The Prussian Baron Von Steuben, Being A Newcomer To The Essays

The Prussian Baron von Steuben, being a newcomer to the Revolutionary cause in America, was in a position to see many of the deficiencies in military discipline and their causes. The reasons for his unique insight may have been due to the fact that he was distanced from the revolutionary ideals in America, and as a result, was able to better observe and understand them; and ultimately use them to shape his new and successful form of discipline in the Continental Army. Most of the commanders of the Continental Army, from the commander in chief to the lower officers had subscribed to the traditional European method that relied on fear to achieve discipline. This method of fear was probably not essential, and had little if any effect in the early days of the war because the soldiers were mostly fighting for their own ideologies. To the soldiers, the commanders were of little importance. The soldiers were going to fight their own fight, and leave the battle when they felt it necessary. The soldier saw himself as a volunteer, a citizen fighting in a group of citizens, and as a result did not respond well to the traditional forms of discipline. The soldier knew it wasn't necessary for him to serve, and he knew that he would not be looked down upon for not serving or leaving the army by his fellow revolutionaries. He had the freedom to chose how he wished to serve the revolution, and military service was not an obligation. One aspect of the traditional European system that Baron von Steuben felt needed change was the relationship between the officers and the soldiers. Officers in the Continental Army felt it was necessary to distance themselves from the common soldiers, as an officer had an obligation as a gentleman as well. This division was along social lines, and by separation, the officers felt the common soldiers would show even greater respect. Royster describes this accurately by saying that the officers tried "to make themselves haughty objects of the soldiers' awe." (215) Steuben did several things to put the officers and the soldiers on common ground. First, sergeants were no longer to do the training and drilling of soldiers. Officers were encouraged to train, drill, and march with their soldiers. They were also encouraged to eat with the common soldiers as well, whenever possible. The officers needed to show love of the soldiers to earn their respect, and in doing this the officers needed to set themselves as an example to the soldiers by overachieving, rather than distancing themselves and underachieving in the eyes of the soldier. Before Steuben arrived, the forms of drills, training, and discipline in the Continental Army were mainly achieved at the discretion of each particular officer. There was no set standard for drills and training, and each battalion, company, and regiment had different methods. Baron von Steuben set a standard that became universal in the army and all soldiers and officers were to follow it. Through constant repetition of these rather simplified drills and training methods, coupled with the newly evident compassion and caring being shown by the officers, soldiers soon began to show a level of pride and professionalism in doing their duties in the Continental Army. Steuben catered to the needs and ideologies of the men in the Continental Army. He knew that soldiers who felt that military service was not a necessity, would often question authority. When given an order many soldiers would ask 'Why?' This was what Steuben realized and built his form of discipline around. If a soldier asked why, and there was a good reason for it, then the soldier would ultimately obey the order. This is why the uniformity and simplicity of Steuben?s system was so successful in the Continental Army. Steuben's method of discipline and training was so successful for one main reason, it was catered to the soldier and not to the officer. It had the ultimate result of making the soldier feel like a soldier and not like a volunteer. It established a sense of pride in the soldiers and in the job they did. By the later years of the war, native courage, virtue, and liberty were not enough to encourage soldiers. Steuben method created a professionalism in the Continental Army which, along with the ideologies of the men, was enough to keep the moral of the soldier high despite the many hardships of winter camps like Valley Forge and Morristown.

Critique on Constraint-Based Approaches for Balancing Bike-Sharing Systems The WritePass Journal

Critique on Constraint-Based Approaches for Balancing Bike-Sharing Systems Summary: Critique on Constraint-Based Approaches for Balancing Bike-Sharing Systems ). Moreover, the article does not clearly illustrate its results and does not offer a thorough and simple explanation of what the authors have found and what their findings mean. Thus, it may be difficult for the reader to comprehend the authors’ findings and what benefit the article has given to readers related to the topic in question. Accordingly, there are various other approaches that the authors could have used in order to enhance the level of comprehension of the article and increase its usefulness for ordinary readers. The first alternative suggested approach for the authors of this article was to adopt a qualitative methodology consisting of interviews with the customers of the bike-sharing systems and gain in-depth knowledge of the prevailing problem and suggested solutions. However, there may be some limitations to using this methodology which include confirming the validity of the results and analyzing or measuring data. The quantitative approach allows the authors to appropriately measure and analyze data and confirm that the results obtained are authentic and valid. Using qualitative data may mean that the results obtained may contain elements of interviewer or respondent bias (Flick, 2009). Another alternative approach that the authors could have used consists of conducting a thorough literature review on the topic which could have helped increase reader understanding and retain reader attention. However, the main problem involved in adopting this approach lies in the fact that this topic may not have an expanse of literature available for analysis and it may have been difficult for the authors to gather this level of information. The authors could have still enhanced understanding of this study by including more previous literature or including related topics to the analysis (Daymon Holloway, 2010).The authors could have also opted to simplify the quantitative analysis and use simple statistical measurements in order to enhance reader understanding and comprehension. Methods such as regression, descriptive statistics, and other statistical measures could have been used instead of complicated heuristics calculations. This would have enabled readers to understand the fi ndings in a better manner and improve comprehension (Liamputtong Ezzy, 2006). However, the article was well-written and thoroughly explained which enhanced reader attention and enabled comprehension. Moreover, the calculations enhanced validity and authenticity of the results and enabled the appropriate calculation of the information needed. The methodology of the paper could have been simplified and the structure could have been improved with further sub-headings and a broader literature review (Denzin Lincoln, 2011). Thus, while the article had certain shortcomings it also had quite a few strengths in the sense of the level of expression, the level of understanding, and the quantitative analysis conducted. However, the authors of the study can improve the clarity and comprehension of the study by incorporating the recommendations mentioned and the authors should also expand upon the section on further research and include further ideas for future research. Suggestions for Further Work: The authors of this study can further conduct research upon other methods of transport or can replicate this study by implementing a qualitative methodology in the future. The authors can also conduct research on other new business activities and possibly choose topics which cater to a vaster market rather than only catering to a niche business activity. References Liamputtong, P., Ezzy, D. (2006).Qualitative research methods. New York: Oxford University Press. Daymon, C., Holloway, I. (2010).Qualitative research methods in public relations and marketing communications. Routledge. Denzin, N. K., Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2011).The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. Sage. Miller, T., Mauthner, M., Birch, M., Jessop, J. (Eds.). (2012).Ethics in qualitative research. Sage. Flick, U. (2009).An introduction to qualitative research. Sage. Alston, M., Bowles, W. (2012).Research for social workers: An introduction to methods. Allen Unwin. Delamont, S., Atkinson, P. (Eds.). (2010).SAGE Qualitative Research Methods. SAGE Publications Limited. Method of Gathering Data: The literature gathered for this critique was gathered from journals, books, and online sources. Particular keywords were used in order to find relevant sources for this critique and emphasis was given upon finding sources regarding qualitative and quantitative analysis. The literature used for this critique was thoroughly read, examined, and relevant points were extracted in order to form an analysis for the article in question.

Critically discuss the arguments for and against the current wave of Essay

Critically discuss the arguments for and against the current wave of globalisation - Essay Example In most cases, governments and institutions have had to take protectionists policies to shield their industries and fragile economies in worse situations. Benefits of trade: In the previous waves of globalization, the developing and emerging countries had little power, compared to the western rich countries in Europe and America. At a period marked by imperialism and diverse differences between countries and regions, trade existed but with tighter restrictions. The modern globalization is marked by increased liberalization in trade with more reduced trade barriers that enhance trade across national boundaries (FAO, n.d.). As a result, the more flexibility in trade allowed people and countries to acquire and consume goods and services at a cheaper price. Countries could now enhance their exportation and/or importation to reap the benefit of the trade. For quite a long period, the manufacturing industries in the western nations had flourished before, but the trade liberalization lifted majority of the manufacturing production in the current emerging countries and others in developing world. The presence of adequate aid from institutions (such as IMF and World Bank) in handling the global economic governance facilitates capital flow into diverse markets, and contains political and economic tensions that occur during the periods of transformation in the current wave of globalization (Globesec, 2012). Most of the countries have made efforts to specialize in activities they do best, increasing production of their goods or services, and selling them in the global market to multiple buyers. Most regions and countries, especially in the developing world have gone ahead to lower the non tariffs barriers ( legal prohibitions, import quotas, and export restraints ) and import tariffs to promote free trade, capital markets, and investments (The World Bank Group, 2004). China can be well identified for its increased production

What makes a place a home Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

What makes a place a home - Essay Example A house is simple a dwelling place but a home is said to be a livable place where families and friends can enjoy the company of each other, sharing intrinsic and intangible values such as peace, happiness and especially, love. Looking further into the contradictions, this paper will discuss in detail how the aforementioned characteristics turn a house into a home. A house simply caters to one’s physical needs. Since shelter is one of man’s basic needs, a dwelling place then becomes necessary but having a place to stay does not always mean a person has a home. A house is devoid of values such as peace. For instance, one has a sanctuary to call but it is only a place to cover him from the heat of the sun, the pouring of the rain or the cold winter nights. The place may give him the needed protection from the weather but it may not give him peace of mind because of other dangers such as robbers, murderers and other criminal acts. Therefore, the man may always be in fear. O n the other hand, a place is called a home when it provides a peaceful and comfortable habitation. A home give the dweller peace of mind because it does not only provide shelter through the changing seasons but also give an emotional and psychological assurance that the person will be far from any danger. In addition, this can also be extended to the condition of the dwellers themselves. For instance, in a house, the people living in it may always be fighting even over trivial matters. Therefore, the place only serves as a place for the family to find shelter. Nevertheless, a home will not only do that but will also give a welcoming atmosphere to all the people living in it. This becomes true when the people there are at peace with each other, making each other feel comfortable in order for them to make others stay and not want to move away. Secondly, a home is a dwelling place filled with happiness. There are so many things that bring people happiness such as food, valuables and a good company. A house filled with such things make up a home. One cannot say an abode is a home when it merely serves to provide shelter, being lacking in other important things. A place where there is no available food brings bad experiences such as pictures of a hunger so that one would not dare go to when he is in need of food. Lack of food is one of the reasons of many fights among family members. A mother trying to earn money to buy food for her two children can easily get mad at her husband who is wasting all his money on alcohol and drugs and does not even try to find a job. In such case, there is no peace and therefore, there will be no happiness. A place where entertainment and other valuable materials are not available as well cannot be fully called a home because material possessions bring happiness to people especially in these modern times. In relation to the discussion on peace, happiness will also be absent when peace is deprived in the house. In other words, when one is at peace with himself and his dwelling place, his residence can be called a home. Moreover, when he is at peace with the other people in the house, happiness is shared among them and therefore the place is called a home. Lastly, a lodging is called a home when there is love. Peace and happiness may be experienced by a lone dweller but love is only experienced between two or more people. From such definition, it could be said that a house cannot be fully called a home when there is no love that is shared in it. Therefore, a person who lives alone in a beautiful and comfortable house where all his needs are provided for does not live in a home but a house. The loneliness felt in such a place explains why one person would not want to abide in the residence forever. Some

The Obama Administrations approach to the Democratic Revolution in Research Paper

The Obama Administrations approach to the Democratic Revolution in Egypt - Research Paper Example Albeit most historical literatures are inclined to cut the genocide and bondage that is attributed to the European series of invasion that comprises the North American continent, hardly any have any delusions regarding the real motives of Rome, Great Britain, Spain and other nations regal escapades. Correspondingly, when prospective learners of history study about the assignment that the US government has undertaken to proliferate democracy at the tail-end of the 21st century, they will likewise realize its real motivations way better than the thinkers and political analysts who oftentimes being seen on television nowadays. Not so long ago, a chaotic military and political demonstration took place in Egypt that desires the downfall of Mubarak from power. â€Å"Security forces and military police, swinging batons, firing birdshot and driving armoured personnel carriers, stormed the square late Sunday afternoon, chasing out protesters and burning tents.† (Fleishman & Hassan, â€Å"Frustrated Egyptians Come Out in Force†). The latest democratic revolution in Egypt delivers numerous visions into the margin between the United States governments apparent and genuine dedications to democracy in the continental regions of North Africa and in the Western Asia. â€Å"An alternative interpretation of Washington’s response to the Egyptian revolution, however, suggests that US officials have no desire to see democracy establish itself in the North Africa or West Asia, their public pronouncements---repeated endlessly by the major news media---notwithstanding.† (Napoletano, â€Å"The Egyp tian Revolution and Democracy†). Concurring to the most accurate versions of the media, the Obama Administrations interest for the democratic revolution was strengthened by its craving for stability and constancy in these regions. Particularly, some United States officials, concurring to this outlining of the revolutionary end, desired to

Causes And Effects Of Strokes Biology Essay

Causes And Effects Of Strokes Biology Essay Stroke is defined as A neurological deficit of cerebrovascular cause that persists beyond 24 hours or is interrupted by death within 24 hours. WHO (1970) A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by thrombosis or embolism or due to a hemorrhage. As a result, the affected area of the brain is unable to function, leading to inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body, inability to understand or formulate speech or inability to see one side of the visual field (Donnan GA, Fisher M. May 2008). PREVALANCE AND INCIDENCE: Stroke could soon be the most common cause of death worldwide (Murray CJ, Lopez AD 1997). Stroke is currently the second leading cause of death in the Western world, ranking after heart disease and before cancer (Donnan GA, Fisher M, May 2008)and it causes 10% of deaths worldwide (World Health Organization. 2004) . It has been noted that stroke incidence may vary considerably from country to country. The prevalence of stroke in India was estimated as 203 per 100,000 populations above 20 years, amounting to a total of about 1 million cases. Stroke represented 1.2% of total deaths in India (PK Sethi Neurosciences Today 2002). SEX DIFFERENCES: Men are 1.25 times more likely to suffer strokes than women(PK Sethi Neurosciences Today 2002), yet 60% of deaths from stroke occur in women (Villarosa, Linda, Ed.1993). CLASSIFICATION: Strokes can be classified into two major categories: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemia is due to interruption of the blood supply, while hemorrhage is due to rupture of a blood vessel or an abnormal vascular structure. 80% of strokes are due to ischemia; the remainders are due to hemorrhage (Donnan GA, Fisher M. May 2008). ISCHEMIC STROKE: In an ischemic stroke, blood supply to a part of the brain is decreased, leading to dysfunction of the brain tissue in that area. The four reasons responsible for ischemic stroke are thrombosis, embolism (Donnan GA, Fisher M. May 2008), systemic hypoperfusion (Shuaib A, Hachinski VC .September 1991) and venous thrombosis (Stam J. 2005). HAEMORRAGIC STROKE: Intracranial hemorrhage is the accumulation of blood anywhere within the skull vault. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is bleeding directly into the brain tissue, forming a gradually enlarging haematoma. RISK FACTORS: High blood pressure, High blood cholesterol levels, Diabetes, Cigarette smoking (Hankey GJ. August 1999), Heavy alcohol consumption (Reynolds K, Lewis B, Nolen JD, et al .2003) , drug use, (Sloan MA, 1991), lack of physical activity, obesity, unhealthy diet (American Heart Association.2007) and Atrial fibrillation. CAUSES: When the flow of blood in an artery supplying the brain is interrupted for more than a few seconds, brain cells can die, causing permanent damage. An interruption can be caused by either blood clots or bleeding in the brain. Most strokes are due to blood clots that blocks the blood flow to brain. Bleeding into the brain occurs if a blood vessel ruptures or if there is a significant injury (Ay H; Furie KL. 2005). BLOOD CLOTS: A common cause of stroke is atherosclerosis. Fatty deposits and blood platelets collect on the walls of the arteries, forming plaques. Over time, the plaques slowly begin to block the flow of blood. The plaque itself may block the artery enough to cause a stroke (Ay H; Furie KL. 2005). The plaque causes the blood to flow abnormally, which leads to a blood clot. A clot can stay at the site of narrowing and prevent blood flow to all of the smaller arteries it supplies. In other cases, the clot can travel and wedge into a smaller vessel (Ay H; Furie KL. 2005). Strokes caused by embolism are most commonly caused by heart disorders. An embolism may originate in a major blood vessel as it branches off the heart. A clot can also form elsewhere in the body for any number of reasons, and then travel to the brain, causing a stroke (Ay H; Furie KL. 2005). Arrhythmias of the heart, such as atrial fibrillation, can be associated with this type of stroke and may contribute to clot formation. Other causes of embolic stroke include endocarditis, or use of a mechanical heart valve. A clot can form on the artificial valve, break off, and travel to the brain (Ay H; Furie KL. 2005). BLEEDING IN THE BRAIN: A second major cause of stroke is bleeding in the brain. This can occur when small blood vessels in the brain become weak and burst. Some people have defects in the blood vessels of the brain that make this more likely. The flow of blood after the blood vessel ruptures damages brain cells (Ay H; Furie KL. 2005). PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: ISCHAEMIC: Ischemic stroke occurs due to a loss of blood supply to part of the brain, initiating the ischemic cascade. Brain tissue ceases to function if deprived of oxygen for more than 60 to 90 seconds and after a few hours will suffer irreversible injury possibly leading to death of the tissue. Atherosclerosis may disrupt the blood supply by narrowing the lumen of blood vessels leading to a reduction of blood flow, by causing the formation of blood clots within the vessel (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.1999). Embolic infarction occurs when emboli formed elsewhere in the circulatory system, typically in the heart as a consequence of atrial fibrillation, or in the carotid arteries. These break off, enter the cerebral circulation, then lodge in and occlude brain blood vessels (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.1999). HAEMORRAGIC: Hemorrhagic strokes results in tissue injurys by causing compression of tissues from an expanding hematomas. This can distort and injure the tissues. In addition, the pressure may lead to a loss of blood supply to affected tissue with resulting infarction, and the blood released by brain hemorrhage appears to have direct toxic effects on brain tissue and vasculature (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.1999). SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: A stroke symptom typically starts suddenly, over seconds to minutes, and in most cases dont progress further. The symptoms depend on the area of the brain affected. The more extensive the area of brain affected, more the functions that are likely to be lost (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.1999). A sudden development of one or more of the following indicates a stroke: Paresis or paralysis of any part of the body, Numbness, tingling, or decreased sensation, Changed or diminished vision, Language difficulties, including slurred speech, inability to speak, inability to understand speech, difficulty in reading or writing, Swallowing difficulties or drooling, Loss of memory, Vertigo, Loss of balance or coordination, Personality changes, Mood/emotion changes, Drowsiness, lethargy, or loss of consciousness, Uncontrollable eye movements or eyelid drooping. SUB TYPES: If the area of the brain affected contains one of the three prominent Central nervous system pathways-the spinothalamic tract, corticospinal tract, and dorsal column, symptoms may include hemiplegia and muscle weakness of the face, numbness, reduction in sensory or vibratory sensation. In most cases, the symptoms affect only one side of the body. The defect in the brain is usually on the opposite side of the body depending on which part of the brain is affected. In addition to the above CNS pathways, the brainstem also consists of the 12 cranial nerves. Hence a stroke affecting the brain stem can produce symptoms relating to deficits in the cranial nerves. The symptoms are altered smell, taste, hearing, or vision, drooping of eyelid and weakness of ocular muscles, decreased reflexes like gag, swallow and pupil reactivity to light, decreased sensation and muscle weakness of the face, balance problems and nystagmus,altered breathing and heart rate,weakness in sternocleidomastoid muscle with inability to turn head to one side,weakness in tongue. If the cerebral cortex is involved, the CNS pathways can again be affected, but also can produce the symptoms like aphasia, apraxia, visual field defect, memory deficits, hemineglect, disorganized thinking, confusion, hypersexual gestures ,anosognosia (Bamford JM 2000). When the cerebellum is involved, the patient may have the symptoms like Trouble walking, altered movement, coordination, Vertigo and disequilibrium (Bamford JM 2000). ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS: Loss of consciousness, headache, and vomiting usually occurs more often in hemorrhagic stroke than in thrombosis because of the increased intracranial pressure from the leaking blood compressing on the brain. DIAGNOSIS: The techniques which were used to diagnose the stroke are neurological examination, CT scans or MRI scans, Doppler ultrasound, and arteriography. The diagnosis of stroke itself is clinical, with assistance from the imaging techniques. Imaging techniques also assist in determining the subtypes and cause of stroke. There is yet no commonly used blood test for the stroke diagnosis itself, though blood tests may be of help in finding out the likely cause of stroke (Hill M 2005). PREVENTION: Screening for high blood pressure at least every two years, regular cholesterol check up, treat high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease, follow a low-fat diet, quit smoking, exercise regularly, lose weight if you are over weight, avoid excessive alcohol use (Goldstein LB, Adams R, Alberts MJ et al. 2006). TREATMENT: Treatment of ischemic stroke: Pharmacologic thrombolysis with the drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), Mechanical thrombectomy and anticoagulants. Treatment of hemorrhagic stroke: Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage require neurosurgical evaluation to detect and treat the cause of the bleeding, although many may not need surgery. Patients are monitored and their blood pressure, blood sugar, and oxygenation are kept at optimum levels. PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT: The rehabilitation techniques commonly used were Roods Sensorimotor Approach, Knotts and Voss Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Brunnstroms Movement Therapy, Bobaths Neuro Developmental Therapy, Motor Relearning Programme, Bimanual Rapid Alternating Movement, Motor Imagery Therapy, Robot Assisted Movement Therapy, Functional Electrical Stimulation, Bilateral Isokinetic Training, Cyclic Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation, Biofeedback etc. PROGNOSIS: The results of stroke vary widely depending on size and location of the lesion (Stanford Hospital Clinics.2005). Dysfunctions correspond to areas in the brain that have been damaged. Disability affects 75% of stroke survivors enough to decrease their employability (Coffey C. Edward.2000). Stroke can affect patients physically, mentally, emotionally, or a combination of the three. 30 to 50% of stroke survivors suffer post stroke depression, which is characterized by lethargy, irritability, sleep disturbances, lowered self esteem, and withdrawal. Depression can reduce motivation and worsen outcome (Senelick Richard C.1994).

George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984 :: Free Essays on 1984

As Winston Smith entered his apartment building, he passed a familiar poster. "It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran." Then Winston opened the door to his flat to be greeted by a voice on his "telescreen" - a device he could dim, but never shut off completely. Telescreens broadcasted government propaganda and served as the eyes and ears of the Thought Police, who scrutinized everyone for any possible deviation from acceptable thought or action. In the flat was a tiny alcove just out of sight from the telescreen's vision. Winston sat down to write in his diary, an act that was not officially illegal "but if detected it was reasonably certain that it would be punished by death . . . " While he sat writing, a recent memory stirred in his mind; the "Two Minutes Hate," a government-sponsored work break in which every worker at the Ministry of Truth was required to participate, had consisted that day of an interlude when everyone raged and screamed as the telescreen alternately flashed images of enemy Eurasian soldiers and Goldstein, an abhorred traitor. That morning, Winston had noticed a "bold-looking girl of about twenty-six" who worked in the Fiction Department. This particular girl - wearing the bright scarlet sash of the official anti-sex league - gave him "the impression of being more dangerous than most," and Winston had that unnerving feeling that she was watching him. A few days later, Winston walked through the working-class "prole" neighborhood to the antique shop where he had bought his diary. Though class barriers stood tensely in place throughout Oceania, Mr. Charrington, the shop owner, welcomed him and invited him upstairs to see other items. There wasn't much there, but Winston liked the old-fashioned room; it didn't even have a telescreen. When Winston again slipped out onto the street, he passed the dark-haired girl from the Fiction Department. Now he was sure she was an informant. Back at work, as Winston walked toward the lavatory, the girl reappeared in the hall. Then, just a few feet in front of him, she stumbled and fell. When he offered his hand to help her up, she slipped him a scrap of paper. Shaken, Winston decided to open the paper later at the cubicle where he rewrote old newspaper articles, deleting any reference to persons who had deviated from orthodoxy.