Abduk Kalam Essay Example

Abduk Kalam Essay He was elected during the tenure of the National Democratic Alliance (India) coalition government, under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. [3] During his term as President, he was popularly known as the Peoples President. 4][5] Before his term as Indias president, he worked as an aeronautical engineer with DRDO and ISRO. He is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology. [6] In India he is highly respected as a scientist and as an engineer. Kalam played a pivotal organizational, technical and political role in Indias Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974. 7] He is the chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (Thiruvananthapuram), a professor at Anna University (Chennai), a visiting professor at JSS University in Mysore, and an adjunct/visiting faculty at many other academic and research institutions across India. Political views I n his book India 2020, Abdul Kalam strongly advocates an action plan to develop India into a knowledge superpower and a developed nation by the year 2020. He regards his work on Indias nuclear weapons program as a way to assert Indias place as a future superpower. It has been reported that there is a considerable demand in South Korea for translated versions of books authored by him. Kalam continues to take an active interest in other developments in the field of science and technology. He has proposed a research program for developing bio-implants. He is a supporter of Open source software over proprietary solutions and believes that the use of open source software on a large scale will bring the benefits of information technology to more people. Aerospace engineer After graduating in Physics from St. Josephs College, Tiruchirapalli, Abdul Kalam graduated with a diploma in Aeronautical Engineering in the mid-1950s from the Madras Institute of Technology. As the Project Director, he was heavily involved in the development of Indias first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III). As Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (I. G. M. D. P), he played a major part in developing many missiles in India including Agni and Prithvi although the entire project has been criticised for being overrun and mismanaged. We will write a custom essay sample on Abduk Kalam specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Abduk Kalam specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Abduk Kalam specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer He was the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of Defence Research and Development Organisation from July 1992 to December 1999. Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted during this period and have been associated with Kalam although he was not directly involved with the nuclear program at the time. Awards and honors On April 29, 2009, he became the first Asian to be bestowed with the Hoover Medal, Americas top engineering prize, for his outstanding contribution to public service. The citation said that he was being recognised for: making state-of-the-art healthcare available to the common man at affordable prices; bringing quality medical care to rural areas by establishing a link between doctors and technocrats; using spin-offs of defense technology to create state-of-the-art medical equipment; and launching tele-medicine projects connecting remote rural-based hospitals to the super-specialty hospitals. It added that he was an eminent scientist, a gifted engineer, a visionary, and a humanitarian. [12] On 13 September 2009, he was awarded the International von Karman Wings Award. 13] The Government of India has honored him with some of the countrys highest civilian awards: Padma Bhushan in 1981 Padma Vibhushan in 1990 Bharat Ratna in 1997 for his work with the ISRO and DRDO and his role as a scientific advisor to the Indian government. Kalam was the third President of India to be honored with a Bharat Ratna before being elected to the highest office, the other two being Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Zakir Hussain. He is also the first scientist and first bachelor to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan. After his tenure as the President he is now a visiting professor at J. S. S. University, Mysore. He has agreed to deliver a minimum of four lectures every year. Books and documentaries Kalams writings Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of APJ Abdul Kalam by A. P. J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari; by K. Bhushan, G. Katyal; A. P. j. Pub. Corp, 2002. Scientist to President by Abdul A. P. J. Kalam; Gyan Publishing House, 2003. Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam; Penguin Books, 2003. India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Y. S. Rajan; Penguin Books India, 2003. India-my-dream by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam; Excel Books, 2004. Envisioning an Empowered Nation: Technology for Societal Transformation by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam; TATA McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd, 2004. Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Arun K Tiwari; Ocean Books, 2005. Children Ask Kalam by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam; Pearson Education, ISBN 81-7758-245-3 Indomitable Spirit by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, 2006 The Scientific Indian: A Twenty-first Century Guide to the World around Us by APJ Abdul Kalam and YS Rajan Biographies Eternal Quest: Life and Times of Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam by S. Chandra; Pentagon Publishers, 2002. President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam by R. K. Pruthi; Anmol Publications, 2002. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: The Visionary of India by K. Bhushan, G. Katyal; A. P. H. Pub. Corp, 2002. A Little Dream (documentary film) by P. Dhanapal; Minveli Media Works Private Limited, 2008. The Kalam Effect: My Years with the President by P. M. Nair; Harper Collins, 2008. - My Days With Mahatma Abdul Kalam by Fr. A. K. George; ISBN No:978-8190452953; Publisher: Novel Corporation, 2009. Bharat Ratna Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam born October 15, 1931, Tamil Nadu, India, usually referred to as Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, was the eleventh President of India, serving from 2002 to 2007. During his term as The President, he was popularly known as the Peoples President. Before his term as Indias president, he worked as an engineer with DRDO and ISRO and was awarded Indias highest civilian honor Bharat Ratna in 1997 for his work with ISRO and DRDO and his role as a scientific advisor to the Indian government. He is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology. In India he is highly respected as a Statist and as an Engineer. Kalam played a pivotal organizational, technical and political role in Indias Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974. He is a professor at Anna University (Chennai) and adjunct/visiting faculty at many other academic and research institutions across India. Although he is an engineer he has received many honorary doctorate degrees. With the death of R. Venkataraman on January 27, 2009, Kalam became the only surviving former President of India. Kalams father was a devout Muslim, who owned boats which he rented out to local fishermen and was a good friend of Hindu religious leaders and the school teachers at Rameshwaram. APJ Abdul Kalam mentions in his biography that to support his studies, he started his career as a newspaper vendor. This was also told in the book, A Boy and His Dream: Three Stories from the Childhood of Abdul Kalam by Vinita Krishna. The house Kalam was born in can still be found on the Mosque street in Rameshwaram, and his brothers curio shop abuts it. This has become a point-of-call for tourists who seek out the place. Kalam grew up in an intimate relationship with nature, and he says in Wings of Fire that he never could imagine that water could be so powerful a destroying force as that he witnessed when he was thirty three. That was in 1964 when a cyclonic storm swept away the Pamban bridge and a trainload of passengers with it and also Kalams native village, Dhanushkodi. Kalam observes strict personal discipline, vegetarianism, teetotalism and celibacy. Kalam is a scholar of Thirukkural; in most of his speeches, he quotes at least one kural. Kalam has written several inspirational books, most notably his autobiography Wings of Fire, aimed at motivating Indian youth. Another of his books, Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life reveals his spiritual side. He has written poems in Tamil as well. It has been reported that there is considerable demand in South Korea for translated versions of books authored by him. - Dr. Kalam received an honorary doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam Born On: October 15,1931 Tenure Order: 11th President Took office: July 25, 2002 Predecessor: K. R. Narayanan Biography Dreams float on an impatient wind, A wind that wants to create a new order. An order of strength and thundering of fire. from a poem written by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is the undisputed father of Indias missile program. He has breathed life into ballistic missiles like the Agni and Prithvi, which put China and Pakistan well under Indias missile range. It is too exhausting to track Dr Abdul Kalams achievements to date. In the 60s and 70s he was a trail blazer in the space department. In the 80s he transformed the moribund Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad into a highly motivated team. By the 90s Kalam emerged as the czar of Indian science and technology and was awarded the Bharat Ratna. His life and mission is a vindication of what a determined person can achieve against extraordinary odds. Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam studied at Schwartz High School in Ramanathapuram. After graduating in science from St. Josephs College in Tiruchi, he did his DMIT in AeronauticalEngineering at the MIT, Madras, during 1954-57. After completing his third year at MIT, Kalam joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore as a trainee. Here, he worked on piston and turbine engines examining as part of a team. He also received training on radial engine-cum-drum operations. In 1958, when he came out of HAL as a graduate of aeronautical engineering, he had his long-standing dream of flying, as two alternative opportunities for employment. One was the job at Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTD amp; P) of the Ministry of Defence and another was a career in the Indian Air Force. He applied at both the places, and the interview calls came simultaneously from both. He went to Delhi for an interview with DTD amp; P, which did not challenge his knowledge of the subject. Then he went to Dehra Dun for interview with the Air Force Selection Board. Here too, the interview was more on personality test, rather than testing his knowledge. He stood ninth in the batch of 25, and eight officers were selected to be commissioned in the Air Force. Kalam could feel the opportunity to join the Air Force slipping from his hands. Dissapointed at his rejection by the IAF, Kalam visited Rishikesh where he bathed in the Ganga and met Swami Sivananda a man who looked like Buddha. He introduced himself to the Swamiji, who did not react to his Muslim identity. He asked Kalam about the reason for his sorrow. Kalam told him about his unsuccessful attempt to join the Indian Air Force and his long-cherished desire to fly. Sivananda guided him saying: Accept your destiny and go ahead with your life. You are not destined to become an Air Force pilot. What you are destined to become is not revealed now but it is predetermined. Forget this failure, as it was essential to lead you to your destined path. Search, instead, for the true purpose of your existence. Become one with yourself, my son! Surrender yourself to the wish of God. After returning to Delhi, Kalam received an appointment letter from DTD amp; P. On the next day he joined as Senior Scientific Assistant, with a basic salary of Rs. 50/- per month. Here, he was posted at the Technical Center (Civil Aviation). He lost his resentment of failure, thinking he would be able to make aeroplanes airworthy if not fly aeroplanes. During his first year in the Directorate, he carried out a design assignment on supersonic target aircraft with the help of his officer-in-charge, R. Varadharajan, and won praise from the Director, Dr. Neelakantan. Then he was se nt to the Aircraft and Armament Testing Unit(A amp; ATU) at Kanpur to get shop-floor exposure to aircraft maintenance. Upon his return to Delhi, he was informed that the design of a DART target had been taken up at the DTD amp; P and he was included in the design team. After that, he undertook a preliminary design study on Human Centrifuge. He designed and developed a vertical takeoff and landing platform, and Hot Cockpit. Three years later, the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) was formed in Bangalore and he was posted there. At ADE, Kalam served as a senior scientific assistant, heading a small team that developed a prototype hovercraft. Defence Minister Krishna Menon rode in Indias first indigenous hovercraft with Kalam at the controls. But for reasons never explained, the project which would have been a considerable international achievement in those days, was not encouraged. This was probably one of the reasons why he moved out of ADE in 1962 and joined Indias space program. During 1963-82, he served the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) in various capacities. Here Kalam initiated Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP) activities, then after a stint with the aerodynamics and design group, he joined the satellite launch vehicle team at Thumba, near Trivandram and soon became Project Director for SLV-3. As Project Director, he was responsible for carrying out the design, development, qualification and flight testing of 44 major sub systems. The project managed to put Rohini, a scientific satellite, into orbit in July 1980. He was honoured with a Padma Bhushan in 1981. In 1982, as Director of DRDO, Kalam was entrusted with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), Indias most successful military research task to date. The programme constituted of 5 major projects for meeting the requirements of the defence services and for establishing re-entry technology. The 5 projects were scheduled to be completed in a time frame of only 10 years and consisted of: Nag an anti-tank guided missile Prithvi a surface-to-surface battlefield missile Akash a swift, medium-range surface-to-air missile. Trishul a quick-reaction surface-to-air missile with a shorter range. Agni an intermediate range ballistic missile, the mightiest of them all From his SLV-3 experience, Kalam had learned the advantages of team work and of sharing the tasks with partners in private and public sector industries. In the new management structure of the missile program, Kalam, as the Chairman of the Programme Management Board, delegated almost all executive and financial powers to five carefully selected Project Directors and kept himself free to address the core technology issues. His task was to inspire and monitor over 20 institutions and partners outside ranging from large public and private sector suppliers to small specialist firms that needed seed money to take up the precision tasks. The missiles went up more or less on schedule: Trishul in 1985, Prithvi in 1988, Agni in 1989 and the others in 1990. The development and successful flight test of Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag, and Agni established the indigeneous capability towards self reliance in defence preparedness. The successful launching of Agni surface-to-surface missile was a unique achievement which made India a member of an exclusive club of highly developed countries. The Trishul has the unique distinction of being capable of serving all three services. The establishment of the Research Centre Imarat(RCI), a campus 8km from DRDL, in 1988 was perhaps the most satisfying achievement for Kalam during the missile years. He received generous funding from the Government to build the futuristic centre, which is totally geared for work in advanced missile technologies. Its state-of-the-art facilities are set in a unique ambience and the level of comfort accorded to the individual worker is matched by few Ramp;D institutions. And Kalams interest in the environment saw RCI emerge as an oasis in a rocky wasteland. It has a small farm that meets the food requirements of those who stay in the RCI quarters. Kalam was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1990. On 25th November 1997, in appreciation of his contributions to Indian defence and science, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was awarded Indias highest civilian honour- the Bharat Ratna. In October 1998, he bagged the prestigious Indira Gandhi award for national integration(for 1997). After 10 years in DRDL, he went to New Delhi to take over from Arunachalam as Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister reluctantly, many in DRDL felt. But the system created by Kalam had taken a firm hold in that decade and the missile programme passed on smoothly into its final phase of production and induction. In Delhi, Kalam as head of the DRDO had to deliver other prestigious projects, such as the Arjun MBT and the Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) projects. Strength respects strength, this is Kalams usual response to the question why India needs its own missiles or a battle tank or a combat aircraft. While management practices he adopted for the missile program have inevitably rubbed off on these projects, there are no miracles to be had in strategic development areas. There have been technical problems. Even in the missile program, work on the SAMs and the ATM is slower than anticipated. But Trishuls recent multiple test flights have demonstrated that the system Kalam put in place has inherent strengths. Kalam is by no means a miracle man. As the head of a vast network of laboratories whose products include avalanche-controlling structures in Kashmir, water desalination kits for the Thar desert, a world class sonar submarine finder for the latest warship INS Delhi, and infra-red night vision goggles for the Indian Army Kalams attention is necessarily a bit diffused. His self-effacing persona cloaks a formidable catalyst who can make people work. Kalam is happiest at the drawing board, in discussion with his scientists on how their dreams for the next millennium can be fulfilled. The projects envisaged include an air breathing hyperplane spacecraft that draws oxygen from the atmosphere rather than carry it all the way from the ground, reusable missiles and stealth technology. Kalam has shown that with adequate funding, freedom from procedural holdups and a people-oriented management, India can make products of internationally acceptable technical standards in a demanding arena like defence. Science, according to Kalam, is a global phenomenon. He feels there are a few areas where India can develop its core competence. These areas are software engineering, computer products and design, agriculture and food, aviation, defence research and space technology and chemical engineering. This will lead to a highly beneficial economic and social progress for the nation. Kalams advice to the youngsters of the nation is to dream, dream and dream and convert these into thoughts and later into actions. Also to think big. We are a nation of a billion people and we must think like a nation of a billion people. Only then can we become big. On 25th November 1999, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was appointed Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and accorded the rank of a Cabinet Minister. His role was to advise on overall scientific development in the country on issues relating to scientific and technical policy in different sectors. Kalam also advised on matters relating to achieving technological self-reliance and foreign collaboration. On December 8, 2000, the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Shri K. C. Pant conferred the Life-time Contribution Award in Engineering 2000 on Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam at the annual function of the Indian National Academy of Engineering in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Kalam said that Engineering and technology should be used for the upliftment of the people living below the poverty line. On November 10, 2001, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam quit as principal scientific advisor to the government. Sources close to Kalam, said he quit because of lack of executive authority. However Kalam had been for quite some time keen on pursuing academic interests and helping scientists across the country in developing their research capabilities. Thats why after quitting he took over the job as distinguished professor at Anna University. Dr Kalam has spent the past few years developing the concept of India Millennium Missions 2020 a blueprint for transforming India into a developed nation. He calls it the second vision of the nation and says he wants to focus on the children of India to ignite in their minds a love for science and the nations mission: a developed India. On July 25, 2002, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was sworn in as the 11th President of India by Chief Justice of India B. N. Kirpal in the Central Hall of Parliament at an impressive function telecast live across the country. Kalam took the oath in the name of God as a 21-gun salute boomed in the background. Things You Didnt Know About Kalam That Dr. Abdul Kalam is a bachelor and a teetotaler? That he recites the Holy Quran and the Bhagvad Gita daily and is equally at home with both Holy Scriptures? That as a young boy, he sold newspapers to enhance his familys income? That he is so modest about his achievements that at every felicitation ceremony he gives full credit for Indias success to his colleagues? Abdul Kalam Quotes Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model. Thinking is progress. Non-thinking is stagnation of the individual, organization and the country. Thinking leads to action. Knowledge without action is useless and irrelevant. Knowledge with action, converts adversity into prosperity. English is necessary as at present original works of science are in English. I believe that in two decades times original works of science will start coming out in our languages. Then we can move over like the Japanese. Humanity will require mega-missions for harnessing solar energy, drinking water from seawater through the desalination process and bringing minerals from other planets. In such a situation, the present reasons for conflict will become insignificant and unwarranted. I have this big library at home and my favorite poets are Milton, Walt Whitman and Rabindranath Tagore. I write poetry too. God has not promised Skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways All our life through; God has not promised Sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, Peace without pain If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher. If we are not free, no one will respect us. In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. It means, people who are in high and responsible positions, if they go against righteousness, righteousness itself will get transformed into a destroyer. Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow. When you speak, speak the truth; perform when you promise; discharge your trust. Withhold your hands from striking, and from taking that which is unlawful and bad Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work. My view is that at a younger age your optimism is more and you have more imagination etc. You have less bias. No religion has mandated killing others as a requirement for its sustenance or promotion. Tell me, why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognise our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why? Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. In this world, fear has no place. Only strength respects strength. We have not invaded anyone. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them. We must think and act like a nation of a billion people and not like that of a million people. Dream, dream, dream! We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting out of economic prosperity coupled with civilizational heritage. Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? Is it a legacy of our colonial years? We want foreign television sets. We want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported? Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life.

Discuss the pathogenesis of measles virus infection The WritePass Journal

Discuss the pathogenesis of measles virus infection Conclusion Discuss the pathogenesis of measles virus infection IntroductionInfection and SpreadSymptomsSubacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE)VaccinationConclusionRelated Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Introduction Measles virus (MV) is a member of the paramyxovirus family and has a single stranded RNA genome.   The viral genome encodes for six structural proteins: Haemagglutin (H), Fusion (F), Nucleoprotein (N), Phosphoprotein (P), Large (L) polymerase protein, and Matrix (M) protein and two non-structural proteins: C and V (Griffin,   2010). The structure of the virus is shown below.  Ã‚   Fig 1.   The structure of the Measles virus Ref:microbiologybytes.com/virology/Paramyxoviruses.html The majority of measles cases occur in children and in those who are fit and healthy, results in life long immunity without complications.   Measles virus has been eliminated in the western world since 2000 through an efficient vaccine programme, however, it is a different scenario in developing countries were deaths arise due to lack of vaccine administration and malnourishment of children (Fontana et al, 2008).  Ã‚   For example in 2008, 164 000 people died from measles virus of these 95% were in low-income countries (www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/).   Although infection with MV produces an efficient immune response that is maintained for the rest of the individuals life, it also results in a transient state of immunosuppression that can last for several weeks.   This leaves the patient susceptible to secondary infections by opportunistic pathogens which account for the majority of measles associated deaths (Sevet-Delprat   et al, 2000).  Ã‚   The exact me chanism of the immunosuppression is still unknown however many theories have been suggested. Infection and Spread The MV is spread through aerosol transmission in the cough or sneeze of an infected person.   The virus is extremely contagious and can remain in the air or on a surface for up to two hours (Stalkup, 2002).   The route of entry for the virus is through the respiratory tract and once infected, the virus will incubate for an average of 10-12 days before any symptoms are seen.   Infection is initiated by the attachment of the H protein to the host cell receptors, which results in the fusion of the envelope of the virus with the host cell membrane.   This fusion of membranes causes the release of viral RNA into the host cell cytoplasm.   After the RNA has replicated, using host cell machinery, new virus particles are assembled using the M protein and bud from the host cell membrane to infect other susceptible cells (Swart, 2008).   The host cell receptors for the measles virus are CD46, a complement regulatory protein that is found on all nucleated cells and the Signalling Ly mphocytic Activation Molecule (SLAM/CD150) which is found on the surface of both T and B lymphocytes as well as macrophages and mature Dendritic cells (DC) (Yanagi et al, 2006).   In vitro studies have found that vaccine strains of the measles virus use CD46 and SLAM as their receptor however wild-type MV only recognizes CD150 (Ferreira et al, 2010).   There has been some debate over the exact cell that is involved in the initial infection with MV.   It had previously been thought that the virus infected epithelial cells lining the nasopharynx (Stalkup   et al, 2002) however more recent studies have shown that these cells do not bear the MV receptors SLAM which facilitate wild-type viral infection therefore further studies are required to identify this unknown receptor .   It has been suggested that alveolar macrophages and DC lining the respiratory tract are the initial cells involved in measles infection.  Ã‚   This was demonstrated in a study using mice that expressed humanized SLAM.   These mice were infected intranasally with wild type measles virus expressing green fluorescent protein.   The nasal associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) was then extracted from these mice at different time points (1,2 or 3 days).   Results showed that alveolar macrophages were the first cells to be infected by the measles virus and not the epithelial cells (Ferreira et al, 2010). DC’s are the main antigen presenting cells of the immune system and are used by other viruses to infect lymphocytes for (example the HIV virus) (Witte et al, 2008).   Therefore DC may provide an important route of transport for MV to secondary lymphoid tissue.   The role of DCs in measles infection is further indicated by the identification of DC-SIGN which is an accessory receptor that has been identified on MV susceptible cells and is thought to assist MV infection of CD150 expressing DCs (Yanagi, 2006).   Furthermore, large numbers of DC-SIGN positive DCs have been found to be present in the epithelium of the respiratory tract which demonstrates their potential primary role in MV infection of (Ludlow et al, 2010 ; Witte et al, 2008). An alternative theory is that epithelial cells are infected in the latter stages of infection by lymphoid cells facilitating viral spread by the respiratory route.   This would mean that epithelial cells are infected at the basolateral cell surface rather than the apical surface.   This was demonstrated by a study that looked at mutated MV strains that could not bind to the as yet unidentified Epithelial Cell receptor (EpR) but could still recognise the SLAM receptor.   Results showed that the macaques developed the rash but could not shed the virus which suggests that the EpR is a basolaterally expressed protein that is important for the spread of the virus at the infective stage (Leonard, et al, 2008).   A study by Ludlow (2010) supported these findings by showing that wild type MV could not infect primary columnar epithelial cells by the apical surface further demonstrating the potential role of epithelial cells in latter stages of infection rather than initial stages as p reviously thought. In response to viral infection the innate immune system responds by producing inflammatory cytokines to protect cells from viral infection.   These cytokines include type 1 interferons (IFN) such as   IFNÃŽ ± and ÃŽ ² which are induced in response to RNA viruses.   IFNs induce an anti-viral state in neighbouring cells and increase the expression of class 1 Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules on the infected cell surface which will present the viral antigens to CD8+ T cells.   CD8+ T cells clear the infection by cytotoxic T cell mediated killing of the infected cell (Abbas Ltchtman, 2005).   To overcome these host cell defences, viruses have ways to evade the immune system.   MV virus protein V and C have been shown to downregulate IFN production in vitro and this includes both attenuated and wild type strains (Fontana et al, 2008).   Through the inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines MV can infect more host cells.   MV may also use the innate immune system to enhance viral spread and pathogenesis by using Toll like receptors (TLRs) which are found on the surfaces of cells that activate the immune system by recognising bacterial and viral pathogens.   The binding of TRL2 on human monocytes by MV H protein has been shown to induce production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) which upregulates expression of SLAM the primary receptor for MV (Beiback et al, 2002). Once the virus is picked up by antigen presenting cells it is carried to the secondary lymphatic tissue were it can replicate in T cell, B cells and activated monocytes with lymphocytes being the main target cell of MV infection (de Swart et al, 2007).   These infected cells can be seen in the blood 7-9 days after infection (Griffin, 2010).   It is thought that through these infected lymphoid cells that the virus is able to infect epithelial and endothelial cells lining organs including the liver, brain and skin (Moench et al, 1988).   In order for MV to infect these organs it must overcome these endothelial cell barriers.  Ã‚   It has been shown in cell culture that wild type MV infection may infect endothelial cells by increasing the expression and activation of leukocyte integrins which bring infected T cells into close contact with these cells leading to their infection (Dittmar et al, 2008). Symptoms The initial symptoms of MV are very similar to those of the flu including runny nose, conjunctivitis and cough which is accompanied by a fever of 104-1050F that lasts up to 4 days (Stalkup, 2002).   The characteristic feature of MV is the red rash that appears beginning on the face and behind the ears, which spreads to the rest of the body (please see Fig 2 below).   During this time the person is highly contagious and remains so until the rash disappears (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/download/meas.pdf). Fig 2 shows a child with an extensive rash caused by the Measles virus. Ref: vaccineinformation.org/measles/photos.asp Small white spots known as Koplik spots may also be seen in the inside the mouth which is a diagnostic indicator of measles and appear one day before the rash (Perry Halsey, 2004). The appearance of the rash is due to the immune systems attack of the systemic infection of epithelial cells and biopsies of the rash have shown infiltration of CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes in the rhesus monkey (Permur et al, 2003). An individual who in infected with measles virus will recover within about 10-14 days but may remain vulnerable to secondary infections including pneumonia and diarrhoea for a few weeks.  Ã‚   This was first noted by von Pirquet who noticed that individuals recently infected with the MV failed to respond to the tuberculin skin test and this has led to many studies into the reasons for this immune suppression (Griffin et al, 1994). One reason for the immunosuppression seen after a measles infection is the switch from a T helper 1 (Th1) CD4 response to a T helper 2 (Th2) CD4 response.   Initial MV infection results in the production of a Th1 response which is necessary to eliminate the pathogen and is marked by increased production of IFNÃŽ ³ however as the rash is cleared this changes to a Th2 response which is important in the production of measles specific antibodies (Moss et al, 2004).   Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 have been shown to be elevated for weeks in those who have had MV (Moss et al, 2002).   IL-10 suppresses the immune system by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage activation therefore may have a key role in failure to generate a Th1 response after MV infection (Sato et al, 2008). IL-12 is primarily produced by activated macrophages and DCs and has a pivotal role in the generation of a cell mediated immune response as well as directing CD4+ T cells to differentiate into Th1 cells (Abbas Lichtman, 2005).   Studies have shown that MV infection of DCs inhibits IL-12 production which would lead to an environment favouring a Th2 cell response (Servert-Delprat et al, 2000).   Furthermore peripheral blood monocytic cells taken from patients with measles have been shown to have a prolonged decrease in IL-12 (Atabani et al, 2001).   Stimulation of DCs through TLR4 also results in inhibition of IL-12 in mice expressing human SLAM receptor (Hahm et al, 2007). As lymphocytes are the main targets for MV infection and replication the immunosuppression seen after infection may be due to as decrease in circulating lymphocytes.   However, studies have shown that lymphocyte numbers quickly return to normal levels and therefore cannot account for the immune suppression seen weeks after infection (Griffin, 2010). Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) SSPE is a rare neurological complication of MV infection that affects 1 in a million measles cases although there is an increased risk with children infected with the measles virus before age 2 and males more than females (Norrby Kristensson, 1997).   The characteristic symptoms of SSPE are deterioration of mental and motor functions as a result of destruction of brain tissue.   These symptoms typically begin to manifest 7-10 years after primary viral infection and ultimately result in death within 2 years (Stalkup, 2002).   Patients with SSPE have high levels of measles specific antibody circulating in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) yet the virus is not eliminated (Barrero et al, 2003).   It is thought that the virus mutates inside the neurons which allows it to evade the immune system however these mutations may alter the host cells leading to the generation of the immune response (Gutierrez et al, 2010).   However the mechanism by which neurons are infected i s still unknown as no receptors have been identified.   There is no cure for SSPE although treatment of individuals with Interferon ÃŽ ± and Isoprinosine has been shown to slow down the progression of symptoms in some individuals (Gascon et al, 1993). Vaccination The first MV vaccine was produced in the 1960s which was formalin-inactivated with alum.   This vaccine produced a condition known as atypical measles which resulted in some individuals experiencing symptoms which were often worse than wild-type measles, when they came into contact with someone who had measles (deSwart, 2008).   In 1963, Enders measles vaccine was developed which was a live attenuated vaccine (Stalkup, 2002).   This vaccine is grown in cell culture fibroblasts from chicken embryos and is unable to produce its full pathogenic effect but induces an adequate life long immune response (PÏ‹tz et al, 2003).   The measles vaccine has resulted in a 99% fall in the number of measles cases that were previously seen annually in the United States (Stalkup, 2002).   MV could potentially be irradicated but this is dependent on high vaccine coverage.   The World Health Organization (WHO) has a policy in place which has set a goal of reducing the death rate from MV in children under 5 by 2015 (who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286).   MV infection can also lead to blindness in children who are Vitamin A deficient and the WHO have recommended that all children with measles are given vitamin A supplementation to combat blindness (Semba and Bloem, 2004). The measles vaccine is part of the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine that is given in two doses.   The vaccine is administered intramuscularly and the first injection is given to children around 13 months (nhs.uk/conditions/mmr/Pages/Introduction.aspx).   The vaccine is not given before this age because these children will have maternal antibodies which would interfere with the vaccine and not generate an appropriately high enough immune response (Moss et al, 2004).   A second dose of the MMR vaccine is given to preschool children as a booster as 2-5% of individuals fail to produce an appropriate protective immunity to the first inoculation (cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/combo-vaccines/mmr/faqs-mmr-hcp.htm).   New methods of delivery of MMR vaccine have been investigated such as the use of aerosol vaccine which would mimic natural measles infection and the use of DNA vaccine administration.   Aerosol vaccine has been found to generate an effective immune response that is equal to that of the currently used vaccine and may also overcome the interference from maternal antibodies however clinical trials are still in progress (Heno-Restrepo et al, 2009). Furthermore, trials into the use of DNA vaccines have proposed a potential to vaccinate children as young as four months (Pasetti et al, 2009). The MMR vaccine has been in the public eye for many years as a result of a paper by Wakefield and colleagues in 1998 which claimed that there was a link between the administration of the MMR vaccine and the development of autism (Farrington et al, 2001).   Many studies have been carried out to either prove or disprove this study as these claims led to fear amongst parents regarding vaccination of their children and uptake fell to 80% between 2003 and 2004 as a result of this (Bedford Ellimen, 2010).   As stated in the introduction MV is so contagious even a minor drop in vaccine coverage can lead to a large number of cases.   In 2010 after an extensive investigation by the General Medical council it was finally confirmed that the paper by Wakefield was unfounded (Godlee et al, 2001). Conclusion Although cases of MV are rarely seen in this country it results in the death of many children in the developing countries.   Currently vaccination is given at 13 months of age however many studies are ongoing that could potentially provide a vaccine that could be administered earlier resulting in children being protected earlier and limiting hosts for the virus.   Furthermore, malnutrition is one of the major contributing factors in the deaths from measles virus, tackling this problem would also decrease the mortality rate.   As stated above MV poses a problem in that infection generates a life long immune response but also leaves the host susceptible to secondary infections. The exact mechanism for this is not yet known therefore more work is needed to answer this problem and potentially combat this immune suppression. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

Youtube-The Democratization of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Youtube-The Democratization of Art - Essay Example It provided various benefits to people. It served as a way to communication and knowledge among people. The trends of a country keep on changing; similar to that effect of mass communication has changed the history and past trends of pop culture. People are moving more towards internet, mobile, websites for social gathering and information. Presently, every individual have considered it to be a popular culture to join other groups through face book, twitter, creating blogs and promoting their opinion by uploading videos. 1.2 Contemporary pop culture Pop culture is the combination of perspectives, ideas, attitudes, images and other such things, which is an informal consensus of our culture, mainly western culture of 20th century. It also reflects the past trends as well as the trends of 21st century. It is heavily influenced by mass media. It is the only factor which affects culture of the society. Perception of people keeps on changing due to the influence of mass media. Various new ideas of mass media affect attitude and perception of the society. Though it has been adopted very frequently, there has been vast criticism on it from various sources mainly from countercultural and religious groups. Pop culture began by providing a meaning of culture to lower classes; this usage was established in antebellum period. 1.3 Changes in the cultural landscape There has been a drastic change in the cultural landscape of every country due to mass communication and media. ... Folkfores are going more towards commercial elements on face book, twitters, blogs, YouTube etc. This change in culture has not only affected individuals but as well as business sectors. Industries are using these websites to attract customers rather than preferring traditional promotional methods. The belief and opinions based on society, cinemas, social gathering is gradually fading away and people are dependent more on portable facilities of websites. 1.4 Current trends Current trends of culture are mainly affected by mass communication which is mainly originated from United States. Pop culture was abbreviated in the late dates of 1960s. Though there have been many changes in the cultural trends since last decades. Culture has been greatly influenced by changing evolution of mass media. Presently, people prefer to adopt face book, YouTube, blogs and twitter. It has become a popular culture among people for socialization. Presently mass media have been characterized in seven branch es i.e. internet, television, print, mobile phones, radio, cinema and recordings. Out of these people are more addicted towards internet and mobile phones. Internet media have provided the facility of websites such as face book, YouTube and twitter, blogging etc. because of this reason presently organizations are focusing in having their outlets on web. Another current trend which has been facilitated thorough websites is online shopping. People consider it one of the most popular cultures to do shopping online rather than visiting places. This changed trend has affected all generation’s even teenagers by offering various online games through internet. One of the current culture businesses have adopted is using twitter in order to promote companies

A World of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

A World of Art - Essay Example SUBJECT SUMMARY Although, Van Gogh and Da Vinci were from separate eras who led distinct lives, they had at least two things in common: their love of art and the fact that they are legendary. The drama they ensued during their lifetimes distinctly shaped them into the men and artists they became, even how they fared in the view of the public. Their differences of experiences in life were evident in their painting styles through elements and principles of design. This division of talent helped shape them into separate, popular artists that each recognized separately of one another. BODY Leonardo da Vinci lived before Van Gogh in 1452, born in Vinci, Italy on April 15 (Leonardo, 2011). Out of everything he did, da Vinci was most noted for his paintings. However, he also heavily influenced people because he beheld one of the most amazing minds of the Italian Renaissance through his work as not just a painter, but as a sculptor, engineer, architect, and scientist (Leonardo, 2011). This i s not really well-known about him, but da Vinci was an illegitimate son of Ser Piero da Vinci and a village woman, Caterina (Leonardo, 2011). Not much is remembered of his mother. His father, on the other-hand, was a noticeable notary who apprenticed da Vinci to Andrea del Verrocchio in 1435 to 1488 (Leonardo, 2011). Opposite of rebellion, da Vinci conformed to tradition. He studied Verrocchio, especially his obsessive methods of perfection in regard to the human figure (Leonardo, 2011). In fact, one of da Vinci’s first paintings came from his assistant work in Verrocchio’s shop when he painted Baptism of Christ (Leonardo, 2011). Despite learning from another artist, da Vinci remained original in his work, not a copier or lesser talented person of his predecessor. Da Vinci set up his own shop after several years in 1478, and by 1481 he was asked to create an altarpiece in a major church entitled Adoration of the Magi (Leonardo, 2011). His experimentation during the Mil anese period where he dabbled in different oils for his paintings did not bode well for future view. Many paintings at that time were lost. Specifically, his infamous artwork The Last Supper had been reduced to mere spots and later reconstructed to what it is today (Leonardo, 2011). Later in life during 1500s, da Vinci focused his talents on human vitality (Leonardo, 2011). His painting Mona Lisa, arguably his most famous, is a product of da Vinci’s human portrayal. By 1506, da Vinci began to focus on science and the living organism (Leonardo, 2011). A few scientific analyses da Vinci conducted were: firearms, growth of plants, flight of birds, and geology (Leonardo, 2011). Before da Vinci died, the French king, Francis I, gave him a country estate in Cloux, France, which is where da Vinci passed away on May 2, 1519 at 67. Vincent Van Gogh entered the world on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert in Holland from a Protestant minister, Theodorus, and his mother, Cornelia (Vincent, 2011). He received his name after he was born a year after the death of his younger brother, a stillborn (Vincent, 2011). Like da Vinci, little is understood or known of Van Gogh’s childhood, but there is speculation that Van Gogh’s mother encouraged him to draw and paint (Vincent, 2011). Before his artistry, Van Gogh was hired on at his Uncle’s company. The firm was called Goupil and Company, a company with art dealers, that Van Gogh worked for starting at age 16 and remained at for

Crtical response to Duane's Caught Inside Essay

Crtical response to Duane's Caught Inside - Essay Example In this way, bits and pieces of the aforementioned points are revealed in an almost imperceptible way so that the reader gains a more full and complete understanding of the lifestyle and world-view of the individuals involved in the actions of this book. As a means of understanding this unique approach, this author will focus upon Chapter 13 of Duane’s book and enumerate on some of the pertinent themes, sub-themes, and topics that are discussed as a means to outline and understand the level of approach and detail that the author gives to the reader. The material within this particular chapter is organized and presented by means of a journey. As the story teller meets with a friend and ventures to the house of a third party, a general discussion on the life of a surfer, what is important, what matters, traveling, relationships, danger, and the ever present worries over where the funding for the next adventure will come from are all discussed. In this way, the storyteller finds himself perennially comparing his own financial and personal situation to that of those that the story introduces. This is carried out by means of actual physical comparisons to the type and quality of the vehicles that are driven, and the niceties that present themselves within the house of the individual who is being visited. However, all of this description, discussion, and analysis serves as but a type of lead up to the action that is going to take place as the three men join together and embark on a rapid trip to the ocean side to engage in an afternoon full of surfing. The almost religious overtones, the writer describes the awe inspiring spiritual elements that surfing provides to the practitioner (Lanagan 283). Whereas doing this without the background story would not engage the reader and would prove to be nothing more than a very long winded soliloquy of the benefits of a particular type of lifestyle, by interweaving the information regarding this type of lifestyle and rel ying on other means of conveyance (rather than the speaker himself), the author is able to present a clear and well explicated set of reasons for why the particular lifestyle advocated and described is perhaps far superior to almost any other model that is currently in existence. Although this particular life is not for everyone, as the author notes, the benefits that it offers those who engage with it can never truly be understood or explained. Using the wife of the gentleman that is visited as an example, the author works to show the means by which even those that do not understand the lifestyle can at least appreciate the significance that it engenders within the lives of those that they love and respect. The approach that the author takes towards revealing the subject matter and discussing it within this particular chapter is necessarily experiential. Although no model of research can attempt to capture the attention of an individual in the same way that a firsthand account of a dventure and excitement can, the author works to bring out the experiential factors that have encouraged countless others in the past to pursue their dreams at the expense of some semblance of

The Change Management Theory Business Essay

The Change Management Theory Business Essay Our current era is experiencing massive global and environmental changes than ever before. Observing alone the technological developments, it becomes clear that the most powerful changes have happened over the past fifty years. Managements practice and theory is that todays business environment is especially challenging for large companies because of the rapid pace at which technologies, business processes and markets are evolving. External changes, such as globalization, workforce, economic shocks, competition, and world politics are some of the vast external environmental forces that trigger change upon organizations. These forces are uncontrolled and unforeseeable and therefore it is vital that an organization has the capabilities to adapt to whatever environment changes might happen. As opposed to external change forces, internal changes forces lie within the organization. Elements such as declining efficiency, the raise of employee expectations in tact with harsh demands of the work environment are all internal forces that trigger a need for organizational change. Some theories[1] suggest that by planning carefully you can manage internal change easily by identifying the need for change, while others argue that change is not something that happens in isolated insidences, thus not something you can plan[2]or control. The changing business environment affects the organizations ability for survival, as their survival tactics are being challenged. Organizations constantly have to reeducate themselves keeping every level or department in the organization equally re-informed. Consequently, more and more organizations direct their attention towards the potential benefits of a corporate merger and acquisition (MA). MAs are often pursued in order to acquire a larger share of an existing market, enter new markets, eliminate competitors, acquire expertise or assets, transfer skills, save costs, increase efficiencies or capitalise on synergies. Unfortunately, most organizational change efforts are poorly conceived and implemented, a fact that causes most change efforts in organizations to fail[3]. Through the last century, companies paid more attention to strategy, economics and finance. However, today many researches[4] argue that a major cause of the high rate of change failures is the fact that managers do not realize that if they do not change their culture to support the changes they are making in strategy, structure, and technology. If not, the desired changes will fail and shift back into a fit with the original culture[5]. Furthermore, MA can change the cultural aspect of an organization due to new working environment. In this view, Hitt et al. (2001) argue that acquisitions or mergers can create unfriendly working atmosphere sometimes due to significant differences between two cultures of the merging firms, which can make working process difficult. However, thisprocess can be quit challanging as Schein[6] ague cultural assessment is usually not possible because the negotiations leading up to the merger/aqcusition have to be kept secret. Thus, the merging parties do not discover important differences until they face them MA is a strategic choice various companies encompases to enter rnew market opportunities and possiblity to increase revenue beyond geographical boundaries. However, new opprtunities have also broad new challanges to the organizations. When a company changes, either by changing its location or grothws this effects its internal and external environment. Researchers agree the critical importance of managing the human perspectives of the process in order to accomplish the MA goals and to achieve the needed integration. That is why this paper has chosen to focus on the cultural and people aspect of change mangement process within MA Change Management theory Change management literature is differentiated between two dominant perspectives with regard to implementing successful change in organization. One meaning refers to the systematic and planned view and the other the chaotic emergent view of organizational change.Carl Weick prominent scholer within change management breaks with the traditional wiev of organizational change and argues that orgnazationas should implement a process of chnage management. That is continous emergent change, when contrasted to the planned view, can be defined as the realization ofa new pattern of organizing in the absence of explicit a priori intentions[7] in this view changing is a continuous activity at local levels where people interact and make sense of their own social reality[8]. Continuous changing is a collaborative approach to change management where employees at the operational level as well as mangers are involved in decesion making processes. It brings a holistic view to the organization focuses on interweaving activities, interrelations, and sensemaking. Change is viwe as a continuous activity internally within the organization where people interact and make sense of their own social reality (Weick, 2000, 2001). People make sense oftheir social reality by sensemaking activities, narratives, practices, and multiple realities may be voiced and contribute to small small-scale changes. These small small-scale changes can be decisive if they occur at the edge of chaos or in a context of rebalancing and unfreezing. Small changes can have large consequences because of self-reinforcing feedback loops and relations in a social network. In interconnected systems small changes emerges through the diversity and interconnectedness of many micro-conversations (Ford Ford, 1995). Micro-level changes provide a platform and a context for transformational change on a macro-level. as in Kotter ´s eight phases or stages a company must successfully complete in order to obtain lasting change (1995) [9]and Lewin ´s Freeze change model(1943)[10]. Thus, the aim is to implement new methods and systems. This also implies that these changes lie within the organizations control although change-triggering events might have come from outside the organization. According to Kotter successful change management is achieved when management carefully plans the change initiative. His theory is based upon the 8 step model which has a very systematic view upon organizations and its environment. The 8 step model is build upon eight actions: create a sense of urgency, recruit powerful change leaders, build a vision and effectively communicate it, remove obstacles, create quick wins, and build on your momentum. If you do these things, you can help make the change part of your organizational culture[11]. Follwing the perspective of Lewin, the change process must contain three central steps; un-freezing, change and freezing[12] . Within un-freezing, inner resistance to change delimits the ability of the individual to move from the present to the desired state. Move seek to take into account all the forces at work and identify and evalutae, on a trial and error bassis, all the available options[13] . The refreezing step establishes ways to make the new level of behavior relatively secure against change (Lewin, 1947, p. 344). This step could include installing a new reward system to reinforce the new, desired behavior or restructuring certain aspects of the organization. An additional meaning refers to the complexity view s as in Ralp Stacy (2003)[14] of organizational change management. His theory is build upon the view of James Gleick. Gleick ´s theory is based on Chaos theory and complexity theory. Later on, Stacey further developed this theory and applied it to human action, as chaos theory originally intended for mathematical deterministic behavior. Chaos theory ´s key message is that our intentional interacting with each other produces intrinsically unpredictable outcomes in the long term, then our planning efforts cannot lead to outcomes we intended; something else will happen[15]. However, Stacey does not imply that then everything is utter chaos. As he states predictably unpredictable, thus a system producing patterns that are recognizable and paradoxical. Complex Responsive Processes (CPR) can give insight for top management on how to become more emergent and respond without knowing long term consequences. However, from a bottom line result, business profit maximizing perspective, this might be hard for managers to switch to instantly. It might cost millions. The strategic problem lays within top management being blind to internal need for change. The existing external commercial strategy is distant even unknown to the employees and there is no existing internal strategy statement. This causes the employees to think of their job as one project at a time, missing focus on the development of the company as a whole. This could lead to employees working without a target or a vision together with the company. CPR approach acknowledges the fact that employees are not machines and if the original strategy doesnt produce what it intended. Thus, introducing a case an acquisition between IBM and DMdata in 2004 where IBM management got surprised by the outcome of employee dissatisfaction and its complexities. This paper adresses IBMs acquisition of DM Data as the key reference in this synopsis. The case study, is used in relation to the acquisition are build upon the experiences the author of this paper had working as a trainee in DMdata both before and after the acquisition. This particular acqusition opened the authors eyes towards the challanges organizations face when implementing new initiatives follwing a merger or acqusition. Why the author find it oparticularly releveant for this course. Introduction of Case study First, I will make a brief introduction of the two companies to get a better understanding of the organizations and why these may have led to some challenges for both companies. Secondlymost relevant reasons that lead interesting to observe the case from the corporate culture point of view, which means concerning the essence of core businesses, these are essentially different enforcing different values and priorities concerning job and goals, reflecting with these important inputs potentially conflictive in the integration process. The conditions mentioned present it as a very appropriate and meaningful selection to develop a case study research. IBM was founded in 1742 and was established in the USA. It is one of the worlds leading companies in IT. historical heritage is very important for the company, in term of know-how but also, in term of marketing IBM has approximately 340.000 employees worldwide and is represented in more than 160 countries[16]. Given IBMs size and origin it brings certain values and norms to the business which is grounded in its culture and identity. On the contrary DM data was one of the biggest software companies in Scandinavia. It was established by two Danish companies; Danske Bank and Maersk Data. The company encompassed 800 employees located in Aarhus and Copenhagen. Even though the company only existed for seven years it managed to create outstanding profits per year.[17] The acquisition between IBM and DM data took place in 2004. After the acquisition, 13% of the employees resigned from their job per year. Many employees mentioned the matrix structure and the American way of doing things as the reason for resigning. [18] The differences of the organizational culture and the way we do thing in each company were fundamentally different. When you attempt to change the core of a companys values and norms its bound to create many challenges[19]. Both companies, are facing changes in their organizational structures through a MA. That is,the processes, politics, values and frame of references. Each participant of this processes either the acquiring IBM or the acquired DMdata; have to face different process and challenges. Clearly, both companies get affected part of their identity and way of doing things. However due to limited access to the IBM employees this paper focuses on the view of Dmdata employees. Analysis of IBM change management initiative IBM managements intended strategy was to incorporate Dmdata as a datterselskab to the main organization of IBM, althoughthey succesed to acquire Dmdata the acqusition broth various unintended changes with it. As mentioned earlier critically positioned employees left the organization and a hostile and confusing environment arised. The unsuccesfull change management of the new initiatives within Dmdata, resulted in inefficient resource utilization, poor products and services[20], and frusttration amon employees and management. IBM management approach to the acqusition can be characterized as a controlling. That is, Some of the DMdata employees reactions came from poor communications such as : IBM CEO Lars Mikkelgaard used the word fusion when he visited us for the first time, when it was in fact a takeover[21]. Other reactions were frustration about changing from national to an international company, from hierarchical to matrix structure and from small to big company. He emphasizes the success they had in DM data on several occasions by saying: Those who sit down and think about it, then DM-data was a success story. Built from 53 men to something IBM would buy for x billions later[22]. He feels overlooked by IBMs management style and does not consider it as suitable for Danish culture: In Denmark, IBM is derived by this American team spirit. The DM-data culture is influenced by the culture of Maersk and Danske Bank, which is very Danish[23]. And I have also been lecturing about quality in life etc. But when you are bought up, you come into an identity crisis. Furthermore, Dmdata employees lacked an incentive to adapt to the changes as they felt they new best as one employee states He stereotypes the Americans There are several States in the US where American Indians are not allowed to walk together more than four at a time. If they do, then you are allowed to shoot them.[24] And he goes on elaborating his indignation of doing things the America way are not allowed to have loaded weapon, so we can laugh a bit of it[25] here he shows that he does not take IBM seriously. The HR Manager talks a lot about how successful the company was, but ridicules of IBM to almost having gone bankrupt. IBM has also been close to going under in 1993. There it was close enough to not exist anymore. And here it is clear that one as a giant company with the ambitions one had, establishes control preparations. These are then some of the procedure which we have to comply to[26]. Follwing Lewin effective change could not tkae place unless there was a felt need be all those concerned[27]. Also in this view, Kotter agues for establishing a sense of urgency. That is people need a good reasontodothingsdifferently, faling this might have created the anxiety and unsecurity Dmdata employees felt. The second step of Kotters 8step model might have easen, having an aly . Short term wins Nadler and Tushman 1995 suggest that there are mainly two types of change that organisations are faced with, namely first- order and second- order changes[28]. . First -Order changes are characterized by small adjustments in system, processes or structures, whereas Second order changes are characterized by transformational which affects the core identity and values of an organization. Nadler and Tushman refer to transformational change as discontinuous change. They further dissects the changes as follows: incremental (tuning and adaptation). Tuning as being anticipatory and adaptation as being reactive. Discontinuous (re-orientation and recreation) change. Re-orientation as being anticipatory and recreation as being reactive. Acquisitions such as IBM/ DMdata are generally regarded as a second- order change. Although IBM and DMdata are in the same industry the size of the two companies together with the cultural heritance of the two are dissimilar. There are national cultural differences, structural differences together with strategic differences which may caused frustration among the employees at DMdata. Furthermore, it is important to into consideration when characterizing whethera change is transfomational or transactional this can be viwed from two sides in mergers and aqcusiotions.remember althought the acqusition can be carachterized as frame bending for DMdata Following Palmer, Dunford and Akin[29] any organizational change usually involves paying attention to organizational culture. That it for IBM management to provide a new vision for the DMdata employees and not simply imposing their own without any involvement from the DMdata employees. The diagnostical tools can be helpful for an organisation to know which changes it is dealing with so that it can inform its strategy selection and organisational configuration to better respond to such changes. It seems like IBM management underestimated some of the challenges it was presented to when they acquired DMdata. The strategic problem lays within top management being blind to internal need for change and adoption within DMdata. Adapting the right diagnostical tools could have helped the management to take the right action in the right context. The lack of information could have been prevented by management taking a nurturer approach. Instead of the top down directors approach. Discussion Change and how people react to it are important features of organisational life. Its vital to remember in times of change, especially transformational change such as mergers and acqusitions, employees are not machines. The way we perceive change and its consecuenses can be different and paradox. As discussed earlier, it can be helpful for management to characterize the scale and scope of the change to better comprehend the impact of a change. However, its important to keep in mind that you will always be confronted with unintended change outcomes. The main problem areas within change implementation in mergers and aquisitions lie within differences in culture, not having a clear communication, and not assigning anyone asresponsible for the change initiatives. The external, managerial and operational level never worked together as one in the IBM/DMdata case study. When merging or acquiring two companies it is critical to consider their corporate culture. The success of a merger/aqusiti on depends as much on culture fit as it does on strategic and financial.Various failed deals can be attributed to corporate culture differences never being considered, or cultural clashes never being addressed. Furthermore, if the people side of MAs are ignored, as in the case study, both companies face not meeting the anticipated purpose of the transaction. [1] Kotter, Lewin [2] Choas theries; Ralp stacey, Car Weick [3] Strategic change management class notes, lecture one [4] Gerry Johnson , the cultural web, Mary Jo Hatch Majen Shultz, identity, Edgar Schein [5] Palmer, Ian, Richard Dunford, and Gib Akin. (2009) Managing Organizational Change p. 163 [6] Schein, E.H. 1990. Organizational Culture and Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass p.178 [7] Orlowski 1996, p 65 accesed in Weick 2000 p 227 [8] Weick, 2000 p. 225 [9] Kotter 1995, Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail [10] Palmer, Ian, Richard Dunford, and Gib Akin. (2009) Managing Organizational Change p. 195 [11] [12] Palmer, Ian, Richard Dunford, and Gib Akin. (2009) Managing Organizational Change p. 195 [13] Lewin 1947a accesed through study notes from lecture 2 [14] Stacey, Ralph. (2003) Organizations as Complex Responsive Processes of Relating. Journal of Innovative Management [15] Stacey, Ralph. (2003) Organizations as Complex Responsive Processes of Relating. Journal of Innovative Management p28 [16] IBM Database [17] DM Data Handbook p 16 [18] www.computerworld.com http://www.computerworld.dk/art/40353?cid=4q=dm+datasm=searcha=cidi=4o=5pos=6 [19] Strategic change management class notes [20] As a reslut of many employees leaving many projects didnt get finished with led to many dissatisfied clientsandcostumers. [21] Malike Karatepe [22] Comment 1, Appendix 1 [23] Comment 2, Appendix 1 [24] Comment 6, Appendix 1 [25] Comment 7, Appendix 1 [26] Comment 8, Appendix 1 [27] Class notes lektion 2 by Rex Degnegaard [28] Palmer,Dunford and akin p 87 [29] Palmer, Dunford and Akin p. 9

People with Chronic Diseases :: Health, Diseases

There are many diseases in the world that affect patient’s life. WOH has mentioned that chronic conditions might lead to disability in the future which leads to spend a lot of money to treat patients (WHO, 2005). Chronic condition has been defined as â€Å"health problems that require ongoing management over a period of years or decades, and include: diabetes, heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary Disease (COPD), cancer, HIV/AIDS, depression, and physical disabilities. To control chronic diseases and prevent patients from getting worse, all health professional and patients should be aware about self management. Therefore, this assignment will explain that ‘Self-management is an important component of effective management of people with chronic conditions and implant current self management models in health care can help to improve the quality of outcomes for patients and health care system. Self management can be defined as â€Å"Involves (the person with the chronic disease) engaging in activities that protect and promote health, monitoring and managing of symptoms and signs of illness, managing the impacts of illness on functioning, emotions and interpersonal relationships and adhering to treatment regimes.† (flinders) The main goal of self management is to strength and increase patient’s confidence and aware about managing their health problems (self management toolkit 2011). Self-management of chronic conditions is should consider many factors which are Patients and their family and the health providers should be involved in the plan with consideration all the medical and psycho-social components of a condition in order to empowering the patient through proactive and adaptive strategies (W. Battersby, et al, 2003 p. 43). Self management toolkit showed that engage the patient and make him/her be involved in goals sitting is a good way to improve patie nts self management and increase the relationship between patients and the providers which may led to increase patient's confidence (self management toolkit 2011).Self management toolkit shows good communication strategies for improving self management in patients with chronic diseases which are engaging the patients, exploring importance ambivalence and collaborative action planning (self management toolkit 2011). In addition, W. Battersby, et al has mentioned that a comprehensive definition of self management is: Self-management should involve the patient who is working in partnership with their carers and health professionals (W. Battersby, et al, 2003 p. 43). Many studies showed that self management program can improve quality of life of patients with chronic diseases and improve the quality of health care organizations. People with Chronic Diseases :: Health, Diseases There are many diseases in the world that affect patient’s life. WOH has mentioned that chronic conditions might lead to disability in the future which leads to spend a lot of money to treat patients (WHO, 2005). Chronic condition has been defined as â€Å"health problems that require ongoing management over a period of years or decades, and include: diabetes, heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary Disease (COPD), cancer, HIV/AIDS, depression, and physical disabilities. To control chronic diseases and prevent patients from getting worse, all health professional and patients should be aware about self management. Therefore, this assignment will explain that ‘Self-management is an important component of effective management of people with chronic conditions and implant current self management models in health care can help to improve the quality of outcomes for patients and health care system. Self management can be defined as â€Å"Involves (the person with the chronic disease) engaging in activities that protect and promote health, monitoring and managing of symptoms and signs of illness, managing the impacts of illness on functioning, emotions and interpersonal relationships and adhering to treatment regimes.† (flinders) The main goal of self management is to strength and increase patient’s confidence and aware about managing their health problems (self management toolkit 2011). Self-management of chronic conditions is should consider many factors which are Patients and their family and the health providers should be involved in the plan with consideration all the medical and psycho-social components of a condition in order to empowering the patient through proactive and adaptive strategies (W. Battersby, et al, 2003 p. 43). Self management toolkit showed that engage the patient and make him/her be involved in goals sitting is a good way to improve patie nts self management and increase the relationship between patients and the providers which may led to increase patient's confidence (self management toolkit 2011).Self management toolkit shows good communication strategies for improving self management in patients with chronic diseases which are engaging the patients, exploring importance ambivalence and collaborative action planning (self management toolkit 2011). In addition, W. Battersby, et al has mentioned that a comprehensive definition of self management is: Self-management should involve the patient who is working in partnership with their carers and health professionals (W. Battersby, et al, 2003 p. 43). Many studies showed that self management program can improve quality of life of patients with chronic diseases and improve the quality of health care organizations.

Phenomenology in Peter Zumthor’s architecture

Phenomenology is not a new invention, although it became synonymous with modernistic art in the early 1900’s. In fact the idea of phenomenology and the meaning of life and its numerous connections became not only an existential question, but also a study of reactivity between human beings in the hope that we might understand why things happen and why we behave in the way we do. In the social sciences, sociologists such as Max Weber wanted to understand this relationship between humans and in art this relationship culminated in the relationship between the artists and the subject and the inherent ties that are visible between the two. Peter Zumthor has become a paragon of his art and his architecture is something of a phenomenological artefact and in this case we examine his architectural pieces at Vals in Switzerland and Cologne in Germany. We look specifically at his spa complex (Therme Vals Spa) and his art museum (Kolumba). We also look at the meaning and the theory of phenomenology as a discipline in the attempt to understand the connection between Zumthor’s personal standpoint and the ideology as a whole. We look first at phenomenology as a discipline and its forefathers while also looking at the very first revelations of phenomenology in the arts. What is phenomenology? How did it come into being and why is it such a powerful tool for the arts? Phenomenology is described as the â€Å"study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view. †(Smith, 2008). What is central to the idea is the intention of the subject, for instance, what does the individual intend to do with the experience? The direction of an experience is geared towards the object with pertinence to the meaning of the relationship (Smith, 2008). It was used in the social sciences by masters such as Heidegger, Husserl and Sartre and encompasses four major aspects of the philosophy of social science: epistemology, ontology, ethics and logic (Smith, 2008). Naturally, these aspects of humanity cannot be explained by scientific inquiry alone, as the human brain consists of unseen reactions as well as the physiological and observable. This posed a problem for social sciences in the sense that something could not be proven unless it could be observed. What we are able to observe, clearly, is interaction, action and reaction. What we are not able to observe is the ‘why’. Smith (2008) explains that where conscious experience is concerned the major affect is that we are able to live through them and perform them. We are able to relate a past experience only from our own standpoint, based on how we felt at the time and therefore we interpret it as it affects us personally (Smith, 2008). Hermeneutic phenomenology is a branch of the discipline that stems from the interpretive which means that we are only ever able to interpret experiences and relationships thereupon and never able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that it is true or not (Marcelle, 2005). At present, the nature of phenomenology is changing with the advent of new communication methods such as the internet (Marcelle, 2005). Indeed, artistically speaking, architecture also remains a means of communicating via its ability to relate a feeling or atmosphere that is pertinent to the emotion it wishes to convey. For example, an art museum wants to convey a different experience to that of a spa. After we have interpreted experiences, we then have to analyze them and remove notable aspects for further observation. Thereafter, phenomenology tries to expand upon different ways of thinking and understand what type of thinking allows that particular experience to be interpreted in that way. Empirical experiments attempt to determine the commonality of that experience and whether it can be proved (Smith, 2008). Some forms of phenomenology try to explain these experiences with the added benefit of neurological knowledge which is of course, empirically and scientifically proven (Smith, 2008). ` Now we know what phenomenology is but what we need to do it examine where is it began in terms of representational art and architecture. Upon viewing something it immediately invokes some sort of emotional connection: whether you like it very much or hate it, there is a reason for this connection. When we view a flower in the open air, some of us may feel euphoric and happy amongst the beauty while others may not be greatly affected by it. The same is true when viewing a rubbish heap, but with the opposite emotion. How we view this experience depends very much on the frame of mind we are in at the time and the overall mental state or personality. This was used in early Surrealist art where those such as Salvador Dali attempted to relate the internal subconscious of the self to the viewer. Dali himself used architectural type hypercube structures to convey a certain transcendence of Christ in his famous Corpus Hypercubus (1954) (Fudjack & Dinkelaker, 1999). The purpose of using this 3 dimensional construction was to invoke the sense not only of transcendence but also omnipotence with the past, present and the future all being present in one picture (Barrette, 2007). Prior to Zumthor’s work and wedged in between Dali’s was Antonin Gaudi whose post-modernist art nouveau architecture can be seen as both garish and outrageous. Gaudi’s work was not only intended for a purpose, but was also employed to have specific affect on the viewer. Sagrada Familia was not completed before Gaudi’s death in 1926 (Schumacher, 1991). Gaudi used angularity, columns and vaults in true architectural classicism and combined it with modern eclecticism to produce a gorgeously outrageous modern gothic temple. In other works, he used mosaics and facades to produce candy-like buildings that both pleased the eye and served a purpose. So phenomenology is not a new idea in the arts and was used with great effect also by artists such as Rene Magritte and in writing by Roland Barthes. Marcel Duchamps created yet another dimension to modernistic phenomenology which included a form of cerebral art that made it necessary not simply to view the piece, but to think about it and to react to it. For him, it was not so important that you liked the work, but rather that you thought about it. Duchamps constructed the Three Standard Stoppages (1914-1915) which used found articles such as string and mirror in a wooden box. This piece therefore made use of mathematical questions that were of course, not answerable. The purpose of the work was in fact to create for Duchamps his own physical ‘oeuvre’ (Betancourt, 2003). Roland Barthes created the idea that what we see is not reality if it is reproduced. Barthes viewed a picture of his mother with the knowledge that although it was his mother in the picture, it was also not his mother. It was really only a representation of her (Barthes, 1980). The question is really, what is the individual experience of the photograph? The experience of the individual is very different depending on whether or not of course, you know the object depicted. We see that phenomenology has been used for many years in the arts and in writing, and now we look specifically at the work of Peter Zumthor. Peter Zumthor was born in Switzerland on the 26 April 1943. Zumthor was the son of a cabinet maker and learnt carpentry early in life. He studied at the Pratt Institute in New York and was awarded the Carlsberg Architecture Prize in 1998 (Spiritus Temporis, 2005). Peter Zumthor also wrote extensively about his philosophy for architecture saying that: â€Å"In order to design buildings with a sensuous connection to life, one must think in a way that goes far beyond form and construction. † (Zumthor in Arcspace, 2009). The phenomenological approach of Zumthor’s work is clear in this statement as it employs the purpose and necessity of thinking about the work more than merely accepting it as a piece in which we either reside or gather. For Zumthor, the building not only has to be facilitative, but also be emotionally or sensually charged. It is only in this manner that we are able to connect with it on a personal level. The building is itself, and does not have to be representational of anything. In other words, as the Chartres Cathedral is representational of a religious artefact, Zumthor’s work has an existence beyond its representation (Zumthor in Arcspace, 2009). The Kolumba Art Museum of the Archdiocese of Cologne is a culmination of old and new religious art which was meant initially to make one think about how the two worlds intercept (Carrington, 2008). It is described as a museum of reflection (Carrington, 2008). First founded in 1853 by the Society for Christian Art and is home to 2 000 years of religious art. The most important aspect of this art however, is that it has two parallel histories. The original building was almost completely destroyed during World War II and during the year of 1973, excavations revealed medieval, Roman and Gothic remains. All the ruins were used by Zumthor to collaborate the history into one astounding piece of work (Carrington, 2008). Zumthor essentially raised the walls on cement covered steel columns and embedded both sets of historical ruins into the new walls (Carrington, 2008). The result is an amalgamation of old and new that somehow allows the viewer to notice the old rather than the new while also providing us with the same vision Zumthor himself had. Upon viewing the structure it appears to be a patchwork that is carefully constructed to produce a time-frame continuum. Yet while the building is a thoughtful invocation of old and new, it is also environmentally considered. It is constructed with ‘filter walls’ that have a air and light permeable membrane which is separated between the chapel and the exhibition rooms (Architectural News, 2007). Zumthor collaborated the use of the old world material with brick, mortar, plaster and terrazzo as a backdrop for the artworks exhibited (Architectural News, 2007). Clearly, if Zumthor wanted to he could have created a modernistic and highly technological piece of architecture like the Sydney Opera House, but his sensitivity as an artist allowed him to produce a dignified and respectful piece of architectural history that is not seen before. Windows placed across the entire space of the wall allows light to enter at all directions and also provides changing lights spaces at different times of the day (Architectural News, 2007). There is not a great difference in colour between the old and the new parts of the building considering the different materials used at any time. The gothic vaults that appear along the side of the building are embedded onto plastered and textured walls. The texture however, does not appear directly behind the gothic facade, but rather some meters above it. This means that there is no detraction from the original facade (Figure 1). Kolumba Art Museum Figure 1 Markus Bachmann (Architectural News) 2007. The Therme Vals, Switzerland has a completely different countenance altogether. Zumthor appears to be a master at replacing older structures with refreshing new ones. The spa reopened in 1996 after it was reconstructed by Zumthor from the original 1960’s building (McLaughlin, 2006). Zumthor created a modern bathing complex out of 60 000 local quartzite slabs. The buildings itself appears to be truly new age and almost alien-like, with granite dotted around geometric and glass sliding doors. In a sense, Zumthor has attempted to internalise the mountain backdrop of the exterior of the building, by incorporating the natural light available through frosted and clarified glass (Baus, 2007: 9). Holes in the sky-lights of the slabs allow natural light into the rooms where the baths are situated. The floor plan reveals lights situated under the water in the baths that glow a magical blue in the evening and is a perfect place to reflect upon ones self (Baus, 2007: 14). This is of course, the point of a spa, that one is assisted in self exploration. The domes appear to resemble eyes placed upon a shield from which the light is radiated. The purpose of this architecture is therefore not only to accommodate and enhance well being, but also to accommodate the natural environment (Baus, 2007: 5). The building itself resembles the gentle ebb and flow of the stream that feeds the spa as well as the Alpine mountains that surround it. The interior glass is frosted with yin/yang shaped apertures that allow the light into the building as seen in figure two. One is quickly able to see how the light is utilised to produce an ethereal and magical area of meditation which is particularly important to the person who is attempting to find emotional help. It is not a palatial and sentimental piece as is seen in the art museum, but then the personality of the people visiting it is not likely to be the same either. Figure 2 Interior Vals Spa – www. flickr. com/photos/amirkorour/269995495/ Remove frame The loss of senses is a contributing factor to emotional disruption and the allowance of this building to connect with the beautiful environment facilitates the reconnection of the person with the senses whether they be beauty, love, peace or euphoria. Sensory deprivation is something we have come to tolerate as humans due in part to our fast paced lifestyles and our intense need for social airs and graces. In a space such as the Vals Spa, we are able to shed these nuances of life and expect to be move back towards what Zumthor had previously explained was a sensual connection with the environment. In an interview with Zumthor available online the Termae of Stone is explained by the man himself. Zumthor states that he wanted the visitors to be able to connect with the environment and to be able to find themselves within the architecture (Zumthor, 2007). Zumthor also wanted the architecture to be a part of the healing process rather than an abstract work of art on its own. For this reason it must facilitate the human experience rather than detract from it (Zumthor, 2007). The meaning behind the architecture is that is becomes almost a mythical and ritualistic appearance of cleansing in a very spiritual manner. The spiritual is inherent in the building by virtue of it meaningful change and by symbolism. Zumthor uses the ritual of removing ones clothing as a part of this stripping of extraneous material to reveal the purity of self and of the environment, essentially becoming one with it (Zumthor, 2007). Stone and skin are two of these important factors as well as the senses being able to experience different temperatures of the water and textural changes in the light and building material. Coupled with this is an acoustic effect that tantalises all the senses: touch, sound, sight and taste. There is a clear parallel between the building and its meaning which is the essence of phenomenology. This was also attempted by Frank Lloyd Wright many years before at Falling Waters. Zumthor states too that on a formal level everything is simple and un-intrusive, an important aspect of the purpose of a healing spa. Part water and part stone, the functionality of the material is elemental to the human body which is mainly water itself (Zumthor, 2007). There is a juxtaposition between the mobility of water and the solidity of stone similar to the opposites visible in the art museum which old and new are encapsulated together. Zumthor clearly also enjoys the opposing of various opposite sets as well as the sensuality that theses opposites grant the viewer. For most people healing entails the need for the senses to be reawakened and for experience to be reinvented. In a sense, we stop experiencing the world around us when we run out of time or are clinging to the need to survive rather than seeking time for the self and its needs. The idea of a spa is not only the range of treatments that it gives the person, but also a healing form within where the person is able to completely relax. The reflection of light against the monochromatic pool floors is the same example used in the Art Museum at Kolumba where the light allowed into the building illuminates the various pieces differently all the time. Only natural light can do this, not artificial. For Zumthor, thinking is also important to the individual, because thinking is what makes us different from one another. In the same way as we do not all think in the same way, light reflections are never the same at any given time. The result is purely interpretive and hermeneutic. The effect is as much psychological as it is physiological and the spa is as much naturalistic as it is modern which is largely thanks to the quartzite slabs Zumthor has used. Zumthor is quick to explain it is his own idea of the architecture that he wishes to convey and that he takes the liberty of interpreting the piece the way he sees it (Zumthor, 2007). The idea of the piece is always accompanied by a powerful image and the visualisation of the experience (Zumthor, 2007). For Zumthor it is never an abstract idea, it is very clear. The first images that Zumthor has upon undertaking an architectural piece are naive and child-like and gradually mature into something realistic (Zumthor, 2007). The process of building never loses the initial image even though it is built upon and matured. For him it is a self defining form of architecture and not an abstract, detached one (Zumthor, 2007). Interestingly this is opposite to the previously mentioned modernist architect Antonin Gaudi whose architecture was outrageously abstract and indulgent. Zumthor has clearly focussed on communication, opening the ‘mouth’ of the architecture to allow his image to proceed. Communication is key to the hermeneutic experience, predominantly because communication is the way we define ourselves and others. It is the way we are able to relate to one another and it the only observable practice there is to humanity. Zumthor is therefore also humanistic in his approach to art and architecture. Jacky Bowring describes how as Westerners we have become detached from our senses and uses the example of Anthony Giddens that globalisation, westernisation and modernisation are intertwined. This means that the global village is slowly but surely become a Western one where sensory deprivation causes the volcanic outburst of deviant behaviour (Bowring, 2005: 81). But Western culture is also dominated by the visual meaning that what is pleasing to the eye is considered pleasing to the soul. However, other cultures such as the Indian and the Oriental employ the use of all the senses and produce an holistic effect (Bowring, 2005: 81). For this purpose, Zumthor cleverly escapes the Westernized jail in which Western society had holed itself and employs the use of other sense that essentially make us humans rather than just non-rational animals (Bowring, 2005: 81). Bowring believes that our optical and visual culture has made us deprived of other senses, which is partially true. She states: â€Å"A counter to the one-eyed focus of ocularcentrism is the recognition of senses of place that is found in the philosophy of phenomenology. †(Bowring, 2005: 82). As a result of this deprivation we have become dislocated and not a whole and functional body, hence the need for multi-sensory architecture and connectivity with our environment (Bowring, 2005: 82). For Bowring the problem is that the Western obsession with appearance has caused landscape artists to produce masses of gardens and landscapes that are ‘pretty’ or ‘stunning’ but have no other sensory satisfactions (Bowring, 2005: 83). Sturich looks at the image as a poetic one, as a hermeneutic experience by which we create images that invoke certain feelings and for Zumthor the poetry is an ‘unexpected truth’ (Sturich, 2003: 4). The poetic strengthens our relationship between the world or ourselves, making us more able to experience that world for what it really is – a culmination of all senses and not merely a material setting (Sturich, 2003: 4). Memory is another aspect of the poetic that Zumthor uses as the senses are memory precursors. The senses and the poetic becomes narratives by which we build our current worlds, beliefs and experiences (Sturich, 2003: 6). For this reason, we associate things we do not like with things that have bad memories or experiences. We may not like thatched houses because one caught fire once as a child or we may enjoy the Palace of Versailles because of a sweet cake we indulged in when visiting it. The association of what we enjoy and do not enjoy is based on our experience of it. Zumthor’s idea of what a kitchen should be is based on his memory of his aunt’s house when he was a child, as evidently he has good memories of it (Sturich, 2003: 7). Poetry relates these memories through words, architects relate these memories through their works. Sturich explains that we use buildings as repositories for poetic images that increase our awareness of the world around us (Sturich, 2003: 10). So we have the memory and the poetic image as two aspects of the hermeneutic or phenomenological that facilitate creative and healing properties of the human being and the human mind. Davidovici explains yet another interesting aspect to the phenomenology of Zumthor and that is in the culture of modern Europe. Critically speaking, Zumthor did away with the cultural need for ‘art for art’s sake’ and replaced it with a moral concern for the environment (Davodovici, date unknown: 1). Herzog and de Meuron were two of Zumthor’s counterparts, but there idea of architecture was as an artistic vehicle with a motion towards emotive charging of all materials used in a single building (Davidovici, date unknown: 1). The morphology of the building therefore entertained the idea that humanistic approaches were too formal and there was thus a need for impersonal and neutral surroundings to be banished. Zumthor, in his Kolumba Art Museum gave way to the fact that our memories are embedded in our pasts and that patriotism is a necessary part of national spirit. We see that the use of two to three worlds entwined with the modern gives exactly the right amount of emotive past and sensory present. Zumthor was concerned with creating something that we could â€Å"know, understand and feel. †(Davidovici, date unknown: 4). Again, for Zumthor the idea of building and of dwelling is the same as Heidegger’s that dwelling is the personal and identifiable space where people reside as human beings (Sturich, 2003: 1). The importance of this is that our personal space is a reflection of the self in the same way that it is also impersonal in its creation. It is the way in which we adorn our personal space that allows the true self to become self-evident. The building itself is built by someone else and very rarely is indicative of the self, but in these cases, sometimes this works as a slate upon which one can paint their own image. We see without doubt that Zumthor has created in the Vals Thermal Spa, a place where the individual is able to connect with the self because the surroundings are impersonal. However, it is very clearly natural and down to earth. Compare this for instance to the Hilton Hotel’s dotted around the Unites States that are lavish but also impersonal but offer no real opportunity to connect with the personal. The same sort of comparison can be made between the Chartres Cathedral and the Kolumba Art Museum where both themes are the religious. In the Chartres Cathedral the purest place of the architecture as a product is itself. The Kolumba, by contrast is that it should show the character of the works contained within it rather than the building itself. Zumthor also shows a very important character reference too in that the main source of his inspiration was not to show himself as being a great architect, but to preserve the past. The gothic and Romanesque arches that Zumthor preserves are beautifully melded into the modern cement walls of Zumthor’s own interpretation. The interior is also clearly geared towards preserving the art within it rather than being a work of art in itself. The need to preserve the past is also related to the importance of memory and the personal relationship both a nation and an individual has. The Vals Thermal Spa on the other hand is created in an impersonal and natural way so as not to detract from the experience that one is supposed to have. Here begins the phenomenological application: the experience, the interpretation and the analysis. The first thing one is goaded into at the spa is to experience the multi-sensory application. You are required to feel the water, see the reflection, hear the sounds of the water and also taste it. This is important to the personal experience, as every one has different ones. Also important is the fact that within the water the quartzite is locally mined and is not an anachronism for the person viewing it. The purpose is to reawaken emotion and experience of the world around and you as well as be able to reconnect with the self. We see that phenomenology is concerned with action, reaction and interaction, which is also personally experienced rather than imposed upon the individual. The theory of Roland Barthes was also pertinent to the understanding that what we see visually is not always the realistic, it is often merely a representation. What the other senses do is to make that sight into a tangible reality. One can see a picture of a something and it excites the visual sense but when we are able to feel it, smell and taste it, it becomes a tangible reality. The baths of Thermal Spa able to be felt, seen, and heard and are therefore real things. Salvador Dali also attempted to make the representational into a reality, he tried to convert the two dimensional into the three dimensional causing the person to optically believe they are able to touch and fell the article or the object. One is able to analyse the feelings one has only from the personal standpoint and never from the third person, hence the personal nature of narratives and novels where the writer places themselves in the position of the character in order to create the person they wish to describe. This means that the poetic narrative is also an inversion in a sense, of the phenomenological even though it is not truly the personal experience: the personal experience being of the first person rather than an interpretation of the first person by the third person. The importance of the relationship between the personal and the interpersonal is evident again in the fact that although we cannot prove how we feel or how others feel, we are at least able to empathise with what we see and feel around us. Zumthor is clearly wanting us to reconnect with the surroundings, our sense and our selves. In conclusion Peter Zumthor has succeeded in creating an architectural world where there is a good relationship between the past and the present; the natural and the man-made; and the self and the world. It is not merely based on the visual but also on all the senses. He relates to the human need to embrace the sensual rather than living the life of prescribed society. While science offers us a very distinct set of truths about the world around us, such as that the earth is round and that the body needs water, what it does not do is tell us how we think or why we do what we do. In architecture such as Zumthor’s, the architect recognises that in human nature very little is formulaic and we are seldom able to predict human behaviour. Certainly this cerebral art is a departure from classical, also formulaic artistic pieces. The thinking architecture is one that is able to produce the self in the its architecture and is able to allow the person to reflect on the environment as well as themselves. The Art Museum is a place where the individual is able to reflect on the person’s national past while also allowing us to be able to see the changes over time in the art in question. The Thermal Spa allows the person to reflect on themselves as well as their surroundings, hereby facilitating healing.