Internet Personal Security Is Not Absolute Essay Example for Free

Internet Personal Security Is Not Absolute Essay Internet is the most trending and most widely used in today’s generation, either it is used for communication, used for sharing files and documents, for making new acquaintances, or just for own enjoyment. People can also use the internet when they want to socialize with others, when they want to share what’s on their mind and the on goings of their lives, when they want to know what the trending topics like news and scandals, or when they want to post some pranks or scum other people. Internet usability can either be a great help to everyone or it can impose a threat to someone or somebody. People think that when they post something online, whether it is good, bad, privately, or publicly, that information is safely sealed and secured. But the truth is, it can be freely access or easily steal from them. Hacking, viruses, trojans, and especially own self are some of the reasons that threaten internet security. Among all of these examples, hacking is on the top list. Even though there are some laws against hacking like the Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, it is not enough assurance to protect the people against hackers and it doesn’t improve the internet security. Changes need to be made in the law to increase internet security, and find and punish cyber criminals. Additional laws to stop cybercriminals and necessary, unenforceable, and could infringe upon interest users rights to privacy and the growth of the internet. The issue here is that the internet security is not that secured for users or for people to rely upon. People can hide their files thoroughly or limit the number of people who can access his or her private account but sooner or later that information will be publish and revealed publicly with or without his or her approval. There are different explanations on why this information once hidden and now visible seen by many people, but the most common reason is that â€Å"your file/ information is being hacked†, it can be an expert hacker or you have been chosen for someone’s prank or hobby. In strict definition of â€Å"hacker†, according to Rouse, M. (October, 2006): â€Å"Hacker is a term for â€Å"a clever programmer† who wanted to break into someone’s computer systems. These are people who enjoy learning details of programming language or system. They want to further their knowledge and skills in a particular computer language. Typically, the hacker is either proficient programmer or engineer with technical knowledge on the weakness and vulnerability of the computer system. (Rouse, M. (October, 2006). Definition: hacker. Search Security. Retrieved on January 23, 2013 from http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/hacker).† Like the given definition, because of the hacker’s hobby of exploring and gaining more knowledge on his preferred programming language, he will not give a care on whose account he is butchering, as long as he increases his understanding and skills on his chosen subject. He will not consider if it is personally- owned or government-owned accounts, as long as it interests him, he will do anything on his power to hack that website. Like for example the issue of hacking some government and civil society websites in the Philippines. According to Kabiling, G. D. (October 2, 2012): â€Å"The Anonymous Philippines (as what the hackers describe theirselves) hacked different government and civil society websites, namely: Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Intellectual Property Office (IPO), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The reason for their attacked is to voice out their pr otest and opinions on implementing the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. (Kabiling, G. D. (October 2, 2012). More Gov’t Websites Hacked: Cybercrime law in effect starting Wednesday. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved on January 24, 2013 from http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/375681/more-gov-t-websites-hacked#.UQGDCScUuBw).† There is also a hacking issue on American banks, which according to Staff, R. (September 20, 2012): â€Å"The hacking of websites and corporate networks at Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase Co and Citigroup began in late 2011 and escalated this year. According to one of their sources, the attacks were in response to U.S. sanctions on Iranian banks.† The two issues are both similar and different. It is similar because they reported about different hacker’s interfere someone’s computer system. Different because on the first issue, hacking the government websites, the hackers introduced their group and post the reason why they block the websites and on the second issue, the hacker denied their involvement even though many evidences are pointing towards them. Hacking is the most dangerous hobby. Even though the Philippine government implemented the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, it cannot give assurance on protecting the people. The Philippine government must change this law and focus more on the most problematic cybercrime issues. Government must strengthen the internet security in order to lessen the attacks of the hackers to the innocent people who freely use the internet. And in order to accomplish the changes they must first know why the internet security is absolute? Who are the people affected and can use the internet security? How someone knows if the internet security they use can either be helpful or can trigger harm to them?

Types of Tissue and Muscle

Types of Tissue and Muscle Muscle Muscle is one of the four fundamental types of tissue present in animals. It is a soft tissue primarily responsible to produce movement of a body part. Its cells convert the chemical energy of ATP into the mechanical energy of motion and exert a useful pull on another tissue. More specifically, muscle contraction serves the following overlapping functions: movement and contractile move of body contents in the course of respiration, circulation, digestion, defecation, urination, and childbirth. Stability by resisting the pull of gravity. Communication. As well as the control of body openings and passages. And finally, producing around 85% of our body heat, which is vital for the metabolism (Carey Carpenter, 2007). Classification There are three histological types of muscle—cardiac, smooth and skeletal—which differ in appearance, physiology, and function. The cardiac muscle is essentially limited to the heart, though it extends slightly into the nearby blood vessels. It is involuntary and striated because of the regular arrangement of their actin and myosin filaments. Its cells are much shorter, so they are commonly called myocytes, and are mononuclated (Saladin, 2003). The myocytes assemble branches of adjoining cells and form a network by attaching to each other in attachment points called intercalated discs that provide strong mechanical adhesions between adjacent cells. Smooth muscle lacks striations and is involuntary. Smooth muscle cells are usually long and spindle-shaped, and each fusiform cell has a single and centered nucleus (Purves et al., 2004). Small amounts of smooth muscle are found in the iris of the eye and in the skin, but most of it, called visceral muscle, forms layers in the walls of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts, blood vessels, the uterus, and other viscersa (Alberts et al., 2008). The skeletal muscle type is of special interest of this thesis and will be further studied in the following sections. Skeletal muscle Skeletal muscles are, as the name implies, are bound to the skeleton by means of tendons, which means that they are volitional. It is composed of both muscular tissue and connective. A skeletal muscle cell (muscle fiber) is about 10 to 100m in diameter and 30 cm long. It is surrounded by a sparse layer of areolar connective tissue called the endomysium, which allows room for blood capillaries and nerve fibers to reach each muscle fiber. Muscle fibers are grouped in bundles called fascicles, which are visible to the naked eye as parallel strands. Each fascicle is separated from neighboring ones by a connective tissue sheath called the perimysium, usually somewhat thicker than the endomysium. The muscle as a whole is surrounded by still another connective tissue layer, the epimysium. The epimysium grades imperceptibly into connective tissue sheets called fasciae, deep fasciae between adjacent muscles and a superficial fascia (hypodermis) between the muscles and skin. It is described as striated and voluntary (Saladin, 2003). Structure The skeletal muscle tissue consists of long and cylindrical cells called muscle fibers, which are actually huge single cells that form during development by the fusion of many separate cells, called myoblasts. Each cell contains multiple nuclei adjacent to the plasma membrane, and they are about 10 to 100m in diameter and 30 cm long. The bulk of the cytoplasm inside is made up of myofibrils, which is the name given to the basic contractile elements of the muscle cell. Within each myofibril are thin actin filaments and thick specific muscle isoforms of myosin II filaments (Alberts et al., 2008). Myosin filaments are bundles of molecules with globular heads and polypeptide tails. Actin filaments consist of two chains of actin monomers twisted together. They are wrapped by chains of the polypeptide tropomyosin and studded at intervals with another protein, troponin. In most regions of the myofibril, each thick myosin filament is surrounded by six thin actin filaments, and conversely, each thin actin filament sits within a triangle of three thick myosin filaments. The myofibril consists of repeating units, called sarcomeres, which are the units of contraction, built up of approximately 2.2 microns in length. Each sarcomere is made of overlapping filaments of actin and myosin, which create a distinct band pattern. As the muscle contracts, the sarcomeres shorten, and the appearance of the band pattern changes. Each sarcomere is bounded by Z-lines, which are structures that anchor the thin actin filaments. Centered in the sarcomere is the A-band, which contains all the myosin filaments. The H-zone and the I-band, are regions where actin and myosin filaments do not overlap in the relaxed muscle. The dark stripe within the H-zone is called the M-band; it contains proteins that help hold the myosin filaments in their regular arrangement. The bundles of myosin filaments are held in a centered position within the sarcomere by a protein called titin. Cardiac muscle and smooth muscle also contain sarcomeres, although the organization is not as regular as that in skeletal muscle (Alberts et al., 2008; Purves et al., 2004.). The plasma membrane, called the sarcolemma has tunnel-like infoldings called transverse (T) tubules that penetrate through the fiber and emerge on the other side. The function of a T tubule is to carry an electrical current from the surface of the cell to the interior when the cell is stimulated. Most other organelles of the cell, such as mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER), are located between adjacent myofibrils. The sarcoplasm also contains an abundance of glycogen, which provides stored energy for the muscle to use during exercise, and a red pigment called myoglobin, which binds oxygen until it is needed for muscular activity. The smooth ER of a muscle fiber is called sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). It forms a network around each myofibril, and alongside the T tubules it exhibits dilated sacs called terminal cisternae. The SR is a reservoir for calcium ions; it has gated channels in its membrane that can release a flood of calcium into the cytosol, where the calcium a ctivates the muscle contraction process (Saladin, 2003). Muscle contraction For contraction to occur, an action potentials spreads from the end plate and when it reaches the T tubules, it continues down them into the sarcoplasm. Action potentials open voltage-regulated ion gates in the T tubules. These are physically linked to calcium channels in the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), so gates in the SR open as well and calcium ions diffuse out of the SR, down their concentration gradient and into the cytosol. The calcium ions bind to the troponin of the thin filaments. The troponin-tropomyosin complex changes shape and shifts to a new position. This exposes the active sites on the actin filaments and makes them available for binding to myosin heads; the myosin heads must have an ATP molecule bound to it to initiate the contraction process. Myosin ATPase, an enzyme in the head, hydrolyzes this ATP. The energy released by this process activates the head, which â€Å"cocks† into an extended, high-energy position. The head temporarily keeps the ADP and phosphate group bound to it. The cocked myosin binds to an active site on the thin filament. Myosin releases the ADP and phosphate and flexes into a bent, low-energy position, tugging the thin filament along with it. This is called the power stroke. The head remains bound to actin until it binds a new ATP. Upon binding more ATP, myosin releases the actin. It is now prepared to repeat the whole process—it will hydrolyze the ATP, recock (the recovery stroke), attach to a new active site farther down the  thin filament, and produce another power stroke (Saladin, 2003). Classes of muscle fibers Not all muscle fibers are metabolically alike or adapted to perform the same task. Some respond slowly but are relatively resistant to fatigue, while others respond more quickly but also fatigue quickly. Indeed, skeletal muscles can be divided into fast and slow twitch fibers and its myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression. Type I (MHC-I): Also called slow oxidative (SO) or slow-twitch. These fibers have relatively abundant mitochondria, myoglobin, and blood capillaries, and therefore a relatively deep red color. They are well adapted to aerobic respiration, which does not generate lactic acid. Thus, these fibers do not fatigue easily. However, in response to a single stimulus, they exhibit a relatively long twitch, lasting about 100 milliseconds (msec). Type II (MHC-II): Also called fast glycolytic (FG) or fast-twitch. They are well adapted for quick responses but not for fatigue resistance. They are rich in enzymes of the phosphagen and glycogen–lactic acid systems. Their sarcoplasmic reticulum releases and reabsorbs Ca2 quickly, which partially accounts for their quick, forceful contractions. They are relatively pale (white fibers). These fibers produce twitches as short as 7.5 msec, but because of the lactic acid they generate, they fatigue more easily than SO fibers. Some authorities recognize two subtypes of FG fibers called types MHC-IIA and MHC-IIB. Type IIB is the common type just described, while IIA, or intermediate fibers, combine fast-twitch responses with aerobic fatigue-resistant metabolism. Type IIA fibers, however, are relatively rare except in some endurance-trained athletes (Saladin, 2003). Notably, human skeletal muscle does not contain MHCIIb (Spangenburg and Booth, 2003; Schiaffino and Reggiani, 1994; Smerdu et al., 1994). In addition, ‘‘hybrid’’ fibers containing two MHC isoforms (i.e., type I/IIA, IIAX, IIXB) can also be present in muscle (Schiaffino and Reggiani, 1994; Staron and Pette, 1993). The fiber types can be differentiated histologically by using stains for certain mitochondrial enzymes and other cellular components, like using immunohistochemical procedures with antibodies against the specific MHC isoforms (Schiaffino et al., 1989; Lucas et al., 2000). All muscle fibers of one motor unit belong to the same physiological type. Nearly all muscles are composed of both SO and FG fibers, but the proportions of these fiber types differ from one muscle to another. Muscle myogenesis Vertebrate skeletal myogenesis proceeds through three stages: determination of the muscle progenitor cells, called myoblasts; proliferation and in some cases migration of myoblasts; and their terminal differentiation into mature muscle by fusing to form multinucleated myotubes (Buckingham et al., 2003; Shi and Garry, 2006). Muscle development Muscle tissuesare derived from themesodermallayer of embryonicgerm cellsin a process known asmyogenesis. All muscles are derived fromparaxial mesoderm [8].The paraxial mesoderm is divided along the embryos length intosomites, corresponding to thesegmentationof the body.Muscle cells come from two cell lineages in the myotome somite, the epimere and hypomere, which formepaxialandhypaxialmuscles, respectively. Most muscles are hypaxial. During development,myoblasts either remain in the somite to form muscles associated with the vertebral column or migrate out into the body to form all other muscles. Myoblast migration is preceded by the formation ofconnective tissueframeworks, usually formed from the somaticlateral plate mesoderm.Myoblasts follow chemical signals to the appropriate locations, where they fuse into elongate skeletal muscle cells (Sweeney, 1997). Muscle differentiation Muscle fibersform from the fusion ofmyoblastsinto multi-nucleated fibers calledmyotubes. In the early development of an embryothese myoblasts will proliferate if enoughfibroblast growth factor(FGF) is present, without differentiating. When these factors are depleted, the myoblasts cease division and secretefibronectinonto theirextracellular matrix and bind to it through _5ÃŽ ²1 integrin, their major fibronectin receptor (Menko and Boettiger 1987; Boettiger et al. 1995). The second stage involves the alignment of the myoblasts together into chains and subsequently into myotubes. This step is mediated by cell membrane glycoproteins, including several cadherins and CAMs (Knudsen 1985: Knudsen et al. 1990). Recognition and alignment between cells takes place only if the two cells are myoblasts. However, identity of the species is not critical (Yaffe and Feldman, 1965). The third stage is the actual cell fusion itself. In this stage,calciumions are critical for development (Shainberg et al. 1969; David et al. 1981). Fusion is mediated by a set of metalloproteinasescalledmeltrins (e.g., c-Met).Myocyte enhancer factors(MEFs) promote myogenesis.Serum response factor(SRF) plays a central role during myogenesis, being required for the expression of striated alpha-actin genes (Wei et al., 1998).Expression of skeletalalpha-actinis also regulated by theandrogen receptor; steroids can thereby regulate myogenesis (Vlahopoulos et al., 2005). The specific extracellular signals that induce determination of each group of myoblasts are expressed only transiently. These signals trigger production of intracellular factors that maintain the myogenic program after the inducing signals are gone. We discuss the identification and functions of these myogenic proteins, and their interactions, in the next several sections. Muscle-specific transcription factors Pax family Satellite cells and proliferating myoblasts is characterized by the expression of Pax-genes, more specifically Pax7 and Pax3, which are transcription factors that regulate proliferation. Back to the developmental stage, in the lateral portion of the somite, which forms the hypaxial muscles, factors from the surrounding environment induce the Pax3 transcription factor. In the absence of other inhibitory transcription, Pax3 then activates the genes encoding two muscle-specific transcription factors, Myf5 and MyoD. In the medial region of the somite, which forms the epaxial muscles, MyoD is induced through a slightly different pathway[1]. Pax7 residing satellite cells proliferating stage and Pax7 knockout mice completely lack satellite cells (Seale et al., 2000). Cells expressing Pax7 is believed to be important for the regeneration of myoblasts. Also the expression of Pax3 has negative effect on the differentiation and it has been shown that this transcription factor is down-regulated in muscle by ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation before differentiation can proceed (Boutet et al., 2007). Pax genes have been shown to regulate the proliferation and survival even of certain cancers such as melanoma (Muratovska et al., 2003). Pax transcription factors are downregulated upon further differentiation and other proteins predominate. Meanwhile Pax3 _____, Pax7 appears only in muscle stem cells (___). MyoD family Muscle cells come from two cell lineages in the somite. In both instances, paracrine factors instruct the myotome cells to become muscles by inducing them to synthesize the MyoD proteins (Maroto et al. 1997; Tajbakhsh et al. 1997). Or also called the myogenic bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) proteins. The proteins of this family all bind to similar sites on the DNA and activate muscle-specific genes (e.g. the muscle-specific creatine phosphokinase gene by binding to the DNA immediately upstream from it, or the chicken muscle acetylcholine receptor) (Lassar et al. 1989; Piette et al. 1990). MyoD and Myf5 belong to this family and are particularly important for muscle differentiation [2]. Their important role during differentiation is supported by the MyoD-/-/Myf-5-/- mice lacking fully developed skeletal muscle (Rudnicki et al., 1993). Myf-5 promotes myoblasts’ proliferation and is required for the cells to initiate differentiation (Ustanina et al., 2007). Absence of MyoD inhibits differentiation in cell culture and the protein is therefore considered to be a positive regulator of the process (Sabourin et al., 1999). While Pax3 is found in several other cell types, the myogenic bHLH proteins are specific for muscle cells. Any cell making a myogenic bHLH transcription factor such as MyoD or Myf5 is committed to becoming a muscle cell. Myogenic regulatory factors (proper name?) Later than the MyoD proteins expression during differentiation, the myogenin and the myogenic regulatory factor 4 (MRF4) are present. Mice with deleted myogenin in developing myoblasts can start the differentiation process but they cannot move and die soon after birth (Hasty et al., 1993). Among other things, this suggests that myogenin is required at a later stage of the process. Similarly, MRF4 is important for the growth of muscle tissue (Rhodes and Konieczny, 1989). It is noted that the MEF2 family of transcription factors also regulate differentiation (Olson et al., 1995), but their functions are not described in this context. In summary, Pax transcription factors help to sustain it from the stem cell stage of satellite cells, MyoD and Myf-5 act as myogenic determinants in the myoblast’s diet, and myogenin and MRF4 are known as regulators of the later differentiation and muscle fiber formation (Pallari, 2011). Other factors Although some factors that induce differentiation remain unknown, some growth factors and signaling molecules have been shown to regulate the process. Notch signaling is important in animal embryonic development, in that it participates in the cell fate determination (Alberts et al., 2008). Notch has a dual role of myoblasts in that the protein has an inhibitory effect on myoblasts differentiation (Shawber et al., 1996) and simultaneously stimulates their proliferation (Conboy and Rando, 2002). The chemoattractant SDF-1 also has an inhibitory effect on myoblasts differentiation and stimulates their proliferation by activation of the PKCÃŽ ¶ (Ãâ€"demiÃ…Å ¸ et al., 2007). Moreover, differentiation requires the expression and activity of cyclindependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors, such as p21 and p27, critical for the withdrawal of myoblasts from the cell cycle (Kitzmann and Fernandez, 2001). To fully understand the factors that regulate, activate and inhibit satellite cells and their differentiation requires even much research (Kuang and Rudnicki, 2007; Shi and Garry, 2006.). [1] developmental biology Scott gilbert [2] developmental biology Scott gilbert

The Power Struggle in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart Essay examples

The Power Struggle in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart is a powerful novel about the social changes that occurred when the white man first arrived on the African continent. The novel is based on a conception of humans as self-reflexive beings and a definition of culture as a set of control mechanisms. Things Fall Apart is the story of Okonkwo, an elder, in the Igbo tribe. He is a fairly successful man who earned the respect of the tribal elders. The story of Okonkwo’s fall from a respected member of the tribe to an outcast who dies in disgrace graphically dramatizes the struggle between the altruistic values of Christianity and the lust for power that motivated European colonialism in Africa and undermined the indigenous culture of a nation. Okonkwo's father was laughed at by the villagers, and was considered a failure. However, this was not true of Okonkwo, who lived in a modest home. Okonkwo's prosperity was visible in his household. He had a large compound enclosed by a thick wall of red earth. His own hut, or obi, stood immediately behind the only gate in the red walls. Each of his three wives had their own hut, which together formed a half moon behind the obi. The barn was built against one end of the red walls, and long stacks of yams stood out prosperously in it. Unfortunately, the clash of the cultures that occurs when the white man's missionaries come to Africa in an attempt to convert the tribal members, causes Okonkwo to lash out at the white man and results in his banishment from the tribe. Okonkwo had a bad temper which he often displayed: Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children. Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear of failure and of weakness. The cracks within Okonkwo's character are not so much external as internal, manifestations of those aspects of his being that have been his greatest strengths: acting without thinking; never showing any emotion besides anger; inflexibility; fear of being perceived as weak and, therefore, womanly. Slowly, these characteristics that have served Okonkwo so well in the past, begin to alter the direction of his life. The first such incident occurs when Okonkwo accidentally breaks the W... ...s return to Umuofia at the end of his exile when he returns home. The white men send their a messenger to the village. Okonkwo is still enraged about Nwoye's conversion. He sprang to his feet as soon as he saw who it was. He confronted the head messenger, trembling with hate, unable to utter a word. The man was fearless and stood his ground, his four men lined up behind him. â€Å"In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete. . . . Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man's head lay beside his uniformed body† (204). In the end it is Okonkwo’s inability to recognize change that forces him to commit suicide. It is the white missionaries’ inability to recognize that the Africans did not wish to change which adds to his demise. The missionaries represent the ruthlessness of the white man in Africa. The native Africans were expected to accept the ways of the white culture, for their own benefit, or suffer the consequences. In this light the missionaries can only be seen as brutal, and anything but true Christians, but rather religious zealots who like Okonkwo wish to force their world view upon others. Works Cited Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor Books, 1959.

The First Outbreak of the Illness :: Medicine Medical Influenza Essays

The First Outbreak of the Illness It was a quietly dull afternoon when they brought the first victim into the Emergency Room. He was a boyish 15 year-old, an adolescent sheep herder who appeared to be suffering from an unusually high fever accompanied by delirium. His uncle, the only relative to accompany the boy, said that his nephew was in good spirits until a few days prior when his health quickly deteriorated. [I was] a visiting doctor from Peru [and] the boy reminded me of home, where a majority of my childhood neighbors raised sheep upon the Altiplano. The hospital in which the boy was received was King Fahad Central Hospital in the town of Jazan, a small city in southwest Saudi Arabia near the Yemen border. It was early August 2000, and I was in Jazan as a participating physician in the first physician exchange program between the Saudi and Peruvian governments. My admission into this program was due to my youth, my specialization in pediatrics, and my familiarity with livestock culture. Though this are a of Saudi Arabia was similar to home in climate, it didn't help ... that the language of these indigenous people was so difficult to interpret. Thank Allah that I was surrounded by a sympathetic hospital staff. After administering fluids to relieve his dehydration, I had the boy x-rayed to see if I could find anything beyond the surface of his quickly-failing, physical condition. Upon review of the patient's cranial x-rays, it was found that there was swelling of the brain (encephalitis) along with kidney damage. Sadly, the boy was pronounced dead two days later, and with my inability to find a cure for him, the hospital was suddenly facing an exponential amount of patients suffering from the same condition. Desperate to find a clue, my fellow doctors and I spent whatever time available studying the cause for this mysterious illness. The most common factors between these patients were that all of them were herdsmen who happened to graze their sheep near a wadi (seasonal watercourse) a few miles north of Jazan. Instantly we assumed that this was a new, aggressive form of malaria with the vector being a mosquito. However, another colleague, Dr. Muhammad Almaradni, concluded another diag nosis--Rift Valley Fever. According to the World Health Organization, Rift Valley Fever (RVF) was isolated in 1930 during an

Performance Management Essay -- Business and Management Studies

Performance Management The performance management process provides an opportunity for the employees and managers to discuss goals and develop plans for achieving those goals. Therefore, communication involve between managers and employees that they have to identify job roles and functions related to the company objectives. They get together to devise some performance appraisals to enhance the company overall performance. The performance manager responsible for supervising workforce and the group educates and develops employees’ potential in order to improve workforce performance. Moreover, rewards is directly Employees performance. Essential Managing Performance to the Group 1 Explain how managing performance is a critical element in the success of a business. Employees need to understand their roles clearly An effective Performance Management system is based on these concepts: * Employees need to understand their roles clearly * Performance may be managed * There is a direct relationship between performance and rewards * Employee involvement is critical to performance development * Performance expectations must be set in advance and there must be agreement * Performance management requires on-going coaching, feedback and planning * Performance management can be a positive experience * Facilitate a process to establish clear role definitions and accountabilities. * Create a custom Performance Management program or improve your existing program. * Establish the objectives of your Performance Appraisal and Performance Management program. * Determine your performance criteria and integrate these criteria with your compensation systems. * Create your evaluation format. * Develop policies and procedures. * Conduct training sessions for your managers and supervisors. * Assist with the roll-out and communication of the program to your total employee group. How managing performance for a success of a business To begin the process, you and the employee will collaborate on the development of performance standards. You will develop a performance plan that directs the employee's efforts toward achieving specific results, to support organizational growth as well as the employee's professional growth. Discuss goals and objectives throughout the year, providing a framewo... ...n you and the employee * Help the employee attain performance objectives * Increase employee motivation and commitment * Maintain and increase the employee's self-esteem * Provide support Link of appraisal and review Performance Appraisal The campus carries out its mission through the individual and collective contributions of its employees. To do their best, staff members need to know that those contributions will be recognized and acknowledged. Overseeing performance and providing feedback is not an isolated event, but rather an ongoing process that takes place throughout the year. The performance appraisal is part of that process, and provides an excellent opportunity for you to communicate with the employee about past performance, evaluate the employee's job satisfaction, and make plans for the employee's future performance. Remember that the performance appraisal summarizes the employee's contributions over the entire appraisal period (usually one year). It is not a step in the disciplinary process. It may occur as often as you believe is necessary to acknowledge the employee for accomplishments and to plan together for improved performance.

Psychology Research Essay

What are the main points of both articles? Anxiety Disorder: Panic Attacks. It can happen anytime, anywhere. Unexpectedly, out of the blue, your heart starts to speed up, your face goes red and you go through shortness of breath. One feels dizzy, nauseated and out of control. A number of people even think like they’re dying. Such may be a person experiencing a panic attack — a sudden occurrence of powerful fear that induces grave physical reactions in the body (Campbell, 2002). Several people, believing they’re having a heart attack, go to the emergency room. Others try to disregard the signs and symptoms, not comprehending that they’re experiencing a panic attack. A lot of women than men are disturbed by panic attacks. One-month prevalence estimates for women are 0.7% versus 0.3% for men (i.e., women are more likely to be affected than men by a 2- to 3-fold factor) (Daniels et al, 2006). And some people are experiencing frequent panic attacks, a condition known as panic disorder. Panic Anxiety Disorder starts most often when people are 20-30 years old. It activates less often in teenagers or persons in their forties. It is unusual for the disorder to emerge in the elderly for the initial time. Though panic attacks were once set aside as nerves or stress, they’re now documented as a potentially immobilizing, but treatable health condition. An assortment of approaches, together with medications, therapy and relaxation methods, can help one manage or prevent panic attacks (Wilson, 2005). Article #2: Children with Anxiety Disorder. Life is not easy for children these days. The fact that many adults suffer from mental illness of different kinds is enough to make people realize that children are even more susceptible to the same disease. It’s only good that a lot of breakthroughs are made especially in the area and study of mental illness. This study is even more significant in the light of the film Ordinary People, which has captured audiences worldwide decades ago. Precisely because the characters depict the â€Å"ordinariness† of each person and how representative they are to the masses, made this film a hit during its time. Ordinary People presents how malfunctioning individuals are as they go through each of their lives with the burden of mental illness. The role of the mother in the film shows someone who has personality disorder, specifically dissociative disorder, while the spouse and father as having generalized anxiety disorder; and their son Conrad, as suffering with PTSD or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Mental health experts describe the illness through its signs and symptoms. It is typified by children experiencing severe fear – a powerful worry or the uneasiness that run or last for periods of time ((http://www.nimh.nih.gov). When children sufferers are not treated, symptoms like these will present themselves through poor performance in academics, inability to relate with other children, low self-esteem, the use and abuse of illegal drugs including alcohol, and even anxiety disorder in adulthood (http://www.nimh.nih.gov).   Mental health experts describe the illness through its signs and symptoms. It is typified by children experiencing severe fear – a powerful worry or the uneasiness that run or last for periods of time ((http://www.nimh.nih.gov). When children sufferers are not treated, symptoms like these will present themselves through poor performance in academics, inability to relate with other children, low self-esteem, the use and abuse of illegal drugs including alcohol, and even anxiety disorder in adulthood (http://www.nimh.nih.gov). This mental health problem usually runs in families. Oftentimes, the disorder appears alongside other physical and mental health problems; substance abuse, like alcohol, usually comes along (http://www.nimh.nih.gov) with it. Anxiety disorder manifests in different forms: 1.) Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, 2.) Phobias, 3.) Separation Anxiety Disorder, 4.) Panic Disorder, 5.)OCD or Obsessive & Compulsive Disorder, and 6.) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Source: US Dept of Health, 1999 in http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/). 2. What are the similarities and/or differences? Similarities come in the form of the disorders’ signs and symptoms which include physical distress with Rapid heart rate , sweating, trembling , shortness of breath and hyperventilation, chills, hot flashes, nausea, abdominal cramping, chest pain, headache, dizziness, faintness, tightness in your throat, trouble swallowing, a sense of impending death . Other health problems — such as an impending heart attack, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or drug withdrawal — can cause similar signs and symptoms. Individuals who experience panic attacks often are affected by other mental health conditions, including depression, fear of public places (agoraphobia) and social phobia (http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1725.htm). What experiences have you had that relate to the topic or what have you learned in prior courses? Researchers are not certain what bring about panic attacks. Heredity, stress and certain biochemical factors may play a part. A person’s chance of having panic attacks increases if she/he has a close family member who has had them. Numerous researchers think the body’s natural fight-or-flight reaction to danger is involved. For instance, if a snarling dog came after a child, his/her body would react automatically. The heart rate and breathing would race as the body readies itself for a life-threatening situation. A lot of the same responses take place in a panic attack. No noticeable stressor is nearby, but something trips the body’s alarm system. Persons having Panic attacks are no more likely than the average American to have suffered from emotional problems at the time the disorder begins (Wilson, 2005). How does your view point relate to the topics?) Definitely, I agree from personal observation that these panic attacks and /or anxiety disorder though present only in the mind, â€Å"effectively’ renders a person â€Å"paralyzed† no matter his intelligence, status and persuasion in life. Imagine this picture: after months or years of incessant panic attacks and the constrained lifestyle produced by the distinctive avoidance behavior, the sufferer may develop into a demoralized and psychologically or physically depressed person. In addition, some sufferers resort to alcohol in an effort to self medicate or to reduce the sign and symptoms of the disorder. This significantly causes difficulties to the individual’s life and ability to seek suitable treatment. Unfortunately, one out of every five untreated sufferers attempts to end his or her life, not at all comprehending that there was chance for changes and treatment (Wilson, 2005). As in the film as mentioned, it is interesting to note that despite such a troubled family, Conrad emerged to be someone who has conquered the odds in his life. The loss of a brother and its effects on him, being around with parents who exhibit a variety of symptoms that they themselves are also suffering, these things could have been too much for him or for anybody for that matter. PTSD and other anxiety disorder sub-categories are very interesting types of mental health problems because of their prevalence – and in spite of that, still, many people most of the times, ignore the fact that they might be sufferers. Just as in the case of Conrad, ordinary people – the most common among the populace – are actually beset with extremely upsetting events and are left to themselves to cope as each day comes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To end, this study from researchers Craske et al shows the hope for sufferers: â€Å"With practice and encouragement or persuasion from the therapist the patient learns to reinterpret internal sensations from signals of loss of control and panic to cues that are intrinsically harmless and can be controlled with certain skills. The intentional creation of these signs by the client, coupled with success in coping with them, reduces their unpredictability and changes their meaning for the client† (Craske, Maidenbberg, & Bystritsky, 1995). Reference: For Children with Anxiety Disorder: Campbell, Nancy M. Panic disorder. Mankato, MN: LifeMatters, [2002].  616.85 DYI VT Craske, MG; MAidenberg, E & Bystritsky A (1995). Brief Cogntive-behavioral versus nondirective therapy for panic disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry ; 26, 113-120. Giacobello, John. Everything you need to know about anxiety and panic attacks. New York: Rosen, [2000]. Daniels C., Yerkes S., Bureau of Naval Personnel emedicine.2006. Wilson, Reid D., Don’t Panic: Taking Control of Anxiety Attacks The Revised Edition Of: Harper Perennial ISBN# 0-06-095160-5. For panic Attacks Article: Davison, Gerald C., Neale, John 2001, Abnormal Psychology, Eighth Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) accessed in the Internet February 20, 2007 http://www.nimh.nih.gov. Surgeon general accessed in the internet February 20, 2007 http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter3/sec6.html.

Vacant Chapter 6 Surprises

After four months, I continue to be astonished by what Emily can do with a dented, often label-less, can. She says it's all the Julia Child reruns on PBS, but I don't care who's to credit. Dinner is on the table every night with mismatched plates and silverware, and our economy paper towels are always folded into decorative shapes. It hasn't escaped my notice at how much I enjoy seeing our laundry mingled together, either. The bottom line for me is that she makes even this place seem like home. After Emily agreed to move in with me – which was no small feat – it took a month until she stopped knocking, then cracking the door and yelling, â€Å"Ethan?† before she would enter through the front door. It was as if she thought I would get mad if she didn't practice her self- imposed ritual. While her discomfort with calling this her home still lingers, it's just the tip of the iceberg concerning our†¦ issues. Initially, she'd been particularly insistent about getting a job and wanting to help financially. I hadn't argued, thinking she was nearly done, if not completely finished, with school. I hadn't bother to ask what her status was, figuring she was old enough to make that decision herself. So, it was with eagerness that I helped her look for a job. One roadblock was her lack of identification. Employers want an ID, but of course, Emily didn't have any. We spent an entire day at City Hall getting the required documentation and social security card, so we could then go to the DMV. That was the day I found out she was barely old enough for a driver's permit – let alone a driver's license. Emily insisted she was nearly eighteen when we met, but I found out she wasn't even close. Shock didn't even begin to explain what I felt at the revelation of her real age. She hadn't lied about when her birthday was; it was a month after she moved in, as she'd first said. However, she was turning sixteen, not eighteen. While I was monumentally upset by her deception, I got it. She was living with the fear of being herded into a state system that could feel like you were being fed to the wolves. I couldn't really blame her. After I got over my initial anger about her lie and the additional guilt of some of the inappropriate things I may have fantasized about her, I realized Emily missed the milestone of sweet sixteen. I remembered a co-worker talking about her sister's sixteenth birthday and the excitement that went along with the momentous occasion. Emily insisted she didn't want anything special and maintained that by finding me, she'd already received more than she ever hoped for after her mother's passing. The celebratory sad-assed cookie I had on my twenty-first birthday came to mind. I instantly knew it wasn't good enough for Emily, so I went into work and ordered the most extravagant and girly cake our bakery had – regardless of the fact it was almost forty bucks, my usual weekly food budget. Her reaction to the cake was like a kick to the stomach. When I brought it home, Emily cried, explaining that even her mother had never gotten her a cake since cake wasn't something you buy on a stric t budget. That was the moment I decided Emily would never go without again. Knowing that cake was so special made it all the more enjoyable when I ate it every meal the week that followed. â€Å"Ethan, go wash your hands please. Dinner is ready.† It never fails. The girl can literally watch me walk from the bathroom, knowing I've just scrubbed up, but she will still tell me to wash again, and I will. I know that she's tied to the routine, not really the cleanliness factor. Many who have been in a homeless situation will cling to routines for the comfort and solace they bring. We sit and eat in silence for the first few minutes of the meal. It's always balanced, particularly since she's taking a health class this semester and preaches the benefits of healthy eating habits and exercise. Sometimes it makes me laugh because she sounds just like one of those infomercials she occasionally watches in the middle of the night after she's had a bad dream. There are times I think it's more than just nightmares, though, when she wakes at night. She carries a lot of guilt around with her given our situation. Emily feels like she should contribute to the household with money. I feel like she needs to be in school, getting an education. Even though legally she could drop out, I'm constantly reiterating that school is her job, and there will be plenty of time for her to contribute in the future when she's a full-fledged taxpayer. â€Å"Hey, Ethan?† Emily asks cautiously, while pushing her cube steak around on the plate. I'm a bit nervous since she says it with hesitance. She hardly asks for anything, and when she does, she makes it seem like she's about to ask for a million dollars, but it's usually something small and relatively insignificant. This time, though, the accompanying look on her face indicates this isn't simple. I put my fork down and look up, giving her my full attention. â€Å"So, Christmas is coming.† I inwardly groan, not because she's brought it up, but because I participate in as little of the Holiday Cheer as possible. It's been awhile since I've celebrated the birth of Christ, mainly because I don't believe in God. Realistically, I see the holiday as an opportunity to earn extra money as I work all the shifts so everyone else can spend time with their families. I try to dislodge my anxiety about the topic but it doesn't work. The holidays are about commercialism and consumerism. Plus, I can't afford to buy gifts. â€Å"Yeah, I usually work Christmas. I get double time.† My dinner still sits heavy in the pit of my stomach. I know I should give her a special day. â€Å"Oh.† Now I feel like a jerk who's robbed her of the magic of Christmas. â€Å"Like all day or just part?† â€Å"The store is open from seven until two, then closing early.† I know why she's asking, but it doesn't keep me from playing stupid. â€Å"Why? What's up?† Emily finally stops pushing her battered piece of meat around on the plate and looks up. â€Å"I was thinking†¦and you don't have to†¦it's just something that†¦I mean, you can, but if it makes you uncomfortable†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I finally stop her rambling by touching her hand. My hope is that she will refocus her thoughts with my unexpected gesture. I'm successful. Emily sits up a little straighter, squares her shoulders, and wipes her mouth with her paper towel-slash-napkin. â€Å"I want to spend Christmas at the shelter. You know†¦it's the last place I was with my mom.†