Language Arts Development in Elementary

The growth of personality as well as intellectual development comes about when one nurtures and develops his ability to communicate effectively. To develop the ability to communicate effectively the skills of reading, listening, writing, representing ideas visually, and viewing (language arts) are essential for this purpose (Nelson, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Language Arts Development in Elementary-Aged Children specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Gunning (2010), though the language arts are independent from each other they are connected to one another. In this respect, written language comprises of both reading and writing. Spoken communication involves speaking as well as listening. On the other hand, visual language is a result of visual representations and viewing. According to Gunning (2010), reading is the construction or derivation of meaning from a written material. Reading is a tech nique that provides a person with the ability to access a wide array of information that brings about fulfillment and enjoyment. Reading is a fundamental aspect in the elementary aged student’s literacy process. Gunning (2010), argues that through reading elementary students explore their motives and investigate answers that facilitate the understanding of themselves as individuals as well as those around them. For a reading program to be effective there is need for widespread reading among the elementary students accompanied by functional instructions from the teachers. In other words, the teachers have a role of motivating students and cultivating competence through setting goals, managing the behavior in the classroom and making assessments (Gunning, 2010). According to Neuman, Copple, and Bredekamp (2000), writing is a technique that involves submission of an individual’s ideas by encoding them into comprehensible words fitted together to form understandable terms. It is putting on paper one’s ideas. Elementary aged students in developing interest in writing motivate themselves and develop the ability to become mature writers. According to Gunning (2010), this comes as a result of highly effective teaching that facilitates conscious learning among the elementary students.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The teachers should encourage the students to be independent writers, provide motivation, and promote a feeling of competence. The teacher’s assistance should be secondary providing assistance when the student has difficulty in spelling, handwriting as well as encoding material on paper. This will promote independence in writing among the elementary students (Neuman etal, 2000). Speaking is the use of vocals for communication purposes via a particular language. In normal circumstances, elementary students have the ability to speak and express themselves freely. However, in some exceptional instances this is not the case as some students lack the capability to speak. According to Nelson (2011), students develop a better and clearer understanding of speech when subjected to new experiences. In addition, a student may motivate himself to develop ample ways of vocally expressing themselves when they develop new interests. In this respect, a student at elementary level to develop new interests should have diverse experiences to develop their speech and ability to express themselves. According to Gunning (2010), listening becomes the first language art any human being develops. In hearing technological sounds, sounds of nature and the speech of other people infants develop clues of their environmental surroundings. At this age, they are not able to discern what they hear and cannot tune out much. In entering elementary ages, a student should be able to get deeper meaning and purpose in what they hear around them. A t this stage, many students have difficulty in distinguishing what they are supposed to pay attention to and what they should ignore.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Language Arts Development in Elementary-Aged Children specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The technique of reading aloud as well as asking questions develops the skill of listening. According to Gunning (2010), teachers in facilitating development of this skill should capitalize on what the students know and relate old concepts with the new in order to trigger familiarity that facilitate listening. Viewing is the observing and inspection of visual media. It includes watching or observing materials such as pictures, videos, maps, and photographs. In developing this language art skill, the elementary aged student prepares a foundation for skills of critical thinking. The student will need such skills in the higher levels of education. Viewing promotes cr itical thinking as the students in observing the visual images are able to understand their meanings by interpreting their content (Nelson, 2011). According to Nelson (2011), visual representing is the expression of one’s ideas through visual images. With regard to elementary aged students, visual representing comes in the form of collages, drawings, diagrams, and models. The student in conveying information should organize information, and convey such through a visual product. For elementary aged students the complexity of the visual product is insignificant. The important aspect is whether the visual representation has sent the intended message to the viewer. In conclusion, Gunning (2010) acknowledges that though the language arts exist separately in their own respect, they are interrelated. For instance, when reading or speaking about a story filled with humor, the students will develop the concept of humor whereby they will recall the humorous things they had experienced. In turn, they will put such recollection in writing or through visual representing. References Gunning,T. (2010). Creating Literacy Instruction for All Students, (7th Ed.). Pearson: Pearson Publishers.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nelson,A. (2011). The Six Language Arts Skill. Retrieved from http://manelsonportfolio.blogspot.com/2011/09/six-language-arts-skills.html Neuman, S. B., Copple, C., Bredekamp, S. (2000). Learning to read and write: Developmentally appropriate practices for young children. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children. This essay on Language Arts Development in Elementary-Aged Children was written and submitted by user Jillian Farmer to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Is College Really Worth It Expert Cost-Benefit Analysis

Is College Really Worth It Expert Cost-Benefit Analysis SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips With tuition rising every year, more and more students are asking themselves, "Is college worth it?"Many people believe that getting a college education is an important part of becoming a successful adult. Others, however, find it difficult to justify the increasing investment necessary to earn a degree. There’s no one path that’s right for everyone, andit can be difficult to think critically about the decision to go to college when you’re feeling pressured one way or another. There’s no simple answer to this question, butthere is a rational way to think about whether college isthe right path for you. Just as with any investment, you want to think about the relationship between what you put into it (like money, time, and effort) and what you get out of it (like education, networking, and career opportunities). The more you get out of it ascompared to how much you put in, the better the investment. In this post, I'll go through all the potential benefits and drawbacks of pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree so you have all the information to decide for yourself whether college is worth it. A Bit of Background on the Value of a College Degree Before we get started, I want to fill you in on the how the worth of a college degree has changed over time. This way, you'll have a better framework for understanding whether a degree may (or may not) be worth it for you. Since the mid-20th century, the US population has becomeincreasingly educated - simply put, more people are getting bachelor's degrees. In this graph from the US Census Bureau, you can see how the percentage of people with BA degrees has increased from 4.6% in 1940 to 32% in 2015: US Census Bureau Graph There are many reasons why we've seen these educational attainment changes over time, including: The decline of manufacturing jobs, especially for unskilled workers. Employers seeking college graduates for positionsthat didn't previously require a bachelor's degree. Governmentsubsidies in higher education, making college more affordable (until costs rose to meet demand, thereby making college more expensive). Overall, there are a lot of financial and political factors thathave influenced this significant and prolonged shift in how people view college degrees: now, it's often considereddifficult to get awell-paying job (or any job, really) without a college education. That doesn't mean, however, that going to college is always the smart thing to do. It's a big decision, and it's one that warrants some critical thought. To help you think about whether college is worth it for you specifically, let's jump right into the good stuff: the possible investments you have to make to get a college education and the possible benefits you reap as a result. What You Put In: The Costs of College If you're thinking about pursuing a college degree, you'll have to make some sacrifices. The following factors are what I consider to be investments in a post-secondary education. The extent to which these investments affect you depends on your own unique situation, so I'll explainhow to think critically about theseissues in each section. Overall, the major investments you would have to make in a college education are money, time, and effort. Let's see exactly how these might affect whether college is a worthy investment. Money The amount of money that you invest in your education depends on so many factors: your specific school, your financial need, your academic strength, potential scholarship winnings, etc. In general, the less money you have to pay for school, the better aninvestment your education will be. However, even an expensive degree may be well worth it if it pays out in the long run (I'll talk more about that in a bit). Tuition is the most obvious cost associated with attending college, but you also have to worry about room, board, books, personal expenses, and transportation. For more information on all the nitty gritty details of educational expenses, check out our college costs guide. The financial investment you'll make in pursuing a bachelor's degree is perhaps the most important investmentto consider. The average US college grad leaves school with a pretty significant amount of debt - debt that's sometimes very difficult to overcome. There are ways to make your college education more affordable, but sometimes it's tough (or even impossible) to get those expenses down to a comfortable amount. There's nothing wrong with paying a lot for school or even having student debt - it's when those expenses become a burden that they become a problem. Time Most people take four years to complete a BA degree. Depending on your career goals, this may represent an opportunity cost - basically, you might be losing out on other valuable opportunities (to gain job experience, make money, or both) because you're spending these four years in school and out of the work force. A college education is definitely valuable to many employers, and it's correlated with higher earnings later on in life (I'll talk more about this soon). Butbuilding work experience in a particular field, in addition to building wealth, is also valuable - giving up on those opportunities is an investment (or a sacrifice) that you make in order to get a degree. Effort It’s easy to sleep in and skip classes once you have the freedom and independence of a college student. But you’re already investing time and money into your education, so it’s important to make the most of it while you’re there. Buildinga strongeducational background and making professional and personal connections (important benefits of getting a degree) doesn’t just happen - it takes work, and it can sometimes be stressful. It also may involve doing things you don't necessarily want to do, like taking required courses or completinguninteresting assignments. It's important to honestly consider these challenges (and whether you're up to them) before committing yourself to school, especially if it comes with a hefty price tag. What You Get in Return: The Benefits of College You might be feeling a bit iffy about pursuing a degree at this point, but don't stop reading just yet. There are so many potential benefits that come with a college education. The major benefits I see that come with a BA degree (although there canbe many more) are increased employment opportunities, higher income, networking opportunities, personal development, and learning experiences. Employment Opportunities Colleges and universities are recruiting hubs for many industries. When you study at a college or university, especially one that's well ranked, there are often opportunities tomeet with corporate employers who come directly to your school to hirestudents. There are alsointernship opportunities during summers for that could lead directly to full-time employment post-graduation. Employment opportunities offered through colleges and universities extend beyond the corporate world and into academia and professional fields.Any profession that requires a graduate degree (e.g. law, medicine, sometimes business) or is centered around research (basically any job in academia)requires a BA degree first and foremost. Higher Income On average, people with college degrees make more than people without college degrees. Even though you may sacrifice income opportunities in the short term by seeking a degree, you’ll likely end up making more in the long run. This is especially true for people who go into STEMfields. Employers may also assume you’re better qualified for higher-paying jobs if you have a degree. Some jobs may require a BA even if your degree isn’t related to what you’d be doing on the job. Networking Opportunities In a college or university setting, you’ll builda network of friends, but you’ll also developa network of acquaintances, instructors, staff, and alumni. With these networks, it’s a lot easier to get personal and professional help. These connections can serve youin many different ways, especially after you graduate. Here are some ways that a college or university network may come in handy: You move to a new city and need to find a roommate. You’re exploring a career change and want to chat with someone in a particular field. You need some professional guidance or a letter of reference. You’re looking for a new job. Harvard Business School estimates that 65-85% of jobs are obtained through networking- if nothing else, it's a huge help when it comes to getting your foot in the door. You don't even have to know very many people personally to benefit from a college or university network - alumni networks are a great example of this. Personal Development This benefit is a bit more subjective than some of the other ones I've mentioned so far, but I think it's just as important. People's experiences will definitely vary based on where they go to school andthe extent to which they participate in student life - in general, though, here are the ways you can expect to grow and develop on a personal level with a college education: Get exposure to diverse people and ideas. Meeting people with different backgrounds and perspectives results in greater open-mindedness and a more flexible worldview. One study showed that when people have BA degrees, they're more likely to believe that it'sâ€Å"very important to try to understand the reasoning behind others’ opinions." Meet long-term friends. You, of course, don’t have to be at college to make good friends. What’s special about a college environment, though, is that you’re living and working with hundreds or even thousandsof people who are around your age, probably for the first and only time in your life. It’s sometimes more difficult to make friends as you get older - a college is a prettygolden opportunity to meet people. Develop personal and professional interests. Manystudents head off to school with no idea what they want to do with their lives. College gives you a chance to try out different fields, especially if you attend a school with a flexible curriculum. Education Many schools(especially liberal arts colleges and universities) work to produce global citizens: well-rounded students who can be thoughtful and active participants in an increasingly globalized society. You can, of course, learn about things on your own, but college is really an ideal environment to do this - you have a structured learning environment, you're surrounded by intellectually curious peers, and you have access to experts in many fields. There’s a lot to learn out there besides what you’ve studied in high school, andcolleges offer courses on topics that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to. For example, you might want to explore world languages, niche humanities subjects, or specific and advanced STEM fields - all things that are difficult to study outside of a college campus. The thing I see as the biggest educational benefit to attending college is the access to professors, people who have dedicated their lives to research and teaching in a very specific field. Access to these faculty members is especially helpful for students who are considering an advanced degree. When College May Not Be Worth It If you have any desire to go to college, I strongly encourage you to consider it. Overall, I believe that a college degree comes with more benefits than drawbacks. Of course, there will be many exceptionsand individual differences - here, I'll go over some situations where getting a college degree may not be worth it. It's OK(important, even) to consider whether college makes sense for you, even if you've always assumed that you would go to college no matter what. If a DegreeWon't Lead to Professional Success College offers a lot of professional, personal, and intellectual benefits. Even if you’re not sure what you want to do after college, a degree will afford you some flexibility. But you don’t have to go to college in order to be successful - depending, of course, on what career options you’re considering (budding entrepreneurs, for example, may benefit more from real-world experience than from a college education). Some people argue that you can be just as successful with self-directed learning as you can be with a college degree. If you know you can graduate from high school and immediately start working towards your chosen career path, college might not be the best choice for you.Alternatively,if you’re interested in a career that requires trade or vocational school, it might be smarter to apply to those programs instead of applying to a four-year program. This way, you canwork toward building professional experienceearlier rather than later. If You Can't Afford It The total Cost of Attendance at private colleges can come to over $200,000. If you’re responsible for that entire cost and you’re not sure if you can recoup the investment post-graduation, a degree may not be worth it. If the expense is preventing you from looking into a college education, however, there are some options you should consider before making a decision: Not all schools charge $200,00 for a four-year degree. Many institutions are much less expensive (for example, public schools tend to offer subsidized tuition to state residents). There are many federal financial aid programs available for students attending almost any college or university in the US, and you only need to submit one (free) application. Learn more about the Pell Grant program and Perkins loans. If you're a high-achieving student, you might qualify for generous merit aid if you apply to particular schools. Learn more about colleges and universities that give great merit aid. If you think you might qualify for need-based financial aid, you can seek out schools that provide generous funding for lower-income students. Read more about schools with top need-based financial aidprograms. You can apply for scholarship awards, which are great sources of education funding for many students. Learn more about finding and winning local awards, and check outthe top scholarship programs for high school juniors and seniors. If money is the only thing holding you back from getting a degree, I urge you to check out these other funding options. You don’t have to be rich to go to college, and a degree doesn’t have to mean crippling expenses. To read more about paying for college, check out these guides: The four different kinds of financial aid How to pay for college: complete guide How to pay for college without your parents' help How to pay for college without loans If There Are Other ThingsYou Want to Do First (or If You're Unsure) College is a big commitment - if you want to pursue a degree full-time, you’ll be hitting the books for nine months out of the year. You may want to do other things with your time after you graduate from high school before heading off to college,like get professional experience, travel, or volunteer. The bottom line is that you can always postpone the college application process if you have other priorities or even if you want to take time to decide whether college is right for you. You don’t have to go to college right out of high school. Keep in mind that many schools allow you to defer acceptance. It might be easier to work through college applications when you have the support of a guidance counselor and when it's easy to ask teachers for letters of reference. Even if you decide to apply while you're in high school, it's possible to postpone attending the school of your choice for a year or two (or even forever, if you decide it's not right for you). Conclusion: Is College Worth It? Overall, college is a pretty good investment - many students who pursue a bachelor's degree end up reaping the benefits, whether they're financial, professional, or personal. But many others pursue a degree without spending some serious time thinking about whether it's a smart choice. You may feel thatyou should go to college if you want to be successful. AsI mentioned earlier in this post, there are many circumstances where a college degree doesn't exactly make professional, financial, or personal sense (at least not at this very moment). It's important that you know it's okay to postpone such a big decision if you remain unsure. If you do decide to take time to pursue an alternative path, remember that it's important to use your time wisely (else you're subject to the same types of opportunity costs that I mentioned earlier in the post). Building professional experience or engaging in self-directed learning are definitely not easy alternatives to a college education - they're just different. Whatever you decide to do - good luck! What's Next? One big part of the college application process is standardized testing. If you're researching whether college is a good choice for you, it may be helpful to learn more about whether these tests in any way predict future income.Some people even think that the ACT and the SAT have the power to predict success more broadly. If you're worried more about what the whole college application process will look like and you hope to plan around that, we've got you covered - check out our completetimeline for applying to college. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Morality and Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Morality and Rights - Essay Example "That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant," Dworkin (1994, p.9). Over centuries, morality had been mercurial, while Law was not, though there is a constant need to adapt to changing social requirements. Killing troublemakers and animals was moral at one point and not so now. Today, recreational drugs, homosexuality, prostitution etc. are legally accepted. "To grasp fully where law and morality meet, one must also grasp where they remain divergent. ..Of greatest interest in that theoretical endeavour, of course, is the matter of pinning down whether and how moral principles can enter into those processes. Only by adequately addressing themselves to that matter can positivists come up with satisfactorily precise analyses of the workings of legal systems," Kramer (2004, p.11). Morality is interpreted by religions in contradictorily and what is right for one need not be so for another. In multicultural societies this could be difficult to be enforced. It is highly contentious for law to depend on moral values alone, because the question arises, which moral values.

DQ week three (a) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

DQ week three (a) - Essay Example There is also need to integrate several researches and form evidence out of them to strengthen one’s findings. FRONTIERS present good examples of how research findings should be synthesized and translated for the sake of producing programmatically useful information (Royle and Blythe 72). There is a need to communicate results via numerous channels to reach the same audience many times and several audiences at least once. This can include; national workshops, international conferences, and program briefs among others. Feedback should focus on description instead of judgment. Describing behavior will be a report of what took place while judgment behavior evaluates what took place in terms of wrong or right, bad or good. Evaluative language will prompt an individual to respond defensively (DiCens 38). One should observe instead of inference. Observing is seeing what can be seen or listening to one’s behavior while inference is the assumption and interpretation one makes out of seeing or hearing. One should be keen on what a person did and the reaction. Reference should be made to what an individual did rather than what is imagined of the individual, adverbs describing action should be used rather than adjectives describing qualities (DiCens 39). For instance, instead of telling one that he or she talks too much, tell him or her that your opinion in the staff meeting was

Forensic Accounting Investigation Research Paper

Forensic Accounting Investigation - Research Paper Example 1). 1.2 Why is this issue? The purpose of using business intelligence in the organization is to identify and collect business data and to make better decision on various aspects of business including proper accounting practices. Business intelligence system will also help the business to make effective business decisions and the resultant financial gains besides facilitating business growth. Accurate information is nessaccery for taking efficient decision in the business. Business intelligence system would also help the business to get accurate and reliable data in the organization. â€Å"Business Intelligence Solutions (BIS) lead to better business decision making through providing access to enterprise data for easy analysis against Key Performance Indicators† (Business Intel n.d., para. 2). Many organizations have become subjects of fraudent practices due to the lack of proper forensic accounting systems focusing on business intelligence. The research will help highlight thi s issue and evolve ways and means to counter the same. 1.3 What could this research shed light on? There have been a number of researches conducted on this topic. However there is still scope for conducting further research because it will identify the significance of business intelligence in order to take efficient decisions in the business. More over, with the passage of time and the advancement in technology, various aspects of business and accounting keep transforming. Therefore, fresh research will help in addressing the changes that occur due to the evolution. Prompt and accurate decisions are essential for meeting the competition efficiently and effectively. This research will high light the importance of business intelligence system in the organization and how it will help in locating frauds and misappropriations for safeguarding the interests of the shareholders involved. â€Å"Business intelligence helps to improve customer service by identifying the frequent problems wit h each product and identifying potential solutions† (Sabherwal & Fernandez 2009, p. 17). 1.4 Research Aims and Objectives: Depending on the purpose of this research the main aim will be: To identify areas where business intelligence can be deployed to co ordinate accounting activities effectively and efficiently. To take prompt and accurate decisions in the business. To make a co ordination among various departments in the organization. 1.5 Research questions’ (1) How to make effective decisions? (2) How can delegate information among various department in organization? 1.6 Literature Review: For the purpose of this literature review, the analysis of the literature will begin by investigating from books, journals and scholarly articles. â€Å"The literature broadly refers to information relevant to your topic of interest† (Literature Review: Academic Tip Sheet 2008, p. 2). Business intelligen

Characteristics And The Theological Aims Of Marks Gospel Religion Essay

Characteristics And The Theological Aims Of Marks Gospel Religion Essay Marks gospel is known to be the earliest and shortest of the synoptic gospels and its purpose was to impart a written declaration of the redemption brought about through Jesus with an importance appropriate for Gentile Christians. Though it contains very few of Jesus parables compared to the other gospels, Mark tried to identify with Jesus through what he did rather that what he said. John Kilgallen wrote, If we are to know the events of Jesus life, we are brought to them only through Marks story telling. This essay is going to examine the characteristics and theological aims of Marks gospel, and further analyse and evaluate the discussions in order to find out of in what ways they should influence the churchs teaching. Marks gospel is symbolised with a lion which represents the sovereign authority and the effectual power of the son of God and perhaps thats why it is fully packed with action in regards to Jesus ministry. Referring to the prophecy in Isaiah, presumably Mark did not want his listeners to doubt about the testimony of Jesus who was on earth to complete the mission of redemption for mankind. The purpose and whole ministry of Jesus, according to Mark was to die and save sinners. (1: 14-15) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. The fact that Mark explained the meanings of Jewish custom and translated some Aramaic words shows that his gospel was intended for the non Jewish audience and one could argue that he wanted to express a clearer message of the Gospel, with no obstruction of understanding the purpose of Jesus on earth. This implicated the importance of discipleship (1: 17) Jesus said to them, Follow me and I will make you fish for people., and faith in The Son of God being crucial to those who believed as in the case of the paralytic man who was brought to Jesus to be healed, but because of the massive crowd they showed the extremity of their faith when they broke through the roof in order to get the sick man in Jesus presence. May be that is why Mark recorded such high numbers of miracles compared to the other synoptic gospels. An illustration of the kind of opposition Jesus experienced from some of His family members, friends, followers, religious leaders and political figures was also expressed in Marks gospel, but Jesus took carriage and did not deviate from His purpose according to Mark who told of the many places that Jesus went to deliver His message. This shows that Jesus was always on the move. He indicated the major roles of Jesus ministry were to serve and suffer through his sacrificial love Marks intention could broadly be interpreted as a pastoral mission, that had a purpose of teaching and building up the faith of his listeners by showing the relevance of Jesus teachings in their own lives as it is in the church today. (3: 14-15) And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,  to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. Jesus entrusts His followers with the proclamation to all nations to the end. As Jesus gave authority then, it is the same authority given to the church today until the good news  is proclaimed to all nations. Overall, the characters and theological aim in Marks gospel can still be addressed in the church as a continuation of what Jesus started when He announced that the Kingdom of God was at hand. Therefore the call of repentance and belief should still be the theme in the church. Jesus came to serve not to be served, and he sacrificed his life for all mankind, so the church should illustrate this kind of servant hood as emphasised by Lightfoot, The purpose of the Lords manifestation in the future is not so much to introduce a new order of things, but rather to complete that which already exists. The church can be transformed through the influence of Marks gospel by compelling to a divine mission of not our own agenda but that of Christ and acknowledging for who He is (8: 29) He asked them, But who do you say that I am? Peter answered him, You are the Messiah. Dependency on God is a requirement today as much as interdependency to each other working in unity in order to continue reaching out with the gospel regardless of criticism and opposition as according to Mark. **Jesus often warned His disciples of the hardship and suffering that they would encounter as He did. The Church still faces persecution as in the days of Mark, but we are encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith as then. The characteristics and theological aims, of Marks Gospel teach the church, representative of Christ, to continue spreading the word of God. Discipleship is  a part of life for Christians as clearly demonstrated in Mark.   Known as missionaries today, discipleship duties of servant hood is still the core that is required, and through the teachings of Jesus who encountered both the sick and the sinful in this gospel transformation is relevant and still acts as a model for the church. Jesus has always been the representation of the just man, who was treated unjustly, but he responded with patience and he did not lose hope and trust in God. The theological aim of evangelism should be another influence in church as expressed in the first verse of Mark, to proclaim that Jesus is son of God and saviour. The need to lose one self remains as necessary and true now as it was then. In terms of discipleship it is from Jesus that discipleship started and that is still a relevant characteristic in church to follow the example of Jesus, which is another influence in understanding of Christian faith. Mark expressed a high degree of honesty in the disciples of Jesus then by giving an account about their misunderstanding of what Jesus was telling them and the fearful reaction of the events that surrounded the resurrection which mirrors the weakness in the church. Consumed by pride of who is the greatest and not confronting the fear of being misunderstood, has overwhelmed the church of the twenty first century. The church should continue to teach that true discipleship is only possible after the resurrection as stated in Mark, and thats when the full significance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus can be known. The church today has no excuse than those first followers if it does not teach the believers to take up the cross and follow Jesus. The Gospel of Mark strengthened his listeners to stand strong in their faith even through a period of persecution as Jesus did; it is a characteristic that still needs to influence the church as it has never stopped being persecuted even in this 21st century. The importance of faith is stressed as the ambience in which Jesus mighty works were performed (6: 5, 6) From the analysis of the main features in Marks gospel, it becomes possible to draw certain conclusions in regards to his intention. Jesus prepared himself to total obedience to God as introduced by Mark The Son of God. The church should continue to have total faith and obedience in God as Jesus did in order not to deviate from the truth. It could be argued to a certain extent that the teaching and actions of Jesus have a continuing value in both Christian life and death and that the death of Jesus was not in vain. Therefore, according to the examination of the above characteristics and theological aims in Marks gospel, the church should still be strongly influenced, by that same message of redemption by following the example of Jesus who was a servant of the Lord regardless of deeds of suffering, strengthening in the faith and continue to spread the good news according to the gospel of Mark. (10: 44-45) And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Essay examples --

Although there are many great presidents of these United States, Harry Truman has his own life story. Harry S Truman was born May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. His parents were John and Martha Young Truman. His father, John, was a farmer and live stalk trader. Martha, his mother was a homemaker. Harry was the oldest in his family of three children. He had a sister named Mary Jane, and a brother named John Vivian. Harry was taught honesty, hard work, and family love at a young age. (3) Truman grew up on a farm in Harrisonville, Missouri and later moved to Independence, Missouri. (3) From a young age, Truman enjoyed reading about history and biography and was very good at it. Truman went to the public school in Independence. He didn’t do any sports in high school because from a young age he was always afraid that he would break his glasses. Sense he didn’t do sports he was picked on by some of the kids, they also made fun of him because he had glasses. Although he did well in high school he did not attend college after graduation. The reason for this was because college was expensive and his parents could not afford that. Truman started working on a railroad and as a bank clerk. When he turned 22 he moved back to the country and started working for the family farm for the next 11 years. 2 Truman joined the army in 1918 and went to France to fight in World War I. While there, Truman became an officer and led his men with good inspiration. After fighting in the war and returning home, Truman married a woman he knew from a young age named Elisabeth Wallace, nicknamed Bess. They were married on June 28 1919. After marriage, they wanted to start a family so they had one daughter named Mary Margaret. After he married the women he loved,... ...ested him greatly. Truman was a loyal man to his wife and his country. This makes him a good man in my book. He had to deal with a lot of war and depression in the years that he was president and that wouldn’t be easy for anyone. He also had to deal with the country advancing and a lot of more children being born. Some presidents didn’t have to deal with hard things like coming into office after someone else died, but that was his duty and he knew he could do it. His wife was very supportive of all of his decisions. When becoming a president you have a lot of shoes to fill, a lot of people to worry about, and a lot of things to look over. It takes a strong man or woman to do so. Even through the 11 hard times Truman didn’t give up, he won the re-election even when no one thought he was going to. It takes dedication do so these things and Truman had a lot of that.

Hypertension As Cause Of Stroke Health And Social Care Essay

High blood pressure is a common and major cause of shot and other cardiovascular disease. There are many causes of high blood pressure, including defined hormonal and familial syndromes, nephritic disease and multifactorial racial and familial factors. It is one of the prima causes of morbidity and mortality in the universe and will increase in world-wide importance as a public wellness job by 2020 ( Murray and Lopez 1997 ) . Blood force per unit area ( BP ) is defined as the sum of force per unit area exerted, when bosom contract against the opposition on the arterial walls of the blood vass. In a clinical term high BP is known as high blood pressure. Hypertension is defined as sustained diastolic BP greater than 90 mmHg or sustained systolic BP greater than 140 mmHg. The maximal arterial force per unit area during contraction of the left ventricle of the bosom is called systolic BP and minimal arterial force per unit area during relaxation and dilation of the ventricle of the bosom when the ventricles fill with blood is known as diastolic BP ( Guyton and Hall 2006 ) . Table 1: Definitions and categorization of blood force per unit area degrees ( adapted from JNC-VII ) High blood pressure is normally divided into two classs of primary and secondary high blood pressure. In primary high blood pressure, frequently called indispensable high blood pressure is characterised by chronic lift in blood force per unit area that occurs without the lift of BP force per unit area consequences from some other upset, such as kidney disease. Essential high blood pressure is a heterogenous upset, with different patients holding different causal factors that lead to high BP. Essential high blood pressure demands to be separated into assorted syndromes because the causes of high BP in most patients soon classified as holding indispensable high blood pressure can be recognized ( Carretero and Oparil 2000 ) . Approximately 95 % of the hypertensive patients have indispensable high blood pressure. Although merely approximately 5 to 10 % of high blood pressure instances are thought to ensue from secondary causes, high blood pressure is so common that secondary high blood p ressure likely will be encountered often by the primary attention practician ( Beevers and MacGregor 1995 ) . In normal mechanism when the arterial BP raises it stretches baroceptors, ( that are located in the carotid sinuses, aortal arch and big arteria of cervix and thorax ) which send a rapid urge to the vasomotor Centre that ensuing vasodilatation of arteriolas and venas which contribute in cut downing BP ( Guyton and Hall 2006 ) . Most of the book suggested that there is a argument sing the pathophysiology of high blood pressure. A figure of predisposing factors which contributes to increase the BP are fleshiness, insulin opposition, high intoxicant consumption, high salt consumption, aging and possibly sedentary life style, emphasis, low K consumption and low Ca consumption. Furthermore, many of these factors are linear, such as fleshiness and intoxicant consumption ( Sever and Poulter 1989 ) . The pathophysiology of high blood pressure is categorised chiefly into cardiac end product and peripheral vascular resistant, renin- angiotonin system, autonomic nervous system and others factors. Normal BP is determined and maintained the balance between cardiac end product and peripheral resistant. Sing the indispensable high blood pressure, peripheral resistant will lift in normal cardiac end product because the peripheral resistant is depend upon the thickness of wall of the arteria and capillaries and contraction of smooth musculuss cells which is responsible for increasing intracellular Ca concentration ( Kaplan 1998 ) . In renin-angiotensin mechanism hormone system plays of import function in maintain blood force per unit area ; particularly the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney secrete renin in order to response glomerular hypo-perfusion. And besides renin is released by the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system which is subsequently convert to angiotensin I so once more it converts to angiotensin II in the lungs by the consequence of angiotensin- change overing enzyme ( ACE ) . Angiotensin II is a powerful vasoconstrictive and besides it released aldosterone from the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal secretory organ which is responsible for Na and H2O keeping. In this manner, renin-angiotensin system increases the BP ( Beevers et al 2001 ) . Similarly, in autonomic nervous system sympathetic nervous system play a function in pathophysiology of high blood pressure and cardinal to keeping the normal BP as it constricts and dilates arteriolar. Autonomic nervous system considers as an of import in short term alterations in BP in response to emphasis and physical exercising. This system works together with renin-angiotensin system including go arounding Na volume. Although adrenaline and nor-adrenaline does n't play an of import function in causes of high blood pressure, the drugs used for the intervention of high blood pressure block the sympatheti c nervous system which had played proper curative function ( Beevers et al 2001 ) . Others pathophysiology includes many vasoactive substance which are responsible for keeping normal BP. They are enothelin bradikinin, endothelial derived relaxant factor ; atrial natriuretic peptide and hypercoagulability of blood are all responsible in some manner to keep the BP ( Lip G YH 2003 ) . The 7th study of the Joint National Committee ( JNC-VII ) on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure defines some of import ends for the rating of the patient with elevated BP which are sensing and verification of high blood pressure ; sensing of mark organ disease ( e.g. nephritic harm, congestive bosom failure ) ; designation of other hazard factors for cardiovascular upsets ( e.g. diabetes mellitus, lipemia ) and sensing of secondary causes of high blood pressure ( Chobanian et al 2003 ) . Most hypertensive patients remain symptomless until complications arise. Potential complications include shot, myocardial infarction, bosom failure, aortal aneurism and dissection, nephritic harm and retinopathy ( Zamani et al 2007 ) .The drug choice for the pharmacologic intervention of high blood pressure would depend on the single grade of lift of BP and contradictions. Treatment of non-pharmacologic high blood pressure includes life-style, weight decrease, exercising, Na, K, halt smoke and intoxicant, relaxation therapy and dietetic betterments, followed by pharmacological medicine therapy. Fig1. Algorithm for the pharmacologic intervention of high blood pressure ( adapted from Chobanian et al 2003 ) Normally used antihypertensive drugs include thiazide water pills, ?-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotonin receptor blockers, Ca channel blockers, direct vasodilatives and ?-receptor adversaries which are shown in the undermentioned tabular array. Table 2: Types of drugs used in the intervention of high blood pressure ( adapted from Waller et al 2005 ) Diuretic drugs have been used for decennaries to handle high blood pressure and recommended as first-line therapy by JNC-VII guidelines after antihypertensive and lipid-lowering intervention to forestall bosom onslaught trail ( ALLHAT ) success. They cut down circulatory volume, cardiac end product and average arterial force per unit area and are most effectual in patients with mild-to- moderate high blood pressure who have normal nephritic map. Thiazide water pills ( e.g. Microzide ) and K sparing water pills ( e.g. Aldactone ) promote Na+ and Cl- elimination in the nephrone. Loop water pills ( e.g. Lasix ) are by and large excessively powerful and their actions excessively ephemeral, nevertheless, they are utile in take downing blood force per unit area in patients with nephritic inadequacy, who frequently does non react to other water pills. Diuretic drugs may ensue in inauspicious metabolic side effects, including lift of creatinine ; glucose, cholesterin, triglyceride degrees, h ypokalemia, hyperuricemia and decreased sexual map are possible side effects. The best BP take downing response is seen from low doses of Thiazide water pills ( Kaplan 1998 ) . -blocker such as propranolol are believed to lower BP through several mechanisms, including cut downing cardiac end product through a decrease bosom rate and a mild lessening in contractility and diminishing the secernment of renin, which lead to a lessening in entire peripheral resistant. Adverse effects of b-blockers include bronchospam, weariness, powerlessness, and hyperglycaemia and alter lipid metamorphosis ( Zamani et al 2007 ) . Centrally moving ?2-adrenergic agonists such as alpha methyl dopa and Catapres cut down sympathetic escape to the bosom, blood vass and kidneys. Methyldopa is safe to utilize during gestation. Side consequence includes dry oral cavity, sedation, sleepiness is common ; and in 20 % of patients methyldopa causes a positive antiglobulin trial, seldom hemolytic anemia and Catapres causes bounce high blood pressure if the drug is all of a sudden withdrawn ( Neal M J 2009 ) . Systemic a1-antagonists such as Minipress, Hytrin and Cardura cause a lessening in entire peripheral opposition through relaxation of vascular smooth musculus. Calcium channel blockers ( CCB ) cut down the inflow of Ca++ responsible for cardiac and smooth musculus contraction, therefore cut downing cardiac contractility and entire peripheral resistant. Therefore long-acting members of this group are often used to handle high blood pressure. There are two categories of CCB dihyropyridines and non- dihyropyridines. The chief side consequence of CCB is ankle hydrops, but this can sometimes be offset by uniting with ?-blockers ( Lip G YH 2003 ) . Direct vasodilatives such as Hydralazine and minoxidil lower BP by straight loosen uping vascular smooth musculus of precapillary opposition vass. However, this action can ensue in a automatic addition bosom rate, so that combined ?-blocker therapy is often necessary ( Neal M J 2009 ) . ACE inhibitors plants by barricading the renin-angiotensin system thereby suppressing the transition of angiotonin I to angiotensin II. ACE inhibitors may be most utile for handling patients with bosom failure, every bit good as hypertensive patients who have diabetes. Using Ace inhibitors can take to increased degrees of bradikinin, which has the side consequence of cough and the rare, but severe, complication of atrophedema. Recent survey demonstrated that Capoten was every bit effectual as traditional thaizides and ?-blockers in forestalling inauspicious results in high blood pressure ( Lip G YH 2003 ) . Angiotensin II antagonists act on the renin-angiotensin system and they block the action of angiotonin II at its peripheral receptors. They are good tolerated and really seldom do any important side-effects ( Zamani et al 2007 ) . Another helpful rule of antihypertensive drug therapy concerns the usage of multiple drugs. The effects of one drug, moving at one physiologic control point, can be defeated by natural compensatory mechanism ( e.g. diuretic lessening hydrops happening secondary to intervention with a CCB ) . By utilizing two drugs with different mechanisms of action, it is more likely that BP and its complication are controlled and with the low dose scope of combined drugs besides help to cut down the side-effects as good ( Frank 2008 ) . The undermentioned two-drug combinations have been found to be effectual and good tolerated which are diuretic and ?-blocker ; diuretic and ACE inhibitor or angiotonin receptor adversary ; CCB ( dihydropyridine ) and ?-blocker ; CCB and ACE inhibitor or angiotonin receptor adversary ; CCB and b-diuretic ; ?-blocker and ?-blocker and other combinations ( e.g. with cardinal agents, including ?2-adrenoreceptor agonists and imidazoline- I2 receptor modulators, or betwee n ACE inhibitors and angiotonin receptor adversaries ) can be used ( ESH and ESC 2003 ) . If necessary, three or four drugs may be required in many instances for the intervention. The usage of a individual drug will take down the BP satisfactorily in up to 80 % of patients with high blood pressure but uniting two types of drugs will take down BP about 90 % . If the diastolic force per unit area is above 130 mmHg so the hypertensive exigency is occurred. Although it is desirable to cut down the diastolic force per unit area below 120 mmHg within 24 hours in accelerated high blood pressure, it is normally unneeded to cut down it more quickly and so it may be unsafe to make so. This is because the mechanisms that maintain intellectual blood flow at a changeless degree independent of peripheral BP are impaired in high blood pressure. However, it is of import to cut down the BP rapidly by giving the endovenous drugs but cautiousness should be taken to avoid cerebrovascular force per unit area bring oning intellectual ischaemia ( Grahame-Smith and Aronson 2002 ) . In decision, high blood pressure emerges as an highly of import clinical job because of its prevalence and potentially annihilating effects. The major categories of antihypertensive drugs: water pills, ?-blockers, CCB, ACE inhibitors and angiotonin receptor adversaries, are suited for the induction and care of antihypertensive therapy which helps in decrease of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Bard College Costs and Admissions Data

Bard College Costs and Admissions Data With an acceptance rate of 56  percent, Bard College is considered a somewhat selective school. Bard is a test-optional school, meaning that students who didnt take  or did poorly on the ACT or SAT, can still be considered for admission. Admissions to Bard are need-blind and test-optional, so a strong academic and extracurricular record are a must for this highly selective college. Since Bard uses the Common Application, students will have to complete the essay portion of that application. Applicants must also submit high school transcripts, letters of recommendation; optional materials include a resume of activities, awards,  and art portfolios for those interested in the art programs at Bard.   Admissions Data (2016) Bard College Acceptance Rate: 56%GPA, SAT and ACT Data for AdmissionTest ScoresSAT Critical Reading: 640 medianSAT Math: 620 medianACT Composite: 29 medianNote: Bard is a test-optional college Bard College Description: Located in Annandale-on-Hudson, a picturesque town about 90 miles north of New York City, Bard College is one of the countrys top liberal arts colleges. Bard prides itself on its faculty and a 10 to 1  student/faculty ratio. They tout 98 percent of classes having fewer than 30 students The faculty includes five MacArthur Fellows, and the school has been home to four recipients of the Nobel Prize in Literature. For a small college, Bard is remarkably international, with 22 percent of students representing 51 countries other than the U.S. On the athletic front, the Raptors compete in the NCAA Division III, within the Liberty League. Popular sports include basketball, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, and track and field. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 2,304  (1,970 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 42% Male / 58% Female96% Full-time Costs (2016 - 17) Tuition and Fees: $51,384Books: $950Room and Board: $14,540Other Expenses: $1,750Total Cost: $68,624 Bard College Financial Aid (2015- 16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 66%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 62%Loans: 48%Average Amount of AidGrants: $37,368Loans: $7,349 Academic Programs The most popular majors are  Fine Arts, Languages and Literatures, Sciences, and Social Sciences. Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Mens Sports:  Soccer, Lacrosse, Baseball, Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, SquashWomens Sports:  Swimming, Volleyball, Cross Country, Track and Field, Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball, Tennis Graduation and Retention Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 86%Transfer-out Rate: - %4-year Graduation Rate: 69%6-year Graduation Rate: 78% Data Source National Center for Educational Statistics Bard and the Common Application Bard College uses the Common Application. These articles can help guide you: Common Application essay tips and samplesShort answer tips and samplesSupplemental essay tips and samples

Armenian Genocide Essays - Armenian Genocide, Anti-Armenianism

Armenian Genocide Essays - Armenian Genocide, Anti-Armenianism Armenian Genocide Why was the Armenian Genocide Forgotten? GENOCIDE By definition genocide is the organized killing of a people for the express purpose of putting an end to their collective existence (Websters dictionary). As a rule, the organizing agent is the nation, the victim population is a domestic minority, and the end result is the near total death of a society. The Armenian genocide generally conforms to this simple definition. FORGOTTEN The Armenian genocide is a hidden, almost lost part of world history, pretty much eclipsed by the more publicized genocide of the twentieth century, the Holocaust. The question is why. I could take a poll of this room and I am willing to bet that 95% of the students have ever even heard of the Armenian Genocide and those who have couldnt tell me more than a couple sentences about it. This is pretty scary, considering the statistics of the Armenian Genocide. OTTOMAN EMPIRE The Ottoman Empire was ruled by the Turks who had conquered the land from across West Asia, North Africa to Southeast Europe. The Ottoman government was based in Istanbul and was headed by a sultan who was given absolute power. The Turks were Islamic and were a harsh disciplinary civilization. The Armenians, a Christian minority, lived as second class citizens subject to legal restrictions (Graber 119). These restrictions denied them normal safeguards. Neither their lives nor their properties were guaranteed security. As non-Muslims they were also obligated to pay discriminatory taxes and denied participation in government. In its prime of the sixteenth century the Ottoman Empire was a powerful state. Its minority populations really benefited with the growth of its economy, but by the nineteenth century, the empire was in serious decline(Graber 121). It had been reduced in size and by 1914 had lost virtually all its lands in Europe and Africa. This decline created enormous internal political and economic pressures which contributed to the increasing tensions among the races (similar to Germanys way of blaming the Jews for their economic decline). Armenian aspirations for representation and participation in government worried the Muslim Turks who had never shared power in their country with any minority. Demands by Armenian political organizations for administrative reforms in the Armenian-inhabited provinces and better police protection only invited further repression. During the reign of the sultan Abdul Hamid, a series of massacres throughout the empire meant to dampen Armenian expectations by frightening them, cost up to three hundred thousand lives by some estimates and resulted in enormous material losses on a majority of Armenians. In response to the crisis in the Ottoman Empire, a new political group called the Young Turks seized power by revolution in 1908. From the Young Turks, the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) emerged at the head of the government in a coup staged in 1913. It was led by a triumvirate: Enver, Minister of War, Talaat, Minister of the Interior, and Jemal, Minister of the Marine (Hovanissian 15). The CUP spewed ultra-nationalistic culture which promoted the establishment of an exclusively Turkish state. It also promoted thoughts of conquering other regions inhabited by Turkic peoples, almost like our Manifest Destiny. When World War I broke out in August 1914, the Ottoman Empire formed part of the Triple Alliance with the other Central Powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary, and it declared war on Russia and its Western allies, Great Britain and France. The Ottoman armies initially suffered a string of defeats. Whether retreating or advancing, the Ottoman army used the occasion of war to wage a scam campaign of massacre against the civilian Armenian population in the regions in which warfare was rampant. These measures were part of the genocidal program secretly adopted by the CUP and implemented under the cover of war. They coincided with the CUP's larger program to eradicate the Armenians from Turkey and neighboring countries. Through the spring and summer of 1915, in all areas outside the war zones, the Armenian population was ordered deported from their homes. Convoys consisting of tens of thousands including men, women, and children were driven hundreds of miles toward the Syrian desert. In April of the young Turks convinced leaders of the Armenian population to meet to discuss the new orders for all

What do the photos we take say about us Research Paper

What do the photos we take say about us - Research Paper Example Publication of Prince Harry’s nude photos irrefutably constitutes privacy violation, as can be discerned from the definition of private facts under privacy law. Private facts are information snippets about an individual’s personal life, which have not been previously disclosed to mainstream public and do not bear any justifiable public concern. Publication or disclosure of these private facts is also deemed offensive to reasonable persons in society (Nordhaus, 1999). Clearly, the Prince’s naked photos meet all these criteria. First, intimate photographs of Prince Harry are not ordinarily available to the public. Secondly, the photos are not of any legitimate concern to the public, since the information does not bear any relevance to critical societal matters. Most importantly, any reasonable person would consider the naked photographs offensive. This is because nudity often typifies indecency, which goes against the conventional principles of morality, especially in conservative environments. In addition to the high level of offensiveness and lack of newsworthiness in Prince Harry’s personal photos, diverse media outlets that published the photos did not acquire consent from the subject. This is a vital element when publishing private photographs. The act of publication, therefore, constituted unlawful use of private photographs and was decidedly unfair (Berkman Center for Internet and Society, 2008). Failure to obtain consent also points to the fact that, the respective media outlets solely focused on sensationalizing the photographs and gaining popularity ratings (Jobson, 2012), as opposed to portraying the Prince as a dignified public figure. The publication was, in consequence, morally wrong and disregarded journalistic ethics of responsible and unprejudiced reporting. The unreasonable nature of the act is aggravated even further, by the fact that the subject was photographed in a private

A Laboratory Scientist in the Organization Assignment

A Laboratory Scientist in the Organization - Assignment Example In a more general term, laboratory scientists in any institution are the head of an experiment and chemical keeping without which it should impact any danger to other members of the organization. a). According to Blanchard and Thacker (2007, p. 25), an employment contract refers to the signing of a paperwork between two parties (employer and employee) to set the commencement of a given work within the specified rules and regulations that seem acceptable and legal by the law and which do not infringe on anyone’s rights. The contract normally has a limit of time. The employers should be responsible for their health and safety. They should identify hazards in a systematic manner and eliminate or isolating those that are possible. For instance, employers may recognize the necessary steps to minimize the hazards, by providing information, as well as warnings. Also, by identifying whether there are any regulations covering their industry and complying with them. Providing protective equipment clothing or ensuring employee provided protective is suitable and ensuring that they are used effectively. They should also be trained in order to impart in them the necessary skills to manage their own safety. Employers should recognize any accident that might have occurred while been out keen so as to avoid the same in the future. Being keen on any signs of a disease and reporting to the clinic immediately in case of any signs. Responding to inspector’s advice and ensuring that work practices together with working hours are followed in a manner that enhances a safe-working condition. Environmental laws currently carried out in England covers the following key areas: waste management, water pollution, air pollution, noise, hazardous substances, contaminated land and the IPC/IPPC regimes. b). ISO is the International organization for standardization, a worldwide organization with representatives from 157 countries.