Avalanches Essay Research Paper Avalanches are massive free essay sample

Avalanches Essay, Research Paper Avalanches are monolithic downward and outward motions of snow and ice every bit good as dirt and stones. Three chief factors that determine whether avalanches are likely to happen are the conditions, the snowpack, and the terrain. The conditions is the most of import factor in finding if an avalanche will happen, but the other two factors need to be taken into consideration as good. Since 90 per centum of all avalanches involve human topics that trigger them, they are a major menace to life ( McCafferty 38 ) . Avalanches can go forth decease and devastation in their way and present a great menace to the skiing industry. Most ski resorts in the western portion of the United States attempt to forestall avalanches. They get specially trained forces to flip grenade like explosives or hit a bazooka like shell into the incline. The gun they use to hit these missiles is a 105-millimeter recoilless rifle ( Cone 148 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on Avalanches Essay Research Paper Avalanches are massive or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The explosives trigger the avalanche. They fire them into the mountain early in the forenoon so that the hazard of holding an avalanche during ski hours is lowered but even though they do this, it is non a definite that an avalanche could non go on. By analyzing the mountain the avalanche patrol learns where avalanches usually occur. These are called sweet musca volitanss. Avalanches frequently follow the same paths twelvemonth after twelvemonth because they get funneled into the same vale. In these countries, trees do non turn because they keep being removed by the avalanches. The shot of these explosives is really successful and fortuitously no 1 has of all time been injured or killed ( Goodwin 42 ) . Avalanche experts offer these recommendations for skiers to follow so they can avoid or cover with avalanches. Their first regulation is to cognize your terrain. Most avalanches occur on versants where the incline is 30 grades or greater. Second, do non ski entirely. Merely a few avalanche victims survive without aid from others. Another recommendation is to cognize what to make if you are caught in an avalanche. You should seek and flit to the side of the slide and if possible attempt to catch a tree. If you are carried down hill, swim with the avalanche so that you will remain on top. Finally, skiers should transport the appropriate equipment. Some things that backcountry skiers should transport are an avalanche investigation, snow shovel, and an electronic avalanche beacon or transceiver ( Fish 28 ) . The experts besides give you advice on what to make if you are buried. First, maintain one manus in forepart of your face and seek to clear and keep an air pocket. Second, attempt to keep infinite for thorax enlargements by taking and keeping a deep breath. Finally seek to avoid terror and conserve energy. Your comrades are likely seeking for you ( Sisson 103 ) . Ski resorts have recommendations on what to make if you witness an avalanche. First, grade the point of entry where the victim has entered or where the victim was last seen. Second, look into for farther avalanche danger. Third, fan out in a line above the last topographic point where the victim was seen and walk downhill, examining with sticks or ski poles. Next, unless your party is big do non direct back for aid until you have searched for at least an hr. About half of all avalanche victims suffocate within the first 30 proceedingss and most rescue efforts from town terminal up being a organic structure hunt ( McCafferty 38 ) Many ski resorts give a day-to-day avalanche study. Although it does non use for the bulk of the alpine skiers it applies to the backcountry skiers. These are people that ski in ungroomed parts of the mountain. Ungroomed snow has a higher hazard of get downing an avalanche because it is loose and has non been compacted. Some mountains have search Canis familiariss that can make unbelievable work. These Canis familiariss can make the work of 25 human land seekers. Since there are so many deceases from avalanches the National Ski Patrol demands for hunt Canis familiariss. A few Canis familiariss are on full clip responsibility. It takes about a twelvemonth to develop them, but for them to remain attentive and on focal point they need changeless pattern ( Finkel 28 ) . Western provinces have Skier Safety Acts which skiers need to obey. When certain ski survey countries are closed skiers need to follow the regulations. The Ski Patrol could put off a slide on top of lawbreakers or the intruders could put a slide on top of the patrollers. The lawbreakers are fined and have their ski base on ballss suspended ( Sisson 102 ) . Snow avalanches are a major danger in high mountain countries. In the Dolomites of Italy during World War I, six thousand military personnels were killed in a individual twenty-four hours by avalanches. This is merely one of the major catastrophes that avalanches have caused over the old ages ( Cone 148 ) . In the 1992-1993 twelvemonth the figure of avalanche deceases soared to an all clip high. There were 26 deceases and 18 of them were skiers or snowboarders, the others were snowmobilers, snow climbers, huntsmans, and mountain climbers ( Finkel 28 ) . Since snow slides down mountains at velocities of two 100 stat mis per hr it can do decease and devastation to towns, metropoliss, and roads. When the snow comes down the mountain at this highly fast velocity it degrees everything in its way including worlds, roads, and edifices. It besides cost the authorities a batch of money to clean up after the wall of snow, or avalanche, settees. Heavy machinery is needed to take the snow and debris out of the towns or off the roads and this takes many hours to make and is highly expensive. In avalanche state the focal point is on bar, non first assistance. The truth is that avalanches are lifelessly and you ever necessitate to be precautious of them. They claim the lives of 70 per centum of their victims ( McCafferty 38 ) . In avalanche districts there are so many centres, plans, and other installations provided for human safety against avalanches. Avalanches are a major menace to the skiing industry and will do decease and devastation if they are non prevented. Bibliography Cone, Patrick # 8220 ; Ready, Aim, Fire! # 8221 ; Sunset January 1993: 148 Finkel, Michael # 8220 ; Six Feet Under # 8221 ; Skiing October 1993: 28-30 Fish, Peter # 8220 ; Avalanche # 8221 ; Sunset January 1995: 28 Goodwin, Peter. Landslides, Slumps, and Creep. New York: Franklin Watts, 1997 McCafferty, Kieth # 8220 ; Avalanche # 8221 ; Field and Stream February 1996: 37-38 Sisson, Dan. # 8220 ; Grandpa and the Kid. # 8221 ; Field and Stream October 1992: 54+

University of Redlands - Scores, Costs and Admissions

University of Redlands - Scores, Costs and Admissions University of Redlands Admissions Overview: Admissions at the University of Redlands are generally open; in 2016, around two-thirds of applicants were admitted to the school. Students with good grades and test scores within or above the ranges listed below are on track to be accepted. Interested students will need to submit an application, which can be submitted online. In addition, prospective students will need to send in official high school transcripts, scores from the SAT or ACT, and two letters of recommendation. For complete instructions and guidelines, be sure to visit the schools website, or get in touch with someone from the admissions office. Will You Get In? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex Admissions Data (2016): University of Redlands Acceptance Rate: 75%Test Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 490 / 590SAT Math: 490 / 600SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanSAT score comparison for California collegesACT Composite: 22 / 27ACT English: 22 / 27ACT Math: 20  / 26What these ACT numbers meanACT score comparison for California colleges University of Redlands Description: The University of Redlands is a private university with a liberal arts and sciences focus. The 160-acre campus is located in Redlands, California, about 10 miles from San Bernardino. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the primary college for residential undergraduate students, has a 12 to 1  student / faculty ratio  and an average class size of 19. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, the University of Redlands was awarded a chapter of  Phi Beta Kappa. On the athletic front, the Redlands Bulldogs compete in the NCAA Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 5,071  (3,237 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 44% Male / 56% Female77% Full-time Costs (2016  - 17): Tuition and Fees: $46,570Books: $1,775  (why so much?)Room and Board: $13,480Other Expenses: $3,168Total Cost: $64,993 University of Redlands Financial Aid (2015  - 16): Percentage of Students Receiving Aid: 98%Percentage of Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 98%Loans: 64%Average Amount of AidGrants: $27,469Loans: $8,334 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Business Administration, English, History, Liberal Studies,  Political Science, Psychology, Speech What major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 82%4-Year Graduation Rate: 65%6-Year Graduation Rate: 74% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Baseball, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Water Polo, Basketball, Football, Cross CountryWomens Sports:  Lacrosse, Soccer, Water Polo, Basketball, Golf, Volleyball, Tennis Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like University of Redlands, You May Also Like These Schools: Chapman University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphPepperdine University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of La Verne: Profile  University of the Pacific: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of San Diego: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUC San Diego: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUC Santa Cruz: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphCal Poly: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of San Francisco: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphLoyola Marymount University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphWhittier College: Profile  UC Irvine: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Jay's Sporting Goods research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Jay's Sporting Goods research paper - Essay Example Jay’s Sporting Goods is compared with the competitors from every possible aspect. Thus after considering the marked differences in the marketing strategy of all three of them we finally reached the SOV that is Share of Voice. After going through some of the survey data available the market condition is judged in terms of demand for any particular product or liking towards any particular game. The study was also done to see whether any segment is untapped or not. SWOT analysis was done to understand the company’s position more properly. Based on the findings, recommendations are made. The company’s market objective is outlined and the marketing strategy is planned. The plan includes type of promotions required by the company, target segment of the company, how can they be reached, the medium that can be used to reach them. To understand the medium again the survey data were referred to understand the most popular mode of advertisement. SITUATION ANALYSIS Marketing strategy and objective The marketing objective of a company can be achieved only by planning the marketing strategies in a correct manner. To outline the marketing strategy for Jay’s Sporting Goods understanding of the 4P’s of Marketing that is Product, Price, Promotion and Place for Jay’s is very essential. ... Pricing Jay’s Sporting Goods has a wide variety of product from different brands whose prices also differ. Since they have tie ups with many brands so the prices range is huge. One can get any item at cheaper price as well as at high price too (Jay’s Sporting Goods). Place Jay’s Sporting Goods is an online and outdoor superstore with two locations in Michigan. It’s a 41 years old business who started their operations in 1971 with 78,000 square ft building in Clare and a 40,000 Square ft building in Gaylord. So customers can visit them not only in their superstores but also online through their websites (Jay’s Sporting Goods). Promotion The various promotional strategies have been adopted by the Company. They offer discounts of certain percentage on certain products. They have also organized some seminars inviting some renowned personalities who are into the world of adventures. They have several outdoor partners, which are mainly different shows tel ecasted in television and radios. The company Jay’s Sporting Goods also has a product named Gift card which provides you opportunity for not only online shopping but also shopping at their store (Jay’s Sporting Goods). Thus we have thrown a light on the existing marketing strategy from where we can plan our future marketing and promotional strategies which will lead to the growth of the company. SWOT analysis of the company Strength The company deals in a wide variety of products both for men and women. So the company is not gender biased which opens up a huge market for them. The company has gone for an online store where one can buy any item right from their home, at a single click on the mouse. "Give the customer what they need and give them the best service possible" is the philosophy of

Buzz Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Buzz Marketing - Essay Example Yes, it will seem unfamiliar. Yes, you will be criticized. And yes, it will work†. (Hughes 2005, Chapter 2) Using word of mouth for promoting goods and services is an old tool, yet traditional marketing has only started using it since the audience became sceptical towards â€Å"traditional† advertising. As Knermouch and Green (2001, np) have it: â€Å"†¦the art of generating word-of-mouth has grown far more sophisticated since the early days of simple publicity stunts. Marketers are learning to turn their brands into carefully guarded secrets that are revealed to a knowing few in each community, who in turn tell a few more, who tell a few more, and so on. Rather than blitzing the airways with 30-second TV commercials for its new Focus subcompact, Ford Motor Co. recruited just a handful of trendsetters in a few markets and gave them each a Focus to drive for six months. Their duties? Simply to be seen with the car and to hand out Focus-themed trinkets to anyone who expressed interest in it†. Traditional advertising has ceased to be a reliable source of information for many people, and therefore the good old world of mouth is becoming one of the most powerful tools for the modern marketing specialists for building and promoting brands. People tend to believe the recommendations of their close ones- their relatives and friends- when choosing a product, and therefore the word of mouth is an important marketing tool. On the other hand, word of mouth is the communication that is quite difficult to manage. It is only possible for the company to influence the launch of informational campaign and supplying additional information using the channels that are accessible by the target audience. It is next to impossible to forecast how people will interpret and change this information. (Hughes 2005) Because the choice of the initial information to be spread is an important and not an easy step, it should be paid considerable attention: the target audience, source

Does Personality Predict Employee Performance?

Does Personality Predict Employee Performance? To what extent does personality predicts employee performance? Introduction: An employee need to perform well in the role and activities listed in the job description. Also for a better performance an employee need to have the skills, knowledge and the right attitude needed for the job. In order to get the best performance from an employee, personality assessment is been carried out during the recruitment process. There are many types of personality assessment such as MBTI personality test, MMPI, FIRO-B personality assessment model, Kelly’s personal construct theory, Eysenk’s personality dimension, Raymond cattell’s two types of personality traits, the big five factors and many more. However, this essay will only discuss about the big five model as it is one of the personality assessment that is most commonly used in a work place to predict employee performance. It is essential to understand that there are some criticism about the big five factors as well as the other personality assessment. However, despite the criticism the big five fac tors was successful in predicting employee performance. It is important to know that there is a close relationship between employee performance and personality. This connection between both employee performance and personality depends on the characteristic of the Job, the organisation and co-workers. It is also important to keep in mind that the success of an organisation would depend on the employee performance. This coursework will address the extent to which personality is used to measure employee performance as well as the relationship between the big five personality and Job performance. Furthermore, this essay will discuss about the two main approaches of personality and will further investigate how personality link into career success and furthermore, predict employee performance. In addition, this essay will briefly address the nature and nurture approach. Main body: The nature and nurture approach may both have an effect in an individual personality. Nature is mainly about genetic inheritance, whereas Nurture is mainly about environmental factors. Researchers found out that genes plays an important role in the development of personality as well as the environment as it help to shape the personality of an individual. According to Funder (2001), â€Å"personality is an individual’s characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviour, and together with the psychological mechanisms-hidden or not-behind those patterns†. He proposed that personality is a predictor of work. Personality can be divided into two main approaches: Nomothetic approach and Idiographic approaches. The nomothetic approach is a measurable and specific perspective that looks at the identification of traits and personality as a collection of characteristics (Mullins 2013). Nomothetic approach view personality as consistent, mainly inherited and resistant to change. Nomothetic theorist believes that it is possible to measure individual personality through personality assessment without diminish the difficulties that measuring personality brings, as it will help employer to identify employee personality types and how individual would behave in a given certain circumstances. Whereas, Idiographic approach is a self-motivated perspective which insists that managers should take into account a ‘whole’ understanding of the individual at work (Mullins 2013). An individual attitude towards his or her work is affected by his or her personality. Idiographic theorist believes that individual are unique and it is vital to understand such uniqueness and are also concern about the de velopment of personality as it is a process that is open to change. Furthermore, they regard that individual responding to the environment and people around them like friends and families or co-workers can shape and affect individual personality. Idiographic approach suggest that using personality assessment to measure the unique ways in which a person understands and responds to the world is inappropriate and is not valid (Mullins 2013). So therefore, it is vital to understand individual personality in order to predict individual performance. Personality plays an important role in predicting how an individual will work. Hence, using personality assessment, employers can simply identify whether a potential employee will work, happily, intelligently, attentively or even willingly. Personality assessment is used by many companies. Employers make use of personality assessment in order to improve their decision making with respect to future applicants. They have recognized that through personality assessment; high-potential applicants can easily be identified. At this stage, we can state that an employee’s personality does predict the level of performance (Ferguson, 2009). However, Schmitt et al. (1984) found that personality tests were among the least valid types of selection tests. Additionally, Spillane Martin (2005) stated that personality and performance are not related as the efforts of using personality test to predict performance have been spectacularly unsuccessful. Furthermore, it can also be argue that perso nality assessments are not a good method for predicting employee performance, as individual can give false answers to any question asked in order to meet the company expectation and get the Job (Buchanan, Huczynski, (2010). Pp.173-189). Many studies have been carried out in order to find the relationship between personality and employee performance. Employee performance is the job related activities expected of a worker and how well those activities were performed. Researchers in both personality and industrial-organizational psychology have touched on a five factor model (FFM) which is commonly recognised as personality framework. The FFM can be linked to predict performance (Barrick and Mount 1991) and it can also be linked to career success (Tharenou, 1997). Furthermore, the FFM are vital when predicting the job performance of an employee on the basis of personality. The FFM includes Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Openness to experience, Emotional Stability and Agreeableness. Extraversion contains traits such as confidence, activity, and friendliness. Extraverts are active and cheerful. Extraversion is considered to be positive frame of mind and capabilities and is therefore seen as a positive effect (Clark Waston, 1991). Research suggests that extraverted personalities are expected to surpass in occupations that involve individuals to socialize and communicate with other individuals (Barrick and Mount, 1991). Barrack and Mount (1991) also decided that Extraversion predicts not only overall job performance, but mainly sales performance as well. Agreeableness refers to individuals who tend to be innocent, caring towards others, merciful, soft hearted, and kind (Costa McCrae, 1992). Previous research has found no relationship between agreeableness and overall job performance (Barrick and Mount, 1991). However, Barrick et al. (2001) found that the measurement predicts teamwork and that the dimension respectively can predict success in specific jobs. This s hows that, depending on the type of occupation, agreeableness may still be theorised as a contributing factor to job performance. Tett et al. (1991) stated that Openness to experience is not effective in predicting job performance. Openness to experience applies to individuals who tend to be productive, inspired, and interested to experience new things amongst other things (Costa McCrae, 1992). Barrick et al. (2001) found no major relationship between openness and performance. Research has shown that openness to experience is linked to success in accessing (Hamilton, 1998), training (Barrick Mount, 1991) and adapting to adjustment (Horton, 1992; Raudsepp, 1990). Emotional stability indicates that individuals who tend to be protected, peaceful and thus more likely to control their desires and survive with stress (Costa McCrae, 1992). Dunn, Mount, Barrick and Ones (1995) indicated that emotional stability is the second most important characteristic that affects the employability of c andidates.Out of the big five model, conscientiousness is recognised as the most valid predictor for measuring performance for most jobs. Factors included in conscientiousness lead to excellent job performance. Recent experimental evidence supports the importance of conscientiousness at work, relating the construct to counterproductive work behaviours (Hogan Ones, 1997), effective job seeking behaviour (Wanberg, Watt, Rumsey, 1996), Maintenance (Barrick, Mount, Strauss, 1994), and attendance at work (Judge, Martocchio, Thoresen, 1997). A relationship exists between the big five traits and career success which in returns lead to employee performance. However, out of the five big traits neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness is the most relevant to career success. It can be argued that to some extent, employee performance is predicted by personality. However, to some extent career success can also predict performance through the personality of the employee. For example, if a person career is to become an accountant and they work in a bank, it is most likely that the performance of that person would be positive. Nevertheless, if the career of that individual does not align to the job he/she is doing then it can be argued that performance of such individual might be affected. Career success is defined as what an individual achieved as a result of their work experiences (Judge, Cable, Boudreau, Bretz 1995). Career success depends on two things such as intrinsic success (job satisfaction) and extrinsic success (income and status). Job satisfaction has been defined as the comprising between the actual outcomes and desired outcomes of an employee reaction based on the Job (Egan et al., 2004). Research shows that neuroticism which is the opposite of emotional stability has a negative correlation when link to Job satisfaction and in terms of income and status. Judge and Locke (1993) found out that employees with a negative emotions were likely to have a low job satisfaction which can lead to bad performance as low job satisfaction indicate that employee are not happy with the jobs they are in which can further lead to job stress, poor morale and lack of productivity. On the other hand research shows that Extraversion will be positively related to intrinsic career success and extrinsic success. Watson and Clark (1997) note that extraversion individual has a positive emotion which can lead to a high job satisfaction, and can further predict employee performance. Furthermore, another positive pe rsonality related to extrinsic career success is conscientiousness. Barrack Mount (1997) research shows that conscientiousness may influence extrinsic career success through its high predictor factor on job performance. Conclusion: In conclusion, this essay has found out that out of all the personality assessment used in a company to predict performance, the big five model is the most reliable method of predict employee performance despite all the criticisms of the FFM. This FFM is used by many researchers to predict performance and it has been researched that the most strongly trait that can be used to predict all job occupation is Conscientiousness. It can be argued that FFM is accurate when predicting employee performance as it has also been used for personality assessment. However, one negative effect of using personality assessment to predict performance is that candidate can give false answer in order to meet the job description of the company so that they can get the job. So therefore, it is recommended that companies should not depend on one factor to predict performances as they are other factors that can lead to high performance such as cognitive intelligence/Ability (CI), Emotional intelligence/ Abil ity (EI) and Motivation – related attitudes/ competencies. It is important to know that although there are some advantages of using personality to predict employee performance, there are also some disadvantages. One advantage would be, it helps to choose the right candidate for the job which will lead to high performance as the employee will be motivated to work hard as their personality is link to the job they are doing (Buchanan, Huczynski, (2010) .pg. 189). Whereas, one disadvantage would be employee giving false answer on the personality test in order to score high so that they can be given the job which might lead to bad performance for the organisation if the employee actual personality does not link to the job description. This essay has also identified the two main personality approach which are idiographic and nomothetic approach. Idiographic approach tells us that personality is unique and the theorist of this approach believes that employee personality should be open to change. Therefore, idiographic approach believes that personality assessment is not valid when predicting employee performance. Whereas, nomothetic theorist identified traits and believes that personality is resistant to change and further agreed that personality assessment should use when predicting employee performance. Overall, there factors that affect personality differences between individuals. These factors are the biological environment, the social environment, the physical environment, the cultural environment, and role playing. All these factors related to the research about the nature and the nurture discussed in this essay. References Barrick, M. R., Stewart, G. L., Piotrowski, M. (2002). Personality and jobperformance: Test ofthe mediating effects of motivation among salesrepresentatives.Journal of Applied Psychology, 87: 43-51. Buchanan Huczynski: Organisational Behaviour an introductory text. 4th Ed (Prentice Hall) Egan, T. M., Yang, B., Bartlett, K. R. (2004). The effects of organizational learning cultureand job satisfaction on motivation to transfer learning and turnover intention. 15, 279–301 Hurtz, G., Donovan, J. (2000). Personality and job performance: The Big Fiverevisited. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85, 869–879. Judge, T. A., Higgins, C. A., Thoresen, C. J., Barrick, M. R. (1999). The big fivepersonality traits,general mental ability, and career success across the life span.Personnel Psychology, 52, 621–652. Judge, T. A, Ilies, Remus(2002). Relationship of personality to performance motivation: A meta-Analytic Review. Journal of Applied psychology. 87, P797-807. Mullins, L Gill, C (2013). Management organisational behaviour. 10th ed. Prentice Hall Rothmann, s., Coetzer, E. P. (2003) the big five personality dimensions and job performance. Journal of industrial psychology. 29, 68-74. Spillane R, Martin J,( 2005) Personality and performance: foundations for managerial psychology, Sydney : Australia

Individual Assignment: Vulnerable Population Article Essay

Based on my understanding of what I have read over the past week, I would define a vulnerable population as any individual or group of people with a decreased capacity to communicate effectively in a given setting. The term vulnerable populations is be defined as â€Å"people with questionable capacity.† It is further stated that, â€Å"children, comatose patients, fetuses, prisoners, or mentally ill patients, among others† are considered vulnerable populations (Miracle, 2010). As a clinical research nurse, it is my responsibility to ensure that all of my patients (or subjects) submit a signed and dated informed consent (IC) form prior to enrollment in a study. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all clinical trials or study sponsors (pharmaceutical manufacturer of the study drug) maintain proof of IC for each subject, in every trial, without exception in their respective trial master file (TMF). Potential barriers for participants in clinical research studies might be patients or subjects who are uneducated, and or, patients who are not able to assure his or her health care provider that they fully understand information that is provided, and IC may not be obtained. The NIH defines consent capacity as an â€Å"adult’s ability to understand information relevant to making an informed, voluntary decision to participate in research.† This information includes a description of the study, its potential risks and benefits, the right to give voluntary consent, the right to withdraw from the study, anonymity, confidentiality, and ways to lessen any risks. However, many people do not understand these components of an informed consent for a variety of reasons. These include people with â€Å"mental disorders, neurological disorders such as stroke or dementia, metabolic impairment, psychoactive medications, substance abuse, and head trauma.† Others who may be unable to provide consent include children, fetuses, prisoners, the terminally ill, and pregnant women (Miracle, 2010). Most of my experience with vulnerable groups, while working as a clinical research nurse, has been with young women who became during the study period, after IC was obtained. Generally speaking, pregnancy should be avoided at all costs during participation in a clinical trial in which a woman is ingesting a study drug. Depending on study design or how a study’s protocol is written, it may require that the women participants not get pregnant for a specified period after study drug is completed, in order to avoid harm to the woman and her unborn fetus. When a patient becomes pregnant during the study drug period or within the specified period after study drug completion, the study sponsor) is required to report this as an adverse event (any untoward and/or unexpected event during the clinical trial that could potentially harm the patient). The patient must then be followed by her trial physician throughout her pregnancy, and through the baby’s first year of life, to ensure the health of both mom and baby for one year after study completion. If any complications arise, the sponsor is responsible for all necessary care. Reference Miracle, V. A. (2010). Vulnerable Populations in Research. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing , 242-245.

Extended commentary of ‘The Darkling Thrush’ by Thomas Hardy Essay

On the title: A thrush is a bird; plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized, often inhabiting wooded areas. They feed on the ground or eat small fruit – but aren’t famed for their songs. Examples include a robin. ‘Darkling’ is an archaic word for ‘a creature of darkness’ or ‘in the dark’. Hardy uses it in its latter sense – the bird appears in a very gloomy scene, at the end of the day, at the end of the year (and century, for that matter). It also has negative connotations as well, however – for obvious reasons. Potential other implications: ‘darkling’ is perhaps used to create a diminutive form of the thrush (like a ‘duckling’). Other critics have identified the title as explaining, or preparing the reader for the unexpected advent of the bird half way through the poem, appearing into the scene from nowhere. Perhaps Hardy was attempting to use an antiquitated word to further demonstrate the bird is bringing joy to a dark land, and that there exists an enormous time difference between the new century and the old? Overall Structure: Hardy uses four regular eight line iambic stanzas; in either ‘tetrameter’ or ‘trimeter’, depending on the length of the line. This meter creates a poetic lilt, with alternate stressed feet. It seems very out of place in such a depressing poem – we must question why this is. Does it reflect the hope expressed at the end of the poem, or prepares us for it? Or does it tell of an oddity within the persona; is his negative manner actually genuine – perhaps we shouldn’t accept the persona’s judgment/emotions to the same extent as he’d like us to? His choice of rhyme scheme and meter along with the harsh subject fail to match up. Themes: Time (passing of century), Isolation, Man and the Natural World. Difficult Language Notes: ‘Darkling’ – discussed above. ‘Illimited’ is an archaic form of ‘unlimited’. First and Second Stanza Notes: As usual, Hardy presents us with an image, this time of a landscape – a depressing one, at that. This poem was published at the end of the century – 31st December 1900 (Hardy was one of those people who believe that a century is complete when the hundredth year is over.) It is very cold and frosty and the day is growing to a close. It really is the end of a century. And Hardy presents us with a very clear image of death – he later personifies the Century itself as being dead. The first two stanzas are full of death-language: 1. â€Å"When Frost was spectre-gray†. A clear example of ghost imagery (‘a spectre’). This line is of interest on its own, due to the obvious personification of ‘Frost’. This is a good place to make a key note about the poem itself. Throughout, we discover a distinct Hardy-esque style; the environment is unpleasant and it demonstrates his usual antics in animism. Hardy develops complex (and often deeply personal) symbolic systems which deal almost exclusively with the natural world. The reader is made personal with non-human entities like frost and birds but avoids people – even the persona is a subject avoided in great detail. 1. Back with the ‘death imagery’, â€Å"The weakening eye of day†; a comment on the darkening sky – the day is dying. 1. â€Å"All mankind that haunted nigh† – haunted is clearly a reference to death and ghosts. Hardy is commenting on the lack of human life in his scene; they â€Å"had sought their household fires†. A further indication of the low temperature. Is it a hint that the world is ending? Or is that just a little extreme? In any case, note how the rest of humanity are seeking light in an otherwise dark environment. The second stanza contains an extended metaphor involving the dead century, but we need to examine the first stanza more before moving on. Hardy’s persona is leaning upon a coppice gate – a gate into a small woods or ‘coppice’. It is a highly ambiguous persona (another thing to explore), but he leans nevertheless. The scene is wintry, indeed, along with Frost, Winter is personified equally – â€Å"Winter’s dregs made desolate/ The weakening eye of day.† The dregs of the season indicate a very cold atmosphere; one without much colour. Clearly this has emptied the scene of any colourful sight upon which the â€Å"eye of day† weakens. The day is ending; thus dusk darkens the scene. â€Å"Tangled bine-stems scored the sky/ Like strings of broken lyres†. As before mentioned, the persona is standing in woodland, thus â€Å"Bine-stems† are tree branches. Hardy’s comparison of them to broken lyres is interesting. Lyres are a) harmonious in Classical literature and b) belong only in Classical literature. Hardy is clearly stating that the scene is not ‘harmonious’ or perhaps the ‘death-lament’ later mentioned isn’t. Or is it also a reference Hardy’s romantic passion for the past, that it was somehow better than the day in which he writes? Second Stanza Notes: The first four lines of this stanza deal explicitly with Hardy’s ‘dead Century’ metaphor. He imagines the land before him as â€Å"the Century’s corpse outleant.† Quite what ‘outleant’ means, I have no idea, (The OED has confirmed that ‘outleant’ is not, nor ever has been a word) but â€Å"his crypt [becomes] the cloudy canopy† (the cloudy sky) and â€Å"the wind his death-lament†. One need not explain it in any more detail; the implications are quite explicit. Hardy’s persona clearly didn’t approve of the past century, but had yet to indicate an emotional reflection on the future. He imagines England as a rotting corpse, essentially. However, note the use of the verb ‘seems’ – is all as it seems? However, Hardy goes on to write even more damningly of his persona’s scene. ‘The ancient pulse of germ and birth’ – the regenerative power of life, following Winter’s onslaught – ‘was shrunken dry and hard’. Nothing appears to be growing back – is this another indication of the end of the world, or certainly of an era. Hardy appears to be making the simple change of an arbitrary number into something quite different, and more serious. A degeneration of life itself. Indeed, â€Å"every spirit upon earth/ Seemed fervourless than I.† Very negative. Observe how silent the description is up to this point in the poem. There is an implied sound in both the death-lament and of broken lyres, but otherwise, the sound is non-existent. That changes soon. Here comes the VOLTA. Third Stanza Notes: â€Å"At once a voice arose among The bleak twigs overhead In a full-hearted evensong Of Joy illimited;† Hardy emphasizes a sudden change with the words â€Å"At once† – indeed, there are multiple changes which create this volta: * Note the sudden inclusion of sound – the thrush is singing! This breaks the poetic still (of death) which has held the poem so far. * The length of ‘sentence’ also changes. Note the semicolon at the end of these four lines above. Previously, each quatrain had completed with a full stop. Perhaps Hardy is opening up his poetic form to mirror the sudden movement in the lines themselves. The use of enjambment accentuates this. There are perhaps religious connotations with ‘evensong’. Much as Hardy may simply be again referring to the mundane fact that the bird is singing a ‘song’ and ‘eve’, we pray that the man is capable of higher minded comparisons. These vaguely religious nuances are maintained throughout the poem. The crucial fact is that the mood has changed, perhaps. â€Å"Of Joy illimited† suggests a pleasant image, which stands in stark contrast to the surrounding gloom. â€Å"An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small, In blast-beruffled plume,† Yet the mood is suddenly plunged back into the red with Hardy’s following lines. The thrush, which is, admittedly, a very odd bird to chose (not famed for their song), is an elderly figure in a storm – hence the ‘blast-beruffled plume’. In this otherwise grim situation, the reader’s immediate concern is whether the bird itself is going to survive at all! The use of â€Å"frail, gaunt, and small† mirrors the ghoulish imagery used in the first two stanzas – the thrush is alive, for certain, but perhaps the persona questions for how much longer? Note how the thrush is NOT personified. Every other element of the natural world takes an animated form, but not the bird! Why does Hardy do this? â€Å"Had chosen thus to fling his soul Upon the growing gloom.† Perhaps desperation is the key word in this stanza, but also hope. There is a powerful message in the face of this ghoulish bird; that, in spite of all the darkness and death, the thrush maintains his song. Stanza Four Notes: â€Å"So little cause for carolings Of such ecstatic sound Was written on terrestrial things Afar or nigh around,† Once again, Hardy’s use of enjambment allows for the lines to ‘bleed’ into each other – in a direct contrast to the poem’s former rigidity. Perhaps he is now gathering momentum for a change in mood? Yet, in terms of sense, Hardy appears to be doing the opposite. He states that the bird has no reason to be singing a joyful song amongst so much desolation. However, perhaps, by even considering such a fact, the persona’s own deep-rooted pessimism is beginning to shift away? On some key language points: * Note more religious emphasis: ‘carolings’ typically sing hymns at Christmas time. Hymns are definitely religious! * Perhaps there is an equally religious connotation which Hardy applies to his comments on the ‘terrestrial things’. If there is not any cause for singing about things on Earth, then perhaps, reciprocally, there is cause for celebrating the sky, or heaven? â€Å"That I could think there trembled through His happy good-night air Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew And I was unaware.† It is a rather ambiguous ending upon which Hardy chooses to conclude, but he achieves a sense of dramatic effect through it. The persona realises the presence of (a perhaps religious) hope, in the fact of utter desperation, but it is unintelligible to him. In an odd way, the reader is forced to consider whether the persona is being entirely accurate: * Can one be unaware of something, yet still able to write about it? * Does this tell us that the persona, as a Modernist, is able to perceive such an uplifting messages but unable to interpret them in such a way as to ‘release’ himself from the ‘dark’? Hardy himself was a modernist and therefore dwells upon an odd lot of ideas. Amongst them was ‘searching for hope/meaning to darkness and cruelty’. Despite being a realist, he was deeply influenced by Romantic notions (look them up) – perhaps this exploration is one of them? * The use of ‘blessed’ again implies a deified presence within the thrush’s message. Is the persona experiencing some divine inspiration?