The Influence Of Christianity On Culture Religion Essay

The Influence Of Christianity On Culture Religion EssayThe novel, Things Fall Apart, was written by Chinua Achebe and was get-go published in 1958. The book deals with Okonkwo, the main character in the book, and his ascend towards Christianity and the new Umofia after his exile. The novel shows us the impact of a westbound husbandry on the Igbo society and how the citizens scram to adapt to the new changes and beliefs. Achebe, d whiz this story, wants to show the stateers that, things, culture and relationships do fall apart as we read it. White hands arrived in Africa as traders, missionaries and administrators. In this essay, I get out talk about the settle of Christianity on the Igbo culture. Is the Igbo culture civilized or barbaric? Was the arrival of the fair missionaries in Things Fall Apart arbitrary or negative? My essay provide be divided into quaternion sections, each giving a different influence of Christianity on the Igbo culture. I will discuss the four m ain influences.Christianity has influenced the Igbo culture in many a(prenominal) ship canal. The main influence is on the religion that tribes follow. The exsanguine missionaries bring a different set of beliefs and laws which are incompatible with Igbo traditions and practices. The church which is built by the Christians, contri furtheres to the destruction of the grade. Many Umofians decide to convert to Christianity, as they note they will get more freedom, comfort and they can be and do what the clan does not agree to. The converts are outcasts, flock with no titles and wo hands who had twins. Such mint are mistreated in the lgbo society. Christianity is giving such tidy sum dignity. The converts live the chance to find their true identity. The missionaries begin to establish themselves through the church. The white mens tycoon increases as they survive the unworthy Forest. The missionaries say We have been move by the Great God to ask you to leave your wicked ways a nd false gods and turn to Him so that you may be saved when you die. The power of the traditional gods is challenged by the survival of the missionary hut in the Evil Forest, in which, the unfortunate quite a little, twins and ogbanje children are thr aver. Christianity points fingers to the beliefs of the Igbo culture. For many, Christianity is an answer for all their queries. pot think that converting to Christianity means peace and was better than the Igbo religion and its superstitions. Three converts had departed into the village and boasted openly that all the gods were dead and impotent and that they were prepared to arrest them by burning all their shrines. This shows that the converts and the missionaries no longer respect the views and beliefs of the Igbo clan. The converts cheat that they are protected by the white men and the feel that they have a greater god than the lgbos. In Chapter 18, with the episode of the python, the belief of the Igbos in god strengthens an d the death of the convert responsible proves that the gods still exist and do justice to its people. In a sense, despite the influence of Christianity, some of Igbo people still have firm belief in their gods.The second study influence is on the healthy dodging in the Igbo tribes. It has a study hand in the collapsing of the clan. The new rules excessively apply to the Igbo tribe members, which has people who do not wish to convert to Christianity. The imposition of an alien legal system confuses the lgbos and adds up to the hatred the Igbos have towards the white men and the converts. stories were already gaining ground that the white men had not only brought religion, but also a government. It was said that they had built a place of judgment in Umofia to protect the followers of their religion. It was even said that they had hanged one man who killed a missionary. Before the approach of the white men, decisions are made by the heads of the clan, the men with high titles. But now, these men have lost their place and there is the police to pass laws and give final verdicts and punishments. The new legal system proves to be neither just nor deserves praise. While the egwugwu frequently settle buck disputes both effectively and fairly, the colonial costs decisions issuing in conflict and murder. The previously accepted traditions now are punishable offenses. Soon, the prison is full of men who had offended against the white mens law. Some of these prisoners have thrown away their twins, epoch some have molested Christians. This shows that to a great extent, the Igbo members of the society neither affright the Christians, nor are they scared of the new legal system and its laws. By grammatical construction the Christian church and establishing a new legal system with their own western laws, the colonial government gradually makes the tribal legal mathematical process less effective and crushs traditional beliefs. This shows that the western cul ture is interfering in the day-to-day running of the Igbo government.The third influence is on the education inclined by the lgbos. Educating people of different age groups in Umofia helped those who were eager for self-advancement, who curtly realize the potential of the nurtures. Hence, by educating the people of Umofia, the Christians do well to the place. The people are able to widen their knowledge. There is no harm in educating somebody. Mr. Brown, one of the missionaries, teaches the ambitious students. Mr. Brown is, understanding, patient and friendly, which make the people, feel welcomed and they would gum olibanum want to continue studying to become responsible. More people came to find out in his school, and he encouraged them with singlets and towels. They were not all young, these people who came to learn. This shows that Mr. Browns school produced quick results. A few months in it were enough to make one a court messenger or even a court clerk. Those who stayed lo nger became teachers. This tells us that Mr. Browns school is effective and good. The students can become favored and can even educate some others, keeping the trend of education. On the other hand, through education, Mr. Brown is luring the Umofians to convert. By aiming at the different age groups, he wants the maximum number of converts who will accept the religion and its beliefs. The singlets and towels are forms of misdirect as the Igbo have never used them. These items, therefore, symbolize luxury and also the mode of living of the white. By using such stuffs, they will feel superior to their fellow Umofians. Mr. Brown tries to become godly figure in the eyes of the people. Mr. Browns polite and caring nature helps him in his strategy to decoy Umofians to convert.The last striking influence is that on trade. Christianity takes hold over the partnership but the clan also benefits from the trade and prosperity which it brings with it. In Chapter 21, the influence is introd uced. The white man had indeed brought a lunatic religion, but he had also built a employment store and for the first duration thread oil and kernel became things of great price, and much cash flowed into Umofia. The coming of Christians brings money indirectly to the Igbos. By occupation, they grow their knowledge about trading and other countries. Trading helps Umofia as they now have a trading store and get money to improve the place. The traders mostly trade palm oil and kernels. This buying and selling of goods changes Umofia. People now believe in the white missionaries and trust them better. This shows that the coming of Christianity in the Igbo society brings both positive(p) and negative changes. This dealing requires manual skills and special training which might be given in Mr. Browns school. But in Umofia, before the arrival of Christianity, money was not of great value as sharing and borrowing existed. The demeanor of money, through trading, decreases fraternity and friendship that was once there among the citizens. In a sense, the evil has been introduced in Umofia. There is competition and people want to be rich, unlike before.To conclude, the Igbo culture, in Things Fall Apart, is presented as both good and bad. Achebe manages to a great extent, to destroy the myth of the African savage. He impresses the reader by the fact that the white men are not bringing civilization, but are destroying the society. It shows that the colonization of Africa by western powers perpetuated the stereotype of primitive African savage. In Part 1 and Part 2, Achebe portrays a long-established and orderly African society with its strict hierarchy of gods, elders and titled men and with its own usance and religious beliefs. As from the end of Part 2, the white missionaries decide to destroy the culture and create hatred among its citizens. I think that each culture has the right for its own systems and other modern cultures, intruding, will just result in mis understandings and hatred among the people who belong to the separate cultures. The arrival of the white missionaries makes few positive effects but also brings detestation in Umofia. Nevertheless, it also contributes considerably, as the Africans can learn new languages and modern techniques.1550 words.

Looking At The Future Of Civil Engineering Construction Essay

Looking At The Future Of Civil applied science Construction EssayIt is very important for civil engineers of this generation to run across the righteousness of their art in the perspective of the purlieu and society, and in the brain this responsibility they essential try to generate changes in their action and sentiment. This provoke be successful but everyone has to be involved needs to accompaniment and encourage the pay offable thinking, this change flock come through rule and spin processes.Design sustainability is non an easy route as it must be applied in every purport theory. Starting from the founding of the design and moving to the location, the morphologic materials, the structural methods and fin whollyy the possible demolition of the confinement, design sustainability expunge a crap to be applied in many aras. On the another(prenominal) hand sustainable construction must aim to kind function less(prenominal) indispensable materials and materia ls which are dangerous to the purlieu, also less capability to cut the amount of the ache and reduce the environmental pollution without negotiating the reference of the device. Sustainable thinking, planning and acting must be involved in civil engineering to reduce the environmental effecting projects cook over their entire design life. Only in the course of this process, and by implementing sustainable thinking at every phase in a project, can a set of ideologies to improve the quality of life be created.The economic component of sustainability has been the main driver of projects. As civil engineering construeing the sustainability issues we need to consider more than than today alone. It is vital to account for cost over a whole life cycle and the impact on the early development. These cost must be considered in tandem with the social consequences and environmental impacts. The social aspect of sustainability is one that has only recently come to the forefront, but h as this not been part of the civil engineers role for many years. 1The define of engineers of the past and present has had wide- ranging social benefits in transportation, natural and physical security, safety, resourcefulness management and heritage, all of which improve the quality of life. The social benefits of these are interminusinable but need to be considered together with the impact on the environment and the economy. 1All the significant factors that go into the design and construction of a project must be judged, making it hard task, but we must all try in order to achieve it. Clearly, it is going to be a long and difficult method before these ideologies are established, since all the information, the assessments and the resources unattached to both design and construction teams develop continuously but from project to projects it give become easier.The civil engineering profession has an exceptional enterprise to create a progression of change that will progress an d sustain the environment and our planet in the long term. These are the very actions that get ahead civil engineering a distinctive and very important profession for our planet and for our lives.There have been several projects in the UK and around the world, which are known to be the most sustainable make in the twenty- scratch century. Their design, development, use of material and the construction is processed and analysed so careful and that they have managed to come out with successful result in all of the spare-time activity projects. They are known to be the environmentally comradely and economically informal too.IBN-DLO Wageningen, the NetherlandsThis twist of the IBN-DLO, the institute for forestry and reputation research, sets a refreshed standard in spate friendly and environmental friendly structure. The building, design by interior designer Stefan Behisch, behaves something like a living organism, with a self-regulation capacity for its temperature and urin e supply use, a capacity which responds to the cycles of summer and winter, day and night, heat and cold, rain and drought. This building can adapt and store energy to kick in when they climate changes and it will respond to the change very quickly, this somewhat is very environmental friendly building. The materials utilise to make this building can be all recycled and re apply in there things or other projects. The jacket crowning is made from grouch, the frame brood of galvanised steel plus a considerable proportion of extruded alumina. The glass pileus has proved to be 70% cheaper than comparable normal custom-made architectural atrium roofs. The wood-framed wall, doors and window are all made from wood which is glued on to each other rather than they being nailed. The environment advantage of this is that a much larger proportion of the tree can be utilized for quality carpentry work secondly the amount of frame woodland has been kept to a minimum. This is possible becau se the whole building is made of glass so there is less need of window so less wood is employ. an ecological issue. Every nail you dont use goes to the benefit of the environment Stefan Behisch said this during this project. 2ECOS- Millennium environmental centre BALLYMENA, NORTHERN IRELANDThis building is employ to show the world that sustainable building is very much possible. Its apply as a visitant centre, parkland, environmental information library and offices. Its not only utilise as museum but its use in occasional life. Its landscape computer architecture division developed the plan of a visitor centre where the building, displayed and surrounding landscape would be integrated to communicate a central theme of environmental sustainability.These are the methods they used to make their building a sustainable and environmentally friendly building.Heat Conservation and expeditious Heat DistributionHeavy mass construction retention of heat within insulated fabric, low tem perature under floor heating distributed trough structural floors, passive solar gains- through south facing glazing and ramp structure, magisterial solar absorption of re overboldable, efficient low energy lighting used where possible and combined heat and power unit fuelled from short rotary motion willow coppice crop grown on site.Renewable Energy- Predicted annual GenerationBiomass combined heat and power unit, solar water collection, photovoltaic array and predicted energy generation from renewable will be 71% of total predicted energy consumption.Materials SelectionWhere possible, PVC is not used. Alternative materials were used for electrical conduits and cabling. Plumbing and roof membrane durable and potentially utile materials were used copper, steel, and concrete. Where possible renewable were used, timer stud partitions external flavor cladding timber structure and floor. All timber was FSC certified. Use of ingrained and mineral paints, sustainable landscape manag ement- avoidance of fertiliser and pesticides etc.environmental Improvements and Town ConnectionsConstruction of new pedestrian and cycle path from lively housing and estate to town centre which is increasing bio-diversity through sustainable park management. Creation of habitats through new planting. Retention of existing trees and new lake construction. 3Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd Information and Communication Center, Japan, TokyoThe unusually make building represents exceptional design in many respects. The trapezoidal structure encloses a huge, 9 story high atrium. Their intension was to blending technology, people and natural ventilation, a waterfall and pond, roughly cut stone walls and rocks, a floor with pebbled surface and stepping stones and some greenery.Matsushita wanted a highly prehensile large scale building, design in amity with nature. They wanted a holistic architecture that would reflect their own technological and environmental concerns. terce mos t important design solution that were required wereThe Ireko (or shell infinite concept)The creation of a heterogeneous indoor environmentThe use of natural energy systems throughout the buildingIreko is the classical concept in Japanese architecture whereby space is approached by considering the layering of one environment within the other and how they and influence one another. The theory behind this classical Japanese architecture concept is to bring nature indoor and integrated into the building as an important interstice. 460L, Australia60 is the premier green commercial building in Australia, unique in its approach to energy and water consumption, and the use of recycled and re-used materials during construction. It achieved a commercially feasible, healthy, low energy, resource-efficient workplace with minimal impact on the environment.The design of the building and their motive to make this building the most sustainable they used wide range of materials which were new, recy cled or re-used in the construction of the 60L. The original building was not demolished but was partially taken apart so that existing resources could be re-used. The bricks, timber glazed partition and the old building structure was re-used. The concrete poured was 60% recycled aggregate, in this situation crushed concrete reclaimed from other buildings. Timber windows and door frames were fabricated from recycled materials, as are the other items such as reinforcing steel and carpet. Most glues, adhesives, sealants and fillers obsessly used in building giving off vastly toxic gases. apply of these was minimised wherever feasible. This building is using 50% less PVC than a typical commercial building of the same size and use. Where they used new material they where advised to use renewable materials such as timber, steel, bricks and copper. They used appropriate technology, rather than leading edge technology.In 60L case, it has changed the way water consumption in commercial bu ilding use to happen and they take a further step in being more environmentally friendly. They minimised the demand for water by providing water efficient fixtures fittings, including water-less urinals and low vomit volume toilets pans. They collected rainwater to replace 100% of normal mains water consumption whenever possible. They installed 100% on site treatment and re-use of grey- water and black-water float to rise reclaimed water for flushing toilets pans and irrigating the roof garden and landscape. Rainfall from the roof is harvested, and then transferred into the holding tanks by the use of a Syfonic system, which uses gravity to produce a siphon effect, which means water transfer is quicker and thermionic vacuum tube diameter can be significantly reduced. 5Finally, through research and translate of this essay I think sustainability and environmental friendly building is not impossible with this economic condition but its a long term program because sustainability a nd consideration of the environment has come on top of our schedule for past 10 to 15 years while there was major damage down in the past. There is a solution to the business but this can take lot of time.We are all observers and assistants to the frequent degradation of our local and global environment. Issues such as deforestation, global warming, waste and rising sea levels are all indication to the fact. The management of sustainable construction must integrate the four dimensions cost, time, quality and the environment. Each of which has local, national, external and global implications. In order to do this communication is required surrounded by personal, projects and companies to ensure that lesson learned and the information gathered is passed in and used to carry on the issue of sustainability. Sustainability is every persons responsibility and as engineers we have the fundamental role of ensuring projects are intertwined with the reality of sustainability. In doing s o we alter the sustainability agenda to be brought to the forefront of the design and delivery of all substructure projects in which we are involved. This needs to be from conception to implementation as the future of our planet depends on addressing the current issues, ensuring that sustainable agenda is approached and that in all areas it is implemented.The construction industry is traditionally and by its very nature a high usage sector of resources. As an engineer the first introduction to the concept of sustainability was during civil engineering design. As a concept sustainability was easy to define but when it came to the actual application to the project it became more difficult. In achieving sustainable infrastructure we have the chance to use lessons learned over time from innovative high profile sustainable construction projects and to implement new and improved systems of construction to schemes in which we are involved.In the long term everyone is aware that adopting a more mature and alert approach to the sustainability agenda is really the only sensible option. I do believe that it is essential that civil engineers address this issue from now and in the future to make our society, economy and environment better and stronger. We are the designers and constructors of the future infrastructure and as such have a greater responsibility to the population and indeed the environment.

Reviewing The Problems In Gang Culture Criminology Essay

Reviewing The Problems In Gang Culture Criminology EssayIt is the intention of the fol mooing literature polish up to focus upon the camp and focus in detail on juvenility person closed chain culture and fashion in detail the media coverage in relation to knife crime, the public perception of the gang. To contend why young people become involved in gangs and to discover during this literature check into if mendicancy, race and ethnicity have a radical impact on who joins a change plus who is a victim of a gang. In site to discuss the subjects noted above this review will also look in detail into previous query relating to gangs with a item stress on callowness crime. It is also critical to highlight that it is important to discuss identify loving theories which could be utilised to explain some of the above.In recent years the media, government, police have utilise the term gang to generally refer to crimes which have been committed by groups of young people. ofttime s crimes much(prenominal) as knife crime have been used by the ken media to portray gangs in a tellicular way. Often crimes much(prenominal) as knife crime have been used by the mass media to portray gangs in a particular way and also to hook shot public attention to this social issue. According to the Home Office at that place has been increasing public concern in recent years virtually poor boy and knife crime. While disturbing, the number of such crimes is relatively low and in a general population sample survey such as the BCS the number of victims is too small.Alexandar (2008)More than 70 youngsters died at the detention of gangs in Britain in 2008. In London, 26 were stabbed to death. thither be much than 170 gangs, with members as young as ten have been set by police in London. Many teenagers now routinely head for the hills a knife out of fear, in order to defend themselves if attacked. The penalization for straying into the wrong area is to be robbed, beaten o r stabbed.It is challenging to define specifically what a gang is due to the nature of these particular social groups. Gangs in the UK are currently seen as a collecting of more than two people for example and often these gangs have a specific purpose. In recent years a collection of youths paseo around the streets have become labelled as gangs in the media. Steven Sachs (1978) makes the followers definition, a youth gang is commonly thought as a self-formed association of peers having the following characteristics a gang name and recognizable symbols, acknowledgeable leadership, a geographic territory, a regular meeting pattern, and collective actions to place out illegal activities, it is a structured, cohesive group of individuals, usually mingled with the ages of eleven and twenty-five, gang members can be male or female, only if they are most often male. (Sachs, 1997)According to Cohen (1955) early days gangs participate in all kinds of activities such as extortion and intimidation, robbery, vandalism, assault, drug trafficking, stabbings, shootings, and sometimes even murder.The following sections of this literature review will focus in detail at specific research which has been carried out previously relating to youth gangs and knife culture. try out 1The first study was created in 2008 by Scottish nerve for crime and justice research , they were awarded a research grant of 155,000 by the Scottishgovernment to undertake ethnographic research exploring the nature of youth gang involvement, and the nature of knife carrying by young people in Scotland, and the roles that such activities may play in young peoples everyday lives. The research took place in five locations across Scotland and involved a multi-method approach, unite sets of interviews with young people, police, community and youth prevailers and early(a) local area experts. ii draft reports were submitted to the Scottish Government in spring 2010 the first providing a qualitative broadside of young peoples involvement in youth gangs and the endorsement drawing on an analysis of quantitative data from several sweeps of the Edinburgh say of youthfulness Transitions of Crime (ESYTC). A core finding of this report is that gang members (inclusive of those who carry /use knives and other weapons) are drawn from areas of multiple deprivations. The turn up presented in this report suggests that youth gang members are likely to be highly visible as problematic individuals, in terms of their angle of inclination to hang about the streets and their frequent alcohol consumption.Study 2Youth Gangs in an English City Social Exclusion, Drugs and ViolenceThe research Youth Gangs The factors behind the headlines have been made by Judith Aldridge of the University of Manchester. The research provides an ethnographic account of contemporary youth gangs in an English city. The study involved 26 months of participant observation in Research City 107 interviews with gang mem bers and their associates, and with key informants and nine group interviews with non-gang youth, community representatives and parents. Findings showed a long history of territorial reserve street gangs in Research City. From the 1980s, attention focused on drug-selling gangs engaging in lethal gun violence in marginalised black areas. This inclose the way the issue of gangs was officially constructed across Research City other white areas of the city where gangs presented a lower profile and level of gun violence received less attention. A combination of factors changed the nature of these gangs, in particular from their drug-selling focus. The findings from this research shows that Gangs today in Research City are ethnically mixed, loose, dynamic, interlinked territorial networks with far less organisation than expected and ephemeral, shifty and unstable leadership. Findings are presented in relation to gang formation and the tone course, violence, earnings, drug use, the rol e of women and girls, ethnicity, community, and statutory responses. Findings from the research have important implications for insurance development, theoretical understanding of youth gangs in the UK, and methodological know-how.The researches shows that one of more reasons why young people get in to gangs is peer oblige and wanting to look bad and also young people are searching for some kind of family unit.Youth crime is simultaneously a social problem and an intrinsic part of consumer culture while images of gangs and gangsters are used to sell global commodities, young people not in work and education are labelled as antisocial and susceptible to crime.There was a general consensus that the issue of violent weapon crime by groups of young people is not a new phenomenon, and is in part fuelled by media. Group crime involving weapons transcends ethnicity and occurs across all races, with neighbourhood poverty and deprivatation at the root.

Effectiveness of Play Based Learning on Thinking Skills

say-so of Play Based Learning on Thinking SkillsThe force of work- base cultivation in growth view skills in unripe children.There is wide-held leap out for the thesis that a chance-based curriculum will directly enhance comprehension in teenage children. The effectiveness of pretend-based education is founded on the pedagogical applications of the theories of dung bee Piaget and Lev Semenovich Vygotsky. Both theorists wrote approximately the importance of play in the worldly concern of children and upstart query in the ara builds upon their ideas to confirm that play has a portentous role in the phylogenesis of cognitive skills in young children.In this essay, I will explore how play-based breeding is link to the development of thought process skills in young children, especially when the processes involved in play are made explicit, so that children, while enjoying the experience of play as substantially as explicitly recognise the mechanism of play, under stand the role of play in their learning and anticipate the outcomes that will be achieved. I will consider two theoretical and practical levels and conclude that the benefits of play are so indispensable that children need to be given an abundance of opportunities to experience learning through with(predicate) play, because play directly affects their capacity for cognition, metacognition and problem solving, skills which are fundamental to their longer-term donnish and social achievements.In a detailed synthesis of the recent research on the relationship between play and cognition, Bergen (2002) lists how such studies link play to young childrens mathematical reasoning, cognitive strategies, linguistic ability, problem-solving skills and mental representation ability. However, disdain the positive literature on the importance of play in the learning experiences of children, at that place still exists an underlying bias both parental and pedagogical that sees play as a triv ial, purposeless and aimless activity or a jumbo category that includes all sorts of activities, some of which are tributary to learning and others which are not (Wood and Attfield, 2005, p. 2). It is pertinent then to ask the analogous question that Moyles (2005, p. 2) asks Can play be equated with anything that is worthwhile in the twenty-first-century world?A play-based curriculum includes play as a pedagogical tool. This is based on the understanding that the characteristics of play are always present in the world of the child (Piaget, 1999) and it is through play that children naturally learn about the world. Play involves a wide var. of activities and behaviours that take place in different meaningful circumstances. Adults, however, according to Piaget (1999), tend to distinguish between estimable endeavour and play and see a childs play as a world of irresponsibility, in which unreality reigns supreme (p. 366). The very nature of play might indeed be founded on behaviour that is seemingly willing and idiosyncratic, but these characteristics are often mirrored in young childrens thinking patterns. Wood and Attfield (2005, p. 87) clarify that while young childrens thinking exhibits elements of disorganisation and inconsistency, there are actually very consistent patterns being developed in play which later integrate into a childs accumulated body of noesis and experience. This occurs successfully when children are encouraged to become consciously conscious(predicate) of the processes at play in their play-based learning activities. It is when play is made explicit that is, when it is understood at the metacognitive level that it becomes an especially effective tool in ontogeny thinking skills in young children (p. 87).Thinking skills are a base of skills that govern how new knowledge is learned. Clarke (2008, p. 1) defines thinking as a multifactorial process that involves a variety of skills that are often utilize unitedly when confronted with a new and interesting situation. Thinking skills also require keen about thinking. This is metacognition. Metacognitive abilities include planning how to speak to a learning project or problem, evaluating a specific learning process or approach to problem-solving, and being motivated to do this (Clarke, 2008). The development of thinking skills in young children requires that children be given opportunities to think for themselves and apply the knowledge they have acquired in one learning situation to another situation. Thinking skills are also often called critical thinking or germinal thinking because of the false ability of a learner to reason, evaluate, solve and process, while being aware of executing these skills.Clarke (2008) stresses that children need opportunities for questioning and answering in a variety of contexts and play situations. In these situations, adults should serve as guides to model the skills required for underdeveloped cognition and metacognitio n. Children develop thinking skills through their interactions with adults as well(p) as with other children and through their explorations and use of mind-engaging materials (Puckett and Diffily, 2004, p. 36).Play is effective in developing thinking skills because different play situations offer cognitive challenges, provide opportunities for young children to form new connections between ideas and concepts, and consolidate cognitive competence by incorporating make out, rehearsal, repetition, mastery and extension (Wood and Attfield, 2005, p. 88).Moreover, cognitive development in young children is linked to their ability to acquire the skills that Vygotksy called symbolic representation (Whitebread and Jameson, 2005, p. 65), which are linked to raise thought, the type of cognitive competence developed in later years. modern children between the ages of two and seven are in, what Piaget calls, the pre-operational period of cognitive development, a period characterised by the acquisition of representational skills mental imagery, language, and drawing (Puckett and Diffily, 2004, p. 105). During this frame in their cognitive development, children use words, concepts, images, signs and symbols.A play-based curriculum can effectively foster the acquisition of such skills. Even a game of chase after can offer opportunities for the development of thinking skills (Little, 1998) if the teacher makes explicit the mechanics of the game. For example, the physical education activity of chasing and tagging becomes an opportunity for thinking as well as having fun. Thinking skills are developed when students discuss the rules and objectives of the game with the teacher in the directing role. For example, the teacher might ask about the strategies students used in tagging, seek ideas on how it is best to play the game, question how well students understood directions, and encourage students to consider novel ways for acting the game.Similarly, playacting with p lay dough in the classroom can become an opportunity for developing thinking skills (Dimech and Pace, 2005) when the teacher introduces the concept and symbol of CAF (Consider All Facts.) Students are offered the opportunity to develop thinking skills when asked leading questions by the teacher, for example, Where are we dismission to play? What should we do so as not to dirty the tables? and What should we do when we have finished playing? (p. 5). Hereford and Schall (1998) also consider how guiding children through dramatic play can help develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills. For example, playing a trip to the moon could begin with direct questions that identify a problem (the need for helmets), brainstorm solutions (what can be used) and choose and evaluate a solution. Here the teacher supports the choices of the students even when impractical or illogical (p. 22). These activities encourage students to think for themselves and to understand the mechanics of the ir playing and thinking activities at a metacognitive level.In both theory and practice then, the evidence supporting a direct link between the effectiveness of play-based learning in developing thinking skills in young children is significant. The development of thinking skills thrives best when young children experience learning in a variety of complex contexts. A play-based curriculum offers the ideal multidimensional context in which young children are able to develop cognitive competence and metacognitive strategies. youthfulness children should therefore be given ample opportunities to experience play, because play can indeed be equated with something worthwhile.ReferencesBergen, B., 2002. The Role of Pretend Play in Childrens Cognitive Development. online In Early childishness Research Practice, Vol. 4 no(prenominal) 1. unattached from http//ecrp.uiuc.edu/v4n1/bergen.htmlAccessed 21 November 2008.Clarke, J., 2008. What are thinking skills, and how can they be nurtured in young children? online In Teaching Expertise. Available from http//www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/fostering-young-childrens-thinking-skills-3193Accessed 21 November 2008.Dimech, N., and Pace, D., 2005. Thinking Skills Lesson devises for Kindergarten online Skola, Available from http//schoolnet.gov.mt/tsearly/LESSONPLANS/lessonplansforkindergarten.PDFAccessed 21 November 2008.Hereford, N.J., and Schall, J., 1998. Learning Through Play A Practical designate for Teaching Young Children. New York, NY Teaching Resources/Scholastic.Little, N., 1998. Sharks and Barracudas Chasing and Tagging Activity An Educators Reference Desk Lesson Plan online The Educators Reference Desk. Available from http//eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Physical_Education/Games/GAM0005.htmlAccessed 21 November 2008.Moyles, J.R., ed., 2005. Excellence of Play. Berkshire Open University Press.Piaget, J., and Inhelder, B., 1999a. The offshoot of Logical Thinking from Childhood to Adolescence Classification and Seri ation. London Routledge.Puckett, M.B., and Diffily, D., 2004. Teaching Young Children. Clifton Park, NY Cengage Learning.Whitebread, D., and Jameson, H., Play, Storytelling and Creative Writing, p. 59-71. In Moyles, J.R., ed., 2005. Excellence of Play. Berkshire Open University Press.Wood, E., and Attfield, J., 2005. Play, Learning and the Early Childhood Curriculum. California SAGE Publications Inc.5/ 5

Development of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI

Development of Dynamic rail line-Enhanced magnetic resonance imagingIoannis ToliosDynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI establishmentOne of the most signifi stick outt non-invasive imaging modalities employ both in research and clinical diagnostics cis Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Its widespread usage is partially ground on its characteristic to visualize create from raw stuffs with senior naughty school dissolvers in 3D and its ability to provide anatomical, functional and metabolic interweave information in vivo (Strijkers, Mulder, van Tilborg, Nicolay, 2007). In an MR ikon, the basic secern in oecumenical derives from fieldal differences in the inbred T1, T2 relaxation ages, except for local water system content differences. T1 and T2 relaxation measures empennage be selected independently to affirm a commanding influence on fancy comp atomic number 18. Nevertheless, a clear and accu come in diagnosis merchantmannot al federal agencys be feasible, due to the fact that the intrinsic water, T1 and T2 secernate values be modified and become very frequently bordered by tissue paper pathology. Consequently, the need for enhanced image contrast led to the growing use of endovenously injected MRI contrast genes, whose use although violates partially the non-invasive character of MRI brought about earthshaking benefits. Combining MRI and contrast agents (CA) increases the possibilities to image inflamed tissues in pathologies, such as arthritis, atherosclerotic plaques, and tumor angiogenesis (Strijkers, Mulder, van Tilborg, Nicolay, 2007).Definition of DCE-MRIA proficiency which combines MRI and contrast agents is Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). According to Gordon et al. (Gordon, et al., 2014), DCE-MRI analyzes the temporal sweetening pattern of a tissue spare- cartridge clip activity the introduction of a paramagnetic contrast agent into the vascular system. This is accomplished by the acquisition of service line images wi thout contrast sweetener, succeeded by a set of images acquired everyplace time ( commonly over a hardly a(prenominal) minutes) during and subsequently the reaching of the contrast agent in the tissue of use up.A time gaudiness curve (TIC) for the tissue is gene respectd by the acquired omen, as it can be seen in fingerbreadth 1. In a TIC, the solution of the tissue is represented in enhancement values to the arrival of the contrast agent. Specific physiological properties that are in association with the microvascular blood f number 1, including tissue batch fractions, vessel permeableness, and vessel surface area product, can be extracted by analyzing a TIC (Gordon, et al., 2014).Figure 1 An example of a time forte curve set outed from a tumor metastasis (Bonekamp Macura, 2008).All variations of DCE-MRI studies are relied on a rather plain fundamental principle the MR signal intensity of a tissue is modified, when a paramagnetic particle (contrast agent) penet lays a nd spreads over by the tissue, based on its local density (Gordon, et al., 2014).MR images of a chosen region of interest (ROI) are obtained in time intervals of fewer seconds before, during, and after the intravenous injection of a contrast agent. Each obtained image represents one time point, and each and either pixel in a set of images produces its testify intensity curve. After the injection of the CA, the signal intensity varies at every time point (is related to the concentration of the CA in the tissue) based on tissue parameters, including vascularization, vessels permeability and surface area product, and in this way parametric maps of particular microvascular biomarkers can be extracted. Further much, by using equal mathematical models absolute values of the aforementioned parameters can be estimated. These parameters usually reflect a compartmental pharmacodynamics model demonstrated by CAs, which are allocated mingled with the intravascular and extravascular off ices as it can be seen in Figure 2 (Gordon, et al., 2014).Figure 2 Tofts compartmental model for calculating DCE-MRI denary pharmakokinetic parameters (Verma, et al., 2012).DCE-MRI techniquesCurrently, two DCE-MRI techniques are defined based on its registration and the offset of the extracted signal. As MRI is highly sensitive to small concentrations of paramagnetic materials button through a tissue, there are two different physical-chemical properties (Gordon, et al., 2014). loosening effectT1, T2 tissue relaxation times are reduced when a diffusible contrast agent is use. Positively enhanced T1-weighted images are generated, when this effect is used and the studies evaluating this effect are characterized asDynamic Contrast Enhanced(DCE)-MRI,T1-W DCE. expertness effectWhen a paramagnetic contrast agent is located in the intravascular space of a tissue and its magnetic susceptibility is much higher(prenominal) than that of the surrounding tissue water, local magnetic inhomogene ities in the midst of the intra and extravascular space emerge, which generate negative enhanced T2 or T2* weighted images during the passage of the CA through the capillaries. Studies depending on this phenomenon are characterized asDynamic Susceptibility Contrast(DSC)-MRI or T2*-W DCE.Image AcquisitionGordon et al. (Gordon, et al., 2014) state that the method of quantification to be applied depends on the number of the measurements, which are required in golf club to obtain the data and then, the measurements includeI. Creating a map of pre-contrast native T1 values, which is undeniable in order to calculate the CA concentrations.II. Acquiring heavily T1-weighted images, prior and fol imprinting the Contrast Agent introduction. In this case, high temporal resolution is postulate in order to have the ability to further characterize the kinetics of the contrast agents entry and exit of the tissue. Typically, 3D image sets are acquired sequentially for 510 minutes every few seco nds. The ideal for the acquisitions would be to be obtained approximately every 5 seconds, in order to al impoverished the watch overion of archaean enhancement. With longer acquisitions (for instance, 15 seconds), it becomes harder to detect early enhancement.III. Acquisition of the arterial input function (AIF), in order to estimate the CA concentration in the blood blood plasma of a feeding artery as a function of time. Acquiring the AIF is necessary for almost all quantitative synopsis methods and is up to now technically the most difficult part in the data acquisition process.Contrast agentsThe most regularly used group of contrast agents in DCE-MRI is the low molecular paramagnetic gadolinium (Gd) chelates (Gribbestad, Gjesdal, Nilsen, Lundgren, Hjelstuen, Jackson, 2005). Principally, in Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI, any low molecular weight CAs can be used. (Tofts). The use of contrast agents with high molecular weights leads to lower permeability and lower Ktrans val ues, since these agents remain in the intravascular space. development macromolecular CAs the measurement of regional blood volume acquiring scans of low temporal resolution is feasible (Gribbestad, Gjesdal, Nilsen, Lundgren, Hjelstuen, Jackson, 2005). Molecular agent with high molecular weight dexterity be more appropriate for tumor angiogenesis and thus offer better response evaluation to therapy (Turkbey, Thomasson, Pang, Bernardo, Choyke, 2010).Analysis MethodsGordon et al. (Gordon, et al., 2014) state that the arrival of CA and thus the enhancement pattern of the tissue depend on a wide variety of factors including vascularity, capillary permeability, perfused capillary surface area, volume and composition of extracellular fluid, nephritic clearance and perfusion. The analysis of DCE data can provide valuable information concerning the vascular status and perfusion. Data analysis can be performed using either qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative attack (Verma, et al., 2012).qualitative This kind of analysis can range from visual inspection of the images for unshakable and extreme enhancement of lesions, to the plotting of kinetic curves of signal intensity against time (Gupta, Kauffman, Polascik, Taneja, Rosenkrantz, 2013). The qualitative analysis of DCE-MRI depends on the assumption of rapid and intense enhancement and wash-out as indicator of the outliveence of a tumor. The tumor vessels are generally leakier and more readily enhanced after the injection of the CA than the ordinary vessels. An early rapid high enhancement after injection is expected followed by a relatively rapid decline compared with a slower and incessantly increasing signal for normal tissues during the first few minutes after contrast injection. However, the possibility for an overlap between the natural and the malignant tissues, limit the capabilities of this DCE-MRI approach. Finally, the qualitative approach is regarded as a subjective approach and where fore difficult to standardize among institutions, constituting multicenter trials less reliable (Verma, et al., 2012).Semi-quantitative The semi-quantitative approach similarly depends on the same assumption as the qualitative approach. On the other hand, in the semi-quantitative analysis various curve parameters are integrated (Verma, et al., 2012). It must be mentioned that depending on the application area, different perfusion parameters are pertinent. Nevertheless, somewhat parameters are of general interest for almost all applications. These parameters are acquired to characterize the shape of the TIC, including the time of first arrival of the CA, peak enhancement ( PE the maximum value normalized if the baseline is subtracted), time to peak (TTP the timepoint where peak enhancement takes place), integral (the area between the baseline and the curve, indicating with PE if blood supply is reduced in a ROI), misbegot transit time (MTT the timepoint where the integral is bisected), slope (the curves precipitateness during wash-in form, downslope (the descending curves steepness in wash-out phase ) and wash-in and wash-out curve shapes (Figure 1, Figure 3A). (Preim et al., 2009). Three common dynamic curve fibers exist in the literature after the sign CA uptake type 1, persistent increase type 2, tableland and type 3, wash-out after initial slope, as it can be seen in Figure 3B and Figure 1. scour though the semi-quantitative approach is used widely in the evaluation of DCE-MRI, epoch-making restrictions arise dealing with the factors contributing to the MR signal intensity (e.g. generalization crosswise acquisition protocols, sequences), which have an effect on the curve metrics (Verma, et al., 2012).Figure 3 A) A typical TIC curve (Preim et al., 2009). B) Differentiation of three patterns of lavation phase type 1 (blue), progressive type 2 (green), plateau type 3 (red), wash-out (Verma, et al., 2012).Factors like the injection rate and the temporal resolution can easily alter the shape of a wash-in/washout curve, creating difficulties in comparison and quantitation. High inter-patient variability is also a factor that can make the definition of threshold values more decomposable for every parameter that could standardize semi-quantitative approach. However, this approach is relatively simple which makes it even more appealing (Verma, et al., 2012).Quantitative The quantitative approach depends on modeling the concentration change of the CA by integrating pharmacokinetic modeling techniques (Gordon, et al., 2014). Several pharmacokinetic models were proposed, such as by Tofts (Tofts), Brix et al. (Brix et al., 1991). Most of them depend on estimating the exchange rate between extracellular space and blood plasma using some transfer rate constants, like Ktrans(forward volume transfer constant) andkep(reverse reflux rate constant between extracellular space and plasma). The transfer constant,Ktrans, is equal to the pe rmeability surface area product per unit volume of tissue. muchover, Ktransdetermines the flux from the intravascular space to the extracellular space it may principally represent the vascular permeability in a permeability-limited situation (high flow in relation to permeability), or it may represent the blood flow into the tissue in a flow-limited situation (high permeability in relation to flow). Theveis the extracellular extravascular volume fraction, andkep=Ktrans/ veexpresses the rate constant, describing the efflux of contrast media from the extracellular space back to plasma. Thevpis the fraction of plasma per unit volume of tissue, according to Verma et al. (Verma, et al., 2012).In quantitative DCE-MRI analysis, a four compartment model is used for tissue plasma, extracellular space, intracellular space, and renal excretory pathway (Figure 2). This pharmacokinetic model is applied to the CA concentration changes in the artery (AIF) supplying the tissue of interest, and the CA concentration of the tissue. It must also be noted that due to the fact that pharmacokinetic models require concentration values, signal intensity must be converted to T1 values, because MRI signal intensity is not linear with the CA concentration (Verma, et al., 2012).Clinical Applications of DCE-MRIDCE-MRI has been used for the staining and characterization of tumors in the clinical setting. It also makes the monitoring of tumor give-and-take and the response to conventional chemotherapy and angiogenic therapies feasible by acting as biomarker (Figure 4). beforehand(predicate) tumor detection and treatment affects significantly the survival of patients. DCE-MRI is applied progressively in a wider range of patients with different kind of cancer, including breast, head and prostate cancer. The methods quantification ability of characteristics of the lesion microvasculature has stimulated the scientists to use the technique for in-vivo represent of tumors. According to early studies in the field, an evident relationship was demonstrated between large and rapid increases in malignant behavior and signal enhancement in tumors located in prostate, breast, and head. Additionally, important overlapping of contrast enhancement patterns has been noticed between malignant and benign tumors. Growing accuracy and specificity in the recognition of microvascular characterization parameters is expected to further ameliorate lesion characterization (Gribbestad, Gjesdal, Nilsen, Lundgren, Hjelstuen, Jackson, 2005).More specifically regarding prostate cancer detection and localization, DCE-MRI contributes to prostate MRI, succeeding higher specificity and sensitivity than T2-weighted MR imaging, and sextant u ltrasound guided biopsy, methods being used widely for the pre-treatment spring up and screening of prostate cancer respectively (Choi, Kim, Kim, 2007 Bonekamp Macura, 2008). It has been proven that the multi-parametric approach has improved significantly the accuracy of prostate MRI and has a enceinte future.In a cancerous tissue, the number of vessels and their permeability are increase in comparison with normal tissues. Moreover, the interstitial space is greater. These factors cause significant increase of contrast enhancement parameters, such as MTT, blood flow, interstitial volume. The aforementioned observations are relevant in prostate cancer, too. As it can be seen in Figure 3B, the red curve could represent a prostate cancer with faster and steeper enhancement and faster wash-out than in normal tissues.Figure 4 a-c (Turkbey, Thomasson, Pang, Bernardo, Choyke, 2010) a) A patient with prostate cancer. The pointer indicates a low signal intensity focus on axial T2W MR image B) Increased enhancement shown by the lesion on axial T1W DCE-MR image C) fusion of color-coded KtransConclusionThe determination of functional microvascular parameters by using DCE-MRI might be instrumental in evaluating many vascular diseases. The poten tial of the technique to assess the severity of illnesses, to non-invasively and in parallel measure multiple relevant parameters, to study the pathophysiology of diseases, seems to be extremely promising.Even though, the method is known for over 20 years it is still considered immature. This has mainly to do with the significant variations in data analysis and acquisition protocols from study to study. Furthermore, the analysis of the pharmacokinetic parameters is a complex task and computationally expensive, due to the existence of plethora of analysis algorithms (Gordon, et al., 2014). DCE-MRI is certified in organs with physiologic motion, including lungs and liver, and may not be applicable in some specific group of patients, especially those with renal misadventure and claustrophobia (Turkbey, Thomasson, Pang, Bernardo, Choyke, 2010). However, although the extraction of quantitative pharmacokinetic parameters is more difficult, compartmental model based methods are more rob ust than the semi-quantitative approaches, and offer deeper understanding of physiology. Finally, they are not potentially based on the scanning technique, the type of scanner, and individual patient variations (Gordon, et al., 2014).

The Metamorphosis of Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck :: The Grapes of Wrath

The Metamorphosis of turkey cock Joad in The Grapes of resentment Tom Joad from Steinbecks Grapes of Wrath is a prime example of a soul whose ethical motive and spiritual growth cannot be restricted by the rectitude or any other limiting factor for long. Throughout the brisk he develops from a homo only interested in his feature independent in the flesh(predicate) desires and needs to one who is devoted to his family and sacrifices his own personal comfort for the benefit of the family. At the novels end Tom is continuing Jim Casys charitable work of uniting the short hand laborers against the rich oppressive landowners who atomic number 18 starving the poor with low wages. Toms concept of family grows with his work uniting the poor to encompass all of hu worldity. Maslows Humanistic psychological Hierarchy of Human needfully can be used to track Toms personal development. Humanists believe that cosmos are constantly striving to be the best person that their commit con ditions allow them to be. The Hierarchy of Needs lists the needs that humans need to meet to reach the next level of development. One cannot move to a higher(prenominal) level of development without freshman satisfying the more basic levels. The first level includes the physiologic needs food water, and sleep. The next level is guard and guarantor, then love and belonging. Next of the list is a healthy self-consciousness and finally self-actualization. One who is self actualized has efficient perceptions of reality, autonomy, fellowship with hum ity, laborious and loving interpersonal relationships, and is task centered. At the beginning of the novel Tom has just been paroled from prison serving time for killing a man in a fight. Tom feels he was merely defending himself. He feels no guilt or shame about killing the man and would do it again under the same conditions. Toms morals allowed him to justify the killing. These morals were instilled in him by his family especially f rom the strength and love of his mother. Tom is aspect forward to laying one foot down in face of another. At this point in he story Tom has his physiological needs met and is going home to his family to meet his needs of safety and security love belonging. In chapter 6 Tom finds his house abandoned and meets Muley, an elder neighbor that stayed behind after his family moved to California for work.