Pm Tests

Week 2 : Planning the Project: Scope and Responsibilities – Quiz ————————————————- Top of Form Time Remaining:  |   Ã‚  Ã‚  | 1. (TCO A) Projects have specific attributes. Which of the following is not an attribute? (Points : 5)|   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Has a sponsor or customer. Has interdependent tasks. Utilizes various resources. All of the above are project attributes. | 2. (TCO A) Which step of the project life cycle involves identification of a need, problem, or opportunity? (Points : 5)|   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Initiating Planning Performing Closing | 3. TCO B) For a project, the objective is usually defined in terms of which three items? (Points : 5)|   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Scope, schedule, and cost Schedule, plan, and controls Plan, scope, and packages Scope, cost and controls | 4. (TCO A) a) If the project scope is increased, what are the l ikely steps that the project manager would take with regards to the other triple constraints? Why? (15 points) b) If the project schedule is relaxed or lengthened, what is the impact on quality? (15 points)  (Points : 30)According to the triple constraints: â€Å"Scope, Time, Cost†.All three of these impact the quality depending on which trade off is affecteda) The longer a project takes to complete, the more it will impact the quality of the project as a whole. b) Being relaxed or expanding the time frame for completion will impact scope and cost. Why? More money and less time to complete the work package deliverables. | 5. (TCO B) You are reaching the end of your graduate school program, and are planning a large party to celebrate your success! You have rented out the local forest preserve as the venue for your party.Applying your project management skills, you want to ensure you have everything planned out and you’ve asked your family and friends to be a part of y our team to hold this party. At your party, you have made it clear to your team what you want to have delivered. After all, it’s your party – you can have whatever you want! Some of the key items you want at your party include: * Graduation announcements * Party invitations * Live entertainment * Games (for adults and for children) * Food * Beverages * Convenience for all (parking, restroom facilities, etc. a) To ensure you have a clear scope for your team, create a 2-level WBS. Don’t forget to include your WBS numbering. (20 points) b) In your WBS, how many work packages have been created? (10 points)  (Points : 30)Level 11. 0 Graduation 1. 1 Graduation announcements 1. 2 Party invitations 1. 3 Live entertainment 1. 4 Games (for adults and for children)Level 22. 0 Food and Services 2. 1 Beverages 2. 2 Rest room facilities 2. 3 Valet Parking  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  | | Time Remaining:  |   Ã‚  Ã‚  | Bottom of Form

Lakeview Gusher of 1910 Bigger, Not Worse, Than BP Oil Spill

Lakeview Gusher of 1910 Bigger, Not Worse, Than BP Oil Spill When BP finally stopped the oil flowing from its ruptured underwater well in the Gulf of Mexico in July 2010, the government announced that the 4.9 million barrels (more than 205 million gallons) of oil the well had spilled over the previous three months made it the worst accidental oil spill in U.S. and world history. Along with most other media, we reported that conclusion, but one of our readers (a man named Craig) quickly pointed out that the government and the media were all mistaken and had not looked far enough back in the history books to get the facts straightand he was right. The Lakeview gusher of 1910 spilled 9 million barrels of oil (thats 378 million gallons) onto a patch of scrubland in Kern County, California, between the towns of Taft and Maricopa, about 110 miles north of Los Angeles. Once it blew, the Lakeview gusher was unstoppable for 18 months. The initial flow from the Lakeview gusher was 18,000 barrels a day, building to an uncontrolled crescendo of 100,000 barrels daily, and eventually producing only 30 barrels a day after the flood of California crude was finally stopped. Ironically, the Lakeview gusher might never have happened if the crew on site had obeyed orders from bosses in Los Angeles. After months of unproductive drilling, Union Oil headquarters sent word to shut down the operation and abandon the well. But the crew, led by a foreman nicknamed Dry Hole Charlie, wouldnt give up. They ignored the orders and kept on drilling. In mid-March 1910, 2,200 feet below the surface, the drilling tapped into a high-pressure reservoir and the well blew with such force that the eruption demolished the wooden derrick and created a crater so large that no one could get close enough to the well to try capping it. The well kept gushing until September 1911. The Lakeview gusher didnt actually do much environmental damage. Black mist fell for miles around, and only the valiant work of oil workers and volunteers building dikes by hand prevented the oil from contaminating Buena Vista Lake to the east, but most of the oil soaked into the sagebrush-studded soil or evaporated. And while 100 years later the area is still soaked with oil, the long-term environmental impact of the spill is generally considered minimal. So while the Lakeview Gusher was larger in volume than the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf spill was a far bigger environmental and economic disaster.

Maintaining and improving operations

Maintaining and improving operations Abstract The supermarket industries are among the largest economic upholds in the U.S. The expansion of the customer base is a noticeable consistent growth of the supermarket industry that deals with diverse products. The global expansions plans require enhancement of more effective promotional strategies in order to overcome the economic challenges. Comprehensive financial predicaments affect the consumer behaviours and, therefore these end-users tend to change their purchasing styles due to a lack of trust and confidence.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Maintaining and improving operations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Financial strains also causes the consumers to demand for lowering of prices and at times the situation causes shift of the consumption patterns, for instance the expenditure tends to incline more on the food products over the non-edibles. This is mainly attributable to the reduction of disposable income, and eventually such kind of trend affects the industry’s financial performance. This report focuses on the performance of food industries with a special attention to Wal-Mart as a global retailer. Overview of Wal-Mart Recent financial recessions affected the economic routine of Wal-Mart, but the firm came through and managed to improve the economic global presentation. The reduction on the number of clients visiting the stores globally during the financial crisis of 2007 did not pull back the overall performance. According to Hoovers AD B Company (2010), Wal-Mart stores were still able to pull out a marginal sales growth of 0.7%. This resulted to only a minimal reduction in the firm’s financial performance. It equally came about due to the consumer trust, but one of the major concerns that various global stores must deal with connects to the safety, quality and value of the edible products. Different states’ administrations as well as the nongovernmenta l organizations have had to heighten the food regulation policies within the industries. A good example is directive that governs refrigeration, which ensures that firms in the food retailing industries observe various environmental concerns. Extra tax policies are also set to ensure compliance with new guiding principles. Six Components of Wal-Mart’s Supply Chains Information The effectiveness of a supply chain depends highly on the accuracy and speedy flow of information from the consumer to the production line. The competitiveness in the food industry has seen Wal-Mart incorporate technology into its operations as a measure of enhancing operational efficiency. Innovation demands for a streamlined information flow through computer networks as a measure of enhancing proper movement of inventory as per the demands. Information also entails implementation of the accounting systems, inventory management systems, systems for planning resources and global communication networks. Wal-Mart growth also has a connection to its ability of soliciting and facilitating online transfer of goods and services. This enables the firm to provide the customers with the right products as per the demands at the right time.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Production To attain a competitive advantage, Wal-Mart differentiates some of the food products according to categories for instance, the stores ensures differentiation according to buyer’s age. One question the industry has to answer is what does the consumer want or demand? The key importance of addressing production falls upon the quantity and type of products. The firm has to know which and how many parts of production require outsourcing form competent suppliers. The firm must face up to needs of finding the exact or approximate quantity required for each of its stores without a compromise on q uality and customer satisfaction. The resource planning team can be of great assistance in this case since there is need for proper schedule to meet demands, control of quality, and balance of the workload beside the overall maintenance of the production line. Supply The resource planning system of the industry is strongly required to ensure enhancement of supplies. To guarantee that supply strategy succeeds, Wal-Mart invests in market research. The strategy makes certain that there is continuous value addition to the firm’s products and that the supplies go as per market demands. Repetitive customer market research enables Wal-Mart to identify the varying consumer tastes and preferences particularly in connection with food products. Supply management also requires value analysis since changes on demands require products analysis and equivalent adjustments. The main challenge in this case is the ability to attain as well as maintain competitive edge by ensuring supplies integ rates to demands especially on matters concerning tastes and preferences. Inventory Inventory management is ability to determine the amount of products required in the warehouses. The challenge that Wal-Mart must deal with in this case involved management of the right quantity of inventory. Too much inventory means more costs, while too little can sabotage firm’s growth due to lost consumer trust, therefore the firm must meet demands. Management of optimal stock levels at each supply chain store ensures satisfaction, thus enhancing trust and fluctuation of demands as required in retailing industries. A resource planning system at the order points can assist in monitoring of levels to control supplies. Inventory levels are critical since excess production or supplies can affect other business operations mechanically or financially. Location The global investment requires close monitoring of the demand trends and preferences. Wal-Mart has strategized its production and supply u nits to support distribution and inventory management.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Maintaining and improving operations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Long-term plans of a retailing industry such as Wal-Mart requires practical strategic location of production and stocking facilities, for instance the light and non-technical products can be closer to the end-users. Heavier products demands for bigger production and supply units thus must be closer to the raw materials. The decisions concerning location also require a resource planning system for close analysis especially during global distribution. Transportation According to Levy and Weitz (2001), transport decisions have a close relation to inventory management and consumer demands. Various means of transportation differ in terms of cost, cargo quantity and speed. A good percentage of the production cost fall within the transportation schedules; therefore, us e of the right channel is critical. The transportation mode must meet the inventory measures for effective supply as per the demands. This is often a strategic operational decision that ensures smooth supply of goods. Global Operation Processes of Wal-Mart Currently, there are high hopes over future performance of the industry considering that there are notable improvements of the global economy after the 2007 recession. Wal-Mart is a global retailer with global reach of potential clients and ability to monitor as well as react on time to overcome possible economic crisis. Global accomplishment also enables the firm to financially strategize and hence recover its other financial sectors. Wal-Mart’s Approach to Solving Operational Problems One of the main challenge the firm faces is ability to form a financial defence over its ability to attain global reach through expansion of retail stores to different countries. Financial commitment and strategies guarantees the attainabili ty of global expansion. The firm must ensure that the chain stores acquisition strategy meets the quality policies. Wal-Mart formulates acquisition of stores through analysis of demands at the domestic markets. The global expansion increases financial recovery while picking a strategy that lowers the financial costs. Globally, Wal-Mart has had financial difficulties over remittances for operations due to the fluctuation of the foreign exchange rates. The drop on Wal-Mart’s financial growth in the recent years is therefore attributable to reduced financial performance. However, stability of the foreign exchange rate causes the global economic recovery of the industry (Wal-Mart annual report, 2010). A resource planning system can monitor the economic recession by finding possibilities of future reductions on consumers’ disposable income, thus reduced levels of consumption. The system can also assist to monitor consumption trend among the end users and consequently advice on upgrading choices (Levy and Weitz, 2001).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wal-Mart’s Performance Chart The financial performance of Wal-Mart has been on an upward trend for the past three financial years. There has been a steady increase in the revenue level, resulting in an increase of the firm’s earnings per share. The table and chart below indicated the performances. (In million $) Revenue Gross profit Operating income Total net income Earnings per share January 2009 405,607 99,449 23,082 13,400 3.39 January 2008 378,799 92,284 22,301 12,731 3.13 January 2007 348,650 84,498 20,777 11,284 2.71 Source: Financial reports: (Hoovers AD B Company, 2010) Wal-Mart’s global expansion strategy causes the net sales to rise. References Hoovers AD B Company. (2010). Wal-Mart Financial Records. Web. Levy, M. Weitz, B. (2001). Retailing Management. New York, NY: Irwin/McGraw-Hill Publishers. Wal-Mart annual report. (2010). Wal-Mart Performance. Retrieved from http://c46b2bcc0db5865f5a76-91c2ff8eba65983a1c33d367b8503d02.r78.cf2.ra ckcdn.com/6c/20/87b0b3df469ebee838a2630c2c1a/2010-annual-report-for-walmart-stores-inc_130221021765802161.pdf

Philosophy of Plato and American Culture Research Paper

Philosophy of Plato and American Culture - Research Paper Example There are so many diverse cultures all around the globe which are based on some philosophies which can still be observed in the 21st century. Plato was one of the philosophers whose philosophy is eminent in the Western culture and it can be said that today’s American culture emanates the philosophy of Plato in a number of ways. According to Alfred North Whitehead, the safest generalization of the different characteristics of the Western culture is that it is based on the philosophy of Plato. The philosophy has not been adopted in a systematic way but it can be easily seen that the scattered ideas of Plato have been included in the culture (Lachs & Talisse, 2008). Platonism had already developed for a period of two millennia after Plato’s death after it had any influence on the American philosophy. There are a number of ideas found in the works of Plato that have played significant role in the development of American philosophy. The main three ideas that have influenced the American philosophy the most are; the importance of formal understanding of mathematics; the conception of nature as in process and the conviction that because of the roles of form in natural processes, value is a part of nature. Following is the comprehensive analysis of the influences that the philosophy of Plato has on the American educational structure and society in general. Plato’s Philosophy and American Education System American culture is influenced by Plato philosophy in some way or the other. There are a number of ways in which American culture intersects with Plato’s philosophy. One of the main examples is the system of State and education. Plato founded the basic concepts for a number of subjects which have been developed over time and they are taught in the educational institutes of America. Dialogues of Plato have been used in a wide range of subjects which include; mathematics, ethics, philosophy and logic. There are a number of ways in which people come across the philosophy of Plato, sometimes without even realizing it. Plato’s philosophy is considered to be the foundation for the democratic philosophies of education as he proposed a whole system of education. Plato always encouraged education in his philosophy and his teachings can still be observed in American culture. According to Plato; children with talent should be selected by the State from all the social classes regardless of the social position of the children. Plato considered children as the assets of the State and he suggested that the State should educate the children in order to make them eligible for the right kind of service to the State. Children should be educated in such a manner that they become fully trained for the kind of service they are to perform in the future. Plato suggested that the educated children may serve in; military services, city management and dialectic. The State should take the responsibility of the education of such talented ch ildren. According to Plato, the children should go through a comprehensive educational training which begins with gymnastics, music, and mathematics. Plato gave significant importance to the concept of mathematics and this philosophy of Plato has influenced American culture in a number of ways. The development of scientific methods in America

Fukuyamas Philosophical System and the Ethics of Biotechnology Essay

Fukuyamas Philosophical System and the Ethics of Biotechnology - Essay Example There is ‘something’ that separates humans from other animals. This concept leads to his other theories on bioethics. Such that experimentation on humans should not violate their dignity. And that the essence of being human should remain intact as this separates humans from animals. According to Fukuyama, factor X makes humans as the world knows them. It is the factor in the human body that cannot be reduced to moral choices, language, sociability, sentience, emotions, or any quality that has been put forth as a ground for human dignity. He terms the factor that is responsible for the dignity in mankind, the factor X. In other words, it is an ideology that each person holds. According to Fukushima, Jews, Christians, and Muslims share a common theme that the man is created in the image of God. This theory is the base for Factor X among those followers. Similarly, an atheist also has factor X, which can be a moral authority. Fukuyama is not against biotechnology. He is against violating the sacredness of humans. This concept might be abstract for scientists. Factor X cannot be calculated. It does not have that form that scientists would like to consider relevant. In fact, the concept of factor X is relevant to the person’s beliefs. Different belief systems generate different factor X’s. Such a thought might seem too spiritual for scientific study, but Fukuyama has dedicated his studies to preserve human sanctity. Francis Fukuyama, a bio–conservative, along with other writers such as George Annas, Leon Kass, Jeremy Rifkin, Bill McKibben, and Wesley Smith, opposed the use of technology to modify human nature. Fukuyama fears that the man's nature is the most precious thing that can be affected by the recent advances in human biotechnology.