Causes of Noise

Introduction Hearing loss may be classified differently. The most common classification is based on the pathology where the disease may be conductive or sensorineural. Another classification is based on the cause of the hearing loss, which may be age-related (presbycusis) or in noise-induced cases as discussed below. In conductive hearing loss, the transmission of sound to the cochlea is ineffective, despite the nervous system being intact.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Causes of Noise-induced Hearing Loss specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The ear is divided into the external, middle, and inner ear. Obstruction to the transmission of sound along the pathway results in conductive hearing loss. The causes of conductive hearing loss may be congenital such as the meatal atresia, or acquired such as the case of accumulation of wax (Gradwell, Rainford, 2006). Sound is perceived in a series of physiological c hanges that occur in the ear. There is a change of energy from sound to mechanical and then to electrical energy that is transmitted to the brain for interpretation. The main organ that is involved in the sound perception is the cochlea, which has specialized structures that change sound into the nervous impulses. Sensorineural hearing loss results from lesions that interfere with the transmission of electric impulses from the cochlea to the brain (Orsello, Moore, Reese, 2013). Lesions in the cochlea result in sensorineural hearing loss. These cells may be acquired or congenital. Another form of hearing loss is presbycusis, which results from the fixation of the ossicles because of old age (Abel, 2005). A common cause of hearing loss is induced by noise. People operating loud machinery are prone to this disease. The military is a career that is frequently associated with noisy environments, especially where aircraft engines are involved. According to Azizi (2010, p. 116), Noise-ind uced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is the irreversible damage to the cochlea hair cells, resulting in partial or total hearing loss. Noisy environments induce NIHL. Some of the mostly affected individuals are the military workers and aviators. The severity of NIHL varies depending on the duration of exposure and the intensity of the sound that causes the hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can be described as a relatively new condition, if the history of man is anything to go by.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Its origin dates back to just a century when man invented gunpowder and started using it in war. The industrial revolution that followed also contributed to the progression of the condition, with measures of prevention being fronted such as the use of security devices including earmuffs (Dehart, Davis, 2008). Protection devices such as the ones mentioned above have a considerable success in preventing noise-induced hearing loss because of the findings of the different studies that were done comparing the development of NIHL in people who used protection as opposed to those that did not (Barney Bohnker, 2006). However, the use of protection devices has been found to have no effects on the development of presbycusis, which usually develops because of age (Rajguru, 2013). The noise-induced hearing loss is different from presbycusis, which has an onset that is dependent on age (Dehart, Davis, 2008). The military is the most affected group by the NIHL due to the reasons stated above, with the aircrew of both civilian and military aircrafts being at a greater risk of the condition. Therefore, this research provides a critical evaluation of the causes of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) in aircrew. Materials and methods This research paper was an article review where articles written by researchers after carrying out their research were analyzed. The benefits of using an article research include the relative shorter period required to carry out the research and arrive at the relevant conclusion. The other reason for an article review is the accuracy of the gathered information since most of the researchers have efficient utilization of resources. The initial step is the development of the study objectives, which involves comparing the different positions in the aircraft in relation to the development of noise-induced hearing loss. The development of these objectives is followed by the search of relevant articles in the database. The keywords that are chosen for the search include hearing loss, aviation noise, noise-induced hearing loss, aircrew hearing loss, and presbycusis. Pub Med is the database of choice since it provides the best results for the peer-reviewed articles. The search for the key words in the database will provide many useful results, which will be used in the final analysis. One of the inclusion criteria th at are used include the requirement that the articles have to be in English. Those that are not written in English will not be used in the analysis. The different causes of hearing loss will be evaluated in the search, with the search results being scrutinized to see if they have important findings in their references. The selected literature will be used in the research. Some of the important information will be the differences between the diverse types of aircrew.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Causes of Noise-induced Hearing Loss specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The search provided over 100 useful literatures. After this search was refined, about 20 articles were found relevant for the study. The assumption was that different members of the aircrew were affected differently by the noise from aircrafts, and hence the need to investigate the extent of the problem in these individuals. The data from th e literature was then analyzed qualitatively, with a determination of significance of the results. Most of the studies were biased on the type of the aircraft operators, with pilots being the main ones under focus. In one of the studies, Wagstaff and Arva (2009) compared the differences between hearing loss in pilots and air traffic control personnel. In this study, the researchers randomly selected182 medical files from the Civil Aviation Agency. The files belonged to different cadres of aircrew (Wagstaff Arva, 2009). The main group consisted of pilots who had different noise exposure as witnessed by the different degrees of noise from the aircrafts they worked with. Helicopter pilots were also selected, with researchers putting the ambient noise in their cockpit at about 90-95 decibels (Wagstaff Arva, 2009, p. 858). The air traffic control group in this study was mainly selected as a control group, with the study assuming that the group was exposed to the least noise compared to the aircrew. The use of ear protection during the normal operations was investigated in this research. The method that was adopted to gauge the degree of hearing loss was the use of audiometry, which provided useful audiograms for the study (Wagstaff, Arva, 2009, p. 858). The obtained audiograms were compared with those obtained for the respective age. In the research by Wagstaff and Arva (2009), the methods used in the analysis were statistical analysis tests such as the student’s t–test for paired samples. The level of significance used in this study, as in most studies, was set at 0.05 (Wagstaff, Arva, 2009). This method of analysis was accurate. It provided results that were reliable in most of the analyzed studies. Results Most of the studies were comparing the levels of hearing loss between different aircrews while others showed the differences accorded by the use of ear protection. The different types of aircrew that will be discussed in this particular artic le include the diverse types of aircraft pilots, flight attendants, and the ground crew.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A special category is the space shuttle crewmembers that are also under the risk of developing this kind of hearing loss that is occasioned by the engine noise from the space shuttles. Azizi (2010) asserts that the main occupations that develop hearing loss are the ones that have a considerable degree of noise production. Such occupations are mainly those working in heavy industries, mining, construction, coal mining, and special forms of farming (Azizi, 2010). In the aviation industry, Azizi (2010) confirms that some of the individuals at risk include the maintenance workers, the flight crews, airline ramp employees, and pilots. Azizi (2010, p. 117) observes that some factors predispose workers to NIHL. These risk factors include a history of ear disease, hypertension, intake of ototoxic drugs, and smoking (Azizi, 2010, p. 117). Some of the other factors that are known to accelerate or predispose an individual to NIHL include diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, chemical substa nces such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, heat, and smoking (Azizi, 2010, p. 117). Sources of Noise In the researches that were evaluated, some provided a look at the important sources of noise in the aviation industry. The main sources of noise in the aviation industry that most of the researchers discuss are the aircraft engines. The engines are said to produce the greatest amount of noise. The evolution of these machines has worsened the problem. According to Miss (2004), the planes used in the era of the World War I and II by the United States’ air force produced as much as 120 dB of noise. This noise hinders communication and/or acts as a catalyst for development of hearing loss. The invention of the jet engine is said to have made the most important contribution to the problem. Apart from the engine that is the greatest source of noise in the cabin, the other sources of noise in this area include the aircraft conditioning system where the turbulent flow of air causes significant noise (Miss, 2004). The other sources of noise that was evident from these studies include the mechanical and the pressurization systems. Helicopters have special sources of sound generation such as the mechanical and engine systems. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Pilots The level of NIHL in pilots is said to be higher compared to other aviators. In fact, pilots have the greatest level of hearing loss. In one of the studies that compared the audiograms for military aviators over time, these aircrew members were found to have a considerable degree of hearing loss (Owen, 2004, p. 57). Owen (2004, p. 57) asserts that there is an expected decrease in the level of hearing with age. The decrease in hearing for the aircrew that was investigated showed a hearing loss that was not age-related in military pilots. The researcher used the results of the scheduled audiometry tests for the military pilots, with the results indicating that the first audiogram was different from t hose obtained in subsequent years for most of the aviators (Raynal, Kossowski, Job, 2006). The audiograms that Owen (2004) obtained for the various generations of aviators showed a major reduction in hearing abilities that were not explained by normal physiology. The number of years that a pilot had flown was also significant in the determination of the degree of hearing loss. Owen (2004, p. 57) observed that the aviators that had a flown for longer hours had audiograms with higher frequency threshold compared to individuals with fewer flight hours. Therefore, Owen (2004, p. 57) concluded that there was a positive correlation between hearing threshold, age, and the duration of flying for the aviators. Although the study established that the degree of high frequency hearing loss (noise-induced hearing loss) was greater than what will be normally observed with age, the researcher was unsure of whether the hearing loss was attributable to flying or to other factors (Owen, 2004, p. 57) . In another research that investigated the hearing loss in aviators, the helicopter was the main type of aircraft under focus (Fitzpatrick, 1988). The use of door gunners in the helicopters was recognized as a major source of noise in the cockpit that led to the noise-induced hearing loss in pilots. Fitzpatrick (1988) found out a decrease in hearing level for the aviators in helicopters, with this decline being greater than 5dB that they used as the age-corrected hearing loss (Fitzpatrick, 1988). Most of the aircrew that used helicopters satisfied the criteria used by Fitzpatrick (1988) to evaluate hearing loss, with a hearing loss increasing fourfold in the aviators using the Bell 412 helicopters. However, the material used in this research was small to make a considerable conclusion. The researchers suggested the use of more materials for better conclusion making (Fitzpatrick, 1988). In a study by Wagstaff and Arva (2009), the researchers investigated the differences in hearing l oss for pilots and the air traffic controllers. This study used a larger population of subjects. Hence, the results can be used to make accurate conclusions. The researchers divided their participating aircrew into helicopter pilots, airline pilots, and the Air Traffic Control personnel in an effort to investigate the different audiograms that these aviators had over several years. Just like in the previous studies, the researchers established that the age was a major cause of hearing reduction. Therefore, they applied age correction for the subjects (Wagstaff, Arva2009, p. 860). The researchers observed a significant change in the level of hearing for the different aviators. While using the ATC personnel as the control subjects, the group that was largely affected by the hearing loss was the civilian pilots (Wagstaff, Arva 2009, p. 860). The pilots reported a considerable degree of hearing loss that was attributable to their occupation. Some of the studies investigating the degre e of hearing loss in pilots did not find a significant degree of reduction, with the explanation being the better practices used to protect these individuals in their respective places of work (Kuromen, Toppila, Sorri, Paakkonen, Starck, 2004). The researchers observed that the physical conditions of the pilots that they used in their study were perfect. They had normal hearing (Kuromen, Toppila, Sorri, Paakkonen, Starck, 2004). The factors that were established as relevant in the prevention of hearing loss for these pilots in the military include the health monitoring that is provided by the military and the frequent examination for these individuals (Kuromen, Toppila, Sorri, Paakkonen, Starck, 2004). The possible causes of hearing decrease according to the researchers included the noise from the guns mounted on the military planes and the aviation noise. The model that was used is the Noise Scan Model that is established as a useful one in the assessment of hearing loss in mili tary aviators (Kuromen, Toppila, Sorri, Paakkonen, Starck, 2004). A comparison of different types of aircraft pilots was made in several studies, with most of the studies showing significant correlation between the type of aircraft that was investigated and the degree of hearing loss (Kuromen, Sorri, Muhli, Paakkonen, 2003). The aircraft that were found to have the highest reported incidence of NIHL in pilots is the jet-powered type of aircraft where the researchers found a decrease in hearing ability that was not related to age. This observation brings about the difference between age related hearing loss (presbycusis) and the noise-induced hearing loss that is evident in noise operating environments such as the aviation industry. The decrease in hearing for the aircraft pilots was investigated in other studies that sought to see the difference between hearing prior to take-off and after landing (Kuromen, Sorri, Muhli, Paakkonen, 2003). A specific study that sought to investigat e the differences in hearing threshold after a flight was done in Finland where aviators had audiometry done before take-off followed by another one after landing (Kuromen, Sorri, Muhli, Paakkonen, 2003). The results of this study showed insignificant hearing loss for the subjects, with the suggested reasons being the protection accorded by the various gadgets (Kuromen, Sorri, Muhli, Paakkonen, 2003). However, the researchers stated that the frequent monitoring of the hearing capabilities of aviators in the Finnish air force was necessary to interpret for future studies to make better conclusions (Kuromen, Sorri, Muhli, Paakkonen, 2003). Other Aviators In the present age of space travel, a new source of noise is the space shuttle, which produces considerable noise levels during takeoff and in flight. Some of the studies that were used in this particular study mentioned space shuttles as some of the crafts that may predispose people to hearing loss (Fay, Popper, 2011). One of the limiting factors in the estimation of the hearing loss from the space shuttles is the number of studies that exist in this area. Few researchers have looked at hearing loss specifically in aviators who are involved in space travel. It is also hard to evaluate hearing loss from spacecrafts since the numbers of flights made by each of the aviators in a lifetime are not many. If any hearing loss is observed in the space shuttle, it will also be difficult to make a correlation between this hearing loss and the activities in the shuttles because of the few flights (Fay, Popper, 2011). Space shuttle crew is involved in training. This practice predisposes them to NIHL (Fay, Popper, 2011). Despite this condition occurring in the shuttle crews, one cannot make a conclusion that the NIHL is from the space shuttles or from the training activities. However, it is postulated that space shuttle aircrew members are in greater danger of developing hearing loss occasioned by the frequent space tr avels and the conditions in which they train. Some of the other aviators that the research focused on include the helicopter pilots. They were established as a special group of aviators. In most of the studies that focused on helicopter pilots and the prevalence of NIHL among this population, the researchers applied the same methodology to get to the results. The findings indicate that the helicopter is one of the machines that produce significant noise during flight. Aviators that operate it are also likely to develop NIHL (Dehart, Davis, 2008). Unlike other types of aircraft, the helicopter has a different method of propulsion, which is located above a significantly small-sitting space. The noise produced by the engine that is used to turn the rotors is significantly great. Pilots are constantly exposed to this noise. Apart from the avionic noise in helicopters, some of the other extra sources of noise in these machines include the weapons that are mounted on it in the military a nd the on-board electronic gadgets (Dehart, Davis, 2008). In most studies, helicopter pilots are said to have the highest exposure to noise in the aviation industry, with a greater number of them developing NIHL as compared to other aviators (Fitzpatrick, 1988). Despite the finding of increased susceptibility for helicopter pilots to aviation noise in most of the researches, some studies concluded that there was no difference between the hearing loss in these aircrafts and that from other aircraft pilots (Dehart, Davis, 2008). Ground Crew Most of the studies investigating the prevalence and presence of hearing loss in the aviation industry used the data obtained from pilots (Von Gierke, Kent, 1981). Most of the studies had a basic underlying assumption that the pilots are the main individuals affected by the noise from the aircrafts. The ground crew members also face the challenge of high frequency and loud noise since they work in an environment that is full of the same (Von Gie rke, Kent, 1981). Most of these individuals have different areas where they work, including air traffic control, engineering, flight management, and other complementary roles such as luggage control and security. Although they work in different departments in the airports, they are also susceptible to the loud noise coming from the engines of aircrafts (Fitzpatrick, 1988). In one of the studies that investigated the prevalence of hearing loss in the ground crew members, the age-adjusted hearing levels for these individuals was not different from that observed in the general population (Von Gierke, Kent, 1981). A general reduction rate in hearing was observed, with this level varying with the areas in which the individuals worked (Von Gierke, Kent, 1981). However, the hearing loss was present in some of the individuals working in departments such as aircraft maintenance and engineering departments (Rajguru, 2012). In the members of the aircrew that were not involved in flying, the use of protective gadgets was recognized as the main protective measure that helped them prevent the decrease in hearing ability. NIHL and Ear Protection One of the factors that were considered important in influencing the results of the studies listed above is the use of ear protection in the individuals mentioned in these studies (Rajguru, 2012). The use of noise protection gadgets in aviators is also the subject of this study. It investigates the different types of protection showing how each will alter results of the studies. This research also sought to investigate which device between earmuffs and earplugs is more effective in offering protection to aviators from NIHL. Miss (2004) is one of the researchers who investigated the use of different methods to reduce the effects of noise in the aviation industry on the aircrew. He states a need to adhere to noise reduction criteria, and that different methods of noise problem alleviation were already in use (Miss, 2004). The most c ommonly used method of reducing the effects of noise on aircrews is the use of a flight helmet. According to Miss (2004), this headset approach is effective in most cases. The researcher proposed new forms of helmets that would be even more effective in noise reduction. However, the main disadvantages to the use of these gadgets include their weight and sizes, which are a problem for pilots (Miss, 2004). Another form of noise reduction is the use of devices that reduce noise actively (Miss, 2004). According to Miss (2004), this method is also known as Active Noise Reduction (ANR). Although the use of ANR in noise reduction is thought to be more effective compared to other methods of noise reduction in the cabin, the practical application has been a challenge, with few aviators and aircrafts having the capabilities to use the devices (Miss, 2004). A comparison of the different types of helmets that Miss (2004) discussed is possible. It shows that the ANR helmets are better at reducin g noise compared to the standard helmets. Role Std Helmet ANR Helmet mar 99 ANR Helmet Apr 00 Pilot 89.3 (4.3) 85.6 (3.5) 80.9 (2.8) Observer 90.4 (3.9) 83.8 (4.5) 80.7 (4.4) Mean noise dose (and associated standard deviations) measured in Sea King AEW2 for Standard and ANR Mk4 flight helmets Source (Miss, 2004, p. 13) Earplugs The use of earplugs for the protection of individuals from sources of destructive sound is common. Earplugs have been associated with considerable degrees of success (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 899). There are different makes and models of earplugs. This fact makes the differences in attenuation of sound evident in the users of the devices (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 899). Abel and Odell (2006, p. 899) are some of the researchers who conducted investigations into the use of earmuffs and earplugs to protect aviators and other individual from NIHL. These researchers stated that the use of earplugs might provide better protection for individuals, especially pi lots (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 899). Abel and Odell (2006, p. 899) confirm, â€Å"In general, earplugs provide relatively more attenuation (15–40 dB) below 1 kHz, but are about the same above 1 kHz for highly rated devices.† Some of the factors that affect the attenuation of these devices are dependent on the individual user. The main difference was in the ability to fit the devices well (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 899). Some of the other factors that Abel and Odell (2006, p. 899) established as affecting the attenuation offered by earplugs include the maintenance for the devices, the sizing that is done and the headband tension (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 899). The combination of earmuffs and earplug should offer better protection for loud noises according to Abel and Odell (2006, p. 899). Earplugs offer mechanical protection to loud noises as compared to other forms of protection such as ANR. Therefore, they may be uncomfortable for users based on the differences in anatomies for the users. The ‘make’ of the earplug is also important as different companies make different models based on the standard ear shape for their region and expected market (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 899). Earmuffs Earmuffs are considerably bigger that earplugs. They are associated with more comfort for the users. However, a key difference is the level of noise reduction and protection that each of these accord to the users. According to Abel and Odell (2006, p. 899), â€Å"For earmuffs, attenuation increases from about 15 dB at 0.125 Hz to about 35 dB at1 kHz and then remains fairly stable.† Earmuffs are important [protection gadgets for pilots and other individuals exposed to high levels of noise. Many studies have found these gadgets to be useful in the reduction of risks associated with a loud noise. These instruments have been used in reducing noise from weapon systems. Abel and Odell (2006, p. 899) assert, â€Å"Studies of measurements made inside earmuffs wi th probe microphones have shown that the attenuation may be sufficient to protect against a pistol or rifle shot, but will not reduce the level of blasts from a bazooka or canon to safe levels.† Earmuffs offer considerable protection from noise related to aviation, but are not as effective as the use of earplugs in the protection of individuals in these activities. In a study comparing the effectiveness of using the muff and the plugs alone, the researchers found the muff to be less effective compared to the plug-in reducing exposure to noise in individuals (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 903). However, they observed that the combination of both devices was more useful in reducing the noise exposure to the ears (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 899). Therefore, these researchers suggested that the devices consisting of earmuffs and earplugs combined into one device were more useful in preventing NIHL as compared to other types of devices, or when the two are used alone (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 9 01). Attenuation (dB) as a function of frequency: Effect of ear condition Source (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 901). Discussion This study finds that the problem of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is a common one. The group that is significantly affected is that of the aviators. This group is frequently exposed to noise levels that are above the daily average for other occupations and professions (Dehart, Davis, 2008). The different jobs that are available for aircrew members predispose them to the NIHL. The profession that is mostly affected is the piloting part (Dehart, Davis, 2008). The evolution of NIHL is found to be different from presbycusis in pathophysiology. The present structural abnormalities differ between the two groups of patients (Rajguru, 2012). The aviators that are mostly affected by NIHL are the helicopter pilots because they operate crafts that have many sources of noise (Rajguru, 2012). However, some of the studies found that there was no difference between the occurre nces of NIHL in helicopter pilots from that observed in other aviators. The underlying finding in most of these studies is that the aircrew members have a higher chance of getting NIHL in their lifetime as compared to other individuals. Apart from the development of NIHL in pilots, the other group of aircrew members that the study finds to be at increased risk of developing NIHL is the ground crew. According to Kuromen, Sorri, Muhli, and Paakkonen (2003), ground crew individuals are exposed to different sources of noise, with the main source being the aircrafts that they service and maintain. The development of NIHL in the ground crew is not as pronounced as in pilots. The reasons behind this finding include the avid use of protection for the individuals and the different areas where they work. The other type of aircrew that the research investigated as being predisposed to NIHL included the space shuttle aircrew people who are exposed to considerable noise levels (Fay, Popper, 201 1). The studies evaluated were not rewarding, with most citing the fewer times that these crew members are exposed to noise in their few space travel missions (Fay, Popper, 2011). The use of ear protection is recognized as important in the mitigation of the effects of loud noise in aviators in the form of NIHL. The two types of protection mainly used are the earplugs and the earmuffs, which have shown effectiveness in reducing the noise exposure in aviators (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 903). This study finds that the use of earplugs is more useful in the protection of aviators and other aircrew members to the development of NIHL. However, the combination of the two methods of noise protection is more effective than the use of any of them alone (Abel, Odell, 2006, p. 903). The study qualified as an article review by using findings from previous studies. There is a need to carry out researches that are prospective, which will follow the progression of hearing in aircrew members working i n noisy environments. There is also need to carry out studies on the prevalence of NIHL in space shuttle aircrew, as one of the limitations for this study is that there were few researchers looking at NIHL this particular group. Conclusion This study evaluated the findings of some of the researchers who conducted studies on the prevalence, cause, and differences of Noise-induced Hearing Loss in different aircrew members. The findings indicate that working as an aircrew member in different capacities predisposes one to NIHL. Pilots are specifically at greater risk of developing NIHL, with the reasons behind this observation being provided. The study also concludes that the use of earplugs is better in protecting against the effects of loud noises. However, the application of both earplugs and earmuffs is better in achieving the same results. Reference List Abel, M. (2005). Hearing loss in military aviation and other trades: investigation of prevalence and risk factors. Aviat Space En viron Med, 76(1), 1128 –35. Abel, M., Odell, P. (2006). Sound attenuation from earmuffs and earplugs in combination: maximum benefits vs. missed information. Aviat Space Environ Med, 77(1), 899–904. Azizi, M. (2010). Occupational Noise-induced Hearing Loss, International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1(3), 116-123. Barney, R., Bohnker, K. (2006). Hearing thresholds for U.S. Marines: comparison of aviation, combat arms, and other personnel. Aviat Space Environ Med, 77(1): 53-6. Dehart, R., Davis, R. (2008). Fundamentals of aerospace medicine: Translating research into Clinical Applications. Lippincott: Williams and Wilkins. Fay, R., Popper, A. (2011). Springer Handbook of Auditory Research. New York, NY: Springer. Fitzpatrick, T. (1988). An analysis of noise-induced hearing loss in Army helicopter pilots. Aviat Space Environ Med, 59(1), 937-41. Gradwell, D., Rainford, D. (2006). Ernsting’s Aviation medicine. London: Taylor Francis. Kur omen, P., Sorri, J., Muhli, A., Paakkonen, M. (2003). Temporary Threshold Shift ion Military Pilots Measured Using Conventional and extended High Frequency Audiometry after One Flight. International Journal of Audiology, 42(1), 29-33. Kuromen, P., Toppila, E., Sorri, J., Paakkonen, M., Starck, J. (2004). Modelling the Risk of Noise-induced Hearing Loss among Military Pilots. International Journal of Audiology, 43(1), 79-84. Miss, J. (2004). Defining the Cockpit Noise Hazard, Aircrew Hearing Damage Risk and the Benefits Active Noise Reduction Headsets Can Provide. RTO-EN-HFM-111, 1(1), 5-20. Orsello, A., Moore, E., Reese, C. (2013). Sensorineural hearing loss incidence among U.S. military aviators between 1997 and 2011. Aviat Space Environ Med, 84(1), 975-9. Owen, P. (1996). A survey of hearing loss in army aircrew. Occupational Med, 46(1), 53-58. Rajguru, R. (2012). Enhancing Aircrew Protection against Noise-induced Hearing Loss. Ind J Aerospace Med, 56(1), 39-49. Rajguru, R. (20 13). Military Aircrew and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Prevention and Management. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, 84(12), 57-67 Raynal, M., Kossowski, M., Job, A. (2006). Hearing in military pilots: onetime audiometry in pilots of fighters, transports, and helicopters. Aviat Space Environ Med, 77(1), 57-61. Von Gierke, E., Kent, J. (1981). Analysis of the potential association between noise-induced hearing loss and cardiovascular evaluation in aircrew members. Journal of acoustic. Soc. Am., 69(1), 38-39. Wagstaff, S., Ã…rva, P. (2009). Hearing loss in civilian airline and helicopter pilots compared to air traffic control personnel. Aviat Space Environ Med, 80(1), 857 – 61. This research paper on Causes of Noise-induced Hearing Loss was written and submitted by user Amelia Morin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Terrorism Throughout the History of the United States

Terrorism Throughout the History of the United States Terrorism in America, like America itself, is a product of the many populations, issues and conflicts that co-exist within the nation’s borders. The United States is nearly unique among nations for its ability to â€Å"contain multitudes† in relative harmony. On examination, a substantial amount of terrorism in American history is motivated by an extreme distrust of the American ideal of democracy, in which people of varied backgrounds can all claim loyalty to and the benefits of the American system. In other words, despite enormous variation in terrorism’s expression, domestic terrorism in the United States can often be explained as a violent claim over what or who is authentically American. This distrust has had various forms of expression by different groups, in different periods. Colonists Use Violence to Proclaim Independence Although the Boston Tea Party does not necessarily come to mind as an act of terrorism, the staged rebellion by colonists was meant to threaten the British into changing its policy of taxing colonist tea importers imports, while offering a tariff-free trade to its East India Tea Company. Putting the Boston Tea Party in the category of terrorism can be a useful exercise for comparing the goals and tactics of different national liberation groups, which is what the Americansonce upon a timewere. Post-Civil War Terrorism - Violent White Supremacy The first and arguably most entrenched terrorist in the United States is based in an ideology called white supremacy, which holds that white Protestant Christians are superior to other ethnicities and races and that public life should reflect this purported hierarchy. In the period before the Civil War, American social organization did, in fact, reflect a presumed white supremacy, since slavery was legal. It was only after the Civil War, when Congress and the Union military began to enforce equality between the races, that white supremacy emerged. The Ku Klux Klan grew out of this period, using a variety of means to terrorize and harm African-Americans and sympathetic whites. In 1871, they were outlawed by Congress as a terrorist group, but they have had several violent incarnations since then. The Ku Klux Klan is no longer outwardly violent, but it has many chapters and continues to spread a racist ideology today, often against immigrants. Communists and Anarchist Violence Erupts in the 1920s The Bolshevik revolution that created the Soviet Union in 1917 had a powerful effect on socialist-minded revolutionaries the world over, including in the United States. And the roaring twenties, a period of tremendous wealth building by American robber barons provided a useful background for agitators against inequality. Most of this agitation had nothing to do with terrorism - labor strikes were common, for example. But anarchist and communist violence expressed the extreme end of a mainstream rift running through American society. The resulting red scare expressed peoples terrible fear that a communist revolution could unfold on American soil. One of the first cases of terrorism to be investigated by the FBI was the 1920 bombing on Wall Street by suspected anarchists. A spate of unsolved bombings in 1920 also gave rise to the infamous Palmer Raids, a series of mass arrests of Americans of Russian and other origins. The 1920s were also a period of upsurge in KKK violence, carried o ut not only against African-Americans but also against Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. Domestic Terrorism Explodes in the 1960s-1970s The expansion of plane travel beyond an elite few in the 1950s and 1960s enabled hijacking - or skyjacking, as it was known then. In the United States, flights going to and from Cuba frequently hijacked, although not always motivated by a strong political intention. This was the era, in other parts of the world, of post-colonial national liberation movements. In Algeria, in the Middle East, in Cuba, guerrilla warfare was revolutionary chic as much as it was a serious tactic. Both the serious intention and the youthful fashion took hold in the United States. American youth opposed to what they viewed as American imperialism, fueled by the ideals of civil rights for blacks, women, gays, and others, and deeply opposed to the deepening entanglement in Vietnam, turned radical. And some turned violent. Some had a relatively coherent platform, such as the Black Panthers and the Weathermen, while others, like the Symbionese Liberation Army - which, famously, kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst - were more generally in favor of something vaguely revolutionary. Right-Wing Terrorism on the Rise in the 1980s The radicalism of the 1960s and 1970s was followed by the conservatism of the Reagan era, in mainstream America. Political violence  too  took a turn to the right. In the 1980s, white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups such as Aryan Nation saw a resurgence, often among working-class white males, who perceived themselves as displaced by women, African Americans, Jews, and immigrants who benefited from new civil rights legislation. Terrorism in the name of Christianity also surged in the 1980s and 1990s. Radical groups and individuals committed to violent action to stop abortion were among the most visible. Michael Bray, head of a group called the Army of God spent four years in prison for his abortion clinic bombings in the 1980s. In 1999, the most lethal act of domestic violence to date occurred when Timothy McVeigh bombed the Alfred P. Murrah building in  Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. McVeighs stated motivation - revenge against a federal government that he viewed as intrusive and oppressive, was an extreme version of more mainstream desire among many for a smaller government. Dean Harvey Hicks, a citizen angry over his taxes, for example, created the one-man terrorist group Up the IRS, Inc. and tried to bomb IRS locations. Global terrorism comes to America The September 11,  2001  attacks by  Al Qaeda  continue to dominate the story of terrorism in the United States in the 21st century. The attacks were the first major act of global terrorism in U.S. territory. It was the culminating event of a decade of rising extremist, militant religious sentiment in many quarters of the world.

Identify a significant problem area within American Business, or Essay

Identify a significant problem area within American Business, or Business Related Law today - Essay Example In an employment situation, for example, an employee may be being subjected to language discrimination if the workplace has a â€Å"speak-English-only† policy but the employee’s primary language is something other than English† (The Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center and the ACLU Foundation of Northern California 1). 2. Description of the Nature and Extent of the Problem in Contemporary Society In contemporary society, language discrimination still continues despite laws that were enforced regarding the need to comply with regulations imposed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which states that â€Å"the mere existence of a â€Å"speak-English-only† workplace policy is evidence of discrimination under federal law† (The Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center and the ACLU Foundation of Northern California 2). Furthermore, discriminating the use of one’s native language has been found to â€Å"be a form of discrimination o n the basis of race or national origin, which are prohibited by well-established civil rights laws such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (a federal law), and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (a state law)† (The Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center and the ACLU Foundation of Northern California 1). 3. ... enter) on behalf of the plaintiffs, the Filipino nurses’ employed in DRMC were summoned to alleged mandatory meetings emphasizing the need to conform to the English-only policy and were, likewise, appropriately advised and warned that surveillance monitoring systems would be installed as a means of controlling them. As such, the report indicated that even during break time, fellow staff nurses continue to barrage these Filipino nurses into complying with the English-only policy; they were also encouraged to immediately report Filipino nurses who speak in their native language. In a copy of the case brief, it was also disclosed that the discrimination targeted only Filipino nurses, and other non-Filipino nurses who speak their respective native languages were not subjected to the same discriminative rules and practices (Asian American Legal Center, "Case No. 1:10-cv-01492-LJO-JLT" 9). 4. Analysis and Discussion of Ways that the Problem Affects Life The language discrimination p roblem was reported to have caused severe emotional and psychological stress, as well as economic difficulties, which ensued due to the need to file legal charges against the hospital for violating the rights of these workers, subject to the Equal Employment Opportunities law and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to one of the nurses, who was selected spokesperson of the Filipino nurses who filed the legal action against DRMC, the organization’s imposition of sanctions created due embarrassment and lowered the morale of Filipino nurses. Despite having served the organization for a considerable length of time, the loyalty and dedication rendered were not at all acknowledged and, therefore, the language discrimination practiced causes significant stress, feelings of isolation, and being

Explain the paradox of slavery and freedom, and how slavery and ideals Essay

Explain the paradox of slavery and freedom, and how slavery and ideals of freedom could coexist in North America - Essay Example Though, all these practices have now been legally eliminated but it still remains in the form of racial discrimination, which is quiet apparent in the American Society1. These marginalized groups of people now face the harsh treatment even in the hands of legal systems in America. White policemen are let of for killing a black youth, while a black person is severely punished for a small crime. There are other racist activities carried out at workplaces, schools and institutions where they are not given equal treatments and are looked down upon. Hence, it can be concluded that the concept slavery and freedom paradox is evident in American Society. The black president of white America, President Obama recently reacting to a comment to a white Coach of Basket Ball Team, said, â€Å"United States continues to wrestle with legacy of race and slavery and segregation. We have made enormous stride but you are going to continue to see this percolate up every so often2.† This comment was made recently when the coach showed a discriminatory behavior against the blacks. breitbart.com. Obama On Nba Owners Comments: Us Continues To Wrestle With Legacy Of Race, Slavery And Segregation. April 27, 2014. http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2014/04/27/Obama-on-NBA-Owner-Comments-US-Continues-To-Wrestle-With-Legacy-Of-Race-Slavery-and-Segregation (accessed 2014 30,

Ask week6 m 8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ask week6 m 8 - Essay Example 621), the knowledge of â€Å"Winner Curse† helps professionals to become more aware of issues and matters at hand. It also helps an individual to be more creative and innovative in future decision making process. Operation successful: patient dead is defined by Holmes (1985) as a phrase that explains changes and reforms in the health care sector. It expounds on possible predicaments that may hinder the transformation process. For example, the transformation in healthcare sector in Canada can be referred to as operation successful: Patient Dead. According to Masuch (1983, p. 17), vicious circle is articulated when a wrong decision in an organization is followed by another wrong decision for a long period. This may be due to poor policies and ideologies As observed by Breyer (1993, p. 87), vicious circle can be alleviated through change of attitude and improvement in organization tactics such as a change in decision making tactics. For instance, the involvement of all stakeholders in decision making process is very critical in averting the vicious circle According to Rothstein (2005, p. 67), decision paradox is a situation where a rational decision making process leads to unexpected results, which may undermine the objectives and goals of the decision maker. For example, a failed plan aimed at improving organization performance can be referred to as decision paradox (Amason and Mooney, 2008, p. 407). As stated by Bell (1982, p.961), to counter the impact of decision paradox, decision makers ought to identify the decision paradox risks and develop ways of managing them in decision making process. For example, any decision to expand organization operations ought to be preceded by a comprehensive market survey According to Bulow and Klemperer (2002, p. 7), winner curse is more likely to occur in a competitive environment. Competitive environment leads to increased level of uncertainty relating to the value of the product or services to bid (Burger

Theeb (2014) Summary and Review

Theeb (2014) Summary and Review Brandon Sanders  Ã‚   Theeb is a drama thriller film directed by Jordanian film director, Naji Abu Nowar. The film is about a young Bedouin boy named Theeb, played by Jacir Eid, who must adventure across the large desert of Wadi Rum. It takes place in the middle east surrounding World War I and is set during a period known as the Arab Revolt. This was a time when Arab nationalists sought to fight for independence from the Ottoman Empire. They saw an opportunity to be able to free Arab lands from the control of Turkish oppression, but could only accomplish this with the help of British officials. Which is why Edward, played by English actor Jack Fox, accompanies the boy in the journey of a lifetime (Stephen 2015: 1). Additionally, much of Theeb was filmed in Wadi Rum, located in southern Jordan. Although, it was split up into three locations; the first event, Theebs tribal encampment, was shot in Wadi Araba. The second event, the pilgrims trail, was shot in wadi rum. Finally, the third event, the ottoman fortress, was shot near Amman. This is one of the things that attracted me to the film because of how accurate and true to nature the locations were. It wasnt like they were filming in America trying to portray what happened, instead they chose Wadi Rum which has deep roots in Bedouin history and culture. Another aspect of the film that attracted me was how recent it had been released. Its hard to find foreign films that are contemporary and true to culture. What I mean by true to the culture is they dont use directors or actors from outside the culture because in most cases it could lead to inaccuracy or manipulation of the film, and all the actors were recruited from the Bedouin tribe. Except f or Jack fox of course, who played the British soldier. Which is why Theeb was a perfect choice to help describe Bedouin cultural context and meaning. For this reason, it is important to be able to understand Bedouin culture to fully appreciate the film. The Bedouin, a nomadic Arabic-speaking culture from the Middle East, are animal herders of the desert. Meaning they earn their living primarily from animal husbandry by natural graze and browse of sheep, goats, and camels (Chatty 2009: 1).   Traditionally speaking, the Bedouin seasonally migrate over the Middle East and North Africa depending on pasture and water because they need animals for survival. This largely plays into the subsistence of the culture, whereas the core of Bedouin subsistence is pastoral nomadism.   Another important aspect of the culture that one should note before watching the film is Bedouin history and cultural relations. For the most part, Bedouin societies are always linked to other non-pastoral societies by economic, social, and political relations. Meaning that they are considered specialist in livestock breeding in terms of local context. This is important when understanding the role of Bedouin societies for aspects concerning cultural relations. In addition to this, Bedouin history is largely important. In regards to the film, the most important information to note is the Arab Revolt. The Arab Revolt started in 1916 with the goal of gaining independence from the Ottoman Turks, with the hopes of being able to unite a single Arab state. This largely was due to the appeal of Arab nationalism, and is sometimes referred to as the Arab Awakening (Jones 2013: 399-401). In the film, you see the this portrayed in the actors as they fight their way across the desert accompanied by British soldier. In addition to this, there is much cultural meaning with the work. It exemplifies the culture by showing history in an accurate setting and using actors from a Bedouin tribe to help illustrate Bedouin culture. It portrays to the audience the lifestyle of Bedouin culture by showing accurate representations of camps and implementing core values. Values such as the importance of hospitality within Bedouin culture. Hospitality is greatly ritualized and taught within the teachings of the Quran. And, for the most part, Bedouin are considered Sunni Muslims and follow the teaching of the Quran. In fact, hospitality is so important that guests must be protected as if they were family members (Chatty 2009: 7). The film portrays this accurately with the acceptance of the British soldier, Edward. The film also shows the roles of men, where traditional Bedouin- Arab families are dominated by males. Also, shown in the film, men are the primary outfitters of war and political issues. Furthermore, this film helps to signify or convey traditional values and history of Bedouin culture by accurately following cultural context and history within the film. Such as Men having dominant roles within the film and showing cultural context such as religious practices of hospitality. It shows the importance and struggle of Bedouin history, and makes known the traditional aspects within the culture. Traditional aspects such as subsistence, identification and location, history and cultural relations, and religious beliefs and practices. All in all, Theeb is an excellent feature film from Bedouin culture and accurately highlights and shows key aspects of the culture. Furthermore, the film represents a universal message that translates to all cultures. Inspiring perseverance through trials and tribulations and encouraging traditional cultural practices inspiring nationalism. It is a contemporary example that even today films can be made that exemplify culture. Citations Chatty, D. (2009). Culture Summary: Bedouin. New Haven, Conn.: Human Relations Area Files. Retrieved from http://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=mj04-000 JONES, C., MILTON-EDWARDS, B. (2013). Missing the devils we knew? Israel and political Islam amid the Arab Awakening. International Affairs, 89(2), 399-415. doi:10.1111/1468-2346.12024 Holden, S. (2015, November 05). Review: In Theeb, a Bedouin Boys Brutal Coming-of-Age. Retrieved March 30, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/movies/review-in-theeb-a-bedouin-boys-brutal-coming-of-age.html

people of 1970s :: essays research papers

The 1970’s are a decade of finding your self. In this decade, there were scandals, sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. The years between 1970 and 1979 were very crazy. In this paper are people that helped shape the 1970’s   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Richard Milhous Nixon was born in 1913 in Yorba Linda, California. In 1946, Nixon was persuaded by the republicans to be their candidate, to challenge the democratic congressman, Jerry Voorhis. As a new member of the United States congress, Nixon gained valuable experience in international affairs, as well as serving on the committee that he committed, the â€Å"European Recovery Program†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦aka the Marshal plan. As the president of the United States, Nixon led us into the Vietnam War. It was said to be one of the most important issues that Nixon faced in his term of office. The war had begun in 1959 when communists tried to overthrow the government of South Vietnam. While running for president, Nixon had campaigned against war, saying that he would bring U.S. soldiers back home. However   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rutledge 2 The War only seemed to expand. In April of 1970, Nixon authorized the invasion of Cambodia, and the invasion on Laos in 1971. As the second half of the war came around, in 1972, Nixon traveled to Beijing and in May of 1972 he Visited Moscow. On both of these trips, he signed trade agreements with both countries, and a treaty with USSR to limit the deployment of the antiballistic missile systems. By the 1972 election, Nixon and Agnew were looking for re-election. The countries inflation had gone down, and the international position of the U.S. economy had improved greatly. The war was still raging in South Vietnam. At the beginning of Nixon’s second administration, the secret peace meetings resumed between Vietnam and the U.S. Nixon there declared a halt to all bombing, mining and artillery fire in North Vietnam. Nixon’s popularity would only increase with the public’s awareness of the Watergate scandal. By March of 1973, questions were aimed at Nixon about the tr ial of the burglars who had broken into the Democratic National Committee and the Watergate Complex in Washington D.C. These questions also raised questions about Nixon’s knowledge about the activities and his participation of the cover up of the Watergate Scandal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rutledge 3 In early 1974, a report released by the IRS stated that Nixon owed $432,787 in back taxes for the years 1969 through 1972.

How Music Affects Concentration and Work Efficiency Essay

Research on the brain has been immense. The scientific study of the brain has become an essential endeavor in understanding human life. Music has been found to have profound effect on the brain. Psychologists and scientists have been looking at the link between music, with mood, work efficiency and concentration for years. In our experiment, we hope to find a correlation between a specific genre of music and greater work efficiency and concentration. We plan to give Miami University students a brief reading comprehension test while listening to a certain genre of music (rock, rap, classical, instrumental, techno, and no music).  After testing 90 students, we hope to reach a conclusion about what music helps concentration and work efficiency. If we are able to come to a conclusion, we will have a study skill that will help college students perform better on tests and with homework. Introduction: In this study we seek to examine the correlations between music and the mind. We hope to uncover the profound impact that various genres of music can have on concentration and comprehension. We hypothesize, that classical music, along with soothing and instrumental music will benefit concentration greater than rock and roll music or pieces featuring fast and wild rhythms. Our research question for this project is what specific music will benefit concentration and comprehension greatestNif at all. After researching other studies that have done on the link between music and concentration, we predict that listening to different types of music while answering questions will indeed affect the subjectOs concentration and work efficiency. In specific, we predict that classical music will help our brain with concentration tasks. From our various studies and tests we hope to discover this helpful link between music’s affect on the mind and use the results to enact better habits in our own lives. Our group wanted to perform an experiment that has validity to a personOs everyday life. Because all of our group members are in college and feel the pressure and stress to accumulate good grades, we thought it would be a great idea to help ease the anxiety by finding a method to help with our studying. If our hypothesis turns out conclusive, it will be beneficial for people to listen to classical music while studying. We have hopes that we will find a genre of music that helps the mind concentrate more efficiently. If we can accomplish our goal by coming to a definite answer to our question our experiment will be successful. We believe that this study is interesting because the vast majority of college students, ourselves included, enjoy music and seek ways to incorporate our music in studying. As college students, we also want to find ways to improve our grades and success at taking tests. If we can find a way in which music benefits studying and comprehension, we can involve music in our studies thus enhancing the enjoyment of time studying as well as enhancing our learning abilities. Music is powerful. It has the potential to evoke emotions and personality. Because of the profound effects music has on the human race, it has been a common link between cultures around the world for centuries. Not only does music provide entertainment and beautiful sounds, but it has an amazing effect on memory and learning. It has been found that people who study music have better GPAs and are higher achievers than those who aren’t involved in music. It is also true that Hungary, Japan and the Netherlands are the top three academic countries in the world and they all place a great emphasis on music education and participation in music. With that fact, the United States should promote music education in all students and stress the importance of music from an early age when children are curious and adventurous. Through recent scientific studies there has been a much greater understanding on music and itOs psychological effects. There have been countless studies performed to understand the complex correlation of the complicated brain and music. For example, in a study performed by Mark Tarrant, David Hargreaves, and Adrian North, the men sought to examine the manipulation of the mind based on music. In the study, they played music in a gym and examined the moods through testing their subjects immediately following their workout. They offered the participants the ability to help out a charity, thus examining the affect that the music had on them. They measured two different groups, those who listened to annoying music and those who listened to uplifting music. The results revealed that the uplifting music did in fact manipulate the mind by causing the subjects to be more supportive, while the people who listened to the annoying music were short-tempered and unhelpful. Another famous study has dealt with how MozartOs masterpieces help concentration and memorization when studying for academics. It has been found in many different studies that because of the mathematical rhythms in MozartOs musical pieces, mental clarity is enhanced, therefore improving study skills. After researching this study, our group was able to construct our own hypothesis. The study also made us more hopeful that our hypothesis would turn our conclusive. An experiment performed by Teresa Lesiuk dealt with the effect of listening to music on work performance. She concluded that quality of work and time-on-task work was least efficient with no music. Her experiment showed that people produce more quality work while listening to music and they finish their work faster when listening to music. It also stated that work environments with music help employee moods. This study helps our experiment, but lacks the difference in music genres on work efficiency. With our experiment, we will be able to take this specific study even further by finding out what specific genre of music helps work efficiency and mood. Exploring multiple sources and studies performed by other scientists has only helped strengthen our own experiment and shed light onto different facets of our study. With the help of outside information, we hope to provide a well constructed experiment with reliable results. From our research, we have built a vast base of knowledge on not only music’s effects on the mind, but mood, tension, and other factors which could possibly hinder our experiment. The knowledge we have gained on the diverse human responses to various genres of music have helped support our belief that music can in fact have both beneficial and harmful consequences. Our study seeks to examine not only our narrowly defined question, but several broader inquiries. Walking into King Library, there are a vast number of students hard at work while tuned into their iPods. In our study, we seek to examine what genre of music will be most beneficial. On a larger scale however, our study examines several broader topics and has many far reaching effects on student’s lives. The study will work to reach conclusions on how students can improve academic performance as well as comprehension and mental efficiency. In researching this topic, we have come across many studies that also explore the link between music and the mind. Hargreaves, David, Mark Tarrant, and Adrian North. â€Å"The Effects of Music on Helping Behavior. † Environment and Behavior 36 (2004). 10 Sep 2005 . This was an extremely beneficial study was performed on this topic by Mark Tarrant, David Hargreaves, and Adrian North. These men sought to examine the manipulation of the mind based on music. They played music in a gym and examined the moods through testing their subjects immediately following their workout. They offered the participants the ability to help out a charity, thus examining the affect that the music had on them. They had two different groups which they measured those who listened to annoying music and those who listened were exposed to uplifting music. The results revealed that the uplifting music did in fact manipulate the mind by causing the subjects to be more supportive. Weinberger, Norman . The Mozart Effect: A Small Part of the Big Picture. 7 ed. Sacramento: Regents of the University of California, 2000. One particular article we came across examined the effect of classical music’s mathematical rhythms. According to their studies, the format of the mathematical rhythms in Mozart’s pieces contain various factors which enhance mental clarity. Lesiuk, Teresa. â€Å"The Effect of music listening on work performance. † Psychology of Music. Vol. 33, No. 2, 173-191 (2005). . This journal article found results that indicate that in a work environment, quality of work is lowest with no music and time-on-task was longest with no music as well. It also states the environments with music help mood and increase quality of work when music is present. We hope that our experiment shows these results as well. Platel, H. The Structural Components of Music Perception. A Functional Anatomical Study. † Brain. Vol 120, Issue 2: 229-243. Oxford University Press 1997. This journal article relates to our experiment in a more medical standpoint. Their experiment explores the relationship between the cerebral structures and music appreciation. It is essential that we look at medical journal articles so we understand the medical basis to our experiment. Our mind is complex and extraordinary and music plays a profound affect on our brain and the way it works. McCraty, R. â€Å"The Effects of Different Types of Music on Mood, Tension, and Mental Clarity. Pub Med. 1998 Jan; 4 (1): 75-84. 7 Sep 2005. . This journal article touched on not only music and its effect on work efficiency, but also music’s effect on tension, mood and mental clarity. Because it includes more than just mental clarity, it gives us more information and research to work with. The study found that designer music (music made to have a specific effect on the listener) increased positive feelings and concentration levels. This journal article has many similarities to our experiment and coincides with our hypothesis. Florentine, Mary. â€Å"On the Behavioral Characteristics of Loud-Music Listening. Ear and Hearing: The Official Journal of the American Auditory Society. 19(6):420-428, 1998 Dec. This journal discusses behavior and its link to listening excessively to loud music. They created a survey and test 90 subjects. Eight of the surveyors showed behaviors that are present in substance abusers. This is relevant to our experiment because we will be using rock and other types of loud music to measure concentration„this journal taps into the musical category. Sweeney, J. C. â€Å"The Role of Cognitions and Emotions in the Music-approach-avoidance Behavior Relationhip. Journal of Services Marketing. Vol 16, 1: 51-69. March 2002. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. This study dealt with an experiment in a women’s fashion store. This journal differed from the other’s we researched, however it touched on a different aspect of our experiment. The journal states that music affects customer’s perceptions of service quality as well as feelings of arousals in terms of a women’s fashion store. After reading different journals like this one, it is obvious that music affects all aspects of life, not just mood and concentration. McCraty, Rollin. The Effects of Different Types of Music on Mood, Tension, and Mental Clarity. † HeartMath 76 (2002). 17 Sep 2005 . A third study we found, looked into the connections between music, mood, and mental clarity. They sought to test the different effects that diverse genres of music had on subjects through psychological questioning and profiling. They tested four genres of music from various corners of the music world; Grunge Rock, New Age, Classical, and Designer. The results were conclusive in revealing that grunge rock evoked hostility and greatly reduced mental clarity and motivation. We found this particularly important to our studies as we also plan to test primarily college students who commonly listen to grunge music. Carroll, Robert Todd. â€Å"Mozart Effect. † The Skeptic’s Dictionary 2005. . This article explores the effect that Mozart music has on the mind. It gives the history of the scientist who examined this issue. They included statistics to prove their case the students do better when they are exposed to Mozart and classical music. This article correlates to our hypothesis that classical music will improve concentration.

Free Essays on Theme Of Scarlet Letter

On a day in June 1642, the people of the Puritan colony of Boston await the public humiliation of a sinner among them. Hester Prynne is to stand on the scaffold in the village square for three hours. The red letter â€Å"A† which she has embroidered on her dress and the baby she holds in her arms brand her as an adulteress. Hester refuses to name the father. Her husband, an old scholar, had sent her ahead two years earlier and is now in the crowd observing the scene. Under the guise of a medical doctor and the assumed name of Roger Chillingworth, Dr. Prynne demands unsuccessfully the name of the child’s father and vows revenge on him. Hester takes up residence with her daughter Pearl at the edge of the village. Chillingworth remains as the town physician and moves in with the young Reverend Dimmesdale, whose physical health is deteriorating but whose sermons about sin are more powerful than ever. Chillingworth determines that Dimmesdale is indeed the father of Pearl and torments the minister with innuendo and debate while keeping him alive with medicines. During this period Hester successfully rebuffs efforts to remove Pearl from her keeping. For seven years, Hester suffers her outcast state until the deterioration of the minister’s health forces her to confront him. Arthur Dimmesdale, her lover, and Hester meet in the forest where they renew their love and commitment and resolve to return to England together. However, the minister is unable to endure his spiritual agony and mounts the public scaffold in the dark of night, confessing his sin where no one can hear him. He is discovered by Hester and Pearl, and observed there by Chillingworth, who persuades him that his confession is a symptom of his illness. The next morning, however, the minister leaves a public procession to mount the scaffold in the light of day. Joined by Hester and Pearl, and unsuccessfully restrained by Chillingworth, Dimmesdale confesses his guilt a... Free Essays on Theme Of Scarlet Letter Free Essays on Theme Of Scarlet Letter On a day in June 1642, the people of the Puritan colony of Boston await the public humiliation of a sinner among them. Hester Prynne is to stand on the scaffold in the village square for three hours. The red letter â€Å"A† which she has embroidered on her dress and the baby she holds in her arms brand her as an adulteress. Hester refuses to name the father. Her husband, an old scholar, had sent her ahead two years earlier and is now in the crowd observing the scene. Under the guise of a medical doctor and the assumed name of Roger Chillingworth, Dr. Prynne demands unsuccessfully the name of the child’s father and vows revenge on him. Hester takes up residence with her daughter Pearl at the edge of the village. Chillingworth remains as the town physician and moves in with the young Reverend Dimmesdale, whose physical health is deteriorating but whose sermons about sin are more powerful than ever. Chillingworth determines that Dimmesdale is indeed the father of Pearl and torments the minister with innuendo and debate while keeping him alive with medicines. During this period Hester successfully rebuffs efforts to remove Pearl from her keeping. For seven years, Hester suffers her outcast state until the deterioration of the minister’s health forces her to confront him. Arthur Dimmesdale, her lover, and Hester meet in the forest where they renew their love and commitment and resolve to return to England together. However, the minister is unable to endure his spiritual agony and mounts the public scaffold in the dark of night, confessing his sin where no one can hear him. He is discovered by Hester and Pearl, and observed there by Chillingworth, who persuades him that his confession is a symptom of his illness. The next morning, however, the minister leaves a public procession to mount the scaffold in the light of day. Joined by Hester and Pearl, and unsuccessfully restrained by Chillingworth, Dimmesdale confesses his guilt a...

How to Write a Strong Dissertation Introduction

How to Write a Strong Dissertation Introduction Learn How to Create a Powerful Introduction for Your Dissertation The introduction to a dissertation may not be the first part of your dissertation a reader encounters, but it’s still one of the essential parts of the work. An introduction sets the tone of your work, allowing the reader to get a better idea about the kind of things they will get out of the dissertation. That is why a sloppily written dissertation introduction can spoil the success of even the most brilliant piece of writing. A strong dissertation introduction needs to be concise and clear. Even more importantly, it should completely match the topic of your work, so that the readers get a logical picture while reading your dissertation chapter by chapter. What Is a Dissertation Introduction? If you’ve come to the point where you need to write a dissertation, it means you’ve created a fair share of other written assignments and are already familiar with the concept of an introduction as a piece of writing. The introduction of the dissertation is the opening chapter of the work that describes the subject of the dissertation, introduces a thesis statement, and gives the readers an idea of what they will find in work. The Purpose of the Introduction in a Dissertation Any dissertation introduction has several clear objectives: To demonstrate the value of your dissertation and the practical relevance of the work; To get the readers acquainted with the fascinating topic of your dissertation; To explore the idea behind the subject with relevant examples. The Content of a Dissertation Introduction So what exactly should the introduction of your dissertation contain? The answer to that question largely depends on the specifics of your work, but there are also certain elements that should be present in every dissertation introduction, regardless of the subject: The indication of the problem; The scope of the work; The relevance of the research in the theoretical and practical field; The objective of the research; The current state of the problem; A description of the research design; Now let’s take a closer look at each of those elements. Indication of the Problem In this part of the introduction you need to explain what caused you to research this particular topic. The topic should stem from your own interests to be equally fascinating to your readers. Scope Using the indication of the problem, define the subject of your dissertation and how it is represented in scientific sources. Don’t include too much research in this part analyze the literature to find a new angle to look at the problem. Relevance Use this part of your dissertation introduction to explain how your work will have both theoretical and practical value. You can use the discussion parts of scientific sources to better formulate the relevance of your research for the scientific community. Current State of the Problem Using relevant scientific literature, let the readers know whether the subject of your dissertation is widely discussed in the scientific field or there has been very little research on the subject. Objective Formulate a brief and concise research objective and the problem statement of your work, which are two separate parts of the introduction. Designing research questions and hypothesis will help you create a more convincing problem statement. If you’re struggling at this stage, consider reviewing the literature first and then returning to the problem statement. Research Design The description of the research design is essential for a successful dissertation introduction, but don’t make it too detailed, as you’ll describe the research design later in the paper. Just state the primary conditions of the research. Outline Introduce briefly the structure of your dissertation here. Use one sentence to describe each chapter. Make sure you word your outline description in an academic and engaging manner. Writing a Research Proposal A dissertation introduction may be one of the first instances where the reader is acquainted with your work, but you are not required to write every chapter of the dissertation in the same order. Writing a research proposal before the introduction will give you more ideas on what to include in your introduction. Plus, as your work progresses, you can always come back to the introduction and improve it. Verb Tenses It’s an unwritten rule of scientific work that when describing your research plans, intentions, and actions, it’s better to use the present simple tense. Indicating previous research or background information calls for the past simple or present perfect tense. Introduction Length There are no rules on how long the introduction of your dissertation should be; the length of this chapter of the dissertation should be dictated by common sense and the nature of your work. Trying to fit the introduction into a single page may result in omitting some important information, but you also shouldn’t use the introduction to describe your work to the smallest detail there will be plenty of opportunities to do it throughout the dissertation. Editing and Proofreading One of the reasons why you should spare enough time for writing a dissertation introduction and shouldn’t leave it to the last minute is that you should be able to revise it before submitting the work. Editing and proofreading your work helps you not only eliminate possible spelling and grammar mistakes but can also give you some ideas on how to make your introduction even better. How to Write a Strong Dissertation Introduction Here are some universal tips on how to make the introduction for your dissertation stronger: Try not to make any claims that you will not be able to substantiate later; Use straightforward academic language to write your introduction; Avoid cramming too much information in the limited space of the introduction you’ll get a chance to describe everything in details later; Pay special attention to the first sentence of the introduction use it to grab attention of the readers. Potential Struggles Most students face some problems while writing the introduction for their dissertation, and here are three most common ones: The introduction is too long; The student tries to get into details, making the reader less interested in continuing reading; The introduction was written according to some formula without any consideration for the specifics of the particular work. Steps to Writing an Effective Introduction Since the job of the dissertation introduction is to attract the attention of the reader, you need to focus on making the introduction engaging and effective, and these are the steps you need to take: Let the readers know about previous researches done in this area; Introduce the topic to the readers in a way that instantly convinces them of its worthiness; Find gaps in previous researches or new aspects of the problem to locate your own niche in the study. To occupy the niche, you’ve found during the research, you’ll need to establish the importance of the work you’re doing and describe the value of your dissertation. Get Professional Writing Help If for any reason, you feel like you won’t complete the dissertation introduction the way you want to, you have one last option order the introduction for your dissertation from our experienced writers and get an introduction that meets each of your goals. Enjoy reasonably priced writing services from the most competent authors on the internet and improve your academic record!

Shortcomings of the healthcare system in the U.S Assignment

Shortcomings of the healthcare system in the U.S - Assignment Example Measurement must be both comprehensive and innovative to entail the data domains of processes, outcomes, cost and patient satisfaction (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). Stanhope and Lancaster, in Chapter one of the book, present some evidences of how the healthcare system has transformed. They argue that an ideal system should focus on every patient while prioritizing population health to improve and manage epidemic conditions such as heart diseases, obesity and diabetes (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). In providing improved patient outcome, translational biomedical research should be included in an ideal healthcare system, and constant research is thereafter required to establish the clinical interventions outcomes in the best patient outcomes. Additionally, the movie â€Å"Opening Doors: Public health Nursing in its 100th years† directed by Stephen Longstreth highlights public health nursing profession that involves nurses reaching-out to homes and communities they are serving. Thi s documentary educates nurses on the importance of population-centered healthcare in the community. Nurses’ commitment to the community and families in which they live is significant in the prevention of illnesses (citation). According to the movie, nurses should be involved in tackling issues such as teen pregnancy, healthcare counseling, and substance abuse for people who have a limited access to social and healthcare services. This is because their direct participation in addressing health care problems, in their communities, is a crucial role for nurses. Better System Performance In simpler terms, an ideal healthcare system should be systems-oriented. This implies that patients must enter into an experience, which is established around them and... Shortcomings of the healthcare system in the U.S This paper, therefore, provides descriptions and characteristics of an ideal healthcare system that is consistent with the current Healthcare Reform Movement. It then compares nursing practices with the concepts of population focused nursing that are presented in the text â€Å"Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community† and movie â€Å"Open Doors† (1990). An ideal healthcare system offers three key principles, which include better system performance, better patient outcome and better professional development. The main goal of such a system is to ensure that all American citizens have an equal access to quality healthcare services at a reasonable cost. Better Patient Outcomes: An ideal healthcare system should focus on population and patient outcome. Better outcomes are acquired through care that is family and patient –centered, preference sensitive and evidence centered. Chapter one and two of the reading describe â€Å"Perspectives in health care and population-centered nursing† and â€Å"Influences on healthcare delivery and population-centered nursing†. In simpler terms, an ideal healthcare system should be systems-oriented. This implies that patients must enter into an experience, which is established around them and in-line with their needs. This experience should, therefore, be longitudinal, cross-departmental, will center and interdisciplinary on patient and their families through a healthcare journey.

Merck Pharmaceutical Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Merck Pharmaceutical Company - Essay Example Merck Pharmaceutical products are mainly therapeutic agents, for the treatment of various human and animal disorders. In fact the basic source of income for the company comes from the revenues derived from the filling and management of prescriptions and health management programs (Banks, 2001). Merck & Co., Inc. is also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the USA and Canada, with the headquarters of the company located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and was established as the United States subsidiary of the German company which is currently known as Merck KGaA. Similar to the German assets in the United States, Merck & Co. was expropriated in 1917 during the First World War and set up as an independent company. In fact statistics and data suggest that this company is presently one of the seven largest pharmaceutical companies in the world both by market capitalization and revenue. Merck & Co. or MSD is also known as a global research-driven pharmaceutical company. It discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of unique products to improve human and animal health. Each and every organization requires leadership because all of them are affected by their contexts, philosophies, governance structures, value systems, and the legal ground rules under which they operate. These are the forces and factors that control their leadership needs. When it comes to community or social responsibility, it is said that the Merck Company Foundation has distributed over $480 million to educational and non-profit organizations since it was founded in 1957. This company is also today involved in bringing out various medical publications as it publishes the "Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy" that is considered as the world's best-selling medical textbook, and the "Merck Index" which is a collection of information about chemical compounds. Over the years there are several challenges that the company has faced. For instance, Attorney General Coakley's Office filed a settlement with drug manufacturer Merck and Company, Inc. (Merck) resolving concerns about the company's misleading advertising and promotion of the "Cox-2" inhibitor drug Vioxx. This drug is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis. The complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, claims that Merck failed to reveal to consumers that Vioxx posed an increased risk of heart attack. The consent judgment, also filed in Suffolk Superior Court prohibited Merck from further mislead consumers in advertising for any Merck product and requires full disclosure of all known risks of Merck drugs. The complaint asserts that Merck began marketing Vioxx in May 1999 with an aggressive and deceptive promotional campaign directed at both consumers and at health care professionals. However, they hide the fact of high risks of heart problems. When promoting Vioxx directly to patients of arthritis as well as the health care professionals, Merck allegedly misrepresented the cardiovascular side effect. As a result the company's ethics were questioned and subsequently the drug was taken off from the market. In September 2004, Merck admitted that Vioxx caused serious cardiovascular events and withdrew the drug from the market. Further, when the multistate group investigated this case in December 2005, it exposed that in addition to the deceptive and misleading adverti