Paganism vs Christianity

Pagan vs. Christian The holy Catholic Religion had a drastic Christian like impact on the barbarian, Viking Pagans of the Anglo-Saxon Age in England (Elements of Literature 11). The Catholics evolved the aggressive Pagan Vikings into a peaceful society (Williams). Also, the Catholics substituted their warlike religion and after-life to a more holy and Christian like religion (Chaney 197-217). Along with the altering of the Pagan society and religion, the Catholics also transformed the Pagans dominant government style to a more civilized and unified one (Williams).The Pagans did not expect their society, religion, and government would be shifted to a Christian like style, but it did (Elements of Literature 11). The calm Catholics transformed the brutal Pagan Vikings into a more civilized society (Williams). After the transformation the Pagan’s tribal like communities was changed to towns with Castles (Williams). Also the Pagan’s tradition of oral literature being told by the scop was changed to written language in which the monks wrote (Williams).The unimportance of women in the Pagan society was changed when Virgin Mary the patriot saint helped raise the status of women (Williams). Along changing the type of society the Pagans were accustomed to into a more modern one like the Catholics there was also a change in religious beliefs (Elements of Literature 11 ). The Pagans believed in a warrior death and after-life while the Catholics believed in a holy peaceful religion, this was another alteration the Catholics made upon the Pagans (Chaney 197-217).The Pagans believed there was many gods and the best place to go after death was Valhalla while the Catholics believed in one God and Heaven was the best place after death (Chaney 197-217). The Catholics had an idol to live up to which was Jesus, the son of God, while the Pagans fought in battle to please Valkyries, whom was said to be the person who chose who died in battle (Chaney 197-217). The Pagans lived to die in battle, they believed dying in battle was heroic, the Catholics believed in living a sin free life and living a peaceful after-life (Chaney 197-217). Along with the changing of the Pagan’s arbarian society and warrior like religion the Catholics also evolved their tribal government into a more modern type (Elements of Literature 11). The Pagans believed in the strongest warrior being the King, or leader of the tribe, while the Catholics believed God chose who the heir to the throne would be (Williams). The Pagan king was known to be the bravest of all warriors but Catholics substituted the bravery for education and began to educate the Pagans (WIlliams). The Catholics also crated a Parliament in the Pagan tribe, which was something they lacked before ( WIlliams).Pagan warriors believed the strongest of all died to protect the king after the Catholics had an impact of their lifestyle it was believed there was a Diving Right of King (Williams). The Catholics un ified England with their transformation of the Pagan lifestyle (Elements of Literature 11). In the end the Pagans resulted in a peaceful society in which provided a common system of morality (Elements of Literature 11 ). The Catholics also provided the Pagans with a common faith of Christianity in which was more peaceful (Chaney 197-217).The most important gift the Catholics gave to the pagans was the transformation of a warrior leader to a militant but yet strategic leader to run a more civilized government (Elements of Literature 11). The calm Christians of the Catholic religion had a positive influence on the barbarous Pagans off the Anglo-Saxon Age in England ( Williams). Although there were many changes made to the Pagan lifestyle there were many more that needed to be made in order for them to be a more civilized nation of what present day England is like today (Elements of Literature 11).

Human Nature: Self-Interest & Altruism

Human Nature: Self-Interest vs. Altruism A debate encompassing human nature has carried on for centuries, and philosophers throughout history have provided a vast inventory of explanations they deem to be sufficient in understanding the perplex idea of human nature. A question commonly debated regarding human nature is determining whether human beings are naturally self-interested or altruistic. Political philosophers Bernard Mandeville and Francis Hutcheson specifically addressed this question, but each arrived at different conclusions based on personal observation and reasoning.Mandeville, influenced by Hobbesian thought, advocated the belief that human beings were naturally self-interested. Opposing the idea of self-interest, Francis Hutcheson attacked Mandeville’s notion and reasoned that human beings were inherently altruistic. Although both sets of ideals originated in the early 18th century, both can be utilized to infer about current events and situations (Tannenbaum & Schultz, 2004). Dutch political philosopher Bernard Mandeville, author of The Fable of the Bees or Private Vice Publik Benefits, attacked a common notion for the time that human beings were naturally altruistic.Mandeville believed that humans were naturally self-interested while most thought of altruism as virtuous and self-interest as vice. He stated that empirical evidence supporting human altruism was non-existent, and it is selfish actions that benefit society. Society that runs on altruism and benevolence is a stagnant society that fails to progress. In Mandeville’s The Fable of the Bees, he emphasizes that when people seek self interests, comforts and pleasures, society inevitably progresses with occurences of new inventions and a circulation of capital.According to Mandeville, a benevolent society is an honest one, â€Å"but if they would likewise enjoy their Ease and the Comforts of the World, and be at once opulent, potent and flourishing† as well as a self-i nterested society, it is likely impossible (Kaye, 1989). Likewise, a self-interested society experiences invisible cooperation, in which greed leads to cooperation if property is sufficiently channeled. The Fable of the Bees is also considered a political satire of England during the time, and Mandeville describes a society having virtues along with ontent and honesty. The society mentioned lacks self-love, a Hobbesian idea that Mandeville emphasizes as a barrier to progress. Virtues held by such a society are hypocrisy that arise from a selfish desire to be superior. While Mandeville concludes his essay with statements expressing that the purpose of his essay was not to directly oppose Christian values, he states that modern honor â€Å"bids you bear injuries with patience†, but religion â€Å"tells you if you don’t resent them, you are not fit to live† (1989).Finally, Mandeville concludes his thoughts rejecting altruism, and emphasizes that â€Å"the seeds of every passion are innate to us, and nobody comes into the world without them† (1989, 2004). A political philosopher during the Scottish Enlightenment, Francis Hutcheson opposed Mandeville’s Hobbesian view that humans are naturally self-interested. He advocated the notion that human beings are naturally altruistic and benevolent. While declaring these attributes as factual about human nature, Hutcheson also stressed the importance and success such qualities have on society.He believed humans are endowed with a â€Å"moral sense†, or derive pleasure from witnessing someone else perform a benevolent act and in turn have a desire to do the same. This â€Å"moral sense†, as Hutcheson describes, is a human being’s natural inclination of pursuing happiness. Hutcheson, a major contributer to the advancement of utilitarianism stated that, â€Å"regarding the pleasurable and painful consequences of actions as morally significant† provided the â€Å"f ormula that that action is best which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers† (Peach, 1971).He divides what he refers to as â€Å"exciting reasons† and â€Å"justifying reasons† into functionality. He considers exciting reasons as merely an appeal to self-interest, and â€Å"have nothing to do with moral justification† (1971). Differentiating, justifying reasons â€Å"establish the virtue, moral goodness, or moral obligations of actions† (1971). This reasoning explains his opposition to Mandeville’s view that moral distinctions derive from self-interest, and declares these distinctions as undoubtedly self-determining.The basis of Hutcheson’s theory expresses that the â€Å"moral sense† tends to be consistent as long as it is not interfered with. Interfering forces such as â€Å"ignorance, mistaken belief, prejudice, or the like† are corrected and addressed by reason (1971). He concludes his statements wi th an underlying theme which states â€Å"the benevolent one is reasonable and the malicious unreasonable†, based on the approval and disapproval of one’s moral sense (1971, 2004). Although both philosophers theorized about human nature more than two centuries ago, opposition and advocation for both is seen throughout current events.For example, Mandeville’s views can be advocated by the constant confrontation between the Israelis and the Arab world, more specifically the Palestinians. Neither side will relent to the interests of the other, viewing altruism with the other as being a weakener of their own state. If the Israelis recognize Palestine as a legitimate state, they lose both land and resources, while also fearing further invasion and conflict within Israel. Numerous negotiations and attempted treaties have failed, because neither side ultimately recognizes sufficient advantages to their own state if they comply.While this situation conflicts with Hutche son’s view, a current example advocates it. Disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and 9-11 have sparked a numerous amount of community benevolence. Countless organizations and people have joined together to help those affected in the disasters recover. Hutcheson would most likely state that such expressed benevolence for others is the result of their â€Å"moral sense†, while Mandeville would describe it as merely human beings seeing an advantage for themselves by joining such an organization; possibly honorable recognition or status improvement.Clearly seen, support and opposition for both Mandeville’s and Hutcheson’s theories has divided thought on this issue still today (2004). References Kaye, F. B. & Mandeville, B (1989). The Fable of the Bees. Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Classics. Peach, B (1971). Illustrations on the Moral Sense. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Tannenbaum & Schultz (2004). Inventors of Ideas. Belmont, CA: Wads worth/Thomson Learning.

Model Answer for Busniess Inovation Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Model Answer for Busniess Inovation - Coursework Example According to the CEO Andy Harrison "EasyJet is now the UKs National airline. Passengers have clearly voted with their feet, boarding EasyJets aircraft more than any other airline. In a harsh economic environment, EasyJet’s continuous resilient performance is evidence to the superiority of its business model. Europe’s premier air transport network, strong customer proposition and service execution are associated to an extremely efficient operating model that is based on simplicity and low cost. Having to face an uncertain business climate such as severe completion, weak consumer confidence and with the hike in fuel and the volatility of currency, EasyJet is one of the few airlines globally to remain profitable during these harsh times. According to the Non Executive Interim Chairman Sir David Michels, these results were driven primarily through good revenue performance offsetting the  £86 million unit increase in fuel costs and  £31 million reduction in interest income. Easyjet’s marketing strategy took advantage of capacity cuts by other carriers to advance their position in the European short-haul market, capturing shares in important markets such as Milan, Paris, Madrid and London Gatwick and increasing our slot portfolio at congested airports by over 10%. Easyjet has plans to deliver growth of around 7.5% per annum over the coming five year. Easyjet looks to take advantage of the commercial opportunities apparent in European short-haul aviation, whilst delivering positive cash generation beyond the period of the higher than normal capital expenditure associated with the replacement of the more expensive Boeing subfleet. Easy Jet has a unique marketing strategy, rather than targeting leisure passengers, Easy Jet’s main target market are the business passengers who are more regular customers than leisure passengers as they fly more than leisure passengers. Easy Jet has also now focused more on internet marketing which is a lot cheaper than

Intrusion Detection System Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intrusion Detection System - Assignment Example The HIDS and NIDS are protective mechanisms, in a computing system that detects and prevents efforts of accessing information from an-authorized parties. I agree with the notion that NIDS is widely based since the computer administrator can install it at various destinations all over the internal computer system. Â  I agree with the notion that HIDS is installed on a workstation or server. This is because the system is an agent of the secured host. Due to this, HIDS serves a particular host and can serve a particular purpose. Â  I agree with David’s answer that the methods of security testing are the white, black and gray box testing. However, I do not agree with the answer that the black box testing system involves knowing the architecture and design of the computer before the testing. Â  Black-box system does not entail any knowledge of architecture, or the interior workings of the computer system, while white box testing involves knowledge of the architecture and design of the computer system. Grey box system involves testing the computing system with limited knowledge of the system, and not as defined by David. Â  I agree with the notion that the person conducting black box testing is an end user. This is because the person doing the test cannot access the source code of the computing system. I also agree with the notion that a system designer conducts white box testing. Â  I agree with David’s notion that Vulnerability testing seeks to identify weaknesses in a computer system, and on his notions that vulnerability tests seek to identify the best places to attack a system. I agree with an answer concerning penetration testing, and its application. Â  

In Praise of the F Word Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

In Praise of the F Word - Essay Example The essay "In Praise of the F Word" discusses the issue that the number of students that graduate from high school each year with a diploma that is no good for them continues to rise. This leniency has caused many students to become dependent on the niceness of their teachers. Mary Sherry, as an adult-education teacher for future students such as these, proposes to implement the threat of failure into the lives of the students that are unwilling to work for a passing grade. The last thing that a student wants to do is be held back a grade or not graduate, especially when they know they can do the work. The threat of this dreaded â€Å"F† word is a surefire way of making students work for their passing grades. However, if the students are threatened with the possibility of failure, the chance is increased of them actually taking school seriously and putting it first. Flunking, therefore, stops being a threat and becomes a â€Å"positive teaching tool†. It acts as the boo st that many students need to take their studies more seriously and to stop relying on the goodness of their teachers. It is not in the job description of these teachers to grade based on personality or behavior of their students but to grade based on how well they absorbed the subject matter. Similarly, â€Å"by rewarding mediocrity [teachers] discourage excellence.† Students are being cheated out of an education because teachers want to appear helpful even if it means that the students will end up only being illiterate.

Analysis of Existentialist Philosophy by Sartre Literature review

Analysis of Existentialist Philosophy by Sartre - Literature review Example This is the responsibility of authenticity, realizing one's being and acting in good faith (Brown, 1948). These three propositions are reflected in Frank O'Connor's "Guests of the Nation" and Albert Camus' "The Guest." O'Connor and Camus highlight the absurdity of the universe and show how the failure to make choices which reflect authentic being, leads to existentialist suffering. The titles of both short stories express the theme of absurdity. In O'Connor's story, the two Englishmen are war hostages, the prisoners of the Irish soldiers, Donovan, Noble and Bonaparte and certainly not "guests of the nation." In Albert Camus' "The Guest," the reader questions the identity of the guest. Is it Daru, the European who has no other home than Algeria; Balducci, the military police officer who personifies French authority and colonial power; or is it the Arab, for whom Algeria is the home of his ancestors and his homeland. By making readers question the nature of the guest, host, enemy, friend relationship, both O'Connor and Camus draw attention to the absurdity of allowing politics, rather than our nature, to dictate our relationship with others. The absurdity of trying to impose political meaning on relationships is highlighted in "Guests of the Nation." Belcher and Hawkins, officially war hostages, were, however, treated as guests and as friends, a fact which makes their execution all the more absurd horrendous. As Bonaparte says, "after the first day or two we gave up all pretense of keeping a close eye on them." (Reference) They did not need to keep a close eye on Belcher and Hawkins because they had become part of the surroundings and had integrated into the community. They were not, on the human and interpersonal level, enemies. The absurdity of war had made them enemies and when they were able to leave the war behind them, even if temporarily, they became friends. This makes their execution all the more absurd because, at the end of the day, there is no reason for executing these two men. It is not the senselessness of the act which incites the existential suffering in the Irish soldiers because existentialist philosophy is premised upon an acknowledgment of the inherent absurdity of life. Instead, suffering is an outcome of the fact that their participation in the execution was not something which agreed with them. At some deep, internal level, the soldiers objected to the executions but carried them out, thereby failing to act authentically. The futility of existence and the absurdist nature of the universe are further reflected in the theme of senseless deaths. Camus's "The Guest" is set in Algeria but of the three main characters, only the Arab is Algerian.  

Poetry by Emily Dickinson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Poetry by Emily Dickinson - Essay Example Many people mourned the men lost in Civil War battles that year and it was not just their families that mourned them, it was whole towns and states. Taken in light of the year it was written this poem makes sense, the Civil War affected everyone in the country. Not only were the people mourning the death of the strangers who lost their lives on the battlefield but they were also mourning the loss of the Union itself (Moore, 131-132). The plot in "Because I Could Not Stop For Death" is the narrator is picked up by Death and is heading towards eternity. Patricia Engle in her article in the Explicator states that "It is simply not her nature to stop for Death. She realizes that she cannot recognize Death's power over her" (74). Dickinson contrasts life with death in such a way that it is almost unnoticeable until you really read the poem closely. She also covers the stages of life very well with the "children", "grazing grain", and "setting sun" being used as metaphors for the different stages one must go through to be able to ride in Death's carriage (Dickinson, reprinted in Explicator, 73). In "As By The Dead We Love To Sit" Dickinson tells the story of how we miss the dead once they are gone more than we do the living. Also, how we try to hold onto the lost but are not able to sometimes. There is a difference between the lost and the dead in this poem which is why they are both their. The lost are the people who for one reason or another have left the life of the narrator but are not dead. However, the main question of the poem is why do we value a person more when they are lost or dead than when there are alive and here with us This is what the second quatrain is about how people tend on the whole to over-value something or someone they do not have (Daniels, 11). "I Felt A Funeral, In My Brain" is more about loneliness than death. The narrator tells how they have felt a funeral in their brain and are felling alone. The narrator is talking about what is inside their head not actual events that happened. Why is the narrator hearing or seeing these things Why do Silence, Sense, Mind, Space, and Reason seem to have human qualities even when they themselves are so ethereal I believe this poem is speaking more along the lines of a fear of being alone in life than being dead. The narrator sounds like they are loosing their mind. The whole tone of the poem is lonely. There is never another person mentioned. The plot in "I Measure Every Grief I Meet" is very easy to understand. The narrator is grieving and wants to know if other people's grief is as bad as theirs. Dickinson uses this poem to put forth the idea that nobody ever recovers from grief completely. There is always a part of you that is constantly mourning a loved one or something that you have lost. This poem left me feeling nothing personally but I did understand it better than some of the others, probably because it is so straight forward. There are no unusual uses of words or metaphors or any other literary tool. This is just a straight forward poem about grief. In the poem "It Was Not Death, For I Stood Up" the narrator denies that they are dead at first but comes to realize by the end of the poem that they really are. The reader does not

Culture diversity in the media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Culture diversity in the media - Essay Example This paper discusses the manner in which the general media – including the press, television and films report on ethnic issues how such reporting help or obstruct the effort to elevate the cause of social and cultural diversity and prevent serious issues concerning racism in such media. The media, to a considerable extent, unintentionally tend to emphasize negative images and stereotyping in the process of news reporting or in the course of collecting information relating to issues concerning the people belonging to diverse cultural or ethnic groups. According to previous research conducted in this behalf on the portrayal of issues of people belonging to different cultural and ethnic backgrounds in the British and American media, the migrants were omitted from voicing their opinions and were ignored while reporting issues regarding the problems faced by their community. Such an incident was witnessed in the year 1990 while reporting on the issue of wearing a headscarf that was debated in countries like France and Denmark. The migrants opinion was either not quoted at all or it was not given due prominence by the media while reporting on the issue. They were often misquoted or quoted in a discriminatory manner which exuded negativity and sounded superficial, aggress ive and stereotypical. It is also noted that the opinion of people belonging to a minority group are often misinterpreted since a single set of representatives are interviewed over and over again which loses the credibility of their opinion and views and less importance is given on reporting of such an issue from the point of view of a diverse range of interviewees. Another significant issue that emerged during the study was that the media is highly biased towards reporting of certain important events of political nature. Consequently the everyday aspect of the minority life, for instance their

Doctrine of the Trinity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Doctrine of the Trinity - Essay Example Orthodox Church had believed in certain doctrines but a dialogue to establish proper ecumenical principles was necessary. Trinitarianism exists on the divinity of Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, who are the Godheads, with rather unclear entities. One opinion said they are One, representing substance, power and eternity; but the controversy prevailed. The early Church Fathers had diverse views about the doctrine of Trinity. Some of them had difficulty in accepting that Jesus was not the only God. Some were reluctant to say that he was not the God, but only the Son of the God. "To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and for whom we live; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and through whom we live." (1 Cor. 8:6, KJV and NIV). "There is not a single controversy with regard to the Nature of the Trinity, as far as we know, which does not involve the doctrine that Christ is the Wisdom of God as its starting point, and the Old Testament definitions of that Wisdom as its proof-test," p.31, Harris. There were confusions with some saying that Jesus represented all the three, or Jesus himself is God and all the three represented Jesus himself. In the scripture the word trinity is not mentioned and its origin remains a bit mysterious In 382, Pope St. In 382, Pope St. Damascus called a local council in Rome to discuss the doctrine of trinity and a papal commentary is still available with strict terms while laying down rules and regulations of being a heretic. "Understanding the nature of orthodoxy and heresy during the fourth century is further complicated by the need to note not only shifts in the content of Christian belief concerning Trinitarian and Christological issues, but also considerable change in the structures and practices within which right belief is assessed," Ayres, p.79. From there, Trinity went through resistance and Fathers like SS. Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine shaped the doctrine in many stages by writing commentaries and defences based on the Council of Constantinople. Athanasius wrote before the council, but says that the Triad is the creator of all things and emphasises that Father and Son work as the principal force behind creation, protection, life, and they are more or less one. St Gregory wrote after the Council and was clearly influenced by the Council's proceedings. He sees the doctrine on the Blessed Trinity's ad extra as Johannine Theology and of biblical origin. In 390, he wrote Concerning We Should Think of Saying that There are not Three Gods to Ablabius where he upholds the Doctrine and says that Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are one and insists that 'no activities of the Godhead are unique to any one'. Around 399 St. Augustine started his work De Trinitate where he cites Gospel of St. John many times and according to him the Doctrine of Trinity could be found in the Gospel of St. John. "Prior to the Cappadocians there scarcely was a concept of person in ancient philosophy. Moreover, the Cappadocians provided a rather complex concept of person" p.14. Turcescu, 2005. Within a period of 264 years from the Council of Nice in 325 AD, a clear definition emerged as the basis of doctrine of the Trinity. In the year 589 AD, the Third Synod at Toledo proclaimed

Research Methods in the Social Sciences Assignment

Research Methods in the Social Sciences - Assignment Example The subject which is unable to be examined could not be selected for conducting a social research. Keeping in view the fundamental principles of social research, the researcher aims to conduct his research work on the following topic: The researcher will write a brief outline of the entire research procedure in the Abstract of the research, in which the research topic, theoretical framework, hypothesis and research tools and techniques will be discussed. In addition, the researcher will describe the universe selected for his study. The first chapter of the research will consist of introduction, in which the causes of selecting the topic and significance of the topic will be discussed. Statement of the problem will also be the part of the chapter, in which the researcher will define the problem in details and objectives of the study will also be described in a precise way. The following hypothesis will be developed for the present study: The second chapter of the research will consist of the literature relevant to the study. The researcher will explain the studies have already been conducted on the same and similar topics. These studies might be on social classes, leisure time, social discrimination and the patterns of recreational activities. Chapter three will carry theoretical framework, in which Thorstein Veblen’s Theory of Leisure Class (1912) and Social Stratification Theory developed by Davis & Moore (1945) will be explained with reference to the present research. The researcher will interlink these theories with his research work. Chapter four of the present study will describe the universe and sampling procedure. Since the researcher aims to conduct his study in New York City, the universe will be the people belonging to divergent social and cultural classes of New York. Quantitative methods of research will be applied in this

Archetype Research Project Essay Example for Free

Archetype Research Project Essay Archetypes are â€Å"An inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C. G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual† (archetype). Archetypes are central in all cultures across the world and can provide important lessons and outlooks on the common aspects of human life. The journey, is an archetype in which the main character is in search of some sort of truth and typically faces many difficult trials along the way, this can be both physical and mental. While going through these trials a kind of hell is reached and the character must attempt to make their way back to society. Though the journey is not always well liked due to its dark and serious nature, it provides self-confidence and shows society how to react to difficulties they may face in life. This archetype can be found in slightly different forms in the three novels: â€Å"Jane Eyre† by Charlotte Brontà «, â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, and â€Å"The Plague† by Albert Camus. Each author uses the archetype, the journey, to express their own thoughts; they create an overall theme or message to influence their readers. â€Å"Jane Eyre† was written in 1847 by Charlotte Brontà «. The novel follows Jane Eyre from her childhood as the family scapegoat, through her schooling at a poorly managed charity school, and later when she becomes a governess and falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester. Jane’s journey is in search of the love and acceptance of others, she goes through many trials before reaching her goal. The theme that Brontà « creates using the archetype of the journey is: In times of hardship you must persevere and not lose sight of yourself and your morals while striving to find happiness. This is one of the most important messages that she is sending to her readers through Jane Eyre. She does this by giving multiple examples of Jane’s strength. One example of Jane’s strength is when she struggles to regain her since of dignity and self-worth after discovering, on her wedding day, that Mr. Rochester was already married. This is the most devastating part of Jane’s journey but her reaction to the situation is what builds the theme. â€Å"Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be† (Brontà « 369). Jane is very tempted to just give in to her weaknesses but she regains her composure and continues her struggle. Jane’s strength is also shown when she leaves Thornfield the night after the wedding. â€Å"But I was soon up; crawling forwards on my hands and knees, and then again raised to my feet — ­ as eager and as determined as ever to reach the road† (Brontà « 374). At this point Jane’s emotional turmoil has gone as far as to cause physical weakness. Which, she also finds courage to overcome. Brontà « uses Jane’s strength of morals and self-respect in times of trial to get her theme across to her readers. The importance of her perseverance throughout the novel is solidified in the fact that her suffering pays off in the end with a happy conclusion after Mr. Rochester’s wife is dead. â€Å"I hold myself supremely blestblest beyond what language can express; because I am my husbands life as fully is he is mine† (Brontà « 522). Jane would have been very unhappy if she had given in to her weaknesses before she felt morally sound in doing so. This shows how significant her waiting was in securing her happiness in the end. Charlotte Brontà « used the archetype of the journey in Jane Eyre to impact the reader by illustrating the importance of maintaining your moral standards and since of self-worth through times of trial and hardship when you are most prone to weakness. She has exemplified this through the strength and persistence of her main character, Jane. â€Å"The Odyssey† was written by Homer around 700 B.C. It is an epic that tells the story of Odysseus, a man who must make his way back home from war to his wife and son. His journey home however is delayed by a series of trials and while he is away suitors take over his household. Odysseus has been a role model not only in Greek culture but all around the world. Homer uses the characters reactions to the trials that are typical to the archetype of the journey to show the need for determination, hope and strength in the face of hardship. As Odysseus goes through the many challenges of his journey his perseverance is put to the test. One of these occasions is when Odysseus and his crew are within sight of Ithaca, but the curiosity of his crew causes them to be thrown severely off course and pushed back many days in their journey. â€Å"And I woke up with a start, my spirit churning— should I leap over the side and drown at once or grit my teeth and bear it, stay among the living? I bore it all, held firm, hiding my face, clinging tight to the decks† (Homer 10. 55-58). True strength is shown by Odysseus here due to the fact that it is laden with the dramatic irony of almost reaching your goal then being set back to the beginning. Homer uses Odysseus’s will to continue on and not give up to show the determination needed to overcome a trial such as this. Odysseus is not the only character in â€Å"The Odyssey† that the archetype of the journey applies to. Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, also goes through a journey and discovers darker truths as he searches for news of his father and watches the suitors tear apart his house. â€Å"But for me the gods have spun out no such joy, for my father or myself. I must bear up, that’s all† (Homer 3.236-238). Homer presents Telemachus much like his father, always determined to keep moving forward even when it seems all is against him. The archetype of the journey is constantly full of challenges and often disappointment. Odysseus comments on what he has learned of the nature of life and hardship. â€Å"But then, when the happy gods bring on the long hard times, bear them he must, against his will, and steel his heart. Our lives, our mood and mind as we pass across the earth, turn as the days turn† (Homer 18. 154-157). Odysseus has learned this lesson from experience and his calm warnings and advice on the subject contribute to the theme of the necessity of strength when it comes to the archetype of the journey. In relation to the archetype the journey Homer uses â€Å"The Odyssey† to create a theme of resilience and determination when encountering struggles and trials. This is created through the way that the characters handle hardship with their lives. Odysseus is a major role model whose success and failures can easily be learned from. â€Å"The Plague† was written by Albert Camus in 1947; the novel relates the story of a city falling into and later recovering from an epidemic of plague. Each character has his own personal interests but as the plague progresses and the gates of the city are closed, fighting the plague becomes everyone’s main interest. The entire town goes through an archetypal journey with each characters experiences differing in their own ways. When a group of people is suffering, each person has a duty to think more of the group and less of individual desires; everyone has to try to help others. It is the few people who fulfill that duty who make the difference for the whole of the community in the end. As the first few cases began to arise, nobody wanted to admit the high level of danger that came with them. Due to the town’s lack of experience with the plague things move slowly at first and no one really knows what to do. Despite this confusion and lack of knowledge it is important that there are a few people who are always fighting to make progress. â€Å"No, we should go forward, groping our way through the darkness, stumbling perhaps at times, and try to do what good lay in our power† (Camus 205). Camus shows the absolute need for action even when nobody is quite sure what to do. The town is urged to forget personal matters to devote themselves to following blind determination. After months of plague it becomes obvious to the townsfolk that they are all in the situation together and that they are in the same amount of risk even though nobody wanted to acknowledge it out loud. â€Å"No longer were there individual destinies; only a collective destiny, made of plague and emotions shared by all† (Camus 151). The atmosphere of the survival situation has made personal interests unimportant and the survival and health of the community the main point of the people’s lives. As the city of Oran attempts to regain its stability its citizens sacrifice their personal feelings such as love to go into a survival mode. â€Å"Evening after evening gave its truest, mournfulest expression to the blind endurance that had outlasted love from all our hearts† (Camus 168). People have become so engrossed in the plague and its effect on their lives that emotions like love are pushed to the back of the mind. Camus stresses the fact that in order for a community to endure, personal sacrifice is necessary. â€Å"The Plagues† main theme in relation to the archetype of the journey is that personal sacrifice may be needed in order for a community to go through a journey and still prevail in the end. It can also be seen that hope is necessary when you are faced with hardship even if you are completely lost and in the dark. All three novels, â€Å"Jane Eyre† by Charlotte Brontà «, â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, and â€Å"The Plague† by Albert Camus have strong examples of the journey archetype. Each tells a story of trials, hardship, and suffering. â€Å"Jane Eyre† focuses largely on Jane’s personal development and the challenges that she faces in her everyday life. Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s main theme is to not lose sight of who you are when things get tough in contrast to the ideas behind â€Å"The Plague† which call for almost an exact opposite due to the community setting in which the journey takes place. â€Å"The Odyssey† is more about a since of strength and endurance, though Odysseus’s emotions are evident and are very important in maintaining his will to continue trying to reach home, they do not dominate the scene like in â€Å"Jane Eyre† and â€Å"The plague†. The journey archetype is very important in giving people insight to possible life situations. By reading about a characters development while going through a journey it is easy to realize their achievements and failures. This makes these types of situations easier to handle when they come up in real life later on because the reader has already been warned of what to do and what not to do. The main characters of a story focused on an archetypal journey are also inspirational and can provide the same hope and determination by giving people a â€Å"they did this so I can too† type of attitude toward life’s challenges.

English And Vietnamese Prepositions Contrastive Analysis Cultural Studies Essay

English And Vietnamese Prepositions Contrastive Analysis Cultural Studies Essay Prepositions are words used to connect nouns or noun structures to other structures in a sentence. They exist in both English and Vietnamese language systems. However, prepositions have different characteristics and usage in each language. The use of prepositions may cause lots of trouble for Vietnamese people when learning English and vice versa. Therefore, this paper aims at analyzing English and Vietnamese prepositions in a contrastive view, especially in showing direction and location so that leaners can find it easier to learn them. This paper also supplies some implications for teaching prepositions which can be useful for those who teaching English or Vietnamese. Through these implications, I hope that they can help teachers know how to help students use prepositions correctly and appropriately. Literature Review Prepositions in English Definition According to Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary, a preposition is a word or group of words used before a noun or pronoun to show place, position, time or method. Another definition is that a preposition may be defined as connecting word showing the relation of a noun or a noun substitute to some other words in the sentence (the squirrel in the tree; the preposition in shows the relationship between the squirrel and the tree.) (Prepositions: definition and usage, n.d). From these definitions, we can come to a conclusion about the function of a preposition which is it is used to connect nouns and noun structures with other structures in a sentence. Prepositions that we often use in everyday life are: with, at, by, to, in, for, from, of, on. It is estimated that these prepositions make up for ninety percent of preposition usage. The part following a preposition is called its object. The object of a preposition can be a noun, a pronoun, a gerund or a noun clause. For example, we have: a noun: We gave a present to our  secretaries. a  pronoun: We gave a present to  them. a  gerund: We thought about  giving  a present to them. a  noun clause: We thought about giving a present  to whoever worked for us. (Lougheed, n.d) Form Prepositions are often in one-word form; however, there are also other prepositions with more than one word. They are made up with two or three words. For example, we have on behalf of, in front of, in accordance with, in line with, in relation to and so on. Another form is called prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases are groups of words that begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun. Some phrases are used commonly and in a number of situations such as acting as an adjective  or an  adverb, locating something in time and space, modifying a noun, or telling when or where or under what conditions something happened. (Prepositions: Locator in time and place, n.d). Examples of these prepositional phrases are out of work, at any rate, by means of, in person, under orders, from now on and so forth. Besides, there are some called marginal prepositions which are verbal in forms, such as concerning, considering, including, pending and more. Usage Prepositions are used with a lot of functions including time, location, manner, means, quantity, purpose, and state or condition. Regarding to prepositions of time, there are some prepositions like at, on, in, from, since, for, during, to, till/until, after, afterwards, by.before and so forth. For example, we have: at six oclock, on Monday or in the evening. Another usage of prepositions is to show location. Some belong to this category are in,at,on,next to,beside, behind,in front of,opposite,near,on top of,under,above and so on. For example, Jone  lives at 55 Boretz Road in Durham, She lives in Durham or Mary is sitting next to me. Prepositions of movement include: from,to,at,into,out of,towards,on,onto,across,through,around,along,up. For instance, he ran out of the room or Mary run towards the walls. Other usages are listed below. Means or agent: by: He was hit by a ball. from: His success results from careful planning . in: He takes pleasure in it. on: They live on bread and water. with: He chased the mongoose with a stick. Manner: by: By doing it yourself in: He left in confusion. like: He looks like a hero. on: I swear it on my word of honor. with: He ate it with a fork. State or condition: at: My friend is at work. by: They are by themselves in: He is in a state of confusion on: He is on duty (scheduled to work). for: I mistook you for someone else. as: I see her as a good person . Quantity or mesure: for: We drove for twenty miles. by: We bought them by the kilo Purpose: for: He bought it for an emergency. She went to the city for sightseeing. He loved her for her thoughtfulness. (Prepositions: definition and usage, n.d) Vietnamese Prepositions Definition Like English, Vietnamese also has a category of word which is similar to prepositions. We may call this category Vietnamese equivalent of English preposition. To make it simple, some people prefer to use the name preposition. Nevertheless, the notion preposition in Vietnamese is a quite complicated issue because some linguists have claimed that prepositions do not exist in Vietnamese. Yet, according to Tuc (2003), although the distinction between prepositions and serial verbs in Vietnamese is not always clear-cut, Vietnamese prepositions do exist (p.69). In his book, he also gave many examples to prove his opinion. Moreover, nowadays, in many books of teaching Vietnamese for foreigners, the name preposition is often used. Therefore, to be convenient, the name Vietnamese preposition is used for equivalent of English preposition in Vietnamese in this paper. Types of prepositions in Vietnamese According to Tran (2007) there are two main types of preposition in Vietnamese: prepositions of time and location. In addition, there are some other prepositions called miscellaneous ones. Prepositions of time are và  o (in, on, at), trong or suà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœt (during), trÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºc (before), sau (after), kà ¡Ã‚ »Ã†â€™ tà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ « khi (since) and cho tà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi khi (until). In terms of prepositions of location, there are trà ªn (on, above, over), trong (in, inside), chung quanh (around), bà ªn phà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ £i (on the right of), cà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡nh (next to) and so on. Finally, miscellaneous prepositions conclude cho (for), và ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi (with), và ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚  (about), nhà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚  (thanks to), bà ¡Ã‚ »Ã… ¸i (by) and so forth. Here are some examples about how these prepositions are used in sentences. Their usage in Vietnamese is similar to in English. Time: Tà ´i thÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ng dà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ­y và  o sà ¡u già ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚  sà ¡ng (I usually get up at six am) Trong bà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¯a tià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡c cà ´ à ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¥y khà ´ng nà ³i gà ¬ cà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ £. (She said nothing during the party) Location: Bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n tà ´i sà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœng à ¡Ã‚ »Ã… ¸ Sà  i Gà ²n (My friend lives in Saigon) Vià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡n bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ £o tà  ng nà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ±m bà ªn phà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ £i tià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡m sà ¡ch cÃ…Â © (The museum is located on the right of the used bookstore) Miscellaneous: Là ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡i Ä‘Ã ¢y ngà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Å"i và ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi tà ´i! (Come and sit with me) Nhà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ º mua hoa cho tà ´i nhà ©. (Remember to buy flowers for me, OK?) Ä Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœi và ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi tà ´i, chuyà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡n Ä‘Ã ³ khà ´ng quan trà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ng (That issue doesnt matter to me) (Tran, 2007) Contrast between English and Vietnamese prepositions The notion preposition is quite an interesting issue. There may be so many things to say if we compare prepositions in English with those in Vietnamese in a large scale. Nonetheless, within this paper, I only make a contrast between English and Vietnamese prepositions in two aspects: prepositions of movement with directional verbs and locative prepositions because they often cause problems for Vietnamese people when learning English and vice versa. Prepositions of movement with directional verbs The first difference between English and Vietnamese prepositions is related to directional verbs. In English, directional verbs like come, go and arrive cannot take direct objects. This means they must have a preposition (or a prepositional phrase), bare particle or deictic verbial (bare noun phrase adverb). Since prepositions are being discussed in this paper, the examples with bare particle and deictic verbial are not mentioned. Here are the examples of directional verbs with prepositions Sally has gone  to  New York. Catrin will come  to  Sheffield next month. They arrived at the airport. (Vietnamese online grammar,n.d) In Vietnamese, by contrast, there is no need to use prepositions with these directional verbs because these verbs can take direct objects by themselves. We have these examples: Tuà ¡Ã‚ ºn trÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºc cà ´ Ä‘i Luà ¢n Ä Ãƒ ´n (Last week she went to London) Bao già ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚  cà ´ à ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¥y Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¹nh sang Vià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡t Nam? (When does she intend to come to Vietnam?) Mà ¡y.bay xuà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœng phi-trà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ «Ãƒâ€ Ã‚ ¡ng Lià ªn-khang. (The plane landed at Lien khang airport) (Vietnamese online grammar,n.d) Actually, in Vietnamese, there is no preposition which is similar to preposition to in English. The verb Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿n (reach, arrive at) is used instead as the following examples: Tà ´i khà ´ng cà ³ thà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ i già ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚  Ä‘i (Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿n) bÆ °u Ä‘ià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡n I dont have time to go to the post-office Locative prepositions In English, space prepositions state the location of an object without paying attention to the position of the speakers. For example, English people often say: the plane is in the sky, the child is playing in the kitchen, cars run in the street. (McCarty, Pà ©rez, Torres-Guzman,  To, Watahomigie, 2004, p. 150). On the contrary, in Vietnamese, people tend to consider the position of the speakers. They say: mà ¡y bay à ¡Ã‚ »Ã… ¸ trà ªn trà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ i (the plane is above him or her), Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ©a trà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ » Ä‘ang chÆ ¡i trong nhà   bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿p (the child is inside the kitchen), nhà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¯ng chià ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿c xe hÆ ¡i chà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡y ngoà  i Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ng (cars are outside). Therefore, preposition in can be translated three ways into Vietnamese with three different meanings: trà ªn, trong, ngoà  i. In addition, Tran (2010) mentioned several differences between English and Vietnamese prepositions in terms of semantics and pragmatics. First, when describing the higher position, they take the contact meaning between trajector (Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœi tÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £ng Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¹nh và ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¹) and landmark (Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœi tÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £ng qui chià ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿u) into consideration.For example, they distinguish the meaning of on, above and over. Meanwhile, Vietnamese people almost do not pay attention to this aspect. They just use the only word trà ªn. Second, when talking about the relation between above (trà ªn) and under (dÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi), English people are always aware of whether or not trajector (Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœi tÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £ng Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¹nh và ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¹) is in the vertical reference (và ¹ng quy chià ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿u thà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ³ng Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ©ng) of the land marks (Ä‘Ã ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœi tÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £ng qui chià ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿u) area. That is the reason why they have these words: above / over / on and under / below / beneath. In contrast, Vietnamese people only devide the space into two part above/under (trà ªn/dÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi).To indicate the middle position, English has in the middle of / between (for 2 objects) and among (for 3 objects and more) while Vietnamese use the word già ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¯a for all these cases. Examples of this kind are summarized in the table below. Notion English prepositions Vietnamese prepositions TRONG in, inside trong NGOÀI out, outside, out of ngoà  i TRÊN on, upon,above,on top of, over,atop Trà ªn DÆ ¯Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã… ¡I under, underneath, beneath, below dÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi TRÆ ¯Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã… ¡C before,in front of, ahead of, preceding trÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºc SAU behind, following, at the back of (br), in the back of (ame) Sau BÊN by, near, next to, close to, beside, alongside, to the right/left bà ªn, cà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡nh, sà ¡t, gà ¡Ã‚ ºn, kà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ , bà ªn phà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ £i, bà ªn trà ¡i GIà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ®A within, among, between, in the middle of, in the midst of già ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¯a (Tran, 2010) Implications for teaching After having contrasted English and Vietnamese prepositions in two aspects as above, I would like to mention the implications for teaching English at high school in our country. Since learners tend to translate everything into their mother tongue, teachers should be very careful when teaching English, especially prepositions. They need to realize that there is no exact one-to-one translation from English to Vietnamese and vice versa. Referring to the discussion prepositions with directional verbs, we know that when translating a sentence from English to Vietnamese or Vietnamese to English, sometimes we may add or omit the prepositions. For instance, we may not use preposition to with directional verbs in Vietnamese. Moreover, as discussed in the section Locative prepositions above, we can realize that a Vietnamese preposition may have several prepositions which are equivalent to them in English. Therefore, teachers should ask learners to take notice of this issue and know when to use the most appropriate preposition. In sum, to make sure the exact preposition is used, learners should observe how a preposition is used in a certain context. They should not tra nslate directly using prepositions in their language since prepositions can be used differently in different language. Moreover, the difference between Vietnamese and English prepositions is mainly due to semantics and the notion of reference (quan nià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡m quy chià ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿u), so it is vital that teachers have enough knowledge of these fields to explain to students completely. Culture difference and the habit of using prepositions in each language are also the things that teachers should bear in mind. If teachers are very careful about these things, students may reduce making mistakes when using prepositions. Conclusion In conclusion, preposition is an interesting category in linguistics. There are so many things to discuss about preposition. However, sometimes learners may feel confused about how to use prepositions correctly, especially when Vietnamese prepositions have something different from English prepositions. That is the reason why learners often make mistakes when dealing with prepositions. A contrastive analysis in this area is necessary and important because it shows difference between English and Vietnamese prepositions in relation to direction and location. Directional and locative prepositions are the ones that often causes trouble to students more than other types. After having contrasted them, we can see that English prepositions are more complex than those in Vietnamese. Moreover, the research also suggest some implications for teaching prepositions in Vietnamese high school, so I hope that this research paper will be a piece of useful referent material for those who are interested in teaching a language aspect, particularly preposition.

Classification of Medical Devices

Classification of Medical Devices Sri Kanya Alluru Why are medical devices stratified into different classes? A wide range of medical devices are used daily, and many are being marketed. It is difficult to study each of these devices separately. In order to determine these devices complexity, and its level of harm a classification system is developed. The classification is assigned based on its marketing requirements and the risks or benefits it imposes. A basic classification system is required to classify and assign medical devices to each of these systems to get a thorough understanding of all devices, their intended use, labeling patterns and marketing criteria. Medical devices are classified into 3 groups based on the degree of difficulty in assuring safety and efficacy. These medical devices are used by mankind in one or the other way so it is necessary to classify them so that they can be aware of the risks posed by each class. The various classes include Class I: General controls Class II: General controls and special controls Class III: General controls, Special controls and premarket approval This stratification helps FDA, manufacturers and patients. Class I devices are low risk devices, and require less regulatory control compared to other classes. These include elastic bandages etc. Class III devices are high risk and life sustaining so strict regulations are to be enforced in a manner such that these devices adhere to them. Examples include implants, pacemakers etc. By understanding these risk factors patients can be careful at the time of device use to assure their safety. FDA has classified almost 1700 medical devices into different categories known as panels based on their medical importance and their intended use such as all cardiovascular devices are assigned as one panel, all dental devices are grouped as another panel etc., which in turn are again assigned either under Class I, II or III devices. These devices are classified based on the device description according to 21 CFR 862-892. For manufacturers in case of low risk devices such as Class I devices they are exempted from pre-market approval and so take less time for marketing thus benefitting manufacturers. So based on classification they can identify which products need approval and which of them are to be exempted enabling their marketing time. 2. Why is traceability important for the medical device life cycle? Who does it benefit – the manufacturer, FDA, both? Explain your answer. Traceability is defined as the ability to thoroughly study a medical device from it design to the end process. It requires complete analysis and understanding of their uses. (Effective Traceability of Medical Devices, 2010). Traceability is an essential factor in device life cycle as it Enables product recalls, To determine the batch that has undergone recalls without enhancing recall of all devices To maintain records so that an efficient review and preventive measures can be enabled It is the responsibility of each manufacturer to establish requirements for each type or family of devices to ensure the device safety, quality, and establish methods and procedures to design, produce, distribute, etc. As a part of the quality system regulation or GMP principle documenting the details is essential for traceability. The manufacturer must prepare a batch record for every device/batch that is product and must be identified with a unique lot/control numbering system defined by the manufacturer and it represents the lots complete history. Distribution records of each where it was shipped must be kept by the manufacturer for traceability in the event of a recall. The device GMP require manufacturers to be able to trace any device or device component by a control number if it is indented for surgical implant into the body to support or sustain life, and its failure to perform can be reasonably expected to result in a significant injury to the user. The Quality system regulations require companies to establish purchasing controls and institute post-distribution device failure investigations and corrective/preventive actions for defects or recurring technical problems. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to establish traceability controls to effectively handle complaint/failures and determine root cause so as to correct prevent the reoccurrence and at the same time it would help the manufacturer to effectively handle the recalls both internally and also with FDA when required. 3. Review the Johnson and Johnson Quality Catastrophe article under Week 9 Readings. What areThe major lessons learned from Johnson and Johnson’s Quality Catastrophe? Based on the events and circumstances in the article Johnson and Johnson and its subsidiaries had certainly put its consumers trust in turmoil by providing unsafe products. Johnson Johnson (JJ) expanded its businesses by acquiring and merging with companies manufacturing health products. Due to these acquisitions it has become a decentralized organization. It is unusual to see deficiencies in product quality and safety, as all the procedures and rules for safety are defined at the enterprise level, not at the product level. The incidents mentioned occurred due to ignorance and profit making strategies of the corporate companies leaving the facts and safety concerns behind reality. These would cause lot of pain and suffering to the people relying on the product with their lives. Tylenol incident occurred in the past has gained applause and appreciation for its best crisis management, but later incidents brought condemnation to the company. The reason for this quality catastrophe occurred at JJ is mainly due to the following reasons. Corporate governance: Due to JJ decentralized organizational structure, the responsibility rest at the enterprise level not at the subsidiary level, CEO Weldon (2002-2012) put in place. Under his Leader ship many recalls, incidents occurred due to his negligence, and profit making mentality. They failed to meet with the regulations He clouded the issues in the factories (McNeil Factory odor), recalls (Motrin, Benadryl), lawsuits (Hip replacement) from the individuals, hospitals using their products by showing steady growth and properties to the investors and board of directors. Product Safety: Product safety should be one of the top priorities while manufacturing consumer products. Ignoring these facts will cause jeopardy to the consumers and have adverse effects due to their use. Marketing products without proper research and tests will cause problems to the consumers. JJ failed to comply with these standards in their products (Ortho Evra, DePuy hip product), and caused harm and discomfort to the consumers emotionally and physically. FDA Ignorance: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be stringent with companies in imposing rules and regulations of the FDA. By imposing these laws FDA can ensure that the companies will provide high quality products to the consumers. In this case FDA ignored the JJ company product recalls, factories manufacturing standards, and their sanity conditions. Due to its ignorance people had permanent immobility, discomfort, and even deaths. This can be prevent if FDA had a structured program in allowing health products being market after certifying them they are safe, and define laws that would report medical incidents, and lawsuits to the FDA for review. 4. What are the regulatory challenges specifically for products in the mobile health space? FDA recently issued the Mobile Medical Guidance for Industry, which mainly outlines the regulations for mobile space devices. The mobile app is designed to have a direct communication to patient. (Kim, 2014) Incorporating mobile apps, as a tool for health-based issues is a boon, when major challenges and risks associated with it are overviewed and are put in a right way so that they are beneficial to the public. Recently a large number of health and fitness apps, medical device apps are introduced and their number is constantly increasing day by day. But the major challenge underneath this is which of them are beneficial and can be categorized as medical apps. They are to be clearly understood and regulated. Software’s intended solely for the purpose of storage are exempted as medical apps, and those for serious health issues and diagnostic purposes are regarded as mobile health apps. Post market surveillance also has a major role to play. As these mobile health apps are pioneer and outstanding major challenges lies in diagnosis, monitoring and treatment (Brousseau, 2012). Medical apps can be categorized into three groups. Firstly only a few apps meet the requirements of a device and help in diagnosis. Secondly, a large number of apps are not scrutinized or influenced by FDA such as calorie counters etc. and finally some apps, which have no benefits in medical field. In spite of so many of these apps FDA has to have a keen and a clear survey on which of them actually comes under mobile health category and regulate them(Brousseau, 2012). Most challenging effect is that there might be loss of confidentiality because these social medias always face the risk of hackers. There are also serious risks associated with the misuse of mobile apps. But there are questions regarding how risks arise with these apps. So there is challenge for the improvement of adverse reporting system. It’s possible for a medical device to escape regulatory process and enter the market but such type of procedures impose risks to consumers so FDA has to monitor them thoroughly.(Vesely, 2014) 5. What was the most interesting thing you learned in the devices portion  Of RGA 6100? There are many interesting things that surprised me during my course. I could learn the regulations governing these devices, various medical device companies, their FDA approvals and lot more things. Today there are so many advances in medical device technology such as medical robotic technology for various surgeries, mobile health apps that helps in communication between doctor and patient, inhaled insulin more advantageous to diabetes patients and if we go on it would be an never ending discussion. I found Lap-band interesting because of today’s obesity problems people are facing. Although there are several weight loss programs, fitness centers, they provide only short-term results and also have considerable health problems.(Ruchi Mathur, 2014) This lap-band is so advantageous that it ensures healthy weight loss and has long term results. This is an adjustable process as we can loosen or tighten it according to our convenience. (Lap-Band Surgery Information,) REFERENCES: Brousseau, Zachary. (2012). Experts Examine Regulation of Health-Related Mobile Apps, Software and Social Media. Retrieved 03/24/2014, 2014, from https://http://www.raps.org/focus-online/under-raps/under-raps-article/article/2479/experts-examine-regulation-of-health-related-mobile-apps-software-and-social-me.aspx Effective Traceability of Medical Devices. (2010). Retrieved 03/21/014, 2014, from http://www.imb.ie/EN/SafetyQuality/Advisory-WarningRecall-Notices/Medical-Devices/page-title-Effective-Traceability-of-Medical-Devices.aspx Kim, Sun. (2014). FDA Regulations on Mobile Medical Apps. Retrieved 03/24/2014, 2014, from http://qbdworks.com/fda-regulations-on-mobile-medical-apps/ Lap-Band Surgery Information.). Retrieved 03/21/2014, 2014, from http://www.mills-peninsula.org/obesity/lapband.html Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C). (2014). Lap Band Surgery(Gastric Banding). Retrieved 03/21/2014, 2014, from http://www.medicinenet.com/lap_band_surgery_gastric_banding/article.htm Vesely, Rebecca. (2014). mHealth Regulations: Whats in Store? Retrieved 03/25/2014, 2014, from http://www.ihealthbeat.org/insight/2014/mhealth-regulations-whats-in-store 1

Modern Versus Traditional Views in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen :: Potok Chosen Essays

Modern Versus Traditional Views in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen Chaim Potok’s The Chosen shows how people with traditional ideas view the world differently than those with modern ideas. For example, David Malter has modern views of his faith, whereas Reb Saunders cannot let go of traditional practices. Also, Reb Saunders and David Malter have different methods of raising their children. Finally, David Malter believes in Zionism, whereas Reb Saunders wants to wait for the coming of the Messiah to preserve his religion. Such differences can cause similar faiths to seem very different. David Malter’s modern ideas conflict with Reb Saunders's traditional practices. For example, David Malter wants his son, Reuven, to learn English subjects and become a mathematician. However, a Jewish school established by Reb Saunders teaches the minimum required English subjects. Reb wishes for Danny to become a rabbi and carry a tradition in which the oldest son becomes a rabbi and the leader of the sect. These opposing views are carried out in all other aspects of the religious sects in which these men lead. The way in which Reb Saunders and David Malter raise their children reflect the conflict between tradition and modernity in this story. David Malter raises Reuven with a modern approach. He encourages Reuven to learn about the modern world as well as hold on to his religion. Reb Saunders to shelter Danny from modern ideas. With the exception of teaching Danny about the Talmud, he raises Danny in silence. He has his own reasons for raising Danny this way. â€Å"I did not want to drive him away from God, but I did not want him to grow up a mind without a soul† (Page 266). Reb Saunders raises his son through a tradition that has been in his family for a long time. However, he accomplishes his goal. His method of raising his son is dramatically different from David Malter’s modern practice. The results are also different. Danny has gone through much more pain and suffering than Reuven, and he chooses to carry on this practice if he must. Modernity and trad ition present in the different ideas of these men influences the lives and ideas of their children as well.

A Comparison of Migrant Workers in The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and

Migrant Workers in The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   John Steinbeck wrote about what surrounded him. At the time he was writing, the nineteen-thirties, a great depression was plaguing the United States. Many people were out of work. Many farmers were losing their farms and homes. An extreme drought had also wrecked the farms of the Midwest and made them into what is now referred to as the "dust bowl". It was a terrible time to be poor, and most were. People died of malnutrition every day. In California, where Steinbeck resided, migrant workers dominated the workforce. Thousands traveled from all around to pick fruit in the farms of the Salinas Valley for minuscule wages. Thousands more could not find suitable Many people theorize why the depression happened. Speculation in the stock market was one reason. The dust bowl also multiplied the depression's effects. The depression did happen to coincide with another event though. It happened soon after the last frontier vanished from the United States. There was no longer free land for the taking. The long held American dream was no longer simple and cheap to achieve. Many Americans simply wanted their own plot to take and set up their lives, but the depression made this an impossibility. Steinbeck wrote about this class of people. Throughout his writing he uses many minor themes and biblical references to get his point across, but the ubiquitous theme is the story of the poor, depression era migrant worker simply trying to retain dignity, achieve the ever important American dream of owning their own plot of land, and end the depravity that is the life of a migrant worker. Characters in Steinbeck's writing always have dreams. Many of the cha... ...h-Allusions." 2001: 3pp. Online. 22 March 2003. www.123helpme/2690.html Groene, Horst. "The Dispossessed Farmer." Bloom 23-24."Of Mice and Men-Lonely Characters." 2001: 3pp. Online. 22 March 2003. www.essay bank.co.uk/free_coursework/1148.html "Of Mice and Men and Migrant Workers." 2001: 3pp. Online. 22 March 2003. www.123helpme/1105.html Parini, Jay. "The Masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath." 2002: 3pp. Online. 6 March 2003. http://web4.infotrac.galegroup.com/81433&dyn=9tar_fmt?sw_aep=unio58461 Railton, Stephen. "The Joads and Their Oppressors." Bloom 31. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2002. -. Of Mice and Men. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2002. Visser, Nicholas. "Audience and Closure in The Grapes of Wrath." 1994: 13pp. Online. http://web4.infotrac.galegroup.com/0136&dyn=45tar_fmt?sw_aep=unio58461   

Muhammed Ali Essay examples -- essays research papers

Muhammed Ali Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest heavy weight champions. His natural abilities were complemented by his flashy flamboyant personality. It was his ability that won him the heavy weight championship on three separate occasions, but only his â€Å"Float like a butter fly sting like a bee† antics won him the title of the â€Å"people’s champ† (â€Å"Ali† 2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Born Cassius Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville Kentucky, he was far from over privileged. His father Cassius Clay Sr., worked to support the family as a sign and mural painter. His mother Odessa Clay, worked part time as a domestic. He attended school at Duvalle middle school with his brother Rudolph Clay. After this, he went on to high school at Central High in Louisville Kentucky. Though devoted fully to nearly every aspect of life, he was a rather poor student. He blames this mostly to his preoccupation with boxing. His studies in school reflected the fact that he started training to be a boxer at a young age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Ali was a mere twelve years old, his bicycle was stolen from his home in his criminally active neighbor hood in Louisville Kentucky. He reported the theft to a near by police department, which appointed Joe Martin to handle his case. Joe Elsby Martin supervised the training of young boxers, and invited Ali to join the gym. He arranged for Ali to train with Fred Stoner who taught Ali the basics of moving with speed and grace. He motivated Ali to be like a dancer in the ring. Even at his young age, he was able to develop the skills needed to become a powerful yet skilled boxer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ali had a lot of success even in high school as an amateur. He claimed a victory in 100 out of 108 matches. The hardware he collected was unheard of for someone his age. He claimed six Kentucky and two National Golden Gloves championships. In addition, on his way to greatness, he won two Amateur Union championships. His accomplishments were numerous throughout his young career but the most impressive was probably the Gold Medal he won at the Olympic Games in 1960. He competed in the light heavy weight division, in which he would later admit, is where he mastered his renowned skills of ring chatter. He would use degrading remarks to distract and frustrate his opponents. This woul... ...e helped negotiate for the release of four kidnapped Americans, who were being held in Lebanon. He later met with the leaders of the Soviet Union and Africa and founded the World Organization for Right, Liberty, and Dignity (WORLD).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1996, he was given the esteemed honor of lighting the torch at the Olympic Games in Atlanta (â€Å"Ali† 1). Then in 1999 he became the first boxer to appear on cover of a Wheaties box. These awards came years after his boxing career. He now lives in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he is married to his forth wife. Spread between these women are nine of his children. His oldest daughter Khaliah Ali is currently pursuing a career in boxing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Muhammad led an illustrious career as a boxer. Through the ups and downs and all of the adversity, he managed to keep his optimistic outlook and his diligent work ethic. He overcame his legal matters, and survived through the persecution of his religion, he still managed to accomplish more than any boxer, and a majority of any athletes. Though it was just self-proclaimed confidence, he turned out to be just what he told the world, â€Å"The Greatest†

Introduction To Poetry

Introduction To Poetry October 21, 2013 A relationship between two lovers is a bond that when broken, can be hard to get over. It's hard to undo feelings for someone whom youVe built so much trust and compassion with. It takes a strong person to forgive someone who has stopped loving you when you still love him or her. And even then, it takes a stronger person to see that ex-lover and be able to talk to them in a civil and friendly manner. Women tend to find it harder to do this than men due to the feelings and trust that they put into men, who are already viewed as Jerks that only care about them.Carolyn Kizer, author of â€Å"Bitch,† is Just like those women and shows anger toward her ex-lover. She shows her maturity and strength and doesn't allow him to spark a reaction that shows she wants him back. This is the first time that Kizer is meeting with her old lover in some time. It is clear that it has been a while because she says, ‘after all these years† (1). As the conversation continues, we see more reasons that it has been a number of years since they have seen each other.She starts off the greeting with a simple hello and then asks, â€Å"How are the children? They must be growing up† (9). This shows that they have been broken up long enough for him to have more than one child. Also, she says, â€Å"they must be growing up† (9), so they must be getting big and are more than a few years old. Another sign they haven't seen each other in a while is when she says, â€Å"It's nice to know you are doing so well† (28). This is something someone would only say if they haven't seen or heard from someone in some time, but is happy to have seen them.Kizer also knows he isn't hurting her anymore so there's no reason to be hostile toward him, but the bitch inside her doesn't feel the same way. The bitch inside her wants to call him out and yell at him because of the pain that he put her through, but she tries to quiet that bitc h and says, â€Å"don't start growling† (2). While still fighting the bitch inside her, she says, â€Å"nice to see you† (5), as the bitch begins to â€Å"bark hysterically' (6). The barking is her inner anger building, but she continues to fght it, asking herself â€Å"where are your manners† (8).She doesn't want the inner bitch to ruin a friendly conversation between her and her old companion. He says something nice to her after she asks about the children and she sees a familiar situation. Finally she has broken the anger barrier and her inner bitch â€Å"begins to whimper† (11) and Just wants to snuggle up with the man she used to love so much. â€Å"He isn't an enemy now' (7) realizes the bitch. There's no reason for her to live in the past and make herself feel worse anymore. They have both moved on, but she has to keep the bitch away from him saying â€Å"down, girl!Keep your distance† (13) or she'll have to punish her for trying to bring old feelings back to life. As â€Å"she slobbers and grovels,† (16) she subsides and takes control of her â€Å"basically loyal† (17) self. Obviously her self is supposed to be loyal to her. As her inner self tarts to sit on the sideline during the conversation, she begins to reminisce. She remembers how she would run toward his comfort whenever â€Å"she heard his step† (19). When he was too busy for her loving devotion, he would send â€Å"her to the c en† (22).Kizer didn't get the tull attection that sne wanted, and yet it was the â€Å"small careless kindnesses† (24) that she adored so much. The good days that he had or if he had a few drinks are the days that were more important to her than â€Å"the casual cruelties† (27). She enjoyed the times when they were nice to each other and cared for each other, although they seemed to be short in number. It's nice to know you are doing so well† (28), shows that she still cared for him li ke anyone would care for a friend.Kizer tells the bitch â€Å"he couldn't have taken you with him† (29), because he cared too much and was â€Å"too clumsy' (30) unlike his new wife and kids. She was too attached to him and was clingy, but now in his new life he has a wife and kids that love him but give him his space when he needs it. He has a new life where he is comfortable, happy and shares it with the ones he loves. As those few minutes of catching up comes to an end, she asks him to â€Å"Give [her} regards to [his] wife† (32). They begin to part as they say their goodbyes.Trying not to trip up and release any emotion, Kizer ends their conversation with â€Å"Nice to have seen you again† (34). It is tough for someone to tell an ex-lover to say hello, or give his or her regards to their wife. No one wants to see someone they used to love and share a life together with enjoying life with someone else. But not all relationships are meant to last. A true rela tionship will come in time, so it is better not to dwell on what could have been and look forward to what could be. So, Kizer's poem shows how we should be able to turn an old, close partner to a friend.

Policies Introduced in the Past 25 Years Related to Education

Over the past 25 years, different policies have been put in place to influence the education system in different ways. Some sociologist would say that the main aim of these policies were to result in the marketization of the education system. Other sociologist would disagree; they believe that trying to create less inequality was the main intention when It comes to the educational reform. When the New Labour came to power, it seemed that policies they were in favour of were more aimed towards trying to create less inequality of different schools.One policy The New Labour introduced was free places in nurseries, this would ensure children from all backgrounds started educational development early and started to gain skills needed to start school. This would also give working class parents a chance to go out and work whilst their child is at nursery. They also introduced ‘Educational Action Zones’ these areas of deprivation were giving extra funding in order to lessen the inequality between these schools in worse areas to the schools in better areas.This is trying to give people of worse financial areas a better chance to gain access to good schools, and not just be limited to worse performing schools just because they live in a poorer area. They also introduced The EMA award, this was to try and get pupils to stay on in education past ages 16 (college, sixth form, apprenticeships etc. ) because if the pupils parent earned below a certain amount then the child would be entitled to ? 30 a week to help them with any costs that staying on in education may have.Although this may be contradicted by the inequalities that have been put in place by the steep rises in fees for universities, this has meant that working class pupils are at a disadvantage in comparison with the middle class. Previous to this; the conservative government introduced new right policies which are viewed as trying to create a market place out of the education system. They introduced several policies in order to force different schools in to competing with each other; this would then result in schools doing better.They aimed to create a parentocracy, where parents had much more choice when it came to schools for their children, they were able to choose which school they wanted their child to attend, rather than it being dependant on catchment areas like it was previously. This would result in schools upping their standards to gain pupils and ensure that parents would pick their school, funding was changed to be dependent on the amount of pupils a school had. By doing better than ther schools, more pupils would want to attend and result in more funding for the school, benefitting them and then helping them to improve further. Although, in order to rank schools against each other, there would have to be a system in place, so league tables were introduced and schools had to sit SATs and GCSE exams, the results were ranked in the league tables and parents could look through different schools to see where they were placed and pick the best school for their child, much like a market place.OFSTED were also introduced to monitor and inspect schools, they would review the schools standards in several different categories giving a report to be viewed in order to judge the school as a whole and give parents a wider range of data on the schools, giving them more understanding and a better basis to choose which school they would like their child to attend. These policies meant that standards for schools rose as they competed against each other and parents had a greater understanding of schools and had more freedom when it came to choice.On the other hand, it did also create problems, because the better schools got more funding and pupils, the worse schools weren’t able to get the funding they needed to improve which meant the gap between schools achievement became wider as the better schools got better and the worse schools became worse off this created greater inequality. Schools also started to exclude students that would affect their results in the league tables, this also created inequality.These inequalities may have been the reason for the new labour’s aim to wipe out the inequality because there was so much created. Overall, The Conservative party and New Labour both introduced new policies to the education system; the conservative was more aimed towards creating a market in the education system, whilst new labour strived to wipe out inequality in the system and tackle the issue of poverty. Although this being said, the new labour may have created more competition in the system by introducing faith and specialist schools.

Compulsive Gambling Essay

More than 5 million Americans are pathological, compulsive and problem gamblers, and another 15 million are at risk of becoming just like them. A common definition of problem gambling is: a progressive disorder characterized by a continuous or periodic loss of control over gambling and irrational thinking and behavior despite the consequences. When gambling interferes with any one’s life, it can be categorize as an addiction or disease, just like alcohol and drug addiction is categorize as a disease. A study conducted for the National Gambling Impact Study Commission found that 20 million American have or could develop gambling problems. Also they have estimated those 1. 8 million American adults as well as up to 1. 1 million American adolescents age 12 through 17 engage in severe â€Å"pathological† gambling each year. As legalize gambling has become more common in the United States; problems have sprung up as well. That negative influence is becoming more apparent as gambling is more widely available. It is becoming increasingly easy to gamble in the United States particularly in the last 10 years, and problems with gambling are much more common now than they ever were. Studies show that for every dollar gambling produces for a regional economy, three dollars are lost because of the economic and social cost of gambling. The study has also said that if the government legalizes more gambling, taxpayers will lose money, whether they gamble or not. The gambling industry believes it is just selling an innocent form of family entertainment, but they don’t mention how much the players lose or how gambling encourages addictive behavior or the enormous costs it creates for the rest of society. It has been said that, gamblers with higher counts of gambling symptoms will have higher rates of problem. There many consequences associated with compulsive, pathological and problem gamblers. Examples of such consequences include job and financial problems, divorce, poor health, and criminal involvement. These addictions are the lifeblood of the gambling industry, said an economist from the University of Illinois by name Earl Grinols. He researches and found out, that casinos earn more than half their revenues from compulsive, pathological, and problem gamblers. â€Å"The casino industry is heavily dependent on the revenues of psychologically sick people†, says Grinols. Millions of families are paying a heavy price, not just financially, but also strains in family and marital relationship. Family members of compulsive and pathological gamblers are hurt by their disease, mainly because an emotional withdrawal occurs, which leads to separation.

Challenges and Opportunities of the Global Insurance Industry

Introduction The global insurance industry seems to have escaped the worst of the financial crisis in comparison to other financial institutions. Day to day business has been relatively unaffected but the area that gave the most cause for concern has arisen from exposures to risky financial instruments. â€Å"The Reactions Magazine’s Global Insurance Conference 2009† was held in Swissotel, Zurich, Switzerland. At this conference the financial services industry tried to re set itself following the worst crisis for years. (www. euromoneyseminars. com). Insurance is an established industry. Like other companies insurance is facing increased competition from global players. It has been difficult for insurers to accomplish profitable growth, so they need to improve this. They will need to adopt new advanced approaches to expand their distribution networks. This essay is divided into two sections. The first talks about the types of risks that are present in the global insurance industry. I will take each of these points and discuss them in detail: growth, governance and risk management, market reporting, mergers and acquisitions, human capital and lastly compliance and regulation. The second section looks at the opportunities that are available to the global insurance industry within the next twelve to twenty – four months. They include: disaster modelling, disaster planning, managing the industry’s reputation, grow globally, innovative products and delivery and Focus on readdressing product and distribution strategies. The insurance industry is always looking for new opportunities in different services and geographies. To take advantage of these opportunities insurance companies need to re-examine their strategies and be prepared to drive basic changes in the way they work. The primary function of insurance is to act as a risk transfer mechanism. The basic principle of insurance is that the losses of the few are paid by the many. Its underlying purpose is to provide protection against the risk of financial loss, thus giving peace of mind to the policyholders. † (www. peerpapers. com) Challenges are getting bigger for insurers as an increas e in pressure for bigger profit margins. This means taking a hard look at reducing costs and top line revenue growth. Making a profit is due to the ability to accurately assess risk and look after customer relationships over time in order to get financial success. I am going to look at the following six challenges. 1. 1 Growth After a spell of cost cutting and readjustment, insurers are again moving up a gear and trying to strive for managed growth. While growth is valued by investors, it is hard to find in the fairly mature insurance industry. To be successful in the future companies will need to create and design new products and services, cross – sell more effectively, strengthen their ties with brokers and agents and avail of any opportunities presented by emerging markets such as China and India. (www. pwc. com). Further demand for pensions and health insurance is likely to rise in the Western world as the population ages and lives to enjoy a longer retirement. Costs will remain critical however to meet the ever exacting demands of today’s customers is liable to be the main point of contention. There are new openings from the increasing wealth of customers in new markets e. g. China. As their insurance industry is one of the fastest growing in the world with GDP at 3. 2% and the end of December 2008, they stand far behind the global average of insurance industry which stands at 7%. www. lloyds. com) Saturation of insurance markets in the developed world has made the Indian market more attractive for international insurers according to â€Å"Booming Insurance Market in India (2008-2011)†. This is due to its huge population base and large untapped market. (www. newsblaze. com) 1. 2 Governance and Risk Management Natural calamities are another challenge facing the industry. Global warming has caused a change in weather patterns which have caused a shift in the underlying probability of insured loss by storms, floods, wind and heatwaves. Natural disasters like hurricanes Katrina and Rita whose losses amounted to $61. 5 billion (www. duncansadviceonmmoney. vox. com) These disasters posed some very serious problems for the insurance industry as they are faced by difficult and uncertain financial burdens because of this this has shown the importance of quality data and calibration of model outputs, effective validation and also the experience and initiation of the underwriter. Structures will have to be put in place to tackle the threat of climate change. The development of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) capabilities help to protect insurers from damages to their reputation and provide a platform for strengthening governance, decision making and compliance with regulations. Pricewaterhouse- Coopeus (ERM for the insurance industry) revealed that many insurers have difficulty implementing and enforcing ERM in the face of containing data, systems and governance challenges. Also found in this study were examples of how resourceful and efficient management and helping to overcome these hurdles and bring greater insight to the insurers ERM missions. www. pwc. com) 1. 3 Market Reporting Insurers are facing a major overhaul of market reporting. This contains the launch of the market Casistent Embedded Value Principle, a planned move to a finalised IFRS level for insurance contracts and the increased risk and capital management disclosure foreseen by EU Solvency II â€Å"Scheduled for implementation in 2012, it is a new regulatory regime de signed to provide a principles-based supervisory framework for European insurers and reinsures. Solvency II is a risk-based system and is being built to meet the challenges of rapidly developing financial markets. It will also bring an increased level of transparency and harmonisation to the sectorâ€Å". (www. towersperrin. com). These changes are likely to set a model for global disclosure for others to follow in relation to risk. The key elements , include the possible adoption of IFRS(International Financial Reporting Standards) in the US form 2014. Implementation of Solvency II and IFRS reporting will be demanding. The good news is that corresponding timings and basis of valuation could open up cost – savings in areas like data, modelling and reconciliation. These changes help to increase stakeholder confidence by enabling insurers to show a single view of their business that shows more clearly how it is run on the inside. A survey by (IFRS 2007) insurance states that companies will need to provide more risk information and explanation to meet the exacting expectations that have come about from market events. (www. pwc. com) 1. 4 Mergers and Acquisitions Although funding is a challenge from time to time. Mergers and Acquisitions is vital for business to expand complementary earnings streams, realise opportunities for cost saving synergies and reinforce their existence in fast increasing emerging markets. Emerging markets are underinsured and these present potential business for the insurance market. Within ten years China is expected to become a leader in the global insurance market, while India is set to double its digits in the growth rate. However, due to cultural conflicts and protectionism could stop growth in economies. In the near future, the insurance industry is liable to be a very active period for mergers and acquisitions. US insurance companies attractive evaluation will make it easier for insurers in the EU to infiltrate the US market. (www. pwc. com) 1. 5 Human Capital All organisations in the world realise the importance of people in the conduct of their business therefore the trend of classifying their employees as assets. The human resource management school of thought tends to focus on the enrichment of the knowledgeable worker in terms of its theory. Human resource planning should be part of the total resource planning equal to planning devoted to capital development and materials and equipment purposes. Many insurers are facing an skills shortage in their workforce. Training and development of staff is now on the agenda as a rule in all organisations. Improved productivity is expected to result in trained and motivated workers. The employee training programs are intended to provide them with more knowledge and skills so they can do their job to the best of their ability. Training is a visible pay-off and is seen immediately whereas development is future- orientated.. Lessons are being learnt on a continuous basis in the requirement of human capital in the new economy in comparison to the old economic labour force. M Morley et al 2004). This investment in recruitment and career development lags behind other financial sectors. They look at short term fixes rather than looking at the long term prospects. However, looking to the future demographic shifts accelerating globalisation look set to change the shape of the labour market and make it more difficult to attract and retain good peo ple. (www. pwc. com) 1. 6 Compliance and Regulation Growing regulatory demands are bringing increased problems to insurers. Solvency II is included to require a critical check of capital and risk management along with sustaining information and documentation. The EU Reinsurance Directive gives a standard system of regulation and mutual recognition across Europe. This includes an ease of the regulatory limitations on securitisation which could give way for a large increase in risk transfer to the capital markets. Also they give a new definition of reinsurance that will prevent several contracts. Insurers are also facing a ceiling on regulatory changes including anti-money laundering and harder conditions on consumer protection. A key challenge is to know how to include these requirements into â€Å"business as usual†. Enterprise wide risk management can assist in providing ways to do so. They can help by giving a greater understanding of the trade off between reward and risk which will result in a brighter capital allocation. (www. pwc. com) As I have discussed in the challenges previously opportunities in the next twelve to twenty-four months can be found by global expansion adopting the latest technologies to give better service delivery and provide services to meet the exacting requirements of the next generation of retirees. The insurance industry is in the process of undergoing transformation as a result of the following three factors : sector specific, macro and operational. Increased regulation requirements outsourcing, globalisation, new distribution channels, more modern IT systems and climate change are adding to the increased volatility in the insurance industry today and they are now positioning themselves to be successful in the future that requires many changes in the way they do their business. China is one of the fastest growing insurance industries in the globe. â€Å"China Insurance sector forecast 2013† is the outcome of much research and in – depth study of the insurance market in China. Between 2009 and 2013 it is expected to grow CAGR of 28% – 30%. Chinas insurance industry is already out of the financial crisis and is expected to make great headway in the coming years. In 2008, the industry grew in the fastest pace since 2002, due to the rising insurance awareness level and government support. Insurance products which include life, health, and personal accidents accounts for the majority of growth. Property insurance products are also growing rapidly and are basically divided into two segments â€Å"motor and commercial property insurance†. Non life insurance products i. e. that is product liability, credit and marine insurance etc. These will decide the long term viability of the non- life insurance market. 2. 1 Disaster Modelling The tragic impact of the Asian Tsunami, as well as the worst Japanese typoon in 2004 was the year of improbable disasters. As a result, this forces us to look at how we prepare for such risks. Hurricane forecasting began in the 1980's, forecasters have tried for many decades despite being unsuccessful to deliver accurate predictions, and landfall activities. Scientists of tropical storm risk in London announced that they had developed a new model which represents a major step forward.. (www. lloyds. om) Insurers also use models developed by companies e. g. Air Worldwide Corporation to predict the damages caused by storms so that insurers can forecast the payouts to be made. (www. informationweek. com). This reminds us of the importance of investing in scientific research to help our understanding of risk and its impact 2. 2 Disaster Planning Insurance and disaster planning are closely related as they both deal with the risk of the disaster happening and the after math. Due to the upward trend of catastrophe events we see the need for robust and effective disaster planning for the future. Part of the solution must be insurance markets and their regulators working together sharing their respective knowledge and expertise. By doing this, we can be sure that response procedures are well tested and run as smooth as possible for when the next disaster strikes. In terms of claim handling, lessons can be learnt. The shortage of adjustors on the ground and the mishandling of claims by some shows how important the relationship between the insurer, the adjustor and the regulator is. As the frequency and cost of disasters goes upwards it will be very important to have a relationship based on trust and flexibility. (www. lloyds. om) 2. 3 Managing the Industry's reputation Improving transparency and disclosure are two issues which are needed to manage and improve the industries reputation that has been rocked by high profile developments. For instance in the USA the New York State Attorney Generals investigation sparked very close scrutiny of the commercial insurance market. In th e minds of customers, commentators and regulators the financial service industry has been left with a very poor image, after the recent investigations. These investigations highlighted the lack of transparency and accountability that are expected of a 21st century business environment. These issues can no longer be ignored. In a survey, by Lloyds of a hundred underwriters, one third admitted that the industries reputation is tarnished. Transparency and disclosure as well as good communication appears to be the answer to those outside the industry globally. Basically more time communicating and building bridges with consumers, economic leaders and world politicians initially means less problems down the line. (www. lloyds. com) 2. 4 Grow Globally Sales in new markets or by new acquisitions insurance companies need to grow globally more than ever before. Growth in the European and American market is slowing down while growth in India and China is increasing. The aging population presents insurers with a dilemma. The industry has great difficulty in attracting and retaining talent than other sectors of the financial services industry.. This situation is going to get worse as there are more retirees and fewer graduates moving into the top jobs. There is also a loss of graduates to banking and other financial institutions. Concern is expressed about the career path from insurance company hire to insurance agent. If this problem is not addressed the industry’s sale force would diminish. By moving into the European and American markets, insurers can grow a less risky strategy rather than expanding into new product lines. Those who do go overseas have to look at the various business lines in different markets. Chinas middle class and aging population with long term care and security needed make it a very viable option for foreign insurance companies. By 2010 China will be a major player on the insurance market. The same is also said of India. (www. rmislab. com) 2. 5 Innovate Products and delivery Innovation is seen as the main driver of profit over the next three and five years both in delivery and product innovation. By building relationships with customers moving them for example form car insurance to other insurances as they become asset rich. By providing better service and delivery insurers can strengthen their customer base. Technology can strengthen relationships with intermediaries which helps them run more efficiently and reduce their running costs. Insurers must look to cut cost they can do this by cost reduction initiatives like outsourcing and use of shared services, rationalizing product portfolios . Companies need original approaches and to continue to invest in this very complicated environment. (www. rmislab. com). â€Å"In 2007, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co introduced a variety of enhancements to its variable annuities including an expanded choice of â€Å"living benefits† and the upbundling of optional income and death benefits† (www. deloitte. com) 2. 6 Focus on readdressing product and Distribution Strategies As the economy continues to even out, insurers need to evaluate their decisions and distribution channels. These decisions are vital in assisting insurers rebuild capital as well as positioning themselves for future growth. (www. ey. com). Insurance companies that sell directly through call centres, internet and direct mail have been performing better and this is due to lower costs because of their economies of scale and strong internet capabilities. Compared to independent insurance agents who lack these advantages have been put under pressure they require support and further development. Insurers need to find ways to work more effectively across product lines e. . give a customer packages that reward him/her for being a good driver. (www. deloitte. com) Conclusion In my findings I have found that the insurance industry has survived the financial crisis much better in comparison to the banking sector. This is due to its strong focus on risk management and long term prospects. Even though capital markets have decreased downwards their insurance assets, insurers are optimistic about the fu ture and some are expecting an improvement in prospects in mergers and acquisition over the next twelve to twenty – four months. The global insurance industry faces many challenges but despite these that they are being faced with the majority of insurers must move into fast growing markets i. e. India and China or find new innovative ways to get more businesses out of slower growing developed markets. China with its huge population is an obvious choice while the latter options include diversification, new products and speciality products. Insurers need to improve their risk management especially in the areas of disaster modelling and managing the industries reputation as it is vital to have a tarnished free reputation. Finally insurers need to work effectively and efficiently to develop and market a range of products aimed at older customers. In this intensely competitive market, employers will need to develop an excellent human resource management capable of responding to business needs and the workforce expectations. They will need to be able to identify and realise opportunities for career development prospects and other key areas of their employment. (www. pwc. com) With this knowledge insurers will be able to position their business models to optimize investment returns and control operations using the most effective and efficient methods available.