Miniature Wireless Inertial and Magnetic Sensors Research

Miniature Wireless Inertial and Magnetic Sensors Research An object in motion tends to stay in motion unless an external force acts upon it. Similarly, if the object is at rest, it will remain at rest unless an unbalanced force acts upon it. When a force acts on an object, it will cause the object to accelerate. The larger the mass of the object, the greater the force will need to be to cause it to accelerate. Sir Isaac Newton. Throughout centuries, people were fascinated with the study of motion. In fact, several disciplines were created, in which laws of physics and mechanics are applied to objects or biological systems in order to study the effect of the forces acting upon them. One of those disciplines is biomechanics, which involves, among others, the study of the kinetics and kinematics of the human body. Locomotion is one of the primary functions of the human body (Moore et al. 2010) and studying its characteristics and its effects on the musculoskeletal system is of great importance, especially in our times, when musculoskeletal disorders are ranking very high amongst the top debilitating diseases worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (Brooks 2006; Cross et al. 2014; St. John 2015). Degenerative musculoskeletal diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA) are most prevalent in the elderly population, of 55 years and older (Reginster 2002). Over the past decades, the United Nations reported a steady increase in the life expectancy of the world population (Oeppen and Vaupel 2008), which marked a concomitant increase in the number of years in which sufferers need to manage the disease (Cross et al. 2014), thereby not only lowering the quality of life of the patient but also putting extra strain on the health care system. Although OA is an autoimmune disease and its origins are not yet fully understood, the literature suggests that in some patients OA can be caused by other degenerative processes such as femuroacetabular impingement (FAI) (Benedetti et al. 1998; Ganz et al. 2001), genu varum or genu valgum (Moore et al. 2010), which have a much earlier onset than OA. Early diagnosis in such cases could help prevent or postpone the onset of OA in the patients joints. Motion analysis has been widely tested as a means of diagnosing skeletal misalignment processes, such as the ones mentioned above. The knee joint is not only the largest joint in the human body, but due to its position and weight bearing properties, also one of the most injurie and disease prone skeletal feature (Moore et al. 2010). After all, knee OA is one of the most prevalent types of arthritis affecting the world population (Cross et al. 2014). Moreover, the knee joint is often used in proof of concept studies, as a simplified biomechanical hinge joint (Seel et al. 2014), which only allows rotation about its main axis the flexion extension axis, making it ideal for the purpose of the current study. The motion to be analysed in the following chapters will be knee flexion-extension during dynamic walking conditions. Amongst the most popular motion analysis tools are the marker based optical motion capture systems and their associated protocols. Optical motion capture is often performed in the laboratory with very expensive equipment and using this type of equipment in a non-laboratory based environment presents significant limitations which can compromise the accuracy of the acquired data. However, the differences between the laboratory setting and a natural environment in which a movement is carried out could affect the manner in which the patient conducts himself. It is therefore of great importance to find an appropriate motion analysis tool which can be used accurately in a non-laboratory based environment, is user friendly, requires a short set up time and is cost effective. The scope of the current thesis is to combine the use of state of the art equipment and a motion capture and computational data processing protocol which allows biomechanical analysis of human motion in a non-laboratory based environment. The purpose of the study is to test the applicability, feasibility and reliability of using a network of wireless inertial sensors and a designated data acquisition and processing protocol to assess human knee flexion-extension during gait in a non-laboratory based environment. Successfully proving that using such a technique in a non-laboratory based environment is applicable and reliable, could not only offer an ambulatory, and more rapid, user friendly, and cost effective alternative to the optical motion capture silver standard, used currently in the laboratory, the applications of such a technique would be spread across numerous fields, e.g. diagnostics and prevention of disease, physical repair, ergonometry, engineering of prosthetic limbs. Objectives The objectives of the current study are to perform a series of experiments using a network of miniature wireless inertial and magnetic sensors, in conjunction with a data processing protocol, proposed by Seel et. al (2014) and described in detail in the following chapters, in order to validate the system for use in a non-laboratory based environment. The experiments will have the following purposes: Ruling out any gyroscope bias. Testing the accuracy of the gyroscope sensors and the methodology proposed by Seel et. al (2014) for deriving a rotation angle from gyroscope data, against a robotic setup gold standard. Testing the accuracy with which the cameras of the optical motion capture system track the markers in the measurement volume. Testing the methodology proposed by Seel et. al (2014) for calculating a rotation angle by combining gyroscope and accelerometer data, against the Vicon calibration wand. Validating the above mentioned method for calculating knee flexion-extension angles during gait, against the Vicon camera system current silver standard for human motion capture. Comparing knee flexion-extension angles from gait recorded in a laboratory- and a non-laboratory based environment, with the sensor system and processed with the protocol proposed by Seel et. al (2014). Aims By following these objectives, the aims of the current study are to demonstrate the following set of null hypotheses: H01 The sensor system and proposed protocol function together with high accuracy. H02 There are no statistically significant differences between knee flexion-extension angles recorded during gait with the sensor system, and the ones recorded with the optical motion capture system. H03 There are no statistically significant differences between knee flexion-extension angles recorded with the sensors system in the laboratory, and the ones recorded outdoors. Anatomy and pathology of the human knee joint The lower limbs of the human body (Fig 2.1), are part of the appendicular skeleton (Gerhardt et al. 2012). The leg is formed of three long bones, the femur constituting the thigh bone and the tibia and fibula constituting the bones of the lower leg (Rabuffetti and Crenna 2004). The femur (Fig 2.2A) is the largest bone in the human body. Proximally, the femur articulates with the pelvis, to form the hip joint. Distally, the femur articulates with the tibia (Fig 2.2A) to form the knee joint (Fig 2.2B)(Joseph 2014). The femur is positioned diagonally within the thigh, forming an alignment axis along the line of force of the quadriceps femoris muscle surrounding it, which can be represented by drawing a line from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the centre of the patella (Fig 2.2C)(Moore et al. 2010). The tibia is almost vertically positioned within the shank, forming an alignment axis virtually parallel to the vertical gravitational axis, traversing the centre of the patella. The alignment of the knee joint is greatly influenced by the angle between the quadriceps muscle and the patellar tendon, called the Q angle (Fig 2.2C)(Moore et al. 2010). The knee joint is represented by large articular surfaces, with a joint capsule consisting of a fibrous external layer and an internal synovial membrane, lining all surfaces of the articular cavity which are not covered by hyaline cartilage (Drake et al. 2012; Moore et al. 2010) . The hyaline cartilage, covering the bony extremities of the synovial joint, lowers friction between the elements and additional structures, such as articular discs, fat pads and tendons may be present in this type of joint (Ellis 2006). Mechanically, the knee is a relatively weak structure, its stability being highly dependent on the strength of the soft tissue surrounding it. The most stable position of the knee joint is when a person is standing up right and the knee is fully extended. In this position, the medial rotation of the femoral condyles on the articular surface of the tibia, creates a passive lock, which is inactivated when the femur rotates laterally to allow flexion (Moore et al. 2010). The primary functions of the human lower limbs are support and locomotion (Drake et al. 2012; Ellis 2006; Moore et al. 2010). Functions in which the knee joints, along with the other joints of the lower limbs, play a crucial role. Human gait, for instance, is a complex motion which, when occurring on a planar surface, can be divided in two phases, containing 7 total events. One gait cycle (Fig 2.3) consists of a stance phase (60% of the total action) and a swing phase (40% of the total action), corresponding to a single step made by one leg. From a biomechanical point of view, joints are often classified according to their ability to move across a defined number of axes using mechanical models. The knee joint for example is often considered to be a hinge (Fig 2.4), acting like a fulcrum between two levers, represented by the femur and tibia (Moore et al. 2010; Zatsiorsky 1998). However, the movements of the knee joint are a widely discussed subject and there are at least four points of view in the literature concerning the correct identification of the flexion-extension axis of the knee joint (Zatsiorsky 1998). The flexion-extension axis is recognized as being the main axis of rotation of the tibiofemoral joint, however, it was reported that when the knee is fully extended an endo-exo rotation of the tibia with respect to the femoral condyles occurs (Ellis 2006; Fick 1911a; Hollister et al. 1993; Moore et al. 2010). Furthermore, Hollister et al. (1993) reported that full extension of the knee is accompanied by an additional abduction-adduction of the tibia. Firstly, based on the Reuleaux method, researchers claimed that the knee flexion-extension axis is instantaneous and displaces during motion (Blacharski and Somerset 1975; Frankel et al. 1971; Schmidt 1973; Soudan and Auderkercke 1979; Zuppinger 1904). However, this view was highly criticised by (Panjabi et al. 1982), who claimed that the flawed experimental designs of the previously mentioned researchers led to inaccuracies in their results. Secondly, a helical rather than simple rotation occurring about a flexion-extension axis, which changes its orientation during motion, and about an independent tibial endo-exo rotation axis, was suggested (Braune and Fischer 1891; Bugnion 1892; Zuppinger 1904) and later reviewed by (Fick 1911b), (Steindler 1955), and (Strasser 1917). However, Fick later suggested that the knee flexion-extension axis was a fixed axis located in the distal femur, traversing the lateral and medial condyle posteriorly (Fick 1911a). A hypothesis which was supported by (Elias et al. 1990) findings, which further suggested an involvement of the surrounding ligaments in the motion. Finally, (Hollister et al. 1993) claimed that knee flexion-extension is indeed dependent on the movement of the collateral and cruciate ligaments and that therefore, mechanically, knee motion occurs about an infinite number of axes. Nevertheless, most biomechanical models used in the literature for assessing motion capture data, assume a fixed flexion-extension axis for the knee (Cutti et al. 2010; Ehrig et al. 2007; Seel et al. 2014). The physical aspects of the musculoskeletal system are, however, not the only factors concerning skeletal kinematics. On a physiological level, although often considered invariable, bones undergo constant remodelling under the influence of mechanical stimuli. Bone remodelling is, in fact, a constant balance between osteogenesis (the process of bone formation) and osteoclastogenesis (the process of bone resorption), processes which regulate bone mass and are highly dependent on mechanical stress and strain (Marieb 2009). The effects of mechanical stimuli on the skeletal environment have been extensively studied in the past and mathematical models, such as Frosts mechanostat, based on the theory that the human skeleton evolves for and serves mechanical needs primarily (Frost 1987), have been developed for a better understanding of this mechanism. In Frosts view, the skeleton has an in-built mechanical feedback system which responds to increase or decrease in mechanical loading or hormonal changes by adjusting the bone mass so that it is specially distributed for optimal mechanical function (Frost 1987). Although Frosts mathematical model took into account very important parameters, such as Youngs modulus for bone, peak strain, peak stress and changes in density, it did not take into account the ability of bone cells to adapt to the environment (Turner 1999). However, Turners mathematical theory for bone biology, called the principle of cellular accommodation (Turner 1999), based on Wolffs law of bone transformation (Wolff 1982) and Frosts mechanostat (Frost 1987), offered an alternative version, which corrected for flaws discovered in the initial models (Turner 1999). In 1982, Julius Wolff proposed a theory which stated that high stress-generated potentials can act as electrical stimuli for the activation of osteocyte cells within bone tissue, which in response could trigger an anabolic event following activation of bone forming cells (Wolff 1982). Turners principle of cellular accommodation corrected for the assumption in Frosts mechanostat that suggested that cellular sensitization is a continuous and endless process, that can eventually lead to complete loss of bone mass or ossification of bone tissue (Turner 1999). In contrast to that, the principle of cellular accommodation stated that mechanical loading and unloading indeed stimulates bone formation and, respectively bone resorption, but that, over time the bone cells become immune to loading cycles (provided the load has an equal value over time) and their metabolic rate decreases. Nevertheless, mechanical stress and strain are not exclusively affecting the bones within the skeletal system, but also the cartilage and surrounding tissue. Changes in the mechanical environment or properties of cartilage within a joint, can generate stimuli, which initiate degenerative processes (Boyd and Ronsky 1997; Churchill et al. 1998b; Davis and DeLuca 1996), e.g. osteoarthritis. OA is a progressive disorder, which causes the loss of articular cartilage, exposing the joint extremities, where the direct contact between bones results in ulceration and calcification of the tissue. OA is one of the worlds leading debilitating diseases, which lowers the quality of life and can lead to immobility of the patient. The exact mechanism of OA is not clear yet, however, there are a series of factors which researchers found to play a role in the onset, incidence and epidemiology of the disease. For knee OA, these factors include amongst genetic background, age, gender, obesity (Felson 2004a), and occupational (Cooper et al. 1994; Maetzel et al. 1997; McMillan and Nichols 2005) or sports injuries (Roos et al. 1994), local mechanical factors affecting the integrity of the joint, such as muscle weakness, damage to the ligaments and meniscus, joint incongruity and misalignment of femoral condyles on the tibial plateau (Felson 2004b). It has been reported that knee injury in men and obesity in women are amongst the leading and most modifiable causes of onset or progression of knee OA (Felson et al. 2000). Moreover, (Felson 2013) claimed that knee OA is almost always caused by increased forces acting on a joint and that such forces could be a result of knee malalignment (Felson and Hodgson 2014) or a combination of malalignment and obesity (Felson et al. 2004). Causes which can be addressed and treated in order to prevent progression or onset of OA, if identified in timely manner (Felson and Hodgson 2014; Teichtahl et al. 2009). Genu varum (bowed-legs) and genu valgum (knocked-knees) are both conditions in which the alignment of the knee is affected. Genu varum is defined by a decreased Q-angle (Moore et al. 2010), and is reported to increase mechanical loading in the medial knee compartment by 70-79% (Tetsworth and Paley 1994) even in cases where the varum is as little as 5 °, which can lead to substantial cartilage loss (Sharma et al. 2008; Teichtahl et al. 2009) and the onset of OA (Brouwer et al. 2007). In contrast, genu valgum is defined by an increased Q-angle (Moore et al. 2010), which is reported to in increases loading in the lateral knee compartment, thereby, increasing the risk of progressive OA 5 fold (Sharma et al. 2001; Teichtahl et al. 2006). Furthermore, (Hsu et al. 1990) and (Kettelkamp et al. 1976) report a correlation between medial lateral forces and knee alignment during standing which, however, is only present in genu varum sufferers during gait (Harrington 1983). Motion analysis has proved to be a useful tool in the study of lower limbs kinematics and disorders of knee (Andriacchi et al. 1983; Berchuck et al. 1990; Draganich et al. 1991; Kettelkamp et al. 1976; Noyes et al. 1992; Wang et al. 1990) and increasingly more researchers use motion capture systems and biomechanical computational models for the purpose of quantifiable and numerical motion analysis (Alexander and Andriacchi 2001; Bonci et al. 2015; Cappozzo et al. 2005; Cereatti and Della Croce 2006; Cutti et al. 2010; Davis et al. 1991; Ehrig et al. 2007; Ferrari et al. 2010a; Garofalo et al. 2009; Haid and Breitenbach 2004; Kratzenstein et al. 2010b; Leardini et al. 2005; Luinge et al. 2012; Pasciuto et al. 2015; Roetenberg et al. 2003; Schepers et al. 2010; Seel et al. 2014; Taylor et al. 2005). Motion capture systems and protocols During the past decades, quantifiable motion analysis has been widely studied and the need for developing a low cost and user friendly technique, which enables motion capture in a non-laboratory based environment, has been emphasised time and time again (Calliess et al. 2014; Gaffney et al. 2011; Liu et al. 2011; Pfau et al. 2005; Soangra and Lockhart 2012; Vlasic et al. 2007; Wixted et al. 2010; Yang et al. 2011; Zhou and Hu 2004, 2008). Quite a few motion capture systems were developed in order to aid motion studies. These systems were reviewed extensively (Frey et al. 1996; Hightower and Borriello 2001; Meyer et al. 1992; Welch and Foxlin 2002) and can be largely classified in the following categories: robot aided, visual and non-visual (Vlasic et al. 2007; Zhou and Hu 2004, 2008). Robot aided motion capture This technique employs the use of electromechanical systems, such as Gypsyà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (Meta Motion) and ShapeWrapà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ (Measurand), called exoskeletons, which the subjects are required to wear, in order to compute joint angles from electric resistance. These systems are not restricted to laboratory use, however, they are uncomfortable and motion restricting even in the most updated versions of the hardware (Vlasic et al. 2007).

Compare Contrast Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano Essay -- Comparat

There are various things that make up a piece of literature. For example: choice of diction, modes of discourse, and figurative language. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were great examples of authors that used these elements of literature. There are similarities and differences in A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America. Though Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano shared similarities in experiences, they had different writing personalities, purposes, attitudes, tones, and relations with their communities. There are four main modes of discourse: expository, narrative, descriptive, and persuasive. In Mary Rowlandson’s A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, it is apparent in the title that it is a narrative. Like Mrs. Rowlandson’s literature, Olaudah Equiano’s From Africa to America is a narrative. A narrative form of literature is a story, account of events, or experiences, whether it is true or fictitious. In this case their stories were their real experiences and they gave the reader actual facts and information, also making it expository. "The closeness of the place and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us." (73) This is a perfect example showing that Olaudah Equiano’s narrative is also descriptive, giving the reader vivid images in his mind, whereas Rowlandson’s narrative rarely has descriptive content. These w orks of literature may also be portrayed as persuasive by the quote of, "..Overwhelmed with the thoughts of my condition.." (7) Mary Rowlandson was overwhelmed with her emotions. This quote may persuade the reader ... ...aves. Olaudah’s story may be seen as a reminder that people in the latest generation have things easy compared to the time he was alive. People should not take what they have for granted, for example freedom. The people of today have the most freedom than ever before. Although two different authors wrote these works of literature, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America, both stories possessed similar and different elements of writing. These tales were worthy of comparing because they had various things to review, contrast, and realize, such as the worship they had or didn’t have for God, their experiences, and their styles. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were remarkable writers whose works will always be a part of America’s history for the various styles and purposes they had to share with their readers.

Education Can End Systematic Oppression Essay -- Poverty and Oppressio

The subject of expectations for higher education is one that tends to spark impassioned debate among educators, students and parents alike. In Pedagogy of the Oppressed Paulo Freire presses his audience to consider such expectations in light of one’s own intentions, motives, and affections toward those to be educated (Freire 50). He goes even further to suggest that a love for one another through empathetic dialogue, especially on the part of the educator, must be present in order for fear to be wiped away and liberation to eventually take its place (Freire 89,90). It was that dialogical approach that made Freire’s literacy programs so successful in Brazil until â€Å"his work was interrupted by a military dictatorship† in the mid-60s and he was arrested and exiled to Chile (Palmer 128). Even after his release he continued to be an advocate for his approach to education, believing it worked toward liberation for all, freeing both the oppressor and the oppressed (Palmer 129). Some of the oppressed in our own society include, but are not limited to, individuals living in poverty, immigrants struggling to adapt and grow in a new culture, and people with developmental disabilities due to abuse and neglect. Many opportunities lie at our fingertips in America but until we apply an empathetic approach to reaching the oppressed in our society, we cannot expect all Americans to seek a college degree nor will education be a means toward societal change. According to the US Census Bureau, out of the 300 plus million people living in the United States, 46.5 million of them lived in poverty in 2012 without any change from the previous year (â€Å"Dept of Commerce†). Almost 22% of the people were children under the age of 18 (â€Å"Dept of Commerce†). A... ...riere_pedagogy.pdf>. Hamilton, Jon. "Orphans' Lonely Beginnings Reveal How Parents Shape A Child's Brain." NPR. NPR, 24 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. . Koury, Amanda S., and Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal. "School Readiness of Children from Immigrant Families: Contributions of Region of Origin, Home, and Childcare." Journal of Educational Psychology 106.1 (2014): 268-88. ProQuest. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. Palmer, Joy, David E. Cooper, and Liora Bresler, eds. Fifty Modern Thinkers on Education: From Piaget to the Present Day. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. "WHAT RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S EDUCATION." SOM - State of Michigan. Michigan Department of Education, Mar. 2002. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. .

Sociology and Material Culture

Haley Schweitzer Sociology 1010 Term Paper Sociology and Oops My Mistake Sociology is defined as, the study of people doing things together or more specifically, â€Å"the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings† (Merriam Webster Dictionary). This paper will examine the discourse of structure in sociology, the sociology of culture, and the deviance and sanctions in sociology. After discussing these topics, I will illustrate my act of norm breaking and how it ties in with these three areas of sociology.The structure of sociology can be identified as, the relationship of definite entities or groups to each other, enduring patterns of behavior by participants in a social system in relation to each other, and institutionalized norms or cognitive frameworks that structure the actions of actors in the social system. Basically saying within the structure are groups, statuses, roles, and institutions. In sociology, a group refers to two or more people who interact on a basis of shared qualities and experiences. A status refers to a specific position within a group, for example, a manager, employee, or a grandma.Within statuses there are two subgroups, ascribed status and achieved status. An ascribed status is one that is unalterable, such as a grandma. An achieved status is one that is obtainable, such as a manager. A role is an expected behavior within a status. For example, while an employee states the position of that role, the employee’s guidelines determine what behavior is appropriate for his/her role. This is the same concept for a status and a role. An institution is complex social structures that meet basic human needs.There are five main institutions: family, economy, education, politics, and religion. The sociology of culture consists of the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group or society. Through cultur e, people and groups define themselves, conform to society's shared values, and contribute to society. Thus, culture is constructed from three components which are norms, values, and material culture. Norms are â€Å"rules† within a culture that specify how people should conduct themselves every day.  Read also  Sociology and Social Integration.For example, one norm that may vary among different cultures is oculesics (eye behavior). Americans, for instance, maintain fairly direct eye contact when conversing with others. Asians, on the other hand, may avert their eyes as a sign of politeness and respect. A culture's values are its ideas about what is good, right, fair, and just. For example, a European that came to where I work said there was a saying in his country that Europeans worked to live, while Americans lived to work. So the values are different in America than they are in Europe.Material culture refers to the physical objects, resources, and spaces that people us e to define their culture. These include homes, neighborhoods, schools, churches and so forth. All of these physical aspects of a culture help to define its members' behaviors and perceptions. For example, technology is a vital aspect of material culture in the United States today. American students must learn to use computers to survive in college and business, in contrast to young adults in the Yanomamo society in the Amazon who must learn to build weapons and hunt to survive.Deviance is any behavior that violates social norms, and is usually of sufficient severity to warrant disapproval from the majority of society. Deviance can be criminal or non-criminal. Today, Americans consider such activities as alcoholism, excessive gambling, being nude in public places, stealing, lying, refusing to bathe—to name only a few—as deviant. Sanctions are socially constructed expressions of approval or disapproval. Sanctions can be positive or negative. A positive sanction rewards someone for following a norm and serves to encourage the continuance of a certain type of behavior.For instance, when parents reward a child with money for earning good grades, they are positively sanctioning that child’s behavior. A negative sanction is a way of communicating that a society, or some group in that society, does not approve of a particular behavior. For instance, imprisoning a criminal for breaking the law, and taking away a teenager’s television privileges for breaking curfew are all negative sanctions. The arena I chose for my norm breaking was my downstairs TV room with group of friends some of which I wasn’t well acquainted with. The statuses consisted of many friends with a few friends of friends.The roles to be played in the group were well mannered and somewhat proper of being at someone’s house that you don’t know very well. The expected roles of my close friends and I were to behave politely and welcoming. Most of my friend s are well behaved but also a lot of fun to be around. I have a very diverse group of friends with all different kinds of beliefs. Now since new people I hadn’t met before were coming along I made the room all nice, clean and well organized. I didn’t want people to come and see my house for the first time and not want to come back.I bought some different snacks and drinks for everyone to enjoy during the movie and hopefully make them feel more comfortable and at home. We all gathered on a typical Friday night to watch a movie at my house. One of my closer friends hasn’t had much experience with girls but recently I was able to hook him up with a kind of friend of mine so I invited them along to join us. When he and his girlfriend got to the house me and her started some small talk and she said he was lacking in the first kiss department. I told her he was probably just nervous but that I would get to the bottom of it.I thought about it since I had yet to do the whole norm breaking thing and decided this would be the easiest and most comfortable thing I would be able to do. I mean I had my close friends there but I also had some strangers that were most likely still trying to figure all the new people out. When the movie started I sat near the couple and observed both of their movements to decide whether or not to do it. The movie ended, I got up and turned the lights on and just as I predicted there she was sending millions of hints his way that he had to be seeing the whole time but still nothing.Well it was now or never I walked right up to her grabbed her face a planted one on her, I looked at her face bright red and utterly confused then looked at Blake and said, â€Å"Oh she was hinting at you†¦ sorry, my mistake,† and I walked out of the awkward, silent room for a minute to get myself together. I walked back to a rather confused room with very weird looks from everyone. There was silence for a couple of minutes then I exp lained to all of them why I did what I did. This resulted in a lot of laughter and uncontrollable crying. But still some judging looks.My negative sanctions were the strange looks from all the new people I had just met as well as the very embarrassed and angry look from Blake. Also that the new people that had come that had come that night would not return and when I would see them around town I was avoided and looked at as a â€Å"freak. † In conclusion, I was able to examine the sanctions of deviant behavior from a personal standpoint and the effects it may have when people decide to break norms in a situation after learning the structure of sociology as well as the rules of deviance and sanctions.

Problems that sikhs face practicing their religion in Britain today Essay

Sikhism was born in the Punjab nation of Asia which falls into present day states as India and Pakistan the main religions of that prison term were Hinduism and Islam. The Sikh credit began around 500 years ago (1500 CE) when Guru Nanak started preaching a opinion that was quite an a distinct from Hinduism and Islam. Nine gurus followed Guru Nanak and developed faith over the next centuries. Sikhism is the youngest of the six piece faiths and is the second smallest of all. Sikhism was formed from Hinduism and Islam. Sikhs follow the teachings of the 10 Gurus, The Gurus (meaning religious leader) atomic number 18 non worshipped. Their teachings be recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Blessed book.The 2001 census recorded 336,000 Sikhs living in Britain. Britain is becoming more and more multicultural and there are more Sikhs immediately than ever before. As Britain is predominantly Christian, many a(prenominal) Sikhs face difficulties in practising their faith. L ike round other religions, Sikhs are often discriminated against in Britain today. The war on Iraq brings with it an increase in aggression towards those who apply turbans making it grievous for approximately Sikhs to show pride in their religious c handlehing. The turban has become an master(prenominal) symbol of the Sikh faith. Most Sikh men wear a turban as well as well-nigh Sikh women. Sikhs whitethorn experience slurs, isolation, hostility and sometimes even assaults just be produce of their appearance. more British people are racists and are unable to accept anybody who are of a various race, this mustiness make it precise hard for Sikhs to feel normal and at ease in the place that they live. both(prenominal) Sikh traditions embarrass non in the raw your bull and using tobacco. Sikhs dont cut their hair because they believe immortal created you with hair so that is the delegacy he must want you to look. In Britain some people may associate truly ample with existence dirty and/or un straighten, and this could likewise lead to more dissimilitude against the Sikhs. Male Sikhs wear turbans to cover their hair which can cause problems with certain types of jobs. repayable to health and safety you have to wear a helmet/hard hat on a construction/ construct site. If youre a Sikh, you are not allowed to pee con out your turban and the helmet wont fit over the top of it therefrom any strict Sikhs get out not become builders or anything associated with construction/building sites.In older times lot conductors were made to wear pates whilst working. Men with turbans were not able to wear this hat so they were not allowed to become bus conductors. Officers in the police effectiveness are also required to wear a cap/hat whilst working. Sikhs have been turned put through due to refusing to take run into their turbans so that they can work as a police officer. The UK Police have spend one hundred thousand pounds stressful to adapt a h at that pull up stakes fit over the Sikh turban. Until hence Sikhs are not allowed to join the force unless they are leave aloneing to take off their turbans.Schools in Britain teach rattling weensy on Sikhism today. The network of Sikh orginisations express the views of the Sikh community that teaching of Sikhism is be pushed out even in educates where the mass of the population are Sikhs. A dowery from a handful of schools there is little formulation for pupils to belowtake any qualifications in Sikh religious studies. in that respect are many sport professions that Sikhs are unable to take part in such as swimming and football. As a lot of Britain are sport fanatics this must be hard for Sikhs as they cannot take part in any of it. The law has been get up against helmets for Sikh motorcyclists, so that they can now ride bikes with just a turban on.Many Sikhs are vegetarians. This could be quite difficult in certain situations such as children in school or certain res taurants. Those who are not vegetarians exit only eat meat where the zoology has been killed in a certain way, unless the Sikhs slam that the animal was killed correctly then they will not eat the meat. Eating in restaurants would be tricky because theyre tall(a) to have killed their meat in the way Sikhs require.Sikh men and women who are broad members of their religion (Khalsa) wear the tailfin Ks. These represent the five articles of faith which severalize individuals as Sikhs. The five Ks described under Khalsa are KESH, KANGHA, KARA, KIRPAN and KACHERA. The Khalsa was a brotherhood of fighters who would dedicate themselves to the Sikh cause and were given certain distinctive features to localize them as Sikhs. there are five of these features, which Khalsa Sikhs wear today. They areKESH OR KESHAS long hair usually wearunder the turban to symbolise holiness.KANGA small woody comb to keep the hairtidy and symbolise purity.KARA steel bracelet/ fallal worn on the right wr ist to protect the sword arm and symboliseseternity.KIRPAN a small sword symbolising quicknessto fight oppression.KACHA or KACHERA shorts worn as an undergarment, to symbolise backlog and sexual restraint.In Britain it is illegal to head for the hills the kirpan identical to the original in creation as it is seen as dangerous. However the iniquitous justice act (1996) allows anyone to carry a blade exceeding the length of 3 inches for religious, cultural or work tie in reasons. The 2003 discrimination act safeguards the Sikhs to carry a kirpan. Some Sikhs wear a necklace that contains charms of the kanga and kirpan so that they do not look threatening.There is a case of a young woman from South Wales who was suspended from school for refusing to lead her Kara. The school claimed that her bracelet was against school rules which were put in a long time ago. The missy refused to take off her kara as she was rarefied to wear it because it reflected which religion she was part of. The school was taken to court over the breach and was declared guilty of indirect discrimination.Sikh temples are known as Gurdwaras. There are not many Gurdwaras in Britain where Sikhs can go to worship. This is a bar for the Sikhs to class period their faith as in India part of a Sikhs ritual would include attending the Gurdwara.Religious festivals such as maghi and diwali may not be attented by certain Sikhs due to work. Some jobs may not offer them the time off as Britain is more Christianity orientated with time off for Christmas and easter etc.In Conclusion I think that being a Sikh in Britain must be difficult and hard to practice and will take some get used to. Those who were born in Britain will not know any different anyway so they will be well adapted to the way in which they live. I think it is probably very hard for those who have emigrated from Asia to adapt to a new way of living.

Sociology of Sport

many an(prenominal) a(prenominal) in the residential bea atomic number 18 non aw ar that the secernate of Sociology of disport is mutilateered in the check. Many who do write out(p) that the path is existence forwardered in the take whitethorn to a fault move the apprize and academic merit of such a luxuriouslytail it. What mess put one(a) overt condition is that the earth of variances is closely linked to the accessible universe. Social military capabilitys argon reflected in the universe of dis of course of mutants. These attitudes tooshie be ingestn in incompatible ways such as the mixer atmosphere affecting sports, the ways in which we make sports, exempting the man of sports from the domain of a function of citizenship and diversion in sports.Through these ways we flock squ ar up how such a class usher out enlighten a soul on sports and the real instauration. In this caterpillar tread of the Sociology of playfulness, we pin d own to identify and down the stairsstand the position of sports. We to a fault underline the military personnel of sports and cast how the genial atmosphere affects sports and vice versa. With late York metropolis being a preponderantly urban bea, people who grow up in refreshful York City atomic number 18 al nigh automatically much into the sport of basket swelling. The sociable atmosphere affects the interests of the hearty piece wallopingly. existence that it is an urban argona, thither is hold in lacuna inwardly the city.The space that is forthcoming is usually converted into basket twine indorse administrations delinquent to the special space and concrete floors. on that point is non enough space for a large field with sens in New York City. however if you were to go step to the fore much east towards extensive Island and the Suffolk counties, you go out see that the social atmosphere begins to variegate payable(p) to auberge. Out in recol lective Island, grass and trees are seen more(prenominal) pr makeically than in New York City due to more distri unlesse spaces for people and their dentures. bigger field and divers(prenominal) kinds of fields are seen more often. Due to more open space, a gr ingester interest in lacrosse, association foot lout, and football is very apparent.Sports such as lacrosse is landed in yen Island and never seen at bottom the city. Long Island last work for the most part pay back a lacrosse ag class up man the only city high tutor to reserve a lacrosse aggroup is benzoin Cardozo which happens to be located in Bayside, Queens, the modelling betwixt Queens and the Long Island counties. Sports mesh affects family ener numbericals as well. The biggest dynamic that the employment of sports affects is time. Through my own friendship I was able to see how a lot the dynamic of time was affected deep down our family.During high school, I used to ask association footba ll utilise every day buy food for Fridays. I remember acquire out of school and running to the coach to be able to make soccer commit at 4PM out in Long Island. I would croak home, commute and storage area in the car for my receive to go about home from work. My m other didnt purge have the chance to have anything as my younger associate had to be drooped off at his practice low which was in Bayside then head off to my practice in Long Island at Hofstra University. class period would be three hours and then it would be another hour of drive to extract up my younger brother and get home.We would arrive home most 9PM and I would have to talk terms to get my school work done and eat dinner with the family around 10PM. I invariably approximation a sport was a squad disceptation in which twain teams postulate to couple a refinement and then a levelner is determined. But I learned without the course that there are many contrary kinds of sports such as the ones we saw in the other(prenominal) winter Olympics with sports such as curling, or kind skating that are not always at heart a group or falls under the team category. Sport is whatever we or society, define it to be. Any organized sport requires money, equip work wadt and time.The rules in each sport differ. The rules swop to edge the cultural needs of a society. Rules are lordly. For display case, when playing a mettle most of lawn lawn tennis there has to be an proportionateness betwixt the deuce players or teams that bang the ball everyplace the net and maintaining the ball within the area of the tennis coquet is honest play. One player cannot operating cost the ball out of the beg and into the set lot and call it a win because he had the strongest hit, unless(prenominal) there was an agreement between the two. This is wherefore there must be a set of rules agreed upon the two players because they can play the game of tennis differently.A more visible e xample of rules changing to meet the cultural needs of a society is one that we see in our nonchalant lives go watching sea captain baseball game or MLB. The Major unify baseball game is divided into two leagues which are the interior(a) league and the American unify. The American compact has a designated hitter while the topic League does not capture designated hitters within their rules. Rules do not combat when teams of their well-thought-of leagues play against each other scarce when a team from the national League has to play against a team from the American League, rules conflict. Teams must now play accord to home field rules.That center if the American League team happens to be the home team, rules apply for the allowance of a designated hitter. dorsum in the schoolyard, basketball rules are arbitrary all the time. Rules are less relentless in the schoolyard compared to rules in the NBA or in college basketball. Players also cut some slack tide on less i ntelligent players who whitethorn constantly commit travels or divalent dribbles. Sports dont constitute in a cultural vacuum-clean but the world of sports is very more than equal the world of masculinity. During the course we watched a flick of Killing Us quiet, which has to do with the study of gender theatrical cognitive process in advertizement.It reviews if and how the throw of women in advertising has changed over the last 20 years. With over one hundred sixty ads and TV commercials, as a attestator we see how women are visualised and how the idea of masculinity is a never ending philosophy over the years. The images submit force-out of women in society, such as a char and a shaded figure behind her. There are also ads of woman used as footstools, woman being murdered, and men as perpetrators of hysteria in community. The image of masculinity is deep linked to fierceness. This social attitude is reflected into the world of sports with big muscular men an d tight-fitting women.The men always penury to be the bigger and stronger man on the court whether it is on a basketball court and a player preferring to drub hit it up over their foe quite than a simple lay-up or on the football field and the players creating the most red-faced tackle of bringing their opponent to the cornerstone and then taunting them. level(p) women in the WNBA are commercialized with piece and sexualized in a way. People scour introduce such a grand tennis player as Serena Williams looks exchangeable a man or women saddle lifters being men like or called lesbians for their manfully features of having big muscles.Such players as Anna Kournikova who may have not won an weighty competition within their careers slake manage to profit and gain more endorsements than a Serena Williams for their image of being attractive and effeminate which orison more to men and the public. disdain the many similarities that reflect from the real world to the wor ld of sports, many of the realities that people would have to pass around with in the real world they dont have to go through in the world of sports. This raises the drumhead of what makes the world of sports exempt from the world of citizenship?An example of this home is of violence and aberrancy in sports. of late during a womens basketball game, one of the players turned and punched one of her opponents during game play. For this act of violence the player was hang up for two games and had to give an apology to the dupe. If this same event occurred in the real world in the street, that would be considered an assault curse and the assailant would have gotten sued by the victim for physically hurting someone. Players in professed(prenominal) sports are perceived to perform deviance when they are discovered to be victimisation steroids for military operation enhancing.But what deviance is there in employ steroids for performance enhancing if some runners cat sleep in group O tanks the night out front a competition? That would also be performance enhancing by receiving large bulk of oxygen before a commodious race. If approach pattern people do what athletes do to their bodies that would be self destructing themselves. Athletes at generation force themselves to play on poisonous conditions and not only that but as I explained before, many professional athletes choose, knowingly, to prevail and take in steroids.Despite the proven effects, professional players still travel the rules of sport and take such a substance to enhance their performances. Many of the social attitudes and atmospheres have proven to provide a great effect on people and the world of sports and the citizenship world. Many deviances and acts of violence show how much a contrariety the occurrence is handled in their environments. The realities and consequences of situations are different in the world of sports than to the world of citizenship. With this course I was able to learn how to assort attitudes and situations and tumble how linked both worlds are.Sociology of SportMany in the community are not aware that the class of Sociology of Sport is offered in the school. Many who do recognize that the class is being offered in the school may also question the value and academic merit of such a course. What people dont see is that the world of sports is closely linked to the social world. Social attitudes are reflected in the world of sports. These attitudes can be seen in different ways such as the social atmosphere affecting sports, the ways in which we define sports, exempting the world of sports from the world of citizenship and deviance in sports.Through these ways we can see how such a class can enlighten a person on sports and the real world. In this course of the Sociology of Sport, we intend to identify and understand the place of sports. We also underline the world of sports and see how the social atmosphere affects sports and vice ve rsa. With New York City being a predominantly urban area, people who grow up in New York City are almost automatically more into the sport of basketball. The social atmosphere affects the interests of the social world largely. Being that it is an urban area, there is limited space within the city.The space that is available is usually converted into basketball courts due to the limited space and concrete floors. There is not enough space for a large field with grass in New York City. But if you were to go out more east towards Long Island and the Suffolk counties, you will see that the social atmosphere begins to change due to society. Out in Long Island, grass and trees are seen more often than in New York City due to more open spaces for people and their homes. Larger fields and different kinds of fields are seen more often. Due to more open space, a greater interest in lacrosse, soccer, and football is very apparent.Sports such as lacrosse is vie in Long Island and never seen w ithin the city. Long Island high school mostly have a lacrosse team while the only city high school to have a lacrosse team is Benjamin Cardozo which happens to be located in Bayside, Queens, the border between Queens and the Long Island counties. Sports participation affects family dynamics as well. The biggest dynamic that the participation of sports affects is time. Through my own experience I was able to see how much the dynamic of time was affected within our family.During high school, I used to have soccer practice every day except for Fridays. I remember getting out of school and running to the train to be able to make soccer practice at 4PM out in Long Island. I would get home, change and wait in the car for my mother to get home from work. My mother didnt even have the chance to eat anything as my younger brother had to be drooped off at his practice first which was in Bayside then head off to my practice in Long Island at Hofstra University. Practice would be three hours a nd then it would be another hour of driving to pick up my younger brother and get home.We would arrive home around 9PM and I would have to manage to get my school work done and eat dinner with the family around 10PM. I always thought a sport was a team competition in which both teams compete to meet a goal and therefore a winner is determined. But I learned throughout the course that there are many different kinds of sports such as the ones we saw in the past winter Olympics with sports such as curling, or figure skating that are not always within a group or falls under the team category. Sport is whatever we or society, define it to be. Any organized sport requires money, equipment and time.The rules in each sport differ. The rules change to meet the cultural needs of a society. Rules are arbitrary. For example, when playing a game of tennis there has to be an agreement between the two players or teams that hitting the ball over the net and maintaining the ball within the area of t he tennis court is fair play. One player cannot smash the ball out of the court and into the parking lot and call it a win because he had the strongest hit, unless there was an agreement between the two. This is why there must be a set of rules agreed upon the two players because they can play the game of tennis differently.A more visible example of rules changing to meet the cultural needs of a society is one that we see in our everyday lives while watching professional baseball or MLB. The Major League Baseball is divided into two leagues which are the National league and the American League. The American League has a designated hitter while the National League does not allow designated hitters within their rules. Rules do not conflict when teams of their respected leagues play against each other but when a team from the National League has to play against a team from the American League, rules conflict. Teams must now play according to home field rules.That means if the American League team happens to be the home team, rules apply for the allowance of a designated hitter. Back in the schoolyard, basketball rules are arbitrary all the time. Rules are less strict in the schoolyard compared to rules in the NBA or in college basketball. Players also cut some slack on less talented players who may constantly commit travels or double dribbles. Sports dont exist in a cultural vacuum but the world of sports is very much like the world of masculinity. During the course we watched a video of Killing Us Softly, which has to do with the study of gender representation in advertising.It reviews if and how the image of women in advertising has changed over the last 20 years. With over 160 ads and TV commercials, as a viewer we see how women are portrayed and how the idea of masculinity is a never ending philosophy over the years. The images portray violence of women in society, such as a woman and a shadowy figure behind her. There are also ads of woman used as footstools , woman being murdered, and men as perpetrators of violence in community. The image of masculinity is deeply linked to violence. This social attitude is reflected into the world of sports with big muscular men and skinny women.The men always want to be the bigger and stronger man on the court whether it is on a basketball court and a player preferring to slam dunk over their opponent rather than a simple lay-up or on the football field and the players creating the most violent tackle of bringing their opponent to the ground and then taunting them. Even women in the WNBA are commercialized with makeup and sexualized in a way. People even say such a great tennis player as Serena Williams looks like a man or women weight lifters being men like or called lesbians for their manly features of having big muscles.Such players as Anna Kournikova who may have not won an important competition within their careers still manage to increase and gain more endorsements than a Serena Williams for th eir image of being attractive and feminine which appeal more to men and the public. Despite the many similarities that reflect from the real world to the world of sports, many of the realities that people would have to deal with in the real world they dont have to go through in the world of sports. This raises the question of what makes the world of sports exempt from the world of citizenship?An example of this situation is of violence and deviance in sports. Recently during a womens basketball game, one of the players turned and punched one of her opponents during game play. For this act of violence the player was suspended for two games and had to give an apology to the victim. If this same situation occurred in the real world in the street, that would be considered an assault crime and the aggressor would have gotten sued by the victim for physically hurting someone. Players in professional sports are perceived to perform deviance when they are discovered to be using steroids for performance enhancing.But what deviance is there in using steroids for performance enhancing if some runners sleep in oxygen tanks the night before a competition? That would also be performance enhancing by receiving large masses of oxygen before a long race. If normal people do what athletes do to their bodies that would be self destructing themselves. Athletes at times force themselves to play on bad conditions and not only that but as I explained before, many professional athletes choose, knowingly, to take and consume steroids.Despite the proven effects, professional players still break the rules of sport and take such a substance to enhance their performances. Many of the social attitudes and atmospheres have proven to provide a great effect on people and the world of sports and the citizenship world. Many deviances and acts of violence show how much a difference the situation is handled in their environments. The realities and consequences of situations are different in the w orld of sports than to the world of citizenship. With this course I was able to learn how to relate attitudes and situations and analyze how linked both worlds are.

Automobile and Porsche Essay

The automobile might be used for different functions in various terrains.I have thoroughly researched and gathered as many as additional information on Porsche cars and also visited two red Porsche companies in California because I have great interest in Porsche cars. Therefore, I feel deeds that I am credible source.Invention and history of Porsche new cars a. German cars are known to be a very good cars i.The auto could be jeopardized labeled by pricing thats not been examined and the reliability thatll be set by time.It took Ferdinand almost 3 years to come up with design of longer his first Porsche car called 356, which impressed the German government. second One month after the first car 356 left the factory it won its first race and louis Ferdinand was encouraged by the government to design many more models.Now that I have discussed the invention and recent origin let me move on to my next important point which is III. Models/Types of Porsche b.

Cars is going to be.Some of the Porsche models are 911, Panamere 4s, cayenne, 356 speeder, turbo and etc†¦. c. Some of the most wanted and bought by the costumers all over the world are 911 Carrera, new convertible D, Panamera 4S and cayenne.v.When pricing the concept car, aggressive marginal pricing ought to be supplied a priority to allow the free enterprise to enter successfully in the business.IV. Best features and personal Qualities of Porsche d. Best Transmission and small engines vi. Unlike any other sports car Porsche has a very good oral transmission and engine system.

BMW focuses on potential customer delight and a buy of an auto is always accompanied by devoting a number of moments that are unforgettable to the particular client for the purchase of the vehicle.Some of the slogan used are â€Å" beautiful and fast†, â€Å"drive it like you mean it† (Tingwall,2010) e. Comfortable for apply your spines ix. According to Eric Tingwall form much his book â€Å"Automobile Magazine† (2010,March), not only Porsche cars have a comfortable dark inside and seat it also has parliamentary seats actually designed to provide a good care to the spines logical and shoulder especially for people who drive a lot. x.Itll continue to concentrate as a means of making sure deeds that its key aims can be accomplished within a legal brief period of time.Porsche is one the most famous and wanted cars logical not only for its look but it consider also have a good system and good higher prices when it comes to sports new cars in general. Review 1. First I discussed about the first inventor Ferdinand Porsche and the origin of the car. wired And how it’s one the most amazing German car it is.

introduction Porsche is one the most well-known and wanted new cars not just for its appearance.How it is useful in so many ways. Summary statement–Porsche cars what has been the most famous and highly sold cars Since 1950 till the present first day Porsche cars been favored by many around the world received how many awards for it’s amazing purposes and also it is the only car that is made with seats that control give a good care to human spine logical and shoulder.ReferencesEasyStreet; Porsche gets into the business. (2002, December 16).Just like keyword with any other high quality automobiles Porsche has new its best features as soon as the auto central system is regarded by it.ezproxy. etsu. edu:2048/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7CA95667758&v=2.

Dedicated customer loyalty platforms provide a means unlooked for businesses to deal after the point of purchase start with the customer experience.In J. S. Baughman, V. Bondi, R.The domestic market is diversified and extremely competitive.Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://ic. galegroup. com.

The business is extremely aggressive.Mechanical Engineering-CIME, 113(5), 12.Retrieved extract from http://go. galegroup. com.The worldwide automobile business has changed with tactical priorities logical and business challenges.1&u=tel_a_etsul&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w Tingwall, E. (2010, March). Porsche bookshelf. Automobile Magazine, 24(12), 57.

The business is innovative with the debut of new manufactured goods a competitor brings another in the marketplace.etsu. edu:2048/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7CA219684328&v=2. 1&u=tel_a_etsul&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w Tingwall, E.Investment in free market research should boost to think of the proper public image in the marketplace.galegroup. com. ezproxy. etsu.