Critically discuss the following statement with reference to the Best Essay

Fundamentally talk about the accompanying proclamation concerning the Best Practice and Best Fit ways to deal with key Human Re - Essay Example What makes a few associations succeed while others come up short? Is applying the ‘best practices’ more fruitful than applying the ‘best fit’ way to deal with key HRM. These are questions that should be tended to for a firm to build up the correct procedure to drive it to progress. As indicated by Boxall and Purcell (2000, p. 193), ‘there are different standards and procedures of good work the board yet the techniques firm receive to arrive at their exhibition objectives are influenced by cultural, sectoral, and hierarchical factors.’ This is an explanation that should be investigated further remembering the significance joined to SHRM by firms as a methods for accomplishing viability and hence will be the subject of this exploration. To investigate this issue further, the paper will initially characterize the ideas utilized since different definitions influence the consequences of any exploration. Ideas, for example, procedure, vital administra tion, HR methodology and business system should be comprehended for better assessment of the various methodologies included. It will at that point talk about the ‘best fit’ and ‘best practice’ ways to deal with key human asset the executives (SHRM), their qualities just as shortcomings. Despite the fact that the two methodologies have been known to work for associations, it ought to be contended that the ‘best practice’ approach is the most appropriate in making hierarchical progress. Other than the two methodologies, the asset based perspective on the firm is additionally commendable taking note of since it can take care of the issues of ‘best fit’ and ‘best practice’ approaches. Definitions The key human asset the executives is gotten from two ideas: methodology and HRM. System is characterized by Armstrong (2006, p. 113 refered to in Johnstone and Scholes, 1993) as ‘the heading and extent of an association ove r longer time which coordinates its assets to its changing condition and specifically, to its business sectors, clients and customers to meet investor expectations.’ The procedure is created by supervisors to provide the firm reason and guidance and thusly, for system to be built up the firm must have explicit objectives it needs to seek after and showed in its vision and statement of purpose. It is basic in advising the partners where the organization is going with the goal that every one of their practices can be coordinated a similar way. There are different degrees of procedure: corporate, business and HR methodology. The corporate technique is intended to coordinate the entire association whether neighborhood or worldwide. It is created at the top degree of the company. Business system then again, it intended for explicit specialty units to accomplish upper hand (Armstrong, 2006). HR techniques are planned for guaranteeing the workers perform as indicated by anticipated principles for hierarchical achievement, and these will be the worry for this paper. It is an example of vital decisions in labor the executives (Boxall and Purcell, 2000, p. 184). Human asset the board is characterized by Boxall and Purcell (2000, p. 184) as ‘anything and everything related with the executives of business relations in the firm’. They recognize the utilization of different administration styles in contemporary working environments relying upon association setting and the initiative set up. HRM idea has advanced after some time from customary faculty the executives to the now well known universal SHRM and subsequently has been the object of discussion in sociologies and scholastics. Scholars have thought of different strategies for

Startup Hubs Around the World Amsterdam

Startup Hubs Around the World Amsterdam The sudden emergence of Amsterdam onto the tech startup scene caught many people off guard. With a population just under 1 million people, the (relatively) small city never indicated that it was quietly garnering the tools to launch an attack on the startup market. Suddenly, however, the city erupted onto the global market and is continuing to innovate while the world watches. © Shutterstock.com | S-FTo determine how Amsterdam developed into a contender in the startup market, we’ll explore 1) the location, 2) the tax incentives of the city, 3) legal incentives, 4) investors, 5) local resources, 6) Amsterdam’s specialization, and 7) startups to watch.LOCATIONAmsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, and is their most populated city. With the population hovering around 1 million people, it experiences an international culture through its transient population and its proximity to a port. Established in the early 1300s, Amsterdam has a rich, historical culture yet has remained current as the financial center of the Netherlands.Geographical BenefitsThe city of Amsterdam is located in northern Holland, surrounded on three sides by water. Situated near the North Sea, it is connected by three canals that transverse the city. A system of 90 islands, Amsterdam is sometimes referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’. The islands are connected by a network of ov er 1200 bridges. People are encouraged to use the recreation areas and enjoy the beauty of Amsterdam, a facet of Amsterdam that will help entrepreneurs briefly escape the pressure of their startup.The city is served by a seaport, an airport and a system of roads and trams, and is one of the Europe’s leading tourist destinations. There are several parks and recreation centers in the city, and newcomers to the city will be delighted to wander through the historic architecture while heading to the park. A day can be spent wandering through the historic architecture, checking out the local museum or participating in any number of activities that are going on throughout the city. As a smaller city, it is easy to navigate from one end to another without getting too far off course.Advantages of choosing the cityThere is much that draws people to Amsterdam; for entrepreneurs the attraction lies in the benefits the city can offer their company. One of the largest pulls to Amsterdam is thei r apparent lack of restriction. As a company, having fewer restrictions to manage is beneficial to everyone involved. The lack of strict requirements, the close proximity to Russia, it has many benefits going for the entrepreneur who wants to explore new technologies without fear of reprisal or corruption.The transient nature of the city can be an advantage â€" it is easy to scrap an idea that doesn’t perform successfully or needs to be reworked â€" without much fear or guilt. Chances are good that within a few years, the startup market will have completely been revamped as new ideas and technologies are developed. Entrepreneurs in Amsterdam should look at this as a unique opportunity to explore the business market without much fear of repercussion.TAX INCENTIVESAmsterdam has a surprisingly easy tax structure. The process of starting a business in Amsterdam is simple, with almost story-like descriptions of the process of registering a corporation. Similarly, tax incentives are min imal, but are impressive in their scope.30% RulingThe 30% ruling affects highly skilled migrants who move to Amsterdam and are wishing to seek work. Offering a 30% tax reimbursement to the employer, who can then offer the reduction to the employee, this tax program is an extra incentive to seek out skilled workers. As an extension of the program, this offers additional resources to the expat who is seeding camaraderie and feedback. Bringing the tax incentive to the corporate level, the employee is able to retain more of their income, without causing additional headache for the corporation.Finding ways to generate additional tax incentives for entrepreneurs is another opportunity for the government to encourage entrepreneurs. The development of a startup collaboration that works to provide guidance and resources for entrepreneurs could help increase success of startups, as well as offer insight into the tax strategies of the system. Seeking the advice of a trained tax professional is advisable for foreign companies, primarily to overcome any language barrier and potential misunderstandings.LEGAL INCENTIVESEstablishing a company in Amsterdam is a painless process. The government has established a step-by-step guide to setting up a business designed to walk entrepreneurs through the process. Filing for the proper permits and licenses is simple and easy to understand, however it is recommended that you seek legal counsel to ensure that everything is taken care of properly.Many resources are available at the government’s startup page, including walking through a business plan, how to choose the right business, contacts to the chamber of commerce and more. Using the provided links give entrepreneurs the basics for getting their company off the ground quickly and begin generating income.There are a few regulations that govern the establishment of a company by foreigners, and the distinction between work permits are details that may change the type and scope of busi ness a foreigner is allowed to have. Nevertheless, the process is easy and simple to navigate.INVESTORSAmsterdam has a number of small scale investors. To truly become a startup market, however, the number of angel investors, VC funds and seed investors must increase dramatically.One angel investor firm, Amsterdam Angels, has a $3 million average valuation. While $3 million is a substantial amount of money, for a startup trying to scale and go global, $3 million may as well be next to nothing. There is a substantial difference in funding amounts between the larger startup hubs and the Netherlands. To generate large scale exits, the companies need large scale investors. It is not a requirement for the investors to live in the city, but it is interesting that of the almost 5,000 members of the fund, only 125 people actually live in Amsterdam.Amsterdam must begin to attract higher level interest for investors by showcasing the startups that have successfully launched. There is no guara ntee that bigger investments mean more big name startups, however, the biggest ‘breaks’ came when they were least expected. By having investors already in place, Amsterdam can be prepared to invest when successful startups are ready to scale their companies or move to the next phase in growth.Establishing a Hub Zone within the business district, or within an entrepreneur zone would be an excellent way to attract not only startups, but their investors. Creating a centralized location provides a means of quickly and easily finding the resources necessary to grow the startup. Investors seeking to invest would be able to identify the startups, and startups would be able to connect with investors. A centralized location would also serve to establish co-working zones, work share opportunities and other entrepreneur specific benefits that help the entire city.LOCAL RESOURCESSince World War II, Amsterdam has been home to over 176 different nationalities â€" they truly embrace the concep t of tolerance. Amsterdam has made a global name for itself in the area of ‘live and let live’ â€" they have taken steps to reduce racial tension and diversity; a must in a city that has over half of its population claiming immigrant ancestry.Entrepreneurship education is an area that is lacking in Amsterdam. Courses at the college level that focus on entrepreneurial topics are typically based on outdated methodology and materials. Increasing the number of classes and trainings that are available to entrepreneurs will help attract students to the area of entrepreneurship. One suggestion for increasing organic growth in entrepreneurship is to introduce the concept of startups and economic business earlier â€" as early as in elementary school classes. By engaging students in the concepts of self-sufficiency, self-reliance and innovation, students are more likely to develop an interest in the startup marketplace. Following up on those initial experiences would be building on the co ncepts covered by early teachers, and cement them in to their brains. Giving middle school students a bit more leeway in the development of ideas for a startup will again encourage the students to turn towards a tech career in an area where this is not common.Amsterdam must reinvent itself as a city that is attractive to the creative types necessary to generate excitement and innovation. One writer describes the city’s vibe as “a city filled with Yuppies”. To truly compete on the world stage in the startup market, there must be a distinct drive to attract entrepreneurs. Seeking advice from other cities that have successfully become startup hubs, Amsterdam would be wise to take counsel from cities such as Paris, London or Rio. Embracing the buzz of startups, Amsterdam needs to allow entrepreneurs to create, innovate and inspire themselves â€" as well as encourage others to do the same.Housing is another area of concern for the city of Amsterdam. In the last few years, the city has begun to build ‘container blocks’ for students to live in. These containers, stacked on each of each other, have been transformed into apartments and offices. With housing already in a shortage, many claim the city needs to develop a creative hub where entrepreneurs can live. By providing entrepreneurs with low-cost housing, office space and share spots, the city would be encouraging additional workers to become startup techs.Several startup events are hosted throughout the month: startup weekends, Pitchrs and Hackers and Founders, to name a few. Increasing the number of events specifically geared towards entrepreneurs would increase the understanding of the specific needs of startups, as well as create opportunities for collaboration and connection. Showcasing successful startups would generate interest in the startup market, as well.SPECIALIZATIONAt times, Amsterdam seems to be at a disadvantage to other cities seeking to become a startup hub. As a port city, their populat ion is constantly being turned over and startups that reach success typically relocate to a larger city. In some regards, however, this sense of renewal â€" of reinventing itself every several years â€" can be an advantage for a city that is seeking to create a new identity. This balance between stability and renewal is especially difficult to navigate when determining what, if any, specialization that Amsterdam startups veer towards. In its present configuration, Amsterdam is embracing the technology market and has been making clear strides to encourage more entrepreneurs to pursue these endeavors.New and innovative technologies such as 3D printing have made their way to the northern European nation, and Amsterdam has seen an increase in the number of startups based on using the new technology. In addition, new companies have emerged that embrace cloud computing, and the city has welcomed data centers to its corporate culture.Another specialization area that Amsterdam is developing is in the financial technology (fintech) market. Focusing on the innovations in services and technologies that are geared towards the financial sector, fintech deals with banking processes. By investigating innovations that change the way customers and companies interact with financial processes, fintech offers new tools that impact both the banking industry and the way banks engage with customers.The diverse city offers a range of startups that can vary in scope from file sharing to music playlists. It should not be surprising that the city which is constantly changing is always adding depth to their startup roster. Perhaps the only thing that should surprise the rest of the tech startup market is that more entrepreneurs have failed to take advantage of the benefits of Amsterdam.STARTUPS TO WATCHSqula: A global growing trend has made its way to Amsterdam in the form of Squla â€" an online, subscription based service that offers educational resources. Designed to supplement the Dut ch school program, Squla includes games, videos and quizzes for students to use at home. Currently used by more than 50,000 students, the program uses virtual instruction to deliver content and is partnered with the national testing agency.3DHubs: Capitalizing on the newest printing technology, 3DHubs is a platform that connects individuals with 3D printers. This localized program matches customer need (material printed in 3D) with resources (the owners who have 3D printers) and is quickly gaining momentum. With over 100,000 printers sold worldwide, the demand for 3D printing technology is increasing and 3DHubs is looking to be on the forefront of the industry.Silk: Blogging has become a part of the internet experience, and Silk is taking that experience a step further. Similar to other blogging platforms, Silk allows users to build a blog around their interests. Silk, however, has added a data-search function for both writers and readers. Providing users with simple, beautiful desi gns, Silk makes it easy to share data online with ease. Each Silk is centered on a specific topic, and users create interactive experiences.SkyNRG: Sustainability and bio-fuel are both part of the growing movement towards a greener planet. SkyNRG is combining the two concepts with their RSB-certified fuels for aircrafts. The only airplane supplier with certified sustainable bio-fuels at every airport in the world, SkyNRG is exploring new technologies and processes to keep air travel safer and cleaner.Adyen: Fintech markets are growing globally, and Amsterdam has a strong contender in the marketplace with Adyen. Financial transaction processor Adyen processed more than $10 billion in 2012 for Indiegogo, and is on track to handle even more international currency payments this year.The mysterious city of Amsterdam wants to shed some of its mystique and propel itself to becoming a startup market leader. The city has the necessary tools already in place to do so: relaxed legal requiremen ts, easy registration process and local resources. It is simply a matter of will now â€" does the city have the drive and the willpower to do what it takes to become their dream?

An Inspirational Quote on Adolf Hitler - 871 Words

Long ago a wise man once stated† This inspirational quote analyzes the world we live in. A Tyrant is a ruler of a cruel and oppressive character; someone who is remembered, but has no power and is dismissed by many. On the other hand, a Martyr is the one who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief. This clearly depicts that when a Tyrant reaches his death, he will only be known for the moment, whereas a Martyr who will be missed and remembered for decades for his positive characteristics. In life, your character will be judged for your legacy, therefore, those who give a positive message to the world, and those who fight for what’s right and those who sacrifice their life for others are the ones that will never be forgotten throughout history. This quote plays an important role to our history. Back in the late 1919’s, Adolf Hitler came into power. Hitler was a man of cruel character; he was unsympathetic and racist to mankind. As a br utal dictator, he put Jewish people, Black people, anyone that didn’t match his perfection in concentration camps. There he put them through unbearable torture as each one was forced to work until they nearly passed out with little or no food. As a result of his actions, more than million lives were lost. In this case, Adolf Hitler is known to be the Tyrant. In the early 1960’s Martin Luther King Jr gave a speech; a speech of what he believed in and what he fought for most of his life. As a result of his phenomenalShow MoreRelatedEssay on Jesse Cleveland Owens1114 Words   |  5 Pagesand sprinter whose speed and inspirational defiance of Hitler shocked the world. The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin and Adolf Hitler of the Nazi party believed that these Olympic Games would showcase the great skill of the Aryan (Caucasian) race, and the last person he would expect to show him up would be an African-American man (Barnes 1). With sixty-six U.S. Olympic contestants co mpeting in the Games, the American race was really put on the spot in front of Hitler, the most powerful man in theRead MoreHitler, Stepping Into The Light. . Hitler, Racist And Murderer?1102 Words   |  5 PagesHitler, stepping into the light. Hitler, racist and murderer? Leader and visionary? Or both? Cassi-Dee Muller reports. Adolf Hitler, known for his rise to power, his revolutionary dictatorship and his starting of a world war. But was he simply a bad man with a negative impact on the world? Or was he just being an excellent leader? Born in Austria 1889, Hitler was an average young German until his adult life, where he achieved the position as the leader of the Nazi party. As a Nazi, he believedRead MoreWhy Do We Study the Holocaust? Essay685 Words   |  3 Pagesenough to understand the terror faced by the undesirables and how far we, as the human race, must go to ensure that this does not happen again. First, however, we must learn how it all took place. As a young child, Adolf Hitler was treated poorly by his father, who died while Adolf was very young. He was an artist, and though he applied to the Academy of Fine Arts twice, he was rejected both times. Though he was Austrian, he regarded the Germans very highly, and when World War I broke out, he appliedRead MorePersuasive Powers of the Reknown Gandhi and Daldier1946 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"non-violent soldiers;† soldiers who are fighting back without physical confrontation but through civil disobedience to create a statement of national unity and to make evident that they are all fighting for a universal cause; freedom. Furthermore, in this quote, he gives his audience guidance into what is expected of each â€Å"soldier,† that each soldier does not fight for personal gain or glory; however, he fights for the overall good of his country- in this case national freedom. His use of non-violent resistanceRead MoreThe Inner Gift And Curse2393 Words   |  10 Pagesc entury Europe during the devastating Holocaust. Although, the Jews during any time period, were at first honored people in society, progressively the large society started looking at the Jews in an opposing manner, it happened over years, the inspirational rise and horrid downfall of the Jewish people. When Jews first migrate to a new land, they are looked upon as treasured assets. The Jews hold the upper hand in almost every profession wherever they decided to live. But as time progresses,Read MoreThe Person I Chose As My Leader1787 Words   |  8 Pagesfrightening the conditions turn out to be. Churchill’s character showed eagerness, willpower, and confidence. In the original days of World War II Winston Churchill’s inspirational capability began to be perceived by those around him. Churchill could not accept being defeated nor did he favor negotiating terms with Adolf Hitler. An example of Winston’s power of motivation was his ability to channel his will power to the British people and toughen their resolve through positive reassurance andRead MoreCompare and Contrast Contemporary Perspectives About Transformational and Transactional Leadership3236 Words   |  13 Pagesrelationship was in existence. COMPONENTS OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP Transformational leadership, according to Walumbwa et al (2005), citing Bass and Avolio (1994) consists of; †¢ Charisma (idealized influence) †¢ Inspirational motivation †¢ Intellectual stimulation †¢ Individualized consideration Charisma or idealized influence is the quality that leaders possess that enables them to generate emotion and build trust in followers so that theyRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr., â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†3011 Words   |  13 Pagesappeals to the emotion through examples and figurative language (Carson, Holloran, Luker, Russell King, 10-15). King uses pathos not just from the Bible but also by evolving ideas from World War II: â€Å"We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was â€Å"legal† and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was â€Å"illegal†. It was illegal to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitlers Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aidedRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagescommon good,† â€Å"disturb the system,† â€Å"surrender to the emergent process,† and â€Å"entice through moral power.† An international study of 6,052 managers from 22 countries focused on differences in managerial attributes and identified attributes such as inspirational, self-sacrificial, integrity, diplomatic, malevolent, visionary, administrative, self-centered, status conscious, autocratic, modest, and autonomous (Brodbeck et al., 2000). Rigby (1998) focused on the 25 m ost popular management tools and techniquesRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pageshearts as well as their heads. Aroused feelings, however, can be used either positively or negatively, constructively or destructively. Some leaders have been able to inspire others to deeds of great purpose and courage. On the other hand, as images of Adolf Hitler’s mass rallies or present-day angry mobs attest, group frenzy can readily become group mindlessness. As another example, emotional appeals by the Reverend Jim Jones resulted in approximately 800 of his followers volitionally committing suicide

Internalization

Definition: Internalization is a process through which we come to identify parts of our culture as parts of ourselves, especially in relation to norms and values. This is a crucial process in maintaining social systems because it leads people to regulate their own behavior in accordance with accepted forms rather than having to be monitored and corrected by external authorities.

Romeo and Juliet Tragedy Free Essays

Tragedy, a dramatic compostion, dealing with a serious and somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of charachter or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate, or society, to downfall or destructon. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is about two young teenagers, Romeo Monatague, and Juliet Capulet who fall deeply in love and are forced to keep their love a secreat in order to prevent the dissapointment of there feuding familes. Romeo and Juliets fate, immature acts, and secrets soon lead up to Romeo and Juliets downfall. We will write a custom essay sample on Romeo and Juliet Tragedy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Fate is a power that predetemines events and controls destiny. In the story, William Shakesphere is controlling Romeo and Juliet, which brings fate at fault of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. It was fate that brought Romeo and Juliet together, and made their family’s rivalrys. It is also what brought them to their downfall. If Romeo and Juliet had never met at the party, Friar Lawrence had never married them, and Juliets father wasnt forceing her to marry Paris, none of this would have happened. Fate in this story is unavoidable. Frair Lawerence played a huge role in Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. A Friar is looked up to and held responsible alot more. The Frair should have known better then to marry two young teenagers, just to end the families feud. The plan the Friar had to keep Romeo and Juliet together was insufficiently thought out which ultimatly was a major part in the tragedy. Even though Friar Lawerence knows that both the Monatague’s and Capulet’s wont be very happy with his descion to marry them, he still continues to do so. If Frair Lawrence wasnt stupid enough to keep the secreat, none of this would have happened. Juliet would have never dranken the potion, and therefore neither would have Romeo. Romeo’s immature ways also led to the tragedy. Romeo first met Juliet because he needed someone to get over Rosaline, his ex girlfriend. When they first laid eyes on eachother, they supposbly fell in love. Yes, they say it was â€Å"magical,† but it was also dumb. If Romeo wasnt to quick to get married, Juliet would not have as much feelings for Romeo as she did when they were married. Therefore Juliet probley wouldnt have gone through as much as she did to be with Romeo. Romeo made it much more complicated then it had to be by fighting and killing Juliets cousin Tybalt. How to cite Romeo and Juliet Tragedy, Essay examples

Reform free essay sample

Think about the causes of success and failure for particular movements. What causes some to become widely appealing and have major impacts on change? What causes others (regardless of the validity of their concerns) to simply wither away in the dustbin of history? Can you think of some that have evolved into stable organizations without much impact on social change? Can you identify others that have become stable enterprises of sorts, constantly selling T-shirts and other emblems without doing much?I think what causes some reforms to be more appealing than others is simply the interest of the citizens. What they want and were they see the country moving toward at the time. The only thing that I can think of that has currently come into play as a business or dispensary is the whole issues with marijuana, and whether or not to make it legal. Here in San Diego there has been an influx of medical marijuana dispensaries. We will write a custom essay sample on Reform or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I don’t know that it’s something that is stable but, it definitely has been impacting social change.Medical marijuana also attracts businessmen. California dispensaries possess great potential on the market. However, you need to have a license before you establish a dispensary and it entails several steps. Also that, medical marijuana state laws (which differs from each state) strictly implements some general rules on starting dispensary business. California allows anyone with a doctor’s recommendation to use medical marijuana, whatever their health condition. Critics claim dispensaries are often no more than drug trafficking fronts.Assignments To complete this assignment, go to this weeks Assignment link in the left navigation: Getting Involved What kinds of people tend to become involved in movements, as contributors, elders, or sympathizers? Why do you think they became involved? Has a movement organization ever asked you to donate money or time to work for a cause? Did you? Why or why not? For those you found appealing, were there barriers to your participation? What are some contemporary movements you find repulsive? Why? Two- to three-pages.

Apnea Essays - Sleep Disorders, Sleep Apnea, Central Sleep Apnea

Apnea Apnea is involved with the respiratory and central nervous systems. The respiratory system allows a person to breathe in oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide (Deepak 116). After entering the mouth or the nose, oxygen travels into the pharynx, the larynx, and then the trachea. The trachea splits into two branches which then split into smaller tubes called bronchioles. Hair-like projections called cilia cover the bronchioles and protect them from foreign particles. From the bronchioles, air enters tiny air sacs called alveoli, each of which is surrounded by capillaries containing the blood that gathers oxygen to be transported throughout the body and releases carbon dioxide so that it can be exhaled. Contractions of the diaphragm cause the lungs to be inflated and deflated. According to Janet Fricker, sleep apnea is "the periodic reduction or cessation of breathing caused by temporary oropharyngeal collapse during sleep"; in other words, it occurs when a person literally stops breathing while asleep (Fricker 122). There are two main processes that produce sleep apnea. The first, known as central sleep apnea, involves the level of brain activity during sleep. The nighttime failure of the part of the brain that controls breathing, located in the brain stem, results in unmonitored oxygen Sumner 2 levels during sleep. When oxygen levels become too low and carbon dioxide levels become too high, stimulation becomes strong enough to temporarily awaken the brain to do its job. The brain triggers a snorting or sucking of air in order to restore the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. The episodes recur as the brain returns to its sleep state (Coren 147-48). The second form of sleep apnea, known as obstructive sleep apnea, is characterized by a severe relaxation of the tongue, throat, and pharynx.(Deepak 116). The severe relaxation of the tongue causes it to cover the opening to the trachea, stopping the flow of oxygen into the lungs. After ten to ninety seconds of an apnea respiratory centers alert the brain of its oxygen-deprived state, causing the repeated sleep/wake cycle of the sufferer (Fricker 122). Sleep Apnea affects about 4 percent of middle-aged men and 2 percent of middle-aged women (Walling 851). Symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping, and choking. It causes breathing problems that cause a person to cough and gasp as many as several hundred times a night (Pressman 65). Because a build up of fatty tissues in the mouth tends to flow over the opening of the trachea, it is most common in middle aged, overweight males (Coren 148). About sixty percent of sufferers are overweight. However, it is not actual poundage but the thickness of the neck that affects breathing. Men often develop thicker throat tissues and gather more fat in their abdomen, neck, and shoulders than women. Men with a neck circumference of seventeen inches or more and women with that of sixteen inches or more are most likely to have sleep apnea, as well as Sumner 3 those with a double chin or a lot of excess fat around the waist. Sleep apnea will worsen with age as throat tissues become looser and people gain weight.(Barone 81). Many side affects can occur due to sleep apnea. Sufferers can awaken to headaches, irritability, difficulty in remembering, and problems with concentration (Barone 81). More serious problems can occur, such as drowsiness in the daytime, oxygen scarcity, and respiratory arrest while struggling to breathe during sleep. Because there is less oxygen going to the heart, it has to work harder; adrenaline is released and blood pressure rises rapidly. Repeated bursts of nighttime blood pressure may cause hypertension during the day, leading to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart rhythm disturbances (Barone 82). Diagnosing sleep apnea has become common only in recent years, since the disorder was not officially defined until 1965. Snoring, daytime fatigue, and a short attention span can be clues for diagnosis. If these symptoms persist for a prolonged period of time it may become necessary to be placed under the care of a pulmonary specialist, or an ear, nose, and throat doctor. Diagnosis is made possible by examinations of the nose, throat, and jaw. It is also helpful for a sufferer's mate to answer questions about snoring and sleep habits. The best way to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the severity of the disorder is a polysomnography exam, usually involving an overnight stay in a sleep clinic. There specialists are able to monitor blood oxygen levels, heart rate, body temperature, brain waves, and the number of times breathing stops. The sleep