Critiquing Business Plan In Emerging Market.Businesses In Brazil Assignment

Critiquing Business Plan In Emerging Market.Businesses In Brazil - Assignment Example There are cases and instances that governments try to come to the aid of some of these entrepreneurs by use of favorable macro and micro economic policies. This notwithstanding, not all of these policies have eliminated the barriers. Interesting, studies have even confirmed that most economic policies put in place by the Brazilian central government also turn round to be barriers for most entrepreneurs seeking to start up new businesses especially those in the oil and gas sector, of which the biodiesel industry is part (Gartner, 1985). In this critique paper for a business plan that is ready for implementation of a biodiesel startup company in Brazil, the various barriers that may possibly exist and methods that can be used to mitigate each of these barriers are outlined. Licensing The licensing of company system that exists in Brazil could serve as a major barrier to both the entry and growth of the new biodiesel company intended for Brazil. This is because there are licensing regul ations, which have been criticized by most economists and market players as being investor hostile. Unfortunately, such hostility exists in cases that the government feels that the coming of certain companies may be a major competition for existing and known state corporations (Ivanova, 2009). A typical example of this is in the area of energy, where even though there is an open market, the state still practices a casual monopoly, trying to prevent private participation. As part of the casual monopoly strategy, private individuals are made to undergo several routine processes in getting license to operate (Krasniqi, 2007). Meanwhile, the possession of a license to make the commencement of business in Brazil is very important as it opens the avenue for such companies to benefit and enjoy trade incentives that may exist. What is more, in order to have an international reputation and open one’s business up for international investment and other forms of business expansion option s such as enlistment on the Brazilian Stock Exchange, license registration is demanded. A method to overcome this barrier would be to first enter the market as a partner to an existing registered local company. This way, the company will not be given the kind of hostile treatment given to expatriate companies. After some time when there is a separation in the ownership of the company, the license of the original company will over both separated companies if there was ownership up to a certain number of years. Lending and Credit bias in favor of multinationals Access to money for entrepreneurs remains a major barrier to growth for most new entrants in Brazil. This is because there is a form of lending and credit bias that favors existing and well established international and multinational companies as against new entrants and small and medium scale businesses in Brazil (Foley, 2003). Commonly, the financial institutions, most of which are banks try to justify some of these biases by explaining that new entrants and small and medium scale companies lack credit credibility. What this means is that they are not tried and tested in their finances such that they can be trusted with huge sums of credit. In most cases therefore, there is a limitation on the amount of money that can borrowed by these new entrants. Where there are no limitations on the quantum of money that can be borrowed, there are strict lending processes that delay

Some Moral Minima Essay Example for Free

Some Moral Minima Essay In Some Moral Minima, Lenn Goodman argues that there are certain things that are simply wrong. Do you think Goodman is right? Using specific examples, explore the challenges Goodman presents to relativism. Determine whether you think there are such universal moral requirements, and defend your answer in a well-argued three-page paper. Your paper must be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style. You dont need any sources other than the Goodman paper and the text for our course. However, you must cite all your references properly. If you would like to refer to APA samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, within the Learning Resources tab in the left navigation bar, in your online course. Some Moral Minna By Lenn Goodman The Morally Right In â€Å"Some Moral Minima† I believe Lenn Goodman is right when he says certain things are simply wrong. I agree with Goodman on the issues he discusses such as slavery, genocide, terrorism, murder, rape, polygamy, and incest. I agree with Goodman on these issues because there is never a good time to kill for the sake of killing, rape for the sake of sex, or take ones rights away for the sake of gaining respect or wealth. Goodman basically discusses that every person whether it be man, woman, or child has the rights to live and be free from any and all inhumane treatment. Goodman’s main understanding is not to be quick on judging things we don’t understand, but to judge those things that are not morally right. I believe that all people are equal and have the right to live their own life as do the violators should have no rights to commit these unruly acts of wrong. Who are we to judge anyone or why should others have the right to murder, rape, or rip the rights of people away from them? The bible states, â€Å"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you† (Matthew, 7:12, Standard Version). I believe this is the best way to look at the situation on any of the issues that Goodman discusses. We should never judge anyone due to their sexual orientation, physical/mental handicapness, or any other feature in which they have no control over, such as the poor and the wealthy. Goodman discusses slavery as a act of wrong in the article and I really agree with his views on this issue. In the past some of our forefathers thought of slavery as a racially ethical right. Today in our society there are still some of the older generation that still look down upon the African American population simply because of the color of their skin.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Lucid Dreaming Therapy

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Lucid Dreaming Therapy Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has seen a steep incline in recent years, affecting over 1 adult in every 12 (National Comorbidity Survey Replication [NCS-R], 2001-2003). Per the American Psychiatric Association, it is defined as a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault (APA, 2015). An adult diagnosed with PTSD can arguably obtain normality in behaviour and mindset through various forms of psychotherapy and medication, and resultantly recover from the disorder. Lucid Dreaming Therapy (LDT) is becoming an increasingly large influence in the format of exposure therapy, which begs the question, to what extent can Lucid Dreaming be effective in treating the identifying characteristics of PTSD? Exposure Therapy is a format of behavioural therapy in which a patient re-enters the setting in which they experienced the initial trauma, whether it be virtually, imaginatively or physically, and attempts to confront the troubling factor (APA, Division 12). Exposure therapy is advertised as a treatment component range for several problems, including Phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder and PTSD. However, the difference with the latter is the inability to physically recreate the event in the exact manner that it originally occurred, with all smells, sounds and emotions originally experienced. The goal of Lucid Dreaming Therapy (LDT) is to reduce the detriment caused as a result of PTSD in order to enable a suffering adult to best function independently and successfully in various environments (Green McCreery, 1994; Halliday, 1988; LaBerge, 1985; LaBerge Rheingold, 1990; Tholey, 1988). LDT is most successful in combination with early intervention. Treatment closely after a traumatic eve nt allows for a greater possibility to alleviate suffering from effects such as nightmares and depression. Characterizing Description of PTSD PTSD is classified as a trauma and stressor related psychiatric disorder, largely due to four common features that appear from three months to years after the occurrence of a traumatic event. These characteristics are intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thought and mood, and changes in emotional reactions (DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5). The diagnostic features of PTSD best described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. At least eight of the criteria must be present for the diagnosis of PTSD. Of these eight, additional requirements exist in each area. Exposure to death, violence or injury is one key feature of PTSD, referred to as stressor. This can be marked through direct exposure, witnessing the trauma, learning that a relative or close friend was exposed to a trauma or Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma. A patient must have one of these social criterions to be marked as a patient of PTSD. Symptoms of intrusion are another foundation of PTSD. A persistently recurring format of re-experiencing the trauma is characteristic. Such symptoms include recurrent or involuntary and intrusive memories, traumatic nightmares, dissociative reactions such as flashbacks ranging on a continuum of brief episodes to loss of consciousness, intense or prolonged distress after exposure to traumatic reminded, as well as marked physiological reactivity after exposure to trauma-related stimuli. Persistent effortful avoidance of distressing trauma-related stimuli after the event is another core to PTSD. This can be marked through trauma-related thoughts or feelings in addition or replacement to trauma-related external reminders (e.g. people, places, objects or activities). Negative alterations in cognition are often a bi-product of PTSD and therefore a key factor in diagnosis. These alterations include; dissociative amnesia in relation to the key features of the traumatic event, persistent or distorted negative beliefs and expectations about oneself or the world, persistent blame of oneself or others for causing the traumatic event or for resulting consequences, persistent negative trauma-related emotions, markedly diminished interest in pre-traumatic significant activities, a sense of alienation/detachment from others, and a persistent inability to experience positive emotions. A patient must have at least two of these symptoms to be diagnosed with PTSD. There are many well-known associated features and disorders with PTSD. Insomnia, ranging from mild to profound, is prevalent in most cases. Irritability, aggression, self-destructive actions or recklessness are behavioural symptoms that may accompany PTSD. Additionally, hypervigilance and an exaggerated startle response, sometimes accompanied by problems in concentration are examples of alterations in arousal and reactivity that may have begun or worsened after the traumatic event. Two of these alterations are necessary for diagnosis of PTSD. Other factors such as duration/persistence of symptoms, functional impairment and confirmation of exclusion (verification that disturbance is not due to medication, substance use, or other illness) are key in the diagnosis of PTSD. By definition, the onset of PTSD requires that the given symptoms occur for a minimum of a month. Although to a comparatively minor extent, most symptoms are present directly after the trauma and will continuously dev elop throughout time. PTSD is two to three times more prevalent in females than to males. An experience of sexual assault or child sexual abuse is more likely amongst women in comparison to accidents, physical assault, combat, disaster or witness to death/injury being the likely trauma for men. The median number of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder sufferers is 7 to 8 per 100 individuals, with reported ranges ranging from 7 20 per 100 individuals, the latter being combat related. The most recent statistic shows up to 8 in 100 individuals may be diagnosed with autism (DSM-V-TR). As the direct/chemical cause of PTSD is debatable, the reason for recent increase is, while speculative, currently unknown. Methods of Lucid Dreaming Therapy (LDT) Lucid Dreaming Therapy (LDT) is an upcoming format of treatment that has been specifically researched for application in relation to the treatment of PTSD. Lucid Dreaming is defined as the state in which an individual is aware that they are dreaming and subsequently obtain control over their dreams. The phenomenon of lucid dreaming dates back centuries and quite possibly millennia, with reports of its use dating back to the eighth century, in the form of what was known to be Dream Yoga. With scientific confirmation of the phenomenon in the late 20th Century, therapeutic possibilities began to be brought to light. Lucid Dreaming Treatment (LDT) arose from this idea as an alternative cognitive-restructuring technique, but only a small amount of research has been conducted on the topic, composed mainly of case studies (Abramovitch, 1995; Brylowski, 1990; Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker, van den Bout, Meijer, 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). Nightmares are defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) to be extremely frightening and anxiety-provoking dreams which awaken the dreamer, followed by full alertness (APA, 2000). Although this is the current definition used as a diagnostic criterion, according to DSM-IV-TR, and in this essay, it should be mentioned that some have challenged this definition (Spoormaker, Schredl, van den Bout, 2005; Zadra, Pilon, Donderi, 2006). In the adult population, as many as 70 % of individuals report at least an occasional nightmare, and 2-5% suffer from recurrent nightmares (Lancee, Spoormaker, Krakow, van den Bout, 2008). Suffering from recurrent nightmares causes distress in waking life and can result in both occupational and social dysfunction. The fear and anxiety which the nightmare provokes linger when the dreamer awakens from it, which may prevent the individual from returning to sleep due to the fear of re-experience. It has been suggested that by becoming lucid during the nightmare, the dreamer can take control of the threatening situation and change the course of the nightmare, thus possibly alleviating feelings of fear and anxiety. This could possibly result in reduced nightmare frequency, relieving the nightmare sufferer from its negative effects both in sleep and waking life (Gackenbach Bosveld, 1989; Gavie Revonsuo, 2010; Green McCreery, 1994; Halliday, 1988; LaBerge, 1985; LaBerge Rheingold, 1990; Tholey, 1988). In LDT, the participants describe their nightmare and are then introduced to the concept of LD, the possibility to become conscious while dreaming and to be able to alter the content at will. The participants are then taught different LD induction techniques, such as choosing a recurrent cue within their dreams to be a signal of being in the dream state, or questioning the nature of reality several times during the day, asking themselves Am I dreaming? The participants then choose an alternative, more positive scenario of the nightmare, focusing on the content they wish to alter whilst lucid (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). A Pilot Study conducted by the Department of Clinical Psychology of Utrecht University in the Netherlands aimed to evaluate the effects of LDT on recurrent nightmares which is an identifying characteristic of PTSD. The participants of the study included 23 individuals (16:7, Female: Male) who have recurrent episodes of nightmares. The requirement from the participants of the study was to fill out a questionnaire regarding their sleep and Diagnostic Traits of PTSD. These individuals were randomly divided into 3 groups; 8 participants received one 2-hour individual LDT session, 8 participants received one 2-hour group LDT session, and 7 participants were placed on the waiting list. LDT consisted of exposure, mastery, and lucid dreaming exercises to train their mind to become more self aware. Participants then filled out the same questionnaires 12 weeks after the intervention as a follow-up. It was found that by the follow-up, nightmare frequency of both treatment groups had shown a dec rease. There were no significant changes observed in sleep quality and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptom. This led to the conclusion that while LDT seems effective in reducing the frequency of nightmares, the primary therapeutic components of exposure, mastery, or lucidity remain unclear. The results of utilizing LD as treatment are consistent, indicating that LDT is effective for reducing nightmare frequency (Abramovitch, 1995; Brylowski, 1990; Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). A one-year follow-up showed that four out of five participants, who prior to the treatment suffered from nightmares once every few days, went down to once every few months or no longer had any nightmares (Zadra Pihl). In another study the treatment consisted of one two-hour session either individually, in group or, and as the control condition, being on a waiting list where no treatment was received. The participants had suffered from nightmares for over one year, at least once a week. The 12 week follow-up showed that nightmare frequency decreased in both treatment conditions, which was not the case for the control group (Spoormaker van den Bout). For some participants LDT was also effective in reducing non-recurrent nightmares with differing conte nts (Zadra Pihl). Some of the participant had also subjectively reported slightly improved sleep quality after LDT (Spoormaker et al.) and that dream lucidity resulted in higher positive psychological elements which were also reflected in waking life (Zadra Pihl). Similar effects have been reported by Brylowski and Abramovitch. The studies showed that while nightmare frequency was reduced following LDT, not all of the participants displayed in becoming lucid and to lucidly alter the content of the dream. One of the reasons attributed to this being the mere feeling of control which is necessary to LDT. Being able to master the nightmare and not being its victim seems to play an equally vital role as the actual altering of the content (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). Experiencing a traumatic event of extremely frightening and life-threatening character may, for some people, develop into Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder in which the symptoms are collected under three clusters: intrusive/re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms and hyper arousal symptoms. Those suffering from PTSD endure highly disturbing recollections of the event. They display heightened sensitivity towards both internal and external stimuli which resemble or in any way symbolize some aspect of the original event. When confronted with similar symbols or conditions, they experience emotional numbness and sleep difficulties. The individuals self defence mechanism leads them to avoid all such stimuli which may remind them of the event. Hence those suffering from PTSD often experience constant conflicts in interpersonal relationships which can be attributed to heightened sensitivity as a result of PTSD. It is not uncommon for them to display recurring avoidance patterns in occupational situations which may remind them of the traumatic event. (APA, 2000). In addition to heightened sensitivity and severe anxiety posttraumatic nightmares that replay or indirectly symbolize, the original traumatizing event constitute the most frequent symptom in PTSD. (APA, 2000). It has been estimated that up to 60-80% of PTSD patients suffer from posttraumatic nightmares (Spoormaker, 2008). However, research has shown that treating PTSD does not necessarily reduce nightmare frequency (Spoormaker; Spoormaker Montgomery, 2008). In contrast, Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), a treatment focusing on alleviating nightmare frequency in PTSD also reduces general PTSD symptom severity (Krakow Moore, 2007). Research has also shown that nightmares and disturbed sleep may be a risk factor for developing and maintaining PTSD (Mellman Hipolito, 2006). Due to these findings, Spoormaker (2008) and Spoormaker and Montgomery (2008) stated that posttraumatic nightmares ought not to be viewed as a secondary symptom but rather as a central characteristic in the advancem ent of post traumatic stress disorder. Their series of research, studies and findings led them to infer that posttraumatic nightmares might develop into a disorder of its own and therefore demands specific treatment. LDT is effective in reducing the frequency of recurrent nightmares (Abramovitch, 1995; Brylowski, 1990; Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997), and thus it has been suggested that LDT could be a valuable supplement in the treatment of PTSD, focusing on decreasing the frequency of posttraumatic nightmares. As posttraumatic nightmares are a nocturnal replay of the original traumatic event, the patient is reminded of the trauma every time they dream about it. A reduction in the frequency of post traumatic nightmares would lead to an abatement of fear and anxiety due to decreased instances of number of occurrences in a given time frame. In addition to this, as anticipated by Spoormaker (2008) and Spoormaker and Montgomery (2008), posttraumatic nightmares not only enhance but also prolong the severity of PTSD. As such, LDT could work as a supplement to already existing treatment of PTSD and reduce nightmare frequency. Furthermore, LDT offers the patien t the opportunity to alter the content of the dream to a less fearsome dream, which could lead to reducing the feelings of fear and anxiety within the dream. If LDT is effective in both reducing nightmare frequency and the intense feelings of fear and anxiety, it might also be effective in decreasing the fear and anxiety associated with the original trauma during wakefulness, which in turn could lead to a reduction in general PTSD symptom severity. While this possible effectiveness of LDT on PTSD was proposed by Green and McCreery (1994) in the early days of LD research and recently by Gavie and Revonsuo (2010), there has only been one study where researchers attempted to treat PTSD patients with LDT (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006). They found that nightmare frequency was significantly reduced in subjects receiving LDT, but the study did not reveal any significant reduction in general PTSD symptom severity, which the authors proposed might have been due to the low baseline for PTSD symptom severity in the studied population. Moreover, the study only included one participant out of 23 who was actually diagnosed with PTSD (Spoormaker van den Bout). Gavie and Revonsuo were adamant that no conclusions can be made based on this single study and encouraged future researchers to investigate the effect of LDT on PTSD nightmares and other PTSD symptoms with larger groups of diagnosed PTSD patients and longer lucidity interventions. Fear and Control: Two Key Components for LDT Fear is a main component of nightmares, experienced both during sleep in relation to the nightmare content and during wakefulness, as suffering from recurrent nightmares can lead to fear of going to sleep due to the risk of re-experiencing the nightmare. Fear also represents one of the key emotions during the course of PTSD (APA, 2000). In PTSD, fear is not only related to the extreme fright which was experienced during the occurrence of the traumatizing event, but also refers to the massive feeling of fear evoked when the patient encounters associable stimuli, which often serve as reminders of the original event. Posttraumatic nightmares generally replicate the original event, meaning every time the nightmare occurs, the patient re-lives the trauma and its accompanied fear (Gavie Revonsuo, 2010). Although LDT has been shown to be effective in reducing recurrent nightmares, not all participants succeeded in becoming lucid and able to lucidly alter the content of the nightmare. This has been suggested do be due to the fact that the feeling of control, following from the mere knowledge of the possibility to master the nightmare, is equally as important as the actual altering of the content (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). As such, control might constitute a key component of LDT, both in respect to lucidly to control the content of the nightmare and alter the course of the dream, and to the feeling of control brought by the thought that the fear both during the dream and during wakefulness is something that can be overcome. In this sense, LDT might prove to be effective not only for patients suffering from nightmares and reducing nightmare frequency, but also for patients suffering from disorders characterised by fear, offering them th e possibility to control and reduce the level of fear they experience. In one case study, a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and major depression complained about frequent nightmares. She suffered from one to four nightmares per week, from which her self-confidence and security felt threatened. She did not suffer from recurrent nightmares, but her nightmares did contain a recurrent theme, relating to the physical and mental abuse she experienced by her father as a child, and husband as an adult. These nightmares were so intense that she had difficulties in separating her experiences in them from her experiences in reality, and sometimes spoke of them as if they were real events (Brylowski, 1990). The patient was introduced to the phenomenon of LD and was instructed to keep a dream journal, which she was to take with her to therapy each week. She was also told to practice an LD induction technique every night in order to learn how to become lucid during the dream. The appearance of her father or husband in the nightmare was chosen as a dream cue, used as an indicator to remind her that she was just dreaming. Upon recognising that she was dreaming, she was to use the realisation as a reminder that she was safely lying in bed and there was nothing to fear (Brylowski, 1990). During a six-month period, which included 24 sessions with her therapist, the patient experienced three lucid dreams and was able to alter the course of the nightmare in all three cases. Using LDT resulted in reduced nightmare frequency, intensity and distress, which provided her with a sense of mastery in relation to her emotions and responses to nightmares. Following these results, her therapist suggested that these abilities and attitudes could be used in waking life when dealing with similar problems. So, whenever she was faced with a stirred emotion or a difficult situation in waking life, she was able to remind herself of how she had controlled a similar situation in the dream state. In turn, she now had the capacity to deal with the waking situation just as she had while (lucid) dreaming (Brylowski, 1990). As a result, LDT provided her with a sense of mastery in relation to her emotions and responses to nightmares as well as her waking life, which then resulted in entering into psychotherapy. What Green and McCreery (1994) put forward, is that LD provides us with the experience of achieving control over a mental aspect, in this case distressing nightmares. They argued that gaining control over one might, in turn, have a generalised therapeutic effect. In the case study, Brylowski (1990) showed how LDT not only reduced nightmare frequency and distress, but also how engaging in LDT could extend into managing situations waking life. LDT provided the patient with the experience of mastering a fearful situation within a nightmare, which, prior to the treatment, had affected her to the point where she could not differentiate nightmares from waking events. After the treatment the patient expressed increased self-confidence, knowing that she now possessed the capacity to make changes in other waking circumstances as well. Brylowski (1990) initated the notion that, Nightmares can occur across diagnostic syndromes. According to DSM-IV-TR, nightmares can occur frequently during the course of many psychological disorders without there being a specific diagnostic symptom, for example as a part of Personality Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders and Schizophrenia (APA, 2000). Brylowski concluded lucid dreaming worked well for this patient as it motivated her to start and stay in therapy. He suggested that LD as a therapeutic tool ought to be considered not only for treating nightmares, but also in the treatment of personality disorders. Although diagnosed with BPD, the patient also showed symptoms related to PTSD, i.e. nightmares which directly or symbolically represented a traumatic event (history of abuse) and depression which, according to DSM-IV-TR, is highly associated with PTSD (APA, 2000). On the basis of this fact alone, it is premature to draw any conclusions on the effect of LDT on personality disorders. However, engaging in LDT did have a general therapeutic effect in this case study, and as such, LDT could be valuable as a supplement in the treatment of BPD and possibly even other personality disorders. Overall, more studies are needed to further investigate the possible general therapeutic value of gaining control over fear and anxiety using LDT, both in relation to recurrent nightmares, and to other psychological disorders such as PTSD and personality disorders. The current studies investigating the potential therapeutic value of LD in reducing recurrent nightmares have shown promising results, where engaging in Lucid Dreaming Treatment (LDT) has resulted in decreased nightmare frequency (Abramovitch, 1995; Brylowski, 1990; Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997), slightly increased subjective sleep quality (Spoormaker et al.) and reduced nightmare intensity and distress (Brylowski). As such, it has been suggested across these studies that LDT might be effective in reducing posttraumatic nightmares in PTSD (Gavie Revonsuo, 2010; Green McCreery, 1994). Every time a nightmare occurs, the patient experiences the trauma and extreme fear associated with it. Therefore, there is the possibility that relieving the posttraumatic nightmare could, in turn, reduce general PTSD symptom severity (Gavie Revonsuo). With larger groups of diagnosed PTSD patients and longer lucidity interventions, future research could st udy the effect of LDT on posttraumatic nightmares. As examined, one case study showed that attitudes and skills learned through LDT can be transferred and applied to waking life situations (Brylowski, 1990). This could be an indication that LDT has the potential to work beyond the more specific focus of alleviating nightmares. Although nightmare frequency was reduced, not all of the patients were able to reach lucidity and alter the course of events in their nightmare (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). On the basis of this, one possible and important key component of LDT could be that of control. In the case of Phobic patients, they were found to be less likely to believe in having control over events (Leung Heimberg, 1996). Considering lucid dreamers tend to believe in their own control over waking situations to a higher degree than non-lucid dreamers (Blagrove Hartnell, 2000; Blagrove Tucker, 1994), it shows that control could be one of the key elements of LDT and that LDT could be a va luable supplement in the treatment of phobia. Further and more extensive research is required in order to investigate the underlying functioning and other effects of LDT more deeply. There is also a gap in the research, where an opportunity exists to compare LDT to other cognitive-restructuring techniques, such as Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) and exposure therapy. In order to further explore the effect of LDT, longer LD induction technique practices and more intense lucidity interventions are needed for LDT to be applicable in the appropriate patient population. As seen in previous studies, there is the potential for this to help recurrent nightmare sufferers, PTSD and phobias, larger groups of nightmare sufferers, diagnosed PTSD and phobic patients. There is still untapped potential for the utilisation of LD as a therapeutic tool and supplement in the treatment of these symptoms, which needs to be studied in-depth.

A Young Womans Fantasy in The Turn of the Screw Essay -- Henry James

A Young Woman's Fantasy in The Turn of the Screw   Ã‚  Ã‚   The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James, is an odd story about a young woman who, leaving her small country home for the first time, takes a job as a governess in a wealthy household.   Shortly after her arrival, she begins to suffer from insomnia and fancies that she sees ghosts roaming about the grounds.   James is a master story-teller and, at times, the complexities of the story make it difficult to follow.   The Turn of the Screw is a story within a story, the tale of the governess being read aloud as a ghost story among friends.   Harold C. Goddard wrote a fascinating piece of criticism entitled "A Pre Freudian Reading of The Turn of the Screw."   When applied to the book, his theory makes perfect sense.   Goddard suggests that the governess, young and inexperienced, immediately falls in love with her employer during their meeting.   As a result of her unrequited love, her overactive mind creates a fantasy in which the the two ghosts intend to harm the children, in order to make herself a heroine, thereby getting the attention of her employer.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Goddard points out that the young woman is unstable from the beginning.   We find out little about her background, except that she is "the youngest of several daughters of a poor country parson" (4).   It becomes immediately obvious to the reader that such a drastic change of environment as she experiences is cause enough for her to experience extreme anxiety.   Indeed, she tells Mrs. Grose, "I'm rather easily carried away.   I was carried away in London!" (8).   After her interview with her potential employer, the man from Harley Street and the uncle of her young charges, she goes on and on about the man, praising him and ... ... that haunt the grounds.   The story is told through the voice of the governess, which, considering her mental state, makes it difficult to decipher what is actually occurring.   There are many questions that are never answered, rather, they are left up to the reader to decide. Works Cited and Consulted Freud, Sigmund. An Outline of Psycho-Analysis. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1969. Goddard, Harold C. A Pre Freudian Reading of The Turn of the Screw. New York: Hillary House Publishers, 1960. James, Henry. "The Turn of the Screw". The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Novels. New York: New American Library, 1995. Nunning, Ansgar. "Unreliable Narrator." Encyclopedia of the Novel. Ed. Paul Schellinger. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1998. 1386-1388. Wagenknecht, Edward. The Tales of Henry James. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1984. A Young Woman's Fantasy in The Turn of the Screw Essay -- Henry James A Young Woman's Fantasy in The Turn of the Screw   Ã‚  Ã‚   The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James, is an odd story about a young woman who, leaving her small country home for the first time, takes a job as a governess in a wealthy household.   Shortly after her arrival, she begins to suffer from insomnia and fancies that she sees ghosts roaming about the grounds.   James is a master story-teller and, at times, the complexities of the story make it difficult to follow.   The Turn of the Screw is a story within a story, the tale of the governess being read aloud as a ghost story among friends.   Harold C. Goddard wrote a fascinating piece of criticism entitled "A Pre Freudian Reading of The Turn of the Screw."   When applied to the book, his theory makes perfect sense.   Goddard suggests that the governess, young and inexperienced, immediately falls in love with her employer during their meeting.   As a result of her unrequited love, her overactive mind creates a fantasy in which the the two ghosts intend to harm the children, in order to make herself a heroine, thereby getting the attention of her employer.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Goddard points out that the young woman is unstable from the beginning.   We find out little about her background, except that she is "the youngest of several daughters of a poor country parson" (4).   It becomes immediately obvious to the reader that such a drastic change of environment as she experiences is cause enough for her to experience extreme anxiety.   Indeed, she tells Mrs. Grose, "I'm rather easily carried away.   I was carried away in London!" (8).   After her interview with her potential employer, the man from Harley Street and the uncle of her young charges, she goes on and on about the man, praising him and ... ... that haunt the grounds.   The story is told through the voice of the governess, which, considering her mental state, makes it difficult to decipher what is actually occurring.   There are many questions that are never answered, rather, they are left up to the reader to decide. Works Cited and Consulted Freud, Sigmund. An Outline of Psycho-Analysis. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1969. Goddard, Harold C. A Pre Freudian Reading of The Turn of the Screw. New York: Hillary House Publishers, 1960. James, Henry. "The Turn of the Screw". The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Novels. New York: New American Library, 1995. Nunning, Ansgar. "Unreliable Narrator." Encyclopedia of the Novel. Ed. Paul Schellinger. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1998. 1386-1388. Wagenknecht, Edward. The Tales of Henry James. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1984.

Injuries in hockey Essay

In hockey you need both general fitness and specific fitness. You need good strength, stamina, speed, agility, balance, co-ordination, fast reactions and many more. All these can help every individual become better at their sport and have better health. These fitness needs can also prevent many injuries as you are less agile to your sport. Fitness levels can also be affected by many things such as illness, weight, alcohol and drugs, dieting and psychological factors. You should always warm up before physical workout and cool down afterwards. There are many factors that can cause injury but also many ways to prevent them. Injuries are both internally caused and externally caused. Internal injuries are self caused where you over use the muscles and external injuries are caused equipment, environmental conditions or opponents. Injuries can occur due to the weather (environment), being overweight causing heart problems, breathing problems, joint and foot problems etc, physical ability, the wrong equipment and facilities. These can be prevented by setting realistic targets, pre participation screening, carrying out fitness programmes in pre season, using appropriate equipment, do not over train or train while hurt. Enforcing rules helps prevention of dangerous use of sticks and careless play of the ball. Also seek medical attention sooner rather than later and get adequate nutrition. Injured people should not be moved unless they them self say that it is ok. If more attention is paid to extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors, injuries can be a lot less frequent. The same injuries can occur in many different sports in different situations but there can be more common injuries in each individual sport such as legs in football, shoulder or arm in javelin and hands or ankles in netball etc. Environmental injuries are things such as frostbite, hypothermia, exhaustion and heat stroke. Injuries can also occur due to physiological reasons making the person become fatigue, have muscle soreness and depletion of energy reserves. Before carrying out a session in the individual sport, a risk assessment should be preformed as there are others risk factors that should be identified such as slippery surfaces, equipment left out, food or drink that may be tipped in the training area. You can outline whether or not the area is suitable for that sport or the right age group and if not, how the safety issues could be improved. You also have to take into consideration the age of the sportsperson as already mentioned. In hockey, it is important that the right equipment and footwear is worn to prevent injuries and to have a pre game warm up and stretching. Overall, a hockey team needs to wear gum shields to protect their mouth and teeth from hockey balls and sticks, shin guards to protect their legs from sticks also, body protection such genital protectors, gloves to protect hand and knuckles from sticks, Astroturf trainers to get better grip when running and a goalie needs a goalie kit which includes a hard hat, body protectors like abdominal protectors, knee pads, shoulder and elbow pads, chest pad, throat protector, padded shorts and thigh protectors, kickers etc to protect them from flying balls etc. All this equipment should be regularly checked including hockey sticks to ensure they do not put any other player in danger while they are in use. Most injuries in hockey are mainly down to being struck by a hockey stick or hockey balls. Injuries in hockey can be very serious and as it is played in over 132 countries, injuries are very common. Overuse injuries to the ankles and lower back are very common in hockey and can be treated mainly by rest. The face is normally injured by the stick or ball, the lower limb includes injuries to the ankles, knees and feet, and upper body injuries such as hands and forearms. These injuries are pretty serious and the player may need to be hospitalised. There are eight physiological effects of ageing which obviously decrease your playing capability and metabolic rate etc. There would also a decrease in number and size of fibre muscles, a decline in the person cardiac output and muscles. In general, injuries have said to affect people of different ages, such as young children aged between six and nine should not train at such a high level and it should be more fun and lots of variation. People aged ten to twelve should include a lot more technique and co-ordination exercises as this is the right age to improve mobility technique and reflexes. As each child gets older and closer to puberty, they then should be playing sport to suit their maturity and ability. From the age fifteen onwards is when children could begin anaerobic training and strength training as this is more often or not when the muscles and skeleton allow an increased load. Injuries in hockey can be very serious and as the sport is played in over 132 countries, injuries are also very common. Some common injuries apply to most sports such as shin splints, sprains, fractures, pulls etc. Hockey is known as a hard-hitting, collision sport. Players risk injury from high-impact collisions with each other. The knee is frequently injured, with sprains to the medial collateral and capsular ligaments being fairly common. Cruciate ligament tears are less common in hockey and seen more in turf sports, such as football. This is a hospitalised injury which may need ice and bandage to reduce swelling and rest after operation. The Acromioclavicular, or AC, joint separation (separated shoulder) is a common injury. This could be caused by various things such as a hard fall, swinging of stick or hard knock by opposing team. This is also a hospitalised injury which needs support and rest. This is also a common injury where the stick of another player may hit the hand or if the player is to have an awkward fall etc. All these injuries need support and in many cases bandaged up. Most injuries include fractures and torn tendons. It has been said that as many as one-third of injuries are caused by foul play. Many have observed a need for increased vigilance in this area, mainly in adolescence and high school. The enforcement of effective rules has lead to fewer injuries. Players have been said to demonstrate a high level of body dissatisfaction and an elevated drive for thinness. These have been associated with risk of osteoporosis which have been linked to an increased risk of stress fractures, especially in the lumbar region of the lower back. If injuries are left or ignored after so long, they can only get worse. If you look below, you can see a bone scan showing a low-intensity lesion abutting the expanded area of the posterior cortex. A CT scan shows what appears to be an osteoid osteoma or Brodie’s abscess. This is what started off to be just a twisted ankle and not the right treatment. Injuries to the adductors are muscles that run from the inside thigh. These are active while running, twisting and side stepping activities. An injury can occur at any time during these activities or a fall. Pain may begin and aching on the inner thigh. Bruising that appears may track down to the knee at times. The treatment of RICE is rest, ice, compression and elevation. This treatment should be applied immediately. This is reducing more damage by keeping off the injury, applying ice, to compress injury be using bandages etc to reduce swelling and elevate the injured, in order to get blood flowing away from injury to stop internal bleeding and bruising and to speed up recovery. This will assist the resolution of pain and minimise inflammation. Following the RICE solution, you should walk only when really needed. A calf strain is also well known in sport. The two main muscles make up the back of the lower leg (Calf). One is attached above the knee joint. This is the Gastrocnemius and the other one below called the Soleus. These make one thick Achilles tendon that is attached to the back of the heel. Their main action is to raise the heel from the ground, but also assist to bend the knee. They act during walking, running and jumping. The calf can be injured by running and jumping in hockey or when you overload the muscle. Pain may start in the tendon attachment at the back of calf. The RICE treatment could also be applied to this. Players should allow enough time for adequate rehabilitation of injuries, especially full recovery of ankle function, before returning to pre-injury levels of play. There are lots more common injuries in hockey such as Gilmore’s groin caused by running, coughing, kicking etc, hamstring strains, Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease, shin splints, cartilage injury, runners knee and many more. There are less serious injuries such as rubbing causing blisters, cramp, concussion, stitch, groin strain etc. These are mainly bandaged up and use of plasters helps and basically rest is needed. shin splint Sprain and strain of the joint and surrounded tissue are one of the most common sports related injuries (sprain involves the ligament and strain involves muscle or tendon). The typical inflammatory response may include swelling of the injured area, redness, skin discoloration, and reduced range of motion of the joint. R.I.C.E treatment, many athletes have found acupuncture treatment to be very useful in suppress inflammation and swelling fast. Muscles injuries can be caused by muscle damage by direct trauma or indirect trauma. These injuries can be divided into ruptures and haematomas. Ruptures can be total or partial and subdivided into distraction and compression ruptures. Haematomas- inter and intramuscular . Major differences between the treatment and prognosis of the two types. Distraction ruptures are caused by over stretching or overloading. Compression rupture is direct impact which is the muscle pressed against underlining bone. Another solution which is often used to treat injuries is SALTAPS. This is known as: Stop- stop game Ask- ask injured person what happened Look- Look at injury Touch- Feel for any differences e.g. uninjured knee and injured knee Active movement- see what sort of range of movement they have Passive movement- move injured area with hand Stop and start again- rest and come back to sport when ready. Cold treatment with use of ice, decreases sensitivity of painful areas and relaxes muscle spasms. The cold slows nerve impulses to the muscle and decreases blood circulation which helps reduce inflammation. There is also the heat treatment. This treatment should not be started until at least 48 hours after the injury occurred. Same applies to massage. Heat therapy relaxes muscles, relieves pain and accelerates healing by increasing blood flow to a targeted area. Application of heat has many forms, from simply taking a hot shower to sophisticated methods such as ultrasound. Heat should not be used immediately after injury but after swelling has gone down. The RICE treatment should be applied to soft tissue injuries during the first 24-48 hours. Injury at its acute stage, the blood vessels expand and blood clotting procedure may be disrupted. Ointments, liniments and medicines are also used along with muscle training of isometric and static muscle work. There are many different methods of treatment that help injuries repair a lot quicker with the right amount of care. They are all fairly successful but have slightly different procedures applied and some work better than others depending on the server ness of the injury. SALTAPS is immediate treatment to an injury, where as RICE treatment could last up to a few weeks. In many cases, RICE treatment will continue through a player’s career therefore is a more common source of treatment and more well known. Research indicates that nutritional factors, or the lack thereof, can play a significant role in healing and recovery. Three nutrients vitamin C, bioflavonoid and glucosamine sulphate appear to be particularly important. Vitamin C possesses anti- inflammatory properties and can help control the damage that often accompanies tissue injury. Vitamin C is required for collagen fibre synthesis, a process essential for tissue bone repair. Adequate amounts of vitamin C are therefore critical for the stimulation of that process. Each treatment has a different amount of effectiveness on injuries but one or all can often be used through the period of injury in most common sporting injuries. Further ways to reduce and prevent injuries are to apply certain bandaging before play, apply ointments, and reduce length of pitch for younger children. Hockey injury data at all levels should be collected to compare and improve participation. There should be more research and findings on sporting injuries to ensure less likeliness of injury. Coaches should be taught principles of sport-specific conditioning and fitness as part of their training. Other ways to improve sports and prevent injuries is to ensure the right foot wear is worn, equipment is safe and appropriate and that the rules set are followed.

Are You Certified essays

Are You Certified essays The impact of technology in our lives has grown exponentially over recent years. The demand for better, faster, more productive software and hardware equipment has increased the need for more experienced and better qualified IT (Information Technology) specialists. These IT professionals must possess a degree of knowledge and expertise that sets them apart from others in their field. One way industry has set the standard in recruiting such specialized individuals is certification. Certifications are offered in a variety of specialty areas. Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer is one of many certifications offered by Microsoft (MCSD). The MCSD is in the area of coding, analysis, debugging and testing of applications. Another is A+ Certification sponsored by CompTIA that certifies the competency of entry-level service technicians in the computer industry. A more prestigious certification is the Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert, which yields one of the highest salary compensations but is also more difficult to obtain. These aforementioned certifications are only three of the several offered by Microsoft, Cisco, Novell, and Oracle. So what if these certifications are well known to the industry; so what if the companies that are known and respected worldwide back them. Are they the big deal that everyone claims they are? The answer to that is yes, and for several reasons. Becoming certified can enhance job opportunities, assert proof of professional achievement, and increase salary probability. Certification is a practical means of assessing skills and experience. According to KB Learning Centers, Inc., "Many employers give preference in hiring applicants with certification. They view this as proof that a new hire knows the procedures and technologies required." For people new to the industry, certification can be used to measure their standing and provide a starting point for building their professional caree...