Integrated Marketing Communications Plan

Coordinated MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS PLAN A. Publicizing Advertising alludes to the paid advancement of merchandise and enterprises through a supporting association or organization. While promoting has the goal to pick advertises that have the ability to buy an item,  advertising, then again, is the paid correspondence through which important data about the item is passed on to expected customers (2001). From a general perspective, the creator intends to utilize publicizing so as to have the option to grant to intrigued Christian ladies matured 13-45 the accessibility of spaces in the Virtuous Woman Pageant.In a way, promoting will likewise have the option to give basic data with respect to the Virtuous Woman Pageant. The creator accepts that when the promoting effort for the Virtuous Woman Pageant is accomplished successfully, this can prompt an expanded enthusiasm for Christian ladies to join the exhibition. There are generally three principle destinations of commercials: (1) pas sing on applicable data in regards to a specific item or administration; (2) convincing shoppers to buy the publicized item; and, (3) stay with the under the vigilant gazes of people in general (2002).But in this specific case, the creator intends to blend the components of every one of the three targets. Since the Virtuous Woman Pageant is a generally new occasion, at that point it must be bolstered with useful and convincing promotions. Assessment of Advertising 1) Advantages The presence of Internet and the proceeded with transformation in the realm of Information Technology are absolutely positive finishes paperwork for the fruitful publicizing effort for the Virtuous Woman Pageant. For example, the creator intends to utilize Popup promotions and email promotions as a type of online ad. ) Disadvantages as of late, the popular feeling in regards to promoting has gotten exceptionally negative. They see it as a medium that just advances lies. This is obviously in opposition to the reason for notices to urge the objective market to belittle a specific item or administration. These days, most promotions are either seen as only expressing sentiments or depicting an item or administration in a completely mutilated thought away from the real world. It is his disturbing circumstance with respect to the genuine destinations of publicizing that could prompt an expansion in the obligations that the creator and the coordinators of the Virtuous Woman Pageant would confront. B. Exposure Publicity is a term that is firmly identified with advertising. While advertising alludes to the best possible administration of all methods for correspondence among the organizations and the individuals in question, exposure, then again, is the cautious administration of an item or service’s methods for correspondence between the organization and the overall population. Hence, it is fundamentally a useful process.However, its principle objective is the advancement of items and adm inistrations being offered by an organization. Consequently, an exposure plan is being made along the procedure so as to get phenomenal press inclusion for the company’s items (2003). The creator and the coordinators intend to give an official statement in regards to the starting of the Virtuous Woman Pageant, however different strategies incorporating Internet discharges are in the author’s alternatives. In any case, all together for these apparatuses and procedures to be viably used by the media, they should have the option to create an extraordinary enthusiasm from the public.For this to occur, the creator and the coordinators of the Virtuous Woman Pageant intends to control the official statement so as to be an ideal match to the Christian ladies. The creator accepts that the best exposure discharges are regularly identified with subjects that the overall population can without much of a stretch identify with. Assessment of Publicity 1) Advantages The benefits of e xposure incorporate having low expenses, and its validity. New advancements, for example, web cameras and union are continuously changing the cost-structure. ) Disadvantages The disservices incorporate the absence of power over how the discharges will be utilized, and the collection of disappointment with respect to the low level of discharges that are being acknowledged by the media. C. Individual SELLING Sales are a significant piece of any business exchange. The most widely recognized way to deal with individual selling relates to a methodical procedure of constant yet quantifiable strategies wherein the individual selling depicts his offered items or administrations so that the purchaser will have the option to imagine ow to profit by the offered items or administrations in a monetary manner. Selling is fundamentally a piece of the usage methodology of advertising. It frequently frames a specific gathering inside a corporate structure, utilizing autonomous pro agents known as sa les reps (2003). The proceeded with cross examination so as to comprehend a consumer’s objective just as the foundation of a lot of plausible arrangements by passing on the essential data that persuades a purchaser to accomplish his objective at a sensible expense is the fundamental obligation of the business person.On the other hand, the principle goal of expert deals is to have the option to know the necessities and fulfill the needs of buyers viably, and along these lines convert potential clients into real and solid ones (2002). Assessment of Personal Selling 1) Advantages Some of the unmistakable points of interest that the creator finds in the utilization of individual selling as an IMC instrument for the Virtuous Woman Pageant incorporate the quick access to criticism, the influential idea of the undertaking, the alternative of picking an intended interest group for the salesman, and its capacity to give itemized data. ) Disadvantages Personal selling may tend to turn out to be very costly per presentation, and the assembled data might be distinctive among the business people included. The principle goal of selling is to enable a shopper to accomplish his/her objectives in a sensible manner. In any case, this isn't generally the situation. For example, Christian ladies can without much of a stretch be convinced by outside components to join the Virtuous Woman Pageant that typically doesn't have any enthusiasm to them.Some sales reps are being told by their mom organizations to offer to purchasers odd items that they don't really require. This abnormal conduct is being bolstered by motivators of deals work force to build their absolute number of deals, impetuses from the organizations of specialist co-ops to deals staff to sell their items where other comparable items offered by contenders are offered, and the motivator to sell a purchaser an item that needs being cleaned out.CONCLUSION The consequences of the examination did on the proposed IMC i nstruments that would be utilized for the Virtuous Woman Pageant showed exceptionally critical impacts, even in the midst of the dangers of turmoil. In this way, we could presume that the IMC instruments could at present be relied upon to add to the fruitful propelling of the Virtuous Woman Pageant. The audit of the abilities and assets of the IMC devices uncovered next to no irregularities in regards to the general strategies.This is cognizant with the conventional back to front methodology. Nonetheless, the need to accommodate both the back to front and outside-in approaches becomes basic now for the creator and the coordinators of the Virtuous Woman Pageant. The investigation among the earth just as the capacities of the IMC devices uncovered certain holes, the greater part of which are one-sided towards the environment.However, these holes prepared towards deciding various prescribed key choices to make sure about the seriousness of the IMC devices. Additionally, the writer and the coordinators of the Virtuous Woman Pageant needs to discover a harmony between adherence to inner powers inside the administration and to the changing powers of the earth so as to execute such key choices Read more: http://ivythesis. typepad. com/term_paper_topics/2009/11/coordinated advertising correspondences plan. html#ixzz29wJi0bUf

Synoptic Problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Concise Problem - Essay Example as far as the introduction of Jesus, his life, service, demise and restoration (Linnemann 43). Nonetheless, a few people guarantee that since the three accounts are comparative, the creators more likely than not utilized each other’s accounts, or conceivable another regular source. As per Hayes (20), the likenesses in the three accounts are numerous and close including the material introduced, just as a wording of writings. Therefore, some type of artistic reliance has been accepted where some accept that one writer replicated writings that were recently composed by another person. As per Griesbach theory, the accepted request wherein the accounts were composed was Matthew, Luke, and Mark. In this way, the good news of Matthew was composed first, and afterward Luke; consequently, Luke utilized the good news of Matthew as his source to compose his gospel. This theory endeavored to clarify the one of a kind highlights of the good news of Luke and why the gospel was composed. Likewise, this theory expresses that Mark utilized both Matthew, just as Luke as hotspots for his own gospel. Luke was a knowledgeable man whose essential language was Greek, yet in addition considered Latin and could talk very well. Consequently, Luke had the option to get a duplicate of Mark’s gospel in Latin, which clarifies the closeness between Mark’s accounts and Luke’s gospel. In any case, there are some minor understandings of about 6% among Matthew and Luke that are not found in Mark, which shows that they didn't come into Luke’s Gospel through Mark (Linnemann 45). The Griesbach theory is an answer for the brief issue where the good news of Matthew was composed first, and Luke utilized it to compose his gospel. Luke is said to have destroyed assortments of periscopes from Matthew and set some of them in different settings. This shows, since Matthew was the primary gospel, Luke acquired some material from him, which Mark didn't utilize (Hayes 22). How Luke utilized Matthew as a hotspot for

How to Cope With Stress When You Have OCD

How to Cope With Stress When You Have OCD OCD Living With OCD Print Coping With Stress When You Have OCD By Owen Kelly, PhD Updated on May 28, 2019 More in OCD Living With OCD Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Types Related Conditions Everyone experiences  stress from time to time. Life stresses can range from mere daily annoyances to severe, traumatic events. Under the right conditions, both minor and major stressful events can exacerbate illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder  (OCD), major depression, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes. However, not everyone who experiences a stressful event (even a traumatic one) will become ill or experience an increase in OCD symptoms. Even under extreme circumstances such as war or violent physical assault, the majority of people will not go on to develop a serious mental or physical illness. Part of the reason why some people are resilient in the face of stressful circumstances appears to be the way that they cope. What Is Coping? Coping refers to the thoughts and actions that you use to deal with stress. In large part, feeling stressed or not depends on whether you believe that you have the coping resources to deal with the challenges that are facing you. For example, imagine that your boss has come to you with a large project that needs to be completed by the end of the month. If you believe that you have the required knowledge, resources, and time to complete the project, it will seem a lot less stressful than if you believe that you don’t have these things going for you. As long as you believe that you can cope successfully with a given challenge, even the most daunting of circumstances is not likely to seem overwhelmingly stressful. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the perception of whether you have the ability or resources to cope with stress is subjective. Two people who, on paper, have identical skills and resources may look at the same problem and come to different conclusions. One person may believe that dealing with the challenge will be a piece of cake (or even fun), while the other may be left feeling hopeless and depressed about the situation. Your ?perceived ability to cope with stress depends on many factors including your: Current moodStress levelSelf-esteemPast experiencesAvailable resources (such as money, time, and  social support) The worse your mood, the higher your stress, the lower your self-esteem, the worse your past experiences, and the fewer resources that you have, the more difficulty you will have coping with stress. In other words, the more you perceive your situation as difficult, the less resilient you will become. Coping Strategies Most coping strategies fall into one of two broad categories: Problem-focused coping strategies: These are used to tackle the problem directly. For example, if you were experiencing an unusual pain or symptom, you might make an appointment with your doctor or therapist instead of letting things get worse. If you had a conflict with a friend, you might call him up and ask him to meet you for coffee to talk through your differences, rather ignoring him for the next week. In both cases, you would be taking steps to deal with the actual source of your stress.Emotion-focused coping strategies: These are used to handle feelings of distress, rather than the actual problem. For example, if you had an upcoming exam in a difficult class, you might lie in bed blaming yourself or others for your misfortune instead of studying for the exam. If you received criticism from a co-worker, you might call in sick for the rest of the week rather than calmly discussing the issue with him or her. In each case, you would be acting to minimize your emotional distress, not affect the underlying problem. In general, people do best both psychologically and physically when they deal directly with the source of their stress, rather than sweeping their problems under the rug. Although it can be difficult and it requires courage, the more that you use problem-focused coping strategies, the better you’ll feel in the long run. 5 Ways to Deal With Emotional Stress Progressing With a Plan When trying out coping strategies, make note of how you feel with each attempt. Its helpful to view your progress as a journey rather than demanding unrealistic results of yourselfâ€"which, in turn, can put you under more stress. Having an open and honest discussion with your therapist or mental health professional is also key. Together, you can notice what works, what doesnt, and what strategies to try in the future. OCD Discussion Guide Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctors appointment. Download PDF The Importance of Being Proactive Living with  OCD presents a number of challenges that require good coping strategies to be in place. Its important to be proactive. For example: If you notice that symptoms are getting worse, consult your doctor or therapist. Don’t wait until your symptoms are so severe that you are unable to leave the house or take care of things at work.If you feel that your medication isn’t working properly or that its causing you side effects, let your doctor know. Don’t stop taking your medication in the hopes that the issues will improve on their own. Other medications are often available and they may be better matches for you.If you are unsure about how to manage your illness, learn as much as you can about your illness from reputable sources.If you feel uncomfortable with a treatment that you are receiving, let your doctor or therapist know your concerns. Don’t pretend that everything is fine. You are much more likely stick with a treatment that you like.If your family or friends are not comfortable discussing your illness, find a support group where you can get help and share your feelings. Don’t isolate yourself from the v ital social support that you need. Bottom Line Dealing with OCD is much easier when you take a problem-solving approach to lifes trials, rather than react emotionally. Sure, its frightening to take charge of your illness, but studies show that doing so can work. If life is going well for you right now, this may be the perfect time to work at building your resilience  for tough times. At times, even this will seem difficult, and you will wonder how you can really change something that feels more like your personality than the way you cope with stress. The best time to begin is today.

Literature Review Canadian Prevention Plan - 768 Words

Review of the Literature The literature on the military soldiers in association with PTSD, TBI, depression, and substance abuse is extensive. Yet, there are less conclusive studies with the topics shown above and AD. Also, a majority of the literary research with military personnel are mostly on U.S. soldiers. There are only a few studies showing Canadian statistics of AD and mental health disorders. Fortunately, the Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia association has a section of research on the military that is available to the public. The keywords used were MOS risk factors, Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s disease risk factors, veterans, military, along with preventative and outreach treatment. The following literature review is broken down into four sections called prevention plans, military risk factors for AD, pre-deployment and post-deployment risk factors, including current research using neuroimaging. Prevention Plans Canadian Prevention Plan The Canadian government is aware that there is a widespread of dementia among the aging population. Dementia is a general term for the decline in mental ability such as memory loss and thinking capacity that interferes with a person’s daily functioning (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015). AD is a class of dementia that produces problems with memory, thinking, and behaviour (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015). At present, there is no cure for AD. The National Dementia Research and Prevention Plan (2014) was devised by the government of CanadaShow MoreRelatedThe Transitional Federal Health Plan Of Canada1263 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The Interim Federal Health Plan of Canada [IFHP] sets out a guideline of specific healthcare costs that the government of Canada covers for refugees, protected persons and victims of human trafficking. 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The Work Definitions Of Religion - 2779 Words

Throughout the course of our study, we have encountered many different working definitions of religion. The working definitions provided by Émile Durkheim, William James, and Paul Tillich, all neglect to holistically capture the observable, individual, and social effect religion delivers to an individual and his community. It was not until the end of the twentieth century, when Clifford Geertz and Gerald James Larson provided a working definition that associated religion with the concept of culture. Additionally, Geertz and Larson further developed the definition of religion to include cultural symbols. Moreover, defining religion with the ability to influence reasoning within a community of individuals. In the context of this class and†¦show more content†¦Therefore, religion should be categorized more as a means of life rather than a rigid, unchanging set of rules that is apparent within an individual’s life. Both Buddhism and Confucianism have no condemnation t owards other religions. Therefore, both Buddhism and Confucianism open-mindedly allow followers to explore other practices and ultimately discover their own self. Something considered not religious would evoke no change amongst an individual or the community he exists in. The textbook addresses the issue between distinguishing what doing religion is and being religious is. Distinguishing what doing religion is between what being religious is overlooks a considerable aspect of religion: what religion achieves. Rudolf Otto states that not all religious acts or experiences such as Nirvana in Buddhism or â€Å"prayer and meditation† can be fully captured by â€Å"empirical observation.† Thus, it is impossible to distinguish what doing religion is between what being religious is without experiencing the act yourself. The working definition established earlier exemplifies what religion means. If an individual’s actions or experiences create change within the individual on a personal level, then the action or experience would be considered religious. Therefore, religion should be defined in terms of its impact on an individual and its ability to

The Lost Symbol Chapter 37-39 Free Essays

string(35) " her whole head under the ethanol\." CHAPTER 37 Mal’akh had seen some eerie spaces in his life, but few rivaled the unearthly world of Pod 3. Wet Pod. The massive room looked as if a mad scientist had taken over a Walmart and packed every aisle and shelf with specimen jars of all shapes and sizes. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Symbol Chapter 37-39 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lit like a photographic darkroom, the space was bathed in a reddish haze of â€Å"safelight† that emanated from beneath the shelves, filtering upward and illuminating the ethanol-filled containers. The clinical smell of preservative chemicals was nauseating. â€Å"This pod houses over twenty thousand species,† the chubby girl was saying. â€Å"Fish, rodents, mammals, reptiles.† â€Å"All dead, I hope?† Mal’akh asked, making a show of sounding nervous. The girl laughed. â€Å"Yes, yes. All very much dead. I’ll admit, I didn’t dare come in for at least six months after I started work.† Mal’akh could understand why. Everywhere he looked there were specimen jars of dead life- forms–salamanders, jellyfish, rats, bugs, birds, and other things he could not begin to identify. As if this collection were not unsettling enough on its own, the hazy red safelights that protected these photosensitive specimens from long-term light exposure gave the visitor the feeling he was standing inside a giant aquarium, where lifeless creatures were somehow congregating to watch from the shadows. â€Å"That’s a coelacanth,† the girl said, pointing to a big Plexiglas container that held the ugliest fish Mal’akh had ever seen. â€Å"They were thought to be extinct with the dinosaurs, but this was caught off Africa a few years back and donated to the Smithsonian.† Lucky you, Mal’akh thought, barely listening. He was busy scanning the walls for security cameras. He saw only one–trained on the entry door–not surprising, considering that entrance was probably the only way in. â€Å"And here is what you wanted to see . . .† she said, leading him to the giant tank he had seen from the window. â€Å"Our longest specimen.† She swept her arm out over the vile creature like a game-show host displaying a new car. â€Å"Architeuthis.† The squid tank looked like a series of glass phone booths had been laid on their sides and fused end to end. Within the long, clear Plexiglas coffin hovered a sickeningly pale and amorphous shape. Mal’akh gazed down at the bulbous, saclike head and its basketball-size eyes. â€Å"Almost makes your coelacanth look handsome,† he said. â€Å"Wait till you see her lit.† Trish flipped back the long lid of the tank. Ethanol fumes wafted out as she reached down into the tank and flipped a switch just above the liquid line. A string of fluorescent lights flickered to life along the entire base of the tank. Architeuthis was now shining in all her glory–a colossal head attached to a slithery mass of decaying tentacles and razor-sharp suckers. She began talking about how Architeuthis could beat a sperm whale in a fight. Mal’akh heard only empty prattling. The time had come. Trish Dunne always felt a bit uneasy in Pod 3, but the chill that had just run through her felt different. Visceral. Primal. She tried to ignore it, but it grew quickly now, clawing deeply at her. Although Trish could not seem to place the source of her anxiety, her gut was clearly telling her it was time to leave. â€Å"Anyhow, that’s the squid,† she said, reaching into the tank and turning off the display light. â€Å"We should probably get back to Katherine’s–â€Å" A broad palm clamped hard over her mouth, yanking her head back. Instantly, a powerful arm was wrapped around her torso, pinning her against a rock-hard chest. For a split second, Trish went numb with shock. Then came the terror. The man groped across her chest, grabbing her key card and yanking down hard. The cord burned the back of her neck before snapping. The key card fell on the floor at their feet. She fought, trying to twist away, but she was no match for the man’s size and strength. She tried to scream, but his hand remained tightly across her mouth. He leaned down and placed his mouth next to her ear, whispering, â€Å"When I take my hand off your mouth, you will not scream, is that clear?† She nodded vigorously, her lungs burning for air. I can’t breathe! The man removed his hand from her mouth, and Trish gasped, inhaling deeply. â€Å"Let me go!† she demanded, breathless. â€Å"What the hell are you doing?† â€Å"Tell me your PIN number,† the man said. Trish felt totally at a loss. Katherine! Help! Who is this man?! â€Å"Security can see you!† she said, knowing full well they were out of range of the cameras. And nobody is watching anyway. â€Å"Your PIN number,† the man repeated. â€Å"The one that matches your key card.† An icy fear churned in her gut, and Trish spun violently, wriggling an arm free and twisting around, clawing at the man’s eyes. Her fingers hit flesh and raked down one cheek. Four dark gashes opened on his flesh where she scratched him. Then she realized the dark stripes on his flesh were not blood. The man was wearing makeup, which she had just scratched off, revealing dark tattoos hidden underneath. Who is this monster?! With seemingly superhuman strength, the man spun her around and hoisted her up, pushing her out over the open squid tank, her face now over the ethanol. The fumes burned her nostrils. â€Å"What is your PIN number?† he repeated. Her eyes burned, and she could see the pale flesh of the squid submerged beneath her face. â€Å"Tell me,† he said, pushing her face closer to the surface. â€Å"What is it?† Her throat was burning now. â€Å"Zero-eight-zero-four!† she blurted, barely able to breathe. â€Å"Let me go! Zero-eight-zero-four!† â€Å"If you’re lying,† he said, pushing down farther, her hair in the ethanol now. â€Å"I’m not lying!† she said, coughing. â€Å"August 4! It’s my birthday!† â€Å"Thank you, Trish.† His powerful hands clasped her head tighter, and a crushing force rammed her downward, plunging her face into the tank. Searing pain burned her eyes. The man pressed down harder, driving her whole head under the ethanol. You read "The Lost Symbol Chapter 37-39" in category "Essay examples" Trish felt her face pressing into the fleshy head of the squid. Summoning all of her strength, she bucked violently, arching backward, trying to pull her head out of the tank. But the powerful hands did not budge. I have to breathe! She remained submerged, straining not to open her eyes or mouth. Her lungs burned as she fought the powerful urge to breathe in. No! Don’t! But Trish’s inhalation reflex finally took over. Her mouth flew open, and her lungs expanded violently, attempting to suck in the oxygen that her body craved. In a searing rush, a wave of ethanol poured into her mouth. As the chemicals gushed down her throat into her lungs, Trish felt a pain like nothing she had ever imagined possible. Mercifully, it lasted only a few seconds before her world went black. Mal’akh stood beside the tank, catching his breath and surveying the damage. The lifeless woman lay slumped over the rim of the tank, her face still submerged in ethanol. Seeing her there, Mal’akh flashed on the only other woman he had ever killed. Isabel Solomon. Long ago. Another life. Mal’akh gazed down now at the woman’s flaccid corpse. He grabbed her ample hips and lifted with his legs, hoisting her up, pushing forward, until she began to slide over the rim of the squid tank. Trish Dunne slithered headfirst down into the ethanol. The rest of her body followed, sloshing down. Gradually, the ripples subsided, leaving the woman hovering limp over the huge sea creature. As her clothing got heavier, she began to sink, slipping into the darkness. Bit by bit, Trish Dunne’s body settled on top of the great beast. Mal’akh wiped his hands and replaced the Plexiglas lid, sealing the tank. Wet Pod has a new specimen. He retrieved Trish’s key card from the floor and slipped it in his pocket: 0804. When Mal’akh had first seen Trish in the lobby, he’d seen a liability. Then he’d realized her key card and password were his insurance. If Katherine’s data-storage room was as secure as Peter had implied, then Mal’akh was anticipating some challenges persuading Katherine to unlock it for him. I now have my own set of keys. He was pleased to know he would no longer have to waste time bending Katherine to his will. As Mal’akh stood up straight, he saw his own reflection in the window and could tell his makeup was badly mangled. It didn’t matter anymore. By the time Katherine put it all together, it would be too late. CHAPTER 38 â€Å"This room is Masonic?† Sato demanded, turning from the skull and staring at Langdon in the darkness. Langdon nodded calmly. â€Å"It’s called a Chamber of Reflection. These rooms are designed as cold, austere places in which a Mason can reflect on his own mortality. By meditating on the inevitability of death, a Mason gains a valuable perspective on the fleeting nature of life.† Sato looked around the eerie space, apparently not convinced. â€Å"This is some kind of meditation room?† â€Å"Essentially, yes. These chambers always incorporate the same symbols–skull and crossed bones, scythe, hourglass, sulfur, salt, blank paper, a candle, et cetera. The symbols of death inspire Masons to ponder how better to lead their lives while on this earth.† â€Å"It looks like a death shrine,† Anderson said. That’s kind of the point. â€Å"Most of my symbology students have the same reaction at first.† Langdon often assigned them Symbols of Freemasonry by Beresniak, which contained beautiful photos of Chambers of Reflection. â€Å"And your students,† Sato demanded, â€Å"don’t find it unnerving that Masons meditate with skulls and scythes?† â€Å"No more unnerving than Christians praying at the feet of a man nailed to a cross, or Hindus chanting in front of a four-armed elephant named Ganesh. Misunderstanding a culture’s symbols is a common root of prejudice.† Sato turned away, apparently in no mood for a lecture. She moved toward the table of artifacts. Anderson tried to light her way with the flashlight, but the beam was beginning to dim. He tapped the heel of the light and coaxed it to burn a little brighter. As the threesome moved deeper into the narrow space, the pungent tang of sulfur filled Langdon’s nostrils. The subbasement was damp, and the humidity in the air was activating the sulfur in the bowl. Sato arrived at the table and stared down at the skull and accompanying objects. Anderson joined her, doing his best to light the desk with the weakening beam of his flashlight. Sato examined everything on the table and then placed her hands on her hips, sighing. â€Å"What is all this junk?† The artifacts in this room, Langdon knew, were carefully selected and arranged. â€Å"Symbols of transformation,† he told her, feeling confined as he inched forward and joined them at the table. â€Å"The skull, or caput mortuum, represents man’s final transformation through decay; it’s a reminder that we all shed our mortal flesh one day. The sulfur and salt are alchemical catalysts that facilitate transformation. The hourglass represents the transformational power of time.† He motioned to the unlit candle. â€Å"And this candle represents the formative primordial fire and the awakening of man from his ignorant slumber–transformation through illumination.† â€Å"And . . . that?† Sato asked, pointing into the corner. Anderson swung his dimming flashlight beam to the giant scythe that leaned against the back wall. â€Å"Not a death symbol, as most assume,† Langdon said. â€Å"The scythe is actually a symbol of the transformative nourishment of nature–the reaping of nature’s gifts.† Sato and Anderson fell silent, apparently trying to process their bizarre surroundings. Langdon wanted nothing more than to get out of the place. â€Å"I realize this room may seem unusual,† he told them, â€Å"but there’s nothing to see here; it’s really quite normal. A lot of Masonic lodges have chambers exactly like this one.† â€Å"But this is not a Masonic lodge!†Anderson declared. â€Å"It’s the U.S. Capitol, and I’d like to know what the hell this room is doing in my building.† â€Å"Sometimes Masons set aside rooms like this in their offices or private homes as meditation spaces. It is not uncommon.† Langdon knew a heart surgeon in Boston who had converted a closet in his office into a Masonic Chamber of Reflection so he could ponder mortality before going into surgery. Sato looked troubled. â€Å"You’re saying Peter Solomon comes down here to reflect on death?† â€Å"I really don’t know,† Langdon said sincerely. â€Å"Maybe he created it as a sanctuary for his Masonic brothers who work in the building, giving them a spiritual sanctuary away from the chaos of the material world . . . a place for a powerful lawmaker to reflect before making decisions that affect his fellow man.† â€Å"Lovely sentiment,† Sato said, her tone sarcastic, â€Å"but I have a feeling Americans might have a problem with their leaders praying in closets with scythes and skulls.† Well, they shouldn’t, Langdon thought, imagining how different a world it might be if more leaders took time to ponder the finality of death before racing off to war. Sato pursed her lips and carefully surveyed all four corners of the candle lit chamber. â€Å"There must be something in here besides human bones and bowls of chemicals, Professor. Someone transported you all the way from your home in Cambridge to be in this precise room.† Langdon clutched his daybag to his side, still unable to imagine how the package he carried might relate to this chamber. â€Å"Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I don’t see anything out of the ordinary here.† Langdon hoped that now at last they could get to the business of trying to find Peter. Anderson’s light flickered again, and Sato spun on him, her temper starting to show. â€Å"For Christ’s sake, is it too much to ask?† She plunged her hand into her pocket and yanked out a cigarette lighter. Striking her thumb on the flint, she held out the flame and lit the desk’s lone candle. The wick sputtered and then caught, spreading a ghostly luminescence throughout the constricted space. Long shadows raked the stone walls. As the flame grew brighter, an unexpected sight materialized before them. â€Å"Look!† Anderson said, pointing. In the candlelight, they could now see a faded patch of graffiti–seven capital letters scrawled across the rear wall. VITRIOL â€Å"An odd choice of word,† Sato said as the candlelight cast a frightening skull-shaped silhouette across the letters. â€Å"Actually, it’s an acronym,† Langdon said. â€Å"It’s written on the rear wall of most chambers like this as a shorthand for the Masonic meditative mantra: Visita interiora terrae, rectificando invenies occultum lapidem.† Sato eyed him, looking almost impressed. â€Å"Meaning?† â€Å"Visit the interior of the earth, and by rectifying, you will find the hidden stone.† Sato’s gaze sharpened. â€Å"Does the hidden stone have any connection to a hidden pyramid?† Langdon shrugged, not wanting to encourage the comparison. â€Å"Those who enjoy fantasizing about hidden pyramids in Washington would tell you that occultum lapidem refers to the stone pyramid, yes. Others will tell you it’s a reference to the Philosopher’s Stone–a substance alchemists believed could bring them everlasting life or turn lead into gold. Others claim it’s a reference to the Holy of Holies, a hidden stone chamber at the core of the Great Temple. Some say it’s a Christian reference to the hidden teachings of Saint Peter–the Rock. Every esoteric tradition interprets `the stone’ in its own way, but invariably the occultum lapidem is a source of power and enlightenment.† Anderson cleared his throat. â€Å"Is it possible Solomon lied to this guy? Maybe he told him there was something down here . . . and there really isn’t.† Langdon was having similar thoughts. Without warning, the candle flame flickered, as if caught by a draft. It dimmed for a moment and then recovered, burning brightly again. â€Å"That’s odd,† Anderson said. â€Å"I hope no one closed the door upstairs.† He strode out of the chamber into the darkness of the hallway. â€Å"Hello?† Langdon barely noticed him leave. His gaze had been drawn suddenly to the rear wall. What just happened? â€Å"Did you see that?† Sato asked, also staring with alarm at the wall. Langdon nodded, his pulse quickening. What did I just see? A moment earlier, the rear wall seemed to have shimmered, as if a ripple of energy had passed through it. Anderson now strode back into the room. â€Å"No one’s out there.† As he entered, the wall shimmered again. â€Å"Holy shit!† he exclaimed, jumping back. All three stood mute for a long moment, staring in unison at the back wall. Langdon felt another chill run through him as he realized what they were seeing. He reached out tentatively, until his fingertips touched the rear surface of the chamber. â€Å"It’s not a wall,† he said. Anderson and Sato stepped closer, peering intently. â€Å"It’s a canvas,† Langdon said. â€Å"But it billowed,† Sato said quickly. Yes, in a very strange way. Langdon examined the surface more closely. The sheen on the canvas had refracted the candlelight in a startling manner because the canvas had just billowed away from the room . . . fluttering backward through the plane of the rear wall. Langdon extended his outstretched fingers very gently, pressing the canvas backward. Startled, he yanked his hand back. There’s an opening! â€Å"Pull it aside,† Sato ordered. Langdon’s heart pounded wildly now. He reached up and clutched the edge of the canvas banner, slowly pulling the fabric to one side. He stared in disbelief at what lay hidden behind it. My God. Sato and Anderson stood in stunned silence as they looked through the opening in the rear wall. Finally, Sato spoke. â€Å"It appears we’ve just found our pyramid.† CHAPTER 39 Robert Langdon stared at the opening in the rear wall of the chamber. Hidden behind the canvas banner, a perfectly square hole had been hollowed out of the wall. The opening, about three feet across, appeared to have been created by removing a series of bricks. For a moment, in the darkness, Langdon thought the hole was a window to a room beyond. Now he saw it was not. The opening extended only a few feet into the wall before terminating. Like a rough-hewn cubbyhole, the recessed niche reminded Langdon of a museum alcove designed to hold a statuette. Fittingly, this niche displayed one small object. About nine inches tall, it was a piece of carved, solid granite. The surface was elegant and smooth with four polished sides that shone in the candlelight. Langdon could not fathom what it was doing here. A stone pyramid? â€Å"From your look of surprise,† Sato said, sounding self-satisfied, â€Å"I take it this object is not typical within a Chamber of Reflection?† Langdon shook his head. â€Å"Then perhaps you would like to reassess your previous claims regarding the legend of a Masonic Pyramid hidden in Washington?† Her tone now was almost smug. â€Å"Director,† Langdon replied instantly, â€Å"this little pyramid is not the Masonic Pyramid.† â€Å"So it is merely coincidence that we found a pyramid hidden at the heart of the U.S. Capitol in a secret chamber belonging to a Masonic leader?† Langdon rubbed his eyes and tried to think clearly. â€Å"Ma’am, this pyramid doesn’t resemble the myth in any way. The Masonic Pyramid is described as enormous, with a tip forged of solid gold.† Moreover, Langdon knew, this little pyramid–with its flat top–was not even a true pyramid. Without its tip, this was another symbol entirely. Known as an Unfinished Pyramid, it was a symbolic reminder that man’s ascent to his full human potential was always a work in progress. Though few realized it, this symbol was the most widely published symbol on earth. Over twenty billion in print. Adorning every one-dollar bill in circulation, the Unfinished Pyramid waited patiently for its shining capstone, which hovered above it as a reminder of America’s yet- unfulfilled destiny and the work yet to be done, both as a country and as individuals. â€Å"Lift it down,† Sato said to Anderson, motioning to the pyramid. â€Å"I want a closer look.† She began making room on the desk by shoving the skull and crossed bones to one side with no reverence whatsoever. Langdon was starting to feel like they were common grave robbers, desecrating a personal shrine. Anderson maneuvered past Langdon, reached into the niche, and clamped his large palms on either side of the pyramid. Then, barely able to lift at this awkward angle, he slid the pyramid toward him and lowered it with a hard thud onto the wooden desk. He stepped back to give Sato room. The director repositioned the candle close to the pyramid and studied its polished surface. Slowly, she ran her tiny fingers over it, examining every inch of the flat top, and then the sides. She wrapped her hands around to feel the back, then frowned in apparent disappointment. â€Å"Professor, earlier you said the Masonic Pyramid was constructed to protect secret information.† â€Å"That’s the legend, yes.† â€Å"So, hypothetically speaking, if Peter’s captor believed this was the Masonic Pyramid, he would believe it contained powerful information.† Langdon nodded, exasperated. â€Å"Yes, although even if he found this information, he probably would not be able to read it. According to legend, the contents of the pyramid are encoded, making them indecipherable . . . except to the most worthy.† â€Å"I beg your pardon?† Despite Langdon’s growing impatience, he replied with an even tone. â€Å"Mythological treasures are always protected by tests of worthiness. As you may recall, in the legend of the Sword in the Stone, the stone refuses to give up the sword except to Arthur, who was spiritually prepared to wield the sword’s awesome power. The Masonic Pyramid is based on the same idea. In this case, the information is the treasure, and it is said to be written in an encoded language–a mystical tongue of lost words–legible only to the worthy.† A faint smile crossed Sato’s lips. â€Å"That may explain why you were summoned here tonight.† â€Å"I’m sorry?† Calmly, Sato rotated the pyramid in place, turning it a full 180 degrees. The pyramid’s fourth side now shone in the candlelight. Robert Langdon stared at it with surprise. â€Å"It appears,† Sato said, â€Å"that someone believes you’re worthy.† How to cite The Lost Symbol Chapter 37-39, Essay examples

Observation Report free essay sample

As everything knows to observe is not an easy job, many aspects are involved in this process and to be able to manage these aspects we must learn from the experiences. I have observed a class and I realized about many things that I will do in a near future. I always thought that teaching was easy. Throughout my life teachers have been teaching me many things but I have never wondered how they do that job. I have observed 5 aspects in a classroom, namely; activities, use of target language and mother tongue, materials, behavior and topic. I will start with activities. When I arrived to the school (Harmond hall) I was waiting for the teacher. When she arrived we talk about some aspects of my visit. The class started 10 minutes late but it wasn’t a problem. I have to tell that there were many activities in the classroom. She probably used activities that she has learned as a student or as her teacher experience, she gave instructions very well and the students understood what they have to do with those activities. Activities were very interesting and encouraged the students to have a good interaction. In the speaking activities the students didn’t participate, they were only listening to what the teacher was saying and they were a bit nervous about what to say. According to Ur (1999) the teacher must teach, firstly the vocabulary and pronunciation in order to rehearse and improve this kind of activity. Another good activity was when the teacher made teams of 4 members and they were talking about what they studied in the textbook. There were talking but frequently they forgot the vocabulary of the unit. The teacher was helping them in repeating the vocabulary many times as possible, as Ur(1999) says. Another aspect I observed was the use of language (Target language and mother tongue). In Teaching Monolingual Classes (1993). Atkinson suggests a careful, limited use of mother tongue to help students get the maximum benefit from activities which in other respects will be carried out in the target language. The mother tongue may be useful in the procedural stages of a class, for example: setting up pair and group work, sorting out an activity which is clearly not working, checking comprehension. I observed that when they working on pairs there were speaking in mother tongue, they couldn’t express in target language as I think despite they have a good teacher with an excellent pronunciation but it is comprehensible because they are beginners. The students tried to speak in English and they did it well. Atkinson (1993) also suggests using the mother tongue for translation as a teaching technique. Indeed the teacher was explaining and speaking in English (Target language) all the time but when she realized that the students didn’t understand she explained in Spanish (Mother tongue) but it wasn’t frequently. I think it is so important because to explain things just cant be done any other way and it would be so difficult to teach the target language. About materials I can mention that the teacher uses a little wide of materials. She used authentic materials. According to Purcell-Gates, Degener, Jacobson, and Soler, (2001) authentic materials are print, video, and audio materials students encounter in their daily lives, such as change of address forms, job applications, menus, voice mail messages, radio programs, and videos. Authentic materials are not created specifically to be used in the classroom, but they make excellent learning tools for students precisely because they are authentic and there are two main categories of authentic materials—print and auditory. In this case teacher used a print materials, she used a magazines and greeting cards. She showed a magazine with an extensive vocabulary about what they had seen, with many pictures and aids but the teachers told the students to make an scanning read in order to understand about what the topic is. Authentic materials help students bridge the gap between the classroom and the outside world. Many students enroll in school to learn or improve a language-related task, such as helping a child with homework or speaking English at work. These kinds of materials caught the attention of the students and encouraged them to participate actively in the class. Also the teacher used flashcards asking them what the pictures mean. It motivated the students to speak in English because the pictures weren’t hard to explain. Changing the subject, I would like to talk about the behaviour of the students. When I was in the class some students weren’t paying attention for a while to the explanation that the teacher was giving, they were talking or listening music. â€Å"There are many reasons for problem behaviour. It can stem from a student’s reactions to their teacher’s behaviour, from other factor inside the classroom, or from outside factors† (Harmer, 2001). According to what he says family problems can have a profound influence on their attitudes to learning and to authority. In this case the teacher didn’t paid attention to their behaviour and continued explaining the class. And according to Harmer (2001) she must act immediately because if she doesn’t do that the problem will be more difficult to deal. But a noteworthy point was that the teacher kept the calm and didn’t lost the control. But I must to clarify that the behaviour of the students weren’t all the time, every 20 minutes or so. To finish this report I will give my opinion about the topic, it was very interesting. The students were involved actively in the topic and they liked it. The teacher was identified with the topic and was very active. The students were responding her questions very well. A relaxing atmosphere was felt. To sum up, I learnt much about this observation there are many things that I can do when I will give my class.  I am conscious that I am building my future but for reach that objective I must observe everything around me.

Major Constitutional Powers of the Presidency and how they changed over the Years

What Is Art essays

What Is Art essays Art is either plagiarism or revolution. Paul Gauguin (18481903), French artist. Quoted in: Huneker, Pathos of Distance, p. 128. Defining art is a very difficult thing to do. Choosing one characteristic over another would be unfair. Art and literature cant be based on good characteristics in a book or one way of painting or sculpting. You cant say that music is only good when it has words. So the question is what makes something art? Art can be defined as a unique style, something that has never been done before. Everyone is different, even the most identical twins dont share the same fingerprints. Everyone is also born with there own sense of style, there own thoughts and ideas. Art can not be art if you are coping other peoples style. A not very well known book or piece of art can still be considered art as long as it holds its own unique style. Take Pablo Picasso for example he changed modern art as we know it. Picasso didnt want people to copy him or his style. Painting is a blind mans profession. He paints not what he sees, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen. Pablo Picasso From this quote I am led to believe that its not his intentions for people to copy him. Art comes from within, you cant copy someone else and say thats how you feel. If you were to ask a 100 people what there feelings on art were, I bet that you wouldnt receive the same exact answer from any two people. So for someone to have the same style of someone else, is impossible. How can yo u feel, think or act out the same ways as someone else you cant. Oh, yes even Cow Poop Mary is art. The Virgin Mary has been done in many medians, but this artist seen something new something unique. It wasnt the same oil on canvas painting of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. This had never been done before. And even ...

A research proposal with a project management plan Essay

A research proposal with a project management plan - Essay Example The council does so by ensuring that the registration system of nurse is not compromised as well as necessary guidance and intervention in the nursing discipline. However, this is on the technical bit. Availability of personnel will be the prerequisite for the application and the effectiveness of this council’s effort in meeting their mandate. But availability is the main problem in the whole nursing profession in the globe. This raises the need for a workable plan that Nursing Council of Hong Kong can apply to ensure that the available RN is well utilized and is able to meet the raising need for health care in Hong Kong society. The scope of this research project is to develop a nursing program that will be implemented through Nursing Council of Hong Kong. Therefore, all the registered nurses as well as upcoming nurses form the scope of this project. The nurses to be interviewed and the focus group discussion groups will be developed from the already existing list of registered nurses in Nursing Council’s database and nursing students emails in the universities data base. Among the issues to be considered when sampling will be nursing experience level of the respondents, cost and time constraints as well as accountability and program orientations. Nursing is the main pillar of any health system in the world (Jamison, 2006, p.1). The nature of training and the kind of work done by nurses’ makes the core of patient’s healing and recovery. Nurses remain with the patient long after the doctors have left to ensure that the patients are comfortable as well as are able to take medication prescribed by the doctors. Healthcare thus needs more nurses than any other healthcare practitioner. Hong Kong nursing workforce is majorly dominated by female (Chan, 2012, p. 15). These nurses are required by law to be enrolled and registered for practice. However, the levels of nurses’ registration in Hong

How civil war changed families Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How civil war changed families - Assignment Example Why should only men be able to fight for what they believed in? Also of course a soldier earned roughly double what any woman, whatever her profession or trade, could earn at the time. A ‘man’ had freedom which a woman could not enjoy, so some of these women kept up the pretence for the rest of their lives, although the majority were spotted at some early point. Jenny Hodgers was one of the women who believed that there were more opportunities given to young men than would ever be available to women at that time. It is even possible that she saw it as the only way she could survive in her adopted country. Righthand gives an estimate of about 400 such women who actually served as soldiers. ( Righthand 2011) Yet in 1909 the United States Army issued a statement, saying that they denied the fact :- Any woman was ever enlisted in the military service of the United States as a member of any organization of the Regular or Volunteer Army at any time during the period of the civil war. (quoted by Johnson, 2009). Jennie Irene Hodgers was one such woman. Born in Ireland into a poor family she somehow managed to survive the famine and eventually arrived in America, perhaps from Belfast. The date is uncertain, but she possibly already dressed as a man. Crombie suggests that she was a stowaway ( Crombie , 2005). One suggestion is that her step father made her dress as a boy in order that she could earn the family necessary money ( Vicksburg National Park , undated). She took work as a labourer, as a shepherd and as a farmhand, but America was already split by war, and had been so since 1861. Aged only 19 in 1862 she enlisted in the 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment ( O Coisdealha, 2010). There was a medical examination, but this was only concerned with the eyes and ears of the new recruits. She didn’t even have to commit forgery as she could neither read or write, so just made her mark (Crombie, 2005). There was no space on the form for writing male or female. It simply wasnâ€℠¢t considered as a possibility. There followed a month or so of basic military training and then the company marched off to Kentucky and their real war began. During the next three years Jennie would march some 10,000 miles back and forth as the war progressed. Despite being only 5’ 3†, and so one of the shortest people in the regiment , she held her own in some 40 battles under the leadership of General Ulysses S.Grant. She was simply thought of as a bit of a loner , as when he /she sought privacy for such things as bathing. It is believed that the other soldiers were unaware of her true gender. This she was able to keep up even when she had a severe attack of diarrhea (Vicksberg National Park, undated). She was captured at the siege of Vicksburg, but escaped by knocking her guard cold. She managed to get through the whole war without serious injury, although there were times when many around her suffered serious wounds. This meant her body was never examined closely a ll that time . Years later when her true identity was finally revealed one of her former messmates would say :- â€Å"I never suspected at any time all through the service that Cashier was a woman.† There was agreement that she pulled her weight as well as any other soldier. The men slept in the clothing they had worn all day. Sometimes they would go weeks without undressing and bathing. All of this would help Jenny to keep up her deception. The war was over at last in August 1965, and she, along with all the other soldiers, was demustered with an honourable discharge. She was then left to make her own way ion life , as were all the other veterans. Faced with an uncertain future she decided to keep up the disguise. She returned to the one place she knew well, Illinois , where of course she was

Assessment Frameworks of Multiple Stressors

Assessment Frameworks of Multiple Stressors A review of environmental and human health risk assessment frameworks of multiple stressors: the case of endocrine disruptors Abstract This review is a compilation of the recommended approaches and methods for the development of a risk assessment framework of multiple stressors. Some of the driving forces contributing to address this subject are the current demands of stakeholders like the drinking water industry, the society and regulators of evaluating the risks of mixtures of contaminants that may harm human beings and the environment. Therefore, our work aims at exploring the possibility of integrating within the risk assessment, environmental, human and societal aspects, acknowledging new international regulations and policies for the safe use of chemicals which enforce the integrative study of the hazards of multiple chemicals on humans and the environment throughout their life-cycle. We chose the group of compounds called endocrine disruptors as an example of multiple stressors because of their emerging relevance and the fact that they usually integrate complex mixtures, originate from multiple sources and ex ist in several environmental compartments, generating adverse effects on receptors through different routes and pathways. Their actions may be severe chronic and long-term modifications of the normal development and reproduction patterns of the individual and/or its progeny, eventually representing systemic risks at the population level which may affect sustainability and biodiversity. Due to the ubiquity of these chemicals, it is necessary to address the inclusion of human beings as potential receptors and deal with risk assessment in an integrated manner. As endocrine disruptors may provoke differentiated responses relative to the developmental stage, acting through varied mechanisms and at very low concentrations, with the particularity that their toxicokinetics may present sometimes unusual dose-response curves, might challenge long-term predictions and hazard characterization, adding to risk assessment uncertainties. References to the current methodologies including the applica ble bioassays, chemical analysis, modeling, statistics tools and equations to calculate joint effects considering the interactions of toxicants within a mixture are also discussed in this review. KEY WORDS: risk assessment, endocrine disruptors, multiple stressors 1. Introduction The aim of this review is to analyze the risk assessment frameworks and current practices, the integration of environmental and human health methodologies, the effects evaluation and how to assess the risk of complex mixtures of chemicals. Assessing the risks of multiple stressors for human health and the environment arises from the realization that biological and physical stressors usually coexist in complex mixtures in the natural and constructed environment, sometimes generating impacts on living creatures. Historically, since the publication in 1962 of the book â€Å"Silent Spring†, by Rachel Carson, a warning on the deleterious actions on wildlife of persistent toxicants, such as DDT, which caused a decrease of birds in Pennsylvania, became presentwas recognised among the scientific world, the media and the society. More recently, the research by Dr. Theo Colborn on the reproductive disorders of predators in the Great Lakes of North America and her book, published in 1996 â€Å"Our Stolen Future† co-authored by herself with Dianne Dumanoski and John Peterson Myers, was able to generate public awareness on the threats that EDCs might pose to human beings and the environment. Some of the driving forces for writing this review are the demands of stakeholders represented by the community, the NGOs, the health and environmental regulators, the manufacture industrial sector and the drinking water companies. For instance, the European Environment and Health Strategy emphatically stresses the gaps in knowledge related to risk assessment methodologies that include foetuses, infants and children and calls for the precautionary principle within the strategy for environmental contaminants, for which there is a sufficient level of scientific evidence at the effect level (e.g. molecular, cellular, or tissue-related) to show the likelihood of health impacts. Not enough information exists on the link between emissions of dioxins and PCBs and other substances and their accumulation in ecosystems and foodstuffs. The need for research on the understanding of the links between environmental factors and certain diseases is recognized, but, due to the complexity of the issue , the immediate action is to gather evidence in order to concrete measures to protect human health and the environment. Many reports are able to demonstrate through laboratory experiments and field surveys that exposure of animals to chemicals released into the environment exert reproductive or developmental effects on the individual and its off-spring, affecting the viability of the species at a population level (Colborn and Smolen 1997). As a matter of fact, these kind of adverse effects have been observed in wildlife and many of them can be attributed to the exposure to man-made chemicals. The cause-effect relationship is still controversial in human beings, but still a matter of concern due to the severity of probable harm that could affect individuals and populations. Thus, regulatory decisions must be informed by risk assessment on this important topic (Fenner-Crisp 2000). Endocrine-mediated effects may be more relevant in populations rather than in individuals. As there is still not consensus about a cause-effect relationship, it is recommended a science-based precautionary approach to protect public health. Further research is needed to demonstrate effects and carry out birth defect registries and epidemiology studies designed to track delayed effects of environmental exposures (Solomon and Schettler 2000). The classical paradigm of human health risk assessment authored by the National Research Council (NRC, 1983) is composed of four steps: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment and risk characterization. This paradigm was modified in 1994 to include characterization of each component. One of the approaches considered by some authors as best suited for developing a risk assessment of multiple stressors is a cumulative risk assessment framework, which may include societal aspects with participatory involvement of stakeholders (Gentile and Harwell 2001; Callahan and Sexton 2007; USEPA 2003). The global trend towards a policy-driven integration applied to risk assessment, demanded by regulations on safety of chemicals and industrial operations should ideally include a multiplicity of stressors, compartments, geographical scales, and end-points (Assmuth and Hildà ©n 2008). For example, the new European Union Regulation on chemicals and its safe use (REACH, EC 1907/2006) enforces linking risks to human health and the environment for chemicals throughout their life cycle. In United States, the Environmental Protection Agency, still discusses both topics separately because of practical reasons, but acknowledging the need to integrate them. An overview of the most suitable risk assessment frameworks is described in this literature review, focusing on the case of mixtures of reproductive endocrine disruptors. Matters that differentiate this topic are also presented, regarding particularities in mechanistic and toxicokinetics aspects and some of the sources of uncertainties and confounding factors. Developing a novel approach to the classical risk assessment scheme is also a goal, with the intention of contributing to design a risk assessment framework comprising a choice of tests, models, computational and statistical tools. 2. Hazard identification In this stage the nature of the hazard is described taking into account toxicity data. The hazard can then be characterized deriving numerical values of acceptability of the risk, based on mechanisms of action, biological extrapolation, dose-response and dose-effect relationships, and related uncertainties (Fenner-Crisp, 2003). 2.1. Nature of the hazard Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) are substances that interfere with the endocrine system by changing homeostasis and producing developmental effects and/or diminishing the fertility of the organisms. EDCs include a broad range of substances which can be classified according to their effect. The best known are the environmental estrogens, alkylphenol and its ethoxylates, the monomer in polycarbonate manufacture bisphenol A, some pesticides and chlorinated organics. 2.2. Sources of EDCs Possible sources of watercourses pollution with EDCs are wastewater sewage discharge, industrial effluents, or point and non-point source contamination of watercourses with agrochemicals such as herbicides or pesticides. Sewage discharge from cities contains residues of domestic products such as personal care products, pharmaceuticals and detergents and excreta with natural and artificial steroidal hormones from contraceptive pill usage. Nonylphenol (NP) is a highly hydrophobic bioccumulating biodegradation by-product of nonylphenol ethoxylate non-ionic surfactants which persists in sewage sludge and river sediments. Its use and production have been banned in EU countries and strictly monitored in many other countries such as Canada and Japan (Soares et al. 2008). Pulp mills are some of the industries associated to studies on endocrine disruption. Bleached Kraft pulp mill effluents have been linked to both estrogenic and androgenic effects on biota, depending on the process characteristics and wastewater treatment. Several studies have associated the chlorination of organic matter to the estrogenicity of the effluent. Nowadays, the application of elemental-chlorine-free processes has diminished the risk of dioxins and furans formation, but not eliminated it, as other halogenated organics are formed by use of chlorine dioxide as bleaching agent. Various wood-extractive compounds produced in the pulping process, such as rosin acids and phytosterols and found in pulp mills effluents have also been considered potentially responsible of endocrine disruption (Hewitt et al. 2008). The main identified resin acids in pulp mill effluents are: pimaric, isopimaric, sandaracopimaric, palustric, dehydroabietic, abietic and neoabietic acid (Merilà ¤inen and Oikari, 2008). Other compounds found in this type of effluent are phenolic guaiacyl-based lignin degradation products, diterpenoids, and dimethoxy stilbene (Belknap et al, 2006). Modern analytical methods, like full-scan GC-MS have been used to identify wood related extractives in final effluent from a chlorine dioxide bleached pulp mill effluent, including monoterpenes, phenolics, fatty acids, resin acids, resin acid neutrals and sterols (Wartman et al. 2009). Receptor binding bioassays for androgens and estrogens indicated that androgens were most abundant in this effluent and the range of androgens for the various extraction protocols used was 189-283 ng/L as testosterone equivalent concentration. Some examples of common sources of EDCs and typical environmental concentrations are summarized on Table 1. Table 1.Sources of EDCs and typical environmental concentrations Origin, use and occurrence Source of environmental exposure EDC group Example molecule Typical concentrations Reference Industrial (pulp and paper mills) Contaminated fish Resin acids pimaric acid 4-140  µg g-1 Owens et al, 1994 Industrial (pulp and paper mills) Industrial wastewater treatment plant Chlorinated organics 2,4,6-trichlorophenol 1.5  µg l-1 Owens et al, 1994 Industrial (pulp and paper mills) Final stage secondary treatment Phytosterols ÃŽ ²-sitosterol 58.42  µg l-1 Landman et al, 2008 Domestic, (contraceptive pills) Sewage effluent Pharmaceuticals 17ÃŽ ±-ethynylestradiol 14-17 ng l-1 Liu et al, 2004 Human and animal excreta Sewage effluent Natural steroid hormones 17ÃŽ ²-estradiol 5.0 ng l-1 Koh YKK et al, 2007 Domestic and industrial (laundry detergents, wool scouring processes) Sewage sludge Non ionic surfactants 4-nonylphenol 829.3 mg/kg Gonzà ¡lez et al, 2010 Domestic and industrial (polycarbonate bottles) Leaching from solid waste, sewage effluent Polycarbonate bisphenol A 0.62  µg l-1 Sà ¡nchez-Avila et al, 2009 Agricultural (soil fertilization) Livestock waste Male steroid hormones testosterone 10-1830 ng l−1 Lange et al, 2002 Agricultural (dairy farming) Streams contaminated by dairy cow excreta Female steroid hormones 17ÃŽ ²-oestradiol 0.04-3.6 ng l−1 Matthiessen et al, 2006 Agricultural (weed and grass control in soybean crops) Run-off Herbicide glyphosate 0.1-0.7 mg l-1 Peruzzo et al, 2008 2.2. Dose-response assessment There are several methods to demonstrate dose-response relationships, either by in vivo or in vitro tests. Fish reproduction tests, like the ones using the model fish fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) have shown a decrease in fecundity associated with depressed steroid and vitellogenin (Vtg) production in female specimens (Ankley et al. 2008). Many of the tests rely on the measurement of an increase of Vtg as biomarker of estrogenicity as seen in several publications (Schwaiger et al. 2002; An et al. 2008; Holbech et al. 2006 Panter et al, 1998; Sohoni et al. 2001; Kunz and Fent, 2009). Tests results on resin acids show different responses in the first generation of fish than in the second (Christianson-Heiska et al. 2007). In some cases there are not many examples of in vivo tests, like for glyphosate. A fish exposure tests with this compound showed Vtg induction in female fish, indicative of estrogenic activity (An et al, 2008). An investigation working the commercial formulation of the herbicide glyphosate and human placental cells demonstrated its toxicity at concentrations lower than the usual in agricultural practices. The aromatase activity disruption seems to be due not only to glyphosate but also to co-adjuvants (the surfactant nonylphenol or others), which enhance its bioavailability and/or bioaccumulation (Richard et al. 2005; Gasnier et al. 2009). Table 2 shows some examples of dose-response experiments working with fish, crustacea, molluscs and amphibia. Varied protocols exist to develop ecotoxicity tests, in flow-through, static or partly renewal conditions, and with different duration and end-points. Only chronic effects and particularly developmental and reproductive effects were conside red. Table 2. Dose-response for endocrine disruption effects in freshwater organisms exposed to single EDCs EDC chemical name Taxonomic group Species Dose to produce effect Effect Test conditions Reference 4-nonylphenol Fish Rivulus marmoratus 300  µg l-1 Testicular agenesis and oogenesis inhibition in 100 % fish Static system, daily renewal Tanaka and Grizzle, 2002 4-nonylphenol Fish Oncorhynchus mykiss, rainbow trout 1 -10  µg l-1 10  µg l-1 High Vtg in adult male fish plasma Low hatching rate Intermittent exposure of adult fish for 4 months until spawning Schwaiger et al, 2002 4-nonylphenol Crustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia NOEC for reproduction: 1  µg l-1 Low hatching rate 7 days chronic exposure, static Isidori et al, 2005 Glyphosate Fish Carassius carassius, crucian carp 100% effluent Vtg induction in female fish (38.6 +/- 9.8  µg l-1) 3 weeks, continuous exposure An et al, 2008 Glyphosate Mollusk Pseudosuccinea columella, aquatic snail 1 mg l-1 10 mg l-1 Faster development of F3 embryos Hatching inhibition 3 generation continuous Tate et al, 1997 Estrone Fish Danio rerio LOEC: 14 ng l-1 50 ng l-1 Significant Vtg increase Higher female ratio 40 days fish sexual development test Holbech et al, 2006 17ÃŽ ²-Estradiol Fish Danio rerio LOEC: 54 ng l-1 Significant Vtg increase Higher female ratio 40 days fish sexual development test Holbech et al, 2006 17ÃŽ ²-Estradiol Fish Pimephales promelas, fathead minnow 100 ng l-1 Significant Vtg increase Testicular growth inhibition 21 days male fish exposure Panter et al, 1998 Estriol Fish Danio rerio LOEC: 0.6  µg l-1 21.7  µg l-1 Significant Vtg increase Higher female ratio 40 days fish sexual development test Holbech et al, 2006 Dehydroabietic acid (DHAA), resin acid Fish Danio rerio, zebra fish 50  µg l-1 Low plasma Vtg in female in F0; high Vtg and affected spermatogenesis in F1 males 2 generations, continuous Christianson-Heiska et al 2008 ÃŽ ²-sitosterol Fish Danio rerio 10-20  µg l-1 F1: higher ratio of male fish; F2: higher ratio of female fish 2 generation fish exposure test Nakari and Erkomaa, 2003 Quercetin, phytoestrogen Amphibian Xenopus laevis, frog 200  µg l-1 Higher female ratio > 10% abnormal testes (some with ovotestes) Exposure up to 1 month post-metamorphosis Cong et al, 2006 Phenanthrene, PAH Fish Oryzias latipes, Medaka NOEL: 100  µg l-1 Developmental, hatching 18 days, renewal Rhodes et al, 2005 Bisphenol A Mollusk Marisa cornuaretis, aquatic snail NOEC: 640  µg l-1 Developmental 12 weeks, juvenile snails Forbes et al, 2007 Bisphenol A Fish Pimephales promellas 16  µg l-1 640 and 1280  µg l-1 640  µg l-1 1280  µg l-1 Altered spermatogenesis Growth inhibition and Vtg induction in male fish Reduced hatchability in F1 generation Egg production inhibition 3 generation reproduction exposure test Sohoni et al, 2001 Bisphenol A Fish Brachydanio rerio, zebrafish EC50: 2.90  µg l-1 Embryo malformation and low hatchability 72 h exposure Liu et al, 2007 Benzo-ÃŽ ±-pirene (BaP) (PAH) Fish Fundulus heteroclitus , common mummichog 10  µg l-1 CYP19A1 expression decreased by about 50% in immature stage I oocytes Exposure for 10 or 15 days by in situ hybridization, several developmental stages Dong et al, 2008 Polychlorinated biphenyl 126 Fish Danio rerio, zebrafish LC50: 3.270 mg l-1 Developmental effects through aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation Dilutions of PCB 126 for 12 weeks SiÃ…Å ¸man et al, 2007 Polychlorinated biphenyl 126 Fish Salvelinus namaycush, lake trout 3 ÃŽ ¼g kg−1body weight Retinol depletion Oral exposure for 12 weeks; confirmation with radiolabelled retinol Palacea et al, 1997 Benzophenone-1 Fish Pimephales promelas 4919  µg l-1 Vtg induction 14 days exposure, semi-static, renewal Kunz and Fent, 2009 3. Exposure assessment 3.1. Ecosystems and human sub-populations potentially at risk of endocrine disruption effects Increasing evidence generated by scientists turn endocrine disruption into a recognized risk to the environment. Due to the ubiquity of EDCs and the widespread routes of exposure, most ecosystems and human populations are potentially at risk of endocrine disruption. Notwithstanding this fact, under the scope of a risk assessment of EDCs the potentially most vulnerable risk subgroups are identified corresponding to maternal, fetal and early developmental stages. The concern that prenatal or childhood exposure to EDCs may be responsible for abnormalities in human sexual and reproductive health are still in the hypothetical ground. However, many reports on exposure to high concentrations of recognized EDCs such as DES, certain PCBs, and DDT demonstrate this fact. At low-doses the question remains unanswered whether there could be a critical window where they could harm the fetal development (Hood 2005). Several reports on human developmental anomalies and reproductive ailments have been raising international concern, such as a seven fold increase risk of testicular cancer since 1969 to 2002 in men from several countries of Europe, United States and New Zealand. Also, the sperm density halved, as rates of cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and hypospadias (shortened urinary tracts) simultaneously rose. It is thought that human congenital malformation of sex organs, low sperm quality, endometriosis, reduced fertility and some types of cancers of breast and testis could be linked to exposure to EDCs. More than 80000 synthetic chemicals are produced in the world and have still not been fully evaluating with regards to endocrine disruption. In 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiated an Endocrine Disruption Screening Program to evaluate more than 15,000 chemicals calling for a policy based on the â€Å"precautionary approach† to be overcautious and protect huma n health and the environment. A historical example of policies which demanded the banning of a drug due to these after-effects is the case of diethylstilbestrol (DEADES), which used to be prescribed to pregnant women to prevent spontaneous abortions because it produced higher risk of genital deformities and cancer in the offspring, among other effects (Stair 2008). Internationally there is consensus that the most vulnerable group for EDCs exposure are children. For example, in European countries, the Strategy for Environment and Health known as â€Å"SCALE† for Science, Children, Awareness, Legislation and Evaluation, has set as a priority agenda for the evaluation diseases caused by endocrine disruptors in children. The exposure to insecticides and herbicides used in agricultural practices has been linked to developmental or reproductive effects in wild animals and also in human beings. The occupational exposure to pesticide has received much attention, as for example prolonged time-to-pregnancy was observed in male greenhouse workers exposed to pesticides before conception of their first pregnancy (Bretveld et al 2008). The domestic exposure of children to residues of pesticides in low-level long-term exposures are associated to chronic effects and include routes of exposure such as fruit or breast milk (Goodman and Laverda 2002). 3.2. Evidence of endocrine disruption effects in wildlife around the world There are reports on impacts on wildlife reproduction and development observed in invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals, sometimes confirmed by laboratory tests. In laboratory experiments the impacts to fish populations by EDCs affect reproductive health and persistence of various fish species (Mills and Chichester 2005). Many examples of impacts due to exposure to endocrine disruptors exist in wildlife, such as the seals population decline in the Baltic and North Sea, the high levels of female egg yolk in male fish or snail imposex and intersex around the world. Intersexuality of fish has been demonstrated in several investigations carried out in rivers around the world. The findings of abnormal reproductive female-like ducts and oocytes in male fish were related to the treated sewage discharge from the cities in laboratory experiments measuring induction of plasma vitellogenin in exposed male fish (Jobling et al. 2002). Field studies were carried out using wild roach as a model fish to confirm the incidence and the severity of intersex which correlated with the predicted concentrations of the natural estrogens (E1 and E2) and the synthetic contraceptive pill estrogen (EE2) present (Jobling et al. 2006). Some case-studies have made clear that the estrogenic activity of municipal wastewater correlates to demographics. The number of inhabitants was found to correlate with changes in estrogenic activities in a research conducted at a university city in US, with seasonal fluctuations in population. The concentrations of synthetic and natural estrogens and other EDCs were measured and effects demonstrated through the application of in vivo and in vitro tests (fish exposure with Vtg induction measurement and the yeast estrogen screen) (Brooks et al. 2003). The demonstration of effects of pulp mill effluents has also been supported by fish surveys with a sampling design that includes upstream and downstream sites from the discharge pipe of the pulp mill. For instance, Munkittrick et al. (1994) have demonstrated that the absence of chlorine bleaching or the presence of secondary treatment does not eliminate estrogenic responses evidenced by decreased circulating levels of sex steroids, decreased gonadal size, which implies that there may be multiple causative agents. In other cases, androgenic effects have been noticed, such as a biased male to female ratio in fish in Sweden downstream from pulp mills (Larsson and Fà ¶rlin 2002). As seen on Table 3, several adverse endocrine effects are evidenced in various animals, from mollusks to amphibian but they also appear in higher animal species. Table 3. Effects of EDCs in wildlife evidenced through field studies Animal Effect EDCs Postulated mechanism or causative agent Reference Frog High incidence of deformed frogs in Minnesota, United States Multiple EDCs Retinoid signaling pathways activation Gardiner et al. 2003 Marine Gastropods Masculinization of female snails (imposex) occurs worldwide. Females grow accessory sex organs including sperm ducts, seminal vesicles, external sperm grooves, and penises. Exposure to low levels of tributyltin (TBT) (1ng/l) Aromatase inhibition, testosterone inhibition, or neuroendocrine disorder or interaction with retinoid receptors Novà ¡k et al. 2008 Wild roach (Rutilius rutilus) Intersex, and high plasma Vtg concentration Multiple EDCs Sewage effluent from wastewater treatment plant discharging into rivers Joblin et al. 2006 Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Masculinization (90% affected in number of segments in the longest anal fin ray). Androgen-dependent gene expression by luciferase test Kraft pulp mill effluent Affinity for human androgen receptor (hAR) Parks et al. 2001 Eastern Mosquitofish, (Gambusia holbrooki) Androgenic activity measured by androgen receptor transcription assay with human receptor in sediment. Fish masculinization. Paper mill effluent, river Pine pulp-derived phytosteroids accumulate in river sediment where they are converted by microbes into progesterone and this into androstenedione and other bioactive steroids Jenkins et al. 2003 3.3. Conceptual model Deriving a conceptual model requires knowing the pathways and toxicokinetics of the EDCs identified in the hazard identification step. An effects-based assessment start by identifying the effects and the relevant stressors and geographically located (for example through the use of GIS software). On the other hand, the model used in stressor-based assessments, depicts how stressors affect receptors and it is commonly applied when evaluating risks of environmental pollution. If a river basin is evaluated, the sources of contamination are studied, identifying the pathways, receptors and effects. To develop the human health risk assessment component, the fish consumption of the population and the drinking water intake are two of the main factors to consider especially for the most vulnerable population, which are newborn and lactating infants. The food chain is the main source of exposure, and in particular, fish consumption and drinking water are possible sources for the nursing mother and the pathway of distribution through the milk to the baby, but the direct intake of drinking water is important in the case of formula preparation. The environmental risk assessment should consider fish, crustacean and sediment dwelling organisms within the framework. During pregnancy maternal fat is moved, releasing to the blood the bioaccumulated compounds, due to their liposolubility and persistence, through all the different exposure routes (foodstuffs, environmental, occupational) throughout her life. Acute exposure should also be considered if it happened previously to gestation or during this period. There are substances that traspass the placental barrier and chemicals reach the offspring. Also, through the breastmilk, explaining the extrangely high levels of some xenobiotics (Fernà ¡ndez et al. 2007). 3.4. Methodologies to determine dose-response in exposure assessment The analysis of exposure and effect determines the concentration of the EDC on the environment matrixes matrices (water courses, ground water, drinking water, soil, sediment, air, biota), and assesses the potential or actual effects. In order to do so, many tools are recommended and in general a tiered approach is the most suited for this task as it helps to work in a logical order and increasing the specificity of the tests. One of the main sources of exposure to most chemicals is through the food chain. The bioconcentration of organics in beef, cow milk and vegetation correlates to the octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) to predict the bioaccumulation in the aquatic and terrestrial food chains (Travis and Arms 1988). There are many models based on the characteristics of the chemicals, such as the fugacity model, which allows to predict the expected concentrations in six environmental compartments (water, air, soil, bottom and suspended sediment and fish) (MacKay et al. 1985). 3.4.1. The use of a tiered methodology to demonstrate endocrine disruptive effects This type of approach is carried out including different tests, such as bioassays, in vitro tests and field studies as part of the experimental design. The methodologies generally employed are in vivo fish reproduction exposure tests and in vitro receptor binding bioassays, for androgens and estrogens (Wartman et al., 2009). Even though there is an international trend towards diminishing the use of live organisms for experimentation for safety testing, in vivo tests are still of key importance for the confirmation of the findings of in vitro screens. Some of the most utilized tests relay on the use of fish as model experimental organism in various life-stages, as for example the 21 days reproduction fish test with fathead minnow (EPA/600/R-01/067). 3.4.2. In vitro screens and tests Some of the in vitro assays that can be used as screening tools of estrogenic activity are the following: yeast based assays, cell proliferation assays, bindin

Creativity vs. Psychological Health of Anne Sexton

A number of creative individuals have taken their own lives, including John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, and many other writers. The large number of such cases suggests that there may be a functional relationship between creativity and psychological health. This relationship seems to vary across domains, with the rate of suicide especially high in certain groups of artists. This may suggest that there may be something unique to those domains that either draws suicide-prone persons into the domain or has an impact on the individual such that suicide is considered and often attempted. When the poem writing by Anne Sexton entitled Her Kind you can closely compare how Anne’s mental health affected her poetry and how her poetry affected her mental health. The American Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Anne Sexton took her own life in 1974 via carbon monoxide poisoning before reaching the age of fifty. Her life and work are especially interesting because her poetry was clearly tied to her own psychiatric treatment. She began writing with only moderate formal education (a high school diploma), but after being published she was given honorary degrees from several universities, including Tufts, Radcliffe, and Harvard. Sexton's poems, many dealing with suicide, read together with richly researched recent biography, enhanced by biographer's access to tapes of Sexton's sessions with her psychiatrist and by foreword by that psychiatrist, permit unusual opportunity to understand the interrelationship of her illness, her treatment, and the meaning of suicide in her life. Whatever was on her mind seemed to come out in her poetry whether it was about sex, madness or death. â€Å"Readers tend to be generous in their praise, celebrating the poetry primarily because it so fully and openly reveals Sexton's personal pain† (Anne). Basically, the speaker of â€Å"Her Kind† is outcast because she is powerful. Traditionally, society expects women to lead sheltered lives. Women are to be obedient, quiet, and timid. They are viewed as gentle and kind, not â€Å"dreaming evil† (Line 3, Sexton). The modern, liberated woman completely shatters this tradition by courageously speaking her mind and living an independent life. She is empowered as she seeks education and a stable career instead of a domestic life. Since the modern woman does not fit the traditional label, â€Å"A woman like that is not a woman quite† (Line 6, Sexton). Society would view this line of the poem as a negative slam on the modern woman and paraphrase it by saying, â€Å"She's not quite right in the head; therefore, she does not belong here in civilization. † Anne Sexton was a poet and a woman, but most importantly, she was an outcast. Subjected to nervous breakdowns and admitted to a neuropsychiatry hospital, Sexton must have been all too familiar with the staring eyes and the judging minds of the public. Just being a woman in today's world often can be enough to degrade a person in the public's eye, let alone being labeled as a crazy woman. But Anne Sexton did not let society remain unchallenged in its views. She voiced a different opinion of women through poetry. In Anne Sexton's â€Å"Her Kind† she embraces society's negative stereotype of modern, liberated women and transforms it into a positive image. Two voices, the voice of society and the voice of Anne, duel about the issue of the stereotype of modern women. Like Anne Sexton, the speaker in this poem is an outcast woman. Sexton was born in Massachusetts on November 9, 1928, to Mary Gray Staples and Ralph Churchill Harvey, who were known to drink regularly and sometimes heavily. They were somewhat prominent and quite socially active. Scholars suggest that they may have valued their social engagements over their family responsibilities. There is some evidence that Sexton's mother was jealous about her very early writing (Long). Sexton did not have obvious creative aspirations, but instead seemed to think more about a family of her own. At one point her mother accused her of plagiarism and had that particular writing examined. It was deemed to be original, but many scholars suggest this incident affected Sexton's relationship with her mother. Sexton's aunt on her father's side attempted suicide in early childhood, lived several decades in an apparently stable marriage, and eventually committed suicide just before she turned seventy. The family believes that if her aunt's suicide had any sort of influence on Sexton, it was probably informational (e. g. , the aunt modeling suicide) rather than genetic. Biographers place great emphasis on Sexton's psychiatric treatment, which was significant as evidenced by the content of her poetry. And, it is possible, given her nonconformism that Sexton suffered from a borderline personality disorder. There are reports of her schizophrenic language, for instance, as well as her tendency to enter some sort of trance at the end of her psychiatric treatment sessions. She apparently did not want to end the sessions, perhaps because of emotional and social needs. â€Å"Sexton’s writing seems so personal she is often labeled a ‘confessional’ poet† Anne did not agree with this title and preferred to be called a â€Å"storyteller† (Middlebrook). For instance, in her poem titled â€Å"Her Kind† she writes, â€Å"A woman like that is not a woman, quite. I have been her kind† (Sexton). Many people would automatically assume that Anne was speaking about herself in her poem, especially according to those who believe her poetry is confessional. But in reality, â€Å"she considered the speaking ‘I’ in her poetry as a literary rather than a real identity† (Middlebrook). Not everything she wrote was necessarily about her but rather perhaps a form of therapy. Diane Middlebrook believes Sexton conveys the terms on which she wishes to be understood: not victim, but a witness (Middlebrook). Through reading Anne Sexton’s poem â€Å"Her Kind† we get a better understanding of Anne herself. She was a strong character who used her writing as therapy. Doctors never knew that her writing would have such an impact on the world. She writes specifically in her poem â€Å"Her Kind† about what she went through in society as a woman. Through Anne’s writing it improved her mental health. It was an outlet for her feelings. Her writing was true and honest and something many women would never talk about much less publicly write about. Her mental health inspired her creative writing which in turn helped her mental health to some degree. Her honest writing became her outlet and a way of therapy. Works Cited â€Å"Anne (Harvey) Sexton. † American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies. Ed. A. Walton Litz. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1981. Literature Resource Center. Gale. University of South Carolina Libraries. 6 Apr. 2009 . George, Diana Hume. â€Å"Oedipus Anne: The Poetry of Anne Sexton. † Oedipus Anne: The Poetry of Anne Sexton. University of Illinois Press, 1987. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Daniel G. Marowski and Roger Matuz. Vol. 53. Detroit: Gale Research, 1982. Literature Resource Center. Gale. University of South Carolina Libraries. 7 Apr. 2009