Cognitive Approaches in Psychology

Using Empirical Research Evidence, Explain the Effects

Utilizing exact research proof, clarify the impacts of one synapse on human conduct. Synapses are synthetic dispatchers, which impart signs and convey data through neurons (nerve cells), cells, our minds and our bodies. Synapses are discharged and travel through terminals in the mind until they arrive at specific receptors. Synapses and their capacities are found and done in various segments of the mind. It utilizes synapses to make your body do certain capacities, for example, making your heart beat and your lungs breathe.Scientists don't know of what number of synapses really exist, however they can be arranged into two fundamental various sorts. These are called exitatory synapses and inhibitory synapses. Exitatory synapses animate various pieces of the mind. Three wellknown sorts of exitatory synapses are dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine. Inhibitory synapses quiet the mind and make balance. Three distinct sorts of inhibitory synapses are serotonin, gaba and dopamine.Although dopamine was at that point referenced as an exitatory synapse, it is unique since it is viewed as both exitatory and inhibitory. Dopamine influences the 5 diverse dopamine receptors: dopamine 1 (D1), dopamine 2 (D2), dopamine 3 (D3), dopamine 4 (D4) and dopamine 5 (D5), and assists with controlling pieces of the mind that respond to joy and prize. It helps the cerebrum not exclusively to see rewards, yet to spur an individual to acquire those prizes, or if nothing else attempt to move towards them. It additionally assists with inspiring people to play out the activities once more, to obtain the equivalent rewards.This includes exercises, for example, eating, sex, and other such exercises that make a surge of adrenaline. Alongside that, dopamine likewise encourages the body to move and have passionate reactions to specific articles or circumstances. An absence of the dopamine synapse can have various negative impacts, one principle sickness being Parkinson's illness. Likewise, indiv iduals that are low in or ailing in dopamine action are bound to have addictions or gotten synthetic ward. At the point when dopamine isn't created accurately in the frontal projection of the cerebrum, consideration, center, memory and the capacity to investigate would all be able to be contrarily effected.The dopamine synapse can likewise impact individuals socially. Studies have demonstrated that tension in social circumstances and an absence of dopamine 2 receptors can all the time be connected, likewise, individuals with bipolar turmoil are given medications known as ‘anti-psychotics', which square dopamine, in a plan to lessen madness. An examination was done on May the second and was distributed in the Journal of Neuroscience. The researchers that took a shot at the investigation incorporated a group of Vanderbilt University researchers, medication understudy Michael Treadway and teacher of brain science, David Zald.The point of the examination, was to test whether drive n and persevering ‘go getters' in the working environment, who were willing and ready to make a solid effort to get the prize they need, had an alternate degree of dopamine discharge in the cerebrum (or certain pieces of the mind), than laborers that would in general leeway off more and were less ready to move in the direction of acquiring a prize. The group of researchers utilized a Positron emanation tomography (or PET output), which is a clinical imaging strategy, used to create 3D pictures of capacities occurring in the cerebrum, and different pieces of the body.The researchers found that the driven specialists, progressing in the direction of a prize, had a bigger arrival of the dopamine synapse in the pieces of the mind that, contemplates have appeared, are connected to inspiration and acquiring reward. These pieces of the mind are known as the striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In addition to the fact that they found out this, yet they likewise revealed th at less inspired individuals in the working environment had a high arrival of dopamine additionally, yet in a totally unique piece of the mind. This dopamine discharge was going on in the foremost insula of the mind, which is the area that is connected to feeling and hazard perception.Many various sorts of studies have demonstrated that dopamine influences following prizes, and inspiration in the cerebrum, however the claim to fame of this specific examination is that it demonstrates that dopamine isn't just connected to awards in hardworkers, yet in addition can be connected to feelings and hazard observation in less aggressive laborers. This observational research concentrate unmistakably shows that dopamine has an effect on human conduct by affecting the aspiration, or absence of it, in the working environment with regards to moving in the direction of arriving at an objective and getting a specific prize.

Thoreaus On Walking

Thoreaus On Walking Im reading Henry David Thoreaus essay On Walking right now. Literally right now between sips of a really excellent cappuccino in a coffee shop that excels in modern barn chic. The baristas look like farm girls. If I said aloud, Farm boy! Fetch me that pitcher! from the movie A Princess Bride, somebody would step to it, and say, We only have cream from grass-fed cows, is that okay? Thoreau would be appalled of course. He was discouraged by the harriedness of the early 19th century. Us moderns with our even greater speed, gadgetry, lack of stillness, and collective Nature deficit would make his Walden-writing pen ache. For every walk is a sort of crusade, Thoreau says in On Walking. Its hard to feel resonance; our only walk today might be from the car door to the coffee shop door, as minutes ago mine was, in the frenzied pursuit of caffeine. How bananas are we? Still. I have started a habit of walking on the cross country trails near my house. It started out as a physician-recommended perimenopausal anxiety reducer, but has become dare I say it? Thoreauian. Walking, I feel part and parcel with Nature as Thoreau said. Nature has a place for the wild clematis as well as for the cabbage, Thoreau said. And it has a place for me, and you. This is the beauty of Thoreaus Nature: we come from it, we belong to it despite our clutching for pour-overs and iPads, we are natural as gazelles. On Walking is changing the way I put one foot in front of the other. A non-fiction essay! Good old Henry David! When people ask me, What have you been doing all morning? because they think Ive been indolent, I say, Walking, and I dont add explanation or excuse because neither do the deer. _________________________ Sign up for our newsletter to have the best of Book Riot delivered straight to your inbox every two weeks. No spam. We promise. To keep up with Book Riot on a daily basis, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, , and subscribe to the Book Riot podcast in iTunes or via RSS. So much bookish goodnessall day, every day. Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles.

How to Search for Patents by Inventors Name

The Rich Diversity of Meanings of the Pardoners Tale Essay

The Rich Diversity of Meanings of the Pardoners Tale Chaucer’s innovation in the Pardoner’s performance tests our concept of dramatic irony by suggesting information regarding the Pardoner’s sexuality, gender identity, and spirituality, major categories in the politics of identity, without confirming that information. Our presumed understanding of the Pardoner as a character lacks substantiation. As we learn about the Pardoner through the narrator’s eyes and ears, we look to fit the noble ecclesiaste (l. 708) into the figure shaped by our own prejudices and perceptions, as any active reader must do. But the Pardoner, ever aware of his audience, does not offer clear clues to his personality. This break between what the other†¦show more content†¦What exactly do we now about the Pardoner? Much of our understanding of him as a literary human being rests on several key descriptive statements in the text, most about his appearance. They fail, however, to paint as full a portrait as we would like, but the se descriptions amount to a generally negative picture. The General Prologue offers a first impression of the Pardoner which has affected his interpreted characterization to this day. The narrator, having met with each of the pilgrims and learned something of their characters, offers a portrait of each of them before the tales begin. In his description of the Pardoner, the narrator notes his traveling companion, his most prominent physical features (including his questionable sexuality), his newe jet fashion (l. 682), his relics, and his professional status. One focus of much criticism of the past fifty years has been the Pardoner’s sexuality/gender identity. The narrator explicitly uses animal imagery in his portrait of the Pardoner, comparing him to a hare (l. 684), a goot (l. 688), and a geldying or a mare (l. 691), suggesting that the Pardoner is something subhuman (Faulkner 4). These animals were also figuratively indicative of sexual abnormality in medieval times.

A Poet Portfolio of James Joyce Free Essays

James Augustine Joyce was born on the 2nd of February 1882 to a couple in Dublin. Two of his ten siblings died young from typhoid. As a boy, James studied at a boarding school in County Kildare. We will write a custom essay sample on A Poet Portfolio of James Joyce or any similar topic only for you Order Now When his father could no longer pay the fees, the young Joyce transferred to a Christian Brothers school. However, Joyce rejected Catholicism in 1898 although philosophies of St. Thomas Aquinas became a strong influence in him even after he had left the brothers (Bradley 23). He studied modern languages at the University College Dublin in 1898. His first published work was a review of Ibsen’s New Drama in 1900 which resulted in a letter of thanks from the Norwegian dramatist himself (Ellmann 13). Joyce left for Paris immediately after graduating. Unfortunately, he ended up squandering what little fortune his family still had. He returned to Ireland shortly after only to witness the final days of his mother who died of cancer in August 13, 1903. James resorted to heavy drinking after his mothers death, at the same time trying to make a meager living out of reviewing books, teaching and singing (Ellmann 15). In 1904, he met a young woman from Connemara by the name of Nora Barnacle who worked as a chambermaid who later on became his wife. The couple moved from Dublin and James experienced a great deal of trouble in finding work (Ellmann 16). James’ two major contributions to poetry are the books Chamber Music which is his first full length collection composed of 36 short lyrics published in 1907 and Pomes Penyeach which was published in twenty years later. (Ellmann 25) James’ works have been highly scrutinized by several well known personalities in their own right such as Mà ¡irtà ­n Ó Cadhain, Jorge Luis Borges, Flann O’Brien, and Samuel Beckett. He died on the 11th of January 1941 following complications after surgery for a perforated ulcer. James Joyce’s life is annually celebrated as Bloomsday every June 16 in Dublin and in other cities around the world. (Ellmann 20) How to cite A Poet Portfolio of James Joyce, Papers

Toxic Leadership Problems

The first trait observed in toxic leaders is that they are patronizing or autocratic. In other words, once they say something they are not questioned. Their words are final and they do not allow other people to voice their contribution.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Toxic Leadership Problems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The second trait characteristic of these leaders is arrogance. They perceive themselves as superior to all other people; hence they never identify their weaknesses. Their third trait is that they are insensitive. This implies that they are not concerned about the welfare of others and only think of themselves while their fourth trait is that they are narcist in that they do not value the organization, its mission and the employees . The overall effect of toxic leadership on the organization and the team is low productivity and demoralized employees. The productivity goes down because th e organization is not the greatest concern of toxic leaders since they are concerned with their own issues. Due to their insensitive nature, they fail to address the concerns of the team hence employees end up in disappointments and a feeling of demoralization. This amounts to a decline in productivity and positive spirit among the employees. Toxic leadership is still prevalent today. In some organizations, there are still leaders who are so rigid such that they do not accept the ideas of other employees. They only think that what they say or do is the right thing and anybody else should follow them. Such leaders are also insensitive and arrogant since they never show interest in the issues that affect other employees. Most of them think that they lead in the right way but these are characters typical of toxic leaders.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The first cause of toxic leadership is the desire by leaders to earn personal gains or benefits at the expense of others. Toxic leaders only strive to benefit themselves. The second root cause of toxic leadership is lack of leadership skills since some of the toxic leaders never realize that they do not have leadership skills while the third cause is that there are some leaders who naturally take pride in the suffering of other people. The leader plays an important role in creating the vision and strategic direction for an organization. Firstly, he/she ensures that the people he/she leads fully understand where an organization should be after a certain period of time. He/she also supervises the rest of the employees to ensure that everything is on course. In addition, a leader meets the employees regularly to evaluate and assess the progress. There is a close link between vision and change in organizations. Vision is where an organization wants to be after a certain period of time. In order for it to be achieved, an organization must carry out changes that steer it towards its achievement. For example, if there are policies that deter employees from executing duties that are crucial towards attainment of the vision, it is important to initiate changes. Leaders are the key people who determine whether the vision is to be achieved or not (How to Deal with a Toxic Leader, n.d). Communicating the vision to other employees enables them to gain enough knowledge of what the organization seeks to achieve.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Toxic Leadership Problems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For the employees to embrace it fully, leaders must own it and make it part of their lives. They should be passionate about it and make reference to it every time. This inspires the rest of the employees to work towards its achievement. In my organization, vision is created by analyzing the core values of the organizatio n and its mission. What the organization does is what sets its vision and strategic direction. The vision is linked to strategic direction in that every move the organization makes is informed by the vision. The link is made effective through the efforts of all employees who strive to ensure that the vision is realized. They are also fully supported by the management. References How to Deal with a Toxic Leader. (n.d). Web. Ortiz, C. (2004). Ten Signs of an Incompetent Leader. Web. This assessment on Toxic Leadership Problems was written and submitted by user Jenny Andrews 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.

Critical Analysis of Mass Spectrometry The WritePass Journal

Critical Analysis of Mass Spectrometry Introduction Critical Analysis of Mass Spectrometry Introduction1. Background:2. Methods of Ionization:3. Mass Analysers:4. The Mass Spectra:5. Mass Spectrometry in Synergy with other Techniques:6. Advances in Mass Spectrometry Instruments and their Limitations:7. The Future of Mass Spectrometry:References:Related Introduction 1. Background: The analytical technique that I have chosen to give an in-depth analysis of is Mass Spectrometry (MS) This analytical technique is basically the study of ionised molecules in the gaseous phase; its main use is in the determination of the molecular weight of the molecule in the sample under investigation by accelerating ions in a vacuum environment. While this analytical technique has been around for over one hundred years there are significant advances being made to this technique in order to cater for more adverse samples which will be discussed in more detail later on. The main difference between mass spectrometry and other spectroscopy methods such as NMR is that it not dependant on transitions between energy states which may be responsible for its popularity. The diagram shown below (Figure 1.1.) [1] shows a simple diagram of a common mass spectrometer using electron ionization:    Figure 1.1 represents a schematic diagram of an electron ionization-mass spectrometer showing the various processes involved. Courtesy of www.molecularstation.com. In its simplest form the process of determining the molecular weight of the sample typically occur over four main stages which are: Sample volatilisation, Ionisation, Separation and detection. Sample volatilisation: The sample to be analysed if gaseous or volatile can be readily inserted into the mass spectrometer with the more solid samples requiring heating before insertation in order to construct a more volatile or gaseous sample. As can be seen form the above figure the sample is then moved further down the spectrometer towards the area where ionization of the molecules occurs.   Ionization: The sample is then hit with a barrage of high energy electrons from an electron gun with a charge of around 70 electron volts (eV). When the molecules collide with the high energy electron beam energy is transferred from the beam to the molecules which cause an acceleration of the molecules. These molecules may then dump an electron forming cation known as the molecular ion (M+) [2]. This interchange is represented in the equation below (Figure 1.2.): M  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   +  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   e  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   M+  Ã‚  Ã‚   +  Ã‚  Ã‚   2e   Moleccular Ion This electron barrage usually results in most of the molecular ions fragmenting causing some of the fragments to not gain any charge and remain neutral and have no further part to play. The main purpose of ionisation is to donate a charge to the sample in order for the molecules to break up and become charged. The ionization method discussed here is electron ionisation however there are many other more methods of ionization which will be discussed in detail later on in my analysis. Separation: This beam of newly charged molecular ions then proceed through a mass analyzer which in this case is a very strong controllable magnetic field which separates the charged molecules according to their mass to charge ratio (m/z) causing some of the molecules which are â€Å"too heavy† or â€Å"too light† to be thrown towards the top or bottom of the spectrometer and hence avoid detection. By varying the magnetic field, ions with different m/z values can be detected. Just like there are many different ionization methods for different applications there are also several types of mass analyzers which will also be discussed later. A fundamental consideration in mass spectrometry at this point is mass resolution, defined as R = M/∆M. where R is the resolution, M is the mass of particle and ∆M is the mass difference compared to adjacent peak with overlap at 10% of peak height. Nowadays a magnetic sector analyzer can have R values of 2000-7000 depending on the instrument [3]. Detection: the final stage in the process is comprised of a detector which then amplifies and records the mass of the ions according to their m/z values. The detector may be set up for detection of molecular ions possessing different mass to charge ratios. The Molecular ions each have a mass that is almost identical to the mass of the molecule (M) and due to the fact that the charges on most of the molecules are usually 1, the value of m/z obtained for each of the ions is simply its mass. The data collected by the detector is fed to a recorder and is presented in the form of a plot of the numbers of ions versus their m/z values [3]. An example of this type of plot is shown below in figure 1.3. [4]: Figure 1.3: A typical graph produced for a sample using mass spectrometry. Picture courtesy of www.research.uky.edu. 2. Methods of Ionization: Electron Ionization (EI): as described above is the simplest method for converting the sample to ions and this method is found on the most common mass spectrometers. Many other simple and complex ionization methods exist for analyzing various samples. Some of these methods include: Chemical Ionization (CI): This is a softer ionization method than EI, causing less fragmentation of the sample under investigation and hence it is mainly used for more sensitive compounds such as 2, 2-dimethylpropane for example which is prone to fragment with little stress. This decrease in fragmentation is due to the ions arising from a chemical reaction rather than bombardment and hence possesses less energy than those produced from EI. In Chemical ionization the molecules to be studied are mixed with an ionized carrier gas which is present in excess. Common carrier gases for CI include ammonia, methane, isobutene and methanol. The selection of the carrier gas depends on the degree of ion fragmentation required. Different carrier gases produce different mass spectra plots. The main advantage of CI is its softer approach lending to clearer results over EI for some samples. Other advantages include the relatively cheap and strong hardware as with EI. The main drawback of using chemi cal ionization in mass spectrometry is the fact that like electron ionization the sample must be readily vaporised in order for the molecules to gain that vital charge. This immediately dismisses the use of high molecular weight compounds and biomolecules [3]. It’s obvious therefore that CI and EI are very similar methods of ionization and due to this many of the modern day mass spectrometers can switch between these two methods effortlessly. Electrospray Ionization (ESI): is a type of atmospheric pressure ionization. This technique is very useful for studying the high biomolecular weight molecules and other samples which may not be very volatile as discussed above. The sample to be investigated is sprayed through a fine capillary which has a charge on its surface, the sample then enters the ionization chamber resulting in the production of multiple charged ions along with single charged ions. This formation of multiple charged ions is very useful in the mass spectrometry analysis of proteins [3]. It is important to note that negative ions may also be formed in ESI and the operation may need to be reversed. ESI has become much more common over the last few years as it relies on a sample in solution which permits its use in LC-MS [5]. Thermospray Ionization (TSI) is closely related to ESI differing only in the fact that it relies on a heated capillary rather than a charged capillary; however ESI remains the more popular of the two methods. Atmospheric-pressure chemical Ionization (APCI): It is obvious form the title that APCI is also a form of atmospheric pressure ionization resulting in a similar interface being used for both methods. This method was born in the 1970’s when it was first combined with liquid chromatography (LC) by Horning et al [6] who conveyed a new atmospheric ion source which used 63Ni beta emission in order to produce the required ions. Even tough APCI and ESI are harmonizing methods the main advantage APCI has over ESI is that it is more effective at determining the mass spectra for less polar compounds due to the reality that the gas phase ionization is more effective in APCI. Many MS instruments are now readily available with high mass resolution and accurate mass measurement, properties which are not as readily available with GC-MS instruments. Fast Atom Bombardment (FAB): this type of ionization method is primarily used for large polar molecules. The sample to be studied is usually dissolved in a liquid matrix which is non-volatile and polar such as glycerol. This sample is then bombarded with a fast atom beam such as Xe atoms which picks up electrons thus causing ionization from this reaction. This is a simple and fast method to use and is very good for high-resolution measurements. On the downside however it may be hard to compare low molecular weight compounds from the chemical back ground which is always high [5]. Desorption Chemical Ionization (DCI), Negative-ion chemical ionization (NCI), Field Ionization (FI) and Ion Evaporation are other less common ionization methods used in mass spectrometry. 3. Mass Analysers: As described earlier the mass analyzers are used to separate the various ions according to their mass to charge ratio (m/z) and hence focus the ions with the desirable m/z value towards the detector. Some of the mass analyzers available include; Double-Focusing Mass Analyzers, Quadrupole Mass Analyzers, Time-of-Flight Mass Analyzers and Ion Trap Mass Analyzers. Double-Focusing Mass Analyzers are used when a high resolution is of paramount importance. This high resolution is achieved by modifying the basic magnetic design. The beam of ions passes through an electrostatic analyser before or after the magnetic field causing the particles to travel at the same velocity resulting in the resolution of the mass analyzer increasing dramatically. Resolution may be varied by using narrower slits before the detector. It is important to note that this type of analyzer reduces sensitivity but increases accuracy resulting in a fine line between success and failure with regards to detection, for this reason this type of mass analyzer is only used for very selective purposes. Quadrupole Mass Analyzers do not make use of magnetic forces for mass detection; instead they are composed of four solid rods arranged parallel to the direction of the ion beam. Using a combination of direct-current and radiofrequency the quadrupole separates the various ions according to their mass extremely quickly. Quadrupole mass analyzers are most on most GC-MS instruments. Time-of-Flight Mass Analyzers (TOF) operate by measuring the time taken for an ion which has been produced to travel for the ion source to the detector [7]. This is based on the simple assumption that the lighter ions will have a greater velocity and thus will strike the detector first. This type of analyzer has become more and more common in recent years due to the fact that the electronics used in this analyzer have become much more affordable since it was first introduced in the 1940’s. In recent years the resolution and sensitivity of TOF have been increased by the insertation of a reflective plate within the flight tube itself [8]. The main area that this type of analyzer is used is in Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) discussed later. The Ion Trap Mass Analyzer is composed of two hyperbolic end cap electrodes and a doughnut shaped ring electrode [7]. It is very similar to the quadrupole analyzer in resolution terms and basics however the ion trap is more sensitive. 4. The Mass Spectra: The main interest that anybody has from the mass spectra is the molecular weight of the sample that was processed. The value of m/z at which the molecular ion (M+) appears on the mass spectrum tell us the molecular weight of the original molecule. The most saturated ion formed from the ionization provides us with the tallest peak in the spectra know as the base peak (Figure 1.2). From this information the determination of very exact molecular weights of substances may be deduced which is probably the most important application of mass spectrometers. This determination also allows use to distinguish between different substances with a very similar molecular mass which we are unable to do ourselves. For example; the molecule C14H14 has a molecular mass of 182.1096 and the molecule C12H10N2 has a molecular mass of 182.0844. These two molecules may only be differentiated by MS as there is only 0.0252 in the difference even tough they are two completely different molecules. The type of MS instrument used in this case is a Double Focusing Mass Spectrometer as discussed briefly above which is capable of providing measurements accurate to 0.0001 atomic mass units. The chance of two compounds having the exact same mass spectra is very unlikely and therefore it is possible to identify an unknown compound by comparing its mass spectra obtained with that of a known library of mass spectra for various compounds. 5. Mass Spectrometry in Synergy with other Techniques: Through the years mass spectrometers have evolved to be used not just on their own but used in tandem with a range of other analytic techniques such as Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) in purity assessment and investigating rat urine, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for the detection and measurement of illicit drugs in biological fluids. It is LC-MS that has become the gold standard for detection and analyzation of substances. Gas chromatography works particularly well with mass spectrometry too, due to the face that the sample is already in its gaseous form at the interface. This system has been used by De Martinis and Barnes [9] in the detection of drugs in sweat using a quadrupole mass spectrometer which has been discussed earlier. The ability to identify metabolites in the biological fluids mentioned above can be very difficult and this is due to the fact that these metabolites are present in extremely low concentrations such as parts per mill ion (ppm) or even less in some situations. For many years Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was used to identify these metabolites but in recent times it would appear that mass spectrometry has become the more popular method for detection of the metabolite. This may be due to the fact that MS is more sensitive than NMR resulting in less sample amount being required. 6. Advances in Mass Spectrometry Instruments and their Limitations: As mentioned briefly above it is very difficult to study large biomolecules such as proteins due to the fact that they are large polar molecules which are not volatile and as a result are difficult to convert to a gaseous state in order to undergo ionization. In recent years a solution to this problem has been accomplished with the introduction of Matrix- Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI). MALDI is a laser based soft ionization method which relies on the sample being dissolved in a solution containing an excess of matrix such as sinapinic acid which has a chromophore that absorbs at the laser wavelength, the sample is placed in the path of high intensity protons causing a collision of the atoms with the sample resulting in ionization of the sample molecules causing them to be ejected from the matrix. One of the main advantages of MALDI-MS is that only a very tiny amount of sample is required (1 X 10-5 moles) [3]. This technique has proven to be one of the most successful ionization methods for mass spectrometry analysis of large molecules due to its soft ionization ability. This technique has been used in the drug-biomolecule complexes in order to investigate the interaction properties and sites of biomolecules with various drugs on the market today [10]. This method was also used by Zschorning et al. to investigate the extracts of human lipoproteins after treatment wi th cholesterol esterase’s [11]. This method although very popular suffers some drawbacks. There is a strong dependence on the sample preparation method and any mistake made during sample preparation or any contamination introduced into the matrix during the sample preparation renders the rest of the investigation pointless. Another draw back of this method is the short sample life although some research has been undertaken [12] with the use of liquid matrices in the belief that this may increase the sample life by making use of the self-healing properties of the sample through molecular diffusion. One obvious drawback that may occur is the fact that the sample may not be soluble and hence may not dissolve in the matrix. This problem may be overcome with the use of compression of a finely ground sample and analyte [13]. Another disadvantage which may become of detrimental in the future is the fact that MALDI is not easily compatible with LC-MS, this problem may have to be rectified id the popularity of MALDI is to c ontinue. Electrospray Ionization (ESI) has been described in detail under the methods of ionization section above and it can be seen that this young technique is proving to be very useful with LC-MS to investigate the a variety of molecules including proteins, DNA and synthetic polymers. The main problem with ESI-MS is that the mass spectra produced may contain many peaks of multiply charged ions which may cause confusion in the interpretation of spectra of some samples. The ESI instrument itself can also present with decreased sensitivity due to the presence of impurities such as salts and buffers, this is not the case with MALDI. Although both MALDI and ESI are both very effective methods of developing mass spectra for large molecules such as proteins, MALDI still remains the method of choice for most analyses. However, as discussed above the fact that MALDI is not very compatible with LC-MS may pave the way for a surge in popularity of the LC-MS friendly ESI. 7. The Future of Mass Spectrometry: Mass spectrometry has come along way since 1897 when Joseph J. Thompson used an early mass spectrometer to discover the electron and there is no reason why the mass spectrometer will continue to advance and evolve into the foreseeable future. The mass spectrometer is an extremely versatile analytical tool which can work in tandem and alongside other analytical methods such as chromatography seamlessly. The main areas in which mass spectrometers have been used for quantification of compounds are LC-MS and GC-MS using the various ionization methods respectively. LC-MS is the gold standard in quantitative bioanalyses and is used by the majority pharmaceutical companies. The other minority tend to use other techniques such as High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and UV as they deem LC-MS to be too expensive. An area of mass spectrometry to watch out for in the future is the use of ion-trap technology to perform LC-MS-MS to LC-MS [7]. This method already exists but reliable routine bioanalytical assays have not been produced as of yet. References: [1]  Ã‚   molecularstation.com/molecular-biology-images/506-molecular-biology-pictures/21-mass-spectrometer.html [2]  Ã‚   Daniel C. Harris: Quantitative Chemical Analysis, sixth edition (2003) published by W. H. Freeman and Company, New York. [3]  Ã‚   Donald L. Pavia, Gary M. Lampman, George S. Kriz and James R. Vyvyan: Introduction to Spectroscopy, fourth edition, published by Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learing. [4]  Ã‚   www.research.uky.edu/ukmsf/whatis.html [5]  Ã‚   Ionization Methods in Organic Mass Spectrometry [6]  Ã‚   Horning, E.C., Caroll, D.J., Dzidic, I., Haegele, K.D., Horning, M.G., and  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Stillwell,R.N. (1974). Atmospheric pressure ionization (API) mass spectrometry. Solvent-mediated ionization of samples introduced in solution and in a liquid chromatograph effluent stream,   J. Chromatography. Sci, 12, (11), 725-729 [7]  Ã‚   RF Venn (Ed) (2000) Principles and practice of Bioanalysis Taylor and Francis. [8]  Ã‚   Ashcroft, A.E. (1997) Ionisation Methods in Organic Mass Spectrometry, Cambridge,   UK: The Royal Society of Chemistry. [9]  Ã‚   asms.org/whatisms/p1.html: The American Society of Mass Spectrometry [10]  Ã‚   Skelton, R., Dubols, F., Zenobl, R. Analytical Chemistry (2000), 72, 1707-1710 [11]  Ã‚   Zschornig, Markus Pietsch, Roesmarie SuB., Jurgen Schiller and Michael Gutschow. Cholesterol esterase action on human high density lipoproteins and inhibition studies: detection by MALDI-TOF MS.    [12]  Ã‚   Zenobi, R, Knochenmuss, R. Mass Spectrom, Rev. 1999, 17, 337-366.

Monomer Definition and Examples (Chemistry)

Monomer Definition and Examples (Chemistry) A monomer is a molecule that forms the basic unit for polymers, which are the building blocks of proteins. Monomers bind to other monomers to form repeating chain molecules through a process known as polymerization. Monomers may be either natural or synthetic in origin. Oligomers are polymers consisting of a small number (typically under 100) of monomer subunits. Monomeric proteins are protein molecules that combine to form multi-protein complexes. Biopolymers are polymers consisting of organic monomers found in living organisms. Because monomers represent a huge class of molecules, they are commonly categorized into various subgroups such as sugars, alcohols, amines, acrylics, and epoxides. The term monomer combines the prefix mono-, which means one, and the suffix -mer, which means part. Examples of Monomers Glucose, vinyl chloride, amino acids, and ethylene are examples of monomers. Each monomer may link in different ways to form a variety of polymers. In the case of glucose, for example, glycosidic bonds may link sugar monomers to form such polymers as glycogen, starch, and cellulose. Names for Small Monomers When only a few monomers combine to form a polymer, the compounds have names: Dimer: Polymer consisting of two monomersTrimer: Three monomer unitsTetramer: Four monomer unitsPentamer: Five monomer unitsHexamer: Six monomer unitsHeptamer: Seven monomer unitsOctamer: Eight monomer unitsNonamer: Nine monomer unitsDecamer: 10 monomer unitsDodecamer: 12 monomer unitsEicosamer: 20 monomer units

All firms, in the end, are run to make the most profit they can Essay

All firms, in the end, are run to make the most profit they can - Essay Example According to Primeaux and Stieber (1994), it is the ethical mandate of a business to try and achieve maximum profit. They argue that good business and good ethics are synonymous and that ethics and business are intricately linked. According to them, there are certain rules of business, which every business must follow. Profit maximization is one such rule and hence it is the ethical duty of a business to follow it. According to the economics theory of profit maximization, a firm should increase its output until its marginal revenue is equal to its marginal cost. Marginal revenue is the extra revenue that an additional unit of product would bring in. Marginal cost is the rise in cost that producing this additional unit would result in. A firm cannot indefinitely go on increasing its output. Initially, even at zero output, the firm would incur certain costs, such as cost of equipment, maintenance and rent. As the number of units produced increases, the cost goes up. However, at a certain level of output, the revenue from these goods starts to go down. Hence, maximum profit is obtained at the point where marginal revenue is equal to marginal cost. Coming back to different types of businesses, let us explore why profit maximization is a must for them irrespective of their operating conditions. Let us consider the case of a firm operating in a monopolistic market.... Let us take the case of not-for-profit (NPO) organization. It is goal of such a firm to work for the benefit of the society. However, this requires money. Many NPOs rely on external source of funding such as government funds, grants and charities. However, these sources of income are neither reliable nor predictable. Hence, the organization must use whatever funds it has judiciously so that they can make the money last as long as possible. This is only possible by following the principle of profit maximization. So even though explicitly, the firms aim is not to make profit, it must, in the end, adopt profit maximization techniques in order to remain in business and achieve its stated goals. Similarly, a cooperative would want to maximize profits so as to achieve enough surpluses over its costs so that all its members can achieve some income. This is important, because the members of a cooperative need some incentive to remain in the cooperative other than for the good of the society. Even if all the members of a cooperative are willing to forego personal income, the firm would still need to make profits so as to have some operating cash at hand. In a private firm, the entire liability of the business is on the owner or the joint owners. Since, in such a firm, there are only a limited number of owners, all of whom may be either related to one another or known to each, the liability shared by these shareholders or owners becomes unlimited. Hence, if the business goes bankrupt, all the shareholders would suffer. If this firm has sole proprietorship, then the risk is even greater.

Fashion Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Fashion Theory - Essay Example The essay "Fashion Theory" discovers the theory of fashion. Dior,† New look promoted a fashion that exhibited the beauty of women and matched the political schema of the new world. Hence, the Dior was a successful design that showed relevance and adaptability with the changing social trends. Fashion forecasting entails embracing changes in the fashion industry. It comprises the contemporary elements of cultural awareness, technology, socio-political reservations and the market structure. Hence, fashion forecasts enhances conformity with the social forces and expectations. The increased number of new-borns triggered the development of the junior market during the 1950s era. The increased number of kids created a market gap that facilitated the growth of the junior market. Brand prominence conforms to the Thorsten Veblen theory. Both concepts ostensible rights and qualities. Therefore, they encompass high-quality products that appeal to nature. The models also progress high deman d and expensive products. Sumptuary laws work to minimize extravagance by reproving luxury. Therefore, the decree works towards creating a balance between spending and priority of needs. Maslow hierarchy presents human beings priority requirements in a pattern similar to a pyramid. It prioritizes the needs according to the urgency of survival. According to the pattern, the necessities facilitate survival and determines the relationship, for instance, food, water, safety and shelter. The costume offers the development.

Hysteresis :: essays research papers

Aim: To investigate the pattern in the amount by which a hanging piece of elastic stretches when a load force is applied and the amount by which the stretch is reduced when the load is removed. Aim (in simpler terms): To determine the relationship between the force on a rubber band and its stretch, both during extension and retraction. Hypothesis: Not required. Method 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hang a piece of elastic on a clamp stand. Ensure the elastic is new. 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Clamp a ruler using the clamp stand. Ensuring the markings on the ruler is as close to the elastic as possible. -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Draw a diagram 3) Measure the length of the elastic and record the data. 4) Hang masses on the elastic until it reaches it point of irreversible distortion. Take note of this weight; do not hang more than this weight in the experiment. 5)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Add a weight of 100N (change appropriately). Wait for a few seconds for the system to â€Å"stabilise†. Measure the length of the elastic and record the data. Special care must be taken to ensure that when the mass is added the elastic should not retract. 6)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Add more weights, till the total weight is close to its point of irreversible distortion or till there are no more weights. 7)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Remove the weights one by one. Wait a couple of seconds for the system to â€Å"stabilise†. Measure the length of the elastic and record the data. Ensure that when the mass is removed the elastic should not be allowed to stretch further. 8)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Repeat, till there is no more mass on the elastic. Measure the length of the elastic. Equipment Elastic Clamp stand Ruler Different weights or a weight hanger Variables Independent: Mass hung on elastic Dependant: Length that the elastic extends or retracts. Controlled: Same conditions – thus the behaviour of the elastic is constant   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Same equipment Results Force (N)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Length of elastic (m)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Length that elastic was stretched   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During extension  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During retraction  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For extension  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For retraction 0  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.2 100  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.4 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  .. .. .. .. .. .. ..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  .. .. .. .. .. .. ..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   900  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1000  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Note: To find the length that the elastic was stretched. Simple subtract the value â€Å"During extension† by the original length of elastic. Then write the result in the column â€Å"For extension† for the appropriate weight. Repeat for retraction. Construct a graph of this data. For ease of data interpretation, graph force on y axis and length that elastic was stretched (that is the column â€Å"For extension† and â€Å"For retraction) on x axis. Also possible to have intervals of 0.98 N on y axis so that value of mass in grams can be plotted accurately (assuming g=9.8 m/s^2) Plot the points and draw a smooth curve.

Analysis of Bao-yu’s dream in Cao Xueqin’s ‘Story of the Stone’ Essay

The Story of the Stone by Cao Xueqin is an animated, lively account of life in a large Chinese household in the mid-18th century Qing dynasty. It remains a fascinating novel for modern readers with its vivid and detailed descriptions of the minutiae of daily life – from clothing, food and interior design to education, marriage and death. For all its realism however, The Story of the Stone is not set entirely in reality. The very premise of the whole tale, that of a single rock left out of the goddess Nu-wa’s repairing of the sky, is one based on a magico-religious dream world. The rock is found by a Buddhist and a Taoist who take it down to the mortal world where it lives out a human life, that of Jia Bao-yu, before attaining Nirvana. Once a rock again, a Taoist copies the inscription on its surface †from beginning to end and took it back with him to look for a publisher†. Cao Xueqin’s emphasis on dreams can be seen in the alternative titles for his m asterpiece. A Dream of Red Mansions is the title by which the book is perhaps most commonly known. Twelve Young Ladies of Jinling is also a title suggested in chapter one. Both of these titles refer to the same dream. As David Hawkes explains, ‘hong lou’, red mansion, has the more specialised meaning of the residences of the daughters of rich men and thus, the young ladies themselves. The dream alluded to in these appellations occurs in the fifth chapter of volume one, The Golden Days. Cousin Zhen’s wife, You-shi, has invited the women of the Rong-guo house, accompanied by Bao-yu, round for a flower viewing party. Needless to say, Bao-yu soon tires and asks to take a nap. Rather than going back to the Rong mansion, the wife of his nephew, Jia Rong, leads him to her chamber to sleep. Bao-yu immediately drops off into a vivid dream world. He meets the fairy of Disenchantment who shows him to the Land of Illusion and into the Department of the Ill-Fated Fair. Within this department is housed the ‘Jinling, Twelve Beauties of, Main Register’, a record of the twelve most notable females in Bau-yu’s own province of Jinling. The fairy of Disenchantment allows Bao-yu to read the fates of the twelve girls as recorded in the form of four-line verses. Bao-yu can make little sense of what he reads. Later, the quatrains are expanded into a series of twelve songs entitled A Dream of Golden Days. While the words are sung by a troupe of entertainers, Bao- yu reads along with the manuscript. He still does not understand. Indeed, both the verses in the register and in the song-cycle contain allusions and metaphors not immediately obvious and not easily deciphered. Yet at a most basic level, they provide an outline of the fate of twelve principle female characters in The Story of the Stone. Their fate unfolds throughout the course of the five volume novel. The Golden Days therefore, is only the beginning. But, by the end of the first volume, to what extent have the women already prepared the way for their future course? The first verse in the Main Register is a joint record of Lin Dai-yu and Xue Bao-chai. These two young girls share the affection of Bao-yu and Grandmother Jia. In their own individual ways, they are both paragons. It seems odd therefore that they share only one verse between them. Hawkes puts forward the argument that Dai-yu and Bao-chai †represent two complementary aspects of a single ideal woman†. Evidence for this interpretation lies in the first two lines of their quatrain: One was a pattern of female virtue, One a wit who made other wits seem slow. The combination of wit, or intelligence, and virtue were ideal traits in a Qing woman of the upper class. Arguably it was Dai-yu who held the upper hand in wit while Bao-chai, with her †generous and accommodating disposition†, was the more virtuous. Although in the song-cycle there are two songs for Dai-yu and Bao-chai, it is not the case that one is dedicated to Dai-yu and one to Bao-chai. Albeit the second so ng is solely about Dai-yu, but there are references to both characters in the first song. The character ‘lin’ in Lin Dai-yu is made up of two tree radicals and has the meaning ‘forest’. ‘Xue’ in Xue Bao-chai sounds the same as the Chinese word for ‘snow’ while ‘bao chai’ can be translated as ‘precious’ or ‘gold hairpin’. Thus, the references come in the form of gold, flowers, snow and trees. Bao-yu is alluded to using jade or stone as he was born with a jade stone in his mouth. The first song, The Mistaken Marriage, refers to †the marriage rites of gold and jade†. This foreshadows the marriage of Bao-chai (gold) and Bao-yu (jade). The speaker however, still remembers the relationship between ‘stone and flower’. There is indeed, a special bond between Bao-yu and Dai-yu. Although Bao-yu, †a child†¦whom nature had endowed with the eccentric obtuseness of a simpleton†, fails to recognise it, Dai-yu is an intensely jealous character and resents any time he spends with Bao-chai and not her. Bao-yu struggles to understand the cause of Dai-yu’s mainly irrational sulks, yet always attempts to comfort her: Take kinship first: you are my cousin on Father’s side; cousin Bao is only a mother-cousin. That makes you much the closer kin. And as for length of acquaintance: it was you who came here first. You and I have practicaly grown up together†¦Why should I ever be any less close to you because of her? There is a profound love between Bao-yu and Dai-yu that seems to grow with the progression of the first volume. They share an understanding †so intense that it was almost as if they had grown into a single person.† The speaker suggests however, that later on Dai-yu (†that fairy wood†) dies. Thus, even a wife †so courteous and so kind† as Bao-chai is no substitute for the wife that Dai-yu could have been. Their marriage, even though †others all commend it†, is a mistake. This is succeeded by Hope Betrayed which deals specifically with the close relationship between Dai-yu (†a flower from paradise†) and Bao-yu (†a pure jade without spot or stain†). They are clearly meant for each other but the poem augurs future disaster. The pain heartache that stems from such an ardent love will all be in vain. In one sense these two poems pose an insurrmountable contradiction. Fate, the belief in which provides the premise for this entire dream scene, will have them be together but they are not. They are meant to be but cannot and this inability is portrayed as some kind of mistake, a going against the natural order. Is there then, even such a thing as fate? This question aside, it can be seen that, in the case of Dai-yu and Bao-chai, their journey has barely begun by the end of The Golden Days. Their relationship with Bao-yu is entirely platonic (physically at least) and, although it is perhaps assumed that one of them, most likely Dai-yu, will be be Bao-yu’s future bride, this is only hinted at in jest among the maids and is a source of great embarassement to Dai-yu. The second quatrain and the third poem can be interpretted as Yuan-chun’s fate. Yuan-chun, daughter of Lady Wang and Jia Zheng, is Bao-yu’s elder sister. The first two lines describe her, age twenty, leaving her family to live in the emperor’s palace as a royal concubine. As can be seen by the subsequent effort put into a lavish garden compund in honour fo her visit, this was a posi tion held in great esteem. Although out of modesty, Yuan-chun later changes the name, the setting for her reunion with her family within Prospect Garden initially bears the inscription ‘Precinct of the Celsetial Visitant’. Hence perhaps, the use of the phrase †pomegranate-time†. Hawkes stresses the †redness’ of the original Chinese text, the colour red being a symbol of good-fortune and prosperity. Although much of this sense has inevitably been lost in translation, the red skin of the pomegranate could perhaps be taken as emphasising the great advantages such a position could bestow on both concubine and family. The second half of the quatrain however, does not bode so well for the future. Although Yuan-chun is superior if not in beauty and intelligence then in success to her half-sister Tan-chun and her cousins, Ying-chun and Xi-chun (the †three springs†), her charmed life will come to an end †when hare meets tiger†. Hare and tiger refer to Chinese years. Thus, this prophecy specifies that the date of Yuan-chun’s death will fall at the end of a tiger year and at the beginning of a rabbit year. The third song, Mutability, again prophesises Yuan-chun’s departure from the Rong-guo household to the emperor’s palace. It goes on to describe her appearing before her parents in a dream to pay her †final duty†, forewarning again of her death. By the end of The Golden Days Yuan-chun has indeed left home to become a royal concubine. Although the location of the Jia clan in The Story of the Stone is questionable, it is clear that Yuan-chun and he r family feel cut off from each other in spirit if not by physical distance. Their reunion in chapter eighteen is an emotional one and although the emperor allows visits in the palace once a month, special permission must be granted for a once-yearly return to the family home. It is for this reason, †so far the road back home did seem†, that Yuan-chun will be forced to pay her final filial duties in a dream. (Hawkes points out that this dream sequence never in fact took place. He suggests that Xueqin used the material for this episode in chapter thirteen instead, when Qin-shi appears before Xi-feng in a dream.) Tan-chun, half-sister to Yuan-chun, one of the †three springs† referred to above and daughter of Jia Zheng and a concubine, is the subject of the fourth quatraine in the Main Register. She is †by far the most gifted of the three springs† as well as possessing a kind, generous nature. The first line, †Blessed with a shrewd mind and a noble heart†, is countered however, by the second, †Yet born in time of twilight and decay†. Although The golden Days is essentially a story set in the happy, carefree years of childhood, the bigger picture reveals a time of political and social upheaval, a sense of which permeates many aspects of the novel. Tan-chun’s prophesised marriage in the final two lines will thus perhaps be related to economic considerations. The marriage will clearly not be a happy one. The very title of the fourth song, From Dear Ones Parted, suggests the insuperable distance between Tan-chun and her home and her intense homsickness. The song has Tan-chun referring to †our rising, falling†, meaning the rise and fall of the Jia family. As a result of this, †each in another land must be, each for himself must fend as best he may†, again suggesting that the marriage will be one of economic convenience. Apa rt from allusions to her wit and good character, we learn little about Tan-chun in the first volume of The Story of the Stone. There are however, hints to be found as to her fate. In chapter 22, she attends Grandmother Jia’s riddle party. Asked to compose a riddle, the answer to Tan-chun’s is ‘a kite’. This image of a kite as associated with Tan-chun symbolizes her departure †a thousand miles† away, her flight from the nest. Her riddle also foreshadows her unhappiness once in the marriage: My strength all goes when once the bond is parted, And on the wind I drift off broken hearted. This description of drifting off in the wind ties in with the suggestion in the song that she will be taken to her new husband by boat †through rain and wind†. Like Tan-chun, relatively little reference is made to Shi Xiang-yun, the subject of the fourth quatrain and fifth song. She is the daughter of Grandmother Jia’s brother’s son. Orphaned as a young girl, she first lived with Grandmother Jia before moving in with her uncle, Shi Ding, and his wife. It seems from both the register and the song, that Xiang-yun is destined to find the man of her dreams, †a perfect, gentle husband†. But happiness will be fleeting: Soon you must mourn your bright sunâ€⠄¢s early setting. The Xiang flows and the Chu clouds sail away. The Xiang was a river flowing through the ancient kingdom of Chu. This was believed to be home to a goddess of lovers. But soon †the clouds of Gao-tang faded, the waters of the Xiang ran dry.† This suggests another calamity, perhaps the sudden death of her husband. There is no intimation of Xiang-yun’s fate in The Golden Days. The main scene involving her is one of comic relief as Dai-yu teases her about her lisp and Xiang-yun responds good-humouredly. The impression created is of a happy-go-lucky, lively young girl, quite a contrast from the rather intense and moody Dai-yu. This is best illustrated in Xueqin’s description of them asleep: Dai-yu was tightly cocooned in a quilt of apricot-coloured damask, the picture of tranquil repose. Xiang-yun, by contrast, lay with her hank of jet black hair tumbled untidily beside the pillow, a white arm with its two gold bracelets thown carelessly outside the bedding and two white shoulders exposed above the peach-pink coverlet, which barely reached her armpits. ‘A tomboy, even in her sleep!’ Bao-yu muttered†¦ The sixth woman included in the register is the only one of the twelve who is not a member of the Jia family. Adamantina nevertheless lives among them in Prospect Garden after Yuan-chun issues an edict stating that the garden is not to be closed up. She is a nun and this is reflected in the descriptions of her †otherworldliness† and her †grace and wit to match the gods† that set her †with the rest at odds. Nauseous to [her] the world’s rank diet.â⠂¬  Her final destination however, is clearly one of disrepute. In both the quatrain and the song, she ends up in the mud, impure and shameful. The fact that down here, †only wealthy rakes might bless their luck† suggests that Adamantina will end her days as perhaps a prostitute. By the end of The Golden Days however, she is still a nun who †looks down on common flesh and blood† The seventh of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling is Ying-chun, the eldest of the three springs. She is Jia She’s daughter by a concubine. With the arrival of Dai-yu and Bao-chai, the three springs are relugated to a secondary position in Grandmother Jia’s affections. Ying-chun is thus a rather underdeveloped character in The Golden Days. The sixth entry in the register and the seventh poem both suggest that she will be married off to a violent, unfaithful and cruel bully. There is no hint of this fate in the first volume of the novel. The Golden Days gives away equally little about the subject of the next quatrain and song, Xi-chun. Sister of Cousin Zhen and the youngest of the three springs, seems destined to seek release †from youth’s extravagance† and †to win chaste quietness and heavenly peace† by becoming a Buddhist nun. Wang Xi-feng on the other hand, wife of Jia Lian and cousin to Bao-yu, plays a far more prominent role in The Golden Days. She is a very strong character, a feminist role-model. She has all the qualities of the ideal wife with her managerial prowess and defere nce to her elders, and yet she always manages to be on top. This combination of cunning and virtue can best be seen in the chapters dealing with Qin-shi’s funeral. Having been relegated posthumously to the status of a Noble Dame, the funeral is a grand affair. The sheer cost and man-power involved is staggering and Xi-feng is put in charge of it all. Nevertheless, she manages it with †the decisiveness of a little general†. On the night of the wake, her maturity and superior social skills are further demonstrated when it is left entirely to her to do the honours. Xi-feng’s vivacious charm and social assurance stood out in striking contrast†¦She was in her element, and if she took any notice of her humbler sisters it was only to throw out an occassional order or to bend them in some other way to her imperious will. This can be juxtaposed with the episode in the next chapter when, after the funeral, Xi-feng, Bao-yu and Qin-zhong spend the night in the Water-moon Priory. The prioress Euergesia, catching Xi-feng alone, tells her the story of a benefactor of the priory called Zhang. He is desperate to call off his daughter’s engagement to the son of a captain in the Chang-an garrison. The captain however, is being thoroughly unreasonable and refusing to take back the betrothal-gifts. Euergesia beseeches Xi-feng to use her unfluence to get Jia Zheng to write a letter to General Yun asking h im to †have a word with† the captain because †It is hardly likely that he would refuse to obey his commading officer.† Xi-feng coyly turns her down until Euergesia questions Xi-feng’s ability. Xi-feng ‘relents’ and agrees to take part for the the not so small sum of three thousand taels of silver. Xi-feng is clearly fiscally-minded and savvy, never one to let an opportunity for profit slip by. The hush-hush manner in which this matter of the captain is broached also suggests that it is rather shady business. Yet, any qualms Xi-feng feigns to have about getting involved seem to be easily forgotten. Xi-feng is indeed, as the ninth song states, †too shrewd by half†. She is too focused on self-advancement but with the fall of the Jia family later in The Story of the Stone, Xi-feng’s plotting and manouevering will all come to nothing: Like a great building’s tottering crash, Like flickering lampwick burned to ash†¦ Although the exact nature of Xi-feng’s future is not specified, it is clear that it is not a bright one. She will, as the title of the ninth song says, be †caught by her own cunning†. Although we see none of her decline in The Golden Days, there are hints of a fall to come. When Qin-shi appears to her in a dream, she warn s Xi-feng of the future fall of the Jai family as a whole. She quotes a proverb: †The higher the climb, the harder the fall.† Could this be referring equally to Xi-feng as to the family? Is there a reason why Qin-shi appears before Xi-feng specifically? The tenth Beautiy of Jinling, interestingly enough, does not even appear in the first volume. Qiao-jie, daughter of Xi-feng, nevertheless has some sort of trouble ahead of her. It seems that no one will be spared pain and grief as the Jia family declines. The penultimate Beauty included on the Main Register is Li Wan, mother of Jia Lan. Li Wan was married to Jia Zhu, brother of Bao-yu. Jia Zhu died before the start of the novel as implied by the third line in the eleventh song, †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦the pleasures of the bridal bed† soon fled. The quatrain suggests that their son, Jia Lan, †her Orchid†, will be successful. The song goes further to describe the †awesome sight† of †the head with cap and bands of office on, and gleaming bright upon his breast the gold insignia†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jia Lan will later pass the civil service exam and become a high official. It is perhaps slightly far-fetched but one of the few mentions of Jia Lan comes in chapter nine, set in the Jia clan school house. As for Li Wan, there is no hint that †the black night of death’s dark frontier lay close at hand.† It would seem that she tragically dies after her son’s appointment. Finally, there is Qin-shi, the twelfth Beauty of Jinling. She is the young wife of Jia Rong but dies of a mysterious unidentified disease half way through The Gol den Days. Of all the women, Qin-shi is the only one whose whole fate is played out in the course of the first volume. It does not, however, run according to plan. Both the quatrain and the song, The Good Things Have an End, explicitly express that she will hang herself. The most likely reason for her suicide is the family’s discovery of her incestuous affair with her father-in-law, cousin Zhen: Say not our troubles all from Rong’s side came; For their beginning Ning must take the blame. Indeed, there are indications of such intrigue. A drunken servant lets slip, in a fit of rage, †Father-in-law pokes in the ashes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The reader is clearly meant to take note of this comment, as Bao-yu subsequently questions Xi-feng as to it’s meaning. Xi-feng is quick in quashing any ideas Bao-yu may have on the subject and †terrified by her vehemence, Bao-yu implored her forgiveness.† There is obviously something to hide. Cousin Zhen’s hysterical reaction after her death is also a sign that their relationship was not as it seemed. He is inconsolable, proclaiming: †Now that she has been taken from us it’s plain to see that this senior branch of the family is doomed to extinction!† The poem accordingly, states that her death, †the ruin of a mighty house protended.† Qin-shi’s suicide does not however, take place and she instead dies of natural causes. A reason for this discrepancy is put foward by Hawkes. While Xueqin did originally have Qin-shi hanging herself †from painted beams†, a notation by one of the commentators on the original manuscript states that her †ordered† Xueqin to remove the scene. Xueqin reluctantly did so but, unenthusiastic about the change, failed to make the necessary alterations to the rest of the text. Having examined the fates of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling as expressed in the Main Register of the Department of the Ill Fated Fair and in the fairy of Disenchantment’s song cycle, it becomes immediately obvious that tradgedy lies ahead. With the decline of the Jia family will come a decline in the fortunes of each of the women. It is also clear that by the end of the first volume of The Story of the Stone the story has, in fact, barely begun. The Jia household is still powerful and rich, the child heros are still young and and insouciant, these are still the golden days.

A Refutation of Gilbert and Gubars Anti-Christian Perspective of Jane Eyre - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1762 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/05/18 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Jane Eyre Essay Did you like this example? Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubars The Madwoman in the Attic is the seminal analysis of Jane Eyre, particularly with regards to feminism. The two assert that somehow Jane intentionally subverts not only social norms, but fundamental tenets of Christian morality, as though Christianity were by nature at odds with feminism, or even women themselves. This opinion is far from a recent development, seeing as Gilbert and Gubar cite several contemporary critics of Bront, which call the novel anti-Christian. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "A Refutation of Gilbert and Gubars Anti-Christian Perspective of Jane Eyre" essay for you Create order In truth, Jane is a highly virtuous and principled character. These are the qualities which in actuality make her a feminist role model, rather than mere rebellion against the status quo. Jane is morally and ethically superior to all but St. John, who she more than holds her own against. Janes Christianity is the foundation of her character, and Gilbert and Gubars analysis rests on uneven ground because of it. Since its publication in the mid-nineteenth century, Jane Eyre has been the subject of much controversy so far as Christian ethics are concerned. Jane herself was described by contemporary critic Elizabeth Rigby as being undisciplined and unregenerate (or unsaved), with the novel itself being preeminently anti-Christian (Gilbert and Gubar 1). This supposedly heathenesque bent, according to Gilbert and Gubar, comes from a refusal to accept the forms and standards of society in short rebellious feminism (1). The two waste no time linking their own analyses with these. They readily agree, Perhaps they were correct in their response to the book (Gilbert and Gubar 1). Charlotte Bront herself however, defended her writing passionately and authoritatively, admitting an intentional subversion of gender-norms, but declaring in the second edition of Jane Eyre that Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last. To pluck the ma sk from the face of the Pharisee, is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns (Griesinger 5). In short, Bront was a Christian, through and through, as is her titular heroine Jane Eyre. Virtue being essential to discussions of faithfulness, it seems appropriate to me that Jane Eyres Christianity ought to be validated by an analysis of her moral character; something which contemporary critics, as well as Gilbert and Gubar, not only failed to acknowledge, but adamantly rejected. Gilbert and Gubar in particular connect Jane on a symbolic level with Bertha Mason, a character motivated by unbridled passion, governed by madness and violence. Marriage is one example used by Gilbert and Gubar as an analogy for principle, which, according to them Jane rejects. They state that St. John wants to imprison the resolute wild thing that is [Janes] soul in the ultimate cell, the iron shroud of principle (Gilbert and Gubar 11). Here they take things wildly out of context, forgetting the fact that Jane only finds herself in this predicament because she herself is a woman of principle in the first place. Jane leaves Rochester against her own will, on the grounds of principle and Chris tian decency. She refuses to play mistress to a married man (Bront Ch. 27). Janes virtue and faith both are evident throughout the entirety of the novel, as much as her feminist desires for equality. While Jane may temperately rebel against the status quo, she does not rebel against principle. It is not a prison to her. Gilbert and Gubars presumption of an incompatibility between faith and feminism is based upon a flawed understanding of Christian ideals of submission. This is why I bring up their comparison of marriage with prison. To Gilbert and Gubar, as well as contemporaries of Bront, marriage equals female subservience, and equality of the sexes is therefore incompatible with Christianity. The conclusion treats neither religion nor feminism with the proper modicum of respect and understanding. Gilbert and Gubar contend that Janes whole life-pilgrimage has, of course, prepared her to be angry at Rochesters and societys, [lovingly tyrannical] concept of marriage (Gilbert and Gubar 7). But who is to say that Rochesters and Christianitys are one in the same? The most striking, audaciously eloquent line in all of Bronts novel is when Jane challenges Rochester, just prior to his proposal, exclaiming it is my spirit that addresses your spirit as if we stood at Gods feet, equal, as we are! (Bront Ch. 23). To certain nineteenth century critics, this would have been seen as a grievous theological error, if not outright heresy. Gilbert and Gubar see it as a virtuous triumph of feminism, but still as anti-Christian. They rightly contend that Though in one sense Jane and Rochester begin their relationship as master and servant in another they begin as spiritual equals (Gilbert and Gubar 5). What they fail to recognize, is that spiritual equality is the Christian state of men and women. Such an analysis is hardly at odds with Christian values, or suggests any sort of innate rebelliousness. Long before Charlotte Brontes brand of feminism, Matthew Henry wrote in his Commentary on the Whole Bible That the woman was made of a rib out of the side of Ad am; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him (Henry 7). While one can readily see through an examination of scripture that equality of the sexes has never been anti-Christian, it stands to reason that Jane Eyres brand of emerging biblical feminism as Emily Griesinger calls it, contains a great deal of theological and cultural complexity (19). This is made evident by Janes relationship with her cousin St. John, his proposal, her rejection, and ultimately the supernatural events which occur bringing Jane and Rochester back together. When St. John makes his final proposal, Jane prays earnestly for guidance and direction. She pleads with the Almighty for some sort of intervention. She cries to heaven, Show me, show me the path! and indeed He does (Bront Ch. 36). Jane hears the voice of Rochester, and she speaks to him in kind, across miles and miles of space. Its a miraculous answer to prayer, and one for which Jane immediately gives worship and thanksgiving, contrary to assertions made by Bronts critics. Gilbert and Gubar admit as that Christian morality is a focus of the novel, but contend that Janes inward sense of morality is superior to the external one, the Christian one. They see St. John as symbolic of this supposedly inferior morality, and Janes hearing Rochester as her inward moral compass. The conclusion of the novel refutes this however. Whereas Gilbert and Gubar see the climaxs miraculous intervention as being somehow tied to Janes subconscious, Bront makes it abundantly clear that Providence makes the final decision. Jerome Beaty points out, the notion that the voice is only the product of her excitement is almost immediately denied (Beaty 4). Janes love for Rochester was never rebellious. It was always part of Gods plan, which Jane chooses to accept. Beaty uses these events in his own rejection of the anti-Christian labels applied to the novel. He points out that [Jane] does not depart from the religious, certainly not the Providentialist tenets, and the novel does not force her to choose between religion and life or love (Beaty 4). Frankly, critics are wrong to assert as much. Janes final decision is not one of rebellion, but of submission; submission to God. Hardly anti-Christian, rebellious sentiment, Jane readily submits to the will of God the moment she is certain of it. Jane ends her story, not independent, but wholly dependent on the hand of God. She learns the truth of the proverb; In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Authorized King James Version, Prov. 3.6). In conclusion, Emily Griesinger asserts that Jane Eyres Christianity is far more reminiscent of evangelicalism, which has since taken much of Christianity by storm. She writes that Evangelical religion opposed formalism, a type of spirituality that favored outward forms, decent and orderly, over inward heart faith where the Spirit could not be easily contained and often spilled over (Griesinger 8). The fact that Jane Eyre is a woman directly led by the Holy Ghost and not by the church is likely what her critics found so offensive. Jane Eyres Christianity is not an anti-biblical one, but rather one ahead of its time. It is Janes ability to discern the voice of God for herself, suggests Griesinger, that makes her a Christian feminist icon. She needs no man, namely St. John, to explain the will of God for her life. She prays, and she finds it. Maria LaMonaca writes that because of this, Jane demonstrates that women must experience God directly (LaMonaca 8). Near the novels end, Jane refers to Paul and Silas miraculous escape from prison as not unlike her own experience. In the story, Paul and Silas, in an evening of prayer and praise, are loosed from jail by a miraculous earthquake. Jane herself, through prayer, is loosed from the prison of her own indecision. Like with Paul and Silas, Janes escape came by divine intervention in the midst of principled submission, not human rebelliousness. In such, she is exemplary of Christian virtue. Jane Eyre is at once a God fearing woman of principle and a feminist icon. Gilbert and Gubar may get a great deal right in their analysis, but theyre wrong to connect feminism with Brontes critics. They unnecessarily place themselves at odds with an ideology which has done more for the cause of equality than any other, seeing as it was the Apostle Paul who proclaimed There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Author ized King James Version, Gal. 3.23, emphasis mine). Works Cited Beaty, Jerome. St. Johns Way and the Wayward Reader. PDF file. Gilbert, Sandra M. and Susan Gubar. From A Dialogue of Self and Soul: Plain9 Janes Progress. Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale University Press, 1979. PDF file. Griesinger, Emily. Charlotte Bronts Religion: Faith, Feminism, and Jane Eyre. Christianity and Literature, vol. 58, no. 1, 2008, pp. 29â€Å"59. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.net.ucf.edu/login?auth=shibburl=https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.net.ucf.edu/login.aspx?direct=truedb=mzhAN=2008653303site=ehost-livescope=site. LaMonaca, Maria. Janes Crown of Thorns: Feminism and Christianity in Jane Eyre. Studies in the Novel, vol. 34, no. 3, 2002, pp. 245â€Å"63. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.net.ucf.edu/login?auth=shibburl=https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.net.ucf.edu/login.aspx?direct=truedb=mzhAN=2002532785site=ehost-livescope=site.