Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Cassia Fistula Antidiabetic and Wound Healing Activities
Cassia Fistula Antidiabetic and Wound Healing Activities Problem Statement: The present research is on the antidiabetic, wound healing and antimicrobial activities of various parts of Cassia fistula. Diabetes is one of the most prevalence chronic diseases in the world. This is a chronic incurable condition due to insulin deficiency that affect 10% of the population. The number of diabetic people is expected to rise from present estimate of 150 million to 230 million in 2025. For a long time, diabetes has been treated with several medicinal plants or their extract based on the folklore medicine. Infection is also the major problem to treat the wound and wound infections are most common in developing countries because of poor hygienic conditions. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcuspyogenes, Escherichiacoli, and Pseudomonasaeruginosa are some important  organisms causing wound infection .Nowadays herbal medicines are highly recommended for  the treatment of diabetes inspite of other therapeutic option, which can produce serious side effects. Cassia fistulais an important and potential medicinal plant. The Cassia fistula is the substantial evidences on the anti -bacterial activities of its pod and seed extracts. Cassiafistulapossess antioxidant, antimutagenic, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antitussive,antimicro bial, anti-inflammatory and so many activities. Its antioxidant activity plays a role in wellness, health maintenance, and the prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases. It is recognized  as a rich source of vitamins, flavanoids, tannins glycosides, phospholipids, carbohydrates. The evaluation of toxic properties of Cassia fistula is also crucial when considering public health protection because exposure to plant extracts can result in undesirable effects on consumers. Acute oral  toxicity of C. fistulaseeds extract t shows that oral administration of crude extract even at the highest dose of (5000 mg/kg) resulted in no mortalities or eviden ce of adverse effects, implying that C.fistulain nontoxic. Hence, the extract can be utilized for pharmaceutical formulations. The methanolic extract of Cassia fistulaleaves was examined for its wound healing property in the form of an ointment.The leaves are laxative and used externally as emollient, a poultice used for chilblains,   in   insect   bites,   swelling, rheumatism and facial paralysis. Leaves are used in ulcers, external skin eruptions and eczema. Fruits are used as cathartic, in snake bite and asthma. Barks  possess  tonic  and  antidysentric properties. It is also used for skin complaints, leprosy, jaundice, syphilis and heart diseases.So attempt has been made to study the antidiabetic activity of the glycoside containing fractions. In traditional medicine, it is used in the treatment of hematemesis, pruritis, intestinal disorders, leucoderma, diabetes, as antipyretic, analgesic laxative. The innumerable medicinal pr operties and therapeutic uses of Cassia fistula as well as its phytochemical investigations prove its import nce as a valuable medicinal plant. 2.Objectives (To be attained): To determine, antidiabetic and antimicrobial activities of cassia fistula various parts To investigate the wound healing activity of of various parts of cassia fistula plant To evaluate phytochemical properties, of various parts of cassia fistula .to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Cassia species using disc diffusion methods To apply supplement (extract) on selected animal to check diabetes and cholesterol level To examine the weight age level of animal before and after dose. Analysis and confirmation of phytochemical compounds using the highly advance techniques such as UV, HPLC and GC/MS. To reduce the content of diabetes and cholesterol level on suppressed animal. 3.Literature Survey: (Brief survey of past work done on the topic and any related work with reference, developing need for present study). The antidiabetic potential of the total alcoholic extract its ethyl acetate fraction of the bark of Cassia fistula was studied in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited significant reduction in blood glucose levels than alcoholic extract was also found effective in restoring the blood lipids to normal levels. The activity was found comparable with standard drug glibenclamide. The present investigation of the plant established some pharmacological evidence to support the folklore claim and effect of glycoside containing fraction that is used as an antidiabetic.[1]       The plant Phyllanthus reticulatus is claimed to have antidiabetic activity in tribal area. To validate the tribal claim,the petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts of leaves of the P. reticulatus were orally tested at 500 and 1000 mg/kg for hypoglycemic effect in alloxan induces diabetic mice. It shows antidiabetic activity at the dose of 1000 mg/kg. The phytochemical screening of the residues revealed the presence of terpenoids glycosides, protein, carbohydrates and absence of alkaloids and steroids.[2]       Cassia fistula Linn is used extensively in various parts of the world against a wide range of ailments, the synergistic action of its metabolite production being most probably responsible for the plants beneficial effects. This paper reviews the primary and secondary metabolite composition of vegetative and reproductive plant parts and cell cultures thereby derived, with emphasis on potent phenolic antioxidants such as anthraquinones, flavonoids and flavan-3-ol derivatives In order to establish this, it is imperative to measure the markers of baseline oxidative stress particularly in human health and disease and examine how they are affected by supplementation with pure compounds or complex plant extracts from the traditional medicinal plants.[3]                  Medicinal herbs are moving from fringe to mainstream use with a greater number of people seeking remedies and health approaches free from side effects caused by synthetic chemicals. India officially recognizes over 3000 plants for their medicinal value. It is generally estimated that over 6000 plants in India are in use in traditional, folk and herbal medicine. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Cassia fistula.[4]        C. fistula treated rats showed, better wound closure, improved tissue regeneration at the wound site, and supporting histopathological parameters pertaining to wound healing. Biochemical analysis and matrix metalloproteinases expression correlated well with the results thus confirming efficacy of C. fistula in the treatment of the infected wound.[5]        The present review focused on plant extracts or phytochemicals role in diabetes management has been tried by many researchers. I have attempted to compile a list of total 419 plant species belongs to 133 families have been used for in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The researchers have used different parts of the plant extracts or individual phytochemicalsfor antidiabetic activities. This review brings the researcher data on antidiabetic activities of different plant extracts role in reducing of diabetic problems.[6]      Cassia fistula Linn. which belongs to family Leguminosae is a medium-sized tree and its different parts are used in ayurvedic medicine as well as home remedies for common ailments. Sequential extraction was carried out using solvents viz. petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, methanol and water from leaf of the plant were investigated for preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial property. Results of the study showed that all the extracts had good inhibitory activity against Gram-positive test organism. [7]      Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and water extracts from the flower of Cassia fistula (an ethnomedicinal plant) were tested against bacteria and fungi. All the extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive organisms with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) between 0.078 and 2.5 mg/ml. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, only Pseudomonas aeruginosa was susceptible to the extracts. Ethyl acetate crude extract was fractionated using chromatographic techniques. A crystal was isolated, which was confirmed as 4-hydroxy benzoic acid hydrate using X-ray crystallography. It exhibited antifungal activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (MIC 0.5 mg/ml) and Epidermophyton floccosum (MIC 0.5 mg/ml).[8]         Aim of the study is to assess the antimicrobial activity Cassia fistula fruit pulp extracts on some bacterial and fungal strains. Hydro alcohol and chloroform extracts of Cassia fistula fruit pulp were evaluated for the potential antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity was determined in both the extracts using the agar disc diffusion method. Extracts were effective on tested microorganisms. The antibacterial potential of the extracts were found to be dose dependent. The antibacterial activities of the C. fistula were due to the presence of various secondary metabolites. Hence, these plants can be used to discover bioactive natural products that may serve as leads in the development of new pharmaceuticals research activities.[9]           In the present study antifungal activity of crude and partially purified extracts of Cassia fistula L. fruit pulp has been assayed against Alternaria solani which is responsible for early blight of potato. Cold and hot extracts of fruit pulp was prepared in different organic solvents, which were subsequently recycled by rotary vacuum evaporator. Antifungal activity of different fractions was determined by poison food technique. Maximum percent extractive value was obtained with alcoholic extract. The antifungal activity of the Cassia fistula was due to the presence of various secondary metabolites. Hence, this plant can be used to discover bioactive natural products that may serve as leads in the development of new pharmaceuticals research activities.[10]          The plant Michelia champaca (MC) is widely used in the treatment of inflammation, constipation, dysmenorrhea, ulcers, wounds, fever, and cough. The aim was to evaluate the wound healing property of ethanolic extract of MC flowers in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Wound healing activity was assessed by incision and excision wound models. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukeys post-hoc test.[11] Anita Singh et al. studied the plant Cassia fistula Linn. Belonging to family leguminosae, known as Cassia in English, Amaltas in Hindi. The methanolic extract of plant pod, showed the presence of glycoside, steroids, amino acids, flavanoids. The present study was focused to evaluate antipyretic activity of pod of Cassia fistula Linn. The methanolic extract showed antipyretic activity, which was significantly (P . Shashi Kanth, et al. studied on the stem bark of Cassia fistula Linn for laying down preliminary Pharmacognostical identification standards.Cassia fistula Linn .is known as Aragvadha in Ayurveda is an important medicinal plant belonging to family Caesalpiniaceae. The stem bark is anti dysenteric, laxative and diuretic.The diagnostic features are the presence of starch grains, stone cells, crystalliferous phloem fibers, uni or bi seriate medullary rays.[13] Raju Ilavarasan et al. studiedAnti-inflammatory and Antioxidant activities of the aqueous (CFA) and methanolic extracts (CFM) of the Cassia fistula Linn. Bark were assayed in wistar albino rats. The extracts were found to posses significant anti-inflammatory effect in both acute and chronic models.[14]          M. A. Islam et al represented the concentration of antimicrobial at which there is complete inhibition of growth of organism. In order to determine the MIC of cloxacillin, 10 MRSA were previously detected from 40 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Agar plate dilution test was used to determine the MIC of cloxacillin.[15]  4.Methodology. a)Brief description of how research will be conducted. Extracts of Cassia fistla will be obtained through soaking the dried leaves and peel in different solvents( water, methanol,ethanol, n-hexane), concentrating them in rotary evaporator and then phytochemical studies will be carried out. Antimicrobial activity as well as quantitative analysis will be carried out on the extracts. b)Experimental set up: Techniques for the characterization GC-MS (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) UV-visible Spectroscopy FT-IR (Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy) AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) c)Theoretical Studies: Specialized studies in the antidiabetic, wound healing and antitmicrobial activities of various parts cassia fistula plant is made through detailed literature survey, chemical abstract services, world wide webs, journals reviews and biosynthesis texts. d)Results expected and method of the Analysis: Positive results are to be expected from experimental setup selected. Analysis of the plant extracts in different solvents will be done via GC-MS, AAS, FT-IR, UV-Visible Spectroscopy. After that these extracts will be compared with each other on the basis of phytochemical studies as well as on the basis of their quantitative data. 5.Utilization of research results: After this study we will be able Significant reduction of diabetes level in animals after treatment. Reduction of chlosterol level in animals. Presence of glycoside or flavonoid may be responsible for the antidiabetic activity of total alcoholic extract. Antioxidant activity plays a role in wellness, health maintenance, and the prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases. Therefore, it is justifiable to promote these plant extracts which are comparatively cheap, safe and reliable for the treatment of diabetes and chronic disease. So there is a hope of positive results, which will then be used for the treatment of diabetes and wound. 6.Research Time Table: Literature survey                       January- Feb 2017 Collection of sample                 1st March- April 2017 Experiment work                      1st May October 2017 Thesis writing                           1st November 2017 Submission of thesis December 2017 7.References: 1. Malpani Sn, Manjunath Kp, Hasanpasha Sholapur,Savadi Sv, Akki Kusum S. And Darade Ss..Antidiabetic Activity Of Cassia Fistula Linn. Bark In Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats. Int.Journal Of Pharm Sci.,Jan-April 2010;2(1):382-385 2. Kumar S, Kumar D, Deshmukh RR, Lokhande PD, More SN, Rangari VD. Antidiabetic potential of Phyllanthus reticulates in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Fititerapia 2008; 79: 21-23. 3. Bahorun T, Neergheen V S, Aruoma O I. Phytochemical constituents of Cassia fistula African Journal of Biotechnology ,2005: 4(13); 1530-1540 4. Danish M, Singh P, Mishra G, Srivastava Jha S K K, Khosa R L.Cassia fistula Linn. (Amulthus)- An Important Medicinal Plant: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry andPharmacological Properties. J. Nat. Prod. Plant Resour; 2011:1(1); 101- 118 5.Kumar muthusamy sethil, Ramasamy S, Raghvan H V and SehgalP K. Wound healing potetial of cassia fistulla on infected Albino rat model.Journal of surgical research; 2006: 131; 283-289. 6. Suneetha, B., D. Sujatha and K.V.S.R.G Prasad, . Antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of stem juice of Musa Paradisiaca on alloxan induced diabetic rats. An International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences,2010; 1(2): 167-176. 7. Kumar VP, Chauhan NS, Padhi H, Rajani M. Search for antibacterial and antifungal agents from selected Indian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;67:241-45. 8. Duraipandiyan V, Ignacimuthu S. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of Cassia fistula L.: An ethnomedicinal plant. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007;112:590-4. 9. Bhalodia NR, Nariya PB, Acharya RN, Shukla VJ. In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of Cassia fistula Linn. fruit pulp extracts. Ayu 2012;33:123-9. 10. Hajra S, Mehta A, Pandey P. Assessment of antimicrobial activity of Cassia fistula and Flacoartia indica leaves. J Pharm Res 2011;4:2432-35. 11. Robson MC. Wound infection. A failure of wound healing caused by an imbalance of bacteria. Surg Clin North Am. 1997;77(3):637-50. 12.Singh A, Manjul P. Singh, Alam G, Pate A, Dat N, Antipyretic activity of cassia fistula  linn. Pods. J. Nat. Prod. Plant Resour., (2012), 2 (3):385-388. 13.Kanth J. Shashi , Chandra reddy P. Rama , Rao P.Padma,.Vijaya Bhasker       Reddy,A preliminary pharmacognostical report on the stem bark of cassia fistula linn.J.D.Med. (2012),4(1). 14.Ilavarasan R, Mallika M, and Venkataraman S. Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant activity of Cassia fistula Linn.Bark extracts. Afr.J. Trad.Cam, 2005; 2: 70-85.    15. Islam M. A, Alam M. M , Choudhury M. E , Kobayashi N, and              Ahmed M. U ,  Determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (Mic) Of Cloxacillin For Selected Isolates Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa) With Their Antibiogram. Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6 (1): 121-126.    16. Bhalerao S.A, Kelkar T.S. Traditional medicinal uses, phytochemical profile  and pharmacological activities of cassia fistula linn. (2012).    17. Harshal A Deshpande, Sanjivani R Bhalsing,Recent advances in the phytochemistry of some medicinally important cassia species: a review. Int. J. Pharm. Med. Bio. Sc( 2013),2( 3).   18. Rajagopal PL,Premaletha K, Kiron S.S , Sreejith K.R . Phytochemical and pharmacological review on cassia fistula linn. The golden shower. IJPCBS(2013), 3(3), 672-679.   19. Maya kushawaha and r. C. Agrawa ,biological activity of medicinal plant cassia fistula a review. (2012).   20. Kumar M.S, Sripriya R,Wound Healing Potential of Cassia fistula on infected Albino Rat Model. Journal of Surgical Research:( 2006); 131: 283-289. 8.Comments of Supervisor: This Project is fully apprehended and evaluated and found feasble for project work of MPhil Thesis as a partial fulfillment of Degree of M. Phil in Applied Chemistry from Chemistry Department, University of Engineering Technology. Signature of SupervisorSignature of Student _____________________________________________________________________ Endst. No. Univ./______________Dated: _____________ The above proposal duly recommended by the Departmental Board of Studies/Committee of Post-Graduate Studies in its meeting held on _____________ is forwarded to the Director of Research for obtaining the approval of the Vice-Chancellor.                                                                                                     Chairman/Director of the Department
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
The Internet Has Emerged English Language Essay
The Internet Has Emerged English Language Essay Over the past few years, the Internet has emerged as a prominent new technology. The influence of such a powerful technological tool has pervaded all aspects of the educational, business, and economic sectors of our world. Regardless of ones familiarity with the Internet, it is repeatedly made reference to. News broadcasters and commercials, for example, will now provide web addresses, and even the recent movie, The Net was sparked by the impact of this new technology (Mike, 1996). Regardless of whether one uses the Internet or not, one must be clear about the fact that the we have entered a new information age and the Internet is here to stay.Because the use of the Internet is widespread in numerous fields and domains, without a doubt, it also carries great potential for educational use, specifically second and foreign language education. This paper will therefore focus on the following questions: 1) What is the Internet? 2) How can various facets of the Internet be used in the seco nd and foreign language classroom? 3) What are the benefits of employing the Internet in such a setting? 4) What are the disadvantages or obstacles the Internet presents in a second language classroom? Lastly, the implications of using the Internet in second language classrooms will be discussed. The Internet is the latest in a series of technological innovations for second language education. In order to understand the role of the Internet, it would be useful to provide a brief history of technology and language teaching, present a survey of the technological resources available to second language learners, and, finally consider the role of the Internet and its possibilities. Technology and Foreign Language Education: A Brief History Technology and foreign language education are no stranger to one another. In the sixties and seventies, language laboratories were being installed in numerous educational settings. The traditional language laboratory was comprised of a series of booths, each providing a cassette deck, and accompanying microphone and headphone. Teachers monitored their students interactions by using a central control panel. The basic premise behind this technology was that if verbal behavior was modeled, and then reinforced, students would quickly learn the language in question. The language lab activities were therefore grounded in a stimulus-response behavior pattern. The more drill practice the students encountered, the faster they would learn the second language. While the language laboratory was a positive step in linking technology and language education, it was soon recognized that such activities were both tedious and boring for learners. Furthermore, the amount of student-teacher interaction was minimal, and individualized instruction was irrelevant. Besides the pedagogical deficiencies, the audio equipment was cumbersome and prone to breakdown, and had only one function-to disseminate auditory input. These factors put together led to a shift to the communicative approach to second language education, namely, computer assisted language learning.Microcomputers and quality CALL software provided yet another medium for language learning. Its potential as both a teaching and learning tool are widely written about in the educational literature. At present, there are a variety of computer applications available including vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation tutors, spell checkers, electronic workbooks, writing and reading programs, as well as various authoring packages to allow instructors to create their own exercises to supplement existing language courses. In addition to the range of software available, CALL has also been shown to increase learner motivation (Blake, 1987 ). Chun and Brandl (1992) also propose that the interactive and multimedia capabilities of the computer make it an attractive teaching/learning tool. Computers can provide immediate feedback to students and students can work at an individualized pace. Software can be designed to include sound, graphics, video, and animation. Moreover, information is presented in a non-linear sequence enabling learners to select the exercises or concepts they wish to review. Despite the advantages and widespread use of CALL, it continues to suffer from criticisms for several reasons. Many believe that learning and practicing grammar rules of a foreign language through fill-in-the-blank exercises, for example, does little to improve a speakers ability to produce grammatically appropriate utterances (Armstrong Yetter-Vassot, 1994). Others point out that CALL suffers from its rigidity in light of the complexities of natural languages. For example, a program designed to provide drill practice on French verb conjugation is useful for only that and nothing else. Recently, however, we are beginning to see encouraging and promising results in the area of CALL software development. Interactive video and programs which provide more authentic and communicative task-based activities are being created, which are more in line with the current theoretical and pedagogical views of learning. What is the Internet? While the computer is now used in some form or another in most language classrooms, and is considered standard equipment, the Internet is also gradually being introduced in the second language classroom as teachers become more familiar with it. The Internet is a confederation of thousands of computers from various sectors of society such as education, business, government and the military. It is a network of thousands of computer networks (Lewis, 1994). Each individual system brings something different to the whole (databases, library services, graphs, maps, electronic journals, etc), and the end result is a vast accumulation of information. It is a worldwide network of computers that interact on a standardized set of protocols which act independently of particular computer operating systems, allowing for a variety of access methods to the Internet. For example, the Internet can be accessed from an IBM computer in a students home in Australia, or from a Macintosh computer at a school in Canada. It can therefore be conceived of as the equivalent of a telephone system for computers. It can be used to both exchange information through electronic mail, newsgroups, listservs, professional on-line discussion groups, and so forth, as well as to retrieve information on a variety of topics through the World Wide Web. The Internet and Electronic Mail Although the Internet has been available to most people, only recently have educators been realizing the potential the Internet can have in second and foreign language classrooms. The following section will therefore consider some of these potential benefits and advantages of incorporating such technology in language courses. The Internet has been used by some language instructors in creative ways one of these innovations being use of electronic mail (e-mail), a specific feature of the Internet. Overall, e-mail can encourage students to use computers in realistic, authentic situations in order to develop communicative, and thinking skills. E-mail is easy to use and even teachers intimidated by computers can quickly become adept at using e-mail with their students. Furthermore, even timid or inhibited students can benefit from the meaningful interaction and communication e-mail makes possible. Kroonenberg (1995), for example, employed e-mail in her ESL classes at Hong Kong Internatio nal School. She relates her initial experiences of working with two classes of ESL multinational students in grades 9-12, and a homogeneous group of summer school students involving Cantonese-speaking 14 and 15 year olds. The Dragon Bulletin Board System (BBS) using the TELIX communications software was established in order to allow students and teachers to send messages to each other, as well as make public entries on discussion conferences.During the initial stages, students were logged on the system and each student created a password. Students were simply asked to write freely as in a dialogue journal. Kroonenberg (1995) believes this allows students to become familiar with the system and further allows their ideas to flow. Writing on e-mail can therefore be used to generate ideas about a topic, or can enable learners to free-write without any impositions. E-mail can also be used in various conference-type formats or to generate discussion. For example, Kroonenberg often provide d students with topics of high interest in order to generate more writing. In fact, one student who was part of this project stated, I usually get involved in the BBS because the subjects are interesting and I have a lot to say about them (p. 25). Writing topics often involved school issues or issues that were directly relevant to the students lives. In other conference assignments, students are the main audience. Students read entries and then respond to them via e-mail. This allows each student to express their opinion. In this manner, all opinions are voiced and heard, something which may not always occur in oral discussions in the classroom. Chat rooms can also be carried out through e-mail. In this situation, two or more individuals can talk on-line about various topics or issues. For instance, language learners can be paired up and can be given a debatable topic to discuss. Such experiences, once again stimulate authentic communication and assist students in developing specific communication skills such as arguing, persuading, or defending a particular point. Listservs from around the world can offer news and discussion groups in the target language providing another source of authentic input and interaction. Cononelos and Oliva (1993) organized e-mail exchanges between entire classes of students in order to generate discussion, improve writing skills, and promote peer interaction. In this particular project, advanced level Italian students employed e-mail newsgroups to improve both their writing, as well as their knowledge of contemporary Italian society. In this manner, the teaching of culture was also facilitated th rough the immediate feedback and contact of L2 speakers who were interested in informing others about their culture. E-mail can also be used to communicate long-distance with language learners in other schools, or other countries for that matter. A study exploring the potential of long-distance communication involving second language learners was carried out by Chang (1993). The goals of the study were to provide students with a real context for improving their writing, help them to expand their ideas of content-area reading and functional writing across cultural boundaries, make students familiar with international telecommunications, and investigate with students, the potential effects of telecommunications on literacy acquisition (Davis Chang, 1994). The subjects involved in the study included undergraduate students at Taiwans National Kaohsiung Normal University (NKNU) and students at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). The 8-week teleconference began with Prompt 1 in which students were asked to write letters to one another. In addition to personal introductions, students were asked to include a focus on their previous English language learning experiences and the difficulties associated with this. In Prompt 2 and 3, students were asked to use their textbooks on the History of English Language to report on interesting uses of English, (ie. connotations, spelling, etc). Prompts 4 and 5 asked the learners to work with sections of specific texts to comment on pronoun and lexical use, as well as syntactic structure. In the final prompt, both groups of students collected examples of English slang and idioms used in each countrys films and music. Questions pertaining to the above were asked and responded to by students in each group. Davis and Chang (1994) point out that as writers on both sides of the world shared questions and comments, jokes began to surface. Over time, the students reading and writing began to change as well. Through surveys and informal case studies of student writing during the conference, it was found that for the most part, students writing had improved in both fluency and organization. Surveys also indicated that students saw some carry over to their study literature, and that they had a better understanding of English usage. While the above examples illustrate a few uses of e-mail in the second and foreign language classroom, without a doubt e-mail can provide authentic communication and can foster awareness of both the language learner and the languages they are learning. The Internet as a Teaching and Learning Tool In addition to the communication benefits of the Internet, the Internet can also be used to retrieve and access information. The World Wide Web is therefore a virtual library at ones fingertips; it is a readily available world of information for the language learner. While the Internet offers numerous benefits to the language learner, a few such possibilities are examined here, in the context of language learning.Perhaps one of the most essential pedagogical principles of language teaching is one that emphasizes the study of language in a cultural context. I, along with many other language instructors believe that language and culture are inextricable and interdependent; Understanding the culture of the target language enhances understanding of the language. To this end, the Internet is a valuable resource to both language teachers and learners. As discussed previously, e-mail on the Internet allows language learners to communicate with native speakers. In this manner, the Internet f acilitates the use of the specific language in an authentic setting. The Internet can also be used to acquire information from language resources for a variety of purposes. For example, students can access current information from countries around the world. They can obtain geographical, historical, social/cultural, economic, and political information from the countries in which the target language is spoken. Students can read web versions of daily newspapers and same-day news reports from sources such as the French Embassys gopher service, the daily Revue de Press (Armstrong and Yetter-Vassot, 1994). Such experiences can allow learners to participate in the culture of the target language, which in turn can enable them to further learn how cultural background influences ones view of the world. The Internet also serves as a medium for experiencing and presenting creative works. While students can peruse the information on the Net, they can also use it as a platform for their own work such as essays, poetry, or stories. Numerous public schools, for example, are making use of the World Wide Web for publishing student work which can be accessed by other web users. Students therefore become not only consumers of content, but in fact generate the content. As Mike (1996) describes, the use of the Internet has also been shown to promote higher order thinking skills. A language teacher, for example, may instruct learners to search for specific information. Searching the Web requires logic skills. Once information has been obtained, the results must be reviewed which requires scanning, discarding, and evaluative judgment on part of the learner. The information must be put together to make a complete and coherent whole which entails the synthesis process. Such an endeavor permits students to practice reading skills and strategies. The Internet also promotes literacy for authentic purposes, as stated previously. In addition to being a supplement to reading materials, especially current information, when students are exploring the Net, they are essentially exploring the real world. Such browsing or exploration can also lead to incidental learning as they encounter a variety of information in this way. Communication with native speakers furth ers literacy development for authentic purposes, enables language learners to compare student perspectives on an issue, and allows them to practice specific skills such as negotiating, persuading, clarifying meaning, requesting information, and engaging in true-life, authentic discussion. Promotion of literacy also occurs within a social context. The interaction that results from the above situations can lead to cooperative projects and increased communication between students from all over the world, in turn leading to the development of social skills. Finally, use of the Internet can promote computer skills and the technical and conceptual experiences of using a computer. Lastly, the Internet provides supplemental language activities which can provide students with additional practice in specific areas of language learning. These include reading tests and comprehension questions, grammar exercises, pronunciation exercises possible through the available multimedia capabilities, cloze tests, vocabulary exercises, and so forth. Students can search the Web for such sites, or teachers may recommend specific sites on the Web. Published lists are also available from various sources. For example, Paramskas (1993) offers a list of sites for both language teachers and language learners, some of which relate to issues of language learning, others which use language as a medium for discussion of culture or current affairs, and others which assist in locating native speakers. The Internet Challenges Up to this point in time, the above discussion has described some of the potential benefits of the Internet and how it can be used in the second or foreign language classroom. However, such a discussion would be incomplete without addressing the disadvantages or obstacles related to the use of the Internet in the language classroom. While the Internet and its various facets offer a great deal to the language learner, it is not without its problems. The nature of the Internet itself can be a disadvantage at times. When lines are busy due to many users, it may take time to access information or browse the Net and technical glitches themselves can lead to frustration. Lack of training and familiarity on part of the teachers can make it difficult to implement the Internet in the language classroom. This requires that school administrators budget for training in this area. Foreign language teachers are especially anxiety prone to computers since they often have little experience with comp uters. For the most part, computers in schools are used for business or computer science courses. Costs related to training, as well as on-line costs of using a provider are issues that may interfere with implementing such a technology in schools, especially in schools that have little funding. Censorship may also be a concern to language programs and instructors. The Internet offers access to all types of issues and topics, some of which are unsuitable for children, and this in itself may result in various problems. While some precautions can be taken at the present time, they are not full proof by any means. Equity issues may also present difficulties when attempting to implement such technology in the classroom. As the commercial sector begins to assume a more prominent role in the Internets infrastructure, rural and inner-city schools, already hard-pressed to provide Internet access, may find it less affordable. This is certainly discouraging for both language teachers and stude nts in such educational settings (Mike, 1996). Many institutions such as these may also not have the computers or computing facilities necessary to implement such type of technology. Implications and Conclusion Despite these limitations and obstacles, it must be realized that the Internets educational potential is immense. Although electronic, the Internet is an entity related to literacy people still interact with it entirely through reading and writing. For this reason alone, the Internet is a technology that will, without a doubt, have significant implications for both teaching and learning. So what does this imply for language teachers and learners? Teachers must become familiar with using the Internet and its various functions such as e-mail. They must also learn how to use specific search tools in order to access information, search for lesson plans, or material and ideas to supplement their lessons. Lastly, language teachers must learn now to transfer files from Internet sites to their own computer and vice versa. Obtaining information or literature on the Internet, either through the Net itself, through books, or by attending workshops and courses will further assist this process. To avoid facing the same difficulties or problems associated with use of the Internet, teachers can ask students to keep track of problems that arise during use. In essence, language teachers must take the plunge and approach the Internet as a learning experience themselves. The more enthusiastic and more knowledgeable language teachers are, the more successfully they can implement Internet in the language classroom. For the language learner, the Internet offers a world of information available to students at the touch of a button. While it must be recognized that the Internet cannot replace the language classroom or the interaction between the language teacher and student, if offers a vast amount of information and lends itself to communication possibilities that can greatly enhance the language learning experience.Certainly at this point in time, several questions need to be asked to guide future research in this area. How can use of the Internet correspond to the communicative or pedagogical goals of language teaching? How will the Internet and its related facets assist language learners in functioning in the global community? What will the real impact of the Internet in foreign language classrooms be? How can the Internet be used more effectively along side the present language curriculum? While these questions have been examined to some degree, researchers and language educators must further investigate and implement this technology to provide others with guidelines in this area. Without a doubt we are in the center of a monumental technological paradigm shift, one which will eventually change the way that all instructors teach and the way students learn (Jensen, 1993). While technology should not take over the language classroom, it must be embraced in order to allow educators to do those things which they are unable to do themselves, or those which will improve what is currently being done in the classroom. As we approach the next century, it is essential that we make informed decisions about how the Internet can be successfully integrated into the language classroom. If we as educators do not rise to the challenge who will?
Monday, August 19, 2019
Time magazine :: essays research papers
Time magazine's June 6, 1983 cover story called stress "The Epidemic of the Eighties" and referred to it as our leading health problem; there can be little doubt that the situation has progressively worsened since then. Numerous surveys confirm that adult Americans perceive they are under much more stress than a decade or two ago. A 1996 Prevention magazine survey found that almost 75% feel they have "great stress" one day a week with one out of three indicating they feel this way more than twice a week. In the same 1983 survey only 55% said they felt under great stress on a weekly basis. It has been estimated that 75 - 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems. Job Stress is far and away the leading source of stress for adults but stress levels have also escalated in children, teenagers, college students and the elderly for other reasons, including: increased crime, violence and other threats to personal safety; pernicio us peer pressures that lead to substance abuse and other unhealthy life style habits; social isolation and loneliness; the erosion of family and religious values and ties; the loss of other strong sources of social support that are powerful stress busters. http://www.stress.org/problem.htm Israel's health problems are similar to those prevailing in the Western world. Since heart diseases and cancer account for about two thirds of deaths, the study of these illnesses has become a national priority. Also of great concern are medical care for the aging, problems arising from environmental changes and conditions emanating from current lifestyles, as well as traffic and occupational accidents. Health education programs are widely used to inform the public of the need to stop habits such as smoking and overeating, as well as lack of physical exercise, which have proved detrimental to health. Campaigns are also run frequently to increase workers' and drivers' awareness of potential dangers. Environmental Hazards Environmental and health hazards have been generated by rapid population growth and steady expansion of agricultural and industrial activities. More than 70 percent of Israel's industry is concentrated along the narrow coastal zone where meteorological conditions are unfavorable for the dispersal of pollutants. To combat pollution of the Mediterranean and Red Sea coastlines, Israel has adopted a multifaceted program of legislation, enforcement, beach and shore clean-up and international activities, primarily within the framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan. Under conditions of water scarcity and intensive development, the degradation of water quality constitutes a critical problem.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Comparing All Quiet On The Western Front, The Wars, and A Farewell To A
All Quiet On The Western Front, The Wars, and A Farewell To Arms Any and all events in one's life may change a person profoundly, but the effect may not always be as expected. For instance, situations of despair may cause feelings of depression and uncertainty to develop in an individual, as would likely be expected. However, those same situations could ultimately lead to a sense of fulfilment or enlightenment. In the novels All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Remarque, The Wars by Timothy Findley, and A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemmingway, the varying possibilities of the effects of war on an individual are clearly displayed. In All Quiet On The Western Front, Paul Baumer finds the war has changed not only the way he views himself in the present, but also the way he views his past and his future. In The Wars, Robert Ross finds himself on a path of uncertainty, questioning the apparent loss of humanity in the world around him. Yet he ultimately uses the war as a medium through which the true essence of his character is able to shine. Finally , in the American classic A Farewell To Arms, Lieutenant Henry recognises that he is losing himself in the war and attempts to find an escape through love. As a result of the horrors and tragedies surrounding them, the characters in these three novels question their sense of self in light of their experiences in the war. Â In Remarque's All Quiet On The Western Front, Paul Baumer encounters many inner struggles. Through examining the changes occurring within himself, he finds he can no longer relate to his own past. His present thoughts and feelings are quite reclusive in nature and as he looks ahead, he finds himself fearing how the repercussions of the war will affect him in th... ...not only something as drastic as a war that may cause one to re-examine his outlook on himself and his life. There are many events in life that will prompt one to question his sense of self. The result may be a personal revelation, or the opposite. In any case, it is through these events that a man is shaped and discovered. These changes are evident not only through the world that created the man, but also through the man who experiences the world. Works Cited and Consulted Dos Passos, John. "The Best Written Book." Critical Essays on Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. New York: G.K. Hall & Co., 1994. 89-90. Findley, Timothy. The Wars. Penguin Books, Toronto: 1996. Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell To Arms. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1986. Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. New York: Ballantine, (1928)1958.
Euthanasia: We Have a Right to a Peaceful Death :: Euthanasia, Physician Assisted Suicide
If there is a contemporary ethical issue which is even more explosive than abortion, it's the question of whether human beings have the right to a peaceful death (euthanasia). In my opinion, a terminally ill person should have a right to avoid pre-death pains and die as peacefully as possible. At this final stage of our presence here, we should not agonize in pointless pain but try to leave well and this implies our right to decide whether we should use euthanasia. Thus, I believe that we need a law that will confirm our rights to euthanasia. However this issue goes beyond merely a right of a certain individual for euthanasia. Many legal norms and procedures must be developed and conventional moral norms must be modified in order to accommodate euthanasia in practice in the USA. In cases of active assisted euthanasia, an assistant (doctor) should feel himself or herself morally comfortable, i.e. not viewed as a murderer. In cases of active unassisted euthanasia a dying person should not be judged as a person who committed suicide. As to the procedures that the government must develop they should ensure that there is a minimum chance of abuse of euthanasia. (Sasha, your part) Abuse aside, it is important that euthanasia does not become simply an expedient solution to the problem of the care for elderly. Nowadays in the United States, even a somewhat healthy elderly person after a certain age comes under a growing social pressure to enter a nursing home, so as to solve the problem of his or her care. Similar pressure (even if to a different degree) to exercise one’s right to euthanasia will necessarily exist if it is legalized. Thus, society must be extremely careful not to let euthanasia become just another convenient solution to the problem of elderly care. It is only the last resort of a person to end agonizing pain, not to stop being a â€Å"burden†on the family or society. This will be especially important in about 10-20-30 years as a large segment of population, the baby boomers, will start approaching the end of their lives. As to the work of Dr. Euthanasia: We Have a Right to a Peaceful Death :: Euthanasia, Physician Assisted Suicide If there is a contemporary ethical issue which is even more explosive than abortion, it's the question of whether human beings have the right to a peaceful death (euthanasia). In my opinion, a terminally ill person should have a right to avoid pre-death pains and die as peacefully as possible. At this final stage of our presence here, we should not agonize in pointless pain but try to leave well and this implies our right to decide whether we should use euthanasia. Thus, I believe that we need a law that will confirm our rights to euthanasia. However this issue goes beyond merely a right of a certain individual for euthanasia. Many legal norms and procedures must be developed and conventional moral norms must be modified in order to accommodate euthanasia in practice in the USA. In cases of active assisted euthanasia, an assistant (doctor) should feel himself or herself morally comfortable, i.e. not viewed as a murderer. In cases of active unassisted euthanasia a dying person should not be judged as a person who committed suicide. As to the procedures that the government must develop they should ensure that there is a minimum chance of abuse of euthanasia. (Sasha, your part) Abuse aside, it is important that euthanasia does not become simply an expedient solution to the problem of the care for elderly. Nowadays in the United States, even a somewhat healthy elderly person after a certain age comes under a growing social pressure to enter a nursing home, so as to solve the problem of his or her care. Similar pressure (even if to a different degree) to exercise one’s right to euthanasia will necessarily exist if it is legalized. Thus, society must be extremely careful not to let euthanasia become just another convenient solution to the problem of elderly care. It is only the last resort of a person to end agonizing pain, not to stop being a â€Å"burden†on the family or society. This will be especially important in about 10-20-30 years as a large segment of population, the baby boomers, will start approaching the end of their lives. As to the work of Dr.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Downtown Health Care Clinic Essay
Perpetual Mercy Hospital Perpetual Mercy is a successful, nonprofit hospital located in the southern periphery of a major western city. It is extremely financially stable, debt free and holds the highest occupancy rate in amongst all hospitals located in its metro location. Perpetual Mercy has become extremely dependent on older, inner city occupants that are covered by Medicaid. More business is becoming minor, short stayed visits which have begun to jeopardize the financial stability of the hospital. Other major threats that Perpetual Mercy faces are the demographic shifts in the community, in which northern suburban areas are becoming more heavily occupied, placing potential business farther away from the hospital. Downtown Healthcare Clinic In 1998 Perpetual Mercy Hospital’s Board of Trustee’s did a study to find out if it would be worthwhile to open a clinic up north in a new construction area downtown. The clinic would offer specific services like: Preventive health care Minor emergency care Referral for acute and chronic health care conditions Specialized employer services Primary health care services Basic x-ray and lab test The clinic would not only service the local community but also serve as a preferred provider organization (PPO), holding a contractual arrangement with employment groups located near the new clinics area. These services will allow the hospital to expand their referral base, increase referrals of privately insured patients and establish a liaison with the business community by addressing employees’ specific health care needs. A study of the service radius showed that the clinics services would cover a 5 block radius and approximately 11,663 office workers, with a projected population growth of 6% per year because of new area construction. After interviewing 400 office workers in the area, results showed that 50% of office workers in the area would use the clinic if necessary and 40% would visit the clinic at least once in the first year. Due to the study results Perpetual Mercy Hospital’s Board of Trustee’s decided that it would be beneficial to open the clinic in 1999. The clinic would be open 260 days a year, Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. The hospital projected to be self-supporting after the 3rd year of business. DHC’s First Year of Operations After the first year of operations DHC had met their expectations. They had made 105 referrals to Perpetual Mercy, produced $378,000 in revenue and had a net profit of $30,000. The top reasons for patient visits were: Personal illness exams 53% Workers compensation exam/treatment 25% Employment/ insurance physical exams 19% Emergency 3% 97% of visits in the year one were first time users with 113 visits by repeat patients. Most visits took place between October 1999 and March 2000. The average revenue per patient was $67.90 with expected increase of 8% per visitor beginning May 2000. Visits consisted of 60% women and 40% men.
Friday, August 16, 2019
had never been to a concert before, so I was incredibly excited about it
It was the 6th of April 2001 and I remember every detail vividly. I was with 6 of my close friends; Ben, my boyfriend of 5 months, Becka, my best friend for as long as I can remember, Charlotte and her boyfriend Steve, Sbecky and her boyfriend Tony. Charlotte and Sbecky were also very old friends of mine from school years, both of whom I had kept in contact with since leaving school. We were all very excited about the gig, and as we stood outside waiting for the doors to open, I noticed that nobody was concerned about the fact that it was bitterly cold. I stood amongst my friends and while we were talking about Charlotte's birthday that had just been, I felt a gust of wind hit my face like sharp knifes piercing my skin. I rubbed my face to warm myself slightly. Ben noticed that I was incredibly cold and he wrapped his arms around me to shelter me from the unkind coldness of the night. It was very slow getting into the venue as there were so many people waiting, so as we slowly crept nearer to the doors, we all became a little more anxious to get in. When we finally got there we handed over our tickets and they were torn in half, just like at the cinema. The first thing I noticed as I walked through the doors was the instant warmth, so welcoming in contrast to the icy wind that waited to stalk us on our return home. Next I noticed the amount of people that surrounded me; it was just like a sea of teenagers all as happy and excited as me and my friends. It was such a lively enthusiastic environment. I turned around, expecting to see Ben, but instead there was a short woman in her early twenties. I started to look around and walk back towards the doors until I heard Ben's voice from about 5 feet away, so I turned and moved towards him. As soon as I was back with him I felt safe and relaxed. Everybody else soon found us, and as soon as we were all back together we headed towards the main hall. There was a long passage leading to the main hall, I was sure it would have seemed longer if there were fewer people surrounding me. The doors on our right hand side were huge and had two people in luminous yellow jackets standing at either side. As we walked in we had a little more room to move about. We went to the back, and sat down on the hard, uncomfortable plastic chairs. For me Charlotte and Becky, it was the first time we had ever been to a concert, so we had no idea what to expect. We waited for about twenty minutes until the support band came on stage. They greeted the audience and told us that they were called Ten Benson. Each member of the band wore a fish-net top and a green baseball cap. We had already begun to walk down the stairs and into the main crowd by the time they started playing. The noise was so powerful it began to make my ears tingle. As we got closer and closer to the front, we could see the band a little more clearly. They were such an energetic band; their act consisted of climbing on top of amplifiers and jumping off, whilst still playing their instruments incredibly well. The drum beat was very powerful and so we were all compelled to dance. When the vocalist began to sing on the second song it was clear that he was a very heavy smoker, but his voice was so intoxicating, I couldn't do anything but listen to him. At the end of each song there was a huge sound of clapping and cheering for the band, but it wasn't until they started to leave the stage that the sound became like thunder. They had played amazingly well and I'm sure that anyone who didn't have their album already would own it within the next week. When the band had left the stage and the lights came on slowly, people began to drift back towards the seats. Becka, Charlotte and I, decided to do the opposite. As people were leaving the front we moved forward. We eventually managed to squeeze our way right up to the front. Various people were coming onto the stage, swapping leads about, tuning the lead and bass guitars, and trying to make the stage a little tidier. After about fifteen minutes the crowd started to force their way back to the front again. I was being squeezed against the metal railings that were keeping the crowd from getting onto the stage. Security guards stood in front of the railings, I felt envious of the amount of space they had. It seemed so strange that thousands of people were all packed into a space like sardines and less than two feet away from them stood security guards who had all the space they liked. The main band appeared and the crowed roared once again. They were called The Darkness and I had only heard one track they had ever made, but I loved it from the first time I heard it. They talked to the crowd for a few minutes, saying how great it was to be back in Wales and what a great crowd we were. They started playing and the pain I was feeling as my ribs got crushed was reduced as I was distracted by the creativity of the band. They were outstandingly good. The drummer looked like he had just escaped from a mental institution. He let out all his energy onto the drums, with his head moving up and down frantically and arms everywhere, he was so talented. The lead guitarist/vocalist wore a cat suit with zebra print on it and a huge hole from the waist line up to the shoulders so that his torso was on full display. He had shoulder length dark hair, and as he was playing his hair was flying about so freely. His fingers moved up and down the guitar with such elegance and ease, and he seemed to thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the performance. The bassist, on the other hand wasn't moving much, he looked very serious and was concentrating on his instrument. He played very well, and the bass line was very clear, which was unusual. I was having the time of my life, and I didn't think the night could get any better, until they played the one song I'd heard by them the week before. It was called ‘Love on the Rocks with No Ice', and it was played so much better live, than when I had heard it on the television. The crowd loved them, there were people on other people's shoulders, singing with the band and people were crowd surfing over our heads. The enthusiasm from the crowd was so powerful that it seemed to give me more energy, so I danced and danced for the rest of the set. When the band played their final piece the crowd all shouted for more, nobody wanted the night to end. Eventually the band came back on to the stage and told us we could have one more song. They played what was going to be their next single. It was great, but when the song ended, I knew it was the end of the night. The lights in the hall came on and the atmosphere was diminished. As we wandered out of the hall with the rest of the crowd, I felt overwhelmed with happiness. Ben tried to talk to me but I couldn't hear him, I'm not sure if it was that the noise from the concert had slightly damaged my ears or whether it was the fact that so many people were talking around us. As we got into the main reception area where t-shirts and posters were being sold frantically, my friends and I began to talk about the concert. Everyone had thoroughly enjoyed the night; the only thing that had gone wrong was that Becka had lost her jacket in the crowd. We all put our money together and bought her a long sleeved top to keep her a little warmer on the walk home. We walked outside, said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. As predicted, the cold wind crept behind me, Becka and Ben, reminding us of its presence every now and again, until we finally reached the warmth of our own homes.
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