Monday, January 27, 2020

Computerized Cognitive and Psychomotor Battery

Computerized Cognitive and Psychomotor Battery The primary goal of this study was to develop and validate the computerized cognitive and psychomotor battery for the sharp shooters. In order to construct the test, task analysis were carried out. For the experts in the field of psychology, experienced shooters and coaches were interviewed in the army marksmanship training center. Based on that skills and abilities required for the shooters were identified. In order to quantify those skills eight tests were identified i.e. Reasoning, visualization, shifting of attention, simple reaction time, complex reaction time, sustained attention, Eye- Hand Co-ordination and mental stamina (to with stand the match pressure). Initially the test protocols and requirement were developed and those were discussed with the software experts. The software professionals prepared the test software by using OPENGL and MYSQL software packages. After computerized the battery, validation process were started. In order to establish the psychometric properties , the study has carried out in two phase. In the first part of the research was focused on the validation of cognitive and psychomotor battery and in the second part validation of self reported mental toughness scale. In order to establish the psychometric properties of perceptual and motor battery around 650 samples were collected from shooters in IMA and Army Marksmanship unit. To establish the reliability, test retest method employed to investigate the temporal stability, for this 45 shooters were collected from Army marksmanship Unit (8 months’ time interval) (Mean age 24.2 SD 3.8 Average year of experience in shooting 3.5) .Overall the correlation was moderate, the lowest value was obtained in simple reaction time (See table No).For rests of the scales temporal consistency was moderate level. Apart from that pair sample t tests used to check the consistency of the score in the two levels. There was no significant difference between the mean test and retest scores mean scores. This findings supports the test battery is maintaining adequate temporal consistency. To study the factorial validity, exploratory factor analysis was carried out. Findings shows that three factor were emerged and it explains 60.2 %. In factor I reasoning and perceptual style test is loaded (), Factor II Vigilance, Eye hand Coordination and shifting of attention is loaded and in Factor 3 simple and choice reaction time is loaded (). The tests loaded on factor I, it measures logical reasoning and decision making of an indivual, and both the tests are non verbal matrix test, which may be the cause of loading both the test in Factor I.In the second factor, Sustained attention Shifting of attention and Eye hand Coordination are loaded, theoretically it was not expected the psychomotor test shared common variance with the test that measures attention and concentration. In the Eye hand coordination test subject has to focus and move the ball with the help of the Joystick, and to perform the task the subject is not only required psychomotor skills but the subject has to conc entrate and focused the task, which may be the cause of loading this test in Factor II.In the Factor III, the tests measures the psychomotor skills (simple and Choice reaction time) are loaded. To cross validate the latent structure emerged in the exploratory analysis, a separate confirmatory factor analysis were carried. Two competing models were developed but the results shows that the three dimensional oblique model is adequately fitting the data. After factorial validity, to establish the predictive validity of cognitive and psychomotor battery, separate set of data were collected from the participants of talent shooting competition and shooters performance appraisal data from the training institute. And to establish the validity, t-test and discriminant analysis were carried out to predict how far the battery is predicting the performance of the shooters. In the talent shooting competition around 415 IMA cadets were participated in the shooting competition, in this only 397 cadets were under gone cognitive and psychomotor battery. After competition only 17 cadets were recommended for shooter sport. Results of the analysis reveals shows that there is a significant difference between the recommended and non recommended shooters in cognitive and psychomotor skills. Particularly reasoning ability, spatial visualization, handy steadiness, reaction time and sustained attention of recommended shooters (N=17) significantly different from than the below non recommended shooters and this indicated that they are better in cognitive and psychomotor abilities (except divided attention) than non-recommended shooters. To further validate the battery, performance appraisal reports were received. Trainer and coaches assessed the shooters, based on the performance in the national and international competitions, based on those shooters were rated as below average and above average shooters. Data were collected from 50 experienced shooters; finally 36 pistol shooters (mean age 23.1 and SD 3.25) reports were received for validation, in these 11 shooters were rated as below average and 25 shooters as above average shooters. Results shows that above average shooters are better in sustained attention and handsteadyness. In the discriminant analysis, both the variables explain 25.4% of the variation in the dependent variable and it correctly classify 75 % of respondents into ‘Above average’ or ‘below average shooters. Overall predictive accuracy of the discriminant function is called the ‘hit ratio’. Non Recommended shooters were classified with slightly better accuracy (76%) than recommended shooters (72.7 %). Overall the cognitive and Psychomotor test are significantly predicting the performance of the shooters. Particularly in the novice shooters, parameters related to perceptual style, choice reaction time and handsteadyness play a major factor for predicting the performance. These parameters (except handsteadyness) are measuring the constructs related to logical reasoning and decision making. It may be due the participants are not skilled shooters they are novice, while shooting they required more cognitive resources, because they are in the learning phase. But in the skilled shooters (experienced shooters) sustained attention and Eye hand coordination is significantly predicting performance. Basically these constructs are measuring the alertness and psychomotor coordination, this may be due to the shooters are experienced and they are in the automatic phase, so they are not required much cognitive resources to perform the task. Findings of this study partially support the Ackermanâ₠¬â„¢s theory of skill development. According to Ackerman’s (1988) theory of skill development predicts differential relations of cognitive and psychomotor to different phases of skill development. When participants are learning the task, cognitive variables should have a higher impact on performance than psychomotor variables, with the opposite relation when participants are in the practice phase. Further to explore is there any difference between the different categories of shooters in cognitive and psychomotor abilities. For this, test were administered to slow and rapid shooters, in this category particularly trap and skeet shooters has to hit the fast moving target in the different direction, for this task, the shooter has to be extra cautious, proper Psychomotor coordination and quick reaction time is required, but the findings of the study shows that the rapid shooters mean score of shifting of attention, handsteadyness and reaction time is slightly better than the slow shooters, but it’s not statistically significant. As a part of this research ,to explore how training and experience in shooting competition improves on perceptual and motor skills, in order to answer this question , newly inducted (less than five years ) and experienced shooters (more than five years ) were identified and administered the psychomotor battery. Results show that there is no statistically significant difference between the groups in the cognitive and psychomotor abilities. It revealed that training, exposure and experience in shooting are not improved much in cognitive and psychomotor skills. From this we can infer that, if the skills are not improved much in training and experience, better it can be identified in the induction level to make successful shooters, but further in-depth longitudinal study has to be carried out to support this finding. Overall the validation study reveals that cognitive and psychomotor skills are significantly contributing for shooting performance. Apart from the cognitive Psycho-motor abilities, emotional component plays a vital role in shooting sports performance. He/she may be technically competent and innate aptitude for shooting but if he is not able to control the emotion and with stand the match pressure, he/she will lose the game. The next part of the research is focused on the construct of mental toughness. Although mental toughness is a broad term that has been associated with a variety of mental skills, little has been done to quantify mental toughness for research and assessment purposes. The current study is conceptually based on the available literature and previous concepts believed to be related to mental toughness. The next part describes the method used to establish a mental toughness questionnaire The second part of the research focused on development and validation of Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ), for that available literature and concepts to be related to mental toughness were explored, based on that initially 120 items were generated, subsequently which were reduced to 100 items based on expert opinion. Consequently, the same was subjected to items analysis (item total correlation and factor loading) and it finally reduced to 40 items. Further to explore whether the mental toughness scale is uni-dimensional or multidimensional in nature, and to study the latent structure of the questionnaire, principal component factor analysis was employed. In the factor analysis, three factors were emerged and it’s explained 45.4 % of variance and it termed as self confident, self control and resilience and to cross validate the latent structural model, confirmatory factor analysis was carried out ,which rejected the alternative models ( uni-dimensional three dimensional orthogonal and second order factor model) and supported the three dimensional oblique model. In order to establish the reliability of the tool, Test retest reliability (r = 0.635) and internal consistency reliability (r = 0.912) was established. Apart from the face and content validity and to establish criterion validity, concurrent, construct and predictive validity were identified. In the concurrent validity the mental toughness tool is significantly correlated (0.683**) with the existing mental toughness scale and to establish the construct validity both convergent and divergent validity were established. In the convergent validity it is related with the theoretically relevant constructs (i.e. Resilience, Hardiness, neuroticism and positive Negative affectivity) and for divergent validity it’s not correlated with the theoretically irrelevant constructs. Further to identify how far the mental toughness scale is predicting the efficiency of the shooters performance. For this predictive validity is established with the following criteria’s i.e. Expert Novice shooters, shooting score in the competition and successful unsuccessful shooters in the competition. In order to establish the predictive validity, the tests were administered to the expert and novice shooters. Finding shows that mean mental toughness score for expert shooters (M = 174 SD =?) was significantly different from Novice shooters (M=162, SD=.54) and indicated that Expert shooters being more mentally tough than Novice (t = -5.666, df = 279.4p Apart from that, further analysis carried out to identify how far the mental toughness scale is predicting the shooting performance, for that the MTs score has correlated with the shooting score. Findings show that both the variables are significantly positively correlated and in the stepwise regression, mental toughness factor I (Self confident) explains 4.6% variance in shooting score. Martin and Gill (1991) found self-confidence to be significantly and positively related to distance running performance, but found no significant relationship between cognitive anxiety and running performance. Similarly Hardy (1996b) and Parfitt and Pates (1999) found that self-confidence accounted for a significant proportion of performance variance over and above that accounted for by cognitive anxiety Analyses of variance revealed that mean mental toughness score of Successful shooters (Medal recipient) is significantly higher than the average and below average performers. In order to see whether is there any influence of age, gender and experience of shooter is related with mental toughness. Adams Nicholls et.al. (2009) reported that there is a significant relationship between mental toughness and gender, age and sporting experience. According to age, evidence from developmental sports psychology research found young and old adults differ in their self perception social influence motivation and self regulation with regard to sports participation (Weiss 2004).Therefore the role of development factors such as age could influence the mental toughness. Findings of the results showed that there is a significant relationship with age and mental toughness (0.243*). In particular, it appears that when people get older they improve in overall mental toughness, and more specifically in their levels of commitment, emotional control and life control. These findings have significant implications for the development of mental toughness. Clough et al. (2002) have suggested that mental toughness is a trait-like personality characteristic, and Golby and Sheard (2004) have suggested genetic links. But, our findings suggest that life experience may well be an important factor in determining mental toughness levels. In respect of competitive experience, Connaughton Waedey, Hanton and Jones (2008) reported that competitive experience was a crucial factor in the development of mental toughness among athletes. The result of the study shows that there is no significant relation between the shooting experience and mental toughness. It reveals that the training imparted for the shooters and the experience they gained from the shooting exposer is not significantly improved the mental toughness. Age and years of experience are of course closely related variables (r = .79 in this study). Therefore learning experiences and/or biological changes might be responsible for the small changes in the attributes underlying mental toughness. In order to further study whether the shooting experience is improving the mental toughness or not ,a small longttitunel study was conducted to check whether is there any changes in mental toughness after induction in to training and the participation in national and internati onal events. Around 20 participants samples were selected and administer the test during the Young blood competition, in these only 11 participants were selected and inducted for training in Army marksmanship unit. After that participants undergone training and participated competitions, one year after again the MTS data collected from the same candidates to check there is any improvement in MT’s, findings revealed the mean mental toughness score is improved slightly after undergone training and participation in competitions but it’s not statistically significant. Further exploratory analyses examined the relationship between gender and mental toughness. But the result of the study shows that, no gender differences were found on the scale, but previous studies (Nicholls et al., 2009; Findlay Bowker, 2009) suggest that males would have higher mental toughness than females. Social desirability is the tendency for individuals to portray themselves in generally favorable light. Edwards (1957) defined the construct as a tendency to provide socially desirable responses to statements in self-description. Marlowe Crowne (1960) defined it as a tendency to give culturally sanctioned and approved responses. Jackson (1984) saw it as a tendency to describe oneself in terms judged as desirable and to present oneself favorably. These definitions indicate a style of responding that is separate from the specific personality content dimension to be measured by a psychological test. A potential problem for a self-report personality scale is whether an elevated score represents a high score on the test’s content dimension or a tendency to present oneself favorably. Various methods exist for coping with social desirability in self-report inventories. First, a forced-choice format could be used for the test. Response options for any test item would then be matched for social desirability. Second, test items could be selected for a scale based on those items being more strongly representative of the psychological construct of interest than social desirability. Third, test instructions could be tailored to reduce the likelihood that test takers will respond in terms of social desirability. Fourth, social desirability could be statistically removed from the score generated on the test. Fifth, the questionnaires under investigation are correlated with a Social Desirability Scale and consequently demonstrating that the questionnaires under investigation do not correlate with the social desirability scale or if they do, that the correlations of these questionnaires with other variables of interest are not significantly attenuated when scores from Social Desirability Scale are partialled out ( Mummendey, 1981). To identify the social desirability of this tool the 40 items of the newly constructed Mental toughness scale was administered with the Soci al Desirability Scale – 17 (Strà ¶ber, 1991) on a sample of 281. The Social Desirability Scale – 17 was developed because some items the Marlowe-Crowne Scale was found to be inapplicable to the present day. The scale has high reliability (ÃŽ ± = .80). It shows a convergent correlation of r = .68 with the Marlowe-Crowne Scale. The correlation between the two test was found to be statistically significant (r = -.001). Finally, the MTS score was positively correlated(r=0.29, p>.001) with the SDS-17 Score. However its magnitude was relatively small with social desirability accounted for only 7.5% of scale variance. This finding suggests that mental toughness assessment and training may prove valuable in enhancing performance and retention of the shooters

Sunday, January 19, 2020

How Does Sir Arthur Conan Doyle create atmosphere in chapter 6? Essay

In â€Å"the Hound of the Baskervilles†, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle describes the atmosphere in depth frequently; usually the atmosphere reflects the mood of the chapter. Also he cleverly uses the atmosphere to show a comparison between good and evil, for example in chapter 6, between the Devonshire Moors and Baskerville Hall. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduces atmosphere in key events throughout the book, this is used to provide suspense and set the tone. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses comparisons such as the lush countryside as opposed the gloomy moor to create an atmosphere and set the scene. As Sherlock Holmes, Dr Mortimer and Dr Watson travel through the county on the train the author describes the immediate changes. â€Å"Brown earth had become ruddy†, this is used to show how the earth had become fresher and red. This also shows that the Devonshire countryside is a good/safe place. â€Å"Lush grasses†¦ luxuriant vegetation† is used to describe the richness and the quality of the Devonshire land. It also creates an image that Devonshire is safe as shows no evil, unlike Baskerville Hall. â€Å"Lush† and â€Å"luxuriant† are very descriptive words, and show the reader that everything is all right and creates a good, calm atmosphere. As the reader can compare â€Å"lush grasses† to summer green fields, this sets a homely atmosphere. Young Baskerville shows the reader that the countryside is easy on the eyes, as it states, â€Å"Young Baskerville stared eagerly†, and gives the impression that he is ecstatic to be there. â€Å"Stared† shows he is admiring the scenery while â€Å"eagerly† puts emphasis on how he wants to see more and is keen to take everything in of the Devonshire countryside. As they travel through and beyond the countryside the mood of the passengers begin to change as Young Baskerville starts explaining â€Å"his fathers death†, this sets a depressive mood/atmosphere which is later matched up with the outside scenery. â€Å"His father† sets a chilling mood, as the readers know that his father carried a curse, also â€Å"death† sets a depressing mood and reminds everyone of the case and takes them away from the lush countryside. â€Å"Green squares. †¦ Distance a grey† this is a major comparison between the countryside and moor. The countryside is green and safe while the moor is grey and evil. The introduction of â€Å"Melancholy Hill† sets an atmosphere, as melancholy shows a depressive and a gloomy state of mind. This shows the atmosphere and mood for the moor, which is opposite to the lush green one of the countryside. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses the word ‘melancholy’ to describe the hill not direct to the atmosphere; this is used throughout the book to let the reader decide upon the atmosphere. â€Å"Strange jagged summit† is used to demonstrate that the moor in itself is strange but â€Å"jagged summit† shows a weird unclear thing possibly hostile and uninviting. This â€Å"jagged summit† may represent the hound, as we are unclear of the truth or it could represent a strange unnerving atmosphere on the moor. As they travel through the moor they spot a man with a â€Å"dark and expressive face†, dark shows an element of evil, as a dark atmosphere is often seen as a negative evil one. â€Å"Expressive face† shows the feeling that the man is in, and as it is linked with dark it shows an angry, depressing face which links to the Melancholy Hill.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

News article analysis Organizational theory

The article by Dr. Kathy Iversen- a business consultant- provides a lot of insight into practical application of organizational theories in management. The article features Starbucks an American based company coffeehouse company which has over 15,000 chain stores in more than 40 countries. The article focuses on Starbucks rehiring of former CEO after a downward trend due to what he terms as â€Å"†¦myopic focus on operational effectiveness led by new, post-founder management began to negatively impact the customer experience.† (Iversen, 2008,  ¶3). The author compares Starbucks fate with Apple, Swarbs and Dell transformation after the later companies effectively applied tools and systems in the organization that boosted innovation and profitability. The following are three fundamental issues focused in the report in relation to implementation of a good and effective organizational structure that could transform Starbuck’s trend to a profitable path. The organizational structure should apply systems and models that are dynamic thus are able to change with the corporate world for the business to remain profitable. A good organizational model should have effective channel of communication, feedback mechanism and facilitate good response and decision making process. The organizational culture and work environment models should facilitate optimal performance by ensuring that employee capabilities are properly utilized and encourage responsibility and innovation in the workplace. Dynamism in the corporate world. The corporate sector in modern times is subject to perpetual change therefore, organizational models adopted should accommodate this change in their organization by putting in place relevant tools to prepare it for this eventuality. External environment analysis focusing on customer, competitors changing trends and adoption of new marketing strategies are vital to ensure that the company remains relevant thus profitable. The author gives an example of Apple which changed to music enjoyment instead of computing to recapture its market and future profitability (Iversen, 2008). This shows how effective a good which focuses on investing in new fields can help a company reinvent itself into profitability path. Bureaucratic organizational model tend to focus on cost cutting rather than adoption to the innovation, for a company such as Starbucks given its level of maturity, implementing models that focus on new ideas would be the most appropriate in a move to reclaim its lost glory (Daft, 2001 pg. 107) Effective communication in Organizational Models. Effective communication is one of the most important elements in establishing an organizational model. There are two main distinction namely formal communications which is utilized in big established diverse companies and informal communication channels which lead to open interactive dialogue both horizontally and vertically in the organization. The advantages of the later is that it will help facilitate free flow of information thus for analysis of the market, an element which is essential for most businesses. In addition informal means of communication works best in volatile and uncertain environments such as the one which Starbuck’s is facing thus if correctly implemented can lead to quick response and decision making (Daft, 2001, pg.14). Organizational culture. According to Daft (2001, pg 30) scholars have pointed out that corporate culture and sound internal processes are key elements in good organizational models to the extent that they promote effective running of the organization. A fluid and flexible structure will encourage constant experimenting and learning thus ensuring better policies, procedures are adopted to ensure dynamism and innovation in the organization. For instance, given the fact that Starbucks is a service oriented company, employee training and empowerment can lead to certain beneficial attributes such as, smoothing the progress of change since they directly interact with the customer thus can be able to get the information needed by management to effect change and enhanced customer relation and satisfaction thus building of clientele and profitability (Iversen, 2008). Conclusion. Though, the author did not explore on the organizational approach and design, the best design proposed in this paper would be a decentralized approach with emphasis on organic systems of organization as opposed to mechanistic/ bureaucratic approach. Firstly, given that Starbucks is a multi national company with coffee houses all over the world. A centralized system will fundamentally inhibit flexibility and restrict decision making process and timely response to customer needs. On the other hand a decentralized approach will encourage each store to make decision based on customer needs, create diversity and promote dynamism and innovation factors that are vital for profitability. However, this approach might lead to loss of control and direction by top management thus leadership skills are essential to ensure that while chains are flexible, the company’s vision, brand name and direction is uniform to ensure sustainability and balanced growth. Secondly, good organic structures ensure that communication is free-flowing, employees are empowered and well motivated and generally the internal processes lead to optimal production hence growth (Daft, 2001, pg 64). There should be both formal and informal channels of communication that are strong and consistent to ensure that management is in control and allow timely information flow in the organization. REFERENCES: Daft, R. (2001) Essentials of Organization Theory and Design. South-Western. Iversen, K. (January, 15th 2008). Brewing a fresh pot at Starbucks. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved March 11th 2008 from http://www.forbes.com/personalfinance/2008/01/15/starbucks-schultz-apple-pf-ii-in_ki_0115soapbox_inl.html   

Friday, January 3, 2020

Essay about The Illegal Body Parts Trade - 2539 Words

The Illegal Body Parts Trade With a world wide shortage of organs, the black market organ and tissue trade has grown out of control due to the rising demand from the sick and dying. This shortage of organs is fueling an illicit business of buying and selling all sorts of organs and tissues, often through involuntary donation. While it would be nice to have an ample supply of organs and tissues for sick people that desperately need them, the black market organ and tissue trade needs more enforcement in order to cease the profiteering of immoral and unethical transplanting of organs from human to human. The number of people requiring a life-saving transplant continues to rise faster than the number of available donors. In the United†¦show more content†¦Others donate simply because they can. The act of voluntary donation can be done while alive or after deceased, although donors who are still alive are limited as to what can be donated. For instance, someone can donate a kidne y or part of their liver while they’re still alive, but it would be hard to survive having donated a heart. If more people would voluntarily donate their body parts without jeopardizing their health, the world wide organ shortage would be drastically reduced. It would also help if more people agreed to donate after death. The donation of whole cadavers is the most beneficial. Just one cadaver can yield over a dozen transplantable organs and tissues (Shanteau). The illegal sale of organs and tissues from the dead is a substantial area of supply for the black market body parts trade. The fact that a whole cadaver can be dissected and sold for parts for over $200,000 makes the practice all too appealing for some, no matter the risk (Carreon). The horror stories of doctors, funeral homes, prisons, and organized crime outfits essentially stealing organs have been documented. Even in the United States this has happened. A couple of men involved with the Willed Body Program at UCLA, a program that provides cadavers donated to science for medical students, used the medical center as a front for over six years to traffic body parts to the blackShow MoreRelatedOrgan Trafficking : A Vital Part Of Our Survival Essay1179 Words   |  5 PagesDenison Design 2110 12 October 2016 Organ Trafficking Throughout much of human history, trade has been a vital part of our survival. Trades take place continuously today; whether they’re in-person with a friend, or across the ocean with a complete stranger. There are many forms of trade, most including the buying and selling of goods and services to benefit us in some way. When we think about trade, body parts aren’t typically the first thing to pop into our heads. 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Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Ancient Olmec Trade and Economy

The Olmec culture thrived in the humid lowlands of Mexicos Gulf coast during the Early and Middle Formative periods of Mesoamerica, from about 1200–400 BCE. They were great artists and talented engineers who had a complex religion and worldview. Although much information about the Olmecs has been lost to time, archaeologists have succeeded in learning much about their culture from excavations in and around the Olmec homeland. Among the interesting things they have learned is the fact that the Olmec were diligent traders who had many contacts with contemporary Mesoamerican civilizations. Mesoamerican Trade Before the Olmec By 1200 BCE, the people of Mesoamerica—present-day Mexico and Central America—were developing a series of complex societies. Trade with neighboring clans and tribes was common, but these societies did not have long-distance trade routes, a merchant class, or a universally accepted form of currency, so they were limited to a down-the-line sort of trade network. Prized items, such as Guatemalan jadeite or a sharp obsidian knife, might well wind up far from where it was mined or created, but only after it had passed through the hands of several isolated cultures, traded from one to the next. The Dawn of the Olmec One of the accomplishments of Olmec culture was the use of trade to enrich their society. Around 1200 BCE, the great Olmec city of San Lorenzo (its original name is unknown) began creating long-distance trade networks with other parts of Mesoamerica. The Olmec were skilled artisans, whose pottery, stone tools, statues, and figurines proved popular for commerce. The Olmecs, in turn, were interested in many things that were not native to their part of the world. Their merchants traded for many things, including raw stone material such as basalt, obsidian, serpentine and jadeite, commodities such as salt, and animal products such as pelts, bright feathers, and seashells. When San Lorenzo declined after 900 BCE, it was replaced in importance by La Venta, whose merchants used many of the same trade routes followed by their forebears. Olmec Economy The Olmec needed basic goods, such as food and pottery, and luxury items such as jadeite and feathers for making ornaments for rulers or religious rituals. Most common Olmec â€Å"citizens† were involved in food production, tending fields of basic crops such as maize, beans, and squash, or fishing the rivers that flowed through the Olmec homelands. There is no clear evidence that the Olmecs traded for food, as no remains of foodstuffs not native to the region have been found at Olmec sites. The exceptions to this are salt and cacao, which were possibly obtained through trade. There appears to have been a brisk trade in luxury items such as obsidian, serpentine and animal skins, however. The Gulf Coast Olmec blossomed at a time when there were at least four other islands of expanding civilization in Mesoamerica: the Soconusco, the Basin of Mexico, the Copan Valley, and the Valley of Oaxaca. The Olmec trading practices, traced through the movement of goods produced or mined elsewhere, are key to understanding the Early and Middle Formative histories of Mesoamerica. Characteristics of the Olmec trading network include: baby-faced figurines (essentially, portable versions of the Olmec stone heads);distinctive white-rimmed blackware pottery and Calzadas Carved wares;abstract iconography, especially that of the Olmec dragon; andEl Chayal obsidian, a translucent to transparent banded black volcanic stone. Olmec Trading Partners The Mokaya civilization of the Soconusco region (Pacific coast Chiapas state in present-day Mexico) was nearly as advanced as the Olmec. The Mokaya had developed Mesoamericas first known chiefdoms and established the first permanent villages. The Mokaya and Olmec cultures were not too far apart geographically and were not separated by any insurmountable obstacles (such as an extremely high mountain range), so they made natural trade partners. The Mokaya adopted Olmec artistic styles in sculpture and pottery. Olmec ornaments were popular in Mokaya towns. By trading with their Mokaya partners, the Olmec had access to cacao, salt, feathers, crocodile skins, jaguar pelts and desirable stones from Guatemala such as jadeite and serpentine. Olmec commerce extended well into present-day Central America: there is evidence of local societies having contact with the Olmec in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. In Guatemala, the excavated village of El Mezak yielded many Olmec-style pieces, including jadeite axes, pottery with Olmec designs and motifs and figurines with the distinctive ferocious Olmec baby-face. There is even a piece of pottery with an Olmec were-jaguar design. In El Salvador, many Olmec-style knick-knacks have been found and at least one local site erected a man-made pyramid mound similar to Complex C of La Venta. In the Copan valley of Honduras, the first settlers of what would become the great Maya city-state of Copà ¡n showed signs of Olmec influence in their pottery. In the basin of Mexico, the Tlatilco culture began to develop about the same time as the Olmec, in the area occupied by Mexico City today. The Olmec and Tlatilco cultures evidently were in contact with one another, most likely through some sort of trade, and the Tlatilco culture adopted many aspects of Olmec art and culture. This may have even included some of the Olmec gods, as images of the Olmec Dragon and Banded-eye God appear on Tlatilco objects. The ancient city of Chalcatzingo, in present-day Morelos of central Mexico, had extensive contact with La Venta-era Olmecs. Located in a hilly region in the Amatzinac River valley, Chalcatzingo may have been considered a sacred place by the Olmec. From about 700–500 BCE, Chalcatzingo was a developing, influential culture with connections with other cultures from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The raised mounds and platforms show Olmec influence, but the most important connection is in the 30 or so carvings that are found on the cliffs that surround the city. These show a distinct Olmec influence in style and content. Importance of Olmec Trade The Olmec were the most advanced civilization of their time, developing an early writing system, advanced stonework and complicated religious concepts before other contemporary societies. For this reason, the Olmec had a great influence on other developing Mesoamerican cultures with which they came into contact. One of the reasons the Olmec were so important and influential—some archaeologists, but not all, consider the Olmec the mother culture of Mesoamerica—was the fact that they had extensive trade contact with other civilizations from the valley of Mexico well into Central America. The significance of the trade is that the Olmec cities of San Lorenzo and La Venta were the epicenter of the trade: in other words, goods such as Guatemalan and Mexican obsidian came into Olmec centers but were not traded directly to other growing centers. While the Olmec declined between 900–400 BCE, its former trading partners dropped the Olmec characteristics and grew more powerful on their own. Olmec contact with other groups, even if they did not all embrace the Olmec culture, gave many disparate and widespread civilizations a common cultural reference and a first taste of what complex societies might offer. Sources Cheetham, David. Cultural Imperatives in Clay: Early Olmec Carved Pottery from San Lorenzo and Cantà ³n Corralito. Ancient Mesoamerica 21.1 (2010): 165–86. Print.Coe, Michael D, and Rex Koontz. Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008Diehl, Richard A. The Olmecs: Americas First Civilization. London: Thames and Hudson, 2004.Rosenswig, Robert M. Olmec Globalization: A Mesoamerican Archipelago of Complexity. The Routledge Handbook of Archaeology and Globalization. Ed. Hodos, Tamar: Taylor Francis, 2016. 177–193. Print.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Effects of Old Age on the Body - 1697 Words

Tim Cramer Aging: What to expect as you get older This article is all about physical effects on the body as a person gets older. For my essay, most of these facts will be important to catch the attention of my reader, and define the problem to my thesis. It seems that age affects every system of the body. The heart will become less efficient and must work harder. Bones, joints and muscles will become thinner, less dense, and weaker. Constipation and loss of bladder control will become more common. The eyes will be less able to produce tears and seeing things up close will be difficult. There will be less saliva in your mouth, which makes it harder to wash away bacteria, and the teeth will be easier to break. Skin will become less elastic†¦show more content†¦In 1940 programs for the aged came under England’s welfare state system. In the 1880s Otto von Bismarck in Germany introduced old-age pensions whose model was followed by most other western European countries. Today more than 100 nations have some form of social security program for the aged. The United States was one of the last countries to institute such programs. Not until the Social Security Act of 1935 was formulated to relieve hardships caused by the Great Depression were the elderly granted old-age pensions. For the most part, these state programs, while alleviating some burdens of aging, still do not bring older people to a level of income comparable to that of younger people. Physiological effects The physiological effects of aging differ widely among individuals. However, chronic ailments, especially aches and pains, are more prevalent than acute ailments, requiring older people to spend more time and money on medical problems than younger people. The rising cost of medical care has caused a growing concern among older people and societies, in general resulting in constant reevaluation and reform of institutions and programs designed to aid the elderly with these expenses. In ancient Rome and medieval Europe the average life span is estimated to have been between 20 and 30 years. Life expectancy today has expanded in historically unprecedented proportions, greatly increasing the numbers of peopleShow MoreRelatedAging And Its Effects On The Aging1360 Words   |  6 PagesAlso spelled as ageing, this is generally the process of becoming old. It is the in a way the opposite of immortality. In a broader aspect, it may occur to single cells in an organism also called cellular senescence or the population of a species, known as population ageing. This process primarily affects human beings and fungi. In humans, it signifies the accumulation of various changes which occur over time. The changes include physical, social and psychological changes. Causes of aging are veryRead MoreEffects Of Aging On Aging And Aging1343 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction Also spelled as ageing, this is generally the process of becoming old. It is the in a way the opposite of immortality. In a broader aspect, it may occur to single cells in an organism also called cellular senescence or the population of a species, known as population ageing. This process primarily affects human beings and fungi. In humans, it signifies the accumulation of various changes which occur over time. The changes include physical, social and psychological changes. CausesRead MoreLegal Drinking Age : Should It Be Altered?1408 Words   |  6 Pages Legal Drinking Age: Should It Be Altered? The legal drinking age has been an ongoing controversy for decades, consisting of people who are for lowering, raising, or keeping the age with multiple reasons behind each side. It is commonly known that consuming alcohol can have life-threatening effects on the human body, but these effects can be much harsher at a younger age. Reducing the age for eighteen year olds may result in senseless acts from the drug. Statistics prove that maintainingRead MoreAlcohol is a very popular drink for those that are of legal drinking age. The legal drinking age600 Words   |  3 PagesAlcohol is a very popular drink for those that are of legal drinking age. The legal drinking age in the United States is currently 21. Sadly, many teens that are not of legal drinking age consume alcohol while being under age. They believe that they are old enough to handle its effects, and that it is the cool thing to do. The legal drinking age should not be lowered because many teens cannot handle t he effects of alcohol or the responsibility that come with the consumption of alcohol. It couldRead MoreWhy The Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered1582 Words   |  7 PagesWhy the Legal Drinking Age should Be Lowered Ever since its creation in ancient times, alcohol has been used for many reasons and purposes. Since then, controversies have risen on the topic of alcohol consumption and production. 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(2011) the occurrence of breast cancer in women 65 years old and older is greater than â€Å"400 cases per 100, 000 women† (p. 3). The appropriate treatment options for the elderly are not as standard as those for a younger generation related to the effects the aging process has on the body. Secondary conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes mellitus (DM), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and the effects of treatmentRead MoreThe Effect Of Low Dietary On Healthcare And Pharmaceutical Sciences Essay1651 Words   |  7 Pageshealthcare and pharmaceutical sciences has risen life expectancy and the number of old people. It has been predicted that by 2050, there would be about 380 million people in the world that are over the age of 80 (Luliano, 2014) . 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Parents make a big difference and can prevent this from happening and I have to agree 100% that the drinking age has saved hundreds ofRead MoreStatistical Analysis : T Tests1228 Words   |  5 PagesStatistical analysis T-tests were used to compare TUNEL indices, the number of muscle fibers per unit area between each age group, and body weights between age groups. Body weights were significantly greater in the old rat group (t14=-9.82, p0.001; Figs. 4 and 2c) than in the young adult rat group. That is, with increasing age there was a significant increase in the index of cell death for all muscles studied in the extrinsic tongue. Muscle Morphology Muscle fiber CSA and the minimum Feret’s

Monday, December 9, 2019

The Postmaster -Summary free essay sample

Summary of â€Å"The Postmaster†1: Rabindranath Tagore’s short story, â€Å"The Postmaster† centers around a young postmaster named Dadababu. Dadababu has been transferred from Calcutta to a small Indian village, Ulapur, for a position as postmaster. He finds himself feeling very lonely and unable to relate to the factory workers around him. Conversation and companionship comes to Dadababu in the form of a young servant girl names Ratan. In an attempt to appease his loneliness Dadababu tells the girl stories about his distant family and even begins teaching her to read.Ratan quickly becomes attached to Dadababu and develops strong, seemingly romantic feelings for him. When Dadababu unexpectedly falls ill Ratan does not leave his bedside. However, Dadababu does not view Ratan in the same way. As soon as he recovers from sickness, Dadababu requests a transfer out of Ulapur. When his petition is denied, Dadababu simply resigns and informs Ratan of his departure. Ratan is extremely upset and asks Dadababu to take her with him. He finds her question absurd and denies her request. Ratan is left depressed and grieving.With only a passing thought of Ratan’s grief, Dadababu boards a ship and is quickly engrossed in thoughts of business. Tagore’s â€Å"The Postmaster†: Exploring Cultural Miscommunication Within A Society Growing up in the midst of Britain’s colonization of India, Rabindranath Tagore experienced the rapid pace at which a society can change. Much of Tagore’s writing deals with the issue of a changing society and its political, economic, and cultural implications. The introduction of Western ideals within India resulted in a blending of Indian and British cultures. This cultural intermingling often caused a miscommunication between not only the British and Indian people, but amongst Indians themselves. The influx of a non-native people brought an entirely new culture to India. While some Indians only partially assimilated Western tradition into their culture, others completely adopted the British’s ideals. There were also many Indians who adamantly resisted any British influence, thus creating divisions within Indian society. The concept of tradition became varied; while some strictly adhered to ancient rules and customs, others found it beneficial to reform or even rid of certain cultural practices.Many of Tagore’s stories reflect the miscommunication that occurred between those within the rapidly transforming society of India. In his short story, â€Å"The Postmaster,† Tagore’s main focus is the misunderstanding that often existed between Indians due to the various ways in which they were affected by their changing environment. While the story takes place within a colonial context, its main function is not as an allegory for colonialism. Britain’s colonization, and the subsequent introduction of Western ideals, simply enhanced or expedited the country’s transformation.The mention of a â€Å"British manager† within the story’s setting of the small, Indian village of Ulapur, immediately sets the story within colonized India (Tagore 42). The British have successfully moved into the country and set up factories with which to expand their economy, and consequently, their culture. It is the â€Å"British manager [who] had†¦established a new post office,† and therefore supplied the job that brought Dadababu to Ulapur. This simply positions colonialism as the source of the change that launches the story into action.It places the piece within a colonial context, yet does not introduce any significant claim for or against colonialism. In â€Å"The Postmaster,† Tagore is specifically concerned with India’s traditional marriage customs. The interaction of the characters Dadababu and Ratan exhibits the misunderstanding that often arose between native Indians as a result of divergent views on tradition. It is the difference in the emotions that Dadababu and Ratan have for each other that presents the central point of the story. Throughout the story, the two exhibit a misreading of each other’s emotions.Their misunderstanding is a direct result of their environment. At the age of â€Å"about twelve or thirteen,† Ratan has reached the appropriate age for marriage. During the time of Tagore and his writings, child marriage was a prevalent Indian custom. However, as an â€Å"orphaned village-girl,† Ratan lacks any type of parental figure and consequently is somewhat naive regarding its associated customs (42). Generally, the parents of a young Indian girl like Ratan would actively search for the perfect spouse for their daughter.The fathers of the potential couple would meet and discuss the match as well as critical factors such as dowry (the traditional offering of money and goods to made by the prospective bride’s family as an incentive for the marriage). Due to the absence of a caretaker, Ratan does not have anyone to find her a suitable spouse. Rather than pursuing marriage for financial security, Ratan’s desire to marry is almost entirely based on emotion. She expects Dadababu to marry her because she loves him. Ratan’s actions often reveal her feelings of romantic love for Dadababu. However, the postmaster continuously fails to recognize or reciprocate such emotions. When Dadababu asks Ratan to tell him of her family, she is more than happy to oblige. Ratan finds great significance in their nightly chats. She soaks in every tale about Dadababu’s family and believes the stories bring them closer together. She begins to â€Å"allude to the postmaster’s family – his mother, sister and brother – as if they were her own† (43). This relates to the traditional practice of marriage within India. After marriage, a young girl loses much of her contact with her own family and essentially adopts her spouse’s family. She moves into her husband’s home and takes on her role as housewife, leaving her little time or contact with her own relatives. Aware of this aspect of marriage, Ratan expects such to occur. She wholeheartedly believes that she will marry Dadababu and therefore expects to take on his family as her own. In contrast, Dadababu listens to the girl’s stories yet does not express any significant reaction or emotion to them. He simply views them as an opportunity for conversation. Finding himself unable to relate to his coworkers and peers, Dadababu often feels â€Å"alone and exiled† and Ratan provides him with a means of conversation (43).As his stories prove, Dadababu has a family. They would have taught him about the factors that should be considered when contemplating marriage. This differs from Ratan’s situation. Although both acknowledge the tradition, the values and factors they associate with deciding to marry differ. While Ratan considers love to be the driving force behind marriage, Dadababu would have been educated on the importance of securing a dowry and stable situation when considering marriage. In fact, as â€Å"a Calcutta boy,† Dadababu may have experienced an even greater sense of stress on the financial issue.As one of the larger cities of India, Calcutta was a greater industrial region. Offering more job and living opportunities, it attracted more people and thus, would have had a much greater cultural blending than the small village of Ulapur. With such an awareness of the importance of finances and dowry, Dadababu does not view Ratan as a potential spouse. He refers to her as an â€Å"orphaned girl,† and is therefore aware of her poor financial status. Without a family, she has little or no money to offer and thus, is viewed as nothing more than a servant girl by Dadababu (46).In fact, he feels as though there is no one he can convey such feelings for and imagines â€Å"how it would be to have a close companion†¦, a human object for the heart’s most intimate affections† (44). Dadababu’s silent request for a lover further cements his lack of romantic sentiment for Ratan and subsequently, reveals his misunderstanding or ignorance of her emotions. Ratan’s devotion to Dadababu goes above and beyond her role as a servant. With almost every action, Ratan aims to portray her love as well as prove herself ready and able for marriage. She does everything she can to prove herself a valuable companion. Ratan regards Dadababu’s reading lessons as yet another opportunity to demonstrate her qualifications. She considers the postmaster’s teachings as his way of preparing her for her future role as his wife. She pores over the lessons. She dedicates her free time to studying them, â€Å"terrified that if he suddenly summoned her again one day, the conjunct consonants would all be muddled up in her mind† (45). She cannot fathom failing him, for she fears that if she does, Dadababu would find her unworthy of marriage.Ratan is willing to take on any role necessary to prove her love and ability to Dadababu. Immediately after Dadababu falls ill, she â€Å"took on the role of a mother,† never leaving his bedside (44). She nurses the postmaster back to health and stays â€Å"awake at his bedside all night long† (44). However, Ratan’s attempts to convince Dadababu of her love prove futile. Even after Ratan spends days at Dadababu’s bedside, nursing him back to health, Dadababu remains oblivious to Ratan’s love-fueled actions and emotions.When he announces his transfer, Ratan becomes extremely distressed. She asks â€Å"Dadababu, will you take me home with you? † (45). Ratan’s request has cultural significance. Still believing marriage to Dadababu is an option, Ratan expects to live with the postmaster and therefore, has no reason to find her question unreasonable. However, while Ratan cannot contemplate living without Dadababu, the postmaster laughs and finds the idea â€Å"impossible† (45). Again the reader is subjected to the miscommunication present between the two characters.Due to his stricter adherence to the traditions surrounding marriage, Dadababu recognizes that Ratan does not qualify as an ideal spouse. Consequently, he finds the idea of his bringing her home ridiculous. Dadababu never truly recognizes Ratan’s emotions. In fact, he stops only once to consider her feelings. As he does in many of his pieces, Tagore presents the reader with an ironic twist at the end of the story. While on the boat leaving Ulapur, Dadababu reflects on Ratan’s strong reaction to his departure. It seems as if he may finally recognize Ratan’s love for him and finally understand her thoughts and emotions.However, just as quickly as he presents the possibility, Tagore takes it away. Despite taking the time to consider Ratan’s emotions, Dadababu fails to reconcile their misunderstanding of each other. He takes her broken heart for nothing more than grief, describing Ratan as â€Å"the grief-stricken village girl† (46). He still views her as just a â€Å"village-girl† and continues to hold a kind of indifference towards her (46). His â€Å"sharp desire to go back† for Ratan is only passing and thoughts of her are quickly replaced with business matters (46).This displays society’s move to put an even greater emphasis on economic concerns, which only strengthens the reasoning behind Dadababu’s lack of consideration for Ratan as a wife. Through the story of Dadababu and Ratan and his description of their misunderstanding, it seems as though Tagore is warning the reader of the dangers of dowry and its implication on the tradition of marriage. Although he does not explicitly condemn the tradition, there are hints that if two people lack the same understanding of the associated customs, negative effects can ensue.As we see in â€Å"The Postmaster,† unfavorable repercussions occur because Dadababu and Ratan do not share the same concepts regarding the tradition of marriage. Ratan faces the most unfortunate results. Her dream of an attachment to Dada is crushed and she experiences humilia tion and heartbreak. She suffers the endless pain of â€Å"false hope,† and its â€Å"ripping [of the] veins and draining [of the] heart’s blood† (47). Even within the same culture, Dadababu and Ratan possess disparate backgrounds that only continue to diverge as time and society develop.A common theme throughout many of Tagore’s stories is the idea of attachment. He often explores the bond between parent and child, siblings, or even lovers and the strain that economic, political, and cultural issues have on such relationships. It is the disparity that exists between Ratan and Dadababu that Tagore is concerned with, seeming to allude to the fact that tragedies such as the dissolution or prevention of attachment occur when rapid and usually unforeseen changes in the environment separate people even within the same country.