The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer's â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† is more than just an entertaining collection of stories and characters; it is a representation of the society Chaucer lived in. In the late 14th century England the traditional feudal system was changing as the church was losing its importance and more people were becoming part of the emerging middle class. Chaucer's â€Å"Canterbury Tales† is a microcosm of this society because it demonstrates the social divisions known as the Estates, it illustrates the growth of the middle class and the decline of the feudal system, and it shows the corruption and power of the Church, and it embodies most aspects of the Middle Age.Feudal society was traditionally divided into three â€Å"estates†, which were roughly equivalent to social classes. The â€Å"First Estate† was the Church, the â€Å"Second Estate† was the Nobility, and the â€Å"Third Estate† was the Peasantry. The rigid division of society into th e three traditional â€Å"estates† was beginning to break down in the late 14th century England, and by the time of Chaucer, there was a rise of the middle class. In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer is highly conscious of the social divisions known as the â€Å"Estates.† While the genre of The Canterbury Tales as a whole is a frame narrative, the General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is an example of â€Å"Estates Satire,† a genre which criticizes the abuses that occur within the three traditional Estates.Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales embodies most aspects of the Middle Ages, whether it is in the form of immoral religious clergyman, poor, virtuous farmers, or the honorable knight. All these characters provide excellent examples of the many omnipresent themes of the Middle Ages. The prevailing values and themes of the Middle Ages included violence and revenge, religion and corruption, and social status and hierarchy.The times in which Chaucer's The Cant erbury Tales is set are tumultuous and are filled with suffering, conflict, and general animosity; as such, the ideas of revenge and thus violence are fairly prevalent. In a great many of Chaucer's tales, this theme is framed perfectly. An example near the end of  the Reeve's tale after the miller discovers the scholars' treachery. â€Å"He [the miller] grabbed Allan by the Adam's apple, and he, in return, roughly grabbed the miller and hit him on the nose with his fist† (Chaucer 83). In this instance, not only a quick resort to violence is exhibited, but violence is used as revenge as the miller attacks Allan after realizing that he has slept with his wife. Evidenced by this, violent tendencies were often the most common, and the most appropriate response.In all of England, violence was seen as something of a way of life Curtis Gruenler, in a literary analysis, states, â€Å"[V]iolence on a large scale held English attention as spectacular victories against the French ear ly in the Hundred Years War were followed by a series of costly, disastrous campaigns† (Gruenler). War was a profession of many people in England including a character of Chaucer's, the Knight had fought in at least 15 battles and had essentially built out his entire livelihood based upon the battles he was called upon by his lord to take part in. In essence, violence was a universally recognized form of justice and retribution something that was explicitly pointed out in Chaucer's stories.Yet another theme is the presence of religion, or more specifically, the presence of corruption within religion. Many members of the pilgrimage have ties to religious office, and all but the Parson have in some way violated their vows or otherwise acted somewhat out of their bounds as a high ranking member of the Church. Chaucer illustrates this elegantly in the form of the Pardoner's prologue where he states â€Å"make an offering to my relics in this church [. . .] make an offering in the name of God, I shall absolve them by the authority of which was granted to me by papal bull† (Chaucer 288).After telling the pilgrims of this trick, clearly aimed at pocketing a good deal of money, he explains, â€Å"By this trick I have gained a hundred marks year after year since I became a pardoner† (Chaucer 288). The Pardoner is not, however, the only immoral religious character involved in the pilgrimage. The Friar, for example, has broken his vows as a clerical member of the Church, most prominently his vow of chastity.The Friar has engaged in relationships that have violated this vow, and when a child comes as a result of this interaction, he has gone so far as to marry the woman to her  lover so as to cover his own tracks. All of these aspects of church corruption in The Canterbury Tales eventually come down to a desire for pleasure and money, something that plagued the legitimacy of the Catholic Church and eventually led to the religious reformation.Among th e characters a sort of social hierarchy became quickly apparent in the midst of these many travelers. A general character emerged that separated the pilgrims based upon their economic and social standings. There was a rather large contrast between the richest of the travelers and the poorest. For example, the Franklin was an owner of a large estate and lavish personal goods. Although he is deeply in debt, his social status is still far higher than that of say, the Plowman. The Plowman is one of the poorer members of the pilgrimage, but despite this he is one of the more cheerful and charitable members of the pilgrimage. This can be seen as Chaucer's means of expressing his feelings toward the social hierarchy of the times.Chaucer also weighs in on feudalism, the socioeconomic system of the time. â€Å"[Chaucer represents the] feudal arrangement of society [. . .] around the figure of the knight as a conception of nobility, and around the labourer a conception of commonality† (Morgan 8). Chaucer seems to see feudalism as a system that divides people into the wealthy nobles and the poor laborers. Chaucer also seems to recognize the presence of a middle class that seems to rise out of feudalism. For example, the figure of a merchant who gains his wealth by his own accord, specifically money trading, and is almost entirely independent of the feudal system.The Merchant is described in the general prologue as â€Å"[a] responsible man [who] kept his wits about him [. . .] Nevertheless he was really a worthy man† (Chaucer 6). In short, Chaucer saw the social structure of his time and saw certain things he had disapproval of, but indeed, he saw some other parts of it as beneficial to the betterment of society.To close, Chaucer's masterpiece The Canterbury Tales exhibits many prevalent themes and in such a way paints a picture of the times. He does this by talk of violence, religious corruption, and social structuring, all of which were very pertinent bit s of society in the time as they all formed a system that  is looked back on and interpreted through works of fact and fiction such as The Canterbury Tales.

How Macbeth Lost His Morals Essay

Macbeth is a very controversial character in many ways. Many believe he was an evil man from the beginning. While some believe he became evil over the course of the play. Macbeth’s morals gradually deteriorated throughout the play. Macbeth’s soliloquy’s, conversations, and his actions show how he lost his morals bit by bit in after each murder. In act I, Macbeth was confronted with the thought of killing King Duncan and stealing the throne. His soliloquy (I.7.1-28)is his response to the possible actions he is about to take part in. He basically said he felt bad because as his kinsman and his host he should protect him, not kill him. Also the fact that he was such a good king made him hesitate at the thought of killing him. In his discussion with Lady Macbeth after his soliloquy, Macbeth states, â€Å"We will proceed no further in this business. / He hath honored me of late†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (I.7.31-32) Macbeth was talking about how King Duncan has honored him recently and how he cannot go through with killing him. Then at the end of act I, Lady Macbeth convinces him to go through with the murder. Then after the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth flips out and begins to rant and rave. He said after the murder talking with lady Macbeth, â€Å"To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.†(II.2.73) This showed his extreme guilt and regret of the crime he just committed. Then, in act III, Macbeth’s soliloquy (III.1.47-72) he stated his fears and hatred of Banquo because he was so good. He then called for two murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. Macbeth needed no motivation for this action other than fear, and he had no hesitation in this decision as with the murder of King Duncan. But after Macbeth knows Banquo is dead, he saw his ghost at his dinner party, taunting him (III.4.40-105). This was a form of his conscience making him feel guilty for what he did. Though his reaction to Banquo’s murder is equally as volatile as King Duncan’s, the build up preceding the murder shows a stark contrast. Before the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth had resisted the thought much longer than with the murder of Banquo, which he had no major moral dilemma’s before hand. It seemed as though it was becoming easier and easier for Macbeth to kill without remorse. Finally, in act IV Macbeth makes a statement that showed his moral deterioration very well. After talking with Lennox about how Macduff had fled to England, Macbeth said in his soliloquy, â€Å"†¦From this moment/ The very firstlings of my heart shall be/ The firstlings of my hand.†(IV.2.146-148) Macbeth said that now the first thing that came to mind would be the first thing he did. The next thing he said was, â€Å"The castle of Macduff I will surprise,/ Seize upon Fife, five to the edge o’ the sword/ His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls†¦Ã¢â‚¬ .(IV.2.150-152) The first thing that came to his mind was to kill Macduff’s family. He had no second thoughts like the first two murders, no last minute guilt trips either, just cold blooded killing. When Macbeth meets Macduff in the battle field he said, â€Å"Of all men else I have avoided thee./ But get thee back, my soul is too much charged/ with blood of thine already.(V.8.4-6) That was a litt le sign of remorse by saying that he has too much of Macduff’s family’s death on his soul, that he doesn’t want another. Macbeth’s moral deterioration throughout the play is very evident if one looks at the moments preceding and following the murders. In the first quell, there was a long build up and many moral objections by Macbeth. Also after the murder, Macbeth was extremely disturbed by what he had just done. Then, before the second killing, there was less of a build up and no moral objections by Macbeth. After the murder of Banquo, Macbeth still felt some guilt, which manifested itself in the hallucination of the ghost. Finally, prior to the third murder, there was no moral dilemma about about killing Macduff’s family. Following the murder, he showed almost no remorse, except for the comment made to Macduff. Macbeth was a good man in the beginning of the play, but his morals deteriorated more with each murder he committed.

Environmental Protection In India Environmental Sciences Essay

Over the old ages, together with a spreading of environmental consciousness, there has been a alteration in the traditionally-held perceptual experience that there is a tradeoff between environmental quality and economic growing as people have come to believe that the two are needfully complementary. The current focal point on environment is non new-environmental considerations have been an built-in portion of the Indian civilization. The demand for preservation and sustainable usage of natural resources has been expressed in Indian Bibles, more than three thousand old ages old and is reflected in the constitutional, legislative and policy model as besides in the international committednesss of the state. Section 1: Legislations for environmental protection in India, Section 2: Autochthonal Peopless, Section 3: Autochthonal Peopless and Scientific Legislations Legislations for environmental protection in India Even before India ‘s independency in 1947, several environmental statute law existed but the existent drift for conveying about a well-developed model came merely after the UN Conference on the Human Environment ( Stockholm, 1972 ) . Under the influence of this declaration, the National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning within the Department of Science and Technology was set up in 1972. This Council subsequently evolved into a fully fledged Ministry of Environment and Forests ( MoEF ) in 1985 which today is the apex administrative organic structure in the state for modulating and guaranting environmental protection. After the Stockholm Conference, in 1976, constitutional countenance was given to environmental concerns through the 42ndA Amendment, which incorporated them into the Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Rights and Duties. Since the 1970s an extended web of environmental statute law has grown in the state. The MoEF and the pollution control boards ( CPCB i.e. Cardinal Pollution Control Board and SPCBs i.e. State Pollution Control Boards ) together form the regulative and administrative nucleus of the sector. A policy model has besides been developed to complement the legislative commissariats. The Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution and the National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development were brought out by the MoEF in 1992, to develop and advance enterprises for the protection and betterment of the environment. The EAP ( Environmental Action Programme ) was formulated in 1993 with the aim of bettering environmental services and incorporating environmental considerations in to development programmes. Other steps have besides been taken by the authorities to protect and continue the environment. Several sector-specific policies have evolved, which are discussed at length in the concerned chapters. This chapter attempts to foreground merely legislative enterprises towards the protection of the environment. Forests and wildlife The Wildlife ( Protection ) Act, 1972, Amendment 1991 The WPA ( Wildlife Protection Act ) , 1972, provides for protection to listed species of vegetations and zoologies and establishes a web of ecologically-important protected countries. The WPA empowers the cardinal and province authoritiess to declare any country a wildlife sanctuary, national park or closed country. There is a cover prohibition on transporting out any industrial activity inside these protected countries. It provides for governments to administrate and implement the Act ; modulate the hunting of wild animate beings ; protect specified workss, sanctuaries, national Parkss and closed countries ; curtail trade or commercialism in wild animate beings or carnal articles ; and assorted affairs. The Act prohibits hunting of animate beings except with permission of authorised officer when an animate being has become unsafe to human life or belongings or so handicapped or diseased as to be beyond recovery ( WWF-India, 1999 ) . The near-total prohibition on hunting was made mor e effectual by the Amendment Act of 1991.AThe Forest ( Conservation ) Act, 1980 This Act was adopted to protect and conserve woods. The Act restricts the powers of the province in regard of de-reservation of woods and usage of forestland for non-forest intents ( the term ‘non-forest intent ‘ includes uncluttering any forestland for cultivation of hard currency harvests, plantation harvests, gardening or any intent other than reforestation ) . A Environment ( Protection ) Act, 1986 ( EPA ) This Act is an umbrella statute law designed to supply a model for the co-ordination of cardinal and province governments established under the Water ( Prevention and Control ) Act, 1974 and Air ( Prevention and Control ) Act, 1981. Under this Act, the cardinal authorities is empowered to take steps necessary to protect and better the quality of the environment by puting criterions for emanations and discharges ; modulating the location of industries ; direction of risky wastes, and protection of public wellness and public assistance. From clip to clip the cardinal authorities issues presentments under the EPA for the protection of ecologically-sensitive countries or issues guidelines for affairs under the EPA. The Environment ( Protection ) Rules, 1986 These regulations lay down the processs for puting criterions of emanation or discharge of environmental pollutants. The Rules prescribe the parametric quantities for the Cardinal Government, under which it can publish orders of prohibition and limitations on the location and operation of industries in different countries. The Rules lay down the process for taking samples, functioning notice, subjecting samples for analysis and research lab studies. The maps of the research labs are besides described under the Rules along with the makings of the concerned analysts.AThe National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997 This Act provided for the constitution of a National Environment Appellate Authority to hear entreaties with regard to limitation of countries in which any industry operation or procedure or category of industries, operations or procedures could non transport out or would be allowed to transport out capable to certain precautions under the Environment ( Protection ) Act, 1986.AInternational understandings on environmental issuesIndia has signed several many-sided environment understandings ( MEA ) and conventions, such as: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild zoologies and vegetations ( CITES ) , 1973, to modulate and suppress international commercial trade of endangered species or derivative merchandises. Its purposes to counter the economic inducements of poaching endangered species and destructing their home ground by shuting off the international market. India became a party to the CITES in 1976. International trade in all wild vegetations and zoologies in general and species covered under CITES is regulated jointly through the commissariats of The Wildlife ( Protection ) Act 1972, the Import/Export policy of Government of India and the Customs Act 1962 ( Bajaj, 1996 ) . Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992 is a lawfully adhering pact. It deals with preservation of biodiversity, sustainable usage of biological resources and just sharing of benefits originating from their sustainable usage. It addresses several concerns such as including habitat saving, rational belongings rights, and autochthonal peoples ‘ rights. India ‘s enterprises under the Convention include the announcement of the Wildlife ( Protection ) Act of 1972, amended in 1991 ; and engagement in several international conventions such as CITES.An appraisal of the legal and regulative model for environmental protection in IndiaThe extent of the environmental statute law web is apparent from the above treatment but the enforcement of the Torahs has been a affair of concern. One normally cited ground is the prevalent bid and control nature of the environmental government. Coupled with this is the prevalence of the all-or-none attack of the jurisprudence ; they do non see the extent of misdemeanor. Fines are levied on a level footing and in add-on, there are no inducements to take down the discharges below prescribed degrees. In 1995, the Ministry of Environment and Forest ( MoEF ) constituted a undertaking force which strongly advocated the usage of market-based instruments for the control of environmental pollution. Assorted economic inducements have been used to supplement the command-and-control policies. Depreciation allowances, freedoms from excise or imposts duty payment, and agreement of soft loans for the acceptance of clean engineerings are cases of such inducements. Another facet that is apparent is the displacement in the focal point from end-of-pipe intervention of pollution to intervention at beginning. The function of distant detection and geographical information systems in natural resource direction and environmental protection has besides gained importance over clip. An of import recent development is the rise of judicial activism in the enforcement of environmental statute law. This is reflected in the growing of environment-related public judicial proceeding instances that have led the tribunals to take major stairss such as telling the shut-down of fouling mills. Agenda 21 high spots the demand for integrating of environmental concerns at all phases of policy, be aftering and decision-making procedures including the usage of an effectual legal and regulative model, economic instruments and other inducements. These really rules were cardinal to steering environmental protection in the state good before Rio and will be reinforced, pulling on India ‘s ain experiences and those of other states.The Indigenous PeoplessIn India, the autochthonal peoples are preponderantly composed of the big and diverse tribal populations scattered across several provinces. Anthropological literature suggests that the tribal appellation arose as a colonial concept, in which all those populating on the borders of mainstream agricultural society but within the construction of the Hindu caste system were delineated as â€Å" crude † and â€Å" tribal † . In Indian linguistic communications, there is no exact equivalent for the word â€Å" tribal â €  , but near equivalent words are vanavasis ( forest inhabitants ) or adivasi ( original dwellers ) . The 1891 Census Report arranged different castes harmonizing to their traditional businesss, and forest folks were assigned a separate class from that of agricultural and pastoral castes. Therefore, both etymologically every bit good as spatially, the lives and supports of tribal communities in India are per se linked with woods. It has been argued that the definition of autochthonal peoples as â€Å" original colonists † is debatable in the Indian context. Sociologists like Dube ( 1977 ) and Beteille ( 1998 ) have pointed out that â€Å" tribal traditions themselves make reA ­peated reference of migration of their ascendants. There is considerable grounds to propose that several groups were pushed out of the countries that they were foremost settled and had to seek shelter elsewhere. † Today more than 50 million of tribal people live in and around woods. There is a clear convergence between the wood and the tribal maps of the state, every bit good as an convergence with poorness ( Poffenberger and McGean 1996 ) At present, approximately 95 % of the entire forest country belongs to the governA ­ment, and the tribal population of India has been divested of much of its legal communal rights. This is a major practical concern, because the rural economic system of India is mostly biomass-based. Peoples are straight depenA ­dent on woods and common lands for a assortment of non-commercial-timber wood merchandises for nutrient and fuel, little lumber for lodging, and herbs and medicative workss for run intoing their subsistence support demands. In the absence of alternate beginnings of supports or an ability to eke out nutriment from fringy landholdings, there is a continued high degree of dependance on woods for endurance. The widely used province right of â€Å" high sphere † allows the province to get private and common belongings for public intents. The eminent sphere right has remained supreme, overruling all other policies, Torahs, and ordinances. It is under the right of eminent sphere that the province acquires land to construct substructure, mines, dikes, and other undertakings. With an estimated $ 30 billion proposed as investing in mining-related undertakings in the following decennary, communal land will go on to be a site of intense struggle between tribal people and the province. The invasion of the province on woods and customary term of office rights of tribal forest-dwelling communities did non travel undisputed during the colonial and postcolonial periods. Undeterred by the commissariats of the Indian Forest Act of 1927, many tribal groups have mounted a sustained challenge to the continued denial of their communal rights over woods. The illustration of the new wave panchayets ( forest councils ) demonstrates this point. In response to agitaA ­tions, the colonial authorities bit by bit recognized the being of some local community rights over woods and their resources, and these were incorporated in the Indian Forest Act of 1927. The act provides for constiA ­tuting â€Å" small town woods † to run into local demands, and this led to the creative activity of forest councils in Uttar Pradesh through a new province jurisprudence passed in 1931. All the â€Å" de-reserved † fringy reserved woods were reclassified into Class 1 woods and placed under the legal power of the new wave panchayets, in which local tribal communities play a cardinal function in forest disposal. More than 4,000 van panchayets were created, although the country under their control did non transcend 8 % of the entire forest country of India. Nonetheless, they represent an illustration of a forest term of office system in which communal tenA ­ure is recognized by jurisprudence ( Sarin 2003 ) . ‘Indigenous people and their communities represent a important per centum of planetary population. They have developed over many coevalss, a holistic traditional scientific cognition of their lands, natural resources and environment aˆÂ ¦In position of the interA ­relationship between the natural environment and its sustainable development and the cultural, societal, economic and physical wellbeing of autochthonal people, national and international attempts to implement environmentally sound and sustainable development should recognize, suit, advance and beef up the function of autochthonal people and their communities ‘ . The above infusion from Agenda 21 ( UNCED, 1992 ) , competently captures the demand for increased acknowledgment of autochthonal people and their cognition of natural resource direction and its usage in sustainable development.Integration of autochthonal people and scientific wood directionAutochthonal forest direction activities may arise in specific countries in response to specific force per unit areas, but this does non forestall them from following and transforming appropriate constituents of scientific forest direction systems through interaction and shared experience. Indeed there is a demand to advance equity of forest direction systems between autochthonal communities and formal forestry scientists around the universe ( Agarwal, 1995 ) . This procedure of incorporating two forest direction systems is indispensable to accomplishing sustainable forest direction. There is no fixed method of turn toing the constrictions in integrating of autochthonal and scientific cognition, al ternatively the methods chosen will change harmonizing to what is appropriate and executable within the institutional, ecological, and societal environments in which they operate. The Indian Forest Policy of 1988 ( MoEF, 1988 ) and the subsequent Government declaration on participatory wood direction ( MoEF, 1990 ) emphasise the demand for people ‘s engagement in forest direction. The policy papers asserts that local people should be actively involved in protection, preservation and direction of woods. Hence the policy envisages a procedure of joint direction of woods by the province authorities ( professional Foresters ) and the local people. So far, out of 25 province authoritiess, 23 provinces have adopted Joint Forest Management ( JFM ) . As on the 1st January 2000, 10.24 million hour angle of forestlands were managed under the JFM programme through 36 075 wood protection commissions ( MoEF, 2000 ) . Evidence of long standing local forest direction patterns can be found in assorted parts of India peculiarly in eastern and north-eastern parts. Despite increasing force per unit areas with the increased population, ordinances sing resource usage and harvest aid in pull offing woods in a sustainable manner. As the JFM programme has evolved, there are clear indicants that the programme has had considerable impact on local ecology, economic sciences, and the people ( Yadav et al. , 1997 ) . Initially the relationship between the local people and forest section was strained and lacked trust. Regular interaction and participatory acquisition and planning activities has facilitated an unfastened duologue and removed common misgiving between functionaries of forest section and local people. Viewed in the visible radiation of the adaptative acquisition theoretical account, it was found that exchange and interaction of scientific and autochthonal facets of forest direction within the context of JFM have resulted in ecological betterment and increase in mean household income after four-five old ages of strong JFM activities. ETFRN Publication Series Local people every bit good as Foresters identify with the JFM programme. They take pride in being portion of the programme and are recognizing its benefits. Based on the successful experience of JFM, irrigation, wellness, and agribusiness sectors are besides now puting an accent on integrating of autochthonal and scientific cognition through people ‘s engagement in resource direction. However existent integrating of scientific and autochthonal direction systems is still seldom achieved, and in showing the theoretical account I aim to do more expressed the chances for making so, and highlight ways frontward for the uninterrupted procedure of adaptative acquisition.DecisionThere is a demand to beef up autochthonal community establishments to let them to work efficaciously and interact with outside histrions. Appropriate policy reforms are required to include these establishments in authorities plans and strategies, and supply support for capacity edifice to enable them to work in a democratic and crystalline mode, guaranting societal and gender equity. It is necessary to place common parametric quantities among different autochthonal community establishments and develop steering rules, procedures, and mechanisms that allow better interface between the establishments, local authorities, and proficient bureaus. To promote sustainably productive wood direction by communities, there is a demand to extinguish harvest home and conveyance license demands where possible and create free forest trade zones for community endeavors in highland countries of the Northeast. Community webs should be established or strengthened to self-monitor environmental impacts of small-scale forestry endeavors. As a consequence of transporting colonial luggage, the Indian Forest Act and the environmental jurisprudence in general still caters to the British policies with regard to Indian woods. This jurisprudence is ideal tool for fostering the cause of gross generation.Conservation and affecting the people in the direction of woods were non the British attack. Newer statute laws such as the Forest ( Conservation ) Act, Wildlife Protoection Act, The Biological Diversity Act, and most late the Scheduled Tribes Bill have made efforts to bridge this spread, with ample support from the Courts. It is clip though to take up all the Torahs and unite them to come up with a composite and comprehensive Environmental Law that reflects the alteration in attack towards the environment and the autochthonal people who live most incorporate with it.

Junior high vs. High School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Junior high vs. High School - Essay Example In the middle school model, the students do not have a chance to develop socially with the other students from the advanced classes. a) Possibly, due to the junior high school model, the students can identify their areas of interest at the early ages and start working to realize their dreams. However, the clusters based on self-chosen electives may lead the students to make wrong choices due to peer pressure. As per the middle school model, the teachers and students can develop well-organized schedules to guide the learning process. Conversely, the fixed times may develop fixed mindsets in the younger children making them difficult to adjust when moving to the junior high schools. a) i) In the junior model, there is a specialization of what the teams intend to teach the students since they are professionals meeting to discuss issues in the same subject area. Nevertheless, a single department may perform better compared to others leading to preference of one subject. Such preference may cause poor performance. ii) In the middle school model, there is a collective focus on the students leading to a common focus on what areas to tackle regarding the children. In contrast, some teachers may fail to take part in the processes as they collectively make suggestions and decisions due to lack of specified responsibilities. b) Always, the teachers bring new strategies to tackle the challenges that the children face. Therefore, it is important for them to continue meeting daily to help them identify and solve problems that face the students. a) i) Concentrating on the content does not allow the students to gain the hands-on skills needed to solve the life challenges. Rather, they equip the children with the mastery of the material to achieve high scale of education. ii) The middle school model allows the students to develop skills that will help them

Factors Used to Measure the Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Factors Used to Measure the Economy - Essay Example The essay "Factors Used to Measure the Economy" talks about such economic factors as the GDP, employment levels, inflation levels and the interest rates and tries to identify which of them is the best for this purpose. The GDP of a country is taken to be the value of all goods and services that are provided within the economic system. It can also be the total value which is added to a product at every stage of production whether the final product is a good or a service. It is measured on a period to period basis, therefore, it allows for easy comparisons to show how the economy has grown or shrunk over time. If the GDP of the United States grows from 10 trillion dollars to 11 trillion dollars in real terms over a one year period then it can be said that the American economy itself has grown by a trillion dollars in one year. Inflation level and interest rates are often connected with each other since both of them are dealing with the level of money which is being supplied to the economy. They are also popular in the media since they connect deeply with people’s abilities to borrow money and their money purchasing more goods and services (inflation). Interest rates refer to the cost of borrowing money which can be controlled by the government to slow down the economy if it appears to be overhearing or to increase economic output if the economy seems to be slowing down. Increasing inflation often means that prices are rising and unless wages keep up with rising prices, the standard of life for individuals is bound to go down.

US Domestic Direct Investment in 2014 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

US Domestic Direct Investment in 2014 - Essay Example There is ease to which goods and services across the United States national borders. This has made the United States embrace globalization since it is essential for all the economies that rely on data. These flows have been facilitated policies that govern taxation, migration, trade and those that regulate. But the United States would be at the losing end if they did not practice the investment in the local country. There is a need for investment at home so as to be successful in the global market as a full partner. The direct domestic investments include the networks of digital communication, infrastructure, education, and research. The additional investment regions are content, security, production of energy and product development. Domestic investments increase productivity, new jobs, higher incomes and more chances that ensure economic mobility. Direct domestic investment is therefore important so as we get the economic growth that we desire. The year 2014 was characterized by a major portion of investment being experienced from the private companies. The gross direct domestic investment in the first quarter of 2014 was estimated to be about $ 2.952 trillion. This is an improvement from the previous quarter that had a gross of $ 2.905 trillion. This is also a great improvement from the $2.745 trillion in the previous year. This data shows that there has been a steady increase in the direct domestic investment in America as per the year 2014. This is characterized by changes of 1.62%.  

Business Management in Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Management in Nursing - Assignment Example Being a business, the nurses are expected to put in effort to the achievement of that business’s objectives using effective staff and financial management resources. It is for this reason that Business management in Nursing is being offered; to empower nurses to be effective in managing the business aspect of nursing. This paper develops a syllabus for Business management in Nursing. Keywords: learner, nursing, business management Syllabus for Business Management in Nursing Instructor: Office: Office Hours: Contact Hours: Semester, Year: Telephone: E-Mail: Course Information 1. Course Description This is course is aimed at preparing students to meet the changing business management expectation of the present health care services. The students shall also learn about the changing trends in healthcare industry, the changing roles of nurses from bedside practice to middle management and the business aspect of healthcare in general. Students shall also learn of how the nurses can c ontribute to the success of the healthcare business using effective staff and financial management resources. 2. Course Content The following key topics shall be covered in this course; Management functions and decision making in which case topics under management like planning, staffing, directing, organizing and controlling shall be covered. In addition managerial roles like, decisional, informational, and interpersonal that assist in decision making shall also be covered. In addition the fourteen principles of management as put forward by Henry Fayol shall also be covered and how they are applicable in nursing. Employee and Healthcare organizational development in which case issues like change-management plan, organizational problem identification and resolution, behavioral-science knowledge, organizational behavior, linear and holistic organizational development, and the business management code of ethics shall be covered. Staff and Financial Resource Management in which case su b topics like budgeting and finance, human resource management, procurement, whole-school engagement to resource allocation, and an in-depth understanding and interpretation of financial statement information shall be covered. 3. Methods of Instruction The instructor will make use of case studies, lecturers, videos, student experiences and responses, guest speakers and questions and exercises from main reading materials. Student Outcomes and Expected Competencies 1. Competencies Students taking this course should have done BBM 101 (Principles of Business Management) and BNM 204 (Nursing Management). 2. Student Outcomes By taking this course, the learner should have the ability to; Display knowledge of the changing trends in nursing healthcare by; clearly examining and understanding the changing roles of nurses from bedside practitioners to middle management level managers; clearly interpreting the changing perspective of the health industry in which the health care practice is viewe d as business and the nurses are required to manage that business well; clearly demonstrating that he or she can apply the knowledge obtained about business management In the nursing perspective. Apply the five management functions of planning, controlling, staffing, organizing and directing to the nursing practice efficiently. Exhibit a strong business knowledge and orientation in the healthcare industry. Design organizational system to solve practical

The New Modern Architecure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The New Modern Architecure - Essay Example Peter Eisenman is an American architect who contributed highly to modernism in architecture. Thus, this paper will examine how Eisenman’s work has influenced the modernism movement in architect not only in the form of the design but also through the graphic representation, which is demonstrated by OMA current work in Point city/South City, Netherlands, 1993.† Peter Eisenman was commonly regarded as a theorist and teacher, but currently he is often called a deconstructionist due to his ability to swirl the controversy with buildings that seem disconnected from their environment, as well as their historical context. For this reason, he highly influenced modernism in architecture. His first public building was the Wexner Center for the Arts in Ohio, which he designed along with Richard Trott. His designs, as well as writings, represent an attempt to liberate from meaning while shunning external references. In addition, Eisenman’s house designs were meant to be theore tical experiments, which existed in abstraction and developed them without any influence from clients, or any concern for their use; Thus, Eisenman’s modern architectural work was based on the conceptual procedure through which the architecture was produced (Eisenman 54). Eisenman has large-scale housing, innovative facilities for educational establishments, urban design projects and several inventive private houses. Some of his current projects include a large condominium housing block in Italy, and a 6-building City of Culture of Galacia found in Santiago de Compostela (Eisenman 54). Most of Eisenman’s buildings are based on shifted grids that collide with one another; for example, the Wexner Center, which was built in 1983 to 1989. This is a form of modern architectural design because traditional buildings were based on single grids in which all walls were perpendicular and parallel to each other. Therefore, basing the walls of rooms on different grids that are not parallel to one another, Eisenman is able to perplex people who use the building expecting a traditional look. Eisenman broke up the traditional forms of architecture in the Wexner Center building into fragments, which mock the traditional solid feel of the old building. Also, the famous column of the building, which hangs from the ceiling, does not reach the ground, which also mocks the traditional design of how a column should appear (Chou 121). This is an illustration of Wexner Center building (1983-1989) designed by Eisenman (Siegel 1). It is an excellent example of how Eisenman influenced modernism in architecture by breaking down the traditional forms of architecture and incorporating modernist elements. Another example of how Eisenman has influenced modernism movement in architecture can be seen in the point city-south city project, Netherlands. This project is an example of how the OMA used technics similar to Eisenman’s in the representation matter, when it diagramme d, collected data and information and incorporated them in the design process. The ancient themes that were never used before have now become the most widely used formulas used to guide the development of Netherlands. According to Garcia (172), the OMA diagram is enigmatic and paradoxical and is characterized by a series of ironic hybrids of juxtaposed and quixotic contradictory concepts, as well as

Peak Oil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Peak Oil - Essay Example This essay declares that peak oil is a state in which the maximum oil production is recorded. After peak oil, the production may start to decline which is not a good sign for either the oil producers or the users. Global economy is heavily dependent on oil prices. Automobiles are essential for the transportation of goods to keep a balance between the supply and demand. Supply and demand determines the economic growth of the global community. Substitutes for oil must be researched and developed without any time delay. At the same time new technologies must be developed in order to utilize the distant offshore oil resources economically, which are expensive at present because of lack of feasible technologies to utilize it. Oil is the blood of global economy. As our body or life cannot survive without blood, the global economy also cannot survive without oil or alternative energy sources. This paper makes a conclusion that peak oil is not a good scenario either of the oil producing countries or others. Though peak oil may bring temporary benefits to the oil producing countries, their economy will be suffered in the long run. For example, most of the Gulf countries are depending oil revenue for their economic growth. These countries don’t have much other resources and the oil resource exhausting may not be a good sign for them. Even though, most of the global community are anxious about the future of the world because of the exhausting oil resources, environmentalists consider the peak oil situation as a blessing to the human population.

Quitting is not an option Essay Example for Free

Quitting is not an option Essay Quitting Is Not An Option As a little girl I always dreamt of becoming my own boss at a young age. The thought of following other people rules bothered me; I did know that in order to get where I wanted to be in life I had to start somewhere. So I told myself that after high school I had to go to college, and work and save. I decide to pursue my degrees in Business Management and Accounting, because, I enjoy using money, working with others, helping people solve their money issues and helping them getting back on the right the track, as well as making people happy. I see it as if I have the knowledge and the education of what Im doing, I dont have to worry about anyone using me or stealing from me; Ill be able to take care of my own finances. Having a B.A. in Business Management will impact my life in a positive way, by giving me a hands up in my dreams of becoming my own boss at an young age, as well as living my life comfortably. Due to my dreams in life, and where I want to be I chose not to give up even when things are stressful at times. Giving up on my educational goals is not an option because, I know that if I dont have a degree, my life will not go anywhere, and I will just work at dead-end jobs. Not only do I want to want to go college and get a B.A. but I want to get excellent grades, and become an honor student. Im committed to sticking with my degree and working with Monroe College to help me succeed and graduate. Having a lot of money, and time invested in my success, I cant allow quitting to be an option. Looking forward to having a great experience and continue to grow in my career while attending Monroe College. Having great support from my professors, when struggling with an assignment, I feel I should be able to email or talk on the phone with them without feeling embarrassed. If i found out that my future self was trying to quit due to an stressful situation, I will let her know that life gets hard but giving up makes it even harder, and if you give up you will be stuck living life struggling, and living pay check to pay check with no relief to the stress. Living and learning is part of life, but quitting wont allow you to learn or live the  life that you want for yourself and your future family.

Contrast Media and Intravenous Urography

Contrast Media and Intravenous Urography Introduction The practice of clinical diagnostic radiology has been made possible by advances not only in diagnostic equipment and investigative techniques, but also in the contrast media that permit visualisation of the details of the internal structure or organs that would not otherwise be demonstrable. The remarkably high tolerance of modern contrast media has been achieved through successive developments in chemical pharmacological technology. A single dose of X-ray contrast medium commonly contains upwards of 2000 times as much iodine as in the total physiological body content, and yet it is cleared from the system rapidly and naturally, usually with no adverse effects at all. The choice of contrast medium has always been a matter of debate, but is ultimately the responsibility of the radiologist. In order to be able to make a rational decision as to the selection of contrast media, it is necessary to have some understanding of the physical and physiological principles involved. The objective is to provide a background for non-specialists on this complicated specialist subject. Why contrast media are necessary Different tissues within the body attenuate the beam of X-rays to different degrees. The degree of attenuation of an X-ray beam by an element is complex, but one of the major variables is the number of electrons in the path of the beam with which it can interact. The number of electrons in the path of the beam is dependent upon three factors: The thickness of the substance being studied Its density The number of electrons per atom of the element (which is equal to its atomic number) In a complex mixture of elements, which is of course what we are concerned with in the organs of a patient, the degree of attenuation is particularly influenced by the average of the atomic numbers of all the atoms involved. Where there is a considerable difference between the densities of two organs, such as between the solid muscle of the heart and the air in the lungs, then the outlines of the structures can be visualised on a radiograph because of the natural contrast that exists. Similarly, if there is a difference between the average atomic numbers of two tissues, such as between soft tissues, which are composed of elements of low atomic number, and bone, which is partly composed of the element calcium, with a rather higher atomic number, then the outlines of the different structures can be seen by natural contrast. However, if the two organs have similar densities and similar average atomic numbers, then it is not possible to distinguish them on a radiograph, because no natura l contrast exists. This situation commonly occurs in diagnostic radiography, so that, for example, it is not possible to identify blood vessels within an organ, or to demonstrate the internal structure of the kidney, without artificially altering one of the factors mentioned earlier. Two of the factors important in organ contrast can be artificially altered, the density of an organ, and, more usefully, the average atomic number of a structure. The density of a hollow organ can be reduced by filling it with gas or air, providing negative contrast. This is mainly of historical significance, but is still used when, for example, gas is introduced into the stomach or colon during a double-contrast barium examination. The average atomic number of hollow structure such as a blood vessel can be increased by filling the cavity with a liquid of much higher average atomic number (such as iodine containing contrast medium) than that of blood. In fact this is the principle by which contrast media consist of solutions or suspensions of non-toxic substances that contain a significant proportion of elements of high atomic number, usually iodine. EXAMINATION USE CONTRAST MEDIA common are described below. It should be noted that the volume, strength, as well as the type of contrast medium, will vary between patients according to the examination type and radiologists requirements. 1. Angiography Angiography is the general term which describes the investigation of blood vessels. Usually a distinction between arteriography and venography is made, depending on the kind of blood vessel (artery or vein) which is examined. Arteriography In arteriography a contrast medium is introduced via a catheter into an artery, which makes the lumen of that vessel opaque to X-rays. The natural flow of blood carries the contrast medium peripherally, and by taking a series of radiographs the radiologist can obtain images akin to a road map of the blood supply to an organ, or a limb. Localised narrowing or obstruction of an artery or a pathological circulation in a tumour can then be identified. Sometimes the radiologist may then proceed to treat the patient using the catheter system, which was introduced initially for diagnosis. Arteriography is relatively time consuming for the radiologist depending on the complexity,  ½ hour 2 hours, or even longer can be spent on the procedure. Venography (phlebography) The natural flow of blood in veins is towards the heart, and by injection of a contrast medium into a peripheral vein, a map of the venous drainage of a limb can be obtained. The larger size and greater number of peripheral veins, and the fact that the flow of blood is much slower in veins than in arteries,means that it is usual for the radiologist to take several radiographs of each area with the limb in different positions. The commonest indication for venography is to confirm a suspected diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis of the leg. Venography is also performed on organs within the body by introducing a catheter into a peripheral vein and manipulating it into an organ. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) A special type of angiography is digital subtraction angiography (DSA). These procedures involve the use of specialised electronic equipment, computing and radiographic hardware to produce rapid sequential images. The DSA image is produced by electronically subtracting images without contrast media from images after contrast media injection. The result of this subtraction process is the visualisation of contrast filled vessels which are free from the distraction of overlying structures. 2. Intravenous urography (IVU), intravenous pyelography (IVP) When injected intravenously, most contrast media are rapidly excreted by the kidneys, and a series of radiographs taken after the injection will demonstrate the urinary tract. Intravenous urography is still the basic radiological examination of the urinary tract. The main indication is to assess the morphology of the kidneys. Further indications are: detection of kidney stones and calcifications in the ureter or bladder, assessment of obstructed urinary flow and investigation of patients with haematuria (the passage of blood in urine). Children may be investigated for congenital abnormalities of the urinary tract. In recent years for some investigations of the urinary tract, particularly uncomplicated infection, an ultrasound examination and plain abdominal radiograph have replaced intravenous urography as the initial investigation of the urinary tract. 3. Computed tomography (CT) Since 1973 an imaging technique known as computed tomography (CT) has developed to become one of the most important radiological examinations in the industrialised countries. CT uses conventional X-rays in a thin nondivergent beam to produce cross sectional images of the body. The X-ray tube and an array of detectors mounted within a supporting framework, rotate round the patient with each scan. CT produces digitalized images, although these are usually printed onto hard copy film in a format that is useful for transfer and viewing throughout the hospital. By electronic means CT improves via a higher contrast sensitivity, the natural radiological contrast between organs. However, it cannot create contrast where none exists naturally. CT is exceptionally sensitive to contrast media and can detect abnormalities, caused by disease, following an injection of an intravenous dose of contrast medium. This procedure is known as enhancing the scan. About 43% of all CT procedures involve the use of a contrast medium. CT is widely used throughout the body but the most frequently investigated areas using this technique are neuroradiology (brain and lumbar spine) and general radiology of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. It is particularly useful for the diagnosis, staging and follow up of malignant disease. 4. Myelography The spinal cord and the attendant nerve-roots which radiate from it cannot be visualised using conventional X-rays alone without the use of contrast media. They can be visualised directly using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They can be visualised if contrast medium is injected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the spinal cord, rendering the CSF radio-opaque but not the cord of nerve roots. Specific contrast media have been developed for this examination. The majority of myelograms (or radiculograms) were performed to examine the lumbar region to confirm the clinical suspicion of a prolapsed intervertebral disc. However, CT and MRI have now largely replaced myelography as the initial investigation of the lumbar spine. Myelography, particularly combined with CT scanning is still used however to investigate the cord and cervical region and its nerve roots in difficult cases when other investigations are equivocal or normal. Interventional Techniques/Procedure Many radiologists are now specialised in therapeutic procedures that have bee developed from radiological diagnostic techniques using catheters and guidewires. These procedures include: The dilation of pathologically narrowed arteries angioplasty, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). The deliberate occlusion of arteries supplying abnormal areas such as tumours, aneurysms and vascular malformations, so depriving them of their blood supply. The placement of artificial tubes or stents into blood vessels, bile ducts or ureters to bypass a pathological narrowing. These procedures often necessitate the use of high doses of contrast medium, because several examinations of the same vessels may be required during the control of the therapeutic process. Safety of Contrast Media Contrast media are among the safest of all of the pharmaceutical products available to the doctor today. They are anomalous in that they are not intended to have therapeutic activity: indeed, the ideal contrast medium would have no pharmacological activity at all. For this reason the concept of therapeutic ration, which can be applied to medicines, does not apply to contrast media. The development of a contrast medium from the first design of the molecule through to product licence takes many years. The minimum period of time that can reasonably be allotted to preclinical and clinical development is six years, and in practice it is not uncommon to take nine years or even more. During this long period, the tolerance of the medium is rigorously tested by collecting data from various preclinical and clinical trials to establish a profile for the product. One critical area examined during its development is the incidence of adverse reactions. The rate of adverse reactions to iodinated co ntrast media on the market is extremely low, but such reactions do occur just as they do with every pharmaceutical product. The adverse reactions associated with contrast media can be divided into two groups: Those reactions that are clearly dependent on the dose and concentration of the contrast medium administered and those that are almost independent of dose and concentration. Dose-dependent adverse reactions are mostly due to the physiochemical effects of the contrast medium, such as its osmolality, or electrical charge. Possible adverse reactions include heat, pain, vasodilation, cardiac depression and hypotension. The adverse reactions which are almost independent of dose and concentration are nausea and vomiting as well as allergy-like or hypersensitive reactions such a urticaria (hives), certain cardiovascular reactions, bronchospasm and laryngospasm, but there is little evidence of any antigenantibody interaction. These reactions cannot be predicted and their underlying cause remains unknown. For clinical purposes it is meaningful to divide contrast media reactions into three categories: Minor e.g. Flushing, nausea, vomiting, pruritis, mild rash, arm pain Moderate e.g. More severe urticaria, facial oedema, hypotension, bronchospasm Severe e.g. Hypotensive shock, laryngeal oedema, convulsions, respiratory and cardiac arrest Most contrast media reactions are minor and need no treatment. Moderate reactions are encountered rarely (about 1%) and severe reactions very rarely (about 0.1%), but all moderate and severe reactions require adequate treatment. Deaths following contrast media administration are extremely rare. Reported mortality rates vary between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 169,000 averaging around 1 in 75,000. Katayama et al. (Radiology 1990; 175: 621-628) found that there is a reduction in adverse reaction rate of about four times using low osmolar contrast media (LOCM) for intravenous injection compared to high osmolar contrast media (HOCM). There is surprisingly no documented difference in mortality between intravenous LOCM and HOCM in large series from Japan and Australia. It is not usually possible to predict severe reactions, even by looking at the effect of a small test dose of a contrast medium. Guidelines have been produced for the use of low osmolar contrast agents. Risk Renal adverse reactions Contrast media-induced nephropathy is defined as impairment in renal function (an increase in serum creatinine by >25% or 44à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬mol/L (0.5mg/dL) occurring within 3 days following the intravascular administration of contrast media in the absence of an alternative etiology Risk factors include raised s-creatinine levels particularly secondary to diabetic nephropathy, dehydration, congestive heart failure, age over 70 years old, concurrent administration of nephrotoxic drugs, e.g., non-steroidal ant-inflammatory drugs Systematically effective 1. Adequate hydration in terms of oral fluid intake or intravenous normal saline (depending on the clinical situation) at least 100 ml per hour starting 4 hours before to 24 hours after contrast administration is recommended. Concurrent administration of nephrotoxic drugs should be stopped for at least 24 hours. High osmolar contrast media, large doses of contrast media, or multiple studies with contrast media within a short period of time should be avoided. Alternative imaging techniques that do not require the administration of iodinated contrast media should be considered. Recent work in preventing and ameliorating contrast medium-induced nephropathy with N-acetyl cysteine 4-6 and various hydration regimens including use of sodium bicarbonate has been promising but is not conclusive yet. No measure has yet resulted in avoidance of its occurrence in all patients.Non-renal adverse reactions.These are generally classified as idiosyncratic or chemotoxic. Idiosyncratic (i.e., anaphylac toid) reactions occur unpredictably and independently of the dose and concentration of the agent. Most anaphylactic reactions relate to the release of active mediators. Conversely, chemotoxic-type effects relate to the dose, the molecular toxicity of each agent, and the physiologic characteristics of the contrast agents (i.e., osmolality, viscosity, hydrophilicity, calcium binding properties, and sodium content). Chemotoxic-type effects are more likely in patients who are debilitated or medically unstable 2. Acute reactions to contrast media can be divided into minor, intermediate, and severe life-threatening. Minor reactions include flushing, nausea, arm pain, pruritus, vomiting, headache, and mild urticaria. Such reactions are usually mild in severity, of short duration, selflimiting and generally require no specific treatment. Intermediate reactions are more serious degrees of the same symptoms, moderate degrees of hypotension, and bronchospasm. The reactions usually respond readily to appropriate therapy. Severe life-threatening reactions include severe manifestations of all the symptoms described as minor and intermediate reactions, plus convulsions, unconsciousness, laryngeal oedema, severe bronchospasm, pulmonary oedema, severe cardiac dysrhythmias and arrest, cardiovascular and pulmonary collapse. The prevalence of adverse reactions with lowosmolar contrast media is less than with high-osmolar contrast media by a factor of 5-6. Lethal reactionsrarely occur. The actual risk of death is less than one in 130,000 at most 3. The incidence of severe adverse reactions increases in patients with previous contrast medium reaction, bronchial asthma and allergy requiring medical treatment. Premedication with corticosteroid prophylaxis has been proved safe and effective in preventing minor adverse events in high-risk patients when ionic agents are used 4. The data indicating a protective effect of corticosteroid prophylaxis are less established when non-ionic agents are used. Opinion is divided about the value of premedication when nonionic agents are used. Even if it is given, there is a wide variety of regimes with different doses, number of doses, and frequency for corticosteroid prophylaxis. 5. A variety of symptoms (e.g. nausea, vomiting, headache, itching, skin rash, musculoskeletal pains, fever) have been described, but many are unrelated to the contrast medium. Allergy-like skin reactions are welldocumented side effects of contrast media, with an incidence of approximately 2%. Most late skin reactions after contrast medium exposure are probably T-cellmediated allergic reactions. Patients at increased risks are those with history of previous contrast medium reaction and those undergoing interleukin-2 treatment. Most skin reactions are usually mild to moderate, selflimiting and likely resolve within a week. Treatment is symptomatic and similar to the treatment of other druginduced skin reactions.Extravasation of contrast material is a well-recognised complication. The introduction of automated power injection has increased the incidence because power injection may result in extravasation of large volumes in a short period of time and may lead to severe tissue damage. Intravenous Urography Introduction Intravenous urography is a radiographic study of the  urinary system  using an intravenous contrast agent (dye). It is a medical procedure used to visualise the kidney and lower urinary tract to help diagnose problems such as infections. A contrast dye is injected into a vein on your hand or arm, and then x-rays are taken. The dye helps to outline more clearly the structure of the kidneys and lower urinary tract. The  kidneys excrete the contrast into the urine, which becomes visible when x rayed (radiopaque), creating images of the urinary collection system. An intravenous urogram is ordered to demonstrate the structure and function of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Patients complaining of abdominal pain radiating to the back may require this exam to rule out  kidney stones. Hematuria may also be an indication of kidney stones,infection, or tumors. Patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) and recurrent bladder infections may also require an intravenous urogram (b ut hypertension usually is imaged with MRA or nuclear medicine imagery and this exam is done when renal artery stenosis is the suspected cause of refractory hypertension). Sometimes the exam is ordered to evaluate the function of the kidney in a renal transplant patient. The transplanted kidney is located in the iliac fossa, so special films of the pelvis area are done instead of the normal routine views. The radiographic technologist may also be required to take x rays in the operating room when a retrograde pyelogram is ordered by a urologist during a C and P (cystoscopy  and pyelography). Indication A normal intravenous urogram indicates no visible abnormality in the structure or function of the urinary system. The radiologist looks for a smooth non-lobulated outline of each kidney, no clubbing or other abnormality of the renal calyces (collecting system), and no abnormal fluid collection in the kidneys that could suggest obstruction. The ureters must contain no filling defects (stones) or deviations due to an adjacent tumor. The bladder must have a smooth outline and empty normally as visualized on the post-void film. Abnormal results include hydronephrosis (distension of the renal pelvis and calices due to obstruction) as a result of tumors or calculi (stones). Cysts or abscesses may also be present in the urinary system. A delay in renal function can also indicate renal disease. An abnormal amount of urine in the bladder after voiding may indicate prostate or bladder problems. Intravenous urograms are often done on children to rule out a rapid developing tumor in the kidneys, called a Wilms tumor. Children are also prone to infections of the bladder and kidneys due to urinary reflux (return back-flow of urine). Procedure The patient will be required to change into a hospital gown and empty his or her bladder. The x-ray technologist will verify that the patient has followed the bowel preparation and complete a detailed questionnaire on the current medical history of the patient. This includes previous contrast reactions, known  allergies, risks of  pregnancy, and current medications. The x-ray technologist will explain the exam in detail to the patient as well as the risks of the contrast material that will be injected intravenously. All departments require that the patient sign a consent form before the examination is started. The x-ray technologist will relay this information to the radiologist who will decide on what type of contrast will be used. Patients who have had an injection with no reaction can be given less expensive iodine based contrast, whereas patients who take various  heart  medications or those with known allergies or  asthma will be injected with a more expensive contrast agent (known as non-ionic contrast) that has fewer side effects. Some departments use the non-ionic contrast exclusively. The patient will be instructed to lie supine (face-up) on the x-ray table and a preliminary KUB will be done. This is an abdominal view of the kidneys, ureter, and bladder used to verify patient preparation, centering, and the radiographic technique needed to demonstrate all the required structures. Kidney stones may or may not be visualized on the preliminary film. The x-ray technologist prepares the required amount of contrast to be used depending on the weight of the patient (1 ml per pound). This is normally 50-75 cc of contrast for an average-sized patient. The contrast will be injected all at once (bolus injection) or in some cases, through an intravenous drip. Some radiologists prefer to start an intravenous drip with saline as a precautionary measure while others inject with a small butterfly needle. The needle usually remains in place for 10-15 minutes, in case more contrast is needed or in case drugs need to be administered because of an allergic reaction. Most reactions occur immediately but some can take place 10 or 15 minutes after the injection. The first film is taken immediately after the injection to see a detail of the renal outline (nephrogram). Films are usually taken at five-minute intervals depending on the routine of the radiologist. Compression may be applied to the lower abdomen with a wide band to keep the contrast material in the kidneys longer. This creates a more detailed image of the renal collecting system. When the compression is released after approximately 10 minutes the contrast material drains quickly and a detailed, filled image of the ureters is obtained. Films done in the upright or prone (face-down) position may also be ordered to better visualize the lower ureters. Some departments require routine renal tomographic images to be done as well when the kidneys are well visualized. This allows the kidneys to be seen free of gas or fecal shadows. Sometimes the radiologist requires oblique views of the kidneys or bladder to determine the exact location of calculi (stones). At approximately 20 minutes aft er the injection a film centered on the bladder may be required. The x-ray tube is angled slightly caudad (towards the feet) so that there is no superimposition of the pubic area of the pelvis over the bladder. The films are shown to the radiologist and if no further films are necessary the patient will be asked to void (urinate) and a post-void film will be taken. The exam can take from 30 minutes to one hour depending on the number of films required. If the kidney is obstructed, delayed films may be required to complete the exam. Patient care The x-ray technologist must work in conjunction with the doctors and nurses in making sure the patient has not had a previous allergic reaction to a contrast agent. All hospitals have an emergency team ready to react in such a situation, so the technologist must be aware of the procedure to follow when assistance is necessary due to a severe reaction. Details of patient preparation must also be communicated to the hospital wards. In some hospitals the radiologic technologists are trained to give injections, but if this is not the case nurses may be asked to install an intravenous drip before the patient is brought to the radiology department. The x-ray technologist must explain the risks of an allergic reaction to each patient even though severe reactions are extremely rare due to the advances made in the preparation of contrast agents. The x-ray technologist explains to the patient that a warm, flushed feeling or a metallic  taste  in the mouth are normal reactions in some patients. Breathing instructions are also important since the kidneys change position depending on the phase of respiration and to prevent motion artifacts. Sometimes an emergency patient with renal colic (acute abdominal pain) is asked to urinate through a special filter used to trap small stones. All radiographic technologists must be certified and registered with the American Society of Radiologic Technologists or an equivalent organization. Continued education credits are mandatory to remain registered. Risk and side effect Some of the side effects and possible complications including minor reactions to the contrast dye. It may include flushing, warmth and a metallic taste in the mouth. These usually resolve quickly. These symptoms are much less common with the newer contrast dyes. Some patient might experience severe allergic reactions. It may occur in a small percentage of the population. Symptoms range from relatively mild to severe, and can include hives (skin rash), breathing difficulties, swelling of the lips and tongue, low blood pressure and loss of consciousness. There is case when a patient experienced acute renal failure  but it occurs in less than 0.5 per cent of cases. Risk factors include advanced age, diabetes, dehydration and a past history of kidney disease. For patients with these risk factors, extra intravenous fluids, pre-treatment with acetylcysteine, and a reduced dose of contrast dye may be recommended, or they may undergo different procedures altogether. Problems that found There are several limitations of ultrasonography, CT, and MRI: lack of visualization for large portions of the urinary tract with ultrasonography, necessity of contrast agent administration and excretory images with CT, inability to visualize subtle urothelial abnormalities with sufficient spatial resolution with both CT and MRI, and insufficiency in visualizing calcifications with MRI[1]. Additional disadvantages of MRI are inconspicuousness of small intrarenal calculi, susceptibility artifact due to metallic objects that interfere with the visualization of ureteral segments, flow-related artifact in some sequences, and interference of hemorrhage into renal collecting system with static-fluid MR urography[8]. The patient effective dose, and therefore radiation risk, of CT urography is 1.5 times that of conventional urography. The increased radiation risk from a CT urography compared with an IVU should be considered in the context of the amount of information that is necessary for th e diagnostic task. Radiation risk is increased for smaller patients in CT urography and for larger patients in IVU[5]. Although CT falls short of IVU in the evaluation of urothelium, helical CT technology continues to evolve with introduction of multidetector row scanning (MDCT)[3,9]; MDCT may eventually replace IVU for the evaluation of hematuria[2,4]. Finally, there is not an optimum or ideal examination technique for CT urography[10] or MR urography. Examination techniques must be constructed according to suspected pathology of the patient and urinary system status. Although advances in imaging technology have given CT and MR urography advantages over IVU, many centers still use IVU as a part of routine radiological practice. Therefore, techniques or modifications for improving application and diagnostic capabilities of IVU should still be considered. For decades, intravenous urography has been the primary imaging modality for evaluation of the urinary tract. In recent years, however, other imaging modalities including ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have been used with increasing frequency to compensate for the limitations of intravenous urography in the evaluation of urinary tract disease . Like intravenous urography, however, these examinations have their limitations. Large portions of the urinary tract are not visualized at US; CT requires contrast material administration and excretory images (at times with a prolonged delay), often with image reformatting for evaluation of the urothelium; and MR imaging may not demonstrate calcifications or show the urothelium with sufficient resolution for evaluation of subtle abnormalities. Thus, despite increasing use of these alternative modalities, the ideal global urinary tract examination remains controversial . Axial imaging with con trast material opacification of the urinary tract will likely evolve as the most efficient imaging evaluation. However, the declining use of intravenous urography in clinical practice reduces the opportunity to learn important interpretive skills. Formal urography (or the urographic equivalent of conventional radiography of the urinary tract following administration of contrast material for CT) is frequently performed in the evaluation of hematuria. Urography may also be performed in the pre- or posttherapeutic evaluation of stone disease that has been discovered with other modalities. BARIUM SWALLOW Introduction A barium swallow and meal is type of X-ray test that allows your doctor to examine your throat, oesophagus (the pipe that goes from your mouth to your stomach), stomach and the first part of the bowel (duodenum). X-rays usually pass straight through parts of the gut such as the oesophagus, stomach and bowel and so these structures dont show up well on plain X-ray images. However, if the gut wall is coated with barium, a white liquid that X-rays cant pass through, a much clearer image of the outline of the gut can be captured. If your stomach is being examined, the test is called a barium meal. If your oesophagus is examined at the same time, its called having a barium swallow and meal. A barium swallow and meal test can help work out why youre getting symptoms such as difficult or painful swallowing, heartburn, reflux and abdominal pain. The tests give your doctor information about the swallowing action, and

What factors influence the onset of drug addiction?

What factors influence the onset of drug addiction? Familial Risk Factors Favoring Drug Addiction Onset Introduction: The purpose of the study is to indicate the factors that are suspected to be affecting children for drug abuse. The author Zimic and Jukic have concluded their work Familial Risk Factors Drug Addiction Onset which is a sound research based on a sample of 146 addicts and 134 control subjects. The hypothesis of the study is drug addiction might surely be seen from parental standpoint. The hypothesis is taken on the basis of past results, different case studies, and research papers on the subject of drug addiction. The authors seem to have biased thinking towards drug addiction related with parents and the child’s upbringing. Though there is a direct relation between a child and parents but it is not certain that they are the reason for this drug abuse. The paper, however, discusses very little about other factors including peer groups, friends, social environment and other factors. According to the authors, drug addiction is most prone to children in their teen age for which surveillance from parents is much required in order to have a look at their daily routine, the friendships they have, and relations with the people surrounding their children (Zimic and Jukic, 2012). The behavior of overlooking a child in the teen age causes serious troubles to let them astray from their supposed pattern of life, a happy and healthy life, to a drug addicted life which remains for lifetime. These are the factors, the major points and real time facts which have been discussed in the study along with the familial factor that, according to authors, make drug addiction more stream line for a child who doesn’t have enough knowledge for outside world in the teen age. Methods: The study was conducted in time interval from 2008 to 2009 in which they took a sample of drug addicts and normal (non-drug addict) people from the population. The total number of drug addicts was 146 in which there we 92 men, 51 women and 3 other people who didn’t specify their gender but their age was between 18 and 46 years. The survey was done using questionnaire, having around 67 different variables involved in the questions. This study was taken while the addicts were undergoing through the recovery process in different psychiatrist hospitals. The sample for control group or the normal group had a total of 134 people of which 88 were men, 45 were females and 1 of the 134 people didn’t specify the gender but the age of that individual was between 17 and 44 years of age. The study is pure quantitative in nature and is experimental since individuals from both the groups are being tested using questionnaires, asking their school background, age, sex, place of birth, place of birth and more such questions that the researchers found important to consider so that they may have complete insight of the subjects. Though the questions asked were qualitative because of the fact that additional information regarding the background of the subjects was needed. The questions comprised of open ended and closed ended questions and also had given the subjects with an option â€Å"other† so that if they had any other answer to the question, they could put that in the â€Å"other† option. The purpose for this additional option was to have complete knowledge of the subject without missing any single piece of information. The questionnaire were given to the subjects in hand rather using any other medium such as mail or email. Open-ended questions were analy zed by the researchers categorizing them as either positive, negative, or neutral. Statistical software, SPSS, was used to analyze the research questions and get more appropriate findings. The procedures chosen for the research were valid, appropriate and accurate enough to achieve suitable results, those which were statistically right. Ethical Aspects: The researcher took into account all aspects of ethics and other factors that should be taken care of while performing a research on such sensitive cases where medical teams, hospitalized patients; more importantly patients those who have imbalances psychologically are involved. The ethical criteria were fulfilled before performing the research. The approval was taken by the research team from Board of Ethics of University Medicine in Zagreb and Board of Ethics of Hospital Vrapce and Clinical Hospital Sister of Mercy. The research team did not only fulfilled this aspect of ethical moralities but also attached cover letters with the questionnaires to all the subjects that explained the purpose of the study. They took the information from the subjects after providing a notice to all the subjects that the information provided will be held hundred percent confidential and this the reason why the questionnaire did not have questions such as name, date of birth and like. Results: The results of this study were taken out in several categories and in different aspects of the subject’s information received. In the familial sociodemographic feature aspect, the researchers did not find any statistically sound differences such as the subjects mostly came from three-five members family, they were firstborns among the siblings and like. The only difference in this aspects was found in the parent’s marital status. In the familial development feature aspect, significant differences were recorded in further several aspects such as: separation of parents before the age of seven, parental divodrce or death of one of parents in early childhood or adolescence, psychological stress or trauma experienced in the life, parental surveillance, and parental support. In the familial interaction features aspect the results were more intense and shocking differences were found between the two samples. The results for this aspect were taken further in to: Unfavorable emo tional relationship with the parents, especially with the father throughout the childhood and adolescence. People from addicts had favored their mothers when they were asked to choose from their father and mother for emotional attachment. Most of the non-addict subjects also favored their mothers over fathers when asked for attentiveness of their parents. The results showed that addicts had more intense and distant relationship with their fathers because of the fact lack of appropriate communication in the early childhood. Even in the case of lack of communication with the mother, the subjects favored their mothers to have better level of understanding and that the mothers were more caring and attentive towards their child than fathers. The results also concluded that addicts were of the view that the decision-making at home were eventually made by their fathers while mothers were given less or no chance to make decisions. While on the other hand, the control group had a different point of view. The results showed that the control group had answered in the favor of both the parents that the decision is made considering the point of view of the parents. In the familial sociological features aspect, results showed huge differences between the two subject samples. Discussion and Conclusion: The study was taken out in the normal environment without the subjects knowing that they were being experimented. The research outcomes suggest that early childhood relationships with parents, especially with the father had more adverse effects on the lives of their children. The results showed the statistically proven, the addicts had more complaints regarding their father’s attitude and lack of attentiveness and emotion intent during their childhood and adolescence which eventually resulted in non-compliance to surveillance during the teen age, emotional relationship, and openness to freedom of speech. The addicts who were sampled were more inclined towards their mothers than fathers because of their caring attitude, level of interest in the child and degree of emotional intent. On the other hand, the control group had more of a balanced relationship between their parents, they said that they had better understanding between them, more balanced decision-making right and that they were taken care from both almost equally. Other reasons for drug addiction were the past experiences, stress, trauma or any unsuitable event that had jolted the addicts. People who were exposed to war environment in their lives, had more trauma and stress level ultimately ending up in the shape of drug addiction. The study also discussed the parental differences, the divorce, deceased and single parent factor which had direct impact on their children. The study had more appropriate results and the tests performed were statistically sound which gave the results more close to reality. Parents do have direct impact on their children and the upbringing of a child significantly matters for the rest of their lives. Parents who oversee their children actually put them in trouble later, sometime, in their lives. To save the lives of their children from drug addiction, parents do have to play a vital role from the day a child is born till, at least, the teen age and proper surveillance be made in order to get the insights of the daily routine of their child. A child learns from their parents, so this comes on to the parents who can make a life or break it. References: ZimiĆ¡, J. I., JukiĆ¡, V. (2012). Familial risk factors favoring drug addiction onset. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 44(2), 173-185.

My Philippine Identity Essay examples -- Personal Narrative, Identity

My Philippine Identity Identity is the essence of a person which makes him stand out as an individual. There are various factors which help form and evolve a person's persona, and that is what I write about in the follwing essay. We did not think it mattered! Who needed the "right" car, family lineage, the "right" education, domestic helpers--basically the "right" everything? We perceived all of the above as parts of the pretension of the Philippine society, yet it was so easy for us to ignore and dissociate ourselves from it because we were the products of this "right" term. We could deny the class system and insult it because we were luckily born into the advantageous class, and we had these "right elements" accessible to us. If we became tired of the society we could complain about it or excommunicate ourselves, but since we were considered the "privileged class" we could always return and the level of respect would still be there. We were in a no lose situation in this respect. The Philippine society consists of distinct class systems which depend, number one, on the family background of a person, then number two, the socioeconomic level. Which family you come from, whether they are in business, in politics, etc. is very important. People really look at surnames. If you have a revered surname you get some kind of automatic respect, even if you are not a very kind person. Money also matters but if you have just recently encountered your wealth and you do not belong to the right kind of family, chances are you will be considered "nouveau riche." Many of my friends and I used to complain about the materialism of the people, the way we had to act a certain way in front of adults, the social obligations, and how on... ...e harmonious relationships. These reminders which are trying to reach out to us, so that we may all live together in peace, are extra elements which help push us along the road to better relations. In the end though, people must come to terms with racial, societal, or any kind of discrimination in their own time and pace. That is the only instance that they will be able to get their hatred and awkwardness out of their system. In terms of Philippine Filipinos and Fil-Am relations, as of today, I think that the people are ready to accept each other. It is now the right timing for them to get to know their missing link--their other Filipino half. The occurrence in Boston University was, I feel, the beginning of a trend that will reach all the Filipinos in the United States, and make each and every Filipino part of one group instead of two groups that do not get along.

Essay --

From 1820-1920 approximately 34 million persons immigrated to America and about three-fourthsof them stayed. They came for many different reasons, to escape violence, to find new hope, or to chase the "America Dream." This caused many things to develop and change throughout America. This mass immigration was possible because of the "endless" western territory but now in 2011 the "endless" territory has run out. Government should work to limit immigration to an extent. Although immigrants strengthen American society by creating different cultures and increasing the work force but it must be limited because America cannot afford to be a nation of mostly immigrants. If left unchecked there would be overcrowding, an insufficient amount of jobs, and many racial conflicts but if stopped completely there would be a loss in culture, there would be an increase in illegal immigration, and it wouldn't be moral. There needs to be a balance in between the two with some guidelines. If we left immigration unchecked we would be overcrowding because there would be so many people trying to get jobs in... Essay -- From 1820-1920 approximately 34 million persons immigrated to America and about three-fourthsof them stayed. They came for many different reasons, to escape violence, to find new hope, or to chase the "America Dream." This caused many things to develop and change throughout America. This mass immigration was possible because of the "endless" western territory but now in 2011 the "endless" territory has run out. Government should work to limit immigration to an extent. Although immigrants strengthen American society by creating different cultures and increasing the work force but it must be limited because America cannot afford to be a nation of mostly immigrants. If left unchecked there would be overcrowding, an insufficient amount of jobs, and many racial conflicts but if stopped completely there would be a loss in culture, there would be an increase in illegal immigration, and it wouldn't be moral. There needs to be a balance in between the two with some guidelines. If we left immigration unchecked we would be overcrowding because there would be so many people trying to get jobs in...

Baroque Painting Essay

Few can dispute the beauty and grace of the Baroque era. It is difficult to define this era as it was a term later put to the ideas of the age between 1600 and 1750. â€Å"The Baroque grew up at the beginning of the seventeenth century in papal Rome, where, rather than a clearly defined style, it was a tendency, common to all the arts – in short, it was a taste, a fashion† (Conti 3)The artists of this time tried to break away from previous conventions, while at the same time hailing the past geniuses. It focused on a tantalizing mixture of old and new, and on action – a moment caught within a canvas.â€Å"Baroque meant movement, desire for nobility, love of the infinite and the non-infinite, of contrasts and bold fusion of all forms of art. It was as dramatic, exuberant, and theatrical as the preceding period had been serene and restrained. † (Conti 4) In particular, the intricacies of light and shadow perfected by Caravaggio are not just pleasant to the e ye of the past. A camera is now used, and adorning the walls of most houses you find black and white prints, effectively showing the contrasts between deep shadows and gleaming light.What is this, but the every man's attempt to recreate what Caravaggio achieved? The impulse toward the adoption of this idiom (thematic use of light and shade) came from Italy, indeed from a single Italian artist . . . known as Caravaggio†¦ Although his work has been more attacked by some critics than appreciated, there is no doubt that he marked the beginning of a new epoch. . . His paintings showed sturdy peasants, innkeepers and gamblers; and though sometimes they might be dressed as saints, apostles and fathers of the Church they represented reality in its most crude and harsh aspect.(Conti 40-41) Caravaggio was born in 1571, and in his relatively short life time of thirty nine years, he managed to bring Italian art to a whole new level. His subject matter changed over the years and depended la rgely upon his patrons’ desires. While much of his patronage, just like Leonardo de Vinci and Michelangelo before him, depended on the Church, the wealthiest and most dominant force in Italian politics at the time, he was not always in their favor. Caravaggio was a notorious brawler with a dark temperament. This temperament and violence is easily visible in many of his works.While he started his career in the late 1590’s painting young boys playing music or holding flowers, he was without a doubt most famous for his later works with more religious and often violent themes. It is in these works we see his definitive use of light and dark. This technique, recreated by Caravaggio, was called tenebrism, and was in effect a more intense version of an already existing technique called chiaroscuro. This use of light and dark, of shadow and narrow beams of illumination, was highly effective, and has inspired artists for many years since. Indeed, â€Å". . in Caravaggioâ€℠¢s universe there can be no light without darkness.† (Martin 223) This, along with his interesting and highly controversial usage of ordinary folk of the time, helped his works to stand out against others as dramatically as his use of light and shadow. He was a highly valued and famous artists of his time, but while his works influenced some of the greatest artists of all time (including Velazquez and Monet), his fame diminished quickly following his death and until the early 20th Century. Much of the information written about him came from contemporary enemies – either rival artists or critics who did not approve of his works.Many of Caravaggio’s greatest works revolve around subjects involved in movement as well as deep emotion. Rather than have a noble person pose, he not only chose lowly peasants and prostitutes as his subjects, but painted them in the throes of movement or action. This effect acts as a snapshot, a glimpse into the life of the people within t he painting. The effect of a camera could not produce a more fascinating result – a true study of human emotion and activity. Particularly regarding his religious subject matter he fell into controversy.He rarely used the pious perfection of Mannerism for his techniques, instead choosing to use a prostitute to model for the Virgin (Death of the Virgin), and an old man to pose as St. Matthew (St Matthew and the Angel). This choice made him popular and unique in many circles, and earned him an eager and young following. But among the established artist clique and in particular among certain members of the Church, his use of the peasants and the outcasts were thought to be vulgar and sacrilegious, too dark and menacing for display in the Church.He also refused to use existing works of art for his inspiration, instead choosing real life subjects, and did not work from sketches, but used the back of his brush directly on the canvas to outline his images. While he got a lot of bad attention for this â€Å"Caravaggio’s work was not negative; his aim was to restore full coporeal density to the unstable figures of Mannerism. † (Bazin 30) Caravaggio’s life was as tempestuous as many of his paintings and he was involved in several brawls. This, no doubt, contributed to his list of enemies who gave less than generous accounts of his life.Their mission almost succeeded; as his name did not reach the heights of popularity other artists achieved until the 20th Century, even though certain artists were aware of his works and used his influence. In 1606 he killed a young man, and was forced to flee his rich allies of Rome. Arriving in Naples, he was protected by the Colonna family, but after several incidents was forced to flee to Malta and then to Sicily. An attempt was made on his life in 1608 when he returned to Naples, but finally it was a fever that reportedly killed him in 1610.Caravaggio was never out of work, and wherever he went his paintin gs were generally highly prized. Despite his short career, and the lack of an official school, his influence was certainly felt, even if primarily in the rest of Europe and not his homeland of Italy. â€Å"His influence was harvested instead in Spain, and in Flanders and Holland. † (Conti 42) It is also true that this influence pushed the boundaries of time. â€Å"Caravaggio’s direct influence was brief, though intense, and was confined to his immediate followers, many of them foreign-born, who worked in Rome.But the indirect consequences of his work for European art were far reaching and incalculable. † (Kitson 41) The revival of interest in his works in the 20th Century shows his small existing collection of fifty paintings to be of equal caliber to any of the greats and his unique technique can be said to have influenced even modern art. â€Å". . . in the Cicerone (Jacob Burckhardt) categorized Italian painting of the age of Rubens, from the Carracci and Ca ravaggio onwards, not as Baroque but as modern, ‘partly eclectic, partly naturalistic’. † (Turner 36)Of all the paintings Caravaggio created his religious ones are the most riveting. Allegorical and fascinating all at the same time, they teach us something about the subjects and ourselves. The people in Caravaggio’s paintings are bound together by dramatic relationships which raise all the problems of life, grief and death. From his paintings there emerges a pessimistic impression of human destiny, and it was not surprising that Caravaggio’s art opened the way to that anxious exploration of the soul which attracted many of the painters of the seventeenth century.(Bazin 31) We don’t see one of the greatest sacrifices in the world in Carr painting of Abraham Sacrificing Isaac. Instead we see a father pained at sacrificing his son, but determined to do it as God’s wish. As in many of Caravaggio’s paintings, the moment in time caught on canvas displays a moment of emotional anguish or change, and together with his use of shadows and light, the subjects become not just the characters of a story, but real life human beings. There are no halos. No storm clouds representing Gods watching eye.Just a man about to do the unbelievable to his son, who is suddenly given an alternative where before there was none. It is heart wrenching and very effective. Caravaggio abandoned many of the rules and guidelines of the highly successful artists of the Renaissance, whose main focus was the adoration and idolization of the human and the religious experience. This was not out of disrespect as was thought at the time, but instead was his attempt to enhance what had been started by these great masters.Yet this caused many to reject his art, while young artists of the time thrived on his art revolution. Although, they never made as much direct progress as he had himself, they did continue to use aspects of his art, picking and choo sing the more forgiving and less controversial use of light and dark, while at the same time bypassing, or conveniently forgetting, probably the most important focus for the artist himself, that of the use of the ordinary. Probably one of the most effective and realistic paintings of his career was the Incredulity of Saint Thomas.In this painting, all of the features we attribute to Caravaggio are in evidence. Jesus stands to the left of the painting while three old men, Thomas in the foreground, look at the future saint put his finger in the wound in Jesus’ side. At the risk of putting too modern a gloss on his work, one could almost say that Caravaggio was the inventor of the anti-hero in religious art . . . Christ and Saints are dressed in drab clothes . . (they are) tough working men who would not stand out in a crowd . . .Ordinary people press around them in defiance of the Counter-Reformation doctrine that lay people could only approach God through the intermediary of t he clergy. (Kitson 101) All three men are old, Thomas’ coat is torn at the shoulder and there is an expression of amazed incredulity on each of the faces. Caravaggio’s use of light and dark makes the wrinkles on their foreheads stand out all the more. This is an image of the disciples that people never saw before. Even the expression on Jesus’ face is captivating and completely endearing as he guides the doubting hand of Thomas to his wound.The light comes from an unseen point to the left off-canvas and highlights the foreheads, the torn shoulder fabric and the exposed torso of Jesus. There is hardly a better example of the use of light and shadow or the use of the ordinary man as the subject matter. The use of light in this case draws the eye towards the most important parts of the painting, the parts that tell the story. The use of light and shadow also show Thomas progressing from the shadows of doubt into the light of faith and belief – he is further out of the shadows than the other two, a symbolic, yet very natural, move towards illumination.â€Å"What (Caravaggio) excels in is truth to the physical and psychological facts of a situation . . . an insistence on incidental details . . . which corresponds to the way the eye notices small things in moments of crisis. † (Kitson 101) Without a doubt, Caravaggio’s burst onto the art scene in 1600 caused a rippling effect throughout the art world. â€Å"The naturalism of Caravaggio which was to have momentous consequences for the whole of European painting, was the first great liberating force in Baroque art.† (Martin 41) Artwork that was highly sought after and appreciated in his lifetime, yet with a personality that was difficult to get along with, he was an enigmatic character with a trenchant for trouble. His inglorious and early death in 1610 was followed by an equally early dissipation of his influence and descent into ignominy in his own country Very soon, what had been started by Caravaggio was credited to others, and for over 400 years, his influence was seen but not heard.With the visual and symbolic impact of strong light and deep shadows, the modern art scene seeks to exemplify the great works of Caravaggio, a motif which he started all those years ago. And in today’s world it is in little doubt that the use of everyday culture and life is far more interesting a subject than that of the higher unknown. Caravaggio’s genius is in little doubt, and even though it took a little while for his appreciation to be felt again on a large level, it is comforting to know that the boundaries of art were pushed at a time when the world was ‘recovering’ from the Renaissance.Though art was cultivated to a high level during that period, the elite still had something to learn from the everyday man, and understating something in a painting, as Caravaggio did, could have far more of an impact in the long term. Caravaggio p ushed the boundaries on a snobbish world and presented us with the gritty truth. His own life was a series of light periods and dark ones, and to this day his eccentricities have preserved his right as one of the greatest artists of the Baroque era, indeed of all time.Works Cited Conti, Flavio. How to Recognize Baroque Art. Italy: Macdonald Educational Ltd. , 1978. Bazin, Germain. Baroque and Rococo. New York: Thames and Hudson Ltd. , 1998. Martin, John Rupert. Style and Civilization: Baroque. London: Penguin Books, 1989. Turner, Jane (ed. ). From Renaissance to Impressionism(The Grove Dictionary of Art). New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000. Kitson, Michael. The Age of Baroque. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1966. Wikipedia Web Site: Caravaggio Search.