Barium Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements

Barium Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements Atomic Number 56 Symbol Ba Atomic Weight 137.327 Discovery Sir Humphrey Davy 1808 (England) Electron Configuration [Xe] 6s2 Word Origin Greek barys, heavy or dense Isotopes Natural barium is a mixture of seven stable isotopes. Thirteen radioactive isotopes are known to exist. Properties Barium has a melting point of 725Â °C, a boiling point of 1640Â °C, and a specific gravity of 3.5 (20Â °C), with a valence of 2. Barium is a soft metallic element. In its pure form, it is silvery white. The metal oxidizes readily and should be stored under petroleum or other oxygen-free liquids. Barium decomposes in water or alcohol. Impure barium sulfide phosphoresces following exposure to light. All barium compounds that are soluble in water or acid are poisonous. Uses Barium is used as a getter in vacuum tubes. Its compounds are used in pigments, paints, glassmaking, as weighting compounds, in the manufacture of rubber, in rat poison, and in pyrotechnics. Sources Barium is only found combined with other elements, primarily in barite or heavy spar (sulfate) and witherite (carbonate). The element is prepared by the electrolysis of its chloride. Element Classification Alkaline-earth Metal Density (g/cc) 3.5 Melting Point (K) 1002 Boiling Point (K) 1910 Appearance soft, slightly malleable, silver-white metal Atomic Radius (pm) 222 Atomic Volume (cc/mol) 39.0 Covalent Radius (pm) 198 Ionic Radius 134 (2e) Specific Heat (20Â °C J/g mol) 0.192 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol) 7.66 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol) 142.0 Pauling Negativity Number 0.89 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol) 502.5 Oxidation States 2 Lattice Structure Body-Centered Cubic Lattice Constant (Ã…) 5.020 References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.)

buy custom Modern Technological Inventions essay

buy custom Modern Technological Inventions essay The past few decades has seen great advancement in technology. New technology has totally changed the way people interact with each other. Modern technological inventions have allowed people to communicate with each other more efficiently and access information at almost real time. Earlier communication technologies such as the use of telegraph and posting letters among others have been slowly faced out by other emergent and innovative technologies (Coope, Mather and Bannister, 2004, p 11). New technology is now based on the concept of convergence. This refers to the interconnection of computing devices and networks as well as ability to carry different communication technologies on a single platform called internet protocol (IP) (Coope, Mather and Bannister, 2004, p 11). It has affected the world of computing, mobile communication and the internet services thereby creating high impact on the peoples social and economic lives. Before convergence came into being, all these communicati on technologies were carried out separately (Coope, Mather and Bannister, 2004, p 11). However, their integration on an IP platform has provided a synergized effort towards realizing the impact of telecommunication technologies. This paper will center on how the new technology has helped to shape peoples lifestyles in the way they communicate and access information. Internet evolution has become an inseparable assistant to people in their day to day activities. Currently, internet is a trusted source of information to people no matter their location in the world provided they have access to it. With the help of the internet, news papers, periodicals, television and radio among other methods of communication can be accessed online (Noll, 2001, p 135). This implies that a person can read an article from a newspaper at any time, as well as listen to his favorite radio program at their convenience provided they have access to internet (Billings, 2008, para. 31). Furthermore, new and converged technology has allowed people to watch their favorite television programs online even when travelling and not necessarily while at home alone. Traditional communication technologies were designed for circuit switched services where the electromagnetic spectrum was inefficiently used. Furthermore, their use involved rates that were founded on per minute billing systems. Nevertheless, the new and innovative converged technologies are founded on the IP protocol and therefore, they require new interconnection formats so that anyone who wants to use the service can interconnect irrespective of the type of network they are using (Coope, Mather and Bannister, 2004, p 171). Most of the time, pricing in this new format, is pegged on the capacity of the infrastructure that a person uses rather than the time he uses the service. Great trends have been made to integrate all communication devices ranging from hand held gadgets to computers and the internet, thereby making the world a global village. Use of electronic mail and instant messaging service has facilitated communication at almost real time by people from any part of the world. Other different types of messages are used such as short messaging service, voice mail, and multimedia message service (Noll, 2001, p 135). Use of short messagig service (SMS) has mainly helped businesses in the way they communicate to their customers and employees (Taylor, Palen and Harper, 2005, p 77). Infinite amount of information is sent across the world at any given time. Such high volumes of information require a large infrustructural capacity to carry it from the sender to the recipient. Consequently, this is facilitated by the use of fiber optic technology which has a very high bandwidth to accommodate all the information being exchanged. The importance of new and innovative techonlogies cannot be over emphasized. It has transformed the way people interact with each other and carry on their day to day activities. For instance, within the education arena, new technology has allowed students to access their learning materials online. There are thousands of libraries in the internet that are helpful to students who want to pursue their careers. In the past, a student had to be sitted in a library so as to access books, journals and other learning materials. However, with the advent of internet, books, journals and other helpful learning resources are accessed from the internet thereby simplifying the hussles experienced in the learning process (Casati and Shneyderman, 2008, p 176). Someone does not have to be in the physical location of the library but he can access the same services from any part of the world provided he has the required resources such as a computer and internet connection. Additionally, registration of students, accessing and submission of exams is done online. This helps to improve on efficiency by minimizing the time wasted while carrying out these processes manually. While focussing on the business environment, new technology has helped to cut costs tremendously. For instance, use of videoconferencing has greatly reduced the expenses incurred by organizations in facilitating travelling of managers and other mojor stakeholders from one place to another to conduct and attend business meetings (Coope, Mather and Bannister, 2004, p 169). This is a common practice among governement authorities and running of multinationals that have branches in different countries. It is also worth mentioning that currently, people have turned to online purchasing as they find it more convenient than conventional modes. It saves time since even shipment services come along the purchase. Additionally, another benefit experienced as a result of new and innovative technologies is the use of telemedicine. Health professionals can diagnose a certain disease and prescribe medicine for patients who are many miles away through telemedicine. This is facilitated by use of internet and other innovative modrn technologies. Therefore, this helps to remove physical barriers as far as provision of health services is concerned. As a matter of fact, most of the government oprations are run throughthe facilitation of technological innovations. In most countries, access to basic services from the government and other government agencies is done online. For instance, accessing police abstracts, and summons to the court in some countries is done through the internet. Students who want to access student loan services for their education get it online. This helps to reduce long queues in the government offices and long waitting hours before processing of the services is done (Casati and Shneyderman, 2008, p 176). Before the invention of wireless networks technologies, people were limited to cabled networking methods which reduced their mobility. However, development of gadgets that support wireless communication protocols as well as presence of the wireless infrastructure has been very beneficial. Most of the major towns have hot spots which serve as access points to the internet for computing devices that support wireless network services. Greater emphasis is now given to mobility in the interconnectivity of computing devices. Therefore, the improvements in mobile communications focus on provision of flawless services for all types of communication technologies irrespective of the type of device. For instance, the use of Wireless local area network (WLAN) facilitates interconnectivity among computing devices such laptops, routers and smart phones among others. Furthermore, third and fourth generation mobile technologies have allowed people to access mobile broadband for data services. Third and fourth generation mobile technologies allow global roaming services for voice and data (Coope, Mather and Bannister, 2004, p 268). These concepts are among other emergent mobile technologies that will be accomplished through employment of IP-based networks that support portability and interoperability between different networks (Casati and Shneyderman, 2008, p 2). One of these innovations includes the use of WIMAX which stands f or, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. WIMAX is viewed as the last solution to mobile broadband service. It has the potential to provide internet access to a relatively longer distance of about 30 mile radius. Most of the major cities in the world have WIMAX services and the therefore, this means that most of the people can enjoy the benefits of the technological innovation. Third and fourth generation mobile technologies incorporates wireless internet access through mobile third generation networks, satellite and global roaming services (Coope, Mather and Bannister, 2004, p 268). However, they do not offer better roaming services like its predecessor WIMAX. Conclusion Drastic advances made in mobile technology have made the demand for data services through hand-held gadgets to increase tremendously. This implies that services that could only be accessed through a workstation computer can now be accessed through mobile devices. In addition, this has been facilitated by expansion of broadband services which has increased the interconnectivity to wireless internet access. People can now upload and download large volumes of data inform of video and other formats more easily. Standardization of these technologies by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), allows people to easily access the internet through their wireless enabled computing devices (Coope, Mather and Bannister, 2004, p 180). Currently, most of the major social venues such hotels, booking offices for buses and trains, waiting bays in airports, hotels among others, are hot spots for internet access. Therefore, introduction of better technologies will continue to shape the way peop le interact, and result to efficiency in the entire communication process. Buy custom Modern Technological Inventions essay

Management of Information System Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Management of Information System Change - Essay Example The widespread impact of continuous spells of pandemics and other biological attacks alerted the authorities of need for introducing and action plan against the emergencies related to all epidemics and pandemics. The foundation for BioSense was formulated as a national action aimed at improving the bio-surveillance facilities in the country with the amalgamation of existing resource data from all health care organisations and national agencies of data collection. The operation of BioSense is a great advantage to the emergency management system as it enhances the intensity of early detection of health related issues and the acceleration of remedial proceedings. The total action pack of BioSense is framed for simultaneous execution of collection, analysis and evaluation of public health care data from all sources specifically. The case contexts and beneficiary zones of BioSense’s services are DoD and VA hospitals, ambulance clinics, and large clinical laboratories apart from the direct live-wire data collection centers such as local hospitals, healthcare systems, and syndrome-surveillance systems. The functioning of BioSense has brought revolutionary changes in the effect of bio-emergency management systems with the implication of its uses in disease trend monitoring and tracking potential disease cases for synchronizing access to existing health surveillance systems. The initial plan of installing the system was on the ratio of one for each ten cities in the country in 2005.... ion, and in most cases, its prominence was seen to be nullified for lack of support and acceptability from larger hospital units and local health care providers. After evaluating all the points discussed in the journal, the eviction of such a system can be justified for many reasons described in the explanation that are to be read on. 2. Challenges for Implementation BioSense represents the proficiency of the web-based application of the software monitoring inter-hospital health and disease assessment. However, it is obvious that the operation of BioSense is a high profile deal with many professionals is required to access the conditions every moment. Detecting the early symptoms of a bioterrorist attack was the aim of CDC’s proposal for the installation of this system. It was also aimed at providing standards, infrastructure and data acquisition for early detection of every unfriendly situation. The introduction of new software was largely expensive for its operation. As evid ent from the details of the US Government Accountability office, BioSense acquired the financial aid of over $200million till 2006. The managerial challenges faced by BioSense were attributed to the functionary units in association with data collection. Majority of the questions were about the proximity and accuracy of the data collection from the three appointed sources namely, Department of Defense (DOD) Military Treatment Facilities, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) treatment facilities and the Laboratory Corporation of America (LAbCorp) as to how timely were the data based on emergency situations. This question was supported by the irrelevance of the resource data as it took longer time to cover the concerned regions than the time required for emergency procedures of precocious measures.

Hard news Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hard news - Essay Example â€Å"I use acrylic paints because they are versatile, available in many shades, blend well and can be mixed with glazes or pastes for different effects. As I work fairly quickly, they are more suited to my style,† he says. â€Å"Angony is very quick when he works and he doesn’t like to be interrupted. I think that is why he doesn’t usually like to have people around while he’s ‘in the zone’† says neighbor Sheila Creeley. â€Å"But sometimes you’ll notice the green hat you were wearing or that thing that you were doing in one of his next paintings.† Primitive art recognizes that the underlying elements of human emotions can be deeply expressed through the colors and lines of the work more than the symbols and forms found in the image. By de-emphasizing focus on the image and channeling the emotional experience of the moment, primitive artists attempt to bridge any emotional distance introduced through cultural or social differences of symbol interpretation. This concept is perhaps best expressed by the words of Jean Francois Lyotard in his 1984 book The Postmodern Condition when he describes the process as an attempt â€Å"to make visible that there is something which can be conceived and which can neither be seen nor made visible.† This element is most often referred to as the sublime. For many artists, such as Angony, this sublime element is recaptured to the highest degree through the sense of wonder and imagination typically found through the focus on ‘primitive’ geometric forms. The movement toward primitive art was started by Pablo Picasso. As artists concentrated on the essence of the experience of the art and its creation instead of the symbolic form, they discovered that emotions were generally felt the same universally even when technical elements such as symbols, shapes or colors were understood differently by different cultures. This meant that the

Is the Death Penalty Applied Fairly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Is the Death Penalty Applied Fairly - Essay Example This definition also raises a lot of questions because according to many laws, the death penalty is considered, lawful and non-malicious yet it also involves the killing of human beings by the government or concerned authorities that execute such penalties (Williams, 2002). Those who oppose the death penalty argue that the terms ‘execute’, ‘murder’ and ‘kill’ can be used interchangeably. All the three actions result in the same end because life is lost in all the cases. Those who argue that the death penalty is just and fair fail to realize that they are supporting something that is as wrong as the crime that they purport to punish. Supporting the execution of someone who commits murder is just like committing murder itself. This is because the end result of such actions is the death of the people. Claiming that the death penalty is fair is similar to comparing rape to lovemaking or battery to self defense (Williams, 2002). Those who support tha t the death penalty is applied fairly base their arguments on the fact that the death penalty is a punishment for those who deserve to be killed for what they did. There are many types of punishments that may be given to people who do wrong deeds. These punishments may range from denying a person certain privileges, imprisonment and even the death penalty. The right thing to do according to the law is to ensure that the punishment given fits the crime that was committed. This means that a small crime should be punished in a small way and a very serious crime deserves a punishment of similar magnitude. Law jargon may refer to this as lex talonis which may be generally translated to mean, an eye for an eye. So, if someone kills another person, do they deserve to be killed or get punished in other ways? I do not feel that the death penalty is applied justly or fairly because it is ironic to kill someone who kills another person but not rape someone who rapes another person (Williams, 2 002). The death penalty is not applied fairly because it seems to have a lot of loop holes. As seen earlier, those who support the death penalty do so because they believe that a crime should be punished according to its seriousness. If this was the case, would it be correct to say that rapists should be punished by being raped? If a rapist is considered to be wrong by raping someone else, it is also considered morally incorrect to rape that person with the aim of punishing them. It would be morally degrading to let someone punish the rapist by raping them so that they do not get away with rape and that they do not rape again. Why then would it be right for someone to declare that a killer should be killed? Is this the only means of punishing someone who commits a crime of killing another person? I think that it is also morally incorrect to let someone decide that the life of another person should come to an end for whatever reason (Williams, 2002). Life is very sacred and should be treated as such. No human being has the moral obligation of deciding that another person should live or die for whatever reason. Governments are there to protect the rights and freedoms of their citizens. They should therefore ensure that the lives of their citizens are protected and respected, no matter what they do. When a person is found to have killed another person, the

Bilingualism and the effects of third language acquisition

Bilingualism and the effects of third language acquisition Since the early 1920s, much research has been done on bilingualism, with the earliest investigations finding mainly negative cognitive effects attributed to bilingualism (Pintner Keller, 1922; Saer, 1923). However, ever since Peal Lambert (1962) counter-claimed that bilinguals actually do perform better in certain cognitive tasks (e.g. symbolic manipulation types of non-verbal tasks), more recent studies have solidified the current view that bilingualism enhances ones cognitive flexibility and metalinguistic awareness. Yet, most research on language acquisition only focuses on one target language and neglects other languages already acquired or are being acquired by the learner. Research on third language acquisition (TLA) or the acquisition of additional languages (AAL), which attempts to fill this gap by bringing together the two traditionally detached fields of bilingualism and language acquisition, has only begun to accelerate during the late 1990s (Cenoz, 2008; Falk Bardel 20 10). The effect of bilingualism on TLA is one of the main areas of interest in research concerning third language (L3) studies. In order to sufficiently answer this question, we would have to define what we mean by bilingualism and third language acquisition. Different linguists define bilingualism differently over a broad spectrum, from the maximalist view of equal native-like competency in two languages to the minimalist interpretation of a minimal competency in two languages. For the purpose of this paper, we will define bilingualism as the ability to communicate effectively in two languages. Similarly, henceforth, third language acquisition will be defined as the process of learning and acquiring of a non-native language in a secondary context (i.e. language is acquired in a structured setting) by a learner who have already acquired two other languages previously. General consensus today prescribes to the notion that bilingualism brings about various cognitive benefits. It can be postulated that third language learners have a distinct advantage over second language learners due to their enhanced cognitive capabilities brought about by their bilingualism. Hakuta Bialystok (1994) wrote that the knowledge of two languages is greater than the sum of its parts. Most studies tend to indicate advantages in bilinguals over monolinguals in language acquisition, especially when the learners bilingualism is additive rather than subtractive (Cenoz, 2003). While there are numerous other factors affecting TLA including language similarity, L1/L2 influences, L1/L2 proficiency, recency of use, language status, role of Universal Grammar, cross-linguistic influences, early multilingualism and age of TLA (De Angelis 2007; Cenoz, 2008), we will be focusing solely on the effects of bilingualism on TLA. In particular, we will be discussing the effects of meta-ling uistic and meta-procedural gains on TLA due to bilingualism. Bilinguals have shown to display cognitive flexibility and enhanced metalinguistic awareness over monolinguals, and this in turn enhances bilinguals TLA (McLaughlin Nayak, 1989; Cenoz, 2003). Studies of bilingual children have shown bilinguals to have higher scores in tests targeting creative or divergent thinking. Research has also shown bilinguals to possess better abilities to control and utilise linguistic knowledge and to have an overall predisposition in word awareness tasks (Cummins, 1991; Bialystok, 2001). Furthermore, in Cummins (1991), the interdependence hypothesis was proposed which suggested that skill transfers take place from a bilinguals L1 into L2. One can only assume that these enhanced cognitive and metalinguistic abilities would have a positive effect in a bilinguals acquisition of a L3. It can also be logically deduced that the skill transfers from L1 into L2 based on the interdependence hypothesis can also occur from a L3 learners L1 and L2 into the L3. In an e ffort to further this hypothesis, De Angelis (2007) wrote that TLA differ significantly from second language acquisition (SLA) due to the fact that L3 learners can transfer linguistic elements from their prior knowledge in both L1 and L2, and this gives L3 learners an advantage over L2 learners. Studies have also shown that L3 learners often leverage upon their access to two different linguistic systems during the process of TLA (Herdina Jessner, 2002). All these suggested that the enhanced cognitive and metalinguistic abilities a bilingual possesses positively affects the acquisition of a L3. Enhanced cognitive abilities are not the only skills transferable during TLA. Syntactic transfers have also been shown to occur in L3 leaners. Different languages have different syntactic rules, and most bilinguals would have had access to the different syntactic rules governing the different languages they know (assuming that the two languages are syntactically dissimilar). This knowledge of two different sets of syntactic rules would assist a bilingual in the learning of a L3. Flynn, Foley Vinnitskaya (2004) proposed that language learning is cumulative in the Cumulative-Enhancement Model, suggesting that each language learned previously influences and enhances subsequent language learning, adding to a cumulative advantage for third and additional language learners. However, a more recent study by Bardel Falk (2007) on Swedish and Dutch L3 learners found only positive transfers of syntactic properties from L2 but not L1 in the learning of a L3. It was additionally proposed that i n L3 acquisition, the L2 acts like a filter, making the L1 inaccessible. If the above researches holds true, bilingualism could have either a positive or negative effect on third language acquisition depending on the learners L2. If the L2 is syntactically similar to the L3, the L3 learner would experience positive transfers of the syntactic properties of L2 into L3, aiding the learners acquisition of L3. Conversely, if the L1 but not the L2 is syntactically similar to the L3, the L3 learner would not be able to access the benefits of his knowledge in his L1 that he would otherwise have been able to reap had there not existed an L2 to act as a filter. Nevertheless, both studies while disagreeing on the existence of syntactic transfer from a L3 learners L1, agreed that they both found no negative (only positive or neutral) transfers regardless of the similarity or dissimilarity of the L3 learners L2. Therefore, irrespective of the fact that syntactic transfer from L1 occurs or not, bilinguals would have an advantage (or at least no disadvantage) in languag e learning as compared to monolinguals. Similarly, studies have also proved that transfers in the bilinguals knowledge of different orthographic systems give the bilingual an advantage in TLA. While numerous languages in the world are similar orthographically, many written languages have vastly different orthographic systems. In many cases, a learner of an additional language would need to learn a new orthographic system. Abu-Rabia Sanitsky (2010) compared students with knowledge in two orthographies (Hebrew and Russian) against students with knowledge in only one (Hebrew) in the acquisition of English as an additional language. While the results found that transfers of orthographic skills occurred in both groups of students, the learners who were familiar with two orthographic types outperformed those with knowledge in only one type of orthography. It was also noted that the rich orthographic experience in different orthographies is an advantage for trilingual speakers. However, numerous studies have found limited orthog raphic transfers when two vastly different orthographic systems were involved (e.g. Wang, Perfetti Liu, 2005 on Chinese-English; Wang, Park Lee, 2006 on Korean-English). In particular, Bialystok, Luk Kwan (2005) compared Spanish-English, Hebrew-English and Chinese-English bilinguals with monolinguals, and found that all three groups of bilinguals obtained higher levels of literacy than the monolinguals. They also found that Spanish-English and Hebrew-English bilinguals had a greater advantage than Chinese-English bilinguals (Spanish and Hebrew are both written alphabetically albeit in different scripts; Chinese is written logographically). While evidence shows that bilinguals would have an advantage in TLA due to orthographic transfers, the magnitude of such gains would be dependent on the similarities (if any) of the orthographies involved. It can be assumed that as the benefits of orthographic transfers exist due to the bilinguals enhanced awareness of different orthographic and script systems, bilinguals who use the same orthography and script in both L1 and L2 would find little or no advantage over monolinguals in the acquisition of an additional language which uses a different orthographic system. The same bilingual would however experience benefits in learning a L3 which uses the same or similar orthography and script as both the L1 and L2. However, what remains to be researched is the amount of orthographic transfer when the L3 is orthographically similar to either but not both the L1 and L2. It would also be interesting to find out if the filtering effect as proposed earlier by Bardel Falk (2007) on blocking o f syntactic transfers from the L1 by the L2 likewise holds true for orthographic transfers. TLA is similar to SLA in many ways, but yet it has been reported that language learners benefit from not only meta-linguistic gains but also from meta-procedural gains from prior language learning experiences. A study by McLaughin Nayak (1989) speculated that expert learners use different information-processing strategies and techniques than do more novice learners, and noted that multilinguals use a wider range of strategies and are more flexible in language learning than monolinguals. Similarly, Kemp (2007) showed that multilinguals experience in language learning helps them formulate better learning strategies which speeds acquisition through freeing up working memory. Kemp further noted that the number and frequency of strategies used in language learning is positively related to the number of languages the language learner already knows. From this, we can conclude that the more languages a person knows, the easier it will be for him to acquire an additional language. We can thu s deduce that bilingualism gives the bilingual an advantage in L3 acquisition brought about by the prior language learning experience. However, most studies on L3 learners meta-procedural gains have compared L3 learners with L2 learners, neglecting the differences between L3 learners who are simultaneous or sequential bilinguals. For L3 learners to reap the benefits from meta-procedural gains, logically, the learner must have had prior textbook learning of a language. Simultaneous bilinguals who grew up learning two languages simultaneously in a naturalist setting would not have had prior language learning experiences to tap upon. Further studies on TLA comparing simultaneous and sequential bilinguals would fill this gap and offer additional evidence of such meta-procedural gains if results prove that sequential bilinguals perform better in TLA over simultaneous bilinguals. During the course of this paper, we have discussed how, more often than not, bilingualism has shown to exhibit positive effects on the acquisition of a L3 be it meta-linguistically or meta-procedurally. It has to be noted that while most studies conducted on the effects of bilingualism on TLA tend to claim advantages for bilinguals, not all reports on the effects of bilingualism on third language acquisition is positive. Some studies have instead shown no significant advantages in TLA by bilinguals (Soler, 2008). Cenoz (2003) further pointed out that even if bilingualism has an effect on third language acquisition, it does not have to affect all aspects of third language proficiency in the same way, and different conclusions can be drawn depending on the dimension of language proficiency taken into consideration. Moreover, in Del Puerto (2007), it was pointed out that balanced bilinguals tend to perform better than less balanced bilinguals in third language learning. In other words, the degree of proficiency in L1 and L2 must also be taken into account when evaluating the effects of bilingualism on third language acquisition. Logical reasoning would direct that a bilingual who is less proficient in or is suffering from language attrition in either of his languages would perform less impressively than a balanced bilingual. As Del Puerto (2007) aptly sums it, third language acquisition is an exceedingly complex process and a multicausal phenomenon than can be affected by multifarious factors. We have but discussed some of the effects of bilingualism on third language acquisition, but the multitude of causal factors involved in third language acquisition means that much more can be discussed on this subject.

Kewauna And Marita Comparison Essay Essay

Ambitious Bargains Have you ever wanted to prove somebody or even yourself that you could do better? Have you ever wanted to prove that you were better than what you were or where you came from? That’s what two girls named Kewauna and Marita wanted to do. Kewauna wanted to better her life with the OneGoal program, she took full advantage of her education by getting to know her professors and making them remember her, and anything she struggled with she made sure to study and pay extra attention to. Marita also wanted to take advantage of her education instead of telling her mom that she couldn’t handle the KIPP Academy she toughed through it, even with a 10 hour school day she will go home and study more leaving her with no social life at all, she also goes to school on Saturdays and goes to school during the summer so she can go onto high school. Kewauna and Marita are similar because they are both very ambitious, they both went to successful preparatory schools, and they both come from troubled backgrounds. Kewauna and Marita are both ambitious because they give up a part of their lives in order to break the stereotype that children from poverty and bad situations can be just as successful as rich kids already given that opportunity. One example of Kewauna being ambitious is when she said â€Å"No matter how overwhelming it is, no matter how exhausting it is, I’m not going to give up.† Another example of the two being ambitious is when Marita was telling the interviewer about her schedule like it was something a normal kid would have and she had a completely calm demeanor about the whole thing. Another example for Marita is when she is doing her homework as soon as she gets home from school she goes straight to her homework and doesn’t really want to take a break from it, not even to eat. Another comparison you can make between Marita and Kewauna is that they both went to strict prep schools. Kewauna went to a preparatory school by the name OneGoal, it was dedicated to turning extremely struggling students into  college ready scholars. â€Å"Of the 128 students, including Kewauna, who started OneGoal as juniors at six Chicago high schools in the fall of 2009, ninety-six were enrolled in four-year colleges as of March 2012.† This proves that OneGoal is a fairly successful prep school. Marita went to a school called KIPP Academy where richer kids automatically had the upper hand because of the amount of money and lifestyle they were born into. The school was known for its ascendancy in math, and that may have caused Marita to major in Accounting now that she is in college. The final comparison you can make between the two is that they both came from troubled backgrounds, poor families, and bad neighborhoods with little to no opportunities before KIPP and OneGoal. Kewauna had a very troubling childhood until OneGoal, she was arrested at 15 for punching a police officer and she was also homeless for a time in her life. She decided to change her life for the better and start doing better in school after a family intervention about her behavior. There is the only slight difference between Kewauna and Marita, Marita was not a problematic child like Kawauna she just is one of the unfortunate people born in a not-so-nice neighborhood which lessened her chances of being successful significantly. Luckily, for both of Marita and Kewauna they have beaten that stereotype to pieces and they both enrolled in higher education. In conclusion, Marita and Kewauna can practically be twins. But in all seriousness, the two are strikingly similar in the way they have come up from practically nothing. They both went through some sort of program to help prepare them for their bright and shining future (KIPP and OneGoal). The two came up from the bottom and are on their way to the top of the top. Marita and Kewauna are role models for young girls in poverty and troubled homes that are constantly being reminded that they will never amount to anything. They tell them that if you are ambitious like me and you have plenty of work ethic you can get anywhere, you can do anything, you are unstoppable.

How Music Influences Memory Essay

I lay in my bed listening to the endless stream of music coming through my headphones. My iTunes is on shuffle, some songs I skip but most of them I let play without interference. Zoning out only enough to let my mind wonder, I relax and take in the sounds surrounding me. I feel restful, at piece. A brief moment of silence from the time one song ends and another begins. I hear the first five notes on a piano — instantly, I have a lump in my throat, my heart quickens, and my eyes begin to sting. â€Å"Through the Years† by Kenny Rogers has just come on. After fifteen seconds of a piano introduction, Rogers’ soothing voice starts in, â€Å"I can’t remember when you weren’t there†¦ I am reminded of my family. I am taken back to a time when all my grandparents were still alive and well. My father’s mother’s face comes into view, she has been gone twelve years but I can almost feel her presence. I think of the love my family and I have for each other. I think of my sister. My cheeks and ears begin to feel warm. The air I’m breathing suddenly becomes thick, my vision is blurred by the water filling my eyes. The chorus begins, â€Å"Through the years†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My eyes overflow and tears silently fall down my face. After the second chorus the song builds on itself, it rises and keeps on rising. The tension is broken by Rogers’ voice full of love and sincerity at the bridge. I have graduated from softly crying to full on sobbing. My face, my ears, my neck and my pillow are wet with tears. What I am crying about, I am not entirely certain of. What I am certain of, however, is that this wave of emotion that I am drowning in was induced solely by this song. Now in the fetal position, cuddling the blanket and bear that I have had since I was born, I gasp and choke a deep breath in and cough it out as I sob. â€Å"As long as it’s okay / I’ll stay with you / Through the years† The song ends, and after a short while I return to the restful state I was in prior to my breakdown, noticeably more tired. All of this because of a song. This experience and countless others like it (varying in memories and emotions) that made me wonder about the power of music. We have all been influenced by music at one point in our lives; oose bumps, shivers, hair standing on end, tears, dancing, tapping to the beat. Music is all around us, and it is there no matter where you go; it transcends borders and cultures, it is the one universal thing that does. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said it best: â€Å"Music is the universal language of mankind. † Music has the ability to elicit emotions and trigger memories of our past, transporting us to a specific moment or time in our lives. Music can help us cope, the proof of this is in the success of break-up songs. We rely on music. But, what is it about music that makes it so powerful? How is it able to influence us the way it does? Studying music from a scientific approach is relatively new practice, especially music and its effects on the brain. Thanks to advances in neuroscience such a study is made possible. Neuroscientists use fMRI and PET scans to study the brain and what music does to it. When we listen to music different parts of our brain are stimulated. What scientists have learned is that music activates more areas of the brain than anything else. Elena Mannes, author of the book The Power of Music: Pioneering Discoveries in the New Science of Song, identifies some of parts and functions of the brain that are used to process music: †¦the auditory cortex (first stage in the listening process, perception and analysis of tones), the motor cortex (foot tapping, playing an instrument), the prefrontal cortex (the creation of expectations triggered by musical patterns and the violation of patterns/expectations), the sensory cortex (tactile feedback, as in playing an instrument), the visual cortex (reading music), the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala (emotional reactions), the hippocampus (memory for music), the cerebellum (also movement and emotional reactions). (Mannes, 32). When we listen to music our brain is actually extracting something from the music and making sense of it. Some scientists believe that this could contribute to our brain’s ability to remember songs so well. (Kunz). An intriguing aspect of music and how we relate to it is our seemingly instinctual ability to analyze a piece of music. Daniel Levitin, a neuroscientist at McGill University, discusses in his book, This Is Your Brain On Music: The Science of a Human Obsession, how our brain perceives and understands music. When we start out we have thousands of neurons in our brains that are completely free, not tied down or associated to anything. However, as we grow and learn, these neurons are shaped by experience and make connections. Through our experiences our brains learn the rules of whatever music we are exposed to. For example, we have songs that we recognize as happy or sad, even if it is only an instrumental piece. We are able to recognize the mood or feeling of a song from its elements; in Western society we tend to associate a fast tempo with energy and spiritedness and a slow tempo with sadness. These associations, or connections, are learned from our experiences. (Levitin, 87-89). There are a variety of different factors that contribute to our physical and emotional reactions to music. Music often mirrors the natural world and picks up on cues that are prevalent in human behavior. Expectations not fulfilled, surprise, when something happens not as planned, often in life these are what elicit our strongest emotions. Composers employ structural devices that imitate these real-life occurrences and thereby prompt a reaction from the listener. An easily relatable physical reaction to music is called frisson, or more commonly referred to as goose bumps or shivers down one’s spine. These reactions can and are most commonly achieved through the use of an enharmonic change. A simple example (in simple terms, the following chords and notes do not actually exist) of an enharmonic change is when chord(x) is played and harmonizes melody note(a), (this chord is often played again at least once, if not more) then chord(y) is played and re-harmonizes melody note(a), so it is the same but different. The composer creates an expectation and then those expectations are not carried out and that elicits a reaction from the listener (Mannes, 283). A myriad of elements contribute to the influencing power music has over our emotions. Two of the main reasons people listen to music is for emotional impact and regulation (Chanda and Levitin, 180). Music can provide us with a wide range of feelings, such as happiness, sadness, excitement and tranquility Music is also known to produce feelings of euphoria, and what some even describe as a high. Scientists have discovered the reason for this so-called high: the areas in the brain that are activated by drugs or during sex are also activated by listening to music that we enjoy. Listening to pleasurable music activates the production of neurochemicals. The most recognizable chemical that is produced is dopamine, the feel-good hormone, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation. Prolactin, the comfort or satisfaction hormone, normally associated with mothers breastfeeding their infant, is also produced. The third chemical produced is oxytocin, the cuddle or trust hormone commonly associated with sex and bonding with other people. The production of these hormones explain the â€Å"euphoric† feeling people sometimes experience when listening to music. These hormones also influence our mood and perception (Chanda and Levitin180; Mannes, 35). Another factor that contributes to our emotional response to music is our emotional connection to a song. Often times, memories that we associate with a particular song that we heard in a particular time in our lives are triggered when we hear that song. Researchers have found that there is a significant difference in brain activity when we hear a song that we have emotional connections to. A potential and simple explanation for this is that we are not only processing the music but we are also recalling past events. Memories are stored as proteins in different parts of our brains, when memories are triggered, different parts of the brain are put into action to recall those memories. Both functions (processing music and remembering) use a large portion of our brain on their own, combine the two and that is a lot of brain activity (Kunz). Memories triggered by music are often times much more powerful than when triggered simply by thought. For example, a friend might say, â€Å"Do you remember when†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and we reminisce with our friend about a time or an event of past. We may laugh, or feel a sentimental twinge of longing, but usually, not more than that. When a memory is triggered by a song, however, we are somehow transported back in time and are able to experience the feelings we had at that time. There has been speculation for why our memories are much more vivid when triggered by music. Some have theorized that because our brain has already done the work of processing a particular piece of music, we recognize that we have done it before. The recognition of that precise action manifests itself through our feelings. For example, when I hear the song â€Å"Crazy† by Gnarls Barkley, I am immediately taken back to the summer of 2006. I am instantly overcome with a feeling that I can only describe as being the feeling I felt the summer I was sixteen. It’s a happy feeling; a feeling of freedom mixed with confusion and carelessness. My senses are activated; I am able to smell the salt air from the beach, I can taste the Arizona Raspberry Iced Tea that I perpetually consumed, I am almost able to feel my jean shorts around my legs, I even have a clear vision of Highway 33 from the passenger’s seat of mine and my sister’s car as we make our way to the beach, the scene before me shaded by the sunglasses I wore. When a memory is triggered by one of the senses, the other senses are triggered as well. Our senses dictate what we perceive, and therefore, influence how we feel. At that time in my life when my brain was processing that song, it was also processing all of my other senses, all of these elements combined and gave me a very specific feeling. So now when I hear that song, my brain processes it and says something like, Oh, I have done this before, this is the result. It can be likened to muscle memory (Kunz). Intrigued by the power music has, I interviewed Matthew J. Kunz, a researcher currently exploring potential methods to treat patients suffering from neurological injuries and illnesses. One medium of particular interest to him is forms of music therapy. It has been proven that music engages and even enhances motor and auditory skills. Music could potentially serve as a form of physical therapy after an injury or an illness that has impaired an individual’s motor skills. A great example of this is Parkinson’s disease. Humans are instinctively able to march or walk to a beat. By providing someone with a rhythm track their actions, e. g. walking, could be improved if accompanied by music (Kunz). Another neurological illness that is being treated by music is Alzheimer’s disease. However severe a dementia is, even if the patient has lost language, they almost never seem to lose the memory or ability to respond to music. Not only can it assist in the recalling of memories but it can also strengthen areas of the brain. Some music therapists have the patient learn and play music. Somehow, the ability to do this stays in their brain, once the song is in there (their brain) it stays. Through learning and playing music the patient exercises their brain, and as a result, functions of the brain, like motor skills, are improved. Even severely demented patients will recognize old songs and be delighted by them. Kunz confesses, â€Å"If nothing else, the patients are able to experience joy. Even if that’s the only thing it gave them, it would be worth the work that is being done now. † Kunz’s heart is in the right place regardless of the outcome of the research, however, studies have already shown the positive benefits of the diverse forms of musical therapy (Kunz). Whether we want to feel rapture and be delighted by something, or shed a few tears, if we are in need of therapy, or simply want to break the silence, music is there for us. The power music holds is so strong that we depend on it and integrate it to nearly every aspect of our lives. Ill, or injured, or completely well, music is therapeutic to us all; it can bring groups of people together or provide a sense of company when one is alone. It makes our highest highs higher and our lowest lows lower, but that is the magic and power of music. I am certain that our existence and experience as human beings would be far less than what it is if it were not for music.

Reference re Secession of Quebec

Reference re Secession of Quebec Free Online Research Papers The facts of this case are: Quebec never signed the Canadian Constitution. In the early 80s, the Parti Quà ©bà ©cois won the majority vote of the Quebec Provincial Election. The party then held a referendum, asking Quebec’s citizens if they should ask for a mandate, and negotiate sovereignty for Quebec. The referendum resulted in a 60 40 defeat. The party was re-elected the next year, promising not to hold another referendum. The next year, the Canada Act was passed. Quebec’s Premier, Renà © Là ©vesque refused to sign it. The federal government tried to negotiate a compromise, the case of this being the Meech Lake Accord. During this, the government negotiated five modifications to the Canadian Constitution, but with opposition from other provinces, the Accord was defeated. In ‘94, Parti Quà ©bà ©cois was again, re-elected, and announced a second referendum. The question was of sovereignty and an optional partnership with Canada. The referendum was , again defeated by a minuscule margin. Quebec then adopted a bill which laid out Quebec’s plan if a future referendum were to succeed. The federal government, who was opposed to Quebec’s sovereignty were frightened by the referendum’s voting numbers. The opposed questioned the legality of the secession. Parti Quà ©bà ©cois leader, Lucien Bouchard announced a third referendum, confident of the â€Å"winning conditions† . In reaction to this statement, Prime Minster Chrà ©tien initiated a reference to answer the legality of secession from Canada. The issues of this case were: Can Quebec leave Canada, if it were to win the secession? Does international law give Quebec the right to effects it’s secession of Canada unilaterally? In the event of a conflict between domestic and international law, on the right of Quebec to effect the secession of Quebec from Canada unilaterally, which would take precedence in Canada? The government â€Å"won† the case, as it was defined that Quebec trying for unilateral secession wasn’t legal, but if a majority agreed, terms for the secession would be negotiated, and that international law wasn’t applicable to Quebec’s situation. A major point the judges established was, the democratic vote, by however strong a majority, would have no legal effect on its own and could not push aside the principles of federalism and the rule of law, the rights of individuals and minorities, or the operation of democracy in the other provinces or in Canada as a whole. This could be used as a precedent for other states/provinces who wish for sovereignty. The logic the judges used to arrive at the outcome is by identifying the four fundamental tenets of the constitution: democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law, federalism, and the protection of minorities. They held that all must interact as a part of the constitution, and can’t be viewed independently. For international law, the court stated that the right to secede was only meant for people under a colonial rule or foreign occupation . Otherwise, as long as people have the right of self-determination within an existing nation, there is no right to secede unilaterally. With the conflict between international and domestic law, the courts saw nothing conflicting between canadian law, and international law (neither of which allow Quebec to secede). The judges considered it unnecessary to answer the question. Research Papers on Reference re Secession of QuebecQuebec and CanadaBringing Democracy to AfricaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 219 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationDefinition of Export QuotasUnreasonable Searches and Seizures

Would you agree that Shakespeares presentation of the character of Portia makes her the plays most admirable character Essays

Would you agree that Shakespeares presentation of the character of Portia makes her the plays most admirable character Essays Would you agree that Shakespeares presentation of the character of Portia makes her the plays most admirable character Paper Would you agree that Shakespeares presentation of the character of Portia makes her the plays most admirable character Paper Essay Topic: Play One of the main characters of the play, Portia is a rich young heiress living on the fantasy type island of Belmont. With her lives Nerissa, her faithful servant and friend, who advises Portia on what she does as well as mimicking Portias relationship with Bassanio by herself romancing his closest servant, Gratiano. Everything Portia does in the play, she means to do, she makes no rash decisions, and very rarely is she surprised or tricked. While she does usually think honourably before acting, she does sometimes play slightly cruel games with people, without such a malicious intent. A good example of this is the episode with the ring, which Portia gives to her husband on the condition that it is a symbol of their love and if he looses it he looses her too. Later on in the play Portia, in the disguise of Doctor Bellario, convinces Bassanio to give her the ring as a fee for saving his best friend, Antonios, life. On returning to Belmont, she confronts him asking him for the whereabouts of the ring and then threatens to sleep with the young doctor, who has the ring, I had it of him; pardon me, Bassanio, for by this ring the doctor lay with me. However, when the question asks, Would you agree her presentation makes her the most admirable character, it does not ask whether she is admirable in a good or a bad way. First we must define what the question means by admirable, in this case it is having qualities to excite or wonder the reader, or a character deserving the highest praise. By going through the play and looking at Portias character presentation her good and bad traits and features and by comparing them with the other characters from the play, we can get an answer to the question, is she the plays most admirable character. Out of all the characters Portia is definitely the most strong willed, never willing to give up. One of the best examples of this is the court scene, where right up until the last minute she keeps working out new plans, trying to save Antonio. Tarry a little, there is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. The words expressly are a pound of flesh. She is also versatile, able to adapt to different situations quite easily. This can include minor things such as the difference between politeness for the courtiers and actual excitement for Bassanio, or things like pretending to be a male lawyer. She accomplishes them all without difficulty, despite her lack of interaction in the world outside Belmont, which means it is probably due to her intelligent character and good upbringing. These roles she plays are usually either to deceive other characters in the play, or to assist them, or maybe both, and sometimes just for the adventure, When we are both accoutred like young men Ill prove the prettier fellow of the two, And wear my dagger with the braver grace, And speak between the change of man and boy With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps Into a manly stride; and speak of frays Portia is quite deceptive; she lies quite a bit, yet she speaks her mind nearly all the time. With the exception of her natural politeness, Portia makes it clear to people how she feels about them. For example the on first meeting Antonio in the garden in the last scene, Portia welcomes him but makes it clear that she is slightly jealous of the love between him and her husband. Sir, grieve not you ; you are welcome not withstanding. Being quite wealthy, Portia is naturally generous; offering any price for the release of Bassanios friend, weather out of the kindness of her heart or to stop her new husband leaving her so soon, we dont know. Even thought Portia could afford this fee easily with her amount of money, her efforts to help Bassanios friend show her offers to be out of genuine love. Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond. Double six thousand, and then treble that, before a friend of the description shall loose a hair through Bassanios fault. Her cruel side, shown in the last scene, is another sign of her intelligent character in a more negative way, however she is not as malicious as she appears to be. Having lived her entire life in Belmont surrounded by servants and aides, she is not used to the way the outside world works, and therefore did not understand how much pain she put Bassanio in, making him choose between his friendship with Antonio and his love for his wife. But the full sum of me is sum of something : which to term in gross is an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpractised. Bassanio and Portia have not that much in common, in fact a lot of the time they are act quite opposite to each other. Bassanio is quite forgiving, but Portia seems to always hold a grudge and remember past grievances. Compared with Jessica she is also quite different. Both women have lost virtually their entire family, and are haunted by their fathers attempts to control their lives, but still act quite differently, again Portia seeming the slightly more aggressive and nasty one. Overall, in my opinion, Portias character presentation is not the most admirable of the play, for although she acts with the intention of good faith, she often ends up doing things in a sly and callous way that undermines her other polite, kind, and considerate type qualities. In my view Bassanio is the most admirable character by far, taking a neutral stance on most things, rarely making cruel remarks or actions against anyone, with the exception of Shylock in the court scene.

Organizational Behavior and Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organizational Behavior and Leadership - Essay Example From the discussion it is clear that  the manager of that organization must be able to recognize the unique perspective of the new employee in order to manage a better working relationship with that employee. This understanding of employee behaviors in order to improve organizational effectiveness is known as organizational behavior.  Management of the company needs to be fully aware of the basic goals and objectives of the company in order to implement the principles behind any organizational behavior. Some of the main objectives for the application of principles include understanding the employees’ nature, understanding the organizational culture, developing effective leaders, developing good teams, and increasing the productivity.This paper highlights that  virtually all multinational organizations have different managers, which include marketing manager, accounts manager, human resource manager, and plant manager but hardly any organization has an organizational beha vior manager. The reason is that organizational behavior is not an area of responsibility or a business function; rather it is a perspective, which provides a set of information that managers of all departments need to carry out their job responsibilities in an effective way.  The study of organizational behavior provides insights into all job related activities to the managers. Managers can use the information in many ways to improve their efficiency. Understanding of organizational behavior helps mangers understand their own motives and behaviors in order to use them in various decision-making processes and workplace communications (Luthans 2002). Greenberg (2008) found that managers deals with many people within an organization for different purposes. â€Å"An understanding of attitudinal processes, individual differences, group dynamics, intergroup dynamics, organization culture, and power and political behavior can help managers handle such interactions more effectively† (Griffin & Moorhead 2010, p. 7). Organizations expect their employees to work in teams in order to increase organizational productivity and efficiency. Groups are always

Media Impact on People's Thoughts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Media Impact on People's Thoughts - Essay Example This was due to the largely favorable presentation of the war in the media, such as the images of Saddam’s statue being pulled down, and President Bush stepping off a plane to a banner proclaiming victory in Iraq. Selective reporting, biased reporting, or the manner in which certain issues are highlighted while others are glossed over can elevate or diminish the significance of an issue in the mind of the public. During the initial weeks of the war, there was widespread media coverage of President Bush giving pep talks at military locations and negative reaction to the war was sparingly reported. The opposition of France and other European countries to Iraq was sparingly reported while those in the Senate who opposed the war received no media coverage. The public also had the image of the prior Iraq war in mind, which was concluded quickly and painlessly and expected the second war to follow the same path. However, media images in America began to change as the war continued. For example, one local television news program aired a fifteen-minute segment each evening when it focused on the body of one dead soldier in a brief eulogy. The persistent images of dead American soldiers presented every night have subtly influenced public opinion so that the once favorable opinion of the public has been altered. By the end of 2003, polls were showing public support down to 50% from 70%. The impact of the images of the dead is evident from the words of former tanker Ed Collins, now 82, who says, â€Å"When is it going to stop? We’re losing a lot of youngsters.† The perception that lives are being lost is brought forcefully into the public consciousness through the personalized eulogy for each soldier presented in TV programs such as those mentioned above. According to polling experts, Americans are more sensitive to casualties in this Iraq war because they see no vital interests at stake to  justify the deaths which are taking place.