Perceived stress and coping mechanism of middle and high school Research Paper

Perceived stress and coping mechanism of middle and high school principals - Research Paper Example In addition to these long hours, there is a constantly increasing demand from administrative bodies that are placed upon school principals which causes even more exhaustion. This often results in declining physical and mental health (Brock & Grady, 2002). Principals are responsible for the well-being of hundreds of students, taking into consideration the special abilities and needs of some students. The role of the principal is not an easy task. They lead what amounts to small businesses or corporations that are rated based on their productivity, of in the case of educational institutions, test scores. Today, even more more mades are being added to this already lengthy list of expectations for principals. Add to that a mountain of paperwork and meetings, queries and complaints from parents, playground and lunchtime duties, and there is certainly the potential for for even more stress than one can handle. In a recent study conducted by Tomizan & Waldon (2004), it was discovered that m any school principals were so stressed by the pressure of their jobs that nearly half have work-related medical problems. This study revealed that eight out of ten principals experienced high levels of stress, with the ‘unnecessary paperwork’ and managerial nature of their job being the biggest concerns. The survey that was conducted found a conflict between the way principals see their role as educators and the reality of having to be a manager. They have to contend with high levels of internal conflict between what they consider to be their primary responsibility - creating a quality educational environment for students - and the demands placed on them by the department. The study also uncovered that nearly half the principals surveyed had a medical problem linked to work, with the most common being weight control, heart disorders and headaches. Most principals, however, tend to ignore their health problems and often returning to work without having fully recovered fr om various illnesses. Some said the job robbed them of time with their families, and some admitted they often found it difficult to maintain a fully satisfying relationship. This particular study also pointed out the reality that nearly half of all principals are some type of medication directly related to the stress of this career (Tomizan & Waldon, 2004). All of this information makes it plausible to assume that the stress levels endured by principals is at an all-time high and is only going to increase in the near term. Background Study Related to Stress Stress has become a part of the job description for most school principals. According to Selye (1974) who coined the term, stress is â€Å"the nonspecific response of the body to any demand placed upon it, whether it is caused by, or results in, pleasant or unpleasant conditions.† (p. 74). The theories present by Selye have garnered much discussion through the years. Some use the word stress to talk about heartache or loss , or some other less than desirable situation or task that they are forced to encounter. For others, stress is the physical reaction manifested in the form of heartburn, chest pain, or other types of palpitations. Still other consider stress to be what they perceive to be the end result to these physical problems, such as the occurrence of an ulcer or heart attack (Roesch, 1979). In the end, Selye created a new word to better describe

Chinese Revolution Essay Example for Free

Chinese Revolution Essay The Chinese Civil War was one of the most turbulent, chaotic, and effective series of events during the Cold War Era. It is difficult to conceive of any fashion in which the under-equipped CPC forces would be able to match and eventually overcome a powerful political regime with support vast support from the United States. However, even with limited aid from their Soviet allies, Mao was able to pull the marginalized, the poor, and the oppressed together to strengthen the communist cause. Although many of the issues from which the war stemmed were presented well before any real violence took place between Chinese Nationalists and Mao’s Communist Party the strategies employed by the communists and the emotional vigor with which they clung to their hopes of progress remain the center points Mao’s eventual victory. When carefully assessed; it is evident the CCP victory in the Chinese Civil War was due to the ability of Mao to mobilize the peasantry and institute land reform, the mismanagement of the Guomindang by Chiang Kai-Shek during the Japanese invasion of China and the Chinese Civil War, and the proclivity to violence (inspired by intense hatred of the enemy) that was deemed necessary in order to bring power to the CCP. It is arguable that the KMD should have been at its strongest during the decade preceding the Chinese Civil War. Chiang Kai-Shek had been quite successful in his campaign against the independent warlords and had recaptured many key areas of Chinese territory. However, June Grasso argues that Chiang made a key mistake in his treatment of his defeated opponents. She details this folly, writing â€Å"†¦Chiang absorbed, rather than eliminated, many warlords and their armies, in effect swallowing but not digesting them,† (Grasso, 90). Chiang’s army was growing at a rapid pace and the KMD was claiming large territorial victories. To an outsider, the party may have seemed at its strongest. However, the KMD â€Å"†¦remained faction-ridden into the 1930’s,† (Grasso, 91) and party unity began a major concern. Grasso continues to explain that the eventual oppression of the communist base in China would be a monumental mistake from which the party would never fully recover. At first glance, the expulsion of radical communists to the fringes of China seemed almost necessary in order to secure political control for the KMD. In reality the communist purge concentrated most of the Nationalist power in major urban areas and disallowed the spread of KMD support. Eventually Mao would make the most of his wide-spread supporters which allowed for a larger base of communism in the country. Considering his small numbers and the rural beginnings of his revolution, Mao worked incredibly well with what he had. Mao evidently knew that he had little choice in the matter of battle strategy. As Maurice Meisner reports in Mao’s China and After, â€Å"†¦the Maoist forces learned to employ the tactics of guerilla warfare upon which their survival was dependent.† (Meisner, 31) Mao also presented the peasantry of Jiangxi with a reform to the oppressive feudal system which granted redistribution of land to tenants. Through the implementation of revolutionary agrarian policies, Mao was able to secure the beginnings of a unified opposition to the Nanjing regime. Policies that were deemed too radical by the middle peasantry were thought to be â€Å"†¦politically and economically counterproductive in a situation that demanded a broad base of popular support in a rural society†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Meisner, 32) Although Mao seemed to have many of the necessary ingredients to effect change among his countrymen, the Guomindang armies were too strong to be defeated this early in the development communist response to Chinese nationalism. Mao would lead the First Front Army, out of necessity, from their now obsolete home of Jiangxi to mountainous Northwest regions of China. The Long March devastated the numbers of Chinese Communism and left the party disbanded and broken. Amazingly, the march also birthed profound changes in party leadership and revolutionary spirit. First and foremost the disbandment of other party leaders in the early 1930’s and during the 6,000 mile march allowed Mao to pursue his own ideas for communist overhaul, particula rly in opposition to Stalin’s form of communism. His ideas would eventually be accepted by the CCP. Meisner also contends that the Long March had enduring psychological effects on the communist contingent that were undoubtedly the most important feature of this new communism. He writes, â€Å"For Mao, at least, the experience served to reinforce his voluntaristic faith that the people with the proper will, spirit, and revolutionary consciousness could conquer all material obstacles and mold historical reality in accordance with their ideas and ideals.† (Meisner, 34) This so-called revolutionary consciousness combined with the passionate will to overcome great adversity, as displayed by Mao’s marchers, served as the greatest engine of communist success during the Chinese Civil War. However, a preceding war with the Japanese would create a rare opportunity for Mao and the Red Army to seize power in China. One of the most important pieces of the intricate puzzle of Chinese political struggle was the invasion of the neighboring Japanese which continued through World War II. Although the Guomigdang harbored superior weapons and were concentrated in some of the most important strategic positions, their leadership and numbers would be forever weakened by their invading neighbors. Although the Japanese were unable to hold large territories in China due to its enormous mass, they captured major cities and ports formerly under Chiang’s rule. The Guomindang could do little to stop the advances of the Japanese Imperial Army. Chiang was aware that he needed Western military aid in order to reclaim the cities he had lost in the East. However, his retreat to the center left Chiang with a single option for military success: implementing a strategy of guerilla warfare. In reality this was not a viable option for the Guomindang. In his article Origins of the Chinese Revolution, Lucien Bianco contends â€Å"Mobilizing the rural masses would have required transforming the Chinese countryside and limiting the power of large landowners; hence Chiang’s aversion to the idea,† (Bianco, 149) displaying Chiang’s lack of attractive options. If he were to unite and mobilize the peasantry he would risk the overthrow of large landowners—a consequence that played directly into the communist strategy. In other words Chiang would have to sacrifice his dominance over the Red Army in order to pacify the invaders from Japan. This turn of events seems almost too perfect for a Red Army that was poised to attack behind Japanese lines using guerilla warfare. The Red Army continued to chip away at the Imperial Army and eventually amassed a force over 3 million (two-thirds of which were militia) and the communists eventually ruled over 90 million peasants. The peasantry, as well as women and other previously excluded groups, would now be able to partake in the newly forming democracy. However, the majority of peasants joined the Red Army cause because it was necessary for survival. (Bianco, 150) Japanese soldiers were terrorizing the Chinese countryside and committing large scale atrocities that forced the peasantry into action. As Bianco puts it, â€Å"The thing to remember is that the peasant was often safer if he joined a guerilla detachment: since his life was in constant danger anyway, he was better off if he at least had a weapon.† (Bianco, 152) Their antipathy towards their enemies, both present and future, gave them strength of spirit that could not be matched by the Japanese or the Guomindang. Further atrocities committed by the Guomindang against the peasantry, including theft of food and murder, only furthered the peasantry’s love of the communist movement. As one patriotic war ended, another was looming over t he Chinese country. Among the most important factors in the Chinese Civil War were the failures in Chiang’s leadership and military strategy as well as the advancement of the people’s revolution. Chiang did not have the numbers to defend his holdings while attacking the Red Army. With his numbers greatly spread throughout the massive country, Chiang had great difficulty stopping the communist advance. The Red Army eradicated the Guomindag presence in the North and moved swiftly into Chiang’s territory. As hyperinflation due to poor economic policies afflicted Chiang’s regime, Mao was eventually able to finish off his opponent and reclaim Beijing by 1949. (Grasso, 124-129) The aforementioned people’s revolution was a way of uniting the peasants against the common enemy. Everyone was expected to contribute to the war effort, not simply to preach its necessity. Grasso contends â€Å"Alone, the peasantry lacked the insights, what Marxists call ‘consciousness,’ to make a genuinely socialist revolution,† (Grasso, 121) highlighting the mutual necessity that the people and the party shared in each other. In his speech entitled How to Be a Good Communist, Liu Shao-Ch’I reiterates the necessity of party unity and revolutionary consciousness stating, â€Å"†¦we must modestly listen to the opinions and criticisms of our comrades and of the masses, carefully study the practical problems in our lives and in our work and carefully sum up our experiences and the lessons we have learned so as to find an orientation for our work.† (Liu Shao-Ch’I, How To Be A Good Communist, 251) In other words, the partnership of the peasantry and the party were one of the strongest tools in the successful victory of the CCP. The peasant ry’s hatred of their oppressors became a major motivation for the overthrow of the Guomindang. Gold Flower’s Story, a chapter of Jack Belden’s book China Shakes the World, presents an insightful and useful microcosm of the agrarian communist viewpoint in Northern China. The specific instances presented in her story are quite particular to women, evident in Belden’s assessment â€Å"And there was a Gold Flower, more or less, beaten and bruised, saddened and soured, in every farm of North China.† (Belden, 288) However, the emotional hardships and overall struggle of Gold Flower and the countless other members of the abused female gender share common themes with the whole of the revolution and the Communist and Maoist supporters. The mistreated women of China also provided an effective and powerful outlet from which Party leaders could find support. As Belden continues, â€Å"The Communist Party saw her and schemed to serve her and themselves through her. She was that spirit that forgets nothing and forgives nothing. There she stood at the gate, slow burning revenge incarnate, waiting a better time, waiting an opportunity,† (Belden, 288) one is immediately taken by the spirit of revenge personified in Gold Flower. This need for revenge in the form of vigorous and frequently violent action acts as fuel to the flame that was the revolution. Here, one can see an obvious divide between the two parties. The violence perpetrated by Mao’s supporters heeds immediate results in the form of social change and freedom from oppression. Of course, there was a plethora of mistreatment in all forms perpetrated against the marginalized masses of rural China. Gold Flower’s struggle represents a shift in economic and social precepts that provide the basis for revolution. Under the regime of Chiang Kai-Shek and his Kuomintang predecessors, these marginalized groups stood little chance of peacefully and diplomatically obtaining equality of social standing and political prowess. Gold Flower echoes this sentiment of hopelessness. Early in Belden’s account he writes, â€Å"She felt as if a great weight were pressing down on her. Not able to marry the man she loved, not able even to kill herself so that she could remain loyal to her lover, completely done in and drained of all strength, she at last fell into a deep stupor,† (Belden, 284) highlighting the depressing nature of Golden Flower’s life. If the young girls inability to freely choose her destiny stands as a metaphor for the frustrations of t he people of her region, her husband’s cruelty and overall attitude is most certainly akin to the landowners’ perspective. Blind to the injustices that those in power had maintained, Chang aggressively remarks â€Å"As for the poor, if they have not enough to eat, let them go. As for the rich, do you think their property was stolen from others?† (Belden, 305). Unwilling to sacrifice personal standing for the greater good of all, men such as Chang soon became an easy target for the coming backlash. Simply because it was the most accessible and immediately effective tool afforded to communist revolutionaries, violence became the most important means by which the marginalized would repel their oppressors. Violence seems to satiate (at least temporarily) the anger and helplessness felt by the poor of China. The roles of victim and perpetrator could be instantly reversed. The power of action was now in the hands of the oppressed. As Dark Jade put it, â€Å"This is our day. This means the end of our suffering. The beginning of our hope.† (Belden, 289) Although the fact of the matter is that war inherently brings a multitude of violent acts, it is evident that the motives behind communist violence among the peasantry were significantly more powerful than those of their opponents. It was their only chance of evading the â€Å"black society† (Belden, 284) into which they had been thrust. The feats that the CCP accomplished are astounding considering their humble beginnings. Though much of their success is owed to events preceding the civil war, Mao’s management of his party as well as the fervor with which the communists united and mobilized cannot be discounted. Again, it is my contention that the success of the CCP was due to multiple factors. The first of which was the ability of Mao to strategize the mobilization and unification of the countryside. Secondly, Chiang was unable to effectively manage his political and economic as well as military policies during the Japanese invasion. Finally, the emotional and violent response to Nationalist and feudal repression was of overt importance to the war efforts of the Red Army as well as the advancement of the CCP. When put in perspective the accomplishments of Mao; whether social, political, or military; are nearly unfathomable.

Essential Trace Metals in Seaweed

Essential Trace Metals in Seaweed 0 Introduction Seaweeds are marine macro-algae that are one of the living renewable resources of the marine environment and well known for its potential food and therapeutic applications (Tseng, 2004). According to Awang et al. (2008), Sabah and Sarawak have a great potential for the cultivation of seaweed. The seaweeds found in Sabah such as Kappaphycus alvarezii, Ulva reticulate, Gracilaria changgi, Caulerpa lentillifera and Sargassum polycystum species. Seaweeds are one of the best sources of essential trace metals. Essential trace metals are metals needed by human body in little quantity. These metals can be determined by using atomic spectroscopy techniques. Consumption of seaweeds can increase the amount of dietary fiber and lower the development of some chronic illnesses (Southgate, 1990). The followings are some essential trace metals found in seaweeds and their benefits to human (Alexander, 2014): However, some researchers reported that some seaweed are contaminated and contained high amount of essential trace metals more than the amount needed to human body. These are due to the area and conditions of seawater. According to Noda (1993) the chemical composition of seaweed may vary due to the species, geographic area, seasons of the year and temperature of water. This study focused on the essential trace metals found in different type of seaweeds. The results of the concentration of the essential trace metals are compared to dietary reference intakes (DRI). This study is significant to show the role of essential trace metals and enhance the awareness on the importance of essential trace metals to human health. Problem Statement Seaweeds can be classified into three main groups which are Phaeophycae, Rhodophyceae and Chlorophyceae. The compositions of essential trace metals in these groups are differed. Some groups contain high amount of certain essential trace metals and vice versa. These essential trace metals are important for maintaining health. These metals take part in enzymes, hormones and cells in the human body. Inadequate intake of essential trace metals can cause symptoms of nutritional deficiency. There are many researches that have been done on seaweeds. Most of them discussed more on the composition of macronutrients in seaweeds. Therefore, this research focused on essential trace metals. There is necessity to know the composition of essential trace metals in these seaweeds because they supply nutrition and give benefit to human’s health. 3.0 Objectives of study To determine the concentration of essential trace metals like vanadium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, chromium and molybdenum in seaweed by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). To compare the concentration of essential trace metals found in seaweed with the dietary reference intakes (DRI). To compare the concentration of essential trace metals in different types of seaweeds and determine which seaweed has the highest value of essential trace metals. 4.0 Literature Review 4.1 Introduction Many researches have been made to determine the composition of seaweeds. In the previous researches, they discussed more on the composition of macronutrients in seaweeds and lack of micronutrients. This research focused on essential trace metals found in seaweeds. This research is significant as these metals provide and supply nutrition values to human. This research is carried out in order to determine the concentration of essential trace metals like vanadium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, chromium and molybdenum in seaweed, compare the concentration of essential trace metals found in seaweed with the dietary reference intakes (DRI), compare the concentration of essential trace metals in different types of seaweeds and determine which seaweed has the highest value of essential trace metals. 4.2 Definition of essential trace metals Essential trace metals are metals that are required for human body in small amounts generally less than 100 milligrams per day (Cesar, 2005; Araya et al., 2006). These trace elements are minerals which human body cannot produce by itself but can be found in diet. Essential trace metals include vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc and molybdenum (Gadd, 1992). Figure 1 shows the position of essential trace metals in the periodic table. These metals are transition metals and majority of them are located in period 4, showing the relationship between the size of nuclei and the availability of electron of the element to interact with organic molecules present in biological systems (Cesar, 2005). Each essential trace metal has their own specific functions depend on their chemical structures and is important for life. Although these metals are needed for only 0.02% of the total body weight, they are vital as trace bioactive substances and active centers of enzymes (Osamu, 2004). A man required essential trace metals about 50 micrograms to 18 milligrams per day and these metals function as catalytic or structural components of larger molecules (Mertz, 1981). Essential trace metals do not exist by themselves but exist with each other. Excess of one trace metal can cause imbalances in other elements and lead to diseases. To be well-absorbed in the intestine, most trace metals need to be in ionic form. Diet, concentrations of trace element in water, interactions of drug-nutrient are crucial to stabilize the concentration of essential trace elements in the body (Alexander, 2014). Figure 1: Periodic Table with white background indicating elements essential for human and bold characters representing the essential trace metals and non-metals (Cesar, 2005). 4.3 Recommended daily intake of essential trace metals A certain daily intake of food supplements is needed by humans. The essential trace metals are important as enzymes, hormones and cells in the body. Inadequate intake and excessive consumption of essential trace metals can cause symptoms to human body. Table 2 summarizes recommended daily intakes of essential trace metals and its effects of excessive consumption. Table 2: Recommended dietary allowances of essential trace metals (Dietary Reference Intakes, 2001). 4.4 Classification of seaweed Seaweeds can be classified into three main groups based on their brown, red and green pigmentations. The groups of seaweed are Phaeophycae, Rhodophyceae and Chlorophyceae respectively. Sargassum polycystum species is in Phaeophycae group whereas Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria changgi species are in Rhodophyceae group and Ulva reticulate and Caulerpa lentillifera species are in Chlorophyceae group (Awang et al., 2014). The sizes of seaweeds are different according to their group. Brown seaweeds are often large. They are usually having length about 20 meters long and the thickness is about 2 to 4 meters, whereby the smaller species is about 30 to 60 centimeters. Red seaweeds are usually smaller in size, generally ranging from a few centimeters to about one meter in length. The colors of red seaweeds are not always red. They might be purple, brownish red, but botanists classified them as Rhodophyceae because of other factors. Green seaweeds are small, with a similar size to the red seaweeds (Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, 29 October 2014). 4.5 The study of essential trace metal in different type of seaweeds Seaweeds rich in about 8% to 40% of essential trace metals required for human body (Indegaard Ostgaard, 1991). Some reports said that the metal contents in seaweeds were higher than edible land plants (Ortega et al., 1993). Concentration of essential trace metals may differed with each other because of several factors includes genetic species, sea conditions, seasons, habitats, maturity, geographical locations and environmental parameters of the seaweed (Ito Hori 1989; Fleurence, 1999; Krishnaiah et al., 2008). According to past researches, the commonly essential trace metals found in seaweeds were copper, cobalt, iron, manganese and zinc. Copper plays an important role in metabolism by allowing enzymes to function properly (Harris, 2001). Copper is vital for maintaining the strength of the skin, blood vessel, epithelial and connective tissue throughout the body. Cobalt is essential for the production of vitamin B12 that is necessary to ensure an adequate number of red blood cells are produced in the body (MedlinePlus 2014, 23 October 2014). Zinc is important for growth, cell division, immune system, vision and also helps to accelerate the renewal of the skin cells (Vallee Falchuk, 1993). Iron is essential as oxygen and electron transport forhemoglobin synthesis of erythrocytes, oxidation–reduction reactions, and cellular proliferation (Yutaka et al., 2008). Manganese is important for the formation of bones, connective tissues, brain and nerve functions (Barbara, 2013). 4.5.1 Kappaphycus alvarezii species The trace amount of manganese, iron, zinc, cobalt, chromium and copper were determined in this species that was collected from Palk Bay Mandapam, Tamilnadu in South India region. The concentrations of these metals were 10.6 ppm, 438.7 ppm, 25.5 ppm, 3.9 ppm, 52 ppm and 31.9 ppm respectively (Nageswara, 2013). Another sample was taken from Semporna in Sabah, showed that zinc, iron and copper were present in this species. The concentrations of these three metals were below 3.5 g/100g (Mansoor et al., 2012). From the study, it can be concludes that sea conditions and environments affect the concentration of essential metals in seaweed. In other research, to determine the composition of seaweed by using different types of seedling production, the micropropagated Kappaphycus alvarezii yielded significantly higher concentration of cobalt, copper, manganese and zinc compared to farm-propagated Kappaphycus alvarezii (Suhaimi et al., 2014). Fayaz et al., (2005) stated that Kappaphycus alvarez ii species is a good source of essential metals, containing 0.033% of iron and 0.016% of zinc. The molybdenum is also present in Kappaphycus alvarezii about 0.04 milligrams (Suresh, 2014) and about 1.56 ppm of cobalt found in this species (Rajasulochana et al., 2012). 4.5.2 Ulva reticulate species Ulva reticulata species from Pattani was reported to contain high level in manganese and iron and also small amount of zinc and copper. The concentration of manganese, iron, zinc and copper are 48.1 mg/100g, 174.8 mg/100g, 3.3 mg/100g and 600 ÃŽ ¼g/100g respectively (Pattama Anong, 2006). Awang et al. (2008) reported the range amount of iron is 6.5 mg to 11 mg per 100g, 2 mg to 7 mg per 100g of zinc, less than 0.55 mg/100g of copper and less than 3 mg/100g of chromium present in this species. 4.5.3 Gracilaria changgi species Gracilaria changgi species was reported to contain high level of zinc, iron, and copper with the concentration of 13.8 mg/100g, 95.6 mg/100g and 0.8 mg/100g respectively (Norziah Chio, 2000). The result showed that this species has high amount of iron when compared to other vegetables reported by Tee et al. (1988). The comparison of iron content in Gracilaria changgi species and other vegetables are shown in table 3. Table 3: Concentration of elements (mg/100 g wet weight) present in G. Changgi (Norziah Chio, 2000) and in some vegetables (Tee et al.,1988). From the study, it shows that seaweed is the best source of iron compared to other land vegetables due to its metabolic system which it can absorb elements directly from the seawater. 4.5.4 Caulerpa lentillifera species Iron, zinc and copper were present in Caulerpa lentillifera species which is taken from Semporna in Sabah with the concentration of 21.37 mg/100g, 3.51 mg/100g and 0.11 mg/100g respectively (Suhaila et al., 2009). Duduku et al. (2008) determined the amount of 6.45 mg/100g of iron, 3.53 mg/100g of zinc, and less than 1mg/100g of copper and chromium found in this species. The sample was also taken from Sabah. The study about the composition in Caulerpa lentillifera species showed that iron, manganese, copper and zinc were present with concentration of 9.3 mg/100g, 7.9 mg/100g, 2200 ÃŽ ¼g/100g and 2.6 mg/100g respectively (Pattama Anong, 2006). 4.5.5 Sargassum polycystum species A research has been made that used sample of Sargassum polycystum species from Seribu Island in Jakarta showed the concentration of 0.002 mg/g of copper, 0.004 mg/g of zinc, 0.277 of iron and 0.010 of chromium were present (Joko, 2006). In other research that used sample from Kota Kinabalu, the present of iron, zinc and copper were also reported in small amounts with the concentration of 68.2 mg/100g, 2.15 mg/100 g, and 0.03 mg/100g respectively whereas other essential trace metals were not determined (Suhaila et al., 2009). 4.6 Methods used to analyze the essential trace metals in seaweed Atomic spectroscopy techniques viz., flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are widely used to analyze trace element. Nageswara (2013) used FAAS method to determine the trace element in seaweed, the instrument was calibrated with standard solutions and a hollow cathode lamp was used for detection of lead, cadmium, copper, nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, zinc, platinum and palladium. In other research, Awang et al. (2008) used GFAAS method whereas Rodenas et al. (2009) used ICP-MS method and Suhaimi et al. (2014) and Suresh et al. (2014) used ICP-OES method. This research uses ICP-MS method. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer is suitable for the determination of trace metals with pretreatment and laser ablation device. This method has high sample throughput and the sensitivity is extremely high. It has lower detection limits and the ionization is efficient. In order to get the concentration of essential trace metals in seaweed, the elements are placed in solution by acid digestion. This solution is then nebulized into spray chamber and then carried by argon gas into a torch. ICP is argon plasma and can reach temperatures of 10,000 Kelvin. This allows the atomization of the trace metals in seaweed to complete and reduced the interferences of potential chemical (PerkinElmer, 23 October 2014). The positive ions in the plasma are focused down a quadrupole mass spectrometer. This quadrupole mass spectrometer rapidly detects the mass range. By getting the mass spectrum of the plasma, information about the trace metals can be obtained .

Free College Admissions Essays: What Motivates You? :: College Admissions Essays

College Admissions: What motivates you to seek a college education Why is Berea College a good choice for you What motivates me to seek a college education? In addition, why Berea College is a good choice for me. December 16, 2000 The last couple of years have been a long bumpy ride for me, as they have for everyone my age. No matter what, everyone has experienced many of the same "teenage" circumstances as I have and has dealt with them in their own way. As a personal participant in this "game", we call life, I would say I worked hard for and earned first place. That is just my creative view on things. Too bad, not everyone sees it in the same light as I do. As a student, I am an active participant in my academic and extracurricular activities. My first priority has always been to make good grades and learn in school. Although this is important to me, I also know that by participating in clubs, sports, and after school activities, I will become a well-rounded student. During the past years of my high school career I have participated and received awards in the following: Cheerleading (eight years), twice as captain, '97 -'98 Varsity Letter in Cheerleading, '98 AIM scholar, Who's Who Among American Cheerleaders, and '98 Academic Excellence Award while participating in Virginia High School League Interscholastic Activities. I also belonged to the following clubs: S.A.D.D. club (two years), second year as secretary, Pep Club, Varsity Club, Choir Club, and Computer Club. In the year '99 -'00 I received awards in the following classes: Computer Applications, Spanish I, World Geography, and Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry. I also received an awa rd for Most Encouraging Student. I currently belong to the Hiking and Outdoor Club, Ski Club, Pep Club, and Environmental Awareness Club. In addition, this year I participate in a program called Read With A Friend. In this program I, along with a group of other students, go to the near by elementary school to read to a class of students from kindergarten to fifth grade. In order to gain an understanding of independence and responsibility, I have held summer jobs in the preceding three years. I also worked to help myself financially in boarding school, insurance, a car, everyday necessities, and soon in college. My first summer job was at the Moonlite Drive In Theater. Free College Admissions Essays: What Motivates You? :: College Admissions Essays College Admissions: What motivates you to seek a college education Why is Berea College a good choice for you What motivates me to seek a college education? In addition, why Berea College is a good choice for me. December 16, 2000 The last couple of years have been a long bumpy ride for me, as they have for everyone my age. No matter what, everyone has experienced many of the same "teenage" circumstances as I have and has dealt with them in their own way. As a personal participant in this "game", we call life, I would say I worked hard for and earned first place. That is just my creative view on things. Too bad, not everyone sees it in the same light as I do. As a student, I am an active participant in my academic and extracurricular activities. My first priority has always been to make good grades and learn in school. Although this is important to me, I also know that by participating in clubs, sports, and after school activities, I will become a well-rounded student. During the past years of my high school career I have participated and received awards in the following: Cheerleading (eight years), twice as captain, '97 -'98 Varsity Letter in Cheerleading, '98 AIM scholar, Who's Who Among American Cheerleaders, and '98 Academic Excellence Award while participating in Virginia High School League Interscholastic Activities. I also belonged to the following clubs: S.A.D.D. club (two years), second year as secretary, Pep Club, Varsity Club, Choir Club, and Computer Club. In the year '99 -'00 I received awards in the following classes: Computer Applications, Spanish I, World Geography, and Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry. I also received an awa rd for Most Encouraging Student. I currently belong to the Hiking and Outdoor Club, Ski Club, Pep Club, and Environmental Awareness Club. In addition, this year I participate in a program called Read With A Friend. In this program I, along with a group of other students, go to the near by elementary school to read to a class of students from kindergarten to fifth grade. In order to gain an understanding of independence and responsibility, I have held summer jobs in the preceding three years. I also worked to help myself financially in boarding school, insurance, a car, everyday necessities, and soon in college. My first summer job was at the Moonlite Drive In Theater.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

The movie response that will be covered in this essay will be on the film â€Å"Wall Street Money Never Sleeps †. It was directed by Oliver Stone, released during 2010 and is the sequel to the 1987 film â€Å"Wall Street†. The film starts with the release from jail of Michael Douglas' Gordon Gekko before cutting to a rather elaborate plot involving Shia LaBeouf as the young trader with (some) scruples, who's rising in a world that just happens to be collapsing at the same time, as investment banks run by the likes of Frank Langella and Josh Brolin teeter under the weight of the 2008 financial crisis. The story then carefully weaves in more and more to Gekko (who, conveniently, also happens to be LaBeouf's future father-in-law, a dad to LaBeouf's on-screen fiancee, Carey Mulligan) (Zeitchik, 2010). Greed seems to be Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps theme, reckless and over the top risky behaviour has lead to the bubble in the housing prices to burst due to the actions of Wall Street firms. Shia Labouf played by Jake Moore works for the Lehman Brothers-esque Keller Zabel and is mentored by managing director Lewis Zabel. He receives a bonus of $1,450,000, before a late-night treasury meeting, which reveals that Keller Zabel is on the verge of collapse. This brings up an important ethical issue on how much bankers and traders receive in bonuses, irrelevant of the financial climate. After the collapse of several large banks during the financial crises of 2008, many are still paying their employees substantial bonuses. Many argue that the UK government have pumped billions of pounds into the banking sector, and has bailed out both Royal Bank of Scotland and Loyds Banking Group. As a result they should have greater say in how much the banks pay out in bonuses, however the banks argue that they cannot dramatically reduce bonuses without the risk of losing top staff to banks based overseas, which are under less pressure to cut payments. Even if bonuses are cut, salaries have risen significantly to compensate, by up to 40% in some cases. This is one of the many flaws, which has been allowed to occur within the banking industry, to the point where it has become the norm (Peston, 2011). One of the most prominent ethical issues presented in this movie is the idea of insider trading, which is the trading of stock with hidden information that the general publics is not informed about. It began with rumours being spread on â€Å"Zabel† by Bretton James who runs the rival bank Churchill Schwartz, which caused the rumours to become true, and Keller Zabel to be on the verge of collapse. Bretton James then insults Lewis Zabel by offering him $3/share when the firm was trading the previous week at $75/share. Zabel claims that this was revenge for letting Jame’s company go under eight years ago. These series of events causes Zabel to commit suicide by throwing himself under a subway. To avenge his mentor Shia Labouf releases rumours on Churchil Shwartz, which caused their shares to drop down 8% in pre market trading costing them $120million. Insider trading can be a very powerful tool within the financial sector; it can be used to make large profits as well as destroying others. As illustrated in the movie, Lewis Zabel took his life due to the results of Insider trading. It’s a criminal offence in most countries, however as Shia Labouf said it’s â€Å"hard to prove†, this is due to the difficulty of trying to prove what a person has heard via word of mouth. Because Insider trading is illegal, insiders who wish to exploit price sensitive information collaborate with other traders to make it harder to trace the trades back to the person who is known to have access to the information. This is called an Insider Ring. The term â€Å"moral hazard† is mentioned several times throughout Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. It’s first mentioned during the treasury meeting, when they are deciding whether to bail out Keller Zabel, if they bail them out what’s to say it wont occur again. Moral hazard is the idea that an individual can alter their behaviour if they know they are insured against some of the outcomes, for example if a car is not insured you would take more care than if it was. The reason moral hazard comes up several times throughout the movie is because it’s often used within the context of banks and sub prime mortgages. This is due to the fact that before the 2008 financial crises sub prime mortgage lenders were making reckless lending decisions, they lent many mortgages to people who were unlikely to be able to pay them back. This led to large-scale mortgage defaulting, which caused many banks to go under and cause the economy to suffer. However many banks were bailed out by governments in order to reduce the economy suffering further, which is effectively rewarding them for bad economic decisions (What is Moral Hazard, 2007). The issue of lack of corporate governance is apparent in the movie, its connected to the reasons why Keller Zabel and the other banks began to fail. A definition of Corporate Governance is a â€Å"set of relationships between a company’s directors, its shareholders and other stakeholders. It also provides a structure through which the objectives of a company are set, and the means of achieving those objectives and monitoring performance, are determined† (OECD). Events such as soaring pay packages for top bank executives which are often driven by extraordinary risk taking rather than real sustainable profits, weaknesses in risk management, board oversight, understatement of bad loans can all be linked to poor corporate governance (Corporate Governance failure to blame for banking crises, 2009). Money laundering is another un-ethical issue, which Wall Street brings about. Gordon Gekko reveals to Shia LaBeouf that he has $100million in a Swiss account under his daughter’s name, which she will be entitled to when she turns 25. Gordon suggests that him and his daughter travel to Switzerland sign the account over to LaBeouf’s name and he in return gives Gordon the money so that he brings it to the States in order to avoid the RAS getting involved, which is Money Laundering. To conclude there are many ethical layers within Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, such as unjustified salaries, poor corporate governance, insider trading, moral hazard and money laundering. These issues are very real, and still go on in our daily lives. We continue to inflate these â€Å"bubbles† until eventually they will burst, and repeat the process. Albert Einstein said, â€Å"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results†. This seems to be very true of the banking industry and the lack of thought of the consequences to their actions. Gordon Gekko presented us with a question, â€Å"Is Greed Good? † I believe Greed can never be good.Bibliography †¢ Corporate Governance failure to blame for banking crises. (2009, 02 24). Retrieved 05 2011 from Professional Pensions: http://www.professionalpensions.com/professional-pensions/news/1441283/corporate-governance-failure-blame-banking-crisis †¢ DREA. (2010, 10 30). Movie Review of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. Retrieved 05 2011 from Businesspundit: http://www.businesspundit.com/movie-review-of-wall-street-money-never-sleeps/ †¢ Insider Trading. (n.d.). Retrieved 05 2011 from Moneyterms: http://moneyterms.co.uk/insider-trading/ †¢ Kenny, J. (2009, 02 25). Corporate governance failure driving banking crises. Retrieved 05 2011 from FTadviser: http://www.ftadviser.com/InvestmentAdviser/Investments/AssetClass/Equities/News/article/20090225/2d2a7d74-034c-11de-a6db-00144f2af8e8/Corporate-governance-failure-driving-banking-crisis.jsp †¢ Peston, R. (2011, 01 07). Bank bonuses ‘to run to billions in 2011†². Retrieved 05 2011 from BBC NEWS: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12131092 †¢ What is Moral Hazard. (2007, 12 11). Retrieved 05 2011 from Economicshelp: http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/economics/what-is-moral-hazard/ †¢ Zeitchik, S. (2010, 05 14). Cannes 2010: â€Å"Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' issues its wake-up call. Retrieved 05 2011 from Los Angelese Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/05/wall-street-money-never-sleeps-cannes-oliver-stone.html

Smoking Effects essays

Smoking Effects essays There are multiple repercussions from choosing to smoke a tobacco substance. One major repercussion is the formation of lung cancer, an uncontrollable spread of irregular cells throughout the body. This disease is now the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States and a major cause of death as it accounts for 14% of all cancers and 28% of all cancer death (American Lung Association of Hudson Valley, www.alahv.org/bookfiles4/lung_cancer.html). Out of these deaths, cigarette smoking is responsible for an estimated 87% of lung cancer deaths (American Lung Association of Hudson Valley, www.alahv.org/bookfiles4/lung_cancer.html). Lung cancer produces a large quantity of pain, coughing, difficulty breathing, and many more symptoms that slow down the body. There is no good whatsoever involved with smoking of any kind, which is evident in the side affects and ending results. In addition to lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, emphysema, and many other internal organ corruptions, smoking will simply cause real life to stop. Smokers generally do not go out much or do cardiovascular activities because their system cannot handle it. Their body becomes tired quickly and the individual must slow down. It becomes harder for the smoker to breathe when he or she participates in vigorous activities because the lungs are so corrupt and warn out. Smoking also causes tar to stick to the inside of the lungs making it harder to breathe. Appearance is affected by teeth and finger nails turning yellow. A typical smoker will also suffer from bad breath and will have a smoke smell on their clothing and belongings as well. Later stages of smoking include symptoms such as coughing, illness, due to a weaker immune system, and possible asthma. ...

Does Music Influence Human Thoughts and Actions essays

Does Music Influence Human Thoughts and Actions essays Although I believe music is very powerful, I do not believe its words or tone influence peoples thoughts or behavior. I was raised to believe that a person is responsible for their own actions, regardless of possible influences. As an example I will use the rapper Eminem. For those not familiar with Eminem, his lyrics have been referred to as violent, full of hatred, and pure craziness. One of his songs, 97 Bonnie and Clyde, was very controversial. This was a song about a man killing his wife, putting her body in a lake, and him explaining to their young daughter that mommy was okay, she just wanted to float. Although the lyrics were vulgar, the beat and tempo of the song were very mellow, not a combination one would expect. Many people were upset that this song was released on his cd, but there were others who thought that if someone did not care for the song, then they could chose not to listen to it. Eminems 97 Bonnie and Clyde was a very violent song, I do agree. However, I do not believe that someone listening to this song would decide to do something like the song mentioned just because he was in to Eminems music. I believe that artists and musicians are free to produce whatever lyrics or music they choose. I do not think they should have to worry about the effect their lyrics or music might have on people. I believe it is their right and their freedom to produce what they choose. I certainly have never heard of a movie director decide against a movie just because they think it might to too violent. Like movies, many rap cds now have ratings and warnings for violent and vulgar lyrics, therefore if you dislike this use of lyrics you would know before you purchased the cd. If movies are too violent or not appropriate for some viewers, the rating will let us know that, just as rap cds will. Although, under aged children can get access to violent movies as well as vio...