The Issue Of A Green Card - 2488 Words

Though having a green card is supposed to ensure that each immigrant woman will remain in the country, the issue is much more complicated than that. Woman who enter into a marriage and are given a green card are here because of that marriage. The decision and desire to leave marriages because of discomfort, fear or abuse, may be hindered due to an even greater fear of deportation. For depend spouses here on H-4 visas, the aid afforded to American citizens is not offered to them (Balgamwalla, 2014) These women cannot work, and they are forced to rely on their husbands. Imagine a scenario where a woman in a third world country marries an American citizen; he brings her over, she’s given a visa and cannot work. Her husband promises to take care of her, but the situation slowly starts to escalate. He promises that he will stop hurting her when she becomes pregnant, and the abuse stops after a while. Shortly after her child is born, the abuse begins again. She wants to divorce her husband but he reminders that, if she does, she will lose her visa. She would have to return to her home country and leave her child behind. This fear causes her to stay in this abusive relationship, under the control of her husband. Though this scenario may seem far-fetched, it is a reality for women who are here through visa programs. Several programs, such as the H-4 visa program are not tracked based on demographic, as other visa programs in the US are. The act of entering into a H-4 requiresShow MoreRelatedGreen Card For Illegal Immigrants746 Words   |  3 PagesGreen card for illegal immigrant 1. Green Card Application Process for Illegal Immigrants American Immigration Services Inc., 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 210-A, Wilmington, DELAWARE 19801 +1-888-616-3824 1 2. Is green card even possible? †¢ â€Å"I overstayed my U.S. visa. I have a family now. Can I get a green card?† †¢ â€Å"I entered the United States illegally many years ago. I am married with kids. Can I apply for a green card?† †¢ We are being asked such questions often †¢ The answer to many of them is moreRead MoreImmigration Of The United States1105 Words   |  5 Pagesimmigrant must pull out papers showing their current status as an immigrant: legal or illegal. With all these judgments and issues upon immigration, the major issue is the way immigrants are treated isn’t fair. Firstly, one way immigrants aren’t treated fairly is that many immigrants are forced to leave America due to an extended time waiting for their green cards. Green cards allow immigrants, from foreign nations, to work and live permanently in the US. However, several of the immigrants have toRead More Social Discrimination 1556 Words   |  7 Pagestheir freshman point guard Angel Rodriguez who contributed many points. The Wildcats were leading the game by 70-64. As Angel Rodriguez was performing a free throw, some University of Southern Mississippi prep band students chanted â€Å"Wheres your green card?† This incident made national headline news and labeled the band students of the University of Southern Mississippi as ignorant, immature, and racist. The intense of emotions towards Southern Miss chance to continue having a position in the tournamentRead MoreImmigration : For The Family1404 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica has repeatedly been called a â€Å"land of immig rants† due to its extensive and continuing history of taking in large amounts of foreign born people from all over the world. Despite this, immigration has always been a controversial subject. These issues have existed as far back as the time of George Washington—when it was thought that too many German settlers would flood and eventually stamp out the treasured British culture of the colonies. Throughout history, each new wave of immigrants has broughtRead MoreRevising Our Immigration Process?1094 Words   |  5 Pagescongress should lessen qualifications, the period of time, and cost of the immigration process. Critics argue, that the main reason people are worried is because they fear their security with the possible increase of letting in terrorists. A main issue from the article How Immigration Background Checks Work was that some people coming in would not be safe. Although she states â€Å"a background check is an important part of the immigration process that every potential US immigrant must go through. ImmigrationRead MoreImmigration: For The Family. The United States Of America1327 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica has repeatedly been called a â€Å"land of immigrants† due to its extensive and continuing history of taking in large amounts of foreign born people from all over the world. Despite this, immigration has always been a controversial subject. 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While there are those opposed to it there are those who believe people should be illegal immigrants if they need to, they feel if it is safer for them to get out of where they are, and come here then let them, they also feel getting a green card is hard, so that is why many people illegally come over the border. So to begin we will talk about why many feel immigration is a problem, according to The New York Times, in the article ‘In Crossing the Border, the Risks Are More Grave’, â€Å" InRead MoreMigration Is The Focal Point Of Political And Social Level Headed Discussion1067 Words   |  5 PagesMovement legal counselors devote their lives to peopling experiencing issues meeting the migration necessities and getting movement. The legal advisors serve as advice to remote nationals and workers and all things considered, communicate with the U.S. Migration powers, for example, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They advise their customers on issues including, yet not restricted to: green cards, citizenship and naturalization, expulsion, occupation, and criminalRead MoreEssay On Immigration In The United States1415 Words   |  6 Pagesincluding green cards or visas. Many immigrants have permission to come to the United States on a visa pass which would make them a legal immigrant for the duration of their stay while on a visa. There are two reasons why someone may need a visa; they may want to stay in the country and become employed which would be a work visa, and then there are non-immigrant visas that are for those who are students, on business trips, or tourist staying an extended period of time. There are also green card holders

Ethical And Moral Behavior And Christian World View

This is a study about one’s ethical and moral behavior and Christian World View as related to personal and professional growth and development. This study examines my personal views of moral behavior and Christian World View as it relates to my expectation of what a manager in a leadership position should posses and why. Growing up in a African-American Baptist church and ultimately landing in a diverse Christian Church has shaped my life and viewpoint when it comes to values and beliefs. There are 5 characteristics that I believe a Manager should possess: Authenticity, transparency, empowering, trustworthy and competence. These five characteristics help to build rapport and trust in a manager, which are good qualities to possess when leading a team. Ethic Introspection Paper In a professional environment it is important as a manager to have a specific viewpoint and guideline when it comes to leading a team. Managers are leaders who must know their moral viewpoint and stance before taking on the task of being a leader. This paper will discuss my ethical viewpoint on how managers should lead a team along with the five characteristics I believe a manager should possess and why. â€Å"A Worldviews give faith-based answers to a set of ultimate and ground- ing questions. Everyone operates on the basis of some worldview or faith-based understanding of the universe and persons— examined, or unexamined, implicit or explicit, simplistic or sophisticated. One way orShow MoreRelatedSexual Harassment And The Workplace Essay1466 Words   |  6 PagesSexual Harassment in the Workplace Introduction Sexual harassment is an ethical problem in the workplace. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. It can affect your working conditions and creates a hostile work environment. It can also affect productivity, satisfaction, retention, patient care and safety, your physical well-being and mental health. It can also cause low staff morale, increased absenteeism and attrition of staff. This studentRead MorePersonal Values And Moral Values998 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Values and Moral Integrity Values and morals are incredibly important concepts that shape the way that people live. Personally, I believe that values are a system of absolutes that an individual strives to measure up to. Whereas, morals are standards that one has that they consider to be acceptable. As a Christian morals and values are very important to me because I do my best to live up to the standards that are shown throughout. Jesus was not only sent so that we may have eternal lifeRead MoreThe Ethics Of Western Ethical Standards1080 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Ethics is a branch of philosophy, it is also, known as moral philosophy. It helps human deal with human morality and concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crimes.† (†¦.) Most people confused ethic with social conventions, etc. Dr. Richard and Dr. Linda, illustrated the notion with these â€Å"most people confuse ethics with behaving in accordance with social conventions, religious beliefs and the law, and don t treat ethics as a stand-alone concept.†(†¦) They wentRead MoreCS Lewiss Moral Argument and the Existence of a God Essay1538 Words   |  7 PagesCS Lewis’s Moral Argument and the Existence of a God The question of whether or not God exists has been asked by billions of people since the concept of religion emerged. Many people try to explain things such as hurricanes and tornadoes as â€Å"Acts of God† or even the existence of human beings and the world itself to be â€Å"created† by an almighty power. Others claim that the harm they inflict was demanded of them by their God. CS Lewis argues that through the comprehension of standards of good andRead MoreQuestions On A Ethical Dilemma1482 Words   |  6 Pages Gill suggest a six questions or criteria method for recognizing a genuine ethical dilemma. If any of these questions require illegal activity, breach of policy or personal values, break the golden rule, the action is not publicly acceptable, or would harm others - then the action is a ethical dilemma. The first criteria examines the illegality of action. The second criteria asks if the action is a violate of one’s professional or corporate et hic. The third criteria examines the if theRead MoreJust Business : Christian Ethics For The Marketplace1064 Words   |  5 PagesBusiness: Christian Ethics for the Marketplace. By Alexander Hill. IVP Academic; Revised edition (January 10, 2008), 276pp., $11.29 Paper. Chanel Mahone Alexander Hill’s Christian Ethics for the Marketplace in my view point focuses on ethics as it relates to business which also includes the Christian element. Hill outlines the scripturally grounded ethical structure of holiness, justice, and love for business practices. Hill also connects his Christian ethic to the dominant methods of ethical practiceRead MoreI Think About The Word Ethics1489 Words   |  6 Pagesan appropriate manner. It is the basis of our moral decisions and makes us who we are as people and influences our choices. There are different components in ethics that consist of, acting out of duty, good intentions, consequences, utility or outcome of one’s actions and striving to be a virtuous person. The one that stands out the most and influences my behavior is virtue. Whether it is my thoughts or actions I try to remain virtuous in my behavior. Doing the right thing because that is what isRead MoreEthical Behavior And Morality Are Fluid847 Words à ‚  |  4 PagesEthical behavior and morality are fluid. As a community evolves to incorporate new comers and adapt to events around them, the perception of right and wrong changes and a new standard of behavior is accepted to integrate the new points of view and conduct of the community members. Some people may see this as an erosion of the core values of the community, however, often those changes strengthen the bonds that hold the community together by expanding their awareness of the wider world and increasingRead MoreMy View On The World And The Way Of Living, Working, And Socializing1199 Words   |  5 PagesThere are many things that influence my view on the world and the way of living, working, and socializing. I was raised as a Christian orthodox, but my faith in religion is diminished, don’t get me wrong I do believe in God, but not in church or religion. I respect every religion and cultural beliefs, but to me, religion is made to separate the peoples and their be liefs. I believe in peoples’ morale and what good they doing. I don’t understand how the person can say they are religious because everyRead MoreBiography Of Leopold s A Sand County Almanac Essay1571 Words   |  7 Pagesappreciate the often missed miracles that are happening all around us. One can easily deduct that the theme of A Sand County Almanac is very boldly proclaimed as Leopold’s writings tell us to pause for a moment to appreciate and conserve the beautiful world that surrounds us. Let us consider the two key words of the theme, appreciate and conserve. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word â€Å"appreciate† as to, â€Å"recognize the worth of† (â€Å"Appreciate†). Leopold wants society to take a moment to recognize

We Real Cool free essay sample

The poem â€Å"We Real Cool† was written in the 1960’s by the poet Gwendolyn Brooks. This poem illustrates the quintessence of seven troubled adolescents who will eventually succumb to the unfortunate likelihood that life can render a young Africa American male living the life in the fast lane during that era. â€Å"We Real Cool† is an interpretation of a group of young men Gwendolyn saw in a pool hall. She stated that â€Å"I wondered how they felt about themselves, and I decided that they felt they were not quite valid, that they certainly were insecure, they were not cherished by the society, and therefore they would feel that they should, well, spit in the face of the establishment†. This eight line twenty four word poem maybe short but its title immediately grabs the reader’s attention. The title â€Å"We Real Cool† can also be misleading because it can make the reader believe that this poem is about a group of young teenagers who are auspicious and living a ostentatious lifestyle. We will write a custom essay sample on We Real Cool or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The poem describes the behaviors of seven urban African American youths in a pool hall in Chicago. The three elements that interest me the most are the language, form and the content. The language displayed in this poem is straightforward and is the key element in the poem to understanding its theme. The metaphors used in this poem, breaks the rules of the more conventional type speaking, for example instead of Brooks saying â€Å"We are real cool† she uses â€Å"We real cool† to give the poem a more modern urban type of slang which was used more often in Chicago in the 1960’s. Metaphors such as â€Å"We real cool† have the connotation to represent the young African American boys in the pool hall but it can also represent all boys that age. The use of metaphors in this poem allows her targeted readers to relate to her words because it speaks their language. Not to say that when she wrote this poem she only meant for young African American boys who are on the verge of dropping out of school and living life in the fast  lane to read it, but the use of the metaphorical slang helps them to relate and understand her message to them. Growing up in an area similar to what Gwendolyn Brooks talks about allowed me to be able to relate to her every word. Being able to relate I was able to close my eyes and create an image of the pool players in the pool hall and some of the things I did as a young African American boy growing up in a poverty stricken area. I was able to relate to being a young man trying to find ways to be and look cool not knowing what the future would hold for me and part of me not caring, kind of like the pool players who was â€Å"aware of their mortal limitations (â€Å"We die soon†) but immune to s ocial criticism†. The form of the poem has a rhythmic and rhymes feel to it. The line break the poet uses throughout the poem gives it a smooth jazz sound. It’s tough to identify the meter in the poem because of the pause after the word â€Å"We†. The pause is there to allow the readers to understand the validity of what the boys are going to say next. For example â€Å"We†¦.Left school†. After listening to her recite it with the pause I tried to recite it without the pause and it didn’t have the same rhythm or rhyme. There are some people who have interpretation of this poem being an example of a rap song after hearing it. Readers would perhaps enjoy listening to Gwendolyn Brooks recite the poem before they actually read it for the first time in order to be able to understand the rhythm she created for it. When reading it for the first time without listening to it readers would have a hard time understanding the rhythm she created for it and it might not give the readers the true feeling of the poem. This poem has great significance behind it. Even though some readers might not have been able to grasp some of the slang used by Gwendolyn Brooks in this poem, I feel that it definitely sent a message to the ones who can relate and that’s â€Å"live fast die young†.

International Student Stress free essay sample

Academic Stress Among College Students: Comparison of American and International Students Ranjita Misra and Linda G. Castillo Texas AM University This study compared academic stressors and reactions to stressors between American and international students using Gadzella’s Life Stress Inventory (B. M. Gadzella, 1991). Five categories of academic stressors (i. e. , frustrations, conflicts, pressures, changes, and self-imposed) and four categories describing reactions to these stressors (i. e. , physiological, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive) were examined. The sample consisted of 392 international and American students from 2 Midwestern universities. American students reported higher self-imposed stressors and greater behavioral reactions to stressors than international students. Respondent’s status (American or international) and interaction of status and stressors emerged as the 2 strongest predictors of their behavioral, emotional, physiological, and cognitive reaction to stressors. Five stressors attained statistical significance in the regression model. The findings emphasize the need to recognize cultural differences in stress management. Implications for mental health providers in the university arena are discussed. We will write a custom essay sample on International Student Stress or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page KEY WORDS: academic stressors; American students; international students; reactions to stressors The international student population in the United States has been growing steadily since the 1950s and constitutes a significant proportion of higher education students. For example, international students represent 12% of all master’s degrees and 26. 7% of doctoral degrees earned in the Ranjita Misra, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas AM University; Linda G. Castillo, Department of Educational Psychology, Texas AM University. This study was funded by the National Office of Eta Sigma Gamma. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ranjita Misra, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas AM University, College Station, TX 77843-4243. E-mail: [emailprotected] tamu. edu 132 International Journal of Stress Management 2004, Vol. 11, No. 2, 132–148 Copyright 2004 by the Educational Publishing Foundation 1072-5245/04/$12. 00 DOI: 10. 1037/1072-5245. 1. 2. 132 Academic Stress 133 United States (Davis, 1996). According to the Institute of International Education (2002), a total of 582,996 students representing more than 186 nations attended 2,500 institutions of higher education in the United States in 2001. Economic, cultural, and political factors indicate an increase in future enrollment (Hayes Lin, 1994; Huang, 1994). College is a stressful time for many students as they go through the process of adapting to new educational and social environments. College may be even more stressful for international students who have the added strain of learning different cultural values and language in addition to academic preparation (Essandoh, 1995; Mori, 2000). As stressors accumulate, an individual’s ability to cope or readjust can be overtaxed, depleting their physical or psychological resources. In turn, there is an increased probability that physical illness or psychological distress will follow (Lazarus Folkman, 1994; Pearlin, 1999). Although numerous studies have evaluated the impact of stress on college students (e. g. , Edwards, Hershberger, Russell, Market, 2001; Misra, McKean, West, Russo, 2000; Reifman Dunkel-Schetter, 1990; Zaleski, Levey-Thors, Schiaffino, 1999), there has been a dearth of studies on international students. Both American and international students share common academic stressors such as family-related pressures, scholarship requirements, financial burdens, competition in class, and course-related stress (Cheng, Leong, Geist, 1993). However, perceptions of academic stress and coping strategies might differ across cultures. Hence, American and international students may differ in their perceptions and reactions to academic stressors. A recent study indicates a nationwide increase in college students’ stress (Sax, 1997). Academic stressors include the student’s perception of the extensive knowledge base required and the perception of inadequate time to develop it (Carveth, Geese, Moss, 1996). Students report experiencing academic tress predictably, with the greatest sources of academic stress being found in taking and studying for exams and with respect to grade competition and the large amount of content to master in a small amount of time (Abouserie, 1994; Kohn Frazer, 1986). Reactions to stressors refer to the state of physical or psychological arousal that usually results from the perception of stress (Thoits, 1995). Students experience physical and psychological reactions to stressors when the y perceive excessive or negative stress. Excessive stress induces physical impairments, and it is not uncommon to find students afflicted with persistent lack of energy, loss of appetite, headaches, or gastrointestinal problems (Winkelman, 1994). In addition, some international students may somaticize their feelings of stress to avoid the stigma of seeking psychological assistance (Mori, 2000). For example, international students’ experiences of headaches, loss of appetite, or sleep problems may be attributed 134 Misra and Castillo o a physical illness even though the complaints have no clear organic basis (Khoo, Abu-Rasain, Hornby, 1994; Mori, 2000). Although American students experience stress reactions such as anxiety, depression, or both, many international students do not distinguish emotional distress from somatic complaints (Mori, 2000). As such, they use the college health center more frequently than American students for stress-related problems (Ebbin Blankenship, 1986, 1988; Essandoh, 1995). Gender differ ences also influence a student’s perception and reaction to academic stressors (Misra et al. , 2000). For example, female students more often report letting out their feelings, whereas men more often report controlling their emotions, accepting the problem, not thinking about the situation, and engaging in problem-solving efforts (Hyde Plant, 1995; Milkie Thoits, 1993). Coping styles to stressors also differ by gender. When compared at similar levels of stress, women exhibit stress more overtly than males (Hyde Plant, 1995; Thomas Williams, 1991). International students share some common characteristics regardless of their diverse cultural, social, religious, and political backgrounds. Most international students are in the United States temporarily to fulfill their educational objectives and succeed in academic pursuits (Yang Clum, 1994). However, the majority of these students are deprived of their traditional sources of social support and familiar means of communication (Pederson, 1991). Many of these students experience stressful life changes and cultural adjustments (Leong Mallinckrodt, 1992). For example, difficulties have been reported with English-language proficiency and with adjustments to the American culture that might contribute to academic stress. Furthermore, international students have difficulties adapting to a new educational system in a short period of time. Psychological distress is reported especially among those who fail to succeed academically (Essandoh, 1995). Many international students rank in the top levels of their native country schools, and their expectations about academic performance in a new educational environment may be unrealistically high (Mori, 2000). Furthermore, additional pressures to obtain financial support that is often limited for international students contributes to their stress (Mori, 2000). Consequently, lack of traditional social support, high academic achievement, and financial aid restrictions are a few of the critical stressors international students encounter. Although American and international students may encounter common stressors in college, perceptions of what are considered as academic stressors and their reactions to these stressors may differ. As such, the purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of academic stressors and reactions to these stressors between American and international students. We hypothesized that international students will perceive higher academic stress and exhibit greater reactions to stressors than American students. Academic Stress 135 METHOD Participants This study consisted of American and international students at two public Midwestern universities. Participants consisted of 249 American students and 143 international students. The mean age of the American students was 21 years (SD 2. 9) and the mean age of the international students was 25 years (SD 4. 1). The majority (75% American and 56% international) of the students were women. Table 1 provides a summary of participant demographics. Instrumentation Demographic Information A brief demographic questionnaire was used to obtain background characteristics of the participants. Items in this questionnaire requested information on age, gender, race, American or international student status, country of origin, educational level, major, and health risk behaviors (e. g. , smoking and alcohol consumption). Academic Stress Scale Academic stress was measured by Gadzella’s Student-Life Stress Inventory (SLSI; Gadzella, 1991), which contains 51 items in a 5-point LikertTable 1. Demograpic Characteristics Variable Age Gender Male Female Class status Graduate Undergraduate Smoke Alcohol consumption Total sample (n 392) 22. 10 (3. 55) 32 68 11 89 22* 63** American students (n 249) 20. 70 (1. 91) 25 75 11 89 25 73 International students (n 143) 24. 70 (4. 41) 42 56 23 77 15 38 Note. Standard deviations are in parentheses. Smoke current use of any number of cigarettes; alcohol consumption had at least one drink in the last week. *p . 05. **p . 001. 136 Misra and Castillo type response format (1 never to 5 most of the time). Gadzella’s inventory reflects a student’s academic stress on and off campus. The SLSI measures academic stressors and reactions to stressors. In the academic stressors section, five categories of academic stressors (i. e. , frustrations, conflicts, pressures, changes, and self-imposed) are assessed. In the reactions to stressors section, four categories describing reactions to these stressors (i. e. , physiological, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive) are measured. Items are summed for each subscale to obtain a total score, with higher scores indicative of greater academic stress and reactions to tress, respectively. For the academic stressors section of the SLSI, items consists of statements such as, â€Å"I have experienced too many changes occurring at the same time,† and â€Å"I have experienced frustrations due to delays in reaching my goal. † The Frustration subscale comprises 7 items and measures frustration that is due to delays, daily hassles to reach goals, lack of resources available (e. g. , money for books, automobile), failures to accomplish goals, feelings of being a social outcast, dating problems, and denied opportunities in spite of one’s qualifications. The Conflict subscale has three items and measures academic stress produced by having two or more desirable and undesirable alternatives and goals with positive and negative impacts. The three-item Changes subscale assesses academic stress that is due to life changes and includes changes that are disruptive to the respondent’s life. The six-item Self-Imposed subscale measures stress in areas such as when a student likes to compete to win or to be noticed and loved by all. Finally, the four items of the Pressure subscale measures academic stress resulting from competition, deadlines, work overload, and work responsibilities and expectations. Cronbach’s alphas were . 65, . 63, . 71, . 75, and . 63 for the Frustrations, Conflicts, Pressures, Changes, and Self-Imposed subscales, respectively. In the reactions to stressors section, four types of reactions to academic stressors—physiological (14 items), emotional (4 items), behavioral (8 items), and cognitive (2 items) reactions—are assessed. The Physiological Reactions subscale measures responses such as sweating, stuttering, trembling, exhaustion, weight loss/gain, and headaches. Emotional Reactions include fear, anxiety, worry, anger, guilt, and grief. The Behavioral Reaction subscale measures reactions to stressful situations such as crying, drug use, smoking, and irritability. Cognitive Reactions are measured by the respondent’s ability to analyze and think about stressful situations and the use of effective strategies to reduce stress. Participants in the study obtained alphas of . 78, . 81, . 68, and . 85 for the Physiological, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive subscales, respectively. Gadzella (1991) reported satisfactory reliability of the SLSI. Construct validity of the SLSI stressors for international students was completed using principal axis factoring with a varimax rotation. The factor analysis Academic Stress 137 provided a listing of nine factors with eigenvalues greater than 1. An eigenvalue of 1 or greater indicates that the factor possesses at least as much total variance as contained in a single item (Walz Bausell, 1981). A factor pattern–structure coefficient of . 40 was determined to be the lowest acceptable loading. The factors accounted for 53% of the variance for international students and were comparable with 52% for the American students. The variance for the total sample was 51%. Procedure For American participants, the registrars’ directories of address files served as the sampling frame and provided an up-to-date address list of students. A list of 595 student-mailing addresses was randomly generated from the registrars’ directories. Survey packets, which consisted of a brief letter describing the study and statement of institutional review board approval, a demographic questionnaire, the SLSI, and a self-addressed postage-paid envelope were mailed to the participants. Follow-up mailings were sent after 2 weeks. No incentives were provided. Of the 595 surveys mailed, 251 questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 42%. Two surveys were returned incomplete, leaving 249 complete surveys for the final sample. International students were recruited at another university with a modest number of international students enrolled. The directors–advisors of the international students’ offices were informed about the study and requested to provide a list of students’ names and addresses for mailing the survey. For reasons of confidentiality, both offices agreed to mail the questionnaire directly to the students from their office. A total of 370 survey packets were mailed, with follow-up mailings after 2 weeks to improve the response rate. No incentives were provided. One hundred forty-four questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 39%. One survey was returned incomplete and was discarded leaving 143 complete surveys for the final sample. RESULTS Statistical Analysis Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on the 51 items measuring academic stress to examine the factorial structure of constructs of academic stressors and reactions to stressors for American and international 138 Misra and Castillo student participants. Univariate analysis was done to investigate differences between the American and international students for all five academic stressors and four reactions to stressors. Effect sizes, as determined by Cohen’s (1988) d, were calculated to determine the magnitude of the difference. A 2 ? 2 multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed, with academic stressors and reactions to stressors as the dependent variables, to determine gender and group differences. The two groups were status (American vs. international student) and gender (male vs. female) and the covariate (control variable) was the age of the respondents. , a corrected effect size defined as 1 ? , was calculated to measure the strength of association for multivariate analysis of variance (Baugh Thompson, 2001). 2 examined the magnitude of the difference for all the nine indicators by group status, gender, and interaction. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, 2 002) software. Prior to the MANCOVA analysis, the data were checked and no outliers were detected. The assumptions of normality, homogeneity of variance–covariance matrices, and multicollinearity were examined. Correlations among the stressors and reactions to stressors showed small to moderate association. The values of skewness and kurtosis for the indicators showed that the variables were approximately normally distributed. However, the Box M test for assumption of homogeneity of variance– covariance matrices was not met, F(135, 10473) 2. 06, p . 001. Because the Box M test is considered a strict and sensitive measure, large sample sizes are usually necessary for multivariate applications of analysis of variance (ANOVA; Tabachnick Fidell, 2001). The normal distribution of the dependent variables, the large sample size in this study, and a reduced alpha level of . 01 were considered appropriate to address the violation of this assumption (Tabachnick Fidell, 2001). Four hierarchical regression analyses were performed, with reactions to stressors as the outcome variable for each regression model. Variables were entered in blocks, with status entered into the model in the first block, followed by each of the five stressors, and finally the interaction of stressors (computed by averaging the five stressor items) and status. Group Differences and Effect Sizes Table 2 describes the mean scores and standard deviations for academic stressors and reactions to stressors for American and international students. In general, irrespective of their American or international status, women perceived greater reactions to stressors than men. In four of the Academic Stress Table 2. Mean Academic Stressors and Reactions to Stressors by Gender and Status American students Variable Stressor Change Conflict Frustration Pressure Self-imposed Reaction Emotional Cognitive Behavioral Physiological Males 2. 1 (0. 72) 3. 14 (0. 59) 2. 71 (0. 49) 3. 61 (0. 65) 3. 62 (0. 52) 2. 73 (0. 91) 2. 77 (1. 01) 2. 00 (0. 65) 1. 81 (0. 59) Females 2. 60 (0. 72) 3. 06 (0. 62) 2. 72 (0. 53) 3. 68 (0. 60) 3. 77 (0. 55) 2. 90 (1. 08) 2. 92 (0. 97) 2. 12 (0. 72) 2. 07 (0. 75) Total 2. 60 (0. 72) 3. 08 (0. 61) 2. 72 (0. 52) 3. 66 (0. 62) 3. 72 (0. 55) 2. 86 (1. 04) 2. 88 (0. 98) 2. 09 (0. 71) 2. 00 (0. 72) International students Males 2. 53 (1. 2 1) 2. 75 (0. 71) 2. 60 (0. 67) 3. 16 (0. 79) 2. 93 (0. 79) 2. 53 (0. 86) 3. 28 (1. 11) 1. 59 (0. 51) 1. 86 (0. 57) Females 2. 64 (1. 1) 2. 52 (0. 71) 2. 44 (0. 62) 3. 34 (0. 86) 3. 02 (0. 74) 2. 82 (0. 95) 3. 13 (1. 07) 1. 81 (0. 48) 2. 07 (0. 49) 139 Total 2. 59 (1. 10) 2. 64 (0. 74) 2. 51 (0. 64) 3. 26 (0. 83) 2. 98 (0. 76) 2. 68 (0. 93) 3. 21 (1. 10) 1. 71 (0. 50) 1. 97 (0. 53) Note. Standard deviations are in parentheses. Academic stressors and reactions to stressors: 1 never, 5 most of the time. five categories of academic stressors (conflicts, frustrations, pressures and self-imposed stress), American students perceived higher levels of stress than their international counterparts. The magnitude of difference for effect sizes ranged from 0. 02 to 1. 12 and can be considered as small for Frustration subscale (d 0. 34), medium for the Pressure subscale (d 0. 56), and large for Self-Imposed Stress subscale (d 1. 12; Tabachnick Fidell, 2001). Self-imposed stress produced the greatest academic stress among the American students whereas pressure caused the greatest source of academic stress among international students. The two groups also significantly differed in two out of the four measures of reaction to stressors. The magnitude of difference was small for physiological and emotional reactions (ds 0. 02 and 0. 12, respectively) –0. 31 and 0. 53, and medium for cognitive and behavioral reactions (ds respectively). The most frequent reactions to stressors, for both groups, were cognitive (i. e. , their cognitive appraisal of stressful situations and their strategies) and emotional (i. e. , fear, anxiety, and worry). However, American students recorded higher behavioral (e. g. , crying and self-abuse) reactions to stressors and international students perceived greater cognitive reactions to stressors. A second 2 ? between-subjects MANCOVA was performed on the five academic stressors and four reactions to stressors to examine the differences among the groups after adjusting for age. There was a significant age difference (approximately 4 years) between American and international students that could have resulted in differences in attitude toward academics, level of development, and oneâ€⠄¢s experiences, consequently affecting their perceptions of stressors and reactions to stressors. Hence, age was controlled in the multivariate analysis. Independent variables were gender (male and female) and group (international and American stu- 40 Misra and Castillo dents). The covariate was age and the dependent variables were academic stressors and reactions to stressors. With the use of Wilks’s criterion, the combined academic stressors were significantly affected by both group status and gender, but there their interaction was not significant (see Table 3). After adjustment for age, the significant main effects were group status, . 28; gender, Wilks’s Wilks’s . 71, F(5, 351) 27. 74, p . 001, 2 . 95, F(5, 351) 3. 78, p . 002, 2 . 05; and the Gender ? Group interaction, Wilks’s 0. 98, F(5, 351) 1. 52, p . 18, 2 . 02. The 2 strength of association, as measured by , was modest between group status and the combined academic stressors and less substantial between gender and the academic stressors. Age was not significantly associated with the academic stressors and did not provide any reliable adjustment for the composite academic stressors. As demonstrated in Table 4, the MANCOVA yielded a significant main effect, adjusted for age, for the combined reactions to stressors with . 07, and group status, Wilks’s . 92, F(4, 349) 6. 91, p . 001, 2 gender, Wilks’s . 97, F(4, 349) 2. 38, p . 05, 2 . 03. No Gender ? Group interaction for reactions to stressors was observed, Wilks’s . 98, F(4, 349) 1. 50, p . 20, 2 . 017. The strength of association was small between group status and the combined reactions to stressors and low between gender and the academic stressors. Age was significantly associated with the reactions to stressors. To investigate the impact of each main effect on individual stressors Table 3. Multivariate Analysis of Covariance of Academic Stressors Variable Status Change Conflict Frustration Pressure Self-imposed Gender Change Conflict Frustration Pressure Self-imposed Gender ? Status Change Conflict Frustration Pressure Self-imposed F(df ) 0. 20 (1) 29. 35 (1) 8. 13 (1) 23. 76 (1) 89. 40 (1) 1. 13 (1) 4. 54 (1) 1. 25 (1) 1. 88 (1) 5. 45 (1) 1. 87 (1) 0. 93 (1) 0. 93 (1) 0. 21 (1) 0. 08 (1) 2 p . 655 . 001** . 005** . 001** . 001** . 290 . 030* . 264 . 171 . 020* . 172 . 336 . 337 . 647 . 931 .001 . 076 . 022 . 063 . 201 . 003 . 013 . 004 . 005 . 015 . 005 . 003 . 003 . 001 . 001 Note. Status American or international student status. Effect size ( 2) measure is a standardized unit. *p . 05. **p . 01. Academic Stress Table 4. Multivariate Analysis of Covariance of Reactions to Academic Stressors Variable Status Emotional Cognitive Behavioral Physiological Gender Emotional Cognitive Behavioral Physiological Gender ? Status Emotional Cognitive Behavioral Physiological F(df ) 3. 25 (1) 2. 18 (1) 14. 08 (1) 0. 001 (1) 3. 35 (1) 0. 06 (1) 5. 05 (1) 7. 94 (1) 0. 47 (1) 2. 44 (1) 1. 10 (1) 0. 11 (1) 2 141 p . 072 . 141 . 001** . 988 . 068 . 797 . 025* . 005** . 492 . 119 . 293 . 745 .009 . 006 . 038 . 001 . 009 . 001 . 014 . 022 . 001 . 007 . 003 . 001 Note. Status American or international student status. Effect size ( 2) measure is a standardized unit. p . 05. **p . 01. and reactions to stressors, follow-up univariate F tests were conducted. Results revealed that American students perceived higher academic stress . 08), frustration ( 2 . 02), pressure ( 2 . 06), and from conflict ( 2 2 . 20) than their international counterparts. self-imposed stress ( American students also displayed higher behavioral reacti ons to stressors . 04) than international students to academic stressors. Men per( 2 . 04) and lower selfceived higher academic stress from conflict ( 2 imposed stress ( 2 . 02), whereas women displayed greater behavioral ( 2 . 1) and physiological ( 2 . 02) reactions to academic stressors. Regression Analysis Correlations among the predictor variables were examined. These relationships are depicted in Table 5. Results of the correlational analysis revealed that stressor variables correlated significantly with reaction variables. However, the cognitive reaction variable did not significantly correlate with any stressor variables. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to identify the importance of status, each of the five stressors, and the interaction of stressors and status in predicting each of the four reactions to stressors. Status was the first variable to be entered into the model, followed by each of the five stressors, and finally the interaction of stressors (computed by averaging the five stressor items) and status. Result of the regression analysis is 142 Table 5. Intercorrelations Between Predictor Variables Variable 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Physiological Emotional Behavioral Cognitive Frustrations Conflict Pressure Change Self-imposed 1 — 2 . 63** — 3 . 62** . 62** — 4 . 27** . 21** . 17** — 5 . 27** . 37** . 39** . 01 — 6 . 21** . 26** . 31** . 01 . 39** — 7 Misra and Castillo 8 . 32** . 37** . 28** . 07 . 43** . 7** . 41** — 9 . 26** . 39** . 34** . 03 . 38** . 43** . 61** . 52** — .26** . 39** . 32** . 07 . 46** . 36** — **p . 01. indicated in Table 6. Respondent’s status (American or international) was a significant predictor for behavioral, emotional, and physiological reactions but not the cognitive reaction; status w as the strongest predictor for students’ emotional reactions. Interaction of stressor and status was significant for behavioral and emotional reactions, indicating that multiple effects of student status (American or international) and academic stressors contributed in their effect on reactions. The differential effect of academic stressors on reaction by student status was examined by plotting the two predictor variables as well as their interactions (Pedhazur, 1997). The slope of lines intersected for both behavioral and emotional reactions but at different regions of significance. Stressors were more important for American students in their effects on reactions, and those with higher academic stressors exhibited greater emotional and behavioral reactions compared with the international students. All the five stressors (frustration, self-imposed, change, conflict, and pressure) were significant predictors in the regression models except for cognitive reaction. Coefficient of determination (R2) indicated 49% of variance was explained for behavioral reaction, 28% for emotional reaction, 22% for physiological reaction, and 21% for cognitive reaction by the predictor variables in the model. The regression model was significant for all the four reaction variables (p . 001). DISCUSSION This study compared academic stressors and reactions to stressors between American and international students. The results did not support our hypothesis. International students reported lower academic stress and fewer reactions to stressors than their American counterparts in this study. Furthermore, differences in reaction to stress by gender were also found. Academic Stress Table 6. Hierarchical Regression Analyses of Reactions to Academic Stressors Step and variable 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Status Change Conflict Frustration Pressure Self-imposed Stressor ? Status Constant B Behavioral reaction (R 1. 03 0. 21 0. 23 0. 38 0. 19 0. 18 ? 0. 41 ? 1. 32 2 143 R2 . 49, F 17. 7, p . 001) 0. 73 . 245 0. 27 . 372 0. 23 . 412 0. 32 . 465 0. 20 . 470 0. 19 . 471 ? 0. 86 . 493 0. 28, F 20. 74, p . 001) 0. 94 . 005 0. 25 . 141 0. 16 . 164 0. 26 . 201 0. 26 . 237 0. 40 . 260 ? 0. 79 . 279 0. 22, F 10. 40, p . 001) 0. 24 . 124 0. 24 . 124 0. 14 . 142 0. 21 . 169 0. 23 . 197 0. 30 . 211 ? 0. 62 . 222 0. 21, F 2. 32, p . 001) ? 0. 01 . 156 ? 0. 05 . 169 ? 0. 01 . 174 ? 0. 05 . 174 0. 04 . 195 0. 04 . 202 0. 23 . 206 p . 007 . 001 . 001 . 001 . 004 . 035 . 001 . 045 . 001 . 001 . 001 . 011 . 001 . 001 . 002 . 001 ?. 026 . 03 . 036 . 013 . 043 . 007 . 073 . 148 . 955 . 545 . 848 . 448 . 565 . 678 . 433 . 039 Emotional reaction (R2 1. Status 1. 98 2. Change 0. 29 3. Conflict 0. 23 4. Frustration 0. 45 5. Pressure 0. 36 6. Self-imposed 0. 56 7. Stressor ? Status ? 0. 55 Constant ? 3. 50 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Physiological reaction (R2 Status 0. 17 Change 0. 17 Conflict 0. 13 Frustation 0. 23 Pressure 0. 20 Self-imposed 0. 27 Stressor ? Status ? 0. 28 Constant ? 0. 82 Status Change Conflict Frustration Pressure Self-imposed Stressor ? Status Constant Cognitive reaction (R2 ? 0. 38 ? . 63 ? 0. 21 ? 0. 96 0. 66 0. 60 0. 17 2. 41 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Note. Stressor computed by averaging the five stress items (change, conflict, frustration, pressure, and self-imposed stress). American participants reported a statistically significant higher level of academic stress from self-imposed stress. T his was an unexpected finding. However, self-imposed stress (i. e. , like to compete and win) is characteristic of American culture that values competition (Katz, 1985), and American students reported higher self-imposed stress than international students. American participants also perceived higher academic stress from pressure and conflict than international student participants. These differences may not necessarily indicate that international student participants 144 Misra and Castillo have lower academic stress from pressure, conflict, or self-imposed stress but could be due to stigmatization of admitting to stress (Mori, 2000). For example, self-disclosure of personal problems may be regarded as disgraceful and considered as a sign of immaturity and weakness in some international students (Uba, 1994). Although American participants reported higher levels of academic stressors and reactions to stressors, hierarchical analyses indicate that status does influence reactions to stressors. Status significantly contributed to the variance in behavioral, emotional, and physiological reactions to stressors. When the interaction of stressor with status was examined, stressors were more important for American students in their effect on behavioral and emotional reactions. For international students, stressors had an effect on cognitive reactions; however, this finding was not statistically significant. The lack of significance may be due to the small sample size of international students. It is clear that more research with a larger sample size is needed. Although the literature indicates that international students tend to somaticize feelings of stress, results of this study indicated no statistically significant difference in physiological reactions between international and American students. However, the findings suggest that participants did react differently to stressors. American participants reported statistically significant higher behavioral reactions than their international counterparts. This may explain why American students in the study’s sample reported higher rates of drinking and smoking (Thoits, 1995). Differences in stressors and reaction to stressors were found between men and women after controlling for age. Male participants reported more stress that was due to conflict. Women (American and international) displayed greater behavioral and physiological reactions to academic stressors. This supports the literature’s findings that female students tend to express their emotions behaviorally (Hyde Plant, 1995; Misra et al. , 2000; Thomas Williams, 1991). Gender differences in the reactions to stress may be the result of gender-role socialization, which teaches that behavioral expression of emotions is socially acceptable (Gilbert Scher, 1999). Limitations There are a number of limitations restricting the generalizability of this study. First, the results of this study are limited by a relatively small preliminary survey of self-reported academic stress rather than a study of actual behavior, which would be very difficult to achieve. As such, participants may have answered questions in a socially desirable manner to avoid the stigma associated with admitting personal inadequacies. Academic Stress 145 Another limitation is that the level of acculturation of the international students was not examined. Research shows that international students who are more acculturated tend to experience less stress (Berry, 1985). Because the measures were in English, many international students who have not mastered the English language may have been excluded from the study or placed different meanings on survey questions. As mastery of the English language may be an important component of acculturation (Paniagua, 1998); using English-worded measures may have restricted the sample to more cculturated students. Future studies should examine the impact of acculturation on international students’ perceptions and reactions to academic stress. The study is limited by grouping international students into one group because of the small sample size and skewness of the variable (82% from non–English speaking countries: Africa, Asia, and Middle East) and may have masked im portant within-group differences among students from different countries. Cultural variations, attitudes, and values can render unique differences in students’ perception and reactions to academic stressors from Westernized (e. . , English, Canadian, and German) versus nonWesternized (e. g. , Middle Eastern, African, and Asian) and English speaking versus non-English speaking countries (Sue Sue, 1999). For example, although American culture has unique cultural values that differ from other Western cultures, such as rugged individualism, international students from Western countries also have common cultural values. Furthermore, international students from non-Western cultures (e. g. , Middle Eastern, African, and Asian) may differ from Western international students (e. g. English, Canadian, and German) in their cultural values such as collectivism and time orientation (Sue Sue, 1999). Future research should examine within-group and between-group differences, as this may al so influence perceptions and reactions to stress. More female students (both American and international) and sophomores (American) responded to the survey questionnaire, and they may not be comparable with the general student population as a whole. Although the female (American) population in both universities was slightly higher (approximately 57%) than the male population (43%), it does not justify the much higher response rate of 68%. Similarly, a higher percentage of female international students responded to this survey. Future studies should be proactive in maintaining a balance of participants on the basis of gender and college student status. Implications and Future Research This study found important differences in perceptions of academic stressors and reactions to stressors between American and international 146 Misra and Castillo student participants. As such, the findings from this study have implications for mental health professionals working with international students. First, it provides empirical validation of differences in the experience and reactions to stress of American and international students. As mental health professionals become aware of these differences, they will be better able to structure prevention and treatment programs for international and American students. For example, some international students, depending on country of origin, may react to stress by using the cognitive approach. Some American students may display behavioral reactions when coping with stress. As such, mental health practitioners need to use different approaches in reducing stress. For students who display behavioral reactions, counseling that focuses on constructive behavioral coping strategies such as exercise would be useful. Cognitive–behavioral therapies that focus on recognizing cognitive distortions and using mentally healthy cognitive strategies such as cognitive reframing can be beneficial for students who react cognitively to stress. Because the findings show that men and women differ in their perceptions and reactions to stress, mental health practitioners may also consider using treatment interventions on the basis of these differences. For example, the findings show that female students’ reaction to stress may be emotional and physical in nature. As such, it may be beneficial for practitioners to work collaboratively with college campuses in educating the student population about the physical and emotional symptoms of stress. This study adds to the body of knowledge concerning students’ academic stressors and reactions to stressors. Further research on academic stress needs to examine the within-group variability of international students and provide more detailed information on differences by countries and level of acculturation. It is also imperative to explore the relationships among academic stress and students’ time management behaviors, coping mechanisms, and support structures and how these factors might vary in different cultures. Future studies may also investigate the impact of genderrole expectations on perception and reactions to academic stress (Castillo Hill, in press). REFERENCES Abouserie, R. (1994). Sources and levels of stress in relation to locus of control and selfesteem in university students. Educational Psychology, 14, 323–330. Baugh, F. , Thompson, B. (2001). Using effect sizes in social science research: New APA and journal mandates for improved methodology practices. 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Coping mechanisms, stress, social support, and health problems in college students. Applied Developmental Science, 2, 127–137.

The Ancient Chinese Chou Dynasty

The Ancient Chinese Chou Dynasty The Chou or Zhou dynasty ruled China from about 1027 to about 221 B.C. It was the longest dynasty in Chinese history and the time when much of ancient Chinese culture developed. The Chou Dynasty followed the second Chinese dynasty, the Shang. Originally pastoralists, the Chou set up a (proto-)feudal social organization based on families with administrative bureaucracy. They also developed a middle class. Although a decentralized tribal system at the beginning, the Zhou became centralized over time. Iron was introduced and Confucianism developed. Also during this long era, Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War, in about 500 B.C. Chinese Philosophers and Religion During the Warring States period within the Chou dynasty, a class of scholars developed, whose members included the great Chinese philosopher Confucius. The Book of Changes was written during the Chou Dynasty. The philosopher Lao Tse was appointed librarian for the historical records of the Chou kings. This period is sometimes referred to as the One Hundred Schools Period. The Chou banned human sacrifice. They saw their success over the Shang as a mandate from heaven. Ancestor worship developed. The Start of the Chou Dynasty Wuwang (Warrior King) was the son of the leader of the Chou (Zhou), who were located on the western border of the Shangs China in what is now Shaanxi province. Wuwang formed a coalition with the leaders of other states to defeat the last, evil ruler of the Shang. They succeeded and Wuwang became the first king of the Chou dynasty (c.1046 to 43 B.C.). Division of the Chou Dynasty Conventionally, the Chou dynasty is divided into the Western or Royal Chou (c.1027 to 771 B.C.) and the Dong or Eastern Chou (c.770 to 221 B.C.) periods. The Dong Zhou itself is subdivided into the Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu) period (c.770 to 476 B.C.), which was named for a book supposedly by Confucius and when iron weapons and farm implements replaced bronze, and the Warring States (Zhanguo) period (c.475 to 221 B.C.). At the start of the Western Chou, the empire of the Chou extended from Shaanxi to the Shandong peninsula and the Beijing area. The first kings of the Chou dynasty gave land to friends and relatives. Like the two previous dynasties, there was a recognized leader who passed power to his descendants. The vassals walled cities, also passed down patriarchally, developed into kingdoms. By the end of the Western Chou, the central government had lost all but nominal power, such as was required for rituals. During the Warring States period, the aristocratic system of warfare changed: peasants fought; there were new weapons, including crossbows, chariots, and iron armor. Developments During the Chou Dynasty During the Chou dynasty in China, ox-drawn plows, iron and iron casting, horseback riding, coinage, multiplication tables, chopsticks, and the crossbow were introduced. Roads, canals, and major irrigation projects were developed. Legalism Legalism developed during the Warring States period. Legalism is a school of philosophy that provided the philosophical background for the first imperial dynasty, the Qin Dynasty. Legalism accepted that humans are flawed and asserted that political institutions should recognize this. Therefore the state should be authoritarian, demanding strict obedience to the leader, and meting out known rewards and punishments. Resources and Further Reading Paul Halsall on the Chinese DynastiesChinese History Zhou DynastyLegalism. (2009). In Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online: search.eb.com/eb/article-9047627

5 Ways to Get Inspired when Writing a College Paper

5 Ways to Get Inspired when Writing a College Paper 5 Ways to Get Inspired when Writing a College Paper Y’all know the drill by now. Your professor sets an assignment. You head to the library and get out the relevant textbook. You write up your paper and receive an average grade for your efforts. But what if â€Å"average† isn’t good enough? How do you make your work stand out? How do you get inspired when writing a college paper? One answer is â€Å"independent research,† which will make your work more original. It also demonstrates that you’ve engaged with the topic in depth (rather than merely remembering what you were taught in class). This, however, may involve venturing beyond the library walls in search of inspiration†¦ 1. Conferences and Workshops Some of the best places to get new ideas are academic conferences and workshops, especially if you want to find out about cutting-edge research when it’s first presented. Most conferences are aimed at professional academics and grad students, but it’s definitely worth looking to see if your college is hosting anything relevant to your subject. 2. Books and Journals While a good college library should have everything you need to get by, it’s always worth looking beyond the catalog for additional books and journals. Try checking the reference list in any set texts to see if something grabs your eye. If the library doesn’t have it, ask a librarian if they can order it in. Its here somewhere. Good luck finding it. [Photo: Djembayz/Wikimedia] 3. Getting On(line) The internet, to paraphrase Homer Simpson, is the cause of, and solution to, all of academia’s problems. On the one hand, journal databases provide a quick and easy way to access decades of research in various fields. College message boards, moreover, allow you to discuss academic (and non-academic) matters with other students around the country and beyond. On the other hand, you should be careful when doing research online, as not every internet source is considered suitable for academic work. We’re looking at you, Wikipedia. 4. Talking to Your Lecturers Back in meatspace, you could try asking lecturers, seminar leaders or other academic staff for advice. Most of them will be happy to recommend further reading. Heck, most of them will just be happy you’ve been paying attention. 5. Trade Magazines and Newsletters Finally, if you’re studying a major with connections to a particular industry, reading trade publications will help you to keep up with current news and events in your field. Probably best to go for a slightly more recent issue than this.

Property-liability insurance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Property-liability insurance - Research Paper Example Different insurance plans are needed that not only save the owners from many problems in future but also to satisfy the requirements of government regulatory offices and in acquiring loans from commercial banks. Property, general liability, workers’ compensation, automobile liability, liquor liability, life insurance, loss of business, food contamination, and specific peril insurance are the most commonly used contingency plans available. We will discuss these options one by one in length. Firstly, all business owners are required to have property insurance. A small amount of annual premium is paid to the insurance company against a full coverage from incidents like fire. One such incident can bring everything to ashes. National Fire Protection Association reports that fire related cases are the second highest cause after arson and constitute 14% of the total number of commercial fires in the US from 1999 to 2002 (Patrick, Nolan. 2008). Secondly, general liability insurance pl an protects from claims like ‘slip and fall’ or when a customer gets sick after eating food. Although it is named as ‘general liability’, business proprietors deal with such cases on a regular basis. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there are 25,000 food related shipments arrive per day from 100 different countries. Food and Drug Administration department manages to inspect only 1% of them (Patrick, Nolan. 2008). Therefore, food borne illness is on the rise more than ever. It makes imperative to have a general insurance plan. Beside an insurance plan that covers food borne illnesses, business owners should be careful about the inventory suppliers, technical specifics to store perishable items e.g. minimum required temperature for walk-ins and so on. Thirdly many states, like Texas, require restaurant owners to acquire liquor liability insurance. It responds to different liabilities cause by selling or serving liquor in the premises. For exampl e if some drunk and gets involved in a fight than the serving party is responsible. The worst scenario is when someone gets intoxicated, drives away, and involves in a traffic accident. Fourthly, if a worker gets injured while at work then you need worker compensation insurance. Let’s understand the importance of such liability plan with the help of a practical scenario. Suppose an employee is driving a company truck and gets cornered by another vehicle. As a result, the employee gets seriously injured. Now who compensates the employee? Since the party at fault carries worker compensation insurance so the claim will be settled down by the insurance company no matter how much it is. However, the annual premium goes high and thus affects the employer to a great deal. Fifthly, Life insurance is another optional plan that the owners may consider for themselves. In case of the owner’s demise, the heirs may not have enough to pay for his debts. In this case the business will be possessed by the lender. Many multinational companies and corporations offer this plan to their employees also. But it costs a hefty amount to the employer in terms of premium. An employees’ death on the premises raise claims, then life insurance plan addresses such liabilities towards the employer. Sixthly, Loss of Business insurance

Impact of interest rates on the typical consumer in the economy Essay

Impact of interest rates on the typical consumer in the economy - Essay Example Many people work hard in order to fulfill their aspirations of owning their dream home or buying a brand new car. To afford these, numerous consumers resort to borrowing from financial institutions such as banks, which impose interest rate on the said loans. When interest rates go up, the cost of borrowing increases. This means that should they decide to push through with purchasing the house or car this period their monthly amortization would be relatively higher. If the amortization amount goes beyond the consumer's budget, he/she may decide to defer buying the new house or car. With this, it becomes evident that interest rate uptrend complicates borrowing decisions since consumers become confronted with the uncertainty if the said trend would prevail in the long term. As such, consumers usually suspend purchasing big-ticket items when interest rates climb. This may potentially lead to a contraction in the housing or automobile markets as well as in other industries. On the contrary, an interest rate downtrend easily translates to a boom in the housing market and various industries for big-ticket items. A low interest rate environment augurs well with consumers, as they are encouraged to borrow in financing their purchases. This condition fuels consumption spending since consumers are driven by the relatively lower interest payments they would be potentially servicing every month. Cost of Loans/Mortgages For those who are currently servicing debt payments under adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), jump in interest rates entail ballooning monthly payments. Given this, an upward movement in interest rate puts the period of full ownership of a house further over the horizon. This may even lead to payment default or property foreclosures for homeowners on tight budgets who may be having a hard time affording rising mortgage payments. In this regard, increase in interest rates creates a dent on income which results in lower spending of consumers. However, on the upside, should interest rates go down then there maybe a downward adjustment on consumers' monthly payments. As a result, they are left with more disposable income which they could allot for other purchases. Credit Card Purchases Not only does an interest rate movement affect consumer spending for big-ticket items but also for ordinary expenditures such as groceries, utility bills and other household items among others. Since there are a considerable number of consumers who purchase using their credit cards, an increase in interest rates may lead to an uptick in credit card rates and the amount consumers have to pay for monthly credit card charges. With this, consumers who are not so liquid, i.e. those who do not have ample cash on hand, may cut back on credit purchases. In the same way, consumers may perceive that lower credit card rates make them better off as they are able to derive "savings" from what they would have paid when rates were much higher. This goads them to spend more to take advantage of low rates. Savings Incentive Apart from spending, interest rates also affect consumer savings. With higher interest rates, consumers have greater incentive to save because their deposits may earn higher interest income. However, a low interest rate regime brings about disincentive to save. When interest rates slide, so does the

Infrared Film and Thermography Essay Example for Free

Infrared Film and Thermography Essay Thermogram of a traditional building in the background and a passive house in the foreground Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal imaging, and thermal video are examples of infrared imaging science. Thermal imaging cameras detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (roughly 9,000–14,000 nanometers or 9–14  µm) and produce images of that radiation, called thermograms. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects above absolute zero according to the black body radiation law, thermography makes it possible to see ones environment with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature; therefore, thermography allows one to see variations in temperature. When viewed through a thermal imaging camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds; humans and other warm-blooded animals become easily visible against the environment, day or night. As a result, thermography is particularly useful to military and other users of surveillance cameras. Thermography has a long history, although its use has increased dramatically with the commercial and industrial applications of the past fifty years. Government and airport personnel used thermography to detect suspected swine flu cases during the 2009 pandemic.[1] Firefighters use thermography to see through smoke, to find persons, and to localize the base of a fire. Maintenance technicians use thermography to locate overheating joints and sections of power lines, which are a sign of impending failure. Building construction technicians can see thermal signatures that indicate heat leaks in faulty thermal insulation and can use the results to improve the efficiency of heating and air-conditioning units. Some physiological changes in human beings and other warm-blooded animals can also be monitored with thermal imaging during clinical diagnostics. Thermogram of cat. The appearance and operation of a modern thermographic camera is often similar to a camcorder. Often the live thermogram reveals temperature variations so clearly that a photograph is not necessary for analysis. A recording module is therefore not always built-in. Non-specialized CCD and CMOS sensors have most of their spectral sensitivity in the visible light wavelength range. However by utilizing the trailing area of their spectral sensitivity, namely the part of the infrared spectrum called near-infrared (NIR), and by using off-the-shelf CCTV camera it is possible under certain circumstances to obtain true thermal images of objects with temperatures at about 280 °C and higher.[2] Specialized thermal imaging cameras use focal plane arrays (FPAs) that respond to longer wavelengths (mid- and long-wavelength infrared). The most common types are InSb, InGaAs, HgCdTe and QWIP FPA. The newest technologies use low-cost, uncooled microbolometers as FPA sensors. Their resolution is considerably lower than that of optical cameras, mostly 160120 or 320240 pixels, up to 640512 for the most expensive models. Thermal imaging cameras are much more expensive than their visible-spectrum counterparts, and higher-end models are often export-restricted due to the military uses for this technology. Older bolometers or more sensitive models such as InSb require cryogenic cooling, usually by a miniature Stirling cycle refrigerator or liquid nitrogen. | Thermal Energy This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008) | Thermal images, or thermograms, are actually visual displays of the amount of infrared energy emitted, transmitted, and reflected by an object. Because there are multiple sources of the infrared energy, it is difficult to get an accurate temperature of an object using this method. A thermal imaging camera is capable of performing algorithms to interpret that data and build an image. Although the image shows the viewer an approximation of the temperature at which the object is operating, the camera is actually using multiple sources of data based on the areas surrounding the object to determine that value rather than detecting the actual temperature. This phenomenon may become clearer upon consideration of the formula Incident Energy = Emitted Energy + Transmitted Energy + Reflected Energy where Incident Energy is the energy profile when viewed through a thermal imaging camera. Emitted Energy is generally what is intended to be measured. Transmitted Energy is the energy that passes through the subject from a remote thermal source. Reflected Energy is the amount of energy that reflects off the surface of the object from a remote thermal source. If the object is radiating at a higher temperature than its surroundings, then power transfer will be taking place and power will be radiating from warm to cold following the principle stated in the Second Law of Thermodynamics. So if there is a cool area in the thermogram, that object will be absorbing the radiation emitted by the warm object. The ability of both objects to emit or absorb this radiation is called emissivity. Under outdoor environments, convective cooling from wind may also need to be considered when trying to get an accurate temperature reading. This thermogram shows a fault with an industrial electrical fuse block. The thermal imaging camera would next employ a series of mathematical algorithms. Since the camera is only able to see the electromagnetic radiation that is impossible to detect with the human eye, it will build a picture in the viewer and record a visible picture, usually in a JPG format. In order to perform the role of noncontact temperature recorder, the camera will change the temperature of the object being viewed with its emissivity setting. Other algorithms can be used to affect the measurement, including the transmission ability of the transmitting medium (usually air) and the temperature of that transmitting medium. All these settings will affect the ultimate output for the temperature of the object being viewed. This functionality makes the thermal imaging camera an excellent tool for the maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems in industry and commerce. By using the proper camera settings and by being careful when capturing the image, electrical systems can be scanned and problems can be found. Faults with steam traps in steam heating systems are easy to locate. In the energy savings area, the thermal imaging camera can do more. Because it can see the radiating temperature of an object as well as what that object is radiating at, the product of the radiation can be calculated using the Stefan–Boltzmann constant. Emissivity Emissivity is a term representing a materials ability to emit thermal radiation. Each material has a different emissivity, and it can be difficult to determine the appropriate emissivity for a subject. A materials emissivity can range from a theoretical 0.00 (completely not-emitting) to an equally-theoretical 1.00 (completely emitting); the emissivity often varies with temperature. An example of a substance with low emissivity would be silver, with an emissivity coefficient of .02. An example of a substance with high emissivity would be asphalt, with an emissivity coefficient of .98. A black body is a theoretical object which will radiate infrared radiation at its contact temperature. If a thermocouple on a black body radiator reads 50  °C, the radiation the black body will give up will also be 50  °C. Therefore a true black body will have an emissivity of Thermogram of a snake held by a human. Since there is no such thing as a perfect black body, the infrared radiation of normal objects will appear to be less than the contact temperature. The rate (percentage) of emission of infrared radiation will thus be a fraction of the true contact temperature. This fraction is called emissivity. Some objects have different emissivities in long wave as compared to mid wave emissions. Emissivities may also change as a function of temperature in some materials.[3] To make a temperature measurement of an object, the thermographer will refer to the emissivity table to choose the emissivity value of the object, which is then entered into the camera. The cameras algorithm will correct the temperature by using the emissivity to calculate a temperature that more closely matches the actual contact temperature of the object. If possible, the thermographer would try to test the emissivity of the object in question. This would be more accurate than attempting to determine the emissivity of the object via a table. The usual method of testing the emissivity is to place a material of known high emissivity in contact with the surface of the object. The material of known emissivity can be as complex as industrial emissivity spray which is produced specifically for this purpose, or it can be as simple as standard black insulation tape, emissivity 0.97. A temperature reading can then be taken of the object with the emissivity level on the imager set to the value of the test material. This will give an accurate value of the temperature of the object. The temperature can then be read on a part of the object not covered with the test material. If the temperature reading is different, the emissivity level on the imager can be adjusted until the object reads the same temperature. This will give the thermographer a much more accurate emissivity reading. There are times, however, when an emissivity test is not possible due to dangerous or inaccessible conditions. In these situations the thermographer must rely on tables. Difference between infrared film and thermography IR film is sensitive to infrared (IR) radiation in the 250 °C to 500 °C range, while the range of thermography is approximately -50 °C to over 2,000 °C. So, for an IR film to work thermographically, it must be over 250 °C or be reflecting infrared radiation from something that is at least that hot. (Usually, infrared photographic film is used in conjunction with an IR illuminator, which is a filtered incandescent source or IR diode illuminator, or else with an IR flash (usually a xenon flash that is IR filtered). These correspond with active near-IR modes as discussed in the next section. Night vision infrared devices image in the near-infrared, just beyond the visual spectrum, and can see emitted or reflected near-infrared in complete visual darkness. However, again, these are not usually used for thermography due to the high temperature requirements, but are instead used with active near-IR sources. Starlight-type night vision devices generally only magnify ambient light. Passive vs. active thermography All objects above the absolute zero temperature (0 K) emit infrared radiation. Hence, an excellent way to measure thermal variations is to use an infrared vision device, usually a focal plane array (FPA) infrared camera capable of detecting radiation in the mid (3 to 5 ÃŽ ¼m) and long (7 to 14 ÃŽ ¼m) wave infrared bands, denoted as MWIR and LWIR, corresponding to two of the high transmittance infrared windows. Abnormal temperature profiles at the surface of an object are an indication of a potential problem.[4] Thermal imaging camera screen. Thermal imaging can detect elevated body temperature, one of the signs of the virus H1N1 (Swine influenza). In passive thermography, the features of interest are naturally at a higher or lower temperature than the background. Passive thermography has many applications such as surveillance of people on a scene and medical diagnosis (specifically thermology). In active thermography, an energy source is required to produce a thermal contrast between the feature of interest and the background. The active approach is necessary in many cases given that the inspected parts are usually in equilibrium with the surroundings. Advantages of thermography * It shows a visual picture so temperatures over a large area can be compared * It is capable of catching moving targets in real time * It is able to find deteriorating, i.e., higher temperature components prior to their failure * It can be used to measure or observe in areas inaccessible or hazardous for other methods * It is a non-destructive test method * It can be used to find defects in shafts, pipes, and other metal or plastic parts[5] * It can be used to detect objects in dark areas * It has some medical application, essentially in kinesiotherapy Limitations and disadvantages of thermography * Quality cameras often have a high price range (often US$ 3,000 or more), cheaper are only 4040 up to 120120 pixels * Images can be difficult to interpret accurately when based upon certain objects, specifically objects with erratic temperatures, although this problem is reduced in active thermal imaging[6] * Accurate temperature measurements are hindered by differing emissivities and reflections from other surfaces[7] * Most cameras have  ±2% accuracy or worse in measurement of temperature and are not as accurate as contact methods [8] * Only able to directly detect surface temperatures * Condition of work, depending of the case, can be drastic: 10 °C of difference between internal/external, 10km/h of wind maximum, no direct sun, no recent rain, Applications Kite aerial thermogram of the site of Ogilface Castle, Scotland. * Condition monitoring * Digital infrared thermal imaging in health care * Medical imaging * Infrared mammography * Archaeological Kite Aerial Thermography: Kite_aerial_photography * Thermology * Veterinary Thermal Imaging * Night vision * UAV Surveillance[9] * Stereo vision[10] * Research * Process control * Nondestructive testing * Surveillance in security, law enforcement and defence * Chemical imaging * Volcanology[11][12] * Building [13] Thermal imaging cameras convert the energy in the infrared wavelength into a visible light display. All objects above absolute zero emit thermal infrared energy, so thermal cameras can passively see all objects, regardless of ambient light. However, most thermal cameras only see objects warmer than -50 °C. The spectrum and amount of thermal radiation depend strongly on an objects surface temperature. This makes it possible for a thermal imaging camera to display an objects temperature. However, other factors also influence the radiation, which limits the accuracy of this technique. For example, the radiation depends not only on the temperature of the object, but is also a function of the emissivity of the object. Also, radiation originates from the surroundings and is reflected in the object, and the radiation from the object and the reflected radiation will also be influenced by the absorption of the atmosphere.

Patient Transition into Hospice Care Essay -- Analysis of Care Transit

I. Introduction The patient presented in this paper is Ms. H an 83 year old African American woman that appears younger than stated age with a history of Multiple Myeloma. The patient chart was reviewed and an interview conducted. Interestingly the patient had retained every note, lab, hospital H&P and discharge summary in a file folder in her possession. Ms. H was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in April of 2008 when she was being worked up at her dentist for a toothache. X-rays performed revealed she had bone lesions in her zygomatic process and in her skull above her right eye. She was referred to Oncology Hematology Care for further work-up. A bone marrow biopsy revealed she had Multiple Myeloma. During the course of treatment the patient received Thalidomide, Revlimid, Velcade, Aredia, Zometa, and Decadron. Remission was achieved and the patient underwent stem cell transplant in February of 2009. The transplant was successful and the patient was cancer free until August of 2012 when she receiv ed news that her cancer had recurred. Current meds are Lisinopril 20 mg PO daily for HTN, Omeprazole 40 mg PO for GERD, Topamax 25 mg BID for headaches, Calcium 500 mg PO TID for osteoporosis, Zofran 4 mg every 6 hrs/prn for nausea, Vicodin 5/325mg every 4 hours/prn for pain control. Ms. H has 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren that are in their early 20’s. During the initial treatment phase Ms. H was employed part time at J.C. Penney. Once she was sent to Jewish for bone marrow transplant, she retired. She is on traditional Medicare with Medicaid due to reaching the cap on her secondary Humana plan. Ms. H is divorced but has a supportive friend Mr. P that has been at her side throughout her diagnosis and treatment. He... ... benefit. V. Analysis of Transition Admission Forms Admission forms include Consent, HIPPA Acknowledgement Form, Patient and Family Rights Statement Receipt, Permission to Bill Medicare. Forms required for hospice admission are few and concisely written to reflect the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Patients who are compromised enough to sign their own forms are usually ill enough that the number of forms needed are appreciated. Ms. H and family were amazed and happy with the need for fewer signatures to admit. References (1.)Blood. 2008 March 15; 111(6): 2962–2972. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-10-078022 PMCID: PMC2265446 (2)ASH 50th Anniversary Review Article on Multiple Myeloma†¦(look up) (3)Publication Date: 2008-03-18Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 9 - Coverage of Hospice (4) JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE Volume 9, Number 6, 2006

Littlefield Technologies Essay

Managing Customer Responsiveness at Littlefield Technologies Background Littlefield Technologies (LT) has developed another DSS product. The new product is manufactured using the same process as the product in the assignment â€Å"Capacity Management at Littlefield Technologies† — neither the process sequence nor the process time distributions at each tool have changed. On day 0, the factory began operations with three stuffers, one tester, and one tuner, and a raw materials inventory of 9600 kits. This left the factory with $1,000,000 in reserves. Customer demand continues to be random, but the long-run average demand will not change over the product’ 268-day lifetime. At the end s of this lifetime, demand will end abruptly and factory operations will be terminated. At this point, all capacity and remaining inventory will be useless, and thus have no value. Management would like to charge the higher prices that customers would pay for dramatically shorter lead times. However, historic lead times often extend into several days, so management has been unwilling to quote the shorter lead times. Operations Policies at Littlefield LT uses a Reorder Point / Order Quantity raw material purchase policy. That is, raw kits are purchased as soon as the following three criteria are all met: (1) the inventory of raw kits is less than the reorder point, (2) there are no orders for raw kits currently outstanding, and (3) the factory has sufficient cash to purchase the reorder quantity. No order is placed if any of these three criteria are not met. So, for example, a team could prevent orders from being placed at all by setting the order quantity so high that there is insufficient cash to place an order. Kits are purchased in multiples of 60 because orders arrive in batches of 60. A reliable supplier delivers exactly the order quantity of batches, four days after the order is placed and paid for. Management considers physical cost of holding inventory negligible compared to the financial costs. Other details concerning the purchasing policy can be found in the â€Å"Littlefield Technologies — Overview† note. The current reorder point and reorder quantity can be changed by clicking on â€Å"Edit Data† on the Materials Buffer icon. Customers are willing to pay a premium for fast lead times, and you now have three pricing contracts to choose from: †¢ price = $750; quoted lead time = 7 days; maximum lead time = 14 days. (This is the contract that the factory starts with). †¢ price = $1000; quoted lead time = 1 day; maximum lead time = 3 days. †¢ price = $1250; quoted lead time = 0.5 days; maximum lead time = 1 day. As before, if an order’ lead time exceeds the quoted lead time, then the revenue for that s order decreases linearly, from the prices above for the quoted lead time to $0 for the maximum lead time. A contract is assigned to an order as soon as it arrives at the factory, and that contract cannot be changed subsequently for that order. Contracts for future orders can be selected by clicking on â€Å"Edit Data† on the Customer Order icon. You will also notice a few days where zero jobs are completed by the factory. On such days, the daily average lead time and daily average revenues are meaningless, so a value of zero will appear in the plots and downloaded data on those days. You are also allowed to buy and sell machines and change the scheduling rule at the tester. Assignment The factory has been running for 50 simulated days, and management has recalled the high-powered operations team (you) to manage the capacity, scheduling, purchasing, lot sizing, and contract quotations to maximize the cash generated by the factory over its lifetime. Management is not providing any operating budget beyond the cash generated by the factory itself. You will have control of the factory from day 50 to day 218. At 1 hour per simulated day, this translates to 7 real days. At day 218, you lose control of the factory, and the simulation will quickly run another 50 days of simulation. When you lose control of the factory, management expects you to leave the factory parameters set to maximize the factory’ cash position when the factory shuts down on day 268. After the simulation s ends on day 268, you can check the status of your factory, but the factory will no longer be running. Your team should turn in one summary of what actions you took during the week you had access to the factory, why you took those actions, and in retrospect whether you think you did the right thing. Show analysis to justify your conclusions. Your team’ grade will be s partially based on your performance, but mainly based on your summary. The summary cannot exceed 3 pages in length, and no appendices are allowed.