The structure of keratin and collagen and show how their structures are suited to their biological functions Essay Example

The structure of keratin and collagen and show how their structures are suited to their biological functions Paper Keratin and collagen are very vital within the bodys structure; both are very similar in nature, being that they derive from amino acids, which make up their respective proteins. They both fall under a group of particular proteins known as scleroproteins or fibrous in nature. Majority of their structure consist of left-handed helix structures1. Scleroproteins make up one of the two major protein categories, the other being globular. Keratin and collagen each represent one of the three subclasses within scleroproteins. As scleroproteins their jobs are to provide support and protection for the body. They are adapt for this because of their complex structure of repeating polypeptide chains which strengthen as the bind together; this and their insolubility are vital in maintaining the anatomy of the body. Whilst being similar in some ways, collagen and keratin remain different in their specific functions and role. As mentioned above keratin is one of the three scleroproteins. It is an extremely strong, insoluble tertiary protein; it is the main constituent in the structures of various parts in the body. These include the skin, hair, nails, as well as horns and hooves in animals. The variety of body compounds that contain keratin show that it is a material that varies depending on function. In relation to skin, the amino acids, which make it up are arranged differently from any other form of keratin and make up the soft layer known as skin. It is present in all epithelial cells, those on the outer surface and on the inner surface such as the lining of the digestive tract. On the other end of things nails contain keratin, which are very hard. We will write a custom essay sample on The structure of keratin and collagen and show how their structures are suited to their biological functions specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The structure of keratin and collagen and show how their structures are suited to their biological functions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The structure of keratin and collagen and show how their structures are suited to their biological functions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Other hard substances such as horns and hooves are formed by epithelial cells adapting to growing generous amounts of keratin and then dying as individual cells, leaving the keratin to form into these hard structures2. Where keratin is needed to be hard the arrangement of specific amino acids respond to the need to form a tough material. One of keratins important qualities is that it has the ability to flex and not tear of become destroyed. Keratin reinforces epithelial cells by helping to maintain their connections between cells. Cornification also known as keratinization is the foundation of how keratin in formed. The outer cells on the epidermis lose their function in this process, the cells organelles such as the nucleus and mitochondria disappear and metabolism ceases as the cells become replaced by keratin. This new layer is incapable of sensory perception and is classified as dead. Keratin covers the width of a cell enabling it to connect indirectly with other keratin in adjoining cell to form junctions called desmosomes2, this makes the outer most layer of non-porous, almost water proof. There are many types of keratin found in the body and in mammals, each type structured to suit its function. The most common form of keratin found in most parts of the body is alpha keratin3. They have long fibrous strands that super coil into alpha helixes, the folds and the short repeating units along the polypeptide chain are what make up their composition. The alpha helix is formed from an alpha keratin polypeptide, two of these twists around each other to form a coil. The hydrophobic strips on one helix associates itself with the other. This allows the side chains to interlock. The combination of the two coils is known as a dimmer. This is the basis of the protofilament of which 2 make up a protofibril. Four protofibrils make up a microfibril. The associations of many microfibrils form a macrofibril4. Hair for example consists of layers of dead cells that are packed with macrofibrils. The diagram below shows a general idea of how the higher order of alpha keratin is structured. A key feature of its structure is that is contains cysteine disulfide, this makes up for almost 24% of the amino acid structure5, it allows it to form disulphide bridges which forms a helix shape that is extremely strong. As the sulphur atoms bond covalently to each other across the helix, it forms a fibrous matrix, which is highly stable. High percentages of glycine and alanine aid to the formation of hydrogen bonds between amino and carboxyl groups of adjacent peptide bonds6. The disulphide bridges and hydrogen bonding cause insolubility in things like water. This structural feature is vital in mammals. The long filaments present in the structure provide support for the epithelial cells that contain keratin such as skin. It protects the body from damage by allowing other tissues to form around it and stabilize. Collagen is one of other types of scleroprotein, as with keratin it is an important part in majority of the bodys structures. It is the main component in connective tissue. It makes up for roughly 25% of the bodys protein7. Its strength and insolubility make it the most abundant protein in mammals. Being a connective protein it is seen in body tissues such as the skin, muscles, tendon and cartilage. There are about 25 different types of collagen that occur in the body. Collagen widely works with the other scleroproteins supporting the bodys tissues. It does this by providing support, firmness and strength. Collagen may be seen in different forms such as endomysium and fibrous tissue8, different types being made for different parts of the body such as the cornea, bone, blood vessels as well as the gut. It is able to withstand intense pulling and stretching. It makes up the major stress bearing parts of connective tissue4. One of the most important qualities of collagen is strength; it has the tensile strength of steel and is used to strengthen bone similarly to how metal rods reinforce concrete. It has been seen as a form of glue that hold the body together; with out it the human body would not be one complete structure. Collagen appears to be able to do this as a result of features within its structure. For a long period of time scientists have struggled to identify the exact structure of collagen, this is because of its unusual amino acid composition. Collagen has a super-coiled helical shape, it is long, stringy, strong, and resembles a rope. Its primary structure consists of a repeating sequence of glycine and two other amino acids, often proline and hydroxyproline; this forms its sturdy structure. These amino acids cause the chain not to gain the normal alpha- helix or beta- sheet structure; instead they form the long separate chains that allow the collagen triple helix to form9. A single strand of collagen is composed of three chains of polypeptides each being about 1000 amino acids long, the three strands are arranged parallel to each other and are wound up into a triple helix. The bundling of the fiber together and hydrogen bonding between the lengths of the polypeptide chain give it strength. The diagram below gives a general idea as to how a collagen fiber is shaped. Collagens tightly wound matrix of fibers in its structure is very vital in its function, being that majority of the body comprises of it, it need be very strong. For instance collagen is a major component of tendons, which connect muscles to bones, and ligaments, which connect bones to joints. The variance of collagen in these two parts is very little, but remain specialised for both areas. Both parts require strength and flexibility, things that are provided and adjusted from the compactions of the collagen fibers. As mentioned collagen varies in strength and flexibility depending on where its located and its function as connective tissue. Structural defects within the structures of vital proteins such as collagen and keratin can be responsible for major metabolic related diseases. Osteogenesis imperfecta also known as brittle bone disease is an example of one of these conditions that affect collagen. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder that causes extremely fragile bones. As a result people with the condition tend to have many fractures within a lifetime. It is an inherited disease; it is caused by mutations within the genes of type 1 collagen (the most prevalent collagen in the body). The deficiency stems from the substitution of the amino acid glycine, it should normally be at every third position for the triple helix to form properly, mutations that result in amino acids other than glycine in that position cause an issue within the collagen complex which produce unstable helices. The bodys lack of response to the dysfunctional collagen structure allows it to be hydrolyzed. When unstable helices form in the collagen associated with tendons and bones, such as Type I collagen, severely weak bone formation results10. There are 8 types of OI ranging form type I- VIII. The later being the worst case of it. The severity the condition depends on the specific gene defect. OI is typically hard to generalize as it varies from person to person, even when two people in the same family have the same form of it, the characteristics may be completely different. Symptoms of the condition vary; they may include blue sclera and early hearing loss. Milder forms of OI result in bowed arms and legs, scoliosis and kyphosis11. Currently there arent any cures for the condition. Treatment is directed toward preventing or controlling the symptoms, maximizing independent mobility, and developing optimal bone mass and muscle strength. Various forms of therapy are in place to reduce suffering for individuals with the condition. In extremely severe cases a surgical procedure called rodding is used. This involves inserting metal rods through the length of the long bones to strengthen them and prevent and/or correct deformities12. Research into various medication and other treatments are being explored, some include growth hormones, gene therapy and other multiple types of drugs.

Writing Graduate School Entrance Essays

Writing Graduate School Entrance Essays If you are thinking about applying for graduate school, chances are you once applied (and were admitted) to undergraduate school. That being the case, Im certain you had to compose a personal statement to accompany your undergraduate application. Remember that? Wasnt it fun? No? Well, then youre out of luck. Because you have to repeat the process all over again with graduate school entrance essays. Lets face it: no one likes to write an entrance essay and/or personal statement composition for college admission. In addition to being personally revealing and creatively stifling, the things are just plain difficult to compose. Unfortunately, college admissions boards use these essays to separate the average from the above average applicants. So you might as well make the most of it. Graduate school application essays are, in my opinion, much easier to write than those for undergraduate school because youve already gone through the process once already. Heck, you might even want to locate and dust off your undergraduate statement for inspiration. After all, its not really plagiarism if youre copying from yourself. When writing your graduate school entrance essays, it helps to go easy on yourself. Allow for plenty of time and prepare for some frustration. In the end, your graduate school essay, whether its a nursing essay, a residency statement, or an MBA essay, is going to determine your future. So no pressure.

The Role Of The Financial Analysts In The Financial Sector Essay

The Role Of The Financial Analysts In The Financial Sector - Essay Example They communicate the financial risks involved in the business investments. This paper will discuss the purpose, summary and some of the essential functions of a financial analyst. The financial analyst is an essential profession in the enhancement of financial management in the financial sectors. The financial service industry is competitive in the market and tough to break. Therefore, acquiring the services of a financial analyst can enhance the ability of an investor to venture into the sector with limited risk. The financial analyst niche is, therefore, a core unit in the financial sector as it streamlines the financial performance of an organization. It gives the investor the pros and cons of the undertaking or failing to undertake certain decisions in their operations. Therefore, it serves to enlighten the investors on the most plausible and feasible decisions in their businesses. The financial analyst job is responsible for maintaining order and smooth running of a financial service organization. Rather than venturing into an unknown sector for investors, the financial analysts create awareness of the sector to the investors. They research macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions of a financial institution in order to aid in decision making. The fundamentals of the company require being known for them to provide recommendations for the business, sector and the industry. They recommend the course of action to their bosses such as whether to sell or buy stocks from a company based on its current financial strength. The financial analyst also makes projections of performance by financial institutions hence making it easy to invest in profitable companies. Therefore, the analyst must always be aware of the current developments in the sector of their specialization. This aids in preparing the financial models for predicting the economic conditions in the future for any variables.

Aboriginals and the Fur Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Aboriginals and the Fur Trade - Essay Example After mixing with the invaders an indigenous culture was created. The Canadian aboriginals survived mostly on the fur trade with the Europeans that enabled them to get iron tools like knives to facilitate hunting and household activities. The ‘made beaver’ was the principal used by the aboriginals in trading since they preferred to bargain over prices. Fur trade in Canada led to the establishment of the oldest industry, Hudson Bay industry, as well as economic exploration of Canada which, in a way, exposed the aboriginal’s way of life to the rest of the civilized world. Some interesting accounts have been written about the history of the aboriginals before 1900 which revolve around their way of life, culture, and even administration. Hearn Samuel, in his journey from Wales in Hudson’s bay to the Northern Ocean in search of copper, accompanies us throughout the journey concerning life of the aboriginals in 1769-1774. Samuel Hearne, born in 1745 and died in 1 792, was an explorer and a naturalist. He undertook three journeys in search of copper and a North West passage. In 1969, his guides were aboriginal Indian home-guards. This journey through the Indians’ land with the participation of Indians as guides highlights some aspects of the Indians way of life. Aspects of Indians way of life: Hearn’s journey in the 18th century taught him a lot about adaptation. He had to adapt to the Indians way of life during his journeys in an experiential way. He learnt that travel was only possible by following buffalo’s migration routes and habits since they were the only source of food available. Hearn’s expedition takes us through various aspects of the aboriginal Indians life in North America, describing how they survived with their rudimentary knowledge and technology. The aboriginal Indians could learn the behavior of animals, for example, migration, and this enabled them to travel without fasting since they hunted anim als like buffaloes, caribou and musk-oxen. Lack of fire made the aboriginal Indians' eating raw musk-oxen a habit, also adopted by Samuel Hearn in order to survive during the snow period when making fire was impossible.1 The Indians small canoes could only be used to cross rivers. This made them (and Hearn too) walk for long distances during their traveling. The Indians were very much used to such exercises. During the third journey when they found copper in July 1771, the Indians who were eager to join their waiting wives turned back. They increased their pace, and this made Herne, who was not accustomed to walking such long distances on foot, lose his toe nails. This is one amazing aspect of life that can be found among the aboriginal Indians: they were used to walking long distances and in harsh conditions. The aboriginal Indians who were traders in fur could undertake such juorneys in order to exchange their wares with others, and they had learnt the seasonal movements of animal s which were their sources of food when traveling.2 The aboriginals' ability to survive inland, as highlighted by Hearn, was due to their knowledge of seasonal animal migrations, use of furs as clothing and their ability to withstand harsh conditions, for instance, fasting a lot or eating raw meat. The aboriginals' rudimentary technology and lack of canoes made trade impossible inland3. This made Samuel Hearn advise the London committee to introduce more posts, which were to involve the natives in an extended usage of canoes in order to be able to advance trade inland. The aboriginal Indians were very vital for the success of trade in Europe. Trade had suffered a lot in September 1873 after the arrest of Hearn. The reason for

Appraise the impact of Post-Latham and Egan report initiatives on Essay

Appraise the impact of Post-Latham and Egan report initiatives on procurement pathways and ways of working within the construction industry - Essay Example 1. The government, including public sector organisations such as local authorities and health authorities, should become a best practice client. Clients should remain at the centre of the procurement process and work together to bring value in their projects and promote excellence in design. 4. Although the construction industry is likely to have an output equivalent to approximately 10 per cent of the GDP, the industry’s in-house research and development capital has fallen by 80 per cent since 1981. Investment in research and development is required. 6. In order to achieve 10 per cent annual reduction in construction costs and 20 per cent reduction of defects, radical changes are needed to the processes through which the project develops. These processes need to be explicit and transparent to the industry and its clients. Initially the government (being the sponsoring side) and the key player within the construction industry responded well to both the reports. The drive for change originated from procurement and contractual areas in the UK construction industry. Later years witnessed considerable changes in UK construction industry, which impacted the way projects were managed and reviewed. The construction process at all levels experienced the benefits of collaboration, and ultimately the way of working in the construction industry changed. The main responsible agencies within the government i.e. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and The Office of Government Commerce, along with the key players in construction industry attempted to improve the performance of departments and Contractors. The report ‘Mordenising Construction’ by the Controller and Auditor General (2001) mentions that, government and key players within the construction industry took several steps to implement the key principles highlighted in the reports. These include: 3.

The Roles And Responsibilities Of The Design Team Construction Essay

The Roles And Responsibilities Of The Design Team Construction Essay Interior Designer Interior designers are sometimes used on contracts where the internal finish and dà ©cor is important or of a prestigious nature. Some high-profile house building projects or city-centre apartment conversions have been developers in conjunction with interior designers who can add considerable value to a project. Quantity Surveyor Quantity surveyors accurately determine the amount of materials needed to build the project. They prepare a bill of quantities establishing a record of all the materials needed and identify all the information necessary to draft out a specification of the works. The quantity surveyor can then advise and guide the architect or the client on the cost of the job, check tenders and evaluate any costs as work proceeds. Landscape Architect The landscape architect is sometimes contracted to design the external environment of the project. As with interior design, the landscape can be enhanced by a specialist to improve the completed project. Resident Engineer Resident Engineers are based close to the construction works, on the construction site itself. They report back to the structural engineer and the architect on the matters relating to the structure and the load-bearing components that have been designed by the structural engineer. Structural Engineer Structural Engineers determine the design of loadbearing elements of the building and ensure that each component is designed to safely withstand the loads that are imposed on the building. Structural engineers typically work for the client but are frequently engaged by the architect to inform and supervise the design and installation of structural elements as work proceeds. They work very closely with the architectural technologist and the principal contractor. Building Services Engineer Building services engineers design and implement a range of items into the project that dont improve the resources and the quality of the building. Building services and the effective use of heat, light, acoustics and other electrical appliances have seen significant improvements in recent years and many of these items, such as lifts, escalators, air conditioning and heating and ventilation systems, need to be integrated into the contract drawings at an early stage to avoid conflicts of space or to ensure that the design can accommodate machinery, plant and equipment. Clerk of Works The clerk of works is employed directly by the client, who will want assurance that a contractor is producing a building that meets specification in terms of both materials and workmanship. The clerk of works also reports to the architect on progress of the construction works. Clerks of works do not issue instructions and do not have authority to impose variations or changes to the design but will need to inspect the works as it proceeds and hence need to visit the site frequently. On some larger sites, a clerk of works will have a resident office and spend their entire working time there. Contractor Contractors perform many duties on site and thus they are in the best position to ensure that site activities are carried out safely. Contractors must ensure that subcontractors have information about risks on the site and that all workers and operatives working on the project have adequate training and a suitable induction to site procedures. Task 3 Explain the roles and responsibilities of the production team. (Identify then describe the members of a production team, this is the team that will produce the building from the design) The Production Team Projects Manager Site Manager Quantity Surveyor Site Engineer Task 4 Describe the legal implications that could arise from miscommunication Legal implications that could arise from miscommunication include- In terms of legal position The client is put at the top of any hierarchical chain. However, the client usually tends to place the responsibilities on the architect, the design team and the contractors. To prevent any legal implications, architects are required by law to hold qualifications that show that they completely understand the principles of design and can build a sufficiently strong structure. They must also comply with the legislations such as planning, building regulations and management regulations and the disabled and disabilities act. Furthermore, architects are required to have adequate public liability insurance to protect any third parties from any defects or problems related with their work. Task 5 Changes made are window size have been increased (communicate this to the production team) Write letter to (proof and backup needed, when communication has taken place) Paragraph on the different communications Produce a written communication between design and production team- Write sample letter to product team about change in window size Tell building to leave gaps for the windows (bigger gaps) Who needs to be told? QS Because specification will change Task 6 Describe a modern method of construction look for a sustainable method employing timber or a technological product. Describe what methods and components could be used to construct each type of building- Why is there a need for these different methods and components? Merit Criteria Task 7- Obtain a copy of RIBA current plan of works, how does it work? What are its merits? The benefits of using the RIBA plan of work are that it is easily understood, it is a well-planned, coordinated structured approach. What are all the stages? How will the team members be coordinated to complete the project? RIBA Plan of works Feasibility phase- Inception Feasibility At this stage of the plan, the architect will work closely with the client to determine and prepare the requirements of the building project. Architects will provide clients with an appraisal and recommendation so that they can determine the form in which the project is to proceed, ensuring that it is feasible both in technical and financial terms. Pre-construction phase- Outline proposals Scheme design At this stage, the architect will usually have determined through sketch plans the layout, design and construction in order to obtain approval of the client on the outline proposals and accompanying report. To complete the brief and decide on particular proposals, including planning arrangements and appearance, constructional method, outline specification and cost, the architect will then draft plans and drawings for submission to the local authority to obtain all approvals such as building control and planning consent. Detail design At this stage, the architect will have to obtain final decisions on all matters related to design, specification, construction and cost. BVy creating working drawings and finalising the full designs of every part and component of the building, the architect draws together the construction team. Meetingds of the team will take place to discuss and decide materials, finishings, services, contributions by specialist firms and a range of other matters relating to the finalising of the building. It is important that any changes or modifications to the scheme are noted and accommodated so that everyone can be updated and work from the latest drawings. Changes can be accommodates at this stage, although they may result in increased costs due to the scheme being planned on an early proposal. Production information This part of the plan includes the preparation of product information used in the building, the drafting of bills of quantities, tender documents and project planning materials such as the programme of works showing duration of activities and the time taken to create the building itself. This is a very important stage in the process and particular care must be taken to ensure accuracy of the work involved in drawings and specifications so that the contractors undertaking the building work have all the necessary information to hand to complete the work to the appropriate standard. Drawings require at this stage include a location plan of where the work is found, a layout drawing of the construction site itself and a general arrangement drawing that shows the layout of the work to be done. From these drawings, a series of schedules and specifications will be drafted to provide any necessary additional information. Bills of quantity Specifications are dealt with in more detail later on, but their link with the bills of quantities is important. Bills of quantities are prepared by a quantity surveyor who reads the drawings and determines the quantities and amounts of materials needed to complete the constructions work. Any part of the building that is not yet finalised or has missing information can be allocated a provisional or prime cost so that there is an amount for the work to take place is allocated even when the actual cost or amount to do this work may be finalised some time later. If the architect has not yet appointed a construction contractor or team to complete the works onsite, discussions at this stage will begin to determine an appropriate company or contractor to appoint who is capable of undertaking the work. Tender The idea of tendering is to allow the client an opportunity to present a batch of work or a construction contract to contractors who learn about the complexity, the stages of construction, the limits and the constraints anticipated within the work so that a realistic and accurate price can be calculated by the contractors. The contractors then identify the price of the works and the client chooses the contractor best suited and able to do the work. Frequently, the cheapest tender or quote is selected as this can represent best value for the client. For some work selective tendering may take place, where a architect and quantity surveyor invite contractors that are either known to them or have an established reputation for completing work similar to the one they are working on, to tender. Again, the cheapest quote is most commonly selected in this process. Contractors may be approached so that they tender an interest in the work. Sometimes a pre-tender meeting may be held with contractors and the complexity and the details of the work can be communicated to the contractors so that the contractors, the architect and he client can satisfy themselves that they are all capable of completing the work within the appointed timescale and budget. A letter of invitation to tender can then be issued together with all relevant drawings, specifications and bills the contractors can then visit the site of works and the contractor will determine and cost the project. Tenders are returned to the architect at an agreed date and time. Initial comparison of the tenders received from different contractors takes place by the architect and sometimes this includes the client or their representative. This analysis of the tenders usually results in the lowest priced tender winning the contract and being appointed as the contractor. Construction phase- Project planning This is where the work to produce the building starts on the building itself. Contract documents are prepared and signed. At a project planning meeting, the architect will usually clarify any points undecided at this stage and agree anyfurther contractual points. Contractors draft a programme of works that illustrates the milestones and the total duration of the work. Key milestones include taking possession of the site, dates of the project progress meeting and other key dates that are achieved during the lifetime of the contract. The contractor is expected to sign the contract documents at this stage, which include: A copy of the contract A full set of construction drawings Bills of quantities Specifications A register of drawings Site diary and associated report forms Site operations The site is officially handed over to the contractor who can begin construction-related operations. The site is now the responsibility of the contractor who has to comply with all the legislative requirements and legal constraints. The contractor should be informed of any rights of way, preservation orders, protection requirements and any other environmental issues that need to be considered in terms of the work and the activities on site in the months ahead. the contractor has a duty to ensure the appropriate site supervision of all those involved in activities onsite. a clerk of works will check on behalf of the client and the architect that the contractor is complying and building the project to the appropriate standards of materials and workmanship. samples are taken of various materials, sometimes by a specific request from the architect and other times by established practice in some cases, such as the sampling of concrete which is regularly tested by way of a slump test to ensure workability when it arrives on site, and its strength assessed by testing to destruction samples at regular intervals after the concrete has been placed. brickwork panels are sometimes erected to enable the architect and the client to see what the brickwork will eventually look like. tiles, blocks, panels, etc. may also be subject to a request that the contractor builds a mock-up or sample panel for viewing by the architect and the client so that the quality and the desired finish of the work can be ascertained and ensured. The contractors duties at this stage of the plan are to work diligently on the construction works adhering to all relevant health, safety and welfare legislation. the contractor is also expected to maintain a site diary to record relevant information about the progress of the construction works. typically, a site diary will include information on: weather conditions visitors on site for the period any deliveries of materials to site progress of work to date personnel onsite including subcontractors any comments and notes taken about the work undertaken Discrepancies and any inconsistencies in contract documents. Completion as the building starts to take shape, the contractor may be required to hand over part of the building to the client. the actual date of handover is planned and any outstanding issues relating to the construction works can be determined and a solution found. the period of notice required varies from site to site, but usually adequate notice is required in order to prepare the area and any other supporting documentation. the client should be in a position to accept the building for its proper use so the architect will usually insist on inspecting the area and determining for themselves that the work is to the appropriate standard of materials and workmanship, that all services and equipment are functioning appropriately and effectively and that the as-built record drawings are a true record of the actual building. the building manual which in the case of a simple domestic dwelling or house will be simple could extend to a complex and detailed manual of several volumes for an industrial or more intricate commercial building. a certificate of practical completion can be issued by the architect to the contractor which then enables the contractor to claim monies due for the construction work and address any defects and snags that have arisen so far. at this stage, the contractor has effectively completed the construction stage and has no responsibilities for the insurance of the building or its works. When all defects or amendments or outstanding issues are addressed, the architect will issue a final certificate and the account will be adjusted for variations, subsequent instructions and fluctuations in labour and materials prices and/or costs Feedback the final part of the riba plan is to analyse and evaluate the progress of what was expected with what was actually delivered. architects will need to determine what has happened in order to achieve better performance in the future. typically, an analysis and evaluation could include the following: what does the client think of the completed building? Does the building function effectively? What parts of the design were particularly successful or problematic? Could this design process have been undertaken differently and have provided a better service to the contractor or the client? What relationship and communication existed between the design team and the construction team? How could these be improved in the future? Did the contractor meet all the performance targets in a timely and effective manner? Did the design process run smoothly? If not, why? Was the job profitable and was the contract fulfilled? Why will my company use RIBA and what happens if it is altered or not adhered to. Why the company will use RIBA The riba plan is usually accepted as the most suitable plan, although many other types of plan are acceptable for smaller building projects or for instances where the riba plan may be too inflexible when conditions change frequently. The RIBA plan of work is known for being well planned, coordinated, and known for having a structured approach. Task 8- Compare the methods available for communication, for example, advantages and disadvantages of each. Explain why the contractor must implement these changes Distinction Criteria Task 9 Analyse and discuss in detail the RIBA plan of work in terms of handling a design change after work has started. Evaluate the effectiveness of the plan from design to construction phase and provide examples of the plans flexibility to resolve changes of design quickly. Include how these changes are quantified.

Electric Cars and Air Pollution Essay -- Environment Environmental Tec

The goal of electric vehicles is to reduce air emissions associated with typical internal combustion vehicles (ICVs), thereby decreasing the emission of environmentally damaging products such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Since electric vehicles run on electricity generated from batteries and do not emit air pollutants, these vehicles are termed zero emission vehicles (ZEV). CARB mandated that ZEVs be 2% of the total automotive sales by 1998 and 10% by 2003. The push for ZEVs raises serious concerns about the environmental impacts of ZEVs due to their production and use. Is CARB’s push for ZEVs premature given the present state of battery technology? Will the production of ZEVs lead to unforeseen environmental destruction? Or are ZEVs the answer to our air pollution woes? This paper analyzes the feasibility of electric cars and the impacts of their production on the environment. The components of air pollution have been attributed to a number of serious health and environmental consequences. For example, air pollution can lead to eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as complications in breathing. Some chemicals in air pollution, such as benzene, cause cancer while other chemicals may cause birth defects, brain and nerve damage and long-term injury to the lungs and breathing passages. Not only does air pollution create distinct medical problems, it also creates environmental problems as well. Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide are three examples of gases released into the atmosphere each year as a result of the combustion processes. Billions of pounds of pollutants are released each year from power plants and motor vehicles. These pollutants are causing serious problems for the environment. Motor... ...):10-15 Rahman, S.; de Castro, Arnulfo. 1995. Environmental Impacts of Electricity Generation: A Global Perspective. IEEE Transaction on Energy Conversion. 10(2): 307-312 Renner, R. 1996. Life-cycle analysis stirs continued debate on impact of electric cars. Environmental Science and Technology. 30(1):17A-18A Roque, J. A. 1995. Electric vehicle manufacturing in Southern California: local versus regional environmental hazards. Environment and Planning A. 27(6): 907-932 Savage, J. A. 1994. The Road Warriors: Utilities and Automakers Square Off on Alternative Fuel Vehicles. Business and Society Review. 88:6-8 Tucker, M. 1995. The Shocking State of Electric Car Technology. Business and Society Review. 93:44-47 http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/peg_caa/pegcaa04.html http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/11-vehs.htm http://www.epa.gov/oar/caa/contents.html

Community Medicine: Much More than a Mere Clinical Subject Essay

Abstract: Medical doctors bear a great burden of caring for both the healthy and ill in the society. An avaricious doctor who has thrown basic ethics to the winds is an abomination to the profession. Over the years as knowledge progressed, the art of medicine slowly changed from a â€Å"philosophy† to a â€Å"technology† with emphasis on machines and procedures. There is a danger of a contemporary doctor running amok, treating his patients as diseases and harassing them with the latest technology. The fathers of the medical world after careful thought put together some rules, principles and precepts to help make a modern doctor behave rationally and responsibly. Community Medicine was thus born of a need to help medical professionals strike a balance between man, medicine, society and environment. It is the â€Å"religion† of the medical world! Community Medicine helps us adopt at different times promotive, preventive, curative or rehabilitative roles depending on the need we perceive in the world surrounding us. It may be overwhelming to realize that our understanding of clinical tools(diagnostic or therapeutic; preventive or curative) must be much more than all the specialists put together if we are to do any justice to the common man in his family or community! It may be sobering thought to realize that when medicine finally becomes thoroughly commercial, we will have to play a significant role in moderating our colleagues and the medical industry to ensure that our communities remain healthy. Key words: Community Medicine, philosophy, religion, clinical subject Dr. Samson Sanjeeva Rao Nallapu, Associate Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, NRI Medical College, Guntur District, AP State, India Man is made in God’s image and is essentially good. However due to the various stressors of every day life, man tends to stray from being good. His socio-economic position, expectations of life, experiences in life and desires etc. make him behave anywhere between â€Å"not so good† to down right evil†; from â€Å"not so satisfied† to â€Å"immoral†, â€Å"covetous† â€Å"greedy† and â€Å" self-indulgent†. To overcome this we have religion. All religions fundamentally advise man to be contented and moral in his relatively short span of life. Every religion propagates a set of laws which help man choose between good and evil. They show men a way to live in harmony with his neighbor and his environment. Religion also promises man eternal life and riches in the hereafter as awards for a life spent being and doing good. By now, if you are still reading, you may wonder where I am heading. Well. This simple analogy can be applied to o ur subject i.e. Community Medicine and the medical world at large. Medical doctors bear a great burden of caring for both the healthy and ill in the society. Doctors have to be exemplary people teaching their patients to lead healthy lives and helping them to overcome illnesses. Doctors therefore have to lead lives of moderation, always willing to help those in need and ready to give necessary advice. The grateful community in turn respects and even deifies their doctors. A greedy, money grabbing doctor who has thrown basic ethics to the winds is an abomination to the profession. The same applies to a doctor who is only interested in the curative aspect of disease due to the pecuniary benefits it fetches him. Over the years as knowledge progressed, the art of medicine slowly changed from a â€Å"philosophy† to a â€Å"technology† with emphasis on machines and procedures. The precepts of medicine which are nothing but what we read today as principles of Community Medicine, are slowly becoming irrelevant and obsolete to today’s pr actitioner. There is a danger of a contemporary doctor running amok, treating his patients as diseases and harassing them with the latest technology which is his ammunition. The fathers of the medical world after careful thought put together some rules, principles and precepts to help make a modern doctor and the learned people in the community behave rationally and responsibly with regard to health and healthcare. So there we have it. Community Medicine was born thus and it is the â€Å"religion† of the medical world! As all religions go, however, some believe and many do not; some accept it and many do not. Many even revile it and belittle it. Religion is all encompassing to the believer but terribly boring to the skeptic. Therefore we find ourselves defending our religion, trying to propagate it, searching for converts and disciples. We are dealing with the truth, but circumstances and the state of affairs hinder people from recognizing the truth. So here we are today, all of us in the profession of medicine, basic doctors first and only then specialists. Community Medicine puts things in perspective. Our field talks of comprehensiveness, inclusiveness and wholesomeness. We can neither divide the body from the mind nor man from his society, his culture and his environment. We as priests of this medical religion are compelled to uncompromisingly put forth our thoughts and ideas to the world at large and especially to our hospital colleagues and others. As teachers of the subject we cannot undermine our role in shaping the young minds entrusted to us. It is a great opportunity to help these young ones to look at medicine again as a philosophy and not purely as a technology. Looking at it from this angle we realize that Community Medicine is much more than a clinical subject. It may be promotive, preventive, curative or rehabilitative roles that we adopt at different times depending on the need we perceive in the world surroundin g us. We have to however keep in mind that all these approaches carry equal weight when evaluating the bigger picture. Yes! We are clinicians! But it is just one facet of our function. We need to be clinicians because that makes us better health educators, better preventive medicine practitioners and better rehabilitators not just for our patients but their families and even their communities. It may be overwhelming to realize that our understanding of clinical tools(diagnostic or therapeutic; preventive or curative) must be much more than all the specialists put together if we are to do any justice to the common man in his family or community! From a practical point of view, as we can think comprehensively and are rooted in reality, understanding the patient in a complete way, we can help the narrowly thinking curative specialist in our hospitals to effectively counsel his patient. (The above specialist came into being because we failed to convert him when he was our student). We can strive towards empowering our colleagues to inculcate promotive and preventive aspects into their practices. If they show reluctance, we can do it ourselves; mainly to help them see that it works and their patients will be more satisfied and self reliant. However our ultimate goal has to be the transfer of responsibility back to their shoulders. If we hold on, we will again be the cause of separating medicine into unwholesome sections. We need to remember that only a small proportion of people suffering with diseases come to the hospitals. The rest are out there undiagnosed, uncared for and untutored. Again if our approach is to â€Å"keep people healthy† and not â€Å"cure people with disease†, the community is where we have to be. To reach out to the masses we need to first go out to where they live and use all our skills – communicational , diagnostic, curative, persuasive etc. to empower them . In this process we may draw on health care facilities at different levels, primary, secondary, tertiary etc. or even the grass root level people like the Village Health Guide, the trained Dai or the ASHA. Just like a surgeon can teach a student, practical and functional anatomy better than an anatomist, we can teach our students better because of not only our clinical assessment and skills but also our comprehensive knowledge of the patient. In the debate whether we are clinicians or not, there is no doubt at all. We are more than clinicians. We are the glue that puts the various aspects of medicine together. We keep hearing that there is a stigma attached to Community Medicine. We hear complaints that other specialties do not respect us. In today’s world, we feel that a person becomes the temple priest because he was not good for anything else. People become priests for various reasons, one being the desire to show others the way to heaven. It depends on the priest to show his knowledge, understanding and ways to gain the respect of the devotees. Similarly we need to find appropriate spaces; be it the hospital or the community to showcase our substance. First and foremost we should stop putting ourselves down. It may be sobering thought to realize that when medicine finally becomes thoroughly commercial, we will have to play a significant role in moderating our colleagues and the medical industry to ensure that our communities remain healthy. Simply put, we hold the key to the future of medicine in our country.

Birthcontrol 66 essays

Birthcontrol 66 essays Females have battled society for womens rights for centuries. Any right that women have wanted, they have had to fight for. There have been many great women who have dedicated their whole life to fight for a womens cause. Helen Hunt Jackson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Margaret Sanger are all honorable women of history making great contributions. Women have overcome many struggles such as, the right to vote in elections, equal opportunity in the work force, and even the control over their own bodies. By this control I mean the right to decide when or when not to bring a child into this world. Until 1914, American women had not received any knowledge about the prevention of pregnancy, or even sex education. Many wives would stay pregnant throughout their entire life, having up to fifteen children or more. Health was also a major concern, womens bodies gradually got weaker after having so many children. In a time period when sex was not spoken or heard about, a woman pioneer, Margaret Sanger, jumped in and introduced the idea of birth control, and in 1921 she founded the American Birth Control League. Sangers quest began long before the public knew her. It started when she was just a young girl. A free thinker, and outspoken radical, her father, Michael Higgins, influenced his young daughter to act the same way; question everything and stand up for what she believed in. Sangers mother, Anna, bore ten children other than Margaret, causing her to be both constantly pregnant and constantly sick, leaving little time for her children. She died at an early age to tuberculosis, which Sanger attributed to her multiple pregnancies. It was after this that Sanger decided to start helping pregnant women. She worked as a nurse in New York and became all too familiar with some horrible sights. She saw many women die of very preventable deaths due to child labor and horrible methods...

Organization and Key Performance Indicators Greenpeace

Organization and Key Performance Indicators Greenpeace Greenpeace is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that focuses on global environmental issues. The NGO uses â€Å"none combative approaches and creative confrontations in its quests for green solutions and a peaceful future† (source: https://www.greenpeace.org/international/). Greenpeace strives at ensuring that the â€Å"Earth nurtures life in all its diversities† (source: https://www.greenpeace.org/international/).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Organization and Key Performance Indicators: Greenpeace specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As such, it aims at protecting biodiversity in all its forms, prevent pollution and abuses of the Earth’s natural resources, eliminate all nuclear threats, and enhance peace, global disarmament, and non-violence. Greenpeace Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) relate to areas of Human Resources (HR), communications, and volunteer relations. In the HR department, KPI s include compensation, rewards, and benefit plans, recruitment, employee orientation, administrative tasks, employee relations, and level of engagement or satisfaction among employees and volunteers. Administrative duties including managing personnel files, update organizational charts, participation in employee meetings, review employees’ information for wrongful entries. Recruitment indicators covers areas of finding qualified staff, application forms have correct details, accurate posting of vacancies, and recruits go through all areas of pre-employment procedures. Employee orientation includes arrange for orientation trainings, educate new hires on organizational culture, and get information regarding wages, benefits, rewards, and payroll. KPIs also include induction and signing of codes of conduct, and monitoring of acceptable trainings.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF L earn More Compensation KPIs entail processing of payroll with no mistakes, check areas of overtime, account for paid leave days, and analyses of vacation benefits. In addition, there is also demonstration of knowledge of the organizational compensation policy, and motivational aims. Employees and volunteer relations cover areas of promotion of teamwork, management of conflict, responses from the HR department regarding queries, and both employees and volunteers willing to demonstrate a sense of cooperation and retention. In the area of volunteer relations, KPIs cover office assistances, hours of inputs in campaigns, number of copies translated from English to French, the number of volunteers involved in fundraising, campaigns, and volunteers that have completed their schedules successfully. Communication department KPIs includes public relations, advertisement, promotion, and e-promotions. SMART Goals for the Organization and the chosen departments We begin by identification of goals that are crucial for the success of the organization. Goals reflect the desired outcome Greenpeace wants to accomplish or achieve in the future. These goals are tactical in nature as they define short-term aims from specific organizational departments. They aim at motivating the staff and increase the level of commitment, offer guidance, and provide a platform for monitoring and measuring performance (Barton, 2000). Goal definition within an organization provides opportunities for conceptualization the way forward for the organization. Consequently, it enables responsible departments to develop and master the future direction of the organization. This is a means of assuring stakeholders that the organization will achieve its mission within a specific period. Scholars recommend that goals should meet some defined criteria that those responsible for their monitoring and measurement can use to gauge such goals (Barton, 2000). Most organizations have adopted the SMART approach to define and evaluate their goals. Goals must identify the mission and stakeholders of the organization. SMART goals help the organization identify appropriate KPIs for measuring achievements towards such goals. Identification of SMART goals in the organization helps the organization defines a path of serving its mission and creating value to various stakeholders involved. KPIs usually monitor and measure the organizational SMART goals identified in any department (Davis, 2009). In this context, the goals must demonstrate certain characteristics such as specific, quantifiable, attainable, reasonable, and timely.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Organization and Key Performance Indicators: Greenpeace specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, we must apply SMART principle to any goal that relates to KPIs. We shall have SMART goals for the organization in HR, communications, and employees and volunteer engagement and sat isfaction rate. At the same time, there shall be three KPIs for the goals that we seek to improve. These goals take into account impacts of KPIs on every indicator, and abilities of both employees and volunteers to execute them successfully. Therefore, the organization has full control over the goals. In the HR department, we seek to look at HR department response to queries from employees and volunteers. We have noticed that the HR department takes longer than usually to respond to both volunteers and employees’ queries. Thus, we have identified SMART goal to monitor and measure performance for improvement purposes. We seek to increase the rate of responding to queries by the HR department from 72 hours to 24 hours between June 2012 and December 2012. This represents a 33 percent increment in the rate of response. In employee and volunteer engagement, we seek to know the overall level of both employees’ and volunteers’ satisfaction and engagement with the organ izational work aspect of eliminating nuclear threats. Thus, the goal is to enhance the level of both employees’ and volunteers’ engagement in work aspect of eliminating nuclear threats from the current 10 percent to 25 percent by the end of the year 2012. This represents a 15 percent increment in six months. Greenpeace work aspects depend on communication. Thus, setting goals for communication is fundamental for success of the organizational mission. The goal is to enhance the use of social, and trendy media platform for campaigns in promoting the green future from the current 40 percent to 70 percent by the end of the year 2012. This reflects an increase of 30 percent in a period of six months. Increased Accountability Explanation of how Smart goals will enhance performance, transparency, and accountability including supporting strategies that demonstrate how to reach the goal The primary aims of organizational goals are to motivate employees and volunteers. Thus, goa ls should demonstrate ambition but not serve the purpose of demoralization. Goals for measuring performance must show elements of action e.g. increase, and highlight areas of time lines, rating, and quantities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These goals are relevant to departments and are specific in terms of areas of focus. This approach attempts to align goals with specific departments and in turn the organizational mission. For instance, Greenpeace aims at increasing the level of employees and volunteers’ involvement in achieving the goal of eliminating threats of nuclear activities by 15 percent within six months. Time and end periods enable employees and volunteers to know when they should achieve their goals. Thus, employees and volunteers no longer see such goals as suggestions but real. The department should measure goals and performance using job appraisal processes. The specific nature of goals enables easy evaluation of the achievements against set targets. Studies show that a yearly performance review tends to have low levels of effectiveness due to longer durations. This explains why we set Greenpeace goals within six months. This reduces possibilities of referring to goals when appraisal period appr oaches. Short-term goals enable employees and volunteers focus on their activities of the day and avoid distraction to achieve both individual and departmental goals. Goals also promote accountability and engage employees and volunteers in productive activities for the organization. Greenpeace goals are SMART. This is one approach of enhancing accountability in measurement and performance. Employees and volunteers must set SMART goals for their respective departments. The department must capture all SMART elements in every goal that it aims to measure. Departments must identify specific areas such as time, quantities, rates, and names of indicators so as to reduce complexities associated with defining goals. In fact, employees, departmental heads, and volunteers should give the name of the goal, its detailed description, milestones, means of gauging outcomes, commencing date, and date when it is due. The department must set priorities for attainment of its goals. In cases where ther e are competing priorities, the department must identify the most crucial goal for its success. Consequently, it must focus its resources and effort in order to attain such goals. For instance, Greenpeace communication department must prioritize popular and emerging social media so that it can reach that segment of populations instead of relying on print communications. Both employees and volunteers must comprehend the value of each goal and levels of competency they require. Prioritization enhances decision-making in cases of scarce resources. The department should also create a means of reminding employees and volunteers about goals and their components such as due dates and milestones achieved and gaps. This improves transparency and accountability. SMART goals tend to align both the workforce and organizational goals in order to achieve organizational mission. Most studies have demonstrated that, employees who understand how their daily inputs contribute to the overall mission o f the organization are more accountable than their counterparts who lack such knowledge. Therefore, for improved performance, accountability, and transparency, employees and volunteers must understand that their individual contributions do matter to the organization. The department should communicate to its workforce through setting goals at slightly higher levels and then distribute the targets to the workforce. The idea of distribution enables every staff conceptualizes how an individuals efforts are necessary for Greenpeace to achieve its overall goals. It also enables every staff track his or her achievements and current status. This enhances a sense of accountability in the department. Accountability, transparency, and performance go together. People tend to perform tasks best when there is a supervisor or when they can easily identify effects of their contributions in an organization. Therefore, the department should provide tools to enable its workforce monitor and communicat e their progress. The organization can implement technological innovation that can assist employees monitor their progress through employees’ portal or in the organizational intranet. Such applications provide summaries of what an individual should deliver, time, and the gaps left. This provides opportunities for employees and volunteers to keep their team leaders up-to-date with their performance statuses. Managers can have unlimited access to their direct reports performances. At the same time, the executives can also access such reports and can also send their feedback to individuals who directly contribute to organizational goals. Such levels of monitoring enhance accountability, transparency and improve performance among employees. Likewise, the management can redirect resource to areas that need attention so as to enable everyone account for their performances. How the planning process and establishment of SMART goals and increased accountability among employees will le ad to a better employee (and volunteer) retention and increased employee morale Performance management using SMART goals to enhance both employees and volunteers morale and retention is not an easy task. Thus, several skills and training are necessary among departmental managers. Training is necessary to enable managers feel confident about tasks before them. This is useful in cases where some management team may be newly promoted. According to MacMillan, managers must â€Å"understand human behavior, how to motivate, how to develop, provide coaching, and handle conflict† (MacMillan, 2012). Managers play significant roles in observing and managing the prevailing circumstances, offer motivation, and manage issues that may interfere with implementation of SMART goals. Enhancing morale and motivation implies that managers must understand individual differences of the workforce such as abilities, experiences, and support needed. Thus, preparing managers for planning, implementati on of SMART goals, evaluation, and provisions of feedback will lead to goal achievements, employee motivation, and retention. The organization should also link â€Å"SMART goals, performance with rewards and recognition† (MacMillan, 2012). Performance management should be fair, transparent, and equitable so that employees can believe in the process. Rewards, benefits, and compensation should be consistent throughout the organization. Consistency ensures that there is transparency and accountability and in turn enhances employees’ satisfaction with the goals and job. Organizations that link their â€Å"compensation procedures with performance must be critical of this issue† (MacMillan, 2012). The organization should have consistent and fair compensation policy across all departments. Thus, any deviation may lead to dissatisfaction and reduced morale and motivation among employees. How the overall plan will better enable the organization to fulfill its mission A b etter implementation of SMART goals for achieving Greenpeace mission of green and peaceful future starts with performance planning. SMART goals are the basis for performance planning. SMART goals have actionable plan that will guide both employees and volunteers work towards achievements of the organization overall mission. Achieving the mission through SMART goals should be a collaborative process among management teams, employees, and volunteers. Every target element must have a clear description and realistic expectation. Planning processes must identify both long-term and short goals that work towards achievement of organizational mission. At the same time, there should be clear implementation strategy on how each department shall attain its objectives. Every department must prioritize its goals. There should also be a clear and detailed method of evaluation. Greenpeace must also identify factors that may hinder it from achieving its SMART goals. Organization should offer traini ng, motivation, and mentoring to overcome any issues that concern employees or volunteers such as behavior, attitude, skills, or knowledge. The departments must carry out regular monitoring, assessment, and solve issues that may hinder SMART goals for achieving organization mission. There can also be changes in direction, reallocation of resources, and training during implementation stages. Communications and feedback are crucial during these stages so as to enhance continuous improvement of the team. Mission aim should be an ongoing process in the organization. Processes of planning, setting SMART goals, performance planning, monitoring, feedback, and continuous training are mandatory for achieving the mission of the organization. These processes also provide opportunities for the organization to identify any gaps that may affect progresses. There should be full participation of all members of the organization so that teamwork can deliver the mission. References Barton, R. (2000). Organizational Goal Setting and Planning. Murray, KY: Murray State University. Davis, J. (2009). Managing and Achieving Organizational Goals. New York, NY: American Management Association. MacMillan, A. (2012). Importance of Performance Management Process Best Practices To Optimize Monitoring Performance Work Reviews/Feedback and Goal Management. Raising the Bar on Performance Management Process, 1, 1- 6.

How can international students' English level affect their use of Essay

How can international students' English level affect their use of social media in the process of choosing universities - Essay Example The researcher used both the questionnaires and oral interview methods to adequately collect primary data from the respondents. A section of the questionnaires was emailed to the respondents and others were administered directly by the researcher. The questionnaires incorporated the use of both the closed and open ended questions. The open ended questions are significant in a research study for they give the respondent a room to respond to give more information left out by the researcher when he or she was designing the questionnaire (Reja et.al, 2003, p. 160-167). The questionnaires used a five Likert scale with items; strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree or disagree, agree and strongly agree. Before the interviews were conducted and before the questionnaires were sent to the sample population, the researcher sought permission from the respective university managements to authorize him to collect data from the sample population. A pilot study was conducted by the researcher prior the administration of the questionnaires on at least 5 respondents. This was to test for the validity and reliability of the questionnaires that were used in the study. According to Ceswell et.al (2010, p. 32), 10 percent of the sample is to constitute the pilot test or the pilot study-rule of thumb. Also, there were no ethical concerns raised by the respondents both in the time of conducting the interviews and filling in of the questionnaires. Further, the participation of the respondents in the study was plainly voluntary. No respondent was forced to participate in the study at any circumstance. Although both the target and the sample populations incorporated UK and non UK students, the research study was mainly targeting the international university students pursuing studies in the UK. This is because these students have a better understanding of the researcher’s

Why did castles play such a key role both in the implementation of Essay

Why did castles play such a key role both in the implementation of rebellion by nobles and in its suppression by rulers between 1066 and 1224 - Essay Example They illustrate a key part of British history, particularly those that date from the early part of the Norman era and William the Conqueror’s rule as they are part of an era of political dissent and distrust of the crown. The rebellion of nobles against the crown, as exemplified by the Revolt of the Earls in 1075 and other acts of dissent, played a crucial role in the need for these castles, particularly as many were used to supress such uprisings. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role that castles played in the rebellions and their suppression, and the reason why they played such a crucial role in these events of history. It will also highlight the political importance of castles and their role in times of crisis, particularly with respect to who held control of these dominant buildings. In doing this, it will become clear why the Norman era is so inextricably linked with the huge surge in the number of castles that dominate the British landscape and why so many of these elements of history can be found still standing today. The first true British castles began to be built upon the Norman invasion of 1066 by William the Conqueror1.... As previously mentioned, the Norman invasion of England was not taken lightly by the aristocracy that already resided in the area, and William the Conqueror’s rule was marred by uprisings and rebellion by nobles, a hint at the struggles for political power to come in the next two centuries. One of the most significant struggles for power is known as the Revolt of the Earls, and occurred in 1075. Ralph de Gael, the Earl of Norfolk, and Roger de Breteuil, the Earl of Hereford, began to conspire to overthrow William as the King of England due to a number of conflicts, one involving the sanctioning of a marriage agreement4. Norwich Castle, one of the most important examples of Norman castle building efforts, was the site of Ralph’s efforts to remain protected during the rebellion, and for many months was successful in evading Norman involvement. However, Ralph returned to his native Brittany, leaving the castle in control of his wife, whereupon it became besieged and used f or protection of the Norman troops5. This early event in castle history shows how useful castles were to both uprising nobles and the reigning Norman leaders of the era, as the structures change political ownership as a reflection of power in the region6. Many English castles during the reign of William the Conqueror and subsequent kings were under the control of the reigning leader (royal castles) whilst the remainder were controlled by the aristocracy. This kind of conflicting control was not to stay static during the era, but a series of relocations of ownership through friendly and unfriendly requests was to occur.7 The castles themselves were additionally important because they were not simply standalone property, but